Daily GK Update- 2nd Oct, 2022

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. PM Modi inaugurated Rs 29,000-cr projects during PM’s Gujarat tour: During his two-day visit to Gujarat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated a number of infrastructure and development projects totaling more than Rs 29,000 crore. The first CNG (compressed natural gas) terminal in the world, together with phase 1 of the Ahmedabad Metro and phase 1 of the Diamond Research and Mercantile (DREAM) City in Surat are inaugurated, according to a statement released by the Gujarati government. 

PM Modi Scheduled Inaugurations on Gujarat Tour

a)      The PM opend the 36th National Games, which are being staged for the first time in Gujarat, and flag off the Gandhinagar-Mumbai Central Vande Bharat Express train while on the journey.

b)      Following the unveiling of projects totaling Rs 3,400 crore, including the first phase of DREAM City, Modi addressed a crowd in Surat’s Limbayat neighbourhood on September 29.

c)       After Surat, the PM traveld to Bhavnagar to officially kick off projects totaling about Rs 6,000 crore, which includes laying the cornerstone for the first CNG terminal in the world and a brownfield port.

d)      In addition, at a grand event in the Narendra Modi stadium in Ahmedabad’s Motera neighbourhood, PM Modi formally declared the 36th National Games open.

Note: Gujarat Chief Minister: Bhupendrabhai Patel; Gujarat Capital: Gandhinagar; Gujarat Governor: Acharya Devvrat

 

2. Uttar Pradesh govt gives nod to Bundelkhand’s first tiger reserve: The Uttar Pradesh cabinet has gave a green signal for the development of the first tiger reserve in the Bundelkhand region. The tiger reserve will span across 52,989.863 hectares of land including 29,958.863 hectares of buffer area and 23,031.00 hectares of the core area which was already notified as Ranipur wildlife sanctuary in the Chitrakoot district of the state.

The Ranipur Tiger Reserve area covered by northern tropical dry deciduous forests is home to tiger, leopard, bear, spotted deer, sambhar, chinkara, reptiles and other mammals. The establishment of Ranipur Tiger Reserve will prove to be a turning point for the conservation of wildlife in Bundelkhand along with the opening of the eco-tourism potential of the area creating immense employment opportunities benefiting the local population.

Note: Uttar Pradesh Capital: Lucknow; Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister: Yogi Adityanath; Uttar Pradesh Governor: Anandiben Patel.

 

3. MoHUA launched Swachh Toycathon: The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) launched Swachh Toycathon under the Swachh Amrit Mahotsav. The competition aims to explore solutions for use of waste in the creation or manufacturing of toys. Secretary, MoHUA, Manoj Joshi, launched the event on MyGov portal and released the toolkit.

About Swachh Toycathon: The Swachh Toycathon is a national competition for individuals and groups. It is based on three broad themes: (i) fun and learn that seeks ideas for design and early prototype of toys from waste at home, workplace and surroundings, (ii) use and enjoy that seeks ideas for design and models of games and play in the park/open spaces made from waste and (iii) new and old that seeks ideas/solutions/working models for circularity in toy industry.

 

4. Uttar Pradesh wins Ayushmann Utkrishta award 2022: Ayushmann Utkrishta Award 2022 has been given to Uttar Pradesh for adding several healthcare facilities to the health facility register. With 28728 new healthcare facilities added to the National Health Facility Register, Uttar Pradesh is the best performing state in the nation. With over 2 crore ABHA Accounts, the state is also the second best State for creating Ayushmann Bharat health accounts (ABHA). These are the state’s initial few landmarks. Other States Ranking:

a)      Karnataka was ranked second with 23,838 healthcare facilities.

b)      Andhra Pradesh has 13,335 healthcare facilities, Maharashtra has 12,902 healthcare facilities, Bihar (12,453 healthcare facilities), Madhya Pradesh (12,268 healthcare facilities), West Bengal (11,607 healthcare facilities), Chhattisgarh (9,349 healthcare facilities), Telangana (7,988 healthcare facilities), and Gujarat (7,791 healthcare facilities).

Note: Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh: Yogi Adityanath; Capital of Uttar Pradesh: Lucknow

 

5. Senior Advocate R Venkataramani named as new Attorney General of India: Senior advocate R Venkataramani has been appointed as the new Attorney General of India. The President has appointed Mr Venkataramani as the new Attorney General for a period of three years from the 1st of October. The notification regarding Mr Venkataramani’s appointment as the Attorney General was issued today by the Department of Legal Affairs, Union Ministry of Law and Justice. Mr Venkataramani will replace current Attorney General KK Venugopal whose term ends on September 30, 2022. Mr Venugopal is currently on his third extension.

 

6. India celebrates 118th birth anniversary of Lal Bahadur Shastri: India celebrates the 118th birth anniversary of Lal Bahadur Shastri, the nation’s second Prime Minister. Shastri, who succeeded Jawaharlal Nehru, was respected for his forthrightness and honesty, and after his passing, he was awarded the Bharat Ratna, making him the first posthumous laureate of this prestigious award. Shastri has the same birthday (2 October) as Mahatma Gandhi even though he was born in 1904, 35 years later. He is also remembered for composing the slogan of “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan”.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman appointed as prime minister: Saudi Arabia’s powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has been appointed as the prime minister by a royal decree. The crown prince, who is heir to the throne held by King Salman, already wields wide powers and is seen as the kingdom’s day-to-day leader. The royal decree appointing him as prime minister was carried by the Saudi Press Agency.

