Daily GK Update- 12th May, 2022

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. LS Speaker Om Birla launches One of its Kind ‘Kalam Website’: Lok Sabha (LS) Speaker, Om Birla has launched the one-of-its-kind literary initiative Kalam website of the Prabha Khaitan Foundation (PKF) to support and encourage vernacular literature. The aim of Kalam is to popularize Hindi literature and provide a platform for veteran and young authors and poets to talk about their writings and love for vernacular literature.

About Kalam Initiative: Kalam started its journey back in the summer of 2015 in the cities of Jaipur and Patna and has conducted over 550 sessions spread over 40 cities in India and overseas since then. Kalam is in sync with the philosophy of our nation – ‘Unity in Diversity’ which is reflected in the tagline of Prabha Khaitan Foundation – ‘Aapne Bhasha Aapne Log’.

 

2. Delhi govt will provide “Mukhyamantri Muft Sewer Connection Yojana”: Delhi govt will provide free sewer connections under the “Mukhyamantri Muft Sewer Connection Yojana”. 25,000 households located in East Delhi will be provided with free sewer connections under the ‘Mukhyamantri Muft Sewer Connection Yojana.’ The free sewer connections will be provided by the Delhi government in 12 colonies in Mustafabad and Karawal Nagar. The colonies will be including Chandu Nagar, Rajiv Gandhi Nagar, and parts of Khajuri Khas. Rs 19 crore has been allocated by the state government for the implementation of these connections. The board also decided to set up 30 RO plants at JJ colonies to increase the drinking water supply. Each plant will provide around 50,000 litres of water per day. The supply will be free.

The waste generated be carried to: Through the free sewer connections, the households will be connected to Delhi’s existing sewer network. The waste generated will be carried to the Yamuna Vihar sewage treatment plant. The aim of providing the free sewer connection is to prevent the sewage that is generated from landing in the River Yamuna. The sewer connections in these colonies will help to prevent 2.5 crore litres of untreated waste from falling into River Yamuna.

 

3. Jan Suraksha Scheme completes 7 years of Social Security: The Jan Suraksha scheme which was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 9th May 2015 completes 7 years of providing social security. Three Jan Suraksha schemes were launched by the prime minister, these schemes are Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana, and Pradhanmantri Suraksha Bima Yojana, and Atal Pension Yojana. The schemes complete 7 years of providing social security with the motto of recognizing the necessity to protect human life from risk and economic uncertainty.

a)      Pradhanmantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY): The Pradhanmantri Suraksha Bima Yojana is a one-year life insurance program that can be renewed year after year and provides coverage for any cause of death. Individuals who have savings bank or post office accounts between the age of 18 and 17 are eligible to participate in the scheme. Insurance of rupees 2 lakh is granted in accidental death and disability. Rupees 1 lakh is granted in case of partial impairment.

b)      Pradhanmantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY): Pradhanmantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana is a one-year life insurance program that is also renewable year after year and provides coverage for any cause of death. Individuals who have savings bank or post office accounts between the age of 18 to 50 are eligible for this program. The scheme offers the people ensured life risk covered until the age of 55 if they pay the premium before they reach the age of 50. For an insurance policy of 2 lakh, the cost each year will be rupees 330. The premium for the scheme is automatically deducted every year from the account holder’s bank account.

c)       Atal pension Yojana (APY): Atal Pension Yojana is available for individuals who have bank accounts between the age of 18 and 40 and the contributions vary depending on the amount of pension chosen. The individuals who have subscribed for the Atal Pension Yojana are guaranteed a minimum monthly pension of rupees 1000, Rs 2000, Rs 3000, Rs 4000, or Rs 5000 according to the pension payment entered into the program when they reach the age of 60. The individual who has subscribed for a monthly pension is available through his lifetime then it is transferred to his spouse after his death and then the subscriber’s pension goes to the subscriber’s nominee.

 

4. Tamil Nadu govt announced breakfast scheme for primary school students: Tamil Nadu chief minister, MK Stalin has announced that all government primary school students from 1st to 5th standards will be provided nutritious breakfast on all working days. Tamil Nadu is set to become the first state to offer breakfast along with midday meals. This includes the launch of integrated urban health centres within the Corporation and Municipal limits.

Under the scheme: The schemes are a free morning breakfast scheme for government school students, a scheme to eradicate nutrition deficiency, the establishment of schools of excellence and primary health centres in urban areas and the expansion of ‘CM in Your Constituency’, a public grievances redress system, to all 234 constituencies. The free breakfast scheme was launched based on the available information that the government school children skip breakfast while going to school because of the distance and family situations.

 

5. Alkesh Kumar Sharma appointed as Ministry of Electronics and IT’s Secretary: Alkesh Kumar Sharma, a senior IAS officer, has been named Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). He was previously the Cabinet Secretariat’s secretary (Coordination). Alkesh Kumar Sharma previously served as Kerala’s additional chief secretary for industries from May 2020 to April 2021. Sharma served as the Managing Director of Kochi Metro Rail and the CEO of the Cochin Smart City Mission from September 2019 until April 2021.

