Daily GK Update- 12th Apr, 2023

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. PM Modi flagged off Rajasthan's first Vande Bharat Express: PM Narendra Modi has flagged off Rajasthan’s first Vande Bharat Express train on April 12, 2023. It is the world’s first semi-high-speed passenger train on high-rise overhead electric (OHE) territory. It will make its inaugural journey between Jaipur and Delhi Cantt railway stations. It will operate between Ajmer and Delhi Cantt, with stops at Jaipur, Alwar, and Gurgaon. It will complete the Ajmer-Delhi Cantt journey in 5 hours and 15 minutes.

 

2. WhatsApp launches ‘Stay Safe’ campaign: WhatsApp has launched a new campaign named 'Stay Safe with WhatsApp' to highlight the several safety features that are pre-built on the messaging app. It will run for three months with a focus on several safety-centric features like ‘Block and Report,’ ‘Two-Step Verification,’ and ‘Privacy and group settings.’ The campaign highlights why it is important to add two-step verification to WhatsApp, which requires a 6-digit pin and an OTP to authenticate a user.

 

3. Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh to be the Chief Justice of Tripura HC: The Ministry of Law and Justice has notified the elevation of Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh as Chief Justice of Tripura High Court. He was appointed as an Additional Judge of the High Court of Jharkhand on 24th January 2012 and confirmed as a permanent Judge on 16th January 2014. He has also served as the Acting Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court from the 20th of December, 2022 to the 19th of February, 2023.

 

4. National Food Conclave to organize in Hyderabad: The Telangana government will host a Food Conclave-2023 on April 28 and 29. The annual brainstorming event is expected to host 100 thought leaders from the agri-food industry. The objective of the Food Conclave is to identify the main challenges and opportunities for the development of the Indian agri-food sector in the current decade. The event will consist of five thematic tracks covering various aspects of the agri-food sector. The main focus areas will be agriculture (green), edible oils (yellow), dairy (white), meat and poultry (pink), and aquaculture (blue).

 

5. Central Bureau of Narcotics launches Unified Portal: Revenue Secretary Sanjay Malhotra has launched the unified portal of the Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN). The portal has been launched towards strengthening the vision of Digital India during the period of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’. The unified portal is designed to create efficiency, transparency and accountability among the users of the department to promote the growth of drugs and pharma sector, boost economy for “Atma Nirbhar Bharat”, and meet the needs of pharma and chemical industries. The portal has been calibrated to have database integration and ingestion with other government services including Bharat Kosh, GST, PAN- NSDL validation, e-Sanchit, and UIDAI facilitating single point services for obtaining the licenses from CBN.

6. Ministry of Electronics & IT organized 35th CISO Deep Dive Training Program: National e-Governance Division (NeGD), under its Capacity Building scheme of MeitY, has organized the 35th Chief Information Security Officers (CISO) Deep-Dive training programme with 22 participants from Central Ministries and States/UTs at the School of Planning & Architecture, Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh. It is an initiative of MeitY was conceptualized with the mission to spread awareness about cyber-crime and build capacities of CISOs and frontline IT officials, across all government departments, for ensuring adequate safety measures to combat the growing menace – Organizations need to defend their digital infrastructure and become future-ready in tackling cyber-attacks. The 5-day intensive training programme is designed for CISOs from subordinate agencies/PSUs, including public sector banks and insurance companies, technical wings of police and security forces, CTOs and members of technical/PMU teams.

 

7. State Energy Efficiency Index 2021-22 released: Union Minister for Power and Renewable Energy R. K. Singh released the State Energy Efficiency Index (SEEI) 2021-22 report. The SEEI was released during the RPM (Review, Planning and Monitoring) meeting of states and state utility companies in New Delhi. In SEEI 2021-22, 5 states – Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Rajasthan and Telangana – are in the Front Runner category (>60 points) While 4 states – Assam, Haryana, Maharashtra, and Punjab – are in the Achiever category (50-60 points). Further, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Assam and Chandigarh are the top-performing states in their respective state groups. Telangana and Andhra Pradesh showed the most improvement since the last index. Objective of SEEI – To help states identify areas for improvement, learn from best practices and adopt an economy-friendly approach to energy efficiency implementation.

