Daily GK Update- 27th Nov, 2022

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue 2022 Begins in New Delhi: The three-day apex-level regional strategic dialogue of the Indian Navy, the fourth edition of “Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue 2022” (IPRD-2022) began in New Delhi. The theme of IPRD-2022 is “Operationalising the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI)”, which was articulated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the 14th East Asia Summit (EAS) in Bangkok on November 4, 2019, the defence ministry said.

Inaugural session of the event kicked off with Adm Karambir Singh (retd), the incumbent Chairman of the National Maritime Foundation, and former Chief of the Naval Staff, welcoming all present and highlighting the importance of the Indo-Pacific in the prevailing geopolitical scenario, focusing specially upon India’s maritime policy encapsulated by the acronym SAGAR (Security And Growth for All in the Region) and the first-order specificity provided to SAGAR by the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI). About IPRD:

a)      The IPRD is an annual international conference that seeks to foster exchange of ideas and promote deliberations on maritime issues relevant to the Indo-Pacific which, for India, stretches over a vast, predominantly maritime expanse from the eastern shore of Africa to the western shore of America.

b)      The IPRD is an apex-level international annual conference of the Navy and the principal manifestation of the Navy’s engagement at the strategic level.

c)       The National Maritime Foundation (NMF) is the Navy’s knowledge partner and chief organiser of each edition of the event.

 

2. Govt Unveils Framework to Curb Fake Reviews On Ecommerce Platforms: Aiming to guard customers from fake online reviews of products, the Union government on released a comprehensive set of guidelines which would come into effect from November 25 and would be voluntary in nature. IS 19000:2022 is the standard that the BIS [Bureau of Indian Standards] has formulated for us, in consultation with us and the industry. Public consultations have taken place. Now, this is launched on 25th November. The guidelines titled “Indian Standard (IS) 19000:2022 Online Consumer Reviews – Principles and Requirements for their Collection, Moderation and Publication”, will be applicable to every online platform which publishes consumer reviews.

“Taking cognizance of the impact of fake and deceptive reviews and protection of consumer interest in e-commerce, the Department of Consumer Affairs constituted a committee to develop a framework on checking fake and deceptive reviews in e-commerce on 10th June, 2022. The committee included various stakeholders including e-commerce companies, industry associations, consumer organizations and law chairs,” the statement said.

The secretary said that companies like Zomato, Swiggy, Reliance Retail, Tata Sons, Amazon, Flipkart, Google, Meta, Mesho, Blinkit and Zepto were part of the consultation process and they have assured compliance with these standards.

 

3. UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurates the UNESCO-India-Africa Hackathon 2022: Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath has inaugurated the UNESCO-India-Africa Hackathon 2022 at the Gautam Buddha University in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh. The Hackathon has been organized by the Union Ministry of Education and students from 22 African countries are participating in the Hackathon. The UNESCO India-Africa Hackathon event is seeing the participation of 603 students who will engage in coding for 36 hours non-stop to find technology-based solutions for issues prevailing in the field of education, agriculture, health, energy and drinking water, among others.

The U.P. CM also invited participating African students to travel to ancient cities like Varanasi, Prayagraj, Ayodhya, and others in the state. Students from Botswana, Cameroon, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mali, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda and Zimbabwe will take part in the event.

Note: UNESCO Founded: 16 November 1945; UNESCO Headquarters: Paris, France; UNESCO Members: 193 countries

 

4. ISRO set to Launch PSLV-C54/EOS-06 Mission in November: The Indian Space Research Organization is set to launch PLV-C54/EOS-06 Mission with Oceans-3 and eight nanosatellites on board from Sriharikota spaceport. The PLV-C54/EOS-06 Mission includes EOS-06 (Oceans-3), plus eight nanosatellites which are BhutanSat, ‘Anand’ from Pixxel, Thybolt two numbers from Dhurva Space and Astrocast-four numbers from Spaceflight USA. Key Points:

a)      The Indian Space Agency’s Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre has conducted the Integrated main parachute airdrop test (IMAT).

b)      The parachute airdrop test was conducted in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh

c)       The Gaganyaan deceleration system consists of three main parachutes, besides smaller ACS, pilot, and drogue parachutes.

d)      Two of the three main chutes are sufficient to land the astronauts on earth, and the third is redundant.

e)      The IMAT test is the first in a series of integrated parachute airdrop tests planned to simulate different failure conditions of the parachute system.

f)        The design and development of the parachute-based deceleration system is a joint venture of ISRO and the Defence Research and Development (DRDO).

 

5. National Cadet Corps celebrates 74th Anniversary day: National Cadet Corps (NCC), the largest uniformed youth organisation in the world raised in 1948, will celebrate its 74th anniversary on November 27, 2022. To mark the occasion, Defence Secretary Shri Giridhar Aramane laid a wreath and paid homage to the fallen heroes on behalf of the entire NCC fraternity at National War Memorial, New Delhi on November 26, 2022.

Notably: NCC Day is observed on the fourth Sunday of November. The NCC was raised on 15th July 1948 in New Delhi, which was the fourth Sunday of the November month in 1948. For this reason the NCC raising Day is observed every year on the fourth Sunday of the November Month.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Canada’s Brampton city gets first turbaned Sikh Harkirat Singh as deputy mayor: Brampton city in Canada got its first turbaned Sikh deputy mayor with the appointment of Harkirat Singh. Harkirat Singh, who represents wards 9 and 10, has been appointed deputy mayor from 2022-26. The deputy mayor presides at council and other committee meetings and assumes ceremonial and civic event duties on behalf of the mayor if the mayor is absent or unavailable.

