Weekly Current Affairs 16th January - 22nd January 2022

FINANCE AND BANKING

• RBI released Annual Report of Ombudsman Schemes, 2020-21
  • Reserve Bank of India recently released the Annual Report of the Ombudsman Schemes for 2020-21, which has been prepared for the 9-month period (July 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021).
  • It covers the 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).

• RBI comes up with Digital Payments Index for September 2021
  • RBI has recently launched Digital Payments Index for September 2021.
  • It shows the deepening of payments through digital modes in India, rose by 39.64 per cent to 304.06 in September 2021 against 217.74 in the year-ago month.

• SEBI launches Saa₹thi mobile app on investor education
  • SEBI recently came up with Saa₹thi mobile app on investor education.
  • The new app aims to empower investors with accurate knowledge about the securities market by catering to individual investors, who have recently entered the markets and carry out trading via their mobile phones.

ECONOMY

• World Bank approves Rs 1000 cr loan to help people get Bengal govt services
  • The World Bank has approved a loan of around Rs 1,000 crore to the West Bengal government primarily to support its effort to help the poor and vulnerable groups access its social protection services.

• JIO rolls out UPI AUTOPAY
  • National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and Reliance Jio have rolled out UPI AUTOPAY.
  • JIO has become the first telecom company to start this service.

• Union Cabinet approved infusion of 1500 crore rupees in IREDA
  • The Union Cabinet has recently approved infusion of 1500 crore rupees in IREDA.
  • It will help generate 10,200 jobs a year and reduce carbon emissions equivalent to approximately 7.49 million tonnes per year.

NATIONAL

• World's largest Khadi flag displayed in Jaisalmer
  • The world’s largest Khadi national flag was put to a grand public display in Rajasthan’s Longewala in Jaisalmer district.
  • Tricolour was displayed at Longewala – the centre stage of the history between India and Pakistan in 1971.
  • The flag measures 225 feet long, 150 feet wide and weighs 1400 kg.

• AI driven Start-Up by IIT alumni launched for water purification through innovative technology
  • Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh launched Artificial Intelligence (AI) driven Start-Up by IIT alumni for water purification through innovative technology.
  • The facility aims to provide clean drinking water at a price much lesser than the market price.

• Centre launches stamp to mark 1 year of COVID vaccination
  • Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Health Minister, celebrated the one-year anniversary of India's immunisation drive by launching a postal stamp on India's achievement in developing an indigenous COVID-19 vaccine.

INTERNATIONAL

• Indonesia names new capital that will replace Jakarta
  • Indonesia has announced that its new capital will be called Nusantara.
  • It came as parliament approved a bill to relocate the capital from Jakarta, which is rapidly sinking. Jakarta has become crowded, polluted and is sinking at an alarming rate due to the over-extraction of groundwater.

• Dubai opens ‘Infinity Bridge’ to traffic for the first time
  • Dubai opened the 'Infinity Bridge' for traffic for the first time.
  • The newly-constructed bridge can accommodate 24,000 vehicles per hour in both directions.
  • Infinity Bridge is part of the 13 km long project that spans four major streets.

• Roberta Metsola Becomes Third Woman, Youngest To Head European Parliament
  • Maltese lawmaker Roberta Metsola was chosen as the third woman to head the European Parliament.
  • The politician from the European Union's smallest nation becomes the youngest president ever to run the chamber.

STATES

• Kerala’s Kumbalangi to Become India’s First Sanitary Napkin-free Village
  • Kumbalangi village in Ernakulam district, Kerala is being hailed for becoming the first-ever sanitary napkin-free village in the country.
  • Under the initiative, titled Avalkayi (for her), around 5,000 menstrual cups will be distributed to women aged 18 and above.

• Tripura rechristens two hill ranges with Kokborok names
  • The easternmost town in Tripura – Gandachera and highest hill range in the state – Atharamura have been renamed in Kokborok. Gandachera in Dhalai district will now be known as Ganda Tuisa and Atharamura will be known as Hachuk Berem.

REPORTS AND INDEXES

• Oxfam India released ‘Inequality Kills’ Report
  • Oxfam India recently published “Inequality Kills” report.
  • As per the report, the wealth of India’s richest families reached to a record high in 2021.
  • India was described as a ‘very unequal,’ country, as the top 10 people in India holds 57% of the wealth.
  • The share of the bottom half is 13 per cent.

• Global unemployment level in 2022 projected at 207 million says ILO Report
  • The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has released its World Employment and Social Outlook – Trends 2022 (WESO Trends) report.
  • As per the report, the global unemployment level in 2022 is estimated at 207 million, compared to 186 million in 2019.

