NATIONAL

COP26 climate change summit begins in Glasgow

•With the UK hosts warning that "lights are flashing red on the climate change dashboard", the COP26 UN climate summit kicked off on Sunday in Glasgow, marked by pointed warnings of growing threats as emissions-cutting pledges still fail to add up.

•"I do not underestimate the challenge" of reaching an effective deal to adequately slash emissions, Alok Sharma, Britain's COP26 president, told delegates at the talks' opening. But, he added, "I believe that we can resolve the outstanding issues."

Samudrayaan project for deep ocean exploration launched

•The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Earth Sciences Dr Jitendra Singh officially launched India’s First Manned Ocean Mission called the “Samudrayan project” at Chennai. The Unique Ocean Mission aims to have deep underwater manned vehicles for carrying out subsea activities. With this technology, India joins the elite club of nations such as the USA, Russia, Japan, France and China to have such underwater vehicles.

•The Unique Ocean Mission aims to have deep underwater manned vehicles for carrying out subsea activities.

•The deepwater manned submersible has been codenamed as the ‘MATSYA 6000’.

Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh dedicates 'Sardar Patel Leadership Centre'

•Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh has dedicated to the nation “Sardar Patel Leadership Centre” at Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) in Mussoorie. The facility was inaugurated on the occasion of Rashtriya Ekta Diwas on October 31, 2021, which marks the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

•The Sardar Patel Leadership Centre aims to lay the foundation capacity building for future generations of Civil Servants from India and Abroad, as visualised by the Father of All India Services. The Centre aims to emerge as a Huge Resource Centre to provide continuous study and learning opportunities to Civil Servants so that they learn from the best practices of leadership across the world while remaining connected with their cultural ethos, values and roots.

After 14 years, price of matchbox to be hiked to Rs 2

•National Small Matchbox Manufacturers Association has increased the price of a matchbox from Rs.1 to Rs. 2 per box. This will come into effect from December 01, 2021. The increase in the price of matchbox has been done after 14 years since last increase in 2007 from 50 paise to Re. 1.

•However, with the increase in the price of matchboxes, the number of matchsticks in each box has also been increased from 36 matchsticks to 50 matchsticks. The increase in price was necessary as the price of all the 14 key raw materials of the matchstick has increased.

Manoj Sinha inaugurates Apple Festival in J-K's Srinagar

•Union Agriculture Minister, Narendra Singh Tomar and Lt Governor, Manoj Sinha has virtually inaugurated Apple Festival, organized for the first time in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir.

•It will provide a better platform to apple growers and other stakeholders. With an annual production of more than 2 million metric tonnes, apple from J&K contributes to 87% of the national production and is linked to the livelihood of about 30% of the population of Jammu and Kashmir.

Karnataka ranks 7th in governance ranking: Report

•According to the 6th edition of the Public Affairs Index (PAI 2021) report by the Public Affairs Centre (PAC), a Bengaluru- based non-profit think tank, the top three slots have been taken by Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Telangana among 18 large states.

•PAI 2021 highlights the state government’s quality governance and especially the state’s government involvement over the curb of Covid-19.

Ministry of Rural development launched initiative for SHG women

•The Ministry of Rural Development recently launched an initiative to create Lakhpati SHG women to enable rural SHG women to earn at least Rs 1 lakh per annum.

•To achieve this ambitious goal, the ministry has envisioned livelihood support to 25 million rural SHG women in the next two years. Based on various models existing across India, the government has issued a detailed advisory to state governments.

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

Pearl Agarwal becomes First Miss India 2021

•The grand finale of the All India Beauty Pageants First Miss India’21 and First Miss India Teen’21 was held at Novotel Dona Sylvia Resort, Goa on Saturday, 30 October.

•Many celebrities and dignitaries graced the mega event. Jagdeesh Chandra and Bollywood celebrity Hina Khan crowned the winners during the ceremony. The First Miss India 2021 title was bagged by Pearl Agarwal with Lekh Utaiah as 1st runner up and Shreya Gupta as the 2nd runner up while Rayna Sikri was declared as the First Miss India Teen 2021 with Shubhi Dhaneta as 1st runner up and Mrunmayi Barve as the 2nd runner up.

BANKING AND ECONOMIC

ADB approves $250 million loan for India’s National Industrial Corridor Development Program

•The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a USD 250 million (about Rs 1,875 crore) loan to support India’s National Industrial Corridor Development Program (NICDP). This is the first subprogram of the programmatic USD 500 million loans to develop 11 industrial corridors spanning 17 states.

•NICDP aims to develop world-class industrial nodes that are supported by efficient urban agglomerations and multimodal connectivity, including international gateways like ports and airports and inclusive, climate-resilient, and sustainable infrastructure.

Government approved 8.5% interest rate on EPF for FY21

•Ministry of Finance has approved the interest rate on employees’ provident fund (EPF) deposits for 2020-21 at 8.5%. The rate has been kept unchanged as for the year 2019-20.

•EPF is one fixed-income instrument that is completely tax-free under the exempt-exempt-exempt (EEE) regime, along with PPF and the Sukanya Samriddhi Account. Now the labour ministry will notify the interest rate for it to come into effect.

INTERNATIONAL

Microsoft passes Apple to become the world’s most valuable company

•Microsoft Corp. has surpassed Apple Inc. to become the world’s most valuable publicly-traded company by market capitalisation. At market close on October 29, 2021, Apple stood at about $2.46 trillion while Microsoft reached nearly $2.49 trillion. Apple had held the top position for more than a year.

