Latest Current Affairs For Wednesday 13th July, 2022

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc wins Austrian Grand Prix 2022

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc has clinched the title of FI Austrian Grand Prix 2022.

Max Verstappen (Red Bull) and seven-time world champion, Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) settled for second and third place respectively.

The 2022 Austrian Grand Prix was a F1 motor race held on 10 July 2022 at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, Austria.

Previous GP 2022:

British GP: Carlos Sainz Jr. (Ferrari)

Canadian GP: Max Verstappen (Red Bull)

Azerbaijan GP: Max Verstappen (Red Bull)

Former Mexican President Luis Echeverria passes away

Luis Echeverria Alvarez who served as president of Mexico from 1970 to 1976 has been died at the age of 100.

He started his career as a lawyer and become a member of Mexico’s Institutional Revolutionary Party.

He has also initiated the establishment of diplomatic relations with China in February 1972.

He was also known for promoting the Charter of Economic Rights and Duties of States at the United Nations in 1972.

India’s Pallavi Singh bags the Mrs Universe Divine Crown in South Korea

Pallavi Singh from India has bagged the Mrs Universe Divine Title at the finals held at Yeosu City, South Korea.

She hails from Kanpur, and was the only contestant from Asia in the Mrs Universe contest.

Pallavi Singh has won the title of Mrs India held in Jaipur in 2020 and Mrs Indo-Asia Universe in the Asia-level competition.

She was also awarded the women in Insurance award at the Indian Business Women Summit 2021.

Tripura government launches "Earn with Learn" scheme

The Tripura government has launched a new scheme named "Earn with Learn" to bring back those who had dropped out of schools following the outbreak of Covid-19.

This scheme is a part of the Vidyalaya Chalo Abhiyan (Let's go to school).

About 8,000 students between the age group of 6 to14 had dropped out of school during the pandemic.

The state government will pay Rs 500 per admission to each college student as reward for bringing back such dropouts to school again.

Edelweiss Mutual Fund launches Focused Equity Fund

Edelweiss Asset Management Ltd has launched a new fund offer (NFO) for Edelweiss Focused Equity Fund.

This will invest in 25-30 stocks spread across three key investing opportunities of - (1) brands, (2) market share gainers, and (3) innovators.

The fund will be managed by Trideep Bhattacharya and Abhishek Gupta.

Any resident including NRIs, individual and non-individual can invest in the Edelweiss Focused Equity Fund.

The minimum investment amount: ₹ 5000/-.

RBI sets up system to settle international trade payments in rupees

RBI has announced a system for the domestic traders to settle imports and exports in rupees.

This system will promote the global trade growth with an emphasis on exports from India and will support the increasing interest of the global trading community in the domestic currency.

This decision was came after, the rupee touching record lows against the dollar.

The Special Vostro Accounts can be used for payments for projects and investments.

Vice Chairman of Sanmar Group received 'Order of the Rising Sun' award

The government of Japan has conferred the 'Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star' award to Narayanan Kumar, Sanmar Group Vice Chairman.

He received this honour for his contribution towards strengthening economic relations between Japan and India.

He was honoured by Taga Masayuki (Consul General of Japan) in Chennai.

He also heads Indo-Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry and  served as the president of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

Defence Minister launches AI in Defence symposium & exhibition in New Delhi

Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh has launched 75 defence products powered by artificial intelligence at the first-ever ‘AI in Defence’ symposium and exhibition.

This exhibition was organised by the Ministry of Defence in New Delhi.

Products include: AI Platform Automation; Autonomous/Unmanned/Robotics systems; Block Chain-based Automation; Command, Control, Computer & Intelligence and many more.

These products will open up new business avenues for the Defence PSUs.

Father of Indian Internet’BK Syngal passes away

Former Chairman of Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd (VSNL), Brijendra K Syngal has passed away at 82.

He has been acknowledged as the father of the Indian Internet.

Syngal has written his memoir "Telecom Man: Leading From the Front in India's Digital Revolution".

Under his leadership, on August 15, 1995, VSNL had formally launched the Internet for the Indian public.

He also act as an advisor to many industries, government and media.

PM Modi unveils National Emblem cast on new Parliament Building

PM Narendra Modi has unveiled the 6.5 metre-tall National Emblem on top of the new Parliament building (under-construction).

The emblem made of bronze, weighs 9,500 kg.

A supporting steel structure of 6,500 kg was made to support the emblem.

The emblem was created by Sunil Deore (Aurangabad) and Laxman Vyas from (Jaipur).

Bimal Patel of HCP Designs, Ahmedabad, is the architect in charge of the building (new Parliament).

The building is being built by Tata Projects.

India will surpass China as world’s most populous country during 2023: UN

As per the 27th edition of the UN World Population Prospects 2022, India is projected to surpass China as the world’s most populous country in 2023.

With the 1,426 million population, China remains the most populous country in the world in 2022.

India has been recorded 1,412 million population.

The global population will reach 8 billion on November, 2022 that is three times of the population of 2.5 billion in 1950.

By 2050, India’s population will reach 1,668 million.

India’s Arjun Babuta wins first gold medal at ISSF World Cup in South Korea

Indian shooter, Arjun Babuta has won his first gold medal at the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup stage at Chang won in South Korea.

He defeated Lucas Kozeniesky (USA), who has won silver medal in Tokyo 2020.

Sergey Richter from Israel has settled for bronze with a score of 259.9 and Paarth Makhija from India finished at fourth position. 

This was India’s first medal under new national foreign rifle coach Thomas Farnik.

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.