Daily GK Update: 10th February 2023

 Science & Technology

1. ISRO successfully launches second developmental flight of SSLV-D2

• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the second developmental flight of the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV-D2) with three satellites on February 10, 2023, from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
• Three satellites: EOS-07, Janus-1, and AzaadiSAT-2
• The first developmental flight of the SSLV was launched from SDSC on August 7, 2022, but it failed.
  • Reason: Due to vibration disturbance for a short duration on the equipment bay deck

 Honours & Awards

2. Dr. ABK Prasad selected for PCI’s excellence in journalism award 2020

• Veteran journalist Dr. Anne Bhavani Koteswara Prasad has been selected for the prestigious PCI's Raja Ram Mohan Roy National Award 2020.
• Reason: For his outstanding contribution to the field of journalism.
• The Chairperson of the Press Council of India (PCI), Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai conferred the award.
• ABK Prasad worked as the editor of mainstream journals in the State
• He was the Chairman of the Official Language Commission (2004 - 2009) in Andhra Pradesh.

 National & International Appointments

3. Government appoints two new judges of the Supreme Court of India

• The Government has cleared the appointment of two new judges of the Supreme Court - Justices Rajesh Bindal and Aravind Kumar.
• With this, the Supreme Court has regained its full strength of 34 judges.
• Rajesh Bindal: He was the Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court.
• Aravind Kumar: He was Chief Justice of Gujarat High Court.
• Earlier, the government also appointed five judges - Justices Pankaj Mithal, Sanjay Karol, PV Sanjay Kumar, Ahsanuddin Amanullah, and Manoj Misra

 Summits & Conferences

4. Gender Balance Forum and Women in Govt Forum to be held in Dubai

• The Gender Balance Forum and the Women in Government Forum will be organized at the World Government Summit in Dubai from 13-15 February 2023.
• Theme:
  • Women in Government Forum: Ready for Leadership: Shaping the Agenda for the Future
  • World Government Summit 2023: Shaping Future Governments
• Aim: To bring together thoughts of leaders from around the region and the world.
• The leaders will also discuss new ways to advance gender equality and women's participation.

 National Affairs

5. Geological Survey of India finds Lithium and Gold Deposits

• The Geological Survey of India (GSI) has found Lithium inferred resources (G3) of 5.9 million tonnes in the Salal-Haimana area of the Reasi District of Jammu and Kashmir.
• The ministry has handed over the 51 mineral blocks, including Lithium and Gold to the state governments.
• Out of these 51 mineral blocks, 5 blocks pertain to gold, and other blocks pertain to commodities like potash, molybdenum, base metals, etc.
• Lithium is a Non-ferrous metal.

 National & International Organizations

6. India's accreditation system ranked 5th globally

• According to the recent Global Quality Infrastructure Index (GQII) 2021, the national accreditation system of India under the Quality Council of India (QCI) has been ranked 5th in the world.
• The GQII ranks the 184 economies in the world on the basis of quality infrastructure (QI).
• India’s overall QI system ranking continues to be in the Top 10 at the 10th position (the standardization system (under BIS) at 9th and the metrology system (under NPL-CSIR) at 21st).

 Summits & Conferences

7. PM Modi inaugurate Uttar Pradesh Global Investors Summit 2023

• PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the three-day-long Uttar Pradesh Global Investors Summit 2023 in Lucknow on 10th February 2023.
• He has also inaugurated Global Trade Show and launched Invest UP 2.0.
• It is the flagship investment summit of the Uttar Pradesh Government.
• Aim: To bring together policymakers, industry leaders, academia, think tanks, and leaders from across the world to collectively explore business opportunities and forge partnerships

 Important Dates

8. World Pulses Day 2023: 10th February

• World Pulses Day is observed every year on February 10 to spread awareness about the nutritional and environmental benefits of pulses as part of sustainable food production.
• Theme 2023: Pulses for a Sustainable Future
• The UN General Assembly recognized the value of pulses in 2013.
• The UN has also adopted the year 2016 as the International Year of Pulses (IYP).
• The UNGA dedicated February 10 as World Pulses Day in 2019.

 Banking & Finance

9. Bajaj Finance launches Insurance Mall

• Bajaj Finance has launched an 'Insurance Mall' portal for its customers to ensure an Easy-buy experience.
• This new portal offers a plethora of policies, plans in the core insurance segment, and Pocket Insurance and Subscription.
• Benefits:
  • 100% digital process
  • An extensive product list
  • Budget-friendly premiums
  • Exclusively designed plans
• Bajaj Finance also partnered with some of India's leading insurers to provide the best products to customers.

 Banking & Finance

10. RBI expands scope of TReDS platform

• The RBI decided to expand the scope of the Trade Receivable Discounting System (TReDS) platform allowing the use of insurance facilities.
• The RBI has permitted the eligible entities to undertake factoring businesses to participate as financiers on TReDS and allow secondary market operations on the platform.
• Aim: To boost trade of receivables increasing cash flows to MSMEs
• TReDS is an electronic platform to facilitate the financing of trade receivables of MSMEs.

 State Affairs

11. J&K Govt launches project to promote sustainable agriculture

• The Jammu and Kashmir government initiated a program to support their farmers and promote sustainable agriculture in the Union Territory.
• Reason: Growing concern for health and increasing demand for organic food
• The 'alternate agriculture system for sustainability' project is a part of the government's efforts to create a sustainable environment for agriculture.
• Aim: To create six to seven organic clusters per district, covering a total of 2000 hectares of land.

 State Affairs

12. India Health Link signs MoU with UP govt to set up health ATMs

• India Health Link has signed an MoU with the Uttar Pradesh government under their InvestUP program to set up a health ATM.
• It provides screening of various health parameters at more than 4,600 community and primary health care centers.
• It is a self-service, walk-in Health ATM.
• Individuals can get their screening done for 20+ vital health parameters including BP, weight, pulse, temperature, and ECG within 10 minutes followed by an instant report.

 Science & Technology

13. IISc and Samsung Semiconductor India Research join hands

• The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and Samsung Semiconductor India Research (SSIR) have joined hands to promote research and development in the field of on-chip electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection.
• This partnership seeks to build cutting-edge ESD device solutions to protect ultra-high-speed serial interfaces in advanced integrated circuits and system-on-chip products.
• Solutions arising from this research will be used in Samsung’s advanced process nodes.