The reshuffle kept another son, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, as energy minister, the king said in the royal decree. The crown prince, known as MbS, is promoted from defence minister and has been the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia, the world’s biggest oil exporter and a major U.S. ally in the Middle East. Key Points:

a)      The kingdom has increased its self-sufficiency in military industries to 15% from 2% and plans to reach 50% under the newly appointed defence minister, SPA reported.

b)      The 37-year-old crown prince, widely known by the acronym MBS, has taken the lead on Vision 2030, the kingdom’s wide-ranging plan to transform its economy and end its dependency on oil.

c)       Crown Prince Mohammed has changed Saudi Arabia radically since rising to power in 2017, leading efforts to diversify the economy from its dependence on oil.

d)      He is associated with the October 2018 killing of Saudi journalist and critic Jamal Khashoggi, who disappeared after entering the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul. U.S. intelligence found that the crown prince likely approved the killing.

Note: Saudi Arabia Capital: Riyadh; Saudi Arabia Currency: Saudi Riyal.

 

2. Vladimir Putin grants Russian citizenship to Edward Snowden: President Vladimir Putin has granted Russian citizenship to former U.S. intelligence contractor Edward Snowden, nine years after he exposed the scale of secret surveillance operations by the National Security Agency (NSA). U.S. authorities have for years wanted him returned to the United States to face a criminal trial on espionage charges. Key Points:

a)      Snowden, a former employee of the U.S. National Security Agency, has been living in Russia since 2013 to escape prosecution in the US after leaking classified documents detailing government surveillance programs.

b)      He was granted permanent Russian residency in 2020 and said at the time that he planned to apply for Russian citizenship without renouncing his U.S. citizenship.

c)       Snowden’s lawyer, Anatoly Kucherena, told Russia’s state news agency RIA Novosti that the former contractor’s wife Lindsay Mills, an American who has been living with him in Russia, will also be applying for a Russian passport. The couple had a child in December 2020.

Note: Russia Capital: Moscow; Russia Currency: Rubel; Russia President: Vladimir Putin.

 

3. International Day of Non-Violence: 2nd October: The International Day of Non-Violence is observed on 2nd October, the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, leader of the Indian independence movement and pioneer of the philosophy and strategy of non-violence. The day is observed to spread the message of non-violence through public awareness and education. It is commemorated with the hope of building a culture of peace, tolerance, understanding and non-violence. “Say No to Violence” is the essence of this day. This year, Gandhi Jayanti will mark the 153rd birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

International Day of Non-Violence History: In January 2004, Iranian Noble Laureate Shirin Ebadi proposed the idea for the special day. Her idea was amenable to many Indian National Congress leaders, who later called upon the United Nations to adopt the plan in 2007. Congress leader and then Minister of State for External Affairs, Anand Sharma, went ahead and introduced the resolution in the General Assembly on behalf of 140 co-sponsors. The leader of the Indian Independence Movement, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, served as an inspiration for social change and civil rights across the world. On June 15th, 2007, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution to designate October 2 as International Day of Non-Violence.

 

4. World Day for Farmed Animals: 2nd October: Since 1983, the annual observance of World Day for Farmed Animals (WDFA) on October 2nd (Gandhi’s birthday) has been offering people of conscience an opportunity to memorialize and mourn these innocent lives. The day is organised by the International animal welfare organization, World Animal Protection along with Asia for Animals coalition to show the importance and urgency of farm animal welfare. The day is dedicated to exposing the needless suffering and death of farmed animals who are raised and slaughtered for food.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. UCO & Yes Bank tie up with Russian banks for payments: UCO Bank and Yes Bank have put in place arrangements with two Russian banks as India seeks to step up trade with the sanctioned nation. Nearly a month after it was reported that more than 15 Russian banks were in advanced talks with Indian lenders to facilitate bilateral business in their respective local currencies, two of India’s banks have taken a step towards the same.

UCO & Yes Bank Tie Up With Russian Banks To Boost Trade:

a)      UCO Bank has partnered with Gazprom Bank, while Yes Bank has also formed an arrangement with Russia’s Petersburg Social Commercial Bank (PSCB).

b)      Its sources have told more things, in which information has been given about the country’s largest state-owned bank State Bank of India, i.e SBI, also finding payment options with Russian banks.

c)       The deal between UCO Bank and Gazprom Bank comes as the Reserve Bank of India implements a system to facilitate international payments through special Vostro accounts. In the absence of such standard procedures, overseas payments were made in Euros or other foreign currencies. These primarily occur through Gulf nations, whose exports from India have been harmed.

Note: Yes Bank CEO: Prashant Kumar (6 Mar 2020–); Yes Bank Headquarters: Mumbai; Yes Bank Founded: 2004.

Headquarters of UCO Bank: Kolkata, West Bengal; MD & CEO of UCO Bank: Atul Kumar Goel.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. ADB to devote $14 billion to Help Ease Food Crisis in Asia-Pacific: The Asian Development Bank said, it will devote at least $14 billion through 2025 to help ease a worsening food crisis in Asia-Pacific. The development lender said it plans a comprehensive program of support to help the 1.1 billion people in the region who lack healthy diets due to poverty and soaring food prices. The Manila, Philippines-based ADB made the announcement during its annual meeting. The ADB said the funds will go to both existing and new projects spanning farming, food production and distribution, water resources management and social supports. In short-term, support will be targeted at and designed to help the most vulnerable, particularly women.

