Daily GK Update- 28th Aug, 2023

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Amit Shah to chair 26th meeting of Western Zonal Council in Gandhinagar: Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Chaired the 26th Western Zonal Council (WZC) meeting at Gandhinagar.   Aim: To enhance cooperation between the states through regular dialogue and discussion. The meeting is being organized by the Inter-State Council Secretariat under the Ministry of Home Affairs in collaboration with the Government of Gujarat. The WZC comprises the states of Gujarat, Goa, Maharashtra, and the Union Territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu

 

2. Indian Air Force participates in Exercise Bright Star-23 at Cairo Air Base: Indian Air Force (IAF) contingent participated for the first time in Exercise BRIGHT STAR-23, a biennial multilateral tri-service exercise It is being held at Cairo Air Base, Egypt, from August 27 to September 16, 2023

Aim: To strengthen strategic partnerships and enhance joint operational capabilities. Objective: To practice planning and execution of joint operations The IAF contingent will consist of five MiG-29, two IL-78, two C-130 and two C-17 aircraft.

 

3. Ministry of education unveils smart India hackathon 2023: The Ministry of Education and the All India Council of Technical Education have launched the sixth edition of the Smart India Hackathon 2023. Aim: To showcase the growing culture of innovation in India’s education sector. Objective: To bring together the creativity of India’s young minds with real-world challenges faced by various government departments. It has become a global model for hackathons and innovation frameworks, reflecting its dynamic evolution over time.

 

4. BHEL develops India’s first catalyst set to curb NOx emissions in power plants: State-owned engineering firm Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) has successfully manufactured the first set of indigenous SCR Catalysts for limiting NOx emissions from thermal power plants. SCR Catalysts were earlier imported in line with the ‘Make in India’ initiative. The initial batch of indigenous SCR Catalyst was manufactured for 5×800 MW Yadadri Thermal Power Station in Telangana. BHEL set up a manufacturing facility at its Solar Business Division unit to produce SCR catalysts for reducing NOx emissions in thermal power plants. Burning coal converts its nitrogen content into nitrogen oxides (NOx), a major air pollutant that includes substances such as NO, NO2, and N2O.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. NASA, SpaceX launch sends four astronauts from four countries to ISS: NASA and SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft has blasted off carrying four astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS). The Dragon spacecraft carried by a Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Four astronauts from four countries, including the US, Denmark, Japan, and Russia. The agency’s SpaceX Crew-7 mission is the seventh commercial crew rotation mission for NASA.

 

2. Germany develops device for visually impaired: With the help of modern technology, even the visually impaired can now try their hand at sports of shooting. Germany has developed a device for the visually impaired. This device has been brought to India for the first time and given to the visually impaired in Pune. In shooting, the target is identified and aimed through binoculars. The same technique has been developed by these devices, one part of this device is in the rifle and the other part is on the headphones placed on the ear. This device will do the work of target sighting for visually impaired shooters. The device sends a signal to the visually impaired when they come close to the main circle.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Neeraj became first Indian to won Gold at World Athletics Championships: Neeraj Chopra made history by winning the gold medal in the men's javelin throw (88.17 meters) event at the World Athletics Championships 2023 held in Budapest, Hungary. He became the first-ever Indian athlete to achieve this feat, marking a significant milestone for Indian athletics. Neeraj faced tough competition, notably from Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem, who secured the silver medal with a commendable throw of 87.82 meters.

 

2. India's Men's Relay Team Finishes Fifth at World Athletics Championship: The Indian men's 4x400 metres relay team comprising of Muhammed Anas Yahiya, Amoj Jacob, Muhammed Ajmal and Rajesh Ramesh ended in the fifth position in the 4x400 metres relay race final at the World Athletics Championships 2023. The USA relay team of Quincy Hall, Vernon Norwood, Justin Robinson, and Rai Benjamin won finished first and won the gold.  France clocked bagged silver while Great Britain claimed bronze.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Asian Development Bank to create climate change and health hub: India in partnership with the Asian Development Bank is set to open a climate change and health hub in the national capital Delhi Objective: To facilitate knowledge sharing, promote partnerships and innovations, and also help countries beyond the G-20, especially developing countries. Climate change affects all of us and this centre will give us the opportunity to have different partners discussing this important issue and learning from each other.

 

2. RBI approves merger of Akola Merchant Co-operative Bank: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI)  approved the merger of The Jalgaon Peoples Co-operative Bank and Akola Merchant Co-operative Bank.   Aim: To streamline operations and services for customers under a unified entity. The Akola Merchant Co-operative Bank branches would operate as branches of The Jalgaon Peoples Co-operative Bank. The merger of Twin Cities Co-operative Urban Bank Ltd and Kranti Co-operative Urban Bank Ltd was also given the go-ahead by the central bank

 

3. Airtel Payments Bank partner with Frontier Markets, to support 1 lakh women: Airtel Payments Bank, Frontier Markets, and the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth have announced the launch of ‘She Leads Bharat: Udyam’, a first-of-its-kind initiative Aim: To elevate women-owned small businesses(WOSB) with resources, tools, and opportunities to grow and diversify their incomes.  Objective: To bring together the private sector, and social enterprise, to demonstrate a digital-first model designed to unlock ways for WOSB to increase their incomes.

 

4. RBI enhances transactions limits for small value digital payments to ₹500.: RBI has announced to enhance transaction limits for small value digital payments in offline mode to ₹500 from the earlier cap of ₹200. Aim: To enable faster, more reliable, and contactless payments for everyday small value purchases, transit payments, and so on by eliminating the need for two-factor verification for small value transactions. This effectively means that transacting parties can carry out digital transactions amounting to ₹500 each in the offline mode.