Daily GK Update- 5th Jan, 2024

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Jagdeep Dhankhar inaugurates NCC Republic Day Camp 2024 at Delhi Cantt: Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar Inaugurated NCC Republic Day Camp 2024 at Delhi Cantt. Mr. Dhankhar said that NCC instills punctuality, resilience, loyalty, and hard work that shape the Cadets into active, productive citizens and the most valuable human resource of this great country. During the upcoming Republic Day, female cadets will proudly march down the Kartavya Path in two exclusive contingents with two female bands.

 

2. Canara Bank CGM P Santhosh appointed as MD of NARCL: P Santhosh (chief general manager at Canara Bank) is appointed as managing director and chief executive officer of National Asset Reconstruction of India. He is succeeding Natarajan Sundar, who resigned from the post. The National Asset Reconstruction Company Limited (NARCL) was established in July 2021. Commonly referred to as a 'bad bank', its main objective is to manage and dispose of the stressed assets of commercial banks.

 

3. Govt. approves PRITHVI VIGYAN scheme worth nearly 4,800 crore rupees: A decision in this regard was taken by the Union Cabinet today. The  Prithvi Scheme is aimed at the augmentation and sustenance of long-term observations of the atmosphere, ocean, geosphere, cryosphere, and solid earth to record the vital signs of the Earth System and change. It is also intended for the development of modelling systems for understanding and predicting weather, ocean, and climate hazards and understanding the science of climate change.

 

4. ArcelorMittal partners with IIT Madras to create Hyperloop facility: Steel giant ArcelorMittal has partnered with the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras to build “Asia’s first” Hyperloop test track facility in Tamil Nadu. The companies, ArcelorMittal and ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India (AM/NS), are providing foundational steel materials as well as engineering, design, and project management expertise to support the construction of Asia’s first Hyperloop test track at the 163-acre Discovery campus of IIT Madras, located at Thaiyur on the outskirts of Chennai.

 

5. Chhattisgarh declared dry day on January 22 to honor Ram temple: Chhattisgarh government has decided to declare January 22 as a “dry day” as the consecration of Ram temple will take place in Ayodhya on that day. Ram Raj has been the model of our good governance, CM said. We are fortunate that Chhattisgarh is Lord Ram’s ‘nanihal’ (the place of Lord Ram’s maternal grandparents) and it is also fortunate that ‘pran pratistha’ of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya will take place on January 22,”. The state’s rice millers association has sent 300 metric tonnes of aromatic rice to Ayodhya for the ceremony and cultivators from the state will also dispatch vegetables to the city in Uttar Pradesh.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Nadia Calvino appointed as new President of the European Investment Bank: Nadia Calvino has been named the new president of the European Investment Bank. She succeeded Werner Hoyer to become the eighth president of the EU bank. The European Investment Bank is the European Union's investment bank and is owned by the 27 member states.

 

2. Shashi Singh appointed as new president of AIRIA: Shashi Singh has been elected as the president of the All India Rubber Industries. Association (AIRIA), the apex body for rubber industries in India. Singh will be succeeding Ramesh Kejriwal as the President of AIRIA. Singh is set to build upon the roadmap established by his predecessors and former presidents, acknowledging their invaluable contributions to the association.

 

3.Czech PM to be chief guest at Vibrant Gujarat Summit: The Prime Minister of the Czech Republic Petr Fiala is to be the Guest of Honour at the 10th Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors Summit to be held from January 10-12 in Gandhinagar. Besides PM Fiala, Timor-Leste’s President José Ramos-Horta, President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Mozambique’s President Filipe Nyusi will also be attending. The Prime Minister will open the event on January 10th in Gandhinagar. The biennial event has become a crucial platform for policymakers, diplomats, business leaders, investors, and corporates to foster collaborations, and partnerships and explore investment opportunities.

