Daily GK Update- 19th Feb, 2023

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Divya Kala Mela 2023 is being organized in Mumbai: Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry will organize Divya Kala Mela in Mumbai from 16 to 25 February. The fair will showcase the products and craftsmanship of Divyang entrepreneurs and artisans from across the country. Around two hundred Divyang artists and entrepreneurs from about 24 States and Union Territories will be showcasing their products and skills. The event will present an enthralling experience to the visitors as vibrant products from various parts of the country including Jammu and Kashmir and North Eastern states will be seen together. It is an unique exhibition cum sale of products made by divyang entrepreneurs and artisans.

 

2. AICTE and BPRD Jointly Launch KAVACH-2023: A national-level hackathon KAVACH-2023 has launched to identify innovative ideas and technological solutions to address India’s 21st-century cyber security and cybercrime challenges. KAVACH-2023 is a one-of-a-kind national hackathon jointly developed by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPRD), and the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre. It identifies innovative ideas and technological solutions to address 21st century cyber security and cybercrime challenges faced by law enforcement agencies and common citizens.

 

3. Gujarat CM launched sixth phase of Sujalam-Sufalam Jal Abhiyan: Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has launched the 6th phase of Sujalam-Sufalam Jal Abhiyan at Khoraj in Gandhinagar. The campaign aims to raise the groundwater level and maximize the use of rainwater will be held for 104 days till 31st May.Various developmental works for the deepening of lakes, delisting works of check dams, and reservoirs, construction of new check dams, forest ponds, and farm ponds, and cleaning of canals and banks will be carried out across the state.

 

4. Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar sworn in as Bihar Governor: Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar was sworn in as the 41st Governor of Bihar. He was administered the oath by Patna High Court Acting Chief Justice Chakradhari Sharan Singh at a function at Raj Bhawan. Arlekar succeeded Phagu Chauhan who is now the Governor of Meghalaya.

 

5. MV Suchindra Kumar to be new Vice Chief of Army: Lt Gen MV Suchindra Kumar has been appointed as the new Vice Chief of Army Staff. He is currently serving as the Deputy Chief of Army Staff (Strategy) in the Army Headquarters. Lt Gen Kumar will succeed Lt Gen B S Raju who has been appointed as the Jaipur- headquartered South Western Army Commander. Lt Gen NSR Subramani, at present serving as the Chief of Staff at the headquarters of the Northern Command in Udhampur, has been appointed as the next Central Army Commander in Lucknow.

 

6. APJ Abdul Kalam Satellite Launch Vehicle Mission-2023 launched: Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam International Foundation and Space Zone India in association with Martin Foundation launched the APJ Abdul Kalam Satellite launch vehicle mission 2023 in Chengalpattu, Chennai, Tamil Nadu. It can be used for weather research and to assess atmospheric conditions and radiation. It was designed and constructed by students from grades 6 to 12 from different parts of the nation including 200 students from the fishermen's community.

 

7. Parshottam Rupala launches Sagar Parikrama Phase-III from Hazira Port: Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying Parshottam Rupala launched the Sagar Parikrama Phase-III from Hazira Port, Gujarat. It started towards the coastal line of Maharashtra at Satpati, Vasai, Versova, and Parikrama and ended at Sasson Dock, Mumbai. Aim: To disseminate information on various fisheries-related schemes and programs being implemented by the government It also aimed to promote responsible fisheries and protect marine ecosystems.

 

8. Soil Health Card Day 2023: 19th February: India observed the 8th edition of the Soil Health Card Day on 19 February 2023 to commemorate the launch of the Soil Health Card Scheme. It provides information to farmers on the nutrient status of their soil along with recommendations on appropriate dosages of nutrients to be applied for improving soil health. It also aims to provide financial assistance to farmers to apply corrective measures for deficiencies. In 2015, PM Modi has launched this scheme in Rajasthan.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. 19 February – World Whale Day: World Whale Day is observed every year 19 February. Objective – To increase public knowledge of these amazing creatures, their beauty, and the ecological importance of what they contribute to the earth. The aquatic mammals belonging to the order Cetacea. The term ‘whale’ can be used in reference to any cetacean, including porpoises and dolphins, but in general it is applied to those more than 3 metres (10 feet) long.

World Whale Day was founded in Maui, Hawaii, in 1980 to honor humpback whales, which swim off the coast of this tropical island. This day was started as an idea by Greg Kauffman, founder of the Pacific Whale Foundation, to raise awareness about the threat of extinction faced by humpback whales.

