Daily GK Update- 26th Jan, 2024

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Odisha to Setup World’s First ‘Black Tiger Safari’: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has unveiled plans for the establishment of the world’s first ‘black tiger safari’ near the Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) in Mayurbhanj. This visionary project aims to provide tourists and visitors with a rare glimpse of the melanistic tigers, commonly known as black tigers, recently spotted at the Similipal National Park. The safari will be established near Baripada over a 200-hectare area, adjoining National Highway 18. About 100 hectare will be display area and the balance area shall be utilised for creation of veterinary care facilities, including rescue center, staff infrastructure, and visitor amenities.

 

2. India’s second VLF communication station to come up in Telangana: The State government has transferred 1,174 hectares of forest land under the Damagudem Reserve Forest near Pudur village in Vikarabad district to the Indian Navy to set up India’s second Very Low Frequency (VLF) radar station. The Navy had been in discussions with the State government since 2010, but the allocation of land faced delays under the previous governments. The Union Forest and Environment Department approved the Navy’s proposals in 2014. Campa funds of ₹133.54 crore were allocated for the transfer of forest land, and the Navy contributed ₹18.56 crore for land conservation measures. The naval unit is expected to house approximately 600 naval personnel and civilians, providing homes for around 2,500 to 3,000 people.

 

3. MoD inks ₹1,070 crore pact with Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders for 14 fast patrol vessels for ICG: The Ministry of Defence has signed a contract with Mumbai-based Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL) for the acquisition of 14 fast patrol vessels (FPVs) for the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) at a cost of ₹1,070.47 crore. These multi-role FPVs will be indigenously designed, developed, and manufactured by MDL under Buy (Indian-IDDM) Category and will be delivered in total 63 months. These modern FPVs will play a critical role in enhancing fisheries protection and monitoring, control and surveillance, anti-smuggling operations, search and rescue operations including in shallow waters, assistance to ship/crafts in distress, towing capabilities, assistance and monitoring during marine pollution response operations, anti-piracy operations.

 

4. PM Vishwakarma beneficiaries invited as “special guests” to witness the Republic Day Parade 2024: The beneficiaries under the PM Vishwakarma Scheme have been invited by the Ministry of Defence as “Special Guests” to witness the Republic Day Parade, 2024 at Kartavya Path, New Delhi. The PM Vishwakarma Scheme was launched on 17.09.2023 by the Prime Minister of India.

This is a holistic scheme that provides end-to-end support to the artisans & craftspeople belonging to 18 trades. As on date, a total of 2,85,420 applications have been registered successfully under the scheme. 256 beneficiaries of PM Vishwakarma scheme, along with their spouse, are attending the Republic Day Event on 26th January 2024. These beneficiaries belong to rural and urban areas of 20 States, including North Eastern States and 4 Union Territories. Few of them are from Aspirational districts.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Cabinet Approved for India-Oman IT Cooperation MoU: The Union Cabinet, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the MoU between the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology of India and the Ministry of Transport, Communications, and Information Technology of Oman. The MoU, inked on December 15 last year, aims to foster collaboration and cooperation in the field of Information Technology (IT). The comprehensive cooperation outlined in the MoU covers a spectrum of activities, including mutual support, sharing of technologies, information exchange, and investments in the IT sector. This move is anticipated to strengthen the ties between India and Oman, promoting bilateral collaboration in both government-to-government (G2G) and business-to-business (B2B) dimensions.

 

2. Saudi Arabia to Open First Alcohol Store for Diplomats: Saudi Arabia will open its first alcohol store in the capital Riyadh which will serve exclusively non-Muslim diplomats. Customers will have to register via a mobile app, get a clearance code from the foreign ministry, and respect monthly quotas with their purchases. The move is a milestone in the kingdom’s efforts, led by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, to open the ultra-conservative Muslim country for tourism and business as drinking alcohol is forbidden in Islam. This move is expected to enhance Saudi Arabia’s diplomatic relations, particularly with Western countries, where alcohol consumption is a part of social and official engagements.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

DEFENCE

 

