Daily GK Update- 18th June, 2022

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Mumbai Airport launched Vertical Axis Wind Turbine & Solar PV hybrid System: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), Mumbai has become India’s 1st airport to launch a one-of-its-kind Vertical Axis Wind Turbine & Solar PV hybrid (Solar Mill) to explore the possibility of utilization of wind energy at the airport. With this, Mumbai will become the first city in India to establish a one-of-its-kind hybrid power project at its airport.

About the Initiative:

a)      This sustainable initiative undertaken by CSMIA reduces dependence on conventional electricity which propels its journey towards ‘Net Zero’ emissions.

b)      This fully integrated, hybrid renewable energy product harnesses solar and wind energy merged to produce electricity.

c)       The energy produced through this technology can be customised on a need-specific basis. It’s easy to mount the technology on any mobile or static rooftop due to its modular and scalable size.

d)      The hybrid project will be launched in partnership with WindStream Energy Technologies India Pvt Ltd. The plant will need minimal maintenance of installation, unlike any other machines for electrical supply, as per the reports.

 

2. Tamil Nadu launched Ennum Ezhuthum scheme to bridge learning gap: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, MK Stalin launched the Ennum Ezhuthum scheme to bridge the learning gap that was caused due to the COVID pandemic among students aged below eight. The scheme aims to ensure foundational literacy and numeracy by 2025. It was launched at an event in Azhinjivakkam panchayat union middle school, Tiruvallur. Under the programme:

a)      The education department will distribute workbooks to students from Classes 1 to 3 to assess and bridge the learning gap.

b)      Last week, a special training programme was conducted for teachers and handbooks were distributed.

c)       Teachers were advised to opt for interactive learning methods and encourage students to read newspapers and books in the school library.

d)      The State government has announced a slew of programmes and schemes for the academic year 2022-23, with the motive to improve the quality of education in the State.

e)      The children will be trained in 3 subjects – Tamil, English, and Mathematics in a classroom suitable for conducting lessons that are designed in the format of dance, songs, storytelling, and puppetry, and also videos.

Note: Tamil Nadu Capital: Chennai; Tamil Nadu Chief minister: K. Stalin;  Tamil Nadu Governor: N. Ravi.

 

3. Global Startup Ecosystem ranking: Kerala ranks top in Asia in global report: Providing a boost for Kerala’s start-up ecosystem, the State has been ranked first in Asia in Affordable Talent in Global Startup Ecosystem Report (GSER). The State has also been ranked fourth in global ranking in the GSER, drawn up jointly by policy advisory and research organisation Startup Genome and Global Entrepreneurship Network. In the first GSER published in 2020, Kerala was ranked 5th in Asia and 20th in the world. In cities category:

a)      As per the report released by the policy advisory and research firm Startup Genome, the city of Bengaluru has moved up to number 22 in the Global Startup Ecosystem ranking.

b)      Bengaluru’s tech ecosystem value is at $105 billion which is higher than that of Singapore at $89 billion and Tokyo at $62 billion, report showed.

 

4. India to have 5G services by March 2023: Union Communications Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced at the Viva Technology 2022 event that India will have full-fledged 5G services by March 2023. Vaishnaw told that the 5G spectrum auction will be concluded by the end of July, adding that Telecom is the key source of digital consumption, and it is very vital to introduce trusted solutions in telecom. Key Points:

a)      India has its own 4G infrastructure, including radios, equipment, and handsets. In March 2023, 4G will be ready for deployment in the field, while 5G will be ready in the lab.

b)      India should develop the technology and core network for 5G services; this would be a significant achievement for the country.

c)       The Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has finally approved the Department of Telecommunications’ (5G) spectrum auction, in which bidders would be assigned spectrum to provide 5G services to the general public and businesses.

d)      According to a statement from the Ministry of Communications, Telecom Service Providers are expected to use the Mid and High band spectrum to roll out 5G technology-based services capable of providing speeds and capacities that are about 10 times higher than what is currently possible with 4G services.

e)      Telecom Service Providers are projected to use the Mid and High band spectrum to roll out 5G technology-based services capable of providing speeds and capacities that are roughly 10 times better than what is now possible with 4G services.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. APEDA organized mango festival in Bahrain to boost export of mangoes: The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has organized an eight-day long mango festival in Bahrain to boost the export of Mangoes. 34 varieties of mangoes from eastern states of West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and Odisha, are being displayed at eight different locations of Bahrain’s Al Jazira group supermarket.

All the varieties of mangoes have been directly procured from farmers and two Farmer Producer Organizations. The mango show will continue till the 20th of this month. The mango show in Bahrain is part of APEDA’s new initiatives to explore international markets for Indian mangoes under the ‘Mango Festival 2022.

