Daily GK Update- 23rd Aug, 2023

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. The US 's FDA approved first respiratory syncytial virus vaccine: The United States of America’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine for use in women during pregnancy to protect the baby.  Aim: To prevent lower respiratory tract infection and severe disease in infants until they are six months old.  This vaccine has been developed by Pfizer and the approval allows the vaccine to be given to women 32 to 36 weeks of pregnancy

 

2. 4th G20 Culture Working Group (CWG) Meeting to begin in Varanasi: The 4th G20 Culture Working Group (CWG) Meeting will begin in Varanasi in August 2023 Aim: To arrive at actionable outcomes while positioning culture at the heart of policy-making. G20 Culture: Shaping the Global Narrative for Inclusive Growth”. will be launched in Varanasi as a part of the Culture Ministers’ Meeting.  The CWG will also release a special stamp to commemorate the Culture Unites All’ campaign to highlight India’s unwavering belief in multilateralism.

 

3. Sachin to be National Icon for voter awarenes and Education for EC of India: Bharat Ratna awardee Sachin Tendulkar would begin a new inning as the ‘National Icon’ for voter awareness and education for the election commission of India. MoU will be signed with Sachin for a period of three years in the presence of Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar in New Delhi Aim: To bridge the gap between citizens, especially youth and urban populations, and the electoral process thereby, trying to address the challenges of urban and youth apathy.

 

4. Jitendra Singh unveils new lotus variety ‘Namoh 108’: Minister of Science Jitendra Singh, launched "NBRI Namoh 108", a unique variety of Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) with 108 petals, in Lucknow. It was developed by the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research- National Botanical Research Institute (CSIR-NBRI), Lucknow Jitendra Singh also introduced apparel made from lotus fibre and perfume 'Frotus'. The perfume is extracted from lotus flowers and was developed by NBRI, and the Fragrance & Flavour Development Centre

 

5. Nitin Gadkari launches Bharat NCAP (New Car Assessment Programe): Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has launched the Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (Bharat NCAP). Bharat NCAP is a significant step forward in the government’s commitment to improve road safety by raising the safety standards of motor vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes in India. The programme aims to provide a tool to the car customers to make a comparative assessment of crash safety of motor vehicles available in the market. Under this programme, car manufacturers can voluntarily offer their cars tested as per Automotive Industry Standard (AIS) 197. Based on the performance of the car in the tests, the car will be awarded star ratings for Adult Occupants (AOP) and Child Occupant (COP). Potential car customers can refer to these star ratings to compare the safety standards of different vehicles and accordingly make their purchase-decision.

6. Justice Prakash Shrivastava appointed Chairperson of National Green Tribunal : Former Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court, Justice Prakash Shrivastava has been appointed as the new Chairman of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) The Cabinet Appointments Committee of the Central Government approved the appointment of Justice Prakash Srivastava as the Chairman of the NGT. NGT was set up under the National Green Tribunal Act in 2010. Earlier, Justice Shiv Kumar Singh was appointed as the executive chairperson after the retirement of the then NGT Chairman Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel in July. Justice Shrivastava was appointed as a Judge of the Madhya Pradesh high court in January 2008. He became a permanent judge two years later. He was appointed as the Chief Justice of the Calcutta high court in October 2021. He was retired from there in March this year.

 

7. Sachin Tendulkar designated as ‘national Icon’ By EC: Cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar has been designated as a “national icon” by the Election Commission (EC) to encourage greater voter participation in the electoral process. A memorandum of understanding has been signed between Tendulkar and the poll panel. As part of the three-year agreement, Tendulkar will spread voter awareness. This collaboration would mark a significant step towards leveraging Tendulkar’s unparalleled impact with the youth for increasing voters’ participation in the forthcoming elections, especially in general elections (to Lok Sabha), 2024. Last year, the commission had recognized actor Pankaj Tripathi as a national icon. Earlier, during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, stalwarts such as MS Dhoni, Aamir Khan and Mary Kom had been the EC’s national icons.

 

8. 27th edition of the naval exercise ‘Malabar’ of QUAD nations concludes : The 27th edition of the naval exercise Malabar concluded off Sydney on Australia’s East Coast Ships, submarines, and aircraft from the Indian Navy, Royal Australian Navy (RAN), Japan Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) and the US Navy (USN) participated in the exercise. The five-day-long naval exercise was conducted in two phases, which included a harbour phase and a sea phase. The Indian Navy was represented by the indigenously built Destroyer INS Kolkata, Frigate INS Sahyadri and P8I Maritime Patrol Aircraft.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. ICG signs MoU with Philippine Coast Guard to enhance maritime cooperation: Indian Coast Guard has signed a MoU with the Philippine Coast Guard to enhance maritime cooperation in New Delhi Aim: To enhance bilateral maritime cooperation between the two nations for ensuring safe, secure, and clean seas in the region.  Objective: To enhance the professional linkage between the two Coast Guards in the domain of Maritime Law Enforcement, Maritime Search and Rescue, and Marine Pollution Response.

