Daily GK Update- 30th Oct, 2022

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Jakson Green to invest Rs 22,400 cr in green hydrogen project in Rajasthan: Jakson Green to invest Rs 22,400 crore to set up green hydrogen and green ammonia project in Rajasthan. The Jakson Green company signed MoU with the Government of Rajasthan to this effect. Jakson Green will set up a 3,65,000 tons per annum Green Hydrogen and Green Ammonia plant along with an integrated hybrid renewable power complex in phase wise manner. Key Points:

a)      The project initiated by Jakson Green and Rajasthan Government is expected to generate over 32,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities across various phases of the scale-up.

b)      The MoU was signed by Vish Iyer, Global Chief Commercial Officer, Jakson Green, and Bhaskar S Sawant, Principal Secretary of Energy to the Government of Rajasthan.

c)       The government of Rajasthan would facilitate Jakson Green in obtaining necessary registrations, approvals, and clearance, and provide incentives.

d)      Jakson Green has announced its global ambition to be a leading developer and integrator of green hydrogen and green ammonia assets across select geographies Jakson Green to invest Rs 22,400 crore to set up a green hydrogen and green ammonia project in Rajasthan.

 

2. GoI appoints Sangeeta Verma as acting chairperson of CCI: The government of India appointed Sangeeta Verma as the acting chairperson of the Competition Commission of India (CCI). The appointment follows full-time Chairperson Ashok Kumar Gupta demitting office. Verma is currently a member at the regulator. Her appointment will be effective for a “period of three months or till the appointment of regular Chairperson or till any further orders, whichever is the earliest,” according to an official order. Ashok Kumar Gupta had taken over as the CCI chairperson in November 2018.

Competition Commission of India (CCI): The Competition Commission of India (CCI) was established under the Competition Act, of 2002 for the administration, implementation and enforcement of the Act.  It was constituted in March 2009.

Members of the CCI: It consists of 7 members; one Chairperson and six other members. The members are appointed by the government for five years and are re-eligible for appointments. However, the members have to retire after attaining the age of sixty-five years.

 

3. Ladakh MP launched “Main Bhi Subhash” campaign: Ladakh MP Jamyang Tsering Namgyal launched the ‘Main Bhi Subhash’ campaign from Leh. The ‘Main Bhi Subhash’ campaign is a series of events which is organized by the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose INA Trust in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture. The ‘Main Bhi Subhash’ campaign is going to be organized on the occasion of the 125th Birth Anniversary of Netaji on 23rd January next year. The ‘Main Bhi Subhash’ campaign begins in Mumbai and Kolkata.

 

4. National Statistical Office (NSO) Released the Employment Outlook of India: The National Statistical Office (NSO), under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, released a press note on Employment Outlook of the country covering the period September, 2017 to June, 2022. This data is based on the administrative records available with selected government agencies to assess the progress in certain dimensions, the release stated.

Key Points:

a)      Since April, 2018 this ministry has been bringing out the employment related statistics in the formal sector covering the period September 2017 onwards, using information on the number of subscribers who have subscribed under three major schemes, namely the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) Scheme, the Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) Scheme and the National Pension Scheme (NPS).

b)      The information is based on the number of subscribers, and the tables reflect a dynamic status for six sets of periods – (a) September 2017 – March 2018, (b) April 2018 – March 2019, (c) April 2019 – March 2020, (d) April 2020 – March 2021, (e) April 2021 – March 2022, and (f) monthly data from April 2022 onwards.

c)       The data includes information gender-wise, on the number of new members who have started subscribing to EPF, the number of members that have ceased their subscription and the number of members who restarted contribution, having ceased subscription in the past.

d)      A total of 36,53,544 new subscribers joined and contributed in the NPS the central government, state governments, and corporate schemes during September, 2017 to June, 2022.

e)      India’s formal sector employment jumped by 0.4 million in the October-December quarter of 2021 with the total number of workers employed across nine sectors at 31.4 million compared to 31 million in July-September quarter and 30.8 million in the April-June quarter of 2021, the labour ministry said.

 

5. IIT-Madras and NASA researchers study microbes on space station: The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT) and NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory researchers studied the interactions between microbes in the International Space Station (ISS). The study aims to help devise strategies for the disinfection of space stations to minimize any potential impact of microbes on the health of astronauts. Key Points:

a)      Studying the microbes inhabiting the space station will help to understand the risks associated with short-term and long-term space travel on the health of astronauts.

b)      The study was motivated by earlier observations of the dominance of Klebsiella pneumonia on the surface of the ISS.

c)       The pathogen has been known to cause pneumonia and other nosocomial infections.

d)      The researchers analyzed the microbial sample data taken across three space flights at seven locations at the ISS.

e)      The study found that Klebsiella pneumonia is a major microbe that resides on the ISS.

