Daily GK Update- 6th Mar, 2022

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Rajasthan govt announces ‘Camel Protection and Development Policy’: Rajasthan, the state government has announced a ‘Camel Protection and Development Policy’ in its budget 2022-23. According to the government figures, less than two lakh camels are left in Rajasthan and in the entire country, the number of camels has reduced by 1.5 lakh since 2012. There were about 2.5 lakh camels left when counted last in 2019.

Camel is the state animal of Rajasthan and their number is continuously decreasing. The Rajasthan government had declared the camel as the state animal in 2014. About 85 per cent of the country’s camels are found in Rajasthan followed by Gujarat, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh.

Note: World Camel Day is observed every year on 22 June to recognize the importance of camels to the livelihood of a large population.

 

2. DST tieup with Intel India to boost AI readiness: ‘Building AI Readiness among Young Innovators’, a program by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, in partnership with Intel India, was launched by Dr Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State for Science and Technology (I/C). The program aims to build digital readiness among the students from classes 6 to 10, enrolled under DST’s INSPIRE-Awards MANAK scheme.

About the program:

a)      The flagship program of DST reaches out to students pan India with an aim to create a culture of creativity and innovative thinking. Intel said its commitment to promoting AI readiness in the country is in synergy with the government’s vision of leveraging AI to make India a leader in the field while utilizing the technology to address its socio-economic challenges.

b)      The program will bring both these together and seek to build an AI-ready generation by empowering the students with the knowledge and skills to leverage AI in an inclusive way.

 

3. Biodegradable nanoparticle developed by IIT Kanpur: Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur have created a biodegradable nanoparticle that can be used as an alternative to chemical-based insecticides to protect crops from bacterial and fungal illnesses. Abhay Karandikar, who is the director of IIT Kanpur said that because farmers suffer a variety of issues, IIT Kanpur has worked tirelessly to improve the farming environment as a whole. Nanoparticles would reduce the risk of crop infection while also increasing agricultural productivity. Key Points:

a)      The nanoparticle, dubbed Biodegradable Carbonoid Metabolite (BioDCM), can be active at low concentrations and be as effective as pesticides while having no detrimental effects on soil or consumer health. It operates quickly because it is administered in bioactive form and can resist high temperatures.

b)      The nanoparticle was produced in collaboration with C. Kannan and D. Mishra of ICAR-Indian Institute of Rice Research, and also with R Balamurugan and M. Mandal of the Hyderabad University’s School of Chemistry.

c)       Given the nanoparticle developed by IIT Kanpur’s biodegradable and non-harmful nature, it is likely to attract a lot of interest from farmers looking to reduce their use of chemicals in farming, particularly pesticides.

 

4. Centre postpones 2022 Gandhinagar DefExpo: The DefExpo 2022 that was scheduled to be held from March 10 to March 14, in Gandhinagar of Gujarat has been postponed by the Ministry of Defence, due to logistics problems being experienced by participants. The new dates of the defence expo shall be communicated in due course.

 

5. CISF’s 53rd Raising Day: 6th March: The 53rd Raising Day ceremony of Central Industrial Security Forces (CISF) was organised on March 06, 2022, in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has attended and addressed the Raising Day ceremony of CISF at Ghaziabad’s Indirapuram. The CISF, which functions under the Union Home Ministry, is a central armed police force and among one of the six paramilitary forces of India.

About CISF:

a)      CISF was set up under an Act of the Parliament of India on 10 March 1969, to provide security cover to industrial units, government infrastructure projects and facilities and establishments located all over India.

b)      Eventually, it was made an armed force of the Republic of India by another Act of Parliament passed on 15 June 1983.

c)       CISF is one of six paramilitary forces in India and functions under the Ministry of Home Affairs. Its headquarters is in New Delhi.

Note: Director-General of CISF: Sheel Vardhan Singh.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. SDG Index 2021: India ranks 120th position: India has been ranked at 120th position in the Sustainable Development Report 2021 or Sustainable Development Index 2021. In this Index, countries are ranked by a score out of 100. India has a score of 60.07. Last year India’s rank was 117. The Index measures the country’s total progress towards achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. The Index has been topped by Finland.

