Daily GK Update- 6th Feb, 2023

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. CAG's 6th SCO SAI Leaders’ Meeting to begin in Lucknow: The 6th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Supreme Audit Institutions (SAI) Leaders’ Meeting is being hosted by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) in Lucknow on 6th February 2023. The meeting was inaugurated by the Governor of Uttar Pradesh, Anandiben Patel. Theme: 'Integrating Emerging Technologies in Audit' Discussions topics: Artificial Intelligence and Cyber Security, and concerns of digital technology. CAG: Girish Chandra Murmu

 

2. Youth -20 meeting begins in Guwahati: The first meeting of the Youth -20 engagement group under India's G20 presidency is being organized in the IIT-Guwahati campus, Assam on 6th February 2023. Aim: Provide an opportunity for the students to voice their opinions to the audience worldwide. More than 150 Youth delegates from G20 countries are set to participate in the meetings. Over 12000 college and university students also participated in these events.

Youth Affairs and Sports Minister: Anurag Singh Thakur

 

3. PM inaugurates India Energy Week 2023 in Bengaluru: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated 'India Energy Week 2023' in Bengaluru, which is being held from 6th to 8th February 2023. Aim: To showcase India's rising prowess as an energy transition powerhouse It will bring together leaders from the energy industry, governments, and academia to discuss the challenges and opportunities that a responsible energy transition presents. During the program, he has also launched multiple initiatives in the field of green energy.

 

4. Govt sets up task force to promote SSP fertilizer: In a written reply to the Lok Sabha, the Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilisers Bhagwant Khuba informed that the government has set up a task force under the aegis of the Fertiliser Association of India to improve the quality of Single Super Phosphate (SSP) fertilizer. Aim: To promote its use as an alternative to Di-ammonium Phosphate (DAP) The government is promoting the combination of SSP and urea in a ratio of 3:1 in order to encourage its use among farmers

 

5. 96th Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan begins in Maharashtra: The 96th Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan, the prestigious literary summit began in the Wardha district of Maharashtra. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and School Education, and Marathi language minister Deepak Kesarkar inaugurated it. The first Marathi Sahitya Sammelan was held in Pune in 1878 under the chairmanship of Justice Mahadev Govind Ranade. While speaking at the inauguration ceremony Deepak Kesarkar expressed concern that Marathi schools are closing down gradually and came out with a suggestion to discuss this issue in the ongoing literary summit. The government is focussing on imparting the education in mother tongue and one should consider the fact that those who studied in their mother tongue became successful in their lives.

 

6. Azad Engineering is India’s 1st supplier of parts for nuclear turbine: A Hyderabad-based market leader in precision engineering, Azad Engineering Private Limited has been approved as the first Indian company to supply critical rotating parts for nuclear turbines. The company has delivered its first set of critical parts. These will now be assembled on nuclear  turbines manufactured in Belfort, France. Azad Engineering has signed a long-term supply agreement with General Electric (GE) Steam Power for the supply of nuclear turbine parts.

 

7. Vice-President inaugurated 36th Surajkund handicrafts mela: Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar has inaugurated the 36th International Surajkund Mela at Faridabad, Haryana. It is an annual event that is organized on a large scale by the Haryana government from the 4 to 25 February 2023. This year’s theme state is the north-east region, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is participating as the partner nation, which includes India, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. It is a platform for artists across the globe to showcase their culture and talent.  It is the world’s biggest crafts fair. In 2013, the mela was elevated to the international level. Gradually, more and more countries participated in this fair. Today, this event occupies a prominent place in the international tourist calendar.

 

8. India’s unemployment rate declined to four-month low at 7.14% in January: The unemployment rate of India declined to 14% in January 2023 (the lowest in four months) from 8.30% in December 2022. This data was released by the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE). The urban unemployment rate declined to 8.55% in January from 10.09% in the previous month. While the rural unemployment rate slipped to 6.48% from 7.44%. Among the states, unemployment was the highest in Jammu and Kashmir at 21.8% closely followed by Haryana at 21.7% and Rajasthan at 21.1%. Joblessness in Delhi in January was at 16.7%, Goa at 16.2%, Assam at 16.1% and Tripura at 16%. On the other hand, as per the data unemployment was the lowest in states such as Chhattisgarh at 0.5% followed by Odisha at 1.5%, Tamil Nadu at 1.8% and Madhya Pradesh at 1.9%. Budget 2023 has also focused on job creation in agritech, education, tourism, infrastructure, healthcare, financial services, health care and MSME sectors, indicating that the unemployment rate may continue to fall in the following months.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Bangladesh will receive electricity from power plant in Jharkhand: Bangladesh minister, Nasrul Hamid has informed that Bangladesh would receive electricity from the Godda power plant in Jharkhand from March 2023. 750MW of power will come from the first unit of the Adani power plant in Godda in March 2023. Another 750 MW of power will come from the second unit of the Godda power plant in April 2023. The Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) signed an agreement with the Adani group for importing electricity from its plant at Godda.

