NATIONAL UPDATES:
1.
NABARD launched ‘JIVA Programme’ to promote natural farming: National Bank for
Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has launched the ‘JIVA programme’ to
promote natural farming under its existing watershed and wadi programmes in 11
states. To effectively implement the principles of agroecology long-term
sustainability and transform the pre-existing social and natural capital
towards efficient farming.
JIVA is an agroecology-based programme, an
amalgamation of several projects under the watershed programme of NABARD and
will be implemented in 11 states covering five agroecological zones, which are
in ecologically fragile and rain-fed areas.
Note: NABARD Formation: July 12, 1982;
NABARD Headquarters: Mumbai; NABARD Chairman: Govinda Rajulu Chintala.
2.
Government continued RYSK Scheme for another 5 years: The Central
Government of India has decided to continue the scheme of “Rashtriya Yuva
Sashaktikaran Karyakram (RYSK)” for another 5 years from 2021 -22 to 2025-26
with an outlay of Rs. 2,710.65 crore. To develop the personality and leadership
qualities of the youth and to engage them in nation-building activities.
Beneficiaries of this scheme are the youth in the age group of 15 to 29 years
(according to the definition of ‘youth’ in the National Youth Policy, 2014).
3.
World Book of Records: Atal Tunnel recognized as ‘Longest Highway Tunnel: Atal Tunnel has
been officially certified as ‘World’s Longest Highway Tunnel above 10,000 Feet’
by the World Book of Records. Atal tunnel is a Highway tunnel built under
Rohtang Pass in eastern Pir Panjal Himalayan range on Leh-Manali Highway. It is
the longest highway single-tube tunnel above 10,000 feet in the world with a
length of about 9.02 km. World Book of Records, UK is an organization that
catalogues, verifies extraordinary records with authentic certification around
the globe.
4.
Surat to get India’s 1st bullet train station by Dec 2024: The
Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project will be India’s first bullet train route.
While Surat city will get India’s first bullet train station. National
High-Speed Rail Corporation Ltd (NHSRCL) will be constructing this project that
is scheduled to be completed by December 2024. The cost of the project is
estimated to be more than Rs 1 lakh crore of which Rs 88,000 crores will be
funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Of the
508.17-kilometre Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project, 155.76 km is in Maharashtra,
384.04 km in Gujarat and 4.3 km in Dadra and Nagar Haveli.
5.
Munishwar Nath Bhandari new Chief Justice of Madras High Court: According to the
Law Ministry, Justice Munishwar Nath Bhandari has been appointed Chief Justice
of the Madras High Court. Justice Bhandari had taken over as the Acting Chief
Justice of the Madras High Court after the transfer of Justice Sanjib Banerjee
to the Meghalaya High Court in November last year. The Law Ministry also
notified the appointment of a total of 13 advocates and three judicial officers
as judges of Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and Madhya Pradesh High Courts.
While three advocates each were appointed
to the Orissa and Madhya Pradesh High Courts, seven advocates were elevated to
the Andhra Pradesh High Court. Three judicial officers were appointed as judges
of the Madhya Pradesh High Court.
6. A
new book titled “India-Africa Relations: Changing Horizons” authored by Rajiv
Bhatia:
Ambassador Rajiv Kumar Bhatia, a Distinguished Fellow, Foreign Policy Studies
Programme at Gateway House, has authored a new book (his 3rd book) titled
“India-Africa Relations: Changing Horizons” which explores the emergence and
assertion of Africa as a significant actor and stakeholder in global affairs
and the transformation of the relationship between India and Africa. The book
also provides a detailed exploration of India–the Africa partnership in all its
critical dimensions. The book describes the historical backdrop and shared
colonial past to focus on and contextualise the evolution of the India – Africa
engagement.
7.
FICCI CASCADE launches ‘Anti-Smuggling Day’ 2022: The FICCI’s
Committee Against Smuggling and Counterfeiting Activities Destroying the
Economy (CASCADE) has taken the initiative to launch Anti-Smuggling Day, which
will be marked on 11 February every year. The inaugural Anti-Smuggling Day is
being observed on February 11, 2022.
Significance of Anti-Smuggling Day:
(1) Anti-Smuggling Day will gather momentum
and bring together policymakers, international institutions, enforcement
agencies, industry members, media, and consumers for their commitment to take
action to fight against the global menace of smuggling.
(2) ‘Anti-Smuggling Day’ will represent a
major step in the fight against the global menace of smuggling.
(3) With no country immune to the impact of
smuggling and no single sector can be said to be an exception, this day will
highlight the mounting hazard of smuggling. It will not only call for attention
for creating awareness on this issue, but will also evaluate what more needs to
be done at a national and international level in mitigating this challenge.
Note: FICCI Founded: 1927; FICCI
Headquarters: New Delhi; FICCI President: Sanjiv Mehta; FICCI Secretary
General: Arun Chawla.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1.
Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba named as interim President of Burkina Faso: In Burkina Faso,
the military junta has appointed lieutenant colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba
as the interim President of the country following the military coup. The 2022
Burkina Faso military coup took place on January 24, 2022, which was led by
Damiba. President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré and Prime Minister Lassina Zerbo
were disposed from their position and the parliament, government and
constitution were declared dissolved.
One of the world’s poorest and most
volatile countries, Burkina Faso is struggling with a jihadist campaign that
has claimed more than 2,000 lives and forced around 1.5 million to flee their
homes. The country has been suspended from the West African bloc ECOWAS,
although it escaped sanctions following last week’s restoration of the
constitution.