 

4. France becomes first European country to issue digital Schengen visas: France will become the first European country to issue digital Schengen visas to visitors for the upcoming Paris Olympics. France has announced plans to shift entirely to online procedures for 70,0000 French Schengen Visas, in a move that aligns with the EU’s digitalization plans. France began operations of the “Olympic Consulate” system from January 1, 2024 – dedicated to processing visa applications for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The “Olympic Consulate” is expected to handle applications from 15,000 international athletes, 9,000 journalists, and delegations from foreign countries participating in the upcoming sporting events.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

DEFENCE

 

1. Sanjay Jasjit Singh took charge of Western Naval Command: Vice Admiral Sanjay Jasjit Singh has assumed the role of Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command (WNC). Singh succeeds Vice Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi. Before this, Singh served as the Vice Chief of Naval Staff, boasting a versatile naval career of about 38 years. Singh has held notable positions such as Assistant Chief of Naval Staff, Flag Officer Sea Training, Western Fleet Commander, and more.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. India Ratings raises GDP growth forecast for FY’24 to 6.7% from 6.2%: India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra) has revised upwards its GDP growth estimate for FY24 to 6.7 percent from 6.2 percent earlier. The revision is led by a number of factors, including the resilience of the Indian economy (which grew 7.6 percent yoy in 2QFY24); sustained government capex; the deleveraged balance sheet of corporates/ banking sector; prospects for a new private corporate capex cycle; and sustained momentum in business and software services exports, coupled with remittances from across the world. The revision comes on the heels of Reserve Bank of India upping its GDP growth forecast for 2023-24 by 50 basis points to 7 percent, from 6.5 percent earlier.

 

2. Canara Bank to launch Data Analytics center in Bengaluru: Public sector banking behemoth Canara Bank will open a separate cyber-security wing from April 1 as the bank steps up its investment in cyber security initiatives to prevent customers from falling into the trap of online fraudsters. The wing will be headed by a general manager and monitor digital transactions on a real-time basis and trigger alerts if a fraudster is trying to break into a customer’s account. After opening the bank’s new data and analytics centre (DnA) in Bengaluru, the PSU bank has been at the forefront in leveraging analytics for improving customer experience and operations.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. The Kuvempu Rashtriya Puraskar 2023 goes to Shirshendhu Mukhopadhyay: Bengali writer Shirshendhu Mukyopadhyaya has been awarded the 2023 Kuvempu Rashtriya Puraskar. He has written more than 90 books, including travelogues and fiction for children. The writer will receive a cash prize of Rs 5 lakh, a silver medal, and a citation. The award is named in honour of the late Kannada poet Kuvempu.

Daily GK Update- 4th Jan, 2024

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Indian Railways to install around 20 thousand GPS based navigation fog: The Indian Railways have provisioned around 20 thousand fog pass devices during the foggy weather to ensure smooth rail operations. The fog pass is a GPS based navigation device that helps the loco pilot to navigate during dense fog conditions. The Railway Ministry said, it provides on-board real-time information to Loco Pilots regarding location of fixed landmarks such as Signal, Level Crossing gate and Permanent Speed Restrictions.

 

2. PM Modi takes part in women's meet at Thrissur in Kerala: PM Modi took part in the women's meet titled "Women Power with Modi" organised at Thekkinkadu Maidan. Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister launched and laid the foundation stone of development projects worth 1156 crore rupees at Kavaratti island in Lakshadweep. He accused the two fronts for their role in keeping the law providing reservation for women in Parliament and the Assembly, pending for years.

 

3. 'SMART 2.0' launched for Ayurveda Teaching Professionals: The Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) along with National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) has launched 'SMART 2.0' (Scope for Mainstreaming Ayurveda Research among Teaching professionals) program. The program aims to promote robust clinical studies in priority areas of Ayurveda with Ayurveda academic institutions and hospitals across the country through mutual collaboration.

 

4. Hyderabad, Bengaluru airports score high in global on-time ranking: Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport bagged third position in the world for its annual On-Time Performance (OTP) in the year 2023. According to a report released by aviation analytics firm Circum, Hyderabad airport is ranked as the second most punctual airport in the world and Bengaluru airport stands next. The Circum report stated that a flight is considered punctual if it departs or arrives with a difference of 15 minutes from the scheduled time. The Kempegowda International Airport has achieved 84.08 % punctuality rate in the year 2023, making it one of the most punctual airports in the world. However, Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airpor

 

5. Justice BR Gavai appoints chairperson of SC legal services committee.: National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) has nominated Justice BR Gavai as the Chairman of the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee. Succeeds Justice Sanjiv Khanna as the Chairperson of the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee. Justice Sanjiv Khanna was previously the senior-most puisne judge and currently serves as the Executive Chairperson of NALSA. Justice Khanna was recently appointed Executive Chairperson of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA).

