Daily GK Update: 4th November 2023

National Affairs

Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister of Communications and H.E. Houlin Zhao, Secretary General of International Telecommunication Union (ITU) signed the Host Country Agreement for the establishment of an Area Office & Innovation Centre of ITU in Delhi.
ITU is the United Nations specialized agency for information and communication technologies – ICTs.
ITU currently has a membership of 193 countries and over 900 private-sector entities and academic institutions.

Defense

The 33rd edition of annual International Maritime Boundary Line meeting between the representatives of Navies and Coast Guards of India and Sri Lanka was held at the Indo - Sri Lanka Maritime Boundary Line off Point Calimere at Palk Bay.
Aim: To discuss maritime security in the Palk Bay and Gulf of Mannar region, safety of fishermen, measures to curtail trafficking of contraband, among other issues.

International Affairs

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman visited Sri Lanka to opened a branch of the State Bank of India and appreciated its role in supporting corporates in international trade.
She is in the country on a three-day visit, started her day by visiting the main Hindu Temple in the multi-ethnic city to pay homage to it before opening a branch of the State Bank of India in Trincomalee.
After inaugurating the branch, She appreciated that SBI is the oldest bank in Sri Lanka

National & International Appointments

Bank of Baroda appoints Kadgatoor Sheetal Venkatesmurt as the Head of Digital Channels.
The move reflects the bank’s commitment to strengthening its digital initiatives.
Aspiring candidates for banking exams need to stay updated on industry-specific developments.
It highlights the impact of technology and digitalization on the banking sector.
The ‘Digital India’ initiative has been a catalyst for the digital transformation in the banking industry.

National Affairs

Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), launched its groundbreaking National Efficient Cooking Programme (NECP) and Energy Efficient Fans Programme (EEFP) in New Delhi.
Aim: To revolutionize cooking practices in India and emphasize on the importance and urgency of energy efficient fans.
As part of these programmes, EESL will distribute 1 crore efficient BLDC fans and 20 Lakh energy-efficient induction cook stoves nationwide.

International Affairs

Thailand is scrapping visas for scores of Indian tourists in order to rekindle the fire in its tourism sector.
Taiwan has also been included in the plan in a bid to draw in more tourists as the high season approaches.
Thailand in September scrapped visa requirements for Chinese tourists.
India has been Thailand’s fourth largest source market for tourism so far this year with about 1.2 million arrivals after Malaysia, China and South Korea.

National Affairs

Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh inaugurated the three-day ‘India Manufacturing Show’ in Bengaluru, Karnataka
The central theme of the event is ‘Make in India, Make for the World’.
The Raksha Mantri described the small-scale industries as the backbone of India’s economy that contribute immensely to the development of the nation. “Small industries are the motor of the Indian economy. The faster the motor runs, the quicker the vehicle of the economy moves.

International Affairs

A Chinese communist party delegation has visited the Solomon Islands, calling the “flourishing” cooperation between China and the Pacific nation a show of how diplomatic ties were in their peoples’ interest
The delegation led by the deputy head of the international department under China’s Communist Party central committee, Guo Yezhou, met Solomon Islands.
The delegation also met the foreign minister and energy minister.

National & International Appointments

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi chaired a meeting of the Shree Somnath Trust in Gandhinagar, Gujarat and discussed various aspects relating to the working of the Trust.
He has also reviewed how the latest technology can leverage Temple complex so that the pilgrimage experience will be even more memorable.

Schemes

NITI Aayog organized a workshop on India-AU Collaboration for a Better Inclusive World in partnership with the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) at the Taj Palace, New Delhi.
The participants had in-depth discussions on three key themes:
Indo-AU collaboration for an inclusive world
Indo-AU collaboration for sustainable and resilient infrastructure
Managing Migration: The role of Indo-AU Partnership