President Kovind Presents ‘Nari Shakti Puraskar’ for 2020 and 2021
The President of India, Ram Nath Kovind has conferred the ‘Nari Shakti Puraskar’ for the years 2020 and 2021, on the occasion of International Women’s Day on March 08, 2022, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi. Overall 29 women have been conferred the award for the years 2020 and 2021 in recognition of their outstanding and exceptional work towards the empowerment of women, especially the vulnerable and marginalised. There were a total of 28 awards which included 14 awards each for the years 2020 and 2021. The award ceremony for the year 2020 could not be held in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nari Shakti Puraskar 2020:
| Sl. No | Name and Place | Description |
| 1. | Anita Gupta (Bhojpur, Bihar) |
The Nari Shakti Puraskar is presented to her for outstanding contribution forempowering rural and underprivileged women |
| 2. | Arti Rana (Kheri, Uttar Pradesh) |
The Nari Shakti Puraskar is awarded in recognition of her exceptional work for underprivileged and tribal women. |
| 3. | Dr. Ela Lodh (West Tripura, Tripura) (Posthumous) |
The Nari Shakti Puraskar is awarded posthumously for her outstanding contribution towards women’s health particularly for the marginalised and underprivileged. |
| 4. | Jaya Muthu and Tejamma (Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu) |
The Nari Shakti Puraskar is awarded to them for their extraordinary contribution for preserving and promoting the age-old intricate Toda Embroidery of Nilgiris. |
| 5. | Jodhaiya Bai Baiga (Umaria, Madhya Pradesh) |
The Nari Shakti Puraskar is awarded to her for resilience and brilliance in promoting the Tribal Baiga Art at the global level. By doing so, she is helping the art from becoming extinct. |
| 6. | Meera Thakur (S.A.S Nagar, Punjab) |
The Nari Shakti Puraskar is being awarded to her for promoting the unique Sikki Grass Art and empowering the underprivileged women in Punjab. |
| 7. | Nasira Akhter (Kulgam, Jammu and Kashmir) |
The Nari Shakti Puraskar is being awarded to her for exemplary grassroots innovation for environmental conservation. |
| 8. | Nivruti Rai (Bengaluru Urban, Karnataka) |
The Nari Shakti Puraskar is awarded to her for excellence in the field of technology, truly representing the 21st Century Women and empowering students to build Artifical Intelligence enabled Hi-Tech future for India |
| 9. | Padma Yangchan (Leh, Ladakh) |
The Nari Shakti Puraskar is awarded to her for preserving and reviving the lost cuisine and hand weaving techniques of Ladakh and promoting it at International Level. |
| 10. | Sandhya Dhar (Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir) |
The Nari Shakti Puraskar is awarded to recognise her exceptional contribution and indomitable spirit & dedication towards divyangjan rights. |
| 11. | Saylee Nandkishor Agavane (Pune, Maharashtra) |
The Nari Shakti Puraskar is awarded to her in recognition of her excellence in promoting Indian Classical Dance internationally despite facing hardship. |
| 12. | Tiffany Brar (Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala) |
Nari Shakti Puraskar is being awarded to her for exemplary work done for visually impaired rural women and motivating the masses despite being visually challenged. |
| 13. | Ushaben Dineshbhai Vasava (Narmada, Gujarat) |
Nari Shakti Puraskar is awarded to her for outstanding contribution in organic farming and assisting and educating the women farmers at ground level. |
| 14. | Vanita Jagdeo Borade (Buldhana, Maharashtra) |
Nari Shakti Puraskar is awarded in recognition of her exemplary efforts in wildlife conservation particularly by rescuing Snakes and creating awareness on the subject |
Nari Shakti Puruskar 2021:
| Sl. No | Name and Place | Description |
| 1. | Anshul Malhotra (Mandi, Himachal Pradesh) |
The Nari Shakti Puraskar is awarded to her in recognition of her outstanding contribution for skilling the underprivileged rural women in learning handloom weaving and also for preserving and promoting Himachal Handloom. |
| 2. | Batool Begam (Jaipur, Rajasthan) |
The Nari Shakti Puraskar is awarded to her for her outstanding contribution in promoting Indian folk music internationally and also being a source of inspiration for others. |