About the mango show: The mango show in Bahrain is part of APEDA’s new initiatives to explore international markets for Indian mangoes under the ‘Mango Festival 2022’. It’s the outcome of APEDA’s commitment to provide a global platform for Indian mangoes that for the first time 34 varieties of mangoes from eastern states have been showcased in Bahrain. Besides, mangoes as a whole, several mango preparations like mango cake prepared in Al Jazira bakery, juices, different varieties of mango shakes, etc. have also been showcased at the festival.

Note: APEDA Formation: 1986; APEDA Headquarters: New Delhi; APEDA Chairman: M. Angamuthu.

 

2. International Picnic Day: 18th June: International Picnic Day is celebrated annually on 18 June. On this day, people spend time with their loved ones and go for picnics to get a break from their monotonous everyday routine. A picnic is a very good way to not only spend some quality time but also explore new feast spots.

History of the International Picnic Day: The word “picnic” probably gets its origins from the French language, specifically from the word “pique-nique”. It is believed that this type of informal outdoor meal became a popular pastime in France after the French Revolution in the mid-1800s when it was possible again to get out into the country’s royal parks. However, even if it began in France, it has become a lovely activity that has spread all over the world.

 

3. Sustainable Gastronomy Day: 18th June: Every year, the world observes Sustainable Gastronomy Day on 18 June. The objective of this day is to recognise the practices associated with sustainable food consumption, especially with the art of collecting and preparing the food we eat. To make this day a memorable one, the organisations work in collaboration with global and regional bodies to observe the day.

Sustainable gastronomy, means cuisine that takes into account where the ingredients are from, how the food is grown and how it gets to our markets and eventually to our plates.

Sustainable Gastronomy Day History: The day was recognised on 21 December 2016 after the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/71/246, and declared 18 June as Sustainable Gastronomy Day. Every year, UNGA, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) work together to ensure that the day is celebrated properly around the world.

 

4. International Day for Countering Hate Speech: 18th June: International Day for Countering Hate Speech falls on June 18. According to the UN, hate speech is any kind of speech or writing that attacks or discriminates against a person or a group based on religion, ethnicity, nationality, race, color, descent, gender, or any other identity factor.

International Day for Countering Hate Speech History: In July 2021, the UN General Assembly highlighted global concerns over “the exponential spread and proliferation of hate speech” around the world and adopted a resolution on “promoting inter-religious and intercultural dialogue and tolerance in countering hate speech”. The resolution recognizes the need to counter discrimination, xenophobia and hate speech and calls on all relevant actors, including States, to increase their efforts to address this phenomenon, in line with international human rights law. The resolution proclaimed 18 June as the International Day for Countering Hate Speech, which will be marked for the first time in 2022.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. HSBC India announced $250 Million lending support for Indian start-ups: Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, India (HSBC India) has announced USD 250 million in lending support for high-growth, technology-led start-ups in India, which has the world’s third-largest start-up ecosystem. HSBC will administer the lending via its commercial banking division. It has also not mentioned any specific timeframe for disbursal of the amount.

HSBC stated that the lending will be done to high-growth, tech-led startups in the third largest startup ecosystem in the world. HSBC has prepared a credit model and offerings to suit the specific requirements of a wide spectrum of startups and new-age entities, ranging from growth stage to unicorns.

Note: HSBC India Founded: 1853; HSBC India Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra; HSBC India CEO: Hitendra Dave.

 

2. UPEIDA signs MoUs with SBI, BOB, PNB, and SIDBI for UP: To encourage investment in the UP Defense Industrial Corridor, the Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA) has inked MoUs with the State Bank of India (SBI), Bank of Baroda (BOB), Punjab National Bank (PNB), and Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI).

Key Points:

a)      The bank would provide financial help in the form of ease of doing business to investors in the UP Defense Industrial Corridor, according to the deal.

b)      UPEIDA has now collaborated with three major nationalised banks in the country, State Bank of India (SBI), Bank of Baroda (BOB), Punjab National Bank (PNB), and Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), as part of its continuous support to investors in the Corridor, according to a release.

c)       These are intended to assist investors interested in establishing a business in the UP Defence Industrial Corridor in obtaining financial support as part of the Ease of Doing Business initiative.

d)      Banks will provide these investors with tailored financial support on a case-by-case basis to assist them in establishing their businesses.

Note: State Bank of India (SBI) chairman: Dinesh Kumar Khara; Bank of Baroda (BOB) Chairman: Hasmukh Adhia; Punjab National bank (PNB) Chairman: Atul Kumar Goel

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. WPI inflation spiked to 15.88% in May 2022: Wholesale price inflation spiked to 15.88% in May, the highest since September 1991 as a surge in price pressure in food and fuel overwhelmed a moderation in the dominant manufactured product segment. In April, the WPI inflation was recorded at 15.08%. Inflation based on the wholesale price index (WPI) has remained in double digits for 14 months now, mirroring elevated global commodity prices, especially of oil, according to the official data released.

