Latest Current Affairs For Thursday 23rd June, 2022

Govt to collaborate with SBI for creation of integrated pension portal

Government's Department of Pension & Pensioners' Welfare (DoPPW) will collaborate with the State Bank of India (SBI).

Aim: to create an integrated pension portal, which helps to enhance ease of living of pensioners.

It was decided during the special session, that immediate efforts are needed for the creation of pension portal by linking the existing portals of the DoPPW and the SBI.

SBI Chairman: Dinesh Kumar Khara

Red Bull driver, Max Verstappen wins 2022 Canadian Grand Prix

Red Bull's driver, World champion Max Verstappen has clinched the 2022 Canadian Grand Prix title.

Ferrari driver, Carlos Sainz and Seven-time world champion, Lewis Hamilton ( Mercedes) have finished at second and third respectively.

Azerbaijan GP: Max Verstappen

Monaco GP: Sergio Pérez

Sapinsh GP: Max Verstappen

Miami GP: Max Verstappen

Emilia Romagna GP: Max Verstappen

Australian GP: Charles Leclerc

Saudi Arabian GP: Max Verstappen

RBI extends date for implementation of provisions concerning card issuance

The Reserve Bank of India has notified that it has extended the timeline for implementation of a few provisions under its master directions on credit card and debit card issuance.

The timeline has been extended by three months from July 1, 2022, to October 1, 2022.

Provisions: Card-issuers shall seek OTP based consent from the cardholder for activating a credit card, If consent is not received then card issuers shall close the credit card account without any cost.

Andhra Pradesh signs MoU with BYJU's for government school kids

The Andhra Pradesh government has signed an MoU with BYJU's to provide quality education to government school students.

The government will provide tablets to 4.7 lakh (approximately) students of class VIII at an estimated cost of Rs 500 crore.

Aim: More efficient, quality-oriented and presentable

BYJU's content would be incorporated in bilingual text books for students of classes IV to X from 2023 as the text books for 2022 have already been printed.

India ranks 4th in global gold recycling in 2021, World Gold Council Report

According to a World Gold Council (WGC) report, India has emerged as the fourth largest recycler in the world and the country has recycled 75 tonnes in 2021.

WGC report titled: Gold refining and recycling.

Top three: China (recycled 168 tonnes), followed by Italy (80 tonnes) and the US (78 tonnes in 2021).

The gold refining capacity of India has been increased by 1,500 tonnes (500%) in 2021.

World Gold Council Headquarters: London, UK; Founded: 1987; CEO: David Tait

SEBI forms advisory panel to hybrid securities to enable larger retail play

Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), has set up 20-member advisory committee under the chairmanship of K V Kamath.

Aim: recommends for giving a fillip to the growth of such instruments, including measures focusing on ease of issuance and attracting domestic and global capital.

Sebi has reconstituted its research advisory committee of 16 members, chaired by V Ravi Anshuman.

Aim: promotion, development, maintenance of databases relevant for regulation research.

American-Canadian writer Ruth Ozeki wins 2022 Women’s Prize for Fiction

American-Canadian writer, Ruth Ozeki has won the 2022 Women’s Prize for Fiction for her novel ‘The Book of Form and Emptiness”.

This is her fourth novel, which depicts the story of a thirteen-year-old boy who, starts to hear the voices of objects to talk to his father, after the tragic death of his father.

She was received £30,000 prize at a ceremony in London.

Other books: A Tale for the Time Being, plus the novels My Year of Meats and All Over Creation

Indian footballer, Sunil Chhetri becomes joint 5th highest goalscorer

Indian men's football team captain, Sunil Chhetri has become the joint fifth highest goalscorer in the history of international football.

He has achieved this feat during their AFC Asian Cup Qualifier clash against Hong Kong, where he scored his 84th goal.

Presently, he is equal to the legendary Real Madrid and Hungarian player, Ferenc Puskas goals.

He has also surpassed legendary football player Pele's record of 77 goals.

Renowned photojournalist, R. Raveendran passes away

Well-known photojournalist, R. Raveendran has been passed away at the age of 69.

He was known for his iconic photo of Rajiv Goswami setting himself on fire during the Mandal agitation in the Capital.

He has been awarded various photography awards.

He has worked in AFP and ANI.

Initially, he worked as a teleprinter operator in AFP 1973 and then became a photographer. He was presently working with ANI as Photo Editor.

A book titled “Gautam Adani: The Man Who Changed India” by RN Bhaskar

The biography of Adani Group chairman and founder, Gautam Adani, "Gautam Adani: The Man Who Changed India", written by journalist-author RN Bhaskar will be released in October 2022.

The book will be published by the Penguin Random House (PRHI).

The book has claimed to bring to light the unknown aspects of one of the richest men in the world.

Other book of Bhaskar: Game India: Seven strategies that could steer India to wealth (2019)

Merger of PVR-INOX gets clearance from BSE and NSE

PVR and INOX Leisure have received clearances for their merger from bourses NSE and BSE.

In March 2022, both multiplex operators has announced the merger to create the largest multiplex chain in the country.

The company has received observation letter with 'no adverse observations' from BSE Ltd on June 20, 2022 and observation letter with 'no objection' from NSE on June 21, 2022 .

Swap ratio: 3:10 i.e., 3 shares of PVR for 10 shares of Inox.

Ruchira Kamboj appointed as next Permanent Representative to UN

Indian ambassador to Bhutan, Ruchira Kamboj has been appointed as the Permanent Representative of India to UN.

She will replace T S Tirumurti.

She has joined the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) in 1987, was the All India women’s topper of the 1987 Civil Services batch and the topper of the 1987 Foreign Service batch.

She worked in Paris (France) as the third Secretary in the Indian Embassy to France from 1989-91.

She was also posted as ambassador to UNESCO Paris in 2014.

Indian women's Wrestling team wins U-17 Asian Championship, Kyrgyzstan

Indian women's Wrestling team has clinched five medals to claim the Under-17 Asian Championship, held at Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

India has lifted the title with a total of 235 points (eight golds, one silver and one bronze).

With 143 points, Japan finished at second and Mongolia at third with 138 points.

Indian women including: Ritika( gold in 43 kg), Ahilaya Shinde (gold in 49 kg), Siksha (gold in 57 kg), Priya (gold in 73 kg), Pulkit (Silver medal in 65 kg).

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.