 

2. UAE, India launch the UAE Chapter of the Business Council: The UAE and India have launched the UAE India Business Council - UAE Chapter (UIBCUC). Aim: To robust the economic ties and support their joint mission to increase bilateral trade and investment Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi (UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade) has launched the UAE India Business Council - UAE Chapter (UIBC-UC) in Dubai. Shared Goals: To increase the bilateral trade to $100 billion To attract $75 billion in investment from the UAE to India

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Saurashtra defeated Bengal to win its second Ranji Trophy title 2023: Saurashtra has defeated Bengal by nine wickets to lift their second Ranji Trophy title 2023, organized at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. Saurashtra captain Jaydev Unadkat was declared Man of the Match for his impressive performance. While Batter Arpit Vasavada was named the player of the series. Most runs: Mayank Agarwal (Karnataka) (990) Most wickets: Jalaj Saxena (Kerala) (50) Saurashtra won their first title in 2019-20 after beating Bengal.

 

2. India secured bronze in the Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championship 2023: Team India won the bronze medal at the Asia Mixed Team Championships 2023, held at the Dubai Exhibition Centre in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from 14 to 19 February 2023. P.V. Sindhu-led side faced a 2-3 defeat against China in the semifinals and settled for the bronze medal. Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand won the Women’s Doubles. While team China won the Gold medal, South Korea won the Silver medal.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. GST council will set up Appellate Tribunal for dispute redressal: FM Nirmala Sitharaman announced that the GST Council adopted the Group of Ministers (GoM) report on the GST Appellate Tribunal with certain modifications. The GoM on Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunals was set up under the chairmanship of Haryana Deputy CM Dushyant Chautala in July 2022.

Suggestions:

·       The tribunals should consist of two judicial members.

·       One technical member each from the Centre and States, besides a retired Supreme Court Judge as president.

 

2. GBBC Digital Finance join the IOSCO: GBBC Digital Finance has joined the International Organisation of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) as an affiliate member. GBBC Digital Finance has joined the Affiliate Members Consultative Committee, which is the 70th member of the committee. This committee contributes to IOSCO policy and standards development. IOSCO is a global organization that creates and advocates for global securities standards. It consists of 35 national securities regulators.

 

3. First G20 meeting of Finance Ministers to be held in Bengaluru: The first G20 meeting of Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors under the G20 Indian Presidency will be held on the 24th and 25th of February in Bengaluru, Karnataka. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das will chair the meeting. It will see the participation of Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors of the G20 members, invitee members, and heads of International Organisations. 

 

4. Bank of Maharashtra tops list of public sector lenders in loan growth: According to an analysis of the latest financial results of public sector banks (PSBs) showed that the Bank of Maharashtra (BoM) has emerged as the top performer in terms of loan growth percentage during the third quarter of 2022-23. The BoM recorded a 21.67% increase in gross advances on a year-on-year basis. The Union Bank of India (19.80%) growth followed BoM. While the State Bank of India (SBI) ranked fourth with 16.91% rise in advances growth.

Daily GK Update- 18th Feb, 2023

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Tata Motors VP Rajan Amba appointed as MD of Jaguar Land Rover India: Rajan Amba has been appointed as the managing director of Jaguar Land Rover India, effective from 1st March 2023. He will replace Rohit Suri, who announced his retirement from the position of MD and President in January 2023. Prior to this role, he worked as the Vice President - Sales, Marketing, and Customer Care of Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles. He has also worked as a Chief Operating Officer with Carat Lane (a subsidiary company of Titan).

 

2. Lt General MV Suchindra Kumar appointed as Vice Chief of Army: Lt Gen MV Suchindra Kumar has been appointed as the new Vice Chief of Army Staff. He is currently serving as the Deputy Chief of Army Staff (Strategy) in the Army Headquarters. He will succeed Lt Gen B S Raju, who has been appointed as the Jaipur- headquartered South Western Army Commander.

While Lt Gen NSR Subramani has been appointed as the next Central Army Commander in Lucknow. All the new appointments will come into effect on March 1.

 

3. IAF develops indigenous ‘Vayulink’ platform for jammer-proof communication: The Indian Air Force has developed an innovative solution named ‘Vayulink’ to send radio communication to the base station when the signals are low. It would help pilots to deal with bad weather and also provide them with jammer-proof uninterrupted communication with the base station. It is an ad-hoc data link communication system. It will be installed in an aircraft and provide information about other aircraft close by, encrypted traffic data over a secured channel.

 

4. Vertiplane X3 Drone delivers TB medicines: The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS)-Rishikesh conducted a trial to test the feasibility of drones supplying medicines to primary health centers or smaller hospitals by Vertiplane X3 drone. This drone was used to deliver a 2kg package of anti-tubercular drugs to a district hospital in Tehri Garhwal during the trial. The aerial distance of nearly 40 kilometers between the helipad at AIIMS and the hospital was covered in 30 minutes.