In the present Canadian Parliament there are 18 Sikhs members. Currently Harjit Sajjan, Bardish Chagger are the two Sikhs who are ministers in the Justin Trudeau government in Canada. Prior to his role as councillor, he served a four-year term as school trustee at the Peel District School Board.

Note: Canada Capital: Ottawa; Canada Prime minister: Justin Trudeau; Canada Currency: Canadian Dollar.

 

2. Anwar Ibrahim Sworn in As Malaysia’s New Prime-Minister: Malaysia’s veteran opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has been sworn in as the country’s new prime minister, after several days of post-election deadlock. The new leader was appointed by King Sultan Abdullah, after elections over the weekend resulted in an unprecedented hung parliament.

Neither Mr Anwar nor ex-premier Muhyiddin Yassin had won the simple majority needed to form a government. Mr Anwar’s Pakatan Harapan (PH) party, which won the biggest share of seats in this election, does not have enough seats on its own to form a government.

About Long Career of PM Anwar: The decision brings to an end a remarkable political odyssey for Anwar Ibrahim, a brilliant orator and, 25 years ago, a fast-rising star everyone expected would replace then-prime minister Mahathir Mohammad. It was not to be. He and Mr Mahathir fell out over the handling of the Asian financial crisis, and he was jailed on what were widely believed to be politicised corruption and sodomy charges. His conviction was overturned in 2004, and he returned to politics, leading his own reformist party close to defeating the UMNO party in the 2013 election, only to have new sodomy charges filed against him, and being sent back to jail in 2015.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Army Red Team Won 72nd Inter Services Volleyball Championship 2022-23: The Army Red Team has won the 72nd Inter Services Volleyball Championship 2022-23. The Army Red team emerged victorious with a set score of 3-1. The closing ceremony of the Championship was organized at Eagles Indoor Volleyball Stadium in Secunderabad. Key Points:

a)      Two teams of the Indian Army, Red, and Green beside one team each of the Indian Navy and Indian Air Force participated in the event.

b)      The event provided an opportunity for outstanding sportsmen for getting selected for the Services Volleyball team.

c)       Telangana and Andhra Sub Area officiating GoC, Brigadier K Somashankar presented the trophy.

d)      The closing ceremony of the 72nd Inter Services Volleyball Championship for 2022-23 was conducted at Eagles Indoor Volleyball Stadium

e)      The event provided an opportunity to sportsmen for getting selected for the Services Volleyball team. The Army Red team emerged victorious with a score of 3-1 (25-21, 19-25, 25-17, 26-24).

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. ICICI Bank Launches New Products for NRIs at Its GIFT City Branch: Private sector lender ICICI Bank has launched two new products – loan against deposits (LAD) and dollar bonds – for non-resident Indians at its GIFT City branch in Gujarat. The bank is the first to offer these products in GIFT City. Key Features of these offers:

a)      Loan against Deposits (LAD): LAD resembles a loan in foreign currency against a deposit in India (including Rupee NRE FDs). The customers can avail LAD for their short-term cash requirement without having to prematurely close their Term Deposits and thereby avoid paying a penalty for breaking the deposit. They can avail up to 95%* of their deposit value. With a simple documentation process, customers can get flexible tenure with fixed or floating interest rates.

b)      Dollar Bonds: It is an alternate investment option for NRIs, where they can book dollar bonds through ICICI Bank in GIFT City. The Bank offers a cohort of over 50 marquee issuers/companies for these bonds.

The other key offerings at GIFT City for the NRI customers:

a)      Global Current Account: This is a non-interest-bearing account which does not require any minimum balance. It helps NRIs to deposit money in India in foreign currencies such as USD, EUR, GBP.

b)      Global Savings Account: NRIs can deposit money for short term and earn interest in this savings account.

c)       Term Deposits: They are similar to Foreign Currency Non-Resident (FCNR) deposits with minimum lock-in period of seven days compared to one year for FCNR in India. Customers can deposit in currencies such as USD, EUR, GBP.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. Ministers’ Panel May Recommend 28% GST on Online Gaming: The panel of state finance ministers is likely to recommend a uniform GST levy of 28 percent on online gaming irrespective of whether it is a game of skill or a game of chance. Currently, online gaming attracts 18 percent GST. The tax is levied on gross gaming revenue, which is the fees charged by online gaming portals.

More About The Development: The Group of Ministers (GoM), chaired by Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, had in its earlier report submitted to the Council in June suggested a 28 percent GST on the full value of the consideration, including contest entry fee, paid by the player, without making a distinction such as games of skill or chance. However, the Council had asked the GoM to reconsider its report.

Following that the GoM took the views of the Attorney General and also met stakeholders from the online gaming industry. Although the GoM deliberated on separate definitions for ‘games of skill’ and ‘games of chance‘, it finally decided to tax both as demerit goods attracting a 28 percent GST.

 

2. National Payments Corporation of India in Talks with RBI on Volume Cap Deadline: National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), which runs the UPI digital pipeline, is in talks with the Reserve Bank on implementation of its proposed deadline for limiting the volume cap of players to 30 percent. NPCI runs the UPI digital pipeline. Currently, there’s no cap on volume and Google Pay and PhonePe hold the market share of about 80 per cent.

Back in November 2022, the NPCI had proposed a 30 per cent volume cap for third-party app providers (TPAP). The proposal was made to avoid concentration risk. However, the existing TPAPs such as PhonePe and Google Pay were given two years more to comply with the orders.

Currently, the NPCI is evaluating all the possibilities and no final decision has been taken to extend the December 31 deadline, adding that the corporation has also received proposals from the stakeholders to extend the deadline.

 

3. India, China Leads as Global Intellectual Property Filings Reached New Records in 2021: Global intellectual property filings- of patents, trademarks, and designs-reached record levels in 2021 driven largely by increases from Asian countries of India, China, and South Korea according to the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO).

