NATIONAL NEWS

Financial Action Task Force

• The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) assembly was conducted from March 01 – March 04, 2022 under the German Presidency of Dr Marcus Pleyer.

• Over 200 members from the Global Network and observer organisations, including the International Monetary Fund, the United Nations and the Egmont Group of Financial Intelligence Units were participated.

• Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has once again retained Pakistan on the increased monitoring list, also known as the "grey list".
• This grey listing has adversely impacted its imports, exports, remittances, and limited access to international lending.
• Pakistan has been on the FATF's grey list since June 2018.

'Kavach' to Avoid Rail Accidents

• On 04 March 2022, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw successfully tested anti-collision system 'Kavach'.

• The indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system, Kavach, was designed to help the Railways achieve - zero accidents.

• 'Kavach' automatically stopped the train before 380 metres of another Locomotive at the front.
• The Kavach will be the world's cheapest automatic train collision protection system.
• It would cost Rs. 50 lakh per kilometer.

DST & Intel India to Boost AI Readiness

• The Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, launched the program ‘Building AI Readiness among Young Innovators’ in partnership with Intel India, on the occasion of National Science Day on 28th February.
• The program aims to build digital readiness among the students from classes 6 to 10, enrolled under DST’s INSPIRE-Awards MANAK scheme.
• The flagship program of DST reaches out to students pan India with an aim to create a culture of creativity and innovative thinking.
• It will bring both these together and seek to build an AI-ready generation by empowering the students with the knowledge and skills to leverage AI in an inclusive way.

IHCL partners with UNESCO

• The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL), India’s largest hospitality company, has announced to collaborate with The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organizations (UNESCO) to help safeguard and promote the intangible cultural heritage of India as part of a new initiative to transform the landscape of travel in the post pandamic world.

• It will offer experiential tours for travellers at various IHCL hotels, so that they can experience better the living heritage of the country.

• The first phase includes visits to local communities practicing art forms like Patachitra - a traditional scroll painting technique in West Bengal, Ganga Aarti – the prayer ceremony at Dasashwamedh Ghat at Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, as well as Kalbelia performances, Blue Pottery making, Bagru Hand Block printing, and the Terracota art of Molela.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Military Cooperation Meeting of India & US

• On March 1st- 2nd, 2022, India-US Military Cooperation Group (MCG) meeting was conducted in Agra, Uttar Pradesh.
• This India-US MCG marks the 19^th edition.
• It was co-chaired by Air Marshal BR Krishna, Chief of Integrated Defense Staff to the Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC) from India and Deputy Commander, US Indo-Pacific Command Lieutenant General Stephen D Sklenka from US.
• The India-US MCG is a forum set up to advance defense cooperation between the two nations.
• The discussions focused on improving the two countries' ongoing defense engagements and considering new initiatives within the framework of the existing cooperation mechanism.

Study in India Meet 2022

• On 04 March 2022, the two-day long Study in India (SII) 2022 meet was inaugurated in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

• The Education Minister of Bangladesh Dr. Dipu Moni inaugurated the meeting which was organized by High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh Vikram Doraiswami.

• The Study in India programme is a flagship project launched by the Ministry of Education in 2018.
• The programme is designed to encourage the global student community to pursue higher education and experience the best of academic learning from the top institutions in India.
• Study In India has drawn in students from more than 150 countries spanning across SAARC, Africa, South-East Asia, Central Asia, and the Middle-East.
• Bangladeshi students were the 3rd largest foreign student community in India.

BANKING

Axis Bank Commits USD 150 Mn Loan to Healthcare Sector

• Axis Bank in association with IPE Global, has signed a USD 150 million (Rs 1,140 crore) loan for strengthening the healthcare infrastructure in the country for the SAMRIDH Healthcare Blended Finance Facility.

• The ability to access loans will help them increase production and provide advanced health solutions to address COVID-19 along with other health emergencies, across the vulnerable communities of India from tier 2 and 3 cities.

