Daily GK Update- 24th Aug, 2022

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India’s First Observatory to Monitor Space Activity to Come Up In Uttarakhand: India’s first commercial space situational awareness observatory, to track objects as small as 10 cm in size orbiting the earth, will be set up in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand by Digantara, a space sector start-up. The space situational awareness (SSA) observatory will help India track any activity in space including that of space debris and military satellites hovering over the region. Currently, the United States is a dominant player in monitoring space debris with observatories in multiple locations and commercial companies providing additional inputs from across the world. The Benefits of This Observatory:

a)      It would be able to reduce the potential for collisions between satellites and other spacecraft by making more accurate predictions of their location, speed, and trajectory.

b)      The observatory will also give India indigenous capabilities to monitor space activity over the subcontinent, he said, adding that ahead of the war in Ukraine, several Russian satellites were seen hovering over the region.

c)       India has been monitoring space objects using multi-object tracking radars and the SSA observatory will be a huge boost in the sector. Chinese satellites are seen over one particular region of India for a long time, having indigenous capability to monitor such activities and not being dependent on countries like the United States is a plus for India.

 

2. Country first indigenous monkeypox test kit launched: India has developed the first indigenously developed RT-PCR kit for testing monkeypox disease. The kit is developed by Transasia Bio-Medicals, the kit was unveiled by Principal Scientific Adviser to the Centre Ajay Kumar Sood. The kit would help in early detection and better management of the infection which the WHO declared a public health emergency of international concern.

Monkeypox: Monkeypox is a viral zoonosis — a virus transmitted to humans from animals — with symptoms similar to smallpox although clinically less severe. Monkeypox typically manifests itself with fever, rash, and swollen lymph nodes and may lead to a range of medical complications. It is usually a self-limited disease with symptoms lasting for two to four weeks.

Note: Transasia Bio-Medicals Headquarters location: Mumbai; Transasia Bio-Medicals Founded: 1979.

 

3. Union MoS for Textiles Darshana Jardosh inaugurates Silk Mark Expo: The Silk Mark Expo was inaugurated by the Union Minister of State for Textile Darshana Jardosh in New Delhi. The Silk Mark Expo is organized by the Silk Mark Organization of India under the Central Silk Board, Ministry of Textiles. This is a milestone in the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav said the Union Minister of State for Textile. The Textile Ministry has launched various schemes including the Silk Mark Expo to boost the textile sector in India. Key Points of The Silk Mark Expo:

a)      The original high-quality silk made by the women weavers will attract consumers across the World.

b)      Silk Mark is a quality assurance label launched by the government to determine the quality of the natural and pure silk produced by the weavers.

c)       The Silk Mark highlights the qualifying standards of the product, which will eventually build consumers’ confidence in both domestic and export markets.

d)      The Silk Mark Expo aims to protect the interests of all the silk consumers as well as the stakeholders of the silk value chain.

e)      A total of 39 exhibitors are participating in the Silk Mark Expo.

 

4. UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List: India nominated Garba: India has nominated the Indian dance form Garba to be inscribed on UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage list. Last year, Durga Puja was included in UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage list and for 2022, India has nominated ‘Garba’. The next UNESCO meeting will be held in November. In July, India was elected by UNESCO to serve on the distinguished intergovernmental Committee of the 2003 Convention for the safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. A total of 14 elements from India are inscribed on UNESCO’S list of Intangible Cultural Heritage and Humanity. These elements include music, dance, theatre, festivals, rituals, and storytelling.

UNESCO’S list of Intangible Cultural Heritage and Humanity: The UNESCO’S list of Intangible Cultural Heritage was established in 2008 after the convention for the safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage,2003 came into effect. This list is made up of those intangible heritage elements that help to demonstrate the diversity of cultural heritage.