In opening the ADB meeting, Asakawa noted that the economic outlook has worsened with the Russian invasion of Ukraine, soaring prices for many commodities and a harsher economic environment thanks to rising interest rates and weakening currencies for many developing economies. In a recent update, the bank downgraded its forecast for growth in the region to 4.3% from an earlier estimate of 5.2%. Next year’s outlook is for 4.9% annual growth.

 

2. World Bank and SIDBI to launch fund against loan default to lenders financing purchase of electric 2 & 3 Wheelers: A $1 billion fund may soon be launched by the government in collaboration with the World Bank, and the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI). The fund will be used to provide guarantees against defaults on loans taken to buy electric two or three-wheelers. The NITI Aayog will be the facilitating agency of the project. It will aim to facilitate faster and easier financing of EVs.

Initially a $300 million fund will be put in place as a “first loss risk sharing instrument.” The funds will be available to all financial institutions. “The instrument would act as a hedging mechanism, for banks to access in case of defaults of loans on purchase of electric vehicles. This is expected to bring down the cost of financing EVs by 10-12 per cent”.

Banks have continued to stay cautious on financing EVs after losing money on e-rickshaws and other EVs powered by lead-acid batteries. Even as banks have maintained their distance from financing such vehicles, several NBFCs have come forward to take the role. In the fiscal year of FY23, EV sales in India are expected to cross a million units, an 84 per cent rise year-on-year.

 

3. Hitachi Astemo planted its first solar power plant in India: Hitachi Astemo installed its India’s first ground-mounted solar power plant of 3 megawatts (MW) at its Jalgaon manufacturing plant. The 3 megawatts (MW) solar power plant will be built in an area of 43301 sqm. The ground-mounted solar power plant will consist of 7128 ground-mounted solar panels and 10 inverters. This solar power plant will embark on its new journey in the field of sustainable energy in India. Key Points:

a)      Hitachi is working to reduce its carbon emissions and become carbon neutral by 2050. With this plant, the company would be able to eliminate close to 4000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year. This will be equal to planting around 1,50,000 trees.

b)      The installation of the 3-megawatt solar power plant is just the beginning of the company’s plan in which it will commission an additional 1.5-megawatt solar power plant by March 2023.

c)       At its Jalgaon plant, the company produces brake systems for 3-wheeler and 4-wheelers. They include manufacturing disc brakes and drum brakes. Along with this, the plant is also indulged in foundry operations.

d)      One of the subsidiaries of the Japanese firm Hitachi, Hitachi Astemo was established in 2021. The company is constantly working to provide efficient modifications in the automobile industry.

e)      Recently, Hitachi Astemo along with Hitachi had developed thin-type inverter technology for EVs. The technology makes the machine more compact as well as energy efficient.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Kumar Sanu, Shailendra Singh, Anand-Milind gets Lata Mangeshkar Award (2019-2021): Noted playback singers Kumar Sanu and Shailendra Singh and music-composer duo Anand-Milind were conferred with the National Lata Mangeshkar Award for different years. They are presented with the prestigious award (on September 28), the birth anniversary of the late legendary singer, at her birthplace Indore. State Culture Minister Usha Thakur conferred Shailendra Singh, Anand-Milind, and Kumar Sanu with the award for the years 2019, 2020 and 2021 respectively.

Singh, who carved a special place in the hearts of music lovers with his distinctive voice in the 1970-1980 decades, will be awarded the Lata Mangeshkar Award for 2019, while Anand-Milind, who composed music for over 200 films, will be honoured with the award Honors for 2020. The award for 2021 will be given to Sanu, who gave his velvety voice to several popular songs in the 1990s.

About the National Lata Mangeshkar Award: The award is given for promoting excellence in the area of light music annually by the Madhya Pradesh government’s culture department. It carries a cash prize of Rs two lakh and a citation. Earlier recipients included Naushad, Kishore Kumar and Asha Bhosle.

Daily GK Update- 1st Oct, 2022

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Ministry of Home Affairs bans PFI and its associates for five years: The Popular Front of India (PFI) and its affiliates were banned by the Centre for a period of five years, days after law enforcement agents tried in a campaign to suppress the activities of the group. The Ministry of Home Affairs used the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act to enact the ban, claiming that the Popular Front of India (PFI) and its affiliates pose a “major threat to internal security of the country” and are connected to terrorist organisations like the ISIS. Before banning, Agencies raided the PFI offices and found unaccounted cash and other objectionable documents.

Key Points:

a)      Centre also mentioned, they also promote “anti-national sentiments… radicalise a particular section of society with the intention of creating disaffection.”

b)      The MHA designated the Popular Front of India (PFI) as a “unlawful association” along with “its associates or affiliates or fronts including Rehab India Foundation (RIF), Campus Front of India (CFI), All India Imams Council (AIIC), National Confederation of Human Rights Organization (NCHRO), National Women’s Front, Junior Front, Empower India Foundation, and Rehab Foundation, Kerala,” claiming that it was “necessary to curb the nefarious activities” of the organisation.

c)       The SDPI, the PFI’s political wing, was excluded from the ban.

d)      The PFI and its affiliates’ designation as “unlawful associations” gives law enforcement organisations the right to detain PFI members, freeze their accounts, and seize their assets.