• SAMRIDH is an initiative supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
• It will help supplement the manufacturing and distribution of pharmaceuticals, facility expansion of public and private hospitals, nursing homes, small clinics, laboratories, and warehouses.

About IPE:

• HQ: New Delhi, Delhi.

• MD: Ashwajit Singh.

PayU Partners VTEX

• India-based fintech PayU has partnered with digital commerce platform VTEX to provide multiple local payment solutions to VTEX merchants.

• The integration will allow merchants to accept a range of local payment methods in the country, including credit cards, debit cards, UPI, wallets, and net banking among others.

• This allows international brands to enter the Indian market and reduce the go-live tie because of quicker payment methods.

About VTEX:

• HQ: London, UK.
• CEO: Geraldo Thomaz.

AWARDS & PRIZES

CtrlS receives Prestigious ASSOCHAM Award

• On 04 March 2022, CtrlS, Asia’s largest Data Center company, has been awarded the most prestigious ASSOCHAM Award for Sustainability Excellence in Energy Management.
• CtrlS is located in Hyderabad, Telangana.
• CtrlS made a positive impact during the Covid-19 pandemic from March 2020 through their innovative and sustainability initiatives in their data centre operations.
• The award is generally presented to those companies that make efforts to integrate economic, environmental and social objectives alongside its operations and growth.

APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATIONS

CEO of Jet Airways

• Sanjiv Kapoor has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer of Jet Airways.

• His appointment will be effective from April 4, 2022.

• Jet Airways ceased its operation on April 17, 2019 has planned to resume the operation of flights in the first quarter of 2022.
• Sanjiv Kapoor has over 20 years of experience in the airline industry. He had done his MBA from Wharton University in Pennsylvania.

IMPORTANT DAYS

National Security Day

• National Security Day or Rashtriya Suraksha Diwas is observed every year on 04 March.

• The day aims to show gratitude to our security forces which include military, para-military, commandos, police officials, guards, and India’s security forces and to those who maintain peace and security of our country.

• National Security Day was celebrated for the first time in 1972 by the Ministry of Labour under the Government of India.

National Safety Day

• National Safety Day is celebrated every year on 04 March.

• It is celebrated to commemorate the foundation of the National Safety Council of India. This year Marks the 51^st edition.

• The theme of this year 2022 is “Nurture young minds – Develop safety culture”.
• The main objective of this day is to promote the Safety, Health and Environment (SHE) movement in the country.

World Obesity Day

• World Obesity Day is annually observed on 04 March.

• It is organized by the World Obesity Federation, a non-profit organization in collaboration with its global members.

• The theme of this year 2022 is “Everybody Needs to Act”.
• It is celebrated to promote solutions to end the global obesity crisis.

OBITUARY

Former Army Chief General SF Rodrigues

• Former Army Chief General SF Rodrigues passed away in Panjim, Goa.He was 88.

• He was the Chief of the Indian Army from 1990 to 1993.

• He was also served as the 26th Governor of Punjab and 13th Administrator of Chandigarh.
• He was born in Bombay in 1933.

Australia's Legendary Cricketer Shane Warne

• Australian cricketer Shane Warne has died due to cardiac arrest in Koh Samui, Thailand. He was 52.

• Warne is one of the best players in history, who has taken 708 wickets in 145 Test matches.

• He appeared in a total of 339 international matches for the country Australia during his 15-year-long illustrious career.
• He was born in 1969.

Film critic Jai Prakash Chouksey

• Noted film critic and writer Jai Prakash Chouksey passed away due to cardiac arrest. He was 83.

• Jai Prakash Chouksey has penned scripts and dialogues for several films including 'Shayad' (1979), 'Qatl' (1986) and 'Bodyguard' (2011), and was also involved in writing for television serials.
• He was born on 01 September 1939 in Burhanpur, Madhya Pradesh.