Strong growth in local patent filings in India (+5.5 percent), China (+5.5 percent) and the Republic of Korea (+2.5 per cent) drove the global growth in patent applications in 2021, propelling the share of Asian filings to cross the two-thirds threshold, the report said. Local patenting activity in the U.S. (-1.2 per cent), Japan (-1.7 per cent) and Germany (-3.9 per cent) declined in 2021.

About The Report: The WIPO’s World Intellectual Property Indicators (WIPI) report showed that innovators around the world filed 3.4 million patent applications in 2021, up 3.6 per cent from the previous year with offices in Asia receiving 67.6 per cent of all applications worldwide.

Note: WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization Formation): 14th July 1967; Headquarter: Geneva, Switzerland

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Awards 2021 Announced by GoI: The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India announced the National Adventure Award called “Tenzing Norgay Adventure Award” (TNNAA) for the year 2021. The award is given in four categories which are Land Adventure, Water Adventure, Air Adventure, and Life Time Achievement. Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Awards are given annually to praise the achievement of persons in the fields of adventure. The award encourages people to develop the spirit of endurance, risk-taking, cooperative teamwork, and quick reflexes.

Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award Winners:

 

Sl. No.	Name	Category
1	Ms. Naina Dhakad	Land Adventure
2	Shri Shubham Dhananjay Vanmali	Water Adventure
3	Group Captain Kunwar Bhawani Singh Samyal	Lifetime Achievement

 

2. Ravi Kumar Sagar honoured with the prestigious Dr. Kalam Seva Puraskar: Ravi Kumar Sagar, one of the youngest founders and CEO of RK’S INNO group was conferred with the most prestigious Dr. Abdul Kalam Seva Puraskar. The award was presented to him for his persistent service to society and is one of the youngest entrepreneurs in India. A young entrepreneur from the twin Telugu states, Ravi Kumar Sagar also known as RK’S nailed it as a budding entrepreneur during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.

When other businesses suffered huge losses due to the lockdown and the spread of the pandemic, Ravi Kumar Sagar started his entrepreneurship journey by selling PPE kits, sanitizers, and face masks to medical stores and hospitals. With the initial investment of Rs 50,000, Ravi Kumar Sagar was a success in generating his business turnover to a whooping Rs 2 crore.

Daily GK Update- 26th Nov, 2022

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Sonowal Launches India’s first Centre of Excellence for Green Port & Shipping: Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal announced India’s first National Centre of Excellence for Green Port & Shipping (NCoEGPS) a major initiative by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping towards providing greener solutions. The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) is the knowledge and implementation partner for this project.

“The centre aims to develop a regulatory framework and alternate technology adoption road map for Green Shipping to foster carbon neutrality and circular economy (CE) in shipping sector in India,” the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways said. India’s first centre of excellence for Green Port & Shipping as a major attempt by the Ministry towards realising Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji’s Mission LiFE movement.

 

2. Tamil Nadu: Anamalai Tiger Reserve launched ‘jumbo trails’ in Coimbatore: The Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR) has launched ‘jumbo trails’ at Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu, a programme aimed to educate visitors to the tiger reserve about elephants, the flora, and fauna of ATR and the aboriginal tribes who live in the hills. An initiative by ATR Field Director S. Ramasubramanian and Deputy Director (Pollachi Division) Bhargava Teja, the first jumbo trail will happen on November 26. According to Assistant Conservator of Forests V. Selvam, the jumbo trails start at ‘Anamalaiyagam’, a newly-established forest interpretation centre at Sethumadai. The programme is organised by the Advanced Wildlife Management Training Centre (Attakatti) and implemented by Keelpoonachi Eco Development Committee.

Under the programme:

a)      The biologist and other resource persons from the Forest Department will explain the exhibits at the interpretation centre and provide the registered participants with an overall view of ATR.

b)      The participants will be taken to Top Slip in a Forest Department vehicle from where they will be taken for a nature trail to Ambili watch tower that offers a panoramic view of Pollachi.

c)       During the nature trail through the forest, resource persons will explain to them about the flora and fauna seen around. Upon reaching the watchtower, residents from the tribal settlement will give them herbal tea.

Note: Tamil Nadu Capital: Chennai; Tamil Nadu Chief Minister: M K Stalin; Tamil Nadu Governor: R N Ravi.

 

3. Karnataka has Highest Installed Grid-interactive Renewable Power Capacity in India: Karnataka came at the top position while comparing the total installed capacity of grid-interactive renewable power of all the states of the country. The state had a total installed capacity of 15,463 megawatts (mw), according to an RBI publication.

Tamil Nadu with 15,225 mw, came at the second; Gujarat, with 13,153 mw, was at third position while Maharashtra, with 10,267 mw, was at the fourth, according to Handbook of Statistics on Indian States 2021-22, which was the seventh edition of its statistical publication, released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Through this publication, the Reserve Bank has been disseminating wide-ranging data on the regional economies of India.

About The Other States: Maharashtra was followed by Rajasthan (10,205 mw), Andhra Pradesh (8,969 mw), Madhya Pradesh (5,206 mw), Telangana (4,378 mw), Uttar Pradesh (3,879 mw), Punjab (1,617 mw) and Himachal Pradesh (988 mw) and Uttarakhand (713 mw) in that order.

 

4. Groundnut Festival ‘Kadalekai Parishe’ begins in Karnataka: The annual festival of ‘Kadalekai Parishe’, also known as the groundnut festival, Kadalekai Parishe is a fair held in the month of Kartik near Basavanagudi in Bengaluru. It happens near the Dodda Ganesha temple and the Bull Temple at Basavanagudi.

