Daily GK Update- 8th Nov, 2022

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Centre Sets Up Radhakrishnan Committee for Higher Educational Institutions: The Ministry of Education has set up a high-level panel to strengthen the assessment and accreditation of higher educational institutions. The panel will be headed by Dr K Radhakrishnan, Chairperson, Board of Governors, IIT Kanpur. He is also the chairperson of the Standing Committee of IIT Council. The mandate of the committee includes strengthening the assessment and accreditation processes and preparing a road map for the National Accreditation Council envisioned in the National Education Policy, 2020.

Members Of the Committee: Other members of the committee include Mridul Hazarika, Vice-Chancellor, Mahapurusha Srimanta Sankaradeva Viswavidyalaya, Assam; Bharat Bhasker, Professor, IIM, Lucknow and Joint Secretary, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education.

 

2. Haryana CM Launched ‘CM dashboard’ for Live Monitoring of Departments: Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar launched the ‘CM Dashboard’ portal that will have real-time data of all departments and decisions taken on major schemes. The ‘CM Dashboard’ portal will provide live monitoring of every department at the block, district, and panchayat levels. The portal will have information about the decisions taken by the administrative wing on major schemes. This will enable tracking of methodology and analysis of the report and further help in the comparison of old and new data. Key Points:

a)      In the ‘CM Dashboard’ portal, departments will link their day-to-day activities for effective monitoring.

b)      Through the ‘CM Dashboard’ portal timelines and deadlines of a particular task being met can be known.

c)       The portal will also provide information about which department had set what target for a particular task, whether that was achieved or if anyone defaulted, and for what reason.

d)      The ‘CM Dashboard’ portal will be beneficial in taking the state government’s ambition of good governance ahead.

e)      CM Manohar Lal Khattar launched a dedicated e-Upphar portal to auction gifts received by him. The bade bid amount would be fixed and payment would be directly transferred to the Chief Minister Relief fund.

 

3. Uttarakhand Chief Minister launches Lakhpati Didi Yojana: Uttrakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami inaugurated the ‘Lakhpati Didi’ fair at the survey of India Maidan, Hathbarkala in Dehradun. The fair is part of an initiative undertaken by the BJP government to empower women in the state. The Rural Development department of the Uttrakhand government has made preparations to make 1.25 lakh women from self-help groups ‘Lakhpati’ by 2025. Key Points:

a)      In the year 2025, the state will complete 25 years of the formation, and coincidentally the project will be also completed by 2025.

b)      1.25 lakh of the 3.67 lakh women belonging to self-help groups will become ‘Lakhpati’ under the targeted livelihood initiative.

c)       Under the ‘Lakhpati Didi’ scheme women belonging to self-help groups (SHGs) will be encouraged to take up micro-enterprises with skill development.

d)      The government will tie up e-commerce platforms like Amazon, Flipkart, and Government e-Marketplace so that the SHG products get national and international markets.

 

4. Subhrakant Panda named as President of FICCI: The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) has announced Mr Subhrakant Panda as its President-Elect. Mr Panda is currently the Senior Vice President of FICCI. He shall succeed Mr Sanjiv Mehta as President of the apex chamber at the conclusion of the 95th Annual General Meeting to be held on December 16th-17th, 2022.

Mr Panda is Managing Director of Indian Metals & Ferro Alloys Ltd (IMFA) which is the country’s leading, fully integrated producer of ferroalloys with captive mining and power generation employing 6500 people. He has handled various responsibilities in IMFA, and implemented expansion plans after he was appointed Managing Director which led to significant growth in revenue & profitability.

Note: FICCI Founded: 1927; FICCI Headquarters: New Delhi.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Switzerland created record for operating the longest passenger train: Switzerland is now home to the world’s longest passenger train. The train has 100 coaches, measures 1910 metres and consists of 4,550 seats. The train was seen passing through the mountainous landscape in the Swiss Alps. Celebrating the 175th anniversary of Switzerland’s first railway, the country’s railway operators came together to create the new Guinness World Record-holding train which tows 100 carriages, weighs 2,990 tons, and measures 1.91 km (1.19 miles) long.

