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Daily Current Affairs – 12 & 13 February 2022

Daily Current Affairs 12 & 13 February 2022: This post contains the current affairs for 12 & 13 February 2022. These current affairs are important for banking exams, insurance exams and other competitive exams like IBPS PO and Clerk, SBI PO and Clerk, RBI Assistant and Grade B, etc. You can also attempt our Current Affairs Quiz after reading our daily current affairs.

National

Atal Tunnel Recognised as World’s Longest Highway Tunnel by World Book Of Records

The World Book of Records has officially certified the Atal Tunnel in Himachal Pradesh as the ‘World’s Longest Highway Tunnel above 10,000 Feet’.
The award for the achievement was received by Lt Gen Rajeev Chaudhry, Director General of Border Roads Organisation (DGBR) on February 09, 2022.
The 9.02 km long highway tunnel has been constructed by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) under the Rohtang Pass on the Leh-Manali Highway in Himachal Pradesh.
It was dedicated to the nation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 3, 2020.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari inaugurates 14.5km long Rail-cum-Road Bridge over River Ganga in Bihar

The Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar jointly inaugurated the 14.5 kilometre long ‘Rail-cum-Road-Bridge’ in Bihar on February 11, 2022.
The much-awaited bridge is constructed over the River Ganga on NH 333B in Bihar’s Munger region.
The cost of the ‘Rail-cum-Road-Bridge’ project is Rs 696 crore.
The new bridge will reduce travel time, give a boost to tourism, agriculture as well as generate employment opportunities.

Conference

PM Modi virtually addresses One Ocean Summit held under the leadership of France

The One Ocean Summit was held from February 9 to 11, 2022, in Brest, France, in Hybrid format, under the chairmanship of French President Emmanuel Macron.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also addressed the One Ocean Summit through a video message on February 11, 2022.
The One Ocean Summit was organised by France in cooperation with the United Nations and the World Bank.
The main objective of the Summit was to bring together the international community to take concrete action towards preserving and supporting healthy and sustainable ocean ecosystems.

Ranking

India ranks 46th in EIU’s Democracy Index 2021; Norway tops the list

India is placed at 46th position, among 167 nations, in the EIU’s 2021 Democracy Index, with an overall score of 6.91 on a scale of 0-10. India was ranked at 53rd spot in 2021.
Norway has topped the index with the score of 9.75.
New Zealand, Finland, Sweden and Iceland are the top five countries in the list.
Afghanistan is at the bottom of the list at 167th spot with a score of 0.32
The Democracy Index is released by The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) to provide a snapshot of the current state of democracy worldwide.

Defence

IAF to display Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas at Singapore Air Show 2022

The 44-member contingents of the Indian Air Force (IAF) reached the Changi International Airport in Singapore on February 12, 2022, to participate in the ‘Singapore Air Show-2022’, which is scheduled to be held from February 15 to 18, 2022.
Singapore Air Show is a biennial event which provides a platform for the Global Aviation Industry to showcase their products.
The IAF will showcase its indigenous Tejas MK-I ac during the event.
It will also interact with counterparts from RSAF (Royal Singapore Air Force) & other participating contingents.
The Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas will display low level aerobatics to showcase its superior handling characteristics and maneuverability.

Schemes & Programmes

Government approves continuation of Scheme of Rashtriya Yuva Sashaktikaran Karyakram (RYSK) for next 5 years with outlay of Rs 2,710.65 crore

The Central Government has approved the continuation of the Scheme of “Rashtriya Yuva Sashaktikaran Karyakram, (RYSK) for a further period of five years from 2021 -22 to 2025-26 (15th Finance Commission Cycle).
The total outlay of this scheme for the next five years will be Rs 2,710.65 crore.
The scheme is the flagship Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
The objective of the scheme is to achieve the objectives of developing the personality and leadership qualities of the youth and to engage them in nation building activities.
The beneficiaries of the scheme includes youth in the age-group of 15 to 29 years, as per the definition of ‘youth’ in the National Youth Policy, 2014.

