Daily GK Update- 13th Nov, 2022

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India Joins Mangrove Alliance for Climate (MAC) at COP27: Calling for integration of mangroves conservation with the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) programmes for carbon sequestering, India joined the Mangrove Alliance for Climate (MAC).

Mangrove Alliance for Climate (MAC): The Mangrove Alliance for Climate (MAC) is an intergovernmental alliance that seeks to expand and hasten the progress towards the conservation and restoration of mangrove ecosystems. Its members include the UAE, Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, Australia, Japan, and Spain. The alliance will raise global awareness about the role of mangroves as a nature-based climate change solution. It will ensure the rehabilitation of mangrove forests at the global level.

MAC & India: India is among the first five countries to join the MAC, at the 27th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP27) at Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt. The others are Australia, Japan, Spain, and Sri Lanka. The move is in line with India’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to create an additional carbon sink of 2.5- 3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent, through additional forest and tree cover by 2030.

 

2. 18th International Telemedicine Conference ‘TELEMEDICON 2022’ to be held in Kerala: Telemedicine Society of India (TSI) and Kerala Chapter hosts the 18th Edition of the International Telemedicine Conference at Amrita Hospital, Kochi. The inaugural ceremony was felicitated by Mr. S. Somnath, Chairman of ISRO, Mr. Mohanan Kunnummal, Vice Chancellor, of Kerala University of Health Science, and Dr. Rethan Kelkar, IT Secretary of Kerala. The Chief Guest of the event was Mr. S. Somnath, Chairman, of ISRO. Key Points:

a)      Telemedicon 2022 is an annual global conference for healthcare professionals, providers, health insurance providers, online pharmacy chains, industrialists, academic scientists, research scholars and scientists, and medical and engineering stakeholders from various fields of telemedicine, telehealth, e-health, m-health, and digital health.

b)      The core theme of the Telemedicon 2022 is ‘Strengthening Health Systems Through Sustainable Telemedicine and Digital Health’.

c)       It aims to build platforms involving healthcare regulators, health funding authorities, service providers, and international experts.

d)      The highlights of the event are scientific sessions on topics like Space Telemedicine Programs, Telehealth tourism, and AI-based Telehealth systems.

 

3. PM Gati Shakti Multimodal Waterways Summit held in Varanasi: Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated the two-day PM Gati Shakti Multimodal Waterways Summit at the Deendayal Hastkala Sankul (Trade Centre and Museum) in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. The primary objective of the summit is to bring together greater awareness about the PM Gati Shakti National Masterplan with a focus on infrastructure development in the waterways. Key Points:

a)      PM Gati Shakti Multimodal Waterways Summit is a transformative approach for improving logistics efficiency and reducing logistics costs to ensure first and last-mile connectivity.

b)      The Ministry has identified 101 projects estimated to cost around 62 thousand crore rupees under Gati Shakti which are aimed to be completed by 2024.

c)       PM Gati Shakti: PM Gati Shakti also known as National Master Plan for Multimodal connectivity is an Indian megaproject worth 1.2 trillion USD. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced PM Gati Shakti on 15th August 2021 to boost Indian Economic Growth. The plan was launched on 13th October 2021 to provide multimodal connectivity infrastructure to all economic zones of India and was approved on 21st October 2021 by Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs.

 

4. Skyroot’s first rocket set for launch from Sriharikota: India’s first privately developed rocket, Vikram-S by Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace is poised to create history as it undergoes final launch preparations at the ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation)’s launchpad in Sriharikota. The mission ‘Prarambh’, meaning ‘the beginning’, since it is the first mission for Skyroot, was unveiled by ISRO chairman S. Somanath in Bengaluru after the technical launch clearance from the Space regulator IN-SPACe.

Skyroot’s launch vehicles are named ‘Vikram’ as a tribute to the founder of the Indian Space programme and renowned scientist Vikram Sarabhai. “Vikram-S rocket getting launched is a single-stage sub-orbital launch vehicle which would carry three customer payloads and help test and validate majority of the technologies in the Vikram series of space launch vehicles.

