Latest Current Affairs For Tuesday 7th September, 2021

Current Affairs in One Minute

1-Indian Railways’ Chandigarh Railway Station has been awarded a 5- star 'Eat Right Station' certification for providing high-quality, nutritious food to passengers. 

2-Coal India Limited (CIL) Chairman Pramod Agrawal laid the foundation stone of Mahanadi Coalfields Limited's Rs 285.05 crore first-mile connectivity (FMC) project of Lajkura SILO at Ib valley in Jharsuguda district. 

3-A 200 personnel contingent of Indian Army will participate in Exercise ZAPAD 2021, a Multi Nation exercise being held at Nizhniy, Russia from 03 to 16 September 2021. 

4-The India – Kazakhstan joint military exercise “KAZIND-21” commenced at Training Node Aisha Bibi, Kazakhstan. This is the 5th Edition of Annual bilateral joint exercise of both Armies and will continue till 10th September 2021. 

5-In a glittering ceremony that reflected the whole government approach of PM Modi and saw the participation of his six cabinet colleagues, Union Minister of Ayush Sarbanand Sonowal launched the ‘Y-Break’ mobile application at Vigyan Bhawan. 

6-Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia inaugurates first direct Gwalior – Indore flight.

7-Sports Minister Anurag Thakur and Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan launch first-ever nation-wide quiz on sports and fitness. 

8-Television actor Sidharth Shukla died in Mumbai. He was 40. 

9-Journalist and former Rajya Sabha member Chandan Mitra passed away. He was 66. 

10-Kashmiri separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani has died in Srinagar at the age of 92. 

STATIC GK Based on Current Affairs

1. The Indian Army participated in the multi-nation military exercise, 'ZAPAD 2021', at Nizhny in Russia.

• The 14-day-long activity is aimed at enhancing military and strategic ties amongst the participating nations.
• The ZAPAD is one of the theatre level exercises of the Russian Armed Forces and will focus primarily on operations against terrorists. 
• More than a dozen countries from Eurasia and South Asia will also participate in the same exercise

➤ List of Joint Military Exercise :

• DUSTLIK II - India and Uzbekistan
• 16th Yudh Abhyas - India and US
• Exercise Desert Knight-21 - Indian Air Force and French Air and Space Force
• SLINEX 2020 - Indian Navy and Sri Lankan Navy
• SIMBEX-20 - Indian Navy and Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN)
• INDRA - India and Russia

2. The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has released its flagship World Social Protection Report 2020-22.

• The report has revealed that, globally 4.1 bn people are living without any social safety net of any kind.
• As per the report, in 2020, only 46.9% of the global population benefitted from at least one protection under the ambit of social security.
• ILO is a specialized agency of the United Nations.
• It is the only tripartite UN agency.
• It has 187 member state.

➤ About International Labour Organisation (ILO):

• The International Labour Organization is a United Nations agency whose mandate is to advance social and economic justice through setting international labour standards.
• Founded - 1919
• Headquarters - Geneva, Switzerland
• Parent organization - United Nations
• International Labour Day - 1st May

3. Chandigarh Railway Station becomes the fifth station to get 5- star ‘Eat Right Station’ certification for providing high-quality, nutritious food to passengers.

• The certification was awarded by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)
• The 5-star rating indicates exemplary efforts by stations to ensure safe and hygienic food is available to passengers.
• Others are: Anand Vihar; Delhi, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus; Mumbai, Mumbai Central, and Vadodara Railway Station

➤ About FSSAI:

• Food Safety and Standards Authority of India is a statutory body established under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India.
• The FSSAI has been established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, which is a consolidating statute related to food safety and regulation in India.
• Founded - August 2011
• Headquarters - New Delhi
• Chairperson - Rita Teaotia

4. Manish Narwal won gold, while Singhraj Adhana won silver in Mixed 50 metre Pistol event at the Tokyo Paralympics.

• The 19-year-old Narwal shot a total of 218.2, a Paralympic record, to claim the gold
• Shooter Manish Narwal clinched India's third gold at the ongoing Paralympics while compatriot Singhraj Adana bagged the silver in the P4 Mixed 50m Pistol SH1 event.
• The gold and silver from the Faridabad duo took India's medal tally to 15 -- 3 gold, 7 silver and 5 bronze.