Centre launches ‘SMILE’ scheme for Welfare of Transgender community and the Beggars

The Union Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment Dr. Virendra Kumar launched the Central Sector scheme titled “SMILE” on February 12, 2022.
SMILE stands for Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise.
The new umbrella scheme aims to provide welfare measures to the Transgender community and the people engaged in the act of begging.
The scheme will give the necessary legal protection, social security and a promise to a secured life to the targeted group.
The Ministry has allocated Rs. 365 crore for the scheme for five years from 2021-22 to 2025-26.

NABARD launches JIVA Programme to promote natural farming

The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has launched an agroecology-based programme called ‘JIVA’ (meaning life) to promote natural farming, ensure sustainability and rejuvenate ‘life’ around agricultural field.
The JIVA programme has been launched under its existing watershed and wadi programmes.
NABARD will invest Rs 50,000 per hectare under this programme.
The programme will be implemented on the existing completed (or near completed) projects of watersheds and wadis programme in 11 states covering five agroecological zones, which are in ecologically fragile and rain-fed areas.

Appointment

N Chandrasekaran reappointed as Chairman of Tata Sons for second 5 year term

The board of Tata Sons Pvt Ltd has approved the re-appointment of N Chandrasekaran as the Executive Chairman of the company for second five years term on February 11, 2022.
Chandrasekaran’s current tenure as the chairman was to expire at the end of February 2022.
Chandrasekaran joined the board of Tata Sons in 2016 and took over the role as Chairman in 2017.

Days

National Deworming Day: 10 February 2022

National Deworming Day (NDD) is observed on 10 February every year in India.
The day was started by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in 2015.
The purpose of this initiative is to make every child across the country, between the ages of 01 and 19 years, free from intestinal worms, which are also referred to as Soil-Transmitted Helminths (STH).
In 2022, the National Deworming Day campaign will take place from February 10 to February 16 in schools and villages through Anganwadi centres.
Under the campaign deworming medicine is provided in the form of tablet or syrup, as per the age and body weight of the child.

FICCI CASCADE launches ‘Anti-Smuggling Day’ on 11 February starting 2022

The FICCI’s Committee Against Smuggling and Counterfeiting Activities Destroying the Economy (CASCADE) has taken the initiative to launch Anti-Smuggling Day, which will be marked on 11 February every year.
The inaugural Anti-Smuggling Day is being observed on February 11, 2022
Anti-Smuggling Day will gather momentum and bring together policy makers, international institutions, enforcement agencies, industry members, media, and consumers for their commitment to take action to fight against the global menace of smuggling.

National Productivity Day: 12 February

In India, the National Productivity Day is observed every year on February 12 by the National Productivity Council (NPC).
Theme 2022: “Self Reliance Through Productivity” (“उत्पादकता के माध्यम से आत्म निर्भरता”)
The day is observed to commemorate the formation of National Productivity Council (NPC), that aims to stimulate and promote productivity and quality consciousness across all sectors in the country.
The week from February 12 to 18 is observed as the National Productivity Week.

World Radio Day: 13 February

The World Radio Day is celebrated on 13 February annually.
Theme 2022: ‘Radio and Trust‘
The main objective of the day is to recognize radio as a powerful medium and its unique ability to reach out the widest audience which can help to shape a society’s experience of diversity, and build a more peaceful and inclusive world.
The Day was proclaimed by UNESCO on November 03, 2011 during its 36th conference.
It was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2012.

National Women’s Day in India: 13 February

In India, the National Women’s Day is observed every year on 13 February.
The day commemorates the birth anniversary of Sarojini Naidu, the political activist and poet who was an important figure in India’s struggle for independence from colonial rule..
Sarojini Naidu was born on February 13, 1879.
She earned the title as the Nightingale of India or ‘Bharat Kokila’, by Mahatma Gandhi, because of colour, imagery and lyrical quality of her poetry.
Apart from being famous for her literary contribution, Naidu is also recognised for her contribution for women’s equal rights.

Obituary

Rahul Bajaj, the former Chairman of Bajaj Auto, passes away at 83

Noted industrialist and former chairman of Bajaj Auto, Rahul Bajaj, has passed away, due to pneumonia and heart problem. He was 83.
Bajaj was awarded the third-highest civilian award Padma Bhushan in 2001.
He was the chairman emeritus of the Indian conglomerate Bajaj Group, the parent company of Bajaj Auto.