Daily GK Update- 21st July, 2022

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. 15th President of India Draupadi Murmu: Daughter of a tribal family coming from a very ordinary house in Odisha, Draupadi Murmu has been elected as the 15th President of India. The 2022 Indian Presidential Election was the 16th presidential election that was held in India on the 18th of July 2022. Murmu becomes India’s first woman tribal president. She also becomes the second woman to hold the post after Pratibha Patil. The tenure of incumbent president Ram Nath Kovind will end on 24 July.

Key points of the presidential election 2022:

a)      The counting of votes has started to elect India’s new president. Out of a total of 771 MPs entitled to vote (05 vacant) and a total of 4,025 MLAs entitled to vote (06 vacant and 02 disqualified), over 99 percent cast their votes.

b)      However, 100% voting by MLAs was reported from Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, and Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Puducherry, Sikkim, and Tamil Nadu.”

c)       The counting of votes takes place in room number 63 of the Parliament of India which is also the strongroom for the boxes that arrived from all state capitals and Union Territories having a legislature.

Droupadi Murmu:

a)      The 64-year-old Droupadi Murmu was born in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district to a family belonging to the Santhal tribe.

b)      Santhals, also spelled as Santals, are the third largest scheduled tribe community in India after the Gonds and Bhils. Their population is mostly distributed in Odisha, Jharkhand, and West Bengal.

c)       Murmu is the second person belonging to a scheduled tribe, to be nominated as a candidate for the post of President of India.

d)      She served as the ninth Governor of Jharkhand from 2015 to 2021.

e)      As a member of the BJP, she was elected to the state assembly twice – in 2000 and 2009 – from the Rairangpur seat.

 

2. Border dispute agreement struck between Arunachal Pradesh and Assam: According to the chief ministers of both states, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh have taken a step toward settling their seven-decade-old boundary dispute by signing the Namsai Declaration. Following their third round of discussions on the matter, the Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Pema Khandu and his Assam colleague Himanta Biswa Sarma signed the declaration in Namsai. Key Points:

a)      The 804-km long shared border between the two states. Although there was initially no conflict, over time, claims that citizens of one state were encroaching on the territory of the other have resulted in arguments and even violence. Since 1989, a lawsuit about the matter has been pending before the Supreme Court.

b)      There were 123 border settlements that were in contention earlier. They have now decided to limit that to 86 villages. Additionally, they have decided to remedy the problem by September 15 of this year.

c)       The signing has furthered the closeness and brotherhood between the two neighbouring northeastern states, according to both CMs, who called it a milestone and landmark.

d)      28 of the 123 contested villages that are located within Arunachal Pradesh‘s constitutional border will remain with the state, according to the announcement. In contrast, three villages will continue to belong to Assam as a result of Arunachal Pradesh‘s abandonment of its claims. Six more villages would remain in Arunachal Pradesh because they could not be discovered on the Assam side.

Note: Chief Minister of Assam: Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma

Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh: Pema Khandu

 

3. West Bengal Governor La Ganesan assigned additional charge: Following the resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar, who has been selected by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) as its vice presidential candidate, La. Ganesan took the oath of office as the new governor of West Bengal. In the presence of the speaker, Mamata Banerjee, various state ministers, and Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court, Prakash Shrivastava, he was sworn into office.

According to a statement from Rashtrapati Bhavan, President Ram Nath Kovind has accepted West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar’s resignation after the NDA nominated him to run for vice president.

Note: Chief Minister of West Bengal: Mamata Banerjee

 

4. Lt Gen (Retd) Raj Shukla appointed as member of UPSC: Retired Army officer Raj Shukla has been appointed as a member of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). The UPSC recommends candidates to the government for appointment to the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), Indian Police Service (IPS) and the Central Services — Group A and Group B.

Note: UPSC Chairperson: Manoj Soni; UPSC Founded: 1 October 1926.

 

5. Uttarakhand CM Dhami released the book “BEYOND THE MISTY VEIL”: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami released the book “BEYOND THE MISTY VEIL”, Temple Tales of Uttarakhand written by Ms Aradhana Johri (Senior IAS) on the temples of Uttarakhand. This book will be known as an authentic introduction to the divine temples of Uttarakhand in the country and abroad. Former IAS officer Aradhana Johri who had served earlier as the District Magistrate of Nainital.

The essence of the book: The book based on the mythological temples of Devbhoomi Uttarakhand informs us about our culture and mythology. Apart from Chardham, religious tourism should also be promoted. The book talks about the temples of Uttarakhand, their significance and the tales associated with them. This will connect the main temples coming in different areas of the state and will promote religious tourism by developing them in the form of circuits.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Sri Lanka: Ranil Wickremesinghe elected as 9th President: Veteran Sri Lankan politician and six-time Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe has been elected as the 9th President of the Island nation by the Parliament. He secured 134 votes in the presidential election by the 225-member parliament. The 73-year-old Wickremesinghe will serve the remaining term of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, which ends in 2024.

a)      Wickremesinghe will replace Gotabaya Rajapaksa who fled the country and resigned after public anger over the country’s worst economic crisis exploded on the streets 10 days ago.

b)      Indeed, the bulk of Wickremesinghe’s support came from the Rajapaksas’ Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) party which witnessed a split within its ranks, but not enough to dent Wickremesinghe’s candidature.

c)       He defeated Dullas Alahapperuma, a rebel leader of the SLPP who was backed by the Opposition. Wickremesinghe, who has previously lost two Presidential elections and even his MP seat, will be the 8th Executive President of Sri Lanka.

