Daily Current Affairs 28th January, 2022

Daily Current Affairs 28 January 2022 for Banking/Insurance/SSC and other related exams.

NATIONAL NEWS

India’s CSIR and France’s Institut Pasteur sign MoU towards advancement in human health
In an important milestone in S&T Cooperation between India and France, an MoU has been signed between CSIR and Institut Pasteur with scope for cooperation in health research.

• The MoU calls for the development of potential scientific and technological cooperation and networking in advanced and emerging areas of Human Health between CSIR scientists and institutes/laboratories and the Institut Pasteur and its international network.

Andhra Pradesh cabinet clears creation of 13 more districts
The Andhra Pradesh government has revised the number of districts in the state, increasing it from the existing 13 to 26.

• Issuing a gazette notification, the state government gave a nod for the creation of 13 new districts, the process of which is expected to be completed by Telugu New Year in April.
• The new districts include Manyam district, Alluri Sitharama Raju district, Anakapalli, Kakinada, Kona Seema, Eluru, NTR district, Bapatia, Palnadu, Nandyal, Sri Satyasai district, Annamayya district, Sri Balaji district.

MeitY unveils roadmap to achieve US$300 billion from electronics manufacturing and exports by 2026
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has released a 5-year roadmap and Vision Document 2.0 for the electronics sector. The Vision Document 2.0 titled “$300 bn Sustainable Electronics Manufacturing & Exports by 2026” has been prepared by MeitY in association with the India Cellular & Electronics Association (ICEA).

• It is the second volume of a two-part Vision Document. Vision Document 2.0 provides a year-wise break-up and production projections for the various products.
• This will help India to transform into a US$300 billion electronics manufacturing powerhouse by 2026, from the current US$75 billion.The first part of the document titled “Increasing India’s Electronics Exports and Share in GVCs” was released in November 2021.

Karnataka launches ‘Brain Health Initiative’ to help people beat Covid stress
Karnataka has launched ‘Brain Health Initiative’, a first-of-its-kind in the country, undertaken by NIMHANS in association with NITI Aayog in the state.

• Under this programme, the doctors will be trained in screening and treating mental health patients. The initiative is being rolled out in Bengaluru, Kolar and Chikkaballapur districts on pilot basis.

Telangana launches ‘Mana Ooru-Mana Badi’ to strengthen govt schools
In an effort to improve infrastructure and quality of education in government schools, the State Cabinet has decided to take up the ambitious ‘Mana Ooru-Mana Badi’ as a flagship programme with a budget of Rs 7,289.54 crore in three phases over a period of three years.

• A total 19.84 lakh students in 26,065 government schools will benefit from the programme, where it will be launched in 35 per cent (9,123) of total schools covering 65 per cent (around 13 lakh) of students in the first phase during the current academic year of 2021-22.
• The programme is aimed at comprehensive development of schools for providing quality education, improving attendance of students and also encourage them to continue their studies for higher classes as well as introduce digital media education in a phased manner for better academic results.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

India undertakes Maritime Partnership Exercise with Japan
Indian Naval Ships Shivalik & Kadmatt undertook Maritime Partnership Exercise with Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force Ships Uraga and Hirado in the Bay of Bengal. 

• The exercise included a wide range of flying operations, replenishment approaches and tactical manoeuvres.
• The precision, coordination and high level of interoperability reflected not only the high standards of professionalism and preparedness the two navies maintain to counter threats at sea, but also the high level of trust and understanding that they have built over the years.

Dubai opens Incredible ‘Infinity Bridge’ to traffic for the first time
Adding another marvel to its truly incredible architecture, Dubai has thrown the ‘Infinity Bridge’ open to traffic for the first time.

• The bridge consists of six lanes and improves the link between Deira and Bur Dubai. It features a combined 3-metre track for pedestrians and cyclists.
• It has increased the total number of lanes crossing Dubai Creek from 48 to 60. It is 300 metres long and 22 metres wide and can accommodate 24,000 vehicles in both directions.
• First announced in 2018, the Infinity Bridge is part of a Al Shindagha Corridor Project. Consisting of six lanes in each direction, the bridge has an arch shaped like the infinity symbol – which symbolises Dubai’s unlimited ambitions.

$150-million India-UAE VC Fund set up to boost start-up ecosystem
A $150-million India-UAE venture capital fund to fuel growth of start-ups in India and the UAE was launched from the India Pavilion at EXPO2020 Dubai.

