Daily GK Update: 7th March 2023

 National & International Appointments

1. SS Dubey takes charge as new Controller General Of Accounts

• S.S. Dubey, a 1989-batch Indian Civil Accounts Service (ICAS) officer, has taken charge as the 28th Controller General of Accounts (CGA) effective from 6th March 2023.
• Prior to this role, he was an Additional Controller General of Accounts, Public Financial Management System (PFMS).
• CGA is ‘the Principal Advisor’ on Accounting matters to the Union Government.
• CGA is also responsible for exchequer control and internal audits for the Central Government.

 Summits & Conferences

2. 23rd Commonwealth Law Conference begins in Goa

• Governor of Goa, P.S. Sreedharan Pillai has inaugurated the 23rd Commonwealth Law Conference in Goa, which is being held from March 5-9, 2023.
• The event was also attended by Union Minister for Law, Kiren Rijiju, and Goa CM Pramod Sawant.
• Minister also informed that the government had started eCourts phase III to make Indian Judiciary completely paperless.
• 500 delegates from 52 countries attended the Conference.
• It is a platform for open discussions on critical issues.

 Banking & Finance

3. All Pension portals to be integrated into Single Portal

• MoS, personnel, public grievances, and pensions, Dr. Jitendra Singh informed that the Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare will integrate all the pension portals - Pension Disbursing Bank portals, ANUBHAV, CPENGRAMS, CGHS, etc into a single portal.
• These portals will be integrated into the form of the newly created “Integrated Pensioners’ Portal” (https://ipension.nic.in).
• Aim: To ensure the ease of living for the elder citizens

 Banking & Finance

4. RBI’s home price index increases across India despite rate hikes

• The All India Home Price Index (HPI), released by the RBI, has recorded a 2.79% growth (year-on-year) to 302 in the third quarter (ended December) of 2022-23 as compared with 293.8, despite the rise in interest rates.
• On a quarter-on-quarter sequential basis, the index rose from 298, an increase of 1.34%, from September 2022.
• The Y-o-Y movements in HPI varied widely across the cities, ranging from a growth of 7.1% (Kochi) to a contraction of 9% (Jaipur).

 Banking & Finance

5. Share of female borrowers in retail loans rises to 26%

• According to the CRIF High Mark, the total retail loan outstanding was Rs 100.28 lakh crore in Dec 2022, up from Rs 81.91 lakh crore a year ago.
• The share of female borrowers in the retail loans outstanding has gone up to 26% at Rs 26.07 lakh crore as of Dec 2022 from 25% (Rs 20.47 lakh crore) in Dec 2021.
• Major retail loan products availed by female borrowers in India: Gold loans (42% share), Education loans (35%), Home loans (32%), and Loans against property (29%)

 Banking & Finance

6. RBI initiates 75 digital villages programme

• The RBI Governor, Shaktikanta Das has launched the Mission ‘Har Payment Digital’ during the Digital Payments Awareness Week 2023, which is being observed from March 6 to 12, 2023.
• Campaign theme: Digital Payment Apnao, Auron ko bhi Sikhao (Adopt digital payments and Also teach others)
• RBI has launched a program to adopt 75 villages and convert them into digital payment-enabled villages.
• Payment system operators (PSOs) will adopt these villages across the country.

 Important Dates

7. Jan Aushadhi Diwas 2023: 7th March

• The 5th Jan Aushadhi Diwas is being organized on 7th March 2023 across India to enhance awareness about the scheme and promote generic medicines.
• Theme 2023: Jan Aushadhi – Sasti bhi Acchi bhi
• The Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI), and States/UTs.
• A week-long event is being organized in different cities all across the country from March 1-7, 2023.
• This day was first observed on March 7, 2019.

 Sports

8. Red Bull's Max Verstappen wins 2023 Bahrain Grand Prix

• Red Bull's driver, Max Verstappen has won the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix 2023, held at Bahrain International Circuit.
• He defeated Red Bull's Sergio Perez, who placed second in the race.
• It was the first time he had won in Bahrain and also the first time he had triumphed in a Formula One opener.
• Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin's driver) placed third followed by C. Sainz Jr. (Ferrari's driver).

 Honours & Awards

9. Delhi international airport among cleanest in Asia-Pacific: ACI

• According to the Airport Council International (ACI), Delhi airport has been ranked among the cleanest airports in Asia-Pacific.
• ACI is a trade association of global airports.
• The airport service quality award is based on passenger surveys carried out to rate customer satisfaction on the day of travel.
• It covers over 30 performance indicators across key elements of a passenger’s airport experience such as ease of finding your way and dining offerings.

 National & International Appointments

10. Conrad Sangma sworn-in as Meghalaya Chief Minister

• National People's Party president, Conrad K Sangma, has taken oath as the chief minister of Meghalaya for the second consecutive term.
• Governor Phagu Chauhan has administered the oath of office to Sangma.
• The sworn-in ceremony was attended by PM Narendra Modi, BJP president JP Nadda and home minister Amit Shah.
• While Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP)'s Neiphiu Rio will take oath as Nagaland chief minister.

 State Affairs

11. Mauganj became the 53rd District of Madhya Pradesh

• Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced that Mauganj, a tehsil of Rewa district, will be the 53rd district of state.
• It will be developed by joining four tehsils of Rewa district.
• Four tehsils: Mauganj, Hanumana, Nai Garhi, and Deotalab.
• Residents of Mauganj were raising the demand for a separate district for a long time.
• He has also released 605 crore in the bank accounts of 27,000 beneficiaries of the Sambal Yojana in financial distribution program.

 Honours & Awards

12. Mirabai Chanu wins BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year 2022

• Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu has won the 2022 BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year award after a public vote.
• She becomes the first athlete to win the award twice in a row after winning for the year 2021.
• At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, she became the first Indian to win a silver medal in weightlifting.
• Other BBC awards for 2022:
  • Para Sportswoman: Bhavina Patel (TT Player)
  • Lifetime Achievement Award: Pritam Siwach (Women Hockey Player)
  • Emerging Player: Nitu Ghanghas (Boxer)

 State Affairs

13. Himachal govt hikes monetary award for Mahila Vikas Protsahan Puraskar

• Presiding over a state-level event for International Women's Day (8th March), Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has announced a nearly five-fold increase in the monetary award under the Himachal Pradesh Mahila Vikas Protsahan Puraskar.
• The monetary award for the Mahila Vikas Protsahan Puraskar has been hiked to Rs 1 lakh from the current Rs 21,000.
• The allowance for district-level awards has been raised from Rs 5,000 to Rs 25,000.