Daily GK Update- 18th Aug, 2022

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. GoI unveils “Manthan” platform for better industry and R&D collaboration: The government of India unveiled the “Manthan” platform to drive collaboration between the industry and research institutes to implement technology-based social impact innovations and solutions in the country. The launch of Manthan, a platform that promises to augment our efforts to build and nurture industry participation in R&D, is also a testimony of our commitment to the UN’s SDG goals. The launch commemorates India’s 75 years of independence and presents an opportunity to bring national and global communities closer to India’s technology revolution. Benefits of the Manthan platform:

a)      The Manthan platform will help scale up interactions among stakeholders, facilitate research and innovation, and share challenges in various emerging technologies and scientific interventions, including those that make a social impact.

b)      The platform will provide the necessary fulcrum for transforming the nation through innovative ideas, inventive minds, and public-private-academia collaboration to achieve th country’s sustainability goals.

c)       Manthan will facilitate knowledge transfers and interactions through information exchange sessions, exhibitions, and events to develop a framework for future science, innovation, and technology-led growth.

 

2. PM Modi announced ‘Panch Pran’ goal for the next 25 years: Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to the nation from the Red Fort for the ninth time in a row on August 15, 2022. PM Modi, in his 88-minute speech, outlined his “Panch Pran Targets” (Five Resolves) to make India a developed country by the time it celebrates its 100th Independence Day in 25 years.

Panch Pran: India’s developed standards

a)      Cleanliness campaigns, vaccinations, electrical connections, the elimination of open defecation, and the usage of solar energy are all examples of established India standards according to the Panch Pran.

b)      A prime illustration of “liberation from the concept of servitude” is the New National Education Policy.

c)       Women’s rights, gender equality, and India First are national emblems of solidarity and unity.

d)      India would advance if its citizens carry out obligations like saving power, practising chemical-free agriculture, and making the most of the available irrigation water.

e)      PM Modi requested to every individual to Follow Panch Pran

The Panch Pran are as follows:

a)      Advance with greater conviction and the determination of a developed India

b)      Get rid of any signs of slavery

c)       Take pride in India’s history.

d)      the power of unity

e)      duties of citizens, such as those of the PM and CMs.

 

3. India To Start Supplying Petrol With 20% Ethanol From April 2023: India will start supplying petrol with 20 per cent ethanol at select petrol pumps from April next year and will ramp up supplies thereafter as it looks to cut oil import dependence and address environmental issues. E20 petrol (petrol blended with 20 per cent ethanol) in some quantity will be available from April 2023 and the rest to be covered by 2025.

Achievements: India, which achieved the target of supplying petrol mixed with 10 per cent ethanol (10 per cent ethanol, 90 per cent petrol) ahead of schedule in June this year, has advanced the target of making petrol with 20 per cent ethanol by five years to 2025. The original target for doping 10 per cent ethanol, extracted from sugarcane and other agri commodities, in petrol originally was November 2022.

 

4. India’s first 3D-printed Human Cornea developed by CCMB, IIT Hyderabad, and LVPEI: Researchers in Hyderabad have successfully 3D-printed an artificial cornea (3D-printed Human Cornea) and placed it in a rabbit eye for the first time ever in India. A 3D-printed Human cornea made from human donor corneal tissue has been created by researchers from the L V Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI), Indian Institute of Technology-Hyderabad (IIT-H), and the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB). Key Points:

a)      The product (3D-printed Human Cornea) was created locally with support from the government and philanthropic organisations; it is entirely natural, free of synthetic ingredients, and safe for patients to use.

b)      In order to create a special biomimetic hydrogel (patent pending), the researchers from LVPEI, IITH, and CCMB employed decellularized corneal tissue matrix and stem cells generated from human eyes.

c)       This hydrogel served as the foundation material for the 3D-printed Human Cornea.

d)      The 3D-printed Human Cornea is biocompatible, natural, and free of animal byproducts because it is made of components derived from human corneal tissue.

 

5. Bajaj Electricals elevates Anuj Poddar as MD & CEO: Bajaj Electricals, part of business conglomerate Bajaj Group, has elevated its Executive Director Anuj Poddar to Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The company has separated the post of Chairman & Managing Director and its patron Shekhar Bajaj will continue as Executive Chairman of the company. 