 

2. Ministry of Rural Development Launches the JALDOOT App: In front of Union Minister Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti and MoS Panchayati Raj Kapil Moreshwar Patil, the JALDOOT App and JALDOOT App e-brochure was introduced by MoS for Rural Development and Steel Faggan Singh Kulaste. Panchayati Raj and the Ministry of Rural Development collaborated to develop the JALDOOT app. Gram Rojgar Sahyak will be able to use the app to measure the water level of the well twice a year, before and after the monsoon. Implementation of JALDOOT App:

a)      This JALDOOT App will be used all throughout the nation to record the water level of a village’s chosen one to three wells.

b)      The pre-monsoon water level in open wells will be manually measured from May 1 to May 31 and the post-monsoon level for the same well will be manually monitored from October 1 to October 31.

c)       On each occurrence of measurement, Jaldoots, or the officials tasked with measuring the water levels, should also upload the geo-tagged photos via the JALDOOT App.

d)      Both online and offline usage of this mobile application are supported. Therefore, even without internet access, water levels can be recorded.

e)      Recorded data is then stored on a mobile device, and when that device enters an area with connectivity, it is synchronised with a central server.

 

3. Uttarakhand awarded for adventure tourism & all round development of tourism: On the occasion of World Tourism Day, Uttarakhand received the first prize in two categories, for the best adventure tourism destination and all-around development of tourism from the Ministry of Tourism. The State’s Tourism and Culture minister Satpal Maharaj received the awards from Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar during the presentation of the National Tourism Awards 2018-19 in New Delhi.

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

 

4. Royal Society of Chemistry and CSIR collaborate for chemistry in Indian schools: An initiative to promote chemical sciences in schools and universities is being supported by a partnership between the Royal Society of Chemistry and the Council for Industry and Scientific Research (CSIR) collaborated. Throughout 30 CSIR laboratories hosted the RSC’s Global Coin experiment, which involved about 2000 students from all over the nation. Key Points:

a)      A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two organisations states that they will collaborate on the CSIR’s Jigyasa programme, an outreach initiative for researchers and schoolchildren that spans all of India.

b)      The Memorandum of Understanding will not involve money and will have a minimum three-year term with the possibility of extension.

c)       From mining and oceanography to chemicals and nanotechnology, the CSIR is committed to research and development across the range of science and technology.

d)      The organisation has a network of outreach centres and labs spread all across India. The Jigyasa programme will enhance India’s current educational initiatives.

e)      For instance, the RSC-Jigyasa relationship will support the development of many online education projects as well as the expansion of the RSC’s current teacher training programme and Chemistry Camps.

 

5. Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurates 13th FICCI Global Skills Summit 2022: Union Education and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Minister, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurated and addressed the 13th FICCI Global Skills Summit 2022 on the theme of “Education to Employability – Making It Happen.” in New Delhi. The Summit would look through the NEP lens and focus on how India can become the “Skill Capital of the World,” using the UN Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4) as an underlying theme.

 

6. Vinayak Godse to be new CEO of Data Security Council of India: Data Security Council of India New CEO: Data Security Council of India (DSCI), a leading industry organisation founded by NASSCOM, promoted senior vice president Vinayak Godse and named him the organization’s new CEO. Vinayak Godse will succeed Rama Vedashree, who oversaw Data Security Council of India (DSCI) for nearly six years. Vedashree also served on the Justice BN Srikrishna committee, which was charged with developing a model for the nation’s Personal Data Protection Bill.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Bandaru Wilsonbabu appointed as Indian Ambassador to Madagascar: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced that IFS officer Bandaru Wilsonbabu, who is now joint secretary in the ministry of external affairs, has been named as India’s new ambassador to the Republic of Madagascar. He is anticipated to start the assignment soon. Abhay Kumar will be replaced by Wilsonbabu, who most recently worked as the joint secretary for the Eurasia section.

Note: Capital of Madagascar: Antananarivo; Currency of Madagascar: Malagasy Ariary; President of Madagascar: Andry Rajoelina

 

2. International Day of Older Persons: 1st October: October 1 is observed as the International Day of Older Persons across the globe. The day was introduced by the United Nations General Assembly with an aim of honouring the contribution of older persons and looking into the problems that they face. The overall umbrella theme for the United Nations International Day of Older Persons in 2022 is “Resilience of Older Persons in a Changing World.”

International Day of Older Persons History: On 14 December 1990, the United Nations General Assembly designated October 1 as the International Day of Older Persons (resolution 45/106). This was preceded by initiatives such as the Vienna International Plan of Action on Ageing, which was adopted by the 1982 World Assembly on Ageing and endorsed later that year by the UN General Assembly.

 

3. World Vegetarian Day: 1st October: World Vegetarian Day is celebrated on the first day of October. It also kickstarts Vegetarian Awareness Month. This global day of advocacy and awareness celebrates the benefits of vegetarianism and encourages people to reduce their consumption of animal products. The day is commemorated to create awareness about the benefits of vegetarianism like reducing the risks of heart diseases and other health complications.

World Vegetarian Day History: World Vegetarian Day was established in the year 1977 by the North American Vegetarian Society (NAVS) to highlight the surfeit of benefits of vegetarianism, including saving the lives of animals. Following this, in the year 1978, it was endorsed by the International Vegetarian Union. Since then, every year on October 1, people celebrate the day all across the world.

