Latest Current Affairs For Wednesday 20th October, 2021

Current Affairs in One Minute

1-Prime Minister Narendra Modi performed the Bhoomi Poojan ceremony of Hostel Phase-1 built by Saurashtra Patel Seva Samaj in Surat via video conferencing. 

2-Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated the seven new Defence Companies to the nation. 

3-‘Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Prerana Sthal’ was inaugurated at Naval Science & Technological Laboratory (NSTL), Visakhapatnam on October 15, 2021 on the occasion of 90th birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, former President of India. 

4-India has slipped to 101st position in the Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2021 of 116 countries, from its 2020 position of 94th and is behind its neighbours Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal. 

5-Indian Institute of Management, Udaipur has been ranked among the top 100 business schools in the Financial Times (FT) Master in Management (MIM) global ranking for the third consecutive year. 

6-Former New Zealand Test spinner, Grant Bradburn has decided to step down as head of Pakistan cricket’s high-performance coaching. 

7-The first woman head honcho of a large private general insurance company Anamika Roy Rashtrawar has quit IFFCO TOKIO General Insurance Company Ltd recently. 

8-Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur launched MyParkings app in New Delhi. 

9-In Manipur, Chief Minister N. Biren Singh launched the “Chief Minister's Health for All”. 

10-Veteran News Reader and News Editor Jaya Balaji passed away in Chennai. She was 75. 

Saurashtra Cricketer Avi Barot passes away

Saurashtra cricketer Avi Barot (29 years) passed away after suffering a cardiac arrest.

He has represented Haryana and Gujarat in his professional career. 

He is a former India Under-19 captain and a member of Ranji Trophy-winning team in the 2019-20 season.

Saurashtra cricket team is one of the three first-class cricket teams based in Gujarat. 

RBL Bank working on a new digital platform ‘Abacus 2.0’

RBL Bank is working on a new digital platform titled as Abacus 2.0, that will help the bank to scale up customer acquisition over the next few years.

Using Abacus 2.0, RBL Bank will provide products and services to new as well as existing customers digitally.

Abacus 1.0 was launched by RBL as a platform to increase its customer base in Tier 1 cities.

Headquarters of RBL Bank: Mumbai.

J&K signs MoU with Government of Dubai for Real Estate development

Jammu and Kashmir administration has signed MoU with Government of Dubai for real estate development, industrial parks, IT towers, multipurpose towers, logistics, medical college, super specialty hospital and more.

It is a milestone after which the investment will pour in from entire globe and is a big developmental push.

It will help the Union Territory to scale new heights in Industrialization and sustainable growth.

J&K Lt Governor: Manoj Sinha.

IIT Kanpur discovered a novel target to treat prostate cancer

IIT, Kanpur researchers have discovered that a particular gene (DLX1) that plays an important role in the development of jaws, skeleton, and interneurons in the brain has an important role to play in the growth and development of prostate cancer.

DLX1 protein has been used as a urine-based biomarker.

Using small molecules as inhibitors, the researchers have shown in mice a new therapeutic strategy to treat people with DLX1-positive prostate cancer.

Polar bears could vanish by 2100: Earth's Future study

According to Earth's Future journal study, if carbon emissions continue at current levels, summer ice will disappear by 2100 and, along with it, creatures such as seals and polar bears will vanish by 2100 as well.

During summer, when some of the ice melts, winds and currents carry it for great distances some into the North Atlantic, but much of it into the Arctic’s farthest-north coasts, along Greenland and Canadian islands resulting in a rich marine ecosystem.

Civil Aviation Minister virtually flags off 6 routes

Civil Aviation Minister, Jyotiraditya M. Scindia has virtually flagged off 6 routes expanding the aerial connectivity of North-East India: Kolkata – Guwahati, Guwahati – Aizawl, Aizawl – Shillong, Shillong – Aizawl, Aizawl – Guwahati, and Guwahati – Kolkata.

Flight connectivity on these routes has been a long-pending demand of the natives.

It will open seamless smooth aerial access option for nature lovers, travellers, tourists etc.

Indian Army team wins gold medal in Exercise Cambrian Patrol 2021

Indian Army has been awarded the gold medal at 2021 Cambrian Patrol Exercise, held at Brecon, Wales, in United Kingdom.

Indian Army was represented by a team from 4/5 Gorkha Rifles (Frontier Force) which competed against 96 teams representing special forces and regiments.

Ex-Cambrian Patrol is an international event organized by UK Army, in which militaries from across the world take part.

The drill is sometimes referred as the Olympics of Military Patrolling.

UIDAI to host ‘Aadhaar Hackathon 2021’ from 28th to 31st October

UIDAI is hosting a Hackathon titled as ‘Aadhaar Hackathon 2021’ targeted at young innovators, who are still at various Engineering institutes.

It will begin from 28th October to 31st October 2021.

Aadhaar Hackathon 2021 is themed around two topics: Enrolment and Update and Identity and Authentication. 

The winners of each theme would be rewarded by UIDAI through prize money and other lucrative benefits.

It is the first-ever event being conducted by Aadhaar team. 

Sri Lanka seeks $500 million line of credit from India to purchase fuel

Government of Sri Lanka has sought USD 500 million credit line from India to pay for its crude oil purchases amid a severe foreign exchange crisis in the island nation.

It is a part of the India-Sri Lanka economic partnership arrangement.

The facility would be used for purchasing petrol and diesel requirements.

State-run Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) owes USD 3.3 billion to the two main government banks: Bank of Ceylon and People's Bank.

RBI imposes Rs 1 crore penalty on SBI for non-compliance

RBI has imposed Rs 1 crore monetary penalty on State Bank of India (SBI) under the provisions of section 47A (1) (c), 46(4)(i) and 51(1) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.

Penalty has been imposed for non-compliance with the directions contained in RBI (Frauds classification and reporting by commercial banks and select FIs) directions 2016.

It also focuses upon the validity of any transaction or agreement entered into by the bank with its customers.

ICC and UNICEF partners for campaign on mental health issues

International Cricket Council (ICC) and UNICEF have announced their partnership to raise awareness about the mental health issues and wellbeing amongst children and adolescents.

Under this partnership, ICC will promote the #OnYourMind campaign of UNICEF at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021. 

ICC will use its global platforms, including its broadcast and digital channels to support UNICEF’s work and urge for greater commitment towards mental health and physical wellbeing.

NITI Aayog launches Geospatial Energy Map of India

NITI Aayog in collaboration Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and Energy Ministries of Government has launched Geospatial Energy Map of India or Geographic Information System (GIS) Energy Map of India to provide a holistic picture of all energy resources of the country.

It will identify and locate all primary and secondary sources of energy and their transportation/transmission networks for  comprehensive view of energy production and distribution in a country. 

Amit Rastogi appointed as new Chairman & Managing Director of NRDC

Commodore Amit Rastogi (Retd) has been appointed as the new Chairman & Managing Director of National Research Development Corporation (NRDC). 

Prior to this, he was the Director of Electrical Engineering at Integrated Headquarters, Ministry of Defence for 5 years and Additional General Manager Tech Services at Naval Dockyard for 2 years.

NRDC was established in India in 1953 to help develop and promote technologies developed at various national R&D institutions.

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.