NATIONAL UPDATES:
1.
‘North East on Wheels Expedition’ launched to promote Culture of Northeastern
States: Minister
of State for Culture, Meenakashi Lekhi has launched the ‘North East on Wheels
Expedition’ in New Delhi to promote the Culture of Northeastern States. The
Bike Expedition is scheduled between 8th to 16th April this year to mark the
celebrations of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. 75 Bikers participating in this
expedition will be selected from all over the country and will cover about 9000
km in the North East Region in 6 groups. The expedition will also promote the
Dekho Apna Desh initiative of the Ministry of Tourism. The Riders will also
carry the message of the importance of Road Safety.
2.
Jitendra Singh launched AI-driven Start-Up for Water Purification by IIT
alumni: Union
Minister of State (I/C) Science & Technology Dr Jitendra Singh has launched
Artificial Intelligence (AI) driven Start-Up by Indian Institute Technology
(IIT) alumni for water purification through innovative technology with
financial support from Technology Development Board (TDB). The facility aims to provide clean drinking
water at a price much lesser than the market price.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was
also signed between TDB, a statutory body of the Department of S&T and
Swajal Water Private Limited. The Gurugram based company’s patented system,
‘Clairvoyant’ uses artificial intelligence to optimise purification systems and
predict future breakdowns. The company is focused on innovative technologies to
make reliable clean drinking water accessible to communities at affordable
price, for their project on IoT enabled point of use Solar Water Purification
Unit for slums, villages and High Utility Areas.
3.
ISRO successfully tests Cryogenic Engine for Gaganyaan Rocket: Indian Space
Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully conducted the qualification test
of Cryogenic Engine for Gaganyaan programme for a duration of 720 seconds at
ISRO Propulsion Complex (IPRC), Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu. According to the
space agency, the performance of the engine met the test objectives and the
engine parameters were closely matching with the predictions during the entire
duration of the test.
This successful long-duration test is a
major milestone for the Human Space Programme – Gaganyaan. It ensures the
reliability and robustness of the cryogenic engine for induction into the
human-rated launch vehicle for Gaganyaan. Further, this engine will undergo
four more tests for a cumulative duration of 1810 seconds. Subsequently, one
more engine will undergo two short-duration tests & one long-duration test
to complete the cryogenic engine qualification for Gaganyaan Programme.
Note: Chairman and Space Secretary of ISRO:
Dr S Somanath; ISRO Headquarters: Bengaluru, Karnataka; ISRO established: 15
August 1969.
4.
Raghuvendra Tanwar appointed chairman of ICHR: Professor emeritus,
Kurukshetra University, Raghuvendra Tanwar has been appointed as chairman of
the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR). Tanwar appointment is for a
period of three years from the day he assumes the office of the Chairman of the
Council or until further order. Tanwar, who joined Kurukshetra University as a
lecturer in August 1977, has an outstanding academic record, with two gold
medals in MA History.
About the ICHR: The primary aim
and objective of the Indian Council of Historical Research is to promote and
give directions to historical research and to encourage and foster objective
and scientific writing of history. Enhancing the academic standard of the
output of ICHR activities has been the foremost objective in it’s agenda.
Note: Indian Council of Historical Research
Founded: 27 March 1972; Indian Council of Historical Research Headquarters: New
Delhi.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1.
Daniel Ortega sworn in as President of Nicaragua for 5th term: Nicaraguan
President José Daniel Ortega Saavedra, leader of the Sandinista National
Liberation Front (FSLN), was sworn in for a new presidential term. This marks
his 5th term and 4th consecutive term as the President of Nicaragua. He will
remain in the office until January 2027. He received the presidential sash from
Gustavo Porras, head of the National Assembly. Ortega’s first stint in power
ended in 1990 and upon returning as president in 2007, he quickly set about
gaining control of key state institutions.
Note: Nicaragua Capital: Managua; Nicaragua
Currency: Nicaraguan córdoba.
2.
20th Dhaka International Film Festival begins 2022: The 20th Dhaka
International Film Festival begins at Dhaka, Bangladesh. The festival will
showcase 225 films from 70 countries under 10 categories will be screened
across various venues in Dhaka between 15-23 January. The film festival is
being organized in a hybrid mode with many films being streamed online during
the festival. The DIFF will also organise the 8th edition of the ‘Women in
Cinema’ international conference, as well as the 4th edition of the ‘West meets
East’ screenplay lab during the festival.
Indian entries: The Indian
entries to the 20th DIFF include films like Koozhangal directed by P S
Vinothraj, Avijatrik directed by Subhrajit Mitra, Mayar Jonjal directed by
Indranil Roychowdhury, and Aandaal directed by Shareef Easa among the 35
entries.
History of the festival: The Dhaka
International Film Festival (DIFF) is organised by the Rainbow film Society
established in 1977. The DIFF was started in 1992. The festival will have ten
sections including the Asian Competition Section, Retrospective, Tribute,
Bangladesh panorama, Wide Angle, Cinema of the World, Children’s Film,
Spiritual film, Women Filmmakers section and short and independent films.
OTHER UPDATES:
SPORTS
1.
Lakshya Sen defeats Loh Kean Yew to win maiden Super 500 title: Indian badminton
player Lakshya Sen has defeated World Champion Loh Kean Yew of Singapore, in
the men’s singles final of India Open 2022 to secure his maiden Super 500
title. The 20-year-old Sen gained victory over Yew in straight games 24-22,
21-17. The 2022 India Open (badminton), officially Yonex-Sunrise India Open 2022,
was held at the K. D. Jadhav Indoor Hall in New Delhi, India, from 11 to 16
January 2022.
