15 Fabruary 2022
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15th February Daily Current Affairs 2022: Today GK Updates for Bank Exam
Daily GK updates are incorporated with the important news that made the current affairs headlines for banking or other competitive exams. Daily GK Update is the complete bag of the important news that is held all day long. One should have complete knowledge about banking terms, current affairs news, etc. So, here is the GK update of 15th February 2022 to help you prepare the Current affairs part. After reading this section, you can successfully attempt Current Affairs Quiz.
Here is the Daily GK Update of 15th February 2022 covering the following news headlines: Bill Gates, ISRO, US Green Building Council, Saubhagya Scheme, IndiaFirst Life Insurance, ABG Shipyard, Paisabazaar.
Top 15 Daily GK Updates: National & International News
Here is providing below the top 15 important Daily General Knowledge 2022 updates with national & international news.
National News
1. India to replace diesel by renewable energy in agriculture by 2024
- Union Power Minister R K Singh has announced that India will achieve zero-diesel use in agriculture and replace fossil fuel with renewable energy by 2024.
- For this, states should develop action plans to achieve the assigned targets and specific agencies dedicated to energy efficiency and conservation.
- This initiative is a part of the government’s commitment to increase the share of non-fossil fuels by 2030 and become a net-zero emitter by 2070.
- Union minister chaired a virtual meeting with additional chief secretaries and principal secretaries of power in states for collaboration between the Central and state governments for achieving energy transition goals.
2. Indian Railways to set up country’s biggest Wrestling Academy
- Ministry of Railways has approved to set up a state-of-art wrestling academy in Indian Railways, at Kishanganj, Delhi.
- The wrestling academy will be the biggest in India and equipped with advanced training facilities to promote the sports of wrestling in the country. The project will be set up at an estimated cost of Rs 30.76 crores.
- According to the ministry, the national transporter has played a key role in promoting wrestling in the country and most of the elite wrestlers in India are from Indian Railways.
- The academy will offer the best sports facilities to sportspersons, and provide an opportunity for many budding wrestlers to become champions in the coming time.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Minister of Railways: Ashwini Vaishnaw.
International News
3. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invokes Emergencies Act for 1st time
- Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau has invoked never-before-used emergency powers to support provinces in ending the blockades and public disorder that have gripped Ottawa for 18 days at the hands of participants in the so-called “Freedom Convoy.”
- The demonstrations shut a main economic corridor between Canada and the United States for six days before it was reopened on the 13th Feb.
- The Emergencies Act to deal with the "Freedom Convoy" protests, started on Jam 28 by Canadian truckers opposing a vaccinate-or-quarantine mandate for cross-border drivers.
- They have turned into a rallying point for people opposed to a range of Trudeau's policies, including COVID-19 pandemic restrictions and a carbon tax.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Canada Capital: Ottawa; Currency: Canadian dollar.
4. Israel became first country to allow drones in civilian airspace
- Israel becomes the first-ever country to allow drone flights in civilian airspace. The certification was issued to the Hermes Starliner unmanned system by the Israeli Civil Aviation Authority and was manufactured and developed by Elbit Systems, an Israeli defence electronics company.
- The UAVs will be used for the benefit of agriculture, the environment, public welfare, economic activity and against crime. For safety reasons, international aviation regulations prohibit uncertified aircraft from flying in civilian airspace, limiting the operation of UAVs to unsegregated airspace.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Israel Capital: Jerusalem;
- Israel Currency: Israeli Shekel;
- Israel President: Isaac Herzog;
- Israel Prime minister: Naftali Bennett.
5. Germany re-elects President Frank-Walter Steinmeier for second term
- German President, Frank-Walter Steinmeier has been re-elected for a second term of five years by a special parliamentary assembly. This is also the final term for Steinmeier, which he won with 71% of the vote.
- The special assembly was made up of the members of parliament of the lower house and representatives of Germany’s 16 states. Steinmeier was first elected as the president on February 12, 2017, with 74% of the vote.
- Before first becoming president in 2017, Steinmeier, 66, served two stints as Chancellor Angela Merkel's foreign minister and earlier was chief of staff to Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder.
- Germany's president has little executive power but is considered an important moral authority. After a messy parliamentary election result in 2017, Steinmeier helped prod politicians to form a new coalition government rather than holding out for a new vote.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Germany Chancellor: Olaf Scholz;
- Germany Capital: Berlin;
- Germany Currency: Euro.
