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 Current Affairs Weekly PDF – January 2023 – 1st Week
(1 – 7)
NATIONAL AFFAIRS
PM Modi virtually Inaugurates Rs 7,600
crore worth Railway projects in West
Bengal
Narendra Modi, Prime Minister (PM) of India,
virtually inaugurated the railway projects worth Rs.
7600 crore in West Bengal. He dedicated 4 railway
projects to the nation which include:
✓ Boinchi – Shaktigarh 3rd Line developed at
a cost of Rs 405 crore
✓ The Dankuni – Chandanpur 4th Line Project
was developed at a cost of Rs 565 crore
✓ Nimtita – New Farakka Double Line
developed at a cost of Rs 254 crore
✓ Ambari Falakata – New Maynaguri –
Gumanihat Doubling Project developed at a
cost of more than Rs 1080 crore.
He also flagged off the 7th Vande Bharat Express
from Howrah to New Jalpaiguri station and
inaugurated the Joka-Taratala-stretch of the Purple
Line of Kolkata Metro.
✓ PM also stated about the world’s longest
river cruise ‘Ganga vilas’ which set sail on
13th January 2023 to cover a distance of
3200 km from Kashi to Dibrugarh via
Bangladesh. Click here to read more.
Artpark-IISc Join Hands with Google to
Launch AI-Powered Project Vaani
ARTPARK (Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Robotics
Technology Park), a not-for-profit organisation
backed by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc),
Bangalore has collaborated with Google to
launch ‘Project Vaani’, a pan-India inclusive
language data initiative for open-sourcing datasets
at ‘Google for India 2022’ event held in New Delhi.
✓ Google: CEO – Sundar Pichai; HQ
– California, United States of America (USA)
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Govt Approves PADMA as Self-
Regulatory body for the publisher
The government of India(GoI) has approved the
Print and Digital Media Association (PADMA) as a
self-regulatory body for publishers of news and
current affairs across India.
✓ PADMA, an organisation with 47 digital
news publishers, will look at grievances
related to digital media news content on its
platform.
MoF Increases Interest Rates On a
Number of Small Savings Schemes for Q4
FY23 Beginning January 1, 2023
The Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), a
department of the Ministry of Finance (MoF),
has raised the interest rate on a number of small
savings schemes for the fourth quarter (Q4) of the
current fiscal year 2022–23 (FY23), which runs
from January 1, 2023 – March 31, 2023.
✓ The rates on the various instruments have
increased by 20 to 110 basis points (bps),
and they now range from 4.0 % to 7.6 %.
✓ All post office time deposits, the
Kisan Vikas Patra (KVP), the Senior Citizen
Savings Scheme, the Monthly Income
Savings Scheme, the National Savings
Certificate, and others now have higher
interest rates.
✓ Meanwhile, the interest rates on the Public
Provident Fund (PPF), Sukanya Samriddhi
Account, and Savings Deposit have
remained unchanged. Click here to read
more.
Copyright 2014-2023 @ AffairsCloud.com 4
MoU Signed for Commercial Production
of Indigenously-Developed ‘Lumpi-
ProVac’ Vaccine
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the
production of goat pox vaccine and ‘Lumpi-ProVac’
vaccine has been signed in Nagpur, Maharashtra.
✓ This will play a major role in the efforts of
the government to control and eradicate the
Lumpy Skin Disease. The Lumpy Skin
Disease has been reported in India from
2019 while the first case was reported in
Odisha.
GoI Introduces New Integrated Food
Security Scheme for 2023
The Government of India (GoI) has introduced
a new Integrated Food Security
Scheme beginning January 1, 2023, to supply free
food grains to more than 81.35 crore beneficiaries
under the National Food Security Act (NFSA). The
new integrated scheme will subsume two present
food subsidy schemes run by the Department of
Food and Public Distribution (DFPD), MoCA and
F&PD. They are:
✓ Food Subsidy to Food Corporation of India
(FCI) for NFSA
✓ Food Subsidy for Decentralized
Procurement States, which deals with
procuring, allocating, and delivering free
food grains to the states under the NFSA.
Click here to read more.
MoRD launches Prajjwala Challenge
inviting Ideas, Solutions & Actions to
Transform Rural Economy
The Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD)’s
flagship poverty alleviation program Deendayal
Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods
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Mission (DAY-NRLM) has launched the ‘Prajjwala
Challenge’ – Unlock the Rural Economic
Opportunity’ with an aim to invite ideas, solutions,
and actions that can Transform Rural Economy.
Click here to visit the Prajjwala Challenge website
MHA constitutes HPC Chaired by MoS
Nityanand Rai to protect Ladakh’s
Culture, Language & Employment
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has
constituted a 17-member High Powered Committee
(HPC) to discuss measures for the protection
of Ladakh’s unique culture, language and
employment. It will be chaired by Minister of State
(MoS) Nityanand Rai, MHA.
GoI Introduces National Geospatial
Policy 2022
On 28th December 2022, the Ministry of Science
and Technology (MoS&T) notified the ‘National
Geospatial Policy, 2022’ for implementation with
immediate effect. The policy was notified following
the liberalising of the usage of geospatial data
under the draft Geospatial Data Policy in February
2021.
✓ The National Geospatial Policy, 2022 is a
citizen-focused policy that aims to
strengthen the geospatial sector to support
national development, economic prosperity,
and a growing information economy.
✓ The policy relies on the favourable
environment created by the “Guidelines
for Acquiring and Producing Geospatial
Data and Geospatial Data Services,
Including Maps,” released by the
Department of Science and Technology
(DST), MoS&T, and GoI. Click here to read
more.
Copyright 2014-2023 @ AffairsCloud.com 5
NCISM & CCRAS Launches Understanding (MoU) Exchange Ceremony
‘SMART’ Programme to Boost R&D ‘Outreach Programme with Ministry of Education
(MoE) and Ministry of Skill Development and
in Ayurveda
Entrepreneurship (MoSDE)’ in New Delhi, Delhi.
The National Commission for Indian System of
✓ These MoUs will enable Agniveers to timely
Medicine (NCISM) and the Central Council for
complete their education, develop
Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) launched
additional qualities and skills while serving
the SMART (Scope for Mainstreaming Ayurveda
in the Armed Forces.
Research in Teaching Professionals) programme.
✓ MoUs with National Institute of Open School
✓ NCISM and CCRAS are the institutes under
(NIOS) will provide 12th Class certificates,
the Ministry of AYUSH for regulating
and Indira Gandhi National Open University
medical education and conducting scientific
(IGNOU) will award Bachelor’s degree, and
research respectively.
diploma (2years) to the Agniveers. Click
here to read more.
KMRC: India’s First Underwater Metro
Services to be Operational by December NTPC Launches India’s First Green
2023 Hydrogen Blending Operation in PNG
The Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation (KMRC)
Network
announced that the East-West Metro Corridor
NTPC Ltd. (formerly known as National Thermal
project, India’s first underwater metro service, in
Power Corporation Limited), India’s state-owned
Kolkata will be completed by December 2023.
and largest energy conglomerate, has
✓ The 16.6 km corridor will run through the
launched India’s first green hydrogen-blending
Hooghly river, connecting Howrah and
operation in the piped natural gas (PNG) network
Kolkata Sealdah railway stations including
of its Kawas township in Surat, Gujarat.
the north-south line of the Kolkata Metro at
✓ The project is a collaborative effort between
Esplanade.
NTPC Ltd and Gujarat Gas Limited (GGL) to
decarbonize the cooking sector.
State-run firms to remain exempt ✓ NTPC Ltd: CMD – Gurdeep Singh;
from Minimum Public Established – 1975; HQ – New Delhi, Delhi
Shareholding Norms
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) Manipur: Zeliangrong Community
has amended the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Celebrates Gaan Ngai Festival on 4th
Act, 1956 which will exempt Indian state-run
January 2023
companies from the Minimum Public Shareholding
On 4th January 2023, the Zeliangrong or Kabui
(MPS) norm that requires listed companies to
Community of Manipur celebrated the Gaan-Ngai
maintain a 25% public shareholding.
Festival to bring peace, prosperity and unity to the
✓ These exempted entities will be the
people of Manipur.
government and public sector undertakings
✓ Gaan-Ngai festival is one of the biggest
(PSUs) that hold together or individually
cultural and religious post-harvest festivals
majority stake from the MPS norm.
of the Zeliangrong community that also
marks the beginning of the new year and
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh attended bids farewell to the old year.
