Daily GK Update- 16th Jan, 2023

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India will be covered by Doppler Weather Radar network by 2025: Earth Sciences Minister, Dr. Jitendra Singh announced that India will be covered by Doppler Weather Radar Network by 2025, at the 148th Foundation Day of the Indian Meteorological Department. Aim: To predict extreme weather events more accurately It will enhance weather monitoring capabilities and benefit the farmers to contribute significantly to the economy. IMD has taken proactive steps to increase the Radar Network from a mere 15 in 2013 to 37 in 2023.

 

2. RailTel bags ₹170 cr order for Puducherry smart city project: Indian Railway's wholly owned subsidiary, RailTel Corporation of India Ltd has received an order worth ₹170.11 crores from the Puducherry government. Agenda: To design, develop, supply, install, test, commission, and operations, and maintenance of integrated command control centre (ICCC) and other associated activities for the smart city. The contract is for five years and will be completed in 10 months. PM Modi launched the Smart Cities Mission in 2015.

 

3. G20’s first Infrastructure Working Group meeting to be held in Pune: The first G-20 Infrastructure Working Group (IWG) meeting under G20 India Presidency is scheduled to be held from 16th-17th January 2023 in Pune. The forum will bring together the IWG member countries, guest countries and international organizations invited by India to discuss the 2023 Infrastructure Agenda under the Indian G20 Presidency. The Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Government of India along with Australia and Brazil will host the meeting as the co-chairs. The Indian G20 Presidency’s theme of ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’ sets the tone for the 2023 Infrastructure Agenda under the 2023 Indian G-20 Presidency. The theme underlines the message of equitable growth and aptly ties up with the central agenda of the discussions which is building resilient, inclusive, and sustainable urban infrastructure. In the Pune meeting, discussions will focus on the agenda for the Infrastructure Working Group under the Indian Presidency. The flagship priority to be discussed in this meeting is “Financing Cities of Tomorrow: Inclusive, Resilient and Sustainable”.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2023 organizes in Davos: The annual meeting of the World Economic Forum started in Davos, Switzerland, on January 16 and will continue till January 20, 2023. The theme of the 53rd annual event is ‘Cooperation in a Fragmented World’.

Aim: To address the pressing issues the world is facing and promote innovative solutions A range of topics will be discussed at the 2023 meeting - New Energy,  Climate Change, Jobs, Travel and Tourism, Health, Tech, and Banking.

2. Kerala enters Guinness Book of World Records for goals scored: Kerala has entered the Guinness Book of World Records by taking 4,500 penalty kicks in 12 hours. The Department of Sports and Youth Affairs organized the event to set the Guinness record for a Dream Goal penalty shootout organized in Manjeri, Kerala. Many football lovers, students, teachers and others enthusiastically queued up to take the penalty kicks. Officials representing the Guinness Book of World Records were present at the event organized by the State Department of Youth Affairs and Sports. The Malappuram event obliterated the previous record of 2500 penalty kicks held by Germany. Former Indian player U. Sharafali took the inaugural kick. Minister for Sports V. Abdurahiman took the last penalty kick of the record.

 

3. UAE names ADNOC oil chief Sultan al-Jaber as President of COP28: The president of the UAE’s national oil company Sultan al-Jaber has been named as president of this year’s COP28 climate talks. Jaber, also UAE’s minister of industry and technology and its climate envoy, will help develop the COP28 agenda and play a central role in intergovernmental negotiations to build consensus. The UAE, a major OPEC oil exporter, will be the second Arab state to host the climate conference after Egypt hosted the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change’s (UNFCCC) 27th Conference of the Parties (COP 27) in 2022. The chief executive of the ADNOC will be the first CEO to take the role at the UN summit. Jaber is also the Gulf state’s special envoy for climate change and has taken part in more than 10 COP meetings.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Indian pair of Yuki Bhambri, Saketh Myneni wins Bangkok Open tennis title: In tennis, the Indian team of Yuki Bhambri and Saketh Myneni won the men's double Bangkok Open title 2023 organized at Nonthaburi, Thailand. They defeated Christopher Rungkat and Akira Santillan (Indonesian-Australian team). With this win, Yuki will get a career-high doubles rank of 90 and Saketh should also touch a career-best 74 in the ATP doubles chart. They will next compete in the Australian Open where they have been given a wild card entry.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. SBI Research: Retail inflation expected to come down to 5% by March 2023: According to SBI Research's latest Ecowrap report, the retail inflation rate of India based on the Consumer Price Index would remain below RBI's comfort zone of 6% and will decline materially to 5% by March 2023. Reason: Latest figures showed a marginal decline and further moderation in retail inflation as compared with the last month. The retail inflation for December 2022 was at 5.72%.

