January 01 To 31 2022 SIDBI Lyst4507

January
2022
1|P a g e W W W . E D U T A P . C O . I N QUERY? HELLO@EDUTAP.CO.IN/ 8146207241

Contents
1 GA in News: ...................................................................................................................................................................... 18
Banking ................................................................................................................................................................................ 18
1.1 NTPC Ltd acquires 5 per cent equity stake in Power Exchange of India Ltd (PXIL).................................................. 18
1.2 ₹2,000 to be the total limit for offline digital transactions ..................................................................................... 18
1.3 Interest rate on Public Provident Fund (PPF) unchanged at 7.1% percent ............................................................. 18
1.4 Paisabazaar.com partners with Axis Bank to launch a pre-qualified program for unsecured loans ....................... 18
1.5 Fino Payments Bank receives approval for commencing international remittance business ................................. 18
1.6 NPCI Bharat BillPay Ltd. (NBBL) introduces a unique functionality called ‘UPMS’ .................................................. 18
1.7 SBI General Insurance has launches #BahaneChhodoTaxBachao campaign........................................................... 18
1.8 Airtel Payments Bank categorised as a scheduled bank by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). ................................. 18
1.9 Group of banks were identified as Domestic Systemically Important Banks (D-SIBs) ............................................ 18
1.10 South Indian Bank wins the UiPath Automation Excellence Awards 2021.............................................................. 19
1.11 India exports the highest ever goods in a month .................................................................................................... 19
1.12 Bharti Airtel announces a joint venture with Hughes Communications India Private (HCIPL) ............................... 19
1.13 Airtel Payments Bank collaborates with Park+ ........................................................................................................ 19
1.14 RBI cancels the authorisation certificates for non-compliance with regulatory requirements. ............................. 19
1.15 RBL Bank collaborates with Google ......................................................................................................................... 19
1.16 SJVN Ltd. given the category 'I' licence for the inter-state trading of power in the entire country........................ 19
1.17 AIC STPINEXT Initiatives signes two MoUs with HDFC Bank ................................................................................... 19
1.18 Edelweiss Housing Finance Ltd (EHFL) and ECL Finance Ltd (ECLF) enter into co-lending partnership with Indian
Bank for lending to priority sector areas. ............................................................................................................................ 19
1.19 Federal Bank has launched an online lending platform to facilitate quick and hassle-free credit approvals of up to
₹50 lakh for MSMEs across India. ........................................................................................................................................ 19
1.20 Axis Bank enters into a partnership with MinkasuPay ............................................................................................ 19
1.21 Adani Group and South Korean steel major POSCO have signed an agreement .................................................... 19
1.22 India and South Korea set a bilateral trade target of $50 billion ............................................................................ 20
1.23 According to the World Bank’s Global Economic Prospects Report 2022, released in January 2022, 8.3% will be
India’s annual growth rate in the current fiscal year (2021-22). ......................................................................................... 20
1.24 The Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode’s Business incubator Laboratory for Innovation Venturing and
Entrepreneurship (LIVE) has signed an MoU with Indian Bank to launched a startup funding scheme. ............................ 20
1.25 In partnership with the NPCI UCO Bank has launched a ‘RuPay Select Contactless Debit Card’. ........................... 20
1.26 NABARD has forged a partnership with Arthimpact Digital Loans .......................................................................... 20
1.27 HDFC Bank adjudged Best Private Bank in India at the Global Private Banking Awards 2021 ................................ 20
1.28 Paytm Payments Bank becomes the largest and fastest growing UPI beneficiary bank in India. ........................... 20
1.29 Snapdeal joins hands with BOB Financial to launch a co-branded contactless RuPay credit card.......................... 20
1.30 Karnataka Vikas Grameena Bank (KVGB) signs MoU with the Mecwin Technologies Ltd ...................................... 20
1.31 Lendingkart enters into a co-lending partnership with Canara Bank ...................................................................... 20

1.32 MobiKwik collaborates with National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) Bharat BillPay to launch ClickPay for
its customers. ....................................................................................................................................................................... 20
1.33 According to the report titled “World Employment and Social Outlook Trends 2022”, released by the
International Labour Organisation (ILO), 207 million will be the global unemployment in 2022. ...................................... 20
1.34 Federal Bank has launches “US Dollar offshore fund” with Equirus Wealth ........................................................... 20
1.35 Digital Payment Index (DPI) in September 2021. .................................................................................................... 20
1.36 Total volume of digital payments rose by 57.50% year-on-year in November 2021 .............................................. 21
1.37 RBI calculates Digital Payment Index (DPI) on basis of base period March 2018. .................................................. 21
1.38 Tech-giant Microsoft buying video game publisher Activision Blizzard for almost $69 billion ............................... 21
1.39 ₹1500 crores capital infused in Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited, (IREDA) ....................... 21
1.40 NIF’s Incubation and Entrepreneurship Council signs MoU with Amazon India ..................................................... 21
1.41 IFSCA signs MoU with Insurance Institute of India (III)............................................................................................ 21
1.42 ₹650 crore sanctioned by the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) ............................................... 21
1.43 TVS Motor Company inks a pact with leading on-demand delivery platform Swiggy............................................. 21
1.44 Marwadi Financial Services (MFS) partner with NSDL Payments Bank ................................................................... 21
1.45 Reliance Industries is the most valued company in terms of Mcap. ....................................................................... 21
1.46 Kotak Mahindra Bank has signs an MoU with GIFT SEZ .......................................................................................... 22
1.47 Swiggy has becomes Decacorn by almost doubling its valuation to $10.7 billion .................................................. 22
1.48 Fullerton India has partners with Paytm ................................................................................................................. 22
1.49 India Mortgage Guarantee Corporation (IMGC) partnered with Muthoot Homefin to offer mortgage guarantee-
backed home loan products to later’s customer. ................................................................................................................ 22
1.50 Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank to spend $150 million in the creation of data centres ............................... 22
1.51 60. According to Brand Finance's Global 500 study for 2022 Apple has retained its title as the world's most
valuable brand. .................................................................................................................................................................... 22
1.52 World Economic Outlook report released in January 2022..................................................................................... 22
1.53 Bharat Electronics Limited has signed a contract with Hyperion Global Group, LLC, ............................................. 22
1.54 FAARMS introduces customized digital insurance solutions for the rural population ............................................ 22
1.55 CVC and Ministry of Finance have extended the scope of the existing Advisory Board for Banking and Financial
Frauds (ABBFF) to cover all fraud cases involving an amount of Rs. 3 Crore and above. ................................................... 22
1.56 TerraPay has signs an MoU with NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL)....................................................... 22
1.57 TVS Motor Company Ltd has announced the acquisition of 75 percent stake in the Swiss e-Mobility Group
(SEMG) for $100 million....................................................................................................................................................... 23
1.58 Tata Group has regained control of Air India after 69 years -- Rs 18,000 crore. ..................................................... 23
1.59 The Punjab and Maharashtra Co-operative Bank is merged with Unity Small Finance Bank. ................................ 23
1.60 City Union Bank has launches a wearable payment solution called CUB fitness watch debit card ........................ 23
1.61 State Bank of India has issues $300 million Formosa bonds ................................................................................... 23
1.62 35% of growth has been registered in the export of the marine products during April to Dec 2021. .................... 23
1.63 Fino Payments Bank receives RBI approval for international remittance ............................................................... 23
1.64 RBI cancels certificate of authorization of two PSOs ............................................................................................... 23

1.65 Airtel Payments Bank gets scheduled bank status from RBI ................................................................................... 23
1.66 New milestone for IPPB ........................................................................................................................................... 23
1.67 IIM Kozhikode and Indian Bank ink pact for a start-up funding scheme ................................................................. 24
1.68 Committee proposes merger of Agricultural bank with Kerala Bank ...................................................................... 24
1.69 RBI fines eight cooperative banks ............................................................................................................................ 24
1.70 KVG Bank partners with Mecwin Tech to finance solar pump-sets for farmers ..................................................... 24
1.71 RBL Bank partners with Google ............................................................................................................................... 24
1.72 RBI imposes restrictions on Indian Mercantile Cooperative Bank Ltd. ................................................................... 25
1.73 Edelweiss group partners Indian Bank for co-lending to priority segment ............................................................. 25
1.74 Axis Bank partners with MinkasuPay for biometric-based banking payments ....................................................... 25
1.75 LazyPay partners with SBM Bank India to Launch LazyCard.................................................................................... 25
1.76 Axis Bank Issues first LC on SLDE Platform .............................................................................................................. 25
1.77 UCO Bank launches RuPay Select Contactless Debit Card ....................................................................................... 25
1.78 Federal Bank Launches Instant Loan Approval Portal for MSMEs ........................................................................... 25
1.79 Shrinithi Capital raises Rs 300 crore co-lending facility from IndoStar ................................................................... 25
1.80 Marwadi Financial Services partners with NSDL Payments Bank ............................................................................ 25
1.81 NABARD signs pact with Arthimpact Digital Loans to Support SHGs ...................................................................... 26
1.82 SIDBI sanctions ₹650 crore to two small finance banks .......................................................................................... 26
1.83 Domestic Systemically Important Banks (D-SIBs) .................................................................................................... 26
1.84 RBI releases framework on offline digital payments ............................................................................................... 26
1.85 Performance of Public Sector Banks (PSBs) ............................................................................................................. 26
1.86 Digital Payments see 40% jump in Sept 2021: RBI index ......................................................................................... 27
1.87 Govt approves PMC Bank amalgamation scheme ................................................................................................... 27
1.88 India's bad bank gets regulatory nod....................................................................................................................... 27
1.89 Unified Presentment Management System (UPMS) ............................................................................................... 27
1.90 Axis Bank executes first domestic trade transaction on government-backed blockchain platform ....................... 27
1.91 RBI creates fintech department to promote innovation ......................................................................................... 28
Economy & Finance ............................................................................................................................................................. 28
1.92 India’s Economy to grow by 7.6% in 2022-23 .......................................................................................................... 28
1.93 India-China trade crossed $125 bn in 2021 ............................................................................................................. 28
1.94 Existing GST rates in textile sector to continue beyond 1st January, 2022 ............................................................. 28
1.95 SEBI review on Free float ......................................................................................................................................... 28
1.96 Guidelines for operationalizing gold exchanges in India ......................................................................................... 29
1.97 Union Bank of India replaces LIBOR with Alternate Reference Rate ...................................................................... 29
1.98 SEBI rules on holding inquiry, imposing penalties ................................................................................................... 29
1.99 Nippon India MF launches India’s first Auto ETF ..................................................................................................... 29
1.100 Dedicated window for bond houses .................................................................................................................... 29

1.101 RBI Introduces Market Making Scheme .............................................................................................................. 29
1.102 Global Venture Capital Funds .............................................................................................................................. 30
1.103 SEBI’s Saarthi mobile app..................................................................................................................................... 30
1.104 Spice Xchange India ............................................................................................................................................. 30
1.105 RBI conduct’s overnight VRR auction of Rs 75,000 cr .......................................................................................... 30
1.106 20% foreign direct investment in LIC ................................................................................................................... 30
1.107 Workshop on Public Finance Management System (PFMS) ................................................................................ 30
1.108 IFSCA inks MOU with Insurance Institute of India (III) ......................................................................................... 31
1.109 India pays $29.9 million in UN regular budget assessments ............................................................................... 31
National News ...................................................................................................................................................................... 31
1.110 India supplies five lakh Covid vaccine doses to Afghanistan ............................................................................... 31
1.111 Vice President lays the foundation stone of Towed Array Integration Facility ................................................... 31
1.112 India and Pakistan exchange list of nuclear installations .................................................................................... 31
1.113 Sri Lanka signs agreement with India to develop oil tanks .................................................................................. 31
1.114 India votes in favour of UNSC resolution ............................................................................................................. 31
1.115 India's first water taxi service to come up in Mumbai......................................................................................... 32
1.116 India's first crypto currency index IC15 launched ................................................................................................ 32
1.117 Gandhi Sagar Dam................................................................................................................................................ 32
1.118 India commences FTA talks with Israel ................................................................................................................ 32
1.119 Reliance Jio gets approval to buy 5G equipment ................................................................................................ 32
1.120 25th National Youth Festival ................................................................................................................................ 32
1.121 Silver Jubilee Celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi International Hindi University ................................................. 32
1.122 Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences launches eOffice ................................................................ 32
1.123 BRO breaks record at Zoji La ................................................................................................................................ 33
1.124 75 years of CSIR-NPL ............................................................................................................................................ 33
1.125 Karnataka’s first LNG terminal to come up in Mangaluru ................................................................................... 33
1.126 Vice President releases book on education ......................................................................................................... 33
1.127 Odisha government and GAIL sign MoU for clean energy projects..................................................................... 33
1.128 15th Global Health Summit.................................................................................................................................. 33
1.129 IGRUA sets a new record in 2021 ........................................................................................................................ 33
1.130 25 Years of Nifty Index ......................................................................................................................................... 33
1.131 Xiaomi evades Customs duty ............................................................................................................................... 34
1.132 Rankings for Thermal Power Stations .................................................................................................................. 34
1.133 Recent MoUs approved by Union Cabinet .......................................................................................................... 34
1.134 India’s first Open Rock Museum .......................................................................................................................... 34
1.135 HarperCollins to publish Ratan Tata's biography................................................................................................. 34
1.136 Koppal Toy Cluster to be operational in March, 2022 ......................................................................................... 34

1.137 Multi Agency Centre (MAC) ................................................................................................................................. 34
1.138 24th National Conference on E-Governance ....................................................................................................... 35
1.139 Defence Minister flags-in India’s first multi-dimensional adventure sports expedition ..................................... 35
1.140 Government selects TCS for the second phase of Passport Seva Program ......................................................... 35
1.141 DCGI gives emergency use authorization for manufacturing of molnupiravir .................................................... 35
1.142 Startup India Innovation Week ............................................................................................................................ 35
1.143 Global Surya Namaskar demonstration programme ........................................................................................... 35
1.144 “Training of Trainers” programme for Haj 2022 .................................................................................................. 35
1.145 Canada Court allows Devas Shareholders to seize 50% Of Air India’s Funds ...................................................... 36
1.146 National Youth Summit ........................................................................................................................................ 36
1.147 Khadi Handmade Paper Slippers introduced in Kashi Vishwanath Temple......................................................... 36
1.148 India tops Sri Lanka’s tourism list ........................................................................................................................ 36
1.149 First Colombo Security Conclave Virtual Workshop ............................................................................................ 36
1.150 CCI approves acquisition of shares in Sutherland Global Holdings Inc................................................................ 36
1.151 Tata Group gets sponsorship of IPL ..................................................................................................................... 37
1.152 Community Based Organizations ......................................................................................................................... 37
1.153 India-US Homeland Security Dialogue ................................................................................................................. 37
1.154 Government asks BARC to resume TV ratings for news channels ....................................................................... 37
1.155 Odisha increases upper age limit for state civil services exam............................................................................ 37
1.156 Deendayal Port Trust crosses 100 million metric tonnes milestone ................................................................... 37
1.157 PPT organizes workshop on “Gati Shakti” ........................................................................................................... 37
1.158 15th UK-India Joint Economic and Trade Committee meet ................................................................................ 37
1.159 New initiatives for the welfare of ex-servicemen ................................................................................................ 38
1.160 Khadi Monumental National Flag displayed at Longewala.................................................................................. 38
1.161 Power Grid signs pact with Africa50 for Kenya Transmission Project ................................................................. 38
1.162 ‘North East on Wheels’ bike expedition .............................................................................................................. 38
1.163 India’s support to Sri Lanka to overcome forex crisis .......................................................................................... 38
1.164 10th century stone idol of Goat Head Yogini recovered from London ............................................................... 38
1.165 India’s first Coal to Methanol Pilot Plant ............................................................................................................. 39
1.166 India's first Metaverse marriage .......................................................................................................................... 39
1.167 Delhi rolls out its first electric bus ....................................................................................................................... 39
1.168 Tech Mahindra acquires European tech firm ...................................................................................................... 39
1.169 GI tag application for two Tamil Nadu products.................................................................................................. 39
1.170 8th India Israel Governing Body Meeting ............................................................................................................. 39
1.171 LegalPay launches healthcare-focused fund ....................................................................................................... 40
1.172 Delhi government and CESL sign pact for EV charging stations .......................................................................... 40
1.173 Tableaux of 3 states rejected for Republic Day parade ....................................................................................... 40

1.174 Mobile COVID testing facility for Northeast ........................................................................................................ 40
1.175 Grand statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose to be installed at India Gate ........................................................ 40
1.176 Koyla Darpan Portal ............................................................................................................................................. 41
1.177 1000 Drones Light Show to be held at ‘Beating the Retreat Ceremony’ ............................................................. 41
1.178 First BRICS Sherpas meeting of 2022 ................................................................................................................... 41
1.179 Prime Minister interacts with awardees of Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar .......................................... 41
1.180 Amar Jawan Jyoti merged with National War Memorial ..................................................................................... 41
1.181 UNESCO tag sought for Living Root Bridges of Meghalaya.................................................................................. 41
1.182 Book on Bahmani dynasty coins released ........................................................................................................... 41
1.183 Flipkart launches start-up programmes............................................................................................................... 41
1.184 Gujarat High Court gets new digital initiatives .................................................................................................... 42
1.185 Telangana government approves ‘Mana ooru, mana badi’ programme ............................................................ 42
1.186 MSDE signs MOU with IGNOU ............................................................................................................................. 42
1.187 “The Dream of Revolution”.................................................................................................................................. 42
1.188 NCGG signs MoU with NIRD & PR to promote inclusive good governance ......................................................... 42
1.189 Special Delhi Metro Train inaugurated to commemorate ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ ....................................... 42
1.190 Coal Secretary releases Coal Directory of India 2020-21..................................................................................... 42
1.191 REC achieves a ‘Perfect’ score on MoU parameters ............................................................................................ 42
1.192 Andhra Pradesh to get 13 new districts............................................................................................................... 43
1.193 Government regulates export of human hair ...................................................................................................... 43
1.194 Recent acquisitions approved by CCI ................................................................................................................... 43
1.195 CCI imposes penalty on maritime transport companies ..................................................................................... 43
1.196 VO Chidambaranar Port handles longest windmill blades .................................................................................. 43
1.197 NHPC contributes Rs. 1 Crore to Himachal Pradesh’s Chief Minister Relief Fund (CMRF) .................................. 43
1.198 Pictorial book on India’s Women Unsung Heroes of Freedom Struggle launched.............................................. 43
1.199 Kerala government presents ordinance to dilute Lokayukta’s powers ............................................................... 44
1.200 South Maubuang becomes Mizoram’s first ODF plus village .............................................................................. 44
1.201 Delhi Police launches e-FIR app ........................................................................................................................... 44
1.202 SPMCIL sets up New Bank Note Printing Lines .................................................................................................... 44
1.203 JNPT handles record cargo in 2021 ...................................................................................................................... 44
1.204 Google to invest USD 1 billion in Bharti Airtel ..................................................................................................... 44
1.205 India’s largest electric vehicle charging station set up in Gurugram ................................................................... 44
1.206 India and Israel jointly launch commemorative logo .......................................................................................... 44
1.207 Department of Posts releases booklet on world heritage sites .......................................................................... 44
1.208 IREDA and Goa Shipyard Ltd sign MoU for Rooftop Solar Power Projects .......................................................... 45
1.209 Notification for Fire Alarm system and Fire protection system in buses issued ................................................. 45
1.210 India delivers 3 tonnes of medical assistance to Afghanistan ............................................................................. 45

1.211 Manipur welcomes first goods train .................................................................................................................... 45
1.212 NVVN acquires 5% Equity stake in PXIL ............................................................................................................... 45
1.213 HPCL announces two more Convenience Stores for non-fuel retailing .............................................................. 45
1.214 India’s first heli-hub to be set up in Gurugram .................................................................................................... 45
1.215 STPI partners with HDFC Bank and Excelpoint Systems ...................................................................................... 45
1.216 Kevadia railway station renamed as Ekta Nagar railway station ......................................................................... 46
1.217 Adani Group and South Korea's POSCO to establish steel mill in Gujarat........................................................... 46
1.218 Nepal signs Energy Trading Agreement with India .............................................................................................. 46
1.219 Sova Capital collaborates with India INX for accessing Russian market .............................................................. 46
1.220 Yes Mutual Fund Renamed as White Oak Capital Mutual Fund .......................................................................... 46
1.221 NSE gets SEBI approval to launch derivatives on Nifty Midcap Select Index....................................................... 46
1.222 SJVN gets category 'I' license for inter-state trading of electricity ...................................................................... 46
1.223 Dr Jitendra Singh launches Tele-digital Health Pilot Program at BHU, Varanasi ................................................. 46
1.224 ICMR approves India-made kit to detect Omicron .............................................................................................. 47
1.225 Kerala’s Kumbalanghi to be India’s first sanitary-napkin free village .................................................................. 47
1.226 SKOCH Award for Assam mission on malnutrition .............................................................................................. 47
1.227 National Health Mission launches project 'Niramay' in Assam ........................................................................... 47
1.228 No complete ban on cannabis, medical use allowed: Centre to Delhi HC .......................................................... 47
1.229 National TB Elimination Program......................................................................................................................... 47
1.230 e-Sanjeevani portal .............................................................................................................................................. 48
1.231 Workshop on ‘Indigenous Knowledge & Health Care: The Way Forward’ .......................................................... 48
1.232 Dr Mansukh Mandaviya launches NIPER Research Portal ................................................................................... 48
1.233 “Conditional Market Authorization” for Covaxin and Covishield ........................................................................ 48
1.234 Science & Technology cooperation between Indian and France ........................................................................ 48
1.235 Revamped CGHS Website and Mobile App “MyCGHS” ....................................................................................... 48
1.236 Union Education Minister launches ‘Padhe Bharat’, a 100 days reading campaign ........................................... 48
1.237 IEPFA & IGNOU Signs MoU for promoting Investor Education and Financial literacy among youth through
Gyan Darshan channel ......................................................................................................................................................... 49
1.238 AIM announces 75 winners of ATL Space Challenge 2021 .................................................................................. 49
1.239 AICTE launched PARAKH and NITTT ..................................................................................................................... 49
1.240 E- Symposium for Innovational Ecosystem in the Country .................................................................................. 49
1.241 SSIP 2.0 ................................................................................................................................................................. 49
1.242 National Educational Alliance for Technology (NEAT) 3.0 ................................................................................... 49
1.243 MoSDE signs an MoU with IGNOU to link vocational education and training with higher education ................ 50
1.244 Mana Ooru Mana Badi programme ..................................................................................................................... 50
1.245 Global Center of Excellence in Affordable and Clean Energy launched at IIT Dharwad ...................................... 50
1.246 PM addresses 30th National Commission for Women Foundation Day programme ......................................... 50
1.247 Andhra CM launches updated AP Seva Portal to expedite citizen services ........................................................ 50
1.248 Yogyata Mobile Application ................................................................................................................................. 50
1.249 Union Minister for Commerce and Industry addresses 16th India Digital Summit, 2022 ................................... 50
1.250 Prime Minister inaugurates MSME Technology Centre at Puducherry ............................................................... 50
1.251 Chhattisgarh govt. to set up employment mission to create 15 lakh job opportunities in five years ................ 51
1.252 Chips to Startup (C2S) Programme ...................................................................................................................... 51
1.253 Artificial Intelligence (AI) driven Start-Up initiative ............................................................................................. 51
1.254 North Eastern Community Resource Management Society (NERCRMS) ............................................................ 51
1.255 Code of Practice for Securing Consumer Internet of Things (IoT) ....................................................................... 51
1.256 Infusion of Rs. 1,500 crore in IREDA .................................................................................................................... 51
1.257 Partnership between NIFientreC and Amazon India ........................................................................................... 51
1.258 Awareness Drive for J&K farmers ........................................................................................................................ 52
1.259 One District One Product ..................................................................................................................................... 52
1.260 Swiggy becomes decacorn, valuation crosses $10.7 bn ...................................................................................... 52
1.261 Andhra CM launches enhanced pension programme ......................................................................................... 52
1.262 Delhi Deputy CM hands over first caste certificate issued on mother's credentials ........................................... 52
1.263 Union Home Secretary releases Manuals and a Newsletter of I4C ..................................................................... 52
1.264 Developmental Projects in Manipur .................................................................................................................... 52
1.265 First bi-monthly E-Newsletter .............................................................................................................................. 53
1.266 National Commission for Safai Karamcharis ........................................................................................................ 53
1.267 Jagananna Smart Township website.................................................................................................................... 53
1.268 Mana Ooru Mana Badi programme ..................................................................................................................... 53
1.269 Guidelines for Universal Accessibility .................................................................................................................. 53
1.270 All India Federation for Social Justice .................................................................................................................. 54
1.271 KVIC rolls out innovative “Mobile Honey Processing Van” to support farmers and beekeepers ....................... 54
1.272 Zero-budget natural farming could lead to yield loss: Panel ............................................................................... 54
1.273 Restructuring the Sugar Development Funds ...................................................................................................... 54
1.274 India-Israel cooperation in the agricultural sector .............................................................................................. 54
1.275 Online Storage Management (OSM) for food security ........................................................................................ 54
1.276 4th National Conference on Agriculture for Summer Campaign 2021-22 .......................................................... 54
1.277 Training programme on “Bamboo Shoot Processing and Preservation” conducted by the NECBDC ................. 55
1.278 RBI report on farm mechanization ...................................................................................................................... 55
1.279 MoHUA opens Urban Geospatial Data Stories Challenge-2022 .......................................................................... 55
1.280 Vision India @2047 .............................................................................................................................................. 55
1.281 First Advance Estimates of National Income, 2021-22 ........................................................................................ 55
1.282 India, Asia's 2nd largest economy by 2030 .......................................................................................................... 56
1.283 Rural Area Development Plan Formulation and Implementation (RADFI) .......................................................... 56
1.284 Jammu & Kashmir to have district level Good Governance Index ...................................................................... 56

1.285 English is the language in High Court: Gujarat HC ............................................................................................... 56
1.286 Legislation on Marriage age ................................................................................................................................. 57
1.287 DARPG, MeitY, Telangana Govt organizes 24th Conference on e-Governance (NCeG) 2020-21........................ 57
1.288 UP Government declares 4 villages near Nepal border as revenue villages ....................................................... 57
1.289 Expenditure limit for Lok Sabha, Assembly candidates revised .......................................................................... 57
1.290 First District Good Governance Index .................................................................................................................. 58
1.291 Digital Government Mission ................................................................................................................................ 58
1.292 Additional resources of Rs. 7,309 crore to States................................................................................................ 58
1.293 Administrative Reforms in J&K ............................................................................................................................ 58
1.294 Review of implementation of infra projects via PMG portal ............................................................................... 58
1.295 Highest Monthly Exports at $37 million in December ......................................................................................... 58
1.296 Indian Pharmaceutical Industry growth estimation ............................................................................................ 59
1.297 Exports of USD 650 Billion within the current financial year achievable: Shri Piyush Goyal............................... 59
1.298 Ganjam district is now child marriage free .......................................................................................................... 59
1.299 Report on Digital Infrastructure in India .............................................................................................................. 59
1.300 2nd Volume of Vision Document on Electronics Manufacturing ....................................................................... 59
1.301 National Level Conference on Beekeeping Sector ............................................................................................... 60
1.302 Union Sports Minister launched the pilot of NYKS Youth volunteers’ online training ........................................ 60
1.303 Azadi Ke Amrit Mahotsav se Swarnim Bharat Ke Ore ......................................................................................... 60
1.304 26th CISO Deep Dive Training program ............................................................................................................... 60
1.305 Handbook on Global Good Practices for Cooperatives ....................................................................................... 60
1.306 Kala Utsav 2021.................................................................................................................................................... 61
1.307 Vision Document and ‘Mission Karmayogi’ ......................................................................................................... 61
1.308 Zomato, Swiggy to Collect 5% GST....................................................................................................................... 61
International News .............................................................................................................................................................. 61
1.309 China opens embassy in Nicaragua ..................................................................................................................... 61
1.310 EU plans to label gas and nuclear energy 'green' ................................................................................................ 61
1.311 Apple touches USD 3 trillion market cap ............................................................................................................. 62
1.312 European Union bans tattoo ink and permanent make-up containing chemicals .............................................. 62
1.313 North Korea launches hypersonic missile ............................................................................................................ 62
1.314 Australia and Japan sign defense pact ................................................................................................................. 62
1.315 China launches digital Yuan wallet apps .............................................................................................................. 62
1.316 Chile’s constitutional assembly elects new President ......................................................................................... 62
1.317 France passes vaccine bill .................................................................................................................................... 62
1.318 Japan and U.S. to sign deals to expand defence cooperation ............................................................................. 62
1.319 Sri Lanka launches luxury train service with India’s assistance ........................................................................... 62
1.320 Maldives inks key deals with China...................................................................................................................... 62
10 | P a g e W W W . E D U T A P . C O . I N QUERY? HELLO@EDUTAP.CO.IN/ 8146207241

1.321 US - Russia Strategic dialogue .............................................................................................................................. 63
1.322 UN launches nearly USD 5 billion aid appeal for Afghanistan ............................................................................. 63
1.323 Canada Bans Conversion Therapy........................................................................................................................ 63
1.324 North Korea tests 'more advanced' ballistic missile ............................................................................................ 63
1.325 Vast Roman settlement found by archaeologists ................................................................................................ 63
1.326 Russia's first new-build Tu-160M bomber makes flight debut ............................................................................ 63
1.327 China and Iran begin implementing sweeping strategic agreement ................................................................... 63
1.328 China's birth rate drops to record low in 2021 .................................................................................................... 64
1.329 Russia bans Revil ransomware group .................................................................................................................. 64
1.330 Indonesia’s new capital........................................................................................................................................ 64
1.331 China reports 8.1% economic growth ................................................................................................................. 64
1.332 “The Enigma” goes on sale .................................................................................................................................. 64
1.333 UAE bans drones for a month .............................................................................................................................. 64
1.334 Oslo talks .............................................................................................................................................................. 64
1.335 Wooden clinker boats added to World Heritage list ........................................................................................... 64
1.336 Pakistan raises USD 1 billion through Islamic bond ............................................................................................. 65
1.337 IMF urges El Salvador to drop Bitcoin as legal tender ......................................................................................... 65
1.338 Russia launches new military exercises near Ukraine border ............................................................................. 65
1.339 Saudi Arabia restores ties with Thailand ............................................................................................................. 65
1.340 Serbia scraps plans for Rio Tinto lithium mine .................................................................................................... 65
1.341 Iran regains UN assembly voting rights ............................................................................................................... 65
1.342 Australian government buys copyright to Aboriginal Flag .................................................................................. 65
1.343 UN condemns military takeover in Burkina Faso................................................................................................. 65
1.344 Israeli president’s first-ever visit to UAE.............................................................................................................. 66
1.345 EU proposes digital rights for the first time globally ........................................................................................... 66
1.346 Five world powers pledge to prevent nuclear war .............................................................................................. 66
1.347 Cabinet nods to MoU with Turkmenistan on disaster management cooperation .............................................. 66
1.348 Cabinet approves Agreement between India, Spain on Cooperation in Customs Matters ................................ 66
1.349 Government to launch Brand India Campaign to boost exports ......................................................................... 66
1.350 WEF Davos Agenda 2022 ..................................................................................................................................... 66
1.351 POWERGRID and Africa50 in Joint Development Agreement ............................................................................. 67
1.352 India- UK Free Trade Agreement ......................................................................................................................... 67
1.353 India-Sri Lanka Deal.............................................................................................................................................. 67
1.354 India appeals against WTO dispute panel............................................................................................................ 67
1.355 India-China trade crossed $125 billion mark ....................................................................................................... 67
1.356 India emerges as largest exporters ...................................................................................................................... 67
1.357 WB to receive ₹1,000 cr loan from World Bank .................................................................................................. 67

1.358 First India-Central Asia Virtual Summit ................................................................................................................ 67
1.359 India’s Exports of Ready To Eat products rises by 24% in 2021-22 ..................................................................... 68
1.360 India donates 500,000 Covid vaccine doses to Afghanistan ................................................................................ 68
1.361 India-ASEAN Digital Work Plan 2022 ................................................................................................................... 68
1.362 IMF names UC-Berkeley’s Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas as next chief economist ................................................... 68
Science and Technology....................................................................................................................................................... 68
1.363 First case of "florona" disease detected in Israel ................................................................................................ 68
1.364 Kerala University researchers develop 5G microwave absorber ......................................................................... 68
1.365 Indian Researcher to develop indigenous tools to control vapor explosion ....................................................... 69
1.366 Mud Crab Reovirus (MCRV) ................................................................................................................................. 69
1.367 Gaganyaan Mission .............................................................................................................................................. 69
1.368 Green alternative to cremation “Aquamation” ................................................................................................... 69
1.369 Astronomers detect a newborn star.................................................................................................................... 69
1.370 ICMR approves indigenous testing kit to detect Omicron covid variant ............................................................. 70
1.371 P&G and NASA Test Fully Degradable Tide Detergent ........................................................................................ 70
1.372 Scientists find star with 'heartbeat and without magnetic field’ ........................................................................ 70
1.373 Rare bird Flu case found in Human ...................................................................................................................... 70
1.374 Chang’e 5 lunar mission finds first on-site evidence of water on moon’s surface .............................................. 70
1.375 NASA fully deploys Webb telescope in space ...................................................................................................... 70
1.376 Braille Maps for visually challenged students ..................................................................................................... 70
1.377 US surgeons transplant pig heart into human patient ........................................................................................ 71
1.378 Special electro-active nanoparticles developed .................................................................................................. 71
1.379 “ArXiv.org” reaches a Milestone .......................................................................................................................... 71
1.380 Chinese Scientists build 'Artificial Moon' ............................................................................................................. 71
1.381 New species of mollusc found in Arabian Sea ..................................................................................................... 71
1.382 UV-C technology .................................................................................................................................................. 72
1.383 Meta unveils new AI supercomputer................................................................................................................... 72
1.384 NASA's James Webb Space Telescope reaches orbital destination ..................................................................... 72
1.385 Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) to undergo flight in April 2022 ................................................................. 72
1.386 China to partner with Russia to undertake Moon exploration............................................................................ 72
1.387 Indo- US Space Radiation Workshop ................................................................................................................... 72
1.388 Scientists spot a new Astronomical Object.......................................................................................................... 72
1.389 Indian scientists develop efficient and durable solar cells .................................................................................. 73
Defence in News .................................................................................................................................................................. 73
1.390 NCC Republic Day Camp 2022 ............................................................................................................................. 73
1.391 P-8I aircraft begins operations from the INS Hansa Naval Air Base .................................................................... 73
1.392 Exercise Sea Dragon 22 ........................................................................................................................................ 73

