Yoon Suk Yeol elected as new South Korean President
Yoon Suk-yeol has been declared as the winner of the 2022 South Korean presidential election to be elected as the new President of the country. He is scheduled to assume office as president on May 10, 2022, for a fixed term of five years. Yoon Suk-yeol will succeed incumbent President Moon Jae-in.
With more than 98 per cent of the ballots counted, Yoon had 48.6 per cent of the votes against his rival Lee Jae-Myung’s 47.8 per cent. Yoon is to take office in May and serve a single five-year term as leader of the world’s 10th-largest economy.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- South Korea Capital: Seoul;
- South Korea Currency: South Korean won.
Skoch State of Governance ranking 2021: Andhra Pradesh gets first rank
Andhra Pradesh has retained its number one spot in the SKOCH State of Governance rankings for the second consecutive year. According to a release, the State retained the first rank for the second consecutive year. In 2020 too, Andhra Pradesh bagged top rank in governance. Andhra Pradesh was ranked at second position in 2018 and later it slipped to 4th position in 2019, according to Skoch.
Other state rankings:
The second rank was bagged by West Bengal and Odisha was ranked 3, Gujarat was ranked 4 and Maharashtra was ranked 5. Neighbouring Telangana was ranked 6.
SKOCH Governance Report Card for 2021:
The SKOCH Group has released the SKOCH Governance Report Card for 2021 in New Delhi, ranking the states according to their performance in various projects at state, district, and Email Article Print Article municipal levels.
3rd National Youth Parliament Festival (NYPF) begins in New Delhi
The 3rd edition of the National Youth Parliament Festival (NYPF) has been organised jointly by the Lok Sabha Secretariat and the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports on March 10 and 11, 2022, in the Central Hall of Parliament, New Delhi. Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur will address the inaugural session of NYPF on March 10, while the Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will address the valedictory function on March 11.
Objective of NYPF
The objective of the NYPF is to hear the voice of the youth, between 18 and less than 25 years of age, who will join various careers in the coming years, including public services. The top three National level youth winners will get an opportunity to speak before the Lok Sabha Speaker during the valedictory function.
Key information
- The 3rd NYPF was launched at the district level on 14th February 2022 through virtual mode in which more than 2.44 lakh youth participated. This was followed by State Youth Parliaments through the virtual mode from February 23 to 27, 2022.
- Overall 87 winners (62 Female and 25 Male) from the district and state-level YPF will now participate in NYPF 2022.
- National Youth Parliament provides a platform for the youth to voice their thoughts opinions and dreams for the country and enable the youth to voice their concerns and local problems.
Union Minister of Power launches Virtual Smart Grid Knowledge Center
As part of the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav Program, Union Minister for Power R.K. Singh launched the Virtual Smart Grid Knowledge Center (SGKC) and Innovation Park. Krishan Pal Gurjar, Minister of State for Power, was also in attendance.
KEY POINTS:
- POWERGRID established the Smart Grid Knowledge Center (SGKC) to demonstrate and advance cutting-edge smart grid technologies.
- SGKC aspires to be one of the world’s top centres of excellence for smart grid technology innovation, entrepreneurship, and research, as well as building capacity in the power distribution industry.
- The Virtual SGKC, which was introduced today, allows for a digital footprint of the real SGKC, which was needed during the COVID-19 epidemic.
Mr. R K Singh, speaking at the event, stated that the world is changing rapidly in the energy industry, as evidenced by India. He said that India is far ahead of the curve in terms of energy transformation, with a higher pace of renewable energy capacity installation than any other country on the planet.
Sharad Pawar unveiled Ratnakar Shetty’s autobiography “On Board: My Years in BCCI”
A book titled “On Board: My Years in BCCI”, an autobiographical account of Ratnakar Shetty’s experiences as an administrator. The book was released by Sharad Pawar, the former president of the MCA, BCCI and International Cricket Council. Shetty, a Chemistry professor by profession, went on to be the BCCI’s first Chief Administrative Officer after serving the Mumbai Cricket Association in various capacities.
