Current Affairs - 12 Feb 2022

Daily Current Affairs of 12 Feb 2022. Follow Current Affairs on daily Basis in on post. Current Affairs PDF for Competitive Exams

National Productivity Day observed on 12th February 2022

National Productivity Day is observed every year in India on February 12. The objective of the National Productivity Council is to stimulate and promote productivity and quality consciousness across all sectors in the country. The main observance of the day is to encourage all stakeholders in the implementation of productivity tools and techniques with contemporary relevant themes.

The day is celebrated by the National Productivity Council (NPC) to promote productivity culture in India. National Productivity Council (NPC) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry Government of India is a premier institution for propagating productivity movement in India. NPC works for providing solutions towards accelerating productivity, enhancing competitiveness, increasing productivity.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

Director-General of National Productivity Council: Arun Kumar Jha;
National Productivity Council of India established: 1958;
National Productivity Council of India HQ: New Delhi.

India ranked 46th in EIU’s Democracy Index

India has ranked 46th position in the 2021 Democracy Index’s global ranking, according to The Economist Intelligence Unit. With the highest score of 9.75, Norway topped the Democracy Index 2021 by Economist Intelligence. The list was published on February 10, 2022. India scored 6.91 to rank 46th on the list. Our neighbour Pakistan has been placed further below in the hybrid regime with a rank of 104.

Top 10 countries in the list:

1. Norway

In the full democracy segment, Norway topped the charts. It had an overall score of 9.75.

2. New Zealand

New Zealand ranked second in the Democracy Index 2021 with an overall score of 9.37.

3. Finland

The beautiful nation Finland came in at number three on the Democracy Index 2021 with an overall score of 9.27.

4. Sweden

Sweden slipped from the third position last year to the fourth rank, this year. It had an overall score of 9.26.

5. Iceland

Iceland witnessed the biggest slump. It slipped to the fifth rank from the second position last year after it scored 9.18, overall this year.

6. Denmark

In the Democracy Index 2021, published on February 10, 2022, Denmark ranked sixth with an overall score of 9.09.

7. Ireland

Next on the list was Ireland with an overall score of 9.

8. Taiwan

Taiwan, which is currently hitting the headlines, ranked eighth on the Democracy Index 2021 with an overall score of 8.99.

9. Australia

The land of Kangaroos, Australia, came ninth on the list with an overall score of 8.90.

10. Switzerland

Switzerland shared the ninth position with Australia with an overall score of 8.90.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

Economist Intelligence Unit Headquarters: London, United Kingdom;
Economist Intelligence Unit Founded: 1946;
Economist Intelligence Unit MD: Robin Bew.

N Chandrasekaran reappointed as Chairman of Tata Sons

The board of Tata Sons Pvt Ltd has approved the re-appointment of N Chandrasekaran as the Executive Chairman of the company for the second five years term. Chandrasekaran’s current tenure as the chairman was to expire at the end of February 2022. He joined the board of Tata Sons in 2016 and took over the role as Chairman in 2017.

Career of Chandrasekaran:

Chandrasekaran’s tenure in the last five years saw several mergers and acquisitions by the group in the steel, aviation and digital sectors and a complete exit from the cellular telephony industry. One of the first tasks of Chandra, as he is popularly known, was to get rid of Tata Teleservices which lost around Rs 60,000 crore in paying back bank loans apart from paying the AGR dues till date. Tatas sold the mobile phone business to Bharti Airtel while retaining debt and other liabilities of the company.

India to help Sri Lanka launch its version of Aadhaar Card

India has agreed to provide a grant to Sri Lanka to implement a ‘Unitary Digital Identity framework’, apparently modelled on the Aadhaar card. The Rajapaksa government will “prioritise” the implementation of the Framework as a national-level programme. The initiative follows bilateral talks between President Gotabaya Rajapaksa & Prime Minister Narendra Modi in December 2019.

