Daily Current Affairs and GK | 13 and 14 August 2023

Topic: International Appointments

1. Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar has been appointed as the caretaker Prime Minister of Pakistan.

• Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar has been named as the caretaker prime minister to oversee the election process.
• This decision has been taken after the meeting between Shehbaz Sharif and opposition leader Raja Riaz.
• Pakistan's parliament has been dissolved and as per the law, election has to be held within 90 days.
• Under Pakistan’s constitution, a neutral caretaker government oversees the national elections.
• Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar has been serving as Senater since 2018. He is a lawmaker from the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP).
• Prime Minister Sharif recommended the dissolution of the National Assembly on August 9.
• Imran Khan was arrested and convicted of corruption charges in the Toshkhana case on 5th August 2023. He has been now barred from contesting elections for five years.

Topic: National News

2. 'One District One Product' Wall at SARAS Ajeevika Store has been jointly launched by the DPIIT and Rural Development Ministry.

• The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade and the Ministry of Commerce in association with the Ministry of Rural Development launched ‘One District One Product’ wall at SARAS Ajeevika Store in New Delhi.
• The main aim of the program is to promote indigenous crafts and artisans at SARAS Aajeevika Store.
• The initiative aims to bring consumers and enthusiasts to the emporium, thereby driving sales and promoting exceptional products from India.
• The program selects brands and promotes one unique product from each district. It showcases a diverse range of products across the country.
• Under the One District One Product Program, a special marketplace is being created for well-crafted products by implementing innovative features such as product tagging and story cards.
• This initiative strongly supports women's empowerment with a special focus on uplifting women artisans and Self-Help Groups.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Sports

3. Indian hockey team wins the Asian Champions Trophy 2023 by defeating Malaysia.

• India defeated Malaysia by 4-3 in the finals of the Asian Champions Trophy 2023 at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium in Chennai.
• India with four wins has become the most successful team in the Asian Champions Trophy. Pakistan, with three titles, is in the second spot.
• Jugraj Singh (9'), Harmanpreet Singh (45'), Gurjant Singh (45') and Akashdeep Singh (56') scored from the Indian side.
• Abu Kamal Azrai (14'), Razie Rahim (18') and Aminudin Muhamad (28') scored goals from the Malaysian side.
• Hockey India announced a cash prize of 3 lakhs to each member of the Indian Men’s Hockey team.
• Karthi Selvam received the Young Player of the Match award while the Hero Player of the Match award went to Hardik Singh.
• Japan finished third in the tournament.
• The seventh edition of the Men's Asian Champions Trophy held in Chennai from 3-12 August. It was organized by Asian Hockey Federation.

Topic: Important Days

4. World Organ Donation Day: 13 August

• World Organ Donation Day is observed every year on August 13 to raise awareness about the importance of organ donation.
• It is also observed every year to clear misconceptions related to donating organs.
• The theme for this year’s World Organ Donation Day is "Step up to volunteer; need more organ donors to fill the lacunae".
• First organ transplant was carried out successfully in the year 1954 by Doctor Joseph Murray in the United States.
• The first organ donor was Ronald Lee Herrick, who donated his kidney to his brother.
• The liver, kidney, pancreas, lung, heart, intestine, cornea, bone, and tissues are some of the organs which can be donated.
• Organs can be donated by people from all age groups.

Topic: Indian Economy

5. Remittances to India increased from $89.1 billion in FY22 to $112.5 billion in FY23.

• Remittances to India by non-resident Indians increased 26% to $112.5 billion in FY23.
• This underscores the increase in demand for Indian professionals globally after the pandemic.
• India remains the top recipient of remittances globally for the last several years.
• FDI flow to India has slowed. India attracted $70.97 billion in FDI in FY23. FDI flow to India declined from $84.8 billion in FY22.
• According to a survey performed by the RBI for 2020-21, the United States was the leading source of inward remittances to India.
• Remittances from the USA accounted for 23.4% of total remittances. The USA was followed by UAE with 18%, the UK (6.8%), Singapore (5.7%) and Saudi Arabia (5.1%).