Note: Sri Lanka Capitals: Colombo, Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte; Sri Lanka Currency: Sri Lankan rupee.

 

2. Due to an intense heat wave, England under its first-ever red weather warning: As temperatures have continued to soar, the UK Meteorological (Met) Office issued the first-ever red extreme heat warning for areas of England, including London. Temperatures could reach 40 degrees Celsius, and a red warning, the maximum level used by the Met Office under its alert system, indicates a risk to life is possible. The unusual warning, which is categorised as a national emergency, signifies that life is in danger for people of all ages.

Key Points:

a)      An area from London up to Manchester and then up to the Vale of York is covered by the alert.

b)      A very famous threshold, 40 degrees Celsius, indicates that climate change is already here. Climate change has greatly increased the likelihood of this.

c)       The Met Office issues a warning that not just individuals who are most susceptible to severe heat may face “adverse health impacts.”

d)      The UK’s national weather service also issued a warning that there is a high danger of equipment and systems that are sensitive to heat failing, which could result in a localised loss of power and other important services like water or even mobile phone service.

e)      The general public has also been forewarned to anticipate vehicle delays as well as disruptions in rail and air travel.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Bangladeshi Cricketer Tamim Iqbal Announces Retirement From T20Is: Bangladesh ODI captain, Tamim Iqbal has announced his retirement from T20Is and his decision came shortly after his side defeated West Indies 3-0 in the three-match ODI series. He played his last T20 International in March 2020. The 33-year-old has played 78 T20 Internationals, scoring 1758 runs at 24.08. Tamim is one of the best openers to have come out of Bangladesh, having scored 5082 runs in Tests and 7943 runs in ODIs.

Tamim is the only Bangladesh batter to score a century in T20Is. He achieved the remarkable feat against Oman in the T20 World Cup 2016 in India. He ended his T20I career as the third-highest run-scorer for his country in the format after current skipper Mahmudullah Riyad and Test captain Shakib Al Hasan.

 

2. Los Angeles to host 2028 Summer Olympic Games: The 2028 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games will be hosted in Los Angeles, United States. The opening ceremony for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics will take place on July 14, 2028, and continue till July 30. However, Los Angeles has previously hosted the Olympics in 1984 and 1932. The LA28 Games will feature more than 3,000 hours of live sport across 800 events in more than 40 sports. 15,000 athletes are expected to compete in the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles.

Meanwhile, the Paralympic Games will begin in Los Angeles on August 15, 2028, and end on August 27. This will be the first time that Los Angeles will be hosting the Paralympic Games. It must be noted that the 2024 Summer Olympic Games will be held in Paris, France.

 

3. Former SC judge Vineet Saran appointed as new BCCI ethics officer: Former Supreme Court judge, Vineet Saran has taken over as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) ethics officer and ombudsman. He has succeeded Justice (Retd) D. K. Jain, whose term ended in June last year. Saran, 65, is a former Chief Justice of Odisha High Court, and also served as a judge in Karnataka and Allahabad High Court.

Note: BCCI President: Sourav Ganguly; BCCI secretary: Jay Shah; BCCI Headquarters: Mumbai; BCCI Founded: December 1928.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Launch of WhatsApp banking service by SBI: State Bank of India (SBI) will soon provide its customers with WhatsApp-based banking. Dinesh Khara, the chairman of SBI, announced this while announcing a few retail initiatives. In addition, Khara stated that they would soon introduce API (application programming interface) banking to corporate clients and aggregators. This system ensures seamless and secure integration between the customer’s and bank’s systems by facilitating data transfer between these two systems. With regard to WhatsApp Banking, as the name suggests, users will be able to do specific banking transactions through the well-known messaging service.

About WhatsApp Payments: A peer-to-peer money transfer tool called WhatsApp Payments (marketed as WhatsApp Pay) is presently only accessible in India. In order to enable users to make in-app payments and money transfers utilising the Unified Payments Interface, WhatsApp got authorization from the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) in July 2017. (UPI). Account-to-account transfers are possible with UPI through a mobile app without knowing the bank information of the recipient. WhatsApp said on November 6, 2020, that it has been given permission to offer a payment service, initially limited to a maximum of 20 million users. The service was then made available.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. Instagram’s new payments feature lets users buy products via direct messages: Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that the company is launching a new “payments in chat” feature on Instagram. With this new feature, users can purchase products from small businesses and track orders via direct messages on Instagram. According to Meta, every week, one billion people message businesses across Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp. To use the new feature, users can start by sending a direct message to a qualified small business they’re interested in buying from. In that same chat thread, they’ll then be able to pay, track their order and ask the business any follow-up questions. Key Points:

a)      According to reports, the payments in messages feature will be available to qualified business accounts on Instagram.

b)      The platform also supports real-time interaction between buyer and seller. Users will be asked to add and review payment information and shipping address.

c)       Users would be able to complete purchases using Meta Pay, the company said in a statement. Meta initially launched the feature as Facebook Pay in 2019.

