Daily GK Update- 28th Jan, 2023

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. 3rd INTERPOL Young Global Police Leaders Programme held in New Delhi: The 3rd INTERPOL Young Global Police Leaders Programme (YGPLP) is being organized from 25 January to 2 February 2023 in New Delhi, India. It was virtually addressed by INTERPOL Secretary General, Jurgen Stock. The event was organized by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). As many as 59 participants from 44 countries participate in the programme.

·       CBI Director: Subodh Kumar Jaiswal

·       INTERPOL Headquarters: Lyon, France

 

2. Amit Shah laid foundation stone for National Forensic Sciences University: HM Amit Shah has laid the foundation stone for a National Forensic Sciences University at the premises of the University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad in Karnataka. Aim: It will help to create expert manpower for the country to combat crime and result in the prosecution of criminals. He was also part of a road show in Dharwad and addressed a public rally in Belagavi district. He had a darshan of God Shambulingeshwara and visit Sri Basavanna Devara mutt in Dharwad.

 

3. Construction of "Bajrang Setu" to be completed by July 2023: Asia's second and country's first cable suspension bridge "Bajrang Setu" is being constructed at Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, and will be completed by July 2023. This bridge is coming up next to the famous 90-year-old Laxman Jhula. Laxman Jhula was closed in 2022 when it was found that it wasn't safe for pedestrians anymore. However, it will not be removed and will be preserved as a heritage. The construction of the new bridge would cost Rs 67 crores.

 

4. Government renamed Delhi’s Mughal Gardens as ‘Amrit Udyan’: The Central government has renamed the Mughal Gardens in New Delhi’s Rashtrapati Bhavan as ‘Amrit Udyan’. In keeping with the theme of ‘Amrit Mahotsav’ to commemorate 75 years of India’s independence, the Union Government has renamed the Mughal Gardens as Amrit Udyan. On the occasion of ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’, the President of India has given a common name to Rashtrapati Bhavan Gardens as Amrit Udyan. Designed in 1917, the gardens spread over 15 acres are also known as the “soul of the presidential palace. The Mughal Gardens were designed by Edwin Lutyens in 1917, and the first saplings were planted in 1928–1929. The Central Government had last year renamed Delhi’s iconic Rajpath as “Kartavya Path”.

 

5. PM Modi addressed 1111th Avataran Mahotsav of Bhagwan Devnarayan: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has addressed the ceremony commemorating the 1111th ‘Avataran Mahotsav’ of Bhagwan Shri Devnarayan Ji in Bhilwara, Rajasthan. Bhagwan Shri Devnarayan Ji was born in the family of a popular Mandalji Gurjar who established the famous Mandal Lake near Bhilwara district in Mewar. Devnarayan was a mighty warrior who fought many battles and wars against tyrannical rulers. He was also a ruler. Devnarayan is worshipped as an incarnation of Vishnu by the Gujjar community as a folk deity in Rajasthan and South-Western Madhya Pradesh.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Indian-American Raja J. Chari nominated as US Air Force brigadier general: US President Joe Biden has nominated Indian-American astronaut Raja J. Chari for the appointment to the grade of Air Force brigadier general. His appointment will have to be confirmed by the Senate, which approves all senior civilian and military appointments Currently, he is working as the Crew-3 commander and astronaut at Johnson Space Center, NASA He also served as an Expedition 66 flight engineer aboard the station NASA: National Aeronautics and Space Administration

 

2. South Africa to host 15th BRICS summit in August 2023: The 15th BRICS summit will be held in Durban, South Africa in August 2023. It was announced by the Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov in a joint conference with Foreign Minister of the State of Eritrea Osman Saleh in Massawa, Eritrea. The fifth annual BRICS summit was held in Durban, South Africa in 2013. BRICS: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. BRIC was founded in 2006 and later, in 2010, South Africa was included and it became BRICS.

 

3. India, South Africa sign MoU to introduce 12 African Cheetahs: India and South Africa signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to introduce 12 African Cheetahs annually over the next eight to ten year. An initial batch of 12 cheetahs will be flown from South Africa to India in February 2023. The cats will join eight Cheetah brought to India from Namibia in 2022. Aim: To reintroduce cheetah to a former range state is being carried out following the local extinction of this iconic species due to overhunting and loss of habitat

4. Data Privacy Day 2023: 28th January: Data Privacy Day (DPD) is observed across the world on January 28 annually to sensitize individuals and disseminate privacy practices and principles. It encourages everyone to own their privacy responsibilities to create a culture of privacy. The theme for this year (2023) is ‘Think Privacy First’. On April 26, 2006, the Council of Europe decided to coin a Data Protection Day and announced that it will be observed each year on January 28.

