Daily GK Update- 18th Aug, 2023

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. IAF to hold multi-national exercise 'Tarang Shakti' with world's top air: The Indian Air Force (IAF) will hold its first-ever multi-national air exercise 'Tarang Shakti', in October 2023, the biggest air exercise to be conducted in India. The exercise intends to strengthen military cooperation between the air forces. Out of 12, Six air forces will participate in the exercise, while the rest will attend the aerial drills as observers. The air forces of the US, the UK, France and Australia are among those likely to take part in the exercise.

 

2. India's first long-range revolver "Prabal" to be launched: India's first long-range revolver 'Prabal' is to be launched in August 2023 manufactured by Advanced Weapons and Equipment India (AWEIL). About Prabal The Prabal revolver boasts a firing range of up to 50 metres, more than twice the reach of other revolvers. The Prabla revolver is light in weight and equipped with a side swing cylinder. It weighs 700 grams (without cartridges) in weight and its barrel length is 76 m, while its overall length is 177.6 mm.

 

3. Central Water Commission launches Flood Watch mobile App: Chairman of Central Water Commission Kushvinder Vohra launches FloodWatch mobile app for real-time flood forecast situations across the country in New Delhi Aim: To disseminate information related to the flood situation and forecasts for up to seven days on a real-time basis. It utilizes advanced technologies such as satellite data analysis and real-time monitoring to deliver accurate and timely flood forecasts and make it easy to stay informed and minimized risk

 

4. ‘India’s first village atlas’ is of Mayem in Goa: Mayem has become the first village in Goa to have a biodiversity atlas, a 250-page document with maps detailing the floral and faunal biodiversity of the village. The atlas was prepared based on the People’s biodiversity register (PBR) prepared by the village Biodiversity management committee There are huge funds to be tapped for villages that have registered biodiversity atlases. For every lake, the government of India is ready to give Rs 10 crore to maintain it.

 

5. Chennai-based Agnikul Cosmos begins integration of its first satellite: Chennai-based space tech startup Agnikul Cosmos has launched its first small satellite rocket, named Agnibaan SOrTeD, with its private launchpad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. The rocket is driven by Agnikul’s patented Agnilet engine, which is a 3D-printed, single-piece, 6 kN semi-cryogenic engine. These flight events have been configured to validate key technologies integral to the success of the company’s upcoming orbital flights.

 

6. Country’s first 3D-printed post office coming up in Bengaluru: India's first 3D-printed post office is coming up at Cambridge Layout in Bengaluru 3D printing is a process of making three-dimensional solid objects from a digital file. In this process an object is created by laying down successive layers of material until the object is created. Each of these layers can be seen as a thinly sliced cross-section of the object. 3D printing enables you to produce complex shapesusing less material than traditional manufacturing methods.

 

7. Maharashtra scored top position in fiscal health report: Based on the FY23 revised budget estimates Maharashtra secured the top position as the best state in overall fiscal health in a report conducted by a foreign brokerage firm. Chhattisgarh, one of the poorest states in the country, is in 2nd position followed by Telangana and Jharkhand, while the bottom 3 are Bengal, Punjab, and Kerala In contrast, Bengal fares the worst, followed by Punjab, Bihar, Rajasthan and UP, Kerala moving out of the worst five; while Andhra’ ranking has dropped to 11th in FY23 from eighth in FY22, and Gujarat has slipped to the seventh rank from fifth. The report on the fiscal health of the key 17 states is based on the four key fiscal parameters–fiscal deficit; own tax revenue, state debt levels, all as a percentage of their individual gross state domestic product; and finally, the interest payment to revenue receipts. Based on these four parameters, Punjab, Bengal, Bihar, Rajasthan and Kerala, are and will remain the most vulnerable to debt sustainability risks given their weak fiscal and debt metrics even prior to the pandemic, says the report, adding a June 2022 report by the Reserve Bank had also warned these states.

 

8. Parminder Chopra appoints as CEO of Power Finance Corporation: Power Finance Corporation Limited (PFC) has appointed Parminder Chopra as Chairman and Managing Director (CMD), becoming the first woman to lead the company. Previously, she was holding the additional charge of Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) since 1 June 2023 and was Director (Finance) PFC since 1 July 2020. With over 35 years of experience in power and finance, Chopra led India’s largest NBFC to the highest net profit, highest net worth and lowest NPA levels during her time as Director. She headed key finance functions like resource mobilization (domestic & international markets), banking, treasury, asset liability management and stressed asset resolution Parminder Chopra was conferred with the ‘Icon of the Year’ and ‘Finance Leader of the Year’ award for making significant contributions to the realms of business, finance, society, and the nation.