List of Winners of 2022 India Open
(badminton):
|
Category |
Winners |
|
Men’s Single |
Lakshya Sen (India) |
|
Women’s Single |
Busanan Ongbamrungphan
(Thailand) |
|
Men’s Double |
Chirag Shetty and
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy (India) |
|
Women’s Double |
Benyapa Aimsaard and
Nuntakarn Aimsaard (Thailand) |
|
Mixed Double |
Terry Hee and Tan Wei
Han (Singapore) |
BANKING AND FINANCE
1.
Paytm Payments Bank became most preferred UPI beneficiary bank in India: Paytm Payments Bank
Ltd (PPBL) became the largest and fastest-growing UPI beneficiary bank in
India. It becomes the first beneficiary bank in the country to achieve the
landmark of over 926 million UPI transactions in a single month. Beneficiary
banks are the banks of the account holder who is receiving money. Paytm
Payments Bank has also gained rapid traction as a remitter bank for UPI
payments.
While State Bank of India (SBI) topped the
chart of being the biggest remitter in December 2021, according to data
released by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). State Bank of
India followed PPBL as the second-largest beneficiary with 664.89 million
transactions.
Note: Chairman of Paytm Payments Bank Ltd:
Vijay Shekhar Sharma; MD and CEO of Paytm Payments Bank Ltd: Satish Kumar
Gupta; Paytm Payments Bank Ltd Headquarters: Noida, Uttar Pradesh.
BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
1.
India’s forex reserves declines by $878 mn to $632.7 bn: As per the weekly
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data, the foreign exchange reserves of India
declined by $878 million to USD 632.736 billion in the week ended January 7,
2022. In the previous week ended December 31, India’s reserves dropped by
$1.466 billion to $633.614 billion. The decline was mainly due to a fall in
gold reserves and foreign currency assets (FCA). In the reporting week, FCAs
decreased by $497 million to $569.392 billion.
Gold reserves declined by $360 million to
$39.044 billion. The special drawing rights (SDRs) with the International
Monetary Fund (IMF) fell by $16 million to $19.098 billion. India’s reserve
position with the IMF dipped by $5 million to $5.202 billion.
2. Group sign agreement with South Korea’s POSCO
to develop steel mill: Adani Group and South Korea’s largest steelmaker POSCO
have signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MoU) to explore business
opportunities in India. This includes the establishment of a green,
environment-friendly integrated steel mill at Mundra, Gujarat. The estimated
investment of the project is up to $5 billion (approx. Rs 37,000 crore). The
non-binding MoU also intends to collaborate at the group business level in
various other sectors such as renewable energy, hydrogen, and logistics in
response to carbon reduction requirements.
The alliance is a significant move for the
diversified Adani Group, which has interests in logistics, ports, airports,
mining, power generation and distribution, renewable energy, gas and
infrastructure. Adani has recently announced major investment plans as part of
an ambitious plan to become the world’s top renewable energy company. The group
is also venturing into new-age businesses with plans for a super app and
investing big in data centres.
Note: Adani Group Headquarters: Ahmedabad;
Adani Group Founder: Gautam Adani; Adani Group Founded: 1988.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1.
Global Private Banking Awards 2021: HDFC Bank named as Best Private Bank in
India: HDFC
Bank was named as the ‘Best Private Bank’ in India at the ‘Global Private
Banking Awards 2021’ which was organised by Professional Wealth Management
(PWM) in a virtual ceremony. PWM is a wealth management Magazine, published by
the Financial Times Group. The award was given for contributing to accelerate
key trends, including digitalisation, communication and investment in
environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategies.
Note: HDFC Bank Headquarters: Mumbai; HDFC
Bank Founded: August 1994; HDFC Bank CEO: Sashidhar Jagdishan; HDFC Bank
Chairman: Atanu Chakraborty.
2. NIRAMAI
& InnAccel received Global Women’s Health Tech Awards: DBT-BIRAC supported
start-ups, NIRAMAI Health Analytix Pvt Ltd, and InnAccel Technologies Pvt Ltd
have received World Bank Group and Consumer Technology Association’s Global
Women’s Health Tech Awards. The award recognizes innovative startups that
leverage tech to improve women’s health and safety. NIRAMAI Health Analytix was
selected for early-stage breast cancer medical device. InnAccel was selected
for Fetal Lite, AI-powered fetal heart rate (FHR) monitor.
The award recognises innovative startups
that use technology to improve women’s health and safety in emerging markets.
Launched in August 2021, the Awards attracted over 70 companies from 35
countries, which submitted their innovative products and services under three
categories: reproductive health and pregnancy, general women’s and adolescent
health, and women safety and security.
DEFENCE
1.
Philippines to purchase BrahMos cruise missiles from India: Philippines has
become the first foreign country to place an order for the purchase of the
BrahMos Shore-Based cruise Missile System for its navy. This agreement will
give a big boost to India’s defence manufacturing system. The estimated deal
cost is worth $374,9 million. The BrahMos Aerospace Pvt Ltd will supply the
missile, under the Shore-Based Anti-Ship Missile System Acquisition Project,
for Philippine Navy.
Note: Philippines Capital: Manila;
Philippines Currency: Philippine peso; Philippines President: Rodrigo Duterte.
OBITUARIES
1.
Legendary Kathak dancer Pandit Birju Maharaj passes away: Legendary Kathak
dancer, Pandit Birju Maharaj has passed away at the age of 83. A recipient of
the country’s second-highest civilian award, Padma Vibhushan, he was fondly
called Pandit-ji or Maharaj-ji by his disciples and legions of followers and
was one of India’s best-known artistes.
Birju Maharaj was a descendant of the Maharaj family of Kathak dancers, which includes his two uncles, Shambhu Maharaj and Lachhu Maharaj, and his father and guru, Acchan Maharaj. Birju Maharaj was also a singer par excellence, having command over Thumri, Dadra, Bhajan and Ghazal.
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