 

2. Adani Transmission’s $700 million loan gets ‘green loan’ tag: Adani Transmission Limited’s, $700 million revolving facility has been tagged as a ‘green loan’ by Sustainalytics. This assures the green loan framework for the revolving facility. Sustainalytics had issued the independent SPO on the alignment of the reviewed framework with the current market standards and the extent to which the eligible project categories are credible and impactful.

About the project:

a)      A revolving loan facility is a flexible financing tool that provides the borrower with the ability to draw down or withdraw, repay, and withdraw again.

b)      The projects associated with the USD 700 million revolving facility are being implemented in Gujarat and Maharashtra.

c)       In October 2021, the company in a regulatory filing had announced raising USD 700 million for its under-construction transmission asset portfolio through the definitive agreements signed with leading international banks.

d)      MUFG Bank has acted as Green Loan Coordinator to the issuer for arranging the SPO on Green Loan Framework prepared by Adani Transmission.

Note: Adani Transmission Limited CEO: Anil Kumar Sardana; Adani Transmission Limited Founder: Gautam Adani; Adani Transmission Limited Founded: 9 December 2013; Adani Transmission Limited Headquarters: Ahmedabad.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Eminent Urdu critic & linguist Professor Gopi Chand Narang passes away: Renowned Urdu scholar, linguist, theorist, literary critic, and former Chairperson of Sahitya Akademi Professor, Gopi Chand Narang has passed away at 91. He was a Professor Emeritus at the University of Delhi and Jamia Millia Islamia. He has been honoured with the Padma Bhushan (2004) and Sahitya Akademi Awards (1995). He incorporated a range of modern theoretical frameworks, including stylistics, structuralism, post-structuralism, and Sanskrit poetics.

Daily GK Update- 17th June, 2022

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India’s 1st private train service flagged off under ‘Bharat Gaurav Scheme’: The first train to be operated between Coimbatore and Shirdi by a private operator, under the ‘Bharat Gaurav’ scheme of the Indian Railways, was flagged off. Ministry of Tourism has informed that the first ever Bharat Gaurav Train has been flagged off on Coimbatore north to Sainagar Shirdi route. The train will cover several historical destinations on the route while giving the passengers an insight into the cultural heritage of the country.

Indian Railways had launched the operation of theme-based Bharat Gaurav train in the month of November 2021. The objective of this theme is to showcase India’s rich cultural heritage and magnificent historical places to the people of India and the world, through Bharat Gaurav Trains. Other features of the train service are:

a)      There will be a Doctor on board to attend any emergency

b)      There are Private securities engaged along with the Railway Police Force to protect the train from any kind of harm.

c)       There will be on board electricians and AC Mechanic and Fire and Safety Officers

d)      The train is maintained by branded housekeeping service providers who will clean the utility areas on frequent intervals and the caterers are experienced and rich in holding the traditional vegetarian menus.

e)      The coaches are fitted with high bass-sounding speakers and an on-rail Radio Jockey to keep the passengers entertained during the journey. There will be devotional songs, spiritual stories and live interviews to keep the journey pleasant.

f)        Completely Toxic-free and Smoke-free

 

2. PM Modi inaugurates Jal Bhushan Building and Gallery of Revolutionaries at Raj Bhawan in Mumbai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated Jal Bhushan Building at Raj Bhawan in Mumbai. Maharashtra Chief Minister Udhav Thackeray, Dy CM Ajit Pawar, Environment Minister Aaditya Thackeray and the State Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari were also present on the occasion. The PM also inaugurated an underground ‘Gallery of Revolutionaries’ museum dedicated to the luminaries of the freedom struggle, at the Raj Bhavan.

About the gallery: The gallery has come up in the subterranean network of 13 pre-World War-I British era bunkers, discovered in the Raj Bhavan campus in August 2016 during the tenure of the then Governor C. Vidyasagar Rao. The gallery includes information on the freedom movement heroes, their role in the movement, sculptures, rare photographs, murals and details on tribal revolutionaries drawn by school-kids.

