DAILY GK 11-13 APRIL

DAILY GK 11-13 APRIL 

1.       50 YEARS OF PROJECT TIGER’

·         Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi inaugurated the program ‘Commemoration of 50 years of Project Tiger’at Mysuru University in Mysuru, Karnataka, the first of its kind in India, organised to mark 50 years of Project Tiger.

·         The PM launched the International Big Cats Alliance (IBCA) for the conservation of 7 major big cats – tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, puma, jaguar and cheetah in collaboration with countries which contain the natural habitat of these big cat species.

 

2.       4-MEMBER PANEL TO REVIEW PENSION SYSTEM FOR GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES

·         The Ministry of Finance (MoF) has formed a 4-member committee led by Finance Secretary T. V. Somanathan to examine the pension system for government employees.

·         According to its mandate, the committee would recommend any necessary changes to the National Pension System (NPS), generally known as the New Pension Scheme, as it pertains to employees of the government.

 

3.       1ST INTERNATIONAL QUANTUM COMMUNICATION CONCLAVE

·         ‘First International Quantum Communication Conclave’ was held at New Delhi.

·         The conclave was organised by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communications, and Telecommunication Engineering Center (TEC), in collaboration with Centre For Development Of Telematics (C-DOT), TSDSI (Telecommunications Standards Development Society, India) and IEEE Communications Society – Delhi chapter.

·         The conclave intends to bring together international experts in the domain, practitioners, start-ups, researchers and the scientific community.

 

4.       INDIA’S FPI DESTINATIONS IN FY23

·         According to the data from the Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based National Securities Depository Limited (NSDL), Norway, and Singapore gained as the FPI (Foreign Portfolio Investment) destinations for India in FY23

·         Now, Singapore is the second biggest jurisdiction for FPI flows in India after the United States of America (USA).

·         Singapore is followed by Luxembourg at 3rd place, and Mauritius’ ranking has dropped to 4 in FY23 (from 2nd in FY22), Norway ranked at 8th Place.

 

5.       MONETARY POLICY REPORT APRIL 2023BY RBI

·         According to the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) Monetary Policy Report (April 2023), credit growth continued to outpace deposit growth in financial year 2022-23 (FY23) at an eleven-year high

·         In FY23, bank loans increased 14.6% while deposits increased just 9.6%.

·         The rate of credit growth in FY23 was the greatest since FY 2011–12, when credit increased 17%.

·         Since May 2022 to March 2023, banks have hiked their repo-linked External Benchmark-Based Lending Rates (EBLRs) by 250 bps to keep pace with the policy repo rate.

·         The internal benchmark for loan pricing, the Marginal Cost of Funds-Based Lending Rate (MCLR), increased by 140 bps from May 2022 to March 2023.

 

6.       2023 INTERNATIONAL PRIZE IN STATISTICS

·         Calyampudi Radhakrishna Rao (CR Rao), a prominent Indian-American Statistician, has been awarded the 2023 International Prize in Statistics, the statistics’ equivalent of the Nobel Prize, for his monumental work 75 years ago that revolutionised statistical thinking.

·         C.R. Rao was born on 10 September 1920 in HuvannaHadagali, Karnataka.

·         He worked in India at the Indian Statistical Institute(ISI) for 40 years (1941-1979)

·         He relocated to the United States of America (USA) and worked for 25 years at the University of Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania State University.

 

7.       ISRAEL LAUNCHES ‘OFEK 13’ RECONNAISSANCE SATELLITE

·         Israel successfully launched the Ofek 13, a new Israeli spy satellite onboard the Shavit launch vehicle into space from Palmachim Airbase spaceport, located near the cities of Rishon LeZion and Yavne, Israel.

·         The Ofek-13, manufactured by the state-owned Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), is the latest in a series of Israeli-produced satellites first put into orbit in 1988.

·         According to the IAI, “Ofek 16” is an “electro-optical reconnaissance satellite with advanced capabilities.”

 

8.       ‘MF HYDRA’: WORLD’S FIRST LIQUID HYDROGEN-POWERED FERRY

·         Norwegian company Norled has launched the world’s first liquid hydrogen-powered ferry vessel called ‘MF Hydra’.

·         The vessel has been going through sea trials and system tests at Hjelmeland since the beginning of 2023.

·         MF Hydra will now operate on the triangular route of Hjelmeland-Skipavik-Nesvik.

 

9.       GUKESH DOMMARAJU WINS ARMAGEDDON CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES 2023

·         16 year old Indian Grandmaster (GM) GukeshDommaraju(Gukesh D) defeatedWorld Rapid Champion GM NodirbekAbdusattorov of Uzbekistan to win the Armageddon Championship Series 2023: Asia & Oceania held in Berlin, Germany

·         It was the second regional tournament of the Armageddon Championship Series 2022-2023 which is organised by World Chess Events Limited in cooperation with World Chess Europe GmbH.

