Latest Current Affairs For Thursday 21st October, 2021

Current Affairs in One Minute

1-Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo has been officially nominated as the Socialist Party's candidate for the 2022 presidential election. 

2-Saurashtra batter Avi Barot, a former India Under-19 captain and a member of the Ranji Trophy-winning team in the 2019-20 season, has died at the young age of 29. 

3-Seasoned Kannada actor, progressive thinker and playwright G K Govinda Rao passed away. Rao was 84. 

4-Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, and Minister of Chemical and Fertilizers, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, virtually laid the foundation for the new building of ICMR School of Public Health at ICMR- National Institute of Epidemiology(NIE) Ayappakkam, Chennai. 

5-The High Commission of India in Bangladesh handed over a Life Support Ambulance and essential medical supplies to the Kumudini Hospital in Mirzapur. 

6-Larsen & Toubro (L&T) announced the launch of a new application-based learning platform to help create industry-ready talent. 

7-Reliance Brands Ltd (RBL) will pick a 40 per cent minority stake in renowned fashion designer Manish Malhotra's MM Styles Pvt Ltd. 

8-Automated health kiosks, where people can get basic tests conducted at a nominal fee, have been installed at the Agra Cantt and Mathura Junction railway stations. 

9-Chennai Super Kings beat Kolkata Knight Riders by 27 runs to win its fourth IPL title. 

Tourism Minister addresses ‘Tourism in Buddhist Circuits – A way forward'

Union Minister for Culture & Tourism G Kishan Reddy addressed the inaugural session of Tourism in Buddhist Circuits – A way forward’ at Hotel Royal Residencey in Kushinagar.

It is a two day conference which will highlight Buddhist Circuit and Buddhist tourism. 

On the occasion, Prime Minister Modi will inaugurate Kushinagar International Airport on 20th October 2021, whose inaugural flight from Colombo, Sri Lanka will land at the Kushinagar airport.

International Chef’s Day: 20 October

International Chefs Day is being observed every year on 20 October to celebrate and honour the noble profession and educate people around the world about eating healthy.

Theme of International Chefs Day 2021 campaign: Healthy Food for the Future.

It is also the day for experienced chefs to pass on their knowledge and culinary skills to the next generation with a sense of pride and commitment.

It was created by Dr. Bill Gallagher in 2004.

Piyush Goyal inaugurates 250mm Seer Water supply scheme in Kashmir

Union Minister Piyush Goyal has inaugurated 250mm Seer Water supply scheme during his two day visit to Pahalgam as part of the public outreach programme of the central government.

It will benefit around 10000 people and will be completed under Jal Jeevan Mission within three months.

He also inaugurated tourist hut of Pahalgam Development Authority at Golf Course Pahalgam. 

Forest Departments Deodar sapling plantation drive was also being conducted under Green JK Drive.

World Osteoporosis Day: 20th October

World Osteoporosis Day (WOD) is observed every year on October 20 to raise global awareness of the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis and metabolic bone disease.

The day is organized by International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF).

Global WOD Campaign theme for 2021: Serve Up Bone Strength.

Osteoporosis means 'porous bone’ and is a disease that weakens bones, and if you have it, you are at a greater risk for sudden and unexpected bone fractures.

India, Israel, UAE, U.S. decide to launch quadrilateral economic forum

India, Israel, United Arab Emirates and United States have decided to launch new quadrilateral economic forum.

Quadrilateral builds on ongoing cooperation between U.S., Israel and UAE after the Abraham Accords last year. 

This QUAD grouping had decided to establish an international forum for economic cooperation, and discussed possibilities for joint infrastructure projects expanding economic and political cooperation in the Middle East and Asia. 

WHO releases Global TB Report 2021

World Health Organization (WHO) has released its annual Global tuberculosis (TB) report 2021 to provide a comprehensive and up-to-date assessment of TB epidemic at global, regional and country levels.

Key findings:

Number of people dying from TB increased in 2020 due to COVID-19.

India is among top 30 countries with the highest TB burden.

Very few people were diagnosed, treated, or provided with TB preventive treatment in 2020 compared with 2019.

Home Minister Amit Shah flags off ‘Modi Van’

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has flagged off ‘Five Mobile Medical Vans’ dubbed as Modi Van in Kaushambi district of Uttar Pradesh.

Modi vans have been launched under ‘Seva Hi Sangathan’ programme of BJP to commemorate Prime Minister Narendra Modi 20 years as the Head of Government.

Five Mobile Medical Vans will operate in five Assembly Constituencies in Kaushambi.

These vans will work under the aegis of Kaushambi Vikas Parishad run by BJP’s National Secretary Vinod Sonkar. 

India ranks 40th in 2021 Mercer CFS Global Pension Index survey

India has been ranked at 40th spot out of 43 countries in the 2021 Mercer CFS Global Pension Index survey with overall index value of 43.3.

Top Performer: Iceland with an index value of 84.2.

Worst performer: Thailand with index value at 40.6. 

India was ranked 34th out of 39 pension systems in 2020. 

According to survey, workforce in India manages most of the retirement provision themselves, as the coverage of private retirement provision in India is only around 6%.

Gulzar pens book titled “Actually… I Met Them: A Memoir”

Legendary Indian poet-lyricist-director Gulzar has come out with his new book title as ‘Actually… I Met Them: A Memoir’.

It is being published by Penguin Random House India publishing group.

In this memoir book, Gulzar has shared many interesting unknown facts about legends like Kishore Kumar, Bimal Roy, Ritwik Ghatak, Hrishikesh Mukherjee and Mahasweta Devi, among others.

CII organizes ‘Future Tech 2021’ conference

Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has organized an International Conference and Exhibition on Digital technologies, ‘Future Tech 2021- a Journey of digital transformation to technology adoption and acceleration’. 

It is being held from October 19 to 27, 2021.

Theme of Future Tech 2021: Driving technologies for building the future, we all can trust. 

Theme will have 5 pillars: Strategy, Growth, Resilience, Inclusiveness, Trust.

India ranks 71st on 2021 Global Food Security Index

India has been ranked 71st in the Global Food Security (GFS) Index 2021 among 113 countries with a score of 57.2 points. 

GFS Index is published by London-based Economist Impact and is sponsored by Corteva Agriscience. 

Top performers: Ireland, Australia, UK, Finland, Switzerland, Netherlands, Canada, Japan, France, US. 

Worst performers: Burundi. 

China has been ranked 34th, Pakistan ranked 75th, Sri Lanka (77th Position), Nepal (79th position) and Bangladesh (84th position). 

Fourth General Assembly of International Solar Alliance (ISA) organized

The Fourth General Assembly of International Solar Alliance (ISA) has been organized virtually.

It is being held from 18th to 21st October 2021.

It is being presided over by President of ISA Assembly RK Singh. 

Key initiatives during the Assembly:

Operationalization of OSOWOG (One Sun One World One Grid) initiative, $1-trillion Solar Investment Roadmap for 2030. 

Blended Financial Risk Mitigation Facility approved. 

Strategic plan of the ISA for the next five years.

Bhavani Devi wins Charlellville National Competition in France

Fencer Bhavani Devi (28 years) has won 2022 Charlellville National Competition in France in the individual women’s sabre event. 

She also made history at Tokyo Olympics by becoming the first Indian to compete in the sport at the Games by winning her round of 64 match 15-3 against Tunisia’s Nadia Ben Azizi before going down to eventual bronze-medallist, Manon Brunet of France.

She is currently ranked 50th in the world and is the top-ranked fencer from India.

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.