| 3. | Kamal Kumbhar (Osamanabad, Maharashtra) |
The Nari Shakti Puraskar is awarded to her for contribution in promoting women’s entrepreneurship in the field of animal husbandry |
| 4. | Madhulika Ramteke (Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh) |
The Nari Shakti Puraskar is awarded to her for remarkable efforts for upliftment of women and their economic empowerment. |
| 5. | Neena Gupta (Kolkata, West Bengal) |
The Nari Shakti Puraskar is awarded to her for her excellence in the field of Mathematics |
| 6. | Neerja Madhav (Uttar Pradesh) |
The Nari Shakti Puraskar is awarded to her in recognition of her work for marginalised people through Hindi Sahitya. |
| 7. | Niranjanaben Mukulbhai, (Kalarthi, Surat, Gujarat) | The Nari Shakti Puruskar is awarded to her for promoting Gujarati language and to promote the education of underprivileged tribal girls. |
| 8. | Pooja Sharma (Gurugram, Haryana) |
The Nari Shakti Puraskar is awarded to her for her outstanding contribution in the field of skill development and empowerment of women and entrepreneurship. |
| 9. | Radhika Menon (Dharwad, Karnataka) |
The Nari Shakti Puraskar is awarded to her for excellence in Indian Merchant Navy & exemplary courage. |
| 10. | Sathupati Prasanna Sree (Visakhapatanam, Andhra Pradesh) |
The Nari Shakti Puraskar is awarded to her exceptional contribution for preserving minority tribal languages. |
| 11. | Shobha Gasti (Belagavi, Karnataka) |
The Nari Shakti Puraskar is awarded to her for remarkable efforts & exemplary contribution for the cause of empowerment of women and girls. |
| 12. | Sruti Mohapatra (Bhubaneswar, Odisha) |
The Nari Shakti Puruskar is awarded to her indomitable spirit and for outstanding contribution towards the upliftment and empowerment of Divyangjan. |
| 13. | Tage Rita Takhe (Subansiri, Arunachal Pradesh) |
The Nari Shakti Puraskar is given to her for excellence in promoting women entrepreneurship and local product internationally. |
| 14. | Thara Rangaswamy (Chennai, Tamil Nadu) |
The Nari Shakti Puraskar is awarded to her for her innovative and relentless efforts to create awareness about and cure for mental disorders. |
Russia is now world’s most sanctioned country 2022
Russia has become the most sanctioned country in the world, due to its invasion on Ukraine, according to a New York-based sanctions watchlist site Castellum.AI. Russia faced 2,778 new sanctions since February 22, 2022, led by the US and European nations, bringing the total sanctions to 5,530. The country already had 2,754 sanctions in place before February 22.
Countries across the world are putting sanctions on Russia to stop its invasion of Ukraine. Russia has now surpassed countries like Iran and North Korea in terms of a number of sanctions. Before this, Iran was the most sanctioned country, facing 3,616 sanctions against it over the last decade, while Syria and North Korea have 2,608 and 2,077 sanctions, respectively.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Russia Capital: Moscow;
- Russia President: Vladimir Putin;
- Russia Currency: Russian Ruble.
Iran successfully test fire second military satellite Noor-2
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) successfully launched a military satellite, Noor-2, into orbit at an altitude of 500 kilometres (311 miles) from the earth. This is the second military satellite launched by the Islamic Republic. The first military satellite, Noor, was launched in April 2020 at an orbit of 425km (265 miles) above the earth’s surface. Noor means light in the Persian language.
Putting the second satellite in space would be a major advance for Iran’s military, raising concerns about the country’s nuclear and missile programs. The three-stage Qased, or “Messenger”, the carrier launched the Noor 2, from the Shahroud spaceport.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Iran Capital: Tehran;
- Iran President: Ebrahim Raisi;
- Iran Currency: Iranian rial.
C-DAC installed “PARAM Ganga” Supercomputer at IIT Roorkee
The Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) has designed and installed a supercomputer named “PARAM Ganga”, at IIT Roorkee, under Phase II of National Supercomputing Mission (NSM). PARAM Ganga has a supercomputing capacity of 1.66 Petaflops.
What is National Supercomputing Mission (NSM)?