Note: Instagram launched: 6 October 2010; Instagram Owner: Meta; Instagram Founder Kevin Systrom. Find More Business News Here

 

2. JSW Steel and BCG collaborate to quicken the decarbonization process: Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and JSW Steel have worked together on a decarbonization and sustainability strategy. In order to help JSW Steel on its path to being a net-zero carbon emitter, BCG will make use of its unique CO2 AI platform as well as its top-tier digital and analytics skills. During this time, BCG will also put an emphasis on employee training and improving the sustainable culture throughout our manufacturing operations. Their sustainability measures will need to be scaled up as a result of this revolutionary initiative. Key Points:

a)      BCG will use JSW’s patented and exclusive CO2 AI solution to manage change effectively and make an impact. The successful Digital Transformation partnership led to their second strategic engagement with JSW Steel.

b)      They are thrilled to contribute in strongest skills and cutting-edge solutions to JSW Steel’s sustainability mission.

c)       The approach entails a thorough target-setting exercise at the level of overall manufacturing, devolving them into shop level targets, and turning emissions targets into doable tasks on operating metrics.

d)      The rollout across the manufacturing activities will be coordinated by a group of sustainability advocates. A roadmap will be created for all medium- to long-term activities with the goal of introducing new technologies and initiatives, such as the usage of hydrogen and carbon capture and storage, among others.

e)      A complete evaluation of various technology alternatives pertinent to existing and newly developed capacities and investments necessary to advance sustainability goals will also be included.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. DBS bank named ‘World’s Best SME Bank’ by Euromoney for second time: Development Bank of Singapore Limited (DBS Bank) has been recognized as the ‘World’s Best SME Bank’ by Euromoney for the second time (the first time in 2018). The bank has established its position as a global industry leader in association with Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to enhance growth and development. DBS’ latest global best SME bank accolade comes from leading UK-based financial publication Euromoney, which has honoured DBS with the ‘World’s Best SME Bank’ title for the second time since 2018.

The DBS bank also clinched three first-time awards at Euromoney’s Awards for Excellence 2022:

a)      World’s Best Financial Innovation of the year 2022

b)      Asia’s Best Bank for Wealth Management 2022

c)       Asia’s Best Bank for SME award 2022

Note: DBS Bank Headquarters: Singapore; DBS Bank CEO: Piyush Gupta.

 

2. NAARM received Sardar Patel Award of ICAR: The National Academy of Agricultural Research Management (NAARM) has bagged the Sardar Patel Outstanding ICAR Institute Award 2021 (in the Large Institute Category) for its overall performance. Ch Srinivasa Rao, Director of NAARM, received the award from the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar in New Delhi. The awards were given away at a function to mark the 94th Foundation Day of the ICAR.

About the NAARM: The National Academy of Agricultural Research Management is a national-level Natural Resource Service training institute for ARS cadre located in Hyderabad, Telangana, India. It was established by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research in 1976, to address issues related to agricultural research and education management, in India.

Daily GK Update- 20th July, 2022

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. PM Narendra Modi unveils ‘SPRINT Challenges’ to boost usage of Indigenous Technology: Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled ‘SPRINT Challenges’, aimed at giving a boost to the usage of indigenous technology in the Indian Navy, during the Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Organisation (NIIO) seminar ‘Swavlamban’ in New Delhi. This collaborative project is named SPRINT {Supporting Pole-Vaulting in R&D through Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX), NIIO and Technology Development Acceleration Cell (TDAC)}. The seminar was organised by the Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Organisation (NIIO) and the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM). About the seminar:

a)      The two-day seminar, held on July 18-19, 2022, aimed to engage Indian industry and academia towards achieving self-reliance in the Defence sector.

b)      It provide a platform for leaders from Industry, Academia, Services and Government to come together on a common platform to ideate and come up with recommendations for the Defence Sector.

c)       Sessions dedicated to Innovation, Indigenisation, Armament and Aviation are held. The second day of the Seminar witness outreach to the Indian Ocean Region, in line with the government’s vision of SAGAR.

 

2. Delhi govt commemorated Happiness Utsav in honour of curriculum’s 4th anniversary: According to Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, the Delhi government celebrated Happiness Utsav to honour the fourth anniversary of its Happiness Curriculum for schools. At a special session held for pupils on this occasion at Kautilya Sarvodaya Bal Vidyalaya in Chirag Enclave, life coach Gaur Gopal Das discussed the intricacies of happiness. Key Points:

a)      Each student in a government school in Delhi would interact with at least five members of their local community and impart happiness-related knowledge on them. The objective is to assist Delhi’s millions of citizens in finding happiness. In the past four years, Happiness Curriculum has travelled a long and winding road. The students’ concentration on their studies has increased, and the kids aren’t under any stress.

b)      The Deputy Chief Minister announced that numerous events will be planned during the Happiness Utsav over the ensuing 15 days, and this time, “happiness” will not be restricted to Delhi government schools exclusively.

