Daily GK Update- 28th Feb, 2023

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Shailesh Pathak appointed FICCI secretary general: The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) has confirmed the appointment of former bureaucrat Shailesh Pathak as its secretary general, with effect from 1 March 2023. FICCI also announced that director general, Arun Chawla will be superannuated on June 30, 2023, and transition to an advisory role. He has worked with the government as an IAS officer as well as helmed large companies in the private sector. FICCI President: Shubhrakant panda

 

2. National Science Day 2023: 28th February: India observed National Science Day on February 28 to honor the Indian scientist and physician, Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman as C.V. Raman for discovering the Raman Effect. Sir C V Raman received the Nobel Prize in 1930 for his discovery.

Theme 2023: Global Science for Global Wellness Theme highlights: India’s emerging role on the global stage and its increasing visibility in the international community This day was first celebrated in India in 1986.

 

3. Govt plans 10 'Clean Plant Centres' to boost fruit crop production: The government is planning to set up 10 ‘Clean Plant Centres’ to boost the domestic production of the selected crops. These centres were already established in developed countries such as the US, Netherlands, and Israel.

They will be set up under the ‘Atmanirbhar Clean Plant Program’. It was announced by FM Nirmala Sitharaman in the Union Budget 2023-24. These centres will be established for fruit crops with a budget of Rs 2,200 crore in the next seven years till 2030.

 

4. Karnataka's Byndoor to get country's first marina: Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai has confirmed, that state will get India's first Marina which will be constructed at Byndoor in the Udupi district. Aim: To promote coastal tourism in the state The state government has received permission from the Government of India for the relaxation of Coastal Regulation Zone rules. The government also proposed to build a corridor of ancient temples like Madhukeshwara (Banavasi) and Dattatreya (Ganagapura) and promote Yatra tourism.

 

5. IOC plans to set up green hydrogen plants: Indian Oil Corporation Chairman, Shrikant Madhav Vaidya has revealed that the company is planning to set up green hydrogen plants at all its refineries by 2047. It is part of a Rs 2-lakh crore green transition plan to achieve net-zero emissions. It is also planning to set up a 7,000 tonnes p.a. green hydrogen-producing facility. IOC is restructuring its business with a greater emphasis on petrochemicals to hedge volatility in the fuel business.

 

6. MP Cabinet approves Ladli Behna Yojana: Madhya Pradesh cabinet, headed by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, has approved the Mukhyamantri Ladli Behna Yojana to empower women at every level. Under this scheme, Rs 1000 (month) will be deposited in the account of women, irrespective of their class or caste, whose age is above 23 years. The Yojana will be launched on March 5, 2023. The applications are very simple, the team will visit to fill out the application in their village itself.

 

7. 4th National Protein Day: 27 February: The 4th National Protein Day is observed across the nation on 27th February as an annual awareness day to highlight the importance of adequate protein consumption. Theme 2023: Easy Access to Protein for All It was first observed on 27th February 2020. This day was initiated by the Right To Protein (RTP) with a focus on raising awareness of adequate protein consumption for better health and nutrition. Protein is a macronutrient essential to building muscle mass.

 

8. PM Modi inaugurated Shivamogga airport in Karnataka: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated Shivamogga airport in Karnataka. The airport has been built on 663 acres of land with an investment of Rs 449.22 crore. Apart from this, the prime minister has also inaugurated several other development projects in the poll-bound state. Shivamogga airport is grand & beautiful. At this airport, one can see the combination of Karnataka’s tradition and technology.

The Passenger Terminal Building of the airport can handle 300 passengers per hour. The foundation was laid in June 2020 by former CM B S Yediyurappa. This is the 9th domestic airport in Karnataka. Currently, the state’s domestic airports are located at Bengaluru, Mysuru, Ballari, Bidar, Hubballi, Kalaburagi, Belagavi and Mangaluru. Bengaluru and Mangaluru airports are the two international airports in the state. The airport has the longest runway of 3,200 metres after Kempe Gowda International airport, Bengaluru and is designed to operate Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 type aircraft and can handle about 200 peak-hour passengers.

