Daily GK Update- 15th Feb, 2022

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. President Ram Nath Kovind inaugurates new Durbar Hall at Raj Bhavan: President of India, Ram Nath Kovind has inaugurated the Durbar Hall at Raj Bhavan, situated at Malabar Hill, Mumbai. While retaining the heritage features of the old court hall, the new hall has been given additional features such as a balcony and a sea view gallery. Durbar Hall has political importance as it has been associated with oath-taking ceremonies of the Governors, chief ministers of the state. Earlier, the inauguration of Durbar Hall was scheduled on December 8, 2021, but it was postponed due to the sudden demise of General Bipin Rawat, chief of defence staff in a helicopter crash.

About the Durbar Hall: Most of the swearing-in ceremonies were held at the Durbar Hall only until 1995 when Manohar Joshi took oath as the chief minister at Shivaji Park at Dadar for the first time. The new Durbar Hall is built on the site of the old Durbar Hall and has a seating capacity of 750. Chief minister Uddhav Thackeray also took oath of the position at a grand event held at Shivaji Park on November 29, 2019. Thackeray also informed that the map of Unified Maharashtra was inaugurated here at Durbar Hall at the hands of the then prime minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.

 

2. Nitin Gadkari inaugurates long Rail-cum-Road Bridge over River Ganga in Bihar: The Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar jointly inaugurated the 14.5-kilometre long ‘Rail-cum-Road-Bridge’ in Bihar. The much-awaited bridge is constructed over the River Ganga on NH 333B in Bihar’s Munger region. The cost of the ‘Rail-cum-Road-Bridge’ project is Rs 696 crore. The new bridge will reduce travel time, give a boost to tourism, agriculture as well as generate employment opportunities.

The benefit of the Bridge: One of Bihar’s major tourist and pilgrimage sites, the city of Munger is well known for its rich ancient history, culture, education and commerce. With the construction of this Rail-cum-Road-Bridge, the distance from Munger to Khagaria will be less than 100 kilometres and also, the distance from Munger to Begusarai will be less than 20 kilometres.

Note: Bihar Governor: Phagu Chauhan; Bihar Capital: Patna; Bihar Chief minister: Nitish Kumar.

 

3. Telangana govt tie-up with British Council to expand higher education: The Government of Telangana and the British Council, an international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural exchange, have signed a 3-year MoU to renew the partnership in education, English and arts. To facilitate research between institutions and assist to expand higher education globally, to offer global opportunities for the youth of Telangana.

Under the extended 3-year MoU, the British Council has also signed an agreement with the Research and Innovation Circle of Hyderabad (RICH) to work closely to engineer new partnerships between universities, research institutions and centres of excellence in the UK and in Telangana. Focus areas

(1) The partnerships between RICH and UK higher education institutions will be in the areas of aerospace, defence, life sciences and pharma, food and agriculture, and sustainability.

(2) The two partners will also take part in joint innovation or entrepreneurship initiatives, like sharing of best practices and or development of bespoke courses to develop relevant skills amid the young people of Telangana.

(3) The British Council and the Telangana State Council of Higher Education have been partnering to achieve the State’s knowledge and employment ambitions for its youth for the past decade as per the MoU signed in 2018.

Note: Telangana Capital: Hyderabad; Telangana Governor: Tamilisai Soundararajan; Telangana Chief minister: K. Chandrashekar Rao.

 

4. Central Jail in Madhya Pradesh gets own FM radio channel: In Madhya Pradesh, the Central Jail of Indore has started its own radio channel ‘Jail Vaani-FM 18.77’. Through this radio channel, the jail inmates will get to know about the happening in the world. The radio channel will also provide the jail inmates with information on health and social issues.

The radio station will act as a medium for prisoners to tell their own stories and also to share their experiences. The aim is to inform jail inmates about what is happening across the world. Jails with such innovative measures adopted for the reform of prisoners will certainly act as correctional institutions.

Note: Madhya Pradesh Capital: Bhopal; Madhya Pradesh Governor: Mangubhai C. Patel; Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister: Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

 

5. Chairman of Supreme Court panel on Char Dham project Ravi Chopra resigns: Veteran environmentalist Ravi Chopra has resigned as chairman of the Supreme Court’s High Powered Committee (HPC) on the Char Dham project. His belief that the HPC could protect this fragile (Himalayan) ecology has been shattered. The Supreme Court on December 14 allowed double-lane widening of roads for the project in view of “security concerns.”

In his resignation letter to the secretary-general of the Supreme Court on January 27, Chopra referred to the apex court’s December 2021 order that accepted the wider road configuration to meet defence needs, instead of what the HPC had recommended and the SC accepted in its earlier order in September 2020. In 2018, the project was challenged by an NGO for its potential impact on the Himalayan ecology due to felling trees, cutting hills and dumping excavated material. In 2019, the SC formed the HPC Chopra to examine the issues, and in September 2020, accepted his recommendation on road width etc.

 

6. Debashis Mitra takes over as President of ICAI: Debashis Mitra has been elected as the President of The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) for the year 2022-23. Mitra, who is serving his third term in ICAI Council, has been in the accounting profession for more than 34 years. Apart from being a Chartered Accountant, he is also a Cost Accountant and a Company Secretary. He holds a master’s degree in commerce and is also a law graduate as well as a qualified Information Systems Auditor.

Other appointments:

(1) Aniket Sunil Talati has been elected as Vice President of the institute, which has more than 3.40 lakh members and over 7 lakh students.

(2) Talati, who has a master’s degree in commerce, served as Chairman of Ahmedabad Branch of ICAI for the year 2014-15 and as Secretary, WIRC for the year 2017-18.

