Current Affairs

14^th September 2022

Top 19 Daily GK Updates: National & International News

Here is the Daily GK Update of the 14th September 2022 covering the following news headlines: 74th Primetime Emmy Awards 2022, Sinquefield Cup, Hindi Diwas 2022, Squid Game Day, JIMEX 2022, Kibithu Military Garrison camp.

National News

1. President Droupadi Murmu nominated Gulam Ali from J&K to Rajya Sabha

Gulam Ali, a Gurjar Muslim from Jammu and Kashmir, has been nominated to Rajya Sabha by President Droupadi Murmu on the recommendation of the Central government.

In the notification, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), “In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-clause (a) of clause (I) of article 80 of the Constitution of India, read with clause (3) of that article, the President is pleased to nominate Shri Gulam Ali to the Council of States to fill the vacancy caused due to the retirement of one of the nominated members.”

International News

2. Qimingxing-50: China’s First Fully Solar-powered Unmanned Aerial Vehicle(UAV)

China has successfully tested its first fully solar-powered unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) which can fly for months and can function even as a satellite if required. The maiden flight of Qimingxing-50 has been achieved, making it the first large-sized UAV powered only by solar energy, a Chinese government official informed in a tweet.

The Qimingxing-50, with a wingspan of 50 m, is a high-altitude long-endurance drone that is capable of high altitude aerial reconnaissance, assessing forest fire and can also be used for communications. This technology will bolster Chinese defences in space and at sea.

3. Norwegian central bank develops National digital currency using Ethereum

National digital currency using Ethereum: Norges Bank, Norway’s central bank, made a significant advancement in its efforts to develop a digital currency by publishing the open source code for the nation’s central bank digital currency (CBDC) sandbox based on Ethereum technology. This development was made possible by the ongoing mainstream adoption of cryptographic technology.

CBDCs are a type of electronic fiat money backed by the central bank. Although they are not required to be, CBDCs can be built on blockchain networks. However, the CBDC in Norway is built on Ethereum.

State News

4. Uttar Pradesh tops in India, 8462 lakes developed under Mission Amrit Sarovar

Uttar Pradesh becomes the first state in India to construct 8,642 Amrit Sarovar (Lakes) in India. Amrit Sarovar is an ambitious mission initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which aims to conserve water for the future.

Madhya Pradesh is in the second position, Jammu and Kashmir in third, Rajasthan in fourth, and Tamil Nadu ranked in the fifth position. Lakhimpur Kheri, Uttar Pradesh, secured the first position within the state by constructing 256 Amrit Sarovar.

Gorakhpur secured the second position by constructing 245 lakes, and Pratapgarh secured the third position by constructing 231 lakes.

15,497 Amrit Sarovar was identified in different villages panchayats of which 8,462 Amrit Sarovar have been already developed.

These Amirt Sarovars are twice the total number of Amrit Sarovar collectively developed in Madhya Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu.

Appointments News

5. Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi to be next Attorney General for India

Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi is set to be appointed the 14th Attorney General for India again after KK Venugopal vacates the post. This will be Rohatgi’s second time as AG, after his first stint between June 2014 and June 2017.

At the end of June this year, AG Venugopal’s tenure was extended for a period of three months or “until further orders”. This extension is set to expire on September 30. Rohtagi will take the seat of the country’s top law officer from 1st October.

6. Burjeel Holdings appoints SRK as brand ambassador

Burjeel Holdings, a private healthcare services provider in the MENA region has signed Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan as its new brand ambassador. The company is owned by UAE-based Indian entrepreneur Shamsheer Vayalil.

The actor will appear in a multi-platform advertising campaign in the region for the group that will be unveiled in the coming weeks. This will be the actor’s first healthcare ambassador role.

In the past, the actor has also tied up with Dubai’s tourism board to be one its brand ambassadors. But that partnership ended as of early 2022. He was also the first Indian celebrity to have received the UAE golden visa.

7. IBM and IIT Madras collaborate to promote quantum computing in India

IBM and IIT Madras collaborate: Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IIT-Madras) and International Business Machines (IBM) have cooperated to improve quantum computing research and talent development in India.

IIT Madras joins the IBM Quantum Network’s global membership of over 180 organisations through this agreement. IIT Madras also joins the global network of Fortune 500 corporations, start-ups, academic institutions, and research labs using IBM Quantum technology to enhance quantum computing and investigate business application cases as the “first Indian university.”

Agreements News

8. MeitY Startup Hub and Meta Collaborate to speed up XR technology startups in India

MeitY Startup Hub and Meta Collaborate: In association with Meta, MeitY Startup Hub (MSH) will introduce a programme to help and accelerate XR technology entrepreneurs in India.

The program’s announcement is scheduled for September 13, 2022. At the event will be Joel Kaplan, Vice President, Global Policy, Meta, and Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Hon’ble Minister of State for Electronics & Information Technology, Skill Development & Entrepreneurship.

The government’s initiatives to develop skills in cutting-edge and future technology include this collaboration.

9. Vedanta And Foxconn to Invest 1.54 Lakh Crore In Gujrat For Chip Manufacturing

The Anil Agarwal-led-Vedanta Limited and Foxconn Group will invest more than Rs 1.54 lakh crore to set up an semiconductor ecosystem in Gujarat.

The oil-to-metals conglomerate said Vedanta Displays Limited will set up a Display Fab Unit with an investment of Rs 94500 crore and Vedanta Semiconductors Limited will set up an integrated Semiconductor Fab Unit and OSAT (Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test) facility with investment of Rs 60000 crore.

Defence News

10. Kibithu Military Garrison camp named after Bipin Rawat

The military camp at Kibithu Garrison, which is very close to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Arunachal Pradesh, has been renamed as ‘Gen Bipin Rawat military garrison’ in honour of the country’s first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) who was killed in a chopper crash last December.

