Aspirants Zone: Current Affairs

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Friday, February 18, 2022

Daily Current Affairs 18th February, 2022

Daily Current Affairs 18 February 2022 for Banking/Insurance/SSC and other related exams.

NATIONAL NEWS

Govt approves implementation of Inter-Operable Criminal Justice System project
Government has approved the implementation of the Inter-Operable Criminal Justice System (ICJS) project during the period 2022-23 to 2025-26. The ICJS is a national platform for enabling integration of the main IT system used for the delivery of Criminal Justice in the country.

The project will be implemented as a Central Sector Scheme at a total of 3,375 crore rupees. The phase two of the ICJS project will be a step towards ensuring effective and modern policing.

Government approves Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan scheme to continue till 31st March 2026
The Government has approved the scheme of Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) for continuation till 31st March 2026. The proposal entails an expenditure of over 12 thousand 929 crore rupees. Education Ministry said, it has been envisaged to support around one thousand 600 projects under the new phase of the scheme.

RUSA is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, operating in mission mode for funding the state government universities and colleges to achieve the aims of equity, access, and excellence.

Govt approves continuation of Capacity Development Scheme till March 2026
Government has approved the continuation of the Capacity Development (CD) Scheme till 31st of March, 2026. Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation in a statement said that the outlay approved for the continuation of the Scheme during 15th Finance Commission cycle is 3 thousand 179 crore rupees.

The Capacity Development Scheme is an Ongoing Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry with an overall objective to augment infrastructural, technical as well as manpower resources for enabling availability of credible and timely official statistics.

PM Modi inaugurates TERI's World Sustainable Development Summit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated The Energy and Resources Institute's (TERI) latest edition of the World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS) that will deliberate on the planetary resilience in wake of the multitude of extreme weather events across the globe in the recent years.

Curated on the theme 'Towards a Resilient Planet: Ensuring a Sustainable and Equitable Future', the experts at the Summit will confer on a range of pressing issues from climate change, sustainable production and energy transitions to global commons and resource security, among others.

NCB organises “Darkathon-2022” to find solutions to counter drug trafficking
The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) organised a “Darkathon-2022” to find solutions to counter drug trafficking through darknet. The agency recently smashed three groups of drug peddlers that were operating on the network that is accessed through encryption software which enables anonymity of users.

The prize money for the first winner is ₹2.50 lakh, the runner-up would get ₹2 lakh and the third winner ₹1.50 lakh. The consolation prize for the 4th and 5th place is ₹25,000 each. The online registration will continue till March 31 through https://ncb.cyberchallenge.in.

BANKING & FINANCE

Karnataka Bank honoured with IBA’s banking technology awards
Karnataka Bank has bagged three prestigious awards at the ‘17th annual banking technology conference and awards: 2020-21 Next Gen Banking’.

The bank won the awards under the categories including ‘Best Technology Bank of the Year’, ‘Best Fintech Adoption’ and ‘Best Use of AI/ML and Data Analytics’ – all runner ups.

RBI extends timeline by six months for NBFCS to adhere new NPA recognition norms
The Reserve Bank of India extended the timeline by six months (September 30) for Non Banking Financial Companies to adhere to the new NPA recognition norms.

Earlier the regulator had set March 31 deadline for non-bank lenders to upgrade NPAs only after all arrears and principal dues are paid.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

WPI inflation eases to 12.96% in Jan from 13.56% in the previous month
India’s wholesale price inflation rate eased in January but remained in double digits for the 10th consecutive month amid rising crude oil prices.

Data released by the industry department showed wholesale price index (WPI)-based inflation rate decelerated to 12.96 per cent in January from 13.56 per cent in the preceding month.

Twitter partners with Paytm to boost 'Tips' feature in India
Twitter Inc has partnered with Paytm’s payment gateway to ramp up the support for its ‘Tips’ feature in India. Through ‘Tips’, users can send cash payments to their favourite content creators on the microblogging platform or small business owner.

With Paytm Payments Services partnering with ‘Tips’, users will also be able to use a host of payment services provided by Paytm, including its Paytm digital wallet, Paytm Postpaid (buy-now-pay-later service), debit and credit cards, and net banking.

SPORTS

Ladakh Scouts Regimental Centre lifts 15th CEC Cup Men’s Ice Hockey Championship 2022
Ladakh Scouts Regimental Centre, LSRC, has lifted the 15th CEC Cup Men’s Ice Hockey Championship - 2022. In a seesaw final in NDS Indoor Ice Hockey rink, LSRC beat Indo Tibetan Border Police, ITBP by 3-2 goals.

APPOINTMENTS

Gaming app A23 signs Shah Rukh Khan as brand ambassador
A23, an app owned by online skill gaming company Head Digital Works, has announced that it has roped in Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan as its brand ambassador. The actor will feature in its ‘Chalo Saath Khele’ campaign along with a first-of-its-kind responsible gaming campaign, which showcases skill games such as rummy, fantasy sports, carom and pool. Vice Admiral G Ashok Kumar appointed as India’s first National Maritime Security Coordinator
Vice Admiral G Ashok Kumar, former navy vice chief, took over as India’s first National Maritime Security Coordinator (NMSC), amid growing threats to coastal security and shifting power dynamics in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), where China is attempting to expand its sphere of influence.

Kumar, an alumnus of Sainik School in Amaravathi Nagar, Tamil Nadu, and the National Defence Academy in Khadakvasla, Pune, was commissioned into the navy’s executive branch in July 1982. He stepped down as vice head of the navy last year.

BOOKS

‘Humane: How the United States Abandoned Peace and Reinvented War’ book by Samuel Moyn released"
A new book titled “Humane: How the United States Abandoned Peace and Reinvented War” authored by Samuel Moyn was released. Samuel Moyn is the Professor of Jurisprudence at Yale Law School and a professor of History at Yale University. This provocative book argues about the endless wars the USA created in the past including Vietnam War (1955-1975), Korean War (1950-1953), World War II (1939-1945) etc and this development might not represent progress at all. “Dignity in a Digital Age: Making Tech Work for All of Us” book by Ro Khanna
A new book titled “Dignity in a Digital Age: Making Tech Work for All of Us” has authored by Ro Khanna released. The book highlights the effects of changing lifestyle patterns of Americans due to technological progress. It also mentioned about the digital divide i.e., unequal access to technology and revenue, as it is one of the most pressing issues faced by the United States.

OBITUARIES

Kannada litterateur Dr Chennaveera Kanavi passes away
Eminent Kannada literatteur Dr Chennaveera Kanavi passed away at the age of 94 following age-related complications, family sources said. Kanavi had penned more than 15 books, which were compilation of poems, collection of essays and various other books.

The litterateur had won the Sahitya Akademi award for his book ‘Jeevadhwani’. Besides, he received the Rajyotsava Award, Pampa Award, Nadoja title, Nrupathunga award, Sahitya Bangara Award and several other awards.

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Daily Current Affairs 17th February, 2022

Daily Current Affairs 17 February 2022 for Banking/Insurance/SSC and other related exams.

NATIONAL NEWS

Government approves New India Literacy Programme for Financial Years 2022 to 2027
Government approved a new scheme New India Literacy Programme for the period Financial Years 2022 to 2027 to cover all the aspects of Adult Education to align with National Education Policy 2020 and Budget Announcements 2021-22.

The National Education Policy 2020 has recommendations for Adult Education and Lifelong Learning. The Union Budget 2021-22, announcement had been made to enable increased access of resources, online modules covering the entire gamut of adult education will be introduced.
The objective of the scheme is to impart not only foundational literacy and numeracy but also to cover other components which are necessary for a citizen of 21st century.
The scheme will cover non-literates of the age of 15 years and above in all states and UTs in the country. The target for Foundational Literacy and Numeracy for Financial Years 2022 to 2027 is five crore learners @ 1.00 crore per year by using Online Teaching, Learning and Assessment System OTLAS in collaboration with National Informatics Centre, NCERT and NIOS in which a learner may register him or herself with essential information like name, date of birth, gender, Aadhaar number, mobile number etc.
The estimated total outlay of New India Literacy Programme is over one thousand 37 crore rupees which includes Central share of 700 crore rupees and State share of over 337 crore.

Govt launches scheme for economic empowerment for DNTs
Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment, Dr Virendra Kumar has launched a central sector scheme named the Scheme for Economic Empowerment for DNTs, (SEED) at Dr Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi. The total financial outlay for SEED Scheme is approximately Rs 200 crore to be spent over a period of 5 years starting Financial Year 2021-22 to 2025-26. Tourism Ministry and Alliance Air Aviation Limited sign MoU to promote domestic tourism
Tourism Ministry has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Alliance Air Aviation Limited to boost cooperation for the promotion and marketing of domestic tourism throughout the country.

Alliance Air is the front runner in promoting the Regional Connectivity Scheme of the government which is being promoted under the scheme UDAN - (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik). The MoU was signed with a view to achieve the common purpose of joint domestic promotion and considering the need to synergize the activities of Ministry of Tourism and Alliance Air Aviation Limited in the tourism markets.

Embassy of India in Ukraine sets up 24-hour helpline for Indian nationals
The Embassy of India in Kyiv has issued an advisory for Indian nationals in Ukraine. The Embassy continues to monitor developments.

