Daily GK Update: 26th April 2023

 National & International Appointments

1. Microsoft India head, Anant Maheshwari appointed as chairperson of Nasscom

• Microsoft India President, Anant Maheshwari has been appointed as the chairperson of Nasscom for 2023-24.
• Earlier, he served as the vice-chairperson of Nasscom'.
• He has succeeded the president of business and technology services at TCS, Krishnan Ramanujam.
• Meanwhile, Nasscom has also appointed chairman and managing director of Cognizant India, Rajesh Nambiar as its vice-chairperson for 2023-24
• Nasscom refers to National Association of Software and Service Companies

 Honours & Awards

2. Uttar Pradesh received HUDCO award for cleanliness drive

• The Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) Uttar Pradesh has been awarded the country’s prestigious HUDCO Award for 2022-2023.
• It was awarded in the Best Practices to Improve the Living Environment 2022-23 category for cleanliness.
• The award was presented by the secretary of MoHUA, Manoj Josh to Neha Sharma (State mission director, UP).
• Cash Prize: 1 Lakh Rupees
• This campaign was organized by the Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) Uttar Pradesh from January 14 to 24, 2023.

 Honours & Awards

3. PGCIL wins Global Gold Award for CSR work

• Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL), a Maharatna CPSU of the Ministry of Power, has been awarded the Global Gold Award 2023 by The Green Organization.
• Reason: For improving Agriculture Productivity and Rural Livelihood through watershed management, community participation, and better crop management practices in 10 villages of Jaipatna Block of Kalahandi, Odisha
• The Director (Personnel) of POWERGRID, Dr. V. K. Singh received the award.

 Banking & Finance

4. Neobank Jupiter secures NBFC licence

• Neobanking platform Jupiter has received a non-banking financial company (NBFC) license from the Reserve Bank of India to enter into the lending business.
• The startup, Jupiter will be offering the loan under Amica Financial Technologies.
• Jitendra Gupta (founder of Jupiter) has informed that there will be an equity infusion of Rs 100 crore from Jupiter to develop the NBFC product.
• The startup will be looking to raise a loan from banks for an additional Rs 100 crore.

 National & International Appointments

5. Shreekant Bhandiwad appointed as Chairman of Karnataka Vikas Grameena Bank

• Shreekant M Bhandiwad has taken charge as the new chairman of Karnataka Vikas Grameena Bank (KVGB).
• KVGB is an Indian RRB sponsored by Canara Bank headquartered in Dharwad, Karnataka.
• He has replaced the current chairman P Gopikrishna, who was repatriated to Canara Bank as Circle Head, Bengaluru, in Karnataka.
• He has an experience of 29 years in Canara Bank, having worked across India (Haryana, Rajasthan, Bihar, and Karnataka) in various capacities.

 Banking & Finance

6. RBI cancels Adoor Co-operative Urban Bank’s banking licence

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has canceled the banking license of Kerala-based Adoor Co-operative Urban Bank, with effect from the close of business on April 24, 2023.
• RBI has allowed Adoor Co-operative Urban Bank to function as a non-banking institution.
• RBI has also stopped to conduct the banking business, including acceptance of deposits from non-members with immediate effect.
• The bank shall ensure to repay unpaid and unclaimed deposits of non-members held by it.

 Summits & Conferences

7. DRDO organizes Conference on Optimising Human Capital of Armed Forces

• The Defence Institute of Psychological Research (DIPR), a Delhi-based laboratory DRDO, has organized a four-day International Conference on ‘Optimising Human Capital of Armed Forces: Psychological Perspective’ in Delhi on April 25, 2023.
• Aim: To deliberate recent advances, emerging trends, and challenges of psychology with respect to the human capital of the Armed Forces upon world over
• The conference has participation from the three Services, DRDO labs, and academia.

 Schemes

8. PM Modi to attend 20th anniversary of SWAGAT initiative in Gujarat

• PM Modi will attend the 20th anniversary of the State Wide Attention on Grievances by Application of Technology (SWAGAT) initiative in Gujarat via video conferencing on April 27.
• This scheme was started by PM Modi in April 2003 during his tenure as the Chief Minister of Gujarat.
• Aim: To act as a bridge between the citizens and the government using technology by solving their day-to-day grievances in a quick, efficient, and time-bound manner

 Summits & Conferences

9. India to host SCO Defence Ministers’ Meeting on April 28

• The Chair of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), India will host the SCO Defence Ministers’ Meeting on 28 April 2023 in New Delhi.
• Aim: To discuss amongst other issues matters concerning regional peace and security, counter-terrorism efforts within SCO, and effective multilateralism.
• SCO 2023 theme under India’s Chairmanship: SECURE-SCO
• SCO was established in 2001.
• Members: Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, India, and Uzbekistan

 Obituaries

10. Former Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal passes away

• Former CM of Punjab and senior leader of Shiromani Akali Dal, Parkash Singh Badal passed away at 95 in Mohali, Punjab.
• He became the CM of Punjab for the first time in 1970.
• Later, he became the Chief minister four times, from 1977 to 1980, 1997 to 2002, 2007 to 2012, and from 2012 to 2017.
• He briefly joined Morarji Desai's government as the Agriculture minister at the Centre in 1977.
• He was awarded the second-highest civilian award, Padma Vibhushan in 2015.

 Summits & Conferences

11. Y-20 Pre-Summit Meeting under G20 held in Leh

• The Y 20 Pre Summit Meeting under G20 hosted by the Ministry of Youth and Sports Affairs is being organized from 26th to 28th April 2023 in Leh.
• Five Y20 themes:
  1. Shared Future: Youth in Democracy and Governance
  2. Future of Work: Industry 4.0, Innovation & 21st Century Skills
  3. Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction: Making Sustainability a Way of Life
  4. Peace Building and Reconciliation: Ushering in an era of No War
  5. Health Wellbeing & Sports: Agenda for Youth

 Banking & Finance

12. SBI fourth startup branch opens in Mumbai BKC

• The State Bank of India (SBI) has opened an exclusive branch for startups at the Bandra Kurla Complex in Mumbai.
• This is the fourth startup-focused branch, after Bengaluru, Chennai, and Gurugram.
• In Mumbai, the bank has entered into multiple MoU with the Society for Innovation & Entrepreneurship at IIT-Bombay, Centre for Incubation and Business Acceleration, and S.P Jain Institute of Management & Research
• Aim of MoU: To boost the startup ecosystem in the region

 Summits & Conferences

13. Australia to host Quad leadership summit in Sydney

• Australia will host the third in-person Quad Summit in Sydney on May 24, 2023.
• It will be the first time when Australia will host the meeting.
• The meeting will be attended by PM Narendra Modi, US President Joe Biden, Japanese PM Kishida Fumio, and Australian PM Anthony Albanese.
• The leaders will discuss issues on critical and emerging technologies and high-quality infrastructure, etc.
• The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue comprises India, the US, Japan, and Australia.