Daily GK Update- 18th July, 2022

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. CM introduces e-FIR service and a police app for Uttarakhand: The e-FIR service and the Uttarakhand police app were introduced by chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. The State police’s five online services are all integrated into the police app. Dhami, who spoke at the event, asserted that the app will provide better services to the public. On behalf of the government’s policy of simplification, solution, and resolution, he noted that this is a commendable endeavour. This is a commendable effort to put Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s concept of smart policing into practise. Key Points:

a)      The head of the police department The Uttarakhand police app now includes all of the online services that the State police offers to the general public, according to Ashok Kumar.

b)      These are Lakshya Nasha Mukt Uttarakhand, Meri Yatra, Gaura Shakti, traffic eye, and public eye.

c)       Additionally linked to this app are the cyber hotline number 1930 and the emergency number 112.

d)      He added that with this software, residents will be able to report vehicle theft or lost documents online while at home using the citizens web portal or their mobile phone.

e)      The report must be filled out according to the description given, and the cyber police station will receive the public’s information for registration as an e-FIR.

Note: Chief Minister of Uttarakhand: Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami

 

2. Vedanta collaborates with company started from IIT Madras: In order to implement safety incident detection, metal and oil and Gas Company Vedanta has partnered with Detect Technologies, a startup established at IIT Madras, and deployed T-Pulse HSSE Monitoring System across all of its business units. The partnership is consistent with the Vedanta Group’s objective to achieving zero harm through the implementation of AI-enabled safety monitoring of workplaces, which is a key priority in its roadmap for digital transformation.

Key Points:

a)      The solution will make use of and recognise Vedanta’s infrastructure for relaying, analysing, and reporting feeds. The module will be used to spot harmful behaviours and environments.

b)      The technological stack offered by T-Pulse is centralised, scalable, and intended for plug-and-play implementation.

c)       T-Pulse has seen widespread implementation across key caution-intensive workplaces such as construction, petrochemicals, logistics, power, metals, mining, pharmaceuticals, and fabrication yard.

d)      It was designed for risk minimization and mitigation through actionable insights. By providing quick reactions in settings ranging from onshore drilling to zinc manufacture, it has been used extensively throughout Vedanta sites to improve compliance.

Note: Vedanta Group CEO: Shri Sunil Duggal

 

3. India’s first Monkeypox case reported in Kerala: The first case of monkeypox was confirmed in India after a person who had returned to Kerala from UAE developed symptoms of the disease. His samples were sent to National Virology Institute in Pune which confirmed the disease. It was first found in monkeys in 1958. About Monkeypox:

a)      Monkeypox is a viral zoonotic disease with symptoms similar to smallpox, although with less clinical severity. The virus is transmitted through close contact with another infected person or animal and spreads from lesions, body fluids, respiratory droplets and contaminated materials such as bedding.

b)      The symptoms can include fever, headache, muscle ache and backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills, exhaustion, and rashes that can look like pimples or blisters on the face, inside the mouth and other parts of the body.

c)       As infection turns acute, red lesions will appear on the body and the itching-like chicken pox is triggered. The incubation period ranges from five to 21 days.

 

4. West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar is NDA’s vice-presidential pick: The BJP has announced West Bengal Governor, Jagdeep Dhankhar as the NDA’s vice-presidential candidate, with party chief J P Nadda lauding him as a “Kisan Putra (farmer’s son)” who had established himself as “a people’s governor”. With the NDA having a clear majority in the electoral college comprising MPs of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, Dhankhar is expected to win the August 6 election to vice-president. He will succeed M Venkaiah Naidu, whose term ends on August 10.

Dhankhar entered public life after getting elected as the Member of Parliament from Jhunjhunu in the 1989 Lok Sabha elections. He also served as a Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs in 1990. In 1993, he was elected to the Rajasthan Assembly from the Kishangarh constituency in Ajmer district.

 

5. VK Singh appointed as Director (Technical) of REC Limited: V.K. Singh has taken charge as Director (Technical) of REC Limited. Before this elevation, Singh was Executive Director in REC holding a portfolio of key business areas including Private Sector Project Management, Entity Appraisal and Procurement and is also a Director on the Board of REC Power Development and Consultancy Limited.

REC Limited: REC Limited, formerly Rural Electrification Corporation Limited, is a public Infrastructure Finance Company in India’s power sector. The company is a Public Sector Undertaking and finances and promotes power projects across India.