1.393 First anniversary of the Online CSD portal for AFD Category-1 items ................................................................. 73
1.394 J&K Police to get American assault rifles, pistols for anti-terror operations....................................................... 73
1.395 IAC Vikrant begins phase 3 of sea trials ............................................................................................................... 73
1.396 DRDO flight tests MPATGM ................................................................................................................................. 74
1.397 DRDO successfully test fires BrahMos supersonic cruise missile ........................................................................ 74
1.398 Rafale fighter jet demonstrates operational capability ....................................................................................... 74
1.399 India to export Brahmos missiles to the Philippines............................................................................................ 74
1.400 Indian Navy and Russian Navy conduct PASSEX Exercise .................................................................................... 74
1.401 Indian Army gets new combat uniform ............................................................................................................... 74
1.402 Explosion in INS Ranvir......................................................................................................................................... 74
1.403 India successfully test-fires new BrahMos Missile .............................................................................................. 75
1.404 Operation Sard Hawa ........................................................................................................................................... 75
1.405 DRDO to display two tableaux during Republic Day parade 2022....................................................................... 75
1.406 “Paschim Lehar” Maritime Exercise ..................................................................................................................... 76
1.407 INS Khukri to be converted into museum ............................................................................................................ 76
1.408 Indian armed forces sign contract with Saab for ‘AT4’ anti-armour weapon ..................................................... 76
1.409 First batch of 70,000 AK 203 rifles delivered ....................................................................................................... 76
1.410 Workshop on 'Leveraging Artificial Intelligence (Al) for Indian Navy' ................................................................. 76
1.411 Cochin Shipyard delivers three Floating Border Out-Post vessels to BSF............................................................ 76
1.412 Tri-Service Andaman & Nicobar Command inducts Advanced Light Helicopter MK III....................................... 76
1.413 Indian Navy and IIFL Home Finance Ltd (IIFL HFL) sign pact ................................................................................ 76
1.414 Def Expo 2022 ...................................................................................................................................................... 77
1.415 “Balbir” bollard pull tug delivered to Naval Dockyard, Mumbai ......................................................................... 77
Environment ........................................................................................................................................................................ 77
1.416 Tallest Galapagos volcano erupts ........................................................................................................................ 77
1.417 Turkmenistan’s 'Gateway to Hell' ........................................................................................................................ 77
1.418 Red Sanders back in IUCN’s ‘endangered’ category ............................................................................................ 77
1.419 India's oldest sloth bear dies ............................................................................................................................... 77
1.420 Tsunami hits Tonga .............................................................................................................................................. 78
1.421 Legendary tigress “Collarwali” passes away ........................................................................................................ 78
1.422 Rare, pristine coral reef found off Tahiti coast .................................................................................................... 78
1.423 Peru declares 'environmental emergency' .......................................................................................................... 78
1.424 Centre to notify Najafgarh Jheel as Trans-boundary wetland ............................................................................. 78
1.425 ‘Bomb cyclone’ hits eastern U.S. ......................................................................................................................... 78
1.426 Survey finds new varieties of birds and butterflies in Salem Forests .................................................................. 78
1.427 Sahara Desert receives rare snowfall .................................................................................................................. 78
1.428 POWERGRID celebrates anniversary of One Nation-One Grid-One Frequency .................................................. 79

1.429 Ministry of Mines Creates KABIL.......................................................................................................................... 79
1.430 NHPC, GEDCOL sign pact to develop floating solar projects in Odisha ............................................................... 79
1.431 MoHUA & NIUA launches Smart cities and Academia Towards Action & Research (SAAR) program ................ 79
1.432 Annual Bird Census conducted at Odisha’s Chilika lake ...................................................................................... 79
1.433 Krishan Pal Gurjar e-inaugurates Hackathon on Smart Safe and Sustainable mobility ....................................... 79
1.434 IMD launches India’s 1st weather hazard and vulnerability atlas & other initiatives on its 147th foundation day
80
1.435 Minimum 6 airbags to be made mandatory in vehicles carrying up to 8 passengers from October .................. 80
1.436 India-Denmark R&D on Green Fuels .................................................................................................................... 80
1.437 2021, Earth’s fifth-hottest year: Report............................................................................................................... 80
1.438 Tribal intervention project in Anamalai Tiger Reserve ........................................................................................ 81
1.439 Action Plan for Introduction of Cheetah in India ................................................................................................. 81
1.440 Climate Awareness Campaign and National Photography Competition ............................................................. 81
1.441 India to become world’s third largest ethanol consumer by 2026...................................................................... 81
1.442 Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework .......................................................................................................... 81
1.443 Union Coal Minister Launches unveils rehabilitation and resettlement policy of NLCIL..................................... 81
1.444 8th International Conference on Sustainability Science ....................................................................................... 81
1.445 Centre to rank states on faster green nods ......................................................................................................... 81
1.446 Fourth Asia Ministerial Conference on Tiger Conservation ................................................................................. 82
1.447 Cabinet approves Intra-State Transmission System – Green Energy Corridor Phase-II ...................................... 82
1.448 Swachhata Start-Up Challenge ........................................................................................................................... 82
Awards ................................................................................................................................................................................. 82
1.449 Former UK PM Tony Blair receives Queen's knighthood ..................................................................................... 82
1.450 SCR wins two performance shields ...................................................................................................................... 83
1.451 Coorg Person of the Year 2021 ............................................................................................................................ 83
1.452 Odakkuzhal Award 2021 ...................................................................................................................................... 83
1.453 CBSE announces winners of Veer Gatha Project ................................................................................................. 83
1.454 WAN-IFRA South Asian Digital Media Awards 2021 ............................................................................................ 83
1.455 19th Chennai International Film Festival .............................................................................................................. 84
1.456 Outstanding Investigator Award .......................................................................................................................... 84
1.457 Golden Globe Awards 2022 ................................................................................................................................. 84
1.458 Dr. Ambedkar and Thanthai Periyar awards announced ..................................................................................... 85
1.459 Subhash Chandra Bose Awards for Disaster Management ................................................................................. 85
1.460 Satish Adiga gets ICMR national award ............................................................................................................... 85
1.461 Mrs. World 2022 .................................................................................................................................................. 85
1.462 Padma Awards 2022 ............................................................................................................................................ 85
1.463 CBIC personnel get Presidential Awards .............................................................................................................. 87
1.464 2021 Jeevan Raksha Padak Series of Awards....................................................................................................... 87
1.465 Correctional Service Medals for prison personnel .............................................................................................. 87
1.466 Golden Book of the Year Award 2022.................................................................................................................. 87
1.467 Sathyamangalam Reserve bags award for doubling tiger count ......................................................................... 88
1.468 President approves 384 Gallantry Awards........................................................................................................... 88
1.469 Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar 2022 ................................................................................. 89
1.470 Global Women's Health Tech Awards ................................................................................................................. 89
1.471 Shri Subhas Sarkar launches Swachh Vidyalaya Puraskar 2021 – 2022............................................................... 89
1.472 National Startup Awards 2021 ............................................................................................................................. 89
1.473 Nari Shakti Puraskar 2021 .................................................................................................................................... 90
Sports ................................................................................................................................................................................... 90
1.474 Commonwealth Games and Asian Games ........................................................................................................... 90
1.475 ‘Meet the Champions’ campaign ......................................................................................................................... 90
1.476 Kozhikode to organize International Half Marathon ........................................................................................... 90
1.477 Canada beats Spain to clinch first ATP Cup title .................................................................................................. 90
1.478 Rohan Bopanna and Ramkumar Ramanathan pair wins Adelaide International Title ........................................ 90
1.479 Rafael Nadal claims Melbourne title.................................................................................................................... 90
1.480 Bharath Subramaniyam becomes India's 73rd chess Grand Master ................................................................... 91
1.481 Lakshya Sen wins maiden Super 500 title ............................................................................................................ 91
1.482 Hyderabad bids to host Formula E championship ............................................................................................... 91
1.483 Tasnim Mir grabs World No. 1 rank in Badminton U-19 Girls Singles ................................................................. 91
1.484 ICC Teams of the year .......................................................................................................................................... 91
1.485 Syed Modi India International 2022 .................................................................................................................... 92
1.486 ICC women’s Cricketer of the Year ...................................................................................................................... 92
1.487 Australian Open 2022 .......................................................................................................................................... 92
1.488 Hockey Women's Asia Cup 2022 ......................................................................................................................... 92
Appointments ...................................................................................................................................................................... 92
1.489 Recent appointments in Vistara airline ............................................................................................................... 92
1.490 FDIC Chairwoman Jelena McWilliams resigns ..................................................................................................... 92
1.491 Sudan's Prime Minister resigns ............................................................................................................................ 93
1.492 Vini Mahajan appointed as Secretary in Ministry of Jal Shakti ............................................................................ 93
1.493 Ashok Elluswamy appointed as the first employee of the Tesla’s Autopilot team ............................................. 93
1.494 Sanjeev Churiwala appointed as the new CFO of Tata Power ............................................................................. 93
1.495 Disney India appoints George Cherian as head of corporate communications .................................................. 93
1.496 Alka Mittal appointed chairman and managing director of ONGC...................................................................... 93
1.497 New executive directors of RBI ............................................................................................................................ 93
1.498 Shafali Verma appointed as Brand Endorser of Bank of Baroda ......................................................................... 93
1.499 Infogain appoints Dayapatra Nevatia as president and COO .............................................................................. 93

1.500 Kerala Governor withdraws from the post of Chancellor of Universities ........................................................... 93
1.501 Starlink India head Sanjay Bhargava resigns ........................................................................................................ 93
1.502 ECI revokes actor Sonu Sood's appointment as Punjab's 'state icon'.................................................................. 94
1.503 Urjit Patel appointed vice president of AIIB ........................................................................................................ 94
1.504 Ebix Inc appoints Uma Shankar, as Independent Director .................................................................................. 94
1.505 Alikhan Smailov named Kazakhstan's Prime Minister ......................................................................................... 94
1.506 S Somanath appointed as new ISRO chief ........................................................................................................... 94
1.507 Fed Reserve Vice Chairman resigns ..................................................................................................................... 94
1.508 Raghuvendra Tanwar appointed as Chairman of ICHR ........................................................................................ 94
1.509 Ittira Davis appointed as MD and CEO of Ujjivan SFB .......................................................................................... 94
1.510 Boxer Lovlina Borgohain appointed as DSP in Assam .......................................................................................... 94
1.511 Catherine M. Russell appointed as UNICEF Executive Director ........................................................................... 94
1.512 Soumitra Dutta appointed as the Dean for the Oxford University’s Business School ......................................... 94
1.513 KP Arvindan appointed as Admiral Superintendent of Naval Dockyard, Mumbai .............................................. 95
1.514 Vikram Dev Dutt appointed CMD of Air India...................................................................................................... 95
1.515 Lt Gen Manoj Pande appointed as Army Vice Chief ............................................................................................ 95
1.516 Narendra Goenka appointed as new Chairman of AEPC ..................................................................................... 95
1.517 Axel Lehmann appointed chairman of Credit Suisse ........................................................................................... 95
1.518 German Navy chief resigns .................................................................................................................................. 95
1.519 Vinod Rai joins Unity Small Finance Bank as independent chairman .................................................................. 95
1.520 Renu Bhatia appointed Chairperson of Haryana Women’s Commission ............................................................ 95
1.521 Roberta Metsola elected new President of the European Parliament ................................................................ 95
1.522 Dileep Sanghani elected as IFFCO chairman ........................................................................................................ 95
1.523 Pushp Kumar Joshi appointed CMD of HPCl ........................................................................................................ 96
1.524 Dr. V Anantha Nageswaran appointed Chief Economic Advisor ......................................................................... 96
1.525 Xiomara Castro elected President of Honduras................................................................................................... 96
1.526 Chris Walker appointed as Foreign Coach for the Indian squash team............................................................... 96
1.527 Antonio Costa elected as the Prime Minister of Portugal ................................................................................... 96
1.528 Lt. Gen. Manoj Pande appointed VCOAS ............................................................................................................. 96
1.529 Rajesh Verma given additional charge of financial services secretary ................................................................ 96
Persons in News ................................................................................................................................................................... 96
1.530 Betty White passes away ..................................................................................................................................... 96
1.531 Naren Chandra Das passes away ......................................................................................................................... 96
1.532 Noted Odia writer Punya Prava Devi passes away .............................................................................................. 96
1.533 Basti Vaman Shenoy passes away........................................................................................................................ 96
1.534 Richard Leakey passes away ................................................................................................................................ 97
1.535 Vikram Kothari passes away ................................................................................................................................ 97

1.536 Vice Admiral S.H. Sarma passes away .................................................................................................................. 97
1.537 Neil Nongkynrih passes away .............................................................................................................................. 97
1.538 Adman, Actor, Author Gerson da Cunha passes away ........................................................................................ 97
1.539 Veteran Hollywood director Peter Bogdanovich passes away ............................................................................ 97
1.540 Actor Sidney Poitier passes away ........................................................................................................................ 97
1.541 Google pays tribute to Fatima Sheikh.................................................................................................................. 97
1.542 Binance CEO becomes richest man of Asia.......................................................................................................... 97
1.543 Aung San Suu Kyi sentenced to 4 years in prison ................................................................................................ 98
1.544 First Black woman to appear on US coin ............................................................................................................. 98
1.545 Anti-Kremlin writer flees Russia........................................................................................................................... 98
Days in News ........................................................................................................................................................................ 99
1.546 National Science Day: February 28 .................................................................................................................... 101
1.547 Veer Baal Diwas: 26th December ...................................................................................................................... 101
1.548 100th anniversary of Har Gobind Khorana ........................................................................................................ 101
1.549 National Youth Day ............................................................................................................................................ 102
1.550 Department of School Education and Literacy celebrating the iconic week ..................................................... 102
1.551 International Day of Education .......................................................................................................................... 102
1.552 Open Data Week ................................................................................................................................................ 102
1.553 First-ever National Startup Day ......................................................................................................................... 102
1.554 National Innovation Week ................................................................................................................................. 103
1.555 National Tourism Day ........................................................................................................................................ 103
1.556 Food Corporation of India celebrates its 58th Foundation Day ........................................................................ 103
1.557 National Girl Child Day ....................................................................................................................................... 103
1.558 12th National Voters’ Day .................................................................................................................................. 103
2 Important Reports in January 2022 ............................................................................................................................... 103
3 Important Schemes in News January 2022.................................................................................................................... 107
4 Static .............................................................................................................................................................................. 116
4.1 List of Important Organizations with Headquarters .............................................................................................. 116
4.2 Countries in News .................................................................................................................................................. 116
4.3 Banks in News ........................................................................................................................................................ 117

1 GA in News:
Banking
1.1 NTPC Ltd acquires 5 per cent equity stake in Power Exchange of India Ltd (PXIL)
• PXIL provides various electricity trading options; it is India's first institutionally promoted power
exchange.
• The authorised share capital of the PXIL is Rs 120 crore and paid-up capital is Rs 58.47 crore.
1.2 ₹2,000 to be the total limit for offline digital transactions

• As per the framework issued by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for allowing offline digital payments
Rs 2,000 will be the total limit for offline digital transactions on a payment instrument at any point of
time.
• An offline digital payment means a transaction which does not require internet or telecom
connectivity.
• Under this new framework, which is applicable with immediate effect, offline payments can be made
in face-to-face (proximity) mode only. Such transactions will not require an Additional Factor of
Authentication (AFA).
• The upper limit of an offline payment transaction will be ₹200.
1.3 Interest rate on Public Provident Fund (PPF) unchanged at 7.1% percent
• The central government has kept the interest rates on small savings schemes, including NSC and PPF,
unchanged for the fourth quarter of 2021-22 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
1.4 Paisabazaar.com partners with Axis Bank to launch a pre-qualified program for unsecured loans
• Axis Bank customers, who are eligible for pre-qualified personal loans from the bank, will now be
able to view and apply for the same offers through the Paisabazaar platform as well.
1.5 Fino Payments Bank receives approval for commencing international remittance business
• It received approval from RBI under the Money Transfer Service Scheme (MTSS).
1.6 NPCI Bharat BillPay Ltd. (NBBL) introduces a unique functionality called ‘UPMS’
• Through UPMS, NBBL will enable the customers to set up standing instructions – from any channel
and for any mode on their recurring bill payments.
1.7 SBI General Insurance has launches #BahaneChhodoTaxBachao campaign

• Aim: To increase awareness of Indians around the need to buy health insurance to save tax.
1.8 Airtel Payments Bank categorised as a scheduled bank by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
• Airtel Payments Bank can now aim for government-issued Requests for Proposals (RFPs) and primary
auctions.
1.9 Group of banks were identified as Domestic Systemically Important Banks (D-SIBs)
• State Bank of India, ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank have been identified as D-SIBs by the Reserve Bank of
India for 2021.

1.10 South Indian Bank wins the UiPath Automation Excellence Awards 2021
• The award has been conferred for its exceptional use of Robotic Process Automation capabilities
under difficult times for solving severe operational constraints, thereby ensuring business continuity.
1.11 India exports the highest ever goods in a month

• India has exported goods worth $37.29 billion in December 2021 and has set a $400 billion annual
export target of India for the year 2021-22.
1.12 Bharti Airtel announces a joint venture with Hughes Communications India Private (HCIPL)
• Aim: To provide satellite broadband services in India.
• HCIPL will hold a 67 percent stake in the joint venture, while Airtel will hold a 33 percent.
1.13 Airtel Payments Bank collaborates with Park+

• Aim: To offer FASTag-based smart parking solutions to marquee commercial and residential
properties across the country.
1.14 RBI cancels the authorisation certificates for non-compliance with regulatory requirements.
• The companies are: Muthoot Vehicle and Asset Finance Ltd and Eko India Financial Services Private
Ltd.
1.15 RBL Bank collaborates with Google

• Aim: To improbe Bank’s customer experience strategy and expand its value proposition to serve its
rapidly growing customer base through its digital platform, Abacus 2.0.
1.16 SJVN Ltd. given the category 'I' licence for the inter-state trading of power in the entire country
• Granted by: By the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission
1.17 AIC STPINEXT Initiatives signes two MoUs with HDFC Bank
• Aim: To enhance the tech startup ecosystem in India.
• These partners would play critical role in supporting and handholding the startups in the growth
journey through technical guidance & assistance, mentoring, pitching to investors, funding support,
and market connect & access etc.
1.18 Edelweiss Housing Finance Ltd (EHFL) and ECL Finance Ltd (ECLF) enter into co-lending partnership
with Indian Bank for lending to priority sector areas.
1.19 Federal Bank has launched an online lending platform to facilitate quick and hassle-free credit
approvals of up to ₹50 lakh for MSMEs across India.
1.20 Axis Bank enters into a partnership with MinkasuPay

• Aim: To offer biometric authentication solution for its customers, whereby the transaction time to
execute net banking payment will be reduced from about 50-60 seconds currently, to just 2-3 seconds.
1.21 Adani Group and South Korean steel major POSCO have signed an agreement
• Aim: To explore opportunities, including setting up of an integrated steel mill at the western state of
Gujarat.

1.22 India and South Korea set a bilateral trade target of $50 billion
• India and South Korea set a bilateral trade target of $50 billion before 2030.
1.23 According to the World Bank’s Global Economic Prospects Report 2022, released in January 2022,
8.3% will be India’s annual growth rate in the current fiscal year (2021-22).
1.24 The Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode’s Business incubator Laboratory for Innovation
Venturing and Entrepreneurship (LIVE) has signed an MoU with Indian Bank to launched a startup
funding scheme.
1.25 In partnership with the NPCI UCO Bank has launched a ‘RuPay Select Contactless Debit Card’.
• The launch was made on the occasion of the 79th Inauguration Day of the bank i.e. January 6, 2022.
1.26 NABARD has forged a partnership with Arthimpact Digital Loans

• Aim: For providing fintech solution including skilling, micro financial services and forward linkage
support to self-help group members.
1.27 HDFC Bank adjudged Best Private Bank in India at the Global Private Banking Awards 2021
• Organised by: Professional Wealth Management (PWM)
1.28 Paytm Payments Bank becomes the largest and fastest growing UPI beneficiary bank in India.
1.29 Snapdeal joins hands with BOB Financial to launch a co-branded contactless RuPay credit card.
1.30 Karnataka Vikas Grameena Bank (KVGB) signs MoU with the Mecwin Technologies Ltd
• Aim: To introduce farmer-friendly solar-powered pump-sets using bank finance.
1.31 Lendingkart enters into a co-lending partnership with Canara Bank

• Aim: To provide low-cost business loans of up to ₹10 lakh to micro, small and medium enterprises
(MSMEs) across the country.
1.32 MobiKwik collaborates with National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) Bharat BillPay to
launch ClickPay for its customers.
• Through ClickPay, MobiKwik customers will be able to pay recurring online bills, such as mobile, gas,
water, electricity, DTH, insurance and loan EMIs with ease by eliminating the need to remember
individual bill details and due dates.
1.33 According to the report titled “World Employment and Social Outlook Trends 2022”, released by
the International Labour Organisation (ILO), 207 million will be the global unemployment in 2022.
1.34 Federal Bank has launches “US Dollar offshore fund” with Equirus Wealth
• This is in collaboration with SCUBE Capital, a Singapore-based global fund management company.
1.35 Digital Payment Index (DPI) in September 2021.

• As per the latest RBI data, 304.06 is the Digital Payment Index (DPI).
• RBI-DPI Index continues to demonstrate significant growth in adoption and deepening of digital
payments across the country.
• The Index captures the extent of digitisation of payments across the country.

• The total volume of digital payments rose about 57.50 per cent year-on-year to 645.84 crore in
November 2021 against 410.07 crore in November 2020.
1.36 Total volume of digital payments rose by 57.50% year-on-year in November 2021
• As per latest RBI data, the total volume of digital payments rose about 57.50 per cent year-on-year to
645.84 crore in November 2021 against 410.07 crore in November 2020.
• The total value of digital payments was up 32 per cent y-o-y to ₹1,48,03,884 crore in November 2021
against ₹1,11,99,549 crore in November 2020.
1.37 RBI calculates Digital Payment Index (DPI) on basis of base period March 2018.
• The DPI index comprises five broad parameters that enable us to know the penetration of digital
payments in the country over different time periods.
• The parameters include payment enablers, with a weightage of 25 per cent in the index, followed by
demand-side and supply-side payment infrastructure factors, with a weightage of 10 per cent each.
• As per the latest GDP prediction by Ind-Ra, 7.6% is the estimated GDP growth rate for Indian economy
in FY 2022-23.
1.38 Tech-giant Microsoft buying video game publisher Activision Blizzard for almost $69 billion
• Activision Blizzard is famous of Candy Crush and Call of Duty, Xbox, among other leading video games.
1.39 ₹1500 crores capital infused in Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited, (IREDA)
• The capital has been infused by the Union Government.
• It will raise the lending capacity of IREDA to Rs 12,000 crore to the renewable energy sector.
1.40 NIF’s Incubation and Entrepreneurship Council signs MoU with Amazon India
• MoU has been signed for online distribution of product of grassroots innovations.
1.41 IFSCA signs MoU with Insurance Institute of India (III)

• Aim: Capacity building of professionals in the insurance sector.
1.42 ₹650 crore sanctioned by the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI)
• The amount has been sanctioned for AU SFB and Jana SFB – to provide funds to finance companies
and Micro Finance Institutions (MFIs).
1.43 TVS Motor Company inks a pact with leading on-demand delivery platform Swiggy
• Aim: To bolster the electric commercial mobility segment.
1.44 Marwadi Financial Services (MFS) partner with NSDL Payments Bank
• Aim: To allow its clients an integrated 3-in-1 savings account that combines the features of savings,
demat and trading accounts.
1.45 Reliance Industries is the most valued company in terms of Mcap.

• This is due to the domestic equity benchmarks witnessed heavy selling in line with the global market.
Benchmark indices witnessed nearly a 4% cut last week as FPIs booked profits across large-caps and
select mid-caps.

1.46 Kotak Mahindra Bank has signs an MoU with GIFT SEZ
• The MoU will enable both to work together towards greater enhancement of the financial services
eco-system for alternative investment funds and global custody services.
1.47 Swiggy has becomes Decacorn by almost doubling its valuation to $10.7 billion
• Swiggy’s latest valuation is almost double that of Zomato before the latter went for its initial public
offering. Zomato was valued at $5.4 billion before its IPO.
1.48 Fullerton India has partners with Paytm

• Users will get Paytm Postpaid (buy-now-pay-later) feature on the Paytm platform.
1.49 India Mortgage Guarantee Corporation (IMGC) partnered with Muthoot Homefin to offer mortgage
guarantee-backed home loan products to later’s customer.
• Note: Muthoot Homefin aims to leverage mortgage guarantee as a risk mitigation tool as demand for
affordable and mid-income housing increases. The tie-up with IMGC will help Muthoot Homefin
deepen its penetration in existing markets across its 108 branches/locations.
1.50 Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank to spend $150 million in the creation of data centres
• This project is being AIIB’s 1st data centre project.
• The Keppel Data Centre Fund II (KDCF II), a private equity company managed by Alpha Investment
Partners Limited (Alpha), will route funds through the Beijing-based AIIB, of which India is a significant
founding member.
1.51 60. According to Brand Finance's Global 500 study for 2022 Apple has retained its title as the world's
most valuable brand.
• Note: The brand valuation of Apple was recorded at $355.1 billion in 2022, which is an increase of
35% from last year. This is the highest brand value ever recorded in the Brand Finance Global 500
ranking history.
1.52 World Economic Outlook report released in January 2022

• According to the report, 9.0% will be India’s economic growth rate in the fiscal 2021-22 (FY22).
1.53 Bharat Electronics Limited has signed a contract with Hyperion Global Group, LLC,
• Aim: To develop, manufacture and supply Internet of Things (IoT) devices for the US market.
1.54 FAARMS introduces customized digital insurance solutions for the rural population
• The Agri-tech start-up FAARMS has partnered with which Reliance General Insurance Company Ltd.
1.55 CVC and Ministry of Finance have extended the scope of the existing Advisory Board for Banking
and Financial Frauds (ABBFF) to cover all fraud cases involving an amount of Rs. 3 Crore and above.
1.56 TerraPay has signs an MoU with NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL)
• The MoU will allow Indian customers with an active UPI ID to receive real-time, international
payments into their bank accounts.

1.57 TVS Motor Company Ltd has announced the acquisition of 75 percent stake in the Swiss e-Mobility
Group (SEMG) for $100 million.
1.58 Tata Group has regained control of Air India after 69 years -- Rs 18,000 crore.
• The total value of the deal is Rs 18,000 crore (US$2.4 billion).
• The strategic disinvestment transaction of Air India includes transfer of 100 percent stake of GoI in Air
India to Tata Sons, along with management control.
1.59 The Punjab and Maharashtra Co-operative Bank is merged with Unity Small Finance Bank.
• The amalgamation came into force with effect from the date of the notification of the scheme i.e.
January 25, 2022.
1.60 City Union Bank has launches a wearable payment solution called CUB fitness watch debit card
• It has been launched in association with smart-tech-enabled preventive healthcare platform GOQii
and powered by the NPCI.
1.61 State Bank of India has issues $300 million Formosa bonds
• The lender is the first Indian entity to raise money through Formosa Bond, which is a bond issued in
Taiwan.
• SBI was the first issuer whose Green bonds were dually listed in November 2021 on Luxembourg Stock
Exchange through a MOU that has been entered into by both Exchanges.
1.62 35% of growth has been registered in the export of the marine products during April to Dec 2021.
• The Data has been released by: Ministry of Commerce and Industry
• The exports of Marine Products touched over $ 720 mn, registering a growth of over 28 per cent.
• The overall exports of Marine Products in the last Financial Year was $ 5.96 bn.
• Top 5 export destinations: USA, China, Japan, Vietnam, Thailand.
1.63 Fino Payments Bank receives RBI approval for international remittance
• Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has granted its approval to Fino Payments Bank for undertaking
international remittance business under the Money Transfer Service Scheme (MTSS).
• The bank will partner up with an overseas principal for its cross-border money transfer activities.
1.64 RBI cancels certificate of authorization of two PSOs

• The RBI has cancelled the Certificate of Authorization (CoA) of two Payment System Operators
(PSOs): Muthoot Vehicle & Asset Finance, and Eko India Financial Services.
• The authorization has been cancelled for non-compliance with regulatory requirements.
1.65 Airtel Payments Bank gets scheduled bank status from RBI
• RBI has announced the inclusion of Airtel Payments Bank in the second schedule of the Reserve Bank
of India Act, 1934 and has been categorized as a Scheduled Bank.
1.66 New milestone for IPPB

• India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) has crossed five crore subscribers in 3 years of commencement of
operations.
• It has become one of the fastest-growing digital payments bank in the country and has attained the
achievement of world’s largest digital financial literacy program.
About IPPB
• It is a ‘digital-first bank’ launched in September 2018 under the Department of Posts, Ministry of
Communication.
• Aim: to build the most accessible, aﬀordable and trusted bank for the common man in India.
1.67 IIM Kozhikode and Indian Bank ink pact for a start-up funding scheme
• The Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode and Indian Bank have signed a MoU to launch a start-
up funding scheme, ‘IndSpring Board’.
• The scheme will support early stage start-ups by providing loans up to Rs. 50 crore.
• The MoU has been signed by IIM-Kozhikode’s business incubator Laboratory for Innovation
Venturing and Entrepreneurship (LIVE).
1.68 Committee proposes merger of Agricultural bank with Kerala Bank

• A committee appointed by the Kerala government has recommended merging the Kerala State
Cooperative Agricultural and Rural Development Bank (KSCARDB) with the Kerala Bank.
• The committee has been headed by R. Sasikumar.
1.69 RBI fines eight cooperative banks

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed penalties on 8 cooperative banks for deficiencies in their
regulatory compliances.
• These banks include:
o Fine of Rs.4 lakh on Associate Co-operative Bank, Surat (Gujarat).
o Fine of Rs.2 lakh on Mogaveera Co-operative Bank, Mumbai.
o Fine of Rs.2 lakh on Vasai Janata Sahakari Bank (Palghar), Rajkot (Gujarat).
o Fine of Rs.2 lakh on Bhadradri Co-operative Urban Bank, Telangana.
o Fine of Rs.1 lakh on Varachha Co-operative Bank, Surat (Gujarat).
o Fine of Rs.1 lakh on Peoples Co-operative Bank, Rajkot, Gujarat.
o Fine of Rs.1 lakh on Jammu Central Co-operative Bank Ltd, Jammu.
o Fine of Rs.1 lakh on Jodhpur Nagrik Sahakari Bank, Jodhpur, Rajasthan.
1.70 KVG Bank partners with Mecwin Tech to finance solar pump-sets for farmers
• Karnataka Vikas Grameena Bank (KVGB) has partnered with Bengaluru-based Mecwin Technologies
Ltd, to provide solar powered pump sets for farmers using bank finance.
Additional Information
• KVGB was the first bank to introduce solar loan schemes.
1.71 RBL Bank partners with Google

• RBL Bank has collaborated with Google to enhance its customer experience strategy.
• The bank will expand its value proposition to serve its rapidly growing customer base through the
digital platform, Abacus 2.0.
About Abacus 2.0
• It is RBL Bank’s new digital platform to provide products and services to new as well as existing
customers digitally.

1.72 RBI imposes restrictions on Indian Mercantile Cooperative Bank Ltd.
• The Reserve Bank of India has imposed multiple restrictions on Indian Mercantile Cooperative Bank
Ltd, Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh), including a cap of Rs. 1 lakh on withdrawals.
1.73 Edelweiss group partners Indian Bank for co-lending to priority segment
• Edelweiss Housing Finance Ltd (EHFL) and ECL Finance Ltd (ECLF) have partnered with Indian Bank
for co-lending to priority sector areas such as Agriculture, micro enterprises and weaker sections of
the society.
1.74 Axis Bank partners with MinkasuPay for biometric-based banking payments
• Axis Bank has tied up with MinkasuPay to offer biometric authentication for net banking payments
in merchant apps using Fingerprint or Face ID, without the need for usernames, passwords, and One-
Time Passwords (OTPs).
• MinkasuPay’s biometric authentication solution is a 2-Factor-Authentication (FA) solution mandated
by the RBI.
1.75 LazyPay partners with SBM Bank India to Launch LazyCard

• LazyPay, a Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) solution by PayU Finance has partnered with SBM Bank India
to launch LazyCard.
• It is a prepaid payment instrument backed by a credit line that works on the Visa payment network.
• It will serve 62 million pre-approved users of LazyPay, with a credit limit of up to 5 lakhs.
1.76 Axis Bank Issues first LC on SLDE Platform

• Axis Bank has executed industry-first blockchain-enabled domestic Line of Credit (LC) with Arcelor
Mittal Nippon Steel India, and Lalit Pipes & Pipes Ltd on Secured Logistics Document Exchange
(SLDE).
• SLDE is a government-backed platform.
1.77 UCO Bank launches RuPay Select Contactless Debit Card

• UCO Bank has partnered with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), to launch a RuPay
Select contactless debit card for its premium customers.
1.78 Federal Bank Launches Instant Loan Approval Portal for MSMEs
• Federal Bank has launched an online lending platform to facilitate quick and easy credit approvals
for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across India.
• This platform enables MSME borrowers to avail loans of upto Rs. 50 lakhs in less than 30 minutes
digitally.
1.79 Shrinithi Capital raises Rs 300 crore co-lending facility from IndoStar
• Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) Shrinithi Capital has signed an agreement with IndoStar
Capital Finance to raise Rs 300 crore as co-lending facility.
1.80 Marwadi Financial Services partners with NSDL Payments Bank

• Marwadi Financial Services has partnered with National Securities Depository Limited (NSDL)
Payments Bank to offer Integrated Trading and Savings Bank Account to investors.
• The 3-in-1 savings account combines the features of savings, Demat and trading accounts together.

1.81 NABARD signs pact with Arthimpact Digital Loans to Support SHGs
• The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has partnered with fintech firm
Arthimpact Digital Loans (ARTH) for providing end-to-end fintech solution to Self-help groups (SHG).
• Under this, the SHG members will be provided support such as skilling, micro financial services and
forward linkage support.
1.82 SIDBI sanctions ₹650 crore to two small finance banks

• Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) has sanctioned financial assistance of ₹650 crore
to AU Small Finance Bank and Jana Small Finance Bank.
1.83 Domestic Systemically Important Banks (D-SIBs)

• Recently, as per the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), State Bank of India (SBI), HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank
continue to be identified as Domestic Systemically Important Banks (D-SIBs).
o This is similar to 2020 list of D-SIBs.
o Such banks are perceived as banks which as ‘Too Big To Fail’ (TBTF).
1.84 RBI releases framework on offline digital payments

• Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has released framework to enable small value digital payments in offline
mode using cards, wallets and mobile device.
Key Details of the framework
• Payment system operators, will be able to allow offline payments in face to face mode only.
o The upper limit of an offline payment transaction will be Rs 200.
o And the total limit for offline transactions on a payment instrument will be Rs 2,000 at any
point in time.
• This payment instruments will be enabled for offline transactions based on explicit consent of the
customer.
1.85 Performance of Public Sector Banks (PSBs)

• Recently, the Union Minister of Finance & Corporate Affairs has reviewed the performance of PSBs
and has shared data regarding the same.
• PSBs recorded net profit of Rs 31,820 crore in FY 2020-21, highest in last 5 financial years.
• Net profit of Rs 31,145 crore for the first half of FY2021-22, almost equal to that of FY 2020-21.
• PSBs have effected a recovery of Rs 5,49,327 crore during the last 7 financial years.
• PSBs recorded year-on-year credit growth of 11.3% in personal loans, 8.3% in agriculture loans and
overall credit growth of 3.5%, as on September 2021.
• Under Credit Outreach Programme launched in October 2021, PSBS have sanctioned an aggregate
loan amount of Rs. 61,268 crore.
• During the COVID-19 pandemic, PSBs have performed well in various Government schemes like
ECLGS, LGSCAS and PM SVANidhi.
• Of the extended limit of Rs. 4.5 lakh crore of ECLGS provided by the Government, 64.4% or Rs 2.9 lakh
crore, sanctioned upto Nov. 2021.
o Over 13.5 lakh small units survived pandemic due to ECLGS, saved MSME loans worth Rs 1.8
lakh crore from slipping into non-performing assets, and saved livelihood for approx. 6 crore
families.

