CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL NEWS
PM has inaugurated Kisan Drone Yatra and flagged off 100 ‘Kisan Drones’:
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated the ‘Kisan Drone Yatra’, an initiative by Garuda Aerospace Pvt Ltd and flagged off 100 ‘Kisan Drones’ in various cities in India.
- The 100 Kisan Drones were set off in 100 villages in 16 states across India which includes Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Goa.
Expected Questions:
Who is the Founder of Garuda Aerospace Pvt Ltd?
Agnishwar Jayaprakash
The Kisan Drone Yatra was flagged off from which state of India?
Gurgaon, Haryana.
Related News:
Prime Minister Modi inaugurates 550-tonne capacity Bio-CNG plant in Indore:
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi has virtually inaugurated 550-tonne capacity ‘gobar-dhan’ Bio-CNG plant in Indore city of Madhya Pradesh.
- The plant, named as Govardhan plant, is based on the concept of waste-to-wealth innovation.
Government has organised week-long Vigyan Sarvatra Pujyate’Science exhibition:
- The Government of India has organised a week-long science exhibition titled ‘Vigyan Sarvatra Pujyate’ from February 22 to 28, 2022, as part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav commemoration.
- The inaugural programme was held at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi on the 22nd of February.
Expected Questions:
“Vigyan Sarvatra Pujyate” has been conducted simultaneously at how many locations across the country through a hybrid model?
Seventy-Five (75)
National Science Day was celebrated in which Date?
28 February
Government approves the continuation of National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship (NMMSS):
- Government has approved the continuation of Central Sector National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship (NMMSS) over the 15th Finance Commission cycle for a period of five years i.e. from 2021-22 to 2025-26 with financial outlay of Rs. 1827.00 crore
- With minor modifications in eligibility criteria such as increasing income ceiling from Rs.1.5 lakh per annum to Rs.3.5 lakh per annum and revising the renewal criteria under the scheme.
Expected Questions:
National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship (NMMSS) was Launched in which year?
2008
Related news
Cabinet approves preparations for India’s G20 presidency:
- The Union Cabinet has approved setting up of a G20 secretariat to put in place arrangements required for India’s presidency of the prestigious grouping.
- India will hold the Presidency of the G20 from December 1 to November 30, 2023.
- India will host the G20 summit next year.
25th Meeting of Financial Stability and Development Council held in Mumbai:
- The 25th meeting of the Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC) was held in Mumbai, under the Chairpersonship of Union Finance Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman.
- The finance minister is on a two-day post-Budget outreach visit to the city, where she is meeting with representatives of industry, financial market functionaries and bankers.
Expected Questions
Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC) is Founded in the year?
2010
Who heads The FSDC sub-committee?
RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das
Related news
Finance Commission head NK Singh calls for a review of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution:
- Fifteenth Finance Commission chairman NK Singh has called for a thorough review of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution in the wake of current challenges of climate change and the pandemic while advocating the need for a recourse mechanism for the Finance Commission in the wake of exogenous events.
Lavender designated as brand product of J&K’s Doda district, the birthplace of Purple Revolution:
- The Union Minister of Science & Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh has chaired the District Development Coordination & Monitoring Committee (DISHA) meetings of several districts in Jammu & Kashmir.
- A key decision taken during the meeting was to designate Lavender as Doda brand product, to promote lavender under ‘One District, One Product’ initiative of the Modi Government.
Expected Questions
Where is the birthplace of India’s Purple Revolution?
Doda district in J&K
Who has started one district one product?
Pashupati Kumar Paras
Related news:
J&K admin signs MoU with New Zealand company to transform sheep farming sector
- Manoj Sinha, the Lieutenant Governor of J&K, signed an MoU with New Zealand G2G with the overriding goal of improving farmer remuneration, knowledge transfer in research and development, as well as marketing and value addition of J&K sheep commodities.
- This year marks the 70th anniversary of the two countries’ establishment of bilateral ties.
CURRENT AFFAIRS: INTERNATIONAL NEWS
UK closes Tier 1 Investor visa route over security concerns
- The United Kingdom has decided to close the Tier 1 Investor visa or golden visa route to all new applicants from all nationalities with immediate effect over security concerns.