- NSM is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeiTY) and the Department of Science and Technology (DST).
- The mission is implemented by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore.
- The NSM Mission aims to build and deploy 24 facilities with cumulative compute power of more than 64 Petaflops.
- Till date 11 systems have been deployed by C-DAC at IISc, IITs, IISER Pune, JNCASR, NABI-Mohali and C-DAC under NSM Phase-1 and Phase-2 with a cumulative computing power of more than 20 Petaflops.
Ministry of Culture organise PAN-India programme “Jharokha”
Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Textiles are organising a programme called “Jharokha-Compendium of Indian handicraft/ handloom, art and culture” to celebrate the traditional Indian handicrafts, handlooms, and art & culture. To begin with, the first event under this celebration has been organized in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh at Rani Kamlapati Railway Station, on March 08, 2022, which also marks International Women’s Day.
Key points:
- Jharokha is a PAN India programme that will be held at 16 locations in 13 states and UTs, as part of the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav .
- The event in Bhopal will celebrate womanhood and the contribution of women in the field of art, craft and culture.
- Kamlapati Railway Station is named after the brave and fearless Queen Kamlapati of the Gond kingdom of Madhya Pradesh.
Google Cloud and Flipkart enters a strategic partnership 2022
Flipkart and Google Cloud have formed a multi-year strategic agreement to assist Flipkart accelerate its innovation and cloud strategy. Flipkart’s next phase of expansion will be aided by this alliance, which will help it achieve its goal of enrolling India’s next 200 million buyers and lakhs of vendors. The deal value was kept opaque by the companies.
KEY POINTS:
- Flipkart will be able to provide robust app access and performance even during peak purchasing seasons with increased traffic by leveraging Google Cloud’s secure and scalable global infrastructure and powerful networking technologies.
- Flipkart will also use Google Cloud to accelerate the creation of new products, boosting its expansion into India’s Tier 2 and Tier 3 markets.
- Flipkart will use Google Cloud‘s superior data analytics and machine learning capabilities to improve the efficiency of its data platform.
- This will allow the organisation to better evaluate traffic and transactional data, as well as gain valuable real-time insights into client purchasing and shopping patterns.
- This would also aid in the identification of trends and patterns associated with growing demand, as well as the creation of more personalised recommendations to improve the customer experience.
BACKGROUND:
- Flipkart has long used Google‘s portfolio of services, but this is the first time the e-commerce company has formed a strategic partnership with Google Cloud to accelerate innovation.
- Flipkart and Microsoft formed a cloud cooperation in 2017 to help India’s e-commerce grow. Flipkart chose Microsoft Azure as its exclusive public cloud platform as the first step in a wider relationship between the two firms.
RBI launches UPI123pay for feature phones and DigiSaathi 2022
Reserve Bank of India has launched two initiatives related to digital payments. One is UPI123pay- which provides a UPI payment facility on feature phones and the second is “DigiSaathi” which is a 24×7 Helpline for Digital Payments.
The details of the two initiative is given below:
1. UPI123pay- UPI payment facility on feature phones
The UPI123pay will provide the users of feature phones the option to use Unified Interface Payments (UPI) for making payments. For this, UPI123 pay presently offers four mediums/options to the users of feature phones to make UPI payments. The name UPI123pay denotes that the UPI payment can be done in three (123) easy steps i.e. 1. Call 2. Choose and 3. Pay Presently the option available for feature phone users for digital payments is of USSD which is a bit cumbersome and not popular. The launch of UPI123pay will improve the payments ecosystem for more tha 40 crore users of feature phones in India.
- App-based Functionality
- Missed Call
- Inter-active Voice Response
- Proximity Sound-based Payments
These four options are given below in detail:
- App-based Functionality- An app would be installed on the feature phone through which several UPI functions, available on smartphones, will also be available on feature phones.
- Missed Call: Under this facility users of feature phones can make payments at the merchant outlet by giving a missed call on the number displayed at the merchant outlet. The customer will receive an incoming call to authenticate the transaction by entering UPI PIN. The users can also access their bank account and perform routine transactions such as receiving, transferring funds, regular purchases, bill payments, etc., by giving a missed call.
