What are the risks of Ohio Derailment

On February 3, 2023, a freight train derailed in the East Palestine town of Ohio state in the US. The train was carrying hazardous chemicals. Following the derailment, the train company burnt the carcinogenic chemicals in the freights. This released toxic smoke in the region. Hundreds were forced to vacate their homes. Residents complained of nausea and severe vomiting after the incident.

NTPC ranked top independent power producer

The S&P Global commodity insights recently released the ranking of the top 250 independent energy producers in the world. The energy producers were ranked based on four criteria such as return on investment, revenue generation, total assets, and profits gained. NTPC topped the ranking.

Sikhs and Jews most targeted in hate crimes in US

The FBI recently released its annual compilation of nationwide incidents. According to the report, Sikhs and Jews are the most targeted in hate crimes. There were 1005 religion-related hate crimes in the US in 2021. Of these, anti-Sikhs were 21.3% and Anti-Jews were 21.3%.

Chandrayaan 3 launch scheduled for August 2022: Union Minister Jitendra Singh

The much-awaited Chandrayaan 3 mission is scheduled for launch in August 2022, informed Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh, in a written to the Lok Sabha on February 2, 2022.

The Union Minister said that the realization of the Chandrayaan 3 mission is in progress, based on the learnings from Chandrayaan-2 and suggestions made by the national level experts. Many related hardware and their special tests have been completed successfully and the launch is scheduled for August 2022.

A successful soft landing on the Moon will make India the fourth country to do so and first to do so near the lunar South Pole. India's Chandrayaan 2 mission had previously crashed at what is now called the Jawahar point on the moon.

PM Modi to inaugurate Statue of Equality in Hyderabad on February 5

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Hyderabad on February 5, 2022. He will be dedicating a 216-feet tall ‘Statue of Equality’ commemorating 11th-century Bhakti Saint Sri Ramanujacharya to the nation in Hyderabad.

PM Modi will also visit International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) campus in Patancheru, Hyderabad and kickstart the 50th Anniversary celebrations of ICRISAT and inaugurate two research facilities- ICRISAT’s Climate Change Research Facility on Plant Protection and ICRISAT’s Rapid Generation Advancement Facility.

The Telangana Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar held a coordination meeting with the officials of various Heads of the department to review the preparations ahead of the Prime Minister's visit. The police department will make adequate security arrangements.

Indian diplomat to skip Beijing Winter Olympics 2022 over Galwan soldier row

Indian diplomat in Beijing has decided to boycott Beijing Winter Olympics 2022 opening and closing ceremony after China chose a soldier, who fought in the Galwan Valley clash against Indian troops in 2020, as a torchbearer. India's foreign ministry called it "regrettable" while announcing the diplomat's decision. The Ministry said that it indeed regrettable that the Chinese side has chosen to politicise an event like the Olympics. Indian media channel Doordarshan said that it will not live telecast the opening or closing ceremony. Only one Indian athlete will be participating in the Winter Olympics in Beijing.

India’s GDP projected to grow by 8-8.5 percent in FY 2023

India’s GDP is projected to grow by 8-8.5 percent in Fiscal Year 2022-23, as per Economic Survey 2021-22. The Economic Survey 2022 was tabled by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Lok Sabha. The survey report has been prepared by Principal Economic Adviser Sanjeev Sanyal and his team of advisors.

BharatPe Firm begins Independent Audit

BharatPe has started an independent audit of the "company's internal processes and systems". This comes a week after BharatPe’s co-founder Ashneer Grover took a voluntary leave till March-end after a controversy over an audio clip, in which he was heard verbally abusing a Kotak Mahindra Bank employee. His wife Madhuri Jain Grover, who is the Head of Controls, has also gone on leave.

What Got Costlier and Cheaper?

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced slew of changes in the customs duty for several products in her Union Budget Speech 2022, which will invariably affect the price of the commodities. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced 5% deduction in customs duty on gems, cut and polished diamonds. The customs duty on imitation jewelry and chemicals has also been reduced. The customs duty on umbrellas has been increased to 20%.

Income Tax 2022 Budget: No change in Income Tax slabs

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced that individuals will now be able to file an updated Income Tax Return within two years of the relevant assessment year. The Finance Minister did not announce any change in the income tax slabs. The income tax slabs and rates will remain same as before.

Check Tax on Crypto in India!

