Daily GK Update- 27th Sept, 2023

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Infosys ties with Microsoft for industry-wide adoption of generative AI: IT major Infosys is collaborating with Microsoft to jointly develop industry-leading solutions that leverage Infosys Topaz, Azure OpenAI Service and Azure Cognitive Services.  Both organizations are bringing together their respective AI capabilities to enhance enterprise functions with AI-enabled solutions across multiple industries.  The integrated solutions will accelerate rapid democratization of data and intelligence that will help businesses increase productivity

 

2. RK Singh inaugurated ‘India Energy Summit 2023’ in New Delhi: Minister of Power, New and Renewable Energy RK Singh has inaugurated the ‘India Energy Summit 2023′ at FICCI Federation House in New Delhi. Two-day Summit aims to focus on the development of an enabling Green Hydrogen ecosystem in the country. He stressed that India is committed to living behind a healthy and safe plant for the next generation. In the inauguration session of the summit, Ambassador of Kindom of Belgium Didier Vanderhasselt and Germany Ambassador Dr Philipp Ackermann along with senior dignitaries were also present.

 

3. Haryana govt ban on ‘Hookah bars’ in state: Haryana government has announced that all hookah bars in the state will be shut. The ban includes serving hookah to customers in hotels, restaurants, bars, and commercial establishments across the state. However, this will not apply to traditional hookahs used in rural areas. He announced during a state-level ‘Cyclothon’, organized as part of a drug de-addiction campaign in Karnal.

 

4. Amit Khare gets extension as advisor to PM Modi: Former bureaucrat Amit Khare has been given extension as advisor to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the extension in Khare’s tenure beyond 12 October 2023, for a period co-terminus with the term of Prime Minister. He was appointed to the post for two years in October 2021. Khare, a 1985-batch (retired) Indian Administrative Service IAS officer of the Jharkhand cadre, had superannuated on 30th September 2021. He also served as the higher education secretary. In another order, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has also approved the extension in tenure of Rajesh S Gokhale as secretary, Department of Biotechnology, for a period of two years, with effect from 1st November 2023.

 

5. Rajnath Singh inaugurated Bharat Drone Shakti 2023 at Hindon Airbase: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has inaugurated the Bharat Drone Shakti-2023 exhibition at the Hindan Air Base in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghaziabad. The mega drone show is being hosted by the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Drone Federation of India (DFI). Approximately 75 drones are on static display, with more than 50 set to be showcased in aerial displays throughout the event. The Defence Minister formally inducted the C-295 transport aircraft into the Indian Air Force in the presence of top military officials, including IAF chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari India has formalized the acquisition of 56 Airbus C-295 aircraft to replace the Indian Air Force AVRO fleet.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. World Tourism Day being celebrated across globe: World Tourism Day is being observed on September 27. Aim: To promote tourism all over the globe.  Objective: To foster awareness among the international community on the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political, and economic value.  The theme for this year's World Tourism Day is 'Tourism and Green Investments'.  Tourism helps provide employment to millions of people to the extent that few countries are completely dependent on the tourism sector

 

2. Katrina Kaif appointed as first Indian brand ambassador of Uniqlo: Japanese apparel retailer Uniqlo has appointed Bollywood actress Katrina Kaif as its first brand ambassador in India and attempts to woo affluent shoppers and plans to add to more stores. The 40-year-old actor will be seen in Uniqlo's campaign films across digital and offline channels. Kaif joins the ranks of tennis star Roger Federer, who was appointed as Uniqlo's global brand ambassador in 2018. Uniqlo is part of Japan’s largest fashion group Fast Retailing.