List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in India: (1) Buddhist Chanting; (2) Kalbelia; (3) Chhau Dance; (4) Koodiyattam; (5) Kumbh Mela; (6) Mudiyett; (7) Nawruz; (8) Ramlila; (9) Sankirtana; (10) Ramman; (11) Traditional Brass and Copper Craft of Utensil making; (12) Vedic Chanting; (13) Yoga and (14) Durga Puja

 

5. Odia scientist Debasisa Mohanty appointed as Director of NII: Odia scientist, Debasisa Mohanty was appointed as Director of the National Institute of Immunology (NII). He is currently working as a staff scientist at NII. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment, with effect from the date of assumption of charge of the post and up to the age of his superannuation. The post fell vacant after Rajesh Verma, a 1987 batch IAS officer of Odisha cadre, was appointed as Secretary to President Droupadi Murmu on August 18.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. 65th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference to be host by Canada: The 65th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC) will be led by Amos Masondo, the chair of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), along with a distinguished team of MPs. The 65th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC), will be held in Halifax, Canada, from August 22 to 26, 2022. The 65th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference provides delegates of Commonwealth parliaments and legislatures with an annual forum to discuss parliamentary system improvements and international political issues. Key Points:

a)      The 65th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference is an annual platform for representatives of Commonwealth parliaments and legislatures to discuss advancements in the parliamentary system and global political challenges.

b)      The 65th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference, which brings together close to 500 Commonwealth parliamentarians and delegates from 126 national and sub-national legislatures representing 42 Commonwealth countries, is being hosted by the Canada Region of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA).

c)       “Inclusive, Accessible, Accountable and Strong Parliaments: the Cornerstone of Democracy and Essential for Development” will be the subject of the 65th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference.

 

2. International Astronomy & Astrophysics Olympiad: India ranks 3rd: Indian team secured the third rank in the medal tally at the 15th International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA). India held the third position jointly with Singapore with students winning three gold and two silver medals.  In the medals tally, India was placed jointly in the third position along with Singapore, behind Iran’s official team (5 golds) and guest team (4 golds, 1 silver). Indian Medal:

a)      Raghav Goyal from Chandigarh, Md Sahil Akhtar from Kolkata and Mehul Borad from Hyderabad bagged gold in the event. Goyal also won a special prize for providing the best solution to the most challenging theoretical question.

b)      The silver medallists are Malay Kedia from Ghaziabad and Atharva Nilesh Mahajan from Indore.

About the 15th International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics:

a)      The 15th International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA) 2022 was held in Kutaisi, Georgia, from August 14 to 21, 2022. There were 209 students from 37 main and 6 guest teams participating in this year’s IOAA. In addition, 24 students from 6 countries participated in the online mode.

b)      This year’s competition was originally scheduled to be held in Kyiv, Ukraine; it was shifted to Kutaisi, Georgia in March 2022 due to the war in Ukraine.

 

3. World Gujarati Language Day: 24th August: World Gujarati Language Day 2022 is celebrated every year on 24 August. This day is celebrated to commemorate the birth anniversary of the great writer of Gujarat ‘Veer Narmad’. ‘Gujarati Diwas’ is celebrated because the poet Narmad was considered to be the creator of the Gujarati language. He has made Gujarati literature international.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. SEBI joins Account Aggregator framework to facilitate access to financial data: Asset management firms (AMCs) and depositories are examples of stock market intermediaries that have been instructed by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to join the account aggregator framework put forward by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Additionally, the market regulator, SEBI established regulations that will only apply to participants in the stock market ecosystem who join the aggregator framework. Key Points:

a)      The account aggregator framework is a non-banking financial institution (NBFC) governed by the RBI.

b)      Account aggregator framework makes it easier to obtain or gather financial data about a customer from financial information suppliers (FIP). Account aggregator framework is based on the customer’s express consent.

c)       Financial information would be made available by the FIPs in the securities market through any account aggregators registered with the RBI with the help of account aggregator framework.

d)      Additionally, the account aggregator and FIPs in the securities market will enter into a contractual framework making an account aggregator framework.

e)      FIPs are organisations that have a customer’s financial information. These include depositories, banks, AMCs, and pension funds.

f)        By making requests through an aggregator, financial information users (FIUs) can access them as the “source” of personal or commercial data.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. “All things EV”: HDFC Launches India’s First EV Ecosystem: HDFC has launched India’s first one-stop solution portal for Electric Vehicles Ecosystem, “All things EV”. HDFC EGRO, General Insurance Company, which is a leading private sector general insurance company has claimed that the “All things EV”, fulfills the needs of the existing and potential Electric Vehicles or EV users. The company has also launched a dedicated platform for existing and prospective EV ecosystem users as a part of the initiative which also hosts end-to-end information related to the EV sector. This platform welcomes all Indians who have purchased EVs or are planning to buy EVs in the future or are making an earning out of the growing EV sectors.