- The UK Investment Visa is a Tier 1 visa offered to wealthy individuals willing to invest a minimum of £2 million in the UK.
Expected Questions :
Who is the Home Secretary of the UK?
Priti Patel
Which country has launched the creation of long-term visas for foreigners in an effort to “boost the economy”?
Bahrain
About UK :
- Queen: Queen Elizabeth II
- Prime minister: Boris Johnson
- Capital: London
- Currency: Pound sterling
CURRENT AFFAIRS : BANKING & FINANCE
Mastercard partners with SBI Payments to boost digital payments acceptance infrastructure in Guwahati, Lucknow and Varanasi
- As an extension of its flagship campaign ‘Team Cashless India’, Mastercard partnered with the Auto Rickshaw Association in Lucknow, All Assam’s Restaurant Association (AARA) in Guwahati, local shopkeepers, and Boat Union in Varanasi to bolster the digital payments infrastructure.
- In Lucknow the partnership enables more than 700 auto-rickshaw drivers to accept digital payments.
- In Varanasi, to encourage over 1,000 members to accept digital payments from tourists.
- Meanwhile, in Guwahati the collaboration is in line with the Government’s ‘Digital Northeast Vision 2022’, this initiative equips restaurant and hotel owners with a safe, seamless, secure mode of payment to consumers.
Additional Info :
- The volume of India’s digital payments industry grew from 1,459.02 Crore transactions in FY 2017-18 to 4,371.18 Crore transactions in FY 2020-21.
Expected Questions :
What percent of micro-merchants in the Northeast region was not equipped with digital payment acceptance infrastructure?
Nearly 80%
Who is the CEO of Mastercard?
Michael Miebach
When was the team cashless india campaign launched?
2019
Recent News :
- Mastercard announced a strategic equity investment in Instamojo, a full-stack digital solutions provider for MSMEs.
- Sampad Swain, Akash Gehani, and Aditya Sengupta established Instamojo as a small business payment processor in 2012.
About Mastercard :
- Headquarters : New York, United States.
Paytm Payments Bank Becomes Acquiring Partner For e-RUPI Service
- Paytm Payments Bank Limited (PPBL) has become an official acquiring partner for e-RUPI vouchers, further making it accessible at offline stores across India.
About e-RUPI :
- e-RUPI is a cashless prepaid voucher that beneficiaries can present through SMS or QR Code.
Expected Questions :
PPBL Partnered with which company for improving its strong merchant base?
One97 Communications Ltd (OCL)
Who has developed the e-RUPI vouchers?
National Payments Corporation of India
When & who has launched the e-RUPI?
August 2021 – Narendra Modi
Recent News :
- In Dec 2021, Paytm Payments Bank was given the scheduled bank status by the Reserve Bank of India.
- The bank has been included in the Second Schedule to the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934.
About PPBL :
- Headquarters: Noida, Uttar Pradesh
- CEO : Satish Kumar Gupta
CURRENT AFFAIRS : APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS
Former SriLankan Airlines’ CEO Vipula Gunatilleka appointed as Jet Airways CFO
- The former Sri Lankan Airlines CEO, Vipula Gunatilleka has been appointed as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Jet Airways.
- He served as the CEO of the SriLankan Airlines till January 2022 & he will join Jet Airways with effect from March 1, 2022.
- Prior to this, he was the CFO and Board Member of TAAG Angola Airlines from November 2015 to July 2018 under Emirates Management.
Expected Questions :
Where are the Headquarters of Jet Airways?
Delhi NCR, India
Who has appointed Vipula Gunatilleka as CFO of Jet Airways 2.0.
The Jalan Kalrock consortium
Honda Cars India appoints Takuya Tsumura as CEO & President
- Honda Motor Company Limited has announced the appointment of Takuya Tsumura as the President and CEO of Honda Cars India Limited (HCIL) effective from April 1, 2022.
- He has been associated with Honda Motor for more than 30 years.
- He was in-charge of South Asian countries, including India from 1997 to 2000.
- Nakanishi has been appointed as General Manager, Automobile Business of Asian Honda (Regional office-Bangkok, Thailand).
Expected Questions :
Where are the Headquarters of Honda Cars India?
Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh
Honda is an automobile company from which country?
Japan
CURRENT AFFAIRS : MOU & AGREEMENTS
India, France agree on Roadmap on Blue Economy and Ocean Governance
- India and France have inked a roadmap to enhance their bilateral exchanges on the blue economy and Ocean Governance.
Purpose :
- To explore the potential for collaboration in marine science research for a better understanding of oceans, and ensure that the ocean remains a global common, a space of freedom and trade, based on the rule of law.
Expected Questions :
Who are the signatories of the agreement on ‘Roadmap on Blue Economy and Ocean Governance’?
Dr. S Jaishankar (India) & Jean-Yves Le Drian (French)
When was the fifth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) took place?
28 February – 2 March 2022
What was the theme of UNEA-5?
Strengthening Actions for Nature to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals”.
About France :
- President: Emmanuel Macron
- Capital: Paris
- Currency : Euro, CFP franc
IIFL Home Finance signs $68 million loan with ADB
- IIFL Housing Finance Limited (HFL), signed a USD 68 million loan with Asian Development Bank (ADB) to improve funding to affordable green housing for lower-income groups in
- The funding comprises a direct ADB loan of up to $58 million and a $10-million concessional loan by the Canadian Climate Fund for the Private Sector in Asia (CFPS).
Note :
- This is ADB’s first such agreement with the private sector in India.
Expected Questions :
Who is the MD & CEO, IIFL HFL?
Monu Ratra
In ADB’s loan how much percentage will be earmarked for lending to women borrowers or co-borrowers & financing mortgages?
80% & 20%
About IIFL :
- CEO: Nirmal Jain
- Headquarters :Mumbai, Maharashtra
About ADB :
- Headquarters: Mandaluyong, Philippines
- President: Masatsugu Asakawa
Adani Enterprises signs MoU with Ballard Power Systems to commercialize fuel cells
- Ballard Power Systems has signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) with the Adani Group to evaluate a joint investment case for the commercialization of fuel cells in various mobility and industrial applications in India.
About the MOU :
- Both the parties will examine various options to cooperate, including potential collaboration for fuel cell manufacturing in India.
- The efforts under this MoU will be anchored by Adani New Industries (ANIL), the newly formed subsidiary of Adani Enterprises.
Expected Questions :
Who is the current chairman of Adani Group?
Gautam Adani
Where is the Headquarters of Ballard Power Systems situated?
Vancouver, Canada
What is the current market capitalization of Adani group?
US$150 billion
Who is the largest solar power developer in the world?
Adani group.
Recent News :
- In Aug 2021, The Civil Aviation Ministry signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Adani Group for providing services, including customs, immigration and security, at the Jaipur, Guwahati and Thiruvananthapuram airports.
About Adani Group :
- Headquarters: Ahmedabad, Gujarat
- MD : Rajesh Adani
CURRENT AFFAIRS : DEFENCE NEWS
Israel successfully tests naval air defense system – C-Dome
- Israel successfully tested a new naval air defense system, C-Dome which was tested against rockets, cruise missiles and drones.
- The C-Dome protects Israel’s coastline and offshore natural gas assets in the Mediterranean.
- Israel and Hezbollah fought a month-long war in 2006 & during that fighting, Hezbollah fired a missile that struck an Israeli warship, killing four Israeli soldiers.
Expected Questions :
Who designed a new naval air defense system C-Dome?
Rafael Advanced Weapons Systems
In which ship the c-dome was successfully tested for the first time?
Saar 6 corvette INS Magen
What is the speed of C-Dome?
Mach 2.2 (2716.56 kmph)
Recent News :
- In Feb 2022, Israel became the first-ever country to allow drones in civilian airspace.
- The Israel’s Ministry of Transport and Road Safety recently announced the country’s first certification for unmanned aircraft vehicles (UAVs) to operate in civilian airspace.
- The certification was issued to the Hermes Starliner unmanned system by the Israeli Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
About Israel :
- President: Isaac Herzog
- Prime minister: Naftali Bennett
- Currency: Israeli Shekel
- Capital: Jerusalem
CURRENT AFFAIRS : APPS & SERVICES
IIT Roorkee Launches KISAN Mobile App
- Indian Information Technology (IIT) Roorkee launches the ‘KISAN’ mobile app for dissemination of Agromet Advisory Services (AAS).