The train carried 150 passengers on its journey. It wound through dazzling sunshine reflecting off its shiny-silver roof. The train also comes with a digital destination sign on the front that reads “Alpine Cruise” It took the spectacular Albula-Bernina route, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The route covered nearly 25 kilometres from Preda to Alvaneu in less than 45 minutes. It passed through 22 helical tunnels and crossed 48 bridges on its way.

Note: Switzerland Currency: Swiss franc; Switzerland Capital: Bern.

 

2. India Tops List of Countries with Cheapest Manufacturing Costs: India has been ranked as the nation with the cheapest manufacturing cost ahead of China and Vietnam, according to a report. According to the US News and World Report, out of 85 nations, India has bagged the 31st position in the overall Best Countries ranking.

About The Report: The report evaluates 85 countries across 73 attributes. Attributes are grouped into 10 sub-categories, including adventure, agility, entrepreneurship, open for business, social purpose and quality of life.

Under the open for business sub-category, India has scored 100 per cent when it comes to cheap manufacturing costs. India featured at the 37th spot in the ‘Open for Business’ category. But in ‘favourable tax environment’, it has scored 16.2 out of 100; 18.1 in the ‘not corrupt’ category and 3.5 in ‘transparent government policies’.

Similarly, under the ‘quality of life’ segment, India has scored 1.9 in ‘income equality’; 4.3 in ‘safe’; 2.3 in ‘well-developed public health system’; and 9.9 in ‘economically stable’ sub-parameter.

Other Cheap Manufacturers: The list of top 10 countries with the cheapest manufacturing costs, which is headed by India, also includes Thailand (fourth), Philippines (fifth), Bangladesh (sixth), Indonesia (seventh), Cambodia (eighth), Malaysia (ninth) and Sri Lanka (tenth).

 

The World Scenario: China, which is India’s prime economic competitor in the South Asia region, has an overall ‘Open for Business’ score of 17, the report said. However, it ranks at the second spot, behind India, when it comes to cheap manufacturing costs. Vietnam, which has attracted a slew of apparel and footwear manufacturers over the past few years, has been placed at the third spot in the category of countries with the cheapest manufacturing costs. It is ranked 47th in the overall ‘Open for Business’ category.

In the overall Best Countries ranking, Switzerland has topped the chart, followed by Germany, Canada, US and Sweden.

 

3. Infant Protection Day: 7th November: Every year, November 7 is celebrated as Infant Protection Day. This day is celebrated with the sole purpose of raising awareness about the safety of newborn lives and giving them proper care. The day has been set to discuss how to best safeguard and nurture young children at one of their most important and vulnerable developmental stages.

The main reason behind the commemoration of Infant’s Protection Day is to take steps to protect the lives of infants. On this day, the government hopes to raise awareness about the protection and nurturing that infants require. This day also seeks to provide every child with the strong health and immunity they deserve.

 

4. World Radiography Day: 8th November: Every year on November 8, World Radiography Day is observed to honour the discovery of X-radiation, also known as X-rays. This day in 1895 saw the completion of German scientist Wilhelm Conrad Rontgen’s discovery of X-radiation, or X-rays. For this accomplishment, he was awarded the first Nobel Prize in Physics in 1901. The theme of International Day of Radiology 2022 is “Radiographers at the Forefront of Patient Safety.” This theme aims to encourage all radiologists, radiographers, radiological technologists, and professionals to recognize and promote the essential role of radiology in the treatment of a patient.

