Lupin named Mary Kom as brand ambassador for his Shakti initiative
Global pharma major Lupin Limited (Lupin) has announced that it has signed on six-time world boxing champion, Mary Kom as the brand ambassador for its Shakti campaign. The campaign is aimed at increasing awareness of heart diseases among women. With Mary Korn anchoring the campaign, to drive the much-needed awareness on the issue and encourage women to sign up for early screening checks and take corrective measures to avoid the future risk of heart diseases.
About the Shakti campaign:
Lupin’s Shakti campaign is aimed at engaging with the target audience across India through multiple activities, both offline and online through interactive social media sessions, sharing informative videos from doctors, and in-clinic awareness activities for patients to establish a better understanding of cardiovascular diseases among women. In its next phase, the campaign aims to help women improve their health and significantly contribute to the wellbeing of society as they are its backbone and play a pivotal role in shaping the nation.
Olympic champion Duplantis sets pole vault world record of 6.19m in Belgrade
Sweden’s Olympic pole vault champion Armand Gustav “Mondo” Duplantis cleared 6.19m to smash his own world record by one centimetre at the World Indoor Tour Silver meeting in Belgrade. Duplantis set the record of 6.18 in February 2020 indoors in Glasgow.
This is the fourth world record of the 22-year-old’s career. His first record came in February 2020 when he surpassed London 2012 gold medallist Renaud Lavillenie’s world record by clearing 6.17m in Torun, Poland before improving that the following week in Glasgow. In September of that year, he cleared 6.15m at the Rome Diamond League meeting to eclipse Sergey Bubka’s outdoor pole vault world best of 6.14m set in Sestriere in July 1994.
India’s largest reclining statue of Lord Buddha being built at Bodh Gaya
India`s largest reclining statue of Lord Buddha is being built in Bodh Gaya. Built by Buddha International Welfare Mission, the statue will be 100 feet long and 30 feet high. Lord Buddha is in the sleeping posture in the statue. The construction of the giant statue started in the year 2019. It is being made with fibreglass and built by sculptors from Kolkata. Bodh Gaya is an important pilgrimage centre for Buddhism and is visited by devotees from all over the world.
The idol of this posture of Lord Buddha is in Uttar Pradesh`s Kushinagar where he attained his Mahaparinirvana. The giant statue of Lord Buddha will be open for devotees from February 2023.
India’s S L Narayanan wins Grandiscacchi Cattolica International Open Chess Tournament
In Chess, Indian Grandmaster, S L Narayanan was declared the winner in the Grandiscacchi Cattolica International Open, held in Italy. Meanwhile, his compatriot R Praggnanandhaa came second. Though Narayanan and six others, including Praggnanandhaa, finished equal first with 6.5 points after nine rounds. But, Narayanan took the top spot on the basis of a better tie-break score. The 24-year old S L Narayanan from Thiruvananthapuram earned the title of Grandmaster in 2015 and is the 41st Grandmaster from India.
Axis Bank launches the initiative -‘HouseWorkIsWork’
Due to a low participation of urban educated women in the workforce, Axis Bank has launched the ‘HouseWorkIsWork’ project, which provides possibilities for those who want to return to the workforce. In an interview about the bank’s recent hiring initiative ‘HouseWorkIsWork,’ Axis Bank President and Head (HR) Rajkamal Vempati said, “The intent behind this initiative is to give these women the confidence that they are employable, that they have skills, and that they can fit in various job roles in a bank, and it is about getting these women back to work.”
KEY POINTS:
- Rajkamal Vempati explained that hiring the right and skilled personnel is difficult for a major organisation like Axis Bank, and that ‘HouseWorkIsWork’ is the bank’s method of branching out beyond the tried and true models.
- “This is one way of stating that we should go beyond the templates and be willing to hire people who aren’t like ourselves.” It’s also about women who haven’t worked in a long time.
- “What needs to be stressed is that urban educated Indian women are underrepresented in the workforce, and this is about bringing these women into the workforce,” Vempati added.
- She gave an example, saying that the concept of ‘HouseWorkIsWork’ arose from an intriguing and innovative résumé of one of the company’s newest hires, Pallavi Sharma, who skillfully compared her numerous home jobs to those at professional firms.
RBI extends Interest subsidy scheme for exporters
With the aim of expanding export shipments, the Reserve Bank of India extended the interest equalisation scheme for pre and post-shipment rupee loans for MSME exporters through March 2024. The ‘Interest Equalisation Scheme for pre and post-shipment Rupee Export Credit’ provides a subsidy to exporters. The scheme was first extended until the end of June last year, and then again until September 2021.