- Farmers from Haridwar, Dehradun, and Pauri Garhwal districts along with the stakeholders participated in the program.
- A booklet published in Hindi entitled “Agrometeorological Advisory Services for cereal crops, horticultural crops and livestock” has been released.
About the KISAN app :
- The app is bilingual and users can select either Hindi or English language at their convenience.
Special Feature :
- A weather forecast and advisory bulletin will display only for the block selected by the farmer.
Expected Questions :
KISAN’ Mobile App was specially designed for which purpose?
Agriculture related weather forecasting
Who offered Agro-meteorological Advisory services?
AMFU Roorkee and India Meteorological Department (IMD)
Who has developed the “KISAN” app?
Dr Khushboo Mirza under the guidance of Dr C S Jha
Recent News :
- In Aug 2021, IIT Roorkee developed the first-of-its-kind earthquake early warning mobile application, named ‘Uttarakhand Bhookamp Alert’.
- The app has been launched by the Uttarakhand Chief Minister, Pushkar Singh Dhami in association with Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority (USDMA).
About IIT Roorkee :
- Director : Ajit Kumar Chaturvedi
CURRENT AFFAIRS: SPORTS
Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz creates history, becomes youngest ATP 500 winner:
- The Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz has clinched the Rio Open tennis title after defeating Diego Schwartzman in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
- The seventh-seeded Alcaraz defeated third-seeded Schwartzman 6-4, 6-2 to become the youngest ATP 500 champion
Expected Questions
What is the age of Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz?
18
Who has won the most ATP 500 titles?
Roger Federer
Youngest ATP 500 champion category was created in the year?
2009.
Daily CA On Feb 24:
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated the ‘Kisan Drone Yatra’, an initiative by Garuda Aerospace Pvt Ltd and flagged off 100 ‘Kisan Drones’ in various cities in India.
- The Government of India has organised a week-long science exhibition titled ‘Vigyan Sarvatra Pujyate’ from February 22 to 28, 2022, as part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav commemoration.
- Government has approved the continuation of Central Sector National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship (NMMSS) over the 15th Finance Commission cycle for a period of five years i.e. from 2021-22 to 2025-26 with financial outlay of Rs. 1827.00 crore
- The 25th meeting of the Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC) was held in Mumbai, under the Chairpersonship of Union Finance Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman.
- The Union Minister of Science & Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh has chaired the District Development Coordination & Monitoring Committee (DISHA) meetings of several districts in Jammu & Kashmir.
- The United Kingdom has decided to close the Tier 1 Investor visa or golden visa route to all new applicants from all nationalities with immediate effect over security concerns.
- As an extension of its flagship campaign ‘Team Cashless India’, Mastercard partnered with the Auto Rickshaw Association in Lucknow, All Assam’s Restaurant Association (AARA) in Guwahati, local shopkeepers, and Boat Union in Varanasi to bolster the digital payments infrastructure.
- Paytm Payments Bank Limited (PPBL) has become an official acquiring partner for e-RUPI vouchers, further making it accessible at offline stores across India.
- The former Sri Lankan Airlines CEO, Vipula Gunatilleka has been appointed as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Jet Airways.
- Honda Motor Company Limited has announced the appointment of Takuya Tsumura as the President and CEO of Honda Cars India Limited (HCIL) effective from April 1, 2022.
- India and France have inked a roadmap to enhance their bilateral exchanges on the blue economy and Ocean Governance.
- IIFL Housing Finance Limited (HFL), signed a USD 68 million loan with Asian Development Bank (ADB) to improve funding to affordable green housing for lower-income groups in
- Ballard Power Systems has signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) with the Adani Group to evaluate a joint investment case for the commercialization of fuel cells in various mobility and industrial applications in India.
- Israel successfully tested a new naval air defense system, C-Dome which was tested against rockets, cruise missiles and drones.
- Indian Information Technology (IIT) Roorkee launches the ‘KISAN’ mobile app for dissemination of Agromet Advisory Services (AAS).
- The Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz has clinched the Rio Open tennis title after defeating Diego Schwartzman in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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