NATIONAL UPDATES:
1.
Centre launches ‘SMILE’ scheme for Transgender community and the Beggars: The Union Minister
for Social Justice & Empowerment, Dr Virendra Kumar has launched the
Central Sector scheme titled “SMILE”. SMILE stands for Support for Marginalized
Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise. The new umbrella scheme aims to
provide welfare measures to the Transgender community and the people engaged in
the act of begging. The scheme will give the necessary legal protection, social
security and a promise to a secured life to the targeted group. The Ministry
has allocated Rs. 365 crore for the scheme for five years from 2021-22 to
2025-26.
The SMILE scheme comprises two sub-schemes.
These are:
(1) ‘Central Sector Scheme for
Comprehensive Rehabilitation for Welfare of Transgender Persons’.
a)
Scholarships
for Transgender Students: Scholarships for students studying in IX and till
post-graduation to enable them to complete their education.
b)
Skill
Development and Livelihood: Skill Development and Livelihood under PM-DAKSH
scheme of the Department.
c)
Composite
Medical Health: A comprehensive package in convergence with PM-JAY supporting
Gender-Reaffirmation surgeries through selected hospitals.
d)
Housing
in the form of ‘GarimaGreh’: Shelter Homes ‘Garima Greh’ where food, clothing,
recreational facilities, skill development opportunities, recreational
activities, medical support etc. will be provided.
e)
Provision
of Transgender Protection Cell: Setting up of Transgender Protection in each
state to monitor cases of offences and to ensure timely registration,
investigation and prosecution of offences.
f)
E-Services
(National Portal & Helpline and Advertisement) and other Welfare Measures.
(2) ‘Central Sector Scheme for
Comprehensive Rehabilitation of engaged in the act of Begging’.
a)
Survey
and identification: Survey and Identification of beneficiaries shall be carried
out by the Implementing Agencies.
b)
Mobilisation:
Outreach work will be done to mobilise the persons engaged in begging to avail
the services available in the Shelter Homes.
c)
Rescue/
Shelter Home: The shelter homes will facilitate education for children engaged
in the act of Begging and children of persons engaged in the act of Begging.
d)
Comprehensive
resettlement.
2.
Maharashtra’s Health Minister announces “Hope Express” to prevent cancer: Maharashtra’s
Health Minister, Rajesh Tope has announced that “Hope Express” will be launched
in the state to prevent cancer. This is the first such machine in India. He was
speaking at the launch of a state-of-the-art Mosaic-3D radiation machine at a
private hospital in Kolhapur. The State Health Minister also promised to take
initiative to start Hope Express in every district of the state through
district planning. The State Health Minister also promised to take initiative
to start Hope Express in every district of the state through district planning.
He also inaugurated the Oncoprime Cancer Center online at the Hattarki Hospital
in Gadhinglaj. The centre will benefit patients in rural areas.
Note: Maharashtra Capital: Mumbai;
Maharashtra Governor: Bhagat Singh Koshyari; Maharashtra Chief Minister: Uddhav
Thackeray.
3.
J&K governor launched QR code-based mechanism for certification: Jammu and Kashmir
lieutenant governor, Manoj Sinha has launched a QR code-based mechanism for
certification and labelling of handmade carpets of the union territory. With
the QR-based application, which is the first of its kind in the country,
customers can check and verify the authenticity and other requisite details of
carpets produced in Jammu and Kashmir, read an official statement from the
administration. Manoj Sinha also felicitated UT’s awardees of Handicrafts &
Handloom. J&K Handicrafts are repositories of India’s creative traditions
that are serving as a cultural expression.
The Jammu and Kashmir government has
introduced Export Incentive Scheme. Under this scheme, the incentive of 10 per
cent of the total volume of GI certified Handicrafts and Handloom products
exported to any country, with a maximum reimbursement of up to Rs 5 crores,
shall be provided to eligible exporters registered with the Department of
Handicrafts and Handloom.
4.
Krishi Network app named Pankaj Tripathi as its brand ambassador: Cultino Agrotech
Pvt Ltd, which runs agritech app Krishi Network has roped in film actor Pankaj
Tripathi as a brand ambassador, with a view to reaching out to farmers to its
app. Tripathi’s background as a farmer resonates with the platform’s aim to aid
farmers to grow their profits by offering them solutions to critical decisions.
The app is currently available in Hindi, Marathi, Punjabi, and English, and is
planned to be launched in other languages soon.
The startup plans to use the fresh funds to
boost their artificial intelligence-based technology platform across India.
Founded by IIT Kharagpur alumni Ashish Mishra and Siddhant Bhomia, Krishi
Network leverages the growing rural internet penetration to create a platform
that eases information accessibility for farmers and enables them to generate
higher profits from their land.
5.
17th edition of Mumbai International Film Festival to be held form May: The 17th edition of
the Mumbai International Film Festival for Documentary, Short Fiction and
Animation films (MIFF-2022) is scheduled to take place from 29 May to 4 June,
2022 at the Films Division complex, Mumbai. Those films which were completed
between September 1, 2019, and December 31, 2021, are eligible. The best
documentary of the festival will receive a Golden Conch and 10 lakh in a cash
award. As India is celebrating Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, the current edition has
instituted a special award for the best short film on the theme India@75.
The programme is organized by the Films
Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting since 1990, with support
from the Government of Maharashtra, and focuses on documentary, short fiction
and animation films. It is the oldest and largest festival for non-feature
films in South Asia.
