NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. TS
Tirumurti assumes Chair of UNSC Counter-Terrorism Committee: India’s Permanent
Representative to the UN, T S Tirumurti has been appointed as the Chair of the
UN Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee for 2022. India has assumed the
chairmanship of the United Nations Security Council’s Counter-Terrorism
Committee (UNSC-CTC) for one year, beginning from January 01, 2022.
Being the Chair of Counter-Terrorism
Committee 2022, India will work to further enhance the role of the
Counter-Terrorism Committee in strengthening the multilateral response to
counter-terrorism, and ensure that global response to the threat of terrorism
remains unambiguous, undivided and effective. India is currently a
non-permanent member of the 15-nation UNSC. Its two-year term will end on
December 31, 2022.
2. WFP
& The Akshaya Patra Foundation partnered to enhance PM POSHAN Scheme: United Nations’
World Food Programme (WFP) in India, has partnered with The Akshaya Patra
Foundation (TAPF), a not-for-profit organization, to enhance the effectiveness
of the Pradhan Mantri – Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN) scheme (earlier known
as National Programme for Mid-Day Meal in Schools). The partnership aims to
enhance food safety and hygiene projects, capacity building of
cooks-cum-helpers and nutritional quality of school meals.
Under this collaboration, WFP and TAPF will
share knowledge through workshops and policy and strategy dialogues with the
government to enhance the quality of the school meal programme. Since its
inception in 1961, school meals have been part of WFP’s mission. WFP has six
decades of experience supporting school feeding and working with more than 100
countries to set up sustainable national school feeding programmes.
Note: World Food Programme Founded: 1961; World
Food Programme Headquarters: Rome, Italy; World Food Programme Executive
Director: David Beasley.
3. Gujarat
CM Bhupendra Patel launched Student Start-ups and Innovation Policy 2.0: Gujarat Chief
Minister, Bhupendra Patel has been launched “Student Start-ups and Innovation
Policy 2.0 (SSIP-2.0)” for the next five years. The policy contains provisions
for the establishment of active innovation and incubation centres in all
universities in the state. The policy aims to cover 50 lakh students across
1,000 higher education institutes and 10,000 schools of innovation and
entrepreneurship. The policy also aims to give assistance to 10,000 proof of
concepts and prototypes developed by the students and to 1,000 proof of
concepts developed by school children.
Note: Gujarat Capital: Gandhinagar; Gujarat
Governor: Acharya Devvrat; Gujarat Chief minister: Bhupendrabhai Patel.
4. DPIIT
and Commerce Ministry to organize Startup India Innovation Week: The Department for
Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) and the Ministry of Commerce
and Industry have decided to organise a week-long virtual innovation
celebration called ‘Startup India Innovation Week’ to showcase the spread and
depth of entrepreneurship across India. The virtual event will be organised
from January 10 to January 16, 2022. The event also aims to commemorate the
75th year of India’s independence ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’.
About the week: ‘Startup India
Innovation Week’ will have sessions ranging from topics such as enhancing
market access opportunities, discussions with industry leaders, best practices
by states, capacity building of enablers, reverse pitching by incubators,
technology exhibitions, corporate connect and more. “The programme is expected
to bring together top policymakers, industry, academia, investors, startups,
and all ecosystem enablers from across the globe,”.
5. A
new book titled “Mamata Beyond 2021” authored by Jayanta Ghosal: HarperCollins
Publishers India is set to publish a new book titled “Mamata: Beyond 2021”,
authored by political journalist Jayanta Ghosal and translated by Arunava
Sinha. The announcement about the release of the book was made on 5th January
2022, the birthday of Mamata Banerjee, the Chief Minister (CM) of West Bengal
and the leader of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) party. The book explores and
examines why the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lost the 2021 West Bengal
Election.
6. National
Human Trafficking Awareness Day: 11th January: This year National
Human Trafficking Awareness Day is observed on January 11, 2022, which is on
Tuesday. The day aims at raising awareness of the plight of human trafficking
victims, and promoting and protecting their rights. Though the entire month of
January has already been recognized as National Slavery and Human Trafficking
Prevention Month, this day is specifically dedicated to awareness and
prevention of illegal practice.
History of the day: In 2007, the United
States Senate ratified the resolution establishing January 11th as National
Human Trafficking Awareness Day. In 2010, President Obama dedicated the entire
month of January to awareness and prevention of human trafficking. Today, there
are over 50 established organizations that globally combat this illegal
practice, and more awareness has been raised than ever before.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Chinese
diplomat Zhang Ming takes charge of Secretary-General of SCO: China’s senior
diplomat Zhang Ming has taken charge as the new Secretary-General of the
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in which India is a member. He has
taken charge from Vladimir Norov, former Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan for a
three-year term. He was until recently China’s ambassador to the European
Union.
The SCO comprises eight member states:
India, Kazakhstan, China, the Kyrgyz Republic, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and
Uzbekistan. It also comprises four countries with “observer” status and six
more as “dialogue partners”. India joined SCO at the Astana summit in 2017.
2022 will be an important year for India at SCO as, for the first time, it will
assume the presidency of SCO, after Uzbekistan, for the period 2022-2023 which
will culminate with the SCO Summit to be hosted by the Indian side in 2023. The
SCO Summit is the meeting of the Council of Heads of States (HOS) and along
with the Council of Heads of Government (HOG) makes two most important dialogue
mechanisms among SCO member states.
2. Antigua
and Barbuda joined ISA as the 102nd member: The Caribbean nation of Antigua and
Barbuda joined the International Solar Alliance (ISA) as the 102nd member by
signing the International Solar Alliance Framework Agreement, the India-led
global green energy initiative. The Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda,
Gaston Browne signed the framework agreement in the presence of Indian High
Commissioner Dr K. J. Srinivasa to catalyze global energy transition through a
solar-led approach.
