Daily GK Update- 12th Dec, 2023

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Aditya Birla Health introduces product 'Activ One': Aditya Birla Health Insurance introduces “Activ One” - A streamlined and comprehensive health insurance solution that offers 100% health and 100% health insurance. This streamlined and all-encompassing health insurance plan is designed to offer policyholders personalized solutions, addressing not only their health insurance requirements but also fostering their journey towards optimal well-being.

 

2. Nirmala Sitharaman inaugurates ‘Krishnaveni Sangeetha Neerajanam’ in Vijaya: Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman inaugurated Krishnaveni Sangeetha Neerajanam at Tummalapalli Kalakshetram, Vijayawada. This three-day classical music extravaganza will host a variety of activities, including classical music performances by renowned musicians of the country. The event provides an enchanting glimpse into the glorious Indian classical music heritage by accomplished musicians.

 

3. Govt to procure two lakh tonnes of onion during Kharif season 2023: The Government will procure two lakh tonnes of onion during this Kharif season to make available enough quantity of the crop in the market. The Government has banned the export of onion till the 31st of March next year given the current production scenario and global situation. Mr Singh said, that in the last month, the Onion consumer retail price has declined by 4.3 per cent.

 

4. PM Modi launches ‘Viksit Bharat@2047- Voice of Youth’: PM Modi launched the ‘Viksit Bharat@2047 - Voice of Youth’ and also addressed the Vice Chancellors and Heads of other Higher Education Institutes including students across the nation virtually. Assam Governor hosted the programme at IIT Guwahati, Vice Chancellors and the Heads of Institutions from about 61 Higher Educational Institutions of Assam attended physically. About 45 Higher Educational Institutions and about 600 colleges also participated in the virtual mode.

 

5. PM Modi addressed financial technology event “Infinity Forum 2.0”: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has addressed the 2nd Edition of the flagship Financial Technology event – Infinity Forum 2.0. The event is hosted by the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) and Gujarat International Finance Tec-City, GIFT City, under the aegis of the Union Government. Organized as a pre-cursor event to Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2024, the 2nd edition of the Infinity Forum 2.0, was held in hybrid mode, with an invite-only in-person event scheduled in GIFT City and for virtual participation from participants across the globe. The Infinity Forum is a global thought leadership platform on financial services, where progressive ideas, pressing problems, and innovative technologies from across the world get Discovered, Discussed, and Developed into solutions and opportunities.

 

6. Vishnu Deo Sai becomes the new CM of Chhattisgarh: Former Union Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Vishnu Deo Sai has become the new Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh. He will be the central Indian State’s fourth Chief Minister, and the first tribal leader to hold the post. He is also the first to hail from a region beyond the Other Backward Class-dominated central plains in Chhattisgarh’s 23-year-old history. A prominent tribal face of the BJP, Sai will take over as the next Chhattisgarh CM before January 3, 2024 — when the tenure of the Chhattisgarh Assembly ends. Vishnu Deo Sai belongs to a tribal community. He hails from the influential Sahu (Teli) community which has a sizable presence in the Durg, Raipur, and Bilaspur divisions. Vishnu Deo Sai served as the BJP’s Chhattisgarh president from 2006 to 2010 and again from January to August 2014. After the BJP lost power in the state in 2018, he was again given the responsibility to lead the party in Chhattisgarh in 2020. He was replaced with Arun Sao, an OBC leader, in 2022, just a year ahead of the assembly polls.

 

10 December – Human Rights Day: The Human Rights Day is celebrated around the world on December 10 every year. It focuses on the fundamental rights and liberties of people and advocates for the rights that transcend nationality, gender, ethnicity, race, sexuality, religion, or any other distinctions. Theme 2023 – Freedom, Equality and Justice for All This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). 1950, Human Rights Day was formally established after the adoption of the UNGA Resolution 423. As per the resolution, all the states and interested organizations were invited to celebrate the day and commemorate the proclamation of the UDHR.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India hosts 27th WAIPA World Investment Conference in New Delhi: India is hosting the four-day 27th WAIPA World Investment Conference at the India International Convention & Expo Centre - Yashobhoomi, New Delhi. Under the aegis of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, it will be the largest World Investment Conference ever. The WIC is being held in India for the first time. Over 1000 attendees, 50 Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs) and various multilateral agencies will attend the conference.

