Daily GK Update- 4th Sept, 2023

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Delhi Metro to start selling ‘Tourist Smart Cards’ at selected Metro statio: Delhi Metro Rail Corporation has started selling ‘Tourist Smart Cards’ from its selected Metro stations through dedicated counters. Aim: To facilitate the G20 delegates and international visitors who might be interested in exploring the prominent tourist places of the capital city as they arrive in Delhi. 

The ‘Tourist Smart Cards’ will be available in two categories of One-Day Validity and Three-Day Validity cards, offering unlimited rides in the Metro network.

 

2. Second edition of Naval Commanders' Conference 2023 began in New Delhi: The second edition of Naval Commanders' Conference, 2023  held in New Delhi. Aim: To provide an opportunity for institutionalized interaction of Naval Commanders with senior Government officials to take ahead several inter-ministerial initiatives toward the development of a safe and secure maritime environment Commanders will review projects with a focus on enhancing indigenization through Make in India in consonance with the vision of achieving self-reliance by 2047

 

3. Govt exempts LPG imports from agri cess: The government has exempted imports of LPG, liquified propane and liquified butane from 15 per cent agri cess with effect from September The government had in July 2023 imposed a 15 per cent agri cess on imports of these goods.  The move brings the private sector to parity with the public sector, which was exempted from the Agriculture Infrastructure Development Cess and the Basic Customs Duty on Domestic LPG sold to household consumers.

 

4. Ramnath Kovind will head Panel On ‘One Nation, One Election’: The Union government has formed a committee under the headship of former President of India Ram Nath Kovind, to look into the feasibility of simultaneous polls to State Assemblies and the Lok Sabha. This development follows the government’s announcement to hold a special parliamentary session from September 18th to 22nd, 2023, which has led to curiosity about the session’s purpose. ‘One Nation, One Election’ is a concept aimed at synchronizing elections for the Lok Sabha (the lower house of India’s Parliament) and all state assemblies. The central idea is to hold these elections simultaneously, either on a single day or within a specific time frame. Conducting polls simultaneously was the norm in India until 1967 and four elections were held this way. The practice stopped after some state assemblies were dissolved prematurely in 1968-69. The Lok Sabha was also, for the first time, dissolved a year ahead of schedule in 1970 and mid-term elections had been held in 1971.

 

5. 6th Rashtriya Poshan Maah begins: The Ministry of Women and Child Development is celebrating the 6th Rashtriya Poshan Maah throughout September 2023. This year, the objective is to comprehensively tackle malnutrition through a life-cycle approach, the cornerstone of Mission Poshan 2.0. The focal point of Poshan Maah 2023 is to cultivate widespread awareness concerning critical human life stages: pregnancy, infancy, childhood, and adolescence. The aim is to foster nutritional understanding across India through a theme centered on “Suposhit Bharat, Sakshar Bharat, Sashakt Bharat” (Nutrition-rich India, Educated India, Empowered India). POSHAN (Prime Minister’s Overarching Scheme for Holistic Nutrition) Abhiyaan is a Multi-Ministerial Convergence Mission with the vision to ensure the attainment of MalnutritionFree India. The Government launched the POSHAN Abhiyaan, earlier known as National Nutrition Mission, on March 08, 2018, to address the problem of malnutrition in the country. Centre’s initiative, POSHAN Abhiyaan, has been instrumental in advancing nutritional outcomes for pregnant women, lactating mothers, adolescent girls, and children under 6 years of age in a comprehensive manner.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Kathmandu-Kalinga Literary Festival concluds in Lalitpur, Nepal: The three-day-long Kathmandu-Kalinga Literary Festival successfully came to an end in Lalitpur, Nepal.  Minister for Foreign Affairs NP Saud of Nepal had inaugurated the festival.  Litterateurs from India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka exhibited at the Festival and showcased literature and other art forms. Professor Avadhesh Pradhan, actress and writer Divya Dutta, Prof Madhav Prasad Pokharel, and actress Manisha Koirala were awarded Yashaswi Sahitya Samman.

 

2. NV Ramana appointed as a member of the Singapore International Mediator Panel: Former Chief Justice of India (CJI) NV Ramana has been appointed as a member of the prestigious International Mediator Panel of the Singapore International Mediation Centre (SIMC). Justice Ramana participated in the ‘Singapore Convention Week’, an annual conference organized by Singapore’s Ministry of Law, the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), and over 20 partner organizations. During his tenure as the CJI, Justice Ramana spoke about the importance of mediation in removing the burden in the justice delivery system.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Avinash Sable qualified 3000m steeplechase final at Xiamen Diamond League: In Athletics, India’s Avinash Sable qualified for his maiden Diamond League Final after finishing fifth in the men’s 3000m steeplechase race at the Xiamen Diamond League 2023 in China.  Morocco’s Soufiane El Bakkali, the reigning Olympic and world champion, won the Xiamen track  Samuel Firewu of Ethiopia clinched the second spot while Amos Serem of Kenya claimed the third place. Commonwealth Games champion Abraham Kibiwot of Kenya came fourth.

