Latest Current Affairs For Friday 10th September, 2021

Current Affairs in One Minute

1-Krishna Nagar secured India's second gold medal in badminton at Tokyo Paralympics after notching a thrilling three-game win over Hong Kong's Chu Man Kai in the men's singles SH6 class final. 

2-India’s Suhas Lalinakere Yathiraj ended his campaign with a historic silver after going down fighting against top seed Lucas Mazur of France in the men’s singles SL4 class final at the Tokyo Paralympics. 

3-Olympic medalist boxer Lovlina Borgohain will be the brand ambassador of Sarva Siksha Abhiyan. 

4-The government's collections from levy of excise duty on petroleum products have jumped 48 per cent in the first four months of the current fiscal year, with the incremental mop-up being 3-times of the repayment liability of legacy oil bonds in the full fiscal. 

5-The initial public offering of WAPCOS is likely to be launched by March end. 

6-Coal India Ltd (CIL), under the Ministry of Coal has launched a new software named “Spectral Enhancement” (SPE). 

7-Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), the premier Telecom R&D Centre of the Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications, Government of India, observed its 38th Foundation Day celebrations. 

8-The 28th edition of Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX) was conducted from 02 to 04 Sep 21. 

9-Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID), has laid the foundation stone for first ever Electric Vehicle Charging Station (EVCS) in the state of Meghalaya at its office complex at Lapalang, Shillong. 

10-Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Singh Thakur felicitated Paralympics Tokyo 2020 silver medallist Mariyyapan T and his coach Raja B in New Delhi. 

STATIC GK Based on Current Affairs

1. International Literacy Day is observed on September 8 annually across the world to highlight the importance of literacy to individuals, communities, and societies.

• The day was declared by UNESCO on 26 October 1966 during the 14th session of UNESCO’s General Conference.
• It was observed for the first time in 1967.
• Theme of 55th International Literacy Day: Literacy for a human-centered recovery: Narrowing the digital divide.

➤ Important Days of September:

• World Coconut Day - 2nd Sep
• International Day of Charity - 5 Sep
• International Literacy Day - 8 Sep
• World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) - 10 Sep
• Hindi Diwas - 14 Sep
• Engineer's Day (India) - 15 Sep
• International Day of Democracy - 15 Sep
• World Ozone Day - 16 Sep
• World Bamboo Day - 18 Sep
• International Day of Peace (UN) - 21 Sep
• World Tourism Day -27 Sep
• World Rabies Day - 28 Sep

2. Commerce and Industry Minister, Piyush Goyal has been appointed as India’s Sherpa for the G20 which is an influential grouping that brings together the world’s major economies.

• He replaced former Union Minister Suresh Prabhu as India’s Sherpa for G20
• G20 Summit is scheduled to take place from 30th to 31st October under Italian Presidency.
• India will be holding the G20 Presidency from 1st December 2022 and will convene the G20 Leaders’ Summit in 2023 for the first time

➤ About G20:

• The G20 is an intergovernmental forum comprising 19 countries and the European Union
• It works to address major issues related to the global economy, such as international financial stability, climate change mitigation, and sustainable development.
• Founded - 26 September 1999
• Chairman - Mario Draghi (2021)
• G20 2021 Summit Host by Italy
• G20 2022 Summit Host by Indonesia
• G20 2023 Summit Host by India

3. Union Minister Parshottam Rupala has launched National Livestock Mission (NLM) portal to increase effectiveness and ensure transparency in the implementation of scheme.

➤ NLM Portal:

• It is developed by Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) and Dept of Animal Husbandry and Dairying
• Aim: to enable a customized workflow between State Implementing Agency, lenders and Ministry
• NLM: It was introduced in 2014-15 for sustainable development of livestock sector

➤ About SIDBI:

• Small Industries Development Bank of India is the apex regulatory body for overall licensing and regulation of micro, small and medium enterprise finance companies in India
• It is under the jurisdiction of Ministry of Finance, Government of India
• Founded - 2 April 1990
• Headquarters - Lucknow
• Chairman & Managing Director - Shri Sivasubramanian Ramann

4. The government has appointed Harsha Bhupendra Bangari as the new Managing Director (MD) of the Export-Import Bank of India (EXIM Bank).