 

5. Canada to commercialize world’s first photonic-based Quantum Computer: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced to commercialize the world’s first photonic-based, fault-tolerant quantum computer. The investment of 40 million Canadian dollars will enable Xanadu Quantum Technologies Inc. to develop the quantum computer which will help solve complex data problems and could be used in finance, transportation, and health. This project of 177.8 million Canadian dollars ($142 million) is expected to create 530 new highly skilled positions in the high-tech and quantum computing fields. Founded in 2016, Xanadu, with the mission to build quantum computers that are useful and available to people everywhere, leads the development of PennyLane, an open-source software library for quantum computing and application development.

 

6. 27 January – International Holocaust Remembrance Day: International Holocaust Remembrance Day is observed every year on 27 January. This day is observed to reflect on the atrocities inflicted by Adolf Hitler, which resulted in the deaths of an estimated six million Jews.

Theme 2023 – Home and Belonging The day commemorates the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau in January 1945 from Nazi control. The Holocaust was Nazi Germany’s “Final Solution” for eliminating all Jewish people.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Aasif become the 1st Nepali cricketer to win the ICC Spirit of Cricket: Nepal wicketkeeper Aasif Sheikh has been awarded the ICC Spirit of Cricket Award for 2022 after his selfless decision to refuse the run-out of Ireland’s Andy McBrine in their T20I match in the Oman Quadrangular Series back in February. Sheikh’s incredible gesture in the cricketing field saw Balbirnie safely reach the striker’s end after that batter had taken a tumble while running. Aasif thus becomes the first player from Nepal to win the ICC Spirit of Cricket Award. The award is annually awarded by the ICC to recognize the player or team upholding the spirit of the game.

 

2. England’s Ben Stokes and Nat Sciver won ICC annual awards: England Test captain Ben Stokes and England all-rounder Nat Sciver have won ICC cricketer of the year 2022 awards. All-rounder Stokes has been named Men’s Test Cricketer of the Year while Sciver won the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy for ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year. Sciver, 30, is also named Women’s one-day international (ODI) Cricketer of the Year. The 31-year-old Stokes took over the Test captaincy from Joe Root in April 2022 and has won nine of his 10 Tests in charge. ICC awards winners for 2022-

 

3. Arina Sabalenka won the Australian Open title: Arina Sabalenka of Belarus has won the women’s singles title by defeating Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan in the Australian Open 2023. Sabalenka has won the Grand Slam title for the first time, while Rybakina missed out on winning the Grand Slam for the second time. Sabalenka defeated Elena Rybakina 4–6, 6–3, 6–4 in the final match played at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne. While the Brazilian duo of Luisa Stefani and Rafael Matos won the Mixed Doubles title. The Brazilian pair defeated the Indian pair of Rohan Bopanna and Sania Mirza 7-6, 6-2 at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne. Mirza was the first Indian to win a WTA singles title in her hometown Hyderabad in 2005.

 

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. UN cuts India’s Economic Growth Forecast by 20 bps to 5.8% for 2023: The United Nations (UN) has cut its GDP growth forecast for India for the calendar year 2023 to 5.8 percent, citing the effect of tighter monetary policy and weak global demand. Growth in India is expected to remain strong at 5.8%, albeit slightly lower than the estimated 6.4% in 2022, as higher interest rates and a global slowdown weigh on investment and exports. The government’s first advance estimate for growth in this financial year is 7 percent. The report projected India’s retail inflation to decelerate to 5.5 percent in 2023 from 7.1 percent in 2022 as global commodity prices moderate and slower currency depreciation eases imported inflation.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. New Zealand to introduce Debbie H. Medal to honour women cricketers: New Zealand Cricket has announced the introduction of the Debbie Hockley Medal to honor the outstanding female cricketer. Cricketer Debbie Hockley played 19 Tests and 118 ODIs for New Zealand from 1979 to 2000. Hockley was the fourth woman to be inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame, in 2013.

