Latest Current Affairs For Sunday 2nd January, 2022

India, Pakistan exchanged the list of nuclear installations and facilities

India and Pakistan have exchanged the list of nuclear installations and facilities, covered under Agreement on Prohibition of Attack against Nuclear Installations and Facilities between India and Pakistan. 

Agreement provides that India and Pakistan inform each other of nuclear installations and facilities to be covered under Agreement on 1st January of every calendar year.

This is the 31st consecutive exchange.

First one took place on January 1, 1992.

Amir Subhani appointed as the Chief Secretary of Bihar

Amir Subhani (1987-batch IAS officer) has been appointed as the chief secretary of Bihar by Chief minister Nitish Kumar with effect from 31st December 2021. 

He will replace Tripurari Sharan.

He is Bihar's first chief secretary belonging to the minority community and will retire in April 2024.

He was development commissioner of Bihar before his elevation at this post.

Atul Prasad has been made development commissioner in place of Subhani. 

PM releases 10th installment of financial benefit under PM-KISAN Scheme

PM Narendra Modi has released 10th installment of financial benefit under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme.

More than Rs 20 thousand crore have been transferred to over than ten crore farmer families.

Under PM-KISAN scheme, financial benefit of six thousand rupees per year is provided to the eligible family of farmers.

The fund is transferred directly to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries.

It is a centrally sector scheme, which was launched in 2019.

MoHUA opens ‘Urban Geospatial Data Stories Challenge-2022’

Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has announced opening of Urban Geospatial Data Stories Challenge to foster adoption of geospatial technologies, promoting innovation in India’s urban ecosystem. 

It has been organized with select Smart Cities that will be publishing high quality GIS datasets. 

More than 1000 geospatial datasets have been made available to registered participants. 

It will commence for registered participants on 1st Jan 2022 till January end 2022.

Union Minister launches 100 days reading campaign 'Padhe Bharat'

Union Education Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan has launched 100 days reading campaign 'Padhe Bharat'.

It is in alignment with National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 which emphasizes on promotion of joyful reading culture for children by ensuring availability of age appropriate reading books.

The campaign will focus on children studying in Balvatika to Grade 8.

It will be organized for 100 days (14 weeks) starting from 1st January 2022 to 10th April 2022.

Centre notifies new rules for consumer commissions

Centre has notified new rules for Consumer Protection (Jurisdiction of the District Commission, the State Commission and National Commission) Rules, 2021. 

Revised pecuniary jurisdiction for entertaining consumer complaints shall be up to Rs50 lakh for District Commissions, more than 50 lakh to 2 crore for State Commissions and more than 2 crore for National Commission.

Consumer Protection Act, 2019 promulgates a three-tier quasi-judicial mechanism for consumer disputes. 

Vinay Kumar Tripathi appointed as new Chairman, CEO of Railway Board

Vinay Kumar Tripathi (1983 Batch of Indian Railway Service of Electrical Engineers) has been appointed as new Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Railway Board with effect from January 1, 2022.

He is presently working as General Manager, Northeastern Railway to the post of Chairman of Railway Board.

Indian Railway Board is the apex body of the Indian Railways, which reports to parliament through the Ministry of Railways.

India defeat Sri Lanka by 9 wickets to lift U-19 Asia Cup 2021 title

India lifted under-19 Asia cricket Cup by defeating Sri Lanka by nine wickets in a rain-interrupted One-Day International final in Dubai through Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method.

In the match, Sri Lanka opted to bat first and scored 106 for nine in the stipulated 38 overs.

Raghuvanshi and Rasheed has stitched an unbeaten 96-run stand to take India home in the summit. 

Earlier, opting to bat first, Sri Lanka got off to the worst possible start as the side lost two wickets. 

Director General VS Pathania takes over as DG Coast Guard

Director General VS Pathania took over as the 24th Chief of Indian Coast Guard with effect from 31st December 2021. 

He is an alumnus of Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and National Defence College, New Delhi.

He was elevated to the rank of Additional Director General in Nov 2019 and took over the reins as Coast Guard Commander (Eastern Seaboard) at Visakhapatnam.

Awards: President’s Tatrakshak Medal for Distinguished Service, Tatrakshak Medal for gallantry. 

Venkaiah Naidu inaugurates Arts and Science Colleges in Lakshadweep

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu inaugurated two Colleges of Arts & Sciences in Kadmat and Androth islands on his first State visit to Lakshadweep Union Territory.

Courses of two colleges will help the students of the islands, especially girl students to overcome the geographical constraints of the region and pursue quality higher education with employment potential.

Both the colleges are affiliated to Pondicherry University.

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.