For Jan-Mar 2023, the average retail inflation is seen at 4.7%.

 

2. Alibaba sells Paytm stake worth $125 million via block deal: China’s Alibaba Group sold a 3.1% stake in Indian digital payments firm Paytm for a total of $125 million through a block deal. Alibaba, which held a 6.26% stake in Paytm as of end-September, sold the stake at 536.95 rupees apiece. Formally known as One97 Communications, Paytm listed in 2021 after a mega $2.5 billion initial public offer (IPO). Since then, the stock has plunged around 75% from its IPO offer price as investors started questioning the company’s monetization plans amid worries about sky-high valuations of tech companies and fears of a global economic recession. Block deal: Single transaction between two institutional players of a minimum quantity of 5 lakh shares or at least Rs. 5 Crores in value. It happens at the start of trading hours for about 35 minutes through a separate trading window.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Miss USA R'Bonney Gabriel crowned Miss Universe 2022: Miss USA, R'Bonney Gabriel (28) has been crowned the Miss Universe 2022 at the 71st Miss Universe pageant organized in New Orleans, Louisiana. She is a model, fashion designer, and sewing instructor who prioritizes the environment in her work. She is also the first Filipino American to win Miss USA. Amanda Dudamel from Venezuela was the first runner-up, and Andreína Martínez from the Dominican Republic was the second runner-up.

 

2. DNPA announces Digital Impact Award 2023: The Digital News Publishers Association (DNPA) has announced Digital Impact awards 2023 in eight categories.

Categories (Best Use of Digital Media):

·       For Health – CoWIN App

·       For Women & Child Welfare Reforms – (A) Poshan Tracker App, (B) Himmat Plus Ap

·       For Ease of Living –Digilocker

·       For Financial Reforms – PMJDY

·       For Human Resource Development & Education – DIKSHA

·       For Sustainability and Environment Protection – CAMPA

 

3. Writer K Venu received Federal Bank Literary Award 2023: Noted writer K Venu has bagged the first-ever Federal Bank Literary Award 2022 for his autobiography ‘Oranweshananthinte Katha’. The award was presented by the chairman and independent director of the Federal Bank, Balagopal Chandrasekhar. It was presented at an event held as part of the ongoing sixth edition Kerala Literature Festival, Kozhikode beach.The prize money was handed over by Nandakumar V (executive vice-president of the bank).

 

4. 'RRR' wins Best Foreign Language Film at Critics Choice Awards 2023: India's 'RRR' directed by SS Rajamouli has won the Critics Choice Awards 2023 in the Best Foreign Language Film category and Best Song category for 'Naatu Naatu' Television: Best Actor: Bob Odenkirk (Best Drama Series: Better Call Saul) Best Actress: Zendaya (Euphoria)

Film:

·       Best Actor: Brendan Fraser (The Whale as Charlie)

·       Best Actress: Cate Blanchett (Tár)

·       Best Director: Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert (Best Movie: Everything Everywhere All at Once)

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Mukarram Jah, titular eighth Nizam of Hyderabad, passes away: Mukarram Jah Bahadur, the titular eighth Nizam of Hyderabad passed away at the age of 89 in Istanbul, Turkey. He was the successor and grandson of the last Nizam of Hyderabad Mir Osman Ali Khan Bahadur. He was born to Prince Azam Jah and Princess Durru Shehvar, the imperial princess of the Ottoman Empire, on October 6, 1933, in France. He was coronated as Asaf Jah the Eighth on April 6, 1967, after the passing away of Mir Osman Ali Khan in February 1967.

