CURRENT AFFAIRS SNIPPETS 14TH MARCH 2022

 

 

CURRENT AFFAIRS SNIPPETS

14th March 2022

National News

 

I wanted to show truth to whole world: Vivek on 'The Kashmir Files'

short by Kriti Kambiri / 10:06 pm on 14 Mar 2022,Monday

'The Kashmir Files' director Vivek Agnihotri has said that he made the film because he wanted to show the truth to the whole world. "I wanted to make a sensitive film that has universal resonance," the filmmaker added. He further said he was inspired by Hollywood to make films that praise the country and present its greatness to the world.

 

Tamilnadu Petroproducts became world’s first LAB manufacturing company to get BIS certification

TPL (Tamilnadu Petroproducts Ltd.) is the world's first linear alkylbenzene (LAB) manufacturing company to be certified by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). TPL's 'Superlab' brand is one of the most well-known laboratory brands in the country.  TPL's position as the market leader and the only authorised seller of the chemical in India will be bolstered by the certification. LAB can be used to make biodegradable detergent, making it a more sustainable option than conventional detergent formulations.

India’s first medical city ‘Indrayani Medicity’ to set up in Maharashtra

The state government of Maharashtra has announced to set up the country’s first medical city named as ‘Indrayani Medicity’ in Pune, to provide all kinds of specialised treatment under one roof. It will come up in 300-acre of land area in Khed taluka of Pune.  The project is estimated to attract investment worth over Rs. 10,000 crore.  Indrayani Medicity will have hospitals, centres for medical research, pharmaceutical manufacturing, wellness and physiotherapy, and will be the first-of-its-kind city in the country to have all the treatments available at one place.  The Medicity will have about 24 separate hospital buildings, each housing one department. The Medicity will not only benefit Pune but will also be useful for people from neighbouring districts who come to the city for better treatment.

PM Narendra Modi dedicates Rashtriya Raksha University in Gandhinagar, Gujarat 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has dedicated to the nation a new campus building complex of the Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU) at Lavad village near Gandhinagar, Gujarat. PM also addressed the first convocation of RRU Gandhinagar as a Chief Guest. The University, which is an Institution of National Importance, commenced its operations from 1st October 2020.  Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU) was set up to meet the need for high quality trained manpower in various wings of policing, criminal justice and correctional administration.  The government set up a national police university named Rashtriya Raksha University by upgrading the Raksha Shakti University which was established by the Government of Gujarat in 2010.  The University, which is an Institution of National Importance, commenced its operations from 1st October 2020. The University will develop synergies with the private sector by leveraging knowledge and resources from the industry and would also set up Centres of Excellence in various fields relating to police and security.

First Gati Shakti Cargo Terminal of Indian Railways commissioned

The Asansol Division of Indian Railways has successfully commissioned private siding of Maithan Power Limited at Thaparnagar, Jharkhand, in accordance with the Prime Minister's vision Gati Shakti and the Ministry of Railways' policy regarding the Gati Shakti Multi-Modal Cargo Terminal or also known as GCT, informed the Ministry of Railways.  The coal needed for the power plant was delivered via road, which is estimated to yield 120 inbound coal rakes every month.  Somewhere between two to four outward rakes of Fly Ash are expected to be handled from the siding area.  This will increase the railways' monthly earnings by almost Rs. 11 crores.

International News

Ex-student protest leader, Gabriel Boric font becomes youngest President of Chile

Gabriel Boric Font has been appointed as the new and 36th President of Chile. The 36-year-old leftist is the youngest leader to hold the office in Chile’s history. He succeeds Sebastián Piñera. Boric will hold the office for the period between 2022-2026.  As a student representative, Boric became one of the leading figures of the 2011–2013 Chilean student protests. Boric was twice elected to the Chamber of Deputies representing the Magallanes and Antarctic district, first as an independent candidate in 2013 and then in 2017 as part of the Broad Front, a left-wing coalition he created with several other parties.

BANKING, BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

Ajay Bhushan Pandey appointed as chairman of the NFRA 

Ajay Bhushan Pandey has been appointed as the chairman of the National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA) for a period of 3 years. Pandey, a 1984-batch Maharashtra cadre IAS officer, retired as revenue secretary in February last year.  The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of former revenue secretary ABP Pandey as the chairperson of NFRA for a period of three years from the date of assumption of charge or till the incumbent attains the age of 65 years.  The NFRA acts as an independent regulator for the auditing profession. The body has powers to review the financial statement of companies, can seek explanations and probe irregularities with respect to accounting and auditing issues. The setting up of the NFRA, envisaged under the Companies Act, 2013, was approved by the Cabinet in May 2018.

