Current Affairs Quiz 14th and 15th May 2022 : Daily GK Update Quiz

Exp. Chhattisgarh became 1st state to restore old pension scheme

Chhattisgarh has become the first state in the country to restore the old pension scheme in order to provide assured income to retired employees.

The state issued Gazette notification to switch back to the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) from National Pension Scheme (NPS) will be effective from April 1, 2022.

In February 2022 Rajasthan had also announced restoration of OPS in its 2022-2023 budget the state has not issued a Gazette notification.

The state has also sent a detailed proposal to Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) to withdraw ‘17,000 crore accrued under the market-driven National Pension System (NPS) since November 2004.

Exp. Ministry of Rural Development signed MoU with Amazon for online marketing of SHG’s products on Amazon Saheli platform

Ministry of Rural Development and Amazon Seller Services Private Limited signed a Non-Financial Memorandum of Understanding at Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi.

This MoU will enable the Self-Help Group (SHG) entrepreneurs under Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) to offer their products to the buyers across India through AmazonSaheli Storefront.

Amazon & MoRD will jointly enable Commercial and social development of women led rural enterprises across identified States and Union Territories.

Exp. DoT launched “GatiShakti Sanchar” portal for Centralised Right of Way (RoW) approvals

Union Minister for Communications, Electronics & IT and Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw has launched the “GatiShakti Sanchar” portal for Centralised Right of Way (RoW) approvals in line with the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan.

The portal has been developed keeping in view the vision areas of the National Broadband Mission (NBM). NBM was set up by the Department of Telecommunication (DoT) in 2019; to facilitate universal and equitable access to broadband services across the country, especially in rural and remote areas.

Exp. India contributed USD 800,000 to promote use of Hindi Language at UN

The government of India has contributed USD 800,000 to the United Nations to promote the Hindi language in the United Nations.

India’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, R Ravindra handed over a cheque for the UN project (Hindi @ UN project) launched by India in 2018 to disseminate information about the UN to the Hindi-speaking population across the world.

The project was launched by India in 2018 in collaboration with the UN Department of Public Information to disseminate information about the UN to the Hindi-speaking population across the world.

Since 2018, India has been partnering with the UN DGC by providing an extra-budgetary contribution to mainstream news and multimedia content of DGC in Hindi.

Exp. Exim Bank provided LoC of USD 190 million to Mauritius for Metro Express & Infrastructure Projects

Export-Import Bank of India has entered into an agreement with the SBM (Mauritius) Infrastructure Development Company Ltd. (SBMIDCL) to provide the latter with a USD 190 million Government of India-backed Line of Credit (LoC).

The agreement was made for the purpose of financing Exim Bank’s participation in the ongoing Metro Express Project and other infrastructure projects in Mauritius through Redeemable Preference Shares in public sector entities.

The Agreement under the LoC has become effective from April 18, 2022. The credit facility is an addition to SBMIDCL’s existing USD 500 million credit line, which was extended under the terms and conditions of the Dollar Credit Line Agreement dated May 27, 2017.

Exp. India is highest recipient of foreign remittance: World Bank report

According to World Bank report on migration and development, India has topped the foreign remittance list by receiving USD 89 billion followed by Mexico at USD 54 billion, and China at USD 53 billion in 2021.

The officially recorded remittance flows to low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are expected to increase by 4.2% in 2022 to reach USD 630 billion.

Bangladesh was the 7th highest recipient of remittance from abroad in 2021. It received over USD 22 billion as remittance last year which marked an increase of 2.2 percent over the year 2020.

Exp. Forbes’ Global 2000 list of public companies worldwide 2022; RIL is top-ranked Indian company

Billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries Ltd climbed two spots to No. 53 on Forbes’ Global 2000 list of public companies worldwide 2022.

Forbes Global 2000 ranks the largest companies in the world using four metrics: sales, profits, assets and market value. Reliance is the top-ranked Indian firm on the list, followed by State Bank of India at No. 105, HDFC Bank at No. 153 and ICICI Bank at No. 204.

Other top 10 Indian firms on the list include state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) at 228 rank, Housing Development Finance Corporation Ltd (HDFC) at No. 268, Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) at No.357, Tata Consultancy Services Ltd (TCS) at No. 384, Tata Steel at No. 407 and Axis Bank at No. 431.

Berkshire Hathaway took the No. 1 spot for the first time since Forbes started publishing the Global 2000 in 2003, dethroning the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, which dropped to No. 2 after nine consecutive years at the top of the list. Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Saudi Aramco) took the No. 3 Spot.