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

Founder and CEO of Skyroot Aerospace: Pawan Kumar Chandana; Skyroot Aerospace Founded: 12 June 2018; Skyroot Aerospace Headquarters location: Hyderabad.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. PM Modi to gift Himachal Pradesh artifact to the G20 leaders in Bali summit: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will gift the local artifacts made in Himachal Pradesh to the world leaders at the upcoming G20 Summit. The G20 Summit will take place in Indonesia’s capital city, Bali. Key Points

a)      Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s idea behind this is to promote Himachal Pradesh’s art and culture so that it travels in wide countries.

b)      PM Modi will hand over the local artifacts like Chamba Rumals, Kinnauri Shawl, Himachal Mukhate, Kangra Miniature Paintings, Kullu Shawl, and Kanal Brass Set to the World leaders.

c)       Prime Minister also unveiled the logo, theme, and website for India’s Presidency of the G20. India’s G20 logo juxtaposes planet Earth with Lotus and the theme is “Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam”.

d)      The country is all set to assume the presidency of the grouping of the world’s 20 largest economies on 1st December 2022.

 

2. QS Asia University Rankings 2023: IIT Bombay top educational institution in Southern Asia: Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay is the best educational education in Southern Asia while IIT Delhi ranks second in the region, according to the QS Asia University Rankings 2023. Asia features 757 institutions – up from 687 last year and making it the biggest rankings for the region yet.

According to official data, the Indian Universities which have made it to rank in the 100 QS Asia Universities Ranking are:

1.      IIT Bombay (40th)

2.      IIT Delhi (46th)

3.      IISc Bangalore (52)

4.      IIT Madras (53)

5.      IIT Kharagpur (61)

6.      IIT Kanpur (66)

7.      University of Delhi (85)

The Top 10 Asian Universities list are:

1.      China’s Peking University (Rank 1),

2.      National University of Singapore (rank 2),

3.      Tsinghua University, Beijing (rank 3),

4.      The University of Hong Kong (rank 4),

5.      Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (rank 5),

6.      Fudan University, China (rank 6),

7.      Zhejiang University, China (rank 6),

8.      Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (rank 8),

9.      Universiti Malaya (UM), Kuala Lumpur (rank 9),

10.  Shanghai Jiao Tong University (rank 10).

 

3. World Kindness Day: 13th November: World Kindness Day is celebrated on November 13 every year. The day inspires people to appreciate the kindness and positive power in society. Kindness has no constraints and goes far beyond the feelings of race, religion, politics, and gender. This day help us to move forward in a helpful and kind spirit toward the people. This year the day is being celebrated with the theme is ‘Be kind whenever possible.’

World Kindness Day History: World Kindness Day commenced in the year 1998 by an organisation named World Kindness Movement during the 1997 Tokyo conference. In 2019, under Swiss law, this organisation was registered as an official NGO. Currently, there are more than 28 nations that are not associated with any religion or political ideology. This international event is celebrated in many countries including Canada, Nigeria, Japan, Australia, and the United Arab Emirates. Along with Singapore, India, and Italy celebrated the day in the year 2009.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy T20: Mumbai beats Himachal in final to clinch maiden title: Domestic giants Mumbai produced a near-perfect performance to beat Himachal Pradesh by three wickets in the final and won their maiden Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy title at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. The 15th edition of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, a Twenty20 (T20) competition that is played in India, was held from 11th October 2022 to 5th November 2022.

About Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy: The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy is a domestic T­20 cricket championship in India, which is organised by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), among the teams from the Ranji Trophy. The tournament is named after a former Indian test cricketer Syed Mushtaq Ali. The first match was held in 2006­07 and the trophy was won by Tamil Nadu under the captaincy of Dinesh Karthick and also Rohit Sharma scored the first ever T20 century in the match. Until now, Tamil Nadu is the most successful team of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, by winning it thrice.

 

2. India’s Virat Kohli becomes first batter to score 4000 runs in T20Is: Indian star cricketer, Virat Kohli has scripted history as he became the first batter in history to reach 4000 runs in T20 Internationals. Kohli reached the landmark in the second semi-final of the T20 World Cup 2022 against England in Adelaide. Earlier, Kohli became the all-time leading run-scorer in the men’s T20 World Cups against Bangladesh in Adelaide, overtaking Mahela Jayawardene’s record of 1016 runs, which was set in 2014. Kohli, remarkably, raced to the magnificent milestone while batting at an average of 53.34. He is the only batter in the shortest format to average over 50 and reached the milestone in 115 matches.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. BEE, SIDBI to Jointly Promote Energy Efficiency Financing for MSMEs: The government body for energy efficiency Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) under the Ministry of Power has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) for MSMEs. Key Points:

a)      The MoU will aim to promote energy efficiency financing for MSMEs and explore the internet of things (IoT)-based solutions, greening MSMEs, capacity building of various stakeholders, etc., BEE said.

