Daily GK Update- 20th June, 2024

 NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Cabinet approves Central Sector Scheme “National Forensic Infrastructure Enhancement Scheme” (NFIES): The Union Cabinet has approved the proposal of Ministry of Home Affairs for Central Sector Scheme “National Forensic Infrastructure Enhancement Scheme (NFIES)” with a total financial outlay of Rs. 2254.43 crore during the period from 2024-25 to 2028-29. Financial outlay of the Central Sector Scheme will be provisioned by the Ministry of Home Affairs from its own budget. The Cabinet has approved the following components under this Scheme: Establishment of Campuses of the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) in the country. Establishment of Central Forensic Science Laboratories in the country.

 

2. Avian Influenza Outbreak and Response Simulation Exercise held at Bhopal: The Department of Animal Husbandry, in partnership with the World Bank has organised an Avian Influenza Outbreak and Response Simulation Exercise in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. This workshop comes at a crucial time as we face unusual outbreaks of Avian Influenza in Kerala and witness a global trend of spillovers to non-poultry species, including cattle. The two-day workshop aims to enhance preparedness and response capabilities for avian influenza outbreaks.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Mark Rutte appoint as new secretary-general of NATO: Mark Rutte will appoint as the new secretary-general of NATO. Mark Rutte will succeed Jens Stoltenberg. Rutte has been the PM of Netherlands for 14 years. Rutte will take over NATO’s leadership at a critical time. His new job will begin by Oct. 2, just over a month before the U.S. election, which will shape the fate of the military alliance that has served as Eastern Europe’s most successful deterrence to an aggressive Russia.

 

2. 20 June – World Refugee Day: World Refugee Day is observed every year on 20 June. The day is dedicated to raising awareness about the plight of refugees worldwide and promoting their inclusion and acceptance in host communities. World Refugee Day is commemorated with the hope of finding a lasting solution to the global refugee crisis and providing a safe place for all displaced people. It also serves as a reminder of the importance of international cooperation and solidarity in addressing this issue. Theme 2024 – For a World Where Refugees Are Welcomed The first-ever World Refugee Day was celebrated on 20 June 2001 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees.

 

3. June – International Day of Yoga: International Day of Yoga is observed every year on 21 June. This year marks the 10th International Day of Yoga. Theme 2024 – Yoga for Self and Society Yoga, a transformative practice, represents the harmony of mind and body,the balance between thought and action, and the unity of restraint and fulfillment. Recognizing its universal appeal, on 11 December 2014, the United Nations proclaimed 21 June as the International Day of Yoga

The draft resolution establishing the International Day of Yoga was proposed by India and endorsed by a record 175 member states. The proposal was first introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address during the opening of the 69th session of the General Assembly.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

DEFENCE

 

1. HAL Receives Rs 45,000 Crore RFP from MoD for 156 Indigenous Light Combat Helicopters: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), based in Bengaluru, has received a Request For Proposal (RFP) from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for the procurement of 156 Light Combat Helicopters (LCHs) Prachand, estimated to cost Rs 45,000 crore. The MoD issued this RFP under Regulation 30 of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015. Of the 156 LCHs, 90 are allocated for the Indian Army (IA) and 66 for the Indian Air Force (IAF).

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. CERT-In and Mastercard India signed MoU to Boost Cyber Security in Financial Sector: Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) and Mastercard India have signed MoU for collaboration in cyber security to enhance India’s cyber-resilience in the financial sector. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology said, two entities will leverage their shared expertise to strengthen the financial sector’s cybersecurity incident response. Mastercard and CERT-In will hold training programs and workshops for cyber capacity building, latest market trends and best practices to enhance cyber security of financial sector organizations. The two entities will also share relevant cyber threat trends, technical information, threat intelligence, and vulnerability reports to strengthen the financial sector information security of India.

 

SPORTS

 

1. Neeraj Chopra wins Gold in Paavo Nurmi Games 2024: Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra has won the gold medal in the men’s javelin event at the prestigious Paavo Nurmi Games in Turku, Finland. Neeraj Chopra took the Gold with a best effort of 85.97m, well short of his season-best effort. Much to the surprise of the 8-man field, 26-year-old Toni Keranen won silver with a personal best attempt of 84.19m. He bettered the likes of Anderson Peters and Keshorn Walcott, who failed to finish in the top 3. 2022 champion Oliver Helander took bronze with a best attempt of 83.96.

 

2. Trent Boult announces retirement from international cricket: New Zealand’s left-arm fast bowler Trent Boult has announced his retirement from International Cricket. Trent Boult made his international debut for New Zealand in 2011, and he represented the Black Cap (New Zealand team) in all the formats of the games – Test matches, One Day Internationals (ODIs) and T 20 Internationals. He also has the distinction of appearing in all the finals of the three formats of the games. He played in the first ICC World Test Championship final held at Lords, England, in 2021 against India. The final was won by New Zealand by 8 wickets.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Federal Bank launches RuPay Wave credit card: Federal Bank, in collaboration with National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), has launched RuPay Wave Credit Card to offer customers UPI-powered transactions on RuPay network. The bank’s cardholders can now link their RuPay Wave credit card to their preferred UPI applications, which would enable them swift and secure transactions with just a couple of clicks on their mobile devices. The benefits offered for customers include no AMC or joining fees, 10 per cent cash back on the first five UPI transactions made using the Wave credit card, 1000 bonus reward points upon quarterly spends of ₹50,000.