 

9. President launches advanced frigate Vindhyagiri in Kolkata: President Droupadi Murmu has launched ‘Vindhyagiri’, an advanced stealth frigate, at Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd’s (GRSE) facility on the banks of Hooghly River, Kolkata. This is the sixth of seven ships built under ‘Project 17 Alpha’ for the Navy. The first five ships of the project were launched between 2019 and 2022. This is the third and last stealth frigate that the Kolkata-based warship maker was contracted to build for the Navy under the project. 75 percent of orders for equipment and systems of P17A ships are from indigenous firms, including micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). P17A ships are guided missile frigates, each of which is 149 metres long, with the displacement of approximately 6,670 tonnes and a speed of 28 knots. These are capable of neutralizing threats in all three dimensions of air, surface, and sub-surface Earlier in the day, the president launched ‘My Bengal, Addiction Free Bengal’ campaign under the ‘Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan’ organized by Brahma Kumaris at the Raj Bhavan.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. World Humanitarian Day is celebrated on 18th August 2023: World Humanitarian Day is observed on the 19th August. Aim: To bring partners from across the humanitarian system together and work collectively for survival, well-being and dignity of people affected by crises.

World Humanitarian Day 2023 theme is: NoMatterWhat. It is the day when 22 colleagues were killed at the United Nations Office in Baghdad, It is an opportunity to pay tribute to colleagues who have lost their lives in humanitarian service

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Priya Malik bagged Gold medal at Under20 World Wrestling Championships 2: Indian wrestler Priya Malik clinched a Gold medal at the 2023 U20 World Wrestling Championships (women's 76kg freestyle) in Jordan by defeating Laura Celine Kuehn of Germany. She became just the second woman wrestler from India to be crowned U20 world championship. Antim Panghal had been the first woman from India to win a junior world title in wrestling at last year's edition. She has now won both the U17 2021 and 2022  and U20 world titles.

 

2. India gets first-ever night street racing circuit in Chennai: Tamil Nadu government partnered with Racing Promotions Private Limited to launch India's first-ever night street racing circuit in India and South Asia that will be hosting a night race  RRPL is also the promoter of the Indian Racing League and F4 Indian Championship As for the track, it is a 3.5km layout, located around the Island Grounds that resides in the heart of the city. Minister for Youth Welfare and Sports Development Udhayanidhi Stalin has launched the circuit

 

3. Seema Bisla handed 1-year ban for whereabouts failure: 2021 Asian Wrestling Championships bronze medalist and Olympian, Seema Bisla has been handed a year-long ban for whereabouts failure by the Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel (ADDP) of the NADA. The athlete’s ban began on May 12 of this year, according to the most recent list of athletes sanctioned by the ADDP. Seema Bisla was a part of the NADA’s Registered Testing Pool from April to June of 2024. Seema had won a bronze in women’s freestyle 50kg class in the 2021 Asian Championships in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. RBI appointed PR Seshadri as MD and CEO of South Indian Bank: The Reserve Bank of India appointed PR Seshadri as MD & CEO of South Indian Bank and he will serve for a period of three years. He is currently mentoring businesses both at an operating level as well as at the board level at various companies. He has served as Managing Director & CEO of The Karur Vysya Bank Limited. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the Delhi College of Engineering and a PG Diploma in Management from the IIM Bangalore.

 

2. Wipro launches center of excellence on generative AI at IIT Delhi: Indian IT services company Wipro introduces the launch of a new Center of Excellence on Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) in partnership with IIT Delhi. Aim: To foster accelerated innovation in some of the most exciting emerging areas of technology. Objective: To enhance our research & development capabilities in emerging regions, such as generative AI. Teams will jointly work on building innovative solutions using AI, ML, and other technologies.

 

3. Reserve Bank of India launched a centralized Web portal, UDGAM: The Reserve Bank of India launched a centralized Web portal, UDGAM (Unclaimed Deposits Gateway to Access Information), for searching unclaimed deposits across multiple banks. Aim: To identify their unclaimed deposits and accounts and enable them to either claim the deposit amount or make their deposit accounts operational at their respective banks. The 7 banks include State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank, Central Bank of India, South Indian Bank and Dhanlaxmi Bank

 

4. ADB approves USD 40.5 mn loan for childhood development in Meghalaya: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a USD 40.5 million loan for integrated early childhood development and maternal mental health in the northeastern state of Meghalaya. The Meghalaya government is contributing USD 15.27 million to the project. The project is expected to strengthen home-based childcare (children 0-1.5 years) and center-based childcare (1.5-6 years) through daycare (Anganwadi) centers in Meghalaya. The project aims to improve access to nurturing care, including a component of maternal mental health care and group-based parenting programs to enable the inclusion of fathers in caregiving. ADB’s assistance will also improve nutrient adequacy by adding eggs to the diet of pregnant and lactating women and children 0.5-6 years of age. ADB is committed to supporting the state government’s efforts to mainstream (early childhood development) ECD and in adopting this innovative project design that can be scaled up across the country.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Indian-American Economist Raj Chetty awarded top Harvard University Prize: Indian-American economist Raj Chetty has been awarded Harward University’s coveted George Ledlie Prize 2023 for wielding big data to break myths about who achieves the American Dream. Along with Chetty, Biologist Michael Springer, professor of systems biology at Harvard Medical School, who created a better, faster COVID test system to help deal with the spread of COVID, was also honoured with the coveted Harvard University’s George Ledlie Prize Chetty, Professor of Economics at Harvard University is also director of Opportunity Insights, a group of economists based at Harvard who study inequality The award is given every two years to a member of the Harvard community who has made the most valuable contribution to science or in any way for the benefit of mankind.