Top 10 Tourist Places in India 2022
The world’s seventh-largest nation by area and the second-largest in terms of population, India boasts a rich heritage that’s the result of centuries of different cultures and religions leaving their mark. India, known for the vast number of tourist places across its expanse, has a mix of everything, from cultures to natural beauty and adventure activities to beautiful beaches.
From the ancient ruins, fascinating religious structures, exotic cities and diverse landscape there is an endless collection of tourist attractions in India that will never cease to awe and fascinate the visitor. In this article, we have covered top ten tourist places showcasing the culture and much more to get you to experience the best of tourism in India.
Here is the list of the top 10 tourists in India:
| S.No | Name | Year | Location |
| 1. | Taj Mahal | 1648 | Agra |
| 2. | Hawa Mahal | 1799 | Jaipur |
| 3. | Qutb Minar | 1193 | Delhi |
| 4. | Jim Corbett National Park | 1936 | Ramnagar |
| 5. | Harmandir Sahib | 16th century | Amritsar |
| 6. | Sun Temple | 13th century | Konark |
| 7. | Ellora Caves | 6th-12th century | Aurangabad |
| 8. | Ajanta Caves | 5th-6th century | Aurangabad |
| 9. | Khajuraho Temples | 11th century | Khajuraho, MP |
| 10. | Humayun’s Tomb | 1570 AD | New Delhi |
Top 10 tourists place in India with details:
1. Taj Mahal
Location: It is situated on the banks of River Yamuna in Agra, Uttar Pradesh.
The Taj Mahal in Agra is an immense mausoleum of white marble, built between 1632 and 1653 by order of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favourite wife. Called “a teardrop on the cheek of eternity” it is one of the masterpieces of Mughal architecture, and one of the great tourist attractions in India. Besides the white domed marble mausoleum, the Taj Mahal includes several other beautiful buildings, reflecting pools, and extensive ornamental gardens with flowering trees and bushes.
2. Hawa Mahal
Location: The Hawa Mahal is a palace in the city of Jaipur, Rajasthan.
A stunning pick and red sandstone five-story structure stand in the heart of Jaipur. One of the city’s most popular tourist attractions, the Hawa Mahal has a unique purpose. Also known as the Palace of the Wind, it was a place where royal women could view street activities outside while hidden from view. To this end, the pyramid-shaped palace has 953 windows, each with an intricate design. Constructed in 1799, Hawa Mahal is considered an excellent example of Rajputana architecture.
3. Qutb Minar
Location: The Qutb Minar complexes are monuments and buildings from the Delhi Sultanate at Mehrauli in Delhi, India.
Qutb Minar is the second-highest brick minaret in the world. The minaret, towering 80 meters (270 feet) into the sky, is made of marble and red sandstone bricks that are carved with sayings from the Koran. Construction took four years, starting in 1193. A circular staircase with 379 steps leads to the top; it is closed to visitors. Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosqueaa, the first mosque built in India, lies at the minaret’s foot. Nearby is the Iron Pillar, so named because it’s made from metals that don’t rust.
4. Jim Corbett National Park
Location: Ramnagar, Uttarakhand
Everyone loves to see animals in the wild. Jim Corbett National Park, India’s oldest national park, is a good place to see the endangered Bengal tiger. Established in 1936, the park was renamed in 1954 to honour Jim Corbett, author and wildlife conservationist, who helped create this nature reserve. Thick vegetation, including jungles and forest, make it difficult to see the tiger – April to June is best for that, but visitors may see other wildlife, including elephants, leopards, rhinoceros and Himalayan black bears.
5. Harmandir Sahib
Location: Amritsar, Punjab
The Harmandir Sahib, better known as the Golden Temple is the main tourist attraction in Amritsar and the most important religious place to the Sikhs. Construction of the temple was begun by Guru Ramdas ji. in the 16th century. In the 19th century, Maharaja Ranjit Singh the upper floors of the temple were covered with gold. It’s a stunning temple, and always full of thousands of pilgrims from all over India, excited to be at a place that they usually only see on television.
