Daily Current Affairs and GK | 23 April 2022

Topic: Sports

1. Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah were named among Wisden’s Five Cricketers of the Year.

• In the 2022 edition of the Wisden Almanack, India captain Rohit Sharma and pacer Jasprit Bumrah are named among the “Five Cricketers of the Year”.
• England fast bowler Ollie Robinson, South African women’s player Dane van Niekerk and New Zealand opener Devon Conway are the other players selected among Wisden’s Five Cricketers of the Year.
• Former England captain Joe Root has been named as the Leading Cricketer in the World while South Africa’s Lizelle Lee has been named as the Leading Woman Cricketer.
• Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan has been selected as the leading T20 Cricketer. 

Topic: Banking System

2. India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) has launched Fincluvation.

• It is a joint initiative that has been launched to collaborate with Fintech Startup community.
• This initiative to collaborate with Fintech Startup community is to innovate and co-create solutions for financial inclusion.
• Fincluvation will exist as a platform of IPPB to co-create inclusive financial solutions in collaboration with participating start-ups.
• The initiative will make it possible for start-ups to work with IPPB and Department of Posts experts.
• India Post Payments Bank:
  • It is a wholly owned government owned entity. It comes under Department of Posts.
  • It was launched on September 1, 2018. It is headquartered in New Delhi. Its CEO is J. Venkatramu. 

Topic: Awards and Prizes

3. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been named as recipient of John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award.  

• He is one of the five people who have been named as recipients of this award.
• He has been named the recipient of this award for acting to protect democracy.
• As per John F. Kennedy Library Foundation, four U.S. officials have been selected for this award for standing up for free and fair elections.
• The names of these officials are listed below.
  • Republican U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming
  • Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson
  • Arizona House Speaker Rusty Bowers
  • Fulton County, Georgia, elections worker Wandrea “Shaye” Moss
• John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award is a private award. It is given to recognize displays of courage similar to those John F. Kennedy.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: State News/Manipur

4. Manipur celebrated Khongjom Day at Khongjom War Memorial Complex on 23rd April 2022.

• Khongjom Day is celebrated every year on 23rd April to remember Manipuri warriors.
• These warriors sacrificed their lives in the battle of Khongjom during the 1891 Anglo-Manipuri War.
• Governor of Manipur La. Ganeshan and Chief Minister N. Biren Singh attended the celebration.
• Khongjom War Memorial Complex is located at Khebaching of Thoubal district.

Topic: National News

5. Yoga event-Yog Prabha to be organized by Civil Aviation Ministry.

• Ministry of Civil Aviation announced that it will organize Yoga event - Yog Prabha at Safdarjung Airport, New Delhi on 25 April.
• It will be inaugurated by the Union Minister of Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia.
• Common Yoga Protocol, Lecture on Yoga by Expert, Yoga Demonstration activities will be part of this event.
• It will be organized to create awareness about the importance of Yoga in daily life.
• United Nations General Assembly had declared 21st June as the International Day of Yoga in 2014.

Topic: National Appointment

6. Niti Aayog has appointed Dr. Suman K Bery as its new vice chairman.

• After Dr Rajiv Kumar stepped down as Chairman of the NITI Aayog, Suman K Bery has been named Vice-Chairman.
• On May 1st, he will take over as Vice Chairperson of NITI Aayog.
• Dr. Suman K Bery previously worked at the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) in New Delhi as Director-General.
• NITI Aayog:
  • It was formed on January 1, 2015. It replaced the Planning Commission.
  • The Prime Minister is the ex-officio Chairman and the Prime Minister appoints the Vice-Chairperson.
  • Its headquarters is in New Delhi. Amitabh Kant is its CEO.

Topic: International News

7. PM Modi and British PM Boris Johnson decided to conclude negotiations on Free Trade Agreement by end of 2022.

• British PM Boris Johnson is on a two-day visit to India during which he held bilateral talks with PM Modi.
• Earlier, India and UK had launched an ambitious Roadmap-2030 to guide the bilateral relationship in this decade.
• Both leaders reviewed the progress made in this Roadmap and also set some goals for the future.
• They also discussed the comprehensive reforms in the infrastructure modernization plan, and the National Infrastructure Pipeline.
• They decided to deepen their climate and energy partnerships and India invited the UK to join India's National Hydrogen Mission.
• Both leaders also discussed regional and global levels issues. Two agreements were also signed during the bilateral talks.

Topic: National Appointments

8. Lieutenant General Manoj Kumar Katiyar appointed as Director-General of Military Operations.

• Lieutenant General Manoj will take the charge from 1 May. He is presently the General Officer Commanding of 1 Corps.
• Earlier, he had commanded an infantry brigade along the Western borders and a mountain division.
• He also served as an instructor in the Indian Military Training Team in Bhutan.
• He was commissioned in the 23^rd Battalion of the Rajput Regiment in June 1986.

