Daily Current Affairs Analysis Today : 29 –March-2023 Daily current affairs analysis is an important tool for govt job aspirants. It helps them stay informed about the world around them, and stay up to date on the latest developments. It also provides a better understanding of politics, economics and international relations, which can help in forming opinions and understanding different contexts. Additionally, it assists in preparing for competitive exams, as many questions are based on current events.
ICICI Lombard becomes first to offer ‘Anywhere Cashless’ feature
In an industry-first, ICICI Lombard General Insurance launched ‘Anywhere Cashless’ feature for health insurance policyholders to avail cashless facilities at any hospital, even if not part of ICICI Lombard’s current network of hospitals.
The feature will be subject to the hospital’s acceptance of the cashless facility.
Policyholders must inform the company 24 hours prior to the date of admission by giving basic information about the patient, policy details, hospital name, diagnosis and treating doctor, among others.
Initially launched as a pilot, the facility can now be availed through the ‘IL TakeCare’ application across India, wherein customers will not have to bear any out-of-pocket expenses. It provides a hassle-free experience through all aspects of the journey: from admission to discharge, and lets customers choose a nearby or recommended hospital.
ICICI Lombard
Founded: 2001
CEO: Bhargav Dasgupta
Headquarters: Mumbai
Parent organization: ICICI Bank
Which general insurance company in India launched ‘Anywhere Cashless’ feature for health insurance policyholders to avail cashless facilities at any hospital, even if not part of its current network of hospitals? ICICI Lombard
Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change launches Aravalli Green Wall Project
Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav launched the Aravalli Green Wall Project, a major initiative to increase green cover in the 5 km buffer area around the Aravalli Hill Range in four states at a function organised to celebrate the International Day of Forests at Tikli Village in Haryana.
The Aravalli Green Wall Project will not only increase the green cover and biodiversity of the Aravalli through afforestation, reforestation and restoration of water bodies but also improve the soil fertility, water availability and climate resilience of the region.
In the initial phase, 75 water bodies will be rejuvenated under the project, starting with five waterbodies each in every district of the Aravalli landscape.
The project will cover degraded land in Gurgaon, Faridabad, Bhiwani, Mahendergarh and in Rewari districts of Haryana.
A voluntary organization, Society for Geoinformatics and Sustainable Development and NGO, Gurgaon are being engaged to mobilize people for Shramdaan for the revival of water bodies at Bandhwadi and Ghata Bundh respectively.
The project covers the states of Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Delhi – where the Aravalli hills landscape span over 6 million hectares of land.
The project will involve planting native species of trees and shrubs on scrubland, wasteland and degraded forest land, along with rejuvenating and restoring surface water bodies such as ponds, lakes and streams.
What is the name of the project launched by Union Minister for Environment, Bhupender Yadav to increase green cover in Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Delhi? Aravalli Green Wall Project
Gentari inks pact with Tata Motors for 5,000 e-commercial vehicles
Clean energy solutions provider Gentari, through its affiliate Amplus Power Supply Private, has signed an agreement with Tata Motors for the delivery of 5,000 units of e-commercial vehicles.
The memorandum of understanding (MoU) is for three years.
MoU includes the delivery of 1,000 units in the first year for deployment in cities, such as Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune and Kolkata.
High-quality electric four-wheelers coming into the market opens a whole new segment to electrify in the urban delivery ecosystem.
Tata Motors:
Founded: 1945
Founder: Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata
Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Chairman: Natarajan Chandrasekaran
CEO: Guenter Butschek
Name the Clean energy solutions provider, which has signed an agreement with Tata Motors for the delivery of 5,000 units of e-commercial vehicles? Gentari
S&P keeps India’s economic growth forecast unchanged at 6% in FY24
S&P Global Ratings kept its forecast for India’s economic growth unchanged at 6 per cent in the fiscal year starting April 1, before rising to 6.9 per cent in the following year.
S&P saw inflation rate easing to 5 per cent in 2023-24 fiscal, from 6.8 per cent in the current financial year.
It saw India’s gross domestic product (GDP) likely growing by 7 per cent in the current financial year ending March 31 (2022-23), before slowing to 6 per cent in the next 2023-24 fiscal.
