Latest Current Affairs For Wednesday 15th June, 2022

OmniCard becomes 1st RBI licensed PPI to launch cash withdrawal in all ATM

OmniCard became the 1st RBI licensed PPI to launch cash withdrawal using a RuPay-powered card from any ATMs across the country.

The move came in after RBI permitted the non-bank licensed entities to enable cash withdrawals from the digital wallets.

OmniCard users can withdraw cash from any ATM at their convenience with full security from frauds like card theft, card cloning, and PIN skimming.

The company is working with NPCI to enable the facility.

XPay.Life launches UPI services targeted at rural India

Fintech startup XPay.Life, India’s 1st blockchain-enabled transaction framework, launched its UPI services targeted at rural India.

aim: to make financial facilities accessible for people in rural areas.

The launch of its UPI services is expected to benefit XPay.Life’s 4 mn consumers across more than 15 states and 1 lakh villages.

XPay.Life along with NABARD, NPCI and the state govt working towards strengthening DB and payments by enabling the last mile link.

World Blood Donor Day 2022: 14th June

World Blood Donor Day is observed on 14 June every year to spread awareness regarding the need for “safe blood and blood products for transfusion”.

Theme (Slogan) for 2022: “Donating blood is an act of solidarity.

The host nation for World Blood Donor Day 2022 is Mexico.

The WHO initiated and declared June 14, the birth anniversary of Karl Landsteiner, as WBD in 2004.

 Karl Landsteiner distinguished human blood into A, B, AB and O groups.

Bharat FIH receives Sebi's approval for ₹5,000 crore public offering

Bharat FIH has received market regulator SEBI's approval for an Initial Public Offering (IPO) aggregating to ₹5,000 crores.

Bharat FIH is a subsidiary of FIH Mobile a leading manufacturing services provider for the mobile handset industry, which is a part of Foxconn Technology Group.

The company makes devices for Xiaomi and Nokia.

The IPO size comprises a fresh issue worth ₹2,501.9 crore and an offer for sale up to ₹2,501.9 crore by Wonderful Stars.

Fortified rice to be distributed in 291 aspirational through PDS in 2022-23

The central govt has said that fortified rice will be distributed in 291 aspirational and high-burden districts across the country through Public Distribution System in 2022-23. 

Govt has planned to provide 175 lakh MT of fortified rice during this phase.

The focus will be on to cover all Integrated Child Development Services Centre, PM - Poshan and Mid-Day Meal schools.

During 2021-22, around 17 lakh MT of fortified rice have been distributed under ICDS and PM- Poshan.

Pradhan Mantri National Apprenticeship Mela to be hosted in 200 locations

The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship will be organising the Pradhan Mantri National Apprenticeship Mela every month now on.

Aim:  to connect the youth with more opportunities for on-ground training within corporates and further a chance to get employment.

The PM National Apprenticeship Mela will take place across 200+ locations in India.

Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship: Dharmendra Pradhan

Railway minister launches Railway Innovation portal for funding Start-up

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw launched the Indian Railway Innovation Portal with a start-up policy for railways.

Aim: promoting Indian innovators and entrepreneurs through a series of innovative start-ups.

Railways will continue supporting the innovative start-ups, by all means, even granting up to Rs 1.5 cr to innovative start-ups.

Platform should be used with getting support from Indian Railways in form of a 50% capital grant, assured market, scale and ecosystem. 

Govt launches Agnipath military recruitment scheme

The Indian govt has introduced the Agnipath Military recruitment scheme, a 4-year tenure scheme for the defense troops.

The scheme will facilitate the induction of more troops for shorter-term tenures.

The scheme has been planned and is being implemented by the Department of Military Affairs.

Under the scheme, candidates will join the defense forces and continue for a period of four years only.

The scheme also aims to induct younger candidates.

Viktor Axelsen, Chen Yufei Clinch Singles Titles at BWF Indonesia Masters

Olympic champions Viktor Axelsen and Chen Yufei clinched the respective men’s and women’s singles titles at the BWF Indonesia Masters 2022.

Axelsen (Denmark) defeated Taiwan's Chou Tien-chen in straight sets.

While  Chen Yufei (China) beats Thailand’s Ratchanok Intanon.

For Chen, triumph in Jakarta marks a first individual tournament victory since she won gold at the Tokyo 2020 Games.

After the Indonesia Masters, the Indonesia Open is set to begin on June 14.

PM Modi to Inaugurate Jagatguru Sreesanth Tukaram Maharaj Shila Mandir

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is arriving on a one-day visit to Maharashtra today.

He will inaugurate Jagatguru Sreesanth Tukaram Maharaj Shila Mandir at Dehu near Pune.

The city of Dehu is sanctified by the Jagadguru Sant Tukaram Maharaj, a renowned poet and worshipper of Lord Vithala, from 17th century.

This place is highly revered especially by the warkari sect for whom the verses written by Sant Tukaram, fondly called Tukoba, are the essence of their life.

UAE’s META4 to invest ₹250 cr in new EV manufacturing facility in Telangana

UAE-based META4 Group has signed an MoU with the Telangana govt to set up an Electric Vehicle manufacturing plant with an investment of ₹250 crores in Zaheerabad, Telangana.

As per the MoU, the Telangana govt will provide 15 acres of subsidized land in the National Investment and Manufacturing Zone, Zaheerabad.

META4 has made this investment through Voltly Energy, which provides advanced EV 2-wheeler manufacturing and delivers energy-efficient EV charging solutions.

Indian Bank launches digital renewal scheme for Kisan credit card holders

Indian Bank launched its KCC Digital Renewal scheme, enabling eligible customers to renew their Kisan Credit Card accounts via digital modes.  

The initiative is part of the bank’s digital transformation under project ‘WAVE’ - World of Advanced Virtual Experience.

The account renewals can be done using Indian Bank’s IndOASIS mobile app and internet banking.

Out of the total agriculture portfolio of ₹88,100 cr, KCC constitutes ₹22,300 cr with 15.84 lakh customers.

Max Verstappen wins Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2022

Red Bull's Max Verstappen won the Azerbaijan Formula One Grand Prix 2022.

He became the most successful driver in the Red Bull of all time.

Red Bull’s Sergio Perez came second and Mercedes’ George Russell came at the third spot.

He leads over Ferrari's Charles Leclerc.

The Ferrari duo of Leclerc and Carlos Sainz had a terrible outing in the street circuit of Baku with their cars suffering their respective problems, knocking them out midway through the race.

Haryana becomes champion at Khelo India Youth Games 2021

Host state Haryana becomes the champion at the 4th Khelo India Youth Games 2021.

Haryana tops the medal tally with 52 gold, 39 silver, and 46 bronze medals.

While Maharashtra finished 2nd with 45 gold, 40 silver, and 40 bronze.

Karnataka finished 3rd with 22 gold, 17 silver and 28 bronze. 

Karnataka swimmer Aneesh Gowda won the highest number of medals (six Gold).

Maharashtra swimmer Apeksha Fernandes and gymnast Sanyukta Kale won five gold medals each in the games.

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.