Latest Current Affairs For Tuesday 8th March, 2022

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.

India-US launched ‘Operation Broader Sword’

India and the USA, jointly conducted an ‘Operation Broader Sword’ to stop the illegal shipment of drugs through the International Mail System.

It targeted shipments of illicit, potentially dangerous, unapproved prescription drugs, combination medical devices, and synthetic drug precursors shipped through International Mail Facilities.

The operation resulted in the interception of over 500 shipments of illicit and unapproved prescription drugs bound for US consumers.

NLU Delhi launches research affiliate program ‘Eklavya’

The National Law University (NLU), Delhi launched Eklavya, a ‘Research Affiliate’ program, for those who do not have a traditional law degree.

Aim: To emphasize its commitment to actively seek partnerships outside the varsity and draw from their experiences and perspectives to develop quality legal scholarship. 

It is open to those who have at least three years of demonstrable experience working on issues that have a significant interface with the law.

CarTrade Tech to acquire OLX India's auto business for Rs 537 cr

Mumbai-based used cars platform CarTrade Tech Ltd will acquire online marketplace OLX India's auto sales business for Rs 537 crore.

CarTrade will acquire a 100% stake in Sobek Auto India Pvt Ltd, the entity that houses OLX India’s Automotive business, in an all-cash deal.

The acquisition will likely to be completed in 21-30 days.

Sobek is a company incorporated under the Companies Act, of 2013.

It is engaged in the business of running an automotive digital platform.

Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance wins Insurer Innovation Award 2023

Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance has won the Insurer Innovation Award 2023 for the APAC region at the 8th World Digital Insurance Awards, hosted by TDI - The Digital Insurer.

Recognition: Bajaj Allianz Life's ground-breaking WhatsApp Conversational Platform - empowering customers to digitally services their policies seamlessly. 

The award entries were shortlisted by industry experts and the winner was selected by the community through pre-voting and live event voting.

OCA elects Sheikh Talal as the new President

Kuwait’s Sheikh Talal Fahad Al Ahmad Al Sabah has been elected as the new President of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA).

He replaced his older brother Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, who led the OCA for 30 years until 2021.

The OCA was founded in 1982 by his father Fahad Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, who led it until 1990.

The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) is a governing body of sports in Asia, currently with 45 member National Olympic Committees.

Gujarat CM launches pilot project of ‘Antyodaya Shramik Suraksha Yojana’

Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel launched the Antyodaya Shram Suraksha Accident Insurance Scheme from Kheda

All those registered under the e-Shram portal from Nadiad will benefit from the scheme.

It is being implemented through the Indian Postal Department, the IPPB, and the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

Under this scheme, insurance with a premium of Rs. 289 and Rs. 499 per year will be a big support to workers in the event of death or partial disability.

MoHUA conducts SBM-U 2.0 Planning & Implementation Review-cum-Workshop

The Housing Ministry organized a review-cum-workshop to evaluate and accelerate the planning and implementation of the SBM-Urban 2.0.

PM Modi launched the 2.0 versions of SBM-U and AMRUT on October 1, 2021.

SBM-U 2.0: Achieving 100% waste segregation in all households and premises and 100% door-to-door collection of segregated waste from each. 

AMRUT 2.0: To provide complete coverage of water supply to all households and sewerage and septage in 500 AMRUT cities. 

World Population Day 2023: 11 July

World Population Day is observed every year on July 11 in order to raise awareness about global population issues, including population control.

2023 theme: Unleashing the power of gender equality: Uplifting the voices of women and girls to unlock our world’s infinite possibilities. 

It was established by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in 1989, after the day the world approximately reached a population of five billion, which was observed on 11 July 1987.

India overtakes China as most attractive emerging market for investing

According to a study by Invesco Global Sovereign Asset Management, India has overtaken China to become the most attractive emerging market for investing in sovereign wealth funds this year.

Reason: This is due to its solid demographics, political stability, and proactive regulation. 

Positives for the nation also include the rapidly expanding demography, strong regulatory actions, and a welcoming climate for sovereign investors.

L&T and Spain's Navantia sign agreement for submarine project

L&T has signed a teaming agreement with Spanish-based Navantia for the submission of a techno-commercial bid for the Indian Navy’s prestigious P75 (India) submarine program.

P75 (India) Submarine Project is expected to be valued at €4.8 billion.

Navantia would carry out the design of P75(I) submarines based on its S80 class of submarines.

The first S80 class submarine was launched in 2021 and is undergoing sea trials prior to its delivery to Spanish Navy.