 

3. Amara Raja to open a green hydrogen fuel outlet for NTPC in Leh: In Leh, Ladakh, Amara Raja Power Systems will build the country’s first green hydrogen fueling station for the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC). According to the Amara Raja company, the pilot project would create a minimum of 80 kg of 99.97 percent pure hydrogen each day, which will be compressed, stored, and delivered. The contract has been awarded to NTPC, which expects to operate five hydrogen fuel cell buses in the region. Key Points:

a)      If completed successfully, the project will usher in an age of emission-free transportation in and around Leh, and India will join a select club of countries that are leading the way in green mobility.

b)      Amara Raja will run and maintain the fueling station for three years at a cost of Rs 41 crore. Fuel prices, according to business sources, cannot be discussed at this time.

c)       By dividing water into hydrogen and oxygen using an electrolysis process fueled by renewable energy sources, green hydrogen will be produced. There will be no carbon imprint from the hydrogen produced this way.

d)      The project will be set up in Leh’s severe conditions, which include temperatures ranging from minus 14 to + 20 degrees Celsius at a height of 3,600 metres above sea level.

e)      This will be a prelude to large-scale green hydrogen mobility and storage initiatives, as well as a vital tool for analysing and deploying fueling stations around the country, as part of the National Hydrogen Energy Mission.

 

4. ‘Agniveers’ to be prioritised by UP Govt. for recruitment: Agniveers personnel recruited on short-term contracts in the Army, Navy, and Air Force under the unique Agnipath system would have preference in recruitment to the state’s police and associated services, according to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. This comes a day after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launched the Agnipath scheme for short-term contractual recruitment of personnel in the tri-services for a maximum of four years.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Agnipath Yojana is a visionary and welcome decision for the youth’s bright future. In this context, the ministry of home affairs (MHA) said that Agniveers who complete four years under this plan will be given precedence for recruitment into CAPFs (central armed police forces) and Assam Rifles. The first four years of contractual service are unlikely to be taken into account when ultimate pensionary benefits are calculated.

Note: Defence Minister of India: Shri Rajnath Singh; Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh: Yogi Adityanath

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. 1st-ever India-EU Security and Defence Consultations held in Brussels: First-ever India-European Union (EU) Security and Defence Consultations held in Brussels, Belgium. The consultations were held in accordance with the decision taken at India-EU Summit in July 2020. Consultations were co-chaired by Joint secretary of Ministry of Defence Somnath Ghosh and Joint Secretary (Europe West) of Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Sandeep Chakravorty from India and Director Security and Defence Policy, from European Union.

During the consultations:

a)      Discussions covered the evolving security situation in Europe, Indo-Pacific and India’s neighbourhood. Both the sides noted number of positive developments in security and defence cooperation area in recent years.

b)      The Maritime Security Dialogue met in February 2022, for the second time. First-ever joint naval exercises between India and EU were held in June 2021.

c)       The two sides also discussed various means of increasing India-EU cooperation on maritime security, implementation of the European code of conduct on arms export to India’s neighbourhood, cooperation in co-development and co-production of defence equipment including India’s participation in Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO).

Note: European Union Founded: 1 November 1993, Maastricht, Netherlands; European Union Headquarters: Brussels; President of the European Union Commission: Ursula von der Leyen;  President of the European Union Parliament: Roberta Metsola; President of the European Council: Charles Michel.

 

2. Arati Prabhakar to be appointed as science adviser to the President of US: US president Joe Biden is expected to name Arati Prabhakar as the head of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). She will succeed Eric Lander who left the role nine months after his appointment after he admitted to bullying his staff and creating a hostile work environment during his tenure.

Once the Senate approves the 63-year-old’s appointment, Arati would be the first woman and the first person of color to serve as science adviser to the President of the United States. Her role will require advising Biden on how to compete with China, bring forth rules which will protect US-funded academic research from theft and aim to reduce inequality within the research community.

Past work for US president: Arati also served in top roles during the presidential tenures of Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. The Clinton administration picked her to lead the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Obama administration picked her to lead the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).

 

3. World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought: 17th June: The World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought is observed on 17 June each year to promote public awareness of international efforts to combat desertification. The theme of 2022 Desertification and Drought Day “Rising up from drought together”.

The annual Desertification and Drought Day has three objectives.

a)      To promote public awareness about desertification and drought.

b)      Let people know that desertification and drought can be effectively tackled, that solutions are possible, and that key tools to this aim lay in strengthened community participation and cooperation at all levels.

c)       To strengthen implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in countries experiencing serious drought and/or desertification, particularly in Africa.

Desertification and Drought Day History: The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed June 17 as the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought through its resolution A/RES/49/115 which was adopted in December 1994.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. IWF Youth World Championships: Saanapathi Gurunaidu wins gold: At the IWF Youth World Championships in Leon, Mexico, Indian weightlifter Saanapathi Gurunaidu won gold in the men’s 55 kilogramme category event. On the first day of the IWF competition, two other additional Indian weightlifters, Vijay Prajapati and Akansha Kishor Vyavhare also won medals, they won the silver medals. Key Points:

a)      With a total lift of 230 kilogrammes, Saanapathi won gold in the men’s 55 kilogramme event. He won Silver in Snatch with a lift of 104 kg, and Gold in Clean and Jerk with a lift of 126 kilogrammes.

b)      With a total lift of 175 kg, Vijay placed second in the Men’s 49 kilogramme event. In the Snatch category, Vijay lifted 78 kilogrammes, while in the Clean and Jerk category, he lifted 97 kg.

c)       In the Women’s 40 kilogramme division, Akanksha won the gold medal. She won the silver medal with a total of 127 kg after placing first in the Snatch section with a lift of 59 kilogrammes and third in the Clean and Jerk section with a lift of 68 kilogrammes.

 

2. Neeraj Chopra Sets New National Record With 89.30 Metre Javelin Throw: India’s ace javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra set a new national record as he threw 89.30 metres at the Paavo Nurmi Games in Finland. Chopra’s earlier national record was 88.07m which he had set in Patiala in March last year. He had won the Tokyo Olympics gold with a throw of 87.58m on August 7, 2021. Neeraj Chopra is India’s first ever Olympic gold medallist in athletics and only the second individual gold medallist at Olympics. Chopra’s 89.30m effort will take him to fifth spot in the world season leaders’ list.

Neeraj Chopra won the silver medal with his throw at the event. This was Neeraj’s first competitive outing since winning the historic gold medal at the Tokyo Games. Finland’s Oliver Helander won the gold medal at the event with a throw of 89.83 metres.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Tamilnad Mercantile Bank gets SEBI’s nod to float IPO: Private sector lender, Tamilnad Mercantile Bank has received capital markets regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India’s (SEBI) to launch and raise funds through an initial public offering (IPO). The public issue comprises a fresh issue of 1,58,27,495 equity shares and an Offer For Sale (OFS) of up to 12,505 equity shares by shareholders, according to the Draft Red Herring Prospectus (DRHP). The bank, which filed its preliminary IPO papers with Sebi in September 2021, obtained its observations on May 30 this year, an update with the markets watchdog showed. In Sebi’s parlance, its observation implies its approval to float IPO.

Note: Tamilnad Mercantile Bank Headquarters: Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, India; Tamilnad Mercantile Bank CEO: K V Rama Moorthy (Sept 2017–); Tamilnad Mercantile Bank Founded: 11 May 1921.

 

2. Anand Mahindra, Venu Srinivasan, Pankaj Patel, and Ravindra Dholakia appointed to RBI central board: The government has appointed industrialists Anand Mahindra, Pankaj R Patel and Venu Srinivasan, and former IIM (Ahmedabad) professor Ravindra H Dholakia as non-official directors on the central board of the Reserve Bank. The nominations have been made for four years by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC).

Four new members of RBI central board:

a)      Anand Mahindra is the chairman of the Mahindra Group, the non-executive chairman of Mahindra & Mahindra and Tech Mahindra. His tenure has seen the Group expand domestically and internationally into a range of major industrial sectors from automobiles and agriculture to IT and aerospace.

b)      TVS Motor Company Chairman Emeritus, Venu Srinivasan is an engineer and an MBA from Purdue University (USA) and took over as the CEO of Sundaram-Clayton, the holding company of TVS Motor, in 1979.

c)       In a stock exchange filing, Zydus Lifesciences said its chairman Pankaj R Patel has been appointed as a part-time non-official director in the central board of the RBl.

d)      Ravindra H Dholakia was the economics area faculty at IIM Ahmedabad from September 1985 to April 2018 when he superannuated. He received the Most Distinguished Faculty Award for the year 2017-18 at IIM-A. He was a regular visiting faculty at the European Management Institute (ESCP-EAP), Paris from 2002 to 2005.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. Trade deficit of India broadens to $24.29 billion in May 2022: Trade data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry showed that India’s May trade deficit widened to $24.29 billion from $6.53 billion a year ago. May’s trade deficit was pushed up by a surge in imports, which rose 62.83% year-on-year to $63.22 billion, while exports rose 20.55% to $38.94 billion. Despite the uncertainty and volatility caused by the war in Europe, the engineering goods exports rose by 12.65 per cent year-on-year to $9.71 billion in May 2022.

India’s merchandise exports in the month of May rose by 20.55% to $38.94 billion. Imports grew by 62.83% to $63.22 billion. The trade deficit stood at $6.53 billion on May 2021. Cumulative exports in April-May 2022-23 rose by about 25% to $78.72 billion. Imports in April-May 2022-23 rose 45.42% to $123.41 billion.

 

2. CASHe has launched an industry-first credit line service on WhatsApp: Financial wellness platform, CASHe has launched an industry-first credit line service using its AI-powered chat capability on WhatsApp to provide customers with a fast, seamless and convenient way to access instant credit line by merely typing their name. The firm offers an instant credit limit without the need for any documents, app downloads or filling up tedious application forms.