Ashwani Bhatia (SBI MD) appointed as SEBI member
The cabinet has appointed Ashwani Bhatia, managing director (MD) of the State Bank of India (SBI), as a whole-time member (WTM) of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). According to some sources, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has also approved Ashwani Bhatia’s appointment as a whole-time member of SEBI for three years from the date of his assumption of the command.
KEY POINTS:
- According to the sources, with Ashwani Bhatia’s appointment as a Whole-time member, the Securities and Exchange Board of India now only needs to appoint one Whole time member.
- In August 2020, Ashwani Bhatia, who will be retiring in May 2022, that is this year, was promoted to the post of managing director of State Bank of India.
Experience and Background:
- He was the managing director (MD) and chief executive officer (CEO) of SBI Mutual Fund before his promotion to the post of MD of SBI. He was employed with SBI as a probationary officer (PO) in 1985. He has held various posts over his 33-year career at the State Bank of India.
- He has led the charge in overhauling SBI‘s entire credit structure and processes. Madhabi Puri Buch was named the new chairman of SEBI last month, making her the first woman to lead the capital market regulator.
Karnataka government launched ‘Women@Work’ programme
The government of Karnataka has launched ‘Women@Work’ program to provide five lakh jobs within 2026 to women with necessary employable skills. The program aims to focus on the efforts of corporate programs on attracting women workforce. It has been developed by Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM) in association with KTECH, Karnataka Skill Development Corporation. It will act as an enabler for women to actively participate and join the workforce through industry upskilling.
All efforts are being made to provide 5,000 jobs for women as part of the Karnataka Digital Economy Mission and added that the government is keen to actualise this mission in the coming days.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Karnataka Capital: Bengaluru;
- Karnataka Chief Minister: Basavaraj S Bommai;
- Karnataka Governor: Thawar Chand Gehlot.
National Land Monetization Corp approved by cabinet
Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the establishment of the National Land Monetization Corporation (NLMC) as a wholly-owned Government of India corporation with an initial authorised share capital of 5000 crores and a paid-up share capital of 150 crore. The National Land Management Corporation (NLMC) would monetize surplus land and building assets owned by Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) and other government organisations. The idea is in accordance with the 2021-22 Budget Announcement.
KEY POINTS:
- CPSEs currently have a large amount of surplus, idle, and underutilised non-core assets in the form of land and buildings.
- The monetization of excess land and side assets is critical for CPSEs experiencing strategic disinvestment so that their value can be unleashed. Monetization of the assets will be taken care of and carried out by NLMC.
- This will also allow for the productive use of underutilised assets, resulting in private sector investments, new economic activity, a boost to the local economy, and the generation of financial resources for economic and social infrastructure.
- On behalf of CPSEs and other government organisations, NLMC will have the technical expertise to competently manage and monetize land holdings. To ensure professional operations and management of the organisation, the Board of Directors of NLMC would be made up of senior Central Government executives and recognised specialists.
- A merit-based selection method will be used to appoint the Chairman and non-government directors of the NLMC.
India finishes at the top in 2022 ISSF World Cup
India has taken first place in the medal standings at the ISSF World Cup 2022 in Cairo, organised by the International Shooting Sport Federation. By winning a total of seven medals, the Indian team took first place in the medals tally, with four gold, two silver, and one bronze. Norway took second place in the medals tally with six medals (three gold, one silver, and two bronze). France came in third place with three gold medals out of a total of twenty.
KEY POINTS:
- On the final day of the ISSF World Cup 2022 in Cairo, Egypt, Indian shooters took home two medals.
- Rhythm Sangwan and Anish Bhanwala won the 25m rapid fire pistol mixed team gold medal match against Thailand 17-7 in the tournament’s final event.
- Earlier in the day, India’s Gurpreet Singh, Anish Bhanwala, and Bhavesh Shekhawat were defeated 7-17 by Germany in the gold medal match of the men’s 25m rapid fire pistol team competition.
