Latest Current Affairs For March, 2022

Piyush Goyal inaugurated Indian Jewellery Exposition Centre in Dubai

During his visit to Dubai, the Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal has, inaugurated the Indian Jewellery Exposition Centre (IJEX) building at Dubai Expo 2020.

The minister also urged the Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) to set a target Jewellery Export of USD 100 billion from the current USD 35 billion.

'Matua Dharma Maha Mela 2022'

PM Narendra Modi addressed Matua Dharma Maha Mela 2022 at ShreedhamThakurnagar, Thakurbari, West Bengal, on the occasion of 211th birth anniversary of Shree ShreeHarichand Thakur Ji via video conferencing.

Shree Harichand Thakur ji devoted his entire life for the betterment of the oppressed, downtrodden, and deprived persons in undivided Bengal.

Meghalaya’s root bridges on tentative list of World’s Heritage Sites

Meghalaya’s living root bridges get listed on the tentative list of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites.

Living root bridges are the type of simple suspension bridge formed by the method of tree shaping from living plant roots across a stream or river.

These bridges are locally known as Jingkieng Jri.

‘Ficus Elastica’ tree is used to make living bridges in Cherrapunji, India.

The roots form the bridge in a span of 10-15 years.

ICRA downgrades India's FY23 GDP forecast to 7.2%

ICRA reduced its forecast of the growth of the Indian GDP in FY23 to 7.2% from 8.0%.

ICRA projected GDP expansion in FY22 at 8.5%.

The reason for the cut in GDP forecast is the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which increases commodity prices and the lockdown in China.

ICRA Limited (formerly Investment Information and Credit Rating Agency of India Limited) was set up in 1991.

OECD - FY23 at 8.1%

Fitch Ratings - FY23 at 8.5%

Moody’s - CY22 to 9.1%,

Virat Kohli tops the Duff & Phelps Celebrity Brand Valuation Report 2021

Virat Kohli has come up as the most valued celebrity in India for the fifth time in the Duff & Phelps Celebrity Brand Valuation Report 2021.

Virat Kohli's brand valuation dipped to $185.7 million last year from a high of $237.7 million in 2020.

His fellow cricketers - MS Dhoni (5th), Rohit Sharma (13th).

Followed by Ranvir Singh ($158.3 million), Akshay Kumar came down to the third position ($139.6 million). 

Alia Bhatt ranked four (68.1 million dollars).

UP conferred with the 'Best State' award at the 3rd National Water Awards

President Ram Nath Kovind presented the 3rd National Water Awards for Best State to Uttar Pradesh for exemplary work in water management, followed by Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu.

The National Water Awards are given by the Ministry of Jal Shakti.

First launch - 2018

Best School category - Amity International School, Noida, Uttar Pradesh. 

Best Urban Local Body - Vapi Urban Local Body(Gujarat), Dapoli Nagar Panchayat(Maharashtra). 

Best NGO - Gramvikas Sanstha(Aurangabad). 

US provide grants of USD 152 million for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh

The US has announced a financial grant of USD 152 million in new humanitarian assistance for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.

The announcement was made after the visit of the US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas to Cox’s Bazar where the majority of the Rohingya refugees reside.

This financial assistance will be utilised for healthcare, protecting the environment, and providing secure food distribution for the Rohingya refugees.

Badminton Association has re-elected Himanta Biswa Sarma as President

Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma has been re-elected as the president of the Badminton Association of India for another four years term from 2022 to 2026.

He has remained president of the Badminton Association of India (BAI) since 2017.

He also served as Vice President of Badminton Asia and was a Badminton World Federation Executive Council member.

Badminton Association of India headquarters - New Delhi. 

Established -1934

Uday Kotak steps down as the Chairman of IL&FS

Founder of Kotak Mahindra Bank Uday Kotak has stepped down as the Chairman of Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services (IL&FS).

CS Rajan, MD of IL&FS, will take charge as Chairman and Managing Director for six months, from April 3 by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.

IL&FS has resolved the debt of Rs 55,000 cr; in addition, the headquarters of IL&FS at Bandra Kurla Complex in Mumbai has also been sold to Brookfield for Rs 1,080 crore.

Kerala Raj Subramaniam named as the new CEO of FedEx

Indian-American Raj Subramaniam has been named the new CEO of FedEx, the world's largest courier service corporation.

He is set to replace the founder of FedEx, Frederick W Smith.

Currently, Subramaniam is serving as President and Chief Operating Officer of FedEx.

Subramaniam joined FedEx in 1991 and was elevated to the Board of Directors in 2020.

Originally, he is from Trivandrum, Kerala and studied chemical engineering at IIT Bombay.

Kaziranga rhino inhabitants increased by 200

According to the census conducted in Kaziranga National Park, the population of rhinos increased by 200 in the last four years.

Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve conducted the census.

The total number of rhinos increased to 2613.

One-horned rhino is listed as the vulnerable on IUCN Red List.

National Parks in Assam- Kaziranga, Dibru - Saikhowa, Orang National Park, Manas National Park, Nameri National Park, Raimona National Park, Dihing Patkai national park. 

Karnataka government will launch Vinaya Samarasya scheme

The Karnataka government will launch Vinaya Samarasya Yojana on April 14.

This drive aims to eradicate untouchability in Gram Panchayats across the state.

This scheme was also added in the recently announced Karnataka Budget for 2022-23.

April 14 celebrates the birth anniversary of the father's the Indian Constitution, B R Ambedkar.

B R Ambedkar received Bharat Ratna in 1990.

Governor - Thawar Chand Gehlot

Chief Minister - Basavaraj Bommai

India’s Namit Malhotra on Oscars win for Dune

This year’s Oscars was named to Dune as the Timothee Chalamet and Zendaya starrer sci-fi thriller bagged six wins. Dune was nominated in 10 categories and it won in 6 of them.

This win was a proud moment for India as Namit Malhotra, the CEO and Chairman of Double Negative (DNEG), the studio that did the VFX for the film, brought home this honour.

DNEG won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects, beating Free Guy, Shang-Chi, Spider-Man: No Way Home and No Time to Die.

Interestingly, this is DNEG’s seventh win at the Academy Awards, with the studio winning big for Inception (2011), Ex Machina (2016), First Man (2019), Tenet (2021), Interstellar (2015) and Blade Runner 2049 (2018).

Namit is the son of Bollywood producer Naresh Malhotra and the grandson of cinematographer MN Malhotra and his company was behind the mind-blowing VFX.

Important For All Exam 2022:

DNEG Headquarters: London, United Kingdom;

DNEG Founded: 1998, London, United Kingdom.

The men’s and women’s team has won gold in the National Cross Country Championship

In Kohima, Darshan Singh of the Services and Varsha Devi of the Railways finally defended their men’s and women’s titles in the National Cross Country Championships by winning their 10 Km events on the picturesque but difficult course, which was made more difficult by 60 per cent humidity and wind gusts.

After playing crucial roles in their respective teams’ successes, they were ecstatic to win the South Asian crowns at the second SAFF Cross Country Championships, which were held concurrently.

Darshan Singh was grouped at the front with his Services teammates Rajendra Nath, Deepak Singh Rawat, Dipak Suhaug, reigning champion Parasappa Madevappa Hajilol, and Railways Narendra Pratap Singh even before the runners had completed the first loop of 2 kilometres. He never lost his beat or his place.

Max Verstappen wins 2022 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

Max Verstappen (Red Bull – Netherlands) has won the Formula One 2022 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix at Jeddah Corniche Circuit, Saudi Arabia. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari- Monaco) came second and Carlos Sainz Jr. (Ferrari – Spain) came third.

It was the second edition of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and the second round of the 2022 Formula One World Championship. Lewis Hamilton managed to get a point on the board after coming 10th.

Actress Deepika Padukone named in inaugural TIME100 Impact Award

Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone has been named as one of the awardees of the TIME100 Impact Awards 2022. The actress has got featured on the inaugural TIME100 Impact Awards list for her work in mental health struggles and raising awareness, through her LiveLoveLaugh Foundation.

The award recognizes global leaders who have gone above and beyond to move their industries and the world forward. Apart from Deepika, six other global leaders have also been honoured with the award. The awards were presented at the Museum of the Future in Dubai.

US, Philippines kick off ‘Balikatan 2022’ largest-ever military drills

The United States military and the military of the Philippines kicked off the military drill Balikatan 2022. The Philippine-led annual exercise will take place across Luzon in the Philippines region near Taiwan, from March 28 to April 8, 2022.

Around 8,900 Filipino and American troops are participating in the military drill, making it the largest Balikatan military exercise ever.

According to the military, the drills will focus on “maritime security, amphibious operations, live-fire training, urban operations, aviation operations, counterterrorism, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief”.

The Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) gives US troops a legal basis to be in the Southeast Asian country for bilateral exercises and governs the conduct of American armed force personnel.

Important For All Exam 2022:

Philippines Capital: Manila;

Philippines Currency: Philippine peso;

Philippines President: Rodrigo Duterte.

PVR & INOX Leisure announced merger combined entity to be called PVR Inox Ltd

Multiplex companies INOX Leisure Ltd and PVR Ltd have announced the merger of their two companies. Inox will have a 16.66% stake in the new firm and PVR will have a 10.62% stake.

After the formalities of the merger, the company will be known as PVR Inox Limited. Ajay Bijli will be Managing Director of PVR Inox Limited, Sanjeev Kumar will be executive director and Pavan Kumar Jain will be non-executive chairman of the consolidated board.

The merger is subject to approval by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), stock exchanges, and other regulatory approvals as required. Merger to bring together two of India’s best cinema brands to deliver an unparalleled consumer experience with a network of 1,546 screens across 341 properties in 109 cities.

Important For All Exam 2022:

PVR Cinemas Founded: June 1997;

PVR Cinemas Headquarters: Gurugram;

PVR Cinemas Founder & CEO: Ajay Bijli.

Shaktikanta Das lays Foundation Stone of Learning and Development Centre of BRBNMPL in Mysuru

Governor of Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Shaktikanta Das has laid the foundation stone for the establishment of a Learning and Development Centre (LDC) of the Bharatiya Reserve Bank Note Mudran Private Limited (BRBNMPL) in Mysuru, Karnataka. Bharatiya Reserve Bank Note Mudran Private Limited (BRBNMPL) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of RBI.

LDC is being established with active collaboration from Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India Limited (SPMCIL) and Bank Note Paper Mill India Private Limited (BNPMIPL).

LDC will act as a forum for robust knowledge dissemination, thus ensuring that the best practices, experiences, and innovations are shared efficiently in a congenial environment to ensure uniformity in banknote production, quality and supply.

RBI Governor dedicates Varnika Ink Manufacturing Unit of BRBNMPL

Bharatiya Reserve Bank Note Mudran Private Limited (BRBNMPL) has set up an Ink Manufacturing Unit named “Varnika” at Mysuru, Karnataka, with an annual ink manufacturing capacity of 1,500 MT to enhance the security of banknotes.

Bharatiya Reserve Bank Note Mudran Private Limited (BRBNMPL) a wholly-owned subsidiary of RBI. Shaktikanta Das (Governor of RBI) has dedicated “Varnika”, the Ink Manufacturing Unit of Bharatiya Reserve Bank Note Mudran Private Limited (BRBNMPL) to the nation.

It is a boost to the ‘Make in India’ initiative. It ensures that the entire requirement of banknote printing inks is produced in-house.

This unit also manufactures Colour Shift Intaglio Ink (CSII) and meets the entire requirements of banknote printing presses in India, which has resulted in cost efficiency and self-sufficiency in banknote ink production.

Gilbert Houngbo named next Director-General of International Labour Organization

Gilbert Houngbo from Togo will be the next Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO). Houngbo was elected by the UN agency’s governing body, comprising representatives of governments, workers and employers during their meeting in Geneva.

Houngbo, former Prime Minister of Togo, will be the 11th head of the agency and the first African to hold the post. His five-year term will begin on October 1, 2022. The current Director-General, Guy Ryder, from the United Kingdom, has held office since 2012.

Important For All Exam 2022:

International Labour Organisation Founded: 1919;

International Labour Organisation Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.

Shashi Sinha named as new Chairman of Broadcast Audience Research Council India

The board of Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) India has elected IPG Mediabrands India CEO Shashi Sinha as the new chairman. He will take over from Punit Goenka, who served as chairman of the TV viewership measurement agency for the last three years.

Sinha, who also represents the Advertising Agencies Association of India as its board member, has played a key role in the formation of BARC.

The Broadcast Audience Research Council India is a joint industry body founded by organisations that represent Indian broadcasters, advertisers, and advertising and media agencies. It is the world’s largest television measurement science industry body.

Important For All Exam 2022:

Broadcast Audience Research Council Founded: 2010;

Broadcast Audience Research Council Headquarters: Mumbai;

Broadcast Audience Research Council CEO: Nakul Chopra.

Maltese PM Robert Abela sworn in after landslide election win

The Prime Minister of Malta, Robert Abela has been sworn in for a second term after his ruling Labour Party won the 2022 general election in a landslide victory. He was administered the oath of office by President George Vella.

Abela was first sworn in as prime minister in January 2020 after the former Labour Party leader and prime minister Joseph Muscat resigned.

It was the first electoral test for Abela, a 44-year-old lawyer since he took the helm of the tiny Mediterranean island nation in January 2020 following a Labour party vote. Labour secured a majority of almost 40,000 votes over its Nationalist Party rivals — a huge margin in the tiny EU state which has just 355,000 registered voters.

Important For All Exam 2022:

Malta Capital: Valletta;

Currency: Euro

Ritu Khanduri becomes first woman speaker of Uttarakhand Assembly

Ritu Khanduri was elected unopposed as the first woman speaker of the Uttarakhand Assembly.

Ritu Khanduri won the 2022 assembly elections from the Kotdwar.

Recently, Pushkar Singh Dhami sworn in as Chief Minister of Uttarakhand

Governor of Uttarakhand - Gurmit Singh

Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly - 70 seats

Rajya Sabha - 3 seats

Lok Sabha - 5 seats

DRDO conducted successfully test-fires two of MRSAM at Chandipur

DRDO has conducted two successful flight tests of Medium Range Surface to Air Missile (MRSAM) at Integrated Test Range, Chandipur off the coast of Odisha.

This MRSAM is a Surface-to-Air Missile developed which is jointly by DRDO and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI).

The MRSAM Army weapon system includes multi-function radar, mobile launcher system and other vehicles.

DRDO - Dr G Satheesh Reddy (Chairman)

Former CAG Vinod Rai appointed as Chairman of Kalyan Jewellers

Kalyan Jewellers board announced that former CAG Vinod Rai to be appointed as the chairman and independent non-executive director of the board.

Vinod Rai served as the 11th Comptroller and Auditor General of India. 

Founder of Kalyan Jewellers, TS Kalyanaraman will continue as MD on the company’s board.

Current CAG - Girish Chandra Murmu

Headquarters of Kalyan - Thrissur, Kerala

Kalyan Jewellers CEO - Sanjay Raghuraman

Moradabad is the second noisiest city in world

According to the Annual Frontier Report, 2022 published by United Nations Environment Programme observes that Bangladesh's Dhaka is the noisiest city in the world.

Noise pollution limit by WHO -

Residential area -55 dB

Traffic and business sectors - 70 dB

Top 5 noise polluter - Dhaka (Bangladesh), Moradabad (UP, India), Islamabad (Pakistan), Rajshahi (Bangladesh), Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam)

Top 5 quietest cities - Irbrid at 60 dB, Lyon, Madrid, Stockholm, and Belgrade

Wilfried Brutsaert wins the Stockholm Water Prize 2022

The eminent hydrologist Wilfried Brutsaert has been awarded with the Stockholm Water Prize 2022.

He received this prestigious award for his groundbreaking work to quantify environmental evaporation, helping to make accurate predictions of the impact that climate change has on local rainfall patterns and water sources.

He is also known as 'Mr Evaporation'.

World Water Day - 22 March

World Water Day theme - Groundwater, making the invisible visible

Gujarat gets India's first 'steel road'

The Hazira Industrial Area, Surat has got the first 'steel road' which is made up of steel waste.

The road was built with 100 % processed steel slag.

The steel slag road has been built by ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India with CSIR India and the CRRI and Niti Aayog.

Director General of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research - Shekhar C. Mande

CSIR-CRRI - Dr. Ranjana Aggarwal, Additional charge of Director

Railway lifts Obaidullah Khan Hockey Cup

Indian Railways’ men Hockey team won the Obaidullah Khan Heritage Hockey Cup held at Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.

CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan inaugurated the tournament at Major Dhyanchand Stadium, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.

Arjun, player of Railway’s was adjudged Man of the Tournament.

Obaidullah Gold Cup was started in year 1931.

It was last played in year 2016.

Last time, in the year 2016, the tournament was won by BPCL and Railways team was runners up. 

Anurag Thakur launched TEJAS skilling project in UAE

Union Minister Shri Anurag Thakur has launched Training for Emirates Jobs and Skills (TEJAS), a Skill India International Project to train overseas India.

The project aimed to create pathways for Indian work force to get equipped for skills and market requirements in the UAE.

Tejas aims at creating a 10,000 strong Indian workforce in UAE during the initial phase. 

The Dubai Expo commenced in October last year with the participation of 192 countries.

Covid champion award to Cochin International Airport Ltd

The Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) has received the 'Covid champion' award at Wings India 2022.

Wings India is an Asia's largest event on civil aviation, jointly organised by the Ministry of Civil Aviation and FICCI at the Begumpet airport in Hyderabad.

CIAL was selected for this award for successfully implementing of a meticulous project named 'Mission Safeguarding' during the pandemic time.

CIAL MD-S Suhas

Civil Aviation Minister-Jyotiraditya Scindia

Pramod Sawant sworn-in as CM of Goa

Pramod Sawant takes oath as a CM of Goa for the 2nd consecutive term.

Governor PS Sreedharan Pillai administered him the oath of office at Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee Stadium, Panaji.

In the recent state Assembly polls, the BJP won 20 seats in the 40-member state Assembly.

Pramod Sawant wins from Sanquelim constituency.

Rajya Sabha - 1

Lok Sabha – 2

CODA wins 94th Academy award for 'Best Picture'

The 94th Academy Award ceremony was presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on March 27, 2022.

Best picture - CODA

Best Actress - Jessica Chastain

Best Director - Jane Campion (Third female winner of the best director award after Chloe Zhao in 2021 and Kathryn Bigelow in 2010)

Best Actor - Will Smith

Best Original Song - Billie Eilish (Her first Academy Award)

Most awards - Dune (6)

NITI Aayog`s releases Export Preparedness Index 2021, Gujarat again tops

Gujarat topped Niti Aayog’s Export Preparedness Index 2021, followed by Maharashtra and Karnataka in second and third place, respectively. Gujarat has topped the Niti Aayog rankings for the second year in a row “s Export Preparedness Index 2021, which is intended to assess states’ preparation in terms of export potential and performance.

Key Points:

According to the government think tank, Gujarat was followed by Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, and Telengana “s document. Union territories and states such as Lakshadweep, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Ladakh, and Meghalaya ranked worst.

NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Rajiv Kumar, speaking at the launch of the study, claimed that India’s exports are growing at 36%, while global trade is growing at 30%. “

After a long time, we will see India’s share of world goods trade increase from 1.6 to 1.7 percent,” he added, adding that sectors such as cars, electrical machinery, and iron and steel contributed to the expansion.

The world trade is about USD 24 trillion, with India’s exports worth USD 400 billion, indicating “huge” potential.

The Export Preparedness Index measures a state’s readiness to export in terms of potential and performance.

NATO extended Jens Stoltenberg’s term by a year

According to a NATO statement, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) extended Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg’s tenure by a year until September 30, 2023.

Key Points:

After a NATO conference in Brussels, US President Joe Biden and other NATO leaders decided to extend Stoltenberg’s tenure.

In October 2014, Stoltenberg, a former Norwegian prime minister, was named NATO Secretary-General. In September 2021, his term was set to end.

I am honoured by #NATO Heads of State and Government’s decision to extend my term as Secretary-General until September 30, 2023. “We remain united to keep our Alliance strong and our people safe as we face the greatest security crisis in a century,” Stoltenberg tweeted.

RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das inaugurated RBIH in Bengaluru

RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das inaugurated the Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH) in Bengaluru on Thursday, which was established with a Rs 100 crore initial capital contribution to foster and nurture financial innovation. According to the central bank, the Hub has an independent Board with Senapathy (Kris) Gopalakrishnan as Chairman and other notable people from industry and academics as members.

Key Points:

The RBIH was established as a Section 8 business under the Companies Act of 2013, with an initial capital contribution of Rs 100 crore, to stimulate and develop financial innovation in a long-term institutional setting.

RBIH intends to build an ecosystem that promotes access to financial services and goods for the country’s low-income people.

The Hub would bring together several stakeholders in the financial innovation area (BFSI sector, startup ecosystem, regulators, and academia).

Important For All Exam 2022:

RBIH: Reserved bank of India was established as a Section 8 business under the Companies Act of 2013.

RBI Governor: Shaktikanta Das. 

Ola to acquire neo bank Avail Finance

Ola, an Indian ride-hailing startup, has agreed to acquire neo-banking platform Avail Finance in order to expand its financial services offering.

Key Points:

The financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed by Ola, which owns a 9% share in Avail Finance.

Moneycontrol, on the other hand, claims that the deal is worth $50 million.

Ola intends to use Avail Finance’s product portfolio to enhance its lending operations and further its neo-banking expansion goals.

The acquisition is a critical step in Ola’s bigger drive into the fintech market as it strives to develop a mobility-focused financial services business under Ola Financial.

Ola Financial Services will expand its position in the credit underserved areas that include blue-collar employees, such as Ola’s driver-partner ecosystem, with this purchase.

AAI and BEL collaborated to develop indigenous Air Traffic Management Systems

Airports Authority of India (AAI) has signed an agreement with Defence Public Sector Undertaking Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) for the joint indigenous development of systems for air traffic management and surface movement of aircraft at airports across the country, which were previously imported.

Key Points:

BEL and AAI will collaborate to develop the Civil Air Traffic Management System (ATMS) with Advanced-Surface Movement Guidance and Control System (ASMGCS), a complex ground surveillance system that manages air traffic at airports and in Indian civil airspace to ensure safe flight operations from take-off to landing.

According to a Civil Aviation Ministry release, BEL and AAI will work together to develop the Civil Air Traffic Management System (ATMS) with Advanced-Surface Movement Guidance and Control System (ASMGCS), a complex ground surveillance system that manages air traffic at airports and in Indian civil airspace for safe flight operations from take-off to landing.

“The current arrangement is in accordance with AAI’s R&D Policy to update its ANS Infrastructure in a methodical, efficient, and cost-effective manner, as well as the Government of India’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ missions.” This will lessen AAI’s reliance on foreign suppliers for ANS infrastructure.

Air traffic control has two purposes: to ensure safety by maintaining separation between many planes and to manage airport operations efficiently.

In order to guarantee safe surface mobility in all weather situations at the airport, ASMGCS provides routing, guidance, and surveillance services to aircraft and vehicles on the ground.

The goal of ATMS with ASMGCS is to provide the air traffic controller with a complete air traffic picture of the coverage area while interacting with primary or secondary radar, ADS-B, Multilateration System (MLATs), and navigational equipment such as GPS, Instrument Landing System (ILS), and Doppler Very High Frequency Omni Range (DVOR).

