NATIONAL UPDATES:
1.
Union Minister Amit Shah launches the “Dairy Sahakar” scheme: The Union Minister
of Cooperation, Amit Shah has launched the “Dairy Sahakar” scheme at Anand,
Gujarat during a function organised by Amul to celebrate the 75th Foundation
Year of Amul. The total outlay of the Dairy Sahakar scheme is Rs 5000 crore.
The scheme will be implemented by National Cooperative Development Corporation
(NCDC) under the Ministry of Cooperation.
About the scheme: The scheme will
supplement the existing efforts of strengthening the dairy sector in the
country, doubling the farmer’s income as well as realizing the vision of ‘from
cooperation to prosperity’. Under the scheme, NCDC will extend financial
support to eligible cooperatives for activities like bovine development, milk
procurement, processing, quality assurance, value addition, branding,
packaging, marketing, transportation and storage of milk and milk products,
exports of dairy products among others.
2.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh launches ‘Samudrayan Project’: The Union Minister
of State (Independent Charge) Earth Sciences Dr Jitendra Singh officially
launched India’s First Manned Ocean Mission called the “Samudrayan project” at
Chennai. The Unique Ocean Mission aims to have deep underwater manned vehicles
for carrying out subsea activities. With this technology, India joins the elite
club of nations such as the USA, Russia, Japan, France and China to have such
underwater vehicles. About the Project:
(1) The Unique Ocean Mission aims to have
deep underwater manned vehicles for carrying out subsea activities.
(2) The deepwater manned submersible has
been codenamed as the ‘MATSYA 6000’.
(3) It is developed by the Chennai-based
National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT).
(4) The technology will help to conduct
deep-ocean exploration of the non-living resources located at a depth of about
1000 and 5500 meters, such as polymetallic manganese nodules, gas hydrates,
hydro-thermal sulphides and cobalt crusts.
3.
Public Affairs Index 2021: Kerala topped in governance performance: According to the
6th edition of the Public Affairs Index (PAI 2021) report by the Public Affairs
Centre (PAC), a Bengaluru- based non-profit think tank, the top three slots
have been taken by Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Telangana among 18 large states. PAI
2021 highlights the state government’s quality governance and especially the
state’s government involvement over the curb of Covid-19.
Toppers among large states:
1)
Kerala
(1.618)
2)
Tamil
Nadu (0.857)
3)
Telangana
(0.891)
Toppers among small states:
1)
Sikkim
(1.617)
2)
Meghalaya
(1.144)
3)
Mizoram
(1.123)
Toppers among Union Territories:
1)
Puducherry
(1.182)
2)
Jammu
and Kashmir (0.705)
3)
Chandigarh
(0.628)
4.
IRCTC & Truecaller partnered to reduce fraud in the railways: The Indian Railway
Catering & Tourism Corporation Limited (IRCTC) has partnered with
Truecaller India to provide passengers with greater trust in communication.
This partnership aims to reduce fraud in the railways. Under this partnership,
the integrated National Railways Helpline 139 has been verified by Truecaller
Business Identity solutions. This partnership aims to assure the passengers
that critical communications such as booking details and PNR status are
delivered only by IRCTC.
Note: IRCTC Founded: 27th September 1999;
IRCTC Headquarters: New Delhi; IRCTC CMD (Additional Charge): Rajni Hasija.
5.
GoI appoints Ashok Bhushan as NCLAT Chairperson: The Centre has
appointed former Supreme Court Judge Justice Ashok Bhushan as the new
Chairperson of the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT), for a
period of four years or until he attains the age of 70 years, whichever is the
earliest. He was the former Chief Justice of Kerala High Court. NCLAT was
formed by the government under Section 410 of the Companies Act, 2013. Apart
from this, Justice Ramalingam Sudhakar has been appointed as the new President
of the quasi-judicial body, National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) for five years
or till he attains the age of 67 years. Justice Sudhakar was the former Chief
Justice of Manipur High Court.
Note: National Company Law Appellate
Tribunal Founded: 1 June 2016.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1.
Glasgow climate summit 2021: PM Modi speech highlights: Addressing the
COP26 Glasgow Climate Summit held in Scotland, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has
said that India will reach net-zero carbon emission by 2070. PM Modi stressed
on a five-point plan or ‘Panchamrit’ to fight the devastating effects of global
warming and climate change. More than 120 world leaders were present at the
COP26 Glasgow Climate Summit. India is the last of the world’s major carbon
polluters to announce a net-zero target. China has said that it would reach the
net-zero carbon emission goal in 2060 while the United States and the European
Union are aiming for reaching the goal by 2050. Highlights from PM Modi’s
speech:
(1) India would increase its 2030 target
for an installed capacity of ‘non-fossil energy’, mostly solar from 450 to 500
gigawatts.
