Daily Current Affairs Analysis Today : 22 –March-2023 Daily current affairs analysis is a practice that helps individuals prepare for various competitive exams. It involves staying updated on recent and important events around the world, which is essential for answering questions in these exams. This analysis helps aspirants track global developments, keeping them informed and increasing their chances of success.
India, Japan sign two agreements
India and Japan signed two documents on the renewal of a memorandum of cooperation on the Japanese language and exchange of notes on a 300 billion Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) loan for Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train.
Earlier in 2022, JICA signed a loan agreement with the Government of India to provide an Official Development Assistance (ODA) loan of 100,000 million Japanese Yen (approx. Rs 6,000 Crore) as Tranche 3 on the ‘Project for the Construction of Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR).’
The objective of the project is to develop a high-frequency mass transportation system by constructing the High-Speed Rail between Mumbai and Ahmedabad, using Japan’s Shinkansen technology (also known as the “Bullet Train”), thereby enhancing mobility in India and contributing to regional economic development.
Meanwhile, Japanese PM Fumion Kishida formally invited Prime Minister Modi to G7 Hiroshima Summit and PM Modi accepted the invitation.
Japan:
Prime minister: Fumio Kishida
Capital: Tokyo
Currency: Japanese yen
With which country, India signed 300 billion loan agreement for Mumbai-Ahmedabad high speed railway project? Japan
Nepalese Wicketkeeper-batsman Aasif Sheikh declared winner of 2022 CMJ Spirit of Cricket Award
Nepalese Wicketkeeper-batsman Aasif Sheikh has been declared the winner of the 2022 Christopher Martin-Jenkins Spirit of Cricket Award.
The Award is presented every year by the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), UK in conjunction with the BBC.
The CMJ Spirit of Cricket Award was created in 2013 by MCC and the BBC in memory of former MCC President and BBC Test Match Special commentator Christopher Martin-Jenkins (CMJ), who was passionate about promoting the spirit of the game.
Sheikh was honoured for his sporting conduct shown in a Men’s T20 International between Nepal and Ireland in February 2022.
For the first time in its history, MCC and BBC invited public nominations for the award in December 2022 and Aasif Sheikh’s conduct for Nepal was adjudged to be the winning entry.
Sheikh will be officially presented with the CMJ Spirit of Cricket Award later this year.
He was also awarded the ICC Spirit of Cricket Award for his actions in January of this year.
Who has been declared the winner of the 2022 Christopher Martin-Jenkins Spirit of Cricket Award? Aasif Sheikh
RBL Bank fined ₹2.27 cr for non-compliance with RBI’s directions
RBI has imposed a fine of ₹2.27 crore on RBL Bank for not complying with certain provisions of RBI’s directions on the internal ombudsman scheme, fair practices code and recovery agents engaged by banks, among others.
RBI noticed “deficiencies in regulatory compliance” after it examined complaints received against RBL’s recovery agents during the financial years 2018-19 to 2021-22.
Meanwhile, the central bank has also imposed penalties on several cooperative banks for contravention of its different norms.
The cooperative banks on which penalties have been imposed include Lokmangal Co-operative Bank, Solapur; Jila Sahakari Kendriya Bank Maryadit, Raisen; Smriti Nagrik Sahakari Bank Maryadit, Mandsaur; Raigad Sahakari Bank, Mumbai; Noble Co-operative Bank, Noida; and Imperial Urban Co-operative Bank, Jalandhar.
The penalties are based on the deficiencies in regulatory compliance is not intended to pronounce upon the validity of any transaction or agreement entered into by the bank with its customers.
RBL Bank:
Founded: 6 August 1943
Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
MD & CEO: R. Subramaniakumar
How much penalty has been imposed by RBI on RBL Bank for non-compliance with RBI’s directions? ₹2.27 crore
Anant Goenka named new CEAT VC, COO Arnab Banerjee to be MD & CEO
Tyre maker CEAT has appointed Arnab Banerjee as managing director (MD) and chief executive officer (CEO) after Anant Goenka resigned.
Arnab Banerjee as the MD and CEO for a tenure of two years starting 1 April, 2023.
Anant Goenka will be relieved of his duties as MD and CEO of the company at the close of business hours of 31 March, 2023.
Anant Goenka has been named as the Vice Chairman of the tyre major.
Arnab Banerjee, currently the COO, has executive experience of over 30 years, during which he has worked in CEAT, Marico, and Berger Paints. He joined CEAT in the year 2005 as vice president, sales, and marketing.
CEAT Limited:
Founded: Turin, Italy (1924), On 10 March 1958- the company was incorporated as CEAT Tyres of India, in Mumbai.
Founders: Virginio Bruni Tedeschi
Headquarters: Worli, Mumbai, India
Parent: RPG Group
Who has been appointed as the MD and CEO of CEAT after Anant Goenka resigned? Arnab Banerjee
NASA spacecraft to study night-shining clouds retires after 15 yrs
NASA has announced it is ending operational support for its Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere (AIM) spacecraft due to a battery power failure.
