Current Affairs March 10th 2022| Current Affairs News

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CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL NEWS

CABINET APPROVALS:

1. MOU signed between the Indian Council of Medical Research, India and Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft e.V. (DFG), Germany:

• The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi was apprised of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft e.V. (DFG), Germany in December 2021 and in accordance with Rule 7(d)(i) of the Second Schedule of Government of India (Transaction of Business) rules 1961.
• Cooperation in the field of medical sciences/health research in areas including Toxicology, Neglected (Tropical) disease, rare diseases and any other areas of mutual interest.
• The cooperation in scientific research and technological development includes the joint funding of scientific research projects as well as the exchange of researchers, funding of joint seminars, symposia and workshops which would be of high scientific standard and beneficial to the advancement of science, significant from a scientific point of view.

2. MOU signed between ICMR, India and NIAID, National Institute of Health of Department of Health and Human Services:

• The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi was apprised of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institute of Health of Department of Health and Human Services, USA, in September 2021 and in accordance with Rule 7(d)(i) of Second Schedule of Government of India (Transaction of Business) rules 1961.
• Cooperation shall be undertaken primarily in Chennai, India at the National Institute for Research on Tuberculosis (NIRT) of ICMR in the scientific area, including but not limited to, basic, translational and applied innovative research, epidemiology, medicine, molecular biology, medical entomology, parasitology, immunology, medicine, microbiology and virology, with a focus on techniques for prevention, diagnosis and treatment of tropical infectious and allergic diseases.
• Focus on collaboration includes tuberculosis, parasitic infections, HIV/AIDS, Allergic diseases, immune system diseases, other emerging and re-emerging pathogens, and other diseases of shared scientific interest.

3. Establishment of WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in India:

• The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the establishment of the WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine (WHO GCTM) in Jamnagar, Gujarat by signing a Host Country agreement between the Government of India and the World Health Organization (WHO).
• The WHO GCTM will be established in Jamnagar under the Ministry of AYUSH.
• This would be the first and only global outposted Centre (office) for traditional medicine across the globe.
• Tedros Adhanom Ghbereyesus, Director General, World Health Organization announced the establishment of WHO GCTM in India on the occasion of 5th Ayurveda Day on 13th November, 2020 in the august presence of the Honble Prime Minister of India.
• The Honble Prime Minister praised this initiative of WHO and mentioned that WHO GCTM would emerge as a centre of global wellness, bolster evidence –based research, training and awareness for Traditional Medicine.

4. Setting up of National Land Monetization Corporation as SPV for undertaking surplus land monetization:

• The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the setting up National Land Monetization Corporation (NLMC) as a wholly owned Government of India company with an initial authorized share capital of Rs 5000 crore and paid-up share capital of Rs 150 crore.
• NLMC will undertake monetization of surplus land and building assets of Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) and other Government agencies.
• The proposal is in pursuance of the Budget Announcement for 2021-22.
• With monetization of non-core assets, Government would be able to generate substantial revenues by monetizing unused and under-used assets.

5. MOU signed between the Indian Council of Medical Research, India and the Oxford University, UK:

• The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi was apprised of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the Oxford University, the UK in November 2021 and in accordance with Rule 7(d)(i) of the Second Schedule of the Government of India (Transaction of Business) rules 1961.

Objectives of the MoU:

• The Objectives under the MoU are Capacity building for Indian scientists and researchers, Collection of data compliant with international standards and regulatory requirements, Development of India towards becoming a regional hub for capacity development using its own funds and following the principles of equity and sovereignty, jointly raise and pool funds with time-bound hosting of IDDO secretariat towards achieving the outcomes at ICMR, and building partnership in and beyond data and skill-sharing with equity and transparency.

6. Amendment of the Second Schedule to the Mines and Minerals Act, 1957 for specifying rate of royalty in respect of certain minerals:

• The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Mines for amendment of Second Schedule of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Act’) for specifying the rate of royalty in respect of Glauconite, Potash, Emerald, Platinum Group of Metals (PGM), Andalusite, Sillimanite and Molybdenum.
• The approval would ensure auction of mineral blocks in respect of Glauconite, Potash, Emerald, Platinum Group of Metals, Andalusite and Molybdenum thereby reducing import of these minerals, generating empowerment opportunity in the mining sector as well as manufacturing sector which will help in ensuring inclusive growth of a large section of the society.