 

2. McGahey to become first transgender to play international cricket: Danielle McGahey of Canada will become the first transgender cricketer to play in an international match when she represents her adopted country next month in a regional qualifying tournament for the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup in Bangladesh. The 29-year-old McGahey, an opening batter, has been selected in Canada’s women’s squad for the qualifying tournament after she fulfilled ICC’s eligibility criteria for male-to-female transgender players. The qualifying tournament will be played in Los Angeles from September 4 to 11. Canada will take on Argentina, Brazil, and the United States in the ICC Americas Qualifier for a place in the global qualifiers.

 

3. India beats Pakistan to win Men’s Hockey 5s Asia Cup 2023: In Hockey, India beat Pakistan in the penalty shootout in the final to win the inaugural Men’s Hockey 5s Asia Cup 2023 in Salalah, Oman. The win also served as Asia’s qualifying tournament for the FIH Men’s Hockey5s World Cup Oman 2024. Subsequently, India qualified for the FIH Men’s Hockey5s World Cup Oman 2024. This is the first time in three meetings that India have beaten Pakistan in the Hockey 5s format. From 2-4 down in the second half, India took the game to the shootout after two goals from Mohammed Raheel. Maninder Singh and Gurjot Singh scored for India in the shootout.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Credit outstanding to real estate rises 38% to Rs 28 lakh crore in July: As per RBI data Bank lending to the commercial real estate segment increased by 38 percent in July 2023 from July 2022 Outstanding loans in the segment climbed to Rs 4.07 lakh crore as of July 28 2023 compared with Rs 2.94 lakh crore on July 29, 2022 Comparatively loan growth was 3.6 percent in the period from July 30, 2021, to July 29, 2022 In the housing segment, bank loans jumped 37 percent to Rs 24.3 lakh crore at the end of July 2023 from Rs 17.7 lakh crore a 2022

 

2. Sebi to curb influencers to help investors get accurate, unbiased info: The rise of financial influencers who charge as high as Rs 7.5 lakh for a post on social media. Sebi introduced a new way for people to access and interpret financial information, and now they will soon come under the regulatory purview as Sebi proposed measures to curb their numbers.  Aim: To ensure that investors receive accurate and unbiased information also helps in preserving authenticity and reducing fraud, Anand Rathi Wealth Deputy CEO Feroz Azeez told PTI.

 

3. Uday Kotak resigns as CEO of Kotak Mahindra Bank effective September 1: Kotak Mahindra Bank share price gained a percent after Uday Kotak resigned from MD & CEO position of the bank. He will continue to serve as a non-executive director of the bank.  Kotak announced to step down as managing director and chief executive officer of the bank and the baton was passed to Dipak Gupta, the Joint Managing Director at Kotak Mahindra Bank. Kotak Mahindra Bank shares gained as much as 1% to ₹1,789.05 apiece on the BSE.

 

4. Morgan Stanley raises India GDP forecast to 6.4 percent: Economists at Nomura and Morgan Stanley have raised their economic growth forecast for India’s fiscal 2024 after data showed the economy grew at its quickest pace in a year in the April-June quarter. Economists at BofA Global Research, however, cut their estimates as quarterly growth missed their forecast. Nomura now expects India’s gross domestic product (GDP) to rise 5.9 percent for the year ending March 2024, up from the 5.5 percent expected earlier. Morgan Stanley raised it to 6.4 percent from 6.2 percent. India’s first-quarter GDP expanded a more-than-expected 7.8 percent on an annual basis, buoyed by strong services activity and robust demand. BofA economists slashed their fiscal 2024 forecast to 6.3 percent from 6.5 percent as the first-quarter number was far below their 9.1 percent year-over-year (Y/Y) estimate.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. P V Satyanarayana receives Dr. M.S. Swaminathan Award: P.V. Satyanarayana, principal scientist at the Agricultural Research Station, Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University Andhra Pradesh was presented 8th Dr M.S. Swaminathan award. He received the award in recognition of his contribution to the development of high-yielding rice varieties that exhibit resilience against pests and environmental challenges He has also contributed to fine-grain varieties and hybrid rice that have revolutionized agriculture across India.

