Daily GK Update- 26th Nov, 2022

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Sonowal Launches India’s first Centre of Excellence for Green Port & Shipping: Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal announced India’s first National Centre of Excellence for Green Port & Shipping (NCoEGPS) a major initiative by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping towards providing greener solutions. The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) is the knowledge and implementation partner for this project.

“The centre aims to develop a regulatory framework and alternate technology adoption road map for Green Shipping to foster carbon neutrality and circular economy (CE) in shipping sector in India,” the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways said. India’s first centre of excellence for Green Port & Shipping as a major attempt by the Ministry towards realising Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji’s Mission LiFE movement.

 

2. Tamil Nadu: Anamalai Tiger Reserve launched ‘jumbo trails’ in Coimbatore: The Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR) has launched ‘jumbo trails’ at Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu, a programme aimed to educate visitors to the tiger reserve about elephants, the flora, and fauna of ATR and the aboriginal tribes who live in the hills. An initiative by ATR Field Director S. Ramasubramanian and Deputy Director (Pollachi Division) Bhargava Teja, the first jumbo trail will happen on November 26. According to Assistant Conservator of Forests V. Selvam, the jumbo trails start at ‘Anamalaiyagam’, a newly-established forest interpretation centre at Sethumadai. The programme is organised by the Advanced Wildlife Management Training Centre (Attakatti) and implemented by Keelpoonachi Eco Development Committee.

Under the programme:

a)      The biologist and other resource persons from the Forest Department will explain the exhibits at the interpretation centre and provide the registered participants with an overall view of ATR.

b)      The participants will be taken to Top Slip in a Forest Department vehicle from where they will be taken for a nature trail to Ambili watch tower that offers a panoramic view of Pollachi.

c)       During the nature trail through the forest, resource persons will explain to them about the flora and fauna seen around. Upon reaching the watchtower, residents from the tribal settlement will give them herbal tea.

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

 

3. Karnataka has Highest Installed Grid-interactive Renewable Power Capacity in India: Karnataka came at the top position while comparing the total installed capacity of grid-interactive renewable power of all the states of the country. The state had a total installed capacity of 15,463 megawatts (mw), according to an RBI publication.

Tamil Nadu with 15,225 mw, came at the second; Gujarat, with 13,153 mw, was at third position while Maharashtra, with 10,267 mw, was at the fourth, according to Handbook of Statistics on Indian States 2021-22, which was the seventh edition of its statistical publication, released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Through this publication, the Reserve Bank has been disseminating wide-ranging data on the regional economies of India.

About The Other States: Maharashtra was followed by Rajasthan (10,205 mw), Andhra Pradesh (8,969 mw), Madhya Pradesh (5,206 mw), Telangana (4,378 mw), Uttar Pradesh (3,879 mw), Punjab (1,617 mw) and Himachal Pradesh (988 mw) and Uttarakhand (713 mw) in that order.

 

4. Groundnut Festival ‘Kadalekai Parishe’ begins in Karnataka: The annual festival of ‘Kadalekai Parishe’, also known as the groundnut festival, Kadalekai Parishe is a fair held in the month of Kartik near Basavanagudi in Bengaluru. It happens near the Dodda Ganesha temple and the Bull Temple at Basavanagudi.

Key Points: The groundnut festival has a 500-year-old history, and it is happening after a pause of two years because of the pandemic. It was inaugurated by Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai on November 20, 2022. This year, over 3,000 people from other parts of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and also Tamil Nadu took part in the festivities that welcomed the first seasonal yield of the groundnut crop.

 

5. National Milk Day: 26th November: National Milk Day is celebrated on 26th November every year to signify the importance and benefits of milk. National Milk Day is celebrated on the birth anniversary of Dr. Verghese Kurien, who is also known as the ‘Father of White Revolution“. The Indian Dairy Association took the initiative of celebrating National Milk Day for the first time in 2014.

 

6. Constitution Day: 26th November: Constitution Day is celebrated on 26th November every year in India to commemorate the adoption of the Constitution of India. The constitution of India was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on 26th November 1949, and it came into effect on 26th January 1950. Key Points:

a)      The Constitution of India is termed as ‘of the people, for the people, and by the people.’

b)      The preamble of the Indian Constitution declared India as a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic, republic, and the welfare state.

c)       The Indian Constitution is the longest-written constitution in the world.

d)      The Constitution offers a framework for the government of the country to keep in mind the social, religious, and cultural diversity of the nation.

e)      The framing of the constitution took over 2 years, 11 months, and 17 days.

f)        The constituent assembly included 299 members and 15 were a woman.

g)      When the constitution was adopted in 1949, 284 members signed it.

h)      Dr. Rajendra Prasad was the Chairman of the Constituent Assembly.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India and EU Sign Agreement for Cooperation in High-Performance Computing: India’s Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY), and the Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG CONNECT), European Commission signed an “Intent of Cooperation on High Performance Computing (HPC), Weather Extremes & Climate Modeling and Quantum Technologies”.

The agreement builds on commitments by both sides for deepening technological cooperation on quantum and high-performance computing during the India-EU leaders meeting. The agreement signed is aimed at facilitating collaboration on high performance computing applications using Indian and European supercomputers in areas such as bio-molecular medicines, Covid-19 therapeutics, mitigating climate change, predicting natural disasters and quantum computing, the statement said.

About India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC): The India-EU TTC is a strategic mechanism that gives New Delhi access to advanced technologies and allows the two sides to set standards in crucial areas such as 5G and artificial intelligence. This is the first such trade and technology council set up by India with any of its partners. For the EU, it is only the second such body, following the first one set up with the US. The proposal for setting up the council came from the EU side and India agreed to it as it will allow the two sides to work on issues such as 5G, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, climate modelling and health-related technology.