Note: Minister for Railways, Communications, Electronics & Information Technology: Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. International Nurses Day: 12th May: May 12 is observed as International Nurses’ Day across the world to honour the services of nurses. It is the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale, the English social reformer, statistician and founder of modern nursing. She was also known as Lady with the Lamp. She was the founder of modern nursing and was a British social reformer and statistician. The theme for this year’s Nurses’ Day is “Nurses: A Voice to Lead – Invest in Nursing and respect rights to secure global health”. Many hospitals across the world are observing International Nurses Week from May 6 to 12. As part of it, several activities, including yoga sessions and seminars are being organised.

The Florence Nightingale story: Nightingale gained prominence during the Crimean War between Russia and Britain in the 1850s. Along with her team of 38 women, she took care of British soldiers who were dealing with horrible sanitation facilities apart from battling Russian forces. According to historical accounts, injured soldiers had dirty bandages covering rotting wounds, there were rats at their bases, and only one bathtub per 150 personnel. Making matters worse, a dead horse had been left to rot in their water supply.

 

2. International Day of Plant Health: 12th May: The United Nations designated 12 May the International Day of Plant Health (IDPH) to raise global awareness on how protecting plant health can help end hunger, reduce poverty, protect biodiversity and the environment, and boost economic development. The United Nations declared 2020 as the International Year of Plant Health (IYPH). The Year was extended until 1 July 2021 due to the postponement of some key initiatives caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to raise global awareness on how protecting plant health can help end hunger, reduce poverty, protect the environment, and boost economic development.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Carlos Alcaraz won the men’s singles title at the Madrid Open title 2022: Carlos Alcaraz (Spain) has clinched the men’s singles Madrid Open title 2022 after beating the defending champion Alexander Zverev (Germany). Alcaraz has also defeated Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic (world No.1) to reach the final. It is his second Masters 1000 crown after Miami 2022 and his fourth title of the year. Ons Jabeur (Tunisia) has clinched the women’s singles title to become the first African player to win a WTA 1000 event.

Here are the winners of different categories:

 

Category	Winner
Men’s singles:	Carlos Alcaraz (Spain)
Women’s singles:	Ons Jabeur (Tunisia)
Men’s doubles:	Wesley Koolhof  (Netherlands) & Neal Skupski (United Kingdom)
Women’s doubles:	Gabriela Dabrowski (Canada) &  Giuliana Olmos (Mexico)

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. SEBI formed Advisory Committee for ESG-related matters: The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has constituted a committee for advising on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) related matters in the securities market. The committee will be chaired by Navneet Munot, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of HDFC Mutual Fund.

Work of this Committee: The terms of reference of the committee include Enhancements in business responsibility and sustainability report, ESG ratings, and ESG investing. It will examine evolving disclosures/metrics relevant to the Indian context and suggest areas for assurance and a plan for implementation.

Other Members: They include MD & CEO of Tata Chemicals, C Siva Kumar, executive director of NTPC, Amit Talgeri, chief risk officer, Axis Bank, Sharad Kalghtagi, ESG head Cipla, Amit Tandon, Institutional Investor Advisory Services, J N Gupta, founder & MD of Stakeholders Empowerment Services, Rama Patel, Director Crisil Ratings and Ramnath.

Note: SEBI Founded: 12 April 1992; SEBI Headquarters: Mumbai; SEBI Agency executive: Madhabi Puri Buch (Chairperson).

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. UPI hits record 5.58 Bn transactions worth Rs 9.83 trillion in April 2022: According to the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), Unified Payments Interface (UPI), India’s flagship digital payments platform, has recorded 5.58 billion (bn) transactions worth Rs 9.83 trillion in April 2022. This is the highest ever number of transactions recorded by UPI. The monthly UPI recorded a 3.33 % increase in transaction volume from 5.4 billion transactions worth Rs 9.6 trillion in March 2022.

Compared to April 2021, the transaction volume increased by 111% and the transaction value increased by nearly 100%. In April 2021, UPI processed 2.64 billion transactions worth Rs 4.93 trillion. The UPI had breached the USD 1 trillion mark in transaction values in the financial year 2021-22.

Note: NPCI Founded: 2008; NPCI Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra; NPCI MD & CEO: Dilip Asbe.

 

2. On closing day of LIC IPO, the total subscription at 2.95 times: On the final day of bidding, the insurance behemoth Life Insurance Corporation of India’s (LIC) IPO, the country’s largest ever, witnessed 2.95 times greater demand than the shares on sale, generating bids totalling Rs 43,933 crore. Domestic investors, mostly retail, were the primary drivers of the subscription. The IPO received 7.33 million retail investor applications, breaking the previous record of 4.8 million set by Reliance Power in 2008. Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) were lukewarm on the issue, owing to global risk aversion caused by rising bond yields. The policyholders’ component witnessed the highest level of participation, with bids totaling over Rs 12,000 crore. Employees’ shares were 4.4 times subscribed, while retail individual investors’ shares were two times subscribed, with bids totaling over Rs 12,450 crore.