 

2. Shanta Thoutam honored with World Innovation Award at BRICS: Telangana Chief Innovation Officer Shanta Thoutam received the World Innovation Award at the first BRICS Innovation Forum hosted in Moscow. The award is given for outstanding contribution to Sustainable Development Goal-4 which ensures inclusive and equitable quality education and promotes lifelong opportunities for all.  She as one of the panelists at the Cloud City Conference, spoke about the initiatives and achievements of Telangana in the space of open data

 

3. Manoj Bubna Recognized as ‘Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year 2023: In a remarkable recognition of visionary leadership and outstanding contributions to the e-commerce technology landscape, N7 – The Nitrogen Platform’s CEO Manoj Bubna has been conferred the prestigious Entrepreneur of the Year 2023 award by the renowned Entrepreneur India business magazine. Manoj Bubna, a trailblazing entrepreneur known for his innovative thinking and transformative approach, has steered his company to unprecedented heights, revolutionizing the industry with his groundbreaking ideas and steadfast determination. N7 is a vertically focussed Content Delivery Service that empowers commerce brands and enables them to better run their business by providing them with deep insights & then empowering them to use these insights to generate better ROI on their online channel.

 

4. Satyajit Majumdar honoured with Dr V G Patel Memorial Award 2023: Mumbai Professor Satyajit Majumdar, dean of School of Management and Labour Studies from Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), has received the ‘Dr V G Patel Memorial Award-2023 for Entrepreneurship Trainer, Educator and Mentor’ for his work in promoting and strengthening entrepreneurship in India. Patel is widely acknowledged as the Father of the Entrepreneurship Movement in India. Majumdar’s name was chosen among 400 applicants from 26 states by a jury nominated by the Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII), Ahmedabad. Over the last two decades, Majumdar 63, has played an important role in the development of entrepreneurship, especially in the social sector. Along with his team, he has mentored more than 350 startups, including 40 in Jammu and Kashmir and group startups in Jhabua, West Bengal. Since joining TISS in 2010, Majumdar’s main role has been to build an ecosystem for entrepreneurship. In 2012, TISS started a separate entrepreneurship cell under his leadership.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Former Zimbabwe captain Heath Streak passes away: Former Zimbabwe captain Heath Streak passed away at the age of 49. Streak has played 65 Tests and 189 ODIs for Zimbabwe between 1993 and 2005. He ended with 216 wickets in Tests and 239 in ODIs. Streak was the captain of Zimbabwe between 2000 and 2004. In 68 ODIs as captain, he led Zimbabwe to win in 18 and lost 47 while three finished without any result. In 21 Tests, Streak captained Zimbabwe to wins in four while they lost 11 and drew six. Heath Streak was the first Zimbabwe cricketer to claim 100 wickets in Tests and ODIs. He is also the only cricketer from Zimbabwe to achieve the elusive feat of taking 100 Test wickets and scoring 1000 Test runs. Streak was also the only cricketer from his country to score 2000 runs and bag 200 wickets in the ODIs. In 2021, he was given an eight-year ban from all cricket-related activities by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for his involvement in corrupt practices.

Daily GK Update- 3rd sept, 2023

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Health Minister inaugurates Amrita Patel Centre of Public Health in Gujarat: Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurated the Amrita Patel Centre of Public Health in Anand Gujarat. According to Mandaviya, India is leading the world in the health sector today. Aim: To strengthen the health infrastructure in the country. The Government is making wide efforts to provide affordable and accessible healthcare for all. Mandaviya who is on a visit to Gujarat, will attend several programmes in Surat later in the day.

 

2. Titagarh Rail Systems launches diving support craft for Indian Navy: Titagarh Rail Systems Limited’s shares were up by 0.84 percent after the company launched its first Diving Support Craft (DSC) from its shipyard in Titagarh, West Bengal. Aim: To play a vital role within the Indian Navy’s Southern Naval Command Clearance Diving Teams, offering essential support during underwater repair, maintenance, and salvage operations within designated harbors The project aligns seamlessly with the Government of India’s ‘Make in India’ initiative.

 

3. GalaxEye launches drone-based imaging prototype: Ahead of their planned satellite launch in 2024, IIT Madras-incubated space tech startup GalaxEye Space launched their drone-based synthetic aperture radar (SAR) system. Aim: To combine the prowess of the drone-based SAR system and their planned imaging satellites to provide all-weather imaging data from space.  GalaxEye's satellite launch in Q3 of 2024 will be the latest in the long line of Indian space tech startups that are currently preparing to launch into space.

 

4. National Skyscraper Day is observed on 3rd September: Skyscraper Day is celebrated on September 3 every year to capture people’s imagination.  The theme of National Skyscraper Day 2023 is Go on and try to tear me down I will be rising from the ground This day is our golden opportunity to appreciate these architectural marvels and feats of engineering.  Hosting a skyscraper is really a mark of your city's economic prowess, and cities with more skyscrapers tend to see more business activity than cities with lower rooftops.

