World Civil Defence Day observed on 1st March 2022
World Civil Defence Day is annually observed across the globe on 1st March to honour the significance of Civil Defence and the personnel who have sacrificed their lives for it. The purpose of the Day is to promote public awareness about civil defence, civil protection and emergency management in order to better prepare the civilian population to protect itself in the event of an emergency and to reduce the risk of disaster.
The theme of the day:
The theme of World Civil Defence Day 2022 is “Civil defence and management of displaced populations in face of disasters and crises; role of volunteers and the fight against pandemics”.
History of the day:
- Civil Defence Day was officially inaugurated by the International Civil Defence Organisation in 2012
- March 1st was chosen to commemorate the anniversary of the day on which the
constitution of the International Civil Defence Organisation(ICDO) came into force. - The Constitution of the ICDO was adopted on 17 October 1966, came into force on 1st March 1972. It attributes the status of the intergovernmental organizations to the ICDO (United Nations, Treaty Series, volume 985, registration No. 14376).
31st Southeast Asian Games to be held in Vietnam
The 31st Southeast Asian Games will be held in Vietnam from May 12 to 23, 2022. It is the biggest sporting event of Southeast Asia and is a biennial event. The event was originally scheduled to take place in November 2021 however it was postponed due to the Covid pandemic. The Games will feature 40 sports with 526 events, attracting around 10,000 participants, organisers announced at a press conference here.
The Vietnamese capital Hanoi will be the main venue alongside 11 neighbouring localities including Quang Ninh, Phu Tho and Bac Ninh, Xinhua news agency reported. Moto of 31st Southeast Asian Games- “For a Stronger South East Asia”.
Points to remember:
- In 2023, the Southeast Asian Games will be held at Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
- The mascot of the 2021 Southeast Asian Games is “Sao La”, inspired by saola – a rare mammal native to central Vietnam.
Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin’s autobiography “Ungalil Oruvan” launched
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi launched the first volume of Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin’s autobiography Ungalil Oruvan (One Among You) in Chennai. The first part of the autobiography contains his early life experiences. In it, he traces his school and college days, adolescence, early political contributions, marital life and the MISA struggle, recalling 23 years up to 1976.
Prof Deepak Dhar became the first Indian selected for Boltzmann Medal
Physicist Professor, Deepak Dhar has become the first Indian to be awarded the Boltzmann Medal. The Commission on Statistical Physics of the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP) presents this medal once in three years for contributions in the field of statistical physics. The medal presentation ceremony will be held during the StatPhys28 conference scheduled to be held in Tokyo in August this year. He shares the medal with John J Hoefield of Princeton University.
Prof Dhar is presently the emeritus faculty at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune.
About Prof. Deepak Dhar:
- Prof Dhar was born in 1951 and completed his graduation in Science in 1970 from the University of Allahabad, then Masters’s in Physics from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur in 1972.
- Then he went to the US for PhD and after completing his PhD joined the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) as a research fellow in 1978.
- He worked at TIFR over the years as a full-time professor and retired in 2016. Since then, he has joined IISER Pune as a visiting faculty.
China’s Long March-8 Rocket Launches 22 Satellites into Space
China’s second Long March 8 rocket launched carrying a domestic record 22 satellites for a range of commercial Chinese space companies. The Long March 8 lifted off from Wenchang Satellite Launch Center at 10:06 p.m. Eastern Feb. 26, with the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) later confirming launch success.
These satellites will be mainly used for commercial remote sensing services, marine environment monitoring, forest fire prevention and disaster mitigation. The mission marked the 409th flight of the Long March carrier rockets.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- China Capital: Beijing;
- China Currency: Renminbi;
- China President: Xi Jinping.
India’s first ambulance for street animals launched in Tamil Nadu
India’s first ambulance for street animals has been launched in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. It has been started by the Blue Cross of India in collaboration with the international animal welfare organization “Four Paw”. Madras High Court Justice Dr Anitha Sumanth launched the ambulance. The Stray Animal Care programme will be a “hospital on wheels” with an onboard veterinarian to provide on-site treatment to injured and sick street animals.
