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Thursday, May 11, 2023

Daily GK Update- 11th May, 2023

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. SN Subrahmanyan appointed as Chairman and MD of L&T: Larsen & Toubro board has appointed S N Subrahmanyan as Chairman and MD, with effect from October 1, 2023. He will succeed A M Naik, who steps down as Non-Executive Chairman of the L&T Group at the end of his tenure on 30 September 2023. Currently, S N Subrahmanyan is serving as the CEO and MD of L&T. He has also worked as Deputy MD & President leading L&T’s infrastructure business to its position as the country’s largest construction organization.

 

2. ‘Harit Sagar’ the Green Port Guidelines 2023 launched: Minister of Ports, Sarbananda Sonowal has launched ‘Harit Sagar’ the Green Port Guidelines 2023. Aim: To promote environment-friendly practices across all our Ports It provides a comprehensive action plan for achieving targeted outcomes in terms of quantified reduction in carbon emission over defined timelines and achieving SDG. It also aims to minimize waste through reducing, reusing, repurposing, and recycling to attain zero waste discharge from port operations.

 

3. Indian Navy and Royal Thai Navy conduct 35th Indo-Thai coordinated patrol: The 35th edition of India-Thailand Coordinated Patrol (Indo-Thai CORPAT) between the Indian Navy and the Royal Thai Navy was concluded in the Andaman Sea on May 10, 2023. Aim: To reinforce maritime linkages between the two countries and ensure the safety and security of the international trade route in the Indian Ocean INS Kesari, an indigenously built LST (L), and HTMS Saiburi, a Chao Phraya Class Frigate participated in the exercise.

 

4. Smriti Irani launches “Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi” campaign: Union Ministry of WCD has launched a campaign named “Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi” for strengthening Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE). This unique initiative is aimed at ensuring that India has a high-quality preschool network. ECCE is a significant component of Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 and is envisaged under the NEP. The work will be taken by Anganwadis across the country for providing nutrition as well as better education to children.

 

5. National Technology Day 2023: May 11: National Technology Day is observed every year on May 11 across the nation to commemorate India's nuclear test success that was conducted on May 11th, 1998, at Pokhran, Rajasthan. 2023 theme: School to Startups-Igniting Young Minds to Innovate This term was coined by former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee to recognize the contributions of Indian scientists. On May 11, 1998, India successfully fired the Shakti-I nuclear missile at an Army test range in Rajasthan's Pokhran.

 

6. Punjab becomes first state to enforce 'right to walk': Punjab has become the first state in India to implement the 'right to walk' by making it mandatory for all road-owning agencies to provide footpaths and cycle tracks in all future expansions of roads and construction. Reason: Every month more than 10 pedestrians/ bicycle riders are killed in road accidents due to encroachment on pedestrian footpaths Road-owning agencies include NHAI, the public works department, local bodies, and urban development departments.

 

7. India Post launches Bharat eMart portal: India Post, Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), and Tripta Technologies signed an MoU for the Bharat eMart portal. This portal will provide the facility of pick-up of consignments from the premises of traders and ensure delivery at the doorsteps of the consignees across the country. In the recent past, India Post has entered into similar agreements with GeM, Regional Centers of Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Limited (TRIFED).

 

8. GST: Government lowers threshold for e-invoicing to Rs 5 crore: The Union government has lowered the threshold limit of e-invoicing from Rs 10 crore to Rs 5 crore. It will be mandatory for smaller businesses to carry out business transactions via e-invoices from August 1, 2023. In the exercise of the powers of the Central Goods and Services Tax Rules, 2017, the government has made the amendment in the notification on the recommendations of the Council. The threshold was lowered to Rs 10 crore on October 1, 2022.

