Latest Current Affairs For Tuesday 21st December, 2021

The Monk Who Transformed UP: Book on Yogi Adityanath's journey released

A book on Yogi Adityanath titled "The Monk Who Transformed Uttar Pradesh" was released. 

The book has been authored by the Shantanu Gupta and published by Garuda Prakashan.

The book chronicles how Yogi Adityanath transformed the state in various aspects like law and order, connectivity, education, health infrastructure, and overall growth.

The author has previously written, "The Monk Who Became Chief Minister: The definitive biography of Yogi Adityanath. 

Avani Lekhara Bags 'Best Female Debut' Honour At 2021 Paralympic Awards

Indian shooter Avani Lekhara won the "Best Female Debut" award at the 2021 Paralympic Awards for her record-breaking gold medal at the Tokyo Games. 

The 20-year-old from Jaipur won the gold in the women's 10m Air Rife Standing SH1 event earlier this year.

She also won a bronze in the 50m Rifle Three Positions Standing SH 1 event. 

She was also awarded Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna, India's highest sporting honour, for the achievement.

Dr Rekha Chaudhari authors the book “India’s Ancient Legacy of Wellness”

The book titled “India’s Ancient Legacy of Wellness” has been authored by Dr Rekha Chaudhari.

The book was released by the Maharashtra governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari.

It was launched on the occasion of World Digital Day (15th Dcember). 

The book highlights how important it is for human beings to be close to nature which helps to revive and recharge to do productive work.

The book is dedicated to her father and his emphasis on Health and Education.

Veteran Congress leader and former Union minister R L Jalappa passes away

Veteran Congress leader and former Union Minister R.L. Jalappa passed away.

He was founder and Chairman of Devaraj Urs Medical College in Kolar.

In 1979 he quit Congress to form the Karnataka Kranti Ranga  and he again joined congress in 1998.

In 1996, He was elected to the Lok Sabha from Chikballapur constituency, representing Janata Dal.

He has served as the Union Minister of Textiles (1996 to 1998) under the premiership of HD Deve Gowda and Inder Kumar Gujral.

India, Germany Development Bank sign Euro 442.26 mn loan pact

The Government of India and the Germany Development Bank - KfW (Kreditanstalt fur Wiederaufbau) signed a 442.26 mn euros loan pact for Surat Metro Rail project.

The total cost of the project is 1.5 billion euros, of which KfW is financing 442.26 million euros.

The project is being co-financed by French Development Agency, AFD (Agence Francaise de Developpemet).

The Agreement with AFD for 250 million euros was signed on January 28, 2021.

IFSCA sets up panel for creating framework for transfer of stressed loan

The International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) sets up a committee headed by Former executive director of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) G Padmanabhan. 

The committee will creating a framework for transfer of stressed loans from domestic lenders to financial institutions in IFSC.

It will examine the provisions of the RBI directions that require further clarification for transferring stressed loans, for identifying areas or issues of the directions from RBI. 

Haryana launches 'khel nursery scheme'

Haryana state govt has started 'Khel Nursery Scheme 2022-23' to promote sports in the state.

Under which sports nurseries would be started in government, private educational institutions and private sports institutions.

With this scheme, sports talent would get an opportunity to emerge at the grassroots level.

Under the scheme, sports nurseries are being opened for the sports included in the Olympic, Asian and Commonwealth Games.

Governor: Bandaru Dattatreya. 

Edelweiss General Insurance and PhonePe partner for digital motor insurance

Edelweiss General Insurance has partnered with PhonePe for digital motor insurance products.

PhonePe customers can now purchase EGI’s motor insurance policy in just a few clicks with zero paperwork.

EGI has launched on-demand, need-based, bite-sized insurance products, and is co-creating propositions in partnership in the digital ecosystem.

The partnership will help EGI reach out to PhonePe’s vast and growing network of customers to offer them digital motor insurance.

Equitas Small Finance Bank becomes banking partner for Govt of Maharashtra

Equitas Small Finance Bank has been empanelled as a banking partner to the Govt of Maharashtra with a view to offer its services to the state government employees.

The agreement will enable the SFB to distribute salaries and allowances to the existing employees apart from making provision of pension to pensioners.

The other 3 banks assigned the role of distributing salaries and allowances to govt employees are Bandhan Bank, Karur Vysya Bank and The South Indian Bank.

SpaceX launches 52 Starlink satellites from California base

A SpaceX rocket carried 52 Starlink internet satellites into orbit from California.

The two-stage Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from coastal Vandenberg Space Force Base.

The Falcon’s first stage returned and landed on a SpaceX droneship in the ocean.

It was the 11th launch and recovery of the stage.

Starlink is a satellite-based global internet system that SpaceX has been building for years to bring internet access to underserved areas of the world.

Good Governance Week 2021 being celebrated from 20th-25th December

The Centre is all set to launch a nationwide 'Good Governance Week' from December 20 to December 26.

Celebrated by: Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances (DARPG). 

Moto: to redress and dispose of public grievances and improvise service delivery down to the village level.

Theme: “Prashasan Gaon Ki Aur”. 

A film on “Prashasan Gaon Ki Aur” will also be screened.

“Good Governance Day will be celebrated on December 25, 2021.

Kdambi Srikanth bags silver in BWF World Championships, Spain

Kidambi Srikanth won silver medal in the BWF World Badminton Championships, Spain.

A former world no. 1, Srikanth lost Loh Kean Yew of Singapore.

He becomes the first Indian men Badminton player to won a silver in BWF World Championships.

The maiden silver placed Srikanth alongside P V Sindhu and Saina Nehwal, who had finished runner-up in the past.

Akane Yamaguchi of Japan clinched the women’s title beating World No. 1 and top seed Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei.

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.