Under the proposed Unitary Digital Identity Framework:

It is expected to introduce a personal identity verification device based on biometric data, a digital tool that can represent the identities of individuals in cyberspace, and the identification of individual identities that can be accurately verified in digital and physical environments by combining the two devices.
While India has confirmed support for Sri Lanka’s effort to transition to a digital identity system, there is no official information yet on the value of the grant, and whether it would include technological support or training. Queried on the specifics of the agreement, Colombo-based official sources said the terms of the agreement are “being worked out”.

India’s Goa Shipyard Ltd delivered the 5th vessel ICGS ‘Saksham’

India’s Goa Shipyard Ltd delivered the 5th and final vessel of the 5 Coast Guard Offshore Patrol Vehicle (CGOPV) Project ahead of contractual schedule. The vessel was named ICGS ‘Saksham’. The point to be underlined- all 5 vessels have been delivered before time to the Indian Coast Guard. The contract for 5 CGOPVs was signed by GSL with the Ministry of Defence on 26 August 2016.

About the vessels:

All the five CGOPVs will be the most advanced patrol vessels in service with the coast guard. Also, the 2,400 tonnes vessels are fitted with additional features including quick response boats for rescue and anti-piracy and gunnery simulators. The hull is designed to provide fuel efficiency, crew comfort and enhanced sea keeping qualities. With computerised control systems, they are the most advanced patrol vessels in service with the Coast Guard. It has an indigenous content of about 70% and weighs around 2400 tonnes.

Telangana govt tie-up with British Council to expand higher education

The Government of Telangana and the British Council, an international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural exchange, have signed a 3-year MoU to renew the partnership in education, English and arts. To facilitate research between institutions and assist to expand higher education globally, to offer global opportunities for the youth of Telangana.

Under the extended 3-year MoU, the British Council has also signed an agreement with the Research and Innovation Circle of Hyderabad (RICH) to work closely to engineer new partnerships between universities, research institutions and centres of excellence in the UK and in Telangana.

Focus areas

The partnerships between RICH and UK higher education institutions will be in the areas of aerospace, defence, life sciences and pharma, food and agriculture, and sustainability.
The two partners will also take part in joint innovation or entrepreneurship initiatives, like sharing of best practices and or development of bespoke courses to develop relevant skills amid the young people of Telangana.
The British Council and the Telangana State Council of Higher Education have been partnering to achieve the State’s knowledge and employment ambitions for its youth for the past decade as per the MoU signed in 2018.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

Telangana Capital: Hyderabad;
Telangana Governor: Tamilisai Soundararajan;
Telangana Chief minister: K. Chandrashekar Rao.

NABARD launched ‘JIVA Programme’ to promote natural farming

National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has launched the ‘JIVA programme’ to promote natural farming under its existing watershed and wadi programmes in 11 states. To effectively implement the principles of agroecology long-term sustainability and transform the pre-existing social and natural capital towards efficient farming.

JIVA is an agroecology-based programme, an amalgamation of several projects under the watershed programme of NABARD and will be implemented in 11 states covering five agroecological zones, which are in ecologically fragile and rain-fed areas.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

NABARD Formation: July 12, 1982;
NABARD Headquarters: Mumbai;
NABARD Chairman: Govinda Rajulu Chintala.

A new book titled “India-Africa Relations: Changing Horizons” authored by Rajiv Bhatia

Ambassador Rajiv Kumar Bhatia, a Distinguished Fellow, Foreign Policy Studies Programme at Gateway House, has authored a new book (his 3rd book) titled “India-Africa Relations: Changing Horizons” which explores the emergence and assertion of Africa as a significant actor and stakeholder in global affairs and the transformation of the relationship between India and Africa.

The book also provides a detailed exploration of India–the Africa partnership in all its critical dimensions. The book describes the historical backdrop and shared colonial past to focus on and contextualise the evolution of the India – Africa engagement.

