NATIONAL NEWS

Conference on Indian Temple Architecture titled "DEVAYATANAM

• As the country is celebrating Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) of Ministry of Culture, organized a two-day international conference Devayatanam – An odyssey of Indian temple architecture.

• It will be held for two days 25th & 26th February, 2022 at Hampi, Karnataka.
• It was inaugurated by the union minister for Culture, Tourism and DoNER Shri G Kishan Reddy.
• The aim of the conference is to create interest among scholars and students to learn and respect our heritage and to focus upon the philosophical, religious, social, economic, technical, scientific, art and architectural aspects of temple.

MSME RuPay Credit Card

• At the two-day MSME Conclave held in the Sindhudurg district, Maharashtra Union Minister for Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises, Shri Narayan Rane with Union Bank of India launched the Union MSME RuPay Credit Card.
• The card is being offered by Union Bank of India in association with National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).
• It provides a simplified payment mechanism to MSMEs to meet their business-related operational expenses.
• MSME borrowers will be able to enjoy an interest-free credit period of up to 50 days on their business spends.

Sustainable Cities Development Programme

• On February 24, 2022 the World Economic Forum (WEF) and the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to work on a jointly designed 'Sustainable Cities India programme'.

• The main focus is to create an enabling environment for cities to generate decarbonization solutions across the energy, transport, and the built environment sectors.
• This initiative comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India’s commitment to turn net zero by 2070 as a climate mitigation response at COP26.

India’s First e-Waste Eco-Park

• Delhi’s Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in the cabinet meeting announced to set up India’s first e-Waste eco-park and also agreed to device Delhi Film Policy 2022.

• The Delhi government has decided to build India’s first ever e-waste eco-park which will take care of rising e-waste.
• The park will be constructed on 20 acres of land where recycling, re-manufacturing work will be done to take care of Delhi’s 2 lakh tonnes of e-waste which is produced annually.
• In addition to this, the government will also introduce the Delhi Film Policy 2022 for tourism purposes.
• This will be India's most progressive Film Policy, aiming to create jobs and boost the economy and Rs.50 crore film fund will be introduced to support film producers.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Funds To Assist Those Affected by Cyclone Emnati

• The United Nation's World Food Programme (WFP) has urged for funds to assist those affected by the Cyclone Emnati in Madagascar.
• The storm crashed into the south-east part of the island nation and the WFP said that at least 44,000 people have been displaced or affected.
• Since January, Madagascar has suffered four cyclones which have left over 180 people dead and affected about 250,000 others.

BANKING

Star Health and SIB Enters into Partnership to Offer Health Insurance

• South Indian Bank has joined hands with India’s leading standalone health insurance company, Star Health and Allied Insurance Co. Ltd., as a corporate agent to provide innovative health insurance products.

• The Bank’s customers can avail benefits of Star Health’s retail insurance products and group affinity products through the Bank's various distribution channels thus helping customers address their health insurance needs.
• Star Health and Allied Insurance is India’s first Standalone Health Insurance Provider.

About Star Health and Allied Insurance

• HQ: Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

• CEO: V.Jagannathan.

About SIB

• HQ: Thrissur, Kerala

• MD & CEO: Murali, Ramakrishnan.

NHPC and HDFC Bank

• State-owned National Hydropower Generation Company (NHPC) has inked a pact with HDFC bank to securitise Return on Equity (RoE) of its 540-MW Chamera-I Power Plant in Himachal Pradesh for 10 years.

• The amount of the securitisation facility has been arrived Rs. 1,016.39 crore (5.24 per cent) per annum discounting rate linked with three-month Treasury bills (T-bills).
• In December 2021, NHPC's board had approved the proposal for monetisation by securitisation through bidding process of return on equity (RoE) of Chamera-1 Power Station (3 X 180 MW), Himachal Pradesh, and further to monetise RoE of one or more power stations for 5 or 10 or 15 years in one go.

