Daily GK Update- 19th Sep, 2022

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India becomes power surplus nation: The government has informed that India has turned into a power surplus nation with a total installed electricity capacity of over 4 lakh Mega Watt. India is the world’s third largest producer of renewable energy, with 40% of its installed electricity capacity coming from non-fossil fuel sources. Power Generation from Renewable Energy Sources has increased from 51 thousand 226 Gigawatt hours to one lakh 38 thousand 337 Gigawatt hours in 2020. The country’s vision is to achieve Net Zero Emissions by 2070, in addition to attaining the short-term targets including increasing renewables capacity to 500 Giga Watt by 2030 and meeting 50 percent of energy requirements from renewables.

 

2. World’s largest museum of Harappan culture is coming up in Rakhigarhi, Haryana: Harappan Culture in Haryana:  The world’s largest museum of Harappan culture is coming up in Rakhigarhi in Haryana to showcase about 5,000-year-old Indus Valley artefacts. The village of Rakhigarhi was part of the Indus Valley Civilisation from 2600-1900 BC. Haryana is slated to host the world’s largest museum dedicated to the Harappan civilization. Rakhigarhi is a hamlet in Haryana’s Hisar district, some 150 kilometres from Delhi. The settlement is also a well-known archaeological site from the time of the Indus Valley civilization.

 

3. India’s first plastic project listed by EKI Energy Services Ltd: EKI Energy Services, a developer and seller of Carbon credits, announced that it is the first company to list an Indian plastic project (India’s first plastic project) under a global accreditation standard. With this, the Indore-based carbon credit specialist, EKI Energy Services, who has worked in the field of climate action and offset solutions for the past 14 years across 16 countries, became the first company to ever list a plastic project from the nation with the goal of creating India’s first-ever international plastic credits. Key Points:

a)      The project by EKI Energy Services makes sure that plastic waste, primarily Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) waste, PET flakes, and chips, are properly sourced and recycled to create Recycled Polyester Staple Fibre (RPSF).

b)      Recycled Polyester Staple Fibre (RPSF) can then be used in the textile industry for clothing and other utility products made of fabric.

c)       It will motivate numerous additional projects around the nation to build up their recycling efforts in a planned manner for plastic credits financing that can enable and support greater climate action.

d)      All participants in the collecting and recycling process, from ragpickers to recycling facilities, will be empowered by such a value chain.

e)      The project has been accredited by Verra, a Washington-based organisation, under their Plastic Waste Reduction Standard.

 

4. Koo tie-up with IPPB to drive financial inclusion in remote cities: India Post Payments Bank (IPPB), a division of India Post, the country’s postal giant, has partnered with the Indian microblogging platform Koo. IPPB has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Koo to boost financial inclusion and literacy in the country. IPPB and Koo will work together to promote financial education in tier-2, tier-3, remote, and hinterlands. Koo is a multilingual platform that allows users to communicate in 10 languages – Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Punjabi, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Assamese, Bengali and English. About the partnership:

a)      The partnership between Koo and IPPB will allow the bank to reach out to their customers across the country, even in remote cities and hinterlands and use the multi-lingual Koo (MLK) feature offered to communicate in the language that the customer is comfortable in.

b)      India Post Payments Bank was set up in 2018 and uses a network of 1,55,000 post offices across the country to offer its services. Out of the 1,55,000 post offices, 1,35,000 are situated in rural areas.

c)       This is where Koo will be able to help IPPB to communicate with its customers in different languages. Koo’s grievance redressal system will also allow IPPB to manage customer relationships.

Note: India Post Payments Bank Founded: September 1, 2018, under the Department of Posts, Ministry of Communication; India Post Payments Bank Headquarters: New Delhi, Delhi; India Post Payments Bank MD & CEO: J Venkatramu; India Post Payments Bank Tag line: Aapka Bank, Aapke Dwaar.

 

5. Sanjay Kumar Rakesh, named managing director of CSC e-Governance SPV: Sanjay Kumar Rakesh, a former IAS officer, has been named managing director of the CSC e-Governance India SPV, which is run by the central government. The appointment follows Dinesh Tyagi’s resignation from the position, who was instrumental in increasing the number of CSCs from 60,000 in 2014 to over 5 lakh at the moment. Key Points:

a)      Meity Secretary Alkesh Kumar Sharma presided over the board meeting, which covered essential items like the hiring of a new managing director and directors as well as the adoption of the annual financial statement for the fiscal year 2021–2022.

b)      Net profit rose from Rs 125 crore in the fiscal year 2020–21 to Rs 141 crore in the fiscal year 2021–22.

c)       In comparison to the financial year 2020–21, CSC’s earnings climbed by more than 25% to Rs 1,804.92 crore in the year ending March 2022.

d)      CSC disclosed a 6% dividend for its stockholders. 5.33 lakh CSCs were in operation as of July 2022, with 74,500 of those being run by female rural entrepreneurs.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Sibi George appointed India’s next ambassador to Japan: Senior diplomat Sibi George has been appointed as the next Indian ambassador to Japan. George, a 1993-batch Indian Foreign Service officer, is currently the Ambassador of India to Kuwait. He will replace Sanjay Kumar Verma as India’s envoy to Japan. He previously served as Ambassador of India to Switzerland as well.