The top 5 countries in this ranking are:

1- Finland;

2- Sweden;

3- Denmark;

4- Germany;

5- Belgium

These 17 Sustainable Development Goals were adopted by the UN General Assembly in September 2015 as a part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

 

2. Knight Frank: India ranks 3rd in billionaire population globally: India is ranked 3rd in terms of most number of billionaires’ population globally in 2021, as per Knight Frank’s latest edition of The Wealth Report 2022. The number of ultra-high-net-worth-individuals (UHNWIs) in India increased by 11% YoY in 2021 to 145 billionaires, the highest percentage growth in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region. UHNWIs are individuals with net assets of US$ 30m or more (Rs 226 crore).

Globally: The list has been topped by the United States (748) and China (554) respectively.

Indian City-wise: Bengaluru recorded the highest growth in the number of UHNWIs in 2021 at 17.1% to 352 billionaires. It was followed by Delhi (12.4% to 210) and Mumbai (9% to 1596) in 2021.

Top 5 countries with the most number of billionaires in 2021:

Billionaires	2021
United States	748
China	554
India	145
Germany	136
Russia	121

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. ISSF World Cup: Shri Nivetha, Esha, Ruchita win gold in women’s 10m air pistol: India’s Shri Nivetha, Esha Singh, and Ruchita Vinerkar have won the gold medal in the women’s 10m air pistol team event of the ISSF World Cup in Cairo, Egypt. With this win, India is leading the medal table with three medals, including two gold and silver. Andrea Katharina Heckner, Sandra Reitz and Carina Wimmer of Germany settled for the silver medal.

Germany and Italy are joint seconds on the table with one gold, two silver and one bronze medal each. A total of 17 countries have won medals so far.

 

2. ICC Women’s World Cup New Zealand 2022 begins: The ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022 has kicked off on March 04, 2022, in New Zealand. This is the 12 edition of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, being held in New Zealand from March 04 to April 03, 2022. The opening match of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2022 was held at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui between West Indies and New Zealand, in which West Indies women beat New Zealand by 3 runs. India will open against Pakistan on the 6th of March.

Key points:

a)      The final match is scheduled to take place at the Hagley Oval stadium.

b)      Total 8 teams are participating which includes, New Zealand, Australia, England, South Africa, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and West Indies.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Govt approves 20% FDI in LIC via automatic route: The Union Cabinet has approved an amendment to the FDI Policy to allow foreign direct investment (FDI) up to 20 percent under the “automatic route” in Life Insurance Corporation (LIC). This comes ahead of IPO of LIC. Prior to this, there was no limit was prescribed for foreign investment in LIC. The FDI ceiling for LIC has now been made at par with that of public sector banks. It must be noted that the FDI limit in the insurance sector is 74 percent. Last year it was raised from 49% to 74%.

 

2. HDFC Bank finances Asia’s largest waste to energy plant in Indore- Gobar-Dhan plant: HDFC Bank has partnered with Indore Clean Energy Private Limited (ICEPL) for the development of Gobar-Dhan plant in Indore under its Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) commitments. The 550-tonne capacity “Gobar-Dhan (Bio-CNG) Plant” was inaugurated by PM Modi in Indore, Madhya Pradesh on February 19, 2022. This is the biggest Bio-CNG plant in Asia. It has been set up at a cost of Rs 150 crore. Indore Clean Energy Pvt Ltd (ICEPL) is promoted by Green Growth Equity Fund (GGEF), which is the largest climate impact fund in India with anchor investors like NIIF & Government of UK.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. Tata Motors launches ‘Anubhav’- showroom on wheels: Tata Motors has launched a mobile showroom (showroom on wheels) named ‘Anubhav,’ to target rural customers by increasing their reach in rural areas and providing them with a doorstep car buying experience. Tata Motors will deploy a total of 103 mobile showrooms across the country, to enhance the Tata Motors brand awareness in rural India.