2. India, France, UAE join hands to boost ties in defence, energy: India, France, and the UAE announced a formal trilateral cooperation initiative in the areas of defense, nuclear energy, and technology. The Foreign Ministers of the three countries held a telephonic meeting to adopt a roadmap for the implementation of this initiative. Aim: To promote the design and execution of cooperation projects in the fields of energy The countries will discuss further collaboration and training between their defense forces.

 

3. Australia announced removal of British monarchy from its banknotes: Australia announced that it will erase the British monarch from its banknotes, replacing the late Queen Elizabeth II’s image on its $5 note with a design honoring Indigenous culture. The central bank’s decision to leave her successor Charles III off the $5 note means no Britain-based monarch will remain on Australia’s paper currency. The $5 bill was Australia’s only remaining banknote to still feature an image of the monarch. The existing $5 note will remain legal tender.

 

4. 4 February – World Cancer Day: World Cancer Day is observed every year on 4 February. This day is marked to raise awareness, provide education, and take action toward a world where millions of lives can be saved by providing life-saving cancer treatment for everyone. Theme 2023- Close The Care Gap The day was first observed in the year 2000 at the first World Summit Against Cancer in Paris.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Saudi Arabia to Host Football Asian Cup 2027: Asian Football Confederation announced that Saudi Arabia won the hosting of the Asian Nations Cup 2027, for the first time in its history, since its inception in 1956. This came during the work of the 33rd Congress of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in the Bahraini capital, Manama. Saudi Arabia was the only bid presented at the Congress in Manama after India’s withdrawal in December 2022. While Qatar will host the next edition of the Asian Football Cup from 26 June 26 to 16 July 2023.

 

2. Raphael Varane announced his retirement from international football: France defender Raphael Varane has announced his retirement from international football. The 29-year-old, who has 93 caps after making his debut in 2013, also helped Didier Deschamps’s side win the UEFA Nations League in the 2020-21 season. He was a key starter for Les Bleus as they won the World Cup in 2018 and helped Didier Deschamps guide his team to the 2022 showpiece in Qatar. He began his international career almost ten years ago, on March 22, 2013. He became only the fourth player in history to win both the World Cup and the Champions League in the same year.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Reliance retail becomes first to accept digital rupee at stores: Reliance Retail has become the first Indian retailer to introduce Central Bank Digital Currency, also known as the digital rupee. The company has piloted the use of the Digital Rupee in one store in Mumbai. The launch of this facility was in collaboration with Innoviti Technologies, ICICI Bank, and Kotak Mahindra Bank. The RBI first introduced the Digital Rupees on December 1, 2022. Initially, It is limited to Mumbai, New Delhi, Bengaluru, and Bhubaneswar

 

2. RailTel bags ₹253.35 crore project from SBI for 4G connectivity to ATMs: RailTel Corporation has received Rs. 253.35 crore project from the State Bank of India (SBI) for providing 4G LTE connectivity to 15,000 offsite ATMs across the country. It will also take care of the operation and maintenance of the entire network for a period of five years. The project includes the set-up of a Network Operations Centre (NOC), backhaul connectivity to the Data centre & Disaster Recovery centre of SBI, a live dashboard for SLA monitoring, etc.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Indian music composer, Ricky Kej wins third Grammy for 'Divine Tides': Indian music composer, Ricky Kej won his third Grammy Award in the best new age album category for 'Divine Tides' at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles. He has shared this award with Stewart Copeland, who collaborated with Kej on the album. Stewart Copeland is a Drummer of the iconic British rock band The Police. Record of the Year: About Damn Time by Lizzo Album of the Year: Harry's House by Harry Styles Song of the Year: Just Like That

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf passes away: Former President of Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf passed away at the age of 79 in Dubai. He ruled Pakistan from 1999 to 2008.

He has been declared a fugitive in the former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto murder case and Red Mosque cleric killing case. In March 2014, he was indicted for suspending the Constitution on November 3, 2007. In December 2019, a special court handed Musharraf a death sentence in the high treason case against him.