 

9. Nitin Gadkari inaugurated 7 National Highway projects: Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari has inaugurated 7 National Highway projects with an investment of 6500 cr in Chitbada village, Ballia, Uttar Pradesh. With the construction of Ballia Link Expressway it will be possible to reach Patna from Lucknow through Purvanchal Expressway in just four and a half hours. The greenfield road from Chandauli to Mohania being constructed at a cost of Rs 130 crore will provide connectivity to Chandauli in Uttar Pradesh and Kaimur district of Bihar through the Delhi-Kolkata GT Road. New connectivity route between Ballia-Ara was also announced.

 

10. 27 February – National Protein Day: National Protein Day is celebrated every year on 27 February. The day highlights the importance of protein in our diet, for the development and maintenance of our bodies. Proteins, whether from animal or plant sources, are biological molecules that are known as the building blocks of our bodies Theme 2023 – Easy Access to Protein for All National Protein Day in India was established in the year 2020, by the Right to Protein awareness campaign; a national health initiative. The first celebration of Protein Day took place on February 27, 2020, with the theme, #ProteinMeinKyaHai (What does protein have?)

 

11. 28 February – National Science Day: National Science Day is celebrated every year on 28 February. The day is marked in honour of Indian physicist Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman, or CV Raman, and his Nobel Prize-winning discovery of the Raman Effect. Theme 2023 – Global Science for Global Wellbeing In the 1980s, the National Council for Science and Technology Communication (NCSTC) asked the Indian government to designate February 28 as National Science Day in honour of Raman and his discovery. The government accepted the proposal and since 1986, the day has been marked as the National Science Day in India.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. PM of Italy Giorgia Meloni on 2 day visit to India: Italy PM, Giorgia Meloni will be on a two-day visit to India on 2nd March 2023 with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and a high-powered business delegation. The Italian Prime Minister will be the Chief Guest and Keynote Speaker at the 8th Raisina Dialogue, 2023. Indian PM Narendra Modi and his Italian counterpart will hold discussions on bilateral, regional, and global issues. Both countries are celebrating 75 years of diplomatic relations.

 

2. Ranveer Singh appointed as the brand ambassador of Pepsi co: Beverage maker PepsiCo has appointed actor Ranveer Singh as its brand ambassador and also unveiled a new campaign targeting younger consumers. He joined Pepsi's growing league of celebrity endorsers. The brand roped in actor Salman Khan in 2019. More recently, it also announced KGF actor, Yash as the brand’s new face. “Rise up Baby" is a youth movement that brings alive in different flavors.

 

3. Radio telescope 'ALMA' is set to get software and hardware upgrades: Radio telescope, the Atacama Large Millimetre/submillimetre Array (ALMA) is set to get software and hardware upgrades. Reason: To collect more data and produce sharper images than ever before

ALMA is a radio telescope comprising 66 antennas located in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile. The upgradation would take around five years to finish. It is operated under a partnership between the US, and 16 countries in Europe, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Chile.

 

4. Meta launches LLaMA model, a mightier research tool than OpenAI's GPT-3: After OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Google BARD, now Meta Platforms, Inc. has introduced a new research tool that will soon aid in building AI-based chatbots. The company has publicly released its Large Language Model Meta AI (LLaMA). LLaMA is a state-of-the-art foundational language model. It is developed to assist researchers in their work in the subfield of AI. This would be Meta’s third LLM after Glactica and Blender Bot 3 that were shut down immediately after incorrect results.

 

 

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Manchester United won the Carabao Cup title 2023: Manchester United defeated Newcastle to win the Carabao Cup title in 2023 after six years. Newcastle is a Saudi Arabia-backed club. Liverpool is the most successful club in the competition and has won more than nine championships. The team has won more than nine championships. (Carabao is an energy drink in Thailand). The Carabao cup is also known as the EFL cup, a major football trophy played in England. The competition was open to all clubs participating in the Premier League and the English Football League.