Key Points: The groundnut festival has a 500-year-old history, and it is happening after a pause of two years because of the pandemic. It was inaugurated by Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai on November 20, 2022. This year, over 3,000 people from other parts of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and also Tamil Nadu took part in the festivities that welcomed the first seasonal yield of the groundnut crop.

 

5. National Milk Day: 26th November: National Milk Day is celebrated on 26th November every year to signify the importance and benefits of milk. National Milk Day is celebrated on the birth anniversary of Dr. Verghese Kurien, who is also known as the ‘Father of White Revolution“. The Indian Dairy Association took the initiative of celebrating National Milk Day for the first time in 2014.

 

6. Constitution Day: 26th November: Constitution Day is celebrated on 26th November every year in India to commemorate the adoption of the Constitution of India. The constitution of India was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on 26th November 1949, and it came into effect on 26th January 1950. Key Points:

a)      The Constitution of India is termed as ‘of the people, for the people, and by the people.’

b)      The preamble of the Indian Constitution declared India as a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic, republic, and the welfare state.

c)       The Indian Constitution is the longest-written constitution in the world.

d)      The Constitution offers a framework for the government of the country to keep in mind the social, religious, and cultural diversity of the nation.

e)      The framing of the constitution took over 2 years, 11 months, and 17 days.

f)        The constituent assembly included 299 members and 15 were a woman.

g)      When the constitution was adopted in 1949, 284 members signed it.

h)      Dr. Rajendra Prasad was the Chairman of the Constituent Assembly.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India and EU Sign Agreement for Cooperation in High-Performance Computing: India’s Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY), and the Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG CONNECT), European Commission signed an “Intent of Cooperation on High Performance Computing (HPC), Weather Extremes & Climate Modeling and Quantum Technologies”.

The agreement builds on commitments by both sides for deepening technological cooperation on quantum and high-performance computing during the India-EU leaders meeting. The agreement signed is aimed at facilitating collaboration on high performance computing applications using Indian and European supercomputers in areas such as bio-molecular medicines, Covid-19 therapeutics, mitigating climate change, predicting natural disasters and quantum computing, the statement said.

About India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC): The India-EU TTC is a strategic mechanism that gives New Delhi access to advanced technologies and allows the two sides to set standards in crucial areas such as 5G and artificial intelligence. This is the first such trade and technology council set up by India with any of its partners. For the EU, it is only the second such body, following the first one set up with the US. The proposal for setting up the council came from the EU side and India agreed to it as it will allow the two sides to work on issues such as 5G, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, climate modelling and health-related technology.

 

2. Russia Replaces China to Become the Biggest Supplier of Fertilizers to India: Russia has become India’s biggest fertilizer supplier for the first time. Russian exporters reportedly grabbed a 21% share of the Indian fertilizer market in the first half of the 2022-23 fiscal year, overtaking China, previously India’s largest supplier.

Russian exports reportedly surged 371%, to a record 2.15 million tons from April to October. In monetary terms, India’s imports over this period increased by 765%, to $1.6 billion. Russia’s share of Indian fertilizer imports was hovering around 6% during the last fiscal year, while China’s stood at 24%. In the first half of 2022-23, China’s exports to India halved to 1.78 million tons amid growing Russian supplies.

About The Global Prices: Global prices for fertilizers jumped in March after the US, the EU and allied states introduced sanctions against fertilizer supplies from Russia and Belarus. While Western countries have since backtracked on the ban, Russia has found new markets, mostly in Asia, for its exports.

Combined, Russia and Belarus accounted for more than 40% of global exports of potash last year. Russia accounted for about 22% of global exports of ammonia, 14% of the world’s urea exports and about 14% of monoammonium phosphate (MAP) – all key kinds of fertilizers.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. India Won 25 out of 28 Golds at 15th Asian Airgun Championships: India ended their campaign at the 15th Asian Championships in South Korea with 25 gold medals. Indian pair Manu Bhaker and Samrat Rana won the 10-meter Junior Air Pistol Mixed Team event. Bhaker and Rana in the qualification shot 578 shots to finish second against Uzbekistan pair Nigina Saidkulova and Mukhammad Kamalov.

The Indian duo Sangwan and Vijyaveer Sidhu clinched the yellow metal in the corresponding senior event. Sangwan and Vijyaveer completely outshot Kazakhstan duo Valeriy Rakhimzhan and Irina Yunusmetova. They have topped the qualification round with a score of 579 with the Kazakhs finishing second with 577.

 

2. Novak Djokovic Won 6th ATP Finals Singles Title: Novak Djokovic won the sixth ATP Finals singles title win beating Casper Ruud from Norway. Novak Djokovic defeated the opponent by 7-5, 6-3 to walk away with a historic payday of $4.7m. Novak Djokovic has equaled the record of six ATP title wins of Roger Federer.

 

3. Manika Batra: First Indian woman to win medal at Asian Cup Table Tennis: Manika Batra, the Indian Table Tennis player, became the first Indian woman to win a medal at the Asian Cup Table Tennis Tournament. Manika defeated World no.6 Hina Hayata of Japan in the Asian Cup 2022 in the women’s singles bronze medal match in Bangkok, Thailand.

Key Points: Manika Batra defeated Hina Hayata by 4-2 in the medal match. Manika Batra led the match by 2-1, but Hayata seemed poised to level the match with a 10-6 lead in the fourth game. She took 6 points and successfully turned the momentum in her favor. Manika is India’s top-ranked table tennis player and is at world no. 44. On the same day, Manika Batra lost the game to Mima Ito of Japan in Semi-Finals.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. KVG Bank gets award for Atal Pension Yojana enrolment: Karnataka Vikas Grameena Bank (KVGB) has bagged the national award from Pension Fund regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) for significant enrolment under Atal Pension Yojana (APY). So far, the bank has enrolled 3,34,687 (cumulative) accounts under APY. During 2022-23, the bank enrolled 69,132 accounts against the target of 50,320.

