Daily GK Update- 24th Jan, 2023

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. IIM Ahmedabad appoints Professor Bharat Bhasker as the new Director: Professor Bharat Bhasker has been appointed as the new director of the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA) for five years, effective from March 1, 2023. Presently, he is working as a professor of Information Technology and Systems at IIM Lucknow. The term of the incumbent director, Prof Errol D’Souza, will be ended on January 31. Meanwhile, the Board of Governors has appointed Prof Arindam Banerjee as the Director-In-Charge from 1st -28th February 2023.

 

2. North India’s largest floating Solar project inaugurated: The Governor of Punjab, Banwari Lal Purohit inaugurated North India’s largest floating Solar project of 2000kWp at Water Works in Chandigarh. He has also inaugurated a 500kWp floating Solar Project with Fountains at Dhanas Lake in Chandigarh. These projects were designed and executed by CREST (Chandigarh Renewable Energy and Science & Technology Promotion Society). It will generate a minimum of 35 Lac Units(kWh) of Solar Energy per year with 20% module efficiency.

 

3. NTPC Group capacity crosses 71GW: NTPC (India's largest power generator) Group capacity has crossed 71 GW with the successful completion of the trial operation of the first unit of 660 MW North Karanpura Super Thermal Power Project, Jharkhand (3x660 MW). Impact: It will provide affordable power to Jharkhand, Bihar, WB, and Odisha. With this addition, the total installed capacity of NTPC has become 71544 MW The foundation for this NTPC project in Jharkhand was laid by the former PM, Atal Bihari Vajpayee

 

4. Krishi-Mahotsav: Pradarshani evam Prashikshan organized in Rajasthan: The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has organized a two-day event, ‘Krishi-Mahotsav: Pradarshani evam Prashikshan’ at Kota, Rajasthan. It was organized in association with the Department of Agriculture, Government of Rajasthan. Aim: To make Kota Division advanced and leading in the field of agriculture and rural development. Through the exhibition, the government can also spread awareness about the schemes of governments.

Rajasthan CM: Ashok Gehlot

 

5. National Girl Child Day 2023: 24 January: India celebrates National Girl Child Day on 24 January every year to highlight the prejudice and injustice that girl children face. The Ministry of Women and Child Development established this day in 2008. Aim: To encourage awareness about women's rights in our country. The government has not officially announced a theme for National Girl Child Day 2023.

 

6. Government initiatives to raise the status of girl children: Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana, and BBBP.Indian Navy conducts ‘Exercise AMPHEX’ 2023 In Andhra Pradesh: The Indian Navy has organized a six-day-long mega biennial tri-services amphibious ‘exercise AMPHEX 2023‘ near Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh. The military exercise has organized between the Indian Army, Indian Air Force (IAF), and the Indian Navy. The joint operations conducted during the exercise saw the participation of a large number of troops from the Indian Army, amphibious warships from the Indian Navy, and aircraft from the IAF. The aim of this war exercise was to showcase India’s capabilities to protect the territorial integrity of its areas including better coordination between the three services and enhance joint warfighting capabilities.

 

7. Fifth Kalvari class submarine INS Vagir inducted into Indian Navy: The fifth Kalvari class submarine INS Vagir has been inducted into Indian Navy. Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral R Hari Kumar was the Chief Guest at a ceremony held at Naval Dockyard in Mumbai. The Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) Mumbai, under collaboration with M/s Naval Group, has built France the submarine. Four of the Kalvari class of submarines have already been commissioned into the Indian Navy. Vagir is expected to boost the Indian Navy’s capability to further India’s maritime interests. It is capable of undertaking diverse missions including anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, mine laying, and surveillance missions. Launched and named ‘Vagir’ on 12th November 2020 Kalvari has the distinction of having the lowest build time among all indigenously manufactured submarines till date.

 

8. 24 January – National Girl Child Day: National Girl Child Day is celebrated in India every year on January 24. The Ministry of Women and Child Development and the government of India initiated it in 2008. Objective – To raise awareness against pre-natal sex determination and gender-selective abortion, The first National Girl Child was celebrated on January 24, 2008.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. JUICE Space Mission of Europe to be launched in April 2023: The European Space Agency’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) will be launched from the agency’s spaceport in French Guiana in April 2023. Aim: To explore the large, frigid worlds that orbit Jupiter, Ganymede, Callisto, and Europa Ariane 5 will carry the satellite. JUICE will be the first satellite from the earth to enter the orbit of Ganymede. If launched in April 2023, the satellite is expected to enter Jupiter orbit by 2034 and will be deorbited in 2035.

 

2. Indian Embassy organizes Intl seminar on knowledge sharing in Kathmandu: The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) and the Indian Embassy jointly have organized an International seminar on knowledge sharing on the conservation of natural and cultural heritage in The guest of honour of the event was Nepal’s Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Sudan Kirati. The government of India extended support worth USD 50 million for the reconstruction of two UNESCO heritage sites Pashupatinath Temple and Bhandarkhal of Patan Durbar Square post-2015 earthquake in Nepal. The Ambassador of India to Nepal is Naveen Shrivastav.

