Latest Current Affairs For Wednesday 8th March, 2023

Himachal govt hikes monetary award for Mahila Vikas Protsahan Puraskar

Presiding over a state-level event for International Women's Day (8th March), Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has announced a nearly five-fold increase in the monetary award under the Himachal Pradesh Mahila Vikas Protsahan Puraskar.

The monetary award for the Mahila Vikas Protsahan Puraskar has been hiked to Rs 1 lakh from the current Rs 21,000.

The allowance for district-level awards has been raised from Rs 5,000 to Rs 25,000.

Mirabai Chanu wins BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year 2022

Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu has won the 2022 BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year award after a public vote.

She becomes the first athlete to win the award twice in a row after winning for the year 2021.

At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, she became the first Indian to win a silver medal in weightlifting.

Other BBC awards for 2022:

Para Sportswoman: Bhavina Patel (TT Player). 

Lifetime Achievement Award: Pritam Siwach (Women Hockey Player). 

Emerging Player: Nitu Ghanghas (Boxer). 

Mauganj became the 53rd District of Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced that Mauganj, a tehsil of Rewa district, will be the 53rd district of state.

It will be developed by joining four tehsils of Rewa district.

Four tehsils: Mauganj, Hanumana, Nai Garhi, and Deotalab.

Residents of Mauganj were raising the demand for a separate district for a long time.

He has also released 605 crore in the bank accounts of 27,000 beneficiaries of the Sambal Yojana in financial distribution program.

Conrad Sangma sworn-in as Meghalaya Chief Minister

National People's Party president, Conrad K Sangma, has taken oath as the chief minister of Meghalaya for the second consecutive term.

Governor Phagu Chauhan has administered the oath of office to Sangma.

The sworn-in ceremony was attended by PM Narendra Modi, BJP president JP Nadda and home minister Amit Shah.

While Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP)'s Neiphiu Rio will take oath as Nagaland chief minister.

Delhi international airport among cleanest in Asia-Pacific: ACI

According to the Airport Council International (ACI), Delhi airport has been ranked among the cleanest airports in Asia-Pacific.

ACI is a trade association of global airports.

The airport service quality award is based on passenger surveys carried out to rate customer satisfaction on the day of travel.

It covers over 30 performance indicators across key elements of a passenger’s airport experience such as ease of finding your way and dining offerings.

Red Bull's Max Verstappen wins 2023 Bahrain Grand Prix

Red Bull's driver, Max Verstappen has won the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix 2023, held at Bahrain International Circuit.

He defeated Red Bull's Sergio Perez, who placed second in the race.

It was the first time he had won in Bahrain and also the first time he had triumphed in a Formula One opener.

Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin's driver) placed third followed by C. Sainz Jr. (Ferrari's driver).

Jan Aushadhi Diwas 2023: 7th March

The 5th Jan Aushadhi Diwas is being organized on 7th March 2023 across India to enhance awareness about the scheme and promote generic medicines.

Theme 2023: Jan Aushadhi – Sasti bhi Acchi bhi. 

The Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI), and States/UTs.

A week-long event is being organized in different cities all across the country from March 1-7, 2023.

This day was first observed on March 7, 2019.

RBI initiates 75 digital villages programme

The RBI Governor, Shaktikanta Das has launched the Mission ‘Har Payment Digital’ during the Digital Payments Awareness Week 2023, which is being observed from March 6 to 12, 2023.

Campaign theme: Digital Payment Apnao, Auron ko bhi Sikhao (Adopt digital payments and Also teach others). 

RBI has launched a program to adopt 75 villages and convert them into digital payment-enabled villages.

Payment system operators (PSOs) will adopt these villages across the country.

Share of female borrowers in retail loans rises to 26%

According to the CRIF High Mark, the total retail loan outstanding was Rs 100.28 lakh crore in Dec 2022, up from Rs 81.91 lakh crore a year ago.

The share of female borrowers in the retail loans outstanding has gone up to 26% at Rs 26.07 lakh crore as of Dec 2022 from 25% (Rs 20.47 lakh crore) in Dec 2021. 

Major retail loan products availed by female borrowers in India: Gold loans (42% share), Education loans (35%), Home loans (32%), and Loans against property (29%). 

RBI’s home price index increases across India despite rate hikes

The All India Home Price Index (HPI), released by the RBI, has recorded a 2.79% growth (year-on-year) to 302 in the third quarter (ended December) of 2022-23 as compared with 293.8, despite the rise in interest rates.

On a quarter-on-quarter sequential basis, the index rose from 298, an increase of 1.34%, from September 2022.

The Y-o-Y movements in HPI varied widely across the cities, ranging from a growth of 7.1% (Kochi) to a contraction of 9% (Jaipur).

All Pension portals to be integrated into Single Portal

MoS, personnel, public grievances, and pensions, Dr. Jitendra Singh informed that the Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare will integrate all the pension portals - Pension Disbursing Bank portals, ANUBHAV, CPENGRAMS, CGHS, etc into a single portal.

These portals will be integrated into the form of the newly created “Integrated Pensioners’ Portal” (https://ipension.nic.in).

Aim: To ensure the ease of living for the elder citizens

23rd Commonwealth Law Conference begins in Goa

Governor of Goa, P.S. Sreedharan Pillai has inaugurated the 23rd Commonwealth Law Conference in Goa, which is being held from March 5-9, 2023.

The event was also attended by Union Minister for Law, Kiren Rijiju, and Goa CM Pramod Sawant.

Minister also informed that the government had started eCourts phase III to make Indian Judiciary completely paperless.

500 delegates from 52 countries attended the Conference.

It is a platform for open discussions on critical issues.

SS Dubey takes charge as new Controller General Of Accounts

S.S. Dubey, a 1989-batch Indian Civil Accounts Service (ICAS) officer, has taken charge as the 28th Controller General of Accounts (CGA) effective from 6th March 2023.

Prior to this role, he was an Additional Controller General of Accounts, Public Financial Management System (PFMS).

CGA is ‘the Principal Advisor’ on Accounting matters to the Union Government.

CGA is also responsible for exchequer control and internal audits for the Central Government.

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.