1.86 Digital Payments see 40% jump in Sept 2021: RBI index
• Recently, as per the newly constituted RBI’s digital payment index (RBI-DPI); Digital payment
transactions reported a 40% year on year jump as of September 2021.
o It stood at 304.06 during September 2021 as against 270.59 in March 2021 and 217.74 in
September 2020.
About RBI’s Digital Payment Index
• It was constructed by considering March 2018 as base to capture the extent of digitization of
payments across the country.
• It comprises of 5 broad parameters which are:
o Payment Enablers (weight 25%),
o Payment Infrastructure – Demand-side factors (10%),
o Payment Infrastructure – Supply-side factors (15%),
o Payment Performance (45%) and Consumer Centricity (5%).
1.87 Govt approves PMC Bank amalgamation scheme
• Central Government has approved the plan for the amalgamation of the Punjab and Maharashtra
Co-operative Bank (PMC Bank) with Unity Small Finance Bank (USFBL).
• The amalgamation came into force from 25th January 2022 and on the same day all the branches of
the PMC Bank were allowed to function as the branches of USFBL.
1.88 India's bad bank gets regulatory nod

• Recently, the India’s proposed bad bank National Assets Reconstruction Co. Limited (NARCL) has
received all regulatory approvals from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
o This approval has been followed by lender banks plan to transfer at least ₹50,000 crore of
toxic assets to it by 31 March.
• Under the new structure the bad bank:
o NARCL will acquire and aggregate the bad loan accounts from banks.
o While India Debt Resolution Co. Ltd (IDRCL) will handle the resolution process under an
exclusive arrangement.
1.89 Unified Presentment Management System (UPMS)

• NPCI Bill Pay Ltd. (NBBL) has introduced a unique functionality called “Unified Presentment
Management System (UPMS)” with the aim of enriching and simplifying bill payments in India.
About UPMS
• It will help the customers to set up standing instructions, for any mode and from any channel on their
recurring bill payments.
o Bills will be fetched automatically from the billers and will be presented to customers for their
action, in terms of bill payment and auto-debit management.
• The motive of this system is to enable all the Bharat Bill Pay Operating Units (BBPOU) to extend the
facility for their customers or corporate clients with minimal effort by means of centralized
infrastructure as well as application support.
1.90 Axis Bank executes first domestic trade transaction on government-backed blockchain platform
• Recently, Axis Bank has executed industry-first blockchain-enabled domestic trade transaction with
Arcelor Mittal Nippon Steel India, and Lalit Pipes & Pipes Ltd on Secured Logistics Document
Exchange (SLDE).
o SLDE is a Government backed Platform
• The transaction involved the process of Letter of Credit advising and digital presentation of
underlying trade documents including invoice & transport documents.
1.91 RBI creates fintech department to promote innovation

• Recently, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has setup a new internal FinTech (Financial Technology)
department in the RBI.
• The FinTech dept. has been created by subsuming the Fintech Division under Department of
Payment and Settlement Systems, Central Office (DPSS, CO).
• Head of the new FinTech dept. of RBI: Ajay Kumar Choudhary.
Economy & Finance

1.92 India’s Economy to grow by 7.6% in 2022-23
• Recently, the India Ratings & Research (Ind-Ra) has announced that the India’s gross domestic
product (GDP) will grow 7.6% in fiscal year 2022-23 (FY23).
• The real GDP in 2022-23 is expected to be 9.1% higher than that in 2019-20 (pre-COVID level).
• However, the size of the Indian economy in FY23 will be 10.2% lower than the FY23 GDP trend value.
• The fiscal deficit to come in at 5.8-6% of GDP in 2022-23.
1.93 India-China trade crossed $125 bn in 2021

• According to latest data released by China’s General Administration of Customs (GAC), India’s trade
with China has crossed USD 125 billion in 2021.
• Bilateral trade between India and China reached USD 125.6 billion in 2021 from 87.6 billion USD in
2020, showing an increase of 43.3%.
• Value of India’s imports from China in 2021: USD 97.52 billion (46.2% increase).
• Value of India’s exports to China in 2021: USD 28.14 billion (34.2% increase).
• Trade Deficit between India and China in 2021: USD 69.4 billion (22% increase from 2019).
o The trade deficit was in favour of China.
o China’s top three partners in 2021: The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN),
European Union and United States.
1.94 Existing GST rates in textile sector to continue beyond 1st January, 2022
• Recently, the 46th Meeting of the Goods & Services Tax (GST) council was held in New Delhi.
• Meeting Chair: Nirmala Sitharaman, Union Finance & Corporate Affairs.
1.95 SEBI review on Free float

• Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has started a review of what constitutes a free float.
o The aim of calculating free float is to distinguish between strategic (controlling) shareholders,
and those holders whose investments depend on the stock’s price and their evaluation of a
company’s future prospects.
What is free float?
• Free float or floating shares indicate the number of shares available for trading.
o And includes shares of a company available in the market for public investment.
• SEBI prescribes a minimum threshold of 25% of public shareholding for all listed companies.

1.96 Guidelines for operationalizing gold exchanges in India
• Recently, the government has notified the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Vault Managers)
Regulations, 2021.
o This is to create electronic gold receipts (EGRs).
o This would pave the way for the operationalization of a gold exchange in India.
o The gold exchange would be a national platform for buying and selling EGRs issued against
physical gold.
o Investors can trade in EGRs on stock exchanges and the proposed gold exchange.
1.97 Union Bank of India replaces LIBOR with Alternate Reference Rate
• Recently, the Union Bank of India (UBI) through its international banking division on has announced
that for the purpose of lending.
o It has replaced London Inter-Bank Offered Rate (LIBOR) with Alternate Reference Rate (ARR).
1.98 SEBI rules on holding inquiry, imposing penalties

• Finance Ministry has notified amended SEBI rules pertaining to the procedure for holding an inquiry
and imposing penalties.
• The new rules are:
o Depositories (Procedure for Holding Inquiry and Imposing Penalties) (Amendment) Rules,
2021.
o Securities Contracts (Regulation) (Procedure for Holding Inquiry and Imposing Penalties)
(Amendment) Rules, 2021.
o And Securities and Exchange Board of India (Procedure for Holding Inquiry and Imposing
Penalties) (Amendment) Rules, 2021.
1.99 Nippon India MF launches India’s first Auto ETF

• Nippon Life India Asset Management Limited has announced the launch of India’s First Auto sector
ETF called Nippon India Nifty Auto ETF.
o The Auto ETF is an open-ended scheme tracking the Nifty Auto Index.
1.100 Dedicated window for bond houses

• Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has offered a dedicated window for bond houses, known as primary
dealers (PDs).
Key Details if the Window
• A special Switch window will be opened for PDs every month.
• Through this window PD’s can exchange illiquid securities acquired through the Retail Direct platform
with liquid papers from RBI at market prices.
1.101 RBI Introduces Market Making Scheme

• Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has introduced the market-making scheme to promote retail
participation in Government Securities (G-Secs).
o By providing prices/quotes to Retail Direct Gilt Account Holders (RDGAHs) enabling them to
buy/sell securities under the RBI Retail Direct (RBI-RD) Scheme.
Key Details of the Scheme

• Primary dealers will rely on the Know Your Customer (KYC) verification of the RDG account holders
done under the retail direct scheme.
o No further KYC verification is required for transacting with RDG account holders on the RFQ
segment of NDS-OM.
1.102 Global Venture Capital Funds

• Union Minister of Commerce & Industry has chaired 4th Roundtable with Global Venture Capital
Funds.
o Organized by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).
1.103 SEBI’s Saarthi mobile app

• Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has launched the Saarthi mobile application.
• It aims to create awareness among the investors about the Basic concepts of securities market, KYC
(Know Your Customer) process, trading and settlement, mutual funds, recent market developments
and investor grievances redressal mechanism, among others.
1.104 Spice Xchange India

• Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry has launched India’s first virtual platform for
spice exports ‘Spice Xchange India'.
o It has been developed by the Spices Board of India.
About the Spice Xchange India
• It is a 3D virtual platform aimed at connecting India’s spice exporters with buyers from around the
world.
• The portal uses AI-based technology to connect relevant spice buyers with Indian spice exporters.
• The buyers and sellers can access the database to find the potential customers on this platform.
• The portal will work as an extended office enabling the subscribers to conduct virtual meetings with
their customers.
1.105 RBI conduct’s overnight VRR auction of Rs 75,000 cr

• Recently, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has conducted another round of variable repo rate auction
(VRR) of ₹75,000 crore to augment the liquidity shortfall in the system.
o The central bank received bids worth ₹1.37 lakh crore compared to the notified amount
of ₹75,000 crore.
o For the auction, the cut off rate was fixed at 4.12% and the weighted average rate came in at
4.13%.
1.106 20% foreign direct investment in LIC

• Recently, the Central government has decided to allow 20% foreign direct investment in the Life
Insurance Corporation of India (LIC).
1.107 Workshop on Public Finance Management System (PFMS)

• Recently, the Controller General of Accounts (CGA) under Ministry of Finance has organized a
workshop on Public Finance Management System (PFMS).
o This is to generate awareness among the officials on the functioning and achievements of the
system.

1.108 IFSCA inks MOU with Insurance Institute of India (III)
• Recently, the International Financial Services Centers Authority (IFSCA) signed a MoU with the
Insurance Institute of India (III).
o This is for capacity building of insurance professionals in International Financial Services
Centers (IFSCs).
1.109 India pays $29.9 million in UN regular budget assessments

• Recently, India has paid USD 29.9 million in United Nations (UN) regular budget assessments for the
year 2022.
• This has led India to joins the 2022 Honour Roll of 24 Member States out of 193 member states that
have paid their @UN Regular Budget Assessments in full.
National News
1.110 India supplies five lakh Covid vaccine doses to Afghanistan
• India has provided 500,000 Covid-19 vaccine doses (Covaxin) to Afghanistan under humanitarian
assistance through World Health Organization (WHO).
• These vaccines have been provided to the Indira Gandhi Hospital, Kabul.
1.111 Vice President lays the foundation stone of Towed Array Integration Facility
• Vice President has laid the foundation stone of the Towed Array Integration Facility at Naval Physical
and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL) of Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO)
at Thrikkakara, Kerala.
• He has also inaugurated the Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Memorial at NPOL premises.
1.112 India and Pakistan exchange list of nuclear installations

• India and Pakistan have exchanged a list of their nuclear installations that cannot be attacked in case
of an escalation in hostilities between the two nations.
• This exchange is an annual practice (since 1992) in line with the provisions of the Agreement on
Prohibition of Attacks against Nuclear Installations and Facilities.
• Under the provisions of the Agreement on Consular Access, the two nations also exchanged the list
of prisoners held in each other’s prisons.
1.113 Sri Lanka signs agreement with India to develop oil tanks
• Sri Lanka has signed three lease agreements with India to develop the strategic Trincomalee oil tank
farm, in Sri Lanka’s eastern Trincomalee district.
• According to the new deal,
o Lanka IOC subsidiary of Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) will have 14 tanks on a lease for 50 years.
o The Trinco Petroleum Terminal (joint venture of Sri Lanka’s Ceylon Petroleum Corporation
(CPC) and Lanka IOC), will develop 61 oil farms.
o CPC will use the remaining 24 tanks.
1.114 India votes in favour of UNSC resolution

• India has voted in favour of a United Nations Security Council (UNSN) resolution to renew the
mandate of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) until December 31,
2025.
• India has taken over as the chair of the Counter-Terrorism Committee of the UNSC for the year 2022.
1.115 India's first water taxi service to come up in Mumbai

• India's first water taxi service is going to be launched in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
• The project is a joint initiative of Mumbai Port Trust (MbPT), City and Industrial Development
Corporation (CIDCO) and Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB).
• Infinity Harbour Services and West Coast Marine will be the two service operators of the service.
1.116 India's first crypto currency index IC15 launched

• Global crypto currency super app Cryptowire has launched India's first crypto currency index, “IC15”
to track the market capitalization and liquidity of top 15 global digital currencies.
• Cryptowire is a special business unit of crypto statistics provider TickerPlant.
1.117 Gandhi Sagar Dam

• Gandhi Sagar Dam on Chambal River in Madhya Pradesh has been put in Category II of the Dam
Inspection Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG).
• Dams with minor to medium deficiencies requiring immediate repair are put under Category II.
• Constructed in 1960 to provide water to Rajasthan and generate 115 megawatts of electricity.
• It is one of the five water reservoirs of national importance.
1.118 India commences FTA talks with Israel

• India and Israel have commenced negotiations on Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on the occasion of
the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries.
1.119 Reliance Jio gets approval to buy 5G equipment

• Reliance Jio has received approval to buy 5th Generation (5G) equipment from ‘trusted source’
endorsed as by the ‘National Security Council Secretariat’.
• These sources include various vendors, including Ericsson, Nokia Networks, Cisco, and Dell.
1.120 25th National Youth Festival

• Prime Minister (PM) has inaugurated the 25th National Youth Festival at the Pondicherry Central
University campus, Puducherry on January 12, 2022.
• The festival is organized by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
• Tagline of the Festival: “Shaksham Yuva Shashakth Yuva” meaning Capable Youth- Forceful Youth,
Able Youth- Strong Youth.
• The festival is celebrated on the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda.
1.121 Silver Jubilee Celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi International Hindi University

• The Vice President has addressed the Silver Jubilee Celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi International
Hindi University, Wardha (Maharashtra).
• On this occasion, he has also unveiled the statue of Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar and inaugurated Atal
Bihari Vajpayee Bhawan and Chandrashekhar Azad Hostel in the university.
1.122 Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences launches eOffice

• The Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) has initiated the use of eOffice
application for its official purposes.

• It is the largest Research Council under the Ministry of Ayush, Government of India.
1.123 BRO breaks record at Zoji La

• The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has created a record by extended the access of the Zoji La
pass beyond 31st December, 2021 for the first time keeping the logistic supply line open.
• This feat has been achieved through BRO’s frontline Projects, ‘Vijayak’ and ‘Beacon’.
• The Zolji La lies at an altitude of 11,649 ft., and links Ladakh with the rest of the country.
1.124 75 years of CSIR-NPL

• The Union Minister of State Science & Technology has inaugurated the 75 year celebrations of Council
of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)-National Physical Laboratory (NPL), New Delhi.
1.125 Karnataka’s first LNG terminal to come up in Mangaluru

• The Karnataka Government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Singapore’s LNG
Alliance Company for setting up Karnataka’s first LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) Terminal in Mangaluru.
• The terminal will be set up in partnership with New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT) at an investment
of Rs. 2,250 crore.
1.126 Vice President releases book on education

• The Vice President has released a book titled “Outcome-Based Education-Experiments of a Higher
Education Institution” by the Marian College, Kuttikanam in Ernakulam, Kerala.
1.127 Odisha government and GAIL sign MoU for clean energy projects
• The Industrial Promotion and Investment Corporation of Odisha (IPICOL) and Gas Authority of India
Ltd. (GAIL) have signed a MoU for cooperation in the production of eco-friendly fuels in Odisha.
• The MoU aims to set up plants in areas of green hydrogen, green ammonia and renewable energy like
solar and wind.
1.128 15th Global Health Summit

• The Vice President has inaugurated the 15th Global Health Summit virtually in Hyderabad.
• The summit has been organized by American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI).
1.129 IGRUA sets a new record in 2021

• Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi (IGRUA) has set a new record of 19000 flying hours
collectively in the year 2021.
• IGRUA is an autonomous body established in 1986 at Fursatganj Airfield, presently in Amethi, Uttar
Pradesh under the Societies Registration Act 1860.
• It is administered by a Governing Council under the Ex-officio Chairmanship of Secretary, Ministry of
Civil Aviation.
1.130 25 Years of Nifty Index

• Union Minister of Commerce & Industry has inaugurated a function to mark the Silver Jubilee
Celebration of 25 Years of Nifty 50 Index and 20 Years of Launching of Derivatives Markets in India.
• NSE is the world’s largest derivatives exchange for the 2nd consecutive year in 2020.

1.131 Xiaomi evades Customs duty
• An investigation initiated by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) against Xiaomi India has
found evasion of Customs Duty of Rs. 653 crore by undervaluation.
1.132 Rankings for Thermal Power Stations

• Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has issued the annual rankings of Plant load factor (PLF) for
Thermal Power Stations in the country.
o Singareni Thermal Power Plant (STPP), a unit of Singareni Collieries Company Ltd (SCCL), in
Telangana has achieved the highest PLF of 87.18% in the first three quarters of 2021-22.
o The thermal power stations of Telangana State Power Generation Corporation (TSGenco)
have ranked second with a PLF of 73.98%.
o West Bengal Power Development Corporation has been ranked third with 70.29% PLF.
1.133 Recent MoUs approved by Union Cabinet

• The Union Cabinet has approved the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and
Nepal for construction of bridge over Mahakali River at Dharchula, Pithoragarh (Uttarakhand).
• A MoU has been approved with Turkmenistan on cooperation in the field of disaster management.
• An agreement has been signed with Spain on cooperation and mutual assistance in matters of
Customs.
1.134 India’s first Open Rock Museum

• Union Minister of State for Science and Technology has inaugurated India's first Open Rock Museum
in Hyderabad, Telangana.
• Museum displays around 35 different types of rocks from different parts of India with ages ranging
from 3.3 billion years to around 55 million years of the Earth's history.
1.135 HarperCollins to publish Ratan Tata's biography

• HarperCollins has won the publishing rights to publish the biography of Ratan Tata, chairman of Tata
Sons in all formats in November 2022.
• The book titled "Ratan N. Tata: The Authorized Biography" has been authored by Dr. Thomas
Mathew.
1.136 Koppal Toy Cluster to be operational in March, 2022

• The Koppal Toy Cluster (KTC) being set up in Karnataka will begin operations in March 2022.
• Developed by: Aequs Infra, a subsidiary of Belagavi-based Aequs Pvt. Ltd.
• KTC is the first such infrastructure in India and comprises the entire value chain of toy manufacturing.
1.137 Multi Agency Centre (MAC)

• The Union government has asked the States to share more intelligence inputs through the Multi
Agency Centre (MAC).
• It is a common counter-terrorism grid under the Intelligence Bureau that was made operational in
2001 after Kargil War.
• 28 organizations, including the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), armed forces and State police,
are part of the platform.

1.138 24th National Conference on E-Governance
• Union Minister of State Science & Technology has inaugurated the 24th National Conference on E-
Governance in Hyderabad, Telangana.
• Theme: “India’s Techade -Digital Governance in a Post Pandemic World”.
• Organized by: the Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances (DARPG) and Ministry
of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY), in association with the State Government of
Telangana.
1.139 Defence Minister flags-in India’s first multi-dimensional adventure sports expedition
• The Defence Minister has flagged-in India’s first multi-dimensional adventure sports expedition
conducted by National Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports (NIMAS), Arunachal Pradesh.
• The expedition was conducted in France in November 2021 and the team of 12 members was led by
Director of NIMAS Colonel Sarfaraz Singh.
1.140 Government selects TCS for the second phase of Passport Seva Program
• Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has signed an agreement with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) for
the second phase of Passport Seva Program.
• The program was launched in 2008 and is the country’s largest mission critical e-governance program
till date.
1.141 DCGI gives emergency use authorization for manufacturing of molnupiravir

• Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has granted emergency use authorization to pharmaceutical
companies in the country to manufacture and market generic versions of molnupiravir.
About Molnupiravir
• It is an anti-viral Covid-19 pill developed by US-based biotechnology company Ridgeback
Biotherapeutics in collaboration with Merck Pharma.
1.142 Startup India Innovation Week

• The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under Ministry of Commerce
has organized the first ever Startup India Innovation Week from 10th to 16 January, 2022.
• Aim: to showcase the spread and depth of entrepreneurship across India.
1.143 Global Surya Namaskar demonstration programme

• The Ministry of Ayush has organized the first ever Global Surya Namaskar Demonstration programme
“Surya Namaskar for vitality” on the occasion of Makar Sakranti.
1.144 “Training of Trainers” programme for Haj 2022

• Union Minority Affairs Minister has inaugurated a two-day Training of Trainers programme for Haj
2022 at Haj House, Mumbai.
• The programme has been organized by the Haj Committee of India.
• Aim: to educate about the about “Do’s and Don’ts” to be followed during Haj.
• The government has introduced multiple digital facilities for the Haj Pilgrims such as “Haj Mobile App”
(upgraded with the tagline “Haj App in Your Hand”), digital health card, “E-MASIHA”, “E-luggage pre-
tagging” etc.

1.145 Canada Court allows Devas Shareholders to seize 50% Of Air India’s Funds
• A Canadian court has allowed Devas Multimedia shareholders to seize 50% of Air India’s funds held
by global airlines body International Air Transportation Association (IATA).
• The court has also freed the funds of Airports Authority of India (AAI), which were seized by the Devas
Multimedia.
1.146 National Youth Summit

• National Youth Summit has been organized in Puducherry.
• Aim: to bring diverse cultures of India and integrate them into a united thread of 'Ek Bharat, Shreshtha
Bharat.
• During the summit, panel discussions has been conducted on four themes:
o Environment, climate & sustainable development goals (SDG) led growth.
o Technology, entrepreneurship and innovation.
o Indigenous and ancient wisdom.
o National character, nation building and home grown.
1.147 Khadi Handmade Paper Slippers introduced in Kashi Vishwanath Temple

• Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) has developed and introduced Khadi handmade
paper “Use & Throw” slippers for the use of the devotees and the workers in the Kashi Vishwanath
Temple, Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh).
• KVIC functions under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME).
1.148 India tops Sri Lanka’s tourism list

• According to the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA); India has topped the list of Sri
Lanka’s tourist arrivals in December and the entire year of 2021.
• From January to December 2021, 42 % of the total visitors to Sri Lanka were Indians.
1.149 First Colombo Security Conclave Virtual Workshop

• The first Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) virtual workshop on “Developing Regional Cyber Security
Capabilities on Defensive operations, Deep/Dark Web handling and Digital Forensics” has been
organized.
• The conclave has been hosted by the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS), along with
National Forensics Science University, Gandhinagar (Gujarat) and the Secretariat of the Colombo
Security Conclave.
• Delegates from members (Sri Lanka, Maldives, and India) and observer states of the CSC (Mauritius,
Seychelles, and Bangladesh) have participated in the workshop.
About CSC
• It is a consolidating cooperation between India, Sri Lanka and Maldives initiated by President of Sri
Lanka Gotabaya Rajapaksa in 2011.
• Aim: to “further promote” maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region.
1.150 CCI approves acquisition of shares in Sutherland Global Holdings Inc.

• The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the acquisition of shares in Sutherland
Global Holdings Inc. by Coral Blue Investment Pte. Ltd.

1.151 Tata Group gets sponsorship of IPL
• The Tata group has replaced Vivo as the title sponsor of the Indian Premier League (IPL) T20 cricket
tournament for the 2022 and 2023 season.
1.152 Community Based Organizations

• Community Based Organizations (CBOs) have been formed by the North Eastern Region Community
Resource Management Society (NERCRMS), Shillong (Meghalaya) and the Changlang Community
Resource Management Society (CCRMS), Arunachal Pradesh.
• Aim: to enhance the supply chain and value addition of spice crops to boost the marketability of the
products and hence improve the income of the farmers.
1.153 India-US Homeland Security Dialogue

• A Homeland Security Dialogue has been held between the officials of India and United States (US).
• Agenda: to review the ongoing cooperation in counterterrorism, cyber security and other issues.
• It was launched in 2010 as the mechanism to a sequel to the signing of the India-US counter-terrorism
initiative.
• The First edition of the dialogue was held in May 2011.
• The dialogue was discontinued by former US President Donald Trump’s administration and was
reinstated in March 2021.
1.154 Government asks BARC to resume TV ratings for news channels

• The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has directed the Broadcast Audience Research Council
(BARC) to resume the release of Television Rating Points (TRPs) for TV news channels.
• TRPs have been suspended after allegations of manipulation of ratings emerged in October 2020.
1.155 Odisha increases upper age limit for state civil services exam
• The Odisha government has increased the upper age limit for entry into the government and state
civil services from 32 to 38 years due to Covid-19 pandemic.
• This provision has been only made for employment advertisements from 2021 to 2023.
1.156 Deendayal Port Trust crosses 100 million metric tonnes milestone
• Deendayal Port Trust under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways has crossed the milestone
of handling 100 million metric tonnes of cargo.
• It has become the first government sector-major port to cross the mark in fiscal year 2021-22.
1.157 PPT organizes workshop on “Gati Shakti”

• Paradip Port Trust has organized a workshop in Bhubaneswar, Odisha to provide a digital platform
for coordination of infrastructure projects.
• Theme: “Gati Shakti -The revolutionary Multi-Modal Connectivity for Integrated & Seamless Supply
Chain”.
1.158 15th UK-India Joint Economic and Trade Committee meet

• The 15th United Kingdom (UK)-India Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO) meet has been
organized in New Delhi.
• Aim: to review the progress within the UK-India Enhanced Trade Partnership.
• On the occasion both the countries have started fresh negotiations on a free-trade deal after Brexit.
• U.K. has signed free trade deals with New Zealand and Australia.
1.159 New initiatives for the welfare of ex-servicemen

• The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has launched new initiatives for the welfare of ex-servicemen (ESM),
on the occasion of Armed Forces Veterans’ Day. These include:
o Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare (DESW) has allotted Rs. 320 crore to Armed Forces
Flag Day Fund (AFFDF) to clear all backlog of pending applications for welfare schemes.
o A dedicated Raksha Pension Shikayat Nivaran Portal designed to speedily redress pension
related grievances of ESM and their dependents by DESW.
1.160 Khadi Monumental National Flag displayed at Longewala

• On the occasion of Army, the Monumental National Flag (world’s largest national flag made of Khadi
fabric) has been put to public display along the India-Pakistan Border in Longewala, Jaisalmer
(Rajasthan).
• This is the 5th public display of the National Flag since it’s unveiling in Leh on 2nd October 2021.
• The flag has been prepared by Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) and is 225 feet long,
150 feet wide and weighs around 1400 Kg.
1.161 Power Grid signs pact with Africa50 for Kenya Transmission Project
• Power Grid Corporation of India has signed a joint development agreement with Africa50, to develop
the Kenya Transmission Project.
• The project involves the development, financing, construction, and operation of the 400kV Lessos -
Loosuk and 220kV Kisumu - Musaga transmission lines under a public-private partnership (PPP)
framework.
• On completion, the project will be Kenya’s first Independent Power Transmission (IPT).
1.162 ‘North East on Wheels’ bike expedition

• Minister of State for Culture has launched the ‘North East on Wheels (NEW)’ bike expedition in New
Delhi to promote the Culture of Northeastern States.
• The event is being jointly organized by Culture Ministry and Amazing Namaste foundation.
• 75 Bikers will be participating in the expedition and will cover about 9000 km in the North East Region
traveling in 6 groups from April 8 to 16, 2022.
1.163 India’s support to Sri Lanka to overcome forex crisis

• India has granted a USD 900 million loan to Sri Lanka to build up its depleted foreign reserves and
for food imports.
About SAARC currency swap agreement
• It provides a backstop line of funding for short term foreign exchange liquidity requirements or short-
term balance of payments stress till longer term arrangements are made to all SAARC nations.
1.164 10th century stone idol of Goat Head Yogini recovered from London
• An idol of a Goat Head Yogini belonging to 10th century has been recovered from London and is being
returned to India.

• The sculpture originally belonged to a group of stone deities in sandstone and installed in Lokhari
temple, Banda (Uttar Pradesh) and had been stolen in the 1980s.
• These deities had been the subject of a study by Indian scholar Vidya Dahejia on behalf of National
Museum, New Delhi in 1986. This study was later published under the title, “Yogini Cult and Temples:
A Tantrik Tradition”.
1.165 India’s first Coal to Methanol Pilot Plant

• Union Minister for Heavy Industries has inaugurated India’s first, Coal to Methanol (CTM) pilot plant
in Hyderabad, Telangana.
• The plant has been indigenously designed, developed and installed by Bharat Heavy Electricals
Limited (BHEL).
• It has a capacity of 0.25 TPD (tonnes per day) and is presently producing methanol with purity of more
than 99% from high ash Indian coals.
• The Minister has also inaugurated an exhibition on ‘Products Developed under Aatmanirbhar Bharat’
organized at BHEL’s Hyderabad unit.
1.166 India's first Metaverse marriage

• A couple from Tamil Nadu Dinesh S P and Janaganandhini Ramaswamy are going to host their wedding
reception in Metaverse.
• This will be India’s first ‘metaverse’ marriage in Polygon block chain and in partnership with
TardiVerse Metaverse startup.
• The theme of the reception will be based on Harry Potter’s Hogwarts School.
About Polygon Blockchain
• It is a protocol and a framework for building and connecting crypto currency ‘Ethereum’ compatible
block chain networks.
1.167 Delhi rolls out its first electric bus

• The Chief Minister of Delhi has flagged off the first Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) electric bus.
• Manufactured by: JBM Auto Limited.
1.168 Tech Mahindra acquires European tech firm

• Tech Mahindra London (subsidiary of Tech Mahindra) has acquired 100% stake in European
Information Technology (IT) company Com tec Co IT (CTC) for 310 million euros.
• It has also acquired 25% stake in two insurtech platforms, “SWFT Technologies Ltd.” and “Surance
Ltd.” for 20 million euros.
1.169 GI tag application for two Tamil Nadu products

• An application seeking Geographical Indications (GI) tag for “Kumbakonam Vetrilai” betel leaf has
been filed by the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore.
• Another GI tag application for Thovalai Manikka Malai has been submitted by the Thovalai
Manikkamaalai Kaivinai Kalaingargal Nalasangam, Kanniyakumari.
1.170 8th India Israel Governing Body Meeting

• The 8th Governing Body meeting has been conducted between India and Israel.

• Experts from both the countries have emphasized on widening the scope of India-Israel Industrial
R&D (Research and Development) and Technological Innovation Fund (I4F).
• I4F is collaboration between the Department of Science and Technology (DST), and the Israel
Innovation Authority.
• Aim: to promote, facilitate and support joint industrial R&D projects between companies from India
and Israel.
• The Global Innovation & Technology Alliance (GITA) implements the I4F program in India, while Israel
Innovation Authority is the implementing agency in Israel.
1.171 LegalPay launches healthcare-focused fund

• New Delhi based Fintech startup LegalPay has launched an interim finance healthcare-focused fund
for retail investors.
• The investors can participate by investing a minimum Rs10, 000 per opportunity in asset-backed legal
and debt financing asset classes through fractional ownership.
• Interim Finance is a short-term super-secure financing that allows an insolvent company to remain
operational while undergoing the Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP).
1.172Delhi government and CESL sign pact for EV charging stations

• The Delhi government has signed an agreement with the Convergence Energy Services Ltd. (CESL)
for installation of charging and battery swapping stations for electric vehicles at cluster bus depots
of its Transport Department.
1.173 Tableaux of 3 states rejected for Republic Day parade

• The subject expert committee for the 2022 Republic Day parade has rejected the tableau proposals
of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.
• West Bengal's tableau depicted the role of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and the Indian National
Army (INA) in the freedom struggle.
• The Tamil Nadu tableau portrayed prominent freedom fighters like Subramania Bharathiyar (the
national poet of the freedom struggle) and V O Chidambaram.
• The Kerala tableau had a statue of Shree Narayana Guru, the great anti-caste fighter and renaissance
figure.
1.174 Mobile COVID testing facility for Northeast

• Union Minister of State Science & Technology (S&T) has launched a Mobile COVID testing facility for
northeast, beginning with Mizoram.
• Mobile Diagnostic Laboratory (I-LAB) is a first of its kind facility and is capable of performing both RT-
PCR and ELISA tests along with Tuberculosis (TB) and HIV.
1.175 Grand statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose to be installed at India Gate
• To commemorate the 125th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose a grand statue made
of granite is going to be installed at India Gate, New Delhi.
• The hologram statue is 28 feet in height and 6 feet in width.

1.176 Koyla Darpan Portal
• Secretary (Ministry of Coal), Dr. Anil Kumar Jain has launched a "Koyla Darpan portal" to share Key
Performance Indicators (KPIs) related to the Coal Sector.
1.177 1000 Drones Light Show to be held at ‘Beating the Retreat Ceremony’
• A unique Light Show with 1000 Drones is going to be held at ‘Beating the Retreat Ceremony’ to
commemorate the 75th year of Independence on 29th January, 2022.
• The show will be undertaken by Botlab Dynamics Private Ltd. in collaboration with the Ministry of
Defence.
• Recently, 16th January has been declared as the National Start-up Day.
1.178 First BRICS Sherpas meeting of 2022

• The first BRICS Sherpas meeting of 2022 has been held virtually.
• China has taken up the Chairmanship of BRICS for 2022.
• Sanjay Bhattacharyya is the India’s BRICS Sherpa.
About BRICS
• It is a grouping of five major emerging economies- Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
• Its headquarters are located in Shanghai, China.
1.179 Prime Minister interacts with awardees of Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar
• Prime Minister has interacted with the awardees of Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar (PMRBP)
via video conferencing.
• A total of 29 children have been selected for the PMRBP 2022 awards.
• He has given the digital certificates to the winners of 2022 and 2021 for the first time using Block
Chain Technology.
1.180 Amar Jawan Jyoti merged with National War Memorial

• The iconic Amar Jawan Jyoti which was located in the India Gate has been merged with the flame at
the National War Memorial (NWM) in New Delhi.
1.181 UNESCO tag sought for Living Root Bridges of Meghalaya

• The Meghalaya government has pitched for UNESCO World Heritage Site tag for the Living Root
Bridges of the state, locally called Jingkieng Jri.
1.182 Book on Bahmani dynasty coins released

• A book “Coinage of Bahmani Dynasty” has been released at a programme organized by the Cultural
Centre of Vijayawada and Amravati (Andhra Pradesh).
• It has been written by a Guntur-based numismatist J.V.S.V. Prasad.
1.183 Flipkart launches start-up programmes

• Flipkart has announced two new programmes for start-ups:
o ‘Flipkart Leap Ahead’ (FLA).
o ‘Flipkart Leap Innovation Network’ (FLIN).
• These programmes will support the startups through insights; mentorship and funding as needed,
while helping them scale and build disruptive innovations.

