Daily GK Update- 23rd Nov, 2022

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. First Unani Medicine Regional Center of Northeast Inaugurated in Silchar, Assam: The first institute of Unani medicine in the Northeast region of India was inaugurated in Silchar town of Assam. The Unani medicine institute in Silchar of Assam was inaugurated by Union Ayush minister Sarbananda Sonowal. The new complex spreads over an area of 3.5 acres, built with an investment of Rs.48 crore. The National Projects Construction Corporation (NPCC) developed the complex, which is a Government of India enterprise. It was handed over to Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM), an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Ayush, Government of India.

About Unani Medicine: Unani medicine, also called Unani tibb, Arabian medicine, or Islamic medicine, a traditional system of healing and health maintenance observed in South Asia. The Unani System of Medicine offers treatment of diseases related to all the systems and organs of the human body. The treatments for chronic ailments and diseases of skin, liver, musculo-skeletal and reproductive systems, immunological and lifestyle disorders have been found to be highly effective and acceptable.

 

2. MoS for Education Subhash Sarkar Confers National Swachh Vidyalaya Puraskar 2021-22: Thirty-nine schools from across the country have been awarded the Swachh Vidyalaya Puraskar for the 2021-22 academic session. Minister of State for Education Dr Subhash Sarkar conferred National Swachh Vidyalaya Puraskar 2021-22 in New-Delhi.

The schools selected from among the total 8.23 lakh entries are 28 government and aided while 11 are private schools. A total of 39 schools have been selected for the national award including 34 in the overall category and five in sub-categories by the national selection committee. The schools will get an award money of Rs 60,000 each. Besides, every school will get a certificate of participation showing the category-wise scores and overall rating of the school.

About The Swachh Vidyalaya Puraskar: The Swachh Vidyalaya Puraskar has been instituted by Ministry of Education to recognize, inspire and celebrate excellence in sanitation and hygiene practice in schools. The purpose of the SVP is to honor schools that have undertaken significant steps towards fulfilling the mandate of the Swachh Vidyalaya Campaign. Six sub-category wise awards have also been introduced for the first time, with award money of Rs 20,000 per school.

 

3. National Museum and Kolding Museum signs Memorandum of Understanding: Museum Kolding and the National Museum in New Delhi will open the joint exhibition “Silver treasures from Denmark and India” at the beginning of March 2023. An MoU of the exhibition was signed and exchanged between the National Museum, New Delhi, India, and the Museum Kolding, Kolding, in New Delhi. Key Points:

a)      The exhibition will showcase the finest of the silver collection from the Museum Kolding and the National Museum in New Delhi in March 2023.

b)      The collaboration and exhibition are under the recently agreed cultural exchange program between India and Denmark for the years 2022 to 2026.

c)       The exhibition “Silver treasures from Denmark and India” is focused on Danish and Indian Silver artifacts where both museums will show the best silver objects from their collections.

d)      Elucidating the beauty and magnificence of silver craftsmanship in both countries, the exhibition will showcase the best selection of 200 objects in total.

e)      For the first time, at the National Museum visitors will be able to see the parallel traditions of the Indian and Danish silver objects.

 

4. Vikram-S Rocket Launched By ISRO, India’s First Privately Developed Rocket: Vikram-S Rocket, India’s first privately developed rocket launched from the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) at the Sriharikota launchpad. The launch of Vikram-S Rocket by ISRO is a historic moment. The Vikram-S Rocket is developed by Hyderabad-based start-up Skyroot Aerospace Private Limited, and it is a 6-meter gall and hits a peak altitude of 89.5 kilometers. After five minutes of launch, the Vikram-S Rocket splashed into the Bay of Bengal. The mission was titled Prarambh.

About Vikram-S Rocket: The Vikram-S Rocket is a single-stage solid fuelled, sub-orbital rocket developed over two years by incorporating advanced technologies that include carbon composite structures and 3D printer components. The Vikram-S Rocket is equipped with a gross lift-off mass of 545kg, and a payload mass of 80kg. Vikram-S carried three customer payloads which will map the measurement and validation of certain flight parameters and payload integration processes. Key Points:

a)      The launch of India’s first privately developed rocket was a technology demonstration flight to showcase the capabilities of the company.

b)      The rocket will help validate the technologies that will be used in the subsequent Vikram-1 orbital vehicle of Skyroot.

c)       The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (In-space) has been operating as a single window, the autonomous nodal agency of the Department of Space (DOS) to boost the private sector economy in India.

d)      This project took Skyroot Aerospace about two years to develop and built the Vikram-S using advanced technologies.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Russia and Ukraine Agree to Further Extend the Black Sea Grain Deal: Russia and Ukraine have agreed to extend a UN-brokered grain export deal for another 120 days, officials announced. World leaders praised the breakthrough for helping “avoid global food shortages” at a crucial time.

Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov said that the Black Sea grain deal between Ukraine and Russia will be extended for another 120 days. He said continuing the grain export agreement brokered by Turkey with the UN was “another important step in the global fight against the food crisis.” Russia’s Foreign Ministry also confirmed that the deal would be extended “without changes in terms of scope” to the current agreement.

The Risk Of The Deal: Moscow and Kyiv had agreed to allow Ukrainian foodstuff exports via the Black Sea in a move to ease a global food crisis. The agreement allowed ships to travel without being attacked on specific routes from Ukraine to the Bosporus.