Notably: Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority is the regulatory body under the jurisdiction of Ministry of Finance, Government of India for overall supervision and regulation of pension in India.

PFRDA has given a target of an average 80 accounts per branch, the bank has achieved an average of 110 accounts against the target. This achievement is highest among all other banks in South India. At present, the bank has 629 branches in the nine districts from Vijayapura to Mangaluru. KVGB is playing a pivotal role in implementing all the three social security schemes (PMJJBY, PMSBY and APY) launched by central Government. The bank’s priority is to ensure access to social security benefits to villagers and people from unorganised sector.

Note: Karnataka Vikas Grameena Bank founded: September 12, 2005; Karnataka Vikas Grameena Bank Headquarters: Dharwad, Karnataka; Karnataka Vikas Grameena Bank Chairman: Puttaganti Gopi Krishna.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. OECD Cuts India Growth Rate Forecast to 6.6 % in 2022: The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), cut its gross domestic growth forecast for India for the current financial year (FY23) to 6.6 per cent from 6.9 per cent, citing higher medium-term global uncertainty and slowing domestic economic activity.

The agency said that tighter financial market conditions were weighing on the demand for capital goods, while the monthly energy and food import bill kept rising and the current account deficit widened in the July-September quarter to 2.9 per cent of GDP.

About The Inflation: Headline inflation remains above 6 per cent mostly due to the trend increase in the price of food. Unemployment estimates suggest improving labour market conditions in both urban and rural areas, but there are few signs of a wage-inflation spiral,” it said.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Franca Ma-ih Sulem Yong gets UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Prize for 2022: The UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize for the Promotion of Tolerance and Non-Violence, for this 2022 Edition, has been given to Franca Ma-ih Sulem Yong from Cameroon, President of the NGOs #Afrogiveness and Positive Youths Africa. About Franca Ma-ih Sulem Yong:

a)      Franca Ma-ih Sulem Yong, with 7-year experience as a journalist, strived to change the perception related to mental illness.

b)      With training in art therapy and psychology, she founded two non-governmental organizations (NGOs) – Afrogiveness Movement and Positive Youths Africa (PYA).

c)       These two NGOs are peace education initiatives that aim to help traumatized survivors of interfaith and intercultural conflicts in African countries to heal using the universal language of the arts.

d)      They operate in nine African countries – Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Sudan, and Togo.

e)      Through these NGOs, Franca Ma-ih Sulem Yong is promoting tolerance and non-violence by reintegrating survivors from opposing sides of war and conflicts into their host communities.

f)        She is providing psycho-social and educational support (art therapy), socio-economic aid (distribution of university scholarship, diploma training, hygienic products, and books), and legal assistance.

About UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize: The UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize for the Promotion of Tolerance and Non-Violence is conferred every two years by UNESCO. The award was created based on the ideals of UNESCO’s Constitution, which states that “peace if it is not to fail, must be founded on the intellectual and moral solidarity of mankind”. It was unveiled in 1996 after the 1995 United Nations Year for Tolerance and in connection with the 125th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. The award was funded by a donation from Madanjeet Singh – the former Indian artist, writer and diplomat who served as a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador.

 

2. Kathak exponent Uma Sharma received Sumitra Charat Ram Award: Kathak exponent Dr. Uma Sharma has received the prestigious ‘Sumitra Charat Ram Award’ for Lifetime Achievement in recognition of her contribution in the field of Indian classical music and dance. She is a renowned classical dancer who has been awarded Padma Shri (1973) and Padma Bhushan (2001) for her unique contribution to the cultural tradition of this country.

About the Sumitra Charat Ram Award:

a)      For the last 11 years ‘Sumitra Charat Ram Award’ for Lifetime Achievement has been presented to honour eminent Artists who have made a lasting contribution to the field of Indian Classical Music & Dance.

b)      The first award was presented to Pt. Birju Maharaj, the doyen of kathak Dance followed by Smt. Kishori Amonkar (Hindustani Vocal Music), Shri Mayadhar Raut (Odissi Dance), Smt. Kumudini Lakhia (Kathak Dance), Pt. Jasraj (Hindustani Vocal Music), Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia (Hindustani Instrumental Music, Flute), Smt. Girija Devi (Hindustani Classical Music, Vocal), Ustad Amjad Ali Khan (Hindustani Classical Music, Sarod) and lastly to Dr. Sonal Mansingh (Indian Classical Dance Guru, Motivational Speaker).

 

3. Danish Manzoor Bhat honoured with JaipurFoot USA’s 1st Global Humanitarian Award: Danish Manzoor Bhat, originally hailing from Kashmir Valley, was honoured with Jaipur Foot USA’s first Global Humanitarian Award this week at a ceremony held at the Consulate General of India in New York. The award was presented in the Indian High Comission New York by Consul General Randhir Jaiswal, IAS and Prem Bhandari, Chairman, JaipurFoot USA.

The award has been constituted to honour and recognise the selfless work of Indians who without caring for their lives, manage to help those in need and are always a call away when it comes to humanitarian efforts transcending borders. He has been awarded for here work and efforts in helping scores of people impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly during the deadly second wave in India.

About Danish Manzoor Bhat: Danish Manzoor Bhat, originally hailing from Kashmir Valley. A journalist by profession, Danish leads Newsweek Magazine in Asia as its Editorial Director and Sr. Vice President for Global Editorial Strategy & Innovation.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Former Indian football captain Babu Mani passes away: Babu Mani, who was an integral part of the Indian football team in the 1980s, passed away after a prolonged battle with liver-related issues. He was 59. He represented India in 55 international matches and was a part of the first Indian team that qualified for the AFC Asian Cup in 1984.