Note: Burkina Faso Capital: Ouagadougou;
Burkina Faso President: Roch Marc Christian Kaboré; Burkina Faso Currency: West
African CFA franc.
2.
Global Entrepreneurship Monitor 2021/2022 report: India ranked 4th: The Global
Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) 2021/2022 report, unveiled at the Dubai Expo,
India is among the top five easiest places to start a new business. The survey
of Indian respondents, who answered questions on their entrepreneurial
activity, attitudes to enterprise and view of their local entrepreneurial
ecosystem, found that 82% think it is easy to start a business, placing India
fourth globally. It was topped by Saudi Arabia and followed by Netherlands
& Sweden.
India has topped amongst low-income
economies (according to GDP per capita) on different Entrepreneurial Framework
Conditions such as Entrepreneurial Finance, Ease of Access to Finance,
Government Policy: Support and Relevance; and Government Support: Taxes and
Bureaucracy; while Government Entrepreneurial Programmes was ranked second
highest.
3.
International Epilepsy Day 2022: 14th February: International
Epilepsy Day is observed every year on the Second Monday of February across the
world. In 2022, International Epilepsy Day falls on February 14, 2022.
International Epilepsy Day seeks to raise awareness and educate the general
public on the true facts about epilepsy and the urgent need for improved
treatment, better care, and greater investment in research.
The day is organised jointly by the
International Bureau for Epilepsy (IBE) and the International League Against
Epilepsy (ILAE) to raise awareness about epilepsy and highlight the kinds of
problems faced by victims, their friends and family. Epilepsy is a neurological
disorder that makes a person go through sudden and recurrent episodes of
sensory disturbances.
Note: International Bureau for Epilepsy
President: Francesca Sofia; International Bureau for Epilepsy established:
1961.
OTHER UPDATES:
BANKING AND FINANCE
1.
CBI finds India’s biggest bank fraud of Rs 22,842 cr, books ABG Shipyard: Central Bureau of
Investigation (CBI) has booked ABG Shipyard for an alleged Rs 22,842-crore
financial fraud. ABG Shipyard is the flagship entity of ABG Group. It has
cheated a consortium of 28 banks and financial institutions of Rs. 22,842
crore. This is the biggest bank fraud case ever registered by the CBI. The case
pertained to funds gotten and misused during the 2012-17 period. Rishi Agarwal,
the then CMD of ABG Shipyard has been named in the FIR.
This consortium was led by ICICI Bank. Of
this, ABG Shipyard owes Rs. 7,089 crore to ICICI Bank, Rs. 3,639 crores to IDBI
Bank, Rs. 2,925 crores to State Bank, Rs. 1,614 crores to Bank of Baroda, and
Rs. 1,244 crore to Punjab National Bank, among others. The Funds given by these
banks were used by the executives of ABG Shipyard for purposes other than for
which they were given and they were engaged in diversion of funds,
misappropriation and criminal breach of trust. The same has been revealed in a
report submitted by M/s. Ernst & Young LP.
Note: ABG Shipyard Headquarters: Mumbai;
ABG Shipyard Founded: 1985.
BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
1.
Paisabazaar & RBL bank tie-up to offer ‘Paisa on Demand’ credit card: Paisabazaar.com, a digital
platform for consumer credit, has partnered with RBL Bank Limited to offer
‘Paisa on Demand’ (PoD), a credit card that will be exclusively available on
the Paisabazaar platform. To build products that offer integrated services for
the large under-served segments across India. This is the third product under
Paisabazaar’s neo-lending strategy.
About the credit card: The credit card
from RBL Bank will be lifetime free with a digital onboarding process. It
provides options of availing of personal loans from RBL Bank, using the same
credit limit at normal personal loan rates to customers. Along with features of
a credit card, the product will provide customers the option of availing
personal loans from RBL Bank, using the same credit limit at normal personal
loan rates.
Note: Paisabazaar.com Headquarters:
Gurugram, Haryana; Paisabazaar.com CEO & Co-founder: Naveen Kukreja.
DEFENCE
1.
Singapore Air Show 2022: IAF to display Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas: The 44-member
contingents of the Indian Air Force (IAF) has reached the Changi International
Airport in Singapore on February 12, 2022, to participate in the ‘Singapore Air
Show-2022’, which is scheduled to be held from February 15 to 18, 2022.
Singapore Air Show is a biennial event that provides a platform for the Global
Aviation Industry to showcase its products.
About Tejas:
(1) The IAF will showcase its indigenous
Tejas MK-I ac during the event. It will also interact with counterparts from
RSAF (Royal Singapore Air Force) & other participating contingents.
(2) The Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas
will display low-level aerobatics to showcase its superior handling
characteristics and manoeuvrability.
2.
Indian army conducted Hackathon named “Sainya Ranakshetram”: Indian army has
conducted a first-of-its-kind Hackathon named “Sainya Ranakshetram”. The
hackathon was conducted in the Military College of Telecommunication
Engineering (MCTE), Mhow under the overall guidance of the Shimla-based Army
Training Command (ARTRAC), one of the seven commands of the Indian Army.
Key points of the event:
(1) The event was conducted from 01 October
2021 to 31 December 2021 under the name of “Sainya Ranakshetram”, in
collaboration with the Rashtriya Raksha University.
(2) The virtual event witnessed the
participation of over 15,000 participants and comprised a number of challenges
based on Secure Coding, Software Defined Radio exploitation and Cyber Offensive
skills. Further, the main highlights of the event included participants
competing with each other in cyberspace against simulated threats.
(3) Additionally, the event also hosted a plethora of training sessions and sessions by experts for the participants. Cyber enthusiasts from across India were the cynosure in the entire event.
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