Note: Bajaj Group Founder: Jamnalal Bajaj; Bajaj Group Founded: 1926; Bajaj Group Headquarters Location: Pune, Maharashtra.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India’s IT Secretary Alkesh Kumar Sharma named to high-level UN internet panel: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has named India’s Electronics and Information Technology Secretary, Alkesh Kumar Sharma to a panel of eminent experts on internet governance. Internet pioneer Vint Cerf and Nobel Prize-winning journalist Maria Reesa were also appointed to the 10-member Internet Governance Forum (IGF) Leadership Panel. In addition, Guterres’ envoy on technology, Amandeep Singh Gill, will also be on the panel. They will serve for a two-year term during the 2022–23 IGF cycles. List of 10 members in the panel:

1)      Vint Cerf from the United States,

2)      Hatem Dowidar from Egypt,

3)      Lise Fuhr from Denmark,

4)      Maria Fernanda Garza from Mexico,

5)      Toomas Hendrik Ilves from Estonia,

6)      Maria Ressa from the Philippines and the USA,

7)      Alkesh Kumar Sharma from India,

8)      Karoline Edtstadler from Austria,

9)      Gbenga Sesan from Nigeria, and

10)  Lan Xue from China.

Role of the panel: The panel was set up under the mandate of the IGF and the recommendations in Guterres’s Roadmap for Digital Cooperation. The panel’s role is to deal with “strategic and urgent issues” of the Internet and provide strategic advice to the IGF.

 

2. NASA’s moon rocket moved to launch pad for 1st test flight: The American space agency, NASA has rolled out its giant new Moon rocket, surrounding the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft, the vehicle was moved to Pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida ahead of the expected lift-off on 29 August. The near 100m-tall (328ft) SLS rode an immense tractor to the pad. The SLS will be used under the Artemis mission that will take humans back to the Moon his time with plans for a longer presence on the surface.

About the Space Launch System (SLS):

a)      The SLS will have 15% more thrust off the pad than Apollo’s Saturn V rockets.

b)      This extra power, combined with further enhancements, will allow the vehicle to not only send astronauts far beyond Earth but, additionally, so much equipment and cargo that those crews could stay away for extended periods.

c)       The crew capsule, also, is a step up in capability. Called Orion, it is much more spacious, being a metre wider, at 5m (16.5ft), than the historic command modules of the 1960s and 70s.

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

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Delhi HC Appoints Committee To Take Over Affairs Of Indian Olympic Association (IOA): The Indian Olympic Association has been directed by the Delhi High Court to set up a three-member Committee of Administrators (CoA) to take over its affairs. According to PTI, the court took the decision after the IOA’s “persistent recalcitrance” to comply with the Sports Code.

A bench of Justices Manmohan and Najmi Waziri said the CoA to run IOA’s day-to-day affairs will comprise former Supreme Court judge Justice Anil R Dave, former Chief Election Commissioner Dr S.Y Quraishi, and former Secretary of Ministry of External Affairs Vikas Swarup. Additionally, Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra, world championship medallist Anju Bobby George and Olympian Bombayla Devi will be the consultant sportspersons. Each member of the CoA will receive an honorarium of Rs 3 lakh per month while each of the consultant sportspersons will get Rs 1.5 lakh, the court said.

The Aftermath: The IOA is recognised by the International Olympic Committee as the National Olympic Committee for India. The court directed the executive committee of IOA to hand over the charge to the newly appointed committee. After considering the issues related to the tenure of office bearers and voting rights, the court also struck down the post of “life president” and any such permanent post for an individual in the IOA for being illegal and said that the maximum term for the president and likewise to all office bearers and members of the EC has to be limited to three tenures as per the law.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. New deposit products introduced by Ujjivan SFB and Bank of Baroda: The “Baroda Tiranga Deposit Scheme,” a unique retail fixed deposit product, was introduced by Ujjivan SFB and Bank of Baroda (BoB). Baroda Tiranga Deposit Scheme offers interest rates of 5.75 percent for 444 days and 6 percent for 555 days. The programme is available through December 31, 2022, and it applies to retail deposits under Rs 2 crore. Senior people will receive an additional interest rate of 0.50 percent, according to a statement from BoB, while non-refundable deposits will receive an additional interest rate of 0.15 percent. Key Points:

a)      The 75-week (525 days) and 75-month (75 months) tenors of retail fixed deposits (under Rs 2 crore), both with the highest rate of 7.50 percent, have been offered by Ujjivan Small Finance Bank (Ujjivan SFB).

b)      The interest rate on 990-day (Platina FD) fixed-rate deposits has gone up at Ujjivan SFB from 7.20 percent to 7.50 percent. It increased the senior citizen rate from 0.50 percent to 0.75 percent.

c)       According to the bank, customers can use the Platina FD scheme to invest anywhere between a minimum of 15 lakh rupees and two crore rupees. Platinum FD is not reachable There is no partial or premature withdrawal option in this plan.

d)      Ujjivan SFB will offer monthly, quarterly, and on-maturity interest payment choices. Tax Saver Fixed Deposits are also eligible for the aforementioned interest rates. However, they maintain a five-year lock-in period.