It also communicates with other systems such as the Aeronautical Fixed Telecommunications Network (AFTN), the Airport Operational Database (AODB), the Airport Collaborative Decision Making (ACDM), and the Centralised Air Traffic Flow Management system (CATFM).

The system is used to accommodate a significant amount of air traffic, including military flights, in congested airports and airspaces.

The system includes a Situation Display for Air Traffic Controllers, Surveillance Data Processing (SDP), Flight Data Processing (FDP), Safety Net and Decision Support (SNET), Control & Monitoring Display (CMD), Advanced ASMGCS, and other in-house developed technologies.

By lowering controller strain, improving air traffic flow, and reducing flight delays, it aids in boosting capacity while also improving safety. ATM activities are protected by a redundant and distributed architecture that provides increased system dependability and availability.

Lt. Gen. Vinod G. Khandare appointed as Adviser in Defence Ministry

Lieutenant General Vinod G. Khandare (retired) has been appointed as Adviser in the Ministry of Defence, providing strategic insights and advise on matters relevant to defence strategy to the Defence Secretary.

Key Points:     

According to defence sources, he will collaborate closely with the Secretary of Defense.

The role’s mandate would be to provide strategic inputs and advise on matters relating to defence strategy, readiness, and associated activities, such as the International Defense Corporation, maritime security, and defence space.

 About Lt. Gen. Khandare:

Gen. Khandare retired from the Army at the end of January 2018.

He worked as the Military Adviat the Prime Minister’s Office’s National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) from then till October 2021.

He was the Director General of the ser Defence Intelligence Agency and the Deputy Chief of the Integrated Defence Staff for Intelligence from November 2015 until January 2018.

He joined the 14 Garhwal Rifles in September 1979 and served in a variety of terrains and operational duties in Siachen, Jammu and Kashmir, Sikkim, and the northeast area for over four decades.

Kerala: Identification of New Marine Species

A new Carangid species has been identified by the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) from the Indian coast of Kerala.

Overview:

This newly identified fish belongs to the group named ‘queen fish’.

The scientific name of this fish is Scomberoides pelagicus.

In the local language this fish is called ‘pola vatta’.

In the Indian ocean there are more than sixty species of carangids. Out of them, four belong to the ‘Queen Fish’ group and the newly identified fish is number five.

Across the globe, three queen fishes are extinct due to a lot of reasons like climate change, overfishing, etc.

The newly identified species is found in the coastal region of the country along with Kerala. This fish also fetch a good demand in the local markets.

Description the fish:

It has been confirmed by CMFRI that the newly identified fish is a new species. This has been confirmed after detailed genetic and taxonomic analyses were performed on the fish. The newly identified fish is distinct as it has a deep ovate body, its head profile is concave dorsal shaped, and has stout. It also has fewer numbers of gill rakers on its first gill arch as compared to its other closely related species.

Union Minister inaugurates 10-day ‘Bharat Bhagya Vidhata’ Festival

Union Minister of Women and Child Development, Smriti Irani has inaugurated 10-day mega Red Fort Festival, titled as ‘Bharat Bhagya Vidhata’ at Red Fort in Delhi as part of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav. 

Organized by: Union Ministry of Culture in collaboration with the Dalmia Bharat Group (DBG) to organize the event as DBG has adopted the Red Fort as its Monument Mitra.

The festival will commemorate the heritage, culture and diversity of every part of India.

IIE signs MoU with MoRD to enhance the impact of SVEP

Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE) under Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) signs MoU with Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) to promote entrepreneurship at a local level amongst the rural youth. 

Under this, Start-up Village Entrepreneurship Programme (SVEP), sub scheme of National Rural Livelihoods Mission to promote employment opportunities in rural India, particularly developing self-employment avenues for unemployed rural people. 

Combined Reciprocal Common Transport Agreements (CRCTA)

Govt of Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh of NCR have signed Combined Reciprocal Common Transport Agreements (CRCTA) that covers both Contract Carriage & Stage Carriage since time period of earlier Agreements of Reciprocal Common Transport Agreement was coming to an end.

One of the policy proposals of the Regional Plan-2021 for NCR is unrestricted movement of buses, taxis, and auto-rickshaws within NCR.

Union Minister inaugurates three-day North-East festival 'Ishan Manthan'

Union Minister for Culture, Tourism & DONER, G Kishan Reddy has inaugurated three-day North-East festival called 'Ishan Manthan' at Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts in New Delhi.

It will be held from 25th to 27th March. 

It will give an opportunity to get acquainted with the culture, art, music, folk dances, handicrafts and traditional cuisines of Northeast India.

North Eastern Region inhabits about 400 communities who speak more than 200 languages. 

Centre designates 5th October as National Dolphin Day

Union Ministry for Environment, Forest and Climate Change has designated 5th October as National Dolphin Day every year, from 2022.

The day will aim to create awareness for conservation of Dolphins.

Dolphins act as ideal ecological indicators of a healthy aquatic ecosystem and conservation of the Dolphins will benefit the survival of the species and people dependent on the aquatic system for their livelihood.

It lives in Ganges and other rivers of South Asia. 

Earth Hour 2022: 26th March

Earth Hour is observed every year across the world on the last Saturday of the March to show support for fight against climate change and commitment towards better planet.

Earth Hour 2022 is being marked on 26th March, 2022. 

Earth Hour 2022 theme will focus on ‘Shape Our Future‘. 

It is a worldwide movement organized by World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), encouraging individuals, communities, corporates, and households to turn off their lights for 1 hour.

Indian Navy’s Western Naval Command conducts Prasthan exercise

Western Naval Command of the Indian Navy organized an offshore security exercise, ‘Prasthan’ in the Offshore Development Area (ODA) off the Mumbai coast.

The exercise is conducted every six months, to ensure offshore security.

Apart from the Naval forces, exercise saw participation from the Indian Air Force, Coast Guard, ONGC, Mumbai Port Trust, Jawahar Lal Nehru Port Trust, Customs, state fisheries department, Mercantile Marine Department and Marine Police.

First female US secretary of state Madeleine Albright passed away

She was the 64th United States secretary of state from 1997 to 2001 under President Bill Clinton.

She helped in shaping the Western foreign policy in the aftermath of the Cold War.

She also joined the National Security Council in the White House of President Jimmy Carter.

She was named as US ambassador to the United Nations by Clinton in 1993 and served until 1997. 

She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by U.S. President Barack Obama in May 2012.

International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery

International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade is observed every year on 25th March. 

This day is observed to raise awareness about the dangers of racism and slavery. 

International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade 2022: Stories of Courage: Resistance to Slavery and Unity against Racism. 

March 25 also observed as International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members. 

ICICI Lombard ties up with Airtel Payments Bank for smartphone insurance

This insurance facility is available on the Airtel Thanks app.

This provides financial protection against damage to the phone and its screen from accidents or liquid spills.

Monthly premium for this facility starts at 1,299 rupees.

Customers can get an insurance sum that is equivalent to the purchase price of their smartphone. 

Airtel Payment Bank MD & CEO - Anubrata Biswas

ICICI Lombard CEO - Bhargav Dasgupta

Marathi as a mandatory for official works of local bodies in Maharashtra

The Maharashtra Legislative Assembly passed a bill to make the use of the Marathi language mandatory in official works of local authorities. 

The Maharashtra Official Language Act, 1964, did not make compulsory to use Marathi for the local authorities to use Marathi in their official works.

The use of English or Hindi by local authorities for certain government works, like communicating with foreign ambassadors is allowed.

Rajnish Kumar Joins Dun & Bradstreet’s International Strategic Advisory Boa

Former State Bank of India (SBI) chairman Rajnish Kumar has joined the International Strategic Advisory Board of Dun & Bradstreet. 

Rajnish Kumar also sits on the boards of HSBC Asia Pacific, L&T Infotech, Hero MotoCorp and BharatPe.

Dun & Bradstreet is a leading global provider of business decisioning data and analytics.

Dun & Bradstreet HQ - Jacksonville, Florida, U.S

Dun & Bradstreet CEO - Anthony Jabbour

Pralay Mondal appointed as interim MD and CEO of CSB Bank

CSB Bank appointed its current deputy MD Pralay Mondal as the interim Managing Director (MD) & CEO. 

He has been appointed for a period of 3 months from 1 April 2022 or till the appointment of a regular MD & CEO, whichever is earlier.

C.VR. Rajendran, the present MD & CEO announced his early retirement from the position due to health reasons. 

RBI has also approved the appointment of Pralay for three months from April 1.

CSB Headquarters: Thrissur, Kerala. 

Byju’s named as official sponsor of FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar

BYJU'S, an Indian ed-tech firm has become an official sponsor for the upcoming 2022 FIFA World Cup.

The event will be organised from November 21 to December 18 in Qatar.

BYJU'S is now become the first Indian ed-tech firm to be associated with the World Cup.

BYJU'S founder and CEO - Byju Raveendran. 

Qatar Capital – Doha, currency – Riyal

FIFA Headquarters: Zurich, Switzerland. 

President: Gianni Infantino. 

2026 FIFA World Cup - United States, Mexico, Canada. 

Retired Justice Harish Chandra Mishra sworn in as Lokayukta of Delhi

Justice Harish Chandra is a retired from Jharkhand High Court. 

The oath ceremony was administered by Lieutenant-Governor Anil Baijal in Raj Niwas.

The post of Lokayukta was vacant since the retirement of Rewa Khetrapal in December 2020.

Tenure - 5 years

Chief Justice of Delhi High Court - Vipin Sanghi (Acting). 

Former Chief Justice of Delhi High Court Dhirubhai Naranbhai Patel appointed as a chairperson of Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal.

Para-athletes Someswara Rao Ramudri and Mohit won gold

Long jumper Someswara Rao Ramudri and javelin thrower Mohit won gold medals in their individual events at the World Para Athletics Grand Prix 2022.

Long jumper Ramudri set the record with the leap of 6.40m. 

Javelin thrower Mohit achieved an impressive 54.71m distance. 

Dharambir won silver medal in men's wheelchair discus final F51. 

In women events, Jayanti Behera claimed the silver medal in track & field. 

The Indian contingent won six medals.

Kotak Mahindra Bank, Axis Bank has acquired 7.84% stake in ONDC

Kotak Mahindra Bank and Axis Bank each has acquired 7.84% stake in Open Network Digital Commerce (ONDC) for ₹ 10 crore.

ONDC was incorporated on December 30, 2021, in India.

ONDC is an open public digital infrastructure.

This network develops and transform the Indian digital commerce ecosystem for both goods and services.

It is an initiative of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Ravindra Jadeja as new captain of Chennai Super Kings

MS Dhoni has handed over his captaincy to Ravindra Jadeja.

MS Dhoni had been the CSK captain from 2008 - March 2022.

Under the captaincy of Dhoni, CSK won 4 times – 2008, 2011, 2018, 2021. 

On 15th August, MS Dhoni has already retired from international cricket.

Recently, Jadeja regained his top spot from West Indies’ Jason Holder in the latest ICC Test rankings for all-rounders.

CSK coach - Stephen Fleming (New Zealand). 

Yogi Adityanath sworn-in as UP CM for second time

Yogi Adityanath has been sworn-in as CM of UP at Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow.

He won election from Gorakhpur (urban) Constituency. 

BJP-led alliance won 273 of 403 seats in recent Assembly polls. 

The legislative party meeting was attended by Home Minister Amit Shah among other leaders.

Yogi Adityanath was also elected as the leader of BJP Legislature Party in UP.

Governor: Anandiben Patel

Rajya Sabha seats – 31

Lok Sabha seats – 80

International Day for the Right to the Truth: 24th March

United Nations has recognised March 24 to be observed as the International Day for the Right to the Truth concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims every year. The day aims to pay tribute to those who have devoted their lives or lost their lives in, the struggle to promote and protect human rights for all.

This day is observed on 24th March every year to pay tribute to “Monsignor Óscar Arnulfo Romero” as he was murdered on 24 March 1980. He was actively engaged in criticizing violations of the human rights of the most vulnerable individuals in El Salvador. The day was proclaimed by the United Nations in December 2010, to say no to all forms of violence, injustice and oppression against humanity.

World Tuberculosis Day observed on 24th March

World Tuberculosis Day is observed every year on 24 March to create awareness among the public about the global epidemic of tuberculosis (TB) and efforts to eliminate the disease.

The date marks the day in 1882 when Dr Robert Koch announced that he had discovered the bacterium that causes TB, which opened the way towards diagnosing and curing this disease.

The theme of World TB Day 2022 – ‘Invest to End TB. Save Lives.’ –conveys the urgent need to invest resources to ramp up the fight against TB and achieve the commitments to end TB made by global leaders.

Important For All Exam 2022:

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is the WHO’s Director-General.

WHO Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.

A book titled “Unfilled Barrels India’s oil story” authored by Richa Mishra

A book titled “Unfilled Barrels: India’s oil story” authored by Richa Mishra will be released soon. Richa Mishra is a journalist with The Hindu BusinessLine.

The book highlights the key role played by Keshav Dev Malaviya, who was the petroleum minister in the 1970s with a degree in oil technology, and the emergence of other stakeholders from public sector enterprises, including ONGC, to the fiercely competitive private players like Cairn Energy, and Mukesh Ambani’s RIL.

Abel prize for 2022: American mathematician Dennis P. Sullivan

The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters has awarded the Abel Prize for the year 2022 to American Mathematician Dennis Parnell Sullivan. The citation mentions that the award has been given, “For his groundbreaking contributions to topology in its broadest sense, and in particular its algebraic, geometric and dynamical aspects.”

The Prize recognises extraordinary contributions to the sector of mathematics & is funded by the Norwegian Government & supported the recommendations of the Abel Committee, which consists of 5 internationally recognized mathematicians, the Abel Laureates is chosen.

Indian Psychiatric Society national conference begins in Visakhapatnam

The 73rd Annual National Conference of Indian Psychiatric Society (ANCIPS) has been organized in Visakhapatnam from today to the 26th of March.

Experts from various parts of India and a few from abroad are participating in the three-day conference held at Vizag Conventions at Madhurawada. The last national conference was held 37 years ago in Visakhapatnam.

The theme is chosen for ANCIPS – 2022 ‘Bridging minds … Connecting generations’ was very appropriate in view of the growing generation gap and its impact on society.

Lt Governor Manoj Sinha addresses Gulf Countries’ Investment Summit

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has addressed the Gulf Countries’ Investment Summit at SKICC, Srinagar which is aimed at providing a platform for the foreign business delegates to explore a host of investment opportunities in the UT of Jammu & Kashmir.

The Lt Governor highlighted the scope for J&K and GCC companies’ economic cooperation to make Jammu and Kashmir the most beautiful investment destination in the world.

Since 2014, India’s relationship with Gulf countries has undergone a massive evolution which is being translated into a vibrant, revitalised economic partnership with J&K that will not only diversify our export basket but will also create a conducive environment for the expansion of the existing trade, the Lt Governor observed.

Chennai Super Kings and ICICI Bank partners for co-branded credit card

ICICI Bank announced that it has partnered with Chennai Super Kings (CSK), one of India’s most successful cricket teams, to introduce a co-branded credit card. The card, dubbed the ‘Chennai Super Kings ICICI Bank Credit Card,’ has been expressly developed with a range of exclusive perks for the iconic team’s millions of cricket fans.

The new card is part of a limited-edition line of co-branded credit cards offered by the Bank to allow sports fans to interact with their favourite teams while also taking advantage of credit card features.

The new card is another addition to an exclusive set of co-branded credit cards offered by the Bank to enable sports enthusiasts to connect with their favourite teams as well as avail benefits of a credit card.

ICICI Bank and Manchester United, a professional football club in England, launched a co-branded credit card four years ago.

Important For All Exam 2022:

ICICI Bank MD & CEO: Sandeep Bakhshi;

ICICI Bank Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra;

ICICI Bank Tagline: Hum Hai Na, Khayal Apka.

DBS Bank India launches Green Deposits programme

DBS Bank India has announced the launch of its Green Deposit Programme for corporate clients providing a simple way for companies to support environmentally-friendly projects or avenues.

DBS Bank is one of the few banks globally to integrate Sustainable Development Goals by offering lending & trade credit solutions to sustainable and environmentally-friendly green sectors and now offering a Green Deposit product.

Green Deposits will fund green industries and initiatives such as; green building sustainable water initiatives that include wastewater management, renewable energy and clean transportation.

The Green Deposits proposition combines all the benefits of a regular fixed deposit with a commitment from DBS to support green and sustainable loans disbursed by the bank.

Green Deposits serve as an ideal opportunity for corporates looking to include sustainability agenda into their treasury activities or those having limited options for investing in environmentally-beneficial projects.

RBI cancelled the license of People’s Co-operative Bank Ltd Kanpur

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has cancelled the license of People’s Co-operative Bank Limited, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh as the bank failed to adhere to the requirements of Sections 22(3) (a), 22 (3) (b), 22(3)(c), 22(3) (d) and 22(3)(e) – under Section 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.

The bank is found to lack adequate capital and earning prospects under the provisions of Section 11(1) and Section 22 (3) (d) – under Section 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 – ‘Act to apply to co-operative societies subject to modifications’.

The bank is prohibited from continuing its ‘banking’ business such as acceptance of deposits and repayment of deposits as defined in Section 5(b) as mentioned in Section 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 with effect from the close of business on March 21, 2022.

OECD projects India’s GDP for FY23 at 8.1% 

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has retained the outlook for India’s real gross domestic product (GDP) at 5.5% in FY24, lower than 8.1% in 2022-23.

Driven by infrastructure spending and border reopenings, the GDP of emerging Asia – China, India and the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)- is projected to grow 5.8% this year, following a 7.4% expansion in 2021 and a 0.8% contraction in 2020, it said, adding that the Ukraine war adds to inflation and supply chain risks facing an emerging Asia attempting to break out of the Covid-19 slump.

TCS partnered with IIT Madras to launch M.Tech in Industrial Artificial Intelligence

The Indian Institute of Technology Madras has teamed up with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) to offer a web-based, user-friendly programme on “Industrial AI,” aimed at upskilling employees and incorporating AI applications to industrial concerns.

IIT M will provide the 18-month programme, which was developed in collaboration with TCS, in a wholly online live teaching method via virtual classrooms. TCS students will make up the program’s initial cohort.

This programme, established in conjunction with TCS, will offer strong theoretical courses and labs covering significant issues in data science and AI.”

Theoretical courses will address essential mathematical approaches needed to comprehend data science algorithms, time series analysis, multivariate data analysis, machine learning, deep learning, and reinforcement learning.”

This course will provide you a unique perspective on the impact of artificial intelligence in industrial systems. Incorporating AI approaches into industry processes can result in systems that are more resilient, intrinsically safe, and ultimately more environmentally friendly.

IIT Madras established Policy Centre along with AquaMAP Water Management

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras builds a new interdisciplinary water management and policy centre known as ‘AquaMAP’ to address India’s water issues. The centre will build scalable models employing novel technology to provide smart solutions for water concerns.

As proof of concept, these models will be installed in various areas across the country. The capacity is one of the primary outputs that AquaMAP is projected to deliver in the medium or long term.

The ability to address complex real-life water problems through consortia approaches, establish as an entity that can deliver solutions with wide impact and application, address at least three chronic water issues through grand challenges and their successful translation into pilot projects, and complete pilot studies in at least six water innovation villages or towns that can be replicated are among the key outcomes expected from AquaMAP in the medium or long term.

Kerala becomes first state to introduce carbon-neutral farming methods

Kerala is set to become the first state in the country to introduce carbon-neutral farming methods in selected locations, for which the government has set aside Rs 6 crore in the 2022-23 Budget.

In the first phase, carbon-neutral farming will be implemented in 13 farms under the Agriculture Department and tribal areas, and steps are on to convert the State Seed Farm at Aluva to a carbon-neutral farm. In the second phase, model carbon-neutral farms will be developed in all the 140 Assembly constituencies.

The Agriculture Department was involved in a process of adopting new farming methods in phases, which would reduce carbon emissions and help the carbon to be stored in the soil. The government had already initiated discussions with experts in this regard.

Improving soil health through integrated farming methods, rotation of crops, adoption of fertigation, precision farming methods, changing the ways in which the soil is irrigated and limiting the indiscriminate use of fertilizers were important for preventing soil degradation and thus reducing carbon footprint in agriculture.

Important For All Exam 2022:

Kerala Governor: Arif Mohammad Khan;

Kerala Capital: Thiruvananthapuram;

Kerala Chief Minister: Pinarayi Vijayan.

Government set the target to create 220 new airports by 2025

Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia stated that the Government has set a target of building 220 new airports by 2025, citing the Civil Aviation industry as a critical component of India’s economy.

In response to the Civil Aviation Ministry’s requests for grants for 2022-23, Scindia stated that India has made progress in both domestic and foreign travel during the COVID-19 period. “Cargo flights for perishable food items will be boosted by 30% in the next few years, with 133 new flights,” he stated.

PM Modi virtually inaugurates Biplobi Bharat Gallery in Bengal

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated Biplobi Bharat Gallery at Victoria Memorial Hall in Kolkata on the occasion of Shaheed Diwas. The inauguration was done virtually via video conferencing. The purpose of this new gallery is to provide a holistic view of the events that led up to 1947 and highlight the important role played by the revolutionaries.

The newly built gallery depicts the contribution of the revolutionaries towards the freedom struggle of India and provides a holistic view of the events that led to 1947, according to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

The gallery displays the contribution of the revolutionaries in the freedom struggle and their armed resistance to British colonial rule. This aspect has often not been given its due place in the mainstream narrative of the freedom movement.

The gallery will also showcase the revolutionary movement, formation of significant associations by revolutionary leaders, spread of the movement, formation of the Indian National Army, and the contribution of Naval Mutiny.

INS Shivaji recognized as the Centre of Excellence in Marine Engineering

Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) has recognized INS Shivaji as the Centre of Excellence (CoE) in the field of Marine Engineering (ME). 

The recognition has been given after a thorough examination of the infrastructure and facilities available, as well as the training provided to improve the skills of Indian Navy. 

It was was presented by Honorable Secretary MSDE, Rajesh Aggarwal to CMDE Arvind Rawal, Commanding Officer, INS Shivaji.

Mansukh Mandaviya launches BRICS Vaccine R&D Centre

Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Mansukh Mandaviya has virtually launched the BRICS Vaccine R&D Center and Workshop on Vaccine Cooperation. 

It will help to pool together complementary advantages of BRICS countries in vaccine research and development. 

It will also boost the capacity of BRICS countries to prevent and control infectious diseases and provide timely help to developing countries. 

It will be instrumental in streamlining vaccination resources.

Lakshya Sen enters Top 10 of World Badminton Federation Rankings

Lakshya Sen has entered Top 10 in Men's singles in Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Rankings after a runner-up finish in the All England Open 2022.

He is currently the highest-ranked among the Indian men’s Singles shutters at World Number 9.

Young Women’s Double duo of TressaJolly and Gayatri Gopichand Jumped massive 12 spots in the latest BWF rankings.

In Men’s Doubles, India open winners Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty became World Number 7 pair.

Ashleigh Barty announces retirement from professional tennis

World number one Tennis player in the women's category, Ashleigh Barty (25 years) has announced her retirement from professional tennis.

She won her first Grand Slam at the 2019 French Open.

In January 2022, she became 1st home player to win the Australian Open men's or women's singles title in 44 years.

