Daily Current Affairs January 05 2023

 

CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL NEWS

PM has inaugurated Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee National Institute of Water and Sanitation in Kolkata:

• Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has inaugurated the Syama Prasad Mookerjee National Institute of Water and Sanitation (SPM-NIWAS) at Joka in Kolkata via video conferencing.
• SPM – NIWAS has been set up at a cost of around Rs. 100 Crore, on 8.72 acres of land at Joka, Diamond Harbour Road, Kolkata, West Bengal.
• Through this apex institute on Water and Sanitation, the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS) aims to bridge the knowledge capacity-building gap in the field of public health engineering, sanitation & hygiene, through short, medium & long-term courses which are not just related to engineering but also cover aspects of management, health, accounting, law, and public policies.
• The inauguration of SPM-NIWAS was followed by a day-long national conference on ‘Drinking Water Quality– Issues & Challenges’ organized by DDWS and supported by UNICEF, INREM Foundation, and WaterAid.
• The conference was attended by senior officials from the Government of India, officers of State Governments, and representatives from various development Partners’ of the Rural Wash Partners’ Forum.
• The conference began after observing a two-minute silence on the demise of the mother of the Prime Minster.

2nd phase of the Sari Festival “VIRAASAT”- Celebrating 75 handwoven Sareess of India begins in New Delhi:

• The second phase of the Sari Festival “VIRAASAT”- Celebrating 75 handwoven Sarees of India will begin in New Delhi.
• This phase being organized by the Ministry of Textiles will start at 11 AM and will close at 8 PM on daily basis.
• The second phase, having 90 participants from different parts of the country, will bring participation of famous handcrafted varieties of Sareess like Tie and Dye, Chikan embroidered Saris, Hand Block Saris, Kalamkari printed Saris, Ajrakh, Kantha, and Phulkari.
• The first phase of “VIRAASAT”- started on the 16th and concluded on the 30th of last month.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurates Siyom bridge in Arunachal Pradesh:

• Defense minister Rajnath Singh has inaugurated the Siyom bridge in Arunachal Pradesh, along with 27 other infrastructure projects completed by the Border Roads Organisation.
• Built at 724 crore rupees, these projects will hugely augment India’s border infrastructure, mostly along the Chinese border, from Ladakh to Arunachal.
• The Siyom bridge on the Along-Yinkiong Road will facilitate faster induction of troops, heavy equipment like howitzers, and mechanized vehicles to forward areas of the Upper Siang district, Tuting, and Yinkiong regions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
• 21 other bridges, three roads, and three additional infrastructure projects in Arunachal Pradesh, J&K, Ladakh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Punjab, and Rajasthan, were virtually inaugurated by Rajnath Singh from the Siyom bridge site.

Govt proposes to ban online betting ads on social media platforms:

• The Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) has proposed to ban advertisements of online betting sites on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, as per draft rules for online gaming.
• The Indian Express was the first to report, in October, on how these social media platforms were rife with such advertisements and that the government could soon intervene to curb them.
• According to the draft rules, social media platforms must seek verification from a proposed self-regulatory body about whether an online gaming company has been registered with it before hosting its advertisements.
• The self-regulatory body, in turn, can only register those online games that do not allow wagering based on the outcome of an event, that is, betting platforms.
• This means intermediaries like Instagram and YouTube will not be allowed to host advertisements on platforms that offer online betting under the proposed rules.
• Social media platforms must also display that a certain online game has been registered with the self-regulatory body.

President has inaugurated Samvidhan Udyan Jaipur:

• President Droupadi Murmu reached Jaipur on a two-day visit to Rajasthan.
• She inaugurated Samvidhan Udyan at Raj Bhavan in Jaipur.
• The President, women are continuously moving forward from Panchayat to Parliament House on their merit.
• It is a record to have more than 100 women in the Parliament of the country for the first time.
• President Murmu described Indian Constitution as a vibrant document.
• The President will also inaugurate the Transmission System for Solar Energy Zones in Rajasthan and lay the foundation stone for the thousand Mega Watt Bikaner Solar Power Project virtually.
• She will also grace the launch of a National Campaign on ‘RISE-Rising India through Spiritual Empowerment’, organized by Brahma Kumaris.
• Also, the President will grace the inauguration of the 18th National Jamboree of the Bharat Scouts and Guides at Pali, Rajasthan.