As a young Colonel, Rawat commanded his Battalion 5/11 Gorkha Rifles at Kibithu from 1999-2000 and contributed immensely to strengthening the security structure in the area.

Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh Pema Khandu named the 22 km long road from Walong to Kibithu as ‘General Bipin Rawat Marg’. A life-size mural of General Rawat was also unveiled on the occasion.

11. JIMEX 2022: India-Japan joint naval drills in the Bay of Bengal begins

The sixth edition of Japan-India Maritime Exercise 2022 (JIMEX 22), hosted by the Indian Navy, began in the Bay of Bengal. The Japan Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) ships are being led by Rear Admiral Hirata Toshiyuki, Commander Escort Flotilla Four, and Indian naval ships by Rear Admiral Sanjay Bhalla, Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet.

JIMEX 22 involves two phases – exercises at sea and a harbour phase at Visakhapatnam.

This edition marks the 10th anniversary of JIMEX, which began in Japan in 2012. It also coincides with the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Japan.

12. National Defense MSME Conclave and Exhibition begins in Kota, Rajasthan

National Defense MSME Conclave and Exhibition: The two-day National Defense MSME Conclave and Exhibition begins in Kota, Rajasthan.

In the exhibition, defence gear including T-90 and BMP-2 tanks, artillery cannons, numerous sniper and machine gun types, and military bridges are on display.

Start-ups and MSMEs are also showcasing their products, as are young people innovating in the defence sector.

The event will feature participation from more than 50 defence-related businesses, startups, and MSMEs.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Minister of State for Defense Ajay Bhatt will formally launch the summit tomorrow.

Business News

13. Sachin Bansal helmed Navi Technologies approved by Sebi, for IPO

Navi Technologies approved by SEBI: The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has given Sachin Bansal’s fintech business Navi Technologies the go-ahead for an Initial Public Offering (IPO), which will help the Flipkart co-founder in his efforts to build a financial services conglomerate.

Navi Technologies submitted draft papers to SEBI in March of this year in order to raise up to Rs 3,350 crore through a new share offering.

Sachin Bansal, who has a 97.39 percent ownership in fintech, stated that there will not be an offer for sale (OFS) by shareholders in the IPO.

Science and Technology News

14. Hughes, ISRO Have Launched A Satellite Internet Service

Hughes Communication India (HCI), has collaborated with the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), to launch its first high throughput satellite (HTS) broadband internet service in the country. Since last year, the company has been testing its operations in northern India.

Through the first high throughout satellite (HTS) broadband internet service, the company has promised to deliver high-speed satellite broadband service to remote locations across India from the desolate part of Leh Ladakh to the northeastern part of India.

Awards News

15. 74th Primetime Emmy Awards 2022: Check the complete list of winners

The 74th Primetime Emmy Awards were held, to mark some remarkable American television performances until mid-2022.

Overall, there are 40-plus categories, where writers, actors, directors and editors were awarded for their remarkable work from June 1, 2021 to May 31, 2022. The 74th annual Emmy Awards hosted by Kenan Thompson at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.

16. Alireza Firouzja wins Sinquefield Cup & The Grand Chess Tour

Iranian-French chess grandmaster, Alireza Firouzja beat Ian Nepomniachtchi in play-offs to win the ninth edition of the Sinquefield Cup. Firouzja also grabbed an extra $100,000 for winning this year’s Grand Chess Tour.

Wesley So and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave came in second and third place, respectively. The fifth leg of the Grand Chess Tour, the Sinquefield Cup was held in Saint Louis, Missouri, US.

The 9th Sinquefield Cup was played from September 1 to September 13, 2022, and was the fifth leg of the Grand Chess Tour 2022. Before the start of the fourth round, Magnus Carlsen withdrew from the tournament.

Books and Authors News

17. Army Hospital in New Delhi opened the Early Intervention Center “Prayas”

Former Dutch field hockey player and former Indian Women’s Hockey Coach, Sjoerd Marijne, authored a new book titled “Will Power: The Inside Story of the Incredible Turnaround in Indian Women’s Hockey”. The book published by HarperCollins Publishers India will be launched in September 2022.

The book highlights the experiences of Sjoerd Marijne, when he was appointed the Chief Coach of the Indian Women’s Hockey Team in 2017. It also talked about how the Indian Women’s Hockey team dealt with setbacks, mental health issues, internal politics and maintained team chemistry along with high-performance culture.

Important Days

18. Hindi Diwas 2022: Check history and Interesting facts

Hindi Diwas or Hindi Day is observed every year on 14 September to mark the popularity of Hindi as an official language of India. The language was adopted under Article 343 of the Indian Constitution.

The first Hindi day was celebrated on 14th September 1953. Hindi is one of the major languages used in India as a large portion of the country’s population knows and uses the language. Schools, colleges and other educational institutions celebrate Hindi Diwas by organising various programs.

Hindi Diwas is celebrated to commemorate the adoption of Hindi in the Devanagari script as one of the official languages of the nation. Hindi was adopted by the National Constitution on September 14, 1949 and it became the official language of the country. India’s first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, decided to celebrate September 14 as Hindi Diwas.

Miscellaneous News

19. Los Angeles named September 17 as ‘Squid Game’ Day

The City of Los Angeles has officially designated September 17 Squid Game Day, in recognition of the South Korean Netflix series’ achievements.

“Squid Game” was nominated for 14 Emmy Awards in July and is the first non-English language series to earn a nomination for Outstanding Drama Series.

It was also the first Korean and first non-English language series to win a Screen Actors Guild Award.