Today Current Affairs for Competitive Exams - Current Affairs 2021-2022 Online

Cognizant to cover cost of vaccination West Bengal has highest number of beggars  Cognizant will cover the cost of vaccination  has over 4 lakh beggars, with the highest of over 600,000 people in India, including its 81,244 beggars in West Bengal, while 200,000 full-time employees and their Lakshadweep merely has two of them, according dependents. to the 2011 census.  This also includes around 50,000 people,  This was informed by Union Social Justice comprising contingent staff such as contract, Minister Thawar Chand Gehlot. support and security personnel, and their  West Bengal is followed by 65,835 beggars in families. , 30,218 in Andhra Pradesh, 29,723  Accenture and Infosys would also cover the cost in Bihar, 28,695 in Madhya Pradesh, and 25,853 in of vaccinating employees in India as well as their Rajasthan. families. SJVN to buy PTC’s wind assets for ₹2,000 cr Mahindra to reduce stake in SsangYong Motor  Hydropower generator SJVN Ltd has outbid NTPC  Mahindra and Mahindra has received clearance Ltd to emerge as the preferred bidder for PTC from the Reserve Bank of India to reduce its India Ltd’s 288-megawatts (MW) wind power ownership in Korean automaker SsangYong assets spread across Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Motor. and Andhra Pradesh.  The UV maker has got approval to reduce its stake  SJVN Ltd has received the letter of intent (LoI) for of 75 per cent in SsangYong Motor to 25 per cent the deal that has an enterprise value of around through capital reduction. ₹2,000 crores.  Mahindra had paid Rs 2,100 crore, or $463  This is part of PTC India’s strategy to exit its wind million, for the purchase of SsangYong a decade power business. ago. 77th Board of Directors meeting of JKSPDCL Dr Jitendra Singh addresses a Summit  In Jammu and Kashmir, Advisor to Lieutenant  Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh delivered the Governor, Baseer Ahmad Khan chaired the 77th keynote address at the “National Gestational Board of Directors meeting of Jammu and Diabetes Awareness Day” Summit on 10 March Kashmir State Power Development Corporation 2021. Limited (JKSPDCL) at Civil Secretariat in Srinagar  It was virtually hosted by Bengaluru. on 10 March 2021.  On the occasion, Dr. Jitendra Singh also released  Implementation of 850 MW Rattle HEP through a the Guidelines for “Management of Diabetes in Joint Venture Company between JKSPDC and Pregnancy” prepared by Diabetes in Pregnancy NHPC Limited and Development of Solar Power Study Group of India (DIPSI). plant was discussed. 1 | P a g e

PM of Ivory Coast Hamed Bakayoko passes away Centre implements Dr. Ambedkar Scholarship