Ministry of culture to organize Literature festival Sahityotsav from 10th to 15th March 2022 in New Delhi:

• Sahityotsav, the Festival of Letters of Sahitya Akademi, India’s most inclusive literature festival will be held from 10th to 15th March 2022 in New Delhi.
• Festival of Letters 2022 will be a part of the celebrations to commemorate 75th anniversary of India’s Independence.
• The events will have one or the other theme pertaining to Independence or Independence movement.
• The Exhibition will showcase Akademi’s achievements and seminal events held in the previous year.
• 26 young writers representing 24 Indian languages recognized by Akademi will participate in “The Rise of Young India” event to be held at the Rabindra Bhavan Lawns on 10 March 2022.

MoHUA to organise a national level ‘India Water Pitch-Pilot-Scale Start-up Conclave’ on 12 March, 2022:

• The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs is organising a national level ‘India Water Pitch-Pilot-Scale Start-up Conclave’ on 12 March, 2022 at Stein Auditorium, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, with an aim to start the communication with Start-ups in water sector.
• The Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs, Shri Hardeep S. Puri will launch ‘India Water Pitch-Pilot-Scale Start-up Challenge’ during the conclave and deliver the keynote address.
• The Ministry will select 100 start-ups through this challenge, which will be provided 20 lakhs as funding support.
• The Prime Minister has launched the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation 2.0 (AMRUT 2.0) on 01 October, 2021 with the aim of making Indian cities ‘Aatma Nirbhar’ and ‘Water Secure’.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : STATE NEWS

Himachal govt presents Rs 51,365-cr Budget for FY23

• Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur presented Rs 51,365 crore tax free budget for the year 2022-23 in the state assembly.
• This is the fifth budget of the Chief Minister during his term after 2017.
• The fiscal deficit is estimated at Rs 9,602 crore for 2022-23, which is 98 per cent of the state’s gross domestic product (GSDP).
• The debt burden on the state rose to Rs 63,200 crore from Rs 55,737 crore in 2021.
• Rs 11 would be spent on loan repayment and Rs 10 on interest payment out of every hundred rupees to be spent by the state government in 2022-23.
• HP government will use over Rs 10,786 crore on loan repayment and interest payment out of the total Rs 51,365-crore Budget in 2022-23.
• No new tax has been proposed in the Budget which saw an increase of Rs 2,234 crore from Rs 49,131 crore in 2021-22.
• Out of every 100 rupees expenditure, Rs 26 will be spent on salaries, Rs 15 on pension, Rs 10 on interest payment, Rs 11 on loan repayment, Rs 9 for grants for autonomous bodies; while the remaining Rs 29 will be spent on other activities, including capital works.

MLALAD :

• To increase the Member of Legislative Assembly Local Area Development Scheme (MLALAD) fund from the existing Rs 1.80 crore to Rs 2 crore & it has been increased by Rs 20 lakh in the Budget
• Thakur stated that a total increase of Rs 90 lakh has been made in the MLALAD fund during his government.
• He also announced to increase the discretionary grant for MLAs from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 12 lakh per annum for the next fiscal.

Pension :

• To increase the monthly old-age pension amount from Rs 1,001 to Rs 1,500.
• Hike in pension for destitute women from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,150.
• Between 60 years and 79 years, increases from Rs 850 to Rs 1,100; and for those above 70 years and disabled, a jump from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,700.
• Rs 1,300 crore will be spent in the Budget on providing social security pension to 7.50 lakh eligible persons.
• Hiked the grant given for widow remarriage from Rs 50,000 to Rs 75,000.
• Rs 5 crore allocated for creating livelihood for urban youth.
• Cow cess on liquor will be increased by Rs 1 per bottle.
• In the health sector, the chief minister declared to create 500 new posts for doctors in the state.
• Honorarium for Mayor, Deputy Mayor and councillors in municipal corporations has been increased from Rs 12,000 to Rs 15,000, from Rs 8,500 to Rs 10,000 and from Rs 5,050 to Rs 6,050 per month, respectively.
• For education Rs 8,412 crore allocated.
• Sardar Patel University in the Mandi district would start functioning from April 2022.
• 4 flying schools will be set up for imparting training to fly drones in Himachal Pradesh.
• Thakur also announced plans to construct 1000 new Anganwadi Bhawans in the state.
• During the current government, a total of 826 plans from NABARD worth Rs 3,452 crore were approved.

