Latest Current Affairs For Saturday 22nd January, 2022

Suriya's Tamil socio-drama 'Jai Bhim' nominated for Best Featured Film

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences revealed the list of 276 films that is eligible for consideration at the 94th Oscars.

Suriya's hard-hitting Tamil socio-drama Jai Bhim is India's entry into The Academy.

Jai Bhim is the fourth Indian film to get nominated for Oscars after Mother India, Salaam Bombay, and Lagaan. 

Malayalam superstar Mohanlal’s latest period drama Marakkar Arabikadalinte Simham has also officially made it to the Oscars 2021 list.

Albert Bourla wins $1 million Genesis Prize for development of COVID-19 vac

Albert Bourla was awarded the prestigious Genesis Prize for his efforts in leading the development of a COVID-19 vaccine. 

He is the chairman and chief executive of global pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc.,

The $1 million awards are granted each year to a person for their professional achievements, contributions to humanity and commitment to Jewish values. 

Bourla had received the largest number of votes in an online campaign (200,000 people in 71 countries participated).

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's grand statue to be installed at India Gate

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced that a grand statue of iconic freedom fighter Netaji Subhas Chand Bose will be installed at India Gate.

He said, till the grand statue of Netaji Bose is completed, a hologram statue of his would be present at the same place.

Mr. Modi will unveil the hologram statue on 23rd January, Netaji’s birth anniversary.

Babar Azam named captain of ICC Men's ODI Team of Year 2021

According to the global cricket body, Pakistan captain Babar Azam has been named as the captain of the ICC Men's ODI Team of the Year.

He was also named the skipper of the Men's Team of the Year for 2021.

There were no Indians in the ICC T20I Men's Team of the Year but Smriti Mandhana found a spot in the Women's T20I Team of the Year.

India, Sri Lanka extend existing Science & Technology cooperation for three

India and Sri Lanka have extended the existing Science and Technology cooperation for three more years.

Now, the countries focus on new areas like waste-water technologies, sustainable agriculture, aerospace engineering, robotics and artificial intelligence.

The decision was taken during the 5th Joint Committee meeting on Science and Technology Cooperation between India and Sri Lanka.

M Modi inaugurates newly built Circuit House building near Somnath Temple

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates the newly built Circuit House building near Somnath Temple in Gujarat through video conferencing.

The new circuit house building has been constructed by the Gujarat government at a cost of more than 30 crore rupees.

The historic Somnath Temple is visited by lakhs of devotees from India and abroad every year.

The landscaping of the circuit house has been done in such a way that sea view is available from every room.

Over 76500 ‘Agri Nutri Gardens’ established under Agri Nutri Garden Week

Over 76 thousand 500 ‘Agri Nutri Gardens’ have been established under the Agri Nutri Garden Week’ as against the target of 7500.

Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM) observed this week from 10th to 17th of this month.

It is the Mission’s agenda to support every rural poor household to have Agri Nutri Garden to fulfil the family’s nutritional needs.

Excess production can also be sold for income generation.

Amar Jawan Jyoti to merge with War Memorial flame

According to defence officials, the Amar Jawan Jyoti flame at India Gate will be merged with the flame at the newly constructed National War Memorial in the same complex.

The Amar Jawan Jyoti was erected as a memorial to fallen soldiers of the 1971 operations that led to the freedom of Bangladesh.

It is housed inside the India Gate, a British era memorial to soldiers who lost their lives in pre-independence operations.

Saturnino de la Fuente, the world's oldest man passes away at 112

The oldest person living (male) Saturnino de la Fuente García (112 years & 341 days) has passed away at home in León, a city in northwest Spain,

Saturnino claimed the record as the oldest person living (male) in September 2021 when he was exactly 112 years and 211 days.

De la Fuente was a cobbler by trade and started working in a shoe factory at age 13.

He was born in the Puente Castro neighbourhood of León on Feb. 11, 1909.

Bangladesh to make Unique Business ID mandatory for e-commerce entities

The Bangladesh government will make the Unique Business ID (UBID) mandatory for all e-commerce entities in the country. 

According to Zunaid Ahmed Palak(State Minister for IT),all digital commerce operators in the country will be required to register with the government using the UBID.

The use of these mechanisms to regulate the e-commerce sector will restore public confidence in the digital business. 

Prime minister: Sheikh Hasina

Capital:Dhaka

Currency: Bangladeshi taka

India successfully test fires BrahMos supersonic cruise missile

BrahMos supersonic cruise missile with increased indigenous content and improved performance was successfully testfired from Integrated Test Range, Chandipur off the coast of Odisha. 

The launch was conducted by Brahmos Aerospace in close coordination with the teams of the Defence Research and Development Organisation. 

The missile was equipped with advanced indigenous technologies and followed a modified optimal trajectory for enhanced efficiency and improved performance. 

Dileep Sanghani elected as IFFCO chairman

Dileep Sanghani has been elected as chairman (17th) of the Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative (IFFCO).

He succeeds Balvinder Singh Nakai.

Sanghani was elected as the vice-chairman of IFFCO in the year 2019.

IFFCO is a multi-state cooperative society engaged in the business of manufacturing and marketing fertilisers.

IFFCO Headquarters: New Delhi.

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.