 

3. India reaches a milestone of 200 Crore vaccinations for COVID-19: India has crossed the 200-Crore milestone in its cumulative COVID19 vaccination campaign, which is a historic accomplishment. Preliminary reports indicate that 2,00,00,15,631 dosages had been given nationwide. It was accomplished over 2,63,26,111 sessions. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated his compatriots for achieving this important goal in a tweet. He described the immunisation campaign in India as unparalleled in magnitude and rapidity. Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, the minister of health for the Union, also praised the nation for reaching this milestone in just 18 months by saying that this tremendous accomplishment will be inscribed in history. Key Points:

a)      India began using cutting-edge technologies like CoWIN for evaluating geographical coverage, tracking AEFI for vaccines, promoting inclusivity and for providing a single reference point for citizens to follow their vaccination schedule.

b)      India also prioritised vaccine administration based on scientific evidence and international best practises. These initiatives were part of the country’s “Make-in-India” and Make-for-World Strategy.

c)       Through programmes like Har Ghar Dastak, Workplace CVC, School-based vaccination, immunisation of people without identity documents, Near-to-Home CVC, and Mobile Vaccination Teams, India’s free and voluntary nationwide COVID19 vaccination exercise is also being carried out in a citizen-friendly manner.

d)      The National COVID19 Vaccination Programme in India also achieved geographic and gender parity, with 71 percent of CVCs situated in rural regions and over 51 percent of vaccine doses given to women.

 

4. Telangana government and UNDP collaborate on the DiCRA: Data in Climate Resilient Agriculture (DiCRA), the newest entry in the Digital Public Goods Registry, was announced by the Telangana State government in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The platform, which uses artificial intelligence to power it, aims to improve food security and food systems. DiCRA becoming a digital public good, according to IT Minister KT Rama Rao, is a significant step in our commitment to open data policy, service delivery to farmers, and anticipatory governance to address the world problem of food security.

Key Points:

a)      With UNDP Accelerator Labs and partner organisations, they are thrilled to support this first-of-its-kind digital commons to promote climate action not only for Telangana but for the entire world, said DiCRA of its cooperation with Telangana’s thriving innovation ecosystem.

b)      Climate change has multiple effects on agriculture, impacting crop output, nutrient quality, and livestock productivity. DiCRA can distinguish between farms that are highly vulnerable to climate change and those that are climate change-resilient using remote sensing and pattern identification algorithms.

c)       In order to support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, DiCRA has now joined more than 100 other digital solutions (SDGs).

 

5. Margaret Alva to run for vice president on opposition’s behalf: Margaret Alva, a former Union minister and governor of Rajasthan, will run for vice president as a joint candidate of the opposition parties. Jagdeep Dhankar, the governor of West Bengal, has been nominated by the NDA as a joint contender for the position of vice president. At a gathering of 17 opposition party leaders at the home of NCP supremo Sharad Pawar, the decision was made to run Alva.

With the support of Trinamool Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party, she would be the joint candidate of a total of 19 parties after 17 parties unanimously decided to field her. They are attempting to get in touch with Arvind Kejriwal and Mamata Banerjee. They previously backed the shared presidential candidate. Even JMM is participating in this election alongside opposing parties. Sanjay Raut of the Shiv Sena stated that they are all working together in this election.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. World Chess Day: 20th July: World Chess Day is celebrated annually on July 20 globally. The day marks the date of the establishment of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) in Paris in 1924. On 12 December 2019, the General Assembly proclaimed 20 July as World Chess Day to mark the date of the establishment of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) in Paris in 1924. It is believed that the game of chess, which was once known as “Chaturanga”, dates back almost 1500 years and originated in India. It later made its way to Persia, where it flourished under Arab rule and eventually spread to Southern Europe. In Europe, chess evolved into its current form during the 15th century. It changed into a modern sport by the end of the 15th century.

Note: International Chess Federation President: Arkady Dvorkovich; International Chess Federation Founded: 20 July 1924, Paris, France; International Chess Federation Headquarters: Lausanne, Switzerland.

 

2. International Moon Day: 20th July: The General Assembly declared International Moon Day, a United Nations-designated international day to be observed annually on 20 July. International Moon Day 2022 is chosen as the day to educate and promote awareness on the status and prospects for humanity.

International Moon Day History: An application by submitted by the Moon Village Association at the 64th UN-COPUOS Session stating to observe July 20 as International Moon Day. The day was selected to commemorate the first human landing on the moon done on July 20, 1969, with the United States’ Apollo 11 mission. On December 9 2021, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the resolution stating that July 20 will be observed every year as International Moon Day.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. England all-rounder Ben Stokes announces ODI retirement: England all-rounder Ben Stokes has made a surprise announcement to retire from ODI cricket. “Three formats are just unsustainable for me now,” he said. The 31-year-old will play his last ODI against South Africa at his home ground in Durham. Stokes’ ODI career will forever be remembered for his Player-of-the-Match performance in the 2019 World Cup final against New Zealand at Lord’s. After making his ODI debut against Ireland in 2011, Stokes has scored 2919 runs, including three centuries, and taken 74 wickets in the format.

