Daily GK Update: 3rd February 2023

 Sports

1. Saudi Arabia to host 2027 Asian Football Confederation Asian Cup

• The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has announced that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia won the hosting rights of the 2027 Asian Nations Cup.
• It was announced during the 33rd Congress of the Asian Football Confederation, which was held on 1st February in Bahraini, Manama.
• Saudi Arabia has obtained votes from 43 countries to organize the 2027 Asian Cup out of 45 votes.
• 2023 AFC Asian Cup: Qatar (from June 26 to July 16, 2023)
• Saudi Arabia Capital: Riyadh; Currency: Riyal

 National Affairs

2. India's first hydrogen train will come by Dec 2023 on heritage routes

• Union Railway minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw has informed that India will receive its first hydrogen train by December 2023.
• It will run on heritage circuits like Kalka-Shimla and later it will be expanded to other places.
• The Vande Metro (mini version of Vande Bharat Express) is also being developed
• Vande Metro Aim: To help people living around big cities to travel to and fro in comfort between their place of work and hometowns.
• Railway Budget (2023-24:) Rs 2.4 lakh crore

 National Affairs

3. Cooperation ministry inks MoU to help PACs provide

• The Ministry of Cooperation signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, NABARD, and CSC e-Governance Services India Limited.
• Aim: To enable Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) to provide services offered by Common Service Centers
• Now, PACS will be able to work as Common Service Centres.
• This will help increase PACS's business activities and help them become self-sustaining economic entities.

 Schemes

4. Govt extends PM-KUSUM scheme till March 2026

• The government has extended Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) scheme till March 2026.
• Reason: It could not bear the desired result till now due to the COVID uncertainty.
• PM-KUSUM was launched in 2019.
  • Aim: To add a solar capacity of 30,800 MW by 2022 with a total central financial support of Rs 34,422 crore.
• PM-KUSUM consists of three main components.
• Minister of New and Renewable Energy: R K Singh

 National Affairs

5. India’s unemployment rate declines to four-month low at 7.14% in January

• The unemployment rate of India declined to 7.14% in January 2023 (the lowest in four months) from 8.30% in December 2022.
• This data was released by the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE).
• The urban unemployment rate declined to 8.55% in January from 10.09% (December 2022).
• While the rural unemployment rate slipped to 6.48% from 7.44%.
• Unemployment was the highest in J&K at 21.8% followed by Haryana (21.7%) and Rajasthan (21.1%).

 National Affairs

6. MoHUA signs MOU with Engineers India Limited

• The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs signed an MoU with Engineers India Limited.
• Reason: To develop Waste to Energy and bio-methanation projects in cities with a population of millions plus.
• These two projects will integrate the concept of circularity in waste management by producing green energy from municipal solid waste (dry and wet waste).
• The by-products, such as electricity will also help in achieving the sustainability of waste management operations.

 Obituaries

7. Legendary filmmaker-actor K Viswanath passes away

• Legendary filmmaker, K. Viswanath, fondly known as Kalatapasvi, passed away at 92 in Hyderabad, Telangana.
• He was was born in 1930 in Andhra Pradesh and gained popularity in Telugu, Tamil and Hindi films.
• He has made 50 movies since 1965 and was a celebrated filmmaker.
• He was awarded the highest recognition in Indian Cinema, the Dadasaheb Phalke award in 2016 and Padma Shri in 1992.
• He also received five National Awards and 10 Filmfare trophies.

 State Affairs

8. DCPCR launches WhatsApp chatbot 'Bal Mitra' for children

• The Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR) launched its WhatsApp chatbot named 'Bal Mitra’.
• It is an initiative to enable two-way communication between people and the child rights panel.
• It will help citizens and the commission to interact more effectively.
• Features of the chatbot: Complaint registration, searching information and tracking complaint status, and seeking information on admissions
• DCPCR chairperson: Anurag Kundu

 Defense

9. Indian military concluded joint training exercise Trishakti Prahar

• The Indian military has concluded the joint training exercise Trishakti Prahar, which was started in North Bengal on January 21, 2023.
• Aim: To practice battle preparedness of the security forces, using the latest weapons and equipment in a networked, integrated environment.
• This exercise was participated by the Army, the Indian Air Force, and CAPFs.
• The exercise concluded with an Integrated Fire Power Exercise at the Teesta Field Firing Ranges.

 State Affairs

10. Goa launched Vision for All School Eye Health program

• The government of Goa has launched the 'Vision for All School Eye Health' program in partnership with OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation and Prasad Netralaya.
• The programme extends the current Vision for All Goa eye health program.
• It commenced in February 2021.
• Aim: To train 2000 teachers on basic visual acuity tests for the children in their respective schools, followed by detailed refraction by qualified professionals from Prasad Netralaya.

 Honours & Awards

11. Odisha’s VK Pandian honored with FIH President’s Award 2023

• Secretary to the CM of Odisha, VK Pandian was honoured with the FIH President’s Award 2023 for his outstanding contribution to hockey.
• He was awarded by FIH President Tayyab Ikram at the Bhubaneswar-Rourkela final of the Odisha Hockey Men's World Cup 2023.
• FIH President’s Award: It is a recognition to individuals National Associations or other organizations for valuable services to hockey
• Hockey India President: Dilip Tirkey

 National & International Appointments

12. Madhvendra Singh appointed as first CEO of Gujarat Maritime Cluster

• Gujarat Ports Infrastructure Company Limited has appointed Madhvendra Singh as the first Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Gujarat Maritime Cluster (GMC).
• GMC is the first of its kind Commercial Maritime Cluster in the country aimed at creating a hub for maritime services of international standards.
• Gujarat Maritime Board established GMC through its subsidiary, Gujarat Ports Infrastructure Company Limited.

 Sports

13. Raphael Varane announces retirement from international football

• Footballer, Raphael Varane has announced his retirement from international duty with France to focus on his career with Manchester United.
• He was a key starter for Les Bleus as they won the World Cup in 2018 and helped Didier Deschamps guide his team to the 2022 showpiece in Qatar.
• He began his international career almost ten years ago, on March 22, 2013.
• He became only the fourth player in history to win both the World Cup and the Champions League in the same year.