Latest Current Affairs For Monday 25th October, 2021

Current Affairs in One Minute

1-In a significant academic development, Jindal Institute of Behavioural Sciences (JIBS) has been awarded the Global Engagement Seed Grant from the prestigious International Brain Research Organisation (IBRO). 

2-UIDAI to host “Aadhaar Hackathon 2021” from 28thOctober to 31st October. 

3-Union Minister of Civil Aviation, Jyotiraditya M. Scindia virtually flagged off 6 routes expanding the aerial connectivity of North-East India. 

4-Jammu and Kashmir administration signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Dubai for real estate development, industrial parks, IT towers, multipurpose towers, logistics, medical college, super specialty hospital and more. 

5-Defence Secretary Dr Ajay Kumar inaugurated a training program on the latest survey technologies and mapping of defence land boundaries using Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS) for officers of Indian Defence Estates Services (IDES) and Technical Staff of Directorate General Defence Estates (DGDE). 

6-Geospatial Energy Map of India was launched by Dr Rajiv Kumar (Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog), Dr V K Saraswat (Member, NITI Aayog), and Shri Amitabh Kant (CEO, NITI Aayog). 

7-Commodore Amit Rastogi (Retd), after an illustrious career of 34 years in Indian Navy has taken over as Chairman & Managing Director of National Research Development Corporation. 

8-Sri Lanka's first-ever Test cricket captain Bandula Warnapura died at the age of 68. 

9-Colin Powell, the first African-American secretary of state and national security adviser to the US president, passed away. He was 84. 

10-Former Uttar Pradesh Assembly Speaker and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MLA, Sukhdev Rajbhar died. He was 70. 

11-Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Kushinagar International Airport. 

12-Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and AYUSH Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated Ayush Van, a dedicated forest for Ayurvedic plants in a program held at the Deendayal Port Trust (DPT)– Rotary Forest in the city. 

13-Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs & Food & Public Distribution and Textiles, Piyush Goyal inaugurated 250mm Seer Water supply scheme in Kashmir. 

14-Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh launched Air Quality Early Warning System to coincide with Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsava. 

15-Union Minister for Ports, Shipping & Waterways and AYUSH Shri Sarbananda Sonowal laid the Foundation Stone for various capacity augmentation projects at Deendayal Port (DPT) at Kandla. 

16-Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh said that Northeast will be developed as India’s Bio-Economic Hub. 

17-North Korea confirmed that it tested a newly developed missile designed to be launched from a submarine, the first such weapons test in two years. 

18-To mark her 74th birthday, Lucknow Mayor Sanyukta Bhatia launched 'Mayor Anusuiya Kitchen' which will provide food to the poor, labourers and attendants of patients in hospitals at Rs 10 per plate. 

19-Procter & Gamble (P&G) India has announced a Rs 500 crore 'P&G Rural Growth Fund' to accelerate inclusive growth in the Indian rural market. 

20-Former India cricketers Harbhajan Singh and Javagal Srinath are among 18 players who were given honorary life membership by the Marylebone Cricket Club. 

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.