 

2. Russia Replaces China to Become the Biggest Supplier of Fertilizers to India: Russia has become India’s biggest fertilizer supplier for the first time. Russian exporters reportedly grabbed a 21% share of the Indian fertilizer market in the first half of the 2022-23 fiscal year, overtaking China, previously India’s largest supplier.

Russian exports reportedly surged 371%, to a record 2.15 million tons from April to October. In monetary terms, India’s imports over this period increased by 765%, to $1.6 billion. Russia’s share of Indian fertilizer imports was hovering around 6% during the last fiscal year, while China’s stood at 24%. In the first half of 2022-23, China’s exports to India halved to 1.78 million tons amid growing Russian supplies.

About The Global Prices: Global prices for fertilizers jumped in March after the US, the EU and allied states introduced sanctions against fertilizer supplies from Russia and Belarus. While Western countries have since backtracked on the ban, Russia has found new markets, mostly in Asia, for its exports.

Combined, Russia and Belarus accounted for more than 40% of global exports of potash last year. Russia accounted for about 22% of global exports of ammonia, 14% of the world’s urea exports and about 14% of monoammonium phosphate (MAP) – all key kinds of fertilizers.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. India Won 25 out of 28 Golds at 15th Asian Airgun Championships: India ended their campaign at the 15th Asian Championships in South Korea with 25 gold medals. Indian pair Manu Bhaker and Samrat Rana won the 10-meter Junior Air Pistol Mixed Team event. Bhaker and Rana in the qualification shot 578 shots to finish second against Uzbekistan pair Nigina Saidkulova and Mukhammad Kamalov.

The Indian duo Sangwan and Vijyaveer Sidhu clinched the yellow metal in the corresponding senior event. Sangwan and Vijyaveer completely outshot Kazakhstan duo Valeriy Rakhimzhan and Irina Yunusmetova. They have topped the qualification round with a score of 579 with the Kazakhs finishing second with 577.

 

2. Novak Djokovic Won 6th ATP Finals Singles Title: Novak Djokovic won the sixth ATP Finals singles title win beating Casper Ruud from Norway. Novak Djokovic defeated the opponent by 7-5, 6-3 to walk away with a historic payday of $4.7m. Novak Djokovic has equaled the record of six ATP title wins of Roger Federer.

 

3. Manika Batra: First Indian woman to win medal at Asian Cup Table Tennis: Manika Batra, the Indian Table Tennis player, became the first Indian woman to win a medal at the Asian Cup Table Tennis Tournament. Manika defeated World no.6 Hina Hayata of Japan in the Asian Cup 2022 in the women’s singles bronze medal match in Bangkok, Thailand.

Key Points: Manika Batra defeated Hina Hayata by 4-2 in the medal match. Manika Batra led the match by 2-1, but Hayata seemed poised to level the match with a 10-6 lead in the fourth game. She took 6 points and successfully turned the momentum in her favor. Manika is India’s top-ranked table tennis player and is at world no. 44. On the same day, Manika Batra lost the game to Mima Ito of Japan in Semi-Finals.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. KVG Bank gets award for Atal Pension Yojana enrolment: Karnataka Vikas Grameena Bank (KVGB) has bagged the national award from Pension Fund regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) for significant enrolment under Atal Pension Yojana (APY). So far, the bank has enrolled 3,34,687 (cumulative) accounts under APY. During 2022-23, the bank enrolled 69,132 accounts against the target of 50,320.

Notably: Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority is the regulatory body under the jurisdiction of Ministry of Finance, Government of India for overall supervision and regulation of pension in India.

PFRDA has given a target of an average 80 accounts per branch, the bank has achieved an average of 110 accounts against the target. This achievement is highest among all other banks in South India. At present, the bank has 629 branches in the nine districts from Vijayapura to Mangaluru. KVGB is playing a pivotal role in implementing all the three social security schemes (PMJJBY, PMSBY and APY) launched by central Government. The bank’s priority is to ensure access to social security benefits to villagers and people from unorganised sector.

Note: Karnataka Vikas Grameena Bank founded: September 12, 2005; Karnataka Vikas Grameena Bank Headquarters: Dharwad, Karnataka; Karnataka Vikas Grameena Bank Chairman: Puttaganti Gopi Krishna.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. OECD Cuts India Growth Rate Forecast to 6.6 % in 2022: The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), cut its gross domestic growth forecast for India for the current financial year (FY23) to 6.6 per cent from 6.9 per cent, citing higher medium-term global uncertainty and slowing domestic economic activity.

The agency said that tighter financial market conditions were weighing on the demand for capital goods, while the monthly energy and food import bill kept rising and the current account deficit widened in the July-September quarter to 2.9 per cent of GDP.

About The Inflation: Headline inflation remains above 6 per cent mostly due to the trend increase in the price of food. Unemployment estimates suggest improving labour market conditions in both urban and rural areas, but there are few signs of a wage-inflation spiral,” it said.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Franca Ma-ih Sulem Yong gets UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Prize for 2022: The UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize for the Promotion of Tolerance and Non-Violence, for this 2022 Edition, has been given to Franca Ma-ih Sulem Yong from Cameroon, President of the NGOs #Afrogiveness and Positive Youths Africa. About Franca Ma-ih Sulem Yong:

a)      Franca Ma-ih Sulem Yong, with 7-year experience as a journalist, strived to change the perception related to mental illness.

b)      With training in art therapy and psychology, she founded two non-governmental organizations (NGOs) – Afrogiveness Movement and Positive Youths Africa (PYA).

c)       These two NGOs are peace education initiatives that aim to help traumatized survivors of interfaith and intercultural conflicts in African countries to heal using the universal language of the arts.

d)      They operate in nine African countries – Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Sudan, and Togo.

e)      Through these NGOs, Franca Ma-ih Sulem Yong is promoting tolerance and non-violence by reintegrating survivors from opposing sides of war and conflicts into their host communities.

f)        She is providing psycho-social and educational support (art therapy), socio-economic aid (distribution of university scholarship, diploma training, hygienic products, and books), and legal assistance.

About UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize: The UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize for the Promotion of Tolerance and Non-Violence is conferred every two years by UNESCO. The award was created based on the ideals of UNESCO’s Constitution, which states that “peace if it is not to fail, must be founded on the intellectual and moral solidarity of mankind”. It was unveiled in 1996 after the 1995 United Nations Year for Tolerance and in connection with the 125th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. The award was funded by a donation from Madanjeet Singh – the former Indian artist, writer and diplomat who served as a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador.

 

2. Kathak exponent Uma Sharma received Sumitra Charat Ram Award: Kathak exponent Dr. Uma Sharma has received the prestigious ‘Sumitra Charat Ram Award’ for Lifetime Achievement in recognition of her contribution in the field of Indian classical music and dance. She is a renowned classical dancer who has been awarded Padma Shri (1973) and Padma Bhushan (2001) for her unique contribution to the cultural tradition of this country.

About the Sumitra Charat Ram Award:

a)      For the last 11 years ‘Sumitra Charat Ram Award’ for Lifetime Achievement has been presented to honour eminent Artists who have made a lasting contribution to the field of Indian Classical Music & Dance.

b)      The first award was presented to Pt. Birju Maharaj, the doyen of kathak Dance followed by Smt. Kishori Amonkar (Hindustani Vocal Music), Shri Mayadhar Raut (Odissi Dance), Smt. Kumudini Lakhia (Kathak Dance), Pt. Jasraj (Hindustani Vocal Music), Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia (Hindustani Instrumental Music, Flute), Smt. Girija Devi (Hindustani Classical Music, Vocal), Ustad Amjad Ali Khan (Hindustani Classical Music, Sarod) and lastly to Dr. Sonal Mansingh (Indian Classical Dance Guru, Motivational Speaker).

 

3. Danish Manzoor Bhat honoured with JaipurFoot USA’s 1st Global Humanitarian Award: Danish Manzoor Bhat, originally hailing from Kashmir Valley, was honoured with Jaipur Foot USA’s first Global Humanitarian Award this week at a ceremony held at the Consulate General of India in New York. The award was presented in the Indian High Comission New York by Consul General Randhir Jaiswal, IAS and Prem Bhandari, Chairman, JaipurFoot USA.

The award has been constituted to honour and recognise the selfless work of Indians who without caring for their lives, manage to help those in need and are always a call away when it comes to humanitarian efforts transcending borders. He has been awarded for here work and efforts in helping scores of people impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly during the deadly second wave in India.

About Danish Manzoor Bhat: Danish Manzoor Bhat, originally hailing from Kashmir Valley. A journalist by profession, Danish leads Newsweek Magazine in Asia as its Editorial Director and Sr. Vice President for Global Editorial Strategy & Innovation.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Former Indian football captain Babu Mani passes away: Babu Mani, who was an integral part of the Indian football team in the 1980s, passed away after a prolonged battle with liver-related issues. He was 59. He represented India in 55 international matches and was a part of the first Indian team that qualified for the AFC Asian Cup in 1984.

Babu Mani made his India debut against Argentina in Kolkata during the 1984 Nehru Cup and went on to play 55 matches for the country. He was also a part of the first Indian squad to qualify for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup in 1984 and went on to play in the tournament in Singapore. Mani was also a member of the Indian team which won gold medals at the 1985 and 1987 editions of the South Asian Games. Babu Mani, also part of the Bengal Team which won Santosh Trophy in 1986 and 1988.

Daily GK Update- 25th Nov, 2022

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India to Take Over Chairmanship of the Global Partnership on AI from France: India will take over the chair of the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence for 2022-23 at a meeting of the body in Tokyo, the Ministry of Electronics and IT said. This development comes on the heels of assuming the Presidency of the G20, a league of the world’s largest economies.

In the election to the Council Chair, India had received more than a two-thirds majority of first-preference votes while Canada and the United States of America ranked in the next two best places in the tally – so they were elected to the two additional government seats on the Steering Committee, the ministry said in a statement.

Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI): GPAI is an international initiative to support responsible and human-centric development and the use of Artificial Intelligence. GPAI is a congregation of 25 member countries, including the US, UK, European Union, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, South Korea, and Singapore. India joined the GPAI in 2020 as a founding member.

 

2. Union Minister Anurag Singh Thakur launched ’53 hours Challenge’: Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting and Youth Affairs & Sports Anurag Singh Thakur has inaugurated ’53 Hours Challenge’ for ‘75 Creative Minds Tomorrow’. This is the second edition of 75 Creative Minds of Tomorrow and we have already made a community of 150 strong individuals connected through their shared love for cinema, creativity and culture. The competition will challenge the winners of ’75 Creative Minds for Tomorrow’ to produce a short film on their idea of India@100, all in 53 hours. This is powered by National Film Development Corporation (NDFC). ‘53-Hour Challenge’ inaugurated today by Union Minister Anurag Thakur, is being organized on the side-lines of the 53rd International Film Festival of India (IFFI). The competition will challenge the 75 ‘Creative Minds’ to produce a short film on their idea of India@100, all in 53 hours. This segment of IFFI 53 is powered by National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) in collaboration with Shorts TV.

Note: National Film Development Corporation Founded: 1975, Mumbai; National Film Development Corporation Headquarters: Mumbai.