New Zealand awards the Sir Richard Hadlee Medal for the outstanding male cricketer of the year.

 

2. M Yeoh becomes first Asian to bag Oscar nomination for Best Actress: Michelle Yeoh became the first Asian to bag an Oscar nomination for Best Actress for her movie “The ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once”. Malaysian descent, Michelle Yeoh has also won the Golden Globe Award in the Best Actress category for her performance in the movie ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once.’ She was also nominated for the Gotham Independent Film Awards 2022.

Daily GK Update- 27th Jan, 2023

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya unveiled world’s first intranasal COVID-19 vaccine: Union Health Minister, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya has unveiled the world’s first intranasal COVID-19 vaccine "iNNCOVACC" in New Delhi.It is developed by Bharat Biotech International Limited (BBIL) in collaboration with Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance. According to the statement of the ministry, the intranasal COVID-19 vaccine is to receive approval for the primary 2-dose schedule and as a heterologous booster dose.

 

2. National Child Science Congress begins in Ahmedabad, Gujarat: The 30th National Child Science Congress started at Ahmedabad in Gujarat on 27th January 2023. It is being organized at Science City and will conclude on 31st January 2023. Focal theme: the Gujarat Council on Science and Technology, the Gujarat Council of Science City, and SAL Education is hosting Understanding Ecosystem for Mental and Wellbeing The program. More than 1400 delegates including child scientists and government officials will attend the congress.

 

3. Central Govt sanctions Rs 2,600 crore to Uttarakhand under RDS Scheme: The Central Government has sanctioned 2,600 crore rupees to Uttarakhand under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS). Reason: For the construction of new power lines, sub-stations, and underground power lines Aim: To strengthen the power supply system, the capacity of sub-stations will be increased in several districts including Dehradun All power lines in Haldwani will be underground The State's project has been approved in the Regional Power Committee meeting

 

4. Visakhapatnam railway station gets ‘Green Railway Station Certification’: Visakhapatnam railway station of East Coast Railway has been awarded the ‘Green Railway Station Certification with the highest rating of Platinum'. The Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) presented the award. Reason: For adopting green concepts and reducing the adverse environmental impact. Visakhapatnam is one of the few railway stations to get this prestigious certificate. It has secured 82 out of 100 points in six environmental categories.

 

5. Delhi host first-ever India Stack Developer Conference: The first-ever India Stack Developer Conference was organized in New Delhi. Delegates from G20 countries and G20 Secretariat have also been invited to the conference. India Stack is a multi-layer cluster of digital solutions such as Aadhaar, UPI, Digi Locker, Co-Win, GeM, and GSTN, and has played a key role in India’s digital transformation. The conference will provide a platform for the Industry and developer community to explore ways to develop a robust start-up and innovation ecosystem within the country and also take India stack products to other countries. India Stack will be one of the focus areas at the World Government Summit 2023 which will be held at Abu Dhabi next month.

 

6. Annual Orange festival 2023 celebrated in Nagaland: Nagaland has celebrated the 3rd edition of the annual Orange festival 2023 at Rusoma village, under Kohima district. The department of Horticulture, Agriculture, Rural Development, Land Resources and Kohima Smart City is organizing the Festival. The Festival is conceptualized to recognize the hard work of orange growers while facilitating them the market linkages to sell their produce.

 

7. Andhra Pradesh CM launched 165 veterinary ambulances: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has launched Phase 2 of India’s first government-run veterinary ambulance network by flagging off an additional 165 veterinary ambulance units from Tadepalli. With this, the government will be providing quality medical services with a total of 340 veterinary ambulances. CM Jagan flagged off 175 ambulance units as part of the first batch of ‘Dr YSR Sanchara Pasu Aarogya Seva’ (Veterinary Ambulances) with state-of-the-art facilities, in May 2021. Each ambulance will have one doctor, a qualified Assistant and a driver-cum assistant. A small lab equipped with a microscope to perform 20 types of manure tests and 15 types of blood tests. The ambulances are also designed to perform minor surgery on bovine animals, sheep, goats, and pets.