Official Sources said, they are aware that many Indian students are presently in Ukraine and their families are anxious about their wards, particularly about getting flights to India.
The Embassy of India in Ukraine has set up a 24-hour helpline, which can be accessed at 380 997300428 and 380 997300483. Email ID is cons1.kyiv@mea.gov.in and website is www.eoiukraine.gov.in

GoI forms G20 Secretariat in view India’s G20 Presidency
India will hold the Presidency of the G20 from 1 December 2022 to 30 November 2023 and the G20 Summit will be held in India in 2023 (18th edition). For its preparation, the government has approved the setting up of a G20 Secretariat and its reporting structures. The G20 Secretariat will be guided by an Apex Committee headed by Prime Minister.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Bangladesh-US Air forces to conduct joint air exercise between 20-25 Feb
The air forces of Bangladesh and the US will conduct a joint air exercise between Feb 20-25. The six day long Pacific Air Forces-sponsored, bilateral tactical airlift exercise ‘Cope South 22’ will be conducted at BAF Kurmitola Cantonment, Dhaka, and Operating Location-Alpha, Sylhet, Bangladesh.

The aim of the exercise is to improve interoperability with the Bangladesh air force and to support the armed forces of Bangladesh's long-term modernization efforts in order to maintain regional stability.

World Health Organisation launches Quit Tobacco App
The World Health Organization (WHO) launched a ‘Quit Tobacco App’ to help people kick the cigarette butt and give up tobacco in all forms, including smokeless and other newer products.

The app, the first such by WHO, and the first that targets all forms of tobacco, helps users identify the triggers, set their targets, manage cravings and stay focused to quit tobacco.
Tobacco is the world’s leading cause of preventable death and kills nearly 8 million persons every year. It claims 1.6 million lives in the WHO South-East Asia Region, which is amongst the largest producers and consumers of tobacco products.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

Jio Platforms picks up 25% stake in US-based tech startup TWO Platforms
Jio Platforms has picked up a 25% stake in US-based deep-tech startup company TWO Platforms for $15 million. Two Platforms is an artificial reality company that focuses on building interactive and immersive AI experiences. The two companies have joined hands to fast track the adoption of new technologies and build disruptive technologies such as AI, metaverse and mixed realities. SIDBI launches 'waste to wealth creation' programme in Bengal
SIDBI has launched the 'Waste to Wealth Creation' programme in which women will make ornaments and showpieces from fish scale in the Sundarbans in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas district.

APPOINTMENTS

Bihar ropes in Manoj Tiwari as brand ambassador to promote Khadi
Bhojpuri singer and BJP MP, Manoj Tiwari will be the brand ambassador of Khadi and other handicrafts of Bihar. He will be the “brand ambassador” for Khadi and other handicrafts of Bihar, state minister Syed Shahnawaz Hussain announced. Manoj Tiwari will promote the use of Khadi fabric, which was popularized by Mahatma Gandhi during India’s Independence movement.

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Thursday, February 17, 2022

Daily Current Affairs 16th February, 2022

Daily Current Affairs 16 February 2022 for Banking/Insurance/SSC and other related exams.

NATIONAL NEWS

Centre sanctions over Rs 24 crore for dredging in Gomati river to boost Indo-Bangla waterway project
The Centre has sanctioned over Rs 24 crore for dredging in Gomati, a transboundary river between India and Bangladesh, and setting up 10 jetties for a waterway project. Of the total 93-km proposed waterway from Sonamura in Tripura's Sepahijala district to Daudkandi in the neighbouring country, around 15.5-km stretch needs dredging to operationalise the route. India signs MoU to hand over wheat to WFP in Kandahar
India signed an agreement with the United Nation’s World Food Programme (WFP) for the distribution of 50,000 MT of wheat that it has committed to sending Afghanistan as part of a humanitarian assistance, with diplomatic efforts under way to begin sending truck convoys through Pakistan by road, expected to begin after Punjab elections on February 20 are completed. Indian Railways to set up biggest, world-class Wrestling academy in Delhi
In line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to offer the best sports facilities to sportspersons, the Railway Ministry had committed wrestlers of Indian Railways to provide a world class wrestling academy at the earliest. In a bid to fulfill the commitment to set up a state-of-art wrestling academy in Indian Railways, work has been sanctioned by the ministry to establish the same at Kishanganj, Delhi.

The wrestling academy will be set up at an estimated cost of Rs 30.76 crores.
According to the Railway Ministry, this wrestling academy will be the biggest in India, equipped with advanced training facilities. It will provide an opportunity for many budding wrestlers to become champions in the coming time, the ministry stated.

LAHDC, Leh launches new scheme Kunsnyoms for differently-abled persons
Autonomous Hill Development Council, Leh has launched a new scheme Kunsnyoms for differently-abled persons in the district. Kunsnyoms, meant Equal for All, Fair for All, aims inclusive and accessible Ladakh.

Under the new scheme Leh Hill council is providing assistive devices, technologies to needy people at 90 percent subsidy.

Rajasthan tops solar electrification under Saubhagya: Centre
Rajasthan has the maximum households electrified through the solar-based standalone system, while hill states of Himachal Pradesh and Sikkim and the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir had nil beneficiaries under the initiative.

Under the Saubhagya scheme, as many as 1,23,682 households were electrified through solar-based standalone system in Rajasthan, followed by Chhattisgarh (65,373), Uttar Pradesh (53,234), Assam (50,754), Bihar (39,100), Maharashtra (30,538), Odisha (13,735), Madhya Pradesh (12,651).

NITI Aayog and PhonePe to launch Fintech Open Hackathon
NITI Aayog in association with PhonePe will launch the Fintech Open Hackathon. The Hackathon will provide an opportunity for innovators, digital creators and developers from all over India to think, ideate and code. It aims to showcase path-breaking solutions for the Fintech Ecosystem.

The last date to register for the event is 23rd February and the deadline to submit the final entries is on 25th February this year. The winners of the Hackathon will be announced on the 28th of this month.

BANKING & FINANCE

Karur Vysya Bank ties with Unanu Technologies for digital freight finance
Karur Vysya Bank has joined hands with Unanu Technologies (UNANU), a major End to End Logistics Software Platform provider, for digital freight finance.

Karur Vysya Bank has joined hands with the Chennai-based UNANU Technologies for digital freight finance to fund transport contractors. using the end-to-end logistics technology platform.
UNANU has built the Freight Financing System within their suite of software platforms. The ‘U-Turbo’ platform has visibility right from the time of material pick-up until it reaches the destination.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

Dabur becomes first Indian ‘Plastic Waste Neutral’ FMCG Company
India’s largest Science-based Ayurveda major Dabur India Ltd has now become a 100% ‘Plastic Waste Neutral company’ in India, having collected, processed and recycled around 27,000 MT of post-consumer plastic waste from all over India in the 2021-22 financial year.

With this, Dabur has become the first Indian consumer goods company to achieve this landmark.

Reliance Jio partners with SES to announce satellite-based internet for India
Reliance Jio has partnered with SES, a Luxembourg-based satellite solutions provider to form a new initiative – Jio Space Technology Limited. The joint venture is aimed at delivering the next generation scalable and affordable broadband services in India by making use of satellite technology.

Jio and SES will own 51 percent and 49 percent each in the equity stake.

Renault India partners CSC e-Governance Services to support PM Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyaan
Automaker Renault India has partnered with CSC e-Governance Services (Common Service Centres) to support the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyaan (PMGDISHA), the country's flagship programme that aims to provide digital literacy to masses.

The partnership is aimed at empowering the citizens in rural areas by training them to operate computers or digital devices like laptops, browse the internet, access government websites and banking services and undertake digital payments, Renault India said in a statement.

Vedanta signs pact with Foxconn to manufacture semiconductors in India
Anil Agarwal's Vedanta has joined hands with electronics manufacturing services giant Foxconn to form a joint venture (JV) for manufacturing semiconductors in India.

In December last year, the central government approved ₹76000 crore for development of semiconductors and display manufacturing ecosystem in India.
Now, Vedanta has become the first company to announce investment in semiconductor manufacturing in India.

SPORTS

Leh: Kharu team wins 15th CEC Ice Hockey Championship for women
In Leh, Kharu team won the 15th CEC Ice Hockey Championship for women. In an exciting match in NDS Indoor Ice Hockey rink in Leh today, Kharu defeated Lalok women team by 4-1 goals.

APPOINTMENTS

CBSE appoints IAS Vineet Joshi as new chairman
IAS Vineet Joshi, Additional Secretary, Department of Higher Education, has been appointed as the new chairman of Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), as per a CBSE circular. Joshi would be replacing IAS Manoj Ahuja. Justice Gita Mittal appointed chairperson of Administrators to run TTFI
The Delhi High Court has appointed Justice Gita Mittal and former Chief Justice of J&K High Court as chairperson of the Committee of Administrators to conduct the affairs of the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI).

OBITUARIES

Legendary singer-composer Bappi Lahiri passes away at 69
Veteran singer and music composer Bappi Lahiri passed away on February 15 in Mumbai. His sudden demise has sent shockwaves across the country and left scores of fans in a state of grief. Bappi Lahiri was known for popularising disco music in India in the 80s and 90s.

