Daily GK Update: 13th November 2022

National & International Appointments

The ICC board has re-elected Greg Barclay as the Independent Chair of the International Cricket Council (ICC) for a second two-year term.
He was unopposed following the withdrawal of Tavengwa Mukuhlani (Zimbabwe) from the process.
He is an Auckland-based commercial lawyer.
He was appointed as the ICC Chair in November 2020.
Prior to this, he was the Chair of New Zealand Cricket (NZC) and was a director of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2015.

Banking & Finance

In November 2022, the United States Department of Treasury has removed India from its Currency Monitoring List.
India had been on the list for the last two years.
The US has also removed Italy, Mexico, Thailand and Vietnam from its List.
The countries that have been removed from the list have met only one out of three criteria for two consecutive reports.
The USA has retained China, Japan, Korea, Germany, Malaysia, Singapore, and Taiwan as a part of its list.

National Affairs

Cochin Shipyard Ltd and IWAI have signed an agreement to build India's first hydrogen fuel cell catamaran vessel for Varanasi (UP).
It has also signed MoU for the construction of six electric catamaran vessels for Uttar Pradesh and two for Guwahati.
The hydrogen fuel cell catamaran vessel will have a seating capacity for 100 passengers.
The electric hybrid vessels, designed for short-distance commute in riverine waters, will have seating capacity for 50 passengers.

National Affairs

Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) has been awarded the project to build India's first multimodal logistics park (MMLP) in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has announced that MMLP will be spread over 184 acres and cost Rs 1,424 crore.
The project will get adequate connecting infrastructure support through a special purpose vehicle (SPV) formed between central and state agencies.
The first phase of this project will be completed in two years.

Summits & Conferences

The 3rd Ministerial ‘No Money for Terror’ Conference will be organised by Ministry of Home Affairs on 18th and 19th of November in New Delhi.
Focus: To advance the international community’s talks on countering terrorist financing held in Paris (2018) and Melbourne (2019).
In October 2022, India has hosted two international events - The annual General Assembly of Interpol (Delhi) and a special session of the UN Counter-Terrorism Committee (Mumbai and Delhi).

Banking & Finance

In a report titled, 'Global Macro Outlook 2023-24: Global economy faces a reckoning over inflation, geopolitics and policy trade-offs', Moody’s has cut the economic growth forecast of India to 7% for the calendar year 2022.
Reason: Higher inflation, high interest rates and slowing global growth
The weakening of the rupee and high oil prices continue to exert upward pressures on inflation, which has remained above RBI '4 per cent -/+ 2 per cent’ target inflation range.

Banking & Finance

SEBI has introduced a regulatory framework to facilitate providers of online bond platforms that are selling listed debt securities.
As per this rule, no person would act as an online bond platform provider without obtaining registration certificate as a stock broker from SEBI
A person, who is acting as an online bond platform provider without registration certificate prior to the date of this regulation coming into force, can continue to do so for a period of 3 months

National Affairs

Indian Badminton player, PV Sindhu has launched the mascots for Fit India Movement’s Fit India School Week initiative 2022.
The mascots are “Toofan and Toofani”.
The 4th edition of Fit India School Week will start on 15 November 2022
Aim: To celebrate the fitness and sports in various forms and reaffirm its importance amongst the school fraternity.
Fit India Movement was launched by Prime Minister, Narendra Modi in 2019.

Books & Authors

National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) vigilance department has released the first edition of its in-house vigilance magazine-“Subodh” at the Head Office in Hyderabad.
Aim: To reinforce the NMDC’s commitment to fostering honesty and transparency among all stakeholders
The magazine was released by NMDC CMD, Sumit Deb.
It was released in the presence of Director (Finance) Amitava Mukherjee, Director (Production) Dilip Kumar Mohanty.

State Affairs

The Jharkhand Cabinet has approved schemes to promote education and skill development of students and youths.
Schemes: (1) Mukhya Mantri Shiksha Prothsahan Yojana (MMSPY), (2) Eklavya Prasikshan Yojana (EPY), (3) Guruji Student Credit Card Yojana (GSCCY) and (4) Labour department's Mukhya Mantri Sarathi Yojana (MMSY)
MMSPY: Class 10 pass students will be provided free coaching at state-based institutions
EPY: Job-oriented free coaching
MMSY: Part of State Skill Mission