Current Affairs

1^st & 2^nd January 2023

Top 20 Daily Current Affairs: National & International News:

Here is the Daily Current Affairs of the 01st & 02nd January 2023 covering the following news headlines: Mega Dairy, Pope Benedict XVI, International Year of Millets, World Chess Blitz Championship, Khelo India Youth Games 2022, Reserve Bank of India.

International News

1. India and Pakistan Exchange Lists of Nuclear Assets and Prison Inmates

India and Pakistan exchanged lists of nuclear installations that cannot be attacked in the event of hostilities, maintaining a tradition dating back to 1992 despite bilateral ties being at an all-time low.

The two sides further exchanged lists of prisoners held in each other’s jails, and the Indian side sought the early release and repatriation of civilian prisoners, missing defence personnel and fishermen, along with their boats, from Pakistan’s custody.

This was the 32nd consecutive exchange of such lists between the two countries, the first one having taken place on January 1, 1992. Under the provisions of the 2008 Agreement on Consular Access, the two sides also exchange lists of prisoners in each other’s custody twice a year, on January 1 and July 1, through diplomatic channels in New Delhi and Islamabad.

2. Inacio Lula da Silva Sworn in As the President of Brazil for the 3rd Time

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva took office for a third term as Brazil’s president, vowing to fight for the poor and the environment and “rebuild the country” after far-right leader Jair Bolsonaro’s divisive administration.

The 77-year-old veteran leftist, who previously led Brazil from 2003 to 2010, took the oath of office before Congress, capping a remarkable political comeback for the metalworker-turned-president less than five years after he was jailed on controversial, since-quashed corruption charges.

3. Dhaka Literary Festival 10th edition to be on 5-8 January

The 10th edition of Dhaka Lit Fest (DLF), the largest international literary festival in Bangladesh, which was postponed three years in a row owing to the Covid-19 pandemic, is scheduled for January 5-8, 2023. The Bangla Academy in Dhaka’s historic grounds will serve as the venue for the event.

In a press release on Friday, Sadaf Saaz, Ahsan Akbar, and Kazi Anis Ahmed—the festival’s three directors—confirmed the information.

The Dhaka Lit Fest has long been a well-liked annual occasion on Bangladesh’s winter calendar. The eighth Dhaka Lit Fest, which was most recently held in 2019, attracted almost 30,000 attendees.

Over the course of the four days, there will be a variety of discussions and dialogues as well as film screenings, art displays, musical performances, and cultural performances.

Out of the more than 200 speakers scheduled to attend the 2023 edition, the DLF directors have released their initial roster of 25 speakers.

Appointments News

4. Indian Overseas Bank: Ajay Kumar Srivastava appointed as MD and CEOAjay Kumar Srivastava has been elevated as Managing Director and CEO of Indian Overseas Bank with effect from January 1, 2023 from his current posting as executive director. He started his banking career as a probationary officer in 1991 with Allahabad Bank where he worked in various capacities in different parts of the country.He is an astute and hardcore banker with Vast field-level experience and has the distinction of having successfully led the largest and most critical areas of Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and Delhi while working at a senior level in Allahabad Bank.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

Indian Overseas Bank Founded: 10 February 1937, Chennai;

Indian Overseas Bank Founder: M. Ct. M. Chidambaram Chettyar;

Indian Overseas Bank Headquarters: Chennai.

Banking News

5. RBI Releases Fifth Volume of Reserve Bank History (1997-2008)

The fifth volume of the Reserve Bank of India’s history is released. This volume encompasses the 11-year period from 1997 to 2008. With this volume, the history of the Reserve Bank of India is now updated up to 2008.

The Reserve Bank had initiated the process of preparation of this volume in 2015 under the guidance of an Advisory Committee chaired by Dr. Narendra Jadhav, former Member of Parliament and former Principal Adviser & Chief Economist of the Reserve Bank.

The volume has been prepared by a team of writers led by the economic historian Dr. Tirthankar Roy. Other members of the team were K. Kanagasabapathy, N. Gopalaswamy, F. R. Joseph and S.V.S. Dixit.

The volume, published by the Cambridge University Press, contains the institutional history of the Reserve Bank documented on the basis of official records, publications and oral discussions with persons who were closely associated with the working of the Reserve Bank during the period.

6. Launch of Utkarsh 2.0 – Reserve Bank of India’s Medium-term Strategy Framework

The Reserve Bank of India’s Medium-term Strategy Framework for the period 2023-2025 – ‘Utkarsh 2.0’ – was launched by Shri Shaktikanta Das, Governor, RBI. The first strategy framework (Utkarsh 2022) covering the period 2019-2022 was launched in July 2019.