 

3. ‘Moidams’ nominated for UNESCO World Heritage Site: Charaideo Moidams is India’s nomination for UNESCO’s world heritage site status in the cultural category. The Ahom-era ‘Moidams’ (cemetery of the royal family) in Assam’s Charaideo district will be India’s only nomination for recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The ‘Moidams’ of the Ahom dynasty at Charaideo was first included in the tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage Site in April 2014. Moidams represents the late medieval (13th-19th century CE) mound burial tradition of the Tai Ahoms in Assam, which lasted almost 600 years. India currently has 40 World Heritage Sites – 32 of them cultural sites, seven natural sites and one mixed site.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. ICC revealed Men's & Women's T20I team of year: The ICC has revealed the Men's and Women's T20I Team of the Year 2022. The ICC has recognized the 11 outstanding players. In Women: Smriti Mandhana, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh, Renuka Singh, Beth Mooney, Ash Gardner, Tahila McGrath, Nida Dar, Sophie Ecclestone,  Inoka Ranaweera, Sophie Devine In Men: Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Mohammad Rizwan, Haris Rauf, Jos Buttler, Glenn Phillips, Sikandar Raza, Sam Curran, Wanindu Hasaranga, Josh Little

 

2. An Seyoung won women’s singles final at India Open Badminton: In the India Open Badminton Championship, Korea’s An Seyoung won the Women’s Singles final at K D Jadhav Indoor Stadium in New Delhi. In the finals, An Seyoung beat World No.1 Japanese Akane Yamaguchi 15-21, 21-16, 21-12. While Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn won Men’s Singles final defeating Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen.

·       Men’s doubles – Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang (China)

·       Women’s doubles – Nami Matsuyama and Chiharu Shida (Japan)

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Sebi launches information database on municipal bonds: SEBI has launched an information database on municipal bonds in a programme on municipal bonds and municipal finance, organized in New Delhi. The event was participated by representatives from various stakeholders, including MoHUA. Municipal Bonds: It is also known as 'muni bonds'. Municipal corporations and other associated bodies in India issue a debt instrument them. Whenever the local government body wants to raise funds, they issue these bonds.

 

2. Indi Grid to buy Khargone Transmission for ₹1497cr: India Grid Trust (IndiGrid) will acquire a 100% equity stake in Khargone Transmission at an enterprise value of around ₹1,497.5 crores.

IndiGrid signed a share purchase agreement on January 21, 2023. Khargone Transmission was incorporated on November 28, 2015. The transmission project was awarded by the ministry of power for a 35-year period from the scheduled commercial operation date on a build, own, operate, and maintain (BOOM) basis.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Dr. Prabha Atre awarded Pt Hariprasad Chaurasia Lifetime Achievement Award: Hindustani vocalist & Padma Vibhushan awardee, Prabha Atre has been awarded the Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia Lifetime Achievement Award. The award was conferred by Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde to her, at a function at Ram Ganesh Gadkari Rangayatan in Mumbai. She was also presented with a citation and Rs 1 lakh. She is an Indian classical vocalist from the Kirana Gharana. She has been awarded Padma Shri (1990), Padma Bhushan (2002), and Padma Vibhushan (2022) by the Government of India.

 

2. President Murmu conferred PM's national award for children: President, Droupadi Murmu has conferred the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar (PMRBP) 2023 to 11 exceptional children in an award ceremony held at Vigyan Bhawan. The awards are conferred upon children in the age group 5 – 18 years. This award is given in six categories - Art & Culture, Bravery, Innovation, Scholastic, Social Service, and Sports. Each awardee of PMRBP is given a medal, a cash prize of Rs.1 Lakh and a Certificate.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Padma Shri awardee Prabhaben Sobhagchand Shah passed away: Padma Shri awardee Prabhaben Sobhagchand Shah passed away recently at the age of 92. She was a social worker from the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman, and Diu. Prabhaben Sobhagchand Shah was also known as “Daman ki Divya”. In 1969, Prabhaben started sewing classes for women in Daman. She also started the Women Cooperative Society, and Women Credit Society. In 2022, she was awarded the Padma Shri.

Daily GK Update- 23rd Jan, 2023

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Vikram Dev Dutt appointed as director general of DGCA: The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of Vikram Dev Dutt as the next director general in the Directorate of General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) with effect from February 28, 2023. He is a 1993-batch IAS officer of AGMUT (Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram, and Union Territory) cadre. He will be succeeding the incumbent DGCA chief, Arun Kumar. He was appointed as the Chairman and Managing Director of Air India Ltd in 2022.

 

2. 23rd January: Parakram Diwas 2023: India observed Parakram Diwas on January 23 to mark the birth of Indian freedom fighter, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. In 2022, the nation celebrates the 126th birth anniversary of Netaji SC Bose. He was born on January 23, 1897, in Cuttack, Odisha. He acquired a degree in philosophy and was later selected for the Indian Civil Services.