 

2. International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition: International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition is observed annually on August 23.  Aim: To raises awareness about the horrifying nature of the slave trade and remind people about the transatlantic slave trade and its implications.  Theme of international Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition 2023 is “Fighting slavery's legacy of racism through transformative education”

 

3. China launches Gaofen Earth-observation satellite: China sent a new Earth observation satellite Gaofen-12 04 into space from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in China. The satellite, Gaofen-12 04, was launched by a Long March-4C carrier rocket  and has entered the planned orbit successfully. It will be used in a variety of fields, including land surveys, urban planning, road network design, crop yield estimation and disaster relief. The launch marks the 484th flight mission of the Long March series carrier rockets.

 

4. Srettha Thavisin elected as Prime Minister of Thailand: The Pheu Thai Party’s Srettha Thavisin become Thailand’s prime minister after clinching parliamentary support He co-founded Sansiri in 1988, which later became one of Thailand's largest real estate developers, leading Srettha to become a property tycoon. He was the former chief executive and president of Sansiri. Srettha will lead an alliance of 11 parties that includes two pro-military parties affiliated with outgoing Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha

 

5. Indonesia seeks to emulate India’s Jan Aushadhi Kendra model: Indonesian Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin visited a Jan Anushadhi Kendra in Gujarat’s Gandhinagar. Sadikin praised India’s healthcare model and sought to replicate the same PM Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana in Indonesia. Jan Aushadhi Kendras provide affordable medicines to senior citizens and middle-class families in India, with prices ranging from Rs 10 to Rs 20. Notably, Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Independence Day speech from Red Fort this year said that the government has plans to increase the number of ‘Jan Aushadhi Kendras’ from 10,000 to 25,000.

Jan Aushadhi Kendras have provided new strength to senior citizens and middle-class families in our nation. We provide medicines which cost Rs 100 in the market for just Rs 10, Rs 15, Rs 20 through Jan Aushadhi Kendras,” PM Modi had said from Red Fort.

 

6. Viacom 18 appointed Kiran Mani as CEO of digital business: Viacom 18 has appointed Google’s Kiran Mani as CEO overseeing digital business operations. Currently, Mani is Google’s General Manager and MD for Android and Google Play for the Asia Pacific region. As the head of the digital business, Mani will be responsible for spearheading the growth of JioCinema, which has disrupted the video streaming market with its free proposition.

 

 

 

 

     OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. India bagged gold and silver at World Para Powerlifting Championships 2023: Honey Dabas and Rahul Jograjiya clinched first-ever gold and silver respectively in the junior men’s 72kg category at the World Para Powerlifting Championships 2023  in Dubai. Dabas lifted a best total of 135kg while Jograjiya had his best total lift of 132kg. Dabas has two gold medals from the Dubai 2022 Fazza World Cup. India’s only medal at a World Championships has been claimed by Parmjeet Kumar (men’s -49kg) at the Tbilisi 2021 World Championships.

 

2. Khelo India Women’s League officially be known as Asmita Women's League: Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Singh has announced that the Khelo India Women’s League will officially be known as Asmita Women's League. ASMITA refers to Achieving Sports Milestone by Inspiring Women Through Action. The Asmita Portal serves as a comprehensive resource, offering valuable insights into upcoming leagues among other features. It will enable any school, college, government, or private organization to host the 'Asmita Women's League.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. LIC acquires 6.7% stake in Jio Financial Services via RIL demerger action: The Life Insurance Corporation of India has acquired a 6.66 per cent stake in Jio Financial Services owing to the de-merger action by Reliance Industries. According to the LIC the cost of acquisition is equivalent to 4.68 per cent of the pre de-merged cost of Reliance Industries.  The country’s largest insurer held a 6.49 per cent stake in RIL at the end of June 2023. JFS shares hit its lower circuit limits for the second straight session on August 21.

 

2. Canara Bank launches UPI Interoperable Digital Rupee mobile application: Canara Bank has launched the UPI Interoperable Digital Rupee mobile application as a part of the Reserve Bank of India’s Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) pilot project. It is the first bank in both the public and commercial sectors to offer this feature via its CBDC mobile app called the Canara Digital Rupee app. With the introduction of this feature, customers can scan merchant UPI QR codes using the Canara Digital Rupee app and pay through digital currency. Moreover, the feature is aimed at empowering merchants to accept digital currency payments using their existing UPI QR codes in addition to UPI-based payments without the requirement of a separate onboarding process for CBDC. Digital currency is legal tender per RBI regulations, and the launch of this app is a significant step towards adopting digital currency in India.

 

3. Government to launch ‘Mera Bill Mera Adhikar’ GST reward scheme: The government will launch the ‘Mera Bill Mera Adhikar’ invoice incentive scheme, which offers cash prize from Rs 10,000 to Rs 1 crore. Under the invoice incentivization scheme, cash prize of Rs 10 lakh to Rs 1 crore monthly/quarterly could be given to individuals who upload invoice received from retailer or wholesaler on the app. The invoice uploaded on the app should have the GSTIN of the seller, invoice number, amount paid and tax amount. An individual would be able to upload a maximum of 25 genuine invoices in a month on the app and the invoice should have a minimum purchase value of Rs 200. Over 500 computerized lucky draws would be conducted every months where prize money could run into lakhs of rupees. Two lucky draws will be done in a quarter where the prize amount could be Rs 1 crore. The ‘Mera Bill Mera Adhikar’ scheme would ensure electronic invoice generation even in case of B2C customers so as to enable the buyer to be eligible to participate in the lucky draw.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Former Zimbabwe captain Heath Streak passes away at 49: Former Zimbabwe cricket captain Heath Streak passed away at the age of 49. Streak took 216 wickets and scored 1,990 runs in 65 Tests between 1993 and 2005.  He also played in 189 one-day internationals, scoring 2,943 runs and taking 239 wickets. He was the first Zimbabwean bowler to take 100 wickets in ODIs. Post-retirement Streak served as Bangladesh coach and was the bowling coach of twice Indian Premier League champions Kolkata Knight Riders.