- India won their third World Cup gold on Sunday, defeating Singapore 17-13 in the women’s 25m pistol team event final. In the gold medal match, Rahi Sarnobat, Esha Singh, and Rhythm Sangwan defeated the Singaporean trio of Xiu Hong, Shun Xie, and Ling Chiao Nicole Tan.
- Esha Singh had won the women’s 10m air pistol team event in addition to the silver she had earned in the women’s 10m air pistol individual event, making this her second gold and third medal of the World Cup.
- Saurabh Chaudhary won India’s first gold medal in Cairo last week. In the gold medal match of the Men’s 10m Air Pistol event, the 19-year-old Indian defeated Michael Schwald of Germany 16-6.
Haryana’s CM announced ‘Sushma Swaraj Award’ for women
Haryana Chief Minister, Manohar Lal Khattar, while presenting the state budget, has announced a ‘Sushma Swaraj Award’ for women for their significant achievements or contribution in different walks of life in the international and national spheres. The Sushma Swaraj Award will carry an award money of Rs 5 lakh along with a commendation.
About the Sushma Swaraj:
Sushma Swaraj was a lawyer of the Supreme Court as well as an Indian politician. She was a senior member of the Bharatiya Janata Party, served as India’s Minister of External Affairs during the first Narendra Modi government (2014–2019). After Indira Gandhi, she was the second woman to occupy this position.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Haryana Capital: Chandigarh;
- Haryana Governor: Bandaru Dattatreya;
- Haryana Chief Minister: Manohar Lal Khattar.
IMF board approves $1.4 billion emergency support for Ukraine
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved $1.4 billion in emergency support for Ukraine to finance expenditures and shore up the balance of payments. Ukraine has turned to financing from allies and international institutions to support its economy after the Russian invasion began on February 24.
The disbursement under the IMF’s Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI), equivalent to 50% of Ukraine’s quota in the IMF, will help fund urgent spending needs in the short term, while helping to catalyze financing from other partners.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Ukraine Capital: Kyiv;
- Ukraine Currency: Ukrainian hryvnia;
- Ukraine President: Volodymyr Zelenskyy;
- Ukraine Prime minister: Denys Shmyhal.
CRISIL Projected GDP growth forecast at 7.8% for 2022-23
Domestic rating agency CRISIL retained its real GDP growth forecast at 7.8% for the fiscal year 2023, as compared with the 8.5% projected in the Economic Survey. FM Nirmala Sitharaman’s Budget proposals focused on loosening the purse strings by boosting capital expenditure and going slow on fiscal consolidation are aimed in the right direction. The agency expects the nominal growth to come at 12-13%, higher than the 11.1% Budget Estimate, and the headline inflation to average 5.2%.
Star Health and Allied Insurance launched ‘Star Women Care Insurance Policy’
Star Health and Allied Insurance Company Limited, a health insurance company launched “Star Women Care Insurance Policy”. It is a woman-centric comprehensive health cover specially designed to protect the healthcare needs of women at every stage of their lives. The policy can be purchased through premiums that can be paid in quarterly or half-yearly instalments, and this policy can also be taken for 1 year, 2 year or 3-year terms.
The Star Women Care Insurance Policy is available as both an individual policy and a floater policy. Individual Sum– Insured only for females aged between 18 years and 75 years. Floater Sum Insured – Adult 18 years to 75 years with at least one female in the family along with the spouse and dependent children.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Star Health and Allied Insurance Company Limited Establishment:2006;
- Star Health and Allied Insurance Company Limited Headquarters: Chennai, Tamil Nadu;
- Star Health and Allied Insurance Company Limited Wholetime Director & CEO: Jagannathan.
NaBFID to be regulated as AIFI under RBI Act
Reserve Bank of India has announced that National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development (NaBFID) will be regulated and supervised by it as an All India Financial Institution (AIFI) under the RBI Act, 1934. NaBFID will be regulated and supervised by RBI as an AIFI under Sections 45L and 45N of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934.
