Latest Current Affairs For Wednesday 5th January, 2022

Iran announces new space launch amid nuclear talks

Iran has announced new space launch, in a move likely to irk Western powers amid reviving 2015 nuclear deal.

Simorgh satellite launcher carried three research cargos into space.

Iran announced successful test of its most powerful solid fuel satellite launcher Zoljanah, boasting that it can put a 220-kg payload into orbit. 

Iran insists its space programme is for civilian and defence purposes only and does not breach the nuclear deal or any other international agreement.

Govt announces suspension of Biometric Attendance for govt employees

Union Minister, Jitendra Singh has announced the suspension of Biometric Attendance for govt employees with immediate effect due to rise in Covid cases.

It will remain suspended till 31st January.

Apart from this, physical attendance of Govt servants below the level of Under Secretary has been restricted to 50% of the actual strength and rest of the 50% of the staff will work from home.

DoPT has further ordered to follow staggered timing to avoid over crowding.

Sri Lanka to go bankrupt by 2022 with record-high inflation

Sri Lanka is reported to go bankrupt by 2022 as the country is facing a deepening financial and humanitarian crisis due to record-high inflation levels, food prices rocket and its coffers run dry.

Meltdown faced by government, led by president Gotabaya Rajapaksa, is in part caused by Covid crisis and loss of tourism but is compounded by high government spending and tax cuts eroding state revenues, vast debt repayments to China.

Hong Kong news portal 'Citizen News' announces to cease its operations

Hong Kong online news portal titled ‘Citizen News’ has announced to cease operations from January 4th to ensure everyone is safe in this time of crisis and its website will also shut down soon.

The decision came just three days after another Hong Kong-based news portal ‘Stand News’ shut down as national security police booked seven people who worked at or were linked to the news portal for allegedly publishing anti-China content, stirring up hatred against the government.

Climate Awareness Campaign and National Photography Competition

Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) is organizing Climate Change Awareness Campaign and National Photography Competition. 

Campaign will have Municipal Commissioners and key heads of urban local bodies and Smart City CEOs creating awareness about Urban Climate Change and Sustainability. 

The competition will be open to all participants till 26th January 2022 on climate change. 

Both the campaign and competition to sensitize the challenges posed by climate change.

Manuals and Newsletter of Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre released

Union Home Secretary has released three Manuals and Newsletter of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) under Cyber and Information Security Division (CIS) in New Delhi.

Manuals and newsletter released were:

Cyber Hygiene for Cyber Space - Dos and Don’ts – Basic Manual. 

Cyber Hygiene for Cyber Space - Dos and Don’ts – Advanced Manual. 

Quarterly Newsletter ‘CyberPravah’ covers introduction to I4C, various activities of I4C, etc.

Prime Minister Hasina inaugurates Dhaka International Trade Fair

Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina has inaugurated 26th annual Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF). 

She also declared the ICT products and services as the ‘product of the year 2022’. 

It is a month-long trade fair for exploring new markets and diversify product basket.

It is being organized by Ministry of Commerce and Export Promotion Bureau with the help of other agencies. 

DITF has 227 stalls including 23 pavilions where traders from 11 countries are taking part. 

Union Education Minister launches NEAT 3.0 ed-tech solutions

Union Education Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan has launched NEAT 3.0, a single platform to provide best-developed ed-tech solutions, courses to students. 

AICTE prescribed technical books in regional languages was also launched. 

It will help more than 12 lakhs socially and economically disadvantaged students have received free ed-tech course coupons. 

National Educational Alliance for Technology (NEAT): initiative to provide the use of best-developed technological solutions. 

Foundation stone for Heartfulness International Yoga Academy laid

Union Ayush Minster, Sarbananda Sonowal has laid foundation stone for the Heartfulness International Yoga Academy for setting new benchmarks in yoga training at Hyderabad.

It comprises Yoga halls that can accommodate 100 Yoga students in each hall, therapeutic Yoga rooms for consultation, one to one training spaces, etc. 

It will have trainers from India, Europe, Australia, Uzbekistan and US.

It is registered with Yoga Certification Board as a Leading yoga Institution.

France takes over European Union Presidency for Six Months 2022

France takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union for the first time in 14 years with effect from 1st January 2022 till 30 June 2022. 

Presidency of the Council (Council of Ministers) organizes meetings, brokers compromise, submits conclusions.

Each Member State of EU holds the presidency of Council of the European Union for six months on a rotational basis.

It serves as the co-legislator of the European Union, along with European Parliament.

G Asok Kumar takes over as new DG for National Mission for Clean Ganga

G Asok Kumar (1991 batch IAS officer of Telangana Cadre) took over as the new Director General for the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), Ministry of Jal Shakti.

He has held several important post like Joint Secretary in Ministry of Civil Aviation and Director in Ministry of Power. 

He has also served as NMCG Executive Director Projects. 

NMCG: It was launched to reduce pollution and ensure rejuvenation of Ganga River, along with improvement in ecology, biodiversity. 

Vini Mahajan assumes charge as Secretary, Ministry of Jal Shakti

Vini Mahajan assumed the charge as Secretary in the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Dept of Drinking Water and Sanitation.

Prior to this, she was serving as the Punjab Chief Secretary from 26th June 2020.

She also served as Principal Secretary of Department of Medical Education and Research, and Principal Secretary Finance, Punjab.

She served as Joint Secretary to the Prime Minister of India from 2007-2012, and earlier in 2004-05 as Director in Department of Economic Affairs. 

Kalpana Chawla Centre for Research in Space Science, Technology inaugurated

Raksha Mantri has inaugurated Kalpana Chawla Centre for Research in Space Science & Technology at Chandigarh University.

He also launched Scholarship Scheme, worth Rs 10 crore, for the wards of Defence Personnel of the three Services.

It is established with the objective of training students in space science, satellite development and meet future challenges in space research. 

It would be the Ground Control Station for the Chandigarh University's Student Satellite.

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.