Babu Mani made his India debut against Argentina in Kolkata during the 1984 Nehru Cup and went on to play 55 matches for the country. He was also a part of the first Indian squad to qualify for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup in 1984 and went on to play in the tournament in Singapore. Mani was also a member of the Indian team which won gold medals at the 1985 and 1987 editions of the South Asian Games. Babu Mani, also part of the Bengal Team which won Santosh Trophy in 1986 and 1988.

Daily GK Update- 25th Nov, 2022

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India to Take Over Chairmanship of the Global Partnership on AI from France: India will take over the chair of the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence for 2022-23 at a meeting of the body in Tokyo, the Ministry of Electronics and IT said. This development comes on the heels of assuming the Presidency of the G20, a league of the world’s largest economies.

In the election to the Council Chair, India had received more than a two-thirds majority of first-preference votes while Canada and the United States of America ranked in the next two best places in the tally – so they were elected to the two additional government seats on the Steering Committee, the ministry said in a statement.

Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI): GPAI is an international initiative to support responsible and human-centric development and the use of Artificial Intelligence. GPAI is a congregation of 25 member countries, including the US, UK, European Union, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, South Korea, and Singapore. India joined the GPAI in 2020 as a founding member.

 

2. Union Minister Anurag Singh Thakur launched ’53 hours Challenge’: Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting and Youth Affairs & Sports Anurag Singh Thakur has inaugurated ’53 Hours Challenge’ for ‘75 Creative Minds Tomorrow’. This is the second edition of 75 Creative Minds of Tomorrow and we have already made a community of 150 strong individuals connected through their shared love for cinema, creativity and culture. The competition will challenge the winners of ’75 Creative Minds for Tomorrow’ to produce a short film on their idea of India@100, all in 53 hours. This is powered by National Film Development Corporation (NDFC). ‘53-Hour Challenge’ inaugurated today by Union Minister Anurag Thakur, is being organized on the side-lines of the 53rd International Film Festival of India (IFFI). The competition will challenge the 75 ‘Creative Minds’ to produce a short film on their idea of India@100, all in 53 hours. This segment of IFFI 53 is powered by National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) in collaboration with Shorts TV.

Note: National Film Development Corporation Founded: 1975, Mumbai; National Film Development Corporation Headquarters: Mumbai.

 

3. Giriraj Singh Inaugurated SARAS AAJEEVIKA MELA 2022 at New Delhi: Union Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Shri Giriraj inaugurated the “SARAS AAJEEVIKA MELA, 2022” at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. Shri Singh informed that the Ministry of Rural Development has received over 60,000 applications from 3 states for start-up ventures in niche products and crafts areas. Key Points:

a)      Shri Singh informed that it was Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, who launched StartUp India from the ramparts of Red Fort in 2015, and now we have more than 80,000 start-ups from 400 odd start-ups in 2014.

b)      India ranks 3rd in the world in terms of the start-up ecosystem and there are over 100 unicorns active in the country.

c)       Women of SHG Members will have their start-ups as the proposals are under active consideration by the ministry.

d)      The Rural Development Minister informed that NRLM has been undertaking several efforts in supporting businesses run by rural SHG women that are engaged in producing food products, handicrafts, handloom, etc.

e)      As part of the efforts to connect producers to markets, NRLM and SRLMs have taken steps to promote curated products from SHGs and SHG member entrepreneurs through multiple channels such as Saras Gallery, State-specific retail outlets, e-Commerce platforms like GeM, Flipkart, and Amazon.

 

4. Gautaam Borah’s new book ‘Nalanada – Until we meet again’ launched by Ruskin Bond: Gautaam Borah, a senior management professional and the author of the widely acclaimed book ‘Monetising Innovation’, launches his new book ‘Nalanada – Until we meet again’. The book was launched by legendary writer Ruskin Bond.

Essence of the book: ‘Nalanda- until we meet again’ is a gripping story of romance, vengeance, and an age-old mystery. It’s a story of Neil and Aanchal. Neil meets Aanchal at the iconic University of Oxford and they fall in love. Back in India, Aanchal joins an NGO and Neil a telecom company. Neil is propelled into a ruthless journey when he becomes a victim of corporate politics. Aanchal’s politician father charters a different path for her and she disappears. A stunning revelation from a mysterious sage puts Neil at the crossroads of a century-old mystery Neil needs to take up a journey to Nalanda to complete a larger task to bring Aanchal back in his life.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. New Zealand Supreme Court Rules Voting Age of 18 is Discriminatory in the Country: New Zealand’s voting age has been ruled discriminatory by the country’s highest court. The case was brought by advocacy group make it 16 in 2020, in a bid to lower the voting age from 18 to 16. The Supreme Court found the current voting age of 18 was inconsistent with the country’s Bill of Rights, which gives people a right to be free from age discrimination when they turn 16. The group argues there is no reason to stop 16-year-olds voting when they can drive, work full-time and pay tax. Political parties in New Zealand have mixed views on the subject. The Green Party wants immediate action to lower the voting age to 16, but the largest opposition party, the National party, does not support the shift. The centre-right National party opposes the move, while the Labour party is yet to state whether it would support a change in voting age or not.