About Himachal Pradesh :

• Chief minister: Jai Ram Thakur
• Capital : Shimla, Dharamshala
• Governor : Rajendra Arlekar

TN CM inaugurates India’s largest floating solar power plant at thoothukudi                                       

• Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin inaugurated India’s first and largest floating solar power plant at the SPIC (Southern Petrochemical Industries Corporation) factory premises in Thoothukudi.
• The solar power plant is owned by Greenam Energy, a wholly-owned subsidiary of AM International.

About floating solar power plant :

• It is expected to generate 42 million units of electricity per annum at a cost of Rs 150.4 crore.
• The new 3 MW DC / 22 MW AC floating solar power plant is set up with SPIC’s ESG strategy to enable state-of-the-art green, sustainable technology and self-sufficient energy production.
• The project also benefits the environment by controlling 60 percent of water evaporation in the reservoir.
• 33 Memorandums of Understanding(MoU) were signed in the presence of Chief Minister MK Stalin in Thoothukudi worth Rs 4,755 crore.
• He also laid the foundation stone for a furniture park project at Thoothukudi SIPCOT & it will be set up on an area of ​​1,150 acres at a cost of Rs 1000 crore.

Additional Info :

• In Kamuthi, Ramanathapuram the largest solar power plant in Tamil Nadu is located.

About SPIC :

• Founded : 1969
• Headquarters : Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
• Chairman : Ashwin Muthaiah
• SPIC is continuously working towards effectively harnessing green energies through innovative projects to reduce carbon footprint.”

About AM International :

• Headquarters : Singapore

About Tamil Nadu :

• Governor: R. N. Ravi
• Capital: Chennai

Chhattisgarh govt launches Kaushalya Matritva Yojana’

• Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel launched the Kaushalya Matritva Yojana’ and gave away cheques of Rs 5,000 each to five women beneficiaries for safe motherhood at a state-level conference.

About Kaushalya Matritva Yojana’ :

• Under the scheme, financial assistance of Rs 5000 will be given to women on the birth of a second girl child.
• He also released ‘Kanya Vivah Yojana’ Coffee Table Book, Sakhi One Stop Center Telephone Directory, and brochures of schemes related to women empowerment.

About Chhattisgarh :

• Governor: Anusuiya Uikey
• Capital: Raipur

Telangana Finance Minister presents budget for 2022-23

• Telangana Finance Minister T Harish Rao presented a tax-free budget of Rs 2.56 lakh crore for 2022-23.
• Harish Rao called this budget the ‘KCR Mark’ Budget.
• The budget proposed an outlay of Rs 17,700 crore for the state government’s flagship Dalit welfare scheme ‘Dalit Bandhu’.

For the Financial year 2022-23 :

• Total expenditure – Rs 2,56,958.51 crores
• Revenue expenditure – Rs.1,89,274.82 crores
• Capital expenditure – Rs.29,728.44 crore

GSDP :

• GSDP in 2021-22 at 11.2 percent at constant prices as compared with the national GDP growth of 9 percent.
• At current prices, GSDP growth is estimated at 19.1 percent.

Per capita income :

• By 2021-22, the per capita income of the state at Rs 2,78,833 exceeded the national average of Rs.1,49,848 by 1.86 times.

Highlights of the budget :

• The budget allocated for Pattana Pragathi – Rs. 1394 crore
• The budget allocated for Palle Pragathi – Rs. 3330 crore
• The budget allocated for Agriculture – Rs. 24,254 crores
• The budget allocated for Asara Pensions – Rs. 11,728 crores
• The budget allocated for Kalyan Lakshmi, Shaadi Mubarak – Rs. 2,750 crores
• For the construction of double bedrooms, a total of 12,000 crores was allocated
• For Mana Ooru- Mana Badi – Rs. 7289 crores
• Loans of farmers upto Rs 50,000 would be waived by the end of March 2022.
• In 2022-23, the Telangana government waives crop loans up to Rs.75,000
• For the welfare of STs, BCs, Brahmins, the Telangana government allotted a budget of 12,565 crores, Rs. 5698 crores, Rs. 177 crores respectively.
• The IT exports from Telangana clocked a growth of 12.98 percent.
• The total exports from Telangana IT sector were valued at Rs 1,45,522 crores in 2021