b)      To encourage MSME units to undertake energy saving investments in plant and machinery to reduce energy consumption, enhance energy efficiency, reduce CO2 emissions, and improve the profitability of the units in the long run.

c)       BEE and MSME ministry jointly runs a collaborative platform Sameeksha (Small and Medium Enterprises Energy Efficiency Knowledge Sharing) to pool the knowledge and synergise the efforts of various organisations for the promotion and adoption of clean energy technologies and practices among MSMEs.

 

2. 3 Indian women feature in 2022 Asia’s Power Businesswomen List: Forbes Asia has unveiled its annual ‘Asia’s Power Businesswomen’ list which features 20 women from the Asia-Pacific region. The list of women bosses features three Indians as well. The 20 women featured are newcomers to the list, further expanding Forbes Asia’s network of female trailblazers in the region. Forbes Asia has picked those women business leaders in its November issue who came up with varying strategies that gave a boost to their businesses despite the Covid-19 pandemic and the uncertainty caused by it.

Ghazal Alagh: The first Indian women named on the list is Ghazal Alagh, co-founder and chief innovation officer of Honasa Consumer, Mamaearth’s parent firm. She started Gurgaon-based company in 2016 with her husband Varun who is the CEO. In January this year, Alagh’s company turned a unicorn.

Soma Mondal: Second Indian businesswoman on the list is Soma Mondal, chairperson of Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL), the first to chair the state-run company. Forbes said that since Mondal becoming SAIL chairperson in 2021, its annual revenue has grown by 50 per cent for the year ended March 31, 2022.

Namita Thapar: Namita Thapar, executive director at India business of Emcure Pharma, is the third Indian to be named of Forbes Asia’s Power Businesswomen 2022 list. Thapar, who also featured on Shark Tank India as a judge oversees the India business of the Rs 61 billion Pune-based company that her father, Satish Mehta, founded over forty years ago.

Other women’s: Other women who feature on the list include Choi Soo-yeon, CEO of Naver, South Korea’s largest internet company by market capitalisation; Japan’s twin sisters Anna Nakajima and Mizuki Nakajima, co-founders of smartphone gaming app Coly, the youngest on the list; and Wallaya Chirathivat, president director and CEO of Thailand’s largest retail property developer Central Pattana.

 

DEFENCE

 

1. Indian Army Organises Mela to celebrate Diamond Jubilee of Battle of Walong: Indian Army organizes fair/mela in continuation of Diamond jubilee celebrations of Battle of Walong in Arunachal Pradesh. It is part of the Diamond jubilee celebrations of the Battle of Walong to commemorate the bravery and sacrifice of the Indian Army while defending the Indian territory against the Chinese aggression of 1962.

The Mela aims to familiarize the public with the Indian Army and to encourage a sense of belongingness and togetherness. The Mela conducted at Walong encompassed a variety of scintillating sports and games events. The profuse response of the residents during the Mela is a tribute to the sacrifices made by Bravehearts to ensure peace in the region and also ensure its territorial integrity during the war with China. The Mela also highlighted the commendable contribution of the public to the security forces in maintaining peace and harmony in the region.

 

2. Indian Army launches ‘Veerangana Sewa Kendra’ for Veer Naris: Indian Army launched a single window facility “Veerangana Sewa Kendra” (VSK) for the welfare and grievances redressal of army wives. The “Veerangana Sewa Kendra” project was inaugurated by the President Army Wives Welfare Association (AWWA) at the premises of the Directorate of Indian Army Veterans (DIAV) premises located at Delhi Cantt. Key Points:

a)      “Veerangana Sewa Kendra” will be available as a service to the Indian Army Veterans Portal.

b)      The systems cater to registering grievances with tracking, monitoring, and regular feedback to the applicant.

c)       Veer Naris will have multiple means for approaching the VSK through telephone, SMS, WhatsApp, Post, E-mail, and walk-ins to seek assistance.

d)      Stakeholders can monitor the status of grievances through Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software.

