Latest Current Affairs For Wednesday 15th September, 2021

Current Affairs in One Minute

1-Swachh Survekshan Grameen, 2021 launched under the Swachh Bharat Mission Phase- 2 i.e. on 9th September, 2021. 

2-In the series of ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ celebrations a book exhibition of important and original authentic publications published by ministry of law and justice was inaugurated in the district judge premises of Varanasi. 

3-Cuemath, an online math learning platform, said it has appointed former Swiggy executive Vivek Sunder as its Chief Executive Officer. 

4-IIT Madras has topped the Rankings in the overall category in National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF). IISc Bengaluru has come second, which is followed by IIT Bombay at the third place in the ranking. 

5-The T20 World Cup is set to be held in the UAE and Oman from 17th of next month to 14th November this year. 

6-Cabinet Committee on Security approved the procurement of 56 C-295MW transport aircraft from M/s Airbus Defence and Space S.A., Spain for the Indian Air Force. 

7-Cabinet increases Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for Rabi crops for marketing season 2022-23. 

8-The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of India signed a $300 million loan as additional financing to scale up improvement of rural connectivity to help boost rural economy in the state of Maharashtra. 

9-The Government of India and Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a $112 million loan to develop water supply infrastructure and strengthen capacities of urban local bodies (ULBs) for improved service delivery in four towns in the state of Jharkhand. 

10-Amid ongoing Naga peace process, the Centre and the Niki Sumi-led group of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang (NSCN-K) signed a ceasefire agreement for one year, till September 7, 2022. 

11-Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Sardardham Bhavan in Ahmedabad and also performed the 'bhoomi pujan' of Sardardham Phase-II Kanya Chhatralaya -- a girls' hostel -- via video conference. 

12-Union Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment Dr. Virendra Kumar felicitated Tokyo 2020 Paralympic medal winners as well as rest of the Indian Paralympic Contingent tomorrow at 09:30 am in the Convention Hall, Hotel Ashoka, New Delhi. 

13-National Mineral Development Corporation Ltd. (NMDC) under Ministry of Steel launched Global Grace Cancer Run 2021 in Hyderabad. 

14-DRDO hands over air defence missile (MRSAM) System to Indian Air Force in presence of Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh at Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. 

15-The Minister of State, Jal Shakti Ministry, Prahlad Singh Patel Released SSG 2021 Protocol Document, Dashboard & Mobile App For Citizens.

16-National Mission For Clean Ganga & Naula Foundation Celebrated Himalayan Day 2021 With The Theme ‘Contribution Of Himalayas And Our Responsibilities’. 

17-Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister for Railways, flagged off indigenously designed and manufactured- Full Span Launching Equipment-Straddle Carrier and Girder Transporter. 

18-India's first Indigenously Designed High Ash Coal Gasification Based Methanol Production Plant at BHEL R&D Centre, Hyderabad. 

19-Leg-spinner Rashid Khan stepped down as Afghanistan T20 captain after the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) named their team for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup. 

20-Lebanon has launched cash cards in support for over 500,000 families who are in need of help amid the current financial and economic crisis. 

India–Africa Defence Dialogue to be held in 2022

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will host Defence Ministers of African Nations in the next India–Africa Defence Dialogue on the sidelines of DefExpo at Gandhinagar, Gujarat in March 2022.

First-ever India Africa Defence Ministers Conclave was held in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh on February 6, 2020.

Foundation of India–Africa defence relations are based on 2 guiding principles namely ‘SAGAR’, 'Security and Growth for All in the Region’ and ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’.

TN Assembly passed a bill to dispense NEET exam

Tamil Nadu Assembly has passed a Bill to dispense with National Entrance cum Eligibility Test (NEET) and allow admission to medical courses based on Class 12 marks, ensuring social justice

The bill has been introduced by Chief Minister M K Stalin based on the recommendation of the high-level committee led by retired judge AK Rajan, which submitted its report in July.

Permanent Exemption Bill for NEET exempts medical aspirants in Tamil Nadu from taking NEET examination.

Paytm Payments Bank launches first FASTag-based Metro parking facility

Paytm Payments Bank has launched India’s first FASTag-based Metro parking facility, in partnership with Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC).

Paytm will facilitate the processing of all FASTag-based transactions for cars having valid FASTag sticker, eliminating the hassle of stopping and paying cash at the counter. 

It has enabled UPI-based payment for two-wheelers entering parking site through which car owners will no longer be required to tender cash and parking fee. 

TCS announces largest women recruitment drive 'Rebegin project'

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has announced one of its largest recruitment drives for hiring women, titled as 'Rebegin project'

The project is aimed at experienced and aspiring women who wish to jump-start their professional journey and make 'The Big Move'

It will benefit women professionals who have taken a career sabbatical due to family or other pressing commitments to help them reassimilate into the corporate culture.