 

6. Nation celebrates 113th Birth anniversary of Homi Jehangir Bhabha: 113th Birth anniversary of Indian nuclear physicist Homi Jehangir Bhabha who is also known as the father of the Indian nuclear program. He was born on 30 October 1909 in Bombay, Bombay Presidency, British India (now Mumbai, Maharashtra, India). His invaluable contributions to the field of science continue to inspire generations of young minds in the country. Homi J Bhabha was born into a prominent wealthy Parsi family. Some facts related to this great personality:

a)      Homi J Bhabha was the founding director and professor of physics at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR).

b)      Homi J Bhabha was also the founding director of the Atomic Energy Establishment, Trombay (AEET). It is now named the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre in his honour.

c)       TIFR and AEET were the cornerstones of Indian development of nuclear weapons and both were supervised by Bhabha as director.

d)      In 1942, Bhabha was awarded the Adams Prize and Padma Bhushan in 1954.

e)      In 1951 and 1953–1956, Bhabha was also nominated for the Nobel Prize for Physics.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Shefali Juneja named as chairperson of UN’s Air Transport Committee: India’s representative to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Shefali Juneja has been elected as the chairperson of the United Nations’ specialized aviation agency’s Air Transport Committee (ATC). Juneja, a 1992 batch officer of the Indian Revenue Service (Income Tax cadre), served as a Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) before joining the ICAO. India secured this position in ICAO after 28 years when Juneja was unanimously elected to the post on Monday. She is the first woman to represent India in the ICAO. ATC is a standing committee of the ICAO created by the Chicago Convention in 1944.

Note: International Civil Aviation Organization Headquarters: Montreal, Canada; International Civil Aviation Organization Council President: Salvatore Sciacchitano; International Civil Aviation Organization Founded: 7 December 1944.

 

2. OAG report: Delhi’s IGI airport is now world’s 10th busiest airport: According to Official Airline Guide (OAG) report, the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi is the 10th busiest airport in the world in terms of seat capacity and frequency of domestic and international flights as of October 2022. According to OAG, there were 34,13,855 seats at the Delhi airport, popularly known as the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA). In its research, aviation analytics company OAG said the Delhi airport improved from its 14th position in October 2019, before the pandemic struck. Key points in the reports:

a)      The busiest airport in the world as of October 2022 is Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport having serviced 47,47,367 seats.

b)      Dubai International is second with 41,27,704 seats, followed by Tokyo International Airport with 38,77,164 seats and Dallas Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport with 37,53,858 seats.

c)       In fifth place is the Denver airport with 37,09,394 seats, followed by London Heathrow Airport, Chicago O’Hare International Airport at the 7th spot and Los Angeles International Airport at the 9th position, the OAG report said.

 

3. FIPRESCI declared ‘Pather Panchali’ as best Indian movie: Legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray’s feature “Pather Panchali” has been declared the best Indian film of all time by the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI). The 1955 film has received the number one slot in the top ten films in the history of Indian cinema list, which was declared after a poll conducted by the India chapter of FIPRESCI. Based on Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay’s 1929 Bengali novel of the same name, “Pather Panchali” was Ray’s directorial debut. It starred Subir Banerjee, Kanu Banerjee, Karuna Banerjee, Uma Dasgupta, Pinaki Sengupta and Chunibala Devi. As per a press release issued by FIPRESCI-India, the poll was conducted in secret and involved 30 members. FIPRESCI: Other films nominated in the list:

This list also features Ritwik Ghatak’s 1960 drama “Meghe Dhaka Tara” (Bengali),

Mrinal Sen’s 1969 drama “Bhuvan Shome” (Hindi),

Adoor Gopalakrishnan’s 1981 drama “Elippathayam” (Malayalam),

Girish Kasaravalli’s 1977 film “Ghatashraddha” (Kannada),

MS Sathyu’s 1973 movie “Garm Hava” (Hindi),

Ray’s 1964 film “Charulata” (Bengali),

Shyam Benegal’s 1974 film “Ankur” (Hindi),

Guru Dutt’s 1954 film “Pyaasa” (Hindi) and

1975 blockbuster “Sholay” (Hindi), directed by Ramesh Sippy.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Indian Bank rolls out a bouquet of Digital products as part of “Project WAVE”: PSU lender Indian Bank has launched several digital initiatives under “Project WAVE” in a bid to enhance the customer experience through integrated services on its digital platform. Six digital initiatives were launched by the SL Jain, MD and CEO, Indian Bank, along with Sharad Mathur, MD & CEO, of Universal Sompo General Insurance Co. About the agreements:

a)      Indian Bank along with Universal Sompo General Insurance will provide online vehicle and health insurance through its mobile banking app IndOASIS.

b)      This digital collaboration would enable the bank’s customers to access and buy general insurance products digitally, anytime, anywhere, thus augmenting the insurance inclusion in India, it said in a statement.

c)       Under the co-lending arrangement, Indian Bank has partnered with Rupeek Capital Pvt. Ltd, to offer jewel loans at customer doorsteps. The entire gold loan journey will be through digital platform and not require any physical visit to the bank branch by the customer.

d)      This facility which is presently available in select pockets will be soon expanded to other locations as well.

e)      The public sector lender has extended pre-approved personal loans to self-employed customers of the bank as well. Since April, it is being offered to salaried customers and pensioners.

f)        Indian Bank has now extended e-overdraft facility against term deposits opened at branches by individual customers. Earlier it was offered for e-deposits only.