MoU Exchange Ceremony ‘Outreach ✓ Zeliangrong Naga tribe (comprising of
Programme with MoE & MoSDE’ in New Rongmei, Liangmei, Zemei and Pumei) are
Tibeto-Burman (Indo-Mongoloid) of the
Delhi
Sino-Tibetan family of the Mongolian race.
Union Minister Rajnath Singh, Ministry of Defence
(MoD) virtually attended the Memorandum of

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PM Narendra Modi addresses 108th of Rs. 2,539.61 crores for the
Indian Science Congress through Video infrastructure development of Prasar
Bharati (Akashvani), i.e., All India Radio
Conferencing
(AIR) and Doordarshan (DD).
Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister(PM) of India,
✓ The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime
virtually inaugurated and addressed
Minister (PM) Narendra Modi, has approved
the 108th edition of the Indian Science Congress
the Rs. 19,744 crore National Green
(ISC), also known as ISC 2023, organised
Hydrogen Mission, with the objective of
at Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj (RTM) Nagpur
making India a major exporter in the sector
University, Nagpur, Maharashtra.
and a global hub for the production, use,
✓ 108th ISC is a 5-day event, held from 3rd
and export of green hydrogen and its
January 2023 to 7th January 2023.
derivatives.
✓ 2023 also marks the centenary celebration
✓ The Union Cabinet, chaired by PM Narendra
of RTM Nagpur University.
Modi, has accorded ex-post facto approval
✓ The focal theme of the ISC 2023 is “Science
for the naming of Greenfield International
and Technology for Sustainable
Airport in Mopa, Goa, as “Manohar
Development with Women
International Airport – Mopa, Goa.”
Empowerment”.
✓ The CCEA, chaired by PM Narendra Modi,
has approved the investment for the 382
Cabinet Approvals on January 4, 2023 MW Sunni Dam Hydroelectric
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister(PM) Project (HEP) in Himachal Pradesh (HP)
Narendra Modi approved the following proposals: by state-owned SJVN Limited (previously
✓ The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd). The project is
(CCEA) approved the Ministry of estimated to cost Rs. 2614.51 crore. Click
Information and Broadcasting (MIB) here to read more.
proposal for the Central Sector
Scheme “Broadcasting Infrastructure and
Network Development” (BIND) at a cost

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President assents CrPC (Gujarat ✓ During the event, she also virtually
Amendment) Bill, 2021 that makes inaugurated the Transmission System for
Solar Energy Zones in Rajasthan and laid
violation of Sec 144 Order an Offence
the foundation stone for the 1000 MW
The President of India Droupadi Murmu has given
Bikaner Solar Power Project of SJVN
her assent to the Code of Criminal
Limited (formerly known as Satluj Jal
Procedure (Gujarat Amendment) Bill, 2021 which
Vidyut Nigam).
empowers the administration to register criminal
✓ She participated in the event to launch the
cases against those who are staging protests in
National Campaign on “RISE-Rising India
violation of Section 144 of the Code of Criminal
through Spiritual Empowerment”,
Procedure (CrPC).
organized by Brahma Kumaris at Mount
✓ The CrPC (Gujarat Amendment) Bill, 2021
Abu, Rajasthan. Click here to read more.
amended Section 195 (1) (a) (ii) which
prohibits the jurisdictional courts from
taking cognisance of the offences except on Narayan Rane Virtually Inaugurates
the complaint in writing of the public India Made ITRS at MOPA Airport, Goa
servant concerned. Narayan Rane, Union Minister for Micro Small &
Medium enterprises (MSME) inaugurated an India
World’s First Palm-Leaf Manuscript made Intelligent Tray Retrieval
System (ITRS), manufactured by M/s
Museum opens in Kerala
SJK Innovations Private Limited, an MSME-Make
Kerala Chief Minister(CM) Pinarayi
in India Company, at MOPA (Goa) International
Vijayan inaugurated the Palm Leaf Manuscript
airport, officially renamed as Manohar
Museum with modern audio-visual technology at
International Airport, Mopa, Goa. This “Made in
the renovated Central Archives, Fort area in
India” ITRS system is also “Patented in India”.
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
✓ The ITRS is an Artificial Intelligence (AI)
✓ The Museum, promoted as “World’s First
based fully automatic machine with
Palm-Leaf Manuscript Museum” was set
advanced screening technology that helps in
up by the Archives Department in
providing enhanced passenger security.
association with the Kerala Museum of
History and Heritage at a cost of Rs 3 crore.
✓ The museum is a repository of curious Cabinet approves continuation of
nuggets of administrative, socio-cultural Schemes of MDoNER worth Rs 12882.2cr
and economic facets of the Travancore from 2022-23 to 2025-26
kingdom which lasted for 650 years till the The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister
end of the 19th century. (PM) Narendra Modi has approved continuation of
Schemes of Ministry of Development of North
President of India Droupadi Murmu’s Eastern Region (MDoNER) for the balance period of
Visit to Rajasthan from 3 to 4 January the 15th Finance Commission i.e. from 2022-23 to
2025-26. Its outlay is Rs 12882.2 crore.
2023
Based on the Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC)
Droupadi Murmu, President of India, inaugurated
recommendations, the funding for different
and laid the foundation stone for various projects
northeastern states are as follows:
during her 2-day visit to Rajasthan from 3rd to 4th
✓ North East Special Infrastructure Scheme
January 2023.
(NESIDS)– Rs.8139.5 crore including
✓ She inaugurated Samvidhan Udyan, Mayur
committed liabilities of ongoing projects.
Stambh, National Flag Post, and statues of
✓ Schemes of NEC– Rs.3202.7 crore including
Mahatma Gandhi and Maharana Pratap at
committed liabilities of ongoing projects.
Raj Bhavan, Jaipur.
✓ Special Packages for BTC, DHATC and
KAATC in Assam– Rs.1540 crore (BTC- Rs

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 500 crore, KAATC – Rs 750 crore and old
packages of BTC, DHATC & KAATC – Rs 290
crore). Click here to read more.
Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh
inaugurates National Genome Editing &
Training Centre at Mohali, Punjab
Dr Jitendra Singh, Minister of State (Independent
Charge) of the Ministry of Science and Technology,
inaugurated the “National Genome Editing &
Training Centre” (NGETC) at the National Agri-
Food Biotechnology Institute (NABI), under the
Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science
and Technology, in Mohali, Punjab.
✓ He also launched a 4-day International
Conference on Food and Nutritional
Security 2023 (iFANS-2023), which takes
place from 6th to 9th January 2023.
India’s Biggest Hockey Stadium was
inaugurated in Odisha
Naveen Patnaik, Chief Minister(CM) of Odisha,
inaugurated the Birsa Munda International
Hockey Stadium, India’s largest hockey stadium,
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
UNSC Adopts First-Ever Resolution On
Myanmar, Demanding End to Violence
And Release Of Political Prisoners
The United Nations Security Council(UNSC)
adopted its first resolution on Myanmar in 74
years to demand an end to violence and urge the
military junta to release all political prisoners,
including former leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
✓ Myanmar has been in crisis since the army
seized Suu Kyi’s elected government on Feb.
1, 2021, detaining her and other officials.
✓ In the 15-member UNSC council for the
Myanmar crisis, China, Russia and India
denied the vote. The remaining 12
members voted in favor.
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in terms of seated (chair) capacity of 20,000, in
Rourkela, Odisha.
✓ The stadium is inaugurated ahead of
the 15th Fédération Internationale de
Hockey(FIH) Hockey World Cup – FIH
Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup
2023 which is scheduled to be held from
13th to 29th January 2023 in Bhubaneswar
and Rourkela, Odisha.
✓ Rourkela is the 2nd venue for the
international event after the Kalinga
Stadium in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
India Gets Its 1st IVF Mobile Unit for
Animals
India received its 1st In vitro fertilization (IVF)
mobile unit for animals in Amreli,
Gujarat. Parshottam Rupala, Union Minister of
Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying,
inaugurated the mobile IVF lab.
✓ IVF is a complex series of procedures used
to support fertility and child conception. It
is an advanced reproductive technology
used in animals to multiply superior female
germplasm at a higher rate.
TB Research Funding Trends 2005-
2021: Funding for TB R&D Hits a Billion
Dollars Worldwide in 2021
According to the Tuberculosis(TB) Research
Funding Trends 2005-2021 released by Treatment
Action Group (TAG) and the Stop TB Partnership,
for the first time in history, funding of TB Research
and Development (R&D) hits a billion dollars
worldwide in 2021.
