Latest Current Affairs For Sunday 12th June, 2022

India’s first COVID-19 vaccine for animals ‘Anocovax’ launched

Agriculture Minister, Narendra Singh Tomar has launched the country’s first homegrown COVID-19 vaccine “Anocovax” for animals, developed by Haryana-based ICAR-National Research Centre on Equines (NRC).

Anocovax is an inactivated SARS-CoV-2 Delta (COVID-19) vaccine for animals. The immunity induced by Anocovax neutralises both Delta and Omicron variants of SARS-CoV-2.

The vaccine contains inactivated SARS-CoV-2 (Delta) antigen with Alhydrogel as an adjuvant. It is safe for dogs, lions, leopards, mice and rabbits, it added.

The COVID-19 vaccine for animals, Anocovax, is effective and capable of neutralising both Delta and Omicron variants of SARS-CoV-2.

World Day Against Child Labour 2022 observed on 12th June

12 June marks the World Day Against Child Labour under the theme “Universal Social Protection to End Child Labour.” On this day, the ILO, together with its constituents and partners, is calling for increased investment in social protection systems and schemes to establish solid social protection floors and protect children from child labour.

According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), there are about 152 million children globally who are engaged in child labour, 72 million of whom are in hazardous work.

The 2022 theme of the world day calls for increased investment in social protection systems and schemes to establish solid social protection floors and protect children from child labour. 2022 Theme: “Universal Social Protection to End Child Labour”.

Important For All Exam 2022:

Headquarters of International Labour Organization: Geneva, Switzerland;

President of International Labour Organization: Guy Ryder;

International Labour Organization Founded: 1919.

2nd Edition of the DSDP Excellence Awards held in New Delhi

In New Delhi, the 2nd edition of the Awards for Excellence in District Skill Development Planning, DSDP, was held, with the top 30 districts in the area being recognised for their unique best practises in skill development.

The top three districts in the competition were Rajkot in Gujarat, Cachar in Assam, and Satara in Maharashtra. District Collectors, District Magistrates, and other officials from 30 states attended the award ceremony to share their views and experiences, as well as to exhibit the skill development work that respective districts had done at the grassroots level.

Important For All Exam 2022:

Union Minister for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship: Dharmendra Pradhan.

RBI cancelled licence of Mudhol Co-op Bank, Bagalkot, Karnataka

The Reserve Bank of India has cancelled the licence of “The Mudhol Co-operative Bank Limited, Bagalkot (Karnataka)”, thus restricting it from repayment of deposits and acceptance of fresh funds.

The bank does not have adequate capital and earning prospects, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said while announcing the cancellation of licence. RBI also said that bank with its present financial position would be unable to pay its present depositors in full.

RBI said that bank with its present financial position would be unable to pay its present depositors in full.

Important For All Exam 2022:

DICGC Chairperson: Michael Patra;

DICGC Headquarters: Mumbai;

DICGC Founded: 15 July 1978.

ICICI Bank Partners with ZestMoney to Expand ‘Cardless EMI’ Facility

ICICI Bank has announced that it has partnered with digital EMI/pay-later platform ZestMoney, to expand its ‘Cardless EMI’ facility for purchases on retail and e-commerce platforms.

The partnership enhances affordability of customers of the Bank who can use pre-approved cardless credit to instantly buy products/ services using ZestMoney and take care of the cost into Equated Monthly Installments (EMIs).

Important For All Exam 2022:

ZestMoney CEO & Co-Founder: Lizzie Chapman;

ZestMoney  Established: 2015;

ZestMoney  Headquarters: Bengaluru, Karnataka.

Indian diplomat Amandeep Singh Gill appointed as UN Chief’s envoy on technology 

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has appointed senior Indian diplomat Amandeep Singh Gill as his envoy on technology to coordinate programmes for international digital cooperation.

The UN describing him as a “thought leader on digital technology” who has a solid understanding of how to leverage the digital transformation responsibly and inclusively for progress on the Sustainable Development Goals.

Amandeep Singh Gill has been India’s permanent representative to the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva from 2016-to 2018.  He is now the chief executive officer of the International Digital Health and Artificial Intelligence Research Collaborative (I-DAIR) project at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva.

Andhra Pradesh govt launched YSR Yantra Seva scheme

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has launched YSR Yantra Seva Scheme and flagged off the distribution of tractors and combine harvesters at Chuttugunta Centre in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh.

Chief Minister YS Jagan Reddy flagged off the state-level mega distribution of tractors and combine harvesters under YSR Yantra Seva Pathakam in Guntur.

Around 3,800 tractors and 320 combined harvesters would be made available at Rythu Bharosa Centres (RBKs) across AP. A subsidy of 175 crores has been credited into 5,260 farmer group bank accounts.

Important For All Exam 2022:

Andhra Pradesh Governor: Biswabhusan Harichandan;

Andhra Pradesh Chief minister: Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy.

Ecuador, Japan, Malta, Mozambique, Switzerland Elected to the UNSC

Ecuador, Japan, Malta, Mozambique, and Switzerland were elected to the United Nations Security Council as non-permanent members for the 2023-2024 term, and took over the horseshoe table from India, Ireland, Kenya, Mexico, and Norway on January 1, 2023. India has been at the vanguard of the 15-nation Council’s reform efforts for years.

India’s two-year stint as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council will finish in December 2022, when it will simultaneously hold the Presidency of the powerful UN body.

China releases world’s most detailed map of the moon

China has released a new geological map of the moon, which it says is the most detailed to date, registering even finer details of the lunar surface than mapped by the US in 2020.

The new map, which has details of craters and structures not charted before, will assist in further research of the moon.

The world’s most detailed map of the moon released by China is expected to make a great contribution to the scientific research, exploration, and landing site selection on the moon.

Important For All Exam 2022:

China Capital: Beijing;

China Currency: Renminbi;

China President: Xi Jinping.

Minister of Education, Dharmendra Pradhan launches Polyversity

Michigan, USA-based IT Services & IT Consulting company Information Data Systems (IDS) has unveiled the Bharat Blockchain Network (BBN) (Academic Blockchain Consortium) & Polyversity (Educational Metaverse).

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Ministry of Education (MoE), Government of India (GoI) launched the initiatives in the presence of officials from the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) at an event held at the AICTE Auditorium in New Delhi.

Polyversity is India’s Largest Educational Metaverse, with over 100 Academic Partners establishing virtual campuses to make education more accessible, immersive and meaningful. Land parcels will be assigned to academic partners in Polyversity.

Important For All Exam 2022:

All India Council for Technical Education Founded: November 1945;

All India Council for Technical Education Headquarters: New Delhi;

All India Council for Technical Education Chairperson: Anil Sahasrabudhe.

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.