Daily GK Update: 10th May 2023

 National & International Appointments

1. PESB recommends Parminder Chopra as Chairman of Power Finance Corporation

• The Public Enterprise Selection Board (PESB) has recommended Parminder Chopra as a new Chairman and Managing Director of Power Finance Corporation (PFC).
• She will be the first woman to be appointed as the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of the Maharatna company.
• She has been working with the company since 2005.
• Power Finance Corporation:
  • It is India’s largest NBFC by net worth (all reserves).
  • It was incorporated on July 16th, 1986.
  • Registered office: New Delhi

 Science & Technology

2. IIT Madras, DRDO develop sensor technology for underwater communications

• IIT Madras and DRDO have developed cutting-edge sensor technology for underwater communications.
• The Indigenous technology will enable the fabrication of devices at a relatively lower cost.
• 'Piezoelectric MEMS technology' is required to develop high-performance thin films and convert 'piezo thin film' into state-of-the-art futuristic naval sensors and devices for underwater applications.
• The Piezo Thin Films are one of the vital components of piezo MEMS devices.

 Honours & Awards

3. Fakhar Zaman, Naruemol Chaiwai named ICC Players of the Month for April

• ICC has named Pakistan batter Fakhar Zaman as ICC Men’s Player of the Month for April 2023.
• While Thailand’s skipper Naruemol Chaiwai as ICC Women's Player of the Month
• Fakhar Zaman: He becomes the first Pakistani player to win the monthly accolade since Sidra Ameen in November 2022.
• Naruemol Chaiwai: She chipped in with 55 runs across the T20I series that followed, her 29 in the second T20I helping her side edge out Zimbabwe in a five-wicket win.

 Honours & Awards

4. Argentina’s Lionel Messi wins Laureus Sportsman of the Year 2023

• Argentina footballer, Lionel Messi has been named the Sportsman of the Year at the 2023 Laureus World Sports Awards.
• He was awarded for his remarkable achievements on the pitch in the past year, which included leading Argentina to victory in the FIFA World Cup.
• Sportswoman of the Year: Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (Jamaica) Athletics
• Team of the Year: Argentina Men’s Football Team
• Breakthrough: Carlos Alcaraz (Spain) Tennis
• Comeback: Christian Eriksen (Denmark) Football

 Banking & Finance

5. Reserve Bank gold reserves rose 4.5% to 794.64 tonnes in 2022-23

• RBI has added 34.22 metric tonnes of gold in the fiscal year that ended March 31, 2023, taking the total gold reserves to 794.64 metric tonnes.
• RBI held 760.42 metric tonnes as of March 31, 2022.
• A recent World Gold Council (WGC) report showed that the RBI added 7 metric tonnes of gold in January-March 2023.
• The latest WGC report showed that the Monetary Authority of Singapore was the largest single buyer of gold (69 metric tonnes) during January-March 2023.

 Banking & Finance

6. AU SFB launches RuPay credit card for self-employed customers

• AU Small Finance Bank has partnered RuPay to launch the Business Cashback Rupay credit card to meet the financial requirements of self-employed customers.
• Aim: To provide a diverse range of benefits to small businesses
• It was launched in the presence of Dilip Asbe (CEO, NPCI) and Sanjay Agarwal (MD & CEO of AU SFB).
• It simplifies financial operations for businesses with benefits like up to 2% cashback, 48 days of interest-free credit, and instant loans.

 Banking & Finance

7. Max Life, IIA join hands to offer life insurance

• Max Life Insurance has partnered with the Indian Industries Association (IIA) to provide life insurance plans to the MSME sector’s workforce in Uttar Pradesh.
• Aim: To enhance accessibility and drive affordable insurance penetration across UP
• Max Life is the appointed lead insurer for UP, under IRDAI’s State insurance plan
• It offers life insurance access to more than 11 lakh MSME workforce affiliated with IIA and their families in the State.

 Banking & Finance

8. Rukart, SBI ties up for buying cold storage system 'Subjee Cooler'

• Rukart has tied up with SBI for providing easy loans to customers for buying the cold storage system 'Subjee Cooler'
• Rukart sells 'Subjee Cooler' to enhance the shelf life of fruits and vegetables by 4-6 days.
• It is a cold chain storage system that requires only 20 liters of water a day.
• The cost of the product is Rs 50,000 each and one Subjee Cooler has a storage capacity of 100 kg.
• It is dedicated to minimizing the carbon footprint through innovative solutions.

 National Affairs

9. Health Ministry launches SAKSHAM Learning Management Information System

• Rajesh Bhushan (Union Health Secretary) has launched the Stimulating Advanced Knowledge for Sustainable Health Management (SAKSHAM).
• It is a Learning Management Information System (LMIS) of MoHFW.
• Developed by: National Institute of Health & Family Welfare (NIHFW), New Delhi
• SAKSHAM is a dedicated and unified platform for providing online training and medical education to all health professionals in the country.

 National Affairs

10. 50% villages are ODF Plus Under Swachh Bharat Mission Grameen Phase II

• The country has achieved yet another major milestone under the Swachh Bharat Mission Gramin (SBM-G) with 50% of villages achieving ODF Plus status under phase II of the Mission.
• Top performing states (percentage of ODF Plus villages):
  • Big States: Telangana (100%), Karnataka (99.5%), Tamil Nadu (97.8%) & Uttar Pradesh (95.2%)
  • Small states: Goa (95.3%) and Sikkim (69.2%)
  • UTs: A&N Islands, Dadra Nagar Havelli & Daman Diu and Lakshadweep (100%)

 State Affairs

11. Telangana Govt introduces a Robotics Framework

• The Telangana Government has introduced a Robotics Framework, for providing a roadmap to promote a robotic ecosystem in the State.
• This is the first-of-its-kind policy in the country.
• The Government will set up a Telangana Robotics Innovation Centre (TRIC) to implement the framework, which will focus on the key pillars of infrastructure access, business enablement, fostering research and innovation, development of a skilled workforce, and responsible deployment.

 State Affairs

12. PM Modi launches various projects in Rajasthan

• PM Modi has inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of various development projects worth over 5,500 crore rupees in Nathdwara, Rajasthan.
• He has also laid the foundation stone for the gauge conversion project and for setting up a new line from Nathdwara to Nathdwara town in Rajsamand.
• He dedicated three NH projects, including a six-lane Udaipur to Shamlaji section of NH-48 and the widening and strengthening work of the Bar-Bilara-Jodhpur Section of NH-25. 

 Honours & Awards

13. President Droupadi Murmu confers 37 Gallantry awards

• President Droupadi Murmu has conferred 37 Gallantry awards to the personnel of the Armed Forces, CAPF, and State or Union Territory Police during the Defence Investiture Ceremony (Phase-1) in New Delhi.
• The 37 Gallantry awards include eight Kirti Chakras (including five posthumous) and 29 Shaurya Chakras (including five posthumous).
• The Gallantry awards were given to the personnel for displaying conspicuous gallantry, indomitable courage, and extreme devotion to duty