Note: Indian Bank CEO: Shri Shanti Lal Jain; Indian Bank Founded: 15 August 1907; Indian Bank Headquarters: Chennai.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. Apple Announces New Clean Energy Investments: APPLE said it would make fresh investments to set up solar and wind projects in Europe and called on its suppliers to decarbonise operations related to the production of iPhones and other products. The company in 2020 had pledged to remove carbon emissions from its entire business, including products and its sprawling supply chain – which spans from Vietnam to Brazil – by 2030.

The iPhone maker will now require its supply partners to report on progress on carbon neutrality goals, specifically Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions reductions, related to the production of Apple products and will audit their progress annually. “We’re determined to be a ripple in the pond that creates a bigger change,” chief executive officer Tim Cook said. Apple has been carbon neutral for its global corporate operations since 2020.

A Humongous Supply-Chain: More than 200 suppliers, representing 70 per cent of Apple’s direct manufacturing spending and including Corning, Nitto Denko, SK Hynix, STMicroelectronics, TSMC and Yuto, have committed to using clean power such as wind or solar for all Apple production, Apple said. Apple had previously asked suppliers to commit to 100 per cent renewable energy for Apple’s production.

 

DEFENCE

 

1. Smt Droupadi Murmu presents Silver Trumpet and Trumpet Banner to the President’s Bodyguard: The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu, presented the Silver Trumpet and Trumpet Banner to the President’s Bodyguard (PBG) at a ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan, Delhi. The President appreciated PBG for their excellent military traditions, professionalism and discipline in all their tasks. She said that the nation is proud of them. She expressed confidence that they will strive with dedication, discipline and valour, to maintain the highest traditions of Rashtrapati Bhavan and be an ideal role model for other Regiments of the Indian Army. History of President’s Bodyguard:

a)      The President’s Bodyguard is the oldest regiment in the Indian Army, having been raised as the Governor-General’s Bodyguard (later the Viceroy’s Bodyguard) in 1773. As the President of India’s own Guard, it has the unique distinction of being the only military unit of the Indian Army that is privileged to carry the President’s Silver Trumpet and Trumpet Banner.

b)      This distinction was conferred on the President’s Bodyguard in 1923 by the then Viceroy, Lord Reading, on the occasion of the Bodyguard completing 150 years of service. Each succeeding Viceroy, thereafter, presented the Silver Trumpet and Trumpet Banner to the Bodyguard.

c)       On January 27, 1950, the regiment was renamed the President’s Bodyguard. Every President has continued the practice of honouring the regiment. Rather than a coat of arms, as was the practice in the colonial era, the monogram of the President appears on the Banner. Dr Rajendra Prasad, the first President of India, presented his Silver Trumpet and Trumpet Banner to the President’s Bodyguard on May 14, 1957.

d)      The President’s Bodyguard, as it is known today, was raised in Banaras (Varanasi) by the then Governor-General, Warren Hastings. It had an initial strength of 50 cavalry troopers, later augmented by another 50 horsemen. Today, the President’s Bodyguard is a select body of hand-picked men with special physical attributes. They are chosen after a rigorous and physically gruelling process.

 

2. Indian Navy & Drone Federation tie-up to promote indigenous drone technology: The Technology Development and Acceleration Cell of the Naval Innovation Indigenisation Organization (NIIO) under the Indian Navy and Drone Federation of India (DFI) have come together to collaborate towards promoting indigenous development, manufacturing, and testing of drones, counter-drone, and associated technologies for the Indian Navy.

As a part of this collaboration, TDAC and DFI will increase the Navy-Industry-Academia synergy, and source technology development challenges toward component indigenization. A special maritime drone testing site shall also be earmarked for the Indian drone industry to facilitate faster development and testing of drones, especially in maritime environments, thus enabling development for a host of applications. Under the agreement:

a)      Additionally, programmes on sensitization and skill development shall also be undertaken as a part of this collaboration.

b)      TDAC has been working towards accelerating the development of indigenous technologies to be utilized by the Indian Navy.

c)       Drone Federation of India will help us in developing a deeper industry connection as well as create a stronger roadmap for induction of drone platforms in the Indian Navy in a time-bound manner.

d)      The maritime testing site being developed under this initiative will accelerate the development of versatile and reliable drone platforms for advanced maritime use cases like maritime patrol, drone landings on moving ships, ship-to-ship deliveries, ship-to-shore deliveries, etc.