 

6. New television series called “Swaraj” being promoted by Anurag Thakur: Anurag Thakur, Minister of Information and Broadcasting, debuted the trailer for the new television series Swaraj: Bharat Ke Swatantrata Sangram Ki Samagra Gatha in New Delhi. Doordarshan will begin airing this series on August 14th, 2022. The contribution of the liberation warriors and unsung heroes of the freedom movement will be highlighted in the 75-episode drama. The All India Radio will also air this programme. The serial logo was unveiled by Mr. Thakur at New Delhi’s Akashwani Bhawan. The upcoming television series Swaraj: Bharat Ke Swatantrata Sangram Ki Samagra Gatha, the debut of the promo is an illustration of the Swaraj that was envisioned during the battle for independence.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Varanasi named 1st cultural and tourism capital of SCO: The holy city of Varanasi showcasing India’s culture and traditions over the ages will be declared the first “Cultural and Tourism Capital” of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. Varanasi will become the “Cultural and Tourism Capital” of the SCO for 2022-23 under a new rotating initiative by the eight-member organisation to promote people-to-people contacts and tourism among the member states. Under this initiative:

a)      Each year a city of the cultural heritage of a member country that will take over the rotating Presidency of the organisation will get the title to highlight its prominence.

b)      The organisation’s new initiatives ahead of this year’s Heads of the State summit of the SCO scheduled to be held at Samarkand in Uzbekistan on September 15-16 this year.

c)       The new initiative will come into force after the Samarkand summit following which India will take over the Presidency and host the next Heads of the State summit.

About the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation: The Beijing-headquartered Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is an eight-member economic and security alliance comprising China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India and Pakistan.

 

2. Nelson Mandela International Day: 18th July: Every year on July 18 the world marks Nelson Mandela International Day. The day is a remembrance of the first democratically elected President of South Africa and his long years of struggle for justice against apartheid. As a human rights lawyer, a political prisoner, a global mediator, and the first democratically elected leader of a free South Africa, he had dedicated his life to serving humanity.

The theme for Nelson Mandela International Day 2022 is “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are”, according to the United Nations. The theme finds significance given the geopolitical landscape in eastern Europe as well as sporadic conflicts in the Horn of Africa, followed by the crisis in Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and various other parts of the world, as the UN chief notes.

Nelson Mandela Day History: The day came about in November 2009, after the UN General Assembly recognised the former contributions of Mandela to peace and the fight for freedom. The UNGA adopted the resolution outlining the values and dedication to the service of humanity in conflict resolution, race relations, promotion, protection of human rights, fight against poverty, and more. It is celebrated on the birthday of Mandela. Later in 2014, the UNGA introduced the Nelson Mandela Prize to honour the achievements of those who dedicated their lives to humanity.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. IOA named 322-member Indian contingent for Commonwealth Games: Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has announced a 322-member Indian contingent including 215 athletes and 107 officials and support staff to represent the country at the Commonwealth Games 2022 in Birmingham, United Kingdom. The Games are scheduled to be held in British city from July 28 to August 8, 2022. Team India will compete in 15 sporting disciplines as well as four disciplines in the para-sports category. Rajesh Bhandari, vice president of the Boxing Federation of India (BFI), is the Chef de Mission of the squad.

Some big names in the squad include Neeraj Chopra, who won the gold medal in Tokyo, PV Sindhu, the two-time Olympic medallist, Lovlina Borgohain, Mirabai Chanu, and Bajrang Punia. Defending CWG champions Vinesh Phogat, Manika Batra, and 2018 Asian Games gold medalists Hima Das, Tajinderpal Singh Toor, and Amit Panghal will also be taking part in the championship.

 

2. Indian GM Aravindh Chithambaram won tournament in Spain: Indian Grandmaster Aravindh Chithambaram has emerged winner in the 41st Villa De Benasque International Chess Open in Spain. Chithambaram’s coach R B Ramesh praised his ward for the title. He defeated Armenia’s Robert Hovhannisyan and compatriot Raunak Sadhwani on the basis of a tie-break score here. Sadhwani finished in third place behind the Armenian. Chithambaram is also a former national champion. The 17-year-old Sadhwani remained unbeaten through the 10 rounds, scoring six wins to go with four draws. An inferior tie-break score hurt his chances of claiming the top spot.

 

3. Singapore Open 2022: PV Sindhu wins first Super 500 title: PV Sindhu won the first Super 500 title of her career when she defeated reigning Asian champion Wang Zhi Yi of China 21-9, 11-21, 21-15 in the final of the Singapore Open. This is her first 500 or better since the world championship win in 2019. This is her first 500 or better final in 2022. This is an important marker for the world No 7 while the rankings are still frozen.

In men’s Single: Anthony Sinisuka Ginting won the men’s singles title at badminton’s Singapore Open 2022. Olympic bronze medallist Ginting from Indonesia beat unseeded Japanese player Naraoka Kodai in a closely fought final.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. MoU signed between RBI and Bank Indonesia to further their shared cooperation: An agreement was reached between the Reserve Bank of India and Bank Indonesia to increase collaboration in payment systems, digital financial innovation, anti-money laundering, and countering the funding of terrorism (AML-CFT). On the sidelines of the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting in Bali, the two central banks agreed to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to further their mutual cooperation. Key Points:

a)      By signing this MoU, RBI and BI agreed to improve communication and collaboration in the field of central banking, including payment systems, technological advancements in payment services, and the regulatory and supervisory framework for AML-CFT.

b)      The MoU will be put into practise through policy discussion, technical collaboration, information sharing, and teamwork.

c)       In the presence of RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das and BI Governor Perry Warjiyo, it was signed by Deputy Governors of the RBI Michael Debabrata Patra and the BI Dody Budi Waluyo.

d)      The MoU will also serve as a solid foundation for fostering intercultural understanding, creating effective payment systems, and attaining cross-border payment connectivity, according to the RBI.

e)      According to the statement, such measures will be carried out through routine discussion of current financial and economic concerns and trends, technical collaboration through training and joint seminars, and cooperative work to investigate the creation of cross-border retail payment linkages.

