CURRENT AFFAIRS SNIPPETS 6TH AND 7TH MARCH 2022

 

CURRENT AFFAIRS SNIPPETS

 

06th & 07th March 2022

National News

 

T'gana to set up 1st women’s university, district medical colleges

short by Nakul Ahuja / 11:32 pm on 07 Mar 2022,Monday

The Telangana government on Monday announced the setting up of the first women's university in the state and also said that they will establish a medical college in every district over the next two years. During his budget speech, Finance Minister of Telangana Harish Rao said that the government has initiated measures to introduce English medium in all the schools.

 

PM Narendra Modi inaugurates Rs 11,400 Crore Pune Metro Rail Project 

The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi has inaugurated Pune Metro Rail Project on March 06, 2022, and also interacted with differently-abled, visually impaired students present inside the metro coach, during his 10-minute ride in the Pune Metro.  Pune Metro Rail Project has been built at a total cost of INR 11,420 Crore. It has a total length of 33.2 km and 30 stations.  Pune Metro is the first metro project in the country to have Aluminum body coaches, indigenously manufactured under the Make in India policy of GoI. PM Modi also unveiled the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at the premises of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and laid the foundation stone and inaugurated multiple developmental projects in Pune.

India’s first FSRU Hoegh Giant Arrives at Jaigarh Terminal 

H-Jaigarh Energy’s Terminal in Maharashtra has received India’s first floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU). On April 12, 2021, the FSRU Höegh Giant arrived at Jaigarh Terminal in Maharashtra after sailing from Keppel Shipyard in Singapore. This will be India’s first FSRU-based LNG receiving terminal, as well as Maharashtra’s first year-around LNG facility.  The Höegh Giant, which was erected in 2017, has a storage capacity of 1,70,000 cubic metres and a regasification capacity of 750 million cubic feet per day (equivalent to about six million tpa). FSRU has been chartered for a 10-year period by H-Energy.  The Höegh Giant LNG terminal will be connected to the national gas grid via the 56-kilometer Jaigarh-Dabhol natural gas pipeline.  The facility will also deliver LNG to onshore distribution via truck loading facilities. Reloading LNG into small-scale LNG vessels for bunkering services is also possible at the plant.  H-Energy also plans to boost the region’s small-scale LNG market, utilising FSRU for LNG storage and reloading into smaller boats.

 

Telangana topped the Country in terms of Per Capita Net State

Telangana became the top-performing state in India with a population over one crore in terms of the growth rate of Per Capita Net State Domestic Product at Current Prices by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI). It succeeded other states like Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu.   The Gross State Domestic Price (GSDP) of Telangana increased from Rs 359434 crores in 2011-12 to Rs 1,154,860 crores in 2021-22. It recorded GSDP growth by 31.12 per cent from 2011-12. It is one of the highest growth rates for any state in the country.  In terms of the percentage growth in GSDP, Telangana has shown the most rapid increase in its growth rate by around 17% from 2020 to the present.  Major projects include Rythu Bandhu scheme for farmers, the world’s largest lift irrigation Kaleshwaram project to provide water to the fields, and the Arogya Laxmi scheme for pregnant and lactating women.

SBI named ex-Ujjivan Small Finance Bank CEO Nitin Chugh as DMD

State Bank of India (SBI) has appointed former Ujjivan Small Finance Bank CEO, Nitin Chugh as Deputy Managing Director (DMD) to drive digital banking operations. He has been appointed for an initial term of three years.  Prior to this appointment, Chugh was CEO and managing director of Ujjivan Small Finance Bank. He joined there from HDFC Bank where he served as the Group Head of Digital Banking.  According to public notice by SBI, the position would be responsible for envisioning, developing and executing of bank's digital banking strategy and business plan for imparting digital knowledge/skills in a constructive, empowering and collaborative way.