 

3. Giriraj Singh Inaugurated SARAS AAJEEVIKA MELA 2022 at New Delhi: Union Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Shri Giriraj inaugurated the “SARAS AAJEEVIKA MELA, 2022” at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. Shri Singh informed that the Ministry of Rural Development has received over 60,000 applications from 3 states for start-up ventures in niche products and crafts areas. Key Points:

a)      Shri Singh informed that it was Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, who launched StartUp India from the ramparts of Red Fort in 2015, and now we have more than 80,000 start-ups from 400 odd start-ups in 2014.

b)      India ranks 3rd in the world in terms of the start-up ecosystem and there are over 100 unicorns active in the country.

c)       Women of SHG Members will have their start-ups as the proposals are under active consideration by the ministry.

d)      The Rural Development Minister informed that NRLM has been undertaking several efforts in supporting businesses run by rural SHG women that are engaged in producing food products, handicrafts, handloom, etc.

e)      As part of the efforts to connect producers to markets, NRLM and SRLMs have taken steps to promote curated products from SHGs and SHG member entrepreneurs through multiple channels such as Saras Gallery, State-specific retail outlets, e-Commerce platforms like GeM, Flipkart, and Amazon.

 

4. Gautaam Borah’s new book ‘Nalanada – Until we meet again’ launched by Ruskin Bond: Gautaam Borah, a senior management professional and the author of the widely acclaimed book ‘Monetising Innovation’, launches his new book ‘Nalanada – Until we meet again’. The book was launched by legendary writer Ruskin Bond.

Essence of the book: ‘Nalanda- until we meet again’ is a gripping story of romance, vengeance, and an age-old mystery. It’s a story of Neil and Aanchal. Neil meets Aanchal at the iconic University of Oxford and they fall in love. Back in India, Aanchal joins an NGO and Neil a telecom company. Neil is propelled into a ruthless journey when he becomes a victim of corporate politics. Aanchal’s politician father charters a different path for her and she disappears. A stunning revelation from a mysterious sage puts Neil at the crossroads of a century-old mystery Neil needs to take up a journey to Nalanda to complete a larger task to bring Aanchal back in his life.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. New Zealand Supreme Court Rules Voting Age of 18 is Discriminatory in the Country: New Zealand’s voting age has been ruled discriminatory by the country’s highest court. The case was brought by advocacy group make it 16 in 2020, in a bid to lower the voting age from 18 to 16. The Supreme Court found the current voting age of 18 was inconsistent with the country’s Bill of Rights, which gives people a right to be free from age discrimination when they turn 16. The group argues there is no reason to stop 16-year-olds voting when they can drive, work full-time and pay tax. Political parties in New Zealand have mixed views on the subject. The Green Party wants immediate action to lower the voting age to 16, but the largest opposition party, the National party, does not support the shift. The centre-right National party opposes the move, while the Labour party is yet to state whether it would support a change in voting age or not.

 

2. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan Re-elected as President: Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has secured a second term in a snap election, winning 81.3 percent of the vote. The Central Asian nation’s Central Election Commission made the announcement citing preliminary data. Tokayev had been widely expected to extend his rule over the oil-rich nation by seven more years with a strong mandate to continue his increasingly independent foreign policy, as the former Soviet republic navigates the Russia-Ukraine crisis. Tokayev faced no real opposition candidates in a nation where critics are sidelined and all five of his competitors were virtually unknown. Tokayev’s Performance:

a)      Tokayev won his first election in 2019 with the backing of his predecessor, Nursultan Nazarbayev, but the two fell out this year amid violent unrest in the nation of 20 million. Present vote consolidated his power as an independent leader.

b)      In less than a year, Tokayev suppressed the worst anti-government demonstrations in his country’s history, neutralised his all-powerful predecessor, and stood up to Russia’s President Vladimir Putin.

 

3. Prof. Venu Gopal Achanta Elected as a Member of International Committee for Weight and Measures: Prof. Venu Gopal Achanta, Director, CSIR-National Physical Laboratory (CSIR-NPL), New Delhi, has been elected as a member of the International Committee for Weights and Measures (CIPM). The 27th General Conference on Weights and Measures (CGPM) meeting was held on 15-18 November, 2022 at Paris, France. Prof. Achanta is among the 18 members elected from different countries and he is the 7th Indian to be elected to the CIPM. The first Indian to be elected as a member of CIPM was Dr. K.S. Krishnan, the founder Director of CSIR-NPL. The last Indian to be elected was Prof. E. S. R. Gopal, the then Director, and CSIR-NPL (1991-1997). About the International Committee for Weights and Measures:

a)      At present, 64 countries are members of CGPM and it meets every 4 years at the International Bureau of Weight and Measure (BIPM), France.

b)      The CIPM is a supreme international committee which functions under the authority of the General Conference on Weights and Measures (CGPM).

c)       CGPM was set up under the Meter Convention signed on 20th May 1875 in Paris. It is responsible for development and implementation of International Systems of Unites, universally abbreviated as SI.

 

4. International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women: 25th November: The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women is observed on November 25, every year. It is a day to pay tribute to the Mirabal sisters, the Dominican Republic activists who were murdered at the order of Rafael Trujilllo in 1960. The United Nations aims to raise awareness about gender-based violence against women. The 2022 theme of International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women is ‘UNITE! Activism to End Violence against Women and Girls.’ According to the United Nations’ official website, this campaign will be an initiative of 16 days of activism starting from November 25 and concluding on International Human Rights Day on December 10.

International Day for The Elimination Of Violence Against Women History: Since 1981, November 25 has been commemorated as a day to raise voices against gender-based violence. This date honours the Mirabal sisters, three political activists from the Dominican Republic who were brutally murdered on the order of former President Rafael Trujillo in 1960. The General Assembly adopted the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women through resolution 48/104 on 20 December 1993.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. BCCI Dissolves 4-Member National Selection Committee Headed by Chetan Sharma: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has dissolved the four-member National Selection Committee headed by Chetan Sharma after India team’s uninspired performance in T20 World Cup. Apart from chief selector Chetan Sharma, other members of the selection committee were Sunil Joshi, Harvinder Singh and Debashish Mohanty. Key Points:

a)      The BCCI invited fresh applications for the position of National Selectors for the senior men’s team and deadline to submit the applications is 28th November. A release by cricket’s apex governing body in the country mentioned the criteria for those who wish to apply for the positions.

b)      A release by cricket’s apex governing body in the country mentioned the criteria for those who wish to apply for the positions. “Should have played a minimum of 7 Test matches or 30 First Class matches, or 10 ODI and 20 First Class matches,” read the official BCCI statement.

c)       “Should have retired from the game at least 5 years ago and no person who has been a member of any Cricket Committee (as defined in the rules and regulations of BCCI) for a total of 5 years shall be eligible to be a member of the Men’s Selection Committee,” the release added.