Appointments News
6. Gita Mittal appointed as chairperson of Committee of Administrators to run TTFI
- The Delhi High Court has appointed former Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court, Gita Mittal as the Chairperson of the Committee of Administrators which will run the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI).
- The court ordered that all communications on behalf of TTFI with any sportsperson or international sports bodies, will now take place only through the Committee of Administrators and the existing office bearers shall no longer be entitled to discharge any functions.
- The office bearers will help the Committee of Administrators, as and when requested and a monthly honorarium of Rs 3 lakh and Rs 1 lakh each will be paid to Chairperson and two members, respectively.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Table Tennis Federation of India President: Dushyant Chautala;
- Table Tennis Federation of India Headquarters: New Delhi;
- Table Tennis Federation of India Founded: 1926.
7. Ilker Ayci named as MD and CEO of Air India
- Ilker Ayci has been appointed as the new CEO and MD of Air India. He will assume his responsibilities on or before 1st April 2022. Ilker Ayci is a former chairman of Turkish Airlines. Ilker is an aviation industry leader who led Turkish Airlines to its current success during his tenure there.
- Ayci was born in Istanbul in 1971. After graduating from the Department of Political Science and Public Administration at Bilkent University, he served as a researcher in the Department of Political Sciences at Leeds University in the U.K.
- Starting his career in 1994, he was assigned several positions in Kurtsan Ilaclar A.S., Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, Universal Dis Ticaret A.S., respectively, and then he served as a general manager in Basak Sigorta A.S. between 2005-2006, and then in Gunes Sigorta A.S. between 2006 and 2011.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Tata Group Founder: Jamsetji Tata;
- Tata Group Founded: 1868, Mumbai;
- Tata Group Headquarters: Mumbai.
Agreements News
8. Reliance Jio ties up with SES for satellite-based broadband service
- Reliance Jio has tied up with Luxembourg-based satellite and telecom services provider SES to provide satellite-based broadband communication services in India. Under the agreement, Jio Platforms has formed a joint venture with SES, named as Jio Space Technology Ltd.
- The joint venture will deliver the next generation scalable and affordable broadband services in India, leveraging satellite technology. Jio Platforms Ltd will hold 51 per cent and SES will own a 49 per cent equity stake in the joint venture. The total value of the contract is around $100 million.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Reliance Jio Founder: Mukesh Ambani;
- Reliance Jio Founded: 2007, Ahmedabad.
Business News
9. Paisabazaar & RBL bank tie-up to offer ‘Paisa on Demand’ credit card
- Paisabazaar.com, a digital platform for consumer credit, has partnered with RBL Bank Limited to offer ‘Paisa on Demand’ (PoD), a credit card that will be exclusively available on the Paisabazaar platform.
- To build products that offer integrated services for the large under-served segments across India. This is the third product under Paisabazaar’s neo-lending strategy.
- The credit card from RBL Bank will be lifetime free with a digital onboarding process. It provides options of availing of personal loans from RBL Bank, using the same credit limit at normal personal loan rates to customers.
- Along with features of a credit card, the product will provide customers the option of availing personal loans from RBL Bank, using the same credit limit at normal personal loan rates.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Paisabazaar.com Headquarters: Gurugram, Haryana;
- Paisabazaar.com CEO & Co-founder: Naveen Kukreja.
Banking News
10. CBI finds India’s biggest bank fraud of Rs 22,842 cr, books ABG Shipyard
- Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has booked ABG Shipyard for an alleged Rs 22,842-crore financial fraud. ABG Shipyard is the flagship entity of ABG Group. It has cheated a consortium of 28 banks and financial institutions of Rs. 22,842 crore.
- This is the biggest bank fraud case ever registered by the CBI. The case pertained to funds gotten and misused during the 2012-17 period. Rishi Agarwal, the then CMD of ABG Shipyard has been named in the FIR.
- This consortium was led by ICICI Bank. Of this, ABG Shipyard owes Rs. 7,089 crore to ICICI Bank, Rs. 3,639 crores to IDBI Bank, Rs. 2,925 crores to State Bank, Rs. 1,614 crores to Bank of Baroda, and Rs. 1,244 crore to Punjab National Bank, among others.
- The Funds given by these banks were used by the executives of ABG Shipyard for purposes other than for which they were given and they were engaged in diversion of funds, misappropriation and criminal breach of trust. The same has been revealed in a report submitted by M/s. Ernst & Young LP.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- ABG Shipyard Headquarters: Mumbai;
- ABG Shipyard Founded: 1985.
