Daily GK Update: 18th November 2023

National & International Appointments

In Spain, Socialist leader Pedro Sánchez has clinched the vote in parliament to lead the country for another term as prime minister
He won an absolute majority in the investiture vote, securing the support of 179 members of Spain’s 350 Member Parliament
He secured the majority after sealing an amnesty deal for Catalans involved in a failed bid to secede from Spain
The pragmatic Catalan Republican Left is also backing the new government in return for the amnesty

Banking & Finance

IndusInd Bank goes live with RuPay Credit Card on UPI with the launch of ‘IndusInd Bank Platinum RuPay Credit Card’, in collaboration with the National Payments Corporation of India.
IndusInd Bank RuPay credit card customers can now conveniently initiate UPI payments by simply linking their credit cards with the UPI-enabled Apps.
Individuals can make transactions seamlessly on both online and offline platforms and earn accelerated rewards on their UPI transactions.

Summits & Conferences

The International Conference on Plant Health Management (ICPHM) 2023 – Innovation and Sustainability will be held in the city of Hyderabad, India, during 15th – 18th November 2023.
The conference is being organized by the Plant Protection Association of India (PPAI).
The main objective of this international conference is to pursue global opportunities in research and entrepreneurship related to the field of PHM.

State Affairs

The Assam Gov has officially given the nod to the merger of the Board of Secondary Education and the Assam Higher Secondary Education Council
The state is now set to establish a singular entity overseeing the realms of both Class 10 and 12 education boards in Assam
Aim: To develop, regulate, and supervise the standards and quality of School Education” in the region
Objective: To streamline and enhance the overall efficiency of the education system in the state

Defense

'Amini', the fourth in a series of eight Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC) projects built for the Indian Navy, was launched at Kattupalli in Tamil Nadu.
The ship has been named 'Amini' to signify the strategic maritime importance accorded to the island of Amini at Lakshadweep, located about 400 km west of Kochi.
The 77m long ASW SWC ships with a displacement of 900 tons have a maximum speed of 25 knots and endurance of approx 1800 NM.

National Affairs

The Coconut Development Board has launched ‘Hello Naariyal’ Friends of Coconut Trees call centre facility to help farmers with coconut harvesting and plant management operations.
The ‘Hello Naariyal’ call centre in Kerala functions from the headquarters of the Board in Kochi.
Aim: To benefit coconut growers and extend its services to traditional coconut-growing States of Tamil Nadu, AP and Karnataka through the respective unit offices of the Board.

National & International Appointments

US President Joe Biden has appointed Indian American Shakuntla L Bhaya to serve in a key role.
Bhaya was appointed as a member of the Council of the Administrative Conference of the United States.
It is among the several new appointments announced by Biden.
Her practice focuses on representing individuals who are seriously injured as a result of businesses and people making unsafe decisions.

National & International Appointments

The Reserve Bank of India has approved the appointment of Isha Ambani, Anshuman Thakur and Hitesh Kumar Sethia as directors of Jio Financial Services.
The central bank approved the appointments on November 15.
This approval is valid only for six months from the date of this letter.
In case the company fails to give effect to the proposal within this time frame, it will have to apply again with reasons for having failed to effect the change on the earlier occasion.

Banking & Finance

According to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman India is expected to overtake Japan and Germany to emerge as the third largest economy in the world by 2027.
Observing that Indo-Pacific is undoubtedly the world's most economically dynamic region, Sitharaman said it encompasses 60% of global GDP, and almost 50% of global merchandise trade.
According to the UNCTAD, India was the 2nd largest exporter of ocean-based goods and services among developing countries in 2020.

State Affairs

Two solar-powered mini-cruise ships is launched on the Saryu River in Ayodhya before the inauguration of the Ram Temple in Jan 2023
The service will be provided by Alaknanda Cruise, a company based in Varanasi.
Aim: To offer a unique experience to those who wish to explore the river and its surroundings in a sustainable and eco-friendly manner.
The 'Ramayana' ships are equipped with modern amenities, and their goal is to disseminate knowledge about Lord Ram's life.