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Wednesday, August 30, 2023

Daily GK Update- 30th Aug, 2023

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. JP Nadda releases Outlook Group's Coffee Table Book 'Sikhs and Modi: BJP President J P Nadda released the Outlook Group's Coffee Table Book 'Sikhs and Modi (A Journey of Nine Years) in New Delhi authored by Prabhleen Singh. The teachings of Sikh Gurus contributed towards the unity of the society, patriotism, and dedication towards religion. It was the first time after Independence that the country has started observing ‘Veer Bal Diwas’ on the day of sacrifice by young sahibzade of Guru Gobind Singh for unity and integrity of the country.

 

2. NITI Aayog and UNDP sign Memorandum of Understanding on fast tracking SDGs: NITI Aayog and the United Nations Development Programme signed an MoU to formalize a cooperative framework to fast-track India's pursuit to achieve its sustainable development goals (SDGs) Objective: To focus on the two organizations' cooperation in a range of areas, including SDG localization, and data-driven monitoring, among others. NITI Aayog is the nodal Institution for coordinating the adoption and monitoring of SDGs at the national and sub-national levels.

 

3. Govt to launch a new scheme for in Pharma-Med Sector: Government to launch a new scheme for Promotion of Research and Innovation in Pharma- Med Sector with a total outlay of five thousand crore rupees.  Objective: To transform the Indian Pharma Med Tech sector from cost-based competitiveness to innovation-based growth by strengthening the research infrastructure in the country.  Aim: To promote the growth of pharma industry in the country , enhance manufacturing of drugs and promote research and innovation in the sector.

 

4. Gujarat announced 27% reservation for OBCs in local bodies like panchayat: The Gujarat government announced a 27 percent reservation for Other Backward Classes in local bodies like panchayats, municipalities, and civic corporations.  In the Panchayats Extension to Scheduled Areas notified areas, the reservation for OBCs will continue to be 10 percent to protect the interest of tribals.  The existing quota for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes will remain unchanged and there has been no breach of the 50 percent reservation ceiling.

 

5. Umesh Revankar is appointed as new chairman of FIDC: The Finance Industry Development Council has appointed Umesh Revankar as its new chairman.  He currently holds the position of executive vice chairman for Shriram Finance and have decades of experience and expertise in the financial services industry. He has risen through the ranks, assuming responsibilities and leadership roles in business operations. He played a pivotal role in making Shriram Transport Finance company the largest commercial vehicle financer in India.

 

6. ISRO-developed device for fishers’ safety successfully tested at Neendakara: ‘Nabhmitra’, a device developed by ISRO-Space Applications Centre (Ahmedabad) for the safety of fishermen, was tested at Neendakara. Satellite-based communication system enables two-way messaging services from and to the sea.  Weather and cyclone warnings will be communicated in the local language, the boats can also send distress messages to the authorities.  In capsizing and fire, fishers can press a button on the device and get in touch with the control centre. 

 

7. Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah launched 'Gruha Lakshmi' scheme: The Karnataka government launched the 'Gruha Lakshmi' women's financial aid scheme in Mysuru.  Under this scheme, about 1.1 crore women heads of family will get ₹2,000 each at a function in Mysuru. 'Gruha Lakshmi' scheme is one of the five pre-poll 'guarantees' of the Congress, which ousted the BJP from power in the Karnataka Assembly election held in May. The government has earmarked ₹17,500 crore for 'Gruha Lakshmi' programme in the current financial year.

 

8. BHEL manufactures first set of indigenous SCR Catalysts: Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) manufactured India’s first set of Catalysts for Selective Catalyst Reactors (SCR) for limiting NOx emissions from thermal power plants The first set of indigenously manufactured SCR catalysts for the 5x800 MW Yadadri Thermal Power Station in Telangana, were flagged, from the company’s Solar Business Division (SBD) unit in Bengaluru BHEL is India’s largest engineering and manufacturing company of its kind.

 

9. Chandrayaan-3's Pragyan rover confirms presence of sulphur in lunar surface: The Indian Space Research Organisation has announced that the Pragyan rover's Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscope confirmed the presence of sulphur in the lunar surface near the south pole, through the first-ever in-situ measurements.  The rover's spectroscope also detected Aluminium, Calcium, Ferrous (Iron), Chromium, Titanium, Manganese, Silicon, and Oxygen as expected and the search for hydrogen is underway. 

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Nitin Gadkari unveils world's first hundred percent Ethanol fuelled Car: Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari launched the world's first 100 percent Ethanol-fueled car in New Delhi. Aim: To reduce carbon footprint, improve sustainable mobility, and decrease the country's dependency on traditional fuel sources.  According to Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri with the implementation of 20 percent ethanol blending in petrol, the country will save 35 thousand crore rupees annually as import bill. 

 

2. India and New Zealand signs a MoU to boost cooperation in civil aviation: India and New Zealand have signed a MoU to boost cooperation in civil aviation in New Delhi.  Aim: To cover the scheduling of new routes, codeshare services, traffic rights, and capacity entitlement. The designated airlines of New Zealand may operate any number of services with any type of aircraft, with third and fourth freedom traffic rights to and from six points in India, namely New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Kolkata. 