- Inter-active Voice Response (IVR): UPI payment through pre-defined IVR numbers would require users to initiate a secured call from their feature phones to a predetermined number and complete UPI on-boarding formalities to be able to start making financial transactions without internet connection.
- Proximity Sound-based Payments: This uses sound waves to enable contactless, offline, and proximity data communication on any device.
2. “DigiSaathi”- 24×7 Helpline for Digital Payments
- This service will provide users with automated responses on information related to digital payment products and services. Presently it is available in English and Hindi language.
- Users can access DigiSaathi via any of the following modes:
- toll-free number (1800-891-3333),
- a short code (14431),
- website – , and chatbots.
Germany to host G7 agriculture ministers virtual meeting
The German government has stated that it will hold a virtual meeting of G7 agriculture ministers to explore the implications of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine on global food security. The meeting, according to Cem zdemir, Germany’s Minister of Agriculture and Food, will also focus on ways to stabilise food markets.
KEY POINTS:
- According to the government, Germany will hold a virtual meeting of G7 agricultural ministers to address the impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on global food security and how to best stabilise food markets.
- Food security in Germany and the European Union is assured, but bigger shortages are likely in some countries outside the EU, particularly where scarcity already exists due to concerns such as drought.
- Price increases for agricultural items cannot be ruled out in developed countries.”
- This year, Germany is the rotating president of the Group of Seven advanced economies.
- Russia refers to its efforts in Ukraine as a “special operation,” claiming that they are not intended to take territory but rather to damage Ukraine’s military capabilities and catch those it considers to be dangerous nationalists.
40 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India 2022
There are 40 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India. Dholavira and Ramappa Temple are the latest addition to the list under the ‘Cultural’ category. ‘Ramappa Temple’, Telangana and ‘Dholavira’, Gujarat which is included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites in 2021. This decision was made in the UNESCO World Heritage Committee’s 44th session held in China. In 2021 the total number of World Heritage Sites has increased from 38 to 40.
What is UNESCO World Heritage Site?
UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). This is exemplified by the Convention regarding the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, accepted by UNESCO in 1972.
Criteria for UNESCO World Heritage Sites:
1. Human creative genius.
2. Interchange of values.
3. Testimony to cultural tradition.
4. Significance in human history.
5. Traditional human settlement.
6. Heritage associated with events of universal significance.
7. Natural phenomena or beauty.
8. Major stages of Earth’s history.
9. Significant ecological and biological processes.
10. The significant natural habitat for biodiversity.
List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India:
| S.No | Name of Sites | Year | Location |
| 1 | Ajanta Caves | 1983 | Maharashtra |
| 2 | Ellora Caves | 1983 | Maharashtra |
| 3 | Agra Fort | 1983 | Agra |
| 4 | Taj Mahal | 1983 | Agra |
| 5 | Sun Temple | 1984 | Orissa |
| 6 | Mahabalipuram Monuments | 1984 | Tamil Nadu |
| 7 | Kaziranga National Park | 1985 | Assam |
| 8 | Keoladeo National Park |
1985 | Rajasthan |
| 9 | Manas Wildlife Sanctuary |
1985 | Assam |
| 10 | Churches and Convents of Goa |
1986 | Goa |
| 11 | Monuments of Khajuraho |
1986 | Madhya Pradesh |
| 12 | Monuments of Hampi |
1986 | Karnataka |
| 13 | Fatehpur Sikri | 1986 | Agra |
| 14 | Elephanta Caves | 1987 | Maharashtra |
| 15 | Great Living Chola Temples |
1987 | Tamil Nadu |
| 16 | Pattadakal Monuments |
1987 | Karnataka |
| 17 | Sundarbans National Park |
1987 | West Bengal |
| 18 | Nanda Devi & Valley of Flowers National Park |
1988 | Uttarakhand |
| 19 | Monuments of Buddha |
1989 | Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh |
| 20 | Humayun’s Tomb | 1993 | Delhi |
| 21 | Qutub Minar and its Monuments |
1993 | Delhi |
| 22 | Mountain Railways of Darjeeling, Kalka Shimla & Nilgiri |
1999 | Darjeeling |
| 23 | Mahabodhi Temple |
2002 | Bihar |
| 24 | Bhimbetka Rock Shelters | 2003 | Madhya Pradesh |
| 25 | Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus |
2004 | Maharashtra |
| 26 | ChampanerPavagadh Archaeological Park |
2004 | Gujarat |
| 27 | Red Fort | 2007 | Delhi |
| 28 | Jantar Mantar | 2010 | Delhi |
| 29 | Western Ghats | 2012 | Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra |
| 30 | Hill Forts | 2013 | Rajasthan |
| 31 | Rani Ki Vav (The Queen’s Stepwell) |
2014 | Gujarat |
| 32 | Great Himalayan National Park |
2014 | Himachal Pradesh |
| 33 | Nalanda | 2016 | Bihar |
| 34 | Khangchendzonga National Park |
2016 | Sikkim |
| 35 | Architectural Work of Le Corbusier (Capitol Complex) |
2016 | Chandigarh |
| 36 | The Historic City | 2017 | Ahmedabad |
| 37 | Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles |
2018 | Mumbai |
| 38 | The Pink City | 2019 | Jaipur |
| 39 | Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple |
2021 | Telangana |
| 40 | Dholavira | 2021 | Gujarat |
Key points about UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India:
1. Ajanta Caves
- Famous for Buddhist Rock-cut Cave Monuments. It is richly decorated with Paintings and Frescoes like Sigiriya Paintings.
2. Ellora Caves
- Jain and Hindu Temples and Monasteries. These caves were excavated out of Hills, and it is a rock-cut Architecture.
3. Agra Fort
- This is one of the most prominent monumental structures by the Mughal empire.
4. Taj Mahal
- This is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. King Shahjahan had built this structure in the memory of his third wife Begum Mumtaz Mahal.
5. Sun Temple
- This temple is famous for the traditional style of Kalinga Architecture.
6. Mahabalipuram Monuments
- This monument is famous for the Mahabalipuram Largest. Open Air Rock Relief, Mandapas, Chariot Temples, It is a Pallava Dynasty Architecture.
7. Kaziranga National Park
- Famous for Worlds 2/3rd population of Great One-Horned Rhinoceroses. It has the highest density of Tigers in the World, Wild Water Buffalo, Elephants, Swamp Deer, and the park is also recognized as the Important Bird Area.
8. Keoladeo National Park
- This National Park is popular for Man-Made Wetland Bird Sanctuary, Hotspot for Ornithologists, and Siberian Cranes.
9. Manas Wildlife Sanctuary
- This sanctuary is famous for Project Tiger Reserve, Biosphere Reserve and Elephant Reserve
10. Churches and Convents of Goa
- It is famous for Rome of the Orient, First Manueline, Mannerist and Baroque Art Forms in Asia, First Latin Rite Mass in Asia.
11. Monuments of Khajuraho
- This monument is popular for a group of Jain and Hindu Temples. It is situated 175 km southeast of Jhansi. Well known for their Nagara style symbolism and erotic Figures and sculptures.
12. Monuments of Hampi
- Prosperous kingdom of Vijayanagar. The ruins at Hampi depict the fine Dravidian style of art and architecture. The most important heritage monument in this site is the Virupaksha Temple.
13. Fatehpur Sikri
- It structure constitutes of four main Monuments. The Jama Masjid, The Buland Darwaza,
Panch Mahal or Jada Baai ka Mahal, Diwane-Khas, and Diwan-eaam.
14. Elephanta Caves
- It is popular for Buddhist and Hindu caves. It is situated on Island in the Arabian Sea. And has Basal Rock Caves, and Shiva Temples.
15. Great Living Chola Temples
- This temple is popular for Chola Architecture, Sculpture, Painting, and Bronze Casting.
16. Pattadakal Monuments
- It is popular for its Chalukya style of architecture that originated in Aihole and blended with the Nagara and Dravidian styles of architecture.
17. Sundarbans National Park
- This National Park is popular as Biosphere Reserve, Largest Estuarine Mangrove Forest, Bengal Tiger, and Salt-Water Crocodile.
18. Nanda Devi & Valley of Flowers National Park
- It is famous for Snow Leopard, Asiatic Black Bear, Brown Bear, Blue Sheep, and Himalayan Monal, World Network of Biosphere
19. Monuments of Buddha
- It is popular for Monolithic Pillars, Palaces, Monasteries, Temples Mauryan Architecture, Ye Dharma Hetu Inscriptions.
