Daily GK Update- 30th Aug, 2023

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. JP Nadda releases Outlook Group's Coffee Table Book 'Sikhs and Modi: BJP President J P Nadda released the Outlook Group's Coffee Table Book 'Sikhs and Modi (A Journey of Nine Years) in New Delhi authored by Prabhleen Singh. The teachings of Sikh Gurus contributed towards the unity of the society, patriotism, and dedication towards religion. It was the first time after Independence that the country has started observing ‘Veer Bal Diwas’ on the day of sacrifice by young sahibzade of Guru Gobind Singh for unity and integrity of the country.

 

2. NITI Aayog and UNDP sign Memorandum of Understanding on fast tracking SDGs: NITI Aayog and the United Nations Development Programme signed an MoU to formalize a cooperative framework to fast-track India's pursuit to achieve its sustainable development goals (SDGs) Objective: To focus on the two organizations' cooperation in a range of areas, including SDG localization, and data-driven monitoring, among others. NITI Aayog is the nodal Institution for coordinating the adoption and monitoring of SDGs at the national and sub-national levels.

 

3. Govt to launch a new scheme for in Pharma-Med Sector: Government to launch a new scheme for Promotion of Research and Innovation in Pharma- Med Sector with a total outlay of five thousand crore rupees.  Objective: To transform the Indian Pharma Med Tech sector from cost-based competitiveness to innovation-based growth by strengthening the research infrastructure in the country.  Aim: To promote the growth of pharma industry in the country , enhance manufacturing of drugs and promote research and innovation in the sector.

 

4. Gujarat announced 27% reservation for OBCs in local bodies like panchayat: The Gujarat government announced a 27 percent reservation for Other Backward Classes in local bodies like panchayats, municipalities, and civic corporations.  In the Panchayats Extension to Scheduled Areas notified areas, the reservation for OBCs will continue to be 10 percent to protect the interest of tribals.  The existing quota for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes will remain unchanged and there has been no breach of the 50 percent reservation ceiling.

 

5. Umesh Revankar is appointed as new chairman of FIDC: The Finance Industry Development Council has appointed Umesh Revankar as its new chairman.  He currently holds the position of executive vice chairman for Shriram Finance and have decades of experience and expertise in the financial services industry. He has risen through the ranks, assuming responsibilities and leadership roles in business operations. He played a pivotal role in making Shriram Transport Finance company the largest commercial vehicle financer in India.

 

6. ISRO-developed device for fishers’ safety successfully tested at Neendakara: ‘Nabhmitra’, a device developed by ISRO-Space Applications Centre (Ahmedabad) for the safety of fishermen, was tested at Neendakara. Satellite-based communication system enables two-way messaging services from and to the sea.  Weather and cyclone warnings will be communicated in the local language, the boats can also send distress messages to the authorities.  In capsizing and fire, fishers can press a button on the device and get in touch with the control centre. 

 

7. Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah launched 'Gruha Lakshmi' scheme: The Karnataka government launched the 'Gruha Lakshmi' women's financial aid scheme in Mysuru.  Under this scheme, about 1.1 crore women heads of family will get ₹2,000 each at a function in Mysuru. 'Gruha Lakshmi' scheme is one of the five pre-poll 'guarantees' of the Congress, which ousted the BJP from power in the Karnataka Assembly election held in May. The government has earmarked ₹17,500 crore for 'Gruha Lakshmi' programme in the current financial year.

 

8. BHEL manufactures first set of indigenous SCR Catalysts: Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) manufactured India’s first set of Catalysts for Selective Catalyst Reactors (SCR) for limiting NOx emissions from thermal power plants The first set of indigenously manufactured SCR catalysts for the 5x800 MW Yadadri Thermal Power Station in Telangana, were flagged, from the company’s Solar Business Division (SBD) unit in Bengaluru BHEL is India’s largest engineering and manufacturing company of its kind.

 

9. Chandrayaan-3's Pragyan rover confirms presence of sulphur in lunar surface: The Indian Space Research Organisation has announced that the Pragyan rover's Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscope confirmed the presence of sulphur in the lunar surface near the south pole, through the first-ever in-situ measurements.  The rover's spectroscope also detected Aluminium, Calcium, Ferrous (Iron), Chromium, Titanium, Manganese, Silicon, and Oxygen as expected and the search for hydrogen is underway. 

