Daily GK Update: 8th December 2023

 National & International Appointments

1. Lalduhoma takes oath as Chief Minister of Mizoram

• Veteran politician and Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) leader Lalduhoma sworn-in as the Chief Minister of  Mizoram at Raj Bhawan in Aizawl.
• Governor Dr Hari Babu Kambhampati administered the oath to Mr Lalduhoma.
• Former IPS officer Lalduhoma led his party to a decisive victory in the recently concluded Assembly elections.
• The party bagged 27 seats in the 40-member House.
• The ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) was reduced to 10 seats while the BJP got 2 seats.

 Obituaries

2. Bollywood actor Junior Mehmood passes away at 67 years

• Renowned actor Junior Mehmood passed away at the age of 67 in Mumbai.
• He started out as a child artiste with Mohabbat Zindagi Hai (1966) and Naunihal (1967).
• Junior Mehmood, born as Naeem Sayyed, was known for his work in films like Caravan, Haathi Mere Saathi and Mera Naam Joker.

 Banking & Finance

3. RBI has canceled the license of Sitapur-based Urban Co-operative Bank

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has canceled the license of Sitapur-based Urban Co-operative Bank in Uttar Pradesh.
• The bank's license was canceled due to lack of adequate capital and prospects of earning.
• The RBI has prohibited the bank from any banking, including depositing money and repaying its customers.
• As per the data submitted by the bank, 98.32 per cent of the depositors are entitled to receive full amount of their deposits from DICGC.

 National Affairs

4. PM Modi to inaugurate Uttarakhand Global Investors Summit in Dehradun

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the ‘Uttarakhand Global Investors Summit 2023’ at Forest Research Institute, Dehradun.
• The two-day summit is being organized on the theme of “Peace to Prosperity”.
• ‘Uttarakhand Global Investors Summit 2023’ is a step towards establishing Uttarakhand as a new investment destination.
• The summit will be attended by thousands of investors and delegates from across the world.

 Banking & Finance

5. RBI keeps policy repo rate unchanged at 6.5 percent

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has kept the policy repo rate unchanged at 6.5 percent in its latest monetary review meeting.
• This is for the fifth time in a row that the MPC has maintained the status quo.
• The Governor said, real GDP growth for the current year 2023-24 is projected at 7% - with Quarter 3 at 6.5% and Quarter 4 at 6%.
• Real GDP growth for Quarter one of 2024-25 is projected at 6.7% for Quarter 2 at 6.5% and for Quarter 3 at 6.4%.

 International Affairs

6. UNICEF to unveil 'Green Rising' initiative at COP28

• UNICEF's Generation Unlimited, in collaboration with India's Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change will unveil the "Green Rising" initiative at COP28 in Dubai.
• The global "Green Rising" initiative and the "Green Rising India Alliance" marks a collaborative effort involving UNICEF, Generation Unlimited, and a diverse network of public, private, and youth partners.

 International Affairs

7. Ajit Doval participates in 6th NSA-level Meeting of Colombo Security Concla

• National Security Advisor Ajit Doval participated in the 6th NSA-level Meeting of the Colombo Security Conclave in Port Louis, Mauritius.
• The 6th NSA-level Meeting of the Colombo Security Conclave was hosted by Mauritius.
• The NSA of Member Countries participated along with senior delegates from Bangladesh and Seychelles.
• Member States reviewed the progress of the decisions taken at the 5th NSA-level Meeting and agreed on a Roadmap of Activities for 2024.

 National & International Appointments

8. Max Life Insurance appoints Rajiv Anand as chairman

• Max Life Insurance Board of Directors has appointed Rajiv Anand as the new chairman of Max Life Insurance.
• He has been associated with the Company as a Non-Executive Director since April 6, 2021.
• Earlier, Mr. Rajiv was the deputy managing director at Axis Bank.
• Rajiv has joined Max Life Insurance with more than 30 years of experience.

 Sports

9. ICC unveils vibrant logo for men's and women's T20 World

• The International Cricket Council (ICC) unveiled a vibrant makeover of the ICC T20 World Cup’s new brand identity.
• The logo seamlessly transforms the ‘T20’ text into a battling stance enclosed within a kinetic sphere, embodying the drama of each delivery.
• The transformation aims to encapsulate the inherent drama, fast-paced action and high-octane moments that define T20 cricket – a format celebrated for its relentless energy.

 National Affairs

10. Govt. extends restrictions on onion exports to March 31

• India has extended restrictions on the export of onions until March 31, 2024.
• The restriction, which stipulates a minimum export price of $800 per metric ton, was earlier valid until Dec. 31, 2023.
• This measure aims to boost the availability of onions in the domestic market and control their prices.

 Honours & Awards

11. CII Sports Business Awards 2023 to KIIT India

• Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) bagged the Best Sports Facility award in the first edition of the CII Sports Business Awards 2023.
• Dr. Achyuta Samanta (KIIT and KISS founder) received the award from Chanakya Chaudhry, chairman of the CII National Committee on Sports.
• Jay Shah and Nita Ambani and Samanta were recognised as the best Sports Business Leaders.