The agreement is crucial in securing food supplies for developing countries in Africa and the Middle East. Ukraine is a major global exporter of wheat, along with Russia. Grain exports were renewed after a hiatus of over four months caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Turkish Role: The deal between the two warring sides, brokered in July by Turkey and the UN, has seen more than 11 million tonnes of agricultural products shipped from three of Ukraine’s Black Sea ports, including 4.5 million tonnes of corn and 3.2 million tonnes of wheat. The extension was less than the one year sought by the UN and Ukraine. But Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan welcomed Russia and Ukraine’s consensus on continuing the deal. “The significance and benefits of this agreement for the food supply and security of the world have become evident,” Erdogan said.

 

2. Bandaru Wilsonbabu named as the Ambassador of India to Comoros: Indian Foreign Service (2004), Shri Bandaru Wilsonbabu, presently Ambassador of India to the Republic of Madagascar, has been concurrently accredited as the next Ambassador of India to the Union of the Comoros, with residence in Antananarivo. He is expected to take up the assignment shortly.

About the Comoros: The Comoros is an independent country made up of 3 islands in southeastern Africa. The Comoros is a volcanic archipelago off Africa’s east coast, in the warm Indian Ocean waters of the Mozambique Channel. The nation state’s largest island, Grande Comore (Ngazidja) is ringed by beaches and old lava from active Mt. Karthala volcano. Around the port and medina in the capital, Moroni, are carved doors and a white colonnaded mosque, the Ancienne Mosquée du Vendredi, recalling the islands’ Arab heritage.

Note: Comoros Capital: Moroni; Comoros President: Azali Assoumani; ComorosCurrency: Comorian franc.

 

3. CEC Shri Rajiv Kumar Invited as International Observer for Elections in Nepal: Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar had been invited by the Election Commission of Nepal as an international observer for the forthcoming elections to Nepal’s House of Representatives and Provincial Assembly, the Election Commission said.

About Nepal’s Election: Elections are scheduled in Nepal on 20 November to elect 275 members of the Federal Parliament and 550 seats of the seven Provincial Assemblies.  A total 330 seats in the seven provincial houses will be decided directly; the remaining 220 seats will be filled by proportional representation.

 

4. Cambridge Dictionary announced ‘Homer’ as Word of the Year 2022: The Cambridge Dictionary has revealed its word of the year for 2022 as “homer”, saying that it was inspired by the global word game sensation, Wordle. The word ”homer” was searched for nearly 75,000 times during the first week of May 2022, when it was an answer in the word game Wordle. In the context of the game, ”homer” doesn’t refer to the Greek poet and author, or a character from Simpson, but refers to an informal American English word for a ‘home run’ in baseball.

Cambridge Dictionary also saw other five-letter words surging in search in 2022 due to the “Wordle effect”. The American spelling of “humor” caused the second-highest spike in 2022, followed by ”caulk”, ”tacit, and ”bayou”, the third, fourth, and fifth place respectively.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. 22nd FIFA World Cup 2022 kick starts in Al Khor, Qatar: The 22nd FIFA men’s world cup was formally declared open at a colourful ceremony held at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar on 20 November. It is for the first time that an Arab country is hosting the football tournament. 32 teams will play for the most coveted prize in international football, with the final scheduled to take place on December 18 at the Lusail stadium, the biggest one among the eight stadiums being used to host the World Cup. On December 18, 2022, Qatar’s National Day, the opening game takes place at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor between Qatar and Ecuador. Key Points:

a)      The 22nd FIFA men’s world cup will be held in Qatar from 20 November to 18 December 2022.

b)      It is the first time that an Arab country will host the tournament.

c)       It is the second world cup to be held in Asia after the 2002 World cup which was jointly hosted by Japan and South Korea.

d)      La’eeb is the official mascot of the Cup. It is inspired by the keffiyeh, a traditional headdress worn by Arab men.

Apart from winning the most prestigious trophy in football, there are substantial financial incentives for the teams in the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

a)      The winner of the Qatar World Cup will bag a sum of 38 million euros (INR 344 crores).

b)      The runner-up of the Qatar World Cup will get 27.27 million euros (INR 245 crores).

c)       The third-placed team will pocket 24.45 million euros (INR 220 crores).

Note: FIFA President: Gianni Infantino; FIFA Founded: 21 May 1904; FIFA Headquarters: Zürich, Switzerland.

 

2. Manipur Tops the Medal Tally in the Northeast Olympic Games: Manipur gets the top position in the Northeast Olympic Games for the second consecutive time with 237 medals, including 85 gold, as the second edition of the regional multi-sport event. Manipur also won 76 silver and 77 bronze while Assam was a close second with 201 medals including 81 gold, 60 silver, and 60 bronzes in the event competed among the eight states of the country’s northeast region from November 10. Key Points:

a)      Arunachal Pradesh ended in third place and the host state Meghalaya was fourth with 149 medals (36 gold, 35 silver, 78 bronze), a much better show than their sixth-place finish with 39 medals in the first edition.

b)      Manipur had also topped the medal tally (80 gold, 49 silver, and 33 bronze) when it hosted the inaugural Games in October 2018.

c)       Manipur, which has produced Olympic medal-winning athletes such as boxer MC Mary Kom and weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, overtook Assam and consolidated its top position by winning 17 medals, including seven gold, on the final day.

d)      Around 3000 athletes competed in 18 disciplines at 12 venues spread across Shillong. The first edition in Manipur had 12 disciplines.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Govt Raises Maximum Tenure of PSU Banks’ CEO to 10 Years: Government has decided to provide longer tenure to Managing Director and other whole-time directors of the public sector banks. Now the appointment can be made initially for up to 5 years, which can be extended for the 5 more years. The amendment would be called Nationalised Banks (Management and Miscellaneous Provisions) Amendment Scheme, 2022.