Apart from the veterinarian, the animal ambulance will also include a para veterinary-worker-cum-driver. The ambulance will include a treatment table, two fans, an inverter, a fridge, and drawers for sterile products and bandages. It will also come with a washbasin, an anti-skid shock-absorbing mat, a stretcher trolley, a retractable doctor’s seat, a retractable tarpaulin, dog-catching equipment, two movable cages to hold dogs, and overhead cupboards. There will also be a provision to administer intravenous fluids and oxygen on board.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Tamil Nadu Capital: Chennai;
- Tamil Nadu Chief Minister: M. K. Stalin;
- Tamil Nadu Governor: R. N. Ravi.
US, EU, UK decided to eliminate selected Russian banks from SWIFT
Canada, U.S.A. and their European allies have come to a conclusion to remove the key Russian banks from the Interbank messaging system (IMS) of SWIFT. This is a very big step that will cut off the country from much of the worldwide financial system.
KEY POINTS:
- The major global powers issued a joint statement announcing this significant retaliatory measure. It said, “This will ensure that these banks are disconnected from the international financial system and harm their ability to operate globally”.
- Russia’s removal from SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication) will mean that the Russian banks will not be able to communicate securely with foreign banks.
- Previously, Iran has been removed from SWIFT in 2014 following developments to its nuclear program in Tehran.
- The announcement will follow several rounds of joint sanctions that will be imposed on Russia for its unprovoked attack on Ukraine.
- After this announcement from the Major global powers backed SWIFT, Denys Shmyhal, who is the Prime Minister of Ukraine, praised the measure in a tweet he wrote, “Appreciate your support and real help in this dark time. Ukrainian people will never forget this! Keep holding the line! We are on our land.”
- In addition to this statement, the U.S.A. and its allies announced that they will impose restrictive measures to prevent the central bank of Russia from deploying its international reserves in ways that may undermine the sanctions imposed on them.
What is SWIFT?
SWIFT stands for Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications and is an independent enterprise, which is based in Belgium. SWIFT serves as an internal communication mechanism between around 11,000 banks and financial institutions for more than 200 countries and territories.
President Ram Nath Kovind inaugurates ‘Arogya Vanam’ at Rashtrapati Bhavan
The President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind has inaugurated a newly developed ‘Arogya Vanam’ at the President’s Estate, (Rashtrapati Bhavan) in New Delhi. The objective of this Arogya Vanam is to promote the importance of Ayurvedic plants and their effects on the human body. The concept of Arogya Vanam has been conceived with the aim of publicising the importance of Ayurvedic plants and their effects on the human body.
About the Arogya Vanam:
Spread in 6.6 acres, the Arogya Vanam has been developed in the shape of a human sitting in the Yoga Mudra. It consists of around 215 herbs and plants used for therapeutic purposes in Ayurveda. Some of the other features of this Vanam are water fountains, Yoga platform, water channel, lotus pond and a viewpoint. This Vanam will be now open for public viewing.
GoI think tank, Niti Aayog developing National Gender Index
NITI Aayog is in the process to develop a National Gender Index. The objective of the National Gender Index is to measure the progress and identify the persisting gaps in gender equality to make informed policy decisions. It will serve as a tool to map the progress of India’s States and UTs on defined gender metrics and build the foundation for positive change. The information was released in the Annual Report 2021-22 of NITI Aayog.
Niti Aayog has also developed a draft State Energy and Climate Index to assess the performance of states on indicators such as discoms’ viability and competition; access, affordability and reliability of energy; clean energy initiatives; energy efficiency; generation capacity; and environmental sustainability and new initiatives. The index will help states to efficiently manage their energy resources and provide better access to energy to the people.
Anup Jalota released book “Udaan Ek Majdoor Bachhe Ki” authored by Mithilesh Tiwari
Bhajan Samrat Anup Jalota has released the book “Udaan Ek Majdoor Bachhe Ki” by Captain AD Manek in a glittering program organized by Shailesh B Tiwari of P Club Education Pvt Ltd in Mumbai. The author of this book is Mithilesh Tiwari. This book is about the life journey of Captain AD Manek, how he travelled from zero to pinnacle in his career graph.
The family of Captain AD Manek is also known as the Flying Family of India. His wife is a hobby flyer while his two sons are professional pilots. One daughter-in-law is the air hostess and the other daughter-in-law is the aircraft dispatcher. All 6 members of this family are serving in the Indian Aviation Industry. They also help aspiring pilots financially. Her students include India’s first woman helicopter pilot Captain Aruna Dukhande and India’s youngest commercial pilot Ms. Maitri Patel (19 years) and India’s first youngest glider pilot Richa Waiker (15 years old).