 

2. Zurich Insurance completes majority stake buy in Kotak General Insurance: Zurich Insurance Company Limited (Zurich) has successful completion of majority stake acquisition in Kotak Mahindra General Insurance Company Limited (Kotak General) from Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited (KMB) following the receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals. Zurich has acquired a 70 percent stake in Kotak General for a total consideration of ₹5,560 crore ($670 million), through a combination of fresh growth capital and share purchase. The transaction marks the largest foreign investment in India’s general insurance market and is the first by a foreign insurer since the foreign direct investment (FDI) limit was raised from 49 percent to 74 percent in 2021.

 

 

Daily GK Update- 19th June, 2024

 NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Virat Kohli leads 2023 Celebrity Brand Valuation Rankings with $228 million: Kroll: Ace cricketer Virat Kohli regained the top slot in the Celebrity Brand Valuation Report 2023 released by Kroll. Kohli’s brand value is pegged at $227.9 million on the back of his stellar performance in ICC ODI World Cup and boasts of over 40 brands in his endorsement portfolio. Ranveer Singh was at number two rank at a brand value of $203.1 million lending his name to endorse 50 brands. Meanwhile, Shah Rukh Khan jumped to third spot with a brand value of $ 120. 7 million, marking his return to the top five club for the first time since 2020 in Kroll’s Celebrity brand valuation rankings. Akshay Kumar stood at the fourth spot in 2023 at a brand value of $111.7 million, followed by Alia Bhatt at the fifth spot at $101.1 million.

 

2. PM Modi to lead yoga day celebrations from Srinagar on June 21: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead the main International Yoga Day event in Srinagar on June 21, as India gears up to celebrate the ancient practice of yoga on a global scale. This year’s theme, “Yoga for Self and Society,” highlights the importance of incorporating yoga into every aspect of life for individual and community well-being. Additionally, the Jammu and Kashmir government is organizing yoga events simultaneously at all district headquarters. Yoga, an ancient physical, mental, and spiritual practice originating in India, symbolizes the union of body and consciousness.

 

3. PM Modi inaugurated New Campus of Nalanda University at Rajgir: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated the new campus of Nalanda University at Rajgir in Nalanda district. Nalanda University is conceived as a collaboration between India and East Asia Summit (EAS) countries. Equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure the University campus is spread over 450 acres. Based on the theme of environmental conservation the campus has been made as a ‘Net Zero’ Green Campus. For energy and other needs, the university is self-sustainable with a solar plant, domestic and drinking water treatment plant, and water recycling plant for reusing wastewater. It has several water bodies spread over the 100-acre area and many other environment-friendly facilities.

 

4. Ajith Kumar KK appointed as MD and CEO of Dhanlaxmi Bank: Private sector Dhanlaxmi Bank has appointed Ajith Kumar KK as Managing Director (MD) of the bank. He is a seasoned banker with over 36 years of experience with the Federal Bank in various facets of banking including Credit, Human Resources, Business, Branch Banking etc. He is presently the Chief Human Resources Officer at Federal Bank in the cadre of president, it said.

 

5. Paytm names Ex-SEBI Official Rajeev Agarwal as non-executive independent director: Neeraj Arora, the former Chief Business Officer of WhatsApp, has resigned from the board of One97 Communications, the parent company of fintech giant Paytm. Arora was a key figure in negotiating the WhatsApp merger deal with social media major Facebook. He has co-founded his own social networking Hallo App and a venture capital firm Venture Highway. Paytm has onboarded former whole-time director of market regulator SEBI Rajeev Krishnamuralilal Agarwal as an independent director for five years.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. IFC to invest $105 million in Brookfield’s Bikaner Solar Power project: The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has agreed to invest $105 million (around Rs 871 crore) in the non-convertible debentures of Brookfield’s Bikaner Solar Power project in Rajasthan. IFC is a company of the World Bank Group which provides finance to the private sector companies.

 

2. Paris hosts the world’s premier defense and security expo Eurosatory 2024: The global defense and security industry is being converging on Paris for the highly anticipated Eurosatory 2024. With over 60,000 visitors and approximately 2,000 exhibitors, this event is set to be a significant gathering for industry professionals. The five-day event will be held at the expansive Paris Nord Villepinte Exhibition Centre. The event will feature more than 40 national pavilions, showcasing new equipment and innovative solutions. Additionally, a dedicated zone for helicopters will display models such as the Eurocopter Tiger, NH90 Caïman, H160M Guepard, H135, Apache, Black Hawk, and Chinook.