Earlier, the MD or executive director of a public sector undertaking (PSU) bank was eligible for a maximum tenure of 5 years or 60 years whichever was earlier. This is also applicable for whole-time directors of all Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs). Now, The term for the appointment has been extended to 10 years, from the earlier 5 years, subject to superannuation age of 60 years, as per government notification of 17 November.

The Right to Terminate: The central government has the right to terminate the term of office of a whole-time director, including the managing director, any time before the expiry of the term specified, by giving him a notice of not less than three months, in writing or three months’ salary and allowances in lieu of notice.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. India Fastest Growing Market for Microsoft Owned LinkedIn: India has become LinkedIn’s fastest-growing market as more companies and advertisers come online, with sales in the country rising at a 50% year-on-year clip. LinkedIn is a “The Microsoft” owned business networking service company.

CEO Roslansky, the business networking service owned by Microsoft Corp. is looking abroad for new growth opportunities as the worsening economic climate weighs on its US home market. He said LinkedIn has paused hiring to prepare for tougher conditions. The majority of LinkedIn’s growth is happening outside of the United States, he said, adding that new members are joining the networking site in markets such as India, Indonesia and Western Europe.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. NTPC team won Gold award at 47th ICQCC-2022: NTPC’s QC Team from Unchahar ABHYUDAYA has won the “GOLD” award in the 47th International Convention on Quality Control Circle (ICQCC-2022). The theme for ICQCC-2022 was “Built Back Better through Quality Efforts”. NTPC QC Team presented on “Frequent Choking of Collecting tanks of AHP-IV”.

Other awards of NTPC: In March 2022, NTPC had been declared the “Dream Employer of the Year” at the 30th Session of the World HRD Congress. NTPC’s efforts to create a future-ready workforce were recognized when NTPC was selected as a 2022 ATD BEST award winner by The Association for Talent Development (ATD), USA. The awards and recognitions are a testimony that people practices at NTPC are at par with the best companies in the world.

 

2. India won Excellence in Family Planning Leadership (EXCELL) Award: India became the only country to receive the Leadership in Family Planning (EXCELL) Awards 2022 in the ‘country category’ at the International Conference on Family Planning held in Thailand. India’s efforts in improving family planning demonstrate the progress the country has been making toward achieving the SDG targets on women and maternal health. The award recognizes and applauds India’s achievements in ensuring increased access.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Veteran Punjabi actress Daljeet Kaur Khangura passes away: Daljeet Kaur, a veteran actor well-known for her lead roles in several superhit Punjabi movies, has passed away in Punjab’s Ludhiana district. She was 69 years old. Daljeet was one of Pollywood’s best-known actors. Kaur had appeared in several successful films, including Mamla Garbar Hai, Putt Jattan De, Patola, Ki Banu Duniya Da, and Saida Jogan.

Daily GK Update- 22nd Nov, 2022

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. PM Modi Inaugurated Arunachal’s first Greenfield Airport Donyi Polo Airport: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the first Greenfield airport in Arunachal Pradesh — the Donyi Polo Airport at Itanagar — and dedicated the 600 MW Kameng Hydro Power Station to the nation. About The Donyi-Polo Airport:

a)      The name of the airport reflects the traditions and rich cultural heritage of Arunachal Pradesh and the age-old indigenous reverence to the Sun (‘Donyi’) and the Moon (‘Polo’) in the state.

b)      The foundation stone for this airport was laid by the PM in 2019. The airport, which has been developed in an area of over 690 acres, at the cost of more than Rs 640 crore is expected to play a major role in improving connectivity and will also contribute to the growth of trade and tourism in the region, said Dilip Sajnani, Director, Airport Authority of India.

c)       The airport has a 2300 m runway and is well suited for all weather day operations. The airport terminal is a modern building, which promotes energy efficiency, renewable energy and the recycling of resources.

d)      The Donyi Polo airport will be the third operational airport in Arunachal Pradesh and the first in its capital city Itanagar, taking the total number of airports in the Northeast to 16. Arunachal Pradesh currently has two airports, one at Pasighat and the other at Tezu.

Meanwhile, the launch event also witness PM Modi dedicating 600 MW Kameng Hydro Power Station to the nation. The power station has been developed at a cost of more than Rs 8,450 crore and the project aims to turn Arunachal Pradesh into a power surplus state.

 

2. Tripura CM Dr Manik Saha launched ‘Amar Sarkar’ portal: Tripura chief minister Dr Manik Saha said his government is working to ensure all central and state-sponsored schemes reach every doorstep and launched a new portal, ‘Amar Sarkar’, to act as a bridge between the people and the government. A total of 78 departments, including the panchayat department, has been included in the webportal. The portal will help people to register their problems and complaints through village committee officials. It is worthy to mention here that various problems and complaints of the people will be registered through the village and village committee level workers in this URL https://amarsarkar.tripura.gov.in/.