 

3. Mumbai hosts global turmeric conference: Chief Minister of Maharashtra Eknath Shinde has inaugurated the first Global Turmeric conference in Mumbai. Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), traders, processors, exporters, researchers and other stakeholders of turmeric ecosystem will come together to discuss various issues related to the crop. The conference is being organized by NICR, an arm of the NCDEX Group company in collaboration with Tefla’s. The conference is expected to be an important event, concentrating on various aspects of the turmeric industry, such as production, marketing, and international trade. It will investigate new developments in agricultural practices, present an overview of the Turmeric Export industry, and investigate global quality standards.

 

4. 27 September – International Day for Universal Access to Information: International Day for Universal Access to Information is observed every year on 27 September. This day emphasizes the significance of an informed citizenry and highlights the theme of the online space’s pivotal role in ensuring access to information. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) took a significant step on 17 November 2015, by declaring September 28 as the International Day for Universal Access to Information. This declaration recognized the global importance of access to information and paved the way for international cooperation on this vital issue.

 

5. 27 September – World Tourism Day: World Tourism Day is observed every year on 27 September. Objective – To raise awareness about the vital role tourism plays in economic growth, cultural exchange, and sustainable development. Theme 2023 – Tourism and green investment World Tourism Day tracs its origins to a special assembly held in Mexico City on the same date in 1970. During this gathering, the International Union of Official Travel Organizations (IUOTO) adopted the Statutes of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). Following this milestone, the UNWTO officially established World Tourism Day on September 27, 1980.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. India won gold after 41 years in equestrian in Asian Games 2023: India's dressage team cantered to its first-ever Asian Games 2023 gold and only second medal in the history of the sports. The participants were Sudipti Hajela, Divyakriti Singh, Vipul Hriday Chheda and Anush Agarwalla living up to expectations. They grabbed the top place on the podium leaving behind China and Hong Kong. The last time the sport of equestrian contributed to India's Asian Games tally was in 1986 when the country won a dressage bronze.

 

2. India’s Sift Kaur Samra wins gold in women’s 50m Rifle 3-P individual event: India’s Sift Kaur Samra won gold in the women’s 50m Rifle 3-P individual event at the Asian Games 2023 to give India its fifth gold at Hangzhou. In women's 25m pistol shooting event, Indian team comprising of Manu Bhaker, Rhythm Sangwan and Esha Singh also claimed gold medal.  This brings the overall medal tally for India to 21 - 5 gold, 6 silver and 10 bronze.  Meanwhile, Esha Singh in an individual women's 25m pistol event won Silver, behind the china's Rui Liu. 

 

3. Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar wins bronze in men’s 10m air rifle: Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar won a bronze medal in the Men’s 10m Air Rifle event at the ongoing Asian Games 2023. This was India’s fourth medal in shooting. Tomar was also part of India’s Men’s team that won gold and broke the world record in the 10m Air Rifle team event. Tomar finished behind China’s Sheng Lihao and Hajun Park of South Korea. Sheng Lihao broke the world record with an effort of 253.3 points and won the gold medal, while Hajun Park won silver with 251.3 points. Meanwhile, India’s Rudrankksh Patil narrowly missed out on a podium finish, coming in fourth spot with a score of 208.7. After 20 attempts, Tomar and Rudrankksh were tied at 208.7 points. Following Rudrankksh’s elimination, Tomar notched up 228.8, having had two more attempts on the target. India women’s team, featuring Ashi Chouksey, Mehuli Ghosh, and Ramita Jindal, secured a silver medal in the 10m air rifle team event.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. RBI deputy governor M Rajeshwar Rao gets term extension by one year: The central government extended the term of M Rajeshwar Rao as the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) Deputy Governor by one year.  The re-appointment has been approved by the Cabinet's Appointments Committee. RBI has four deputy governors – two from within the ranks, one commercial banker and another an economist to head the monetary policy department. Currently, those 4 Deputy Governors are BP Kanungo, Dr. M.D. Patra, M Rajeshwar Rao, and MK Jain.

