Weekly CA Quiz: May 2021 2nd week

 Himachal Pradesh, AYUSH Department launched a state-wide wellness programme ‘AYUSH Ghar Dwar’ for COVID-19 patients, in Sloan district.

Airtel Payments Bank launched DigiGold, a digital platform for its customers to make investments in gold.

 former ambassador has been named as the first woman to lead Italy’s secret services.Prime Minister Mario Draghi announced Elisabetta Belloni as head of the Department of Information Security (DIS).

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) appointed former Indian cricketer Ramesh Powar as the head coach of Indian Women’s Cricket Team. The Indian cricket board had advertised for the post and received over 35 applications.

May 15 is observed as the International Day of Families by the United Nations to dedicate the whole day to families and appreciate their importance. Since 1994, May 15 is celebrated as Family Day.

The first BRICS Employment Working Group (EWG) Meeting was held in 2021 in virtual format. The meeting was held under the chairmanship of India, which has assumed the BRICS Presidency in 2021. The meeting was chaired by Shri Apurva Chandra, Secretary, Labour and Employment.

Making Covid vaccination registration quick, convenient and hassle-free, the Chhattisgarh government has developed a web portal ‘CGTeeka’ for systematic vaccination of people in the age group 18-44 years. This web portal, developed by CHiPS, was launched by Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel.

Power regulator Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) has approved registration to PTC, BSE and ICICI Bank-led Pranurja Solution Ltd to start the country’s third power exchange.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has granted authorisation to Eroute Technologies to operate as a prepaid payment instruments (PPI) company. The RBI issued authorisation to Eroute Technologies Pvt Ltd with perpetual validity to commence issuance and operations of semi-closed pre-paid instruments in the country.

 Geojit Financial Services has entered into an agreement with Punjab National Bank to provide a three-in-one account to the latter’s customers.

Digital payments provider PayPal has introduced an automated process to obtain monthly foreign inward remittance advice (FIRA), allowing Indian merchants to download their monthly digital FIRA issued by banks.

 World food prices increased for an 11th consecutive month in April, hitting their highest level since May 2014, with sugar leading a rise in all the main indices, the United Nations food agency said.

Veteran British diplomat Martin Griffiths has been appointed as the new Chief at the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), for a period of five years.

Indian-origin global nutritionist, Dr Shakuntala Hark Singh Thilstad has received the “World Food Award” of the year 2021. She developed a holistic and nutritionally sensitive approach to seafood and food systems and has received an award for his research.

Klara and the Sun, the first novel by Kazuo Ishiguro since he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, tells the story of Klara, an Artificial Friend with outstanding observational qualities, who, from her place in the store, watches carefully the behavior of those who come in to browse, and of those who pass on the street outside. She remains hopeful that a customer will soon choose her.

The Haryana Police has come up with “COVID-19 Hospital Transport Service” (COV-HOTS)for free transportation of needy infected patients from their homes to hospitals or nursing homes and back. The service is free and exclusively meant for COVID patients.

The newly rehabilitated small hydro power plant at Chandannath Municipality in Nepal’s Jumla district was virtually inaugurated, said the Indian embassy in Kathmandu.

Kotak Mahindra Bank announced that it has been selected as a digital payments partner by the National Agriculture Market (eNAM).

The Reserve Bank said an advisory group has been constituted to assist the second Regulatory Review Authority (RRA 2.0) which was constituted by the central bank earlier this month to streamline regulations and reduce the compliance burden of regulated entities.

The sudden and steep surge in the number of coronavirus cases – the highest-ever 4,12,262 new infections and a record 3,980 daily death toll in a day – has swamped the health system, which seemed to have collapsed.

The Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance released the second monthly installment of Post Devolution Revenue Deficit (PDRD) Grant of Rs 9,871 crore for the year 2021-22 to 17 States.

In a first for an Indian jurist, Justice Gita Mittal, former Chief Justice of Jammu and Kashmir High Court, has been conferred with the prestigious Arline Pacht Global Vision Award for 2021 by the International Association of Women Judges (IAWJ).

 World Migratory Bird Day is officially celebrated on the second Saturday of May to raise awareness of migratory birds and the importance of international cooperation to conserve them. This year it is fell on May 8,2021.

World Red Cross Day is also known as Red Crescent Day is celebrated on May 8 every year. This date marks the birth anniversary of Henry Dunant, who is the founder of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) regained market capitalisation (m-cap) of Rs 50,000 crore,after its stock climbed over 80 per cent in the past one and half month, on expectations of strong earnings in March quarter (Q4FY21) and a healthy outlook going forward.

 In a major breakthrough, the Chennai-based Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture (CIBA) has developed the country’s first vaccine for deadly viral nervous necrosis (VNN) disease, which is currently affecting several species of fish.

The Centre has released over 8,923 crore rupees to 25 States for providing grants to the Rural Local Bodies in advance, in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Government of India and European Investment Bank (EIB) signed the finance contract for second tranche of 150 million Euro for Pune Metro Rail project through a virtual signing ceremony.

 In tennis, World number six Alexander Zverev beat Matteo Berrettini to clinch his second Madrid Open title.

 Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes produced a brilliant, attacking, strategic race to beat Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in the Spanish Grand Prix.

