Daily GK Update- 26th Dec, 2023

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. PM Modi addresses Veer Bal Diwas programme in New Delhi: PM Narendra Modi participated in the Veer Baal Diwas function at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. The Veer Bal Diwas marks the martyrdom of Sri Guru Gobind Singh’s sons Sahibzadas Baba Zorawar Singh and Baba Fateh Singh In January last year, the Prime Minister had announced that 26th December will be observed as Veer Bal Diwas A digital exhibition on the life story and sacrifice of the Sahibzades will be displayed in schools and childcare institutions across the country.

 

2. NIIF Plans To Invest Up To Rs 675 Crore Bhogapuram airport: National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) is planning to invest up to Rs 675 crore on the upcoming greenfield international airport at Bhogapuram in Andhra Pradesh, which is being developed by the GMR group. This marks NIIF’s second airport investment, after the GMR Goa International Airport Ltd, which operates Manohar International Airport in Goa. GMR Airports Ltd (GAL) — a subsidiary of GMR Airports Infrastructure Ltd (GAIL) — and NIIF have entered into binding agreements for the NIIF to invest up to Rs 6.75 billion (Rs 675 crore) in GMR Visakhapatnam International Airport Ltd (GVIAL).

 

3. Digi Yatra, facial recognition tech, implemented at 13 Indian airports: To save time of passengers during security check at airports, Government is continuously making efforts by increasing security equipment, security manpower and using advance technologies. Digi Yatra, which provides for seamless and hassle-free experience for passengers at airports through biometric-based travel using Facial Recognition Technology has also been implemented at 13 airports and other airports will be covered in phased manner. This information was given by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Civil Aviation Gen. (Dr) V. K. Singh (Retd) in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha.

 

4. SEBI approves Pramod Agrawal’s appointment as BSE Chairman: The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has approved the appointment of Pramod Agrawal as the new Chairman of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE). Agrawal’s tenure will start on January 17, 2024, as per a regulatory filing by the stock exchange. He will replace SS Mundra. Agrawal, a former IAS officer, previously held the position of Chairman at Coal India till June 2023.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. UN announces 2024 as International Year of Camelids: The United Nations has declared 2024 the International Year Of Camelids. The decision has been taken to highlight the significant importance of camelids in the lives of people across the world. According to the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), camelids influence the lives of millions of households in more than 90 countries. As a group Camelids include alpacas, Bactrian camels, dromedaries, guanacos, llamas, vicuñas which together help in ensuring food security, nutrition and economic growth especially for Indigenous Peoples and local communities. Camelids play an important role in meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) envisaged by the United Nations.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

DEFENCE

 

1. INS Imphal, India’s first warship named after a northeastern state, commissioned: INS Imphal (Pennant D68), the third of four warships of Project 15B that together form the Visakhapatnam class stealth-guided missile destroyers, is set to be commissioned into the Indian Navy in Mumbai. The move aimed at boosting its maritime capability amid China’s increasing forays into the Indian Ocean region. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was the Chief Guest at the event. It is the first warship to have been named after a city from the Northeastern region, the approval for which was accorded by the President in April 2019. The naming of the ship after the capital city of Manipur underlines the importance of the Northeastern region for national security and prosperity.

 

SPORTS

 

1. Indian women records maiden historic Test win over Australia: India recorded their maiden victory against Australia in a women’s test match at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai with their comprehensive eight-wicket win in the one-off contest. India had taken control of the match with a commanding 187-run lead in the first innings. They needed just 75 runs to win the match after bowling Australia out for 261 in the second innings. India reached the target just after lunch losing two wickets. This is India’s first victory against Australia in 11 tests since the teams first clashed in the longest format in 1977. Off-spinner Sneh Rana was chosen player of the match for her seven-wicket haul.

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. UP to build India’s first AI city in Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh is set to establish the country’s first AI city in Lucknow. This initiative aims to create a thriving hub for artificial intelligence, integrating cutting-edge technology, research centers, and educational institutions to foster innovation and nurture the workforce of the future. A report by Grand View Research pegged the global AI market size at $137 billion in 2022 and is projected to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 37.3 percent from 2023 to 2030. Lucknow houses Centres of Excellence in areas like AI and MedTech (with extensive AI integration). The AI COE (centre in IIIT Lucknow) alone supports more than 15 AI/ML start-ups, nurturing a culture of creativity and entrepreneurship. The government will provide 40 acres in Nadarganj Industrial Area for the project, which is free from all encumbrances and supports land acquisition, zoning regulations, and other relevant clearances.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. JICA extends ₹932 crore loan to India to implement Sustainable Development Goals: Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has finalized a loan of approximately ₹932 Crore to support Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) initiatives in India. This loan will fund projects overseen by NITI Aayog. These projects are set to impact 112 aspirational districts and 500 aspirational blocks nationwide. The initiatives will concentrate on promoting policy actions, implementing effective practices, and enhancing the Japan-India partnership through the exchange of human resources. Based on consultations with NITI Aayog, policy actions in five fields, such as health and nutrition, education, agriculture and water resources, financial inclusion and skill development, and basic infrastructure are prioritized and identified as policy matrix pillars are set in those fields.

 

2. SBI to sign $165 million LoC with World Bank for rooftop solar projects: The country’s biggest lender, State Bank of India (SBI) has signed a $165 million Line of Credit (LoC) from the World Bank in Delhi to support grid-connected rooftop solar photovoltaic projects in residential and institutional sectors. In September, SBI said that it plans to make home loans with rooftop solar installations mandatory for residential projects funded from the bank’s long-term climate action funds drawn down from multilateral agencies. The lender has outstanding forex loans of $2.3 billion from multilateral agencies, including the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, and KfW of Germany. SBI is raising its exposure to green initiatives, including funding green buildings, battery recycling, and solar rooftop plans, among others.

 

3. NABARD and ADB jointly launch climate action initiative: Agri-lender National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) and Asian Development Bank (ADB) have launched an initiative to facilitate climate action in India’s agriculture, natural resources, and rural development sector. Under this initiative, a Technical Support Unit has been set up in Nabard with the partnership of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to enable the agri lender to address the challenges posed by climate change, particularly in the areas of agriculture and rural livelihood sectors in India. NABARD is committed to not just support rural financial institutions in India to identify and abate climate risks but also channel global pools of climate capital into India’s ANR sector.