EPFO lowers interest rate on PF deposits to 8.1% for 2021-22

The retirement fund body, Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has slashed the interest rate on provident fund deposits to 8.10% for 2021-22. This rate is 0.4% lower than the previous year. The interest rate on PF deposits was 8.5% in 2020-21 and 2019-20.  This is the lowest in more than four decades. EPFO had credited 8.0% as interest rate in 1977-78. Since then, it has been either 8.25% or more.  The interest rate of 8.1% has been declared based on EPFO’s estimated income for the year at Rs 76,768 crore and this will leave the retirement fund body with a surplus of Rs 450 crore.  The move is expected to hit the earnings of over sixty million EPFO subscribers.


J&K Bank bagged National Award for SHG Bank Linkage

Union Minister of Rural Development, Giriraj Singh honoured the Jammu and Kashmir Bank (J&K Bank) with the “National Award for Outstanding Performance for FY 2020-21” in recognition of its best performance in Self-Help Group Bank Linkage.  Kirti Sharma, Zonal Head, Delhi, J & K Bank, accepted the award on the bank’s behalf from Union Minister Giriraj Singh.  The award was presented during the event organized as a part of International Women’s Day (8th March 2022) at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi, Delhi. In line with the Bank’s commitment to extend banking facilities and financial services into the under-banked areas of Jammu and Kashmir, J&K Bank has commissioned 4 Business Units (BUs) in the region.

Sports News

 

 

Pant becomes first Indian wicketkeeper to win Player of the Series award in Test cricket

short by Anmol Sharma / 10:53 pm on 14 Mar 2022,Monday

Rishabh Pant has become the first Indian wicketkeeper-batter to win Player of the Series award in Test cricket. He was named Player of the Series for scoring 185 runs in the two-match series against Sri Lanka. He had a batting average of 61.66 and strike rate of 120.12 in the series. Pant took five catches and effected three stumpings.

 

 

In Ahmedabad, PM inaugurates the 11th Khel Mahakumbh

The 11th edition of the Khel Mahakumbh was started on Saturday at Sardar Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. PM Modi claimed that he appointed Khel Mahakumbh as Gujarat's Chief Minister in 2010.  Khel Mahakumbh, which began in Gujarat in 2010 with 16 sports and 13 lakh participants, now includes 36 general sports and 26 para-sports. The 11th Khel Mahakumbh has received over 45 lakh registrations.  Due to COVID-19, we were not able to organize Khel Mahakumbh. Started in 2010 with 16 sports & 13 lakh participants, Khel Mahakumbh increased to 36 general sports & 26 para-sports in 2019."

Books and Authors News

Geetanjali Shree's translation ‘Tomb of Sand’ nominated for International Booker Prize

Author Geetanjali Shree’s translated Hindi novel “Tomb of Sand” is among 13 books long-listed for the International Booker Prize. It is the first Hindi language work of fiction to make it to the long list of the prestigious literary prize.  The book was originally published as ‘Ret Samadhi’ and translated into English by Daisy Rockwell. It will compete for the GBP 50,000 prize, which is split evenly between the author and translator.

IMPORTANT DAYS
International Day of Mathematics observed on 14 March

International Day of Mathematics (IDM) is observed globally on the 14th of March every year. It is also known as the Pi Day because the mathematical constant π (pi) can be rounded down to 3.14.  It aims to educate people about the essential role of mathematics in science and technology, improve quality of life, empower women and girls, and contribute to sustainable development. This is a relatively new event that was created just a couple of years back. The theme for 2022 IDM is “Mathematics Unites!”.  The proclamation of March 14 as the International Day of Mathematics was adopted in the 205th session of the UNESCO’s Executive Council. The day was then adopted in the 40th session of the General Conference of UNESCO in November 2019. Later in 2020, the world celebrated its First International Day of Mathematics on March 14, 2020.

Miscellaneous News

India's 1st ever GI-tagged Kashmir carpets flagged off to Germany

The Government of Jammu and Kashmir has launched quick response (QR) code for its GI-tagged Kashmiri carpet, to preserve the authenticity and genuineness of the hand-knotted carpets. The main objective of this QR Code attached to the GI tag is to help in reviving the sheen and glory of the Kashmiri carpet industry.  The QR code will contain relevant information of the artisans, manufacturer, weaver, district, raw material used etc.  Since the QR code label cannot be copied or misused, it will discourage the counterfeit production of carpets.
Meanwhile, the first-ever consignment of GI-tagged hand-knotted carpets were exported to Germany from New Delhi on March 11, 2022.  It must be noted that the Kashmiri carpets were granted GI-tag in June 2016 by the Geographical Indication Registry of the Department of Industry Promotion and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, but the registered carpets were certified from 2022.

 

OBITUARY

International kabaddi player Sandeep Nangal shot dead during tournament in Punjab

short by Sakshita Khosla / 09:53 pm on 14 Mar 2022,Monday

International kabaddi player Sandeep Nangal was shot dead on Monday by unidentified assailants during a kabaddi tournament in Malian village in Punjab's Jalandhar, police said. Around eight to 10 bullets were fired at him as per the police. As per reports, the bullets hit his head and chest.

 

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