Daily GK Update- 27th Feb, 2022

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. GoI launches the “Janbhagidari Empowerment” portal in J&K: The Central Government launched the “Janbhagidari Empowerment” portal in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, in line with the government’s digital mission. The portal was hosted on a different server with higher bandwidth, in order to provide easy and ready accessibility to the general public. This intervention comes amid concerns related to the slow speed or bandwidth issues related to the portal. This has led to disenchantment among users despite its great value as an information platform. After the movement of this portal on a different server, it has started to open quickly enough, and thus the whole experience of visiting the portal has improved. About 70 thousand people have accessed the portal until now. With the increase in bandwidth, the portal is likely to receive more hits in near future.

Importance of the portal:

a)      It is a one-stop interactive and user-friendly digital platform. It provides detailed insights to people into nature, status as well as the number of developmental works that are being executed in their areas.

b)      Works could be searched with respect to their location in each block or municipality, village and district. The portal has also been linked with schemes like MGNREGA, Swachh Bharat Mission (Rural), Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban), PM Awas Yojana, and PM Gram Sadak Yojana, under execution in Government.

c)       Users will have to click on these links to gain instant access to works that are being carried out under these schemes.

Note: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor: Manoj Sinha.

 

2. G Kishan Reddy inaugurate a conference on Indian temple architecture ‘Devayatanam’: Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) of Ministry of Culture, Government of India is organizing a two-day international conference ‘Devayatanam – An odyssey of Indian temple architecture on 25th – 26th February 2022 at Hampi, Karnataka. The Union Minister for Culture, Tourism and DoNER, G Kishan Reddy inaugurates the conference.

Aim of the conference: The conference aims to deliberate upon the philosophical, religious, social, economic, technical, scientific, art and architectural aspects of the temple. It also intends to initiate a dialogue on the evolution and development of the various styles of temple architecture such as the Nagara, Vesara, Dravida, Kalinga and others.

Significance of the conference: The conference has eminent scholars discussing on the various facets of the great temples of India. Various sessions of discussions include Temple- From the Formless to Form, Temple- Evolution of Temple Architecture, Temple-Regional Development Forms and Styles, Temple-Epicenter of art, culture, education, administration and economy, Temple-Protector of environment, Temple- Culture diffusion in Southeast Asia.

 

3. SPMCIL Delhi headquarters declared a prohibited place: Home Ministry has declared Delhi headquarters of Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India Ltd. (SPMCIL) as a ‘prohibited place’ under Section 2 of the Official Secrets Act, 1923. This prevents the entry of unauthorized persons into it. It is the only currency and banknotes manufacturer of India, that printed new series of notes of denomination Rs 2,000 and Rs 500 in 2016.

The nine production units of SPMCIL, where banknotes and other government papers are manufactured, are already prohibited places. Only the Delhi headquarters where crucial decisions are taken and important files are generated was not under the purview. Through the recent order, even the Delhi office has been declared a prohibited place. The nine production units are four India Government Mints, two Currency Note Presses.

 

4. Dish TV’s ropes Rishabh Pant as its brand ambassador: Dish TV India, has announced the appointment of Indian cricketer Rishabh Pant as brand ambassador. Pant will feature in the brand’s 360-degree communication for the next two years. This investment in the D2H brand is going to make it even stronger. The close affinity between D2H brand and Rishabh Pant as brand ambassadors will enable deeper engagement of D2H with its TG.

Rishabh has quickly developed into a distinctive entertainer on the cricket field, with his boundless energy behind the stumps and innovation in shot-making. He brings a spark each time he enters the field and appeals to the huge 18-35 age group across the country, our core audience.

 

5. 3rd India Protein Day: 27th February: In India, February 27th is celebrated as the National Protein Day, to create awareness about protein deficiency and encourage people to include of this macronutrient in their diet. The day urges people to include this crucial macronutrient in their diet. The day also helps people to learn more about different sources of plant and animal protein. Protein Day is celebrating its third year in 2022. This year’s theme of India Protein Day is ‘Food Futurism‘.

History of the day: The day was launched on February 27, 2020, by the ‘Right to Protein’, a national-level public health awareness initiative to educate people about the importance of adequate protein consumption for better nutrition, health, and wellbeing.

 

6. Polio National Immunization Day 2022: 27th February: In 2022, the Government of India has organised the Polio National Immunization Day 2022 (NID) (also known as ‘’Polio Ravivar”) on February 27, 2022, to give two drops of oral polio vaccine (OPV) to every child in the country under the age of five. Over 15 crore children will be covered under the drive across all 36 States and UTs in 735 districts. The National Polio Immunization Drive for 2022 was launched by Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr Mansukh Mandavia on February 26, 2022.

Polio history in India:

a)      In India, one nationwide NID and two Sub-National Immunization Day (SNIDs) for polio is held every year to maintain population immunity against wild poliovirus and to sustain its polio-free status.

b)      India was removed from the list of polio-endemic countries in 2012 and in 2013 the entire Southeast Asia Region was declared Polio free.

c)       The last case of wild poliovirus reported in India was on 13th January 2011.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. World NGO Day: 27th January: World NGO Day is celebrated every year on 27th February in several countries across the world. Non-Governmental Organizations or NGOs work in the upliftment of society. It is an international day to recognise, celebrate and honour non-government and non-profit organisations and also those who contribute their time and efforts in making society a better place to live in. World NGO Day aims to create awareness about the sector and encourage people across the world who work in the sector for a good cause. One interesting fact about World NGO Day is that the Government of each country, appreciate these people working selflessly in their official state languages.

