Current Affairs for BANK, IBPS Exams - 31 January 2022

::National::

Amar Jawan Jyoti-like memorial to be built in Raipur in honour of martyrs

Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel, on Saturday, announced that a memorial to honour the martyrdom of slain soldiers will be built in Raipur on the lines of India Gate’s Amar Jawan Jyoti flame which was recently merged with the National War Memorial (NWM), a press note issued by Chhattisgarh government stated.
Congress leader and MP Rahul Gandhi will perform bhoomi poojan of the memorial on February 3.
Expressing his dissatisfaction over the Centre’s move of merging of Amar Jawan Jyoti, Baghel said that it hurts his sentiments, but now the flame of Chhattisgarh Amar Jawan Jyoti will be lit in honor of the martyrs in Raipur.
“In honor of the martyrs, the memorial named, ‘Chhattisgarh Amar Jawan Jyoti’, will be constructed in the campus of Chhattisgarh Armed Force’s 4th battalion in Mana area here. The flame at the memorial will glow continuously,” the chief minister said in a statement.
“Congress has been the party of people who make sacrifices and knows how to respect the sacrifice. It is evident in the history that any society which does not respect its martyrs, not preserve the memories of their sacrifices and insults their memorials, such society gets destroyed,” the release quoted Baghel.
Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to visit the state capital on February 3 to launch a financial assistance scheme named ‘Rajiv Gandhi Bhoomihin Krishi Majdoor Nyay Yojana’ for landless labourers of rural areas, a government official said.
Under the scheme, registered labourers in rural areas, who do not possess agricultural land, will be given financial assistance of ₹6,000 per year, he added.

On the occasion, he will lay the foundation stone of Chhattisgarh Amar Jawan Jyoti memorial as well as of Gandhi Sevagram ashram in Nava Raipur, the upcoming capital city of the state, similar to the lines of the one in Wardha (Maharashtra).

Printed Study Materials for IBPS, SBI Bank Exam

::International::

Russian minister Lavrov suggests Moscow will wait longer before Ukraine response

Russia wants an explanation of European security obligations from western nations before making its next proposals on the Ukraine crisis, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.
Moscow is asking Nato members and countries in the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe to clarify how they intend to fulfill OSCE obligations not to strengthen security at the expense of the security of others, Lavrov said on Russian state television.
Their answers to the Foreign Ministry’s official request will be “key to determining our future proposals, which we will report to Russian President Vladimir Putin,” Lavrov said.
The U.S. has warned repeatedly in recent weeks that Russia may be preparing to invade Ukraine after massing more than 100,000 troops near their border. The Kremlin denies this, while also demanding binding security guarantees from Washington and its Nato allies that Ukraine will never be allowed to join the military alliance.
Russian President Vladimir Putin told his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron in a “lengthy” phone call Friday that the proposals failed to answer Russia’s main concerns, though Moscow would study them further before deciding on its next step, according to a Kremlin statement. He said the U.S. and Nato had “ignored a key question” on ensuring indivisible European security.

::Economy::

Pencilton launches teen-focused debit and travel card

Pencilton, a teen-focused fintech startup, has unveiled India’s first debit card with NCMC for teens. Christened as PencilCard, the new launch is an NCMC-compliant (National Common Mobility Card) RuPay debit card specially designed for the teenager segment. It has been launched in partnership with Transcorp.
For users, a single PencilCard will serve multiple needs as this debit card which works for online & offline payments just like any other debit card also doubles up as a metro card, and bus card – an all-in-one card. The debit card can already work as a metro card for travel in Delhi (Airport line) & as a bus card in Goa (across KTC buses). It is also scheduled to be accepted for metro travel in Pune, Chennai & Mumbai as well as in BEST buses (Mumbai) very soon.
It transforms the entire debit card experience as it is equipped with NCMC’s unique features. This card is a part of the most advanced generation of contactless prepaid debit cards that can be used for payments across various channels, including retail shopping offline, online shopping, travel and in the future – tolls and parking, among others. It comes with the capability to store seasonal tickets & monthly passes, using which Mumbai Local authorities are planning to let season ticket holders top up the ticket via the card and purchase tickets.

Air India formally handed over to Tata Group

The Union government officially handed over Air India to the Tata Group on Thursday, January 27, nearly 69 years after it was taken from the Mumbai-based conglomerate. The handover took place at the airline's headquarters. Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekharan said the group is very happy to have Air India back in its fold, after beating a consortium led by rival SpiceJet promoter to win the bid for the national carrier in October last year.
N Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Sons, first called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi before heading to the Air India office where the takeover formalities were completed. A new board of directors met shortly thereafter, formalising the management takeover.
Speaking to reporters, Chandrasekharan said, "We are totally delighted that the takeover process of Air India is complete." "We are very happy to have Air India back in the Tata Group. We look forward to working with everyone to create a world-class airline," he added.
> Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) Secretary Tuhin Kanta Pandey told reporters that Air India has been handed over to Talace Private Limited — a subsidiary of the Tata Group's holding company — which is the successful bidder. The complete payment of Rs 2,700 crore has been received by the government and it has transferred the shares, according to Tuhin Kanta Pandey. The entire debt of Rs 15,300 crore has also been accepted by the Tatas. All the processes are complete, he added.

::Science and tech::

BrahMos signs $374.96 million contract with Philippines for export of Coast Based Anti-Ship Missile System

India got its first ever export order for BrahMos missiles on Friday when the Philippines' Defence Ministry signed $374-million contract with BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited to supply an undisclosed number of missiles, military officials said. .
The BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited (BAPL), an India-Russian joint venture, produces the supersonic cruise missile BrahMos that can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft, or from land platforms.
The $374 million contract is to supply shore-based anti-ship BrahMos missiles to the Philippines' Navy, officials noted..
In a statement, the defence ministry said, "The BAPL signed a contract with the Department of National Defence of the Republic of Philippines on January 28, 2022, for supply of shore-based anti-ship missile system to Philippines..
"The BAPL is a joint venture company of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The contract is an important step forward for Government of India's policy of promoting responsible defence exports," it added.
India has already deployed a sizable number of the Brahmos missiles and other key assets in several strategic locations along the Line of Actual Control with China in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh.
Shambhu Kumaran, Indian Ambassador to the Philippines, on Friday said he was truly privileged to witness history in the making..
"Signing of the Brahmos acquisition contract by Philippines Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana today marks a decisive step forward for Prime Minister's Mission Sagar and India's Indo-Pacific engagement," he tweeted.
"It is also a moment of deep pride as India establishes itself as a source of high-technology equipment and a trusted partner towards capability development of friendly nations," he added.
Reacting to BrahMos's export order, DRDO chairman G Satheesh Reddy said, "Surface to air missile Akash, Astra, anti-tank missiles, radars, torpedoes gain the interest of various countries. More systems are being developed which have export potential.”

::Sport::

Manchester United looks into assault allegations against Mason Greenwood

The statement from the Premier League club was issued in response to allegations being posted within images and audio that are no longer visible on a woman’s Instagram account.
“We are aware of images and allegations circulating on social media,” United said after being asked about Greenwood. “We will not make any further comment until the facts have been established. Manchester United does not condone violence of any kind.”
Police in Manchester confirmed officers were seeking information on the allegations when asked about Greenwood.
“Greater Manchester Police is aware of images and videos circulating on social media,” the force said in a statement. “Enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances.”
There was no public response from Greenwood several hours after the allegations were first posted.