Daily GK Update- 16th Nov, 2022

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India’s longest river cruise to Sail from Varanasi in January 2023: The government is set to launch the world’s longest luxury river cruise from Varanasi to Dibrugarh via Bangladesh next year. The world’s longest luxury river cruise aims to give a push to Indian inland waterways development. The 50 days cruise will set sail from Varanasi and pass-through Kolkata and Dhaka before reaching Bogibeel in the Dibrugarh district of Assam. The cruise will sail on 10th January 2023 and will cover a distance of 4,000 km. Key Points:

a)      The 50 days long journey will cover 27 river systems and visit over 50 tourist sites including World Heritage Sites.

b)      This journey will also put India and Bangladesh on the river cruise map of the world.

c)       The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal informed that the development of coastal and rover shipping includes cruise services which is one of the priorities of the government.

d)      The development of Inland Waterways systems would also facilitate trade and cargo services. This will boost tourism around the area along with its routes.

e)      The Varanasi-Dibrugarh cruise is expected to be run on a PPP model with the MoU to run the first set of cruise liners signed between the Island Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) and Anatara Luxury River Cruises and JM Baxi River Cruises.

 

2. PM Modi Unveiled 108-feet tall ‘Statue of Prosperity’: Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled a 108 feet tall bronze statue of Sri Nadaprabhu Kempegowda in Bengaluru. The ‘Statue of Prosperity’ is made to commemorate the contribution of Nadaprabhu Kempegowda who is the founder of Bengaluru. The statue was conceptualized and sculpted by Ram V Sutar, who also curated the Statue of Unity. The ‘Statue of Prosperity’ is made with 98 tonnes of bronze and 120 tonnes of steel.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by the Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, the Governor of Karnataka, Thawar Chand Gehlot, and Union Minister Prahlad Joshi.

About Nadaprabhu Kempegowda: Nadaprabhu Hiriye Kempe Gowda is also known as Kempe Gowda. He was a chieftain under the Vijayanagara Empire. The capital of Karnataka, Bengaluru, was fortified by Kempe Gowda in 1537. He erected many Kannada inscriptions in the region. Kempe Gowda was one of the most well-educated rulers of all time.

 

3. CM announces Odisha to be made slum-free by the end of 2023: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced that the Odisha government aims to make Odisha slum-free by the end of 2023. The CM of Odisha has launched a survey using drones to facilitate a process to provide land deeds to slum-dwellers in five municipal areas across Odisha. The land survey was taken in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Berhampur, Rourkela, and Sambalpur civic body areas under the state government’s ‘Jaga Mission program. Key Points:

a)      Naveen Patnaik has declared Hinjili and Digapahandi towns in the Gajman district as ‘Slum Free’ and dedicated 707 ‘Biju Adarsh Colonies’ in 33 urban areas.

b)      All the slums in Odisha will be converted into model colonies and Odisha will be made slum-free by December 2023.

c)       Naveen Patnaik also stated that land rights will be given to 2.5 lakh slum families in the state by the next year.

d)      The authorities of ‘Jaga Mission’ signed an MoU with Tata Steel Foundation to identify slum dwellers and areas under the jurisdiction of the five municipal corporations for the land survey of Odisha. Tata Steel Foundation will provide technical support for the purpose.

e)      Over 1.70 lakh families of slum areas in 105 cities and towns have so far been given land rights under the program.

 

4. Nation-wide Campaign for Digital Life Certificate Launched: The Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pension, Government of India has launched a Nation-wide Campaign for Promoting Digital Life Certificates for Central Government Pensioners. In 2021, Union Minister of State Dr. Jitendra Singh launched the milestone Face Authentication Technique of submitting a Life Certificate through any Android Mobile Phone. The department this year is launching a special nationwide campaign to promote the life certificate through Digital mode.

All the registered Pensioners Associations, Pension Disbursing Banks, Ministries of the government of India, and CGHS Wellness Centres have been directed to promote the Digital Life Certificate. All pensioners can visit the Centre for submitting their Life Certificate through Digital means.

 

5. 7th Edition of Amur Falcon Festival Celebrated in Manipur: The Manipur Forest Authority to celebrate the 7th edition of the Amur Falcon Festival in Tamenglong district, Imphal. The objective of the Amur Falcon Festival is to spread awareness about the protection and conservation of the Amur Falcon. It is a day-long festival that is generally celebrated in the first or second week of November to strengthen human-nature relationships and acknowledge the importance of the small raptor in the lives of people. The first edition of the Amur Falcon Festival was celebrated in 2015.

About Amur Falcon: Amur Falcon (Falco amurensis) is the world’s longest-traveling small raptor of the Falcon family. Amur Falcon migrates to their wintering grounds in South Africa and they usually arrive in large numbers during October in Nagaland and Manipur. They leave the region in November after having enough food for their non-stop flight to Africa where they spend their winters

 

6. National Press Day: 16th November: National Press Day is observed on November 16 every year to acknowledge and honour the Press Council of India (PCI). The day marks the presence of an independent and responsible press in the country. The Press Council of India also examines the quality of reportage of the Indian press and keeps a check on journalistic activities.

National Press Day History: In the year 1956, the First Press Commission decided to form a body with statutory authority which has the responsibility of maintaining the ethics of journalism. In 1966 on 16 November, the PCI was formed. The National Press Day of India is since then celebrated on November 16 every year to commemorate the establishment of the council.