 

2. 2025 World Athletics Championships: Tokyo’s Olympic Stadium to host event: The World Athletics Council has selected Tokyo (Japan) to host the 2025 World Athletics Championships. At the World Athletics Council Meeting in Oregon, USA, the Council also announced that the 2024 World Athletics Cross Country Championships will be held in Medulin and Pula in Croatia and the 2026 World Athletics Cross Country Championships will be held in Tallahassee, Florida.

Key Points:

a)      The 18th edition of the World Athletics Championships begins in Oregon USA while Budapest in Hungary will host the 2023 event.

b)      The 2022 edition is currently being organized in Oregon, USA, which was originally scheduled to be held in 2021 but postponed by one year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

3. Narinder Batra resigned as FIH, IOA president and IOC member: Veteran sports administrator, Narinder Batra has resigned as President of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), President of the International Hockey Federation (FIH), as well as a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), citing “personal reasons”.  Mr Batra ceased to be President of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) when the Delhi High Court, on May 25, struck down the post of ‘Life member’ in Hockey India, courtesy of which he had contested the IOA elections and won back in 2017.

Time span of Narinder Batra: The 65-year-old Mr Batra took charge of the IOA for the first time in 2017 and was eligible to contest for re-election. Mr Batra became an IOC member in 2019 and later went on to become a member of the Olympic Channel Commission. Mr Batra became president of FIH in 2016 and reclaimed the position last year for a second term.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Raigad Sahakari Bank of Mumbai subject to limitations from RBI: Due to the lender’s worsening financial situation, the RBI imposed a number of limitations on Mumbai-based Raigad Sahakari Bank, including a withdrawal cap of Rs 15,000 per customer. The cooperative bank is subject to a number of restrictions, including the inability to issue loans, make any investments, or take new deposits without RBI‘s prior approval. Key Points:

a)      The Reserve Bank stated that a depositor may be permitted to withdraw up to Rs 15,000 of their entire balance across all savings bank, current, or other accounts.

b)      The limitations will be in effect for a full six months.

c)       The RBI added that it would be incorrect to interpret the directives given to Raigad Sahakari Bank as the revocation of its banking licence.

d)      Until its financial situation becomes better, the bank will continue to conduct banking business with limits.

e)      In addition, the Reserve Bank stated that depending on the situation, it might modify the instructions.

About Raigad Sahakari Bank: On September 30, 1960, the Raigad Sahakari Bank or Raigad District Central Co-operative Bank was founded. The bank received a banking licence from the Reserve Bank of India on November 11th, 1995. In 1997, Jayant Prabhakar Patil (MLC) became the bank’s chairman. It was introduced on May 18, 2013, and is the first District Cooperative Central Bank in India to offer the Kisan Credit Card.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. Successful testing of India’s first 5G private network announced by Bharti Airtel: The nation’s first 5G private network was successfully tested by Bharti Airtel at Bosch Automotive Electronics’ plant in Bengaluru. The trial occurs in advance of a 5G spectrum auction in the midst of a conflict between telecom and IT firms over the allocation of airwaves for private networks. Using the government-allocated trial spectrum, Airtel deployed two industrial-grade use cases at Bosch’s facility for quality enhancement and operational efficiency.

Key Points:

a)      In both quality enhancement and operational efficiency, automated activities were driven by 5G technology, including mobile broadband and ultra-reliable low-latency communications, providing faster scale-up and fewer downtimes, the business said in a statement.

b)      The private network, which was set up as a test, can handle hundreds of linked devices and provide throughput of several GBPS.

c)       According to Ajay Chitkara, director and CEO of Airtel Business, Airtel is committed to assisting India’s digital transformation and the growth of its business as it aspires to achieve global size.

d)      According to Subhash P, head of technical functions at Bosch Automotive Electronics India, the Airtel Private 5G network’s low latency and dependable connectivity, which were experienced at our plant during the proof of concept, have allowed them to increase production and efficiency.

e)      The use of 5G will greatly reduce the amount of wired IT infrastructure and improve operational effectiveness.

 

2. Ashish Kumar Chauhan named as the next MD & CEO of NSE: The National Stock Exchange (NSE) has announced the appointment of Ashish Kumar Chauhan as its new managing director and CEO. He will succeed Vikram Limaye whose 5-year term ended on 16 July 2022. He was one of the founders of NSE where he worked from 1992 to 2000. He is best known as the father of modern financial derivatives in India due to his work at NSE. This is Chauhan’s second tenure in the BSE and under SEBI guidelines, a candidate cannot be appointed as MD & CEO for more than two tenures. BSE is also searching for a new CEO in place of Chauhan.

