Daily GK Update: 22nd July 2022

 National & International Appointments

1. Droupadi Murmu elected as the 15th President of India

• Droupadi Murmu has been elected as the 15th President of India, after securing 64% of the votes, her opposition Candidate Yashwant Sinha has got 36%.
• She is the first tribal woman and the second woman (First: Pratibha Patil) to hold the position of President of India.
• CJI, N V Ramana will administer the oath of office to Droupadi Murmu.
• About:
  • She was born in Mayurbhanj district of Odisha.
  • Tribe: Santhal
  • She served as Governor of Jharkhand from 2015 to 2021.

 Banking & Finance

2. ADB cut GDP forecast of India for FY23 to 7.2%

• The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has reduced the economic growth forecast for India for the current fiscal year (2022-23) to 7.2% from 7.5%.
• For the South Asian region:
  • Cut the forecast for 2022 to 6.5% from 7%
  • For 2023, from 7.4% to 7.1%
• Reason: Economic crisis in Sri Lanka, high inflation and associated monetary tightening in India
• ADB President: Masatsugu Asakawa; Chief Economist: Albert Park; Headquarters: Mandaluyong, Philippines

 Important Dates

3. World Brain Day: July 22

• World Brain Day is observed on every July 22, celebrated by the World Federation of Neurology (WFN), to raise the awareness and promoting advocacy related to brain health.
• Theme 2022: “Brain Health for all”
• History:
  • The World Federation of Neurology was established on July 22 1957.
  • The Public Awareness and Advocacy Committee has suggested, that 22 July 2014 should be celebrated as “World Brain Day”.
  • WFN Headquarters:  London, UK

 Agreement

4. India, the UK sign MoU on Mutual Recognition of Academic Qualification

• India and United Kingdom signed an agreement to provide student mobility and academic collaboration between higher education institutions (HEIs).
• Signed by: James Bowler, Permanent Secretary, Department of International Trade of United Kingdom (UK) and K Sanjay Murthy, Secretary (Higher Education), Ministry of Education, India.
• In May 2021, a comprehensive Roadmap to 2030 was adopted for an enhanced bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

 Agreement

5. COP 26's President and NITI Aayog launch to boost electric mobility

• Alok Sharma (COP 26 President) and NITI Aayog have launched two significant initiatives — E-AMRIT and the Report on Advanced Chemistry Cell Battery Reuse and Recycling Market in India.
• E-AMRIT refers to Accelerated e-Mobility Revolution for India's Transportation, is an mobile application, will raise the awareness on electric mobility.
• India is among 42 leaders to back and sign up to the UK's Glasgow Breakthroughs, which was launched at the COP26 climate summit. 

 State Affairs

6. Himachal Pradesh connects all VLTD vehicles equipped with ERSS

• Himachal Pradesh has become the first state in India to connect all registered commercial vehicles equipped with Vehicle Location Tracking Device (VLTD) with Emergency Response Support System (ERSS).
• Vehicles can be tracked anywhere in the country through VLTD.
• It will be monitored by both the police and the transport department.
• CM also introduced the facility of panic button for the safety of women and children in public vehicles.
• HP, CM: Jai Ram Thakur 

 Agreement

7. India, Maldives sign MoU on judicial cooperation

• The Union Cabinet has approved an MoU signed between India and Maldives for judicial cooperation to speed up the court digitization and boost prospects for IT companies & start-ups in both countries.
• This is the eighth MoU signed between India and other countries in the field of Judicial Cooperation.
• India was among the first to recognize the Maldives after its independence in 1965 and shares good diplomatic relations with the country.
• Maldives Capital: Malé 

 National Affairs

8. NITI Aayog releases report on Digital Bank

• The Niti Aayog has released its report on digital banks, offering a template and roadmap for licencing and regulatory regimes.
• Report titled: A proposal for Digital Banks in India: Licensing and Regulatory Regime
• Report recommendations:
  1. Issuing a restricted digital bank licence.
  2. Inclusion (of the licensee) in a regulatory sandbox framework enacted by RBI
  3. Issuance of a "full-scale" digital bank licence
• NITI Aayog Vice Chairperson: Suman Bery; CEO: Parameswaran Iyer

 Banking & Finance

9. RBI signs statement of commitment to the FX Global Code

• The RBI has renewed its statement of commitment to the FX Global Code, a compilation of best market practices formulated by central banks worldwide.
• It is implemented by the Global FX Committee (GFXC) in co-ordination with the Local FX Committee (LFXC) in each jurisdiction.
• FX Global Code:
  • Developed under the Bank for International Settlements.
  • It was initially launched in May, 2017.
  • After review, an updated code was published by the GFXC on July 15, 2021.

 Banking & Finance

10. NDB approves USD 875 million for development in Brazil, China and India

• The New Development Bank has approved USD 875 million for water, sanitation, ecotourism and transport.
• Investments will support the Brazil, China and India towards the Sustainable Development Goals.
• Brazil: $ 300 million for water supply and sewage collection
• India: $ 79 million for the Meghalaya Ecotourism Infrastructure Development Project.
• China: EUR 265 million for Lanzhou Zhongchuan International Airport and RMB 805 million for Xi’an Xianyang International Airport. 

 National & International Appointments

11. Egypt’s Seif Ahmed appointed as acting president of FIH

• The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has appointed Seif Ahmed (Egypt) as its acting president after the resignation of Indian administrator Narinder Batra from the post.
• Batra has resigned as FIH president and also quit as chief of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).
• He also gave up his International Olympic Committee (IOC) membership which was directly linked with his IOA position.
• Batra became the president of FIH in 2016.

 National & International Appointments

12. Rajarshi Gupta appointed as Managing Director of ONGC Videsh

• Rajarshi Gupta, has appointed as MD of ONGC Videsh Ltd, is an overseas investment arm of state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC).
• He has replaced Alok Gupta who was superannuated in June 2022.
• He has more than 33 years of experience in supervisory, managerial and strategic planning capacities in domestic and international operations of ONGC and ONGC Videsh.
• He has also served as Executive Director - Chief of Corporate Strategy & Planning in ONGC.

 National Affairs

13. PM Modi unveiled India’s first passenger drone, Varuna

• PM Narendra Modi has unveiled the 'Varuna', India’s first passenger drone.
• This drone is capable of carrying one person, equipment, or supplies from one moving warship to another with the help of autonomous take-off and landing features.
• It can also be used for medical evacuation.
• About Varuna:
  • It has a range of 25 km.
  • The drone can carry 130 kg payload
  • It has 25-33 minutes of flight time.
  • It has been designed and developed by a startup Sagar Defence Engineering