 

2. Haryanvi singer Raju Punjabi passed away at the age of 40: Popular Haryanvi singer Raju Punjabi passed away at the age of 40. A well-established name in the Haryanvi music industry, he had charted out several hit sons as “Desi desi na bolya kar”, “Solid Body”, “Sandal”, “Aacha lage Se”, “Tu Cheez Lajawab”, “Bhang Mere Yaara Ne”, and “Last Peg” among others.

Daily GK Update- 22nd Aug, 2023

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. IREDA signs MoU with Government, Revenue Target for 2023-24 set at ₹ 4,350: Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) has signed a performance-based MoU with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Government of India  The Ministry of Finance outlines strategic targets that IREDA aims to achieve during the fiscal years 2023-24 and 2024-25. IREDA is a Mini Ratna (Category - I), Government of India, enterprise The Gov of India has set a Revenue from Operation target of Rs 4,350 crores for the FY 2023-24 and Rs 5,220 crores for 2024-25

 

2. NHPC signs MoU with RITES for Dibang Multipurpose Project Arunachal Pradesh: State-owned hydro power giant NHPC signed MoU with Rail India Technical and Economic Service to construct railway siding for a 2,880 MW Dibang multipurpose project  NHPC's total installed capacity is 7,097.2 MW of renewable power (including wind and solar) through its 25 power stations, including 1,520 MW through its subsidiary. RITES will provide comprehensive and efficient solutions for developing rail infrastructure facilities for NHPC Dibang

 

3. Jitendra Singh launches the CSIR Prima ET11, the first indigenous e-Tractor: The Union Minister of State Science & Technology Jitendra Singh launched the CSIR Prima ET11, the first indigenous e-Tractor developed by the Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (CMERI), Durgapur. Jitendra Singh focused on the role of Agri StartUps in India’s economy and called for the adoption of new and AI-driven technologies in Agriculture. An increasing number of new Startups are venturing into the Agriculture sector, focussing on niche technology.

 

4. Shivraj Singh Chouhan inaugurated Mukhyamantri Seekho-Kamao yojna scheme: CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan inaugurated the scheme Mukhyamantri Seekho-Kamao yojna means 'Chief Minister's Learn-Earn' scheme in Madhya Pradesh The scheme has facilitated on-the-job training on the lines of 'learn and earn along with skill development, and has been started for the youth in the age group of 18 to 29 yrs Under the scheme, the selected youth will be given training according to the requirements of the industries and also get an 8 to 10 thousand rupees stipend

 

5. Guwahati airport becomes first in northeast to get ‘Digi Yatra’ facility: Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International (LGBI) Airport in Guwahati, become the first in the northeast to launch Digi Yatra for hassle-free travel. Aim: To eliminate the need for verification of tickets and IDs at various touchpoints. The Digi Yatra service will be available in three major areas namely - first entrance, check-in and boarding areas. Passengers will be able to register their documents on the ‘Digi Yatra’ app and enter the airport by scanning their faces.

 

6. Tirupati boy bags silver at Singapore Math Olympiad: Raja Anirudh Sriram, a fourth-standard student of Tirupati, has bagged a silver medal at the Singapore International Math Olympiad Challenge 2023 (SIMOC). His journey of success has been marked by numerous national and international awards that highlight his extraordinary capabilities. More than 2000 students from 32 countries participated in the prestigious event, where Raja Anirudh came up with flying colours.

 

7. AICTE partnered with Jio Institute for faculty development programme: The All-India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has partnered with Jio Institute for a faculty development programme on artificial intelligence (AI) and data science. The partnership aims to upskill and reskill faculty members from AICTE-approved institutions. It will also explore emerging opportunities within the technological landscape. The collaborative initiative aims to empower academic leaders and senior faculty members with a deep understanding of AI and data science while also emphasizing the ethical considerations of utilizing AI tools for immersive learning.

 

8. BPCL announced Rahul Dravid as brand ambassador: Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), the second-largest Indian oil marketing company (OMC), has announced Rahul Dravid as its latest brand ambassador. Rahul Dravid’s remarkable sportsmanship, role model status, integrity, dependability, and trustworthiness perfectly reflect the values we stand for and make him the perfect fit for brand BPCL. Rahul Dravid will represent BPCL’s Pure for Sure initiative and its range of MAK lubricants. CMD of BPCL – G. Krishnakumar

 