6.
Maru Mahotsav or Jaisalmer Desert Festival celebrated in Rajasthan: The renowned
Jaisalmer Desert Festival, also known as Maru Mahotsav of the Golden City
started from 13 to 16 February 2022 at Pokaran village in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.
It is a four-day-long annual event started with a colorful grand procession
followed by Miss Pokaran and Mister Pokran competitions. Regional folk dances
such as Kalbelia, Kachhi Ghodi, Gair will be performed. Rajasthan Minority Affairs
Minister, Shale Mohammad flagged off the event. The festival is celebrated
amidst the beautiful dunes of the Thar Desert in the Sam dunes (42 kilometres
from Jaisalmer).
Note: Chief Minister of Rajasthan: Ashok
Gehlot; Governor: Kalraj Mishra.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1.
Israel became first country to allow drones in civilian airspace: Israel becomes the
first-ever country to allow drone flights in civilian airspace. The
certification was issued to the Hermes Starliner unmanned system by the Israeli
Civil Aviation Authority and was manufactured and developed by Elbit Systems,
an Israeli defence electronics company. The UAVs will be used for the benefit
of agriculture, the environment, public welfare, economic activity and against
crime. For safety reasons, international aviation regulations prohibit
uncertified aircraft from flying in civilian airspace, limiting the operation
of UAVs to unsegregated airspace.
About the Hermes Starliner unmanned
system:
(1) The Hermes Starliner, which has a
wingspan of 17 metres and weighs 1.6 ton, can fly for up to 36 hours at an
altitude of about 7,600 metres, and can carry an additional 450 kg of
electro-optical, thermal, radar and other payloads.
(2) It will be able to participate in border
security and anti-terror operations, take part in securing mass public events,
perform maritime search and rescue, commercial aviation and environmental
inspection missions, as well as precision agriculture work.
Note: Israel Capital: Jerusalem; Israel
Currency: Israeli Shekel; Israel President: Isaac Herzog; Israel Prime
minister: Naftali Bennett.
2.
Germany re-elects President Frank-Walter Steinmeier for second term: German President,
Frank-Walter Steinmeier has been re-elected for a second term of five years by
a special parliamentary assembly. This is also the final term for Steinmeier,
which he won with 71% of the vote. The special assembly was made up of the
members of parliament of the lower house and representatives of Germany’s 16
states. Steinmeier was first elected as the president on February 12, 2017,
with 74% of the vote.
Before first becoming president in 2017,
Steinmeier, 66, served two stints as Chancellor Angela Merkel’s foreign
minister and earlier was chief of staff to Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder.
Germany’s president has little executive power but is considered an important
moral authority. After a messy parliamentary election result in 2017,
Steinmeier helped prod politicians to form a new coalition government rather
than holding out for a new vote.
Note: Germany Chancellor: Olaf Scholz;
Germany Capital: Berlin; Germany Currency: Euro.
OTHER UPDATES:
SPORTS
1.
Keegan Petersen, Heather Knight ICC players of the month for January: South Africa’s Test
sensation Keegan Petersen and England women’s team captain Heather Knight were
voted ICC Players of the Month for January 2022. In the men’s category, South
African batter Keegan Petersen was a sensation during the home Test series against
India. He ended the series as the highest run-scorer with 276 runs and was
named the Player of the Series.
For the women’s award, England skipper
Knight beat off competition from Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu and West
Indies star Deandra Dottin to be named ICC Player of the Month for January
2022. Knight captained England in the one-off Ashes Test against Australia in
Canberra and finished as the highest run-getter.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. FM
Sitharaman launches first colour souvenir coin on ‘Panchtantra’: Finance Minister,
Nirmala Sitharaman has launched the first colour souvenir coin on ‘Panchtantra’
on the occasion of the 17th foundation day of Security Printing and Minting
Corporation of India Limited (SPMCIL). The finance minister in her address
stressed on upskilling and acquiring new skills, and up-gradation to meet the
technology-driven economy. Further, she emphasized on ramping up the quality of
products and to brand SPMCIL as lead producers of currency and other sovereign
products.
BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
1.
Reliance Jio ties up with SES for satellite-based broadband service: Reliance Jio has
tied up with Luxembourg-based satellite and telecom services provider SES to
provide satellite-based broadband communication services in India. Under the
agreement, Jio Platforms has formed a joint venture with SES, named as Jio
Space Technology Ltd. The joint venture will deliver the next generation
scalable and affordable broadband services in India, leveraging satellite
technology. Jio Platforms Ltd will hold 51 per cent and SES will own a 49 per
cent equity stake in the joint venture. The total value of the contract is
around $100 million.
Note: Reliance Jio Founder: Mukesh Ambani;
Reliance Jio Founded: 2007, Ahmedabad.
OBITUARIES
1. Legendary singer and music composer Bappi Lahiri passes away: Veteran singer and composer, Bappi Lahiri has passed away at the age of 69. He was lovingly called Bappi Da in the industry is known for delivering iconic songs in several films of the late 1970s-80s like Chalte Chalte, Disco Dancer, and Sharaabi. His last Bollywood song was Bhankas for the 2020 film Baaghi 3. The singer is known for his gold chains. His real name was Alokesh Lahiri. He joined BJP in 2014. He was declared a BJP candidate from Srerampur (Lok Sabha constituency) in West Bengal for the 2014 Indian general election and lost.
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