Life Insurance Corporation of India’s (LIC): The Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) is an Indian statutory insurance and investment company with its headquarters in Mumbai. It is under the control of the Indian government. The Life Insurance Corporation of India was founded on September 1, 1956, when the Indian Parliament passed the Life Insurance of India Act, which nationalised the Indian insurance business. The state-owned Life Insurance Corporation of India was formed through the merger of over 245 insurance companies and provident societies.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Pulitzer Prizes 2022: Complete List of Winners: The 106th class of Pulitzer Prize winners in Journalism, Books, Drama and Music were announced. The Pulitzer Prize is an award for achievements in newspaper, magazine, online journalism, literature and musical composition within the United States. It was established in 1917 by provisions in the will of Joseph Pulitzer, who had made his fortune as a newspaper publisher, and is administered by Columbia University.

Here’s the full list of winners in journalism:

a)      Public Service: The Washington Post for its account of the assault on Washington on January 6, 2021.

b)      Breaking News Reporting: The staff of the Miami Herald for its coverage of the collapse of the Seaside apartment towers in Florida.

c)       Investigative Reporting: Corey G. Johnson, Rebecca Woolington and Eli Murray of the Tampa Bay Times for an expose of highly toxic hazards inside Florida’s only battery recycling plant that forced the implementation of safety measures to adequately protect workers and nearby residents.

d)      Explanatory Reporting: Staff of Quanta Magazine, notably Natalie Wolchover, for reporting on how the Webb Space Telescope works.

e)      Local Reporting: Madison Hopkins of the Better Government Association and Cecilia Reyes of the Chicago Tribune for an examination of Chicago’s long history of failed building and fire safety code enforcement.

f)        National Reporting: The staff of The New York Times for a project that quantified a disturbing pattern of fatal traffic stops by police.

g)      International Reporting: The staff of The New York Times for reporting that exposed the vast civilian tolls of US-led airstrikes, challenging official accounts of American military engagements in Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan.

h)      Feature Writing: Jennifer Senior of The Atlantic for a portrayal of a family’s reckoning of loss in the 20 years since 9/11.

i)        Commentary: Melinda Henneberger of the Kansas City Star for persuasive columns demanding justice for alleged victims of a retired police detective accused of being a sexual predator.

j)        Criticism: Salamishah Tillet, contributing critic at large for The New York Times, for writing about Black stories in art and popular culture.

k)      Editorial Writing: Lisa Falkenberg, Michael Lindenberger, Joe Holley and Luis Carrasco of the Houston Chronicle for a campaign that, with original reporting, revealed voter suppression tactics, rejected the myth of widespread voter fraud and argued for sensible voting reforms.

l)        Illustrated Reporting and Commentary: Fahmida Azim, Anthony Del Col, Josh Adams and Walt Hickey of Insider for a comic on an Uyghur internment camp.

m)    Breaking News Photography: (1) Marcus Yam of the Los Angeles Times for raw and urgent images of the US departure from Afghanistan. (2) Win McNamee, Drew Angerer, Spencer Platt, Samuel Corum and Jon Cherry of Getty Images for comprehensive and consistently riveting photos of the attack on the US capitol.

n)      Feature Photography: Adnan Abidi, Sanna Irshad Mattoo, Amit Dave and the late Danish Siddiqui of Reuters for images of Covid’s toll in India.

o)      Audio Reporting: Staffs of Futuro Media and PRX for “Suave” — an immersive profile of a man re-entering society after more than 30 years in prison.

Here’s the list for books, drama and music:

a)      Fiction: The Netanyahus: An Account of a Minor and Ultimately Even Negligible Episode in the History of a Very Famous Family, by Joshua Cohen.

b)      Drama: Fat Ham, by James Ijames

c)       History: Covered with Night, by Nicole Eustace and Cuba: An American History, by Ada Ferrer

d)      Biography: Chasing Me to My Grave: An Artist’s Memoir of the Jim Crow South, by the late Winfred Rembert as told to Erin I. Kelly

e)      Poetry: frank: sonnets, by Diane Seuss

f)        General Nonfiction: Invisible Child: Poverty, Survival & Hope in an American City, by Andrea Elliott

g)      Music: Voiceless Mass, by Raven Chacon

Daily GK Update- 11th May, 2022

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. New Electoral Map released for Jammu and Kashmir: A three-member Delimitation Commission redrawing the electoral map of Jammu and Kashmir allotted 47 Assembly seats for Kashmir division and 43 for Jammu in its final decision submitted barely a day before its two-year term was to end. After the panel, led by retired Supreme Court judge Ranjana Prakash Desai, approved the final verdict, giving Jammu six additional seats and Kashmir one more, a gazette notification was released. Jammu had 37 Assembly constituencies and Kashmir had 46 before the restructure, which increased the overall number of Assembly seats in the Union Territory to 90. Key Points:

a)      The Commission, which includes ex-officio members Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra and Jammu and Kashmir Election Commissioner K K Sharma, has recommended that the Union Territory’s Legislative Assembly include at least two members from the Kashmiri migrant community, one of whom be a woman.

b)      The Commission, which was established in March 2020 and was tasked with delineating Assembly and parliamentary constituencies in the Union Territory based on the 2011 Census, has also recommended to the government that displaced persons from Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir be given some representation in the assembly through nomination.

c)       Furthermore, following consultations with members of political parties, residents, and civil society organisations, nine seats for Scheduled Tribes have been suggested for the first time — six in Jammu and three in the Valley.

d)      The Union Territory has five Parliamentary constituencies, each with 18 Assembly seats.

e)      Some Assembly seats have had their names altered in response to local lawmakers’ requests and popular reaction surrounding the renaming.