9. 20 August – Akshay Urja Day: Akshay Urja Day is observed annually on August 20. Objective – To raise awareness regarding the importance of renewable energy. The main goal of celebrating the day is to create awareness about the energy generated by using natural resources like hydroelectric power, solar energy, wind energy, and biogas. The Akshay Urja Day was initially established by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy in 2004. The first observation was organized in Delhi when a commemorative stamp was released by the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. To promote the goal of the day, a human chain having nearly 12,000 students from different schools was formed in Delhi.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. First Foreign Office Consultations between India and Samoa held in Apia: The 1st Foreign Office Consultations FOC between India and Samoa was held in Apia in August 2023 Aim: To discuss their wide-ranging bilateral relations including their development partnership covering areas such as health, Information and Communications Technology ICT, Education, and  Small and Medium Sized Enterprises SME They also discussed follow-up on Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation FIPIC III Summit, as well as regional and global issues

 

2. Saudi Arabia Launches AI-Powered Program to Combat Desertification: The Saudi Environment Ministry has launched a program to combat desertification using artificial intelligence (AI).  Aim: To study the status of vegetative cover in the Kingdom and contribute to the goals of afforestation projects and the "Green Saudi" initiative. It will use AI to analyze satellite imagery to identify areas that are most vulnerable to desertification.  Remote sensing technologies will be used to monitor vegetation cover, and track its changes over time.

 

3. Viacom18 appointed Kiran Mani as CEO of digital business: Viacom18 has appointed Google's Kiran Mani as CEO overseeing digital business operations in August 2023. Currentl he holds the position of General Manager and MD for Android and Google Play in the Asia Pacific region at Google.  He has been associated with the company for over 13 years now. Mani, in his role as the head of the digital business, will have the responsibility of leading the expansion of JioCinema, according to the sources.

 

4. 22 August – International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition: International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition is observed annually on August 23. This day raises awareness about the horrifying nature of the slave trade and reminds people about the transatlantic slave trade and its implications It commemorates the day when an uprising began in Saint Domingue, now called Haiti, on 23 August 1791, against the slave trade. Haiti was a French settlement and a centre of the slave trade across Europe. The uprising led to a revolution against the rulers of the country. Did you know that the transatlantic slave trade affected over 15 million people, including children, for more than 400 years? This day is observed in memory of all victims of the slave trade and also aspires to promote critical examinations of such behaviors that could lead to modern forms of exploitation and slavery.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Novak Djokovic secured the titles Cincinnati Open 2023: Novak Djokovic of Serbia secured the titles Cincinnati Open 2023 after defeating Carlos Alcaraz of Spain. The win delivered Djokovic his 95th career title and 39th Masters 1000 crown. The Spaniard is currently ranked at number one in the ATP Tour rankings, with Djokovic ranked just behind him at number two. Djokovic is the only player in tennis history to be the reigning champion of all four majors at once across all three different surfaces

 

2. Spain beat England to become Women’s World Cup champions: Spain’s women’s football team won the World Cup 2023 for the first time after beating England 1-0 in Sydney, Australia. With this win, Spain also became only the second nation to clinch both the men’s and the women’s World Cups after Germany. pain’s first major international trophy made it the first European team to win the Women’s World Cup since Germany in 2007. The other nation is Germany, who won the men’s World Cup in 1974 and 1990, and the women’s World Cup in 2003 and 2007. Spain’s Olga Carmona scored the winning goal against England.

 

3. India’s Anahat Singh clinches gold in Asian Junior: India’s Anahat Singh clinched the gold medal in the U-17 category of the Asian Junior Squash Individual Championships held in Dalian, China. The 15-year-old Anahat defeated Hong Kong’s Ena Kwong 3-1 in the final on 20th August 2023 to win the gold medal. She had beaten Malaysian players Doyce Lee and Whitney Isabelle Wilson in the quarterfinal and semifinal, respectively. Last year in Thailand, the Delhi-based Anahat had won her first gold medal of this event. Earlier this year, Anahat emerged winner in the U-15 category of the British Junior Open Squash, beating Sohaila Hazem of Egypt in the final.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Canara Bank launches UPI Interoperable Digital Rupee mobile application: Canara Bank launched the UPI Interoperable Digital Rupee mobile application and become the first bank in both the public and commercial sectors to offer this feature via its CBDC mobile app called the Canara Digital Rupee  Aim: To empower merchants to accept digital currency payments using their existing UPI QR codes in addition to UPI-based payments without the requirement of a separate onboarding process for CBDC. CEO of Canara Bank is K. Satyanarayana Raju

 

2. YES BANK launched ‘iris’ to offer digital banking solutions in India: Private lender YES Bank has launched its state-of-the-art mobile banking app ‘iris’ by YES Bank. The iris app has a sleek and intuitive user interface that aims to offer a simplified banking experience for users of all age groups, and backgrounds. Designed to cater to both existing and new customers, the app offers access over 100 features and services in just a few clicks on a single platform. It also ensures utmost safety of the customers’ financial data by incorporating best-in-class safety features like – Biometric Authentication, Sim-Binding as well as a 2-factor Verification

 