 

2. Madhya Pradesh women’s team won its maiden national hockey title 2023: Madhya Pradesh women’s hockey team has won the 13th Hockey India Senior Women National Championship 2023 held in Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh. MP defeated Hockey Maharashtra by 5-1 in the final. MP’s Pratibha Arya was adjudged the best defender of the championship. She was also awarded the player of the match title. The team of Hockey Jharkhand secured third place after defeating Hockey Haryana in the third-place match.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Lionel Messi wins Best Men's Player 2022 at the FIFA awards: Lionel Messi (35) won FIFA's best men's player of the year for 2022 after winning his maiden World Cup title with Argentina in December 2022 in Qatar. While Alexia Putellas (Spain) was awarded the best women's player for a second straight year. Other awardees:

·       Best fans award: Argentina

·       Fairplay award:  Luka Lochoshvili (Georgia)

·       Best men's coach: Lionel Scaloni (Argentina)

·       Best women's coach: Sarina Wiegman

·       Best goal (Puskas award): Marcin Oleksy

 

2. MIT professor Hari Balakrishnan won Marconi Prize 2023: Computer scientist, Hari Balakrishnan has been awarded the Marconi Prize 2023. He is a professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The prize, announced annually by the Marconi Society and named after Italian wireless pioneer Guglielmo Marconi, is considered among the world’s topmost honours in the field of information and communication technology. The Marconi Prize is a top honor for computer scientists and is awarded by the U.S.-based Marconi Foundation. It is given to those who have made a significant contribution to increasing digital inclusivity through advanced information and communications technology.

 

3. Sajjan Jindal honoured with Entrepreneur of the Year 2022: Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri honoured Indian industrialist Sajjan Jindal with the Best Entrepreneur of the Year Award for the year 2022. He is a chairman and managing director of the JSW Group. Jindal will represent India at the EY World Entrepreneur of the Year Award at Monte Carlo in June 2023. Similarly, Mahendra Shah, MD & CEO, IndusInd First Bank was also awarded in the Financial Services category.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Classical dance legend Kanak Rele passed away: Classical dance legend Kanak Rele passed away at the age of 85. The Mohiniyattam exponent, who was awarded the first Guru Gopinath National Puraskaram of the Government of Kerala. Dr Rele was awarded the Padma Shri (1989), Padma Bhushan (2013), Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1994), Kalidas Samman (2006) and MS Subbulakshmi Award, amongst other accolades.

Daily GK Update- 27th Feb, 2023

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. PM Modi to inaugurate Shivamogga airport in Karnataka: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Shivamogga airport in Karnataka on 27 February 2023. The airport has been built on 663 acres of land with an investment of ₹449.22 crore. Apart from this, the prime minister has also inaugurated several other development projects in the poll-bound state. The Passenger Terminal Building of the airport can handle 300 passengers per hour. The foundation was laid in June 2020 by former CM B S Yediyurappa.

 

2. PM Modi to release 13th installment of Rs 16,800 crore under PM-KISAN: PM Narendra Modi has released the 13th installment of financial benefits worth Rs 16,800 crore to over eight crore eligible farmers under the flagship PM-KISAN scheme. PM-KISAN refers to Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi . Under this scheme, eligible farmers are provided with a financial benefit of Rs 6,000 per year in three equal installments of Rs 2,000 each every four months. The fund is directly transferred to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries.

 

3. 85th plenary session of the Indian National Congress concludes at Raipur: The 85th plenary session of the Indian National Congress has been concluded at Raipur, Chhattisgarh. The three-day Congress summit was attended by nearly 15,000 delegates from various states and discussed socio-political, political economic, and international affairs. During the meeting, they also adopted six resolutions making the party’s stand clear on issues and laying down a party roadmap for them. Congress president: Mallikarjun Kharge

 

4. Defence Secretary Aramane Giridhar gets extension till October 2024: The Appointments Committee of the Union Cabinet approved the extension of the Secretary of the Department of Defence - Aramane Giridhar. He will remain in his post until October 31, 2024, or till further order whichever is earlier. This extension is beyond his age of superannuation. He was due to retire in June 2023, after completing 60 years of superannuation. He is a 1988-batch IAS officer of the Andhra Pradesh cadre.

 

5. 14th edition of Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav begins in Bikaner: The 14th Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav commenced at Karni Singh Stadium in Bikaner, Rajasthan. It is organized by the Union Ministry of Culture, was inaugurated with a Shobha Yatra, in which artists from different states of the country participated in traditional dresses. The objective of the festival is to preserve, promote and popularize the rich cultural heritage of the country. Governor of Rajasthan Kalraj Mishra and Union Minister of State for Culture Arjun Ram Meghwal inaugurated the craft fair and various exhibitions. The 9 days long festival is being organized with the support of 7 regional cultural centers and various academies. Performances of about one thousand well-known artists from across the country based on folk dance, folk music, drama and Sufi music will take place during the festival.