1. India, France, UAE conduct mega air exercise over Arabian Sea: India, France, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) carried out a mega air exercise over the Arabian Sea against the backdrop of rising global concerns over Houthi militants targeting several commercial vessels in the strategic waterways in the region. The ‘Desert Knight’ exercise featured several frontline aerial assets and combat jets of the air forces of the three countries. The Indian Air Force (IAF) component at the drills consisted of Su-30 MKI, MiG-29, and Jaguar fighter jets besides AWACS (airborne early warning and control aircraft, C-130-J transport plane, and air-to-air refuelling aircraft. The main focus of exercise ‘Desert Knight’ was enhancing synergy and interoperability between the three air forces,” the Indian Air Force said.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. REC to lend 1.2 trillion for solar panels: State-run REC ‘a Maharatna power finance company’ will lend up to ₹1.2 trillion for the installation of rooftop solar panels under the Pradhan Mantri Suryoday Yojana. The company has been designated as the programme implementation agency for the implementation of the scheme and its board of directors has approved letters of credit of about ₹15,000 crore each for eight central public sector undertakings would set up the rooftop panels across states. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has designated REC as the overall programme implementation agency for the implementation of rooftop solar in the country and we have been given a target of 1 crore households to be covered in a period of 1 year.

 

2. HDFC Bank first lender to issue 20 million credit cards: HDFC Bank, India’s largest private sector bank, has become the first lender in the country to achieve the milestone of 20 million credit cards in force. The lender forayed into the credit card business in 2001 and hit the 10-million mark in 2017. The next 10 million issuances came in a little over six years. HDFC Bank is the largest issuer of card issuers in the country, which commands over a fourth of the overall card market in terms of numbers. According to the Reserve Bank of India data for November 2023, HDFC Bank’s cards in circulation stood at nearly 19.51 million as compared to 19.18 million cards in October 2023.

 

3. LIC gets RBI nod for 9.99% stake buy in HDFC Bank: The Reserve Bank of India has approved insurance behemoth Life Insurance Corporation of India’s (LIC) application to acquire up to 9.99 percent aggregate holding of paid-up share capital in HDFC Bank, the country’s largest private sector bank. The approval has been granted with reference to the application made by LIC to RBI.

LIC has been advised by RBI to acquire the major shareholding in HDFC Bank within a period of one year. Further, LIC must ensure that the aggregate holding in the Bank does not exceed 9.99% of the paid-up share capital or voting rights of the Bank at all times.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Padma Awards 2024 Announced: Former Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu, actors Chiranjeevi and Vyjayanthimala Bali, and Bharatanatyam dancer Padma Subrahmanyam have been conferred with Padma Vibhushan, the country’s second-highest civilian award. While, Bindeshwar Pathak, founder of Sulabh International, conferred with the award posthumously. Late actor Vijayakant, M. Fathima Beevi, the first female judge to be appointed to the Supreme Court of India, Satyabrata Mookherjee, former president of Bharatiya Janata Party in West Bengal, and Togdan Rinpoche, spiritual leader of the Drikung Kagyu Tradition in Ladakh, were conferred with Padma Bhushan posthumously. Young Liu, chairman of Taiwan’s Foxconn Group, has also been conferred with a Padma Bhushan.

Daily GK Update- 25th Jan, 2024

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. IIM Kashipur to host Uttishtha 2024: IIM Kashipur will host the 7th edition of Uttishtha 2024, an ‘Agri Mela’ Startup Expo scheduled for Jan 27-28. The two-day summit, organized by the Foundation for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development (FIED) and e-Cell IIM Kashipur, and supported by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, aims to provide a platform for agri-startups, industry stakeholders, and investors to share insights on entrepreneurship. The event anticipates participation from over 2,000 business-school students, over 20 vice-chancellors and entrepreneur talks, and more than 100 startups.

 

2. 14th All India Police Commando Competition organized in Visakhapatnam: The 14th All India Police Commando competition organized at the A.P. Police Greyhounds Training Facility, Around 16 states have sent their elite commando forces for the competition including forces such as the Special Operations Group (SOG) from Odisha and Chhattisgarh, C- 60 from Maharashtra, the paramilitary forces such as BSF, CRPF, Assam Rifles, ITBP, RPF, SSB and CISF, among others. Each team will comprise 13-15 commandos and the competition will be held in five phases in a week, wherein the participants’ skill, endurance and teamwork will be tested. The commandos will be judged by an expert team from the Intelligence Bureau (IB). The State team comprises personnel from the Greyhounds and Octopus.