 

2. State Bank of India introduced its first dedicated branch to support start-ups: The country’s largest lender, State Bank of India (SBI) has launched its first branch dedicated to start-ups in Koramangala, Bengaluru. SBI Chairman Dinesh Khara launched the branch in Koramangala near HSR Layout and Indiranagar which are the biggest start-up hubs in the city. After Bengaluru, the next branch will be opened in Gurgaon and the third one will be in Hyderabad. These branches would support the needs of the entire start-up ecosystem.

The branch will provide services ranging from the stage of formation of start-ups to Initial Public Offerings and Follow-on Public Offerings. Apart from providing funding and regular banking service to start-ups, SBI will also support such players through associated services such as investment banking, treasury operations, advisory and other ancillary financial services through its subsidiaries.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. IRDAI hosts its inaugural hackathon, Bima Manthan 2022: IRDAI, the insurance regulator, in order to safeguard the interests of policyholders, has asked organisations to provide technologically advanced new solutions for automated death claim settlement, reducing miss-selling, and other components of the insurance ecosystem. The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) is accepting applications for Bima Manthan 2022, its inaugural hackathon, with the topic “Innovation in Insurance.”

Highlights:

a)      IRDAI in a statement, the hackathon invites participants to explore and develop ideas that have the potential to make insurance available to every individual in a seamless and quick way with the use of technology and defending the interests of the policyholders.

b)      IRDAI, in order to stop the mis-selling of insurance products, has looked for creative ideas and tech-based solutions for automating death claim settlement.

c)       IRDAI is also seeking technologically enabled solutions to identify uninsured motor vehicles, assure the issuing of necessary motor third party insurance, and technology-based distribution of insurance products, including microinsurance in “difficult terrains and less penetrable places.”

d)      Bima Manthan 2022 offers the winner the chance to work with an insurer (or insurers) on the winning project/platform, demo-day in front of insurers/intermediaries and other stakeholders, or direct admittance into the IRDAI Regulatory Sandbox regime.

Note: IRDAI Founded: 1999; IRDAI Headquarters: Hyderabad; IRDAI Chairperson: Debasish Panda.

 

DEFENCE

 

1. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh gives “F-INSAS” system to Indian Army: Defence Minister of India, Rajnath Singh handed over to the Indian Army the much-awaited Future Infantry Soldier as a System (F-INSAS) at the unveiling ceremony of various defence and strategic systems held in Delhi. The full gear of the F-INSAS includes an AK-203 assault rifle, which is a Russian-origin gas-operated, magazine-fed, select-fire assault rifle.

About the (F-INSAS) System:

a)      The units of the rifle, which has a range of 300 metres, will be manufactured by an India-Russia joint venture.

b)      A rifle-mounted holographic sight with a range of 200 meters has been provided for target acquisition.

c)       A helmet-mounted night vision facility has been provided for infantry. The helmet and vest can protect from 9 mm ammunition and AK-47 assault rifles.

d)      A hands-free headset has been provided for communication with command posts and other elements on the battlefield.

e)      For the survivability of the infantry soldier, a ballistic helmet, ballistic goggles, bulletproof vest, elbow pads and knee pads have been provided in the system. F-INSAS also includes a state-of-the-art target acquisition and communication system.

 

2. India Gift Dornier Maritime Reconnaissance Aircraft to Sri Lanka: India on August 15 gifted a Dornier maritime reconnaissance aircraft to Sri Lanka which will enable the island nation to tackle multiple challenges like human and drug trafficking, smuggling and other organised forms of crime in its coastal waters more effectively. Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe was present at the impressive handover ceremony which took place on a day when India celebrated its 76th Independence Day and a day before a high-tech Chinese missile and satellite tracking ship docks at the island nation’s strategic Hambantota port.

Vice Chief of Indian Navy Vice Admiral S.N. Ghormade, who is on a two-day visit to the country, accompanied by Indian High Commissioner in Colombo Gopal Baglay, handed over the aircraft to the Sri Lanka Navy at the Sri Lanka Air Force base in Katunayake, adjoining the Colombo international airport.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Former BCCI Secretary Amitabh Choudhary passes away: Amitabh Chaudhary the former BCCI acting secretary and president of Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA) has passed away. He served as acting secretary of the BCCI until 2019. He entered cricket administration in 2004 and served as the Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA) president for over a decade.

Choudhary also served as BCCI’s joint-secretary from 2013 to 2015 during Anurag Thakur’s reign as BCCI president. He was a retired senior IPS officer, who rose to the rank of IGP with the Jharkhand Police and was the chairman of the Jharkhand Public Service Commission. He played a crucial role in developing infrastructure for Jharkhand cricket.

