Current Affairs - 17 Feb 2022

Daily Current Affairs of 17 Feb 2022. Follow Current Affairs on daily Basis in on post. Current Affairs PDF for Competitive Exams

World Health Organisation launches Quit Tobacco App

World Health Organization (WHO) South-East Asia Region (SEAR) has launched a ‘Quit Tobacco App’. This application helps people to give up the use of tobacco in all forms, including smokeless and other newer products. The App was launched by Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director, WHO-SEAR, during WHO’s year-long ‘Commit to quit’ campaign, is the latest tobacco control initiative by the WHO South-East Asia Region.

The app, the first such by WHO, and the first that targets all forms of tobacco, helps users to identify the triggers, set their targets, manage cravings, and stay focused to quit tobacco. Tobacco is the world’s leading cause of preventable death and kills nearly 8 million persons every year. It claims 1.6 million lives in the WHO South-East Asia Region which is amongst the largest producers and consumers of tobacco products.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

World Health Organization Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland;

World Health Organization Founded: 7 April 1948;

World Health Organization Director-General: Tedros Adhanom.

Bengali singer Sandhya Mukherjee passes away

Legendary Bengali singer, Sandhya Mukherjee has passed away at the age of 90 years due to cardiac arrest. Her full name was Geetashree Sandhya Mukhopadhyay. She had recently refused to accept the Padma award from the central government that was awarded in January 2022. She told him that Padma Shree is not an award that should be conferred on a veteran like her. It would be demeaning for her to accept it.

She was born in Kolkata in 1931, Sandhya Mukherjee recorded her first song in 1948 for the Hindi movie Anjaan Garh. The music was composed by Rai Chand Boral. She sang under the direction of famous composers such as S D Burman, Roshan and Madan Mohan.

Various Honoured she received:

Mukherjee received the Banga Bibhusan, the highest civilian honour given by the Bengal government, in 2011 and the National Film Award for best female playback singer in 1970 for the movies Jay Jayanti (a Bengali remake of Sound of Music) and Nishi Padma. Nishi Padma was remade in Hindi as Amar Prem, starring Rajesh Khanna.

Social Justice Ministry launches Scheme for Economic Empowerment of DNTs

Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment, Dr. Virendra Kumar will launch the Scheme for Economic Empowerment of DNTs in New Delhi tomorrow for the welfare of De-notified, Nomadic, and Semi Nomadic Tribes. The DNTs are the most neglected, marginalized, and economically and socially deprived communities. Historically, these communities never had access to private land or home ownership and used forests and grazing lands for their livelihood and residential use.

Free Coaching for DNT students has been envisioned under the Scheme. The objective is to provide good coaching quality for DNT candidates to enable them to appear in competitive examinations or admissions to professional courses. Approximately, 2,000 clusters will benefit under this component in five years. The total funds spent in the five years will be 49 crore rupees.

Considering the shortage of houses for DNTs, it has been proposed to earmark a separate outlay for PMAY for DNTs living in rural areas who have not taken benefit of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and are living below the poverty line. The support is 1.20 lakh rupees in plains and 1.30 lakhs in hilly areas. Approximately, 4,200 houses will be constructed under this component in five years.

The scheme will have the following four components:

To provide coaching of good quality for DNT/NT/SNT candidates to enable them to appear in competitive examinations.

To provide health insurance to DNT/NT/SNT Communities.

To facilitate livelihoods initiative at the community level to build and strengthen small clusters of DNT/NT/SNT Communities institutions.

To provide financial assistance for the construction of houses to members of the DNT/NT/SNT Communities.

SIDBI launches ‘waste to wealth creation’ programme 2022

SIDBI on Monday launched the 'Waste to Wealth Creation' programme in which women will make ornaments and showpieces from fish scale in the Sundarbans in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas district.

Under this programme, Later, these women are expected to become a trainer for replicating and disseminating the knowledge among other aspirants. This is a part of mission Swavalamban of SIDBI that aims to support artisans to become sustainable.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

SIDBI Founded: 2 April 1990;

SIDBI Headquarters: Lucknow;

SIDBI Chairman & MD: Sivasubramanian Ramann.

Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) has launched the ‘Waste to Wealth Creation’ programme.

The program is designed for women in the Sundarbans in West Bengal.

In this, the women will make ornaments and showpieces from the fish scales.

SIDBI will extend benefits to 50 women indirectly generating revenues from alternate livelihoods.

In this programme, women are expected to become a trainer for replicating and disseminating the knowledge among other aspirants.

This is a part of mission Swavalamban of SIDBI that aims to support artisans to become sustainable.

SIDBI was founded on 2 April 1990 and Headquartered in Lucknow

SIDBI’s Chairman & MD is Sivasubramanian Ramann.

Yes Bank launches agri infinity program for startups

Private sector lender, Yes Bank has announced the launch of an annual startup enabler program, Yes Bank Agri Infinity, which seeks to co-develop digital financial solutions for the food and agriculture ecosystem by mentoring entrepreneurial ventures in the field.

Through the initiative, a select cohort of startups will not only receive mentoring by veteran bankers for experiential co-development but also get access to YES BANK’s digital banking infrastructure and network, collaborative opportunities to pilot new solutions and fundraising advisory. Those involved in originations, farmer on-boarding, farmer KYC, credit scoring, risk assessment, monitoring and mitigation, disbursement and recovery solutions and cash management system, among others, can apply.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

Yes Bank Founded: 2004;

Yes Bank Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra;

Yes Bank CEO: Prashant Kumar;

Yes Bank Tagline: Experience Our Expertise.

A book titled ‘Humane: How the United States Abandoned Peace and Reinvented War’ released

A new book titled “Humane: How the United States Abandoned Peace and Reinvented War” authored by Samuel Moyn was released. Samuel Moyn is the Professor of Jurisprudence at Yale Law School and a professor of History at Yale University. This provocative book argues about the endless wars the USA created in the past including Vietnam War (1955-1975), Korean War (1950-1953), World War II (1939-1945) etc and this development might not represent progress at all.

The book highlights the United States of America (USA) strategy on fighting wars and how armed combat was transformed from an imperfect tool for resolving disputes into an integral component of the modern condition.

Who wrote the book "Humane: How the United States Abandoned Peace and Reinvented War"?

A) Samuel Moyn

B) William Vincent Campbell

C) Andrew Sartori

D) Pierre Rosanvallon

ANS: A) Samuel Moyn

LAHDC launched “Kunsnyom scheme” for differently abled persons

Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Leh has launched Kunsnyoms scheme for differently-abled persons.

Kunsnyoms = Equal for All, Fair for All and aims inclusive and accessible Ladakh.

Under this, Leh Hill council is providing assistive devices, technologies to needy people at 90 percent subsidy. Under the scheme, 28 tri-scooters, battery-run wheelchair, walking aids and other aids required for special needs of the individuals has been distributed.

About the schemes:

Launching the new scheme, LAHDC Leh Chief Executive Councillor and Chairman, Mr Tashi Gyalson and his executive councillors have handed over 28 tri scooters, battery-run wheelchairs, walking aids and other aids required for the special needs of the individuals. After becoming Union Territory, financially empowered with sufficient allocations of budget, the Hill Councils in Ladakh are utilizing the funds for welfare schemes.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

Ladakh (UT) Lieutenant Governor: Radha Krishna Mathur.

Jio invests $15 mn in Silicon Valley AI start-up, Two Platforms

Jio Platforms announced on Friday that it is investing $15 million in Silicon Valley-based deep tech start-up TWO Platforms Inc. The company will pick a 25 per cent equity stake on a fully diluted basis. . Two Platforms is an artificial reality company that focuses on building interactive and immersive AI experiences. The two companies have joined hands to fast track the adoption of new technologies and build disruptive technologies such as AI, metaverse and mixed realities.

