Latest Current Affairs For Wednesday 19th October, 2022

PM launches Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Urvarak Pariyojana

PM Narendra Modi has launched the ‘One Nation, One Fertiliser’ scheme (or PM Bhartiya Jan Urvarak Pariyojana) at the PM Kisan Samman Sammelan 2022 at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute.

He has also launched an e-magazine on fertilisers, called Indian Edge.

Under this scheme, the all type of fertilisers, whether it is DAP, NPK or urea will be sold under the brand name of ‘Bharat’.

This will ensure affordable quality fertiliser of Bharat brand to the farmers.

UNDP: 415 million exited poverty in India in 15 years

According to a new Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), the number of people living below the poverty line in India decreased by 415 million between 2005-06 and 2019-21.

The index was released jointly by UNDP and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI).

As per the index, India still has the world's highest number of poor at 228.9 million, followed by Nigeria.

90% of India’s poor people live in rural areas and 10% in urban areas.

Paytm Payments Bank appoints Deependra Singh Rathore as Interim CEO

Paytm Payments Bank has appointed Deependra Singh Rathore as the interim chief executive officer (CEO), in addition to his role as chief product & technology officer.

He will replace Satish Gupta, who is presently serving as the bank's CEO and retire in October 2022.

The bank will announce the new full-time CEO after receiving regulatory approvals.

The bank has also appointed Sunil Chander Sharma, a former IRS officer as chief operating officer (COO).

Qatar to host AFC Asian Cup 2023

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Executive Committee has confirmed the Qatar Football Association (QFA) as the host association for AFC Asian Cup 2023. 

The AFC Executive Committee has also shortlisted the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) as the final two bidders for the AFC Asian Cup 2027.

Australia withdrew from the AFC Asian Cup 2023™ bidding process on September 1, 2022.

FIFA President: Gianni Infantino

Jyothi becomes 1st Indian woman to clock sub-13 seconds in 100m hurdles

Jyothi Yarraji (23), representing Railways, has created history by becoming the first Indian woman to clock a legal sub-13 second time in 100-meter hurdles.

She has smashed her own record at the 61st National Open Athletics Championships at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium, Bengaluru.

Her record of 12.82s made her amongst the top 10 fastest in Asian athletics history.

She had won the same event in the National Games in Gandhinagar in a time of 12.79 seconds.

Atanu Chakraborty appointed as chairman of Yubi

Yubi (formerly CredAvenue) has appointed Atanu Chakraborty as the independent chairman of its board.

He is also currently serving as the chairman of the board of HDFC Bank.

He is a 1985 batch officer of the Indian Administrative Service, of the Gujarat cadre.

He has served as Economic Affairs Secretary of India till his retirement in April 2020.

He was also appointed on the Central Board of Directors of the Reserve Bank of India.

Sri Lankan writer, Shehan Karunatilaka wins 2022 Booker Prize

Sri Lankan author, Shehan Karunatilaka has won the prestigious Booker Prize for fiction, for his second book "The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida".

The book is about a war photographer murdered in the country’s civil war.

He received a trophy from Queen Consort Camilla at a ceremony on in London.

He is the second Sri Lankan to win the award, after Michael Ondaatje’s victory in 1992 for The English Patient.

He has also received a 50,000 pound ($56,700) prize.

Goa to host 9th World Ayurveda Congress & Arogya Expo

Goa will host 9th World Ayurveda Congress & Arogya Expo from December 8 to 11.

The expo will be organised by World Ayurveda Foundation, an initiative of Vijnana Bharti.

Aims: To create an accessible and affordable healthcare system that is in harmony with modern medical practices.

The expo would provide a transformational push to ayurveda to bring it into global focus.

The focus theme of the December expo is "Ayurveda for one health".

Partha Satpathy appointed India’s new ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina

Partha Satpathy has been appointed as India’s next ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

He is currently as the Ambassador of India to the Republic of Hungary.

He served as the Hungarian Ambassador for 11 months and then became the Ambassador of India to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Meanwhile, Dr Adarsh Swaika, joint secretary in MEA, has been appointed India’s next Ambassador to Kuwait.

Avtar Singh has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Republic of Guinea.

Karnataka Bank launches ‘KBL Centenary Deposit Scheme’

Karnataka Bank has launched a Term Deposit Scheme “KBL Centenary Deposit Scheme” with higher rate of interest.

Aim: To provide an opportunity to bank customers to save and invest for better returns.

This deposit will be for a period of 555 days with interest rate of 7.20 % p.a.

For Senior Citizens the rate of interest will be 7.60 % p.a.

Karnataka Bank MD & CEO: Mahabaleshwara M S; Chairman:  P Pradeep Kumar

Union Minister, Jitendra Singh launches Integrated Pensioners’ Portal

Union Minister, Jitendra Singh has launched an Integrated Pensioners’ Portal at the Anubhav Awards Ceremony that was organised by the Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare in New Delhi.

This portal provides a single window to address the needs of pensioners.

SBI has become the first pension disbursing Bank which has integrated its portal with the portal of DoPPW.

Anubhav portal provides a platform to retiring government employees for sharing their experiences. 

12th defence expo organised in Gandhinagar, Gujarat

The 12th edition of biennial DefExpo is being organised in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar, Gujarat from 18th - 22nd, Oct, 2022.

The theme of 12th DefExpo is ‘Path to Pride’.

Agenda: Live demonstrations showcasing the equipment and skill set of the Armed Forces, DPSUs and Industry.

This also provide an opportunity to showcase their equipment and platforms and to explore the capabilities of the expanse of Indian Defence industry for forging business partnerships.

Government appoints Justice DY Chandrachud as 50th Chief Justice of India

President, Murmu has appointed Dr. Justice Dhananjaya Yashwant Chandrachud as the 50th Chief Justice of India. 

His appointment will come into effect from 9th Nov, 2022 and continue till 10 November 2024. 

He will replace CJI, Uday Umesh Lalit. 

He was appointed as the Judge of SC on 13th May 2016.

Prior to this, he served as Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court.

He is the son of the longest serving CJI, YV Chandrachud served as Chief Justice of India from 1978 to 1985.

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.