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Czech PM to be chief guest at Vibrant Gujarat summit: Czech Republic’s Prime Minister Petr Fiala has accepted the invitation to be a guest of honor at the inaugural session of the 10th Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit, scheduled for January 10th. His presence in Gandhinagar was expected to elevate the event to an international level. It is also learned that the summit will also feature the presence of presidents from three other countries like the President of the UAE ,the President of Timor and the President of Mozambique.

 

2. World Braille Day to be celebrated across globe today: This day holds special importance as it marks the birthday of Louis Braille, the visionary inventor of the Braille script, born in France in 1809 Recognizing the paramount role of Braille in education, communication, and social inclusion, the UN has designated 4 January every year as World Braille Day A universal code rather than a language, serves as a tool to write and read in various languages, including Sanskrit, Arabic, Chinese, Hebrew, Spanish, and many others

 

3. France becomes first European country to issue digital Schengen visas: France is set to make history as the first European country to issue digital Schengen visas, introducing a streamlined online process for the anticipated Paris Olympics. The innovative “Olympic Consulate” system is exclusively dedicated to managing the influx of visa applications related to the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. This groundbreaking initiative, aligned with the European Union’s (EU) broader digitalization plans.

 

4. Francoise Bettencourt Meyers becomes first woman with a $100 billion: Françoise Bettencourt Meyers, heiress to the L’Oréal beauty empire, has made history as the world’s first woman to surpass a net worth of $100 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. This milestone was achieved through the surge in L’Oréal S.A. stock. As of that day, her net worth stood at $100.1 billion, shows Bloomberg’s data. Established in 1909 by Bettencourt Meyers’ chemist grandfather, Eugene Schueller to sale a hair dye, the company has been led by non-family executives for many decades. L’Oreal Group, the world’s largest cosmetics company, owns brands like Lancome and Maybelline.

 

5. Russia takes over the BRICS chairmanship: Russia has taken over the BRICS chairmanship as of January 1, following the decision made during the 15th BRICS Summit in August 2022. Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates have joined BRICS as new full members which is a strong indication of the growing authority of the association and its role in international affairs. BRICS continues to attract a growing number of supporters and like-minded nations that share fundamental principles such as sovereign equality, respect for diverse developmental paths, mutual consideration of interests, openness, consensus-building, the pursuit of a multipolar global order, a fair global financial and trade system, and collective solutions to major global challenges.

4 January – World Braille Day: World Braille Day is observed every year on January 4 to honour the birth anniversary of Louis Braille, the inventor of the Braille writing system for blind and visually impaired individuals. The primary objective of recognising World Braille Day is to promote Braille literacy and raise awareness among people about its importance. Despite the advent of new technologies and systems, visually impaired and blind people still face significant challenges in leading an independent life.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

 

SPORTS

 

1. Beach Games start at Ghoghala Beach in Union Territory of Diu: More than 1,200 players from across 20 states and union territories of the country will participate in the first-of-its-kind multi-sports beach games in Diu. Mr. Thakur will attend the ‘My Bharat’ program at Malala Auditorium Diu. A total of 8 different sports are included in the Diu Beach Games, including beach volleyball, pencak silat, beach boxing, beach soccer, and sea-swimming along with traditional sports and more than 20 in the beach games.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. RBI releases draft circular proposing new rules of dividend payout: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released a draft circular proposing new rules of dividend payout for domestic and overseas banks operating in India. RBI has sought public feedback on the proposed norms by January 31 and the circular will be implemented from April 2024 onwards. The proposal says banks with net non-performing asset ratio (NNPA) of above 6% and capital adequacy ratio (CRAR) of below 11.5% cannot declare dividends.

 

2. Binny Bansal Launches OppDoor To Help Ecommerce Firms In Expansion: OppDoor offers end-to-end solutions to brands including market entry analysis, demand mapping, inventory management, cross-border logistics and tax. The Singapore-based startup claims to partner with leading private label brands to unlock their business potential and expand globally. Currently, the startup claims to be operational in the US, the UK, Canada, Mexico, Germany, Singapore, Japan, and Australia.