Note: Press Council of India Founder: Parliament of India; Press Council of India Founded: 4 July 1966, India; Press Council of India Headquarters: New Delhi; Press Council of India Chairperson: Smt. Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India Announces Additional Contribution of ‘$ 5 million’ to ASEAN-India S & T Fund: India announced an additional contribution of USD 5 million to the ASEAN-India science and technology fund to enhance cooperation in sectors of public health, renewable energy and smart agriculture.

The announcement came during the three-day visit of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar to Cambodia for ASEAN-India and East Asia summits. He addressed the ASEAN-India summit.  Vice President Dhankhar highlighted the global concerns on food and energy security and emphasised the role of the East Asia Summit (EAS) mechanism in promoting free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific with freedom of navigation and overflight.

About ASEAN-India Science & Technology Collaboration: ASEAN-India Science & Technology Collaboration formally started in 1996 with the establishment of the ASEAN India S&T working group (AIWGST). Initially, the collaborative S&T projects and activities between India and ASEAN were supported through ASEAN India Fund (AIF) but in 2008, a dedicated ASEAN India S&T Development Fund (AISTDF) with an equivalent amount of USD 1 million was established jointly by the Ministry of External Affairs and Department of Science and Technology (DST) to support R&D (Research and Development) projects and associated project development activities.

About ASEAN: The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), was established on 8 August 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand, with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok Declaration) by the Founding Fathers of ASEAN, namely Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand.  10 member countries of ASEAN: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

 

2. International Day for Tolerance: 16th November: International Day for Tolerance is observed on November 16 every year with an aim to build tolerance among diverse cultures and spread the message that tolerance is an integral part of society. The day is specifically recognized to educate people about the harmful consequences of intolerant society and its impact on the nation.

International Day of Tolerance History: The UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 51/95 proclaiming November 16 as International Day for Tolerance back in 1996. The action followed the adoption of a Declaration of Principles on Tolerance by UNESCO’s Member States on the same day in 1995. In 1995, the UN paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on his 125th birth anniversary by kickstarting the commemoration of International Tolerance Day.

Note: UNESCO Headquarters: Paris, France; UNESCO Founded: 16 November 1945, London, United Kingdom; UNESCO Director-General: Audrey Azoulay.

 

3. World COPD Day: 16th November: On the third Wednesday in November World COPD Day is observed. This year World COPD Day is observed on November 16. The day aims to create awareness about the condition and ways to reduce the burden of COPD worldwide. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the third leading cause of death worldwide. Its aim is to raise awareness, share knowledge, and discuss ways to reduce the burden of COPD worldwide. The 2022 theme for World COPD Day will be “Your Lungs for Life”. This year’s theme aims to highlight the importance of lifelong lung health.  The first World COPD Day was held in 2002. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD):

a)      COPD is a group of progressive lung diseases that are common, preventable, and treatable. This is usually seen among patients above 35 to 40 years of age with or without smoking history and mostly among men though prevalence is increasing in women gradually.

b)      Most people with COPD have emphysema, a condition in which the alveoli (air sacs in the lungs) are destroyed by smoking. The air sacs weaken and eventually break, which reduces the surface area of the lungs and the amount of oxygen that can reach the bloodstream. Another condition that comes under the umbrella of COPD is Chronic bronchitis, in which the lining of the bronchial tube experiences inflammation.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. India to Host IBSA Blind Football Women’s Asian/Oceania Championship 2022: Kerala Governor Arif Muhammad Khan inaugurated the IBSA Blind Football Women’s Asian/Oceania Championship 2022 at Kochi, Kerala. The IBSA Blind Football Women’s Asian/Oceania Championship 2022 is being held from 11th November 2022 to 18th November 2022.

This is the first time in India that a para football event will have 10 men’s teams and 2 women’s teams. This para football event is a qualifier for the World’s Championships Birmingham 2022 and the Paris Paralympics 2024. IBSA Blind Football Women’s Asian/Oceania Championship 2022 will be India’s biggest para football event.

IBSA Blind Football Women’s Asian/Oceania Championship 2022: Group A

a)      India

b)      China

c)       Thailand

d)      Malaysia

e)      Kazakhstan

IBSA Blind Football Women’s Asian/Oceania Championship 2022: Group B

a)      South Korea

b)      Japan

c)       Iran

d)      Australia

e)      Uzbekistan

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Bank of Maharashtra (BoM) tops PSU lenders’ list in Q2 credit growth: In terms of loan growth in percentage terms during the second quarter of 2022-23, Bank of Maharashtra (BoM) has emerged as the top performer among public sector lenders. According to the Public Sector Banks (PSBs) quarterly figures, the Pune-based lender increased gross advances by 28.62 percent to Rs 1,48,216 crore at the end of September 2022. Key Points:

a)      Union Bank of India came in second with a 21.54 percent increase to Rs 7,52,469 crore.

b)      State Bank of India, the country’s largest lender, came in third with an 18.15 percent increase in gross advances.

c)       In terms of Retail-Agri-MSME (RAM) loans, the Bank of Maharashtra recorded the highest growth of 22.31 percent during the period under review, followed by the Bank of Baroda at 19.53 percent and SBI at 16.51 percent.

