Daily GK Update: 16th April 2023

Honours & Awards

Union HM Amit Shah has presented the Maharashtra Bhushan Award for 2022 to Dr. Appasaheb Dharmadhikari at Raigarh, Maharashtra.
He has played a significant role in organizing several tree plantation drives, blood donation drives, free medical clinics, and job fairs.
Award: A shawl, citation and memento, and a cheque of Rs 25 lakh
He was also awarded the Padma Shri in 2017.
His father Dr. Narayan Vishnu Dharmadhikari was also awarded the Maharashtra Bhushan in 2008.

Sports

Long jumper, Shaili Singh won a gold medal in the women’s long jump at the Indian Grand Prix 4 2023 athletics meet in Bangalore, Karnataka.
She has logged a 6.76m effort, the second-best by an Indian after the legendary Anju Bobby George.
With this win, she has also qualified for the Asian Games 2023, scheduled in Hangzhou, China, by breaching the women’s long jump qualifying standard of 6.45m set by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI).

State Affairs

Arunachal Pradesh CM Pema Khandu has inaugurated the Shar Nyima Tsho Sum Namyig Lhakhang (Gonpa) at Gyangkhar village, located in the Tawang district of the state.
The Gonpa has great historical importance for the well-being and betterment of humans, particularly for the people of Shar Nyima Tsho Sum and all Buddhists in general.
The 11- 12th-century Gonpa was on the verge of collapse but it has been restored with a new structure.

Banking & Finance

According to the annual Banking on Climate Chaos report, the world’s 60 largest banks have spent $5.5 trillion (Rs 4,49,36,265 crore) on financing fossil fuel projects since 2016.
Released by: Rainforest Action Network, BankTrack, Indigenous Environmental Network, Oil Change International, Reclaim Finance, Sierra Club and Urgewald.
JPMorgan Chase & Co has spent $434.15 billion, followed by Citibank NA, Wells Fargo & Company, and Bank of America Corporation

Banking & Finance

Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) has collaborated with the State Bank of India for the National Common Mobility Card or Singara Chennai Card as part of the multimodal and ticket integration plan.
It can be used on metro trains and on MTC buses and suburban trains later, and can also be used in other metros.
The option to link the card to an SBI bank account will be available soon.
It can be preloaded with cash from 100 to 2,000 with a 1.8% commission charged by SBI.

National Affairs

PM Modi has inaugurated the All Indian Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) in Guwahati, Assam.
The foundation stone was laid in May 2017 and was built at a cost of over Rs 1,120 crore.
It has a total capacity of 750 beds, including 30 AYUSH beds, and also has an intake capacity of 100 MBBS students per year.
He also laid the foundation of the Rs 546 crore Assam Advanced Healthcare Innovation Institute, a joint initiative of the state government and IIT Guwahati.

Banking & Finance

SIDBI has launched a pilot scheme for better financing terms in the electric vehicle space and strengthening the whole ecosystem.
The pilot phase of 'Mission 50K-EV4ECO' aims to strengthen the EV ecosystem, including uptake for two, three, and four-wheelers through direct and indirect lending.
- Direct lending: SIDBI will directly give loans to eligible MSMEs
- Indirect lending: Targeted at NBFCs, including small unrated focused, and emerging NBFCs.

Banking & Finance

State Bank of India (SBI) has reintroduced a retail term deposit ‘AMRIT KALASH’, a special scheme of 400 days tenor.
Earlier, the bank had launched this retail term deposit scheme with a specific duration and it was valid from February 15, 2023, to March 31, 2023.
The Rate of Interest on this term deposit is 7.10 % w.e.f. April 12th, 2023.
While Senior Citizens are eligible for a rate of interest of 7.60%.
The Scheme will be valid till 30-June-2023.

National Affairs

Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) is planning to set up a joint venture with US-based clean energy technology company LanzaJet Inc and multiple domestic airlines.
Reason: For the production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF)
The proposed venture will set up a plant to make SAF with alcohol-to-jet technology at the state-run company’s Panipat refinery in Haryana at a cost of Rs 3,000 crore.
IOC will possess a 50% share, while LanzaJet Inc will hold a 25% share.

Honours & Awards

Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (SECI) has been accorded the status of Miniratna Category-I Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE).
SECI was incorporated in the year 2011 and is the primary implementing agency of the ministry for renewable energy schemes/ projects towards fulfillment of India's international commitments.
As of date, SECI has awarded RE project capacities of over 56 GW.
Managing Director, SECI: Suman Sharma