 

2. UNICEF Day 2023: 11th December: UNICEF (United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund) Day is observed on December 11th each year to rais awareness globally to help children who need help and support. Theme 2023: This year, the theme for UNICEF Day is “For every child, every right." It also protects the rights of children and helps them fulfill their potential from childhood to adolescence.

 

3. Nikhil Dey named as International Anti-Corruption Champion by US State Dept: An Indian social activist Nikhil Dey has been named as the International Anti-Corruption Champion by the US State Department. He has been acknowledged for his noteworthy support of social movements that oppose corruption in government welfare programs in India by encouraging transparency and accountability and participatory democracy. Dey's efforts as a co-founder of Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan contributed to anti-corruption and transparency reforms in India.

 

4. Sri Lanka to host FAO conference in 2024: Sri Lanka will host the 37th session of the Asia Pacific Regional Conference (APRC) of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in February 2024. The conference will enable ministers of agriculture and high officials from 46 member countries across the Asia Pacific region to discuss challenges and priorities related to food and agriculture, promoting regional coherence. According to the FAO, by hosting the event, Sri Lanka demonstrates the country’s dedication to the growth of sustainable agriculture, not just at home but across the region, and showcases its commitment to being partner in sustainable agricultural development.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

DEFENCE

 

1. Indian Army conducted Table-top Exercise for Asean Women Peacekeepers: In a landmark initiative to promote gender inclusivity and enhance the capabilities of women military personnel in peacekeeping operations, the Indian Army conducted a Table-Top Exercise (TTX) for the Women Officers of Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) at Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi. The Exercise is part of ongoing efforts of Centre for United Nations Peacekeeping (CUNPK) to strengthen international cooperation and capacity-building in peacekeeping missions, with specific focus on empowering women in the field. CUNPK is a premier institution of the Indian Army to impart training in peacekeeping operations. CUNPK had earlier conducted ASEAN Women Military Officers Course from 18th to 29th September 2023.

 

SPORTS

 

1. Travis Head wins ICC Men's Player of Month award for Nov 2023: Australian batter Travis Head has been named as the ICC Men's Player of the Month for November 2023. Head is only the second Australia Men's player to take the award after David Warner, who won it in November 2021. Head beat tough competition from teammate Glenn Maxwell and India seamer Mohammed Shami to claim the honour.

 

2. Anurag Thakur formally inaugurates first-ever Khelo India Para Games: Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Singh Thakur formally inaugurated the first-ever Khelo India Para Games (KIPGs) in New Delhi. More than 1,400 participants from across 32 states and Union Territories including Services Sports Control Board are participating in the 8-day event. Khelo India Para Games aim to provide opportunity for aspiring para-athletes to showcase their skill and develop their career in para sports.

 

3. Italy won Admiral’s Cup 2023 held at Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala: The 12th edition of ‘Admiral’s Cup’ Sailing Regatta concluded with a glittering closing ceremony at Ettikulam Beach at Indian Naval Academy (INA), Ezhimala. Team Italy represented by Midshipman Avallone Antonio & Midshipman Creati Carlo Leonardo won the Admiral’s Cup 23. Team India represented by Midshipman PPK Reddy and Cadet GY Reddy was the Runners-Up and Team United Kingdom & Germany represented by Officer Cadet Lucy Bell and Midshipman Aaron Middleton from United Kingdom and Cadet Beckman Carl & Cadet Hinz Anton from Germany shared the third position. Seaman Gorkunov Petr from Russia stood first in the individual position in the men’s category followed by Midshipman Avallone Antonio from Italy and Midshipman PPK Reddy from India at second and third positions respectively.

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. Google launches its largest and ‘most capable’ AI model, Gemini: Google has introduced to the world its newest language model (LLM) called Gemini. This new LLM can seamlessly understand, operate across, and combine different types of information, including text, code, audio, images, and video. Google claims that Gemini is their most capable and general-purpose AI model to date. However, there’s more to it than meets the eye.