Note: International Vegetarian Union Founded: 1908, Dresden, Germany; Chair of International Vegetarian Union: Marly Winckler.

 

4. International Coffee Day: 1st October: Every year, International Coffee Day is observed on October 1, to celebrate and promote the use of coffee. The day is marked to celebrate “the coffee sector’s diversity, quality and passion.” It is an opportunity for coffee lovers to share their love of the beverage and support farmers whose livelihood depends on the aromatic crop.

International Coffee Day History: For the first time, International Coffee Day was celebrated back in 2015. The International Coffee Organisation (ICO) decided to dedicate the day to all coffee lovers in 2014, but the first official Coffee Day was launched in 2015 in Milan. However, different countries celebrate their own national coffee days on different dates. Back in 1997, the ICO first celebrated International Coffee Day in China and later in 2009, it celebrated the day in Taiwan. Nepal observed the first International Coffee Day on November 17, 2005.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Team World won Laver Cup indoor tennis tournament 2022: Team World defeated Team Europe to win the Laver Cup 2022 for the first time. Team World defeats Team Europe 13-8 to win the Laver Cup indoor tennis tournament. Frances Tiafoe and Felix Auger of Team World defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas & Novak Djokovic of Team Europe to win the competition. Laver Cup is an international indoor hard court tournament between Team Europe & Team World. Players from all continents, besides Europe, represent Team World.

About the Laver Cup 2022: The 2022 Laver Cup was the fifth edition of the Laver Cup, a men’s tennis tournament between teams from Europe and the rest of the world. It was held on an indoor hard court at The O2 Arena in London, England. This tournament marked the retirement of 20-time singles major champion and former singles world No. 1, Roger Federer. The former champion alongside longtime rival Rafael Nadal was narrowly defeated in the third-set super tiebreak against Jack Sock and Frances Tiafoe. The total prize money for 2022 Laver Cup is set at $2,250,000 for all 12 participating players. Each winning team member will pocket $250,000, which marks no increase in prize money compared to 2021.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Union Bank of India inaugurated ethical hacking lab: The Union Bank of India inaugurated the Ethical Hacking Lab at the Cyber Security Centre of Excellence (CCoE) in Hyderabad. The lab with a cyber defence mechanism will protect the bank’s information system, digital assets, and channels, against potential cyber threats. The lab was inaugurated by the bank’s managing director and CEO, A. Manimekhalai.

About the Union Bank’s Cyber Security Centre of Excellence: Union Bank’s Cyber Security Centre of Excellence (CCoE) in Hyderabad is in the process of establishing multiple cyber security centres to strengthen the Bank’s security posture and collaborate with cyber defence industries, Government bodies, etc., for implementing new technologies. In this backdrop, our Bank has established the Ethical Hacking Lab to strengthen the cyber ecosystem. This is an important milestone as we take our cyber security journey ahead to secure digital banking experience.”

Note: Union Bank of India (UBI) Founded: 11 November 1919; Union Bank of India (UBI) Headquarters: Mumbai; Union Bank of India (UBI) CEO: A. Manimekhalai.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. Bakery foods company Britannia Industries appoints Rajneet Kohli as CEO: India’s largest bakery foods company, Britannia Industries has appointed Rajneet Kohli as executive director and chief executive officer. He has served in numerous senior leadership roles during his 25-year-long career in Asian Paints and Coca-Cola and joins Britannia from food services company Jubilant FoodWorks. Under his leadership, Jubilant FoodWorks has delivered sustained profitable growth and emerged as the largest QSR chain in the country with over 1600 stores.

Other appointments: The board has also elevated Varun Berry to executive vice-chairman and managing director with immediate effect. He has 27 years of work experience with premier companies like Hindustan Unilever, PepsiCo, etc.

Note: Britannia Industries Headquarters: Bengaluru; Britannia Industries Founded: 1892; Britannia Industries Parent organization: Wadia Group.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Cochin International Airport awarded ASQ award for ‘Mission Safeguarding’: The Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) has been awarded the Airport Service Quality (ASQ) award 2022 by the Airport Council International (ACI). The award is considered to be the highest honour in the global aviation sector. CIAL received the award in the 5-15 million passenger category of airports operating in the Asia-Pacific region. The award is for its implementation of the ‘Mission Safeguarding’ programme, which ensured seamless traffic and reinforced passenger satisfaction in the aftermath of the pandemic.

CIAL has won the recognition in 5-15 million passenger category of airports operating in the Asia-Pacific region. ACI award is recognised as the highest honour in the global aviation sector, owing to its extensive survey methodology practices. With the guidelines formulated by the chairman and the board of directors, the airport implemented ‘Mission Safeguarding’ during the time of the pandemic which ensured smooth traffic management that is safe, secure and passenger-friendly.

 

2. Indian-origin Suella Braverman won first Queen Elizabeth II award: Britain’s Indian-origin Home Secretary, Suella Braverman has been named winner of the first-ever Queen Elizabeth II Woman of the Year award at a ceremony in London. Sue-Ellen Cassiana “Suella” Braverman KC is a British politician and barrister serving as Home Secretary since 6 September 2022. She was the Attorney General for England and Wales from 2020 to 2022. She has been a member of parliament for Fareham in Hampshire since 2015.

The awards, now in their 20th year, recognise the achievements of individuals from across Britain’s South Asian community via public nominations. These awards were established in 2000 to honour South Asians for their great achievements in the UK.