1.184 Gujarat High Court gets new digital initiatives
• Supreme Court (SC) e-Committee chairperson and SC judge Justice DY Chandrachud has inaugurated
two digital services for Gujarat High Court.
o A ‘Justice Clock’.
o Electronic payment of court fee.
• The Justice Clock is a LED display which will exhibit vital statistics of the justice delivery system in
Gujarat with real-time data from the National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG).
1.185 Telangana government approves ‘Mana ooru, mana badi’ programme

• The Telangana government has launched the ‘Mana ooru, mana badi’ programme.
• Aim: All round development and creation of effective basic infrastructure in schools across the State.
• It will be implemented in three years with a budget of Rs. 7,289 crore.
1.186 MSDE signs MOU with IGNOU

• The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) has signed a MoU with Indira
Gandhi Open University (IGNOU) to strengthening the vocational and technical training framework.
• Aim: to link vocational education and training with higher education.
1.187 “The Dream of Revolution”

• The book, “The Dream of Revolution: A Biography of Jayaprakash Narayan” has been written by
historian Bimal Prasad and writer Sujata Prasad.
• It is a study of Jayaprakash Narayan’s (JP) life and ideas published by Penguin Random House.
1.188 NCGG signs MoU with NIRD & PR to promote inclusive good governance
• Recently, the National Centre for Good Governance (NCGG), Government of India & National
Institute of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj (NIRD & PR), Hyderabad have signed a
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
• Objective of the MoU: to promote inclusive good governance, strengthening of local institutions and
effective implementation of government programmes.
1.189 Special Delhi Metro Train inaugurated to commemorate ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’
• A special Metro train has been inaugurated at Yamuna Bank Metro Station, New Delhi on the Blue
Line as part of the ongoing ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM).
1.190 Coal Secretary releases Coal Directory of India 2020-21

• The Secretary, Ministry of Coal, has released the Coal Directory of India 2020-21.
• The directory is prepared by the Coal Controller’s Organization, a subordinate office under the
Ministry of Coal.
1.191 REC achieves a ‘Perfect’ score on MoU parameters

• REC Limited (Rural Electrification Corporation Ltd.) has achieved the highest score of 100 for the
targets and milestones under the ‘Memorandum of Understanding’ (MoU) framework prescribed for
the Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) for Financial Year 2021.
• These targets are set by the Department of Public Enterprises, Ministry of Finance.
• REC is the only CPSE to secure a Perfect score amongst the 123 CPSEs across 32 sectors which were
a part of the MoU evaluation exercise.
1.192 Andhra Pradesh to get 13 new districts
• The Andhra Pradesh (AP) government has issued a preliminary notification for creation of 13 new
revenue districts in the state.
• After the formation of new districts there will be a total of 26 districts in the state.
1.193 Government regulates export of human hair

• The government has imposed restrictions on the export of human hair to check its alleged smuggling.
• Now an exporter will have to seek permission or license from the Directorate General of Foreign
Trade (DGFT) under the Commerce Ministry.
• West Bengal is the major hub for the hair export industry followed by Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and
Tamil Nadu.
1.194 Recent acquisitions approved by CCI

• The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the following acquisitions:
o Shares of Future Generali India Life Insurance Company Ltd. (FGLIC) by Generali
Participations Netherlands N.V (GPN), after which GPN’s shareholding in FGLIC has increased
from 49% to 71%.
o A collective 100% Shareholding of GlaxoSmithKline Asia Private Ltd. by GlaxoSmithKline
Consumer Healthcare Overseas Ltd. and GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare UK Trading
Ltd.
1.195 CCI imposes penalty on maritime transport companies

• CCI has imposed penalty on 4 maritime transport companies for indulging in cartelization. The
companies are:
o Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (‘NYK Line’)
o Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha Ltd. (‘K-Line’)
o Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd. (‘MOL’)
o Nissan Motor Car Carrier Company (‘NMCC’)
1.196 VO Chidambaranar Port handles longest windmill blades

• VO Chidambaranar (VOC) port, Tamil Nadu has witnessed another landmark with handling wind
blades of length 81.50 meters, the longest of its kind handled through VOC Port.
1.197 NHPC contributes Rs. 1 Crore to Himachal Pradesh’s Chief Minister Relief Fund (CMRF)
• NHPC (National Hydroelectric Power Corporation) has contributed Rs. 1 Crore to the Himachal
Pradesh’s Chief Minister Relief Fund (CMRF).
• This fund is used in case of natural calamities and for humanitarian purposes in adverse
circumstances.
1.198 Pictorial book on India’s Women Unsung Heroes of Freedom Struggle launched
• Union Minister of State for Culture has released a pictorial book on India’s Women Unsung Heroes
of Freedom Struggle as part of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav in New Delhi.
• The book has been released in partnership with Amar Chitra Katha.

1.199 Kerala government presents ordinance to dilute Lokayukta’s powers
• Kerala government has sent an ordinance to the State governor to seek approval for amending the
“Kerala Lokayukta Act”.
• The amendment seeks to give powers to the government for either accepting or rejecting the verdict
of Lokayukta (anti-corruption Ombudsman), after providing an opportunity of being heard.
1.200 South Maubuang becomes Mizoram’s first ODF plus village

• The South Maubuang village in Aizawl district of Mizoram has been declared the first model ODF
(Open Defecation Free) Plus village of the state.
1.201 Delhi Police launches e-FIR app

• Delhi Police has launched an e-FIR (First Information report) app to allow people to instantly report
crimes such as “house theft" and “burglary".
1.202 SPMCIL sets up New Bank Note Printing Lines

• Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India Limited (SPMCIL) has set up New Bank Note
Printing Lines at Currency Note Press, Nashik (Maharashtra) and Bank Note Press, Dewas (Madhya
Pradesh).
1.203 JNPT handles record cargo in 2021

• Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) has attained a milestone in cargo handling in 2021 with total
container traffic of 5.63 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) compared to 4.47 million TEUs in
2020.
1.204 Google to invest USD 1 billion in Bharti Airtel

• Google has announced to invest up to USD 1 billion in Bharti Airtel aimed at focus in areas like
affordable smartphones, networks, and cloud.
• This is Google’s second investment in an Indian telecom service provider (after Reliance Jio) and is
part of its USD 10 billion India digitization fund.
1.205 India’s largest electric vehicle charging station set up in Gurugram

• India’s largest electric vehicle (EV) charging station, with 100 charging points for four-wheelers has
been set up at Delhi-Jaipur National Highway in Gurugram (Haryana).
• Developed by: Alektrify Private Ltd.; Partner Company of National Highways for Electric Vehicle
(NHEV).
1.206 India and Israel jointly launch commemorative logo

• India and Israel have launched a commemorative logo to mark the 30th anniversary of the
establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries.
• The logo features the Star of David and the Ashoka Chakra; the two symbols that adorn the national
flags of both countries.
1.207 Department of Posts releases booklet on world heritage sites

• The Department of Posts has released a “Prestige Booklet” on UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India
on the occasion of National Tourism Day.
• The booklet contains information on stamps released on three types of sites:

o UNESCO World Heritage Sites - I, which is related to hill forts of Rajasthan.
o UNESCO World Heritage Sites - II, which has information on natural heritage sites.
o UNESCO World Heritage Sites - III, which contains cultural heritage sites and three original
miniature sheets.
1.208 IREDA and Goa Shipyard Ltd sign MoU for Rooftop Solar Power Projects
• Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd. (IREDA) has signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with Goa Shipyard Ltd. (GSL) to set-up a rooftop solar power project.
• Under the MoU, IREDA will provide its techno-financial expertise for setting up the power project at
the headquarters of GSL situated in Vasco da Gama, Goa.
1.209 Notification for Fire Alarm system and Fire protection system in buses issued
• The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has introduced the Fire Alarm System and Fire
Protection System in the Passenger Compartment of the transport buses.
1.210 India delivers 3 tonnes of medical assistance to Afghanistan

• India has supplied three tonnes of essential life-saving medicines to Afghanistan as part of
humanitarian medical assistance; this is the fourth batch of medical assistance supplied by India.
1.211 Manipur welcomes first goods train

• To boost the rail connectivity in North East, Manipur has got its first-ever goods train post-
independence.
• The first freight train arrived at the Rani Gaidinliu Railway station in Goinanglong.
1.212NVVN acquires 5% Equity stake in PXIL

• NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Ltd. (NVVN) has acquired 5% equity stake in Power Exchange of India
Ltd. (PXIL).
• NVVN is a wholly owned subsidiary of NTPC (National Thermal Power Corporation).
1.213 HPCL announces two more Convenience Stores for non-fuel retailing
• Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (HPCl) has opened two more Convenience Stores under its
brand name ‘HaPpyShop’ to push its non-fuel retailing.
• These stores are aimed at making available the products of daily need to its customers through stores
and ‘HP Pay App’.
• HPCL has also started a packaged drinking water brand under the name ‘Paani@Club HP’.
1.214 India’s first heli-hub to be set up in Gurugram

• The Haryana government has announced to set up India’s first heli-hub in Gurugram.
• It will be designed to have multiple aviation facilities like heliport, hangars, repairs etc.
1.215 STPI partners with HDFC Bank and Excelpoint Systems

• AIC STPINEXT Initiatives, a special purpose vehicle of Software Technology Parks of India (STPI), has
signed two MoUs, with HDFC Bank and Excelpoint Systems India Pvt Ltd. to strengthen tech startup
ecosystem in India.

1.216 Kevadia railway station renamed as Ekta Nagar railway station
• The Ministry of Railways has approved the renaming of the Kevadiya railway station in the Narmada
district of Gujarat, as Ekta Nagar railway station.
1.217 Adani Group and South Korea's POSCO to establish steel mill in Gujarat
• Adani Group and South Korea's POSCO (Pohang Iron and Steel Company) have signed a MoU to
establish an integrated steel mill at Mundra in Gujarat.
1.218 Nepal signs Energy Trading Agreement with India

• Nepal Power Exchange Ltd (NPEL) has signed a trading agreement with India's Manikaran Power Ltd.
under which it will sell electricity produced by Nepalese private sector to India via the Indian energy
firm.
• The NPEL is a subsidiary of Independent Power Producers' Association of Nepal (IPPAN).
1.219 Sova Capital collaborates with India INX for accessing Russian market
• London-based Sova Capital has signed an agreement with India INX to allow Indian investors to access
the Russia’s Moscow Exchange (MOEX).
• Sova Capital is an International Clearing Member of MOEX and India INX is an international subsidiary
of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE).
1.220 Yes Mutual Fund Renamed as White Oak Capital Mutual Fund
• The name of YES Mutual Fund has been changed to WhiteOak Capital Mutual Fund after the
acquisition of YES Asset Management Company (AMC) by WhiteOak Capital group.
• The White Oak Capital provides investment management and advisory services for Indian equity
investors.
1.221 NSE gets SEBI approval to launch derivatives on Nifty Midcap Select Index
• National Stock Exchange has received approval from Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to
launch derivatives on Nifty MidCap Select Index.
• Nifty Midcap Select index aims to track the performance of a focused portfolio of 25 stocks within the
Nifty Midcap 150 index.
1.222 SJVN gets category 'I' license for inter-state trading of electricity
• SJVN Ltd. (Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam) has been granted category 'I' licence for the inter-state trading of
power in the entire country by the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC).
1.223 Dr Jitendra Singh launches Tele-digital Health Pilot Program at BHU, Varanasi
• Recently, the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology, has launched the
Tele-Digital Healthcare Pilot Program at Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi.
• The project was designed by Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC),
an autonomous body of Department of Science and Technology in collaboration with the Indian
Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras - Pravartak Foundation Technologies & Centre for Development
of Advanced Computing (CDAC) Mohali.
• The project has been initially launched in three districts viz, Varanasi and Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh
& Kamjong in Manipur, and will be expanded to cover the entire country in future.

1.224 ICMR approves India-made kit to detect Omicron
• Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), has approved India’s home-grown testing kit named
OmiSure to detect the Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant of the Severe acute respiratory syndrome
coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2).
• OmiSure is a reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) Kit.
• It is manufactured by Tata Medical and Diagnostics.
1.225 Kerala’s Kumbalanghi to be India’s first sanitary-napkin free village

• Kumbalanghi Village in Ernakulam district, Kerala has been declared as India’s first sanitary-napkin
village by the Governor of Kerala
• The achievement is part of a unique initiative named ‘Avalkayi’ (for her).
About Avalkayi Initiative
• It is implemented in the Ernakulam parliamentary constituency in tie up with HLL Management
Academy’s ‘Thingal’ scheme and Indian Oil Corporation.
• Under the initiative, menstrual cups are distributed to women aged 18 and above.
1.226 SKOCH Award for Assam mission on malnutrition

• Recently, Southern Assam’s Cachar District Administration has received SKOCH Award in Silver
Category in District Administration for implementing Mission Parvarish (A Step towards Kuposhan
Mukta Bharat).
About Mission Parvarish
• Initiative of: Cachar District Administration, Assam.
• Launched in: 2020.
• The programme envisages to combat malnourishment among children aged six months to five years.
1.227 National Health Mission launches project 'Niramay' in Assam

• Recently, the National Health Mission, Assam in collaboration with Piramal Swasthya and CISCO has
launched a pilot project named Niramay in Assam.
• The project envisages to demonstrate the integration of digital health technology to strengthen the
public health care delivery in Assam.
1.228 No complete ban on cannabis, medical use allowed: Centre to Delhi HC

• The Central Government has informed the Delhi High Court that there is no complete ban on
cannabis under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
o And can be used for medical, scientific, industrial, horticultural purposes by taking requisite
permissions from respective State Governments.
1.229 National TB Elimination Program

• Indian Oil Co. has shown it’s commitment to support the National TB elimination Program (NTEP) in
India.
o This is by providing an enabling environment through integrated and prioritized intervention
with City Coordination Committees, District Health Societies, Technical support groups, etc.
✓ In districts of Uttar Pradesh and Punjab.

1.230 e-Sanjeevani portal
• Recently, the Andhra Pradesh has received the highest response in providing online medical
consultations through the central government-run e-Sanjeevani portal.
o It has been followed by Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
1.231 Workshop on ‘Indigenous Knowledge & Health Care: The Way Forward’
• Recently, the Tribal Research Institute, Telangana, in collaboration with the Ministry of Tribal Affairs
has organized a workshop on ‘Indigenous Knowledge & Health Care: The Way Forward’.
o It will be with technical support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
1.232 Dr Mansukh Mandaviya launches NIPER Research Portal

• National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) Research Portal has been
created.
• Aim: To disseminate the information about all the NIPERs and their research activities, patents filed
and Publication information at one place so that a industry and other stakeholders know about them.
1.233 “Conditional Market Authorization” for Covaxin and Covishield

• Recently, the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI), has given permission to market authorization
of two COVID19 vaccines, Covaxin and Covishield subject to certain conditions.
• This has been done by following the recommendation of Subject Expert Committee (SEC) of the
Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO).
• The approval has been granted under the New Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules, 2019.
1.234 Science & Technology cooperation between Indian and France

• Recently, a MoU has been signed between Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), India
and Institut Pasteur, France with a scope for cooperation in health research.
• The MoU provides for developing potential scientific and technological cooperation and networking
in advanced and emerging areas of Human Health.
1.235 Revamped CGHS Website and Mobile App “MyCGHS”

• Recently, the Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare has digitally launched the revamped
CGHS (Central Government Health Scheme) website and mobile app, “MyCGHS”.
o This app is the extension of revamped CGHS website.
1.236 Union Education Minister launches ‘Padhe Bharat’, a 100 days reading campaign
• Union Minister of Education has launched 'Padhe Bharat'- a 100 days reading campaign.
• Padhe Bharat is a nationwide initiative of the Department of School Education & Literacy, Union
Ministry of Education for creating a joyful reading experience.
• The campaign is aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, & with the vision and goals
of the National Initiative for Proficiency in Reading with Understanding and Numeracy (NIPUN
Bharat), A National Mission on Foundation Literacy & Numeracy (FLN).
• Campaign Duration: 100 days (14 weeks) from 1st January 2022 to 10th April 2022.
• The Campaign will focus on children studying in Balvatika to Grade 8.
• One activity per week per group has been designed with the focus on making reading enjoyable and
build lifelong association with the joy of reading

1.237 IEPFA & IGNOU Signs MoU for promoting Investor Education and Financial literacy among youth
through Gyan Darshan channel
• Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA) has signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) to achieve the mandate
of Investor Education, Awareness and Protection by utilizing the tele-lecturing facility of Gyan
Darshan Channel.
• The proposed lecture series of 75 episodes under the MOU will be a live tele-lecturing series on 24x7
Gyan Darshan TV channel.
1.238 AIM announces 75 winners of ATL Space Challenge 2021

• Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog has selected 75 top innovators across India as the winners
of the ATL Space Challenge 2021.
ATL Space Challenge 2021
• ATL Space Challenge 2021 was launched by AIM, NITI Aayog in collaboration with the Indian Space
Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).
• The Challenge ensured that students of classes 6 to 12 were given an open platform where they can
innovate and enable themselves to solve digital age space technology problems.
• The innovations submitted by the students were related to one of the four main challenge topics viz,
Explore Space, Reach Space, Inhabit Space and Leverage Space.
1.239 AICTE launched PARAKH and NITTT

• All India Council for Technological Education (AICTE) has launched two programmes, Students
Learning Assessment (Parakh), Higher Modules for National Initiative for Technical Teachers Training
(NITTT) for the benefits of students and teachers.
• PARAKH - will conduct assessments of students and faculty members of Higher Education Institutions
(HEIs) and schools.
• NITTT - aim is to create a large pool of trained technical teachers.
1.240 E- Symposium for Innovational Ecosystem in the Country

• E- Symposium on ‘Building Innovation Ecosystem in Educational Institutes’ has been organized
during the National Innovation Week.
1.241 SSIP 2.0

• Recently, the Chief Minister and Education Minister launched “Student Start-up and Innovation
Policy (SSIP) 2.0” in the state of Gujarat.
o It aims to financially support the school students in innovation, at International Conference
of Academic Institutions (ICAI-2022).
1.242 National Educational Alliance for Technology (NEAT) 3.0

• Recently, Union Education Minister & Skill Development Minister has launched “National
Educational Alliance for Technology (NEAT) 3.0.
o It is launched as a single platform for providing the best-developed Ed-tech solutions and
courses to the students in India.

1.243 MoSDE signs an MoU with IGNOU to link vocational education and training with higher education
• Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MoSDE) & the Indira Gandhi Open University
(IGNOU) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to further strengthen the vocational
and technical training framework.
• The MoU is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goal 4.4 and the National Education Policy
(NEP) 2020 for increasing Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in higher education including vocational
education to 50 % by 2035
1.244 Mana Ooru Mana Badi programme

• Telangana Government has launched Mana Ooru Mana Badi programme which aims at all-round
development and creation of effective basic infrastructure in schools across the State.
• The programme will be implemented in three years with a budget of ₹7,289 crore to benefit 19.84
lakh children of 26,065 schools.
1.245 Global Center of Excellence in Affordable and Clean Energy launched at IIT Dharwad
• Recently,Global Center of Excellence in Affordable and Clean Energy (GCoE-ACE) was launched at the
Indian Institute of Technology, Dharwad (IITDh), Karnataka.
• GCoE-ACE will work towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)- 7 on
Affordable and Clean Energy
1.246 PM addresses 30th National Commission for Women Foundation Day programme
• Recently, the Prime Minister of India has virtually addressed the 30th National Commission for
Women Foundation Day programme.
• Theme of the programme: ‘She The Change Maker’.
1.247 Andhra CM launches updated AP Seva Portal to expedite citizen services

• The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh has recently launched AP Seva Portal 2.0.
• It is an updated version of the Citizen Service Portal, which is a one-stop digital platform for
grievance redressal.
1.248 Yogyata Mobile Application

• Common Service Centre operating under the Ministry of Electronics and IT has launched the Yogyata
Mobile Application.
o It will provide vocational education and skill enhancement opportunities to the youth in the
rural areas.
o The app will offer courses in 3D printing, CAD, cyber security and several other IT tools.
1.249 Union Minister for Commerce and Industry addresses 16th India Digital Summit, 2022
• Union Minister for Commerce & Industry has addressed the 16th India Digital Summit, 2022.
• Organizer of 16th India Digital Summit, 2022: Internet And Mobile Association of India (IAMAI)
• Theme: “Supercharging Startups”
1.250 Prime Minister inaugurates MSME Technology Centre at Puducherry

• Prime Minister of India has inaugurated a Technology Centre of the Ministry of Micro, Small &
Medium Enterprises (Ministry of MSME) at Puducherry on the occasion of National youth day.

o It will focus on the Electronic System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM) Sector and will train
20,000 youth, support 2000 MSMEs and incubate 200 Start Ups.
1.251 Chhattisgarh govt. to set up employment mission to create 15 lakh job opportunities in five years
• Chhattisgarh Government has decided to set up an employment mission called the Chhattisgarh
Rojgar Mission.
• Aim of Chhattisgarh Rojgar Mission: to create around 12-15 lakh employment opportunities in
Chhattisgarh in the next five years.
1.252 Chips to Startup (C2S) Programme

• Ministry of Electronics and Information (MeitY) has sought applications from 100 academia, R&D
organisations, start-ups and MSMEs under its Chips to Startup (C2S) Programme.
o C-DAC (Centre for Development of Advanced Computing) is the Nodal Agency for the
programme.
1.253 Artificial Intelligence (AI) driven Start-Up initiative

• Recently, the Union Minister of State Science & Technology has launched Artificial Intelligence (AI)
driven Start-Up by IIT alumni for water purification through innovative technology.
o The facility aims to provide clean drinking water at a price much lesser than the market price.
• A MoU was also signed between Technology Development Board (TDB), and M/s Swajal Water
Private Limited, a tech Start Up company.
1.254 North Eastern Community Resource Management Society (NERCRMS)

• Recently, as per the Ministry of Development of North-East Region, NERCRMS is involved in value
addition of spice crops by Community Based Organizations (CBOs) of Changlang, (Arunachal
Pradesh).
o This is to boost the marketability of the products and to further improve the income of the
farmers.
1.255 Code of Practice for Securing Consumer Internet of Things (IoT)

• Ministry of Communications has released a report “Code of Practice for Securing Consumer Internet
of Things (IoT)”.
• This report is intended for use by IoT device manufacturers, Service providers/ system integrators
and application developers etc.
1.256 Infusion of Rs. 1,500 crore in IREDA

• Recently, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the equity infusion of Rs.1500
crore in Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA).
o It aims to employment generation of approximately 10200 jobs-year and CO2 equivalent
emission reduction of approximately 7.49 Million Tones CO2/year.
1.257 Partnership between NIFientreC and Amazon India

• Recently, a MoU was signed between NIF Incubation and Entrepreneurship Council (NIFientreC),
National Innovation Foundation (NIF), and Amazon India.
• It aims for the online distribution of product of grassroots innovations, student creativity based
innovations and outstanding traditional knowledge based ready to market products.

1.258 Awareness Drive for J&K farmers
• Recently, the Government has started an awareness drive for growers on cultivation, processing of
aromatic plants in J&K.
• The department of the Indian Institute of integrative medicine (IIIM) and the department of
agriculture started special awareness programmes.
• It aimed to create awareness among youth to involve them in the cultivation of aromatic plants.
1.259 One District One Product

• Recently, a State Conference was held by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal
Trade (DPIIT).
o This is to boost Centre and State collaboration in promoting products under the One District
One Product (ODOP) Initiative.
1.260 Swiggy becomes decacorn, valuation crosses $10.7 bn

• Recently, the Food-delivery giant, Swiggy has signed a $700 million funding round led by asset
manager Invesco.
o This has led the total valuation of Swiggy to reached $10.7 billion and now it has become
a decacorn.
What is Decacorn?
• A decacorn is a startup with a valuation of more than $10 billion.
• The first company to achieve decacorn status was Facebook, now Meta, which achieved a valuation
of $10 billion in 2007.
• Swiggy becomes India’s 4th decacron after Oyo, Paytm and Byju’s.
1.261 Andhra CM launches enhanced pension programme

• Recently, the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh has launched the distribution of enhanced pension
for beneficiaries of YSR Pension Kanuka programme at Prathipadu village in Guntur District.
• The monthly pension has been increased to Rs 2,500 for those beneficiaries who earlier received Rs
Rs 2,250.
1.262 Delhi Deputy CM hands over first caste certificate issued on mother's credentials
• Recently, the Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi has handed over the first caste certificate issued on the
mother's credentials to a single mother named Geeta Devi.
• This is the first time that the child of a single mother from the scheduled caste (SC) community
received a caste certificate based on his mother's caste certificate in Delhi.
1.263 Union Home Secretary releases Manuals and a Newsletter of I4C

• Recently, the Union Home Secretary has released the Manuals and a Newsletter of the Indian Cyber
Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) in New Delhi, viz,
o Quarterly Newsletter – CyberPravah
o Cyber Hygiene for Cyber Space - Dos and Don’ts – Basic Manual
o Cyber Hygiene for Cyber Space - Dos and Don’ts – Advanced Manual
1.264 Developmental Projects in Manipur

• Recently, the Prime Minister has inaugurated 13 Projects worth around Rs. 1850 crores

o And laid the foundation stone of 9 projects worth around Rs 2950 crore in Imphal, Manipur.
Key Projects Includes:
Inauguration of the following projects:
• ₹280 crore worth ‘Water Transmission system of Thoubal Multi-purpose project’.
o It will provide drinking water supply to the Imphal city.
Foundation Stones of the following projects:
• State of the Art Cancer Hospital’ in Imphal
• ‘200 Bedded Covid Hospital at Kiyamgei’ set up in collaboration with DRDO.
• ‘Imphal Smart City Mission’
• ‘Centre for Invention, Innovation, Incubation and Training (CIIIT)’
• Manipur Institute of Performing Arts at Gurgaon, Haryana
1.265 First bi-monthly E-Newsletter

• Recently, the Union Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment has launched India’s first bi-monthly
E-news letter.
o It has been formed by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities
(Divyangjan) (DEPwD).
1.266 National Commission for Safai Karamcharis

• Recently, the Union Cabinet has approved the extension of the tenure of the National Commission
for Safai Karamcharis (NCSK).
o For three years beyond 31st March, 2022.
1.267 Jagananna Smart Township website

• Recently, the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh has launched the “Jagananna Smart Township
website” to accept applications during the first phase of the ‘Jagananna Smart Townships’.
o This is for allotment of residential plots to the Middle Income Croup (MIG) families.
1.268 Mana Ooru Mana Badi programme

• Recently, the Telangana Government has launched Mana Ooru Mana Badi programme.
o It is aimed at all-round development and creation of effective basic infrastructure in schools
across the State.
• The programme will be implemented in three years with a budget of ₹7,289 crore to benefit 19.84
lakh children of 26,065 schools.
1.269 Guidelines for Universal Accessibility

• Recently, the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) released the new Harmonised Guidelines
and Standards for Universal Accessibility in India 2021.
o It has been drafted by a team of the IIT-Roorkee and the National Institute of Urban Affairs.
Key Details of the new Guidelines
• The guidelines are a revision of the Harmonised Guidelines and Space Standards for Barrier-Free
Built Environment for Persons with Disabilities and Elderly Persons released in 2016.
o Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs is the Nodal Ministry.
• Through these new guidelines focus is on universal accessibility.

1.270 All India Federation for Social Justice
• The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister will soon launch an All India Federation for Social Justice.
o This federation will strive to achieve the principles of federalism and social justice at the
national level
1.271 KVIC rolls out innovative “Mobile Honey Processing Van” to support farmers and beekeepers
• Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) has launched India’s first Mobile Honey Processing
Van on a pilot basis at Sirora Village in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh.
• The initiative has been rolled out under KVIC’s Honey Mission & aligned with Sweet Kranti (Sweet
Revolution).
• The Mobile Van has been designed in-house by KVIC at its Multi-disciplinary Training Centre,
Panjokehra.
1.272 Zero-budget natural farming could lead to yield loss: Panel

• Recently, an expert committee set up by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has stated
that there would be a tremendous yield loss if Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) is adopted on a
large scale which may compromise India’s food security.
o It has recommended adoption of an integrated production system through usage of farm
practices such as conservation agriculture through usage of farmyard manure, inter-cropping,
etc.
• ICAR had set up the 16 member expert committee in 2019 headed by V Praveen Rao to empirically
validate the results of ZBNF.
1.273 Restructuring the Sugar Development Funds

• Recently, the Centre has released a flexible loan restructuring plan for debt-ridden sugar mills to
clear their outstanding amount from the Sugar Development Fund (SDF).
• It offers 24 months of moratorium that will help it to collect a sizeable portion of the dues.
1.274 India-Israel cooperation in the agricultural sector

• Recently, the India-Israel has signed a three-year joint work programme till 2023 with an aim to
enhance cooperation in the field of agriculture.
• Both countries have decided to convert 150 villages around the Centres of Excellence into Villages
of Excellence with technical assistance from Israel.
o Out of these 150 Villages of Excellence, 75 villages are being taken up in the first year to
commemorate the 75th year of India’s independence.
1.275 Online Storage Management (OSM) for food security
• Recently, the Department of Food and Public Distribution, with its principal agency, Food
Corporation of India, has developed a roadmap to roll out Online Storage Management (OSM) in the
country.
• It envisages putting in place a single source of information for the food grains stored in the country
for central pool through integrating State portals with the central portal.
1.276 4th National Conference on Agriculture for Summer Campaign 2021-22

• Recently, the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare has conducted the 4th National Conference
on Agriculture for Summer Campaign 2021-22.

Key Details of the conference
• Data Shared:
o Area under cultivation of zaid crops including rice has increased progressively 2.7 times from
29.71 lakh hectares in 2017-18 to 46 lakh hectares in 2020-21.
o As per the 4th Advance Estimates country has produced 3086.47 lakh tonnes of food grains
during 2020-21, which will be an all-time record.
o Pulses and oilseed production has also achieved all time high.
o India is set to rise to the first position in the world in terms of cotton production as it is being
estimated at 353.84 lakh bales.
1.277 Training programme on “Bamboo Shoot Processing and Preservation” conducted by the NECBDC
• Recently, North East Cane and Bamboo Development Council (NECBDC) has sponsored a training
programme on Bamboo Shoot Processing and Preservation.
• The training programme was conducted by the NECBDC empanelled cluster M/s Delicacies food
processing Center, Meghalaya at the same venue.
1.278 RBI report on farm mechanization

• Recently, as per the Reserve Bank of India report, it has been pointed out that the extent of farm
mechanization in India has increased over the years.
o The current level of farm mechanization is estimated at 40-45%.
• Although the density of tractors has increased substantially over the years, but the market for other
farm equipment is still limited and much unorganized (15% of the farm equipment market).
• Farm mechanization has the potential to enhance agricultural productivity by 30% and reduce the
input cost by 20%.
1.279 MoHUA opens Urban Geospatial Data Stories Challenge-2022

• Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has announced the opening of Urban Geospatial
Data Stories Challenge-2022.
• Theme/Tagline of Urban Geospatial Data Stories Challenge-2022: Ideate, Innovate, Inspire.
• The Challenge has been designed to promote Geospatial Policy and to make India a Geospatial
enabled nation.
1.280 Vision India @2047

• Recently, the Union Minister of State Science & Technology has chaired first ever meeting of Sectoral
Experts to deliberate on Vision India @2047 from the Governance perspective.
o It is organized by Department of Administrative Reforms (DARPG).
1.281 First Advance Estimates of National Income, 2021-22

• Recently, the National Statistical Office (NSO), has released the First Advance Estimates (FAE) of
National Income at both Constant (2011-12) and Current Prices.
Key Details of the Estimates
• Real GDP or GDP at Constant Prices (2011-12) in the FY22 is estimated at ₹147.54 lakh crore, as
against the Provisional Estimate of GDP for the FY22 of ₹135.13 lakh crore.
o The growth in real GDP during 2021-22 is estimated at 9.2% as compared to the contraction of
7.3% in 2020-21.

• Nominal GDP or GDP at Current Prices in the FY22 is estimated at ₹232.15 lakh crore, as against the
Provisional Estimate of GDP for the FY22 of ₹197.46 lakh crore.
o The growth in nominal GDP during 2021-22 is estimated at 17.6%.
1.282 India, Asia's 2nd largest economy by 2030

• Recently, as per the IHS Markit report, India is likely to overtake Japan as Asia's 2nd largest economy
by 2030.
o Its GDP is also projected to surpass that of Germany and the UK to rank as world's No.3.
• India's nominal GDP measured in USD terms is forecast to rise from USD 2.7 trillion in 2021 to USD
8.4 trillion by 2030.
• By 2030, the Indian economy would also be larger in size than the largest Western European
economies of Germany, France and the UK.
• Country’s consumption expenditure will double from USD 1.5 trillion in 2020 to USD 3 trillion by
2030.
• For the full fiscal year 2021-22 (April 2021 to March 2022), India's real GDP growth rate is projected
to be 8.2%.
o The Indian economy is forecast to continue growing strongly in the FY23, at a pace of 6.7%.
• By 2030, 1.1 billion Indians will have internet access, more than doubling from the estimated 500
million internet users in 2020.
1.283 Rural Area Development Plan Formulation and Implementation (RADFI)

• Recently, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj has revised the Rural Area Development Plan Formulation
and Implementation.
o It aims to transform rural India and to ensure empowerment of rural India and to promote
rural prosperity.
1.284 Jammu & Kashmir to have district level Good Governance Index
• Recently, the Union Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions has
announced that a district level Good Governance Index (DGGI) will be launched in Jammu & Kashmir
(J & K) by the Government of India.
• J & K will be the first Union Territory in India to have a district level Good Governance Index.
• It will be set up by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), in
collaboration with the Government of Jammu and Kashmir.
• Total Indicators of DGGI Framework: 58.
o The indicators are chosen from different aspects of development and district administration
distributed in 10 composite sectors viz,
✓ Agriculture & allied sector, Commerce & Industry, Human Resource Development,
Public Health, Public Infrastructure & Utilities, Economic Governance, Welfare &
Development, Public Safety & Judiciary and Citizen Centric Governance.
1.285 English is the language in High Court: Gujarat HC

• Recently, the Chief Justice of Gujarat High Court has quoted Article 348 & insisted that English is the
language in the higher judiciary.