 

2. Gemini isn’t just one model; it’s actually a family of AI models that come in three sizes: Gemini Ultra, Gemini Pro and Gemini Nano According to Google, its new flagship AI model, Gemini, has arrived in its first iteration, version 1.0, and comes in three distinct sizes, each tailored to specific needs. It has the flexibility to run on everything from data centres to mobile devices

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. India’s economy to grow at 6.8% in FY24, accelerate to 7% in FY25: CII: Industry chamber CII expects the country’s economy to grow at 6.8 percent in the current fiscal and accelerate to 7 percent in 2024-25, driven by the government’s continued focus on infrastructure development and promotion of ease of doing business. The expected gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 6.8 percent will be more than the 6.5-6.7 percent estimated earlier by the industry body. India’s economy recorded a growth of 7.7 percent in the first half of the current fiscal ended in September.

 

2. RBI has canceled the license of Sitapur-based Urban Co-operative Bank: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has canceled the license of Sitapur-based Urban Co-operative Bank in Uttar Pradesh. The bank’s license was canceled due to lack of adequate capital and prospects of earning. The RBI has prohibited the bank from any banking, including depositing money and repaying its customers. On liquidation, every depositor would be entitled to receive deposit insurance claim amount of his/her deposits up to a monetary ceiling of ₹5 lakh from Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC). As per the data submitted by the bank, 98.32 percent of the depositors are entitled to receive full amount of their deposits from DICGC.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Bhutanese author Tshering Tashi conferred with Sahitya Akademi’s Premchand Fellowship: Noted Bhutanese author Tshering Tashi was conferred with the Sahitya Akademi’s ‘Premchand Fellowship’. Based in Bhutan’s capital Thimphu, Mr. Tashi is a writer known for his works in the field of creative non-fiction. He has written numerous books on Bhutan and has made his country accessible, engaging, and interesting for the youth. He is also the co-director of the Bhutan Echoes Literary Festival. Tashi is the co-author of The Bodhisattva King, Bold Bhutan Beckons, Symbols of Bhutan, and is an independent author of works like Mysteries of the Raven Crown, Legacy of Gongzim Ugyen Dori, and Myth and Memory – Untold Stories of Bhutan.

Daily GK Update- 11th Dec, 2023

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Home Minister Amit Shah chairs Eastern Zonal Council meeting in Patna: Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired the 26th Eastern Zonal Meeting in Patna. The Zonal Councils are an important platform to resolve bilateral, multilateral and regional issues through dialogue among member states. During the past nine years, the history of the Eastern Zonal Council has been very successful as more than 1,100 disputes have been resolved on this platform through dialogue.

 

2. Union Minister Piyush Goyal flags off 'One Bharat Sari Walkathon' in Mumbai: Union Minister Piyush Goyal & Poonam Mahajan jointly flagged off 'One Bharat Sari Walkathon' in Mumbai The event organized by the Ministry of Textiles to promote the handloom sari culture in India by inviting the participation of women across the country to showcase their ways of wearing saris and thus present India as a country of “Unity in Diversity It also promotes the spirit of traditional textiles and supports the idea of “Vocal for Local”

 

3. Human Rights Day:10th December: Human Rights Day is observed on December 10th each year. It serves as a day to reflect on the progress made in promoting human rights and to highlight the challenges that persist. The theme for Human Rights Day 2023 is "Freedom, Equality, and Justice for All".

 

4. Ram Nath Kovind launches book “ Naye Bharat ka Samveda” in New Delhi: Former President of India, Ram Nath Kovind launched a book “ Naye Bharat ka Samveda” in New Delhi. The book is a compilation of speeches of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the Indian Constitution. Ram Nath Kovind added, Prime Minister refers to the Constitution of India as the only book for code of conduct and guidance for the government.

 

5. Wax statue of Babasaheb Ambedkar installed in Jaipur Wax Museum: A wax statue of Constitution architect Baba Saheb Ambedkar was installed in Jaipur Wax Museum, Nahargarh Fort on the occasion of Mahaparinirvan Day. The wax statue has been placed in the set of Rashtrapati Bhavan along with the statue of India’s second great personality, ‘missile man’ and Bharat Ratna Dr APJ Abdul Kalam. The height of the statue is 5 feet 11 inches, while the weight is about 38 kg. After this wax statue of Baba Saheb, a total of 43 celebrities have been installed in the Jaipur Wax Museum. It is noteworthy that Jaipur Wax Museum is the first wax museum in the world which is located in a “heritage site”, Nahargarh Fort. Founder-director of the museum – Anoop Srivastava

