Daily Current Affairs and GK | 3 February 2022

Topic: MoUs/Agreements

1. Export Import Bank of India and Sri Lanka inked a $500-million loan agreement.

• The Export Import Bank (EXIM) of India and the Government of Sri Lanka have signed a $500- million loan agreement.
• The $500- million Line of Credit agreement will help Sri Lanka in resolving its current fuel shortages.
• The Sri Lankan government will use this credit line for financing the import of petroleum products from India.
• It was signed by treasury secretary S.R. Attygalle and Chief General Manager of EXIM Bank, Gaurav Bhandari in Colombo.
• Line of Credit has been given for two years at a nominal rate of under 2%.
• On 13 January, India and Sri Lanka had signed a $400 million currency swap agreement.
• Export-Import Bank of India (EXIM Bank):
  • It was established in 1982.
  • It is wholly owned by the Government of India and was set up to finance, facilitate and promote India’s international trade.
  • Its headquarters are located in Mumbai.
  • Ms. Harsha Bangari is Managing Director of EXIM Bank.

Topic: Indian Economy

2. India's GDP contracted by 6.6% in 2020-21: NSO

• The first revised estimates of gross domestic product (GDP) data for FY21 has been released by National Statistical Office (NSO).
• It showed that Indian GDP had declined by 6.6% in FY21. Earlier, 7.3% contraction was estimated by NSO.
• The National Statistical Office (NSO) has also revised India’s real GDP growth for FY20 to 3.7% from 4%.
• The revision in FY21 data has happened due base effect. Previously, NSO had used benchmark-indicator method but this time it has used more detailed industry information.
• During the April-December period of FY22, the central government managed to contain its fiscal deficit at 50.4% of Budget Estimates.
• The growth in eight infrastructure sectors had reached up to 3.8% in December. It had dipped to a nine-month low of 3.1% in November.
• Per Capita Net National Income at current prices is estimated at Rs 1,32,115 and Rs 1,26,855 respectively for the years 2019-20 and 2020-21.

Topic: National News

3. An MoU signed by SBI, NCF, and IGNCA to develop Atmanirbhar Bharat Center for Design.

• State Bank of India, Indira Gandhi Centre for the Arts, and National Culture Fund have signed a tripartite MoU for the development of Atmanirbhar Bharat Centre for Design (ABCD) at L1 Barrack, Red Fort, Delhi.
• The project ABCD aims to highlight and promote the products with the Geographical Indication sign.
• Economic Value Addition to GI Products is envisioned through this project.
• IGNCA is an autonomous body within the Ministry of Culture, which is implementing the ABCD initiative.
• SBI has agreed to sponsor the project under CSR with a contribution of Rs 10 crores towards the implementation of the ABCD Project.
• National Culture Fund (NCF):
  • The Ministry of Culture had established the National Culture Fund on November 28, 1996, under the Charity Endowments Acts of 1890.
  • The primary mandate of the NCF is to nurture and establish partnerships in the field of heritage and to mobilize resources for the conservation of tangible and intangible heritage.
  • Under Section 80G (2) of the Income Tax Act of 1961, all contributions to NCF are 100% tax-free.

(Source: PIB)

Topic: Environment and Ecology

4. On World Wetlands Day, two new Ramsar sites were added.

• India added two Ramsar sites on World Wetlands Day 2022, taking the total of Ramsar sites from 47 to 49.
• Khijadia Bird Sanctuary in Gujarat and Bakhira Wildlife Sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh have been announced as two new Ramsar sites.
• Now, India's 49 Ramsar sites cover an area of 10,93,636 hectares.
• The main objective of the Ramsar list is to develop and maintain an international network of wetlands important for the conservation of global biological diversity.
• The National Wetland Decadal Change Atlas has been issued by the Space Applications Centre (SAC) in Ahmedabad.
• It is documenting the changes that have occurred in wetlands across the country over the last decade.
• In India, efforts to conserve wetlands began in 1987, with the government's primary focus being on biological conservation approaches.
• Ramsar Convention:
  • Ramsar sites are declared under the Ramsar Convention, which was established by UNESCO in 1971 and came into force in 1975.
  • It provides the framework for the conservation and wise use of all wetlands through local and national actions and cooperation.