Serena Williams is the only other active female player to have won major titles on clay, grass, and hard courts. 

Devendra Jhajharia became first para-athlete to receive Padma Bhushan

Devendra Jhajharia became the first para-athlete to receive Padma Bhushan award. 

He has won many Paralympic medals, including gold at the 2004 Paralympics in Athens and 2016 Rio Games, and silver medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Avani Lekhara (para-shooter) was also awarded Padma Shri award in the Sports category.

She is the first Indian woman to win two Paralympic medals in the same Games, as well as the first Indian woman to earn Paralympic gold.

Union Cabinet approves merger of three MCDs into one

Union Cabinet has approved a bill for the unification of Delhi’s three Municipal corporations into one Municipal Corporation.

After unification, Delhi will have one Mayor in place of the existing 3 Mayors.

Erstwhile Delhi was divided into 3 Municipal Corporations:

South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC). 

North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC). 

East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC). 

NDMC AND SDMC currently comprise 104 Wards each while EDMC has 64 Wards. 

World Meteorological Day 2022: 23rd March

World Meteorological Day is observed every year on 23rd March to commemorate the day when the Convention for the establishment of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) came into force (23rd March 1950). 

This day also highlights the contribution of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services make towards the safety and well-being of society.

Theme for World Meteorological Day 2022: ‘Early Warning and Early Action’.

Ministry of Civil Aviation organizing ‘WINGS INDIA 2022’ in Hyderabad

Ministry of Civil Aviation (MOCA) and FICCI are jointly organizing Asia's largest event on Civil Aviation (Commercial, General and Business Aviation), titled as ‘WINGS INDIA 2022’. 

The event focuses on new business acquisition, investments, policy formation and regional connectivity.

It is being held from 24th to 27th March 2022, Begumpet Airport, Hyderabad.

Theme: India@75: New Horizon for Aviation Industry

WINGS INDIA AWARDS will also be conferred during this event.

New Delhi is the world’s most polluted capital city: Air Quality Report

New Delhi has been ranked as the world’s most polluted capital city for the second consecutive year as per IQAir’s 2021 World Air Quality Report.

Prepared by: Swiss organization IQAir

Top 5 polluted capital cities: New Delhi, followed by Dhaka (Bangladesh), N’Djamena (Chad), Dushanbe (Tajikistan), Muscat (Oman). 

Most polluted city of India: Bhiwadi, followed by Ghaziabad, Delhi, Jaunpur. 

Most polluted country: Bangladesh, followed by Chad, Pakistan, Tajikistan and India.

Third edition of the India-Uzbekistan joint military exercise begins

The third edition of the joint training exercise between Indian and Uzbekistan armies titled ‘EX-DUSTLIK’ is being conducted at Yangiarik, Uzbekistan. 

Last edition of DUSTLIK was conducted in Ranikhet, Uttarakhand in March 2021. 

Focus: counter-terrorism operations in semi-urban terrain under a United Nations Mandate.

It will focus primarily on sharing tactical level drills and learning of best practices from each other. 

Grenadiers Regiment is participating from Indian side. 

Pushkar Singh Dhami sworn-in as Chief Minister of Uttarakhand

Pushkar Singh Dhami will be sworn in as Chief Minister of Uttarakhand at the Parade Ground in Dehradun for the second consecutive term.

Along with him, 11 ministers will be sworn in on their respective profiles.

He was appointed CM of Uttarakhand for the first time in 2021.

He was elected as MLA in Uttarakhand Vidhan Sabha from Khatima in 2012 and 2017 respectively.

He is also the youngest CM of Uttarakhand.

World Poetry Day observed globally on 21st March

On 21st March, World Poetry Day is celebrated every year to recognise the unique ability of poetry to capture the creative spirit of the human mind. World Poetry Day celebrates one of humanity’s most treasured forms of cultural and linguistic expression and identity.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) adopted this day during UNESCO’s 30th session in Paris in 1999 with the aim of supporting linguistic diversity through poetic expression and increasing the opportunity for endangered languages to be heard.

Some countries also celebrate World Poetry Day on October 15 to mark the birthday of Virgil, a Roman poet who is famous for his epic Aeneid.

Important For All Exam 2022:

World Poetry Day Headquarters: Paris, France;

World Poetry Day Director-General: Audrey Azoulay;

World Poetry Day Founded: 16 November 1945, London, United Kingdom.

World Down Syndrome Day 2022: “Inclusion Means”

World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD) is observed every year on 21 March. It is a global campaign that is observed annually to spread awareness about Down Syndrome. The Day is commemorated as a global initiative to increase awareness about hereditary disorders.

An individual with Down Syndrome has an extra chromosome. The theme of World Down Syndrome Day this year is “Inclusion Means”. It calls for making efforts to include people with down syndrome in all matters of life and not discriminate against them.

The first World Down Syndrome Day was observed in 2006. Then the Brazilian Federation of Associations of Down Syndrome worked with Down Syndrome International and its members to launch an extensive campaign to generate international support. In November 2011, the General Assembly adopted a resolution by consensus to celebrate World Down Syndrome Day every year. The next month it declared March 21 as World Down Syndrome Day.

22nd March celebrates globally as World Water Day

World Water Day is celebrated globally on 22nd March every year. The day aims to highlight the importance of freshwater. It is used to advocate for the sustainable management of freshwater resources.

This 2022, the focus is groundwater, an invisible resource with an impact visible everywhere. Relevant issues include water scarcity, water pollution, inadequate water supply, lack of sanitation, and the impacts of climate change that are looked upon on this day.

The World Water Day theme 2022 is “Groundwater, Making the Invisible Visible”. Groundwater is a crucial resource that provides almost half of all drinkable water across the world.

The idea for this international day goes back to 1992, the year in which the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro took place.

That same year, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution by which 22 March of each year was declared World Day for Water, to be observed starting in 1993.

Important For All Exam 2022:

Secretary-General of the United Nations: Antonio Guterres.

The United Nations officially came into existence on 24 October 1945.

Autobiography of former cricketer G.R. Viswanath titled “Wrist Assured: An Autobiography”

Former Indian cricket captain Gundappa Ranganatha Vishwanath has penned his autobiography titled “Wrist Assured: An Autobiography”, co-authored by senior journalist R Kaushik.

The book traces the cricketing journey of Gundappa Vishwanath who played Test Cricket for India between 1969 and 1986, making 91 appearances and scoring more than 6000 runs.

Former Indian cricketers Kapil Dev and Sunil Gavaskar released the book at the ceremony held on the first day of the 2nd day/night Test between India and Sri Lanka in Bengaluru, Karnataka.

Indian Super League: Hyderabad FC wins maiden trophy

Hyderabad FC has clinched their maiden Indian Super League title after defeating Kerala Blasters in the penalty shoot-out in the summit clash. Goalkeeper Laxmikant Kattimani made three stunning saves.

Hyderabad beat Kerala 3-1 in the shoot-out after the match ended 1-1 in the regulation and extra time. For Hyderabad, Joao Victor, Khassa Camara and Halicharan Narzary scored while only Ayush Adhikari found the target in the shoot-out as Kerala suffered heartbreak for the third time in the finals.

9th India-Seychelles Joint Military Exercise ‘LAMITIYE-2022’ begins

The 9th edition of the Joint Military Exercise ‘LAMITIYE-2022’ between the Indian Army and Seychelles Defence Forces (SDF) was held from March 22 to 31, 2022 at Seychelles Defence Academy (SDA), Seychelles. The Indian Army contingent will be represented by the 2/3 GORKHA RIFLES group (PIRKANTHI Battalion).

Exercise LAMITIYE is a biennial training event, been conducted in Seychelles since 2001. The objective of this joint training exercise is to build and promote bilateral military relations, sharing experiences gained during various operations; exchanging skills and good practices between both armies.

Important For All Exam 2022:

Seychelles Capital: Victoria;

Seychelles President: Wavel Ramkalawan;

Seychelles Continent: Africa.

5th in the series of Offshore Patrol Vessels “ICGS Saksham” commissioned

Defence Secretary of India, Dr Ajay Kumar has commissioned the Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) Saksham. The fifth in the series of 105-metre Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) class, at Goa.

The first four of the five ICGS which have already been commissioned in 2020 are ICGS Sachet (1st); ICGS Sujeet (2nd); ICGS Sarthak (3rd); and ICGS Sajag (4th) in 2021.

Goa Shipyard Limited designed and built the 105-meter OPV, which is equipped with advanced technology, navigation and communication systems, sensors, and machinery.

The ship will be based in Kochi once it joins the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) force. Ship will be used extensively for surveillance in Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) and other missions mandated by the Coast Guard charter.

Important For All Exam 2022:

Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Formed: August 18, 1978;

Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Headquarters: New Delhi;

Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Director-General: Virender Singh Pathania;

Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Motto: Vayam Rakṣāmaḥ (We protect).

Francis Kéré becomes first African to win Pritzker Prize 2022

Architect, educator and social activist Francis kéré has been announced as the 2022 laureate of the Pritzker architecture prize 2022, the award often referred to as architecture’s highest honour. He was born in the small village of gando in Burkina Faso, kéré is the first black architect to win the coveted award.

Established by the Hyatt Foundation in 1979, the Pritzker architecture prize is bestowed on architects whose built work demonstrates a combination of talent, vision, and commitment. in 2021, the award went to French architects Anne Lacaton and Jean-Philippe Vassal while in 2020 saw Shelley McNamara and Yvonne Farrell of Grafton architects were honoured.

HDFC Bank to launch “SmartHub Vyapar programme” & ‘AutoFirst’ app

HDFC Bank has announced to launch the “SmartHub Vyapar programme” & ‘AutoFirst’ app the following two initiatives/application to give a digital push to small business loans.

The financial institution has onboarded over 2.7 million retailers and is buying 100 thousand retailers each month. HDFC Bank has plans to onboard 20 million retailers in three years. More than half of the newly onboarded retailers solely function by means of the app platform.

‘AutoFirst’ application: The financial institution now clocks not less than ₹1,000 crores in service provider loans each month and is wanting to triple the run fee. HDFC Bank can even launch a utility ‘AutoFirst’ that may provide totally automated auto loans.

SmartHub Vyapar programme: The SmartHub Vyapar programme for retailers will probably be launched quickly. It is an app that bundles all cost platforms – playing cards, UPI, QR code, faucet pay and SMS-based funds.

Important For All Exam 2022:

HDFC Bank Headquarters: Mumbai;

HDFC Bank Founded: August 1994;

HDFC Bank CEO: Sashidhar Jagdishan;

HDFC Bank Chairman: Atanu Chakraborty.

West Bengal celebrated ‘Dol Utsav’ or ‘Dol Jatra’

West Bengal celebrated the ‘Dol Utsav’ or ‘Dol Jatra’, the festival of colours, marking the onset of the spring season. The festival is dedicated to Lord Krishna and Radha and celebrated on full moon day.

It also marks the last festival of the year as per the Bengali calendar. In the Eastern region of India, the festival of spring is celebrated as Dol Jatra, Dol Purnima, Dol Utsav, and Basanta Utsav.

The majestic festival is celebrated by throwing ‘gulaal’ or ‘aabir’ on others and by singing and dancing in cultural programs.

Important For All Exam 2022:

West Bengal Capital: Kolkata;

West Bengal Governor: Jagdeep Dhankhar;

West Bengal Chief minister: Mamata Banerjee.

Serdar Berdymukhamedov elected as President of Turkmenistan

Serdar Berdimuhamedov has been sworn in as the President of Turkmenistan. Berdimuhamedow succeeds his father and former president Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, who became president in 2006 and served till 2022.

It must be noted that the presidential elections in Turkmenistan are held every seven years. Serdar Berdymukhamedov, secured 72.97 per cent of the votes election to lead the gas-rich country.

Important For All Exam 2022:

Turkmenistan Capital: Ashgabat;

Turkmenistan Currency: Turkmenistani manat.

Visakhapatnam station to implement Centre's 'One Station, One Product

Visakhapatnam Railway Station will soon implement the Centre’s ‘One Station, One Product’ concept. 

FM Sitharaman announced the ‘One Station, One Product’ concept in the recent Union Budget to help local businesses and supply chains.

The concept is based on the ‘One District, One Product’ scheme.

It aims to promote the supply chain of local products using the Indian Railways network, turning each station into a showcase destination and promotional hub for local products.

N Biren Singh takes oath as Manipur CM for second straight term

N Biren Singh took oath as Manipur's chief minister for a second straight term.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came back to power with a landslide victory in the recently concluded assembly election.

Singh was unanimously elected as leader of the legislature party of the BJP during a meeting.

Prior to entering politics, Singh was a footballer and also had a career in journalism. 

He had successfully contested his 1st election in 2002 from the Heingang constituency.

‘Green Triangle’ named after Mahatma Gandhi inaugurated in Madagascar

As part of the ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ to a “Green Triangle” named after Mahatma Gandhi was jointly inaugurated in Madagascar’s capital Antananarivo.

Mayor of Antananarivo Naina Andriantsitohaina and India’s Ambassador to Madagascar Abhay Kumar inaugurated the green space at a special ceremony.

India’s Ambassador to Madagascar said the green triangle highlights Gandhi’s vision regarding reducing consumerism and aiming for sustainable development.

Nagaland became 1st paperless Assembly by implementing e-Vidhan Application

Nagaland created history by becoming the 1st State Assembly in the country to implement the National e-Vidhan Application programme to become completely paperless.

The Nagaland Assembly Secretariat has attached a tablet or e-book on each table for the 60 members. 

Now members can use electronic devices to participate in House proceedings.

NeVA will help the Chair of the House to conduct the proceedings of the House smoothly in a Paperless manner.

Ashish Jha appointed US COVID-19 response chief

Ashish Jha has been appointed the new White House Covid-19 Response Coordinator.

Dr Jha who replaces Jeff Zeints is a physician of Indian origin who lives in the US.

He is an infectious disease expert and the Dean of Brown University’s School of Public Health.

He has worked on the ebola virus and served as co-chair of a panel to combat the disease’s breakout in West Africa in 2014.

Born in Bihar in 1970, he migrated to Canada in 1979, and then to the US in 1983.

Neeraj Chopra, Mirabai Chanu ace Sportstar awards

Tokyo Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra and Silver medallist Mirabai Chanu are facilitated with the ‘Sportstar of the Year (Male)’ and (Female) award resp. at the 2022 Sportstar Aces Awards. 

Other Awardees are: 

Lovlina Borgohain (Sportswoman of the Year, Individual Sports)

Avani Lekhara (Parathlete of the Year, Female)

Pramod Bhagat (Special Recognition award)

Savita (Sportswoman of the Year, Team Sports)

Rupinder Pal Singh (Sportsman of the Year, Team Sports).

Viktor Axelsen won men's singles title at All England Open 2022

Viktor Axelsen of Denmark won the men’s single title in All England Open Badminton World Championships 2022.

In the final he defeated India's Lakshya Sen in the final.

Other winners of the event were:

Women’s singles title: Yamaguchi Akane, Japan. 

Men’s doubles title: Muhammad Shohibul Fikri & Bagas Maulana (Indonesia). 

Women’s doubles title: Matsuyama Nami & Shida Chiharu (Japan). 

Mixed doubles title: Yuta Watanabe & Arisa Higashino (Japan). 

SBI to set up Innovation, Incubation and Acceleration Centre

State Bank of India (SBI) plans to set up an Innovation, Incubation and Acceleration Centre (IIAC) at Hyderabad.

This will build in-house capability to bolster its current performance and drive higher top-line growth through innovation.

The center will be operational in six to nine months of on-boarding a consultant.

 It will help the bank to develop a set of technologies, knowledge, and skills for the introduction of new products and services.

Startups Get Up To 10 Years For Converting Debt Investment Into Equity

The govt has extended the timeline up to 10 yrs for startups to convert debt investments made in the company into equity shares. 

This decision is likely to give relief to budding entrepreneurs to deal with the impact of Covid-19 pandemic.

Earlier the option of changing convertible notes into equity shares was allowed for up to 5 yrs from the day when the initial convertible note was issued.

A convertible note is a kind of debt/loan instrument.

PM Modi, Morrison to hold second India-Australia virtual summit today

PM Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison will hold the 2nd India-Australia Virtual Summit today.

Summit follows 1st virtual summit held on 4th of June in 2020 bilateral relationship was elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic P'ship.

During the Summit, the two leaders will take stock of progress made on various initiatives under the CSP. 

The Summit will lay the way forward on new initiatives and enhanced cooperation in a diverse range of sectors.

International Day of Forests: 21st March 2022

Every year, March 21 is celebrated as the International Day of Forests.

The day was founded by the FAO and the UN in 2012.

The aim behind observing the Day is to ‘celebrate and raise awareness of the importance of all types of forests.’

It is aimed at raising public awareness among diverse communities about the values, significance and contributions of the forests to balance the life cycle.

The theme for 2022 is ‘Forests and Sustainable production and consumption.’

UN appoints Jayati Ghosh to high-level advisory board on multilateralism

Indian economist Jayati Ghosh has been appointed by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to a new high-level advisory board on effective multilateralism.

She is a Prof. at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

She was previously a professor of economics and chairperson of the Centre for Economic Studies and Planning, School of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University.

She is also a member of the UN's high-level Advisory Board on Economic and Social Affairs.

Global Recycling Day 2022 celebrated on 18th March

The Global Recycling Day is observed every year on the 18th of March to recognise the importance of recycling as a resource, not waste. The day strives to urge world leaders that recycling must be a global issue and encourage people to think resourcefully and not waste when it comes to the goods around us.

What is this year’s theme?

This year, the event’s focus will be on the “recycling fraternity” – those who put themselves on the frontline to collect waste and recycling during the multiple lockdowns.

What is Global Recycling Day?

Global Recycling Day was created in 2018 by the Global Recycling Foundation founded by Ranjit Baxi – who is also the founder of International Recycling Ltd, an international business that exports waste materials from Europe and the USA for recycling into new products in Asia. It is a day to raise awareness of the importance recycling plays in preserving our primary resources and securing the future of our planet.

Miss World 2021: Poland’s Karolina Bielawska crowned

Karolina Bielawska from Poland has won the title of Miss World 2021. She was crowned by 2019 Miss World Toni-Ann Singh of Jamaica. She beat the USA, Indonesia, Mexico, Northern Ireland and Cote d’Ivoire to clinch the coveted title. Indian-American Shree Saini from the United States bagged the first runner-up title, followed by Olivia Yace from Cote d’Ivoire.

The 70th edition of the Miss World international beauty pageant was held in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Miss World 2019 Toni-Ann Singh performed ‘The Prayer’ during the 70th Miss World pageant to express solidarity with Ukraine amid the Russia-Ukraine crisis.

Indian Contender:

Femina Miss India World 2020 Manasa Varanasi represented India at the Miss World 2021. Manasa Varanasi reached the Top 13 contestants but could not make it to the Top 6 finalists.

Hurun Global Rich List 2022: Elon Musk Tops

SpaceX and Tesla founder Elon Musk has bagged the top position on the 2022 M3M Hurun Global Rich List, with a total net worth of $205 billion. The 2022 M3M Hurun Global Rich List is published by research and luxury publishing group Hurun India in association with realty firm M3M.

Other persons in the list:

Amazon.com Inc executive chairman Jeff Bezos ranked second with $188 billion in net worth.

With a net worth of $153 billion, Bernard Arnault, the chief executive of LVMH Moët Hennessy – Louis Vuitton SE, the world’s largest luxury-goods company, ranked third.

From India, Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) Chairman Mukesh Ambani was the only Indian to feature in the top 10 list of  2022 Hurun Global Rich List’ to emerge as India’s as well as Asia’s richest man. Ambani occupied the ninth rank globally with a net worth of $103 billion.

A key finding of 2022 M3M Hurun Global Rich List:

Overall 3,381 billionaires from 2,557 companies and 69 countries were ranked in 2022 M3M Hurun Global Rich List.

215 billionaires were from India, which included 58 new additions.

India emerged as the third-largest billionaire producing nation in the world.

Moody’s lowers India’s GDP forecast for CY22 to 9.1%

Rating agency Moody’s has revised downwards the economic growth forecast of India by 40 basis points to 9.1 per cent in the Calendar Year 2022 (CY2022), due to adverse effects of the Russia-Ukraine conflict on the global economy. Earlier in February 2022, Moody’s estimated India’s GDP in CY2022 to 9.5 percent. Moody’s has projected India’s GDP growth forecast for the Calendar Year (CY) 2023 at 5.4 percent.

Moody’s, in a statement, said India is particularly vulnerable to high oil prices given that it is a large importer of crude oil. Because the country is a surplus producer of grain, agricultural exports will benefit in the short term from high prevailing prices.

India’s Ordnance Factories’ Day: 18 March

The Ordnance Factories’ Day is observed on the 18th of March every year. The production of India’s oldest Ordnance Factory, which is at Cossipore of Kolkata, was started on the 18th of March, 1802. OFB is the 37th largest defence equipment manufacturer in the world, 2nd largest in Asia, and the largest in India.

The day is celebrated by displaying the rifles, guns, artillery, ammunition etc in exhibitions all over India. The celebrations start with a parade and the exhibition will also display the photographs of various mountaineering expeditions.

Important facts of Ordnance Factory Board:

OFB is referred to as the “Fourth Arm of Defence” and the “Force Behind the Armed Forces” of India.

OFB is functioning under the Department of Defence Production of the Ministry of Defence.

The Indian Ordnance Factories supplies products to all three Indian Armed Forces. ie the Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air force.

The Arms and Ammunition, Weapon Spares, Chemicals & Explosives, Parachutes, Leather and Clothing items are being exported to more than 30 countries worldwide.

History of Ordnance Factory Board:

OFB was founded in 1775 and its Headquarters is in Ayudh Bhawan, Kolkata. OFB consists of 41 Ordnance Factories, 9 Training Institutes, 3 Regional Marketing Centres and 5 Regional Controllerates of Safety, which is spread all over India.

Co-branded credit cards with Emirates Skywards launched by ICICI Bank

In collaboration with Emirates Skywards, the loyalty programme of Emirates and flydubai, ICICI Bank created the ‘Emirates Skywards ICICI Bank Credit Card’. Customers can earn reward points – known as Skywards Miles – on travel, lifestyle, and everyday purchases with the collection of cards. These cards, according to the private sector lender, offer best-in-class rewards and advantages and are a perfect fit for affluent consumers who travel abroad frequently.

KEY POINTS:

ICICI Bank is the first Indian bank to join together with Emirates Skywards to offer the exclusive credit card programme in India.

The Emirates Skywards ICICI Bank Emerald Credit Card, Emirates Skywards ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card, and Emirates Skywards ICICI Bank Rubyx Credit Card are all Visa-powered co-branded credit cards.

These cards offer up to 2.5 Skywards Miles per Rs 100 spent and a slew of other perks, including bonus Skywards Miles, complimentary Emirates Skywards Silver status, dining offers through the ICICI Bank Culinary Treats Program, and entertainment offers through BookMyShow, depending on the card variant.

Customers can use their Skywards Miles to purchase a variety of items, including partner airline tickets, flight upgrades, hospitality at athletic and cultural events, and much more.

Joining and renewing your membership can earn you up to 10,000 Skywards Miles.

For every Rs 100 spent, you can earn up to 2.5 Skywards Miles, plus you’ll get complimentary Emirates Skywards Silver status.