About the CASHe’s WhatsApp chat service:

a)      CASHe’s WhatsApp chat service is built on the WhatsApp Business Platform, an enterprise solution that allows businesses to communicate with new and existing customers on WhatsApp in a simple, secure, and reliable way.

b)      Underlying this facility is an AI-powered bot that matches the customer’s inputs and automatically facilitates a formal application along with a KYC check, and once verified, sets up a credit line in a few clicks through a guided conversational flow.

c)       The borrower’s details will be generated and displayed based on the name entered – the only key input that the borrower needs to enter at the start of the conversation.

Note: WhatsApp Founded: 2009; WhatsApp CEO: Will Cathcart; WhatsApp Headquarters: Menlo Park, California, United States; WhatsApp Acquisition date: 19 February 2014; WhatsApp Founders: Jan Koum, Brian Acton; WhatsApp Parent organization: Facebook.

 

DEFENCE

 

1. India successfully test-fired Prithvi-II Ballistic Missile at Chandipur: India has test-launched Short-Range Ballistic Missile, Prithvi-II from an integrated test range in Chandipur, Odisha. This missile system is capable of striking targets with a very high degree of precision. It is an indigenously developed, surface-to-surface missile. It is powered by liquid propulsion twin engines. Its range is 350 km and can carry one-ton payload. About Prithvi-II:

a)      Prithvi-II is capable of carrying 500-1,000 kilogram of warheads and is powered by liquid propulsion twin engines. The state-of-the-art missile uses advanced inertial guidance system with manoeuvring trajectory to hit its target.

b)      The missile was randomly chosen from the production stock and the entire launch was carried out by the Strategic Force Command (SFC) of the Army and monitored by the scientists of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) as part of a training exercise.

c)       The missile trajectory was tracked by radars, electro- optical tracking systems and telemetry stations by the DRDO along the coast of Odisha.

d)      The downrange teams onboard the ship deployed near the designated impact point in the Bay of Bengal monitored the terminal events and splashdown.

Daily GK Update- 16th June, 2022

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Delhi government collaborates with the UNDP, builts oxygen production facility: To supplement oxygen supply capacities, the Delhi Government, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) India, has built an oxygen producing facility at G. B. Pant Hospital in New Delhi. Kanni Wignaraja, UN Assistant Secretary General and UNDP Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, inaugrated the oxygen plant in the presence of G. B. Pant Hospital Medical Director Dr. Anil Agarwal. The oxygen plant produces about 1,000 litres of oxygen per minute using pressure swing adsorption (PSA) technology. It will serve about 750 hospital beds, including ventilator-assisted beds and the Intensive Care Unit. The hospital is a multi-specialty tertiary care facility that receives referrals from all around the country.

UNDP: The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is a UN agency entrusted with assisting countries in eradicating poverty and achieving long-term economic and human development. It is the largest UN development aid agency, with operations in 170 countries and headquarters in New York City.

Note: UN Assistant Secretary General and UNDP Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific: Ms. Kanni Wignaraja

 

2. NeSDA Report 2021: Kerala topped among states: The National e-governance service delivery assessment (NeSDA) report 2021 was published recently.. NeSDA helps the respective governments improve their delivery of citizen centric services and shares best practices across the country for all States, UTs and Central Ministries to emulate. DARPG embarked on the second edition of NeSDA study in January 2021. NeSDA report 2021: Key points

a)      Top Rankers: Overall, in NeSDA 2021, Kerala had the highest overall compliance score amongst all the States and UTs.

b)      Among UTs: Jammu and Kashmir, assessed first time in NeSDA 2021, scored highest among all UTs for six sectors.

c)       Among North-east and Hill States: Meghalaya and Nagaland are the leading state portals with an overall compliance of 90% across all assessment parameters.

d)      Among Remaining State Category: Kerala, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh had a compliance of more than 85% among the remaing state category.

Highest Improvements:

a)      Among North-East and Hill States: The highest-ranking states of Meghalaya and Tripura showed improvement across all sectors compared to NeSDA 2019.

b)      Among Remaining State Category: The overall score of Tamil Nadu increased the most in 2021 compared to 2019. Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Punjab, Goa, and Odisha also improved the compliance of their services portals by 100%.

 

3. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Launches ‘StartUps For Railways’ Policy: Union Railway Minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw has launched “StartUps for Railways”, an important initiative in the field of innovation. Aiming at bringing about innovative solutions to problems like rail fracture, reduction of time between two trains and other passenger related issues. The innovation policy is expected to bring about scale and efficiency in the field of operation, maintenance and infrastructure creation through participation of very large and untapped startup ecosystem.

