Latest Current Affairs For Thursday 11th November, 2021

NITI Aayog announces five top aspirational districts in education sector

NITI Aayog has announced top five most improved aspirational districts in the education sector for September month. 

Bhoopalpalli in Telangana tops the ranking, followed by Chatra and Sahibganj in Jharkhand, Nuapada in Odisha and Jaisalmer in Rajasthan.

This is as per NITI Aayog's delta rankings.

CEO of NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India): Amitabh Kant.

Koneru Ramakrishna Rao passes away

Well-known educationist, teacher, and philosopher, Koneru Ramakrishna Rao (89 years) passed away due to age-related illness.

He was an internationally recognized psychologist and served as president of US-based Parapsychological Association and the Indian Academy of Applied Psychology.

He had written more than 20 books and 300 research publications.

He served as Chancellor of GITAM (Deemed to Be University).

He was awarded with Padma Shri in 2011.

Indian Army signs MoU with BISAG-N for development of technologies

Indian Army has inked MoU with Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geo-Informatics (BISAG-N), Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

Aim: Facilitate exchange of knowledge and collaboration in the emerging technologies for development of GIS and IT based Enterprise Resource Planning Software, Training Content, Telecasting of Audio-Visual Content, Research and Knowledge Partnership, Technical Support and Upgradation for Resources Developed.

DRDO signs MoU with Israel for development of dual use technologies

DRDO has signed Bilateral Innovation Agreement with Directorate of Defence Research and Development (DDR&D), Ministry of Defence, Israel to promote innovation and accelerated R&D in startups and MSMEs of both countries for the development of dual use technologies.

Under the agreement, startups and industry of both countries will work together to bring out next generation technologies and products like Drones, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Quantum, etc.

Union Minister inaugurates Biotechnology Demonstration Centre

Union Minister, Jitendra Singh has inaugurated new Biotechnology Centre for Northeast tribals in remote area of Arunachal Pradesh at Kimin. 

This ‘Centre for Bio-resources and Sustainable Development’ will greatly help in improving the socio-economic status of tribal people in the State.

Centre is focusing on 3 major programs:

State-of-the-Art Orchidarium with establishing satellite units. 

Banana fibre extraction and processing units. 

Aroma Unit.

Centre notified Minerals Concession Rules, 2021

Ministry of Mines has notified Minerals (other than Atomic and Hydrocarbons Energy Mineral) Concession (Fourth Amendment) Rules, 2021 to amend The Minerals (Other than Atomic and Hydrocarbons Energy) Concession Rules, 2016. 

New rules will provide manner of sale of 50% of mineral produced from the captive leases.

Disposal of overburden, mineral below threshold value will be allowed.

Minimum area for grant of mining lease: 4 ha

Interest on delayed payments revised to 12%. 

Third edition of Logistics Ease Across Different States (LEADS) report

Piyush Goyal has launched 3rd edition of the Logistics Ease Across Different States (LEADS) report, 2021.

As per the report, Gujarat has been adjudged as the Best Performing State, followed by Haryana and Punjab, while Uttar Pradesh is the top improver.

LEADS is an attempt to bring Longevity, Efficiency, Accuracy, Durability, and Smartness in the Logistics sector.

It can lead the way to bring down logistics costs by five percent over the next 5 years.

Environment Minister inaugurates ‘The Ganga Connect Exhibition’ at Glasgow

Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav has inaugurated ‘Ganga Connect exhibition’ showcased by National Mission for Clean Ganga, c-Ganga, and High Commission of India at the City of Glasgow. 

The exhibition is an attempt to showcase development in Ganga River basin to global community of environmental stakeholders, who have gathered in Glasgow for UN COP 26 meet.

Ganga Connect has started in Glasgow, and will run through various cities in UK, later this month.

14th edition of cyber security conference 'c0c0n' inaugurated

Chief of Defense Staff General Bipin Rawat will inaugurate 14th edition of 'c0c0n', an annual Hacking and Cyber Security Briefing. 

It will be held virtually from 10th to 13th November 2021. 

It is being conducted by Kerala Police in association with two non-profit organisations, Society for Policing of Cyberspace (POLCYB) and Information Security Research Association (ISRA).

Aim: to discuss the challenges facing by the digital world during COVID period.

Global Drug Policy Index 2021 released

Harm Reduction Consortium has released inaugural edition of Global Drug Policy Index 2021. 

Five leading countries on humane and health-driven drug policies: Norway, New Zealand, Portugal, UK, Australia. 

The index is a data-driven global analysis of drug policies and their implementation which comes at a time when govt is reviewing the provisions of Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic substances act 1985.

India is ranked 18 out of 30 countries with overall score of 46/100.

Asif Ali, Laura Delany declared as ICC Players of the Month for October

Asif Ali from Pakistan and Laura Delany from Ireland have been voted as the ICC Players of the Month for October.

Asif Ali scored 52 runs without defeat across three matches for Pakistan in October at ICC Men’s T20 World Cup with a strike rate of 273.68.

Ireland captain Delany scored 189 runs at 63 and taking 4 wickets in 3-1 ODI series win over Zimbabwe with strike rate of 108.62. 

Sandeep Lamichhane (Nepal), Heather Knight (England) were ICC player for September. 

Vice Admiral R Hari Kumar to be the next Chief of Naval Staff

Vice Admiral R Hari Kumar has been appointed as the next Chief of the Naval Staff with effect from 30th November 2021. 

He is presently the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Western Naval Command. 

He succeeded Admiral Karambir Singh, who will retires from the service on 30th November, 2021.

He was commissioned on 1st Jan, 1983 in to the Executive Branch of the Indian Navy.

He served as Fleet Operations Officer of the Western Fleet.

Union Minister launches Mentorship Programme for Young Innovators

Union Minister Jitendra Singh has launched first-ever Mentorship Programme for Young Innovators to mark 75th Year of India’s independence.

It is a pan India Scheme that envisages Star College in every district of India supported by Department of Biotechnology (DBT).

It will help towards the concept of networking, hand holding and outreach.

The plan envisages organizing workshops, meetings per month; handhold at colleges particularly in the rural areas.

RBI launches its First Global Hackathon named ‘HARBINGER 2021’

RBI has launched its first global hackathon named as ‘HARBINGER 2021 – Innovation for Transformation’. 

Theme of HARBINGER 2021: Smarter Digital Payments. 

Winner of the hackathon will get Rs. 40 lakhs while Runner-up will get Rs. 20 lakh. 

Eligibility criteria: All entities, teams or individuals (18 years and above) eligible to enter into contractual agreement; who possess Minimum Viable Product (MVP) and those who have an element of innovation.

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.