 

2. British linguist Ronald E Ashe passed away: A British linguist and educator specializing in Dravidian languages, Ronald E. Asher passed away at the age of 96. He won a gold medal from Kerala Sahitya Akademi, Trichur, in 1983 and was honored by the Royal Society, Edinburgh in 1991. His relationship with Kerala began during his days at the University of London.

He was also a recipient of a medal from the College de France, Paris in 1970. 

Daily GK Update- 15th Jan, 2023

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. PM Modi flagged off Secunderabad-Visakhapatnam Vande Bharat Express: PM Modi flagged off the Vande Bharat Express train that connects Secunderabad (Telangana) with Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) on 15th January 2023. As per the Railway officials, it will cover a distance of around 700 km in 8 hours and 30 minutes. It is the eighth Vande Bharat Express to be introduced by Indian Railways. The first Vande Bharat train was launched in 2019, between New Delhi and Varanasi. It will enhance the ease of living, and benefit the economy.

 

2. Union Minister Jitendra Singh launched Geospatial Hackathon: Dr. Jitendra Singh (Union Minister for Science and Technology) has launched Geospatial Hackathon to promote Innovation and Start-Ups in India’s Geospatial ecosystem. This hackathon also aims to promote partnerships among the public and private geospatial. The Survey of India, the Ministry of Science and Technology, IIIT Hyderabad, and Microsoft India jointly launched it. There will be two sets of challenges - (1) Research Challenge and (2) Start-Up Challenge

 

3. FSIB recommends names for MD posts of Bank of Baroda, Bank of India: The Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB) has recommended names for the posts of managing directors of the Bank of Baroda and Bank of India. Debadatta Chand has been recommended for the position of MD & CEO at the Bank of Baroda. While Rajneesh Karnatak was selected for MD & CEO at the Bank of India. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet headed by PM Modi would take the final decision on the FSIB recommendation.

 

4. Rajasthan becomes first State to implement blindness control policy: Rajasthan has become the first State in India to implement a blindness control policy to ensure the “right to sight”. This drive aims to reduce the rate of blindness and bring light into the lives of people suffering from visual impairment The prevalence rate of blindness was 1.1% in 2020, aimed to bring it down to 0.3% through the policy The State government would mandatorily run keratoplasty centres for cornea transplants and eye banks in medical colleges

 

5. Indian Army Day 2023: 15th January: India has observed the 75th India Army Day on January 15. This day was observed to mark Field Marshall, K M Cariappa, who took over as the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army, replacing his British predecessor in 1949. The 75th Army Day Parade was held at the MEG and Centre in Bengaluru. The event featured a fly-past by the Army Aviation Dhruv and Rudra helicopters and Indian Air Force’s Sukhoi-30Mki

29th Chief of the Army Staff: General Manoj Pande

 

6. GeM celebrates the success of 'Womaniya on Government eMarketplace': The Government eMarketplace (GeM) has organized an event to celebrate the success of “Womaniya on GeM” in New Delhi. This event was organized in partnership with the Self-Employed Women’s Association, Bharat. Presently, over 1,44,000 Udyam-verified women Micro, Small Enterprises are registered on GeM, known as “Womaniya”. This initiative was launched in 2019 to encourage women entrepreneurs' participation and SHG from the informal sector on GeM.

 

7. ICG Ship ‘Kamla Devi’, Last vessel of FPV Series Commissioned at Kolkata: The fifth and last vessel of the series of Fast Patrol Vessels (FPV), the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) ship ‘Kamla Devi’ was commissioned at Kolkata, West Bengal. It was designed, built, and delivered by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd. ICGS Kamla Devi: It is 48.9 meters long and 7.5 meters wide with a displacement of 308 Tons. It has three engines and water jets. It is capable of a top speed of 34 knots and an endurance of over 1,500 nautical miles.