 

2. Five Indian youths named among International Young Eco-Hero award 2023: Five youths from India have been named among 17 teen environmental activists from across the globe to receive the 2023 International Young Eco-Hero Award who have taken initiatives to tackle the world’s most pressing environmental challenges. The young eco-warriors who were recognized for their efforts by the US-based non-profit organization, “Action For Nature”, are Eiha Dixit, Manya Harsha, Nirvaan Somany, Mannat Kaur, and Karnav Rastogi. The International Young Eco-Hero Awards programme recognizes and encourages children and teens from ages 8 to 16 who have taken action towards solving the most critical environmental issues. The awardees are eco-conscious youth who took crucial steps to solve tough environmental problems. Winners of the International Young Eco-Hero Award are selected by a panel of independent judges, including experts in environmental science, biology, and education. For the past 20 years, “Action For Nature” has recognised 339 Eco-Heroes from 27 countries and 32 US states, a media release on Tuesday said. Dixit, who won first place in this year’s competition has been growing saplings to protect the environment since she was 4. Manya Harsha who won second place in the 8–12-year-old category has embarked on a mission to raise awareness about environmental issues and climate action

Daily GK Update- 17th Aug, 2023

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. President to launch advanced frigate Vindhyagiri in Kolkata: President Droupadi Murmu launched the Vindhyagiri, a Project 17A Frigate of the Indian Navy at Garden Reach Shipbuilders Engineers in Kolkata in August 2023. Named after a mountain range in Karnataka, Vindhyagiri is the sixth ship of the Project 17A frigates. About Vindhyagiri It is a technologically advanced Frigate that pays a befitting tribute to the distinguished service of its predecessor, the erstwhile INS Vindhyagiri, the Leander Class ASW Frigate.

 

2. Malayalam New Year Chingam observed on 17th August 2023: Chingam 1 is the first day of the new year of the traditional Malayalam calendar used in Kerala. In 2023, it's being celebrated on August 17.  Chingam 1 is also known as Chingam Month or Chingam Masam and it's followed by the Onam festival.  The Malayam Calendar is based on the solar calendar system and every year, the date of Chingam 1 varies.  Chingam 1 marks the beginning of the harvest season in Kerala and is considered an auspicious day.

 

3. Maharashtra scored top position in fiscal health report : Based on the FY23 revised budget estimates Maharashtra secured the top position as the best state in overall fiscal health in a report conducted by a foreign brokerage firm Chhattisgarh, one of the poorest states in the country, is in 2nd position followed by Telangana, while the bottom 3 are Bengal, Punjab, and Kerala The report, penned by Kaushik Das, chief economist at the Deutsche Bank, was conducted to survey the fiscal health of 17 major states across the country

 

4. Goa govt launches 'Gramin Mitra' scheme to promote digital empowerment: Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant launched the flagship scheme "Gramin Mitra" in August 2023 Objective: To provide doorstep delivery of government services across the state and promote digital empowerment in rural areas. Aims:  To empower rural communities with access to information and opportunities that can transform their lives and drive socio-economic growth. The program will help us accelerate the delivery of e-governance services to rural areas across the state.

 

5. ACC appointed Parminder Chopra as 1st woman CMD of PFC: The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) appointed  Parminder Chopra as the first full-time women Chairperson and Managing Director of Power Finance Corporation (PFC) Limited.  Presently, she is serving as Director (Finance) of the same Maharatna Power PSU. She has also been holding the addition charge of company’s CMD post. She has more than 35 years of experience in power sector, serving in key power sector organizations like NHPC and Power Grid.

 

6. Government clears Rs 20000 crore deal to build five warships: The government has cleared a Rs 20,000 crore deal to manufacture fleet support vessels (FSVs) which are urgently required by the Indian Navy in August 2023 Vizag-based Hindustan Shipyard Limited will manufacture five of the 45,000-tonne warships, the largest ship of its class being built at the defense ministry-owned yard. The ships are needed to support warships on long range patrol and can carry a variety of equipment, such as fuel, ammunition and food supplies.

 

7. Ministry of Youth Affairs organize Youth 20 Summit in Varansi: The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports is organizing Youth 20 Summit-2023 from the 17th to the 20th of August in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. More than 100 delegates from G20 countries, Guest countries, and International Organizations will discuss five identified themes of Y20. These themes include Future of Work: Industry 4.0, Innovation and 21st Century Skills, Peacebuilding and Reconciliation: Ushering in an Era of No War, and Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction. The Y20 Summit will bring together youth experts, decision-makers and youth representatives from G20 countries to negotiate, finalize and sign the Y20 Communiqué created from the conclusions of the discussions conducted during past few months.

 

8. Rajasthan CM launches free food packet scheme: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has launched the state government’s Annapurna Food Packet Scheme which seeks to distribute food packets to more than 10.4 million families for free every month. The scheme is part of the ₹19,000 crore ‘Inflation Relief Package’, which was announced by the chief minister in February during the state budget for 2023-24 to provide relief to the public from rising prices. Under the scheme, each food packet will contain one kilogram each of chana dal, sugar, salt, one litre soybean refined edible oil, 100 gm each of chilli powder and coriander powder, and 50 gm of turmeric. The chief minister also urged the Centre to regularly implement the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana – providing 5kg free dry rations to 800 million poor every month – instead of extending it for six months each time.