About the ‘Anubhav,’ mobile showrooms:

a)      These mobile showrooms will be operated by dealerships under Tata Motors’ supervision and guidance. All the dealerships will define monthly routes for these vans on which they will ply and cover the targeted village or tehsil.

b)      A total of 103 mobile showrooms are being deployed across the country to enhance the Tata Motors brand awareness in rural India.

c)       These mobile showrooms will help existing dealerships offer a doorstep sales experience to customers and assist them with information about Tata Motors’ products.

d)      These products include a new forever range of cars and SUVs, accessories, avail finance schemes, book a test drive and evaluate existing cars for exchange.

Note: Tata Motors Headquarters: Mumbai; Tata Motors Founder: J. R. D. Tata; Tata Motors Founded: 1945, Mumbai.

 

DEFENCE

 

1. 19th Military Cooperation meet of India & US held in Agra 2022: The 19th edition of the India-US Military Cooperation Group (MCG) meeting was conducted in Agra, Uttar Pradesh. The discussion was co-chaired by Air Marshal BR Krishna, Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC), and Lieutenant General Stephen D Sklenka, Deputy Commander, US Indo-Pacific Command, represented the US side.

Key Points:

a)      The conference took place when Russia was engaged in a significant military operation in Ukraine. Western countries, such as the United States, have implemented severe economic sanctions against Russia.

b)      Around 70% of India’s defence equipment is made in Russia.

c)       According to the Defence Ministry, the India-US military cooperation group was established to advance defence collaboration between the two nations through regular meetings at the strategic and operational levels between the Headquarters of the Integrated Defence Staff and the US Indo-Pacific Command.

d)      The India-US MCG is a forum set up to advance defence cooperation between the two nations by frequent strategic and operational consultations involving Headquarters, the Integrated Defence Staff, and the US Indo-Pacific Command.

e)      The discussions centred on improving the two countries’ ongoing defence engagements and considering new initiatives within the framework of the existing cooperation mechanism.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Noted film critic, writer Jaiprakash Chouksey passes away: Film critic, writer Jaiprakash Chouksey has passed away due to cardiac arrest at the age of 82 years. He has penned scripts and dialogues for several films including ‘Shayad’ (1979), ‘Qatl’ (1986) and ‘Bodyguard’ (2011), and was also involved in writing for television serials. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, state Congress chief Kamal Nath and several other leaders condoled Chouksey’s death.

Daily GK Update- 5th Mar, 2022

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. MoWCD launches ‘Stree Manoraksha’ Project: The Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD) and NIMHANS Bengaluru launched the ‘Stree Manoraksha Project’ on Wednesday with the goal of improving women’s mental health in India. The project would concentrate on increasing the ability of OSC (One-Stop Center) off1icials in terms of tools and procedures for dealing with women who come to One-Stop Centers, particularly those who have experienced violence and distress, with compassion and care.

Key Points:

a)      One-Stop Center performed admirably during the COVID time. There are already over 700 One-Stop Centers operating across the country.

b)      People who work in these one-stop shops will be taught how to appropriately operate the Self Defense Shaheed Women Helpline and counsel them.

c)       The advanced training programme will be delivered in all of the regional languages that they want to be able to comprehend. NIMHANS has also built a website dedicated to this, which contains a wealth of information on training.

Implementation:

a)      The project, which has been painstakingly described by NIMHANS based on the Ministry’s expected requirements, will be delivered in two formats.

b)      All OSC functionaries, including security guards, cooks, helpers, caseworkers, counsellors, centre administrators, paramedical staff, and others, will receive basic training in one format.

c)       The second format will emphasise the advanced course, which will focus on various components such as multi-generational implications and lifetime trauma in cases of violence against women as well as professional principles in counselling.

 

2. Google and MeitY to train 100 Indian startups under Appscale Academy programme: The MeitY Startup Hub, an initiative of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), and Google have announced a cohort of 100 early to mid-stage Indian startups as a part of Appscale Academy programme. Appscale Academy is a new growth and development programme for startups launched by MeitY and Google to help and train early- to mid-stage startups across India on building high-quality apps and games for a global audience.

About the programme:

a)      These 100 startups were chosen from over 400 applications following an in-depth selection process.

b)      Under the six-month Appscale Academy programme, the 100 startups will be trained through a customised curriculum which includes virtual instructor-led webinars, self-learning material, and mentorship sessions with local and global industry professionals.