Minister of Electronics & IT inaugurates Tech Conclave 2022

National Informatics Centre (NIC) has partnered with governments on digital initiatives. We've constructed state-of-the-art PAN-India ICT infrastructure, digital platforms, and solutions for the government's exclusive usage over the years. We've helped the federal and state governments automate their procedures and deliver public services electronically.  NIC has been hosting a Tech Conclave on Emerging Technologies, which are particularly useful in e-Government. "Next Gen Technologies for Digital Government" is the theme of this year's Tech Conclave.  The benefits can range from gaining a better grasp of the industry's ICT best practises to disseminating awareness of the latest technologies and trends that are useful in the society's big digital transition.  The Tech Conclave will provide IT managers from government ministries and departments with information on the latest ICT technology and their applications, as well as industry best practices.

 

International News

 

Accounting firms EY, Deloitte sever links with Russia

short by Ashley Paul / 10:55 pm on 07 Mar 2022,Monday

EY and Deloitte on Monday said they will sever ties with Russia, following two other of the world's Big Four accounting firms KPMG and PwC. EY won't serve any Russian government clients, state-owned enterprises or sanctioned entities, individuals, the firm said. "We'll separate our practice in Russia, Belarus from the global network of member firms," said Deloitte CEO Punit Renjen.

 

Russia issues list of nations that commit 'unfriendly' actions, US & UK included

short by Sakshita Khosla / 10:47 pm on 07 Mar 2022,Monday

Russia has approved a list of nations and territories that commit "unfriendly" actions against it. These include US, Canada, EU states, UK (including Jersey, Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, Gibraltar), Ukraine, Montenegro, Switzerland, Albania, Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, North Macedonia, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Micronesia, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan.

Study in India meet 2022 inaugurated in Dhaka 

The two-day-long Study in India (SII) 2022 meeting was inaugurated in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The event organised by the High Commission of India was inaugurated by the Education Minister of Bangladesh Dr Dipu Moni and the High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh Vikram Doraiswami.  Education Minister of Bangladesh said the educational exchange between the two countries will further strengthen the friendly relations between the two countries. She said that students of today have the responsibility to find solutions for the common issues like poverty that are faced by the countries of South Asia.  A large number of students from various educational institutions took part in the event. They explored the opportunity for studying abroad provided by some of the best colleges and universities in India.

Mobile World Congress 2022 held in Barcelona

The Global System for Mobile Communications Association(GSMA) has organised the 2022 Mobile World Congress (MWC), which took place in Barcelona, Spain from 28 February to 3 March.  The focus on 5G and maximizing its potential for benefiting countries and economies is the centrepiece of MWC this year which is taking place amid an ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.  Global Mobile Economy Report expects 5G connections globally to reach 1 billion in 2022 by 5G adoption. An increase in the 5G network connection will increase the global GDP by 5% up to$5 trillion in 2025.

GSMA Established: 1995;

GSMA Headquarters: London, United Kingdom;

GSMA Chairperson:Stéphane Richard.

Banking, Business and Ecnomics

 

45th Chennai Book Fair concludes, books worth ₹12 crore sold

short by Disha Jana / 09:17 pm on 07 Mar 2022,Monday

The 45th Chennai Book Fair that was being held at YMCA grounds, Nandanam, concluded on Sunday. The 19-day long fair recorded a footfall of 15 lakh people and the sale of books worth ₹12 crore, Booksellers and Publishers Association of South India (BAPASI) said. The fair had 800 stalls, including those set up to promote Tamil Nadu government’s education-at-doorstep scheme.

Sachin Bansal's Navi to file for ₹4,000-cr IPO this week: Report

short by Hiral Goyal / 08:18 pm on 07 Mar 2022,Monday

Financial services company Navi Technologies is planning to file draft papers with SEBI for ₹4,000-crore initial public offer (IPO) this week, PTI reported. The issue is expected to open in June and will be a fresh issuance of equity shares with no offer-for-sale component. Flipkart Co-founder Sachin Bansal co-founded Navi with Ankit Agarwal after exiting the e-commerce startup in 2018.