• She has been appointed for a period of three years or until further orders of the government
• He will replace the incumbent MD David Rasquinha, who was appointed for five years on July 20, 2014
• Founded - 1 January 1982
• Headquarters - Mumbai, Maharashtra

➤ List of MD and CEO of Banks in India:

• Shanti Lal Jain - Indian Bank
• State Bank of India - Shri Dinesh Kumar Khara
• Bank of Baroda - Shri Debadatta Chand
• Punjab National Bank - S. S. Mallikarjuna Rao
• Axis Bank - Amitabh Chaudhry
• HDFC Bank - Sashidhar Jagdishan

5. The 130th edition of Durand Cup has been kicked off at the Vivekananda Yubabharati Krirangan in Kolkata.

• 16 teams will be participated in this edition of the oldest club football tournament in Asia while two clubs East Bengal and Mohun Bagan are not participating.
• Mohammedan Sporting Club started their campaign in the tournament with an emphatic win against the Indian Air Force Football team.
• The final match will be held on 3rd October

➤ List of Sports Cups and Trophies:

• Ryder Cup - Golf
• Thomas Cup - Badminton
• Deodhar Trophy  - Cricket
• B. C Roy Trophy - Football (National Junior)
• Nehru Trophy - Boat Race
• Santosh Trophy - Football
• Irani Cup - Cricket

MeitY constituted Task force to improve internet connectivity in Karnataka

Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) constituted taskforce consisting of officers of National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI) and Software Technology Parks of India  (STPI) to improve internet connectivity in Karnataka.

They will visit each district and meet people and will also visit State government officials and submit a report to Minister.

Odisha government rolls out e-Receipt 2.0 system for tax payment

Odisha govt has rolled out the revamped electronic receipt called e-Receipt 2.0 system, facilitating new modes of payment of taxes and other dues to the citizens.

It will improve the delivery of services in electronic receipts and disbursement under Integrated Financial Management System (IFMS).

This will fulfil the objective of Mo Sarkar by providing service delivery at the doorstep of citizens.

China launches Earth observation satellite that can obtain radioactive data

China has launched 24th Gaofen-series Earth-observation satellite on Long March 4C carrier rocket from Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in Shanxi province.

Aim: to monitor environmental protection efforts and boost its natural resources surveillance.

It has been developed by Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology based on its SAST3000 satellite platform. 

It is equipped with hyperspectral observational devices tasked with monitoring air, water and environments. 

PM Modi launches Vidyanjali 2.0 portal

PM Narendra Modi has launched Vidyanjali 2.0 portal during the inaugural conclave of 'Shikshak Parv'. 

Vidyanjali 2.0 is an amalgamation of the words Vidya meaning correct knowledge or clarity and Anjali meaning an offering with both hands in Sanskrit language.

Vidyanjali is an initiative of Ministry of Education to strengthen Schools through community and private sector involvement in schools. 

It will connect schools with varied volunteers from Indian Diaspora. 

Jharkhand Assembly passes bill to reserve 75% seats for locals

Jharkhand Assembly has passed ‘The Jharkhand State Employment of Local Candidates in Private Sector Bill, 2021’ to provide 75% reservation for locals in private sector jobs with a monthly salary of up to ₹40,000.

After this, Jharkhand will become the third State, after Andhra Pradesh and Haryana to pass this law.

As per the bill, every employer shall register such employees receiving gross monthly salary as wages not more than ₹40,000.

Tata to be 1st private Indian firm to make military aircraft

Cabinet Committee of security has approved the procurement of 56 C-295MW transport aircraft for Indian Air Force (IAF) and will make 40 aircraft in India within 10 years, while the rest will be delivered by Airbus from Spain.

It will make Tata as the first Indian private sector company to make military transport aircraft for Indian Air Force.

All 56 aircraft will be installed with the indigenous Electronic Warfare Suite.

Uttarakhand Governor Baby Rani Maurya resigns

Uttarakhand Governor Baby Rani Maurya (64 years) has announced her resignation with effect from 8th September 2021, almost two years before completing her term due to personal reason.