Note: Minister of Electronics and Information Technology: Ashwini Vaishnaw;

Google CEO: Sundar Pichai; Google Founded: 4 September 1998; Google Headquarters: Mountain View, California, United States.

 

3. Ujjain creates Guinness Record by Lighting 11.71 Lakh Diyas: Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh has created a Guinness record by lighting 11.71 lakh clay lamps (diyas) in 10 minutes. The diyas were lighted as part of the ‘Shiv Jyoti Arpanam Mahotsava’ on the occasion of Mahashivratri. With this they broke the earlier record of lighting 9.41 lakh diyas created in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh on 03 November 2021. Ujjain is also known as the ‘Land of Mahakal’. The certificate was received by Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

It was a zero-waste programme. The clay from the lamps will be used to prepare idols, while the oil left in the lamps will be offered to gaushalas. The plastic used for the I-cards will be used to make chairs and other items for public gardens.

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

 

4. Herath Festival celebrated in Jammu and Kashmir: Herath or the ‘Night of Hara (Shiva)’, generally known as Maha Shivratri, is the main festival celebrated by the Kashmiri Pandits across Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). The festival marks the marriage anniversary of Lord Shiva and Goddess Uma (Parvathi). 2022 Herath Festival was celebrated on 28th February 2022.

About the festival: Herath Festival is celebrated on “Trayodashi” or the 13th day of the dark half of the month of Phalguna (Hindu calendar), between February and March. The Kashmiri Pandits celebrate the festival by distributing walnuts as a mark of respect to the Hindu deities. The rest of the nation celebrates the Maha Shivratri on Chaturdashi or the 14th of Phalguna.

 

5. Akshaye Widhani named as Chief Executive Officer of Yash Raj Films: Film production and distribution company Yash Raj Films (YRF) has named Akshaye Widhani as chief executive officer. Widhani was serving as senior vice-president, finance and business Affairs and head of operations at YRF Studios. He used to head corporate and business development activities for YRF, including finance, business extensions, strategic alliances, joint ventures, co-productions.

History of Yash Raj Films: Yash Raj Films is one of India’s biggest film production houses. Aditya Chopra is the Chairman and MD of Yash Raj Films. Yash Raj Films was founded by Yash Raj Chopra, in the year 1970.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. China’s Long March-8 Rocket Launches 22 Satellites into Space: China’s second Long March 8 rocket launched carrying a domestic record 22 satellites for a range of commercial Chinese space companies. The Long March 8 lifted off from Wenchang Satellite Launch Center at 10:06 p.m. Eastern Feb. 26, with the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) later confirming launch success.

These satellites will be mainly used for commercial remote sensing services, marine environment monitoring, forest fire prevention and disaster mitigation. The mission marked the 409th flight of the Long March carrier rockets.

Note: China Capital: Beijing; China Currency: Renminbi; China President: Xi Jinping.

 

2. NASA launches next-generation GOES-T satellite to track hazardous weather: US space agency, NASA, successfully launched the third in a series of four next-generation weather satellites, Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES), from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. The satellite is named as GOES-T. Once the satellite gets positioned in its geostationary orbit it will be renamed from GOES-T to GOES-18. GOES-T will be used by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to forecast weather and hazardous environmental conditions in the Western Hemisphere.

Note: NASA administrator: Bill Nelson; Headquarters of NASA: Washington D.C., United States; NASA Founded: 1 October 1958.

NOAA Headquarters: Washington, D.C., United States; NOAA Founder: Richard Nixon; NOAA Founded: 3 October 1970

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Strandja Memorial Boxing Tournament: Nikhat Zareen & Nitu wins gold for India: Indian boxers Nikhat Zareen (52kg) and Nitu (48kg) has won gold medals at the 73rd Strandja Memorial Boxing Tournament, held in Sofia, Bulgaria. The Indian contingent ended their campaign at the tournament with three medals including two golds and one bronze.

a)      Nikhat Zareen: Nikhat bagged her second gold medal at Europe’s oldest international boxing tournament with a 4-1 win in the women’s 52kg final. She had previously won the Strandja Memorial title in 2019.

b)      Nitu: Nitu outpunched the reigning Youth World Championships bronze medallist Italy’s Erika Prisciandro 5-0 without breaking a sweat in the women’s 48 kg final.

c)       Nandini: With Nandini also finishing on the podium in the 81kg category and signing off with a bronze medal, the Indian contingent concluded their campaign with three medals at the tournament, which was part of India’s first exposure trip this year.

