Daily GK Update: 16th August 2022

 Honours & Awards

1. Ranveer Singh won 2022 Indian Film Festival of Melbourne best actor award

• Ranveer Singh has won the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne 2022 best actor award for his movie 83.
• Shefali Shah (Jalsa) has been awarded the best actress award.
• Other winners IFFM 2022:
  • Best Film: 83
  • Best Director: Shoojit Sircar (Sardar Udham) and Aparna Sen (The Rapist)
  • Best Series: Mumbai Diaries 26/11
  • Best Actor in a Series: Mohit Raina (Mumbai Diaries 26/11)
  • Best Actress in a Series: Sakshi Tanwar (Mai)
  • Lifetime Achievement Award: Kapil Dev

 Sports

2. FIFA Suspends All India Football Federation

• The global football governing body FIFA has suspended the All India Football Federation (AIFF).
• Reason: Undue influence from third parties.
• Impact: The FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup 2022, scheduled to held in India, cannot currently be held in India as planned.
• The suspension will be lifted once an order to set up a committee of administrators to assume the powers of the AIFF Executive Committee has been repealed.
• FIFA President: Gianni Infantino

 International Affairs

3. UK becomes first nation to approve Omicron vaccine

• The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Authority, UK has authorised a Covid-19 vaccine tailored to the Omicron variant, setting the stage for an autumn booster campaign using Moderna’s two-strain shot.
• It has granted conditional authorisation to the vaccine, which targets both the original strain of the virus and Omicron BA.1.
• This makes UK, the first country in the world to approve an original Covid-19 jab.

 Banking & Finance

4. State Bank of India launches Utsav fixed deposit scheme

• The State Bank of India (SBI) has introduced a unique term deposit programme called "Utsav Deposit."
• This fixed deposit scheme has higher interest rates and is only available for a limited time.
• Under the Utsav Fixed Deposit Scheme, SBI is offering an interest rate of 6.10% per annum on fixed deposits with a tenure of 1000 days.
• And senior citizens will be eligible to get an additional interest rate of 0.50% over and above the regular rate.

 National Affairs

5. Kolkata to host 23rd edition of India International Seafood Show in 2023

• The 23rd edition of the India International Seafood Show (IISS) will be held in the Biswa Bangala Mela Prangan, Kolkata from February 15-17, 2023.
• The Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) has collaborated with the Seafood Exporters Association of India (SEAI) to organise the event.
• This show will provide an ideal platform for interaction between Indian exporters and overseas importers of India's marine products.
• MPEDA Chairman: Dr. K N Raghavan

 State Affairs

6. Village Defence Guard scheme comes into force in Jammu and Kashmir

• The Ministry of Home Affairs has sanctioned the approval for the creation of Village Defence Guard Scheme 2022 in Jammu and Kashmir.
• This scheme has come into effect from August 15, 2022.
• Earlier, this scheme was known as Village Defence Committee in which volunteers from villages were trained by Indian Army and Police.
• Under this scheme, rifles were provided to VDC’s to protect their villages from terrorist attacks in mountainous areas of Jammu region.

 National Affairs

7. Defence forces, RBI and PM office most trusted institutions: Survey

• According to a survey, conducted by Ipsos India, stated that Defence forces, RBI and Prime Minister of India are the three most trusted institutions in the country.
• The Supreme Court of India came fourth, followed by the Central Bureau of Investigation.
• Defence Forces with at least 2 in 3 (65% of respondents) reposing faith in them followed by RBI with 1 in 2 (50%).
• Prime Minister of India as an institution was at the third spot with 49% citizens having trust in it.

 National Affairs

8. Delhi airport launches beta version of DigiYatra app for Android platform

• The Delhi International Airport Limited has announced to launch with a beta version of DigiYatra app for Android platform.
• Aim: To provide contactless, seamless processing of passengers at Airports.
• The 'DigiYatra' is a Biometric Enabled Seamless Travel experience (BEST) based on Facial Recognition Technology.
• This unique initiative of government of India, is coordinated by the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
• Minister of Civil Aviation: Jyotiraditya Scindia

 Obituaries

9. Author of ‘The Horse Whisperer,’ Nicholas Evans passes away

• Nicholas Evans, who penned the bestselling novel 'The Horse Whisperer' has passed away at 72 due to heart attack.
• His debut novel, 'The Horse Whisperer', published in 1995, was the bestselling novels in the United States for 1995 as determined by The New York Times.
• The book was turned into a movie in 1998.
• His other work includes "The Loop" (1998), "The Smoke Jumper" (2001), "The Divide" (2005) and "The Brave" (2010).

 Honours & Awards

10. 1082 Police personnel awarded Police Medals

• A total of 1082 Police personnel have been awarded Police Medals on the occasion of Independence Day, 2022.
• 347 personnel were awarded the Police Medal for Gallantry, 87 with President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service.
• 648 personnel were awarded the Police Medal for Meritorious Service.
• 109 CRPF personnel and 108 J&K Police personnel have been awarded Police Medal for Gallantry.
• 38 personnel received the Correctional Service Medal for Meritorious Service.

 Obituaries

11. Veteran BCCI administrator Amitabh Choudhary paases away

• Amitabh Chaudhary, the former BCCl acting secretary and president of Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA) has passed away at 58, due to heart attack.
• He served as acting secretary of the BCCI until 2019.
• He was a retired senior IPS officer, who rose to the rank of IGP with the Jharkhand Police and was the chairman of Jharkhand Public Service Commission.
• He played a crucial role in developing infrastructure for Jharkhand cricket.