 Prime Minister of Ivory Coast, Hamed Bakayoko,  For educational upliftment of De-notified, passed away in March 2021. Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (DNTs), the  He was appointed Prime Minister in July 2020, government is implementing a Centrally following the sudden death of his predecessor Sponsored Scheme, Dr Ambedkar Pre and Post Amadou Gon Coulibaly. Matric Scholarship.  A former media executive who turned to politics,  The scheme is helpful in spreading education he played a prominent mediation role in Ivory among DNT children especially the girl child. Coast's civil war during the first decade of the  Development and Welfare Board for Denotified, century. Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Communities was constituted on 21 Feb 2019. Australia unveils tourism support package US Defence Secretary General to visit India  The Australian govt unveiled a 928 million US dollar tourism support package on 11 March  US Defence Secretary General Lloyd J Austin will 2021. be on a three-day visit to India from 19 March  It will boost local travel while international routes 2021. remain closed because of the Coronavirus  He will meet Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. pandemic.  Both sides will discuss ways to further strengthen  The govt will subsidize 8 lakh tickets on domestic bilateral defense cooperation and exchange views flights to 13 destinations around the country that on regional security challenges and common mostly rely on international tourists, and offer interests in maintaining a free, open, and inclusive cheap loans to small tourism operators. Indo-Pacific region. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib centenary Centre releases Revenue Deficit Grant  will celebrate the birth centenary of  The centre released a Revenue Deficit Grant of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the over Rs. 6,194 crore to 14 states on 10 March golden jubilee of the liberation of the country 2021. between March 17-26, 2021.  With the release of this installment, a total  Sheikh Mujibur is called the "Father of the amount of Rs. 74,340 crore has been released to Nation" in Bangladesh. eligible states as Post Devolution Revenue Deficit  He served as the first President of Bangladesh and Grant in the current financial year. later as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh from 17  100 percent of the amount recommended by the April 1971 until his assassination on 15 August Finance Commission for this Grant has been 1975. released. 5,519 Gram Panchayats to get internet Internet facility provided at 5957 stations  The Department of Telecommunication has  Wi-Fi based internet facility has been provided at targeted to provide internet connectivity to 5,519 5957 railway stations in the country till now. Gram Panchayats by November 2021.  RailTel has submitted a proposal to the  4,112 Gram Panchayats will be connected with Department of Telecommunications for broadband network limited and 1,407 will be leveraging its network in rural India. connected with Satellite Media under the  Implementation time will be based on acceptance BharatNet project till November 2021. of the proposal and its terms & conditions by the  Till 1 March 2021, 2,432 Gram Panchayats have Department of Telecommunications. been connected with Bharat Broadband Network HAL pays 2nd interim dividend to government Limited. 2 | P a g e

 Defence Public Sector Undertaking Hindustan  IT services firm Wipro appointed Pierre Bruno as Aeronautics Limited (HAL) paid the second interim Chief Executive Officer of its European operations dividend of Rs. 376.93 crore for the financial year on 10 March 2021. 2020-21 to the government.  Bruno joined Wipro from DXC Technology, where  The dividend cheque was handed over to Defence he was Vice President and Managing Director of Minister Rajnath Singh by Chairman and Southern Europe. Managing Director of HAL, R Madhavan and  Bruno will lead Wipro's business in six distinct Director (Finance) C B Ananthakrishnan in New regions across Europe. Delhi on 10 March 2021. Anurag Thakur: Captain in Territorial Army Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Bill  Minister of State for Finance and Corporate  The Parliament gave its nod to the Arbitration and Affairs Anurag Thakur was promoted as Captain in Conciliation (Amendment) Bill, 2021 with Rajya the Territorial Army as a regular commissioned Sabha passing it on 10 March 2021. officer on 10 March 2021.  The Lok Sabha had already passed the bill in  He has become the first serving Union Minister to February 2021. be promoted as Captain in the Indian Territorial  The Act contains provisions to deal with domestic Army. and international arbitration.  Thakur has been promoted to the rank of Captain  The Bill replaces an Ordinance with the same at 124 Infantry Battalion Territorial Army (Sikh). provisions promulgated on 4th November 2020. Maju Varghese appointed as WHMO Director Kindle version of Bhagavad Gita launched  Indian-American Maju Varghese on March 9,  PM Narendra Modi launched the Kindle version of 2021, was formally appointed as Director of the Swami Chidbhavanandaji’s Bhagavad Gita through White House Military Office. virtual mode on 11 March 2021.  As the WHMO Director, Varghese will oversee all  The event was organized to commemorate the military operations aboard Air Force One on sale of over five lakh copies of the Swami Presidential missions worldwide. Chidbhavanandaji’s Bhagavad Gita.  He previously served as the Chief Operating  Swami Chidbhavananda is the founder of Sri Officer of the Biden campaign during the 2020 Ramakrishna Tapovanam Ashram at presidential election. Thirupparaaythuray situated near Tiruchirapalli in PMSSN: A single non-lapsable reserve fund Tamil Nadu.  The Union Cabinet approved the Pradhan Mantri Indian Bank to raise Rs 4,000 crore Swasthya Suraksha Nidhi (PMSSN) as a single non-  The Committee of Directors of state-owned lapsable reserve fund on 10 March 2021. Indian Bank has given approval for raising up to  It is valid for a share of health from the proceeds ₹4,000 crores through share sale. of Health and Education Cess levied under  The fund raising would be subject to all statutory Finance Act, 2007. and regulatory approvals.  PMSSN will enhance access to universal  The bank required to increase its public & affordable health care resources, ensuring that shareholding to at least 25% within a period of the amount does not lapse at the end of the three years from August 3, 2018. fiscal year.  The government holds 88.06% in the - King Bhumibol World Soil Day - 2020 Award headquartered Indian Bank.  Ambassador of India to Thailand Suchitra Pierre Bruno: Wipro's CEO for Europe business Durai received the prestigious King Bhumibol 3 | P a g e