Daily GK Update- 17th Aug, 2022

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. GoI appointed 11 new High Court Judges in Punjab & Haryana: The government of India has notified the appointments of another 11 High Court Judges in the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The appointments include the names Nidhi Gupta, Sanjay Vashisth, Tribhuvan Dahiya, Namit Kumar, Harkesh Manuja, Aman Chaudhary, Naresh Singh, Harsh Bunger, Jagmohan Bansal, Deepak Manchanda and Alok Jain.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court are currently functioning with just 46 judges against the sanctioned strength of 85 with around a dozen of the 46 judges set to retire in the next two years. With the appointment of new additional judges, the number of judges will rise to 57. On 13th August 2022, the govt had appointed 26 High Court Judges in the High Courts of Allahabad, Andhra, Telangana, Gauhati, Orissa, and Himachal Pradesh.

 

2. India voluntary trust funds for defence of human rights more than Rs 3 crore: India has donated $ 400,000 (more than Rs 3 crore) to as many as four Voluntary Trust Funds, according to information released by the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations in Geneva. It went on to say that the donation to Voluntary Trust Funds was made to show India’s commitment to the global advancement and protection of human rights as well as its support for the UN Human Rights Council. India has donated $400,000 to 4 Voluntary Trust Funds on Torture, Technical Cooperation, Implementation of UPR & LDCs/SIDS, reflecting our commitment to worldwide promotion & protection of human rights and support for @UNHumanRights.

 

3. Odisha Government Signed an MoU with NIOT for Protecting its Coastline: The Odisha Government has signed an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Chennai-based National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) for the protection of coastal areas from various natural calamities like flood, cyclone, soil erosion and high tide, etc. The Odisha coastal areas face natural calamities every year due to the effects of climate change. Seven districts namely Ganjam, Puri, Khordha, Kendrapada, Bhadrak, Baleswar and Jagatsinghpur will get benefitted out of the initiative.

This will help these districts to get technological knowledge and design from the NIOT, Chennai, for coastal area protection. The districts have already faced cyclones like Phailin, Hudhud, Titli, Amphan, Bulbul, Yash, Gulab, Jawad, etc., in the past years. In the first phase, work will be carried out in 199 km coastal areas of Kendrapada, Baleswar, Bhadrak Jagatsinghpur and Puri and in the next phase, Ganjam and Khordha will be included. The expenditure will be made by the State Government from its own resources.

 

4. Union Minister Jitendra Singh unveils India’s first Saline Water Lantern: Union Minister of Earth Sciences, Jitendra Singh has launched India’s first saline water lantern, ‘Roshini’, which uses seawater to power Light Emitting Diode (LED) lamps. The minister unveiled the first-of-its-kind lantern during his visit to Sagar Anveshika, a coastal research vessel operated by the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) Chennai for marine research.

Saline Water Lantern:

a)      Saline water lanterns use seawater as an electrolyte between specially designed electrodes to power LED lamps. The technology will help bring ‘Ease of Living’ to the poor and needy, especially the fishing community living along the 7,500-km-long coastal line of India.

b)      Saline Water Lantern will also boost and supplement Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s UJALA scheme launched in 2015 for the distribution of LED bulbs across the country.

c)       The NIOT team for inventing the Roshini Lamp, further advising them to transfer the technology to the industry to facilitate mass production of this multipurpose lamp which can be of immense help in disaster-prone rural and remote areas.

d)      The progress of NIOT’s developed Low-Temperature Thermal Desalination (LTTD) technology which converts seawater to potable water.

e)      Three desalination plants based on the LTTD technology have been successfully designed and demonstrated at Kavaratti, Agati and Minicoy Islands of the Union Territory (UT) of Lakshadweep.

f)        The LTTD technology is suitable for UT’s islands, where the required temperature difference of about 15 degrees celsius between sea surface water and deep-sea water is found in the vicinity of Lakshadweep coasts only as of now.

Note: National Institute of Ocean Technology Founded: 1993; National Institute of Ocean Technology Director: Dr Gidugu Ananda Ramadass; National Institute of Ocean Technology Parent agency: Ministry of Earth Sciences.

 

5. Indian flag unfurled in space to marks 75 Years of Independence: The Indian national flag was unfurled in space at an altitude of over 30 km as the country marked its 75 years of Independence. The tricolour was sent to the edge of space on a balloon by Space Kidz India, which describes itself as an aerospace organisation creating young scientists for the country. The unfurling of the flag was part of the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations that mark the completion of 75 years since India became Independent.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Simon Stiell of Grenada named as new UNFCCC Executive Secretary: UN Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed Simon Stiell as the new Executive Secretary of the United Nations Climate Change Secretariat based in Bonn, Germany. The appointment has been endorsed by the Bureau of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

The career of Simon Stiell:

a)      Simon Stiell served as a senior minister in the Government of Grenada holding the portfolios of Minister for Climate Resilience and the Environment for five years.

b)      He also served as Minister for Education and Human Resource Development, Minister of State with responsibility for Human Resource Development and the Environment, and as a junior minister within the Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment.

c)       Stiell served as a member of Grenada’s Upper House of Parliament, the Senate, where he held the position of Leader of Government’s Business throughout this period.