3. Indian Bank opens specialized startup cells in 10 cities: Public sector Indian Bank has set up 10 startup cells across different centres in the country to serve its specialized banking requirements. The startup cells have been set up in Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Coimbatore, Chennai, New Delhi, Gurgaon, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Kanpur and Mumbai. It includes offering payment gateways, corporate credit cards and credit facilities apart from the existing products of the bank. The launch of the startup cells is a major milestone in Indian Bank’s journey to support the growth of the startup ecosystem in India. The startup cell branches would have dedicated relationship managers, who would partner with them and build lifecycle engagement with the start-ups. Indian Bank has also launched ‘IND SPRINGBOARD’ — a customised loan product for startups to address their unique financial challenges.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Ratan Tata conferred Maharashtra's first Udyog Ratna award: Veteran industrialist Ratan Tata conferred the first-ever 'Udyog Ratna' award instituted by the Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.  The honour comprised a shawl, a citation and a memento from the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC). The aim of the Maharashtra Udyog Ratna Awards is to honour those people and groups who have significantly impacted Maharashtra's business, industry, education, financial services, fashion, and other sectors.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Adobe co-founder John Warnock passes away at 82: Former John Warnock, who helped invent the PDF and co-founded Adobe Systems passed away at the age of 82. He worked for Xerox before he and colleague Charles Geschke created a company around a rejected idea in 1982.  Later, he outlined an early version of the Portable Document Format, or PDF, transforming the way documents are exchanged. In 1964, he solved the Jacobson radical, an abstract algebra problem that had been a mystery since it was posed eight years before.

Daily GK Update- 21st Aug, 2023

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Nitin Gadkari to launch the Bharat New Car Assessment Programme: Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari launches the Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (Bharat NCAP) to improve road safety through raising the safety standards of motor vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes in India. Aim: To provide a tool to the car customers to make a comparative assessment of crash safety of motor vehicles available in the market.  Under Bharat NCAP, car manufacturers can voluntarily offer their cars for testing as per the Automotive Industry Standard (AIS) 197.

 

2. UP, Gujarat among top 5 states in new investments: Uttar Pradesh (UP) and Gujarat are among the top 5 states in India in terms of new investments in 2022-23.  According to RBI these two states together accounted for 57.2% of the total investment proposals made during the year.  In 2022-23, UP attracted the highest share of new investments, with a total project cost of Rs. 43,180 crore.  Followed by Gujarat (Rs. 37,317 crore), Odisha (Rs. 11,810 crore), Maharashtra (Rs. 7,900 crore) and Karnataka (Rs. 7,300 crore).

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Indian Navy submarine, INS Vagir to reach Fremantle, Australia: Indian Navy’s fifth Kalvari class submarine, INS Vagir, will reach Fremantle, Australia on 20 Aug 2023.  INS Vagir will participate in various exercises with Royal Australian Navy (RAN) units on the West Coast of Australia. On the East coast of Australia, Indian Naval ships and aircraft is involved in Exercise AUSINDEX 23 from 22-24 Aug 2023. The RAN submarine and Indian Naval P8i aircraft are scheduled to exercise with INS Vagir.

 

2. Russia’s first lunar mission in decades crashes into the moon : Russia’s first lunar mission in decades has ended in failure with its Luna 25 spacecraft crashing into the moon’s surface. The incident, a blow to Russia’s space ambitions, happened after communication with the robotic spacecraft was interrupted. The measures taken to search for the device and get in contact with it did not yield any results. According to a “preliminary analysis,” Luna-25 “switched to an off-design orbit” before the collision

 

3. China launches military exercises of navy and air force around Taiwan: The Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA)  launched joint air and sea patrols and military exercises of the navy and air force around Taiwan in August 2023. Aim: To test seizing control of air and sea space, and to test combat capabilities. The patrols and exercises are meant to train the coordination of military vessels and airplanes and their ability to seize control of air and sea spaces

 

4. The World Mosquito Day is commemorated on August 20: The World Mosquito Day is commemorated on August 20 globally. Aim: To mark the importance of protecting ourselves and our communities from the potentially deadly diseases transmitted by the insects that are commonly seen in homes across the world.  Theme for World Mosquito Day  2023 is “Fighting the World's Deadliest killer -the Mosquito. “ The mosquitoes are responsible for the spread of diseases like malaria, dengue fever, Zika virus, and West Nile virus.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. India secures Second Rank at 16th IOAA in Chorzów, Poland: India has secured Second Rank at the 16th International Olympiad 2023 on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA) in Poland With Four Gold and One Silver Medal. The United Kingdom clinched the lead with five Golds. A total of 236 students from 50 nations participated at the Olympiad Rajdeep Mishra from Kota, Rajasthan, Koduru Tejeswar from Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, Md. Sahil Akhtar from Kolkata, West Bengal, Akarsh Raj Sahay from Nagpur, Maharashtra were awarded Gold medals.

 

2. R Praggnanandhaa first Indian after Anand to reach semifinals of FIDE 2023: R Praggnanandhaa, the first Indian after Viswanathan Anand to reach the semifinals of the FIDE World Cup 2023, defated his higher-ranked opponent, Fabiano Caruana, in Baku Out of four Indians, who had made it to the quarterfinals, Praggnanandhaa remains the only Indian in the fray. No Indian has reached the last four stage of the Chess World Cup, except Anand, who won the first two editions of the tournament in 2000 and 2002.