Government proposes self-regulation for e-gaming companies:

• A self-regulatory body, mandatory know-your-customer norms for verification, and a grievance redressal mechanism are among the key proposals in the draft rules for online gaming, released by the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY).
• Online games will have to register with a self-regulatory body, and only games cleared by the body will be allowed to legally operate in India.
• Online gaming companies will not be allowed to engage in betting on the outcome of games, the proposed rules say.
• The proposed rules, aimed at safeguarding users against potential harm from skill-based games, have been introduced as an amendment to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.
• The attempt is to regulate online gaming platforms as intermediaries and place due diligence requirements on them.
• As per the principles laid under the rule, wagering on the outcome of a game will not be allowed.
• All online gaming companies will have to register with the self-regulatory body
• MeitY has invited comments on the draft rules by January 17, and the final rules may be ready next month.
• The revenue of the Indian mobile gaming industry is expected to reach $5 billion in 2025.
• The industry grew at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 38 percent in India between 2017-2020, as opposed to 8 percent in China and 10 percent in the US.
• It is expected to grow at a CAGR of 15 percent to reach Rs 153 billion in revenue by 2024, as per a report by VC firm Sequoia and management consulting company BCG.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Croatia Joins Schengen Zone and Adopts the Euro

• Croatia has switched its currency to the euro and joined the European Union’s borderless Schengen zone.
• Croatia first entered the European Union (EU) in 2013 and now becomes the 27th country to join the Schengen area and the 20th to adopt the euro as its currency.
• However, Croatia will continue to impose strict border controls on its eastern boundaries with non-EU neighbours such as Bosnia, Serbia, and

About Schengen Area :

• The Schengen Area is an area comprising 27 European countries that have officially abolished all passports and all other types of border control at their mutual borders.
• Of the 27 EU member states, 23 participate in the Schengen Area & 4 EU members are not part of the Schengen Area.
• The area is named after the 1985 Schengen Agreement and the 1990 Schengen Convention, both signed in Schengen, Luxembourg.

About the Euro area :

• Euro area or ‘eurozone’ is a bloc of the member states of the European Union (EU) that have replaced their national currencies with a single currency – the euro.
• Before adopting the euro as its currency, Croatia used the kuna with 1 Croatian kuna equalling about 14 cents in the United States.
• Currently, 1 euro equals about $1.06 in the S.
• The new Croatian euro coin will depict scientist Nikola Tesla on one side.
• It will also feature a map of the country and the national checkerboard design.
• Both the Croatian kuna and the euro will remain available for making cash payments for 14 days, after which people can only use euros.

About Croatia :

• President : Zoran Milanović
• Capital: Zagreb
• Currency: Euro

CURRENT AFFAIRS: STATE NEWS

UP Govt Signs MoUs Worth Rs 18,590 Crore with UAE Companies 

• The Uttar Pradesh (UP) government signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) worth Rs 18,590 crore with 6 United Arab Emirates (UAE) companies.
• The MoU was signed ahead of the Uttar Pradesh Global Investor Summit (UPGIS) 2023 in Lucknow, UP in February 2023.
• A delegation led by Minister of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprise (MSME) Rakesh Sachan, met with UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi.
• The agreement will help create more than 20,000 new jobs.

About the MoU :

• The two companies, Astha Green Energy Venture and Shree Siddharth Infratech and Services, will invest Rs 4,480 crore and Rs 8,000 crore, respectively, in renewable energy to create 2,560 and 4,800 new jobs.
• Meanwhile, another two companies, Sharaf Group and Hindustan Port will invest Rs 1300 and Rs 210 crore respectively for providing 1500 and 1000 jobs in the Logistics Park sector.
• Lulu Group to invest Rs 4,500 crore in retail and food processing, creating 10,000 jobs.
• Sobha Realty will invest Rs 100 crore in education and corporate social responsibility.
• The domestic roadshow will start on January 5, 2023, in 9 major cities in the UP led by UP Chief Minister Shri Yogi Adityanath.

About UP :

• Governor : Anandiben Patel
• Chief Minister: Yogi Adityanath
• Capital: Lucknow
• National Park: Dudhwa National Park
• Wildlife Sanctuary: Chandra Prabha Wildlife Sanctuary, Hastinapur WS, Katarniaghat WS
• Tiger Reserve: Pilibhit Tiger Reserve
• Airport: Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport, Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport

About UAE :

• President: Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
• Capital: Abu Dhabi
• Currency: UAE dirham

Odisha becomes 1st state to have separate registration for ‘vintage vehicles

• Odisha became the first Indian state to have a separate registration process for vintage vehicles (both two and four-wheelers) that are more than 50 years old.
• The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has made provision under CMV Rule, 1989 for the registration process of Vintage Motor Vehicles intending to preserve and promote the heritage of vintage.

