Latest Current Affairs For Tuesday 30th August, 2022

IOC to spend Rs 2 lakh crore for net-zero target by 2046

India's top oil refiner, Indian Oil Corp (IOC) has planned to invest more than Rs 2 lakh crore (or $25 billion) to achieve net-zero emissions from its operations by 2046.

The target set is in line with India's aim to reach net-zero emissions by 2070.

IOC oil refining and petrochemicals business has a total emission of 21.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2). 

IOC has already prepared a road map to achieve its net zero scope 1 and 2 emissions. 

IOC chairman: S.M. Vaidya

India, Tanzania decide to set up task force for defence cooperation

India and Tanzania has decided to set up a task force to prepare a five-year roadmap to boost bilateral defence cooperation.

This decision was taken during wide-ranging talks between Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh and his visiting Tanzanian counterpart, Stergomena Lawrence Tax.

Aim: To boost the bilateral defence ties as well as military-to-military cooperation.

Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh has also invited Tax to the India-Africa Defence Dialogue and the DefExpo.

UP government launched new Parivar Kalyan Card

The central government has given its nod to the UP government Family ID plan named the Parivar Kalyan Card.

Aim: To establish a comprehensive database of the family units for its various schemes.

It will provide a unique 12-digit ID number for each family.

The initial collection of data for families will be conducted through ration cards.

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY) has allowed the UP government to link Aadhaar data with the PKC.

PMJDY completes eight years of successful implementation

Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), the National Mission for Financial Inclusion has completed eight years of successful implementation on August 28.

Data under PMJDY:

Beneficiaries: More than 46.25 crore has banked under PMJDY since inception.

Amount: Over 1,73,0000 crore rupees. 

Women: 56% are Jan-Dhan account holders. 

67% of Jan Dhan accounts are in Rural and semi-urban areas.

31.94 crore RuPay cards have been issued.

The PMJDY was announced by PM Modi in 2014. 

NITI Aayog declared Haridwar as the best aspirational district

The NITI Aayog has declared Haridwar in Uttarakhand as the best aspirational district on five parameters and has become entitled to receive additional allocation of ₹3 crore. 

The Haridwar district has been allocated to union commerce and industries minister Piyush Goyal. 

The allocated money will be used to improve the health sector including the hospitals in Roorkee and district hospital Haridwar.

NITI Aayog Vice Chairperson: Suman Bery; 

CEO: Parameswaran Iyer

FIFA lifts ban on All India Football Federation

World football Federation, FIFA has lifted the ban imposed on the  All India Football Federation (AIFF) after the Supreme Court terminated the mandate of the Committee of Administrators (CoA).

FIFA has also cleared the decks for India to host the Women's U-17 World Cup in October 2022.

Background:

FIFA had suspended AIFF on August 15 for "undue influence from third parties" and the revocation came 11 days after that.

PM Modi inaugurates ‘Smriti Van’ Earthquake Memorial in Kutch, Gujarat

PM Modi has inaugurated the Smriti Van memorial to celebrate the courage shown by people during the devastating 2001 earthquake in the Kutch region of Gujarat (Epicentre: Bhuj).

The grand structure is spread over 470 acres on Bhujiyo Hill near Bhuj town.

It celebrates the strength and resistance of people of Kutch.

It also has a state-of-the-art Smriti Van Earthquake Museum.

He also inaugurated the 300m long ‘Atal Bridge’ for pedestrians across the Sabarmati River.

National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority celebrates Silver Jubilee

The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has observed its Silver Jubilee in New Delhi on August 29.

On the occasion, Chemicals and Fertilizers Minister, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya has also launched an Integrated Pharmaceutical Database Management System 2.0.

It is an integrated responsive cloud-based application.

It will provide a single window for submissions of various forms as mandated under Drug Price Control Order, 2013.

Viktor Axelsen clinches 2022 BWF World Championships singles title

Viktor Axelsen from Denmark has clinched his second BWF World Championships men's singles title after beating Kunlavut Vitidsarn from Thailand in Tokyo.

The women's singles title has been retained by Akane Yamaguchi from Japan.

She has defeated China's Olympic champion, Chen Yufei in the final.

Men's Double: Malaysia Aaron Chia; Malaysia Soh Wooi Yik

Women's Double: China Chen Qingchen; China Jia Yifan

Mixed Double: China Zheng Siwei; China Huang Yaqiong

Virat Kohli becomes first Indian to play 100 matches in each format

Virat Kohli has become the first Indian and the second player overall in international cricket history to have played 100 matches each in all three formats of the game.

Kohli has now 100 T20Is to his name in addition to 102 Tests and 262 ODIs since his international debut in August 2008.

New Zealand batter, Ross Taylor is the first player, who played 112 Tests, 236 ODIs and 102 T20Is between 2006 and 2022.

Rohit has already played 132 matches in the shorter format.

India-US launched ‘Operation Broader Sword’

India and the USA, jointly conducted an ‘Operation Broader Sword’ to stop the illegal shipment of drugs through the International Mail System.

It targeted shipments of illicit, potentially dangerous, unapproved prescription drugs, combination medical devices, and synthetic drug precursors shipped through International Mail Facilities.

The operation resulted in the interception of over 500 shipments of illicit and unapproved prescription drugs bound for US consumers.

NLU Delhi launches research affiliate program ‘Eklavya’

The National Law University (NLU), Delhi launched Eklavya, a ‘Research Affiliate’ program, for those who do not have a traditional law degree.

Aim: To emphasize its commitment to actively seek partnerships outside the varsity and draw from their experiences and perspectives to develop quality legal scholarship. 

It is open to those who have at least three years of demonstrable experience working on issues that have a significant interface with the law.

CarTrade Tech to acquire OLX India's auto business for Rs 537 cr

Mumbai-based used cars platform CarTrade Tech Ltd will acquire online marketplace OLX India's auto sales business for Rs 537 crore.

CarTrade will acquire a 100% stake in Sobek Auto India Pvt Ltd, the entity that houses OLX India’s Automotive business, in an all-cash deal.

The acquisition will likely to be completed in 21-30 days.

Sobek is a company incorporated under the Companies Act, of 2013.

It is engaged in the business of running an automotive digital platform.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.