Latest Current Affairs For Tuesday 16th November, 2021

Paytm Money launches AI-powered ‘Voice Trading’

Paytm Money has launched ‘Voice Trading’, powered by artificial intelligence.

It will allow users to place a trade or get information about stocks via single voice command.

This service has been launched in line with Paytm Money’s efforts to offer next-gen and AI-driven tech to elevate user experience.

The voice trading feature enables a single voice command, with the use of neural networks and natural language processing (NLP) to allow instant processing.

FICCI to hold virtual agriculture summit on Nov 17-18

FICCI will organize  ‘Envisioning Smart & Sustainable Agriculture’, a virtual agriculture summit and awards event. 

Aim: to bring all key stakeholders on a common platform to ideate an implementable strategy for smart and sustainable agriculture. 

The sessions will focus on issues such as strengthening agri-inputs for sustainably increasing productivity. 

A knowledge report on ‘India Beyond 75: Envisioning smart and sustainable agriculture’ is being released during the event. 

Noted historian Babasaheb Purandare passes away

Noted historian and Padma Vibhushan awardee Balwant Moreshwar Purandare (Babasaheb) passed away recently.

Purandare (99) was an authority on the Maratha warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

Purandare was awarded with Padma Vibhushan, India's second-highest civilian award in 2019.

He was conferred with the Maharashtra Bhushan award in 2015.

He had conceived and directed the theatrical history extravaganza on Shivaji Maharaj’s life titled Jaanta Raja. 

Tata Projects bags $120mn order for power transmission project in Banglades

Tata Projects Limited has received an order for a 400kV double circuit transmission line project valued at around $120 million from the Power Grid Company of Bangladesh Limited (PGCB).

This is a 120-km project from Barapukuria to Bogura in Bangladesh to be executed in 30 months.

The funding for the same will be provided by EXIM Bank under Indian Line of Credit.

This project is on the line of South Aisa power pool comprising Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal.

HDFC Bank integrates with government's e-NAM platform

HDFC Bank integrated with the National Agriculture Market (eNAM) to enable digital collections and settlement of funds to various e-NAM beneficiaries.

HDFC Bank has partnered with the SFAC to further improve the ease of doing business on e-NAM platform by offering collection modes like multi-net banking, debit card, NEFT/RTGS and UPI/IMPS. 

This integration will help farmers, FPOs, commission agents, institutional buyers and other Mandi level service providers. 

IIT Guwahati to join hands with Oil India Ltd, to tech in energy sector

IIT-Guwahati will collaborate with OIL on the development and introduction of new technologies energy, and related sectors.

The partnership will also focus on cooperation in Transfer of existing tech, Knowledge up-gradation and innovation partnership, Training and skill development, and other areas of mutual agreement.

The MoU will facilitate a new path for exploring various opportunities in applied and translational research for the sustainable energy sector with OIL. 

Indian Oil and NTPC ink deal to collaborate on green energy

NTPC Ltd inked an initial pact with Indian Oil to collaborate in the field of renewable energy.

This is a first-of-its-kind novel initiative by two leading national energy majors of India, to support the country’s commitment to achieving renewable energy targets and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

This comes in the backdrop of Indian Oil announcing its plan to build the country’s first green hydrogen plant at its Mathura refinery.

Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai among world's top 10 polluted cities

According to the data from air quality and pollution city tracking service from IQAir, a Switzerland-based climate group, Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai are among the top ten most polluted cities of the world.

Delhi top the list with AQI at 556, Kolkata and Mumbai recorded an AQI of 177 and 169, respectively, at 4th and 6th position.

The cities with the worst AQI indices also include Lahore, Pakistan, and Chengdu, China.

IQAir is also a technology partner of the UNEP.

Legendary author Wilbur Smith passes away

Renowned writer Wilbur Smith (88) passed away at his home in South Africa.

During his decades long career as a writer, Smith authored 49 novels and sold over 140 million copies worldwide in more than 30 languages.

Smith was born in today's Zambia in 1933 to a British family.

In 1964, the author published his first novel, "When the Lion Feeds," which narrates the tale of a young man growing up on a South African cattle ranch.

Dubai Airshow begins at Al Maktoum International Airport

The biggest-ever Dubai Airshow began at Al Maktoum International Airport, Dubai. 

With more than 1,200 exhibitors taking part in the 5-day show.

Dubai Airshow is also the largest of its kind since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The show also features more than 160 of the world’s most advanced aircraft on the ground and in the air.

Indian Air Force (IAF) contingent is also taking part in the Dubai Air Show with the Sarang and Suryakiran Aerobatics Teams.

Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference begins today

Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC) being organized from 15-17 Nov. 

Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri will lead the official and business delegation. 

He will participate in the inaugural Ceremony of ADIPEC and also take part in a Ministerial Round Table titled "Charting the Climate Action Path from COP 26 to COP 27".

Mr. Puri will inaugurate the India Pavilion, set up jointly by the FIPI, DGH, and CII. 

Australia wins maiden T20 World Cup title

Australia won their maiden T20 World Cup title, crushing New Zealand in the final at the Dubai International Stadium.

Chasing a stiff target of 173, the Aussies overhauled New Zealand's score with seven balls remaining.

David Warnerwas chosen as Player of The Tournament for his effort with the bat.

In the previous two editions of the event (2014 and 2016), it was India batter Virat Kohli who won the title.

Lewis Hamilton wins Formula One Sao Paulo Grand Prix 2021

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton won the Brazilian Grand Prix, and gained momentum in his Formula One title fight with Red Bull driver Max Verstappen.

Hamilton, a seven-time world champion, beat Verstappen despite starting from 10th position on the grid due to a penalty.

Verstappen, the winner of the race's previous edition in 2019, finished second and saw his lead in the driver's championship shrink to 14 points.

The winner of a race gets 25 points.

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.