✓ The Stop TB Partnership is a
Geneva(Switzerland) based United
Nations(UN)-a hosted entity that aims to
end the disease by 2030.
Croatia Joins Schengen Zone & Switches
to Euro
On January 1, 2023, Croatia, the youngest member
of the European Union (EU), adopted the ‘Euro’, and
Copyright 2014-2023 @ AffairsCloud.com 9
it became a part of Europe’s border-free Schengen
zone.
✓ Croatia, a Balkan country, is now
the 20th member of the Eurozone and
the 27th country to join the passport-free
Schengen zone.
Highlights of EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar’s
Visit to the Republic of Cyprus and
Austria—December 29, 2022 –January 3,
2023
Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, India’s External
Affairs Minister (EAM), made his maiden visit to the
Republic of Cyprus on December 29 – 31, 2022.
The year 2022 commemorated the 60th
anniversary of India-Cyprus diplomatic ties, which
were established on February 10, 1962.
✓ During his visit to Cyprus, EAM witnessed
the signing of agreements in a number of
fields, including Defence and Military
Cooperation between India & Cyprus.
He made an official visit to the Republic of Austria
from December 31, 2022 to January 3, 2023. It was
his first visit to Austria as India’s EAM, and the first
such visit from India in 27 years. The visit
BANKING & FINANCE
Punjab & Sind Bank Partners with SBI
Card to Launch Co-Branded Credit Card
Partnership b/w: Punjab & Sind Bank (PSB), a
public sector bank with SBI Card
Purpose: to launch co-brand credit cards for the
bank’s customers.
✓ This marks the entry of PSB into ‘credit
cards’ as a new product segment under the
bank’s portfolio.
✓ Under the partnership, three card variants
have been launched including, PSB SBI
Card ELITE, PSB SBI Card
PRIME, and PSB SimplySAVE SBI Card.
ADB Grants USD 100 million to SFL for
Vehicle Loans to Women Entrepreneurs
Asian Development Bank (ADB) has
sanctioned USD 100 million (about Rs 830
crore) External Commercial Borrowing (ECB),
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commemorated the 75 years of India’s diplomatic
ties with Austria, which were established in 1949.
✓ India and Austria signed a number of
agreements, including ones pertaining to
mobility and migration and the Working
Holiday Programme. Click here to read
more.
ILO Report: Half of The World’s
Workforce Works Too Much or Too
Little
According to the International Labour Organization
(ILO) report “Working Time and Work-Life
Balance Around the World”, more than half of the
world’s workforce doesn’t typically work a nine-to-
five schedule.
✓ As per the report, prior to the COVID-19
pandemic, the average number of hours per
week in paid work globally was
around 43.9 hours (2019 or the latest
available year).
✓ ILO: Director-General – Gilbert
Fossoun Houngbo; HQ – Geneva,
Switzerland; Establishment – 1919.
a five-year loan, under the lender’s social finance
framework to Shriram Finance Limited (SFL), a
part of Shriram Group to provide vehicle loans to
women entrepreneurs.
✓ The credit will be issued towards the
purchase of new and used vehicles
throughout India.
✓ SFL: Chairman – Jugal Kishore Mohapatra;
HQ – Mumbai, Maharashtra
IDBI Bank signs agreement to transfer
schemes of IDBI Mutual Fund to LIC MF
Scheme Transfer Agreement (STA) b/w: IDBI
Bank & LIC Mutual Fund(MF)
Purpose: for the transfer of Schemes of IDBI
Mutual Funds(MF) to LIC MF to comply with
regulations 7B of Securities and Exchange Board of
India (SEBI) Mutual fund Regulations.
Copyright 2014-2023 @ AffairsCloud.com 10
 ✓ IDBI Bank Ltd: MD & CEO – Rakesh
Sharma; Established - 1964; HQ– Mumbai,
Maharashtra
Tata AIA Life introduces Emerging
Opportunities Fund with Ulips
Tata AIA Life Insurance has established
the Emerging Opportunity Fund with ULIP (unit-
linked insurance plans), which is able to invest in
mid-cap companies and rising market leaders with
the potential to provide significant future growth.
✓ The applications for ULIP plans with New
Fund Offering (NFO) window was open till
31 December 2022.
CAD widens to 4.4% of GDP in
Q2FY23, Banks’ net NPA ratio at 10-yr
low: RBI Report
In accordance with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
preliminary data on India’s Balance of Payments
(BoP) for the July-September (Q2) quarter of FY
2022-23, India’s Current Account Deficit (CAD)
widened in the Q2FY23 due to increased trade gap
driven by high commodity prices and a weak rupee.
✓ In absolute terms, CAD was $36.40
billion in Q2FY23 which is highest in more
than a decade.
✓ As a percentage of GDP, it was 4.4%, the
highest since the June quarter of 2013.
✓ India’s CAD is up from USD 18.2 billion
(2.2% of GDP) in Q1FY23 and a deficit of
US$ 9.7 billion (1.3% of GDP) in Q2FY22.
The RBI also released the 26th Financial Stability
Report (FSR) which states the collective assessment
of the Sub-Committee of the Financial Stability and
Development Council (FSDC) on risks to financial
stability and the resilience of the financial system. It
is published bi-annually. Click here to read more.
Indian Bank Unveils QR Bill-Based
Payment System for CESC-Mysuru
Indian Bank unveiled the QR (Quick Response) code
bill payment system for Chamundeshwari
Electricity Supply Corporation Limited (CESC)
making it the first power distribution company to
offer such an initiative to customers in Mysuru,
Karnataka.
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✓ This dynamic QR code that is linked to the
unified payments interface (UPI) on printed
electricity bills, will help customers in
making their payments without visiting any
online portal or physically going to any
payment centre.
Tripura signs Rs 2,275cr agreement with
ADB to improve Power Distribution
Network
The Tripura government has signed an agreement
with Asian Development Bank (ADB) worth Rs
2,275 crore to strengthen and improve power
distribution efficiency in Tripura.
✓ Of the Rs 2,275 crore fund, the Government
of India (GoI) will repay Rs. 1,820 crore
while the state will provide Rs 455 crore.
✓ Under this, ADB will support the state
government’s efforts to strengthen its
power sector by replacing inefficient power
plants and strengthening the distribution
system. The project will be implemented in
the next three years.
SBI, HDFC & ICICI Banks in the RBIs 2022
list of D-SIBs
On January 2, 2023, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
released the 2022 list of Domestic Systemically
Important Banks (D-SIBs) based on the data from
March 31, 2022.
✓ In this, State Bank of India (SBI), ICICI Bank,
and HDFC Bank kept the status as D-SIBs,
under the same bucketing structure as in
the 2021 list of D-SIBs.
✓ D-SIBs are interconnected entities, whose
failure can impact the whole of the financial
system and create instability. They are also
known as ‘too-big-to fail’ banks.
✓ The D-SIBs will be selected by RBI based on
the size of the bank as a percentage of
GDP(Gross Domestic Product) i.e the banks
having a size beyond 2% of GDP.
Copyright 2014-2023 @ AffairsCloud.com 11
HDFC Bank Partners with Microsoft as
Part of its Digital Transformation
Journey
Partnership b/w: HDFC Bank with Microsoft
Purpose: for the next phase of HDFC Bank’s digital
transformation journey and unlocked business
value by transforming the application portfolio,
modernising the data landscape and securing the
enterprise with Microsoft Cloud.
Partnership b/w: Yes Bank with Microsoft
Purpose: to introduce the next generation mobile
application (app) for providing personalised
banking experience to its customers.
✓ Microsoft India: President – Anant
Maheshwari; Establishment – 1990 (in
India)
India Accelerator Partners with ICICI
Bank & Infosys Finacle to Foster Start-
Up Ecosystem
India Accelerator (IA), a seed-stage accelerator
programme, has launched “i3 Launchpad,” which
was developed in partnership with ICICI Bank and
Infosys Finacle, which is part of EdgeVerve Systems,
a wholly-owned product subsidiary of Infosys.
✓ “i3 Launchpad” is a programme that fosters
and co-innovate with India’s start-up
ecosystem.
✓ India Accelerator (IA): Founder & MD –
Ashish Bhatia; HQ – Gurugram, Haryana;
Founded – 2017
Niva Bupa Insurance Inks Corporate
Agency Pact with Sundaram Finance
Pact b/w: Niva Bupa Health Insurance Company
Limited (formerly Max Bupa Health Insurance
Company), a standalone health insurerwith
Sundaram Finance Limited, a diversified financial
services group.