 

2. Delhi Govt announced “Delhi Startup Policy” to aid the entrepreneur: The Delhi cabinet has approved the “Delhi Startup Policy” with an aim to create an ecosystem for people to launch startups and provide them with fiscal and non-fiscal incentives, collateral-free loans, and free consultancy from experts, lawyers, and CA. The 20 members task force will be set up to oversee the startup policy. This committee will be headed by Delhi’s Finance Minister. To encourage, facilitate, and support 15,000 startups by 2030. The Delhi Government will pay up to 50% of the rent of a startup’s office lease or pitch in for a portion of the salaries that these startups will pay to their employees. We will also reimburse them for the costs incurred on applying for patents, copyrights and trademarks.

Monitoring committee: The government will form a monitoring committee to oversee the startup policy. This committee will be headed by Delhi’s Finance Minister. The composition of this committee will be – 85% representatives from the private sector, 10% from educational institutions and 5% from the government.

 

3. Supreme Court gets 2 new judges to regain full strength of 34: The Union government of India has notified the appointment of Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia, the chief justice of Gauhati High Court, and Justice Jamshed Burjor Pardiwala, a judge of the Gujarat High Court, as judges of the Supreme Court. The Collegium headed by Chief Justice of India NV Ramana had recommended their names for appointment on May 5. The other members of the Collegium are Justices UU Lalit, AM Khanwilkar, DY Chandrachud and L Nageswara Rao.

At present, the Supreme Court has a strength of 32 judges as against a sanctioned strength of 34 judges. The fresh appointments will help regain the 34-judge strength, but two other vacancies will arise soon with Justice Vineet Saran set to retire on May 10 and Justice Nageswara Rao on June 7.

 

4. Exide and Leclanché’s joint venture Nexcharge begins production in Gujarat: At its facilities in Prantij, Gujarat, Nexcharge, a joint venture between India’s Exide Industries Limited and Switzerland’s Leclanché SA, has started mass production of lithium-ion battery packs. The plant, which covers six lakh square feet and has a 1.5 GWh installed capacity, comprises six totally automated assembly lines and testing facilities. Key Points:

a)      Exide and Leclanche invested Rs 250 crore in the plant, which would employ its six assembly lines to produce over 150 products developed over the last four years.

b)      The six assembly lines will use cells to create modules, which will subsequently be converted into battery packs in a variety of shapes and sizes, including pouch, prismatic, and cylindrical, to meet the energy storage needs of India’s electric vehicle market and industrial applications.

c)       Nexcharge manufactures battery packs for a variety of goods, including two- and three-wheelers, personal and commercial cars, and inverters.

d)      Cells are currently sourced from China by the company, which has an in-house R&D centre in Bengaluru. In India, it has 35 clients.

 

5. A book ‘INDO-PAK WAR 1971- Reminiscences of Air Warriors’ released by Rajnath Singh: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has released a book titled ‘INDO-PAK WAR 1971- Reminiscences of Air Warriors’ at the 37th Air Chief Marshal PC Lal Memorial Lecture organised by the Air Force Association in New Delhi, Delhi. The book was edited by Air Marshal Jagjeet Singh and Group Captain Shailendra Mohan. The book features 50 Swarnim articles written by veterans narrating their experiences in detail. Defence Minister also paid tribute to Air Chief Marshal Pratap Chandra Lal (PC Lal). Air Chief Marshal Pratap Chandra Lal (PC Lal), served as the Vice Chief of the Air Staff during the 1965 war and had served as the 7th Chief of the Air Staff during the 1971 war.

 

6. National Technology Day: 11th May: National Technology Day is observed every year on 11th May across the country. National Technology Day has significant historical importance in India. Every year on this day, officials pay honour to India’s scientists for their achievements. This day is commemorated as an achievement of India’s technical advances, since on May 11, 1998, the country successfully tested nuclear weapons in Pokhran. The theme for National Technology Day 2022 is “Integrated Approach in Science and technology for sustainable future”. The theme was launched by Union Minister Jitendra Singh.

National Technology Day History: It was on 11th May 1998, that India achieved a major technological breakthrough by successfully carrying out a series of nuclear tests at Pokhran. In addition, the first indigenous aircraft “Hansa-3” was tested on this day, besides which, India also performed a successful test firing of the Trishul missile on the same day. Considering the technological advancements, the then Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, declared 11th May to be celebrated as National Technology Day every year.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Yoon Suk-yeol takes oath as South Korea’s new president: Yoon Suk-yeol was sworn in as South Korean president in a huge ceremony at Seoul’s National Assembly, taking office at a time of high tensions with nuclear-armed North Korea. The ceremony was attended by over 40,000 people, including officials from the US and China. The new president is facing several challenges, including the task to balance ties with China to defuse ongoing tensions with North Korea. Yoon Suk-yeol, who has called North Korea the South’s “main enemy,” offered to work with the international community to craft an “audacious plan” to improve North Korea’s economy in return for its commitment to “complete denuclearization.” The 20th president of the country delivered an inauguration speech vowing to build a nation that “truly belongs to the people.”

Note: South Korea Capital: Seoul; South Korea Currency: South Korean won.