Netaji joined the Indian National Congress in 1921. He passed away on August 18, 1945, in a plane crash near Tohuku, Japanese Taiwan.

 

3. HCHF and Ladakh Tourism Dept organized annual Ethnic Mamani Festival: the Himalayan Cultural Heritage Foundation (HCHF) and Ladakh Tourism Department organized The annual Ethnic Mamani Festival at Historical Styangkung Village and Chiktan Shagaran. This village is being developed as one of the well-maintained heritage villages in Ladakh. During Mamani, people would exchange food with their relatives and neighbours and worship a variety of spirits. These festivals have helped in the revival of more than 35 cuisines of Kargil Ladakh

 

4. J&K government to host its maiden SARAS Fair 2023: The Government of Jammu and Kashmir is going to host its maiden SARAS Fair 2023 from 4 to 14 Feb 23. In this fair, artisans and women self-help groups from across the country will showcase their crafts, handcrafts, handloom, and foods. he fair would be organized at Bagh-e-Bahu, Jammu. The fair is expected to witness the participation of women Self Help Groups from around 15 States and UTs across the country to sell their self-made products.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. ECI hosted 2nd International Conference in New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has hosted the 2nd International Conference in New Delhi, India from 23-24 January 2023.

2023 theme: Chief Election Commissioner, Rajiv Kumar, inaugurated Use of Technology and Elections Integrity The two-day international conference. Around 43 Participants from 17 Countries including Angola, Argentina, Australia, Croatia, Indonesia, Mauritius, Nepal, Philippines, and Suriname have joined the conference.

 

2. Tourism Ministry participates in world’s largest Travel Exhibition: The Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, is participating in FITUR, the world’s largest international travel exhibition in Madrid, Spain. India’s participation at FITUR is significant to step up the recovery of inbound tourism to pre-pandemic levels The Ministry of Tourism has taken up 253 square metres of space, with over 30 participants exhibiting along with the India Pavilion, to participate in the exhibition. Dinesh K Patnaik, Indian Ambassador to Spain, inaugurated the India Pavilion. The first Global Tourism Investors Summit will be organized in New Delhi from 10-12 April 2023. The Ministry of Tourism in New Delhi will organize the first Global Tourism Investors Summit from 10 to 12 April.

 

3. Jio is India’s strongest brand, ranked 9th globally: Brand Finance Report: Reliance Jio has been ranked as the strongest brand in India and placed 9th among the world’s strongest brands, according to the report ‘Global 500 – 2023’ published by Brand Finance. Jio was placed ninth among the world’s strongest brands ahead of brands like EY, Coca-Cola, Accenture and Porsche, and behind the likes of Google, YouTube, Deloitte, and Instagram. With a Brand Strength Index of 90.2, Jio is the only brand among the world’s strongest 25 brands, according to the Brand Finance listing. The report titled ‘Global 500 – 2023’ is published annually and ranks the world’s most valuable and strongest brands.

 

4. UNESCO to dedicate International Day of Education to Afghan Girls: UNESCO has decided to dedicate the International Day of Education on the 24th of January 2023 to Afghan girls and women. It said that no country in the world should bar women and girls from receiving an education and it is a universal human right that must be respected. The international community has the responsibility to ensure that the rights of Afghan girls and women are restored without delay. According to UNESCO, currently, around 80 percent of school-aged Afghan girls and young women are out of school under Taliban rule, as they denied them access to secondary schools and universities.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. EXIM Data: Trade Deficit narrows by 10 billion USD: According to the revised data, the nation's foreign trade between April 2022 and November 2022 differs from the estimates made by the Ministry of Commerce. The total merchandise exports made by India during these eight months amount to 298 billion USD (earlier it was 276 billion USD). The import bill is now estimated to be $493.5 billion, about $1.7 billion higher than initial numbers. The trade deficit was 10 billion USD lower than the estimates made previously.

 

2. India to become $26 trillion economy by 2047: EY report: According to an EY report, the Indian Economy is very likely to hit the $26 trillion mark by the year 2047, which will also be the 100th year of India’s independence. The report also showed that the country’s per capita income would exceed $15,000, placing it among the top developed economies. It also noted that despite maintaining a stable yet modest growth rate of 6% per annum, India would still be able to become a $26 trillion economy (in nominal terms) by 2047-48, with the per capita income at six times the current levels. According to EY’s report, few factor have contributed in positioning India for higher and sustainable growth. These include the recent accelerated pace of economic reforms in important areas like social inclusion, financial inclusion, improving and transforming fiscal, physical, and digital infrastructure, etc. A decade ago Indian GDP was the eleventh largest globally. And recently India’s economy had overtaken that of the United Kingdom to become the fifth biggest in the world (in terms of size), according to figures from the International Monetary Fund.