Note: Tripura Capital: Agartala; Tripura Chief Minister: Manik Sarkar; Tripura Governor: Satyadeo Narain Arya.

 

3. India’s first elephant death audit framework introduced by Tamil Nadu: Tamil Nadu’s Forest Department has introduced an elephant death audit framework to put in place a more detailed and transparent process for recording and monitoring elephant deaths in the State. Presently, identifying the cause of mortality in the field remains critical for many questions related to population and conservation of elephants. The framework will improve transparency, assist all stakeholders in assessing the results and ultimately facilitate standardisation and more credible comparisons of cause of mortality. Objectives:

a)      The broad objectives of Elephant Death Audit Framework (EDAF), the first-of-its-kind initiative in the country, are threefold, said Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary, Environment, Climate Change and Forests.

b)      According to media reports, out of the 131 elephant deaths recorded in Tamil Nadu’s forest divisions between January 1, 2021 and March 15, 2022, only 13 were human-induced. Out of the rest, 118 were due to natural causes; six because of electrocution; four due to train hits; one due to road accident and two because of retaliatory kills.

c)       The framework will be helpful to collect mortality assessment data with high quality and credibility through a transparent process. The framework and procedural steps could assist wildlife managers and ecologists to ensure accountability, says the Tamil Nadu Elephant Death Audit Framework document.

Note: Tamil Nadu Capital: Chennai; Tamil Nadu Chief Minister: M K Stalin; Tamil Nadu Governor: R N Ravi.

 

4. PM Modi inaugurated Bengaluru Tech Summit 2022: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated the silver jubilee edition of the Bengaluru Tech Summit (BTS 22) virtually. The central theme of BTS this year is ‘Tech4NexGen’ and focuses on Electronics, IT, Deep Tech, Biotech, and Startups. The 3-day BTS2022 event witnessed the coming together of global tech leaders, Indian corporates and startups from IT, Deep tech and Biotech, showcasing disruptive technologies, forging partnerships and alliances. Bengaluru Tech Summit 22, which has attracted more than 575 exhibitors, witnessed at least 9 MoUs being signed and the launch of more than 20 products.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. IPC Suspends Russian, Belarusian Committees with Immediate Effect: The International Paralympic Committee voted to suspend the National Paralympic Committees (NPCs) of Russia and Belarus with immediate effect, placing their para-athletes’ hopes of competing at the 2024 Paralympics in jeopardy.

Athletes from the two countries had previously been barred from competing in the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympics in March over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, for which Belarus has been a staging area. Russia’s suspension was passed by 64 votes to 39, with 16 abstentions, at the IPC’s extraordinary General Assembly in Berlin. The suspension of Belarus’ NPC passed 54-45, with 18 abstentions.

Consequences Of This Move: As a result of the suspension, Russia and Belarus cannot enter their athletes into World Para Sport events. Both NPCs have the right to appeal. Should any appeal not be upheld, only the IPC General Assembly can revoke the suspension. Qualifiers for the Paris 2024 Games are scheduled to take place throughout 2023 and 2024. The IPC said that it could not speculate on the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes at Paris 2024.

 

2. Abu Dhabi Hosted First Global Media Congress: Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company hosted the first edition of the Global Media Congress, in partnership with Emirates News Agency from 15th to 17th November. The conference program delivered in multiple languages, appealing to a global audience. Key Points:

a)      The global media industry gathered in Abu Dhabi to leverage networking opportunities and take part in a conference program sharing ideas and cutting-edge solutions shaping the future of the industry.

b)      The Global Media Congress offered a platform for journalists, tech firms, content creators, digital marketing professionals, streaming giants, entertainment executives, regulators, and key media stakeholders.

c)       The Global Media Congress facilitated critical knowledge exchange and present opportunities for business partnerships for media professionals from across the globe.

d)      Partnerships are built between key media players in the GCC and MENA region. A large government representation from exhibitors and buyers will attend the event.

e)      The event allowed an international transfer of knowledge to the UAE and the wider GCC in the key media sectors.

 

3. World Television Day: 21st November: World Television Day is observed on 21 November, every year. It is a day that recognizes the value and impact of television in our lives.

World Television Day History: On 21 and 22 November 1996 the United Nations held the first World Television Forum, where leading media figures met under the auspices of the United Nations to discuss the growing significance of television in today’s changing world and to consider how they might enhance their mutual cooperation. That is why the General Assembly decided to proclaim 21 November as World Television Day.

This was done in recognition of the increasing impact television has on the process of decision-making. Television was thus acknowledged as a major tool in informing, channelling and affecting public opinion. Its impact and presence and its influence on world politics could not be denied.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Asian Airgun Championship: Shiva Narwal bagged gold medal: Shiva Narwal won the gold medal in the 10m men’s air pistol competition. India’s gold tally at the Asian Airgun Championship in Daegu, South Korea. The first medal event was the 10-meter Air Pistol Women. Key Points:

a)      In the gold medal match in the 10-meter Air Pistol Women Junior event, Manu Bhaker beat Esha Singh 17-15.

b)      The Indian men’s senior and junior 10-meter air pistol teams also claimed gold medals in their respective events.

c)       The seniors’ team of Shiva Narwal, Naveen, and Vijayveer Sidhu registered an upset 16-14 victory over a strong South Korean team comprising 2018 world champions Lee Daemyung and Park Daehun along with Mok Jin Mun.

d)      The junior team of Sagar Dangi, Samrat Rana, and Varun Tomar saw off Uzbekistan’s Mukhammad Kamalov, Nuriddin Nuriddinov, and Ilkhombek Obidjonov 16-2 in the final event of the day.

e)      With the four gold medals and a silver each from Esha Singh and Palak, the Indian shooting team leads the Championship medals table with 34 medals, which include 22 golds, eight silvers, and four bronze.

