SEBI on Feb 13  told the Supreme Court that although it did not have any objections to accede to its suggestions for constitution of an expert committee to examine the changes required in the regulatory framework but urged court to give it the liberty for suggesting its remit.

Contending that the remit could have “some adverse impact on the flow of money” and also affect internationally, the the market regulator said,

Acceding to SGs request, a bench of CJI DY Chandrachud, Justices PS Narasimha and JB Pardiwala posted the pleas which had sought for court monitored probe into the Adani Hindenburg issue.

Apart from agreeing for constitution of a committee, SEBI also told the court that Indian markets have seen far higher turbulent times in the past, especially during the COVID pandemic but it did not ban “short selling.”

SEBI also told court that it is enquiring into the allegations made in the Hindenburg report as well as the market activity immediately preceding & post publication of the report. 

The government is expecting to mop up Rs 25,000 crore from windfall gain tax, or Special Additional Excise Duty (SAED) from the production of crude oil and the export of diesel, petrol, and aviation turbine fuel (ATF) in this fiscal,  minister of state Rameshwar Teli told parliament.

The ministry first imposed the windfall tax on oil companies on July 1, 2022, joining a number of countries that tax super normal profits of energy companies. It levied export duties of Rs 6 per litre  each on petrol and ATF, and Rs 13 a litre on diesel.  Also, Rs 23,250 per tonne on domestic crude production. The windfall tax was reviewed every fortnight and rates are moderated based on international oil prices.

Renault-Nissan alliance has committed to invest $600 million (`5,300 crore) in India to expand their product lineup, add about 2,000 new jobs and boost exports from their manufacturing plant in Chennai. The French-Japanese alliance will collaborate on launching six new production vehicles, starting in 2025, for domestic and international customers, including two new fully electric vehicles (EVs).

In the on-going tussle between the current and former promoters of budget airline SpiceJet, the Supreme Court on Feb 13 said the bank guarantee of Rs 270 crore of the airline must be encashed immediately and the money be paid to media baron Kalanithi Maran and his Kal Airways towards dues from the arbitral award of Rs 578 crore.

A bench of Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud and justices P S Narasimha and J B Pardiwala also directed the Gurugram based airline to pay within three months Rs 75 crore to Maran and Kal Airways towards the interest component on the arbitral award.

SpiceJet in a statement said the remaining amount of Rs 270 crore is reserved with the company in cash against which a bank guarantee has been given. This amount of Rs 270 crore will be comfortably discharged as per the direction of the court, it added.

The matter has its root to a dispute arising out of the non-issuance of warrants in favour of Maran after the transfer of ownership to Ajay Singh, the controlling shareholder of SpiceJet. Amid a financial crisis, Maran and Kal Airways had transferred their entire 35.04 crore shares in SpiceJet, 58.46% stake, to its co-founder Singh in February 2015 for just Rs 2.

Eoin Morgan, England's lone 50-over World Cup-winning captain, on Feb 13  announced retirement from all short-format franchise cricket with immediate effect, less than a year after he quit the international game.

The 36-year-old Morgan had retired from international cricket in July 2022 after a 16-year career -- first with Ireland and then with England -- but continued to play in short-format tournaments around the world.

Morgan captained London Spirit to the Hundred's eliminator last year, was a losing finalist in the Abu Dhabi T10 with New York Strikers, and made seven appearances for Paarl Royals in the recently-concluded SA20.

Indian batter Shubman Gill was on Feb 13  named ICC Men's Player of the Month for January following a series of impressive innings in the ODI format, while England U-19 skipper Grace Scrivens became the youngest player to be named for the women's honour.

Smriti Mandhana stole the thunder in the inaugural Women's Premier League (WPL) auctions as Royal Challengers Bangalore pipped Mumbai Indians in a bidding war to buy the India vice-captain for Rs 3.40 crore (USD 410,000).

India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur came much cheaper for Mumbai Indians at nearly half the price of Mandhana at Rs 1.80 crore. Harman is also not the highest paid in her team where England's Nat Sciver-Brunt got way more at Rs 3.20 crore.

In fact, Harmanpreet was not even among the top-six Indian buys as the second costliest player from the country so far is all-rounder Deepti Sharma, who was bought by UP Warriorz for Rs 2.6 crore.

The hard-hitting Shafali Verma and star of the T20 World Cup game against Pakistan on Sunday, Jemimah Rodrigues were picked by Delhi Capitals for Rs 2 crore and Rs 2.20 crore respectively.

All-rounders Pooja Vastrakar and Richa Ghosh laughed their way to the bank with Rs 1.90 crore deals offered by MI and RCB respectively.

However, Delhi Capitals pulled off a coup by roping in one of contemporary women's cricket's best leaders Meg Lanning of Australia for Rs 1.10 crore.

One of the prominent picks during the first round of auction was Australia's off-spin all-rounder Ashleigh Gardner, who was bought by Gautam Adani-owned Gujarat Giants for Rs 3.20 crore (USD 386,000). Gardner and Nat Sciver are the two highest-paid overseas players.

The five potential captains are Mandhana (RCB), Harmanpreet (MI), Lanning (DC), Beth Mooney (Gujarat Giants) and Deepti Sharma (UP Warriorz).

Q1. Name the only state /UT where all the 2,762 government schools have internet facilities ?

1. Kerala
2. Delhi
3. Chandigarh
4. Puducherry
5. None of These

Q2. Name the country which shares a border of more than 1,850 km with five Indian states - Sikkim, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand ?

1. China
2. Nepal
3. Bangladesh
4. Pakistan
5. None of These

Q3. Name the Arab country which will send its first ever woman astronaut on a space mission later this year ?

1. Qatar
2. UAE
3. Saudi Arabia
4. Kuwait
5. None of These

Q4. The windfall tax on oil companies was first imposed on

1. July 1, 2022
2. Aug 1 , 2022
3. Sep 1 , 2022
4. Dec 1 , 2022
5. None of These

Q5. Name the Indian batter  who was on Feb 13  named ICC Men's Player of the Month for January following a series of impressive innings in the ODI format ?

1. KL Rahul
2. Shubman Gill
3. Cheteshwar Pujara
4. Rohit Sharma

Answers

1-----------------------------2    Delhi

2------------------------------2    Nepal

3------------------------------3    Saudi Arabia

4-------------------------------1    July 1, 2022

5--------------------------------2  Shubman Gill