About the TWO’s platform:

TWO’s platform enables real-time AI voice and video calls, digital humans, immersive spaces and lifelike gaming. It plans to bring its interactive AI technologies first to consumer applications followed by entertainment and gaming, as well as enterprise solutions including retail, services, education, health and wellness. The platform was founded by Indian-origin computer scientist Pranav Mistry.

Narcotics Control Bureau Darkathon-2022 to counter drug trafficking

The NCB is organising a “Darkathon-2022” to find solutions to counter drug trafficking through darknet.

The agency recently smashed three groups of drug peddlers that were operating on the network that is accessed through encryption software which enables anonymity of users. As per NCB data there is a 300% rise in heroin capture in five years. Effective surveillance by the bureau has resulted in increased confiscation of illegal drugs.

The prize money for the first winner is Rs 2.50 lakh, the runner-up would get Rs 2 lakh and the third winner Rs 1.50 lakh. The consolation prize for the 4th and 5th place is Rs 25,000 each. The online registration will continue till March 31 through https://ncb.cyberchallenge.in.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

Narcotics Control Bureau Director-General: Satya Narayan Pradhan;

Narcotics Control Bureau Headquarters: New Delhi;

Narcotics Control Bureau Founded: 1986.

About NCB:

It is an Indian central law enforcement and intelligence agency under the Ministry of Home Affairs.

It is established in 1986, it is responsible for coordination with the Indian state governments and other central departments.

The agency is tasked with combating drug trafficking and the use of illegal substances under the provisions of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.

Bihar ropes in Manoj Tiwari as brand ambassador to promote Khadi

Bhojpuri singer and BJP MP, Manoj Tiwari will be the brand ambassador of Khadi and other handicrafts of Bihar. He will be the “brand ambassador” for Khadi and other handicrafts of Bihar, state minister Syed Shahnawaz Hussain announced. Manoj Tiwari will promote the use of Khadi fabric, which was popularized by Mahatma Gandhi during India’s Independence movement. Tiwari, who has lent his voice to innumerable foot-tapping numbers, including the “Gangs of Wasseypur” chartbuster “Jiya ho Bihar ke lala”.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

Bihar Governor: Phagu Chauhan;

Bihar Capital: Patna;

Bihar Chief minister: Nitish Kumar.

Bhojpuri singer and BJP MP Manoj Tiwari will be the brand ambassador of Khadi and other handicrafts of Bihar.

Tiwari enjoys tremendous popularity both as a singer and as a political figure.

Tiwari, who has lent his voice to innumerable foot-tapping numbers, including the “Gangs of Wasseypur” chart buster “jiya ho Bihar ke lala”,

Tiwari will be the “brand ambassador” for Khadi and other handicrafts of Bihar, state minister Syed Shahnawaz Hussain announced here on Saturday February 12,2022.

Hussain, who holds the Industries portfolio in Bihar government

Question : Who is Governor of Bihar ?

a) Phagu Chauhan

b) Shri Ram Naik

c) Mangubhai Chaganbhai Patel

d) Thawar Chand Gehlot

Ans :a

TERI’s World Sustainable Development Summit 2022 to begin on 16th Feb

The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi has delivered the inaugural address at The Energy and Resources Institute’s (TERI) World Sustainable Development Summit. Mr Luis Abinader, President of the Dominican Republic, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, Ms Amina J Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General, United Nations and Union Minister Shri Bhupender Yadav were among those present on the occasion. The 21st edition of WSDS is scheduled from 16th-18th February 2022.

The theme for this year’s summit is Towards a Resilient Planet: Ensuring a Sustainable and Equitable Future.

About TERI

Established	1974
Founder	Darbari S Seth
Type	Non Profit Research Institution
Location	New Delhi, India
Director General	Dr Vibha Dhawan

Key points of the PM Modi address:

The Prime Minister recalled that Environment and sustainable development have been key focus areas for him all through his 20 years in office, first in Gujarat and now at the national level.

The Prime Minister informed about the LED bulbs distribution scheme that has been running for over seven years, has helped save more than 220 billion units of electricity and 180 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per year.