 

6. Chatrapati Sambhajinagar hosts Women20 Inception Meeting: The first meeting of the W20 (Women 20) under India’s G20 presidency is being held at Sambhaji Nagar, Maharashtra on 27-28 February 2023. The theme of the meeting – Pursuit of Gender Equality, Equity and Dignity for Women-led Development More than 150 delegates are expected from the G20 countries to attend the meeting Union Minister for Women and Child Development Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani inaugurated the meeting. W20 (Women 20) is an official engagement group under the G20 which was established during the Turkish presidency in 2015.

 

7. Jitendra Singh inaugurated ‘International Biotech Conclave’: Union MoS Science & Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh has inaugurated the ‘International Biotech Conclave’ in Imphal, Manipur. It was held along with the 22nd Congress of the International Society for Ethno-pharmacology and the 10th Congress of the Society for Ethno-pharmacology. The theme for the conclave was “Reimagine Ethnopharmacology: Globalisation of Traditional Medicine”. For the first time since Independence, the North Eastern Region is organizing an event involving over 700 International and national delegates, representing over 35 countries from across the world.

 

8. Ministry of Ayush organized its first ‘Chintan Shivir’ in Assam: The Ministry of Ayush has organized a “Chintan Shivir” for Ayush at Kaziranga National Park, Assam. Union Minister of Ayush Sarbananda Sonowal has inaugurated the event. The event aims to discuss the futuristic improvements in the implementation of existing policies and programs relating to Ayush sectors & traditional medicine. Road map to improve public health, and maximizing the use of technological advancement along with other deliverable are the expected outcomes of the two days deliberation in the “Chintan Shivir.”

 

9. Nitin Gadkari inaugurated Rs 3670 cr Highways projects in Maharashtra: Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Shri Nitin Gadkari inaugurated National Highway projects worth Rs 3670 crore in Maharashtra. These include five National Highway projects totaling 212 km length at Nanded worth Rs 1,575 crore, three National Highway projects worth Rs 1,058 crore and 75 km length at Parbhani, and a National Highway project worth Rs 1,037.4 crore at Hingoli. These projects are expected to improve the connectivity of the state’s Marathwada region with neighbouring Telangana and Karnataka. The projects will help in improving industrial and agricultural development along with connecting religious places and promoting tourism.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Kerala, UN Women sign pact to boost women-friendly activities in tourism: The Kerala government signed an agreement with the UN Women to boost women-friendly activities in the State's tourism sector. Kerala Tourism Director P B Nooh and UN Women India representative Susan Ferguson signed the MoU. Both parties agreed to work towards promoting gender-inclusive tourism sites in the State. It would be implemented by the Responsible Tourism Mission. It will be done by creating modules and capacity-building of relevant stakeholders.

 

2. Ellora Ajanta International Festival begins in Aurangabad: Three-day Ellora Ajanta International Festival 2023 began in Aurangabad, Maharashtra. Union Minister of State for Finance Dr. Bhagwat Karad inaugurated this festival. This festival is a celebration of the cultural heritage and diversity of the region and promises to be a feast for the senses. It will feature a range of events, including live music performances, dance shows, art exhibitions, and food festivals. Ajanta and Ellora are two monumental rock-cut caves that define Indian art and architectural accomplishment.

 

3. International IP Index: India ranked 42 in 55 countries: the US Chamber of Commerce has ranked India 42 out of 55 countries in the latest International IP Index report. USA ranks first in the 2023 index, followed by the UK and France. According to the report, India’s size and economic influence is growing on the world stage. India has taken steps to improve enforcement against copyright-infringement and provides a best-in-class framework to promote better understanding and use of IP assets. International Intellectual Property Index is an annual report compiled by the US Chambers of Commerce. It evaluates the protection of IP rights in the world’s 55 major economies, which represent approximately 90% of global GDP.

 

4. Indian Air Force to participate in Exercise Desert Flag VIII in UAE: Indian Air Force is participating in Exercise Desert Flag VIII in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from 27 February to 17 March 2023. This is the first occasion when the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas shall participate in an international flying exercise outside India. Exercise Desert Flag is a multilateral air exercise in which Air Forces from UAE, France, Kuwait, Australia, UK, Bahrain, Morocco, Spain, the Republic of Korea, and the USA would also be participating. The exercise aims to participate in diverse fighter engagements and learn from the best practices of various Air Forces.