Note: Japan Capital: Tokyo; Currency: Yen; Prime Minister: Fumio Kishida

 

2. Kyrgyzstan Reports Heavy Fighting With Tajikistan: Kyrgyzstan reported “intense battles” with Central Asian neighbour Tajikistan and said 24 people had been killed in the latest outbreak of violence to hit the former Soviet Union. Both of the small impoverished landlocked nations have accused each other of restarting fighting in a disputed area, despite a ceasefire deal. In a statement, the Kyrgyz border service said its forces were continuing to repel Tajik attacks.

The issue: Kyrgyzstan reported fighting in its southern Batken province which borders Tajikistan’s northern Sughd region and features a Tajik exclave, Vorukh. The same area is famous for its jigsaw-puzzle political and ethnic geography and became the site of similar hostilities last year, also nearly leading to a war. Clashes over the poorly demarcated border are frequent, but usually de-escalate quickly.

 

3. International Week of Deaf People: 19th to 25th September: Every year, the full week ending on the last Sunday of September is observed as the International Week of the Deaf (IWD). In 2022, IWD is being observed from September 19 to 25 September 2022. The theme of the 2022 International Week of Deaf People is “Building Inclusive Communities for All”. It is an initiative of the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) and was first launched in 1958 in Rome, Italy to commemorate the month when the first World Congress of the WFD was held.

Daily themes:

Monday 19 September 2022: Sign Languages in Education

Tuesday 20 September 2022: Sustainable economic opportunities for deaf people

Wednesday 21 September 2022: Health for All

Thursday 22 September 2022: Safeguarding deaf people in times of crisis

Friday 23 September 2022: Sign Languages Unite Us!

Saturday 24 September 2022: Intersectional Deaf Communities

Sunday 25 September 2022: Deaf Leadership for Tomorrow

International Week of the Deaf History: On 19 December 2017, the UN General Assembly declared 23 September as the International Day of Sign Languages (IDSL). The resolution was proposed through the Permanent Mission of Antigua and Barbuda to the UN, following an original request by the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD). There were 97 UN Member States including Canada voted for the adoption of the resolution as co-sponsors. The choice of 23 September commemorates the date the WFD was established in 1951. The objective of the IDSL is to raise awareness on sign languages and strengthen their status of sign languages.

Note: World Federation of the Deaf Founded: 23 September 1951; World Federation of the Deaf Headquarters Location: Helsinki, Finland; World Federation of the Deaf President: Joseph Murray.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Vinesh Phogat wins bronze in World Wrestling Championships: Vinesh Phogat won bronze at the World Wrestling Championship 2022 in the women’s 53kg category.  In the bronze medal bout, Vinesh defeated European Champion Emma Malmgren of Sweden by 8-0. Vinesh Phogat became the first Indian woman wrestler to win two medals at the World Championship. She also became the first Indian woman to win a gold medal at both the Commonwealth and Asian Games. At Commonwealth Games 2022, she won the gold medal in the women’s 53 kg freestyle wrestling category.

 

2. Roger Federer announces retirement from Professional Tennis: One of the greatest sporting careers will come to a close when Roger Federer, 41, announces his retirement following the Laver Cup in London. Federer, a 20-time grand slam champion, declared on social media that his final week playing professionally will be the one in LAver Cup. The Laver Cup, a competition modelled after the Ryder Cup, was founded by Federer’s management company, Team8.

Roger Federer hasn’t played since the Wimbledon quarterfinal loss to Hubert Hurkacz, 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-0, where it was revealed he had reinjured the knee that had kept him off the tour for more than a year. Since January 2020, Federer has competed in five events and undergone three knee surgeries. He gave as his reason for retiring his late-career injury issues.

Roger Federer Career:

a)      For a significant amount of time, Roger Federer owned the male grand slam championship record, surpassing his idol Pete Sampras, whose total of 14 titles was once thought to be virtually indestructible.

b)      He also broke numerous records that serve as a testament to his excellence and consistency throughout his career, like making it to 36 straight quarterfinals and 23 consecutive grand slam semifinals.

c)       Roger Federer has won six ATP Finals, 28 ATP Masters titles, and 103 ATP singles championships. He had a singles record of 1251-275 (82%) in 1,526 ATP tour matches.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Axis Bank and Square Yards launched co-branded home buyer ecosystem: Axis Bank and Square Yards launched ‘Open Doors’, a co-branded Home Buyer Ecosystem. The ‘Open Doors’ platform will ensure that the complete journey from searching to buying one’s dream home becomes an efficient and delightful experience for the customers. Axis Bank and Square Yards have created a digital-first solution to simplify the customer journey. These digital platforms reflect the cultural alignment between the two organizations. Key Points:

a)      Open Doors is a first-of-its-kind unified platform, which is designed to address the entire gamut of customer queries.

b)      Customers, who are looking to purchase a house can now avail of end-to-end home buying assistance, exclusive builder inventory access, seamless home loan processing, and other ecosystem services.

c)       The ecosystem services include rental and property management, home furnishing, and legal and technical services.

d)      The real estate inventory displayed on the Open Doors platform will carry joint offers from both Square Yards and Axis Bank on home buying, home loans, interiors, property management, and other allied property services.

e)      The customers of Axis Bank and Square Yards can now also avail of an array of value-added financial benefits. The value-added financial benefits include customized loan amounts and flexible tenure, with the benefits of minimal documentation for a seamless home buying experience.