 

6. Lalduhoma takes oath as Chief Minister of Mizoram: Veteran politician and Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) leader Lalduhoma sworn in as the Chief Minister of Mizoram at Raj Bhawan in Aizawl. Governor Dr Hari Babu Kambhampati administered the oath to Mr Lalduhoma. The 74-year-old Lalduhoma joined politics in 1984 when he was elected as Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) on Congress ticket. He has walked the political corridor for almost 40 years before assuming the Chief Ministership. In this year’s elections, he led the Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) to a decisive victory bagging as many as 27 seats in the 40-member House. The ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) was reduced to 10 seats while the BJP got 2 seats.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Thailand, Myanmar to set up task force as border unrest intensifies: Thailand and Myanmar will set up a task force to boost humanitarian assistance to people displaced by fighting between the Junta army and rebel groups. The decision was taken during discussions between Myanmar and Thailand's foreign ministers at a meeting in China. The United Nations estimates say that more than 3 lakh people have been displaced by fighting since the rebel offensive started in late October.

 

2. Indonesia to issue free entry visas to travelers from 20 countries: The Indonesian Ministry of Tourism has proposed issuing free entry visas to travelers from 20 countries including India. The 20 countries include Australia, China, India, South Korea, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany, among others. Thailand extended visa-free entry to Indians till May 2024.

 

3. UP team to attend World Economic Forum in Davos: A delegation of the UP government will travel to Davos (Switzerland) to attend the World Economic Forum meeting there from January 15 to 19 It will brief delegates about efforts being made to make UP a trillion-dollar economy and develop metropolitan towns as hubs of different sectors that include efforts to develop Lucknow as India’s first AI city The UP government’s investor-friendly policies and efforts made to bring about an improvement in the lives of common people

 

4. Indonesia’s Ibu volcano erupts, ash up to 1,200m: The Ibu volcano on Halmahera Island in the eastern Indonesian province of North Maluku erupted. Local time for about 90 seconds, throwing ash up to 1,200 metre above its peak, according to the country’s Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG). Standing as high as around 1,300 metre above sea level, Ibu volcano is classified in the second danger level, below the highest level of IV. Located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, Indonesia is one of the countries with the most volcanoes in the world.

 

5. 9 December – International Anti-Corruption Day: International Day Against Corruption or International Anti-Corruption Day (IACD) is celebrated every year on December 9. Objective – To raise awareness among the general public on the impact of the prevailing malice in many countries. Theme 2023 – UNCAC at 20: Uniting the World Against Corruption Corruption is such a malpractice that threatens the social and economic development of societies across the world, which is why this day aims to educate people on this crucial issue. As an initial step in combating corruption, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the United Nations Convention against Corruption on October 31, 2003. The authorities also designated the date of December 9 as World Anti-Corruption Day to raise awareness about corruption and the role of the Convention in preventing it. Following the same, the observance of the day was first officially held on 9 December 2005.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

DEFENCE

 

1. Indian Army conducts Army Veteran’s Half Marathon, Honour Run in Delhi: The Indian Army conducted the Army Veteran’s Half Marathon, Honour Run in New Delhi to commemorate the historic military victory in the Kargil War. The event was flagged off by Chief of the Army Staff General Manoj Pande. The event was conducted under the theme of Honour Run and was aimed at strengthening the bond between the Indian Army, Veterans and the masses, especially the Youth.

 

2. Gen. Anil Chauhan inaugurated Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. Avionics Expo: Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Anil Chauhan has inaugurated the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited Avionics Expo 2023 in New Delhi. Chauhan said the aviation sector needs to keep up with a rapidly changing world and new technological innovations. He added that military affairs are headed to convergence warfare where different technologies converge to make battles more automated and autonomous. CDS Chauhan also stressed on the need for Aatma-Nirbharta in the aviation sector to reduce import dependency, boost the economy, and better handle geo-political and economic instabilities.