India leads, with average growth of 7 per cent in 2024-2026.
GDP is projected to rise to 6.9 per cent in the following two financial years — 2024-25 and 2025-26 and rising to 7.1 per cent in 2026-27.
S&P Global Ratings
Headquarters: New York, United States
Founded: 1860
Parent organization: S&P Global
Founder: Henry Varnum Poor
Subsidiaries: IHS Markit, S&P Global Commodity Insights, MORE
Presidents: Martina Cheung, John L. Berisford
According to recent forecast by S&P Global ratings, What is India’s GDP forecast for the FY24? 6%
Russia test fires supersonic missiles at target in Sea of Japan
Russia’s navy has test fired Moskit cruise missiles (supersonic antiship missiles) at a mock target in the Sea of Japan.
Two ships launched a missile attack on a simulated enemy warship located about 100km (62 miles) away.
Two Moskit supersonic cruise missiles that have conventional and nuclear warhead capacity, successfully hit their target.
The P-270 Moskit missile, which has the NATO reporting name SS-N-22 Sunburn, is a medium-range supersonic cruise missile of Soviet origin and is capable of destroying a ship within a range of up to 120km (75 miles).
Moscow has used Kalibr missiles to attack multiple targets in Ukraine, including power stations, by launching them from ships and submarines in the Black Sea.
Japan
Capital: Tokyo
Currency: Japanese Yen
PM: Fumio Kishida
What is the name of the supersonic antiship missile launched by Russia at a mock target in the Sea of Japan? P-270 Moskit missile
FIFA signs Memorandum of Understanding with ECA
Football’s global governing body FIFA has signed a renewed Memorandum of Understanding with the European Club Association (ECA) for a long-term relationship.
The agreement runs until December 31, 2030, to keep the commitment of European clubs to adhere to the International March Calendar, which was released by the FIFA Council on March 14.
The ECA confirmed their support for the new FIFA Club World Cup from 2025, featuring 12 European clubs, and for the future FIFA Women’s Club World Cup.
According to FIFA, the Club Benefits Programme, which compensates all clubs who release players for the men’s World Cup, will increase from 209 million U.S. dollars for the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cup to 355 million US dollars for the 2026 and 2030 tournaments.
International Association Football Federation (FIFA):
Founded: 21 May 1904
Founded at: Paris, France
Headquarters: Zürich, Switzerland
President: Gianni Infantino
Secretary General: Fatma Samoura
European Club Association (ECA):
Formation: January 2008
Headquarters: Switzerland Nyon, Switzerland
Chairman: Nasser Al-Khelaifi (Qatar)
Recently, FIFA has signed a renewed Memorandum of Understanding with which sport organisation for a long-term relationship? European Club Association (ECA)
A site Sípàapu located in Arizona awarded the ICOMOS Water and Heritage Shield
A site Sípàapu located in Arizona, United States and sacred to the Hopi Native American Nation has been awarded a ‘Water and Heritage Shield’ by the International Committee On Monuments and Sites International Science Committee.
The purpose of the Shield is to help the public become aware of the significance of water and indigenous sacred sites all over the world and the right to cultural and historical memory.
The Sípàapu is a rocky dome made of limestone as well as a spring located on the Little Colorado river, a tributary of Colorado.
International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS):
It is a global non-governmental organization associated with UNESCO
Founded: 1965
Location: Paris, France
Services: Conservation and protection of cultural heritage places around the world
President: Teresa Patricio
Secretary General: Mario Santana
What is the name of the site located in Arizona which has recently been awarded the ICOMOS Water and Heritage Shield? Sipaapu
Aditya Birla Capital sells insurance broking arm to Samara Capital
Aditya Birla Capital (ABCL), the holding company of the financial services business of Aditya Birla Group, will exit its insurance broking business by selling Aditya Birla Insurance Brokers (ABIBL) to Samara Capital for an upfront payment of Rs 455 crore.
ABIBL provides integrated insurance broking and advisory services to companies and individuals.
It also provides reinsurance solutions to insurance companies based in India, South Asia, West Asia and South-East Asia.