About Telangana :

• Chief Minister : K. Chandrasekhar Rao
• Governor: Tamilisai Soundararajan
• Capital: Hyderabad

CURRENT AFFAIRS : BANKING & FINANCE

Axis Bank rolls out ‘HouseWorkIsWork’ initiative

• Axis Bank has kicked off the ‘HouseWorkIsWork’ initiative, offering opportunities to those who want to rejoin the professional space.

Purpose :

• To give confidence to the women that they are employable, they have skills and they can fit in various job roles in a bank

Additional Info :

• GIG-A-Opportunities is Axis Bank’s new platform for alternative work models to attract the finest talent, with a promise of growth with flexibility, diversity and inclusivity.

About Axis Bank :

• Founded : 3 December 1993
• Headquarters : Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
• MD & CEO : Amitabh Chaudhry

HDFC Mutual Fund Launches an Exclusive Financial Empowerment Initiative

• HDFC Mutual Fund has launched a women-led financial empowerment initiative ‘LaxmiForLaxmi’.

About LaxmiForLaxmi’ :

• The #LaxmiForLaxmi initiative is a financial empowerment campaign for women, by women.
• It will connect women investors to a woman financial expert near them through a unique missed call service.

Aim :

• To support women investors in their journey to become financially independent while making mutual fund investments accessible to them.
• This initiative is an extension of HDFC Mutual Fund’s Investor Education campaign #BarniSeAzadi, launched on India’s 75th Independence Day, 2021.

Note :

• International Women’s Day is observed on March 08.

About HDFC Mutual Fund :

• Headquarters : Mumbai, Maharashtra
• MD & CEO : Navneet Munot

Star Health launches Women-Centric Medical Insurance Policy

• Health insurance company Star Health and Allied Insurance Co. Ltd launched Star Women Care Insurance Policy, a woman-centric comprehensive health cover specially designed to protect the health-care needs of women at every stage of their lives.
• The Star Women Care Insurance Policy is available as both an individual policy and a floater policy to all females from 18 years up to 75 years of age.
• Customers can purchase the policy through premiums that can be paid in quarterly or half-yearly installments, and this policy can also be taken for 1 year, 2 year or 3-year terms.”
• Under the policy, a new-born will gain health cover of up to 25% of the Sum Insured from day 1 and 100% of sum insured from the next subsequent year onward.
• It covers the hospital room rent of the insured mother if the insured child is less than 12 years old and is hospitalized in the ICU.

Key features of Star Women Care Insurance Policy :

Type of Policy :

• Individual Sum : Insured only for females aged between 18 years to 75 year.
• Floater Sum Insured : Adult 18 years to 75 years with at least one female in the family along with the spouse and dependent children
• Coverage : In-patient hospitalization, Delivery, Day Care treatment, Road Ambulance, Air Ambulance, Organ Donor Expenses, and Pre & Post hospitalization expenses.
• Discount on online purchase- Insured can avail 5% discount while buying the policy online at starhealth.in.
• This discount is available for the first purchase and on subsequent online renewals of the policy.

About Star Health and Allied Insurance Co. Ltd :

• Founded : 2006
• Headquarters : Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
• CEO : V. Jagannathan

CURRENT AFFAIRS : APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Lupin signs boxing champion Mary Kom as brand ambassador for Shakti campaign

• Domestic pharma company Lupine Ltd has roped in woman boxer Mary Kom as the brand ambassador of its Shakti campaign.

Aim :

• To increase awareness about heart diseases among women through interactive social media sessions, sharing informative videos from doctors, and in-clinic awareness activities for patients.
• It will also help women improve their health and significantly contribute to the wellbeing of society as they are its backbone and play a pivotal role in shaping the nation.

About Mary Kom :

• Mary Kom is the only woman to win the World Amateur Boxing Championship six times.
• She is the only boxer (male or female) to win eight World Championship medals.
• The Government of Manipur has conferred on her the title “Meethoi Leima”.