Note: Reserve Bank of India Governor: Shaktikanta Das

Bank Indonesia Governor: Perry Warjiyo

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. Center extends State and Central Tax and Levies Rebate Program: The government has approved the continuation of the Scheme for Rebate of State and Central Taxes and Levies (RoSCTL) with the same rates as announced by the Ministry of Textiles for exports of apparel/garments and made-ups until March 31, 2024 in an effort to increase exports and create jobs in the textile industry. RoSCTL is a growth-oriented, forward-looking programme that has helped increase exports and jobs by establishing a stable and predictable policy environment.

The programme enhanced cost effectiveness and export competitiveness on the global market. Additionally, it has aided in the development of startups and entrepreneurs in the industry and encouraged a significant number of MSMEs to enter the garment export market. The RoSL (Rebate of State Levies) scheme was superseded by the new RoSCTL (Rebate of State and Central Taxes Levies) plan in March 2019 following the implementation of GST in 2017.

Note: Chairman AEPC (Apparel Export Promotion Council): Shri Naren Goenka

 

2. Google Parent Alphabet appoints Goldman Sachs Veteran, Marty Chavez to Board: Wall Street veteran Marty Chavez is joining the board of Google parent Alphabet Inc., adding significant finance muscle to the technology giant. His appointment marks the first change to the Alphabet board since 2020 when former Google Chief Executive Officer Eric Schmidt departed.

Chavez, a vice chairman and partner with Sixth Street Partners, has worked as an investor and software executive but is best known for his 20-year tenure at Goldman Sachs Group Inc. Chavez, 58, originally joined Goldman Sachs in the J. Aron trading unit. He then held various other roles at the firm, including chief financial officer, chief information officer, and head of its trading division, the bank’s largest unit.

Note: Alphabet Inc. CEO: Sundar Pichai; Alphabet Inc. Chairperson: John L. Hennessy; Alphabet Inc. Founded: 2 October 2015, California, United States; Alphabet Inc. Headquarters: Mountain View, California, United States; Alphabet Inc. Founders: Larry Page, Sergey Brin.

 

DEFENCE

 

1. Rajnath Singh launched Project 17A stealth frigate ‘Dunagiri’: Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has launched the fourth P17A stealth frigate ‘Dunagiri’ into the Hooghly River in Kolkata. The Project 17A frigate is built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders Limited. The P-17A class is a follow-on of the P-17 Shivalik Class with improved stealth features & advanced weapons.

About the P17A Project:

a)      The first two ships of the P17A Project were launched in 2019 and 2020 at MDL and GRSE respectively. The third ship (Udaygiri) was launched at MDL on 17 May 22 earlier this year.

b)      Security challenges in the Indian Ocean region and Indo-Pacific are constantly increasing. In order to achieve the Prime Minister’s Vision of ‘SAGAR’, i.e., Security and Growth for All in the Region’ and to protect, preserve and promote India’s national maritime interests, the Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard and other organizations have to increase the infrastructure and assets so that the country stays ahead of the curve in dealing with these challenges.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Former Punjab Speaker Nirmal Singh Kahlon Passes Away: Former Punjab Speaker and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader, Nirmal Singh Kahlon has passed away at the age of 79. He was the Rural Development and Panchayat Minister from 1997 to 2002 and the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly from 2007 to 2012.

Career of Kahlon: Kahlon was elected MLA from Fatehgarh Churian in 1997 and 2007. Kahlon was the minister for rural development and panchayat in the Akali government from 1997 to 2002. He was also the Speaker of Punjab Vidhan Sabha from 2007 to 2012. He lost the 2012 and 2017 Assembly elections to Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa of the Congress.

Daily GK Update- 17th July, 2022

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. To encourage agricultural trade, Narendra Tomar Launches e-NAM Platform: On the eve of the State Agriculture and Horticulture Ministers’ Conference in Bengaluru, Karnataka, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, unveiled the Platform of Platforms (POP) under the National Agriculture Market (e-NAM). A total of 1,018 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) received equity grants totaling more than Rs 37 crore, which will help 3.5 lakh farmers. Key Points:

a)      Farmers will now have easier access to markets outside of their own states thanks to POP.

b)      In order to improve the price search mechanism and quality commensurate with price realisation, this would expand farmers’ digital access to a wider range of marketplaces, buyers, and service providers as well as provide transparency to business transactions.

c)       POP covers 41 service providers from multiple platforms who provide a range of value chain services, such as trade, quality assurance, warehousing, fintech, market intelligence, transportation, etc.

d)      A digital ecosystem that will be created by the POP will profit from the knowledge of many platforms in various areas of the agricultural value chain.