Purpose: Sundaram Finance will provide a limited
selection of Niva Bupa’s indemnity plans to an
increasing range of its current and former clients.
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Bandhan Bank launches ‘Jahaan
Bandhan, Wahaan Trust’ campaign
featuring Sourav Ganguly
Bandhan Bank launched its integrated marketing
campaign ‘Jahaan Bandhan, Wahaan Trust’
featuring the Bank’s brand ambassador, cricketing
legend, Sourav Ganguly.
✓ The ‘Jahaan Bandhan, Wahaan Trust’
campaign was conceived by Leo
Burnett Orchard, who was brought in as
Bandhan Bank’s creative agency in August
2022.
ADB & India sign $220 million
loan pact to Strengthen Power Sector in
Tripura
Pact b/w: Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the
Government of India (GoI)
Purpose: A USD 220 million loan pact for Tripura
Power Distribution Strengthening and
Generation Efficiency Improvement Project.
✓ The Project will also fund the replacement
of Rokhia power plant with a highly
efficient combined cycle gas turbine that
will reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions
(GHGs).
✓ For Other Loan agreements of ADB with
Indian States, Click Here.
ICICI Bank Introduces First-of-its-Kind
Digital Solutions for Exporters
In a first-of-its-kind industry initiative, ICICI Bank
Limited, has launched Digital Solutions For
Exporters, a comprehensive set of banking and
value-added services on a single platform.
✓ The package of solutions provides first-in-
the-industry features including Trade APIs
(Application Programming Interface) and
instant disbursal of Export Packing Credits
(Insta EPC).
✓ Insta EPC instantly provides export
financing, and Trade APIs facilitate easy
handling of export transactions directly
from Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)
systems of the exporters, offering increased
convenience.
Copyright 2014-2023 @ AffairsCloud.com 12
 ✓ ICICI Bank: MD & CEO – Sandeep Bakhshi;
HQ – Mumbai, Maharashtra;
Establishment – 1994. Click here to read
more.
Aegon Life Insurance Launches iTerm
Prime Insurance Plan
Aegon Life Insurance has launched the “iTerm
Prime” insurance plan, which will fulfill the
requirements of self-employed individuals by
offering a special 10% discount (5% discount in
addition to the 5% online discount for all) on the
first-year premium.
✓ Aegon Life Insurance: MD and CEO –
Satishwar Balakrishnan; Established –
2007; HQ – Mumbai, Maharashtra
Issues related to cards, Net Banking Top
Complaint Areas at OBO: RBI Report
the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released the Annual
Report of the Ombudsman Schemes for the period
April 01, 2021 – March 31, 2022. Its details are as
follows:
✓ Issues related to ATM (Automated Teller
Machine)/debit cards were the highest at
14.65% of the total received at the Office of
Banking Ombudsman (OBO) from April 1 to
November 11, 2021. These were followed
by mobile/ electronic banking at 13.64%.
✓ Complaints relating to digital modes of
payment and transactions were the highest
in number, constituting 42.12% of the total
complaints received during the year. Click
here to read more.
Dhanlaxmi Bank launches Retail
Internet Banking Services ‘DhanDelight‘
& Mobile Banking App ‘DhanSmart‘
Dhanlaxmi Bank has launched its new retail
internet banking ‘DhanDelight’, and retail mobile
banking app ‘DhanSmart’ featuring latest
information system security features to provide
secure banking.
✓ The new services are built
on omni channel platform with multiple
features covering various banking
requirements.
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✓ Dhanlaxmi Bank: MD & CEO– Shivan J K;
HQ– Thrissur, Kerala;
Incorporated in 1927
IndusInd Bank Partners with British &
Qatar Airways to Introduce Multi-
branded Credit Card
Partnership b/w: IndusInd Bank with British
Airways Executive Club and Qatar Airways
Privilege Club
Purpose: to introduce the first-of-its-kind unique
multi-branded credit card, powered by Visa.
✓ This multi-branded credit card of IndusInd
Bank will be made available to consumers
in the first quarter of FY 2023-2024.
✓ IndusInd Bank: MD & CEO – Sumant
Kathpalia; HQ – Pune, Maharashtra;
Establishment – 1994
RBI: Annapurna Finance Private Applies
for Universal Bank License
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has received an
application from
Bhubaneswar (Odisha) based Annapurna Finance
Private Limited (AFPL), formerly known as
Annapurna Microfinance Private Limited, under the
Guidelines for ‘on tap’ Licensing of Universal Banks
in the Private Sector issued on 1st August 2016.
✓ AFPL was the only entity to apply for a
universal bank licence during the quarter
ended December 31, 2022.
GST Revenues grow 15% to Rs 1.49 lakh
crore in December 2022
India’s Goods and Services Tax (GST) revenues
increased 15% year-on-year to Rs 1.49 lakh crore
(USD 18.07 billion) in December 2022, suggesting
robust economic activity during the holiday season.
✓ The gross GST revenue collected during
December 2022 is Rs 1,49,507 crore, of
which CGST is Rs 26,711 crore, SGST is Rs
33,357 crore, IGST is Rs 78,434 crore
(including Rs 40,263 crore collected on
import of goods) and cess is Rs 11,005 crore
(including Rs 850 crore collected on import
of goods).
Copyright 2014-2023 @ AffairsCloud.com 13
RBI Selected 6 Firms Under 4th Cohort
of RS to Test Anti-Fraud Solutions
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had selected 6
entities out of nine applications for the Test Phase
under the 4th cohort of Regulatory Sandbox (RS) on
the theme ‘Prevention and Mitigation of
Financial Frauds’.
✓ The selected entities will commence testing
of their products on Anti-Fraud Solutions
from February 2023. The 4th cohort under
RS was announced in June 2022.
✓ The 6 selected entities are: Bahwan
Cybertek; Crediwatch Information
Analytics; enStage Software Private Limited
(Wibmo); HSBC in collaboration with
Wibmo; napID Cybersec & Trusting Social.
Click here to read more.
SEBI nod to Reclassify Govt Holding in
IDBI Bank as ‘Public’ after Sale
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)
agreed to the Central Government request to
reclassify its shareholding in IDBI Bank after its
disinvestment as public holding.
✓ However, this is subject to the condition
that government’s voting rights in the bank
will not exceed 15% of the total voting
rights after the sale.
✓ SEBI: Chairperson– Madhabi Puri Buch;
HQ– Mumbai, Maharashtra;
Establishment– 1992
SEBI Issues Debt Broker License to
Zerodha-Backed GoldenPi Technologies
The Securities and Exchange Board of
India (SEBI) has granted a debt broker
license to GoldenPi Technologies, a Bengaluru
(Karnataka)-based fintech company backed by
Indian financial services provider Zerodha.
✓ With this, GoldenPi Technologies became
the first online bond platform (OBP)
provider to obtain a debt brokerage licence
from SEBI.
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SEBI Extends Relaxation On Dispatching Hard
Copies of Financial Statements
On January 5, 2022, SEBI relaxed certain provisions
of the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure
Requirements) Regulations, 2015 (Listing
Regulations) relating to the dispatch of a hard
copy of the annual report (financial statements)
due in the year 2023 to debenture holders
till September 30, 2023, which shall take effect
immediately. The earlier extension lasted until
December 31, 2022. Click here to read more
RBI Launches Medium-Term Strategy
Framework “Utkarsh 2.0” For 2023-
2025
The Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI),
Shaktikanta Das, has launched the “Utkarsh
2.0” Medium-Term Strategy Framework for the
period 2023-2025.
✓ The first strategy framework, “Utkarsh
2022”, covering the period 2019-2022,
was launched in July 2019.
✓ RBI: Governor – Shaktikanta Das; Deputy
Governors – Mahesh Kumar Jain, Michael
Debabrata Patra, M. Rajeshwar Rao, T. Rabi
Sankar; HQ – Mumbai, Maharashtra;
Establishment –1935
Axis Bank & OPEN Collaborate to Launch
a Fully Digital Current Account
Collaboration b/w: Axis Bank Limited (Axis Bank),
India’s third-largest private sector bank, with Open
Financial Technologies Pvt Ltd (OPEN), a a neo-
banking platform headquartered in Bangalore,
Karnataka.
Purpose: to give its customers a fully native digital
current account journey.
✓ This is Axis Bank’s first collaboration with a
fintech company to develop a fully digital
current account.
