Latest Current Affairs For Thursday 28th July, 2022

Mastercard replace Paytm as title sponsor for all BCCI matches in India

Mastercard would replace Paytm as the title sponsor for all international and domestic cricket matches, organised by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

The board has accepted the plea of Paytm for the reassignment of its title rights.

Since 2015, Paytm has been the title sponsor of  BCCI and renewed the contract in August 2019.

The current agreement between Paytm and the BCCI runs from September 2019 to March 31, 2023.

Piramal Enterprises receives approval from RBI to start NBFC business

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has allowed Piramal Enterprises to start their non-banking finance company (NBFC) business without accepting public deposits.

The RBI has grant license under Section 45 IA of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934.

The license was received by the Company on 26th July, 2022.

Last year, the Piramal Enterprises board approved the demerger of its pharmaceuticals business and simplification of the corporate structure.

IMF reduces GDP forecast of India for FY23 to 7.4%

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has reduced its gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecast for India for the current financial year (FY23) to 7.4%.

The IMF has also reduced the growth forecast for FY24 to 6.1% as against 6.9% earlier.

Reason: Due to less favourable external conditions and more rapid policy tightening.

IMF Headquarters: Washington D.C.; Managing Director: Kristalina Georgieva; Chief Economist: Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas

Haryana CM launches 'smart e-beat' system for Gurugram police

Haryana Chief Minister, Manohar Lal Khattar has launched an application based system, named 'Smart E-Beat' for police attendance and real-time monitoring of patrolling by personnel in Gurugram.

This system has been introduced in Gurugram under the 'Smart Policing Initiative' (SPI).

Before this, the policemen deployed at the beat, used to mark their attendance manually. But, this GIS-based system will enable more effective monitoring.

Rajasthan signs pact with Telangana to set up Women's bank in Rajasthan

Rajasthan Grameen Aajivika Vikas Parishad (RGAV) has signed an agreement with Stree Nidhi-Telangana to set up a financial institution for women in Rajasthan.

Rajasthan Mahila Nidhi is being set up in Rajasthan on the lines of Telangana's Stree Nidhi model.

Rajasthan's CM, Ashok Gehlot had announced the setting up a bank run by women in the state budget 2022-23.

Women's economic empowerment would get a boost and they would be able to get loans for their enterprises.

Nobel Peace prize winner, David Trimble passes away

The Nobel peace prize winner, former first minister of Northern Ireland, David Trimble has passed away at 77.

He was also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Upper Bann from 1990 to 2005.

He was known as the architect of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998, which ended the 30 years of disputes in Northern Ireland.

In October 1998, John Hume and David Trimble were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts to ended the conflict in Northern Ireland.

LIC reduce stake in Sun Pharma by 2%

Life insurance corporation (LIC) has has reduced shareholding in Sun Pharmaceuticals by selling 2% stake, in the company for about Rs 3,882 crore, to 5.024%.

The shares were sold through open market transactions during the period from May 17,2021 to July 22, 2022.

As per the norms of Sebi, listed companies are required to intimate the stock exchanges when their shareholding in an entity falls by 2% or more.

LIC Chairperson: M R Kumar;

Headquarters: Mumbai

HDFC Securities joins hands with Equitas SFB to offer demat services

HDFC Securities Ltd has partnered with Equitas SFB to provide demat accounts, and broking and investment services to its customers.

Equitas Small Finance Bank will offer its customers 3-in-1 account, to access the services of HDFC Securities.

With this partnership, Equitas Small Finance customers will be able to open their demat account for buying and selling shares and trading in futures, commodities, and currencies.

MD & CEO, HDFC securities Ltd: Dhiraj Relli

Padma Shri awardee, Sushovan Bandyopadhyay passes away

Sushovan Bandyopadhyay, fondly known as Bengals 'one rupee doctor' has passed away at 84 due to kidney related ailments.

His name was recorded in the Guinness World Records for treating the maximum number of patients.

In 2020, he was awarded the Padma Shri by President, Ram Nath Kovind.

He was a former MLA from Bolpur seat and had contested on a Congress ticket in 1984, but after the formation of Trinamool Congress, he became the president of Birbhum district.

World Airport Traffic Dataset 2021 released

The Airports Council International has published World Airport Traffic Dataset, in which Delhi Airport placed 13th on the list of the world’s busiest airports for 2021.

IGIA has witnessed 3.7 crore passenger footfall in 2021.

The Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) has topped the 2021 ranking with  7.6 crore footfall of passengers.

Airports Council International HQ:  Montreal, Canada

International Civil Aviation Day: 7 December

The Ramsar sites of India increases to 54, five new sites added

India has designated five new wetlands of international importance, increase the total number of Ramsar sites in the country to 54 from 49.

Five new wetland sites are:

Tamil Nadu: Karikili Bird Sanctuary, Pallikaranai Marsh Reserve Forest & Pichavaram Mangrove

Mizoram: Pala wetland

Madhya Pradesh: Sakhya Sagar

The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (international treaty) aims at the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands.

World Wetlands Day: 2 February

Bajram Begaj sworn-in as the president of Albania

Bajram Begaj has been sworn-in as the President of the Republic of Albania and becomes the ninth president of the country.

He is the fifth president in the history of Albania to have a military background.

He was elected as president on June 4, 2022 after receiving 78 votes in favour out of 83 votes.

He was a major general and hold the post of chief of general staff of the Albanian Armed Forces.

Albania’s Capital: Tirana;

Currency: Albanian lek

India will host 2025 ICC Women’s ODI World Cup

International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced that India will host the 2025 ICC Women’s ODI World Cup.

The 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup event will be host by Bangladesh, while the 2026 edition will be held in England.

Sri Lanka has secured hosting rights for the 2027 Women’s T20 Champions Trophy.

The host countries were selected by a competitive bidding process overseen by a Board sub-committee chaired by Martin Snedden, which included Sourav Ganguly.

ICC HQ: Dubai

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.