d)      In terms of low-cost current account savings account (CASA) deposits, BoM led the way followed by the Central Bank of India.

e)      With a 3.55 percent net interest margin (NIM), BoM and SBI outperformed PSBs, a key profitability parameter. It was followed by the Bank of India and the Central Bank of India.

f)        BoM has the highest capital adequacy ratio among PSBs at 16.71 percent, followed by Canara Bank and Indian Bank at 16.15 percent at the end of the second quarter of 2022-23.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. BHIM App Open-Source License Model Launched by NPCI: The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) announced the launch of the BHIM App open-source license model to regulate entities participating in the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) ecosystem. The source code of the BHIM App will help those who do not have a UPI app of their own, to empower them to launch their own UPI App. Key Points:

a)      Several banks in India do not have mobile banking apps and are missing out on extending the benefits of the country’s largest retail payment system, UPI to their customers.

b)      NCPI aims to bridge the gap by extending all the readily available features of UPI to these entities through this BHIM App licensing model.

c)       The BHIM App, will be the economical and quick-to-market solution for these entities.

d)      Under this model new features that get launched on BHIM App in the future, will also be extended to these entities for them to continue accessing the BHIM app’s new features.

e)      UPI processed 7.3 billion transactions, worth Rs 12.11 trillion, a record high in terms of the value of transactions.

 

2. Centre Approves BSNL Rs 26,821 Crore 4G Deal with TCS: Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) received a nod from Central Government to go ahead with Rs 26,821 crore deal with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) paving its way to launch 4G services in India. TCS is ready to set up the 4G lines and maintain the network for nine years. BSNL will give Rs 10,000 crore worth of purchase orders to TCS soon. The state-run telco will aim to launch its 4G services by December 2022 or January 2023. Key Points:

a)      Tata Sons’ unit Tejas Network will manufacture the equipment locally for BSNL.

b)      TCS will provide the core equipment within 12 months of the order.

c)       Radio equipment would be provided within 24 months of receiving the order.

d)      The launch of 4G services, BSNL is also aiming to launch 5G services by August 2023.

e)      TCS aims to install 100,00 towers for the BSNL-MTNL network with the Rs 26,821 crore offer.

f)        Additional 25,000 towers will be set up in areas affected by left-wing extremism, Lakshadweep Islands, and 4G saturation areas.

 

DEFENCE

 

1. Indian Navy Conducts ‘Prasthan’ an Offshore Security Exercise: The Indian Navy conducted a structured exercise to evaluate organizational effectiveness in protecting offshore assets off Mumbai on an Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) platform 150 km into the sea. The exercise was named ‘Prasthan’ by the Indian Navy. Prasthan is conducted twice a year under the aegis of Headquarters, Western Naval Command. The exercise which is conducted every six months aims to integrate the efforts of all maritime stakeholders involved in offshore defense. Key Points:

a)      The ‘Prasthan’ which is an offshore security exercise aims to examine various measures and protocols conceived to address security threats and other contingencies.

b)      The Indian Navy has included several crises such as bomb threats, blows out, fire, Terrorists, and medical evacuations during the exercise.

c)       The Indian Navy, Indian Air Force, Indian Coast Guard, ONGC, Mumbai Port Authority (MbPA), the Police fisheries, and customs were a part of the Prasthan exercise.

d)      A detailed analysis will be undertaken to assess areas and aspects that need improvement and attention as a part of the exercise.

 

2. India to Build its First Hydrogen Fuel Cell Catamaran Vessel: Cochin Shipyard signed an MoU with the Inland Waterways Authority of India to build the country’s first hydrogen fuel cell catamaran vessel for Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. Another MoU was signed by the Shipyard for the construction of six electric catamaran vessels for Uttar Pradesh and two more such vessels for Guwahati. Key Points:

a)      The MoU by the Shipyard was signed in the presence of Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal. Union Minister for Heavy Industry Mahendra Nath Pandey, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, and other dignitaries were part of the event.

b)      The Cochin Shipyard informed us that the air-conditioned hydrogen fuel cell catamaran vessel will have a seating capacity for 100 passengers.

c)       It will be deployed at Varanasi after the test and trials are done in Kochi.

d)      The air-conditioned electric hybrid vessels are designed for short-distance commutes in riverine waters.

e)      These will have a seating capacity of 50 passengers.

f)        The vessels will also provide onboard accommodation for the crew, other than the toilet and washroom facilities for the passengers.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. 85-Year-old Renowned mathematician RL Kashyap passes away: 85-Year-old Renowned mathematician and great scholar Padma Shri Awardee Shri Rangasami Lakshminarayan Kashyap or RL Kashyap passed away. RL Kashyap translated around twenty-five thousand Sanskrit mantras into English language. Apart from Mathematics, RL Kashyap has also made many important contributions to the field of Veda. He received many international awards for his immense contributions to the fields of science and technology. Kashyap also wrote more than 250 research papers.

 

2. Batman legend voice actor Kevin Conroy passes away: Kevin Conroy, an actor and voice actor best known for playing Batman in several animated movies and series, has passed away at the age of 66. Kevin played Batman in a variety of projects, and Mark Hamill took on the role of the Joker. The acclaimed animated series, which launched in 1992 and continued until 1996, is where Conroy first voiced Batman.