 

2. Gianni Infantino set to get third term as FIFA president: Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) president Gianni Infantino is getting four more years in charge of football’s governing body after no candidate stepped up to challenge him. Infantino won a five-candidate race in 2016 to replace Sepp Blatter, and was re-elected unopposed in 2019. He’s now set to stay in the job beyond the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Infantino’s upcoming re-election to the $3 million-per-year job may not be his final term in office. FIFA rules allow him to run again to stay in power for another World Cup cycle until 2031.

Note: FIFA President: Gianni Infantino; FIFA Founded: 21 May 1904; FIFA Headquarters: Zürich, Switzerland.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Federal Bank Ties up with JCB India to Finance Heavy Equipment Buyers: Federal Bank announced that it has partnered with JCB India to expand its loan portfolio and fund potential buyers of heavy construction equipment. The private sector lender said it has inked a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with JCB India, a leading manufacturer of earthmoving and construction equipment. Key Points:

a)      With the government’s focus on infrastructure development continuing to remain strong, there will be various opportunities to create synergies between the teams from JCB India and Federal Bank, Deepak Shetty, CEO and Managing Director of JCB India, said.

b)      Shyam Srinivasan, Managing Director and CEO of Federal Bank, said the lender has officially become the financing partner for JCB India.

c)       Under the arrangement, Federal Bank is the preferred finance partner of the construction equipment manufacturer, where JCB’s customers can avail loans from the lender at competitive interest rates.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. Wipro the First Indian Company to Set Up European Work Council: IT company Wipro has reached an agreement with employee representatives on setting up a European Works Council, the company said. The creation of Wipro’s EWC is the first to be established by an Indian headquartered company. Key Points:

a)      Wipro’s EWC is the first to be established by an Indian headquartered company, and builds upon a number of years of successful, constructive working with Works Councils at local and national level across several European countries, including Germany, the Netherlands, France, Sweden and Finland.

b)      The creation of an EWC follows a request by employees under an EU directive establishing the opportunity in companies with more than 1,000 employees across multiple European locations. Wipro’s EWC agreement was successfully negotiated with employee representatives from 13 different countries.

 

2. Jaguar Land Rover Chief Executive Officer Thierry Bolloré Resigns: Tata Motors-owned Jaguar Land Rover chief executive officer Thierry Bollore announced his resignation from the luxury car company citing personal reasons. He will leave the company on 31st December 2022. Adrian Mardell will take over as Interim. Adrian has been part of Jaguar Land Rover for 32 years and a member of the Executive Board for three years.

 

3. Retired BPCL chairman Arun Kumar Singh to be next chief of ONGC: BPCL’s former chairman Arun Kumar Singh is likely to be the new chairman of India’s top oil and gas producer Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC). He retired from BPCL after attaining the superannuation age last month and was already selected to head the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) before the August 27 interviews. The will be first time that a person aged over 60 will be heading a top PSU board-level position.

Note: ONGC Headquarters: Vasant Kunj, New Delhi; ONGC Founded: 14 August 1956.

 

DEFENCE

 

1. INS Trikand participated in ‘Sea Sword 2’ counter-terrorism drill: INS Trikand has participated in the Combined Maritime Forces led Operation “Sea Sword 2” in the Northwest Arabian Sea. The operation was held to prevent narcotics trade & stop smuggling entities from using the seas for their nefarious activities. This edition also marked the 30th anniversary of the exercise and was hosted by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF).

The ship participated with other multinational forces and regional partner navies to counter terrorism, prevent narcotics trade and stop smuggling entities from using the seas for their nefarious activities. The Indian Navy’s long range maritime patrol aircraft also participated in the operation and provided air support. This effort is part of the Indian Navy’s commitment to ensuring safety of the seas and collective security in the region as espoused by the SAGAR vision of the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India.

Note: 25th Navy Chief: Admiral R. Hari Kumar; Indian Navy Founded: 26 January 1950; Indian Navy New Delhi.

 

2. Indian Army Registered IPR for ‘Combat uniform’: Indian Army registered for Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) of the new design and camouflage pattern uniform to establish the ownership. The Controller General of Patents, Designs, and Trademark, Kolkata completed the registration process. Key Points:

a)      The new Digital Pattern Combat Uniform for Indian Army soldiers was unveiled on 15 January 2022 which was also Army Day.

b)      The improved uniform has a contemporary look and functional design. The fabric has been made lighter, stronger, breathable, quick-drying, and easier to maintain.

c)       The uniform’s uniqueness is evident with the inclusion of gender-specific modifications for women’s combat uniforms.

d)      The Defence Ministry has informed that the exclusive ‘Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)’ of the Design and Camouflage Pattern rests solely with the Indian Army, and therefore manufacturing by any vendor who is not authorized to do so will be illegal and is liable to face legal repercussions.

e)      Indian Army can enforce exclusive rights to the design and can file infringement suits by way of a civil action before a competent court of law. Remedies against infringements include interim and permanent injunctions as well as damages.

