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Friday, September 15, 2023

Daily GK Update- 15th Sept, 2023

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. State Health Minister launches "Mission Intensified IndraDhanush” 5.0: Punjab state Health Minister Balbir Singh launched "Mission Intensified Indra Dhanush” 5.0. Aim: To provide vaccination against 12 Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (VPD) i.e. diphtheria, Whooping cough, tetanus, polio, tuberculosis, hepatitis B, meningitis and pneumonia. The main purpose of the launch of this mission is to cover those pregnant women who are partially vaccinated or unvaccinated as well as children left out and drop out in the age group of 0-5 years.

 

2. Engineer's Day is observed on 15th September: Engineers Day is being celebrated across the country on 15th September.  The theme for 2023 is 'Engineering for a Sustainable Future. The date of birth of Dr. Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya, popularly known as the Civil Engineer of India, was announced by the Government of India in the year 1868 to celebrate 15 September (year 1860) as Engineer's Day. He was awarded the Bharat Ratna in the year 1955, 15 September (year 1860). It is also celebrated in Sri Lanka and Tanzania.

 

3. SIDBI partners with Tata Power for MSME solar rooftop financing: Tata Power Company signed a MoU with the Small Industries Development Bank of India to provide accessible financing options to MSMEs looking to adopt solar solutions. Aim:  To promote solar energy adoption among MSMEs by providing tailored and innovative financing solutions through SIDBI’s 4E Scheme Scheme: MSMEs opting for Rooftop Solar PV Plants or associated services from Tata Power or its channel partners across India will receive financial support from SIDBI.

 

4. Odisha Govt signs MoU with six public sector banks to provide banking servi: Odisha Govt has signed an MoU with six Public Sector Banks for providing banking services in all unbanked Gram Panchayats of the State through CSP Plus banking outlets. Banks include  SBI, PNB, Union Bank, UCO Bank, BOI, BOB Aim: To provide rent free banking space for 5 years and also bear one-time expenses for Fixed Cost & Recurring expenses for a period of 3 years. Scheme will be implemented in a phased manner to cover all unbanked GPs of State within the FY23-24

 

5. Assam Governor launches 'Sarpanch Samvad' app: Assam Governor Gulab Chand Kataria unveiled ‘Sarpanch Samvaad’ , a mobile application app of the Quality Council of India (QCI) in Raj Bhavan. Aim: To connect approximately 2.5 lakh Sarpanchs across India, which serves as a holistic platform for networking, knowledge dissemination, and collaboration. Through this initiative, Sarpanchs can spotlight developmental activities in their villages, learn about best practices, and foster connections nationwide.

 

6. India becomes the 13th nation to issue OIML certificates: India has become the 13th Internationally Accepted OIML (International Organization of Legal Metrology) Certificates Issuing Authority. Aim: To create a facility for international manufacturers to get their equipment tested in here and this, in turn, will generate revenue and employment. OIML is an intergovernmental organisation and its certificate is internationally accepted for selling weights & measures anywhere in the world.

 

7. Uber partners with Indian Navy to offer Mobility Solutions: Uber has partnered with the Indian Navy to become its exclusive mobility partner to offer transportation solutions for official travel and commute of naval officers, staff, and families across the country. This partnership will deliver reliable, convenient, and safe mobility solutions to the esteemed Indian Navy officers, staff, and their families. Through this partnership, the Indian Navy will seamlessly integrate Uber’s advanced ride-sharing technology via a seamless platform – Uber for Business into the Naval ecosystem. The partnership will help streamline the travel experiences of the Naval workforce, making their travel smoother and the process more efficient. As part of this collaboration, Uber aims to drive effective change management for both official travel and commuting and also bring curated enterprise benefits for the Indian Navy.

 

8. ICCR organized ‘Vaishali Festival of Democracy’ at Bihar: The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) has organized the “Vaishali Festival of Democracy” at Bihar’s Nalanda University exhibiting India’s rich democratic traditions. The festival – the ‘Vaishali Festival of Democracy’, will be held on Friday (September 15), which is also the International Day of Democracy. The ICCR chose the university as the venue due to its great significance for Bihar, the democratic ethos of the country, and the presence of an international audience. Vaishali in Bihar is the place where the roots of democracy are traced. The ICCR, which is an autonomous body under the administrative control of the Ministry of External Affairs, chose Nalanda University as the venue for the event comprising panel discussions and cultural exchange to take the discourse on a global stage. Ambassadors from five countries, including Chili, Egypt, Argentina, and Nepal, has also attend the festival, besides dignitaries.

