Latest Current Affairs For Friday 24th September, 2021

Current Affairs in One Minute

1-The Indian Air Force (IAF) will conduct an air show over the Dal Lake in Srinagar on September 26 as part of the ongoing 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav', marking the 75th year of India's Independence. 

2-Renowned actor Anupam Kher has been conferred with an honorary doctorate in Hindu studies by the Hindu University of America.

3-Eminent English author Ruskin Bond, Hindi writer Vinod Kumar Shukla and six others were selected for the Sahitya Akademi Fellowship. 

4-The Sikkim government has declared 'Cooper Mahseer' locally named 'Katley' as the state fish, an official of the Fisheries department said.

5-The Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences (RMLIMS) in Lucknow will start cochlear implantation at its otolaryngology (ENT) department for hearing impaired children aged between one to five years. 

6-Arunachal Pradesh Advocate General Nilay Dutta died in Karnataka's Coorg. He was 68. 

7-Eminent Odia litterateur and journalist Manorama Mohapatra died. She was 87. 

8-In pursuance of the policy of the Modi Government of encouraging faster economic development and connectivity and under the guidance of the Union Minister of Home Affairs and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah, a new Passenger Terminal Building (I) at ICP Petrapole was inaugurated. 

9-The Najafgarh – Dhansa Bus Stand section on the Grey Line of Delhi Metro was inaugurated by the Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs & Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puriand the Chief Minister of Delhi Arvind Kejriwal, via video conferencing. 

10-Ravindra Narayan Ravi was sworn in as the new Governor of Tamil Nadu succeeding Banwarilal Purohit who has been shifted to Punjab. 

Former AIR Newsreader Ramanuj Prasad Singh passes away

Former Hindi Newsreader of All India Radio Ramanuj Prasad Singh (86 years) passed away in Gurugram. 

He served AIR for 3 decades and became a well-known name among the common people for his news reading for years.

Harmilan Kaur sets national record in 1500m National Open Championship

Punjab's Harmilan Kaur Bains sets a new national record the 1,500 metres on the second day of the 60th National Open Athletics Championships in Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Telangana.

She breaks the record of Sunita Rani. 

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

Naresh Kumar from Andhra Pradesh and Delhi's Tarandeep Kaur took the honours as the fastest male and female athlete of the meet by winning the 100 metres dash.

Bangladesh govt to set up e-commerce regulatory body

Bangladesh govt will set up an e-commerce regulatory body to monitor the sector properly.

The step has been taken after major e-commerce company of Bangladesh allegedly cheated consumers worth hundreds of crore. 

Other proposals include formation of a central complaint management cell, mandatory registration, action against schemers and amending the Digital Security Act and Money Laundering Prevention Act.

RBI to conduct open market purchase of Government Securities under GSAP 2.0

RBI will conduct open market purchase of Government Securities under G-Sec Acquisition Programme (G-SAP 2.0) for an aggregate amount of Rs 15,000 crore. 

Simultaneously, RBI will also sell Government Securities under Open Market Operations (OMO) for an aggregate amount of 15,000 crore rupees on the same day.

RBI has asked eligible participants to submit their bids/offers in electronic format on the Reserve Bank of India Core Banking Solution (E-Kuber) system. 

Former England Footballer Jimmy Greaves Passes Away

Former England professional footballer, Jimmy Greaves (81 years) passed away in Danbury, England. 

He is England's fourth-highest international goal scorer (44 goals), Tottenham Hotspur's highest ever goalscorer (266 goals), highest goal scorer in the history of English top-flight football (357 goals). 

He is also a member of English Football Hall of Fame.

He began his professional career at Chelsea in 1957. 

Leh to host first edition of Himalayan Film Festival

Anurag Thakur will inaugurate first edition of Himalayan Film Festival (THFF) tomorrow at Leh, Ladakh. 

It will be a five days is being held from September 24 to 28.

Ladakh is hosting THFF 2021 as part of 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav' for commemorating 75 years of India's Independence.