Other Indian-origin winners across the different categories include:

a)      Broadcaster Naga Munchetty in the media category, chairman and CEO of celebrated visual effects firm DNEG Namit Malhotra in the Arts and Culture category

b)      Captain Harpreet Chandi in the Uniformed and Civil Service category for her solo expedition across the Antarctic to the South Pole earlier this year.

c)       Professor Sir Shankar Balasubramanian was named Professional of Year for his pioneering DNA sequencing discovery.

d)      Karenjeet Kaur Bains won Sports Personality of the Year as the first female Sikh powerlifter to represent Britain on the global stage.

e)      Sherry Vaswani, CEO of IT services firm Xalient, won Entrepreneur of the Year.

f)        Restaurateur brothers Shamil and Kavi Thakrar were named Business Persons of the Year as the founders of the successful Dishoom chain of restaurants.

g)      The Lifetime Achievement Award went to Kartar Lalvani, the founder of the UK’s well-known health supplements brand Vitabiotics.

 

DEFENCE

 

1. GoI appoints Lt Gen Anil Chauhan as the new Chief of Defence Staff: The government of India has announced the appointment of Lt General Anil Chauhan (Retired) as the next Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), who will also function as Secretary to the Government of India, Department of Military Affairs. The NDA alumnus became the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Command in September 2019 and held the charge until his retirement from the service on May 31, 2021.

 

2. HAL Cryogenic Engines Manufacturing Facility inaugurated by President Murmu: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) integrated cryogenic engine manufacturing facility was inaugurated in Bengaluru by Indian President Smt. Droupadi Murmu. On this occasion, President Droupadi Murmu virtually lay the cornerstone for the South Zone Zonal Institute of Virology. Speaking to the crowd, the President declared that the opening of the Integrated Cryogenic Engine Manufacturing Facility is a historic occasion for not only HAL and ISRO but also for the entire nation, as it provides access to a cutting-edge facility for the production of cryogenic and semi-cryogenic engines. India has now surpassed China to become the sixth nation in the world to have the ability to manufacture cryogenic engines thanks to the sincere efforts and dedication of ISRO.

Daily GK Update- 30th Sep, 2022

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Assam to use portable device ‘SAANS’ to stop neonatal deaths: The Assam government has decided to use SAANS, an air pressure machine developed by a Bangalore-based start-up, in the state-run hospitals across the state. ‘SAANS’ is a portable neonatal Continuous Positive Air Pressure (CPAP) system that can provide lifesaving breathing support to infants in hospital settings as well as during travel. The decision comes following the success of a pilot project to reduce neonatal mortality with special equipment. Key Points:

a)      More than 50 SAANS devices have been deployed across medical colleges in Assam to date with more deployments underway to district hospitals.

b)      For the development of the machine, InnAccel Technologies, incubated at the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP), joined hands with the SAMRIDH Healthcare Blended Finance Facility to strengthen respiratory support for newborns and paediatric populations in Assam.

c)       SAMRIDH is a multi-stakeholder innovation and financing platform supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by IPE Global.

d)      The partnership between InnAccel, C-CAMP and SAMRIDH with support from the National Health Mission, Assam and the Government of Assam will help deploy 307 units of SAANS in the state.

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

 

2. Amit Shah to Inaugurate Dairy Cooperative Conclave in Gangtok: Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah is likely to inaugurate a daylong dairy cooperative conclave of the eastern and northeastern zones in Sikkim on October 7. The conclave is being organised by the National Cooperative Dairy Federation of India (NCDFI). NCDFI Chairman Mangal Jit Rai said Shah’s office has confirmed his participation at the conclave to be held in Gangtok. Sikkim Chief Minister P S Tamang will be the guest of honour at the function.

Other Participants: Top functionaries of the cooperative milk unions and state dairy federations from the eastern and northeastern states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and West Bengal are expected to attend, Rai said. Altogether, 1,200 participants from these 12 states are likely to attend the event.

Launch Of an Online Marketplace: Rai said taking inspiration from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Digital India initiatives, the NCDFI has launched an online marketplace called “NCDFI eMarket” to provide transparent and fair dealings to trade bulk commodities to the member dairy cooperatives with the patronage of the National Dairy Development Board.

 

3. Indian Railways installed RTIS system developed by ISRO: Indian Railways is installing a Real-Time Train Information System (RTIS), developed in collaboration with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), on locomotives “for automatic acquisition of train movement timing at the stations, including that of arrival and departure or run-through”. With this, Train Control will now be able to track the location & speed of RTIS-enabled locomotives /trains more closely, without any manual intervention. About the Real-Time Train Information System (RTIS):

a)      Real-Time Train Information System (RTIS), developed in collaboration with ISRO, is being installed on the locomotives for automatic acquisition of train movement timing at the stations, including that of arrival & departure or run-through.

b)      They get automatically plotted on the control chart of those trains in the Control Office Application (COA) system. RTIS devices have been installed for 2700 locomotives in 21 electric loco sheds. As part of Phase-II rollout, 6000 more locomotives across 50 loco sheds shall be covered by utilizing ISRO’s Satcom hub.

Note: ISRO Chairman: S. Somanath; ISRO’s foundation Date: 15th August, 1969; ISRO’s Founder: Dr. Vikram Sarabhai.