1.286 Legislation on Marriage age
• Recently, a parliament panel has been assigned to examine the Prohibition of Child Marriage
(Amendment) Bill, 2021 which seeks to raise the legal age of marriage for women to 21.
• The bill aims to amend the definition of a “child” to mean “a male of a female who has not completed
21 years of age”.
o It has risen the legal age of marriage for women from 18 years currently to 21 years.
• It has also increases the window for a “child” to file a petition to declare a child marriage void.
o It extends this window for both the woman and the man to five years after attaining the age
of 18.
1.287 DARPG, MeitY, Telangana Govt organizes 24th Conference on e-Governance (NCeG) 2020-21
• Recently, the Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances (DARPG), the Union
Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) in association with the Telangana
Government has organized the 24th Conference on e-Governance (NCeG) 2020-21 in Hyderabad,
Telangana.
• Theme of NCeG 2020-21: ‘India’s Techade: Digital Governance in a Post Pandemic World’.
• Telangana Government had also organized a breakout session on “Creating a Technology Innovation
Ecosystem”.
• During the inaugural session, the National e-Governance Awards 2021 were presented.
o 26 awards were presented under 6 categories to Central Ministries/Departments, State/UT
Governments, Districts, Local Bodies, Public Sector Undertakings and Academic & Research
Institutions.
o It includes 12 Gold, 13 Silver and 1 Jury Award.
o E-Courts Mission Mode Project of the Department of Justice won the National Award for e-
governance golden award under the Excellence in Government Process Re-engineering for
Digital Transformation Category.
o Chhattisgarh State Labour Department won the Golden Award for Shramik Seva under the
Universalizing Access including e-Services Category.
• Hyderabad Declaration was unanimously adopted at the conference.
1.288 UP Government declares 4 villages near Nepal border as revenue villages

• Recently, the Uttar Pradesh Government has declared four Vantangiya villages viz, Bhavanipur,
Tedhia, Dhakia and Bichhia near the Nepal border as revenue villages.
• All four villages are located at Mihinpurwa tehsil in Bahraich District.
o These four villages will now get the benefits of all the Government schemes.
1.289 Expenditure limit for Lok Sabha, Assembly candidates revised

• Recently, the Election Commission of India has revised the expenditure limits for Lok Sabha and
Assembly elections.
• Expenditure limit for candidates for Lok Sabha constituencies was increased to ₹75 lakh from ₹54
lakh and ₹95 lakh from ₹70 lakh, depending on the State.
• While the spending limit for Assembly constituencies was hiked from ₹20 lakh to ₹28 lakh and ₹28
lakh to ₹40 lakh.

o The enhanced amount of ₹40 lakh would apply in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Punjab and
₹28 lakh in Goa and Manipur.
1.290 First District Good Governance Index

• Recently, the Union Home and Cooperation Minister has released the First District Good Governance
Index for 20 Districts of UT of Jammu and Kashmir.
• It was prepared by Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances (DARPG) in
collaboration with Government of Jammu and Kashmir.
1.291 Digital Government Mission

• Recently, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has launched the Digital
Government Mission.
o It imbibes automatic processes.
• It aims to deliver government services to the citizens through the help of advanced technologies such
as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML).
• The mission will be aided by the well-built platforms Digital India, Aadhaar, National Mission on
Education using ICT, Digitdhan Abhiyan, BPO Scheme and UPI.
1.292 Additional resources of Rs. 7,309 crore to States

• Recently, the Ministry of Finance (MoF) has granted additional borrowing permission of Rs. 7,309
crore to Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh for undertaking the stipulated reforms in power sector.
o Rajasthan has been allowed to borrow additional Rs. 5,186 crore.
o Andhra Pradesh has been allowed to borrow additional Rs. 2,123 crore.
1.293 Administrative Reforms in J&K

• Recently, the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) and
Government of J&K have announced collaboration for three key good governance initiatives for the
J&K.
o Creation of an online portal for monitoring progress in 58 District Good Governance Index
Indicators.
o Adoption of e-HRMS in the Jammu Secretariat and Srinagar Secretariat.
o An online monitoring system to check citizen satisfaction in 150 e-Services through Jammu &
Kashmir e-Services Delivery Assessment framework.
1.294 Review of implementation of infra projects via PMG portal

• Recently, the Commerce and Industry Minister has reviewed the pace of the implementation
of infrastructure projects being monitored through the PMG (Project Monitoring Group) portal.
o Currently, PMG is monitoring 1,351 under-implementation projects with a total anticipated
investment of about Rs 48.94 lakh crore.
1.295 Highest Monthly Exports at $37 million in December

• Recently, as per the Commerce and Industry Ministry data, India exported goods worth $37.29
billion in December, the highest ever in a month.
o It has increased by 37% from the figures of December 2020.
• Reason: This increase has been seen because of demand for items such as engineering products,
petroleum items, and gems and jewellery has increasing.
1.296 Indian Pharmaceutical Industry growth estimation
• Recently, as per the credit rating agency ICRA, growth of Indian pharma industry in 2021-22 (FY22)
is estimated at 9-11%.
o The growth will be of 13-15% in the domestic market, 14-16% in the emerging markets and 9-
11% in the European business.
1.297 Exports of USD 650 Billion within the current financial year achievable: Shri Piyush Goyal
• Recently, the Union Minister for Commerce & Industry has chaired a Review Meeting of all major
Export Promotion Councils (EPCs).
Key Information Shared
• India is on track to achieve the USD 650-billion export target set for goods and services for 2021-22
o India’s merchandise export target for 2021-22: USD 400 Billion.
o India’s services export target for 2021-22: USD 250 Billion.
1.298 Ganjam district is now child marriage free

• Recently, Ganjam in Odisha has become the first district in the state to declare itself a child marriage
free district.
• To stop child marriages, Ganjam District has launched the Nirbhaya Kadhi (Fearless bud) Campaign
in September 2019 which is an innovative awareness campaign for the empowerment of
adolescents and to prevent child marriage.
o The campaign was launched to prevent adolescent girls from dropping out of school, and
provide counselling.
1.299 Report on Digital Infrastructure in India

• Recently, a joint report by Digital Infrastructure Providers Association (DIPA) and consulting firm EY
has been released.
o In the report, the data projections for the investment has been shared that will be required
in physical-digital infrastructure vital for connecting people online by 2025.
Key Findings of the Report
• An investment of Rs 1.8 lakh crore - Rs 2.2 lakh crore will be required over the next 3–5 years for
developing the digital infrastructure in the country.
• Tower infrastructure provider’s needs to transform into digital infrastructure companies and expand
their infrastructure portfolio.
• 5 million km of cumulative fiberization is required by 2024.
• Indian economy will see $200 billion e-commerce market, $12 billion edtech market in coming
future.
• As many as 330 million people will be using 5G and sectors like e-commerce, education, and
healthcare will grow their presence online.
o Therefore report estimates investments in the range of $17-23 billion will be required in this
segment by 2025.
1.300 2nd Volume of Vision Document on Electronics Manufacturing

• Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, in association with ICEA, released a 5-year
roadmap and Vision Document for the electronics sector.
o It has been titled “$300 billion Sustainable Electronics Manufacturing & Exports by 2026.”
• This report provides a year-wise break-up and production projections for the various products that
will lead India’s transformation into a US$300 billion electronics manufacturing powerhouse, from
the current US$75 billion.
1.301 National Level Conference on Beekeeping Sector

• Recently, the National Bee Board (NBB) organized a National Conference on Beekeeping Sector in
collaboration with other government entities.
1.302 Union Sports Minister launched the pilot of NYKS Youth volunteers’ online training
• Recently, the Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports has launched the pilot of Nehru Yuva
Kendra Sangathan (NYKS) Youth volunteers' online training.
• Training Organizers: Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MoYAS) in partnership with the Defeat-
non-communicable diseases (NCDs) Partnership at the United Nations Institute for Training and
Research (UNITAR), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and NYKS and the overall
coordination of the Capacity Building Commission, Government of India.
• Aim: massively train 1.4 to 2 million youths in essential life skills and personality development, nation-
building, civic engagement, community mobilization, community service and instruments of
empowerment.
1.303 Azadi Ke Amrit Mahotsav se Swarnim Bharat Ke Ore

• Recently, the Prime Minister has delivered the keynote address at the national launch ceremony of
'Azadi Ke Amrit Mahotsav se Swarnim Bharat Ke Ore'.
o The program unveiled yearlong initiatives dedicated to Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav by the
Brahma Kumaris.
✓ That includes more than 30 Campaigns and over 15000 programs & events.
• Prime Minister also flaged off seven initiatives of Brahma Kumaris. It includes
o My India Healthy India
o Aatmanirbhar Bharat: Self Reliant Farmers
o Women: Flag Bearers of India
o Power of Peace Bus Campaign
o Andekha Bharat Cycle Rally
o United India Motor Bike Campaign
o And green initiatives under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.
1.304 26th CISO Deep Dive Training program

• Recently, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is organising 26th CISO
Deep Dive Training program under Cyber Surakshit Bharat initiative.
o The training is aimed to equip participants with better understanding of emerging cyber threat
landscape, understand best practices in cyber security.
o It will cover topics such as Governance Risk and Compliance and Data Privacy, Network
Security, End Point Security, etc. provisions in IT Act.
1.305 Handbook on Global Good Practices for Cooperatives

• Recently, the International Co-operative Alliance came to Asia Pacific (ICAAP) and National Co-
operative Development Authority (NCDC) has Jointly Released:

o A Handbook on Global Good Practices for Cooperatives.
• The handbook is a compendium of guidelines, resources, methodologies, key learning, and case
studies of the best performing cooperatives in India and abroad.
• The handbook will help cooperatives to innovate and adopt best models not only to stay competitive,
but also distinguish themselves as successful commercial entities.
1.306 Kala Utsav 2021

• Recently, the Minister of State for Education has addressed the valedictory function of Kala Utsav
2021.
About Kala Utsav 2021
• Kala Utsav is an initiative of the Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education.
• Students from all the schools of the country are invited to compete in nine different art categories.
o A total of 35 teams have participated in Kala Utsav 2021, from different states, union
territories, and schools.
1.307 Vision Document and ‘Mission Karmayogi’

• Recently, the Food Processing has released the Vision Document of Capacity Building Plan for the
Ministry of Food Processing Industries under Mission Karmayogi.
• The Vision Document of Capacity Building Plan (CBP) has been developed with the support of
Capacity Building Commission.
• The objective of the plan is to enable employees to be more creative, proactive, professional,
technology-enabled, efficient, and accountable and citizen centric
1.308 Zomato, Swiggy to Collect 5% GST

• Recently, the government has informed that the
o Food aggregators like Swiggy and Zomato will have to collect and deposit tax at 5% GST rate.
o Also, cab aggregators like Uber and Ola will have to collect 5% (GST) for booking two- and
three-wheeler vehicles. This will be effective from January 1.
International News
1.309 China opens embassy in Nicaragua
• China has opened an embassy in Nicaragua for the first time since 1990 after the Nicaragua
government seized the embassy and diplomatic offices of Taiwan.
1.310 EU plans to label gas and nuclear energy 'green'

• The European Union (EU) has proposed plans to label some natural gas and nuclear power as “green”
energy.
• Nuclear power plant investments would labeled as green if the project has a plan, funds and a site to
safely dispose of radioactive waste and new nuclear plants must receive construction permits before
2045.
• Natural gas power plants would be labeled green if they produce emissions below 270g of Carbon
dioxide equivalent per kilowatt hour (kWh), replace a more polluting fossil fuel plant, and receive a
construction permit by December, 31 2030.

1.311 Apple touches USD 3 trillion market cap
• Apple Inc. has become the first United States (US) company to touch USD 3 trillion market
capitalization.
1.312 European Union bans tattoo ink and permanent make-up containing chemicals
• European Union (EU) has imposed a ban on tattoo ink and permanent make-up containing chemicals
feared to cause cancers or other health risks.
1.313 North Korea launches hypersonic missile

• North Korea has conducted the second known flight test of a hypersonic missile as part of efforts to
modernize its strategic weapons systems.
• The first test was conducted in September, 2021.
1.314 Australia and Japan sign defense pact

• Japan and Australia have signed a landmark defense agreement “the Reciprocal Access Agreement”.
• The agreement allows closer cooperation between the two militaries and to check China's growing
presence in the Indo-Pacific region.
1.315 China launches digital Yuan wallet apps

• China has released its digital Yuan wallet application "e-CNY (Pilot Version)" app on mobile phone
app stores.
• The app has been developed by the People's Bank of China's (PBOC) Digital Currency Research
Institute.
1.316 Chile’s constitutional assembly elects new President

• The Chilean assembly has elected epidemiologist Maria Elisa Quinteros as its new president.
• She will replace Elisa Loncon.
• The Chilean assembly is working to draft a new constitution for the country.
1.317 France passes vaccine bill

• The French Parliament has passed a Vaccine Bill which requires people to be fully vaccinated to be a
part of social gatherings, sports, cultural activities etc.
1.318 Japan and U.S. to sign deals to expand defence cooperation

• The United States and Japan with the aim to deepen their defence cooperation are going to sign two
agreements.
1.319 Sri Lanka launches luxury train service with India’s assistance
• Sri Lanka has launched a luxury train service with the help of a Line of Credit offered by India.
• India has provided AC Diesel Multiple Units (AC DMUs) under the loan facility.
• The train service will connect Colombo with Kankesanthurai in the Jaffna Peninsula.
1.320 Maldives inks key deals with China

• Maldives and China have signed important agreements to strengthen bilateral ties.
• These include:

o An agreement of ‘Economic and Technical Cooperation’ on grant aid, focusing on social,
livelihood, and infrastructure projects.
o A 30 days visa-free travel arrangement for Maldivians for travelling to China.
• Maldives has been seeing a surge in the “India out Campaign” launched among some sections of
people that oppose “Indian military presence” in the country.
1.321 US - Russia Strategic dialogue

• US and Russia have formally launched special talks on strategic stability aimed at reducing tensions
over Russian Military buildup in Ukraine from Geneva, Switzerland.
• These talks are part of the "Strategic Security Dialogue" talks launched by President of U.S and
Russia, during a June 2021 summit held in Geneva.
1.322 UN launches nearly USD 5 billion aid appeal for Afghanistan

• The United Nations (UN) has launched a donation drive for nearly USD 5 billion aids to help people
in Afghanistan and refugees outside the country in 2022.
• It is UN’s largest ever humanitarian appeal for a single country to avert a humanitarian catastrophe.
1.323 Canada Bans Conversion Therapy

• Canada has become the latest country in the world to ban the practice of 'Conversion Therapy'.
• It is a controversial practice and uses tactics such as talk and aversion therapy, as well as medical or
drug-induced treatments to change the sexual orientation of LGBTQ individuals.
1.324 North Korea tests 'more advanced' ballistic missile

• North Korea has test fired a ballistic missile which is touted to be more advanced than the
"hypersonic” missile recently tested.
• The missile attained a distance of 700 km, at an altitude of 60 km and a top speed of Mach 10.
1.325 Vast Roman settlement found by archaeologists

• A team of archaeologists have found a vast wealthy Roman trading settlement during excavations in
south Northamptonshire, U.K.
• The site is known as Blackgrounds after the black soil found there.
• The settlement is believed to be an Iron Age village, formed of more than 30 roundhouses and
established in about 400 BC.
1.326 Russia's first new-build Tu-160M bomber makes flight debut

• Russia’s first newly built Tu-160M ‘Blackjack' strategic bomber has made its first flight from the Kazan
Aviation Plant.
• It is a supersonic bomber capable of carrying 16 nuclear missiles and up to 40 tons of payload at a
speed of 2,200 km/h and range of 13,200 km.
• Manufactured by: Tupolev Aerospace Company.
1.327China and Iran begin implementing sweeping strategic agreement

• China and Iran have launched a 25-year cooperation agreement for cooperation in areas including
energy, security, infrastructure and communications.
• Aim: to strengthen bilateral economic and political ties.
About BRI
• It is a global infrastructure development strategy adopted by the Chinese government to invest in
nearly 70 countries and international organizations.
1.328 China's birth rate drops to record low in 2021

• According to the China’s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the birth rate in the country has dropped
to a record low of 7.52 per 1,000 people in 2021.
• This is the lowest drop in birth rate in the modern Chinese history since 1949.
1.329 Russia bans Revil ransomware group

• Russia has dismantled the ransom ware group “Revil” at the request of US government agencies.
• REvil (Ransom ware Evil; also known as Sodinokibi) was a Russian private ransomware-as-a-service
(RaaS) operation.
• Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) has arrested 14 people related to REvil group.
1.330 Indonesia’s new capital

• Indonesia has passed a bill to replace its capital Jakarta with East Kalimantan, situated to the east of
Borneo Island.
• The new capital city of the country will be called Nusantara.
1.331 China reports 8.1% economic growth

• According to China’s NBS, its economy has grown at the rate of 8.1% in the year 2021. This is the best
economic growth since 2011.
• The overall Chinese economy has risen to USD 18 trillion.
1.332 “The Enigma” goes on sale

• Auction house Sotheby’s has unveiled a 555.55 carat black diamond called “The Enigma” in Dubai.
• It is a 55 sided diamond which is going to be auctioned in February, 2022 at London (U.K).
• It is currently the largest cut black diamond in the world.
1.333 UAE bans drones for a month

• The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has banned the use of drones for one month in the country.
• This decision has been made after Yemen’s Houthi rebels launched a deadly drone and missile attack
on an Oil refinery and Abu Dhabi Airport.
1.334 Oslo talks

• The first round of discussions between the Taliban delegation and the Afghan civil society members
have begun in Oslo, Norway.
• The discussions are facilitated by Norway, and focus on human rights and the humanitarian crisis in
Afghanistan.
1.335Wooden clinker boats added to World Heritage list

• United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has added the Nordic
“clinker boats” to its Cultural Heritage List.
• Denmark, Iceland, Finland, Sweden and Norway have jointly sought the UNESCO designation.
• The term “clinker” is believed to refer to the way its wooden boards were fastened together.

1.336 Pakistan raises USD 1 billion through Islamic bond
• Pakistan has raised a USD 1 billion loan through the Sukuk bond at a record 7.95% interest rate to
keep the official foreign exchange reserves at their levels ahead of some major foreign loans’
repayments.
• This is the highest cost that Pakistan has agreed to pay in its history on an Islamic bond.
• It has also agreed to pledge a portion of the Lahore-Islamabad Motorway in return for the loan.
1.337 IMF urges El Salvador to drop Bitcoin as legal tender

• The IMF has also asked El Salvador to dissolve the trust fund of USD 150 million made while declaring
Bitcoin as a legal tender.
• In September 2021, El Salvador became the first country to allow consumers to use the crypto
currency in all transactions, alongside the US dollar.
1.338 Russia launches new military exercises near Ukraine border

• Russia has launched new military exercises near Ukraine border and in Crimea (annexed in 2014).
• Russia has been facing opposition from western countries including the US over deploying military
near the Ukraine aimed at a probable invasion.
1.339 Saudi Arabia restores ties with Thailand

• Saudi Arabia and Thailand have announced the resumption of diplomatic ties after nearly 30 years
of frozen relations.
• Saudi Arabia downgraded its diplomatic relations with Thailand over the theft of jewels in 1989 which
came to be known as the Blue Diamond affair.
1.340 Serbia scraps plans for Rio Tinto lithium mine

• The Serbian government has revoked the lithium mining licenses granted to the Anglo-Australian Rio
Tinto multinational mining organization.
1.341 Iran regains UN assembly voting rights

• The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has re-granted voting rights to Iran, Guinea and
Vanuatu after the three countries paid sufficient back dues to the United Nations.
• Now only Venezuela and Papua New Guinea are the two countries without the right to vote in the
UNGA.
• Recently, Sudan, Antigua and Barbuda, and Republic of Congo have also regained their right to vote.
1.342 Australian government buys copyright to Aboriginal Flag

• The Australian government has bought the copyright to the Australian Aboriginal flag for 20 million
Australian dollars.
• Aboriginal Flag represents the Aboriginal Australians (indigenous people of Australia) and is one of
the officially proclaimed flags of Australia, by which it has special legal and political status together
with the national flag.
1.343 UN condemns military takeover in Burkina Faso

• The United Nations has condemned the military takeover in Burkina Faso and called for the
immediate release of the President and other top officials of the country.

• The military of Burkina Faso had seized power following a mutiny over the civilian President’s failure
to contain an Islamist insurgency.
1.344 Israeli president’s first-ever visit to UAE

• Israel's President Isaac Herzog has become the first Israeli head of state to officially visit the United
Arab Emirates (UAE).
• The visit comes after signing of the Abraham Accord.
1.345 EU proposes digital rights for the first time globally

• The European Union (EU) has proposed a set of digital rights and principles; first time globally.
• These principles aim to protect people's rights, support democracy and ensure a fair and safe online
environment.
1.346 Five world powers pledge to prevent nuclear war

• The permanent five members of the United Nations Security Council (P5) have pledged to prevent the
proliferation of nuclear arms and war.
• The P5 include: China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States (US).
• The joint pledge has been issued ahead of the 10th review of the Treaty of the Non-proliferation of
Nuclear Weapons (NPT).
• NPT is an international treaty with the objective to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and
weapons technology.
• It was opened for signature in 1968 and entered into force in 1970.
1.347 Cabinet nods to MoU with Turkmenistan on disaster management cooperation

• Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister of India has approved the signing of Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) between India and Turkmenistan on Cooperation in the field of Disaster
Management.
1.348 Cabinet approves Agreement between India, Spain on Cooperation in Customs Matters
• Recently, the Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister of India has approved the signing of
Agreement between India and Spain on Cooperation and Mutual Assistance in Customs Matters.
1.349 Government to launch Brand India Campaign to boost exports

• Recently, the Union Ministry of Commerce & Industry has planned to start the Brand India Campaign
to boost service and product exports to new markets.
• It would serve as an umbrella campaign for promoting goods and services exports from India and will
be run by IBEF.
1.350 WEF Davos Agenda 2022

• Recently, the Prime Minister has delivered a ‘State of the World’ special address at the World
Economic Forum’s (WEF) Davos Agenda.
• He also proposed the 'P-3' approach.
o The P-3 approach stands for "pro-planet people" and underscores India’s commitments to
climate change at the global forum.

1.351 POWERGRID and Africa50 in Joint Development Agreement
• Recently, the Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID) has signed a Joint Development
Agreement with Africa50.
o This is to continue to develop the Kenya Transmission Project on a public-private partnership
(PPP) basis.
1.352 India- UK Free Trade Agreement

• Recently, the India and the UK have launched the formal Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations.
o Both countries envisage concluding it by the end of 2022.
1.353 India-Sri Lanka Deal

• Recently, the Sri Lanka’s Cabinet has given its nod to jointly develop the Trincomalee oil tank farm
with India.
1.354 India appeals against WTO dispute panel

• Recently, the India has appealed against a ruling of the World Trade Organization's (WTO) trade
dispute settlement panel with respect to India’s sugar export subsidy and domestic support to
sugarcane growers.
1.355 India-China trade crossed $125 billion mark

• As per the China’s General Administration of Customs (GAC) released data, India’s trade with China
in 2021 crossed $125 billion, with-
o India’s imports from China accounting for $97.5 billion.
o While India’s exports to China, amounting to $28.1 billion.
o The trade deficit reached $69.4 billion mark, up by 22% from the pre-pandemic figure in 2019.
1.356 India emerges as largest exporters

• Recently, the India has emerged as the largest exporter of gherkins (pickled cucumber) in the world.
o India has exported cucumber and gherkins with a value of USD 114 million during April-
October, 2021.
o In 2020-21, India had exported cucumber and gherkins with a value of USD 223 million.
1.357 WB to receive ₹1,000 cr loan from World Bank

• Recently, the World Bank has approved a $125 million (about ₹1,000 crore) loan to the government
of West Bengal
o This loan has been approved to support the state's effort to help the poor and vulnerable
groups access social protection services.
1.358 First India-Central Asia Virtual Summit

• Recently, the Prime Minister has hosted the first India-Central Asia Summit with the Presidents of
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
• A comprehensive Joint Declaration was adopted by the leaders that enumerate their common vision
for an enduring and comprehensive India-Central Asia partnership.
• All nations agreed to institutionalize the Summit mechanism by deciding to hold India-Central Asia
Summit every 2 years.
• They will also set up an India-Central Asia Secretariat in New Delhi.

1.359 India’s Exports of Ready To Eat products rises by 24% in 2021-22
• Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics has shared data regarding the growth
in India’s export of final consumer food products such as Ready to Eat (RTE), Ready to Cook (RTC)
and Ready to Serve (RTS).
Key Data Shared
• The export of products under RTE, RTC and RTS segment have registered a Compound Annual Growth
Rate (CAGR) of 10.4% from 2011-12 to 2020-21.
o India has exported more than $ 2.14 billion worth of final food products in 2020-21.
1.360 India donates 500,000 Covid vaccine doses to Afghanistan

• Recently, India has donated 500,000 doses of Covaxin (Covid-19 vaccine) to the Indira Gandhi
children’s hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan.
• India has pledged to ship another 500,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccine to Afghanistan.
• India has also offered to send 50,000 tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan via Pakistani land routes
1.361 India-ASEAN Digital Work Plan 2022

• The 2nd ASEAN Digital Ministers (ADGMIN) meeting with India held recently.
o It was co-chaired by Devusinh Chauhan, Minister of State for Communications (MoSC) and
H.E. Admiral Tin Aung San, Ministry of Transport and Communications, Myanmar.
• During the meet, the Ministers meeting approved the India-ASEAN Digital Work Plan 2022.
• The ADGMIN is an annual meeting of Telecom Ministers of 10 ASEAN (Association of South-East
Asian Nations) countries –
o Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and
Vietnam
o Dialogue partner countries: Australia, Canada, China, EU, India, Japan, Republic of Korea, New
Zealand, Russia, UK and US.
1.362 IMF names UC-Berkeley’s Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas as next chief economist

• Recently, French economist Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas has been appointed as the new Chief
Economist of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
• As a Chief Economist of the IMF, he will acts as the Economic Counsellor and Director of the Research
Department (RES) of the IMF. He will be succeeding Gita Gopinath.
Science and Technology

1.363 First case of "florona" disease detected in Israel
• The first case of "florona" disease has been detected in Israel.
• It is assumed to be a double infection of Covid-19 and influenza.
1.364 Kerala University researchers develop 5G microwave absorber

• Subodh G., assistant professor at Kerala University, and research scholar Vidhya Lalan have
developed fifth-generation (5G) microwave absorbers named ‘mayenite electride’.

1.365 Indian Researcher to develop indigenous tools to control vapor explosion
• Rishi Raj, Associate Professor in the Indian Institute of Technology Patna, is working on a novel
technology to develop prognostic tools for advanced prediction and control of vapor explosion
induced accidents in boilers with the help of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning.
1.366 Mud Crab Reovirus (MCRV)

• A research has found Mud Crab Reovirus (MCRV) also known as Sleeping Disease to cause mass
mortality of wild crab (Scylla serrate) in Andhra Pradesh.
• The research has been conducted jointly by M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) and
Centre for Advanced Study in Marine Biology (Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu).
• Wild crab is widely exported to the South-east Asia and has a large market in Europe.
1.367 Gaganyaan Mission

• Gaganyaan is India’s first manned mission to space to be launched in 2023 by the Human Space
Flight Centre (HSFC) of Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).
• Four selected astronaut candidates for the mission have undergone generic space flight training in
Russia for about 15 months. The Gaganyaan specific training will be carried out at the upcoming
Astronaut Training Facility in Bengaluru.
• Arabian Sea has been selected as the primary choice for the landing of the mission’s Crew Module
(CM).
1.368 Green alternative to cremation “Aquamation”

• Aquamation, or alkaline hydrolysis, is a process in which the body of the deceased is immersed for a
few hours in a mixture of water and a strong alkali in a pressurized metal cylinder and heated to
around 150 degree centigrade.
• The combination of gentle water flow, temperature and alkalinity causes the breakdown of the
organic materials.
• The Cremation Association of North America (CANA) defines alkaline hydrolysis as “flameless
cremation”.
• It is also known as water cremation, green cremation or chemical cremation.
• The process was developed and patented in 1888 by a farmer Amos Herbert Hanson.
• Recently, Nobel Prize winner South Africa’s Archbishop Desmond Tutu was cremated by
Aquamation.
1.369 Astronomers detect a newborn star

• A team of astronomers have detected a newborn star and the surrounding cocoon of complex
organic molecules for the first time in the WB89-789 region at the edge of Milky Way Galaxy.
• The discovery has been made by the scientists from Niigata University (Japan), Academia Sinica
Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics (Taiwan), and the National Astronomical Observatory of
Japan.
• The astronomers have used the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) in Chile to observe the new
protostar.

1.370 ICMR approves indigenous testing kit to detect Omicron covid variant
• The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has approved a testing kit 'OmiSure' for detecting the
Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.
• The kit is manufactured by Tata Medical and Diagnostics.
• It has a test run time of 85 minutes and result turnaround time (including sample collection and RNA
extraction) of 130 minutes.
1.371 P&G and NASA Test Fully Degradable Tide Detergent

• Tide detergent’s parent company Procter & Gamble (P&G) is working with the National Aeronautics
and Space Administration (NASA) to develop a formula that can withstand conditions in space so that
astronauts can do laundry while on missions.
1.372Scientists find star with 'heartbeat and without magnetic field’

• A team of scientists led by Dr. Santosh Joshi from Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational
Sciences (ARIES), Nainital has spotted a peculiar binary star that shows heartbeat but no pulsations
(vibrational activity) and no magnetic field.
• The star is called HD73619 and is located in the Cancer constellation.
• Presently, a total of 180 heartbeat stars are known and HD73619 is the first heartbeat star without
vibrational activity.
• The research is the result of the ‘Nainital-Cape survey’.
1.373 Rare bird Flu case found in Human

• Health officials in Britain have identified a rare case of avian flu in humans.
• Avian flu, also known as bird flu, is a type of influenza that spreads among birds.
1.374 Chang’e 5 lunar mission finds first on-site evidence of water on moon’s surface
• China’s Chang’e 5 lunar lander has found the first on-site evidence of water on the surface of the
moon near Oceanus Procellarum in rocks and soil.
1.375NASA fully deploys Webb telescope in space

• National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has completed the installation of 21-foot,
gold-coated primary mirror of the James Webb Space Telescope.
• With this NASA has marked the complete deployment of the telescope in space.
• The telescope is a joint effort of NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA) and Canadian Space Agency.
It has been deployed to succeed NASA’s Hubble Telescope.
1.376 Braille Maps for visually challenged students

• National Atlas & Thematic Mapping Organization (NATMO) has introduced Braille Maps for visually
challenged students.
• These maps have been designed and developed using Digital Embossing Technology (DET).
• DET is a process that eliminates the need for printing plates, moulds, chemicals, and solvents;
releasing no pollutants or waste and reducing overall energy usage.
• NATMO functions under the Department of Science & Technology (DST).

1.377 US surgeons transplant pig heart into human patient
• Surgeons of the University of Maryland Medicine, U.S have conducted successful heart transplant
(xenotransplantation) from a genetically modified pig on a human patient.
• The surgery has been conducted by new editing tools performed by Virginia-based biotech firm
Revivicor.
1.378 Special electro-active nanoparticles developed

• A team of scientists from the Institute of Nano Science and Technology, Mohali, led by Dr. Dipankar
Mandal, have proposed an efficient way for the first time to induce a property called piezoelectric
delta phase in Poly vinylidene fluoride (PVDF) nanoparticles.
• The team has made a device which can achieve delta phase in PVDF nanoparticles at the lowest
possible electric field till date (103 times lesser).
1.379 “ArXiv.org” reaches a Milestone

• Online free repository of research papers “ArXiv.org” (pronounced ‘archive’) has touched a milestone
of 2 million papers on the preprint server by publishing a numerical analysis paper entitled “Affine
Iterations and Wrapping Effect: Various Approaches”.
• It was started in 1989 as an e-mail list for a few string theorists has become of great importance to
researchers.
• Recently, arXiv-inspired preprint servers in life sciences, “bioRxiv” and “medRxiv”, have proved
invaluable for speeding up biomedical research during the coronavirus pandemic.
• The platform is legally located at Cornell University, U.S and is financially supported by the U.S based
Simons Foundation.
1.380 Chinese Scientists build 'Artificial Moon'

• China has reported to have built an ‘artificial moon’ facility that will simulate lunar conditions and
the environment for scientists to test new tech and future missions.
• Created by: Li Ruilin from China University of Mining and Technology.
• The artificial moon is about two feet in diameter; the surface has been made with rocks and dust that
are as light as those on the moon and creates low-gravity conditions on Earth.
• China’s "artificial sun" called EAST (Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak) nuclear
fusion reactor has set a world record for reaching temperatures of 70 million degree Celsius (five
times hotter than the Sun) and maintaining it for 17 minutes.
1.381 New species of mollusc found in Arabian Sea

• A team of researchers from Kerala and Brazil have identified a new species of a rare, wood boring
deep-sea mollusk (Xylophaga nandani) belonging to the family Xylophagaidae.
• It has been discovered for the first time from the Arabian Sea (Karwar coast).
• It has been named after Prof. Bijoy Nandan of Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT).
• Specimens of the newly identified species have been kept at the Marine Biology Museum at CUSAT.
• Molluscs are labeled as ‘endangered’ in the IUCN Red list.

1.382 UV-C technology
• CSIR’s newly developed disinfection Ultraviolet-C (UV-C) technology has been rolled out for use by
the common masses after long safety trials.
• Developed by: Council Of Scientific And Industrial Research-Central Scientific Instruments
Organization (CSIR–CSIO).
• This technology deactivates airborne viruses, bacteria, fungus and other bio-aerosols etc., including
the SARS COV-2 virus with appropriate dosages using 254nm UV light.
1.383 Meta unveils new AI supercomputer

• Facebook parent company Meta Inc. has unveiled its new Artificial Intelligence (AI) Supercomputer
named AI Research SuperCluster (RSC).
• RSC is currently the 5th fastest supercomputer of the word and it is believed to be the fastest super
computer by mid- 2022 when fully developed.
1.384 NASA's James Webb Space Telescope reaches orbital destination

• National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) James Webb Telescope has reached its
gravitational parking spot in solar orbit known as Lagrange Point Two (L2).
• It will orbit the Sun and is about 1 million miles (1.5 million km) away from Earth.
• The telescope is a joint effort of NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA) and Canadian Space
Agency. It has been deployed to succeed NASA’s Hubble Telescope.
1.385 Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) to undergo flight in April 2022
• The chairman of Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has announced the launch of an “SSLV-
D1 Micro SAT in April 2022.
1.386 China to partner with Russia to undertake Moon exploration

• China and Russia are going to sign an agreement to build a research station on the moon.
• The two countries have aimed to complete basic infrastructure construction (systems for energy,
communication and life support) for the lunar station by 2035.
• China and Russia have also agreed to cooperate on the launch of a robotic lunar mission, Chang’e 7
in around 2025.
1.387 Indo- US Space Radiation Workshop

• An Indo-US Workshop on "Space Radiation Workshop: Radiation Characterization from Sun to
Earth, Moon, Mars and Beyond" has been conducted.
• Domain experts and students from India and the USA have discussed issues ranging from
characterizing the space radiation environment to astrobiology.
• Supported by: the Indo-US Science and Technology Forum.
• Hosted by: Aryabhatta Research Institute for Observational Sciences (ARIES), Nainital, and Indian
Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune.
1.388 Scientists spot a new Astronomical Object

• A team of scientists from the Curtin University node of the International Centre for Radio Astronomy
Research (ICRAR), Australia has discovered an exotic astrophysical dense star which is being thought
to be the first known example of an “ultra-long period magnetar”.

• It is a variety of neutron star; the compact collapsed core of a massive star that exploded as a
supernova.
1.389 Indian scientists develop efficient and durable solar cells

• A team of scientists has devised a new process for increasing the efficiency and stability of Titanium
dioxide (TiO2) nanorods based on Perovskite Solar Cells (PSC) by varying the length and porosity of
these nanorods.
Defence in News
1.390 NCC Republic Day Camp 2022
• The Director General of National Cadet Corps (DG NCC) Lieutenant General Gurbirpal Singh has
inaugurated NCC Republic Day Camp (RDC) 2022 at Delhi.
• The RDC is held to mark the end of one complete year of training of NCC cadets.
• Theme RDC 2022: ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’.
1.391 P-8I aircraft begins operations from the INS Hansa Naval Air Base
• The second squadron Indian Navy’s P-8I aircraft has begun operations from the Indian Navy Ship
(INS) Hansa Naval Air Base in Goa.
• The P-8I, manufactured by Boeing, is designed for long-range anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-
surface warfare (ASuW), and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions.
1.392 Exercise Sea Dragon 22

• The navies of India, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea and US have participated in the “Sea
Dragon 22” exercise in the Pacific Ocean at US’ Andersen Air Force base, Guam.
• The exercise is led by the US and focuses on anti- submarine warfare training.
• India has deployed its P-8I Poseidon aircraft for the exercise.
1.393 First anniversary of the Online CSD portal for AFD Category-1 items
• The online portal of Canteen Stores Department (CSD) “www.afd.csdindia.gov.in” for purchase of
Against Firm Demand (AFD) Category-1 items has completed one year of service.
• It was launched as part of the ‘Digital India’ initiative on January 08, 2021 by the Defence Minister.
• The AFD-1 items include cars, motorcycles, scooters, TVs, fridges, etc.
1.394 J&K Police to get American assault rifles, pistols for anti-terror operations
• The Special Operation Group (SoG) and personnel of Jammu and Kashmir Police (J&K) police
deployed to carry out anti-terror operations are going to get American Sig Sauer assault rifles and
pistols.
• In 2019, India had signed a contract with Sig Sauer for 72,400 assault rifles at a cost of around Rs 700
crore.
1.395 IAC Vikrant begins phase 3 of sea trials

• India's first Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) Vikrant has begun the phase 3 of sea trials to carry out
complex maneuvers in high seas.
• The warship has been built by Cochin Shipyard Ltd. (CSL) at a cost of Rs. 23,000 crore.
• It is scheduled to be commissioned as Indian Navy Ship (INS) Vikrant in August, 2022.