20. Humayun’s Tomb
- It is popular for the Precursors to the Taj Mahal and Mughal Architecture. It constitutes a Tomb, a Pavilion, any Water Channels, and A Bath
21. Qutub Minar and its Monuments
- Includes Qutub Minar, Alai Darwaza, Alai Minar, Qubbat-ul-Islam Mosque, Tomb of Iltumish, and Iron Pillar.
22. Mountain Railways of Darjeeling, Kalka Shimla & Nilgiri
- The mountain railways of India comprise of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, the Nilgiri
Mountain Railway, and the Kalka-Shimla.
23. Mahabodhi Temple
- An important religious center for the Buddhists as this was the place where Mahatma Buddha attained enlightenment. Bodh Gaya is considered as the holiest pilgrimage spot for the Buddhists.
24. Bhimbetka
- It is famous for Rock Paintings within Natural Rock Shelters, Stone Age Inscriptions, Sitting Place of Bhima (Mahabharata).
25. Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus
- It is popular for central Railways Headquarters, Terror Attacks on Mumbai in 2008, Gothic Style Architecture.
26. ChampanerPavagadhArchaeological Park
- This place is the only complete and unchanged Islamic pre-Mughal city. The park also houses some of the ancient Chalcolithic Indian Sites, from the Stone Age era.
27. Red Fort
- It is popular for Shahjahanabad, Persian, Timuri and Indian Architectural Styles, Red Sandstone Architecture, Moti Masjid.
28. Jantar Mantar
- Famous for Architectural Astronomical Instruments, Maharaja Jai Singh II, Largest of its kind Observatory.
29. The Western Ghats
- Famous for Among World’s Ten “Hottest Biodiversity Hotspots”. Includes many National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, and Reserve Forests.
30. Hill Forts
- This place is famous for its unique Rajput Military Defense Architecture. It includes six majestic forts in Chittorgarh, Kumbhalgarh, Ranthambore Fort, Gagron Fort, Amber Fort, and Jaisalmer Fort.
31. Rani Ki Vav
- It is an explicit example of fine Ancient Indian architecture which is constructed during
the time of the Solanki dynasty.
32. Great Himalayan National Park
- It is home to about 375 fauna species and several floral species, including some very rare
species of plants and animals such as blue sheep, snow leopard, Himalayan brown
bear, Himalayan Tahr, musk deer spruces, horse chestnuts, and huge alpine meadows.
It is a part of the Himalayan Biodiversity Hotspots.
33. Nalanda
- A centre of learning and a Buddhist monastery from the 3rd century BCE to the 13th century CE.
34. Khangchendzonga National Park
- The national park is famous for its fauna and flora, with snow leopard being occasionally sighted.
35. Architectural Work of Le Corbusier (Capitol Complex)
- Recognized as a World Heritage Site as part of an outstanding contribution to the Modern Movement.
36. The Historic City
- A walled city on the banks of Sabarmati where communities following Hinduism, Islam, and Jainism have co-existed for centuries.
37. Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles
- It is a collection of 94 buildings of great cultural importance, located in the Fort Area of Mumbai.
38. The Pink City
- Jaipur is home to many magnificent forts, palaces, temples, and museums and also filled to the brim with local handicrafts and trinkets.
39. Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple
- The Ramappa Temple is situated in Palampet Village, Telangana. The temple is estimated to be at least 800 to 900 years old. The temple is especially known for lightweight porous bricks which are known as floating bricks
40. Dholavira
- Dholavira is an architectural site situated in the Kutch district of Gujarat. It is one of the most prominent Indus Valley Civilisation sites.
Aarushi Verma named to represent India at Climate Force Antarctica Expedition
A national-level shooter and an environmentalist hailing from Delhi, Aarushi Verma has been selected to represent India at the 2041 Climate Force Antarctica Expedition which is set to be held in March 2022. She is a national-level shooter in Pistol and trap shooting and a State & Northern India Champion & National medalist, and an active environmentalist. She will be fully supported and sponsored by The Hans Foundation.