It became a medium-term strategy document guiding the Bank’s progress towards realisation of the identified milestones. Utkarsh 2.0 would allow the central bank to both react and act proactively to confront socio-economic challenges.

The RBI plans to leverage India’s Group of 20 presidency to showcase the country’s strength in digital payments, and broad-base the acceptance of the rupee in bilateral and multilateral trade as part of its strategy till 2025.

The central bank would also integrate artificial intelligence and machine learning-driven tools to enhance the reliability of its data analysis and information creation.

Economy News

7. GST collections in December up by 15 percent to Rs 1.49 lakh cr

According to a government announcement , India’s goods and services tax receipts increased 15% year over year in December to Rs 1.49 lakh crore ($18.07 billion), suggesting robust economic activity throughout the holiday season. In November, revenue from goods and services taxes totaled Rs. 1.46 lakh crore.

The total amount of GST revenue collected in December 2022 was Rs 1,49,507 crore, of which the CGST portion was Rs 26,711 crore, the SGST portion was Rs 33,357 crore, the IGST portion was Rs 78,434 crore (including Rs 40,263 crore from the collection of GST on goods imported), and the Cess portion was Rs 11,005 crore (including Rs 850 crore collected on import of goods).

The government made a regular settlement of Rs 36,669 crore to CGST and Rs 31,094 crore to SGST from IGST.

After monthly payments in the month of December 2022, the combined income for the Centre and the States is Rs 63,380 crore for the CGST and Rs 64,451 crore for the SGST.

Ranks and Reports News

8. 1668 Journalists killed in the Past 20 years Between 2003 to 2022

A total of 1,668 Journalists have been killed worldwide with murders, contract killings, ambushes, war zone deaths, and fatal injuries. These journalists have been killed in connection with their work in the last two decades from 2003 to 2022. The reports gave an average of more than 80 journalists being killed every year.

Christopher Deloire, RSF Secretary General said that behind the figures, there are the faces, personalities, talent, and commitment of those who have paid with their lives for their information gathering their search for the truth, and their passion for journalism.

Science And Technology

9. ISRO, Andhra University to Set up Equipment Along Beaches to Predict Rip Currents

Indian Space and Research Organization (ISRO), National Centre for Earth Sciences (NCES), and the Andhra University (AU) have researched and concluded that constant rip current zones at blue flag-certified Rushikonda beach and RK Beach have become a danger to the beach visitors.

Between 2012 to 2022, over 200 people drowned in the sea at various beaches in and around Visakhapatnam and 60 percent of deaths occurred in RK Beach.

ISRO, NCES, and Andhra University have conducted research and set up equipment to identify Rip currents to warn marines and local police.

Major forecast experiments for rip currents are being planned in the city.

The beaches that have turned into death traps are Bheemili Beach and Rushikonda Beach.

Rip currents are common at all beaches across the globe. People can enter the waters in rip current zones up to knee-deep levels.

More than 200 people drowned at various beaches in and around Vizag between 2012-2022.

Schemes and Committees News

10. Prajjwala Challenge Launched Ministry of Rural Development in New Delhi

The Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM) has launched the Prajjwala Challenge. The Prajjwala Challenge has been launched to invite ideas, solutions, and actions that can transform rural development.

It will provide a platform where ideas are invited from individuals, social enterprises, start-ups, the private sector, civil society, community-based organizations, academic institutions, incubation centers, investors, etc having the potential to transform the rural economy.

The Prajjwala Challenge was launched by the Secretary of, the Ministry of Rural Development, Shri Shailesh Kumar Singh in New Delhi.

The mission aims to look forward to ideas and solutions around Innovation technology solutions, inclusive growth, value chain interventions, enhanced women entrepreneurship, and cost-effective solutions.

Sports News

11. Koustav Chatterjee becomes India’s 78th Grandmaster

Nineteen-year-old Kolkata-based chess player, Koustav Chatterjee became India’s 78th Grandmaster. He is also the tenth GM from West Bengal. Koustav earned his first GM norm in October 2021 at a Grandmasters’ chess tournament in Bangladesh.

He got his second GM norm at the Asian championship in the first week of November 2022. He crossed FIDE rating 2500 in August. Koustav is in the joint-lead with GM Abhijeet Gupta at the National Senior Chess Championship with a score of 8/10 after 10 rounds.

12. Hockey Men’s Madhya Pradesh clinched Khelo India Youth Games 2022 U-18 title

In Hockey, Madhya Pradesh defeated Odisha 6-5 to clinch Khelo India Youth Games 2022 Men’s Under-18 Qualifiers title in Bhubaneswar. In a thrilling final, Jamir Mohammad was the star of the final, scoring a hat-trick, while Ali Ahmed, Mohammad Zaid Khan and captain Ankit Pal scored one goal each for Madhya Pradesh.