 

3. Army Chief General Manoj Pandey received guard of honour at Paris: Army Chief General Manoj Pande received a Guard of Honour at the Les Invalides in Paris on 17 November 2022. He is on a four-day visit to France. General Manoj Pande during his visit held talks with his French counterpart General Pierre Schille and discussed issues of mutual interest during his visit to the European country. Key Points:

a)      Gen Pande left for France on November 14 on a four-day visit to further strengthen the “bond of trust” between the Indian and French armies.

b)      General Pande held extensive talks with the top military brass of France including the Chief of the Defence Staff, the Chief of the Army Staff, and the Commander of the Land Combat Forces.

c)       General Pande is on a four-day official visit to Nepal from the 5th to the 8th of this month. This is his first visit to Nepal as Chief of Army Staff.

d)      General Manoj Pande also handed over non-lethal military aid including Artillery Equipment, Mine Protected Vehicles, Medical Stores, and Horses to Nepal Army, to enhance the Military Cooperation between the two Armies.

Daily GK Update- 21st Nov, 2022

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Govt of India to Abolish National Anti-profiteering Authority: National Anti-profiteering Authority (NAA) is the anti-profiteering watchdog of GST and it is all set to be subsumed into the Competition Commission of India (CCI). NAA’s investigation arm will continue to function in some form under CCI. The official said that the move will reduce the multiplicity of regulators as CCI can handle cases independently. The plan is to transfer cases to CCI after NAA’s term ends. NAA’s role is to make sure that the benefit of tax rate reduction reaches the consumer immediately. This has been the role of NAA primarily because the GST council has been rejigging the rates in the last five years. NAA has little to do when rates go up.

About NAA: The National Anti-profiteering Authority (NAA) was established under section 171 of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017. The NAA was set up to monitor and to oversee whether the reduction or benefit of input tax credit is reaching the recipient by way of appropriate reduction in prices.

 

2. Uttarakhand High Court to be shifted to Haldwani from Nainital: The Uttarakhand High Court will be shifted from Nainital to Haldwani. This decision was taken in a cabinet meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami in Dehradun. Uttarakhand cabinet has also decided to make strict amendments in the conversion law, wherein forced conversion will now be a cognizable offence. With provision of 10 years of punishment under the new law. For this, a bill will be brought in the assembly.

The Centre has handed over a 45-acre area near Haldwani for the high court. On October 27, the Central government handed over 45 acres of HMT land in Ranibag, near Haldwani, to the state government for its possible use to benefit the people of the area.

Note: Uttarakhand Governor: Gurmit Singh; Uttarakhand Chief minister: Pushkar Singh Dhami; Uttarakhand Population: 1.01 crores (2012); Uttarakhand Capitals: Dehradun (Winter), Gairsain (Summer).

 

3. UP Government to Build Ramayana, Mahabharata, Buddhist Circuits: The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet approved the New Tourism Policy to foster the state’s religious potential and also establish the state as the hub of religious and spiritual tourism in the country. The state under the policy will develop separate religious circuits. Key Points:

a)      As per the vision, the places associated with Lord Rama will be developed as the Ramayana Circuit and religious places associated with Lord Krishna as Krishna Circuit.

b)      State Cabinet Minister AK Sharma informed about the new tourism policy and development of new areas informed that Ayodhya, Chitrakoot, Bithoor, and other places of significance during the Ramayana period will be included in the Ramayana circuit.

c)       Mathura, Vrindavan, Gokul, Govardhan, Barsana, Nandgaon, and Baldev will be included in the Krishna circuit while the Buddhist circuit will include Kapilvastu, Sarnath, Kushinagar, Kaushambi, Shravasti, Ramgram, and other places.

d)      The cabinet minister informed that Mahabharata and Shaktipeeth circuits will also be developed in the State under New Tourism Policy.

e)      Mahabharata circuit has also been envisaged. In this, places like Hastinapur, Kampilya, Echhatra, Barnawa, Mathura, Kaushaand mbi, Gonda, Lakshagriha have been selected.

f)        The Shaktipeeth circuit will also be developed. It will extend from Vindhyavasini Devi, Ashtabhuja to Devipatan, Naimisharanya, Maa Lalita Devi, Maa Jwala Devi, Shakumbhari Devi from Saharanpur to Shivani Devi, Chitrakoot and Sheetla Mata, Mau.

g)      Gorakhpur, Balrampur, Mathura, Sant Ravidas Sthal, Maa Parameshwari Devi, Azamgarh, Bighu Ashram of Ballia, Bateshwar of Agra, Hanuman Dham Shahjahanpur have been included.

 

4. Bihar govt signed agreement with ICCR to showcase its soft power to world: The Bihar government has signed an agreement with the Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR) to help artists from the state, handicrafts & several other ethnic arts expected to get international exposure. ICCR has come up with the initiative of ‘Bharat ke Rajyon ka Sanskritik Sammelan’ to promote Indian culture abroad. The objective of this agreement is to make the partnership between the State and ICCR more meaningful, bringing in active involvement, and institutionalizing the same.