His portrayal of Batman in various other DC productions, including the video games Injustice and Batman: Arkham, has received a lot of positive attention. He also appeared in several DC Universe Animated Original Movies, including Batman: Gotham Knight (2008), Superman/Batman: Public Enemies (2009), Justice League: Doom (2012), Batman: The Killing Joke (2016), and Justice League vs. the Fatal Five (2019).

Daily GK Update- 15th Nov, 2022

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Year 2022 declared as ASEAN-India Friendship year: The year 2022 has been declared as the ASEAN-India Friendship year, as ASEAN and India commemorate 30 years of partnership. A series of events has been planned to celebrate the occasion throughout the year. As a part of this programme, Indian media delegation is on a visit to Singapore and Cambodia under the ASEAN-INDIA Media exchange programme from 8th November to 13th November.

Key Points:

a)      The delegation interacted with the officials of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Communication & Information of Singapore to understand the media landscape in Singapore and the kind of challenges Singapore goverenment faces in timely communicating the correct perspective of people friendly policies to their citizens. After the first leg of visit, the delegation has reached Cambodia.

b)      As a precursor to the visit of the Vice President of India to Cambodia for the ASEAN Summit, the delegation visited the Angkor Vat and Ta Prohm temple complexes and witnessed the prominent role played by the Government of India and the Archeological Survey of India in restoring these UNESCO World Heritage sites there. Vice President would be inaugurating the newly restored portions of the Ta Prohm temple complex during the visit.

 

2. Govt Declares Census, NPR Database as Critical Information Infrastructure: The government has declared certain databases related to the Census and the National Population Register (NPR) as critical information infrastructure. In a notification issued recently, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said the decision was taken after exercising the powers conferred to it under the Information Technology Act, 2000 (Amended 2008).

The Centre declares the computer resources relating to the Census Monitoring and Management System, the Self Enumeration and Civil Registration System (CRS) web portals, mobile applications for house listing, population enumeration and updating the NPR as critical information infrastructure (CII) of the office of the registrar general and census commissioner, it said. The linked databases, including the NPR database, the Census database and the CRS database, the computer resources set up and installed at the National Data Centre, the office of the registrar general and the census commissioner, Delhi, the Disaster Recovery Site and the data centres at Bengaluru and Lucknow have also been declared as CII, according to the notification.

 

3. Mother Tongue Survey of India Is Ready: The Ministry of Home Affairs has successfully completed a mother tongue survey with field videography of 576 languages and dialects across the country. According to the annual report of the home ministry for 2021-22, it has been planned to set up a web archive at the National Informatics Centre (NIC) to preserve and analyse the original flavour of each indigenous mother tongue.

The home ministry said in the upcoming census, which has been kept on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic, several new initiatives have been taken for facilitating smooth conduct of the mega exercise, including use of the advanced geospatial technology. 

Changes In This New Edition:

a)      Jurisdictional changes that occurred in the country after Census 2011 till December 31, 2019 have been updated in the geo- referenced database and further updation is going on as the freezing date has been extended upto June 30, 2022.

b)      More than 6 lakh maps (district, sub-district, village level) have been prepared and being uploaded in the in-house portal for census functionaries and the same will be further updated and finalised as per jurisdictional changes till June, 2022.

c)       For the first time, the House Listing Block (HLB) Mobile Mapping App for geo-referencing of all enumeration blocks of the coming census in the country has been introduced and necessary training on this has been imparted to national and master trainers.

 

4. MoRD signs MoU with Veddis Foundation under DAY- NRLM: The Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) has signed an MoU with Veddis Foundation to support the setting up of effective governance systems under the DAY-NRLM. The DAY-NRLM stands for Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihood Mission. The partnership with MoRD and Veddis Foundation for three years is non-financial in nature. Key Points:

a)      The MoU was signed by Joint Secretary Rural Livelihoods, Ms. Nita Kejrewal from MoRD, and Mr. Murugan Vasudevan, CEO, of Veddis Foundation.

b)      The meeting was chaired by Secretary, of Rural Development, Shri Nagendra Sinha.

c)       Joint Secretary Rural Livelihoods Ms. Nita Kejrewal said that working with various stakeholders with an aligned vision will help MoRD to improve.

d)      As per the MoU, Veddis Foundation will establish a PMU in the Rural Livelihood (RL) Divison of the Ministry of Rural Development for the next five years.

e)      Veddis Foundation has put in place PMUs in the State Rural Livelihoods Mission (SRLMs) of Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Manipur.

f)        One of the initial focuses as part of the MoU is an annual report on the state of SRLMs in which various SRLMs are expected to be evaluated based on a ‘Governance Index’.

 

5. National Newborn Week: 15th to 21st November: In India, National Newborn Week is celebrated every year from 15 to 21 November. This week aims to reinforce the importance of neonatal health as a priority area of the health sector and reduce infant mortality by improving health care conditions for infants in the neonatal period. The main purpose of celebrating this week is to raise awareness about the care of newborn babies. The theme of this week is ‘Safety, Quality and Nurturing Care – Every Newborn’s Birth Right’. This year’s theme for NNW has been chosen to ensure reaching every newborn with quality and developmentally supportive health care services rendering safety and dignity at all service delivery platforms – Health Facilities, Community Outreach Sessions, and Homes etc.

