Latest Current Affairs For Thursday 17th February, 2022

LAHDC, Leh launches Kunsnyom scheme for differently abled persons

Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Leh has launched Kunsnyoms scheme for differently-abled persons.

Kunsnyoms = Equal for All, Fair for All and aims inclusive and accessible Ladakh.

Under this, Leh Hill council is providing assistive devices, technologies to needy people at 90 percent subsidy.

Under the scheme, 28 tri-scooters, battery-run wheelchair, walking aids and other aids required for special needs of the individuals has been distributed.

Telangana flags off first-ever all-women officers sailing expedition

Telangana Governor Tamilisai Sounderarajan has flagged off historic first-ever all-women officers offshore sailing expedition of Indian Army between Chennai Vizag Chennai at Chennai Port Trust.

Governor praised Indian Army for opening its doors to women and the enhanced role and respect that they command to this day.

Women officers completed grueling training for the expedition which is yet another step towards women empowerment.

MNRE to host ‘New Frontiers’ program on Renewable Energy

Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) is conducting ‘New Frontiers’ program on Renewable Energy as a part of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations.

It will be held from 16th to 18th February 2022.

Under this, MNRE will conduct physical event on ‘India’s Leadership in Energy Transition’ at Vigyan Bhawan. 

It will organize 3 webinars on Women, Energy Transition and clean-tech start-ups.

It will conclude with Roadmap to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2070 session. 

MoTA allocates Rs. 2.26 Crores for Telangana’s Medaram Jatara Festival 2022

Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) has sanctioned Rs. 2.26 Crores for Medaram Jatara 2022 Festival in Telangana.

The festival is being held from 16th to 19th February 2022.

Medaram Jatara:

It is a 4-day long festival, which is celebrated once in two years in ‘Magha’ (February) on the full moon day, in Medaram Village, Telangana. 

It is the second-largest fair, after Kumbh Mela.

It is organized by Koya tribe, in collaboration with Tribal Welfare Department, Telangana.

PM to inaugural address at TERI’s World Sustainable Development Summit

PM Narendra Modi will virtually deliver inaugural address at The Energy and Resources Institute’s (TERI) World Sustainable Development Summit today.

This 3-day Summit is TERI’s annual flagship event.

Theme 2022: ‘Towards a Resilient Planet: Ensuring a Sustainable and Equitable Future’.

The Summit will discuss wide range of issues including climate change, sustainable production, energy transitions, global commons and resource security.

Vedanta forms JV with Foxconn to manufacture semiconductors in India

Indian mining major Vedanta has inked MoU with Taiwanese electronics manufacturing company, Hon Hai Technology Group (Foxconn) to form a joint venture (JV) for manufacturing semiconductors in India.

This is the first Joint Venture in the electronics manufacturing sector after government announced Rs 76,000 crore production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for semiconductor and display manufacturing. 

Majority shareholder: Vedanta

Chairman of this JV company: Anil Agarwal

Dabur becomes first Indian plastic waste neutral FMCG company in India

Dabur India has become first Indian consumer goods company to become completely plastic waste neutral.

The company reach this position by collecting, processing and recycling around 27,000 metric tonnes of post-consumer plastic waste during FY 21-22.

Dabur has achieved landmark of surpassing plastic packaging usage with recycling. 

It has also announced the launch of ‘Save the Environment’ campaign in Himachal Pradesh to create awareness within communities, households.

Sandeep Bakhshi named Business Standard Banker of 2020-21

Sandeep Bakhshi has been named as the Business Standard Banker of the Year 2020-21.

He is serving as the managing director (MD) and chief executive officer (CEO) of ICICI Bank, SNICE 2018. 

He has been awarded for turning private sector lender and changing the perception about it during his tenure of the past three and a half years.

His name was chosen by a jury of 5 members chaired by former Reserve Bank of India (RBI) deputy governor S S Mundra. 

ICICI Banks HQs: Mumbai

Narcotics Control Bureau organizes Darkathon 2022 in New Delhi

Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) is organizing Darkathon 2022 in New Delhi to find solutions to counter drug trafficking through darknet across the globe.

Aim: involving students, youth and technical experts to find effective solutions to unravel anonymity of darknet markets.

It is being organized in three phases and will conclude on 22nd April, 2022. 

Registration begins from 15th February and will close on 31st March.

Winner will be awarded with cash of Rs 2.5 Lakh.

Music composer and singer Bappi Lahiri passes away

Legendary Bollywood Music Composer and singer Bappi Lahiri (69 years) passed away in Mumbai due to multiple health issues.

He was instrumental in popularizing Disco music in India and has many hit songs to his credit.

His famous songs: ‘Chalte chalte mere yeh geet rakhna’, ‘I am a Disco Dancer’, ‘Pag Ghunghroo baandh Mira nachi thhi’ from ‘Sharabi’ and ‘Yaar bina Chain kaha re’ among others.

He won five Filmfare Awards.

Vineet Joshi appointed as Chairman of Central Board of Secondary Education

Vineet Joshi (1992 batch IAS officer of Manipur cadre) has been appointed as the Chairman of Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) with effect from 14th February 2022.

He is also serving as an Additional Secretary, Department of Higher Education, under Ministry of Education and Director-General of National Testing Agency (NTA). 

He succeeded Manoj Ahuja, who has been appointed as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.

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.