Note: National Stock Exchange Location: Mumbai, Maharashtra; National Stock Exchange Founded: 1992; Chairperson of National Stock Exchange: Girish Chandra Chaturvedi.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Australia Tennis star Lleyton Hewitt inducted into Hall of Fame: Two-time Grand Slam champion and former world number one, Lleyton Hewitt was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Before Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic ascended to the top of the sport, Hewitt held the top spot for 80 weeks, good for 10th-most in history. Even when those stars made their mark.

The Aussie icon won his first ATP title in Adelaide in 1998 and his last in 2014 at the Hall of Fame Open, defeating Ivo Karlovic. Hewitt won the 2001 US Open and 2002 Wimbledon title.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Renowned artist Achuthan Kudallur passes away: Noted artist Achuthan Kudallur has passed away recently at the age of 77. A civil engineer by training, Achuthan Kudallur was a self-taught abstract artist and a highly respected name in contemporary art circles of south India. He was a part of the Madras Art Club, which operated within the Government College of Art, Chennai and later shifted to painting abstracts. Achuthan Kudallur is a recipient of the national and Tamil Nadu State Lalit Kala Akademi Awards. He was born in 1945 in Kerala, but lived alone in Chennai, pursued a degree in Civil Engineering and revelled as an Indian Asian Modern and Contemporary painter.

Daily GK Update- 19th July, 2022

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Rajasthan introduces the first digital Lok Adalat in India: During the 18th All India Legal Services Authorities’ convention, which was held here, National Legal Services Authority Chairman Uday Umesh Lalit unveiled the first digital Lok Adalat driven by artificial intelligence. Rajasthan State Legal Services Authority’s (RSLSA) digital Lok Adalat was created by Jupitice Justice Technologies, the organization’s technological partner. Key Points:

a)      N V Ramana, the Chief Justice of India, opened the two-day event in the presence of Kiren Rijiju, the Union Minister of Law and Justice, and Ashok Gehlot, the Chief Minister of Rajasthan.

b)      India’s increasing litigation backlog has recently made attention, particularly during the pandemic when courts were temporarily halted.

c)       The oldest pending case in the nation was recently resolved by a district court in Bihar after 108 years of deliberation.

d)      The NITI Aayog report also estimated that it would take 324 years to resolve every case now outstanding in India.

e)      According to the survey, between 5 million and 40 million legal issues arise each month but only between 75% and 97% of them end up in court.

Note: Chief Justice of India: N V Ramana; Union Minister of Law and Justice: Kiren Rijiju

 

2. Consumer Affairs Department launches Jagriti, its new mascot: Jagriti is a mascot created by the Department of Consumer Affairs (DoCA) with the goal of empowering customers and raising awareness of their rights. Jagriti will be shown as an educated consumer who is advocating for her rights and finding answers to the issues she encounters. The Jagriti mascot will be employed to raise consumer awareness of a variety of Departmental topics, including the provisions of the 2019 Consumer Protection Act, hallmarking, the National Consumer Helpline toll-free number 1915, provisions of the Weights and Measures Act, decisions of the Central Consumer Protection Authority, and consumer testimonies regarding grievance redressal.

 

3. Kerala becomes first state to have own internet service: Kerala is now the first and only state in the country to have its own internet service, according to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who made the announcement. The announcement followed the Department of Telecommunications’ granting of an Internet Service Provider (ISP) licence to the IT infrastructure project of the Kerala Fiber Optic Network Ltd (K-Fon), which aims to provide everyone in the state access to the internet. K-FON:

a)      K-Fon or Kerala Fiber Optic Network Ltd is a state government initiative that aims to eliminate the digital gap. As per the government, the infrastructure created by this project is expected to complement the state’s current telecom ecosystem.

b)      Create a core network infrastructure (information highway) with non-discriminatory access to all service providers so that they can augment their connectivity gap.

c)       Provide a reliable, secure and scalable intranet connecting all government offices, educational institutions, hospitals, etc.

d)      Partner with Multiple System Operators, Telecommunication Service Providers, and Internet Service Providers for providing free internet to economically backward households.

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

 

4. Govt establishes commission to build a framework for right to repair: The Department of Consumer Affairs has formed a committee under the leadership of Additional Secretary Nidhi Khatri in an effort to provide an overall framework for the Right to Repair. Anupam Mishra, Joint Secretary DoCA, Justice Paramjeet Singh Dhaliwal, G.S. Bajpai, Chancellor, Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Patiala, Ashok Patil, Chair of Consumer Law and Practice, and members from stakeholders like ICEA, SIAM, consumer activists, and consumer groups make up the committee. Key Points:

a)      Creating a framework for the right to repair in India aims to empower local consumers and product buyers, harmonise commerce between original equipment makers and third-party buyers and sellers, place an emphasis on establishing sustainable use of products, and reduce e-waste.

b)      Spare components are under the exclusive responsibility of manufacturers (regarding the kind of design they use for screws and other). A repair industry monopoly violates the customer’s freedom to chose.

c)       Digital warranty cards make sure that a customer loses the ability to make a warranty claim if they purchase a product from a non-recognised business.