2. RBI Imposes Monetary Penalty On SBI, IB, Punjab & Sind Bank: The RBI imposed monetary penalties on three banks, State Bank of India, Indian Bank and Punjab & Sind Bank, and Fedbank Financial Services for rule violations. The central bank imposed Rs 1.30 crore on SBI, Rs 1.62 crore penalty on IB, Rs 1 crore on Punjab & Sind Bank, and Rs 8.80 lakh on Fedbank Financial Services. This penalty has been imposed under the provisions of Section 47A(1)(c) read with Sections 46(4)(i) and 51(1) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949

 

3. RBI clears K N Madhusoodanan as part-time chairman of Dhanlaxmi Bank: The RB  appointed KN Madhusoodanan as a part-time chairman of Dhanlaxmi Bank. He will be part-time chairman of the Kerala-based bank for a period of three years with effect from September 26, 2023. Madhusoodanan has been an independent director with the bank since 2022.  This appointment also follows the RBI's rejection of a proposal to appoint G Rajagopalan Nair as its part-time chairman. Nair has also been an independent director with the bank since August 2020.

 

4. RBI asks banks to display information on borrowers linked to SARFAESI Act: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced that the Regulated Entities (REs) that are secured creditors as per the Enforcement of Security Interest (SARFAESI) Act, 2002, will display information in respect of the borrowers. The SARFAESI Act is a law that allows banks and financial institutions to recover bad loans effectively.  The bank can recover the loan by taking possession of the security and selling it to recover the dues.

 

5. SBI General Insurance certified as ‘Great Place To Work’: SBI General Insurance, one of India’s leading general insurers, has been recognized as a Great Place To Work Certified in India from September 2023 to September 2024 period. The Company was certified after a comprehensive evaluation and assessment process. Great Place To Work is the global authority on workplace culture. It reflects the brand’s values and belief that a happy workforce leads to more creativity, ensures customer satisfaction, and drives business success. Since 1992, they have surveyed more than 100 million employees worldwide and used those deep insights to define what makes a great workplace: trust. The Institute serves businesses, non-profits, and government agencies in more than 60 countries and has conducted pioneering research on the characteristics of great workplaces for over three decades. The Great Place to Work Certification serves as a confirmation of SBI General’s s commitment to supporting its workforce and delivering top-notch service to its customers.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Chhattisgarh bags three national awards for Ayushman Bharat scheme: Chhattisgarh received three national awards for its outstanding execution of the Ayushman Bharat scheme under the 'big states' category. CM Bhupesh Baghel said that Chhattisgarh has introduced several innovative schemes to enhance access to high-quality healthcare services in the past five years. One such initiative is the Mukhyamantri Haat Bazar Clinic Yojana, which extends free healthcare services to residents in remote forest areas of the state.

 

2. Odisha Scientist Swati Nayak wins Norman Borlaug Field Award 2023: Indian agricultural scientist Swati Nayak became the third Indian agriculture scientist to win the prestigious Norman Borlaug Field Award 2023. The Norman Borlaug Field Award 2023 is presented by the World Food Prize Foundation for outstanding achievements in international agriculture and food production by individuals under 40.  Nayak speaks to businessline about the importance of the award, her work with the agricultural community and more.

 

3. AIIMS New Delhi bags first prize for creation of ABHA ID tokens: The Ayushman Bharat Digital Health Mission (ABDM) celebrated its second anniversary with the institution of the Arogya Manthan platform. The National Health Authority honoured AIIMS, New Delhi with an award for “Top facility” in generating the highest number of ABHA Scan and Share tokens. AIIMS New Delhi has contributed significantly to the cause of ABDM by generating 6 lakh scan and share tokens till date. This makes AIIMS the forerunner in scan and share generation all over India. This award was presented by MOS for Health, SP Singh Baghel to M Srinivas at the inaugural ceremony of Arogya Manthan 2023 organized by the NHA. This recognition underscores AIIMS’ pivotal role in shaping the future of healthcare. These achievements stand as testimony to its unwavering dedication in advancing healthcare technology and improving patient healthcare.