Daily GK Update- 27th Mar, 2023

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. ISRO successfully launches LVM 3 -M3 rocket with 36 satellites: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched India's Launch Vehicle Mark (LVM) 3 -M3 satellite with 36 satellites of the One Web India-2 mission from the second launch pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre Sriharikota. With this launch, OneWeb will have 616 of its satellites in orbit. The 43m-tall launch vehicle has successfully completed the three stages in the prescribed time limit including the involvement of the ignition of the cryogenic engine.

 

2. NIUA organized first Urban Climate Film Festival under U20 events: The first Urban Climate Film Festival under U20 engagement events was organized by the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) from 24-26 March 2023. A curated selection of 11 films from nine countries was showcased in the festival to create wider awareness of the impact of climate change on life in cities. The festival was organized with support from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, the French Development Agency, and the European Union.

 

3. Minister Bhupender Yadav launched Aravali Green Wall Project: Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav launched the Aravalli Green Wall Project, a major initiative to green the 5 km buffer area around the Aravalli Hill Range in four states (Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Delhi). He also unveiled the National Action Plan to Combat Desertification and Land Degradation Through Forestry Interventions and a FAQ on Agro-forestry published by the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education.

 

4. NGT slaps ₹10 crore penalty on Kerala government for failure to protect Ramsar sites: The Principal Bench of the National Green Tribunal in New Delhi has slapped a penalty of ₹10 crore on the Kerala government for its failure to check the indiscriminate pollution of the Vembanad and Ashtamudi lakes, listed as Ramsar sites. The penalty imposed on the basis of the ‘polluter pays principle’ had to be deposited in a ring-fenced account to be operated under the authority of the Chief Secretary.

 

5. Government launches DigiClaim platform for farmer insurance claims: Agriculture Minister, Narendra Singh Tomar has introduced a new platform called ‘DigiClaim’ on the national crop insurance portal. This platform is aimed at expediting the disbursement of insurance claims to farmers who have availed themselves of crop insurance. To demonstrate its effectiveness, the Minister used the platform to transfer a total insurance claim of Rs. 1,260.35 crore to insured farmers in several Indian states, including Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, and Haryana, with a single click. In the current system, there have been several instances of insured farmers’ claims being delayed due to a variety of factors. Taking cognizance of farmers’ welfare and to expedite the claim disbursal process, the Agriculture Ministry has come up with the DigiClaim module.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. World Theatre Day 2023: 27th March: The international theatre community and ITI centers celebrate World Theatre Day on March 27th every year to raise awareness about their importance in entertainment and the changes they bring to society. The theme for 2023 is "Theatre and a Culture of Peace." The International Theatre Institute founded World Theatre Day in 1961. ITI is a worldwide organization that promotes international exchange in theatre arts and promotes the values of UNESCO.

 

2. Egypt joins BRICS bank as new member: Egypt has joined the BRICS New Development Bank (NDB). The African-Arab nation became an NDB member on February 20, though a formal notification was issued on March 22. The New Development Bank was set up by BRICS nations on the basis of the intergovernmental agreement signed at the sixth BRICS summit in Fortaleza in July 2014. The upcoming BRICS Summit, scheduled to be hosted by South Africa in August, is anticipated to promote intra-BRICS trade using national currencies, allowing member nations to safeguard their foreign exchange reserves.

 

3. Former Brazilian Prez Dilma Rousseff elected as new President of NDB: New Development Bank (NDB) has announced that former Brazilian President Dilma Vana Rousseff has been elected as the new President of the Bank, replacing Marcus Troyjo. NDB, also known as the BRICS bank is a multilateral financial institution set up by the five BRICS countries including Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. The economist, Dilma Rousseff, served as the President of Federative Republic of Brazil between January 2011 to August 2016. Rousseff was elected the President of Brazil for two consecutive terms.

 

4. 25 March – International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery: International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade is observed every year on March 25. Objective – To raise awareness of the history of the transatlantic slave trade, its impact on the modern world, and its legacies, including racism and prejudice. Theme 2023 – Fighting Slavery’s Legacy of Racism Through Transformative Education It was established in 2007 with the adoption of General Assembly resolution 62/122.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Mumbai Indians lift Women's Premier League trophy 2023 final: Mumbai Indians have won the inaugural Women's Premier League final, held at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai from 4-26 March 2023. They defeated Delhi Capitals by 7 wickets. Mumbai Indians captain: Harmanpreet Kaur

Awardees:

·       Most valuable player of the tournament: Hayley Matthews

·       Orange cap: Meg Lanning

·       Purple Cap: Hayley Matthews

·       Emerging Player of the season: Yastika Bhatia

·       Fairplay award: Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals

·       Catch of the season: Harmanpreet Kaur

 