 

3. 18 June – International Day for Countering Hate Speech: International Day for Countering Hate Speech is observed every year on 18 June. In July 2021, the UN General Assembly highlighted global concerns over “the exponential spread and proliferation of hate speech” around the world and adopted a resolution on “promoting inter-religious and intercultural dialogue and tolerance in countering hate speech”. The resolution proclaimed 18 June as the International Day for Countering Hate Speech, building on the UN Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech launched on 18 June 2019. To observe the Day, the United Nations invites governments, international organizations, civil society groups, and individuals to hold events and initiatives promoting strategies to identify, address and counter hate speech.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. ESAF SFB to discontinue business correspondent services of ESMACO: ESAF Small Finance Bank (ESAF SFB) has decided to discontinue the services of business correspondent ESAF Swasraya Multi State Agro Co-operative Society Limited (ESMACO) to reduce concentration risks and absorb its 5,000 plus employees on the rolls of the lender. The discontinuation will reduce the contribution of ESMACO to the management of the gross advances to 14.90 %. The discontinuation of the scope of services is not expected to have a material adverse financial impact on the bank. The decision was part of the bank’s strategy to mitigate concentration risk associated with reliance on a single business correspondent and to bring the business operations in-house.

 

2. Namdev Finvest partners with Bajaj Allianz General Insurance: Namdev Finvest, a Jaipur based NBFC, has entered into strategic alliance with Bajaj Allianz General Insurance, a leading insurance platform, to offer comprehensive financial solutions, including insurance and NBFC services, to its customers. The strategic alliance leverages Namdev’s customer network and geographic presence, backed by Bajaj General Insurance’s expertise in insurance products. As a result, the integrated products and services are expected to be rolled out in phases, with the initial offerings being available in key markets. By the end of the year, these integrated products and services will be made available in all branches, ensuring nationwide availability. MD of Namdev Finvest Pvt. Ltd – Jitendra Tanwar

 

3. ICICI Prudential Life offers Lifetime 15% Discount for Women on iProtect Smart Term Plan: ICICI Prudential Life Insurance offered a 15% lifetime discount for women on all premiums for its best-selling term insurance product, iProtect Smart. Furthermore, salaried/working women will be eligible for an additional 15% off the first year’s payment, allowing them to create financial stability for themselves and their loved ones.

 

4. Fitch Ratings raises India’s growth forecast by 20 bps to 7.2% for FY25: Fitch Ratings has raised its growth estimates for India by 20 basis points to 7.2 per cent citing positive economic outlook driven by recovering consumer confidence and increased investment. The Indian economy grew at an impressive rate of 8.2 per cent in FY24, driven by a stronger-than-expected expansion of 7.8 per cent in the fourth quarter. The World Bank last week-maintained India’s growth forecast at 6.6 per cent for FY25, affirming the country’s position as the fastest-growing economy among major economies. Meanwhile, the RBI raised its growth projection for FY25 to 7.2 per cent from an earlier estimate of 7 per cent in its last monetary policy review.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Vinod Ganatra conferred ‘Nelson Mandela Lifetime Achievement Award’: Eminent children’s film-maker Vinod Ganatra has been conferred with South Africa’s prestigious ‘Nelson Mandela Lifetime Achievement Award’ for his contribution to films. Vinod Ganatra becomes the first Indian to be honoured with the ‘Nelson Mandela Lifetime Achievement Award. Vinod Gantra was conferred with the award at the 7th Nelson Mandela Children’s Film Festival for his outstanding contribution to children’s cinema. Ganatra has won 36 national and international awards. He is also the recipient of the “DadaSaheb Phalke Lifetime Achievement Award” conferred by the Association of Film and Video Editors.‘

 

 

 

 

 

Daily GK Update- 18th June, 2024

 NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. VP Dhankhar inaugurated Prerna Sthal to honor Indian icons: Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar has inaugurated the Prerna Sthal. It is a dedicated area in the Parliament complex for statues of freedom fighters and other icons of the country. The main objective of the construction of Prerna Sthal is that these statues within the Parliament complex should be installed at one place. That is why it was decided to create a designated spot to ensure that the visitors could come and pay their respects to these great leaders.

 

2. Punjab Police launched ‘Mission Nishchay’: Punjab Police in association with the Border Security Force (BSF) and Village Defence Committees (VDCs) have launched a ‘Mission Nishchay’ in Fazilka district. It is a one-week drive against drugs in Fazilka district. They will reach out to residents of as many as 42 villages along the India-Pakistan border to gather actionable intelligence about the demand and supply of drugs. The idea is to instil a sense of community participation among inhabitants of border villages as we make efforts to curb the menace of drugs. We will focus on youth and women to gather actionable intelligence about the demand and supply of drugs,” Fazilka Senior Superintendent of Police Dr Pragya Jain said

 

3. NCRB launches ‘NCRB Sankalan Of Criminal Laws’ App: NCRB has launched a Mobile App “NCRB Sankalan of Criminal Laws” to serve as a comprehensive guide providing complete information about the new criminal laws at one place. The New criminal laws will come into force from the 1st July. This App is a compilation of new criminal laws namely Bharatiya Nayaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam. It provides an Index linking all Chapters and Sections of the new laws. It also has a corresponding chart for section-wise comparison between old and new laws with a search and linking facility for quick information retrieval.

 

4. Assam CM inaugurates Janata Bhawan Solar Project: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has inaugurated the Janata Bhawan Solar Project in Guwahati. This project features a 2.5-MW power generation capacity with a grid-connected rooftop and ground-mounted solar PV system. The system is expected to yield an average of 3 lakh units of electricity monthly. The project required an investment of 12.56 crore rupees. The investment is projected to be recovered within 4 years.