Key Highlights :

• The new rules shall provide salient features such as the retention of old already registered vehicles with a new Vintage registration mark “VA” series (Unique Registration Mark). “
• As per the rule, two-wheelers and four-wheelers (personal use) that are more than 50 years old from the date of their first registration (including imported vehicles) shall be defined as Vintage Motor Vehicles.
• A vintage motor vehicle is allowed to run on Indian roads only for display, technical research, or taking part in a vintage car rally, refuelling and maintenance, exhibitions, vintage rallies, and to and fro to such exhibitions or car rallies.
• If the vehicle is approved, a fresh registration mark will be assigned to the eligible vehicles for Vintage vehicle as “XX VA YY****”, where VA stands for vintage, XX stands for State Code, YY will be a two-letter series, and “****” is a number from 0001 to 9999 allotted by the State Registering Authority.
• Under the new law, the issue of a new certificate will cost the owner Rs 20,000 and will be valid for 10 years. 

About Odisha :

• Governor: Ganeshi Lal
• Chief Minister : Naveen Patnaik
• Capital: Bhubaneswar
• National Park: Simlipal National Park, Bhitarkanika National Park
• Wildlife Sanctuaries: Tikarpada Wildlife Sanctuary, Chilika Wildlife Sanctuary, Sunabeda Wildlife Sanctuary

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BANKING & FINANCE

HDFC Bank Collaborates with Microsoft as part of its digital transformation journey

• India’s largest private sector bank, HDFC Bank, partnered with Microsoft in the next phase of its digital transformation journey and unlocked business value by transforming the application portfolio, modernizing the data landscape, and securing the enterprise with Microsoft Cloud.
• HDFC Bank as a part of its Future Ready strategy is developing in-house IPs as well as partnering with several companies including FinTechs’ to co-create technology IPs.
• The bank will leverage Microsoft Azure to consolidate and modernize its enterprise data landscape through a Federated Data Lake to scale its information management capabilities across enterprise reporting, and advanced analytics using artificial intelligence (AI).

Key Highlights :

• The IP is built on the Microsoft Azure stack, the solution will enable the bank to democratize and monetize its data landscape catering to several business units, spanning multiple systems, reports, and processes.
• The solution is powered by its unified architecture, collaborative engineering environment, industry-leading security, and ecosystem of AI/ML-based deep learning capabilities.
• The Bank will also leverage Microsoft Power Platform’s industry-leading low code, no code capabilities to set up an App Innovation and Automation Factory.
• The App Factory will enable the Bank to migrate, modernize and transform its application portfolio.
• HDFC Bank will also leverage Microsoft 365, to adopt a modern, integrated, and secure Digital Workplace covering 3 critical areas of transformation – employee collaboration, app modernization, and secure remote work.  

About HDFC Bank :

• Founded: August 1994
• Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
• CEO : Sashidhar Jagdishan

About Microsoft India :

• Founded: 1990
• Headquarters:  Hyderabad, Telangana, India.
• President: Anant Maheshwari
• India Country Manager: Ashutosh Gupta
• Managing Director: Sashi Sreedharan
• Microsoft India Private Limited is a subsidiary of the American software company Microsoft Corporation.

Niva Bupa Health Insurance signs corporate agency agreement with Sundaram Finance to strengthen its distribution

• Niva Bupa Health Insurance Company Limited (formerly Max Bupa Health Insurance Company Limited), signed a corporate agency agreement with Sundaram Finance Limited.
• Under the pact, Sundram Finance will offer Niva Bupa’s select range of indemnity plans to its growing range of existing and past customers.
• Some of the innovative retail products being offered by Sundaram Finance to its customers include ReAssure – Niva Bupa’s highest-selling comprehensive family floater plan, Senior First, a tailor-made plan for Senior Citizens, and Health Recharge, a Super Top Up plan.

About Niva Bupa Health Insurance :

• Founded: 2008
• Headquarters: New Delhi, India
• CEO: Krishnan Ramachandran.