Presently RBI has four AIFIs under it namely EXIM Bank, NABARD, NHB and SIDBI. NaBFID will be the fifth AIFI under RBI. NaBFID has been set up as a Development Financial Institution (DFI) to support the development of long-term infrastructure financing in India.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Chairman of NaBFID: KV Kamath.
Famous Golfer Tiger Woods inducted into World Golf Hall of Fame
Famous Golfer, Tiger Woods was formally inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame. The 46-year-old Woods entered the storied hall as part of the Class of 2022 along with retired PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem, U.S. Women’s Open champion Susie Maxwell Berning and Marion Hollins, a U.S. Women’s Amateur champion and golf course architect who was recognised posthumously.
Hungary elects first-ever female president
The Hungarian parliament has elected Katalin Novak, a close ally of Prime Minister Viktor Orban, as the EU member’s first-ever female president. Novak, who most recently served as a minister for family policy, portrayed her election as a victory for women. She was elected to the mostly ceremonial role by 137 votes to 51 in the parliament dominated by Orban’s right-wing Fidesz party ahead of opposition challenger Peter Rona, an economist.
Novak will succeed Janos Ader, a co-founder of Orban’s governing right-wing Fidesz party who has held the job since 2012. She will take office after Ader’s term expires May 10.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- HungaryCapital: Budapest;
- Hungary Currency: Hungarian forint.
Atal Innovation Mission expanded to to encourage AR skills in youth
NITI Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission announced a partnership with Snap Inc. to promote Augmented Reality (AR) skill development among Indian youth. Snap Inc. is a global camera firm whose camera plays a transformative role in how people view the world around them by merging what they see in the physical world with all that is available in the digital world.
KEY POINTS:
- Snap Inc is anticipated to train around 12,000 instructors linked with the Atal Tinkering Labs on Augmented Reality over the course of two years, allowing the programme to reach millions of children.
- Snap Inc. also announced a collaboration with the Atal Incubation Centers (AICs) to support the Indian start-up ecosystem with AR advertising bootcamps, Ad credits, and other opportunities.
- At AIM, we’re committed to using our network of state-of-the-art Atal Tinkering Labs to encourage a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, said Mission director Atal Innovation Mission Dr Chintan Vaishnav.
- Given its numerous possibilities in a fast modernising India, augmented reality is the way of the future. We’re pleased to use Snap Inc.’s Augmented Reality expertise to train a generation of GenZ students in this cutting-edge technology.
- The collaboration began on International Women’s Day, with the announcement of a nationwide Lensathon (AR hackathon) that would run throughout March. The hackathon will be aimed at increasing the number of girls and young women above the age of 13 who are interested in augmented reality.
India’s First fully owned by women industrial park in Hyderabad
India‘s first fully owned by women industrial park opened its doors in Hyderbad. The park, that is promoted by the FICCI Ladies Organization – FLO in collaboration with the State government, consists of 25 units which represent 16 different sectors of green category, and all of them are owned and controlled completely by women.
KEY POINTS:
- The FICCI Ladies Organization industrial park is the country’s first of its sort This park was built on 50 acres of land in Sultanpur, which is near Patancheru. It was made with a Rs 250 crore investment. Female entrepreneurs are already expressing a strong desire to launch and operate their businesses at this park.
- KT Rama Rao (IT & Industries Minister) inaugurated the park, and advised entrepreneurs to aim big and start thinking about upcoming technology. He has also advised that they should concentrate on aerospace, defence, and food production and also they should form global partnerships.
- The minister promised that the FLO women’s industrial park would be expanded more by another extra 100 acres, which will be subjective to the park’s concentration on unique items. He stated that women entrepreneurs will also receive an extra 10% incentive.
- He also said that the state had attracted $32 billion in investments over the last seven and a half years, which has helped in generating 1.6 million jobs.
This FLO industrial park exemplifies the power and self-reliance of women in the business, from electronics to packaging, medical devices, wellness, engineering, and food processing. The FLO members has contributed a substantial amount of money for the construction of the park, while the government has provided the roads, electricity, water, sewerage, and sub-station.