The neonatal period (first 28 days of life) is the most crucial and alarming period for child survival as this period carries the highest risk of deaths per day than any other period during the childhood. The first month of life is also a foundational period for lifelong health and development. Healthy ones grow into healthy adults who can thrive and contribute to their communities and societies.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. US Treasury Removes India from Its Currency Monitoring List: The US Department of Treasury removed India along with Italy, Mexico, Thailand, and Vietnam from its Currency Monitoring List. China, Japan, Korea, Germany, Malaysia, Singapore, and Taiwan are the seven economies that are a part of the current monitoring list, the Department of Treasury said in its biannual report to the Congress. India had been on the list for the last two years. Key Points:

a)      China’s failure to publish foreign exchange intervention and broader lack of transparency around key features of its exchange rate mechanism makes it an outlier among major economies and warrants Treasury’s close monitoring, said the report.

b)      The countries that have been removed from the list have met only one out of three criteria for two consecutive reports, it said.

c)       Surprisingly, Switzerland once again exceeded the thresholds for all three criteria, which is a parameter for being labelled as a “Currency Manipulator”. But the term was not used by the Report and the Treasury Department maintained that there is not enough evidence to use the label for Switzerland. The Treasury will continue its enhanced bilateral engagement with Switzerland, which commenced in early 2021, to discuss the Swiss authorities’ policy options to address the underlying causes of its external imbalances, a media note said.

 

2. Switzerland Tourism: Neeraj Chopra becomes ‘Friendship Ambassador’ of Switzerland: Switzerland Tourism has appointed Olympic Gold medalist Neeraj Chopra as the ‘Friendship Ambassador’. In his new role, the talented Indian sports superstar will showcase and promote the adventurous, sporty, and stunning outdoors of Switzerland to Indian travellers. As Switzerland Tourism’s ‘Friendship Ambassador’, Chopra will share his experiences in the country to showcase it as the ideal destination for outdoors and the best destination for hiking, biking, soft and extreme adventure and of course snow sports, for everyone be it beginners or seasoned pros.

The athlete also donated his gold-winning javelin to The Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland in September this year. The museum founded by the International Olympic Committee in 1993 showcases the richness and diversity of Olympism through history, culture, design, technology, and sociology with sports as the main element. Mary Kom’s gloves as well as Dhyan Chand’s hockey was already a part of the exhibits at the Museum.

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

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. T20 World Cup 2022 Final: England beats Pakistan by 5 wickets: England were crowned the champions after they defeated Pakistan by 5 wickets in the final at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Australia. They are the first team to hold the ODI and T20 World Cups at the same time after their memorable win over New Zealand in the 2019 50-over final at Lord’s. England also emulated West Indies to become only the second team in the history of the competition to lift two titles in the T20 World Cup.

England were in the box-seat after captain Jos Buttler won the toss and elected to field first, restricting Pakistan to just 8-137. Ben Stokes used all his experience to score 52 from 49 balls just when his team needed it most as England chased down Pakistan’s meagre total of 137/8 with six deliveries remaining at the MCG.

T20WC Men’s Player of the Tournament: Sam Curran (12 wickets in six matches)

 

2. Olympic medallist PV Sindhu Launches Fit India School Week Mascots Toofan & Toofani: Recently, Double Olympic medallist, PV Sindhu has launched the mascots “Toofan and Toofani” for Fit India Movement’s Fit India School Week initiative for the year 2022. The 4th edition of Fit India School Week will kick off on 15 November 2022 wherein for a month various schools across India will celebrate fitness and sports in various forms for 4 to 6 days and reaffirm its importance amongst the school fraternity.

About the Fit India Movement: Fit India Movement, which was launched by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in the year 2019, kicked off its annual ‘Fit India School Week’ programme in December of that same year, and is dedicated to encouraging schools in inculcating fitness habits and increasing awareness about fitness and sports among students.

To make the mascots more connected to sports, they have been given superpowers like running fast as wind (Athletics), lifting cars (weightlifting), and superb focus skills (Chess). They also engage with people by telling them various stories about sports and fitness and inspire, educate and encourage them in the process.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Finance Minister Approves India’s First Sovereign Green Bonds Framework: Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman approves the final Sovereign Green Bonds framework of India. This approval will further strengthen India’s commitment towards its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDCs) targets.

The Framework comes close on the footsteps of India’s commitments under Panchamrit as elucidated by the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, at COP26 at Glasgow in November, 2021. The approval is fulfillment of the announcement in the Union Budget FY 2022-23 by the Union Finance Minister that Sovereign Green Bonds will be issued for mobilising resources for green projects. It will help in attracting global and domestic investments in eligible green projects. The proceeds generated from issuance of such bonds will be deployed in Public Sector projects which help in reducing carbon intensity of the economy.

Green Bonds: A green bond is a debt instrument with which capital is being raised to fund ‘green’ projects, which typically include those relating to renewable energy, clean transportation, sustainable water management etc. A bond is a fixed income instrument that represents a loan made by an investor to a borrower (typically corporate or governmental). Bonds traditionally paid a fixed interest rate (coupon) to investors.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. Moody’s Cuts India’s Economic Growth Projections to 7% For 2022: Moody’s Investor Services has lowered India’s economic growth forecast by 70 basis points to 7 per cent for the calendar year 2022. This is in line with the downward revision of the global growth forecast.