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Nitin Gadkari unveils world's first hundred percent Ethanol fuelled Car: Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari launched the world's first 100 percent Ethanol-fueled car in New Delhi. Aim: To reduce carbon footprint, improve sustainable mobility, and decrease the country's dependency on traditional fuel sources.  According to Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri with the implementation of 20 percent ethanol blending in petrol, the country will save 35 thousand crore rupees annually as import bill. 

 

2. India and New Zealand signs a MoU to boost cooperation in civil aviation: India and New Zealand have signed a MoU to boost cooperation in civil aviation in New Delhi.  Aim: To cover the scheduling of new routes, codeshare services, traffic rights, and capacity entitlement. The designated airlines of New Zealand may operate any number of services with any type of aircraft, with third and fourth freedom traffic rights to and from six points in India, namely New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Kolkata. 

 

3. 30 August – Small Industry Day: Small Industry Day is celebrated every year on August 30 in India. This day honours the invaluable contributions of small industries, often overlooked yet pivotal drivers of global economies. These industries, driven by unwavering resolve, are the backbone of innovation, job creation, and economic dynamism. At present, small industries make up approximately 40% of India’s overall economy. The roots of Small Industry Day can be traced back to the year 2000. In August of that year, the Indian government created a comprehensive policy package for small-scale industries (SSI). To mark this occasion, the Ministry of Small-Scale Industries announced that August 30, would be observed as the Small Industries Day, annually. It was celebrated for the first time on August 30, 2001. On this day, the Ministry of Small-Scale Industries organized a convention for small entrepreneurs in the national capital. These small-scale industries can range from blacksmiths to tailors, contributing their unique skills and products to their communities.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Parul breaks national record at World Athletics Championships: Indian athlete Parul Chaudhary finished in the eleventh position in the 3000 meters steeplechase final of the World Athletics Championships 2023 in Budapest Hungary. She broke the national record in the World Athletics Championships and qualified for the Paris Olympics 2024. Parul clocked 9:15.31s to break Lalita Babar’s mark of 9:19.76s set during Rio Olympics in 2016 while also finishing comfortably under 9:23.00s, the automatic qualification mark for next year’s Summer Games in the French capital. Earlier in the preliminary round, Parul ran five seconds faster than her previous personal best (9.29.51) and it helped her finish in fifth place and earn a spot in the final. Brunei athlete Winfred Mutile Yavi clinched the gold medal, Kenya’s Beatrice Chepkoech won silver and another Kenya athlete Faith Cherotich achieved winning bronze.

 

2. Max Verstappen w Dutch Grand Prix 2023: Max Verstappen has won the Dutch Grand Prix for the third consecutive year, once again prevailing at his home race. With the dominant win, Verstappen has now matched Sebastian Vettel’s all-time record of nine F1 victories in a row. Fernando Alonso secured a podium position by coming in Sergio Pérez, driving for Red Bull, initially finished third, but a five-second penalty resulted in Pierre Gasly taking third place on the podium.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. ADB and Fourth Partner Energy Collaborate for Solar Power Plant in TN: The Asian Development Bank and Fourth Partner Energy Private Limited signed a long-term loan of up to 1.2 billion Rs to construct and operate a 25-megawatt solar photovoltaic-based power plant Aim: To increase clean and low-cost energy supply to commercial and industrial customers. The power plant, located in Tamil Nadu in India, is expected to generate about 50.7 gigawatt-hours of electricity annually and will directly sell power to commercial and industrial users. 

 

2. Axis Bank launched 'Infinity Savings A/c' with no domestic transaction fees: Axis Bank launched a new savings account variant – ‘Infinity Savings Account’ to cater to digitally savvy customers who are frequent adopters of subscription-based models.  Objective: To offer Axis Bank’s customers exclusive privileges, such as waived Average Monthly Balance (AMB) requirement, complimentary debit cards, and waiver of all the domestic charges against a small monthly recurring fee of Rs 150 or annual fee of Rs 1,650.