World NGO Day History: The Baltic Sea NGO Forum of the Council of the Baltic Sea State officially recognised this day on April 27, 2010. It was adopted in the forum’s Final Statement Resolution two years later. In 2014, February 27 was declared as World NGO Day and it became a historic day for the NGO community across the globe. An international calendar day, which is now known as ‘World NGO Day,’ was inaugurated for the first time on this day.

The Baltic Sea NGO Forum have member countries like Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Norway and Sweden. Overall, World NGO Day is observed in around 89 countries and 6 continents.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. RBI cautions public against using car pooling app sRide: Reserve bank of India (RBI) has cautioned the public against carpooling app sRide. The caution against sRide App, stating that this firm was operating a semi-closed pre-paid instrument, without receiving authorization from the central bank, under Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007.

RBI caution against sRide App: sRide Tech Private Limited is a registered company, with a registered office in Gurgaon, Haryana. This company is operating a semi-closed (non-closed) pre-paid instrument (wallet) through its ‘sRide’ carpooling app. Thus, RBI cautioned that persons dealing with the app will be doing at their own risk.

About the “sRide” App: sRide app is a carpooling mobile application that connects people within the community to share rides. The app help users in sharing the cost of travel, increasing mobility, reducing travel time, and building communities. The app also helps in using existing infrastructure, reducing parking needs, traffic and emissions for cities and organisations.

Payment and settlement systems in India: In India, payment and settlement systems are used for financial transactions. They are covered under Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007 (PSS Act), Reserve Bank of India and Board for Regulation & Supervision of Payment & Settlement Systems regulate it. India has multiple payments and settlement systems, including gross and net settlement systems.

 

2. Rakesh Sharma again appointed as MD & CEO of IDBI Bank: Industrial Development Bank of India (IDBI Bank) has informed the stock exchanges that its board has approved the reappointment of Rakesh Sharma as the managing director and chief executive officer of the bank for a period of three years, effective March 19, 2022. Sharma’s reappointment as the MD&CEO of the bank has received the banking regulator, Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) nod.

Note: IDBI Bank Owner: Life Insurance Corporation; IDBI Bank Headquarters: Mumbai.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. Reliance Jio’s New Subsea Cable ‘India-Asia-Xpress’ To Connect Maldives: India’s largest 4G mobile broadband and digital service provider, Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd. will land the next generation multi-terabit India-Asia-Xpress (IAX) undersea cable system in Hulhumale, Maldives. The high capacity and high-speed IAX system will connect Hulhumale directly with World’s major internet hubs in India and Singapore. On the other hand, the India-Europe-Xpress (IEX) system connects Mumbai to Milan, landing in Savona, Italy, and includes additional landings in the Middle East, North Africa, and the Mediterranean. While IAX is expected to be ready for service by the end-2023, IEX will be ready for service in mid-2024.

Key points of Undersea cable systems:

a)      Undersea cable systems along with data centres support 5G and the digital economy that builds large integrated capacities to enable India’s digital ecosystem.

b)      This high capacity and the high-speed system will provide more than 200Tb/s of capacity at speeds of 100Gb/s, over 16,000 kilometres.

c)       Employing open system technology and the latest wavelength switched RoADM/branching units ensures rapid upgrade deployment and the ultimate flexibility to add/drop waves across multiple locations.

Note: Maldives Capital: Male; Maldives Currency: Rufiyaa; Maldives President: Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

 

DEFENCE

 

1. US Boeing delivers 12th P-8I maritime patrol aircraft to India: The Indian Navy has received the 12th anti-submarine warfare aircraft P-8I from the US-based aerospace company Boeing. This is the fourth of four additional aircraft, for which the contract was signed in 2016. The Ministry of Defence had signed a contract for eight P-8I aircraft in 2009. However, later in 2016, it signed a contract for four additional P-8I aircraft.

In May 2021, the US State Department approved the proposed sale of six P-8I patrol aircraft and related equipment, a deal estimated to cost 2.42 billion dollars.

About P-8I maritime patrol aircraft: P-8I is a long-range maritime reconnaissance and Anti-Submarine Warfare Aircraft, and a variant of the P-8A Poseidon used by the US Navy. India was the first international customer of Boeing for this aircraft. The Indian Navy inducted the first P-8I aircraft in 2013. The P-8I aircraft is a variant of the P-8A Poseidon aircraft that Boeing developed as a replacement for the US Navy’s ageing P-3 fleet.

P-8I aircraft is equipped for long-range anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance in support of the broad area, maritime and littoral operations. Its communication and sensor suite includes indigenous equipment developed by defence PSUs and private manufacturers. With its high speed and high endurance of about 10 hours, the aircraft is capable of thrusting a punitive response and maintaining a watch over India’s immediate and extended.

Note: Chief of Naval Staff: Admiral R Hari Kumar; Indian Navy Founded: 26 January 1950.

 

2. Army Chief MM Naravane presents President’s Colours to four parachute battalions: Chief of Army Staff General MM Naravane has presented Presidential Colours to four parachute battalions at Parachute Regiment Training Centre in Bengaluru. The four battalions are the 11 Para (Special Forces), 21 Para (Special Forces), 23 Para, and 29 Para battalions. The award of President’s Colours or the ‘Nishan’ is one of the highest honours bestowed upon a military unit in recognition of its exceptional service to the nation, both during the war and in peace.

Notably: The Parachute Regiment is an elite force of the Indian Army and holds an impeccable record in battle, both before and after Independence. It has been conferred with 51 Battle Honours, one Victoria Cross, 28 Military Medals (MM), 11 Distinguished Service Orders (DSO), 40 Indian Distinguished Service Medals (IDSM) and 40 Military Cross (MC) up to independence.