 

5. CCI approves merger of Tata SIA Airlines into Air India: The Competition Commission of India (CCI)  approved the merger of Tata Group airlines Vistara and Air India This will make Air India, India’s leading domestic and international carrier with a combined fleet of 218 aircraft, making it India’s largest international carrier and second largest domestic carrier. The deal is part of Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran’s effort to simplify the conglomerate’s businesses and make them more efficient.

 

6. Ministry of Social Justice signs MoU with NSKFDC: A momentous collaboration has been cemented as the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment and the National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC) inked a MoU for the fiscal years 2023-24 and 2024-25. This strategic partnership aims to enhance the socio-economic upliftment of Safai Karamcharis, Manual Scavengers, Waste Pickers and their dependants. NSKFDC is continuously working for the empowerment of these most vulnerable and deprived sections of society through its various loan based and non-loan-based schemes like Short Term Skill Development Training Programmes. It focuses on complete mechanization of Sewer and Septic Tank cleaning operation by providing soft loans at low rates of interest to Sanitation Workers, Urban Local Bodies. NSKFDC also provides loans upto Rs 1 lacs under its Mahila Samridhi Yojana and Micro Credit Finance Scheme. The overall rate of interest is 4% and 5%, respectively. The other loan schemes are General Term Loan and Green Business Schemes under which loans upto Rs.15.00 lacs and upto Rs.30.00 lacs respectively are provided with rate of interest at 6% and 1% rebate for women beneficiaries.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Amazon partners with India Post, Railways for international deliveries: Amazon has signed a MoU with the Indian postal service and has also partnered with the Indian Railways for a dedicated freight corridor that will help Amazon expedite deliveries for its seller partners. Aim: To create the first-of-its-kind, seamless, integrated cross-border logistics solution. Smbhav, which is a corruption of the word Sambhav in Hindi, is Amazon's event that is focused on enlightening MSMEs about the opportunities that technology makes possible.

 

2. US state of Georgia declares October as ‘Hindu Heritage Month’: The state of Georgia in the United States has formally designated October as “Hindu Heritage Month” to recognize and appreciate the valuable contributions made by the vibrant Hindu-American community residing in the state. In an official proclamation, Governor Brian Kemp has declared October as ‘Hindu Heritage’ month. October is a significant month for Hinduism as it contains major festivals like Navaratri and Diwali. This declaration highlights the intention to celebrate Hindu heritage by emphasizing its rich culture and the diverse spiritual traditions that originate from India.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Indian Men's Hockey team beat Pakistan to win Men's Hockey 5s Asia Cup 2023: The Indian Hockey team beat Pakistan in a penalty shootout in the final and won the inaugural Men’s Hockey 5s Asia Cup 2023 in Salalah, Oman.  India also qualified for the FIH Men’s Hockey5s World Cup Oman 2024. This is the first time in three meetings that India has beaten Pakistan in the Hockey 5s format.  Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey congratulated the team on qualifying for the FIH Men's Hockey5s World Cup Oman 2024 and winning the Gold medal.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. PhonePe enters online stock broking with a new app: PhonePe announced its foray into the stock broking business with the launch of a new mobile application called ‘Share(dot)Market’, under its subsidiary PhonePe Wealth Broking. This App elevates discount broking by providing market intelligence and quantitative research-based WealthBaskets, a scalable technology platform.  It will be available as a mobile app and a dedicated web platform, enabling retail investors to buy stocks, engage in intra-day trades.

 

2. Mastercard launches ALT ID solution for enhanced online payment security: Mastercard has launched the ALT ID solution in India to enhance the security of guest checkout transactions on e-commerce platforms, simplifying payments for merchants and cardholders. About ALT ID  ALT ID stands for Alternate Identification Number It is a custom-made capability developed by Mastercard to create an alternate identifier for the real card numbers provided by cardholders when at guest checkout transactions on e-commerce platforms.

 

3. Razorpay partners with Truecaller for instant checkout: A global caller identification platform, Truecaller has partnered with Razorpay to provide a fast and secure online checkout experience for shoppers with its 1-Tap, OTP-Less Verification solution. Through this solution by Truecaller, Razorpay will be able to deliver a faster, seamless checkout experience to the 200Mn+ customers that transact via Razorpay’s checkout annually. Customers would no longer need to manually fill up their contact details or wait for OTPs during the checkout, as these details will get auto-populated by Truecaller with a single tap. This solution will help businesses with reduced drop-offs and 5% higher conversion rates providing a faster checkout experience to their customers. This strategic alliance between Razorpay and Truecaller is a testament to their commitment to ensuring a frictionless user buying experience.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Veteran Tamil actor and comedian RS Shivaji passes away at 66: Popular comedian and actor RS Shivaji passes away in Chennai  Shivaji had a strong collaboration with actor Kamal Haasan and his production house Raaj Kamal Films International, contributing to many successful Tamil projects.  Besides acting, Shivaji's career skills extended to assistant direction, sound design, and line production for multiple Tamil films. The actor predominantly worked in Tamil Cinema. Born in Chennai in 1956 to actor and producer M.R. Santhanam