Important points:
- The interest equalisation rates under the plan have been revised to 2% and 3% for certain categories of MSME manufacturer exporters, according to the RBI.
- Scheme to equalise interest rates “The government has authorised the extension of the Interest Equalisation Scheme for Pre- and Post-Shipment Rupee Export Credit through March 31, 2024, or until further review, whichever comes first,” said the statement.
- The extension will take effect on October 1, 2021, and will end on March 31, 2024, according to a notification from the RBI. The scheme will not apply to telecom instruments or businesses that receive benefits under the government’s Production Linked Incentive (PLI) programme.
- The bank will be required to provide the prevailing interest rate, the interest subvention being provided, and the net rate being charged to each exporter when issuing approval to the exporter, according to the RBI, in order to ensure transparency and greater accountability in the scheme’s operation.
- It further stated that beginning April 1, 2022, banks will cut the interest rate charged to eligible exporters upfront in accordance with the standards, and that claims must be submitted in writing within 15 days after the end of the fiscal year.
Bangladeshi Rizwana Hasan to get US International Women of Courage Award 2022
Bangladeshi environmental lawyer, Rizwana Hasan has been selected for the International Women of Courage (IWOC) Award for 2022. She is among the 12 women from around the world who will be honoured by the US Department of State with the award for showing exceptional courage and leadership to make a difference in their communities. The awards ceremony on March 14 in a virtual ceremony to honour the 12 women selected for the award.
Career of Rizwana Hasan:
- Rizwana Hasan is a lawyer who has demonstrated exceptional courage and leadership in her mission to protect the environment and defend the dignity and rights of the marginalised Bangladeshis.
- Over the last 20 years, she has taken up landmark legal cases to change the dynamic of development in Bangladesh to include a people-centred focus on environmental justice. Rizwana Hasan is the Chief Executive of the Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association.
- She has successfully taken up cases against deforestation, pollution, unregulated ship breaking, and illegal land development.
Honoured she received:
She received the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2012 for her activism. She continues to work in the courtroom to combat environmental degradation and the local effects of climate change, despite significant resistance from powerful interests and threats of violence to herself and her family, said the press statement.
About the award:
The International Women of Courage (IWOC) award was established in 2007 by the US Department of State to honour women of exceptional courage, strength and leadership who work to bring change to their communities. Till now 170 women from 80 countries have been honoured under the IWOC programme.
IPC banned Russian, Belarusian athletes from Beijing Winter Paralympics
International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has banned the athlete’s entries from the Russian Paralympic Committee (RPC) and National Paralympic Committee (NPC) Belarus for the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympics due to the war in Ukraine. Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympics is scheduled to take place from 4th to 13th March 2022 & it marks the 13th Winter Paralympic Games.
Previously IPC has stated that the athletes from both countries would be allowed to compete as neutrals in the games. The IPC joins the range of sporting bodies like Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) etc, that have banned the participation of Russians and Belarusians, which includes football, track, basketball, hockey, and others.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- International Paralympic Committee Founded: 22 September 1989;
- International Paralympic Committee Headquarters: Bonn, Germany;
- International Paralympic Committee CEO: Xavier Gonzalez;
- International Paralympic Committee President: Andrew Parsons (Brazil).
IEVP of 2022 hosted by Election Commision
For Election Management Bodies (EMBs) from approximately 32 countries and four international organisations, the Election Commission of India (ECI) convened the virtual International Election Visitors Programme (IEVP) 2022. More than 150 EMB Delegates who were participating online were given an overview of the ongoing elections for Legislative Assemblies in Goa, Manipur, Punjab, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh. Today’s virtual IEVP 2022 included Ambassadors/High Commissioners and other members of the Diplomatic Corps based in India from nine nations.
KEY POINTS:
- Since the 2012 elections, India has hosted the International Election Visitors Programme (IEVP), which invites international delegates to visit polling places and observe electoral procedures in action firsthand.
- Even with travel limitations due to the Covid epidemic, IEVP in India has not been discontinued and is still held in an innovative virtual mode. The participants were shown recorded video pictures of the poll operations from the five states throughout today’s half-day session.
- A full briefing session on the electoral process was shown alongside live streaming of today’s polling operations from polling booths in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.
- The Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners addressed the delegates at the closing session.
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic posing several logistical challenges in conducting elections, India has conducted elections in five states with 183.4 million electors across 690 Assembly Constituencies, making our electoral system more inclusive, accessible, and participatory, according to Shri Sushil Chandra, Chief Election Commissioner of India and Chairperson A-Web.
