Daily GK Update- 16th Sept, 2023

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Govt approves defence acquisition worth 45 thousand crore: The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has accorded Acceptance of Necessity, AoN for nine capital acquisition proposals of approximately 45 thousand crore rupees. The meeting was held under the chairmanship of Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh. All these procurements will be made from Indian vendors which will give a substantial boost to the Indian defence Industry towards achieving the goal of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’.

 

2. IRS officer Rahul Navin appointed ED Acting Director: The Centre has appointed special director Rahul Navin as in-charge director of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) till the new regular director is selected. He is a 1993-batch IRS officer and took charge as the acting director of the ED from Sanjay Kumar Mishra. He is currently working as a Special Director-Chief Vigilance Officer (ED headquarters). The Centre had approached the Supreme Court seeking a tenure extension for Mishra till October 15.

 

3. Cabinet approves eCourts phase III for 4 years: The Indian government has given the green light to Phase III of the e-Courts project, marking another significant step towards modernizing the country’s judicial system. With a substantial budget allocation of Rs 7,210 crore, this initiative aims to leverage technology to enhance the efficiency and accessibility of the courts. One of the central objectives of the e-Courts Phase III project is to transition towards a digital, online, and paperless court system.

 

4. Ministry of Railways launches ‘Swachhata Pakhwada-2023’: The Ministry of Railways in India has officially launched the Swachhata Pakhwada 2023 campaign. This initiative, aimed at promoting cleanliness and environmental consciousness, commenced on the 15th of September, 2023. Chairperson & CEO of the Railway Board, Jaya Varma Sinha, kicked off the event at Rail Bhawan by leading the Swachhata Pledge.  The Swachhata Pledge embraced by the entire Railway family is built upon three fundamental principles

 

5. India launches UPAg, a Unified Portal for Agricultural Statistics: The government of India has unveiled the UPAg (Unified Portal for Agricultural Statistics) to tackle the complex governance challenges that currently beset the country’s farming industry. The Ministry of Agriculture hails UPAg as an innovative platform meticulously crafted to streamline and enhance data management within the agricultural domain. It represents a crucial stride towards establishing a more efficient and responsive agricultural policy framework.

 

6. Sindhu Gangadharan appointed VC of NASSCOM: Sindhu Gangadharan has been appointed as the Vice Chairperson of the National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM). She is currently Senior Vice-Chairperson and Managing Director at SAP Labs India. As the first woman to lead SAP Labs India, which is SAP’s largest R&D center globally, Gangadharan is responsible for overseeing product development and innovation across all five centers located in Bangalore, Gurgaon, Pune, Hyderabad, and Mumbai. Earlier this year, Gangadharan was appointed as the Chairperson of the Nasscom GCC Council for the term 2023-2025.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. 14th edition of World Spice Congress (WSC) held in Mumbai: The 14th edition of the World Spice Congress (WSC) began at Vashi in Navi Mumbai. Theme: 'VISION 2030: S-P-I-C-E-S The three-day event has been organized by the Spices Board India, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, in association with various trade bodies and export forums. The event has the presence of policymakers, regulatory authorities, spice trade associations, government officials as well as technical experts from G20 countries, among others.

 

2. Srinivasan K. Swamy elected Chairman of Audit Bureau of Circulations: Srinivasan K. Swamy, Executive Chairman of R.K. Swamy Hansa Group, has been unanimously elected Chairman of the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) for the year 2023-2024. He served as Chairman of the Asian Federation of Advertising Associations. He was earlier President / Chairman of the International Advertising Association (IAA), IAA India Chapter, Confederation of Asian Advertising Agency Associations, and Advertising Agencies Association of India.

 

3. International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer 2023: World Ozone Day is observed annually on September 16 to raise awareness about the importance of the ozone layer and how its depletion is leading to global warming and climate change across the world. 2023 theme: Montreal Protocol: Fixing the Ozone Layer and Reducing Climate Change The day is recognised to commemorate the Montreal Protocol, an environmental agreement that regulates the production and consumption of nearly 100 man-made chemicals.

 

4. India ranks first among 154 nations in Grassroot Adoption of Crypto: According to the Chainalysis’ 2023 Global Crypto Adoption Index, India has achieved the top rank among 154 nations in grassroots crypto adoption, displaying remarkable resilience. Nigeria ranked second in the index, followed by Vietnam. India has secured the first position in four critical parameters:

·       Centralized Service Value Received

·       Retail Centralized Service Value Received

·       DeFi Value Received

·       Retail DeFi Value Received

 

5. Amazon Web Services ties up with ISRO to advance its Al capabilities: Amazon’s cloud computing division Amazon Web Services (AWS) has signed an agreement with the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) to support space technology with its cloud products. This will help space startups and research institutes tap cloud technologies and develop talent. Also, it means startups can develop space-tech solutions and improve their research and development using AWS. Cloud computing-led innovations enable the space industry to make faster decisions and help startups identify use cases and accelerate solution development. AWS hopes to grow in the Indian market with space-tech associations as India opens up its space sector to private players creating a successful startup ecosystem.

 

6. 15 September – World Lymphoma Awareness Day: World Lymphoma Awareness Day is observed every year on 15 September. The day is dedicated to educating people about Lymphoma – the cancer of the the lymphatic system. Theme 2023 – We Can’t Wait to Focus on Our Feelings WLAD’s roots can be traced back to the founding of the Lymphoma Coalition in 2002. This international network brought together lymphoma patient organizations from around the world to collaborate, share resources, and advocate for lymphoma patients. In 2004, WLAD was inaugurated to coincide with the establishment of the Lymphoma Coalition. Since then, it has been a global endeavor to raise awareness about lymphoma and its impact on patients. Lymphoma is a life-threatening health conditions that occurs when the cells of lymph system (white blood cells or lymphocytes) become cancerous. There are two types of Lymphoma including of Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).

