Current Affairs for SSC CGL Exams - 14 January 2022

SSC CGL Current Affairs

Current Affairs for SSC CGL Exams - 14 January 2022

::NATIONAL::

RaghuvendraTanwar appointed chairman of ICHR

Professor Emeritus, Kurukshetra University RaghuvendraTanwar has been nominated as chairman of the ICHR, New Delhi. As per a January 5 notification issued by Union ministry of education, Prof Tanwar’s appointment is for three years.
The primary aim of ICHR is to promote historical research, and encourage scientific and objective writing of history.
Prof Tanwar, who joined KU as lecturer in August 1977, has an outstanding academic record, with two gold medals in MA history.
He was appointed as director of the Haryana Academy of History and Culture in 2016. Prof Tanwar is known for his study of India’s Partition, particularly Punjab.

::INTERNATIONAL::

Sino-India trade at record $125bn for 2021 amid border tension; deficit widens

Trade between India and China reached a record $125 billion in 2021 despite the worst chill in bilateral ties in decades, Chinese customs data showed.
Two way trade between India and China in 2021 stood at $125.66 billion, up 43.3% from 2020 when bilateral trade was worth $87.6 billion.
In 2021, China’s exports to India were $97.52 billion, up 46.2%, while China imported $28.14 billion worth of goods from India, up 34.2%, according to statistics released by the General Administration of Customs (GAC) and quoted by the tabloid, Global Times, on Friday.
Trade deficit between the two countries remained much in favour of China – at $69 billion.
The deficit in trade has been a constant source of friction between New Delhi and Beijing, with India complaining that China, despite promises, hasn’t given Indian companies access to sectors like pharmaceuticals.
India was China’s 15th largest trade partner in 2021, according to GAC.
India-China trade in 2020 declined by 5.6% to $87.6 billion, the lowest since 2017. But China still overtook the US to become India’s largest trading partner last year.
Chinese companies saw an increase in demand from India for medical equipment in the first half of the year following a devastating second wave of the coronavirus pandemic.

::ECONOMY::

Axis Bank ties up with Minkasupay for biometric-based banking payments

Axis Bank, India's third-largest private sector bank, announced its partnership with MinkasuPay to offer the smoothest net banking payment experience for its customers through a biometric authentication solution.
Transaction time will reduce from the current 50-60 seconds to just 2-3 seconds with Fingerprint or Face ID authentication while increasing success rates significantly.
In a continuous effort to provide hassle-free digital payment solutions to its customers, Axis Bank, through this partnership with MinkasuPay, will enable customers to make net banking payments in merchant apps using Fingerprint or Face ID, without the need of usernames, passwords, and OTPs. This will enhance user experience while bolstering security and reducing cyber-fraud.
MinkasuPay's biometric authentication solution is a 2-Factor-Authentication solution that leverages the power of smartphones and biometrics to eliminate friction. 2FA, as mandated by RBI, helps increase the security of all digital transactions.
For the first transaction, customers have to log in to their net banking account using their username & password, verifying the OTP, as usual, to get on-boarded. For all subsequent transactions, a Fingerprint or Face ID can be used to approve payments.

LazyPay ties up with SBM Bank India to launch LazyCard

LazyPay, a Buy Now Pay Later solution by PayU Finance, today announced its partnership with SBM Bank India to launch LazyCard, a prepaid payment instrument backed by a credit line, foraying into the card segment.
The card aims at empowering financially underserved Indians with easy access to credit. Powered by Visa and SBM Bank India, LazyCard is built with a strong rewards structure, creating value for customers in every transaction by offering bigger, better cash back rewards and offers like never before. Digitally linked to the LazyPay app, the card uses “robust technology to ensure security and a hassle-free experience in managing payments".
Available to the 62 million pre-approved users of LazyPay, LazyCard will empower customers with a credit limit of up to ₹5 lakh, said the press release. "Consumers may avail the card at zero joining fee and zero annual fee. It also offers users multiple transactional benefits and reward-earning potential such as welcome rewards, retention rewards and Visa Platinum Rewards in the form of cashbacks. The credit line provided by LazyCard is also boosted by the rewards received on every transaction. Users have an opportunity to earn 1% to 5% cash back on every transaction, making it one of the most rewarding cards available in the market"
According to the press release, "LazyCard’s ‘Booster’ feature is useful for thin-file borrowers to rebuild their credit score or establish their credit history. This feature enables users to get access to the card by setting up a fixed deposit with RBI-regulated SBM Bank India in a fully digitized two-minute app flow. ‘Booster’ feature allows users to get three benefits (1) Money security via fixed deposit, with higher interest rates than savings for boosting wealth (2) Cashbacks& offers on LazyCard that boosts the credit line (3) Improve credit score over time to strengthen their eligibility for future credit needs. As the user continues to transact using the card and build his creditworthiness, LazyPay will start unlocking the credit line. The user is then free to withdraw the deposit and continue enjoying access to enhanced credit and rewards on the card."

::SCIENCE AND TECH::

ISRO successfully tests cryogenic engine for Gaganyaan rocket

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully conducted the qualification test of Cryogenic Engine for Gaganyaanprogramme for a duration of 720 seconds at ISRO Propulsion Complex (IPRC), Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu. According to the space agency, the performance of the engine met the test objectives and the engine parameters were closely matching with the predictions during the entire duration of the test.
This successful long-duration test is a major milestone for the Human Space Programme – Gaganyaan. It ensures the reliability and robustness of the cryogenic engine for induction into the human-rated launch vehicle for Gaganyaan. Further, this engine will undergo four more tests for a cumulative duration of 1810 seconds. Subsequently, one more engine will undergo two short-duration tests & one long-duration test to complete the cryogenic engine qualification for GaganyaanProgramme.
ISRO Chairman K Sivan said earlier this month India's flagship Gaganyaan project has completed the design phase and entered into the testing phase. "There is a directive to launch the first unmanned mission before 75th anniversary of India's independence (August 15, 2022) and all the stake-holders are putting their best effort to meet the schedule. I am sure that we will be able to meet this target", Sivan had said.

::SPORTS::

Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist boxer LovlinaBorgohain appointed as DSP in Assam Police

Indian boxer LovlinaBorgohain was formally appointed as a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) by Assam on Wednesday.
The 24-year-old LovlinaBorgohain won bronze in the women’s 69kg on her Olympic debut at Tokyo last year. She is the third Indian boxer to win an Olympic medal after Mary Kom and Vijender Singh.
The DSP post was a reward for her fine showing at the Tokyo Olympics.
LovlinaBorgohain took her oath as a DSP in the Assam Police at a formal state function held in Guwahati, Assam.