NATIONAL NEWS

Medaram Jathara Festival 2022

• The Medaram Jathara festival is celebrated once in two years in the month of “Magha” (February) by the Koya tribe- second-largest Tribal Community of Telangana for four days (16^th-19^th February, 2022).
• Medaram Jathara is the second-largest fair of India, after the Kumbh Mela.
• The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has sanctioned ₹2.26 Crores for establishing infrastructural and organizational activities.
• As the country is celebrating AzadiKa Amrit Mahotsav, the Government of India has announced that tribal culture and heritage will be the main focus of 2022.
• Medaram Jathara is celebrated in honour of the Goddesses Sammakka and Saralamma.
• Koyas in collaboration with the Tribal Welfare Department, Government of Telangana celebrate the festival.

Snow Sculpture in Ladakh as a Tourist Attraction

• Lt. Governor of Ladakh R.K. Mathur and Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology Dr Jitendra Singh informed that Snow Sculpture will be introduced in Ladakh from winter season as a tourist attraction and also to create job opportunities for the locals.
• First Ladakh Ice and Snow-Sculpture Workshop 2022 was held on February 11,2022. It was organised by Kangsing Snow and Ice Sculpture Association in association with Ladakh Police at Sangtakchan in Tsogsti.
• Also informed that he promotes the UT to plant “Leh Berry”, commercial plantation of Ladakh from April-May this year, which is an exclusive food product of the cold desert and also creates wide-ranging entrepreneurship.
• The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) under the aegis of Union Ministry of Science & Technology is promoting "Leh Berry" cultivation.

Agri-cess for Crude Palm Oil Reduces to 5 per cent

• The agri-cess for Crude Palm Oil has been reduced from 7.5 percent to 5 percent, in order to provide further relief to consumers and to keep in check any further rise in the prices of domestic edible oils.
• The cess has been reduced with effect from 12^th February 2022.
• Reduction in agri-cess causes the import tax gap between Crude Palm Oil and Refined Palm Oil to increase to 8.25 percent which will benefit the domestic refining industry to import Crude Oil as reported by Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution.

‘Hope Express’ to Prevent Cancer

• At the launch of a state-of-the-art Mosaic-3D radiation machine at a private hospital in Kolhapur Maharashtra, Health Minister of Maharashtra Rajesh Tope announced that "Hope Express" will be launched in the state to prevent cancer.
• This is the first such machine in India. The State Health Minister also promised to take initiative to start Hope Express in every district of the state through district planning.
• He also inaugurated the Oncoprime Cancer Center online at the Hattarki Hospital in Gadhinglaj to benefit patients in rural areas.

Long Rail-cum-Road-Bridge over Ganga River at Munger in Bihar

• Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, along with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar inaugurated the 14.5 km long rail-cum-road-bridge over the Ganga River at Munger in Bihar virtually.
•  The bridge has been constructed on NH 333B and the cost of the project is 696 crore rupees.
• With the construction of this bridge, the distance from Munger to Khagaria will be less than 100 km and the distance from Munger to Begusarai will be less than 20 km.
• This project will give a boost to tourism, agriculture and industry, which will increase employment. This project will bring progress and prosperity in the entire region.

BANKING

Yes Bank launches Agri Infinity program

• Private sector lender Yes Bank announced the launch of an annual startup enabler program ‘Agri Infinity Program’ that seeks to co-develop digital financial solutions for the food and agriculture ecosystem by mentoring entrepreneurial ventures in the sector.
• The program will last up to six months, based on the maturity and readiness of the solution.
• Agri-fintech startups working on financial innovations, pivoting into agri-fintech and exploring the opportunity of adding a financial layer to their core proposition are eligible to this programe.
• The eligible start-ups will get the guidance and support necessary to develop their solutions and apply them across the agricultural value chain.

ABOUT YES BANK

• HQ: Mumbai, Maharashtra.
• MD & CEO: Prashant Kumar.

BUSINESS NEWS

Dabur Becomes 100 per cent "Plastic Waste Neutral company"

• India’s Leading Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) companies declared that the company has become India’s first 100 per cent Plastic Waste Neutral Company.
• It is to be the first Indian consumer goods company to achieve this record.
• Dabur has collected, processed and recycled around 27,000 MT of post-consumer plastic waste from all over India in the financial year 2021-22.
• Dabur launched its plastic waste management initiative in 2017-2018.

SPORTS

ESPN cricinfo Award 2021

• Rishabh Pant India’s wicketkeeper-batsman won the ‘Test Batting Award’ by scoring 89 not out, helped to win the Border Gavaskar trophy 2021.
• New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson was announced 'Captain of the Year' at the 15th Annual ESPNcricinfo awards.
• Kyle Jamieson (New Zealand) was awarded ‘Test bowling award’ for his 5 wickets leaving just 31runs, which helped New Zealand become the first World Test champions (2019-2021).
• Debutant of the Year-England fast bowler Ollie Robinson.
• T20I batting award-Jos Buttler

APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATIONS

President of ICAI

• Debashis Mitra has been elected as the president of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) for the term (2022-2023).
• He holds master degree in commerce and is also a law graduate.
• Aniket Sunil Talati has been elected as Vice President of ICAI.

German President Elected for Second Term

• Frank Walter Steinmeier, was re-elected by the parliamentary assembly for the next five years (2022-2027).
• He is a 66 years old German Politician. He served as foreign minister under Chancellor Angela Merkel.

MD & CEO of Air India

• Tata Sons appointed Ilker Ayci, former Turkish Airlines chairman as the CEO & MD of Air India.
• Ilker Ayci will assume his responsibilities on or before 1st April 2022.
• He was awarded The Order of the Rising Sun and Golden Rays with a Neck Ribbon by the Emperor of Japan.

IMPORTANT DAYS

International Epilepsy Day

• International Epilepsy Day is observed every year on the second Monday of February.
• This year marks on 14 February, 2022.
• The day is organized by the International Bureau for Epilepsy (IBE) and the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) to create awareness about epilepsy victims.
• Epilepsy is a neurological disorder.

Anti-Smuggling Day

• FICCI’s Committee Against Smuggling and Counterfeiting Activities Destroying the Economy (CASCADE) has taken the initiative to establish Anti-Smuggling Day on February 11th, 2022.
• ‘Anti-Smuggling Day’ will be a significant step to fight against the worldwide smuggling threat.
• This day will not only create awareness, but it will also assess what more needs to be done on a national and international level to address this problem to address the issues.