Daily GK Update: 4th October 2023

 Sports

1. Annu Rani bagged gold in women’s javelin throw in the Asian Games 2023

• India's Annu Rani clinched her second Asian Games medal, and her first gold, in women's javelin throws in Hangzhou in the Asian Games 2023.
• Sri Lanka's Dilhani Lekamge won silver while Lyu Huihui of China won bronze.
• Other winners:
• Parul Chaudhary earlier won the women's 5000m event, adding to the silver she won at the women's 3000m steeplechase final 
• Tajinderpal Singh Toor bagged golds in shotputter and men's 3000m steeplechase winner Avinash Sable.

 Honours & Awards

2. Nobel Prize 2023 in Physics awarded to Agostini, Krausz, L’Huillier

•  Nobel Prize 2023 in Physics has been awarded to Pierre Agostini, Ferenc Krausz, and Anne L’Huillier for experimental methods that generate attosecond pulses of light for the study of electron dynamics in matter.
• The experiments gave humanity new tools to explore the world of electrons inside atoms and molecules. 
• They developed a new way to create extremely short pulses of light that can be used to measure the rapid processes by which electrons move or change energy.

 Important Dates

3. World Animal Welfare Day is observed on 4th October

• World Animal Day is an annual event that is celebrated around the world on October 4 for animal rights and welfare, bringing together the global animal protection movement. 
• The theme of World Animal Day 2023 is Big or small, we love them all.
• It brings together and mobilizes the animal protection movement into a global force to make the world a better place for all animals. 
• This day reminds us of our duty to protect and care for the many species that share our planet.

 National & International Organizations

4. 50th India International Knit fair to be held from October 12 to 14

• The 50th India International Knit fair will be held from 12th to 14th October at the India Knit Fair Association complex (IKFA) in Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu. 
• The main theme of the fair is Active and Sportswear, Environmental Social Governance, Artificial Intelligence and digitalisation. 
• The IKFA has tied up with Sourcing Consultants Association, Association of Buying Agents for Textiles, Brand Sourcing Leaders, and the NIFT Alumni.

 National Affairs

5. India to unveil largest statue of B R Ambedkar outside in North America

• Ambedkar Center India is all set to unveil the largest statue of B R Ambedkar outside Maryland in North America on 14th  October.
• According to the the Ambedkar International Center (AIC) the 19-foot statue, named Statue of Equality has been made by renowned artist and sculptor Ram Sutar.
• He also constructed the Sardar Patel statue in Ahmedabad.
• The statue of Ambedkar, the key architect of India's Constitution built on 13 acres of land in Accokeek City Maryland.

 Defense

6. Indian, Bangladesh armies commence joint military exercise SAMPRITI

• India and Bangladesh commenced the 11th edition of an annual joint military exercise, SAMPRITI on 03rd October 2023 in Umroi, Meghalaya. 
• Aim: To enhance interoperability between the two armies, sharing tactical drills, and promoting best practices.
• SAMPRITI-XI, scheduled for 14 days, will engage approximately 350 personnel from both sides. 
• SAMPRITI-XI will include a Command Post Exercise (CPX) and a Field Training Exercise (FTX), culminating in a Validation Exercise.

 Banking & Finance

7. HDFC Pension launches first-of-its-kind NPS preference Index

• HDFC Pension has launched a first-of-its-kind NPS Preference Index that highlights the preference of NPS amongst different consumer groups.
• Aim: To provide financial security to Indian citizens during their retirement years. 
• “National Pension System (NPS) is instrumental to facilitate an income post retirement, making it pivotal for long-term financial security. 
• NPS can be subscribed to by any Indian citizen, aged between 18-70 years, on a voluntarily basis.

 Banking & Finance

8. WDRA signs pact with Bank of India to fund against e-NWRs

• Warehousing Development Regulatory Authority (WDRA) signed MoU with the Bank of India (BoI) to facilitate farmers and traders in providing low-interest rate loans.
• Objective: To promote awareness against e-NWRs (electronic Negotiable Warehouse Receipt).
• Aim: To provide information to depositors of the benefits, besides doing further outreach activities to improve agricultural pledge finance in India.

 Banking & Finance

9. SBI Life Insurance inks bancassurance pact with State Bank of Sikkim

• SBI Life Insurance Company has signed a bancassurance pact with the State Bank of Sikkim (SBS) at the bank's headquarters in Gangtok, Sikkim. 
• Aim: To make insurance solutions accessible to the residents of Sikkim, through its trusted bancassurance partner.
• The partnership will see extensive distribution network of the SBS spread across the state offer SBI Life's diverse range of protection, wealth creation and savings insurance products to its customers.

 State Affairs

10. Assam to conduct socio-economic survey of indigenous Muslim communities

• The Assam government will conduct a socio-economic survey of the state's five indigenous Muslim communities so that measures can be taken for their upliftment.
• Aim: To comprehensive socio-political and educational upliftment of the indigenous minorities
• The development comes a day after the Nitish Kumar government in Bihar released findings of its much-awaited caste survey, which revealed that OBCs and EBCs constitute 63 percent of the state's total population.

 State Affairs

11. Central railway station awarded platinum shield by IGBC

• The Dr. MGR Chennai Central railway station has been awarded the platinum certificate by the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) for developing the railway station into a net zero energy building.
• Southern Railway General Manager R.N. Singh received the IGBC platinum shield from Ajith Kumar Chordia, Chairman of IGBC
• The railway official said the Central station was the first station in the zone to install rooftop solar plant of 1.80 mega watt (MW).

 National & International Organizations

12. Bhiwandi, Kolkata, Arrah among world’s 10 cities with slowest traffic

• Bhiwandi in Maharashtra, Kolkata, and Bihar’s Arrah are among the 10 slowest cities in the world on the speed index according to the findings by a US-based private non-profit research organization.
• The study, conducted by the National Bureau of Economic Research covered over 1,200 cities in 152 countries
• The average travel speed of motor vehicles throughout the day is the highest in Flint, US, slowest in Bangladesh, Dhaka, and is the most congested in Bogota, Colombia

 Honours & Awards

13. Jammu and Kashmir's famed Pashmina gets geographical recognition with GI ta

• Basohli Pashmina, a more than 100-year-old traditional craft from Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district, has got the Geographical Indication tag.
• It is a hand-spun product known for extreme softness, fineness and light-weight, has insulating properties and extended life.
• Pashmina products include shawls for both men and women, mufflers, blankets and baskets.
• Earlier, the famed Basohli painting and Chikri wood from Rajouri district of Jammu division received the GI tag.