Moody’s said that annual headline CPI inflation increased to 7.5 per cent in September after dipping below 7 per cent in July. Wholesale price inflation, however, has declined for four straight months, from a peak of 16.6 per cent in May to 10.7 per cent in September. From May to September, the RBI raised the repo rate a cumulative 190 bps to 5.9 per cent to contain inflation risks.

 

2. NIIFL Signed an Agreement with JBIC to Boost Japanese Investments in India: National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIFL) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) to promote and enhance Japanese investments into India. The MoU outlines a partnership framework between NIIFL and JBIC which is considering the establishment of a bilateral India-Japan Fund (IJF). JBIC and the Government of India will invest in the India-Japan Fund, which will make equity investments in environmental preservation and low carbon emission strategies,” said NIIFL.

The fund will also enhance cooperation between the two countries by investing in strategic partnerships between Japanese and Indian companies and promoting business collaboration across multiple sectors in India.

About NIIFL: NIIFL is an active investor in sustainable and climate friendly technologies and solutions through its investments in Ayana Renewable Power, IntelliSmart Infrastructure, Ather Energy and the Green Growth Equity Fund. The India-Japan Fund will further contribute to NIIFL having a more significant impact in this area.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. National Fisheries Development Board awarded “India Agribusiness Awards 2022”: National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB), Hyderabad, a vibrant organization under the Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India was one of the organisation to be awarded with “India Agribusiness Awards 2022” for the best Agribusiness Award under Fisheries Sector. During the event for commemorating the services & support extended to the fisheries sector by playing a crucial and exemplary role dedicated to the stakeholders for supporting various need-based projects for technology upgradation, species diversification in aquaculture, dissemination of new and improved fish varieties, promoting seaweed cultivation, ornamental fisheries, training & capacity building etc.

Notably: While Haryana has received the ‘India Agribusiness Awards 2022’ in the best state category for their contribution in the areas of agriculture.

About the India International Agro Trade and Technology Fair 2022: The India International Agro Trade and Technology Fair 2022 was organized to commemorate the services and support extended to the fisheries sector by playing a crucial and exemplary role dedicated to the stakeholders. “AgroWorld 2022” – India International Agro Trade and Technology Fair 2022 is being held from November 9–11, 2022 at Indian Agriculture Research Institute, Pusa Campus, New Delhi. It is being organised by the Indian Chamber of Food and Agriculture (ICFA), an Indian Government body on technical collaborations with numerous national or international industrial associations and related organisations.

 

2. Bhopal Railway Station awarded 4-star rating ‘Eat Right Station’ certification: The Food Safety and Standard Association of India (FSSAI) awarded Bhopal Railway Station a 4-star ‘Eat Right Station’ certification for providing ‘“high-quality, nutritious food to passengers”. Railway stations are awarded the certificate after an FSSAI-empaneled third-party audit agency rates them on a scale of 1 to 5 for food storage and hygiene practices. About the certification:

a)      The certification is part of the ‘Eat Right India’ movement- a large-scale effort by FSSAI to transform the country’s food system to ensure safe, healthy and sustainable food for all Indians.

b)      Chandigarh Railway station was the fifth Indian railway station to receive a 5-star ‘Eat Right Station’ certification in September 2021.

c)       The other railway stations with this certification include Anand Vihar Terminal Railway Station; (Delhi), Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus; (Mumbai), Mumbai Central Railway Station; (Mumbai), and Vadodara Railway Station.

d)      Eat Right India adopts a judicious mix of regulatory, capacity building, collaborative, and empowerment approaches to ensure that our food is suitable both for the people and the planet.

Note: FSSAI Chairperson: Rajesh Bhushan; FSSAI Chief Executive Officer: Arun Singhal; FSSAI Founded: August 2011; FSSAI Headquarters: New Delhi.

Daily GK Update- 14th Nov, 2022

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Centre Unveils India’s First National Repository for Life Science Data: India’s first National Repository for Life Science data was unveiled by Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh. The National Repository for Life Science data was generated from publicly-funded research in India. The ‘Indian Biological Data Centre’ (IBDC) was established at the Regional Biotechnology Center. It has a storage capacity of four petabytes and is also home to the ‘Brahm’ High-Performance Computing facility. Key Points:

a)      Before the National Repository for Life Science data was unveiled the sciences data was stored in data repositories in Europe and the US till now.

b)      The computational infrastructure at IBDC has also been made available for researchers who are interested in performing computational-intensive analysis.

c)       IBDC has also started nucleotide data submission services via two data portals viz.

d)      The Centre also hosted an online ‘Dashboard’ for the genomic surveillance data generated by the INSACOG labs.

e)      These INSACOG labs provide customized data submission, access, data analysis services, and real-time SARS-CoV-2 variant monitoring across the country.

f)        IBDC is committed to the spirit of data sharing as per FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) principles.