Inaugural of the festival will witness movie 'Shershah'. 

It is organized by Leh in collaboration with Directorate of Film Festivals under Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. 

Kailash Satyarthi among four new SDG Advocates appointed by UN

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed four new Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Advocates, ahead of 76th UN General Assembly.

Four newly appointed advocates are: Nobel Peace Laureate Kailash Satyarthi, STEM activist Valentina Muñoz Rabanal, Microsoft President Brad Smith and K-pop superstars BLACKPINK.

UN now has total 16 SDG Advocates. 

SDG Advocates are prominent leaders, who work to mobilize 17 SDGs by 2030. 

Union Minister flags off dwarf container train from JNPT to Kanpur

Union Minister, Sarbananda Sonowal has virtually flagged off dwarf container train service from Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPT). 

This is the first consignment of laden dwarf containers from Mumbai-based JNPT port, biggest container port in India.

Consignment was moved by train to Inland Container Depot (ICD) Kanpur.

Dwarf containers they are shorter in size due to which they can be double-stacked, as well as easily run on electrified tracks and will reduce logistics cost. 

Yes bank partners with Visa to offer credit cards

Yes Bank has tied-up with Visa to offer credit cards to its customers, following regulatory ban on Mastercard by RBI.

Visa co-branded cards come with 9 credit card variants covering all segments, consumer cards, business cards, and corporate cards across YES First, YES Premia and YES Prosperity.

Yes Bank has achieved transition to Visa as payment network within a record time of less than 60 days, post the bank imposed on Mastercard.

CEO of Yes Bank: Prashant Kumar.

OECD projects India’s economic growth forecast at 9.7% for FY22

Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has cut India’s economic growth rate projections by 0.2% to 9.7% for the current financial year (2021-22).

For financial year 2022-23 (FY23), OECD has projected Indian economy to grow by 7.9%, as compared to 8.2% pegged earlier.

Global economy: OECD has projected strong growth rate of 5.7% in 2021 and 4.5% in 2022, as compared to 5.8% and 4.4%, respectively, estimated earlier.

Headquarters: Paris, France.

Union Minister launches National Single Window System for Investors

Piyush Goyal has launched ‘National Single Window System (NSWS)’ for the investors and businesses. 

NSWS: single window portal that will act as a one-stop-shop for investors or entrepreneur, to get approvals and clearances needed.

It shall give freedom from legacy of running to government offices for approvals and registrations needed by investors, entrepreneurs, and businesses in India. 

Currently, portal hosts approvals across 18 Central Departments and 9 States.

Posters of Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Games unveiled

The posters for 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralympics were released at Beijing Design Week Opening Ceremony to further raise public awareness for Beijing Winter Games scheduled to be held in February 2022. 

Three sets of official posters and 11 promotional pieces featuring elements of winter sports and Chinese culture highlighting Beijing 2022 motto "Together for a Shared Future".

The slogan reflects power of Games to overcome global challenges as a community. 

Bangladeshi Fairooz Faizah Beether gets 2021 Changemaker Award

Bangladesh’s Fairooz Faizah Beether has been chosen for 2021 Changemaker Award for her work promoting good health and well-being. 

Fairooz Faizah: Co-founder of Moner School which is an anonymous online platform active in mental health. 

Changemaker Award: It is a part of Goalkeepers Global Goals award instituted by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation towards attaining Sustainable Development Goals. 

Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka has been chosen for 2021 Global Goalkeeper Award. 

International Day of Sign Languages: 23rd September

International Day of Sign Languages (IDSL) is being observed annually on 23 September across the world to raise awareness on sign languages and strengthen the status about sign languages.

IDSL Theme 2021: We Sign For Human Rights.

The date of 23 September has been chosen to mark IDSL as it commemorates establishment of the World Federation of the Deaf on 23 September 1951.

It was first celebrated in 2018 as a part of the International Week of the Deaf.

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.