2. Nikhat Zareen, Lovlina Borgohain won gold at Women's Boxing Championships: Indian Women Boxer, Nikhat Zareen and Lovlina Borgohain have managed to win a gold medal at the Women's World Championships 2023. Nikhat Zareen won gold in the 50kg light flyweight division after defeating two-time Asian champion Nguyen Thi Tam of Vietnam by 5-0 Lovlina Borgohain has secured her first gold at the competition after settling for bronze in the 2018 and 2019 editions. She defeated Australia's Caitlin Parker in the 75kg middle-weight category.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. MGNREGS wage rates revised by up to 10% for 2023-24: The Centre has notified a hike in wage rates up to 10% under the rural job guarantee program, MGNREGS for 2023-24 with Haryana having the highest daily wage at ₹357 per day and Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh the lowest at ₹221. The wage hikes, which range from ₹7 to ₹26, will come into effect from April 1, 2023. It is a flagship program aimed at enhancing the livelihood security of households in rural areas by providing at least 100 days of guaranteed wage employment.

 

2. ICICI Lombard becomes first to offer 'Anywhere Cashless' feature: ICICI Lombard General Insurance launched the ‘Anywhere Cashless’ feature for health insurance policyholders to avail of cashless facilities at any hospital. The feature will be subject to the hospital’s acceptance of the cashless facility. Policyholders must inform the company 24 hours prior to the date of admission by giving basic information about the patient, policy details, hospital name, diagnosis, and treating doctor, among others.

 

3. IDFC First Bank joined hands with Crunchfish to facilitate offline payments: IDFC FIRST Bank has teamed with Crunchfish to participate in the RBI’s pilot programme to facilitate offline payments. This initiative will provide access to digital payments even when there is no network.

The Swedish company Crunchfish introduced this one-of-a-kind digital payment system for merchants and customers as part of the RBI’s Regulatory Sandbox Program. This project will allow offline retail payments in India’s payment ecosystem using a Digital Cash platform. IDFC FIRST Bank will be one of the first few banks to participate in HDFC Bank’s pilot initiative.

 

 

AWARDS AND HONOUR

 

1. Assam NGO wins Children’s Champion Award 2023: An NGO from Assam’s Pathsala, Students’ Welfare Mission, which has been working for special and autistic children, was conferred with the Children’s Champion Award 2023. The Mission popularly known as Tapoban has been awarded in the health and nutrition category. The founder president of the Mission, Kumud Kalita, received the award that carries Rs 75,000, a certificate and a plaque. This award was instituted by the Delhi Commission for the Protection of Child Rights.

 

2. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman conferred Special literary award: The Foundation of SAARC Writers and Literature (FOSWAL) conferred a special literary award on Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The award has been conferred for his trilogy- The Unfinished Memoirs, The Prison Diaries and the New China 1952. The award has been given to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman for outstanding literary excellence for his trilogy. Terming the trilogy written by Sheikh Mujib as a political document and a human testament, the citation said it is written with love and compassion by a man who changed the course of history and led his people to freedom.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Actor Innocent Vareed Thekkethala passes away: Renowned Malayalam actor ‘Innocent’ Vareed Thekkethala passed away at 75. He joined the film industry in 1972 with the movie 'Nrityashala' starring Prem Nazir and Jayabharathi. He acted in over 700 films and was known for his comic roles. He was also a former Lok Sabha MP. He had won the 2014 Lok Sabha elections as an independent candidate backed by the Left Democratic Front, from Chalakudy.

He also acted in a few Hindi films, notably 'Malamaal Weekly'.

Daily GK Update- 26th Mar, 2023

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Government appoints Chief Justice of Allahabad, Chhattisgarh, and Patna HC: The government has cleared the appointment of new Chief Justices to Allahabad, Chhattisgarh, and Patna High Courts. Justice Pritinker Diwaker has been appointed as the Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court. Justice Ramesh Sinha of Allahabad has been appointed as Chief Justice of Chhattisgarh High Court. Justice K Vinod Chandaran of Kerala High Court as Chief Justice of Patna HC. In February 2023, the SC Collegium recommended several judges as Chief Justices of HC.

2. Indian Army, IAF hold multi-domain exercise in Eastern Theatre: The Indian Army and Indian Air Force have conducted a 96-hour multi-domain air and land exercise named ‘Vayu Prahar’ in the eastern sector. The exercise was conducted in the second week of March 2023 to formulate plans that can lead to synergy in multi-domain operations. The scope of the joint exercise included the rapid mobilisation of a rapid reaction force from the hinterland. Chief of Army Staff: General Manoj Pande Chief of the Air Staff: Vivek Ram Chaudhari

 

3. CCEA approves MSP for Raw Jute at 5,050 rupees per quintal for 2023-24: Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved Minimum Support Price (MSP) for Raw Jute at 5,050 rupees per quintal for 2023-24. The approval is based on the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices recommendations. This would ensure a return of 63.20% over the all-India weighted average cost of production. The Jute Corporation of India will continue as Central Government Nodal Agency to undertake Price Support Operations and the losses incurred, if any.