 

3. Yes bank partnered with fintech Zaggle for next-gen corporate credit card: Yes Bank has launched co-branded Corporate Credit Card in collaboration with spend management platform Zaggle, to empower businesses to reimagine their payment processes, streamline reconciliation, and efficiently manage company expenditures. The new card ‘YES BANK Zaggle Corporate Credit Card’, provides businesses direct control over company expenditures. This includes the ability to set individual spending limits, apply merchant category restrictions, and implement diverse controls. Additionally, cardholders gain access to an array of exclusive benefits, spanning rewards, golf privileges, lounge access, and travel insurance. The partnership with Zaggle enables businesses to bring in operational efficiencies by allowing them to undertake banking transactions, manage company expenditures as well as keep track of all business-related overheads on a single platform. Executive Director of Yes Bank – Rajan Pental

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Parmeet Singh Sood felicitated at “ET Leadership Excellence Awards: The Economic Times honored the achievements of leaders and change-makers who have made significant contributions in their respective fields. Parmeet Singh Sood, Managing Director of Climax Overseas Pvt. Ltd. was awarded the “Excellence in Manufacturing Of Automobile Parts” and felicitated by the well-known Bollywood actress Rakul Preet Singh along with Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva. Parmeet Singh Sood’s journey began in 1999 as a 21-year-old. Fresh from the University of Bradford, UK, with a degree in Business and Management Studies, Parmeet embraced the challenge of transformation and growth. He started his career at the grassroots selling door-to-door in the spare parts market of Kenya and then quickly went on to target large aftermarket customers in Europe within the first couple of years of his joining the business.

 

2. Priyan Sain Crowned Miss Earth India 2023: Rajasthan’s Priyan Sain clinched the title of Miss Earth India 2023 during the Miss Divine Beauty 2023 national final held in New Delhi. The 20-year-old student, dancer, and taekwondo player from Jaipur, succeeds last year’s winner Vanshika Parmar, and will now prepare to represent India at the Miss Earth 2023 pageant in Vietnam this December. She received her crown from reigning Miss Earth from Korea Mina Sue Choi who was invited as a special guest along with Miss Earth Air from Australia Sheridan Mortlock. At the same event, Praveena Aanjna was named Miss International India 2023 while Pema Choden Bhutia and Tejaswini Shrivastava were both announced as runners-up. Prior to becoming a finalist for Miss Divine Beauty and eventually winning her national title, Priyan participated in Miss Rajasthan 2022 where she finished as first runner-up. As a result of winning the Miss India pageant, she will participate in the Miss World pageant to be held in Vietnam. The Miss India 2023 pageant was held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Delhi.

Daily GK Update- 29th Aug, 2023

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. National Sports Day is observed on 29th August 2023: The National Sports Day in India is celebrated on 29 August every year. It is celebrated to commemorate the birth anniversary of hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand Singh. The day also serves as a reminder for all of us to recall the contributions, determination and extraordinary achievements of the athletes and their influence in shaping societies. The theme for this year's National Sports Day celebration is "Sports are an enabler to an inclusive and fit society".

 

2. Kerala across the globe celebrating "Thiruonam" the auspicious day of Onam: Keralalites across the globe are celebrating "Thiruonam" on the 10th and the most auspicious day of  Onam, the biggest cultural festival of the State. Onam, the harvest festival of Kerala, symbolises prosperity, secularism,and harmony.  Keralites celebrate the festival welcoming the visit of the righteous and mythical king Mahabali,in the memory of good old days. Thiruonam is being celebrated in all its cultural and traditional glory instilling the minds with hope.

 

3. MP announced Ladli Behna Yojana aid hike, 35% job reservation for women: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan raised the financial aid given to women in the Ladli Behna scheme from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,250 per month  He also announced 35 percent reservation for them in government jobs and provided gas cylinders for Rs 450. Under the programme, women between the ages of 23 and 60, who do not pay income taxes and whose families make less than Rs 2.5 lakh annually, receive Rs 1,000 every month.