 

8. MP’s Gond Painting of Acquires GI Tag: The famed Gond painting of Madhya Pradesh has received the prestigious Geographical Indication (GI) tag. A geographical Indication (GI) tag is a sign used on products which have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin. It is used for industrial products, foodstuff, agricultural products, spirit drinks, and handicrafts. GI Tag ensures that no one other than the registered authorized user is allowed to use the name of the popular product.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. International Conference on Defence Finance and Economics: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has inaugurated a three-day International Conference on Defence Finance and Economics in New Delhi on April 12, 2023. Through this platform, policymakers, academicians and government officials can share their insights and experiences on Defence Finance and Economics for evolving security challenges. Delegates from the USA, UK, Japan, Australia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Kenya will participate in the conference.

 

2. EAM S Jaishankar launches ‘Tulsi Ghat Restoration Project’ in Uganda: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar launched the ‘Tulsi Ghat Restoration Project’ of Varanasi, during his visit to Uganda’s Kampala. Earlier he met Uganda’s President Yoweri K Museveni at his farm in Rwakitura and congratulated the country on assuming the chairship of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). Uganda was endorsed to chair the Non-Aligned Movement on behalf of Africa for the period from 2022 to 2025. The NAM chair position rotates every 3 years during summit conferences.

 

3. 11 April – World Parkinson’s Day: World Parkinson’s Day is observed annually on 12 April to mark the birth anniversary of Dr. James Parikinson. Objective – To raise awareness of this chronic, progressive disease that affects over 10 million people worldwide. He is the first physician to recognize Parikinson’s as a medical condition. Parkinson’s disease is a neurological disorder that progresses over time and affects the body’s movement. It manifests as tremors, stiffness, and difficulty with coordination and balance.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Nisha Dahiya wins Silver in Asian Wrestling Championship in Kazakhstan: India wrestler, Nisha Dahiya has secured the silver medal in the women's 68kg category at the Asian wrestling championships 2023, held in Astana, Kazakhstan. She reached the final but fell to Japan’s Ami Ishii 10-0 and finished as a runner-up. She had defeated China's Feng Zhou 7-6 in the semi-finals. Another Indian wrestler, Priya Malik clinched a bronze in the 76 kg category after defeating Japan's Mizuki Nagashima.

 

2. South Korea to conduct first launch of commercial-grade satellite: South Korea is planning to conduct its first launch of a commercial-grade satellite aboard a domestically built rocket as part of its space development program. It will blast off from the space launch center on a southern island in May 2023. It will carry one main satellite 'Next Generation Small Satellite 2' and seven other smaller cube-shaped satellites. The main satellite will verify imaging radar technology and observe cosmic radiation in near-Earth orbit.

 

3. D Gukesh wins title in World Chess Armageddon Asia and Oceania event: Indian Grandmaster D Gukesh has emerged winner of the World Chess Armageddon Asia and Oceania tournament after defeating former World Rapid Champion Nodirbek Abdusatarov of Uzbekistan in the final. The 16-year-old Indian won in a field that included former world classical champion Vladimir Kramnik, Daniil Dubov, Yangyi Yu (China), Vidit Gujrathi and Karthikeyan Murali (both India) and Param Maghsoodloo (Iran), apart from Abdusattorov. Both Gukesh and Abdusatrov have qualified for the Grand Finale of Armageddon, which is scheduled for September.

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. RBI announces framework for Acceptance of Green Deposits: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced the framework for acceptance of Green Deposits of regulated entities (RE).

Aim: To foster and develop a green finance ecosystem in the country The framework will come into effect from June 1, 2023. It is applicable to Scheduled Commercial Banks including SFB excluding RRBs, Local Area Banks, and Payments Banks. It also includes all deposit-taking Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs), including Housing Finance Companies.

 

2. ICICI Bank introduces EMI facility for UPI payments: The ICICI Bank has introduced an EMI facility for UPI payments made by scanning a QR code. Those customers, who are eligible for the PayLater facility, can avail of the EMI facility using the Bank’s ‘buy now, pay later’ option. Customers can pay amounts above Rs 10,000 in easy installments for 3, 6, and 9 months. The ICICI Bank's PayLater facility was introduced in 2018 to enable customers to buy small ticket items in a completely paperless manner.

 

3. JICA, Citi to provide USD 125 mn to IndusInd Bank: JICA (Japanese lender) and Citibank will provide a USD 125 million funding line to India's IndusInd Bank. Reason: For co-finance funding for on-lending to the agricultural sector in the country. The funding includes a JPY 13 billion (approx USD 97.45 million) loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and another USD 30 million from Citi to IndusInd Bank. In the past, Citi has committed USD 1 trillion to sustainable finance by 2030.