 

2. SBI hit market capitalization of Rs 5 trillion, share prices reach record high: State Bank of India, SBI, market capitalization of India’s largest state lender, surpassed $5 trillion for the first time after its shares reached a new high of Rs. 564.85 in intraday trade on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE). According to data from Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), State Bank of India (SBI) is ranked seventh overall among corporations with a market valuation of 5.03 trillion.

State Bank of India, SBI surpasses the market cap of Rs. 5 trillion, making it the third lender in the nation to do so. HDFC Bank, the biggest private lender in India, tops this list with a market cap of Rs 8.38 trillion, followed by ICICI Bank with a market cap of Rs 6.33 trillion.

Note: SBI Chairman: Dinesh Kumar Khara

HDFC Bank Chairman: Deepak Parekh; HDFC Bank CEO: Sashidhar Jagdishan

ICICI Bank Chairman: Girish Chandra Chaturvedi; ICICI Bank CEO: Sandeep Bakhshi

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. Google acquire cyber-security company Mandiant for $5.4 billion: Google for $5.4 billion acquired Cybersecurity Company Mandiant has been fully acquired according to Thomas Kurian, CEO of Google Cloud. Mandiant in order to assist organisations in managing threats, incidents, and exposures better will join Google Cloud. Mandiant is renowned for discovering the shocking SolarWinds hack.  Benefits of the Mandiant company acquisition:

a)      With this organizations will be able to continuously check assets for exposures by integrating Mandiant‘s attack surface management capabilities into Google Cloud’s portfolio.

b)      It allows intelligence and red teams to shift security programmes from reactive to proactive in order to understand what is exposed, misconfigured, and vulnerable.

c)       The partnership between Google Cloud and Mandiant and their dedication to multi-cloud will encourage more collaboration, spur innovation in the cybersecurity sector, and strengthen threat research capabilities.

Note: Google CEO: Sundar Pichai; Google Cloud CEO: Thomas Kurian

 

2. IBM and IIT Madras collaborate to promote quantum computing in India: Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IIT-Madras) and International Business Machines (IBM) have cooperated to improve quantum computing research and talent development in India. IIT Madras joins the IBM Quantum Network’s global membership of over 180 organisations through this agreement. IIT Madras also joins the global network of Fortune 500 corporations, start-ups, academic institutions, and research labs using IBM Quantum technology to enhance quantum computing and investigate business application cases as the “first Indian university.” Key Points:

a)      The partnership will open up new opportunities to collaborate with business partners to accelerate research, make quantum real in areas like supply chain improvements, logistics, and the modelling of financial data, among other things.

b)      Finance, energy, chemistry, materials science, optimization, machine learning, and even space exploration will all benefit from the combined study on quantum computing.

c)       The collaboration enables IIT Madras to access IBM’s cutting-edge quantum computing devices through the cloud.

d)      In order to develop and expand the quantum computing ecosystem in the nation, IIT Madras’ Centre for Quantum Information, Communication and Computing (CQuICC) will use IBM Quantum services along with the open-source Qiskit framework to investigate topics like quantum algorithms, quantum machine learning, quantum error correction, quantum tomography, and quantum chemistry.

Daily GK Update- 18th Sep, 2022

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India launches ‘Urban Wastewater Scenario in India’ at World Water Congress and Exhibition 2022: India has launched Joint Whitepaper on ‘Urban Wastewater Scenario in India’, with Denmark at World Water Congress and Exhibition 2022 in Copenhagen. The ‘Urban Wastewater Scenario in India’ was facilitated by Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat along with Danish Environment Minister Lea Wermelin and Development Co-operation Minister Flemming Moller Mortensen. Key Points:

a)      India has committed an investment of more than 140 billion dollars by 2024 in the water sector.

b)      The Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said that in the ‘Urban Wastewater Scenario in India’ with the help of a community-centric approach, at least 10 percent of the funds are contributed by the community in every program ensuring community ownership and participation.

c)       The Whitepaper aims to holistic capture of the current status of wastewater treatment in India. It aims to create potential pathways for future treatment structures, co-creation, and collaborations.

d)      The Whitepaper is a result of the Indo-Danish Bilateral Green Strategic Partnership, which focuses on green hydrogen, renewable energy, and wastewater management.

 

2. Indore to become the country’s first ‘Smart City’ with ‘Smart Addresses’: Indore will create history by implementing a fully digital addressing system, making it the first city in India to do so. The smart city advanced significantly when a memorandum of understanding was signed with the firm Pataa Navigations. The Memorandum of Understanding is signed by Rajat Jain, co-founder of Pataa Navigations, and Rishav Gupta (IAS), CEO of Indore Smart City. Key Points:

a)      This MoU states that the Pataa app will be used by all government agencies and emergency services, such as the police, fire department, and ambulance. For necessary services like E-KYC and banking geotagging, the Pataa app will be used. The Pataa app will be accessible to everyone at the business.

b)      To provide access to Digital Addressing Systems, Pataa Navigation will integrate with government platforms like those for the departments of electricity, agriculture, excise, women and child welfare, and education.

c)       Pataa will also geotag MP Tourism’s all tourist destinations and integrate them with websites. All significant public assets, including bus stops, light poles, public restrooms, and bus stops, should have digital address numbers pasted on them.

d)      The Pataa App, a free service, will help delivery providers find a specific geotagged location. The low fuel usage of Pataa will be a great help for e-commerce companies and their delivery partners as they complete the last leg of their journey.