Bappi Lahiri, whose real name was Alokesh, was also known for delivering popular songs in several films of the late 1970s-80s like Chalte Chalte, Disco Dancer, and Sharaabi.
Bappi Lahiri's last Bollywood song was Bhankas for the 2020 film Baaghi 3.

Legendary Bengali singer Sandhya Mukhopadhyay passes away at 90
Legendary Bengali singer Sandhya Mukhopadhyay passed away in Kolkata after a brief illness. She was 90. Sandhya Mukhopadhyay took Bengali songs to new heights, whether it was playback singing for films or songs released during Durga Puja, which emerged as a new genre and labelled modern Bengali songs (“adhunik gaan”). Karnataka's Samanvaya Kavi Nadoja Channaveera Kanavi passes away
Popularly known as Samanvaya Kavi or the poet of reconciliation, Nadoja Channaveera Kanavi passed away. The Central Sahitya Akademi has honoured him with the Akademi award for his collection of poems Jeevadhwani in 1982. He is also honoured with the Karnataka Sahitya Akademi Award, Karnataka Rajyotsava Award, Pampa Award and Nadoja honorary D.Litt by Hampi Kannada University.

IMPORTANT DAYS

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Daily Current Affairs 15th February, 2022

Daily Current Affairs 15 February 2022 for Banking/Insurance/SSC and other related exams.

NATIONAL NEWS

FM Sitharaman launches first colour souvenir coin on 'Panchtantra'
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman launched the first colour souvenir coin on 'Panchtantra' on the occasion of 17th foundation day of Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India Limited (SPMCIL).

The finance minister in her address stressed on upskilling and acquiring new skills, and upgradation to meet the technology driven economy.

India to replace diesel by renewable energy in agriculture by 2024, says Power minister
India will replace use of diesel in farming with renewables by 2024, union power and renewable energy minister R K Singh said. He said the country targets to make the agriculture sector diesel- free in the next two years.

He urged that all states should develop specific action plans to achieve the assigned targets.
At the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow in November 2021, India committed to achieve 500 Gw non-fossil energy capacity by 2030 and meeting 50% of energy requirements through renewable energy.

Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs sanctions Rs 2.26 cr for festival of Medaram Jathara 2022
Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs has sanctioned 2.26 crore rupees for various activities pertaining to the festival of Medaram Jathara 2022. The Medaram Jathara is the second-largest fair of India, after the Kumbh Mela, celebrated by the second-largest Tribal Community of Telangana - the Koya tribe for four days. This year it is being celebrated from 16th till 19th Feb 2022. MoD signs up Bengaluru startup for pseudo satellite deal|
The ministry of defence has signed up a design and development contract with NewSpace Research & Technologies, a Bengaluru-based company to develop a High Altitude Pseudo Satellite (HAPS) which will be able to conduct surveillance operations and support communications by staying airborne for months at a stretch. Government bans 54 Chinese apps posing threat to national security
Government has banned 54 Chinese apps posing threat to national security. Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has issued the list of banned apps. These include Beauty Camera: Sweet Selfie HD, Beauty Camera - Selfie Camera, Equalizer & Bass Booster, CamCard for SalesForce Ent, Isoland 2: Ashes of Time Lite, Viva Video Editor, Tencent Xriver, Onmyoji Chess, Onmyoji Arena, AppLock and Dual Space Lite to name a few. Jaisalmer Desert Festival begins in Rajasthan
In Rajasthan, February is the time of myriad colourful festivals and fairs. The royal land enjoys folk dance, music, heritage and various cultural festivities in this month. The world-famous Jaisalmer Desert Festival is also known as Maru Mahotsav of the Golden City which began at Pokaran.

The four-day-long festival started with colourful grand procession followed by Miss Pokaran and Mister Pokran competitions.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

One Ocean Summit held in Brest, France
On the occasion of the One Ocean Summit taking place in Brest, France, UNESCO announced it has set itself the goal of including ocean education in the school curricula of its 193 Member States by 2025. To achieve this goal, the United Nations agency is making available to public decision-makers a toolkit with a shared reference framework of educational content on the ocean.

BANKING & FINANCE

Yes bank launches ‘YES BANK Agri Infinity’ program
YES BANK announced the launch of an annual startup enabler program, YES BANK Agri Infinity, which seeks to co-develop digital financial solutions for the food and agriculture ecosystem by mentoring entrepreneurial ventures in the field.

Through the initiative, a select cohort of startups will not only receive mentoring by veteran bankers for experiential co-development, but also get access to YES BANK’s digital banking infrastructure and network, collaborative opportunities to pilot new solutions and fundraising advisory.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

Biggest bank fraud: CBI books ABG Shipyard, ex-MD, others for cheating banks of ₹22,842 cr
In its biggest bank fraud case, the CBI has booked ABG Shipyard Ltd and its then Chairman and Managing Director Rishi Kamlesh Agarwal along with others for allegedly cheating a consortium of banks led by State Bank of India of over ₹22,842 crore. Centre's GDP deflator forecast for FY23 is 3-3.5%: FM Nirmala Sitharaman
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that the Centre’s gross domestic product (GDP) deflator projection for 2022-23 is 3 to 3.5 per cent. This means that the government’s own real GDP growth projection for the coming fiscal year is in the range of 7.6-8.1 per cent, given that the Union Budget assumes a nominal GDP growth rate of 11.1 per cent for FY23.

GDP deflator, or implicit price deflator, is a measure of inflation and is the difference between nominal GDP and real GDP.

Retail inflation jumps to 6.01 percent in January: Govt data
Retail inflation jumped to 6.01 percent in January 2022 compared to 5.56 percent in December 2021. As per the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation data, rate based on the Consumer Price Index, CPI, Inflation in food and beverages rose to 5.58 percent compared to 4.5 percent in December. Ministry of Finance grants Rs 1154.90 crore to Urban Local Bodies of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, and Sikkim
Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance has released an amount of 1154.90 crore rupees to four states for providing grants to Urban Local Bodies. The States to which grants were released are Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, and Sikkim. The grants released are meant for Non-Million Plus cities including Cantonment Boards.

The 15th Finance Commission in its report for the period from 2021-22 to 2025-26 has divided the Urban Local Bodies into two categories. These are Million-Plus urban agglomerations and cities excluding Delhi and Srinagar, and all other cities and towns with less than one million population. The 15th Finance Commission has recommended separate grants for them.

APPOINTMENTS

Ilker Ayci appointed Air India CEO
The Tata Group has appointed Ilker Ayci — former Turkish Airlines Chairman — as Air India's Managing Director and CEO effective on or before April 1. The development is in line with the Tata Group's plans to appoint an expatriate chief to run the airline it took over from the Indian government last month. German president Frank-Walter Steinmeier re-elected for another term
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has been re-elected for a second term of five years by a special parliamentary assembly. Before first becoming president in 2017, Steinmeier, 66, served two stints as Chancellor Angela Merkel's foreign minister and earlier was chief of staff to Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder.

BOOKS

"How to Prevent the Next Pandemic" book by Bill Gates
Bill Gates is optimistic that "COVID-19 can be the last pandemic." So much so that he's dedicated his next book to it. His new book will be "How to Prevent the Next Pandemic." and it will be published in May 2022.

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Monday, February 14, 2022

Daily Current Affairs 14th February, 2022

Daily Current Affairs 14 February 2022 for Banking/Insurance/SSC and other related exams.

NATIONAL NEWS

IIT-M Research Park, Saint-Gobain India sign MoU on renewable energy
Saint-Gobain India and the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras, Research Park have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop a 100 per cent renewable energy, research park.

As per the MoU, Saint-Gobain would support IIT-M Research Park with a funding of Rs 1 crore over the next three years.

First ISRO Launch In 2022: PSLV-C52 Successfully Launches Earth Observation And 2 Small Satellites
Marking the first launch mission of the year 2022, Indian Space Research Organisation's earth observation satellite EOS-04 and two small satellites were successfully placed into the intended orbit by the PSLV-C52 rocket from the first launch pad of Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, a feat described by the ISRO as a "marvellous accomplishment".

After first injecting EOS-04, the two small satellites INSPIREsat-1 and INS-2TD were also put into their orbits respectively.

Indian Army conducts first-of-its-kind ‘‘Hackathon’ on emerging technologies
Indian Army conducted a first-of-its-kind ‘Hackathon’, giving yet another shot in the arm for proficiency and expertise in the use of emerging technologies, and to delineate the technological side of the armed force.

The hackathon was conducted in the Military College of Telecommunication Engineering (MCTE), Mhow under the overall guidance of the Shimla-based Army Training Command (ARTRAC), one of the seven commands of the Indian Army.
The event was conducted from 01 October 2021 to 31 December 2021 under the name of “Sainya Ranakshetram”, in collaboration with the Rashtriya Raksha University.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Israel becomes first country allowing drones in civilian airspace
Israel's Ministry of Transport and Road Safety has announced the country's first certification for unmanned aircraft vehicles (UAVs) to operate in civilian airspace.

The approval will allow Elbit's drone to fly in civilian airspace like any other civilian airliner, rather than being restricted to unsegregated airspace.