 

8. India’s largest student-run festival ‘Saarang’ conducts at IIT Madras: Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) Annual Cultural Festival Saarang has been conducted completely in physical mode. This year is the 28th Edition of the Saarang, which is one of the largest student-run festivals. The theme for Saarang 2023 is ‘Mystic Hues’ which celebrates how intertwined colours are with culture and traditions. Saarang 2023 featured nearly 100 events between the 11th and 15th of January 2023 and attracted a footfall of over 80,000 from over 500 colleges across the country. For this year’s social cause, Saarang launched ‘Panacea’, a campaign surrounding health and hygiene awareness, aimed at encouraging healthy habits to thwart disease breakouts.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Clare Lombardelli appointed as OECD Chief Economist: The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) appointed UK Treasury Adviser, Clare Lombardelli as the next Chief Economist, with effect from 2 May 2023. She has 20 years of experience in economic analysis and policy-making in the United Kingdom.
She started her career as an economist at the Bank of England. She has also worked at 10 Downing Street, and as a technical advisor for the International Monetary Fund. OECD HQ: Paris, France

 

2. EU inaugurated first mainland satellite launch port: European officials and Carl XVI Gustaf (Swedish King) have inaugurated the first mainland orbital launch complex of the European Union at Esrange Space Centre near the city of Kiruna, Sweden. Aim: To bolster the capacity to launch small satellites into space with a new launchpad in Arctic Sweden. The new facility should complement the EU’s current launching capabilities in French Guiana.

European Commission President: Ursula Von der Leyen

 

 

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. France captain Hugo Lloris retires from international football: France team captain Hugo Lloris has announced his retirement from international football at the age of 36. Lloris represented France in four World Cups and three Euros and captained Les Blues to the World Cup trophy in 2018. The 36-year-old holds many records and is France’s most-capped player with 145 appearances to his name. Lloris made his debut for Les Blues back in November 2008. He was handed the armband two years after his international debut and would go on to captain France in 121 matches.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. SBI launched e-Bank Guarantee facility in association with NeSL: State Bank of India (SBI) has launched e-Bank Guarantee (e-BG) facility in association with National e-Governance Services Limited (NeSL). With the advent of e-BG, this function will be replaced by e-stamping and e-signature. Currently, the bank issues these guarantees with physical stamping and wet signatures. The e-Bank Guarantee procedure will be made easier by NeSL’s Digital Document Execution (DDE) technology, which offers e-Stamp and e-Sign features. Beneficiaries using NeSL’s platform will instantly get an e-Bank Guarantee without additional verification. It has taken this initiative to enhance transparency and reduce turnaround time from days to minutes.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Thiru Nadesan awarded Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award 2023: Thiru Kumar Nadesan has been awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award for his contribution towards community welfare. Nadesan had initiated a fundraiser to assist stranded Indian Citizens in Sri Lanka during the Covid outbreak. He actively promotes business and cultural exchanges between India and Sri Lanka. He is the second member of Indian diaspora from Sri Lanka to receive the honour. A delegation of 30 people from Sri Lanka which is the biggest till date, is attending the Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas convention in Indore.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Congress MP, Santokh Singh Chaudhary passes away: Congress MP, Santokh Singh Chaudhary passed away at 76 due to a heart attack in Punjab. He was a Cabinet Minister of Punjab and a member of parliament from Jalandhar (Lok Sabha constituency). He won the 2014 Indian general election and the Indian general election in 2019. He was a cabinet minister from Phillaur in 1992, 1997, and 2002. He lost two assembly elections in 2007 and 2012. He was cremated in his native village in Jalandhar, Punjab. 

Daily GK Update- 14th Jan, 2023

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. G20’s first Infrastructure Working Group meeting to be held in Pune: The first G20 Infrastructure Working Group meeting under G20 India Presidency will be held on 16-17 January in Pune. The meeting will be hosted by the Department of Economic Affairs along with Australia and Brazil as the co-chairs. The Group deliberates on various aspects of infrastructure investments, including developing infrastructure as an asset class The outcomes of the Working Group feed into the G20 Finance Track priorities and promote infrastructure development.