The ‘Emirates Skywards ICICI Bank Credit Card‘ has the following exclusive features:

Access to local and international airport lounges and spas is complimentary.

Petrol surcharges on fuel transactions are no longer charged.

ICICI Bank‘s Culinary Treats Program provides exclusive meal opportunities.

Prashant Jhaveri joining “Flipkart Health+ as CEO

Flipkart Health+ announced the appointment of Prashant Jhaveri as its new CEO. He will be in charge of Flipkart’s entry into India’s fast-growing healthcare sector. Jhaveri was the CEO of Apollo Health and Lifestyle Limited and MediBuddy before joining Flipkart Health+. Earlier in his career, he worked with Medi Assist Group as the chief business officer.

KEY POINTS:

With the right technology solutions and customer value propositions, there is a huge opportunity to provide healthcare to the most remote corners of India. “I’m looking forward to working with a fantastic team at Flipkart Health+ as we try to solve the accessibility and affordability of quality healthcare products and services for millions of Indian customers,” Jhaveri said.

In November 2021, Flipkart Health+ was created to create an end-to-end digital healthcare platform to address the concerns of inexpensive and high-quality healthcare.

We are thrilled to welcome Prashant Jhaveri to the Flipkart Health+ team as it embarks on its adventure. His extensive healthcare knowledge will be invaluable as we work to establish Flipkart Health+ as India’s foremost tech-enabled healthcare platform serving a billion or more Indians.” Ajay Veer Yadav, Senior Vice-President and Head of Flipkart Health+, said in a statement.

Flipkart, Myntra, Flipkart Wholesale, Flipkart Health+, and Cleartrip are part of the Flipkart Group, which is one of India’s largest digital commerce enterprises. In addition, the Group owns a majority stake in PhonePe, one of India’s most popular payment apps.

Deloitte’s Global Powers of Retailing 2022: Reliance Retail ranked 56th

According to the global consulting firm Deloitte’s report titled “Global Powers of Retailing 2022: Resilience Despite Challenges”, The Indian brand, Reliance Retail, ranked 56th on the Top 250 list based on the retail revenue growth for FY2020. Walmart Inc., an American multinational retail corporation, tops the list, followed by Amazon, Inc., Costco Wholesale Corporation, Schwarz Group, and The Home Depot, Inc.

Asia Pacific

China’s JD.com, Inc tops the list of companies from APAC, ranking 9th amongst the list with total revenue of around USD 94.4 billion. Japan leads the APAC region with 29 companies on the list followed by China/Hong Kong SAR (14), South Korea (5) and Australia (4)

Fastest 50 retailers(FY2015-2020)

The top 5 fastest-growing retailers in FY2019 were Coupang of South Kore a(1st), Reliance Retail Limited of India (2nd), Wayfair Inc of United States (3rd), Mobile World Investment Corporation of Vietnam (4th) and A101 Yeni Mağazacılık A.S from Turkey (5th)

About Deloitte’s Global Powers of Retailing 2022 report

Deloitte’s Global Powers of Retailing 2022 report reviews the global economic scenario and its impact on the retailing industry. This identifies the 250 largest retailers around the world based on publicly available data for FY2020 (1 July 2020 to 30 June 2021) and analyzes their performance across geographies and product sectors. The 2022 report also offers an assessment of retailers’ rising sustainability efforts. 

SBI to set up Innovation, Incubation, and Acceleration Centre at Hyderabad

The State Bank of India (SBI) will set up an Innovation, Incubation, and Acceleration Centre (IIAC) at Hyderabad, Telangana which will be operational in six to nine months of on-boarding a consultant. This Centre will be the bank’s in-house capability to enhance its current performance and drive higher top-line growth through innovation. It will help the bank to develop a set of technologies, knowledge, and skills for the introduction of new products and services. It will act as a central body to govern and drive fin-tech partnerships and implement change across the bank.

Important For All Exam 2022:

State Bank of India Founded: 1 July 1955;

State Bank of India Headquarters: Mumbai;

State Bank of India Chairman: Dinesh Kumar Khara.

Mahila Money, Visa, and Transcorp launched Prepaid Card for Women Entrepreneurs

The digital payments network Mahila Money, Visa, and Transcorp Prepaid Payment Instruments (PPI) have launched Mahila Money Prepaid Card to help women entrepreneurs easily collect payments, loans and get incentives for transactions. The prepaid card has been designed keeping in mind the needs of digital entrepreneurs, small business owners and women.

The card is for community members who want the convenience of a bank account with added flexibility, safety and convenience. This collaboration will pave the way to economic freedom and financial inclusion for millions of women entrepreneurs.

Salient features and benefits of the Mahila Money Prepaid Card:

The card makes it easy for women entrepreneurs to collect payments digitally for their businesses and helps boost their working capital, as loans can be transferred directly into the card.

Users are offered incentives, rewards, and cashback from the Mahila Money ecosystem of partners.

The card is useful for women who may not operate their bank accounts actively but want to transact digitally for their businesses and expenses.

Important For All Exam 2022:

Transcorp International Ltd Established: 1994;

Transcorp International Ltd Headquarters: New Delhi, Delhi;

Transcorp International Ltd Managing Director: Gopal Sharma.

36th edition of the International Geological Congress to be held in New Delhi

On a virtual platform, the 36th International Geological Congress (IGC) will be placed here on March 20-22, 2022, with the topic Geosciences: The Basic Science for a Sustainable Future. The 36th International Geophysical Congress is a collaboration between the Ministries of Mines and Earth Sciences, the Indian National Science Academy, and the Science Academies of Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.

Union Minister of Coal, Mines and Parliamentary Affairs Shri Pralhad Joshi and Minister of State Science & Technology; Minister of State Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space Dr Jitendra Singh are expected to inaugurate the Congress.

KEY POINTS:

The event would provide a one-of-a-kind forum for Geoscience knowledge and experience sharing, as well as professional networking.

It would provide firsthand knowledge of cutting-edge mining, mineral exploration, and water, mineral resource, and environmental management technologies. It would also help boost academic output and provide chances for capacity building across geoscientific disciplines.

India, along with its regional allies, submitted a candidacy to host the 36th International Geological Congress in India in 2020 at the 34th International Geological Congress in Brisbane in 2012. The bid was won by India.

On the occasion of the 36th IGC, three commemorative Postage Stamps will be issued, as well as a First Day Cover. India held the 22nd session of the IGC, which was the first IGC on Asian land, 58 years ago.

American Astrophysicist Eugene Parker passes away

American Astrophysicist Eugene Newman Parker, who contributed to solar physics, has passed away at the age of 94. Eugene Parker witnessed the launch of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)’s Parker Solar Probe in 2018, the first NASA mission named after a living person, and became the first person to witness the launch of a spacecraft named after them.

Parker is a visionary in the field of heliophysics, which focuses on the study of the sun and other stars & he is well known for his theory on the existence of solar wind, a supersonic flow of particles of the sun’s surface. He virtually created the field of heliophysics in the 1950s.

International Day of Happiness 2022

International Day of happiness is observed every year around the world on March 20. The United Nations started celebrating this day in 2013, but the resolution for the same was passed on July 12, 2012. The resolution was initiated by Bhutan which shed the light on the importance of National Happiness.

International Happiness Day 2022: Theme

The theme for Happiness Day 2022 is Keep Calm, Stay Wise and Be Kind. Keeping cool and calm in every possible situation is the key to happiness and satisfaction. Staying wise in tough situations lead to wiser steps and success. Being Kind to others in their needs, mistakes and errors will help them grow and also make them feel better.

International Happiness Day: History and Significance. 

Bhutan initially prioritized the value of National Happiness over Nationaal Income in the 1970s. Bhutan is known for adopting the goal of Gross National Happiness over Gross National Product at the 66th General Assembly. The country also hosted a High-level meeting on Happiness and Well-Being: Defining a New Economic Paradigm” during the session. When the UN launched 17 Sustainable Development Goals in 2015, which included goals like putting an end to poverty, reducing inequality and protecting our planet.

NCRTC present the first coach of rapid rail of India for the Delhi-Meerut corridor

The coaches for the Delhi-Meerut Rapid Rail Corridor were launched by the National Capital Regional Transport Corporation (NCRTC). In the following months, deliveries of these semi-high-speed aerodynamic trainsets with dispersed power will begin. A total of 210 cars will be delivered from the Savli manufacturing factory for the first Regional Rapid Transit System corridor.

KEY POINTS:

It consists of trainsets providing regional transit services on the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut line as well as local transit services in Meerut. In the present year, the NCRTC will start the trial runs on the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS corridor’s Priority Section.

The RRTS is a first-of-its-kind system in which trains running at 180 kmph will run every 5–10 minutes and cover the distance between Delhi and Meerut in 55 minutes with 14 stops.

The Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS corridor is expected to minimise carbon dioxide emissions by 2,50,000 tonnes per year. RRTS will be the most energy-efficient futuristic transit system, ushering in a new era of flawlessly connected megaregions and setting a new standard for future projects.

The entire 82-kilometre Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS route, which will have 25 stations in total, is now under construction, with two depots at Duhai and Modipuram and one stabling yard at Jungpura.

Flight Control System Integration complex inaugurated by Defence Minister in Bengaluru

Shri Rajnath Singh, Defence Minister, inaugurated a seven-story Flight Control System (FCS) Integration facility at the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), a DRDO laboratory in Bengaluru, Karnataka. Pilots of combat aircraft will also receive simulator training at the complex. It is one of the most essential components of the complex, according to Shri Rajnath Singh.

KEY POINTS:

The state-of-the-art complex was built in a record-breaking 45 days using in-house hybrid technology that included traditional, pre-engineered, and precast methods. The technique was developed by DRDO in collaboration with M/s Larsen & Toubro (L&T).

IIT Madras and IIT Roorkee teams examined the design and provided technical help.

This FCS facility would help ADE, Bengaluru, with its research and development operations for developing avionics for fighter aircraft and FCS for Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft.

According to the Raksha Mantri, it is a one-of-a-kind initiative not just in India but also in the world, and it embodies the New India’s new vigour.

“This energy is of technology, commitment, institutional collaboration among public sector, private sector, and university, and above all of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ as envisioned by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi,” he stated, exuding confidence in the facility’s ability to strengthen national security.

CAMS launched by Central Record keeping Agency under NPS

The go-live and opening of the Central Record Keeping Agency (CRA) under the National Pension System has been announced by Computer Age Management Services Limited (CAMS), India’s largest registrant and transfer agent of mutual funds (a SEBI regulated business). CAMS was chosen as a CRA by the sector regulator, the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA), to broaden the services available to NPS subscribers and the ecosystem.

The National Pension Scheme (NPS), a voluntary retirement scheme created and administered by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA), was launched by the Central Government on January 1, 2004 to assist in the building of a retirement corpus.

KEY POINTS:

CAMS NPS platform, as one of the three CRAs, will provide subscriber services based on powerful technology and extensive expertise serving clients for pension account opening, record keeping, and maintenance.

This will comprise subscriber onboarding with different KYC alternatives, maintenance and account-keeping functions, and record-keeping infrastructures, such as customer engagement systems and interfaces such as web, mobile app, call centre, and so on.

In the last four years, the growth rate has nearly tripled, and if this trend continues, we can expect 1 million new clients this year.”

CAMS has over 35 years of experience as India’s leading registrar and mutual fund transfer agency, with a market share of over two-thirds, demonstrating their skills.

CAMS will increase awareness, they will ensure that the customer’s journey is a smooth one from onboarding to leave.

CAMS CRA:

CAMS CRA will provide services to NPS users from all sectors, including the general public, the government, and the unorganised sector. The platform will also provide services to the authority, the NPS Trust, and all NPS ecosystem intermediaries, such as point-of-presences, nodal offices, trustee banks, pension fund managers, and annuity service providers. 

India to host FIDE Chess Olympiad 2022 in Chennai

India has won the bid to host FIDE Chess Olympiad 2022 in Chennai.

It was originally scheduled to be hosted in Russia.

FIDE has recently announced that it pulled out from Russia following the Ukraine invasion.

After the announcement, Tamil Nadu government and All-India Chess Federation made a joint bid to host the tournament. 

It is the first time that India is hosting FIDE Chess Olympiad since its inception in 1927. 

It will be held from 26th July to 8th August 2022.

Bangladesh to confer its highest civilian award on 10 individuals

Govt of Bangladesh has announced the nomination for its highest civilian award-Independence Award for 2022.

Winners:

Freedom Fighter Ilias Ahmed Chowdhury

Martyr Colonel Khandaker Nazmul Huda (Bir Bikram)

Abdul Jalil, Siraj Uddin Ahmed

Late Mohammad Sahiuddin Bishwas

Late Sirajul Haque

Kanak Kanti Barua

Md Kamrul Islam

Kamrul Islam

Amir Hamza

Syed Moinul Islam

Bangladesh Wheat and Maize Research Institute has been nominated for Research and Training category. 

AJ-NIFM & JNU enter into MoU for award of MBA degree

Arun Jaitley National Institute of Financial Management (AJ-NIFM) has signs MoU with Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) for promoting exchange and cooperation in the area of academics and strengthening the professional competence of Civil and Defence Officers. 

It will facilitate award of MBA Degree in Finance and MBA Degree in Financial Management by JNU to experienced candidates from Government. 

Exchange of faculties in the area of mutual interest.

MV Ram Prasad Bismil became the longest vessel ever to sail on Brahmaputra

MV Ram Prasad Bismil became the longest vessel ever to sail on the Brahmaputra, achieving a landmark in sailing history. 

The vessel is 90 meters long flotilla is 26 meters wide, loaded with a draft of 2.1 meters.

With this, it successfully completed the aspiring pilot run of heavy cargo movement from Haldia Dock in Kolkata.

The vessel along with two barges DB Kalpana Chawla and DB APJ Abdul Kalam were flagged off from the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port in Haldia. 

India approve line of credit for Sri Lanka to help pay for key import

Govt of India has approved $ 1 billion line of credit (LoC) for Sri Lanka to help the Island nation for importing food, essential items and medicine.

Sri Lanka is currently facing a severe economic crisis.

LoC is being extended by India in line with its efforts to assist its neighbouring country in fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, and to mitigate its adverse impact and its developmental priorities.

Sri Lankan Finance Minister: Basil Rajapaksa.

Hydrogen based advanced Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) inaugurated

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has inaugurated pilot project for Hydrogen based advanced Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV).

It has been launched by Toyota Kirloskar Motor Pvt. Ltd. along with International Center for Automotive Technology (ICAT).

It will be first of its kind project in India aimed at spreading awareness about Hydrogen, FCEV technology and disseminating its benefits to support hydrogen-based society for India.

The 17th edition of Mumbai International Film Festival held

The 17th edition of Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF) will be held from 29th May to 4th June, 2022 at Films Division complex, Mumbai.

Filmmakers can now submit their entry in Documentary, Short Fiction and Animation category of films up to 20th March 2022. 

Eligibility: Films that are completed between Sept 2019 and Dec 2021. 

Components: Golden Conch, silver conch, trophies, certificate, cash reward. 

V Shantaram Lifetime Achievement Award will also be conferred. 

The 17th Annual Conference on ‘Road Development in India’

Nitin Gadkari has addressed the 17th Annual Conference on ‘Road Development in India’.

During his address, he emphasized on reduction of cement and steel by using different waste materials like waste rubber and plastic in road construction.

He also emphasized on Road safety and said more efforts are needed in this area from all the stakeholders.

He also said that Ethanol, methanol, biodiesel, bio CNG and electric Green hydrogen is the fuel for the future.

Bhagwant Mann will be sworn-in as the Chief Minister of Punjab

Aam Aadmi Party leader, Bhagwant Mann (48 years) will be sworn in as the Chief Minister of Punjab.

His oath-taking ceremony will be held in Khatkar Kalan village in Nawanshahr district, which is the ancestral village of iconic freedom fighter Bhagat Singh.

He will be the youngest Chief Minister of the Punjab state since the 1970s.

He succeeded Charanjit Singh Channi.

Governor of Punjab: Banwarilal Purohit.

Capital: Chandigarh

Book on Prime Minister’s 20 years journey ‘Modi@20’ to hit stands in April

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has announced to release a book on the life of Prime Minister Narendra Modi titled as ‘Modi@20: Dreams Meet Delivery’.

The book captures the political life of PM Modi’s in the past 20 years, ranging from his tenure as Gujarat CM to Prime Minister of India.

It is a compilation of pieces written by intellectuals & experts and has been edited & compiled by BlueKraft Digital Foundation.

It will hit the stands in April 2022.

Tapan Singhel appointed as MD & CEO of Bajaj Allianz General Insurance

Tapan Singhel (55 years) has been re-appointed as the Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer (MD & CEO) of Bajaj Allianz General Insurance with effect from 1st April, 2022. 

His tenure has been extended for another five years.

He has already completed 10 years as the MD & CEO of the company.

Bajaj Allianz General Insurance is the second largest private sector general insurer.

ISRO successfully conducts ground test of solid booster stage for SSLV

Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has successfully completed the ground test of the solid fuel-based booster stage (SS1) of its new Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV).

It completes the ground testing of all three stages of the launch vehicle.

Vehicle is now ready for its first development flight, which is scheduled for May 2022. 

Other stages of SSLV like SS2 & SS3 have successfully undergone necessary ground tests and are ready for integration.

RBI barred Paytm Payments Bank from adding new customers

RBI has barred Paytm Payments Bank from opening new accounts or adding new subscribers with immediate effect.

RBI has also directed Paytm Payments Bank to appoint an IT audit firm to conduct a comprehensive audit of its IT system.

This action is based on certain material supervisory concerns observed in the bank. 

Paytm Payments Bank was incorporated in August 2016 and it formally began operations in May 2017.

Bangladesh tops the list in terms of women on board of listed companies

Bangladesh tops the list in terms of women on board of listed companies in South Asia, as per the study conducted by International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE).

According to data, there was an increase in the percentage of women who are independent directors on listed companies from 5% in 2020 to 6%, despite COVID-19. 

2020 IFC-DSE study showed at the time around 18% of listed company board directors were women, which has remained the same.

Pradeep Rawat assumes charge as India's new ambassador to China

Pradeep Kumar Rawat (1990 batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer) has assumed charge as India's new ambassador to China.

He succeeded previous Ambassador Vikram Misri, who has been appointed as Deputy National Security Advisor.

Prior to this, he was India's ambassador to the Netherlands.

His appointment as India's Ambassador to China comes at a time when both the countries are trying to resolve the longstanding border standoff in eastern Ladakh. 

Union Minister release detailed project report on rejuvenation of 13 rivers

Union Environment Minister, Bhupender Yadav has jointly released Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) on Rejuvenation of thirteen Major Rivers through Forestry Interventions.

Major 13 rivers of DPRs: Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, Sutlej, Yamuna, Brahmaputra, Luni, Narmada, Godavari, Mahanadi, Krishna, and Cauvery.

Funded by: National Afforestation & Eco-development Board, (MoEF&CC).

Prepared by: Indian Council of Forestry Research & Education (ICFRE), Dehradun.

G. Sukhender Reddy elected as Chairman of the Telangana Legislative Council

Gutha Sukhender Reddy has been unanimously elected as the Chairman of the Telangana State Legislative Council for the second term.

As per the Legislative Secretary, only Sukhender Reddy’s nomination was received and thus he has been elected as chairman.

He became Chairman of the Council in 2019 for the first time.

Telangana Legislative Council: Upper house of the Telangana Legislature and has 40 members.

It was founded in 2014.

India’s first Artificial Intelligence & Robotics Technology Park (ARTPARK)

First Artificial Intelligence & Robotics Technology Park (ARTPARK) of India has been launched at IISc campus, Bengaluru.

It is promoted by a not-for-profit foundation set up by Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru, with a seed capital of Rs.230 crores from State and Central govt. 

It intends to use futuristic technologies with a focus on creating a globally leading artificial Intelligence and Robotics Innovation ecosystem in India.

Credit Guarantee Scheme for Subordinate Debt (CGSSD) extended up to 2022

Centre has approved the extension of ‘Credit Guarantee Scheme for Subordinate Debt’ (CGSSD) up to 31st March 2022. 

CGSSD was launched on 24th June 2020 under Distressed Assets Fund - Subordinate Debt for Stressed MSMEs component of Aatma Nirbhar Bharat Package. 

Aim: Provide credit facility through lending institutions to promoters of stressed MSMEs like SMA-2 and NPA accounts who are eligible for restructuring as per RBI guidelines on the books of the Lending institutions. 

India’s first Digital Water Bank ‘AQVERIUM’ launched

First Digital Water Bank of India ‘AQVERIUM’ has been launched in Bengaluru, which is an innovative initiative aimed at better water management. 

It is formed by AquaKraft Group Ventures.

It is a very unique innovation combining sustainable & green technologies along with information technology, skill development & entrepreneurship.

It is a curated list of water data from all institutions and sources, that will help tackle some common development challenges.

India emerges as the largest importer of arms in 2017-21: SIPRI Report

Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) has released its latest report titled Trends in International Arms Transfer, 2021.

Largest Arms Importers in 2017-21: India, followed by Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Australia, and China. 

Both India and Saudi Arabia accounted for 11% of all global arms sales.

Largest Arms Exporters in 2017-21: USA, with 39% share, retained its position as the world’s largest arms exporters, followed by Russia, France, China, and Germany. 

World Consumer Rights Day 2022: 15th March

World Consumer Rights Day is observed every year on 15th March to raise global awareness about consumer rights and needs and protect consumers across the globe against market abuses.

Theme for World Consumer Rights Day 2022: "Fair Digital Finance".

First World Consumer Rights Day was observed in 1983.

President John F. Kennedy was the driving force behind World Consumer Rights Day introduction.

The 75th edition of BAFTA Award 2022 announced

The 75th edition of British Academy Film Awards has been announced at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

Presented by: British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA).

List of winners:

Best Film: The Power of the Dog

Best Director: Jane Campion (The Power of the Dog)

Best Actress in Leading Role: Joanna Scanlan (After Love)

Best Actor in Leading Role: Will Smith (King Richard)

Outstanding British Film: Belfast

Animated Film: Encanto

Most awards: Dune

Pramod Bhagat won silver at Spanish Para-Badminton International 2022

World champion, Pramod Bhagat has won two silver and a bronze medal at Spanish Para-Badminton International 2022. 

He won men’s singles SL3 Silver and mixed doubles SL3-SU5 Bronze at the Spanish Para-Badminton International 2022.

Apart from him, Sukant Kadam won the Bronze medal in Spanish Para-Badminton International 2022, after losing to World no 1 Lucas Mazur from France.

Indian team wins a total of 21 medals at Spanish Para-Badminton International 2022.

Ranjit Rath appointed as Chairman & MD of Oil India Ltd

Ranjit Rath has been appointed as the Chairman and Managing Director of Oil India Limited (OIL).

He is currently serving as the chairman and managing director of Mineral Exploration Corporation Ltd (MECL).

He will succeed Sushil Chandra Mishra, who will superannuate as chairman and managing director on 30th, 2022.

OIL: Second largest Indian-govt owned hydrocarbon exploration and production corporation, which was founded in 1959. 

N Chandrasekaran appointed as Chairman of Air India

Chairman of Tata Sons, N Chandrasekaran has been appointed as the Chairman of Air India. 

He was serving as the chairman of Tata Sons since 2017 and was reappointed as chairman of Tata Sons for a second term of five years in Feb 2022. 