Air Marshal B C Sekhar named as New Commandant of IAFA 2022
Air Marshal B Chandra Sekhar, recipient of the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM), has been named Commandant of the Indian Air Force Academy. The Air Marshal is a Telangana native who attended school in Hyderabad before enrolling at the National Defence Academy in Khadakwasla. Air Marshal B Chandra Sekhar, AVSM was commissioned in the Indian Air Force on December 21, 1984, after attending Defence Services Staff College Wellington, Flying Instructors’ School, College of Defence Management, and National Defence College New Delhi.
KEY POINTS:
- The Air Marshal has over 5400 hours of accident-free flying experience on a variety of aircraft. He is also a Qualified Flying Instructor and has the distinction of landing the first MLH class helicopter in the Siachen Glacier.
- He has held major staff positions such as Ops IIB in the Eastern Sector, Principal Director (Administration) in Strategic Forces Command, and Senior Officer in Charge Administration, Southern Air Command and Eastern Air Command during his remarkable career spanning over four decades.
- He has led the works services and other administrative concerns in the Eastern Sector in order to permit the induction of Chinook helicopters and Rafale aircraft. He was Senior Air Staff Officer, Training Command before becoming Commandant AFA.
- The President of India has awarded the Air Marshal the Presidential award of Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2020 for his meritorious service and high level of professionalism.
Former Pakistani President Rafiq Tarar passes away
Veteran politician, former Supreme Court judge, and President of Pakistan, Rafiq Tarar passed away at the age of 92 years. Muhammad Rafiq Tarar was born on 2 November 1929 in Peer Kot, Pakistan. He served as a Supreme Court judge from 1991 to 1994. He also served as the Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court from 1989 to 1991. Later, he became Pakistan’s President for the period of 1997 to 2001.
ToneTag launches VoiceSe UPI digital payments for feature phone users
ToneTag has partnered with NSDL Payments Bank and NPCI to launch its “VoiceSe UPI payments service” for feature phone users. This comes after the Reserve Bank of India has launched the UPI 123Pay facility that enables UPI payments for feature phone users. ToneTag is a sound-based proximity communication and payments service provider based in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
To access the “VoiceSe UPI payments service” feature phone users need to call on the IVRS number 6366 200 200. Every user can only proceed with the financial transaction through UPI PIN. They do not require internet connectivity or a smartphone for making payments. This is an all-inclusive technology that fills the gap in the existing financial ecosystem and brings many benefits to the customers.
World Kidney Day 2022 observed globally on 10th March
World Kidney day is celebrated on the second Thursday of March every year. This year, it is being observed on March 10. World Kidney Day is a global campaign aimed at raising awareness of the importance of our kidneys. World Kidney Day aims to raise awareness of the importance of our kidneys to our overall health and to reduce the frequency and impact of kidney disease and its associated health problems worldwide.
The theme of the day:
The theme for World Kidney day 2022 is “Kidney Health for All”. The 2022 campaign will focus on efforts to increase education and awareness about kidney health and on reducing the stubbornly high CKD knowledge gap at all levels of kidney care.
History of the day:
The observance of this day was started by the International Society of Nephrology and the International Federation of Kidney Foundations. World Kidney Day was first celebrated in 2006.
Objectives of World Kidney Day
- Raise awareness about our “amazing kidneys” Highlight that diabetes and high blood pressure are key risk factors for Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD).
- Encourage systematic screening of all patients with diabetes and hypertension for CKD.
Encourage preventive behaviours. - Educate all medical professionals about their key role in detecting and reducing the risk of CKD, particularly in high-risk populations.
- Stress the important role of local and national health authorities in controlling the CKD epidemic. On World Kidney Day all governments are encouraged to take action and invest in further kidney screening.
- Encourage Transplantation as a best-outcome option for kidney failure, and the act of organ donation as a life-saving initiative.
Vishwakarma Rashtriya Puraskar presented by Minister B Yadav
Vishwakarma Rashtriya Puraskar (VRP), National Safety Awards (NSA) for the performance year 2018 and National Safety Awards (Mines) for the contest years 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020 were presented today by Shri Bhupender Yadav, Union Minister of Labour and Employment, Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
In the case of VRP, a total of 96 awards were granted for the performance year 2018, whilst in the case of NSA, a total of 141 awards (80 winners and 61 runners-up) were presented. For the contest years 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020, a total of 144 awards were given out (72 Winner prizes and 72 Runner-up prizes).