 

9. 17 August 2023 – Malayalam New Year Chingam: Malayalam New Year Chingam was observed on 17th August 2023. In 2023, it’s being celebrated on August 17. Chingam 1 is the first day of the new year of the traditional Malayalam calendar used in Kerala. Chingam 1 is also known as Chingam Month or Chingam Masam and it’s followed by the Onam festival. The Malayam Calendar is based on the solar calendar system and every year, the date of Chingam 1 varies. Chingam 1 marks the beginning of the harvest season in Kerala and is considered an auspicious day.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. WHO to organize first-of-its-kind global summit on Traditional Medicine: The Ministry of Ayush and the World Health Organization would organize a first-of-its-kind global summit on Traditional Medicine (GCTM) from the 17th of August 2023 in Gandhi Nagar. The WHO GCTM is a knowledge center for traditional medicine. The summit will serve as a platform for experts and practitioners to delve into the latest scientific advancements and evidence-based knowledge in the sector, with the ultimate goal of ensuring health and well-being for all.

2. Alex Chriss appoints as CEO of PayPal: Alex Chriss has been appointed as the new CEO of PayPal. He will replace its longest-serving chief executive officer Dan Schulman. He currently serves as the Executive Vice President and General Manager of Intuit’s Small Business and Self-Employed Group, Schulman became PayPal’s CEO after the split from eBay in 2015, and he notified the company of his decision to retire at the end of December last year.

 

3. 17 August 2023 – Indonesia’s 78th Independence Day: Indonesia celebrates its Independence Day every year on August 17. this year celebrates its 78th Independence Day. Indonesia officially declared independence from Dutch rule on 17 August 1945. The Indonesian independence movement officially began in May 1908, commemorated as the “Day of National Awakening”. The early 1910s and 1920s saw the establishment of several political parties like the Indonesian National Party (PNI), Sarekat Islam, and the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) and movements that supported Indonesian independence like Budi Utomo The theme of this year’s Independence Day is “Terus Melaju Untuk Indonesia Maju”, which stands for “Striving to Progress Indonesia”. The theme embodies the spirit of collaboration and togetherness to accelerate Indonesia’s growth and maintain local wisdom. Indonesia is the world’s fourth most populous country.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

 

1. Indian wrestler Mohit Kumar becomes Under 20 World Champion 2023: Indian wrestler Mohit Kumar has become the Under 20 World Championship 2023 in the men’s 61 Kg Freestyle category by defeating Russia's Eldar Akhmadudinovin in Jordan He is the fourth male wrestler from India to earn a gold medal in the U20 World Championships, following Palwinder Cheema in 2001, Ramesh Kumar in 2001. Jaideep won the bronze in the 74kg category Sagar Jaglan won the silver medal 79 kg category while Deepak Chahal won the bronze medal in 97 kg category.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Zerodha gets final nod from Sebi to launch mutual fund business: Nithin Kamath, CEO of India's leading broker Zerodha, has received final approval from the regulator Sebi to launch the mutual fund product. The motivation to launch the mutual fund business was two-fold -- the shallow participation in Indian markets wherein lies the challenge and an opportunity and creating simple products for investors. Zerodha started its journey in 2010 as a ‘Rs 20 per order broker’ and gained popularity as a no-frills, low-cost player among traders.

 

2. ADB approves USD 40.5 mln loan for childhood development in Meghalaya: The Asian Development Bank  has approved a USD 40.5 million loan for integrated early childhood development and maternal mental health in  Meghalaya The Meghalaya government is contributing USD 15.27 million to the project. Aims: To improve access to nurturing care, including a component of maternal mental health care to enable the inclusion of fathers in caregiving. Objective: To strengthen home-based childcare and center-based childcare  through daycare centers

 

3. Canara Bank has introduced Canara Jeevan Dhara savings bank account: Canara Bank has introduced Jeevan Dhara, a special savings bank account for pensioners, and prospective pensioners.  The primary benefit of this account for senior citizens is that it is a zero-balance savings account.  With this savings account, senior citizens do not have to maintain a minimum balance and there are no maintenance charges. The interest rate per annum is 4% for deposits for senior citizens holding the Canara Jeevan Dhara Savings account.