Daily GK Update- 29th Oct, 2022

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India Suffered Income Loss of 5.4% of GDP Due to Heatwave In 2021: Report: India suffered an income loss of 5.4% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the highest among the G20 nations in 2021, according to the new report of Climate Transparency. The report highlighted that India witnessed a record heatwave that greatly affected workers, labour migrants, low-income households, and the homeless, and reduced the yields of wheat crops.

Despite the fact that India is responsible for 3% of global emissions, the report mentioned that around 142 million people in India may be exposed (10% of the population) to summer heatwaves at 1.5 Degrees Celsius. The higher temperature resulted in the reduction of working hours, which further led to substantial income losses in services, manufacturing, agriculture, and construction.

The World Scenario: Talking about global emissions, the USA ranked first, as America contributes 25% of it, followed by the European Union with 22%. “G20 members account for around 85% of global GDP, 75% of international trade, and two-thirds of the world’s population, and are responsible for around three-quarters of global emissions,” the report reads.

About The Report & What It Said: The ‘Climate Transparency Report 2022’ was developed with experts from 16 partner organisations from the majority of the G20 (Group of 20) countries. According to the Climate Transparency Report 2022, the G20 members are still not taking the necessary level of accountability of action.

The report noted that several countries including India have submitted stronger Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) targets over time, but their overall level of ambition and action is still insufficient to meet 1.5 Degrees Celsius, according to the Climate Action Tracker.

 

2. Trees Beyond Forests initiative launched in Assam: Trees Beyond Forests initiative: The “trees outside forests in India (TOFI)” programme was introduced by the Assam government and the US Agency for International Development (USAID)with the goal of bringing together farmers, businesses, and private institutions to increase the amount of trees in the State’s non-traditional forests. Key Points:

a)      The Trees outside forests in India, new programme aims to increase carbon sequestration, aid local populations, and boost agriculture’s climate resilience, supporting global climate change mitigation and adaptation goals.

b)      Assam has given increasing the tree cover outside of forest regions great priority, as evidenced by the State Action Plan on Climate Change and the recent creation of the Assam Agroforestry Development Board (AADB).

c)       The goal is to add 2.8 million hectares of tree cover outside of traditional forests, helping India reach its nationally set contribution target of adding 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in additional “carbon sinks” by 2030.

 

3. Ministry of Education to organize ‘Kashi Tamil Sangamam’ programme: ‘Kashi Tamil Sangamam’ will be organized by the Ministry of Education next month. The ‘Kashi Tamil Sangamam’ is a month-long program that will be held from the 16th of the next month. The ‘Kashi Tamil Sangamam’ aims to rediscover the centuries-old bond of knowledge and ancient civilizational linkage between Varanasi and Tamil Nadu. Key Points:

a)      The Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan addressed the media and informed more than 2400 Tamil people in 12 groups. He addressed a huge and diverse section of society including academics, philosophy, agriculture, entrepreneurship, arts, etc.

b)      These 12 groups will visit Kashi for eight days to get familiarised with the ancient knowledge shared by these two ancient cities.

c)       These groups of people will come from Rameshwaram, Chennai, and Coimbatore by train.

d)      During this time, seminars, lectures, and discussions will be held during the program.

e)      On this occasion, Mr. Pradhan also launched a website for the registration process for this month-long event.

f)        The program will be organized under the ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’ envisaged by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

 

4. Akshay Shah & Stephen Alter compiled and edited a new book “The Corbett Papers”: Akshay Shah and Stephen Alter have compiled and edited a new book “The Corbett Papers: Biographical, Legal, & Contextual Material on the Life & Career of Jim Corbett of Kumaon” about Jim Corbett. It is published by Black Kite Publishing. Jim Corbett, the famous naturalist­hunter, has written a series of bestsellers about his experiences with wildlife in the jungles of North India. The Corbett Papers” also includes the unpublished reminiscences of Corbett by his sister Maggie and rare extracts from a forgotten work.

 

5. Shaurya Diwas celebrated in Srinagar: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh celebrated Shaurya Diwas at Old Air Field, Srinagar. The Shaurya Diwas marks the 75th year of induction of the Indian Army to save the state of Jammu and Kashmir from Pakistan’s invasion in 1947. The Shaurya Diwas is celebrated as a part of celebrations for Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav and the 75th year of Air landed operations of the Indian Army at Budgam Airport. Key Points:

a)      The Shaurya Diwas celebration event was felicitated by J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Amry Chief General Manoj Pande, Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi, GOC-in-C, Northern Command, Air Marshal S Prabhakaran.

b)      Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Air Command, Lieutenant General ADS Aujla, General Officer Commanding, 15-Corps along with several other civil and military dignitaries were part of the event.

c)       The replication of the historic event was organized at Old Air Field.

d)      The event aims to pay obeisance to the brave soldiers and people of Jammu and Kashmir who laid down their lives.

e)      The event also honored the Next to Kin of war heroes, who participated in the 1947-1948 Indo-Pak war.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. UNHRC: Ashwini K.P. becomes 1st Indian to be appointed Independent Expert on racism: The United Nations Human Rights Council appointed the first Asian and first Indian as an independent expert on racism and related intolerance. Dr Ashwini’s appointment has been officially made at the UNHRC’s session which concluded in Geneva on October 7.. Dr Ashwini will take over the UNHCR special rapporteur in Geneva on November 1 for a period of six years. She is the first Asian as well as the first Indian to be appointed for the post.