World Radiography Day History: According to many sources, the first World Radiography Day was observed in 2007 by the International Society of Radiographers and Radiological Technologists on November 8. however, the first major celebration of the day was organized in 2012 when the European Society of Radiology (ESR), Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), and American College of Radiology (ACR) came together for the initiative. This year will celebrate the 11th anniversary of International Day of Radiology.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Dharmendra Pradhan Inaugurated ‘Baji Rout National Football Tournament’: Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurated the ‘Baji Rout National Football Tournament’ in Dhenkanal in Odisha. The government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been promoting sports and games in the country through initiatives like khelo India and Fit India. Key Points:

a)      The government aims to attract the younger generation that is stuck on the internet and TV to the playing field.

b)      The government of India in association with the FIFA and All India Football Federation has started the ‘Football for School’ initiative.

c)       The Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan revealed that the program has been targeted to rope in about two crore fifty lakh school students towards football.

d)      Ten lakh footballs will be distributed among the government and private schools in all the districts of the country through the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Chqbook and NSDL Payments Bank collaborate for digital current accounts: The neobank for small business owners Chqbook has introduced the first digital current account of its sort in collaboration with NSDL. Small business owners, including kiranas and pharmacists, can easily open a current account on the Chqbook App from their smartphone in a language of their choice. The current account is more easily accessible and understandable because it is provided in eight different languages. Key Points:

a)      For more than 63 million small companies in India, the brand-new digital and immediate current account feature is a welcome innovation.

b)      By enabling small company owners to use the Chqbook App to access financial services like current accounts, loans, and insurance on their smartphones without having to fill out any paperwork, it advances Chqbook’s mission of financial inclusion.

c)       Most small business owners conduct their transactions through savings accounts, which can freeze owing to multiple credits, or current accounts at cooperative banks, which provide them with no digital interface at all.

d)      A conventional banking transaction entails a trip to a branch, which is tiresome, time-consuming, and includes paperwork. Apart from that, opening a current account at a bank branch takes between 7 and 20 days.

e)      Any business owner needs a current account as a fundamental tool to keep track of spending, manage cash flow, and facilitate accurate tax liability calculations. As a result, a corporate current account supports UPI transactions as well as deposits and withdrawals.

f)        With the recently introduced current account, long wait times are no longer an issue, and small business owners may open a current account in only a few minutes.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. India’s Foreign Exchange Reserves Finally Jump by $6.56 billion, Largest Weakly Gain in Over A Year: India’s foreign exchange reserves logged their biggest weekly jump since September 2021 and also rose for the first time in three weeks for the week ended October 28, helped by gains in both foreign currency assets and gold reserves. The foreign exchange reserves of Asia’s third largest economy rose by $6.56 billion to $531.08 billion for the week ending Oct 28, according to data released by the Reserve Bank of India.

Foreign Currency Assets: The foreign currency assets (FCA), a major component of the overall reserves, rose by $5.77 billion to $470.84 billion in the reporting week. Even gold reserves increased by $556 million to $37.76 billion. Experts said the surge in the reserves during the reporting week was on account of valuation gains arising out of depreciation of the US dollar against major currencies.

 

Tesla’s Former India Policy Chief to Join e-Scooter Startup Ather Energy: Tesla Inc.’s former India policy chief is joining homegrown electric scooter startup Ather Energy Pvt, one of the best-funded fledgling firms in a sector attracting record investment. Manuj Khurana who quit his post as Tesla’s local head of policy and business development in June, will start next week at the firm based in the southern technology hub of Bangalore. Khurana will join as a vice president, though his specific role there is unclear.

 

Hyderabad’s Megha Ltd to Build Mongolia’s First Greenfield Oil Refinery: Hyderabad-based Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Limited (MEIL) has taken up a project to build Mongolia’s first Greenfield oil refinery on the outskirts of the capital city, Ulaanbaatar. The project is aimed at reducing the East Asian country’s dependency on Russian oil imports. The company would provide EPC (Engineering, procurement, and construction) services and EPC-3 (captive power plants) for $790 million using advanced technology. Key Points:

a)      The project is a part of the development partnership administration initiative of India’s Ministry of External Affairs.

b)      The refinery would be built using a line of credit from the central government.

c)       Engineers India Limited is the project management consultant for this G2G partnership project.

d)      The refinery will open up a number of employment opportunities, supporting the growth of nearly small industries.

e)      This downstream project is of enormous importance and marks a critical turning point in the relationship between India and Mongolia. The project will bring economic prosperity and energy independence to Mongolia.

