Daily GK Update- 9th Jan, 2024

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. 68 Rajya Sabha Members Set to Retire in 2024: 68 Rajya Sabha members, including nine Union ministers, are completing their tenures this year, triggering a race of sorts among leaders across political parties to eye a six-year term in the Upper House of Parliament. Of the 68 vacancies, elections have already been called for three seats in Delhi where AAP leaders Sanjay Singh, Narain Dass Gupta, and Sushil Kumar Gupta will complete their tenures on January 27. As many as 57 leaders, including Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav, Health Minister Mansukh Madaviya, and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, will complete their tenures in April.

 

2. Uttar Pradesh to set up pharma park: The Uttar Pradesh government will set up a pharma park in Lalitpur, Bundelkhand, covering 1,472-acre across five villages, according to the Uttar Pradesh State Industrial Development Authority (UPSIDA). The plan will unfold in two phases, with an initial focus on immediate development efforts covering 300 acre of land. The villages identified for the survey include Saidpur (426 acre), Gadolikala (249 acre), Largan (239 acre), Karounda (116 acre), and Rampur (441 acre). The establishment of the Pharma Park and the acceleration of associated projects mark a strategic move by the Uttar Pradesh government towards fostering industrial growth and economic development.

 

3. Gangasagar Mela begins in West Bengal: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has inaugurated the Gangasagar Mela. The Mela will continue till 17th of January. The ‘Shahi Snan’ will be held on 15th and 16th January. Chief Minister has also inaugurated nine projects at Sagar.

The state government has sent a letter to UNESCO to declare Gangasagar Mela a heritage site. This year pilgrimage tax has been waived off for the pilgrims, instead 5 lakhs rupees insurance will be given to all.

 

4. 9 January – Pravasi Bharatiya Divas: Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) or NRI Day is celebrated in India every year on 9 January. The day commemorates the return of Mahatma Gandhi, the greatest Pravasi from South Africa to India in 1915 for the struggle of Independence. One of the main aims of recognising Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is to pay homage and honour to the Overseas Indian community who play a significant role in the development of the country. The inaugural celebration of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas took place in 2003.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Union Cabinet Approved India-Guyana MoU For Hydrocarbon Sector: The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, India and the Ministry of Natural Resources, Guyana, on cooperation in the hydrocarbon sector. The proposed MoU encompasses a comprehensive range of collaboration across the hydrocarbon value chain, underscoring the depth of engagement between the two nations.

 

2. Kyrgyzstan Declares Snow Leopard As National Symbol: Kyrgyzstan has officially declared the snow leopard as its national symbol, underscoring its commitment to conservation and ecological balance. The snow leopard is not only a symbol of natural wealth and cultural prosperity, but also an indicator of the stability and health of the mountain ecosystem, which occupies 1/3 of the global territory. The loss of snow leopards in the wild will lead to the risk of disturbing the fragile ecological balance, which will have a detrimental impact on various animal species and on humans.”

 

3. Sheikh Hasina wins fifth term in Bangladesh PM: Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been re-elected for a fifth term, marking a significant milestone in the country’s political landscape. The ruling Awami League, under Hasina’s leadership, has triumphed once again, securing more than half of the parliamentary seats. This victory reaffirms Sheikh Hasina’s position as the world’s longest-serving female head of government. Instead of any political party, independent candidates secured a total of 63 seats, the second highest after Hasina’s Awami League (AL), which won 222, creating a problem of finding a parliamentary opposition.

 

4. NIVEA India Appoints Geetika Mehta As New MD: Nivea India has appointed Geetika Mehta as new Managing Director (MD). With this, she joins the growing list of women heading fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies. Mehta’s previous stint was at Hershey India for two and a half years as MD, and before that she was at the country’s largest FMCG firm, Hindustan Unilever, for 18 years. Geetika, with a distinguished career in the FMCG sector, has a proven track record of developing small businesses as well as managing large-scale corporations across markets including South Asia, Thailand, Brazil, and South Africa.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

DEFENCE

 

1. Rashmi Shukla becomes Maharashtra’s first woman DGP: The Maharashtra government has appointed 1988 batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Rashmi Shukla as the Director General of Police. Shukla became the first woman police officer to hold the top police post in the State. She takes over from another 1988 IPS batch officer Rajnish Seth, who retired last week to take charge as chairman of the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC). Mumbai police commissioner Vivek Phansalkar has been holding additional charge as Maharashtra DGP Maharashtra since Mr. Seth retired on December 31. Shukla was on Central deputation heading the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) – the border guarding force, before her latest appointment as Maharashtra DGP.

 

 

SPORTS

 

1. South Africa batter Heinrich Klaasen announces retirement from Test cricket: South Africa swashbuckling batter Heinrich Klaasen has announced retirement from Test cricket (longest format of the game). Klaasen, who was among the top run getters for South Africa in last year’s ODI World Cup, wasn’t a regular in the red ball setup. Having made his debut in 2019, the 32-year-old only had four Test matches under his belt. However, on the tour of the West Indies, Klaasen notched up a mere 56 runs from four innings.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Fino Payments Bank applies to RBI for SFB license: Fino Payments Bank has applied to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), seeking a small finance bank license. During the quarter ended 31 December 2023, the RBI received one application under the Guidelines for ‘on tap’ Licensing of Small Finance Banks in the Private Sector dated December 5, 2019 from Fino Payments Bank Limited. According to the guidelines, payments banks were allowed to apply for a conversion into SFB post five years of operations along with meeting other guidelines mandated by the RBI. The bank  must also have a minimum paid-up voting equity capital or net worth of Rs 200 crore

 

2. SEBI Appoints G Ram Mohan Rao As Executive Director: The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has appointed G Ram Mohan Rao as Executive Director (ED) for a period of three years. Rao will be handling the investigation department and the internal inspection department.

He has been with the markets regulator for over 25 years during which he has supervised diverse portfolios such as inspections, litigation, recovery, investor awareness, grievance redressal, etc.

Prior to the appointment, Rao was the regional director of the Eastern Regional Office of Sebi.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. President Droupadi Murmu confers 'Khel Ratna' and 'Arjuna' award: President Droupadi Murmu confers the 'Khel Ratna' and 'Arjuna' awards at Rashtrapati Bhawan. Mohammed Shami received the Arjuna Award from President Droupadi Murmu at the National Sports Awards. Chirag and Satwik were honored with the prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award for their remarkable achievements in 2023.