Notably: Ashwini’s name was part of a three-member shortlist recommended by the Consultative Group for the selection of the mandate holders to the President of the Council. Besides Ashwini, the shortlist included Joshua Castellino, also from India, and Botswana’s Unity Dow. Key Points:

a)      The UNHRC president then nominated her to the Council, which officially appointed her just before the conclusion of its 51st session. Ashwini’s three-year term will begin on November 1.

b)      Ashwini will be the sixth SR to hold this mandate. All her predecessors have been from Africa.

c)       The SR fulfils the mandate through communications with states and issuing urgent appeals over alleged violations of international human rights laws, fact-finding country visits and reporting to the UNHRC and General Assembly.

d)      Ashwini, who has worked as an assistant professor of political science at Bengaluru’s St Joseph’s College, is co-founder of a non-governmental organisation, Zariya: Women’s Alliance for Dignity and Equality.

Note: United Nations Human Rights Council Founded: 15 March 2006; United Nations Human Rights Council Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland; United Nations Human Rights Council President: Federico Villegas.

 

2. World Psoriasis Day: 29th October: World Psoriasis Day is observed every year on October 29th to make the general public aware of the important facts related to psoriasis and this disease and its treatment. In the year 2022, World Psoriasis Day is being observed with the theme of “Unloading Psoriatic Disease”.

Psoriasis: Psoriasis is a serious abnormal skin condition in which red and white scaly patches start developing on the patient’s skin. These spots usually appear on the elbows, knees, scalp or lower back. These spots can sometimes be itchy or painful. At the same time, as the problem progresses, they may also feel burning sensations or swelling.

An Overactive Immune System is generally believed to be responsible for psoriasis. This problem affects men and women equally but its severity can vary from person to person. This skin disease is a long-lasting one, in which sometimes it may happen that the patient does not show any kind of symptoms, but after some time severe symptoms and effects can be seen in the victim.

World Psoriasis Day History: The first World Psoriasis Day was observed in 2004. In the year 2014, The World Health Organization’s member nations declared October 29th to be the official day to highlight Psoriasis after realising the value of raising awareness of this particular condition.

Note: President of International Federation of Psoriasis Associations: Hoseah Waweru; International Federation of Psoriasis Associations Founded: 1971; International Federation of Psoriasis Associations Headquarters: Sweden.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. IAF: Western Air Command won Air Force Lawn Tennis Championship: Western Air Command, Indian Air Force (IAF) won the Air Force Lawn Tennis Championship 2022-23 held at Head Quarter MC, Vayu Sena Nagar, Nagpur. The final match of the team Championship was played between Western Air Command and Training Command in which Western Air Command emerged as the winner. The final of the open singles was played between Corporal Pradeep of Training Command and Sergeant Manolin of Western Air Command and Corporal Pradeep emerged as the winner.

About the Air Force Lawn Tennis Championship:

a)      The Championship was inaugurated by Air Marshal Vibhas Pande, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, HQ MC on 17 October 2022. A total of eight teams comprising of 48 players from the seven Commands of Indian Air Force, participated in the Championship.

b)      The Championship was held in two events namely, Team Championship and Open Singles. The matches not only showcased the talents and great potential of the players but generated a lot of enthusiasm amongst the air warriors to pick up Lawn Tennis as a sport.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. Netherlands Beats China, Becomes India’s 3rd-Largest Export Market: The Netherlands has emerged as India’s third-largest export destination, ahead of China and Bangladesh. It has moved up two spots in the list of India’s top ten export destinations since FY22, thanks to a 106% surge in dispatches until August this fiscal from a year before to $7.5 billion.

What comes as a greater surprise is that Brazil, which occupied the 21st spot in FY22, is now India’s 8th biggest export market. Similarly, Indonesia has moved up seven notches to grab the 7th position. However, amid a demand slowdown, only two European nations—the Netherlands and the UK–are among India’s top ten markets, against 4 in FY22. Germany and Belgium, which featured in the list last fiscal, are out of it now.

Meanwhile, the US and the UAE continue to be the largest and second-largest export destinations, respectively, for India. The exports to the US climbed 18.3% until August to $35.2 billion, while those to the UAE shot up 27.3% to $13.8 billion.

