NPCI launches ‘UPI Chalega’ campaign for payment mode to gain currency

1.ISRO to launch geo imaging satellite on March 5

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said that GSLV-F10 will launch geo imaging satellite, GISAT-1, from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota on March 5.GSLV-F10 will launch geo imaging satellite (GISAT-1) from the second launch pad of the SDSC SHAR, Sriharikota.

Weighing about 2,275 kg, GISAT-1 is a state-of-the-art agile Earth observation satellite that will be placed in a ‘geosynchronous transfer orbit’ by GSLV-F10.

Subsequently, the satellite will reach the final geostationary orbit using its onboard propulsion system.

Operating from geostationary orbit, GISAT-1 will facilitate near real-time observation of the Indian subcontinent, under cloud-free conditions, at frequent intervals.

2.India and US sign defence deals worth 3 billion dollars

India and the United States finalized defence deals worth three billion dollars and signed three agreements, including in health and oil sectors.A Memorandum of Understanding was signed on mental health between the health departments of both the two countries.

Another MoU on the safety of medical products was signed between the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization with the US Food and Drug Administration.

A Letter of Cooperation was signed between Indian Oil Corporation Limited and Exxon Mobil India LNG Limited and Chart Industries Inc, US.

3.Elections for 55 Rajya Sabha seats to be held on March 26

Biennial elections for the 55 Rajya Sabha seats from 17 states will be held on 26th March.Election Commission announced that these seats are falling vacant in April this year due to retirement of Rajya Sabha members.

The term of office of 55 members of the Rajya Sabha elected from 17 States is due to expire on their retirement in April, 2020.

Counting will be held in the evening of 26th March an hour after the conclusion of polls.

The Rajya Sabha is the upper house of the Parliament of India.

It currently has a maximum membership of 245.

4.MP becomes first state to launch unified vehicle registration card

Madhya Pradesh has become the first state in the country to introduce the unified registration card and the second state to launch the unified driving license after Uttar Pradesh.Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) had issued the guidelines to bring uniformity in driving licenses and vehicle registration cards across the country in March last year.

The new cards will have more exhaustive information printed on both sides of the cards.

The unified smart cards for driving license and vehicle registration will each have a QR code that will help in verifying authenticity of the data printed on the cards.

The unified driving license card will also have information about the ability of the driver to drive in hilly and dangerous areas and an emergency contact number.

5.Haryana leads in Direct Benefit Transfer payouts

Small states like Haryana & Uttarakhand emerged as the best states in ratings prepared by Centre regarding Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) payouts.West Bengal has emerged as the worst, while new Union Territories (UTs) of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) and Ladakh have notched up an impressive show.

The ratings have ranked states according to DBT payouts compared to their population.

Many states like West Bengal do not implement several central schemes in which subsidies are involved.

The central DBT scheme covers as many as 439 schemes run by 56 ministries and departments and over Rs 2.25 lakh crore has been paid out in the country in the present financial year.

6.Losar festival celebrated in Himachal Pradesh

Hundreds of people from the Buddhist community gathered at different temples in Himachal Pradesh to celebrate the Losar festival.People celebrated the Losar Festival, on the first day of the lunisolar Tibetan calendar.

Prayers were offered at Dorje Drak Monastery in Shimla.

Cultural events were held in different parts of the state as the Tibetan community celebrated the festival.

7.Microsoft, SBI join hands to train differently-abled people to find jobs

Microsoft announced a partnership with SBI to train differently-abled people find jobs in the banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI) sector.Over 500 differently-abled youths will be upskilled in the first year of the collaboration.

Microsoft’s president of global sales, marketing and operations Jean-Philippe Courtois said there are 26 million differently-abled people in India and it is essential to use newer ways to use technology to enable them participate in the 21st century economy.

SBI Foundation and Microsoft will develop an artificial intelligence powered marketplace that will enable the BFSI industry to connect more easily with differently-abled people for upskilling and employment opportunities.

8.NPCI launches ‘UPI Chalega’ campaign for payment mode to gain currency

National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) in association with the payment ecosystem players have co-created an industry campaign “UPI Chalega” to promote UPI as easy, safe, and instant mode of payment.The campaign is aimed to guide users towards the right usage of UPI and help create a habitual change, use of UPI in their daily life.

The campaign also focuses on safety aspects while transacting on UPI enabled apps.

The campaign targets users across all ages and aims to promote how to safely use UPI.

9.Mastercard CEO Ajay Banga to step down

Mastercard’s Chief Executive Officer Ajay Banga will step down at the start of the next year and will be replaced by Chief Product Officer Michael Miebach.While Banga, who took over as CEO in April 2010, will become executive chairman, Miebach will take over as the companyMichael Miebach, who is currently the company’s chief product officer, will take over for CEO Ajay Banga to start 2021.

Banga, who took charge of the company just after the 2008-09 financial crisis, has seen the payment processor’s revenue triple during his tenure.

10.Cibil ropes in HDFC Bank’s Rajesh Kumar as MD, CEO

TransUnion CIBIL Limited, the largest credit information bureau, appointed Rajesh Kumar of HDFC Bank as its new managing director and chief executive.Kumar succeeds Satish Pillai who has moved to become the president of Asia region business of the US-based company.

Prior to joining Cibil, Kumar was the group head for retail credit and risk at HDFC Bank.

In his role as the MD and chief executive, Kumar will be responsible for steering Cibil India’s business into the next phase by ensuring it continues to support the domestic finance industry and consumers.

11.Egypt’s former President Mohammed Hosni Mubarak passes away

Egypt’s former President Mohammed Hosni Mubarak, who ruled the country for 30 years, died.A former air force chief, Mubarak became Vice President of Egypt on 14 October 1981, and just eight days later, was sworn in as the President after Islamist militants assassinated his predecessor Anwar Sadat during a military parade.

As the region was convulsed by one crisis after another, Mubarak was seen as a steady hand and a reliable U.S. partner against Islamic extremism.

After almost three decades in power, Mubarak, was forced to resign on February 11, 2011, following 18 days of protests around the country.