• India currently has only one aircraft carrier “INS Vikramaditya”.
1.396 DRDO flight tests MPATGM

• Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) has successfully flight tested the Man-
Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM), in its final “deliverable configuration”.
• It will be manufactured by Bharat Dynamics Limited in Bhanoor, Telangana.
1.397 DRDO successfully test fires BrahMos supersonic cruise missile

• DRDO has conducted successful tests of advanced naval variant of BrahMos supersonic cruise missile
from the Indian Navy Ship (INS) Visakhapatnam.
• The missile has a speed of 2.8 Mach and an extended range of 350-400 km.
• Developed by: BrahMos Aerospace (India-Russia joint venture).
1.398 Rafale fighter jet demonstrates operational capability

• The Rafale maritime fighter aircraft has demonstrated its operational capability at the shore-based
test facility (SBTF) at INS Hansa naval air station in Goa.
• The Indian Navy is planning to acquire a fleet of combat jets for its indigenous aircraft carrier (IAC)
Vikrant (to be commissioned in August 2022).
• Presently, the Indian Navy operates MiG-29K fighters from INS Vikramaditya.
1.399 India to export Brahmos missiles to the Philippines

• Philippines has signed an agreement with BrahMos Aerospace to procure a shore-based “Brahmos”
anti-ship missile system for the Philippine Navy at a cost of USD 374 Million.
• BrahMos Aerospace is an India-Russian joint venture that produces the supersonic cruise missile
'BrahMos'.
1.400 Indian Navy and Russian Navy conduct PASSEX Exercise

• The navies of India and Russia have undertaken the international Passage Exercise “PASSEX” at the
port of Cochin, in the Arabian Sea.
• Aim: enhancing interoperability between both the two navies.
• The Indian Navy was represented by indigenously designed and built guided-missile destroyer, Indian
Naval Ship (INS) Kochi.
• Indian Navy also conducts the PASSEX exercise with United Sates’ (U.S) Navy.
1.401 Indian Army gets new combat uniform

• The new combat uniform for the Indian Army has been unveiled on the occasion of Army Day.
• It is an ergonomically designed, operationally effective, new-generation digital camouflage combat
uniform. The fabric is 15% lighter, and has 23% more strength against tearing
• Designed by: National Institute of Fashion Technology, Delhi.
1.402 Explosion in INS Ranvir

• The Indian Navy has reported an explosion in the internal compartment of the INS Ranvir at Naval
Dockyard, Mumbai.

• INS Ranvir is Destroyer class naval ship and was on cross-coast operational deployment from the
Eastern Naval Command since November 2021.
1.403 India successfully test-fires new BrahMos Missile

• India has successfully test-fired a new improved version of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile
from Integrated Test Range, Chandipur off the Odisha coast.
• The launch has been conducted by Brahmos Aerospace along with Defence Research and
Development Organization (DRDO).
• BrahMos is a joint venture between India and Russia.
• It has a range of 290 km and a top speed of 2.8 Mach (fastest cruise missile).
1.404 Operation Sard Hawa

• Border Security Force (BSF) has launched “Operation Sard Hawa” on the western international
border of India in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.
• Aim: to check infiltration due to the dense fog cover in the region and increase security on the border
areas.
• The operation has been launched keeping in view of the Republic Day celebration in India.
• BSF conducts “Operation Garam Hawa” in summer and “Operation Sard Hawa” in winter every year.
1.405 DRDO to display two tableaux during Republic Day parade 2022
• The Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) is going to display two tableaux during
the 2022 Republic Day Parade.
• The first tableau displays an indigenously developed Advanced Electronically Scanned Array Radar
called ‘Uttam’, an Electronic Warfare (EW) Jammer and five aerial launched weapons for Light
Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas.
• The 5 weapons on display are:
o ‘Astra’- Air-to-air missile which is all-weather, active radar homing missile with beyond visual
range striking capabilities.
o ‘Rudram’- a new generation anti-radiation missile with a capability to destroy adversary’s
radar and communication systems.
o ‘Gaurav’- A long-range guided glide bomb.
o ‘Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon’- meant to destroy the ground targets and airfields.
o ‘Tactical Advanced Range Augmentation’- an advanced precision strike weapon meant for
ground targets.
• The “Uttam” radar has been developed by DRDO’s Electronics and Radar Development
Establishment (LRDE), Bengaluru (Karnataka).
• The second tableau displays indigenously-developed AIP System for propelling the Indian Naval
submarines underwater for longer periods of time.
• This system is powered by indigenously-developed fuel cells with a novel onboard hydrogen
generator.
• Currently, the AIP is customized for P-75 class of submarine.

1.406 “Paschim Lehar” Maritime Exercise
• Western Naval Command of the Indian Navy has conducted a joint maritime exercise “Paschim
Lehar” (XPL-2022) off the West Coast.
• Aim: to enhance Inter-Service synergy among the Indian Navy, Indian Air Force, Indian Army and Coast
Guard.
1.407 INS Khukri to be converted into museum

• Indian Naval Ship (INS) Khukri, the lead ship of the Indian Navy’s Khukri class missile corvettes has
been handed over to the Diu administration to be converted into a museum “the Khukri Memorial”.
• It was decommissioned in December, 2021.
1.408 Indian armed forces sign contract with Saab for ‘AT4’ anti-armour weapon
• Indian Army and Air Force have signed a contract with Swedish defence manufacturer Saab to
procure “AT4” anti-armour weapon.
• It is lightweight, single-shot, fully disposable weapon; truly characterized by its ease of use and
handling. It can be operated by a single soldier.
1.409 First batch of 70,000 AK 203 rifles delivered

• Indian armed forces have received the first batch of 70,000 AK 203 assault rifles from Russia
• India and Russia have signed a contract to procure and manufacture the rifles at Amethi (UP).
• The manufacturing will be done by the Indo Russian Rifles Pvt. Ltd. It is a joint venture between
Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Ltd and Russian Rosoboronexport.
1.410 Workshop on 'Leveraging Artificial Intelligence (Al) for Indian Navy'

• Indian Navy’s premier technical training institute INS Valsura has organized a workshop on the topic
'Leveraging Al for Indian Navy'.
• The workshop has been conducted under the aegis of Southern Naval Command.
About INS Valsura
• It is located in Jamnagar, Gujarat.
• It has been designated as the Centre of Excellence (CoE) in the field of Big Data and a state of art lab
on AI and Big Data Analysis (BDA) has been set up in it.
1.411 Cochin Shipyard delivers three Floating Border Out-Post vessels to BSF
• Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) has delivered the second lot of three Floating Border Out-Post (FBOPs)
vessels to the Border Security Force (BSF).
• CSL has got orders from Ministry of Home Affairs for building nine FBOPs for the Water wing of BSF.
1.412 Tri-Service Andaman & Nicobar Command inducts Advanced Light Helicopter MK III
• The indigenous Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) MK III has been inducted at INS Utkrosh by
Commander-in-Chief of the Andaman and Nicobar Command (CINCAN) at Port Blair.
• Manufactured by: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.
1.413 Indian Navy and IIFL Home Finance Ltd (IIFL HFL) sign pact
• The Indian Naval Placement Agency (INPA) and India Infoline Home Finance Ltd. (IIFL HFL) have
signed an agreement to explore opportunities for the recruitment of Naval Veterans within IIFL HFL.

1.414 Def Expo 2022
• Ministry of Defence (MoD) is hosting the 12th edition of biennial defence exhibition “Def Expo 2022”
from 10th to 13th March 2022 at Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
• The exhibition provides a unique opportunity for the defence industry firms to showcase their
capabilities, products and services to the targeted audience of Industry leaders and business decision
makers.
• Theme for Defexpo 2022 is: “India-the Emerging Defence Manufacturing Hub”.
• A series of 8 webinars have been organized by the MoD for the exhibition.
1.415 “Balbir” bollard pull tug delivered to Naval Dockyard, Mumbai

• The Fourth 50 Ton Bollard Pull Tug vessel “Balbir” has been delivered to Naval Dockyard, Mumbai by
Hindustan Shipyard Ltd (HSL), Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh).
• The contract of the construction of four 50 ton bollard tug vessels was given to HSL by the Indian
Navy.
• Recently, the “Veeran” and “Balraj” tug vessels have been inducted at Naval Dockyard,
Visakhapatnam and “Balram” tug vessel at Naval Dockyard, Mumbai.
• These tugs have been designed and built under the classification rules of Indian Register for Shipping
(IRS) with a service life of 20 years.
• These are capable of assisting large naval ships, including Aircraft Carrier and Submarines in confined
waters and in harbor.
Environment
1.416 Tallest Galapagos volcano erupts
• Ecuador's Geophysical Institute has reported the eruption of the tallest mountain in the Galapagos
Islands the “Wolf Volcano” located in the Pacific Archipelago.
• The 1,701 meter tall volcano had last erupted in 2015.
1.417 Turkmenistan’s 'Gateway to Hell'

• President of Turkmenistan has asked specialists to find a solution to put out a fire in the Darvaza gas
crater, also known as the 'Gateway to Hell’ due to concerns of environmental hazards.
• The crater is located in the Karakum desert, and has been burning for the last 50 years.
• It is rich in Methane natural gas and was officially renamed as, the 'Shining of Karakum’ in 2018.
1.418 Red Sanders back in IUCN’s ‘endangered’ category

• Red Sanders (Red Sandalwood) has been included into the ‘endangered’ category in the International
Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List.
• The species, Pterocarpus santalinus, is an Indian endemic tree species found in the Eastern Ghats
(Andhra Pradesh).
• It was classified as ‘near threatened’ in 2018 after being in the endangered category since 1997.
1.419 India's oldest sloth bear dies

• India's oldest sloth bear, fondly named Gulabo (aged 40) has passed away at the Van Vihar National
Park and Zoo in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
• She was rescued from a street performer (Madaari) in May 2006, at the age of 25 years.

• Sloth bears are listed in the “vulnerable” category of the IUCN Red List.
1.420 Tsunami hits Tonga

• Tonga’s main island of Tongatapu has been hit by tsunami waves after an eruption of the Hunga
Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai underwater volcano.
• Tonga is located in the South Pacific Ocean.
1.421 Legendary tigress “Collarwali” passes away

• India’s legendary tigress “T-15” has passed away due to old age at Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR) in
Madhya Pradesh.
• Tigers are globally listed as “Endangered” on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature
(IUCN) Red List.
1.422 Rare, pristine coral reef found off Tahiti coast

• A team of scientists have explored a rare stretch of pristine corals shaped like ‘roses’ near the coast
of Tahiti in the Pacific Ocean.
• The team has been led by Laetitia Hédouin of France’s National Centre for Scientific Research.
• Corals, found deep in the sea, are tiny animals that grow and form reefs in the oceans across the
globe.
1.423 Peru declares 'environmental emergency'

• Peru has declared 'environmental emergency' on coastal area hit by oil spill caused by waves from a
volcanic eruption.
1.424 Centre to notify Najafgarh Jheel as Trans-boundary wetland

• The Union Environment Ministry has decided to notify the Najafgarh Jheel in Delhi as a trans-
boundary wetland for its restoration and rejuvenation.
• It is the second largest water body in Delhi-NCR after the Yamuna River.
• The lake is home to 281 bird species, including several threatened ones such as Egyptian vulture,
Sarus Crane, Steppe Eagle, Greater Spotted Eagle, etc.
1.425 ‘Bomb cyclone’ hits eastern U.S.

• A major winter storm with hurricane-force winds has hit the eastern United States causing heavy
snowfall in New York, Boston, Massachusetts etc.
• The winter storm has been referred to as “bomb cyclone.”
1.426 Survey finds new varieties of birds and butterflies in Salem Forests
• A total of 225 birds and 147 butterfly varieties have been recorded in a survey conducted at the Salem
Forest Ranges, Tamil Nadu jointly by the forest department and Salem Nature Society (SNS).
• New variety of bird and butterfly has been spotted for the first time in the forest ranges. These are:
o Orange-breasted Green Pigeon.
o Indian Cabbage White butterfly.
1.427 Sahara Desert receives rare snowfall

• Ain Sefra (Algeria) and some other parts of the Sahara Desert have received rare snowfall due to
temperatures dropping below -2 degrees for three consecutive nights.

• This is the 5th instance of snowfall in the desert in last 42 years with previous occurrences in 1979,
2016, 2018 and 2021.
• Sahara is the largest and hottest sand desert in the world located on the African continent.
1.428 POWERGRID celebrates anniversary of One Nation-One Grid-One Frequency

• POWERGRID has celebrated the anniversary of One Nation-One Grid-One Frequency on 31st
December, 2021, as a part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav Celebrations.
1.429 Ministry of Mines Creates KABIL

• The Ministry of Mines, has created a Joint Venture (JV) company named Khanij Bidesh India Ltd
(KABIL) with participating interest of National Aluminium Company Ltd (NALCO), Hindustan Copper
Ltd (HCL) and Mineral Exploration Corporation Ltd (MECL).
o The equity participation between NALCO, HCL and MECL is in the ratio of 40:30:30
• KABIL is mandated to identify and acquire overseas mineral assets of critical and strategic nature
1.430 NHPC, GEDCOL sign pact to develop floating solar projects in Odisha
• NHPC Limited has signed a Promoters Agreement with Green Energy Development Corporation of
Odisha Ltd. (GEDCOL), Odisha for the development of 500 MW floating solar projects on different
water bodies in Odisha.
• The project will be implemented under Ultra Mega Renewable Energy Power Park (UMREPP), Mode
8 of Solar Park Scheme.
1.431 MoHUA & NIUA launches Smart cities and Academia Towards Action & Research (SAAR) program
• Recently, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) and National Institute of Urban Affairs
(NIUA) in collaboration with 15 premier architecture & planning institutes (partner institutes) across
India have launched the Smart cities and Academia Towards Action & Research (SAAR) program.
1.432 Annual Bird Census conducted at Odisha’s Chilika lake

• Recently, the Chilika Wildlife Division, Chilika Development Authority (CDA) and Bombay Natural
History Society (BNHS) have jointly carried out the water bird status survey-2022 at Chilika Lake in
Odisha
• Chilika Lake hosted as many as 1,074,173 birds of 183 species in the winter of 2022.
o It includes 1,036,220 migratory birds of 107 species and 37,953 resident birds of 76 wetland-
dependent species.
• Most sighted bird species in Chilika lake this year:
o Northern Pintails, a type of duck (172,255)
o Gadwalls (153,985)
o Eurasian Wingeons (150,840)
• Around 2,000 Greater Flamingoes were are spotted in 2022, compared to only 71 in 2021
• Rare sighting of the uncommon Mongolian gull was also reported.
1.433 Krishan Pal Gurjar e-inaugurates Hackathon on Smart Safe and Sustainable mobility
• Recently, the Union Minister of State for Heavy Industries has e-inaugurated a student Hackathon
on Smart Safe and Sustainable mobility.

• The Hackathon is hosted by the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) –TechNovuus
platform.
1.434 IMD launches India’s 1st weather hazard and vulnerability atlas & other initiatives on its 147th
foundation day
• Recently, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has launched the Climate Hazard &
Vulnerability Atlas of India
o Developed at: Climate Research and Services (CRS) office of the IMD, Pune.
o It can be used as reference points to issue Impact Based forecasts with respect to different
weather hazards and utilized as a guide to plan socio-economic activities and prevent &
mitigate disasters.
o It can mitigate the effects of 13 most hazardous meteorological events & the risks they pose
to the local population, livelihoods and economy of each district.
✓ List of 13 meteorological events: cold wave, heat wave, thunderstorms, flood, drought,
fog, wind hazard, dust storm, snowfall, hail storm, lightning, extreme rainfall and
cyclone.
o It provides information on nine types of climate hazards in terms of spatial distribution of an
average number of days of occurrence or probable extreme values.
o 640 climate vulnerability maps are available in the atlas.
o It provides normalized Vulnerability Index value with risks ranging from nil, low, moderate,
high and very high categories for every Indian district.
✓ While lightning causes the highest casualty, floods, cyclones and fog cause huge
economic and livelihood losses.
o It provides climate vulnerability information at district level on five types of hazards viz, cold
wave, heat wave, flood, lightning, and snowfall
• Commissioning of 4 new doppler radars in Leh, Delhi, Mumbai & Chennai to improve weather
forecasting
1.435 Minimum 6 airbags to be made mandatory in vehicles carrying up to 8 passengers from October
• Recently, the Union Ministry of Road, Transport & Highways (MoRTH) has made it mandatory for
carmakers to provide a minimum of six airbags in M1 Category Motor Vehicles that can carry up to
8 passengers for enhanced safety of occupants from October 2022.
1.436 India-Denmark R&D on Green Fuels

• India and Denmark have agreed to initiate joint research and development on green fuels, including
green hydrogen and adopted “Green Strategic Partnership – Action Plan 2020-2025”.
1.437 2021, Earth’s fifth-hottest year: Report

• Recently, the Copernicus Climate Change Service, which is a European Union programme has
released its report on global temperature and green house gas production.
• Last seven years have been the warmest on record.
o And, 2021 was ranked fifth among those 12-month spans because of continued rise in
greenhouse gas emissions.
o Mean global temperature was between 1.1 to 1.2 degrees Celsius higher in 2021, as
compared to pre-industrial levels.

1.438 Tribal intervention project in Anamalai Tiger Reserve
• Recently, the ICAR–Sugarcane Breeding Institute (ICAR-SBI), in collaboration with the Anamalai Tiger
Reserve (ATR), conducted a campaign on ‘knowledge empowerment of tribals’.
o And launched its Scheduled Tribe Component (STC) project at Attakatti.
1.439 Action Plan for Introduction of Cheetah in India
• Environment Ministry has launched an action plan for introducing Cheetah in India in the 19th
meeting of National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).
o Under the action plan, 50 cheetahs will be introduced in India, in the next five years.
o Around 12 to 14 cheetahs will be imported from South Africa or Namibia.
1.440 Climate Awareness Campaign and National Photography Competition

• Recently, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) is organizing Climate Change
Awareness Campaign and National Photography Competition.
1.441 India to become world’s third largest ethanol consumer by 2026

• Recently, as per the International Energy Agency (IEA), India will surpass the China as the world’s
third largest ethanol consumer by 2026.
• Ethanol demand in India has tripled between 2017 and 2021 with consumption expected at 3 crore
litres in the last calendar year.
• As per IEA India will achieve its 20% blending target in 2025.
1.442 Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework

• Recently, a 2 day meeting of the South Asian Consultation Meeting on the Post-2020 Global
Biodiversity Framework was held in New Delhi.
• The post-2020 global biodiversity framework builds on the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020.
o It is a new framework that will be the global guiding force to protect nature and to retain its
essential services for humans from 2020 to 2030.
1.443 Union Coal Minister Launches unveils rehabilitation and resettlement policy of NLCIL
• Recently, the Union Minister of Coal has virtually launched the new rehabilitation & resettlement
(R& R) policy of NLC India Limited (NLCIL).
• The new R & R Policy has been framed by the Government of Tamil Nadu & NLCIL.
• It is applicable to the land owners of NLCIL mines area.
1.444 8th International Conference on Sustainability Science

• Recently, the 8th International Conference on Sustainability Science (ICSS, 2022) is scheduled to be
organized from 18th January- 20th January, 2022.
o Theme: Biodiversity as a source of solutions to sustainability challenges in urban, peri-urban
and rural areas.
o It is co-organized by the Institute of Future Initiatives and Tokyo College.
1.445 Centre to rank states on faster green nods

• Recently, the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change has decided to
“incentivize states” by ranking through a star-rating system.
o This will be based on efficiency and timelines in grant of EC (environmental clearance).

• The State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) which clears projects in the shortest
period of time has a high rate of clearance and seeks fewer “essential details” will be ranked the
highest.
1.446 Fourth Asia Ministerial Conference on Tiger Conservation

• Recently, the India has participated in the 4th Asia Ministerial Conference on tiger conservation and
shared information regarding the tiger projects in India.
• India has achieved the remarkable feat of doubling the tiger population in 2018 itself, 4 years ahead
of the targeted year 2022.
• 14 Tiger Reserves in India have been awarded with international CA|TS accreditation and efforts are
on to bring in more Tiger Reserves under CA|TS accreditation.
1.447 Cabinet approves Intra-State Transmission System – Green Energy Corridor Phase-II
• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister has approved the scheme
on Green Energy Corridor (GEC) Phase-II for Intra-State Transmission System (InSTS).
• The scheme has been approved for addition of approximately 10,750 circuit kilometres (ckm) of
transmission lines and approx. 27,500 Mega Volt-Amperes (MVA) transformation capacity of
substations.
• The scheme will facilitate grid integration and power evacuation of approximately 20 GW of
Renewable Energy (RE) power projects in seven States namely, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh,
Karnataka, Kerala, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh.
• The scheme is targeted to be set up with total estimated cost of Rs. 12,031.33 crore.
o Central Financial Assistance (CFA) @ 33 percent of the project cost i.e. Rs. 3970.34 crore.
• The transmission systems will be created over a period of five year from Financial Year 2021-22 to
2025-26.
1.448 Swachhata Start-Up Challenge

• Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA), Government of India, in partnership with Department
of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) and Agence Française de Développement (AFD)
has launched the Swachhata Start-Up Challenge.
• Aim: To provide an impetus to innovative start-ups to come forward and drive catalytic
transformation in the sanitation and waste management sector. It also aims to capitalise on the
start-up movement by providing opportunities for entrepreneurship to young innovators to create
socially impactful and market ready business solutions.
Awards
1.449 Former UK PM Tony Blair receives Queen's knighthood
• Former United Kingdom (UK) Prime Minister Tony Blair has been awarded a knighthood by Queen
Elizabeth II.
• He has also been appointed as member of the Order of the Garter, England's oldest and most senior
honor.
• Along with Tony Blair, Baroness Valerie Amos, a member of the House of Lords, has become a "lady
companion" in the Order of the Garter.
1.450 SCR wins two performance shields
• The South Central Railway (SCR) has won two All India Performance Efficiency Shields for 2021.
• These are :
o Stores shield
o Civil engineering shield; jointly with West Central Railway.
1.451 Coorg Person of the Year 2021

• Olympian, Padma Shri awardee and Hockey player Mollera Poovaiah Ganesh, has been selected as
the ‘Coorg Person of the Year 2021’.
1.452 Odakkuzhal Award 2021

• Writer Sarah Joseph has been selected for the 51st Odakkuzhal Award for her novel “Budhini”.
About the award
• It is an Indian literary award given by the Guruvayurappan Trust to writers for a particular
outstanding work in Malayalam language.
• It was founded in 1969 by poet G. Sankara Kurup to commemorate the Jnanpith Award he had won.
1.453 CBSE announces winners of Veer Gatha Project

• The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced a list of 25 winners of the Veer
Gatha Project.
• The ‘Super 25’ winners will witness the Republic Day parade as special guests of Ministry of Defence.
They will also receive a cash prize of Rs.10, 000.
About Veer Gatha Project
• It was organized by the Union Ministry of Defence, in partnership with Ministry of Education,
Department of School Education & Literacy, CBSE and MyGov from October 21 to November 20,
2021.
• Aim: to generate awareness among students regarding the Gallantry award winners.
1.454 WAN-IFRA South Asian Digital Media Awards 2021

• The WAN-IFRA (World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers) has presented the 2021
South Asian Digital Media Awards in different categories:
S. No. Category Awardee

1 Best News Website Gold: Manoramaonline.com
Silver: thequint.com
Bronze: bloombergquint.com
2 Best Use of Online Video Gold: The Quint
Silver: People Like Us Create (PLUC)
Bronze: BBC News
3 Best Newsletter Gold: Times of India Digital
Silver: Foundation for Independent Journalism
Bronze: Spunklane Media Pvt. Ltd.
4 Best Data Visualisation Gold: NDTV Convergence
Silver: NDTV Convergence
Bronze: Mathrubhumi Printing & Publishing
5 Best Reader Revenue Initiative Gold: Hindustan Times
Silver: Foundation for Independent Journalism
Bronze: The Hindu
6 Best in Audience Engagement Gold: The Hindu
Silver: BBC News
Silver: The Hindu
Bronze: M M Publications Ltd. (Vanitha)
7 Best Podcast / Digital Audio Gold: Sakal Media Group
Project Silver: Mathrubhumi Printing & Publishing
Bronze: BBC News
8 Best Brand Marketing Gold: Hindustan Times
Campaign (for News Brands) Silver: Anandabazar Patrika
Bronze: Hindustan Times
9 Best Special Project for Gold: Mojo Story
COVID-19 Silver: Hindustan Media Venture Ltd.
Silver: Jagran New Media
Bronze: BBC News
10 Best Sponsored Content Gold: The Hindu
Campaign Silver: Hindustan Times
Silver: The Daily Star
Bronze: The Hindu
Bronze: Hindustan Times
1.455 19th Chennai International Film Festival

• The 19th Chennai International Film Festival has been hosted by the Indo Cine Appreciation
Foundation in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
S. No. Award Awardee
1 Lifetime Achievement Award Director Singeetam Srinivasa Rao
2 Amitabh Bachchan Youth Icon Award Singer Sid Sriram
3 Best Tamil Feature Film award Sivaranjaniyum Innum Sila Pengalum
4 Special Jury Award Sivaranjaniyum Innum Sila Pengalum
1.456 Outstanding Investigator Award

• Vijay Viswanathan has been awarded the ‘Outstanding Investigator Award’ by the US-based World-
India Diabetes Foundation.
• He is the head and chief diabetologist of MV Hospital for Diabetes, Chennai.
1.457 Golden Globe Awards 2022

• The 79th Golden Globe awards 2022 have been conferred by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association
(HFPA), virtually. The major awards and awardees are:
S. No. Category Winner Director/ “Movie”

1 Best motion picture (drama) “The Power of the Jane Campion
Dog”
2 Best Actor in a motion picture (drama) Will Smith “King Richard”
3 Best Actress in a motion picture (drama) Nicole Kidman “Being the
Ricardos”
4 Best musical/comedy motion picture “West Side Story” Steven Spielberg
5 Best Actor (Musical motion picture) Andrew Garfield “Tick, Tick…Boom!”
6 Best Actress (Musical motion picture) Rachel Zegler “West Side Story”
9 Best Director (motion picture) Jane Campion “The Power of the
Dog”
10 Motion picture (foreign language) “Drive My Car” (Japan) Ryûsuke Hamaguchi
11 Motion picture (animated) “Encanto” Byron Howard
12 Original song (motion picture) No Time to Die “No Time to Die”
1.458 Dr. Ambedkar and Thanthai Periyar awards announced

• The Tamil Nadu government has conferred the Thanthai Periyar award upon historian S
Thirunavukkarasu.
• He is called the mobile encyclopedia of the Dravidian movement.
• He has authored two volumes on the history of the Justice Party titled “Needhi Katchi Varalaru”.
• The 2021 Dr. Ambedkar award has been awarded to retired judge K Chandru.
1.459 Subhash Chandra Bose Awards for Disaster Management

• The Subhash Chandra Bose Awards for Disaster Management for the years 2019, 2020, 2021 and
2022 have been conferred by the Prime Minster in New Delhi.
• The awardees for the year 2022 are:
o Gujarat Institute of Disaster Management (GIDM) under the institutional category.
o Professor Vinod Sharma, the founder coordinator of the National Centre of Disaster
Management under Individual category.
About the awards
• These awards have been instituted by the Union government to recognize and honor the individuals
and organizations in India in the field of disaster management.
• These are announced every year on 23rd January; on the anniversary of “Netaji”.
1.460 Satish Adiga gets ICMR national award

• Dr. Satish Adiga has been selected by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) for its “Dr.
Subhas Mukherjee National Award”.
• He has been awarded for his outstanding contribution to the field of in-vitro fertilization (IVF).
• Dr. Adiga is a professor at the Kasturba Medical College (KMC), under Manipal Academy of Higher
education (MAHE), Karnataka.
1.461 Mrs. World 2022

• Mrs. America Shaylyn Ford has won the 2022 edition of the Mrs. World 2022 held in Las Vegas,
Nevada, U.S.
• It is the first and the biggest beauty pageant for married women.
1.462 Padma Awards 2022

• The Padma Awards 2022 have been announced on behalf of the President of India on the occasion
of the Republic Day.
• The awardees in different categories include:
o Padma Vibhushan Award: The second highest civilian award of India after Bharat Ratna;
“Padma Vibhushan” has been conferred upon 4 distinguished people.
S. No. Awardee Category State
1 Prabha Atre Art Maharashtra
2 Radheyshyam Khemka Literature and Education Uttar Pradesh
3 General Bipin Rawat Civil Service Uttarakhand
4 Kalyan Singh Public Affairs Uttar Pradesh
o Padma Bhushan Award: 17 people have been awarded the Padma Bhushan award 2022.
S. No. Awardee Category Country/ State

1 Ghulam Nabi Azad Public Affairs J&K
2 Victor Banerjee Art West Bengal
3 Gurmeet Bawa (Posthumous) Art Punjab
4 Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee Public Affairs West Bengal
5 Natarajan Chandrasekaran Trade and Industry Maharashtra
6 Krishna Ella and Suchitra Ella (Duo) Trade and Industry Telangana
7 Madhur Jaffery Culinary U.S
8 Devendra Jhajharia Sports Rajasthan
9 Rashid Khan Art Uttar Pradesh
10 Rajiv Mehrishi Civil Service Rajasthan
11 Satya Narayana Nadella Trade and Industry U.S
12 Sundararajan Pichai Trade and Industry U.S
13 Cyrus Poonawalla Trade and Industry Maharashtra
14 Sanjaya Rajaram (Posthumous) Science and Engineering Mexico
15 Pratibha Ray Literature and Education Odisha
16 Swami Sachidanand Literature and Education Gujarat
17 Vashishth Tripathi Literature and Education Uttar Pradesh
o Padma Shri Award: A total of 107 people in different categories have been conferred with
the Padma Shri Award 2022. Some special mentions include:
S. No. Awardee Category State
1 Neeraj Chopra Sports Haryana
2 Sumit Antil Sports Haryana
3 Sonu Nigam Art Maharashtra
4 Chandraprakash Dwivedi Art Rajasthan
5 Kamalini Asthana and Nalini Asthana Art Uttar Pradesh
6 Madhuri Barthwal Art Uttarakhand
7 S Ballesh Bhajantri Art Tamil Nadu
8 Khandu Wangchuk Bhutia Art Sikkim
9 Sulochana Chavan Art Maharashtra
10 Lourembam Bino Devi Art Manipur
11 Shyamamani Devi Art Odisha
12 Arjun Singh Dhurve Art Madhya Pradesh

13 Gosaveedu Shaik Hassan Art Andhra Pradesh
14 Sowcar Janaki Art Tamil Nadu
15 Shivnath Mishra Art Uttar Pradesh
16 Darshanam Mogilaiah Art Telangana
17 Thavil Kongampattu A V Murugaiyan Art Puducherry
18 R Muthukannammal Art Tamil Nadu
19 Tsering Namgyal Art Ladakh
20 A K C Natarajan Art Tamil Nadu
21 Lalita Vakil Art Himachal Pradesh
22 Durga Bai Vyam Art Madhya Pradesh
23 Abdul Khader Nadakattin Others-Grassroots Karnataka
Innovation
24 Siddalingaiah Art Karnataka
25 H.R. Keshava Murthy Art Karnataka
26 Amai Mahalinga Naik Others- Karnataka
Agriculture
27 Subbanna Ayyappan Science and Karnataka
Engineering
1.463 CBIC personnel get Presidential Awards

• On the occasion of the Republic Day, 29 officers and staff of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes &
Customs (CBIC) have been conferred with the Presidential Award of Appreciation Certificates and
Medals for the categories:
o “Exceptionally Meritorious Service rendered at the Risk of Life”.
o “Special Distinguished Record of Service”.
1.464 2021 Jeevan Raksha Padak Series of Awards

• The President of India has conferred the Jeevan Raksha Padak Series of Awards- 2021 to 51 awardees.
• These include Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Padak to 6, Uttam Jeevan Raksha Padak to 16 and Jeevan
Raksha Padak to 29 persons.
• These awards are given to a person for meritorious act of human nature in saving the life of a person.
1.465 Correctional Service Medals for prison personnel

• The President has conferred the Correctional Service Medals on prison personnel for Distinguished
Service to 5 awardees and Meritorious Service to 37 awardees.
1.466 Golden Book of the Year Award 2022

• Wings Publication, have announced the “2022 Golden Book Awards" to recognize the top 50 authors
of India.
• The major awardees include:
S. No. Awardee Book Category

1 Sadguru Karma: a Yogis Guide to Crafting Theology & Philosophy
Your Destiny of Religion
2 Dalai Lama The little book of encouragement Buddhism
3 Chetan Bhagat 400 Days Thrillers and Suspense
4 Amish Tripathi Legend of Suheldev Indian Writing
5 Indra K. Nooyi My Life in Full Women in History
6 Sudha Murthy The Sage With 2 Horns Children's Traditional
Stories
7 Priyanka Chopra Unfinished Society & Culture
8 Sreekanth Kopuri Poems of the Void Lyrical Poetry
1.467 Sathyamangalam Reserve bags award for doubling tiger count

• The Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR) in Erode district of Tamil Nadu has been awarded the
prestigious TX2 award for doubling the tigers’ population.
• The numbers of Tigers in the reserve has increased to 80 since 2010.
• Sathyamangalam wildlife sanctuary was declared a tiger reserve in 2013 and is a part of the Nilgiri
biosphere reserve (NBR).
• NBR is currently the home to the largest tiger population in the world.
About the award
• It is presented by the Conservation Assured Tiger Standards (CA|TS), Fauna and Flora International
(FFI), Global Tiger Forum (GTF), IUCN’s Integrated Tiger Habitat Conservation Programme (ITHCP),
Panthera, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), The Lion’s Share, Wildlife Conservation
Society (WCS) and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).
• The Bardia National Park in Nepal has also won the 2022 TX2 award for doubling the population of
wild tigers.
• Tigers are globally listed as “Endangered” on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature
(IUCN) Red List.
• In 2019, STR also won the National Tiger Conservation Authority’s prestigious award for showing the
highest increment in the Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE) for registering the growth of
over 30% in tiger population.
1.468 President approves 384 Gallantry Awards

• The President has approved 384 Gallantry awards and other Defence decorations to Armed Forces
personnel on the eve of Republic Day.
• Among these, 12 Shaurya Chakra medals have been conferred. The awardees are:
S. No. Awardee Agency
1 Naib Subedar Sreejith M (posthumous) Army
2 Havildar Anil Kumar Tomar (posthumous) Army
3 Havildar Kashiray Bmmanalli (posthumous) Army
4 Havildar Pinku Kumar (posthumous) Army
5 Sepoy Maruprolu Jaswanth Kumar Reddy (posthumous) Army
6 Rifleman Rakesh Sharma Army
7 Dilip Malik CRPF
8 Anirudh Pratap Singh CRPF
9 Ajeet Singh (posthumous) CRPF
10 Vikas Kumar (posthumous) CRPF
11 Kuldeep Kumar Urawan (posthumous) CRPF
12 Purnanand (posthumous) CRPF
• Olympics gold medalist Subedar Neeraj Chopra has been named for the Param Vishisht Seva Medal.

