Daily GK Update- 12th Mar, 2024

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. PM Modi inaugurates Kochrab Ashram in Sabarmati: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the redeveloped Kochrab Ashram and launched the master plan of the Gandhi Ashram Memorial at Sabarmati in Gujarat. Kochrab was the first Ashram established by Mahatma Gandhi after he returned to India from South Africa in 1915. In independent India, this date is a witness to the beginning of a historic occasion.

 

2. Nayab Singh Saini takes oath as new Haryana chief minister: BJP leader Nayab Singh Saini become the new Chief Minister of Haryana, succeeding Manohar Lal Khattar. Manohar Lal Khattar and his entire cabinet submitting their resignations to Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatreya earlier in the day In the 90-member Haryana assembly the BJP has 41 MLAs, it also enjoys the support of 5 independent MLAs and the HLP MLA Gopal Kanda.

 

3. Shri Kishor Makwana assumes charge of Chairman NCSC: Shri Kishor Makwana assumed the charge of Chairman of National Commission for Scheduled Castes in New Delhi. He said the Commission will work not only to ensure justice to the SCs but will also remain pro-active to prevent any form of injustice to the Community. The NCSC will engage to participate and advise on the planning process of socio-economic development of the Scheduled Castes and to prevent atrocities against them. He has been an Author of more than 33 books.

 

4. A S Rajeev Sworn in as Vigilance Commissioner in CVC: Banker A S Rajeev was sworn in as a member of the Central Vigilance Commission in New Delhi. He was administered the oath of office as the Vigilance Commissioner in the Central Vigilance Commission by the Central Vigilance Commissioner Praveen Kumar Srivastava. A S Rajeev has more than 38 years of experience in four public sector banks Syndicate Bank, Indian Bank, Vijaya Bank and Bank of Maharashtra. It consists of a Chairman and two vigilance commissioners.

 

5. Mandaviya launches credit assistance programme for Jan Aushadhi Kendras: Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya launched a credit assistance programme for Jan Aushadhi Kendras.  The initiative is set to be implemented through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) and the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI). These centers serve as lifelines for millions by providing accessible and affordable medication.

 

6. AS Rajeev sworn in as Vigilance Commissioner: Former Bank of Maharashtra Chief Executive AS Rajeev was sworn in as the Vigilance Commissioner at the Central Vigilance Commission. A S Rajeev is a career banker with over 38 years of experience in four banks, namely, Syndicate Bank, Indian Bank, Vijaya Bank and Bank of Maharashtra. During his tenure as the Executive Director in Indian Bank, the Indian Bank emerged as one of the strongest and most profitable banks in India, with lowest non-performing assets and highest capital adequacy ratio. The Central Vigilance Commission Act, 2003, provides for the appointment of a Central Vigilance Commissioner and two Vigilance Commissioners.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Mauritius Day 2024: 12th March 2024: Every year, March 12 is observed as Mauritius Independence Day which celebrates the anniversary of the country gaining independence from British rule. Mauritius has been under  the control of the French, Dutch and Britishers but on 12 March 1968, after gaining independence from the Britishers, it finally became a free country. The date of 12 March was chosen to coincide with Mahatma Gandhi’s Salt March which occurred on 12 March 1930.

 

2. World Glaucoma Day:12th March 2024: Every year, World Glaucoma Day is observed on March 12. Glaucoma is a set of eye diseases that destroys the optic nerve – the nerve present in the back of the eyes. This can lead to blindness and vision loss. India now stands as the world’s second-largest producer of mobile phones: India now stands as the world’s second-largest producer of mobile phones at the end of the decade 2014-2024. India Cellular and Electronics Association said in a statement that the sector has transitioned from being 78 percent import-dependent in 2014 to 97 percent self-sufficiency. Only three percent of the total mobile phones sold in India are now imported. India’s mobile phone production is nearing 20 lakh crore rupees in a decade of unprecedented growth.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

DEFENCE

 

1. INS Tir participates in Exercise Cutlass Express in Seychelles: INS Tir, the lead ship of First Training Squadron (1TS), participated in Exercise Cutlass Express 24 (CE-24) held at Port Victoria, Seychelles. The exercise was inaugurated by Seychelles President Wavel Ramkalawan with dignitaries from India, the US and African countries present on the occasion. As part of Exercise Cutlass Express, the Indian Navy actively engaged with participants from 16 friendly foreign countries.

 

2. DRDO successfully conducts Mission Divyastra: Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has conducted first successful flight test of indigenously developed Agni-5 missile with Multiple Independently Targetable Re-Entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology. The flight test named Mission Divyastra was carried out from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island in Odisha. Various Telemetry and radar stations tracked and monitored multiple re-entry vehicles. The Mission accomplished the designed parameters. Missiles equipped with MIRV technology can aim multiple targets that can be located hundreds of kilometres apart. Agni-5, which can carry nuclear warheads and hit targets more than 5,000 km away, is aimed mainly at thwarting the challenge from China.

 

SPORTS

 

1. Yashasvi Jaiswal wins ICC Player of the Month for February: Yashasvi Jaiswal has trumped New Zealand's Kane Williamson and Sri Lanka's Pathum Nissanka to win the ICC Player of the Month award for February. Jaiswal made the month of February his own by scoring two double centuries in Test cricket in consecutive games against England. The 22-year-old racked up 712 runs for Team India and finished as the leading run-scorer of the series.

 

2. Devendra Jhajharia elected new President of PCI: A two-time Paralympic gold medalist, Devendra Jhajharia has been elected as the new President of the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI). He succeeds another renowned para-athlete, Deepa Malik. Devendra Jhajharia, a javelin thrower, won gold medals in the 2004 Athens and 2016 Rio Paralympics in the F46 disability category.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. IndusInd Bank launches Indus PayWear: IndusInd Bank has introduced 'Indus PayWear,' which, in collaboration with Mastercard, boasts to be the country's first all-in-one tokenisable wearables for both debit and credit cards. The company stated in a filing on the exchanges that this offering aims to enable users to tokenise their IndusInd Bank cards onto a chip-enabled wearable device.

It is a fine example of how Mastercard leverages its expertise to allow consumers the power.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Riken Yamamoto Wins 2024 Pritzker Architecture Prize: Japanese architect Riken Yamamoto has been named the winner of the 2024 Pritzker Architecture Prize. Yamamoto’s work emphasizes the importance of community and shared spaces. The Pritzker Architecture Prize is an annual award founded in 1979 by Jay A. Pritzker and his wife, Cindy.

 

2. 96th Osacar 2024 winners announced: The 96th Academy Awards happened at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood. It was a night full of exciting wins and unexpected moments. The Academy Awards, also known as the Oscars, celebrate both the artistic and technical achievements in movies. They’re given out every year by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) in the United States. The awards honor outstanding work in filmmaking as decided by the Academy’s voting members.