Exp. Morgan Stanley projected India’s growth forecast to 7.6% for FY23

Morgan Stanley downgraded India’s growth forecast to 7.6% from 7.9% for FY2023 amid slowdown in global growth, higher commodity prices and risk aversion in global capital markets.

This 7.6% forecast is a baseline forecast for India while its bearish and bullish growth projections are 6.7% and 8%, respectively.

For FY24, it lowered its growth forecast to 6.7% from 7% estimated earlier. However, Indian economy will expand at above pre-pandemic growth rates in FY23 and FY24.

On global front, it projected a growth at 2.9% in calendar year 2022 as compared to 6.2% growth in 2021.

Exp. Swiggy acquired restaurant booking platform Dineout

Food delivery major Swiggy has acquired table reservation platform Dineout for an undisclosed amount.

Reports have noted that it is a $200-million deal. Dineout will continue to operate as an independent app post the acquisition.

Founded in 2012, Dineout enables users to discover restaurants in the city, make table reservations, and enjoy discounts and privileges across select restaurants through Dineout Passport and Dineout Pay.

Founders Ankit Mehrotra, Nikhil Bakshi, Sahil Jain and Vivek Kapoor will join Swiggy once the acquisition is completed.

Exp. Union Bank of India launched ‘Trade nxt’, an online platform for export-import transactions

Union Bank of India (UBI) has launched an online platform, ‘Trade nxt’, which enable corporate, and MSMEs to transact all cross-border export-import transactions from the comfort of their place, i.e., eliminates the need for companies to visit a bank branch for the same.

It is a 24/7 safe and secure solution. It offers seamless entry and processing of letters of credit (LC), bank guarantees, export/import bills, disbursement of export credit, outward & inward remittances, dealer financing etc.

Trade nxt’ platform will also enable the regulatory online auto reporting through Import Data Processing & Monitoring System (IDPMS), Export Data processing & Monitoring System (EDPMS) and other statutory reporting to Overseas Direct Investment (ODI)/ Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)/ Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) which will make the process much more convenient.

Exp. Biplab Deb resigned as CM of Tripura; Manik Saha to be new CM

Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb stepped down from his position after meeting Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president J.P. Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah during a two-day trip to New Delhi.

Mr. Deb made the announcement after submitting his resignation to Governor S.N. Arya at the Raj Bhavan in Agartala. The State is slated to go to Assembly elections in 2023.

Tripura Bharatiya Janata Party president Manik Saha has been appointed as the new chief minister of Tripura after Biplab Deb’s resignation.

Exp. Nidhi Chibber appointed as Chairperson of CBSE

Senior bureaucrat Nidhi Chibber has been appointed as the chairperson of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) as part of a senior-level bureaucratic reshuffle effected by the Centre.

Chibber, a 1994 batch IAS officer of Chhattisgarh cadre, is currently Additional Secretary, Ministry of Heavy Industries.

She has been appointed as chairperson of the CBSE in the rank and pay of Additional Secretary to the government of India, an order issued by the Personnel Ministry.

Exp. Vivek Kumar Dewangen appointed as CMD of REC Ltd

Vivek Kumar Dewangen, a 1993 batch IAS officer of Manipur cadre, has been named Chairman and Managing Director, REC Ltd., Ministry of Power.

He is currently Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Power. S Gopalakrishnan, Additional Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), has been appointed as Additional Secretary, Department of Health and Family Welfare.

A total of 17 joint secretary and Additional Secretary-level officers have been appointed to different posts in the central government departments and organisations in the reshuffle.

Exp. Kenya’s Anna Qabale Duba won $250,000 global nursing award for fighting female genital mutilation

A Kenyan nurse Anna Qabale Duba, who campaigns against early marriage and female genital mutilation crowned world’s best nurse, and won a prize of $250,000 (£205,000).

Anna Qabale Duba reportedly beat more than 24,000 nominees to the Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award.

The 31-year-old now holds a Masters in Epidemiology and has set up a foundation aimed at empowering young girls and mothers. Through her Qabale Duba Foundation, the school she has built in her village also teaches parents about key sexual and reproductive health issues.

Exp. South Korea became 1st Asian country to join NATO cyber defence group

South Korea became the first Asian country to join North Atlantic Treaty Organization Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (NATO CCDCOE).

South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) is joined as a contributing participant for NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence.

Now, the total NATO CCDCOE has 32 countries as its official members which includes 27 NATO member countries and 5 non-NATO states as contributing participants.

South korea has participated in the Locked Shields 2022, the largest and most complex annual international live-fire cyber defence exercise in the world. It has been participating two years in a row since 2020.