 

3. Indian shooter Mehuli secured bronze at ISSF World Championship 2023: Indian shooter Mehuli Ghosh secured bronze medals behind the People’s Republic of China’s Jiayu Han and Zhilin Hang in the women’s 10-meter air rifle event at the ISSF World Championship 2023 in Baku. This Championship 2023 was a qualifying event for the Paris 2024 Olympics.  A total of 48 Olympic quotas are on offer with the top four finishers (one per country) in each of the 12 Olympic individual shooting events. This was India’s fourth Paris 2024 quota in shooting.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Axis Bank partners with RBI innovation hub to launch KCCs and MSME loans: Axis Bank announced the launch of two lending products powered by the Public Tech Platform for Frictionless Credit, introduced by the Reserve Bank Innovation Hub. Objective: To offer Kisan Credit Card (KCC) and unsecured MSME loans to customers powered by the platform.  KCC will be offered in Madhya Pradesh and will be available to customers for up to Rs 1.6 Lakh to start with.  MSME loans will be available across the country and will offer loans upto Rs. 10 Lakh

Daily GK Update- 20th Aug, 2023

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Wipro launches center of excellence on generative Al at IIT Delhi: Indian IT services company Wipro has launched a centre of excellence on generative artificial intelligence in partnership with the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi (IIT Delhi). This centre has been set up on the premises of the Yardi School of Artificial Intelligence at IIT Delhi, and this Centre of Excellence (CoE) will support applied research in generative AI. The aim of this centre is to encourage and better the research and development capabilities in several emerging areas such as generative AI and then connect the candidates with a talent pool. Wipro CoE teams will jointly work on building innovative solutions using AI, Machine Learning (ML), and other technologies.

 

2. Union Health Minister inaugurated India MedTech Expo 2023: Union Health Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya has inaugurated India’s first medical technology expo, ‘India MedTech Expo 2023’, in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. The inaugural event was organized on the sidelines of the G20 Health Ministers’ Meeting. India has been recognized as the ‘Pharmacy of the World’. It is now time for India to take the lead in the medical devices sector and become the leader in the manufacturing of affordable, innovative, and quality Medical Devices. The “MedTech Expo 2023 draws inspiration from PM Modi’s vision of making India Aatmanirbhar. The Expo is set to become an unparalleled and comprehensive platform for demonstrating the capabilities and promise of the Indian Medical Devices ecosystem. Gujarat’s pharmaceutical industry ranks number one in India with a 33% share in drug manufacturing and 28% share of drug exports.

 

3. Union Power Minister to dedicate NTPC’s 660 MW Power Project in Barh: Union Minister for Power and New and Renewable Energy RK Singh has dedicated to the nation a 660 MW unit of NTPC’s Barh Super Thermal Power Project in Barh, Bihar. The 660 MW unit being inaugurated is Unit 2 of Stage I of the project. The commissioning of this unit would be another milestone in the government’s endeavour to provide reliable and affordable power to the nation. The Union Minister for Power and New & Renewable Energy also lay the foundation stone for the extension of POWERGRID’s (Power Grid Corporation of India Limited) 400/132 kV Lakhisarai Sub-station. As part of the project, 220 kV GIS will be constructed in existing sub-station premises along with the installation of two transformers of 500 MVA capacity. The extension of the substation at Lakhisarai will lead to improved power availability in Lakhisarai, Sheikhpura, Munger and Jamui districts and will also ease supply of power to meet future energy demand.

 

4. 4th G20 Trade and Investment Ministerial Meeting to begin in Jaipur: The G20 Trade and Investment Ministerial Meeting will be held in Jaipur on 24 and 25 of August. The meeting will be preceded by the 4th and last Trade and Investment Working Group meeting under India’s G20 Presidency which will take place on the 21st and 22nd of this month in Jaipur. Both meetings will be attended by more than 300 delegates, including trade ministers and secretaries and heads of delegations from G20 member countries, invitee countries, regional groupings, and international organizations. The deliberations will focus on building consensus on global trade and investment-related issues, along with accomplishing action-oriented proposals put forward by the Indian Presidency.

 

5. Amit Shah plants 4 croreth tree at CRPF Group Center in Greater Noida: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah has planted the 4 Croreth tree under the All-India Tree Plantation Campaign of the Ministry of Home Affairs at the CRPF Group Center in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh. Amit Shah also inaugurated 15 newly constructed buildings, built at a cost of Rs 165 crores, across 8 different campuses of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). The campaign is an initiative of the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) to plant 5 crore trees by Dec 2023.

 

6. LS Speaker inaugurates 9thCommonwealth Parliamentary Conference: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has inaugurated the ninth Commonwealth Parliament Association (CPA) India Region Conference at Udaipur. The theme of the two-day Conference is “Strengthening Democracy and Good Governance in Digital Age”. One of the topics is how to make public representatives more effective or efficient in encouraging good governance through digital empowerment The Conference concludes with the valedictory address of Vice-President of India and Chairman of Rajya Sabha Jagdeep Dhankhar.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India signs MoU with Trinidad and Tobago on sharing INDIA STACK: Trinidad and Tobago has signed an agreement with the Indian government for sharing the India Stack, which is a collection of open application programming interfaces and digital public goods for identity. The agreement was signed in the presence of officials from the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY), the National E-Governance Division, and the Ministry of External Affairs. The two nations agreed to cooperate for digital transformation through capacity building, training programmes, exchange of best practices, exchange of knowledge between public officials and experts, and development of pilot or demo solutions. With the help of India Stack, these countries can climb up the digitalization ladder rapidly and transform their economies and governance. India has also signed pacts with Armenia, Sierra Leone, Suriname, and Antigua and Barbuda to share India Stack, while Mauritius and Saudi Arabia are at an advanced stage of finalizing cooperation on the same. A similar agreement was signed with Papua New Guinea also last month, while the UPI — part of India Stack — has been accepted in France, UAE, Singapore and Sri Lanka.