 

2. Sebastian Vettel retired from Formula One racing: German racing driver Sebastian Vettel has retired from Formula One racing. Vettel won four Formula One World Championships between 2010 and 2013 while competing for Red Bull and previously spent six seasons with Ferrari. In the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Sebastian Vettel finished in 10th place, the last one of his career. Vettel received a guard of honour from his fellow competitors before the race.

Career of Sebastian Vettel:

a)      Vettel started his Formula One career as a test driver for BMW Sauber in 2006, making a one-off racing appearance in 2007.

b)      As part of the Red Bull Junior Team, Vettel appeared for Toro Rosso later that year and was kept as a full-time driver for 2008.

c)       Vettel was promoted to Red Bull in 2009. With Red Bull, Vettel won four consecutive titles from 2010 to 2013, the first of which made him the sport’s youngest World Champion.

d)      In 2013, he set the record for the most consecutive race wins with nine.

e)      Vettel signed for Ferrari for 2015 replacing Fernando Alonso and became Mercedes’ and Lewis Hamilton’s closest challenger in two title fights in 2017 and 2018, although he finished both years as runner-up.

f)        He parted ways with Ferrari at the end of the 2020 season to race with Aston Martin for the 2021 and 2022 seasons, before announcing his plans to retire from Formula One at the end of the 2022 season.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Axis Bank Launches Knowledge Summit ‘Evolve’ for MSMEs: Axis Bank has launched the seventh edition of ‘Evolve’ for MSMEs with the theme of ‘Indian SMEs: Shifting Gears for Next Level Growth’. ‘Digitalisation to Building Indian SMEs’ and ‘Export Opportunities for SMEs in the New World Order’ were some of the other key themes at the launch.

The 7th edition of Evolve will delve into how technology and digitalization can help achieve exponential growth from exports, which is a major area of focus for increasing profitability and market presence for MSMEs, the bank said. “Through Evolve, Axis Bank aims to provide a platform for MSMEs to interact and learn from industry thought leaders who have transformed their businesses over the years,” it added.

About The MSMEs Potential: The bank said the MSME sector has immense potential to bolster its export share and despite the industry challenges, positive trends such as government support, digital tools, improved access to finance and technology, trade facilitation and global markets have empowered MSMEs to leverage tailwinds and propel growth to the next level.

About The Previous Edition: The topic for previous edition was “Gearing up for a US$5 Trillion Economy”. The edition highlighted key focus areas in envisioning SME’s role in India’s vision of achieving a $5 trillion economy. This platform provided a great opportunity to interact and learn with the thought leaders of the industry who have witnessed successful growth journeys over the years.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. CRISIL Revises India’s GDP Forecast for FY23 Down From 7.3% to 7%: CRISIL has revised its forecast for India’s real gross domestic product (GDP) growth to 7 per cent for the current fiscal (2022-23) from 7.3 per cent estimated previously. The credit rating agency said this is primarily because the slowdown in global growth has started to impact India’s exports and industrial activity. Crisil downgraded the India growth forecast by 30 bps to 7 per cent while ICRA pegged the economic expansion at 6.5 per cent for the second quarter of FY2022-23. This is mainly due to the ripple effect of slowdown in global growth and mixed crop output.

About The GDP Components: GDP growth over the pre-Covid levels is expected to double to around 8 per cent in Q2 relative to 3.8 per cent seen in the previous quarter. The agency estimates the sectoral growth in Q2 to be driven by the services sector (9.4 per cent), with a subdued trend foreseen for the industry (2 per cent), and agriculture, forestry and fishing (2.5 per cent).

About Other Emerging Economies: China (4.5 per cent growth estimated for 2023-25), Indonesia (5.2 per cent), Turkey (3 per cent) and Brazil (1.6 per cent).

Note: CRISIL (Credit Rating Information Services of India Limited) Established: 1987; Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra; MD & CEO: Amish Mehta.

 

DEFENCE

 

1. South Western Command conducts Integrated Fire Power Exercise in Rajasthan: South Western Command of the Indian Army conducted Integrated Fire Power Exercise, “SHATRUNASH’’ at MFFR in Thar desert of Rajasthan. The exercise witnessed use of multi farious firing platforms in an integrated manner involving both ground & aerial manoeuvres. Various actions included ion of troops, offensive ground actions involving comprehensive coordination incorporating contemporary technologies in a multi domain environment. Real time communication and sharing of common operating picture amongst various participants to overcome emerging threats were practised & skills were honed.

 

2. 13th bilateral naval exercise Naseem Al Bahr-2022: The 13th edition of bilateral exercise between the Indian and the Royal Oman navies, Naseem Al Bahr-2022, commenced off the coast of Oman on 20 November 2022. The exercise is being conducted in two phases: the Harbour Phase and the Sea Phase. The Indian Navy’s guided missile frigate Trikand and Offshore Patrol Vessel Sumitra, with their integral helicopters, and the maritime patrol aircraft, Dornier, are participating in the exercise.

The exercise facilitates operational-level interaction between the two navies to foster mutual cooperation and enhance good order at sea. The exercise also aims to strengthen the ancient maritime and cultural linkages between India and Oman. Friendly sports fixtures were conducted amongst participants from the two navies on the sidelines of the conference. The exercise aims to intensify maritime exchanges between the two countries and enhance maritime security in the region.

