NATIONAL UPDATES:
1.
GoI launches mission named Operation Ganga to evacuate nationals from Ukraine: The government of
India has launched an evacuation mission named Operation Ganga to evacuate
Indian nationals from Ukraine due to the Russia-Ukraine tension. Due to the
ongoing tension between Ukraine and Russia, Ukraine has been declared as a
no-fly zone by the authorities for the safety and security of the nations. Due
to this many Indian nationals were left stranded in Ukraine. To help the Indian
citizens come back to the country, the government of India decided to conduct a
special evacuation mission named Operation Ganga. The government will bring
back Indian nationals via flight.
2.
MSME Technology Centre to be set up in Sindhudurg: Union Minister for
Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME), Narayan Rane has announced the
establishment of MSME-Technology Centre with an outlay of Rs. 200 Crore, in
Sindhudurg, Maharashtra. The MSME-Technology Centre will provide the best of
technology, incubation as well as advisory support to the industry, especially
MSMEs, to enhance their competitiveness and provide skilling services for the
employed and unemployed youth of the area to enhance their employability.
The Ministry is presently focussing to
create a benchmark for MSMEs across the country by scaling them to new heights
in terms of exports, quality of products, contribution to GDP and providing
World-class infrastructure to all MSMEs in India.
3.
Ministry of Education launches Bhasha Certificate Selfie campaign: The Ministry of
Education has launched a campaign titled ‘Bhasha Certificate Selfie’. The aim
of this campaign is to promote the Bhasha Sangam mobile app, launched by the
Ministry under the aegis of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat to encourage cultural
diversity and promote multilingualism. Bhasha Sangam mobile app was launched on
October 31, 2021, by Minister of Education and Skill Development Shri
Dharmendra Pradhan, to lay emphasis on the promotion of Indian languages.
About the app: The app has been
developed by the Ministry of Education and MyGov India and allows users to
learn 100+ sentences of daily use in as many as 22 scheduled Indian languages.
The ‘Bhasha Certificate Selfie’ initiative is encouraging people to upload
their selfie with the certificate using the hashtag #BhashaCertificateSelfie.
4.
Digital India CEO Abhishek Singh appoints National e-Governance Division chief:
1995-batch
IAS officers and Digital India Corporation CEO, Abhishek Singh as new National
e-Governance Division chief. The 1995-batch IAS officer from Nagaland cadre
will hold the position in the rank and pay of Additional Secretary. The officer
will proceed to carry the extra cost of the put up of Managing Director &
Chief Government Officer, Digital India Company. The 1995-batch IAS officer
from Nagaland cadre will maintain the place within the rank and pay of Extra
Secretary.
5.
International Women’s Day Week begins: The Women and Child Development Ministry
celebrates the International Women’s Day week from the 1st of March as an
Iconic Week as a part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. As a part of the week-long
celebration, the Ministry will organize various events and social media
campaigns covering a variety of themes related to women’s safety and
empowerment.
This will mark an occasion to celebrate the
progress made towards achieving gender equity and women’s empowerment but also
to critically reflect on accomplishments and strive for a greater momentum
towards gender equality. It will kick off tomorrow in collaboration with the
Bureau of Police Research and Development to raise awareness on the safety and
security of women.
Whole week programme Schedule:
a)
The
focus of the events on 2nd March will be on the role played by One Stop Centres
in supporting women in distress. The Ministry will launch the Street Manoraksha
Project in collaboration with NIMHANS Bengaluru. It will emphasize psychosocial
well-being and aims at improving the mental health of women in India.
b)
On
3rd March 2022, the theme for the celebration is ‘Women of Tomorrow’. There
will be a panel discussion on topics like Young Women in STEM – Opportunities,
Challenges and Solutions followed by #NariShaktiVarta Fireside Chat on
financial literacy with the Union Minister of Women and Child Development.
c)
On
the 4th and 5th of next month, a two-day
National Workshop with State Commissions for Protection of Child Rights on
Contemporary issues pertaining to Child Rights will be organised in Bhopal.
d)
On
7th, the Back to School Campaign will be launched focusing on supporting
out-of-school girls.
e)
On
8th March, Nari Shakti Puraskaar will be given. The International Women’s Day
Conference for Women Police Delegates from all States and UTs will also be organised.