Daily GK Update- 2nd Sept, 2023

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. ISRO launched India’s first solar mission Aditya-L1 successfully: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully launched India's first solar observatory mission named Aditya L1 from Sathish Dhawan Space Centre Sriharikota. It was launched from the PSLV C57 rocket. In Aditya L1, L1 refers to  Lagrange Point 1. Aim: To study the Solar upper atmospheric (chromosphere and corona) dynamics As per the reports, it will take 125 days (approx 4 months) to reach designated point L1 to study the Sun's mysteries.

 

2. Govt forms high-level committee to examine One nation, One election: The Government of India has constituted an eight-member high-level committee to examine One Nation, One Election. Former President Ram Nath Kovind has been appointed as Chairman of the committee. Other members: HM Amit Shah, Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Former Rajya Sabha member Ghulam Nabi Azad, Former Chairman 15th Finance Commission N.K. Singh and others Law and Justice Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal will attend the meetings of the committee as special invitee.

 

3. R Madhavan Nominated as President of FTII Pune: Renowned actor R Madhavan has been nominated as the new President of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune. Additionally, he will serve as the Chairman of the governing council of FTII. Madhavan’s nomination follows the recent success of his film, ‘Rocketry: The Nambi Effect,’ which earned national recognition. The film secured the prestigious Best Feature Film award during the 69th National Film Awards.

 

4. Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia inaugurates Utkela Airport in Odisha: Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has inaugurated Utkela Airport in Odisha. It has been developed as a regional airport under the UDAN scheme of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India at a cost of Rs 31.07 crore. It has a runway of length 917 metre (2,995 ft) with a width of 30 metre. With the addition of Utkela Airport, Odisha will now have five airports. IndiaOne, will be running the flights on this route from 31 August onwards.

 

5. UP govt increases amount of Mukhyamantri Kanya Sumangla Yojana: On the auspicious occasion of Raksha Bandhan, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced an increase in the amount of the Mukhyamantri Kanya Sumangla Yojana from Rs 15,000 to Rs 25,000 from the financial year 2024-2025. This will make it easier for the daughters of the state to fulfil their dreams and become self-reliant along with being educated. Under this scheme, a package of Rs 15,000 was given in six phases. “Starting next year, as soon as a daughter is born, an amount of Rs 5,000 will be transferred to her parents’ account. Similarly, when the daughter turns one year old, Rs 2,000 will be transferred, when she enters the first grade, Rs 3,000; on entering the sixth grade, Rs 3,000; on entering the ninth grade, Rs 5,000; and if the daughter pursues a graduate, diploma, or certificate course, then an amount of Rs 7,000 will be transferred to her account.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Indian-origin economist Shanmugaratnam wins Singapore Presidential election: Indian-origin Economist and Former Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam has won the presidential election of Singapore. He won over 70% of votes in the country's first contested presidential polls since 2011. He had served as Singapore's Deputy prime minister from 2011 to 2019. He has also worked in the public sector and held ministerial positions. He will be Singapore's third Indian-origin President after Sellapan Ramanathan and Chengara Veetil Devan Nair. PM Modi will visit to Jakarta, Indonesia

 

2. PM Modi will visit to Jakarta, Indonesia: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit to Jakarta, Indonesia on 06-07 September 2023 at the invitation of H.E. Joko Widodo (President of the Republic of Indonesia). During his visit, PM Modi will attend the 20th ASEAN-India Summit and 18th East Asia Summit being hosted by Indonesia as current Chair of ASEAN. The forthcoming ASEAN-India Summit will be the first Summit since the elevation of India-ASEAN relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2022.

 

3. US State Georgia officially declares October as 'Hindu Heritage Month': In an official proclamation, Governor of Georgia, Brian Kemp has declared October as 'Hindu Heritage' month. Aim: To celebrate Hindu heritage by emphasizing its rich culture and the diverse spiritual traditions that originate from India Hindu Heritage Month (HHM) serves as a worldwide endeavor with the objective of spotlighting Hinduism as a longstanding tradition. Hinduism is the third-largest religion in the world.

 

4. Minister Dharmendra Pradhan launches Comic Book Developed by NCERT, UNESCO: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has launched a comic book on good health and wellness. The comic book ‘Let’s Move Forward’ is designed to cater to the diverse requirements of adolescents and encapsulates crucial information pertaining to the 11 thematic components of the School Health and Wellness Programme. The book is accessible in multiple languages, including Hindi, English, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odiya, Tamil, and Telugu, to ensure inclusivity across linguistic diversity. Launching the comic book, developed by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) and UNESCO, the minister hoped the book would motivate students to prioritize holistic well-being while entertaining them through storytelling, with a key focus on good health and wellness. It will be distributed across various educational and health institutions nationwide and will also be disseminated to the 29,000 schools affiliated with the CBSE.