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. India ranked 7th in this year's climate change performance: According to the report released during the global climate talks COP28, India still remains in the list of countries making the most efforts towards climate change. The Climate Change Index assesses the efforts of 63 countries and the European Union to reduce carbon emissions. In this index, China is at 51st place and America is at 57th place.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Union Bank collaborates with Accenture to boost operational efficiency: Union Bank of India has collaborated with Accenture to design and develop a scalable and secure enterprise data lake platform to boost its operational efficiency. This will also enhance its ability to offer customer-centric banking services and manage risk. Accenture will work with the Bank to build new AI and machine learning models that can help generate actionable insights for improved business forecasting, facilitate personalized offers for customers and enable intelligence for fraud detection, prevention, and mitigation. The program will enable the public sector bank to develop robust data visualization and reporting capabilities including interactive dashboards and reports for business, operational, and regulatory purposes, per the Bank’s statement.

2. SBI Card joins Bharat BillPay in the credit card category: NPCI Bharat BillPay (NBBL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), has successfully integrated SBI Card, one of India’s leading credit card issuers, into the credit card category of Bharat BillPay. This integration marks a significant advancement, streamlining the credit card bill payment process for millions of customers. Noteworthy credit card issuers already present in this category include Kotak Mahindra Bank, BoB Financial, Federal Bank, AU Small Finance Bank, IndusInd Bank, and Canara Bank. SBI Card has an extensive customer base, totaling around 1.68 crores. Through the utilization of Bharat BillPay, SBI Card customers gain the advantage of seamlessly handling their credit card bill payments across various Bharat BillPay-supported payment channels.

 

3. UPI transaction limit for medical, educational services to be hiked to ₹5 lakh: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has proposed enhancing the limit of UPI transactions undertaken for medical or healthcare and educational services from ₹1 lakh to ₹5 lakh per transaction. The limit for various categories of UPI transactions has been reviewed from time to time. It is now proposed to enhance the UPI transaction limit for payment to hospitals and educational institutions. This will enable the users who are comfortable with making payments through UPI to continue using the platform for high-value payments as well. The transaction limit would no longer be a bottleneck which refrains the user from using UPI, especially when it comes to payments which are urgent in nature. Currently, the transaction limit for UPI is capped at ₹1 lakh, except in a few categories like capital markets (AMC, broking, mutual funds, etc.), collections (credit card payments, loan re-payments, EMI), Insurance, etc. where the transaction limit is ₹2 lakh

DEFENCE UNICORN INSTITUTE – GANDHINAGAR | AHMEDABAD   BEST COACHING FOR: NDA | CDS | AFCAT | ACC | CAPF | CPO | COAST GUARD | DEFENCE EXAMS | COMPETITIVE EXAMS

Daily GK Update- 10th Dec, 2023

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Home Minister Amit Shah chairs Eastern Zonal Council meeting in Patna: Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired the 26th Eastern Zonal Meeting in Patna. The Zonal Councils are an important platform to resolve bilateral, multilateral and regional issues through dialogue among member states. During the past nine years, the history of the Eastern Zonal Council has been very successful as more than 1,100 disputes have been resolved on this platform through dialogue.

 

2. Union Minister Piyush Goyal flags off 'One Bharat Sari Walkathon' in Mumbai: Union Minister Piyush Goyal & Poonam Mahajan jointly flagged off 'One Bharat Sari Walkathon' in Mumbai The event organized by the Ministry of Textiles to promote the handloom sari culture in India by inviting the participation of women across the country to showcase their ways of wearing saris and thus present India as a country of “Unity in Diversity It also promotes the spirit of traditional textiles and supports the idea of “Vocal for Local”

 

3. Human Rights Day:10th December: Human Rights Day is observed on December 10th each year. It serves as a day to reflect on the progress made in promoting human rights and to highlight the challenges that persist. The theme for Human Rights Day 2023 is "Freedom, Equality, and Justice for All".

 

4. Ram Nath Kovind launches book “ Naye Bharat ka Samveda” in New Delhi: Former President of India, Ram Nath Kovind launched a book “ Naye Bharat ka Samveda” in New Delhi. The book is a compilation of speeches of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the Indian Constitution. Ram Nath Kovind added, Prime Minister refers to the Constitution of India as the only book for code of conduct and guidance for the government.