 

5. INS Sindhukesari becomes the first Indian submarine to dock in Indonesia: INS Sindhukesari has become the first Indian submarine to dock in Indonesia. The 3,000-tonne conventional diesel-electric submarine made its way to the Indonesian capital of Jakarta to dock after traversing through the nearby Sunda Strait. The exercise was part of INS Sindhukesari’s first operational turnaround. In a bid to strengthen bilateral ties, the Indonesian Navy warmly welcomes the arrival of the Indian submarine INS Shindukesari in Jakarta,” the Indonesian Navy tweeted. It was designed as part of Project 877 and built under a contract between Rosvooruzhenie, Russia, and Ministry of Defence, India.

 

6. 27 February – World NGO Day: World NGO Day is celebrated on February 27 every year. Objective – To inspire people to become more actively involved within non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and encourage a greater symbiosis between NGOs. Theme 2023 – The role and influence of NGOs in advancing human rights The day was first celebrated in 2010 and has since become an annual event that highlights the work of NGOs around the world.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Australia beat South Africa to lift ICC Women's T20 World Cup Trophy 2023: Australian women's cricket team has defeated South Africa by 9 runs to lift the ICC T20 World Cup Trophy 2023 at Newlands, Cricket Ground in Cape Town, South Africa. Australian women's cricket team has won this title for the sixth time. They have completed a ‘three-peat’ under the captaincy of Meg Lanning, winning in 2018, 2020, and 2023. Player of the series: Australia Ashleigh Gardner

Most runs: South Africa Laura Wolvaardt (230)

 

2. Manchester United win the Carabao Cup title 2023: Manchester United defeated Newcastle to win the Carabao Cup title in 2023 after six years. Newcastle is a Saudi Arabia-backed club. The Carabao cup is also known as the EFL cup, a major football trophy played in England. The competition was open to all clubs participating in the Premier League and the English Football League. Liverpool is the most successful club in the competition and has won more than nine championships.

 

3. Indian wrestler Ankit Gulia bags Bronze in Ibrahim Moustafa ranking series: Indian Greco-Roman wrestler Ankit Gulia (19) won a bronze medal in the men’s 72 kg division of the  Ibrahim Moustafa ranking series in Alexandria, Egypt. He lost to Otar Abuladze (Georgia) and got the better of Nurzhigit Keneshbek Uulu (Kyrgyzstan) in the repechage round. The Indian grappler won the medal after Iranian 67kg Olympic champion Mohammadreza Abdolhamid Geraei withdrew from the bronze medal match due to an injury.

 

4. Madhya Pradesh women's team wins maiden national hockey title 2023: Madhya Pradesh women's hockey team won the 13th Hockey India Senior Women National Championship 2023 held in Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh. MP defeated Hockey Maharashtra by 5-1 in the final. MP's Pratibha Arya was adjudged the best defender of the championship. She was also awarded the player of the match title. The team of Hockey Jharkhand secured third place after defeating Hockey Haryana in the third-place match.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. MIT professor Hari Balakrishnan wins 2023 Marconi Prize: Computer scientist, Hari Balakrishnan has been awarded the 2023 Marconi Prize. He is a professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The Marconi Prize is a top honor for computer scientists and is awarded by the U.S.-based Marconi Foundation. It is given to those who have made a significant contribution to increasing digital inclusivity through advanced information and communications technology.

 

2. J&K won best adventure tourism destination award: India Today Tourism Survey has chosen Jammu & Kashmir Tourism for best adventure tourism award in recognition of its efforts in promoting ‘Gulmarg’ as an adventure destination of international order. Union Minister of State gave the awards away at New Delhi for Culture & Parliamentary Affairs, Arjun Ram Meghwal. The award has been given to the J&K Tourism Department in recognition of its efforts in promoting ‘Gulmarg’ as an adventure destination of international order. India Today award comes just within a month of South Asian Travel Trade Expo (SATTE) in which the J&K Tourism Department was awarded for its efforts in post-COVID-19 recovery of the tourism sector.