 

2. PM Modi announces ‘Aarogya Maitri’ project: PM Modi announced the “Aarogya Maitri” project during the Voice of Global South Summit Through this project, the country will provide essential medical supplies to any developing country affected by natural disasters or humanitarian crises. He also proposed setting up a ‘centre of excellence’ to facilitate development solutions to these countries Also, India will launch the Global South Science and Technology Initiative to share its expertise in space technology

 

3. ‘Soul of Steel’ challenge will be launched in India: A ‘Soul of Steel’ challenge was launched in Uttarakhand which aims to test one’s high-altitude endurance. The general area of the expedition would be the Nanda Devi National Park. The challenge is an initiative of CLAW Global and is being supported by the Indian Army. The idea behind Soul of Steel is pooling of skill sets and creating a challenge that will unlock the human ability to survive, stabilise and thrive in high altitude areas.

 

4. Union Minister Bhupender Yadav inaugurates Regional Office of EPFO at Alwar: Union Minister for Labour and Employment, Forest, Environment and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav inaugurated the Regional Office of EPFO at Alwar, Rajasthan. The Regional Office will help more than 2 lakh workers, 12,000 establishments, and 8,500 pensioners from Alwar and the neighboring districts of Bharatpur and Dholpur. The major industrial areas served by Regional Office are Bhiwadi, Khushkhera, Tapukara, Karoli, Neemrana, Behror, Gheelot, and Khairthal.

 

5. Shillong to get India’s first centre of excellence for online gaming: Union government has announced to set up India’s first center of excellence for online gaming in Shillong, Meghalaya.

The CoE will be set up under Digital India Startup Hub through the Software Technology Parks of India (STPI). The STPI was set up in 1991 as an autonomous society in the field of Science and Technology under the MeitY. India has one of the largest markets for the gaming business, the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and Sequoia India report suggests that the Indian mobile gaming industry will be worth $5 Billion in 2025.

It is expected to catalyze startups from India’s Northeast to build the next-generation online gaming ecosystem. The Ministry of Electronics (MeitY) will also set up a state-of-the-art facility under the National Institute of Electronics and IT (NIELIT) in Shillong.

 

6. West Bengal organized ‘Ganga Sagar Mela’ on Makar Sankranti: Lakhs of pilgrims have celebrated flocking to Sagar Island on the southernmost tip of West Bengal for the annual Ganga Sagar Mela, held between January 12 and 14 to celebrate Makar Sankranti. It is the second largest fair in India after Kumbha Mela. Ganga Sagar is a place of Hindu pilgrimage. Every year on the day of Makar Sankranti (14 January), hundreds of thousands of Hindus gather to take a holy dip at the confluence of the river Ganges and Bay of Bengal and offer prayers (puja) in the Kapil Muni Temple. Ganga Sagar is an island in the Ganges delta located on the continental shelf of the Bay of Bengal. Although Sagar Island is a part of the Sundarbans, it does not have a tiger habitat or mangrove forests, or small river tributaries.

 

7. Captain Surbhi Jakhmola becomes first woman officer to be posted at BRO: An officer of the 117 Engineer Regiment of the Indian Army, Captain Surabhi Jakhmola has become the first woman officer of the Border Roads Organization (BRO) to be posted on a foreign project. She has been deployed by BRO under Project Dantak in Bhutan. The Border Roads Organization (BRO) is an executive road construction force in India that supports the Indian armed forces. BRO builds and maintains road networks along India’s borders and in friendly neighbouring countries. It is also included in the armed forces Order of Battle, ensuring their support at all times. In order to improve border connectivity, BRO was transferred entirely to the ministry of defence in 2015. The Indian Air Force recently deployed Squadron Leader Avani Chaturvedi, a woman fighter pilot, to Japan for Veer Guardian 2023 training.

