Current Affairs One-Liner : 1st June 2023

• National:
• India has emerged as a key source country for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Dubai, one of the wealthiest of the seven emirates in the United Arab Emirates. It ranked among the top five source countries for announced FDI projects and estimated FDI capital
• The Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru paid tribute to late scientist and leader Professor Roddam Narasimha by naming their 0.5-metre diameter enclosed free-jet hypersonic wind tunnel after him.

• Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been re-elected as the President of Turkey for an unprecedented third term. The election was one of the most hotly contested presidential elections in recent times for the influential NATO member
• The Maharashtra government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Sachin Tendulkar appointing the former cricketer as the ‘Smile Ambassador’ for its oral hygiene campaign. The agreement is valid for five years
• North Korea’s first attempt at launching a military spy satellite resulted in failure on Wednesday. South Korea’s military picked up wreckage after the carrier rocket crashed into its western water.
• The Union government has approved the second phase of the CITIIS (City Investments to Innovate, Integrate and Sustain) project under the Smart Cities Mission. The project aims to promote integrated waste management and climate-oriented reform actions.
• French railway major Alstom has emerged as the lowest bidder for the Rs 30,000-crore tender for manufacturing and maintenance of 100 aluminium body Vande Bharat trains.
• An Indian Air Force’s (IAF) Kiran trainer aircraft crashed in an open field in Karnataka’s Chamarajanagar on Thursday during a routine training sortie1. Both the pilots of the aircraft ejected safely
• Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi approved the constitution and empowerment of an Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) for facilitation of the “World’s Largest Grain Storage Plan in Cooperative Sector” by convergence of various schemes of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Ministry of Food Processing Industries
• The Union government has announced that it will invite applications for setting up semiconductor and display fabrication units in India from tomorrow onwards. This comes as the country has reopened the Modified Semicon India Programme

• Economy:
• India’s GDP grew at 6.1% in the January-March 2023 quarter. The nominal GDP or GDP at Current Prices in the year 2022-23 is estimated to attain a level of Rs 272.41 lakh crore, as against Rs 234.71 lakh crore in 2021-22, showing a growth rate of 16.1 per cent
• according to the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI), India’s GDP is seen expanding 7% in the 2022/2023 fiscal year
• The Centre’s fiscal deficit narrowed to 6.4% of the GDP in 2022-23 from 6.71% in FY22, as anticipated by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her Budget in February this year
• World:
• Dubai has achieved a significant milestone in healthcare innovation with the successful trial of medication delivery via drones. The trial was conducted at Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO) in partnership with Fakeeh University Hospital and marks Dubai’s commitment to becoming a global leader in adopting advanced technologies in vital sectors
• The 3rd India-Vietnam Maritime Security Dialogue was held in New Delhi on May 31st . Senior officials from both sides and Services concerned with maritime affairs participated in the Dialogue
• Sports:
• Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka have advanced to the third round of the French Open. Djokovic will take on Alejandro Davidovich Fokina while Alcaraz faces Denis Shapovalov. Sabalenka will be up against Kamilla Rakhimova
• Indian tennis pair Yuki Bhambri and Saketh Myneni have entered the second round of Men’s Doubles at the 2023 French Open . They defeated France’s Arthur Rinderknech and Enzo Couacaud in straight sets
• Banking:
• Asian Development Bank (ADB) has launched its 2023-27 country partnership strategy for India. The focus of this strategy is on accelerating structural transformation and job creation, promoting climate-resilient growth, and deepening social and economic inclusiveness
• Yubi, an online debt marketplace, has teamed up with Indian Bank to offer digital supply chain financing solutions to small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs). The partnership aims to disburse 1,500 crore within the first year
• Kiwi, a credit card platform, announced the launch of a new solution called “Credit on UPI” for customers on May 31. The solution has been certified by the NPCI, making Kiwi the first app in India to provide “Credit on UPI” by issuing Rupay Cards in collaboration with banks
• Obituary:
• Vellayani Arjunan, an eminent scholar, linguist, academician and writer passed away at the age of 90 due to a brief illness. He was a Padma Shri awardee and had been a prominent figure in the academic, cultural and literary sphere of Kerala for decades
• Appointments:
• The Central Government has appointed Shri Ashwani Kumar, Executive Director of Indian Bank as Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer (MD & CEO) of UCO Bank for a period of three years with effect from the date of the assumption of office on or after 01 June 2023
• Gurdeep Singh, CMD of National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) Limited has been given additional charge of the CMD of NEEPCO. According to a release issued by the Ministry of Power on Tuesday, Singh will assume additional charge as CMD of NEEPCO for a period of three months with effect from June 1 or till the appointment of a regular incumbent to this post or until further orders, whichever is earliest
• Awards:
• Damodar Mauzo, a Goan short story writer, novelist, critic, and scriptwriter in Konkani, has been awarded the 57th Jnanpith Award, India’s highest literary honor. He is the second Goan to receive the award, after Ravindra Kelekar in 2008

Questions:

Q.1 Which organization launched the 2023-27 country partnership strategy for India?
a. World Bank
b. International Monetary Fund
c. Asian Development Bank
d. United Nations Development Programme

Q.2 Who has been appointed as the MD & CEO of UCO Bank?
a. Shri Ashwani Kumar
b. Shri Imran Amin Siddiqui
c. Shri Mahesh Kumar Bajaj
d. Shri Shanti Lal Jai