BANKING & FINANCE

Bank of Baroda to acquire Union Bank's stake in IndiaFirst Life Insurance
Bank of Baroda will acquire Union Bank of India's 21% stake in IndiaFirst Life Insurance Company, a joint venture between Bank of Baroda, Union Bank of India and Carmel Point Investments.

The government backed lender said that pursuant to a 'Right of First Offer' (ROFO) made by Union Bank of India (UBI) to the existing shareholders of IndiaFirst Life Insurance Company to divest 21% of its stake in the life insurance company and on completion of related processes.
On conclusion of this stake sale process, the revised shareholding in IndiaFirst Life Insurance Company will be Bank of Baroda-65%, Carmel Point Investments India-26% and Union Bank of India- 9%.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

India and Australia sign MoU on Tourism cooperation
India and Australia have signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Tourism cooperation in the field of Tourism. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the field of tourism will enhance cooperation and encourage Expansion of bilateral relations in tourism.

Australia is one of the most important tourism generating markets for India (ranked 4th in terms of Foreign Tourist Arrivals to the country in 2019 and contributing 3.4% in total tourism share of foreign tourists in the country).

APPOINTMENTS/RESIGNATIONS

Debashis Mitra takes over as ICAI President; Aniket Sunil Talati becomes VP
Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) said Debashis Mitra has been elected as its President for the 2022-23 term.

Aniket Sunil Talati has been elected as Vice President of the institute, which has more than 3.40 lakh members and over 7 lakh students.

Burkina Faso: Lt Col Damiba declared president by the Constitutional Council
Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, who took power in a coup in Burkina Faso on January 24, has been declared "president" by the Constitutional Council. Chairman of Supreme Court-formed Char Dham panel resigns
Ravi Chopra, the chairman of a panel set up by the Supreme court to oversee widening of roads under the Char Dham Pariyojana has written to the top court saying he wanted to resign as the road ministry was ignoring the committee’s recommendations.

Accoding to Chopra’s letter, MoRTH had accepted a double lane paved shoulder (DLPS) configuration for roads that come under the project’s ambit, despite the HPC’s recommendations against it.

AWARDS

RailTel gets ICAI award for excellence in financial reporting
RailTel has bagged the ICAI award for excellence in financial reporting for the year 2020-21 in Public Sector Entities Category. The company was adjudged as winner in the category "plaque".

The award was given by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), the premier accounting body which has been holding the annual competition for these awards since 1958.

IMPORTANT DAYS

FICCI CASCADE celebrated 'Anti-Smuggling Day' on 11 February
FICCI's Committee Against Smuggling and Counterfeiting Activities Destroying the Economy (CASCADE) has taken a lead to mark the launch of Anti-Smuggling Day on 11th February beginning 2022. 'Anti-Smuggling Day' will represent a major step in the fight against the global menace of smuggling. With no country immune to the impact of smuggling and no single sector can be said to be an exception, this day will highlight the mounting hazard of smuggling. It will not only call for attention for creating awareness on this issue, but will also evaluate what more needs to be done at a national and international level in mitigating this challenge.

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Sunday, February 13, 2022

Daily Current Affairs 13th February, 2022

Daily Current Affairs 13 February 2022 for Banking/Insurance/SSC and other related exams.

NATIONAL NEWS

Govt approves Rs 26,275 cr central financial outlay from 2021-22 to 2025-26 for modernisation of police forces
The Government has approved 26,275 crore rupees central financial outlay from 2021-22 to 2025-26 for modernisation of police forces. Home Minister Amit Shah has been taking the initiatives to modernise and improve the functioning of Police Forces of States and Union Territories under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The umbrella scheme of Modernisation of Police Forces (MPF) comprises all relevant sub-schemes that contribute to modernization and improvement.
The scheme for modernization of state police forces has a Central outlay of 4,846 crore rupees.
A central scheme for Modernisation of Forensic Capacities with outlay of over 2,080 crore rupees has been approved.
Central outlay of 18,839 crore rupees has been earmarked for security-related expenditure for Jammu and Kashmir, insurgency affected North Eastern States and Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected areas.
For raising of India Reserve Battalions central outlay of 350 crore rupees has been approved.

Indigenous Tejas MK-I Aircraft to participate in Singapore Air Show-2022
A 44 member contingent of Indian Air Force, IAF reached Changi International Airport Singapore to participate in the ‘Singapore Air Show-2022’. Singapore Air Show is a biennial event which provides a platform for the Global Aviation Industry to showcase their products.

IAF will be pitching the indigenous Tejas MK-I alongside participants from across the world.

Madhya Pradesh: Central Jail Indore gets own FM radio channel
In Madhya Pradesh, Central Jail of Indore has started its own radio channel 'Jail Vaani-FM 18.77'. Through this radio channel, the jail inmates will get to know about the happening in the world. The radio channel will also provide the jail inmates with information on health and social issues.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

RBI to enhance VRR cap for foreign investors by Rs 1 lakh from April 1
The voluntary retention route (VRR) cap for foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) will be enhanced by Rs 1 lakh crore to Rs 2.50 lakh crore, given the increased interest shown by them, Reserve Bank of India Governor Shaktikanta Das announced. It will be applicable from April 1.

He said a dedicated investment limit of Rs 1,50,000 crore was set for investments under the VRR earlier.

SPORTS

Bengaluru Open: Saketh Myneni and Ramkumar Ramanathan Win Doubles Crown
India’s Saketh Myneni and Ramkumar Ramanathan won the doubles title of the Bengaluru Open ATP Challenger after dominating their French rivals Hugo Grenier and Alexandre Muller in the final held at the KSLTA Stadium.

OBITUARIES

Rahul Bajaj, former chairman of Bajaj Auto, passes away at 83
Veteran industrialist and head of the Bajaj group, Rahul Bajaj, who had pneumonia and also a heart problem, has passed away at the age of 83.

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Daily Current Affairs 12th February, 2022

Daily Current Affairs 12 February 2022 for Banking/Insurance/SSC and other related exams.

NATIONAL NEWS

Telangana govt, British Council renew partnership for research, innovation
British Council, an international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural exchange, and the Telangana government signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to renew their partnership in education, English and arts to create opportunities for the youth of Telangana.

Under the extended three-year MoU between the Telangana government and the British Council, a fresh pact has been agreed upon between Research and Innovation Circle of Hyderabad (RICH) and the British Council that would see both the organisations work to engineer new partnerships among universities, research institutions and centres of excellence in the UK and in Telangana, a press release from the British Council said.

Central Scheme SMILE launched to provide welfare measures to marginalised people
Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Virendra Kumar launched the Central Sector Scheme “SMILE: Support for Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise.

This umbrella scheme, under the aegis of the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, is designed to provide welfare measures to the transgender community and the people engaged in the act of begging, the ministry said.
'SMILE’ includes two sub-schemes – ‘Central Sector Scheme for Comprehensive Rehabilitation for Welfare of Transgender Persons’ and ‘Central Sector Scheme for Comprehensive Rehabilitation of engaged in the act of Begging’.

Govt allocates funds to National Institute of Siddha to enhance infrastructure and increase in research facilities: Sarbananda Sonowal
Ayush Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said the ministry has allocated sufficient funds to the National Institute of Siddha to enhance infrastructure including an increase in the strength of doctors and research facilities.

Mr. Sonowal said in 2020-21, over 47 crore rupees were allocated. Replying to questions in the Lok Sabha, the minister said a clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Siddha Medicine nandhi Mezhugu in stage one and two breast cancer patients has been initiated in collaboration with All India Institute of Ayurveda, New Delhi.
The minister said Ayush ministry has established the Central Council for Research in Siddha (CCRS), the apex body for research in Siddha system of Medicine.

AIM, NITI Aayog, and UNDP India launches Community Innovator Fellowship
Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog in collaboration with UNDP, India launched the Community Innovator Fellowship (CIF).

The fellowship is developed as a pre-incubation model which will provide youth with an opportunity to establish their social enterprise focusing on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) based solutions for solving community issues.
This fellowship is a year-long program that aims to provide young community innovators necessary infrastructure and knowledge building in their entrepreneurial journey. This is a propelling initiative to harness the creativity and the innovation potential that the grassroots of India hold.

Maharashtra’s Health Minister announces "Hope Express" will be launched to prevent cancer
Maharashtra’s Health Minister Rajesh Tope announced that "Hope Express" will be launched in the state to prevent cancer. He was speaking at the launch of a state-of-the-art Mosaic-3D radiation machine at a private hospital in Kolhapur.

This is the first such machine in India. The State Health Minister also promised to take initiative to start Hope Express in every district of the state through district planning.
He also inaugurated the Oncoprime Cancer Center online at the Hattarki Hospital in Gadhinglaj. The center will benefit patients in rural areas.

Centre to invest Rs Five lakh crore in road infrastructure sector of Bihar in next five years: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari
Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari said that five lakh crore rupees will be invested in the road infrastructure sector of Bihar in the next five years.

Addressing a function in Munger in Bihar via video conference Mr. Gadkari said that his ministry will complete road projects worth 25,000 crore rupees during 2022-23.
The union minister said 18 new bridges will be constructed with an expenditure of 27, 000 crore rupees, and 700 crore rupees has been earmarked for Road Over Bridges (ROBs) in the state.

BANKING & FINANCE

Paisabazaar ties up with RBL bank to offer credit card
Paisabazaar.com, a digital platform for consumer credit, has tied up with RBL Bank to offer ‘Paisa on Demand’ (PoD), a credit card.

The credit card will be exclusively available on the Paisabazaar platform. As per a press release, the credit card from RBL Bank will be lifetime free with a digital onboarding process.
Along with features of a credit card, the product will provide customers the option of availing personal loans from RBL Bank, using the same credit limit at normal personal loan rates.

HDFC ERGO partners with Visa to offer insurance covers for Visa’s Platinum cardholders
HDFC Ergo General Insurance announced its partnership with Visa to offer curated insurance covers for Visa’s Platinum cardholders for select public sector banks.

The company said that the usage of cards as a form of payment has witnessed an increase and seen tremendous acceptance as a preferred mode of payment during the pandemic.

Paytm has highest penetration in digital payments
Paytm, which got listed in bourses in November last year, continues to lead digital payments iith over 45 per cent penetration in Fintech, reveals a Comscore report.

Paytm is closely followed by Google Pay (mobile App) at 43 per cent penetration (reach as percentage of total digital population), the report showed.
The Comscore report revealed that financial services was among the top online content categories, accounting for 80 per cent of the total internet audience in the country.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

SEBI revamps advisory committee on Investor Protection and Education Fund
Capital markets regulator SEBI has restructured its advisory committee on Investor Protection and Education Fund (IPEF).

The panel is mandated to recommend investor education and protection activities that may be undertaken directly by the markets regulator, or through any other agency, for utilisation of the SEBI Investor Protection and Education Fund.
The eight-member committee will now be chaired by G Mahalingam, former Whole Time Member of SEBI, according to the latest update with the markets watchdog.The panel was earlier headed by Abraham Koshy, former professor of IIM-Ahmedabad.

SPORTS

Tasnim Mir Wins Iran Fajr International Challenge
Junior World No 1 Tasnim Mir notched a three-game win over Yulia Yosephine Susanto of Indonesia in the final to claim the women’s singles title at the Iran Fajr International Challenge.

The 16-year-old from Gujarat, who became the first Indian woman shuttler to claim the world no 1 status in u-19 singles, beat second seed Susato 21-11, 11-21, 21-7 in 51 minutes.

APPOINTMENTS

Krishi Network ropes in actor Pankaj Tripathi as ambassador
With a view to reaching out to farmers to its agritech platform, Krishi Network has roped in film actor Pankaj Tripathi as a brand ambassador.

The actor has also invested in the start-up. The start-up said the fresh funds would be used to expand their AI-based technology platform across India and grow rapidly.

N Chandrasekaran reappointed Tata Sons’ Chairman for another 5 years
The salt-to-software Tata Group will see continuation of leadership as N Chandrasekaran remains executive chairman for another five years. The board of directors at the holding company, Tata Sons, met to reappoint Chandrasekaran as chairman.

Group patriarch and Tata Trusts chairman Ratan Tata, who was present at the board meeting as a special invitee, recommended renewal of Chandrasekaran’s term as executive chairman of Tata Sons.

AWARDS

7 AAI airports chosen for Voice of Customer recognition 2021
The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) said seven airports that participated in the ACI-ASQ survey in 2021 have been chosen for ‘Voice of Customer Recognition’ under Airports Council International (ACI) World’s Voice of the Customer initiative.

These Airports Authority of India (AAI) airports to be named under the scheme are: Chennai, Kolkata, Goa, Pune, Patna, Bhubaneswar & Chandigarh, the ministry said.ASQ Awards recognise those airports around the world that deliver the best customer experience in the opinion of their own passengers.
Airports Council International has initiated the ‘Voice of the Customer' initiative to acknowledge and recognise airports that continued to prioritise their customers and are committed to ensuring their voice was heard, even during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Rishabh Pant, Shaheen Afridi, Kate Cross and Kane Williamson win ESPNcricinfo awards for 2021
India’s dashing keeper-batter Rishabh Pant won top ‘Test batting’ prize for his series-winning knock of 89 against Australia in Brisbane last year while New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson was adjudged ‘Captain of the Year’ at the 15th Annual ESPNcricinfo awards.

The Test bowling award went to Kyle Jamieson for his 5 for 31, which helped New Zealand become the first World Test champions.
England fast bowler Ollie Robinson was named Debutant of the Year for his 37 wickets at 21.16 in eight Tests, which made him England’s second highest wicket-taker in Tests in 2021.
Saqib Mahmood’s 4 for 42 in a nine-wicket win over Pakistan got him the top ODI bowling prize. Jos Buttler won the T20I batting award for his unbeaten 101 off 67 balls on a challenging surface in Sharjah against Sri Lanka at the T20 World Cup.
The ODI batting and T20I bowling awards went to Pakistan. Fakhar Zaman won the top batting prize for his 155-ball 193 against South Africa at the Wanderers, the highest score in an ODI chase and the second highest ever in a losing cause.
And, Shaheen Afridi won the T20I bowling award for his annihilation of India in the 10-wicket win for Pakistan at the T20 World Cup.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

SpaceX launches Italian Earth-observation satellite, lands rocket
After four days of delay, SpaceX has finally launched Italy's Earth-observation satellite. A two-stage SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket topped with the Cosmo-SkyMed Second Generation FM2 (CSG-2) satellite lifted off from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

The Cosmo-SkyMed programme consists of two satellites, which are designed to observe Earth using synthetic aperture radar (SAR), the report said.
CSG is an enhanced follow-on to the original Cosmo-SkyMed system.

Manoj Sinha launches QR code-based mechanism for certification, labelling of handmade carpets of J-K
Jammu and Kashmir lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha launched a QR code-based mechanism for certification and labelling of handmade carpets of the union territory.

With the QR-based application, which is the first of its kind in the country, customers can check and verify the authenticity and other requisite details of carpets produced in Jammu and Kashmir, read an official statement from the administration.

OBITUARIES

French virologist who co-discovered HIV virus passed away
French virologist Luc Montagnier, who won a Nobel Prize for his part in discovering the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that causes AIDS, has died.

Montagnier, who was 89, shared half of the 2008 Nobel Prize for Medicine with fellow French scientist Francoise Barre-Sinoussi for their role in discovering the virus. The other half was awarded to German cancer researcher Harald zur Hausen.
He was the Director of the World Foundation for AIDS Research and Prevention in Paris.

BOOKS & AUTHORS

"India-Africa Relations: Changing Horizons” book by Rajiv Bhatia
The book titled "India-Africa Relations: Changing Horizons” written by Rajiv Bhatia has been launched recently.

This book which explores the emergence and assertion of Africa as a significant actor and stakeholder in global affairs and the transformation of the relationship between India and Africa.

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Daily Current Affairs 11th February, 2022

Daily Current Affairs 11 February 2022 for Banking/Insurance/SSC and other related exams.

NATIONAL NEWS

Jammu and Kashmir government signs pact with New Zealand for transforming sheep farming sector
The Jammu and Kashmir government signed a pact with New Zealand for the transformation of the sheep farming sector in the Union territory, officials said.

According to the agreement, the overarching objective is to improve farmers' remuneration, transfer of technology in research and development as well as marketing and value addition of sheep products of Jammu and Kashmir.
This year marks the 70th anniversary of the commencement of bilateral relations between the two countries.

Telangana state government inks MoU with British Council
The government of Telangana and the British Council have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to facilitate greater research between institutions and assist in the internationalisation of higher education to create greater global opportunities for the youth of Telangana.

As per the agreement signed between the Research and Innovation Circle of Hyderabad (RICH) and the British Council, both organisations will aim at working closely to engineer new partnerships between universities, research institutions and centres of excellence in the United Kingdom and in Telangana.

Ministry of Culture to organize first of its kind Global Summit on "Reimagining Museums in India"
A first-of-its kind two-day global summit on 'Reimagining Museums in India' will be organised by the Ministry of Culture on February 15-16.

The virtual summit is being organized under the aegis of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, the flagship programme to mark the 75th anniversary of India's independence and celebrate the glorious history of its people, culture and achievements.
It will bring together leading luminaries, domain experts and practitioners in the field of museum development and management from India and around the world to discuss best practices and strategies.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Mumbai 5th most-congested city in the world, Delhi 11th: Report
Delhi has emerged as the 11th most congested global city in 2021 despite the pandemic-induced lockdown and restrictions in the city. Istanbul topped the list, while Moscow came in second.

The 11th edition of the TomTom Traffic Index’s global top 25 list has the names of four Indian cities, with Mumbai at the fifth position and Bengaluru at tenth. Pune ranked 21st among 404 cities across 58 countries, the report said.
The TomTom Traffic Index looks at the traffic congestion situation in various cities across the globe. It provides data on real-time traffic management and historical traffic congestion data.India's congestion level in 2021 was 23% lower than pre-Covid times, as per the report.

India Among Top 5 Economies for Ease of Starting New Business: Global Survey
India is among the top five easiest places to start a new business, a global consortium of over 500 researchers said in its latest report, putting the country on top amongst low-income economies on different entrepreneurial framework conditions.

The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) 2021/2022 report, unveiled at the Dubai Expo, gathered data via a survey of at least 2,000 respondents across each of 47 high, medium and low-income economies.
The survey of Indian respondents, who answered questions on their entrepreneurial activity, attitudes to enterprise and view of their local entrepreneurial ecosystem, found that 82 per cent think it is easy to start a business, placing India fourth globally.

India ranks 3rd in US Green Building Council’s 2021 global list for sustainable spaces
India has ranked third in the world for LEED certified green buildings in 2021 in the US Green Building Council (USGBC) annual list.

China and Canada are at the first two positions. The United States is not included in the list but remains the world's largest market for LEED.
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the most widely used green building rating system in the world. Available for virtually all building types, LEED provides a framework for healthy, highly efficient, and cost-saving green buildings.
The ranking highlights countries and regions outside the United States that are making significant strides in healthy, sustainable, and resilient building design, construction, and operations.

India ranked 46th in Democracy Index
India has ranked in 46 out of 167 countries surveyed in the latest iteration of the Economist Intelligence Unit's (EIU) 'Democracy Index 2021',which pertains to the year 2021, scoring 6.91 out of a possible 10. This is an improvement of seven places and 0.3 points when compared to its score last year.

With this score, India maintains its classification as a 'flawed democracy'. India continues to score and rank the highest among its neighbours.
Norway maintains its top spot in this year's index with a near perfect score of 9.75. This is followed by New Zealand (9.37), Finland (9.27), Sweden (9.26) and Iceland (9.18).
Afghanistan with a score of 0.32, and Myanmar at 1.02, occupy the last and second to last position respectively. They have displaced North Korea, which was last in the previous report.
Zambia, Indonesia, Qatar, Moldova, India, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Montenegro, Guyana, Uruguay, and, in joint tenth place, the UAE and Singapore are the ten most improved countries in the index.

BANKING & FINANCE

NABARD launches JIVA to promote natural farming under its existing watershed, wadi programmes
The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) launched an agroecology-based programme JIVA that will promote natural farming under its existing watershed and wadi programmes in 11 states.

JIVA aims to ensure using the principles of agroecology long-term sustainability and transform the pre-existing social and natural capital, and nudge the farming community towards natural farming as commercial farming cannot work in these regions.
The JIVA programme will be implemented on a pilot basis in 25 projects across 11 states covering five agroecological zones.
For JIVA, NABARD will collaborate with national and multilateral agencies as this is a knowledge and skill-intensive programme.

SBI partners NSE Academy to launch five online courses
State Bank of India (SBI) said that through its Strategic Training Unit it has partnered NSE Academy that promotes financial literacy as a necessary life skill.

Learners can start to enrol for these courses on the National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) Knowledge Hub platform from , February 9.
The five courses are namely, ‘Banking Fundamentals’, ‘MSME Lending in a Nutshell’, ‘Electronic Payment System in India’, ‘Priority Sector Lending Norms’ and ‘NRI Business & Compliance’.
The course duration ranges from 3-6 weeks, and learners are expected to spend 2-3 hours each week on the course.Through these courses, SBI will enable professionals to gain knowledge in various areas of banking and bring unique learning opportunities to benefit professionals aspiring to build careers in banking services

Aditya Birla Health Insurance ties up with Utkarsh SFB Bancassurance
Aditya Birla Health Insurance Co. Limited. (ABHICL) said it has signed a bancassurance agreement with Utkarsh Small Finance Bank for distribution of health insurance products through the lender's network of branches across India.

Through this alliance with Utkarsh Small Finance Bank, Aditya Birla Health Insurance’s comprehensive suite of health insurance plans, including protection health plans, will be available for purchase to 2.7 million+ customers of the Bank across 642 branches in 214 districts spread across 19 states and 2 Union Territories in the country.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

BSE gets SEBI nod for trading in electronic gold receipts
Capital markets regulator Sebi has given in-principle approval to BSE for introducing Electronic Gold Receipt (EGR) on the stock exchange's platform.

For final approval for the introduction of EGR segment, the exchange has been advised to submit additional information, according to a regulatory filing.
Under the rules, the entire transaction has been divided into three tranches -- creation of EGR, trading of EGR on stock exchange and conversion of EGR into physical gold.
The bourses can launch contracts with different denomination for trading or conversion of EGR into gold.

SPORTS

Gujarat Titans unveiled as name for new Ahmedabad franchise
The Ahmedabad-based IPL franchise, bought by CVC Capital, will be officially known as the Gujarat Titans.Pandya will also lead Titans in IPL.

Titans picked allrounder Hardik Pandya (Rs 15 crore), legspinner Rashid Khan (Rs 15 crore), and top order batter Shubman Gill (Rs 8 crore) as their three picks ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction set to be held on February 12 and 13.

APPOINTMENTS

Kishore appointed as new SSC Chairman
Senior bureaucrat S. Kishore has been appointed as Chairman, Staff Selection Commission (SSC).

Presently, he is serving as Special Secretary, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Lt Gen GAV Reddy, SC appointed as new head of Defence Intelligence Agency
Lieutenant General GAV Reddy, SC was appointed as the new head of the Defence Intelligence Agency.

He would be succeeding Lieutenant General KJS Dhillon who superannuated recently.
Lt Gen KJS Dhillon was awarded Param Vishisht Seva Medal on the 73rd Republic Day.

AWARDS

19-Year-Old Woman Completes Around-the-World Solo Flight
At age 19, Zara Rutherford became the youngest female pilot to circumvent the globe, traveling across five continents in five months while flying in a single-seater sport plane.

It took her 155 days, but 19-year-old Zara Rutherford accomplished her goal: to become the youngest woman to fly solo around the world.
Rutherford departed Belgium on August 18 in a Shark UL plane, a two-seat ultralight plane equipped with extra fuel tanks, two radios and a parachute. Along the way, she landed in 41 countries, staying in some for weeks at a time while waiting for flying conditions to improve or for entry approval at her next destination.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

INSAT-4B decommissioned after 11 manoeuvres in space
Amid the growing concern over junk in outer space, the Indian Space & Research Organisation (Isro) successfully disposed of one of its satellites after it completed its operational life in orbit. The INSAT-4B underwent Post Mission Disposal (PMD) at the end of its service, followed by decommissioning on January 24, Isro said.

INSAT-4B is the 21st Indian Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) satellite to undergo post-mission disposal, the required propellant for such re-orbiting was included in the initial fuel budget as a part of standard practice followed in ISRO's GEO mission planning.
The development is in compliance with the UN and the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC) recommended space debris mitigation guidelines. The IADC guidelines provide guidance for limiting the generation of orbital debris both during and after space operations.

BOOKS & AUTHORS

“Atal Bihari Vajpayee” book authored by Sagarika Ghose
The book titled “Atal Bihari Vajpayee” written by Sagarika Ghose has been released recently.

It is a biography of the former Prime Minister of India. Sagarika Ghose is a jounalist.

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Daily Current Affairs 10th February, 2022

Daily Current Affairs 10 February 2022 for Banking/Insurance/SSC and other related exams.

NATIONAL NEWS

UNEP signs MoU with Maharashtra govt for implementing climate change actions
The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Maharashtra government to support its 'Majhi Vasundhara' campaign, an initiative with regard to the energy and environmental dimensions of sustainable development.

The beginning of a new partnership between UN Environment Programme and the Government of Maharashtra will support the state in the implementation of climate change mitigation and adaptation measures," said a statement from UN office.

J-K becomes first UT to be integrated with National Single Window System
Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) has become the first Union Territory to be integrated with the National Single Window System, which is expected to give a boost to investments in the region, the Ministry of Commerce & Industry said. This marks a major leap in Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) in the Union Territory.

The National Single Window System (NSWS) is linked with India Industrial Land Bank (IILB) which hosts 45 industrial parks of J&K. It will help Investors to discover available land parcels in J&K.
Fourteen states/UTs onboarded on NSWS include Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.

As per Smart Cities Mission Guidelines, Centre will provide financial support to extent of Rs 48000 cr over five years: Hardeep Singh Puri
The government has released around 28,414 crore rupees for 100 Smart Cities, out of which nearly 23,669 crore rupees have been utilized till 21st of last month.

In a written reply, Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs, Hardeep Singh Puri said as per the Smart Cities Mission (SCM) Guidelines, the Centre will provide financial support to the extent of 48 thousand crore over five years.
He said, so far, these smart cities have tendered out 6,721 projects worth 1,88,506 crore rupees. Besides, work orders to the tune of 1,62,908 crore rupees for 6,124 projects have been issued. In addition to this, he said, 3,421 projects worth 58 thousand 735 crore rupees have been completed.
The Minister informed that the period of implementation of SCM has been extended upto June 2023 and all Smart Cities are expected to complete their projects within the stipulated time.

India to provide grant to Sri Lanka to implement ‘Unitary Digital Identity framework’ modelled on Aadhaar card
India has agreed to provide a grant to Sri Lanka to implement a ‘Unitary Digital Identity framework’, apparently modelled on the Aadhaar card. The government of Sri Lanka has decided to speed up the implementation of a Unitary Digital Identity framework in the country.

The personal identity verification program is a digital tool that can represent the identities of individuals in cyberspace, and the identification of individual identities that can be accurately verified in digital and physical environments by combining the two devices.

IIM Kozhikode, Niti Aayog ink pact to boost monitoring and evaluation ecosystem
The Monitoring and Evaluation ecosystem in India is set to receive a boost with the Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode (IIMK) and the Development Monitoring and Evaluation Office (DMEO), NITI Aayog joining hands.

The premier B-School and the country’s top policy maker, DMEO, NITI Aayog, inked a historic Statement of Intent (SoI) on Institutional Partnership that will focus on strategic and technical collaboration to strengthen the overall monitoring and evaluation environment in India, with special focus on building a data monitoring and evaluation stack.

Govt approves continuation of IFLDP with an outlay of Rs 1,700 crore
Indian Footwear and Leather Development Programme (IFLDP) (erstwhile IFLADP) has been approved for continuation from 2021-22 with an approved financial outlay of ₹1,700 crore, said the ministry of commerce in a statement.

IFLDP aims at the development of infrastructure for the leather sector, address environmental concerns specific to the leather sector, facilitate additional investments, employment generation and increase in production.
Under the IDLS, with a proposed outlay ₹500 crore, assistance would be provided to the sectoral units for their modernization/capacity expansion/technology up-gradation on or after 1 January 2020.

BANKING & FINANCE

RBI announces Bi-monthly policy; Maintains status quo in policy rates
The Reserve Bank of India maintained status quo in policy rates as the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted unanimously to keep the policy repo rate at 4% to keep the stance accommodative.

While announcing the Bi-monthly policy RBI Governor Shakti Kant Das said, MSF rate and bank rate will remain unchanged at 4.25%. Reverse repo rate will also remain unchanged at 3.35%.
He projected real GDP growth at 9.2% for 2021-22 and said that it is modestly above level of GDP for 2019-20. Real GDP growth for 2022-23 was projected at 7.8%. At the same time he also pointed out the persistent rise in international commodity prices, surge in volatility of financial markets and supply bottlenecks which can pose risks to these projections.CPI inflation for 2022-23 was projected at 4.5%.
He added that policy actions of RBI have yielded desired results and it is now turning to rebalance liquidity. He announced that Variable Rate Repo operations of varying tenures will henceforth be conducted as and when warranted.
Secondly, variable rate repos and variable rate reverse repos of 14-day tenures will operate as the main liquidity management tool. He informed that from March 1, 2022, fixed rate reverse repo and MSF operations will be available only during 5.30 PM to 11.59 PM on all days, instead of from 9.00 AM to 11.59 PM.
He also announced some additional measures like extension of On-tap Liquidity Facilities for Emergency Health Services and Contact-intensive Sectors, voluntary retention route (VRR) - Enhancement of Limits, Review of Credit Default Swaps (CDS) Guidelines, Permission for Banks to deal in Foreign Currency Settled - Rupee Derivatives Market etc.

HDFC ERGO launches cyber sachet insurance policy
HDFC ERGO General Insurance Company has announced the launch of its cyber sachet insurance policy aimed at mitigating cyber-related, digital risks for individual customers and keeping them internet insured.

Customers can be internet insured with a pocket-sized insurance cover at a nominal premium of less than ₹ 2 per day. The sum insured ranges from ₹ 10K to ₹ 5 crores for choice of covers that include financial loss, reputation loss, data loss and recovery, cyber liability protection, smart home devices, and cyber bullying.
The policy offers value for money through affordable premiums and an option to extend the cover to other family members.

RBL Bank partners with Creditas Solutions to automate collections
RBL Bank has partnered with Creditas Solutions for its ‘Neo Collections’ platform.

The private sector lender will utilise the SaaS-based platform to accelerate efficiency in collections across the loan cycle, said.
Powered by AI and ML technology, the platform is built to automate strategies for reaching out to customers individually in an empathetic manner and motivate them to repay loans.

LIC 3rd largest globally, but offers highest RoE of 82%, says Crisil report
The IPO-bound national insurer Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) is not only the world's largest when it comes to home-market share with over 64.1 per cent of the total gross written premium as of 2020 but also the one that offers the highest return on equity at 82 per cent, apart from being the third largest in terms of life insurance premium, says a Crisil report.

While for LIC the market share has been steadily declining--down from 100 per cent in the pre-2000 era to 71.8 per cent in 2016 and further down to 64.1 per cent in 2020, for SBI Life, which is the second largest in the country, the same was only 5 per cent in 2016 and 8 per cent in 2020, Crisil said in a report prepared in November 2021 which is not yet made publicly available.
Market share elsewhere, the Chinese market is dominated by Ping An Insurance and China Life Insurance, with 21 per cent (GWP at USD 74.13 billion) and 20 per cent (USD 69.65 billion). The largest Japanese player Nippon Life’s market share is only 16.2 per cent (USD 39.84 billion).

DBS Bank India partners with Stellapps to create greater access to digitisation for dairies
DBS Bank India announced that it has partnered with Stellapps, a leading dairy-tech startup, as its banking partner to promote digitisation amongst small dairies across India.

This initiative aligns with DBS' commitment to supporting lives and livelihoods through better business and responsible financing. The partnership is expected to indirectly benefit 20,000 farmers at present and around 100,000+ dairy farmers in the near future.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

ReNew Power commissions Gujarat’s first wind-solar hybrid project
ReNew Power y said that it has set up Gujarat’s first wind-solar hybrid project at the Chlor-Alkali unit of Grasim Industries in Vilayat, Bharuch, in southern Gujarat.

The first phase of the hybrid project, with 17.6 MW commercial-scale wind-solar, commenced operations last week and is expected to generate 80 million units of renewable energy every year, the renewable energy company said.

IIM-S, Flipkart ink pact to promote weavers, artisans
The Indian Institute of Management-Sambalpur (IIM-S) inked a pact with e-commerce giant Flipkart to promote works of weavers and artisans through the digital platform.

As per the pact, Flipkart and IIM-S will extend support and promote small businesses, artisans and weavers by leveraging technology, e-commerce platform, and market insights.
As part of the MoU, IIM-S will identify clusters of artisans and weavers within Odisha to put them on board with Flipkart’s Samarth program connecting their businesses to a pan-India customer base.

APPOINTMENTS

Aníbal Torres Vásquez appointed as PM of Peru
Peru’s Justice Minister Anibal Torres took over as the nation’s fourth prime minister in just over six months, as President Pedro Castillo tries to restore stability after weeks of political turmoil.

The latest reshuffle comes amid continued internal struggles within the government that have defined the left-wing leader’s first months as president.
Torres, 79, has been the head of the Justice Ministry since the current government took power in July.

AWARDS

Atal Tunnel certified by World Book of Records as World's Longest Highway Tunnel
Atal Tunnel has officially been certified by the World Book of Records as the World's Longest Highway Tunnel above 10 thousand Feet.

Director General of Border Roads Organisation (BRO) Lieutenant General Rajeev Chaudhry received the award for the stupendous achievement of the organization in constructing this engineering marvel connecting Manali to the Lahaul - Spiti Valley.
Atal Tunnel was dedicated to the Nation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 3rd October 2020. The 9.02 kilometers long strategically significant Atal Tunnel, that runs under the Rohtang Pass was constructed on the Manali - Leh Highway under the challenging conditions of freezing temperatures in extremely difficult terrain.

Nitin Gadkari receives Late Madhavrao Limaye award
For the first time, the Karyaksham Khaasdar (Efficient Member of Parliament) award for the year 2020-21, given in the memory of late Madhavrao Limaye by Sarvajanik Vachanalay, Nashik, will be conferred on Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari.

The scope of the award has been extended from this year. From this year onwards, the award besides the Members of the Legislature (MLA/MLC) Members of Parliament (MP) will also be eligible to receive this coveted award.
Late Madhavrao Limaye was a senior socialist leader of the old generation of Nashik. He has done a great job as a member of the Legislative Council. Late Limaye was a journalist, writer and social, educational guide and activist.

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Daily Current Affairs 9th February, 2022

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NATIONAL NEWS

PMKSY scheme extended till FY'26 with Rs 4600 crore outlay
The food processing ministry said its flagship scheme 'Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY)' has been extended till March 2026 with an allocation of Rs 4,600 crore.

PMKSY is a comprehensive package which will lead to creation of modern infrastructure with efficient supply chain management from farm gate to retail outlet.
The scheme will boost growth of food processing sector but also help in providing better prices to farmers and creating huge employment opportunities.

Target of providing tap water to 3.8 cr households has been set, Rs 60,000 cr allocated to provide every household with tap water says Govt
The Union Minister of State for food processing industries and Jal Shakti, Prahalad Singh Patel said that during the current year, a target of providing tap water to 3.8 crore households has been set and an allocation of 60 thousand crore rupees has been made this year budget for Jal Jeevan Mission to provide every household with tap water.

He said the Ken- Betwa project will cost a total of 44.605 crore rupees which will irrigate 9.08 lakh hectares of irrigation land.
Minister Patel further added that the budget of Pradhan Mantri Sampada Yojana has also been increased by 28.6 times. Under this scheme, a budget with increase of Rupees 200 crore will be given in the financial year of 2022-2023.

