Daily GK Update: 16th January 2023

Honours & Awards

Miss USA, R'Bonney Gabriel (28) has been crowned the Miss Universe 2022 at the 71st Miss Universe pageant organized in New Orleans, Louisiana.
She is a model, fashion designer, and sewing instructor who prioritizes the environment in her work.
She is also the first Filipino American to win Miss USA.
Amanda Dudamel from Venezuela was the first runner-up, and Andreína Martínez from the Dominican Republic was the second runner-up.

Honours & Awards

The Digital News Publishers Association (DNPA) has announced Digital Impact awards 2023 in eight categories.
Categories (Best Use of Digital Media):
1. For Health – CoWIN App
2. For Women & Child Welfare Reforms – (A) Poshan Tracker App, (B) Himmat Plus Ap
3. For Ease of Living –Digilocker
4. For Financial Reforms – PMJDY
5. For Human Resource Development & Education – DIKSHA
6. For Sustainability and Environment Protection – CAMPA

Sports

In tennis, the Indian team of Yuki Bhambri and Saketh Myneni won the men's double Bangkok Open title 2023 organized at Nonthaburi, Thailand.
They defeated Christopher Rungkat and Akira Santillan (Indonesian-Australian team).
With this win, Yuki will get a career-high doubles rank of 90 and Saketh should also touch a career-best 74 in the ATP doubles chart.
They will next compete in the Australian Open where they have been given a wild card entry.

Obituaries

Mukarram Jah Bahadur, the titular eighth Nizam of Hyderabad passed away at the age of 89 in Istanbul, Turkey.
He was the successor and grandson of the last Nizam of Hyderabad Mir Osman Ali Khan Bahadur.
He was born to Prince Azam Jah and Princess Durru Shehvar, the imperial princess of the Ottoman Empire, on October 6, 1933, in France.
He was coronated as Asaf Jah the Eighth on April 6, 1967, after the passing away of Mir Osman Ali Khan in February 1967.

Banking & Finance

According to SBI Research's latest Ecowrap report, the retail inflation rate of India based on the Consumer Price Index would remain below RBI's comfort zone of 6% and will decline materially to 5% by March 2023.
Reason: Latest figures showed a marginal decline and further moderation in retail inflation as compared with the last month.
The retail inflation for December 2022 was at 5.72%.
For Jan-Mar 2023, the average retail inflation is seen at 4.7%.

Summits & Conferences

The annual meeting of the World Economic Forum started in Davos, Switzerland, on January 16 and will continue till January 20, 2023.
The theme of the 53rd annual event is ‘Cooperation in a Fragmented World’.
Aim: To address the pressing issues the world is facing and promote innovative solutions
A range of topics will be discussed at the 2023 meeting - New Energy, Climate Change, Jobs, Travel and Tourism, Health, Tech, and Banking.

Honours & Awards

Noted writer K Venu has bagged the first-ever Federal Bank Literary Award 2022 for his autobiography ‘Oranweshananthinte Katha’.
The award was presented by the chairman and independent director of the Federal Bank, Balagopal Chandrasekhar.
It was presented at an event held as part of the ongoing sixth edition Kerala Literature Festival, Kozhikode beach.
The prize money was handed over by Nandakumar V (executive vice-president of the bank).

National Affairs

Earth Sciences Minister, Dr. Jitendra Singh announced that India will be covered by Doppler Weather Radar Network by 2025, at the 148th Foundation Day of the Indian Meteorological Department.
Aim: To predict extreme weather events more accurately
It will enhance weather monitoring capabilities and benefit the farmers to contribute significantly to the economy.
IMD has taken proactive steps to increase the Radar Network from a mere 15 in 2013 to 37 in 2023.

National Affairs

Indian Railway's wholly owned subsidiary, RailTel Corporation of India Ltd has received an order worth ₹170.11 crores from the Puducherry government.
Agenda: To design, develop, supply, install, test, commission, and operations, and maintenance of integrated command control centre (ICCC) and other associated activities for the smart city.
The contract is for five years and will be completed in 10 months.
The Smart Cities Mission was launched by PM Modi in 2015.

Honours & Awards

India's 'RRR' directed by SS Rajamouli has won the Critics Choice Awards 2023 in the Best Foreign Language Film category and Best Song category for 'Naatu Naatu'
Television:
- Best Actor: Bob Odenkirk (Best Drama Series: Better Call Saul)
- Best Actress: Zendaya (Euphoria)
Film:
- Best Actor: Brendan Fraser (The Whale as Charlie)
- Best Actress: Cate Blanchett (Tár)
- Best Director: Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert (Best Movie: Everything Everywhere All at Once)