Note: Bihar Capital: Patna; Chief Minister: Nitish Kumar; Governor: Phagu Chauhan

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Climate Change Performance Index 2023: India ranked 8th in the list: The Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) 2023 released which was published by three environmental non­governmental organizations viz. Germanwatch, NewClimate Institute and the Climate Action Network (CAN) International. India rose two spots to rank eighth out of 63 countries in the Climate Change Performance Index 2023 (CCPI). In the Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Energy Use categories, the country was rated “high”. In the Climate Policy and Renewable Energy categories, it earned a “medium” rating.

In 2022 and 2021, India stood in the 10th spot. In 2020, it ranked ninth on the list. Since signing the Paris Agreement in 2015, India has updated its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC).

Key Highlights:

a)      In the overall standings, no country ranked first, second or third on the index. Denmark, with a score of 79.61, ranked fourth, followed by Sweden with 73.28 points. India scored 67.35 points.

b)      India’s ranking in categories: In GHGs, it ranked 9, Renewable Energy (24), and Energy Use (9), and on Climate Policy (8).

c)       It should be noted that India ranked at top in the grouping of top 10 emitters. It is followed by Germany and Japan at 2 and 3 positions of this grouping.

d)      The worst performers in the overall ranking are Iran, Saudi Arabia and Kazakhstan. They are particularly weak in renewables and heavily reliant on oil.

e)      Saudi Arabia is the country with the highest per capita GHG emissions among the G20 nations.

 

2. India Set to Become World’s Most Populous Country in 2023: UN Report: India is projected to surpass China as the world’s most populous country in 2023, with each counting more than 1.4 billion residents this year, according to the 27th edition of the United Nations’ World Population Prospects, 2022. More About the Report:

a)      The world’s population, estimated to reach 8 billion by this year, could grow to 8.5 billion in 2030, and 10.4 billion in 2100, as the pace of mortality slows, said the report released on World Population Day.

b)      The world’s population was growing at its slowest pace since 1950, having fallen below 1% in 2020, UN estimates showed.

c)       In 2021, the average fertility of the world’s population stood at 2.3 births per woman over a lifetime, having fallen from about 5 births in 1950. Global fertility is projected to decline further to 2.1 births per woman by 2050.

d)      The United Nations said more than half of the projected increase in the global population up to 2050 will be concentrated in eight countries – Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines and the United Republic of Tanzania.

e)      Countries of sub-Saharan Africa are expected to contribute more than half of the increase anticipated through 2050.

 

3. US Imposes $1.4 mn Fine on Air India Over Delay in Refunds: The US Department of Transportation (DOT) has fined Air India $1.4 million (around Rs 11.3 crore) for delaying refunds worth $121.5 million (around Rs 985 crore) to passengers whose flights were cancelled during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Air India is among the six airlines that were probed by the US government. Totally, over $600 million in refunds were paid and $7.25 million penalties imposed against six airlines for “extreme delays in providing refunds,” the US DOT said. Other airlines facing the DOT action include Frontier Airlines, TAP Portugal, Aeromexico, El Al Airlines and Avianca.

Under US law, airlines and ticket agents have a legal obligation to refund consumers if the airline cancels or significantly changes a flight to, from and within the US, and the passenger does not wish to accept the alternative offered.

 

4. World Heritage Week: 19th to 25th November: The Department of Archives, Archaeology and Museums is celebrating World Heritage week commencing from November 19 to November 25, 2022. The World Heritage Week is observed to promote the conservation of culture and heritage. The week – long celebration aims to create awareness about traditions and culture. The World Heritage Week is celebrated by UNESCO and several other international organisations. In India the World Heritage Week is celebrated by the Archaeological Survey of India.

The Member States of UNESCO adopted the World Heritage Convention in 1972. 191 state parties have ratified this World Heritage Convention including India. World Heritage sites belong to all the people of the world, irrespective of the territory on which they are located.

Note: Archaeological Survey of India Founder: Alexander Cunningham; Archaeological Survey of India Founded: 1861; Archaeological Survey of India Director General: V. Vidyavathi, IAS; Archaeological Survey of India Parent organisation: Ministry of Culture; Archaeological Survey of India Headquarters: New Delhi.

 

5. World Fisheries Day: 21st November: World Fisheries Day is annually celebrated on 21st November. This day is dedicated to highlighting the critical importance of healthy ocean ecosystems and to ensure sustainable stocks of fisheries in the world. World Fisheries Day also explores finding solutions to the increasingly interconnected problems that the world is facing to follow sustainable models of our ocean ecosystems while safeguarding the interest and growth and development of the fisherfolk community all across the world.

History of Fisheries Day: The first World Fisheries Day was celebrated on November 21, 2015. On the same day, it was the grand opening of the International Fisherman’s organization was held in New Delhi. A forum for the World Fisheries consortium was established around 1997 and was famously called WFF (World Fisheries Forum). Under this forum, several participants across the world actively took part in it. Around 18 countries signed a global consensus document that marked the standardization of practices.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Paddler Sharath Kamal becomes first Indian player elected to ITTF: Star Indian paddler Achanta Sharath Kamal has become the first player from India to get elected in the Athletes’ Commission of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF). The online elections took place between 7 to 13 November 2022. 10 athletes were elected for the ITTF Athletes’ Commission for a four-year term from 2022 to 2026. Eight athletes were elected from Asia, Africa, Europe, South America, North America, and Oceania region and two were highest-voted para-athletes.