 

2. Indian shooter Saurabh Chaudhary wins 10m air pistol gold at ISSF World Cup: Indian shooter, Saurabh Chaudhary has won the gold medal in Men’s 10m Air Pistol event at the ongoing 2022 International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup in Cairo, Egypt. The silver medal has been won by Germany’s Michael Schwald while Artem Chernousov of Russia claimed the bronze medal.

In the women’s 10m air pistol section, India’s Esha Singh lost to Anna Korakaki of Greece to win the silver medal. Esha, who had shot better than Anna in the semifinal stage, pushed Tokyo Olympics silver medallist Antoaneta Kostadinova to the bronze.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. RBI cancelled licence of Sarjeraodada Naik Shirala Sahakari Bank: Reserve Bank of India has cancelled the license of Sarjeraodada Naik Shirala Sahakari Bank, Sangli, Maharashtra, as it did not have adequate capital and earning prospects. With the cancellation of the licence, Sarjeraodada Naik Shirala Sahakari Bank Ltd has ceased to carry on banking business with effect from the close of business hours on 2 March. The bank is not complying with various sections of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.

On liquidation, every depositor would be entitled to receive deposit insurance claim amount of his/her deposits up to a monetary ceiling of Rs 5 lakh from the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC).

Note: DICGC Chairperson: Michael Patra; DICGC Founded: 15 July 1978; DICGC Headquarters: Mumbai.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. Ashneer Grover resigned from BharatPe as MD & Director 2022: Ashneer Grover, co-founder and Managing Director (MD) of BharatPe, a leading Indian fintech company, has resigned as the MD and director of the board of BharatPe. Ashneer Grover, who owns a 9.5% stake worth Rs 1915 crore in BharatPe, will continue as the single largest individual shareholder of the company. BharatPe became the 19th Indian startup to become a unicorn in 2021.

Shashwat Nakrani, the co-founder of BharatPe, owns 7.8% and Sequoia Capital India, a venture capital (VC) investor and the largest shareholder of BharatPe, holds 19.6%, followed by Coatue at 12.4% and Ribbit Capital at 11%. As of August 2021, Tiger Global, Steadview Capital, and Beenext together hold a 60.4% stake in BharatPe.

 

2. Adani Green gets LOA for setting-up 150 MW solar power plant: Adani Green Energy Ltd stated that its subsidiary Adani Renewable Energy Holding Fifteen Limited has obtained a letter of award (LOA) to build a 150-megawatt solar power plant. For a period of 25 years, the fixed rate for this project capacity is $2.34/kWh.

Important Points:

a)      According to a statement issued by the Adani Group company said in a stock exchange filing, Adani Renewable Energy Holding Fifteen Limited, a Wholly-owned Subsidiary of Adani Green Energy Limited, participated in a Tender which was issued by the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited for the acquisition of 250 MW Solar Power from ground-mounted grid-connected solar PV power plants and has received the Letter of Award for setting up a 150 MW Solar Power Project.

b)      Adani Green presently has a totally renewable energy project portfolio of 20.434 MWac capacity, with 5.410 MWac of operational projects. According to the firm, 11,591 MWac projects are now under construction, with 3.433 MWac projects nearing completion.

c)       Adani Green Energy Limited is an Indian renewable energy firm headquartered in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, and is part of the Adani Group. In a year, Adani Green Energy shares have returned over 61 per cent, while the company has surged more than 36 per cent in 2022 (year-to-date or YTD) thus far, compared to a 5% drop in the benchmark BSE Sensex.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. MoS Annpurna Devi gives National ICT Award 2020 & 2021: Smt Annpurna Devi, who is the union MoS for Education has given National ICT Awards to 49 teachers from all over the country. In her speech on this event, she told that the NEP-2020 emphasizes on the efficient use of technology in the field of teaching, which will remove the language barriers and increase access for DIVYANG students.

