Sunday, March 13, 2022

11 March 2022 Current Affairs

 11-March-2022 Current Affairs in English

11th March 2022

1.       Hindi Novel “Tomb of Sand” nominated for International Booker Prize

·         Geetanjali Shree’s translated Hindi novel “Tomb of Sand” among 13 books long-listed for the International Booker Prize

·         It is first Hindi language of work of fiction originally published as Ret Samadhi and translated into English by Daisy Rockwell

 

2.       Dollar-Rupee Swap

·         The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) conducted a USD 5 Billion dollar-rupee swap auction as part of its Liquidity Management Initiative.

·         This will lead to infusion of dollars and sucking out of the rupee form the financial system.

·         This will reduce the pressure on Inflation and strengthen the rupee.

·         It’s a forex tool whereby the central bank uses its currency to buy another currency or vice versa.

 

3.       Tapi-Par-Narmada Link Project, Ken-Betwa.

·         Some tribals have intensified their protest against the Par-Tapi-Narmada river linking project after it was mentioned in the budget speech (2022-23) of the finance minister.

·         The Finance Minister in her Budget Speech said that five river linking projects will be taken up after consensus among states.

·         The projects are Damanganga-Pinjal, Par-Tapi-Narmada, Godavari-Krishna, Krishna-Pennar and Pennar-Cauveri.

·         The Ken-Betwa is the first project under the government's National Perspective Plan for river inter-linking.

·         The National River Linking Project (NRLP) formally known as the National Perspective Plan, envisages the transfer of water from water 'surplus' basins where there is flooding, to water 'deficit' basins where there is drought/scarcity, through inter-basin water transfer projects.

 

4.       Strengthening of Pharmaceutical Industry Scheme

·         The Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers has released the guidelines for the scheme “Strengthening of Pharmaceutical Industry (SPI)", with a total financial outlay of Rs.500 Cr for the period from FY 21-22 to FY 25-26.

·         Under the Scheme, financial assistance to pharma clusters will be provided for creation of Common Facilities.

 

5.       As per the V-Dem (Varieties of Democracy) Institute report which is titled ‘Democracy report 2022

·         Autocratisation Changing Nature’ India was termed to be the top ten ‘autocratisers’ in the world which indicates India is autocratic rather a democracy which is indicated as an electoral autocracy.

·         India is ranked at 93rd position on the Liberal Democracy Index.

 

6.       RBI has announced that National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development (NaBFID) will be regulated and supervised by it as an All India Financial Institution (AIFI) under the RBI Act, 1934.

·          It will be regulated and supervised by RBI as an AIFI under Sections 45L and 45N of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934.

·         RBI has four AIFIs under it: EXIM Bank, NABARD, NHB and SIDBI. And now NaBFID is added under it.

·         The NaBFID supports in developing long-term infrastructure financing

 

7.       The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) has signed MoU with Bhartiya Swarnkar Sangh (BSS) and Jamshedpur Jewelers Association (JJA)

·          To enhance commodities derivatives trade and to promote Electronic Gold Receipt (EGR) in Indian markets.

 

8.       The Unnati-contactless co-branded credit card was launched by Bank of Baroda

·         Bank of Baroda Financial Solutions Limited in partnership with CreditAI Fintech Pvt Ltd.

·         It is launched on a visa network, especially for farmers.

 

9.       NaBFID to be regulated as AIFI under RBI Act

·         Reserve Bank of India has announced that National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development (NaBFID) will be regulated and supervised by it as an All India Financial Institution (AIFI) under the RBI Act, 1934.

·         NaBFID will be regulated and supervised by RBI as an AIFI under Sections 45L and 45N of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934

·         Presently RBI has four AIFIs under it namely EXIM Bank, NABARD, NHB and SIDBI.

·         NaBFID will be the fifth AIFI under RBI.

·         NaBFID has been set up as a Development Financial Institution (DFI) to support the development of long-term infrastructure financing in India.

·         Chairman of NaBFID: KV Kamath.

 

10.   Famous Golfer Tiger Woods inducted into World Golf Hall of Fame

·         The 46-year-old Woods entered the storied hall as part of the Class of 2022 along with retired PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem, U.S. Women’s Open champion Susie Maxwell Berning and Marion Hollins, a U.S. Women’s Amateur champion and golf course architect who was recognised posthumously.

·         He has won 15 majors, surpassed only by Jack Nicklaus’ 18, as well as a joint-record 82 wins on the PGA Tour.

 

11.   Hungary elects first-ever female president

·         The Hungarian parliament has elected Katalin Novak, a close ally of Prime Minister Viktor Orban, as the EU member’s first-ever female president.

·         Novak, who most recently served as a minister for family policy, portrayed her election as a victory for women

·         Novak will succeed Janos Ader, a co-founder of Orban’s governing right-wing Fidesz party who has held the job since 2012. She will take office after Ader’s term expires May 10.

 

12.   The Haryana government has launched the Meri Fasal-Mera Byora e-procurement portal

·         Due to this portal, Haryana has become the first state in India where as many as 14 crops are procured at the Minimum Support Price (MSP).