 

Awards

 

1. Amit Dasgupta honoured with a member of the Order of Australia Award: Amit Dasgupta was appointed as an Honorary Member in the General Division of the Order of Australia (AM) for his service to the Australia-India bilateral relationship. Dasgupta is a tireless promoter of Australia-India relations, challenging the nations’ governments and people to realise the underlying potential of a stronger bilateral relationship. Tenure of Das Gupta in Australia:

a)      As Consul-General of India to Australia from 2009 to 2012, Dasgupta was a staunch advocate for the principles of multiculturalism, which underpins contemporary Australia.

b)      During this period, attacks against Indian students threatened Australia’s international reputation. Dasgupta’s personal efforts assisted in diffusing tensions and reassuring the Indian diaspora.

c)       Dasgupta was instrumental in establishing the Australia-India Youth Dialogue. Now in its second decade, the Dialogue is a permanent fixture of the bilateral relationship and fosters connections between Australian and Indian young people.

d)      Dasgupta continues to advance relations between the two countries as a Distinguished Fellow of the Australia India Institute, a Senior Fellow at the Society for Policy Studies, and the Inaugural Country Director of the University of New South Wales since 2016.

Note: Australia Capital: Canberra; Australia Currency: Australian dollar; Australia Prime minister: Anthony Albanese.

 

2. M T Vasudevan Nair awarded with Kerala Jyothi award: M T Vasudevan Nair, a renowned Malayalam author and Jnanpith laureate, has been chosen to receive the inaugural Kerala Jyothi award, which was established by the state government in the spirit of the Padma awards to recognise people who have made priceless contributions to society.

Key Points:

a)      Delhi-based Malayalam megastar Mammootty Omcheri N. N. Pillai, a playwright in Malayalam, and T. Madhava Menon, a former civil servant and social worker, has been chosen to receive the first “Kerala Prabha” awards, announced by the government.

b)      The first “Kerry Sree” awards have been given to amphibian biologist Sathyabhama Das Biju (Dr S D Biju), magician Gopinath Muthukad, sculptor Kanayi Kunhiraman, businessman Kochouseph Chittilappilly, scientist M P Parameswaran, and singer Vijayalakshmi, according to a statement released on the eve of Kerala Piravi.

Awards established by Kerala Government: The Kerala administration made the decision to establish the highest state-level honours, modelled after the Padma awards, last year. The three categories of “Kerala Jyothi,” “Kerala Prabha,” and “Kerala Sree” awards were settled upon. The government has made the decision to present the prizes during Kerala Piravi.

 

Daily GK Update- 7th Nov, 2022

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Finance Minister Launches Biggest Ever Coal Mine Auction of 141 Mines: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman launched the biggest-ever coal mine auction of 141 mines that are expected to benefit twelve states directly. During the launch, the finance minister said that a fast-growing economy like India needs greater investment in coal production and gasification projects.

The Coal Ministry in a statement said that 33 coal mines were put up for auction in the sixth round of commercial auctions, out of which 71 were new coal mines and 62 coal mines were rolling over from earlier tranches of commercial auctions. Additionally, 8 coal mines under the second attempt of 5th round of commercial auctions were included for which single bids were received in the first attempt.

Direct Beneficiary States: The mines being auctioned are spread across coal/lignite-bearing states of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and Bihar.

The reforms Recently Announced in Coal Sector:

a)      Commercial mining of coal is allowed, with 50 blocks to be offered to the private sector.

b)      Entry norms will be liberalised as it has done away with the regulation requiring power plants to use “washed” coal.

c)       Coal blocks to be offered to private companies on revenue sharing basis in place of fixed cost.

d)      Coal gasification/liquefaction to be incentivised through rebate in revenue share.

e)      Coal bed methane (CBM) extraction rights to be auctioned from Coal India’s coal mines.