 

4. India set to grow by 5.9% this fiscal: IMF: The annual World Economic Outlook of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has lowered India's economic growth projection for the current fiscal (2023-24) to 5.9% from 6.1% earlier. Yet India will continue to be the fastest-growing economy in the world. It has also lowered the forecast for 2024-25 to 6.3% from the 6.8% it had predicted in January 2023. IMF growth forecast is lower than projections by the RBI, which predicted a 6.4% in the current fiscal.

 

5. NSE Indices launches India's first-ever REITs and InvITs index: NSE Indices Ltd, an arm of the National Stock Exchange, has launched the country's first-ever Real Estate Investment Trusts and Infrastructure Investment Trusts index -Nifty REITs and InvITs Index. Aim: To track the performance of REITs and InvITs that are publicly listed and traded on the NSE A Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) or an Infrastructure Investment Trust (InvIT) is an investment vehicle that owns revenue-generating real estate or infrastructure assets.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Central University of Kerala awards its first Honorary D.Litt to P.T. Usha: Retired Indian track and field athlete, PT Usha has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate Degree by the Central University of Kerala at Sabarmati Hall, Periya Campus. She was conferred by Vice Chancellor Prof. H. Venkateshwarlu. She has won 33 medals including 19 gold in the Asian Games and Asian Championship She was the first Indian athlete to win medals in four consecutive Asian Games and also won six medals including five gold in the Jakarta Asian Athletic Meet in 1985

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Former Mahindra Group chairman, Keshub Mahindra passes away: The former chairman of the Mahindra & Mahindra Group of companies, Keshub Mahindra passed away at 99 in Mumbai. He served as chairman of the conglomerate from 1963 to 2012. He joined the Board of the company in 1948 and was elected chairman in 1963. He was awarded Chevalier de l'Ordre National de la Legion d'honneur by the French Government in 1987. He re-entered the Forbes list of India’s Richest Billionaires for 2023 with a net worth of $1.2 billion.

Daily GK Update- 11th Apr, 2023

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Exercise Cope India 23 kicks off in Panagarh, Kalaikunda, and Agra: A bilateral air exercise between the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the United States Air Force (USAF) named Cope India 23 is being started on April 10, 2023. It is being held at Air Force Stations Arjan Singh (Panagarh), Kalaikunda, and Agra. Aim: To enhance mutual understanding between the two Air Forces and share their best practices This exercise was started in 2004 as a fighter training exercise held at Air Station Gwalior, India.

 

2. State Energy Efficiency Index 2021-22 released: According to the State Energy Efficiency Index (SEEI) report 2021-22, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Rajasthan, and Telangana are the front-runners in the SEEI 2021-22. Achiever category (score between 50-60): Assam, Haryana, Maharashtra, and Punjab Based on their efforts and achievements, states have been classified into four categories: Front runner, Achiever, Contender, and Aspirant. This report was released by Power Minister R. K. Singh in New Delhi.

 

3. ECI recognizes Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) as National Party: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has granted the national party status to Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). AAP was recognized as a state party in the NCT of Delhi. While ECI has withdrawn the national party status of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Communist Party of India (CPI). Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) has received recognition as a state party in Nagaland. Tipra Motha Party got recognition as a state party in Tripura.

 

4. UIDAI, IIT Bombay join hands to develop touchless biometric capture system: Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has joined hands with the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay (IIT-Bombay) to develop a robust touchless biometric capture system. They will carry out joint research to build a mobile capture system for fingerprints along with a liveness model integrated with the capture system. The touchless biometric capture system will allow fingerprint authentication from home alike face authentication.

 

5. India releases first edition of Dogri version of Indian Constitution: Union Minister of Law, Kiren Rijiju has released the first edition of the Dogri version of the Constitution of India at the University of Jammu. During the event, he informed that the government is digitizing about 65,000 words of the legal glossary to frame a core vocabulary for the understanding of all citizens. About Dogri Language: It is one of the 22 official languages of India. It is widely spoken in the Jammu region of J&K, India.

 

6. Amit Shah launched Vibrant Villages Programme in Arunachal Pradesh: Union Home Minister Amit Shah has launched the ‘Vibrant Villages Programme’ in Kibithoo, a border village in the Anjaw district of Arunachal Pradesh. He has also inaugurated nine Micro Hydel Projects of the AP government constructed under the “Golden Jubilee Border Illumination Programme” in Kibithoo. The programme will be implemented in 19 districts, 46 blocks and 2963 villages across the country. In the first phase 11 districts, 23 blocks and 1451 villages will be included with a cost of Rs.4800 crore. This programme will solve the problems of all the villages of the northern border where there is a danger of population migration to other places. Under the Vibrant Village Programme government will ensure all the government schemes are 100 percent implemented in these villages, thus making sure all the basic amenities are available for the people, like good infrastructure, connectivity, education, health and mainly employment opportunities.