KEY POINTS (Speech OF MoS for Education)

a)      The Information and Communication Technology [ICT] intervention under Samagra Shiksha also has inclusions to provide technological upgradations to schools and Teacher Education Institutes (TEIs).

b)      DIKSHA, school MOOCs on SWAYAM, PMeVIDYA, ePathshala, ICT Curriculum for Teachers and Students and National Initiative for School Heads’ and Teachers’ Holistic Advancement integrated teacher training programme through online mode are among the flagship projects to bridge the digital divide.

c)       The role of teachers in nation-building is appreciable and a Guru (teacher) is given the most respectful person in Indian Society.

d)      The recent budget announcements by the Govt. of India have provided the impetus to each and every digital education initiative.

Daily GK Update- 4th Mar, 2022

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Assam government declared the entire state as a “Disturbed Area 2022: The Assam government has extended the contentious Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) in the state for six more months. The notification came into effect from February 28. Initially, it was the Assam Disturbed Area Act of 1955 during the agitation by Nagas in undivided Assam. This Act gave freehand to some extent to the Army that was repealed with the incorporation of the Armed Forces (Special Power) Act, 1958. AFSPA was imposed in Assam in November 1990 and has been extended every six months since then after a review by the government.

About the AFSPA: AFSPA, which gives sweeping powers to the security forces to maintain public order in ‘disturbed areas’, has been a contentious issue in the north-east states. Civil society members and activists have claimed that AFSPA gives security personnel a free hand to carry out excesses.

Note: Assam Capital: Dispur; Assam Chief Minister: Himanta Biswa Sarma; Assam Governor: Jagadish Mukhi.

 

2. GoI think tank, Niti Aayog developing National Gender Index: NITI Aayog is in the process to develop a National Gender Index. The objective of the National Gender Index is to measure the progress and identify the persisting gaps in gender equality to make informed policy decisions. It will serve as a tool to map the progress of India’s States and UTs on defined gender metrics and build the foundation for positive change. The information was released in the Annual Report 2021-22 of NITI Aayog.

Niti Aayog has also developed a draft State Energy and Climate Index to assess the performance of states on indicators such as discoms’ viability and competition; access, affordability and reliability of energy; clean energy initiatives; energy efficiency; generation capacity; and environmental sustainability and new initiatives. The index will help states to efficiently manage their energy resources and provide better access to energy to the people.

 

3. Anup Jalota released book “Udaan Ek Majdoor Bachhe Ki” authored by Mithilesh Tiwari: Bhajan Samrat Anup Jalota has released the book “Udaan Ek Majdoor Bachhe Ki” by Captain AD Manek in a glittering program organized by Shailesh B Tiwari of P Club Education Pvt Ltd in Mumbai. The author of this book is Mithilesh Tiwari. This book is about the life journey of Captain AD Manek, how he travelled from zero to pinnacle in his career graph.

The family of Captain AD Manek is also known as the Flying Family of India. His wife is a hobby flyer while his two sons are professional pilots. One daughter-in-law is the air hostess and the other daughter-in-law is the aircraft dispatcher. All 6 members of this family are serving in the Indian Aviation Industry.

 

4. Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin’s autobiography “Ungalil Oruvan” launched: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi launched the first volume of Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin’s autobiography Ungalil Oruvan (One Among You) in Chennai. The first part of the autobiography contains his early life experiences. In it, he traces his school and college days, adolescence, early political contributions, marital life and the MISA struggle, recalling 23 years up to 1976.

 

5. National Security Day: 4th of March: In India, March 4 is celebrated as National Security Day (Rashtriya Suraksha Diwas) every year, in the honor of the Indian Security Forces. The day aims to show gratitude to all the security forces, including policemen, para-military forces, commandos, guards, army officers, and other persons involved in security, who sacrifice their life in maintaining the peace and security of the people of the country. Apart from this, National Security Week 2022 is being celebrated from March 4 to March 10, 2022.

History of the day: 4 March also marks the day when the National Security Council (NSC) of India was established, in 1966 by the Ministry of Labour under the Government of India. The first National Security Day (NSD) was held in 1972.

Note: National Security Council of India Founded: 19 November 1998; National Security Council of India head:  Ajit Kumar Doval.