 

3. Vice-President inaugurated ‘Hamara Samvidhan, Hamara Samman’ campaign: The Vice-President, Jagdeep Dhankhar has inaugurated a year-long pan-India campaign ‘Hamara Samvidhan, Hamara Samman’ to commemorate the 75th Year of India as Republic at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre. The campaign aims to reaffirm our collective commitment to the principles enshrined in the Constitution of India and celebrate the shared values that bind our nation. This nationwide initiative envisages to instill a sense of pride and responsibility to uphold the ideals outlined in the constitutional framework. Another activity named Nav Bharat Nav Sankalp aims to encourage the masses to embrace the resolutions of Panch Pran by reading the Panch Pran Pledge. The third activity Vidhi Jagriti Abhiyan aims to involve the students to carry the message Panch Pran in the villages adopted by the Law colleges, under the Pro Bono Club scheme.

 

4. DGCA slaps Rs 1.10 crore penalty on Air India for safety violations: Aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has imposed a penalty of Rs 1.10 crore on Air India for safety violations amid a series of incidents of flight irregularities. According to the receipt of a voluntary safety report from an airline employee alleging safety violations of flights operated by Air India on certain long-range terrain critical routes. Recently, IndiGo was fined Rs 1.20 crore as the passengers of one of its flights came out on the tarmac and started eating food.

 

5. Karnataka HC Chief Justice appointed as Supreme Court judge: The Union government has approved the Supreme Court Collegium’s recommendation for elevation of Karnataka High Court’s Chief Justice Prasanna B Varale as a judge of the top court. In exercise of the powers conferred by the Constitution, President, after consultation with Chief Justice of India, is pleased to appoint Justice Prasanna Bhalachandra Varale, Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court as Judge of Supreme Court. After the development, the Supreme Court would work with its sanctioned strength of 34 judges. On January 19, the five-judge Collegium led by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud picked up name of Justice Varale, senior-most Judge belonging to a Scheduled Caste to fill up the vacancy created upon retirement of Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul on De 2023.

 

6. 25 January – National Voters Day: The National Voters’ Day is celebrated every year in India on January 25 to encourage the country’s voters to participate in the electoral process. This year, it is the 14th edition which is being celebrated. Theme 2024 – Nothing Like Voting, I Vote For sure

The first-ever National Voters’ Day was celebrated on January 25, 2011, to encourage more young voters to take part in the electoral process where the Union government, then led by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, had approved a proposal of the law ministry to this effect.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Sankey Prasad appointed as CMD for Project Leaders Middle East: Global diversified professional services and investment management company has appointed Sankey Prasad as Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) for India and Middle East Engineering and project management business, which is under the name of Colliers Project Leaders Middle East. Under Prasad’s leadership in India, Colliers has diversified into new markets, developed cutting-edge technologies, expanded its range of services, delivered more than 130 million square feet of real estate development spanning India, West Asia, Africa, and South Asia, and achieved 30 percent y-o-y growth in four years.

 

2. 24 January – International Day of Education: The International Day of Education is observed across the globe on January 24 to underscore education as a basic human right and a public responsibility. International Day of Education is envisioned to promote gender equality, inclusivity, and poverty eradication through quality education and democratic participation. Theme 2024 – Learning for lasting peace On December 3, 2018, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted a resolution that proclaimed January 24 as the International Day of Education. The UNGA aimed to highlight and celebrate the role of learning for development. The adoption of the resolution 73/25 “International Day of Education” was co-authored by Nigeria and 58 other member states to promote inclusive, equitable, and quality education for all.

 

 

 

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Shastri, Engineer honoured with Col CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award: Former Coach of Indian cricket team Ravi Shastri and former India wicketkeeper Farokh Engineer have been honoured with the CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award by BCCI. Star batter Shubman Gill was conferred with the Polly Umrigar Best Men’s International Cricketer of the Year (2022-23) award. Last year, Gill became the fastest batsman to reach the 2000-run mark in ODIs in the process of making 1584 runs from 29 matches at an average of 63.36 including five hundreds. Young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal grabbed the award for the Best International Debut during the 2022-23 season after cracking a 171 against the West Indies at Roseau in July last year. Spinner Deepti Sharma grabbed the International Women’s Cricketer of the Year award for the 2022-23 season.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. CCI approves proposed merger of Fincare SFB with AU Small Finance Bank: The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the proposed merger of Fincare Small Finance Bank Limited into and with AU Small Finance Bank. The board of the bank had approved the merger in October 2023 following which it received the shareholder approval in November 2023. The merger is now awaiting the approval of the Reserve Bank of India. The merger will help the bank expand its reach, diversify its offerings and promote its financial inclusion portfolio. It had also guided that the merged entity should come into effect from February 1, 2024, subject to necessary approvals.