 

7. Mumbai enters list of Best Cities for Public Transport: According to a survey published by London-based ‘Time Out’, Germany’s Berlin was ranked as the city with the best public transport system globally, followed by Czech Republic’s capital Prague. While Mumbai secured the 19th spot and was the top-ranked Indian city. Five Asian countries ranked among the top 10 in the chart, with Japan’s busy capital Tokyo leading at the third spot. According to the survey conducted among 20,000 respondents in 50 cities worldwide to gauge public sentiment about their local transport systems, Berlin was ranked as having the most reliable, safe, and comfortable public transport network. 97% of its residents praised the public transit network, particularly for its metro system, U-Bahn, which offers nine easily navigable lines and a total of 175 stations. List of world’s top 10 cities with best public transit system:

 

8. Himachal Pradesh launched Sanjeevani Project: Himachal Pradesh Government has launched new project, ‘Sanjeevani” to ensure that livestock is provided quality treatment in a time-bound manner and the farmer is saved the additional expenses of traveling to the point of care for availing quality medicines. The doorstep veterinary services will have curative treatment, vaccination, artificial insemination, preventive care and all animal husbandry-related information. This initiative will serve farmers at 44 blocks located in 12 districts of the state. Moreover, the centralized call centre at the Directorate of Animal Husbandry will be integrated with 44 Mobile Veterinary Ambulances.

 

9. 11 April – National Safe Motherhood Day: National Safe Motherhood Day is celebrated every year on April 11. Objective – To raise awareness of good healthcare and safety of all mothers or expecting mothers. It is an initiative undertaken by the government of India, aimed at reducing maternal and neonatal death rates. The annual observance of National Safe Motherhood Day started with the efforts of the White Ribbon Alliance India (WRAI), which works to draw the attention of the government towards the importance of good healthcare facilities for mothers, especially during pregnancy.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. EAM Jaishankar launches 'Tulsi Ghat Restoration Project' in Uganda: During External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's visit to Kampala (Uganda), he has launched the 'Tulsi Ghat Restoration Project' of Varanasi. He has appreciated the initiatives of Overseas Friends of BJP-Uganda's initiative to contribute to further beautifying the oldest living city in the world. He has also discussed cooperation in trade and investment, infrastructure, energy, defense, health, digital and agricultural domains.

 

2. Google fined $32 million in South Korea for anti-competitive behaviour: The Anti-trust regulator of South Korea has fined Alphabet Inc.’s Google 42.1 billion won ($32 million) for blocking its rival from releasing video games. Korea’s Fair Trade Commission informed that Google is using its clout in the mobile app market to squeeze out a rival. The Korean regulator has ordered Google LLC, Google Korea, and Google Asia Pacific to cease offering support to mobile game companies in exchange for promises of exclusivity.

 

3. Jagdeep Dhankhar inaugurates scientific convention on World Homoeopathic: Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar has inaugurated the scientific convention on the occasion of World Homoeopathic in New Delhi. The Convention has been organized by the Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy under the Ministry of AYUSH. World Health Organization has acknowledged homoeopathy as the second largest and fastest-growing system of medicine in the world and has marked its presence in more than 80 countries. It is observed every year on 10th of April to commemorate the birth anniversary of the founder of Homoeopathy, Dr. Christian Fredrich Samuel Hahnemann. This year, the theme is “One Health, One Family.” It aims to promote homoeopathic treatment among the people through the neighbourhood family physicians.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. David Warner becomes fastest to score 6000 runs in IPL: Delhi Capitals skipper, David Warner became the quickest batter to reach the 6000-run mark in the Indian Premier League (IPL) during a match against Rajasthan Royals at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati. He is the third batter to enter the elite club after Royal Challengers Bangalore’s Virat Kohli and skipper of Punjab Kings, Shikhar Dhawan. He took 165 innings to reach the mark of 6000 runs, while Kohli had taken 188 and Dhawan 199 to achieve the same.