Note: Oman Capital: Muscat; Oman Currency: Omani rial.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Rasna founder Areez Pirojshaw Khambatta passes away: The founding chairman of the popular drink Rasna, Areez Pirojshaw Khambatta has passed away. The 85-year-old industrialist, who was suffering from a prolonged illness. Decades back, his father Phiroja Khambatta started a modest business which Areez took to being the largest concentrate manufacturer in the world, with a presence in over 60 countries. He created affordable soft drink packs of Rasna in the 1970s as an alternative to soft drink products sold at high costs. It is sold at 1.8 million retail outlets in the country.

Khambatta was the former chairman of the World Alliance of Parsi Irani Zarthostis (WAPIZ). He also served as the past president of the Ahmedabad Parsi Panchayat and the vice president of the Federation of Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India.

About the Rasna: Rasna, which is now the world’s largest gentle drink focus producer, still enjoys a high recall and the brand’s “I love you Rasna” campaign of the 80s and 90s still resonates in the minds of people. A pack of Rasna of Rs 5 can be converted into 32 glasses of soft drinks, costing a mere 15 paise per glass. Rasna has nine manufacturing plants and a strong distribution network with 26 depots across India, 200 super stockists, 5,000 stockists, 900 salesforce covering 1.6 million outlets.

 

2. Zorba, the first dog of anti-poaching dogs squad K9, passes away: India’s first dog to be deployed for tracking down poachers, Zorba has passed away of old age in Guwahati. The 12-year-old male Belgian Malinois was a member of ‘K9’, the nation’s first dog squad to fight wildlife crime. Zorba was the first dog of the squad and he was credited with helping law enforcement authorities nab over 60 poachers. He was given teary farewell by wildlife activists and was buried.

Zorba retired from service in 2019 and was honoured for his services with a traditional Assamese ‘gamosa’ and a citation on Independence Day this year. He served mostly in the Kaziranga National Park from 2012 till his retirement, and assisted authorities to nab people involved in rhino poaching. He was also deployed in other national parks on several occasions.

About the K9 squad: The K9 squad, comprising six Belgian Malinois dogs and their handlers, has been actively assisting forest and police officials in Kaziranga and Manas National Parks as well as other rhino-inhabited areas in Assam. Zorba’s contribution during his lifetime will always be remembered and we will always regard him as a conservation hero. The dog’s handler, Anil Kumar Das, said he has rich memories with Zorba, who will always remain an inspiration for him.

Daily GK Update- 24th Nov, 2022

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Shahjahanpur District of UP Amongst Top Ranked District on the Jal Jeevan Mission: Shahjahanpur has become number one in the country in giving maximum number of tap connections in a month. Under the Jal Jeevan Mission, Shahjahanpur has created history in providing tap connections to every household in rural areas.

According to the data given on the website of Jal Jeevan Mission, Bulandshahr, Bareilly, Mirzapur have also got a place in this survey. This achievement is being considered as a big leap in the matter of rural drinking water supply. In this survey, districts are selected across the country on the basis of the progress of the scheme. About The Best Performers:

a)      Shahjahanpur stood first in two categories. It has made it first in the aspirant category by giving 28419 tap connections in October alone. According to the website, till October 1, 44557 families were given tap connections. While till October 31, the figure of providing tap connections has reached 72976.

b)      Bulandshahr in second place in best performance and third in fast moving districts. It has provided 21260 household tap connections in October. Till October 1, the number of tap connections was 97129, which reached 118389 till October 31. Bulandshahr has made it to the aspirant category as the second state to provide 6 percent FHTC (where the supply starts from the tap) in a month.

c)       Bareilly (with 619114 marks) stood second in the best performing category and was third in the aspirant category by giving tap water connections to 22,222 families in October.

d)      Mirzapur (600,050 marks) stood second in the fast moving category for ensuring tap water connections to 20,655 families, officials said.

 

2. Maharashtra Government Doubles Pension of Freedom Fighters: The Maharashtra Government has decided to double the pension of freedom fighters from ten thousand to twenty thousand rupees per month. Accordingly, freedom fighters associated with India’s freedom struggle, Marathwada Mukti Sangram and Goa Liberation Movement will benefit from this decision. This will benefit around 6,229 surviving patriots across Maharashtra who had taken part in India’s freedom struggle (1947), the Marathwada Liberation struggle (1948) and the Goa Liberation movement (1961). The largesse will entail an additional annual burden of Rs 74.75 crore on the state exchequer, for the pension scheme launched way back in 1965.

The Other Decisions: The state cabinet also cleared a proposal to allow Socially and Educationally Backward Classes candidates (Marathas) to avail jobs quota under the category of economically weaker sections (EWS), whose constitutional validity has been upheld by the Supreme Court. In this regard, the cabinet approved the recruitment process started after September 9, 2020, said a statement from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO).

The cabinet approved a proposal to raise Rs 35,629 crore through loans to fund road development projects in the state, it said. This will help in expediting land acquisition for such projects.

 

3. Govt to Set up 100 Academies to Promote Archery Amongst Tribal Children: Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Arjun Munda has said the government has decided to set up 100 archery academies in the country to promote talent amongst tribal children by nurturing their archery skills. Mr. Munda said, his Ministry is continuously working for enhancing educational and health facilities and also focusing on generating employment in the tribal areas. He informed that the government is setting up Eklavya Model Residential School and implementing ‘Pradhan Mantri Adi Adarsh Gram Yojna which aims at mitigating gaps and providing basic infrastructure in villages with significant tribal population.

 

4. Retired IAS Arun Goel appointed as Election Commissioner of India: President Droupadi Murmu has appointed retired IAS Arun Goel as the Election Commissioner in the Election Commission with effect from the date he assumes the office. A Punjab cadre officer of the 1985 batch, Goel will join Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar and Election Commissioner Anup Chandra Pandey in the poll panel.

Former Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra had retired in May this year, handing charge to Rajiv Kumar. The poll panel has been a two-member body since and had to handle several crucial issues including the demands for disqualification of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren. The poll panel will have its full strength when it decides the election schedule for Nagaland, Meghalaya, Tripura and Karnataka in the coming months.