 

3. SBI General Insurance partnered with HP Police and Doers NGO: SBI General Insurance has partnered with Doers NGO to assist Himachal Pradesh police in reducing the number of traffic accidents under the corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative. SBI General has donated a well-equipped ambulance which would provide timely medical care to the road accident victims in the Mandi district within the ‘Golden hour’. Objective – To provide timely treatment and facilitate lifesaving medical resources for road accident victims. According to a report by the Ministry of Road Transports and Highways Transport (MoRTH) Research Wing, road accidents in India kills almost 1.5 lakh people annually. India accounts for almost 11 percent of the accident-related deaths in the World. MD & CEO of SBI General Insurance – Kishore Kumar Poludasu

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. ESAF Bank bags Inclusive Finance India Awards 2022: ESAF Small Finance Bank has bagged the prestigious Inclusive Finance India Awards 2022 for its contributions to advancing the goal of financial inclusion and supporting inclusive growth. K. Paul Thomas (MD and CEO, ESAF Bank) received the award from Anantha Nageshwaran (Chief Economic Advisor) at the 19th Inclusive Finance India Summit in New Delhi. This award recognized ESAF’s unique spectrum of Financial Inclusion projects ESAF Dhansree, and ESAF Udyog Jyothi.

 

2. RV Prassad awarded the most distinguished scientist of the year 2022: R Vishnu Prassad has been awarded “the most distinguished scientist of the year 2022” at the Indian Achievers Award at Vigyan Bhawan in Delhi. The award recognizes individuals for their outstanding contributions in various fields, including culture, science, sports, and innovation. Anurag Thakur has honored R Vishnu Prassad, a scientist with 69 patents with the Indian Achievers Award as the most distinguished scientist of the year.

 

3. Nepalese ophthalmologist Dr. Sanduk Ruit won Bahrain’s ISA Award: Himalayan Cataract Project Co-Founder and noted Nepali ophthalmologist Sanduk Ruit has won the ISA Award 2021-22 for Service to Humanity, a top civilian award of Bahrain. He is fondly called as “God of Sight” to have saved 1,20,000 eyesight who would have otherwise gone blind in absence of treatment. The award carries a cash prize of US$1 million, a certificate of merit, and a gold medallion. He is a recipient of the Padma Shri award, the National Order of Merit of Bhutan, and the Ramon Magsaysay Award. In 2016, he was awarded the ‘Asian Game Changer Award.’

 

4. 21 islands of Andaman & Nicobar renamed after Param Vir Chakra Awardees: Prime Minister Narendra Modi renamed the 21 largest unnamed islands of Andaman & Nicobar after Param Vir Chakra awardees on  January 23, 2023, via video conferencing. He has also unveiled the model of the National Memorial dedicated to Netaji, to be constructed on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep (earlier known as Ross Islands). The event was attended by Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief of Defence Staff General, Anil Chauhan.

 

DEFENCE

 

1. India & Egypt Joint Training Exercise Cyclone – I begin in Rajasthan: Indian Army and Egyptian Army have commenced Exercise Cyclone-I, the first-ever joint exercise between their special forces.The 14-day-long joint exercise is in progress at Jaisalmer in Rajasthan. The first of its kind joint Exercise Cyclone-I, being held in the deserts of Rajasthan, is seeing the Special Forces contingents of India and Egypt engage in various activities to enhance their skills. The activities include Sniping, Combat Free Fall, Reconnaissance, Surveillance & Target Designation, and sharing of information on weapons, equipment, innovations, tactics, techniques & procedures.

The goal of Exercise Cyclone-I is to improve defence cooperation between the two countries.

The Exercise will concentrate on professional skill sharing and Special Forces interoperability in desert terrain while conducting counterterrorism, reconnaissance, raids, and other special operations

 

2. Fifth Kalvari class submarine INS Vagir inducted into Indian Navy: The fifth Kalvari class submarine INS Vagir has been inducted into Indian Navy on January 23, 2023. Mumbai’s Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited in collaboration with the France-based Naval Group built it.

Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral R Hari Kumar, commissioned it. It will boost the capabilities of the Indian Navy as it is capable of undertaking diverse missions including anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, etc.

 

3. Indian Navy conducts “AMPHEX 2023” mega exercise in Andhra Pradesh: The Indian Navy has organized a six-day-long mega biennial tri-services amphibious exercise 'AMPHEX 2023' near Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh from January 17 to 22, 2023. The military exercise was organized between the Indian Navy, Army, and IAF. It included complex activities in all domains that demonstrated and validated the high level of preparedness and excellent coordination It took place amid growing concerns over China’s increasing military forays into the Indian Ocean

 

4. BSF conducts 'Ops Alert' exercise: The Border Security Force (BSF) has started an "Ops Alert'' exercise with an aim to enhance security along the India-Pakistan border in the Kutch district of Gujarat and Barmer in Rajasthan. As per the release, this exercise commenced on January 21 and will continue till January 28 along the International Border from Sir Creek (marshy area). It is being carried out to “thwart any ill-designs of anti-national elements” during the Republic Day celebrations.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Co-founder of Netflix, Reed Hastings steps down as CEO: Netflix Inc co-founder Reed Hastings is stepping down as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), handing the reins of the streaming service to longtime partner and co-CEO Ted Sarandos and the company’s chief operating officer, Greg Peters. Netflix has been under pressure after losing customers in the first half of 2022. He had co-founded Netflix as a DVD-by-mail business in 1997, saying the idea came from his frustration at having returned a rental of Apollo 13 to the local Blockbuster, a chain of physical stores in the US from where movies could be rented.