 

3. India Ratings revises PNB Housing Finance NCD ratings from AA to AA+: PNB Housing Finance, a housing finance company, said that India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra) has upgraded the rating of the company’s non-convertible debentures (NCDs) to ‘IND AA+’ from ‘IND AA’ with stable outlook. Further, Ind-Ra said that NCDs limit has been split into bank loans and NCDs and ‘IND AA+’ rating has been assigned to the bank loans.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Prof B R Kamboj honoured with M S Swaminathan Award: Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University’s Vice Chancellor P B.R. Kamboj has been honoured with the prestigious MS Swaminathan Award in recognition of his contributions as a scientist and extension specialist in the field of agronomy. The award ceremony took place at the International Conference on ‘One Health One World,’ held at Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia Agricultural University at Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh. The agricultural recommendations put forth by Prof. Kamboj, stemming from his research work and collaborative extension activities with university scientists, have consistently proven to be highly advantageous for farmers.

Daily GK Update- 3rd Jan, 2024

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India inaugurated its first all-girls Sainik School in Vrindavan, UP: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has inaugurated the inaugural all-girls Sainik School in Vrindavan Uttar Pradesh, hailing it as a guiding light for young women aspiring to serve in the armed forces and safeguard the nation. The inauguration of the Samvid Gurukulam Girls Sainik School marks a significant milestone. It is the inaugural all-girls Sainik School, hosting approximately 870 students. This establishment is part of the broader initiative to establish 100 new Sainik Schools through collaboration with NGOs, private entities, and state government schools across all states and Union territories.

 

2. PM Modi inaugurates new terminal building at Tiruchirappalli airport: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a new terminal building at Tiruchirappalli International Airport in Tamil Nadu. The new terminal building has been developed at a cost of more than Rs 1100 crore. The airport’s design has been inspired by the cultural vibrancy of Tiruchirappalli. It would depict art forms from Kolam art to colours of Srirangam Temple and other theme artworks. The two-level new international terminal building has the capacity to serve more than 44 lakh passengers annually and about 3500 passengers during peak hours.

 

3. Udhampur achieved 100% saturation in ‘Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra”: Jitendra Singh commends Udhampur’s success, nearing full implementation in key schemes and flagship projects. PMGSY and RDD departments were lauded for excellence in road connectivity and efficient completion of Area Development Plan. All the “Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra” schemes as well as all the flagship schemes of Govt. of India are nearing 100% saturation in Udhampur district.

 

4. Surat Hosts 12th Divya Kala Mela 2023: The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan), under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, organized ‘the 12th edition of Divya Kala Mela’ in Surat, Gujarat. The Mela is co-hosted by the National Divyangjan Finance and Development Corporation (NDFDC). The primary objective of the ‘Divya Kala Mela’ is to contribute to the economic empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (PwD)/Divyangjan.

 

5. J&K becomes first UT to implement PM Vishwakarma Yojana: Jammu and Kashmir has become the first Union Territory (UT) to implement the PM Vishwakarma Yojana (PMVY). It is an initiative that aims to empower and enhance the skills of the craftsman community. The inauguration of the training programme for the first batch of 30 trainees (Viswakarmas) in ‘darzi craft’ was virtually conducted by Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar, and Secretary of the Union Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Atul Kumar Tiwari, at ITI Shopian.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Denmark’s Queen Margrethe II to step down after 52 years on throne: Denmark’s popular Queen Margrethe II, Europe’s longest-serving monarch, would abdicate on January 14 and pass the baton to her son Crown Prince Frederik. Margrethe, 83, has reigned for 52 years and has been Europe’s only reigning queen after the death of Britain’s Elizabeth II. She has been hailed for subtly modernising Danish royalty in her half-century on the throne. The queen, known for her artistic talents, has been hugely popular in Denmark. She has managed to be a queen who has united the Danish nation in a time of large changes: globalization, the appearance of the multicultural state, economic crises in the 1970s, 1980s and again in 2008 to 2015, and the pandemic.