 

2. Union Agriculture Minister Chairs National Natural Farming Mission Meeting: Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar chaired the first National Natural Farming Mission committee meeting at Krishi Bhawan. Shri Narendra Singh Tomar launched the NMNF portal. The portal contains all the information about the mission, implementation outline, resources, implementation progress, farmer registration, blog, etc. The portal will be for the benefit and welfare of farmers.

Union Agriculture Minister asked the officers to coordinate with the State government and central departments and enable market linkage so that farmers can easily sell their products. The meeting was attended by Union Rural Development Minister Shri Giriraj Singh, Jal Shakti Minister Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Uttar Pradesh Agriculture Minister Surya Pratap Shahi, Union Agriculture Secretary Shri Manoj Ahuja, and Senior officers of other ministries.

 

3. PM Modi inaugurated Global Investors Meet ‘Invest Karnataka 2022’: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has addressed the inaugural function of Invest Karnataka, the Global Investors Meet via video conferencing. The meet is aimed at attracting prospective investors and setting up development agenda for the next decade. About the Invest Karnataka:

a)      “Invest Karnataka’ is to grab the attention of the whole world. Global investment is coming here as Karnataka has a rich atmosphere. This will put a strong foundation for the development of Karnataka in the next five years.

b)      The country sessions would each be hosted by the partner countries: France, Germany, Netherlands, South Korea, Japan, and Australia, which would be bringing in high-level ministerial and industrial delegations from their respective countries.

c)       CM Basavaraj Bommai has called ‘Invest Karnataka’ an important meeting wherein all technocrats, young engineers, IT/BT experts, startups, educational institutions, and global and domestic investors are welcome.

d)      The Karnataka CM said he is expecting over ₹5 lakh crore investment and the State High-level Committee has already given clearance for an investment of over ₹2.8 lakh crore. Bommai said most of the investors have shown interest in investment beyond Bengaluru, and new industries are coming up in Ramanagar, Hubballi-Dharwad, Ballari, Kalaburagi, and Mysuru.

 

4. Unemployment Rate Surges to 7.77% in Oct Against 6.43% in Sept: CMIE: India’s unemployment rate rose in October due to a sharp increase in the rural joblessness rate after the kharif harvest season, according to the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE). Unemployment rate in surged last month on the back of significant increase in rural unemployment rate, reversing the decline registered in September.

Key Points:

a)      The jobless rate rose to 7.77% in October, from a four-year low of 6.43% in September, the CMIE data showed.

b)      The rural unemployment rate surged to 8.04% from 5.84% in September, while the urban jobless rate moderated to 7.21% compared with 7.7% in the previous month.

c)       Kharif crops sown at the beginning of the monsoon season are harvested between September and the first half of October. This results in a dip in October in rural employment, before it picks up in November when sowing for winter crops begins.

d)      In November 2021, the rural unemployment rate had fallen sharply to 6.41% from 7.91% in the previous month.

State-Wise Data:

a)      Among the 25 states for which data is available with the CMIE, six states registered the unemployment rate in double digits.

b)      Haryana registered the highest unemployment rate of 31.8 per cent followed by Rajasthan (30.7 per cent), Jammu & Kashmir (22.4 per cent), Jharkhand (16.5 per cent), Bihar (14.5 per cent) and Tripura (10.5 per cent).

c)       Madhya Pradesh recorded the lowest unemployment rate at 0.8 per cent by displacing Chattisgarh (0.9 per cent) from the spot.

 

5. National Cancer Awareness Day: 7th November: National Cancer Awareness Day 2022 is celebrated every year on 7th November in India. This day is important because it educates people about the serious risk of cancer. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cancer is the second most deadly disease that causes death among people. In the year 2020, 8.5 lakh people in India died of cancer. For this reason, National Cancer Awareness Day 2020 is celebrated every year on 7 November to raise awareness about this type of cancer.