 

4. Chandigarh airport to be named after Bhagat Singh: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced that the Chandigarh airport will be renamed after Shaheed Bhagat Singh as a tribute to the great freedom fighter. Punjab & Haryana governments had last month (Aug 2022) agreed to name the airport after freedom fighter Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh.  The Rs 485-crore airport project is a joint venture of the Airports Authority of India (AAI), and the governments of Punjab and Haryana.

 

5. Senior IAS officer Rajendra Kumar appointed ESIC Director General: Senior bureaucrat Rajendra Kumar has been appointed the director general of the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation, as part of a senior-level bureaucratic reshuffle effected by the Centre. Kumar, a 1992-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Tamil Nadu cadre, is currently an additional secretary in the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. He has been appointed the DG of ESIC, an order issued by the Personnel Ministry. Other appointments:

a)      As per the order, T Natarajan, a 1996-batch IAS officer of Gujarat cadre, will be an additional secretary in the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance.

b)      V Hekali Zhimomi has been appointed as additional secretary in the Department of Health and Family Welfare. She is at present working as a joint secretary in the same department.

c)       Ashish Srivastava, Additional Secretary and Financial Adviser in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, has been named as adviser in the Inter State Council Secretariat, Ministry of Home Affairs.

d)      Jaideep Kumar Mishra, who is currently an additional secretary in the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, will now be additional secretary and financial adviser to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, replacing Srivastava.

e)      Nitishwar Kumar has been appointed as additional secretary and financial adviser in the Ministry of Women and Child Development, by temporarily upgrading a vacant post of joint secretary and financial adviser in the ministry, the order said. Kumar, a 1996-batch IAS officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre, is currently on inter-cadre deputation in Jammu and Kashmir.

f)        L Satya Srinivas, Additional Secretary in NATGRID, Ministry of Home Affairs, will be an additional secretary in the Department of Commerce, it added.

g)      V Radha, Additional Secretary in the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, has been named as additional secretary in NITI Aayog.

h)      Ranjana Chopra, a 1994-batch IAS officer of Odisha cadre, has been appointed additional secretary and financial adviser in the Ministry of Culture.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Italy PM election: Giorgia Meloni elected as First woman PM of Italy: Giorgia Meloni looks set to become Italy’s first woman prime minister at the head of its most right-wing government since World War Two after leading a conservative alliance to triumph at the election. Meloni will take over from Prime Minister Mario Draghi, the former head of the European Central Bank, who pushed Rome to the centre of EU policy-making during his 18-month stint in office, forging close ties with Paris and Berlin. The Italian far-right leader Meloni party came top in general elections.

Giorgia Meloni has also served as a youth minister in Berlusconi’s 2008-2011 government before founding the Brothers of Italy in 2012. Three prominent political leaders Meloni, La Russa, and Crosetto founded a new political movement Brothers of Italy in 2012.

Note: Italy Capital: Rome; Italy Currency: Euro; Italy President: Sergio Mattarella.

 

2. World Heart Day: 29th September: Every year on the 29th of September, people all around the world observe World Heart Day. The day is observed to raise awareness about the rising concerns of heart health, cardiovascular illnesses, the impact of overexercising on the heart and how heart care is of utmost importance. The theme for World Heart Day 2022 is ‘USE HEART FOR EVERY HEART’. In the theme ‘USE HEART FOR EVERY HEART’, “Use Heart” means to think differently, make the right decisions, act with courage and help others. Similarly, “For Every Heart” involves the use of “FOR” and shifts the focus from the actions themselves to the heir of such actions, allowing for wider application of the campaign while also making it more personal.

World Heart Day History: The World Heart Federation and the World Health Organization collaborated to create this international event. Antoni Bayés de Luna, who served as the World Heart Federation’s president from 1997 to 1999, had come up with this idea. World Heart Day was originally celebrated on September 24, 2000, and up until 2011, it was marked as the final Sunday in September. It was later decided upon as 29th September, the exact date when international World Heart Day will be observed with more than 90 countries coming together to participate in this world event.

Note: World Heart Federation Founded: 2000; World Heart Federation Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland; World Heart Federation President: Fausto Pinto.

 

3. International Translation Day: 30th September: International Translation Day is being celebrated every year on 30 September to raise awareness about translation and languages which play an important role for society’s development. The day is meant as an opportunity to pay tribute to the work of language professionals, which plays an important role in bringing nations together, facilitating dialogue, understanding and cooperation, contributing to the development and strengthening world peace and security. The theme for this year’s International Translation Day is ‘A world without barriers’.

International Translation Day History: The day marked the celebration of Bible translator St. Jerome who is considered the father of translators. “St. Jerome was a priest from North-eastern Italy, who is known mostly for his endeavour of translating most of the Bible into Latin from the Greek manuscripts of the New Testament. He also translated parts of the Hebrew Gospel into Greek,” the UN website mentioned. The General Assembly on May 24, 2017 has adopted a resolution for language professionals and announced September 30 as International Translation Day. International Federation of Translators, FIT which was established in 1953 launched the idea of recognising Translation Day in 1991 to promote the profession all over the world.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Julius Baer Cup 2022: Magnus Carlsen beats Indian Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi: Teenaged Indian Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi went down against world no.1 Magnus Carlsen in the final of the Julius Baer Generation Cup online rapid chess tournament, losing the second match 0-2. Having won the first match, the Norwegian had the advantage and he won the first two games of the second match to close out the finale early. Carlsen’s performance makes him the first player to hit the historic 2900 Tour Rating mark.