➤ List of Indian Winner Of Tokyo Olympics:

• Praveen Kumar bagged the silver medal in Men’s High Jump T64 event
• Indian paddler Bhavinaben Patel has claimed historic silver medal at 2020 Paralympic Games at Tokyo
• Nishad Kumar from India has clinched silver medal in the men’s high jump at Tokyo Paralympics 2020
• Neeraj Chopra won the Men's Javelin gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics
• Indian wrestler Ravi Kumar Dahiya bagged silver medal in 57kg category freestyle final
• P V Sindhu won the bronze medal in the women’s singles match in Tokyo Olympics
• Saikhom Mirabai Chanu has claimed the silver medal in the Women’s 49kg category at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics
• Indian men's hockey team has defeated Germany to win the bronze medal at Tokyo Olympics
• M. C. Mary Kom and Indian men's hockey team captain Manpreet Singh be the country's flag bearers at the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics
• Indian wrestler Bajrang Punia has been chosen as the flag-bearer for the closing ceremony on August 8

5. Arunachal Pradesh launched two ambitious schemes; ‘AtmaNirbhar Krishi Yojna’ and ‘AtmaNirbhar Bagwani Yojna’. 

• A total amount of 120 cr – 60 crore rupees for each scheme – has been allocated to the two concerned departments of Agriculture and Horticulture.
• These 2 schemes are unique as these are both based on front-ended subsidies.
• Credit link will be provided to the beneficiaries by SBI, Arunachal Pradesh Rural Bank and Arunachal Pradesh Cooperative Apex Bank.

➤ About Arunachal Pradesh :

• Arunachal Pradesh is an Indian state in Northeast India. It was formed from the erstwhile North-East Frontier Agency region, and became a state on 20 February 1987.
• Capital - Itanagar
• Chief minister - Pema Khandu
• Governor -  B. D. Mishra
• Namdapha National Park, Mouling National Park are major national parks in Arunachal Pradesh

Anonymous Myanmar photographer wins major photojournalism award

A Myanmar photographer won the top award at photojournalism's biggest annual festival for his coverage of the troubled nation's pro-democracy protests and bloody military crackdown

The photographer scooped the Visa d'Or for News, the most prestigious award handed out at the "Visa Pour L'Image" festival in Perpignan, southwestern France.

Mikko Takkunen, the Asia photo editor for The New York Times, collected the prize on behalf of the photographer.

Capital: Nay Pyi Taw

Biennial AUSINDEX maritime warfare exercises to commence this week

Australia’s Northern Territory will host the biennial AUSINDEX maritime warfare exercises between the Royal Australian and the Indian navies.

The exercise will be conducted ahead of the two countries holding their first “2+2" Foreign and Defence Ministers meet in New Delhi.

AUSINDEX 21 will provide both the Navies an opportunity to strengthen joint defence capabilities in support of a stable and secure Indo-Pacific region.

Eight major banks join the account aggregator network

SBI, ICICI, Axis Bank, IDFC Bank, KM Bank, HDFC Bank, IndusInd Bank, and Federal Bank, have joined the Account Aggregator network.

AA network will enable customers to easily access and share their financial data.

Neo bank Fi has also joined the AA network and is one of the first fintech to join the ecosystem.

This was created through an inter-regulatory decision by RBI, SEBI, IRDAI, PFRDA through and initiative of the FSDC. 

The licence for AAs is issued by the RBI.

Former IOC President Jacques Rogge passes away

Former President of International Olympic Committee (IOC) Jacques Rogge passed away.

He served 12 years as president of IOC, from 2001 to 2013 and succeeded by Thomas Bach.

Rogge represented Belgium in rugby and was a world champion in sailing.

He competed in the Finn class at three Olympic Games from 1968 through 1976.

He led the European group of Olympic committees before being elected as the IOC's eighth president in 2001.