 

2. Coca-Cola’s Sprite becomes billion-dollar brand in Indian market: Coca-Cola, global soft drinks company announced that its lemon and lime-flavored soft drink ‘Sprite’ has become a billion-dollar brand in the Indian market. The company has recorded a “strong” volume growth in its India business in the third quarter of 2022. Trademark Coke delivered strong growth through effective execution and occasion-based marketing. Coke has done 2.5 billion transactions in India at affordable price points through the expansion of returnable glass bottles and single-serve PET packages. Key Points:

a)      Coca-Cola continued to strengthen as it gained a share in sparkling offerings in the first half of 2022.

b)      Sprite has grown to become a billion-dollar brand in the market, driven by the success of locally adapted, occasion-based global marketing campaigns and screen time.

c)       Coca-Cola has earlier announced that its Indian soft drink brand Thumps up has become a billion-dollar brand in 2021.

d)      India is the fifth largest market for Coca-Cola globally.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. NISA bags Union HM’s trophy for best police training institution: National Industrial Security Academy (NISA), at Hakimpet, Hyderabad has bagged the Union Home Minister’s Trophy for the “Best Police Training Institution for Training of Gazetted Officers for the year 2020-21”. This extraordinary feat for this Academy was achieved during the serving period of the current Commissioner of Police (CP) Hyderabad, CV Anand, who was the previous Director of the Academy during the year under contention.

Ministry of Home Affairs conducts a national-level screening of various central police training institutes and accordingly BPR&D conducts a survey for the best Police Training Institution for the year. All central and state government police training academies of the country are in consideration in various categories.

About the National Industrial Security Academy: The National Industrial Security Academy of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) is a premier national-level central training institute imparting training in Industrial Security Management, Disaster Management, and Aviation Security to officers of the CISF, sister organizations of CAPFs, state police organizations, foreign police organizations, civil servants and officers of public sector undertaking.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. ‘World’s dirtiest man’ Amou Haji dies in Iran at 94: Amou Haji, an Iranian man dubbed the “dirtiest man in the world”, died at the age of 94 in the village of Dejgah, in the southern province of Fars. He was so-called because he had not washed for almost 70 years and he believed that staying dirty kept him alive for so long. Owing to his unique record, a short documentary titled ‘The Strange Life of Amou Haji’ was made in 2013, describing his life. A report published in Tehran Times also claimed that Haji would eat roadkill, smoke a pipe filled with animal excrement, and believed that cleanliness would make him ill. Haji used to live in an open brick hut and he had faced some “emotional setbacks in his youth” that made him stern about not taking a bath with water or soap.

Dirtiest man In India: In 2009 the Hindustan Times reported that Kailash “Kalau” Singh, from a village outside the holy city of Varanasi, had not washed for more than 30 years in an attempt to help end “all the problems confronting the nation”.

Daily GK Update- 28th Oct, 2022

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Karnataka cabinet increased reservation for SC, ST community: The Karnataka cabinet decided to promulgate an ordinance to raise reservations for Scheduled Caste (SCs) by 2 percent and for Scheduled Tribe (STs) by 4 percent. The Karnataka cabinet is chaired by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai. The decision by the Karnataka government aims to uplift the ST/SC community in the state and provide adequate opportunities in the education and employment sector. Key Points:

a)      The files related to the reservation will be submitted to Governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot for approval.

b)      The hike in the reservation will benefit the 103 communities classified as SCs and 56 communities among STs.

c)       The initiative to increase the reservation for SC/STs by the state government implies that reservation will cross the Supreme Court’s 50 percent limit and go up to 55 percent in Karnataka.

d)      The BJP government in Karnataka decided to increase the quota based on a report prepared by a community headed by retired High Court Judge H.N. Nagmohan Das.

 

2. India’s first ‘Migration Monitoring System’ inaugurated in Mumbai: India’s first ‘Migration Monitoring Systems’ was inaugurated by the Maharashtra Women and Children Development Minister Mangalprabhat Lodha in Mumbai. The website-based Migration Tracking System will track the movement of vulnerable seasonal migrant beneficiaries. The Migration Monitoring Systems aims to provide information about migrant pregnant women, lactating women, and children. Key Points:

a)      The system provides updated information about migrant pregnant women, lactating women, and children in a single system.

b)      Maharashtra Women and Children Development Minister Mangalprabhat Lodha launched the ‘Migration Monitoring Systems’

c)       The state department has created website-based Migration Tracking System (MTS) to track the movements of vulnerable seasonal migrant beneficiaries through individual unique identification numbers.

d)      The information about seasonal migrant women and children will be available on a single platform with the ‘Migration Monitoring Systems’.

 

3. Odisha’s Jeypore Airport gets license from DGCA: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) granted Jeypore Airport the license to carry out commercial flight operations under the regional connectivity scheme. The Ministry of Civil Aviation has described it as a milestone. The airport is 33km northwest of Koraput town and 500km southwest of Bhubaneswar.

The Jeypore Airport of Odisha gets a license to carry out scheduled air operations under the UDAN. The license authorizes the aerodrome to be used as a regular place of landing and departure. The license would be liable to suspension, modification, or withdrawal of the provisions of the aircraft act, and the aircraft rules were violated.