 

2. Kia India names Gwanggu Lee as new MD & CEO: Kia India has appointed Gwanggu Lee as the new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer with immediate effect. He will be the third MD and CEO of Kia India, succeeding Kook Hyun Shim and Tae Jin Park. Kia currently sells five models, including Seltos, Sonet, and Carens, in the Indian market. Kia and Kia Motors Corporation is a South Korean multinational automobile manufacturer. CEO at Kia Global – Ho-Sung Song

 

3. 2 January – World Introvert Day: World Introvert Day is observed on January 2 every year. It is a day committed to understanding and valuing the exceptional characteristics of introverted people. An introvert person is somebody who is shy, calm and likes to invest energy alone instead of frequently being with others. World Introvert Day was started from a blog post by psychologist and author Felicitas Heyne named, “Here’s Why We Need a World Introvert Day” on her site “iPersonic”. The date January 2 was picked in light of the fact that it denotes the end of the holiday season beginning from Christmas to New Year and permits introverts to take a collective full breath.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

DEFENCE

 

1. Vivek Srivastava appoints as DG of Fire Service: The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has recently approved the appointment of Vivek Srivastava as the Director General of Fire Service, Civil Defence & Home Guards under the Ministry of Home Affairs. He is a seasoned 1989-batch IPS officer of the Gujarat cadre. This significant appointment is set to take effect from the date of Srivastava’s joining the post and will continue until June 30, 2025, or until further orders, whichever occurs earlier.

 

2. Dong Jun Named As China’s New Defense Minister: China named former Navy chief Dong Jun as its new defence minister to replace the last minister, Li Shangfu, who disappeared from public view four months ago. The appointment by Chinese lawmakers comes as President Xi Jinping upgrades the military as part of his push to make China a dominant world power, a goal that has alarmed many neighbours, especially its assertiveness towards self-ruled Taiwan and in the disputed South China Sea. The role of China’s defence minister is to be the public face of the People’s Liberation Army in its engagement with the media and with other armed forces. Dong Jun, a former navy commander, has been appointed as China’s new defense minister. At 62 years old, Dong previously served as the commander of the navy since August 2021.

 

SPORTS

 

1. Beatrice Chebet breaks 5 km world record in Barcelona event: Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet smashed the women’s world 5km record in Barcelona. The 23-year-old’s time of 14min 13sec improved on the previous women-only world record of 14:29 set by Ethiopia’s Senbere Teferi in September 2021. Her performance also bettered the women’s world record set in a mixed race of 14:19, achieved by Ethiopia’s Ejegayehu Taye at the same Barcelona meet in 2021. Taye finished second behind Chebet on Sunday, clocking 14:21, while Kenya’s Lilian Kasait Rengeruk was third in 14:26 as the top three dipped under the previous women-only world record mark.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. UPI ends 2023 with record transactions worth ₹18-lakh crore: Unified Payments Interface (UPI) ended 2023 at a high, recording over 1,200 crore transactions worth more than ₹18-lakh crore in December, a peak for both the transaction count and value. Over 11,765 UPI transactions worth ₹182.2-lakh crore were processed in 2023, up 59 percent in terms of volume and 45 percent in terms of value compared with 2022, as per data by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). Transactions worth ₹18.23-lakh crore were processed during December, significantly higher than the previous high of ₹17.40-lakh crore in November. In percentage terms, the value of transactions was 4.8 percent higher on the month and 42 percent on year.

Daily GK Update- 2nd Jan, 2024

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. PM Modi inaugurates new terminal building of Trichy airport: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the new terminal of Trichy Airport and laid the foundation stone for several development projects worth over Rs 20,000 crore in Tamil Nadu’s Tiruchirappalli. The new terminal building has been developed at a cost of more than Rs 1100 crore. Tiruchirappalli International Airport is Tamil Nadu’s second-largest airport in terms of international passenger traffic after Chennai.

 

2. Guinness world record of performing mass Surya Namaskar created in Gujarat on New Year Day: Gujarat has set a Guinness record for performing mass Surya Namaskar simultaneously at 108 places in the state on the first day of the new year. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, and Minister for Home Affairs Harsh Sanghavi attended the State level event that took place at the iconic Sun Temple in Modhera in Mahesana district. More than 2500 people performed Surya Namaskar at the state-level function held at the iconic Modhera Sun Temple. The function also witnessed the felicitation of the winners of the state-level Mega Surya Namaskar Competition. This month-long competition was organized for the first time in the state by the Gujarat State Yog Board and the state government to popularise Surya Namaskar practice among people.

 

3. Assam CM flags off 200 green buses for pollution-free Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has flagged off 200 electric buses from Guwahati. The initiative as the government’s one of the biggest push towards a pollution-free environment. By 2025, we want to establish Guwahati as the country’s first city to be powered by a 100 per cent green public transportation system. This new fleet builds upon the 100 CNG buses dedicated to the New Year.

