Latest Current Affairs For Wednesday 6th October, 2021

Current Affairs in One Minute

1-In a landmark initiative, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0 and Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation 2.0 at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi.

2-E.R. Sheikh assumed charge as first Director General of the Ordnance Directorate (Co-ordination and Services). It is the successor organization of Ordnance Factory Board (OFB). 

3-Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari PVSM AVSM VM ADC took over as The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) at a ceremony at Air Headquarters (Vayu Bhawan). 

4-Minister for Labour and Employment, Bhupender Yadav launched DigiSaksham - a digital skills programme to enhance the employability of youth by imparting digital skills that are required in an increasingly technology driven era. 

5-Union Minister for Panchayati Raj and Rural Development Shri Giriraj Singh launched People's Plan Campaign 2021- Sabki Yojana Sabka Vikas and Vibrant Gram Sabha Dashboard. 

6-Rupinderpal Singh and Birendra Lakra, two members of the Indian mens hockey team that won a bronze medal in the Tokyo Olympics, have decided to hang up their sticks, calling time on an illustrious career as the Indian team remains on a break after the Olympics due to the Covid-19 pandemic. 

7-Low base effect, along with rising demand, pushed India's industrial output higher by 11.50 per cent, on a year-on-year basis. 

8-The Adani Renewable Energy (MH) Limited (AREMHL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Adani Green Energy Ltd (AGEL), will acquire a 40MW operating solar project in Odisha. 

9-India has achieved the milestone of having over 1,000 individuals with net worth of Rs 1,000 crore, said Hurun India. 

10-Indian-American financial expert Rohit Chopra was confirmed by the Senate to be the next director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). 

India International Trade Fair 2021 to be held in November

The 40th edition of India International Trade Fair 2021 will be held from 14th to 27th November in newly built halls of International Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre (IECC) as well as in the existing halls at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.

Theme: Atmanirbhar Bharat which will focus on economy, export potential, infrastructure supply chain, demand, and vibrant demography.

Fair also offers branding opportunity on large LED screens installed at strategic locations. 

PM Modi to inaugurate 3-day Urban conclave

PM Modi will inaugurate three day Urban conclave named New Urban India: Transforming Urban Landscape at Indira Gandhi Pratishthan in Lucknow under Azadi ka Amrit mahotsav celebrations.

He will also inaugurate or lay the foundation stones of 75 urban projects or schemes.

He will virtually hand over digital keys to 75,000 beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana in 75 districts and will also interact with five beneficiaries.

Defence Secretary launches Republic Day Celebrations 2022

Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar has launched Republic Day Celebrations 2022 website to showcase Republic Day Celebrations , which will mark 75th year of Independence-Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav. 

New website is www.indianrdc.mod.gov.in.

It will be a single-point official source for all the content related to Republic Day Celebrations.

It includes features like special RDC Radio, Gallery, Interactive Filters, E-book, Blogs on Indian Freedom Movement, Wars and War Memorials.

ADB signs MoU with Bangladesh for constructing Dhaka-Sylhet highway

Asian Development Bank (ADB) signs USD 400 million MoU with Bangladesh govt for constructing Dhaka-Sylhet highway to improve mobility, road safety and regional trade in northeast economic corridor in Bangladesh.

It is the first tranche of $1.78 billion financing facility approved by ADB for South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) Dhaka-Sylhet Road project.

It will be utilized for widening of about 210 kms of Dhaka-Sylhet road from 2-lane to 4 lane. 

Russia test-fires Zirkon hypersonic cruise missile

Russia has successfully test fired Zirkon hypersonic cruise missile from nuclear submarine for the first time by Severodvinsk submarine in the Barents Sea.

It first test-fired Zircon from the surface and then launched another missile from submerged position in the White Sea.

Zircon is a part of new generation of unrivaled arms systems, which is capable of flying at nine times the speed of sound and have a range of 1,000 kilometres.