About the UNFCCC: The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has near universal membership and is the parent treaty of the 2015 Paris Climate Change Agreement. The main aim of the Paris Agreement is to keep a global average temperature rise this century well below 2 degrees Celsius and to drive efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh, Malaysia from November 16-25, 2022: Malaysia’s premier men’s hockey tournament, the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2022 will be held from November 16 to 25 in Ipoh. The tournament is making a return after a two-year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. World No 1 Australia, fifth-ranked Germany, India, New Zealand, and Canada have been invited to the tournament. All matches will be played at the Azlan Shah Stadium in the city of Ipoh in Malaysia, which is the permanent venue of the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup.

Last time the Azlan Shah tournament was held in 2019 which was won by South Korea beating India in the final, which was there 3rd title. Best player of the tournament was Surender Kumar. Most Azlan Shah Tournament is won by Australia (10 times) then comes India with 5 titles. And Pakistan, South Korea with 3 titles each.

About the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup: The Sultan Azlan Shah Cup has been an annual feature in the FIH calendar since 1998, although it initially started life in 1983 as a biennial event. The event is named after legendary hockey fan and former FIH Executive Board Member HRH Sultan Azlan Shah. The Sultan Azlan Shah Cup has been part of the International Hockey Federation’s (FIH) calendar every year since 2003.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Karnataka Bank launches term deposit scheme “KBL Amrit Samriddhi”: On the occasion of 75 years of Independence as Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, Karnataka Bank has introduced a new Term Deposit Scheme, KBL Amrit Samriddhi under Abhyudaya Cash Certificate (ACC) and Fixed Deposit for a tenure of 75 weeks (525 days). The interest rate for this Deposit Scheme is 6.10% per annum. Karnataka Bank, portraying the rich patriotic tradition and values, has always been ready to meet the aspirations and dreams of its valued patrons. With the new product, KBL Amrit Samriddhi, Bank extends the benefit of the increase in the interest rates to our customers. Normal Rate:

a)      Currently, the bank offers a 5.50% interest rate on fixed deposits below ₹2 crores to the general public, while the rate is 5.65% for tenure above 2 years to 5 years, and the rate is 5.70% on maturity period for above 5 years and up to 10 years. The rate varies from 3.40% to 5% on short-term tenures between 7 days to 364 days. These rates are the same for FDs from ₹2 crore to ₹50 crores.

b)      Meanwhile, the bank offers a 5.90% rate to senior citizens on deposits below ₹2 crore for a tenure of 1 year to 2 Years, while the rate is 6.05% and 6.20% on maturity period above 2 years to 5 years and above 5 years up to 10 years.

Note: Karnataka Bank Headquarters: Mangaluru; Karnataka Bank CEO: Mahabaleshwara M. S; Karnataka Bank Founded: 18 February 1924.

 

2. 4 independent directors reappointed by GoI to RBI’s central board: Satish Kashinath Marathe, Swaminathan Gurumurthy, Revathy Iyer, and Sachin Chaturvedi have all been renominated by the national government to serve as part-time, non-official directors on the RBI’s central board or central board of the Reserve Bank of India. The RBI said on its website that Gurumurthy and Marathe have been renominated for another term of four years, until further instructions for RBI’s central board. RBI’s central board: Key Points

a)      After the RBI’s central board current terms expire on September 18, 2022, Iyer and Chaturvedi have been renominated for another four years.

b)      Anand Mahindra, the chairman of the Mahindra & Mahindra group, Venu Srinivasan, the Chairperson of TVS Motors, Pankaj Patel, the chairman of Zydus Lifesciences, and Ravindra Dholakia, a former member of the Monetary Policy Committee, were nominated by the government in June to serve as part-time non-official directors on the RBI’s central board.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. India Can Be USD 5 Trillion Economy By FY29 If GDP Grows At 9% For 5 Years: India may become a USD five trillion economy by 2028-29 only if the GDP grows at nine per cent per annum consistently for the next five years, said by former RBI Governor D Subbarao at Federation of Telangana Chamber of Commerce and Industry on India @75- Marching Towards USD 5 Trillion Economy on the occasion of 75 years of Indian Independence.