 

4. PM to attend DGP conference at Jaipur: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the three-day annual conference of Director Generals and Inspector Generals of Police, beginning from January 5 at Jaipur. Objective – To deliberate on challenges posed by artificial intelligence (AI), cyber security, counter terrorism, left wing extremism and narcotics smuggling. The 58th all-India annual conference of DGPs and IGPs will be held at Rajasthan International Centre located at Jhalana in Jaipur, which is after a new BJP government has come to power in the State, pointed out sources.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. World Introvert Day 2024:2nd January: World Introvert Day, observed on January 2nd, provides an opportunity to recognize and appreciate the unique qualities introverts bring to our lives. It all started in 2011 when a psychologist and author named Felicitas Heyne published a blog post calling for a day for the 'quiet ones'. World Introvert Day is an opportunity to finally relax and enjoy solitude for introverts as this entire period can be tough for many reasons.

 

2. Tshisekedi re-elected DR Congo president: The Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) President Felix Tshisekedi won re-election with more than 70 percent of the vote, the country’s election commission has announced. The preliminary results of the December 20 election were announced in the capital, Kinshasa, on Sunday amid demands from the opposition and some civil society groups for the vote to be rerun due to massive logistical problems that put the validity of the outcome into question.

 

3. Argentina Rejects BRICS Membership Under President Javier Milei: Argentine President Javier Milei has officially declined the invitation to join the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) grouping of major emerging economies. The bloc — made up of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa — in August announced it was admitting six new members in a bid to counter the Western-led global order. The membership of Argentina, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates was due to take effect from January 1, 2024.

 

4. 1 January – World Day of Peace: World Day of Peace is celebrated on January 1 every year, is primarily a Catholic feast day dedicated to universal peace on the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God. On this occasion, Popes generally make authoritative declarations on the Catholic Social Teachings (C.S.T.). The Pope and the Vatican Church stress the need to care and share tolerance for each other and to create a society that focuses on good moral values and does not yield to the temptation to disregard others.

 

5. 1 January – Copyright Law Day: Copyright Law Day is celebrated every year on 1 January to emphasize on the need to give credit where it is due. The first copyright statute was made by British Statute of Anne 1710 and applied only to books. In 1787, the United States Constitution protected copyrights to promote the progress of science and useful arts. Even back then, the primary intention of copyrights was to promote the creation of new works and allow authors the profit of copyrights. However, illegal downloading and usage of copyrighted products still continue to haunt us, and make the industries suffer.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

DEFENCE

 

1. Military Exercise Desert Cyclone-2024: The joint military exercise Desert Cyclone-2024 between the armies of India and UAE will be conducted in the Thar Desert of Rajasthan (2nd to 15th January 2024). Desert Cyclone aims to learn and share best practices in urban operations. The potential areas of bilateral cooperation in the defence sector include the production and development of defence equipment, joint exercises of the armed forces, sharing information on tactics and doctrines, etc.

 

SPORTS

 

1. Anahat wins U-19 girls” title at Scottish Junior Open squash: Delhi’s Talented Indian teenager Anahat Singh produced a dominant performance, bagging the girls’ under-19 title at the 2023 Scottish Junior Open squash held in Edinburgh. Anahat claimed a 11-6, 11-1, 11-5 victory over home favourite Robyn McAlpine in the final. Anahat recorded the under-19 and senior National championship double and won the mixed doubles bronze along with Abhay Singh both at the Asian Games and in the inaugural Asian Mixed Doubles Championships.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. RBI issues new order to help recovery of unclaimed deposits in banks: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued fresh instructions to banks to strengthen the ongoing efforts to reduce the quantum of unclaimed deposits in the banking system and return such deposits to their rightful owners or claimants. As per the extant instructions, the credit balance in any deposit account maintained with banks, which have not been operated upon for 10 years or more, or any amount remaining unclaimed for 10 years or more.

 

2. GST collections rise 10% to Rs 1.64 lakh crore in December: The gross Goods and Services Tax, GST revenue collection for the month December 2023 stood at one lakh 64 thousand and 882 crore rupees. The revenue for month of December is 10.3% higher than the GST revenues in the same month last year. The total GST revenue collected for the month, Central Goods and Services Tax, CGST collection is 30 thousand 443 crore rupees, State Goods and Services Tax, SGST is 37 thousand 935 crore rupees, Integrated Goods and Services Tax.