11. BoB will acquire Union Bank’s stake in IndiaFirst Life Insurance
- Bank of Baroda will acquire Union Bank of India’s 21% stake in IndiaFirst Life Insurance Company. It is a joint venture between the Bank of Baroda, Union Bank of India, and Carmel Point Investments.
- At present, the shareholding in IFIC is BoB holds 44%, Carmel Point Investments India holds 26% and UBI holds 30%. The acquisition is pursuant to a ‘Right of First Offer’ made by UBI to the existing shareholders of IndiaFirst Life, to divest 21% of its stake in IndiaFirst Life.
- IndiaFirst Life Insurance Company will continue to have a long term agency distribution agreements with both banks (BOB and UBI), even after this stake sale.
- Bank of Baroda has a strong domestic presence spanning 8,185 branches and 11,535 ATMs and cash recyclers supported by self-service channels. The bank has a significant international presence with a network of 96 overseas offices spanning 18 countries.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Bank of Baroda Founded: 20 July 1908;
- Bank of Baroda Headquarters: Vadodara, Gujarat;
- Bank of Baroda Managing Director & CEO: Sanjiv Chadha;
- Bank of Baroda Tagline: India’s International Bank;
- Bank of Baroda Amalgamated Banks: Dena Bank & Vijaya Bank in 2019.
Schemes and Committees News
12. Saubhagya Scheme: Rajasthan tops solar electrification Scheme
- Under the Saubhagya scheme, Rajasthan has the maximum number of households electrified through the solar-based standalone system. In hill states of Himachal Pradesh and Sikkim and the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir had nil beneficiaries under the initiative.
- Under the Saubhagya Scheme, 2.817 crore households were electrified up to March 31 last year, including 4.16 lakh through solar-based standalone systems.
- Under the Saubhagya scheme, as many as 1,23,682 households were electrified through the solar-based standalone system in Rajasthan, followed by Chhattisgarh (65,373), Uttar Pradesh (53,234), Assam (50,754), Bihar (39,100), Maharashtra (30,538), Odisha (13,735), Madhya Pradesh (12,651), Power Minister R K Singh told the Lok Sabha.
Ranks and Reports News
13. India ranks 3rd in 9th US Green Building Council
- The US Green Building Council (USGBC) has released the 9th annual ranking of top 10 countries outside of the United States (US) for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) in 2021 in which India ranked 3rd with 146 projects.
- It has been topped by China with 1,077 LEED projects certified in 2021, which is followed by Canada at 2nd position with 205 projects. The ranking highlights countries and regions outside the US that are doing good in healthy, sustainable, and resilient building design, construction, and operations.
- As India becomes home to 146 more LEED licensed buildings and spaces in 2021, it represents 2,818,436.08 Gross Square Meters (GSM) of area.
- This marks an almost 10% enhance in LEED licensed area in India from 2020 despite the ongoing pandemic India’s total tasks underneath LEED stand at 1,649 buildings with total of 46.2 million gross sq. meters.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- US Green Building Council President and CEO: Peter Templeton;
- US Green Building Council Headquarter: Washington, D.C., US.
Science and Technology News
14. ISRO successfully launches earth observation satellite, EOS-04
- Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched an Earth Observation Satellite, EOS-04 and two small satellites into the intended orbit. This was the first launch mission of ISRO in the year 2022.
- The satellites were launched onboard the launch vehicle PSLV-C52 rocket from the First Launch Pad of Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.
- EOS-04 is a Radar Imaging Satellite (RISAT) designed to provide high-quality images under all weather conditions for applications such as agriculture, forestry, and plantations, flood mapping, soil moisture & hydrology.
- The satellite weighs about 1710 kg. It can generate 2280 W power. It has a mission life of 10 years.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Chairman and Space Secretary of ISRO: Dr S Somanath;
- ISRO Headquarters: Bengaluru, Karnataka;
- ISRO established: 15 August 1969.
Books and Authors News
15. A book titled ‘How to Prevent the Next Pandemic’ by Bill Gates
- A book titled ‘How to Prevent the Next Pandemic’ has authored by Bill Gates will be published this year in May 2022.
- In the book Bill Gates has written about specific steps that can only stop future pandemics but, in the process, provide better health care for everyone around the world.
- His last book, “How to Avoid a Climate Disaster: The Solutions We Have and the Breakthroughs We Need”, was released in February 2021. The book, to be published by Penguin Random House internationally and Knopf in the US.