 

2. Vietnam opens world’s longest glass-bottomed bridge: World’s Largest Glass Bottom Bridge was opened in Vietnam. It is called as Vietnam’s Bach Long pedestrian bridge, which is 632m (2,073ft) long and located 150m (492ft) above a huge jungle. As per the reports, the Asian country has opened a glass-bottomed bridge suspended above a lush jungle. It surpasses a 526m Glass Bottom Bridge in Guangdong, China. The Bach Long pedestrian bridge which means ‘white dragon’ in Vietnamese. The bridge suspends above the rainforest The Bridge can support up to 450 people at a time and the floor of the bridge is made from tempered glass.

Note: Vietnam Capital City: Hanoi; Vietnam Currency: Vietnamese dong; Vietnam Prime Minister: Phạm Minh Chính.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. India’s Avinash Sable breaks 30-year-old 5000 metre record: India’s Avinash Sable broke a 30-year-old record of Bahadur Prasad in 5000m, setting a new national record with a timing of 13:25.65 at the Sound Running Track meet in San Juan Capistrano, USA. The 27-year-old from Maharashtra broke the old record of 13:29.70 set by Bahadur Prasad in 1992.

Sable’s growth in athletics has been extraordinary. Till about seven years ago, he was posted as a havildar with the Army in Siachen. From the frigid cold, he was transferred to a small cantonment in the desert town of Lalgarh Jattan, near the Pakistan border in Rajasthan. The boy who walked 12 kilometres, to get to school and back, got his lucky break when he was selected to join a training group for a cross-country race organised by the Army.

 

2. 24th Deaflympics: Abhinav Deshwal won gold medal in men’s 10m air pistol: Abhinav Deshwal has won the second gold medal for India in shooting at the ongoing 24th Deaflympics in Caxias do Sul, Brazil. He was tied with silver winning Ukrainian Oleksii Lazebnyk before winning gold in a shoot-off. India has four medals in the shooting competition at the 24th Deaflympics. Abhinav made the top eight final round after finishing second in the 60-shot qualification round with a score of 575 out of 600. He was tied on points there too with Kim Kihyeon, but the Korean topped on account of more inner 10s.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. HDFC Bank Launches ‘Xpress Car Loan’ Industry First Digital New Car Loan: HDFC Bank, a private sector lender, has introduced 30-minute ‘Xpress Car Loans’, an end-to-end digital new car loan solution for both existing and non-customers. The bank has integrated its lending application with automobile dealers throughout India. It is the industry’s first automotive lending experience, and it is expected to change the way automobile financing is done in India.

Key Points of ‘Xpress Car Loans’:

a)      The facility will be offered at all of the bank’s branches, dealerships, and, eventually, on third-party aggregator platforms.

b)      This comprehensive, faster, more convenient, and inclusive digital journey for car buyers will simplify the automobile purchase process and boost car sales across India, particularly in semi-urban and rural locations.

c)       As it has integrated its lending application with vehicle dealers across India, it anticipates 20%–30% of clients to use this loan facility of up to Rs. 20 lakhs.

d)      Currently, the facility is only available for four-wheelers, and it will be gradually extended to include two-wheeler loans.

Note: HDFC Bank Ltd MD & CEO: Sashidhar Jagdishan; HDFC Bank Ltd Establishment: 1994; HDFC Bank Ltd Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra; HDFC Bank Ltd Tagline: We Understand Your World.

 

DEFENCE

 

1. ICG commissions the 845th Air Squadron equipped with Dhruv ALH Mk III helicopters: At the Coast Guard Air Enclave at Nedumbassery in Kochi, the Coast Guard commissioned its second Air Squadron, 845 Squadron. The new Air Squadron was commissioned by Coast Guard Director General V S Pathania and is equipped with Advanced Mark III (ALH Mark III) helicopters produced in-house. The commissioning represents a huge step forward in terms of self-reliance in search and rescue missions and long-range maritime surveillance. Four helicopters have been stationed in Kochi to cover the Karnataka, Kerala, and Lakshadweep coasts. Commandant Kunal Naik leads a squadron of nine officers and 35 soldiers.

Advanced Mark III (ALH Mark III) helicopters: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited designed and built the HAL Dhruv utility helicopter (HAL). HAL Dhruv’s development was disclosed in November 1984. The helicopter initially flew in 1992, although it took longer to build due to a number of issues, including the Indian Army’s request for design alterations, funding constraints, and sanctions imposed on India after the 1998 Pokhran-II nuclear tests. The name is derived from the Sanskrit word dhruv, which signifies firm or unshakeable.

The ALH Mk-III, equipped with the new Shakti-1H engines, has excellent high-altitude performance at altitudes of above 6 km. It can accommodate 14 fully outfitted troops. The DGCA has lauded the design’s crash worthiness, noting that just a few accidents have resulted in fatalities.

