Daily GK Update: 5th December 2022

Sports

Team of Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh won the 10m air pistol mixed team title at the 65th National Shooting Championship Competitions (NSCC), held at the MP Shooting Academy range, Bhopal.
Duo of Manu and Sarabjot defeated Karnataka pair, Divya T.S. and Imroz by 16-4 in the gold medal encounter.
While, in the junior mixed team pistol, Uttar Pradesh’s Anjali and Sagar defeated Uttarakhand’s Yashsavi and Abhinav to win the final.

National & International Appointments

Prof Rajeeva Laxman Karandikar (Prof emeritus at Chennai Mathematical Institute (CMI)) has been appointed as part-time chairperson of National Statistical Commission of India (NSCI) for three years.
He has joined CMI as a visiting professor in 2010.
He served as director CMI from Jan 2011 to April 2021.
It is an autonomous body, was formed in June 2005 after the recommendation by Dr C Rangarajan Commission.
The chairperson of the Commission enjoys the status of a MoS.

National Affairs

The govt of India has organised the 'Millets-Smart Nutritive Food' Conclave in New Delhi on December 5, 2022.
This conclave is a pre-launch event of the International Year of Millets - 2023.
This event was organised by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry through the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA).
The government has also released e-catalogue on 30 potential importing countries and 21 millet producing states of India.

Important Dates

World Soil Day is observed annually on December 5 to highlight the value of healthy soil and to promote the sustainable management of soil resources.
2022 theme: Soils: Where food begins
In 2002, the International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS) has proposed to celebrate Soil Day.
In June 2013, the FAO Conference endorsed the day and requested UN to adopt the day.
This day was officially adopted by UNGA and December 5, 2014 celebrated as the first World Soil Day.

Obituaries

Dominique Lapierre (French writer), the author of best-selling books on India like "Freedom at Midnight" and "City of Joy", has been passed away at the age of 91.
His notable work: Is Paris Burning?, O Jerusalem!, Five Past Midnight in Bhopal, Freedom at Midnight
In 2008, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan (India's third highest civilian award).
He had donated the bulk of his royalties from "City of Joy" to support humanitarian projects in India.

National Affairs

Ladakh is all set to have India's first Dark Night Sky Reserve at Hanle in Changthang region.
In about eighteen locations in Hanley, powerful telescopes will be installed for stargazing.
Hanle is home for the 2nd highest optical telescope in the world, was established in 2001 by Indian Institute of Astrophysics.
After an MoU between UT Administration, Leh Hill council and Indian Institute of Astrophysics, necessary approvals were received from Department of S&T.

International Affairs

Paris Club creditor nations (group of 22 countries) has proposed 10-year moratorium on Sri Lankan debt and another 15 years of debt restructuring as a formula to resolve the Sri Lankan debt crisis.
The Paris club aims to find sustainable solutions for challenges faced by debtor countries
Earlier this year, Sri Lanka had defaulted on its 51 billion dollar external debt in the midst of spiralling political and economic crisis
India has provided emergency aid to Sri Lanka

Banking & Finance

SEBI has cleared Bandhan-led consortium's proposed acquisition of IDFC AMC.
Earlier, a consortium of Bandhan Financial Holdings, GIC, and ChrysCapital have signed an agreement to buy IDFC AMC and IDFC AMC Trustee Company from parent IDFC (Deal: Rs 4,500 crore).
After the transaction, BFHL will own about 60% and GIC and ChrysCapital will hold 20% each in IDFC AMC.
Consequently, each scheme of IDFC MF will be renamed to replace the word ‘IDFC’ with the word ‘Bandhan’.

Banking & Finance

IIFL Mutual Fund has launched the new fund offering of IIFL ELSS (Equity-Linked Savings Scheme) Nifty 50 Tax Saver Index Fund (IN50).
A passive scheme allows investors to simply think of their investment as a split between FDs, PPFs, insurance, and ‘equity’ – without having to worry about deep analysis.
Being an index fund, the scheme will try to mirror the Nifty 50 and generate returns in line with the movement in the index.

Obituaries

Well-known Yakshagana and Talamaddale artist and former MLA, Kumble Sundar Rao has been passed away at the age of 88.
He was an exponent of Thenkuthittu style of Yakshagana.
He had performed as a member of Surathkal, Dharmasthala and Ira Yakshagana Melas.
He served as an MLA of Surathkal (present Mangalore City North) constituency from 1994 to 1999.
Sundar Rao had served as president of Karnataka State Yakshagana Academy.