The Key Challenges: He said there are eight key challenges for India to overcome to achieve the dream of 5 trillion economy. The challenges are increasing investment, improving productivity and education and health outcomes, creating jobs, raising agriculture productivity, maintaining macroeconomic stability, managing global mega trends and improving governance, it said. Subba Rao further said that PM Modi triggered a debate on State subsidies and all political parties are at fault for the situation.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Dadabhai Naoroji’s London home gets Blue Plaque honour: London home of Dadabhai Naoroji will get a ‘Blue Plaque’, an honour that is reserved for notable personalities who have lived and worked in London. Naoroji was the first Asian who was elected as a Member of Parliament in Britain. The Blue Plaque scheme, run by the English Heritage charity, honours the historic significance of particular buildings across London. Naoroji’s plaque was unveiled to coincide with the 75th-anniversary celebrations of Indian Independence.

Naoroji often referred to as the “grand old man of India”, is reported to have moved to Washington House, 72 Anerley Park, Penge, Bromley, at a time when his thoughts were turning increasingly towards full independence for India in 1897. That red-brick home now has a plaque which reads: “Dadabhai Naoroji 1825-1917 Indian Nationalist and MP lived here”.

Other Indians who received the Blue Plaque: The Blue Plaque was erected at the homes of Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Mahatma Gandhi, Sri Aurobindo, Jawaharlal Nehru, and BR Ambedkar among others. Gandhi’s house was commemorated with the Blue Plaque in 1986. India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s home at 60 Elgin Crescent, Notting Hill received the Blue Plaque in 1989.

The history behind the Blue Plaque: In 1863, MP William Ewart of the House of Commons introduced the idea of a commemorative plaque scheme. Three years later, the Society of Arts adopted the scheme. In 1867, the organisation erected two plaques – one commemorated poet Lord Byron at his birthplace at 24 Holles Street at Cavendish Square and the other one honoured Napoleon III on King Street, Westminster. By 1986, English Heritage assumed charge of the scheme. Since then, English Heritage has erected over 360 plaques in more than 900 buildings in London.

 

DEFENCE

 

1. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh unveils statue of Marwari warrior Veer Durgadas Rathore: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has unveiled the Statue of “Veer Durgadas Rathore” on his 385th birth anniversary in Rajasthan’s Jodhpur. The Raksha Mantri paid glowing tribute to Veer Durgadas Rathore on the occasion, terming him as the symbol of social harmony, honesty, bravery and devotion. He stated that people, irrespective of caste or religion, should take inspiration from Veer Durgadas Rathore, who strived for peace and harmony against divisive elements in society. Veer Durgadas Rathore:

a)      Durgadas Rathore (13 August 1638 – 22 November 1718) was the Rathore Rajput General of the Kingdom of Marwar. He is credited with having preserved the rule of the Rathore dynasty over Marwar, India, following the death of Maharaja Jaswant Singh in the 17th century.

b)      In doing so he had to defy Aurangzeb, a Mughal emperor. He commanded the Rathore forces during the Rajput War (1679–1707) and played a major role in the Rajput Rebellion (1708–1710) which became one of the main reasons for the decline of the Mughal Empire.

c)     He was elected as the leader of the revolt along with Raja Jai Singh II of Jaipur. He won a number of victories against the Mughals and forced many Mughal officers to pay tribute to him in the form of Chauth.

Daily GK Update- 16th Aug, 2022

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Ramsar sites: 11 more Indian wetlands have got Ramsar recognition: India has added 11 more wetlands to the list of Ramsar sites to make a total of 75 such sites covering an area of 13,26,677 hectares in the country. 75 Ramsar Sites in 75th Year of Independence India. The 11 new sites designated as Ramsar sites included: four sites in Tamil Nadu, three in Odisha, two in Jammu and Kashmir and one each in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.

From 1982 to 2013, a total of 26 Indian sites were added to the list of Ramsar sites. However, during 2014 to 2022, the country has added 49 new wetlands to the list of Ramsar sites. During this year itself, a total of 28 sites have been declared as Ramsar sites.

The 11 Indian wetlands which have been designated as new Ramsar sites:

a)      Tampara Lake in Odisha;

b)      Hirakud Reservoir in Odisha;

c)       Ansupa Lake in Odisha;

d)      Yashwant Sagar in Madhya Pradesh;

e)      Chitrangudi Bird Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu;

f)        Suchindram Theroor Wetland Complex in Tamil Nadu;

g)      Vaduvur Bird Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu;

h)      Kanjirankulam Bird Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu;

i)        Thane Creek in Maharashtra;

j)        Hygam Wetland Conservation Reserve in Jammu and Kashmir;

k)      Shallbugh Wetland Conservation Reserve in Jammu and Kashmir.

Ramsar site: A Ramsar site is a wetland site designated to be of international importance under the Ramsar Convention, also known as “The Convention on Wetlands”, an intergovernmental environmental treaty established in 1971 by UNESCO, which came into force in 1975. It provides for national action and international cooperation regarding the conservation of wetlands, and wise sustainable use of their resources

 

2. Centre has revised the Atal Pension Yojana rules: Government of India has made revised the rules of Atal Pension Yojana (APY), will be effective from from October 1, 2022. No citizen who is or has been an income taxpayer will not be eligible to join the APY. If an income tax-payer joins the APY scheme on or after October 1, 2022, the APY account will be liable to be closed. Currently, all citizens of India between the age of 18-40 years are eligible to join the scheme,irrespective of their tax-paying status.