India’s 1st dugong conservation reserve to be in Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu govt declared 500 sq.km of the biodiversity-rich waters in the Palk Bay as India’s 1st dugong conservation reserve.

The reserve will span the northern part of the Palk Bay from Adiramapattinam to Amapattinam.

According to Wildlife Institute of India (WII) estimates, only 200-250 Dugongs are left in the wild, of which 150 are found in the Palk Bay and Gulf of Mannar in Tamil Nadu.

It also found Gulf of Kutch and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

PM Modi's approval rating is 70%, highest among 13 global leaders

PM Narendra Modi has an approval rating of 70% which is the highest among 13 global leaders polled in the survey conducted by The Morning Consult.

In the survey, PM Modi is ahead of Mexican president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Italian PM Mario Draghi, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, US President Joe Biden.

The Morning Consult's graph shown that PM Modi's disapproval rating reached a peak in May when the second wave of the Covid hit the country hard.

Former Union health Secretary Keshav Desiraju passes away

Former Union Health Secretary Keshav Desiraju passed away in Chennai.

He was grandson of former President Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan.

He was an IAS officer (1978) of Uttarakhand cadre.

He has held many positions with the govt of Uttarakhand and UP and the Government of India and retired as the Union Secretary in the Department of Consumer Affairs.

After he retired, he was appointed as the chairperson of the governing board of the Population Foundation of India.

LIC picks up nearly 4% stake in BoI through open market transaction

The LIC has picked up nearly 4% equity shares in Bank of India through an Open Market Transaction.

Before the latest acquisition of shares in the bank, LIC held over a 3.17% stake in the state-owned bank.

LIC's stake in Bank of India has now increased to 7.05%, equivalent to 28,92,87,324 shares.

With this QIP, government shareholding in the bank has come down to 82.50% from 90.34% earlier.

BoI MD and CEO: Atanu Kumar Das

Gujarat launches Vatan Prem Yojana

The 1st meeting of the governing body of Vatan Prem Yojana was held at Gandhinagar under the chairmanship of CM Vijay Rupani.

Works to the tune of Rs 1,000 cr has been proposed to be completed by December 2022.

A project management unit has been formed for the smooth implementation of the scheme

It has also been made possible for donors to send money online.

Under the scheme NRIs can contribute 60% of the cost of a village-level project, rest will be borne state govt. 

Avani led Indian contingent at closing ceremony of Tokyo Paralympics

Indian shooter Avani Lekhara led India’s contingent at the Closing Ceremony of Tokyo Paralympics as the flag-bearer.

19-year-old shooter won gold and bronze medals at the Paralympic Games.

A total of 54 para-athletes from India across nine sports disciplines participated in the event.

Indian contingent finished their campaign at the Paralympic Games at an all-time high by securing a total of 19 medals which includes 5 gold, 8 silver, and 6 bronze medals. 

Suhas Yathiraj becomes first IAS officer to win Paralympic medal

India's Suhas Lalinakere Yathiraj won silver medal of badminton SL4 category at 2020 Tokyo Paralympics.

He lost gold medal match to the top seeded Lucas Mazur of France.

Suhas is currently the District Magistrate of Noida and became the first-ever IAS officer to win a medal at the Paralympics. 

Suhas had lost to Mazur, who has won three gold medals in European Championships as well.

Suhas had earlier outwitted Indonesia's Fredy Setiawan 21-9 21-15 in the semifinal. 

Max Verstappen won Dutch Grand Prix 2021

Max Verstappen won the Netherlands Grand Prix 2021 and reclaimed the Formula One championship lead from Lewis Hamilton.

The Red Bull driver’s leading seventh win of the season and 17th of his career.

Championship leader Lewis Hamilton could only manage second place in his Mercedes F1

Hamilton’s Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas was third.

PM Narendra Modi to be awarded prestigious Lokmanya Tilak Award 2023

The Tilak Smarak Mandir Trust (Hind Swaraj Sangh) would confer the prestigious Lokmanya Tilak National Award 2023 to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Pune on August 1, 2023.

Reason: This award recognizes PM Modi's supreme leadership under which India has climbed the ladder of progress

It is presented annually on the occasion of Lokmanya Tilak's death anniversary.