KEY POINTS:
- The Directorate General Factory Advice Service & Labour Institutes (DGFASLI) in Mumbai manages VRP and NSA, whereas the Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS) in Dhanbad manages NSA (Mines).
- The Central Government is concerned about the safety, health, and welfare of workers in all mines across the country, including coal, metalliferous, and oil mines.
- The Mines Act of 1952, as well as the Rules and Regulations enacted under it, contain provisions for the occupational safety of mine workers.
- Mine management is responsible for enforcing the terms of the Mines Act, 1952, as well as the rules and regulations enacted under it.
- The DGMS, Dhanbad, monitors compliance by inspecting and inquiring on a regular basis.
About the Vishwakarma Rashtriya Puraskar (VRP):
Since 1965, the Ministry of Labour & Employment has run the “Vishwakarma Rashtriya Puraskar (VRP)” and “National Safety Awards (NSA)” programmes, and since 1983, the “National Safety Awards (Mines)” programme.
Tamil Nadu govt inaugurated India’s largest floating solar power project
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, M K Stalin has inaugurated India’s largest floating solar power plant constructed at a cost of Rs 150.4 crores. The floating plant is established in Southern Petrochemicals Industries Corporation Limited (SPIC) factory at Thoothukudi in Tamil Nadu to provide clean energy. It aims to provide environmentally sustainable power generation and to reduce carbon footprint.
About the plant:
The floating power plant has the capacity to produce 42 million units of electricity per annum.
The solar power plant is owned by Greenam Energy, a wholly-owned subsidiary of AM International. SPIC worked with France-based floating solar power specialists and global leader Ceil & Terre for the constructions and designs.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Tamil Nadu Capital: Chennai;
- Tamil Nadu Chief minister: K. Stalin;
- Tamil Nadu Governor: N. Ravi.
Govt nod for setting up WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the establishment of a World Health Organization Global Centre for Traditional Medicine (WHO GCTM) at Jamnagar, Gujarat. An agreement was signed by the Government of India with the world body in this regard. The move would help develop norms, standards, and guidelines in relevant technical areas, tools and methodologies for collecting data undertaking analytics and assessing impact.
Key points:
- The WHO GCTM, to be established under the Ministry of AYUSH ( Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa and Homoeopathy), will be the first and only global outposted centre (office) for traditional medicines.
- The move will help to position AYUSH systems across the globe, provide leadership on global health matters pertaining to traditional medicine, ensure quality, safety and efficacy, accessibility and rational use of traditional medicine while developing specific capacity building and training programmes in the areas of relevance to the objectives and conduct training programmes in campus, residential, or web-based, and through partnerships with the WHO Academy and other strategic partners.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- WHO Established: 7 April 1948;
- WHO Director General: Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus;
- WHO Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.
S Sreesanth quits from all forms of first-class cricket
India pacer S Sreesanth has announced his retirement from all forms of domestic cricket. Sreesanth played 27 Tests and 53 ODIs for India, taking 87 and 75 wickets respectively. He has also taken seven wickets in 10 T20 Internationals. The temperamental pacer was also popular for his exuberant celebrations after taking wickets but his life and career went downhill after the spot-fixing scandal.
In September 2020, Sreesanth’s ban for alleged spot-fixing came to an end, concluding a seven-year punishment that was originally meant to be for life and was aggressively contested by the flamboyant bowler. Sreesanth’s life ban for alleged spot-fixing in the 2013 edition of the IPL was reduced to seven years by BCCI Ombudsman DK Jain last year. The BCCI banned Sreesanth in August 2013 along with his Rajasthan Royals teammates Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan.
CISF raising day observed every year on March 10
In the year 1969, the CISF was set up on March 10 and three battalions were formed under the CISF act 1968, which was passed by the Parliament of India. Since then, the day is celebrated as CISF Raising Day every year. Central Industrial Security Force, is for the central armed police force in India. It is one of the six paramilitary forces in India functioning under the Union Home Ministry.
CISF RAISING DAY: HISTORY
The CISF, which was set up in 1969, is assigned to look after the security of the vital government and industrial buildings. The CISF was established under the CISF Act, which has a strength of over 3,000. In 2017, the government raised the sanctioned strength of personnel from 145,000 to 180,000.
CISF RAISING DAY: SIGNIFICANCE
The significance of this day marks the security in the critical, industrial undertakings in the government as well as private sectors. CISF guard strategic establishment includes the department of space, department of atomic energy, airports, seaports, Metro and historical monuments. It also provides security in private sector units and some important government buildings in Delhi.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Director-General of CISF: Sheel Vardhan Singh.