e)      The project leverages digital technology in the seamless coupling of various stakeholders.

f)        Non-military stakeholders like Rashtriya Sainik Board (RSB), Kendriya Sainik Board (KSB) & Zilla Sainik Board (ZSB) are being linked through email.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Father of modern election science, Sir David Butler, passes away at 98: Sir David Butler, dubbed the “father of election science”, has died at the age of 98. He was born on the 17th of October 1924, Butler became a diligent student of philosophy, politics, and economics at New College, Oxford. His studies were disrupted when he was commissioned as a lieutenant to serve in the Second World War. Butler developed upon a long­forgotten Edwardian equation called “the cube rule” for his research on elections as an undergraduate. He discovered that he was able to estimate the total number of seats won from the polling numbers, enabling him to forecast the seats likely to be won by any party based on opinion polls.

For the 1950 election, aged just 25, he was the in­house analyst on the BBC’s first ever TV election results programme, a job he retained until the 1979 election. Moreover, Butler gained recognition for his work on the swing concept—the percentage of votes that switch from one party to another between elections. In 1955, he introduced the swingometer to the BBC’s election night broadcast, which went on to become a staple of election coverage all over the world.

Daily GK Update- 12th Nov, 2022

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant launched Purple Fest logo: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has launched logo of Purple Fest at a function held in Manohar Parrikar Memorial Hall of Sanjay Centre for Education, Porvorim. The event was organised by the Office of State Commission for Persons with Disabilities Goa in collaboration with Directorate of Social Welfare and Entertainment Society of Goa. Goa Government is delighted to introduce Purple Fest – Celebrating Diversity, a first-of-its-kind inclusive festival that embraces, expresses and celebrates persons with disabilities. Government will provide 100 per cent facilities to the Divyangs in the State. About the Purple fest: 

a)      The government will start sign language course in next year for the special people, which he assured to public. The aim of the three-day inclusive festival is to illustrate how people can unite to support each other and “make everyone in our society feel included.

b)      While the event is free for Goan delegates, exhibitors, and students with disabilities from around the country, other delegates need to pay a fee of Rs 1,000 to attend the Goa Purple Fest. There are two categories — individual and organisation – mentioned in the registration forms.

c)       NGOs or institutions who work in the field of disability will be allowed a 50 percent discount, the social welfare minister had said earlier. Organisations with more than 10 participants will be charged Rs 500 each.

Note: Goa Capital: Panaji; Goa Chief Minister: Pramod Sawant; Goa Governor: S. Sreedharan Pillai.

 

2. Kerala becomes 1st State to Introduce Uniform Gold Price Based on Bank Rate: Kerala becomes the first state in India to launch uniform gold prices based on the bank rate. The decision to introduce a uniform price on 916 purity 22-carat gold has been taken at a meeting between officials of Malabar Gold and Diamonds and key members of the All Kerala Gold and Silver Merchants Association. Key Points:

a)      Being a top gold-consuming state in the country, Kerala can set the stage for a countrywide roll-out of uniform gold prices.

b)      The selling price of gold should be unified everywhere in the country. The gold rate should be uniform across the country based on the bank rates.

c)       Gold is priced at Rs 150-300 per gram extra over the bank rate. In Kerala, gold used to be sold at different prices on a particular day.

d)      Uniform gold price based on bank rate offers an opportunity for consumers to purchase gold at a reasonable and transparent price.

 

3. 42nd International Congress of the INCA Inaugurated in Dehradun: Uttarakhand Governor Lt Gen Gurmit Singh (Retd.) inaugurated the 42nd International Congress of the Indian National Cartographic Association (INCA) in Dehradun. The 42nd International Congress is being organized by the National Hydrographic Office at Dehradun, Uttarakhand. The theme of the 42nd International Congress of the Indian National Cartographic Association is Digital Cartography to Harness Blue Economy.

 

4. “E. K. Janaki Ammal: Life and Scientific Contributions” authored by Nirmala James: Retired school teacher Nirmala James has authored a new book titled “E. K. Janaki Ammal: Life and Scientific Contributions”, featuring the life and remarkable achievements of Edavalath Kakkat Janaki Ammal (E. K. Janaki Ammal), India’s first woman botanist. The book, published by Enview Research and Development, was released during the event organised on the 125th birth anniversary of E. K. Janaki Ammal.