 

8. 25 January – Himachal Pradesh Statehood Day: Himachal Pradesh celebrated its 53rd Statehood Day on January 25. It was on this day in 1971 that Himachal Pradesh became the 18th state of India. After India’s independence, Himachal Pradesh was formed on 15 April 1948, by uniting 30 hill princely states of the region. It was granted the status of a Union Territory on November 1, 1956. After this, in the year 1966, the hilly areas of Punjab were included in Himachal Pradesh. On 18 December 1970, the Parliament passed the Himachal Pradesh Act, and on 25 January 1971, Himachal Pradesh came into existence as a full-fledged state and became the 18th state of India.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. International Holocaust Remembrance Day 2023: 27 January: The United Nations designated January 27 as International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Reason: In honour of six million Jews killed in the Holocaust and millions of other Nazism victims under the Hitler regime between 1933 and 1945. Theme 2023: Home and Belonging The day commemorates the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau in January 1945 from Nazi control The UN in its 42nd plenary session declared January 27 as International Holocaust Remembrance Day on November 1, 2005.

 

2. UNESCO designates Ukraine's Odesa a World Heritage in Danger site: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) had designated the historic center of Odesa, a strategic port city on Ukraine’s Black Sea coast as a World Heritage in Danger site.

A UNESCO panel meeting in Paris awarded the status. This status will help to protect Odesa’s cultural heritage, which has been under threat since Russia’s invasion and enable access to financial and technical international aid.

 

3. JUICE Space Mission of Europe to be launched in April 2023: The European Space Agency’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) will be launched from the agency’s spaceport in French Guiana in April 2023. Objective – To explore the large, frigid worlds that orbit Jupiter, Ganymede, Callisto, and Europa Out of the 80 moons of the planet, these three were selected for their large oceans. The satellite is to be launched from French Guiana. Ariane 5 will carry the satellite. JUICE is the first satellite from the earth to enter the orbit of Ganymede. If launched in April 2023, the satellite is expected to enter Jupiter orbit by 2034 and will be deorbited in 2035.

 

4. 26 January – International Customs Day: International Customs Day is celebrated every year on 26 January globally. Objective – To bring light to the challenges and working conditions of customs administrators. Theme 2023 – Nurturing the next generation: promoting a culture of knowledge-sharing and professional pride in Customs The Customs Cooperation Council (CCC) currently known as the World Customs Organization (WCO) was established on January 26, 1953. They formally announced the observance of ICD in an inaugural session that was conducted in Brussels, Belgium. The event was attended by renowned representatives from 17 European countries. To mark the establishment of WCO, International Customs Day is observed on the day of its conception. The World Customs Organization works on matters related to custom reinforcement, security of supply chain, and facilitation of international trade among others. Currently, the WCO comprises 182 member states from all parts of the world.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Women's IPL garners bids worth Rs 4,670 cr: BCCI secretary, Jay Shah has confirmed that the total bids received from the winners were worth Rs 4,669.99 crore (USD 572.78 million).

Mumbai Indians, Delhi Capitals, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Adani Group, and Capri Global won the bid for the inaugural edition. The teams will be based in Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, and Lucknow respectively. The Ahmedabad team was sold for the highest price INR 1289 crore, followed by Mumbai, Bengaluru, Delhi, and Lucknow.

             

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. UN slashes India's economic growth forecast to 5.8% for 2023: The United Nations has slashed India’s growth forecast by 20 basis points to 5.8 percent for the 2023 calendar year.

Reason: Higher interest rates and recession risks in the developed world weighing on investment and exports. The report has projected that global trade will contract 0.4 percent and the world economy will grow at 1.9 percent in 2023. For the fiscal year 2023-24, the agency kept its growth forecast unchanged for India at 6 percent.

 

2. Stressed Assets Securitisation Framework for Quicker Resolution: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released a discussion paper on the securitization of stressed assets. Stressed Assets: NPA, written-off assets, and restructured loans Aim: To provide an alternative mechanism for the sale of bad loans, in addition to the existing asset reconstruction route. In September 2022, RBI announced that it will introduce a framework for the securitization of stressed assets The discussion paper broadly covers nine relevant areas of the framework

 