World Soil Day - 2020 Award of the Food and  Minister of Railways Piyush Goyal flagged off 3000 Agriculture Organization on the behalf of the HP Cape Gauge Locomotive for export to Indian Council of Agricultural Research on 10 Mozambique on 10 March 2021. March 2021.  These locomotives are developed indigenously by  This award is recognition of ICAR’s excellent Banaras Locomotive Works, . contributions in “Soil Health Awareness” on the  is exporting the first batch of 2 theme “Stop soil erosion, save our future” during locomotives as part of the total order of 6 the year- 2020. locomotives of 3000 HP cape gauge locomotive. ESI and Ayushman Bharat schemes converged Technology and Extension Centres inaugurated  Union Minister for Labour and Employment  Union Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Santosh Kumar Gangwar launched the Enterprises, Nitin Gadkari inaugurated the two convergence of Employees' State Insurance (ESI) Technology Centres and three Extension Centres Scheme with Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri of MSME on 10 March'21. Jan Arogya Yojana, PM-JAY, on 10 Mar'21.  The Technology Centres have been set up at  Initially, the convergence will be effective in 113 Visakhapatnam and Bhopal and the Extension districts of Chhatisgarh, Karnataka, MP and Centres at Srinagar, Jaipur & Nagaur. Maharashtra.  Technology Centres System Programme aims to  The convergence ensures ESI beneficiaries to avail develop the competitiveness in ecosystems of cashless medical services. MSME in the country. Kashmiri pandits observe "Herath" festival G P Samanta: Chief Statistician of India  Festival Mahashivratri locally known as 'Herath' in  The Indian government has appointed Dr G P Kashmir is being celebrated across J&K by Samanta as the new Chief Statistician of India Kashmiri Pandit Community with religious fervour (CSI). by offering "Watak Nath Pooja".  Dr Samanta was currently deputed as an advisor  The three-day festival is being celebrated from in the RBI's Department of Statistics and March 11 to 13, 2021. Information Management.  The festival assumes colossal importance among  He will replace 1986-batch IAS officer Dr the Kashmiri Pandit Community who celebrate it Kshatrapati Shivaji who was holding the additional to mark the wedding of Lord Shiva with Goddess charge of the post since September 2020. Parvati. India’s biggest floating solar plant E-services facilities inaugurated in J&K  The world's largest floating 600 MW solar energy  Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, project to be constructed at Omkareshwar dam Commissioner Secretary of Labour and on Narmada river in Khandwa district of Madhya Employment Department, Saurabh Pradesh will begin power generation by the year Bhagat inaugurated e-services (electronic 2022-23. services) on March 10, 2021.  The estimated investment in this project stands at  E-services include online system for auto-renewal Rs 3,000 crore. of license, online services for submission of  The International Finance Corporation, World integrated consolidated return under different Bank and Power Grid have granted in-principle labour laws and availability of online dashboard in consent for providing aid for it. public domain. IndoSpace acquires 55 acres in Haryana 3000 HP cape gauge locomotive flagged off