 

3. 30 August – Small Industry Day: Small Industry Day is celebrated every year on August 30 in India. This day honours the invaluable contributions of small industries, often overlooked yet pivotal drivers of global economies. These industries, driven by unwavering resolve, are the backbone of innovation, job creation, and economic dynamism. At present, small industries make up approximately 40% of India’s overall economy. The roots of Small Industry Day can be traced back to the year 2000. In August of that year, the Indian government created a comprehensive policy package for small-scale industries (SSI). To mark this occasion, the Ministry of Small-Scale Industries announced that August 30, would be observed as the Small Industries Day, annually. It was celebrated for the first time on August 30, 2001. On this day, the Ministry of Small-Scale Industries organized a convention for small entrepreneurs in the national capital. These small-scale industries can range from blacksmiths to tailors, contributing their unique skills and products to their communities.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Parul breaks national record at World Athletics Championships: Indian athlete Parul Chaudhary finished in the eleventh position in the 3000 meters steeplechase final of the World Athletics Championships 2023 in Budapest Hungary. She broke the national record in the World Athletics Championships and qualified for the Paris Olympics 2024. Parul clocked 9:15.31s to break Lalita Babar’s mark of 9:19.76s set during Rio Olympics in 2016 while also finishing comfortably under 9:23.00s, the automatic qualification mark for next year’s Summer Games in the French capital. Earlier in the preliminary round, Parul ran five seconds faster than her previous personal best (9.29.51) and it helped her finish in fifth place and earn a spot in the final. Brunei athlete Winfred Mutile Yavi clinched the gold medal, Kenya’s Beatrice Chepkoech won silver and another Kenya athlete Faith Cherotich achieved winning bronze.

 

2. Max Verstappen w Dutch Grand Prix 2023: Max Verstappen has won the Dutch Grand Prix for the third consecutive year, once again prevailing at his home race. With the dominant win, Verstappen has now matched Sebastian Vettel’s all-time record of nine F1 victories in a row. Fernando Alonso secured a podium position by coming in Sergio PĂ©rez, driving for Red Bull, initially finished third, but a five-second penalty resulted in Pierre Gasly taking third place on the podium.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. ADB and Fourth Partner Energy Collaborate for Solar Power Plant in TN: The Asian Development Bank and Fourth Partner Energy Private Limited signed a long-term loan of up to 1.2 billion Rs to construct and operate a 25-megawatt solar photovoltaic-based power plant Aim: To increase clean and low-cost energy supply to commercial and industrial customers. The power plant, located in Tamil Nadu in India, is expected to generate about 50.7 gigawatt-hours of electricity annually and will directly sell power to commercial and industrial users. 

 

2. Axis Bank launched 'Infinity Savings A/c' with no domestic transaction fees: Axis Bank launched a new savings account variant – ‘Infinity Savings Account’ to cater to digitally savvy customers who are frequent adopters of subscription-based models.  Objective: To offer Axis Bank’s customers exclusive privileges, such as waived Average Monthly Balance (AMB) requirement, complimentary debit cards, and waiver of all the domestic charges against a small monthly recurring fee of Rs 150 or annual fee of Rs 1,650.

 

3. Yes bank partnered with fintech Zaggle for next-gen corporate credit card: Yes Bank has launched co-branded Corporate Credit Card in collaboration with spend management platform Zaggle, to empower businesses to reimagine their payment processes, streamline reconciliation, and efficiently manage company expenditures. The new card ‘YES BANK Zaggle Corporate Credit Card’, provides businesses direct control over company expenditures. This includes the ability to set individual spending limits, apply merchant category restrictions, and implement diverse controls. Additionally, cardholders gain access to an array of exclusive benefits, spanning rewards, golf privileges, lounge access, and travel insurance. The partnership with Zaggle enables businesses to bring in operational efficiencies by allowing them to undertake banking transactions, manage company expenditures as well as keep track of all business-related overheads on a single platform. Executive Director of Yes Bank – Rajan Pental

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Parmeet Singh Sood felicitated at “ET Leadership Excellence Awards: The Economic Times honored the achievements of leaders and change-makers who have made significant contributions in their respective fields. Parmeet Singh Sood, Managing Director of Climax Overseas Pvt. Ltd. was awarded the “Excellence in Manufacturing Of Automobile Parts” and felicitated by the well-known Bollywood actress Rakul Preet Singh along with Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva. Parmeet Singh Sood’s journey began in 1999 as a 21-year-old. Fresh from the University of Bradford, UK, with a degree in Business and Management Studies, Parmeet embraced the challenge of transformation and growth. He started his career at the grassroots selling door-to-door in the spare parts market of Kenya and then quickly went on to target large aftermarket customers in Europe within the first couple of years of his joining the business.

 

2. Priyan Sain Crowned Miss Earth India 2023: Rajasthan’s Priyan Sain clinched the title of Miss Earth India 2023 during the Miss Divine Beauty 2023 national final held in New Delhi. The 20-year-old student, dancer, and taekwondo player from Jaipur, succeeds last year’s winner Vanshika Parmar, and will now prepare to represent India at the Miss Earth 2023 pageant in Vietnam this December. She received her crown from reigning Miss Earth from Korea Mina Sue Choi who was invited as a special guest along with Miss Earth Air from Australia Sheridan Mortlock. At the same event, Praveena Aanjna was named Miss International India 2023 while Pema Choden Bhutia and Tejaswini Shrivastava were both announced as runners-up. Prior to becoming a finalist for Miss Divine Beauty and eventually winning her national title, Priyan participated in Miss Rajasthan 2022 where she finished as first runner-up. As a result of winning the Miss India pageant, she will participate in the Miss World pageant to be held in Vietnam. The Miss India 2023 pageant was held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Delhi.

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