 

2. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan Re-elected as President: Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has secured a second term in a snap election, winning 81.3 percent of the vote. The Central Asian nation’s Central Election Commission made the announcement citing preliminary data. Tokayev had been widely expected to extend his rule over the oil-rich nation by seven more years with a strong mandate to continue his increasingly independent foreign policy, as the former Soviet republic navigates the Russia-Ukraine crisis. Tokayev faced no real opposition candidates in a nation where critics are sidelined and all five of his competitors were virtually unknown. Tokayev’s Performance:

a)      Tokayev won his first election in 2019 with the backing of his predecessor, Nursultan Nazarbayev, but the two fell out this year amid violent unrest in the nation of 20 million. Present vote consolidated his power as an independent leader.

b)      In less than a year, Tokayev suppressed the worst anti-government demonstrations in his country’s history, neutralised his all-powerful predecessor, and stood up to Russia’s President Vladimir Putin.

 

3. Prof. Venu Gopal Achanta Elected as a Member of International Committee for Weight and Measures: Prof. Venu Gopal Achanta, Director, CSIR-National Physical Laboratory (CSIR-NPL), New Delhi, has been elected as a member of the International Committee for Weights and Measures (CIPM). The 27th General Conference on Weights and Measures (CGPM) meeting was held on 15-18 November, 2022 at Paris, France. Prof. Achanta is among the 18 members elected from different countries and he is the 7th Indian to be elected to the CIPM. The first Indian to be elected as a member of CIPM was Dr. K.S. Krishnan, the founder Director of CSIR-NPL. The last Indian to be elected was Prof. E. S. R. Gopal, the then Director, and CSIR-NPL (1991-1997). About the International Committee for Weights and Measures:

a)      At present, 64 countries are members of CGPM and it meets every 4 years at the International Bureau of Weight and Measure (BIPM), France.

b)      The CIPM is a supreme international committee which functions under the authority of the General Conference on Weights and Measures (CGPM).

c)       CGPM was set up under the Meter Convention signed on 20th May 1875 in Paris. It is responsible for development and implementation of International Systems of Unites, universally abbreviated as SI.

 

4. International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women: 25th November: The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women is observed on November 25, every year. It is a day to pay tribute to the Mirabal sisters, the Dominican Republic activists who were murdered at the order of Rafael Trujilllo in 1960. The United Nations aims to raise awareness about gender-based violence against women. The 2022 theme of International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women is ‘UNITE! Activism to End Violence against Women and Girls.’ According to the United Nations’ official website, this campaign will be an initiative of 16 days of activism starting from November 25 and concluding on International Human Rights Day on December 10.

International Day for The Elimination Of Violence Against Women History: Since 1981, November 25 has been commemorated as a day to raise voices against gender-based violence. This date honours the Mirabal sisters, three political activists from the Dominican Republic who were brutally murdered on the order of former President Rafael Trujillo in 1960. The General Assembly adopted the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women through resolution 48/104 on 20 December 1993.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. BCCI Dissolves 4-Member National Selection Committee Headed by Chetan Sharma: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has dissolved the four-member National Selection Committee headed by Chetan Sharma after India team’s uninspired performance in T20 World Cup. Apart from chief selector Chetan Sharma, other members of the selection committee were Sunil Joshi, Harvinder Singh and Debashish Mohanty. Key Points:

a)      The BCCI invited fresh applications for the position of National Selectors for the senior men’s team and deadline to submit the applications is 28th November. A release by cricket’s apex governing body in the country mentioned the criteria for those who wish to apply for the positions.

b)      A release by cricket’s apex governing body in the country mentioned the criteria for those who wish to apply for the positions. “Should have played a minimum of 7 Test matches or 30 First Class matches, or 10 ODI and 20 First Class matches,” read the official BCCI statement.

c)       “Should have retired from the game at least 5 years ago and no person who has been a member of any Cricket Committee (as defined in the rules and regulations of BCCI) for a total of 5 years shall be eligible to be a member of the Men’s Selection Committee,” the release added.

 

2. Sebastian Vettel retired from Formula One racing: German racing driver Sebastian Vettel has retired from Formula One racing. Vettel won four Formula One World Championships between 2010 and 2013 while competing for Red Bull and previously spent six seasons with Ferrari. In the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Sebastian Vettel finished in 10th place, the last one of his career. Vettel received a guard of honour from his fellow competitors before the race.

Career of Sebastian Vettel:

a)      Vettel started his Formula One career as a test driver for BMW Sauber in 2006, making a one-off racing appearance in 2007.

b)      As part of the Red Bull Junior Team, Vettel appeared for Toro Rosso later that year and was kept as a full-time driver for 2008.

c)       Vettel was promoted to Red Bull in 2009. With Red Bull, Vettel won four consecutive titles from 2010 to 2013, the first of which made him the sport’s youngest World Champion.

d)      In 2013, he set the record for the most consecutive race wins with nine.

e)      Vettel signed for Ferrari for 2015 replacing Fernando Alonso and became Mercedes’ and Lewis Hamilton’s closest challenger in two title fights in 2017 and 2018, although he finished both years as runner-up.

f)        He parted ways with Ferrari at the end of the 2020 season to race with Aston Martin for the 2021 and 2022 seasons, before announcing his plans to retire from Formula One at the end of the 2022 season.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Axis Bank Launches Knowledge Summit ‘Evolve’ for MSMEs: Axis Bank has launched the seventh edition of ‘Evolve’ for MSMEs with the theme of ‘Indian SMEs: Shifting Gears for Next Level Growth’. ‘Digitalisation to Building Indian SMEs’ and ‘Export Opportunities for SMEs in the New World Order’ were some of the other key themes at the launch.

The 7th edition of Evolve will delve into how technology and digitalization can help achieve exponential growth from exports, which is a major area of focus for increasing profitability and market presence for MSMEs, the bank said. “Through Evolve, Axis Bank aims to provide a platform for MSMEs to interact and learn from industry thought leaders who have transformed their businesses over the years,” it added.