National Cancer Awareness Day History: Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan first announced National Cancer Awareness Day in September 2014. He started a state-level movement on cancer control and encouraged people to report to municipal clinics for a free screening. A booklet talking about the early signs of cancer and how to avoid it was also distributed.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Netanyahu and Allies Again Wins Israel Elections: Former Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu sealed his return to power, as the final vote count from elections this week gave him and his far-right allies a clear majority in parliament. Results released by the electoral commission said that with 99 per cent of votes counted, Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud party had earned 32 seats in Israel’s 120-seat parliament, the Knesset. The result sets Netanyahu up to form what may be the most right-wing government in Israeli history.

Combined with 18 for two ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties and 14 for the rising extreme-right alliance called Religious Zionism gave the bloc supporting Netanyahu 64 seats.

The parties backing centrist caretaker Prime Minister Yair Lapid won 51 seats, a definitive win for Netanyahu that spells an end to Israel’s unprecedented era of political deadlock, which forced five elections in less than four years.

 

2. Gender Wealth Gap (GWG) in APAC Largest in India at 64%: Report: A new study revealed that India has the widest gender wealth gap (64%) as compared to other APAC countries. This is largely due to the higher burden of caregiving responsibilities. The 2022 WTW Global Gender Wealth Equity report found that opportunities for women in leadership positions are also limited, with only 3% of women in the workforce occupying senior positions in India.

World Scenario: South Korea has been found as the best performing country in the APAC region in terms of gender wealth gap. The report highlights that across the 12 markets in the APAC region, the gender wealth gaps ranges from 64 per cent in India to 90 per cent in South Korea.

Women, when they retire from work, will just have 74 per cent of the wealth accumulated by men. The report said APAC has one of the lowest global wealth gaps on average for gender wealth equity. Women in the region will likely accumulate just over three-quarters or 76 per cent of men’s wealth levels, and just two points above the global average.

The Best Performing Countries: According to the report, a total of six markets included in the analysis have a higher wealth index at retirement for women compared to the global average, and among them are China (78 per cent), Japan (82 per cent), Philippines (79 per cent) and Singapore (79 per cent).

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Kerala to host Track Asia Cup 2022 Cycling Tournament: Kerala is set to host the Track Asia Cup 2022 Cycling Tournament. Track Asia Cup is one of the biggest cycling events and will be held at LNCPE Outdoor Velodrome from 25th November 2022 to 28th November 2022. In the Track Asia Cup 2022, around 200 cyclists will participate from over 25 countries in Asia. The event is being conducted outside Delhi for the first time. Key Points:

a)      Track Asia Cup is sanctioned by the Asian Cycling Confederation and Cycling Federation of India.

b)      The Cycling Association of Kerala informed that due to extreme heat, efforts are being made to hold the matches under flood lights.

c)       Track Asia Cup also the selection of Asian Countries for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

d)      Cycling Giants including China, Korea, Japan, and Kazakhstan are going to participate in the event. Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Indonesia, and India will also be a part of the event.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Niva Bupa partnered with IDFC FIRST Bank partner for Bancassurance: Niva Bupa Health Insurance Company Limited has announced a partnership with IDFC First Bank to provide health-insurance solutions to the customers of the bank. The advanced digital capability of the bank combined with Niva Bupa’s best-in-class health insurance solutions will provide the best services for the customers. The partnership will empower the two institutions to serve customers better and help them lead healthier lives. Key Points:

a)      Niva Bupa is known for introducing the most innovative health insurance benefits in India.

b)      They can design and launch products for different customer segments that will hold IDFC First Bank to offer customers services according to their needs.

c)       The partnership aims to provide growth for both businesses and to expand the reach to provide the best healthcare solutions.

d)      Both Niva Bupa and IDFC First Bank share synergy in terms of creating strong digital platforms for customers to enable seamless customer onboarding and excellent service experience.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. Adani New Industries installs India’s largest wind turbine, taller than Statue of Unity: Adani New Industries Ltd. has constructed a wind turbine in Mundra in Gujarat as part of its growth plans for renewable energy that is taller than the Statue of Unity and has blades that are broader than the wingspan of a jumbo jet.  About the Mundra Windtech Ltd:

a)      Mundra Windtech Ltd (MWL), an Adani Enterprises Ltd. wholly-owned company, installed the turbine (AEL). This prototype is also Adani New Industries Ltd.’s (ANIL) first addition to its portfolio and has paved the way for the installation of even larger wind turbine generators, according to the company.