Paytm's market cap falls below ₹50,000 cr as shares hit record low

short by Hiral Goyal / 08:47 pm on 07 Mar 2022,Monday

The market capitalisation of Paytm's parent One97 Communications fell below ₹50,000 crore on Monday as the company's shares hit record low of ₹751. Paytm's market capitalisation stood at ₹48,785 crore as its shares ended 4.15% lower on the NSE on March 7. Paytm made its stock market debut in November 2021 and its shares have declined nearly 65% since then.

Keep Saturdays free, address grievances of tax assessees: FM to CBDT, CBIC officials

short by Pragya Swastik / 10:59 pm on 07 Mar 2022,Monday

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman rapped CBDT and CBIC for allegedly not responding to grievances of tax assessees and directed officials to reserve Saturdays to hold meetings with them. "Are you engaging with your own assessees?...Engage with them and give the clarification required," Sitharaman said. She was having a post-budget interaction with industry members and tax officers in Bengaluru.

What is the co-location case for which ex-NSE CEO Chitra has been arrested?

short by Ridham Gambhir / 04:45 pm on 07 Mar 2022,Monday

The NSE co-location case refers to a series of events wherein some brokers received preferential access through the co-location facility, resulting in faster access to the markets. The matter came to light after a whistleblower wrote to SEBI in 2015. The NSE co-location facilities were launched in 2009 while Chitra Ramkrishna was appointed as the Joint MD the same year.

Oil prices touch highest level since 2008, jump close to $140 mark

short by Ashley Paul / 05:28 pm on 07 Mar 2022,Monday

Oil prices continued to soar on Monday after reports said the US and European allies are planning to ban Russian oil imports over its invasion of Ukraine. In the first few minutes of trade on Monday, Brent crude hit $139.13/barrel while West Texas Intermediate hit $130.50/barrel, both at their highest since July 2008. Russia is the world's second-largest crude exporter.

Assume tough times ahead, be prepared: Zoho CEO to staff amid Russia-Ukraine war

short by Ridham Gambhir / 07:15 pm on 07 Mar 2022,Monday

Zoho CEO Sridhar Vembu on Monday tweeted some advice that he had shared with this staff amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Vembu wrote, "The world faces many serious challenges…While our company is on a...healthy foundation...we have weathered two serious downturns in our 25-year history...Assume...tough times will be ahead and be prepared…We don't know what lies ahead. Expect turbulent times."

 

Future Generali India Insurance Launches 'FG Dog Health Cover' Insurance

Future Generali India Insurance Company Limited (FGII) has announced the launch of FG Dog Health Cover, comprehensive health insurance for pet dogs, along with industry-first 'Emergency Pet Minding' cover. The FGII also focuses on a digital campaign named ‘Oh My Dog!’ with an aim to create awareness on purchasing dog health insurance cover and also targets on social media like Instagram and Twitter.  The insurance policy covers pet dogs aged between six months to four years for giant breeds and seven years for small, medium, and large breeds. The exit age is ten years for small, medium, and large breeds and six years for giant breeds.  This comprehensive cover will protect pet parents against the cost of their dogs' surgery and hospitalisation, terminal illness, mortality, and funeral expenses. With add-on covers, pet parents will, also, be able to insure their dogs against third-party liability, theft or loss, emergency pet minding, veterinary consultation, and doctor on call.  With FG Dog Health Cover, pet parents will be able to choose their a veterinarian, budget their pet care costs, and avoid the dip into emergency funds with easy documentation.

Sports News

BCCI named RuPay as the official partner for Tata IPL 2022

Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)’s, Indian Premier League (IPL) Governing Council has announced National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)‘s flagship product RuPay as an official partner for the Tata IPL 2022. This will be a multi-year partnership. RuPay offers tech-led, innovative, and customized offerings to people across India, being accepted in India and internationally.  Tata IPL 2022 will be co-presented by Dream11 and co-powered by Tata and CRED. Swiggy, Prystin Care, Zepto, Livspace, L’Oreal, and Spinny have been signed-on as associate sponsors.  The 15th edition of Tata IPL 2022 will start on 26th March 2022. A total of 70 league matches will be played across four international venues in Mumbai and Pune. The venue for the playoff matches will be decided later.