Daily GK Update- 5th Feb, 2023

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Mahindra Finance appoints Raul Rebello as MD and CEO: Mahindra & Mahindra Financial Services Ltd's Board of Directors appointed Raul Rebello as managing director (MD) and chief executive officer (CEO) designate. He will replace Ramesh Iyer, who will be retiring on April 29, 2023. Currently, he is serving as the chief operating officer (COO) of the company. Before to joining Mahindra Financial, he worked as the executive vice president and head of rural lending and financial inclusion at Axis Bank Ltd.

 

2. Centre clears appointment of five Supreme Court judges: The President of India, Droupadi Murmu approved the appointment of five new Supreme Court judges. The strength of judges in the Supreme Court will be increased to 32 (sanctioned strength:34). They will take oath on 6th February by CJI DY Chandrachud.

Five appointed judges are:

·       Pankaj Mithal (CJ of Rajasthan)

·       Sanjay Karol, (CJ of Patna)

·       PV Sanjay Kumar, (CJ of Manipur)

·       Ahsanuddin Amanullah (judge, Patna HC)

·       Manoj Misra (judge, Allahabad HC)

 

3. Amit Shah laid foundation of Nano Urea Plant in Jharkhand: Union HM, Amit Shah laid the foundation stone of a ₹ 450-crore nano urea plant and township of the Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative (IFFCO) in Deoghar, Jharkhand. It will be the fifth nano urea plant in India.

In 2022, Prime Minister, Narendra Modi inaugurated the world's first nano urea plant in Gujarat. Nano urea improves crop productivity, soil health, and the nutritional quality of produce. Aim: To address the imbalanced and excessive use of conventional urea.

 

4. Indian Railways introduces Garvi Gujarat tour: Indian Railways has introduced Bharat Gaurav Deluxe AC Tourist Train under the ‘Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat’ Scheme. This “Garvi Gujarat” tour will depart on 28th February from Delhi Safdarjung Station. Aim: To showcase the heritage of vibrant Gujarat Major attractions: The Statue of Unity, Champaner, Somnath, Dwarka, Nageshwar, Beyt Dwarka, Ahmedabad, Modhera, and Patan IRCTC has also tied up with payment gateways for providing EMI payment options to customers

5. PM Modi to dedicate helicopter manufacturing plant of HAL to nation: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will dedicate a helicopter manufacturing plant of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in Tumakuru (Karnataka) to the nation. The 'Greenfield Helicopter factory' will manufacture the Light Utility Helicopters. It has Heli-runway, flight hangar, final assembly hangar, structure assembly hangar, air traffic control, and support services. It complies fully with Industry 4.0 standard tools and techniques for its operations. Area: 615 acres

 

6. Punjab cabinet approves new Industrial and Electric Vehicle policies: The Punjab Cabinet under the chairmanship of CM Bhagwant Mann approved new industrial and electric vehicle policies.

Electric Vehicles:

·       Incentives for those switching over to electric vehicles under the vehicle scrapping policy.

·       Charging stations will also be installed.

·       The new industrial policy pitches Punjab as a favorite investment destination.

·       Introduction of public mining sites to ensure that sand and gravel are available at reasonable rates to common people.

 

7. DA&FW, DIL sign MoU to improve food security & double farmer’s income: Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) under the Ministry of Agriculture signed an MoU with the Development Innovation Lab (DIL) at the University of Chicago. Reason: To explore the opportunities to harness innovation to improve food security, address climate change, and allow farmers to increase their incomes It will look into innovation opportunities related to agriculture and food security in the context of climate change.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Sri Lanka celebrates 75th Independence Day: Sri Lanka celebrated its 75 years of Independence from British rule on 4th February 2023. Theme: Namo Namo Matha - A step towards a century. The main ceremony of the National Independence Day Celebrations was held at Galle Face Green in Colombo. A special cultural arts festival Lankaralanka was also organized at Independence Square in Colombo. Union Minister of State attended the event for External Affairs, V. Muraleedharan.

President: Ranil Wickremesinghe

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Indian golf player, Aditi Ashok wins Kenya Ladies Open title 2023: Indian golf player, Aditi Ashok clinched her fourth Ladies European Tour (LET) title at the Kenya Ladies Open 2023 golf tournament held at Vipingo Ridge, Kenya. She last won a Ladies European Tour golf tournament in 2017. She carded a 12-under to win ahead of Alice Hewson (England) and April Angurasaranee (Thailand), who finished with identical final scores of 3-under. Meanwhile, India’s Avani Prashanth finished tied-ninth and Amandeep Drall came tied-52nd.