Dabang Delhi beats Patna Pirates to win maiden PKL title
Dabang Delhi K C defeated Patna Pirates by 36-37 in the final of the Pro Kabaddi League Season 8 in Bengaluru, Karnataka. Dabang Delhi beat three-time champion Patna Pirates. Pawan Sehrawat was awarded with the Raider of the season award for his 304 raid points in 24 matches. The winner of the Pro Kabaddi League Season 8 got a cash prize of 3 crores.
Other awardees:
- Defender of the season award: Mohammadreza Chiyaneh;
- Emerging Player of the season: Mohit Goyat;
- Most Valuable Player of the season award: Naveen Kumar.
List of winners of Pro Kabaddi League till now:
| Pro Kabaddi League Seasons | Winner |
| Season 1 (2014) | Jaipur Pink Panthers |
| Season 2 (2015) | U Mumba |
| Season 3 (2016) | Patna Pirates |
| Season 4 (2016) | Patna Pirates |
| Season 5 (2017) | Patna Pirates |
| Season 6 (2018) | Bengaluru Bulls |
| Season 7 (2019) | Bengal Warriors |
| Season 8 (2021-22) | Dabang Delhi |
Ex-soldier Captain Deepam Chatterjee authored a new book “The Millennial Yogi”
Former Indian Army Captain, Deepam Chatterjee has authored a new book titled “The Millennial Yogi: A modern-day parable about reclaiming one’s life”. This is a book that mixes mysticism and music that takes readers on a journey of awakening. The book talks about Jayshankar Prasad, or Jay, who has a shady-yet-mercurial rise in his journey as an entrepreneur and Vini, a mystic monk. The book is published by Ebury Press, an imprint of Penguin Random House.
Ashneer Grover resigned from BharatPe as MD & Director 2022
Ashneer Grover, co-founder and Managing Director (MD) of BharatPe, a leading Indian fintech company, has resigned as the MD and director of the board of BharatPe. Ashneer Grover, who owns a 9.5% stake worth Rs 1915 crore in BharatPe, will continue as the single largest individual shareholder of the company. BharatPe became the 19th Indian startup to become a unicorn in 2021.
Shashwat Nakrani, the co-founder of BharatPe, owns 7.8% and Sequoia Capital India, a venture capital (VC) investor and the largest shareholder of BharatPe, holds 19.6%, followed by Coatue at 12.4% and Ribbit Capital at 11%. As of August 2021, Tiger Global, Steadview Capital, and Beenext together hold a 60.4% stake in BharatPe.
IITM, Pune launched International Monsoons Project Office 2022
On the occasion of National Science Day 2022, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; Minister of State (Independent Charge) Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh, launched the International Monsoons Project Office (IMPO) through a high-level virtual event.
KEY POINTS:
- For the first five years, the International Monsoons Project Office (IMPO) will be housed at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, which is part of the Ministry of Earth Sciences of the Indian government.
- The establishment of the IMPO emphasises the importance of monsoons to the country’s economy. Under the guidance of the World Climate Research Programme and the World Weather Research Programme, it would cover activities and relationships relating to international monsoon research that would be recognised and supported.
- The United Nations World Meteorological Organization coordinates both the World Climate Research Programme and the World Weather Research Programme, which are international programmes (WMO).
- Establishing the IMPO in India would entail expanding an integrated scientific approach to address monsoon seasonal variability, improving monsoon and cyclone prediction skills, strengthening monsoon research for better support operations and services, and promoting knowledge sharing and capacity building in areas of monsoon research critical for agriculture, water resources and disaster management, hydropower, and climate-sensitive socio-economic sectors.
The International Monsoons Project Office (IMPO):
- The IMPO’s key responsibilities include supporting the Monsoons Panel, which was jointly formed by the CLIVAR (Climate and Ocean Variability, Predictability, and Change) and GEWEX (Global Energy and Water Exchanges) programmes of the World Climate Research Programme.
- The World Weather Research Programme’s working group on tropical meteorology research will also benefit from IMPO’s assistance.
Junaid Ahmad World Bank’s India Director, appointed as vice president of operations
Junaid Kamal Ahmad, the World Bank’s India Director, has been named a Vice President of the international lending agency. Ahmad, who will lead the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) as Vice President, Operations, is only the second Bangladeshi to be chosen to such a high position in the bank’s history. He will start his new job on April 16, according to a press statement.