Daily GK Update- 26th Feb, 2023

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Indian Air Force contingent to participate in Exercise Desert Flag VIII: The Indian Air Force (IAF) will participate in Ex-Desert Flag VIII, organized at the Al Dahfra airbase of the United Arab Emirates. The exercise will be scheduled from 27th February to 17th March 2023. The IAF has participated with five Light Combat Aircraft, LCA Tejas, and two C-17 Globemaster III aircraft. The Air Forces from UAE, France, Kuwait, Australia, the UK, Bahrain, Morocco, Spain, South Korea, and the USA would join this multilateral air exercise.

 

2. CJI DY Chandrachud to launch 'neutral citations' for SC judgements: CJI D Y Chandrachud has launched the 'neutral citations' to ensure a uniform pattern of citing the decisions of the Supreme Court. Earlier, the apex court had taken various steps to implement a uniform, reliable, and secure methodology for identifying and citing decisions in the apex court. Other initiative: Electronic Supreme Court Reports (e-SCR) project, which is aimed to provide free access to about 34,000 judgments to lawyers, law students, and the common public.

 

3. Dr Bibek Debroy released the Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Report: Dr. Bibek Debroy, Chairman of EAC-PM, released the Foundational Literacy and Numeracy report. Prepared by: Institute for Competitiveness Punjab has emerged as the top-performing state on education and health-related indicators. Delhi, Goa, Maharashtra, J&K, Kerala, Rajasthan, Sikkim, TN, and Puducherry were ranked as high-performing states and UTs. Meghalaya, D&N Haveli, Nagaland, Telangana, UP, Jharkhand, Arunachal Pradesh, and Ladakh were among underperformed

 

4. Kerala becomes first state to use robotic scavengers to clean manholes: The Kerala government has become the first state in the country to use robotic technology to clean all its commissioned manholes. The robotic scavenger named 'Bandicoot'. The Kerala Water Authority (KWA) launched it under the Guruvayur Sewerage Project in Thrissur district. It is a part of the 100-day action plan of the state government. It was developed by Kerala-based Genrobotics, which had recently bagged the 'Kerala Pride' award at the Huddle Global 2022.

 

5. The Maharaja Sayajirao University to host Youth 20 India Summit: The Maharaja Sayajirao University hosted the Y20 India Summit under the aegis of India’s G20 Presidency, focusing on the theme of climate change and environmental conservation. The conference, which was to be inaugurated by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, saw only incumbent Sayajigunj MLA and Mayor Keyur Rokadia in attendance, stirring controversy in the university. More than 600 delegates from 62 countries participated to discuss ‘Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction: Making sustainability a Way of Life’.

 

6. G20 in News (Note – All Meetings are Under the Presidency of G20 by India): First meeting of Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) – Bengaluru (24 -25 February 2023) G20 Global Tech Summit (GTS) – Visakhapatnam (16 – 17 February 2023) First G20 Culture Working Group Meeting – Khajuraho, MP (22 – 25 February 2023). First Agriculture Deputies Meeting of the Agriculture Working Group – Indore (14 February 2023) Digital economy working group meeting – Lucknow (13 February 2023)

 

7. IRCTC to operate Baba Saheb Ambedkar Yatra tour package in April 2023: Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) will be operating Baba Saheb Ambedkar Yatra tour pack–age under “Dekho Apna Desh” initiative, covering some of the prominent sites associated with the life of Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar. The First Journey of the Baba Saheb Ambedkar Yatra will be from New Delhi in April 2023. Under “Dekho Apna Desh” initiative, the Ministry of Railways along with the Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), is operating Bharat Gaurav Tourist Trains on various theme-based circuits across India. Baba Saheb Ambedkar, fondly referred to as “Baba Saheb”, was the main architect of the Indian Constitution. Besides he was also an eminent jurist, political activist, anthropologist, author, orator, historian, writer, economist and scholar. Ambedkar, throughout his life, fought to eradicate social evils like untouchability and stood up for the rights of the socially backward classes. The tour, Baba Saheb Ambedkar Yatra, designed by IRCTC, aims to highlight the places and destinations, connected with the life of Ambedkar.

 

8. Om Birla inaugurated 19th Annual Zone III CPA Conference in Sikkim: Lok Sabha Speaker, Om Birla has inaugurated the 19th Annual Zone III Conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) India Region in Gangtok, Sikkim. The Zone III of the CPA India region is an important platform where legislators of the North Eastern region discuss many subjects and issues and arrive at common solutions. The joint effort of legislatures of the North Eastern Region has led to a huge change in the economic and social life of the region.