2. Anurag Singh Thakur launched mascot, theme song for 3rd edition of Khelo India Winter Games: Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Anurag Singh Thakur and the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha launched the Mascot, Theme Song, and Jersey for the 3rd edition of Khelo India Winter Games at Raj Bhawan, Jammu. The third edition of Khelo India Winter Games is scheduled to be held from February 10 to 14 and is supported by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. The Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council as well as the Winter Games Association of Jammu and Kashmir are organizing it. About one thousand 500 athletes from all over the country will participate in these games. The Khelo India Winter Games is a part of the Khelo India campaign, a vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to encourage youth towards sports and make India an emerging soft sports power on the global stage. The first edition of the Khelo India Winter Games took place in 2020 and hosts Jammu and Kashmir have topped both editions of the Games so far.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Cooperation Ministry signs MoU to enable Primary Agricultural Credit Societies: The Ministry of Cooperation has signed an MoU with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, NABARD, and CSC e-Governance Services India Limited to enable Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) to provide services offered by Common Service Centers. Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah described this agreement as a win-win situation for all.

He mentioned that this will not only help fulfill Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s dream of ‘Sahkar Se Samridhi’ but also strengthen both cooperatives and farmers. This will help in advancing the concept of Common Service Centres to the smallest unit of the country very easily. This agreement will enhance the business activities of PACS and help them to become a self-sustaining economic entity.

 

2. V Ramachandra appointed by RBI as member of Advisory Committee of SIFL, SEFL: The Reserve Bank of India has appointed V Ramachandra (former chief general manager of Canara Bank) as a member of the Advisory Committee of Srei Infrastructure Finance Limited (SIFL) and Srei Equipment Finance Limited (SEFL). Consequent upon the resignation of Farokh N Subedar from the Advisory Committee with effect from January 31, 2023, it has been decided to appoint V Ramachandra as a member of the Advisory Committee with immediate effect. After superseding the boards of SIFL and SEFL in October 2021, the RBI had appointed a three-member advisory committee to assist the administrator of the two crisis-ridden firms. The other two members of the committee are — Venkat Nageshwar Chalasani, former deputy managing director, State Bank of India; and T T Srinivasaraghavan, former managing director, Sundaram Finance Limited. The Advisory Committee shall advise the Administrator in the operations of SIFL and SEFL during the corporate insolvency resolution process.

 

 

 

Science & Technology

 

1. NASA-ISRO joint satellite 'NISAR' to be launched in 2024: NISAR, a joint satellite of NASA and ISRO, is planned to be launched in 2024. NISAR refers to NASA-ISRO SAR, is a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) observatory. It will also provide spatially and temporally consistent data for understanding changes in Earth’s ecosystems, ice mass, vegetation biomass, sea level rise, landslides, etc.

·       Radar systems in NISAR: L – Band SAR and S-Band SAR

·       L-Band SAR: Designed and Created by JPL of NASA

·       S-Band SAR: Designed and created by ISRO

Daily GK Update- 4th Feb, 2023

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. The 36th edition of the Surajkund Crafts Mela commences in Faridabad: The 36th edition of the Surajkund International Crafts Mela commenced in Faridabad, Haryana on February 3, 2023, and will continue till February 19, 2023. It was organized by the Surajkund Mela Authority and Haryana Tourism in association with the Ministry of Tourism, Textiles, Culture, and External Affairs. It was inaugurated by the Vice President of India, Jagdeep Dhankhar. Theme state 2023: North-East region Partner nation: Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)

 

2. Bhupender Yadav launches ‘Save Wetlands Campaign’ for conservation: Union Minister for Environment, Bhupender Yadav launched the ‘Save Wetlands Campaign’ in Goa. It is structured on a “whole of society” approach to wetlands conservation. It enables affirmative actions for wetlands conservation at all levels of society and involves all strata of society. He also released two publications - ‘India’s 75 Amrit Dharohar- India’s Ramsar Sites Factbook’ and ‘Managing Climate Risks in Wetlands – A Practitioner’s Guide.

 

3. NTPC to host seminar on ‘Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage': NTPC will host G20 international seminar on Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage (CCUS) on 5 February 2023 in Bengaluru. This seminar will be attended by industries, policymakers, scientists, and academicians from different countries. Focus: Achieving clean energy transition and subsequently moving towards net zero CCUS is a technology that can capture and make effective use of the high concentrations of carbon dioxide emitted by industrial activities.