 

6. National Safety Day: 4th of March: The National Safety Day (NSD) is celebrated every year on the 4th of March to commemorate the foundation of the National Safety Council (NSC) of India. The day aims to raise public awareness of all safety principles, including road safety, workplace safety, human health safety, and environmental safety. The year 2022 marks 51st NSD. Every year, this day is celebrated with a different theme. This year, the National Safety Council of India announced the theme to be ‘Nurture young minds – Develop safety culture’.

Significance of the day: It is critical to observe National Safety Day in order to ensure adequate workplace wellbeing. The development of a proactive attitude toward safety, as well as methods for identifying workplace dangers and reducing accidents and exposure to hazardous circumstances and substances, is critical to every employee’s job satisfaction.

History of the day: The first National Safety Day was observed in 1972. The National Safety Council was set up on 4th March 1966 by the Ministry of Labour and Employment, to develop and implement a voluntary routine in the areas of safety, health, and the environment.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. US, EU, UK decided to eliminate selected Russian banks from SWIFT: Canada, U.S.A. and their European allies have come to a conclusion to remove the key Russian banks from the Interbank messaging system (IMS) of SWIFT. This is a very big step that will cut off the country from much of the worldwide financial system.

KEY POINTS:

a)      The major global powers issued a joint statement announcing this significant retaliatory measure. It said, “This will ensure that these banks are disconnected from the international financial system and harm their ability to operate globally”.

b)      Russia’s removal from SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication) will mean that the Russian banks will not be able to communicate securely with foreign banks.

c)       Previously, Iran has been removed from SWIFT in 2014 following developments to its nuclear program in Tehran.

d)      The announcement will follow several rounds of joint sanctions that will be imposed on Russia for its unprovoked attack on Ukraine.

e)      After this announcement from the Major global powers backed SWIFT, Denys Shmyhal, who is the Prime Minister of Ukraine, praised the measure in a tweet he wrote, “Appreciate your support and real help in this dark time. Ukrainian people will never forget this! Keep holding the line! We are on our land.”

f)        In addition to this statement, the U.S.A. and its allies announced that they will impose restrictive measures to prevent the central bank of Russia from deploying its international reserves in ways that may undermine the sanctions imposed on them.

SWIFT: SWIFT stands for Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications and is an independent enterprise, which is based in Belgium. SWIFT serves as an internal communication mechanism between around 11,000 banks and financial institutions for more than 200 countries and territories.

 

2. IOC Withdraws Top Olympic Honour From Vladimir Putin: The International Olympic Committee has stripped Russian President Vladimir Putin of the Olympic Order award in response to the invasion of Ukraine. International Olympic Committee urged sports federations and organisers to exclude Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials from international events following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Russia’s participation in the World Cup play-offs next month is also in doubt after FIFA plans to allow them to play on neutral territory were dismissed as “unacceptable” by rivals. The IOC last week urged all international sports federations to cancel forthcoming events in Russia, angry at Moscow violating an “Olympic Truce” with its attack on Ukraine.

Note: International Olympic CommitteeHeadquarters: Lausanne, Switzerland; International Olympic Committee President: Thomas Bach; International Olympic Committee Founded: 23 June 1894, Paris, France.

 

3. World Obesity Day: 4th March: World Obesity Day is observed every year on March 04. It is observed to spread awareness about obesity and encourage action towards its elimination. The day is organised by the World Obesity Federation, a non-profit body that is in official relations with the World Health Organisation. The theme of World Obesity Day 2022 is ‘Everybody Needs to Act’. The campaign aims to improve the world’s understanding, prevention and treatment of obesity.

World Obesity Day Significance: Obesity is one of the biggest health crises in the world, affecting 800 million people with millions more at risk, according to worldobesity.org. To spread awareness about the same and encourage action towards its elimination.