“All things EV”:

a)      The “All things EV” will create awareness among the people and increase potential customer awareness. The initiative spreads awareness about using green technology over the conventional technology being used for decades.

b)      The potential EV buyers can get all information about EVs in the “All things EV” available in India. The “All things EV” will also provide the cost ownership and subsidies offered by different State Governments.

c)       If people are looking to set up charging stations, they can also get the available options of charging units, the associated cost, and the profitability metrics.

 

2. HPCL starts its first cow dung based compressed biogas project: HPCL’s uses first of its kind Waste-to-Energy portfolio, uses 100 tonnes of dung per day to make biogas, which may be used as vehicle fuel. In a year, the HPCL Compressed Biogas Project project is expected to be put into operation.

About HPCL Compressed Biogas Project:

a)      The HPCL Compressed Biogas Project project is being developed under the GOBAR-Dhan scheme, which was introduced by the Indian government in April 2018 as a part of the Swachh Bharat Mission’s (Grameen) Biodegradable Waste Management component.

b)      The HPCL Compressed Biogas Project scheme aims to improve cleanliness and produce wealth and energy from organic waste and livestock.

c)       At Shree Godham Mahatirth Pathmeda Lok Punyarth Nyas, Village Pathmeda, Tehsil Sanchore District Jalore in Rajasthan, the project’s groundbreaking ceremony was held. Senior HPCL officials including ED Biofuel & Renewables Shuvendu Gupta were present at the occasion.

Biogas Componenets:

a)      Methane (CH4), a substance found in natural gas, and carbon dioxide make up the majority of biogas (CO2).

b)      Raw (untreated) biogas may contain between 40% and 60% methane, with the majority of the remaining gas being CO2, with a small quantity of water vapour and other gases.

 

DEFENCE

 

1. DRDO and Indian Navy Test Indigenous VL-SRSAM Missile: Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Indian Navy successfully flight-tested the indigenously designed and developed Vertical Launch Short Range Surface-to-Air Missile (VL-SRSAM) from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur off the coast of Odisha. The flight test was carried out from a naval ship against a high-speed unmanned aerial target for demonstration of vertical launch capability.

Successful Test: During the test launch, flight path and vehicle performance parameters were monitored using flight data, captured by various range instruments such as radar, electro-optical tracking system (EOTS) and telemetry systems deployed by ITR in Chandipur.

Aftermath: Complimenting DRDO, Indian Navy and teams associated with it, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that the missile will prove to be a force multiplier for the Indian Navy. Secretary Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO also congratulated the teams involved in the successful flight test and said that the trial has proved the effectiveness of the weapon system. “It will further strengthen the Indian Navy for neutralising various aerial threats at close ranges including sea-skimming targets,” the defence ministry said.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Former Olympic football captain Samar ‘Badru’ Banerjee passes away: Former India football team captain, Samar ‘Badru’ Banerjee, who led the country to a historic fourth-place finish in the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, has passed away recently. He was 92. He was bestowed with the Mohun Bagan Ratna in 2009. Banerjee has also won the Santosh Trophy twice as a player in 1953 & 1955 and once as a coach in 1962. The West Bengal Government honoured Badru Banerjee with the Lifetime Achievement Award in sports in 2017.

 

2. Former Jharkhand Governor Syed Sibtey Razi passes away: Former Jharkhand Governor, Syed Sibtey Razi has passed away. He served as the Governor of Jharkhand from the year 2004- 2009. He was associated with Congress. He was a member of the Rajya Sabha thrice. Later he was made the Governor of Jharkhand and Assam. Razi, who was associated with the Congress, was born in Rae Bareli, a Congress stronghold in Uttar Pradesh. Born on 7th March 1939, he took admitted in Shia College after completing his 10th from Husenabad Higher Secondary School in Rae Bareli.

Daily GK Update- 23rd Aug, 2022

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India’s First Portal on Arrested Narco Offenders ‘NIDAAN’: A first-of-its kind database of arrested narcotics offenders has been made operational for use by various central and state prosecution agencies tasked to enforce anti-drugs laws in the country. The portal–NIDAAN or the National Integrated Database on Arrested Narco-offenders–has been developed by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB). It is part of the narcotics coordination mechanism (NCORD) portal that was launched by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on July 30 in Chandigarh during the national conference on ‘Drug trafficking and national security’.