Essence of the book: The book describes how Dr Janaki Ammal fulfilled her professional dreams despite the gender and caste barriers. She is well known for her work in the areas of cytogenetics and plant breeding. The book narrates several interesting insights from the dairy of Janaki Ammal’s father Krishnan, and the author’s own findings travelling through the paths Janaki Ammal took.

 

5. IFFI 2022: Austrian film ‘Alma and Oskar’ to open film festival: The Austrian movie “Alma and Oskar” directed by Dieter Berner will open the 53rd International Film Festival of India (IFFI), to be held in Goa from November 20 to 28. The film will be screened at the festival venue INOX, Panaji. As a festival that seeks to celebrate the art of cinema to the fullest, it is only fitting that 53rd IFFI opens with a film about a love affair between a composer and an artist. The passionate and tumultuous relationship between the Viennese society Grand Dame Alma Mahler (1879-1964) and Austrian artist Oskar Kokoschka ((1886-1980) is the subject of this biopic. Directed by Dieter Berner, the film has a total runtime of 110 minutes.

 

6. National Education Day: 11th November: In India, National Education Day is celebrated every year on November 11 as it marks the birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, who was India’s first education minister after independence. The day is observed to celebrate the work done by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad in the education sector during his tenure as the education minister. In 1920, he was elected as a member of the foundation committee to establish Jamia Millia Islamia at Aligarh in UP.  This day is celebrated to acknowledge and honour Maulana Azad’s contribution to the country’s education system. The theme for National Education Day 2022 is “Changing Course, Transforming Education.”

 

7. Public Service Broadcasting Day: 12th November: Public Service Broadcasting Day is being celebrated on 12th November every year to commemorate the only visit of Mahatma Gandhi to All India Radio in Delhi in 1947. On 12 November 1947, Mahatma Gandhi addressed the displaced people (a refugee from Pakistan), who had temporarily settled at Kurukshetra in Haryana after partition. Gandhiji had reportedly said that he saw the medium of radio as Shakti, the miraculous power of God.

History Public Service Broadcasting Day: The day was declared as Public Service Broadcasting Day or (Jan Prasaran Diwas) in 2001, after it was conceptualised by Suhas Borker, Convenor, Jan Prasar. Prasar Bharati has been given the responsibility of public service broadcasting, deepen democratic traditions and provide opportunities to all diverse communities and cultures.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Aruna Miller, 1st ever Indian American to hold office in Maryland: Indian-American woman Aruna Miller has become the first immigrant to hold the office of Lieutenant Governor in Maryland, Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. She stated that residents of Maryland chose Wes Moore as their Governor while she secured victory in the race to become Lieutenant Governor. Ms Miller, who is a former executive director of Indian American Impact, was endorsed by the organization, which supports Indian American representation at every level of government. She also had the support and endorsement by important Indian American organizations and people.

Aruna Miller represented District 15 in the Maryland House of Delegates from 2010 to 2018. She ran for Congress in 2018 in Maryland’s 6th Congressional District and secured the second spot among eight candidates. She is married to Dave Miller and they have three daughters. Aruna Miller resides in Montgomery County with her family.

 

2. State of Food and Agriculture Report 2022 Published by FAO: The State of Food and Agriculture (SOFA) is one of the annual flagship report released by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). It provides comprehensive insights into the various issues related to the field of food and agriculture based on science-based assessment.

The key findings of the State of Food and Agriculture Report 2022:

a)      The report assessed various drivers of agricultural automation, including the recently developed digital technologies.

b)      Based on 27 case studies, the report analyzed the business case for the adoption of these digital automation technologies across various agricultural production systems in the world.

c)       It identified various challenges that are preventing inclusive adoption of these technologies, especially by small-scale producers. It recognized two major barriers for their adoption – low digital literacy and lack of supportive infrastructure like connectivity and access to electricity.

d)      The report recommended policies that will enable disadvantaged groups to access the agricultural automation technologies, which will help in the creation of sustainable and resilient agri-food systems.

e)      Agriculture sector in high-income countries in North America, Europe and Oceania are highly mechanized since the 1960s. However, regions dominated by low and middle-income countries are less mechanized.

f)        Only ten of the twenty-seven service providers are profitable and financially sustainable. All of these profitable service providers are based in high-income and used solutions that are in the mature phase, serving only large-scale producers.

g)      The adoption is especially limited in sub-Saharan Africa. Agriculture in this region is dominated by human and animal power, limiting the productivity significantly. The report recommends setting up sustainable rental mechanisms to address this issue.

h)      The report addresses the concerns regarding the unemployment crisis caused by labor-saving technologies. It gives several recommendations in this regard:

a.      Avoiding subsidization of automation in regions where rural labor is abundant and wages are low

b.      Creation of favorable environment for the adoption of automation technology

c.       Providing social security for low-skilled workers who are likely to lose their livelihood because of the automation.

