Latest Current Affairs For Friday 30th September, 2022

Uttarakhand wins the Best Adventure Tourism Destination Award

Uttarakhand has received the first prize for the best adventure tourism destination and all-around development of tourism from the Ministry of Tourism.

The State’s Tourism and Culture minister, Satpal Maharaj has received the awards from Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar during the presentation of the National Tourism Awards 2018-19 in New Delhi.

Uttarakhand Governor: Gurmit Singh; 

Chief minister: Pushkar Singh Dhami

Bhupender Yadav releases report on 4th round of quarterly employment survey

Labour minister, Bhupender Yadav has released the report on 4th round of quarterly employment survey (January to March 2022).

Findings:

It indicates that the overall employment has increased in the last four quarterly survey.

The estimated employment has increased from 3.14 crore of the third quarter to 3.18 crore of 4th Quarter.

It provides quarterly estimates about the employment and related variables of establishments in both organized and unorganized segments.

Bank of Baroda launched Khushiyon ka Tyohaar, as festive campaign

Bank of Baroda has launched a festive campaign named "Khushiyon ka Tyohaar" with a range of offers for customers.

BoB Home Loans are available at a competitive interest rate beginning at 7.95% p.a. with no processing charges.

BoB Car Loans are being offered at a special rate starting from 7.95% p.a. – a 25 basis points concession.

Other benefits: No pre-payment/ part payment charges, concessional processing charges, and longer repayment tenure of seven years.

World Bank cuts 2022 East Asia growth outlook

The World Bank has reduced the expected growth in the East Asia and Pacific region for 2022 to 3.2% from 5.0% (earlier forecast).

The previous year growth of East Asia and Pacific region was 7.2%.

Reasons:

Due to sharp slowdown in China that caused by its strict zero-COVID rules.

China strict rules have disrupted industrial production, domestic sales and exports.

Interest rate hikes that central banks across the world are undertaking to combat soaring inflation. 

World Heart Day 2022: September 29

World Heart Day is observed every year on September 29 to raise awareness about the cardiovascular issues and illnesses.

Theme 2022: Use Heart for Every Heart

This day was created in the collaboration of the World Health Organization and the World Heart Federation (WHF).

The President of WHF, Antoni Bayes de Luna, who served in the position from 1997 to 1999, had come up with this idea.

Earlier, this day was originally celebrated on September 24, 2000.

Samsung India, Axis Bank launch co-branded Credit Card

Samsung has partnered with the Axis Bank to launch a co-branded credit card, that is powered by Visa.

Benefits: Consumers will get 10% cashback across all Samsung products and services round the year.

Variants: Visa Signature and Visa Infinite

Signature variant: Cardholders can avail up to ₹10,000 cashback annually, with a monthly cashback limit of ₹2,500. 

Infinite variant: Cardholders can avail up to ₹20,000 cashback annually, with a monthly cashback limit of ₹5,000. 

Yubi partners SBI to provide credit access to priority sector

Yubi (earlier, CredAvenue) has joined hands with the State Bank of India (SBI) to provide growth in co-lending portfolio of bank.

Yubi Co.Lend is a co-lending marketplace, that facilitate lenders to collaborate with multiple partners and disburse joint loans to the priority sector.

Yubi is a unified credit platform with a comprehensive product suite catering to all stages of the debt lifecycle.

Founder and CEO, Yubi: Gaurav Kumar

World Bank, SIDBI launches fund for financing purchase of 2/3 wheelers EV

The govt will launch $1 billion fund in collaboration with World Bank and Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI).

Aim: To provide guarantees against loan default to lenders financing purchase of 2/3 wheelers EV and facilitate faster and easier financing of EVs.

The NITI Aayog will be the facilitating agency of the project.

Initially a $300 million fund will be used as a “first loss risk sharing instrument.”

Implementing institution: SIDBI

BSE get Sebi's final approval to launch EGR

BSE has received the final approval from SEBI for introducing the Electronic Gold Receipts (EGRs) on its platform.

Earlier, SEBI has proposed a regulatory framework for setting up a gold exchange.

Aim: To help in having a transparent domestic spot price discovery mechanism.

EGRs:

The instruments representing gold is known as EGRs. 

It will be notified as securities, with trading, clearing and settlement features similar to other securities that are available in India. 

'Gangsta's Paradise' rapper, Coolio passed away

US rapper Coolio, who is known for the iconic hit Gangsta's Paradise, has been passed away at the age of 59 in Los Angeles.

His real name was Artis Leon Ivey Jr, has won 1996 Grammy Awards for Gangsta's Paradise in Best Rap Solo Performance category.

He has also received the American Music Awards in 1996.

His other albums: It Takes a Thief (1994), My Soul (1997), Fantastic Voyage (1994), 1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New) (1996), and C U When U Get There (1997). 

Centre approves ₹10,000 cr plan to modernise three major railway stations

The Union Cabinet has approved the proposal of the Indian Railways for the re-development of three major railway stations -New Delhi, Ahmedabad and Mumbai CSMT.

This re-development project involves an investment of approximately ₹10,000 crore.

Re-development project includes:

Installation of CCTV and access control.

Spacious roof plaza with all passenger amenities (spaces for retail, cafeterias, recreational facilities).

Divyang friendly facilities, etc.

Government appoints R. Venkataramani as the new Attorney General of India

R Venkataramani (Senior advocate) has been named as the 14th Attorney General of India for a period of three years w.e.f. 1st October 2022.

He will replace current Attorney General, KK Venugopal whose term ends on September 30, 2022.

He was registered as a lawyer with the Bar Council of TN in 1977.

In 1997, SC has designated him as Senior Advocate.

Earlier, Gov.t appoints Mukul Rohatgi (senior lawyer) as the Attorney General of India, but he had declined offer.

Lt Gen Anil Chauhan (Retired) becomes India's second Chief of Defence Staff

Government has appointed Lt General Anil Chauhan (retired) as the second Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) of India.

He had retired as the Eastern Army Commander in May 2021 and was serving as the Military Advisor to the National Security Council.

He was commissioned into the 11 Gorkha Rifles of the Indian Army in 1981.

He is an alumnus of the NDA (Khadakwasla) and Indian Military Academy, Dehradun.

He has also served as a United Nations mission to Angola.

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.