Mithali Raj becomes first woman cricketer to appear at six Cricket World Cups

Indian women cricket captain, Mithali Raj has become the first woman to appear in six World Cups. She is the only third cricketer overall to play six world cup after Sachin Tendulkar and Javed Miandad.  She has played in the ICC women’s cricket world cup events in 2000, 2005, 2009, 2013, 2017 and now in 2022. The ICC women’s cricket world cup 2022 is being held in New Zealand.  In the women's game, the Indian batter surpassed former New Zealand cricketers, Debbie Hockley and Charlotte Edwards of England. Fast bowler Jhulan Goswami, Raj's India teammate for the longest time, stands second on the list with five World Cup appearances.

Books and Authors News

 

The Queen Of Indian Pop: The Authorised Biography Of Usha Uthup

The biography of pop icon Usha Uthup titled “The Queen of Indian Pop: The Authorised Biography of Usha Uthup” was released. The book was originally written in Hindi titled “Ullas Ki Naav” by author Vikas Kumar Jha.  “The Queen of Indian Pop: The Authorised Biography of Usha Uthup” is the English translation of the book, translated by the writer’s daughter Srishti Jha. The book is published by Penguin Random House India (PRHI).  The 74-year-old pop icon, who completed 50 years as a professional singer in 2020, is widely known for evergreen hits such as “Hari Om Hari”, “Rambha Ho” and “Jeete Hain Shaan Se”. She has sung in several Indian and foreign languages including Bengali, Hindi, English, German, Italian and Sinhalese.

A book titled ‘The Blue Book’ by authored by Journalist Amitava Kumar

Indian writer and journalist, Amitava Kumar has come out with a new book titled ‘The Blue Book: A Writer’s Journal’. The book has been published by HarperCollins India.  The Blue Book is the outcome of the diary-keeping by the author during the time of lockdown due to pandemics. The author has used watercolour drawings as well as words to depict the experience, both individual and collective, of the pandemic.

Important Days

Jan Aushadhi Diwas celebrates on 7th March 2022

The Jan Aushadhi Diwas is celebrated on 7 March 2022 by the Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI). The day is observed to spread awareness about the usages of generic medicines and the benefits of Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana. The theme of the 4 Janaushadhi Diwas is “Jan Aushadhi-Jan Upyogi”.  On this occasion, Doctors, Health Workers, Nurses, Pharmacists, and Jan Aushadhi Mitra will discuss the Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana. The government has set a target to increase the number of Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBJKs) to 10,500 by March 2025.  Janaushadhi Kendras is the world’s biggest retail pharma chain having around 6,200 outlets in 700 districts of the country. It also provides a good source of self-employment with sustainable and regular earnings. The first Jan Aushadhi Diwas was celebrated on 7th of March 2019.

CISF observed its 53rd Raising Day on March 06

The 53rd Raising Day ceremony of Central Industrial Security Forces (CISF) was organised on March 06, 2022, in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has attended and addressed the Raising Day ceremony of CISF at Ghaziabad’s Indirapuram.  The CISF, which functions under the Union Home Ministry,  is a central armed police force and among one of the six paramilitary forces of India. Over 30 lakh passengers in Delhi Metro and 10 lakh passengers in airports across the country pass through the security of CISF.

Obituaries News

Former Australian cricketer Rod Marsh passes away

Former Australia cricketer (wicketkeeper), Rodney William Marsh has passed away in Adelaide Australia. He was the 1st Australian wicketkeeper to score a century in test cricket and finished his career with 3 centuries.  He held a test record of 355 dismissals by a wicketkeeper, including 95 off the bowling of pace bowler Dennis Lillee. He has played 96 test matches for Australia from 1970 to 1984 and 92 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) for Australia and later retired from top-flight cricket in February 1984.

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