Tata Sons will soon announce a new MD and CEO for Air India to replace Ilker Ayci who resigned in the wake of controversies regarding his appointment. 

Tata Group officially took over the management of Air India in January from the government. 

HAL signs pact with SASMOS to work together in aerospace domain

HAL has signed an MoU with Bengaluru-based company SASMOS to work together on advanced electronics, electrical and fibre optic interconnections in the aerospace domain.

HAL's subsidiary Naini Aerospace Limited (NAeL) was also a signatory to the MoU.

Under the MoU, HAL and SASMOS will "work together in the field of advanced electronics, electrical and fibre optics interconnections in the aerospace domain. 

RBI lifts interest cap on microfinance institutions

The RBI has released its final guidelines for microfinance loans, lifting an interest cap and allowing companies to have a board-approved policy to price for such lending.

The RBI will continue checking that microfinance institutions do not charge usurious rates.

Each entity has to disclose pricing-related information to borrowers in a standardized simplified factsheet.

A borrower cannot be charged any amount that has not been explicitly mentioned in the factsheet.

Mahanadi Coalfields Limited becomes largest coal producing company in India

The Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) become the leading coal-producing company in the country.

It is a unit of Coal India Limited. 

It has crossed 157 million tonne (MT) in coal production in the financial year of 2021-22.

The company produced 7.62 lakh tonne of dry fuel which is the highest in a day during the current financial year reaching 157.7 MT with a growth of around 16 percent over the last financial year. 

India breaks into world's top five club in terms of M-Cap

India’s equity market has broken into the world’s top five club in terms of market capitalization for the first time.

The country’s total market cap stands at $3.21 trillion, which is higher than that of the UK ($3.19 trillion), Saudi Arabia ($3.18 trillion), and Canada ($3.18 trillion).

This year, India has climbed two positions, despite a 7.4 per cent drop in its market cap.

At present India is ranked 5th, after the U.S., China, Japan, and Hong Kong.

Vodafone Idea partners Nazara for gaming portal

Vodafone Idea launched a gaming portal Vi Games on the Vi App - in partnership with Nazara Technologies Ltd.

Nazara is an India-based diversified gaming and sports media company. 

Its games offering will initially offer casual games and gradually expand to host social games and esports in the future.

The service will be available through Vi's flagship app through two different plans - Gold Pass and Platinum Pass.

Bajaj Allianz General Insurance’s MD and CEO gets five-year extension

Bajaj Allianz General Insurance announced a five-year extension for its MD and CEO, Tapan Singhel.

The extension is with effect from April 1, 2022.

Under Singhel's leadership, the company has emerged as one of the largest and most profitable private general insurers in the country ensuring growth, profitability, and customer-centricity.

In his decade-long stint as the MD and CEO, the company has achieved a cumulative underwriting profit of more than Rs 350 crore. 

RailTel ranks 124 in Fortune India Next 500 list

RailTel jumped 67 positions to rank 124th in the recently announced 'Fortune India Next 500 list of Year 2022'. list. 

It was ranked 197 in the 2021 list of top midsize companies operating in India.

RailTel is one of the largest neutral telecom infrastructure services providers in the country.

Apart from RailTel, IRCTC is the only Railway PSU featuring in the list, at the rank of 309.

RailTel is the only telecom PSU on the list.

Bank of India enters into co-lending partnership with IKF Finance

Bank of India (BOI) has entered into a co-lending partnership with Vijayawada-based IKF Finance to offer commercial vehicle loans.

The public sector bank will leverage the reach of the NBFC to build its MSMEs portfolio.

The disbursement under the Co-Lending arrangement has commenced on 9th March 2022.

Co-Lending is introduced by RBI to increase the credit flow to the unserved and underserved sector by utilizing the nimble-footed coverage of NBFC to the informal sector.

Odisha, Nabard join hands to increase fish production

The Odisha govt and the NABARD have inked a pact for the creation of fisheries infrastructure to augment fish production in the state. 

The Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund will help in the creation of infrastructure facilities in the marine and inland sectors of Odisha.

The FIDF aims to achieve a sustainable growth of 8-9% to augment the country's fish production capacity to around 20 millionn tonnes by 2022-23.

IIFL Securities launches primary markets investment platform OneUp

IIFL Securities launched ‘OneUp’, India’s 1st primary markets investment platform.

Through this platform, investment can be made in IPOs, non-convertible debentures (NCDs) and sovereign gold bonds (SGBs), etc. 

On the OneUp platform, the IPO applications are accepted 24x7 and up to three days before the IPO bidding opens.

Another unique feature of the platform is that it allows investors to place bids for others as well, be it, friends or family members.

LivQuik, first to achieve RBI’s PPI interoperability guidelines

Prepaid Payment Instrument (PPI) issuer LivQuik has achieved full Interoperability as mandated by the Reserve Bank of India for their Prepaid payments Instruments.

The regulator simultaneously announced an increase in the permitted outstanding balance in PPIs to Rs 2 lakh from Rs 1 lakh and allowed cash withdrawals from full-KYC non-bank wallets.

The regulations effectively bring wallets at par with bank accounts in terms of service offerings.

Mission Indradhanush: Odisha tops list of full immunization with 90.5% cove

Odisha becomes the only state in the country to achieve 90.5% of immunization apart from the successful vaccination against Covid-19 infection under Mission Indradhanush 4.0. 

20 districts of Odisha were found above 90% in full immunization and the remaining 10 districts were less than 90%. 

Districts such as Ganjam, Cuttack, Kendrapara, Jharsuguda, Koraput, Keonjhar, Malkangiri, Khurda, Sambalpur, Mayurbhanj, and Sundargarh districts were selected for inclusion under IMI. 

India's Lakshya Sen settles for silver at German Open 2022

Indian badminton player Lakshya Sen lost to Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn in the German Open 2022 men’s singles final at Mulheim.

Lakshya Sen was chasing his second BWF title of the year, having won the India Open Super 500 title back in January.

He bagged a bronze at the world championships late last year.

Indian shuttlers will be next seen in action at the All England Open 2022.

A book titled “Soli Sorabjee: Life and Times” authored by Abhinav Chandrachud

A new biography, titled “Soli Sorabjee: Life and Times” was announced, during the occasion of the 92nd birth anniversary of Soli Sorabjee. It is authored by advocate and legal scholar Abhinav Chandrachud and will be released in April 2022.

The book highlights the personal details of the life of Soli Sorabjee, his family background. He was the former Attorney General (AG) of India and served two times for the years 1989-90 and then from 1998- 2004.

V-Dem’s Democracy Report 2022: India ranked 93rd

The latest edition of Democracy Report was released recently by the V-Dem Institute at Sweden’s University of Gothenburg. The study was titled ‘Democracy Report 2022: Autocratisation Changing Nature?’.

The report classifies countries into four regime types based on their score in the Liberal Democratic Index (LDI): Liberal Democracy, Electoral Democracy, Electoral Autocracy, and Closed Autocracy.

India’s performance:

It classifies India as an electoral autocracy ranking it 93rd on the LDI, out of 179 countries.

India is one of the top ten ‘autocratisers’ in the world says the report.

India is part of a broader global trend of an anti-plural political party driving a country’s Autocratisation.

Ranked 93rd in the LDI, India figures in the “bottom 50%” of countries.

It has slipped further down in the Electoral Democracy Index, to 100, and even lower in the Deliberative Component Index, at 102.

In South Asia, India is ranked below Sri Lanka (88), Nepal (71), and Bhutan (65) and above Pakistan (117) in the LDI.

Six Indian Airports named the ACI World’s ASQ Awards 2021

From India, six airports have found a place among the ‘Best Airport by Size and Region’, by the Airports Council International (ACI), in its Airport Service Quality (ASQ) survey for the year 2021.

The airports have been adjudged among the Asia Pacific region in different categories based on annual passenger traffic. The ACI Airport Service Quality (ASQ) Awards takes into account 33 parameters related to passenger amenities to recognize airport excellence in customer experience.

The six Indian airports include:

Category – Over 40 million passengers per year

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), Mumbai  (5th consecutive year)

Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi  (4th consecutive year)

Category – 15 to 25 million passengers per year

Rajiv Gandhi International airport, Hyderabad

Category – 5 to 15 million passengers per year

Cochin International Airport, Cochin

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, Ahmedabad

Category – 2 to 5 million passengers per year

Chandigarh Airport, Chandigarh

Important For All Exam 2022:

Airports Council International Headquarters: Montreal, Canada;

Airports Council International Founded: 1991.

Australia’s AARC tie up with India’s CLAWS

From March 8 to March 10, 2022, Lt Gen Richard Burr, the Chief of the Australian Army, was in India for three days. The Australian Army Chief paid a visit to the Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS), an Indian Army think tank in New Delhi.

Lt. Gen Richard Burr met with Vice Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen Manoj Pande, Chairman, Board of Governors, CLAWS, and Director CLAWS, Lt Gen Dr Ranbir Singh (Retd). CLAWS research efforts and outreach strategies were briefed to the visiting General.

On the sidelines of the tour, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Australian Army Research Centre (AARC) and the Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS) to create academic cooperation and engagement.

RBI directs Paytm Payments Bank Ltd to stop onboarding of new customers

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has directed Paytm Payments Bank Ltd to stop the onboarding of new customers with immediate effect. The bank has also been directed to appoint an IT audit firm to conduct a comprehensive System Audit of its IT system. The RBI took the decision in exercise of its powers under section 35A of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.

RBI has advised Paytm Payments Bank to appoint an IT audit firm to conduct a comprehensive System Audit of its IT system. Once the audit is over, RBI will review the reports of IT auditors and based on the reports grant or review its permission for onboarding of new customers.

Onboarding of new customers by Paytm Payments Bank Ltd will be subject to specific permission to be granted by RBI after reviewing the report of the IT auditors. This action is based on certain material supervisory concerns observed in the bank.

Important For All Exam 2022:

Chairman of Paytm Payments Bank Ltd: Vijay Shekhar Sharma;

MD and CEO of Paytm Payments Bank Ltd: Satish Kumar Gupta;

Paytm Payments Bank Ltd Headquarters: Noida, Uttar Pradesh.

Debasish Panda named as Chairman of IRDAI

Debasish Panda has been appointed as the chairman of the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI). He is a former financial services secretary.

The post of Chairman of IRDAI was lying vacant since May 2021 when Subhash Chandra Khuntia completed his term. Panda, a 1987-batch IAS officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, retired as financial services secretary in January this year after a two-year stint.

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved Panda’s appointment as chairperson of the insurance regulator initially for a period of three years from the assumption of charge. The appointment of IRDAI chairman comes nearly 9 months after the vacancy was created following Subhash Chandra Khuntia completing his term in May last year.

Important For All Exam 2022:

IRDAI Founded: 1999;

IRDAI Headquarters: Hyderabad.

Justice AK Sikri named as Chairperson of Chardham project Committee

The Supreme Court of India has named Justice (retd) AK Sikri as Chairperson of the High Powered Committee (HPC), of the Chardham project.

The previous Chairperson Professor Ravi Chopra had resigned from his post in February 2022, after being appointed as the chairperson of the HPC on August 8, 2019.

A bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and Surya Kant accepted the resignation of Professor Ravi Chopra as chairperson of the committee after he wrote a letter in January wishing to relinquish his post.

Jyotiraditya Scindia inaugurates first drone school at Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh

The Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan jointly inaugurated the first drone school in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh.

This drone school is one of the five Drone Schools planned to be opened in different cities of Madhya Pradesh. The other four cities are Bhopal, Indore, Jabalpur and Satna.

This drone school of Gwalior will not only pave the way for the youth of Madhya Pradesh to move forward by connecting them with technology, but it will also increase employment opportunities. This school will prove to be a milestone in the progress and progress of Madhya Pradesh along with Gwalior.

Important For All Exam 2022:

Madhya Pradesh Capital: Bhopal;

Madhya Pradesh Governor: Mangubhai C. Patel;

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister: Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

Tripura Govt announced “Mukhyamantri Chaa Srami Kalyan Prakalpa” scheme

Tripura Government has announced a special scheme ‘Mukhyamantri Chaa Srami Kalyan Prakalpa’ for tea workers. A special scheme, allotting Rs. 85 crores for its implementation, as a step towards bringing the 7000 tea garden workers of Tripura under the social security net.

This special scheme would ensure housing, rations, and financial support to the tea garden workers by integrating the facilities that are entitled to them, by the state government and the central government.

Important For All Exam 2022:

Tripura Capital: Agartala;

Tripura Chief Minister: Biplab Kumar Deb;

Tripura Governor: Satyadeo Narain Arya.

T Raja Kumar appointed as next President of FATF

T. Raja Kumar from Singapore has been appointed as the President of Financial Action Task Force (FATF) with effect from July 1, 2022.

He will have a fixed period of two-year term.

He will replace Marcus Pleyer of Germany.

He is the current Head of Singapore’s delegation to the FATF since 2015.

This will be the 1st time that Singapore is taking on the Presidency of FATF, since becoming its member in 1992.

Headquarters of FATF: Paris, France.

NaBFID to be regulated as AIFI under RBI Act

RBI has announced to regulate and supervise National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development (NaBFID) as an All India Financial Institution (AIFI) under the RBI Act, 1934.

It will now be guided under Sections 45L and 45N of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934.

Currently RBI has four AIFIs: EXIM Bank, NABARD, NHB and SIDBI.

NaBFID: Development Financial Institution (DFI) to support the development of long-term infrastructure financing in India. 

Labour Minister releases Book titled Role of Labour in India’s Development

Union Minister for Labour and Employment, Bhupender Yadav has released book titled ‘Role of Labour in India’s Development’ at New Delhi.

The Book contains 12 articles written by eminent academicians and practitioners on the contribution of labour in India’s development journey.

It has been published by V V Giri National Labour Institute.

It has been launched as a part of the ‘Iconic Week’ of the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’, celebrating 75th year of India’s Independence. 

India and World Bank sign $125 Million Loan for Social Protection Services

Govt of India, Govt of West Bengal, and World Bank has signed $125 million IBRD loan to support efforts to help poor and vulnerable groups access social protection services in West Bengal. 

WB runs more than 400 programs for social assistance, care services, and jobs under umbrella platform called Jai Bangla. 

West Bengal Building State Capability for Inclusive Social Protection Project will support these interventions at the state level. 

Narayan Rane launches MSME Innovative Scheme (Incubation, Design and IPR)

Union Minister for MSME Narayan Rane has launched MSME Innovative Scheme (Incubation, Design and IPR) along with MSME IDEA HACKATHON 2022. 

Details of the sub-schemes:

Incubation: promote and support untapped creativity with assistance of up to Rs. 15 lakh per idea. 

Design: Bring Indian manufacturing sector and Design experts on a common platform with assistance up to Rs. 40 lakh for design project. 

IPR (Intellectual Property Rights): improve the IP culture in India. 

BIS signs MoU with IIT Roorkee for ‘BIS Standardization Chair Professor’

Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has signed MoU with IIT Roorkee for establishment of ‘BIS Standardization Chair Professor’ at IIT Roorkee. 

This would be the 1st Standardization Chair established by BIS in an Institute for activities on Standardization and Conformity Assessment. 

It will help in sensitizing students on how standards can encourage and facilitate innovation and will help in grooming students making them better prepared for their future challenges.

Haryana CM ML Khattar announces Haryana Matrushakti Udaymita Scheme

Haryana Chief Minister, Manohar Lal Khattar has announced scheme for women, ‘Haryana Matrushakti Udaymita Scheme’ to provide financial support to women entrepreneurs.

Under this, those women who wish to become entrepreneurs will be provided access to soft loans. 

Eligibility: Women whose families annual income is less than Rs 5 lakh based on Parivar Pehchan Patra (PPP) verified data. 

Maximum Loan amount: Rs 3 lakh. 

Interest subvention of 7% will be provided. 

India’s first fully women-owned industrial park becomes operational

India’s first 100% women-owned industrial park became operational in Hyderabad, Telangana.

Industrial park is promoted by FICCI Ladies Organisation (FLO) in partnership with the state government of Telangana.

It is spread over a 50-acre area in Sultanpur near Patancheru industrial area.

Estimated investment cost of the project: Rs 250 crores.

Initially, the park has 25 women-owned and operated units, across 16 different green category industrial segment. 

कैबिनेट ने राष्ट्रीय भूमि मुद्रीकरण निगम (एनएलएमसी) के गठन को मंजूरी दी

Cabinet has approved National Land Monetisation Corporation (NLMC) formation.

Aim: to handle the sale of surplus land and buildings of the government, its agencies, and Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs).

NLMC:

It will be a wholly-owned central government entity.

Initial authorised share capital: Rs 5,000 crore. 

Paid-up share capital: Rs 150 crore. 

It will be a lean organisation with minimal full-time staff, hired directly from the market on contract basis.

Third National Youth Parliament Festival (NYPF) begins in New Delhi

Lok Sabha Secretariat and Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has organized the third edition of the National Youth Parliament Festival (NYPF).

It is being held on 10th and 11th March 2022, in the Central Hall of Parliament, New Delhi.

Objective: to hear the voice of the youth, between 18 and less than 25 years of age, who will join various careers in coming years.

Top three National level youth winners will get an opportunity to speak before Lok Sabha Speaker. 

Prabha Narasimhan appointed as CEO of Colgate-Palmolive India

Prabha Narasimhan has been appointed as the CEO and MD of Colgate-Palmolive (India) Limited.

She succeeded Ram Raghavan, who has been promoted to the role of President, Enterprise Oral Care, at Colgate Palmolive Company.

Prior to this, she was working as executive director of Hindustan Unilever (HUL).

Colgate-Palmolive (India): Provides oral care products under 'Colgate' brand. It also provides personal care products under 'Palmolive' brand name.

Former Pakistani President Rafiq Tarar passes away

Veteran politician, former Supreme Court judge, and President of Pakistan, Rafiq Tarar passed away at the age of 92 years. Muhammad Rafiq Tarar was born on 2 November 1929 in Peer Kot, Pakistan.

He served as a Supreme Court judge from 1991 to 1994. He also served as the Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court from 1989 to 1991. Later, he became Pakistan’s President for the period of 1997 to 2001.

No Smoking Day 2022 is celebrated on 9th March

No Smoking Day is celebrated on the second Wednesday in the month of March every year across the world. This year No Smoking Day will be celebrated on 9th March. The day is celebrated to help those who wish to quit smoking as well as to raise awareness about the implications of smoking on an individual’s health.

The main reason to observe this day is to spread awareness and educate people about the adverse impacts of tobacco on their health through cigarettes and other means.

No Smoking Day was first observed in the year 1984 in the Republic of Ireland on Ash Wednesday. It was on this day that the clergy determined that giving up cigarettes will be a good thing for Lent.

CISF raising day observed every year on March 10

In the year 1969, the CISF was set up on March 10 and three battalions were formed under the CISF act 1968, which was passed by the Parliament of India. Since then, the day is celebrated as CISF Raising Day every year.

Central Industrial Security Force, is for the central armed police force in India. It is one of the six paramilitary forces in India functioning under the Union Home Ministry.

The CISF, which was set up in 1969, is assigned to look after the security of the vital government and industrial buildings. The CISF was established under the CISF Act, which has a strength of over 3,000. In 2017, the government raised the sanctioned strength of personnel from 145,000 to 180,000.

Important For All Exam 2022:

Director-General of CISF: Sheel Vardhan Singh.

India’s S L Narayanan wins Grandiscacchi Cattolica International Open Chess Tournament

In Chess, Indian Grandmaster, S L Narayanan was declared the winner in the Grandiscacchi Cattolica International Open, held in Italy. Meanwhile, his compatriot R Praggnanandhaa came second.

Though Narayanan and six others, including Praggnanandhaa, finished equal first with 6.5 points after nine rounds. But, Narayanan took the top spot on the basis of a better tie-break score. The 24-year old S L Narayanan from Thiruvananthapuram earned the title of Grandmaster in 2015 and is the 41st Grandmaster from India.

Olympic champion Duplantis sets pole vault world record of 6.19m in Belgrade

Sweden’s Olympic pole vault champion Armand Gustav “Mondo” Duplantis cleared 6.19m to smash his own world record by one centimetre at the World Indoor Tour Silver meeting in Belgrade.

Duplantis set the record of 6.18 in February 2020 indoors in Glasgow. This is the fourth world record of the 22-year-old’s career. His first record came in February 2020 when he surpassed London 2012 gold medallist Renaud Lavillenie’s world record by clearing 6.17m in Torun, Poland before improving that the following week in Glasgow.

In September of that year, he cleared 6.15m at the Rome Diamond League meeting to eclipse Sergey Bubka’s outdoor pole vault world best of 6.14m set in Sestriere in July 1994.

S Sreesanth quits from all forms of first-class cricket

India pacer S Sreesanth has announced his retirement from all forms of domestic cricket. Sreesanth played 27 Tests and 53 ODIs for India, taking 87 and 75 wickets respectively. He has also taken seven wickets in 10 T20 Internationals.

The temperamental pacer was also popular for his exuberant celebrations after taking wickets but his life and career went downhill after the spot-fixing scandal.

IPC banned Russian, Belarusian athletes from Beijing Winter Paralympics

International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has banned the athlete’s entries from the Russian Paralympic Committee (RPC) and National Paralympic Committee (NPC) Belarus for the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympics due to the war in Ukraine. Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympics is scheduled to take place from 4th to 13th March 2022 & it marks the 13th Winter Paralympic Games.

Previously IPC has stated that the athletes from both countries would be allowed to compete as neutrals in the games. The IPC joins the range of sporting bodies like Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) etc, that have banned the participation of Russians and Belarusians, which includes football, track, basketball, hockey, and others.

Important For All Exam 2022:

International Paralympic Committee  Founded: 22 September 1989;

International Paralympic Committee  Headquarters: Bonn, Germany;

International Paralympic Committee  CEO: Xavier Gonzalez;

International Paralympic Committee  President: Andrew Parsons (Brazil).

Bangladeshi Rizwana Hasan to get US International Women of Courage Award 2022

Bangladeshi environmental lawyer, Rizwana Hasan has been selected for the International Women of Courage (IWOC) Award for 2022. She is among the 12 women from around the world who will be honoured by the US Department of State with the award for showing exceptional courage and leadership to make a difference in their communities.

The International Women of Courage (IWOC) award was established in 2007 by the US Department of State to honour women of exceptional courage, strength and leadership who work to bring change to their communities. Till now 170 women from 80 countries have been honoured under the IWOC programme.

ToneTag launches VoiceSe UPI digital payments for feature phone users

ToneTag has partnered with NSDL Payments Bank and NPCI to launch its “VoiceSe UPI payments service” for feature phone users. This comes after the Reserve Bank of India has launched the UPI 123Pay facility that enables UPI payments for feature phone users.

ToneTag is a sound-based proximity communication and payments service provider based in Bengaluru, Karnataka. To access the “VoiceSe UPI payments service” feature phone users need to call on the IVRS number 6366 200 200.

Every user can only proceed with the financial transaction through UPI PIN. They do not require internet connectivity or a smartphone for making payments. This is an all-inclusive technology that fills the gap in the existing financial ecosystem and brings many benefits to the customers.

Axis Bank launches the initiative -‘HouseWorkIsWork’

Axis Bank has launched the ‘HouseWorkIsWork’ project, which provides possibilities for those who want to return to the workforce. In an interview about the bank’s recent hiring initiative ‘HouseWorkIsWork,’.