 

2. Saudi Arabia receives flag to host FEI World Cup Finals 2024: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has received the flag of the FEI World Cup Finals that Riyadh will host in April 2024. The Kingdom received the flag during the FEI World Cup Finals 2023 held in Omaha, Nebraska, USA, according to Saudi News Agency (SPA). It is the first time the event will be held in the Middle East. The FEI World Cup Finals 2024 will be held in April 2024 in Riyadh. It is an annual international competition among the world’s best show-jumping horses and riders.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. World Bank chief raises 2023 global growth outlook: World Bank Group President David Malpass has informed that the lender has revised its 2023 global growth outlook slightly upward to 2% from a January 2023 forecast of 1.7%. But the slowdown from stronger 2022 growth will increase debt distress for developing countries. Reason: The upward revision was due to an improved outlook for China's recovery from Covid-19 lockdowns, with growth now pegged at 5.1% this year compared to 4.3%.

 

2. I-T dept notifies Cost Inflation Index for current fiscal: The Income Tax Department has notified the Cost Inflation Index (CII) for the current fiscal beginning April 2023, for calculating long-term capital gains arising from the sale of immovable property, securities, and jewelry. CII is used by taxpayers to compute gains arising out of the sale of capital assets after adjusting for inflation. The Cost Inflation Index for FY 2023-24 relevant to AY 2024-25 stood at 348. It is notified under the Income-tax Act, 1961 every year

 

3. Sixteenth Finance Commission will be constituted in November 2023: The government official has informed that the union government may set up the 16th finance commission this FY 2023-24. Aim: To suggest the ratio in which tax is to be divided between the Centre and states for five years, beginning April 1, 2026. Finance Commission is a constitutional body that gives suggestions on Centre-state financial relations. The 15th Commission, under NK Singh, had kept the tax devolution ratio at 42%.

 

4. SBI to launch new current accounts and savings accounts in FY24: SBI is planning to launch new variants of the current a/c (with balances of ₹50,000 and ₹50 lakh) and the “Parivar” (family) savings a/c in FY24. Aim: To minimize the gap between deposit growth and credit growth. Domestic deposits of SBI grew 8.86% year-on-year (y-o-y) by the end of 2022. While domestic advances were up 16.9% y-o-y. SBI also expects that it's domestic deposits and domestic advances will grow about 12% and 16% y-o-y, respectively, in FY24.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Nilesh Sambare honored with the ‘Maratha Udyog Ratna 2023’ award: Nilesh Bhagwan Sambare, also known as Appa, the founder of Jijau Educational and Social Foundation or Sanstha, was awarded the “Maratha Udyog Ratna” award. He was awarded during the “Maratha Entrepreneurs Conference 2023” in Nashik, Mumbai. Jijau Sanstha has been providing education, health, employment, and agriculture through self-earning for the past 14 years.

 

 

 

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Former IAS officer, Naresh Gupta passes away: A former IAS officer and Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Naresh Gupta passed away at 72 after a prolonged illness. He was a native of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. He was the CEO during the DMK regime between 1998 and 2000. Subsequently, late chief minister J Jayalalithaa appointed him as home secretary. He was again posted as the CEO between 2005 and 2010 and held the post during the 2006 assembly election and 2009 general elections.

Daily GK Update- 10th Apr, 2023

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India's Tiger population increases to 3,167: PM Narendra Modi has released the latest Tiger census data, which shows the country's big-cat count increased by 200 in four years to 3,167 from 2,967 in 2018. This report revealed that the Western Ghats showed a significant decline in numbers from 981 in 2018 to 824 in 2022. While the Sundarbans is threatened by the effects of climate change and the rise of sea levels. India hosts some 75% of the global tiger population living in forests.

 

2. HM Amit Shah launched Vibrant Villages Programme in Arunachal Pradesh: Home Minister Amit Shah has launched the ‘Vibrant Villages Programme’ in Kibithoo, a border village in the Anjaw district of Arunachal Pradesh. He has also inaugurated nine Micro Hydel Projects of the AP government constructed under the “Golden Jubilee Border Illumination Programme” in Kibithoo. These electricity projects will empower people living in border villages. In the first phase, 662 villages have been identified for priority coverage.

 

3. Third edition of the Jammu Film Festival begins: In Jammu and Kashmir, the third edition of the Jammu Film Festival, sponsored by the J&K Tourism Department, began at Abhinav Theatre.

The festival featured parallel screenings of 25 feature films, short films and documentaries from countries including Iran, India, France and the United States. The opening section of the festival showcased short films and a documentary from countries such as Iran, India, France and the United States. These included Nahid, Kav Kav, Fatih the Conqueror, Sandhanam and Liturgy of Anti-Tank Obstacles. The festival attracted a diverse audience of students, artists and art lovers and aims at for promoting tourism in J&K and providing a platform for filmmakers to showcase their talent.