 

8. 14 January 2023 – 7th Armed Forces Veterans Day: The Indian Armed Forces celebrated the 7th Armed Forces Veterans’ Day on 14 January 2023. Veterans’ Day is celebrated in recognition of the services rendered by the First Commander-in-Chief of Indian Armed Forces, Field Marshal KM Cariappa, who retired on this day in 1953. This year the event is being celebrated at nine locations across the country, namely Juhunjhunu, Jalandhar, Panagarh, New Delhi, Dehradun, Chennai, Chandigarh, Bhubaneshwar and Mumbai by three Service Headquarters. The event in Chennai has presided over by Raksha Rajya Mantri. The First Armed Forces Veterans Day was celebrated on 14 January 2016 and it was decided to commemorate this day every year by hosting such interactive events in honor of our Armed Forces Veterans and their families.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. UAE names ADNOC oil chief Sultan al-Jaber as President of COP28: The president of the UAE’s national oil company Sultan al-Jaber was named as president of this year's COP28 climate talks.

The chief executive of the ADNOC will be the first CEO to take the role at the UN summit. Jaber is also the Gulf state's special envoy for climate change and has taken part in more than 10 COP meetings. The Conference of Parties or COP is the world’s biggest climate conference.

 

2. Europe’s largest known deposit of rare earth elements found in Sweden: Swedish state-owned mining company, LKAB, has discovered more than one million tonnes of rare earth oxides in the northern area of the country. This is the largest known deposit in Europe. Currently, no rare earths are mined in Europe and it mostly imports them from other regions.

Almost 98 per cent of rare earths used by the European Union were sent by China. Rare earth elements or rare earth metals are a set of 17 chemical elements in the periodic table.

 

3. Piyush Goyal to launch MAARG portal for startup mentorship: Commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal will launch the MAARG platform (Mentorship, Advisory, Assistance, Resilience, and Growth)  The portal will facilitate mentorship between startups and entrepreneurs across sectors, stages, and functions. Goyal will also announce the results of the National Startup Awards 2022. The winning startups will be given a cash prize of Rs 5 lakh

One exceptional Incubator and one Accelerator each will also get a cash prize of Rs 15 lakh

 

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

 

1. 11-year-old Kashmiri girl bags gold medal at National Sqay Championship: Falak Mumtaz an eleven-year-old Kashmiri girl from a far-flung area won a gold medal at the national level in the Sqay championship. Falak is one of them who won the gold medal in the Sqay championship that was played last week in Jammu. She is currently studying 6th standard at Aisha Ali Academy in Kulgam. Recently four girls were selected for the Sqay championship. Falak is the only girl who gave a tremendous performance to win the gold medal.

 

2. France captain Hugo Lloris retires from international football: France team captain Hugo Lloris has announced his retirement from international football at the age of 36. Lloris represented France in four World Cups and three Euros and captained Les Blues to the World Cup trophy in 2018. The 36-year-old holds many records and is France’s most-capped player with 145 appearances to his name. Lloris made his debut for Les Blues back in November 2008. He was handed the armband two years after his international debut and would go on to captain France in 121 matches.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. RBI imposes ₹30 lakh fine on Bahadur Chand Investments for non-compliance: The RBI imposed a monetary penalty of ₹30 lakh on Delhi-based Bahadur Chand Investments.

The penalty has been levied for non-compliance with certain provisions of the 'Core Investment Companies (Reserve Bank) Directions, 2016' and directions on 'Information Technology Framework for the NBFC Sector'. This penalty has been imposed in the exercise of powers vested in RBI under the provisions of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Thiru Nadesan awarded Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award 2023: Thiru Kumar Nadesan has been awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award for his contribution towards community welfare. Nadesan had initiated a fundraiser to assist stranded Indian Citizens in Sri Lanka during the Covid outbreak. He actively promotes business and cultural exchanges between India and Sri Lanka. He is the second member of Indian diaspora from Sri Lanka to receive the honour. A delegation of 30 people from Sri Lanka which is the biggest till date, is attending the Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas convention in Indore.

Daily GK Update- 13th Jan, 2023

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. PM Modi launches World’s Longest River Cruise-MV Ganga Vilas at Varanasi: PM Narendra Modi launched the World’s Longest River Cruise-MV Ganga Vilas at Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh via video conferencing on 13th Jan 2023. He has also inaugurated Tent City at Varanasi.

About Cruise:

·       It will begin its journey from Varanasi to Dibrugarh in Assam via Bangladesh.

·       It will sail around 3,200 km in 51 days.