 

5. Wax statue of Babasaheb Ambedkar installed in Jaipur Wax Museum: A wax statue of Constitution architect Baba Saheb Ambedkar was installed in Jaipur Wax Museum, Nahargarh Fort on the occasion of Mahaparinirvan Day. The wax statue has been placed in the set of Rashtrapati Bhavan along with the statue of India’s second great personality, ‘missile man’ and Bharat Ratna Dr APJ Abdul Kalam. The height of the statue is 5 feet 11 inches, while the weight is about 38 kg. After this wax statue of Baba Saheb, a total of 43 celebrities have been installed in the Jaipur Wax Museum. It is noteworthy that Jaipur Wax Museum is the first wax museum in the world which is located in a “heritage site”, Nahargarh Fort. Founder-director of the museum – Anoop Srivastava

 

6. Lalduhoma takes oath as Chief Minister of Mizoram: Veteran politician and Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) leader Lalduhoma sworn in as the Chief Minister of Mizoram at Raj Bhawan in Aizawl. Governor Dr Hari Babu Kambhampati administered the oath to Mr Lalduhoma. The 74-year-old Lalduhoma joined politics in 1984 when he was elected as Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) on Congress ticket. He has walked the political corridor for almost 40 years before assuming the Chief Ministership. In this year’s elections, he led the Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) to a decisive victory bagging as many as 27 seats in the 40-member House. The ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) was reduced to 10 seats while the BJP got 2 seats.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Thailand, Myanmar to set up task force as border unrest intensifies: Thailand and Myanmar will set up a task force to boost humanitarian assistance to people displaced by fighting between the Junta army and rebel groups. The decision was taken during discussions between Myanmar and Thailand's foreign ministers at a meeting in China. The United Nations estimates say that more than 3 lakh people have been displaced by fighting since the rebel offensive started in late October.

 

2. Indonesia to issue free entry visas to travelers from 20 countries: The Indonesian Ministry of Tourism has proposed issuing free entry visas to travelers from 20 countries including India. The 20 countries include Australia, China, India, South Korea, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany, among others. Thailand extended visa-free entry to Indians till May 2024.

 

3. UP team to attend World Economic Forum in Davos: A delegation of the UP government will travel to Davos (Switzerland) to attend the World Economic Forum meeting there from January 15 to 19 It will brief delegates about efforts being made to make UP a trillion-dollar economy and develop metropolitan towns as hubs of different sectors that include efforts to develop Lucknow as India’s first AI city The UP government’s investor-friendly policies and efforts made to bring about an improvement in the lives of common people

 

4. Indonesia’s Ibu volcano erupts, ash up to 1,200m: The Ibu volcano on Halmahera Island in the eastern Indonesian province of North Maluku erupted. Local time for about 90 seconds, throwing ash up to 1,200 metre above its peak, according to the country’s Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG). Standing as high as around 1,300 metre above sea level, Ibu volcano is classified in the second danger level, below the highest level of IV. Located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, Indonesia is one of the countries with the most volcanoes in the world.

 

5. 9 December – International Anti-Corruption Day: International Day Against Corruption or International Anti-Corruption Day (IACD) is celebrated every year on December 9. Objective – To raise awareness among the general public on the impact of the prevailing malice in many countries. Theme 2023 – UNCAC at 20: Uniting the World Against Corruption Corruption is such a malpractice that threatens the social and economic development of societies across the world, which is why this day aims to educate people on this crucial issue. As an initial step in combating corruption, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the United Nations Convention against Corruption on October 31, 2003. The authorities also designated the date of December 9 as World Anti-Corruption Day to raise awareness about corruption and the role of the Convention in preventing it. Following the same, the observance of the day was first officially held on 9 December 2005.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

DEFENCE

 

1. Indian Army conducts Army Veteran’s Half Marathon, Honour Run in Delhi: The Indian Army conducted the Army Veteran’s Half Marathon, Honour Run in New Delhi to commemorate the historic military victory in the Kargil War. The event was flagged off by Chief of the Army Staff General Manoj Pande. The event was conducted under the theme of Honour Run and was aimed at strengthening the bond between the Indian Army, Veterans and the masses, especially the Youth.

 

2. Gen. Anil Chauhan inaugurated Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. Avionics Expo: Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Anil Chauhan has inaugurated the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited Avionics Expo 2023 in New Delhi. Chauhan said the aviation sector needs to keep up with a rapidly changing world and new technological innovations. He added that military affairs are headed to convergence warfare where different technologies converge to make battles more automated and autonomous. CDS Chauhan also stressed on the need for Aatma-Nirbharta in the aviation sector to reduce import dependency, boost the economy, and better handle geo-political and economic instabilities.