Daily GK Update- 22nd Jan, 2023

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Centre released endorsement guidelines for Social Media Influencers: The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution has released ‘Endorsements Know-hows!’ guidelines for celebrities, influencers, and virtual influencers on social media platforms.

Aim: To ensure that individuals do not mislead their audiences. It also ensures that they are in compliance with the Consumer Protection Act 2019. Endorsements must be made in simple terms such as "advertisement," "sponsored," or "paid promotion" can be used.

 

2. Indian Embassy in Kathmandu organised 5 km marathon 'Run for Life': Indian Embassy in Kathmandu has organized a 5 km marathon 'Run for Life' from Pashupatinath Temple premises in Nepal. 2023 Theme: lifestyle for Environment It was participated by college-going students, rescued human trafficking victims, sports persons, health enthusiasts, medics, and children. The Run for life marathon celebrates 75 years of diplomatic ties between India and Nepal as well as 75 years of India’s Independence. The Marathon winner was awarded a gold medal

 

3. AIF inaugurated India’s First STEM Innovation and Learning Center: The American India Foundation (AIF) has inaugurated India’s first STEM Innovation and Learning Center (SILC) in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. It was inaugurated under the scheme of Vanavil Mandram. AIF is an award-winning flagship education Program 'Digital Equalizer (DE)'. It has designed the Center to be a one-stop solution for STEM among students and teachers. AIF's DE has also launched Drone and Satellite Launch Vehicle (DSLV) Mission on the occasion.

 

4. India’s deepest metro station to be built at Pune Civil Court: The Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation (MahaMetro) has announced that the Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety (CMRS) will inspect a stretch of the Pune Metro in February, and clearances are expected in March. This line features India’s deepest underground station, which will be ready in a few months at the Civil Court and measures 33.1 metres (108.59 feet) in depth. It will be used as an interchange facility for an underground station on the Pimpri-Chinchwad-Swargate route and one elevated route on Vanaz-Ramwadi route and Hinjewadi-Shivajinagar line. This underground station’s ceiling is 95 feet high and was constructed to receive direct sunshine or natural light.

It is also the largest station in the Pune Metro network, spanning 11.17 acres and featuring various access and exit locations.

 

5. Brand Guardianship Index 2023: Mukesh Ambani No1 among Indians: Reliance Industries Chairman and Managing Director Mukesh Ambani has been ranked second globally and top among Indians in Brand Guardianship Index 2023, compiled by Brand Finance. The Brand Guardianship Index is a global recognition of CEOs, who are building business value in a sustainable manner, by balancing the needs of all stakeholders – employees, investors, and the wider society. The Brand Guardianship Index 2023 saw the rise of Nvidia CEO, Jensen Huang, and Mukesh Ambani of Reliance to 1st and 2nd position, respectively. They both now rank above last year’s leader Microsoft’s Satya Nadella, who now sits in the 3rd place. He is also the 9th richest person in the world, as per the Bloomberg Billionaire Index. Ambani has ranked ahead of global majors like Satya Nadella of Microsoft, Google’s Sundar Pichai, Apple’s Tim Cook and Tencent’s Huateng Ma, and fellow Indians such as N Chandrasekaran of Tata Group, Anand Mahindra, Sunil Bharti Mittal, among many others.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Egypt president Abdel Fattah El Sisi to be chief guest at Republic Day celebrations: Egypt President Abdel Fattah El Sisi will be the chief guest at Republic Day celebrations. This is for the first time that the president of Egypt has been invited as chief guest on our Republic Day 2023.

A 180-member strong military contingent from the Egyptian army will also participate in the Republic Day parade. President el-Sisi is scheduled to visit India from 24 January to 26 January, during which he will hold wide-ranging talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, attend the Republic Day celebrations and interact with the business community. The Egyptian president previously visited India in October 2015 to participate in the third India-Africa Forum Summit, which was followed by a state visit in September 2016. A commemorative stamp marking 75 years of diplomatic ties between India and Egypt will be released during his visit.

