1) Third India-Japan joint exercise ‘EX DHARMA GUARDIAN-2022’
•The third edition of the joint military exercise “EX DHARMA GUARDIAN-2022” between India and Japan will be conducted from 27 February to 10 March 2022, at Belagavi (Belgaum), Karnataka. The 15th Battalion the Maratha Light Infantry Regiment of the Indian Army and 30th Infantry Regiment of Japanese Ground Self Defence Forces (JGSDF) are participating in this 12 days long joint exercise.
2) Digital India CEO Abhishek Singh appoints National e-Governance Division chief
•1995-batch IAS officers and Digital India Corporation CEO, Abhishek Singh as new National e-Governance Division chief. The 1995-batch IAS officer from Nagaland cadre will hold the position in the rank and pay of Additional Secretary. The officer will proceed to carry the extra cost of the put up of Managing Director & Chief Government Officer, Digital India Company. The 1995-batch IAS officer from Nagaland cadre will maintain the place within the rank and pay of Extra Secretary.
3) MSME Technology Centre to be set up in Sindhudurg
•Union Minister for Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME), Narayan Rane has announced the establishment of MSME-Technology Centre with an outlay of Rs. 200 Crore, in Sindhudurg, Maharashtra. The MSME-Technology Centre will provide the best of technology, incubation as well as advisory support to the industry, especially MSMEs, to enhance their competitiveness and provide skilling services for the employed and unemployed youth of the area to enhance their employability.
•The Ministry is presently focussing to create a benchmark for MSMEs across the country by scaling them to new heights in terms of exports, quality of products, contribution to GDP and providing World-class infrastructure to all MSMEs in India.
4) Brickworks Ratings lowers India’s GDP to 8.3% in FY22
•Brickworks Ratings has revised downwards India’s GDP growth forecast to 8.3 per cent in the current fiscal 2021-22 (FY22). Earlier in January 2022, the rating agency had estimated this between 8.5-9 per cent. Brickwork Ratings is one of the seven Sebi-registered credit rating agencies (CRA).
•The latest growth indicators suggest a loss of economic momentum in recent months. The rapid spread of Covid in January 2022 led to renewed restrictions on economic activities, dampening the revival process, particularly in contact-intensive sectors.
5) International IP Index 2022: India ranks 43rd
•India has improved its overall IP score from 38.4 per cent to 38.6 per cent, and the country is ranked 43 out of 55 countries on the International Intellectual Property Index 2022. This index was released by the Global Innovation Policy Center of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. In July 2021, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Commerce released a Review of the Intellectual Property Rights Regime in India. This review is a welcome development and offers a comprehensive and detailed study of the strengths and weaknesses of India’s national IP environment.
The top five countries in the ranking are:
•Rank 1- United States
•Rank 2- United Kingdom
•Rank 3- Germany
•Rank 4- Sweden
•Rank 5- France
6) Mirabai Chanu wins gold at Singapore Weightlifting International
•Indian weightlifter and 2020 Tokyo Olympics silver-medallist, Mirabai Chanu has won the gold medal in the 55kg weight category at the Singapore Weightlifting International 2022 on February 25, 2022. Chanu lifted 191kg (86kg+105kg) to stand on top of the podium.
•With this win, the 27-year-old Chanu has qualified for the 2022 Commonwealth Games (CWG) in Birmingham in the 55kg weight category. She has also qualified for the CWG in the 49kg weight category on the basis of her Commonwealth rankings.