The exercise was a training and cooperation between members of the CCDCOE, NATO and partner nations. Finland won Cyber Defence Exercise Locked Shields 2022.

Exp. ISRO successfully tested human-rated HS200 solid rocket booster for Gaganyaan mission

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully completed the static test of the human-rated solid rocket booster (HS200) for Gaganyaan at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.

The booster engine is part of the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle MkIII (GSLV Mk III) rocket that will carry Indian astronauts to space.

The GSLV MK III rocket is a three-staged vehicle. The first stage is powered by solid fuel, the second by liquid fuel and the third is the cryogenic stage powered by liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen.

Design and development of the HS200 booster was completed at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram, and propellant casting was completed at Sriharikota.

About ISRO:

• Founded: 15 August 1969
• Headquarters: Bengaluru
• Chairman: S Somanath

Exp. Inter Milan Beat Juventus to win Italian Cup 2021-22

Inter Milan defeated Juventus 4-2 after extra time in the Italian Cup (Coppa Italia 2021–22) final. Ivan Perisic scored twice in extra time after Hakan Çalhanoglu had converted a controversial late penalty.

Nicolò Barella scored the other goal for Inter. The Italian Cup final soccer match between Juventus and Inter Milan was held at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Italy.

Hakan Calhanoglu stepped up from the penalty spot with 80 minutes on the clock to force extra time before another spot-kick was converted by Ivan Perisic to put the Nerazzurri within touching distance of the trophy.

Exp. 14 May: World Migratory Bird Day 2022

World Migratory Bird Day is commemorated on the second Saturday in May and the second Saturday in October every year. This day is marked twice a year since its inauguration in 2006.

In 2022, World Migratory Bird Day will be celebrated on 14 May and 8 October 2022. This day emphasises the importance of migratory bird conservation and habitat preservation.

International Migratory Bird Day was marked in 2006 when the United Nations decided that the world’s population needs to be made aware of the worldwide migratory linkages.

Since then, 118 countries participated in and organised the event. The United Nations (UN) Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds had envisioned the World Migratory Bird Day.

Theme 2022: light pollution.

Exp. 15 May: International Day of Families

International Day of Families is observed every year on 15th May across the globe. This day provides an opportunity to raise awareness about the issues related to the families.

The Economic and Social Council and the Commission for Social Development in 1983 recommended a resolution (1983/23) on the role of the family in the process of development.

In 1993, the General Assembly had decided that 15 May will be celebrated annually as The International Day of Families.

Theme 2022: ‘Families and Urbanisation’.

Exp. Former Australia all-rounder Andrew Symonds passed away

Andrew Symonds, the former Australia all-rounder, has passed away following a car crash near the outskirts of the city of Townsville. He was 46.

Symonds, one of the greatest all-rounders to represent the country, played 26 Tests, 198 ODIs and 14 T20Is for Australia and was a two-time World Cup winner.

Symonds, lovingly known as ‘Roy’, made his Australia debut in 1998, during an ODI against Pakistan and it was in the 50-overs setup that the dynamic all-rounder would prove his mettle.

In nearly 200 ODIs, Symonds scored over 5000 runs at an average of 39.75 while batting in the middle order, including six hundreds and 30 half-centuries and also took 133 wickets.

Exp. Eminent Sanskrit and Hindi Scholar Dr Rama Kant Shukla passed away

Padma Shri Dr Rama Kant Shukla, a profound Sanskrit and Hindi Scholar, has passed away in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh.

Dr Rama Kant Shukla is the founder and general secretary of Devavani Parishad in Delhi, and the founding chairman and editor of “Arvacinasamskrtam”, a quarterly journal in Sanskrit.

He was conferred the titles of Sanskrit Rashtrakavi, Kaviratna, and Kavi Siromani by literary and Sanskrit organizations.

The Government of India honoured him with Padma Shri in 2013 for literature and education. In 2009, He was honoured with the President’s Award under the Sanskrit category.

He has also received the Sahitya Academy Award in 2018 under Sanskrit Category for poetry “Mama Janani”.

Exp. UAE President and Ruler of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed passed away

UAE President and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan passed away.

He served as the President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi since November 3, 2004.

The Ministry of Presidential Affairs condoles the people of the UAE, the Arab and Islamic nation and the world over the demise of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the president of the UAE.

Born in 1948, Sheikh Khalifa was the second President of the UAE and the 16th Ruler of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. He was the eldest son of Sheikh Zayed. He was elected to succeed his father, late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who served as the UAE’s first president since the union in 1971 until he passed away on November 2, 2004.