Daily GK Update: 6th June 2023

 Honours & Awards

1. President Droupadi Murmu conferred the highest civilian award of Suriname

• Suriname President, Chandrikapersad Santokhi has conferred Suriname's highest civilian honor, The Grand Order of the Chain of Yellow Star, to President of India Droupadi Murmu.
• She is the first Indian to receive this award.
• During her visit to Suriname, both countries signed MoUs in the fields of health, agriculture, and capacity building.
• These MoUs include a Joint Work Plan for Cooperation in the Field of Agriculture and Allied Sectors for the period of 2023-2027.

 Banking & Finance

2. RBI Governor launches Financial Inclusion Dashboard 'ANTARDRIHSTI'

• RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das launched a Financial Inclusion Dashboard 'ANTARDRIHSTI' to provide the required insight to assess and monitor the progress of financial inclusion by capturing relevant parameters.
• It will enable the ability to gauge extent of financial exclusion at granular levels across the country.
• Presently, the dashboard is intended for internal use in the RBI.
• It will further facilitate greater financial inclusion through a multi-stakeholder approach.

 National Affairs

3. Union Minister flags off maiden International Cruise Vessel, MV Empress

• Union Minister of Ports, Sarbananda Sonowal flagged off the maiden International Cruise Vessel named 'MV Empress' from Chennai to Sri Lanka in Chennai on June 5, 2023.
• It was built at a cost of 17.21 crore rupees.
• This marks the beginning of the international cruise tourism terminal in Chennai.
• For this cruise service, an MoU was signed in 2022 between Chennai Port and M/S Waterways Leisure Tourism Pvt Ltd to start domestic and international cruise services. 

 Schemes

4. Maharashtra CM launches Asia's largest cluster development scheme

• Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde has launched Asia's largest, ambitious and historic cluster development scheme in Thane.
• This scheme was conceptualized for the collective redevelopment of unauthorized and official dangerous buildings after the collapse of the Sairaj Building in Thane.
• The redeveloped township plan includes well-equipped health, educational, sports, recreational, parking, mandi, and civic facilities.
• The project will be executed by the CIDCO.

 Defense

5. Indian Navy successfully carries out underwater test

• The Indian Navy and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) have successfully engaged and destroyed an underwater target using 'Varunastra' Heavy Weight Torpedo (HWT).
• It is a significant milestone in the Indian Navy and DRDO for accurate delivery of ordnance on target in the underwater domain.
• The Indian Navy and Naval Science and Technology Laboratory (NSTL) of DRDO developed 'Varunastra', an advanced Heavy Weight anti-submarine torpedo.

 State Affairs

6. Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan launches Kerala Fibre Optic Network project

• Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan launched the Kerala Fibre Optic Network (KFON) project at Shankaranarayanan Thambi Hall of the State Legislative Assembly.
• Aim: To ensure internet facilities for all at affordable rates in the State
• This project will bridge the digital divide in the society.
• During the first phase of the KFON initiative, Internet facilities will be provided to thirty thousand government institutions and fourteen thousand houses in the State.

 National Affairs

7. NHAI’s first ‘Sustainability Report for FY 2021-22’

• Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has released NHAI’s first ‘Sustainability Report for FY2021-22’, which covers NHAI’s governance structure, stakeholders, environment, and social responsibility initiatives.
• From FY2019-20 to 2021-22, direct emissions were reduced by 18.44% and 9.49% due to less fuel consumption
• Green House Gas Emissions saw a decline of 9.7% in FY2020-21 and 2% in FY2021-22
• Similarly in operations, energy intensity in Giga Joules/km reduced by 27% in FY2021-22

 Banking & Finance

8. RBI panel proposes on customer service send out wake-up call to banks

• RBI has set up a committee for Review of Customer Service Standards in RBI Regulated Entities, under the chairmanship of BP Kanungo.
• Suggestions:
  • The operations of accounts should not be stopped pending periodic KYC updates
  • The committee has also suggested measures for the benefit of pensioners
  • There should be a time limit for the return of property documents to borrowers after the closure of the loan account, failing which a penalty should be imposed on the lender

 Schemes

9. PM Modi launches schemes for wetland, mangrove conservatio

• PM Modi launched two schemes 'Amrit Dharohar' and 'MISHTI' to revive the country's wetlands and mangroves.
• Amrit Dharohar:
  • To ensure the conservation of the existing Ramsar sites through public participation
  • These sites will become the center of eco-tourism and a source of green jobs for thousands of people
• MISHTI:
  • It refers to Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats and Tangible Incomes
  • It will help revive and protect the mangrove ecosystem in the country

 Banking & Finance

10. BoB launches facility for cash withdrawals using UPI on its ATMs

• Bank of Baroda has launched Interoperable Cardless Cash Withdrawal (ICCW) facility, in which a customer can withdraw cash using UPI from the bank's ATMs.
• It would be the first public sector bank to launch this service.
• BoB customers as well as customers of other participating issuer banks that use BHIM UPI, Bob World UPI, or any other UPI application enabled for ICCW on their mobile phone can withdraw cash from a Bank of Baroda ATM without using their debit card.

 Banking & Finance

11. NSE, BSE introduces enhanced surveillance for micro-small companies

• BSE and NSE have introduced an enhanced surveillance mechanism (ESM) for companies that have a market cap of less than ₹500 crore, which came into force on June 5.
• SEBI and exchanges in a joint meeting have decided to introduce the ESM framework for "micro-small" companies.
• Aim: To curb volatility in small-cap counters
• The parameters for shortlisting the securities under the ESM framework include high-low price variation and close-to-close price variation.

 Sports

12. Max Verstappen wins Spanish Grand Prix 2023

• Max Verstappen (Red Bull Driver) has clinched the pole position at the Spanish Grand Prix 2023 extending his lead in the Formula One championship by 53 points.
• Red Bull's dominance continued as they celebrated their seventh consecutive triumph of the season.
• While Mercedes driver, Lewis Hamilton (seven-time world champion) has secured the second spot for Mercedes, followed by George Russell (Mercedes driver).

 Sports

13. Aravindh Chithambaram wins 23rd Dubai Open 2023

• GM Aravindh Chithambaram (India) won the 23rd Dubai Open 2023 for the second consecutive year, at the 23rd edition of the Dubai Chess Open, organized by Dubai Chess & Culture Club.
• A total of 172 participants (in category A) from more than 46 different countries participated in this tournament.
• A total of 9 rounds were played in Swiss format.
• He became one of only two players to win back-to-back championships in the history of the Dubai Open Chess Tournament.