 

4. J&K LG Manoj Sinha inaugurates SARAS Aajeevika Mela 2023: J&K LG, Manoj Sinha inaugurated the SARAS Aajeevika Mela 2023 at Aquaplex Crown at Bagh-e-Bahu, Jammu.

The fair was participated by the women's Self Help Groups from around 25 States and UTs across the country. Aim: To provide a platform for the rural SHG women to sell and promote their self-made products On this platform, the SHG will display handicrafts, handloom, and natural food items from different rural areas across the country.

 

5. Coal India arm MCL introduces drone technology in coal mines: Coal India arm, MCL has introduced drone technology through a web-based portal 'VIHANGAM' along with a drone and ground control system in coal mines. Aim: For environmental monitoring, volume measurement, and photogrammetric mapping of mines for digitalization of the mining process.

It allows an authorized person to access real-time drone video from the mine. This pilot project is at present operational at Bhubaneswari and Lingraj opencast mines, Talcher Coalfields.

 

6. First tourism working group meeting to be held in Gujarat: The first Tourism Working Group (TWG) meeting will be held at Dhordo in Rann of Kutch in Gujarat from 7 to 9 February 2023 as part of the G-20. Union Minister of Tourism G. Kishan Reddy, Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Parshottam Rupala, and Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel will attend the inaugural session of the meeting on the 8th of February. It will focus on Green Tourism, Digitalization, Skills, Tourism MSMEs, and Destination Management. The meeting will be attended by officials from G-20 Countries, invited countries, and representatives of various international organizations.

 

7. Madhya Pradesh renames Bhopal’s Islam Nagar as Jagdishpur: Madhya Pradesh government has announced that Islam Nagar village located in the Bhopal district has been renamed as Jagdishpur. Islam Nagar village is located at a distance of around 12 km from Bhopal and is famous for forts. According to certain accounts, the name of Islam Nagar used to be Jagdishpur 308 years ago. The iconic Mughal Gardens at the Rashtrapati Bhavan was renamed Amrit Udyan recently. According to the Madhya Pradesh Raj Bhavan website, Bhopal was founded in 1724 by Dost Mohammad Khan, an Afghan soldier. Dost Mohammad Khan established his capital at Jagdishpur, 10 km from modern Bhopal and named it Islam Nagar (City of Islam).

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. World Cancer Day 2023: 4th February: World Cancer Day is observed on February 4 each year to create awareness about cancer and to encourage its identification, prevention, and treatment. It is being observed with the slogan "close the care gap" -- a call for equitable access to cancer care. Blue and Orange are the official colors for world cancer day 2023. This day originated on 4th February 2000 at the first World Summit Against Cancer, which was held in Paris.

 

2. India welcomes Congo into International Solar Alliance: India has welcomed Congo into the International Solar Alliance. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, Raymond Serge Bell, Ambassador of the Republic of Congo in the presence of the Joint Secretary (Economic Diplomacy), signed the International Solar Alliance Framework Agreement. About International Solar Alliance It is a treaty-based intergovernmental organization whose primary function is to promote solar development by reducing the cost of financing and technology. It is the nodal agency to implement ‘One Sun, One World, One Grid’. It aims to transfer the solar energy generated in a specific region to meet the electricity demand of another region. Headquarters – Gurugram, India

 

3. PM Modi emerged as world’s most popular leader, with approval rating of 78%: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emerged as the world’s most popular leader with an approval rating of 78 percent. This was revealed in a Global Leader Approval Ratings released by a US-based consulting firm Morning Consult. Prime Minister Modi has left behind world leaders in terms of popularity as per the latest rating. These leaders include US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

 

4. 4 February – International Day of Human Fraternity: International Day of Human Fraternity is observed every year on 4 February. The International Day of Human Fraternity recognizes the importance of compassion, religious tolerance, and respect for one another. These values promote peace and bring the human community together. International Day of Human Fraternity was instituted to celebrate the historic document titled “Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together”, being signed by the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Ahmad Al-Tayyeb, and Pope Francis on February 4, 2019. It was established by the United Nations General Assembly on December 21, 2020. Motto: Harmony in difference

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Sports Minister launches mascot for 3rd Khelo India Winter Game: The Sports Minister, Anurag Singh Thakur, and LG of J&K, Manoj Sinha launched the Mascot, Theme Song, and Jersey for the 3rd edition of Khelo India Winter Games in Jammu & Kashmir. The Winter Games are scheduled to be held from 10-14 February 2023 at Gulmarg, J&K. It is supported by the Ministry of Sports and organized by the J&K Sports Council and Winter Games Association, J&K.