ISA was jointly launched by India and
France in 2015 during the 21st session of the United Nations Climate Change
COP-21 in Paris, France to promote solar energy.
Note: Antigua and Barbuda Capital: Saint
John’s; Antigua and Barbuda Currency: East Caribbean Dollar; Antigua and
Barbuda Prime Minister: Gaston Browne.
OTHER UPDATES:
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. RBI
cancelled authorisation certificates of Muthoot Vehicle Finance, Eko India: Reserve Bank of
India (RBI) has cancelled the Certificate of Authorisation (CoA) of two Payment
System Operators (PSOs): Muthoot Vehicle and Asset Finance Limited and Eko
India Financial Services Private Limited, citing non-compliance with regulatory
requirements under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007. Both Muthoot
Vehicle and Asset Finance Limited and Eko India Financial Services Private
Limited had the certificate of authorisation issued by the RBI for issuance and
operation of prepaid payment instruments.
The RBI further mentioned in its press
release that the COA cancellation came into force on December 31, 2021. But RBI
clarified in its notice that the customers or merchants who have a valid claim
on these companies as PSOs can approach them for settlement of their claims
within three years from the date of cancellation.
2. Shafali
Verma appointed as Brand Endorser of Bank of Baroda: State-owned Bank of
Baroda has signed cricketer Shafali Verma as its brand endorser. The Bank
continuously supports the youth of the country through its various banking and
non-banking initiatives and this announcement reflects the bank’s ethos of
adding value to its customer experience by choosing youth-icons like Shafali to
inspire them.” In 2019, at the age of 15, Shafali became the youngest cricketer
to play in a Women’s Twenty20 International match for India. Previously in
2021, Shafali Verma became the 1st Women Cricketer to Hit 3 Sixes in Test
Match.
BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
1. Google
acquires Israeli cybersecurity startup Siemplify for $500 million: Alphabet
Inc-owned, Google has acquired Israeli cybersecurity startup Siemplify, in a
deal worth $500 million. This acquisition will expand the U.S. tech giant’s
security offerings in the country amid rising cyber-attacks. Siemplify will be
integrated into Google Cloud’s Chronicle operation. As a part of Google Cloud’s
security team, Siemplify will help companies better manage their threat
response. About the Acquisition:
(1) This purchase marks the fourth
acquisition of an Israeli company by Google and its first in the cybersecurity
industry outside the US.
(2) Siemplify was founded in 2015 by Amos
Stern (CEO), Alon Cohen (CTO) and Garry Fatakhov (COO). It has offices in Tel
Aviv and headquarters in New York.
(3) Siemplify specializes in end-to-end
security services for enterprises, typically referred to as security orchestration,
automation and response (SOAR) services.
Note: Google CEO: Sundar Pichai; Google
Founded: 4 September 1998, California, United States; Google Founders: Larry
Page, Sergey Brin.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1. South
Indian Bank won UiPath Automation Excellence awards 2021: South Indian Bank
(SIB) won the UiPath Automation Excellence Awards 2021 for Best Automation
under ‘Crisis for Business Continuity’. The 2021 edition of the award
recognises the contribution of the individuals and organizations across India
and South Asia (Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal) for bringing change through
transformative automation projects.
Other Awards:
|
Category |
Individual/Organisation |
|
Best Cognitive
Automation |
EY Global Delivery
Services and PricewaterhouseCoopers |
|
Best First Time
Automation |
Teejay and Shapoorji
Pallonji and Co. |
|
Best Automation Center
of Excellence |
Reckitt and JSW Global
Business Solutions |
|
Best Citizen Developer
Program |
Firstsource Solutions
and HP Inc |
|
Special UiPath
Recognition |
JSW Steel Limited and Omega
Healthcare |
2. JC
Chaudhry gets first ever Guinness World Record in Numerology: India’s one of the
top numerologists, JC Chaudhry has achieved the first-ever Guinness World
Record in Numerology and the first world record of 2022 by educating about ancient
science to around 6000 participants, enthusiasts of numerology joined from the
United States, the United Kingdom, Middle East, and India. The Guinness World
Record London office has opened a new category, “Numerology” for this
achievement. The initiative was organised by CNPL (Chaudhry Nummero Pvt Ltd)
and the Indian Institute of Numerology to create awareness regarding
numerology, which is prevalent across ancient cultures like Greece, Egypt,
China, Chaldea and India.
OBITUARIES
1. Shillong
Chamber Choir founder Neil Nongkynrih passes away: Founder of Shillong
Chamber Choir (SCC) and renowned Indian concert pianist Neil Nongkynrih passed
away. In 2010, SCC performed for former US President Barack Obama &
Michelle Obama during their visit to India. SCC’s version of ‘Vande Maataram’
was played during the live telecast program Indian space rocket Chandrayaan –
2’s landing on the moon. In 2015, he was awarded the Padma Shri – India’s
fourth-highest civilian honour.
2. First
black man to win Best Actor Oscar, Sidney Poitier passes away: Bahamian-American
actor Sidney Poitier, who won an Academy Award for Best Actor in 1964, has died
at the age of 94. In 1963, Poitier had made a film in Arizona, Lilies of the
Field. The performance led to a huge milestone making him the first black
winner of a lead-acting Oscar. He was awarded the US Presidential Medal of
Freedom in 2009 by President Obama for his work.
Sidney Poitier started his career as an actor in theatre in the 1940s before his breakthrough film role in the 1950 release No Way Out. Over a five-decade career in films, he worked both as an actor and director. His last appearance on screen was in the 1997 film Jackal.
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