On the other hand, Anmol Ekka, Paulus Lakra, Deepak Minz and Akash Soreng scored one goal each for Odisha. Haryana defeated Jharkhand 2-0 to secure the third position in the competition. Amandeep and Roshan scored the goals for Haryana.With this, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Haryana and Jharkhand have qualified for the Khelo India Youth Games to be held in Madhya Pradesh next year.

13. Haryana Women’s Hockey U-18 team won Khelo India Youth Games 2022

Hockey Haryana’s women’s team won the Khelo India Youth Games 2022 Women’s Under 18 Qualifiers after defeating Madhya Pradesh (2-0) in the final at Bhubaneswar. In the final match, Pooja and Gurmail Kaur scored a goal each for Haryana to end the contest in their favour. Odisha stepped up to claim third place after beating Hockey Jharkhand 2-1 in the 3rd and 4th place encounter.

Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Jharkhand have qualified for the Khelo India Youth Games (Women) to be held in Madhya Pradesh next year.

14. Koneru Humpy won Silver at the World Chess Blitz Championship

Former World rapid champion K. Humpy produced a superlative performance to claim India’s first-ever silver medal from the World blitz chess championship that concluded in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Humpy defeated China’s Zhongyi Tan to win Silver in the 17th and final round. Fourth-seeded Humpy scored an impressive 12.5 points, just half a point behind the gold medal winner Bibisara Balabayeva of Kazakhstan. Humpy is the second Indian to win a medal at World Blitz, after Viswanathan Anand.

Important Days

15. International Year of millets 2023

The Government of India sponsored the proposal for International Year of Millets (IYM) 2023 which was accepted by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). The declaration has been instrumental for the Government of India to be at the forefront in celebrating the IYM. PM Narendra Modi has also shared his vision to make IYM 2023 a ‘People’s Movement’ alongside positioning India as the ‘Global Hub for Millets’.

Recognising the enormous potential of Millets, which also aligns with several UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Government of India (GoI) has prioritized Millets. In April 2018, Millets were rebranded as “Nutri Cereals”, followed by the year 2018 being declared as the National Year of Millets, aiming at larger promotion and demand generation. The global millets market is projected to register a CAGR of 4.5% during the forecast period between 2021-2026.

Obituaries News

16. RK Krishnakumar, a Tata veteran, passes away at 84

R Krishnakumar, a close confidante of Ratan Tata and a group veteran, passed away. Kerala-born Krishnakumar, who had served at multiple positions in the group, including heading its hospitality arm Indian Hotels, was 84.

He had been active with the Tata Trusts after his retirement from executive roles and was reportedly a part of the team which worked alongside Ratan Tata in the Cyrus Mistry ouster episode. In 2009, Krishnakumar was awarded Padma Shri.

17. Former Pope Benedict XVI passes away at the age of 95

Statement released by the Vatican, the former Pope Benedict XVI has passed away  in the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery in the Vatican. He was 95 years old. The head of the Catholic Church, former Pope Benedict, was the first pope in 600 years to resign. He resigned in 2013 and was replaced by the present pope Francis.

Pope Benedict was the first German to become pope in 1000 years. He was the head of the Vatican City from 19 April 2005 until his resignation on 28 February 2013. He was born as Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger on April 16, 1927, in the southern German village of Marktl, close to Austria.

Miscellaneous News

18. Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated Mega Dairy at Mandya, Karnataka

Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah inaugurated Mega Dairy at Mandya in Karnataka. The mega dairy inaugurated at a cost of Rs 260 crore would process 10 lakh liters of milk per day and the will have the capacity to increase it upto 14 lakh liters per day. 10 lakh liters of milk is processed, prosperity reaches the homes of lakhs of farmers.

There are 15,210 village level cooperative dairies in Karnataka, in which about 26.22 lakh farmers deliver their milk daily and through 16 district level dairies, Rs 28 crore is deposited into the accounts of 26 lakh farmers every day.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

National Dairy Development Board Headquarters location: Anand;

National Dairy Development Board Founded: 1965;

National Dairy Development Board Founder: Verghese Kurien;

National Dairy Development Board Chairman: Meenesh Shah.

19. India’s first underwater metro to become operation by December 2023

India’s first underwater metro service, The Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation (KMRC) said that the East-West Metro Corridor project, is expected to be completed by December 2023. With this, another feather is being added to the crown of Kolkata Metro, the first metro railway in the country.

Kolkata Metro, which started its journey in 1984, is being expanded to cover the whole city and its outskirts. The underwater metro, which will be running through the Hoogly river will connect the twin cities of Howrah and Kolkata.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

West Bengal Capital: Kolkata;

West Bengal Chief minister: Mamata Banerjee;

West Bengal Official animal: Fishing cat.