 

9. 15 September – Engineer’s Day: Engineer’s Day in India is celebrated on September 15 every year to commemorate the birth anniversary of one of India’s greatest engineering visionaries, Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya. Sir Visvesvaraya, born in 1861, was not only a distinguished engineer but also a statesman and the Diwan of Mysore. He played a pivotal role in the development of India’s infrastructure and was a pioneer in various fields of engineering. His contributions left an indelible mark on the nation, and Engineer’s Day serves as a tribute to his remarkable legacy It’s a day to celebrate the spirit of innovation, problem-solving, and technological advancement. Engineers from various fields, including civil, mechanical, electrical, computer, and more, are recognized for their relentless efforts in shaping a better future for India.

 

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. International Day of Democracy is observed on 15th September: The International Day of Democracy is celebrated around the world on 15 September each year. 2023 Theme: Empowering the next generation It was established through a resolution passed by the UN General Assembly in 2007, encouraging governments to strengthen and consolidate democracy. It is an opportunity to highlight the important role of parliaments and to celebrate their capacity and mandate to deliver on justice, peace, development, and human rights.

 

2. India and Japan hold discussion on bilateral cyber cooperation in Tokyo: India and Japan discussed important areas of bilateral cyber cooperation and reviewed the progress achieved in the areas of cyber security and Information and Communication Technologies. Japan hosted the fifth India-Japan Cyber Dialogue in Tokyo  Aim: To exchange views on the latest developments in the cyber domain and mutual cooperation at the United Nations and other multilateral and regional fora, including under the Quad framework.

 

3. TCS collaborates with Dassault Systems in Living Heart Project: Tata Consultancy Services Ltd. has partnered with Dassault Systems as part of the Living Heart Project. This initiative brings together a network of cardiovascular experts, medical professionals, and regulatory bodies, including the US FDA, to develop and validate highly realistic digital simulations of the human heart. The Living Heart Project aims to revolutionize medical solutions, including the utilization of heart simulations as digital evidence for the approval of new cardiovascular devices. TCS will use its technology expertise to contribute to developing digital human heart models.

 

4. Maharashtra Governor inaugurated the 4th Edition of World Trade Expo: Ramesh Bais inaugurated the 4th edition of the World Trade Expo, which is India’s biggest business platform for aiding global trade linkages, especially for MSMEs. The event is organized jointly by the World Trade Center Mumbai and All India Association of Industries (AIAI) with a view to highlight technology as a key driver of trade and tourism. It is an effective platform for MSMEs to explore new global markets and identify opportunities in trade, tourism and technology exchange. This unique trade show will facilitate networking for MSMEs, women entrepreneurs, startups, and Corporate Houses with diplomatic missions from more than 25 countries, Chambers of Commerce and Government agencies. World Trade Expo will be a promising platform to showcase trade and investment opportunities in the participating countries to local MSMEs, start-ups and other stakeholders through Country Presentations, Knowledge Sessions and Exhibits.

 

5. 15 September – International Day of Democracy: The International Day of Democracy is observed every year on September 15. Objective – To underscores the importance of democracy as a fundamental human right and a cornerstone of good governance and peace. Theme 2023 – Empowering the next generation Established in 2007 by a resolution passed by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), this day serves as a reminder of the essential role that democracy plays in shaping societies worldwide. The establishment of the International Day of Democracy can be traced back to the Universal Declaration on Democracy, which was formally adopted on September 15, 1997, by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. FIH withdraws Olympic qualifiers hosting rights from Pakistan: The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has withdrawn the hosting rights of the Olympic Qualifiers from Pakistan, slated to be held in January 2024. The FIH decision came as a result of the infighting between the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) and the state-owned Pakistan Sports Board (PSB). The decision has come as a big blow to Pakistan hockey, which had got the rights to host an international event after more than a decade Pakistan failed to qualify for the last two editions.