·       It will cover major cities of India and Bangladesh - Patna (Bihar), Sahib Ganj (Jharkhand), Kolkata (WB), Dhaka (Bangladesh), and Guwahati (Assam)

 

2. Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated School of Logistics: The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush, Sarbananda Sonowal, and Tripura CM, Manik Saha have inaugurated the School of Logistics, Waterways, and Communication in Agartala, Tripura. Aim: To enable the talent to become world-class experts in the transportation and logistics sector. It has been set up under State Institute of Public Administration and Rural Development (SIPARD), an autonomous body funded by the govt of Tripura and MoRD.

 

3. Garuda Aerospace launched surveillance drone named Droni: Garuda Aerospace and Former cricketer, Mahendra Singh Dhoni have launched a surveillance drone named ‘Droni.’ MS Dhoni is an investor-cum-ambassador of Garuda Aerospace. Droni is a battery-operated quadcopter surveillance drone. Garuda Aerospace recently became the first-ever drone company in India to get dual DGCA approvals for both drone manufacturing type certificate and RTPO. In 2022, he unveiled the camera drone called Droni at the Global Drone Expo in Chennai.

 

4. Meghalaya CM launched agriculture response vehicle scheme: Meghalaya CM, Conrad Sangma launched the shared school bus system, prime tourism vehicles, and agriculture response vehicle scheme. The buses are part of Sustainable Transport and Efficient Mobility Society (STEMS) programme. Agriculture Response Vehicles: Provided to farmers' associations and groups for a strong transportation network Prime tourist vehicles: Step to improve the overall tourism sector, and to provide good transportation services to tourists

 

5. ASI unearths two 1200-year-old miniature stupas at Nalanda: The Patna circle of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has discovered two miniature votive stupas dating back 1200 years near the Sarai Tila mound within the grounds of "Nalanda Mahavihara". The stupas, carved from stone, depict Buddha figures. Nalanda Mahavihara is a world heritage site in Bihar's Nalanda district. This site comprises the archaeological remains of a monastic and scholastic institution dating from the 3rd century BCE to the 13th century CE.

 

6. Godavari estuary in Andhra Pradesh become prime habitat for Indian Skimmer: The Godavari estuary in Andhra Pradesh has become a prime and safe habitat for the Indian skimmer (Rynchops albicollis). On January 10, as many as 250 Indian Skimmers were sighted in the southern part of the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary (Andhra Pradesh) in a day during the Asian Waterbird Census-2023. Indian Skimmer migrates to the Godavari estuary for feeding. It is found in the coastal estuaries of western and eastern India. IUCN status: Endangered

 

7. FSSAI notifies comprehensive regulatory standards for Basmati Rice: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has notified comprehensive regulatory standards for Basmati Rice for the first time and will come into effect from 1 August 2023. Aim: To establish fair practices in the trade of Basmati rice and protect consumer interest. As per the standards, Basmati rice shall possess natural fragrance characteristics of basmati rice and be free from artificial colouring, polishing agents, and artificial fragrances.

 

8. PM Modi inaugurated 26th National Youth Festival at Hubbali in Karnataka: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated 26th National Youth Festival, organized in Karnataka from 12th -16th January 2023. Theme of this event: Viksit Yuva – Viksit Bharat.The event also included folk dances and songs. The festival aims to step up the role of youth in nation building during Amrit Kaal. It will be an endeavour to disseminate the message of ‘Panch Pran’ espoused by the Prime Minister in his Independence Day address. The festival brings diverse cultures from all parts of the country on a common platform and unites the participants in the spirit of Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat. Over 7500 youngsters representing the states and Union Territories India have congregated at the festival to exchange their talents. This festival is held every year to provide exposure to our talented youth at the national level. It is being held on National Youth Day (12th January), which is celebrated on the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda.

 

9. India’s fastest payment app ‘PayRup’ launched: India’s fastest payment app has launched. PayRup is built by the cutting-edge technology of web 3.0. It provides advanced digital payment experience with outstanding user experience. PayRup users can pay utility bills and landline bills, recharge their mobile, broadband, DTH, and purchase Gift Cards. PayRup services are planned to expand across various financial instruments, including multiple payment services such as school fees, pay rent, and other payment collection services. Recently, PayRup has announced ticketing and booking services for flights, buses, and hotels along with a few other USPs. PayRup opens 24/7 customer care facilities for help and support for users. The customer support desk runs with leading CRM technologies and supports by global standard.