Notably: According to the law dealing with appointment, service conditions and retirement of election commissioners, a person can hold the office of an EC or CEC for six years or till the age of 65, whichever is earlier. Mr Goel will be in office till December 2027.

Note: Chief Election Commissioner of India: Rajiv Kumar; Other Election Commissioner: Anup Chandra Pandey; Election Commission Formed: 25 January 1950; Election Commission HQ: New Delhi.

 

5. A book titled ‘The World: A Family History’ authored by british historian Simon Sebag: British Historian Simon Sebag Montefiore has released a new book titled ‘The World: A Family History’. In ‘The World: A Family History’, Montefiore he tells how humanity evolved by the stories of different and famus families. The two-part book, which will be published by Hachette India, will tell the story of humankind in “a ground-breaking, single narrative that will forever shift the boundaries of what history can achieve”.

Notably: Some of Montefiore’s previous books are: ‘Stalin: The Court of The Red Tsar’, ‘Jerusalem: The Biography’, ‘Written in History: Letters That Changed the World’, among others.

 

6. Shaheedi Diwas or Martyrdom Day of ‘Guru Tegh Bahadur’: 24th November: Guru Tegh Bahadur was the ninth Sikh Guru and second Sikh martyr, who sacrificed his life for religion and for the protection of the human rights. The martyrdom day of Guru Tegh Bahadur is celebrated every year on November 24. Guru Tegh Bahadur’s Martyrdom Day is also observed as Shaheedi Diwas. He was the father of the tenth Guru, Gobind Singh. It was on 24 November 1675, Guru Tegh Bahadur sacrificed his life for the sake of people who did not even belong to his community. to protect religion, human values, ideals and principles. The sites of his execution and cremation were later converted into Sikh holy places namely Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib and Gurudwara Rakab Ganj Sahib in Delhi.

About Guru Tegh Bahadur: Guru Teg Bahadur is also known as Hind Di Chadder– Protector of India. He was born in Amritsar, Punjab, India in 1621 and was the youngest son of Guru Hargobind, the sixth Sikh guru. He became the 9th Guru of Sikhs on 16 April 1664, a position earlier occupied by his grand-nephew, Guru Har Krishan. He had travelled in different parts of the country, including Dhaka and Assam, to preach the teachings of Guru Nanak, the first Sikh guru. Guru Tegh Bahadur was executed on the orders of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in Delhi for resisting the forced conversions of Hindus in Kashmir.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India Launches Official Website and Theme of SCO 2023: India has launched the official website of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) as it will host the next SCO summit as a chairman of organisation in 2023. The website highlights the events that will be undertaken under the chairmanship of India next year.

The theme of the event is “For a SECURE SCO”. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had floated the concept of SECURE at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in China in 2018. Explaining the SECURE concept, the Prime Minister said ‘S’ for security for citizens, ‘E’ for economic development, ‘C’ for connectivity in the region, ‘U’ for unity, ‘R’ for respect of sovereignty and integrity, and ‘E for environment protection.

Significance of India’s Presidency: Until September 2023, India would be the President of the SCO. This rotational presidency is significant for India for three major reasons.

a)      First, from a regional perspective, amidst the tensions over the Sino-Indian border and politically unstable neighbourhood, being the first South Asian country host of SCO, how India would project itself would be significant for the region.

b)      Second, from a geopolitical perspective, New Delhi could be seen renewing its policy towards Central Asia which also implies a change in understanding of the extended territorial neighbourhood. Consequently, the upcoming presidency would be significant for New Delhi’s reach toward Central Asian countries.

c)       Third, the SCO presidency is preceded by India’s non-permanent membership in the United Nations Security Council and would be followed by India hosting the G-20 summit. Thus, the tenure will reflect any continuity or change in New Delhi’s understanding of multilateralism and its behaviour in international and regional organisations.

 

2. Network Readiness Index 2022: India ranked 61st: India has moved up by six slots to improve its position and rank 61st as per the Network Readiness Index 2022 (NRI 2022) report prepared by a US-based Portulans Institute, an independent non-profit research and educational institute. Network Readiness Index 2022: India

a)      According to the report, India ranked first in ‘AI talent concentration,’ second in ‘Mobile broadband internet traffic within the country,’ and third in ‘Annual investment in telecommunication services,’ fourth in ‘ICT Services exports,’ fifth in ‘FTTH/Building Internet subscriptions,’ and sixth in ‘AI scientific publications.’

b)      While India’s overall rank is 61st the country’s rank among lower-middle-income countries is 3rd. In each of the 4 pillars of the score, India’s score was higher than the average score in the group. On the other hand, India ranked 11th within the Asia and Pacific region.

c)       India has done particularly well in AI talent concentration, International Internet bandwidth, and Mobile broadband internet traffic within the country. On the other side, the country’s weakest indicators were Happiness, Online access to financial account, and gender gap in Internet use.

d)      India has greater network readiness than would be expected given its income level. India is ranked third among 36 lower-middle-income countries, after Ukraine (50) and Indonesia (59). In all pillars and sub-pillars, India outperforms the income group average in all pillars and sub-pillars.

Globally: The United States ranks first on the list, with an overall score of 80.3. Singapore comes in second with a score of 79.35, and Sweden comes in third with a score of 78.91. Singapore leads Asia Pacific, followed by South Korea and Japan.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Carlos Alcaraz becomes the youngest world No. 1 ATP Player: Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz has become the youngest year-end ATP World Number 1, making him the first teenager to achieve this feat. Alcaraz has shown an incredible rise in the world of tennis this year. He soared from number 32 to the top of this sport’s mountain on September 12, which is also the biggest jump to number one in 50 editions of year-end ATP rankings. Key Points:

a)      Before this 19-year-old star, the youngest year-end ATP World Number 1 was Lleyton Hewitt of Australia, who was 20 years, 275 days in age at the time of his crowning in 2001.

b)      On the other hand, Alcaraz will be 19 years, and 214 days old on December 5, the 2022 year-end ranking date after the last ATP Challengers Tour events of the season.

c)       Alcaraz has joined Nadal (2008, 2010, 2013, 2017, and 2019) as Spain’s year-end world number 1.