 

2. Cabinet approved Taranga Hill-Ambaji-Abu Road new rail line: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the construction of the Taranga Hill-Ambaji- Abu Road new rail line to be constructed by the Ministry of Railways at an estimated cost of Rs 2798.16 crore. The total length of the new rail line will be 116.65 km and is expected to be completed in 2026-27. The project would generate direct employment during construction for about 40 lakh man-days. About the project:

a)      The project is going to enhance connectivity and improve mobility leading to the overall socio-economic development of the region.

b)      Ambaji is a famous important pilgrimage destination and is one of the 51 Shaktipeeths in India and attracts millions of devotees from Gujarat as well as other parts of the country and abroad every year. The construction of this line will facilitate easy travel for millions of devotees.

c)       Further, the devotees visiting the Ajitnath Jain temple (one of the 24 holy Jain Tirthankaras) at Taranga Hill would also be greatly benefitted from this connectivity. This railway new line between Taranga Hill-Ambaji- Abu Road will connect these two important religious spots with the railway’s main network.

 

3. UIDAI launched ‘AadhaarFaceRd’ mobile app to perform Aadhaar face authentication: The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has launched a face authentication feature through a new mobile app called “AadhaarFaceRd”. For authentication, Aadhaar card holders no longer need to physically visit an enrollment centre for iris and fingerprint scans. The UIDAI has started using face authentication as a method of confirming an Aadhaar holder’s identity. Once your facial authentication is successful, it verifies your identity.

Residents are now using the Aadhaar Face Authentication feature by downloading the UIDAI RDApp, which can be used for various Aadhaar Authentication Apps like Jeevan Praman, PDS, Scholarship schemes, COWIN, and Farmer Welfare schemes. Aadhaar Face Authentication technology has been developed in-house by UIDAI.

Note: UIDAI CEO: Saurabh Garg; UIDAI Founded: 28 January 2009; UIDAI Headquarters: New Delhi.

 

4. Agnikul Cosmos opened India’s first rocket engine factory in Chennai: Space tech startup, Agnikul Cosmos has inaugurated India’s first-ever factory to manufacture 3D-printed rocket engines in Chennai. The company facility will use additive manufacturing technology to build 3D printed rocket engines and will be used to produce engines for its own in-house rockets. This will allow the factory to produce eight engines every month and build the number of engines required to launch Agnibaan – its two-stage launch vehicle, expected to launch by the end of the year.

Dimension of the rocket engines: The 10,000-square-foot facility is located at IIT-Madras Research Park. It will have a 400mm x 400mm x 400mm metal 3D printer from EOS that will enable end-to-end manufacturing of a rocket engine under one roof.

 

5. Indian researchers developed novel method to render SARS-CoV-2 inactive: New synthetic peptides that can both prevent the SARS-CoV-2 virus from entering cells and clump the virus particles together to lessen their capacity to infect living cells have been created by Indian scientists. With the help of this innovative technique, viruses like SARS-CoV-2 can be rendered dormant, opening the door for a new family of peptide antivirals.

According to the Ministry of Science and Technology, scientists from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and the CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology have created a novel mechanism to inactivate the COVID (SARS-CoV-2) virus by preventing its entry into cells and lowering its capacity to infect people. The study was funded by the Department of Science and Technology’s Department of Engineering and Research Board, a governmental authority, through the COVID-19 IRPHA call.

 

6. Dr S Jaishankar launches ‘Connecting through Culture’ at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan in Delhi: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar launched ‘Connecting through Culture’, an anthology of essays on various aspects of India’s soft power strengths, at Sushma Swaraj Bhavan in New Delhi, India. The Minister described the book as the “good cop” in diplomacy and said that it can be used to encourage others to work with India because “it creates a comfort about India.

It takes different aspects of India and to some degree, it brings out the familiarity with different facets of India.” The anthology in many ways is a very notable contribution to understanding India, appreciating India, and in many ways valuing India.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. SpaceX: Cargo Dragon supply mission to the ISS launched: A hydrazine leak on a SpaceX cargo Dragon spacecraft caused the launch of the spacecraft to be delayed by more than a month. The spacecraft is now on its way to the International Space Station. Seven and a half minutes after takeoff, the Falcon 9 first stage landed on a droneship in the Atlantic Ocean. The stage successfully launched the Turksat 5B communications satellite, as well as NASA’s Crew-3, Crew-4, and CRS-22 missions. This was the stage’s fifth flight overall. SpaceX has conducted 30 launches so far this year compared to 31 over the entirety of 2021. Key Points:

a)      2,668 kilos of cargo are being carried by the Dragon spacecraft for the CRS-25 mission. This cargo includes scientific research as well as crew supplies, hardware for spacewalks, and science experiments. Included in that amount is equipment weighing 544 kilos that is housed in the spacecraft’s unpressurized trunk.

b)      The Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation, or EMIT, is one of the science payloads and will be mounted on the outside of the station. It will be applied to research atmospheric mineral dust and how it affects ecosystems all around the world.

Note: Senior director of human spaceflight programs at SpaceX: Benji Reed

 

2. World Day for International Justice: 17th July: World Day for International Justice is observed on July 17 to commemorate the organisations that work to bring justice to the victims of international criminal acts. It also commemorates the establishment of modern court systems in the world. The day focuses on the advocacy of fundamental human rights and the promotion of international criminal justice.