 

4. CM Stalin launched expansion of breakfast scheme for Tamil Nadu govt school: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin launched the expansion of the state government’s breakfast scheme at Thirukkuvalai. The scheme has been extended to 31,000 government schools across the state benefitting 17 lakh students. Initially, the scheme was devised to provide nutritious breakfast to 1,14,095 students of classes 1 to 5 studying in 1,545 government schools and an amount of Rs 33.56 crore was allocated for this scheme. 

 

5. Maharashtra signs MoU with Germany's professional association football: The Maharashtra Government has signed an MoU with Germany's professional association football league, 'Bundesliga', to build a football team for players under the age of 14. Aim: To help young footballers to develop their skills and potentially compete at a high level. The Bundesliga is Germany’s premier professional football league.  It is one of the leading football leagues in Europe and the best football players and teams belong to the league.

 

6. Finance Minister Launched HSBC India’s Green Hydrogen Partnerships: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in partnership with the IIT Bombay, and Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation launched HSBC India’s strategic partnerships to enable innovation in green hydrogen Aim: To provide a roadmap towards reducing carbon intensity in the economy and enable the creation of green job opportunities.  Green hydrogen has a pivotal role to play as we counter climate change and work towards enabling a low-carbon and self-reliant economy

 

7. Kaziranga National Park gets first Woman field Director: Chief conservator of forests Dr Sonali Ghosh became the first woman field director of Kaziranga National Park. The Indian Forest Service (IAS) officer will take charge of the park from incumbent field director Jatindra Sarma. Ghosh is presently working as the chief conservator of forests for research education and working plan division at the office of the principal chief conservator of forests and head of the forest force in Guwahati. According to a forest department official, she will become the first woman to hold charge as director of the 118-year-old KNP. The KNP was first declared a proposed reserve forest in 1905, followed by a reserve forest in 1908 and a game sanctuary in 1916. It was opened to visitors in 1938. In 1950, it was declared as a wildlife sanctuary and upgraded to a national park in February 1974. UNESCO declared KNP as a World Heritage Site in December 1985.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India hand over B20 presidency to Brazil to host G20 in 2024: India has handed over the B20 presidency to Brazil to host G20 in 2024. B20 India Chair N Chandrasekaran said that India’s B20 Presidency under its G20 Presidency worked under the theme of Vasaudeva Katumbakam (One Earth, One Family, One Future). Worked on 9 themes which included the empowerment of women and youth, the transition towards an Artificial Intelligence world, building a global resilient supply chain, and financing for the global economic recovery. During this period, we worked on nine important themes which included empowerment of women and youth, transition towards an Artificial Intelligence world, building a global resilient supply chain and financing for the global economic recovery. The presidency of India’s B20 has been recognized for its effective process, engagement, and consensus-building in generating 54 policy recommendations over the last nine months.

 

2. Sri Lanka hosts first Karnataka cultural festival: Sri Lanka hosted its very first Karnataka cultural festival. It was organized by the International Cultural Council of India in collaboration with Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre and M.E Global Peace Foundation. The event showcased a mesmerizing lineup of performances by over 30 artists from Karnataka including dances, folk songs, multi-lingual poems, ballet, and captivating puppet shows. The programme featured the essence of Karnataka’s heritage, with the spotlight on talented artists like Madhuri Bondre and her troupe. The event celebrated cultural diversity and marked a significant moment in the shared cultural heritage of India and Sri Lanka.

 

3. Indian Air Force participates in Exercise Bright Star-23: The Indian Air Force (IAF) participated in the biennial multilateral tri-services exercise Bright Star-23 held at Cairo Air Base in Egypt. It is being held from August 27 to September 16, 2023. The participating countries in the biennial multilateral tri-services exercise Bright Star-23 include the United States, Saudi Arabia, Greece, Qatar, and India. The participation of the IAF in this exercise underscores a new chapter of cooperation and collaboration among nations. The Indian Air Force contingent for this exercise is an impressive assembly, comprising five MiG-29 aircraft, two IL-78 aircraft, two C-130 aircraft, and two C-17 aircraft.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Kunlavut and An Se-young make history at Badminton World Championships: Thailand's Kunlavut Vitidsarn became the first Thai to win the men's singles title at the World Championships 2023 and became the badminton world champion after a victory over Japan's Kodai Naraoka in Copenhagen. Earlier, world No. 1 An Se-young also became the first South Korean to win the women's singles gold at the World Championships 2023 after defeating Carolina Marin. She had knocked out Tokyo 2020 gold medallist Chen Yufei in straight games in the semi-finals