 

3. MeitY Startup Hub and Meta Collaborate to speed up XR technology startups in India: In association with Meta, MeitY Startup Hub (MSH) will introduce a programme to help and accelerate XR technology entrepreneurs in India. The program’s announcement is scheduled for September 13, 2022. At the event will be Joel Kaplan, Vice President, Global Policy, Meta, and Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Hon’ble Minister of State for Electronics & Information Technology, Skill Development & Entrepreneurship. Key Points:

a)      The government’s initiatives to develop skills in cutting-edge and future technology include this collaboration.

b)      With a big talent pool of creators, developers, and a thriving technology environment, India is perfectly positioned to play a crucial role in the metaverse.

c)       An initiative of MeitY, the MeitY Startup Hub is a national platform dedicated to fostering technological innovation, start-ups, and the production of intellectual property.

d)      With a goal of expanding to more than 10 thousand businesses in the next three to five years, it now supports more than three thousand IT firms.

 

4. A new book “Rajini’s Mantras” authored by P.C. Balasubramanian released: The entrepreneur­cum­author, P.C. Balasubramanian (PC Bala) authored a new book “Rajini’s Mantras: Life lessons from India’s most­loved Superstar” in English. It was published by Jaico Publishing House (India). PC Bala’s 1st book was Rajini’s Punchtantra and Raja Krishnamoorthy, which became a national bestseller. Grand Brand Rajini and Ram N Ramakrishnan were published on December 2022.

The essence of the book: In Rajini’s Mantras, bestselling author P.C. Balasubramanian brings out the best life lessons from Rajinikanth’s iconic speeches, public interactions and performances right from his early days in the film industry. His spectacular success story, from a bus conductor to one of the most-loved superstars in Indian cinema, is as gripping as a megahit. Taking several incidents from Rajini’s life, Balasubramanian shows how an adaptable mindset, willingness to learn from experiences, persistence and making the right choices can help you stand out—just like the beloved idol.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Los Angeles named September 17 as ‘Squid Game’ Day: The City of Los Angeles has officially designated September 17 Squid Game Day, in recognition of the South Korean Netflix series’ achievements. “Squid Game” was nominated for 14 Emmy Awards in July and is the first non-English language series to earn a nomination for Outstanding Drama Series. It was also the first Korean and first non-English language series to win a Screen Actors Guild Award.

The resolution noted that Squid Game retains its place as the most-watched Netflix original to date, and that “it was the first ever Korean series on Netflix to reach number one in the US, breaking the barrier that many foreign languages shows a face with Western audiences simply because of subtitles”. It also noted that Squid Game successfully introduced diverse facets of Korean culture not just to audiences in the US but across the globe.

 

2. International Equal Pay Day: 18th September: International Equal Pay Day, celebrated on 18 September, represents the longstanding efforts towards the achievement of equal pay for work of equal value. The symbolic day aims at highlighting issues related to the gender pay gap and raising worldwide awareness. The main aim of the event is to end the history of gender discrimination that women are generally subjected to by getting paid less than their male counterparts.

International Equal Pay Day History: International Equal Pay Day was first observed back in 1996 by the National Committee on Pay Equity. It was a coalition of women’s and civil rights organisations that worked toward eliminating gender and race-based wage discrimination. The goal was to achieve pay equity. It was not until 2019 that the Equal Pay International Coalition began officially marking it as a day to raise awareness. In 2020, the move was recognised by the United Nations and they observed the first International Equal Pay on September 18, 2020.

 

3. World Bamboo Day: 18th September: World Bamboo Day 2022 is observed on September 18 in order to raise awareness about the conservation of this extremely useful plant. Conceptualised by the World Bamboo Organisation (WBO), this day also promotes the bamboo industry by highlighting its concerns. Bamboo wood has long been used for various purposes in countries around the globe, especially in the east and Southeast Asia. Bamboo grows on its and doesn’t require to be replanted, making it easily available.

World Bamboo Day History: WBD was officially declared by the World Bamboo Organization on September 18 at the 8th World Bamboo Congress held in Bangkok in 2009. The aim of the WBO is to bring the potential of bamboo to more elevated exposure, to promote new cultivation of bamboo for new industries in regions across the world, and also to promote traditional uses locally for community economic development, etc.

Note: World Bamboo Organization Headquarters: Antwerp, Belgium; World Bamboo Organization Founded: 2005; World Bamboo Organization Executive director: Susanne Lucas.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Robin Uthappa announced retirement from all forms of Indian cricket: Robin Uthappa has announced his retirement from all forms of Indian cricket. In last season’s IPL, Uthappa played 12 matches for Chennai Super Kings and scored 230 runs with his highest score being 88. He was part of the country’s 2004 Under-19 World Cup team. He made his India debut two years later and featured in 46 ODIs and 13 T20Is for India. He scored 934 and 249 runs in ODIs and T20Is. He has 9446 first class and 6534 List A runs under his belt. His last ODI appearance was back against Zimbabwe in 2015, where he scored a 44-ball 31.