 

4. NHA and IRDAI collaborate to boost digital health integration in insurance: The National Health Authority (NHA) and IRDAI (Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India) jointly organized an exclusive three-day Accelerator Workshop. Objective – To help insurance companies complete their Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) integration and to facilitate adoption of Health Claims Exchange (HCX) specifications. The workshop was organized in New Delhi and saw participation from over 150 professionals representing 29 insurance companies and 16 TPAs. The IRDAI issued a circular in June 2023 advising all insurance companies to start capturing the ABHA (Ayushman Bharat Health Account) number of all of the persons seeking insurance cover and also to obtain their consent for sharing medical records with insurers/TPAs through АВНА. The ABHA number would help identify the insured in a digital environment and facilitate seamless healthcare and insurance service delivery.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Indian-American Economist Raj Chetty awarded top Harvard University prize: Indian-American economist Raj Chetty has been awarded Harward University's coveted George Ledlie Prize 2023 for wielding big data to break myths about who achieves the American Dream The award is given every two years to a member of the Harvard community who has made the most valuable contribution to science or in any way for the benefit of mankind. He is also director of Opportunity Insights, a group of economists based at Harvard who studies inequality.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Eminent scientist Padma MRS Rao passes away in Bengaluru at 75: Manchanahalli Rangaswamy Satyanarayana Rao, popularly known as MRS Rao, an eminent Indian scientist and Padma Shri awardee, passes away.  He was well known for his discipline, scientific knowledge, patience, soft-spoken nature and mentorship of PhD students. He was honored with the Padma Shri award in 2010 for his contributions to the field of science and engineering. He was the first scientist to initiate Chromatin Biology research in India.

Daily GK Update- 16th Aug, 2023

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. In a first in India, Goa to give free IVF treatment in govt hospital: Goa has become the first Indian state to offer free in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment.  Chief Minister Pramod Sawant inaugurated the Assisted reproductive technology (ART) and intrauterine insemination (IUI), at the Goa Medical College (GMC) in Bambolim. About IVF It’s one of the more widely known types of ART IVF works by using a combination of medicines and surgical procedures to help sperm fertilize an egg and help the fertilized egg implant in your uterus.

 

2. G20 Film Festival begins in New Delhi: Veteran actor Victor Banerjee and Amitabh Kant (India's G20 Sherpa) have inaugurated the G20 Film Festival in New Delhi. Aims: To celebrate and showcase a vibrant and collaborative partnership existing amongst the G20 and invited countries in the field of cinema.  It is organized by the India International Centre and the G20 Secretariat of the Ministry of External Affairs.  The event will continue till 2nd September.

 

3. G20 Digital Economy Working Group meetings to begin in Bengaluru: The G20 4th Digital Economy Working Group and Digital Economy Ministerial meetings will be held in Bengaluru from August 16th to 19th.  Aim: To discuss the various issues relating to digital information, service delivery to citizens and the growth of the digital economy There would be the Digital Innovation Alliance summit on August 17 and 18th to recognize and support innovators from various G20 member countries and Guest countries.

 

4. Govt launched Vishwakarma Yojana for skilled traditional craftsmen: The government would launch a special scheme for traditional craftsmen and workers during Vishwakarma Jayanti on September 17. Objective: To benefit individuals skilled in traditional craftsmanship, particularly from the OBC community. Weavers, goldsmiths, blacksmiths, laundry workers, barbers, and their families will be empowered through the Vishwakarma Yojana The PM showcase the importance of capitalising on the demographic dividend and preparing a skilled workforce

 

5. Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports is organizing Y20 Summit in Varanasi: The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports is organizing Youth 20 Summit-2023 from 17th August to 20th August in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.  The themes include Future of Work: Industry 4.0, Innovation and 21st Century Skills, Peacebuilding and Reconciliation: Ushering in an Era of No War, and Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction. The Y20 Summit will bring together youth experts, decision-makers, and youth representatives from G20 countries.

 

6. Parsi New Year 2023: 16th August: The Parsi New Year is observed on August 16, 2023. This day marks the beginning of the Zoroastrian calendar.  The Parsi New Year, also known as the festival of Navroz or Nowruz, falls between July and August in India.  Derived from the Persian words 'Nav' and 'Roz' which literally translates to 'new day', the tradition of celebrating Parsi New Year is believed to have been observed by Iranians and Zoroastrians for the past 3,000 years.

 

7. Amrit Udyan reopened for public from 16th August 2023: Amrit Udyan, formerly known as the Mughal Gardens has been open to the public starting from today for a period of one month (until September 17). This will be the second edition of Udyan Utsav that aims to display the vibrant summer annual blossoms to visitors. In a first instance, these iconic gardens at Rashtrapati Bhavan are being accessible twice within a single year. Visitors can visit the gardens from 10 am to 5 pm (last entry at 4 pm).

 

8. NHA and IRDAI collaborate to boost digital health integration in insurance: The National Health Authority (NHA) and IRDAI (Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India) jointly organized an exclusive three-day Accelerator Workshop Aim: To  help insurance companies complete their Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) integration and to facilitate adoption of Health Claims Exchange (HCX) specifications IRDAI also issued a circular advising the insurers and providers get on-boarded to the National Health Claims Exchange (NHCX).

 

9. Goa to give free IVF treatment in govt hospital: Goa has become the first Indian state to offer free In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) treatment. The inauguration of this service, alongside assisted reproductive technology (ART) and intrauterine insemination (IUI), was done by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant at the Goa Medical College (GMC) in Bambolim. Depending on the hospital and the kind of IVF treatment, the cost of IVF in India comes between Rs 70,000 to Rs 3 lakh per cycle. The service is already receiving a good response, with approximately 100 parents registering with GMC to access the IVF facility located within its super-specialty block.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. 1st crude oil transaction in local currency undertaken between India-UAE: The first-ever crude oil transaction under the newly implemented Local Currency Settlement (LCS) system took place between Abu Dhabi National Oil Company and Indian Oil Corporation Limited. Both Indian Rupees and UAE Dirhams were used for the transaction,  India and UAE have a strong oil and gas relationship and the UAE is a key partner for India's energy security.  UAE is the fourth largest source of crude oil and the second largest source of LNG and LPG for India.