 

5. Falabella appoints Ashutosh Dabral as MD for its India office: Ashutosh Dabra has been appointed as the Managing Director for Falabella, India. Ashutosh has held significant positions at companies like Yahoo, Target, Dell, AOL, and Tata CLIQ. Falabella is a dynamic retail Latin American conglomerate and a leading global innovator at the forefront of revolutionizing retail and technology landscape. Set up in 2018, Falabella India has become the nucleus of innovation and technological evolution within the Falabella group. The innovation hub in Bangalore, which currently consists of over 450 developers is predominantly focused on niche technology and transformational efforts for the Falabella Group.

 

6. 2 September – World Coconut Day: World Coconut Day is celebrated every year on September 2. The day also aims to raise awareness about the benefits of coconut cultivation and consumption. Theme 2023 – Coconuts: Transforming Lives The Asian and Pacific Coconut Community (APCC), headquartered in Jakarta, Indonesia, was founded in 1969 to support the growth, production, sell and export of coconuts in Asian countries. In 2009, APCC started the initiative of celebrating World Coconut Day on September 2 every year. India, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Kenya, and Vietnam are some of the countries that are members of APCC. West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh are the main states in India that grow coconuts.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Neeraj Chopra finished second in men's javelin at Zurich Diamond League: India's Javelin thrower, Neeraj Chopra finished second with a final round throw of 85.71 m in the men's javelin event of the Diamond League Meeting at Zurich. He finished behind Jakub Vadlejch of the Czech Republic, who had won a bronze in the World Championships. He is also the reigning Olympic champion, producing three legal throws of 80.79m, 85.22m, and 85.71m. He has been qualified for the Diamond League finals to be held on the 17th of September in Eugene, USA.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. SEBI reconstitutes panel on alternative investment policy: The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has reconstituted its alternative investment policy advisory committee with 25 members to advise on issues impacting the development of the Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) space. The committee is chaired by Infosys co-founder N R Narayana Murthy and includes members from SEBI, the Ministry of Finance, and industry associations. The panel, which was constituted by Sebi in March 2015, had 20 members when it was last rejigged by the regulator in February 2022. Till now, the committee has submitted three reports on the AIF (Alternative Investment Fund) industry. Sebi has also replaced Renuka Ramnath, who was chairperson of the Indian Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (IVCA), from the list with the association’s new chairman Karthik Reddy. In addition, the regulator has added Rajiv Dhar, who was appointed as Managing Director (MD) and CEO of the National Investment & Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) in May this year, in the committee.

 

2. GST collection grows 11% year-on-year to Rs 1.59 lakh crore: Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections grew by 11 percent to over Rs 1.59 lakh crore in August 2023. The gross GST revenue collected in August 2023 is Rs 1,59,069 crore of which Central GST is Rs 28,328 crore, State GST is Rs 35,794 crore, Integrated GST is Rs 83,251 crore (including Rs 43,550 crore collected on import of goods) and cess is Rs 11,695 crore (including Rs 1,016 crore collected on import of goods). The revenues for the month of August 2023 are 11 percent higher than the GST revenues in the same month last year. During the month, revenue from import of goods was 3 percent higher and the revenues from domestic transactions (including import of services) are 14 percent higher than the revenues from these sources during the same month last year. The Goods and Services Tax (GST) collection was over Rs 1.43 lakh crore in August 2022.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. India's Dr. R Ravi Kannan wins Ramon Magsaysay Award 2023: The Assam-based surgical oncologist Dr. R Ravi Kannan has won the Ramon Magsaysay Award 2023 for his revolutionizing cancer treatment in Assam. He worked at the Cancer Institute in Chennai before he moved to Silchar in 2007 to join the Cachar Cancer Hospital. The Magsaysay Award was established in 1957 to reward individuals for integrity in governance, courageous service to the people, and pragmatic idealism in democratic societies.

 

2. RBI governor Shaktikanta Das ranked top central banker globally: Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das has been ranked as the top central banker globally by US-based Global Finance magazine. He has been rated 'A+' in the Global Finance Central Banker Report Cards 2023. He has been placed at the top of the list of three central bank governors who have been rated A+. Grades are based on a scale from A to F for success in inflation control, economic growth goals, currency stability, and interest rate management.