Mascot: Snow Leopard (depicts the vibrant heritage of the Himalayas)

 

2. Sai Sanjay won Indian National Car Racing Championship 2023: Sai Sanjay has won the National champion in the MRF Formula 2000 class, in the MMSC FMSCI Indian National Car Racing Championship. He made his motorsports debut in 2015 and became the Rotax Senior Max UAE vice-champion in 2018. In the other championship classes, Viswas Vijayraj won the LGB F1300 National title while veteran Arjun Balu bagged the ITC crown, his 11th National title.

 

3. Indian wrestler Aman Sehrawat won bronze medal at Zagreb Open 2023: Under-23 world champion Aman Sehrawat of India won a bronze medal in the men’s 57kg at the Zagreb Open 2023 Ranking Series in Croatia. He defeated USA’s Zane Raye Rhodes Richards 10-4 to win India’s first medal at wrestling competition in 2023. Sehrawat had earlier lost in the semi-finals to Japan’s Yuto Nishiuchi 15-5 after overcoming China’s Minghu Liu 8-2 and Georgia’s Roberti Dingashvili 11-8 in the qualification round and quarter-finals, respectively.

 

4. Kerala won first National Beach Soccer Championship 2023: Kerala has won the inaugural National Beach Soccer Championships held at Dumas Beach, Surat. Kerala’s goalkeeper Santhosh Kasmeer was awarded the best goalkeeper of the tournament. Rajasthan’s Amit Godara was the highest goalscorer, with 27 goals. The best player of the tournament was awarded to Kerala’s Siju S.

 

5. Joginder Sharma announced his retirement from all forms of cricket: Former Indian fast bowler, Joginder Sharma has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket. The cricketer is known for his exceptional bowling in the T20 World Cup 2007 Final, where India defeated Pakistan to grab the prestigious trophy. Joginder Sharma played his first international match in an ODI against Bangladesh in Chattogram in 2004. He played eight matches for India, including four ODIs and four T20Is. He also played for Chennai Super Kings from 2008 to 2012 He currently serves as a Deputy superintendent of police in the Haryana Police.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. HDFC Bank partnered with NIIT for building pipeline of High-Quality: HDFC Bank has partnered with NIIT Limited for the training of skilled Virtual Relationship Management professionals for the banking industry. The program is designed to build in-demand and advanced sales skills among the learners which will enable them to acquire new customers for multiple services and products. The immersive program is designed to develop a ready-to-deploy pool of skilled Virtual Relationship Managers. The extensive practice on real-life scenarios will equip the new professionals with the advanced sales skills and the confidence required for their job roles in the banking sector. Any Graduate/Postgraduate with 0-2 years of experience will be eligible for the program. The training will take place virtually using various online collaborative platforms. The Post Graduate Program in Virtual Relationship Management will empower learners to start an assured banking career with HDFC Bank and have an opportunity for consistent career growth.

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. Jupiter beats Saturn to become the planet with most moons: Scott Sheppard, Astronomer of Washington's Carnegie Institution for Science has discovered 12 new moons around Jupiter planet. Now, Jupiter has 92 moons. Jupiter planet has overtaken Saturn planet, which has 83 moons at present. The Minor Planet Center (MPC) has published the orbits of the 12 hitherto undiscovered moons of Jupiter. Of the 12 new moons, nine are particularly distant. The MPC estimates that these nine moons have orbits longer than 550 days.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Veteran playback singer, Vani Jayaram passes away: Popular South Indian playback singer, Vani Jayaram passes away at 78 in Chennai. The Government announced the Padma Bhushan award for the late singer this year. She did playback for over one thousand Indian movies and recorded over 10 thousand songs. She sang in Tamil, Kannada, Marathi, Odia, Gujarati, Haryanvi, Assamese, Tulu, and Bengali languages. She had won National Film Awards three times and also was honoured with a lifetime achievement award by Filmfare (2013).

 

2. Former Law Minister Shanti Bhushan passed away: Former law minister and veteran lawyer Shanti Bhushan passed away recently at the age of 97. He served as the law minister in the Morarji Desai-led Janata Party government from 1977 to 1979, which came to power after the Emergency. He was also a founding member of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) which was formed in 2012. He was known for his activism and strong stance against corruption.