World Day for International Justice History: On July 17, 1998, 120 countries came together to sign a treaty titled the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. The establishment came to be known as the International Criminal Court (ICC), which came into force on July 1, 2002. To celebrate the signing of the Rome Statute, World Day for International Justice has been celebrated every year ever since.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. RIL tie-up with Athletics Federation of India to support Indian Athlete: Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) and the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) have entered into a long-term partnership to enable the holistic growth of athletics in India. The partnership aims to discover, nurture and develop Indian athletes from across the country and provide them with world-class facilities, coaching and sports science and medicine support by leveraging the Reliance Foundation ecosystem including the Odisha Reliance Foundation Athletics High-Performance Center and Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital.

Reliance Industries’ contribution towards sports:

a)      In line with the larger vision of the organization, this partnership will have a special focus on girl athletes and aim to bridge the gender divide and enable them to achieve their dreams.

b)      Since 2017, Reliance Foundation has invested in the development of athletics through the Reliance Foundation Youth Sports programme reaching more than 5,500 educational institutes in 50+ districts across the country.

c)       In 2018, Reliance Foundation set up Odisha Reliance Foundation Athletics HPC, a high-performance centre in partnership with the Government of Odisha, from where multiple national and international medalists and national record holders have been shaped.

d)      The Reliance Foundation has also been supporting the AFI with sports science and medicine support, with physiotherapists from Reliance Foundation accompanying the Indian contingent to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Note: Reliance Industries Limited Founded: 8 May 1973; Reliance Industries Limited Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra; Reliance Industries Limited Founder: Dhirubhai Ambani; Reliance Industries Limited Owner: Mukesh Ambani (50.49%).

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Integration with new tax site completed by Kotak Mahindra Bank: As one of the first private banks to be fully connected with the new portal, Kotak Mahindra Bank has announced the completion of its technical integration with the new income tax e-filing system. According to a statement from the lender, Kotak Mahindra Bank clients can now pay their direct taxes online through the e-pay tax page of the portal using Kotak net banking or in person at a branch. For its clients, this will make the tax payment procedure quick, easy, and convenient.

Key Points:

a)      Following the ruling allowing all banks to engage in government operations, Kotak Mahindra Bank claimed to have become the first scheduled private sector bank to be approved as a partner in tax collecting in October 2021.

b)      They are quite proud of our personnel for having quickly integrated the comprehensive tax payment solution into our banking systems.

c)       With the addition of this capability, Kotak Bank joins the pioneers in providing an ecosystem for direct tax payments through all of our channels.

Note: Joint managing director, Kotak Mahindra Bank: Dipak Gupta

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. Trade Deficit widens to record $26.1 Billion in June: India’s merchandise trade deficit widened to a record $26.18 billion in June, wider than the government’s earlier estimate of $25.63 billion, after the Commerce Ministry revised upwards both the exports and imports figures for the month. The previous record monthly merchandise trade deficit was $24.3 billion in May. Last month’s trade deficit was almost three times as wide as the $9.6 billion shortfall recorded in June 2021. Key Points:

a)      While goods exports increased 23.5% year-on-year in June to exceed $40.1 billion (the preliminary estimate was $38 billion), imports outpaced, surging 57.5% to $66.3 billion on the back of higher purchases of coal, gold and petroleum products.

b)      The surge in imports was driven by coal, gold and petroleum products as estimated earlier, but there were significant upward revisions for each. Coal imports jumped almost fourfold to $6.76 billion while gold imports almost trebled to surpass $2.7 billion. Petroleum imports climbed 99.5% to $21.3 billion.

c)       Excluding petroleum and gems and jewellery, imports were up 38.3% at $38.53 billion in June. Stripping out the same product categories from the export data, meant exports of other products grew by a single digit of 8.65% to about $28 billion.

 

2. Bharti Airtel allotted 1.2% equity shares to Google for USD 1 Billion: Telecom operator Bharti Airtel has allotted over 7.1 crore equity shares to internet major Google for Rs 734 a piece. The allotment is part of Google’s commitment to invest USD 1 billion with Airtel, which included equity investment in the company worth USD 700 million, about Rs 5,224 crore. Google now holds a 1.2% stake in India’s 2 telecom service providers. The investment follows Google’s USD 4.5 billion investment in Reliance Jio in July 2020 for India Digitization Fund.

Google made the investment as part of its USD 10-billion India Digitization Fund. Google will hold approximately 1.2 per cent of the total post-issue equity shares of the company– approximately 1.17 per cent on a fully-diluted basis. Google has also invested Rs 33,737 crore (about USD 4.5 billion) to buy a 7.73 per cent stake in Jio Platforms just a couple of days after it made an announcement about the India Digitization Fund.