 

2. Global Fire Power Index 2023: India ranked 4th; topped by US: Global Firepower Index is a rating of the military forces of all countries on the planet. The Index ranks the countries based on their potential military strength. India is ranked fourth in the index. The Global Firepower Index ranked 145 countries. The most powerful country in the world is the United States of America, followed by Russia, China, and India. Turkey has once again emerged as the most powerful country in the Middle East and North African region. Turkey has been placed at the 11th position in the global ranking. Egypt is ranked 14th and Iran is ranked 17th in the global ranking. Egypt is ranked as the most powerful Arab country in terms of its military power. Saudi Arabia emerged as the most powerful country among the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and Saudi Arabia has the second most powerful military among the Arab countries. It is placed at the 22nd position in the global ranking. Algeria is the most powerful of the North African countries, ranking 26th on the global index. While Lebanon has been described as the weakest country in the Middle East. Top 10 Countries on Global Power Index 2023

 

3. Pakistan is South Asia’s weakest economy: World Bank report: World Bank forecast Pakistan’s economic growth to slow further to two percent during 2023. This will mark a drop of two percentage points from its June 2022 estimates, according to the World Bank’s Global Economic Prospects report. The reason behind this is unprecedented floods, depleting forex reserves, food shortages, and poverty. It forecast Pakistan’s GDP growth rate to improve to 3.2% in 2024, which would be lower than earlier estimate of 4.2%.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Thai shuttler Kunlavut Vitidsarn wins India Open Badminton title 2023: Thailand badminton player, Kunlavut Vitidsarn won the India Open title 2023 after defeating Viktor Axelsen (Denmark) in the men's singles of the India Open Badminton Championship, held at K. D. Jadhav Indoor Stadium in New Delhi. While An Seyoung (Korean) won the Women's singles final after defeating Japanese Akane Yamaguchi.

Other winners (doubles):

·       Men's: Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang (China)

·       Women's: Nami Matsuyama and Chiharu Shida (Japan)

 

2. FIH Partners with JSP Foundation for Hockey Development and Men’s World Cup: The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has signed a partnership with JSP Foundation for its development programs and FIH Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup 2023 Bhubaneswar-Rourkela as a Global Partner. FIH will be working closely with JSP Foundation for some of its key initiatives for hockey development. JSP Foundation is the social arm of Jindal Steel & Power.

Chairperson of JSP Foundation:  Shallu Jindal President of International Hockey Federation: Tayyab Ikram

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Canara Bank to sell its stake in Russian joint venture to SBI for Rs 114 cr: Canara Bank would sell its stake in the Russian joint venture 'Commercial Indo Bank LLC (CIBL)' to the other venture partner State Bank of India (SBI) for Rs 114 crore (approx). CIBL was incorporated in 2003, a joint venture in Russia between SBI (60%) and Canara Bank (40%). Canara Bank has entered into a share sale agreement in relation to the sale of equity shares held by it in CIBL with SBI.

The Canara Bank entered into the agreement for sale on November 11, 2022.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Dr Prabha Atre awarded Pt Hariprasad Chaurasia Lifetime Achievement Award: Padma Vibhushan awardee, Dr. Prabha Atre was awarded the Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia Lifetime Achievement Award. The award was conferred by Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde to her, at a function at Ram Ganesh Gadkari Rangayatan in Mumbai. She was also presented with a citation and Rs 1 lakh. She is an Indian classical vocalist from the Kirana Gharana. The Government of India has awarded her Padma Shri (1990), Padma Bhushan (2002), and Padma Vibhushan (2022).

 

2. Indian films bag award for best scriptwriter and best actress at 21st DIFF: Two Indian films were awarded for the best script writer and best actress in the Asian Film Competition section at the 21st Dhaka International Film Festival organized from 14-22 Jan 2023. Aparajito (directed by: Anik Dutta) won the best scriptwriting award. Ketaki Narayan won the best actress award for Prappeda (directed by: Krishnendu Kalesh).

·       Best Actor: Japanese Ikkei Watanabe (for Nakodo- Matchmakers)

·       Best Director: Iranian Ali Ghavitan (for Zendegi va Zendegi)

Daily GK Update- 21st Jan, 2023

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. PM Modi attends All India Conference of DGs and IGs of Police 2022 in Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended All India Conference of Directors General and Inspectors General of Police 2022 in New Delhi. It is a three-day conference which was inaugurated by Home Minister Amit Shah.Conference held discussions on futuristic themes in policing and security, Cyber Crime, Technology in Policing, Counter Terrorism challenges, Left Wing Extremism, Capacity Building, and Prison Reforms.

 

2. Business20 (B20) inception meet to be organized at Gandhinagar, Gujarat: Business20 (B20) inception meeting will be held at Gandhinagar in Gujarat between January 22-24 as a part of India’s G 20 presidency. It will be held to formulate policy recommendations to be submitted to G20 ahead of the leaders' summit and will be the first of 15 events that the state is set to organize as part of India's G20 presidency. More than 150 policymakers, business executives, CEOs, and senior executives will take part in the inaugural meeting.

 

3. Egypt president Abdel Fattah El Sisi to be chief guest at Republic Day celebrations: Egypt President Abdel Fattah El Sisi will be the chief guest at Republic Day celebrations. This is for the first time that the president of Egypt has been invited as chief guest on our Republic Day 2023.