• The VC Fund is a first-of-its-kind to be set up in the UAE to source, invest and nurture promising start-ups through an accelerator to fuel the growth of India-UAE start-ups. It will be funded by investors across UAE, India and wider GCC countries.
• The Fund will also act as a catalyst to provide a process for developing early-stage start-ups in India and the UAE into viable global ventures and making them attain the unicorn level.

India pays $29.9 million in UN regular budget assessments for 2022
India has paid USD 29.9 million in UN regular budget assessments for the year 2022.

• As of January 21, 2022, 24 Member States have paid their regular budget assessments in full.
• India is currently a non-permanent member of the 15-nation Security Council and its two-year term will end on December 31, 2022.

BANKING & FINANCE

Max Life and Policybazaar come together to enhance homemakers’ financial protection
Max Life Insurance Co. Ltd announces protection offering for Indian homemakers by extending its Max Life Smart Secure Plus Plan* (UIN: 104N118V02), a Non-Linked Non-Participating Individual Pure Risk Premium Life Insurance Plan, as an independent term insurance cover to them.

• Currently, homemakers in India are typically allowed term cover only as an add-on to their earning spouse’s cover. In this parlance, the ‘Max Life Smart Secure Plus Plan’ offered on Policybazaar will help secure female homemakers’ lives independent of their spouse’s life insurance cover. Max Life and Policybazaar are partnering to address critical challenges of this customer base and improve penetration in the largely untapped segment.
• To make financial protection more accessible, the ‘Max Life Smart Secure Plus Plan’ will be available to consumers where household income is a minimum of Rs. 5 Lakhs per annum. Different variants of the plan, with mortality and all rider benefits, will be available to homemakers in the age group of 18 to 50 years.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

Russia delivers all the contracted 70000 AK-203 to India 
Russia has delivered to India all the contracted 70,000 AK-203 Kalashnikov assault rifles as envisaged under a contract signed late last summer between India and Kalashnikov.

• The Indian Ministry of Defence intends to procure 670,000 AK-203 assault rifles, and the 70,000 delivered are part of that total.
• The rest of the 600,000 will be manufactured in India’s Amethi under a joint venture, the contract for which was signed on December 6, 2021.

ACQUISITIONS & MERGERS

Government approves PMC Bank merger with Unity Small Finance Bank
The central government had approved the proposed merger Punjab and Maharashtra Cooperative (PMC) Bank with Unity Small Finance Bank (USFB).

• All the branches of the PMC Bank will function as branches of Unity Small Finance Bank Ltd. with effect from this date, January 25, 2022, RBI further stated.
• The RBI had in December extended the restrictions on Punjab and Maharashtra Cooperative (PMC) Bank for another three months till the end of March, 2022 as all necessary process on the draft scheme for the takeover was not complete.

SPORTS

Lucknow IPL team to be called Lucknow Super Giants
The Lucknow franchise of the Indian Premier League will be called Lucknow Super Giants after its owners announced the name chosen by its fans.

• The official IPL team of Lucknow, owned by RPSG Group, decided to take public opinions from its fans and the name was shared by owner Sanjiv Goenka.

AWARDS

FIFA’s The Best awards 2021 announced 
The 2021 edition of the FIFA Best Football Awards held in Zurich, Switzerland. The awards ceremony is presented annually by the sport’s governing body – FIFA.

• Spain midfielder Alexia Putellas and Poland/Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski were awarded the Best FIFA Players in women’s and men’s football respectively. Lewandowski won the Best FIFA Men’s Player Award for the second straight year, after getting the first one in 2020.

Complete List of Winners:

1. Best FIFA Men’s Player :Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich, Poland)
2. Best FIFA Women’s Player :Alexia Putellas (Barcelona, Spain)
3. Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper : Édouard Mendy (Chelsea, Senegal)
4. Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper :Christiane Endler (Paris Saint-Germain and Lyon, Chile)
5. Best FIFA Men’s Coach : Thomas Tuchel (Chelsea, Germany)
6. Best FIFA Women’s Coach : Emma Hayes (Chelsea, England)
7. FIFA Fair Play Award : Denmark national football team and medical staff
8. FIFA Special Award for an Outstanding Career Achievement : Christine Sinclair (Female) & Cristiano Ronaldo (Male).

Assam government confers ‘Asom Baibhav Award’ to Ratan Tata
The government of Assam has decided to honour renowned industrialist Ratan Tata with the award of ‘Asom Baibhav’ which is the highest civilian honour of the state.