Daily GK Update- 1st Sept, 2023

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Jaya Verma appointed as first woman CEO, chairperson of Railway Board: The Secretariat of the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet appointed Jaya Verma Sinha as first woman CEO and chairperson of Railway Board. She succeeds Anil Kumar Lahoti. She also worked as Railway Advisor in the High Commission of India, Dhaka, Bangladesh for four years.  She also worked as the Divisional Railway Manager, Eastern Railway, Sealdah Division. She joined the Indian Railway Traffic Service in 1988 and worked in Northern Railway and South-East Railway.

 

2. Warship ‘Mahendragiri’ to launch in Mumbai: The warship ‘Mahendragiri’ built at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited was launched in Mumbai. It would be launched by Dr Sudesh Dhankhar and it is the seventh ship of the Project 17A Frigates.  The warship has been named after a mountain peak in the Eastern Ghats located in the state of Orissa.  Mahendragiri is a technologically advanced warship and stands as a symbol of India's determination to embrace its rich naval heritage.

 

3. Government to celebrate sixth Rashtriya Poshan Maah 2023 in September: The Central Government is celebrating the sixth Rashtriya Poshan Maah in September 2023.  Objective: To comprehensively tackle malnutrition through a life-cycle approach and to cultivate widespread awareness concerning critical human life stages comprising pregnancy and adolescence. Aim: To foster nutritional understanding across India through a theme centered on "Suposhit Bharat, Sakshar Bharat, Sashakt Bharat" (Nutrition-rich India, Educated India, Empowered India).

 

4. President launch the theme “The Year of Positive Change” of Brahma Kumaris: The President Droupadi Murmu graced the state-level launch of the theme of the year “The Year of Positive Change” of Brahma Kumaris at Raipur, Chhattisgarh. Brahma Kumaris are working tirelessly to spread love, harmony, and peace in the world. She urged all to develop their inner strength, keep doing positive work, and stay with positive thoughts and good company.  She advised me to be in the company of such people who inspire me to follow the right path.

 

5. Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare signs an MoU with private sector: Directorate General Resettlement (DGR) under the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare and Genpact India Private Limited signed MoU in New Delhi.  Aim: To generate employment opportunities for the esteemed Ex-Servicemen of the Defence Services.      Genpact, a global leader in professional services, would provide meaningful career opportunities for Veterans.  Objectives: To provide skilled manpower and give a dignified second career to our Ex-servicemen”.

 

6. NPCI Launches India’s Own Blockchain-Backed Open-Source Project ‘Falcon’: The National Payments Corporation of India announced the launch of Falcon, an open-source project that aims to simplify the management and use of blockchains based on ‘Hyperledger Fabric' and supported on Kubernetes clusters.  Objective: To help blockchain developers use distributed ledger technology to facilitate efficient, reliable, and automated deployment of network as well as Web3 solutions. Hyperledger fabric is an enterprise-level permission blockchain network.

 

7. Nagaland becomes first state to launch Aadhaar linked birth registration: Nagaland became the first state in the northeastern region to initiate Aadhaar-linked birth registration (ALBR). Objective: To enable children's access to various social welfare schemes designed for their welfare. Aim: To streamline birth registration by integrating it with Aadhaar enrolment for children in the age group of 0 to 5 Directorate of Economics, Nagaland has collaborated with UIDAI as a Registrar cum Enrolment Agency for Child Enrolment via the ALBR process

 

8. Army signs deals for 130 tethered drones and 19 tank-driving simulators: The Army has signed contracts for the procurement of 130 tethered drones and 19 tank-driving simulators under Emergency Procurement (EP) and they will be delivered in 12 months. The armed forces are currently executing the fourth tranche of EPs sanctioned by the Defence Ministry. Indian Army has signed the contract for procurement of 130 Tethered Drones and 19 Tank Driving Simulators. The induction of such new equipment will enhance the overall operational preparedness. The long-endurance tether drone systems are contracted at an approximate value of ₹250 crore and can be used in high-altitude areas. In the last few months, the Army has issued several tenders for a range of drones and technologies including logistics, load-carrying drones, anti-drone systems, and loitering munitions, among others. In the last three years, in the backdrop of the stand-off in Eastern Ladakh, the Army had also concluded a series of contracts with Indian start-ups for small drones for surveillance and load-carrying. Under the fourth tranche of EP, the Army has so far signed 49 contracts worth ₹7,600 crore and another 34 contracts of similar amount are lined up and expected to be concluded by end-September, as reported earlier.

 

9. 1 to 7 September – National Nutrition Week (NNW): National Nutrition Week (NNW) is observed annually in India from September 1 to 7. This dedicated week aims to raise awareness among people about the vital role of nutrition and the significance of cultivating healthy eating habits. Throughout National Nutrition Week, several seminars, workshops, educational programmes, conferences, and public awareness campaigns are organized across the country.