She was appointed as the Governor of Uttarakhand in August 2018, succeeding Krishan Kant Paul.

Prior to serving as the Governor of Uttarakhand, she served as the mayor of Agra in Uttar Pradesh, from 1995 to 2000.

CM of Uttarakhand: Pushkar Singh Dhami

Union Minister Bhupender Yadav inaugurates PRANA portal

Bhupender Yadav has launched a portal titled as ‘PRANA’ for regulation of air pollution in 132 cities across India.

PRANA stands for Portal for Regulation of Air-pollution in Non-Attainment cities.

It can be accessed at prana.cpcb.gov.in.

It will cover cities that comes under National Clean Air Programme for tracking physical and financial status of city air action plan. 

He also dedicated first functional smog tower of India, installed in Anand Vihar, Delhi

HDFC Bank partners with NSIC to provide credit support to MSMEs

HDFC Bank has signed MoU with National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC) for providing credit support to micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME). 

HDFC bank branches will extend support to MSME projects in the areas they are located and to other important industrial sectors.

NSIC is an ISO 9001:2015 certified Government of India Enterprise under Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME).

CEO of HDFC Bank: Sashidhar Jagdishan

Headquarters: Mumbai

El Salvador became 1st country to adopt bitcoin as legal tender

El Salvador President Nayib Bukele plans to introduce a law that will make it the world’s first sovereign nation to adopt bitcoin as legal tender.

This law will mandate Bitcoin to be acceptable as a valid payment by all establishments, except those that do not have the technical wherewithal to do so.

The move will put the digital currency that does not answer to any government monetary policies on the same footing as the country’s primary currency, United States dollar.

World's largest plant to capture CO2 from air starts in Iceland

World's largest plant designed to suck carbon dioxide (CO₂) out of the air and turning it into rock started commenced its operation in Iceland.

The plan is named as Orca or orka meaning energy.

It has been developed by Swiss startup Climeworks AG and Icelandic carbon storage firm Carbfix.

It consists of four units, each made up of two metal boxes, similar in appearance to the containers used for maritime transport.

It can suck out up to 4,000 tonnes of CO₂ per year.

Chandigarh gets India’s tallest air purifier tower

India’s tallest air purification tower has been inaugurated in Union Territory of Chandigarh.

Tower has been installed at the initiative of Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee (CPCC) at Transport Chowk, Sector 26, by Pious Air Pvt Limited.

This is the highest air purifier tower of India and covers an area of around 500-metre radius and is 24-metre-high.

It will clean up to 3.88 crore cubic ft of air from the surrounding environment for 5 years without any cost.

Karnataka Bank launches POS device ‘WisePOSGo’ for merchant customers

Karnataka Bank has launched an all-in-one Point-of-Sales (POS) swiping machine titled as ‘WisePOSGo’ for its merchant customers to process business payments.

It has been launched in collaboration with Mswipe Technologies Pvt Ltd

WisePOSGo: compact, lightweight, and user-friendly device, designed keeping in view the specific cost-centric requirements of the bank’s MSME customers.

Apart from processing payments, merchants can also make calls using WisePOSGo swiping machine

International Day to Protect Education from Attack: 9th September

International Day to Protect Education from Attack is being observed on 9th September across the world.

Objective: to raise awareness regarding the importance of safeguarding schools as places of protection and safety for students and educators and the need to keep education at the top of the public agenda.

It was celebrated for the first time in 2020.

UN General Assembly proclaimed 9 September as International Day to Protect Education from Attack on 29 May 2020.

Ayaan Shankta named as 2021 International Young Eco-Hero

Mumbai teen Ayaan Shankta (12 years) has been named as the 2021 International Young Eco-Hero for his project Conservation and Rehabilitation of Powai Lake.

He is one of the 25 young environmental activists from across the world honoured as 2021 International Young Eco-Hero by Action For Nature (AFN).

He stood third in the 8-14 age category.

The award recognizes eco-conscious youth aged 8 to 16 who are taking crucial steps to solve tough environmental problems.

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.