 

5. GWEC India appoints Suzlon Group’s Girish Tanti as new chairman: Suzlon Vice Chairman Girish Tanti has been elected as the Chair of Global Wind Energy Council India (GWEC India). The position plays a key role in driving GWEC India’s work with national and State Governments that assist efforts for building the right momentum and establishing policy frameworks to ensure the country delivers on its wind energy and supply chain potential, both onshore and offshore. As the world’s fourth biggest wind market, with 46 GW of onshore wind and one of the world’s most prominent wind energy manufacturing hubs, Tanti’s leadership at GWEC and GWEC India shall help further catalyse momentum.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Environment Performance Index 2024: India at 176th spot topped by Estonia: India placed 176th among 180 countries in the 2024 Environment Performance Index, with high emissions, poor air quality, and low biodiversity-habitat scores being key issues. India’s reliance on coal significantly impacts its rankings, contributing to poor air quality and high projected emissions. In air quality, India ranks 177th, above Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal only, and in projected emissions by 2025, it ranks 172nd. The Index is released by the Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy and the Columbia Center for International Earth Science Information Network.

 

2. India’s Ranka in Different Indicators in the EPI 2024: Biodiversity and Habitat – 178/180

· Air Quality – 177/180

· Forests – 15/180

· Climate Change Mitigation – 133/180

· Heavy Metals – 147/180

 

3. Mumbai is India’s most costly city for expats; Mercer report: Mumbai, the financial capital of the country and home to the Hindi film industry, still remains the most expensive city in the country for expatriates, according to a survey conducted by HR consultancy Mercer. Mumbai is notably expensive in terms of personal care, energy and utilities, transportation, and housing rentals, as per Mercer’s 2024 Cost of Living survey. Globally, Hong Kong retained its position as the most expensive city. In the list, Mumbai has jumped 11 places to rank 136, while Delhi has risen by four spots to 164. Conversely, Chennai has dropped five places to 189, Bengaluru has decreased by six spots to 195, and Hyderabad remains unchanged at 202. Meanwhile, Pune saw a jump of eight spots to 205, and Kolkata has moved up four spots to 207.

 

4. 17 June – World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought: World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought is observed every year on 17 June. Objective – To create awareness about the diminishing land cover on earth and urge people to come together to address the pressing issue Theme 2024 – United for Land. Our Legacy. Our Future During the 1992 Rio Earth Summit, desertification, loss of biodiversity and climate change were recognised as the greatest challenges to sustainable development. In 1994, The UN General Assembly established the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) – the legally binding international agreement linking environment, development and sustainable land management.

 

5. 18 June – Sustainable Gastronomy Day: World Sustainable Gastronomy Day is celebrated on June 18 across the world to draw the attention towards the importance of gastronomy, which is sometimes called the art of food. Gastronomy can also refer to a style of cooking from a particular region. Often it refers to local food and cuisine. Sustainability is the idea that something is done in a way that is not wasteful of our natural resources and can be continued into the future without being detrimental to our environment or health. In 2016, the UN General Assembly designated June 18 as Sustainable Gastronomy Day to acknowledge gastronomy as a cultural expression related to the natural and cultural diversity of the world. The first Sustainable Gastronomy Day was officially observed on June 18, 2017.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS 

 

1. David Wiese announced retirement from international retirement: Namibia’s star all-rounder David Wiese has confirmed his international cricket retirement after their loss to England. Wiese, who started his international career with South Africa, would switch allegiances and start being a part of the Namibian side from 2021. He would go on to become a legend for Namibia with his performances in T20 World Cups. Wiese played 34 T20I matches for Namibia, where he scored more than 500 runs and picked up 35 wickets.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Indian Bank organizes MSME credit camp: Indian Bank has organized a credit camp for the MSME sector in Chennai. The event was chaired by MD & CEO of the Bank SL Jain. During the camp, 440+ sanction tickets amounting to over Rs 500.00 crore (Approx.) were distributed to MSME customers. The event featured presentations on the bank’s MSME and FOREX schemes and was attended by senior bank executives.

 

 

Daily GK Update- 17th June, 2024

 NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. External Affairs Ministry signed MoU with SBI to enhance digital payment services for eMigrate portal users: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the State Bank of India (SBI) signed MoU to enhance digital payment services for users of the eMigrate portal. This MoU will become operational following the successful integration of SBI’s payment gateway, SBIePay, with the eMigrate portal. The integration of SBIePay with the eMigrate portal will allow Indian migrant workers, Recruiting Agents (RAs), and other users to make various emigration-related payments with ease. This includes transactions via UPI, credit/debit cards, and NEFT through net banking of all Indian banks, all with no transaction charges.

