Latest Current Affairs For Sunday 27th February, 2022

Odisha’s first tribal CM Hemananda Biswal passes away

Odisha’s first tribal chief minister as well as last Congress chief minister of the state, Hemananda Biswal passed away. He was 82. Biswal, a Bhuyan tribal from Jharsuguda district, served as the chief minister twice from 1989 to 1990 and 1999 to 2000.

In December 1999, he was again made chief minister after erstwhile chief minister Giridhari Gamang was replaced over his failure in relief and rehabilitation measures in the aftermath of the 1999 super cyclone that ripped through the Odisha coast.

International IP Index 2022: India ranks 43rd

India has improved its overall IP score from 38.4 per cent to 38.6 per cent, and the country is ranked 43 out of 55 countries on the International Intellectual Property Index 2022.

This index was released by the Global Innovation Policy Center of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. In July 2021, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Commerce released a Review of the Intellectual Property Rights Regime in India.

This review is a welcome development and offers a comprehensive and detailed study of the strengths and weaknesses of India’s national IP environment.

The top five countries in the ranking are:

Rank 1- United States

Rank 2- United Kingdom

Rank 3- Germany

Rank 4- Sweden

Rank 5- France

Mirabai Chanu wins gold at Singapore Weightlifting International

Indian weightlifter and 2020 Tokyo Olympics silver-medallist, Mirabai Chanu has won the gold medal in the 55kg weight category at the Singapore Weightlifting International 2022 on February 25, 2022.

Chanu lifted 191kg (86kg+105kg) to stand on top of the podium. With this win, the 27-year-old Chanu has qualified for the 2022 Commonwealth Games (CWG) in Birmingham in the 55kg weight category. She has also qualified for the CWG in the 49kg weight category on the basis of her Commonwealth rankings.

Third India-Japan joint exercise ‘EX DHARMA GUARDIAN-2022’

The third edition of the joint military exercise “EX DHARMA GUARDIAN-2022” between India and Japan will be conducted from 27 February to 10 March 2022, at Belagavi (Belgaum), Karnataka.

The 15th Battalion the Maratha Light Infantry Regiment of the Indian Army and 30th Infantry Regiment of Japanese Ground Self Defence Forces (JGSDF) are participating in this 12 days long joint exercise.

The military exercise will focus on operations in Jungle & Semi-Urban/Urban terrains.

The exercise aims at enhancing the inter-operability and foster mutual understanding between the two Armies.

Exercise DHARMA GUARDIAN is an annual military training event, being conducted in India since 2018.

Union Bank launches ‘Union MSMERuPay Credit Card’

The Union Bank of India has launched the ‘Union MSME RuPay Credit Card’ in association with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). It is a first of its kind initiative in the industry, to provide simplified and digital delivery of Finance to Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), to meet their business-related operational expenses.

The dedicated card for MSMEs will be available to eligible borrowers of the Union Bank of India. The Union MSME RuPay Credit Card was launched by Union Minister for Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises, Shri Narayan Rane on February 25, 2022, at the two days MSME Conclave being held in Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra.

Important For All Exam 2022:

Union Bank of India Headquarters: Mumbai;

Union Bank of India CEO: Rajkiran Rai G.;

Union Bank of India Founded: 11 November 1919, Mumbai.

Brickworks Ratings lowers India’s GDP to 8.3% in FY22

Brickworks Ratings has revised downwards India’s GDP growth forecast to 8.3 per cent in the current fiscal 2021-22 (FY22). Earlier in January 2022, the rating agency had estimated this between 8.5-9 per cent.

Brickwork Ratings is one of the seven Sebi-registered credit rating agencies (CRA). The latest growth indicators suggest a loss of economic momentum in recent months. The rapid spread of Covid in January 2022 led to renewed restrictions on economic activities, dampening the revival process, particularly in contact-intensive sectors.

Standard Chartered tie up with IATA for payment platform for airline industry

Global banking group Standard Chartered has partnered with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to launch a payment platform for the airline industry in India.

IATA Pay will be a new payment option that enables participating airlines to offer instant payment options such as UPI Scan and Pay and UPI Collect (Request to Pay). Standard Chartered will be supporting the rollout of IATA Pay in other markets as well.

IATA Pay in India is powered by Standard Chartered’s Straight2Bank Pay, a payment platform that helps online merchants digitalise collections via multiple payment options through single global connectivity.

Important For All Exam 2022:

Standard Chartered CEO: Bill Winters (10 Jun 2015–);

Standard Chartered Founded: 1969, London, United Kingdom.

International Air Transport Association Headquarters: Montreal, Canada;

International Air Transport Association DG: Willie Walsh;

International Air Transport Association Founded: 19 April 1945, Havana, Cuba.

Bharti Airtel to acquire 4.7% stake of Vodafone in Indus Towers

Bharti Airtel has decided to acquire an additional 4.7 per cent stake in Indus Towers from Vodafone Group, the company announced. The two companies signed an agreement on the condition that Vodafone will use the proceeds to invest in Vodafone Idea (Vi) and the latter will clear its pending dues with Indus Towers.

In addition, Airtel is also protected with a capped price, which is lower than the price for the block of Indus shares sold by Vodafone on February 24. This shall be value accretive to Airtel and protect its existing significant shareholding in Indus Towers. With the acquisition, Airtel’s shareholding in Indus Towers will increase to 46.4 per cent. Vodafone holds a 28.1 per cent stake in the company at present and its shareholding will reduce to 21 per cent.

Digital India CEO Abhishek Singh appoints National e-Governance Division chief

1995-batch IAS officers and Digital India Corporation CEO, Abhishek Singh as new National e-Governance Division chief. The 1995-batch IAS officer from Nagaland cadre will hold the position in the rank and pay of Additional Secretary.

The officer will proceed to carry the extra cost of the put up of Managing Director & Chief Government Officer, Digital India Company. The 1995-batch IAS officer from Nagaland cadre will maintain the place within the rank and pay of Extra Secretary.

MSME Technology Centre to be set up in Sindhudurg

Union Minister for Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME), Narayan Rane has announced the establishment of MSME-Technology Centre with an outlay of Rs. 200 Crore, in Sindhudurg, Maharashtra.

The MSME-Technology Centre will provide the best of technology, incubation as well as advisory support to the industry, especially MSMEs, to enhance their competitiveness and provide skilling services for the employed and unemployed youth of the area to enhance their employability.

The Ministry is presently focussing to create a benchmark for MSMEs across the country by scaling them to new heights in terms of exports, quality of products, contribution to GDP and providing World-class infrastructure to all MSMEs in India.

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.