Daily GK Update: 16th March 2023

 Honours & Awards

1. RBI's Shaktikanta Das named 'Governor of the Year' by Central Banking

• The Reserve Bank of India Governor, Shaktikanta Das was awarded the title 'Governor of the Year' for 2023 by Central Banking.
• Reason: For his leadership during difficult periods, such as the failure of a significant non-banking company, COVID-19 pandemic, and the inflationary effects caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine
• The National Bank of Ukraine was also awarded the Central Bank of the Year award.
• Central Banking is an international economic research journal.

 National & International Appointments

2. US Senate confirms Eric Garcetti as Ambassador to India

• The United States of America (USA) Senate approved the appointment of Eric Garcetti as the next US Ambassador to India.
• His appointment will now fill in the key diplomatic position that had been vacant for more than two years.
• His nomination was confirmed via a 52-42 vote, which was pending before the US Congress since July 2021.
• Kenneth Juster was the last occupant of the ambassadorial residence of the US in New Delhi, who stepped down in January 2021.

 Honours & Awards

3. Tamil writer Sivasankari to be awarded Saraswati Samman for 2022

• Tamil writer Sivasankari has been selected for Saraswati Samman for the year 2022 for her book Survya Vamsam.
• This is a book of memoirs in Tamil language and was published in 2019.
• Saraswati Samman:
  • It was instituted by the K.K. Birla Foundation in 1991.
  • It is recognized as the most prestigious and the highest literary award in the country.
  • It carries an award money of 15 lakh rupees, a Citation, and a Plaque.

 Science & Technology

4. NASA unveils new generation of spacesuit for humanity's return trip to Moon

• NASA unveiled a new generation of spacesuit for humanity's return trip to the Moon.
• This spacesuit comes with specialist features to support astronauts as they conduct scientific experiments on the lunar surface.
• The prototype is said to be a better fit for female space travelers.
• NASA hopes to have the updated suit ready for the Artemis III mission to the Moon in 2025.
• A well-fitting suit is crucial to prevent excessive fatigue and at worst, physical harm.

 Banking & Finance

5. India and World Bank signs loan agreement for Green NH Corridors project

• India and the World Bank have signed a loan agreement to construct the Green National Highway Corridors Project in four States.
• Four states: HP, Rajasthan, UP, and Andhra Pradesh
• The agreement has been signed to construct 781 kilometers, with loan assistance of 500 million dollars.
• The total project cost is over 7,662 crore rupees.
• Objective: To demonstrate safe and green highways keeping in view climate resilience and the use of green technologies

 Banking & Finance

6. Commercial Bank 'first in Qatar' to launch UPI remittance service to India

• Commercial Bank, a digital Bank in Qatar has announced to launch of Unified Payment Interface (UPI) remittance service to India.
• With this decision, this bank becomes the first bank in Qatar to offer this service.
• Customers can use Commercial Banking digital platforms to initiate UPI payments using UPI-ID.
• The transactions can be completed within 60 seconds and are available 24/7.
• UPI is a convenient payment system that allows customers to transfer money in real time.

 National & International Appointments

7. Govt appoints Deepak Mohanty as PFRDA chairman

• Deepak Mohanty has been appointed as the chairman of the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA).
• He replaced Supratim Bandyopadhyay, whose term ended in Jan 2023.
• Before this, Mohanty was a former executive director of the Reserve Bank of India.
• He was appointed PFRDA member (Economic) in August 2020 for a period of three years or till attaining the age of 62 years.
• PFRDA was formed in 2003 to promote and develop the pension industry.

 International Affairs

8. US recognizes McMahon Line as international border

• The US has formally recognized the McMahon Line as the international boundary between India’s Arunachal Pradesh and China.
• The US has also rejected Beijing’s claim that the northeastern state falls under Chinese territory.
• A bipartisan resolution acknowledged Arunachal Pradesh as an integral part of India.
• The resolution, titled ‘Reaffirming the state of Arunachal Pradesh as Indian territory and condemning the People’s Republic of China’s provocations in South Asia'.

 Science & Technology

9. Gaganyaan mission allocated Rs 9023 crore to achieve its objectives

• The government has allocated a budget of Rs. 9023 Crore towards achieving the objectives of Gaganyaan mission.
• Scope of Gaganyaan program: To demonstrate human spaceflight capability to Low Earth Orbit and safe return
• ISRO is also developing indigenous technologies for Human rated launch vehicle, Life Support System, Crew Escape System, Ground Station Network, Crew Training and Recovery.
• The Union MoS, S&T, Dr. Jitendra Singh informed in Lok Sabha.

 Defense

10. India joined Sea Dragon exercise 2023

• The third edition of the Sea Dragon exercises is being started in the USA (host) from March 15-30, 2023.
• It is a coordinated multilateral anti-submarine warfare (ASW) exercise for long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft.
• In this exercise, Indian Navy participated with its P8I aircraft, which arrived at Guam, USA on 14 March 2023.
• Apart from India, US Navy with P8A, Japan with P1, Canada with CP 140, and South Korea with P3C participated.

 National Affairs

11. Minister Narender Singh Tomar inaugurates “AgriUnifest” in Bengaluru

• Union Minister of Agriculture Narendra Singh Tomar has inaugurated a 5-day cultural program“AgriUnifest” in Bengaluru.
• This program was organized by Bangalore Agricultural University in collaboration with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
• It was participated by students from 60 State Agricultural Universities/Deemed Universities/Central Universities participated.
• Aim: To integrate Indian agriculture by connecting various Indian cultures

 National Affairs

12. REACHOUT scheme implemented by the Ministry of Earth Sciences

• MoS (I/C) Earth Sciences Dr. Jitendra Singh has informed in Lok Sabha that REACHOUT is being implemented by the Ministry of Earth Sciences for capacity building.
• REACHOUT: Research, Education, and Training Outreach.
• It is an umbrella scheme of the following six sub-schemes:
  1. R&D in Earth System Science
  2. International Training Centre for Operational Oceanography
  3. Program for Development of Skilled manpower in Earth System Sciences
  4. Outreach and awareness
  5. KRCNet
  6. BCWC

 National Affairs

13. 'Basic Animal Husbandry Statistics 2022' released

• Union Minister Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Parshottam Rupala unveiled the department’s annual publication, the ‘Basic Animal Husbandry Statistics 2022’.
• Total milk production in the country during 2021-22 is 221.06 million tonnes.
• Top 5 Producing States:
  • Milk: Rajasthan (15.05%), UP (14.93%), MP (8.06%), Gujarat (7.56%) and Andhra Pradesh (6.97%).
  • Egg: Andhra Pradesh (20.41%), TN (16.08%), Telangana (12.86%), WB (8.84%) and Karnataka (6.38%)