 

3. Defence forces, RBI and PM Office Most Trusted Institutions: Defence forces, RBI and Prime Minister of India are the three most trusted institutions in the country, according to a survey by Ipsos India. The Supreme Court of India came fourth and it was followed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). More Findings of Survey:

a)      Defence Forces with at least 2 in 3 (65 per cent of respondents) reposing faith in them was ranked first, followed by Reserve Bank of India with 1 in 2 (50 per cent). Prime Minister of India as an institution was at the third spot with 49 per cent citizens having trust in it, the survey said. Smack in the middle was the Parliament (33 per cent) ranked 7th, ranked 8th was the media (32 per cent) and placed 9th was the Election Commission of India (31 per cent), it said.

b)      The institutions at the bottom of the heap were politicians (16 per cent), political parties (17 per cent), community leaders (19 per cent) and religious leaders (21 per cent), it said, adding, these institutions have least credibility according to the opinions of the citizens across the cities and target groups polled.

 

4. Indian Railway Protection Force Launched “Operation Yatri Suraksha”: Indian Railway Protection Force (RPF), have launched a pan-India operation known as Operation Yatri Suraksha. Under this initiative, several steps are taken to provide round-the-clock security to passengers. To kickstart Operation Yatri Suraksha, the RPF launched a month-long pan-India drive against criminals who loot passengers in July 2022. During the drive, the RPF caught 365 suspects who were handed over to the concerned GRPs for legal action.

As part of this initiative, several steps are being taken to provide foolproof security to passengers i.e., train escorting, visible presence on stations, surveillance through CCTV, surveillance on active criminals, collection of intelligence about the criminals and action thereupon, identifying black spots and crime-prone trains/sections and enhancing security thereat among others to formulate an actionable strategy to reduce crime against passengers.

 

5. IAS Piyush Goyal named NATGRID CEO by the Union government: IAS officer of the Nagaland cadre, Piyush Goyal has been appointed by the Central Government as the new CEO of NATGRID (National Intelligence Grid). Along with this, the Central Government has also issued an order to post 26 other officers on the post of Additional Secretary. Piyush Goyal is currently serving as Additional Secretary in the Union Home Ministry.

The post of its CEO was vacant since June when its then chief IPS officer Ashish Gupta was appointed as additional director general of the Border Security Force (BSF). Chandrakar Bharti, a 1996 batch IAS officer of the Union Territory cadre, has been appointed in place of Piyush Goyal. Presently he is Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Defence.

Note: NATGRID is the central organization for intelligence gathering with the aim of enhancing India’s counter-terrorism capabilities.

NATGRID Formed: 2009; NATGRID Headquarters: New Delhi, India.

 

6. Parsi New Year: 16th August: Parsi New Year or Navroz is celebrated all over the country on 16th August every year. Parsi New Year 2022 marks the start of the new season and the beginning for the Parsi community. This year also on Parsi New Year 2022, India will observe a regional holiday which marks the beginning of the New Year according to the ‘Shahenshahi’ calendar. The Parsi New Year is also known as Navroz. Most of the Parsi community resides in the western part of the country, generally in Maharashtra and Gujarat. During Parsi New Year, the Parsi families all over India, visit holy temples, pay respect to elders and offer their prayers. They also enjoy their traditional food.

Parsi New Year History: The beginning of Navroz is around 35000 years back when Prophet Zarathustra founded Zoroastrianism in Persia, Iran. According to the Zoroastrian philosophy, this period marks the annual renewal of everything in the universe. The Parsi New Year or Navroz links with Jamshed, an ancient Sasanian King who is believed to introduce the Parsi Calendar. Therefore, the Parsi New Year or Navroz is also known as Jamshed-i-Nouroz.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Covid booster vaccination approved first in the United Kingdom: British health authorities stated that the UK has become the first nation to approve a bivalent Moderna Covid booster vaccination. Covid booster vaccination targets both the original strain of COVID-19 and the more recent Omicron version. The Moderna Covid booster vaccination was approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) as a “sharpened instrument” against the new coronavirus after it was determined to meet its requirements of safety, quality, and effectiveness. Covid booster vaccination: Key Points:

a)      Each dosage of the Moderna Covid booster vaccination “Spikevax bivalent Original/Omicron” contains 25 micrograms of vaccine that targets both the original viral strain from 2020 and Omicron.

b)      According to the authorities, safety monitoring revealed that there were no significant safety issues in the Moderna Covid booster vaccination, and that the side effects were generally modest and self-resolving, just like they were with the original Moderna booster dose.