✓ Axis Bank: MD & CEO – Amitabh Chaudhry;
Establishment –1993; HQ – Mumbai,
Maharashtra
Copyright 2014-2023 @ AffairsCloud.com 14
 ECONOMY & BUSINESS
IIT-Madras & DRDO Partners to
Introduce DIA-RCoE for Advanced
Defence Technology Research
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Madras has
created a ‘centre of excellence’ named ‘DRDO
Industry Academia-Ramanujan Centre of
Excellence’ (DIA-RCoE) at a campus unit set up by
the Defence Research and Development
Organisation (DRDO) to develop advanced
technologies for national defence and security.
✓ The interdisciplinary research group will
bring in faculty and researchers from
multiple departments for translational
research.
India’s external debt at $610 billion in
Q2 FY23; declines by $2.3 billion
As per the figures from the Ministry of Finance,
India’s external debt stood at USD 610.5 billion in
Q2 FY23 (July-September 2022) showing a
decrease of USD 2.3 billion from Q1 FY23 (April to
June 2022).
✓ The external debt to GDP (Gross Domestic
Product) ratio stood at 19.2% at the end of
Q2FY23 as compared to 19.3% at end of
Q1FY23.
Granules India Partners
with Greenko ZeroC for Green Molecule
Solutions
Granules India Limited has entered a strategic
partnership with Greenko Group, backed by GIC
Holdings Pte Ltd, Abu Dhabi Investment Authority
and Japan’s ORIX Corporation to collaborate for
first-of-its-kind green molecule solutions.
✓ Both shall develop and promote built-in
green pharmaceutical zones (GPZ) with a
primary collaboration in Kakinada, Andhra
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Pradesh, mentioned in a regulatory
submission from Granules.
GA-ASI partners with Bharat Forge to
Manufacture Aerostructures in India
Partnership b/w: General Atomics Aeronautical
Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), a subsidiary of General
Atomics(GA) based in San Diego, California, United
States of America(USA) with Bharat Forge Limited,
a part of Kalyani Group
Purpose: to manufacture aerostructures – main
landing gear components, subassemblies, and
assemblies of remotely piloted aircraft in India.
Hindustan Copper signs MoU with IIT
(ISM) Dhanbad to Enhance Copper Ore
Production
MoU b/w: State-owned Hindustan Copper Limited
(HCL) & the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)
(Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad, Jharkhand
Purpose: for technical collaboration to increase the
HCL’s copper ore production.
✓ It is the 1st collaboration of HCL, the only
copper miner in India, with IIT (ISM),
Dhanbad.
ISRO, Microsoft join hands to Empower
Space-Tech Startups in India
MoU b/w: Indian Space Research Organisation
(ISRO) & Microsoft India
Purpose: to support and promote the growth of
space technology startups in India.
Through this collaboration, the ISRO-identified
space-tech firms will be added to the Microsoft for
Startups Founders Hub platform, which supports
startups at every stage of their development, from
idea to unicorn.
Copyright 2014-2023 @ AffairsCloud.com 15
 AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
Bank of Baroda Wins EAG Laureate
Award on Financial Security
Bank of Baroda, the second largest public sector
bank in India after State Bank of India (SBI), won
EAG Laureate award in the International Olympiad
of Financial Security held at Sochi, Russia on 10
October 2022.
✓ India is one of the nine members of the
Eurasian group on combating money
laundering and terrorism (EAG), a regional
organisation similar to the Financial Action
Task Force (FATF). The EAG was
established in 2004 and is currently an
associate member of the FATF.
✓ The FATF is the global anti- money
laundering and anti- terrorist financing
body.
BCCI Releases Names of India’s Best
Players of 2022 in all 3 Formats
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)
released the names of the players who were the
best performers of Team India across all 3 formats
– One Day Internationals (ODIs), T20 and Test in
2022.
Team India’s Best Performers 2022:
Title Players
Rishabh Pant (Wicket-
Keeper Batsman)
Team India: 2022 Best
Performers in Tests Jasprit Bumrah (Bowler)
Shreyas Iyer (Batter)
Team India: 2022 Best Mohammed Siraj
Performers in ODIs (Bowler)
Suryakumar Yadav
(Batter)
Team India: 2022 Best Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Performers in T20Is (Bowler)
Capt Shiva Chouhan Becomes 1st
Woman Officer to be Deployed at
Siachen, World’s Highest Battlefield
Captain Shiva Chouhan, hailing from Rajasthan, has
become the first woman officer of the Indian Army
to get operationally deployed at Siachen Glacier,
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Karakoram range in the Himalayas in Ladakh, the
world’s highest battlefield after training at Siachen
Battle School.
✓ She is posted at the “Kumar Post” at an
altitude of 15,632 feet. Kumar Post is named
after the late Colonel Narinder ‘Bull’ Kumar
(retd.), who was instrumental in launching
‘Operation Meghdoot’.
Assam Govt confers Assam State Civilian
Award 2023; Dr Tapan Saikia receives
‘Assam Baibhav’
The Assam government has announced the list of
winners of the Assam State Civilian Award
2023 which honours notable people for their
admirable service to society. A total
of 21 personalities were chosen for the Assam State
Civilian Awards 2023.
✓ Renowned doctor Dr Tapan Saikia was
honoured with the “Assam Baibhav” for his
work in the healthcare (cancer treatment)
and public service sectors, which included
promoting early cancer detection in Assam
and other northeastern regions.
Belinda Clark becomes 1st Woman
Cricketer to get a Bronze Statue at SCG
Belinda Clark, a former Australia captain, became
the 1st female cricketer to get a Bronze statue
unveiled at the Walk of Honour of the Sydney
Cricket Ground (SCG) in Sydney, Australia.
✓ Belinda Clark is the 15th sportsperson and
the 3rd woman to have a statue as part of
the SCG sculpture project. The other two are
sprinters Betty Cuthbert and Marlene
Matthews.
CIRIUM: Delhi & Bengaluru Among the
Top 10 Performing Global Airports Of
2022
According to the On-Time Performance Review
2022 released by CIRIUM, the aviation analytics
company, Kempegowda International Airport,
Bengaluru, Karnataka, and Indira Gandhi
International (IGI) Airport, Delhi, were listed
Copyright 2014-2023 @ AffairsCloud.com 16
among the top 10 in the Top Performing Global ✓ The certification is part of the ‘Eat Right
Airports of 2022. India’ movement- a large-scale effort by
Top Performing Global Airports of 2022: FSSAI to transform India’s food system to
Rank Airport Place ensure safe, healthy and sustainable food
for all Indians.
1 Haneda Airport Tokyo, Japan
✓ Other railway stations with Star
Kempegowda Bengaluru, certification include: Anand Vihar
2 International Airport Karnataka, India
Terminal Railway Station (Delhi);
Salt Lake City Utah, United States Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (Mumbai);
3 International Airport (US)
Mumbai Central Railway Station, (Mumbai);
Detroit Metropolitan Michigan, the Vadodara Railway Station, Chandigarh
4 Wayne County Airport United States (US)
Railway Station and Bhopal Railway
Philadelphia Pennsylvania, the Station.
5 International Airport US
Indira Gandhi
7 International Airport Delhi, India
Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan presents 1st
Gouriamma award to Aleida Guevara
Varanasi Cantt Railway Station Bags ‘Eat Pinarayi Vijayan, Chief Minister (CM) of Kerala,
presented the 1st Gouriamma award to Aleida
Right Station’ Certification from FSSAI
Guevara, Cuban child rights advocate and daughter
The Varanasi Cantt railway station has been
of revolutionary leader Che Guevara, at Olympia
awarded a 5- star ‘Eat Right Station’ certification
Hall at Chandrasekharan Nair Stadium in
by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
India (FSSAI) for providing high quality and
✓ The award recognises her efforts to
nutritious food to passengers.
rehabilitate differently abled children and
✓ The 5-star rating indicates full compliance
provide debt relief to developing countries.
by the station to ensure safe and hygienic
food is available to passengers.

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

IDBI Bank re-appoints Suresh Khatanhar
as Deputy MD for a Year
The Board of Directors of IDBI
Bank Limited re-
appointed Suresh
Kishinchand Khatanhar as
the Deputy Managing Director
(DMD) of IDBI Bank for 1 year
with effect from 15th January
2023, according to the Reserve Bank of India
(RBI)’s approval.
Indian Army Appoints Lt Gen Arvind
Walia as its New Engineer-in-Chief
Lieutenant (Lt) General (Gen) Arvind Walia, a
1986 batch officer and an alumnus of the Indian
Military Academy, Dehradun has been appointed as
the next Engineer-in-Chief of the Indian Army.
