Latest Current Affairs For Tuesday 12th October, 2021

Current Affairs in One Minute

1-Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated to the nation 35 Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) Oxygen Plants established under PM CARES, across 35 States and Union Territories at AIIMS Rishikesh, Uttarakhand. 

2-Argentina has recently approved the emergency use of the Chinese Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine for children aged between three and 11. 

3-Reliance Retail Ventures Limited (RRVL) has entered into a Master Franchise agreement with 7-Eleven to run convenience stores in India. 

4-Chief minister Yogi Adityanath has announced that the medical college in Chandauli district will be named after Aghor Panth's legendary spiritual Guru, Baba Keenaram. 

5-Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman performed bhumi pujan of 120 MW Lower Kopili Hydro Electric project at Dima Hasao district. 

6-With a view to realise the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi of building an Aatmanirbhar Bharat and to position India strongly on the Global textiles map, the Government has approved the setting up of 7 PM MITRA parks as announced in Union Budget for 2021-22. 

7-The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) facilitated exports of the first consignment of various value-added and nutri-rich products derived from Jackfruit, Passion fruit and Nutmeg (Jaiphal) sourced from farmers in Thrissur, Kerala, to Melbourne, Australia. 

8-As part of Birth Centenary celebrations of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, His Excellency Mr Muhammad Imran, High Commissioner of Bangladesh honoured 10 Indian Naval War Veterans from across the country acknowledging their contribution in the liberation of Bangladesh in 1971 at a function hosted onboard BNS Somudra Avijan at Visakhapatnam. 

9-The Ministry of Tourism organized a Conference in Bodhgaya to promote potential of Buddhist tourism. 

10-Russia successfully test fired a Zirkon hypersonic cruise missile from a nuclear submarine for the first time. 

PNB launches "6S Campaign" under Govt. of India's customer outreach program

Punjab National Bank has launched a "6S Campaign" encapsulating different schemes such as - Swabhiman, Samruddhi, Sampark and Shikhar, Sankalp and Swagat.

This was launched in line with GoI’s "Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav" for various outreach activities on financial services.

Aim: to drive special awareness campaign for development of financial services and to accelerate credit growth, improve penetration of social security schemes and drive digital banking push.

International Day of The Girl Child 2021: 11th October

The International Day of the Girl Child is observed annually on October 11.

The date was set by the United Nations to urge the global community to embolden gender equality impacts.

This year, the theme has been set as “Digital generation. Our generation,”.

The reason behind the celebration of International Day of the Girl Child is to give proper education, healthcare, learning, opportunities to young girls and women.

NMCG & WASH Institute Signs MoU For Capacity Building In Faecal Sludge

National Mission of Clean Ganga signed an MoU with Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Institute to conduct a series of trainings to enhance the quality of service of officials in Urban Local Bodies. 

This MoU is also to efficiently address FSSM issues in towns and cities of the Ganga Basin.

The project will be funded by USAID and supported by The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

It aims to improve preparedness towards FSSM and Wastewater Management towns and cities.

Pulitzer-winning scholar Martin J Sherwin passes away

Martin J Sherwin, a leading scholar of atomic weapons passed away.

In his book titled ‘A World Destroyed’, challenged support for the U.S. bombing of Japan.

He won Pulitzer Prize for his book ‘American Prometheus’.

Sherwin was a New York City native whose interest in nuclear research dated back to his undergraduate years at Dartmouth College.

Railways launch two long haul freight trains 'Trishul', 'Garuda'

The Indian Railways has launched 2 long haul freight trains 'Trishul' and 'Garuda' in South Central Railways (SCR).

These are twice or multiple times longer than the normal composition of freight trains.

The SCR launched 'Trishul' from Kondapalli station of Vijayawada division to Khurda division of East Coast Railway.

SCR launched another similar train 'Garuda' from Raichur of Guntakal division to Manuguru of Secunderabad division.

Telecom Secretary inaugurates Quantum Communication Lab at C-DoT

Telecom secretary and Chairman of Digital Communications Commission inaugurated its Quantum Communication Lab and unveiled the indigenously developed Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) solution at C-DOT, Delhi. 