About the policy:

a)      Out of over 100 problem statements received from different divisions, field offices/zones of Railways, 11 problem statements like rail fracture, headway reduction etc. have been taken up for phase-1 of this programme.

b)      These will be presented before the start ups to find innovative solutions.

c)       The Railway Minister requested the startups to use this opportunity and assured them of support from Indian Railways in form of 50 per cent capital grant, assured market, scale and ecosystem.

d)      The Railways would grant up to Rs 1.5 crore to innovators on equal sharing basis with provision of milestone-wise payment under the policy.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Russia overtakes Saudi Arabia to become India’s 2nd biggest oil supplier: Russia has overtaken Saudi Arabia to become India’s second-biggest supplier of oil behind Iraq as refiners snap up Russian crude available at a deep discount following the war in Ukraine. Indian refiners bought about 25 million barrels of Russian oil in May, or more than 16 per cent of all their oil imports. Russian-origin crude hit 5 per cent of India’s total seaborne imports in April for the first time, rising from under 1% throughout 2021 and Q1 2022. Key points of the report:

a)      After the U.S. and China, India is the world’s third-largest consumer of oil, over 85 per cent of which is imported.

b)      India, the world’s third-biggest oil-importing and consuming nation, has long defended purchases of crude oil from Russia following President Vladimir Putin ordering the invasion of Ukraine.

c)       The Oil Ministry had last month stated that “energy purchases from Russia remain minuscule in comparison to India’s total consumption.”

d)      Iraq remained the top supplier to India in May and Saudi Arabia is now the third biggest supplier.

e)      India has taken advantage of discounted prices to ramp up oil imports from Russia at a time when global energy prices have been rising.

 

2. International Day of Family Remittances: 16th June: The International Day of Family Remittances (IDFR) was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly and is observed on 16 June. The IDFR recognizes more than 200 million migrant workers, women and men, who send money home to over 800 million family members. This day further highlights the great resilience of migrant workers in the face of economic insecurities, natural and climate related disasters and a global pandemic. This year, the United Nations is continuing last year’s theme for International Day of Family Remittances: recovery and resilience through digital and financial inclusion.

About International Day of Family Remittances: IDFR is a universally-recognized observance adopted by United Nations General Assembly’s (UNGA). The custodian of IDFR towards these objectives is the United Nations International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). IFAD is a specialized United Nations (UN) agency that was one of the major outcomes of the World Food Conference 1974. Later in 1977, it was set up as an international financial institution.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Angelo Mathews and Tuba Hassan crowned ICC Players of the Month for May: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced that Sri Lanka’s batting star Angelo Mathews and Pakistan’s debutante spin sensation Tuba Hassan have been voted the ICC Men’s and Women’s Players of the Month for May 2022. Fans can continue to vote every month for their favourite male and female cricketers across all formats of international cricket as part of the ICC Player of the Month initiative by registering at www.icc-cricket.com/awards.

Angelo Mathews: Mathews was selected the stand-out male player after piling on runs over the course of his side’s impressive ICC World Test Championship series victory against Bangladesh. Mathews becomes the first Sri Lankan player to be named the Player of the Month since its inception in January 2021, scooping the award ahead of fellow nominees Asitha Fernando (Sri Lanka), and Mushfiqur Rahim (Bangladesh).

Tuba Hassan: On the other hand, Hassan was awarded the to honour after enjoying significant success with the ball during her debut international series. The 21-year-old leg spinner was instrumental in restricting scores set by opponents Sri Lanka in the three-game T20I series in Pakistan, where she captured the Player of the Series award, taking five wickets at an average of 8.8 and an economy rate of 3.66. In securing this month’s award, Hassan overcomes fellow nominees in compatriot Bismah Maroof, and Jersey’s Trinity Smith. Tuba is the first female player from Pakistan to win in the award.

Note: ICC Founded: 15 June 1909; ICC Chairman: Greg Barclay; ICC CEO: Geoff Allardice; ICC Headquarters: Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

 

2. BWF Indonesia Masters 2022: The 2022 Indonesia Masters badminton tournament (officially known as the Daihatsu Indonesia Masters) took place at the Istora Gelora Bung Karno, Jakarta, Indonesia. Olympic champions Viktor Axelsen and Chen Yufei clinched the respective men’s and women’s singles titles at the BWF Indonesia Masters 2022.

BWF Indonesia Masters 2022:

Category	Winners
Men’s singles	Viktor Axelsen (Denmark)
Women’s singles	Chen Yufei (China)
Men’s doubles	Fajar Alfian (Indonesia) & Muhammad Rian Ardianto (Indonesia)
Women’s doubles	Chen Qingchen (China) & Jia Yifan (China)
Mixed doubles	Zheng Siwei (China) & Huang Yaqiong (China)

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Indian Bank launched digital renewal scheme for KCC holders: Indian Bank launched its KCC Digital Renewal scheme, enabling eligible customers to renew their Kisan Credit Card accounts via digital modes. The initiative is part of the bank’s digital transformation under project ‘WAVE’ – World of Advanced Virtual Experience. The account renewals can be done using Indian Bank’s IndOASIS mobile app and internet banking. Out of the total agriculture portfolio of Rs 88,100 crores, KCC constitutes Rs 22,300 crores with 15.84 lakh customers.