 

2. Formula-1 Racing: Red Bull’s Max Verstappen wins Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix: Formula One (F1) world champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull team won the season ending F1 Abu Dhabi race in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The battle for second place remained a major story with Charles Leclerc and Sergio Perez entering the race tied at 290 points, but it was Leclerc who came out on top with a second-place finish on the Yas Marina Circuit.

Max Verstappen was his record 15th title of the 2022 season. He also ended the 2022 season as the world F1 champion. He won his first F1 world championship title in 2021. He also holds the record for winning a maximum 15 races in a single season. He broke the previous record of 13 race victories in a season jointly held by seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher (2004 season) and four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel (2013 season).

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. HDFC Bank, Canara Bank Get RBI Approval for Rupee Trade with Russia: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) allowed HDFC Bank Ltd and Canara Bank Ltd to open a special “vostro account” for trade in Rupees with Russia. This paves the way for cross-border trade in the Indian currency, especially between New Delhi and Moscow. Three other Indian banks — State Bank of India, IndusInd Bank and UCO Bank — had earlier received the necessary permissions from the regulator to roll out rupee trades. Before this, SBI had said it was opening a special rupee vostro account to handle Russia-related trade settlements. The state-owned lender said it is “making necessary arrangements and processing requests received from various banks, including Russian banks, duly following RBI guidelines”.

How RBI Develop This Mechanism: In July, the central bank had introduced a new arrangement for settling international trades in rupees. The mechanism, enabling the invoicing, payment and settlement of exports and imports in rupees, is aimed at promoting trade. It would also restrict dollar outflows at a time when the local unit has been depreciating.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. Goldman Sachs Slashes India’s GDP Forecast for 2023 to 5.9%: Goldman Sachs Group Inc. sees India’s economic growth slowing next year, citing a hit to consumer demand from higher borrowing costs and fading benefits from pandemic reopening, while lowering its growth forecast. Gross domestic product (GDP) may expand by 5.9% in calendar year 2023 from an estimated 6.9% this year.

About The Inflation: Upside risks to inflation means the Reserve Bank of India will likely raise the benchmark interest rate by 50 basis points in December and another 35 basis points in February, to hit a terminal rate of 6.75%, Goldman economists wrote. The benchmark rate stands at 5.9% now. Annual headline CPI inflation rose to 7.5% in September from below 7.0% in July. Wholesale price inflation, however, has declined for four straight months, from a peak of 16.6% in May to 10.7% in September.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Khalid Jawed’s wins the 2022 JCB Prize for Literature: Author Khalid Jawed’s “The Paradise of Food”, translated by Baran Farooqi from Urdu, won the fifth JCB Prize for Literature. The book, originally published as “Ne’mat Khana” in 2014, is the fourth translation to win the award and the first work in Urdu. “The Paradise of Food” tells the story of a middle-class joint Muslim family over a span of fifty years where the narrator struggles to find a place for himself, at odds in his home and the world outside.

Jawed received the prize money of Rs 25 lakh along with a trophy, a sculpture by Delhi artist duo Thukral and Tagra, “Mirror Melting”. Baran Farooqi also received an additional Rs 10 lakh for the award. The winner was selected by a panel of five judges, consisting of journalist and editor AS Panneerselvan, author Amitabha Bagchi, author-academician Rakhee Balaram, translator-historian J Devika and author Janice Pariat.

 

2. Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama honoured with Gandhi Mandela award: The 14th Dalai Lama was conferred the Gandhi Mandela Award 2022 at Thekchen Choeling in Dharamshala’s McleodGanj by Himachal Pradesh governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar. The Tibetan spiritual leader, receiving the peace prize from the New Delhi-based Gandhi Mandela Foundation. The event was attended by former Chief Justice of India Justice KG Balakrishnan and former Supreme Court Justice Gyan Sudha Misra.

This time, the awardee, Dalai Lama, was selected by a jury including former Chief Justice of India KG Balakrishnan and Justice Dipak Misra, former Supreme Court Judge Gyan Sudha Misra, former Chief Justice of Nepal Justice Kedarnath Upadhyay and former Chief Justice of Bangladesh Justice MD Tafazzul Islam.

About the award: The award is given to personalities who have carried forward the legacies of Gandhi and Mandela by making significant contributions in the fields of Peace, Social Welfare, Culture, Environment, Education, Healthcare, Sports and Innovation.

 

3. 53rd IFFI 2022: Chiranjeevi honoured with Indian Film Personality of the Year 2022: At the opening ceremony of the 53rd International Film Festival of India (IFFI), Telugu superstar Chiranjeevi was honoured with the Indian Film Personality of the Year 2022 award. In a career spanning nearly four decades, Chiranjeevi has acted in more than 150 films, primarily in the Telugu film industry. About Megastar Chiranjeevi:

a)      Chiranjeevi is a renowned Indian actor, film producer, philanthropist and politician who has predominantly worked in Telugu cinema. Actor Chiranjeevi has starred in over 150 films in his career. He has acted in Telegu, Tamil, and Hindi movies. His debut with Punadhirallu in 1978 set the screen for him.

b)      In 2006, he was honoured with the Padma Bhushan, India’s third-highest civilian award, for his contributions to Indian cinema and was presented with an honorary doctorate from Andhra University.

c)       In his four decade film career, Chiranjeevi has won the Andhra Pradesh state’s highest film award, the Raghupathi Venkaiah Award, three Nandi Awards, and nine Filmfare Awards, Telugu.

d)      He served as the Minister of Tourism for the Government of India from 2012 and 2014.