SEBI restructured Advisory Committee on Investor Protection and Education Fund

Securities and Exchange Board of India has restructured its advisory committee on Investor Protection and Education Fund (IPEF), under the chairmanship of G Mahalingam. The advisory committee on IPEF is an eight-member committee that will take G Mahalingam, former Whole Time Member of SEBI, as its new Chairperson. Members of Committee: Vijay Kumar Venkataraman, Mrin Agarwal, A Balasubramanian, M G Parameswaran, GP Garg, N Hariharan and Jayanta Jash.

About the committee:

In 2013, the committee was established by the SEBI to find out ways and means to best utilize the investor protection and education fund. Earlier the committee was headed by Abraham Koshy, former professor of Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM-A), Gujarat.
The committee is mandated to recommend investor education and protection activities for the utilization of the SEBI Investor Protection and Education Fund (IPEF).

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

Securities and Exchange Board of India Founded: 12 April 1992.
Securities and Exchange Board of India Headquarters: Mumbai.
Securities and Exchange Board of India Agency executive: Ajay Tyagi.

Nobel-Winning Co-Discoverer of H.I.V Luc Montagnier passes away

Luc Montagnier, a French virologist who shared a Nobel Prize in 2008 for discovering the virus that causes AIDS, passed away. He was 89. The discovery of H.I.V. began in Paris on Jan. 3, 1983. That was the day that Dr. Montagnier (pronounced mon-tan-YAY), who directed the Viral Oncology Unit at the Pasteur Institute, received a piece of the lymph node that had been removed from a 33-year-old man with AIDS.

National Women’s Day of India 2022

Indian National Women’s Day is observed every year on 13 February to commemorate the birth anniversary of Sarojini Naidu. This year Nation celebrates its 143rd Birth Anniversary. She was born on February 13, 1879. She was famous for her nickname ‘Nightingale of India’ or ‘Bharat Kokila’ because of her poems. Sarojini Naidu is well-known across the globe for her contributions to literature.

About Sarojini Naidu:

Sarojini Naidu, born in Hyderabad and educated in Cambridge was the powerful face of Women in the Indian Independence struggle.
Anti-imperialistic, Universal Suffragist, Women rights activist Mrs. Naidu paved the path for women’s movements in India.
Indian Nightangle Sarojini Naidu shines both as an activist and as a poet.
In 1925 Sarojini Naidu became the president of the Indian National Congress.
Sarojini Naidu was one of the forefront leaders who led the Civil Disobedience Movement and the Quit India Movement.
When she graces the United Provinces as Governor in 1947, she rewrites the history by becoming the first woman to hold the office of Governor in the Dominion of India.
For Women’s Rights, suffrage and representation in organizations and assemblies she established the Women’s India Association in 1917.

National Women’s Day of India 2022:Observed Every Year On 13 Feb

About Sarojini Naidu:

Sarojini Naidu, born in Hyderabad and educated in Cambridge was the powerful face of Women in the Indian Independence struggle.
Anti-imperialistic, Universal Suffragist, Women rights activist Mrs. Naidu paved the path for women’s movements in India.
Indian Nightangle Sarojini Naidu shines both as an activist and as a poet.
In 1925 Sarojini Naidu became the president of the Indian National Congress.
Sarojini Naidu was one of the forefront leaders who led the Civil Disobedience Movement and the Quit India Movement.
When she graces the United Provinces as Governor in 1947, she rewrites the history by becoming the first woman to hold the office of Governor in the Dominion of India.
For Women’s Rights, suffrage and representation in organizations and assemblies she established the Women’s India Association in 1917.

World Radio Day celebrated on 13 February

World Radio Day is celebrated on 13 February each year to recognize radio as a powerful medium, which brings people together from every corner of the globe, to promote diversity and help build a more peaceful and inclusive world. The day was Proclaimed in 2011 by the Member States of UNESCO and adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2012 as an International Day, February 13 became World Radio Day (WRD).

On the occasion of World Radio Day 2022, UNESCO calls on radio stations to celebrate the Day through three sub-themes: