Latest Current Affairs For Saturday 1st January, 2022

Street Photographer Sabine Weiss passes away

Swiss-French photographer Sabine Weiss passed away at the age of 97.

She was regarded as the last of the French humanist photography school of post-World War II.

Her work covered eight decades, pioneering what was to become known as street photography.

She photographed the condition of ordinary people in Paris, saying she wanted to immortalize “the snotty-nosed kids,” “the beggars” and “the little piss-takers” in her photos.

Jhansi Railway Station renamed as Veerangana Laxmibai Railway Station

The Uttar Pradesh government has renamed Jhansi Railway Station as 'Veerangana Laxmibai Railway Station' after Rani Laxmibai.

Earlier the Mughalsarai Railway station was renamed as Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya junction and the Faizabad Railway station as Ayodhya Cantt.

Since coming to power, Mr Adityanath government has changed names of several establishments including those of Faizabad and Allahabad districts, which were renamed as Ayodhya and Prayagraj, respectively.

Danish Siddiqui posthumously gets Mumbai Press Club's RedInk Award

Photojournalist Danish Siddiqui, who died during an assignment in Afghanistan, has been posthumously awarded as the 'Journalist of the Year' for 2020 by the Mumbai Press Club. 

CJI N V Ramana presented the annual 'RedInk Awards for Excellence in Journalism'. 

Danish Siddiqui's wife Frederike Siddiqui received the award. 

Senior journalist Prem Shankar Jha bestowed with the lifetime achievement award "for his long and distinguished career of incisive and analytical writing".

Reliance New Energy Solar Ltd to acquire UK's battery firm Faradion

Reliance New Energy Solar Ltd has signed definitive agreements to acquire sodium-ion battery technology company Faradion (UK). 

RNESL, a wholly owned subsidiary of Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL), will acquire 100 per cent shareholding in Faradion Limited.

The sodium-ion technology developed by Faradion provides a globally leading energy storage and battery solution which is safe, sustainable, provides high energy density and is significantly cost competitive.

PM to lay foundation stone of Dhyan Chand Sports University in Meerut

PM Modi will lay the foundation stone of Major Dhyan Chand Sports University at Meerut.

The University will be established at Salawa and Kaili villages of Sardhana town in Meerut at an estimated cost of about 700 crore. 

The University will have the capacity of training 1080 sportspersons, including 540 female and 540 male sportspersons.

The establishment of Major Dhyan Chand Sports University at Meerut will be a major step towards fulfilling this vision.

JJM drinking water supply schemes worth over ₹15,381 crore approved in MP

Drinking water supply schemes totalling Rs15,381.72 crore in Madhya Pradesh have been approved under Jal Jeevan Mission. 

The 22 multi-village schemes were sanctioned to provide tap water connection to more than 1.09 crore rural population.

These 22 schemes will benefit 9,240 villages in various districts of the state. 

In July 2019, the government had formed a new ministry, Jal Shakti, to address all water issues in the country.

Semiconductor mission launched by IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw

Ashwini Vaishnaw launched the India Semiconductor Mission.

India Semiconductor Mission is a specialised and independent business division within the Digital India Corporation.

It has been set up with the aim to build a vibrant semiconductor and display ecosystem to enable India’s emergence as a global hub for electronics manufacturing and design.

The schemes have been notified and uploaded on the website.

A portal for it has been prepared for receiving the applications. 

LIC, GIC Re and New India systemically important insurers

The IRDAI stated that LIC, GIC and New India Assurance continue to be identified as Domestic Systemically Important Insurers for 2021-22.

D-SIIs are insurers of such size, market importance and domestic and global interconnectedness whose distress could cause turbulence in the domestic financial system. 

The continued functioning of D-SIIs is critical for the availability of insurance services. 

D-SIIs are insurers that are perceived to be ‘too big or too important to fail’. 

South Africa's Quinton de Kock announces retirement from Test cricket

South Africa's star wicketkeeper-batter Quinton de Kock (29-years)announced his retirement from Test cricket with immediate effect.

In 54 matches, he scored 3300 runs with the highest score of 141 not out, at an average of 38.82 and strike rate of 70.93.

He has six centuries and 22 half-centuries under his belt along with 232 dismissals, which includes 221 catches and 11 stumpings.

First Water Metro ferry handed over to KMRL

The first of the 23 fully air-conditioned, battery-powered electric ferries of Rs. 747 cr Kochi Water Metro project, was handed over by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) to Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL).

The 50-seater ferry was christened Muziris and is said to have been located at Pattanam village located 25 km from Kochi city.

Four other Water Metro ferries are expected to be launched in the coming months. 

Sahitya Akademi announces awards in 20 languages

The Sahitya Akademi has announced its awards for 2021 in 20 languages. 

7 books of poetry, 2 novels, 5short stories, 2 plays, 1 biography, 1 autobiography, 1 critique and 1 Epic Poetry have won the Sahitya Akademi Awards 2021. 

Assamese writers Anuradha Sarma Pujari and Namita Gokhale have won the award in the novel category. 

Awardees for the Poetry category include Mwdai Gahai in Bodo, Sanjiv Verenkar in Konkani, Hrushikesh Mallick in Odia and Vindeshwari Prasad in Telegu. 

MoHUA to celebrate Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav

Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs is organizing a series of events under the clarion call of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav by PM Modi to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of Independence. 

The Ministry is organizing 28 iconic and impactful pre-events from 1 to 31 January 2021. 

These events will culminate in a grand finale at the ‘Smart Cities, Smart Urbanization’ event in Surat. 

It will reflect five themes: Freedom Struggle, Actions@75, Achievements@75, Ideas@75 and Resolve@75. 

World's longest Metro line opened in Shanghai

Shanghai has opened two new metro lines, upholding its rank as the city with the largest Metro network in the world.

With the inauguration of the new Metro lines, the Shanghai subway network will expand largely along 831km.

Now, Shanghai city boasts 508 stations.

Over 10 million people use the system on an average workday.

Shanghai Metro began operation: 28 May 1993.

PM Narendra Modi to be awarded prestigious Lokmanya Tilak Award 2023

The Tilak Smarak Mandir Trust (Hind Swaraj Sangh) would confer the prestigious Lokmanya Tilak National Award 2023 to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Pune on August 1, 2023.

Reason: This award recognizes PM Modi's supreme leadership under which India has climbed the ladder of progress

It is presented annually on the occasion of Lokmanya Tilak's death anniversary.

Other awardees: Indira Gandhi, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Sharad Pawar, Cyrus Poonawalla, and Manmohan Singh. 

J&K Bank wins award for Best Performance in CASA

Jammu & Kashmir Bank has been felicitated for the Best Performance in CASA-India (1st Runner up in Small Bank Category) at ICC Emerging Asia Banking Conclave & Awards 2022.

The event was participated by banks from India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka & Myanmar.

The function was organized by the Indian Chamber of Commerce in Goa.

Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) is a non-governmental trade association and advocacy group headquartered in Calcutta.

India poised to become world’s 2nd-largest economy by 2075: Goldman Sachs

According to the Investment Bank Goldman Sachs, India is poised to become the world’s second-largest economy by 2075.

As per the report, India would cross Japan, Germany, and the US With a population of 1.4 billion people.

India’s GDP is estimated to expand remarkably, reaching 52.5 trillion dollars surpassing the US GDP projection.

The labour force participation set to make India the second-largest economy in the world by 2075.

L&T and Spain's Navantia sign agreement for submarine project

L&T has signed a teaming agreement with Spanish-based Navantia for the submission of a techno-commercial bid for the Indian Navy’s prestigious P75 (India) submarine program.

P75 (India) Submarine Project is expected to be valued at €4.8 billion.

Navantia would carry out the design of P75(I) submarines based on its S80 class of submarines.

The first S80 class submarine was launched in 2021 and is undergoing sea trials prior to its delivery to Spanish Navy. 

India overtakes China as most attractive emerging market for investing

According to a study by Invesco Global Sovereign Asset Management, India has overtaken China to become the most attractive emerging market for investing in sovereign wealth funds this year.

Reason: This is due to its solid demographics, political stability, and proactive regulation. 

Positives for the nation also include the rapidly expanding demography, strong regulatory actions, and a welcoming climate for sovereign investors.

World Population Day 2023: 11 July

World Population Day is observed every year on July 11 in order to raise awareness about global population issues, including population control.

2023 theme: Unleashing the power of gender equality: Uplifting the voices of women and girls to unlock our world’s infinite possibilities. 

It was established by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in 1989, after the day the world approximately reached a population of five billion, which was observed on 11 July 1987.

MoHUA conducts SBM-U 2.0 Planning & Implementation Review-cum-Workshop

The Housing Ministry organized a review-cum-workshop to evaluate and accelerate the planning and implementation of the SBM-Urban 2.0.

PM Modi launched the 2.0 versions of SBM-U and AMRUT on October 1, 2021.

SBM-U 2.0: Achieving 100% waste segregation in all households and premises and 100% door-to-door collection of segregated waste from each. 

AMRUT 2.0: To provide complete coverage of water supply to all households and sewerage and septage in 500 AMRUT cities. 

Gujarat CM launches pilot project of ‘Antyodaya Shramik Suraksha Yojana’

Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel launched the Antyodaya Shram Suraksha Accident Insurance Scheme from Kheda

All those registered under the e-Shram portal from Nadiad will benefit from the scheme.

It is being implemented through the Indian Postal Department, the IPPB, and the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

Under this scheme, insurance with a premium of Rs. 289 and Rs. 499 per year will be a big support to workers in the event of death or partial disability.

OCA elects Sheikh Talal as the new President

Kuwait’s Sheikh Talal Fahad Al Ahmad Al Sabah has been elected as the new President of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA).

He replaced his older brother Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, who led the OCA for 30 years until 2021.

The OCA was founded in 1982 by his father Fahad Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, who led it until 1990.

The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) is a governing body of sports in Asia, currently with 45 member National Olympic Committees.

Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance wins Insurer Innovation Award 2023

Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance has won the Insurer Innovation Award 2023 for the APAC region at the 8th World Digital Insurance Awards, hosted by TDI - The Digital Insurer.

Recognition: Bajaj Allianz Life's ground-breaking WhatsApp Conversational Platform - empowering customers to digitally services their policies seamlessly. 

The award entries were shortlisted by industry experts and the winner was selected by the community through pre-voting and live event voting.