Daily GK Update: 2nd February 2023

 National & International Appointments

1. Manuela Roka Botey appointed as the first female PM of Equatorial Guinea

• President of Equatorial Guinea, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo has appointed Manuela Roka Botey as the first female prime minister of the country.
• She replaced former premier Francisco Pascual Obama Asue, who has been in the position since 2016.
• Before this, she served as the education minister and joined the government in 2020.
• President Teodoro Obiang was re-elected for a sixth term in office in November 2022.
• Equatorial Guinea Capital: Malabo

 International Affairs

2. Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina inaugurates ‘Ekushey Boi Mela’

• Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina has inaugurated the biggest book fair of Bangladesh 'Ekushey Boi Mela’ in Dhaka.
• Theme 2023: Poro Boi, Goro Desh: Bangbandhur Bangladesh" (Read books, build the country, a country of Bangabandhu’s dream)
• The month-long book fair is being organized on the grounds of the historic Suhrawardy Udyan and the Bangla Academy.
• She has also distributed the Bangla Academy Award 2022 in recognition of literary works in Bangla.
• Bangladesh Currency: Taka

 Agreement

3. Nagaland, Patanjali Foods Ltd. sign MoU on palm oil cultivation

• Nagaland signed an MoU with Patanjali Foods Ltd for the development and area expansion of palm oil cultivation and processing for Zone-II of Nagaland under the National Mission on Edible Oils-Oil Palm (NMEO-OP).
• Zone II includes the Mokokchung, Longleng, and Mon districts of Nagaland.
• Aim: To give a boost to the oil palm growers in the state of Nagaland and the region.
• Patanjali is already working in Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, and Tripura.

 Banking & Finance

4. Australia removes British Monarchy from its banknotes

• The Reserve Bank of Australia has announced that it will remove the portrait of the British monarchy, Queen Elizabeth II from its A$5 banknotes.
• The new currency notes of the $5 would feature an Indigenous design rather than an image of King Charles III.
• The other side of the note will continue to feature the Australian Parliament.
• King Charles III, who became British monarch, is the head of state in Australia, NZ, and 12 other Commonwealth realms outside the UK.

 Important Dates

5. World Wetlands Day 2023: 2nd February

• World Wetlands Day is observed every year on February 2 to raise global awareness about the crucial role of wetlands for people and the planet.
• Theme 2023: It's Time for Wetlands Restoration
• This theme highlighted the urgent need to prioritize wetland restoration.
• The UN General Assembly adopted resolution 75/317 for World Wetlands Day on 30 August 2021.
• This day marked the adoption of the convention on wetlands on February 2, 1971, in Ramsar, Iran.

 Banking & Finance

6. FM Nirmala Sitharaman presented Budget 2023-24

• Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman presented Union Budget for 2023-24 in Parliament on 1st Feb 2023.
• Seven priorities: Inclusive development, Reaching the last mile, Infrastructure and investment, Unleashing the potential, Green growth, Youth power, and financial sector
• Funds allocated (in lakh crore rupees):
  • Defence Ministry: 5.94
  • Road and highways Ministry: 2.7
  • Railways: 2.41
  • Home Affairs: 1.96
  • Agriculture and Farmer Welfare: 1.25
  • Communications: 1.23

 State Affairs

7. Yaya Tso to become Ladakh’s first biodiversity heritage site

• Yaya Tso lake has been proposed as Ladakh's first biodiversity heritage site (BHS) under the Biological Diversity Act.
• The resolution was signed by the village stakeholders and the SECURE Himalaya project.
• About Yaya Tso Lake:
  • It is known as a bird's paradise.
  • Location: at an altitude of 4,820m in Ladakh.
  • It is also one of India's highest breeding sites of the black-necked crane.
• The Secure Himalaya project is funded by the Global Environment Facility.

 Banking & Finance

8. RBI’s Digital Payments Index jumps to 377.46 in September 2022

• According to the Reserve Bank of India – Digital Payments Index (RBI-DPI), released by RBI, the digitization of payments across the country has increased to 377.46 in September 2022 from 349.30 in March 2022.
• RBI introduced the composite Digital Payments Index (RBI-DPI) on January 1, 2021.
• Base year: March 2018
• As per the Economic Survey 2022-23, India has the highest fintech adoption rate of 87% among the public compared to the global average of 64%.

 Agreement

9. Austrade, CII sign MoU on vocational education, training programmes

• The Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) has signed an MoU with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) to collaborate on Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes.
• It will focus on Australian training standards.
• Focus area: Automotive, allied health, mining, IT, cyber security, renewable energy, logistics, supply chain, and water management
• Austrade’s Australia-India Future Skills Initiative team in India will execute with CII.

 International Affairs

10. India to be the theme country at 2025 Madrid International Book Fair

• The Ambassador of Spain to India, Jose Maria Ridao has announced that India will be invited as the focal country at the Madrid International Book Fair in 2025.
• Spain is the theme country at the 46th International Kolkata Book Fair, organized in Kolkata from 31st Jan 2023 to 12th Feb 2023.
• Aim: To have a direct relationship with Indian authors
• They will expand the horizon to Indian publishers, cinema, and music.

 National & International Appointments

11. Air Marshal AP Singh appointed as New Vice Chief Of Indian Air Force

• Air Marshal A P Singh has been appointed as the new Vice Chief of the Indian Air Force.
• He has succeeded Air Marshal Sandeep Singh, who retired from service on 1st February 2023.
• He served as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Central Air Command.
• He was commissioned into the fighter stream of the IAF on December 21, 1984.
• He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Defence Services Staff College and National Defence College.

 Science & Technology

12. DRDO develops unfurlable antenna for space radar

• Electronics and Radar Development Establishment (LRDE) has developed a major subsystem for a space radar, which holds significant potential for ISRO and the military.
• LRDE is a Bengaluru lab of the Defence Research and Development Organisation.
• LRDE has been involved in the development of space-borne imaging radar for installation on satellites and has completed the development of an UnFurlable Reflector Antenna (UFRA).
• UFRA is one of the major subsystems of a radar.

 Banking & Finance

13. Mobicule launches Asset Repossession Module for Banks and NBFCs

• Mobicule has launched the industry's first Asset Repossession Solution for banks and NBFCs named 'mCollect Repossession module'.
• Asset Repossession Solution: It is a comprehension solution that maps all the complex processes in the repossession of an asset, as a part of its debt collection and recovery product.
• The repossession module will encompass and cater to filling gaps in the end-to-end process, such as identification, digitization, and automation of the repo kit