 

5. Twelve cheetahs brought from South Africa to Kuno National Park: Twelve cheetahs from South Africa were brought to Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh. Of the 12 cheetahs, seven are male and five are female. Union Ministers Bhupendra Yadav and Narendra Singh Tomar and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan released these cheetahs into the Park. The cheetahs are being brought to India as part of the Cheetah Reintroduction Project on the basis of the MoU signed between the South African and the Indian governments. Thus, the number of cheetahs in Kuno National Park has increased now from 8 to 20.

 

6. India’s first waste-to-hydrogen plant to be set up in Pune: The Government of India is to set up the first waste-to-hydrogen plant at a cost of Rs 430 crores in Pune. A private company Green Billion Limited will build the plant. The company has signed an agreement with the Pune Municipal Corporation for 30 years. The objective of the plant is to treat 350 tonnes of solid waste daily. From this, it will produce ten tonnes of Hydrogen every day. The plant is to be built in Hadapsar Industrial Estate in Pune. The plant is the first of its kind in the country.

 

7. PM virtually inaugurated Jal Jan Abhiyan in Rajasthan: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has virtually inaugurated the Jal Jan Abhiyan in Abu Road in Sirohi district of Rajasthan. The main objective of this campaign is to plant trees along with water harvesting and motivate people for water conservation. This campaign has been started by the Brahma Kumar is organization and the Ministry of Jal Shakti. The 21st-century world is realizing the gravity of the limited water resources on earth and water security is a big question because of India’s huge population.

 

8. Lt Gen KT Parnaik takes oath as 20th Governor of Arunachal Pradesh: Lieutenant General (Retd) Kaiwalya Trivikram Parnaik took oath as the 20th Governor of Arunachal Pradesh. He was administered the oath of office by the Judge of Gauhati High Court, Justice Nani Tagia in a ceremony held at Raj Bhavan in Itanagar. Lt Gen Parnaik replaced Brig (Retd) Dr. B D Mishra, who has been posted as Lt Governor of the union territory of Ladakh.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India ranks 47th in OECD's services trade restrictiveness index: According to the services trade restrictiveness index (STRI), conducted by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), India ranked 47 out of 50 countries. As per the report, India had been progressively introducing reforms over the past years, contributing to a slight liberalization of services trade in some sectors. Top 5: Japan (1), UK, Netherlands, Czech Republic, and Chile (5) Bottom: Indonesia (50), Thailand(49), and Russia (48)

 

2. BEL & Israel Aerospace Industries to form joint venture: Bharat Electronics Limited and Israel Aerospace Industries have concluded an MoA to form a JV aiming at a single point of contact for extending long-term product support services for India's defense forces. The new JV is being established to provide life cycle support for MRSAM (Medium Range Surface to Air Missile) air defense systems. MRSAM is an advanced air and missile defence system. The IAF, Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Israeli Defence Forces use it.

 

3. Bengaluru ranks as the 2nd slowest city to drive in the world: Bengaluru has ranked high among the slowest cities in the world when it comes to moving in traffic. The Silicon Valley of India is the second slowest city in the world to drive in as one can cover just 10 km in 29 minutes and 10 seconds in the city. The findings were shared by a report by TomTom, a Dutch multinational developer of location tech. Four other Indian cities made it to the list with Pune also securing a rank in top 10 at 6. Delhi is ranked at 34 with the average time needed to travel 10 km in the city at 22 minutes and 10 seconds. Mumbai came in at 47 and the average travel time for 10 km is 21 minutes and 10 seconds – a minute less than Delhi. The top rank went to London with 36 minutes and 20 seconds – an increase of 1 min 50 seconds as compared to 2021. Dublin came in third behind Bengaluru while Sapporo in Japan was fourth. Milan, Pune, Bucharest, Lima, Manila and Bogota came in at 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 respectively.

 

4. Neil Mohan appointed as new CEO of YouTube: Indian-American executive Neil Mohan has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of YouTube. He will replace Susan Wojcicki, who has announced her decision to step down after nine years in the position. He is working as YouTube’s Chief Product Officer and Senior Vice President. She was previously senior vice president for ad products at Google and became the CEO of YouTube in 2014. Mohan joined Google in 2008 and is the chief product officer at YouTube, where he has been focusing on building YouTube Shorts and Music.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. RBI appoints V S Khichi as member on RCap advisory committee: The Reserve Bank of India has appointed former Bank of Baroda ED, Vikramaditya Singh Khichi as a member of the Advisory Committee on Reliance Capital. The move follows the resignation of former Axis Bank Deputy MD Srinivasan Varadarajan. The Advisory Committee on Reliance Capital was set up to advise the administrator of crisis-ridden Anil Ambani-promoted Reliance Capital. Other members:  Sanjeev Nautiyal (former DMD, SBI) and Praveen P Kadle (former MD, Tata Capital).