• UNCTAD report says FDI flows to India falls by 26% in 2021
  • UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has come up with Investment Trends Monitor report.
  • As per the report, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) flows to India fell by 26 per cent in 2021, compared to 2020.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

• New Species of Rainfrog Discovered in Panama Named After Greta Thunberg
  • A new species of rainfrog, discovered in the Panama jungle, has been named after Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg.
  • The species has been named as Pristimantis gretathunbergae, or popularly known as the Greta Thunberg Rainfrog.

AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

• Jerri hamlet declared as first ‘Milk Village’ of J&K
  • Jammu and Kashmir administration has declared Jerri settlement in Reasi district as the first ‘Milk Village’ of the Union Territory and sanctioned 57 more dairy farms under the Integrated Dairy Development Scheme (IDDS) for the hamlet.
  • The Village houses 73 individual dairy units with 370 cows.

DEFENCE

• Indian Navy's INS Kochi Undertakes PASSEX With Russia's Admiral Tributs In Arabian Sea
  • During its two-day visit to India, Russian ship Admiral Tributs exercised with the Indian Navy's indigenously designed and built guided-missile destroyer, INS Kochi in the Arabian sea.
  • The exercise showcased cohesiveness and interoperability between the two navies.

• South Africa Launches 1st 'Made In Africa' Satellites Under SpaceX's Transporter-3 Mission
  • South Africa has launched its first satellite constellation developed entirely in the continent of Africa.
  • Three locally produced nanosatellites, which made up the country's first Maritime Domain Awareness Satellite (MDASat) constellation, were launched from Cape Canaveral in the United States as part of American aerospace company SpaceX's Transporter-3 mission.

• Maritime Partnership Exercise between Ships of Indian Navy and JMSDF
  • Indian Naval Ships Shivalik and Kadmatt undertook Maritime Partnership Exercise with Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) Ships Uraga and Hirado in the Bay of Bengal.
  • Both JMSDF ships are part of Minesweeper Division One and are on deployment to Indian Ocean Region.

EVENTS

• First BRICS Sherpas meeting of 2022 held under Chinese chairship
  • The first BRICS Sherpas meeting of 2022 was held virtually on January 18-19 2022.
  • China has taken on the rotating chairmanship of BRICS in 2022.

• PM addressed at the launch of ‘Azadi Ke Amrit Mahotsav se Swarnim Bharat Ke Ore’ programme
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered the keynote address at the national launch ceremony of 'Azadi Ke Amrit Mahotsav se Swarnim Bharat Ke Ore' via video conferencing.

• Davos Agenda 2022 Summit
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the World Economic Forum’s Davos Agenda via video conferencing.
  • During the address the PM proposed the a 'P-3' approach. The P-3 approach stands for "pro-planet people".

AWARDS AND REWARDS

• Mrs World 2022 pageant
  • The Mrs World 2022 pageant was won by Shaylyn Ford of USA. Debanjali Kamstra, Mrs UAE and Jaclyn Stapp, Mrs Jordan were adjudged the runners-up.
  • Mrs World 2022 pageant took place in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
  • Mrs India Navdeep Kaur also made it to the top 15 and won the Best National Costume title.

• National Startup Awards 2021
  • The Government of India announced the winners of the National Startup Awards 2021.
  • This is the second edition of the National Startup Awards.
  • 46 startups were felicitated for their contribution in their respective sectors. An incubator and an accelerator were also conferred the honour during the ceremony.

• Axis Bank, CRMNEXT bag IBSi's Innovation Awards 2021
  • Axis Bank and CRMNEXT, the leading CRM for banks have bagged awards for ‘Best CRM System Implementation’ at IBS Intelligence Global FinTech Innovation Awards 2021.

SPORTS

• Ladakh team wins 9th IHAI national women's ice hockey championship
  • The Ladakh women's team has won the ninth national women's ice hockey championship organised by the Ice Hockey Association of India in Himachal Pradesh.
  • Six teams from Delhi, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Telangana and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police participated in the championship.

• Asia Cup: Goalkeeper Savita Punia named captain of India Women's Hockey team
  • Experienced goalkeeper Savita Punia will lead India at the upcoming women's Asia Cup in Muscat.
  • Hockey India named a strong 18-member squad for the event, including 16 players that featured at the Tokyo Olympics.
  • The tournament is scheduled to be held between January 21-28 at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex.

• Virat Kohli steps down as India Test captain
  • Virat Kohli has announced that he is stepping down from Test captaincy of the Indian team.
  • He finishes as India's most successful Test captain with a win percentage of 58.82.