1.469 Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar 2022
• Recently, the Government of India has announced Subhas Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan
Puraskar 2022 in a programme in New Delhi.
• For the year 2022,
o Gujarat Institute of Disaster Management (in the Institutional category).
o Professor Vinod Sharma (in the Individual category).
1.470 Global Women's Health Tech Awards

• Recently, the NIRAMAI Health Analytix Pvt Ltd, and InnAccel Technologies Pvt Ltd have received
World Bank Group and Consumer Technology Association’s Global Women’s Health Tech Awards.
• Both start-ups have been supported by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) - Biotechnology
Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC).
1.471 Shri Subhas Sarkar launches Swachh Vidyalaya Puraskar 2021 – 2022
• Minister of State for Education has virtually launched the Swachh Vidyalaya Puraskar (SVP) 2021 –
2022.
• Schools shall be awarded at the District, State and National level based on an internationally
recognized five star rating system.
About Swachh Vidyalaya Puraskar
• Initiative of: Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education.
• Objectives:
o To recognize, inspire & celebrate excellence in sanitation and hygiene.
o To honor schools that have undertaken significant steps towards fulfilling the mandate of the
Swachh Vidyalaya Campaign & adhering to the standards of hygiene & cleanliness.
o To promote sustainable practices of improved water sanitation & hygiene in schools
1.472 National Startup Awards 2021

• Recently, the Union Minister of Commerce & Industry has presented the National Startup Awards
2021.
o It was the second edition of the award ceremony, conceived by the Department for
Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).
Key Details of the winners of NSA, 2021
• A total of 46 Startups have been recognized as winners of the National Startup Awards 2021 along
with 1 incubator and 1 accelerator.
o State-wise, Karnataka bagged the highest number of awards, which included 14 out of 46
national startup awards.
o In fintech category’s
✓ Financial inclusion sub-sector, Bengaluru-based Naffa Innovations Private Limited
(ToneTag) was declared the winner.
✓ Insurance sub-sector, Umbo Idtech Private Limited won the award.
o In Robotics sub-sector, Sagar Defence was declared the winner.
o In the women-led start-up category, Jaipur-headquartered Frontier Markets was honoured.

1.473 Nari Shakti Puraskar 2021
• Recently, the nomination process for the Nari Shakti Puraskar, 2021 has been opened through an
online portal.
o This is an annual award given by the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
o To individual women or to institutions that work towards the cause of women empowerment.
• The awards are presented by the President of India on International Women's Day (8 March).
Sports
1.474 Commonwealth Games and Asian Games
• The 2022 Commonwealth Games are going to be held in Birmingham, England and 2022 Asian Games
in Hangzhou, China.
1.475 ‘Meet the Champions’ campaign

• As part of the ‘Meet the Champions’ campaign; Olympic Sailors KC Ganapathy and Varun Thakkar
have interacted with the students of Vivekananda Vidhyalaya Higher Secondary School in
Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu.
• Paralympics Bronze Medalist Sharad Kumar visited the Government Higher Secondary School (GHSS)
for Girls Cotton Hill in Trivandrum, Kerala.
About the campaign
• It is a unique school visit campaign jointly organized by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry
of Youth Affairs and Sports.
• In this campaign, the Olympians visit and interact with school students and share their own
experiences, life lessons to eat right and motivate them towards sports.
1.476 Kozhikode to organize International Half Marathon

• The Kozhikode Corporation is planning to organize an International Half Marathon.
• Aim: to brand Kozhikode in Kerala as a prominent city in the country and to popularize its hygiene
protocol.
• The marathon will be accredited by the International Olympic Committee, International Marathon
Association and the Indian Athletic Federation.
• Boxer Mary Kom and actor Tovino Thomas are going to be the brand ambassadors of the event.
1.477 Canada beats Spain to clinch first ATP Cup title

• Felix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov have clinched the 2022 ATP Cup singles title for Canada
by beating Roberto Bautista Agut and Pablo Carreno Busta of Spain respectively.
1.478 Rohan Bopanna and Ramkumar Ramanathan pair wins Adelaide International Title
• India's Rohan Bopanna and Ramkumar Ramanathan have won the Adelaide International doubles
trophy by beating the pair of Ivan Dodig (Croatia) and Marcelo Melo (Brazil).
1.479 Rafael Nadal claims Melbourne title

• Spain’s Rafael Nadal has won the Melbourne Summer Set 1 ATP 250 event by beating Maxime Cressy
of America.

• Simona Halep (Romania) beat Veronika Kudermetova (Russia) at the Melbourne Summer Set 1 final
event to claim her 23rd career title.
1.480 Bharath Subramaniyam becomes India's 73rd chess Grand Master

• Bharath Subramaniyam (14 yr. old) has become India's 73rd chess Grandmaster (GM) by securing
the third and final GM norm at an event in Italy.
1.481 Lakshya Sen wins maiden Super 500 title

• Indian badminton player Lakshya Sen has won his maiden Super 500 title.
• He has defeated World Champion Loh Kean Yew of Singapore, in the men’s singles final of India Open
2022, held in New Delhi.
• The winners of the 2022 India Open are:
S.No. Category Winner Country

1 Men’s Single Lakshya Sen India
2 Women’s Single Busanan Ongbamrungphan Thailand
3 Men’s Double Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy India
4 Women’s Double Benyapa Aimsaard and Nuntakarn Aimsaard Thailand
5 Mixed Double Terry Hee and Tan Wei Han Singapore
1.482 Hyderabad bids to host Formula E championship

• Hyderabad, Telangana has officially bid as a candidate to host the Formula E World championship
exclusively for electric cars, scheduled to be held between November 2022 and February 2023.
1.483 Tasnim Mir grabs World No. 1 rank in Badminton U-19 Girls Singles
• Tasnim Mir has become the first Indian to grab World number 1 rank in Under-19 (U-19) Girls Singles
category in the latest Badminton World Federation (BWF) junior rankings.
• She is followed by Russia’s Mariia Golubeva (rank 2nd) from and Spain’s Lucia Rodriguez (rank 3rd).
• Lakshya Sen, Siril Verma and Aditya Joshi have shared the World No.1 position in Boy’s Singles.
1.484 ICC Teams of the year

• International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the Teams for the Year 2021.
o Among Indians; Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant and Ravichandran Ashwin are the only three
players in the ICC Men’s Test Team of the Year.
o Among women; Smriti Mandhana has been named in the ICC Women's T20I Team of the Year
and Jhulan Goswami in the ICC Women's ODI Team of the Year.
o Captain of ICC Men’s Test Team of the Year: Kane Willliamson (New Zealand).
o Captain of ICC Men’s ODI and T20I team of the Year: Babar Azam (Pakistan).
• This is India’s worst performance in the past 6 years.
• Mohammad Rizwan (Pakistan) has been named ICC men’s T20 Player of the Year and Tammy
Beaumont (England) as the ICC women’s T20 Player of the Year.
• Janneman Malan (South Africa) and Fatima Sana (Pakistan) have been named the Emerging
Cricketers of the Year 2021.

1.485 Syed Modi India International 2022
• The 2022 Syed Modi India International Badminton tournament has been held in Babu Banarasi Das
Indoor Stadium, Lucknow (U.P). The winners include:
S. No. Category Winners Country
1 Women's singles PV Sindhu India
2 Women’s Doubles Anna Ching Yik Cheong and Teoh Mei Xing Malaysia
3 Men’s Doubles Man Wei Chong and Kai Wun Tee Malaysia
4 Mixed doubles Ishaan Bhatnagar and Tanisha Crasto India
1.486 ICC women’s Cricketer of the Year

• Smriti Mandhana has been named the International Cricket Council (ICC) Women’s Cricketer of the
Year for incredible run of form across all formats in 2021.
1.487 Australian Open 2022

• The 2022 Australian Open tennis tournament has been held in Melbourne.
S. No. Category Winner Country Misc.

st
1 Men’s Singles Rafael Nadal Spain Record 21 Grand Slam title
2 Women’s Ashleigh Barty Australia First Australian woman in
Singles 44 years to win a Grand
Slam title at home.
3 Men’s Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Australia --
Doubles Kokkinakis
4 Women’s Barbora Krejčíková and Czech --
Doubles Kateřina Siniaková Republic
5 Mixed Kristina Mladenovic and France and --
Doubles Ivan Dodig Croatia
1.488 Hockey Women's Asia Cup 2022

• The 10th edition of the Women's Hockey Asia Cup has been held in Muscat, Oman.
• Indian team beat China to win the Bronze Medal.
• Japan won its 3rd title by clinching the gold medal and South Korea won the Silver Medal.
Appointments
1.489 Recent appointments in Vistara airline
• Vinod Kannan has taken over as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Vistara airlines.
• He has succeeded Leslie Thng.
• Deepak Rajawat has been appointed as the Chief Commercial Officer of the airlines succeeding Vinod
Kannan.
1.490 FDIC Chairwoman Jelena McWilliams resigns

• Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) Chairwoman Jelena McWilliams has resigned from her
post and will step down in February 2022.
• Martin Gruenberg will become acting chairperson till the appointment of a new chairman.

1.491 Sudan's Prime Minister resigns
• Sudan’s Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok has resigned from his post due to widespread protests
against a recent power sharing deal with the army.
1.492 Vini Mahajan appointed as Secretary in Ministry of Jal Shakti

• Vini Mahajan has assumed the charge as Secretary in the Department of Drinking Water and
Sanitation of Jal Shakti Ministry.
• The Jal Shakti ministry was formed in July 2019 by integrating it with other existing ministries, such
as water resources and the ministry of drinking water and sanitation to address all water issues in the
country.
1.493 Ashok Elluswamy appointed as the first employee of the Tesla’s Autopilot team
• Tesla has appointed Indian origin Ashok Elluswamy as the first employee and the head of its Autopilot
engineering team.
1.494 Sanjeev Churiwala appointed as the new CFO of Tata Power

• Tata Power has appointed Sanjeev Churiwala as the new Chief Financial Officer (CFO).
• He has succeeded Ramesh Subramanyam.
1.495 Disney India appoints George Cherian as head of corporate communications

• The Walt Disney Company India has appointed George Cherian as head of Corporate
Communications and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) for the market.
1.496 Alka Mittal appointed chairman and managing director of ONGC

• Alka Mittal, the Director HR (human resources) of the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), has
been given additional charge of Chairman and Managing Director (MD) of the company.
• She has succeeded Subhash Kumar to become the first woman to head ONGC.
1.497 New executive directors of RBI

• The RBI has appointed Deepak Kumar and Ajay Kumar Choudhary as new Executive Directors (ED).
1.498 Shafali Verma appointed as Brand Endorser of Bank of Baroda

• Cricketer Shafali Verma has been signed as the brand endorser of Bank of Baroda.
1.499 Infogain appoints Dayapatra Nevatia as president and COO

• Software engineering Company, Infogain has appointed Dayapatra Nevatia as President and Chief
Operating Officer (COO).
• He has succeeded Eddie Chandhok.
1.500 Kerala Governor withdraws from the post of Chancellor of Universities

• Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan has announced to step down from his post of the Chancellor
of State Universities.
1.501 Starlink India head Sanjay Bhargava resigns

• Country Director and Chairman of the Board of Starlink India, Sanjay Bhargava has stepped down
from his post at the satellite broadband company.

1.502 ECI revokes actor Sonu Sood's appointment as Punjab's 'state icon'
• The Election Commission of India (ECI) has annulled the appointment of actor Sonu Sood as ‘State
icon’ of Punjab.
• He was made Punjab’s ‘icon’ in the year 2021.
1.503 Urjit Patel appointed vice president of AIIB

• Urjit Patel has been appointed vice-president of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).
• He has succeeded D.J. Pandian.
1.504 Ebix Inc appoints Uma Shankar, as Independent Director

• Ebix Cash Pvt. Ltd., a subsidiary of Ebix Inc, has appointed Uma Shankar, as an independent director
on its board.
1.505 Alikhan Smailov named Kazakhstan's Prime Minister

• Alikhan Smailov has been elected as the new Prime Minister of Kazakhstan.
• He has succeeded Askar Mamin.
1.506 S Somanath appointed as new ISRO chief

• Dr. S Somanath has been appointed as the 10th chairman the Indian Space Research Organization
(ISRO), Secretary of the Department of Space and the Chairman of the Space Commission.
• He has succeeded Kailasavadivoo Sivan.
1.507 Fed Reserve Vice Chairman resigns

• Vice Chairman of US Federal Reserve Richard Clarida has resigned from his post.
1.508 Raghuvendra Tanwar appointed as Chairman of ICHR

• Raghuvendra Tanwar has been appointed as the Chairman of the Indian Council of Historical
Research (ICHR), New Delhi.
• He has succeeded A.P Jamkhedkar.
1.509 Ittira Davis appointed as MD and CEO of Ujjivan SFB

• Reserve Bank of India has granted its approval for the appointment of Ittira Davis as the Managing
Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ujjivan Small Finance Bank (SFB).
• He has succeeded Nitin Chugh.
1.510 Boxer Lovlina Borgohain appointed as DSP in Assam

• Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Lovlina Borgohain has been appointed as Deputy Superintendent of
Police (DSP) by the Assam government.
1.511 Catherine M. Russell appointed as UNICEF Executive Director

• Catherine M. Russell has been appointed as the Executive Director of United Nations International
Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF).
• She has succeeded Henrietta H. Fore.
1.512 Soumitra Dutta appointed as the Dean for the Oxford University’s Business School
• Indian origin Soumitra Dutta has been appointed as the Dean of Saïd Business School (University of
Oxford), U.K.

• She will succeed Sue Dopson.
1.513 KP Arvindan appointed as Admiral Superintendent of Naval Dockyard, Mumbai

• Rear Admiral KP Arvindan has taken over charge as Admiral Superintendent of Naval Dockyard,
Mumbai from Rear Admiral B Sivakumar.
1.514 Vikram Dev Dutt appointed CMD of Air India

• Vikram Dev Dutt has been appointed as the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Air India.
• He has succeeded Rajiv Bansal.
1.515 Lt Gen Manoj Pande appointed as Army Vice Chief

• Lieutenant General (Lt Gen) Manoj Pande has been appointed as the new Vice Chief of Army Staff
succeeding Lt Gen CP Mohanty.
1.516 Narendra Goenka appointed as new Chairman of AEPC

• Narendra Kumar Goenka has taken charge as the new Chairman of Apparel Export Promotion
Council (AEPC) succeeding Padma Shri Dr. A Sakthivel.
• AEPC is the official body of apparel exporters in India, under the Ministry of Textiles.
1.517 Axel Lehmann appointed chairman of Credit Suisse

• Axel Lehmann has been appointed as the Chairman of Swiss financial investment banking company
Credit Suisse.
• He has succeeded Antonio Horta-Osorio.
1.518 German Navy chief resigns

• German Navy chief Vice-Admiral Kay-Achim Schönbach has resigned from his post after a
controversial statement over Ukraine in a think-tank discussion at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for
Defence Studies and Analyses (MPIDSA), Delhi.
1.519 Vinod Rai joins Unity Small Finance Bank as independent chairman
• Former Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) Vinod Rai has been appointed as the Independent
Chairman of the Unity Small Finance Bank (USFB).
• USFB is the joint venture between Centrum Group and Payments Company Bharatpe and is the
newest private bank of the country.
1.520 Renu Bhatia appointed Chairperson of Haryana Women’s Commission

• Renu Bhatia has taken charge as the new chairperson of the Haryana State Commission for Women
succeeding Preeti Bhardwaj.
1.521 Roberta Metsola elected new President of the European Parliament

• Roberta Metsola has been elected the new President of the European Parliament (EP) succeeding
David Sassoli.
• She is the youngest EP President ever elected.
1.522 Dileep Sanghani elected as IFFCO chairman

• Dileep Sanghani has been elected as the 17th chairman of the Indian Farmers Fertilizer Cooperative
(IFFCO) succeeding Balvinder Singh Nakai.

1.523 Pushp Kumar Joshi appointed CMD of HPCl
• Pushp Kumar Joshi has been appointed as the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Hindustan
Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) succeeding Mukesh Kumar Surana.
1.524 Dr. V Anantha Nageswaran appointed Chief Economic Advisor

• The Government has appointed Dr. V Anantha Nageswaran as the Chief Economic Advisor.
• He has succeeded K V Subramanian.
1.525 Xiomara Castro elected President of Honduras

• Xiomara Castro has been elected as the first female President of Honduras.
• She has succeeded Juan Orlando Hernández.
1.526 Chris Walker appointed as Foreign Coach for the Indian squash team
• England’s Chris Walker has been appointed as Foreign Coach of the Indian Squash team for the 2022
Asian Games by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
1.527 Antonio Costa elected as the Prime Minister of Portugal

• Antonio Costa has been re-elected as the Prime Minister of Portugal.
1.528 Lt. Gen. Manoj Pande appointed VCOAS

• Lieutenant General Manoj Pande has been taken charge as the Vice Chief of Army Staff (VCOAS)
succeeding Lt. Gen. Chandi Prasad Mohanty.
1.529 Rajesh Verma given additional charge of financial services secretary

• Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) Secretary, Rajesh Verma has been given the additional charge of
the Financial Services Secretary of the Department of personnel and training.
• He has succeeded Debasish Panda.
Persons in News
1.530 Betty White passes away
• American actress and comedian Betty White has recently passed away.
• She was the recipient of 5 Emmy Awards.
1.531 Naren Chandra Das passes away

• Assam Rifles veteran Naren Chandra Das has recently passed away.
• He was the last surviving member among the Indian soldiers who helped Dalai Lama escape from
Tibet to Lumla in Arunachal Pradesh in 1959.
1.532 Noted Odia writer Punya Prava Devi passes away

• Famous Odia writer Punya Prava Devi has recently passed away.
• She was the recipient of Kendra Sahitya Akademi award and national award for best children’s
literature.
1.533 Basti Vaman Shenoy passes away

• Founder of World Konkani Centre, Mangaluru (Karnataka), Basti Vaman Shenoy, has recently passed
away.

• He is known as the Vishwa Konkani Sardar (World Konkani Leader).
• He is the recipient of Karnataka Rajyothsava Award.
1.534 Richard Leakey passes away

• Kenyan conservationist and paleoanthropologist Richard Leakey has passed away.
• He worked extensively against the ivory trade to save the African elephant population.
1.535 Vikram Kothari passes away

• Vikram Kothari, the Managing Director (MD) of Rotomac Group has recently passed away.
• He was awarded as the best exporter by the Prime Minister in 1997.
1.536 Vice Admiral S.H. Sarma passes away

• Vice Admiral S.H. Sarma has recently passed away.
• He was an Indian Navy veteran from the 1971 Indo-Pak war.
1.537 Neil Nongkynrih passes away

• Founder of Shillong Chamber Choir and noted music composer Neil Nongkynrih has recently passed
away.
1.538 Adman, Actor, Author Gerson da Cunha passes away

• Advertising industry veteran, actor and author Gerson de Cunha has recently passed away.
• He was honored by the Brazilian government in 2018 with a medal of 'Order of Rio Branco' for his
services to Brazil.
1.539 Veteran Hollywood director Peter Bogdanovich passes away

• American Director and writer Peter Bogdanovich has recently passed away.
1.540 Actor Sidney Poitier passes away

• Bahamian-American actor Sidney Poitier has recently passed away.
• He was the first black man to win Oscar Award.
1.541 Google pays tribute to Fatima Sheikh

• Google has paid tribute to educator and feminist icon Fatima Sheikh on her 191st birth anniversary.
• She is considered to be the first Muslim woman teacher in India.
• She co-founded the Indigenous Library (one of India's first modern schools for girls) in 1848 in Pune,
Maharashtra along with Jyotirao and Savitribai Phule.
1.542 Binance CEO becomes richest man of Asia

• According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of crypto exchange
Binance, Changpeng Zhao, has become the richest man of Asia with an estimated net worth of USD
96 billion.
• He has become the 11th richest man in the world.
• The list is topped by CEO of Tesla Elon Musk with a net worth of USD 263 billion followed by Jeff
Bezos (rank 2nd) with net worth USD 188 billion.

1.543 Aung San Suu Kyi sentenced to 4 years in prison
• Myanmar’s leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been sentenced to four years in prison for illegally importing
and possessing walkie-talkies and violating coronavirus restrictions.
• She is the recipient of Nobel Peace prize.
1.544 First Black woman to appear on US coin

• Poet and activist Maya Angelou has become the first Black woman to appear on the U.S quarter, in
a new version of the coin unveiled by the US Mint.
• She is the first woman commemorated through the American Women Quarters Program (AWQP)
and the author of "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings".
About AWQP
• The program directs the US Mint to issue quarters each year between 2022 and 2025 featuring five
different notable women in U.S. history.
• The other figures to appear on the coin in 2022 are:
o Sally Ride, the first American woman in space.
o Wilma Mankiller, first female principal chief of the Cherokee Nation.
o Nina Otero-Warren, a suffrage leader.
o Anna May Wong, a Chinese-American film star.
1.545 Anti-Kremlin writer flees Russia

• A popular Russian satirist, writer and commentator Viktor Shenderovich has fled from Russia, fearing
of punitive criminal prosecution.
• He was famous for depicting Russian President Vladimir Putin as an ugly dwarf in a show called
“Puppets”.
S. Name of Deceased Country Field Miscellaneous

No.
1 Marilyn Bergman U.S Lyricist Recipient of Grammy, Emmy and Oscar
Award
2 Chandrashekhar India Kannada Writer Popularly known as “Champa”. He
Patil started a magazine ‘Sankrama’ in 1964
3 Michael Lang U.S Music Producer Co-creator of the 1969 Woodstock
music festival.
4 David Sassoli Italy Politician Ex- president of the European
Parliament.
5 Mihir Das India Actor Veteran Odia Actor
6 Bob Saget U.S Comedian/Actor --
7 N. India Hindi Scholar Recipient of Vishva Hindi Samman and
Chandrasekharan Padma Shri award. He was the founder
Nair of Kerala Hindi Sahitya Academy.
8 Shanti Devi Odisha Social Activist Padma Shri awardee and is known for
the eradication of Yaws, a chronic
bacterial infection.
9 Alekos Fassianos Greece Painter He was awarded Knight of the Order
of Arts and Letters by France.

10 Shaoli Mitra West Bengal Actor, Playwright, Recipient of Sangeet Natak Akademi
Director award and the Padma Shree award.
11 M.K. Prasad Kerala Environmentalist Leader of the national movement
against the Hydro-power project in
Silent Valley
12 Sam Rajappa India Journalist Recipient of Raja Ram Mohun Roy
award by Press Council of India.
13 Ibrahim B. Keïta Mali Politician Former President of Mali
14 N.D. Patil Maharashtra Politician --
15 Kalamandalam Kerala Classical Kathakali Recipient of Sangeet Natak Akademi
Kuttan Asan Dancer Award.
16 S. Ramesan Kerala Poet Recipient of Kerala Sahitya Akademi
Award and Asan Memorial Poetry
Prize
17 T.R. Nagaswamy Tamil Nadu Archaeologist Recipient of Padma Bhushan award
18 K.L. Manjunath Karnataka Judge Former Karnataka High Court judge
19 Kilingar Kerala Philanthropist, He was also known as Sairam Bhat.
Gopalakrishna Doctor
Bhat
20 Subhas Bhowmick West Bengal Footballer He was the bronze medalist in 1970
Asian Games.
14 Gaspard Ulliel France Actor He won the César Award in 2004 for
“A Very Long Engagement”.
15 S. Ranganathan Tamil Nadu Judge He was a former Supreme Court judge.
He wrote books on Meghadutam, Sri
Hamsa Sandesam and Sundara
Kandam.
16 Pandit Birju Dancer (Classical He was the descendant of the
Maharaj Kathak Maestro) Lucknow’s Maharaj family of Kathak
dancers.
Reecipient of: Padma Vibhushan,
Sangeet Natak Akademi Award,
Kalidas Samman, Filmfare Award and
National Film Award for Best
Choreography
17 Narayan Debnath West Bengal Cartoonist He was the creator of Bengali comic
strips Bantul the Great, Nonte Phonte
and Handa Bhonda and the recipient
of Padma Shri award.
He holds the record of longest running
comics by an individual artiste for
Handa Bhonda; which has completed
its continuous 53 years of running.
Days in News
S. No. Days Date Theme & Misc.

1 Army Day January 15 To commemorate Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa's taking
over as the first Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army
in 1949
2 64th DRDO Day January 1, Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO)
2022
3 World Braille Day January 4 To raise the importance of Braille; which serves as a
communication medium for blind and partially sighted
people.
4 75th BIS Foundation January 6, BIS: Bureau of Indian Standards
Day 2022 Founded as Indian Standards Institution (ISI).
5 Pravasi Bharatiya January 9 Misc: to mark the contribution of overseas Indians
Diwas towards the development of India.
th
6 350 Guru Gobind January 10, Birth anniversary of 10th Sikh Guru Gobind Singh ji (also
Singh Jayanti 2022 known as the Prakash Parv).
7 World Hindi Day January 10 Misc: On the occasion, UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre
has agreed to publish Hindi descriptions of India's
UNESCO World Heritage Sites on its website.
8 Lohri January 13 Punjabi folk festival
9 Makar Sankranti January 14 Pongal in Tamil Nadu and Bhogali Bihu in Assam.
10 Armed Forces January 14 To honor the sacrifice of Army veterans in serving the
Veterans’ Day nation.
11 Army Day January 15 To commemorate General (later Field Marshal) K.M.
Cariappa's taking over the command of the Indian Army
and becoming the first Commander-in-Chief of the Indian
Army in 1949.
12 Thiruvalluvar Day January 15 It is celebrated to honor Tamil poet, Thiruvalluvar and is
celebrated in Tamil Nadu. He was the author of classic
Tamil text ‘Thirukkural’.
13 NDRF Raising Day January 19 NDRF: National Disaster Response Force
14 Birth anniversary of January 17 M. G. Ramachandran (MGR) was the former Chief
MGR Minister of Tamil Nadu and recipient of Bharat Ratna.
15 50th Statehood Day January 21 Carved out of Assam.
of Meghalaya
16 50th Statehood Day January 21 Attained full statehood in 1972.
of Tripura
17 50th Statehood Day January 21 Attained full statehood in 1972.
of Manipur
18 Parakram Diwas January 23 125th Birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose
He started a newspaper called “Swaraj” and coined the
term “Jai Hind”.
He also authored a book called “The Indian Struggle”.
19 National Girl Child January 24 Ministry of Culture has organized a rangoli making event
Day ‘Umang Rangoli Utsav’ at more than 50 locations across
the country
20 Himachal Pradesh January 25 In 1971, Himachal Pradesh became the 18th state of
Statehood Day India.
21 National Tourism January 25 Theme: 'Rural and Community Centric Tourism'
Day
22 Data Privacy Day January 28 Theme: Privacy Matters

23 International January 26 Theme: Scaling up Customs Digital Transformation by
Customs Day Embracing a Data Culture and Building a Data Ecosystem.
24 Birth Anniversary of January 28 He was an author and Indian freedom fighter. He was
Lala Lajpat Rai also known as “Punjab Kesari”.
25 Martyrs’ Day January 30 Also known as Shaheed Diwas; to mark the death
anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
26 30th National January 31, A programme has been organized on the occasion.
Commission for 2022 Theme of the programme: ‘She the Change Maker’.
Women (NCW)
Foundation Day
27 World Neglected January 30 Theme: “Achieving health equity to end the neglect of
Tropical Diseases poverty-related diseases.”
(NTDs) Day Aim: to spread awareness against NTDs (group of parasitic
and bacterial infectious diseases).
A virtual event has been organized by National Centre for
Vector Borne Diseases Control (NCVBDC) and New Delhi
Railway Station has been illuminated in purple and
orange hues.
28 73rd Republic Day January 26, From this year the celebrations will be week-long
2022 beginning from 23rd January till 30th January.
The National Cadet Corps (NCC) has launched the
‘Shaheedon Ko Shat Shat Naman’ programme to honor
the supreme sacrifices of the martyrs.
29 46th ICG Raising Day February 1 ICG: Indian Coast Guard
1.546 National Science Day: February 28

• National Science Day (NSD) is celebrated every year on February 28 to commemorate the discovery
of the ‘Raman Effect’ by Sir C.V. Raman.
• Theme: ‘Integrated Approach in S&T for Sustainable Future’.
• Department of Science and Technology (DST) is the nodal agency to support and coordinate
celebration of the National Science Day throughout the country.
• On the occasion of NSD multiple awards are conferred. These are:
o National Awards for Science Popularization instituted by DST.
o SERB Women Excellence Award by the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB).
o AWSAR award, by DST, to recognize the works of research scholars.
1.547 Veer Baal Diwas: 26th December

• The Government of India has announced to commemorate 26th December as “Veer Baal Diwas” in
the honor of Sahibzada Zorawar Singh and Sahibzada Fateh Singh.
• They were the younger sons of the 10th Sikh Guru Govind Singh ji, who laid down their lives on 26th
December, 1705 to defend the dignity and honor of Sikhism.
1.548 100th anniversary of Har Gobind Khorana

• The 100th anniversary of scientist Har Gobind Khorana has been celebrated on January 10th, 2022.
• He was the recipient of Nobel Prize in Medicine along with Marshall Nirenberg and Robert Holley of
America for the interpretation of the genetic code.

1.549 National Youth Day
• National Youth Day, also known as Vivekananda Jayanti, is celebrated on January 12th to
commemorate the birth of Swami Vivekananda.
• On the occasion two virtual webinars have been organized:
o On “Swami Vivekananda: The Guiding Spirit for New India” by Press Information Bureau (PIB),
Regional Outreach Bureau (ROB) Bhubaneswar and Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS),
Odisha.
o On “Swami Vivekananda’s teachings: Relevance for today’s Youth” by PIB, Ministry of
Information & Broadcasting, ROB and Punjab University, Chandigarh.
1.550 Department of School Education and Literacy celebrating the iconic week
• Recently, the Department of School Education and Literacy will be celebrating the iconic week from
17th January - 21st January, 2022.
Key Details of the Week
• A 2 day International webinar on Toys and Games to Play.
• A webinar on Inclusive Education.
o It will be organized in partnership with Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) with theme ‘Ed Tech
start-ups focused on children with special needs’.
• 27th National Annual Conference of Sahodaya School Complexes.
• It will be organized by the CBSE on the theme ‘PUNARNAVA – REDISCOVERY OF INDIA @75’.
1.551 International Day of Education

• Recently, the International Day of Education was observed on January 24th.
o It was the 4th International Day of Education since its beginning.
o Theme: Changing Course, Transforming Education.
• India celebrates National Education Day on November 11, every year.
• The day marks the birth anniversary of first Education Minister of India, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.
1.552 Open Data Week

• Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has initiated, Open Data Week.
o The week is celebrated between January 17, 2022 and January 21, 2022.
o The Event will see participation from all 100 Smart Cities that will be publishing high quality
datasets and data blogs on the Smart Cities Open Data Portal.
• The Data Day celebration is a part of the Open Data Week celebration.
• It is to be celebrated on 21st January 2022.
1.553 First-ever National Startup Day

• Recently, the India has celebrated the first-ever National Startup Day on 16th January 2022.
o It has an aim to support the startup culture spread across India.
• It also marks the 6th anniversary of the Startup India initiative which was launched on 16th January
2016.