(2) PM Modi said that India will fulfil 50%
of its energy requirement through renewable energy by 2030.
(3) India is committed to reducing carbon
emissions by 1 billion tonnes and a net 45% carbon reduction among the
five-point plan.
(4) The number of goods produced per unit
of energy would be reduced by 45% by 2030. The previous goal was 35%.
2.
SpaceX sets up subsidiary in India: World’s richest person Elon Musk-owned
SpaceX has incorporated its wholly-owned subsidiary in India to start local broadband
operations. SpaceX’s satellite broadband arm Starlink aims to start broadband
services in India from December 2022, with 2 lakh active terminals subject to
permission from the government. The company is charging a deposit of USD 99 or
Rs 7,350 per customer and claims to deliver data speeds in the range of 50 to
150 megabits per second in the beta stage. The services of the company will
compete with that of Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea in broadband
and it will be a direct competitor to Bharti Group-backed OneWeb. The company
is keen to work in rural areas for providing broadband services.
Note: SpaceX founder & CEO: Elon Musk;
SpaceX Founded: 2002; SpaceX Headquarters: California, United States of
America.
OTHER UPDATES:
SPORTS
1. J&K
team clinch 1st position in World Deaf Judo Championship: The Jammu &
Kashmir team for deaf clinched 1st position in World Deaf Judo Championship
held at Paris Versailles, France. Rakshanda Mehak who is part of the Indian
team for the deaf clinched the bronze medal by defeating the South Korean team
in the semifinal. The championship was held at Versailles, France. The
championship is organised by the International Committee of Sports for the
Deaf.
Note: International Committee of Sports for
the Deaf Founded: 1924; International Committee of Sports for the Deaf
President: Rebecca Adam.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1.
Yes Bank and BankBazaar launched ‘FinBooster’ Credit Card: Yes Bank and
BankBazaar.com together launched a Co-Branded credit card named FinBooster to
measure the Creditworthiness of the customers. FinBooster is built around a
credit fitness tracker. FinBooster uses the CreditStrong app Subscription
(credit fitness report) which helps customers to track creditworthiness that
improves the Credit score. The tracking of a credit scores will be done through
an intuitive CreditStrong app subscription (credit fitness report), which is
complimentary for the cardholder for the first year. The credit card offers
never expiring rewards points with no capping on the accrual. Customers can
earn accelerated rewards points on online dining, grocery and apparel purchases
which can be easily redeemed for more than 250 catalogue products.
Note: Yes Bank Founded: 2004; Yes Bank
Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra; Yes Bank CEO: Prashant Kumar; Yes Bank
Tagline: Experience Our Expertise.
BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
1.
Yezdi Nagporewalla named as new CEO of KPMG India: Financial services
firm KMPG has announced the appointment of senior partmer Yezdi Nagporewalla as
the new chief executive officer (CEO) for the India division. Nagporewalla has
been appointed as the new CEO of KPMG India for a four-year term with effect
from February 7, 2022 till December 31, 2026. Nagporewalla will replace current
Chairman and CEO, Arun M. Kumar, who completes his five-year term on February
6, 2022. With the new appointment, KPMG India has split the roles of Chairman
and CEO. The new Chairman will be named over the next few months.
DEFENCE
1.
IAF participated in International Exercise ‘Blue Flag 2021: A total of 84
Indian Air Force (IAF) personnel took part in the international multilateral
combat exercise Blue Flag 2021, along with IAF’s Mirage 2000 aircraft squadron
at Israel’s Ovda Airbase. The theme of Blue Flag 2021: Integration of fourth and
fifth-generation aircraft in complex operational scenarios. The exercise
involves Air Force missions from 8 countries, to share knowledge and combat
experience to improve operational capabilities. The other seven countries that
have participated in the exercise include the US, UK, Germany, France, Italy,
Greece, and Israel.
Note: Israel Capital: Jerusalem; Israel
Currency: Israeli Shekel; Israel Prime Minister: Naftali Bennett; Israel
President: Isaac Herzog.
OBITUARIES
1. Former PM of Afghanistan Ahmad Shah Ahmadzai passes away: Ahmad Shah Ahmadzai, the former Prime Minister (PM) of Afghanistan and a renowned jihadi leader passed away at the age of 77 in Kabul, Afghanistan. Ahmad Shah Ahmadzai has served as the acting PM of Afghanistan under President Burhanuddin Rabbani during 1995-1996 prior to the 1996 Taliban Takeover.