·         These crops include wheat, mustard, barley, gram, paddy, maize, bajra, cotton, sunflower, moong, groundnut, tur, urad and sesame.

·         The portal is the testimony of increasingly adopting digital governance, as a means to improve farming and ensure enhanced income for farmers.

 

13.   Amendment to the Mines and Minerals Act 1957

·         The Union Cabinet has approved a proposal to amend the Second Schedule to the MMDR (Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation) Act to specify the royalty rates of certain minerals, including potash, emerald and platinum group of metals.

·         MMDR Act, 1957 regulates the mining sector in India and specifies the requirement for obtaining and granting mining leases for mining operations

 

14.   India and Canada to re-launch the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement

·         India and Canada held the fifth Ministerial Dialogue on Trade & Investment (MDTI), where Ministers agreed to formally re-launch the negotiations for India-Canada Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and also consider an Interim Agreement or Early Progress Trade Agreement (EPTA) that could bring early commercial gains to both the countries.

·         Earlier, India and Australia announced that they are set to conclude an Interim Trade Agreement in March 2022 and a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) 12-18 months thereafter.

 

15.   India acknowledged that “technical malfunction led to the accidental firing of a missile” which landed 124 km inside Pakistan's territory.

·         It was speculated that it was a test of one of India’s top missiles, BrahMos, jointly developed with Russia.

 

16.   Atal Innovation Mission expanded to encourage AR skills in youth

·         NITI Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission announced a partnership with Snap Inc. to promote Augmented Reality (AR) skill development among Indian youth.

·         Snap Inc is anticipated to train around 12,000 instructors linked with the Atal Tinkering Labs on Augmented Reality over the course of two years, allowing the programme to reach millions of children.

·         Snap Inc. also announced a collaboration with the Atal Incubation Centers (AICs) to support the Indian start-up ecosystem with AR advertising bootcamps, Ad credits, and other opportunities.

 

17.   Justice AK Sikri named as Chairperson of Chardham project Committee.

·         The Supreme Court of India has named Justice (retd) AK Sikri as Chairperson of the High-Powered Committee (HPC), of the Chardham project as previous Chairperson Professor Ravi Chopra had resigned from his post in February 2022 has appointed on August 8, 2019.

 

18.   Six Indian Airports named the ACI World’s ASQ Awards 2021

·         From India, six airports have found a place among the ‘Best Airport by Size and Region’, by the Airports Council International (ACI), in its Airport Service Quality (ASQ) survey for the year 2021

·         The ACI Airport Service Quality (ASQ) Awards takes into account 33 parameters related to passenger amenities to recognize airport excellence in customer experience.

§  The six Indian airports include:

§  Category – Over 40 million passengers per year

§  Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), Mumbai  (5th consecutive year)

§  Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi  (4th consecutive year)

§  Category – 15 to 25 million passengers per year

§  Rajiv Gandhi International airport, Hyderabad

§  Category – 5 to 15 million passengers per year

§  Cochin International Airport, Cochin

§  Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, Ahmedabad

§  Category – 2 to 5 million passengers per year

§  Chandigarh Airport, Chandigarh

 

19.   Jyotiraditya Scindia inaugurates first drone school at Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh

·         The Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan jointly inaugurated the first drone school in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh.

·         This drone school is one of the five Drone Schools planned to be opened in different cities of Madhya Pradesh. The other four cities are Bhopal, Indore, Jabalpur and Satna.

 

20.   Debasish Panda named as Chairman of IRDAI

·         Debasish Panda a former Financial Secretary has been appointed as the chairman of the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI).

21.   RBI directs Paytm Payments Bank Ltd to stop onboarding of new customers

·         Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has directed Paytm Payments Bank Ltd to stop the onboarding of new customers with immediate effect.

·         The bank has also been directed to appoint an IT audit firm to conduct a comprehensive System Audit of its IT system.

·         The RBI took the decision in exercise of its powers under section 35A of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.

 

22.   A book titled “Soli Sorabjee: Life and Times” authored by Abhinav Chandrachud

·         A new biography, titled “Soli Sorabjee: Life and Times” was announced, during the occasion of the 92nd birth anniversary of Soli Sorabjee.

·         It is authored by advocate and legal scholar Abhinav Chandrachud and will be released in April 2022.

·         He was the former Attorney General (AG) of India and served two times for the years 1989-90 and then from 1998- 2004.

 

23.   BIS tie-up with IIT Roorkee for activities on standardisation

·         The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and IIT Roorkee signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the establishment of a ‘BIS Standardization Chair Professor’ at IIT Roorkee.

·         It will aid in the establishment of standards on crucial areas such as IIT’s BlockChain applications for e-governance.

·         The MoU will help the country’s research, development, teaching, and training in the field of standardisation and conformity assessment, with a focus on civil, electrical, mechanical, chemical, and earthquake engineering, as well as the development and management of water resources and renewable energy projects, infrastructure development, medical biotechnology and nanotechnology, biotechnology, biomaterials, and other fields.

 

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