 

3. UNESCO: World Heritage Glaciers to Disappear By 2050: Glaciers at many UNESCO World Heritage sites including Yellowstone and Kilimanjaro National Park will likely vanish by 2050, the UN agency warned, urging leaders to act fast to save the rest. The warning followed a study of 18,600 glaciers at 50 World Heritage sites. What The Report Pointed:

a)      The study “shows these glaciers have been retreating at an accelerated rate since 2000 due to CO2 emissions, which are warming temperatures”, UNESCO said.

b)      The glaciers were losing 58 billion tonnes of ice every year, equivalent to the combined annual water use of France and Spain, and were responsible for nearly five percent of observed global sea-level rise, the agency explained.

c)       Countries have pledged to keep global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels — a goal the world is set to miss on current emission trends.

d)      The UNESCO study, in partnership with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), shows that these glaciers have been retreating at an accelerated rate since 2000 due to CO2 emissions, which are warming temperatures.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Uttar Pradesh to host 2023 Khelo India University Games: Uttar Pradesh government to host Khelo India National University Games in 2023-2024 in four cities. Khelo India National University Games will be conducted in four cities of Uttar Pradesh including Lucknow, Gorakhpur, Varanasi, and Noida. Key Points:

a)      In the Khelo India National University Games, 4,500 athletes will participate representing 150 universities across the country.

b)      There will be 20 disciplines including basketball, judo, kabaddi, wrestling, swimming, boxing, rowing, etc.

c)       Uttar Pradesh has got the opportunity to host the National University Games for the first time after Odisha and Karnataka.

d)      Disciplines like kabaddi, judo, archery, and fencing will be organized in Noida and rowing will be organized in Gorakhpur.

e)      In Varanasi, events like wrestling, malkham, and Yoga will be organized. The rest of the events will be organized in Lucknow.

f)        The government will announce the appointment of 12 former athletes who have made a mark at the international level as coaches in different disciplines for the state government-run sports hostels.

 

2. A new book title “Winning the Inner Battle” authored by Shane Watson: A new book titled “Winning the Inner Battle Bringing the best version of you to cricket” is authored by Shane Watson. This book will give you all the information that you will ever need to deeply understand how to bring the best version of yourself every time your best performance is needed. Shane Watson is one of Australian cricket’s finest all-rounders, representing his country 298 times. Shane Watson’s new book, Winning the Inner Battle, which explores the mental side of the game through his own experiences of revitalising his career after he had considered retirement in 2015.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Central bank digital currency could end RBI-ESMA row: The central bank digital currency, or CBDC, may break the deadlock between the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) over the inspection of Indian financing clearing houses. European lenders such as HSBC, Deutsche, Standard Chartered, and Barclays make between 15% and 25% of trades in the so-called negotiated dealing system order matching segment (NDS-OM), which is run by the Clearing Corporation of India Ltd. (CCIL), one of the central counterparties for trade settlement.

Issue with the Indian Banks: At the moment, banks are required to set aside about 2.5% of capital, or roughly 2.5 crore for every 100 crore in trades. This could increase by roughly 50 times if the Indian central counterparties do not follow ESMA regulations, making business unsustainable. The ability to multilaterally net deals is the main benefit of a central counterparty like CCIL. This means that a bank can settle several transactions with various parties using the system, ensuring that payments and receivables are netted off.

