Latest Current Affairs For Saturday 29th January, 2022

South Maubuang becomes Mizoram’s first ODF plus village

South Maubuang in Aibawk block of Aizawl district in Mizoram has been declared as the model ODF Plus village.

The village has fulfilled all the criteria as per SBM-G Phase II guidelines and all households and institutions have functional toilets and measures in place for effective management of solid and liquid waste.

It has a population of 649 individuals from 116 households has emerged as the first ODF Plus village in the State of Mizoram.

MoHUA launched Swachhata Start-Up Challenge

Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA), in partnership with Dept of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) and Agence Française de Développement (AFD) has launched Swachhata Start-Up Challenge. 

Aim: to provide impetus to innovative start-ups in the sanitation and waste management sector.

It has four thematic areas:

social inclusion

zero dump (solid waste management)

plastic waste management

transparency through digital enablement.

National Regulator approves CMA of two COVID19 Vaccines

National Regulator, Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has given nod to conditional market authorization of two COVID-19 vaccines, Covaxin and Covishield.

Subject Expert Committee of Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) had recommended for upgradation of status for vaccines from restricted use in emergency situations. 

For this, firm shall submit data of overseas ongoing clinical trials of product with due analysis on six monthly basis.

First-ever Fit India Quiz Preliminary Round result announced

Results of Preliminary Round of first-ever Fit India Quiz, India's biggest sports and fitness quiz for students has been announced.

Organized by: Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. 

Results has revealed that two students from Uttar Pradesh have outperformed students from all other states to become top scorers of Preliminary Round. 

Divyanshu Chamoli of Delhi Public School, Greater Noida won the top spot, followed by Shashwat Mishra of Sunbeam School, Varanasi.

Indian Railways constitutes committee to look into NTPC CBT-1 result

Indian Railways has constituted high power committee to look into the concerns and doubts raised by candidates in regard to the results of 1st Stage CBT of NTPC issued by Railway Recruitment Boards on 14-15th January.

Committee will investigate results of 1st Stage CBT and methodology used for shortlisting candidates for 2nd Stage CBT without affecting existing shortlisted candidates.

Railways postponed its NTPC and 1st Stage CBT following protests by job aspirants.

Veteran Marathi author and social activist Anil Awachat passes away

Renowned Marathi author and social activist Anil Awachat (77 years) passed away due to a prolonged illness.

He was the founder of a de-addiction center called Muktangan Rehabilitation Center in Pune in 1986.

He was known for his several Marathi books like Manasa, Swatahavishayi, Gard, Karyarat, Karyamagna and Kutuhalapoti.

He is known for his books ‘Purnia’.

Govt notifies Certification Scheme for Unmanned Aircraft Systems

Govt of India has notified ‘Certification Scheme for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)’ to ensure minimum safety and quality requirements of drones.

UAS commonly known as Drones.

It will boost indigenous manufacturing of Drones and has been notified under Rule 7 of liberalized Drone Rules, 2021, which replaced Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) 2021.

Ministry of Civil Aviation had approved PLI scheme for drones and drone components with an allocation of Rs 120 crore.

Former Indian Hockey Team Captain Charanjit Singh passes away

Former Hockey mid-fielder Charanjit Singh (90 years) passed away at his residence in Una, Himachal Pradesh, after suffering a cardiac arrest and prolonged age-related illnesses.

He was the Captain of Indian hockey team, that won gold in the Tokyo Olympics of 1964.

He was also a member of Indian team that won silver medals in the 1960 Games in Rome, and in the 1962 Asian Games at Jakarta.

Awards: Padma Shri and Arjuna awardee

TerraPay partners with NPCI International to boost cashless transactions

TerraPay has signed MoU with NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) to allow Indian customers with an active UPI ID to receive real-time, international payments into their bank accounts via TerraPay’s secure payments technology.

It will enable seamless and convenient cross-border remittances experience.

NIPL: International arm of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).

CEO of NIPL: Ritesh Shukla

TerraPay HQs: The Netherlands

CEO of TerraPay: Ambar Sur

Padma Awards 2022 conferred on 128 people

Padma Award 2022 has been conferred on 128 winners that included 4 Padma Vibhushan, 17 Padma Bhushan awardees, and 107 Padma Shri awardees.

Padma Vibhushan: Prabha Are, Radheyshyam Khemka, Bipin Rawat (Posthumous), Kalyan Singh (Posthumous)

Padma Bhushan: Ghulam Nabi Azad (Public Affairs), Victor Banerjee (Art), Natarajan Chandrasekaran, Devendra Jhajharia, Pratibha Ray

Padma Shri: Prahlad Rai Agarwala (Trade and Industry), Najma Akhtar (Literature and Education)

Tata Group officially takes over Air India Operations

Govt of India has officially handed over India’s flag carrier, Air India to Tata Sons Limited, almost 69 years after acquiring the conglomerate.

Total value of the deal: Rs 18,000 crore (US$2.4 billion).

This strategic disinvestment transaction of Air India includes transfer of 100% stake of GoI in Air India to Tata Sons, along with management control.

The transaction covers three entities: Air India, Air India Express and Air India SATS (AI SATS).

Odisha Open 2022 begins at Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Cuttack

Odisha badminton Open 2022 has been kicked off at Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Cuttack.

It is a super 100 tournament, which is the third event of 2022 BWF World Tour calendar. 

It will be held till January 30.

It is the first edition of the Odisha Open and is being organized by the Badminton Association of India. 

Around 300 shuttlers from 18 countries will participate in the tournament.

Meenakashi Lekhi releases pictorial book on India’s Women Unsung Heroes

Union Minister Meenakshi Lekhi has released pictorial book on India’s Women Unsung Heroes of Freedom Struggle in New Delhi as a part of Azadi ka Mahotsav. 

Book has been released in partnership with Amar Chitra Katha. 

It celebrates the lives of some of the women who led the charge and lit the flame of protest and rebellion throughout the country.

It contains the stories of queens who battled colonial powers in the struggle against imperial rule.

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.