 

2. PayPal names Intuit's Alex Chriss as its new CEO: PayPal appointed Alex Chriss as CEO, replaced its longest-serving chief executive officer Dan Schulman in August 2023. He currently serves as the Executive Vice President and General Manager of Intuit's Small Business and Self-Employed Group,  The change of guard marks a watershed moment for digital payments giant PayPal, which has been looking to push deeper into the cryptocurrency payments space with the launch of a U.S. dollar stablecoin last week.

3. Infosys bags $1.6 billion deal with telecom firm Liberty Global: Indian IT services company, Infosys has bagged a €€1.5 billion ($1.64 billion) deal from Liberty Global to build and scale the entertainment and connectivity platforms of the digital communications firm. The agreement has an initial tenure of five years which can be extended to eight years, which would take the deal value to €€2.3 billion ($2.5 billion). This is the third big agreement, which Infosys has clinched this year and comes at a time when the company has cut its revenue guidance for the current fiscal amidst tough macroeconomic conditions. Infosys’ deal follows, HCL Tech, which last week a bagged a $2.1- billion contract from Verizon. Three months back, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)-led consortium also received an order of Rs 15,000 crore ($1.8 billion) from BSNL, for the deployment of a 4G network across India. Last month, even L&T Technology Services announced that it has won $50 million deal in the same vertical.

 

4. Anwarul Haq Kakar sworn in as Pakistan’s Caretaker Prime Minister:               Anwarul Haq Kakar was sworn in as Pakistan’s caretaker prime minister to head a neutral political set-up to run the cash-strapped country and conduct the next general elections. President Arif Alvi administered the oath to 52-year-old Kakar at a simple ceremony held at the President House, attended by outgoing prime minister Shehbaz Sharif and several top leaders. He became the 8th interim prime minister of Pakistan. Kakar formally resigned from the Senate and the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), solidifying his commitment to the neutrality demanded by his current position.

 

5. 16 August- Bennington Battle Day: Bennington Battle Day is observed annually on August 16, and stands as a revered state holiday in Vermont. This commemorative day honors the valor and determination displayed by American and Vermont forces during the Revolutionary War’s Battle of Bennington in 1777. The Battle of Bennington held substantial significance, marking a turning point in the Revolutionary War. This pivotal encounter proved instrumental in securing Vermont for the American cause and lifting spirits dampened by a series of British successes. Furthermore, the battle’s outcome resulted in the capture of vital supplies crucially needed by the British. The origins of Bennington Battle Day can be traced back to 1778 when the Vermont General Assembly passed a resolution to memorialize the valorous events of the battle. The inaugural formal celebration of Bennington Battle Day took place in 1780.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. England pacer Steven Finn announces retirement from all forms of Cricket: England fast bowler Steven Finn has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket. He suffered a knee injury that kept him out of action for most of 2023 and led to him calling time on his 18-year career. Finn played 36 Tests, 69 ODIs and 21 T20Is after making his international debut in 2010 against Bangladesh. He showed his wares early in his career, returning 14 wickets in England’s win in the men’s Ashes of 2010-11. He also picked up 12 wickets – the second-most for England – in the 2015 Ashes that they won. Overall, he finished with 125 wickets in Tests, 102 in ODIs and 27 in T20Is.

 

2. Woakes named ICC Men’s Player of the Month for July 2023: England all-rounder Chris Woakes was named the ICC Men’s Player of the Month for July 2023. The Englishman beat compatriot Zak Crawley and Netherlands’ Bas de Leede to claim the honour. He bagged the Player-of-the-Match at the Oval and was also named the Player-of-the-Series for his 19 wickets in three matches at an average of 18.15.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. RBI imposes monetary penalty on four co-operative banks for violating rules: The Reserve Bank has imposed monetary penalties on four co-operative banks for deficiencies in regulatory compliance. These banks are — Baroda Gujarat Gramin Bank, Vadodara, The Aska Co-operative Central Bank Ltd., Bally Cooperative Bank Ltd., Howrah and The Nabapalli Co-operative Bank Ltd., West Bengal. RBI imposed a penalty of Rs 2.50 lakh on Nabapalli Co-operative Bank, West Bengal and Rs 1 lakh on Bally Co-operative Bank, West Bengal. The penalty on Aska Cooperative Bank, Aska (Odisha) was Rs 50,000 and on Baroda Gujarat Gramin Bank, Vadodara (Gujarat) was Rs 5 lakh. The central bank said that the penalties were due to deficiencies in regulatory compliance by the banks.