 

3. Sale of Electoral Bonds begins today: SBI authorised to issue and encash bonds through 29 branches. It will be sold through 29 authorised branches of SBI till the 11th of this month. The Bonds will be valid for fifteen calendar days from the date of issue and no payment will  be made to any payee political party if the Bond is deposited after expiry of the validity period. The Bond deposited by the eligible Political Party in its account will be credited on the same day.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Prof B R Kamboj honoured with M S Swaminathan Award: Prof. B.R. Kamboj has been honoured with the prestigious M.S. Swaminathan Award in recognition of his contributions as a scientist and extension specialist in the field of agronomy. Prof Kamboj is the VC of the Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University. Thawar Chand Gehlot (Governor of Karnataka) presented him this award. Prof Kamboj has published about 300 research papers and articles in national and international journals, books and technical magazines.

Daily GK Update- 1st Jan, 2024

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Gujarat To Unveil India’s First Submarine Tourism In Dwarka: The Gujarat government is set to introduce a submarine service for tourists in the state, to help them explore the marine life in Dwarka, an ancient city believed to be lost under the sea. The state government has signed a memorandum with Mazgaon Dock shipbuilders for the project in the city, which holds cultural significance as the ‘city of the Hindu God Lord Krishna’. This will be the first underwater tourism facility in India through a submarine. As per the current plan, the government aims to operationalise the project before Diwali in October 2024.

 

2. Hardeep Puri inaugurates India’s first ‘Zero Waste Street Food Festival’ in Delhi: Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of Housing & Urban Affairs and Petroleum & Natural Gas, has inaugurated the National Street Food Festival 2023 in New Delhi. This street food festival was organized by the National Association of Street Vendors of India (NASVI) at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. This festival is the first ‘Zero Waste Street Food Festival’ in India. The Minister appreciated NASVI for providing training to 1,50,000 street vendors in food safety and hygiene. He also noted the establishment of two Regional Street Food Vendors Training Institutes (SVTI) which will be launched by NASVI in 2024 in Delhi and Patna.

 

3. Arvind Panagariya appointed as 16th Finance Commission Chairman: The government has appointed former NITI Aayog vice chairman Arvind Panagariya as the Chairman of the 16th Finance Commission. Joint Secretary in the finance ministry Ritvik Ranjanam Pandey will be the secretary to the commission. The commission will submit its report for the five-year period (2026-27 to 2030-31) to the President by October 31, 2025. The Finance Commission is a constitutional body that gives suggestions on center-state financial relations.

 

4. Maharashtra govt to observe 15 January as state sports day: The Maharashtra government will observe January 15 every year as the state sports day to celebrate the birth anniversary of wrestler Khashaba Jadhav, the first Indian to win an independent medal in the Olympics in 1952.

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde had announced in Pune about having a day devoted to sports on the birthday of Jadhav, who was born in Maharashtra. Jadhav had won a bronze medal at the 1952 Summer Olympics held at Helsinki in Finland. A government resolution was issued directing schools and colleges to organize sporting events on this day. Students can interact with sports personalities on online platforms. International and national sportspersons will be felicitated by the government on the state sports day.

 

 

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. UAE initiates process of investing $2 billion in food parks in India: The UAE has initiated the process of channelising its long-promised $2-billion investments into food parks in India, starting with Gujarat, after the two countries sorted out concerns on curbs imposed by the Essential Commodities Act. The investments are being made as part of the four-nation I2U2 (India-Israel-UAE-USA) initiative to develop a series of integrated food parks across India to enhance food security in the Middle East and South Asia. The first food park is likely to be set up on land near Kandla where the investors would get into contract farming arrangements with locals. The UAE had first promised in 2018 to invest in food parks in India which later got dovetailed into the I2U2 initiative announced at the Leaders’ Summit in July 2022.

 

2. Andrew Saberton appointed as the Deputy Executive Director of UNFPA: United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed Andrew Paul Saberton of the United Kingdom as Assistant Secretary-General to serve as Deputy Executive Director (Management) of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Saberton succeeds Ib Petersen of Denmark, to whom the Secretary-General and the Executive Director of UNFPA are grateful for his dedicated service.

