Daily GK Update: 13th December 2023

 National & International Appointments

1. Mohan Yadav sworn-in as Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh

• Senior BJP leader Mohan Yadav was sworn-in as Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh at the Motilal Nehru Stadium in Bhopal.
• Governor Mangubhai Patel administered the oath of office and secrecy to Mr Yadav, along with Deputy Chief Minister-designates Rajendra Shukla and Jagdish Devda.
• Dr Mohan Yadav is the third-time MLA from Ujjain Dakshin seat.

 Schemes

2. Atal Pension Yojana enrolments cross 6 crore mark

• The total enrolment under the Atal Pension Yojana (APY) has crossed 6 crore, with over 79 lakh enrolments in the current Financial Year.
• The APY is a flagship social security scheme of the Government of India which was launched on 9th May 2015 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to provide old age income security to Indian citizens.
• The scheme focuses particularly on the poor, underprivileged, and workers in the unorganized sectors.

 Schemes

3. India’s Retail Inflation surges 5.55 % in November

• Retail inflation, based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI), surged 5.55 percent in November on an annual basis as against 4.87 percent in October this year.
• Retail Inflation data has remained within the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) tolerance band of 2-6 percent.
• The data released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation showed that the food inflation for November stood at 8.70 percent.

 National & International Appointments

4. Vishnu Deo Sai to take oath as Chhattisgarh Chief Minister

• Senior BJP leader Vishnu Dev Sai sworn-in as Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh in Raipur.
• Governor Biswabhushan Harichandan administered the oath of office and secrecy to the Chief Minister and council of ministers.
• Vishnu Deo Sai won the Kunkuri Assembly seat with a total of 87,604 votes.

 National Affairs

5. eShram cards issued to over 29 crore unorganized workers registered on eShr

• The Government said that eShram cards have been issued to over 29 crore unorganized workers registered on the eShram portal. 
• The eShram portal was launched in 2021 for registration of unorganized workers.
• The main objective of the eShram portal is to create a national database of unorganized workers and to facilitate the delivery of Social Security and welfare Schemes to such workers.

 International Affairs

6. India and Vietnam unite for joint military exercise VINBAX-2023

• A contingent of 45 personnel from the Indian Armed Forces has arrived in Hanoi, Vietnam, to participate in the fourth edition of the Joint Military Exercise VINBAX-2023.
• The primary objective of VINBAX-2023 is to enhance collaborative partnerships, promote interoperability, and share best practices between the Indian and Vietnamese armed forces.
• The VINBAX exercise, initiated in 2018, is an annual training event that alternates between India and Vietnam.

 National Affairs

7. MHA approves Rs 338 crore for Gujarat,Rs 633 crore for Himachal Pradesh

• The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has given its nod for the release of ₹338 crore to Gujarat and ₹633 crore to Himachal Pradesh as financial assistance for damages caused by natural calamities.
• Gujarat, affected by Cyclone Biparjoy, received swift and proactive support from both the Centre and the state, resulting in a zero-casualty rate during the calamity.
• The MHA also sanctioned an extra financial assistance of ₹633.73 crore from the NDRF for Himachal Pradesh.

 Defense

8. Indian coast guard ship SAJAG strengthens maritime ties with UAE

• The Indian Coast Guard Ship SAJAG, an Offshore Patrol Vessel, is on a three day visit to the UAE.
• This visit marks a crucial milestone in the continuous diplomatic maritime engagement between India and the UAE.
• The primary objective of the visit is to strengthen professional relationships through joint exercises and interactions, contributing to collaborative efforts in the maritime sector.

 Honours & Awards

9. Javed Akhtar to be felicitated with Padmapani Lifetime Achievement Award

• Veteran lyricist-screenwriter Javed Akhtar will be felicitated with the Padmapani Lifetime Achievement Award at the Ajanta-Ellora Film Festival.
• Akhtar will be honoured for his contribution to the Indian film industry on the opening day of the festival's ninth edition.
• The Padmapani Award selection committee included renowned film director Girish Kasarvalli, Hindi poet Ashok Vajpeyi, film critic Latika Padgaonkar, filmmakers Ashok Rane and Chandrakant Kulkarni.

 National Affairs

10. Poonawalla HF gets a new name, rebrands as Grihum Housing Finance

• Poonawalla Housing Finance undergoes a significant makeover, becoming Grihum Housing Finance post the acquisition by TPG Capital Asia, holding a 99.02% equity stake.
• The firm has a customer base of over 75,000 that is served by a network of 195 branches, with plans to add 2-3 branches every month.