 

2. SBI Life Insurance launches two new term plans with return of premium: SBI Life Insurance, a private life insurer, has launched two products– ‘SBI Life – Saral Swadhan Supreme’ and ‘SBI Life – Smart Swadhan Supreme’. These two new products not only provide a life cover but also benefit of return of premiums at maturity, to fulfill customers’ financial objectives. The new products are designed to empower customers by catering to the growing awareness of the essential link between insurance and financial well-being. These plans offer a lumpsum benefit on the policyholder’s demise during the policy term and also pay back the total premiums paid in case the life assured survives the policy term.

 

3. Yes Bank becomes first Indian bank to conduct export finance transactions on RXIL’s ITFS: Yes Bank has become the first Indian bank to execute an export finance transaction on the International Trade Financing Services Platform (ITFS) of RXIL Global IFSC Limited (RXIL), a leading cross-border fintech company registered under the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA). This strategic partnership facilitates arranging credit for exporters and importers from both Indian and Global Institutions through Factoring, Forfaiting, and other trade financing services at competitive pricing with quick turnaround using a digital platform. This is the first transaction on the ITFS platform in collaboration with any bank in India. The collaboration between Yes Bank and RXIL is a testament to the Bank’s commitment towards digitalisation and fostering cross-border business.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. UP selected Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar 2024: For the year 2024, 60 Parachute Field Hospital, Uttar Pradesh, in the Institutional category, has been selected for the Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar-2024 for its excellent work in Disaster Management. The Government of India, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has instituted an annual award known as Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar to recognize and honour the invaluable contribution and selfless service rendered by individuals and organizations in India in the field of disaster management. The award is announced every year on the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. The award carries a cash prize of Rs. 51 lakh and a certificate in case of an institution and Rs. 5 lakh and a certificate in case of an individual.

 

2. Former Bihar CM Karpoori Thakur Awarded Bharat Ratna Posthumously: Former Chief Minister of Bihar Karpoori Thakur was conferred the nation’s highest honour, Bharat Ratna, posthumously by the President of India Droupadi Murmu. The award comes 35 years after his death — Karpoori Thakur died on February 17, 1988. Karpoori Thakur, born in January 1924, was a prominent figure in Bihar’s political landscape. Known for his deep connection with the backward classes, Thakur’s political journey was marked by his steadfast commitment to social justice. He served as Bihar’s Chief Minister twice, first from December 1970 to June 1971 and again from December 1977 to April 1979.

Daily GK Update- 24th Jan, 2024

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Over 1500 farmers invited to witness Republic Day parade at Kartavya Path: The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has invited over 1500 farmers to witness the 75th Republic Day Parade at Kartavya Path. These farmers are beneficiaries of various central government schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana. During their stay, the farmers will also undergo training on key government schemes like the Agri Infrastructure Fund, National Seeds Cooperation, and Per Drop More Crop.

 

2. IICF To Build ‘Masjid Muhammed Bin Abdullah’ Mosque In Ayodhya: The Indo-Islamic Cultural Foundation (IICF) has announced the commencement of the construction of a grand mosque in Ayodhya, starting this May. Haji Arfat Shaikh, the head of the development committee of the Indo-Islamic Cultural Foundation (IICF) that is overseeing the mosque project. The mosque, named “Masjid Muhammed bin Abdullah” after Prophet Muhammad, aims to foster unity and goodwill among people, transcending religious differences. Hindu zealots razed a 16th-century mosque in the northern Indian city of Ayodhya in 1992, saying that it was built over an ancient temple on the site that marked the birthplace of Hindu god-king Ram.

 

3. PM Modi Launched ‘PM Suryodaya Yojana’: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched the ‘Pradhan Mantri Suryodaya Yojana’, a government scheme under which one crore households will get rooftop solar power systems. According to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy’s website, solar power installed capacity in India has reached around 73.31 GW as of December 2023. Meanwhile, rooftop solar installed capacity is around 11.08 GW as of December 2023. In 2014, the government launched the Rooftop Solar Programme that aimed to achieve a cumulative installed capacity of 40,000 megawatts (MW) or 40 gigawatts (GW) by 2022 — watt is a unit of power and is calculated as the amount of energy used over time, specifically one Joule per second. However, this target couldn’t be achieved.