NITI Aayog announces 5 most improved aspirational districts in Agriculture,Water Resources sector
NITI Aayog has announced the five most improved aspirational districts in the Agriculture and Water Resources sector for December 2021. Malkangiri in Odisha tops the list.

It is followed by Chhatarpur in Madhya Pradesh and Baramulla in Jammu and Kashmir. Ramgarh in Jharkhand and Begusarai in Bihar also feature in the list. This is as per NITI Aayog’s Delta Rankings.

Govt has released Rs 87.65 crore for development of National Sports University in Manipur: Sports Minister Anurag Thakur
Youth Affairs and Sports minister Anurag Thakur has said that his ministry has released a total of 87 crore 65 lakh rupees to date including 5 crore 49 lakh rupees during the current Financial Year for the development of National Sports University in Manipur. He gave this information in reply to a question in Lok Sabha.

National Sports University, established in Manipur, is aimed at promoting education in the areas of sports sciences, sports technology, sports coaching, besides functioning as the national training centre for selected sports disciplines.

AIM, NITI Aayog, and USAID collaborates under SAMRIDH initiative
Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog, and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) announced a new partnership under the Sustainable Access to Markets and Resources for Innovative Delivery of Healthcare (SAMRIDH) initiative. It will improve access to affordable and quality healthcare for vulnerable populations in tier-2 and tier-3 cities, and rural and tribal regions.

This partnership will enhance SAMRIDH’s efforts to reach vulnerable populations, leveraging Atal Innovation Mission expertise in innovation and entrepreneurship.
The collaboration will focus on innovations across the healthcare landscape with the common goal to mount an effective response to the ongoing third wave of COVID-19 and build health system preparedness for the future.

Nagaland Government declares entire State as drought of Moderate nature due to rainfall deficiency
Nagaland Government has declared the entire State as drought of a Moderate nature.

Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority said, that the decision was taken due to arising of rainfall deficiency, and the poor crop conditions as well as the distress situation that had developed in almost the entire farming area affected by these conditions.
It said, based on the scanty deficit and less than normal rainfall that has been observed from March to November 2021, the declaration of drought would come into effect from 15th September 2021, and would continue to be in effect for 6 months, till further order.

Rajasthan Inks Pact With Anil Agarwal Foundation To Develop 25K
Anganwadi Centres As 'Nand Ghar' The Rajasthan government signed an agreement with the Anil Agarwal Foundation of the Vedanta Group to develop 25,000 Anganwadi centres as Nand Ghar in the state.

The foundation will develop Nand Ghars by spending about Rs 750 crore (Rs 3 lakh per Anganwadi).
The chief minister said the development of Anganwadi centres as Nand Ghar will improve their infrastructure as well as provide quality education and nutrition to children. This will also help in further reducing maternal and child mortality.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

Sonata Software partners with Microsoft for its launch of ‘Microsoft Cloud for Retail’
Sonata Software, a global IT Services and Technology Solutions Company announced its partnership with Microsoft for its launch of ‘Microsoft Cloud for Retail’, further strengthening its offerings to the retail industry.

The company has been a partner with Microsoft for over three decades.
The ‘Microsoft Cloud for Retail’ collaboration is expected to further strengthen the relationship, the company said.

Instagram announces ‘Take a Break’ feature to encourage breaks from social media
Instagram has announced a new campaign called ‘Take a Break’ in various countries including India.

Take a Break will alert users scrolling on Instagram to periodically take breaks from the platform and focus on other things. The platform will also alert users of the new inclusion with a notification.
The platform also added that users “will also be shown expert-backed tips to help them reflect and reset.” Users, will however, have control on whether they want to keep these timely notifications on.

AYUSH Minister Sarbananda Sonowal launches dedicated storefront for Ayurveda products on Amazon AYUSH Minister Sarbananda Sonowal launched a dedicated storefront for Ayurveda products on Amazon in the marketplace.

This Ayurveda product storefront will enhance the visibility of unique Ayurveda products such as various kinds of juices, skin-care supplements, immunity boosters, oils and more from small businesses and startup brands.
It will make shopping easier as product selection has been organized according to focus areas and health benefits such as pain management, immunity boosters, blood purifiers, women’s health, weight management, and mental wellness.

Over 4 crore 59 lakh FASTags issued till Jan 2022
Over four crore 59 lakh FASTags have been issued in the country till the end of last month. In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said, 148 percent growth has been registered in the user fee collection through FASTag on national highways during the last two years.

He said, over ten thousand 728 crore rupees as a user fee has been collected in the year 2019-20.

L&T and Microsoft ink partnership to develop regulated sector cloud offering
Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and Microsoft India have announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to develop a regulated sector focused cloud offering to empower customers with the cloud computing and infrastructure services.

Under the MoU, the two companies will setup a joint governance group to define future platform designs, investments, and commercial/business models to service the regulated sectors' emerging technology requirements. Senior leadership teams of both the organizations will be engaged collectively on this as the association evolves.

ACQUISITIONS & MERGERS

Razorpay buys majority stake in Malaysia-based fintech Curlec
Fintech unicorn Razorpay has expanded into South-East Asia with the acquisition of a majority stake in a Malaysian fintech firm Curlec, valuing the company between $19-20 million.

Razorpay expects to complete the full acquisition in the next one-and-a-half years. The Kuala Lumpur-based, Curlec builds solutions for recurring payments for businesses.
This marks Razorpay’s fourth acquisition overall and its first in the international markets.

APPOINTMENTS

Pradip Shah, ex-consultant to World Bank, appointed Pfizer India chairman
Pfizer India appointed Pradip Shah as the chairman of its board following the resignation of R A Shah on February 3.

Announcing the appointment, S Sridhar, the managing director of the company, said with Pradip Shah's elevation as the chairman, the firm will work closely with him on matters of strategic importance.
He had earlier been contributing the board for many years as a financial expert.

Sanjay Malhotra named DFS Secretary in Finance Ministry
Within days of giving Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) Secretary Rajesh Verma additional charge of the Financial Services Secretary, the government appointed Chairman and Managing Director, REC Ltd.

Sanjay Malhotra as full-time secretary of the department with immediate effect of n yet another bureaucratic reshuffle that saw new faces in key secretarial positions in the government.

MediBuddy ropes in Amitabh Bachchan as brand ambassador
Leading digital healthcare platform MediBuddy said it has roped in Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan as its brand ambassador.

MediBuddy gives users 24x7 access to specialist doctors online via video call, at-home lab tests, home delivery of medicines, mental health support and other health care services.

AWARDS

Gautam Adani overtakes Mukesh Ambani as Asia’s richest person
Gautam Adani, the Indian billionaire who turned a small commodities trading business into a conglomerate spanning ports, mines and green energy, is now Asia’s richest person.

The 59-year-old mogul’s net worth reached $88.5 billion , according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, eclipsing fellow countryman Mukesh Ambani’s $87.9 billion. With an almost $12 billion jump in his personal fortune, Adani is the world’s biggest wealth-gainer this year.
Meanwhile, the Bloomberg Billionaires Index has been topped by Elon Musk with a net worth of $238 billion. Musk is followed by Jeff Bezos ($186 billion), Bernard Arnault ($166 Billion), Bill Gates ($129 billion), and Larry Page ($124 billion).

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

India's first biomass-based hydrogen plant coming up in MP
The country’s first commercial-scale biomass-based hydrogen plant is coming up in the Khandwa district of Madhya Pradesh.

The plant will produce a tonne of hydrogen per day, from 30 tonnes of biomass feedstock. It will also produce biochar and methane.
The plant is being put up by a joint venture of Watomo Energies Ltd and Biezel Green Energy with an investment of ₹24 crore. Watomo Energies, headquartered in Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh; Biezel Green is a company promoted by Prof Preetam Singh, who teaches at the IIT BHU.

IIT Madras Establish 'AquaMAP' Centre to Solve India's Water Crisis
The Indian Institute of Technology Madras has set up an inter-disciplinary water management and policy centre called ‘AquaMAP’ aiming to provide smart solutions to challenging water problems.

It proposes to design scalable models that would be implemented in some locations across the country.
AquaMAP aims to develop capability to address complex real-life water problems through consortia approach and set up a hydro-informatics laboratory. It proposes to address at least three chronic water issues and conduct pilot studies in six water innovation villages and towns that can be showcased as replicable models for water management and policy implementation within the country.

OBITUARIES

Actor Praveen Kumar Sobti, popular as Mahabharat’s Bheem, passes away
Actor Praveen Kumar Sobti, popular for essaying the role of Bheem in BR Chopra's Mahabharat, has died at the age of 75.

Besides playing the role of Bheem, which made him a household name, Kumar also starred in many films including Amitabh Bachchan-starrer Shehenshah and Dharmendra’s Loha. Other films to his credit include Aaj Ka Arjun, Ajooba, and Ghayal, among others.
Before he became an actor, Praveen was a hammer and discus throw athlete. A four-time Asian Games medallist, he also represented India in 1968 Mexico and 1972 Munich Olympics. He was also honoured with Arjuna award. He worked as the Deputy Commandant in the Border Security Force (BSF) as well.