Note: Coast Guard Director General: V S Pathania; The Indian Chief of the Air Staff: Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari

 

2. Indian Navy plans to purchase the GISAT-2 satellite to increase its capacity: The Indian Navy plans to purchase a specialised earth imaging satellite Geo Imaging Satellite-2 (GISAT-2), this fiscal year as part of its modernisation and network-centric combat and communications programme. The satellite, if operational, is likely to improve the navy’s operating capabilities in the Indian Ocean region, which is strategically and geopolitically crucial, especially given China’s growing influence. Key Points:

a)      According to information from the Ministry of Defence, the GISAT-2 is one of 21 planned procurements, including several long-term buys. In addition, the navy’s capabilities development/modernization is being carried out in line with the long-term objectives in place for the next decade.

b)      Under the budget projections for 2022-23, the navy would receive Rs 45,250 crore for modernisation. With a 10% annual growth rate, it is expected to receive more Rs 2.7 lakh crore for upgrading by 2026-27. According to the Ministry of Defense, the navy’s total committed liabilities are Rs 1.20 lakh crores, and modernization schemes worth more than Rs 1.9 lakh crores and Rs 2.5 lakh crores (under Part A and B of the annual acquisition plan) are being advanced for contract conclusion over the next five years.

c)       Aside from GISAT-2, the navy plans to buy: Next-generation missile vessels, fleet support ships (FSS), high and medium altitude long endurance remotely piloted aircraft systems, multi-role carrier borne fighters, indigenous aircraft carrier-2; next-generation fast attack craft; next-generation corvettes, destroyers, fast interceptor craft, and survey vessel; national hospital ship; electronic warfare system; extra-large unmanned underwater vehicle; anti-ship missiles (cons).

Daily GK Update- 10th May, 2022

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Utkarsh Mahotsav organized by Central Sanskrit University begins: A three-day Utkarsh Mahotsav is being organized by Central Sanskrit University in New Delhi. The objective behind organising the Utkarsh Mahotsav is to promote the Sanskrit language across the country and beyond. They will leave no stone unturned to promote the Sanskrit language across the country and abroad. The Centralisation of three Sanskrit Universities reflects PM Modi’s strong commitment to preserving and promoting the Sanskrit language across the nation. The event is being jointly organised by the Central Sanskrit University, New Delhi, Shri Lal Bahadur National Sanskrit University, New Delhi and National Sanskrit University, Tirupati.

The focus of the Mahotsav is the New Educational Era – Moving Towards a Global Orientation of Sanskrit Studies. The main theme of this Mahotsav is ‘Global Orientation of Sanskrit Studies in the New Educational Era’ Vice-Chancellors of 17 Sanskrit Universities, Scholars and a large number of students participated in the event.

 

2. Manipur’s Poumai Naga Areas declared ‘drug Free Zone’: In Manipur, the Poumai tribe has declared that Poumai inhabited areas will be a Drug-Free Zone supporting the State government’s War on Drug campaign. A huge delegation of the Poumai tribe by MLA and leaders of the students union and civil organization met Chief Minister N. Biren Singh at Imphal and conveyed the resolution of the Drug-Free Zone in Poumai inhabited areas of the State. They also informed the Chief Minister that the poppy plantation will not be allowed in the Poumai areas. The Chief Minister welcomed the resolution of the Poumai Naga tribe and affirmed that the State government will not tolerate deforestation and poppy plantation in hill districts in Manipur. The leaders of the Paumai tribe also conveyed that the community will join the fight against the drug menace in the State.

Note: Manipur Chief Minister: N Biren Singh; Capital of Manipur: Imphal; Manipur Governor: La. Ganesan.

 

3. Kerala govt to launch ‘Shaili App’ for diagnosing, and controlling lifestyle diseases: The government of Kerala is set to launch an Android App ‘Shaili’, aimed at diagnosing and controlling lifestyle diseases among the people in the state of Kerala. The app has been set up as part of the population-based screening project launched by the Health Department under the Nava Kerala Karma plan. Under the health-screening project:

a)      The Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) workers have been tasked with collecting information from persons over the age of 30 in their respective areas about any lifestyle diseases or risk factors they may have.

b)      The app, set up under the e-Health initiative, would help to collect and codify the information quickly.

c)       The app would primarily collect information about diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, lung diseases as well as other lifestyle-related ailments and cancers.

d)      The health status of the individuals would be scored and those with a score of above four would be asked to visit the nearest health centre for a check-up for lifestyle diseases.

Note: Kerala Capital: Thiruvananthapuram; Kerala Governor: Arif Mohammad Khan; Kerala Chief Minister: Pinarayi Vijayan.

 

4. Haryana Govt Launches ‘e-Adhigam’ Scheme to distribute tablets to students: The Haryana State Government launches the ‘e-Adhigam’ scheme under which nearly 3 lakh students will be receiving tablet computers to aid their online education. The state government has planned to provide the gadget to five lakh students. Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar launched the Advance Digital Haryana Initiative of Government with Adaptive Modules (Adigham) scheme at Maharishi Dayanand University in Rohtak, Haryana.

As per reports, the Class 11 students of Haryana government schools will get the tablets after they clear the Class 10 board exams and qualify for the succeeding year. These devices come with pre-loaded content along with personalised and adaptive learning software, and 2GB of free data. The tablet is the new classroom and “through e-books, it has become a full-fledged classroom.

 

5. Priyanka Mohite becomes first Indian woman to climb five peaks above 8,000 metres: Priyanka Mohite from Maharashtra’s Satara district has become the first Indian woman to climb five peaks above 8000 metres. Priyanka achieved the milestone after climbing Mount Kanchenjunga. Priyanka works for a pharmaceutical research company in Bengaluru.