 

4. Rajasthan becomes first state to guarantee right to health: Rajasthan becomes the first state in India to pass the 'Right to Health (RTH) Bill'. Under this bill, private hospitals will not be able to charge emergency patients and will be compensated by the state. Free healthcare services including diagnostics, drugs, emergency transport, emergency care, and procedure will be provided at public institutions. In the case of medico-legal nature, no private or public hospital can delay treatment on grounds of police clearance.

 

5. Finance Secretary T V Somanathan to head panel on pension schemes: FM Nirmala Sitharaman has announced the government has established a committee to review the New Pension System (NPS). The panel is headed by finance secretary TV Somanathan. From January 2004, the government has opted to move to NPS for all new recruits, with the government employees contributing 10% of their salary towards pension and the govt making a matching contribution. Recently, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, HP, and Punjab have decided to opt out of NPS.

 

6. Health Minister chairs 36th Board Meeting of Stop TB Partnership: Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare Dr Mansukh Mandaviya has chaired the 36th Board Meeting of the Stop TB Partnership in New Delhi. India has identified three important health priorities under the G20 Presidency and all of these are focused on universal health coverage and relevant to our response for TB elimination. A lot of extraordinary work is being done on the ground through innovations in TB case finding, mathematical modelling, digital interventions and surveillance. Efforts are being made to bring innovative strategies like Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, which will be a unique campaign of its kind in the world.

 

7. Lok Sabha approves Rs 1.18 lakh crore budget for Jammu and Kashmir: The Lok Sabha passed the over Rs 1.18 lakh crore budget for the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir for 2023-24. The 35% capital expenditure at Rs 41, 491cr is to be spent on development and infrastructure. The expected revenue receipts are Rs 1,06,061 crore, whereas revenue expenditure is expected to be Rs 77,009 crore. The economy of Jammu and Kashmir is expected to grow at 10%.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Earth Hour 2023 observed on March 25: Earth Hour was observed annually on the last Saturday of March from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm. In 2023, this day was observed on March 25 at 8.30 pm local time. It is a worldwide movement organized by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to encourage individuals, communities, and businesses to turn off non-essential electric lights for one hour. It was first started in Sydney, Australia on March 31, 2007, at 7:30 pm local time and has since gained popularity and momentum.

 

2. 26 % of world’s population does not have safe drinking water: UNESCO report: According to a report published by UNESCO at the United Nations 2023 Water Conference in New York, 26 percent of the world’s population does not have access to safe drinking water. As per the report, between two and three billion people experience water shortages for at least one month per year, posing severe risks to livelihoods, notably through food security and access to electricity. The global urban population facing water scarcity is projected to double from 930 million in 2016 to 1.7 to 2.4 billion people in 2050. The growing incidence of extreme and prolonged droughts is also stressing ecosystems, with dire consequences for both plant and animal species.

 

3. 25 March – International Day of Unborn Child: The International Day of the Unborn Child is observed annually on 25 March to commemorate the opposition to abortion. The day is associated with the late Pope John Paul II who opposed the medical procedure of abortion. Theme 2023- The dignity and value of children yet-to-be-born. This day honours the millions of unborn children who died due to abortions. This day serves as a reminder that all human lives are special. Every single human life is valuable and has dignity from the moment of conception. The nations mark this day as a show of opposition against abortion.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Indian Duo of Satwik-Chirag wins Swiss Open Super 300 title 2023: India’s men’s doubles badminton pair, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty won the Swiss Open Super 300 title in 2023, held in Basel, Switzerland. They beat Ren Xiang Yu and Tan Qiang from China by 21-19, and 24-22. Other winners:

 

·       Men's singles: Koki Watanabe (Japan)

·       Women's singles: Pornpawee Chochuwong (Thailand)

·       Women's doubles: Rena Miyaura and Ayako Sakuramoto (Japan)

·       Mixed doubles: Jiang Zhenbang and Wei Yaxin (China)

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

2. Karur Vysya Bank, SBI Life in bancassurance tie-up in life insurance: Karur Vysya Bank signed an agreement as an additional bancassurance partner in the life insurance category with SBI Life. Under this arrangement, banks earn additional revenue from the sale of insurance products via commission. And, insurance companies can reach a wider set of customers without increasing their manpower. Bancassurance: It is an arrangement between a bank and an insurance firm through which the insurer sell its products to the bank's customers.

