Daily GK Update- 19th Aug, 2023

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. 12% of sitting MPs of Rajya Sabha billionaires: ADR: According to the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), about 12% of sitting MPs of the Rajya Sabha are billionaires with Andhra Pradesh having the highest percentage of such parliamentarians. 5 (45%) out of 11 MPs are from Andhra Pradesh, 3 (43%) out of 7 MPs are from Telangana, and 3 (16%) out of 19 MPs from Maharashtra. The ADR and the National Election Watch (NEW) have analyzed and updated the criminal, financial, and other details of Rajya Sabha MPs.

 

2. NLC India inks pact to supply 300 MW solar power to Rajasthan: State-owned NLC India (NLCIL) has inked a pact to supply 300 MW of solar power for 25 years to Rajasthan Urja Vikas Nigam under the CPSU scheme. NLCIL is presently having 1,421 MW of Renewable Energy Capacity. As per its corporate plan, it contemplates establishing a 6,031 MW capacity by 2030. NLC India has entered into a long-term power usage agreement with Rajasthan Urja Vikas Nigam Limited to supply 300 MW of solar power under the CPSU Scheme in Rajasthan.

 

3. Modi Cabinet approves 'PM-eBus Sewa' for augmenting city bus operations: The union cabinet approved ‘PM-eBus Sewa’ for augmenting city bus operations under which 10,000 e-buses will be deployed across cities in the country. Aim: To improve public transport in cities and is also in line with India’s objectives concerning climate change Rs 57,613 crores will be spent on this project and around 10,000 new electric buses will be provided across the country.

Under this scheme, priority will be given to cities not having organized bus services.

 

4. Maharashtra Government Launches Bhagwan Birsa Munda Jodaraste Scheme: The Maharashtra cabinet decided to implement the Bhagwan Birsa Munda Jodaraste Scheme in Maharashtra to connect all tribal villages in 17 districts of the state with main roads. The project is estimated to cost Rs 5,000 crore and nearly 6,838 km of roads will be constructed as part of the scheme. In the Budget Session, Deputy CM and Finance Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced the implementation of the scheme to connect all the tribal padas by perennial roads

 

5. 4th G20 Trade and Investment Ministerial Meeting to begin in Jaipur: The G20 Trade and Investment Ministerial Meeting will be held in Jaipur on 24 and 25 of August. The meeting will be preceded by the 4th and last Trade and Investment Working Group meeting under India’s G20 Presidency which will take place on the 21st and 22nd of this month in Jaipur. Both meetings will be attended by more than 300 delegates, including trade ministers and secretaries and heads of delegations from G20 member countries, invitee countries, regional groupings, and international organizations. The deliberations will focus on building consensus on global trade and investment-related issues, along with accomplishing action-oriented proposals put forward by the Indian Presidency. The first three Trade and Investment Working Group meetings were held in Mumbai, Bangalore, and Kevadia. During the 1st and 2nd Trade and Investment Working Group meetings, five Priority issues, namely Trade for Growth and Prosperity, Resilient Trade and Global Value Chains, Integrating Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in World Trade, Logistics for Trade and World Trade Organization Reforms were extensively discussed among the G20 member and invitee countries.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. WHO South-East Asia region member countries adopt Gandhinagar declaration: The WHO South-East Asia Region committed to further accelerate efforts to end tuberculosis by 2030 with member countries adopting the Gandhinagar Declaration. The South-East Asia Region bears a disproportionate burden of nearly half of the global TB cases and deaths. The Declaration calls for establishing a high-level multi-sectoral commission reporting to the highest political level in each country for synergy of efforts among various stakeholders.

 

2. Trinidad And Tobago inks pact for sharing Indian Technology Stack: India and Trinidad and Tobago have recently entered into a significant partnership by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to share the renowned INDIA STACK technology. This collection of open APIs and digital public goods, pioneered by India, is designed to enhance identity, data, and payment services on a large scale. This move reflects India’s commitment to aiding the digital transformation of nations through collaboration and technology sharing.