 

2. PM Modi flagged off first ‘Vande Bharat’ train in South India: Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the first Vande Bharat Express Train on the Mysuru-Chennai route at Krantiveera Sangolli Railway station in Bengaluru. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also flagged off the ‘Bharat Gaurav Kashi Darshan’ train which is operated by Karnataka’s Muzrai Department under the ‘Bharat Gaurav’ train policy of Railways. Key Points:

a)      In the South, India’s 5th Vande Bharat Express Train is the first semi-high-speed train.

b)      The Vande Bharat Express Train is unique in terms of speed and other modern technological facilities, which will help reduce travel time giving a new experience to passengers.

c)       Vande Bharat Express Train is touted to be an advanced version of trains developed indigenously by the Indian Railways.

d)      PM Modi also unveiled the 108-feer bronze statue of the city’s founder Nadaprabhu Kempegowda called the ‘Statue of Prosperity’.

e)      He also inaugurated the Terminal 2 of the International Airport on the outskirts of Bengaluru which is built for ₹5000 crores.

 

3. Ramesh Kejriwal elected new president of All India Rubber Industries Association: All India Rubber Industries Association (AIRIA) has announced that it has elected Ramesh Kejriwal as its president and Shashi Singh as the senior vice president. Kejriwal will play a key role in leading forward the road map of the apex body for rubber industries in the country. Prior to being elected to this position, Kejriwal was a Managing Committee Member of AIRIA and has previously served as the Eastern Region Chairman. Ramesh Kejriwal will be succeeding Dr. Sawar Dhanania and will play a key role in leading forward the road map traversed and etched by the last two preceding Presidents of the Association.

 

4. Atal Innovation Mission launched Atal New India Challenge program: Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog has launched Woman centric challenges under phase-II of the 2nd edition of the Atal New India Challenge (ANIC). ANIC is an initiative by AIM, NITI Aayog targeted to seek, select, support and nurture technology-based innovations that solve sectoral challenges of national importance and societal relevance, through a grant-based mechanism of up to INR 1 crore. ANIC’s Woman centric challenges address the major issues faced by woman from all spheres of life.

These include driving women hygiene through innovation, innovations to improve women’s safety, professional networking opportunities for women, innovations that make working mothers’ life better, and easing the life of Rural Women. These Challenges crafted ANIC to address the major issues faced by woman from all spheres of life. I encourage innovators to visit our website and apply for this noble initiative at earliest.”

 

5. UMEED Scheme Transforming Future of Rural Women of J&K: The UMEED Scheme of Jammu and Kashmir Rural Livelihoods Mission (JKRLM) is providing help to the aspirations of rural women in the Union Territory, who aspire to become economically independent. The Jammu and Kashmir Rural Livelihoods Mission aims to reduce poverty by building strong grass-root institutions for the poor in Jammu and Kashmir engaging them in gainful livelihood intervention and ensuring appreciable improvement in their income. Key Points:

a)      UMEED helps hundreds of women in Jammu and Kashmir to come out of poverty and become a successful entrepreneur.

b)      UMEED is immensely helping women entrepreneurs to exhibit and market their products.

c)       Jammu Kashmir Rural Livelihoods Mission (JKRLM) is turning the wheel of transformation for J&K women to become progressive and self-employed entrepreneurs.

d)      The UMEED program under the JKRLM is a centrally sponsored scheme to encourage women to be self-dependent and self-sufficient.

e)      It also encourages women to make small savings so that their self-help groups (SHGs) eventually become bankable at reduced rate of interest.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Saudi Arabia Commits $2.5 bn for Middle East Green Initiative: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said, the kingdom would contribute $2.5 billion to a green initiative in the Middle East over the next ten years, and host its headquarters.

The Kingdom’s sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund, will also aim for net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, the crown prince said in Sharm El-Sheikh in Egypt, as world leaders gathered for the COP27 climate change conference. Saudi Arabia plans to rely on renewables for 50 percent of its electricity generation by 2030, the crown prince said, removing 44 million tons of carbon emissions by 2035.

 

2. IMF to Provide $4.5 bn Loan for Bangladesh to Combat Economic Crisis: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) provisionally agreed a $4.5-billion support programme for Bangladesh, with the country’s finance minister saying the deal would help prevent economic instability escalating into a crisis.

Current Economic Situation of Bangladesh: Bangladesh’s $416-billion economy has been one of the world’s fastest growing economy for years. But rising energy and food prices, sparked by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, along with shrinking foreign exchange reserves, have swelled its import bill and current account deficit.

Why The Crisis Situation: Bangladesh’s economic mainstay is the export-oriented garment industry, which is bracing for a slowdown as big customers like Walmart are saddled with excess stocks as inflation forces people to prioritise their spending.

The country’ foreign exchange reserves had dwindled to $35.74 billion by Nov. 2 from $46.49 billion a year ago, central bank data showed.

The Fund said a “staff-level agreement” had been reached for a 42-month arrangement, including about $3.2 billion from its Extended Credit Facility (ECF) and Extended Fund Facility (EFF), plus about $1.3 billion from its new Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF).

 

3. World Diabetes Day: 14th November: World Diabetes Day is observed on November 14 every year to bring the attention of the people to health threats posed by diabetes and how to avoid that. On this day, the enormous achievement of insulin discovery by two outstanding scientists, Sir Frederick Banting and Charles Best, is celebrated. The theme of World Diabetes Day between the years 2021 and 2023 is a really important topic is “Access to Diabetes Care.”