 

4. Honesty Shops has been opened in Kerala: Honesty Shops have been opened in 15 schools in the Ernakulam district of Kerala. The Honesty Shops are a part of the Student Police Cadet (SPC) project which aims to provide valuable lessons on truth, and integrity for students. In these honestly shops there is no salesman at the counters and students can drop the money for each item in the collection box kept in the shop. Key Points:

a)      The SPC project was conceived to inculcate better civic sense among students and mold them as responsible youth.

b)      The objective of the Honestly shops is to provide students a chance to experience the virtue of honesty.

c)       The schools have switched off the CCTV facilities towards the shop to instill confidence among the students.

d)      The honesty shop has mainly school-based items such as notebooks, pens, pencil boxes, erasers, chart papers, and other essentials.

 

5. Dr Bimal Jalan authored a book titled “From dependence to Self­Reliance”: Economist Dr Bimal Jalan authored the book “From dependence to Self­Reliance: Mapping India’s Rise as a Global Superpower”, a stocktaking of India’s growth trajectory, benefits from Bimal Jalan’s deep insights. The book is written lucidly, with the general reader in mind. Bimal Jalan breaks his book into 3 parts: 4 chapters on the economy, and 3 each on governance and politics. The primary focus shared by Bimal Jalan is to promote India’s national interests, irrespective of any party’s political agenda announced during elections. Essence of the book:

a)      From Dependence to Self-Reliance sheds light on some of the priorities that the government can implement at present, as well as in the future, in light of past experience.

b)      Written by the former governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), this book is based on extensive research and data, and provides a way forward to developing India as an economic stronghold.

c)       From Dependence to Self-Reliance is divided into three sections: Economy, Governance and Politics. It covers a gamut of changes that have taken place since India gained independence and how these changes have had a ground-breaking impact on the development of the nation. It is a must-read to gain an in-depth understanding of India’s rise to power in the realm of economy, politics and technology.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Diwali to Be a Public School Holiday in New York City from 2023: Diwali will be a holiday for the New York City public school starting next year in 2023, Mayor Eric Adams announced. Adams, joined by New York Assembly Member Jenifer Rajkumar, who had introduced the legislation to recognize Diwali as a holiday.

Addressing a press conference, Rajkumar said, “The time has come to recognize over 200,000 New Yorkers of the Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh and Jain faiths who celebrate Diwali, the Festival of Lights.” She called Anniversary Day “an obscure and antiquated day,” as compared to Diwali, which is celebrated by a “growing number of New Yorkers.

Rajkumar further added that the new school schedule will still have 180 days, as is required by the state’s education laws. During the conference, Adams called the decision a “long overdue” acknowledgment of Hindu, Sikh, Jain and Buddhist communities.

 

2. Chinese President Xi Jinping wins record third term in power: Chinese President Xi Jinping has created history, becoming the first leader of the ruling Communist Party after party founder Mao Zedong to get re-elected for an unprecedented third term in power with the prospect of ruling China for life. He was elected as General Secretary of the Communist Party for 3rd five-year tenure by the new seven-member Standing Committee packed with his supporters who appeared before the local and foreign media here to herald the new era, widely termed ‘Xi era’.

Notably: Xi’s “election” for the third term in power formally ends the over three decades of rule followed by his predecessors, barring Mao, of retiring after a 10-year tenure. Xi was first elected in 2012 and will be completing his 10-year term this year. Other Points:

a)      With moderates like Premier Li Keqiang, who was ranked number two, eased out in the election to over 300-member Central Committee by the once-in-a-five-year Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the Committee elected a 25-member Political Bureau.

b)      The Political Bureau elected a seven-member Standing Committee, which in turn elected Xi for a third five-year term as General Secretary.

c)       Xi was elected to the Central Committee, to the Political Bureau and the Standing Committee and then as General Secretary with relative ease as the Congress passed the key amendment to the Party’s constitution reinforcing his “core” status with the directive that all party members have the “obligation” to follow his directives and doctrines.

Note: China Capital: Beijing; China Currency: Renminbi; China Official language: Mandarin

 

3. Anna May Wong set to become first Asian American to feature on US currency: Ground-breaking actor Anna May Wong (1905-1961) is set to become the first Asian American to appear on US currency. The actor who broke into Hollywood during the silent film era will be featured on the US currency a century after she landed her first leading role. Anna May Wong's image, with her iconic blunt bangs and pencil-thin eyebrows, will feature on the back of new quarters. The design has been introduced after the American Women Quarters Program which aims to highlight pioneering women in their respective fields.

This year, four other quarters were into production featuring poet and activist Maya Angelou; the first American woman in space, Sally Ride; Cherokee Nation leader Wilma Mankiller; and suffragist Nina Otero-Warren. Anna May Wong:

a)      Anna May Wong was born with the name Wong Liu-Tsong. Wong began her film career at the age of 14 as an extra in The Red Lantern. Anna May Wong was born in Los Angeles to second-generation Chinese immigrants (1919).

b)      Anna May Wong, only three years later, in one of the earliest Technicolor movies, The Toll of the Sea (1922), in which she starred, received critical praise.

c)       Anna May Wong was also The Gallery of Madame Liu-first Tsong’s Asian American lead actor on television (1951).