About HDFC:

• HQ: Mumbai, Maharashtra.

• MD & CEO: Sashidhar Jagdishan.

SPORTS

Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu Wins Gold in Singapore

• Mirabai Chanu secures Gold Medal in Singapore Weightlifting International in the 55-kilogram category for the very first time by lifting a total of 191 kilograms.
• Mirabai Chanu qualified for the 2022 Commonwealth Games in the 55kg weight category after securing a gold medal in Singapore.
• The Indian weightlifter found her honour after she secured the silver medal for India at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in the women's 49-kilogram category.

RANKS, INDICES AND REPORTS

International IP Index 2022

• On 24 February 2022, Global Innovation Policy Center (GIPC) of United States Chambers of Commerce released the International Intellectual Property Index- 'Compete for Tomorrow'.

• This marks the 10^th edition.
• India has ranked 43rd on the 2022 IIP Index with the score of 38.64.
• The United States topped the index with score 95.48 which is followed by the United Kingdom with score 94.14.
• The index consists of 50 indicators with 9 separate categories.

AWARDS AND PRIZES

C-DOT Bags 3 Awards

• On February 25, 2022, Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), a Telecom R&D centre of the Government of India (GoI), has bagged three awards for its indigenously designed and developed innovative at 12th Annual Aegis Graham Bell Awards virtually.
• CDOT was declared top winner in three categories as below
• In the category for “Innovative in Lockdown Management”: C-DOT SAMVAD – A Unified Platform for Secure Messaging and Calling Solution secured the first position.
• In the “Tech for Social Good” category: Indigenous Early Warning Platform for Disaster Management & Preparedness based on International Telecommunication Union (ITU)’s Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) placed at the first position.
• in the category of “Preventive measures to combat Covid 19”: C-DOT Quarantine Alert System (CQAS) has won the first prize,

APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATIONS

Tan Kim Her as India’s Badminton Doubles Coach

• Malaysian badminton coach, Tan Kim Her, was appointed as India’s badminton Doubles Coach by Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
• His role as coach will continue till the Asian Games in 2026.
• Coach Tan Kim Her is well aware of the Indian Badminton ecosystem which helps him to groom the players.

MD & CEO of IDBI Bank

• Industrial Development Bank of India (IDBI) Bank’s Board of Directors has approved the re-appointment of Rakesh Sharma as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Bank.
• He was appointed for a period of 3 years term effective from March 19, 2022.
• Sharma had joined IDBI Bank as MD & CEO in October 2018. Prior to joining IDBI Bank, he was MD & CEO of Canara Bank from September 2015 till July 2018.

Non-Executive Chairman of HUL

• Nitin Paranjpe has been appointed as the Non-Executive Chairman of the company effective from March 31, 2022. Paranjpe is currently the chief operating officer of Unilever, the parent company of HUL.
• Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL) announced the separation of the position of chairman of the board and the CEO and managing director.
• Sanjiv Mehta will serve as the CEO and managing director of the company.
• His appointment was recommended by the nomination & remuneration committee (NRC) to the HUL board.

BOOKS AND AUTHORS

A Book by Anirudh Suri

• Tech entrepreneur and venture capitalist Anirudh Suri authored a book titled “The Great Tech Game: Shaping Geopolitics and the Destinies of Nations”.
• It was published by HarperCollins India.
• The author provides a coherent framework outlining the key drivers that will determine the ability of a nation to succeed in this technology-dominant era. He lays out a roadmap for how any country must develop its own strategic plan for success.

OBITUARY

Politician and Former Odisha Chief Minister Hemananda Biswal

• Former Odisha Chief Minister and a senior Congress leader Hemananda Biswal passed away. He was 83 years old.

• He was born on December 1, 1939.

• He was the first tribal chief minister of Odisha.
• He was elected twice as Chief Minister of Odisha from 7 December 1989 to 5 March 1990 and from 6 December 1999 to 5 March 2000.