 

9. Health Ministry launches SAKSHAM Learning Management Information System: Union Health Ministry has launched a learning management information system SAKSHAM (Stimulating Advanced Knowledge for Sustainable Health Management). SAKSHAM is a platform for providing online training and medical education to all health professionals in the country. SAKSHAM was launched by Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan. This digital learning platform will ensure inclusive capacity building of health professionals. Presently, the platform is hosting more than two hundred public health and 100 clinical courses through online mode. Health professionals can register for these courses through lmis.nihfw.ac.in and get certification after undergoing requisite training and qualifying the required assessment criteria. The platform has been developed by the National Institute of Health & Family Welfare, New Delhi

 

10. Telangana govt introduces a Robotics Framework: The Telangana Government has introduced a Robotics Framework, for providing a roadmap to promote a robotic ecosystem in the State. This is the first-of-its-kind policy in the country. Under the initiative, the Government will set up a Telangana Robotics Innovation Centre (TRIC) to implement the framework which will focus on the key pillars of infrastructure access, business enablement, fostering research and innovation, development of a skilled workforce, and responsible deployment. The framework will promote an innovation ecosystem that will help the State manufacture robots not only for the country but for the world. The State government signed Memoranda of Understanding with IIT-Hyderabad, AgHub of State Agriculture University, and a few others to enhance the robotics ecosystem in the state and promote innovation, research, and growth in the field.

 

11. IIT Madras, DRDO develop sensor technology for underwater communications: Researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) have partnered with Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) scientists to develop cutting-edge sensor technology for underwater communications. Which will be advantageous to defence applications, especially in the Indian Navy. The indigenous development of this technology enables the nation to fabricate the devices at a relatively lower cost than the internationally-available foundries where the cost of fabrication is high and the number of foundries is also limited. The ‘Piezoelectric MEMS technology’ is required to develop high-performance thin films and convert ‘piezo thin film’ into state-of-the-art futuristic naval sensors and devices for underwater applications. The Piezo Thin Films are one of the vital components of piezo MEMS devices and are considered for acoustics and vibration-sensing applications.

 

12. MyGov and Ministry of Culture launches ‘YUVA PRATIBHA’: MyGov in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture has launched a YUVA PRATIBHA Singing Talent Hunt. The initial submission for the competition will be open for a period of one and half month. Singing Talent Hunt is a unique opportunity for citizens across India to display their singing talent and skills and to gain national recognition. If one wishes to be New India’s emerging artist singer, or musician, then he/she can participate in the YUVA PRATIBHA – Singing Talent Hunt and lend the melodic voice in the various genres:

 

13. 11 May – National Technology Day : National Technology Day is observed annually on May 11 in India. Objective – To commemorate the significant achievements and contributions made by Indian scientists, engineers, and technologists towards nation-building. Theme 2023 – Integrated Approach in Science and Technology for a Sustainable Future This day holds immense historical and cultural significance, highlighting the country’s commitment to innovation and its pursuit of technological advancements. May 11 was declared as National Technology Day by the Government of India to commemorate the first of the five nuclear tests under the Pokhran-II program which were conducted on May 11, 1998. The then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee christened the day. On the same date, a test flight of the ‘HANSA-3,’ the first indigenous aircraft was conducted at Bengaluru.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. IBM partners NASA to convert satellite data into high resolution maps: International Business Machines (IBM) has collaborated with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to launch a new geospatial foundation model. It is designed to convert satellite data into high-resolution maps of floods, fires, and other landscape changes to reveal the planet’s past and hint at its future. It is expected to be available for preview in the second half of 2023. This model would be part of IBM’s watsonx.ai, a next-gen enterprise studio.

 

2. India among top 5 countries where babies are born pre-term: UN Report: According to a report, released by the UN, an estimated 13.4 million babies were born pre-term in 2020, with 45% of them being born in just five countries, including India, Pakistan, Nigeria, China, and Ethiopia. Report title: Born Too Soon: Decade of Action on Pre-term Birth It is jointly produced by the WHO, UNICEF, and Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health (PMNCH). The global pre-term birth rate increased to 9.9% in 2020, compared to 9.8% in 2010.

 

3. 10 May – World Lupus Day : World Lupus Day is a global healthcare event commemorated every year on May 10. Objective – To raise awareness about this critical condition; that calls for an in-depth understanding and support for each individual who has been impacted in addition to increase the funds for more research. On this day, many local and international organizations, communities, patient advocates, and healthcare professionals gather together for a day of action to promote understanding about the disease so that people throughout the world can learn more about this crippling condition and fight against it.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Badminton Asia appoints Umar Rashid as chairman of the Technical Officials Committee: Badminton Asia appointed Umar Rasheed, joint secretary of the Badminton Association of India (BAI), as the chairman of the Technical Officials Committee. Rasheed will oversee the development and implementation of rules and regulations to elevate officiating standards in badminton tournaments across the country. Rashid also serves as the General Secretary of the Assam Badminton Association, contributing significantly to the development of badminton in Assam and the Northeast region of India.