 

2. 19 August – World Humanitarian Day: World Humanitarian Day is observed every year on 19 August in a bid to save and protect lives around the world. The occasion is observed to recognize the work done by humanitarians around the world by venturing into disaster-stricken regions and onto the front lines to save and protect people’s lives. Theme 2023 – No matter what In 2008, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution designating 19 August as World Humanitarian Day to honour the memory of those who lost their lives in the Baghdad bombings. The 19 August 2003 attack on the Canal Hotel in Baghdad, Iraq, killed two humanitarian workers, including the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Priya Malik wins Gold medal at Under20 World Wrestling Championships: Indian grappler Priya Malik won a Gold medal at the 2023 U20 World Wrestling Championships in Jordan. Priya 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. Priya Mallik beat Laura Celine Kuehn of Germany by 5-0 in the women’s 76kg freestyle wrestling final. Priya has now won both the U17 2021 and 2022 and U20 world titles in her short but promising career.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. RBI launched UDGAM portal to track unclaimed deposits: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has launched a centralized web portal to help citizens search for their unclaimed deposits known as

UDGAM stands for Unclaimed Deposits Gateway to Access inforMation. The portal has been developed by the central bank for the public to help them search for their unclaimed deposits across multiple banks at one place.

 

2. PR Seshadri appoints as MD and CEO of South Indian Bank: The Reserve Bank of India has approved the appointment of PR Seshadri as Managing Director & CEO of the South Indian Bank for a period of three years with effect from 1 October 2023. He is currently mentoring businesses both at an operating level as well as at the board level at various companies. He has served, amongst other positions, as managing director & CEO of Karur Vysya Bank, managing director & regional sales and distribution head of Citibank N.A. Seshadri is an accomplished banker with experiences spanning multiple businesses, functional lines, and geographies. He has significant experience in enterprise-level management and in the management of all key commercial banking business lines and he has substantial experience in successfully managing investors, boards, and regulatory relationships in multiple geographies

Daily GK Update- 19th Aug, 2023

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. 12% of sitting MPs of Rajya Sabha billionaires: ADR: According to the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), about 12% of sitting MPs of the Rajya Sabha are billionaires with Andhra Pradesh having the highest percentage of such parliamentarians. 5 (45%) out of 11 MPs are from Andhra Pradesh, 3 (43%) out of 7 MPs are from Telangana, and 3 (16%) out of 19 MPs from Maharashtra. The ADR and the National Election Watch (NEW) have analyzed and updated the criminal, financial, and other details of Rajya Sabha MPs.

 

2. NLC India inks pact to supply 300 MW solar power to Rajasthan: State-owned NLC India (NLCIL) has inked a pact to supply 300 MW of solar power for 25 years to Rajasthan Urja Vikas Nigam under the CPSU scheme. NLCIL is presently having 1,421 MW of Renewable Energy Capacity. As per its corporate plan, it contemplates establishing a 6,031 MW capacity by 2030. NLC India has entered into a long-term power usage agreement with Rajasthan Urja Vikas Nigam Limited to supply 300 MW of solar power under the CPSU Scheme in Rajasthan.

 

3. Modi Cabinet approves 'PM-eBus Sewa' for augmenting city bus operations: The union cabinet approved ‘PM-eBus Sewa’ for augmenting city bus operations under which 10,000 e-buses will be deployed across cities in the country. Aim: To improve public transport in cities and is also in line with India’s objectives concerning climate change Rs 57,613 crores will be spent on this project and around 10,000 new electric buses will be provided across the country.

Under this scheme, priority will be given to cities not having organized bus services.

 

4. Maharashtra Government Launches Bhagwan Birsa Munda Jodaraste Scheme: The Maharashtra cabinet decided to implement the Bhagwan Birsa Munda Jodaraste Scheme in Maharashtra to connect all tribal villages in 17 districts of the state with main roads. The project is estimated to cost Rs 5,000 crore and nearly 6,838 km of roads will be constructed as part of the scheme. In the Budget Session, Deputy CM and Finance Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced the implementation of the scheme to connect all the tribal padas by perennial roads

 

5. 4th G20 Trade and Investment Ministerial Meeting to begin in Jaipur: The G20 Trade and Investment Ministerial Meeting will be held in Jaipur on 24 and 25 of August. The meeting will be preceded by the 4th and last Trade and Investment Working Group meeting under India’s G20 Presidency which will take place on the 21st and 22nd of this month in Jaipur. Both meetings will be attended by more than 300 delegates, including trade ministers and secretaries and heads of delegations from G20 member countries, invitee countries, regional groupings, and international organizations. The deliberations will focus on building consensus on global trade and investment-related issues, along with accomplishing action-oriented proposals put forward by the Indian Presidency. The first three Trade and Investment Working Group meetings were held in Mumbai, Bangalore, and Kevadia. During the 1st and 2nd Trade and Investment Working Group meetings, five Priority issues, namely Trade for Growth and Prosperity, Resilient Trade and Global Value Chains, Integrating Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in World Trade, Logistics for Trade and World Trade Organization Reforms were extensively discussed among the G20 member and invitee countries.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. WHO South-East Asia region member countries adopt Gandhinagar declaration: The WHO South-East Asia Region committed to further accelerate efforts to end tuberculosis by 2030 with member countries adopting the Gandhinagar Declaration. The South-East Asia Region bears a disproportionate burden of nearly half of the global TB cases and deaths. The Declaration calls for establishing a high-level multi-sectoral commission reporting to the highest political level in each country for synergy of efforts among various stakeholders.