The intent behind this initiative is to give these women the confidence that they are employable, that they have skills, and that they can fit in various job roles in a bank, and it is about getting these women back to work.”

She gave an example, saying that the concept of ‘HouseWorkIsWork’ arose from an intriguing and innovative résumé of one of the company’s newest hires, Pallavi Sharma, who skillfully compared her numerous home jobs to those at professional firms.

RBI extends Interest subsidy scheme for exporters

With the aim of expanding export shipments, the Reserve Bank of India extended the interest equalisation scheme for pre and post-shipment rupee loans for MSME exporters through March 2024.

The ‘Interest Equalisation Scheme for pre and post-shipment Rupee Export Credit’ provides a subsidy to exporters. The scheme was first extended until the end of June last year, and then again until September 2021.

The interest equalisation rates under the plan have been revised to 2% and 3% for certain categories of MSME manufacturer exporters, according to the RBI.

Scheme to equalise interest rates “The government has authorised the extension of the Interest Equalisation Scheme for Pre- and Post-Shipment Rupee Export Credit through March 31, 2024, or until further review, whichever comes first,” said the statement.

The extension will take effect on October 1, 2021, and will end on March 31, 2024, according to a notification from the RBI. The scheme will not apply to telecom instruments or businesses that receive benefits under the government’s Production Linked Incentive (PLI) programme.

The bank will be required to provide the prevailing interest rate, the interest subvention being provided, and the net rate being charged to each exporter when issuing approval to the exporter, according to the RBI, in order to ensure transparency and greater accountability in the scheme’s operation.

Lupin named Mary Kom as brand ambassador for his Shakti initiative

Global pharma major Lupin Limited (Lupin) has announced that it has signed on six-time world boxing champion, Mary Kom as the brand ambassador for its Shakti campaign. The campaign is aimed at increasing awareness of heart diseases among women.

With Mary Korn anchoring the campaign, to drive the much-needed awareness on the issue and encourage women to sign up for early screening checks and take corrective measures to avoid the future risk of heart diseases.

Tamil Nadu govt inaugurated India’s largest floating solar power project

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, M K Stalin has inaugurated India’s largest floating solar power plant constructed at a cost of Rs 150.4 crores.

The floating plant is established in Southern Petrochemicals Industries Corporation Limited (SPIC) factory at Thoothukudi in Tamil Nadu to provide clean energy. It aims to provide environmentally sustainable power generation and to reduce carbon footprint.

The floating power plant has the capacity to produce 42 million units of electricity per annum.

The solar power plant is owned by Greenam Energy, a wholly-owned subsidiary of AM International. SPIC worked with France-based floating solar power specialists and global leader Ceil & Terre for the constructions and designs.

Important For All Exam 2022:

Tamil Nadu Capital: Chennai;

Tamil Nadu Chief minister: K. Stalin;

Tamil Nadu Governor: N. Ravi.

India’s largest reclining statue of Lord Buddha being built at Bodh Gaya

India`s largest reclining statue of Lord Buddha is being built in Bodh Gaya. Built by Buddha International Welfare Mission, the statue will be 100 feet long and 30 feet high. Lord Buddha is in the sleeping posture in the statue.

The construction of the giant statue started in the year 2019. It is being made with fibreglass and built by sculptors from Kolkata. Bodh Gaya is an important pilgrimage centre for Buddhism and is visited by devotees from all over the world.

The idol of this posture of Lord Buddha is in Uttar Pradesh`s Kushinagar where he attained his Mahaparinirvana. The giant statue of Lord Buddha will be open for devotees from February 2023.

Govt nod for setting up WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the establishment of a World Health Organization Global Centre for Traditional Medicine (WHO GCTM) at Jamnagar, Gujarat.

An agreement was signed by the Government of India with the world body in this regard. The move would help develop norms, standards, and guidelines in relevant technical areas, tools and methodologies for collecting data undertaking analytics and assessing impact.

The WHO GCTM, to be established under the Ministry of AYUSH ( Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa and Homoeopathy), will be the first and only global outposted centre (office) for traditional medicines.

Important For All Exam 2022:

WHO Established: 7 April 1948;

WHO Director General: Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus;

WHO Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.

GeM launches 'Stitching and Tailoring Services' in partnership with USHA

Government eMarketplace (GeM) has launched Stitching and Tailoring Services on the GeM portal in partnership with USHA International through its Silai School Programme. 

It will open new opportunities for Usha Silai Women and self-help groups to enhance their livelihood incomes through sewing orders placed by various Govt depts and agencies. 

Under this initiative, GeM will collaborate with USHA Silai School in developing stitching and tailoring service for Govt buyers. 

V Srinivas inaugurates Symposium on Imagining India-2047 through innovation

Union Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pension Secretary, V Srinivas has inaugurated a three-day conference of 160 young civil service officers, entrepreneurs and academicians from across the country in Madras IIT. 

It is titled ‘Imagining India-2047 through innovation’. 

The webinar saw the participation from 22 Ministries/Departments including NITI Aayog, Senior Management from PSEs/Government Organization, Senior Management, Global Pension Funds, etc.

TEC, DoT launches Skill Development training program for girl students

Telecommunication Engineering Center (TEC) in collaboration with industry has organized skill development training program for girl students from rural backgrounds.

EMC Test and Training Center, has volunteered to impart online training program on EMI/EMC testing for one-week duration.

25 girl students from far-flung rural areas of various states have enrolled for this one-week training programme. 

TEC is the designated authority for the implementation of this scheme.

AIM, NITI Aayog joins hands with Snap Inc to drive AR skilling

Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog has announced its partnership with Snap Inc. to drive Augmented Reality (AR) skilling among the Indian youth.

The partnership is initially for 2 years and is expected to train over 12,000 teachers affiliated with Atal Tinkering Labs on Augmented Reality, enabling the reach of the program to millions of students affiliated with ATL’s network of schools.

Snap Inc also announced its partnership with Atal Incubation Centers (AICs). 

Union Minister launches Virtual Smart Grid Knowledge Center and Innovation

Union Minister for Power, R.K. Singh has launched Virtual Smart Grid Knowledge Center (SGKC) and Innovation Park virtually as a part of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav Programme.

It has been established by POWERGRID for the demonstration and advancement of frontier smart grid technologies.

It will be the leading Centers of Excellence globally to foster innovation, entrepreneurship and research in smart grid technologies and create capacities in the power distribution sector.

India, Japan holds joint military exercise in Karnataka

India and Japan are conducting an annual joint military exercise titled ‘Dharma Guardian 2022’ at Maratha Light Infantry Regimental Centre in Belgaum, Karnataka from 27th February to 10th March. 

It is being participated by 15 Maratha LIRC UNIT and Japan 30 Infantry Regiment. 

It covers platoon-level joint training on operations in the jungle and semi-urban and urban terrain.

Insertion by helicopter into the ‘area of operation’ is being carried out in the Regimental Center. 

India ranked ‘partly free’ in Freedom of the World 2022 report

India has been termed as ‘partly free’ country in terms of democracy and free society, as per the annual report titled ‘Freedom in the World 2022 – The Global Expansion of Authoritarian Rule’ for the second consecutive year with a score of 66. 

The report is published every year since 1973 by Freedom House (US NGO that assesses political-civil liberties). 

India was a free country till 2020 with 71 score. 

In 2022, 85 countries were free, 56 as partly free, 69 as not free. 

Russia became the most sanctioned country in the world

Russia has become the most sanctioned country of the world, after its invasion on Ukraine, according to New York-based sanctions watchlist site ‘Castellum.AI’.

Russia faced 2,778 new sanctions since 22nd February 2022, led by the US and European nations, bringing the total sanctions to 5,530.

It was already having 2,754 sanctions in place before February 22.

Before this, Iran was the most sanctioned country, facing 3,616 sanctions against it over last decade.

Iran successfully launches second military satellite Noor-2 into orbit

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has successfully launched a military satellite, Noor-2, into orbit at an altitude of 500 kilometres (311 miles) from the earth.

It was launched from three-stage Qased, or Messenger, carrier from Shahroud space port. 

This is the 2nd military satellite launched by the Islamic Republic.

First military satellite, 'Noor' was launched in April 2020 at an orbit of 425km (265 miles) above earth’s surface.

Ministry of Culture organize ‘Jharokha – Compendium of Indian handicraft’

Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Textiles are organizing programme ‘Jharokha-Compendium of Indian handicraft/ handloom, art and culture’ as a part of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav. 

Jharokha: PAN India programme that will be held at 16 locations in 13 states and UTs. 

Its first event is organized in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh at Rani Kamlapati Railway Station from 8th March 2022 (Women’s Day). 

It will continue for 8 days and will include folk performances by local artists. 

RBI launches UPI123pay for feature phones and DigiSaathi Helpline

RBI has launched two initiatives related to digital payments:

UPI123pay: It will provide UPI payment facility on feature phones. 

DigiSaathi: It is a 24×7 Helpline for Digital Payments.

UPI123pay currently offers four mediums/options to the users of feature phones to make UPI payments.

Users can access DigiSaathi using following mode:

toll-free number (1800-891-3333)

a short code (14431)

website – http://www.digisaathi.info, and chatbots.

Air Marshal B Chandra Sekhar takes over as Commandant of Air Force Academy

Air Marshal B Chandra Sekhar has taken over as Commandant of Air Force Academy, Indian Air Force. 

He is an alumnus of Defence Services Staff College Wellington, College of Defence Management, Flying Instructors School and National Defence College New Delhi. 

He was commissioned in Indian Air Force in 1984. 

He has more than 5400 hrs of incident-free flying on various aircraft. 

He also holds the distinction of landing first MLH class of helicopter in the Siachen Glacier. 

International Women’s Day 2022 Celebrates on 8th March

International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated globally on March 8 every year. The day recognises the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.

The event celebrates women’s achievements and raises awareness about women’s equality and lobbies for accelerated gender parity. The theme of 2022 International Women’s Day is “gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow”.

International Women’s Day was observed for the first time in 1911. The United Nations began celebrating International Women’s Day in the International Women’s Year, 1975. In 1977, the United Nations General Assembly invited member states to proclaim March 8 as the UN Day for women’s rights and world peace.

Important For All Exam 2022:

Secretary-General of United Nations: Antonio Guterres.

United Nations founded: 24 October 1945.

Headquarters of United Nations: New York, United States.

Priyanka Nutakki becomes the 23rd Woman Grandmaster of India

19-year-old Priyanka Nutakki has secured her final WGM-norm at MPL’s forty-seventh National Women Chess Championship. She became India’s twenty-third Woman Grandmaster.

She is from Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh. Priyanka Nutakki scored her first WGM-norm in January 2019 and crossed the 2300 rating criteria in the next two months. However, much like a lot of players, the Covid-19 pandemic delayed her title hopes.

Priyanka braved the odds, resumed playing over-the-board tournaments in October 2021 at ChessMood Open. In her third over-the-board tournament of the year, she scored her second WGM and maiden IM-norm at the 7th Sunway Sitges Open 2021.

India Global Forum annual summit held in Bengaluru

India Global Forum’s (IGF) annual summit is being organized in Bengaluru, Karnataka. The summit will bring together eminent faces of tech-driven disruption and those who have joined the unicorn club along with Union ministers, policymakers, and global business leaders.

The previous editions were hosted in Dubai and the UK and addressed by esteemed speakers like Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the PM of the UK Boris Johnson amongst other leaders from Governments and industry across the globe.

This is the first-ever edition of IGF at Bengaluru. The agenda-setting forum for international business and global leaders, IGF, offers a selection of platforms that corporates and policymakers can leverage to interact with stakeholders in their sectors and geographies of strategic importance.

NMDC receives 1st prize in Ispat Rajbhasha Award for 2018-19 and 2020-21

National Mineral Development Corporation Ltd Country’s largest Iron Ore producer, a CPSE under Ministry of Steel received 1st prize in the Ispat Rajbhasha Award for 2018-19 and 2020-21 and company also received the Ispat Rajbhasha Prerna Award for 2019-20.

The award ceremony was held in the meeting of the Hindi Salahakar Committee of the Ministry of Steel held in Madurai on 3rd March 2022. The Union Minister of Steel, Shri Ram Chandra Prasad Singh, presented the accolades to Shri Sumit Deb, Chairman and Managing Director, NMDC.

NMDC, a Navratna PSU under the Ministry of Steel and one of the most profitable PSUs of the Government of India also it is an eco-friendly mining company and the largest producer of iron ore in India.

Important For All Exam 2022:

NMDC Headquarters: Hyderabad;

NMDC Founded: 15 November 1958.

Microsoft will set up India’s largest Data Center region in Hyderabad

Tech giant, Microsoft has announced to set up its fourth data centre in India in Hyderabad, Telangana. Hyderabad Data centre will be one of the largest data centres in India and will be operational by 2025.

Microsoft already has a data centre in three Indian regions across Pune, Mumbai, and Chennai. The new data centre will add to the growing demand for Microsoft’s cloud services from both the private enterprises as well as the government sector.

To set up the data centre, Microsoft has signed a definitive agreement with the Telangana state government with a total investment of Rs 15,000 crore.

In terms of Microsoft’s own expansion plans’s the company stated that they are expanding their Hyderabad campus and the total campus is now spread over a 2.5 mn Sq.ft area with 18,000 full-time employees.

The Hyderabad centre of Microsoft is the largest centre for the tech giant after Redmond. In India, Microsoft has 14,000 partners and it serves around 340,000 companies in the country.

Important For All Exam 2022:

Microsoft CEO and Chairman: Satya Nadella;

Microsoft Headquarters: Redmond, Washington, United States.

RIL opens India’s biggest business and cultural hub in Mumbai

Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) has announced the opening of the Jio World Centre, which will be India’s largest and most prestigious multi-faceted destination.

The Centre, which covers 18.5 acres in Mumbai’s Bandra Kurla Complex and was envisioned by Nita Ambani, Director Reliance Industries and Founder-Chairperson of Reliance Foundation, and it is set to become a historical business, commerce, and culture destination, which will provide the people of India with a world-class landmark.

The world-class Fountain of Joy and the Dhirubhai Ambani Square are dedicated to the people and city of Mumbai. It will be an iconic new public space, a celebration of the city’s spirit, where people can share joys and soak up the colours and sounds of Mumbai.

Paytm to offer digital ticketing services by partnering with IRCTC

Paytm, a digital payments company, announced that it has expanded its partnership with the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) to provide consumers with digital ticketing services via Automatic Ticket Vending Machines (ATVM) installed at railway stations across the country.

Passengers will be able to scan QR codes generated on the screens to purchase unreserved train ride tickets, platform tickets, renew their seasonal tickets, and recharge smart cards.

Paytm’s latest ATVM digital payment solution is in addition to the company’s other railway-related offerings, which include e-catering payments and reserved train ticket booking via its smartphone. The new function is part of the company’s nationwide campaign to promote cashless transactions and digital payments.

Ministry of Labour launches ‘Donate-a-Pension’ initiative

Union Labour and Employment Minister, Bhupender Yadav has launched the ‘Donate-a-Pension’ campaign under Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-Dhan (PM-SYM) scheme, on March 07, 2022, from his residence and donated the same to his gardener.

Under the new initiative, citizens can contribute to the pension fund of their immediate support staff such as domestic workers, drivers, helpers etc, by donating the premium amount.

The ‘Donate-a-Pension’ program is part of various initiatives to be launched in the ‘Iconic Week’ celebrations by the Labour Ministry from March 7 to 13, 2022. It is an initiative under (PM-SYM) pension scheme where citizens can donate the premium contribution of their immediate support staff such as domestic workers, drivers, helpers etc.

MSME Ministry launches “SAMARTH” Special Entrepreneurship Promotion Drive for Women

Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises has launched a Special Entrepreneurship Promotion Drive for Women named –“SAMARTH”. The drive was launched by Union Minister for MSME, Shri Narayan Rane along with Minister of State for MSME, Shri Bhanu Pratap Singh Verma in New Delhi.

To provide Skill Development and Market Development Assistance to women and to train more than 7500 women candidates from rural and sub-urban areas in the FY 2022-23.

BBB develops programme For bettering the quality of PSU bank boards

The Banks Board Bureau (BBB) has launched a development programme for public sector bank management with the goal of boosting the quality of bank boards. The nine-month Directors’ Development Programme (DDP) is made for directors of Public Sector Banks and financial institutions with the main objective of improving director effectiveness and increasing their impact on boards, according to the Banks Board Bureau.

This programme is aimed to help the directors think about the business’s future and upgrade themselves to be a source of wisdom and counsel for management and stakeholders in order to improve PSB’s performance levels in the world scenario.

The curriculum, developed in partnership with IBA and others, will assist in empowering and enriching the board of directors, which is crucial for decision-making.

Financial Services Secretary Sanjay Malhotra, who is also a BBB member, remarked that there is no end to what can be learned during this course.

T Raja Kumar named President of the Financial Action Task Force

T Raja Kumar, a Singaporean, has been named president of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the world’s anti-money laundering and anti-terrorism financing agency. His appointment is for a set two-year term, which begins on July 1. During the FATF plenary, he was chosen to succeed Dr Marcus Pleyer of Germany.

Mr Raja’s nomination marks the first time Singapore has assumed the president of the organisation, according to a joint news release issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the Ministry of Finance (MOF), and the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) on March 7.

Mr Raja is a senior advisor at MHA and has been the leader of Singapore’s FATF mission since January 1, 2015. Since July 2018, he has also been a member of the steering group, which advises the FATF president.

DN Patel named as Chairperson of TDSAT

The Central Government has appointed Justice Dhirubhai Naranbhai Patel, Chief Justice of Delhi High Court, as the Chairperson of Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal(TDSAT). He was appointed as Chief Justice of Delhi High Court on June 7, 2019, and is now given the Chair of TDSAT, days before his retirement on March 12, 2022.

Ministry of Law and Justice issued a notification regarding the approval of his appointment by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), stating that he will serve the Chair for a period of 4 years from the date of assumption of charge of the post, or till attaining the age of 70 years, or until further orders, whichever is the earliest.

The conditions of his service will be governed by the provisions of the Tribunals Reforms Act, 2021 and the Tribunal (Conditions of Service) Rules, 2021.

Important For All Exam 2022:

TDSAT Establishment: 2000;

TDSAT Headquarter: New Delhi.

Pakistan again placed on FATF’s grey list

The global money laundering and terrorist financing watchdog, Financial Action Task Force (FATF), retained Pakistan in the grey list and asked the country to work on money laundering investigations and prosecutions. FATF also added the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to its grey watchlist.

The decision has been taken after the conclusion of the four-day FATF Plenary from March 1-4, 2022. The event took place in hybrid mode from Paris, France. Pakistan has been on the grey list of FATF since June 2018 for failing to check money laundering and terror financing. It was given a plan of action to complete it by October 2019 but it fails to comply with the FATF mandates.

Important For All Exam 2022:

FATF Founded: 1989;

FATF Members: 39;

FATF Headquarters: Paris, France;

FATF President: T Raja Kumar (Singapore).

Hybrid form United Nations Environment Assembly held in in Nairobi, Kenya

The United Nations Environment Assembly was hosted by the UN Environment Programme. It brings together representatives from the UN’s 193 member countries, corporations, civil society, and other stakeholders to agree on policies to address the world’s most serious environmental concerns.

The aim of UNEA-5 was “Strengthening Actions for Nature to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals,” emphasising the importance of nature in our lives as well as in social, economic, and environmental sustainability.

Its goal was to give nations the impetus they needed to build on and catalyse global environmental initiatives to safeguard and restore the natural world on which our economy and societies rely.

2000 km network to be brought by Indian Railways under ‘KAVACH’ in 2022-23

The trial of the ‘Kavach’ functioning system between Gullaguda and Chitgidda Railway stations was examined by Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister of Railways, Communication, Electronics and Information Technology.

2,000 km of railway network will be brought under Kavach for safety and capacity augmentation in 2022-23, as a part of Prime minister’s Atmanirbhar Bharat.

During the testing, both locomotives were travelling towards each other, creating a head-on collision situation.

The ‘Kavach’ system activated the automatic braking mechanism, bringing the locomotives to a complete stop 380 metres apart.

The locomotive was also tested crossing the red light; however, the locomotive did not pass the red signal because ‘Kavach’ required the automated deployment of brakes.

When the gate signal neared, the automatic whistle sounded loud and clear. During the trial, the crew did not touch the sound or brake systems manually.

When the locomotive was ran on the loop line, the speed restriction of 30 km/h was checked. As the locomotive approached the loop line, ‘Kavach’ automatically decreased the speed to 30 km/h from 60 km/h.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveils the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has unveiled a tall statue of great Maratha warrior Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Pune, Maharashtra. The Statue is made up of 1,850 kg of gunmetal and is about 9.5-feet tall.

He also launched a 12-km stretch of 32.2-km-long metro rail project at a total cost of more than ₹ 11,400 crores in Pune. Pune Metro is the first project in India to have aluminium body coaches, indigenously manufactured under the ‘Make in India’.

PM Modi also laid the foundation stone for the rejuvenation and pollution abatement of the Mula-Mutha River projects in Pune. The rejuvenation will be done in a 9 km stretch of the river under the project which will cost more than Rs 1080 crore.

Former Army Chief Gen Sunith Francis Rodrigues passes away

The 15th Chief of the Army Staff General (retd) Sunith Francis Rodrigues passed away.

He headed the Indian Army between 1990 and 1993 and served as the governor of Punjab between 2004 and 2010.

Known as a thinker and strategist, he leaves behind a legacy of utmost dedication and service to the nation.

He served two terms on the National Security Advisory Board.

The 32nd Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee from 1 August 1991 – 30 June 1993.

India’s first green charging station in the pipeline

In a first-of-its-kind initiative, the National Highway for Electric Vehicle (NHEV) is constructing a green charging hub along the Jaipur-Delhi-Agra E-highway.

NHEV is an organization for promoting the electrification of the country's transportation systems. 

The new initiative is unique in a way of using green construction techniques for such Electric Vehicle (EV) stations with net-zero carbon infrastructure.

In 2022, 2 EV charging stations were inaugurated in Gurugram. 

The Blue Book’ authored by by Amitava Kumar

Indian writer and journalist Amitava Kumar has authored a book titled ‘The Blue Book: A Writer’s Journal’.

The book has been published by HarperCollins India.

The Blue Book is a landmark work of ‘self-writing’, or what Michael Foucault would have called ‘hypomnemata’—a memory book with hybrid literary and artistic parentage.

Bharti Airtel, Axis Bank announce strategic partnership

Bharti Airtel and Axis Bank announced a strategic partnership to introduce a series of innovative financial offerings and digital services.

These include a co-branded credit card, pre-approved instant loans, and Buy Now Pay Later offerings.

‘Airtel Axis Bank Credit Card’ has been launched to offer a host of benefits such as cashback, special discounts, digital vouchers and complimentary services to Airtel customers.

Airtel tagline:  'Express Yourself'. 

India adds record 10 gigawatt solar capacity in 2021: Report

In the report titled 'Annual 2021 India Solar Market Update' published by Mercom India Research, India installed a record 10 GW of solar capacity during the calendar 2021.

It registered a year-on-year rise of 212%.

The country had made 3.2 GW of solar capacity installations during 2020.

Cumulative solar installed capacity in India was approx 49 GW at the end of Dec 2021.

In 2021, Rajasthan led the capacity addition with 4.5 GW of solar capacity installed.