The bank expects the digital initiative to come in handy for customers and intend to enhance the threshold limit to cover more KCC account holders.  In April this year, the bank had launched its first end-to-end digital product – Pre-Approved Personal Loan.

Note: Indian Bank Founded: 15 August 1907; Indian Bank Headquarters: Chennai; Indian Bank CEO: Shri Shanti Lal Jain; Indian Bank Tagline: Taking Banking Technology To The Common Man.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. Finally Microsoft’s Internet Explorer retiring after 27 years: Microsoft has announced the retirement of 27-year-old Internet Explorer (IE) as the firm’s oldest browser will be completely phased out from June 15. A year ago, Microsoft said that it was putting an end to Internet Explorer on June 15, 2022, pushing users to its Edge browser, which was launched in 2015. The company made clear then it was time to move on. Estimates for Internet Explorer’s market share in 2022 are about 0.38% across all platforms, or by StatCounter’s numbers ranked 10th. Evolution of Internet Explorer (1995-2013):

Internet Explorer (IE), World Wide Web (WWW) browser and set of technologies created by Microsoft Corporation, a leading American computer software company. After being launched in 1995, Internet Explorer became one of the most popular tools for accessing the Internet. There were 11 versions between 1995 and 2013.

a)      1995: In July 1995 Microsoft released Internet Explorer 1.0 as an add-on to the Windows 95 operating system. By November the company had produced IE 2.0 for both Apple Inc.’s Macintosh and Microsoft’s Windows 32-bit operating systems.

b)      1996: In August 1996 IE 3.0, designed for use with Windows 95, added important components such as Internet Mail and News (an e-mail and newsgroup client) and Windows Media Player, a computer graphics program that allowed users to view GIF (graphics interchange format) and JPEG (joint photographic experts group) files;

c)       1997: IE 4.0, which came out in 1997, was tightly integrated into the company’s main operating systems, Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows NT. This incarnation replaced Internet Mail and News with Outlook Express, a freeware version of Microsoft Office Outlook, the company’s commercial e-mail and newsgroup client.

d)      1998: IE 5, released in September 1998, expanded Web design capabilities and allowed for further personalization.

e)      2001: IE 6, released in 2001 and designed to work with the Windows XP operating system, featured more privacy and security options.

f)        2006: IE 6 was Microsoft’s primary Web browser until the 2006 development of IE 7, which was compatible with the Windows Vista operating system.

g)      2009: IE 8, which was released in 2009, added more support for Web 2.0 features.

h)      2011: IE 9 was released in 2011 and featured increased speed and compliance with the HyperText Markup Language (HTML) 5 standards for video and audio. Later that same year, IE 10 brought the browser further into complete adherence to the HTML 5 standards.

i)        2013: IE 11, released in 2013, had features built for touch screens such as those on smartphones and tablets. In January 2016 Microsoft discontinued its active technical support for all other versions of Internet Explorer except IE 11. Microsoft Edge replaced Internet Explorer as the company’s preferred browser in 2016.

 

DEFENCE

 

1. GoI launched Agnipath military recruitment scheme: The Indian government has introduced the Agnipath Military recruitment scheme, a 4-year tenure scheme for the defense troops. The scheme will facilitate the induction of more troops for shorter-term tenures. The scheme has been planned and is being implemented by the Department of Military Affairs.

Here are the key details of the scheme:

a)      ‘Agnipath’ is a short-term service youth recruitment scheme for the armed forces that operates across India. Agniveers will be the name given to those chosen for the scheme, and they will serve in a variety of terrain such as deserts, mountains, land, sea, and air.

b)      Approximately 45,000 people between the ages of 17.5 and 21 will be inducted into the service for a four-year period under the scheme. The recruitment process will begin in the next 90 days, with the first batch expected to be completed by July 2023.

c)       In a one-time waiver, the Central government has increased the upper age limit for the Agnipath scheme from 21 to 23 years (First Batch only).

d)      The selection will be made using a centralised online method. Agniveers will be required to have the same educational requirements as normal officers in the armed forces.

e)      Women will be inducted in the ‘Agnipath’ scheme as well.

f)        After four years, Agniveers would be given the option to voluntarily apply for registration in the permanent cadre. These applications will be evaluated based on merit and service performance. It’s possible that up to 25 per cent of submissions will be accepted.

g)      Agniveers will be hired for four years under the ‘Agnipath’ scheme and will get intensive military training. They will be given a monthly wage of ₹ 30,000 to ₹ 40,000 per month, plus allowances.