 

4. J&K LG Manoj Sinha inaugurates Tulip Garden in Jammu: Jammu & Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha has inaugurated a tulip garden at Sanasar in Ramban district. It is Union Territory’s second and Jammu division’s first tulip garden, it is spread over 40 lakh kanals (5 acres) of land in the picturesque Sanasar, which is famous for its green Alpine meadows 2.75 lakh tulip bulbs of 25 varieties have been planted. Pointing out that Tulip has a very short life. Sanasar is situated at an altitude of 2,079 m above sea level and is nearly 19 kms from the famous hill resort of Patnitop. A cup-shaped meadow developed as a golf course, it is surrounded by gigantic conifers and it is ideal for paragliding, trekking, rock climbing and abseiling.

 

5. Joint Military Exercise ‘Ex KAVACH’ concludes at Andaman and Nicobar Command: The Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) conducted a large-scale joint military exercise ‘Ex Kavach’ involving assets of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard. The large-scale joint exercise saw the involvement of the ‘Shatrujeet Brigade’ of the Army, Armed Forces Special Operations Division (AFSOD), Special Forces of the Navy and Amphibious troops of the Andaman and Nicobar Command. Exercise KAVACH was structured to enhance the joint warfare capabilities and the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) of the Armed Forces. The training exercise also strengthened interoperability and operational synergy between the forces.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. PM Modi launches global bloc to save 7 big cat species: PM Narendra Modi has launched a 97-nation International Big Cats Alliance (IBCA) in Karnataka on April 9, 2023. Aim: To focus on the protection and conservation of seven big cat species in the wild. Seven big cat species are tiger, leopard, jaguar, lion, snow leopard, puma, and cheetah. The launch of the alliance follows the clarion call given by the Prime Minister in July 2019. He also visited Bandipur Tiger Reserve in Karnataka.

 

2. VP inaugurates scientific convention on World Homoeopathy Day: Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar has inaugurated the scientific convention on the occasion of World Homoeopathy Day on April 10, 2023, in New Delhi. The Convention has been organised by the Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy under the Ministry of AYUSH. This year, the theme is "One Health, One Family." It aims to promote homoeopathic treatment among the people through the neighbourhood family physicians.

 

3. Ukraine first Deputy Minister Emine Dzhaparova begins 4-day visit to In: The first Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Emine Dzhaparova is on a four-day visit to India from April 9, 2023. During the visit, she will hold talks with Sanjay Verma, Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs. Both sides are expected to discuss bilateral relations. They will also exchange views on the current situation in Ukraine and global issues of mutual interest. Both shares warm and friendly relations and multifaceted cooperation.

 

4. Bangladesh receives 450 MW from Godda plant of Adani power: Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) has received 450 MW of electricity from the Godda plant of Adani Power. It was further increased to 750 MW. Adani Power plant in Godda, Jharkhand had conducted a 14-day reliability test during which uninterrupted supply for 72 hours at peak load was tested. The Power Grid Company of Bangladesh (PGCB) constructed 134 kilometres of transmission line from the Chapainawabganj border to the Bogra substation for receiving electricity from the Godda plant of Adani Power. Bangladesh currently imports 1160 MW of power from India. It receives 1,000 MW of electricity from Berhampur in West Bengal via Kushtia’s Bheramara and 160 MW from Suryamoni in Tripura via Comilla daily. India is the only country with whom Bangladesh has Cross Border Electricity Trade (CBET).

 

5. Subby’ Subramaniam appointed Warrant Officer of UK’s Royal Air Force (RAF): Indian-origin man Subby Subramaniam has been commissioned as a Warrant Officer in the Royal Air Force of the United Kingdom. He succeeds Warrant Officer Jake Alpert. In his new role, Subramaniam will advise the Chief of the Air Staff on matters concerning airmen and airwomen of the RAF. Subramaniam was appointed as the inaugural Command Warrant Officer of the United Kingdom Space Command in 2021, demonstrating his experience and aptitude for the new post.

 

6. 10 April – World Homeopathy Day: World Homeopathy Day is observed every year on April 10th to honour the birth anniversary of Dr Samuel Hahnemann, the founder of homoeopathy.

