Daily GK Update- 30th July, 2023

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Amit Shah releases 'Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam: Memories Never Die' book: Union Home Minister Amit Shah, launched the book titled 'Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam: Memories Never Die' in Rameshwaram in July 2023, The book is about the history of Indian rocketry, science, technology and innovation, beautiful representation of Indian politics and administrative system and description of many incidents related to wishes and imagination of Dr. Kalam. Amit Shah also paid a visit to Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam House and the Mission of Life Gallery Museum.

 

2. Ministry of Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship signed MoUs: The Ministry of Education and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship jointly signed 106 MoUs in New Delhi.  Aim: To foster innovation, research, and knowledge exchange in multiple domains, promoting collaboration in education and industry-academia linkages.  15 MoUs were signed with organizations like Atal Innovation Mission, to focus on skill development and education.  National Institute of Open Schooling signed 3 MoUs, one with Indian Sign Language Research

 

3. Nirmala Sitharaman Launched AMC Repo Clearing Ltd and CDMDF: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman inaugurated the Corporate Debt Market Development Fund (CDMDF) and initiated the muhurat trading in the Limited Purpose Clearing Corporation mechanism — AMC Repo Clearing Limited (ARCL).  Objective: To deepen the functioning of the corporate debt markets.  AMC Repo Clearing Limited aims to provide a settlement guarantee in the repo market, which will help eliminate the need for bilateral counterparty exposure limits. 

 

4. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla inaugurates 20th annual conference: Lok Sabha Speaker, Om Birla inaugurated the 20th annual conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, India Region in July 2023. The conference will focus on discussing natural disasters and management strategies, particularly concerning the northeast region. He also highlighted the importance of regional cooperation and connectivity through the Act East policy, as it can lead to enhanced regional integration at economic, and social levels in the North East

 

5. India and ADB signed $200 mn loan deal to enhance urban services: Govt of India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a $200 million loan as additional financing in Rajasthan Objective: For the ongoing Rajasthan Secondary Towns Development Sector Project to expand water supply and sanitation systems and enhance urban resilience and heritage living in towns A new feature in ADB’s support is the water facility development for urban resilience improvement and heritage-sensitive urban development in eight heritage towns

 

 

                                                                

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Isro PSLV-C56 mission launched with 7 foreign satellites: The Indian Space Research Organisation launched the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C56), from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. The primary payload of the PSLV-C56 mission is the DS-SAR satellite, a Synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) that creates two-dimensional images or three-dimensional reconstructions of objects. Aims: To fulfill the imagery requirements of various Singapore government agencies and ST Engineering’s commercial clients.

 

2. World Hepatitis Day is celebrated on 28th July: World Hepatitis Day is observed annually on July 28 to raise awareness about viral hepatitis and its impact on global health.  2023 theme: One life, one liver Objective: To promote prevention, testing, and treatment while showing support for those affected by hepatitis. Aims: To increase public awareness about the issue and the necessary steps to enhance efforts in the prevention, screening, and control of viral hepatitis.

 

3. World Day Against Trafficking in person 2023: World Day against Trafficking is observed on July 30 to raise awareness about human trafficking trends as identified by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The theme of World Day against Trafficking in Persons 2023 is ‘Reach every victim of trafficking, leave no one behind’. It seeks to exert pressure on governments, law enforcement agencies, and civil society to strengthen their efforts in preventing trafficking and supporting victims.

 

4. Madhya Pradesh to have India's 1st Esports Academy: Madhya Pradesh is set to introduce its maiden online gaming industry, named "MP State Esports Academy,"  Objective: To offer young esports players a platform and opportunity to elevate their skills to a professional level. Goal: To train and nurture aspiring gaming and esports professionals.  Out of the available seats, 80% will be reserved for gamers from Madhya Pradesh, while the remaining seats will be open to gamers from across the country.

 

5. Prime Minister inaugurates Six EMRSs in Rajasthan: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated 6 Eklavya Model Residential Schools located in the districts of Udaipur (2), Banswara (2), Partapgarh (1) and Dungarpur (1) in Rajasthan. 2880 tribal students half of which will be girls will benefit with the construction of these schools. In Rajasthan total 31 schools have been sanctioned for year 2022-23 and 8 schools previously in year 2013-14. Each school has a capacity of 480 students of which 240 will be girls.  These schools will have separate hostel for boys and girls, accommodation for staff, dining area and playground. These schools are being constructed at cost of Rs 38 cr in plain areas and 48 cr in hilly areas.