• Ratan Naval Tata is a well-known Indian Industrialist and also a philanthropist serving as the head of the Tata Group’s charitable trusts.
• The Assam government conferred ‘Asom Baibhav’ to Ratan Tata for his contribution to setting up cancer treatment facilities in the state.

Other Awards winners:
Assam Saurav award was conferred on Professor Dipak Chand Jain, Lovlina Borgohain, Professor Kamalendu Deb Krori, Dr Lakshmanan S, and Neel Pawan Baruah.
Assam Gaurav award was conferred on Manoj Kumar Basumatary, Munindra Nath Ngatey, Dharanidhar Boro, Hemoprabha Chutia, Dr Basanta Hazarika, Kaushik Baruah, Khorsing Terang, Akash Jyoti Gogoi, Namita Kalita, Dr Asif Iqbal, Kalpana Boro, Boby Hazarika, and Bormita Momin.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Decommissioned INS Khukri to be converted into museum
INS Khukri, the lead ship of the Indian Navy’s Khukri class missile corvettes which was decommissioned last December, was handed over to the Diu administration to be converted into a museum.

• The ship is planned to be developed as a full-scale museum, the Navy said.
• As part of developing and revitalising the Khukri Memorial, the Diu administration had approached the Defence Ministry in 2019 for gifting to it, for public display, a decommissioned naval vessel, the Navy said.

ISRO Successfully Tests Vikas engine in Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu
The Indian space agency successfully conducted a 25-second qualification test for its liquid propellant-based Vikas engine to be used under the Gaganyaan mission.

• The test, which was conducted at the Indian Space Research Organisation((ISRO) Propulsion Complex in Mahendragri, Tamil Nadu, was done to see how the engine performed in conditions that were not optimal, such as change in the fuel-oxidiser ratio or pressure in the fuel chamber.
• The performance of the engine met the test objectives and the engine parameters were closely matching with the predictions during the entire duration of the test.

OBITUARIES

Milena Salvini, ambassador of Kathakali in France, passes away at 84
Padma awardee and foreign student of one of the initial batches of the Kerala Kalamandalam Milena Salvini died in France. She was 84.

• The Italian-born French art researcher was an ambassador of Kathakali and other Indian classical art forms in France.The country honoured her with Padma Shri, recognising her contributions to the field of Kathakali in 2019.
• Milena played a crucial role in getting Unesco recognition for Koodiyattam as an ancient art form and to include it in the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity Programme in 2001.

Indian hockey legend and Olympics gold medallist Charanjit Singh passes away
Captain of India’s 1964 Tokyo Olympics gold medal-winning hockey team, Charanjit Singh, 93, passed away in Una, Himachal Pradesh, after suffering a heart attack.

• Charanjit was also part of the 1960 Games silver-winning and 1962 Asian Games silver-winning team. The two-time Olympian was a part of India’s glorious days.
• Charanjit was an alumni of Col Brown Cambridge School, Dehradun and Punjab University. After his illustrious career in international hockey, he worked as the director of the Physical Education department in Himachal Pradesh University in Shimla.

ENVIRONMENT

Kerala gets its first ever scientific bird atlas
The Kerala Bird Atlas (KBA), the first-of-its-kind state-level bird atlas in India, has created solid baseline data about the distribution and abundance of various bird species across all major habitats giving an impetus for futuristic studies.

• Conducted as a citizen science-driven exercise with the participation of over 1000 volunteers of the bird watching community, KBA was prepared based on systematic surveys held twice over 60 days a year during the wet (July to September) and dry (January to March) seasons between 2015 and 2020.

IMPORTANT DAYS

Tripura celebrated 44th Kokborok Day on 19th January
Kokborok Day, also known as Tripuri Language Day, is observed annually on January 19th throughout the Indian state of Tripura with the goal of developing the Kokborok language.

• The day commemorates the first formal status of Kokborok as a language in 1979.

MoHUA launches ‘Open Data Week’ to encourage adoption of open data
With an aim to encourage adoption of open data and promote innovation across India’s urban ecosystem, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) announced the initiation of the Open Data Week from 17 January to 21 January.

• The Open Data Week is part of a series of pre-event initiatives, leading up to the ‘Smart Cities: Smart Urbanization’ conference scheduled to be held in Surat, during February 2022, being undertaken by MoHUA to promote awareness and use of open data.
• The event will see participation from all 100 Smart Cities that will be publishing high quality datasets and data blogs on the smart Cities Open Data Portal. Presently, more than 3,800 datasets and more than 60 data stories are already available on the portal to various stakeholders to analyse this data and uncover actionable insights.

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