 

2. Dr Kapil Dua appointed as President of the Asian Association of Hair Restoration Surgeons: Dr Kapil Dua has been announced as the President of the Asian Association of Hair Restoration Surgeons (AAHRS). The announcement was made at the 8th Annual Scientific Meeting and Surgical Workshop of AAHRS, held in China. Dr Dua, who previously served as President of the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) in 2022-2023 and the Association of Hair Restoration Surgeons (AHRS) India in 2016-2017, is the only Indian hair transplant surgeon to have led national, global, and now Asian organizations in hair restoration.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Two-Day India-IORA Cruise Tourism Conference Concludes in New Delhi : The two-day India-IORA Cruise Tourism Conference concluded in New Delhi. Officials and experts from the Indian Ocean Rim Association, IORA Member States including Bangladesh, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, Mozambique, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Seychelles and Tanzania participated in the Conference. The Conference provided a platform for stakeholders to share best practices and policy initiatives towards developing and strengthening the cruise tourism sector in IORA Member States. Discussions covered infrastructure development, regulatory issues, sustainable tourism, employment generation, inclusion of women and business opportunities among others.

 

2. Cyril Ramaphosa secures second term as South African President: Cyril Ramaphosa has secured a second term as the President of South Africa after he was elected by the South African Parliament. Cyril Ramaphosa was re-elected after a deal was signed between his African National Congress (ANC) Party and the centre-right Democratic Alliance (DA) and other smaller parties to form a coalition government. Cyril Ramaphosa was elected as the President of South Africa for the first time on 15 February 2018. For the first time since the implementation of the 1996 constitution, the ruling ANC party has failed to secure a majority in the South African Parliament. The ANC got only 40 per cent of the votes in the parliamentary election held on 29 May 2024.

 

3. Peter Pellegrini sworn in as Slovakia’s president: Peter Pellegrini was sworn in as the president of Slovakia in a ceremony that took place amid heightened security following an assassination attempt on his close ally, populist Prime Minister Robert Fico, a month ago. Pellegrini called for national unity in his speech at a special session of Parliament that took place at the seat of the Slovak philharmonic, becoming Slovakia’s sixth president since it gained independence after the disintegration of Czechoslovakia in 1993. He succeeded Zuzana Caputova, the country’s first female head of state and a staunch backer of neighbouring Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s invasion. She didn’t seek a second term in the largely ceremonial post.

 

4. 16 June – International Day of Family Remittances: The International Day of Family Remittances (IDFR) is celebrated on 16 June each year. The IDFR recognizes the crucial contribution of over 200 million migrant workers who send money to over 800 million family members in low- and middle-income countries. Theme 2024- Digital remittances towards financial inclusion and cost reduction. Over the past 20 years, remittance flows have increased five-fold. Even during economic downturns, remittances continue to flow as they bind migrants to their families back home, helping them stay afloat. In 2023, remittances to low- and middle-income countries increased by almost 4 per cent to reach US$ 669 billion.

 

5. 15 June – World Elder Abuse Awareness Day: World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is held on June 15th and is an annual international UN observance day on the same date each year. The day came about as a result of UN resolution 66/127. Theme 2024 – Spotlight on Older Persons in Emergencies Elder abuse is global and comes in many forms including physical, emotional, sexual and financial abuse and also neglect. Elderly people are human and deserve the same dignity and respect as people of all other age groups.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

DEFENCE

 

1. India to host its first multinational air exercise Tarang Shakti in August: The Indian Air Force’s first multinational air exercise ‘Tarang Shakti-2024’ will be held in August. The IAF keenly looks forward to hosting the participating contingents from other countries during Tarang Shakti-2024, which is the first ever Indian multinational air exercise to be held later this year. The Indian Air Force’s first multinational air exercise, Tarang Shakti-2024, will be held in August, and is likely to see the participation of ten countries, in addition to a few others acting as observers. The exercise is now scheduled to be held in two phases. The first will be held in southern India in the first two weeks of August and the second will be in the western sector from the end of August to mid-September.

 

 

 

 

SPORTS 

 

1. Lovlina Borgohain secures Silver Medal in Grand Prix 2024 competition: Olympic medalist Indian boxer Lovlina Borgohain secured a silver medal in the Grand Prix 2024 competition held in the Czech Republic. Lovlina lost 2-3 in her third bout against Li Qian of China. Lovlina won her first bout 3-2 against England’s Chantal Reid but lost the second bout 0-5 against Cindy Ngamba of the Olympic Refugee team. Lovlina will be one of the boxers to represent the country in the Paris 2024 Olympics, which will be held from July 26 to August 11.

 

2. Smriti Mandhana becomes second-highest International Run-Getter in Women’s Cricket: India opener Smriti Mandhana etched her name into the history book by becoming the second-highest run-scorer for the nation. With her fighting hundred against South Africa, she went past the 7000-run mark and joined former India star Mithali Raj in the elite list. Mandhana played a fighting knock of 117 off 127 deliveries, which took her overall international tally to 7,059 runs. Her tally at the global stage is only bettered by former captain Mithali’s 10,868 runs. While India captain Harmanpreet Kaur isn’t far behind from achieving the feat. She has 6,870 runs in the international circuit across all formats and could achieve the feat in the ongoing series against South Africa.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. India’s Wholesale Prices Accelerate to 15-Month High of 2.61% in May: India’s wholesale inflation, measured by the wholesale price index (WPI), surged to a 15-month high of 2.61% in May from 1.26% in April, driven by an adverse base effect and a sharp increase in food prices. The inflation rate for food items reached 9.82%, contrasting with -3.61% in May 2023. Within food articles, pressure on the factory gate prices mainly built up on account of acceleration in the prices of vegetables (32.42 per cent), pulses (21.95 per cent), cereals (9.01 per cent), fruits (5.81 per cent) and wheat (6 per cent). Meanwhile, even as the prices of potato (64.05 per cent), onion (58.05 per cent) and paddy (11.79 per cent) decelerated during the month, they remained quite elevated.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. RBI wins ‘Risk Manager of the Year’ award: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has won the “Risk Manager of the Year Award 2024” by Central Banking, a leading publication based in London, UK.