These activities are designed to educate people about the advantages of maintaining a balanced diet, the positive impact of proper nutrition, ways to prevent diseases linked to poor dietary habits, and strategies to overcome nutritional deficiencies. The theme of Nutrition Month 2023, according to UNICEF, is “Healthy Diet Going Affordable for All”

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. UK PM Rishi Sunak appointed Grant Shapps as new Defence Minister: UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak appointed Grant Shapps as the new Defence Minister.  The development comes after former Defence Secretary Ben Wallace resigned. Shapps has previously served as Transport Secretary,  energy secretary and Home Secretary. T The new post of Defence Secretary marks his fifth ministerial portfolio. Grant Shapps has been a strong supporter of Sunak as Conservative Party leader.

 

2. India, USA join hands to launch RETAP for c: India and the United States launched the Renewable Energy Technology Action Platform (RETAP) under the umbrella of the Strategic Clean Energy Partnership. Objective: To revolve around the development of green and clean hydrogen, wind energy, and long-duration energy storage solutions. Aim: To explore opportunities in geothermal energy, ocean/tidal energy, and other mutually identified emerging technologies, opening doors for diverse renewable energy avenues.

 

3. Savart Launched First Fully Automated Investment Fund, 'The Ad Astra Fund': Savart launched its world's First Fully Automated Investment Fund,The Ad Astra Fund in Hyderabad. Aim: To transform the traditional human-led investment research processes and increase the probability of achieving a superior return on investment. The fund features end-to-end research automation, from investment opportunity discovery until exit i.e., the entire research and investment decision-making is driven by their AI research system APART.

 

4. Geetika Srivastava is first woman to head Indian mission in Pakistan: A 2005 batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer, Geetika Srivastava will be India’s new charge d’Affaires at its high commission in Islamabad. Geetika, who is currently serving as the Joint Secretary at the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), is the first woman to head India’s mission in Pakistan. Geetika is currently handling the Indo-Pacific division in MEA and will succeed Dr M Suresh Kumar, who is expected to return to India soon. From 2007 to 2009, Geetika served in the Indian Embassy in China where she mastered Mandarin language. She has also had stints at the Regional Passport Office in Kolkata and has been the director of the Indian Ocean region division in the foreign ministry. New Delhi and Islamabad haven’t had high commissioners since August 2019 after Pakistan downgraded the diplomatic relations between the two nations following the abrogation of Article 370, which granted a special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

 

5. 31 August 2023 – World Sanskrit Day: In a bid to honour one of the world’s oldest known languages, every year World Sanskrit Day is celebrated on the full moon day of the Hindu calendar month of Shravan or Sawan month. This year World Sanskrit Day, which is also known as World Sanskrit Diwas, is being observed on August 31. The celebration of the day aims at the awareness and promotion of Sanskrit language. Apart from this, the celebrations also mark the sanctity and divinity of the language, which is also considered the Dev Vani (language of the Gods). Sanskrit has also been used to write some crucial scriptures in Hinduism like Vedas, Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita. Many believe that Sanskrit was created and passed on by Lord Brahma to rishis. The celebration of Sanskrit Day and Sanskrit Diwas was declared by the government of India in 1969. The day was supposed to be a tribute to the work of the renowned Sanskrit scholar Paṇini and his legacy. This is why, annually World Sanskrit Day is observed on the birth anniversary of Panini, whose contribution to the evolution of the language stands significant and unmatched till date. The first World Sanskrit Day was celebrated in 1969.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Neeraj Chopra bagged silver in javelin event in Zurich Diamond League 2023: Neeraj Chopra finished second with a final round throw in the men's javelin event of the Diamond League 2023  in Zurich.  He finished behind Jakub Vadlejch of Czech Republic, who had won a bronze in the World Championships. The Indian superstar, who was unbeaten this season qualified for the Diamond League finals to be held on the 17th of September in Eugene,  He had won the Diamond League trophy in 2022.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Bandhan Bank authorized by RBI to disburse civil pension: Bandhan Bank has been designated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) as an authorized pension disbursement bank for civil pensioners on behalf of the Central Pension Accounting Office (CPAO).  The bank will collaborate with the CPAO and the Ministry of Finance to implement the pension disbursement process.  Objective: To distribute pensions to central government employees in civil ministries and departments, excluding railways, posts, and defense.

 

2. PNB launches GST Sahay App for invoice-based MSME loans up to Rs 2 lakh: Punjab National Bank launched the PNB GST Sahay App for MSME borrowers to access loans up to Rs 2 lakh digitally using GST invoices.  Aim: To streamline the lending process for micro, small, and medium-sized businesses. 

The key features include:

·       End-to-End Digital Lending Process

·       Cost-Effective and Smooth Process

·       Direct Loan Crediting

·       Technology-Driven Assessment

·       Loan Range and Repayment Options

·       Integration with GST Profile

·       Focus on MSMEs