 

2. Virat Kohli becomes first cricketer to have 50 million followers on Twitter: Virat Kohli has now become the first cricketer who have notched up 50 million followers on Twitter. Virat Kohli has popularity in all the platforms of social media which includes 211 million followers on Instagram and 49 million followers on Facebook as well. In early 2022, Kohli became the first-ever Indian to cross 200 million followers on Instagram as well. Kohli recently recorded his first international century in 1020 days, when he slammed a 61-ball 122 not out during India’s final Super 4 clash against Afghanistan in Dubai.

The 33-year-old is the most followed cricketer in the world and the third most followed sportsperson on Instagram after Cristiano Ronaldo (450M) and Lionel Messi (333M). Kohli also has over 49 million followers on Facebook, which takes his social media presence to over 310 million followers.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. HDFC Life Insurance Policy started Click2Protect for Super term insurance: HDFC Life Insurance Policy started Click2Protect: HDFC Life, one of the top life insurers in India, has introduced the Click2Protect Super term insurance plan, which allows customization based on your protection needs and only charges you for the benefits and plan options you select. Click2Protect is a non-linked, non-participating, individual, pure risk premium/savings life insurance plan. Key Points:

a)      Click2Protect Super gives you more freedom than ever before by allowing you to change your life insurance coverage, lengthen the duration of your policy, add coverage for accidental death and terminal illness, among other things.

b)      With Click2Protect the family is fully protected financially thanks to the plan. Life, Life Plus, and Life Goal are the three plan alternatives from which you can select a policy that best suits your needs.

c)       Click2Protect is a clever plan choice that includes a built-in benefit for terminal illness coverage and also gives you the opportunity to enhance the cover amount to safeguard your family’s financial security while you are away.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. Sachin Bansal helmed Navi Technologies approved by SEBI, for IPO: The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has given Sachin Bansal’s fintech business Navi Technologies the go-ahead for an Initial Public Offering (IPO), which will help the Flipkart co-founder in his efforts to build a financial services conglomerate. Key Points:

a)      Navi Technologies submitted draft papers to SEBI in March of this year in order to raise up to Rs 3,350 crore through a new share offering.

b)      Sachin Bansal, who has a 97.39 percent ownership in fintech, stated that there will not be an offer for sale (OFS) by shareholders in the IPO.

c)       According to the SEBI website, the fintech company received an observation letter in response to its filings on September 5.

d)      The DRHP states that in addition to general expansion objectives, the fintech company wants to invest the IPO revenues in Navi Finserv and Navi General Insurance companies.

 

2. Vedanta and Foxconn to Invest 1.54 Lakh Crore in Gujrat for Chip Manufacturing: The Anil Agarwal-led-Vedanta limited and Foxconn Group will invest more than Rs 1.54 lakh crore to set up an semiconductor ecosystem in Gujarat. The oil-to-metals conglomerate said Vedanta Displays Limited will set up a Display Fab Unit with an investment of Rs 94500 crore and Vedanta Semiconductors Limited will set up an integrated Semiconductor Fab Unit and OSAT (Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test) facility with investment of Rs 60000 crore.

Key Points:

a)      Vedanta and Foxconn Group entered into two Memorandums of Understanding [MoUs] with the Government of Gujarat on September 13, 2022. 

b)      The company said Vedanta and Taiwan-based Foxconn Group will work closely with the state government to establish high-tech clusters with requisite infrastructure, including land, semiconductor grade water, high quality power, logistics, and a skill ecosystem.

c)       The proposed semiconductor manufacturing fab unit will operate on the 28nm technology nodes with wafer size 300mm; and the display manufacturing unit will produce Generation 8 displays catering to small, medium and large applications.

 

3. Burjeel Holdings appoints SRK as brand ambassador: Burjeel Holdings, a private healthcare services provider in the MENA region has signed Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan as its new brand ambassador. The company is owned by UAE-based Indian entrepreneur Shamsheer Vayalil. The actor will appear in a multi-platform advertising campaign in the region for the group that will be unveiled in the coming weeks. This will be the actor’s first healthcare ambassador role. In the past, the actor has also tied up with Dubai’s tourism board to be one its brand ambassadors. But that partnership ended as of early 2022. He was also the first Indian celebrity to have received the UAE golden visa.

 

DEFENCE

 

1. Kibithu Military Garrison camp named after Bipin Rawat: The military camp at Kibithu Garrison, which is very close to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Arunachal Pradesh, has been renamed as ‘Gen Bipin Rawat military garrison’ in honour of the country’s first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) who was killed in a chopper crash last December. As a young Colonel, Rawat commanded his Battalion 5/11 Gorkha Rifles at Kibithu from 1999-2000 and contributed immensely to strengthening the security structure in the area. Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh Pema Khandu named the 22 km long road from Walong to Kibithu as ‘General Bipin Rawat Marg’. A life-size mural of General Rawat was also unveiled on the occasion.

 

2. JIMEX 2022: India-Japan joint naval drills in the Bay of Bengal begins: The sixth edition of Japan-India Maritime Exercise 2022 (JIMEX 22), hosted by the Indian Navy, began in the Bay of Bengal. The Japan Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) ships are being led by Rear Admiral Hirata Toshiyuki, Commander Escort Flotilla Four, and Indian naval ships by Rear Admiral Sanjay Bhalla, Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet.