A 180-member strong military contingent from the Egyptian army will also participate in the Republic Day parade. President el-Sisi is scheduled to visit India from 24 January to 26 January, during which he will hold wide-ranging talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, attend the Republic Day celebrations and interact with the business community. The Egyptian president previously visited India in October 2015 to participate in the third India-Africa Forum Summit, which was followed by a state visit in September 2016. A commemorative stamp marking 75 years of diplomatic ties between India and Egypt will be released during his visit.

 

4. India’s deepest metro station to be built at Pune Civil Court: The Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation (MahaMetro) has announced that the Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety (CMRS) will inspect a stretch of the Pune Metro in February, and clearances are expected in March. This line features India’s deepest underground station, which will be ready in a few months at the Civil Court and measures 33.1 metres (108.59 feet) in depth. It will be used as an interchange facility for an underground station on the Pimpri-Chinchwad-Swargate route and one elevated route on Vanaz-Ramwadi route and Hinjewadi-Shivajinagar line. This underground station’s ceiling is 95 feet high and was constructed to receive direct sunshine or natural light. It is also the largest station in the Pune Metro network, spanning 11.17 acres and featuring various access and exit locations.

 

5. Odisha CM inaugurated ‘International Craft Summit’: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has inaugurated an ‘International Craft Summit’ in Jajpur, Odisha. This first-of-its-kind craft summit features pioneering craftspeople, culture, and art enthusiasts. International delegates from 15 countries have arrived in Jajpur to engage with local artisans and other stakeholders.Four UN agencies and five UNESCO Creative Cities have partnered with the District to realize this ambitious and forward-looking event on behalf of the State Government.

 

6. IIT Madras developed Indigenous Mobile Operating System ‘BharOS’: IIT Madras incubated firm has developed an Indigenous Mobile Operating Shystem named ‘BharOS’. The OS is claimed to be a significant contribution towards ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ and is said to offer a secure environment for users. JandK Operations Private Limited (JandKops) – a non-profit organization established by IIT Madras Pravartak Technologies Foundation, has developed BharOS. The Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, under its National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NMICPS), fund the Foundation. BharOS provides access to trusted apps from organization-specific Private App Store Services (PASS). A PASS provides access to a curated list of apps that have been thoroughly screened and have met certain security and privacy standards of organizations. This means users can be confident that the apps they are installing are safe to use and have been checked for any potential security vulnerabilities or privacy concerns. At present, BharOS services are being provided to organizations that have stringent privacy and security requirements, and whose users handle sensitive information and require access to private cloud services through private 5G networks. Director of IIT Madras – Prof. V. Kamakoti

 

7. 21 January – Foundation Day of Manipur, Meghalaya and Tripura: The Statehood Day of Manipur, Meghalaya, and Tripura is celebrated on January 21. This year marks the 51st foundation year for the three states which attained statehood under the North Eastern Areas (Reorganization) Act of 1971. Manipur became a part of India from 15 October 1949 after the merger treaty on 21 September 1949. Manipur was made a Union Territory in 1956. Tripura was a princely state until its merger with the Indian Union on 15 November 1949. After the death of Bir Bikram Singh, the last Maharaja of Tripura on 17 May 1947, Maharani Kanchan Prabha (wife of Maharaja Bir Bikram) represented the state of Tripura and merged it with India.

The rulers of the Garo and Khasi regions acceded to the Indian Union in the year 1947. Meghalaya was created as an autonomous state within Assam under the Assam Reorganization (Meghalaya) Act of 1969.

 

8. 19 January – National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) Day: the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) celebrates 18th National Disaster Response Force day on 19 January 2023. It was formed in the year 2006 under the Disaster Management Act of 2005. It plays a crucial role in the country’s disaster management and community awareness for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR). NDRF at present consists of 12 Battalions. These battalions are located at 16 different locations on the basis of the vulnerability profile. The NDRF is the primary agency responsible for conducting rescue operations during disasters like drowning, building collapses, landslides, devastating floods, earthquakes, and cyclones.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Ex-SC judge AK Sikri appointed Administrator of Shooting World Cup 2023: Former Supreme Court judge Justice Arjan Kumar Sikri has been appointed as the administrator of Shooting World Cup 2023 by Delhi High Court He has been appointed to oversee the utilization of funds for the upcoming International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup, which is scheduled to be held in India in March. ISSF is the governing body of Olympic shooting events in rifle, pistol, and shotgun disciplines, and of several non-Olympic shooting sport events.

 

2. Mukesh Ambani ranks 2nd among top 100 CEOs globally: Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani has been ranked second on Brand Finance’s list of the world’s top CEOs. Top performer of Brand Guardianship Index 2023: Jensen Huang (Nvidia CEO). The Index was released annually by brand valuation consultancy Brand Finance, celebrates CEOs who balance the needs of commercial success with long-term brand building and personal reputation management. Satya Nadella has been slipped to 3rd place, followed by Sundar Pichai.