 

2. Max Verstappen wins at home Dutch F1 Grand Prix 2023: Max Verstappen of the team Red Bull has won the Dutch Grand Prix 2023 for the third consecutive year, once again prevailing at his home race held at Circuit Zandvoort in the Netherlands. With the dominant win, Verstappen has now matched Sebastian Vettel’s all-time record of nine F1 victories in a row. The second position was secured by Fernando ALONSO of the team Aston Martin and third position was secured by Pierre GASLY of the team Alpine

 

3. Parul breaks national record at World Athletics Championships: Indian athlete Parul Chaudhary finished in the eleventh position in the 3000 meters steeplechase final of the World Athletics Championships 2023 in Budapest Hungary.  She broke the national record in the World Athletics Championships and qualified for the Paris Olympics 2024.  Brunei athlete Winfred Mutile Yavi clinched the gold medal, Kenya's Beatrice Chepkoech won silver and another Kenya athlete Faith Cherotich achieved winning bronze.

 

4. India’s Men’s Relay Team Finishes Fifth at World Athletics Championship: Indian men’s 4x400m relay team finished fifth in their respective finals at the World Athletics Championships 2023 in Budapest, Hungary. The team of Muhammed Anas Yahiya, Amob Jacob, Muhammed Ajmal and Rajesh Ramesh completed the race with the clock reading 2:59.92. USA (Quincy Hall, Vernon Norwood, Justin Robinson, and Rai Benjaminwon), who won the gold medal finished the race in 2:57:31 seconds. France (2:58.45) and Great Britain (2:58.71) won silver and bronze respectively. A day earlier the Indian team had shattered the Asian record in the qualifying round, taking 2:59.05 seconds to complete the race. The previous record was held by Japan, which was 2:59.51 seconds. They also became the first Indian team to reach a World Championship final. France clocked bagged silver while Great Britain claimed bronze.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. DBS partners with Maptrasco to complete the first eBL transaction: Development Bank of Singapore (DBS)  partnered with commodities trader Maptrasco, announced the completion of the first “live” transaction of electronic Bills of Lading for shipments between Singapore and India  Aim: To enable the digital trade finance of live shipments of goods between the two countries.  Transaction was implemented under the TradeTrust framework, an initiative by the Infocomm Media Development Authority and supported by Enterprise Singapore.

 

2. Yes bank teams up with fintech Zaggle for next-gen corporate credit card: Yes Bank launched a co-branded Corporate Credit Card in collaboration with the spend management platform Zaggle to provide businesses with direct control over company expenditures. Objective: To empower businesses to reimagine their payment processes, streamline reconciliation, and efficiently manage company expenditures.  This includes the ability to set individual spending limits, apply merchant category restrictions, and implement diverse controls.

 

3. LIC Partners with Saraswat Cooperative Bank to Increase the life Insurance: Life Insurance Corporation of India has recently tied up with Saraswat Cooperative Bank Ltd in its effort to increase the penetration of life insurance through Bancassurance channel in Mumbai.  Saraswat Cooperative Bank is the  India’s largest Urban Cooperative Bank. Citizens in general and customers of Saraswat Bank, in particular, will now have the opportunity to fulfill their life insurance protection needs through the Bank itself by purchasing insurance products LIC.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Famous Poet-writer Jayanta Mahapatra passed away: Eminent littérateur and poet Jayanta Mahapatra passed away at the age of 95. He was the first Indian poet to win a Sahitya Akademi award for English poetry.  He was also conferred with the Padma Shri award in 2009. However, he returned it in 2015 to protest against “rising intolerance in India”. He is best known for authoring poems such as “Indian Summer” and “Hunger”, regarded as classics in modern Indian English literature.