India Global Forum (IGF) annual summit held in Bengaluru

India Global Forum’s (IGF) annual summit is being organized in Bengaluru. 

The theme of the summit is ‘The New India Inc.’

The summit will bring together eminent faces of tech-driven disruption and those who have joined the unicorn club along with Union ministers, policymakers, and global business leaders.

This comes as the first-of-its-kind confluence, particularly after the incentives announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the budget.

CII Maharashtra elects Sriram Narayanan as chairman

Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Maharashtra State Council has elected Sriram Narayanan, Managing Director, Endress+Hauser (India) Automation Instrumentation as the New Chairman of CII Maharashtra State Council 2022-23.

Robin Banerjee, Managing Director, Caprihans India Limited has been elected as vice-chairman of CII Maharashtra State Council.

Mr Narayanan succeeds Sudhir Mutalik, Founder & Managing Director, Positive Metering Pumps.

Jan Aushadhi Diwas 2022: 7th March

Every year on 7th March, India celebrates Jan Aushadhi Diwas.

This year marks the 4th edition of Janaushadhi Diwas.

The day is celebrated to educate the general public about the benefits of the Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana.

This year's event is a week-long affair that began on March 1 and will end on March 7, 2022.

The event is an initiative by the Department of Pharmaceuticals which functions under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers.

FICCI Ladies Organisation to inaugurate industrial park in Hyderabad

To mark the 20th anniversary of the FICCI Ladies Organisation (FLO) and International Women’s Day, a 50-acre exclusive industrial park for women entrepreneurs is all set to be inaugurated in Hyderabad.

The FLO Industrial Park, which already has 25 women-led enterprises from diverse sectors, is being taken up in association with the Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (TSIIC) and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).

JSW Energy signs power purchase agreement with HPPC

JSW Energy’s Kutehr project has signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) with Haryana Power Purchase Centre (HPPC) for supply of 240 MW hydro power.

The PPA is valid for a period of 35 years which can be further extended at mutually agreed terms.

The PPA was signed at a levelised ceiling tariff of ₹4.50/kWh (at ex bus-bar).

The PPA capacity was selected through competitive bidding underexpression of interest invited by the HPPC in July 2018.

9th edition of India-Sri Lanka naval exercise SLINEX begins today

The 9th edition of Sri Lanka-India Naval Exercise SLINEX will begin today in Visakhapatnam.

The exercise will be conducted in two phases-the harbour phase at Visakhapatnam followed by the sea phase the Bay of Bengal. 

SLINEX aims to enhance inter-operability, improve mutual understanding and exchange best practices and procedures for multi-faceted maritime operations between both navies.

Harbour Phase would include professional, cultural, sporting, and social exchanges.

Ministry of Development of Northeastern Region launched ‘Nari Shakti'

Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER) has organized a special campaign ‘Nari Shakti of North East’, ahead of International Women's Day 2022 (8th March).

It is a week-long campaign, recognizing the extraordinary efforts of Women & Girls in North East India. 

MDoNER will be organizing virtual ‘Town Hall’ Meeting where Minister G. Kishan Reddy will be interacting with the Women Work Force of MDoNER, North Eastern Council and various associate Departments. 

Culture Ministry inaugurates Swacchagraha: celebrating Swachhta, Swadhinta

Ministry of Culture, along with Sulabh International has organized ‘Swacchagraha: celebrating Swachhta and Swadhinta’.

It is being organized as part of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav to encourage mass awareness.

It will be conducted in two sessions and will also have panel discussion on new ideas and measures along with a song and film showcase.

Evening session themed ‘Ek Shaam Sur, Taal aur Swachhta ke Naam’ will be addressed by Chief Guest Vijay Goel.

Axis Bank and IPE Global commits $150 million loan to healthcare sector

Axis Bank has signed MoU with IPE Global for strengthening India’s healthcare infrastructure by providing affordable finance of up to $150 million (about Rs 1,140 crore) through SAMRIDH.

SAMRIDH:

Sustainable Access to Markets and Resources for Innovative Delivery of Healthcare. 

Supported by United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and IIT-Delhi.

SAMRIDH Healthcare Blended Finance Facility for pool of fund to improve the health infrastructure. 

Reliance Industries opens country's 'largest biz, commerce hub' in Mumbai

Reliance Industries (RIL) has announced opening of India’s largest business, commerce and cultural destination, ‘The Jio World Centre’. 

It is spread across 18.5 acres at Bandra Kurla Complex in Mumbai. 

The initial launches are Dhirubhai Ambani Square, the musical Fountain of Joy and The Jio World Convention Centre.

It will also include a cultural centre, a musical fountain, an upscale retail experience, curated selection of cafés, fine dining restaurants, etc.

Legendary Australian spin bowler Shane Warne passes away

Legendary Australian spin bowler Shane Warne (52 years) passed away in Koh Samui, Thailand due to a suspected heart attack.

He made his cricket debut in 1992, played 145 Tests for Australia, and picked up 708 wickets.

He had retired from all formats of cricket in July 2013 and was regarded as one of the greatest bowlers in the history of cricket.

He took 708 Test wickets (most ever for an Australian), and the second-most of all time behind Muttiah Muralitharan.

India’s largest EV charging station for 4 wheelers opens in Gurugram

India’s largest electric vehicle (EV) charging station for 4 wheelers has been launched in Gurugram’s sector 86, Haryana.

It has a capacity of 121 charging points for 4 wheelers and can charge 1,000 cars in a day.

It is developed by Alektrify Private Limited.

After its launch, Gurugram has two of the largest electric vehicle charging stations across India.

First EV station in Gurugram was opened in Sector 52 in January 2022, which has a capacity of 100 charging points. 

Aman Lekhi resigns as Additional Solicitor General of India

Senior Advocate Aman Lekhi has resigned as the Additional Solicitor General (ASG) at the Supreme Court with immediate effect on 4th March 2022.

Reason for his resignation is not clear yet.

He was appointed as the ASG in March 2018 and was re-appointed from July 1, 2020, for a period of three years till June 30, 2023.

Additional Solicitor General of India (ASG): law officer of India, who is considered the third-ranking lawyer of the Government of India.

Manish Sisodia inaugurates Delhi Teachers University

Deputy Chief Minister and Education Minister of Delhi, Manish Sisodia has inaugurated Delhi Teacher's University. 

This University will offer programmes BA BEd, BSc BEd, etc.

Its campus is located in Outram Lane in the Mukherjee Nagar area of the national capital. 

It will offer a new-age integrated education programme after Class 12.

It will also focus on fundamental and applied research in education by collaborating with national and international organizations.

Hero MotoCorp named New EV Brand ‘Vida’ 2022

Hero MotoCorp has unveiled a new brand “Vida”, (Vida means life) for its emerging mobility solutions and upcoming electric vehicles. Vida brand has been unveiled by Dr Pawan Munjal, Chairman and CEO of Hero MotoCorp, on March 3, 2022, in Dubai.

He also announced a $100 million Global Sustainability Fund that will help the company to nurture more than 10,000 entrepreneurs on ESG solutions.

The first electric vehicle under the Vida brand will be officially unveiled on July 1, 2022, to coincide with the birth anniversary of Dr Brijmohan Lall, Chairman Emeritus of Hero MotoCorp.

Important For All Exam 2022:

Hero MotoCorp Headquarters: New Delhi;

Hero MotoCorp Founder: Brijmohan Lall Munjal;

Hero MotoCorp Founded: 19 January 1984, Dharuhera.

Oscar-winning producer Alan Walbridge Ladd Jr passes away

The Oscar-winning producer, Former Executive at Twentieth Century Fox, who greenlit ‘Star Wars’ and ‘Braveheart’, Alan Ladd Junior has passed away at the age of 84 years. He was affectionately known as “Laddie”.

He won the Academy Award (Oscar award) for Best Picture ‘Braveheart’ directed by Mel Gibson in 1995. He was one of the founders of the Ladd Company, established in 1979.

Former Indian Army Chief General S F Rodrigues passes away

General S F Rodrigues, who had served as Chief of the Indian Army from 1990 to 1993 passes away at the age of 88 years. General Sunith Francis Rodrigues was also the Governor of Punjab from 2004 to 2010.

He had served two terms on the National Security Advisory Board. Since his retirement, he has been engaged in social and literary pursuits and has also delivered numerous talks on strategic issues. The nation and the Indian Army will always be indebted to his invaluable contribution and service to the nation.

World Obesity Day 2022 Observed globally on 04th March

World Obesity Day is observed every year on March 04. It is observed to spread awareness about obesity and encourage action towards its elimination. The day is organised by the World Obesity Federation, a non-profit body that is in official relations with the World Health Organisation.

The theme of World Obesity Day 2022 is ‘Everybody Needs to Act’. The campaign aims to improve the world’s understanding, prevention and treatment of obesity.

World Obesity Day goes way back to the year 2015, wherein a non-profit organization worked closely with World Health Organisation and Lancet Commission in helping spread awareness. Later in 2016, the focus was shifted to childhood obesity, while later in 2017, the idea was to treat obesity now and avoid consequences later.

Minister of Electronics & IT inaugurates Tech Conclave 2022

National Informatics Centre (NIC) has partnered with governments on digital initiatives. We’ve constructed state-of-the-art PAN-India ICT infrastructure, digital platforms, and solutions for the government’s exclusive usage over the years. We’ve helped the federal and state governments automate their procedures and deliver public services electronically.

The benefits can range from gaining a better grasp of the industry’s ICT best practises to disseminating awareness of the latest technologies and trends that are useful in the society’s big digital transition.

The Tech Conclave will provide IT managers from government ministries and departments with information on the latest ICT technology and their applications, as well as industry best practices.

It will also provide a forum for state IT secretaries to learn more about innovative technologies and applications that can be implemented in their jurisdictions.

It would allow contact between government industry and IT managers, greatly contributing to capacity building, particularly in government operations across the country, and assisting in the delivery of high-quality citizen-centric services.

UPI transactions value dips

According to the data from the National Payments Corporation of India, India’s cashless retail transactions on the UPI platform were Rs 8.27 lakh crore in February, a little decrease from the previous month’s total (NPCI). In February 2022, there were 452 crores (4.52 billions) in transactions.

The overall value of cashless retail transactions on the BHIM UPI network stood at Rs 8.32 lakh crore in January, with 461 crore transactions (4.61 billion).

According to NPCI, the value of the automatic collection at toll plazas utilising the NETC FASTag technology increased slightly in February, with over 24.36 crore transactions (243.64 million) worth Rs 3,631.22 crore.

NETC FASTag toll collections were valued at Rs 3,603.71 crore by way of 23.10 crore (231.01 million) transactions in the previous month.

Instant money can be transferred through 24×7 IMPS that is Immediate Payment Service fell to Rs 3.84 lakh crore in February as against Rs 3.87 lakh crore in January. During the same period, the number of such transactions is at 42 crores (420.93 million) as compared against 44 crores (440.17 million), as per the data.

Jet Airways named Sanjiv Kapoor as CEO 2022

Sanjiv Kapoor has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Jet Airways. Prior to this, Kapoor was the president of Oberoi Hotels and has also worked as a chief operating officer at SpiceJet and chief strategy and commercial officer at Vistara.

He has worked as the Chief Strategy and Commercial Officer of Vistara Airlines for three years, and Chief Operating Officer of SpiceJet for two years. The Jalan Kalrock Consortium is the new promoter of Jet Airways.

Important For All Exam 2022:

Jet Airways CEO: Vinay Dube;

Jet Airways Founder: Naresh Goyal;

Jet Airways Founded: 1 April 1992, Mumbai.

Vidya Balan named as Brand Ambassador of Bharti AXA Life Insurance

Bharti AXA Life Insurance has appointed National Award-winning actress VidyaBalan as its Brand Ambassador. She as the brand ambassador will help in promoting the #DoTheSmartThing champion of Bharti AXA Life Insurance.

Bharti AXA Life Insurance is a joint venture of Bharti, India’s leading business group and AXA, one of the world’s leading organizations in financial protection and wealth management.

Important For All Exam 2022:

MD & CEO of  Bharti AXA Life Insurance: Parag Raja;

Bharti AXA Life Insurance Founded: 2007;

Bharti AXA Life Insurance Parent organization: Bharti Enterprises.

MEA Unveils Special Logo for 75 Years of Indo-Dutch Diplomatic Relation

The 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and the Netherlands is being commemorated this year. Sanjay Verma, Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs, and Marten van den Berg, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to India, launched a joint logo on March 2, 2022, to commemorate the occasion.

The logo features the national flowers of both the countries, the lotus and the tulip. The chakra in the heart of the logo represents our friendship, and the flag colours emphasise the ties that exist between Indians and Dutch people.

Throughout the year, a variety of events and activities in a variety of sectors of cooperation, including water, agriculture, innovation, energy, climate, and culture, are planned to commemorate the 75th anniversary.

The Netherlands gifted 3000 fresh tulips to India as a symbol of goodwill for Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, which were planted in the Jawaharlal Nehru Bhawan gardens.

In 1947, India and the Netherlands established diplomatic ties. Since then, the two countries have established significant political, economic, and commercial ties, as well as a variety of sectoral collaborations.

India’s first FSRU Hoegh Giant Arrives at Jaigarh Terminal

H-Jaigarh Energy’s Terminal in Maharashtra has received India’s first floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU). On April 12, 2021, the FSRU Höegh Giant arrived at Jaigarh Terminal in Maharashtra after sailing from Keppel Shipyard in Singapore. This will be India’s first FSRU-based LNG receiving terminal, as well as Maharashtra’s first year-around LNG facility.

The Höegh Giant, which was erected in 2017, has a storage capacity of 1,70,000 cubic metres and a regasification capacity of 750 million cubic feet per day (equivalent to about six million tpa). FSRU has been chartered for a 10-year period by H-Energy.

The Höegh Giant LNG terminal will be connected to the national gas grid via the 56-kilometer Jaigarh-Dabhol natural gas pipeline.

The facility will also deliver LNG to onshore distribution via truck loading facilities. Reloading LNG into small-scale LNG vessels for bunkering services is also possible at the plant. 

H-Energy also plans to boost the region’s small-scale LNG market, utilising FSRU for LNG storage and reloading into smaller boats.

India signs Host Country Agreement with ITU

Union Minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw has signed the Host Country Agreement (HCA) with Houlin Zhao, Secretary-General of International Telecommunication Union (ITU) for the establishment of an Area Office & Innovation Centre of ITU in New Delhi.

ITU: UN specialized agency for information and communication technologies.

ITU currently has a membership of 193 countries. 

Area Office and Innovation Centre: It is expected to serve South Asian countries.

MoWCD, UNICEF holds NariShakti Varta on STEM and Financial Literacy

Ministry of Women and Child Development facilitated #NaariShakti conversation, on ‘STEM and Financial Literacy for Young Women’.

The event started with the panel on ‘Young Women in STEM: Opportunities, Challenges and Solutions’ focused on uniting diverse voices and sparking a commitment to gender equality in STEM.

Panel discussed how we can nurture young women to form an interest in science, to pursue higher studies and careers in STEM related fields, etc.

NMCG receives ‘Special Jury Award’ for Ganga rejuvenation

National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) has been awarded ‘Special Jury Award’ at the 7th India Industry Water Conclave and 9th edition of FICCI Water Awards. 

Distinguished Jury of FICCI Water Awards consists of eminent people such as Dr. Mihir Shah, A.K. Gosain, Himanshu Kulkarni, and VK Madhavan. 

The Citation underlines complexity of the task of rejuvenation of the entire Ganga basin and the importance of engaging with diverse stakeholders.

Arunachal Pradesh to get a Greenfield Airport in Hollongi

Airport Authority of India (AAI) has undertaken the work of constructing a Greenfield Airport in Hollongi, 15 Kms from Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh. 

It has an estimated cost of Rs.645 crore.

This project includes development work i.e. construction of airport pavements, air side work, terminal Building and city side works.

It is designed for operations of A-320 category of air craft and future extension of Runway by 500m length to cater A-321 type of aircraft.

Defence Ministry to host 12th edition of DefExpo 2022

Ministry of Defence is hosting 12th edition of the biennial defence exhibition, DefExpo 2022, at Gandhinagar in Gujarat. 

It will be held from 10th to 14th March.

It will be focused on land, air, naval, internal homeland security and electronic systems.

It will be held in a hybrid format.

DefExpo will be conducted by leading industry fora, international fora, think-tanks, media houses, Indian industry, DRDO, Ministry of Civil Aviation, and state governments.

National Safety Day 2022: 4th March

National Safety Day (NSD) is observed every year on 4th March to commemorate the foundation of National Safety Council (NSC) of India.

First National Safety Day was observed in 1972. 

Theme of National Safety Day 2022: Nurture young minds – Develop safety culture. 

National Safety Council: non-profit organization created to assist in the generation, implementation, and maintenance of any national level of volunteer health, safety, and development gesture.

National Security Day 2022: 4th March

National Security Day (Rashtriya Suraksha Diwas) is observed every year on 4th March in India in the honor of the Indian Security Forces. 

First National Security Day (NSD) was held in 1972. 

It was on this day in 1966 that National Security Council (NSC) of India was established by Ministry of Labour. 

National Security Week 2022 is also being celebrated from 4th to 10th March 2022. 

NSC: apex agency that looks into political, economic, energy and strategic security concerns. 

India ranks 120th in Sustainable Development Report 2021

India has been ranked 120th in the Sustainable Development Report 2021 or Sustainable Development Index 2021 with a score of 60.07.

Top performers: Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, and Belgium.

Index measures the total progress of India towards achieving 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

These 17 SDGs were adopted by UN General Assembly in September 2015 as a part of 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

India was ranked 117th in SDG report 2020. 

Tata Motors launches ‘Anubhav’ showroom on wheels to tap rural markets

Tata Motors has launched mobile showroom named ‘Anubhav,’ to target rural customers by increasing their reach in rural areas and providing them with a doorstep car buying experience.

Tata Motors will deploy 103 mobile showrooms across the country, to enhance Tata Motors brand awareness in rural India.

It will be operated by dealerships under Tata Motors’ supervision and guidance.

All the dealerships will define monthly routes for these vans.

Sunil Agrawal appointed as the new CFO of LIC

Sunil Agrawal has been appointed as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) on contractual basis.

Prior to this, he was serving as the CFO of Reliance Nippon Life Insurance for over 12 years.

Central government is counting on LIC’s IPO to help bridge the gaping budget deficit by the end of this month and hopes to raise about Rs 65,000 crore ($8.6 billion) by diluting 5% stake in the insurer.

Swiss Airlines to become the first airline to use solar aviation fuel

Swiss and its parent company, Lufthansa Group have partnered with synthetic fuel group ‘Synhelion’ to use its solar fuel.

Swiss International Airlines will become the first airline to use solar aviation fuel to help power its flights.

For this, Synhelion has developed a technology for manufacturing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from renewable energy sources.

When combusted solar fuel will only produce as much CO2 as went into its manufacture, cutting aviation emissions.

ICC Women’s World cup begins in New Zealand

The 2022 edition of ICC Women’s World has been kicked off with New Zealand Women taking on West Indies Women in the tournament opener at Bay Oval Stadium in Mount Maunganui.

ICC Women’s world cup will have a total of 8 teams: India, Pakistan, Australia, Bangladesh, New Zealand, South Africa, England, West Indies. 

Tournament is being held in New Zealand. 

It is being played in a round-robin format. 

England defeated India in previous edition of ICC Women’s World Cup in 2017. 

World Hearing Day observed globally on 3rd March by WHO

World Hearing Day is held on 3rd March each year by World Health Organisation (WHO). The day aims to raise awareness on how to prevent deafness and hearing loss and promote ear and hearing care across the world. On World Hearing Day 2022, WHO will focus on the importance of safe listening as a means of maintaining good hearing across the life course.

The World Hearing Day 2022 with the theme “To hear for life, listen with care” will focus on the importance and means of hearing loss prevention through safe listening.

The WHO, on March 3 in 2007, observed World Hearing Day for the first time. In 2016, they decided to declare this day as World Hearing Day.

Important For All Exam 2022:

WHO Established: 7 April 1948;

WHO Director General: Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus;

WHO Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.

World Wildlife Day 2022 Observed on 03rd March

The World Wildlife Day is observed every year on March 3 to raise awareness about the world’s wild fauna and flora. The day also reminds us of the need to fight against wildlife crime and human-induced reduction of species causing various wide-ranging economic, environmental and social impacts.

World Wildlife Day will be celebrated in 2022 under the theme “Recovering key species for ecosystem restoration”, as a way to draw attention to the conservation status of some of the most critically endangered species of wild fauna and flora, and to drive discussions towards imagining and implementing solutions to conserve them.

The day was proposed by Thailand and recognised in 2013 by United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). March 3 has been chosen as it is the day of signature of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in 1973.

Important For All Exam 2022:

World Wildlife Fund Headquarters: Gland, Switzerland.

World Wildlife FundFounded: 29 April 1961, Morges, Switzerland.

President and CEO of World Wildlife Fund: Carter Roberts.

Strandja Memorial Boxing Tournament: Nikhat Zareen & Nitu wins gold for India

Indian boxers Nikhat Zareen (52kg) and Nitu (48kg) has won gold medals at the 73rd Strandja Memorial Boxing Tournament, held in Sofia, Bulgaria. The Indian contingent ended their campaign at the tournament with three medals including two golds and one bronze.

Nikhat bagged her second gold medal at Europe’s oldest international boxing tournament with a 4-1 win in the women’s 52kg final. She had previously won the Strandja Memorial title in 2019.

Nitu outpunched the reigning Youth World Championships bronze medallist Italy’s Erika Prisciandro 5-0 without breaking a sweat in the women’s 48 kg final.

NASA launches next-generation GOES-T satellite to track hazardous weather

US space agency, NASA, successfully launched the third in a series of four next-generation weather satellites, Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES), from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida.

The satellite is named as GOES-T. Once the satellite gets positioned in its geostationary orbit it will be renamed from GOES-T to GOES-18. GOES-T will be used by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to forecast weather and hazardous environmental conditions in the Western Hemisphere.

Important For All Exam 2022:

NASA administrator: Bill Nelson;

Headquarters of NASA: Washington D.C., United States;

NASA Founded: 1 October 1958.

NOAA Headquarters: Washington, D.C., United States. 

NOAA Founder: Richard Nixon. 

NOAA Founded: 3 October 1970. 

MoS Annpurna Devi gives National ICT Award 2020 & 2021

Smt Annpurna Devi, who is the union MoS for Education has given National ICT Awards to 49 teachers from all over the country. In her speech on this event, she told that the NEP-2020 emphasizes on the efficient use of technology in the field of teaching, which will remove the language barriers and increase access for DIVYANG students.

Recognition in the form of a National Award for ICT in Education for school teachers indirectly motivates instructors to utilise ICT extensively and significantly in their classrooms by combining content pedagogy and technology.

It has now been foreseen to extend this Award to the Teacher Educators for the States & UTs for their best educational practices.

These ICT Awardees are also given the task of serving as ICT Ambassadors, expanding the reach of ICT in Education through their ongoing efforts to mentor other teachers.

Indian Air Force to conduct Exercise Vayu Shakti at Pokharan range, Rajasthan

Indian Air Force (IAF) will conduct the Exercise Vayu Shakti that will take place at Pokharan range in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan on March 7. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be the Chief Guest of this event.