Power Ministry promulgates Electricity Rules 2021

Ministry of Power has promulgated Electricity (Transmission System Planning, Development and Recovery of Inter-State Transmission Charges) Rules 2021. 

The rule paves the way for overhauling of transmission system planning, towards giving power sector utilities easier access. 

Currently, generating companies apply for long-term access based on their supply tie-ups, while medium-term and short-term transmission access is acquired within the available margins.

JNCASR Scientist wins Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize

T Govindaraju from Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research has received prestigious Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology, 2021 for his ground-breaking concepts and discoveries, which have significant potential for diagnosis and treatment for Alzheimer’s, lung cancer.

SSB Prizes consists of Rs 5,00,000 and is given for outstanding research, applied for fundamental in Biological Sciences, Chemical Sciences, etc. 

Raksha Mantri presents DRDO Dare to Dream 2.0 & Young Scientists awards

Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh felicitated winners of ‘Dare to Dream 2.0’ Contest of Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) in New Delhi. 

Raksha Mantri gave away awards to 40 winners, out of which 22 in Individual category and 18 in Startup category.

He also launched ‘Dare to Dream 3.0’ to promote innovators & startups and provide a platform for the young, ignited minds in India. 

Three indigenously-developed technologies handed over to the Armed Forces. 

Ganga River Dolphin Day: 5th October

Ganga River Dolphin Day is observed every year on October 5 in India to raise awareness and encourage conservation of Ganga River Dolphins.

The day was chosen as on this day in 2009, Ganga Dolphin was declared as national aquatic animals.

Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) and Uttar Pradesh govt jointly began the dolphin conservation campaign in 2012. 

Gangetic Dolphins are blind, catch their prey with the help of ultrasonic sound waves and can only live in freshwater.

World Teachers’ Day: 5th October

World Teachers’ Day (International Teachers Day) is being observed every year on October 5 to focus on appreciating, assessing, and improving the educators of the world and to provide an opportunity to consider issues related to teachers and teaching.

Theme 2021: Teachers at the heart of education recovery.

This day was established in 1994, to commemorate the signing of 1966 UNESCO/ILO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers.

Colonel Mamady Doumbouya sworn in as interim President of Guinea

Colonel Mamady Doumbouya (41 years) has been sworn in as the Interim President of Guinea. 

He led the military coup in September 5, 2021 to overthrow President Alpha Conde.

He is Africa’s second-youngest leader, after Mali’s 38-year-old Assimi Goïta.

He will serve as transitional president until the country returns to civilian rule. 

Guinea is a West African coastal country bordered on the west by the Atlantic Ocean.

Capital of Guinea: Conakry.

Piyush Goyal inaugurated India Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai

World Expo 2020 has been organized at Dubai in United Arab Emirates from 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2022.

Main theme of Dubai Expo 2020: Connecting Minds, Creating the Future. 

Expo 2020 is the first to be held in Middle East and North Africa & South Asia region.

It will have 190 pavilions representing different countries along with 200 restaurants. 

Theme of India pavilion at the Expo: Openness, Opportunity and Growth.

David Julius, Ardem Patapoutian won 2021 Nobel Prize for Medicine

American scientists David Julius and Ardem Patapoutian has won 2021 Nobel Prize for Medicine for discoveries of receptors for temperature, which can pave way for new pain-killers for chronic diseases.

Two scientists have allowed us to understand how heat, cold and mechanical force can initiate the nerve impulses that allow us to perceive and adapt to the world around us.

Prize consists of 10 million Swedish crowns ($1.15 million).

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed takes oath for second five-year term

Abiy Ahmed has been sworn in as the Prime Minister of Ethiopia for a second five-year term.

His oath of office has been administered by Supreme Court Chief Justice Meaza Ashenafi.

His party won 410 seats out of 436 contested in the elections

Mr Abiy is the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize winner and is serving as prime minister of Ethiopia since 2018

Ethiopia is in the Horn of Africa and is a rugged, landlocked country split by Great Rift Valley

Capital of Ethiopia: Addis Ababa

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.