Daily GK Update: 15th March 2022

 National & International Appointments

1. N Chandrasekaran appointed as Chairman of Air India

• Chairman of Tata Sons, N Chandrasekaran has been appointed as the Chairman of Air India
• He was serving as the chairman of Tata Sons since 2017 and was reappointed as chairman of Tata Sons for a second term of five years in Feb 2022
• Tata Sons will soon announce a new MD and CEO for Air India to replace Ilker Ayci who resigned in the wake of controversies regarding his appointment
• Tata Group officially took over the management of Air India in January from the government

 National & International Appointments

2. Ranjit Rath appointed as Chairman & MD of Oil India Ltd

• Ranjit Rath has been appointed as the Chairman and Managing Director of Oil India Limited (OIL).
• He is currently serving as the chairman and managing director of Mineral Exploration Corporation Ltd (MECL).
• He will succeed Sushil Chandra Mishra, who will superannuate as chairman and managing director on 30th, 2022.
• OIL: Second largest Indian-govt owned hydrocarbon exploration and production corporation, which was founded in 1959

 Sports

3. Pramod Bhagat won silver at Spanish Para-Badminton International 2022

• World champion, Pramod Bhagat has won two silver and a bronze medal at Spanish Para-Badminton International 2022
• He won men’s singles SL3 Silver and mixed doubles SL3-SU5 Bronze at the Spanish Para-Badminton International 2022.
• Apart from him, Sukant Kadam won the Bronze medal in Spanish Para-Badminton International 2022, after losing to World no 1 Lucas Mazur from France.
• Indian team wins a total of 21 medals at Spanish Para-Badminton International 2022.

 Honours & Awards

4. The 75th edition of BAFTA Award 2022 announced

• The 75th edition of British Academy Film Awards has been announced at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
• Presented by: British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA).
• List of winners:
  • Best Film: The Power of the Dog
  • Best Director: Jane Campion (The Power of the Dog)
  • Best Actress in Leading Role: Joanna Scanlan (After Love)
  • Best Actor in Leading Role: Will Smith (King Richard)
  • Outstanding British Film: Belfast
  • Animated Film: Encanto
  • Most awards: Dune

 Important Dates

5. World Consumer Rights Day 2022: 15th March

• World Consumer Rights Day is observed every year on 15th March to raise global awareness about consumer rights and needs and protect consumers across the globe against market abuses.
• Theme for World Consumer Rights Day 2022: "Fair Digital Finance".
• First World Consumer Rights Day was observed in 1983.
• President John F. Kennedy was the driving force behind World Consumer Rights Day introduction.

 National Affairs

6. India emerges as the largest importer of arms in 2017-21: SIPRI Report

• Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) has released its latest report titled Trends in International Arms Transfer, 2021.
• Largest Arms Importers in 2017-21: India, followed by Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Australia, and China
• Both India and Saudi Arabia accounted for 11% of all global arms sales.
• Largest Arms Exporters in 2017-21: USA, with 39% share, retained its position as the world’s largest arms exporters, followed by Russia, France, China, and Germany

 National Affairs

7. India’s first Digital Water Bank ‘AQVERIUM’ launched

• First Digital Water Bank of India ‘AQVERIUM’ has been launched in Bengaluru, which is an innovative initiative aimed at better water management
• It is formed by AquaKraft Group Ventures.
• It is a very unique innovation combining sustainable & green technologies along with information technology, skill development & entrepreneurship.
• It is a curated list of water data from all institutions and sources, that will help tackle some common development challenges.

 Banking & Finance

8. Credit Guarantee Scheme for Subordinate Debt (CGSSD) extended up to 2022

• Centre has approved the extension of ‘Credit Guarantee Scheme for Subordinate Debt’ (CGSSD) up to 31st March 2022
• CGSSD was launched on 24th June 2020 under Distressed Assets Fund - Subordinate Debt for Stressed MSMEs component of Aatma Nirbhar Bharat Package
• Aim: Provide credit facility through lending institutions to promoters of stressed MSMEs like SMA-2 and NPA accounts who are eligible for restructuring as per RBI guidelines on the books of the Lending institutions

 National Affairs

9. India’s first Artificial Intelligence & Robotics Technology Park (ARTPARK)

• First Artificial Intelligence & Robotics Technology Park (ARTPARK) of India has been launched at IISc campus, Bengaluru.
• It is promoted by a not-for-profit foundation set up by Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru, with a seed capital of Rs.230 crores from State and Central govt
• It intends to use futuristic technologies with a focus on creating a globally leading artificial Intelligence and Robotics Innovation ecosystem in India.

 National & International Appointments

10. G. Sukhender Reddy elected as Chairman of the Telangana Legislative Council

• Gutha Sukhender Reddy has been unanimously elected as the Chairman of the Telangana State Legislative Council for the second term.
• As per the Legislative Secretary, only Sukhender Reddy’s nomination was received and thus he has been elected as chairman.
• He became Chairman of the Council in 2019 for the first time.
• Telangana Legislative Council: Upper house of the Telangana Legislature and has 40 members.
• It was founded in 2014.

 National Affairs

11. Union Minister release detailed project report on rejuvenation of 13 rivers

• Union Environment Minister, Bhupender Yadav has jointly released Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) on Rejuvenation of thirteen Major Rivers through Forestry Interventions.
• Major 13 rivers of DPRs: Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, Sutlej, Yamuna, Brahmaputra, Luni, Narmada, Godavari, Mahanadi, Krishna, and Cauvery.
• Funded by: National Afforestation & Eco-development Board, (MoEF&CC).
• Prepared by: Indian Council of Forestry Research & Education (ICFRE), Dehradun.

 National & International Appointments

12. Pradeep Rawat assumes charge as India's new ambassador to China

• Pradeep Kumar Rawat (1990 batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer) has assumed charge as India's new ambassador to China.
• He succeeded previous Ambassador Vikram Misri, who has been appointed as Deputy National Security Advisor.
• Prior to this, he was India's ambassador to the Netherlands.
• His appointment as India's Ambassador to China comes at a time when both the countries are trying to resolve the longstanding border standoff in eastern Ladakh

 International Affairs

13. Bangladesh tops the list in terms of women on board of listed companies

• Bangladesh tops the list in terms of women on board of listed companies in South Asia, as per the study conducted by International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE).
• According to data, there was an increase in the percentage of women who are independent directors on listed companies from 5% in 2020 to 6%, despite COVID-19
• 2020 IFC-DSE study showed at the time around 18% of listed company board directors were women, which has remained the same.

 Banking & Finance

14. RBI barred Paytm Payments Bank from adding new customers

• RBI has barred Paytm Payments Bank from opening new accounts or adding new subscribers with immediate effect.
• RBI has also directed Paytm Payments Bank to appoint an IT audit firm to conduct a comprehensive audit of its IT system.
• This action is based on certain material supervisory concerns observed in the bank
• Paytm Payments Bank was incorporated in August 2016 and it formally began operations in May 2017.