FM Nirmala Sitharaman announced that the Reserve Bank of India will be introducing a digital rupee in her Union Budget 2022-23 speech on February 1, 2022. The introduction of the central bank digital currency will give a huge boost to the economy. The digital rupee introduced by the RBI will be held in a digital wallet, under the supervision of the central bank.

Hoysala temples in Karnataka nominated for World Heritage Sites list 2022-23

India has finalised the Hoysala Temples in Karnataka as its nominations for consideration in the World Heritage Sites List for 2022-23. The Hoysala temples in Belur and Halebeedu in Hassan district and Somanathapura in Mysuru district have been nominated. They were finalized by the Union Ministry of Culture and Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

Union Minister of Culture, Tourism and Development of North Eastern Region G Kishan Reddy confirmed the news through a tweet on January 31, 2022. The Minister tweeted, "The most exquisite Hoysala Temples of Belur, Halebeedu & Somanathapura in Karnataka have been finalised as India’s nomination for consideration as World Heritage for the year 2022-2023. The 'Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysala' are on the UNESCO’s Tentative list since 15th April 2014”."

The Minister further said let us sincerely pray that these temples get inscribed as World Heritage in 2023. He tweeted, "These temples represent one of the highest points of human creative genius and stand testimony to the rich historical and cultural heritage of our country."

Neeraj Chopra nominated for Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year 2022 Award

India's Olympic Champion Neeraj Chopra has been nominated for the Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year Award 2022. He is one of the six nominees for the award. The other nominees include Russian tennis star Daniil Medvedev, British tennis player Emma Raducanu, Spanish footballer Pedri, Australian Olympic champion Ariarne Titmus and Venezuelan athlete Yulimar Rojas.

Neeraj Chopra is the third Indian athlete to be nominated for Laureus World Sports Awards after wrestler Vinesh Phogat in 2019 and cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, who had won the Laureus Sporting Moment 2000-2020 Award.

Zydus Cadila commences COVID-19 vaccine supply to centre

Zydus Cadila announced on February 2, 2022 that it has begun shipping supplies of its COVID-19 vaccine ZyCoV-D to the central government. The order has been shipped from the company's newly commissioned state-of-the-art, Zydus Vaccine Technology Excellence Centre at the Zydus Biotech Park in Changodar, Ahmedabad. The company is also planning to make its vaccine available in the private market soon. ZyCoV-D is a three-dose COVID-19 vaccine, administered intradermally using painless needles.

Centre approves renaming of three places in MP

The central government has approved the proposal for the renaming of three places in Madhya Pradesh. The proposals include renaming of Hoshangabad Nagar as "Narmadapuram", Shivpuri as "Kundeshwar Dham" and Babai as "Makhan Nagar". Hoshangabad, which is located on the south bank of River Narmada, was named after Hoshang Shah, the first Malwa ruler, over 600 years ago. The centre has, however, reportedly frozen the proposed name change of West Bengal to Bangla, saying that the proposed name sounds similar to the neighbouring country of Bangladesh.

Home Ministry restructures IB cadre

The Union Home Ministry has approved the restructuring of the Intelligence Bureau cadre. The executive cadre's strength however remains same at 20, 054 after the restructuring. The restructuring of the IB cadre has been approved to increase promotions in the organisation. The expenditure on this account will be met from its sanctioned budget grants.

Digital Sansad app launched to make live proceedings accessible to citizens

Indian Parliament has launched the ‘Digital Sansad App’ to make the Parliament proceedings accessible not just to the members but also to the public at large. With this move, Parliament has expanded its digital footprint. The Digital Sansad App is an initiative of Lok Sabha Speaker, Om Birla who has been constantly working to make the Parliament proceedings more accessible. The launch of the ‘Digital’ Sansad App’ will also be significant ahead of the Budget Session 2022 which will be presented by the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on February 1, 2022.

Bharat Biotech’s intranasal Covid booster gets DCGI nod for trials in India

The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) on January 28, 2022, granted its approval to Bharat Biotech for the trials of its intranasal Covid booster dose in India. The trials of nasal vaccine will be done on 900 candidates.

Earlier, the Subject Expert Committee (SEC) of DCGI had given ‘in-principle’ approval to Bharat Biotech for the phase-III booster dose study for its nasal covid vaccine, a first of its kind in India. The committee had asked Bharat Biotech to submit the protocols for approval 3 weeks ago.

