• IDBI Bank approved the appointment of Jayakumar S. Pillai as Deputy Managing Director on the Board of the bank, the company announced through an exchange filing. The bank's board of directors approved the appointment for a period of three years from the date of his taking charge as approved by the RBI.
• Jayakumar S. Pillai has 32 years and 7 months of experience in Canara Bank. He has headed branches in various scales across different geographies and has rich experience in branch banking, mobilization of retail resources, Credit delivery in sectors like Retail, Agriculture, MSME and Recovery. He has also worked as Chief Executive of Canara Bank's UK operations for over 4 years and gained experience in International banking.

• ‘Yoga Mahotsav’ is being organized 25 days before International Yoga Day 2023 in Hyderabad. Telangana Governor Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan will attend the festival as the chief guest.
• Reviewing the preparations, Union AYUSH Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said that thousands of people will join the Healthy Mind and Body Movement organized at NCC Parade Ground, where they will practice Common Yoga Protocol (CYP) and spread the message of the good of humanity . International Day of Yoga will see the participation of the Indian Army, Indian Air Force, Coast Guard and Border Roads Organization in Yoga Bharatmala.

• Ireland is set to become the first country to introduce mandatory health warnings on alcohol products. The new regulation has been signed by Health Minister Stephen Donnelly, which will take effect in three years (May 22, 2026). However, the labels will not be mandatory until May 2026.
• It’s aim is to raise awareness about the potential health risks associated with alcohol consumption. Ireland will introduce mandatory health labelling of alcoholic beverages, with warnings regarding the risk of cancer, liver disease and drinking while pregnant.

• The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) played an important role in conserving and reviving the Handmade Paper-making art of Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh. The Monpa Handmade Paper of Arunachal Pradesh has been revived with the committed efforts of the KVIC.
• The Monpa Handmade Paper-making art originated over 1000 years ago and gradually became an integral part of the local customs and cultures in Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh. This handmade paper was the source of living for the local people of Tawang. This handmade paper has almost disappeared in the last 100 years. KVIC implemented its revival plan and this paper has become functional since 2020.

• The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of India signed a $141.12 million loan agreement for the development of an industrial corridor in Andhra Pradesh.
• The agreement has been signed to support the development of high quality indoor infrastructure facilities in three industrial areas in Andhra Pradesh. These are: roads, water supply plants and power distribution systems.The loan is the second tranche of a $500 million Multi-tranche Financing Facility (MFF) under the program approved by ADB in 2016.

• SBI General Insurance, the non-life insurance arm of India’s largest lender State Bank of India (SBI), has announced the launch of the General Surety Bond Bima (Conditional & Unconditional) insurance product. The Surety Bond Insurance will act as a security arrangement for infrastructure projects and will insure the contractor as well as the principal (contract awarding authority). The product is designed to provide protection against breach of terms and conditions by the contractors either during the bidding stage or during the performance stage of a project.

• Suman Sharma (IRS) took oath of Office and Secrecy as Member of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) . Prior to this, she was serving as Managing Director of Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), a PSU under the MNRE. The Oath was administered by Chairman, UPSC Dr Manoj Soni.
• As an officer of the Indian Revenue Service (Income Tax) of the 1990 batch, In her illustrious career of more than 30 years, she has held several important positions and has been closely involved with the subject matters of international taxation, transfer pricing, export promotion schemes and power trading agreements.

• Five-time World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen won the 2023 Superbet Rapid & Blitz Poland, the second leg of the Grand Chess Tour (GCT) at the Museum of the History of Polish Jews. The Norwegian Grandmaster, the World No.1, finished with a score of 24/36, taking home the $40,000 1st place prize.
• Placed second was local favourite and defending champion Jan-Krzyzstof Duda, who led until the final day and ended just a point behind with 23/36, after nearly winning a final game against Carlsen that would have forced a playoff. Tied for third were Wesley So of the United States and France’s Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, each with 21.5 points, with Levon Aronian finishing in clear fifth place with 20.5.

• India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj, received the Dag Hammarksjold Medals on behalf of Head Constables Shishupal Singh and Sanwala Ram Vishnoi. The Dag Hammarksjold Medal is the highest honor awarded to UN peacekeepers. It is awarded posthumously to members of peacekeeping operations as a tribute to the sacrifice of those who have lost their lives in peacekeeping operations. The ceremony took place at the UN headquarters in New York to commemorate the International Day of UN Peacekeepers. The medal is named after the second Secretary-General of the United Nations, Dag Hammarskjold.

• Tina Turner, the ‘Queen of Rock’n’Roll’ has passed away at the age of 83 after a long illness in her home in Kusnacht near Zurich, Switzerland. The singer, Tina Turner, rose to prominence after performing with her husband Ike Turner in the 1960s before overcoming his violent, abusive behavior to go on to become a chart-topping solo artist.
• Turner earned fans all over the world for her riveting live performances, and was best known for songs such as “Private Dancer”, “The Best”, “What’s Love Got to Do With It” and “Proud Mary”. Turner was diagnosed with intestinal cancer in 2016 and received a kidney transplant in 2017.

Download Daily GK PDF of 27 May 2023