World Obesity Day History: World Obesity Day goes way back to the year 2015, wherein a non-profit organization worked closely with World Health Organisation and Lancet Commission in helping spread awareness. Later in 2016, the focus was shifted to childhood obesity, while later in 2017, the idea was to treat obesity now and avoid consequences later.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. 31st Southeast Asian Games to be held in Vietnam: The 31st Southeast Asian Games will be held in Vietnam from May 12 to 23, 2022. It is the biggest sporting event of Southeast Asia and is a biennial event. The event was originally scheduled to take place in November 2021 however it was postponed due to the Covid pandemic. The Games will feature 40 sports with 526 events, attracting around 10,000 participants, organisers announced at a press conference here. The Vietnamese capital Hanoi will be the main venue alongside 11 neighbouring localities including Quang Ninh, Phu Tho and Bac Ninh, Xinhua news agency reported. Moto of 31st Southeast Asian Games- “For a Stronger South East Asia”.

Points to remember:

a)      In 2023, the Southeast Asian Games will be held at Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

b)      The mascot of the 2021 Southeast Asian Games is “Sao La”, inspired by saola – a rare mammal native to central Vietnam.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Union Bank of India and Ambit Finvest tie-up: Ambit Finvest has announced the signing of a co-lending agreement with Union Bank of India (UBI) for financing to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) customers. Ambit Finvest is the Ambit Group’s non-deposit-taking Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC). This collaboration will enable underwriting for businesses in 11 states now served by Ambit Finvest. Ambit Finvest and Union Bank of India hope to speed up credit disbursement across multiple geographies with this partnership, according to Sanjay Dhoka, COO and CFO of Ambit Finvest.

KEY POINTS:

a)      MSMEs that face higher interest rates or are unable to access banking services would benefit from lower rates of interest, which will translate into cheaper cost of funds, allowing them to deploy capital more effectively in their businesses, according to the company’s statement.

b)      Lal Singh, Union Bank’s CGM, said that the collaboration with Ambit Finvest Pvt Ltd. is part of UBI’s aim to create synergy between the two organisations, allowing us to better serve the most deserving and underserved enterprises.

c)       Lal Singh also added that the effort is part of Union Bank’s commitment to support MSMEs by offering tailored financial solutions and speeding MSMEs’ growth in order to contribute to the country’s economic development

d)      Ambit Finvest will be able to further grow its reach in the MSME category as a result of its co-lending agreement with a large organisation like Union Bank of India, according to Dhoka.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. GST collections in Feb stand at Rs 1.3L cr: Goods and Services Tax (GST) collection crossed the Rs 1.30-lakh crores mark for the fifth time in February 2022. The gross GST revenue collected in the month of February 2022 is Rs 1,33,026 crore of which CGST is Rs 24,435 crore, SGST is Rs 30,779 crore, IGST is Rs 67,471crore (including Rs 33,837 crores collected on import of goods) and cess is Rs 10,340 crore (including ₹638 crores collected on import of goods).

The February mop-up was impacted by the Omicron wave that swept through the country and hence, the gross sales tax collection was lower than the record Rs 1,40,986 crore netted in January. The revenues for the month of February 2022 are 18% higher than the GST revenues in the same month last year and 26% higher than the GST revenues in February 2020.

 

2. T S Ramakrishnan named as new MD and CEO of LIC Mutual Fund: LIC Mutual Fund has announced the appointment of TS Ramakrishnan as its Managing Director & CEO, effective. Ramakrishnan, as the MD and CEO, LIC Mutual Fund Asset Management, will succeed Dinesh Pangtey, its former Wholetime Director and CEO.

About the LIC Mutual Fund: LIC Mutual Fund is one of the oldest and leading mutual funds operating in India. offer a complete basket of 26 products covering debt, equity, hybrid, passive and solution-oriented schemes. The Average Assets under Management (AAuM) is Rs 18,625.52 crores as on January 31, 2022.

 

DEFENCE

 

1. Indian Air Force to conduct Exercise Vayu Shakti at Pokharan range, Rajasthan: Indian Air Force (IAF) will conduct the Exercise Vayu Shakti that will take place at Pokharan range in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan on March 7. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be the Chief Guest of this event. A total of 148 aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) will participate in this exercise. Rafale aircraft will participate for the first time in this exercise. Exercise Vayu Shakti is organised by Indian Air Force once in every three years. The last Vayu Shakti Exercise took place in 2019.

Note: Indian Airforce founded: 8 October 1932; Indian Airforce Headquarters: New Delhi; Indian Airforce Chief of Air Staff: Vivek Ram Chaudhari.