Launched in 2007, the AIM mission studied noctilucent or night-shining clouds, which can last hundreds of years in the Earth’s upper atmosphere.
The spacecraft began experiencing battery problems in 2019. Despite this, the team considered that the spacecraft was in good enough condition to return some data to Earth.
The team will, however, continue to monitor the spacecraft’s communication for at least two weeks.
Important Points:
It orbited about 370 miles (595 kilometers) above Earth’s surface. AIM studied polar mesospheric clouds, also known as night-shining or noctilucent clouds, while in orbit. The clouds form around both the North and South Poles in late spring and early summer.
These clouds are composed of ice crystals and are the highest clouds found in the Earth’s atmosphere. Because they are “sensitive indicators” of global climate change as well as solar/terrestrial influences, these clouds are of particular scientific interest.
The data collected aided scientists in understanding the causes and formation of these enigmatic clouds.
Which NASA spacecraft to study noctilucent clouds has been retired after 15 years due to battery power failure? Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere (AIM)
World Happiness Report 2023: Finland comes out on top
Finland has maintained its position as the world’s happiest country for the sixth consecutive year, according to the World Happiness Report
This is the 10th year of the World Happiness Report which is published by the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network.
The countries were ranked from top to bottom on a three year average between 2020-2022.
The ranking uses six key factors to measure happiness — social support, income, health, freedom, generosity, and absence of corruption.
Interestingly, unlike previous years, where same countries tend appear in the top 20, there’s a new entrant this year — Lithuania (at the 20th spot).
India’s rank in World Happiness Report 2023:
India ranked 126th in the World Happiness Report 2023. This is an improvement from last year, when India’s position was at the 136th spot on the list, but India is still behind close neighbours like Sri Lanka (112), Pakistan (108) and Nepal (78).
At the very bottom of the list is Afghanistan at the 137th spot. This means that India is among the world’s unhappiest countries despite being one of the fastest growing economies.
Take a look at the top 10 countries in the World Happiness Report 2023:
- Finland
- Denmark
- Iceland
- Israel
- Netherlands
- Sweden
- Norway
- Switzerland
- Luxembourg
- New Zealand
What is the rank of India according to World Happiness Report 2023? 126th
Lalit Kumar Gupta appointed as CMD of Cotton Corporation of India (CCI)
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of Lalit Kumar Gupta as Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Cotton Corporation of India (CCI), a PSU under the Ministry of Textile.
Gupta has been appointed as CMD of CCI with effect from the date of his assumption of charge of the post for a period of five years, or till the date of his superannuation, or until further orders, whichever is the earlier.
Presently, he is serving as Director (Finnane) in the same organisation.
He is a Chartered Accountant (CA) of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI). He is also a member of the Institute of the Company Secretaries of India (ICSI). He has a rich experience in the Finance and related sector. Gupta has a very long association with Cotton Corporation of about 25 years. He joined CCI in August 1994.
Cotton Corporation of India:
Founded: 1970
Headquarters: Mumbai
Lalit Kumar Gupta has been appointed as the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of which PSU under the Ministry of Textiles? Cotton Corporation of India (CCI)
NGEL, IOCL ink pact for setting up renewable energy projects
NTPC wholly owned subsidiary, NTPC Green Energy (NGEL) signed a joint venture agreement with Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL) for setting up of renewable energy projects to meet round the clock power requirement of IOCL refineries.
The state-run power major, through its subsidiary, has set an target of building a renewable generation portfolio of 60 gigawatt (GW) over the next decade to aggressively pursue its green energy business.
The signing of this joint venture agreement between the two Maharatna behemoths will enable NTPC and Indian Oil to meet the Government of India’s clean energy targets in their respective core businesses.
IOCL:
Indian Oil Corporation is an Indian government owned oil and gas explorer and producer company.
Founded: 30 June 1959
Headquarters: New Delhi, India (headquarters), Mumbai, Maharashtra, India (registered office)
Chairman: Shrikant Madhav Vaidya
NTPC is primarily involved in the generation and sale of bulk power to state power utilities. Other business of the group includes providing consultancy, project management & supervision, energy trading, oil & gas exploration and coal mining.
Founded: 7 November 1975
Headquarters: New Delhi, India
Chairman & MD: Gurdeep Singh
Which wholly owned subsidiary of NTPC signed a joint venture agreement with Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL) for setting up renewable energy projects to meet the round-the-clock power requirement of IOCL refineries? NTPC Green Energy (NGEL)
Hughton appointed Ghana football head coach
Former Brighton and Hove Albion manager Chris Hughton has been named the new head coach of Ghana’s national football team.
Hughton would be in charge of the team until December 31 next year.
The former Brighton manager was named last month as the replacement for Otto Addo, who resigned following Ghana’s group stage exit from the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
The 64-year-old’s first task will be leading Ghana in their Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Angola in Kumasi, before traveling to Luanda for the return encounter on March 27.
Ghana:
Capital: Accra
Currency: Ghanaian Cedi
President: Nana Akufo-Addo
Who has been appointed as the new head coach of Ghana’s national football team? Chris Hughton