In 2020, she also won the prestigious Tenzing Norgay Adventure Award. The 30-year-old climbed Mount Everest in 2013, Mount Lhotse in 2018, Mount Makalu in 2019 and Annapurna 1 in 2021. Notably, she is also the first Indian woman to climb Annapurna 1 and Makalu.

 

6. IRCTC’s Bharat Gaurav Tourist Train to stop at Nepal’s Janakpur: The Indian Railway Catering and Ticketing Corporation (IRCTC) will launch its maiden Bharat Gaurav Tourist train, with a stop in Nepal’s Janakpur. This train will go around the Ramayana Circuit, which has been identified under the Swadesh Darshan scheme and includes major locations related with Lord Shri Rama’s life, such as the Ram Janaki temple in Janakpur, Nepal.

About Journey:

a)      After Ayodhya, the tourists will travel to Buxar, Bihar, where they will see Maharishi Vishwamitra’s hermitage and the Ramrekha Ghat, where they can take a holy plunge in the Ganga.

b)      The train then travels to Sitamarhi to see Sita’s birthplace before continuing on to Janakpur by road (Nepal).

c)       Tourists will spend the night in Janakpur hotels and visit the famed Ram-Janaki Temple.

d)      After Sitamarhi, the train travels to Varanasi, the world’s oldest living city.

e)      Tourists visiting Kashi will go about the temples of Varanasi, ‘Sita Samahit Sthal,’ Prayag, Shringverpur, and Chitrakoot. At Varanasi, Prayag, and Chitrakoot, hotel accommodations will be given.

f)        The train journey continues to Nasik, where passengers will spend the night in accommodations. Trayambakeshwar and Panchvati temples will be visited.

g)      After Nasik, the next stop is Hampi, the ancient city of Krishkindha, where you will spend the night.

h)      Guests will visit the temple on the Anjaneyadri Hills said to be the birthplace of Shri Hanuman, as well as other heritage and religious sites.

i)        The next stop on this rail excursion is Rameshwaram, where the Ramanathaswamy temple and Dhanushkodi will be seen, as well as an overnight stay at a hotel.

j)        The train’s next stop is Kanchipuram, where visitors can see the Shiv Kanchi, Vishnu Kanchi, and Kamakhshi temples.

k)      The train’s final stop on this journey is Bhadrachalam in Telengana state, often known as the Ayodhya of the South.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. John Lee Ka-Chiu elected as Hong Kong’s next Chief Executive: John Lee Ka-Chiu has been confirmed as Hong Kong’s next chief executive. He will replace Carrie Lam. He will be the first security official to hold the Chief Executive position of Hong Kong which witnessed years of political unrest and recent debilitating pandemic controls. Lee resigned from his position as the city’s No 2 official last month to run and was the only contender to secure Beijing’s backing.

The 64-year-old was sanctioned by the United States in 2020 for his role in implementing a Beijing-imposed national security law that has crushed the city’s democracy movement. His election places a security official in Hong Kong’s top job for the first time. The former secretary for security in Hong Kong ran under the slogan “Starting a new chapter for Hong Kong together” and was the sole candidate in the polls.

Note: Hong Kong Currency: Hong Kong dollar; Hong Kong Continent: Asia.

 

2. International Day of Argania: 10th May: The United Nations observed 10th May 2022, the second International Day of Argania. This celebration crowns the efforts of the Kingdom of Morocco in promoting the Argan tree as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity and an ancestral source of resilient and sustainable development. The day will be celebrated this year under the theme “The Argan tree, symbol of resilience” and will serve to raise international awareness around the tree, its ecosystem, and the important position it holds in Moroccan culture and heritage. The Argan tree

a)      The argan tree (Argania spinosa) is a native species of the sub-Saharan region of Morocco, in the southwest of the country, which grows in arid and semiarid areas. It’s the defining species of a woodland ecosystem, also known as Arganeraie, which is rich in endemic flora. It is resilient to a harsh environment under water scarcity, risk of erosion and poor soils.

b)      The argan tree woodlands provide forest products, fruits and fodder. The leaves and the fruits are edible and highly appreciated, as is the undergrowth, and constitute a vital fodder reserve for all herds, even in periods of drought. The trees are also used as fuelwood for cooking and heating.

c)       The world-renowned argan oil is extracted from the seeds and has multiple applications, especially in traditional and complementary medicine and in the culinary and cosmetic industries.

History of the day: The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) designated in 1988 the endemic production area as the Arganeraie Biosphere Reserve. Also, all know-how concerning the argan tree was inscribed in 2014 on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Moreover, in December 2018, FAO recognized the Argan-based agro-sylvo-pastoral system within the area of Ait Souab – Ait Mansour in Morocco as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System. And lastly, in 2021, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 10 May the International Day of Argania.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Max Verstappen won Miami Grand Prix 2022: F1 world champion Max Verstappen has won the inaugural Miami Grand Prix for Red Bull after defeating the Ferrari rival Charles Leclerc. Leclerc (Ferrari) finished second and Spanish teammate Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) placed third in the Miami Grand Prix 2022. The victory cut Leclerc’s lead over Verstappen to 19 points in the championship, while the Monegasque’s Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz completed the podium.