A total of 148 aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) will participate in this exercise. Rafale aircraft will participate for the first time in this exercise. Exercise Vayu Shakti is organised by Indian Air Force once in every three years. The last Vayu Shakti Exercise took place in 2019.

Important For All Exam 2022:

Indian Airforce founded: 8 October 1932;

Indian Airforce Headquarters: New Delhi;

Adani Green gets LOA for setting-up 150 MW solar power plant

Adani Green Energy Ltd stated that its subsidiary Adani Renewable Energy Holding Fifteen Limited has obtained a letter of award (LOA) to build a 150-megawatt solar power plant. For a period of 25 years, the fixed rate for this project capacity is $2.34/kWh.

According to a statement issued by the Adani Group company said in a stock exchange filing, Adani Renewable Energy Holding Fifteen Limited, a Wholly-owned Subsidiary of Adani Green Energy Limited, participated in a Tender which was issued by the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited for the acquisition of 250 MW Solar Power from ground-mounted grid-connected solar PV power plants and has received the Letter of Award for setting up a 150 MW Solar Power Project.

Google and MeitY to train 100 Indian startups under Appscale Academy programme

The MeitY Startup Hub, an initiative of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), and Google have announced a cohort of 100 early to mid-stage Indian startups as a part of Appscale Academy programme.

Appscale Academy is a new growth and development programme for startups launched by MeitY and Google to help and train early- to mid-stage startups across India on building high-quality apps and games for a global audience.

These 100 startups were chosen from over 400 applications following an in-depth selection process.

Under the six-month Appscale Academy programme, the 100 startups will be trained through a customised curriculum which includes virtual instructor-led webinars, self-learning material, and mentorship sessions with local and global industry professionals.

Important For All Exam 2022:

Minister of Electronics and Information Technology: Ashwini Vaishnaw;

Google CEO: Sundar Pichai;

Google Founded: 4 September 1998;

Google Headquarters: Mountain View, California, United States.

CDSL becomes first depository to register more than 60 million Demat accounts

On the 1st of March, 2022, the Central Depository Services (India) announced that it now has more than six crores (i. e. equivalent to 60 million) active Demat accounts. A Demat account is a kind of account that can be used to keep online copies of securities and shares. A Demat account is a dematerialized account in its entire form.

The main purpose of a Demat account is to keep shares that have been bought or dematerialized (that means conversion from physical to electronic form of shares), making online share trading easier for users.

The sole listed depository in India is Central Depository Services (India) Limited (CDSL).

Ananta Barua, Whole Time Member, Securities and Exchange Board of India, said at a ceremony to commemorate the achievement that Dematerialisation has arose as a result of the issues that physical shares had with them.

Barua also said that the new milestone demonstrates that access to the Indian securities market has become safe, convenient, and simple.

Furthermore, Barua stated that new investors must be educated about the Indian securities market, the role of market infrastructure organisations, and investor protection in order to make well-informed judgments.

GST collections in Feb stand at Rs 1.3L cr

Goods and Services Tax (GST) collection crossed the Rs 1.30-lakh crores mark for the fifth time in February 2022.

The gross GST revenue collected in the month of February 2022 is Rs 1,33,026 crore of which CGST is Rs 24,435 crore, SGST is Rs 30,779 crore, IGST is Rs 67,471crore (including Rs 33,837 crores collected on import of goods) and cess is Rs 10,340 crore (including ₹638 crores collected on import of goods).

The February mop-up was impacted by the Omicron wave that swept through the country and hence, the gross sales tax collection was lower than the record Rs 1,40,986 crore netted in January.

The revenues for the month of February 2022 are 18% higher than the GST revenues in the same month last year and 26% higher than the GST revenues in February 2020.

List of previous months GST Collection:

January 2022: Rs 1.38 Lakh crores

T S Ramakrishnan named as new MD and CEO of LIC Mutual Fund

LIC Mutual Fund has announced the appointment of TS Ramakrishnan as its Managing Director & CEO, effective. Ramakrishnan, as the MD and CEO, LIC Mutual Fund Asset Management, will succeed Dinesh Pangtey, its former Wholetime Director and CEO.

LIC Mutual Fund is one of the oldest and leading mutual funds operating in India. offer a complete basket of 26 products covering debt, equity, hybrid, passive and solution-oriented schemes. The Average Assets under Management (AAuM) is Rs 18,625.52 crores as on January 31, 2022.

Akshaye Widhani named as Chief Executive Officer of Yash Raj Films

Film production and distribution company Yash Raj Films (YRF) has named Akshaye Widhani as chief executive officer. Widhani was serving as senior vice-president, finance and business Affairs and head of operations at YRF Studios.

He used to head corporate and business development activities for YRF, including finance, business extensions, strategic alliances, joint ventures, co-productions.

Yash Raj Films is one of India’s biggest film production houses. Aditya Chopra is the Chairman and MD of Yash Raj Films. Yash Raj Films was founded by Yash Raj Chopra, in the year 1970.

FM launch e-governance initiative, Electronic Bill processing system

FM Nirmala Sitharaman will launch major e-governance initiative - Electronic Bill processing system as part of ease of doing business and Digital India eco-system on 46th Civil Accounts Day (2nd March) celebration in New Delhi. 

It will be implemented across all Central Ministries and Departments and is will step towards transparency, efficiency, and a faceless-paperless payment system. 

Through this, suppliers and contractors will now be able to submit their claim online. 

Bangladesh signs agreement with ADB for flood management

Govt of Bangladesh has signed two separate agreements with Asian Development Bank (ADB) for loans worth USD 292 million. 

First loan worth USD 157 million is being provided to mitigate flood and riverbank erosion risks along Jamuna, Padma, and Ganges rivers. 

It is part of 2nd tranche of Flood and Riverbank Erosion Risk Management Investment Program (FRERMIP). 

ADB has also approved USD 135 million to improve access and quality of inclusive water services. 

Assam govt declares entire state as “Disturbed Area” for up to 6 months

Assam govt has declared entire state as ‘Disturbed Area’ for up to 6 months. 

This declaration has been made as per powers conferred under Section 3 of Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958.

Initially, it was Assam Disturbed Area Act of 1955 during agitation by Nagas in undivided Assam.

This Act gave freehand to some extent to the Army that was repealed with the incorporation of the Armed Forces (Special Power) Act, 1958.

Smriti Irani launches new motto of National Commission for Protection

Minister of Women and Child Development, Smriti Irani has launched new motto of National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) on its 17th foundation day at Red Fort, New Delhi.

New motto of NCPCR is ‘भविष्यो रक्षति रक्षित:’. 

It exhorts us to protect the future i.e. our children, for in their welfare lies the foundation of a strong Nation.

Union WCD Minister also complemented the collaboration between NCPCR & Border Security Force for ‘SAHARA’ initiative.

CCI to hold National Conference on Economics of Competition Law

Competition Commission of India will virtually inaugurate 7th National Conference on Economics of Competition Law on 4th March 2022.

This conference is being organized every year since 2016.

Member of Economic Advisory Council to PM, Neelkanth Mishra will address the inaugural session.

Plenary at this year's conference is on the topic ‘Reforms and Deepening of Markets’.

It is an endeavour to develop and sustain interest in the Economics of Competition Law. 

President Ram Nath Kovind inaugurates 'Arogya Vanam' at Rashtrapati Bhavan

President Ram Nath Kovind has inaugurated hub of medicinal herbs and plants titled 'Arogya Vanam' at Rashtrapati Bhavan in the presence of PM Narendra Modi and First Lady Savita Kovind.

It has been developed in a 6.6 acre area and has 215 types of medicinal plants like Neem, Tulsi, Bel, Arand, Arjun, Ashwagandha and Harsingar.

Apart from this, Aroma Garden, Lotus Pond, Water Channels, Yog Manch and ViewPoint are also part of Arogya Vanam.

31st Southeast Asian Games to be held in Vietnam

The 31st Southeast Asian Games will be held in Vietnam from 12th to 23rd May 2022.

It is the biggest sporting event of Southeast Asia and is a biennial event. 

It was originally scheduled to take place in November 2021 however it was postponed due to COVID pandemic.

Hanoi (capital of Vietnam) will be the main venue of the event.

It will feature 40 sports with 526 events, attracting around 10,000 participants. 

Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin’s autobiography ‘Ungalil Oruvan’ launched

Rahul Gandhi has launched the autobiography of MK Stalin, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. 

The book is titled as ‘Ungalil Oruvan’ which literally means ‘One Among You’.

This is the first part of the autobiography that contains early life experiences of MK Stalin, who is the president of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party.

It is the first of a reported three-volume autobiography, capturing the first 23 years of his life, including his early days in politics.

HDFC Bank finances Asia’s largest waste to energy plant

HDFC Bank has partnered with Indore Clean Energy Private Limited (ICEPL) for the development of Gobar-Dhan plant in Indore under Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) commitments. 

It is a 550-tonne capacity Gobar-Dhan (Bio-CNG) Plant inaugurated by PM Modi in Indore, MP. 

This is the biggest Bio-CNG plant in Asia.

It has been set up at a cost of Rs 150 crore.

ICEPL: promoted by Green Growth Equity Fund (GGEF), which is the largest climate impact fund in India.

India will soon launch the third phase of Monsoon Mission

India will soon lunch the third phase of Monsoon Mission, for development of more number of parameterization schemes.

Aim: to achieve further improvement in our understanding about the monsoons, thus helping achieve a quantum leap in the predictions. 

Monsoon Mission was launched for the first time in 2012.

It has been a flagship project undertaken by the MoES to improve overall understanding of Indian monsoons.

International Monsoons Project Office launched at IITM, Pune

Union Minister, Jitendra Singh has virtually launched International Monsoons Project Office (IMPO) at Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune on the occasion of National Science Day (February 28, 2022).

It has been launched for an initial period of 5 years.

Objective: Promoting knowledge sharing and capacity building in areas of monsoon research. 

IMPO and World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) will work towards coordinating with global monsoon experts. 

Union Minister inaugurate ‘Sagar Parikrama’ on 5th Feb 2022

Union Minister, Parshottam Rupala will inaugurate ‘Sagar Parikrama’ on 5th March 2022.

Organized by: Dept of Fisheries, National Fisheries Development Board along with Indian Coast Guard, Fishery Survey of India, Gujarat Maritime Board and fishermen representatives. 

Parikrama is starting from Mandvi at Shyamiji Krishna Varma Memorial, Gujarat is an endeavor to know problems of Coastal Fisher Folk. 

It will be organized in other districts of Gujarat and other State/UTs.

Saurabh Chaudhary clinches India's first gold at ISSF World Cup

Saurabh Chaudhary (19 years) has clinched India's first gold medal at the ongoing International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup in Cairo, Egypt. 

He defeated Michael Schwald of Germany by 16-6 in the gold medal match of Men's 10m Air Pistol event.

Apart from him, Russian Artem Chernousov bagged bronze medal at the event.

India's Shreya Agrawal narrowly missed in World Cup's 10m air rifle event semi finals.

Janaushadhi Diwas week to be observed from 1st March to 7th March

Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers will organize the Janaushadhi Diwas from 1st March to 7th March 2022. On 7th March 2022, the 4th Jan Aushadhi Diwas will be celebrated. The theme of 4th Janaushadhi Diwas: “Jan Aushadhi-Jan Upyogi”.

The Government has set a target to increase the number of Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBJKs) to 10,500 by the end of March 2025.

To create awareness about the usages of generic medicines and the benefits of Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana. Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) was launched by the Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers, Government of India in November 2008 to provide quality generic medicines available at affordable prices to all.

International Women’s Day Week begins

The Women and Child Development Ministry celebrates the International Women’s Day week from the 1st of March as an Iconic Week as a part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, till the 8th of March.

As a part of the week-long celebration, the Ministry will organize various events and social media campaigns covering a variety of themes related to women’s safety and empowerment.

This will mark an occasion to celebrate the progress made towards achieving gender equity and women’s empowerment but also to critically reflect on accomplishments and strive for a greater momentum towards gender equality.

It will kick off tomorrow in collaboration with the Bureau of Police Research and Development to raise awareness on the safety and security of women.

Zero Discrimination Day observed on 01st March

The Zero Discrimination Day is held every year on the 1st of March. The day aims to ensure right to equality, inclusion and protection of all people without any discrimination in their law and policies to live a full life with dignity regardless of any barriers.

Zero Discrimination Day highlights how people can become informed about and promote inclusion, compassion, peace and, above all, a movement for change.

Zero Discrimination Day is helping to create a global movement of solidarity to end all forms of discrimination. The theme of Zero Discrimination Day 2022: “Remove laws that harm, create laws that empower”, UNAIDS is highlighting the urgent need to take action against discriminatory laws.

Zero Discrimination Day was first celebrated on March 1, 2014, and was launched by UNAIDS Executive Director at Beijing after UNAIDS launched its Zero Discrimination Campaign on World AIDS Day in December 2013.

Important For All Exam 2022:

United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland;

UNAIDS Executive Director: Winnie Byanyima;

UNAIDS Founded: 26 July 1994.

“Industry Connect 2022” inaugurated by Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya

Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare, Chemicals & Fertilizers has inaugurated the seminar on “Industry Connect 2022”: Industry and Academia Synergy.

The stress is on the importance of innovation & technology for the progress of the country and it is for the greater industry-academia partnerships. The innovative zeal and manufacturing quality products at scale will help the Prime Minister’s vision of Make in India and Make for the World.

OBJECTIVES OF THE SEMINAR:

The first objective is to focus on R&D – Laboratory to Industry.

The second objective is to do the Skill Gap Analysis for the Human Capital in Petrochemicals Sector.

Another objective is to Support Aatmanirbhar Bharat by providing the Indigenous Technology and Aatmanirbhar CIPET with the assistance of the Industry Connect.

The final objective is for the Support of Technology with the assistance of the Technology Development Board to establish coordination between industry and academia for this sector.

28th DST-CII India- Singapore Technology Summit 2022

Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), New Delhi in partnership with the Department of Science & Technology (DST), GoI hosted the 28th edition of the DST – CII Technology Summit on 23rd and 24th of February 2022. The Summit was held virtually. Singapore is the Partner Country for this year’s Technology Summit.

Technology Summit has been very crucial in providing significant opportunities to build and improve bilateral technology partnerships over a period of more than two decades. Dr Jitendra Singh, Hon’ble Union Minister of State, Ministry of Science and Technology, GoI.

Quantum Key Distribution tech tested by DRDO successfully between Vindhyachal & Prayagraj

A team of scientists, for the first time in the country, from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi successfully demonstrated a Quantum Key Distribution link between Prayagraj and Vindhyachal in Uttar Pradesh, spanning over 100 kilometres.

This technological breakthrough was accomplished using a commercial-grade optical fibre that was already on the market. The country has shown domestic safe key transfer technology for bootstrapping military-grade communication security key hierarchy, according to the DRDO.

This technological advance was made possible by the use of commercially available optical fibre. According to the DRDO, the country has shown a domestic secure key transfer technique for bootstrapping military-grade communication security key hierarchy.

Quantum key distribution is a secure communication tech method that uses quantum physics to construct a cryptographic protocol. It allows two parties to generate a shared secret key that is only known to them and can be used to encrypt and decrypt messages.

NSO projects GDP growth for India in 2021-22 at 8.9%

National Statistical Office (NSO) has released the second advance estimates of national accounts. The GDP growth rate projection as per NSO for 2021-22 (FY22) and 2020-21 (FY21) is given: For 2021-22 (FY22)= 8.9% (earlier it was 9.2% in first advance estimates); For 2020-21 (FY21)= -6.6% (earlier it was -7.3%)

According to NSO data, Gross Value Added (GVA) growth in the manufacturing sector growth remained almost flat at 0.2 per cent in the third quarter of 2021-22, compared to a growth of 8.4 per cent a year ago.

Bank of Maharashtra launches “Project Banksakhi” in Odisha

Public sector lender, Bank of Maharashtra (BoM) has announced the launch of “Project Banksakhi” in Odisha in collaboration with Mahagram & Sunivesh India Finance Services Pvt. Ltd. for Online Bank Account opening. It will provide doorstep and hassle-free access to the people of Odisha for opening bank accounts.

The people of Odisha using our innovative customer-friendly financial services and best in class customer experience across digital and physical touchpoints.

Bank of Maharashtra has been catering to the banking needs of customers offering a spectrum of banking products and financial services covering Retail, Agri and MSME sectors to its more than 2 crore customers.

Apart from its physical delivery channels, the bank offers various digital platforms like mobile banking, internet banking, AEPS, ATM-Debit Card, 24×7 customer care centre for accessing uninterrupted banking services to its customers.

Important For All Exam 2022:

Bank of Maharashtra Headquarters: Pune;

Bank of Maharashtra CEO: A. S. Rajeev (2 Dec 2018);

Bank of Maharashtra Founded: 16 September 1935.

Prof Bhushan Patwardhan named as chairman of NAAC

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has appointed educationist and research scientist Professor Bhushan Patwardhan as chairman, of the executive committee of the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), Bengaluru.

The position was vacant after Prof Jagadish Kumar was appointed as chairman of UGC. Prof Patwardhan is currently a national research professor designated by the Ministry of Ayush, Government of India, and a distinguished professor at the Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences, Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU).

IOC Withdraws Top Olympic Honour From Vladimir Putin

The International Olympic Committee has stripped Russian President Vladimir Putin of the Olympic Order award in response to the invasion of Ukraine. International Olympic Committee urged sports federations and organisers to exclude Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials from international events following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Russia’s participation in the World Cup play-offs next month is also in doubt after FIFA plans to allow them to play on neutral territory were dismissed as “unacceptable” by rivals. The IOC last week urged all international sports federations to cancel forthcoming events in Russia, angry at Moscow violating an “Olympic Truce” with its attack on Ukraine.

Important For All Exam 2022:

International Olympic CommitteeHeadquarters: Lausanne, Switzerland;

International Olympic Committee President: Thomas Bach;

International Olympic Committee Founded: 23 June 1894, Paris, France.

Russia destroyed the largest plane in the world ‘Mriya’

Russian invasion to Ukraine, Russia destroyed the largest plane in the world called “Ukraine’s Antonov-225 cargo plane”.

The plane was destroyed outside Kyiv. According to weapons manufacturer Ukroboronprom, restoring “AN-225 Mriya” would cost over USD 3 billion and could take over five years.

The aircraft was unique to the world. The An-225 aircraft was located at Hostomel Airport when Russia launched an attack on the Ukrainian airport on February 24, 2022. It was destroyed on February 27.

The aircraft was designed to airlift Energia rocket’s boosters and Buran-class orbiters for Soviet space program. It was developed to replace the Myasishchev VM-T.

The original mission and objectives of An-225 are almost similar to that of the United States’ Shuttle Carrier Aircraft. The lead designer of the An-225 was Viktor Tolmachev.

It was 84 meters long and could transport up to 250 tonnes of cargo at a speed of 850 kilometres per hour.

West Indies spin legend Sonny Ramadhin Passes Away

Legendary West Indies spinner Sonny Ramadhin has passed away at the age of 92.

He was a part of the side that won its first away series in England in 1950.

He made his Test debut against England at Old Trafford in 1950.

Ramadhin ended up playing 43 Tests and taking 158 wickets at an average of 28.98.

Google launches ‘Play Pass’ subscription in India

Google announced the launch of ‘Play Pass’ subscription service in India.

It will provide Android device users access to over 1,000 applications and games without ads, in-app purchases, and upfront payments.

Play Pass, which is currently available in 90 countries, will offer a high-quality and curated collection of 1000+ titles across 41 categories from developers across 59 countries including many from India.

Jal Shakti Minister chairs Regional Conference of Ministers of NE states

Union Jal Shakti minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat  has  chaired a Regional Conference of Ministers of the Public Health Engineering Department, rural water Supply and sanitation department of the NE States in Guwahati.

The conference has focused on important issues pertaining to implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission and Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen).

The event has set up  the roadmap for the NE States, keeping in line with the guidance received from the PM Modi.

Japan and India renews Bilateral Swap Arrangement of up to $75 billion

Japan and India have renewed the Bilateral Swap Arrangement (BSA) of up to $75 billion with effect from February 28, 2022.

The Bank of Japan, acting as agent for the Minister of Finance of Japan, and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) signed the Amendment and Restatement Agreement of the BSA.

BSA is a two-way arrangement where both authorities can swap their local currencies in exchange for the US Dollar.

Rare Disease Day 2022: 28th February (Last Date of February)

The Rare Disease Day is observed on February 28, or on last Day of February, which in itself is the rarest day in the calendar.

The day is observed globally and raises awareness about, as the name suggests, rare diseases.

Rare Disease Day was set up and globally coordinated by EURORDIS (European Organisation for rare diseases) and was first observed in 2008.

EURORDIS is a non-governmental that comprises a total of 998rare-disease patients from 74 countries.

National Science Day 2022: 28th February

The National Science Day is celebrated every year on 28th February to commemorate the discovery of the ‘Raman Effect’.

On this day, Indian Physicist Sir C.V. Raman announced the discovery of the ‘Raman Effect’ for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1930.

In 1986, Government of India designated 28 February as National Science Day.

This year the theme of the National Science Day is- Integrated Approach in Science and Technology for Sustainable Future.

Madhabi Puri Buch Appointed First Woman Chairperson Of SEBI

The union government has appointed Madhabi Puri Buch as the new chairperson of market regulator SEBI.

She is the first woman chairperson of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).

Ms Buch, the former head of ICICI Securities, also served in SEBI between 2017 and 2021 as a Whole Time Member.

She will replace Ajay Tyagi as his term ends on February 28.

Mr Tyagi was appointed as SEBI Chairperson on March 1, 2017, for three years.

India's Sadia Tariq wins gold medal in Moscow Wushu Stars Championship

Sadia Tariq has won the gold medal in junior tournament at the Moscow Wushu Stars Championship 2022.

The 15-year-old from Srinagar participated in the Moscow Wushu Stars championship amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.

She had recently bagged Gold medals in the 19th and 20th Junior National Championship which was held in Haryana and Jalandhar respectively.

Cochin International Airport to become power-positive with new solar plant

The Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL), the world's first airport fully powered by solar energy, is to become power-positive with the commissioning of its new solar power plant near Payyannur in Kannur district of Kerala.

CIAL's solar plants together generate two lakh units of power a day whereas the daily consumption of power in the airport stands at 1.6 lakh units.

The airport became the first in the world in 2015 to be fully powered by solar energy.

Pooja Jatyan wins silver at Para Archery World Championships

Para-archer Pooja Jatyan scripted history as she became the first Indian to win a silver in an individual section of the Para World Championships in Dubai, UAE.

Pooja lost to Italy’s Patrilli Vincenza in the final to be content with the silver medal.

The compound mixed pair of Shyam Sundar Swamy and Jyoti Baliyan had earlier opened India’s account by winning a silver medal.

India ended its campaign with two silver medals, a first for the country.

Nikhat Zareen and Nitu wins gold at Strandja Memorial Boxing Tournament

Indian boxers Nikhat Zareen (52kg) and Nitu (48kg) won gold at the 73rd Strandja Memorial Tournament in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Nitu prevailed 5-0 over Italy's Erika Prisciandaro, a former youth world championship bronze-medallist.

Zareen, on the other hand, outpunched Ukraine's Tetiana Kob, a three-time European Championships medallist 4-1.

The Hyderabad-based Zareen had won a gold medal at the Strandja Memorial's 2019 as well. 

Nitu is a two-time former youth world champion.