 

3. Asian Development Bank to provide Rs 754 crore loan to SAEL Industries: Asian Development Bank (ADB) will provide a loan of up to Rs 754 crore to SAEL Industries Ltd for setting up biomass power plants in Rajasthan. SAEL is a solar and agricultural waste-to-energy company. It has developed a business model where crop residues are used as fuel in waste-to-energy projects. The company aims to grow its portfolio to 3.5 GW over the next four years by adding 100 MW of new biomass and 600 MW of new solar capacity annually.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Isha Ambani won GenNext Entrepreneur award at Forbes India Leadership event: Reliance Retail Ventures Ltd Director, Isha Ambani won the GenNext Entrepreneur Award at the 12th Forbes India Leadership Awards 2023. She is the head of the $800 billion Reliance Retail Ventures Ltd and launched the JioMart.

Other awardees:

·       CEO of the year: CK Venkataraman (MD of Titan)

·       Lifetime Achievement Award: AM Naik (Chairman L&T)

·       Emerging Innovator: Pawan Chandana and Naga Bharath Daka (founders of Skyroot Aerospace)

·       Turnaround Star: Tata Communications

                             

Daily GK Update- 25th Mar, 2023

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Union Cabinet extends subsidy of 200 rupees per cylinder for Ujjwala Yojana: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has extended the subsidy of 200 rupees per LPG cylinder for a period of one year, under the PM Ujjwala Yojana. It will be provided to the Ujjwala Yojana beneficiaries for up to 12 refills per year. The total expenditure on it in 2022-23 will be 6,100 crore rupees and in 2023-24 will be 7,680 crore rupees. The government launched PM Ujjwala Yojana in May 2016 to provide deposit-free LPG connections to women of poor households.

 

2. NGT fines ₹10 crore on Kerala govt for failure to protect Ramsar sites: The Principal Bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in New Delhi has imposed a penalty of ₹10 crore on the Kerala government for its failure to check the indiscriminate pollution of the Vembanad and Ashtamudi lakes (listed as Ramsar sites). The Bench was led by its chairperson Adarsh Kumar Goel. The penalty of ₹10 crore had to be utilized for conservation/restoration measures by preparing an action plan to be preferably executed within six months. 

 

3. Cabinet approved 4% hike in dearness allowance to central government employees: The Centre has hiked the dearness allowance by 4 percent for all the government employees taking the total to 42 percent from 38 percent. Centre will spend Rs 12,815 crore to fund the hike in dearness allowance, or DA, which will benefit over 1 crore employees of the central government. Cabinet approved the release of an additional installment of Dearness Allowance (DA) to Central Government employees and Dearness Relief to Pensioners, which is due from the beginning of January 2023. This will benefit 47.58 lakh employees and 69.76 lakh pensioners. This increase is in accordance with the accepted formula, which is based on the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission. It is revised twice a year — in January and July — as per government rules. Last DA hike was announced on September 28, 2022, which got effective from July 1, 2022.

 

4. Amit Shah inaugurated Vedic Heritage portal in New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah has inaugurated the Vedic Heritage portal in New Delhi. The portal aims to communicate message enshrined in the Vedas. It will help common people to have a general understanding about the Vedas. The portal will be a one-stop solution for the user, who would like to search any information regarding the Vedic heritage. The audio-visual recording of four Vedas has been uploaded on the Vedic Heritage portal. It has over 18,000 mantras of the four vedas with a duration of over 550 hours.

 

5. G20 Research and Innovation Initiative Gathering held in Assam: The two-day G20 Research and Innovation Initiative Gathering (RIIG) Conference began in Dibrugarh, Assam. It deliberated on ways towards building a sustainable and circular bio-economy. About 100 delegates from G20 members, guest countries and international organizations, along with invited participants from the scientific community were present on the occasion. The area of focus will include challenges and opportunities in agriculture, de-carbonization of the industry as well as bio-energy and bioresource management. This event will further promote active engagement between all key stakeholders, including the 3Ps (people, policies and places), and lead towards an inclusive policy-making approach providing a conceptual framework to mainstream circular bio-economy models across different sectors.

 

6. PM Modi launched ‘Call Before u Dig’ app: PM Narendra Modi has launched an app called ‘Call Before u Dig’. Objective – To facilitate coordination between excavation agencies and underground utility owners to prevent damage to utilities due to digging. It will help prevent uncoordinated digging that results in damage to underground utility assets like optical fibre cables, costing the government thousands of crores every year. It has been developed by the department of telecommunications and the Bhaskaracharya Institute for Space Applications and Geoinformatics.