It is present in 11 locations across India.
Aditya Birla Group:
Founded: 1857
Headquarter: Mumbai
Founder: Shiv Narayan Birla
Chairman: Kumar Mangalam Birla
Aditya Birla Capital is selling its insurance broking arm ABIBL to which investment firm? Samara Capital
आदित्य बिड़ला कैपिटल ने बीमा ब्रोकिंग शाखा समारा कैपिटल को बेची है
आदित्य बिड़ला ग्रुप के वित्तीय सेवा कारोबार की होल्डिंग कंपनी आदित्य बिड़ला कैपिटल (एबीसीएल) आदित्य बिड़ला इंश्योरेंस ब्रोकर्स (एबीआईबीएल) को समारा कैपिटल को 455 करोड़ रुपये के अग्रिम भुगतान पर बेचकर अपने बीमा ब्रोकिंग कारोबार से बाहर हो जाएगी।
ABIBL कंपनियों और व्यक्तियों को एकीकृत बीमा ब्रोकिंग और सलाहकार सेवाएं प्रदान करता है।
यह भारत, दक्षिण एशिया, पश्चिम एशिया और दक्षिण-पूर्व एशिया में स्थित बीमा कंपनियों को पुनर्बीमा समाधान भी प्रदान करता है।
यह पूरे भारत में 11 स्थानों पर मौजूद है।
आदित्य बिड़ला समूह:
स्थापित: 1857
मुख्यालय: मुंबई
संस्थापक: शिव नारायण बिड़ला
अध्यक्ष: कुमार मंगलम बिड़ला
आदित्य बिड़ला कैपिटल अपनी बीमा ब्रोकिंग शाखा ABIBL को किस निवेश फर्म को बेच रही है? समारा कैपिटल
Rs 800 crore sanctioned under FAME Scheme Phase -2
Centre has sanctioned eight hundred crore rupees under FAME Scheme Phase -2 for setting up 7432 public fast charging stations across the country.
The government has formulated Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles (FAME) India Scheme in 2015 to improve the infrastructure required for the large-scale use of electric vehicles.
A wide network of electric vehicle charging stations will be soon deployed across the country by Oil Marketing Companies.
The companies are Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum, and Hindustan Petroleum.
At present, there are about 6586 charging stations across the country. The addition of the new 7432 public charging stations will be a significant push to Electric Vehicles charging ecosystem.
The Committee headed by DG Bureau of Energy Efficiency has recommended certain changes to improve the viability of the development of public charging infrastructure. It includes supporting the upstream infrastructure, which generally cost up to 60 per cent of overall cost for setting up a Public Electric Vehicle charging station. This will make installation of charging stations easier by reducing the upfront cost.
In addition, the earlier subsidy of 70 per cent on Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment will continue as before.
Recently the Center has approved 800 crore rupees under phase-2 of which scheme to set up 7432 public fast charging stations across the country? FAME
IDFC First Bank Partners Crunchfish
IDFC First Bank has partnered with the Swedish company Crunchfish to pilot a project to demonstrate offline retail payments.
IDFC First Bank is set to be a part of RBI’s pilot project to enable offline payments, the private sector lender said, adding that the project will give access to digital payments even when there is no network.
The unique digital payment solution was designed by Crunchfish for merchants and customers under the RBI’s Regulatory Sandbox Program.
This project will provide support for offline retail payments based on a Digital Cash platform to the payment ecosystem of India. IDFC FIRST Bank will be one of the first few banks to be a part of this pilot project by HDFC Bank.
The Regulatory Sandbox was established in 2020 by the Reserve Bank of India to foster responsible innovation in financial services, promote efficiency, and bring benefits to end users.
IDFC First Bank was formed by the merger of the erstwhile IDFC Bank and Capital First (October 2015).
Crunchfish is a deep tech company developing a Digital Cash platform for Banks, Payment Services.
IDFC First Bank:
Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Chairman: Rajiv Lall
MD & CEO: V. Vaidyanathan
Recently, IDFC First Bank has recently partnered with which Swedish company to pilot a project to demonstrate offline retail payments? Crunchfish