3. AU Bank launched credit card offering platform SwipeUp: India’s largest Small Finance Bank, AU Small Finance Bank has launched the SwipeUp platform. The platform will provide an opportunity to other bank credit cardholders to upgrade their card to one of AU credit cards. The bank has provided a platform to compare existing credit cards of customers within seconds. Thereafter, within minutes they can upgrade credit limit, cashback, reward point etc. The cards issued in SwipeUp platform are different from current credit cards offered by AU Small Finance Bank. While the new range of cards offer high value proposition to customers, the card plastic is biodegradable which is another step towards a better environment.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. President Murmu approved 412 Gallantry Awards to Armed Forces personnel: President Droupadi Murmu has approved 412 Gallantry awards and other Defence decorations to Armed Forces personnel and others. These include six Kirti Chakras, including four posthumous, and 15 Shaurya Chakras including two posthumous. These include one Bar to Sena Medal (Gallantry), 92 Sena Medals, including four posthumous, one Nao Sena Medal (Gallantry), seven Vayu Sena Medals (Gallantry) and 29 Param Vishisht Seva Medals. President has also awarded President’s Tatrakshak Medal and Tatrakshak Medal to Indian Coast Guard Personnel for their act of conspicuous gallantry, exceptional devotion to duty, and distinguished service.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Popular Mexican comedian Polo Polo passes away: Mexican comedian Leopoldo Roberto Garcia Pelaez Benitez passed away He is also known as “Polo Polo”. He was born in 1944 in Leon, Guanajuato, and is regarded as the “father” of the Stand-Up comedy genre. He hosted a program called Con Ganas in the 1990s. His most recent film role was in Cronicas Chilangas, which was released in 2009.

Daily GK Update- 26th Jan, 2023

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India observed 74th Republic Day on 26th January 2023: India observed its 74th Republic Day on 26th January 2023.

Highlights:

 

·       Theme: Jan Bhagidari

·       Chief Guest: Abdel Fattah El-Sisi (Egyptian President))

 

For the first time, 21-gun salute was given with 105-mm Indian Field Guns, replacing the vintage 25-pounder gun. Female BSF camel riders participated in the parade showcasing women's empowerment. Women officer Lieutenant Commander Disha Amrith led the Naval contingent of 144 young sailors.

 

2. Centre launched U-WIN platform for children and pregnant women: The government of India has launched the U-WIN platform. Aim: To digitize India’s Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP). It has been launched in pilot mode across two districts of each state and union territory.

This platform will help in registering and vaccinating every pregnant woman, recording her delivery outcome, and administering birth vaccinations and all immunizations. It will also act as a single source of information for reminders of upcoming vaccine doses.

 

3. Nagaland observed 3rd edition of annual Orange festival 2023: Nagaland observed the third edition of the annual Orange festival 2023 at Rusoma village, Kohima district. The two-day festival was organized in collaboration with the Department of Horticulture, Agriculture, Rural Development, Land Resources, and Kohima Smart City. Aim: To recognize and celebrate the hard work of the orange growers. It also facilitates the market linkages to sell their produce at one hub. Nagaland capital: Kohima, Chief minister: Neiphiu Rio

 

4. Visakhapatnam Railway Station awarded ‘Green Railway Station Certificate’: the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) for adopting green concepts has awarded the ‘Green Railway Station Certification with the highest rating of Platinum’ Visakhapatnam railway station of East Coast Railway.Visakhapatnam is one of the few railway stations to get this prestigious certificate. Visakhapatnam secured 82 out of 100 points in six environmental categories. The Environment Directorate of Indian Railways in collaboration with IGBC has developed the Green Railway Station Rating System. The system addresses national priorities such as water conservation, waste management, energy efficiency, limited use of fossil fuels, minimal reliance on the use of natural materials, and health and well-being of users.

 

5. Indian Railways launches ‘Ideal Train Profile’: Indian Railways has introduced ‘Ideal Train Profile’ for maximum capacity utilization and income generation by regularly analyzing the movement of demand in each train in reserved express trains. The pilot project was started on seven zonal railways – Eastern, Central, Northern, Southern, South Central, Western, and West Central Railway. The pilot project has so far been rolled out in over 200 trains in Indian Railways. It is expected that the utility will also help to enhance confirmed seat availability and increase the occupancy of a train by up to 5 percent. Ideal Train Profile — a seat capacity optimization decision support — is done due to the fact that the number of ticket-class combinations on a single train journey date can exceed 5,000. This module has been developed after two years of hard work by the Railway team under the leadership of R Gopalakrishnan.