Other awardees: Indira Gandhi, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Sharad Pawar, Cyrus Poonawalla, and Manmohan Singh. 

J&K Bank wins award for Best Performance in CASA

Jammu & Kashmir Bank has been felicitated for the Best Performance in CASA-India (1st Runner up in Small Bank Category) at ICC Emerging Asia Banking Conclave & Awards 2022.

The event was participated by banks from India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka & Myanmar.

The function was organized by the Indian Chamber of Commerce in Goa.

Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) is a non-governmental trade association and advocacy group headquartered in Calcutta.

India poised to become world’s 2nd-largest economy by 2075: Goldman Sachs

According to the Investment Bank Goldman Sachs, India is poised to become the world’s second-largest economy by 2075.

As per the report, India would cross Japan, Germany, and the US With a population of 1.4 billion people.

India’s GDP is estimated to expand remarkably, reaching 52.5 trillion dollars surpassing the US GDP projection.

The labour force participation set to make India the second-largest economy in the world by 2075.

L&T and Spain's Navantia sign agreement for submarine project

L&T has signed a teaming agreement with Spanish-based Navantia for the submission of a techno-commercial bid for the Indian Navy’s prestigious P75 (India) submarine program.

P75 (India) Submarine Project is expected to be valued at €4.8 billion.

Navantia would carry out the design of P75(I) submarines based on its S80 class of submarines.

The first S80 class submarine was launched in 2021 and is undergoing sea trials prior to its delivery to Spanish Navy. 

India overtakes China as most attractive emerging market for investing

According to a study by Invesco Global Sovereign Asset Management, India has overtaken China to become the most attractive emerging market for investing in sovereign wealth funds this year.

Reason: This is due to its solid demographics, political stability, and proactive regulation. 

Positives for the nation also include the rapidly expanding demography, strong regulatory actions, and a welcoming climate for sovereign investors.

World Population Day 2023: 11 July

World Population Day is observed every year on July 11 in order to raise awareness about global population issues, including population control.

2023 theme: Unleashing the power of gender equality: Uplifting the voices of women and girls to unlock our world’s infinite possibilities. 

It was established by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in 1989, after the day the world approximately reached a population of five billion, which was observed on 11 July 1987.

MoHUA conducts SBM-U 2.0 Planning & Implementation Review-cum-Workshop

The Housing Ministry organized a review-cum-workshop to evaluate and accelerate the planning and implementation of the SBM-Urban 2.0.

PM Modi launched the 2.0 versions of SBM-U and AMRUT on October 1, 2021.

SBM-U 2.0: Achieving 100% waste segregation in all households and premises and 100% door-to-door collection of segregated waste from each. 

AMRUT 2.0: To provide complete coverage of water supply to all households and sewerage and septage in 500 AMRUT cities. 

Gujarat CM launches pilot project of ‘Antyodaya Shramik Suraksha Yojana’

Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel launched the Antyodaya Shram Suraksha Accident Insurance Scheme from Kheda

All those registered under the e-Shram portal from Nadiad will benefit from the scheme.

It is being implemented through the Indian Postal Department, the IPPB, and the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

Under this scheme, insurance with a premium of Rs. 289 and Rs. 499 per year will be a big support to workers in the event of death or partial disability.

OCA elects Sheikh Talal as the new President

Kuwait’s Sheikh Talal Fahad Al Ahmad Al Sabah has been elected as the new President of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA).

He replaced his older brother Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, who led the OCA for 30 years until 2021.

The OCA was founded in 1982 by his father Fahad Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, who led it until 1990.

The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) is a governing body of sports in Asia, currently with 45 member National Olympic Committees.

Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance wins Insurer Innovation Award 2023

Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance has won the Insurer Innovation Award 2023 for the APAC region at the 8th World Digital Insurance Awards, hosted by TDI - The Digital Insurer.

Recognition: Bajaj Allianz Life's ground-breaking WhatsApp Conversational Platform - empowering customers to digitally services their policies seamlessly. 

The award entries were shortlisted by industry experts and the winner was selected by the community through pre-voting and live event voting.