Topic: Defence

6. President Droupadi Murmu will launch Vindhyagiri at Kolkata on 17 August.

• Vindhyagiri is a Project 17A frigate. It will be launched at Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited, Kolkata.
• It is named after a mountain range in Karnataka. It is the sixth ship of the Project 17A frigates.
• Under the Project 17 A programme, Mumbai-based Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) is constructing four ships and Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited (GRSE) is constructing three ships.
• MDL and GRSE launched the project’s first five ships between 2019-2022.
• The Navy said these warships are follow-ons of the Project 17 Class Frigates (Shivalik Class).
• The Indian Navy's Warship Design Bureau designed the Project 17A ships in-house.
• INS Vindhyagiri was the sixth and last of the Nilgiri class frigates. After being damaged in an accident with a merchant vessel in 2011, it was decommissioned. It was commissioned in 1981.

Topic: Reports and Indices/Ranking

7. Chhattisgarh has second best overall fiscal health scorecard after Maharashtra.

• Chhattisgarh, one of the poorest states in the country, is in the second spot in terms of the overall fiscal health scorecard.
• Maharashtra is in the first position in the fiscal health scorecard while Telangana is in the third spot.
• Bengal, Punjab and Kerala are in the bottom three positions.
• A report on the fiscal health of 17 states has been released by Kaushik Das, the chief economist at Deutsche Bank India.
• Bihar, Rajasthan and UP are among the bottom states of the list.
• Andhra Pradesh’s ranking has dropped to 11th in FY23 from eighth in FY22.
• Gujarat’s rank has fallen to the seventh position from fifth.
• This report on fiscal health is based on four parameters- fiscal deficit; own tax revenue, state debt levels, all as a percentage of their individual gross state domestic product; and the interest payment to revenue receipts.
• Between 2004 and 2016, the states repeatedly in the bottom quartile are Bengal, Bihar, UP, and Rajasthan.
• The fiscal deficit of these 17 states is estimated at around 3.3 per cent of Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) in FY24.

Topic: Banking System

8. To use AI in improving regulatory supervision, RBI selected McKinsey and Accenture.

• To develop systems by using artificial intelligence and machine learning for supervisory functions, RBI has selected global consultancy firms McKinsey and Company India LLP and Accenture Solutions Pvt Ltd India.
• RBI is planning to use advanced analytics, artificial intelligence and machine learning for analyzing a huge database and improve regulatory supervision over banks and NBFCs.
• For this, the RBI is planning to hire external experts.
• In September 2022, RBI invited expressions of interest (EoI) for engaging consultants for using advanced analytics, artificial intelligence and machine learning for generating supervisory inputs.
• RBI had shortlisted seven applicants to participate in the request for proposal process (RFP) for the selection of consultant(s).
• Out of the seven applicants, McKinsey and Accenture have been awarded the contract. The value of the contract is about Rs 91 crore.
• RBI is currently using AI and ML in supervisory processes. Now, RBI is planning to upscale it.
• The Department of Supervision of RBI is using linear and a few machine-learnt models for supervisory examinations.
• RBI supervisory jurisdiction extends over urban cooperative banks, NBFCs, payment banks, small finance banks, local area banks, credit information companies and select all Indian financial institutions.
• RBI assess their financial soundness, solvency, asset quality, governance framework, liquidity, and operational viability.
• AI and ML technologies are used for real-time data reporting, effective data management and dissemination.

Topic: State News/ Gujarat

9. On 12 August, Union Minister Amit Shah laid the foundation stone of the IFFCO Nano Urea Plant at Gandhidham in Kutch.

• Mr. Shah is on a two-day visit to his home state Gujarat.
• He said, India needs another green revolution in the form of natural farming, which aims to ensure the highest value addition to farmers and protect agricultural land from degradation.
• The Nano Urea plant will provide multidimensional benefits to the agriculture economy.
• This plant will play an important role in reducing the import of fertilizers and making India self-sufficient in the field of fertilizers.
• Nano Urea will also help in conserving soil nutrients and ensure judicious use of fertilizers.
• During his visit, he inaugurated and laid the foundation stones of various development works in the Kutch and Gandhinagar districts.
• Shri Shah also laid the foundation stone of BSF Mooring Place at Koteshwar.
• In addition, virtually inaugurated various developmental projects of BSF including the newly constructed Chidiyamod, Byrbet Link Road and OP Tower at Harami Nala in Kutch.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Important Days