1.554 National Innovation Week
• Recently, the Ministry of Education (MoE), AICTE, and Ministry of Commerce & Industry (DPIIT) are
jointly organizing ‘National Innovation Week’.
• From January 10th to 16th, 2022.
1.555 National Tourism Day

• Recently, the Ministry of Tourism has celebrated the National Tourism Day on 25th of January 2022.
o The theme of this year's celebration is “Rural and Community Centric Tourism”.
• During the program, Union Minister of Tourism launched the digital booklet 75 incredible sites to
visit in India and Incredible India 2022 digital calendar
• This calendar has been prepared by the Ministry of Tourism dedicated to tourism sites.
1.556 Food Corporation of India celebrates its 58th Foundation Day

• Recently, the Food Corporation of India (FCI) has celebrated its 58th Foundation Day on 14th January
2022.
1.557 National Girl Child Day

• Recently, the Ministry of Women and Child Development has celebrated the National Girl Child Day
on 24th January, 2022.
1.558 12th National Voters’ Day

• Recently, the 12th National Voters’ Day was celebrated across the country today on January 25, 2021.
• The theme for this year is ‘Making Elections Inclusive, Accessible and Participative’.
2 Important Reports in January 2022
S. Name of Report Published By Highlights
No.
1 Global Economic World Bank It is issued twice a year, in January and June. The global
Prospectus Report economy is expected to grow by 4.1% in 2022, down from
4.3% (June 2021, forecast).The global economy has grown
at 5.5% in 2021 and will grow at 3.2% in 2023. The Indian
economy growth forecast has been retained for financial
year 2021-22 (FY22) at 8.3%. It has also upgraded the
forecast for FY23 and FY24 at 8.7% and 6.8% respectively.
2 Global Risks World Economic The report examines risks across five categories: economic,
Report 2022 Forum environmental, geopolitical, societal, and technological.
The global economy expected to be 2.3% smaller by 2024
than it would have been without the pandemic. Climate
action failure, extreme weather events and biodiversity
loss are perceived as the biggest threats for the global
population over the next decade. Social cohesion erosion,
livelihood crises and mental health deterioration are three
of the five risks seen as the most concerning threats to the
world in the next two years. Top 5 risks facing India are:
• Fracture of interstate relations
• Debt crisis in large economies
• Widespread youth disillusionment
• Failure of technology governance
• Digital inequality
3 India State of Ministry of The report is an assessment of India’s forest and tree cover,
Forest Report Environment, which is published every two years by the Forest Survey of
2021 Forest and India under the MoEFCC. The total forest and tree cover of
Climate Change the country is 80.9 million hectare which is 24.62% of the
(MoEFCC) geographical area of the country. The forest cover in the
country has increased by 1,540 square kilometres over the
past two years, while the tree cover has increased by 721
square kilometres. Currently, 17 states/UT’s have above
33% of the geographical area under forest cover. India’s
forest cover is 21.71% of the country’s geographical area,
while the tree cover is 2.91% of the geographical area.
Andhra Pradesh (647 sq km) has shown maximum increase
in forest cover, while Telangana (3.07%) has shown
maximum increase in percentage to area of state terms.
Area-wise Madhya Pradesh has the largest forest cover in
the country while in terms of forest cover as percentage of
total geographical area, Mizoram (84.53%) tops the list.
The forest cover in tiger corridors has increased by 37.15
square kilometres (0.32%) from 2011-2021, but decreased
by 22.6 square kilometres (0.04%) in tiger reserves. Pakke
Tiger Reserve in Arunachal Pradesh has the highest forest
cover, at nearly 97%. By 2030, 45-64% of forests in India will
experience the effects of climate change and rising
temperatures. 35.46% of the forest cover is prone to forest
fires and the highest numbers of forest fires were detected
in Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
4 Annual Report on Reserve Bank of The report has been prepared for the nine-month period,
Ombudsman India (RBI) i.e., from July 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021. It covers the
Scheme 2020-21 activities under the Banking Ombudsman Scheme, 2006
(BOS), the Ombudsman Scheme for Non-Banking Financial
Companies, 2018 (OSNBFC) and the Ombudsman Scheme
for Digital Transactions, 2019 (OSDT). The volume of
complaints received under all the three Ombudsman
Schemes increased by 22.27% on an annualized basis and
stood at 3,03,107 during the reported period. The BOS
accounted for 90.13% (2,73,204), OSNBFC for 8.89%
(26,957) and OSDT 0.98% (2,946) of the total number of
complaints. The overall disposal rate improved to 96.59%
5 Inequality Kills Oxfam A new billionaire has been created every 26 hours since
the pandemic began. The world’s 10 richest men have
more than doubled to $1.5 trillion (over ₹111 lakh crore) at
a rate of $1.3 billion (₹9,000 crore) a day, while over 160
million people are projected to have been pushed
into poverty. The 10 richest men in the world own six times
more than the bottom 3.1 billion people. Inequality is
contributing to the death of at least 21,300 people each
day, or one person every four seconds. The pandemic has
set gender parity back from 99 years to now 135 years. 369

million children have reportedly lost access to school
meals during the pandemic.
6 Inequality Kills: Oxfam India has been described as a ‘very unequal,’ country, as
India Supplement the top 10 people in India holds 57% of the wealth. The
2022 share of the bottom half of the population in national
wealth is a mere 6%. The income of 84% of households in
the country has declined in 2021. The number of Indian
billionaires grew from 102 to 142. The richest 98 Indians
own the same wealth as the bottom 552 million people. The
wealth of the top 100 families is ₹57.3 trillion. India has the
third-highest number of billionaires in the world, just
behind China and the United States.
7 World Economic United Nations It has projected growth forecast for global GDP 2021 –
Situation and Department of 5.5%, 2022 – 4.0% and 2023 – 3.5%.The growth forecast for
Prospectus(WESP) Economic and India GDP according to calendar year is 2021 – 9%, 2022 –
Report 2022 Social Affairs 6.7% and 2023 – 6.1%. The GDP growth forecast of India in
(UN-DESA) fiscal year 2021-22 is estimated to be at 6.5% and for fiscal
year 2022-2023 at 5.9%.
8 Global Cyber World Economic The ransomware attacks increased by 151% in 2021, and an
Security Outlook Forum (WEF) average of 270 cyberattacks per organisation are being
2022 faced. Each successful cyber breach cost a company $3.6
million (almost ₹27 crore) last year. The cyber security
leaders around the globe have listed ransomware, identity
theft and critical infrastructure failure among their top
personal cyber risk concerns. Currently, companies need
280 days on average to identify and respond to a
cyberattack. The cyberattack organization are most
concerned about ransomware attacks, social engineering
attacks and malicious insider activity.
9 World International The global unemployment is projected to stand at 207
Employment and Labour million in 2022 and this is 21 million more than in 2019. The
Social Outlook Organisation global unemployment rate is projected to reach 5.9% in
Trends 2022 (ILO) 2022, while the global labour force participation rate will
be 59.3% in 2022. The employment to population ratio will
be 55.9% in 2022. The global working hours in 2022 will be
almost 2% below their pre-pandemic level, which is
equivalent to the loss of 52 million full-time jobs. In 2022,
around 40 million people will no longer be participating in
the global labour force.
10 District Good Department of This is India’s First “District Good Governance Index”
Governance Index Administrative prepared for the 20 districts of the Union Territory of Jammu
Reforms and and Kashmir. The framework of the index has been finalised
Public with technical support from the Centre for Good
Grievances Governance (CGG) Hyderabad. The index is modelled on
(DARPG) in the Good Governance Index 2021 and it uses 58 indicators
collaboration across 116 data points in 10 sectors. The index has been
with the Jammu topped by Jammu district. It is followed by districts of Doda,
& Kashmir Samba, Pulwama and Srinagar in the UT of Jammu and
Administration Kashmir. The district of Rajouri finished at the last spot.

11 2022 Asian Wetlands The Asian Waterbird Census (AWC) is an integral part of
Waterbird Census International and International Waterbird Census which is conducted in 143
(AWC) Bombay Natural countries. The AWC is an annual event and takes place once
History Society a year, during the second and third weeks of January.
(BNHS)
12 Corruption Transparency It uses a scale of 0 to 100 to rank, where 0 is highly corrupt
Perception Index International and 100 is very clean. Denmark, Finland and New Zealand
2021 have all topped the index, each scoring 88. South Sudan
(11), Syria (13) and Somalia (13) are ranked at the bottom
of the index. More than two-thirds of countries (68%) score
below 50 and the average global score remains static at 43.
India’s rank improved by one place to 85th in 2021 from
86th in 2020, though the score has remained same at 40.
13 World Economic International It is usually published twice a year in the months of April
Outlook Monetary Fund and October and the WEO Update is published in January
(IMF) and July. The global growth forecast is 5.9% for 2021, 4.4%
for 2022 and 3.8% for 2023. India’s economy will grow at
9% in 2021-2022, 9% in 2022-23 and 7.1% in 2023-24.
14 Banking on NITI Aayog, The cumulative investment in India’s electric vehicle (EV)
Electric Vehicles in Rocky Mountain transition could be ₹19.7 lakh crore ($266 billion) between
India: A Blueprint Institute (RMI) 2020 and 2030. The Banks and non-banking financial
for Inclusion of and RMI India companies (NBFCs) in India have the potential to achieve
EVs in Priority an electric vehicle (EV) financing market size of ₹40,000
Sector Lending crore by 2025 and ₹3.7 lakh crore ($50 billion) by 2030.
Guidelines
15 Climate Hazard Indian The atlas features 14 extreme weather events such as
and Vulnerability Meteorological
extreme rainfall, drought, coldwave, heatwave, dust
Atlas of India Department
storms, hail storm, thunderstorm, cyclones, snowfall,
(IMD) under
lightning, winds and fog. The Atlas provides hazard events
Ministry of Earth
and vulnerability separately. There are 640 climate
Sciences vulnerability maps available in the online atlas. The section
‘Climate Hazard Map’ includes maps on dust storm,
hailstorm, thunderstorm, fog, lightning, wind hazard,
extreme rainfall events, drought, and cyclone while the
‘Climate Vulnerability Map’ section has
maps/information/data for cold wave, heat wave, floods,
lightning and snowfall. While lightning causes the highest
casualty, floods, cyclones and fog cause huge economic and
livelihood losses.
16 BiodiverCities by World Economic The report is a key output of the BiodiverCities by 2030
2030: Forum initiative, which is led jointly by the World Economic Forum
Transforming and the Alexander von Humboldt Biological Resources
Cities Relationship Research Institute and championed by the Government of
with Nature Colombia. Currently, cities contribute nearly 80% to the
global economy, but they will host 75% of the world’s
population by 2050. Around 44% of global GDP in cities
($31 trillion) is estimated to be at risk of disruption from
nature loss. BiodiverCities have five characteristics, guiding

nature-positive actions on infrastructure, governance,
economy, health and wellbeing.
3 Important Schemes in News January 2022

S.No Scheme in News About Scheme What’s in News?
1 Target Olympic ▪ Launch Year – 2014 Prime Minister of India laid the
Podium Scheme ▪ Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports foundation stone of Major Dhyan Chand
▪ Aim - To identify and support potential Sports University in Meerut, Uttar
medal prospects for upcoming Olympic Pradesh.
Games Sports University will be established at
▪ Department of Sports shall identify an estimated cost of about Rs 700 Crore.
athletes who are potential medal University will have the capacity of
winners in Olympics. training 1080 sports persons including
▪ The selected athletes can seek 540 female and 540 male sportspersons.
assistance under the scheme.
Ace rider Fouaad Mirza, golfers Anirban
Lahiri, Aditi Ashok and Diksha Dagar
and Alpine Skier Mohammed Arif Khan
are among the 10 athletes added by the
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports’
Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) to the list of
athletes who would be provided support
under the scheme.
2 Deen Dayal ▪ Launch Year – 2011 DAY-NRLM has observed ‘Agri Nutri
Antyodaya ▪ Ministry of Rural Development Garden Week’ from 10th to 17th January,
Yojana - National ▪ Aim - To mobilize 10-12 crore rural 2022 through awareness campaign and
Rural Livelihood households into self-help groups in a encouraging establishment of ‘Agri
Mission (DAY- time bound manner by 2024-25. Nutri Gardens’ in the rural households.
NRLM) ▪ It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme A total of 76,664 ‘Agri Nutri Gardens’
were established in the week against
the target of 7500
3 Pradhan Mantri ▪ Launch Year – 2019, Effective from 2018 Prime Minister of India has released a
Kisan Samman ▪ Ministry of Agriculture & Farmer’s grant of Rs. 685 crore to Karnataka
Nidhi (PM- Welfare under the scheme, benefiting 34.26 lakh
KISAN) ▪ Aim - To benefit 14.5 crore beneficiaries farmers in the State.
on the basis of the Agriculture Census,
2015-16 Prime Minister of India has released the
▪ It is a Central Sector Scheme. 10th installment of financial benefit
▪ An amount of Rs 6000 per year in three under the scheme.
equal installments of Rs 2,000 each Under the scheme, an amount of Rs
every four months is released by the 20,900 crore has been transferred to
Central Government online directly into 10.09 crore beneficiary farmer families
the bank accounts of the eligible farmers across the country.
4 Electoral Bond ▪ Launch Year – 2018 Government has approved the issuance
Scheme ▪ Authorized Agency - State Bank of India of the 19th tranche of electoral bonds.

▪ Electoral bonds will allow donors to pay
political parties using banks as an
intermediary
▪ The electoral bond, which will be a
bearer instrument, will not carry the
name of the payee and can be bought for
any value, in multiples of Rs 1,000, Rs
10,000, Rs 1 lakh, Rs 10 lakh or Rs 1
crore.
5 Central ▪ Launch Year – 1954 Minister of State, Ministry of Health and
Government ▪ Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Family Welfare has inaugurated a
Health Scheme ▪ Aim - Providing comprehensive medical Central Government Health Scheme
care to the beneficiaries Wellness Centre in Nashik,
▪ It is a contributory health scheme Maharashtra.
primarily meant for Central Government
Employees and Pensioners and their
eligible family members, which provides
primary healthcare through its Wellness
Centres.
6. Mukhyamantri ▪ Launch Year – 2022 Prime Minister has launched
Tripura Gram ▪ Launched By – Tripura Mukhyamantri Tripura Gram Samriddhi
Samriddhi ▪ To achieve the benchmark standards for Yojana.
Yojana service delivery in core development
sectors at the village level
▪ The key sectors selected for this Yojana
are household tap connections, domestic
electricity connections, all weather
roads, functional toilets for every
household, recommended immunization
for every child, participation of women in
Self Help Groups etc.
7. Free Mobile ▪ Launch Year – 2022 Free Mobile Tablet Scheme has been
Tablet Scheme ▪ Launched By - Uttarakhand Government launched.
▪ About 2.65 lakh students of Class 10 and
12 of degree colleges and state schools
will get benefit from this scheme.
▪ Under the scheme, Rs 12,000 was given
for buying mobile tablets to class 10 and
12 students of state government schools
8. National Mission ▪ NMCG was registered as a society on Shri G Asok Kumar, Additional
for Clean Ganga 12th August 2011 under the Societies Secretary, Ministry of Jal Shakti took
(NMCG) Registration Act 1860. over as the new Director General for the
▪ Ministry of Jal Shakti National Mission for Clean Ganga,
▪ Aim - To ensure effective abatement of Ministry of Jal Shakti.
pollution and rejuvenation of the river
Ganga by adopting a river basin approach
to promote inter-sectoral co-ordination

for comprehensive planning and
management.
9. Jal Jeevan ▪ Launch Year – 2019 Ministry of Jal Shakti’s tableau “Jal
Mission ▪ Ministry of Jal Shakti Jeevan Mission: Changing Lives” on
▪ Objective - To provide safe and adequate Republic Day 2022 will display how at an
drinking water through altitude of more than 13,000 ft in harsh
individual household tap connections by winter, it is bringing ease and improving
2024 to all households in rural India. quality of life of people of Ladakh by
▪ Total estimated cost of JJM is ₹3.60 Lakh providing clean tap water to their
Crore homes.
▪ Government of India has restructured
and subsumed the ongoing National
Rural Drinking Water Programme
(NRDWP) into Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM).
10. Pradhan Mantri ▪ Launch Year – 2021 The government has released
Mega Integrated ▪ Ministry of Textiles operational guidelines for PM Mega
Textile Region ▪ Aim - To create world class industrial Integrated Textile Region and Apparel
and Apparel (PM infrastructure that would attract cutting (PM MITRA) parks scheme as per which
MITRA) Scheme edge technology and boost FDI and local the state government will transfer land
investment in the sector to the Special Purpose Vehicle- a legal
▪ Budgetary Outlay - Rs 4,445 crore for a entity with 51% equity shareholding of
period 2021-22 to 2027-28 the state and 49% of the centre.
▪ The scheme is inspired by the 5F vision
of Prime Minister, which is Farm to fibre;
fibre to factory; factory to fashion;
fashion to foreign.
▪ 7 PM MITRA Parks will be setup at
Greenfield or Brownfield sites and the
sites will be selected by a challenge
mode.
11. Pradhan Mantri ▪ Launch Year – 2014 PMJDY has completed 7 years and
Jan Dhan Yojna ▪ Ministry of Finance brought more than 430 million
(PMJDY) beneficiaries, with Rs 1.451 trillion in
For Accounts opened after 28 August 2018 balances, under the banking system
▪ Existing Overdraft (OD) limit of Rs 5,000
to be raised to Rs 10,000.
▪ There will not be any conditions attached
for OD up to Rs 2,000.
▪ Age limit for availing OD facility to be
revised from 18-60 years to 18-65 years.
▪ Under the expanded coverage from
"every household to every adult",
accidental insurance cover for new
RuPay card holders to be raised from Rs
1 lakh to Rs 2 lakh to new PMJDY
accounts opened after 28 August 2018

12. Unnat Jyoti by ▪ Launch Year – 2015 Ministry of Power has successfully
Affordable LEDs ▪ Ministry of Power completed 7 years of distributing and
for All (UJALA) ▪ Implemented by - Energy Efficiency selling LED lights under its flagship
Services Limited (EESL) UJALA programme.
▪ Aim - To promote efficient lighting, As of today, more than 36.78 crore LEDs
reducing energy consumption and have been distributed across the
energy savings country.
▪ It was launched as National LED
programme by PM Modi in January
2015.
▪ It was renamed UJALA in March 2016.
13. Pradhan Mantri ▪ Ministry of Rural Development Tamil Nadu government has decided to
Awas Yojana – ▪ Target - Construction of 2.95 crore launch a housing scheme for
Gramin (PMAY- houses with all basic amenities by the construction workers under which
G) year 2022 beneficiaries will be given an assistance
▪ Minimum size of house is 25 sq. mt. of Rs. 4 lakh each.
▪ Unit assistance of Rs. 1.20 lakh in plain Two streams under the scheme –
and Rs 1.30 lakh in hilly states, difficult o In the first stream, the minimum
areas size of house is 300 square feet, for
▪ Loan upto Rs. 70000 from financial which the unit cost of Rs. 2.76 lakh
institutions and the additional cost of Rs. 1.24
▪ Provision of assistance for toilets lakh will be sanctioned.
construction (Rs. 12000) though o In second stream, norms under
convergence with Swachh Bharat Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana
Mission-Gramin, MGNREGS etc. (Urban) will be followed with a
maximum assistance of Rs. 4 lakh
14 Pradhan Mantri ▪ Launch Year – 2020 Union Minister for Ministry of Food
Formalisation of ▪ Ministry of Food Processing Industries Processing Industries, along with
Micro food (MoFPI) officials of NAFED has launched 6 One
processing ▪ Aim - To provide financial, technical and District One Product (ODOP) brands
Enterprises business support for upgradation of under the scheme.
(PMFME) existing micro food processing Ministry of Food Processing Industries
Scheme enterprises has signed an agreement with NAFED
▪ Tenure - 5 years – from 2020-21 to 2024- for developing 10 brands of selected
25 ODOPs under the branding and
▪ Type - Centrally Sponsored Scheme. marketing component of the PMFME
scheme.
15. Rashtriya ▪ Launch Year – 2017 A ‘Samajik Adhikarita Shivir’ for
Vayoshri Yojana ▪ Ministry of Social Justice & distribution of aids and assistive
Empowerment devices to senior citizens & Divyangjan
▪ Implemented By - Artificial Limbs under the Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana
Manufacturing Corporation of India (RVY) & ADIP Scheme has been
(ALIMCO) organized by the Department of
▪ Central Sector Scheme funded from the Empowerment of Persons with
Senior Citizens’ Welfare Fund. Disabilities (DEPwD) in association with
ALIMCO and Department of Social
Welfare, Manipur at Langmeidong

▪ All unclaimed amounts from small Public Play Ground in Kakching District
savings accounts, PPF and EPF are of Manipur.
transferred to this fund.
▪ 30% of the beneficiaries in each district
shall be women.
16. India Covid-19 ▪ Launch Year – 2021 Centre has clarified that it has released
Emergency ▪ Ministry of Health and Family Welfare 50% of Emergency COVID Response
Response and ▪ Aim - To prevent, detect and respond to Plans-II (ECRP-II) funds earmarked for
Health Systems the continuing threat posed by COVID-19 States and Union Territories, and not
Preparedness and strengthen national health systems 26.14% as claimed in some media
Package - Phase- for emergency response and reports.
II" (ECRP - Phase preparedness across the country
II) ▪ The scheme is a Centrally Sponsored
Scheme (CSS) with some Central Sector
(CS) components.
17. Pradhan Mantri ▪ Launch Year – 2021 An agreement was signed between
Poshan Shakti ▪ Ministry of Education Akshaya Patra Foundation (TAPF) and
Nirman (PM ▪ Aim - Providing one hot cooked meal in the United Nations World Food
POSHAN) Government and Government-aided Programme (WFP) in India to partner on
Scheme schools from 2021-22 to 2025-26 enhancing the effectiveness of the
▪ Total Scheme Budget - Rs 130794.90 Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman
crore (PM POSHAN) scheme (earlier Mid-Day
▪ The earlier name of the scheme was Meal Scheme).
‘National Scheme for Mid-Day Meal in
Schools’ popularly known as Mid-Day
Meal Scheme
▪ This is a Centrally - Sponsored Scheme
which covers all school children studying
in Classes I-VIII in Government,
Government-Aided Schools
18. Ayushman ▪ Launch Year – 2018 Public Health Foundation of India and
Bharat – ▪ Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Duke Global Health Institute, United
Pradhan Mantri ▪ Aim - To provide a health cover of Rs 5States, revealed that this scheme failed
Jan Arogya lakhs per family per year for secondaryto deliver when it was needed the most.
Yojana (AB- and tertiary care hospitalization to over
Their report showed that the Pradhan
PMJAY) 10.74 crores poor and vulnerable Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY)
families (approximately 50 crore provided cushion to only 14.25% of
beneficiaries) that form the bottom 40%people hospitalised for the novel
of the Indian population. coronavirus disease (COVID-19),
between April 2020 and June 2021.
19. ‘Establishing of ▪ Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Prime Minister of India has inaugurated
New Medical ▪ Type - Centrally Sponsored Scheme 11 new government medical colleges in
Colleges ▪ Medical colleges are established in Tamil Nadu.
attached with districts, which do not have either a The new colleges in Ariyalur, Dindigul,
existing government or private medical college. Kallakurichi, Krishnagiri,
district/referral Nagapattinam, Namakkal,
hospital’

▪ Under the scheme, Government of India Ramanathapuram, the Nilgiris,
has approved establishment of 157 new Tiruppur, Tiruvallur and Virudhunagar.
medical colleges in three phases
20. e-Verification ▪ Launch Year – 2021 Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT)
Scheme, 2021 ▪ Notified By - Central Board of Direct has issued new rules for faceless
Taxes (CBDT) collection of information from
▪ This scheme covers faceless information taxpayers, where mismatches are
collection from assessees and its detected.
verification.
21. Milk Price ▪ Launch Year – 2021 Uttarakhand Government has launched
Incentive ▪ Launched By - Uttarakhand Government this scheme.
Scheme ▪ This scheme will benefit around 53,000
people.
▪ Under the scheme, money will be directly
put into the beneficiaries' accounts
via Direct Bank Transfer (DBT).
22. Atma Nirbhar ▪ Launch Year – 2021 Uttar Pradesh Government has
Krishak ▪ Launched By - Uttar Pradesh launched this scheme.
Integrated Government
Development ▪ Aim - Boosting the agriculture sector
Scheme ▪ Under this scheme, 1,475 Farmer
Producer Organisations (FPOs) will be
formed in the next three years in each
development block of the state
23. Sports Action ▪ Launch Year - 2021 Jharkhand Government has launched
toward ▪ Launched By - Jharkhand Government this scheme.
Harnessing ▪ Aim - Nurturing young sporting talents in
Aspiration of Maoist-hit districts
Youth (SAHAY) ▪ Under the scheme, boys and girls in the
Scheme 14-19 age group from villages to ward
level will be registered under the
scheme, and given opportunities to
display their skills in basketball,
volleyball, hockey and athletics.
24. Khel Nursery ▪ Launch Year – 2021 Haryana Government has launched this
Scheme ▪ Launched By - Haryana Government scheme.
▪ Aim - To promote sports in the state
▪ Sports nurseries will be started in
government, private educational
institutions and private sports
institutions, for the sports included in
the Olympic, Asian and Commonwealth
Games
25. Mahila Mitra ▪ Launch Year – 2021 Federal Bank has launched this scheme.
Plus Scheme ▪ Launched By - Federal Bank
▪ It is a feature-rich savings bank product
for women.

▪ It provides a curated set of features,
designed to make financial planning and
investments easy for women
26. Mukhyamantri ▪ Launch Year – 2021 Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik
Vayu Swasthya ▪ Launched By - Odisha Government has launched Mukhyamantri Vayu
Seva ▪ Services will be offered free of cost to Swasthya Seva (air health services) at
patients in Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, the Biju Patnaik International Airport.
Kalahandi and Nuapada.
▪ Other districts of the state will be
covered under the programme in a
phased manner.
▪ If required, critical patients will be
airlifted to Bhubaneswar and Cuttack
27. Smart Cities ▪ Launch Year – 2015 A virtual roadshow to showcase Public
Mission ▪ Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs Private Partnership (PPP) opportunities
▪ It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme. under the Smart Cities Mission was
▪ The Mission will cover 100 cities and its organised by the Ministry of Housing
duration will be five years (FY2015-16 to and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) and Invest
FY2019-20). India
▪ The Central Government will give
financial support to the extent of Rs
48,000 crores over 5 years i.e. on an
average Rs 100 crore per city per year.
▪ An equal amount on a matching basis is
to be provided by the State/ULB.
28. Pradhan Mantri ▪ Launch Year – 2016 Around 4 lakh more acres have been
Fasal Bima ▪ Ministry of Agriculture & Farmer brought under the fold of the Prime
Yojana Welfare Minister’s Crop Insurance Scheme for
▪ Type - Centrally Sponsored Scheme the Samba cultivation season of 2021-
▪ It has replaced the National Agricultural 22, compared to the corresponding
Insurance Scheme (NAIS) and Modified period last year.
NAIS. During this year’s season, around 29.33
▪ Uniform premium of 2% for Kharif Crops, lakh acres were insured, of which paddy
1.5% for Rabi Crops and 5% for accounted for 27.21 lakh acres.
commercial and Horticulture crops.
29 Unnat Bharat ▪ Launch Year – 2018 University Grants Commission (UGC) as
Abhiyan 2.0 ▪ Ministry of Education part of Government of India’s 75-week
▪ Aim - To engage the faculty and students long campaign of Azadi ka Amrit
of Higher Educational Institutions Mahotsav has launched the Training of
(HEIs) in identifying development issues Master’s Trainers program in
in rural areas and finding sustainable Community - based Participatory
solutions for the same. Research under Unnat Bharat Abhiyan
▪ Under this institution have been selected 2.0.
on a Challenge Mode and the scheme
has been extended to 750 reputed
Higher Educational Institutes (both
public and private) of the country.

30 Atal Innovation ▪ Launch Year – 2016 Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI
Mission (AIM) ▪ Nodal Agency - NITI Aayog Aayog has declared the results of the
▪ Aim - To promote a culture of innovation ‘ATL Space Challenge 2021’.
and entrepreneurship in the country The Challenge was launched in
collaboration with Indian Space
Research Organisation (ISRO) and
Central Board of Secondary Education
(CBSE).
Minister of State for Education has

addressed the Assistive Technology
Innovation Showcase for inclusive
Education organised by Department of
School Education and Literacy in
association with Atal Innovation
Mission, NITI Aayog.
31. Aroma Mission ▪ Launch Year – 2016 Union Minister of State (Independent
▪ Ministry of Science & Technology Charge) Science & Technology said that
▪ Aim - To bring transformative change in country is observing the first National
the aroma sector Start-up Day on 16th January 2022.
▪ The nodal laboratory is CSIR-Central Minister announced that CSIR has
Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic launched Phase-II of Aroma Mission
Plants (CSIR-CIMAP), Lucknow. after the completion of Phase-I.
▪ The participating laboratories are CSIR- In addition to IIIM, CSIR-IHBT, CSIR-
Institute of Himalayan Bio resource CIMAP, CSIR-NBRI and CSIR-NEIST are
Technology (CSIR-IHBT), Palampur; CSIR- also now participating in the Aroma
Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine Mission.
(CSIR-IIIM), Jammu etc.
32. National ▪ Launch Year – 2020 Ministry of Textiles has cleared 20
Technical ▪ Ministry of Textiles strategic research projects worth Rs 30
Textiles Mission ▪ Aim -To position the country as a global crore in the areas of specialty Fibres and
leader in technical textiles and increase Geotextiles.
the use of technical textiles in the These strategic research projects fall
domestic market. under the government's flagship
▪ Taking domestic market size to $40 programme ‘National Technical Textiles
billion to $50 billion by 2024. Mission.
▪ Implementation period - 2020-21 to
2023-24
33. Skill India ▪ Launch Year – 2015 Union Minister of Coal has informed that
Mission ▪ Ministry of Skill Development and NLC India Ltd has signed an MoU with
Entrepreneurship Tamil Nadu government to impart skill
▪ Aim - To provide market-relevant skills development to the youth under Skill
training to more than 40 crore young India Mission.
people in the country by the year 2022
34. Scheme for grant ▪ Approved in – 2020 Union Cabinet has approved the
of ex-gratia ▪ Ministry of Finance payment of ex-gratia amount of Rs.
payment of ▪ Nodal Agency - State Bank of India (SBI) 973.74 crore pertaining to remaining

difference claims submitted by Lending Institutions
between (LIs) under Scheme for grant of ex-gratia
compound payment of difference between
interest and compound interest and simple interest
simple interest for six months to borrowers in specified
loan accounts (1.3.2020 to 31.8.2020).
35. Water Supply ▪ Launch By - Tamil Nadu Government for Tamil Nadu Government has launched
Improvement 24,983 households in Namakkal this scheme.
Scheme (WSIS) municipality (in Jan 2022)
▪ Outlay - Rs. 185.24 crore
▪ Executed under the Tamil Nadu
Sustainable Urban Development
Programme (TNSUDP) of the World
Bank and implemented by Tamil Nadu
Water Supply and Drainage Board
(TWAD Board) that ensures supply of
135 Litres Per Capita per Day (LPCD) to
cover a population of 1.59 lakh in all the
39 wards.
36. Drone ▪ Launch Year – 2022 Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has
Certification ▪ Ministry of Civil Aviation notified a drone certification scheme to
Scheme ▪ Aim - To provide safety and security ensure minimum safety and quality
criteria and requirements for drones, requirements so as to boost indigenous
evaluate their certification, among manufacturing.
others
37. Scheme on ▪ Notified in – 2022 This scheme has been notified by
Enhancement of ▪ Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI)
Competitiveness ▪ Aim - Providing assistance to Common
in the Indian Technology Development and Services
Capital Goods Infrastructure
Sector- Phase-II ▪ The scheme has a financial outlay of Rs.
1207 crores with Budgetary support of
Rs. 975 crore and Industry Contribution
of Rs. 232 crore
38. Paschima Vahini ▪ Launch Year – 2017 Minister for Minor Irrigation has
Scheme ▪ Launched By - Karnataka Government informed that Karnataka Government
▪ Aim - To provide irrigation for has identified 1,400 places to construct
agriculture activities, supplying drinking as many vented dams under Paschima
water and to increase the groundwater Vahini Scheme in Dakshina Kannada
table of the region by constructing a and Udupi districts
series of check dams

4 Static
4.1 List of Important Organizations with Headquarters
S.No Organization Headquarters Establishment Head
Name Year
1 NASA Washington D.C, US 1958 Bill Nelson
2 WFP Rome 1961 David Beasley (Executive Director)
3 WHO Geneva 1948 Tedros Adhanom
(Director-General)
4 IBEF New Delhi 2003 --
5 UNITAR Geneva 1963 Nikhil Seth (Executive Director)
6 UNICEF New York 1946 --
7 UN New York, U.S 1945 António Guterres (Secretary
General)
8 UNICEF New York, U.S 1946 Catherine M. Russell
(Executive Director)
9 ISRO Bengaluru, 1969 S Somanath
Karnataka (Administrator)
10 IMF (Total Washington, D.C 1945
Kristalina Georgieva
Members – 190)
(Managing Director)
11 FCI New Delhi 1965
Atish Chandra (Chairman &
Managing Director)
12 IMD New Delhi 15 January,
Dr. Mrutyunjay Mohapatra,
1875
Director General of Meteorology
13 BRICS Shanghai, China 2006
--
14 ICC Dubai, UAE 1909
Greg Barclay (Chairman)
15 UNESCO Paris, France 1945
Audrey Azoulay (Director-
General)
16 EU Brussels, Belgium 1993 --
4.2 Countries in News

S.No Country Currency Capital
1 Pakistan Pakistani rupee Islamabad

2 Sudan Sudanese pound Khartoum
3 China Renminbi Beijing

4 Nicaragua Nicaraguan córdoba Managua
5 Sri Lanka Sri Lankan rupee Colombo,Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
6 Chile Chilean peso Santiago
7 Australia Australian dollar Canberra
8 Canada Canadian dollar Ottawa
9 US United States Dollar Washington, D.C.
10 Japan Japanese yen Tokyo
11 France Euro, CFP franc Paris
12 Turkmenistan Turkmenistani manat Ashgabat
13 Spain Euro Madrid
14 Afghanistan Afghan afghani Kabul
15 Maldives Maldivian rufiyaa Male
16 Russia Russian ruble Moscow
17 North Korea North Korean won Pyongyang
18 U.K Pound sterling London
19 Iran Iranian rial Tehran
20 Tonga Tongan paʻanga Nuku'alofa Trending
21 Cyprus Euro Nicosia
22 Mauritius Mauritian rupee Port Louis
23 Denmark Danish krone Copenhagen
24 Germany Euro Berlin
25 Indonesia Indonesian rupiah Jakarta
26 UAE UAE dirham Abu Dhabi
27 El Salvador Bitcoin, USD San Salvador
28 Ukraine Ukrainian hryvnia Kyiv
29 Pakistan Pakistani rupee Islamabad
30 Israel Israeli Shekel Jerusalem
31 Peru Sol Lima
32 Thailand Thai baht Bangkok
33 Saudi Arabia Saudi riyal Riyadh
34 Burkina Faso West African CFA franc Ouagadougou
35 Portugal Euro Lisbon
4.3 Banks in News

S.No Bank Headquarters Tagline
1 RBI Mumbai Developing Banking
2 Fino Payments Bank Juinagar, Navi Mumbai Qadar Aapki Mehnat Ki
3 Airtel Payments Bank New Delhi Banking Is Now At Your Fingertips, India's
First Payment Bank
4 Ujjivan SFB Bengaluru Build a Better Life
5 Axis Bank Mumbai Badhti Ka Naam Zindagi

6 IPPB New Delhi Every customer is important, every
transaction is significant and every
deposit is valuable, no matter the value.
7 RBI Mumbai Developing Bank
8 RBL Bank Mumbai Apno ka Bank
9 Indian Bank Chennai Your Own Bank, Banking That's Twice As
Good
10 KVG Bank Dharwad, Karnataka --
11 SBM Bank Bengaluru Working For A Better Tomorrow
12 UCO Bank Kolkata Honours your Trust
13 Federal Bank Aluva, Kerala Your Perfect Banking Partner
14 NABARD Mumbai --
15 NSDL Payments Bank Mumbai Technology, Trust and Reach


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January

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1.2 ₹2,000 to be the total limit for offline digital transactions

1.7 SBI General Insurance has launches #BahaneChhodoTaxBachao campaign

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1.11 India exports the highest ever goods in a month

1.13 Airtel Payments Bank collaborates with Park+

1.15 RBL Bank collaborates with Google

1.20 Axis Bank enters into a partnership with MinkasuPay

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1.26 NABARD has forged a partnership with Arthimpact Digital Loans

1.31 Lendingkart enters into a co-lending partnership with Canara Bank

1.35 Digital Payment Index (DPI) in September 2021.

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1.41 IFSCA signs MoU with Insurance Institute of India (III)

1.45 Reliance Industries is the most valued company in terms of Mcap.

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1.48 Fullerton India has partners with Paytm

1.52 World Economic Outlook report released in January 2022

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1.64 RBI cancels certificate of authorization of two PSOs

1.66 New milestone for IPPB

1.68 Committee proposes merger of Agricultural bank with Kerala Bank

1.69 RBI fines eight cooperative banks

1.71 RBL Bank partners with Google

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1.75 LazyPay partners with SBM Bank India to Launch LazyCard

1.76 Axis Bank Issues first LC on SLDE Platform

1.77 UCO Bank launches RuPay Select Contactless Debit Card

1.80 Marwadi Financial Services partners with NSDL Payments Bank

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1.82 SIDBI sanctions ₹650 crore to two small finance banks

1.83 Domestic Systemically Important Banks (D-SIBs)

1.84 RBI releases framework on offline digital payments

1.85 Performance of Public Sector Banks (PSBs)

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1.88 India's bad bank gets regulatory nod

1.89 Unified Presentment Management System (UPMS)

1.91 RBI creates fintech department to promote innovation

Economy & Finance

1.93 India-China trade crossed $125 bn in 2021

1.95 SEBI review on Free float

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1.98 SEBI rules on holding inquiry, imposing penalties