 

2. India to become 3rd largest economy by 2027: SBI chief economist: The Group Chief Economic Advisor at the State Bank of India (SBI), Soumya Kanti Ghoshon has reiterated that India is likely to become the third-largest economy by 2027. Indian economy is currently ranked fifth and is behind the US, China, Japan, and Germany. In 2014, India was the 10th largest economy. In 2022, India became the fifth-largest economy overtaking the UK. And most likely in the next couple of years, by 2027, India will become the third largest economy, just after US and China. India to become a developed country by 2047. And that is actually a true reflection of unity in diversity. And that is possibly the best gift that India could get in its hundred years of independence.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. 954 Police personnel awarded Police Medals on Independence Day: A total of 954 Police personnel has been awarded Police Medals on the occasion of Independence Day. The President’s Police Medal for Gallantry has been awarded to CRPF personnel and the Police Medal for Gallantry has been awarded to 229 personnel. President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service has been awarded to 82 and the Police Medal for Meritorious Service to 642 personnel. 125 personnel from Left Wing Extremism affected areas, 71 personnel from Jammu and Kashmir region and 11 personnel from North East region are being awarded for their gallant action. Among the majority of the 230 Gallantry Awards, 125 personnel from Left Wing Extremism affected areas, 71 personnel from Jammu & Kashmir region and 11 personnel from North East region are being awarded for their gallant action. Among the personnel receiving Gallantry Awards, 28 are from CRPF, 33 are from Maharashtra, 55 are from J&K Police, 24 are from Chhattisgarh, 22 are from Telangana and 18 are from Andhra Pradesh the remaining from the other States/UTs and CAPFs.

 

2. 53 personnel awarded Fire Service Medals on Independence Day 2023: A total of 53 personnel has been awarded Fire Service Medals on the occasion of Independence Day 2023. Out of these, President’s Fire Service Medal for Gallantry is awarded to 03 personnel and Fire Service Medal for Gallantry is awarded to 01 personnel for their respective acts of valour and gallantry. President’s Fire Service Medal for Distinguished Service is awarded to 8 personnel and Fire Service Medal for Meritorious Service is awarded to 41 personnel for their respective distinguished and meritorious records of services. In addition, 48 personnel/volunteers are also awarded Home Guards & Civil Defence Medals on the occasion of Independence Day, 2023.

 

3. Ashleigh Gardner becomes 1st Australian to win consecutive ICC awards: Ashleigh Gardner of Australia has achieved a historic feat by becoming the first Australian cricketer to secure the ICC Player of the Month Award in back-to-back months. Ashleigh Gardner has become the first-ever Australian cricketer to win the ICC Player of the Month award in consecutive months. For her outstanding performances in the month of July, Gardner emerged victorious in the ICC POTM award. This victory marks the fourth occasion that she has clinched this prestigious monthly accolade, surpassing fellow all-rounders Ellyse Perry and Nat Sciver-Brunt in the race for the title. Gardner played a pivotal role in both batting and bowling during the T20I leg of the Ashes series. Although she went without any wickets in the first and last matches, she contributed with the bat, scoring 31 and 32 runs. In the second T20I, she showcased her bowling prowess by capturing two wickets. This marked the fourth time Gardner has won the coveted monthly award.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Renowned author Hari Narke passes away in Mumbai: Renowned author and vice-president of Samata Parishad, Hari Narke passed away at the age of 70 in Mumbai. Narke was the professor of Mahatma Phule chair at Savitribai Phule Pune University and a former member of the Maharashtra Backward Class Commission. He was also a member of the Rangnath Pathare committee which was formed to collect evidence to prove Marathi as a classical language.

Daily GK Update- 15th Aug, 2023

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India celebrates 77th Independence Day: India is celebrating its 77th Independence Day on August 15, 2023. PM Narendra Modi addressed the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort in Delhi and unfurled the national flag. This year, the theme is 'Nation First, Always First' under the 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav' celebration. This year, around 1,800 special guests from various sections of society were invited to witness the ceremony. The G2o logo made from flowers is displayed on the ground

 

2. Eknath Shinde launched a mobile app & WhatsApp helpline: Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde launched a mobile app and WhatsApp helpline for the Chief Minister's Medical Assistance Fund.  A helpline number 8650567567 has been started for patients and their relatives. More than 12 thousand 500 patients have benefited from the Chief Minister's Aid Fund in the last one year.  On this occasion, the fifth edition of the medical aid manual and the book 'Rokhthok' based on the ideology of Balasaheb Thackeray was launched.

 

3. Telangana govt announces farm loan waiver up to Rs 99999: Telangana government has announced a farm loan waiver of up to 99 thousand 999 in August 2023. It will be cleared within the next 45 days. The Government has released over 5,800 crore rupees towards this end which will benefit over 9 lakh farmers. The amount will be transferred directly into loan accounts of farmers. With the latest decision, farm loans up to 99,999, amounting to 7753.43 crore rupees, of over 16 lakh 66 thousand farmers will be cleared.