The Indian Navy is represented by three indigenously designed and built warships, Sahyadri, a multi-purpose stealth frigate and Anti-Submarine Warfare Corvettes Kadmatt and Kavaratti. Additionally, Guided Missile Destroyer Ranvijay, Fleet Tanker Jyoti, Offshore Patrol Vessel Sukanya, submarines, MIG 29K fighter aircraft, Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft and ship-borne helicopters are also participating in the exercise. The Indian Naval ships welcomed JMSDF ships Izumo, a Helicopter Carrier, and Takanami, a Guided Missile Destroyer, on their arrival in the Bay of Bengal. Key points:

a)      JIMEX 22 involves two phases – exercises at sea and a harbour phase at Visakhapatnam.

b)      This edition marks the 10th anniversary of JIMEX, which began in Japan in 2012. It also coincides with the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Japan.

c)       JIMEX 22 seeks to consolidate the high degree of interoperability that exists between maritime forces of the two countries, through complex exercises in the surface, sub-surface and air domains.

d)      The exercises were aimed at enhancing interoperability and streamlining seamanship and communication procedures.

 

3. National Defense MSME Conclave and Exhibition held in Kota, Rajasthan: The two-day National Defense MSME Conclave and Exhibition was held in Kota, Rajasthan. In the exhibition, defence gear including T-90 and BMP-2 tanks, artillery cannons, numerous sniper and machine gun types, and military bridges are displayed.

Start-ups and MSMEs are showcasing their products, as are young people innovating in the defence sector. The event feature participation from more than 50 defense-related businesses, startups, and MSMEs. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Minister of State for Defense Ajay Bhatt formally launched the summit. The highlight of the programme was Live Concert and Drone Light Show.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Former Pakistan umpire Asad Rauf passes away: Former Pakistan umpire Asad Rauf has passed away due to suspected cardiac arrest. He breathed his last at the age of 66. He was one of the legendary umpires Pakistan ever produced, along with the likes of Aleem Dar. Back in 2006, Rauf was included in the ICC’s Elite Panel of Umpires, after which he officiated in 47 Tests, 98 ODIs and 23 T20Is. He served at the top for seven years before being dropped from the elite panel of umpires in 2013 following an annual review of performance.

Daily GK Update- 17th Sep, 2022

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. President Droupadi Murmu nominated Gulam Ali from J&K to Rajya Sabha: Gulam Ali, a Gurjar Muslim from Jammu and Kashmir, has been nominated to Rajya Sabha by President Droupadi Murmu on the recommendation of the Central government. In the notification, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), “In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-clause (a) of clause (I) of article 80 of the Constitution of India, read with clause (3) of that article, the President is pleased to nominate Shri Gulam Ali to the Council of States to fill the vacancy caused due to the retirement of one of the nominated members.”

This is for the first time a Gurjar Muslim from the region has been sent to the Rajya Sabha as a nominated member. This is a significant step assuming that prior to abrogation of Article 370, the community was literally not recognised and all social benefits to them were denied.

 

2. Uttar Pradesh tops in India, 8462 lakes developed under Mission Amrit Sarovar: Uttar Pradesh becomes the first state in India to construct 8,642 Amrit Sarovar (Lakes) in India. Amrit Sarovar is an ambitious mission initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which aims to conserve water for the future. Madhya Pradesh is in the second position, Jammu and Kashmir in third, Rajasthan in fourth, and Tamil Nadu ranked in the fifth position.

Lakhimpur Kheri, Uttar Pradesh, secured the first position within the state by constructing 256 Amrit Sarovar. Gorakhpur secured the second position by constructing 245 lakes, and Pratapgarh secured the third position by constructing 231 lakes. Key Points:

a)      15,497 Amrit Sarovar was identified in different villages panchayats of which 8,462 Amrit Sarovar have been already developed.

b)      These Amirt Sarovars are twice the total number of Amrit Sarovar collectively developed in Madhya Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu.

c)       Uttar Pradesh is the only state in the country that has developed Amrit Sarovar in huge numbers.

d)      Further, 1.20 lakh Amrit Sarovar will be developed in the state, which is the maximum in the country.

 

3. Railway Invited Private Players to Build Wheel Plant: Indian Railways floated tenders for the first time to invite private players to build a wheel plant. The manufacturing and transport of wheels for the rakes were halted due to the Russia-Ukraine war. This initiative by the Indian Railways will make India self-reliant as well as draws a blueprint to become an exporter of wheels. The plant aims to manufacture at least 80,000 wheels every year for the Super-Fast Vande Bharat Express Trains in India. Key Points:

a)      The plant aims to enable the production of 80000 wheels a year.

b)      The Steel Authority of India (SAIL) is supplying one lakh wheels and the rest of the wheels will be produced by the new plant.

c)       On 15th August 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the vision of having 75 ‘Vande Bharat’ trains that will connect different parts of the country in 75 weeks to mark the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.

d)      Till now, there are three Vande Bharat Trains in India, two are on track and the third one has recently completed trail runs.

e)      Ukraine was one of the largest producers of wheels in the world, and due to the Russian-Ukraine wars, the production of wheels was stopped.

f)        The government will award the tender once the basic ability of the company to export wheels is determined.