 

2. Switzerland won first Billie Jean King Cup title by defeating Australia: Switzerland won their first Billie Jean King Cup title after Belinda Bencic saw off Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic in the second match of the finals with a lead of 2-0. Jil Teichmann had earlier prevailed 6-3 4-6 6-3 over Storm Sanders last year.

 

3. Mehuli Ghosh won gold medal in the Asian Airgun Championship: Indian shooter Mehuli Ghosh has defeated South Korean Eunyoung Cho to clinch the Women’s 10-meter Air Rifle gold medal at the Asian Airgun Championship in Daegu, South Korea. The junior women’s gold was bagged by Tilottama Sen who beat compatriot and qualification topper Nancy 17-11 in the 10-meter air rifle event. In the youth women’s event, India’s Gautami Bhanot won Gold, Yukthi Rajendra Silver and Hazel won Bronze medals.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. German Bank ‘KfW’ to Provide 150 million Euro Loan to SBI for Solar Projects: State Bank of India has signed a 150 million euro (Rs 1,240 crore) loan agreement with the German development bank KfW for funding solar projects. The long-term loan, under the Indo-German solar partnership, will facilitate new and upcoming capacities in the solar sector and further contribute to the country’s goals announced during the COP26.

The Development of This Partnership: In 2015, New Delhi and Berlin had signed a memorandum of understanding to foster solar energy through technical as well as financial cooperation. Through this agreement, Germany had expressed its willingness to provide the concessional loans to India in the range of 1 billion euros through KfW.

The successful closure of the phase-1 under the solar partnership- promotion of solar/PV between SBI and KfW, paves the way for the current phase-2 in our partnership with this German lender, Ashwini Tewari, a managing director at SBI said. With this facility, he added, the bank has taken another step towards sustainable financing arrangements for meeting the nation’s renewable capacity goals and upholding environmental and social standards.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. 5G may Contribute up to 2% to India’s GDP by 2030: The launch of 5G services will strengthen India’s position as an economic and technology powerhouse globally and is expected to boost 2% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), amounting to approximately $180 billion by 2030, according to a new report by industry body Nasscom.

The report titled, “5G — Unfolding India’s era of digital convergence” was released on the side lines of Nasscom Tech Innovation Conclave (NTIC) 2022, added that “5G is expected to create new value through hyper-connectivity and become a catalyst for digital transformation across industries”.

Sectors such as healthcare, energy and utilities, manufacturing, and retail are expected to benefit the most from large-scale 5G adoption. For example, certain aspects such as adequate infrastructure upgradation and fiberisation for 5G deployment, along with network densification need to be addressed to realise the utmost benefit of the technology across industries, the report noted.

 

2. Blackstone launches its Asian Data center business from India: Global asset manager Blackstone Group has forayed into the data center business in Asia with a planned capacity across two large hyperscale data centers in India. It plans to increase it to 600 MW over the next two years through presence in five locations in the country. Blackstone launched its data center platform Lumina CloudInfra on 15 November 2022. Initially the data center will be set up in Mumbai and Chennai, and later on it will be set up in Delhi-NCR, Hyderabad and Pune.

National Data Center:

a)      The government data center has been set up and managed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC). The first Data Centre was launched in Hyderabad in 2008, followed by NDC Pune in 2010, NDC Delhi in 2011 and NDC Bhubaneswar in 2018.

b)      It operates 37 small Data Centres at various State Capitals to provide services to the Government at all levels.

c)       National Data Centre (NDC) at Bhubaneswar is a Cloud-enabled Data Centre which has been offering cloud services to Government Departments since its inception.

d)      The National Data Centres form the core of e-Governance Infrastructure in India by providing services to various e-Governance initiatives undertaken by the Government of India.

 

3. Sandhya Devanathan Appointed as Meta’s New India Head: Facebook-parent Meta has appointed Sandhya Devanathan as its new top executive for the country two weeks after the departure of former India head Ajit Mohan. Devanathan will transition to her new role on 1 January 2023. Devanathan currently serves as vice president of gaming for Meta’s Asia-Pacific (APAC) division. Key Points:

a)      In her new role, Sandhya Devanathan will report to Dan Neary, vice president of Meta’s overall APAC business.

b)      Devanathan served as the country managing director for Singapore and business head for Vietnam.

c)       On 3rd November 2022, Meta announced the departure of erstwhile country head, Ajit Mohan, with immediate effect.

d)      On 15 November, the company announced the departure of Abhijit Bose, country head for WhatsApp India, and Rajiv Aggarwal, public policy director for Meta India.

e)      The exits come amid the largest single layoff phase for Meta. On 9 November, Meta’s chief executive Mark Zuckerberg announced that the company will be laying off 11,000 of its employees, or about 13% of its workforce, and freeze all hiring for at least until March next year.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Indian Basketball Legend Abbas Moontasir passes away: The former India basketball captain and Arjuna awardee, Gulam Abbas Moontasir, passed away in Mumbai. He was born in Mumbai in 1942. His basketball debut came in 1960 in an exhibition game against Australia. He captained the national team in the 1969 and 1975 Asian Basketball Championships in Bangkok. He was part of the Indian team at the 1970 Asian Games, which finished sixth after topping a group that also contained China, Thailand and Malaysia. In the same year, Muntasir was selected in the Asian All-Star team and received the Arjuna Award, the first basketball player to receive this honour.