About Sundaram Finance Limited :

• Founded: 1954
• Headquarters: Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
• MD: Rajiv Lochan

Yes Bank partners with Microsoft to transform the mobile banking experience

• YES BANK has partnered with Microsoft to introduce a next-generation mobile application (app) to provide customers with a personalized banking experience.
• Yes, Bank will leverage Microsoft’s Azure platform to create the app which will offer customers a host of services such as online payments, shopping, rewards, and offers, as well as customized dashboards.

About the app :

• The new app will run on Microsoft’s enterprise-grade cloud platform.
• With the support of the app, Yes Bank aims to scale up various services by bringing merchants and ecosystem partners onto a common platform.
• This will empower the Bank to cater to the diverse financial needs of customers across loans, payments, deposits, investments, and cards.

About Yes Bank :

• Founded: 2004
• Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
• MD & CEO: Prashant Kumar
• Tagline: Experience Our Expertise

Bandhan Bank unveils ‘Jahaan Bandhan, Wahaan Trust’ campaign

• One of the fastest-growing banks in the country, Bandhan Bank, launched its integrated marketing campaign featuring cricketer Sourav Ganguly as its brand ambassador.
• This is the first time that Bandhan Bank has appointed a pan-India brand ambassador.

Key Highlights :

• The campaign was conceptualized by Leo Burnett Orchard, which was brought in as the bank’s creative agency in August 2022.
• The ‘Jahaan Bandhan, Wahaan Trust’ campaign emphasizes the ‘trust’ that the brand has been able to earn in 7 years as a Bank and over the last two decades in the various avatars before the Bank.
• The campaign uses the analogy of Ganguly’s career, who became the Bank’s customer soon after the Bank was launched 7 years ago, to showcase the trust of customers and stakeholders that the brand has been able to achieve.

About Bandhan Bank :

• Founded: 2015
• Headquarters: Kolkata, West Bengal, India
• MD & CEO: Chandra Shekhar Ghosh

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BUSINESS NEWS

ONGC will be the most profitable public sector enterprise in 2021-22:

• ONGC was the top profit-making central public sector business (CPSE) in 2021-22, according to the government of India’s Public Enterprise Survey 2021-22.
• Following ONGC, the most profitable CPSEs were the Indian Oil Corporation, Power Grid, NTPC, and SAIL.
• During 2021-22, the net profit of operational public sector firms increased by 50.87 percent to Rs 2.49 lakh billion.
• In 2020-21, it was Rs 1.65 lakh crore.
• The net loss of loss-making CPSEs was lowered by 37.82 percent to Rs 0.15 lakh crore in 2021-22 from Rs 0.23 lakh crore in 2020-21.
• Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL), Mahanagar Telecom Nigam Ltd (MTNL), Air India Assets Holding Ltd, and Eastern Coalfields Ltd were among the major loss-making CPSEs.
• Total gross revenue from operational CPSE activities was Rs 31.95 lakh crore in 2021-22, up from Rs 24.08 lakh crore in 2020-21, representing a 32.65% increase.
• Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd, Bharat Oman Refineries Ltd, and Chennai Petroleum Corporation Ltd were the top five CPSEs contributing to the central exchequer.
• Furthermore, the corporate social responsibility (CSR) expenditure of all CSR-qualifying CPSEs (160) was Rs 4,600 crore in 2021-22, up 2.61 percent from Rs 4,483 crore in 2020-21.
• The top five CPSEs in terms of CSR contributions were ONGC, NTPC, Indian Oil Corporation, NMDC, and Power Grid.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Mr. Ajay Kumar Srivastava appointed as the new MD & CEO of Indian Overseas Bank 

• The Centre has appointed Mr. Ajay Kumar Srivastava as the Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive officer (CEO) of the public sector Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) for 3 years.
• He was appointed following the superannuation of Mr. Partha Pratim Sengupta.
• Before this appointment, he was serving as the executive director of the

About Mr Ajay Kumar Srivastava :

• He started his banking career as a probationary officer in 1991 with Allahabad Bank.
• He also served as Director on the Board of Regional Rural Bank in Allahabad Bank.
• After serving for over 27 years, he joined IOB in October 2017.
• He was appointed as Director on the Board of India Infrastructure Finance Company Limited (IIFCL) by the government for 2 years.
• The highlight of his stint as Executive Director has been playing a very key role in bringing the Bank out of loss in March 2020 and out of Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) in September 2021. 
• He was the only Executive Director in the Bank for about 14 months during 2020-2021.

About IOB :

• Founded: 10 February 1937
• Headquarters: Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
• Tagline: Good People to Grow With

ECI appoints Maithili Thakur as Bihar’s state icon

• Folk singer Maithili Thakur was appointed as the state icon for Bihar by the Election Commission (EC).
• She will create awareness among the voters for their participation in the electoral process.

About Maithili Thakur :

• Maithili Thakur was born in the Madhubani district of Bihar.
• She has rendered traditional folk songs of Bihar in Maithili, Bhojpuri, and Hindi.
• Recently, she was selected for the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar of the Sangeet Natak Akademi for her contribution to the folk music of Bihar for

About ECI :

• Founded: 25 January 1950
• Headquarters: New Delhi, Delhi
• Election Commissioner of India: Arun Goel

CURRENT AFFAIRS: SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

India’s 1st Atmanirbhar human space flight Gaganyaan to be launched by 2024

• Union Minister for Science and Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh announced that the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is ready to launch India’s first Atmanirbhar human flight ‘Gaganyaan’ by the year
• Gaganyaan’ would be India’s first human flight and it will also be an excellent symbol of self-reliance as it will increase the confidence of the nation.

Key Highlights :

• In 2024, there will be two preliminary launchings.
• The 1st launch will be unmanned, this experiment will be done to mark the routes because if the ‘Gaganyaan’ rocket goes into space then it should also return safely in the same way.
• In the 2nd launch also there will be no humans, instead, a robot will be there as a human replica.
• After the complete success of 2 tests, in the 3rd launch, humans will be sent into space.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BOOKS AND AUTHOR

Manu S. Pillai presents his new book, The World: A Family History:

• “The World: A Family History of Humanity,” by British historian Simon Sebag Montefiore, was recently discussed with Indian scholar Manu S. Pillai.
• This two-part book, published by Hachette India, focuses on the significance of families in shaping world history.
• Montefiore, an internationally bestselling author whose works have been translated into 48 languages, hopes to provide a comprehensive narrative of humankind’s journey through the ages, beginning with a family walking along a beach 9,50,000 years ago and including notable families such as the Caesars, Medicis, Incas, Ottomans, Mughals, Bonapartes, Habsburgs, Zulus, Rothschilds, Rockefellers, Krupps, and Churchills.
• The book, released on October 27, 2022, has been regarded as a ground-breaking achievement that will alter our perception of history.

Breaking Barriers is a new book written by former IAS Kaki Madhava Rao:

• “Breaking Barriers: The Story of a Dalit Chief Secretary,” a new book by former IAS officer Kaki Madhava Rao, examines the inner workings of the civil service at the grassroots level and throws insight into micro policies and governance.
• The book was written by Rao, an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) official from the 1962 batch who retired as the chief secretary of Andhra Pradesh, and it was published by Emesco Books Private Limited.
• Rao had a career in the IAS as well as roles as a member of the Board for Financial Supervision and a Director at the Reserve Bank of India.
• He was born in 1939 in the Pedamaddali village of Andhra Pradesh’s Krishna district.
• Rao’s rural Andhra Pradesh background is covered in “Village Days,” which summarizes the entire book.
• Rao’s exposure to the national stage and development into an adult is described in depth in chapters two through five.
• The sociopolitical elements of state and local administration are covered in Chapters 6 through 9, along with the interaction of politics and economics in decision-making.
• NT Rama Rao, Chenna Reddy, and N Chandrababu Naidu are just a few of the politicians that are discussed in chapters 10 and 11 along with the political economy of the nation.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: OBITUARIES

Grammy-winning singer Anita Pointer Passed away

• Grammy-winning American singer and songwriter Anita Marie Pointer Passed away at the age of 74 in Los Angeles.

About Anita Marie Pointer :

• Anita Marie Pointer was born on January 23, 1948, in Oakland, California, United States.
• She was best known as a founding member of the vocal group the Pointer Sisters.
• She was also the lead singer on many of their other hits, including “Yes We Can Can”, “Fire”, “Slow Hand”, and “I’m So Excited”.
• In 1987 Anita released her first solo album named, “Love for What It Is”, which got the single Overnight Success.

