Daily GK Update: 1st January 2023

 National & International Organizations

1. India assumed chairmanship of Wassenaar Arrangement for one year

• India has assumed the chairmanship of the plenary of the Wassenaar Arrangement for one year on 1st January 2023.
• At the 26th annual plenary of the Wassenaar Arrangement, Eoin O’Leary (Ireland’s ambassador) has handed over the chairmanship to Jaideep Mazumdar (India’s ambassador).
• Jaideep Mazumdar is the permanent representative to the UN and international organisations in Vienna.
• India joined the Wassenaar Arrangement in December 2017 as 42nd participating state.

 National Affairs

2. India's unemployment rate rises at 8.30% in Dec 2022

• According to the data, released by the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), India's unemployment rate in December 2022 has been increased to a 16-month high at 8.30% from 8% in November 2022.
• The urban unemployment rate has been increased to 10.09% in December from 8.96%.
• While, the rural unemployment rate has been slipped to 7.44% from 7.55%.
• In December, the unemployment rate rose to 37.4% in Haryana, followed by Rajasthan (28.5) and Delhi (20.8%).

 Sports

3. Hockey Madhya Pradesh Men’s U-18 team won Khelo India Youth Games 2022

• Madhya Pradesh has clinched the Qualifiers title of Khelo India Youth Games 2022 Men's Under-18 after defeating Odisha by 6-5 in the final at Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
• Ali Ahmad, Mohammad Zaid Khan and Captain Ankit Pal netted one goal each for Madhya Pradesh.
• While, Haryana claimed third place in the competition with a win against Jharkhand.
• With this, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Haryana and Jharkhand have qualified for the 2023 Khelo India Youth Games to be held in MP.

 Obituaries

4. Pritzker winning architect, Arata Isozake passes away

• A Pritzker-winning Japanese architect, Arata Isozaki has been passed away at the age of 91.
• He was also known as a post-modern giant, who blended culture and history of the East and the West in his designs.
• He was awarded the awarded the RIBA Gold Medal in 1986 and the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 2019.
• He started his architectural career under the apprenticeship of Japanese legend Kenzo Tangem who won Pritzker prize in 1987.

 Banking & Finance

5. Tripura signs agreement with ADB for power project

• Tripura government has signed an agreement with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for a power project worth Rs 2,275 crore.
• Of the total cost of the project, the state government would spend an amount of Rs 455 crore.
• The project include the replacement of Rokhia’s existing 63 MW (3X21 MW) Open Cycle power project with a 120 MW Combined Cycle power project.
• The project would also boost the efficiency of the Gumti hydroelectric power plant in Gomati district.

 National Affairs

6. REC limited organized 'Bijli Utsav' in Assam

• REC Limited, a Maharatna Company under the Ministry of Power, has organized ‘Bijli Utsav’ in Anandapur Gaon of Baksa district and adjoining villages in Assam.
• The event has highlighted the consumer rights of electricity, benefits and the challenges faced during electrification in remote areas.
• Various competitions and cultural programs were also organised.
• It was concluded with distribution of LED bulbs and geometry boxes as prizes to the winners of the competitions.

 Banking & Finance

7. SBI Card, Punjab & Sind Bank join hands to launch co-brand credit cards

• SBI Cards has partnered with Punjab & Sind Bank to launch co-brand credit cards for the bank's customers.
• The new three card variants are - PSB SBI Card ELITE, PSB SBI Card PRIME, and PSB SimplySAVE SBI Card.
• PSB SBI Card ELITE and PSB SBI Card PRIME have been designed to offer lifestyle privileges and best in class experience to premium and mass premium customers, respectively.
• PSB SimplySAVE SBI Card offers rewarding experience to value conscious customers.

 Banking & Finance

8. IDBI Mutual Fund signs agreement to transfer schemes to LIC MF

• IDBI MF has signed an agreement with LIC MF to transfer its schemes of IDBI MF to LIC MF to comply with Regulation 7B of SEBI MF Regulations.
• MF rules prohibit a single promoter from owning more than 10% stake in multiple asset management companies.
• Since LIC took over IDBI Bank in 2019, the insurance major ended up holding a majority stake in both LIC MF and IDFC MF.
• Hence, the life insurer had only two options — either to sell one of MF or merge the two.

 National & International Appointments

9. Rajeev Badyal named to National Space Council Advisory Group

• USA Vice President, Kamala Harris has named Indian American Rajeev Badyal to a key national space advisory group.
• He will be responsible to maintain a robust and responsible US space enterprise and preserve space for current and future generations.
• Presently, he is serving as the vice-president of Project Kuiper of Amazon.
• Prior to this role, he was the vice president of satellites at SpaceX.
• Harris had named US Air Force Rtd General Lester Lyles as chair of the UAG.

 National & International Appointments

10. IDBI Bank re-appoints Suresh Khatanhar as deputy MD for a year

• IDBI Bank's Board of Directors have approved the re-appointment of Suresh Kishinchand Khatanhar as Deputy Managing Director (DMD) for a period of one year with effect from January 15, 2023.
• This re-appointment is as per approval of the Reserve Bank of India received in this regard.
• Khatanhar has joined IDBI Bank in 1997 from Dena Bank.
• He was appointed as DMD by IDBI Bank’s Board on January 15, 2020 for a period of three years.