 

4. Arunachal govt allots 12 'stalled' hydropower projects to three Central PSU: Arunachal Pradesh Government signed MoAs with three Central Public Sector Undertakings to allot 12 'stalled' hydropower projects in August 2023. The three CPSUs are National Hydroelectric Power Corporation Limited, Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd (SJVN) and North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited. The total operational capacity of these 12 projects, withdrawn from the private players, will be to the tune of 11,523 MW.  CM of Arunachal Pradesh is Pema Khandu

 

5. CM Ashok Gehlot launches free food packet scheme: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot launched the Mukhyamantri Nishulk Annapurna Food Packet Scheme on the occasion of Independence Day. Under the scheme, families covered under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) will get the Annapurna food packets every month from the fair price shops (FPS) for free. Each packet will contain one kg each of gram pulses, sugar and iodized salt, one litre soybean refined edible oil, 100 gram each of chili powder and coriander powder.

 

6. 'A-HELP' Programme and Infertility Camp launched by Parshottam Rupala: The Union Minister for Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Parshottam Rupala has unveiled the 'A-HELP' (Accredited Agent for Health and Extension of Livestock Production) along with an Infertility Camp in Gujarat.  Gov is leading these initiatives as part of the Pashudhan Jagrati Abhiyaan under Inclusive Development.  Objective: To mark a significant stride towards empowering women, enhancing livestock productivity, and advancing the socio-economic landscape of the region.

 

7. R Doraiswamy appoints as MD of LIC: Centre has appointed R Doraiswamy, Executive Director of Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) as Managing Director of the insurance behemoth. Doraiswamy will replace Ipe Mini, who is currently an MD of LIC and is due to superannuate at the end of this month. Doraiswamy has been appointed from the date of assumption of charge of the office on or after 1 September 2023 and up to the date of his superannuation (31 August 2026) or until further orders, whichever is earlier. Currently, LIC has four Managing Directors — Mini Ipe, M Jagannath, Tablesh Pandey, and Sat Pal Bhanoo. The Centre had appointed Bhanoo as MD of LIC last month.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Jannik Sinner clinches maiden Canadian Open title: Jannik Sinner broke new ground in Toronto when he captured his maiden ATP Masters 1000 title at the Canadian Open, defeating Alex de Minaur in the summit clash. He broke the Australian’s serve five times to become only the second Italian Masters 1000 champion since the series began in 1990, joining Fabio Fognini (Monte-Carlo 2019).

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. RBI to launch pilot project on Public Tech Platform: The RBI has announced the launch of the Pilot Project for Public Tech Platform for Frictionless Credit by Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the RBI in August 2023. Aim:  To enable delivery of frictionless credit by facilitating a seamless flow of required digital information to lenders. Objectives:  To encourages various stakeholders, including banks, non-banking financial companies, FinTech firms, and startups, and other financial services

 

2. Retail inflation rises to 15-month high of 7.44 percent in July: India’s retail inflation surged to 44 percent in July on an annual basis as against 4.81 percent in June, showed data released by the Ministry of statistics. It is the highest reading since May 2022 when the inflation rate stood at 7.79 percent. The consumer food price index (CFPI) rose to 11.51 percent from 4.49 percent in June. Rural inflation stood at 7.63 percent while urban inflation stood at 7.20 percent. The consumer-price index (CPI) based inflation breached the upper limit of the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) tolerance band of 2-6 percent after staying within for four consecutive months. The inflation rate for vegetables witnessed a sharp increase and rose to 37.34 percent against a contraction of 0.93 percent y-o-y. The inflation levels for food & beverage surged to 10.57 percent from 4.63 percent. For cereals, the inflation rate increased to 13.04 percent from 12.71 percent in June. In its August Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting, the RBI raised its inflation forecast for the current fiscal to 5.4 percent from 5.1 per cent forecast in June policy.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. President Droupadi Murmu confers 76 Gallantry awards in 2023: President Droupadi Murmu has conferred 76 Gallantry awards to members of the Armed Forces and Central Armed Police Forces on the occasion of Independence Day 2023.

Awards includes:

·       Kirti Chakra awards (awarded posthumously) - 4

·       Shaurya Chakra awards (including five posthumous) - 11

·       Bar to Sena Medals (Gallantry)- 2 

·       Sena Medals (Gallantry) - 52  

·       Nao Sena Medals (Gallantry) -3 

·       Vayu Sena Medals (Gallantry) - 4

 

2. 53 personnel awarded Fire Service Medals on Independence Day 2023: A total of 53 personnel have been awarded Fire Service Medals on the occasion of Independence Day, 2023. 
Awards Include President’s Fire Service Medal for Distinguished Service has been awarded to 8

Personnel and Fire Service Medal for Meritorious Service has been awarded to 41 The President's Fire Service Medal for Gallantry has been awarded to 3 The Personnel and Fire Service Medal for Gallantry has been awarded to 1 personnel for their acts of valour and gallantry

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Sulabh founder Bindeshwar Pathak passes away at 80: Bindeshwar Pathak the founder of Sulabh International passed away due to a cardiac arrest He was a pioneer in building public toilets.  He founded Sulabh International, a social service organization that works to promote human rights, environmental sanitation, waste management In 1991, He was awarded the Padma Bhushan for his work for liberating and rehabilitating manual scavengers and also for preventing environmental pollution by providing pour-flush toilet technology