Latest Current Affairs For Wednesday 20th July, 2022

Kerala becomes first state to have its own internet service

The Kerala Fibre Optic Network (K-FON) has received the Internet Service Provider (ISP) license from the Department of Telecommunications.

With this, Kerala has become the first and only state in the country to have its own internet service.

The KFON is envisaged to provide free internet to BPL families and 30,000 government offices.

The previous Left government had declared internet connection as a basic right and launched the Rs 1,548-crore KFON project in 2019.

Farmers' average income grew 1.3-1.7x between FY18 and FY22: SBI study

As per the SBI study, the average income of farmers between FY 2017-18 and 2021-22, has been increased in bracket of 1.3 -1.7 times across India.

Income from allied and non-farm: 1.4-1.8 times(growth)

Some crops like soybean in Maharashtra and cotton in Karnataka, incomes have in fact doubled during the same time.

The study is based on primary data, contains granular data of various crops from agri-intensive branches and analyses the change in income of farmers.

Former Punjab speaker Nirmal Singh Kahlon passes away

Former Punjab Speaker and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader, Nirmal Singh Kahlon has passed away at the age of 79.

He was the Rural Development and Panchayat Minister from 1997 to 2002 and was elected as an MLA from Fatehgarh Churian constituency in Gurdaspur district in 1997 and 2007.

He served as the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly from 2007 to 2012.

In 2011, he received acquitted in a case pertaining to the recruitment scam in June 2002.

Indian Grandmaster, Aravindh Chithambaram wins tournament in Spain

Indian Grandmaster Aravind Chithambaram has won the 41st Villa De Benasque International Chess Open title, after defeating Robert Hovhannisyan (Armenia) and Raunak Sadhwani on the basis of tie-break score.

Chithambaram, Hovhannisyan and Sadhwani finished on eight points from 10 rounds along with seven others.

Raunak Sadhwani has finished in third place behind the Armenian.

Chithambaram is also a former national champion.

Chithambaram coach: R B Ramesh

Rajasthan gets AI-Powered chatbot for fast disposal of cases in Lok Adalat

National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) Chairman, Uday Umesh Lalit has launched the country’s first AI-powered digital Lok Adalat during the 18th All India Legal Services Authorities’ meet held in Jaipur, Rajasthan.

The digital Lok Adalat by Rajasthan State Legal Services Authority (RSLSA) was designed and developed by Jupitice Justice Technologies (technology partner).

NALSA:

Founded: 9 November 1995

Headquarters location: New Delhi. 

Motto: Access to Justice for All

Digit Insurance launches ‘pay as you drive’ for motor insurance

Go Digit General Insurance has launched an add-on feature for motor insurance Own Damage policies, named ‘Pay as you Drive’.

Customers who drive less than 10,000 Km per year on an average, will now pay less with this add-on.

Digit will use odometer reading, telematics data and annual kilometer opted to give this discount (up to 25%).

IRDAI has also permitted to the general insurance companies to introduce such tech-enabled concepts in motor OD policies.

Kotak launches automation of vehicle inspection for insurance renewals

Kotak Mahindra General Insurance has launched an automation of vehicle inspection for insurance renewals with Artificial Intelligence based technology.

The company has partnered with Inspektlabs to automate the vehicle inspection process.

Aim: Help in the renewal process as well as to detect fraud thereby aiding the underwriting process.

During policy renewals process, the customers can capture photos or videos of their vehicle and upload them on the cloud-based App.

Hindalco Inds signs MoU with Phinergy for Aluminium-Air batteries

Hindalco Industries Ltd. has signed MoU with Israel based, Phinergy, and IOC Phinergy Pvt Ltd to develop Aluminium-air batteries for electric vehicles and energy storage.

Hindalco, Phinergy and IOP partner on R&D and pilot production of aluminium plates for Aluminium-Air batteries, and recycling of aluminum after the usage in these batteries.

Hindalco Industries is a subsidiary of Aditya Birla Group.

IOC Phinergy, a JV between Phinergy and Indian Oil Corporation. 

Veteran singer Bhupinder Singh passes away

Veteran playback singer, Bhupinder Singh has passed away in Mumbai at the age of 82.

He was born in Punjab's Amritsar and started his career with All India Radio and was also associated with Doordarshan Delhi.

He worked with Mohammed Rafi, RD Burman, Lata Mangeshkar, and Bappi Lahiri.

He has sung many songs like "Hoke Majboor Mujhe, Usne Bulaya Hoga", with Mohammed Rafi, Talat Mehmood, and Manna Dey, "Dil Dhoondhta Hai" and "Duki Pe Duki Ho Ya Satte Pe Satta.

NITI Aayog, WFP to launch Initiative on mainstreaming millets

NITI Aayog to launch the Mapping and Exchange of Good Practices initiative for mainstreaming millets in Asia and Africa in association with the World Food Programme.

Both organisations will jointly prepare a compendium of good practices for scaling up the production and consumption of millets in India and abroad.

The event will be inaugurated by NITI Aayog Vice Chairman, Suman Bery.

WFP HQ: Rome, Italy; Founded: 1961

International Year of Millets: 2023

India ranks 36 out of 52 countries in 2022 Expat Insider Rankings

InterNations has released the Expat Insider Rankings for 2022, in which Mexico has topped the ranking, followed by Indonesia, Taiwan, Portugal, Spain, UAE, Vietnam, Thailand.

India has ranked 36 out of the 52 countries, between Egypt (35th) and the UK (37th), China was placed in 33rd position.

Bottom 10: Kuwait (52), New Zealand (51), Hong Kong(50), Cyprus (49), Luxembourg(48), Japan (47), South Africa (46th), Turkey (45th), Italy (44th), Malta (43rd). 

Manipur Governor, La. Ganesan gets additional charge of West Bengal

Manipur Governor, La Ganesan has been given the additional charge as the new Governor of Bengal, after the resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar.

He will discharge the functions of the governor of West Bengal, in addition to his own duties from the date he assumes charge of the office until regular arrangements are made.

Jagdeep Dhankhar has filed his nomination as the Vice-President candidate by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

Manipur CM: N. Biren Singh

Mairaj Ahmad Khan becomes first Indian to win gold in men's Skeet at ISSF

Two-time Olympian, Mairaj Ahmad Khan has created history by becoming the first Indian shooter to win the gold medal in the men’s skeet event at 2022 ISSF World Cup in Changwon, South Korea.

He has recorded 37 hits out of a possible 40 in the final to win gold.

Minsu Kim from South Korea has bagged silver medal, while Ben Llewellin of Great Britain won bronze.

Women’s 50m rifle 3 positions team: Anjum Moudgil, Sift Kaur Samra and Ashi Chouksey won the bronze medal. 

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.