 

4. Tarun Khulbe appoints as CEO of Jindal Stainless: Tarun Khulbe has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Jindal Stainless Ltd. He has been serving as the Whole Time Director of the company since May 2018. He will continue to hold the post besides that of the CEO. Khulbe has around 35 years of industry experience in business development, supply chain management, people practices, and IT enablement. Khulbe joined JSL as a general manager for the cold rolling mills at Hisar, Haryana, in October 2004. Part of O P Jindal Group, Jindal Stainless is India’s largest stainless-steel manufacturer.

 

5. 24 January – National Girl Child Day: National Girl Child Day is observed every year on 24 January. Objective- To raise awareness of the difficulties that girls in Indian society endure. The day promotes equal opportunities in education, healthcare, and nutrition while raising awareness of the injustices that girls face. Every year on January 24, people celebrate National Girl Child Day, which commemorates the inaugural anniversary of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao Scheme (Save the Girl Child, Educate the Girl Child) on January 22, 2015. The Ministry of Women and Child Development launched this day in 2008.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. World’s Tallest Ambedkar Statue Unveiled In Andhra Pradesh: World’s tallest statue of Dr BR Ambedkar, who is known as the architect and developer of the Indian Constitution, was unveiled in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh by the state government. It is going to be the tallest statue of Ambedkar. One of the tallest Ambedkar statues outside India is situated in Maryland, US. This Ambedkar statue is called the Statue of Justice and it is around 206 feet from the ground. This Ambedkar statue in Andhra Pradesh is under the list of top 50 tallest statues around the world, in which Statue of Unity tops. The height of the Statue of Justice is around 125 feet and the pedestal where this statue stands is 81 feet, thus the total height of the statue becomes 206 feet from the ground.

 

2. WHO certifies Cabo Verde as malaria-free: The World Health Organization (WHO) has certified Cabo Verde as a malaria-free country, marking a significant achievement in global health. With this announcement, Cabo Verde joins the ranks of 43 countries and 1 territory that WHO has awarded this certification. Cabo Verde is the third country to be certified in the WHO African region, joining Mauritius and Algeria which were certified in 1973 and 2019 respectively.

Malaria burden is the highest on the African continent, which accounted for approximately 95% of global malaria cases and 96% of related deaths in 2021. Cabo Verde, an archipelago of 10 islands in the Central Atlantic Ocean, has faced significant malaria challenges. Before the 1950s, all islands were affected by malaria.

 

3. North Korea conducts test of underwater nuclear weapons system: North Korea has conducted a test of its underwater nuclear weapons system in a protest against joint military drills by South Korea, the United States, and Japan. The test of the “Haeil-5-23” system, a name North Korea has given to its nuclear-capable underwater attack drones, was carried out by the defence ministry’s think tank in the waters off its east coast. Dubbed “Haeil”, which means tsunami, the new drone system was first reportedly tested in March 2023. it was intended to make sneak attacks in enemy waters and destroy naval strike groups and major operational ports by creating a large radioactive wave through an underwater explosion.

 

4. India-Kyrgyzstan Joint Special Forces Exercise ‘Khanjar’ commences in HP: The 11th edition of India-Kyrgyzstan Joint Special Forces Exercise Khanjar started at the Special Forces Training School in Himachal Pradesh’s Bakloh. The exercise is being conducted from January 22 to February 3. The exercise will provide an opportunity for both sides to fortify defence ties while addressing common concerns of international terrorism and extremism. The Indian Army contingent, comprising 20 personnel, is being represented by troops from The Parachute Regiment (Special Forces), according to the press release. Meanwhile, the Kyrgyzstan contingent comprising 20 personnel is represented by the Scorpion Brigade.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

DEFENCE

 

1. India, Egypt begin 2nd edition of joint exercise ‘CYCLONE’: The Indian Army contingent comprising 25 personnel reached Egypt to take part in the 2nd edition of a joint exercise called ‘Cyclone’ between special forces of India and Egypt. The exercise will be conducted at Anshas, Egypt from 22nd January to 1st February 2024. The first edition of the exercise was conducted last year in India. The exercise is aimed to acquaint both sides with each other’s operating procedures in the backdrop of special operations in desert/semi-desert terrain under chapter VII of the United Nations Charter. The exercise will involve the planning and execution of special operations in the sub-conventional domain and conducted in three phases.

The first phase will include military exhibitions and tactical interactions.

 

SPORTS

 

1. Ravi Shastri received lifetime achievement award: World Cup-winning former India all-rounder and ex-head coach Ravi Shastri has received the prestigious lifetime achievement award in the Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) Awards in Hyderabad. While Shubman Gill received the Polly Umrigar Award for the best men’s cricketer of the year for 2023. Jasprit Bumrah won the honour in 2019, a year after making his Test debut. Gill scored 2154 runs in international cricket, most by any batter in 2023. He hit 7 hundred, including an ODI double-hundred and his maiden T20I century.

Ravi Shastri played 80 Tests and 150 ODIs for India, scoring 6938 runs in international cricket, including 15 hundreds. He picked 280 wickets for India at the highest level. The left-arm spinner was part of India’s World Cup triumph in 1983 and the 1985 Champions of Champions triumph.

 

2. Tai Tzu Ying clinches first women’s singles title at India Open: Tai Tzu Ying (Taiwan) secures her maiden women’s singles India Open title, defeating Chen Yu Fei in a dominant straight-game victory. The former world number one from Chinese Taipei is set to retire after this season. The summit clash rematch of the Tokyo Olympic final sees Tai Tzu Ying prevail 21-16, 21-12, highlighting her status as one of the game’s greatest players.

 

3. Madrid to host Spanish F1 GP from 2026: Madrid will become the new host of the Spanish Grand Prix starting from 2026. This decade-long commitment will see the heart of Spain’s capital transformed into a thrilling F1 racing venue, with the action set to unfold around IFEMA Madrid’s exhibition center. The announcement heralds a fresh era for the prestigious event, which has been traditionally held at the Circuit de Catalunya near Barcelona since 1991. The transition will see Madrid hosting the Grand Prix for 10 years, from 2026 to 2035, introducing a brand-new circuit to the world of Formula 1​​​. The new circuit in Madrid, designed around the IFEMA exhibition centre, will feature a mix of street and non-street sections, spanning 5.47 kilometres with 20 corners.

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. Japan achieved a historic soft moon landing with SLIM Mission: Japan has become the 5th country to achieve a soft moon landing with the successful deployment of the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) spacecraft. The mission, led by Japan’s space agency JAXA, marks a significant leap in precision landing technology with potential applications for future lunar exploration. Japan’s Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (Slim) spacecraft successfully touched down on the lunar surface on Friday, making Japan the fifth nation to achieve a soft landing on the Moon. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has confirmed the landing of the spacecraft equipped with a variety of instruments, including a camera, a laser altimeter, and a magnetometer, which will be used to study the Moon’s geology, environment, and resources

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Karpoori Thakur to be awarded Bharat Ratna posthumously: Former Bihar Chief Minister Karpoori Thakur, known for championing the cause of the backward classes, will be awarded the Bharat Ratna posthumously. Karpoori Thakur, a name synonymous with social justice and the championing of backward classes in North India. In November 1978, he implemented a 26 per cent reservation for backward classes in Bihar. Thakur's journey from humble beginnings in Pitaunjhia village, now known as Karpoorii Gram.

 

2. UP Govt to Honour Dr. Ritu and Naveen with ‘UP Gaurav Samman’: The government of Uttar Pradesh has announced the prestigious ‘UP Gaurav Samman’ award for two distinguished personalities – eminent scientist Ritu and renowned entrepreneur Naveen. This award highlights the government’s commitment to acknowledging excellence and inspiring future generations. Ritu Karidhal Srivastava, who resides in Lucknow, played a crucial role in the development of India’s Mars Orbiter Mission, Mangalyaan. She also served as the Deputy Operations Director for this mission. Mangalyaan was one of ISRO’s greatest achievements, making India the fourth country in the world to reach Mars.

Daily GK Update- 23rd Jan, 2024

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. PM Modi launches new rooftop solar power scheme: Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the ‘Pradhan Mantri Suryodaya Yojana’, a government scheme under which one crore households will get rooftop solar power systems. This isn’t the first scheme for promoting the installation of rooftop solar power systems, though. In 2014, the government launched the Rooftop Solar Programme that aimed to achieve a cumulative installed capacity of 40,000 megawatts (MW) or  40 gigawatts (GW) by 2022.

 

2. Final Electoral roll of J&K published with a total of 86.93 lakh voters: The final electoral roll of Jammu and Kashmir has been published with a total of 86.93 lakh voters. Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Jammu and Kashmir Pandurang K Pole said that out of 86.93 lakh voters, 44.34 lakh are males and 42.58 lakh females. More than 2.31 lakh voters have been added to the roll. The release of the electoral roll paves the way for holding of various polls in the Union Territory.

 

3. Andhra CM Jagan Reddy unveils 125ft tall Ambedkar statue: Andhra Pradesh CM Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy unveiled the 206 feet tall statue of Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar at Swaraj Maidan in Vijayawada. The statue, which stands atop an 81-foot pedestal at the Smriti Vanam, takes the total height of the monument to 206 ft, the tallest Dr Ambedkar structure ever built in the world.

It will be included in the list of top 50 tallest statues in the world. It is constructed using approximately 400 tons of steel.

 

4. Tripura, Manipur, and Meghalaya celebrate 52nd Statehood Day: Three northeastern states– Tripura, Meghalaya, and Manipur– on 21 January celebrated their 52nd Statehood Day.

With the introduction of the North-East Area (Re-organisation) Act 1971, Tripura, Manipur, and Meghalaya attained statehood on January 21, 1972. At the time of independence, the North East comprised the Assam plains, hill districts, and North Eastern Frontier Tracts (NEFT) of the North-Eastern border. Manipur and Tripura states were granted Union Territory status in 1949. Nagaland achieved statehood on December 1, 1963.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Namibian cheetah Jwala gives birth to three cubs at Kuno: A Namibian cheetah named Jwala gave birth to three cubs at Kuno National park in Madhya Pradesh, just weeks after another Namibian cheetah, Aasha, gave birth to three cubs. Jwala (Namibian name Siyaya) had given birth to four cubs last March. However, only one of them survived. Currently, there are a total of seven cubs being looked after by the Kuno park officials.

 

2. Japan becomes 5th Country to Land On the Moon: Japan became the fifth country in history to reach the moon when one of its spacecrafts without astronauts successfully made a soft landing on the lunar surface. The craft’s solar panel had failed to generate power, which could shorten its activity on the moon. The SLIM’s small rovers were launched as planned and that data was being transmitted back to Earth. SLIM’s solar battery wasn’t generating power and that it had only a few more hours of battery life.

 

3. India, Cuba signed an MoU on digital public infrastructure collaboration: The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has signed an MoU with the Ministry of Communications of the Republic of Cuba on Cooperation in the field of Sharing Successful Digital Solutions Implemented at Population Scale for Digital Transformation in New Delhi. The MoU intends to promote digital transformation through capacity-building programs, exchange of best practices, and other collaborative activities to mutually benefit the digital ecosystems of both countries. India to assist Cuba in adopting Digital Public Infrastructure, fostering development partnerships for enhanced collaboration.

 

4. Arevalo sworn in as Guatemala’s president: Anti-corruption crusader Bernardo Arevalo was sworn in as Guatemala’s president. Guatemala’s attorney general, an ally of Giammattei, has made several attempts to hinder Arevalo’s transition to the presidency, including trying to strip Arevalo and his vice president of legal immunity, attempting to suspend his Semilla party and annul the election. Arevalo won August elections by a landslide and about 9 hours after his inauguration was scheduled to start, he took the oath as president, replacing conservative politician Alejandro Giammattei whose government has been engulfed in corruption scandals. Giammattei skipped the ceremony.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

DEFENCE

 

1. India-Kyrgyzstan Army drill starts in HP’s Bakloh: The 11th edition of India-Kyrgyzstan Joint Special Forces Exercise ‘Khanjar’ commenced at the Special Forces Training School in Bakloh, Himachal Pradesh. It is an annual event conducted alternatively in India and Kyrgyzstan. The aim of the exercise is to acquaint both sides with each other’s operating procedures in the backdrop of special operations in desert and semi-desert terrain.

 

2. 23 January – Parakram Diwas: Parakram Diwas is observed every year on 23 January to mark the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, a prominent figure in India’s freedom struggle.

This day is celebrated to honour his indomitable spirit and invaluable contribution to India’s independence. This year nation observed the 127th edition of Parakram Diwas 2024. Parakram Diwas 2024 is a national event celebrated annually in India since 2021. The day serves as a reminder of the courage and determination of one of India’s most revered freedom fighters.

 

 

SPORTS

 

1. Tata Group to continue as IPL title sponsor until 2028: Tata Group will pay Rs 2,500 crore, the highest-ever sponsorship amount in the history of the Indian Premier League, as it won the title sponsorship rights of IPL, which has become a decacorn and is the richest cricket league in the world. Tata has won the rights for five years. The TATA Group earlier held the title sponsorship rights for the IPL in 2022 and 2023, paying Rs 670 crore for the two-year rights. Tata is also the title sponsor of the Women’s Premier League, the largest women’s T20 league globally. Tata retained title sponsorship rights from 2024 to 2028 by matching Aditya Birla Group’s (ABG) bid, sources had told ET earlier. Aditya Birla Group and Tata Sons were the only companies in contention for the title sponsorship rights of IPL.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Yes Bank becomes first Indian bank to conduct export finance transaction: Yes Bank became the first Indian bank to execute an export finance transaction on the International Trade Financing Services Platform (ITFS) of RXIL Global IFSC Limited (RXIL), a leading cross-border fintech company registered under the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA).

This strategic partnership facilitates arranging credit for exporters and importers from both Indian and Global Institutions through Factoring, Forfaiting.

 

2. IREDA, Indian Overseas Bank ink pact to co-finance renewable energy projects: State-owned Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) has partnered with the Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) to co-finance renewable energy projects in India. The agreement was signed in the presence of IREDA CMD Pradip Kumar Das and IOB MD and CEO Ajay Kumar Srivastava in the national capital. The partnership aims to streamline loan syndication and underwriting processes, management of Trust and Retention Account (TRA) for IREDA borrowers, and work towards fixed interest rates over a 3-4-year period for IREDA borrowings. This collaboration builds upon IREDA’s successful partnerships with other prominent financial institutions, including Bank of Baroda, Bank of India, Union Bank of India, India Infrastructure Finance Company Limited, and Bank of Maharashtra.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Kachchhi Kharek of Gujarat got GI tag: Kachchhi Kharek, the indigenous variety of dates of Kutch, has become the second fruit of Gujarat to get a geographical indication (GI) tag. The presence of dates in Kachchh (Kutch) is believed to be around 400–500 years old. It has become the second fruit of Gujarat to get a geographical indication (GI) tag, after Gir kesar mango. A geographical indication or GI is used on products that have a specific geographical origin that are due to that origin.

 

2. Boman Irani to receive a special honour from British Parliament: Actor Boman Irani will be conferred with a special honour by the British Parliament for his contributions to Indian cinema.

The actor has also been invited as a featured speaker at Oxford University and The London School of Economics. Mr. Irani is known for ‘Munna Bhai’ franchise, ‘3 Idiots’, ‘Khosla Ka Ghosla’, and others.

 

3. Ravi Shastri Shubman Gill to be honoured at BCCI Awards: Ravi Shastri is set to receive the prestigious Lifetime Achievement award in the Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) Awards, slated to take place in Hyderabad. Shastri is India's 1983 World Cup-winning member, and the former national head coach. Shastri, a veteran of 80 Tests and 150 ODIs, has been a committed servant of Indian cricket since his playing days. Indian opener Shubman Gill will also bag the men's cricketer honour for his outstanding run across formats in 2023.

 

4. Bangalore & Delhi Airports jointly bagged best airport award: Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya M Scindia has presented the Wings India Awards 2024 at an event held in Hyderabad.

Bangalore and Delhi Airports have jointly bagged the best airport award for the year at the 4th edition of “Wings India Awards” in the Civil Aviation Sector. Vistara bagged the Best Airline of the Year award. Air India has been recognized for International Connectivity while Alliance Air has recognition for Regional Connectivity. Air India Express was declared a Sustainability Champion.

GMR Group has been honoured as the Best Aviation Service Provider while Skyways Air Services for cargo services, Indian Oil Skytanking Pvt. Ltd for Fuel Services, GMR for Aero Academy.