Daily GK Update- 28th Aug, 2023

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Amit Shah to chair 26th meeting of Western Zonal Council in Gandhinagar: Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Chaired the 26th Western Zonal Council (WZC) meeting at Gandhinagar.   Aim: To enhance cooperation between the states through regular dialogue and discussion. The meeting is being organized by the Inter-State Council Secretariat under the Ministry of Home Affairs in collaboration with the Government of Gujarat. The WZC comprises the states of Gujarat, Goa, Maharashtra, and the Union Territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu

 

2. Indian Air Force participates in Exercise Bright Star-23 at Cairo Air Base: Indian Air Force (IAF) contingent participated for the first time in Exercise BRIGHT STAR-23, a biennial multilateral tri-service exercise It is being held at Cairo Air Base, Egypt, from August 27 to September 16, 2023

Aim: To strengthen strategic partnerships and enhance joint operational capabilities. Objective: To practice planning and execution of joint operations The IAF contingent will consist of five MiG-29, two IL-78, two C-130 and two C-17 aircraft.

 

3. Ministry of education unveils smart India hackathon 2023: The Ministry of Education and the All India Council of Technical Education have launched the sixth edition of the Smart India Hackathon 2023. Aim: To showcase the growing culture of innovation in India’s education sector. Objective: To bring together the creativity of India’s young minds with real-world challenges faced by various government departments. It has become a global model for hackathons and innovation frameworks, reflecting its dynamic evolution over time.

 

4. BHEL develops India’s first catalyst set to curb NOx emissions in power plants: State-owned engineering firm Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) has successfully manufactured the first set of indigenous SCR Catalysts for limiting NOx emissions from thermal power plants. SCR Catalysts were earlier imported in line with the ‘Make in India’ initiative. The initial batch of indigenous SCR Catalyst was manufactured for 5×800 MW Yadadri Thermal Power Station in Telangana. BHEL set up a manufacturing facility at its Solar Business Division unit to produce SCR catalysts for reducing NOx emissions in thermal power plants. Burning coal converts its nitrogen content into nitrogen oxides (NOx), a major air pollutant that includes substances such as NO, NO2, and N2O.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. NASA, SpaceX launch sends four astronauts from four countries to ISS: NASA and SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft has blasted off carrying four astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS). The Dragon spacecraft carried by a Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Four astronauts from four countries, including the US, Denmark, Japan, and Russia. The agency’s SpaceX Crew-7 mission is the seventh commercial crew rotation mission for NASA.

 

2. Germany develops device for visually impaired: With the help of modern technology, even the visually impaired can now try their hand at sports of shooting. Germany has developed a device for the visually impaired. This device has been brought to India for the first time and given to the visually impaired in Pune. In shooting, the target is identified and aimed through binoculars. The same technique has been developed by these devices, one part of this device is in the rifle and the other part is on the headphones placed on the ear. This device will do the work of target sighting for visually impaired shooters. The device sends a signal to the visually impaired when they come close to the main circle.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Neeraj became first Indian to won Gold at World Athletics Championships: Neeraj Chopra made history by winning the gold medal in the men's javelin throw (88.17 meters) event at the World Athletics Championships 2023 held in Budapest, Hungary. He became the first-ever Indian athlete to achieve this feat, marking a significant milestone for Indian athletics. Neeraj faced tough competition, notably from Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem, who secured the silver medal with a commendable throw of 87.82 meters.

 

2. India's Men's Relay Team Finishes Fifth at World Athletics Championship: The Indian men's 4x400 metres relay team comprising of Muhammed Anas Yahiya, Amoj Jacob, Muhammed Ajmal and Rajesh Ramesh ended in the fifth position in the 4x400 metres relay race final at the World Athletics Championships 2023. The USA relay team of Quincy Hall, Vernon Norwood, Justin Robinson, and Rai Benjamin won finished first and won the gold.  France clocked bagged silver while Great Britain claimed bronze.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Asian Development Bank to create climate change and health hub: India in partnership with the Asian Development Bank is set to open a climate change and health hub in the national capital Delhi Objective: To facilitate knowledge sharing, promote partnerships and innovations, and also help countries beyond the G-20, especially developing countries. Climate change affects all of us and this centre will give us the opportunity to have different partners discussing this important issue and learning from each other.