 

7. Ministry of Defence inks Rs 3,700 crore contracts with BEL: To enhance the operational capabilities of the Indian Air Force (IAF), the Defense Ministry has signed two separate contracts with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) at a total cost of over Rs 3,700 crore. The first contract, worth over Rs 2,800 crore, pertains to the supply of Medium Power Radars (MPR) ‘Arudhra’ for the Indian Air Force. The second contract, at an overall cost of approx. Rs 950 crore, relates to 129 DR-118 Radar Warning Receivers (RWR). Both projects are under Buy Indian- IDMM (Indigenously Designed Developed and Manufactured) category. The radar has been designed and developed by the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and will be manufactured by BEL. These essentially embody the spirit of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ and will help facilitate the realisation of the country’s journey to achieve self-reliance in defence manufacturing.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Former Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff elected as new President of NDB: The board of the New Development Bank (NDB) has appointed former Brazilian President, Dilma Vana Rousseff as the new President of the Bank, with immediate effect. She has replaced Marcus Troyjo. She served as the President of the Federative Republic of Brazil between January 2011 to August 2016. She was elected the President of Brazil for two consecutive terms. NDB is a multilateral financial institution set up by the five BRICS countries.

 

2. International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery: 25th March: International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade is observed every year on March 25 to raise awareness of the history of the transatlantic slave trade, its impact on the modern world, and its legacies, including racism and prejudice. 2023 theme: Fighting Slavery's Legacy of Racism Through Transformative Education It was established in 2007 with the adoption of General Assembly resolution 62/122. 

 

3. UAE Food Bank launches initiative to eradicate food waste: The UAE Food Bank launched an initiative to distribute three million meals and food parcels to disadvantaged individuals and families during Ramadan. Aim: To raise public awareness regarding the crucial goal of achieving zero food waste For this initiative, the organization has partnered with Ne’ma -the national initiative to reduce food loss and wastage, to enhance community awareness, education, and empowerment in making better decisions regarding food consumption. 

 

4. 26th edition of ‘Elevate Expo’ held in Dubai: The Twenty-sixth edition of ‘Elevate Expo’ was held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). The event saw the participation of six startups from India and the registration of 180 investors. The six startups who participated in elevate session were winners of the National Startup Awards 2022. Elevate is a pitching series organized by the Consulate General of India in Dubai, providing a platform for startups to connect with investors and global counterparts. Six startups from India who participated

 

5. India & UK hold joint maritime exercise ‘Konkan’ in Arabian Sea: The annual bilateral maritime exercise ‘Konkan’ between the Indian Navy and UK’s Royal Navy has held off the Konkan coast in the Arabian Sea. The joint drill by the two navies demonstrated operational readiness, enhancing interoperability and improving the ability to conduct joint operations. The exercise will go a long way in bolstering the combined efforts of the Indian Navy and Royal Navy to strengthen maritime security and uphold a rules-based order in the region. INS Trishul, a guided missile frigate, and HMS Lancaster, a Type 23 guided missile frigate, participated in this edition and undertook multiple maritime drills to enhance interoperability and imbibe best practices. The exercises covered all domains of maritime operations, air, surface, and subsurface.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Nitu Ghanghas wins Gold in IBA Womens World Boxing Championship 2023: Indian Woman boxer, Nitu Ghanghas has clinched Gold in the 48-kg category of the IBA Women's World Boxing Championship 2023 held at the K.D. Jadhav Hall IG Stadium New Delhi. She defeated Altantsetseg Lutsaikhan from Mongolia by 5-0. She became the only sixth Indian boxer (male or female) to win a World championship. In the semifinals, she defeated Kazakh Alua Balkibekova.

International Boxing Association (IBA) Headquarters: Lausanne, Switzerland

 

 

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. RBI imposes Rs 30 lakh penalty on Karur Vysya Bank: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed a penalty of Rs 30 lakh on Karur Vysya Bank for violating rules. Reason: For non-compliance with certain provisions of directions issued by RBI on 'Reserve Bank of India (Frauds - Classification and reporting by commercial banks and select FIs) directions 2016' The penalty was imposed in the exercise of powers conferred on RBI under the provisions of Section 47 A(1) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Luis Caffarelli won the Abel Prize for 2023: Luis Caffarelli (74) was honored with the 2023 Abel Prize for his seminal contributions to regularity theory for nonlinear partial differential equations including free-boundary problems and the Monge-Ampère equation. The prize includes a monetary award of 7.5 million kroner and a glass plaque (designed by Norwegian artist Henrik Haugan). It is awarded by the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters, on behalf of the Ministry of Education.