Topic: MoUs/ Agreements

9. Indian Navy signed MoU with IIM Kozhikode to exchange best practices.

• Naval Institute of Educational and Training Technology has signed an MoU with the Indian Institute of Management, Kozhikode.
• Director of IIM-K Professor Debashis Chatterjee and director of NIETT Commodore Ben H Berson signed the MoU.
• The MoU aims to build collaboration and exchange best practices in the field of Instructional leadership, Educational Psychology and Management.
• The MoU would help NIETT to offer world-class training to trainers of the armed forces of India and friendly foreign nations.
• Naval Institute of Educational and Training Technology:
  • It was established on 25th April 1971.
  • It is situated in Kochi, Kerala.
  • It is a centre for the training of trainers and a full-fledged centre for the production of training aids and resource material.

Topic: Summits/ Conferences/ Meetings

10. 1^st Incredible India International Cruise Conference will be held in Mumbai.

• Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal announced that the 1^st Incredible India International Cruise Conference-2022 will be organized in Mumbai on 14th-15th May.
• Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Mumbai Port Authority, and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) will organize this two-day event.
• Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said that the Indian cruise market has the potential to grow by ten times over the next decade.
• The conference will showcase business opportunities in the cruise tourism sector in India.
• Sarbananda Sonowal also unveiled the brochure, logo, and the mascot of the Conference- Captain Cruz.
• The conference's main aim is to hold discussions on 'Developing India as a Cruise Hub'.
• The Conference will also highlight ports like Mumbai, Goa, Kochi, New Mangalore and Lakshwadeep as cruise hubs of the nation.

Topic: State News/Telangana

11. The largest electric three-wheeler factory in the world will be established in Telangana.

• California-based Biliti Electric Inc will establish this factory to produce 2.40 lakh electric vehicles each year.
• The factory will be set up in 2 phases. Phase I will be completed by early 2023. The second phase will be completed in 2024. 
• The company has entered into a manufacturing partnership with Gayam Motor Works for its three-wheelers.
• Gayam Motor Works is based in Hyderabad and manufactures electric vehicles.
• Cargo version Taskman and passenger model Urban are Biliti’s products. It is proposed that both of these will be manufactured in the Telangana factory.   
• Fisker, another firm based in California is planning to establish its 2^nd headquarters in Hyderabad.

Topic: Summits/ Conferences/ Meetings

12. All India Police Science Congress has been inaugurated by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Bhopal.

• Bureau of Police Research and Development organized the 48^th All India Police Science Congress at Central Police Training Academy, Bhopal.
• In addition to Union Home Minister, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan also addressed the Congress.
• Amit Shah talked about the need for rational police system based on knowledge and evidence.
• He said coordination and uniformity should be there among police personnel of all states.
• Amit Shah attended the Conference of Forest Committees. He also took part in the distribution of dividends to Tendu leaves collectors.
• These events were held at Jamboori Maidan in Bhopal.
• All India Police Science Congress:
  • In 1960, First All India Police Science Congress was organized in Patna, Bihar.
  • 47^th All India Police Science Congress was organized in 2019 in Lucknow.
• Bureau of Police Research and Development:
  • It was established in 1970. Ministry of Home Affairs is its parent agency.
  • It is headquartered in New Delhi. It is headed by Director-General. Balaji Srivastava is current Director General. 

Topic: International News

13. G20 agreed to establish a global pandemic preparedness fund.

• G20 countries have agreed to set up a global fund for pandemic preparedness at the World Bank.
• The US and Indonesia have given the proposal to establish such kind of fund to tackle future pandemics.
• The WHO and the World Bank estimated that $10.5 billion per year is needed to support equitable global access to vaccines, testing and treatments.
• However, no details are available from the G20 on the size of the new financial intermediary fund.
• G20:
  • It was formed in 1999.
  • It consists of 19 countries and the European Union.
  • Joko Widodo is its Chairman.
  • It works to resolve major issues related to the global economy.

Topic: MoUs/ Agreements

14. APEDA inked MoU with National Research Development Corporation (NRDC) to implement Agriculture Export Policy.

• The main objective of this MoU is to implement Agriculture Export Policy and to strengthen the export value chain.
• Both organizations will cooperate on projects for the commercialization of embedded technology related to Agriculture and food processing.
• Both organizations will cooperate in developing farm machinery at a low cost and develop user-friendly and energy-efficient tools for small scale farmers.
• They will also promote and support Agri startups associated with the NRDC Incubation Centre (NRDCIC).
• National Research Development Corporation (NRDC):
  • It was established in 1953 by the Government of India.
  • Its primary objective is to promote, develop and commercialize the technologies of various national R&D institutions.