 

2. 49th meeting of GST Council held in New Delhi: The 49th meeting of the GST Council held in New Delhi. The meeting has chaired by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The meeting discussed setting up appellate tribunals and mechanisms to prevent tax evasion in the pan masala and gutkha business. The last meeting of the GST Council was held in December 2022 in which it recommended decriminalizing three different types of offences, including preventing any officers in the discharge of his duties and deliberate tampering with material evidence.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. K.K. Shailaja selected for 32nd Ramashramam Unneerikkutty Award: Former Health Minister, K.K. Shailaja has been selected for the 32nd Ramashramam Unneerikkutty Award. Reason: For her services as a minister during the times of the Nipah outbreak, the COVID-19 pandemic, and her services to the State. This is an annual award, which is given to individuals who have made a mark in the fields of art, literature, culture, politics, or social service. She is the fourth woman to win the award ever since its inception in 1985.

 

2. Ramesh Krishnan gets Rotary Club’s Lifetime Achievement Award: Former India Davis Cup tennis player, Ramesh Krishnan was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the annual awards, organized by the Rotary Club of Madras, T. Nagar (RCMT), Chennai. Tamil Nadu Tennis Association president and ace tennis player Vijay Amritraj presented the award. Vijay Amritraj was the recipient of the first award in 2010. Golf player, Uttam Singh Mundy was awarded for vocational excellence.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Yakshagana artiste Balipa Narayana Bhagavatha passes away: Noted Yakshagana Bhagavatha (playback singer), Balipa Narayana Bhagavatha passed away at 85. He gained fame with his ‘Balipa style’ of singing. His grandfather Balipa Narayana Bhagavatha was also a famous Bhagawatha who had first popularised the Balipa style of singing. He has written more than 30 Yakshagana ‘Prasanga’ (scripts). He was the chief Bhagwat of Kateel Durgaparameshwari Prasadita Yakshagana Mandali (Kateel Mela).

Daily GK Update- 17th Feb, 2023

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Tourism Ministry to organize first Global Tourism Investors' Summit: Minister of Tourism, G Kishan Reddy has announced that the Tourism Ministry will organize the first Global Tourism Investors' Summit from 17 to 19 May 2023 in New Delhi. Agenda: To showcase opportunities in the Tourism and hospitality sector. This Summit will deliberate on potential opportunities for investment across tourism segments including hotels and restaurants and other related sectors.

He also informed that the govt is working to promote the Tourism sector.

 

2. Pratiksha Trust, IISc and CBR sign MoU: The Pratiksha Trust has signed an MoU with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and Centre for Brain Research (CBR) for research, innovation, and translation in deep science. Aim: To support the fundamental and translational research on neurodegenerative diseases of the elderly population. For this research, Pratiksha Trust commit over 450 crore rupees over the next 10 years. Pratiksha Trust: It was established by Kris Gopalakrishnan and Sudha Gopalakrishnan.

 

3. National level Hackathon ‘KAVACH-2023’ launched: A national-level hackathon, KAVACH-2023 was launched in New Delhi to identify innovative ideas and technological solutions for addressing the cybersecurity and cybercrime challenges of the 21st century. A 36-hour long event participated by youth from educational institutions and registered start-ups. AICTE, the Bureau of Police Research and Development, and the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre jointly conducted this Hackathon. Chairman, AICTE: T G Sitharam

 

4. Sixth phase of Sujalam-Sufalam Jal Abhiyan begins: The sixth phase of Sujalam-Sufalam Jal Abhiyan has been started in Gujarat on 17th February 2023. The state-wide campaign was launched by the Gujarat CM, Bhupendra Patel at Khoraj in Gandhinagar. Aim: To raise the groundwater level and maximize the use of rainwater. This phase will be held for 104 days and continue till 31st May 2023 Developmental works like the deepening of lakes, delisting works of check dams and reservoirs, and cleaning of canals will be carried out

 

5. IIT Kanpur develops energy-efficient system to transport coal, minerals: The IIT Kanpur has developed an energy-efficient compressed air-based pipeline system. Reason: For transporting coal and minerals, offering round-the-clock monitoring with considerable savings in time and costs Professor, Bishakh Bhattacharya, and research scientists, Kanhaiya Lal Chaurasia and Yashasvi Sinha, developed the cargo-based hyperloop system. It will address challenges such as material loss, uncertainty in delivery time, and air pollution.