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. India ranked 7th in this year's climate change performance: According to the report released during the global climate talks COP28, India still remains in the list of countries making the most efforts towards climate change. The Climate Change Index assesses the efforts of 63 countries and the European Union to reduce carbon emissions. In this index, China is at 51st place and America is at 57th place.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Union Bank collaborates with Accenture to boost operational efficiency: Union Bank of India has collaborated with Accenture to design and develop a scalable and secure enterprise data lake platform to boost its operational efficiency. This will also enhance its ability to offer customer-centric banking services and manage risk. Accenture will work with the Bank to build new AI and machine learning models that can help generate actionable insights for improved business forecasting, facilitate personalized offers for customers and enable intelligence for fraud detection, prevention, and mitigation. The program will enable the public sector bank to develop robust data visualization and reporting capabilities including interactive dashboards and reports for business, operational, and regulatory purposes, per the Bank’s statement.

2. SBI Card joins Bharat BillPay in the credit card category: NPCI Bharat BillPay (NBBL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), has successfully integrated SBI Card, one of India’s leading credit card issuers, into the credit card category of Bharat BillPay. This integration marks a significant advancement, streamlining the credit card bill payment process for millions of customers. Noteworthy credit card issuers already present in this category include Kotak Mahindra Bank, BoB Financial, Federal Bank, AU Small Finance Bank, IndusInd Bank, and Canara Bank. SBI Card has an extensive customer base, totaling around 1.68 crores. Through the utilization of Bharat BillPay, SBI Card customers gain the advantage of seamlessly handling their credit card bill payments across various Bharat BillPay-supported payment channels.

 

3. UPI transaction limit for medical, educational services to be hiked to ₹5 lakh: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has proposed enhancing the limit of UPI transactions undertaken for medical or healthcare and educational services from ₹1 lakh to ₹5 lakh per transaction. The limit for various categories of UPI transactions has been reviewed from time to time. It is now proposed to enhance the UPI transaction limit for payment to hospitals and educational institutions. This will enable the users who are comfortable with making payments through UPI to continue using the platform for high-value payments as well. The transaction limit would no longer be a bottleneck which refrains the user from using UPI, especially when it comes to payments which are urgent in nature. Currently, the transaction limit for UPI is capped at ₹1 lakh, except in a few categories like capital markets (AMC, broking, mutual funds, etc.), collections (credit card payments, loan re-payments, EMI), Insurance, etc. where the transaction limit is ₹2 lakh

Daily GK Update- 9th Dec, 2023

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Ministry of Culture launched Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar Project: The Government of India has decided to map and document all villages under Mera Gaon, Meri Dharohar (MGMD) Programme. This National Mission on Cultural Mapping is conducted in coordination with Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) under the Ministry of Culture. Under the MGMD, information is collected under seven broad categories.

 

2. India to have 4,500 Vande Bharat trains by 2047: As per union minister Scindia, 23 Vande Bharat trains are running in the country and the mission is to run 4,500 Vande Bharat trains by 2047. Jyotiraditya Scindia announced that the Indian Railway system is growing the fastest in the world. Railway budget in 2013-14 was 29 thousand crore rupees and now it is 2 lakh 40 thousand crore rupees.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India Climbs to 7th Place in Global Climate Performance Index: India has ascended to the 7th position in this year's Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI), showcasing a commendable improvement from its previous ranking. The announcement came during the global COP-28 held in Dubai, where India reaffirmed its status among the top performers for the fifth consecutive year. The Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) tracks countries’ efforts to combat climate change.

 

2. Dubai Inaugurates World's Largest Concentrated Solar Power Project: PM Of UAE Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum inaugurated the fourth phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, marking the launch of the world's largest concentrated solar power project. The 950 MW phase, constructed at an investment of AED15.78 billion, utilizes three hybrid technologies: 600MW from a parabolic basin complex, 100MW from a CSP tower. The project features the tallest solar tower in the world, at 263.126 metres.