QKD is essential to address the threat that rapid advancement in Quantum Computing poses to the security of the data being transported by various critical sectors. 

The govt has allocated $1 bn for the National Mission on Quantum Technologies and Applications. 

Centre imposes stock limits on edible oils to curb price surge

In a landmark decision, the Department of Food and Public Distribution has imposed stock limits on Edible Oils and Oilseeds for a period upto 31st March, 2022.

This decision will soften the prices of edible oils in the domestic market. 

The high prices of edible oil in international market has a substantial impact on the domestic edible oil prices.

Future trading on Mustard Oil and Oilseeds was suspended in NCDEX w.e.f 8 October, 2021.

Central Government lunches nationwide River Ranching Programme in UP

The Union Minister Parshottam Rupala, launched the River Ranching Programme in Uttar Pradesh.

4 other states viz. Uttarakhand, Orissa, Tripura and Chhattisgarh also participated in River Ranching program. 

River ranching programme” is introduced as special activity under PMMSY scheme for augmenting and enhancing the fish production and productivity. 

National Fisheries Development Board has been designated as the Nodal Agency for implementing River Ranching. 

M. Ravichandran appointed Secretary, Earth Sciences ministry

The govt has appointed M. Ravichandran as Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences.

He is currently Director, National Centre for Ocean and Polar Research, Goa.

He has been in charge of coordinating several of India's scientific missions to Antarctica and the Arctic.

A key thrust of the government is its ‘Deep Ocean Mission’. 

This June, the CCEA approved ₹4,077 crore for 5 yrs for the mission to “explore” deep ocean.  

Minister of Earth Sciences: Jitendra Singh

Green pacts inked at India, Denmark summit

India and Denmark signed two MoUs on research in climate change, and setting up a “green hydrogen” electrolyser plant.

The MoUs were between Reliance Industries and Danish company Stiesdal Fuel Technologies during PM level summit between two countries.

This was the first summit-level visit to India since the COVID pandemic, and the first State visit by a Danish leader since a bilateral freeze on ties a decade ago.

Capital and Currency: Copenhagen and Krone

PM Modi launches Indian Space Association

PM Narendra Modi has launched the Indian Space Association (ISpA).

ISpA is a private industry body to help boost space technology in India.

ISpA’s founding members include OneWeb, Bharti Airtel, Mapmyindia, Walchandnagar Industries, and Ananth Technology Limited among others.

ISpA will participate and work with ISRO and others on the issue of policy around space technology and domain.

It will focus on capacity building and space economic hubs and incubators in India.

India-US launched ‘Operation Broader Sword’

India and the USA, jointly conducted an ‘Operation Broader Sword’ to stop the illegal shipment of drugs through the International Mail System.

It targeted shipments of illicit, potentially dangerous, unapproved prescription drugs, combination medical devices, and synthetic drug precursors shipped through International Mail Facilities.

The operation resulted in the interception of over 500 shipments of illicit and unapproved prescription drugs bound for US consumers.

NLU Delhi launches research affiliate program ‘Eklavya’

The National Law University (NLU), Delhi launched Eklavya, a ‘Research Affiliate’ program, for those who do not have a traditional law degree.

Aim: To emphasize its commitment to actively seek partnerships outside the varsity and draw from their experiences and perspectives to develop quality legal scholarship. 

It is open to those who have at least three years of demonstrable experience working on issues that have a significant interface with the law.

CarTrade Tech to acquire OLX India's auto business for Rs 537 cr

Mumbai-based used cars platform CarTrade Tech Ltd will acquire online marketplace OLX India's auto sales business for Rs 537 crore.

CarTrade will acquire a 100% stake in Sobek Auto India Pvt Ltd, the entity that houses OLX India’s Automotive business, in an all-cash deal.

The acquisition will likely to be completed in 21-30 days.

Sobek is a company incorporated under the Companies Act, of 2013.

It is engaged in the business of running an automotive digital platform.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.