 

7. 16 September – World Ozone Day: World Ozone Day, also known as the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, is observed annually on 16 September. Ozone Day is celebrated to raise awareness about the depletion of the ozone layer and to explore potential solutions for its preservation. Theme 2023 – Montreal Protocol: Recovering the ozone layer and mitigating climate change This theme underlines the important role of the Montreal Protocol not only in protecting the ozone layer but also in addressing and mitigating climate change. The ozone layer is composed primarily of trioxygen molecules (O3) and acts as a protective shield against harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays from the Sun.

 

8. 17 September – World Patient Safety Day: World Patient Safety Day is annually observed on September 17 every year. It aims to raise awareness about the importance of patient safety within clinical and healthcare environments. Theme 2023 – Engaging patients for patient safety

Since 2019, World Patient Safety Day has been observed across the world while stating the global solidarity and the concerted action by different countries and international partner organizations to improve patient safety. According to a report by WHO, as many as one million fatalities are reported annually due to errors in patient safety, especially during or after an operation of the patient. Additionally, over two million people reportedly suffer from unsafe medical care per year, which is an alarming number.

 

 

 

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. IndiGo becomes official airline for Indian football team: IndiGo has become the global partner and official airline for the Indian football team. As the official airline for the Indian football team, IndiGo’s network is meticulously designed to cater to the diverse travel requirements of players, officials, and support staff. The partnership with the All-India Football Federation ( AIFF ) is for one year.

 

2. Maharashtra wins 5th National Wheelchair Rugby Championship 2023: Maharashtra clinched the title of champions in the 5th National Wheelchair Rugby Championship 2023 by securing a convincing victory over Karnataka. It was organized by The Indian Rugby Football Union (Rugby India), the governing body for rugby in India. It was conducted in association with the Wheelchair Rugby Federation of India and Mitsubishi This National Wheelchair Rugby Championship 2023 marked a major milestone for Wheelchair Rugby in India. With the participation of 14 states, the event was the largest national wheelchair event that Rugby India has hosted till date. The states participating were Bihar, Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, and host Maharashtra.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. SIDBI partners with Tata Power for MSME solar rooftop financing: Tata Power Solar Systems Limited (TPSSL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tata Power Renewable Energy Limited (TREPL) has partnered with the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) to provide loans to MSMEs looking to install rooftop Solar PV plants from Tata Power or its authorized channel partners. The two entities signed a memorandum of understanding for the same at the Global SME Finance Forum 2023 in Mumbai. SIDBI will facilitate the ‘ease of opting’ for renewable energy in the MSME sector and power its quest to become more efficient and globally competitive. Tata Power Solar and SIDBI also launched The Big Solar Fest to encourage the adoption of solar energy among MSMEs with zero percent processing fees for the upcoming festive season. Tata Power Solar offers solar energy solutions from installation to operational maintenance and has so far provided 11.5 GWp ground-mounted solar capacity, over 1.7 GWp rooftop-mounted solar capacity systems, and more than 1 lakh solar water pumps. CEO & MD of Tata Power – Dr. Praveer Sinha

 

2. Yes Bank partnered with BriskPe to enable seamless cross-border payment: Cross-border payments’ fintech company BriskPe and Yes Bank have partnered to introduce BriskPe A2A, a suite of solutions designed to empower exporters and importers. This strategic partnership enables BriskPe’s customers to collect payments in over 36 foreign currencies, spanning over more than 180 countries. The funds can then be converted into Indian Rupees (INR) and settled directly into their local bank accounts in India within a single business day. This collaboration represents a significant leap in the realm of cross-border payments, benefiting Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the manufacturing and services sectors. The product is set to redefine the landscape of international trade with features like real-time transaction processing and instant eFIRA generation. Through this, the bank also aims to contribute and strongly align with the government’s aim of boosting the MSME sector and transforming India into a global export powerhouse.

 

3. S.R. Batliboi appointed as a Paytm auditor: S.R. Batliboi & Associates LLP has been appointed as the new statutory auditor of Paytm for 5 years. Price Waterhouse Chartered Accountants LLP has completed its term as the statutory auditor of the company at the conclusion of the AGM. Price Waterhouse Chartered Accountants LLP on August 7 announced its resignation as auditor of Paytm Payments Services Limited with immediate effect. PwC had cited the change of auditors at the holding company level and Paytm’s practice to align the auditor of the holding company and subsidiaries to bring in synergies in the audit process.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Karachi’s Erica Robin becomes first Miss Universe Pakistan 2023: Erica Robin, a model from Karachi has been crowned “Miss Universe Pakistan 2023”, becoming the first-ever woman from the country to win the title. Four other models from different parts of the country participated in the beauty pageant, including Hira Inam from Lahore, Jessical Wilson from Rawalpindi, Pakistani-American Malika Alvi from Pennsylvania, and Sabrina Wasim. Jessica Wilson was named first runner-up.

 

2. RITES Limited awarded with Safety Innovation Award 2023 : Rail India Technical and Economic Service (RITES) Limited has received the ‘Safety Innovation Award 2023’ in the ‘Construction’ category. The award was presented to RITES’ officials during the inaugural function of the 20th Safety Convention organized by The Institution of Engineers (India), the largest multi-disciplinary professional body of engineers in New Delhi. RITES, having a multi-sectoral presence, has consistently embraced best safety practices in its operations, exemplifying its commitment to prioritizing safety measures at worksites. RITES is a multi-sector company that consistently prioritizes safety at its workplaces.