This accolade recognizes RBI’s exemplary strides in enhancing its risk culture and awareness, affirming its pivotal role in safeguarding the stability of the Indian financial system. RBI was awarded the best risk manager for improving its risk culture and awareness. Executive Director Shri Manoranjan Mishra received the award on behalf of the RBI.

 

2. Shantaram, Lifetime Achievement Award for 2024 will be given to Subbiah Nallamuth: Shantaram, Lifetime Achievement Award for this year will be given to Subbiah Nallamuthu, a renowned, award-winning Wildlife filmmaker from Chennai. He filmed “Living on the Edge”, the longest running wildlife series. The award is announced by the Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting L Murugan at Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF 2024).

 

3. Murugan also attended the Opening Film at MIFF National Geographic’s documentary, ‘Billy and Molly: An Otter Love Story’. Museum in memory of Gujarat earthquake victims listed for UNESCO’s Prix Versailles Award: UNESCO has shortlisted seven most beautiful museums for the prestigious Prix Versailles Award, including the Smritivan Earthquake Memorial Museum of Bhuj.

The Smritivan Earthquake Memorial Museum in Bhuj has been listed among the 7 most beautiful museums in the world under the prestigious Prix Versailles Award, which is announced annually at UNESCO for architecture and design. An Indian Museum has received global recognition for the first time in this manner for its expression of local culture and nature conservation. It was the vision of Gujarat’s then chief minister and current Prime Minister Narendra Modi to build a museum in memory of those who fell victim to the devastating earthquake of 2001 as well as a tribute to the resilience of Kutch.

 

 

 

Daily GK Update- 16th June, 2024

 NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. UP govt to turn Ranipur Tiger Reserve into eco-tourism hub: The Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh will transform the Ranipur Tiger Reserve in Chitrakoot into a premier eco-tourism destination. The plan includes allocating an estimated Rs 38 lakh for upgrading tourist facilities within the reserve and enhancing infrastructure in the surrounding buffer zone. To facilitate these efforts, directives have been issued by the office of the Deputy Director of the Ranipur Tiger Reserve/Divisional Officer in Chitrakoot. Spanning over a 230 sq km area, Ranipur Tiger Reserve is the fourth tiger reserve in Uttar Pradesh and the 53rd nationwide.

 

2. Oracle to support the training of two lakh students in India: Cloud major Oracle will support the training of two lakh students in India in cloud computing, data science, artificial intelligence (AI), and other emerging technologies. Teachers and academicians will deliver the training as part of the curriculum on campus. Specific modules will be offered as a digital learning experience through Oracle MyLearn. The company and Tamil Nadu Skill Development Corporation have launched a specialised programme under the state’s massive skill enhancement initiative, Naan Mudhalvan, to provide employment-linked training to students in the state. Since the introduction, over 60,000 students representing engineering, arts, and science streams from more than 900 colleges have registered.

 

3. New Snake Eel Species Discovered in Odisha: Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) at the Gopalpur regional center in Odisha have identified a new species of snake eel. This discovery was made across various estuarine ecosystems within the state. The official name for the new ..

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. WHO Recognises 3rd Indian Institute for Traditional Medicine Research: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has designated National Institute of Indian Medical Heritage (NIIMH) in Hyderabad, under the Ministry of Ayush, as a WHO Collaborating Centre (CC) for traditional medicine research. NIIMH, Hyderabad is a unit under the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) which will now work as a WHO centre for ‘Fundamental and Literary Research in Traditional Medicine’. This recognition has been granted for a period of four years. CCRAS-NIIMH, Hyderabad, joins the ranks as the third WHO Collaborating Centre in the domain of traditional medicine, followed by the Institute for Teaching & Research in Ayurveda, Jamnagar, and the Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY), New Delhi.

 

2. G7 agrees on $50 billion loan to support Ukraine against Russia: Leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) wealthy democracies have agreed to provide a $50 billion loan to support Ukraine in its fight against Russia. The deal, struck at a summit in Italy’s Apulia region, uses profits from frozen Russian central bank assets as collateral. This funding, known as the “Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration (ERA) Loans for Ukraine,” aims to support Ukraine’s military, budget, and reconstruction needs. The funds are expected to be available by the end of the year.

 

3. Will G7’s $50 Billion Plan Aid Ukraine Effectively?: During the G7 summit that Italy held, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced a big $50 billion plan to help Ukraine. In a joint session with other leaders, including U.S. President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, this choice .

 

4. Japan On High Alert as STSS Infections Surge: Japan’s health officials are on high alert because the number of Streptococcal Toxic Shock Syndrome (STSS) cases has increased significantly. STSS is a serious illness that usually ends in death. So far this year, on June 2, 977 cases have been ..