List of 2022 F1 Race:

Bahrain Grand Prix: Charles Leclerc (Ferrari-Monaco)

Saudi Arabian Grand Prix: Max Verstappen (Red Bull – Netherlands)

Australian Grand Prix: Charles Leclerc

Emilia Romagna Grand Prix: Max Verstappen

 

2. Anurag Thakur launches mascot, logo and jersey of Khelo India Youth Games: Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur has launched the mascot ‘Dhakad’ along with the official logo and official jersey of the Fourth Khelo India Youth Games at Panchkula and lauded the effort of Haryana to host the games. The competition is being organized by the Sports Authority of India and the state government of Haryana. In this edition of the Khelo India Youth Games, over 8,500 athletes will be participating.

Khelo India Youth Games 2022: Haryana will set an example by hosting the fourth edition of the Khelo India Youth Games from June 4 to June 13 at Panchkula, Chandigarh, Shahabad, Ambala and Delhi. This was supposed to be held in the year 2021 but got delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. Reliance became 1st Indian company to cross USD 100 bn annual revenue: Reliance Industries become the first Indian company to record annual revenue of more than a whopping $100 billion. The company has recorded a 22.5% rise in net profit for the quarter ended March 2022. Reliance has recorded strong growth in retail, digital services, and the oil & gas business. The company has also reported the highest-ever quarterly EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation) of Rs 33,968 crores (28% up) year-on-year. Reliance’s earnings also rose because of a rise in broadband subscribers, online retail gaining traction and new energy investment picking roots.

Consolidated revenue of the nation’s biggest company by market value rose 35 per cent year-on-year to Rs 2.32 lakh crore in the fourth quarter of FY22. For the full fiscal 2021-22 (April 2021 to March 2022), Reliance reported a net profit of Rs 60,705 crore on a revenue of Rs 7.92 lakh crore (USD 102 billion). It is the first Indian company to have crossed USD 100 billion in revenue in a year.

Note: Reliance Industries Ltd CEO: Mukesh Ambani (31 Jul 2002–); Reliance Industries Ltd Founder: Dhirubhai Ambani; Reliance Industries Ltd Founded: 8 May 1973, Maharashtra; Reliance Industries Ltd Headquarters: Mumbai.

 

2. Pushp Kumar Joshi Named HPCL Chairman and Managing Director: Pushp Kumar Joshi, who recently took over as the interim chairman and managing director of Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL), has been appointed to the Board of the nation’s third-largest oil refining and fuel marketing company. Joshi is also holding the additional charge of Director-Marketing of HPCL. Prior to this Dr Joshi was Director-HR of the Corporation from August 01, 2012. Joshi, the senior-most director on the HPCL board, was in January picked by the government headhunter PESB to replace Mukesh Kumar Surana. Surana superannuated from services on April 30, 2022, but in absence of a formal order from the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) headed by the Prime Minister, Joshi was named interim head.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Guruswamy Krishnamoorthy receives British Honour ‘MBE’ For His Service During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Guruswamy Krishnamoorthy, CEO of Penlon, a world-class British medical technology firm, is likely to receive The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (Civil Division) Award 2022 – Honorary Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) recognition from the Queen at Buckingham Palace, London, UK. The British Honorary Awards are awarded twice a year, first during the new year and again in June, on the date of the Queen’s official birthday.

Guruswamy’s Contribution: Guruswamy led a group of companies that formed a consortium with Penlon as its hub. In 12 weeks, 11,700 ventilators were provided to the United Kingdom government by employing around 4,000 people for three round-the-clock shifts. The effort also resulted in an award from the Royal Academy of Engineering, UK.

About the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE): An MBE is the third-highest ranked Order of the British Empire award (excluding a knighthood or damehood), after Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE), the highest award, and Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE), the second-highest award. The MBE is given in recognition of great achievement or contribution to the community that has had a long-term, significant impact and serves as an example to others.

 

2. Bengali translation ‘Meursault, contre-enquête’ wins Romain Rolland Book Prize 2022: The fifth Romain Rolland Book Prize – Romain Rolland Book Prize 2022 has been awarded to the Bengali translation of the French novel “Meursault, contre- enquête” (The Meursault Investigation). The award ceremony was organized by the French Institute in India. Meursault, contre-enquête is the debut novel of Algerian writer and journalist Kamel Daoud. The award was presented to translator Trinanjan Chakraborty and publisher Esha Chatterjee of Patra Bharati, a leading publisher of prestigious Bengali books, during the French Literary Festival-French LitFest 2022 at Bikaner House in New Delhi. This is the first time Patra Bharati, the publisher, has gotten this honour.

Romain Rolland Book Prize: The Romain Rolland Book Prize, which was established in 2017, honours the finest translation of a French title into any Indian language, including English. As part of the prize, the winning publisher and translator will each receive a guided trip to the Paris Book Fair 2023 (Livre Paris 2023).

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Padma Shri Odia Writer Rajat Kumar Kar passes away: The eminent Odia litterateur Rajat Kumar Kar passed away due to heart-related ailments. He received Padma Shri in 2021 for literature and education. He was known for his commentary during the annual Ratha Jatra (Jagannath culture) on TV and radio. His writing includes Upendra Bhanja literature and has seven non-fiction to his credit. He also contributed to the revival of the dying art of Pala of Odisha.