Topic: Personality in News

5. Ramesh Deo, Producer and Actor, passed away recently.

• A well-known film personality, Ramesh Deo, who starred in a variety of Marathi and Hindi films, passed away recently.
• He made his debut in the film industry in 1951 with the Marathi film Patalchi Por.

Topic: International News

6. Global Center of Excellence in Affordable and Clean Energy (GCoE-ACE) launched at IIT Dharwad.

• On 28 January 2022, a virtual function was conducted to commemorate the establishment of the Global Center of Excellence in Affordable and Clean Energy (GCoE-ACE) at the Indian Institute of Technology, Dharwad (IITDh), Karnataka.
• The center is supported by the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) donation from HHSIF.
• The aim of the first phase of the CSR project with HHSIF is to set up equipment for the GCOE-ACE.
• The next phases will encourage innovation and provide incubation support for solutions to the grassroots problem statements in the affordable and clean-energy domain.
• This also aligns with the government's objective of obtaining 50% of the country's energy from renewable sources by 2030.

Topic: Sports

7. Neeraj Chopra selected as nominee for 2022 Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year Award.

• Tokyo Olympics gold medallist, Neeraj Chopra, has been selected as one of the six nominees for 2022 Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year Award.
• Neeraj Chopra is one of India’s first-ever winners of an Olympic gold medal.
• The other five sportspersons who have been nominated for the 2022 Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year Award are given below.
  • Australian Open runner-up Daniil Medvedev
  • British tennis star Emma Raducanu
  • Barcelona and Spain footballer Pedri
  • Venezuelan athlete Yulimar Rojas
  • Australian swimmer Ariarne Titmus
• Javelin thrower, Neeraj Chopra, is only the third Indian to be nominated for the award after wrestler Vinesh Phogat and cricketer Sachin Tendulkar.
• Sachin Tendulkar had won the Laureus Sporting Moment Award 2000-2020.
• The winners will be revealed in April following a vote by the Laureus World Sports Academy.
• Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year Award:
  • It is an annual award. It honours the achievements of individuals or teams who made a breakthrough performance in sports.
  • It is one of the seven awards presented during the Laureus World Sports Awards.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Art and Culture

8. Hoysala Temples in Karnataka are India's official nominations for World Heritage List for 2022-2023.

• Hoysala Temples of Belur, Halebid and Somnathapura in Karnataka are India's official nominations for World Heritage List for 2022-2023.
• The ‘Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysala’ are on UNESCO’s tentative list since April 15, 2014.
• On 31^st January 2022, India’s permanent representative to UNESCO submitted the nomination of Hoysala Temples to UNESCO Director of World Heritage.
• Now, the technical survey will be carried out. The site evaluation will be done in September/October 2022.
• Hoysala temples of Belur, Halebid and Somnathapura are protected monuments of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
• The temples have a basic Dravidian style. They also show the influence of Bhumija and Nagara traditions. Bhumija is a type of north Indian temple architecture.
• Hoysaleswara temple:
  • It is also known as ‘Halebidu’ temple. It is a 12th-century temple. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It follows Shaivism tradition.
  • It has themes from Vaishnavism and Shaktism as well as images from Jainism.
  • The scenes from the Ramayana, the Mahabharata and the Bhagavata Purana are depicted on the sculptures inside the temple.
  • Merchants dedicated it to King Vishnuvardhana and his queen Shantaladevi.
• In 14^th century, invaders of the Delhi Sultanate plundered Halebidu. Halebidu is a town in Karnataka. It was the capital of the Hoysala Empire.
• Channakeshava Temple is located in Belur and Keshava Temple is located in Somanathapura.

