Daily Current Affairs 15th January, 2021

Daily Current Affairs 15 January 2021 for Banking/Insurance/SSC and other related exams.

NATIONAL NEWS

Telangana celebrates festival of cattle ‘Kanuma’
In Telangana, people are celebrating Kanuma, the festival of cattle, on the third day of Sankranti festival.

  • On the occasion, the people especially in rural areas, worship cattle and agriculture tools. Rural craftsmen and artisans who help farmers in their daily chores are specially honoured.
  • Cattle processions are being held at many places across the states as farmers showcase their bulls and adorned cattle in their village streets. Cattle competitions and rural sports for youth are held at several places to mark the day.

Assam celebrates Bhogali Bihu with traditional fervor & gaiety
In Assam, the Magh or Bhogali Bihu is celebrated across the state with traditional fervor and gaiety.

  • People from all sections of life have participated in the joyous celebration of the post-harvest festival.
  • Traditional Meji and Bhelaghar made of thatch and woods have been set on fire amidst chanting of prayers to the God Agni. A host of cultural programmes and traditional sports are being organized to mark the festival.


BANKING & FINANCE

Mahindra Lifespace Developers ties up with SBI for faster home loan approvals, discounts
Realty firm Mahindra Lifespace Developers Ltd said it has signed an MoU with SBI for faster home loan approvals as well as to offer special discounts to customers and employees of both the companies.

  • As part of the agreement, which includes various co-promotional activities and outreach initiatives, customers and employees of SBI and Mahindra Lifespaces will be able to avail the benefits of faster home loan processing and approvals, and special discounts and schemes.


BUSINESS & ECONOMY

11 Indian companies find place among Hurun Global 500 for 2020
Total 11 private Indian firms have made it to the list of 500 most valuable companies across the world, and the country is ranked 10th on the chart. The total value of these 11 companies grew 14 per cent and has been pegged at $805 billion or nearly a third of the Indian GDP.

  • The list of 500 is led by consumer technology major Apple with a valuation of $2.1 trillion and is followed by Microsoft and Amazon at $1.6 trillion. The US accounted for nearly half of the enterprises with 242 of the 500 entries, followed by China at 51 and Japan at 30 companies.
  • As per the Hurun Global 500 report,Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries leads among the local enterprises with a 20.5 per cent jump in valuation to $168.8 billion as of December 1 and is ranked 54th globally, as per the list.Tata Consultancy Services’ ranked 73rd globally and making it the second most valuable Indian firm.
  • The HDFC Bank grew 11.5 per cent to $107.5 billion Hindustan Lever ($68.2 billion, gains of 3.3 per cent), Infosys ($66 billion and gains of 56.6 per cent), HDFC Ltd ($56.4 billion, gains of 2.1 per cent) and Kotak Mahindra Bank ($50.6 billion, 16.8 per cent in gains).ICICI Bank’s overall valuation decreased 0.5 per cent to $45.6 billion, taking it to the 316th spot in overall rankings, while ITC’s value dived 22 per cent to $32.6 billion making it the 480th in the list of 500.
  • The report said 239 of the non-India headquartered companies have a presence in the country, with a maximum number of them having regional offices in the financial capital.
  • Of the 11 most valuable companies, seven have their headquarters in the financial capital, followed by one each in Pune, Bengaluru, Kolkata and New Delhi, it said. The report said the local stock market grew 12 per cent despite the pandemic, which can explain the rise in the valuations.

Snapdeal, Four Indian Shopping Complexes Figure in US Notorious Markets List
Snapdeal, one of India’s largest e-commerce platforms, along with four Indian shopping complexes, two of them in New Delhi alone, have figured in the latest 2020 Review of Notorious Markets for Counterfeiting and Piracy issued by the Office of the US Trade Representative. The four Indian markets that have found mention in the list are Heera Panna in Mumbai, Kidderpore in Kolkata and Palika Bazaar and Tank Road in Delhi.

  • The review released by the Office of the US Trade Representative highlighted the role of e-commerce in facilitating the sale of printed and counterfeit goods. For the first time, the report included a section addressing the role of internet platforms in facilitating the import of counterfeit and pirated goods into the United States.
  • It also identified 39 online markets and 34 physical markets that are reported to be engaged or have aided substantial trademark counterfeiting and copyright piracy.
  • The report highlighted that other major points of origin include India, Singapore, Thailand, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.


ACQUISITIONS & MERGERS 

Tech Mahindra to acquire Payments Technology Services for Rs 66 cr
IT services major Tech Mahindra said it will acquire Payments Technology Services Ltd (PTSL), a step-down subsidiary of fintech firm FIS, for USD 9 million (about Rs 66 crore).

  • The acquisition will give Tech Mahindra access to IPs and licenses for two products – Open Payment Framework (OPF) and Multi-Bank System (MBS). 
  • This acquisition will open up other opportunities for Tech Mahindra as a larger partner with FIS across a number of areas.


APPOINTMENTS

Dushyant Dave resigns as SC Bar Association president
Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) president Dushyant Dave resigned from his post with immediate effect saying he has forfeited his right to continue.

  • Dave was first elected SCBA president in 2014 and was re-elected in 2015.


AWARDS

AIIMS Bhubaneswar receives Kayakalp Award for third consecutive year
All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Bhubaneswar, has been secured once again for promoting cleanliness, hygiene and creating sustainable practices in public health facilities by winning the Kayakalp Award Scheme.Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan presented the award in a virtual ceremony at New Delhi.

  • The institute has been adjudged as the best central government hospital under the B category for cleanliness for the third consecutive year. AIIMS Bhubaneswar will get an award of Rs 2 crore for the performance.
  • It had earlier received the award in 2018 as well as in 2019 for becoming second cleanest hospital in the country among category B hospitals (less than 1000 beds).


ENVIRONMENT

Archaeologists Find Oldest Painting in Indonesian Cave Painted At least 4,500 Years Ago
Archaeologists have discovered the world’s oldest known cave art, a life-sized picture of a wild pig that was painted at least 45,500 years ago in Indonesia.

  • The cave painting uncovered in South Sulawesi consists of a figurative depiction of a warty pig, a wild boar that is endemic to this Indonesian island.
  • The Sulawesi warty pig painting, dated to at least 45,500 years ago, is part of a rock art panel located above a high ledge along the rear wall of Leang Tedongnge.


IMPORTANT DAYS

Indian Army Day
Army Day is observed on January 15 every year because it was this day in 1949 when General KM Cariappa took over the charge of Indian Army from British General Sir Francis Butcher.

  • This year, the celebrations for Army Day have taken a hit because of the coronavirus pandemic.
  • The Indian Army demonstrated combat swarm drones for the first time in public at the annual Army Day parade in the national capital. A total of 75 indigenously-developed drones flew together in a large swarm during the parade, offering a peek into their capabilities and potency.

Tamil Nadu celebrates Thiruvalluvar Day
Tamil Nadu celebrates Thiruvalluvar Day on the 2nd day of the Thai month in honour of the Saint Poet Thiruvalluvar.

  • Valluvar’s epic work, Thirukkural, which consists of 1330 kurals or couplets is translated into many international and Indian languages. Russian Writer Leo Tolstoy was greatly inspired by Thirukkural and so was Mahatma Gandhi.


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