About the 2041 Climate Force Antarctica Expedition:
- 2041 Climate Force Antarctica Expedition is a global initiative to train and develop the next generation of sustainability champions and to help corporations with their sustainability solutions. This carbon negative’ expedition also aims to inspire, develop and train the next generation of leaders to promote a more sustainable future. This also includes the ‘Leadership on the edge’ program.
- 2041 Climate Force is derived from the year which marks the Madrid Protocol protecting Antarctica from exploitation would come up for debate, revision, and/ or possible cancellation. The participants of the expedition will graduate as ‘Ambassadors for the Antarctic’.
RBI releases booklet on modus operandi of financial frauds
Reserve Bank of India has launched a booklet named “BE(A)WARE” which features common modus operandi used by fraudsters and precautions to be taken while carrying out various financial transactions. The booklet aims to enhance public awareness about various types of financial frauds perpetrated on gullible customers while carrying out digital payments and other financial transactions.
Key points of the booklet:
- Booklet: provides safeguards against commonly used fraudulent techniques like SIM swaps, vishing/phishing links, lottery, fake loan websites and digital apps etc.
- The booklet emphasises the need for keeping one’s personal information confidential at all times, being mindful of unknown calls/emails/messages, etc., and also outlines the due diligence measures to be followed while undertaking financial transactions.
- According to the Ombudsman Offices & Consumer Education and Protection Cells (CEPCs) of RBI, sharing of confidential information by the customers knowingly or unknowingly is one of the major causes leading to financial frauds in India.
What is common modus operandi?
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- RBI Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra;
- RBI Founded: 1 April 1935;
- RBI Governor: Shaktikanta Das.
Zeta partnered with Mastercard to power bank’s s credit processing
Mastercard and Zeta, a financial tech startup that provides next-generation credit card processing to banks and fintechs, established a 5-year worldwide agreement today. As part of the deal, the companies will work together to create credit cards with issuers all around the world using Zeta’s modern, cloud-native, and API-ready credit processing stack.
KEY POINTS:
- According to a statement released by Zeta, Mastercard has bolstered the alliance by making a financial investment in the company.
- Zeta hopes to move the credit card processing industry from fragmented, multi-vendor systems to nimble, composable, single-vendor systems that are truly responsive to changing cardholder needs and preferences with Mastercard’s support and integration of its capabilities in digital issuance, fraud and risk, loyalty solutions, and more.
- Issuers will be able to launch cards significantly faster now that both partners have pre-configured essential features behind the scenes, making it easier than ever to quickly create and deploy flexible, highly customised card programmes, according to the banking tech unicorn.
ZETA TACHYON:
- Zeta Tachyon Credit is the only current credit processing stack in the business that can handle both credit and loan processing.
- The stack includes features for issuance, core, payments, BNPL loans, fraud and risk, rewards, and more, spanning the whole credit card programme lifetime.
- By providing a complete credit Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) and embeddable banking platform to co-brands, fintechs, and affinity partners via Zeta’s comprehensive APIs, issuers may quickly develop new revenue lines as BIN/balance sheet sponsors.
- Customers can also take advantage of Zeta’s comprehensive managed services, which include servicing and collections, among other things.
Limit of Public Debt Investment via UPI increased upto Rs 5 Lakhs by SEBI
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has raised the investment limit for retail investors applying in public debt securities issuance via the universal payments interface (UPI) mechanism to Rs 5 lakh from Rs 2 lakh previously. The move comes after the National Payments Corporation of India NPCI decided to increase the per transaction limit for UPI-based applications supported by blocked amount ASBA initial public offering.
KEY POINTS:
- It has been decided to enhance the ceiling for investment through UPI mechanism to 5 lakh based on consultations with market participants, in order to bring about uniformity in the requirements and for ease of investment for investors.
- From May 1, 2022, the new investment limit will apply to public debt securities offerings.
- Investors can apply in public debt securities issues with the option of blocking money through the UPI (unified payment interface) mechanism for an application value of up to Rs 2 lakh, according to current Sebi rules.
- Sebi has decided to enhance the ceiling for investment using UPI mechanism to Rs 5 lakh, based on consultations with market participants and in order to introduce uniformity in the requirements as well as to make investing easier for investors.