 

2. M T Vasudevan Nair awarded Kerala’s highest civilian honour: Kerala Governor Arif Muhammad Khan has presented maiden ‘Kerala Puraskarngal’, the state awards to the eminent personalities who have made an outstanding contribution in various spheres of social life. The awards were given in three categories namely “Kerala Jyothi”, “Kerala Prabha” and “Kerala Shri”. Kerala’s highest civilian honour “Kerala Jyothi” was awarded to writer M T Vasudevan Nair. The second-highest award “Kerala Prabha” was shared by actor Mammootty, former civil service officer T Madhava Menon and writer Omchery NN Pillai. Kerala Shri Puraskaram has been awarded to writer and activist MP Parameswaran, magician Gopinath Muthukad, sculptor Kanayi Kunhiraman, businessman and social worker Kochouseph Chittilappilly, musician Vaikom Vijayalakshmi and biologist Sathyabhama Das Biju. In 2021, the government of Kerala instituted the civilian award “Kerala Puraskarangal” on the model of the Padama awards.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Co-founder of Intel, Gordon Moore passes away: Intel co-founder and creator of Moore's Law, Gordon Moore passed away at the age of 94 in Hawaii. He was the driving force behind the development of modern computing devices. He started working on semiconductors in the 1950s and co-founded the Intel Corporation in 1968. He was best known for coining Moore's law which predicted the speed of advances in computer chips that came to explain the exponential improvement in technology of all kinds.

 

2. Director Pradeep Sarkar passes away at 67: Filmmaker Pradeep Sarkar, known for hit films like Parineeta, Mardani passed away. He was 67. He began his career in directing with the film Parineeta in 2005, starring Vidya Balan, and went on to direct other popular movies such as Laga Chunari Mein Daag, Helicopter Eela, and Lafangey Parindey. In addition, he also directed several web series, including Coldd Lassi Aur Chicken Masala, Arranged Marriage And Forbidden Love, and Duranga.

Daily GK Update- 24th Mar, 2023

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. FSIB shortlisted Siddhartha Mohanty as new Chairman of LIC: The Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB) has selected Siddhartha Mohanty as the new chairman of the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC). As per the guidelines, the chairman is selected from the four managing directors of the company. At present, he is an MD of LIC and was earlier given interim charge as chairman for a period of three months, effective from March 14, 2023. The final decision will be taken by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet.

 

2. UIDAI, SETS join hands to conduct R&D in deep-tech: The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) and the Society for Electronic Transactions and Security (SETS) collaborated to do joint R&D leading for the development of tools and products in deep tech domains. Both organizations will also conduct joint research on emerging tech areas like Cyber Security, IoT Security, etc. Aim: To improve self-reliance on information and cyber security and to reduce dependence on tools developed outside the country.

 

3. Defence Ministry, BEL sign MoU to enhance operational capabilities of IAF: The Defence Ministry signed two separate contracts with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) at a total cost of over Rs 3,700 crore. Reason: To enhance the operational capabilities of the Indian Air Force (IAF) First contract: Worth over Rs 2,800 crore, pertains to the supply of Medium Power Radars (MPR) ‘Arudhra’ for the IAF. Second contract: Worth over Rs 950 crore, relates to 129 DR-118 Radar Warning Receivers (RWR) Both projects are under Buy Indian- IDMM category.

 

4. Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar launches DigiClaim: Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar launched a DigiClaim, under the ambit of Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana for claim disbursal through National Crop Insurance Portal. With the DigiClaim Module, insurance claims of over 1,260 crore rupees have been disbursed to insured farmers of six states on March 23, 2023. The states are Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, and Haryana.

 

5. PM Modi addressed the One World TB Summit held in Varanasi: PM Modi addressed the One World TB Summit 2023 at Rudrakash Convention Centre, Varanasi on the occasion of World Tuberculosis Day (March 24). Organized by: Health and Family Welfare Ministry and Stop TB Partnership In March 2018, the PM called on India to achieve TB-related SDG targets by 2025. The PM also awarded select States/UTs and districts for their progress toward ending TB. State level: Karnataka and J&K District level: Nilgiris, Pulwama, and Anantnag

 

6. Ashneer Grover launched cricket fantasy sports app ‘CrickPe’: BharatPe co-founder Ashneer Grover launched a cricket-focused fantasy sports app called CrickPe. The launch comes ahead of the marquee Indian Premier League (IPL) tournament that is set to begin on March 31, 2023.

This sports app can be available on the Google Play store and Apple store. He has raised about $4 million in seed funding for his venture Third Unicorn Pvt Ltd. Notably, the cricket app has been launched to take on rivals like Dream11, MPL, and My11Circle.