 

2. RBI approves merger of Akola Merchant Co-operative Bank: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI)  approved the merger of The Jalgaon Peoples Co-operative Bank and Akola Merchant Co-operative Bank.   Aim: To streamline operations and services for customers under a unified entity. The Akola Merchant Co-operative Bank branches would operate as branches of The Jalgaon Peoples Co-operative Bank. The merger of Twin Cities Co-operative Urban Bank Ltd and Kranti Co-operative Urban Bank Ltd was also given the go-ahead by the central bank

 

3. Airtel Payments Bank partner with Frontier Markets, to support 1 lakh women: Airtel Payments Bank, Frontier Markets, and the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth have announced the launch of ‘She Leads Bharat: Udyam’, a first-of-its-kind initiative Aim: To elevate women-owned small businesses(WOSB) with resources, tools, and opportunities to grow and diversify their incomes.  Objective: To bring together the private sector, and social enterprise, to demonstrate a digital-first model designed to unlock ways for WOSB to increase their incomes.

 

4. RBI enhances transactions limits for small value digital payments to ₹500.: RBI has announced to enhance transaction limits for small value digital payments in offline mode to ₹500 from the earlier cap of ₹200. Aim: To enable faster, more reliable, and contactless payments for everyday small value purchases, transit payments, and so on by eliminating the need for two-factor verification for small value transactions. This effectively means that transacting parties can carry out digital transactions amounting to ₹500 each in the offline mode.

Daily GK Update- 27th Aug, 2023

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Second G20-Chief Scientific Advisers’ Roundtable meeting began in Gujarat: The second G20-Chief Scientific Advisers’ Roundtable meeting officially began in Gandhinagar in August 2023. Science advisors, Scientists, researchers from G20 countries, and invited countries will participate. 

Themes Include:

·       Opportunities in One Health

·       Synergizing Global Efforts to Expand the Access to Scholarly Scientific Knowledge

·       Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility in Science & Technology

·       Institutional Mechanism for Inclusive Global S&T Policy Dialogue

 

2. Jal Shakti Ministry releases report on 6th census on minor irrigation schem: The Ministry of Jal Shakti released the report on the sixth census on minor irrigation schemes. 23.14 million minor irrigation (MI) schemes have been reported in the country, out of which 21.93 million are groundwater and 1.21 million are Surface Water schemes.  UP has the largest number of MI schemes in the country followed by Maharastra For the first time, information about the gender of the owner of the MI scheme was also collected in case of individual ownership.

 

3. Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal launches Tele-Law- 2.0: Law and Justice Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal launched Tele-Law- 2.0 which Integrates Tele-Law and Nyaya Bandhu App to ensure access to Justice in New Delhi.  Aim: To enable the common citizen to access legal advice, legal assistance, and legal representation through a single registration and single gateway of Tele-Law. The Minister called upon legal professionals to contribute pro bono services to ensure that no citizen is deprived of essential legal assistance.

 

4. 3rd International Conference on Structural Integrity inaugurated at Mamallapuram: The 3rd International Conference on Structural Integrity (ICONS 2023) began virtually at Mamallapuram in Tamil Nadu. ICONS 2023 was inaugurated under the leadership of Dr. N. Kailaiselvi, Director General, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research and Secretary, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. ICONS 2023 is jointly organized by the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam and the Society for Failure Analysis, in association with Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Indian Society for Non-destructive Testing, Kalpakkam Chapter, Indian Institute of Metals Kalpakkam Chapter and Indian Structural Integrity Society. ICONS 2023 was attended by around 250 delegates from India and abroad, including mechanical engineers, materials scientists, academicians, industry experts, plant managers and regulatory personnel. The aim of the conference is to discuss recent developments and future directions in assessing and ensuring structural integrity in industries such as nuclear, defence, aerospace, chemical and oil.

 

5. Draupadi Murmu releases postage stamp in memory of Dadi Prakashmani: The President of India, Droupadi Murmu has released a postage stamp in memory of Dadi Prakashmani, former chief of Brahma Kumaris at Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre. This stamp was released under the ‘My Stamp’ initiative of the Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications to mark the 16th death anniversary of Dadi Prakashmani. Dadi Prakashmani spread Indian values and culture in India and abroad through spirituality. Under her leadership, the Brahma Kumaris became the largest women-led spiritual organization in the world. Like a true leader, she stood by Brahma Kumaris family with faith and courage even in challenging circumstances and always guided them.