 

3. India to Extend $250 Million Line of Credit to Kenya: India has committed a $250 million Line of Credit to Kenya for the modernization of its agricultural sector. The announcement came following talks between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Kenyan President William Samoei Ruto. Modi and Ruto discussed and agreed to strengthen bilateral ties in various sectors, including defence, trade, energy, digital public infrastructure, and healthcare.

 

4. World Radiocommunication Conference 2023 appoints UAE’s Mohammed Al Ramsi as Chairman: United Arab Emirates’ Mohammed Al Ramsi has been appointed Chairman of the World Radiocommunication Conference 2023 (WRC 23). The event is being held in Dubai, UAE, from November 20th to December 15th, 2023. WRC is organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) every four years to revise the global use of radio-frequency spectrum, geostationary-satellite, and non-geostationary-satellite orbits. This year, more than 4,000 government officials and 900 international organizations from 193 countries are attending the conference.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

DEFENCE

 

1. Defense Ministry partners with ISB to offer scholarships for ex-servicemen: The Defense Ministry has collaborated with the prestigious Indian School of Business (ISB). The initiative focuses on providing scholarships to military personnel transitioning to civilian life after retirement. The Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare has forged a partnership with ISB to facilitate educational opportunities for veterans. The collaboration intends to equip armed forces personnel with the latest and in-depth management skills, leveraging the substantial skillset they already possess. As part of this collaboration, ISB will extend a 50 percent tuition fee waiver across its postgraduate and advanced management programmes, amounting to a total of Rs 2.3 crore annually. This generous scholarship initiative is expected to benefit 22 ex-servicemen each academic year, fostering their academic pursuits and aiding their transition to civilian roles.

 

SPORTS

 

1. ICC launches new vibrant logo for Men’s and Women’s T20 World Cup 2024: International Cricket Council (ICC) has unveiled the logo for the upcoming T20 World Cup in Men’s and Women’s cricket next year. While the men’s event is set to take place from June 4 to June 30, 2024 in the West Indies and USA. While, Women’s T20 World Cup will happen in Bangladesh. The new logo, according to ICC, captures the inherent drama the shortest forma brings with it. It also showcases the relentless energy in T20 cricket even as the new brand identity incorporates textures and patterns inspired by host country.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. PM Modi inaugurates first Indian Art & Design Biennale at Red Fort: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the first Indian Art, Architecture and Design Biennale (IAADB) at Red Fort in New Delhi. He unveiled seven research publications on the occasion. The Prime Minister also inaugurated Aatmanirbhar Bharat Centre for Design. IAADB is being organized in line with the PM's vision to develop a flagship global cultural initiative in the country.

 

2. UPI limit for healthcare & education payments hiked to 5 lakh: The RBI announced an increase in the UPI transaction limit for hospitals and education services to Rs 5 lakh. The limit for recurring digital payments without second-factor authentication was enhanced to Rs 1 lakh for mutual fund subscription, insurance premium, and card bills. The RBI also plans to create a repository for fintechs to store important information. The Reserve Bank Innovation Hub aims to make the repository operational by April 2024.

 

3. IDFC FIRST Bank launches “FIRST SWYP” credit card: IDFC FIRST Bank has introduced youth-centric “FIRST SWYP” credit card in partnership with Mastercard. This card can be used as a no-interest charge card and has curated features -- flexible bill repayments through EMIs, a benefit-laden referral program, and exclusive and relevant merchant partnerships. The card will address demands of new-age customers, blending benefits across their favorite categories of spends and lifestyle-related  offers.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. TIME ranks Sam Altman as CEO of the Year: Sam Altman was named CEO of the Year 2023 by TIME magazine. Sam Altman marked ‘10-out-of-10 crazy thing to live through’ when he had to spend a rather strange Thanksgiving- losing a company he co-founded, only to be reinstated after five frantic days. Sam Altman co-founded OpenAI developed ChatGPT, a revolutionary tool, launched in November 2022. ChatGPT became one of the most rapidly adopted technology ever.

TIME eulogized American singer Taylor Swift being made Person of the Year as, the editors pointed out, since 1927, the ‘person chosen has typically been a ruler over traditional domains of power. He—and yes, usually it has been a “he”—is very often a politician or a titan of industry. Fourteen US Presidents, five leaders of Russia or the Soviet Union, and three Popes have all been recognized. Athlete of the Year – Lionel Messi

DE