Latest Current Affairs For Sunday 19th September, 2021

National Open Athletics: Harmilan Kaur sets national record in 1500m

Punjab's Harmilan Kaur Bains stole the thunder from the sprinters by breaking Sunita Rani's long-standing national record in the 1,500 metres at the 60th National Open Athletics Championships in the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Hanamkonda in Telangana.

Delhi's K. M. Chanda gamely shadowed Harmilan until the Punjab runner sped away at the bell to win by a sizable margin.

Harmilan, undefeated in eight national-level 1,500 metres races since January 2020.

Captain Amarinder Singh resigns from post of Punjab Chief Minister

Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has tendered his resignation letter to the Governor of Punjab Banwari Lal Purohit.

Mr Singh had been in Congress Party for the past 52 years and served as the Chief Minister of Punjab for nine and half years.

His father was the last Maharaja of the princely state of Patiala.

Singh served in the Indian Army from June 1963 to December 1966 after graduating from the National Defence Academy and the Indian Military Academy.

Najafgarh – Dhansa Bus Stand section on the Grey Line of DM inaugurated

Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal jointly inaugurated (via video-conference link) Delhi Metro's Najafgarh-Dhansa Bus Stand extension of iGrey Line.

At present, around 740 km Metro line is operational in the country and with the Metro system seeing a massive surge in its network it will be more than 900 km by 2022.

Length between Najafgarh and Dhansa Bus Stand: 1.2 kms

Gauge: Standard Gauge

Colour Code: Grey

Ministry of Law and Justice launches Pan-India Special Campaign

The Ministry of Law and Justice has launched a Pan-India Special Campaign “Ek Pahal Drive” for Justice Delivery at the doorstep.

It was launched in a bid to encourage mass registration under Tele-Law.

The campaign was launched by Department of Justice and NALSA.

This campaign seeks to actualize the aspiration of access to justice for citizens in India.

The highlights of this campaign include the deployment of 185 vehicles to showcase films and documentaries.

International Equal Pay Day: 18th September

The United Nations observes the International Equal Pay Day on September 18 each year to build momentum around the urgent need to address the gender pay gap.

This day draws attention to the gender pay gap-the difference between what a woman earns as compared to a man, for work of equal value. 

The first-ever (IEPD) was celebrated by United Nations in 2020.

Raninder Singh re-elected NRAI president

Seasoned administrator Raninder Singh has been re-elected as the president of the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) for the fourth term.

Kunwar Sultan Singh was elected unopposed as the secretary-general.

The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) was founded in 1951 with a view to promote and popularize the shooting sports in India.

IRCTC opens new world-class executive lounge at NDLS

IRCTC has started a brand new executive lounge at the New Delhi Railway Station.

It would be operational round the clock providing the passengers with recliners, entertainment rooms, massage chairs, multi-cuisine buffet, wash-n-change facilities, business centre and even massage chairs.

People can avail of the mentioned facilities at a nominal price of Rs 150 plus taxes for the first hour with an additional Rs 99 for every added hour, as per an official.

RN Ravi sworn-in as Governor of Tamil Nadu

Ravindra Narayan Ravi (69-years) was sworn in as the Governor of Tamil Nadu.

He succeeded Banwarilal Purohit who has since been shifted to Punjab.

Sanjib Banerjee (Chief Justice of the Madras High Court) administered the oath of office to Ravi at an official ceremony held at the Raj Bhavan in Chennai.

The Governors of the states of India have similar powers and functions at the state level as those of the President of India at the Central level.

World Bamboo Day being observed 18 September

World Bamboo Day is observed every year on 18 September to raise awareness about the benefits of bamboo promoting its use in everyday products.

The theme for the 12th edition of WBD 2021 is ‘#PlantBamboo: It Is Time To Plant Bamboo’.

World Bamboo Organisation (WBO) declared the day officially on September 18 at the 8th World Bamboo Congress held in Bangkok in 2009.  

Bamboo is a tall, tree-like grass of the family Poaceae. It comprises more than 115 genera and 1,400 species.

Indu Malhotra appointed as DDCA Ombudsman

The Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) appointed Justice (Retd.) Indu Malhotra (65-years), former judge of the Supreme Court of India, as the Ombudsman cum Ethics Officer for a period of one year.

Malhotra was designated senior advocate by the Supreme Court in 2007.

She has been appointed amicus curiae by different benches of the Supreme Court in some matters.

The DDCA's general body, headed by its president Rohan Jaitley.

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.