 

7. Bhupender Yadav chaired 1st General Body Meeting of NCSCM: Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav has chaired the 1st General Body Meeting of the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM) in New Delhi. He emphasized the Blue Economy which focuses on sustainable and climate-resilient coastal infrastructure and livelihoods of coastal communities. The minister also directed the NCSCM to contribute to Mission Mishti (Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats and Tangible Income) for mangrove conservation with a focus on generating income for coastal communities. NCSCM was established in February 2011, as a research institution to support the protection, conservation, restoration, management, and policy advice on coasts. The vision of NCSCM is to promote sustainable coasts through increased partnerships, conservation practices, scientific research, and knowledge management for the benefit and well-being of current and future generations.

 

8. Assam CM launched Mission Lifestyle for Environment: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has launched the Mission Lifestyle for Environment (LIFE) in the state. It promotes an environmentally conscious lifestyle, focusing on utilization instead of wasteful consumption. Under this initiative, week-long activities will be carried out across all districts, addressing seven identified categories including saving energy and water and reducing plastic and e-waste. Over the last two years, the state government has cleared over six thousand acres of land by evicting encroachers, and this is a small step towards creating a healthy environment.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India, UK hold joint maritime exercise 'Konkan' in Arabian Sea: A joint maritime exercise, Konkan 2023 was conducted between the Royal Navy of Britain and the Indian Navy from 20-22 March has concluded in the Arabian Sea. It is a joint drill by the two navies to demonstrate operational readiness, enhancing interoperability and improving the ability to conduct joint operations. INS Trishul, a guided missile frigate, and HMS Lancaster participated. It covered all domains of maritime operations, air, surface, and subsurface.

 

2. 26 % of world's population does not have safe drinking water: According to UN World Water Development Report 2023, about 26% of the world's population does not have safe drinking water and 46% lack access to safely managed sanitation. Between 2-3 billion, people experience water shortages for at least 1 month per year. This poses severe risks to livelihoods and access to electricity. The global urban population facing water scarcity is projected to double from 930 million (2016) to 1.7 -2.4 billion (2050).

 

3. World Tuberculosis Day 2023: 24 March: World Tuberculosis Day is observed every year on March 24 to educate the world about the impact of tuberculosis, globally. The theme for 2023 World Tuberculosis Day is "Yes! We can end TB!". On March 24, 1882, Dr. Robert Koch announced the discovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium that causes tuberculosis. The elimination of Tuberculosis is one of the sustainable development targets to be achieved by 2030 by the world.

 

4. QS World University Rankings: IIT Bombay ranked first in country: Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay has been ranked 1st in India and 47th globally in engineering and technology by the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings for 2023. The institute scored 80.4 out of 100. The institute is ranked in 4 out of 5 broad subject areas, which include Engineering & Technology, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences & Management and Arts & Humanities. The institute has been ranked (51-100) for Art and Design, 66th for Computer Science & Information Technology, 51-100 for Civil & Structural Engineering, 77th for Chemical Engineering, 54th for Electrical & Electronics Engineering, 68th for Mechanical, Aeronautical & Manufacturing Engineering, and 37th for Minerals & Mining. Delhi University has the highest number of entries (27) among Indian universities, followed by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Bombay (25), and IIT Kharagpur (23). In the thirteenth edition of the QS World University Rankings by Subject, 66 universities from India have been ranked. Collectively, these universities have achieved 355 entries, which represents an 18.7% increase from the previous year’s 299 entries. The universities were evaluated in five broad areas, including engineering and technology, arts and humanities, life sciences and medicine, natural science, and social sciences and management.

 

5. Microsoft introduces ‘Bing Image Creator’ powered by OpenAI’s DALL-E: Microsoft has introduced a new feature ‘Bing Image Creator’ to the new Bing and Edge preview, which allows users to create an image simply by using their own words to describe the picture they want to see — powered by an advanced version of the Open AI’s DALL-E model. Bing Image Creator integrated into Bing chat has started to roll out to Bing preview users, also it is available in Microsoft Edge from the Image Creator icon in the sidebar for both desktop and mobile users around the world in English. It will soon integrate Image Creator into Edge from the new Bing button in chat mode in the preview version of Edge.

 

6.  Narasimhan assumed charge as new CEO of Starbucks: Indian-origin Laxman Narasimhan has assumed role of the CEO of Starbucks taking over from founder Howard Schultz. Prior to his appointment, Narasimhan served as the chief executive of Reckitt, a company that owns brands such as Lysol, Durex, and Mucinex Before this, Narasimhan held various leadership roles at PepsiCo. Founded in 1971, Starbucks today has over 34,000 stores worldwide.