Note: Bharti Airtel Founded: 1995; Bharti Airtel Founder: Sunil Bharti Mittal; Bharti Airtel Headquarters: New Delhi; Bharti Airtel Chairman: Sunil Bharti Mittal; Bharti Airtel MD & CEO: Gopal Vittal.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Japan awards Ex-PM Shinzo Abe country’s highest order posthumously: The Japanese government announced its decision to honour former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe with the country’s highest decoration “the Collar of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum” posthumously. Shinzo Abe will be the fourth former premier to receive the honour under the postwar Constitution. Before him, former Prime Ministers Shigeru Yoshida, Eisaku Sato and Yasuhiro Nakasone were conferred with the same honour.

Notably, Emperor Meiji of Japan introduced the Grand Cordon of the Order in 1876. Later in 1888, the Collar of the Order was added to it. Unlike its European counterparts, Japan has the right to award it posthumously. The grand cordon is the highest honour that a Japanese national can receive in his/her lifetime. As of now, as many as 44 Japanese nationals have been awarded with the grand cordon, apart from the Imperial Family.

 

2. British Parliament felicitated BCCI President Sourav Ganguly: Former India captain and current BCCI president, Sourav Ganguly was felicitated by the British Parliament. The Indian cricket legend was felicitated on the same date July 13 when he led India to Natwest final win in 2002 and exactly 20 years later on the same day he was honoured in the same city. He was elected as the President of BCCI in 2019.

Facts about Sourav Ganguly:

a)      Sourav Chandidas Ganguly, affectionately known as Dada, is an Indian cricket administrator, commentator and former national cricket team captain who is the 39th and current president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India. He is popularly honoured as Maharaja of Indian Cricket.

b)      Ganguly was awarded the Padma Shri in 2004, one of India’s highest civilian awards.

c)       Ganguly was awarded with the Banga Bibhushan Award from the Government of West Bengal on 20 May 2013.

d)      Ganguly is currently a part of the Supreme Court of India appointed Justice Mudgal Committee probe panel for the IPL Spot fixing and betting scandal’s investigations.

Daily GK Update- 16th July, 2022

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. National Rail and Transportation Institute upgraded as Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya: National Rail and Transportation Institute upgraded as Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya, the deemed to be university will be upgraded to a central university. The university has been renamed as Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya. The Union Cabinet gave its approval to introduce a Bill in Parliament, namely, the Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2022 to amend the Central Universities Act, 2009 for setting up of Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV).

The amendment would help in converting the National Rail and Transportation Institute (NRTI), a Deemed-to-be university into Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya, a Central University. The NRTI offers BSc in transportation technology, BBA in transportation management courses, and MSc in railway system engineering and integration.

About the Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya: The Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya is envisioned to be a key enabler for expanding the transportation sector which is strategically critical for India’s economic growth and development. The sector requires a stable supply of highly trained personnel and state-of-the-art technology. The scope of the university will extend beyond the Railways to cover the entire transport sector to support its ambitious growth and modernisation.

 

2. Uttarakhand becomes first state in India to implement NEP at pre-primary level: Uttarakhand has become the first state in the country to initiate the process of implementing the Centre’s New Education Policy. Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami has initiated this process by inaugurating ‘Bal Vatikas’ at Anganwadi Kendra across the state to strengthen the pre-primary education system. About the Bal Vatika:

a)      The ‘Bal Vatikas’ will function at 4,457 Anganwadi Kendra in the state and will be equivalent to the nursery classes at a private school.

b)      The implementation of the New Education Policy (NEP) marks the beginning of culture-based education in the country focusing on the overall personality development of students.

c)       The NEP replaces the Macaulay system of education which was followed in the country for decades. “It offers children an opportunity to pursue choice-based education. They can now study the subjects of their choice in the language they are conversant with.

Note: Uttarakhand Capital: Dehradun (Winter), Gairsain (Summer); Uttarakhand Chief Minister: Pushkar Singh Dhami; Uttarakhand Governor: Gurmit Singh.

 

3. India’s first locally created HPV vaccine receives DCGI approval: The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has approved the market authorization of India’s first quadrivalent Human Papillomavirus vaccine (qHPV) against cervical cancer. The Serum Institute of India (SII) will produce this vaccine. For the first time, an inexpensive and widely available HPV vaccination made in India will be available to treat cervical cancer in female patients.

Following an assessment of the clinical trial results for the vaccine, the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI) recently gave its approval to the qHPV. The Quadrivalent Human Papillomavirus (qHPV) vaccine against cervical cancer, which was produced domestically by Serum Institute of India (SII), was recommended for standard market authorization on June 15. After the vaccine’s phase 3 data were deemed to be satisfactory, suggestions were made.

Note: Serum Institute of India’s CEO: Adar Poonawalla

 

4. Ahmedabad & Kerala features in TIME Magazine’s The World’s Greatest Places of 2022: Two locations from India have been named among “50 extraordinary destinations to explore” this year by TIME Magazine. The southern state of Kerala and Ahmedabad, the capital city of Gujarat were the two Indian entries into the list of the world’s greatest places of 2022.

Kerala included: “Kerala is one of India’s most beautiful states. With spectacular beaches and lush backwaters, temples, and palaces, it’s known as “God’s own country” for good reason,” TIME Magazine said.