 

9. Justice S. Abdul Nazeer sworn-in as Governor of Andhra Pradesh: Justice (Retd) S Abdul Nazeer was sworn in as the new 24th Governor of Andhra Pradesh. Chief Justice of the Andhra Pradesh High Court Justice Prasanth Kumar Mishra administered the oath office to Nazeer at the Raj Bhavan. He succeeded Biswa Bhusan Harichandan, who has been given charge of Chhattisgarh state. He is a former judge of the Supreme Court. He is also a former judge of the Karnataka High Court.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Indian Air Force to participate in Ex-Cobra Warrior at Waddington, UK: A contingent of the Indian Air Force will participate in Exercise Cobra Warrior at the Waddington Air Force Base in the UK. The exercise is scheduled to be held from 6th -24th March 2023. Air Forces from Finland, Sweden, South Africa, the USA, and Singapore would also participate in a multilateral Air exercise. In 2023, IAF is participating in the exercise with five Mirage 2000 fighters, two C-17 Globemaster, and an IL-78 mid-air refueller aircraft.

 

2. Scientists discovered fifth inner core layer of the earth: Australian National University's researchers are trying to reveal the fifth layer of the Earth. Seismic waves generated by earthquakes have revealed new insights about the deepest parts of Earth’s inner core. The team believes that presented evidence of a distinct layer inside Earth known as the innermost inner core This layer is a solid ‘metallic ball’ that sits within the center of the inner core

So far, scientists believed that there are only four layers on the Earth

 

3. FATF suspends Russia's membership over Ukraine war: Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has suspended its membership in Russia as Moscow's war in Ukraine violated the organization's principles. FATF Core Principle: To promote security, safety, and the integrity of the global financial system FATF is an inter-governmental organization set up to combat money laundering and terrorism financing by setting global standards and checking if countries respect them. The FATF also added South Africa and Nigeria to its grey list.

 

4. Bangladesh, ISA sign agreement to increase use of solar energy: Bangladesh's government signed an agreement with the International Solar Alliance (ISA) to increase the use of solar energy in the country. The agreement was signed between the ISA Director General Ajay Mathur and the Bangladesh Power Division Secretary Md. Habibur Rahman. The agreement is to be implemented by December 2026. The government aims to generate 40% of its total energy through renewable sources by 2041 and to produce 4000 MW of solar power by 2030.

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Spain’s Sergio Ramos announced international football retirement: Spain’s most capped player Sergio Ramos has announced his retirement from international football. Ramos, who was part of Spain’s World Cup and Euro winning teams had represented Real Madrid in La Liga and now plays for PSG in Ligue 1. Ramos made his Spain debut in 2005. He went on to play 180 times for his country, and was part of the squad which won the World Cup in 2010 and the European Championships in 2008 and 2012.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. RBI caps savings account withdrawal limit to ₹5000 on these two banks: The Reserve Bank of India has restricted the withdrawal limit to ₹5,000 for savings and current account customers of Uravakonda Co-operative Town Bank and Shankarrao Mohite Patil Sahakari Bank Ltd. Reason: Due to the poor liquidity position of these banks This restriction shall remain in force for a period of six months from the close of business on February 24, 2023. Without prior approval of RBI, these banks shall not grant or renew any loans and advances, etc.

 

2. Saraswat Bank partnered with Tagit to deploy omnichannel banking: Saraswat Bank has partnered with Singapore-based digital banking solutions provider Tagit to implement omnichannel digital banking solutions for its retail and corporate customers. Under the agreement, the bank will use Tagit’s Mobeix Digital Banking platform to enhance customer experience by offering a comprehensive set of digital services securely, anytime, anywhere. This will increase the market reach, faster time-to-market and enhance customer engagement.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. RRR wins four Hollywood Critics Association Film Awards 2023: The RRR (Directed by SS Rajamouli) has won four awards at Hollywood Critics Association Film Awards 2023. The movie has received awards in Best Action Film, Best International Feature, Best Original Song (Naatu Naatu), and Best Stunts categories. The RRR has also been nominated for the Oscars 2023 in Best Original Song (Naatu Naatu). The song 'Naatu Naatu' has already bagged the prestigious awards Best Original Song award at the 80th Golden Globe Awards.