 

6. North India’s largest floating Solar project inaugurated in Chandigarh: The Governor of Punjab, Banwari Lal Purohit has inaugurated North India’s largest floating Solar project of 2000kWp worth Rs 11.70 crore in Chandigarh. He has also inaugurated a 500kWp floating Solar Project with Fountains at Dhanas Lake in Chandigarh. It was constructed at a cost of Rs 3.34 crore. These projects were designed and executed by CREST (Chandigarh Renewable Energy and Science & Technology Promotion Society). It will generate a minimum of 35 Lac Units (kWh) of Solar Energy per year with 20% module efficiency.

 

7. 25 January- National Tourism Day: National Tourism Day is celebrated every year on January 25. Objective – To raise awareness about the importance that the tourism industry plays in the country The day is also a way to recognize the contributions of the thousands working in the tourism industry. While many countries around the world have been celebrating World Tourism Day on September 27 since the 1980s. This contribution from the tourism sector is expected to grow rapidly. It is estimated that the number of people employed in the sector is expected to grow by around 35 percent to 53 million by 2028. During the same time period, the tourism industry is expected to grow to $125 billion, an increase of nearly 67 percent. By 2028, India is expected to see 30.5 million foreign tourists and earn $56 billion in foreign exchange.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India signs agreement with Egypt for content exchange: India and Egypt sign an MoU to facilitate content exchange, and Co-Productions between Prasar Bharati and the National Media Authority of Egypt. It was signed by Anurag Singh Thakur (I&B Minister) and Sameh Hassan Shoukry (Minister of Foreign Affairs, Egypt). Aim: To expand the reach of DD India Channel to showcase the country’s progress through programmes. It will be valid for three years and will also facilitate co-productions and training of the officials.

 

2. International Customs Day 2023: 26th January 2023: International Customs Day (ICD) is observed every year on January 26 globally to commemorate the maiden session of the World Customs Organization (WCO) held in 1953. Theme 2023: Nurturing the next generation: Promoting a culture of knowledge-sharing and professional pride in Customs The WCO was previously known as the Customs Co-operation Council (CCC). It was formed in 1952 in Brussels. Aim of WCO: To boost the efficiency of customs authorities.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. England Test captain Ben Stokes named Men's Test Cricketer of the Year 2022: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has selected Ben Stokes (England Test captain) as the Men's Test Cricketer of the Year 2022. While England all-rounder, Nat Sciver won the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy for ICC Women's Cricketer of the Year 2022.

 

·       Other winners (Cricketer of the Year 2022):

·       Women's ODI: Nat Sciver

·       Men's ODI: Babar Azam (Pakistan)

·       Women's T20: Tahlia McGrath (Australia)

·       Men's T20: Suryakumar Yadav (India)

·       Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy: Babar Azam

 

2. Padma Awards for year 2023 announced: The government of India announced the Padma Awards 2023 on the eve of the 74th Republic Day (26th January 2023). Of the 106 Padma awards, six are Padma Vibhushan, nine are Padma Bhushan and 91 are Padma Shri. Nineteen of the Padma awardees are women. ORS pioneer, Dilip Mahalanobis will be awarded the Padma Vibhushan posthumously in the field of Medicine (Pediatrics). Mulayam Singh Yadav will be awarded Padma Vibhushan posthumously in the field of public affairs.

 

3. President approves 412 Gallantry Awards for Defence personnel: President of India, Droupadi Murmu has approved 412 Gallantry awards and other Defence decorations to Armed Forces personnel and others. These awards include six Kirti Chakras and 15 Shaurya Chakras. It also includes one Bar to Sena Medal (Gallantry), 92 Sena Medals, one Nao Sena Medal (Gallantry), seven Vayu Sena Medals (Gallantry), and 29 Param Vishisht Seva Medals. President has also awarded President’s Tatrakshak Medal and Tatrakshak Medal to ICG Personnel.