 

6. 30 July – International Friendship Day: International Friendship Day is observed every year on 30 July. The day highlights the power of friendship in promoting peace, understanding, and unity among people and communities worldwide. Theme 2023 – Sharing the human spirit through friendship The concept of Friendship Day was first proposed in Paraguay in 1958. Since then, the day has evolved and gained recognition on a global scale. The International Day of Friendship follows the proposal made by UNESCO. The initiative was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1997.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Indian women’s team wins 100th Anniversary Spanish Hockey Federation: The Indian women's hockey won the 100th Anniversary Spanish Hockey Federation - International Tournament held in Terrassa, defeating hosts Spain with a scoreline of 3-0. Lalremsiami showcased her remarkable skills, scoring a hat-trick for India. With this win, India took the top spot in the standings, earning five points from three matches. Hosts Spain came second, with four points. England finished their campaign, with four points from four games.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. India to become 3rd largest economy by 2027: SBI Research: India is expected to become the world’s 3rd largest economy by 2027, if it maintains its current rate of growth, according to the SBI Research’s Ecowrap Report 2023. Earlier, SBI Research had expected India to become the third-largest economy in the world by 2029. India is currently ranked third, a movement of seven places upward of what it was in 2014. Interestingly, the incremental increase by India between 2022-2027, is expected to be more than the current size of Australia’s economy at USD 1.8 trillion. At this rate, India is likely to add USD 0.75 trillion in every two years, implying that India is all set to touch USD 20 trillion by 2047. India’s global share in GDP will cross 4 percent by 2027. The share of India’s GDP is now at 3.5 percent, as against 2.6 percent in 2014, and is likely to reach 4 percent in 2027. Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh will cross USD 500 billion mark by 2027.

 

2. Federal Bank launches NR savings accounts for NRI women: Federal Bank has launched an exclusive NR savings account scheme, specifically curated for NRI women. This scheme, named NRE Eve+, is designed to cater to the unique financial needs of NRI women, offering a range of benefits tailored to enhance the financial journey of NRI women. With NRE Eve+, account holders will enjoy complimentary access to international and domestic airport lounges, providing a seamless and luxurious travel experience. The power-packed NRE Eve+ debit card unlocks a world of customized offers, including exclusive deals on beauty, healthcare, shopping, dining, travel, and entertainment, tailored to suit women’s preferences. Zero balance savings accounts are available for two children below 12 years of age. Complimentary insurance coverage is available up to ₹78 Lakh, including child education benefits, accidental death, hospital cash, and card protection.

 

3. Union Bank partners with IBM to co-create Digital Business platform: Union Bank of India has partnered with IBM India Private Limited to create a Digital Business Platform. The platform aims to establish a Digital Bank with cutting-edge capabilities. This strategic partnership signifies a significant milestone in the evolution of the bank and promises to revolutionize the way customers interact with their financial services. The primary objective of this collaboration is to establish a state-of-the-art Digital Business Platform that caters to the ever-evolving needs of modern-day banking By embracing the power of cutting-edge technology, Union Bank of India aims to provide its customers with seamless and efficient banking experiences. This forward-thinking approach focuses on three key elements: omnichannel experiences, data-driven hyper-personalization, and a comprehensive financial services superstore. Union Bank of India will embrace Open Banking capabilities, allowing seamless integration of services across partnerships. The bank aims to create a future-ready banking ecosystem.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Heritage Byculla Railway Station received the UNESCO award 2023: The Byculla Railway station, a heritage site on the Central line of the Mumbai Suburban Railway, has been awarded by UNESCO after its successful restoration to its original glory. The 169-year-old Byculla railway station in Mumbai is one of the oldest railway stations in India still in use. In fact, the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS) also won the highest award of excellence in the UNESCO Asia Pacific awards 2022, for cultural heritage conservation last year. The project, launched in July 2019 by Shaina NC, trustee of ‘I Love Mumbai’ and in memory of her father Nana Chudasama, aimed to revive the station’s original architectural splendor.