About Pointer Sisters :

• The Pointer Sisters are an American girl group from Oakland, California.
• The group gained a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in

Awards & Honors :

• The Group’s first musical album was Fairytale which won a Grammy Award for Best Country Vocal Performance.
• After winning Grammy, the Pointer Sisters became the first black female group to perform at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville & the first contemporary act to perform at the San Francisco Opera House
• In 1975, the Pointer Sisters won a Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, with Anita and Bonnie Pointer.
• The group won three Grammy Awards for their albums and had 13 United States top 20 hit songs between the years 1973 and 1985.
• Their album “Break out” went triple platinum and garnered two American Music Awards.

Karnataka’s Sri Jnanayogashrama’s seer Siddeshwar Swami passed away

• The seer of the Sri Jnanayogashrama in Vijayapura, Karnataka who was known for his scholarly discourses and powerful oratory, Siddeshwar Swami Passed away at the age of 81 in Karnataka.

About Siddeshwar Swami :

• Siddeshwar Swami hails from Bijjaraji in Vijayapura, Karnataka.
• He has spent over 65 years at the ashram and is known for his simple lifestyle and engaging speaking style.
• He was known as the “walking god” among his disciples.
• He was also fondly known as Buddiji.
• Swamiji has written several books on the Upanishads, Gita, Sharana philosophy, and general spirituality. 
• Some of his major works are Siddhanta Shikhamani, Allamaprabhu’s Vachana Nirvachana, and Bhagavad Chintana (Reflections of the Divine).

Daily CA on January 5:

• Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has inaugurated the Syama Prasad Mookerjee National Institute of Water and Sanitation (SPM-NIWAS) at Joka in Kolkata via video conferencing.
• The second phase of the Sari Festival “VIRAASAT”- Celebrating 75 handwoven Sarees of India will begin in New Delhi.
• Defense minister Rajnath Singh has inaugurated the Siyom bridge in Arunachal Pradesh, along with 27 other infrastructure projects completed by the Border Roads Organisation.
• The Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) has proposed to ban advertisements of online betting sites on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, as per draft rules for online gaming.
• President Droupadi Murmu reached Jaipur on a two-day visit to Rajasthan.
• A self-regulatory body, mandatory know-your-customer norms for verification, and a grievance redressal mechanism are among the key proposals in the draft rules for online gaming, released by the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY).
• ONGC was the top profit-making central public sector business (CPSE) in 2021-22, according to the government of India’s Public Enterprise Survey 2021-22.
• “The World: A Family History of Humanity,” by British historian Simon Sebag Montefiore, was recently discussed with Indian scholar Manu S. Pillai.
• “Breaking Barriers: The Story of a Dalit Chief Secretary,” a new book by former IAS officer Kaki Madhava Rao, examines the inner workings of the civil service at the grassroots level and throws insight into micro policies and governance.

• Croatia has switched its currency to the euro and joined the European Union’s borderless Schengen zone.
• The Uttar Pradesh (UP) government signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) worth Rs 18,590 crore with 6 United Arab Emirates (UAE) companies.
• Odisha became the first Indian state to have a separate registration process for vintage vehicles (both two and four-wheelers) that are more than 50 years old.
• India’s largest private sector bank, HDFC Bank, partnered with Microsoft in the next phase of its digital transformation journey and unlocked business value by transforming the application portfolio, modernizing the data landscape, and securing the enterprise with Microsoft Cloud.
• Niva Bupa Health Insurance Company Limited (formerly Max Bupa Health Insurance Company Limited), signed a corporate agency agreement with Sundaram Finance Limited.
• YES BANK has partnered with Microsoft to introduce a next-generation mobile application (app) to provide customers with a personalized banking experience.
• One of the fastest-growing banks in the country, Bandhan Bank, launched its integrated marketing campaign featuring cricketer Sourav Ganguly as its brand ambassador. 
• The Centre has appointed Mr. Ajay Kumar Srivastava as the Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive officer (CEO) of the public sector Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) for 3 years.
• Folk singer Maithili Thakur was appointed as the state icon for Bihar by the Election Commission (EC).
• Union Minister for Science and Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh announced that the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is ready to launch India’s first Atmanirbhar human flight ‘Gaganyaan’ by the year 2024.
• Grammy-winning American singer and songwriter Anita Marie Pointer Passed away at the age of 74 in Los Angeles.
• The seer of the Sri Jnanayogashrama in Vijayapura, Karnataka who was known for his scholarly discourses and powerful oratory, Siddeshwar Swami Passed away at the age of 81 in Karnataka.