 

10.    GHULAM NABI AZAD’S AUTOBIOGRAPHY ‘AZAAD’

·          ‘Azaad’ the autobiography of Ghulam Nabi Azad, former Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Chief Minister, was launched in New Delhi

·         Ghulam Nabi Azad, a former member of the Indian National Congress, served as a minister under 4 former Prime Ministers of India – Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, Narasimha Rao, and Manmohan Singh.

 

11.    BOOK “COURTING INDIA” BY NANDINI DAS

·         Historian Nandini Das, a professor of English Literature at the University of Oxford, England, United Kingdom (UK), authored a new book titled “Courting India: England, Mughal India and the Origins of Empire”

·         The book delves into the complex relationship between England and Mughal India in the early modern period, focusing on cultural and literary contacts between these two worlds.

 

12.    WORLD HOMEOPATHY DAY 2023 – APRIL 10

·         World Homeopathy (or homoeopathy) Day is annually observed across the globe on April 10 to honour homoeopathy and its contribution to treating people across the globe.

·         The day also commemorates the birth anniversary of German physician Dr Christian Friedrich Samuel Hahnemann, the founder of Homeopathy.

 

13.    EXERCISE COPE INDIA 23

·         The first phase of Exercise Cope India 23(CI23), a bilateral Air Exercise between the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the United States Air Force began at Air Force Station Arjan Singh(Panagarh Air Force base) in Panagarh, West Bengal(WB).

·         The 11-day exercise is scheduled to be held in Panagarh, Kalaikunda(West Bengal) and Agra (Uttar Pradesh)air force stations.

·         Japanese Air Self Defence Force (JASDF) aircrew will also participate in the capacity of observers.

·         This exercise is being held after a gap of 4 years as it was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The previous edition (4th edition) of the exercise, Cope India 2018(CI18) was held in 2018 at air bases in Kalaikunda and Panagarh.

 

14.    STATE ENERGY EFFICIENCY INDEX 2021-22

·         Union Minister R. K. Singh, Ministry of Power, released the report of the State Energy Efficiency Index (SEEI) 2021-2022.

·         Five states are in the Front Runner category (>60 points) in SEEI 2021-22: Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Rajasthan, and Telangana.

·         Four states are in the Achiever category (50–60 points): Assam, Haryana, Maharashtra, and Punjab.

·         The best-performing states in their respective state groupsare:Chandigarh, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, and Karnataka.

·         The two states that improved the most from the last index are: Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

 

15.    PERIYAR TIGER RESERVE TOPS IN MANAGEMENT REVIEW

·         According to the summary report of the 5th cycle of Management Effectiveness Evaluation of Tiger Reserves in India in 2022,  by the National Tiger Conservation Authority(NTCA), the Periyar Tiger Reserve(TR) in Kerala has reserve topped the list of best-managed tiger reserve in India with a Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE) score of 94.38%.

·         Periya TR is followed by the Satpura TR (Madhya Pradesh) and Bandipur TR (Karnataka)

·         The report was released by Prime Minister Narendra Modi while inaugurating the Commemoration of 50 years of Project Tiger programme, at Mysuru, Karnataka.

·         A total of 12 Tiger Reserves have achieved ‘Excellent’ category, followed by 20 Tiger Reserves in ‘Very Good’ category, 14 Tiger Reserves in ‘Good’ category and 5 Tiger Reserves in ‘Fair’ category.

·         NTCA has been constituted under section 38 L (1) of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

·         NTCA is a statutory body under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC).

 

16.    NSE INDICES LAUNCHES INDIA’S 1ST NIFTY REITS & INVITS INDEX

·         the NSE Indices Limited, a subsidiary of the National Stock Exchange (NSE), launched India’s first index to track Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) and Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs) called Nifty REITs and InvITs Index.

·         The Nifty REITs and InvITs index will track the performance of REITs and InvITs that are publicly listed and traded or not listed but permitted to trade on NSE.

·         Currently, the index comprises three listed REITs and three listed InvITs (total 6 securities).

·         The Nifty REITs &InvITs Index has a base date of July 01, 2019, and a base value of 1000.

 

17.    11TH NATIONAL GRASSROOTS INNOVATION AWARDS

·         President of India, DroupadiMurmu, presented the 11th Biennial National Grassroots Innovation and Outstanding Traditional Knowledge Awards of theNational Innovation Foundation (NIF) at New Delhi

·         Under various award functions, NIF has recognised around 1093 grassroots innovators and school students at the national level.

·         Festival of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (FINE) 2023, under the Department of Science and Technology(DST), is an effort to promote science, technology, and innovation and encourage the general public to undertake entrepreneurship and make their mark in India and abroad.

·         NIF-India, an autonomous body of the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India.

 

18.    SBI COFFEE TABLE BOOK “THE BANKER TO EVERY INDIAN”

·         State Bank of India (SBI)headquartered in Mumbai(Maharashtra) announced the launch of its coffee table book titled “The Banker to Every Indian”

·         Book celebrates 75 years of Indian independence and the 200-year history of SBI, which was established in 1955.