 

4. International Animation Day: 28th October: International Animation Day is celebrated on 28 October every year. It was in this year when the International Animated Film Association (ASIFA) declared International Animation Day (IAD) as a worldwide occasion to commend the speciality of animation. This day is celebrated in more than 50 distinct nations throughout the world. IAD was started by ASIFA, an individual from UNESCO.

The day is celebrated to commemorate the first public animation performance, Theatre Optique at the Musée Grévin in Paris. The moving picture technology utilised in the animated performance was developed by Charles-Emile Reynaud. There are various animation styles, including traditional 2D animation, 3D animation, stop motion animation, and typographic animation.

Note: President of ASIFA: Deanna Morse; ASIFA Founder: John Halas; ASIFA Founded: 1960, Annecy, France.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Formula-1 Racing: Max Verstappen wins action-packed US Grand Prix 2022: Belgium’s Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing won the 2022 Formula 1 Aramco United States Grand Prix 2022 which was held at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, United States (US). With this, he equalled Germany’s Sebastian Vettel and Michael Schumacher’s record of 13 wins in a Formula 1 season. He defeated the UK’s Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes. Hamilton had to settle for second place, with Mercedes’ wait for a 2022 victory continuing, while Charles Leclerc salvaged a podium finish for Ferrari as the Italian team mathematically dropped out of contention for the constructors’ crown.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. India fines Google Rs.1337 crore for abusing its dominant position: The nation’s competition watchdog has fined Google, a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., Rs 1,337 crore for engaging in anti-competitive behaviour with regard to Android mobile devices. Google was penalised by India’s Competition Commission (CCI) for “abusing its dominant position in numerous regions within the Android mobile device ecosystem.” Key Points:

a)      The decision to fine Google for alleged anti-competitive practices was described as “a major setback for Indian consumers and businesses” by Google.

b)      Google company said it would review the decision to determine its next course of action.

c)       The Android OS (operating system) is run and managed by Google, and the company also grants licences for its other proprietary programmes. In their mobile devices, OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) employ this OS and Google’s apps.

d)      An operating system (OS) is required for running programmes and applications on smart mobile devices. One of these mobile operating systems that Google purchased in 2005 is Android.

e)      The panel looked at Google’s licencing policies for the Android mobile operating system and a number of its own, exclusive mobile applications, including Play Store, Google Search, Google Chrome, YouTube, etc.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Ukrainian people wins EU’s 2022 Sakharov freedom prize: The European Parliament has awarded the people of Ukraine its annual Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to honour their fight against Russia’s invasion. European Parliament President Roberta Metsola announced the 2022 laureate in the Strasbourg plenary chamber, following a decision by Parliament’s Conference of Presidents (the President and political group leaders).

About the Sakharov Prize: The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought is awarded each year by the European Parliament. It was set up in 1988 to honour individuals and organisations defending human rights and fundamental freedoms. It is named in honour of Soviet physicist and political dissident Andrei Sakharov and the prize money is 50 000 euros. The award comes with prize money of 50,000 euros ($49,100), which will be distributed to representatives of Ukrainian civil society.

Note: European Parliament Headquarters: Strasbourg, France; European Parliament Founded: 19 March 1958, Europe.

 

2. National Intellectual Property Award won by IIT Madras for 2021 and 2022: The national award for intellectual property was given to the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras (IIT-M) for 2021 and 2022. The prize was established by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Key Points:

a)      Applications, grants, and commercialization for patents served as the evaluation criteria. The award was given out by Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal.

b)      Upon receiving the trophy, citation, and cash prize of Rs. 1 lakh, institute director V. Kamakoti commended the professors, researchers, students, and other stakeholders for their accomplishment. This award has encouraged IIT Madras to produce and safeguard more and more intellectual property with societal effect.

The yearly award honours those who have excelled, including individuals, institutions, organisations, and businesses, for their intellectual property innovations and commercialization that support the development of the nation’s IP ecosystem and promote innovation.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. National Film Award Recipient Bengali Film Director Pinaki Chaudhuri passes away: Bengali film Director and National award recipient Pinaki Chaudhuri, has passed away at the age of 82. He died due to lymphoma, a cancer of the lymphatic system. He made his debut in the world of films in 1983, directing ‘Chena Achena’. At a young age, he was a tabla player, trained by Ustad Karamatullah Khan. After some time he gave up playing the Tabla and began producing films in 1977.

His other notable films are ‘Kakababu Here Gelen?’ (Kakababu defeated?), ‘Ek Tukro Chand’ (A slice of the moon) and ‘Arohan’ (Ascension). Pinaki Chaudhuri received 2 National Film Awards for Best Feature Film in Bengali for ‘Sanghat’ (Conflict) in 1996 and for ‘Ballygunge Court’ in 2007.