 

OTHER UPDATES:

DEFENCE

 

1. IAF Rafale Jets Join Multi-Nation Drill in Alaska: The Indian Air Force (IAF) took part in the Red Flag drill in Alaska, USA, in June 2023. The Indian Air Force’s Rafale jets took part in the multinational air drill for the first time. The goal of the drill ..

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. Will Asteroid 2024 LZ4 Pose a Threat to Earth?: NASA has recently been keeping an eye on three asteroids that are moving toward Earth. It is important to note that Asteroid 2024 LZ4 will pass closer to Earth than the Moon, by 173,000 miles. Because it is so close

 

2. Chinese Satellite Discovers New Solar Atmospheric Rotation Pattern: Chinese scientists using the Chinese H-alpha Solar Explorer (CHASE) telescope have found a new pattern of how the sun’s atmosphere rotates. According to the prestigious magazine Nature Astronomy, this new discovery is the first accurate three-dimensional picture of how the ..

 

SPORTS 

 

1. Gudakesh Motie and Chamari Athapaththu named ICC Players of the Month for May: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has revealed the winners of the ICC Player of the Month awards for May 2024. Gudakesh Motie of the West Indies as the ICC Men’s Player of the Month for May 2024. The left-arm spinner played a pivotal role in the West Indies’ impressive series win over touring South Africa, providing a promising build-up to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024. In the women’s category, Chamari Athapaththu of Sri Lanka has been named the ICC Women’s Player of the Month for May 2024.

 

2. Divya Deshmukh wins World Junior Girls’ Chess Championship: India’s Divya Deshmukh has won the World Junior Girls’ Chess Championship after beating Bulgaria’s Beloslava Krasteva in the final round at the Gift City Club in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. Top-seeded Divya beat Krasteva in the 10th round with just 26 moves to claim her maiden U-20 title. She finished unbeaten in championship by winning nine of her games while drawing the other two.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. ICICI Pru Life activates WhatsApp, Digital Rupee for premium payment: ICICI Prudential Life Insurance has begun accepting premium payments through the RBI’s Central Bank Digital Currency, popularly known as digital rupee. The company will also provide customers the option to make premium payments through WhatsApp. The insurer has integrated CBDC payments by adopting the UPI Intent feature, which leverages the UPI interoperability of CBDC. This integration enables seamless UPI payments through the Digital Rupee on the company’s payment platforms. The life insurer has collaborated with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to introduce UPI AutoPay on QR code.

 

2. Kotak Life partners with Mahindra Finance to offer life insurance solutions: Kotak Mahindra Life Insurance Company Ltd. (Kotak Life) has partnered with Mahindra & Mahindra Financial Services Ltd (Mahindra Finance) to offer life insurance solutions to customers. The agreement was signed by Mahesh Balasubramanian, MD, Kotak Mahindra Life Insurance Company, and Raul Rebello, Managing Director & CEO, Mahindra Finance.

 

3. CII sees India GDP growing at robust 8% in 2024-25: Apex industry body Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has forecast India’s economic growth in 2024-25 record a robust 8 per cent. This forecast is much higher than the Reserve Bank of India’s forecast of 7.2 per cent GDP growth for current fiscal. For 2024-25, CII expects agricultural growth at 3.7 per cent (1.4 per cent); industry at 8.4 per cent (9.3 per cent) and services at 9 per cent (7.9 per cent). President of CII – Sanjiv Puri

 

 

Daily GK Update- 15th June, 2024

 NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Madhya Pradesh launched PM Shri Tourism Air Service: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has inaugurated the intra-state air service facility ‘PM Shri Tourism Air Service’. He inaugurated the first flight under the service from the Bhopal airport. The service operated by the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board (MPTB) with two aircraft will connect eight cities across the State — Bhopal, Indore, Jabalpur, Gwalior, Khajuraho, Ujjain, Rewa, and Singrauli. According to an official statement, the new venture has been started on a Public Private Partnership (PPP) basis with a private firm named Jet Serv Aviation Private Limited (Flyola).

 

2. Adani Group’s Ambuja Cements to buy Penna Cement for Rs 10,422 crore: Adani Group’s Ambuja Cements will acquire Hyderabad-based Penna Cement Industries Ltd (PCIL) at an enterprise value of Rs 10,422 crore. This is the group’s third acquisition since it entered the cement business less than two years ago, in September 2022. Ambuja Cements will acquire 100 per cent of the shares of PCIL from its existing promoter group — P Pratap Reddy and family. The acquisition, Ambuja Cements said, would add 14 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) to its capacity, taking the total capacity of Adani group’s cement business (ACC-Ambuja consolidated) to 89 mtpa.

 

3. Is India Making Progress in Environmental Performance Index?: According to the 2024 Environmental Performance Index (EPI), India was ranked 176th out of 180 nations. Compared to 2022, when it was at the bottom of the index, this shows a small gain.   Different external factors are used by Yale ..

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. World Bank partners with Chennai for Zero Waste Goal: The World Bank will lend support to the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) to achieve sustainable waste management in the city. The World Bank held discussions on solid waste management with officials of the State government and the GCC to stop waste dumping in Kodungaiyur by 2026-2027. In a bid to achieve sustainable waste management, the GCC intends to take initiatives to minimise the amount of solid waste that is disposed of on landfills or through incineration.

