Latest Current Affairs For Thursday 17th March, 2022

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.

PM Narendra Modi to be awarded prestigious Lokmanya Tilak Award 2023

The Tilak Smarak Mandir Trust (Hind Swaraj Sangh) would confer the prestigious Lokmanya Tilak National Award 2023 to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Pune on August 1, 2023.

Reason: This award recognizes PM Modi's supreme leadership under which India has climbed the ladder of progress

It is presented annually on the occasion of Lokmanya Tilak's death anniversary.

Other awardees: Indira Gandhi, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Sharad Pawar, Cyrus Poonawalla, and Manmohan Singh. 

J&K Bank wins award for Best Performance in CASA

Jammu & Kashmir Bank has been felicitated for the Best Performance in CASA-India (1st Runner up in Small Bank Category) at ICC Emerging Asia Banking Conclave & Awards 2022.

The event was participated by banks from India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka & Myanmar.

The function was organized by the Indian Chamber of Commerce in Goa.

Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) is a non-governmental trade association and advocacy group headquartered in Calcutta.

India poised to become world’s 2nd-largest economy by 2075: Goldman Sachs

According to the Investment Bank Goldman Sachs, India is poised to become the world’s second-largest economy by 2075.

As per the report, India would cross Japan, Germany, and the US With a population of 1.4 billion people.

India’s GDP is estimated to expand remarkably, reaching 52.5 trillion dollars surpassing the US GDP projection.

The labour force participation set to make India the second-largest economy in the world by 2075.

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

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

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

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

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

India overtakes China as most attractive emerging market for investing

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

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

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

World Population Day 2023: 11 July

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

OCA elects Sheikh Talal as the new President

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

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

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

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

Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance wins Insurer Innovation Award 2023

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

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

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