 

6. Ministry of Sports, NIPER, and FSSAI sign MoU: The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, FSSAI, and the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education & Research, Hyderabad (NIPER Hyderabad) signed a tripartite MoU to create nutritional supplement testing capacity in India. This will provide information & build awareness about the risks associated with the use of nutritional supplements. It also increases the research opportunities in the clean sport & anti-doping domain.

 

7. UIDAI launches new AI chatbot Aadhaar Mitra: The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has launched a chatbot named Aadhaar Mitra to help people get an answer to their queries related to the Aadhaar card. The Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML)-based chatbot can answer queries related to enrolment number, PVC Card order status, and complaint status. It is available in both English and Hindi languages. It also shows videos to help the users understand its features and how to use them.

 

8. India’s industrial production index grows 4.3% in December 2022: As per the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation data, India’s Industrial Production (IIP) index grew by 4.3 percent in December 2022. It grew by 5.4% during April to December of the current fiscal 2022-23. The manufacturing sector’s output grew by 2.6 percent in December 2022, while the mining output rose by 9.8 percent and electricity production increased by 10.4 percent during the month. For the month of December 2022, the Quick Estimates of IIP with base 2011-12 stands at 144.7.

 

9. Andhra Pradesh CM inaugurated tourist police stations at 20 centres: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy has inaugurated Tourist Police Stations at 20 important religious and tourist places in various districts of the state. The purpose of this move is to give boost to tourism security. The tourist police stations would be run by specially trained police personnel and headed by a Sub Inspector or an ASI rank officer. Linked to local police stations, each Tourist Police Station would have six police personnel, including women constables, it said. These security kiosks would work as additional police stations and exclusively attend to complaints from tourists.

 

10. Air India signed 470 aircraft deal with Airbus, Boeing: Tata-owned Air India has confirmed an agreement to buy a total of 470 wide-body and narrow-body planes from Airbus and Boeing. Of the 470 new aircraft ordered by Air India, 250 are from Airbus and 220 from Boeing. The two deals involve the purchase of 40 Airbus A350, 20 Boeing 787 and 10 Boeing 777-9 wide-body aircraft, along with 210 Airbus A320 and A321neo and 190 Boeing 737 MAX single-aisle planes. The first of these new planes will enter service in late 2023, and the bulk will arrive starting mid-2025. At list price the aircraft deal is valued at over $70 billion. The A350s will be powered by Rolls-Royce engines. The 777s and 787s will have engines from GE Aerospace, while engines from CFM International will power all single-aisle aircraft.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Indian-American Neal Mohan appointed as the new CEO of YouTube: Indian-American, Neal Mohan has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer of YouTube. He will replace the current head, Susan Wojcicki, who will step down after 25 years. He joined Google in 2008, and later he was appointed chief product officer at YouTube in 2015. Prior to Google, he worked as a Senior Analyst at Accenture and later joined Microsoft. He is an MBA from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business.

 

2. Bengaluru city center ranked second slowest to drive in the world: According to the latest report, released by TomTom, Bengaluru’s traffic has made it the second slowest place to drive through in the world in 2022 with about half an hour of travel time by road to cover 10 km. While London ranks first with an average of 36 minutes and 20 seconds to travel 10 km in 2022.

Dublin (Ireland), Sapporo (Japan's town), and Milan(Italy) rank third, fourth, and fifth respectively.

 

3. India signed MoU with South Africa for cooperation in the Disability Sector: The government of India has signed an MoU with the Government of the Republic of South Africa for cooperation in the Disability Sector. The MoU will encourage cooperation between the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities of India and the Government of South Africa through joint initiatives in the disability sector. In another decision, the Union Cabinet has approved the signing of an MoU between India and Chile for cooperation in the field of Agriculture and Allied sectors. The MoU provides for cooperation in the field of agriculture and allied sectors. Under the MoU, a Chile-India Agricultural Working Group is to be constituted which will be responsible for the supervision, review and assessment of the implementation of this MoU as well as for establishing frequent communication and coordination.

 

4. 15 February – International Childhood Cancer Day (ICCD): International Childhood Cancer Day (ICCD) is observed on 15 February. Objective – To raise awareness and show support for children and adolescents suffering from cancer. Childhood Cancer International, an umbrella organization of various child cancer support groups created by parents, created the day.

