Latest Current Affairs For Saturday 5th November, 2022

ADB to fund Smartchem Technologies' farm efficiency initiative

ADB has approved the funding to the farm efficiency initiative of Smartchem Technologies Limited (STL) of USD 30 million.

The loan facility will be for a tenure of 5 years.

The ADB has also given approval for a technical assistance grant of USD 5,00,000 for building capacity for Soil Nutrition Managemen in India.

This loan would be the first agribusiness "Blue Loan" of ADB.

STL is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Deepak Fertilisers and Petrochemicals Corporation.

KSRTC Grama Vandi wins national recognition

The city circular service of the Kerala Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has won the national ‘Commentation Award in Urban Transport’ in the category of ‘City with the best Public Transport System’.

The ‘Grama Vandi’ was launched by the KSRTC in association with local self-government institutions, has also won Award of Excellence in Urban Transport.

The awards was instituted by Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry.

IPPB conducts India’s First Floating Financial Literacy Camp

India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) has conducted First Floating Financial Literacy Camp of India in Srinagar, J&K.

Aim: To promote Financial Literacy ‘By the women, for the women’. 

It was launched with an initiative called ‘Niveshak Didi’.

This concept is based on the ideology of women for women as rural area women feel more comfortable to share their queries with a female itself.

IPPB:

CEO: J. Venkatramu

Founded: 1 September 2018

Madhya Pradesh government launched Ladli Laxmi 2.0

Madhya Pradesh CM, Shivraj Singh Chouhan has launched the flagship scheme 'Ladli Laxmi 2.0' with an aim to encourage girls to pursue higher education and make them independent.

They will also provide monetary benefits to eligible girl children to ensure quality education.

The scheme had also ensure that the parents must not marry their girl child before the age of 18.

CM has also announced 'Ladli Laxmi Vatika' (garden), that will be developed in every district of MP. 

Art critic Vijayakumar Menon passes away

Eminent art critic, Vijayakumar Menon has been passed away at 76.

He has authored many books such as Adhunika Kaladarsanam; Ravivarma Padanam; Bharathiya Chitrakala-Irupatham Noottandil; and Bharathiya Lavanya Darsanavum Kala Parasparyavum.

He has translated many plays from foreign languages to Malayalam.

He was awarded with Kerala Lalithakala Akademi Award for best book on art; Kerala Sahitya Akademi’s endowment for Scholarly Literature; Kesari Puraskaram.

Minister for Social Justice inaugurates Shilp Samagam-2022

Dr. Virendra Kumar (Union Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment) has inaugurated the SHILP SAMAGAM-2022 in New Delhi.

The event is organized from 1-15, November, 2022.

The event was attended by the Ministers of State for Social Justice & Empowerment, Ramdas Athwale.

Aim: To showcase and sell handicraft products. 

Some products are Cane & Bamboo Handicraft Items (Assam), Madhubani Paintings (Bihar), Aari work Sozni Work Kashmiri Shawls (J&K), etc.

Education ministry released Performance Grading Index for 2020-21

The Ministry of Education has released the Performance Grading Index (PGI) for States and UT for 2020-21.

Aim: To promote evidence-based policy-making and highlight course correction for quality education. 

Findings:

Total of seven States/UTs have attained Level -2 grading in 2020-21: Kerala, Punjab, Chandigarh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Andhra Pradesh. 

Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Andhra Pradesh are the new entrants with the highest achieved level.

President Droupadi Murmu launched govt projects in Sikkim

President, Droupadi Murmu who is on her two day of Sikkim, will inaugurate and lay the foundation for various central and state government projects in the virtual mode from Gangtok.

The projects include. 

Atal Setu viaduct: Connect West Bengal and Sikkim at Rangpo on National Highway 10.

Two-lane Chisopani traffic tunnel, which include approach roads in East Sikkim. 

Ganju Lama Girls Hostel, Ravangla in South Sikkim under Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram.

Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurates 'Baji Rout National Football Tournament'

Union Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan has inaugurated the 'Baji Rout National Football Tournament' in Dhenkanal in Odisha.

Aim: To attract the younger generation towards football.

Recently, the govt of India has signed an MoU with FIFA and  All India Football Federation for 'Football For School' initiative.

Under the programme, the govt has been targeted to rope about two crore fifty lakh school students towards football.

IMFA MD, Subhrakant Panda appointed as President of FICCI

The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) has appointed Subhrakant Panda as President, who is currently serving as Senior Vice President of FICCI.

He is also serving as the Managing Director of Indian Metals & Ferro Alloys Ltd. (IMFA).

He will succeed Sanjiv Mehta (CEO & Managing Director, Hindustan Unilever  Limited (HUL)) as President at the 95th Annual General Meeting, scheduled to be held on December 16 and December 17, 2022.

Indian Carnatic vocalist, Aruna Sairam honoured with Chevalier Award

Carnatic vocalist, Aruna Sairam was honoured with the French government's highest honour- Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des award.

She was selected for her singing prowess and her contribution towards development of the Indo-France relationship.

She has started her classical training under her mother, Rajalakshmi Sethuraman.

She is a disciple of legendary vocalist, Sangita Kalanidhi T. Brinda. 

Aruna Sairam is recipient of Padma Shri (2009) and the Sangita Kala Nidhi. 

Suryakumar Yadav becomes world’s No.1 T20I batter

Indian batter, Suryakumar Yadav (32) has become the world’s number one batter in T20 Internationals and also become the second Indian player to hold the top T20I batter ranking.

He has overtaken Pakistan opener, Mohammad Rizwan.

In T20I, he has scored one century and 11 fifties from 37 appearances for India.

Devon Conway (NZ) has ranked third with 792 points.

In Women's T20I format, Beth Mooney (Australia) topped the list, while Indian Smriti Mandhana ranked second. 

Vishal Kapoor appointed as CEO of Energy Efficiency Services Ltd

Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) has appointed Vishal Kapoor as its chief executive officer (CEO).

He replaced Arun Kumar Mishra, who hold this position last year.

He will take charge after completing his tenure as the joint secretary at the Ministry of Power.

As joint secretary, he led various government interventions, schemes, and reforms in the distribution sector.

Energy Efficiency Services Limited:

Ministry: Ministry of Power

Chairman: K. Sreekant

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.