Latest Current Affairs 2022: 1st April Daily GK update

Appointments News

10. Vishwas Patel re-elected as chairman of Payments Council of India 

• Vishwas Patel has been re-elected as the Chairman of Payments Council of India (PCI) for the second time in 2022, previously he was elected as a Chairman of PCI in the year 2018. In 2013, he served as Co-Chairman of PCI.
• PCI is a payment ecosystem industry body and is a part of the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI). PCI aims to promote a cashless transaction society and vision to grow digital payment in India.
• PCI functions in line with the Digital India Initiative and closely works with the financial regulators of the country.

Agreements News

11. Manipur govt tie-up with Samsung to start Sports Digital Experience Centre

• The state government of Manipur has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Samsung Data System India Pvt Ltd and Abhitech IT Solutions Pvt Ltd for setting up a world-class “Sports Digital Experience Centre” as a domain of Manipur Olympian Park and Khuman Lampak Sports Complex.
• The MoU was exchanged in the presence of chief minister N Biren Singh at the cabinet hall of the Chief Minister’s Secretariat.

Banking News

12. Central Bank of India partnered with Kwik.ID to ​digitize customer onboarding 

• Central Bank of India partnered with ID to implement digital Know Your Customer (KYC), video KYC and eKYC for its network across India. The aim of the partnership is to bring seamless onboarding and provide efficient digital facilities to customers across India.
• ID is India’s fastest and first-ever AI-based fully compliant Video KYC solution and a flagship product by Think360.ai. It has the target to digitize 10 million customers’ onboarding annually and streamline its end-to-end processes.

13. RBI extended the deadline for banks to utilise lockable cassettes in ATMs by a year

• The Reserve Bank of India has delayed the deadline for banks to use lockable cassettes in their ATMs that can be swapped during cash replenishment by a year, till March 31, 2023.
• The decision was made after the RBI received representations from various banks and the Indian Banks’ Association noting the difficulty in achieving the deadline, according to a notification released yesterday.
• It has instructed the banks to establish an internal roadmap that has been approved by the Board in order to meet the extended deadline and submit a quarterly status report, and it has requested the banks’ boards to monitor progress to assure compliance.

Defence News

14. 20th India-France Bilateral Naval Exercise ‘VARUNA -2022’ kicks-off

• The 20th edition of the Bilateral Naval Exercise between the Indian Navy and French Navy named ‘VARUNA’ is being conducted in the Arabian Sea from March 30 to April 03, 2022.
• The Bilateral Naval Exercises between the two Navies is being held since 1993 and the exercise was christened as ‘VARUNA’ in 2001. Various ships, submarines, maritime patrol aircraft, fighter aircraft and helicopters of the two navies will be participating in the VARUNA-2022 exercise.

15. Two battalions of the Dogra regiment were presented with the President’s Colours by the army chief

• During an amazing Color Presentation Parade held at the Dogra Regimental Centre, Faizabad (UP), General MM Naravane, Chief of the Army Staff, gave the prestigious President’s Colours to two battalions of the Dogra Regiment, namely 20 DOGRA and 21 DOGRA.
• General NC Vij (retd), former COAS and Honorary Colonel of The Dogra Regiment, Army Commanders of Southern Command and Central Command, as well as a large number of active and retired people, were present at the Color Presentation Parade.

Science and Technology News

16. Microsoft launches ‘Startups Founders Hub’ platform

• Microsoft launched a new digital and inclusive platform for startup founders in India. The platform called as ‘Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub’ in India, will support startup founders in India at every stage of their startup journey.
• This platform will offer over USD 300,000 worth of benefits and credits to startups, including free access to the technology, tools, and resources from the tech giant and partners. The initiative will help the Startups to gain mentorship and skilling opportunities with industry experts and Microsoft Learn.
• Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub is designed specifically for early-stage startups to lower the barriers of business creation, act as a catalyst for entrepreneurship and innovation, and contribute to easing the journey from an idea to a unicorn.

Sports News

17. Adidas Unveils Official Al Rihla FIFA World Cup Ball for Qatar 2022

• Al Rihla – the Official Match Ball for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 has been revealed by Adidas. It is Adidas’ 14th World Cup ball, and it is designed to accommodate the fastest game speeds possible, since it flies quicker in flight than any other World Cup ball.
• Al Rihla provides the highest level of precision and reliability on the field of play, having been designed from the inside out utilising data from extensive testing in Adidas labs, wind tunnels, and on-pitch.

Important Days

18. Odisha Day or Utkal Divas is celebrated on 1st April 2022

• Utkal Divas or Utakala Dibasha or Odisha Day is celebrated on April 1st every year to remember the formation of the Odisha state after a struggle to be recognised as an independent state. The state was originally called Orissa but the Lok Sabha passed the Orissa Bill, and Constitution Bill (113rd amendment), in March 2011 to rename it Odisha.
• After decades of struggle under the leadership of Odisha’s eminent leaders, the new province came into existence on the 1st of April 1936. The state saw another facelift, now in terms of its name being changed from Orissa to Odisha.