c)       As part of the nation’s booster vaccine deployment programme, the independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization (JCVI) of the UK will now provide recommendations on how this new vaccine should be implemented.

d)      Additionally, the vaccine has been requested that the Australian, Canadian, and European Union regulatory bodies approve it (EU). By the end of next month, the dose is anticipated to receive approval from the EU drugs authority.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Asia’s oldest tournament Durand Cup starts on August 16: The oldest football tournament in Asia, Durand Cup started on August 16, 2022. The opening match will be played between FC Goa and Mohammedan SC at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata. The tournament will feature 20 teams all divided into four groups of five teams each. For the first time in its history, the tournament is being held in multiple cities. West Bengal, Assam and Manipur are hosting the Durand Cup 2022.

Durand Cup is one of the three major football tournaments in India, the other two being Indian Super League and Super Cup. This year the tournament is 131st edition.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. EPFOs’ Rs 1.59 lakh crore investment in ETFs rises to Rs 2.26 lakh crore: EPFO has invested Rs 1,59,299.46 crore in Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) till March 2022 and its national market value of these investments was Rs 2,26,919.18 crore. Key Points:

a)      EPFO has been investing in ETFs since August 2015. Initially, the body decided to invest 5% of its investible deposits in stock markets. Later, the proportion was increased to 10% in 2016-17 and 15% 2017-18 and onwards.

b)      The EPFO invested Rs 12,199.26 crore in ETFs in April-June period this year while the total investment (in debt and equity) was Rs 84,477.67 crore.

c)       The body had invested Rs 43,568.02 crore in 2021-22, Rs 32,070.84 crore in 2020-21 and Rs 31,501.09 crore in 2019-20 in ETFs.

d)      The EPFO invests 85% of the funds in debt instruments and 15% in ETFs, as per the investment pattern notified by the government.

Note: Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) Founded: 1952; Headquarters:New Delhi

 

2. Paytm partnered with Piramal Finance to offer loans: One 97 Communications the parent entity of digital payments firm Paytm has partnered with Piramal Capital and Housing Finance to further expand its merchant loan business to small towns and villages of India. With this, merchants can avail loans of up to Rs 10 lakh with a tenure of 6-24 months. This partnership will expand Paytm’s loan distribution business, supported by Piramal Finance’s wide network of over 300 branches across India. It will also help drive financial inclusion by bringing access to credit to small businesses and retailers. It will also empower MSMEs from smaller cities and towns with access to digital credit.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. Microsoft becomes first company to join ONDC network: Microsoft has become the first multinational technology firm to join the government’s open network for digital commerce (ONDC) platform. The US-based technology behemoth intends to introduce social e-commerce or a group buying experience in the Indian market through the entry. Through ONDC it intends to introduce social e-commerce in the Indian market. It will also launch a shopping app in India which will be available on the ONDC network.

Note: Microsoft Founded: 1975; Founders: Bill Gates and Paul Allen; Headquarters: Washington DC; Chairman: Satya Nadella

 

2. American Express launched Global Pay, cross border payments platform: American Express has launched its cross-border payments platform for small to medium-sized businesses named Global Pay. It will work as a digital solution that will let S. businesses make secure domestic and international B2B payments. In addition to this, the eligible customers can earn rewards points on foreign exchange payments. Global Pay is available to all eligible American Express Small Business Card Members in the U.S.

Note: American Express Headquarters: New York, US; CEO: Stephen Squeri

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Home Ministry awarded 1082 Police Medals in 2022: The Union ministry of home affairs (MHA) has awarded 1,082 police personnel from CAPFs and state forces with various categories of service medals, including for gallant action on the eve of Independence Day. The decorations include 347 police medals for gallantry (PMG), 87 President’s police medals for distinguished service and 648 police medals for meritorious service.

Out of the 347 gallantry awards, 204 personnel are being awarded for their gallant action in Jammu and Kashmir, 80 for displaying bravery in Left Wing Extremism or Naxal violence-affected areas and 14 personnel for showing bravery in North-East Region.

Key Points:

a)      The maximum gallantry medals at 109 have been received by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) followed by 108 to the J&K Police, 19 to the Border Security Force (BSF) and six each to the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB).

b)      Among the state police forces, 42 gallantry medals have been given to Maharashtra, 15 to Chhattisgarh among other forces and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs).

 

2. Marina Tabassum won Lisbon Triennale Millennium bcp Lifetime Achievement Award: Renowned Bangladeshi architect, Marina Tabassumbecame the first person from the global south and first south Asian to win the prestigious Lisbon Triennale Millennium bcp Lifetime Achievement Award. She will receive an original artwork by the Portuguese artist and sculptor Carlos Nogueira as award during the Lisbon Triennale.