Latest Current Affairs For Friday 23rd September, 2022

Elvis Ali Hazarika becomes first from North East to cross North Channel

Veteran Assamese swimmer, Elvis Ali Hazarika has become the first from the North East to cross the North Channel.

The North Channel is the strait between north-eastern Northern Ireland and south-western Scotland.

Elvis and his team clocked a timing of 14 hours 38 minutes to achieve this feat.

With this, Elvis has become the oldest Indian swimmer to cross the North Channel.

He also became the first Assamese to successfully swim from Dharamtar Jetty to Gateway Of India.

Kotak Mahindra Bank launched “Kotak IITM Save Energy Mission”

Kotak Mahindra Bank and the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM) have jointly launched the Kotak IITM Save Energy Mission.

Aim: To encourage adoption of various energy conservation measures in the micro, small and medium enterprises sector.

Under the CSR initiative of Kotak Mahindra Bank, satellite centres would be set up at IIT-Bombay, IIT-Gandhinagar, IIT-Indore, IIT-Ropar.

While the hub of Save Energy Mission would be at the IIT-Madras campus in Chennai.

ESAF Bank re-appointed Ravi Mohan as Chairman

Reserve Bank of India has approved the reappointment of PR Ravi Mohan as the Chairman of ESAF Small Finance Bank for a further period of three years from December 21, 2022.

He is a certified associate of the Indian Institute of Bankers.

Previously, He was employed as a chief general manager in the department of banking supervision of the Reserve Bank of India.

He was a resident advisor in financial sector supervision with IMF, AFRITAC South, Mauritius.

Indian, United States Coast Guard hold joint exercise Abhyas

An Indo-US coast guard joint exercise called Abhyas-01/22 held was conducted off Chennai coast.

Aim: Search and rescue, anti-piracy operation and coordinated joint boarding of vessels. 

Anti-piracy demonstration: A scenario of pirates hijacking a ship was created and the coast guard personnel of both the countries carried out a coordinated interdiction of the vessel.

Search and rescue operation involves activities and external fire-fighting to salvage burning ships.

Book titled, She Is - Women in STEAM released, to honour 75 women

The book titled, She Is–Women in STEAM, has been unveiled by Prof. Ajay Sood (Principal Scientific Adviser to GoI) and Alex Ellis (British High Commissioner).

The book has honoured 75 women in STEAM (fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) celebrating gender, leadership, and sustainable development in the fields of STEAM.

The book has been compiled by ElsaMarie D’Silva and illustrated by Supreet K Singh.

MoFPI launches Convergence Portal to support Food Processing Enterprises

The government has launched a joint convergence portal for different schemes run by Food Processing and Agriculture ministries.

Schemes include: Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF), Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme and Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY).

The portal was launched in the presence of Union Agriculture Minister, Narendra Singh Tomar and Minister of State for Agriculture Kailash Choudhary.

India receives UN award for its Hypertension Control Initiative under NHM

The India Hypertension Control Initiative (IHCI) has won the ‘2022 UN Interagency Task Force and WHO Special Programme on Primary Health Care Award’ at the UN General Assembly, held at New York in USA.

Reason: For its initiative to control and prevent hypertension under the government's National Health Mission.

This initiative was launched in 2017 and expanded in a phased manner to cover more than 130 districts across 23 states.

Health Minister: Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya

PM Modi receives Braille version of Assamese Dictionary Hemkosh

PM Narendra Modi has received a copy of the Braille version of Assamese Dictionary Hemkosh from Jayanta Baruah in New Delhi.

The Braille version of ‘Hemkosh’ has been conceptualized and published by the Editor of Asomiya Pratidin, Jayanta Baruah.

Hemkosh is South-East Asia's first Braille dictionary in Assamese.

It was also the first Assamese dictionary which was edited by Hemchandra Baruah in the 19th century.

This edition of ‘Hemkosh’ comprises of appro 10,000 pages,

PM to inaugurate National Conference of Environment Ministers in Gujarat

PM Narendra Modi will inaugurate the National Conference of Environment Ministers in Gujarat through video conferencing on 23rd September.

Agenda: To create synergy amongst the Central and State govt in formulating better policies

The two-day Conference will have six thematic sessions: (1) LiFE, (2) Combating Climate Change, (3) PARIVESH, (4) Forestry Management, (5) Prevention and Control of Pollution, (6) Wildlife Management and Plastics and Waste Management. 

World Rhino Day 2022: 22 September

World Rhino Day is observed every year on 22nd September to spread awareness about the different Rhinoceros species.

This day also celebrates all five rhino species namely the Sumatran, Black, Greater One-horned, Javan, and White rhino species.

The theme 2022: “Five Rhino Species Forever”.

The announcement of this day was done in 2010 by WWF-South Africa.

This day was first observed in 2011 and since then it has been observed worldwide.

ADB cuts GDP growth forecast of India for FY23 to 7%

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has reduced the economic growth projection of India for 2022-23 to 7%  from 7.2%.

Reason: Higher inflation and monetary tightening.

The economy of India has been grew 13.5% year-on-year (Y-o-Y) in the first quarter of 2022-23, that shows strong growth in services.

Report: Second supplement to Asian Development Outlook Report 2022.

The ADO also expects that the Chinese economy to expand by 3.3% in 2022 rather than 5% forecast.

Govt appoints Ratan Tata and two others as trustees of PM CARES Fund

The government has appointed Ratan Tata (Tata Sons chairman),  KT Thomas (former SC judge) and Kariya Munda (former Deputy Speaker) as the trustees of the PM CARES Fund.

The Trust further decided to nominate other eminent persons for the constitution of Advisory Board to the PM CARES Fund.

Advisory Board: Rajiv Mehrishi, Sudha Murthy, and Anand Shah (Former CEO of Piramal Foundation).

Aim: To provide wider perspectives on the functioning of the PM CARES Fund.

R Gandhi appointed as non-executive chairman of Yes Bank

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has given its approval to the appointment of Rama Subramaniam Gandhi as the Non-Executive (Part-time) Chairman of Yes Bank with effect from September 20, for a tenure of 3 years.

He is currently serving as a financial sector policy expert and adviser.

He served as an RBI deputy governor for three years from 2014 to 2017.

He also served as a director of Institute for Development and Research in Banking Technology IDRBT), Hyderabad.

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.