 

3. Wipro launches center of excellence on generative Al at IIT Delhi: Indian IT services company Wipro has launched a centre of excellence on generative artificial intelligence in partnership with the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi (IIT Delhi). This centre has been set up on the premises of the Yardi School of Artificial Intelligence at IIT Delhi, and this Centre of Excellence (CoE) will support applied research in generative AI. The aim of this centre is to encourage and better the research and development capabilities in several emerging areas such as generative AI and then connect the candidates with a talent pool. Wipro CoE teams will jointly work on building innovative solutions using AI, Machine Learning (ML), and other technologies.

 

4. 19 August – World Photography Day: World Photography Day is celebrated every year on 19 August. The day is recognized to create awareness among people about the art, science, and craft of photography on a global level. Theme 2023 – LANDSCAPES The history of World Photography Day dates back to 1837, when Frenchmen Louis Daguerre and Joseph Nicephore Niepce developed the Daguerreotype, the first-ever photographic process. The patent of this invention was acquired by the French Government with an intention to offer it as a gift, “free to the world.” The public announcement regarding the same was made on 19 August, and that is why the World Photography is celebrated on 19 August every year.

 

 

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

 

1. India wins mixed team air pistol gold in ISSF World Championship 2023, Baku: The duo of Indian shooters, Esha Singh and Shiva Narwal, won the gold medal at the 10m air pistol mixed event in the final of the ISSF World Championship 2023 at Baku, Azerbaijan. The Indian duo defeated the Turkish pair of Ilayda Tarhan and Yusuf Dikec 16-10 in the final match. Presently, India placed second on the medals table with a gold and a bronze medal, while China is leading the tally with five gold and two bronze medals.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Kamlesh Varshney, Amarjeet Singh appointed SEBI whole-time members : The government has approved the appointment of Kamlesh Varshney and Amarjeet Singh as SEBI Whole-Time Members. Kamlesh Varshney, a 1990-batch officer of the Indian Revenue Service, is a joint secretary at the revenue department in the Finance Ministry. Amarjeet Singh is an executive director at the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). Both have been appointed for three years from the date of assumption of charge or until further orders.

 

2. Moody’s affirms India’s sovereign ratings, retains stable outlook: Rating agency Moody's has affirmed a BAA3 rating on India and maintained a 'stable' outlook on the Indian economy. The Baa3 rating and stable outlook also take into account a curtailment of civil society and political dissent, compounded by rising domestic political risk. India's long-term local and foreign-currency issuer ratings and the local-currency senior unsecured rating remain at Baa3. While the other short-term local-currency rating stands at P-3.

 

3. RBI launched UDGAM portal to track unclaimed deposits: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has launched a centralized web portal to help citizens search for their unclaimed deposits known as UDGAM stands for Unclaimed Deposits Gateway to Access inforMation. The portal has been developed by the central bank for the public to help them search for their unclaimed deposits across multiple banks at one place.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Matti banana variety granted the Geographical Indication (GI) tag: The Matti banana variety, native to Kanniyakumari district was recently granted the Geographical Indication (GI) tag. There are six known types of the Matti banana and they are indigenous to Kanniyakumari. They are known as ‘Baby Banana’ which flourishes mainly in Kalkulam and Vilavancode taluks. Its low total soluble solids content (TSSC) recommends it as a baby food. This GI tag is valid for 10 years following which it can be renewed.

 

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Former DRDO Director General Dr V.S. Arunachalam passes away: Dr V S Arunachalam, founder chairman of Bengaluru-based think tank Center for Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP), passed away at the age of 87 in California. Arunachalam helmed the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and was the Scientific Advisor to the Defence Minister from 1982-92. He was conferred the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award (1980), Padma Bhushan (1985), and Padma Vibhushan (1990) for his contribution to engineering science and technology

In 2015, Arunachalam was awarded DRDO’s Lifetime Achievement Award for his outstanding contribution to the field of scientific research and technology His distinguished career spanned across Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), National Aeronautical Laboratory, and Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory. In 2005 he founded the CSTEP to enrich policymaking with innovative approaches using science and technology for a sustainable, secure and inclusive society.