6.
Janaushadhi Diwas Week: 1st March to 7th March: Ministry of
Chemicals and Fertilizers will organize the Janaushadhi Diwas from 1st March to
7th March 2022. On 7th March 2022, the 4th Jan Aushadhi Diwas will be
celebrated. The theme of 4th Janaushadhi Diwas: “Jan Aushadhi-Jan Upyogi”. The
Government has set a target to increase the number of Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya
Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBJKs) to 10,500 by the end of March 2025.
The objective of Janaushadhi Week
and Day: To
create awareness about the usages of generic medicines and the benefits of Jan
Aushadhi Pariyojana. Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) was
launched by the Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers, Government of India in
November 2008 to provide quality generic medicines available at affordable
prices to all.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1.
Canada approved world’s 1st plant-derived COVID-19 vaccine: Canada became the
first country in the world that has authorized the use of a plant-based
COVID-19 vaccine. The two-dose vaccine of Medicago Inc. (a biopharma company
owned by Mitsubishi Chemical and Philip Morris), can be given to adults who are
aged between 18 to 64, but little data is available on the shots received by
people aged 65 and above.
The decision to authorize the vaccine was
based on a study conducted on 24,000 adults that showed the efficacy rate of
the vaccine is 71% at preventing COVID-19 – although the tests were conducted
before the omicron variant emerged. Covifenz is the name given to this vaccine.
Canada agreed to buy 20 million doses of this plant-based vaccine, with an
option to purchase 56 million additional doses.
Note: Canada Capital: Ottawa; Canada
Currency: Canadian dollar; Canada Prime minister: Justin Trudeau.
2.
World Civil Defence Day: 1st March: World Civil Defence Day is annually
observed across the globe on 1st March to honour the significance of Civil
Defence and the personnel who have sacrificed their lives for it. The purpose
of the Day is to promote public awareness about civil defence, civil protection
and emergency management in order to better prepare the civilian population to
protect itself in the event of an emergency and to reduce the risk of disaster.
The theme of World Civil Defence Day 2022 is “Civil defence and management of
displaced populations in face of disasters and crises; role of volunteers and
the fight against pandemics”.
History of the day:
a)
Civil
Defence Day was officially inaugurated by the International Civil Defence
Organisation in 2012
b)
March
1st was chosen to commemorate the anniversary of the day on which the
constitution of the International Civil Defence Organisation (ICDO) came into
force.
c)
The
Constitution of the ICDO was adopted on 17 October 1966, came into force on 1st
March 1972. It attributes the status of the intergovernmental organizations to
the ICDO (United Nations, Treaty Series, volume 985, registration No. 14376).
OTHER UPDATES:
SPORTS
1.
Wushu Stars Championship: India’s Sadia Tariq wins Gold in Russia: Indian Wushu player
Sadia Tariq has won a gold medal in the junior tournament at the Moscow Wushu
Stars Championship 2022. The 15-year-old Sadia Tariq hails from Srinagar in Jammu
& Kashmir. The Wushu Stars Championship is being held in Moscow, Russia
from February 22 to 28. From India, 38 players, including 23 junior and 15
senior participated in the championship.
Earlier in the day, former Sports Minister
and Athens Olympics medalist Rajyavardhan Rathore took to social media and laud
the gold-winning effort from Sadia. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also took to
social media to wish the young Wushu champion.
2.
Singapore Weightlifting International 2022: India secures 8 medals: India concluded its
campaign at the Singapore Weightlifting International 2022 with eight medals,
including six golds and a silver and bronze each. Each of the eight Indian
lifters who registered for Singapore International won medals and secured their
spots at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, scheduled to be held in
July-August. India now has total of 12 weightlifters qualified for the
Commonwealth Games 2022 in Birmingham.