Objective – To create awareness about the effectiveness of homoeopathy in treating various health conditions and to promote its use as a safe and natural alternative to conventional medicines. Theme 2023 – One Health, One Family Samuel Hahnemann, a distinguished scholar and doctor from France, is the founder of homeopathy. He was born in Paris on April 10, 1755. While desperately trying to earn a living during his first 15 years as a doctor, he made a discovery. He held that in order to tsreat a patient’s sickness, the ingredients that cause the disease’s symptoms must be administered. Thus, homeopathy works on the principle of “like cures like.” This year will be the 268th birth anniversary of Samuel Hahnemann.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. David Warner becomes fastest to score 6000 runs in IPL: Delhi Capitals captain David Warner has become the fastest batsman to reach the 6000-run mark in the Indian Premier League (IPL) during a match against Rajasthan Royals at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati. He is now only the third batter after Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan to score more than 6000 runs.

Warner, who has donned the Orange Cap on three occasions, in IPL 2015, 2017 and 2019, got to the milestone with a boundary.

 

2. Priyanshu Rajawat wins Orleans Masters 2023 men’s singles title: Indian men’s singles badminton player Priyanshu Rajawat has clinched his first-ever tour title Orleans Masters Super 300 Tournament in France. Priyanshu defeated World No. 49 Magnus Johannesen in a battle of 21-year-olds in the men’s singles final. This is the first Badminton World Federation (BWF) Super 300 title for Rajawat who was also the youngest team member of the Indian badminton team that won the historic 2022 Thomas Cup in Bangkok.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. C R Rao will be awarded 2023 International Prize in Statistics: An Indian-American mathematician and statistician, Calyampudi Radhakrishna Rao (102) will be awarded the 2023 International Prize in Statistics in July 2023. Reason: For his monumental work 75 years ago that revolutionized statistical thinking. He is currently a professor emeritus at Pennsylvania State University and Research Professor at University at Buffalo. He will receive the prize, with an $80,000 award. It is awarded every two years to an individual or team.

 

2. Indian GM Gukesh wins title at World Chess Armageddon Asia & Oceania ev: Indian Grandmaster D Gukesh has stunned former world rapid champion Nodirbek Abdusattorov of Uzbekistan in the final to win the World Chess Armageddon Asia & Oceania event. Gukesh emerged winner in a topsy-turvy summit clash. The first game of the ‘new’ match was a draw after a perpetual check from Gukesh. An Armageddon game is a variant of blitz chess to determine a winner after a series of a drawn game. A drawn game in Armageddon is counted as a win for Black.

 

3. Nitya Abraham awarded young urologist of the Year award: An Indian-American physician and professor, Nitya Abraham was honored with the Young Urologist of the Year Award by the American Urological Association (AUA). She is an Associate Professor at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Program Director for the Montefiore Urology residency program. Abraham has been chosen from the New York region for her accomplishments and contributions. Abraham has done remarkable work for countless students, residents, fellows and junior faculty in the New York area and at his institution.

 

4. Bharat Biotech wins award at World Vaccine Congress 2023: Bharat Biotech has won the `Best Production /Process Development’ award as part of the Vaccine Industry Excellence (ViE) awards at the World Vaccine Congress 2023. The Congress was held in Washington, USA. Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech was the only Indian company in the list of VIE awards in various categories, including best clinical trial company, best clinical trial network, best central/specialty laboratory award, best contract research organization, best production/process development award, among others. Bharat Biotech is the world’s first producer of intranasal Covid-19 vaccine, iNcovacc. Its intramuscular vaccine, Covaxin, is part of India’s public vaccination programme and was also exported.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Legendary theatre actor Jalabala Vaidya passes away: Legendary theatre actor and co-founder of Akshara Theatre, Jalabala Vaidya passed away at the age of 86. Her theatrical life started in 1968 with ‘Full Circle’, a dramatised selection of poems and stories. She was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi’s Tagore Award, the Delhi Natya Sangh Award, the Andhra Pradesh Natya Akademi Honour, Honorary Citizenship of the City of Baltimore, USA.

Daily GK Update- 9th Apr, 2023

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. President takes a historic sortie in a Sukhoi 30 MKI fighter aircraft: President Droupadi Murmu has taken a historic sortie in a Sukhoi 30 MKI fighter aircraft at the Tezpur Air Force Station in Assam on April 8, 2023. She flew for approximately 30 minutes covering the Brahmaputra and Tezpur valleys. The aircraft was flown by Group Captain Naveen Kumar, Commanding Officer of the 106 Squadron. She is the third President and second woman President to undertake such a sortie. The President is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces.