(Source: PIB)

Topic: Art and Culture

9. China welcomes ‘Year of Tiger’.

• China is celebrating the Spring Festival to welcome the new Year of the Tiger. Last year was celebrated as the Lunar Year of the Ox.
• According to the Chinese Zodiac calendar, the Year of the Ox has ended and the Year of the Tiger has begun from February 1, 2022, and will end on January 21, 2023.
• The tiger is a symbol of bravery, vigor, and strength in Chinese culture. The tiger is the third of the 12 Chinese Zodiac animals.
• Each year is named after one of 12 signs of the Chinese zodiac in a repeating cycle.
• This year, Spring Festival celebrations coincide with the Beijing Winter Olympics.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Defence

10. Indian Navy's fifth Scorpène submarine "Vagir" begins its sea trials.

• The fifth submarine of Project 75, "Vagir" commenced its sea trials on 1 February.
• It was launched in November 2020 from the Kanhoji Angre Wet Basin of Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL).
• All of the submarine's systems, including propulsion, weapons, and sensors, will now be tested extensively at sea.
• This submarine is expected to be delivered to the Indian Navy in 2022.
• Kalvari-class submarines are designed by French company DCNS. It can help in anti-submarine warfare missions, intelligence gathering, mine laying, etc.
• INS Kalvari, Khanderi, Karanj, and Vela are four of the six submarines under the project that have been commissioned into the Indian Navy.
• Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) has delivered two submarines of the Project – 75 in the year 2021.

Topic: National News

11. Government to launch DESH-Stack e-portal to boost skill development.

• The government is planning to launch DESH-Stack e-portal to provide online skill training.
• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced that a digital university will be established to provide quality education at the doorstep.
• The university will be built on a networked hub-and-spoke model and the courses will be available in different Indian languages and ICT (information and communication technology) formats.
• The Finance Minister also announced the expansion of the “One Class, One TV Channel programme” under the PM e-VIDYA scheme.
• The National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF) will be aligned with the needs of the Industry.
• The government will set up 750 virtual labs in science and mathematics and 75 skillings e-labs will be set up to promote critical thinking skills.

Topic: Corporates/Companies

12. Government to establish Centre for Processing Accelerated Corporate Exit (C-PACE) for speedy winding-up of companies.

• The Union Budget 2022-23 has proposed the establishment of the Centre for Processing Accelerated Corporate Exit (C-PACE) for the speedy winding-up of companies.
• Centre for Processing Accelerated Corporate Exit (C-PACE) will help in reducing the time of winding-up of companies from two years to six months.
• It will also help in Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) transactions.
• The government is also planning to bring change in the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC).
•  “Ease of exit” is an important part of ease of doing business.

Topic: Appointments

13. Dr. Madan Mohan Tripathi takes over as Director-General, National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology.

• Dr. Madan Mohan Tripathi has been appointed as the Director-General of the National Institute of Electronics & Information Technology (NIELIT).
• Prior to joining, Dr. Madan Mohan Tripathi was working as Professor at Delhi Technological University (DTU).
• He has worked on various projects including Digitization and Biometric capture of usual residents of India (NPR), development of manpower in IECT Skills, etc.
• NIELIT is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY).

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Biotechnology and Diseases

14. India joins a global movement to raise awareness on Neglected Tropical Diseases.

• India joined a global initiative to illuminate 100 landmarks around the world to raise awareness about Neglected Tropical Diseases.
• The third World Neglected Tropical Diseases day was celebrated on 30 January 2022.
• On this occasion, New Delhi Railway Station was illuminated with purple and orange hues.
• Iconic landmarks and monuments were also illuminated in Jharkhand, Gujarat, and Karnataka as part of the commitment to eliminate Neglected Tropical Diseases from India.
• Neglected Tropical Diseases:
  • It is caused by a variety of pathogens including viruses, bacteria, parasites, fungi, and toxins.
  • It is more prevalent in Africa, Asia, and the Americas.
  • Buruli ulcer, Chagas disease, cysticercosis, and dengue are an example of Neglected Tropical Diseases.