Latest Current Affairs For Monday 14th November, 2022

ISRO is set to launch 36 satellites of the UK’s global communications network OneWeb.

The satellites will be launched from Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle-Mark III (GSLV MkIII) from Satish Dhawan Space Center on 23 October.

GSLV MkIII will be used for the first time for launching a commercial satellite.

The cryogenic engine stage and the equipment bay assembly have been completed.

NewSpace India Ltd (NSIL) has signed a contract with OneWeb for launching broadband communication satellites in low earth orbit.

It will be the company's 14th mission to deploy satellites into orbit.

In the next few months, NewSpace India Ltd (NSIL) will launch at least six commercial missions.

OneWeb is a London-based global communications network. Bharti Global is a major investor in OneWeb.

Currently, India has three operational launch vehicles – the PSLV, GSLV, and GSLV Mk III.

GSLV Mk III:

It is a three-stage launch vehicle developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

It has been designed to launch communication satellites into geostationary orbit.

WPI inflation eased to 18 month low of 10.7% in September 2022 as compared to 12.41% in August 2022.

WPI Food Index based food inflation decreased to 8.08% in September 2022 from 9.93% in August 2022.

As per the Commerce and Industry Ministry data released 14 October, WPI inflation declined amid a fall in prices of Food index.

The rise in prices of crude petroleum and natural gas, mineral oils, chemicals, and chemical products, basic metals, electricity, and textiles were the main contributors to inflation in September 2022.

The WPI inflation was 11.8% in the corresponding month of the previous year (September 2021).

The WPI inflation continued to fall in September for the fourth consecutive month.

It remained in double-digits for the 18th consecutive month beginning April last year.

The Wholesale inflation reached at a record high level of 15.88% in May this year.

Rudrankksh Balasaheb Patil won a gold medal at the Shooting World Championships in Egypt.

On 14 October, Indian shooter Patil won a gold medal in the 10m Air Rifle event at the ISSF World Championship in Cairo, Egypt.

Along with this, he has also secured a place in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

He defeated Italy's Danilo Dennis Sollazzo 17-15 in the gold medal match.

He is the second Indian after Olympic gold medalist Abhinav Bindra to achieve this feat.

Bindra won a gold medal in this event in 2006 in Zagreb, Croatia.

Rudrankksh entered the competition for the first time in the World Championship.

Earlier, India won a bronze medal in the women's 25m pistol team junior event.

In the bronze medal match, the trio of Esha Singh, Namya Kapoor, and Vibhuti Bhatia beat Germany 17-1.

World Students Day: 15 October

World Students Day is observed every year on 15 October in India.

World Students Day is observed to honour former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam.

Since 2010, World Students Day is observed on the birth anniversary of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam.

The theme for this year’s World Students’ Day is not announced yet.

The theme for World Students Day 2021 was 'Learning for people, planet, prosperity, and peace.”

World Students Day is only observed in India. It has not been officially declared by United Nations.

As per the UN, October 15 is celebrated as the International Day of Rural Women.

The world observes International Students’ Day on November 17. UN celebrates World Childrens’ Day on November 20.

Abdul Latif Rashid has been elected as the new president of Iraq.

Rashid replaced Barham Saleh as head of state after two rounds of votes in parliament on 13 October.

Mohammed Shia al-Sudani was named as prime minister-designate.

Al-Sudani replaces caretaker Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi.

Al-Sudani will now have 30 days to form a government.

In an October 2021 parliamentary vote, influential Shia leader Muqtada al-Sadr emerged as the biggest winner. He failed to form the government.

Rashid hails from Sulaimaniyah, a major city in the semi-autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq.

Under Iraq’s power-sharing system, the premiership falls under Shia blocs and the speaker of parliament is a Sunni.

The presidency is reserved for Kurdish groups to nominate.

Iraq:

It is a country in Western Asia bordered by Turkey, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria and Persian Gulf.

Capital of Iraq: Baghdad

Type of government: Federal parliamentary republic

Currency of Iraq: Iraqi Dinar

The new Electric Vehicle Manufacturing and Mobility Policy-2022 have been approved by the Uttar Pradesh cabinet.

The policy has been approved in an attempt to promote faster adoption of clean mobility solutions and create a conducive ecosystem for electric vehicles in Uttar Pradesh.

The policy aims to develop an eco-friendly transport system in Uttar Pradesh.

It also aims to make Uttar Pradesh a global hub for manufacturing of electric vehicles, batteries and related equipment.

100% road tax and registration fee exemption will be granted on the purchase of all categories of electric vehicles during the first 3 years of the new policy.

This exemption will continue in the fourth and fifth years if electric vehicle is manufactured in the state.

Electric Vehicle Manufacturing and Mobility Policy-2022 have a provision for a three-pronged incentive system.

This includes incentives to consumers for purchasing EVs; to manufacturers of EVs, EV batteries and related components; and to service providers developing charging/swapping facilities.

Under the new policy, the state government will give huge subsidy on the purchase of electric vehicles. Subsidies are provided below.

15% subsidy will be given on factory cost for purchasing two-wheeler EV up to a maximum of Rs 5,000 per vehicle subject to first two lakh EVs purchased. 

Rs 12,000 per three-wheeler EV subject to a maximum first 50,000 such EVs purchased. 

Up to Rs 1 lakh per four-wheeler electric vehicle subject to maximum of first 25,000 EVs purchased. 

A subsidy of up to Rs 20 lakh per e-bus subject to maximum of first 400 such e-buses. 

10% subsidy on factory cost for purchasing e-goods carriers of up to Rs 1,00,000 per vehicle to a maximum of first 1,000 carriers. 

Subsidy up to a maximum of Rs 10 lakh per project to the service providers developing 2,000 charging and battery swapping facilities in the state. 

Capital subsidy of up to Rs 5 lakh per swapping station to the service providers developing facilities of 1,000 such swapping stations. 

India slipped six places in the Global Hunger Index.

India ranks 107th position out of 121 countries on Global Hunger Index 2022. In 2021, India’s rank was 101st in the Global Hunger Index.

India with a score of 29.1 has been kept in the ‘serious’ category of hunger level.

India is behind its neighbours Nepal (81), Pakistan (99), Sri Lanka (64), and Bangladesh (84).

India’s GHI score has reduced from 38.8 in 2000 to 28.2 by 2014. Since then India’s registered higher scores in GHI than 28.2.

The proportion of undernourishment in India has increased from 14.8 in 2014 to 16.3 in 2022 and wasting in children under five years jumped from 15.1 in 2014 to 19.3 in 2022.

India’s score has improved in Stunning in children under five. It has reduced from 38.7 in 2014 to 35.5 in 2022.

India’s under-five mortality has reduced from 4.6 in 2014 to 3.3 in 2022.

China and Kuwait are Asian countries that are ranked at the top of the list.

17 countries have been collectively ranked between 1 and 17 with a score of less than 5.

Belarus, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Chile, China, Croatia, Estonia, Hungary, Kuwait, Latvia, Lithuania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Turkey and Uruguay are the top 17 countries.

South Asian region has the highest hunger level, highest child stunting rate, and highest child wasting rate in the world.

Yemen is at the last position in the Global Hunger Index 2022.

The Global Hunger Index scores are based on four indicators- Undernourishment, Child stunting, Child wasting, and Child mortality.

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.