 

6. Indian Oil ropes in chef Sanjeev Kapoor as its brand ambassador: Indian Oil has collaborated with Chef Sanjeev Kapoor as the brand ambassador for its Indane XTRATEJ LPG brand. Indian Oil has observed significant year-on-year growth in market volume since the initial trial of XTRATEJ in Belgaum, Karnataka. Indian Oil has 16 crore customers connections. Indian Oil’s unwavering dedication to customer efficiency, underscoring how the hospitality industry now benefits from innovations like XtraTej that enhance business operations. Kapoor applauded Indian Oil for providing a cost-efficient solution that conserves LPG, essential in an era where customer expectations continue to evolve rapidly.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Zimbabwean President Mnangagwa re-elected for 2nd and final five-year term: Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa was re-elected for a second and final five-year term in August 2023. His victory over his closest competitor, Nelson Chamisa after his first full term in office, strengthened ZANU-PF 's grip on power. Zimbabwe has over the past two decades suffered under disastrous economic policies that have led to soaring prices, high unemployment, and a medical system lacking basic drugs and equipment.

 

2. India hand over B20 presidency to Brazil to host G20 in 2024: India has handed over the B20 presidency to Brazil to host G20 in 2024.  According to B20 India Chair N Chandrasekaran India's B20 Presidency under the its G20 Presidency worked under the theme of Vasaudeva Katumbakam (One Earth, One Family, One Future).  Worked on 9 themes which included the empowerment of women and youth, the transition towards an Artificial Intelligence world, building a global resilient supply chain, and financing for the global economic recovery.

 

3. Sri Lanka hosts its very first Karnataka cultural festival: Sri Lanka hosted its very first Karnataka cultural festival organized by the International Cultural Council of India in collaboration with Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre and M.E Global Peace Foundation Aim: To celebrate cultural diversity and mark a significant moment in the shared cultural heritage of India and Sri Lanka The event showcased performances by over 30 artists from Karnataka including dances, folk songs, multi-lingual poems, and captivating puppet shows

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. In badminton, HS Prannoy won bronze medal at BWF World Championships: HS Prannoy bagged a bronze medal in badminton at BWF World Championships 2023 in Denmark.  He registered a loss to Kunlavut Vitidsarn in the semifinals at the Championships and went down to world number three position. This is India's 14th medal at the World Championships.

This includes one gold, four silvers and nine bronze medals.  China is the most successful team in the tournament's history, with 196 medals, including 69 gold, 48 silver and 79 silvers.

 

2. Indian women's visually challenged cricket team won gold at World Cup 2023: Indian women's visually impaired team won the T-20 final of the International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) World Games 2023 at Birmingham  The Indian team defeated Australia by nine wickets in the rain-interrupted match. The Indian men's blind cricket team lost to Pakistan in the IBSA World Games final to settle for a silver medal. Cricket for the visually challenged made its debut in the International Blind Sports Federation World Games in 2023.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. SBI launches Aadhaar-based enrolment for social security schemes: Public sector lender the State Bank of India has launched a Customer Service Points (CSPs) functionality that allows customers to enroll for social security schemes through Aadhaar Card. Chairman Dinesh Khara introduced the feature which will be availed at the bank’s CSPs that aims to make the process of enrolling in various social security schemes simpler. The customers visiting CSPs will need only their Aadhaar to enroll in social security schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) and Atal Pension Yojana (APY). They will no longer need to carry passbooks to the CSP outlet for enrolment. With the feature, the bank aims to strengthen its offerings and extend the benefits of crucial schemes to the masses. This technology-driven enhancement is a testament to SBI’s commitment to improve financial inclusivity and social welfare through digitization.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Veteran actor Seema Deo passes away: Marathi cinema legend and Hindi film actor Seema Deo passed away at the age of 83. The senior actor was seen in films like Anand, Koshish and Kora Kagaz. Apart from appearing in several Hindi films, Seema Deo was a renowned actor in Marathi cinema. She appeared in over 80 films throughout her career.