Theme 2023 — Better Survival Childhood Cancer International was established in 1994. It is the largest patient-support organisation for childhood cancer in the world.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Hyundai Motors India signs two more women cricketers as ambassadors: Hyundai Motor India Ltd has signed two more women cricketers named Yastika Bhatia and Renuka Singh Thakur, to its roster of brand ambassadors. Bhatia and Thakur will join Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, and Jemimah Rodrigues in the list of brand ambassadors for Hyundai. The company said it recognizes these women as rising sport stars and that they will be a catalyst in this women’s cricket calendar of 2023. Hyundai Motor India has announced the next edition of its ‘The Drive Within’ campaign with these five women cricketers.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. RBI makes changes in NEFT, RTGS for daily reporting of foreign remittances: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has made necessary changes in NEFT and RTGS systems for Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) related transactions. Under the FCRA, foreign contributions must be received only in the "FCRA account" of the State Bank of India (SBI), New Delhi Main Branch (NDMB). The contributions to the FCRA account are received directly from foreign banks through SWIFT and from Indian intermediary banks through NEFT and RTGS systems.

 

2. ICICI Bank signed MoU with BNP Paribas for providing financial service: ICICI Bank has signed an MoU with BNP Paribas to cater to the banking requirements of European corporates operating in India. It establishes a framework of the partnership between the two banks for providing financial services to corporate customers operating in India. BNP Paribas Group has been in India since 1860 and is among the leading international financial institutions.

 

3. Paytm Payments Bank becomes first to launch UPI LITE feature: Paytm Payments Banks Limited (PPBL) has launched the UPI LITE feature for multiple small-value UPI transactions and become the first payments bank to launch such feature. The UPI LITE feature will help with faster real-time transactions with a single click through Paytm as the bank aims to drive the adoption of digital payments across the country. The NPCI designed the feature which was launched by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in September 2022. The small value transactions would now only show in the Paytm balance and history section, and not in the bank passbook. Once loaded, a UPI LITE wallet allows a user to do instant transactions of up to ₹200, making the entire experience quick and seamless. A maximum of ₹2,000 can be added twice in a day to UPI LITE, making the cumulative daily usage up to ₹4,000.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. UNDP's Don’t Choose Extinction climate campaign wins two Anthem Awards: A campaign ‘Don’t Choose Extinction’, launched by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) has won Gold and Silver in two different categories at the 2nd Annual Anthem Awards. The campaign aims to raise awareness about the climate emergency. This campaign won Gold in Sustainability, Environment & Climate – Non-Profit Campaign Category, while Silver in Sustainability, Environment & Climate – Global Awareness Campaign Category.

 

2. Kollam district won Swaraj Trophy for Best District Panchayat: Kerala’s Kollam district panchayat has won the Swaraj Trophy for the best district panchayat in the State for the 2021-22 financial year. The Kannur district (Kerala) panchayat stood second in the rankings. The Thiruvananthapuram Corporation bagged the trophy for the best corporation. The Mulanthuruthy grama panchayat won the award for the best grama panchayat in the State and Pappinissery and Marangattupilly grama panchayats won the second and third places.

 

DEFENCE

 

1. 4th edition of joint military Exercise Dharma Guardian-2023 begins: The 4th edition of a joint military exercise, "EX DHARMA GUARDIAN" between India and Japan is being started at Camp Imazu in Shiga province of Japan from 17th February - 2nd March 2023. This exercise covers platoon-level joint training on operations in jungle and semi-urban or urban terrain. Indian Army's Garhwal Rifles Regiment troops and Japan's Infantry Regiment troops participated in the exercise. Aim: To enhance inter-operability in planning and execution

 

2. The 6th edition of India-US exercise TARKASH’ concluded in Chennai: The 6th edition of the joint exercise TARKASH’ has concluded in Chennai by the National Security Guard (NSG) and the US Special Operations Force (SOF). “Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Terror Response” has been included in this exercise for the first time. An exercise to deal with chemical and biological attacks by terrorists was also included in the exercise. Chemical and biological attacks have been made part of the exercise in the backdrop of the Russia-Ukraine war. Last year, Russia accuses Ukraine of receiving aid from Western countries and of carrying out a chemical attack in Kharkiv.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Actor Javed Khan Amrohi passed away: Veteran actor Javed Khan Amrohi passed away at the age of 60. He was known for his work in films such as Once Upon A Time in Mumbai, Chak De India, Lagaan and Andaz Apna Apna. He was best known for his roles in the popular DD serial Nukkad. Amrohi’s other notable titles are the ’90s hit films such as Hum Hain Rahi Pyaar Ke, Laadla, Ishq, and the 1988 TV series Mirza Ghalib.