 

2. Mastercard replaces BharatPe as global sponsor of ICC : The American multinational financial services corporation, Mastercard has replaced BharatPe as the global sponsor of the International Cricket Council (ICC). The sponsorship pact between ICC & Mastercard is a multi-year arrangement and will cover the upcoming 4 years. For the past year, Mastercard has been aiming to bag some lucrative sponsorship deals as it also secured title sponsorship rights of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) international and domestic home fixtures from Paytm. ICC primarily helms a three-year sponsorship and its partnership with BharatPe was kicked off on June 2021.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Sebi allows DMA facility to registered FPIs for participating in ETCDs: The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has allowed stock exchanges to extend direct market access (DMA) to registered Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) with immediate effect. Reason: To promote institutional participation in Exchange Traded Commodity Derivatives (ETCDs) DMA facilitates the clients of a broker to directly access the exchange trading system through the broker's infrastructure to place orders without manual intervention by the broker.

 

2. YES BANK launches solar financing program to aid MSMEs: Yes Bank has launched YES KIRAN for offering financial assistance to MSMEs manufacturers, who wish to install solar panels at their premises Aim: To support the adoption of sustainable energy practices by small and midsized enterprises MSMEs will get various benefits such as reduced operational cost, a flexible loan tenure at competitive interest rates, and a broad range of tie-ups with leading solar panel manufacturers and installers to help MSMEs

 

3. Settle fee, charges on forex prepaid cards in rupee: RBI: RBI has stated that fees and charges payable in India on forex prepaid cards, store value cards, and travel cards must be denominated and settled in local currency. The use of such cards is limited to permissible current account transactions. It is subject to the prescribed limits under the Foreign Exchange Management Rules. The RBI had previously stated that no prior permission from the bank is needed for such cards.

 

4. AU Small Finance Bank launches RuPay credit card for self-employed customers: AU Small Finance Bank has partnered with RuPay to introduce the Business Cashback RuPay credit card, a solution tailored to meet the financial requirements of self-employed customers. This is aimed at providing a diverse range of benefits to small businesses. AU Small Finance Bank’s Business Cashback RuPay Credit Card simplifies financial operations for businesses with benefits like upto 2 percent cashback, 48 days interest-free credit, and instant loans. It also offers fire insurance, burglary, and housebreaking coverage, making it a one-stop solution for businesses. MD & CEO of AU Small Finance Bank – Sanjay Agarwal

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. President Droupadi Murmu confers 37 Gallantry awards: President Droupadi Murmu has conferred 37 Gallantry awards to the personnel of the Armed Forces, CAPF, and State or Union Territory Police during the Defence Investiture Ceremony (Phase-1) in New Delhi. The Gallantry awards were given to the personnel for displaying conspicuous gallantry, indomitable courage and extreme devotion to duty. Murmu conferred 8 Kirti Chakras, including 5 posthumous, and 29 Shaurya Chakras, including 5 posthumous, upon the personnel of the Armed Forces, Central Armed Police Forces and State or Union Territory Police during Defence Investiture Ceremony (Phase-1) in New Delhi.

 

2. Argentina’s Lionel Messi wins Laureus Sportsman of the Year 2023: Argentina footballer, Lionel Messi has been named the Sportsman of the Year at the 2023 Laureus World Sports Awards. Messi also became the first athlete to scoop both the World Sportsman of the Year Award and the World Team of the Year Award in the same year. He was awarded for his remarkable achievements on the pitch in the past year, which included leading Argentina to victory in the FIFA World Cup.

·       World Breakthrough of the Year Award – Carlos Alcaraz

·       World Comeback of the Year Award – Christian Eriksen

·       World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability Award – Catherine Debrunner

·       World Action Sportsperson of the Year Award – Eileen Gu

·       Laureus Sport for Good Award -TeamUp

·       World Sportsman of the Year Award – Lionel Messi

·       World Sportswoman of the Year Award – Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce

·       World Team of the Year Award – Argentina Men’s Football Team

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