World No. 2 tennis player Naomi Osaka has been named “Sportswoman of the Year” at the Laureus World Sports Awards for her achievements on and off the court, while tennis legend Billie Jean King was awarded the “Lifetime Achievement Award” by the Laureus Academy.

Actor Kalki Koechlin is making her debut as an author with an illustrated non-fiction book on motherhood, publisher Penguin Random House India (PRHI) announced.

New Delhi’s rank declined to 32nd among global cities in terms of prime residential properties.

The Madhya Pradesh government announced the launch of the ‘Mukhyamantri COVID Upchar Yojana’ amid a rise in cases in the state.

Puducherry has become the ‘Har Ghar Jal’ Union Territory by ensuring that every rural home gets a household tap connection.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), granted an authorization to Bajaj Finance for issuance and operation of semi-closed prepaid payment instruments with perpetual validity.

Bajaj Finserv launches ‘Savdhan Rahein, Safe Rahein’, across digital and social media platforms, to educate customers and public at large on financial fraud risks and how to stay protected.

The labour ministry has notified the changes in the investment pattern of the Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), paving way for the retirement fund body to invest up to 5% of its investible surplus in alternate investment funds (AIFs) that support infrastructure, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), venture capital funds and social venture capital funds.The new investment pattern will be effective from March 15, 2021.

Ujjwala Singhania has been appointed as the National President of FICCI Ladies Organization(FLO), the oldest women-led & women-centric business chamber of Southeast Asia.

Sankar Ghosh, an award-winning Indian-origin immunologist, has been elected to the prestigious National Academy of Sciences in recognition of his “distinguished and continuing achievements in original research.

Anupam Kher won the Best Actor award for his performance in the short film Happy Birthdayat the New York City International Film Festival.

 The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced the winners of the ICC Player of the Month Awards for April which recognise and celebrate the best performances from both male and female cricketers across all forms of international cricket throughout the year.

The name of Miyon ka Bara railway station in Rajasthan’s Jodhpur has been changed to Mahesh Nagar after getting an approval from various departments, a senior government official said.

Federal Bank said it has entered into a strategic tie-up with UAE-based Mashreq Bank to facilitate money transfers from the UAE.

Digital payments platform Paytm has announced the launch of ‘COVID-19 Vaccine Finder,’ an integrated platform to help citizens check the availability of vaccination slots – on its Mini App store.

Jana Small Finance Bank, announced the launch of “I choose my number” feature for all its customers across India.

 India is forecast to grow at 10.1 per cent in 2022, becoming the fastest growing major economy in the world, the United Nations said, but cautioned that the growth outlook of 2021 was “highly fragile” as the country was the “new hotbed of the pandemic.”

Japanese brokerage Nomura cut its GDP growth estimate for India for the current 2021-22 fiscal to 10.8 per cent from the earlier 12.6 per cent, blaming the impact of the second wave-induced lockdowns.

 Moody’s Investors Service slashed India’s growth forecast for the current financial year to 9.3 per cent saying that the second wave of coronavirus infections hampers economic recovery and increases risk of longer-term scarring.

HDFC Bank has acquired a 10% stake in CSC Grameen e-Store, a special purpose vehicle run by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, for an undisclosed amount.

The Reserve Bank of India appointed Jose J Kattoor as Executive Director (ED) with effect from 4 May 2021, the central bank said.

Padmakumar M Nair of State Bank of India (SBI) will be the chief executive of National Asset Reconstruction Company (NARCL), a proposed entity for taking over bad loans of lenders, predominantly public sector banks.

 The Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB), the government’s head-hunter, has picked Arun Kumar Singh as the chairman and managing director of state-run oil refining and marketing firm Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL).

Dr. Tahera Qutbuddin has become the first person from India to win the prestigious Sheikh Zayed Book Award. The Mumbai-born professor won the honour for her book ‘Arabic Oration: Art and Function’, which was published by Brill Academic Publishers of Leiden in 2019.

The Union Cabinet has approved the Production-Linked Incentive Scheme for the Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) Battery Storage with an outlay of 18 thousand 100 crore rupees.

Delhi Police has launched a helpline number for senior citizens who are struggling with their essential needs amid Covid-19.

India is participating in the 3rd Arctic Science Ministerial (ASM3) – the global platform for discussing research and cooperation in the Arctic region. The theme for this year is ‘Knowledge for a Sustainable Arctic’.

The Muthoot Finance Limited announced its collaboration with fintech NIRA as part of its strategy to strengthen its digital footprint.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has launched a hub to create an open and inclusive platform to promote strategic policy dialogue, improve knowledge sharing and strengthen coordination on tax policy and administration among ADB members and development partners.

HDFC Bank has cut India’s growth projection to 10 per cent from 11.5 per cent for the current financial year, citing the adverse effect of the second Covid-19 wave.

Domestic rating agency Care Ratings revised its GDP growth forecast for the current fiscal to 9.2 per cent from 10.2 per cent it had estimated earlier.

In the English Premier League, Manchester City were crowned Premier League champions for the third time in four seasons after Manchester United crashed to a 2-1 defeat against Leicester.

Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd,IREDA has been conferred with “Green Urja Award” for being the Leading Public Institution in Financing Institution for RE this year by Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC).

An online flood reporting and information management system was launched in Assam, which faces severe deluge every year.

The Union Cabinet has approved signing of Memorandum of Understanding between Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, ICAI and Qatar Financial Centre Authority, QFCA.