 

2. Trinidad And Tobago inks pact for sharing Indian Technology Stack: India and Trinidad and Tobago have recently entered into a significant partnership by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to share the renowned INDIA STACK technology. This collection of open APIs and digital public goods, pioneered by India, is designed to enhance identity, data, and payment services on a large scale. This move reflects India’s commitment to aiding the digital transformation of nations through collaboration and technology sharing.

 

3. Wipro launches center of excellence on generative Al at IIT Delhi: Indian IT services company Wipro has launched a centre of excellence on generative artificial intelligence in partnership with the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi (IIT Delhi). This centre has been set up on the premises of the Yardi School of Artificial Intelligence at IIT Delhi, and this Centre of Excellence (CoE) will support applied research in generative AI. The aim of this centre is to encourage and better the research and development capabilities in several emerging areas such as generative AI and then connect the candidates with a talent pool. Wipro CoE teams will jointly work on building innovative solutions using AI, Machine Learning (ML), and other technologies.

 

4. 19 August – World Photography Day: World Photography Day is celebrated every year on 19 August. The day is recognized to create awareness among people about the art, science, and craft of photography on a global level. Theme 2023 – LANDSCAPES The history of World Photography Day dates back to 1837, when Frenchmen Louis Daguerre and Joseph Nicephore Niepce developed the Daguerreotype, the first-ever photographic process. The patent of this invention was acquired by the French Government with an intention to offer it as a gift, “free to the world.” The public announcement regarding the same was made on 19 August, and that is why the World Photography is celebrated on 19 August every year.

 

 

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

 

1. India wins mixed team air pistol gold in ISSF World Championship 2023, Baku: The duo of Indian shooters, Esha Singh and Shiva Narwal, won the gold medal at the 10m air pistol mixed event in the final of the ISSF World Championship 2023 at Baku, Azerbaijan. The Indian duo defeated the Turkish pair of Ilayda Tarhan and Yusuf Dikec 16-10 in the final match. Presently, India placed second on the medals table with a gold and a bronze medal, while China is leading the tally with five gold and two bronze medals.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Kamlesh Varshney, Amarjeet Singh appointed SEBI whole-time members : The government has approved the appointment of Kamlesh Varshney and Amarjeet Singh as SEBI Whole-Time Members. Kamlesh Varshney, a 1990-batch officer of the Indian Revenue Service, is a joint secretary at the revenue department in the Finance Ministry. Amarjeet Singh is an executive director at the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). Both have been appointed for three years from the date of assumption of charge or until further orders.

 

2. Moody’s affirms India’s sovereign ratings, retains stable outlook: Rating agency Moody's has affirmed a BAA3 rating on India and maintained a 'stable' outlook on the Indian economy. The Baa3 rating and stable outlook also take into account a curtailment of civil society and political dissent, compounded by rising domestic political risk. India's long-term local and foreign-currency issuer ratings and the local-currency senior unsecured rating remain at Baa3. While the other short-term local-currency rating stands at P-3.

 

3. RBI launched UDGAM portal to track unclaimed deposits: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has launched a centralized web portal to help citizens search for their unclaimed deposits known as UDGAM stands for Unclaimed Deposits Gateway to Access inforMation. The portal has been developed by the central bank for the public to help them search for their unclaimed deposits across multiple banks at one place.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Matti banana variety granted the Geographical Indication (GI) tag: The Matti banana variety, native to Kanniyakumari district was recently granted the Geographical Indication (GI) tag. There are six known types of the Matti banana and they are indigenous to Kanniyakumari. They are known as ‘Baby Banana’ which flourishes mainly in Kalkulam and Vilavancode taluks. Its low total soluble solids content (TSSC) recommends it as a baby food. This GI tag is valid for 10 years following which it can be renewed.

 

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Former DRDO Director General Dr V.S. Arunachalam passes away: Dr V S Arunachalam, founder chairman of Bengaluru-based think tank Center for Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP), passed away at the age of 87 in California. Arunachalam helmed the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and was the Scientific Advisor to the Defence Minister from 1982-92. He was conferred the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award (1980), Padma Bhushan (1985), and Padma Vibhushan (1990) for his contribution to engineering science and technology

In 2015, Arunachalam was awarded DRDO’s Lifetime Achievement Award for his outstanding contribution to the field of scientific research and technology His distinguished career spanned across Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), National Aeronautical Laboratory, and Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory. In 2005 he founded the CSTEP to enrich policymaking with innovative approaches using science and technology for a sustainable, secure and inclusive society.