- The investor can use the method to block money for up to Rs 5 lakh in application value per application.
- The National Payments Corporation of India invented UPI, an immediate payment mechanism. It lets money to be transferred instantly between the accounts of any two people.
‘Kaushalya Matritva Yojana’ launched by Chhattisgarh government
In a state-level women’s conference held at BTI Ground in Raipur, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel introduced the ‘Kaushalya Matritva Yojana’ by handing out Rs 5000 checks to five beneficiaries for safe motherhood.
Points to Remember:
- On the birth of a second daughter, women recipients are eligible for a lump payment aid of Rs. 5,000 under this scheme. The programme will assist in the parenting and education of girls.
- At the state level women’s conference, the Chief Minister honoured Anganwadi employees who have done outstanding work in Anganwadi services, as well as self-help groups that have helped women become financially independent by utilising the Chhattisgarh Mahila Kosh.
- Similarly, he recognised officers who have excelled in the field of women’s protection as part of the ‘Sakhi One Stop Center‘ and ‘Nava Bihaan Yojna.’
- On the occasion, he also released the Kanya Vivah Yojana Coffee Table Book, the Sakhi One Stop Centre Telephone Directory, and booklets for women empowerment programmes.
- During the four-day state-level Mahila Madai held at BTI Ground, the Chief Minister also visited the stalls of an exhibition of products prepared by women self-help groups from around the state. The Chief Minister purchased bell metal artwork from the stalls of Bastar women’s clubs and encouraged the women by playing trumpet.
HDFC Mutual Fund Launches #LaxmiForLaxmi
HDFC Mutual Fund has launched a women-led financial empowerment initiative ‘LaxmiForLaxmi’ which will connect women investors to a woman financial expert near them through a unique missed call service. The female financial expert will guide and address the queries of the woman investor. Through this initiative, HDFC Mutual Fund aims to support women investors in their journey to become financially independent while making mutual fund investments accessible to them.
About the initiative:
The initiative is based on the fact that it is easier for a person to understand a concept when it is taught by someone who comprehends them and is like-minded. This is a financial empowerment campaign for women through which the fund house aims to support women investors in becoming financially independent while making mutual fund investments more accessible to them.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- HDFC Bank Headquarters: Mumbai;
- HDFC Bank Founded: August 1994;
- HDFC Bank CEO: Sashidhar Jagdishan;
- HDFC Bank Chairman: Atanu Chakraborty;
- HDFC Bank Tagline: We understand your world.
Sikkim State Government will launch Aama Yojna & Bahini Scheme
Chief Minister of Sikkim, Prem Singh Tamang has announced that the State Government will soon implement ‘Aama Yojana, a scheme for helping non-working mothers & ‘Bahini Scheme’ benefitting girl students of the state. The complete details of the Aama Yojna and Bahini Yojana are given below.
About the Aama Yojna scheme:
- Aama Yojna scheme aims to inculcate the habit of saving among non-working mothers in the state and hence the Government will provide them Rs. 20,000 each in their bank accounts annually. The scheme covers only those whose names are enrolled in the electoral roll of the state and a sum of Rs. 100 crores have been allocated for it in the budget.
About the Bahini Scheme:
- Bahini Scheme is to reduce the dropout rate of girl students due to the lack of accessibility/availability of Sanitary Napkins & also to ensure menstrual health and hygiene. Under this scheme, over 18,000 girl students who study in class 9 and above are provided with free sanitary napkins in the state.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Sikkim Capital: Gangtok;
- Sikkim Governor: Ganga Prasad;
- Sikkim Chief minister: Prem Singh Tamang.
Haryana govt announced Matrushakti Udaymita Scheme
Haryana government has announced Matrushakti Udaymita Scheme to provide support to women entrepreneurs, on International Women’s Day. Under the scheme, the women whose family annual income is less than 5 lakh rupees based on Parivar Pehchan Patra (PPP) verified data, will be provided access to soft loans by financial institutions to the extent of 3 lakh rupees. Subsequently, the interest subvention of 7% will also be provided for three years through the Haryana Women Development Corporation.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Haryana Capital: Chandigarh;
- Haryana Governor: Bandaru Dattatreya;
- Chief Minister of Haryana: Manohar Lal Khattar.