✓ He succeeds Lt Gen Harpal Singh who is
superannuating on 31st December 2022.
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva sworn in as
39th President of Brazil
On 1st January 2023, Luiz
Inacio Lula da Silva, the
veteran left-wing politician,
known widely as Lula, was
sworn in for the 3rd term as
the President of the Republic
of Brazil during the
inauguration ceremony held at the National
Congress, in Brasilia, Brazil.
✓ He was sworn in as the 39th president of
Brazil by winning the 2022 Brazilian
general election against far-right leader Jair

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 Bolsonaro (incumbent President of Brazil
(from 2019 to 2022).
✓ Geraldo Alckmin was sworn in as Brazil’s
Vice President during the event.
Ajay Kumar Srivastava Becomes New MD
& CEO of Indian Overseas Bank
Ajay Kumar Srivastava has
been appointed as Managing
Director (MD) and Chief
Executive Officer (CEO)
of Indian Overseas
Bank (IOB), a public sector
bank (PSB), for a period of 3
years with effect from the
date of assumption of office on or after 1st January
2023. Prior to this appointment, Ajay Kumar
Srivastava was serving as the Executive Director of
IOB.
✓ He was appointed following the
superannuation of Partha Pratim
Sengupta, MD & CEO of IOB, on 31st
December 2022.
✓ IOB: Establishment – 1937; HQ – Chennai,
Tamil Nadu; Tagline – Good People to Grow
With
Election Commission of India appoints
Maithili Thakur as Bihar’s State Icon
Maithili Thakur, a Folk Singer, was appointed as the
State Icon for Bihar by the Election Commission of
India (ECI).
✓ Maithili Thakur, an Indian classical and folk
music-trained musician was recently
chosen for the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva
Puraskar of the Sangeet Natak
Akademi (Akademi Award) for her
contribution to the folk music of Bihar for
2021.
Canara Bank MD & CEO L V Prabhakar
Retires
Lingam Venkata
Prabhakar, the Managing
Director (MD) and Chief
Executive Officer (CEO) of
Canara Bank retired from his
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services, on attaining the age of superannuation.
✓ Canara Bank: Establishment- 1906;
HQ- Bengaluru, Karnataka;
Tagline- Together we can
BharatPe CEO Suhail Sameer Steps Down
& CFO Nalin Negi appointed interim CEO
Suhail Sameer, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of
BharatPe, a Fintech startup, has announced has
resigned from the CEO position and will transition
into strategic adviser with effect from 7th January
2023.
✓ Nalin Negi, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of
BharatPe, is set to take over as the interim
CEO of BharatPe.
✓ BharatPe: Chairman- Rajnish Kumar;
HQ- New Delhi, Delhi;
Establishment- 2018
BSE appoints Sundararaman
Ramamurthy as MD and CEO
Industry expert Sundararaman Ramamurthy has
been appointed as the Managing Director (MD)
and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of BSE Limited
(formerly Bombay Stock Exchange) with effect from
4th January 2023, for a period of 5 years.
India Takes Over Leadership of Asian
Pacific Postal Union; Vinaya Prakash
Singh Elected As Secretary General
Dr. Vinaya Prakash Singh, former Member
(Personnel), Postal Services Board, will take over as
Secretary General of the Asian Pacific Postal
Union (APPU) for a 4-year term, following the
successful elections held during the 13th APPU
Congress in Bangkok (Thailand) in August–
September 2022.
✓ He will succeed Mr. Lin Hongliang of China,
the outgoing Secretary General of the APPU,
who was appointed in January 2014.
✓ This marked the first time an Indian has
taken the lead of an international postal
organisation.
✓ With this, India will take over the
leadership of the Asian Pacific Postal
Union (APPU) in January 2023.
Copyright 2014-2023 @ AffairsCloud.com 18
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart
Tokayev reshuffles Cabinet & appoints
Galymzhan Koishybayev as Deputy PM
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of the
Republic of Kazakhstan signed a decree to reshuffle
the cabinet replacing 5 ministers and
appointing Galymzhan Koishybayev as Deputy
Prime Minister (PM) – Chief of Staff of the
Government.
ACQUISITIONS & MERGERS
Adani group acquires 27.26% equity
stake held by NDTV founders Roys for
over Rs 600 crore
Prannoy Roy and Radhika Roy, founders of the
news broadcaster New Delhi Television (NDTV),
sold 27.26% of their equity in NDTV to Adani-
controlled Radhika Roy Prannoy Roy (RRPR)
Holding Private Limited at Rs 342.65 (USD 4.1426)
per share.
✓ Based on the price acquired by Adani
Group, the Roys would have received Rs
602.30 crore from the sale of 1.75 crore
shares.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
CJI DY Chandrachud launches E-SCR
Project for Digital Version of Judgments
Reported in SC
The Chief Justice of India
(CJI) Dhananjaya Yashwant (DY) Chandrachud
launched the Electronic Supreme Court Reports
(E-SCR) project to provide free access to about
34,000 judgements of SC to lawyers, law students
and the common public.
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✓ Kazakhstan: Prime Minister
(PM)- Alikhan Smailov; Capital- Astana;
Currency- Kazakhstani Tenge
Prasanna Kumar Motupalli appointed as
Chairman & MD of NLC India Ltd
Prasanna Kumar Motupalli appointed as Chairman
and Managing Director (CMD) of the state-run NLC
India Ltd (NLCIL), a Navratna Public Sector
Undertaking (PSU)under the Ministry of Coal.
RBI approves SBI Mutual Funds to
acquire 9.99% of Equitas SFB through
Various Schemes
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved SBI
Funds Management Limited (SBIFML – SBI Mutual
Funds) to acquire up to 9.99% of the paid-up equity
capital of Equitas Small Finance Bank (SFB)
(formerly Equitas Microfinance Ltd) through
various schemes of SBI Mutual Fund.
✓ SBIFML: MD & CEO- Shamsher Singh;
HQ- Mumbai, Maharashtra;
Establishment- 1992
Equitas SFB: MD & CEO- Vasudevan P N;
HQ- Chennai, Tamil Nadu;
Establishment- 2016
✓ This project is an initiative to provide the
digital version of the SC’s judgments in the
manner as they are reported in the official
law report i.e. SCRs.
✓ A search engine comprising elastic search
techniques in the database of e-SCR was
developed by the SC along with
the National Informatics Centre (NIC),
Pune (Maharashtra).
Copyright 2014-2023 @ AffairsCloud.com 19
Report Errors in the PDF - ebooks@affairscloud.com Copyright 2014-2023 @ AffairsCloud.com 20
Gaganyaan: India’s 1st Atmanirbhar
human space flight to be launched by
2024
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will
launch India’s 1st Atmamirbhar human flight
“Gaganyaan” by the year 2024.
✓ There will be two preliminary launches in
2024. The 1st will be unmanned, and in the
2nd launch, the robot will be there as a
human replica. On the third launch, humans
will be sent into space.
✓ If the 2 tests are a complete success, it is
reported that humans will travel for the 3rd
time
Pushan-Alpha: Digantara launches
2nd satellite to Monitor Space Weather
onboard Falcon 9 rocket from Florida,
US
Bengaluru (Karnataka) based space situational
awareness (SSA) start-up Digantara launched its
second satellite Pushan-Alpha as a rideshare on
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, carrying Transporter-6
ENVIRONMENT
New Species: New Dwarf Boa ‘Tropidophis
cacuangoae’ Discovered by Ecuadoran
Amazon
Species Name: Tropidophis cacuangoae, a new
species of dwarf boa (snake)
Discovered in: Ecuadorian Amazon, Ecuador
Published in: European Journal of Taxonomy
SPORTS
FIDE World Rapid and Blitz
Championships 2022: Koneru Humpy
wins India’s first Silver Medal at World
Blitz Championships
Indian Grandmaster (GM) Koneru Humpy, a
former world rapid champion, has won
a Silver medal in the Women’s World Blitz
Championship at the FIDE (Fédération
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mission to the low earth orbit (LEO), from Space
Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral
Space Force Station in Florida, United States (US).
✓ The Pushan-Alpha mission is named after
the Hindu Solar (Sun) Deity considered as
the God of journeys and protector of
travellers.
✓ Transporter-6 was SpaceX’s sixth dedicated
smallest rideshare mission carrying 114
payloads.
IIT Guwahati Aeromodelling Club
Engineered Indigenous Multipurpose
Drones
The Aeromodelling club of the Indian Institute of
Technology (IIT) Guwahati (Assam) has engineered
4 state-of-the-art Indigenous Multipurpose Drones
capable of surveillance, precision photography and
warehouse management.