Saberton has served as the Assistant Secretary-General and Deputy Executive Director (Management) ad interim since November 2023 and as UNFPA Comptroller and Director for the Division of Management Services since September 2016. Previously, he was the Chief of the Finance Branch (2011-2016) and Chief of the Accounts Section (2009-2011) at UNFPA, and a Senior Finance Officer at the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (2001-2009).

 

3. 1 January – Global Family Day: Global Family Day is celebrated every year on January 1. The day aims at commencing the new year with peace, unity and brotherhood among people and across nations and cultures. The idea to mark the day was first initiated in November 1997 after people were inspired by a book named, One Day In Peace – January 1, 2000. The book was released by the United Nations. Around the same time, the United Nations General Assembly launched the International Decade for the Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World.

Later, in 1999, UN members received a formal invitation to officially mark January 1 as – Global Family Day.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

DEFENCE

 

1. Defence Secretary Opens HAL’s Aero Engine R&D Facility In Bengaluru: Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane has inaugurated a new design and test facility at Aero Engine Research and Development Centre (AERDC) of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in Bengaluru, Karnataka. The newly inaugurated facility, spanning over 10,000 sq. meters, is poised to be a hub of innovation in the field of aerospace engineering. Equipped with special machines, advanced setups, and computational tools, it signifies HAL’s commitment to staying at the forefront of technological advancements. Additionally, the newly developed facility has set-ups for testing air producers of Jaguar, Gas Turbine Starter Unit (GTSU) – 110 M2 and 127E of Light Combat Aircraft, Auxiliary Power Units of IMRH and Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft, Gas Turbine Electrical Generator (GTEG)-60 for An-32 aircraft.

 

2. India, UAE to conduct joint military exercise ‘Desert Cyclone’ in Rajasthan: The Inaugural edition of Joint Military Exercise Desert Cyclone, between India & UAE, will be conducted from 02 Jan to 15 Jan 2024 in Rajasthan. The joint manoeuvres during ‘Desert Cyclone 2024’ aim to boost interoperability through the exchange of knowledge and best practices in urban operations. The exercise aims to enhance interoperability by learning & sharing best practices in Urban Operations.

 

SPORTS

 

1. Australian batter David Warner announces his retirement from ODI: Australian batter David Warner has announced his retirement from One Day Internationals (ODIs). The 2-time ODI World Cup Winner had previously announced that he would be ending his Test career after Australia’s upcoming Test against Pakistan in Sydney. However, the opener has said that he will keep himself available for selection in the Champions Trophy in 2025. Warner is Australia’s sixth-highest run scorer in the ODI format and is only second to former captain Ricky Ponting’s tally for most Centuries for Australia in ODIs.

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. ISRO launched XPoSat aboard PSLV-C58: The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has launched the PSLV-C58 X-ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat). The PSLV, in its 60th mission, lifted off at 9.10 a.m. on 1 Jan, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, and 22 minutes later launched the XPoSat into an eastward low inclination orbit. The PSLV-C58 has placed the primary satellite at the XPoSat in the desired orbit of 650 km with six-degree inclination. XPoSat is the first dedicated scientific satellite from the ISRO to carry out research in space-based polarisation measurements of X-ray emission from celestial sources. It carries two payloads, namely POLIX (Polarimeter Instrument in X-rays) and XSPECT (X-ray Spectroscopy and Timing).

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Sukanya Samriddhi Schemes’ interest rates hiked up to 20 bps for Q4FY24: The Centre hiked the interest rates of some of the small savings schemes, such as Sukanya Samriddhi Scheme, and 3-year Time Deposit, for the January-March 2024 quarter. As per the latest revised list, the interest rate of Sukanya Samriddhi Scheme will be 8.2%, while for 3-year TD it would be 7.1% for the last quarter of the current fiscal. Earlier, the interest rates for the Sukanya Samriddhi Scheme and 3-year TD were 8.0%, and 7.1%, respectively. The PPF rates were kept unchanged for more than 3 years. It was last tweaked in April-June 2020, when it was slashed to 7.1 percent from 7.9 percent. Before the revision, the interest rates on small savings schemes ranged between 4 percent (post office savings deposits) and 8.2 percent (Senior Citizens Savings Scheme). Interest rates for Jan-March 2024