Notably, the Chairman of Bharat Biotech Krishna Ella and co-founder Suchitra Ella have also been honoured with the prestigious Padma Bhushan, announced on January 25, 2022, by the President of India.

Advanced Light Helicopter MK III formally inducted at INS Utkrosh

The indigenous Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) MK III aircraft was formally inducted at INS Utkrosh at Port Blair on January 28, 2022. The aircraft was inducted by Commander-in-Chief, Andaman and Nicobar Command (CINCAN) Lieutenant General Ajai Singh.

The ALH MK III aircraft has been manufactured in India by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. The aircraft represents a tremendous leap towards self-reliance in defence manufacturing in line with PM Modi-led central government's vision to create ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’.

The first unit of three ALH MK III helicopters were inducted into the Indian Navy on April 19, 2021. The induction of the aircraft will provide a major boost in the capabilities of the Indian Naval Force.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to Convene all-party meeting on January 30

Lok Sabha Speaker, Om Birla, ahead of the Union Budget 2022 session, will convene an all-party meeting on January 30, 2022, to ensure the smooth functioning of the house. Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu has also called an all-party meeting virtually on January 31. The Government of India has also convened a party meeting on the same day to seek cooperation from all political parties to ensure the smooth functioning of the Budget session. The Union Budget 2022 session will begin on January 31 with President Ram Nath Kovind’s address to both the Houses of Parliament. The Budget 2022 will be presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on February 1.

Central Government likely to issue advisory on reopening schools soon

As the COVID-19 vaccination drive for children aged 15 years and above gathers pace, the Central Government is most likely to issue an advisory to reopen the schools across the country. The Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has asked the National Expert Group to suggest ways and work on modalities to open the schools worldwide. Reportedly, the Government wants to reopen the schools in a staggered manner and under strict adherence to the COVID-19 protocols. Ever since the outbreak of the pandemic, schools have remained by and large shut. The COVID-19 vaccination campaign in the country for adolescents in the age group of 15-18 years started on January 3, 2022.

PM Modi to host first-ever India-Central Asia Summit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will host the first-ever India-Central Asia Summit virtually on January 27, 2022. The virtual event will see participation from Presidents of five central Asian nations- Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and the Kyrgyz Republic. The key focus of the summit is likely to be regional security, Afghanistan issue and trade and connectivity, culture, development partnership and people-to-people ties. This will be the first such high-level engagement between India and the Central Asian countries.

Neeraj Chopra conferred Padma Shri

Tokyo Olympics Gold Medalist Neeraj Chopra was conferred the Padma Shri on January 26, 2022, the fourth-highest civilian award of India. The 24-year-old had created history by becoming the first Indian to win Olympic gold in athletics. He also got the Param Vishisht Seva Medal by the 4 Rajputana Rifles for his distinguished service. Chopra is a Subedar in the Indian Army.

Andhra Pradesh  gets 13 new districts; Check full AP new districts list

Andhra Pradesh government has announced the formation of 13 new districts under the AP Districts Formation Act, Section 3(5). The new districts in Andhra Pradesh have been formed based on the Parliamentary constituencies. They are carved out from the 13 existing districts, bringing the total number of districts in the state to 26.

The YS Jagan Mohan Reddy Government has announced that the temple town of Tirupati will become a new district and it will be named after the Presiding deity Lord Sri Balaji.

In another significant political move, the state government has decided to name the Vijayawada district after the founding president of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the former Chief Minister NT Rama Rao (NTR). Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy had promised to name a district after NT Rama Rao during the election campaign.

Find the names of old districts and the new districts in Andhra Pradesh in the table below:

COVID-19 vaccine: DCGI grants conditional market approval for Covishield and Covaxin

The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) granted regular market approval for the COVID-19 vaccines Covishield and Covaxin for use in the adult population subject to certain conditions. The approval has been granted under the New Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules, 2019. 

Earlier on January 19, 2022, the Subject Expert Committee of the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) had recommended the regular market approval of Bharat Biotech and Serum Institute of India for their COVID-19 vaccines COVAXIN and Covishield with conditions for the adult population in the country.

As per India’s Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), SEC had recommended the upgrade of Covaxin and Covishield status from the restricted use in an emergency situation to grant new drug permission with certain conditions in the adult population. The Drugs Controller General of India was to further evaluate the recommendations and will give its decision.