 

3. Chris Hipkins will replace Jacinda Ardern as prime minister of New Zealand: New Zealand’s police and education minister Chris Hipkins (44 years) will replace Jacinda Ardern as Prime Minister after emerging as the only candidate nominated to lead the ruling Labour Party. He was first elected to parliament for the Labour Party in 2008 and was later being appointed minister for COVID-19 in November 2020. New Zealand is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean and is the sixth-largest island country by area. Capital: Wellington

 

4. G20's Environment and Climate Sustainability Meet to be held in Feb: First Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group Meeting of G20 will be held from 9th to 11th Feb in Kalkere Arboretum and Bannerghatta Biological Park, Bengaluru Aim: promotion of the blue economy along with coastal sustainability, restoration of degraded lands and ecosystems, enhancement of biodiversity and circular economy Conference focused on Master Planning and Building the National Capacity for species Management & Conservation Breeding

 

5. UNESCO dedicates International Day of Education to Afghan girls and women: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has decided to dedicate the International Day of Education, which is to be held on 24th January, 2023 to Afghan girls and women. According to UNESCO, currently, around 80% of school-aged Afghan girls and young women are out of school under the Taliban rule, as they denied them access to secondary schools and universities. UNESCO will also publish a global report, 2023 SDG4 Scorecard

 

6. Co-founder of Netflix, Reed Hastings steps down as CEO: Netflix Inc co-founder Reed Hastings is stepping down as chief executive officer (CEO), handing the reins of the streaming service to longtime partner and co-CEO Ted Sarandos and the company's chief operating officer, Greg Peters. He had co-founded Netflix as a DVD-by-mail business in 1997, saying the idea came from his frustration at having returned a rental of Apollo 13 to the local Blockbuster, a chain of physical stores in the US from where movies could be rented.

 

7. Global Fire Power Index 2023: India ranked 4th; topped by US: Global Firepower Index is a rating of the military forces of all countries on the planet. The Index ranks the countries based on their potential military strength. India is ranked fourth in the index. The Global Firepower Index ranked 145 countries. The most powerful country in the world is the United States of America, followed by Russia, China, and India. Turkey has once again emerged as the most powerful country in the Middle East and North African region. Turkey has been placed at the 11th position in the global ranking. Egypt is ranked 14th and Iran is ranked 17th in the global ranking. Egypt is ranked as the most powerful Arab country in terms of its military power. Saudi Arabia emerged as the most powerful country among the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and Saudi Arabia has the second most powerful military among the Arab countries. It is placed at the 22nd position in the global ranking. Algeria is the most powerful of the North African countries, ranking 26th on the global index. While Lebanon has been described as the weakest country in the Middle East. Top 10 Countries on Global Power Index 2023

 

8. Pakistan is South Asia’s weakest economy: World Bank report: World Bank forecast Pakistan’s economic growth to slow further to two percent during 2023. This will mark a drop of two percentage points from its June 2022 estimates, according to the World Bank’s Global Economic Prospects report. The reason behind this is unprecedented floods, depleting forex reserves, food shortages, and poverty. It forecast Pakistan’s GDP growth rate to improve to 3.2% in 2024, which would be lower than earlier estimate of 4.2%.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Hashim Amla announced retirement from all forms of cricket: South Africa cricketer Hashim Amla has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket. He last played for Surrey in the County Championship 2022 and helped them win the title as well. The right-handed batter had already retired from international cricket after the World Cup in 2019. Hashim Amla, South Africa’s second-highest Test run-scorer of all time. He scored 9282 runs in 124 Tests, second only to Jacques Kallis, hit 27 ODI hundreds, and scored a total of 18672 runs in all formats for South Africa. He became the first and only South African batsman to score a triple century in Test Cricket.

 

 

 

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. SBI General Insurance collaborates with HP Police and Doers NGO: SBI General Insurance has partnered with Doers NGO to assist Himachal Pradesh police in reducing the number of traffic accidents under the Corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative. Under this, SBI General has donated a well-equipped ambulance which would provide timely medical care to the road accident victims in Mandi district within the ‘Golden hour’. MD & CEO of SBI General Insurance: Kishore Kumar Poludasu.

 

2. LIC launched Jeevan Azad limited premium payment plan: The Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) of India has launched Jeevan Azad (Plan No. 868) to offer an attractive combination of protection and savings. It is a limited-period premium payment plan that offers financial support for the family in case of unfortunate death of the life assured during the policy term. If the LIC policyholder survives the maturity term, then the plan offers a guaranteed base sum-assured amount. The minimum age of entry is 90 days completed and the maximum age at entry is 50 years.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Goa Manohar International Airport wins Best Sustainable Greenfield Airport Award: A subsidiary of GMR Airports Infrastructure, GMR Goa International Airport (GGIAL) has won the ‘Best Sustainable Greenfield Airport’ award under aviation sustainability and environment at ASSOCHAM’s 14th International Conference-cum-Awards for Civil Aviation 2023. The award was presented for “outstanding initiatives” taken by Goa International Airport Limited (GGIAL) in implementing sustainability. The criteria of awards are contribution, innovativeness, applicability, relevance and impact potential in their respective areas. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Goa Manohar International Airport on 11 December 2022.