Daily GK Update: 2nd September 2023

Science & Technology

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully launched India's first solar observatory mission named Aditya L1 from Sathish Dhawan Space Centre Sriharikota.
It was launched from the PSLV C57 rocket.
In Aditya L1, L1 refers to Lagrange Point 1.
Aim: To study the Solar upper atmospheric (chromosphere and corona) dynamics
As per the reports, it will take 125 days (approx 4 months) to reach designated point L1 to study the Sun's mysteries.

Honours & Awards

The Assam-based surgical oncologist Dr. R Ravi Kannan has won the Ramon Magsaysay Award 2023 for his revolutionizing cancer treatment in Assam.
He worked at the Cancer Institute in Chennai before he moved to Silchar in 2007 to join the Cachar Cancer Hospital.
The Magsaysay Award was established in 1957 to reward individuals for integrity in governance, courageous service to the people, and pragmatic idealism in democratic societies.

National & International Appointments

Indian-origin Economist and Former Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam has won the presidential election of Singapore.
He won over 70% of votes in the country's first contested presidential polls since 2011.
He had served as Singapore's Deputy prime minister from 2011 to 2019.
He has also worked in the public sector and held ministerial positions.
He will be Singapore's third Indian-origin President after Sellapan Ramanathan and Chengara Veetil Devan Nair.

National Affairs

The Government of India has constituted an eight-member high-level committee to examine One Nation, One Election.
Former President Ram Nath Kovind has been appointed as Chairman of the committee.
Other members: HM Amit Shah, Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Former Rajya Sabha member Ghulam Nabi Azad, Former Chairman 15th Finance Commission N.K. Singh and others
Law and Justice Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal will attend the meetings of the committee as special invitee.

Sports

India's Javelin thrower, Neeraj Chopra finished second with a final round throw of 85.71 m in the men's javelin event of the Diamond League Meeting at Zurich.
He finished behind Jakub Vadlejch of the Czech Republic, who had won a bronze in the World Championships.
He is also the reigning Olympic champion, producing three legal throws of 80.79m, 85.22m, and 85.71m.
He has been qualified for the Diamond League finals to be held on the 17th of September in Eugene, USA.

International Affairs

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit to Jakarta, Indonesia on 06-07 September 2023 at the invitation of H.E. Joko Widodo (President of the Republic of Indonesia).
During his visit, PM Modi will attend the 20th ASEAN-India Summit and 18th East Asia Summit being hosted by Indonesia as current Chair of ASEAN.
The forthcoming ASEAN-India Summit will be the first Summit since the elevation of India-ASEAN relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2022.

Honours & Awards

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das has been ranked as the top central banker globally by US-based Global Finance magazine.
He has been rated 'A+' in the Global Finance Central Banker Report Cards 2023.
He has been placed at the top of the list of three central bank governors who have been rated A+.
Grades are based on a scale from A to F for success in inflation control, economic growth goals, currency stability, and interest rate management.

International Affairs

In an official proclamation, Governor of Georgia, Brian Kemp has declared October as 'Hindu Heritage' month.
Aim: To celebrate Hindu heritage by emphasizing its rich culture and the diverse spiritual traditions that originate from India
Hindu Heritage Month (HHM) serves as a worldwide endeavor with the objective of spotlighting Hinduism as a longstanding tradition.
Hinduism is the third-largest religion in the world.

National & International Appointments

Renowned actor R Madhavan has been nominated as the new President of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune.
Additionally, he will serve as the Chairman of the governing council of FTII.
Madhavan’s nomination follows the recent success of his film, ‘Rocketry: The Nambi Effect,’ which earned national recognition.
The film secured the prestigious Best Feature Film award during the 69th National Film Awards.

National Affairs

Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has inaugurated Utkela Airport in Odisha.
It has been developed as a regional airport under the UDAN scheme of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India at a cost of Rs 31.07 crore.
It has a runway of length 917 metre (2,995 ft) with a width of 30 metre.
With the addition of Utkela Airport, Odisha will now have five airports.
IndiaOne, will be running the flights on this route from 31 August onwards.