Ahmedabad included: About Ahmedabad, TIME Magazine said that “as India’s first UNESCO World Heritage City, Ahmedabad “boasts both ancient landmarks and contemporary innovations that make it a mecca for cultural tourism, from the serene Gandhi Ashram that sits on 36 acres on the banks of the Sabarmati River to Navratri, a vibrant nine-day celebration billed as the longest dance festival in the world.”

World’s Greatest Places 2022: The list also includes Ras Al Khaimah, UAE; Park City, Utah; Seoul; Great Barrier Reef, Australia; The Arctic; Valencia, Spain; Trans Bhutan Trail, Bhutan; International Space Station; Bogota; Lower Zambezi National Park, Zambia; Istanbul and Kigali, Rwanda.

 

5. AIIMS hosedt Film Festival to commemorate 12th National Plastic Surgery Day: The 12th National Plastic Surgery Day observed on the 15th of July and the Burn and Plastic Surgery Department of AIIMS, Delhi hosted the APSI Sushruta Film Festival (ASFF 2022) in conjunction with the Association of Plastic Surgeons of India (APSI). According to Dr. Professor Maneesh Singhal, Department Head of Burn and Plastic Surgery, the theme of this film festival is Changing Lives with Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. He emphasised that the goal of the film festival is to showcase the greatest work produced by plastic surgeons around the nation. The festival feature screenings of the top plastic surgery-themed movies, according to Professor Singhal.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. PM Narendra Modi attends first virtual I2U2 summit: Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the first virtual I2U2 Summit. The I2U2 is a four-nation grouping, where “I” stands for India and Israel, and “U” for the US and the UAE. PM Modi was joined by United States President Joe Biden, Israeli PM Yair Lapid and UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Key points of the I2U2 Summit:

a)      The main focus of the virtual meeting was on the food security crisis and clean energy.

b)      The United Arab Emirates (UAE) also announced an investment of USD 2 billion to develop a series of integrated food parks across India to help tackle food insecurity in South Asia and the Middle East.

c)       This I2U2 grouping was conceptualised during the meeting of the foreign ministers of the four countries held on October 18 2021. I2U2 will bring together countries, governments and the private sector to tackle challenges.

d)      India will provide “appropriate land” for “food parks” across the country that will be built in collaboration with Israel, the United States and the United Arab Emirates.

e)      The I2U2 Group also declared that it will support a “hybrid renewable energy project” in Gujarat, consisting of 300 megawatts (MW) of wind and solar capacity. The project is expected to be another step in India’s quest for “500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030”.

 

2. Mustafizur Rahman named as Bangladesh High Commissioner to India: The Bangladesh Government has appointed Mustafizur Rahman as the next High Commissioner of Bangladesh to India. He is currently serving as Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations Offices in Geneva and the Ambassador to Switzerland. He will succeed Muhammad Imran as the new High Commissioner.

Career and Experiences of Mustafizur Rahman: Ambassador Rahman is a career foreign service officer belonging to the 11th batch of Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) Foreign Affairs cadre. In his diplomatic career, he has served in various capacities in Bangladesh Missions in Paris, New York, Geneva and Kolkata. He has also served as the Bangladesh High Commissioner to Singapore. At the headquarters, he occupied various positions primarily in the United Nations Wing. Rahman is a medical graduate from Sir Salimullah Medical College, Dhaka.

He also obtained a Master in Public International Law from the University of London, UK and a Post-Graduate Diploma from the International Institute of Public Administration (IIAP), France.

 

3. Jahnavi Dangeti becomes AATC’s youngest Analog Astronaut: 19-year-old Jahnavi Dangeti has scripted history by becoming the youngest to complete the Analog Astronaut programme from the Analog Astronaut Training Centre (AATC) at Krakow in South Poland. She has completed the two-week training programme (June 14 to 25) at the AATC, a private agency set up by European Space professionals to carry out spaceflight scientific studies.

The AATC has picked up six persons from across the globe, including three women, for the programme based on their previous achievements and association with space programmes. Jahnavi is the youngest among the batch, titled ASTRA-45. In 2021, Ms Jahnavi had completed NASA’s International Air and Space Programme (IASP) at the Kennedy Space Centra in the U.S.

Note: NASA administrator: Bill Nelson; Headquarters of NASA: Washington D.C., United States; NASA Founded: 1 October 1958.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Bliv. Club and WIOM collaborate with Shikhar Dhawan for first metaverse sports metropolis: Shikhar Dhawan, an Indian cricketer, announced a partnership with Web3 metaverse startup WIOM and financial firm Bliv.Club to build the first sports city in the metaverse. It is planned to have a launch in September. The global sports market is anticipated to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 41.3 percent, from $354.96 billion in 2021 to $501.43 billion in 2022. At a CAGR of 9%, the sports market is anticipated to reach $707.84 billion in 2026. Key Points:

a)      The global metaverse market is projected to develop at a compound annual growth rate of more than 45.8 percent from 2022 to 2030, reaching a market value of over $1,803 billion. Shikhar Dhawan was inspired by this to establish a sports metropolis in the Metaverse.

b)      The Da-One group of businesses, which focuses on sports, technology, startup ecosystems, and entertainment, was recently established by him.

c)       Cricket stadiums, a sportsplex where spectators may enjoy watching sports, a sports cafe, gym, e-sports zone, cottages, running tracks, a 3D immersive sports museum, a sports library, an arena for other sports, and more will be found in this soon-to-be-opened sports city.

d)      In addition to the aforementioned, fascinating partnerships with additional well-known sports figures and sports communities are upcoming.