Awards & Honors :

• Padma Vibhushan (Sports), 2020
• Padma Bhushan (Sports), 2013
• Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award, 2009
• Padma Shri (Sports), 2006
• Arjuna Award (Boxing), 2003

About Lupin Limited :

1. Founded: 1968
2. Headquarters : Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
3. CEO : Vinita D. Gupta
4. MD : Nilesh Gupta
5. Lupin Limited is an Indian multinational pharmaceutical company.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: SPORTS NEWS

National sportswoman selected for Climate-Force Antarctica Expedition:

• Aarushie Verma, a national level shooter in Pistol and trap shooting, a multi-time State & Northern India Champion & National medalist, and an active environmentalist, has been selected to represent India at the 2041 Climate Force Antarctica Expedition to be held in March 2022.
• The expedition aims to raise awareness and work for the preservation of Antarctica through the promotion of recycling, renewable energy and sustainability solutions to combat the effects of climate change.
• 2041 Climate Force is a global initiative to train and develop the next generation of sustainability champions and to help corporations with their sustainability solutions.

Priyanka Nutakki becomes the 23rd Woman Grandmaster of India:

• 19-year-old Priyanka Nutakki secured her final WGM-norm at MPL 47th National Women Chess Championship.
• She scored 7.0/9, performed at 2348 to become India’s latest Woman Grandmaster on 2nd March 2022.
• She was also placed third in the tournament.
• The first WGM-norm was scored in January 2019.
• She is from Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, won her biggest online tournament, SPF Girls’ Invitational in June 2020.
• She earned her second WGM and maiden IM-norm in her third over-the-board tournament of the year 2021.

Daily CA On Mar 10 :

• The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi was apprised of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft e.V. (DFG), Germany in December 2021.
• The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi was apprised of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institute of Health of Department of Health and Human Services, USA.
• The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the establishment of the WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine (WHO GCTM) in Jamnagar, Gujarat by signing a Host Country agreement between the Government of India and the World Health Organization (WHO).
• The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the setting up National Land Monetization Corporation (NLMC) as a wholly owned Government of India company with an initial authorized share capital of Rs 5000 crore and paid-up share capital of Rs 150 crore.
• The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi was apprised of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the Oxford University, the UK.
• The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Mines for amendment of Second Schedule of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Act’) for specifying the rate of royalty in respect of Glauconite, Potash, Emerald, Platinum Group of Metals (PGM), Andalusite, Sillimanite and Molybdenum.
• Sahityotsav, the Festival of Letters of Sahitya Akademi, India’s most inclusive literature festival will be held from 10th to 15th March 2022 in New Delhi.
• The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs is organising a national level ‘India Water Pitch-Pilot-Scale Start-up Conclave’ on 12 March, 2022 at Stein Auditorium, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, with an aim to start the communication with Start-ups in water sector.
• Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur presented Rs 51,365 crore tax –free budget for the year 2022-23 in the state assembly.
• Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin inaugurated India’s first and largest floating solar power plant at the SPIC (Southern Petrochemical Industries Corporation) factory premises in Thoothukudi.
• Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel launched the ‘Kaushalya Matritva Yojana’ and gave away cheques of Rs 5,000 each to five women beneficiaries for safe motherhood at a state-level conference.
• Telangana Finance Minister T Harish Rao presented a tax-free budget of Rs 2.56 lakh crore for 2022-23.
• Axis Bank has kicked off the ‘HouseWorkIsWork’ initiative, offering opportunities to those who want to rejoin the professional space.
• HDFC Mutual Fund has launched a women-led financial empowerment initiative ‘LaxmiForLaxmi’.
• Health insurance company Star Health and Allied Insurance Co. Ltd launched Star Women Care Insurance Policy, a woman-centric comprehensive health cover specially designed to protect the health-care needs of women at every stage of their lives.
• Domestic pharma company Lupine Ltd has roped in woman boxer Mary Kom as the brand ambassador of its Shakti campaign.
• Aarushie Verma, a national level shooter in Pistol and trap shooting, a multi-time State & Northern India Champion & National medalist, and an active environmentalist, has been selected to represent India at the 2041 Climate Force Antarctica Expedition to be held in March 2022.
• 19-year-old Priyanka Nutakki secured her final WGM-norm at MPL 47th National Women Chess Championship.