 

5. First-Ever ‘Made In India’ surgical robotic system installed at Rajiv Gandhi Institute: Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute and Research Center, New Delhi (RGCI) have installed the first-ever Made-in-India Surgical Robotic System, “SSI-Mantra”, devised by the new-age Indian med-tech start-up SS Innovations. The ingenious SSI Mantra will be signifying the beginning of a new era of surgical procedures in India, making robotic surgery accessible and affordable for the people of our country. After two pilot projects where Dr Sudhir Rawal and his team from RGCI successfully performed a total of 26 surgeries with SSI Mantra, thereby validating safety, feasibility and effectiveness, the robot is now ready to provide an advanced method of surgery, which will be accessible to the general public at a much lower cost.

 

6. Manoj Kumar assumes charge as KVIC’s new chairman: Manoj Kumar, former expert member of marketing at Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), has been promoted to take charge as Chairman of the Government of India’s statutory body. KVIC’s former Chairman Vinai Kumar Saxena has moved on to take charge as the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi. Manoj Kumar was earlier part of KVIC as the Expert Member (Marketing) and has professional experience in the areas of marketing and rural development.

Note: KVIC Founded: 1956; KVIC Headquarters: Mumbai.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. British govt launched ‘Aviation Passenger Charter’ to help passengers know their rights: The British government has launched an “Aviation Passenger Charter”  to help passengers know their rights if they are faced with problems at airports after the widespread disruption seen this year. The new charter will help passengers know what to do if they are confronted by cancellations, delays or missing baggage. It has been developed by the British government in partnership with the aviation sector & travel industry.

Long queues and cancelled flights caused by staff shortages have caused chaos at times, prompting airlines to cut back their schedules as the industry struggles to keep up with a surge in demand after the COVID-19 pandemic. Last month, the government published a 22-point support plan to avoid further disruption, including telling airlines to run “realistic” summer schedules and promising to speed up security checks.

 

2. Expat Insider Rankings for 2022: India ranks 36th: Mexico has topped the Expat Insider Rankings for 2022, which was released by the InterNations recently, while India has been ranked on 36th position out of the 52 countries on the list, with a high affordability score. Kuwait is the worst country for expats in the ranking. The best and the worst:

Top 10: Mexico, Indonesia, Taiwan, Portugal, Spain, UAE, Vietnam, Thailand, Australia, Singapore.

11 to 20: Estonia, Oman, Kenya, USA, Bahrain, Brazil, Russia, Malaysia, Switzerland, Czechia.

21 to 30: Philippines, Netherlands, Canada, Austria, Hungary, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Poland, Belgium, Denmark.

31 to 40: France, Finland, China, Norway, Egypt, India, UK, Ireland, Sweden, South Korea.

41 to 52: Greece, Germany, Malta, Italy, Turkey, South Africa, Japan, Luxembourg, Cyprus, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Kuwait.

About the Expat Insider Rankings: The Expat Insider survey is conducted every year by InterNations, a community for expatriates. The survey takes a look at some of the best possible ex-pat destinations around the world, which offer the best quality of life to the people who move abroad to improve their quality of life.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. West Indies Cricketers Lendl Simmons & Denesh Ramdin Announce Retirement: Former West Indies skipper Denesh Ramdin announced his retirement from international cricket with immediate effect. He played his last match for West Indies in a T20I in December 2019. However, he will continue to play franchise cricket. He has played 74 Tests, 139 ODIs and 71 T20Is. He started out in Test cricket, making his debut against Sri Lanka in Colombo in July 2005. He played a part in West Indies T20 World Cup triumphs in 2012 and 2016.

Meanwhile, West Indies batter Lendl Simmons also announced his retirement from international cricket. His decision came to the fore after his Caribbean Premier League franchise Trinbago Knight Riders posted a congratulatory message for the player. Simmons made his international debut way back in 2008 in an ODI against Pakistan at Faisalabad. Thereafter, he made his T20I and Test debuts in 2007 and 2009 respectively. In 8 Tests, 68 ODIs and 68 T20Is, the right-handed batter scored 278, 1958 and 1527 runs respectively, with the help of 2 centuries and 25 half-centuries.

 

2. Mairaj Ahmad Khan of India writes history by winning gold medal in skeet: Veteran Indian shooter Mairaj Ahmed Khan made history by becoming the first person to ever win a men’s skeet gold medal at an ISSF World Cup. The 46-year-old from Uttar Pradesh shot 37 in the 40-shot final to finish ahead of Minsu Kim from Korea (36), who took second place, and Ben Llewellin from Britain (26), who took third place. Key Points:

a)      The shooter qualified over two days with a score of 119/125 before winning his first individual gold in a five-way shoot-off. The two-time Olympian, who is now the oldest participant for India at Changwon, won silver in the World Cup in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

b)      Anjum Moudgil, Ashi Chouksey, and Sift Kaur Samra won bronze in the women’s 50m rifle 3P team competition earlier in the day.