 

2. Kuldeep Yadav becomes fastest Indian spinner to reach 150 ODI wickets: Kuldeep Yadav reached the 150 ODI wickets mark, becoming the fastest Indian spinner to do so in just 88 One Day Internationals. The Chinaman bowler accomplished this milestone against Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup Super Four match. Now in 88 ODIs, Kuldeep has 150 wickets at an average of 25.64, with the best bowling figures of 6/25. He has taken seven four-wicket hauls and two five-wicket hauls for India in ODIs. He is the second-fastest Indian to reach the mark after pacer Mohammed Shami, who reached 150 wickets in 80 matches. Kuldeep is also the fourth-fastest spinner ever to reach 150 ODI wickets, with Sri Lanka’s Ajantha Mendis (84 matches), Rashid Khan (80 matches) and Saqlain Mushtaq (78 matches) above him.

 

3. India Crowned Champions After Beating Bangladesh In SAFF U16 Final: India secured the championship title by triumphing over Bangladesh with a 2-0 victory in the final match of the SAFF U-16 Championship 2023 at the Changlimithang Stadium in Thimphu, Bhutan. Bharat Lairenjam scored a goal in the first half, while Levis Zangminlun secured the winning goal in the second half, leading to a convincing victory for India. India Under-17

 

·       Head coach- Ishfaq Ahmed

·       Best Goalkeeper of SAFF U16 Championship- Suraj Singh

·       Most Valuable Player (MVP) – Mohammed Arbash

·       Highest Scorer of SAFF U16 Championship – Mohammed Arbash

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. IIT Kanpur partners with ICICI Bank to foster startup innovation: The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur signed a MoU with private lender ICICI Bank to support the startup ecosystem in the institute.  Aim: To empower startups and innovators at its Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC).  SIIC is one of the oldest incubators in the country having been engulfed on its journey in 2000. Objective: To support incubates by improving their understanding of foreign trade policies by conducting several workshops and seminars.

 

2. Max Life Insurance enters health, wellness segment with new plan SEWA: Max Life Insurance Company made its foray into the health and wellness category with the launch of a flagship offering Secure Earnings & Wellness Advantage Plan (SEWA) Aim: To drive insurance adoption amongst women and transgender customers for financial inclusion, it provides a 5% discount in the 1st yr premium to these customer segments Objective: To integrate health, protection, and holistic wellness benefits to cater to the evolving needs of the modern consumer

 

3. Yes Bank and BriskPe partner to enable seamless cross-border payments: Cross-border payments company BriskPe and Yes Bank have partnered to introduce BriskPe A2A, a suite of solutions designed to empower exporters and importers. Aim: To boost the MSME sector and transform India into a global export powerhouse. Objective: To enables BriskPe’s customers to collect payments in over 36 foreign currencies, spanning over 180 countries.  The funds can then be converted into INR and settled directly into their local bank accounts in India

 

4. RBI issues revised norms for valuation of investment by banks: The Reserve Bank of India has issued revised classification, valuation and operation guidelines for the investment portfolio of commercial banks, which will be effective from April 1, 2024. Banks will have to categorize investments into three categories from the next financial year: available for sale (AFS), held to maturity (HTM), and a new category called ‘fair value through profit and loss’, or FVTPL. The existing held-for-trading (HFT) category will become a sub-category of the FVTPL. The revised directions include principle-based classification of the investment portfolio, tightening of regulations around transfers to/from held to maturity (HTM) category and sales out of HTM, inclusion of non-SLR (statutory liquidity ratio) securities in HTM subject to fulfillment of certain conditions and symmetric recognition of gains and losses. As per the revised norms, banks will have to classify their entire investment portfolio under three categories — Held to Maturity (HTM), Available for Sale (AFS) and Fair Value through Profit and Loss (FVTPL).

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Najma Akhtar honored with lifetime achievement award in academia 2023: Professor Najma Akhtar, the Vice-Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), has been honored with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award-Academia 2023. The award was presented by Padma Vibhushan awardee Raghunath Anant Mashelkar at the Grand Conference and Award Function titled Making India Employable. The ‘ Making India Employable' Awards are organized to celebrate individual success, innovation, and real-world impact in the field of education, and employability.

 

2. Rail India Technical and Economic Service won Safety Innovation Award 2023: Rail India Technical and Economic Service Limited has been honored with the ‘Safety Innovation Award 2023’, under the ‘Construction’ category, for implementing ‘Innovative Safety Management Systems’ in its operations.  The award was presented to RITES’ officials during the inaugural function of the 20th Safety Convention organized. RITES, having multi-sectoral presence, has consistently embraced best safety practices in its operations.


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