Daily GK Update: 26th June 2022

 National & International Appointments

1. Former Punjab DGP, Dinkar Gupta appointed as new Director General of NIA

• The Centre has appointed former Punjab DGP, Dinkar Gupta as the Director General of National Investigation Agency (NIA).
• He will replace Director General of CRPF, Kuldeep Singh, who was given an additional charge of the NIA after the retirement of Y C Modi.
• He will hold this post till March 31, 2024.
• NIA  is a counter-terrorist task force of India.
• It is formed under the National Investigation Agency Act 2008 by the Parliament of India on Dec 31, 2008. 

 Summits & Conferences

2. Dr Jitendra Singh attends “2022 UN Ocean Conference” at Lisbon

• Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh will take part in the “2022 UN Ocean Conference” at Lisbon, which starts from June 27.
• The conference is co-hosted by the Governments of Kenya and Portugal.
• He will deliver the Keynote address at the Conference on the theme 'Scaling up Ocean Action based on Science and Innovation for the implementation of Goal 14: Stock taking, Partnerships and Solutions'.

 Banking & Finance

3. World Bank finance Indian Railways to reduce carbon emissions

• The World Bank has approved a $245-million loan for the Indian Railways to reduce the India’s high carbon emissions and low modal freight share in the railways.
• The Indian Railway project will help India to shift more traffic from road to rail.
• This will make transport more efficient and reduce tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions each year.
• This loan is financed through the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development with a maturity of 22 years.

 Banking & Finance

4. Zomato to acquire Blinkit for ₹4,447 crore in all-stock deal

• Zomato (Online food delivery platform) has announced to acquire Blinkit, which was earlier known as Grofers, in an all-stock deal of Rs 4,447 crore.
• Zomato would acquire up to 33,018 equity shares of Blink Commerce Pvt Ltd.
• The total purchase consideration of Rs 4,447.48 crore at a price of Rs 13.45 lakh per equity share.
• Last year, Zomato had bought a 10% stake in Blinkit for about $100 million.
• Founder & CEO Zomato: Deepinder Goyal 

 Important Dates

5. International Day against Drug Abuse: 26 June

• The International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is observed on June 26.
• Aim: To spread awareness about the physical and psychological impact of substance abuse, drug overdose deaths.
• The theme 2022: Addressing drug challenges in health and humanitarian crisis
• The UNGA has decided to observe this day on December 7, 1987.
• In 2022, the UNODC has started the campaign - “#CareInCrises” - for World Drug Day.

 National Affairs

6. NHA to host Hackathon Series under Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM)

• The National Health Authority (NHA) will organise its first ever open-to-all hackathon series in the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission ecosystem.
• Aim: To drive ideation and innovations.
• The series of hackathon will begin on July 14, 2022.
• This also focus on the Unified Health Interface (UHI) and to mobilise the health start-up ecosystem in India.
• UHI is designed as an open network to enable the interoperable transaction of digital health services.

 Sports

7. Indian women’s recurve team bag silver medal in World Cup Stage 3 in Paris

• The Indian women's recurve team of Deepika Kumari, Ankita Bhakat and Simranjeet Kaur has clinched for a silver medal at the World Cup Stage 3 in Paris.
• India has lost to Chinese Taipei by 1-5 in the women's recurve team final.
• India has concluded their campaign with one gold and two silver medals.
• The duo of Abhishek Verma-Jyothi Surekha Vennam win gold in compound mixed team event.
• In Individual event,  Jyothi Surekha Vennam has clinched silver.

 National Affairs

8. Tata Power Solar commissions India's largest floating solar power project

• Tata Power Solar Systems has commissioned India's largest floating solar power project of 101.6 Megawatt Peak (MWp) in Kerala backwaters.
• The project has been installed on a 350-acre water body in Kayamkulam, Kerala.
• The installation was completed within the stipulated period, despite the various challenges of variable like water depths, high sea tides, and severe water salinity concern.
• Tata Power Solar is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tata Power.

 Important Dates

9. United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture: 26 June

• The International Day in Support of Victims of Torture is observed annually on June 26.
• Aim: to promote the abolition of torture, support victims, and promote human rights.
• The United Nations General Assembly has passed a resolution on December 12, 1997. Presently, the Convention has been ratified by 162 countries.
• This day was first observed on June 26, 1998.
• This day is administered by the UN Human Rights Office in Geneva.

 International Affairs

10. UK, US, Japan and Canada to ban Russia gold imports amid Ukraine war

• Th UK, the United States, Japan and Canada will soon ban the new imports of gold from Russian, to tighten the sanctions squeeze on Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine.
• Countries will apply for newly mined or refined gold.
• This move will not affect previously exported Russian gold.
• Last year, the exports of Russian gold were worth 12.6 billion pounds.
• Recently, the London Bullion Market Association has suspended accreditation for 6 Russian precious metals refiners.