 

4. Railroads to launch new version of the Vande Bharat 2 high-speed train: The Indian Railways will launch the new Vande Bharat Express, a high-speed train in its ongoing effort to provide passengers with the best amenities. According to the ministry, Vande Bharat 2 will have further improvements and developments, including a faster 0 to 100 Kmph time of just 52 seconds, a top speed of 180 Kmph, a lighter weight of 392 tonnes, and WI-FI content that is available when needed. Key Points:

a)      Additionally, the new Vande Bharat will sport 32-inch LCD TVs, up from the previous model’s 24 inch size.

b)      Travel will be more comfortable thanks to 15% more energy-efficient air conditioners and traction motor cooling by clean, dust-free air.

c)       According to the Ministry of Railways, a photo-catalytic ultra violet air purification technology is installed in the roof-mounted Roof Mounted Package Unit (RMPU) for air purification in the new Vande Bharat Express.

d)      All passenger classes will now have access to the side recliner seat feature that is currently only offered to Executive Class guests.

e)      This system is built and placed in both ends of the RMPU per the advice of Central Scientific Instruments Organisation (CSIO), Chandigarh, to filter and clean the air free from pathogens, bacteria, viruses, etc. coming through fresh air and return air.

 

5. Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi to be next Attorney General for India: Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi is set to be appointed the 14th Attorney General for India again after KK Venugopal vacates the post. This will be Rohatgi’s second time as AG, after his first stint between June 2014 and June 2017. At the end of June this year, AG Venugopal’s tenure was extended for a period of three months or “until further orders”. This extension is set to expire on September 30. Rohtagi will take the seat of the country’s top law officer from 1st October.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Norwegian central bank develops National digital currency using Ethereum: Norges Bank, Norway’s central bank, made a significant advancement in its efforts to develop a digital currency by publishing the open source code for the nation’s central bank digital currency (CBDC) sandbox based on Ethereum technology. This development was made possible by the ongoing mainstream adoption of cryptographic technology. Key Points:

a)      CBDCs are a type of electronic fiat money backed by the central bank. Although they are not required to be, CBDCs can be built on blockchain networks. However, the CBDC in Norway is built on Ethereum.

b)      The sandbox is made to provide a way to communicate with the test network.

c)       The Bank’s official CBDC partner, Nahmii, stated in a blog post that it has also enabled features including minting, burning, and transferring ERC-20 tokens.

d)      The Ethereum wallet Metamask is not supported by the open source code as of right now.

e)      The sandbox has a unique interface and network monitoring programmes like BlockScout and Grafana.

 

2. World Patient Safety Day: 17th September: World Patient Safety Day is observed every year on 17 September to create awareness about different safety measures that should be taken to ensure patient safety. The day focuses on preventing and reducing risks, errors, and harm that patients face. The main objective of World Patient Safety Day is to increase public awareness, enhance global understanding and call for solidarity and united action by all countries and international partners to increase patient safety and reduce patient harm. This year, the theme of World Patient Safety Day 2022 is ‘Medication Safety’ along with the slogan ‘Medication Without Harm’ with a call to action to ‘Know, Check & Ask’.

World Patient Safety Day History: September 17 is one of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) global public health days called World Patient Safety Day. It was established in 2019 by the 72nd World Health Assembly through the adoption of resolution WHA 72.6 – ‘Global Action on Patient Safety ‘.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Alireza Firouzja wins Sinquefield Cup & the Grand Chess Tour: Iranian-French chess grandmaster, Alireza Firouzja beat Ian Nepomniachtchi in play-offs to win the ninth edition of the Sinquefield Cup. Firouzja also grabbed an extra $100,000 for winning this year’s Grand Chess Tour. Wesley So and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave came in second and third place, respectively. The fifth leg of the Grand Chess Tour, the Sinquefield Cup was held in Saint Louis, Missouri, US. The Sinquefield Cup is an annual, invite-only chess tournament in St. Louis, Missouri, United States, honouring Rex Sinquefield and his wife Jeanne, the founders of the Saint Louis Chess Club. Since 2015, the Sinquefield Cup has been a part of the Grand Chess Tour.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Bonds help the Bank of Maharashtra raise $710 million: The government-owned Bank of Maharashtra (BoM) reported raising Rs 710 crore through bonds to finance company expansion. According to a statement from the bank, the money was raised through Basel III compliant Additional Tier 1 (AT1) bonds for Rs 710 crore (including Rs 610 crore for the green shoe option) at a coupon rate of 8.74 percent.

When compared to the base issue size of Rs 100 crore, the issue received a ten-fold increase in subscription from investors. The bank’s business growth will be supported by the money raised through the AT1 bonds. The AT1 instrument has a five-year call option and is eternal in nature.