 

4. Aska police station of Odisha becomes country’s number 1 station: Aska police station in Ganjam district of Odisha was awarded the number one police station. The award was given during DGSP/IGSP conference held in New Delhi. Aska station got this title in the annual ranking of police stations for the year 2022. Gangapur police station in Odisha’s Ganjam district has been awarded the second-best police station award. Banbasa police station in Champawat district of Uttarakhand has been selected as the third-best station. Sadar Bazar police station was adjudged the best police station in the year 2021 while Gangapur police station was awarded the second-best police station award.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Renowned architect Dr. B.V. Doshi passed away: Noted architect and Padma Bhushan awardee Balkrishna Doshi passed away recently at the age of 95. Doshi was awarded the prestigious Aga Khan Award in the year 1995 for the architecture of ‘Aranya Low-Cost Housing’ township. Doshi was also awarded the Padma Bhushan, India’s third-highest civilian award in the year 2020 and Padma Shri in 1976. He was awarded the most prestigious award in the field of architecture “Pritzker” in the year 2018. He was the first Indian to receive this honour. He was credited with designing some of the most iconic structures in the country such as IIM Bangalore, NIFT Delhi, and CEPT University in Ahmedabad.

Daily GK Update- 25th Jan, 2023

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. First meeting of the Youth 20 Group will be held in Guwahati: The first meeting of the Youth-20 Group will be held in Guwahati from 6-8 February, 2023. The Youth 20 (Y20) Summit is being hosted by India for the first time on the sidelines of the G20 Summit. This is the first of several meetings to be held in India on five Youth20 themes in the run-up to the Youth-20 Summit. The meeting will focus on five themes of the Future of Work – climate change and disaster risk reduction, peacebuilding and reconciliation, democracy and youth in health, well-being and sport.

 

2. International Trade Fair on Millets organized in Bengaluru: The 4th International Trade Fair of Millets and Organics Products has been organized in The 3-day fair was organized by the Department of Agriculture and Government of Karnataka. The trade fair is a platform for farmers, farmer groups, domestic and international companies, central and state institutions in the organic and millet sector to connect and explore opportunities in agriculture, horticulture, processing, machinery and agri-technology. The Government of Karnataka has been a leader in the promotion of millets – The first Organics and Millets Fair was held in 2017, the second and third editions in 2018 and 2019 in Bengaluru. India is leading among countries to celebrate 2023 as the International Year of Millets.

 

3. Lt Governor R K Mathur launched ULPIN in Ladakh: Ladakh Lieutenant Governor R K Mathur has launched the Unique Land Parcel Identification Number (ULPIN) in Leh. The 14-digit ULPIN would help in the digitization of land records and also reach a conclusive land titling. The UPLIN scheme will prove beneficial in numerous ways, including settling and expediting land-related disputes in court and addressing legacy issues such as putting a check on any unwanted change in land revenue records.

 

4. AIF inaugurated India’s first STEM innovation centre in Chennai: The American India Foundation (AIF) has inaugurated India’s first STEM Innovation and Learning Center (SILC) in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. STEM Innovation and Learning Center is inaugurated under the scheme of Vanavil Mandram at the Government Higher Secondary School, MMDA Colony, Chennai. The Centre will introduce students to a transdisciplinary learning approach through robotics, Al, Space Technology, and the STEM Incubation workstation. AIF’s award-winning flagship education program- Digital Equalizer has designed the Centre to be a one-stop solution for STEM among students and teachers.

 

5. Indian Air Force (IAF) to conduct ‘PRALAY’ exercise in Northeast: The Indian Air Force (IAF) will carry out Exercise Pralay involving all its major air bases in the northeast including the recently moved drone squadrons in the northeast amid the ongoing standoff with China. The exercise will include a variety of platforms, such as C-130J ‘Super Hercules’ aircraft, Chinook heavy-lift and Apache attack helicopters. The Indian Air Force has deployed and activated the S-400 air defence squadron in the area which can take on any enemy aircraft or missile from a distance of up to 400 km. The exercise will be conducted in preparation for another Air Force exercise named ‘Eastern Akash’, an annual command-level exercise, to be held in first week of February.

 

6. 25 January – National Voter’s Day: India celebrates National Voters Day every year on January 25. Objective -To encourage each and every vote in the country to participate in the electoral process. Theme 2023 – Nothing Like Voting, I Vote For Sure The country marked its first-ever National Voters Day in 2011. The idea behind the celebration was to encourage more young voters to take part in the electoral process. The Union government back then, under the leadership of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, approved a proposal of the law ministry to this end.