About NIDAAN: The NIDAAN platform sources its data from the ICJS (inter-operable criminal justice system) and the e-Prisons (a cloud-based application) repository and it is planned to integrate it in the future with the crime and criminal tracking network system or CCTNS. The ICJS, an initiative of the Supreme Court e-committee, was created to enable seamless transfer of data and information among different pillars of the criminal justice system, like courts, police, jails and forensic science laboratories, from one platform.

 

2. 17th Pravasi Bhartiya Divas 2023 to be held at Indore: According to External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi, the 17th Pravasi Bhartiya Divas 2023 will be held at Indore in January next year. Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is celebrated every year on the 9th of January to mark the contribution of the overseas Indian community to the development of India. It also commemorates the return of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa to India on 9th January 1915.

The 16th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas was held during 21–23 January 2019 at Varanasi, India. The Prime Minister of Mauritius, Pravind Jugnauth, was the guest of honour.

The decision to celebrate Pravasi Bharatiya Divas was taken in accordance with recommendations of the High-Level Committee (HLC) on the Indian Diaspora set up by the government of India under the chairmanship of L. M. Singhvi. The then Prime Minister of India, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, received the report of the Committee at a public function at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi on 8 January 2002 and announced the “Pravasi Bharatiya Divas” (PBD) on 9 January 2002.

 

3. Mandla becomes India’s first fully ‘functionally literate’ district: Madhya Pradesh’s tribal-dominated Mandla region has become the first fully “functionally literate” district in the country. Another report of 2020 highlights that, more than 2.25 lakh people in this district were not literate, most of them were tribals from forest areas. Tribals frequently complained to the authorities about money being taken from their bank accounts by fraudsters and the root cause of this was that they were not functionally literate.

To make people functionally literate, a major campaign was launched on Independence Day 2020, in association with the school education department, Anganwadi & social workers, women and child development department, to educate women and senior citizens. With this campaign, the entire district has turned into a functionally literate district, within two years. Mandla is the first district of India to reach this mark, where people were able to write their names, read and count.

 

4. GoI grants GI Tag to Bihar’s Mithila Makhana: The Central government has awarded Geographical Indication (GI) tag to Mithila Makhana. With this move, growers will get the maximum price for their premium produce. Over five lakh farmers of the Mithila region of Bihar will be benefitted from this decision. Makhana registered with GI Tag, farmers will get profit and it will be easier to earn.

Benefits of getting GI Tag: Once a product gets this tag, any person or company cannot sell a similar item under that name. This tag is valid for a period of 10 years following which it can be renewed. The other benefits of GI registration include legal protection to that item, prevention against unauthorised use by others, and promotion of exports.

Geographical Indication Tag: A GI or Geographical Indication is a name or a sign given to certain products that relate to a specific geographical location or origins like a region, town or country. Using Geographical Indications may be regarded as a certification that the particular product is produced as per traditional methods, has certain specific qualities, or has a particular reputation because of its geographical origin.

 

5. ISRO received a Crew Module Fairing from HAL for Gaganyaan mission: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) handed two pieces of space equipment to the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) for use in the Gaganyaan mission. This is the second crew module fairing (CMF) that India’s top space agency has purchased from HAL for the mission. Even though both of these CMFs will be used in some capacity, the first experiment will use the CMF that ISRO obtained from HAL. Key Points:

a)      According to sources, ISRO received the CMF structure, which included the thrust-transfer structure for the high-altitude escape motor (HTS).

b)      It should be emphasised that the HTS will be crucial in triggering an escape motor. Throughout the mission, this technology will keep the astronauts secure. In the event that a mission fails, the motor will aid in transferring engine power to the crew escape module.

c)       A CMF structure from Bengaluru-based Alpha Design Technology Limited was delivered to ISRO in June.

d)      The CMF that ISRO received from HAL will be used during the first experiment, even though both of these CMFs will be employed in some capacity.

Gaganyaan Mission:  Gaganyaan mission, which translates to “Sky Craft” in Sanskrit, is an Indian crewed orbital spacecraft that is meant to serve as the foundational spacecraft for the Indian Human Spaceflight Program. Gaganyaan mission, India’s long-delayed first human spaceflight project, will lift off in 2023.

Note: ISRO Chairman: S Somanath

HAL Chairman: Mihir Kanti Mishra

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. S. Jaishankar Unveils Bust of Mahatma Gandhi in Paraguay: External affairs minister S Jaishankar unveiled a bust of Mahatma Gandhi in Paraguay and visited the historic Casa de la Independencia, from where the South American country’s independence movement started more than two centuries ago. Jaishankar arrived in Brazil on the first leg of his six-day visit to South America with an aim to boost overall bilateral ties with the region. Jaishankar, who is on his first-ever official visit to South America, is also visiting Paraguay and Argentina.

A Recent Outlook On The Indo-Prague Relation: Earlier, Jaishankar, who was on his first-ever official visit to South America aimed at boosting overall bilateral ties with the region, is also the first Indian Foreign Minister to visit Paraguay, coinciding with the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. The Indian Embassy in Paraguay began functioning from January this year. The establishment of a resident Indian Embassy will spur an expansion of the economic engagement between the two countries. Trade and investment will be the focus of the bilateral activities.

 

2. International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief: 22nd August: International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief, observed on August 22. On this day, the international community honours the survivors and victims of religious-based violence. The day aims to remember the victims and survivors of evil acts on the basis of or in the name of religion or belief.

The day was adopted at the 73rd UN General Assembly on 28 May 2019 as proposed by Poland. It spreads awareness that international communities must work together to achieve justice for the survivors of past abuses by holding perpetrators accountable and demonstrating to governments that action must be taken to ‘never again’ tolerate genocide or other atrocities.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. UEFA League: Manisha Kalyan becomes 1st Indian to play in the league: Young striker Manisha Kalyan became the first Indian footballer to play at the UEFA Women’s Champions League when she made her debut for Apollon Ladies FC in the European Club competition in Engomi, Cyprus. In November 2021, the 20-year-old had become the first ever Indian footballer to score a goal in the AFC Women’s Club Championship.

Kalyan had produced impressive performances for the national team and Gokulam Kerala in the Indian Women’s League (IWL). Kalyan is the second player from Gokulam Kerala to sign for an overseas club after Dangmei Grace joined Uzbek outfit FC Nasaf. She was recently awarded the AIFF Women’s Footballer of the Year for the 2021-22 season.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. RBI Cancels Licence Of Deccan Urban Co-operative Bank: The RBI said the licence of Deccan Urban Co-operative Bank, Karnataka, has been cancelled as the lender does not have adequate capital and earning prospects. As per the data submitted by the bank, more than 99 per cent of the depositors are entitled to receive the full amount of their deposits from Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC), the central bank said in a release.

The RBI has requested the Commissioner for Cooperation and Registrar of Cooperative Societies, Karnataka, to issue an order for winding up the bank and appoint a liquidator for the bank. On liquidation, every depositor would be entitled to receive deposit insurance claim amount of his/her deposits up to ₹5 lakh DICGC. The central bank, however, said that the penalty is based on deficiencies in regulatory compliance and is not intended to pronounce upon the validity of any transaction or agreement entered into by the entity with its customers.

 

2. HDFC Bank launched a new campaign ‘Vigil Aunty‘: HDFC Bank has launched a new campaign titled ‘Vigil Aunty’. It aims to encourage people across the country to practice safe banking habits. This will complement the bank’s ‘Mooh Band Rakho’ campaign which urges people not to share their confidential banking information with others. A campaign to promote Vigil Aunty and persuade people to follow her on social media and/or WhatsApp will be run for four to six weeks.

Note: HDFC Bank Founded: August 1994; Founder: Hasmukhbhai Parekh; Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra; MD & CEO: Sashidhar Jagdishan

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. Bill Gates Foundation named Ashish Dhawan to its board of trustees: Indian philanthropist Ashish Dhawan has been named to the board of trustees of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The foundation announced the appointment of two new members to its board of trustees. Ashish Dhawan is the founder and CEO of Convergence Foundation, and along with him, Dr Helene D Gayle, President of Spelman College, US, has also been appointed.

Ashish Dhawan: Besides being the CEO of the Convergence Foundation, which is focused on accelerating India’s economic growth and development, 53-year-old Ashish is also the chairperson of Ashoka University and Central Square Foundation, a non-profit organisation working to improve the quality of education for children in India.

Dr Helene D Gayle: On the other hand, Dr Helene D Gayle is a Gates Foundation alumna. Prior to becoming president of Spelman College, Dr. Gayle was the president and CEO of The Chicago Community Trust, one of the United States’ oldest and largest community foundations.

 

DEFENCE

 

1. India to buy Six Tu-160 long-range bombers from Russia: India intends to purchase Tu-160 bomber from Russia, in order to boost its strategic force. America objected to its initial flight because of how hazardous this bomber is in nature. Tupolev Tu-160 bomber can reach a peak speed of 2220 kmph. The maximum weight that this aircraft can carry while flying is 110,000 kg. It has a 56-meter wingspan. As a result, the bomber may carry out an attack at a distance of thousands of kilometres from its base. Tu-160 Bomber:

a)      On December 16th, 1981, the Tu-160 bomber had its maiden flight. Currently being refurbished, the Russian army has 17 Tu-160 bomberstrategic bombers.

b)      Russia retired this aircraft from active duty in 1995. The justification offered at the time was that Russia could not afford the hefty operational costs of this aircraft.

c)       In 2015, however, the Tu-160 bomber was modernised and put back into duty due to the Russian strategic bomber fleet’s diminishing size.

d)      According to United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), the Russian manufacturer of the Tu-160 bomber, 80% of its systems have been modernised.

e)      The Tu-160 bomber is one of the biggest and most high-tech projects in the aviation sector, according to UAC General Director Yuri Slisar.

f)        The Tu-160M, which has since been renamed the Tu-160M, is the upgraded version of the Tu-160 bomber.

g)      In January 2018, President Vladimir Putin saw the official signing of the order for the construction of 10 new Tu-160M at the Kazan facility.

h)      Each new bomber at the time was estimated to cost $270 million per unit.

 

2. Indian Army Set to Possess Quantum Communication Technology: India is all set to join the elite global club, and the Indian Army will soon possess indigenous and more advanced quantum communication technology with equipped troops and a high-end secured defense system. With the support of Innovation for Defence Excellence (iDEX), Defence Innovation Organisation, the QNu Labs which is a Bengaluru-based deep tech startup has innovated advanced secured communication through Quantum Key Distribution (QKD). The Defence Ministry has initiated the procurement process of QNu Labs developed QKD systems by issuing a commercial Request for Proposal (REF) after the successful trials.

The leading countries in the QKD systems are China, the US, Canada, and other European countries. A QKD system allows the creation of a quantum secure secret pair of symmetric keys between two points that are separated by a certain distance in terrestrial optical fiber infrastructure. Indian Defence officials also considered this Innovation as a milestone in the Azadi ka Amrit Kaal. The Ministry of Defence explained that QKD helps to create a non-hackable quantum channel for creating un-hackable encryption keys, which are used to encrypt critical data.

Daily GK Update- 22nd Aug, 2022

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Rashtriya Puruskar Portal Launched by Union Government: Union Government has launched Rashtriya Puruskar Portal to bring together all the awards of the various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies of the Government of India. The Rashtriya Puruskar Portal will make sure that all the awards are under one platform to ensure transparency and public partnership or Jan Bhagidari. The portal allows every citizen and organization to nominate individuals and organizations for various categories of Awards instituted by the Government of India.

Rashtriya Puruskar Portal is the first of its kind in the history of India to provide information about all awards to the public on a single digital platform. The information includes criteria, selection procedure, and details of past awardees. The portal is very simple and user-friendly which enables all citizens of India and various organizations to interact with it and nominate individuals and organizations. The last date for nominations for the Padma Shri Award is 15th September 2022, for the National Award for Excellence in Forestry is 30th September 2022, and for the Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puruskar 2023, the last date is 31st August 2022.

 

2. Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma launched ‘Vidya Rath – School on Wheels’ project: Assam Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma has launched the ‘Vidya Rath -School on Wheels’ project. This project aims at providing economically challenged underprivileged children to access elementary education for a period of 10 months. The project was launched at a function held at the premises of Gauhati High Court in Assam. Vidya Rath-School project:

a)      The Vidya Rath-School on Wheels will reportedly provide access to elementary education to underprivileged children for 10 months. After 10 months, the children will be integrated into the conventional system of education.

b)      Children will be provided with uniforms and textbooks and free-mid day meals under the project. Students will be provided free mid-day meals, uniforms and textbooks under the project.

c)       The stakeholders involved in the project are the Government of Assam, Assam State Legal Services Authority, Guwahati High Court Legal Services Committee, District Legal Services Authority Kamrup (Metro), Assam State Transport Corporation, and Assam Sarba Siksha Mission, GMDA, and several NGOs.

Note: Assam Capital: Dispur; Assam Chief Minister: Himanta Biswa Sarma; Assam Governor: Prof Jagdish Mukhi.

 

3. Punjab & Haryana agree to be name Chandigarh airport after Bhagat Singh: The Punjab and Haryana governments have agreed to name the Chandigarh International Airport in Mohali after Shaheed Bhagat Singh. The decision was taken during a meeting between Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann & Haryana deputy CM Dushyant Chautala. The Punjab government has already declared a state holiday on March 23, the martyrdom day of legendary freedom fighter Bhagat Singh. The Rs 485-crore airport project is a joint venture of the Airports Authority of India (AAI), the governments of Punjab and Haryana. The Punjab government in 2017 had demanded that the airport should be named as “Shaheed-e-Azam Sardar Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport, Mohali”. In 2016, the Haryana Assembly unanimously passed a resolution to name Chandigarh airport after Bhagat Singh.

 

4. Super Vasuki: Indian Railways longest freight train: The Indian Railways conducted a test run of its latest train called Super Vasuki. The Super Vasuki is operated by the South East Central Railway (SECR) zone of the Indian Railways. The SECR ran the record long-haul freight trains Vasuki and Trishul last year and the 2.8 km long SheshNaag train before that. The Super Vasuki was set up by amalgamating five rakes of goods trains as one unit. Super Vasuki:

a)      The freight train is 3.5 km long.

b)      During the test run, the train had six locos, 295 wagons and of 25,962 tonnes gross weight, making it the longest and heaviest freight train ever run by the Railways.

c)       The train was formed by amalgamating five rakes of goods trains as one unit.

d)      The amount of coal carried by Super Vasuki is enough to fire 3000 MW of power plant for one full day, according to officials. This is three times the capacity of existing railway rakes (90 cars with 100 tonnes in each) which carries about 9,000 tonnes of coal in one journey.

e)      The train took 11.20 hours to cover a distance of 267 km.

 

5. Geothermal energy to be used to supply energy to Ladakh: At 14,000 feet in Ladakh, ONGC is getting ready to pump geothermal energy. State-run explorer ONGC has set out on a mission to harness the steam streaming from the earth’s core at Puga, a lonely valley off the road to Chumar on the de facto boundary with China, at a height of more than 14,000 feet. In India, geothermal energy is nothing new. The Indian government first provided a report on the nation’s geothermal hotspots in 1973. This occurred after shallow drilling exploration by the Geological Survey of India (GSI) revealed prospective hot spring and geothermal areas. According to estimates, India has the ability to produce 10 gigawatts of geothermal energy.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Internaut Day: 23rd August: Internaut Day is being celebrated around the world to mark the invention of the World Wide Web. An “internaut” is a person who possesses a thorough knowledge of how to use the Internet and its history. August 23 marks the day when the World Wide Web was opened to the public back in the year 1991 for the first time by WWW inventor Tim Berners Lee as he allowed its access, CERN announced that the internet would be free to everyone and there would be no fee for its use.

 

2. International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and Its Abolition: 23rd August: The International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition is an international day celebrated on August 23 of each year. The day was chosen by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to memorialize the transatlantic slave trade. The theme for this year is ‘Decolonisation.’ The fundamental right to self-determination is identified by the United Nations as core to decolonization, allowing not only independence, but also other ways of decolonization.

International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition History: On the night of 22 to 23 August 1791, in Saint Domingue, today the Republic of Haiti, saw the beginning of the uprising that would play a crucial role in the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade. It is against this background that the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition is commemorated on 23 August each year. It was first celebrated in a number of countries, in particular in Haiti (23 August 1998) and Gorée Island in Senegal (23 August 1999).

Note: UNESCO Founded: 16 November 1945; UNESCO Headquarters: Paris, France; UNESCO Members: 193 countries; UNESCO Head: Audrey Azoulay.

 

3. World Water Week: 23rd August to 1st September: World Water Week 2022 takes place from 23 August to 1 September. The World Water Week is an annual event organized by Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) since 1991 to address the global water issues and related concerns of international development. The theme of the 2022 World Water Week is: “Seeing the unseen: The value of water”, which helps us view water in new and fascinating ways.

World Water Week is a community of changemakers who collaborate on solutions to the world’s greatest water-related challenges. Here you can test your ideas, learn from peers in other countries, and share your knowledge. The Week is also a meeting place to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals and other international processes. This year’s World Water Week is an important milestone on the way the UN 2023 Water Conference.

Note: SIWI Executive Director: Torgny Holmgren; SIWI Headquarters: Stockholm, Sweden; SIWI Founded: 1991.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. FTX Crypto Cup: R Praggnanandhaa defeated world chess champion Magnus Carlsen: Indian chess master Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa has defeated world champion, Magnus Carlsen, in the FTX Crypto Cup in Miami, an international chess Championship. Praggnanandhaa’s winning run came to an end at the hands of China’s Quang Liem Le in the fifth round. He suffered his second loss after he went down to Poland’s Jan-Krzystof Duda via the tie-break in the sixth round.

Praggnanandhaa defeated Magnus Carlsen for the third time in a year. Praggnanandhaa earned his first victory against the world champion, when he was 16 in the eighth round of the Airthings Masters, an online rapid chess tournament last February. His second victory against Carlsen came on May 20, when he stunned the Norwegian champion at the Chessable Masters online rapid chess tournament.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Castler tie-up with Yes Bank for digital escrow services: Global escrow banking solution provider, Castler has partnered with Yes Bank to offer digital escrow services for the bank’s customers. The firm is a global digital escrow platform for individuals and enterprises, offering domestic and cross-border escrow solutions.

Through this partnership, both are in pole position to dominate the Enterprise Escrow Banking space and digitally democratise the product for easy adoption amongst its varied customer base. Escrow banking is generally quite complex and Castler with its unique digital offering has demonstrated that technology and innovation can provide solutions to even the most complex requirements.

Note: Yes Bank Founded: 2004; Yes Bank Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra; Yes Bank MD & CEO: Prashant Kumar; Yes Bank Tagline: Experience our Expertise.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. Indians Remitted $6 Billion Q1 Of FY23 Under LRS Scheme: Outward remittances under the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI’s) liberalised remittance scheme (LRS) made a strong comeback in the first quarter of FY23 as Indians increased spending on international travel, maintenance of close relatives, and gifts. The latest data for Q1-FY23 released by the RBI shows that remittance by Indians under the scheme jumped 64.75 per cent to over $6.04 billion from $3.67 billion in Q1FY22. The amount remitted in Q1FY23 is even higher than that in Q4FY22, where outward remittance under LRS was to the tune of $5.8 billion.

Sector-Wise Contributions: International travel contributed $2.92 billion of the $6.04 billion remitted under LRS in Q1FY23, thus constituting almost 48 per cent of the money remitted under the LRS scheme. In the same period a year ago, Indians spent $856.43 million on international travel as Covid-19 restrictions around the world slowed down international travel.

 

DEFENCE

 

1. Govt Grants Permission to Defence Forces to Buy Emergency Weapons through Make in India: Taking a major step towards strengthening the Indian defence forces, the Centre has allowed them to purchase critical weapon systems for their operational requirements through an emergency procurement route. The approval was given in a meeting of the Defence Ministry which was headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. It is pertinent to note that the defence forces have extensively used the emergency procurement powers in the past and further strengthened their preparedness through these acquisitions. Also, by utilising the power in different phases, they had equipped themselves with the necessary weaponry to handle any conflict or aggression by enemies on both sides.

Equipment purchased through emergency acquisition powers recently:

a)      The heavy-duty military equipment acquired by the forces in the past, the Indian Air Force, as well as the Indian Army, had used these powers to receive ‘Heron’ unmanned aerial vehicles and also small arms such as the Sig Sauer assault rifles. The aerial vehicles have now been deployed for surveillance in Ladakh as well as in the northeast for keeping an eye on Chinese activities.

b)      In addition to that, the forces have also got missiles that can hit ground targets from long ranges. The Rafale fighter jets have also received a boost with the induction of the HAMMER missiles which can hit hardened ground targets like bunkers from a long distance.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Veteran producer Abdul Gaffar Nadiadwala passes away: Veteran filmmaker, Abdul Gaffar Nadiadwala passed away at the age of 91. Abdul Gaffar Nadiadwala was known for backing over 50 Hindi films including 1965 film “Mahabharat” and hit comedies in the 2000s such as “Hera Pheri” and “Welcome”. He had started his film production and media entertainment company in 1953.

A.G Nadiadwala was a Popular Indian Film producer. He is one of the Most Popular Indian Film producers. He Praduaced Mnay Popular Indian Hindi Films. His Produced Popular Hindi Films are Mahabharat (1965), Jhutha Sach (1984), Lahoo Ke Do Rang (1997), Hera Pheri (2000), Welcome (2007) & More.