Note: Chairman and Managing Director, Bank of Maharashtra: Shri. S. Muhnot

 

2. American Express Banking Corp India named Sanjay Khanna as new CEO: American Express Banking Corp India has appointed Sanjay Khanna as its chief executive officer (CEO) and country manager. At present, Khanna heads the country executive team and is responsible for driving growth across the organisation’s consumer and commercial businesses. In his new role, Khanna will be leading several business development initiatives for American Express, while steering collaboration across its diverse businesses in India, adding his position will be key to strengthening the company’s strategic focus in the country.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. Per Capita Government Spending on Healthcare Increases by 74% since 2013-14: The per capita government spending on healthcare has increased by 74 per cent since 2013-14. As per National Health Accounts Estimates India 2018-19, the per capita government spending in 2013-14 was one thousand forty-two rupees, which has increased to one thousand eight hundred and fifteen rupees. It said, government’s share in the overall spending on health in the country is increasing steadily. The government’s share in current health expenditure has increased from 23.2 per cent in 2013-14 to 34.5 per cent in 2018-19.

 

2. RBI Sells $13 billion in August to Hold Rupee at 80: India’s foreign exchange reserves slumped by over $2 billion in the week ending August 12, as the Reserve Bank of India intervened to shore up the rupee and keep the currency below 80 per dollar. That is an effort the Indian central bank has said was essential, and it would do whatever it takes to maintain the rupee’s stability, limiting any wild swings despite extremely volatile currency markets. The RBI’s weekly statistical supplement data showed that the country’s forex reserves slumped to $570.74 billion in the week ending August 12, down by $2.238 billion from $572.978 billion in the previous week. The magnitude of that fall in the latest week was the largest in a month, and the country’s import cover dipped for the second week.

 

3. Retail Inflation resurges to 7% As Food Prices Increases: Price pressures returned to the Indian economy in August, with retail inflation quickening to 7% after cooling to a five-month low in July. The increase, led by food prices, makes it the eighth month that retail inflation has stayed above the central bank’s upper tolerance limit of 6%, strengthening the case for continued monetary tightening.

Inflation so For: Retail inflation in July had cooled to 6.7%, and a poll of 22 economists estimated August inflation at 6.9%. The Reserve Bank of India has projected Consumer Price Index (CPI) based inflation for 2022-23 at 6.7%. Inflation is expected to remain elevated over the next couple of months due to last year’s low base, even as easing energy and commodity prices globally would help cool inflationary pressures. RBI’s monetary policy committee (MPC) raised the repo rate by 50 basis points for the third time in a row in August, taking the policy rate to pre-pandemic levels of 5.4%. The MPC meets again from 28 to 30 September.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. 74th Primetime Emmy Awards 2022: The 74th Primetime Emmy Awards were held, to mark some remarkable American television performances until mid-2022. Overall, there are 40-plus categories, where writers, actors, directors and editors were awarded for their remarkable work from June 1, 2021 to May 31, 2022. The 74th annual Emmy Awards hosted by Kenan Thompson at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.

74th Emmy Awards 2022: List of winners

Outstanding lead actress in a comedy series: Jean Smart- Hacks

Outstanding lead actor in a comedy series: Jason Sudeikis- Ted Lasso

Outstanding comedy series: Ted Lasso

Outstanding lead actor in a limited or anthology series or a movie: Michael Keaton- Dopesick

Outstanding lead actress in a limited or anthology series or a movie: Amanda Seyfried- The Dropout

Outstanding limited or anthology series: The White Lotus

Outstanding lead actress in a drama series: Zendaya- Euphoria

Outstanding lead actor in a drama series: Lee Jung-jae- Squid Game

Outstanding drama series: Succession

Supporting actor in a comedy series: Brett Goldstein- Ted Lasso

Supporting actress in a comedy series: Sheryl Lee Ralph- Abbott Elementary

Guest actor in a drama series: Colman Domingo- Euphoria

Guest actress in a drama series: Lee You-mi- Squid Game

Supporting actor in a drama series: Matthew Macfadyen- Succession

Supporting actress in a drama series: Julia Garner- Ozark

Supporting actor in a limited series or TV movie: Murray Bartlett- The White Lotus

Supporting actress in a limited series or TV movie: Jennifer Coolidge- The White Lotus

Television movie: Chip ‘n’ Dale: Rescue Rangers

Guest actor in a comedy series: Nathan Lane- Only Murders in the Building

Guest actress in a comedy series: Laurie Metcalf- Hacks

Outstanding competition program: Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls

Structured reality program: Queer Eye

Unstructured reality program: Love on the Spectrum

Host for a reality or competition program: RuPaul- RuPaul’s Drag Race

Short form comedy, drama or variety series: Carpool Karaoke: The Series

Short form nonfiction or reality series: Full Frontal With Samantha Bee Presents: Once Upon A Time In Late Night

Documentary or nonfiction special: George Carlin’s American Dream

Documentary or nonfiction series: The Beatles: Get Back

Actor in a short form comedy or drama series: Tim Robinson- I Think You Should Leave With Tim Robinson

Actress in a short form comedy or drama series: Patricia Clarkson- State of the Union

Outstanding directing for a comedy series: Ted Lasso- MJ Delaney

Outstanding directing for a drama series: Squid Game- Hwang Dong-hyuk

Outstanding directing for a limited or anthology series or movie: The White Lotus- Mike White

Outstanding directing for a variety series: A Black Lady Sketch Show- Bridget Stokes

Outstanding directing for a variety of special: Adele: One Night Only- Paul Dugdale

Outstanding Directing for a documentary/nonfiction program: The Beatles: Get Back- Peter Jackson

Outstanding Directing for a reality program: Lizzo’s Watch Out For The Big Grrrls- Nneka Onuorah