European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA): The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) is a Paris-based independent European Union Authority. ESMA works in the area of securities legislation and regulation to enhance the efficiency of financial markets in Europe. Founded: 1 January 2011; Headquarters: Paris, France

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. IT-gaints Google launches ‘FloodHub’, a platform to forecast flood: An American technology giant, Google has launched a platform that displays flood forecasts, namely ‘FloodHub’. This platform shows the area and time where floods could occur, in order to inform people about the natural calamity and authorities can assist them with effectively. The technology giant has also expanded its AI flood forecasting services to 18 counties across Latin America, Africa and Southeast Asia. Key Points:

a)      Google launched its flood forecasting services to safeguard people against disasters and natural calamities in 2018. Google states that the company has used an AI technique called transfer learning to make it work in areas where there is less data available.

b)      Meanwhile, the search engine has also integrated its Lens image recognition feature into many of its other features. It includes Google Chrome and Photos.

c)       Recently, 9to5Google has pointed out that Google is adding a Lens button to its home page, in its search bar. After users click on the Lens button, they would be prompted to upload an image or paste a URL to one.

Note: Google CEO: Sundar Pichai; Google Founded: 4 September 1998; Google Headquarters: Mountain View, California, United States; Google Founders: Larry Page, Sergey Brin; Google Parent organization: Alphabet Inc.

 

2. LIC Buys Additional Stake in Voltas for Rs 635 Cr: Life Insurance Company (LIC) has increased its shareholding in Voltas by buying an additional 2 per cent stake. The state-owned life insurer increased its shareholding from 2,27,04,306 shares (equivalent to 6.862 per cent) to 2,93,95,224 (8.884 per cent) in Voltas.

LIC said it acquired Voltas’ shares worth Rs 634.50 crore through open market transactions during the period from August 10 to November 4, 2022. The transaction was carried out as an open market purchase at an average cost of ₹948.31 per share in Voltas.

About Voltas: Voltas is engaged in the business of air conditioning, refrigeration, electro-mechanical projects as an EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) contractor both in domestic and international market. Voltas has a market cap of around ₹27,609 crore.

 

3. Adidas appoints Bjorn Gulden as CEO of the company: Adidas has appointed Bjorn Gulden, the CEO of rival Puma, as its new chief executive, and he will take over the German sportswear brand in January as the company. Gulden will replace Kasper Rorsted, Adidas’ CEO since 2016, whose departure was announced in August. Puma, which like Adidas is based in the southern German town of Herzogenaurach, said its chief commercial officer, Arne Freundt, will replace Gulden as its CEO.

Note: Adidas Headquarters: Herzogenaurach, Germany; Adidas Founder: Adolf Dassler; Adidas Founded: 18 August 1949, Herzogenaurach, Germany.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Prominent Indian physician Dr Subhash Babu to be awarded Bailey K. Ashford Medal: Prominent Indian physician and scientist, Dr. Subhash Babu has received the prestigious Bailey K. Ashford Medal for 2022 and the Fellow of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (FASTMH) award 2022. This award is given to him for his outstanding research and contributions to tropical medicine. The medal is presented annually to one or more mid-career researchers for distinguished work in tropical medicine by the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH), the largest scientific organization in tropical medicine in the world.

 

2. YKC Wadiyar received International Kannadiga Rathna award 2022: Member of the erstwhile royal family, Yaduveer Krishnaraja Chamaraja (YKC) Wadiyar has been selected for the International Kannada Rathna award. It is presented annually by Dubai Kannadigas to mark Kannada Rajyothsava. The award will be presented to YKC Wadiyar during Vishwa Kannada Habba on November 19 at Sheikh Rashid Auditorium in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in association with Kannadigaru Dubai Sangha as part of celebration of the 67th Kannada Rajyothsava. Besides, Vishwamanya Award would be presented to achievers in various fields.

 

3. Arfa Khanum Sherwani to Receive Kuldip Nayar Patrakarita Samman Award for 2022: The Gandhi Peace Foundation has announced the award of its prestigious Kuldip Nayar Patrakarita Samman for 2022 to The Wire’s senior editor Arfa Khanum Sherwani. The announcement was made at a press conference held at New Delhi’s Press Club of India by the well-known academic and author, Ashis Nandy. Nandy also announced that the awardee for 2021 was the independent journalist and YouTuber, Ajit Anjum.

About the Kuldip Nayar Patrakarita Samman: The award honours the legacy of journalist, author and human rights activist Kuldip Nayar and is awarded to journalists working in Indian languages contributing to democratic values and independent media. Under this award received by the Gandhi Peace Foundation, a cash amount of one lakh rupees is given to the selected journalists. Apart from this, he is also honored with a citation.