Daily GK Update- 16th Feb, 2023

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Cabinet approves “Vibrant Villages Programme”: The Union Cabinet has approved the Centrally Sponsored Scheme “Vibrant Villages Programme” for the Financial Years 2022-23 to 2025-26 with a financial allocation of Rs. 4800 Crore. The scheme will provide funds for the development of essential infrastructure and the creation of livelihood opportunities. In the first phase, 663 Villages will be taken up in the program. Aim: To improve the quality of life of people living in identified border villages.

 

2. Cabinet approves MoU between India, Chile in agricultural sector: The Union Cabinet, chaired by PM Modi, has approved the signing MoU between India and Chile for cooperation in the field of Agriculture and Allied sectors. Main areas of cooperation: Agricultural policies for the development of modern agriculture Organic agriculture to facilitate the bilateral trade of organic products Promote innovation in the agricultural sector  Both countries will constitute a Chile-India Agricultural Working Group. Chile Capital: Santiago

 

3. Cabinet approves MoU for cooperation in Disability Sector: The Union Cabinet has approved the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and South Africa for cooperation in the Disability Sector. The decision was taken in the Cabinet meeting headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Aim: To encourage cooperation between the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities in India and South Africa This MoU will strengthen the bilateral ties between India and South Africa. South Africa President: Cyril Ramaphosa

 

4. India and Spain agree to collaborate on digital infrastructure: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Spanish counterpart, Pedro Sánchez had a telephone conversation to discuss ways to further strengthen the growing relationship between both countries. Both leaders discussed a number of bilateral and international issues of mutual interest. They also agreed to collaborate on issues such as digital infrastructure, climate action, clean energy transition, and sustainable development. Spain Capital: Madrid

 

5. Union Cabinet approves construction of Shinku La Tunnel: The I&B Minister, Anurag Singh Thakur has informed that the Union Cabinet has approved the construction of the Shinku La Tunnel in Ladakh. Reason: To provide all-weather connectivity in Ladakh region The construction work of this 4.1-kilometer tunnel will be completed by December 2025. The total expenditure on this project will be 1,681 crore rupees. The tunnel will lead to the development of the region and boost the tourism, Health, and education sectors.

 

6. Indian Army gets 'World's First' fully operational SWARM Drone System: Bengaluru-based start-up, NewSpace Research has delivered SWARM drones to Indian Army. These drone systems will make the Army the first major armed force in the world to operationalize with these high-density SWARM drones. The swarm of 100 drones is capable of hitting targets at least 50 km away into enemy territory. It is a part of the Aatmanirbhar effort to indigenize critical and disruptive military technologies.

 

7. Ladakh to host India’s first frozen-lake marathon at Pangong Tso: India’s first “Frozen-Lake Marathon” at Ladakh’s Pangong Tso at a height of 13,862 feet will be held on 20 February 2023.

The Indian army and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police have been roped in to implement a “proper action plan” for the event. The 21-kilometer marathon will be started from Lukung and ended at Maan village. The event will be participated by 75 selected athletes from India and abroad. The marathon is being called the “Last Run” to highlight the issue of climate change

 

8. PM Modi inaugurated national Aadi Mahotsa in New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated the national Aadi Mahotsav at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, New Delhi. The festival is scheduled between 16 to 27 February 2023 and it will celebrate the tribal spirit including its culture, crafts, cuisine, commerce and traditional art. Around 1000 tribal artisans will participate in the Mahotsav. In line with the International Year of Millets celebration, a special focus in the Mahotsav will be on showcasing Shree Anna grown by the tribals.

 

9. India’s first electric AC double-decker bus inaugurated in Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking (BEST) has inaugurated the country’s first electric air-conditioned (AC) double-decker bus in Mumbai. The seating capacity of the Electric Double Decker Bus is 73. It is equipped with CCTV cameras and automatic doors and can be charged in 80 minutes. The tickets will be priced as before — a minimum fare of Rs 6 will be charged for a distance of 5 km. Currently, the transport undertaking has 45 electric AC buses of various sizes, and this year 100 more wet-lease buses will be added to its fleet in phases.

 

10. 13 – 17 February 2023 – RBI’s Financial Literacy Week: Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has been conducting Financial Literacy Week (FLW) every year since 2016 to propagate financial education messages on relevant themes including “MSMEs”, “Credit Discipline and Credit from Formal Institutions” and “Digital Financial Literacy” and so on. The theme for this year’s Financial Literacy Week to be observed during 13 – 17 February 2023 is “Good Financial Behaviour, Your Saviour”. The theme aligned with the strategic objectives of the National Strategy for Financial Education: 2020-2025.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Egyptian President presented Global Best M-GOV Awards on IIT Indore students: Students of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Indore have won an award of AED (Emirates Dirham) 1 million along with a gold medal at the World Government Summit in Dubai. Niyati Totala and Neil Kalpeshkumar Parikh who are students of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Indore were awarded this prestigious medal by the President of Egypt, Abel Fattah El-Sisi. These students are the makers of the ‘Blockbill’ app. BlockBill is a blockchain-based receipt generation app that generates digital receipts for all its users’ transactions.

