Latest Current Affairs For Saturday 19th February, 2022

Nepal to become first country to deploy India's UPI platform

NPCI announced that, Nepal will be the first country to adopt India's UPI system.

This will play a pivotal role in transforming the digital economy of the neighbouring country.

NPCI International Payments Ltd, the international arm of NPCI, has joined hands with Gateway Payments Service and Manam Infotech to provide the services in Nepal.

GPS is the authorised payment system operator in Nepal. 

Manam Infotech will deploy Unified Payments Interface (UPI) in Nepal.

Fisdom partners with Bank of Maharashtra to offer wealth management service

Fisdom, a wealth-tech company, has joined hands with Bank of Maharashtra, to offer wealth management products and services to over 29 mn customers of the bank.

This partnership is to distribute the wealth products and services through the bank’s network of more than 2,000 branches and its digital platforms, including the mobile banking app and internet banking.

Wealth management services will be made accessible to bank customers through both physical and digital mode.

IndusInd Bank to facilitate digital transactions on e-NAM

IndusInd Bank has been empaneled by the SFAC to facilitate digital collection and settlement services on e-NAM portal.

Under this arrangement, the bank will offer an array of transaction services through digital modes including multi-net banking , debit card, NEFT, RTGS, IMPS and UPI to the buyer and seller.

As of January 2022, there are over 1.7 crore farmers and more than 1.8 lakh traders who are registered on eNAM and have benefitted from the digital marketplace.

SIDBI expands its MSME programme to Bihar

SIDBI has partnered with the Bihar govt to develop the state’s MSME ecosystem.

It signed two MoUs with the Industries Department, Govt of Bihar and Bihar Industrial Area Development Authority (BIADA).

Under the MoU it will deploy Project Management Units (PMU) in making necessary interventions for facilitating the development of the MSME ecosystem.

SIDBI is the principal financial institution for MSME development in the country.

SIDBI Headquarter: Lucknow

DefExpo 2022: Over 900 firms to take part

Asia’s largest defence exhibition, DefExpo 2022 will be held in Gandhinagar. 

More than 900 defence firms and 55 countries are expected to participate in it.

A 1,000-drone display is expected to be one of the highlights of the exhibition.

This will be the second time such a show is being organised in the country.

DefExpo was traditionally held in Delhi until 2014 after which it has seen a string of new venues --- Goa (2016), Chennai (2018) and Lucknow (2020).

LSRC lifts 15th CEC Cup Men’s Ice Hockey Championship 2022

Ladakh Scouts Regimental Centre (LSRC), has lifted the 15th CEC Cup Men’s Ice Hockey Championship - 2022.

In a seesaw final, LSRC beat Indo Tibetan Border Police, ITBP by 3-2 goals.

The tournament has been organised by the Department of Youth Services & Sports, Leh in collaboration with Ladakh Winter Sports Club, Leh.

Indian football legend Surajit Sengupta passes away

The former India footballer Surajit Sengupta (71-years) passed away due to COVID-19 complications in Kolkata.

Sengupta had been associated with Kolkata’s three big clubs, Mohun Bagan (1972-1973, 1981-1983), East Bengal (1974- 1979) and Mohammedan Sporting (1980).

He represented the national team from 1973 to 1979 and was in the national team for the 1978 Asian Games.

US-Bangladesh to conduct joint air exercise ‘Cope South 22’

The air forces of Bangladesh and the US will conduct a joint air exercise between Feb 20-25.

The aim of the exercise is to improve interoperability with the Bangladesh air force and to support the armed forces of Bangladesh's long-term modernization efforts in order to maintain regional stability.

Bilateral tactical airlift exercise ‘Cope South 22’ will be conducted at BAF Kurmitola Cantonment, Dhaka, and Operating Location-Alpha, Sylhet, Bangladesh.

PM Modi and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi to hold Virtual Summit today

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi to hold a Virtual Summit today to firm up Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.

Both leaders are expected to lay out their vision of the historic and friendly relations between the two countries,

UAE is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its foundation.

Prime Minister Modi also dedicated to Nation, two additional railway lines in Maharashtra this evening.

Tourism Ministry and AAA Limited sign MoU to promote domestic tourism

Tourism Ministry has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Alliance Air Aviation Limited to boost cooperation for the promotion and marketing of domestic tourism throughout the country.

Alliance Air is the front runner in promoting the Regional Connectivity Scheme of the government which is being promoted under the scheme UDAN - (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik).

The MoU was signed with a view to achieving the common purpose of joint domestic promotion.

Gujarat announces New Biotechnology Policy for 2022-27

Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel has announced New Biotechnology Policy for the year 2022-27, aimed to achieve Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

Under this policy, strategic projects, mega and large projects are eligible for special packages.

This will attract new investment through anchor units and existing industries and create new employment opportunities in the state. 

The MSMEs with a capital investment of less than 200 crore rupees will be given maximum assistance of 40 crore rupees. 

Mizoram to get motor racing track near Aizawl airport

Mizoram will soon get a motor racing track, which will be the first of its kind in eastern and northeastern India.

The proposed project worth Rs 10 crores will be constructed at Lengpui, about 31 km north of Aizawl, where the lone state’s airport is located.

Mizoram State Sports Council (MSSC) and Rural Electrification Corporation (REC) had inked a pact for the construction of REC Motosports Racing Tract and Sports Complex. 

G Ashok Kumar appointed as India’s 1st National Maritime Security Coordinat

Former navy vice chief, Vice Admiral (retd.) G Ashok Kumar took over as India’s first National Maritime Security Coordinator (NMSC) to strengthen the country's maritime security.

He will report directly to Ajit Doval (NSA).

He stepped down as vice head of the navy last year.

Mr Kumar, an alumnus of Sainik School in Amaravathi Nagar, Tamil Nadu, and the National Defence Academy in Khadakvasla, Pune,

He was commissioned into the navy’s executive branch in July 1982.

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.