10. Partition Horrors Remembrance Day 2023: 14 August

• Every year on 14 August, Partition Horrors Remembrance Day is observed.
• In 2021, PM Modi announced that August 14 will be observed as 'Partition Horrors Remembrance Day'.
• The day will remind of the pain and suffering faced by the people of India during the partition. It will be observed in the memory of the struggles and sacrifices of people.
• Millions of people were displaced and many lost their lives due to the partition. The partition was outlined in the Indian Independence Act 1947.
• During the partition, British India was divided into two independent Dominions: India and Pakistan. The Bengal and Punjab province was divided based on the non-Muslim or Muslim population.
• The border between India and Pakistan was drawn by a boundary Commission which was led by British lawyer Cyril Radcliffe.

Topic: State News/ Kerala

11. A resolution passed by the Kerala Assembly urging the Centre to rename the state to Keralam.

• On 9 August, the assembly unanimously passed a resolution urging the central government to officially change the name of the state from Kerala to Keralam.
• The Assembly sought an amendment to the Constitution.
• The resolution were presented by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in the House under Rule 118 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Kerala Legislative Assembly.
• The name of the state is also specified as Kerala in the first schedule of the constitution.
• The name of the state in the Malayalam language is Keralam.
• States were formed on the basis of language on November 1, 1956. Kerala Day is also celebrated on 1 November.
• Kerala Assembly unanimously requests the Central Government to take immediate steps to amend Keralam under Article 3 of the Constitution.
• Article 3 deals with the formation of new states and changes in the areas, boundaries, or names of existing states.
• The resolution also urged the Center to change the usage of Keralam in all the languages mentioned under the Eighth Schedule.

Topic: Personality in News

12. Bikash Sinha, a renowned nuclear physicist, dies at the age of 78 in Kolkata.

• He was the former director of the Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics and Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre.
• Sinha specialized in nuclear physics, high energy physics, Quark Gluon Plasma, and early cosmology.
• For the first time, he led the Indian team to participate in the experiments of the European Atomic Research Organization in Geneva.
• He was a recipient of the Padma Shri in 2001 and the Padma Bhushan in 2010.
• He was also awarded the RD Birla Award for Excellence in Physics in 2002.

Topic: National News

13. Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology launched Indian Web Browser Development Challenge.

• The Indian Web Browser Development Challenge was spearheaded by MeitY, CCA and C-DAC Bangalore.
• Indian Web Browser Development Challenge (IWBDC) is an open challenge for technology enthusiasts, innovators, and developers to create an indigenous web browser.
• More than 200 participants from government departments, industry, startups and academia through online and offline modes took part in the challenge.
• A panel discussion was also organized where queries of the participants were answered.
• The challenge had a total of three rounds. 18 entries were selected after the first round.
• In the second round, 8 participants were shortlisted. Finally, one winner, first runner-up and second runner-up have been selected.
• The winner of the challenge gets Rs 1 crore as a cash Prize. The winner would also be supported further to take the developed browser to the next level.
• The proposed browser would focus on accessibility and user-friendliness and ensure built-in support for individuals with diverse abilities.
• The programme concluded with a call for all innovative minds to participate in the challenge and come out with an Indian Web Browser.

(Source: PIB)

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

14. Union Minister Giriraj Singh launched the National Media Campaign of the Department of Land Resources (DoLR).

• The main objective of the campaign is to spread awareness about the computerization of land records and the digitization of cadastral maps.
• This campaign has been launched for common people to make them about the new initiatives in Land Governance and Watershed Development Component (WDC) of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayi Yojana (PMKSY).
• National Generic Document Registration System (NGDRS), WDC-PMKSY and Cactus Project have been included in the first phase of the campaign.
• The Government had launched Digital India Land Records Modernization Program (DILRMP) in 2016.
• It was launched to provide 100 per cent financial assistance to State Governments for the computerization of Sub Registrar Offices (SROs) in the States.
• Under the National Generic Document Registration System (NGDRS) one nation one software has been prepared with the facility of state-specific customization.
• Outdoor Media, Social Media, Bulk SMS and Radio Jingle components will be included in the first phase of the campaign.

(Source: News on AIR)