·       Silver Award – ‘Don’t Waste’ team (Uzbekistan)

·       Bronze Award – ‘Farmit’ team (Serbia)

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Smriti Mandhana created history, became the most expensive player: India’s star opener Smriti Mandhana has become the costliest player in the ongoing player auction for the Women’s Premier League (WPL). Mandhana joined Royal Challengers Bangalore for Rs 3.4 crore after winning the highest bid in the ongoing Women’s Premier League 2023 auction in Mumbai.

Australia’s Ashley Gardner was at number two in the list of expensive players. He was bought by Gujarat Giants for Rs 3.20 crore. While Natalie Sciver is at number three. She was bought by Mumbai Indians for 3.20 crores. India’s all-rounder Deepti Sharma is at number four. Deepti is included in UP Warriors for 2.60 crores. Jemima Rodrigues was at number five. He was included in their team by Delhi Capitals for 2.20 crores.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Indian Overseas Bank launches electronic bank guarantee scheme: Indian Overseas Bank has launched the facility of issuance of the e-BG (Electronic Bank Guarantee) scheme in association with the National e-Governance Services Ltd. e-BG: An instrument issued by the bank in which the bank agrees to guarantee a particular sum in the event that the applicant fails to fulfill an action/performance. It is a paperless mode with digital stamping and digital signature. Real-time issuance would make it available for the beneficiary instantly.

 

2. Muthoot FinCorp launches Vyapar Mitra: Muthoot FinCorp has introduced ‘Vyapar Mitra Business Loans’ to provide working capital and business loans to micro and small businesses like traders. This new feature can offer business loans based on their daily cash flow without additional collateral. Besides, one can receive a business loan without Income Tax Return (ITR) papers and no prior CIBIL score records. Benefits: No prepayment charges, loan renewals up to three times a year, and simple and fast documentation

 

3. Paytm Payments Bank becomes first to launch UPI LITE feature: Paytm Payments Bank Limited (PPBL) has launched the UPI LITE feature, which is enabled by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) for multiple small-value UPI transactions. The feature enables faster real-time transactions with a single click through Paytm. Aim: To drive the adoption of digital payments across the country UPI LITE was launched by the RBI in September 2022. A UPI LITE wallet allows a user to do instant transactions of up to ₹200.

 

4. EbixCash becomes first entity to enable UPI for foreign nationals: EbixCash Limited has become the first company in India to launch and enable Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions for foreign nationals visiting India. It will offer UPI services to international delegates attending the G-20 summit, being held in India. This facility will be enabled across all other entry points in the country. It can be extended to foreign travelers after physical verification of the Passport and Visa of the customers at the point of issuance.

 

5. CAMSPay receives RBI nod to operate as payment aggregator: CAMSPay has received in-principle approval from RBI to operate as a payment aggregator. It is a part of Chennai-based Computer Age Management Services (CAMS) CAMS is India’s largest registrar and transfer agent of mutual funds. CAMSPAy is a payment platform specializing in solving the banking and finance services sector's payment challenges. Payment aggregators are entities that on-board digital merchants and accept payments on their behalf after getting a licence.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Karnataka Bank wins Prathista Puraskar under Digidhan Award 2021-22: the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (Meity) honored The Karnataka Bank with the ‘Prathista Puraskar’ under the ‘Digidhan Awards 2021-22’. Reason: To achieve the target with the highest percentage in BHIM-UPI transactions in the private sector bank category. DigiDhan award is a recognition for the top-performing banks in the digital payments space. MD& CEO of Karnataka Bank: Mahabaleshwara MS Karnataka Bank HQ: Mangaluru

 

2. Kantara’s Rishab Shetty wins ‘Most Promising Actor Award’ at DPIFF 2023: Kantara movie actor & director, Rishab Shetty will be honored with the Most Promising Actor Award at the Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival (DPIFF) Award 2023 on February 20 in Mumbai. He was awarded for his stellar performance in the Kannada film, Kantara. Rishab Shetty is an Indian actor and filmmaker primarily working in Kannada cinema. DPIFF was founded in 2012 and established in 2016. DPIFF CEO: Abhishek Mishra