✓ The 4 drones include: “Warehouse
Drones”; “Reaper Drones”;
“Ornithopters” & “RAVEN” an indigenously
built VTOL (Vertical Takeoff and Landing).
✓ The new species is named after 20th
century Indigenous rights activist Dolores
Cacuango.
✓ Two specimens of the species were found in
the Colonso Chalupas national reserve and
in the private Sumak Kawsay park.
✓ The new species is 20 centimetres (7.8
inches) long, with skin colouring similar to
those of the boa constrictor.
Internationale des Échecs) World Rapid and Blitz
Championship 2022 held in Almaty, Kazakhstan
from 25th to 30th December 2022.
✓ Koneru Humpy has won India’s 1st ever
Silver medal in the World Blitz Chess
Championships defeating Zhongyi Tan of
China.
✓ She finished with an outstanding 12.5
points, just 0.5 points behind Bibisara
Copyright 2014-2023 @ AffairsCloud.com 21
 Assaubayeva of Kazakhstan, who won
the gold medal.
✓ Koneru Humpy is the 2nd Indian to win a
medal at World Blitz, after Viswanathan
Anand.
Koustav Chatterjee Becomes India’s 78th
GM in MPL 59th National Senior Chess
Championship
Kolkata-based chess
player Koustav Chatterjee (19-year) became
India’s 78th Grandmaster (GM) in MPL 59th
National Senior Chess. He is also the 10th GM
from Kolkata and West Bengal (WB).
✓ The 59th MPL Senior National Chess
Championship 2022 was held at K.D Jadhav
Indoor Sports Hall, IG Stadium, New Delhi
organised by the Delhi Chess Association
Under the aegis of All India Chess
Federation (AICF).
✓ Note: Hari Madhavan N B (19 years old)
from Tamil Nadu (TN) becomes the 1st
International Master of India in 2023.
World Boxing Council to Create
Transgender Category
The World Boxing Council (WBC), one of the four
governing bodies for Boxing, will introduce
a transgender category from 2023 to ensure
safety and inclusion.
✓ A ‘at birth rule’ will be used, which means
a transgender boxer who is registered as
male at birth will be allowed to fight others
who have also been registered as male at
birth and same for female boxers too.
✓ The WBC will not sanction a new
championship or title belt but will create an
event for the transgender fighters to take
part in the boxing sport.
2023 Hyderabad E-Prix: Hyderabad to
host India’s 1st ABB FIA Formula E
World Championship Race
Hyderabad, Telangana is set to host the 2023
Hyderabad E-Prix, India’s 1st ever ABB
FIA (Federation Internationale de
l’Automobile) Formula E World
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Championship race, all-electric motorsports, on
11th February 2023.
✓ The 2023 Hyderabad E-Prix is round 4 of
the 17 races for the 9th Season of the ABB
FIA Formula E World Championship.
✓ The 2022–23 ABB FIA Formula E World
Championship marks the 9th Season
Championship which will be organised
between January and July 2023.
Pranesh from TN Becomes India’s 79th
Chess Grandmaster; Wins Rilton Cup
2022/2023
M Pranesh (16-year-old) from Tamil Nadu (TN)
became India’s 79th Grandmaster (GM) after
crossing the 2500 ELO rating and winning the
Rilton Cup 2022/2023 held in Stockholm, Sweden.
The Rilton Cup is the first tournament of the FIDE
circuit.
✓ Pranesh is the 28th Grandmaster from
Tamil Nadu (TN).
✓ Grandmaster (GM) is the highest title a
chess player attains and it is awarded by the
world chess organisation FIDE
(Fédération Internationale des Échecs
– International Chess Federation).
✓ To become a GM, a player has to secure
three GM norms and cross the live rating of
2,500 Elo points.
KKCL & BCCI partners as Official
Sponsor of Indian Cricket Team
Kewal Kiran Clothing Limited (KKCL), the retail
giant, has announced plans to enter its flagship
brand ‘Killer’ into a strategic partnership with the
Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) as the
Indian Cricket Team’s “Official Sponsor”. KKCL
owns brands like Integriti, Lawmanpg3, Easies and
Desi Belle.
✓ The brand will now be displayed on the
Team India jersey’s right upper chest. KKCL
will put on the brand Killer logo on Team
India’s Kit until 31st May 2023.
FIH Partners with JSW Group for 15th
Edition Hockey Men’s World Cup
Partnership b/w: International Hockey
Federation (FIH) with the JSW Group
Copyright 2014-2023 @ AffairsCloud.com 22
Purpose: for the upcoming 15th edition of FIH
Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup
2023 Bhubaneswar-Rourkela, which will be
OBITUARY
Pritzker-Winning Japanese Architect
Arata Isozaki Passed Away
Arata Isozaki, a Pritzker-Winning Japanese
Architect, passed away at the age of 91 in Okinawa
Island (Japanese Island). He was born born in Ōita,
Island of Kyushu, Japan in 1931.
✓ He was called a ‘post-modern giant’, who
blended the culture and history of the East
and the West in his designs.
✓ In 1979, Arata Isozaki was appointed to the
1st Pritzker Prize Jury and continued on as
a member for 5 additional years.
✓ In 2019, Arata Isozaki won the Pritzker
Architecture Prize, internationally the
highest honour in the field.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Mother
Heeraben Passes Away
On 30th December 2022 Prime Minister (PM)
Narendra Modi’s mother Heeraben passed away at
the age of 100 in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
Former Tata Sons Director Padma Shri
Awardee R.K. Krishna Kumar Passed
Away
On 1st January 2023, Tata group veteran and
Former Director of Tata Sons, Padma Shri
Awardee Rayaroth Kuttambally Krishna
Kumar passed away in Mumbai, Maharashtra at the
age of 84.
✓ R.K. Krishna Kumar, fondly known as KK,
was born in 1938 in Thalassery (formerly
Tellicherry), Kerala.
✓ In 2009, R.K. Krishnakumar received
the Padma Shri award, India’s 4th highest
civilian honour, for his contributions to
Indian Trade and Industry.
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conducted between 13th January 2023 – 29th
January 2023 in Odisha.
Grammy-winning American singer Anita
Pointer Passed Away
On 31st December 2022, Anita Marie Pointer, a
Grammy-winning American singer-songwriter,
passed away at the age of 74. She was best known
as a founding member of the vocal group the
Pointer Sisters.
✓ Anita Pointer was born on 23rd January
1948 in Oakland, California, United States
(US).
✓ “The Pointer Sisters” won 3 Grammys
(1985 – Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or
Group With Vocal and Best Vocal
Arrangement For Two Or More Voices
& 1975 – Best Country Vocal Performance
By A Duo Or Group )
Siddheshwar Swamiji seer of Sri
Jnanayogashrama in Karnataka Passed
away
Noted spiritual leader Siddeshwar Swami, the seer
of Sri Jnanayogashrama in Vijayapura, Karnataka,
who was known for his scholarly discourses and
powerful oratory, passed away in Karnataka at the
age of 81.
✓ Siddeshwar Swami is often referred to as
the “Walking God of North Karnataka”. He
was also fondly known as Buddiji.
Former Indian Football Player Shyamal
Ghosh Passed Away
Shyamal Ghosh, former Indian Football player,
passed away in Kolkata, West Bengal, at the age of
71.
✓ He made his International debut during the
Merdeka Cup in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in
1974.
✓ He won the Santhosh Trophy thrice in 1975,
1976 and 1977 representing Bengal.
Copyright 2014-2023 @ AffairsCloud.com 23
 ✓ Post retirement, he coached East Bengal to
the CFL, Durand Cup and Kalinga Cup titles
in 1993.
Veteran Sinologist Janaki Ballabh passed
away in Beijing
Veteran Sinologist Janaki Ballabh, an Indian
translator and writer, who translated a range of
Chinese works into Hindi, passed away in Beijing,
China, at the age of 94.
BOOKS & AUTHORS
New Book Title: “The World: A Family
History”
Author: Simon Sebag Montefiore, a British
historian
Publisher: Hachette India
✓ In the two-part book, Simon Sebag
Montefiore explores how people and
families have played a role in the
convergences and divergences in world
history.
New Book Title: “Breaking Barriers: The
Story of a Dalit Chief Secretary”
Author: Kaki Madhava Rao, a former Indian
Administrative Service (IAS) officer (1962 batch)
Publisher: Emesco Books Private Limited.