Indian weightlifters qualified for
Commonwealth Games 2022:
|
Name |
Category |
|
Mirabai Chanu |
women’s 55kg |
|
Bindyarani Devi |
women’s 59kg |
|
Popy Hazarika |
women’s 64kg |
|
Usha Kumara |
women’s 87kg |
|
Purnima Pandey |
women’s +87kg |
|
Sanket Mahadev |
men’s 55kg |
|
Chanambam Rishikanta
Singh |
men’s 55kg |
|
Jeremy Lalrinnunga |
men’s 67kg |
|
Achinta Sheuli |
men’s 73kg |
|
Ajay Singh |
men’s 81kg |
|
Vikas Thakur |
men’s 96kg |
|
Ragala Venkat Rahul |
men’s 96kg |
BANKING AND FINANCE
1.
Standard Chartered tie up with IATA for payment platform for airline industry: Global banking
group Standard Chartered has partnered with the International Air Transport
Association (IATA) to launch a payment platform for the airline industry in
India. IATA Pay will be a new payment option that enables participating
airlines to offer instant payment options such as UPI Scan and Pay and UPI
Collect (Request to Pay). Standard Chartered will be supporting the rollout of
IATA Pay in other markets as well. IATA Pay in India is powered by Standard
Chartered’s Straight2Bank Pay, a payment platform that helps online merchants
digitalise collections via multiple payment options through single global
connectivity.
Note: Standard Chartered CEO: Bill Winters
(10 Jun 2015–); Standard Chartered Founded: 1969, London, United Kingdom.
International Air Transport Association
Headquarters: Montreal, Canada; International Air Transport Association DG:
Willie Walsh; International Air Transport Association Founded: 19 April 1945,
Havana, Cuba.
BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
1.
Brickworks Ratings lowers India’s GDP to 8.3% in FY22: Brickworks Ratings
has revised downwards India’s GDP growth forecast to 8.3 per cent in the
current fiscal 2021-22 (FY22). Earlier in January 2022, the rating agency had
estimated this between 8.5-9 per cent. Brickwork Ratings is one of the seven
Sebi-registered credit rating agencies (CRA).
The latest growth indicators suggest a loss
of economic momentum in recent months. The rapid spread of Covid in January
2022 led to renewed restrictions on economic activities, dampening the revival
process, particularly in contact-intensive sectors.
2.
Bharti Airtel to acquire 4.7% stake of Vodafone in Indus Towers: Bharti Airtel has
decided to acquire an additional 4.7 per cent stake in Indus Towers from
Vodafone Group, the company announced. The two companies signed an agreement on
the condition that Vodafone will use the proceeds to invest in Vodafone Idea
(Vi) and the latter will clear its pending dues with Indus Towers.
In addition, Airtel is also protected with
a capped price, which is lower than the price for the block of Indus shares
sold by Vodafone on February 24. This shall be value accretive to Airtel and
protect its existing significant shareholding in Indus Towers. With the
acquisition, Airtel’s shareholding in Indus Towers will increase to 46.4 per
cent. Vodafone holds a 28.1 per cent stake in the company at present and its
shareholding will reduce to 21 per cent.
Note: Bharti Airtel CEO: Gopal Vittal;
Bharti Airtel Founder: Sunil Bharti Mittal; Bharti Airtel Founded: 7 July 1995,
India.
DEFENCE
1.
IAF pulls out of multilateral air Exercise ‘Cobra Warrior 22’ in UK Amid
Ukraine Crisis: The
Indian Air Force (IAF) has decided not to send its aircraft in the multilateral
air exercise ‘Cobra Warrior-22’ in the United Kingdom, due to the deepening
crisis in Ukraine, arising out of the Russian military attack in that country.
The exercise is scheduled to take place from March 6 to 27, 2022, at Waddington
in the United Kingdom. The announcement by the IAF comes just three days after
it confirmed its participation in the drills.
Why does this happen?
The announcement by the IAF came hours after India abstained from voting on a UN Security Council resolution on the Russian military aggression against Ukraine. India retained the option of reaching out to all relevant sides to find a middle ground and foster dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the crisis.
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