4 | P a g e

 IndoSpace and Model Economic Township Ltd  The armies of Indian and Uzbekistan are carrying (METL), a subsidiary of Reliance Industries Ltd out a joint exercise from March 9 and 21, 2021 in (RIL), have jointly acquired 55 acres at Chaubatia near Ranikhet in Uttarakhand. Farukhnagar, in Haryana, to develop a  The second edition of exercise Dustlik is aimed at warehousing facility. carrying out joint counter-terror operations in a  The land parcel has a development potential of mountainous rural and urban scenario. 1.28 million sq ft.  The Indian Army is being represented by 13  With this, IndoSpace has expanded its footprint in Kumaon known as the Rezang La battalion. Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) to over 480 Navy deploys women officers on warships acres across eight industrial parks.  On International Women's Day, the Indian Southampton to host World Test final Navy deployed four women officers onboard its  The final of the ICC World Test Championship warships after over three decades. between India and New Zealand will be played in  Two of them are posted on the aircraft carrier INS a bio-secure bubble at the Hampshire Bowl in Vikramaditya while two are deployed onboard the Southampton. Indian naval tanker ship INS Shakti.  The decision, taken by the ICC Board, follows  The last time women officers were posted on discussions with the England and Wales Cricket warships was in 1998. Board (ECB). Former Rajasthan Governor passes away  India qualified for the final after beating England 3-1 in the recently-concluded Test series.  Former Rajasthan Governor Anshuman Singh passed away in March 2021. Amitabh Bachchan to be presented FIAF Award  Anshuman Singh was a retired Justice who served  Amitabh Bachchan will be honoured with an as the Governor of Rajasthan from January 1999 award by the International Federation of Film till 2003. Archives (FIAF).  He was born in 1935 in Allahabad and pursued  The veteran actor will be the first Indian cinema arts and law. personality to be bestowed with the FIAF Award  He was also appointed as the Governor of Gujarat for his dedication and contribution to the state in 1998. preservation of the world’s film heritage. New Air Independent Propulsion system tested  He will be presented the award during a virtual showcase scheduled to take place on March 19,  DRDO crossed an important milestone on 8 March 2021. 2021, when it demonstrated an Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) system that will allow Indian Centre of Excellence to be setup in Rajasthan Navy submarines to operate for up to two weeks  To provide better facilities to livestock breeders in without having to surface to recharge their Rajasthan, a Centre of Excellence in the dairy batteries. sector will soon be established with the help of  The system has been developed by Naval Denmark. Materials Research Laboratory (NMRL) of DRDO.  Danish Ambassador Freddy Svane discussed this  Six Project-75I submarines will be powered by AIP while meeting CM Ashok Gehlot during his visit to systems. Jaipur. World Kidney Day: 11 March  He assured to provide all possible cooperation in order to avail benefits of the advancements made  World Kidney Day is celebrated every year on 11 in the field of dairy science. March. Indian and Uzbekistan's joint exercise 5 | P a g e

 It aims to raise awareness of the importance of and Child Development and welfare of kidneys and to reduce the frequency and impact SC/ST/OBC. of kidney disease and its associated health Indian Navy commissions INS Karanj problems worldwide.  10% of the population worldwide is affected by  The Indian Navy commissioned Scorpene-class chronic kidney disease (CKD) with over 2 million submarine INS Karanj on March 10, 2021. people worldwide receiving treatment with  This is the third submarine of its class. dialysis or a kidney transplant.  It was under trials for more than 100 days before being commissioned. Delhi govt to launch 'Saheli Samanvay Kendra'  INS Karanj has a length of over 65 metres and was  Delhi government has announced to launch a new constructed by public sector shipbuilder Mazagon scheme "Saheli Samanvay Kendra" to empower Dock Ltd. (MDL) in collaboration with French women. company Direction des Constructions Navales  Under the new scheme, 500 anganwadi hubs will (DCNS). be set up for incubating individual start-ups and to promote self-help groups.  The Delhi government has set aside ₹4,750 crores

for the Department of Social Welfare, Women

Attempt Daily Current Affairs Quiz

6 | P a g e