 

19.     ‘RAPIDX’- INDIA’S FIRST SEMI HIGH-SPEED REGIONAL RAIL SERVICES

·         National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) has named India’s first semi high-speed Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) as RAPIDX as it is easy to read and simple to pronounce in various languages.

·         It also signifies speed and progress, the ‘X’ denotes the next generation technology and the new-age mobility solution.

·         RAPIDX, with a design speed of 182kmph, will connect Delhi with National Capital Region (NCR), including Meerut, Alwar and Panipat.

·         NCRTC is a Joint Venture (JV) company of the Union government and states of Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh (UP).

 

20.    MADHYA PRADESH’S PRODUCTS GETS GI TAG

·         The Geographical Indication (GI) Tag has been granted by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoC&I) to several products of Madhya Pradesh (MP), which include 5 handcrafts product, 1 Agricultural product, 1 Food stuff, 1 Textile product.

·         The 5 handicraft products include Gond Painting of Madhya Pradesh, Gwalior Handmade Carpet, Bhedaghat stone craft (Jabalpur), wrought iron crafts (Dindori), and Waraseoni handloom sarees (Balaghat).

·         Sharbati Gehu (wheat which is also called The Golden Grain), registered by the GI Registry in the agricultural product category.

·         Morena Gajak(a kind of sweet) has received the GI tag in the food ingredient category.

·         Ujjain Batik print has received the GI tag in the textile category.

 

21.    JOINT MILITARY EXERCISE “EX KAVACH”

·         Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC), the first and only Tri-Service theatre command in India, conducted a large-scale Joint Military Exercise “Exercise KAVACH” (Ex KAVACH)

·         Exerciseinvolve the assets of the Indian Armed forces – Army, Navy, Air Force, and Indian Coast Guard (ICG)

 

22.    INDIA RANKED 77 IN WORLD’S ‘MOST CRIMINAL COUNTRIES’ LIST

·         According to the ranking of the world’s ‘most criminal countries’ released by the World of Statistics, Venezuela ranked first in the list followed by Papua New Guinea and  Afghanistan.

·         India was at the position 77th on the list of criminal countries.

·         The US (United States) and the UK(United Kingdom), have ranked 55th and 65th, being ahead of India in the criminal ranking country.

·         Turkey, Germany, and Japan were among the least criminal countries, ranking at 92nd, 100th, and 135th ranks.

·         As per the World Population Review’s (WPR) ‘Crime Rate by Country 2023’, Venezuela ranked as the country with the highest crime rates globally with a crime Index of 83.76.

·         India was ranked 71 with a crime index of 44.43.

·         Overall crime rate is calculated by dividing the total number of reported crimes of any kind by the total population, then multiplying the result by 100,000 (because the crime rate is typically reported as X number of crimes per 100,000 people).

 

23.    RBI RELEASED FRAMEWORK FOR ACCEPTANCE OF GREEN DEPOSITS FOR RES

·         The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) notified an enclosed Framework for acceptance of Green Deposits for the Regulated Entities (REs) to promote and develop a green finance ecosystem in India.

·         The framework was set up with the intent to encourage REs to offer green deposits to customers, protect interests of the depositors, support customers to achieve their sustainability agenda, address greenwashing concerns and help augment the flow of credit to green activities/projects.

·         The provisions of the framework would be applicable to the following entities Scheduled Commercial Banks including Small Finance Banks (excluding Regional Rural Banks, Local Area Banks and Payments Banks) andAll Deposit-taking Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) registered with the RBI, including Housing Finance Companies (HFCs)(collectively referred to REs):

·         REs were directed to ensure that the funds raised through green deposits are allocated to eligible green activities/projects.

·         The allocation of funds raised through green deposits by REs during a financial year shall be subject to an independent Third-Party Verification/Assurance which shall be done on an annual basis.

 

24.    IMF CUTS INDIA’S GROWTH FORECAST FOR FY24 TO 5.9%

·         The International Monetary Fund (IMF) in its bi-annual World Economic Outlook (WEO) 2023 report with a title ‘A Rocky Recovery’ has downgraded India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) forecast for the financial year 2023-24 by 20 basis points (-0.2%) to 5.9% from 6.1% in January 2023 WEO Update.

·         For FY25, India’s growth projectionsis cut by 50 basis points (-0.5%) to 6.3% from 6.8% in January 2023 WEO Update.

·         The global economy will grow by 2.8% in 2023 and 3% in 2024, down 10 basis points each from its January WEO 2023 forecasts.

·         IMFManaging Director – Kristalina Georgieva

·         Headquarters– Washington, D.C, USA

·         Establishment– 1944

 

25.    BOOK- “THE GREAT BANK ROBBERY”

·         Pattabhi Ram &Sabyasachee Dash has co-authored a new book titled “The Great Bank Robbery: NPAs, Scams and the Future of Regulation”

·         Book discusses 11 scams that have rocked India since its Independence(1947). The book is published by Rupa Publications India Pvt Ltd.