(3) Among other positions, he has served as Chairman of Financial Reporting Review Board (FRRB), Vice Chairman of CSR Committee and Convenor of Digital Re-Engineering & Learning Directorate of ICAI. He was also the Director of the ICAI Accounting Research Foundation (ICAI ARF).

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invokes Emergencies Act for 1st time: Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau has invoked never-before-used emergency powers to support provinces in ending the blockades and public disorder that have gripped Ottawa for 18 days at the hands of participants in the so-called “Freedom Convoy.” The demonstrations shut a main economic corridor between Canada and the United States for six days before it was reopened on the 13th Feb. The Emergencies Act to deal with the “Freedom Convoy” protests, started on Jan 28 by Canadian truckers opposing a vaccinate-or-quarantine mandate for cross-border drivers. They have turned into a rallying point for people opposed to a range of Trudeau’s policies, including COVID-19 pandemic restrictions and a carbon tax.

Key measures announced:

(1) Banks and financial institutions will be able to temporarily freeze the accounts of those suspected of supporting the blockades, without obtaining a court order. The insurance on vehicles being used in the protests can also be suspended.

(2) All crowdfunding platforms and payment providers they use must register with Canada’s anti-money laundering agency, FINTRAC, and report suspicious activities effective immediately.

(3) The act will broaden the scope of the government’s anti-money laundering and terrorist financing rules to cover crowdfunding platforms.

Emergencies Act: The act gives the government temporary powers it does not normally have, such as the power to impose special restrictions on public assembly and travel and to mobilize federal support for the local and provincial police. It gives the federal government power to implement temporary measures to ensure safety and security during national emergencies. A declaration of a public welfare emergency allows the government to regulate the distribution of essential goods, decide what are essential services, and impose fines on violations of the act. It sets out a compensation scheme for those who suffer damages as a result of its application.

Note: Canada Capital: Ottawa; Currency: Canadian dollar.

 

2. International Childhood Cancer Day: 15th February: Every year, February 15 is observed as International Childhood Cancer Day (ICCD) to raise awareness about the evil that entails this issue and the ways to deal with the same. The day is a global collaborative campaign to raise awareness about childhood cancer and to express support for children and adolescents with cancer, the survivors and their families.

History of the day: This annual event was created in 2002 by Childhood Cancer International, a global network of 176 parent organizations, childhood cancer survivor associations, childhood cancer support groups, and cancer societies, in over 93 countries, across 5 continents.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Gita Mittal appointed as chairperson of Committee of Administrators to run TTFI: The Delhi High Court has appointed former Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court, Gita Mittal as the Chairperson of the Committee of Administrators which will run the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI). The court ordered that all communications on behalf of TTFI with any sportsperson or international sports bodies, will now take place only through the Committee of Administrators and the existing office bearers shall no longer be entitled to discharge any functions. The office bearers will help the Committee of Administrators, as and when requested and a monthly honorarium of Rs 3 lakh and Rs 1 lakh each will be paid to Chairperson and two members, respectively.

Note: Table Tennis Federation of India President: Dushyant Chautala; Table Tennis Federation of India Headquarters: New Delhi; Table Tennis Federation of India Founded: 1926.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. BoB will acquire Union Bank’s stake in IndiaFirst Life Insurance: Bank of Baroda will acquire Union Bank of India’s 21% stake in IndiaFirst Life Insurance Company. It is a joint venture between the Bank of Baroda, Union Bank of India, and Carmel Point Investments. At present, the shareholding in IFIC is BoB holds 44%, Carmel Point Investments India holds 26% and UBI holds 30%. The acquisition is pursuant to a ‘Right of First Offer’ made by UBI to the existing shareholders of IndiaFirst Life, to divest 21% of its stake in IndiaFirst Life.

IndiaFirst Life Insurance Company will continue to have a long term agency distribution agreements with both banks (BOB and UBI), even after this stake sale. Bank of Baroda has a strong domestic presence spanning 8,185 branches and 11,535 ATMs and cash recyclers supported by self-service channels. The bank has a significant international presence with a network of 96 overseas offices spanning 18 countries.

Note: Bank of Baroda Founded: 20 July 1908; Bank of Baroda Headquarters: Vadodara, Gujarat; Bank of Baroda Managing Director & CEO: Sanjiv Chadha; Bank of Baroda Tagline: India’s International Bank; Bank of Baroda Amalgamated Banks: Dena Bank & Vijaya Bank in 2019.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. Ilker Ayci named as MD and CEO of Air India: Ilker Ayci has been appointed as the new CEO and MD of Air India. He will assume his responsibilities on or before 1st April 2022. Ilker Ayci is a former chairman of Turkish Airlines. Ilker is an aviation industry leader who led Turkish Airlines to its current success during his tenure there.

Note: Tata Group Founder: Jamsetji Tata; Tata Group Founded: 1868, Mumbai; Tata Group Headquarters: Mumbai.

 

DEFENCE

 

1. GoI approves continuation of Modernization of State Police Forces Scheme: The Government has approved the continuation of the Scheme of Modernization of State Police Forces (MPF Scheme) for five years from 2021-22 to 2025-26. Total Central financial outlay for five years is Rs. 26,275 crores. The scheme is being implemented by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) since 1969-70.

What is the Objective of the scheme?

The objective of the scheme is to gradually reduce the dependence of the State Governments on the Army and the Central Armed Police Forces to control internal security and law and order situations by equipping the State Police Forces adequately and strengthening their training infrastructure.

What is the focus of the scheme?

The focus of the scheme is to build cutting edge level police infrastructure by the construction of secure police stations, training centres, police housing (residential), equipping the police stations with the required mobility, modern weaponry, communication equipment and forensic set-up etc.