An online sports city: Cricket stadiums, a sportsplex for watching games, a sports cafe, a gym, an e-sports area, cottages, running tracks, a first-of-its-kind 3D immersive sports museum, a sports library, an arena for other sports, and more will be found in the yet-to-be-launched multidimensional sports city.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. Nasscom joins hand with Google for DigiVaani Call Center: Nasscom Foundation and Google have announced setting up a call centre in collaboration with a not-for-profit body Indian Society of Agribusiness Professionals (ISAP) to help women farmers scale up their business. The “DigiVaani Call Center” project is being run on a pilot basis and initially around 20,000 rural women entrepreneurs shall be covered across six states, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana and Rajasthan.

About the DigiVaani: DigiVaani will be one place where rural women entrepreneurs will be able to call and get information around various schemes available for them, which can help them scale up their business, be it government schemes or any other information that can be of help for them. A DigiVaani call centre has been set up at the Delhi and Lucknow offices of ISAP. The project is funded by Google, through its philanthropic arm Google.org.

Note: Google CEO: Sundar Pichai; Google Founded: 4 September 1998; Google Headquarters: Mountain View, California, United States;

Nasscom Chairperson: Krishnan Ramanujam; Nasscom Headquarters location: New Delhi; Nasscom Founded: 1 March 1988.

 

2. Infosys purchases a Danish-based life science company: Infosys bought BASE Life Science, a company based in Denmark, for around 110 million euros (roughly Rs. 875 crore). The acquisition will expand Infosys’ knowledge in the life sciences industry and expand its presence in Europe. This purchase strengthens Infosys‘ broad life sciences expertise, increases our foothold in the Nordics and across Europe, and scales our industry-specific cloud-based digital transformation solutions. Key Points:

a)      The transaction is anticipated to be completed in the second quarter of this fiscal year.

b)      Domain professionals with knowledge of business, medicine, digital marketing, clinical, regulatory, and quality are brought to Infosys by BASE.

c)       With a heavy emphasis on data and artificial intelligence, it can bridge and combine business logic with technology to produce insights that lead to better health outcomes.

d)      BASE will further diversify its area of competence into the Consumer Health, Animal Health, MedTech, and Genomics industries in conjunction with Infosys.

Note: Infosys Founder: Narayan Murthy; Infosys CEO: Salil Parekh

 

3. Samsung created fastest graphics DRAM chip in the world: Samsung announced the creation of a new graphics dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) chip with increased speed and power efficiency. According to a statement from the manufacturer, the 24-gigabit Graphics Double Data Rate 6 (GDDR6) uses third-generation, 10-nanometer technology and boasts a data processing speed that is over 30% quicker than competing products.

Key Points:

a)      The new DRAM chip, which Samsung claims to be the fastest in the world, can process visual images at a pace of up to 1.1 terabytes per second, which is the same as processing 275 full HD movies in a second.

b)      Graphics DRAMs are frequently found in powerful 3D games, personal computers, laptops, and equipment that plays high-resolution videos.

c)       The new chip will likely be quickly adopted by the graphics and artificial intelligence industries because it complies with JEDEC industry standards.

d)      A semiconductor organisation in charge of chip standardisation is the JEDEC Solid State Technology Association.

e)      According to Samsung, the GDDR6 DRAM also increases power efficiency by more than 20% thanks to the so-called dynamic voltage scaling technology.

f)        The world’s largest manufacturer of memory chips, Samsung, suffered a decline in DRAM sales in the first three months of the year for a second quarter due to weaker prices and other factors, but the business was able to maintain its leadership in the global market.

Note: Samsung Founder: Lee Byung-chul; Samsung Chairman: Lee Kun-hee

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Maharashtra Gov presents Mother Teresa Memorial Award to Dia Mirza & Afroz Shah: The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) National Goodwill Ambassador Ms Dia Mirza, and Environmental Activist Mr Afroz Shah were felicitated with the prestigious Mother Teresa Memorial Awards for Social Justice 2021. The award is given by the Governor of Maharashtra Hon. Bhagat Singh Koshyari at Raj Bhavan, Mumbai. Both were awarded for their commendable and notable achievements in Environmental Sustainability.

a)      Ms Dia Mirza was awarded for her astounding and notable efforts in leading pivotal environmental campaigns across India as the Goodwill Ambassador of UNEP, India.

b)      Mr Afroz Shah was awarded for his impeccable and seminal efforts to lead one of the world’s largest beach clean-up movements in India that have inspired people around the world.

About the Mother Teresa Memorial Awards: Harmony Foundation hosts the Mother Teresa Memorial Awards for Social Justice. This is a platform to acknowledge and recognize the extraordinary work of individuals or organizations who aim to promote peace, harmony and social justice.