 

2. Domestic Cricket: West Zone wins Duleep Trophy 2022, beats South Zone: The West zone has defeated the South zone by 294 runs to win their 19th title in the final day of the 2022 Duleep Trophy at the SNR College Cricket Ground, Coimbatore. The 2022 Duleep trophy was the 59th season of the Duleep Trophy. Sarfaraz Khan scored the most runs with 127 runs for 178 balls and Jaydev Unadkat of the West zone became the player of the series.

About Duleep Trophy: Duleep Trophy is also known as the Mastercard Duleep trophy for its sponsorship and it is also the first­class cricket tournament in India. It is named after Duleepsinhji of Nawanagar, who is also known as Duleep. The competition was originally contested by teams representing geographical zones of India. But from 2016, the BCCI selected the teams for the trophy. The scheduled matches will be played in Chennai, Pondicherry, Coimbatore, and Salem.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. Ageas becomes first foreign business to own 74% of an Indian life insurance company: Ageas Federal Life Insurance (AFLI) announced that after Belgium-based Ageas Insurance International successfully acquired the 25% investment in the life insurance joint venture (JV) from IDBI Bank, it has become the first life insurance firm in India with a 74% stake held by a foreign partner. For a total cash consideration of Rs 580 crore, Ageas has bought the extra 25% ownership of IDBI Bank in Ageas Federal Life Insurance. Key Points:

a)      Ageas’ ownership of the JV increased from its prior 49% to 74% after purchasing the extra 25% stake.

b)      While IDBI Bank ceased to be a stakeholder, Federal Bank still owns 26% of the life insurance.

c)       IDBI Bank had signed into a share purchase agreement (SPA) to sell Ageas Insurance International NV its whole stake of 200 million equity shares in AFLI (Ageas).

d)      In accordance with the receipt of the necessary regulatory clearances, IDBI Bank has concluded the selling transaction of its whole investment of 20,00,000 equity shares in AFLI. The bank stated in a stock exchange statement that its ownership in AFLI is now NIL as a result of this sale.

Note: MD & CEO of Ageas Federal Life Insurance: Vighnesh Shahane

 

2. Air India Signs Agreement with Willis Lease for Aircraft Engines: Air India announced that it has signed a definitive sale and lease back agreement with Nasdaq-listed Willis Lease Finance Corporation for 34 CFM56-5B engines installed on its Airbus A320 family fleet. According to the company statement, the engines will be covered under Willis Lease’s ConstantThrust, which will deliver significant reliability and cost savings over a traditional MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Operations) shop visit programme. Key Points:

a)      The company said in a statement, under the sale side of the transaction, Willis Lease will purchase 34 engines from Air India, powering 13 Airbus A321 aircraft and four Airbus A320 aircraft.

b)      Through the programme, Willis Lease will provide replacement and standby spare engines, allowing the airline to avoid potentially costly and unpredictable shop visits on engines powering a transitioning aircraft fleet.

India’s Competitive Sector: IndiGo- India’s largest airline flew the largest number of passengers with a market share of 58 per cent. The Tata Group’s airlines including Air India, Vistara and AirAsia India, together had a market share of 24 per cent in August. Interestingly, SpiceJet had the highest passenger load factor at 84.6 per cent in August while that of Vistara and IndiGo stood at 84.4 per cent and 78.3 per cent, respectively.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. President gives the National Service Scheme Awards 2020-21: On September 24, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, President Droupadi Murmu presented the National Service Scheme NSS Awards for the 2020–21 academic year, according to a release from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. 42 prizes in total were given out. The recipients of the honours were two institutions, ten NSS units, their programme officers, and thirty NSS volunteers.

The National Service Scheme Award is given out annually by the Department of Youth Affairs of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. Awards are given out to recognise and honour exceptional achievements to volunteer community service with the goal of advancing NSS throughout the nation.

Note: Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports: Shri Anurag Singh Thakur; Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports: Shri Nisith Pramanik

 

2. Asha Parekh to be bestowed with 52nd Dadasaheb Phalke award: Veteran actress Asha Parekh has been declared the recipient of the 2020 Dadasaheb Phalke award, making her the 52nd awardee of the honour. Union Minister for Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Anurag Thakur announced her name. She worked in more than 95 films and was the chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification from 1998-2001. She is also a recipient of the Padma Shri, awarded to her by the Government of India in 1992 for services to cinema.

About the Dadasaheb Phalke Award: The Dadasaheb Phalke Award is the highest honour in Indian cinema. The award was instituted in 1969, the award is the highest honour for an artiste in Indian cinema.  Previous recipients include Raj Kapoor, Yash Chopra, Lata Mangeshkar, Mrinal Sen, Amitabh Bachchan and Vinod Khanna. Devika Rani was the first winner, while actor Rajinikanth is the most recent winner of the prestigious honour, in 2021.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Veteran Congress leader Aryadan Muhammed passes away: Former Kerala minister and senior Congress leader, Aryadan Muhammed has passed away at the age of 87. Muhammed, a prominent Muslim face of Congress in Kerala, had got elected to the state Assembly eight times from the Nilambur constituency in Malappuram. He had served as a minister for four terms. During the Congress regime from 2011 to 2016, he had been power minister in the Oommen Chandy government.