b)      The wind turbine, which is 200 metres tall and can power over 4,000 households with 5.2 MW of electricity, can generate.

c)       Its 160-meter-diameter rotor makes it the most powerful wind turbine in the world. The wind turbine generator’s hub height is 120 metres or roughly the height of a 40-story structure.

d)      Over the past few years, the popularity of wind turbines has increased dramatically. Turbines of a capacity of 4 MW or more are typically installed offshore, where the machines can reach 14 MW in size.

Note: Adani New Industries Ltd Founded: 1988; Adani New Industries Ltd Headquarters: Ahmedabad; Adani New Industries Ltd Owner: Gautam Adani.

 

2. VR Krishna Gupta named as Chairman of BPCL: Vetsa Rama Krishna Gupta has taken over the additional charge of Chairman and Managing Director of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), post-superannuation of Arun Kumar Singh. V R K Gupta is Director (Finance) in the company and holds the additional charge of Director (HR).

He is currently a Board member in BPRL (Bharat Petro Resources Limited) and Fino Paytech Limited and was also a Board member in the recently amalgamated companies BORL (Bharat Oman Refineries Limited) & BGRL (Bharat Gas Resources Limited), as well as MAFFL (Mumbai Aviation Fuel Farm Facility Private Limited).

Note: BPCL Headquarters: Mumbai; BPCL Founded: 1952.

 

3. Energy Efficiency Services Limited named Vishal Kapoor as CEO: Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) has announced the appointment of Vishal Kapoor as its chief executive officer (CEO). He takes charge after completing his tenure as the joint secretary at the Ministry of Power. As joint secretary, he led various government interventions, schemes, and reforms in the distribution sector. He also spearheaded cyber security and IT initiatives in the power sector. He played an instrumental role in formulating the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme for the Operational and Financial turnaround of distribution utilities.

Note: Energy Efficiency Services Limited Headquarters location: New Delhi; Energy Efficiency Services Limited Founded: 2009; Energy Efficiency Services Limited CEO: Arun Kumar Mishra.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Aruna Sairam honoured with Chevalier Award by French govt: Carnatic vocalist, composer, collaborator, humanitarian and speaker, Aruna Sairam has been honoured with the French government’s highest honour, Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des award. Aruna Sairam has been selected for this award not just for her singing prowess, but also for her contribution towards the development of the Indo-France relationship.

Her music has erased geographical borders when she was the first to incorporate Abhang, a Western Indian musical form, into a traditional, South Indian concert. By interacting with national and international musicians, Aruna communicates beyond regional contexts, using melody as a language of human expression. Apart from this:

a)      Aruna Sairam is the recipient of several awards including the Padma Shri by the Central Government and the Sangita Kalanidhi by the Music Academy.

b)      She was also elected as the Vice-Chairperson of the Sangeet Natak Akademi.

c)       Apart from this, she is also the recipient of the Tamil Nadu government’s Kalaimamani Award and the Kalidas Samman Award of Madhya Pradesh.

d)      Aruna Sairam has also received the US Congressional Award of Excellence and was also conferred appreciation by the Mayor of the City of New York and the city of San Diego.

 

2. Noted Malayalam writer Sethu received Ezhuthachan Award 2022: Noted Malayalam fiction writer, Sethu (A. Sethumadhavan) has been selected for the Kerala government’s prestigious ‘Ezhuthachan Puraskaram’ this year in recognition of his overall contribution to the Malayalam language and literature. He focussed on modernising the literature by standing beyond the definitions of movements and trends.

About Ezhuthachan Puraskaram: The Ezhuthachan Puraskaram is the highest literary honour is given by the Kerala Sahitya Akademi, Government of Kerala. The award is named after Thunchaththu Ezhuthachan, a 16th-century devotional poet, considered to be the father of the Malayalam language. The honour carries a cash award of Rs 5,00,000 and a citation.