 

2. Government gives approval for installation of 10 nuclear reactors: In a significant development towards sustainable energy, the Indian government has approved the installation of 10 nuclear reactors in the country. The government has roped in public sector units (PSUs) to take up the installation of nuclear reactors or specialized government agencies exclusively. The government has also given administrative approval and financial sanction for ten indigenous Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors of 700 MW each in fleet mode. The nuclear reactors will be installed in four different states, namely, Karnataka, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan.

Kaiga, Gorakhpur, Chutka, and Mahi Banswara are the respective locations for the installation of the nuclear reactors. Mahi Banswara will have four reactors, while the other three locations will have two each. These reactors are planned to be set up in ‘fleet mode’ progressively by the year 2031 at a cost of Rs 1,05,000 crores.

 

3. President Murmu inaugurate Gaj Utsav at Kaziranga in Assam: President Droupadi Murmu has inaugurated a two-day ‘Gaj Utsav-2023’ at the Kaziranga National Park High School’s playground field in Assam. The President also flagged off the ‘Mount Kanchenjunga Expedition-2023’. Kaziranga Gaj Utsav is an annual festival held in the national park to promote the conservation and protection of elephants. It is jointly organized by the Forest and Tourism Departments to draw attention and find a solution to the growing human-elephant conflict in the state.

 

4. PM Modi flags off Secunderabad-Tirupati Vande Bharat Express: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has flagged off the Secunderabad-Tirupati Vande Bharat Express train in Hyderabad. PM Modi flagged off the service from Hyderabad’s Secunderabad Railway station. The train will reduce the travel time between Secunderabad in Telangana and Tirupati in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, by almost three and half hours and will be particularly beneficial for pilgrims. On January 15, Modi had virtually flagged off the Vande Bharat train service between Secunderabad and the port city of Visakhapatnam in AP, which was the first such service connecting the two Telugu-speaking states.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Indian Rafale fighter jets to participate in French Military exercise: Indian Rafale combat aircraft will participate in a multinational exercise Orion, which will be hosted by France from the third week of April to May 5, 2023. The aircraft likely to take part in the exercise are likely to be from the Western Air Command of the force. While the French Air Force would be taking part in the wargames with its NATO and other allies with their Rafale and Mirage-2000 fighter aircraft.

 

2. Kalikesh Singh Deo appointed as president of NRAI: Senior Vice President Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo assumed charge as the President of the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI). He replaced Raninder Singh. Raninder had completed 12 years as president — from December 29, 2010 to Dec 29, 2022 — and as per the code, he cannot continue as NRAI chief any further.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Priyanshu Rajawat lifts maiden world tour title at Orleans Masters: Indian badminton player, Priyanshu Rajawat (21) has clinched the men's singles title of the Orleans Masters Super 300 tournament. He defeated Denmark’s Magnus Johannesen by 21-15, 19-21, and 21-16. While the women's singles title was lifted by Carolina Marín from Spain.

Other Winners:

·       Men's Double: Chen Boyang & Liu Yi (China)

·       Women's Double: Rena Miyaura & Ayako Sakuramoto (Japan)

·       Mixed Double: Chen Tang Jie & Toh Ee Wei (Malaysia)

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. MUDRA Yojana completes 8 years: The PM MUDRA Yojana has completed 8 years of its inception on April 8, 2023. As per the government data, around Rs 23.2 lakh crore has been sanctioned in 40.82 crore loan accounts under this scheme since its inception. About 68% of accounts under the scheme belong to Women entrepreneurs. 51% of accounts belong to entrepreneurs of SC/ST and OBC categories.

·       MUDRA Yojana:

·       Launched: 2015

·       Aim: To facilitate easy collateral-free micro-credit of up to Rs 10 lakh

 

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Mumbai among cities with world's best public transport: According to a survey, published by London-based ‘Time Out’ - a media outlet, Berlin (Germany) was ranked as the city with the best public transport system globally. It is followed by Prague (Czech Republic), Tokyo (Japan), and Copenhagen (Denmark). While India's city Mumbai secured the 19th spot and was the top-ranked Indian city. Mumbai's Suburban Railways form the backbone of public transport for a population of 12.5 million.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Legendary theatre actor, Jalabala Vaidya passes away: Legendary theatre actor & co-founder of Akshara Theatre, Jalabala Vaidya passes away at 86 in New Delhi. She was the daughter of Indian author and freedom fighter Suresh Vaidya and English classical singer Madge Franckeiss. She was awarded the Delhi government's Varisht Samman, Sangeet Natak Akademi's Tagore Award, Delhi Natya Sangh Award, the Andhra Pradesh Natya Akademi Honor, and Honorary Citizenship of the City of Baltimore, USA.