 

2. G7 agrees on $50 billion loan to support Ukraine against Russia: Leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) wealthy democracies have agreed to provide a $50 billion loan to support Ukraine in its fight against Russia. The deal, struck at a summit in Italy’s Apulia region, uses profits from frozen Russian central bank assets as collateral. This funding, known as the “Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration (ERA) Loans for Ukraine,” aims to support Ukraine’s military, budget, and reconstruction needs. The funds are expected to be available by the end of the year.

3. WHO Recognises 3rd Indian Institute for Traditional Medicine Research: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has designated National Institute of Indian Medical Heritage (NIIMH) in Hyderabad, under the Ministry of Ayush, as a WHO Collaborating Centre (CC) for traditional medicine research. NIIMH, Hyderabad is a unit under the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) which will now work as a WHO centre for ‘Fundamental and Literary Research in Traditional Medicine’. This recognition has been granted for a period of four years.

CCRAS-NIIMH, Hyderabad, joins the ranks as the third WHO Collaborating Centre in the domain of traditional medicine, followed by the Institute for Teaching & Research in Ayurveda, Jamnagar, and the Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY), New Delhi.

 

4. 15 June – World Wind Day: Global Wind Day is observed on 15 June every year. Objective – To raise awareness about the importance of wind energy and its power to alter the globe. It is an effort to promote the use of wind energy as a sustainable and renewable source of energy. The first Wind Day was celebrated in 2007 by the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA). The event reached 18 European nations and was observed by approximately 35,000 individuals. Wind Day attracted 100,000 participants from 20 European countries in 2008

 

5. Global Gender Gap Report, 2024: The Global Gender Gap Index, which has been running since 2006, is a key example of a global attempt to track gender inequality. This index is updated every year and looks at how far 146 countries have come in achieving ..

 

OTHER UPDATES:

DEFENCE

 

1. How Will Nagastra-1 Drones Impact Indian Army Operations?: The Indian Army just got its first batch of Nagastra-1, an advanced type of suicide drone that can be carried by a person and can carry out precise hits. Soldiers are less likely to get hurt because these drones can ..

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. Chinese Satellite Discovers New Solar Atmospheric Rotation Pattern: Chinese scientists using the Chinese H-alpha Solar Explorer (CHASE) telescope have found a new pattern of how the sun’s atmosphere rotates. According to the prestigious magazine Nature Astronomy, this new discovery is the first accurate three-dimensional picture of how the ..

 

2. Why Has Earth’s Inner Core Slowed Down?: Recent studies from the University of Southern California show that the Earth’s inner core has slowed down a lot. Historically, the Earth’s inner core has been known for having a high spinning speed that is separate from the planet’s outer ..

 

 

SPORTS 

 

1. Divya Deshmukh wins World Junior Girls’ Chess Championship: India’s Divya Deshmukh has won the World Junior Girls’ Chess Championship after beating Bulgaria’s Beloslava Krasteva in the final round at the Gift City Club in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. Top-seeded Divya beat Krasteva in the 10th round with just 26 moves to claim her maiden U-20 title. She finished unbeaten in championship by winning nine of her games while drawing the other two.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. ICICI Pru Life activates WhatsApp, Digital Rupee for premium payment: ICICI Prudential Life Insurance has begun accepting premium payments through the RBI’s Central Bank Digital Currency, popularly known as digital rupee. The company will also provide customers the option to make premium payments through WhatsApp. The insurer has integrated CBDC payments by adopting the UPI Intent feature, which leverages the UPI interoperability of CBDC. This integration enables seamless UPI payments through the Digital Rupee on the company’s payment platforms. The life insurer has collaborated with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to introduce UPI AutoPay on QR code.

 

2. Samsung partners with Paytm to integrate more services to its wallet: Consumer electronics brand Samsung has partnered with Paytm parent One97 Communications Ltd to integrate travel and entertainment services to Samsung Wallet in India. Through the partnership, users of Samsung Galaxy smartphones can access Paytm’s suite of services, including flight and bus bookings, movie ticket purchases, and event bookings, through the digital wallet. Galaxy users using the Paytm and Paytm Insider app can add their tickets directly to Samsung Wallet using ‘Add to Samsung Wallet’ functionality.

 

3. CII sees India GDP growing at robust 8% in 2024-25: Apex industry body Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has forecast India’s economic growth in 2024-25 record a robust 8 per cent. This forecast is much higher than the Reserve Bank of India’s forecast of 7.2 per cent GDP growth for current fiscal. For 2024-25, CII expects agricultural growth at 3.7 per cent (1.4 per cent); industry at 8.4 per cent (9.3 per cent) and services at 9 per cent (7.9 per cent). President of CII – Sanjiv Puri

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. 2024 Kavli Prize Winners Announced in Science Fields: The 2024 Kavli Prize winners were announced, honoring great work in neuroscience, astrophysics, and nanoscience. Eight well-known scholars from well-known American colleges were recognized for their groundbreaking work in these areas. Origins of The Prize A Norwegian-American businessman and philanthropist