World Diabetes Day is represented by a blue circle logo, adopted in 2007 by the UN Resolution. This logo is the symbol of diabetes awareness, signifying the unity of the global diabetes community.

World Diabetes Day History: World Diabetes Day was first observed in the year 1991 by the declaration of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the World Health Organisation (WHO). November 14 was picked as World Diabetes Day because it was the birth anniversary of Frederick Banting, who, along with Charles Best, discovered insulin. And in 1991, the day marked his 100th birthday anniversary, and therefore, it was announced as World Diabetes Day to raise awareness towards diabetes all across the world.

Note: International Diabetes Federation Headquarters location: Brussels, Belgium; International Diabetes Federation Founded: 23 September 1950; International Diabetes Federation President: Prof Andrew Boulton.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Holger Rune won men’s singles 2022 Paris Masters title: 19-year-old Danish player, Holger Rune has defeated the six-time champion, Novak Djokovic to clinch his first Men’s single, 2022 Masters Title in Paris. He has become the youngest winner of the Paris tournament since Boris Becker in 1986. He is the fifth first-time Masters winner this season and will be the first Danish man to break into the top 10. While the Men’s double was won by Wesley Koolhof (Netherlands) and Neal Skupski (United Kingdom).

 

2. India to host Women’s World Boxing Championships in 2023: India to host the IBA Women’s World Boxing Championship 2023. In a press conference held in New Delhi, an MoU was signed between the International Boxing Association (IBA) and the Boxing Federation of India (BFI). The MoU was signed in the presence of IBA President Umar Kremlev and BFI President Ajay Singh. The occasion was also felicitated by world champion Nikhat Zareen. Key Points:

a)      BFI and IBA will work to introduce the historic bout review system at the Women’s World Boxing Championship 2023.

b)      The Women’s World Boxing Championship 2023 will see a total prize pool of approximately INR 19.50 crore and the gold medalist will be awarded approximately INR 71 lakh.

c)       Boxing in India has grown significantly and India’s hosting of the Women’s World Boxing Championship 2023 is a milestone for the country.

d)      India has hosted three major championships in seven years showcasing the country’s ability to build infrastructure and capabilities.

e)      It will be the third Women’s World Boxing Championship to be hosted by India and the second one within six years.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. India Will Become Third-Largest Economy By 2027: Morgan Stanley: India is on track to become the world’s third largest economy by 2027, surpassing Japan and Germany, and have the third largest stock market by 2030, thanks to global trends and key investments the country has made in technology and energy, says Morgan Stanley.

About The Economic Prospects: All told, India’s GDP could more than double from $3.5 trillion today to surpass $7.5 trillion by 2031. Its share of global exports could also double over that period, while the Bombay Stock Exchange could deliver 11% annual growth, reaching a market capitalization of $10 trillion in the coming decade.

In a world that is currently starved of growth, the opportunity set in India must be on global investors’ radar,” says Chetan Ahya, Morgan Stanley’s Chief Asia Economist. “India will be one of only three economies in the world that can generate more than $400 billion annual economic output growth from 2023 onward, and this will rise to more than $500 billion after 2028.”

 

2. Reliance Jio True-5G services launched in Bengaluru and Hyderabad: Reliance Jio to extend its Jio True 5G services to Bengaluru and Hyderabad. Reliance has already successfully Beta-launched Jio True-5G in major cities including Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Varanasi, and Nathdwara. Jio True-5G services will help realize the true potential of some of the latest technologies that will serve humanity and improve the quality of life of Indians.

Key Points:

a)      Reliance Jio has rolled out the advanced True-5G services in a phase-wise manner to ensure better customer reach.

b)      Jio True-5G is already being experienced by lakhs of users across six cities, the response to which is extremely positive and reassuring.

c)       Jio users are experiencing speeds anywhere between 500 Mbps to 1 Gbps on their smartphones.

d)      Jio True-5G enables the user to use high quantities of data.

e)      Jio users in Bengaluru and Hyderabad will be invited to Jio welcome offer to experience unlimited data at up to 1 Gbps+ speeds.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Bihari Puraskar to Noted writers Madhu Kankaria and Dr. Madhav Hada: Noted writers Madhu Kankariya and Dr Madhav Hada were awarded the 31st and 32nd Bihari Puraskar, respectively. Kankariya was awarded the Puraskar for her 2018 novel ‘Hum Yahan The’ while Hada was awarded for his 2015 literary criticism book ‘Pachrang Chola Pahar Sakhi Ri’.

Madhu Kankariya: Kankariya, who was awarded Bihari Puraskar 2021, has written several prose, poems and books. Her novel, ‘Hum Yahan The’, is based on the struggles of the tribals in Jharkhand. It also provides an insight into the culture, society and economic conditions of Kolkata.

Dr Madhav Hada: Hada, a literary critic and academic, was awarded Bihari Puraskar 2022 for his extensive work in literature, media, culture and history. He has also been a member of the general council of the Sahitya Akademi and the Hindi Advisory Board.

About Bihari Puraskar: The Bihari Puraskar is given every year for an outstanding work published in the last 10 years by a Rajasthani author in Hindi or Rajasthani. Named after the famous poet Bihari, the award for Rajasthani authors carries a cash prize of ₹2.5 lakh, a plaque and a citation.