• Rafael Nadal has won Men’s Single title at Australian Open 2022, after defeating Daniil Medvedev by 2-6, 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne
• It was his record 21st Grand Slam title and first Grand Slam major since the 2020 French Open triumph.
• He created history by becoming the only player to win the most Grand Slam titles.
• He also become the third-oldest man to win Grand Slam title, after Ken Rosewall and Roger Federer.

• Leftist Xiomara Castro was sworn in as the first woman President of Honduras.
• She vowed to reform the crime-and poverty-stricken nation into a “socialist and democratic state.”
• She replaces President Juan Orlando Hernández, who has held the position for 8 yrs and has been accused of corruption and drug trade ties.
• Castro is wife of former president of Honduras, Manuel Zelaya, who ruled Honduras between 2006 and 2009.

• Portugal’s ruling Socialist Party has secured an absolute majority in Parliament.
• Country’s Interior Ministry released the data after 99% of the ballots had been counted.
• Led by Prime Minister Antonio Costa, PS got 42 per cent of the votes and won 117 out of the 230 mandates thus Costa will retain the post.
• The Social Democratic Party is second with around 28 per cent.
• The elections in Portugal were called by President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.

• The govt has extended the tenure of chairman of IPO-bound Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) by one more year with a view to facilitate smooth listing of the insurance behemoth.
• Besides, the government has also extended the tenure of one of the managing directors, Raj Kumar, for one year.
• With the extension, MR Kumar will continue as chairman of LIC till March 2023.
• This is the second extension for the LIC chairman.
• The government owns a 100 per cent stake in LIC.

• Social activists have built a temple for Mahatma Gandhi and freedom fighters’ Smrithi Vanam at the Municipal Park in Srikakulam, AP.
• Aim: to inculcate patriotism among the youth by remembering the sacrifices of freedom fighters.
• Statues of freedom fighters and social activists were erected in the park with the help of donors.
• Arrangements have been made to unveil the Gandhi temple as well as Smrithi Vanam on the eve of Gandhiji’s death anniversary.

• The exports of marine products registered a growth of 35% to $ 6.1 bn during April to Dec 2021.
• The exports of Marine Products touched over $ 720 mn, registering a growth of over 28 per cent.
• The overall exports of Marine Products in the last Financial Year was $ 5.96 bn.
• Top 5 export destinations: USA, China, Japan, Vietnam, Thailand.
• PM Modi had launched the PM Matsya Sampada Yojana in 2020 with an array of 100 diverse activities with a budget of over Rs 20,000 cr.

• 24th Lt Governor of Puducherry, Kiran Bedi has penned down her journey of governance in the book ‘Fearless Governance’.
• It was launched by Indra Nooyi (former chairperson & CEO of PepsiCo) and Prof Debashis Chatterjee (director, IIM Kozhikode).
• The book captures Bedi’s ‘fearless’ moments, administrative acumen and innovative initiatives in Puducherry.
• Published by Diamond Books, the book will be translated in all major Indian languages.

• The Reserve Bank of India has imposed several restrictions on Indian Mercantile Cooperative Bank Ltd, Lucknow.
• The regulator put a cap of Rs 1 lakh on withdrawals.
• The RBI has imposed above restriction in exercise of powers vested in it under sub-section (1) of Section 35 A read with Section 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 (AACS).
• The restrictions would remain in force for six months and are subject to review.

• The govt has approved the sale of Neelachal Ispat Nigam Limited (NINL) to Tata Steel Long Products.
• The CCEA have approved the highest bid of Tata Steel Long Products for 93.71% of shares NINL.
• The Bid Enterprise Value is  ₹12,100 crore.
• NINL is a joint venture of 4 CPSEs – MMTC, NMDC, BHEL, MECON and 2 Odisha government PSUs – OMC and IPICOL.
• The government does not hold any equity in the company.

• Founder of Akal Academies and Padma Shri awardee Baba Iqbal Singh.
• He was an Indian socio-spiritual leader of the Sikh community and an educationalist.
• Baba Iqbal Singh had worked relentlessly in only one direction  — imparting value-based education in rural India.
• He established Eternal University in 2008 and Akal University, Guru ki Kashi in 2015.

Download Daily GK PDF of 31 January 2022