KEY POINTS:
- On the operational side, Faisal Chaudhary was the first Bangladeshi native to hold the position of vice president.
- Ahmad will work to advance and enhance MIGA’s brand partnering across the World Bank Group as well as with financial institutions, private investors, and development actors; originate and pursue meaningful, impact-driven projects; and lead the Operations team to deliver on MIGA’s mandate of mobilising private finance for development projects in Emerging Market Developing Economies, according to a statement from the bank.
- “Our (Globe Bank) cooperation with India allows us to learn and share what we’ve learned with the rest of the world. The most crucial is that as India’s economy develops, it will have a significant impact on global growth and poverty “In an interview with PTI, Ahmad, who has been the World Bank’s country director in India since September 2016, said.
- A country director in India in charge of such a programme is someone who can later consider taking on higher leadership posts at the World Bank. In response to a query, he replied, “The experience of India has been tremendously essential in providing me with that experience and perspective.”
AHMAD’S VIEW AND IMPORTANCE:
- The issue in funding development, according to Ahmad, is to mobilise long-term capital markets.
- Ahmad provides substantial expertise and understanding of international development, as well as an excellent track record of thought leadership and service to World Bank Group client countries, according to the bank’s statement.
20% FDI in LIC via automatic route approved by the government
As per the sources, the Cabinet approved up to 20% FDI in the LIC’s IPO-bound Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) via the automatic route on Saturday, February 26. The government hopes that by doing so, it will make it easier for India’s largest insurer to be disinvested.
KEY POINTS
- The Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, made the decision to approve 20% FDI via the automatic method.
- The government has approved the listing of LIC shares on the stock market through an initial public offering (IPO) in which it would sell a portion of its investment in the insurer and raise new equity capital.
- Foreign investors may be interested in taking part in this mammoth IPO. The existing FDI laws, on the other hand, include no special provision for foreign investment in LIC, a statutory corporation constituted under the LIC Act, 1956.
- Both FPI and FDI are authorised under public offer, according to Sebi guidelines. Because the current FDI policy caps foreign inflows at 20% for public sector banks requiring government permission, it has been decided to allow foreign investment of up to 20% for LIC and other corporate organisations.
- Furthermore, such FDI has been retained under the automatic route, as in the rest of the insurance sector, to quicken the capital raising process, according to one of the sources.
- For quicker economic growth and development across sectors, increased FDI inflows will augment domestic capital, technology transfer, and talent development.
BACKGROUND
- The initial public offering (IPO) of LIC was approved by the Cabinet in July of last year, and the share sale is scheduled for the current March quarter.
- On February 13, Life Insurance Corporation submitted draft papers with capital market regulator Sebi for the sale of a 5% stake by the government for an estimated Rs 63,000 crore, paving the way for the country’s largest-ever public offering.
Rafael Nadal Book & Record 2022
Rafael Nadal was two sets down in the final of the Australian Open 2022. But he came back strongly to win a long five-set single match with Daniil Medvedev and claim a record 21st Grand Slam men’s title in the Australian Open final.
RECORD BREAKER:
- Rafael Nadal won the war of attrition to move ahead of rivals Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer on the a list of men’s Major winners.
- Novak Djokovic missed his opportunity to better his nine Australian Open wins because he was rejected due to vaccination issues on the eve of the tournament, and Federer is also injured.
- This was one of the 35-year-old Spanish player’s greatest title victories in his 29th Grand Slam final as he won his second Australian Open, and also it came after 13 long years of his first in 2009.
- The Spanish maestro became only the fourth man in the history of the game to win each of the four Grand Slams twice and the third oldest man to win a Grand Slam title, after Ken Rosewall and Federer.
Nadal said, “This has been one of the most emotional matches of my tennis career.”
RAFA’S NEW BOOK
‘Rafa: My Story’ is the new book launched by John Carlin and Rafael Nadal. It is his an autobiography of his international tennis career, in which he remembers his early years and tells about the things that gave him the strength to reach this position in international tennis. With honesty and intelligence, Rafa brings to the readers, his phenomenal and extraordinary journey in which he never lost sight of his target, as he values it above all others. For him his family is extremely important. He tells in his book the secrets of his brilliant game and shares his own inspirational story that played a key role in his success.