About The MSMEs Potential: The bank said the MSME sector has immense potential to bolster its export share and despite the industry challenges, positive trends such as government support, digital tools, improved access to finance and technology, trade facilitation and global markets have empowered MSMEs to leverage tailwinds and propel growth to the next level.

About The Previous Edition: The topic for previous edition was “Gearing up for a US$5 Trillion Economy”. The edition highlighted key focus areas in envisioning SME’s role in India’s vision of achieving a $5 trillion economy. This platform provided a great opportunity to interact and learn with the thought leaders of the industry who have witnessed successful growth journeys over the years.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. CRISIL Revises India’s GDP Forecast for FY23 Down From 7.3% to 7%: CRISIL has revised its forecast for India’s real gross domestic product (GDP) growth to 7 per cent for the current fiscal (2022-23) from 7.3 per cent estimated previously. The credit rating agency said this is primarily because the slowdown in global growth has started to impact India’s exports and industrial activity. Crisil downgraded the India growth forecast by 30 bps to 7 per cent while ICRA pegged the economic expansion at 6.5 per cent for the second quarter of FY2022-23. This is mainly due to the ripple effect of slowdown in global growth and mixed crop output.

About The GDP Components: GDP growth over the pre-Covid levels is expected to double to around 8 per cent in Q2 relative to 3.8 per cent seen in the previous quarter. The agency estimates the sectoral growth in Q2 to be driven by the services sector (9.4 per cent), with a subdued trend foreseen for the industry (2 per cent), and agriculture, forestry and fishing (2.5 per cent).

About Other Emerging Economies: China (4.5 per cent growth estimated for 2023-25), Indonesia (5.2 per cent), Turkey (3 per cent) and Brazil (1.6 per cent).

Note: CRISIL (Credit Rating Information Services of India Limited) Established: 1987; Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra; MD & CEO: Amish Mehta.

 

DEFENCE

 

1. South Western Command conducts Integrated Fire Power Exercise in Rajasthan: South Western Command of the Indian Army conducted Integrated Fire Power Exercise, “SHATRUNASH’’ at MFFR in Thar desert of Rajasthan. The exercise witnessed use of multi farious firing platforms in an integrated manner involving both ground & aerial manoeuvres. Various actions included ion of troops, offensive ground actions involving comprehensive coordination incorporating contemporary technologies in a multi domain environment. Real time communication and sharing of common operating picture amongst various participants to overcome emerging threats were practised & skills were honed.

 

2. 13th bilateral naval exercise Naseem Al Bahr-2022: The 13th edition of bilateral exercise between the Indian and the Royal Oman navies, Naseem Al Bahr-2022, commenced off the coast of Oman on 20 November 2022. The exercise is being conducted in two phases: the Harbour Phase and the Sea Phase. The Indian Navy’s guided missile frigate Trikand and Offshore Patrol Vessel Sumitra, with their integral helicopters, and the maritime patrol aircraft, Dornier, are participating in the exercise.

The exercise facilitates operational-level interaction between the two navies to foster mutual cooperation and enhance good order at sea. The exercise also aims to strengthen the ancient maritime and cultural linkages between India and Oman. Friendly sports fixtures were conducted amongst participants from the two navies on the sidelines of the conference. The exercise aims to intensify maritime exchanges between the two countries and enhance maritime security in the region.

Note: Oman Capital: Muscat; Oman Currency: Omani rial.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Rasna founder Areez Pirojshaw Khambatta passes away: The founding chairman of the popular drink Rasna, Areez Pirojshaw Khambatta has passed away. The 85-year-old industrialist, who was suffering from a prolonged illness. Decades back, his father Phiroja Khambatta started a modest business which Areez took to being the largest concentrate manufacturer in the world, with a presence in over 60 countries. He created affordable soft drink packs of Rasna in the 1970s as an alternative to soft drink products sold at high costs. It is sold at 1.8 million retail outlets in the country.

Khambatta was the former chairman of the World Alliance of Parsi Irani Zarthostis (WAPIZ). He also served as the past president of the Ahmedabad Parsi Panchayat and the vice president of the Federation of Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India.

About the Rasna: Rasna, which is now the world’s largest gentle drink focus producer, still enjoys a high recall and the brand’s “I love you Rasna” campaign of the 80s and 90s still resonates in the minds of people. A pack of Rasna of Rs 5 can be converted into 32 glasses of soft drinks, costing a mere 15 paise per glass. Rasna has nine manufacturing plants and a strong distribution network with 26 depots across India, 200 super stockists, 5,000 stockists, 900 salesforce covering 1.6 million outlets.

 

2. Zorba, the first dog of anti-poaching dogs squad K9, passes away: India’s first dog to be deployed for tracking down poachers, Zorba has passed away of old age in Guwahati. The 12-year-old male Belgian Malinois was a member of ‘K9’, the nation’s first dog squad to fight wildlife crime. Zorba was the first dog of the squad and he was credited with helping law enforcement authorities nab over 60 poachers. He was given teary farewell by wildlife activists and was buried.

Zorba retired from service in 2019 and was honoured for his services with a traditional Assamese ‘gamosa’ and a citation on Independence Day this year. He served mostly in the Kaziranga National Park from 2012 till his retirement, and assisted authorities to nab people involved in rhino poaching. He was also deployed in other national parks on several occasions.

About the K9 squad: The K9 squad, comprising six Belgian Malinois dogs and their handlers, has been actively assisting forest and police officials in Kaziranga and Manas National Parks as well as other rhino-inhabited areas in Assam. Zorba’s contribution during his lifetime will always be remembered and we will always regard him as a conservation hero. The dog’s handler, Anil Kumar Das, said he has rich memories with Zorba, who will always remain an inspiration for him.