 

7. 24 January – Foundation Day of Uttar Pradesh: Foundation Day of Uttar Pradesh State is celebrated every year on 24 January. The initiative to celebrate ‘Uttar Pradesh Day’ was taken by the then Governor Ram Naik and this event is celebrated every year since 2018. The main theme of the ‘Uttar Pradesh Day’ 2023 is ‘Investment and Employment’ this year. The state-level event on ‘Uttar Pradesh Day’ has been organized in ‘Awadh Shilp Gram’, Lucknow, and ‘Noida Shilp Gram’, Earlier, Uttar Pradesh was known as United Provinces. However, on January 24, 1950, it was recognized as Uttar Pradesh.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. 24 January – International Education Day: International Day of Education is celebrated every year on 24 January to spread awareness about education globally and to make education accessible to all. Theme 2023 – To Invest in People, Prioritise Education This year is the fourth edition of International Education Day. It was announced by the United Nations General Assembly on 3 December 2018 to celebrate International Education Day on 24 January every year. Recently, UNESCO has decided to dedicate the International Day of Education for the year 2023 to Afghan girls and women. While National Education Day in India is celebrated every year on 11 November.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. FIH signed an MoU with JSP Foundation for hockey development: The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has partnered with JSP Foundation for Hockey Development and Men’s World Cup in Jan 2023. FIH will be working closely with JSP Foundation for some of its key initiatives for hockey development. The partnership will also see the JSP Foundation coming onboard the ongoing FIH Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup 2023 Bhubaneswar-Rourkela as a global partner.

 

2. Sports Ministry holds its 1st Mission Olympic Cell meet outside Delhi: The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) has organized its first Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) meeting outside Delhi in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. The MOC members met to discuss the major agenda of India’s Olympic program and proposals for the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) athletes. Normally, MOC members visit Delhi every month to discuss agenda related to TOPS. The Indian men’s and women’s hockey teams are the only teams that are funded under MYAS’s TOPS Scheme and get an annual expenditure of Rs 24 cr under Sports Authority of India’s (SAI) Annual Calendar for Training and Competitions (ACTC) scheme.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. ESAF Finance Bank won Inclusive Finance India Awards 2022: ESAF Small Finance Bank has won the prestigious Inclusive Finance India Awards 2022. It was awarded for its contributions to advancing the goal of financial inclusion and supporting inclusive growth. The bank received the award from Anantha Nageshwaran, Chief Economic Advisor at the 19th Inclusive Finance India Summit held in New Delhi. The Inclusive Finance India Awards is an initiative of ACCESS Development Services constituted in 2009 in partnership with HSBC India. This award is a recognition of ESAF’s unique spectrum of Financial Inclusion projects ESAF Dhansree, ESAF Udyog Jyothi, LSEDP (Local Sustainable Economic Development Project), ESAF Balajyothi, ESAF Vayojyothi, and ESAF Garshom.

 

2. Govt announced Subhash Chandra Bose Disaster Management Award 2023: Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) and Lunglei Fire Station (LFS) Mizoram selected for Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar-2023 for excellence in disaster management for the year 2023. Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) was established in 1999 after the huge cyclone tragedy in Odisha. OSDMA had worked effectively during various cyclones like Hudhud (2014), Fani (2019), Amphan (2020) and Odisha flood (2020). Lunglei Fire Station efficiently and effectively controlled the massive fire that broke out in the uninhabited forest areas surrounding Lunglei town on 24 April 2021. The personnel deployed at Lunglei Fire Station worked tirelessly for more than 32 hours to douse the fire with the help of local citizens, during which they motivated and trained them to douse the fire on the spot.

 

3. President Murmu conferred Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar: President Droupadi Murmu conferred Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi. The awards have been conferred upon 11 children for their exceptional achievement in six categories, which include Art, Culture, Bravery, Innovation, Social Service, and Sports. Each awardee has received a medal, a cash prize of one lakh rupees, and a certificate from the President. Of the 11 children selected for the prestigious award, there are 6 boys and 5 girls belonging to 11 States and UTs. In 2021, as many as 32 kids were conferred with prestigious award for their excelling performance in creativity, athletics, arts, community service, scholarship and bravery.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DEFENCE UNICORN INSTITUTE – GANDHINAGAR | AHMEDABAD   BEST COACHING FOR: NDA | CDS | AFCAT | ACC | CAPF | CPO | COAST GUARD | DEFENCE EXAMS | COMPETITIVE EXAMS   Helpline Number # 6351299206 |Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter