Daily GK Update: 3rd April 2023

National & International Appointments

Adani Group has appointed the former envoy of Israel to India, Ron Malka as the Executive Chairman of the Haifa Port Company.
He served as the ambassador of Israel to India from 2018-2021.
It is the second-largest port in Israel in terms of shipping containers.
The Adani Group officially took over this port in January 2023.
Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone and Israel's Gadot Group won the tender in July 2022 to privatize the Port of Haifa for USD 1.18 billion.

National & International Appointments

Vice Admiral, Sanjay Jasjit Singh assumed the charge of the vice chief of naval staff on April 2, 2023.
He succeeded Vice Admiral SN Ghormade who retired after over 39 years of service.
He is a graduate of the National Defence Academy, Pune, and was commissioned in 1986 in the executive branch of the Indian Navy.
In his career, he has served on most classes of ships of the Indian Navy and has held a range of command, training, and staff appointments.

National & International Appointments

The Reserve Bank of India has appointed Neeraj Nigam as executive director (ED) who will look after four departments, including consumer education and protection.
Before being promoted to ED, he was heading the Bhopal regional office of the RBI as director.
During his long career, he served in Regulation and Supervision, human resource management, premises, currency management, bank accounts, and other areas in the Reserve Bank.

Obituaries

Former Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court Thottathil B Radhakrishnan passed away in Kochi at the age of 63.
He also served as the Chief Justice of Telangana and Chattisgarh HC and was a judge of the Kerala HC.
He was an expert in civil, constitutional, and administrative matters.
He also chaired the expert committee formed by the Kerala Forest Department to record details of houses and commercial establishments that surround wildlife sanctuaries.

International Affairs

OPEC members including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Iraq, Kuwait, and Algeria have announced voluntary oil production cuts exceeding one million barrels per day from May 2023 until the end of the year.
Reason: It is a precautionary measure aimed at supporting the stability of the oil market.
OPEC slashed its collective output by two million barrels per day last year.
OPEC is a group of 23 oil-producing countries.

Banking & Finance

According to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data, India's foreign exchange reserves increased by $5.98 billion to $578.78 billion on March 24, 2023.
Data for the previous week showed that India's foreign exchange reserves rose to $572.8 billion, the highest level since early February 2023.
India's foreign currency assets (FCA) also increased from $4.38 billion to $509.72 billion.
India's gold reserves rose by $1.37 billion to $45.48 billion.

Obituaries

Former India all-rounder Salim Durani passed away at the age of 88 in Jamnagar, Gujarat.
He played 29 Tests for India from 1960 to 1973, scoring 1,202 runs at an average of 25.04, with one century (104 against West Indies in 1962) and seven fifties.
He was a left-arm spinner and claimed 75 wickets at 35.42 apiece.
In first-class cricket, he played for Saurashtra, Gujarat, and Rajasthan.
He was born in Kabul (Afghanistan) in 1934 and was raised in Jamnagar.

Honours & Awards

Anjali Sharma of Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh has conquered Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa, wearing Luanchari.
She is working to promote Gaddi culture on the peaks of the mountains.
Lunachari is a traditional dress of Himachal Pradesh.
Mount Kilimanjaro (5,895 meters) is the tallest mountain in Africa and the world’s largest free-standing mountain.
It has three main volcanic peaks namely Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira.

International Affairs

France has invited PM Narendra Modi to visit Paris as a guest at the annual Bastille Day parade, which will be held in July 2023.
The PM and French President Emmanuel Macron are expected to discuss several major agreements including those on the Indo-Pacific region, nuclear power, and defense, as the two countries mark the 25th year of their strategic partnership.
Earlier, Manmohan Singh was invited as the b Day parade guest in 2009.

State Affairs

The Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik has released Rs 877 crore to 43 lakh farmers through direct benefit transfer (DBT) mode on the occasion of Utkal Divas (April 1).
The state government has extended another round of funds to Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation (KALIA) for undertaking the Kharif operation.
About KALIA scheme:
- It was launched in December 2018.
- Aim: To reduce poverty and accelerate agricultural prosperity