Daily GK Update: 5th January 2023

 Honours & Awards

1. Dr. Tapan Saikia to receive Assam highest civilian award ‘Assam Baibhav’

• Assam CM, Himanta Biswa Sarma has selected 21 personalities for the Assam State Civilian Awards 2022.
• The State’s highest civilian award, ‘Assam Baibhav’ to Dr. Tapan Saikia for his contributions in the field of cancer care.
• Assam Saurav (Assam second highest civilian award) will be conferred to Krishna Roy; Gilbertson Sangma; Nayanmoni Saikia; Dr. Binoi Kumar Saikia and Dr. Shashidhar Phukan.
• Asom Gaurav (third highest civilian award) will be conferred to 15 people.

 Summits & Conferences

2. Jal Ministry organises first All India Annual State Ministers Conference

• The Jal Shakti Ministry has organised the first All India Annual State Ministers Conference on Water in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh on January 5, 2023.
• Theme: Water Vision @ 2047
• Aim: To bring together key policymakers to discuss ways to harness water resources for sustainable development and human progress.
• The Conference has also deliberated on ‘5P’ mantra (Political will, Public financing, Partnerships, Public Participation and Persuasion for sustainability)

 Schemes

3. Government approved BIND Scheme

• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved Central Sector Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development (BIND) Scheme with an outlay of 2,539.61 crore rupees up to 2025-26.
• Aim: For the infrastructure development of Prasar Bharati i.e. All India Radio (AIR) and Doordarshan (DD).
• At present, Doordarshan operates 36 TV channels including 28 regional channels and All India Radio (AIR) operates more than 500 broadcasting centres.

 State Affairs

4. MP govt launched Chief Minister's Residential Land Rights Scheme

• MP CM, Shivraj Singh Chouhan has launched the Chief Minister's Residential Land Rights scheme (Mukhyamantri Awasiya Bhu Adhikar Yojana) at the Bagaj Mata temple complex in Tikamgarh district.
• Under the scheme, plots worth about 129 crore rupees were distributed to 10 thousand 918 families of Tikamgarh district.
• Aim: To provide free plots to the poor living in rural areas for building their houses.
• The benefits of all other schemes will also be provided.

 National Affairs

5. Govt approved investment for 382 MW Sunni Dam Hydro Electric Project

• The Government has approved the investment for the 382 MW Sunni Dam Hydro Electric Project in Himachal Pradesh with an estimated cost of over 2,614 crore rupees (Rs 2,246.40 crore (Hard cost amounting), Rs 358.96 crore (Interest During Construction) and 9.15 crore (Financing Charges).
• The project will be built on the Sutlej river.
• It will be constructed by Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam limited in over 5 years.
• The project will generate employment for about 4,000 persons.

 Obituaries

6. NASA's Apollo 7 astronaut, Walter Cunningham passes away

• The last surviving astronaut from the first successful crewed space mission in NASA's Apollo programme, Walter Cunningham has been passed away at the age of 90.
• He was one of the three astronauts of Apollo 7 mission, that was launched in 1968 and lasted for 11 days.
• Before joining NASA, he was enlisted in the US Navy and began training as a pilot in 1952.
• He was served as a fighter pilot with the US Marine Corps on 54 missions in Korea.

 National Affairs

7. Union Government approves National Green Hydrogen Mission

• The government has approved the National Green Hydrogen Mission with an initial outlay of 19,744 crore rupees.
• Aim: To make India a Global Hub for production, utilisation and export of Green Hydrogen.
• Of the Rs 19,744 crore outlay, 17,490 crore for Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition Programme (SIGHT) programme.
• The ministry of new and renewable energy (MNRE) will also formulate the scheme guidelines for implementation of the respective components.

 Banking & Finance

8. Complaints received under ombudsman schemes rises 9.39% in 2021-22: RBI

• According to the annual report of Ombudsman Schemes, 2021-22, released by the RBI, the complaints received under ombudsman schemes has been increased by 9.39% in 2021-22.
• The volume of complaints received under the RB-IOS and consumer education and protection cells stood at 4,18,184 in 2021-22.
• About 42% complaints were related to the digital modes of payment and transactions.
• Reserve Bank – Integrated Ombudsman Scheme (RB-IOS) was launched on November 12, 2021.

 Banking & Finance

9. RBI lifts restrictions on Mahindra & Mahindra Financial Services

• RBI has lifted restrictions on Mahindra & Mahindra Financial Services Limited on loan recovery via third-party services.
• On September 22, 2022, RBI had directed Mahindra & Mahindra Financial Services to immediately cease carrying out any recovery or repossession activity through outsourcing arrangements, till further orders.
• Mahindra Finance could continue recovery or repossession activities through its own employees.

 Banking & Finance

10. ICICI Bank launches digital solutions for exporters

• ICICI Bank has launched 'digital solutions for exporters', a comprehensive set of banking and value-added services on a single platform.
• Aim: To simplify the journey of exporters by decongesting the current time-intensive manual procedures
• It will digitise the entire export life-cycle from discovery of export markets, foreign exchange services to receipt of export incentives.
• Key services: Insta EPC, Trade accounts, Paperless exports solutions, and many more

 Banking & Finance

11. Aegon Life Insurance launches iTerm Prime Insurance plan

• Aegon Life Insurance has launched iTerm Prime Insurance plan catering to the need of self-employed individuals with a special 10% discount on first-year premium.
• It offers a minimum sum assured of ₹25 lakhs, with no upper limit on a consumer’s requirement.
• It also offers a ‘Special Exit Value’ option that allows the policyholder to get all premiums back when they turn 55 years old.
• It is designed to encourage emerging India to gain access to life insurance.

 Banking & Finance

12. SBI Mutual Funds received RBI approval to buy 9.99% in Equitas SFB

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved the proposal of SBI Funds Management to acquire up to 9.99% of the paid-up equity capital of Equitas Small Finance Bank through the schemes of SBI Mutual Fund (SBI MF).
• The banking regulator's approval is subject to compliance with the relevant regulations issued by RBI and SEBI and is valid for one year till 2 January 2024.
• Equitas SFB HQ: Chennai; Part-time Chairman: Arun Ramanathan; MD & CEO: Vasudevan P N

 Science & Technology

13. Digantara launched second satellite to monitor space weather

• Digantara (Space start-up) has launched its second satellite Pushan-Alpha as rideshare onboard SpaceX’s Transporter-6 mission from Cape Canaveral in Florida, US.
• The satellite will serve as a space weather testbed in the sun synchronous orbit.
• It will also enhance precision driven situational space awareness applications.
• Its observations will help complement Digantara’s ROBI (ROBust Integrating proton fluence meter) mission.
• Digantara Aerospace CEO: Anirudh Sharma