✓ The book addresses the details about the
dynamics of civil services at the ground
level and also fills the gap in the knowledge
about micro policies and governance.
IMPORTANT DAYS
World Braille Day 2023 – January 4
Annually observed across the globe on January 04.
It is an International Day recognized by the United
Nations (UN).
Purpose: to highlight and raise awareness about
the importance of Braille as a means of
communication for the partially sighted and blind.
✓ World Braille Day commemorates the birth
anniversary of Louis Braille, a 19th-
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✓ He was born in Dalakot village in Almora in
Uttarakhand and was closely associated
with India’s Independence movement.
✓ He lived and worked in China as a Hindi
Language expert from 1956 to the years
immediately following the Cultural
Revolution.
✓ He was honoured with Peace and
Friendship Award 1961 by former Chinese
Premier Zhou Enlai for his contributions to
cultural exchange between China and India.
New Book Title: “Ambedkar: A Life”
Author: Shashi Tharoor, Member of Parliament
(MP – the Lok Sabha – Thiruvananthapuram,
Kerala)
Publisher: Aleph Book Company, and
Promoted by: Rupa Publications India
✓ The book is a biography of Babasaheb
Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar.
Medical Book Title: ‘Human Anatomy’
(in Hindi)
Author: Dr Ashvini Kumar Dwivedi, Homeopathic
Doctor, Professor & Head of Department of
Physiology & Biochemistry SKRP Gujarati
Homeopathic Medical College.
Co-writers: Dr Vaibhav Chaturvedi & Dr Kanak
Dwivedi (Chaturvedi)
Released by: Mangubhai Patel, Governor of
Madhya Pradesh(MP)
Published by: Madhya Pradesh Hindi Granth
Academy
century French educator, who invented
Braille in 1824.
✓ 4th January 2023 marks the observance of
the 5th World Braille Day and
the 214th birth anniversary of Louis Braille.
✓ Louis Braille was born on 4th January 1809
in Coupvray, France. He lost his sight at the
age of 3 by accidentally injuring himself. In
1821, he learned “night writing”, a tactile
Copyright 2014-2023 @ AffairsCloud.com 24
 communication device created by French
soldier Captain Charles Barbier.
✓ Braille, named after its inventor Louis
Braille, is a universally accepted system of
writing used by and for blind persons. It
consists of 63 characters made up of 1-6
raised dots arranged in a matrix or cell of 6
positions. Click here to read more.
Global Family Day 2023 – January 1
Annually observed across the globe on January 1.
Purpose: to promote the concept of harmony and
unity in the world.
✓ Global Family Day is also known as World
Peace Day.
STATE NEWS
Assam Cabinet Grants Industry Status to
the Tourism Sector in Assam
The Cabinet of Assam headed by Himanta Biswa
Sarma, Chief Minister (CM) of Assam approved the
proposal for the grant of industrial status to the
tourism sector in Assam.
✓ With industry status, restaurants, cafeterias,
health clubs, spas and wellness centres
among others are eligible for incentives
under the industrial policy.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh
Inaugurates Siyom Bridge in Arunachal
Pradesh; Dedicates 28 BRO
Infrastructure Projects Worth Rs. 724
Crore
Union Minister Rajnath Singh, Ministry of Defense
(MoD), dedicated to the nation 28 infrastructure
projects of the Border Roads Organization (BRO)
worth Rs. 724 crores in seven bordering
States/Union Territories (UTs), during an event
held at the Siyom Bridge along the Along-Yinkiong
Road in Arunachal Pradesh.
✓ The Siyom Bridge, which is crucial from a
strategic perspective, was physically
inaugurated during the event, while the
other projects were virtually dedicated to
the nation.
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✓ In 1999, UN members were given the
chance to mark January 1 as “Global Family
Day” officially.
World Day of War Orphans 2023 –
January 6
Annually observed across the globe on January 6.
Purpose: to create initiatives to ensure a better
future for children who have been left orphaned by
war and to raise awareness of the need to preserve
their human rights globally.
✓ The French organisation SOS Enfants En
Detresse (SOSEED), which aimed to better
the lives of children impacted by conflict,
established the World Day of War Orphans.
Click here to read more.
✓ These projects are distributed as follows:
Eight in Ladakh, Five in Arunachal Pradesh,
Four in Jammu and Kashmir, Three each in
Sikkim, Punjab & Uttarakhand, and Two in
Rajasthan.
✓ BRO: Director General Border Roads
(DGBR) – Lieutenant (Lt.) General Rajeev
Chaudhary; Established – 1960; HQ – New
Delhi, Delhi. Click here to read more.
UP Govt Signs MoUs Worth Rs. 18,590
Crore with Six UAE Based Companies
The Government of Uttar Pradesh (UP) signed
Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) worth Rs.
18,590 crores with six United Arab Emirates (UAE)
based companies ahead of the “Uttar Pradesh
Global Investors Summit (UPGIS) 2023,” which
will be hosted in Lucknow, UP, in February 2023.
✓ Astha Green Energy Venture and Shree
Siddharth Infratech & Services will each
invest Rs. 4,480 and Rs. 8,000 crore in the
RE sector, creating 2,560 and 4,800 jobs,
respectively.
✓ Sharaf Group and Hindustan Port have
decided to invest Rs. 1,300 and Rs. 210
crore, respectively, in UP, creating 1,500
and 1,000 jobs.
✓ The Lulu Group would invest Rs. 4,500
crores in the retail and food processing
Copyright 2014-2023 @ AffairsCloud.com 25
 sectors, resulting in the creation of 10,000
employment opportunities.
✓ Sobha Realty has agreed to invest Rs 100
crore in education and corporate social
responsibility (CSR), providing employment
for 250 people.
Defence Minister Inaugurates 2
Infrastructures in J&K and Ladakh to
Improve Road Connectivity
Union Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh virtually
inaugurated 2 infrastructure projects – Maitra
Bridge in Ramban district of Jammu and
Kashmir(J&K) and the double-lane Srinagar-
Sonamarg-Gumri road connecting the Ladakh
region with J&K. The 2 projects are aimed to
improve road connectivity in J&K and Ladakh.
✓ Maitra Bridge also known as Jhula Bridge at
Ramban, J&K is a 240-feet Bailey
suspension bridge connecting the Ramban
district administrative complex and Gool
sub-division.
✓ The Srinagar-Sonamarg-Gumri road with a
carriage-way width of 7 metres and road
width of 12 metres connects Srinagar to
Kargil and Leh. The total length of the road
is 84.320 km.
TN Governor R N Ravi Inaugurates
Octave 2023 – Northeastern Cultural
Festival
Tamil Nadu(TN) Governor Ravindra Narayana
Ravi(RN Ravi) Inaugurated the Octave 2023 –
Northeastern Cultural Festival held under
the aegis of the South Zone Cultural Centre, (SZCC)
Thanjavur, TN, under the Union Ministry of Culture,
to showcase the indigenous art and culture of North
East India.
GA Questions Asked in Exams
• Affairscloud’s Self Analysis for General Awareness Section
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✓ Octave 2023 is being organised at the Open
Auditorium, Bharatiya Vidyashram, Kilpauk,
Chennai, TN, from 3rd to 6th January 2023.
Cyclone Mandous: Govt Approves Rs
28.11 crore for AP Tobacco Farmers
Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Commerce &
Industry, approved Rs 28.11 crore to provide
immediate relief to over 28,000 flue-cured
Virginia (FCV) Tobacco farmers affected
by Cyclone Mandous in Andhra Pradesh (AP).
✓ The name, ‘Mandous’, was suggested by the
United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2020 as a
member of the World Meteorological
Organisation (WMO).
Indian Army Inks Pact with Assam Govt
for Treatment of Ex-servicemen at
Medical Colleges
Pact b/w: Indian Army with eight government
medical colleges and hospitals under the
Governemnt of Assam
Purpose: to offer the Ex-Servicemen Contributory
Health Scheme (ECHS) in Assam
✓ The Assam Cancer Care Foundation (ACCF),
Government of Assam and TATA Trust
initiative, has also been empanelled with
ECHS.
HP CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu
Launched Rs 101 crore CM’s Sukhashray
Sahayata Kosh for the Needy
Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Chief Minister (CM) of
Himachal Pradesh (HP), launched CM’s Sukhashray
Sahayata Kosh with an outlay of Rs 101 crore for
higher education for needy children especially
orphans, destitute women and senior citizens with
immediate effect.
Copyright 2014-2023 @ AffairsCloud.com 26
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