 

7. 23 March – World Meteorological Day: World Meteorological Day is observed on March 23 every year to celebrate the formation of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). This day marks the significance of the interconnectedness between human behaviour and the Earth’s atmosphere. Theme 2023 – The Future of Weather, Climate and Water across Generations. This day has been celebrated since 1961 with different themes. It reflects the important contribution of the meteorological department to the safety and welfare of the countries. The World Meteorological Organisation was established on March 23, 1950.

 

8. 24 March – World Tuberculosis Day: World Tuberculosis Day is observed every year on 24 March. Objective – To raise awareness about tuberculosis and encourage timely action to combat the global TB epidemic. This is a highly infectious and potentially life-threatening disease. Theme 2023 – Yes! We can end TB! The first World TB Day was observed in 1982, 100 years after Dr. Robert Koch discovered the bacterium that causes TB. Since then, the day has become an important occasion to educate people about the symptoms, transmission, and prevention of TB.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. India wins both men's and women's Asian Kho Kho Championship title 2023: The host India clinched both men's and women's titles of the Asian Kho Kho Championship 2023 held at Tamulpur in Assam. In the women's category, Indian Eves defeated Nepal by an inning and 33 points. On the other hand, the men's team also defeated Nepal by an inning and six points. India remained unbeaten in both categories throughout the tournament. A total of nine countries participated in the event.

 

2. India wins one silver and one bronze in ISSF World Cup championship 2023: India's world champions, Rudraksh Patil and R. Narmada Nitin secured the bronze in the 10m air rifle mixed team event at the ISSF 2023, held in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. While Varun Tomar and Rhythm Sangwan won silver in the 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team Competition. With these medals, India's medal tally to three including one gold, one silver, and one bronze. China topped the medal tally with three gold and two bronze medals.

 

3. Sarabjot Singh won gold in 10m air pistol at ISSF World Cup: India’s pistol shooter, Sarabjot Singh has clinched the gold medal in the men’s 10m Air Pistol event at the ISSF Rifle and Pistol World Cup 2023 held in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. While Varun Tomar secured bronze in the same event. In the women’s 10m Air Pistol event, Li Xue from China won the gold and Germany’s Doreen Vennekamp settled for silver. China’s Qian Wei completed the podium with a bronze medal finish.

 

 

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Egypt officially becomes member of BRICS New Development Bank: Egypt joined the BRICS New Development Bank (NDB) as an official member. Egypt completed all the necessary procedures to become an eligible member on February 20, 2023. About NDB: BRICS' New Development bank was established in July 2014, after an intergovernmental agreement was signed by the partner nations at the sixth BRICS summit in Fortaleza. NDB bank includes India, Brazil, Russia, China, and South Africa as member countries.

 

2. RBI to set up Data Centre & Cybersecurity Training Institute in Bhubaneswar: RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das has laid the foundation stone for the establishment of a “Greenfield Data Centre’ and ‘Enterprise Computing & Cybersecurity Training Institute’ in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.

The new Data Centre and the Enterprise Computing & Cybersecurity Training Institute spread over an area of 18.55 acres, when commissioned, will cater to the emerging requirements of the RBI and the financial sector. It will cater to the emerging requirements of the RBI and the financial sector. The Governor also highlighted the need for augmenting the existing computing infrastructure of the RBI supported by cutting-edge facilities for research and capacity building.

 

3. Income tax dept launched mobile app ‘AIS for Taxpayer: The Income Tax Department has launched a Mobile app namely ‘AIS for Taxpayer’. Objective – To facilitate taxpayers to view their information as available in the Annual Information Statement (AIS) or Taxpayer Information Summary (TIS). The app has been developed aiming at providing a comprehensive view of the AIS/TIS to the taxpayer, displaying the information collected from various sources pertaining to the taxpayer. In the app, taxpayers can view various information related to TDS, interest, share transactions, tax payments, Income Tax refunds, and GST Data among others. It will also have the option and the facility to provide feedback.

 

4. Amazon Pay ties up with NPCI’s Bharat BillPay for loan repayments: Amazon Pay has collaborated with Bharat BillPay, the biller platform of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), to strengthen its loan repayment facility. The loan repayment category is one of the top categories in terms of bill payment amongst other options such as electricity and municipal Tax. The category facilitates loan repayment options for customers who avail of their loans through banks, microfinance institutions, and NBFCs.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Veteran journalist and Padma Shri awardee Abhay Chhajlani passes away: Veteran journalist and former editor-in-chief of popular Hindi daily Naidunia Abhay Chhajlani passed away at 88 due to health-related issues. He entered the field of journalism in 1955 and graduated from the Thomson Foundation, Cardiff (UK). He was awarded the Padma Shri in 2009 for his outstanding contribution to journalism. He also served as the president of the Indian Language Newspaper Association (ILNA) and Indian Newspaper Society (INS).