Current Affairs Quiz: January 19, 2022

As part of the ongoing Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations, Hon’ble Union Minister for Heavy Industries, Dr. Mahendra Nath Pandey dedicated India’s first, BHEL-built Coal to Methanol (CTM) pilot plant which was built by the Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) inBHEL’s Hyderabad unit, to the Nation.

Health Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya released a  commemorative Postal Stamp on COVID-19 Vaccine to mark the first anniversary of India’s National Covid-19 Vaccination program.

Ministry of Textiles cleared 20 strategic research projects worth Rs 30 crores in the areas of Specialty fibres and Geotextiles under the chairmanship of Union Minister of Textiles, Piyush Goyal, informed the Ministry of Textiles.

A village Kumbalangi in Kerala which won acclaim as India’s first model tourism village, is set to become the country’s first sanitary-napkin-free panchayat.

India has announced a USD 900 million loan to Sri Lanka to build up its depleted foreign reserves and for food imports, amidst a shortage of almost all essential commodities in the island nation.

The navies of India and Russia conducted a passing exercise in the Arabian Sea, the Indian Navy said.

Marwadi Financial Services (MFS) announced a partnership with NSDL Payments Bank. This will allow MFS to offer its clients an integrated 3-in-1 savings account that combines the features of savings, demat and trading accounts.

Hyderabad-based blockchain startup Kling Trading India and Cosmea Financial Holdings’ joint venture Torus Kling Blockchain IFSC has signed an MoU with India INX to launch India’s first Bitcoin and Ethereum Futures ETFs and Metaverse US listed Large-cap Discount Certificates.

ICICI Prudential Asset Management Company has entered into a collaboration with the US-based First Trust Advisors, which is into actively-managed exchange-traded funds, to launch a slew of global fund of funds.

The United Nations forecast lower global economic growth for 2022 and 2023, saying the world is facing new waves of COVID-19 infections, persistent labour market challenges, lingering supply chain issues and rising inflationary pressures.

Reliance Industries has signed a preliminary agreement with Gujarat to invest Rs 5.95 lakh crore, mainly in green energy, in the state.

IT company Tech Mahindra announced acquisition of 100% stake in Europe-based Com Tec Co IT (CTC) and 25% stake in two insurtech platforms for a total of EUR 330 million (about Rs 2,800 crore).

India is all set to host the football AFC Women’s Asian Cup India 2022. Addressing a virtual press conference, AIFF President Praful Patel said, the tournament will help in building women’s football in India.

Former world number one Andy Murray’s quest for a first ATP title in over two years ended in defeat at the hands of top seed Aslan Karatsev at the Sydney Tennis Classic, with the Russian easing his way to a 6-3 6-3 win.

Textile Ministry has said that Narendra Kumar Goenka has been appointed as new chairman of Apparel Export Promotion Council, AEPC.

Actor Harshaali Malhotra recently received the Bharat Ratna Dr Ambedkar National Award for her performance in the 2015 film Bajrangi Bhaijaan. She received the award from Maharashtra governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari.

Former President of Mali, Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta, who was elected during a historic election following a destabilising coup and only to be deposed seven years later by another military coup, passed away at the age of 76.

Saoli Mitra, eminent theatre personality and daughter of legendary actor Sombhu Mitra and Tripti Mitra died at her residence in South Kolkata. He was 73.

Noted environmentalist Prof M K Prasad, a prominent figure in the historic grassroot level movement to save the evergreen tropical rain forests in Kerala’s Silent Valley from destruction, passed away. He was 89.

Noted lyricist and director Alleppey Ranganath passed away. He was 73.