India and US launch Climate Action and Finance Mobilization Dialogue

India and USA have launched Climate Action and Finance Mobilization Dialogue (CAFMD) to strengthen India-US bilateral cooperation on climate and environment.

CAFMD is one of the two tracks of the India-U.S. Climate and Clean Energy Agenda 2030 partnership launched at Leaders’ Summit on Climate in April 2021.

It will demonstrate how the world can align swift climate action with inclusive and resilient economic development.

North Korea tested new long-range cruise missile capable of hitting Japan

North Korea has tested new long-range cruise missile, which is capable of hitting Japan

During the test, the missile travelled up to 1,500 kms, suggesting that North Korea is still capable of developing weapons despite food shortages and economic crisis.

It is first long-range cruise missile of Korea that could possibly carry a nuclear warhead

Head of North Korea: Kim Jong-un

Capital of North Korea: Pyongyang

Skyroot Aerospace becomes first Space startup to formally tie-up with ISRO

Hyderabad-based Space technology startup, Skyroot Aerospace has become the first private company to formally enter into an agreement with ISRO to get access of their facilities and expertise for the development and testing of subsystems and systems of space launch vehicles.

Skyroot Aerospace is building Vikram series of rockets to carry small satellites into space.

First launch vehicle in the series, Vikram-1 is scheduled to be launch in 2022.

Chhattisgarh launches ‘Millet Mission’ to become Millet Hub Of India

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has announced to launch ‘Millet Mission’ to provide proper price rate to farmers for minor cereal crops

Other important benefits under Millet Mission to includes input assistance for millet, procurement arrangements, aid farmers in processing of crops, etc.

To implement the mission, the state government has signed a MoU with Indian Institute of Millet Research (IIMR), Hyderabad and collectors of 14 districts of the state.

Haryana adjudged first in installation of solar pumps under PM-KUSUM

Haryana has been ranked as the first state of India in installation of off-grid solar pumps under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha Evam Utthan Mahaabhiyaan (PMKUSUM), as per Ministry of New and Renewable Energy data.

The state has installed 14,418 pumps against 15,000 sanctioned pumps for the year 2020-21 with total cost of Rs 520 crore.

PM-KUSUM scheme: It is a centrally-sponsored scheme, that was launched in 2019 with target to install 20 lakh standalone solar pumps.

Veteran Congress leader Oscar Fernandes passes away

Veteran Rajya Sabha MP and former Union minister Oscar Fernandes (80 years) passed away due to age related ailments at Yenepoya hospital in Mangalore.

He was the senior Congress leader and served as the Union Cabinet Minister for Transport, Road and Highways and Labour and Employment, in Manmohan Singh’s UPA govt

He was five-time Lok Sabha MP from Udupi in Karanataka.

He also served two terms as a member of the Council of the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.

Nuakhai harvest festival celebrated in Odisha

Agrarian festival of Western Odisha, named as Nuakhai Juhar has been celebrated with religious fervour and tradition .

It is celebrated the day after the celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi.

Nuakhai: Nua means new and khai means food. This means nuakhai is a festival to celebrate newly harvested food by the farmer

It is a crop festival celebrated by people of Western Odisha and Southern Chhattisgarh, to welcome the new rice of the season.

National Hindi Day: 14 September

Hindi Divas or Hindi Day is observed every year on 14 September to celebrate the popularity of Hindi as an official language of India.

14 September is celebrated as Hindi Diwas as it was on this day in 1949, when Constituent Assembly of India had adopted Hindi written in Devanagari script as the official language of India.

Hindi was adopted under Article 343 of Indian Constitution.

Rajbhasha Kirti Puraskar and Rajbhasha Gaurav Puraskar awards are being given on this day.

Justice M. Venugopal appointed as Acting Chairperson of NCLAT

Justice M. Venugopal has been appointed as the new Acting Chairperson of National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) with effect from September 11, 2021

He is a former judge of High Court of Madras and was appointed as Judicial Member of NCLAT on October 23, 2019

This is the third time in a row that an Acting Chairperson is at the helm of the NCLAT, after the retirement of S. J. Mukhopadhaya. 

NCLAT is a tribunal established under Section 410 of Companies Act, 2013.

Daniil Medvedev wins 2021 US Open Tennis Title

Russia professional Tennis player Daniil Medvedev (25 years) has won 2021 US Open men’s singles Tennis Title, after beating Novak Djokovic (Serbia) by 6-4, 6-4, 6-4.

This is the maiden Grand Slam title won by Medvedev.

Women’s single winner: Emma Raducanu (Great Britain) defeated Leylah Fernandez (Canada)

Men’s double winner: Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury

Women’s double winner: Samantha Stosur and Zhang Shuai

Mixed Doubles: Desirae Krawczyk and Joe Salisbury

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.