PayRup ensures the 5 dimensions of service quality and follows SERVQUAL standard to provide the best service experience. The launching event was hosted in Bangalore and was launched by Mahadevappa Halagatti.

 

10. India successfully carried out test launch of Prithvi-Il ballistic missile: Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) has successfully launched Short-Range Ballistic Missile (SRBM) Prithvi-Il from the Integrated Test Range, Chandipur, Odisha coast. The missile, which is powered by light propulsion twin engines, has a range of around 350 km and can carry 500-1,000 kg of warheads. It uses an advanced inertial navigation system to strike the set target.

Prithvi-Il missile is a well-established system. The Prithvi-II was earlier successfully test-fired during night hours in 2018 and in 2019. Prithvi was developed by the DRDO under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Cognizant appoints former Infosys president Ravi Kumar as CEO: Former Infosys president, Ravi Kumar has been appointed as the new chief executive officer of Cognizant with immediate effect. He has succeeded CEO Brian Humphries, who will be departing from the company on March 15, 2023. The IT Giant Cognizant had previously announced the appointment of Ravi as President of Cognizant Americas, which will be given to Cognizant veteran Surya Gummadi. He has 20 years of experience in Infosys, where he held various leadership roles.

 

2. 13th Ministerial-level meeting of the India-US Trade Policy Forum held in Washington: Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal has participated 13th Ministerial Meeting of the India-US Trade Policy Forum in Washington DC, USA. Before the delegation-level talks, CIM also held a one-to-one meeting with USTR Ambassador Katherine Tai. The Ministers underlined the significance of the TPF in forging robust bilateral trade ties and enhancing the bilateral economic relationship to benefit working people in both countries. TPF aims to lay the foundation for forging robust bilateral trade ties and enhancing the bilateral economic relationship between both countries. India and US launched a new working group on “Resilient Trade” to deepen bilateral dialogue.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Footballer Gareth Bale announced his retirement from professional football: Former Tottenham and Real Madrid star, Gareth Bale has announced his retirement from professional football. Bale made his Wales debut in 2006 against Trinidad and Tobago. He has won Wales’ player of the year award six times. Bale was once the world’s most expensive player when he joined Real Madrid for $132 million in 2013 and, alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, was a devastating forward capable of surging runs and brilliant goals with his powerful left foot. Bale played a record of 111 games for his country and was a five-time Champions League winner with Real Madrid. He captained Wales in their first European Chamninnahin.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. SBI launched e-Bank Guarantee facility: SBI has associated with National e-Governance Services Ltd (NeSL) to launch e-Bank Guarantee (e-BG) facility. It will bring a revolutionary change in the banking ecosystem, where bank guarantee is frequently used in large volumes.

Presently, the bank issues these guarantees with physical stamping and wet signatures. It will replace this function with e-stamping and e-signature. This initiative will enhance transparency and reduce turnaround time from days to minutes.

 

2. NRIs can use international numbers for UPI payments: NPCI has allowed non-resident holders - NRE/ NRO accounts to get onboarded and transact through UPI. The UPI ecosystem members must comply with NPCI's directions by April 30, 2023. Allowed countries (10 countries): Singapore, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Oman, Qatar, USA, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom This is subject to the fact that the member banks must ensure that such accounts are only allowed as per extant FEMA regulations.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Former Union Minister Sharad Yadav passes away: Former Union Minister, Sharad Yadav has passed away at the age of 75 in Gurugram, Haryana. He had started his political career during the anti-emergency movement of the mid-1970s. He was first elected to the Lok Sabha at the age of 27 in 1974. He was elected from Uttar Pradesh's Badaun parliamentary seat in 1989. He was also elected from Bihar's Madhepura Lok Sabha constituency in 1991, 1996, 1999, and 2009. He had launched his own party Loktantrik Janata Dal.