c)       In the bronze medal match, the Indians easily defeated the Austrian team of Sheileen Waibel, Nadine Ungerank, and Rebecca Koeck 16-6 to take the podium spot. But Khan unquestionably owned the day.

d)      After placing 119th overall, he found himself competing for two last qualification berths alongside four other athletes, including Kuwaiti Abdullah Al Rashidi, a two-time Olympic medalist.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. Following $100 million in investment, OneCard becomes India’s 104th unicorn: OneCard, a mobile-first credit card company, raised $100 million in a series D round of funding backed by Temasek, making it the 104th unicorn in India. India has created more than 20 financial unicorns so far in 2022, including OneCard, Open, Oxyzo, and Yubi (formerly CredAvenue). Existing investors including QED, Sequoia Capital, and Hummigbird Ventures also made investments in OneCard‘s most recent round, which is owned by FPL Technologies of Pune.

Key Points:

a)      According to Mohit Bhandari, managing director, investment (India), of Temasek, OneCard is not affected by the PPI guidelines because it was not a PPI issuer and like some of the other businesses, which now have to restructure their business models.

b)      Onecard offers technological solutions to banks. The banks issue legitimate credit cards. Of course, OneCard participates in that as a provider of technological solutions.

c)       As part of its Series C fundraising, FPL Technologies earlier this year received $75 million. Existing investors QED Investors, Janchor Partners, Sequoia Capital India, Matrix Partners, and others helped to raise the round.

d)      Rupesh Kumar, Vibhav Hathi, and Anurag Sinha launched the business in 2015. The trio has experience in banking.

e)      India will have 122 new unicorns in the next two to four years, predicts the ASK Private Wealth Hurun India Future Unicorn Index 2022.

 

2. Facebook-owner Meta released first annual human rights report: Facebook owner Meta released its first annual human rights report, following years of accusations that it turned a blind eye to online abuses that fueled real-world violence in places like India and Myanmar. The report, which covers due diligence performed in 2020 and 2021, includes a summary of a controversial human rights impact assessment of India that Meta commissioned law firm Foley Hoag to conduct.

Human rights groups including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have demanded the release of the India assessment in full, accusing Meta of stalling in a joint letter sent in January. In its summary, Meta said the law firm had noted the potential for “salient human rights risks” involving Meta’s platforms, including “advocacy of hatred that incites hostility, discrimination, or violence.”

Note: Facebook Founded: February 2004; Facebook CEO: Mark Zuckerberg; Facebook Headquarters: California, United States.

 

DEFENCE

 

1. INS Sindhudhvaj decommissioned after 35 years of service: INS Sindhudhvaj has decommissioned after 35 years of glorious service to the nation. Vice Adm Biswajit Dasgupta Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command was the Chief Guest for the ceremony. The submarine crest depicts a grey colour nurse shark and the name means flag bearer at sea. About the INS Sindhudhvaj:

a)      Sindhudhvaj, as the name suggests, was the flag bearer of indigenization and the Indian Navy’s efforts towards achieving Atmanirbharta in the Russian-built Sindhughosh class submarines throughout her journey in the navy.

b)      Commissioned into the Navy in 1987, Sindhudhvaj, was one of the 10 Kilo-class submarines India acquired from Russia between 1986 and 2000. It was the only submarine to be awarded the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) rolling trophy for Innovation by PM Modi.

 

2. First mountain warfare training school established in NE by ITBP: As part of its mission to train its troops in high-altitude combat and survival techniques, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), which is tasked with securing the Line of Actual Control with China, has established its first mountain warfare training facility in northeast India and its second overall. The facility was built nearly 50 years after the founding of the first institution of its kind, the Mountaineering and Skiing Institute (M&SI), which opened in Auli, near Joshimath, in 1973–74.

Key Points:

a)      The M&SI, which is situated in the Himalayan hills of Uttarakhand at a height of over 9,000 feet, has taught hundreds of members of the ITBP, army, air force, and other security professionals in this field as well as that of adventure sports.

b)      The new centre is situated in Sikkim, which shares a frontage of 220 kilometres with the India-China LAC, at a height of 10,040 feet with distant Dombang, which borders the LAC.

c)       According to a senior ITBP officer, the Sikkim training centre was conceptualised to improve the ability to train newly recruited and serving troops in mountain warfare, rock climbing, high-altitude survival, and patrol even though the need for a second facility beyond Auli had long been felt given the rising level of engagement of its troops with the Chinese PLA in recent years.

Note: Chief of Army Staff: General Manoj Pande

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Renowned Ghazal Singer Bhupinder Singh passes away: Legendary ghazal singer, Bhupinder Singh passed away due to suspected colon cancer and COVID-19-related complications. He was 82. Singh was best known for songs such as ‘Duniya Chhute Yaar Na Chhute’ (“Dharam Kanta”), ‘Thodi Si Zameen Thoda Aasman’ (“Sitara”), which he sang with the late legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar, ‘Dil Dhoondta Hai’ (“Mausam”), ‘Naam Gum Jayega’ (“Kinara”).