•Microsoft became the second US public firm to surpass a $2 trillion market value in June, driven by expectations that its dominance in cloud computing and enterprise software will expand further in a post-coronavirus future. This year, its stock has outpaced Apple and Amazon.com Inc. on forecasts of long-term earnings and revenue growth, as well as expansion in areas such as machine learning and cloud computing. Microsoft is up more than 49%, Apple is up around 13%, and Amazon is up more than 3%.

NATIONAL

Amit Shah Launches Dairy Sahakar Scheme for Strengthening Dairy Sector in India

•The Union Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah has launched the “Dairy Sahakar” scheme at Anand, Gujarat during a function organised by Amul to celebrate the 75th Foundation Year of Amul. The total outlay of the Dairy Sahakar scheme is Rs 5000 crore. The scheme will be implemented by National Cooperative Development Corporation ( NCDC) under the Ministry of Cooperation.

•The scheme will supplement the existing efforts of strengthening the dairy sector in the country, doubling the farmer’s income as well as realizing the vision of ‘from cooperation to prosperity’.

CBSE launches Veer Gatha project to inform students about bravery of armed forces

•CBSE launches Veer Gatha project in schools to raise awareness on Gallantry Awards. Schools affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) have been asked to prepare projects and engage in activities based on the Gallantry Award winners.

•The Veer Gatha project aims to raise awareness about the brave acts and sacrifices of the Gallantry Award winners among school students. The Veer Gatha project is being conducted from October 21- November 20. The projects can be interdisciplinary & in various formats such as poems, essays, etc.

Biggest Aromatic Garden of India Opens in Nainital, Uttarakhand

•Uttarakhand gets India’s largest aromatic garden in the Nainital district. The research wing of the Uttarakhand forest department inaugurated the biggest aromatic garden of India in Lalkuan of Nainital district.

•Established in an area of over 3 acres, the garden has 140 different species of aromatic species from across India. The project was initiated in the year 2018-19 after approval of the Research Advisory Committee in June 2018.

APPOINTMENT & RESIGNATION

Justice Ashok Bhushan is new NCLAT chairperson

•The Centre has appointed former Supreme Court Judge Justice Ashok Bhushan as the new Chairperson of the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT), for a period of four years or until he attains the age of 70 years, whichever is the earliest. He was the former Chief Justice of Kerala High Court. NCLAT was formed by the government under Section 410 of the Companies Act, 2013.

•Apart from this, Justice Ramalingam Sudhakar has been appointed as the new President of the quasi-judicial body, National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) for five years or till he attains the age of 67 years. Justice Sudhakar was the former Chief Justice of Manipur High Court.

OBITUARY

Sunao Tsuboi: Campaigning Hiroshima survivor dies aged 96

•Hiroshima nuclear bomb attack survivor, Sunao Tsuboi has passed away. A leading Japanese campaigner against nuclear weapons who survived the world’s first atomic bomb attack has died at the age of 96. Some 140,000 people were killed and Tsuboi dedicated his life to campaigning to eradicate nuclear arms. He met Barack Obama on his historic visit to Hiroshima as US president.

Eminent Oncologist Padma Shri Dr Madhavan Krishnan Nair passed away

•Padma Shri Dr Madhavan Krishnan Nair, an eminent Oncologist and the founding director of the Regional Cancer Centre (RCC), has passed away. He has served as a member of the expert group that prepared the National Cancer Control Plan of India. He has also served on the Expert Advisory Panel on Cancer of the World Health Organization (WHO). The GoI has honoured him with the Padma Shri for medicine in 2001. 

IMPORTANT DAYS

Rashtriya Ekta Diwas or National Unity Day 2021: 31st October

•In India, the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas or National Unity Day is observed every year on October 31 since 2014, to commemorate the birth anniversary of the Iron Man of India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

•This year marks the 146th anniversary of the great leader who played an instrumental role in India’s struggle for independence, and later during the integration of the country.

World Cities Day 2021:31st October

•The United Nations General Assembly has designated the 31st of October as World Cities Day. The Day is celebrated to promote the international community’s interest in global urbanization, push forward cooperation among countries in meeting opportunities and addressing challenges of urbanization, and contribute to sustainable urban development around the world.

•The global theme of World Cities Day 2021 is “Adapting cities for climate resilience”, acknowledging that integrated climate resilience policies and action plans will greatly reduce climate-related risks for urban populations.

World Vegan Day 2021: 01st November

•World Vegan Day is observed globally on 1st November every year. This day is celebrated to spread the benefits of veganism for humans, non-human animals, and the natural environment. Vegan Day is an opportunity to promote the benefits of a vegan diet and veganism in general.

•The day was established in 1994 by Louise Wallis, then Chair of The Vegan Society in the United Kingdom, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the organisation and the coining of the terms “vegan” and “veganism”. The President of the Vegan Society decided to elect the date of the 1st of November. This is now recognised as the date on which the Vegan Society was founded and on which Vegan Day would be observed.

NATIONAL

Maharashtra became the first state to release its own Wildlife Action plan 2021-30

•During the 17th meeting of the State Board for Wildlife (SBWL), the government of Maharashtra approved its own Wildlife Action Plan (2021-2030), which will be implemented over the next 10 years. Maharashtra became India’s first state to pass its own Wildlife Action Plan. The board has also approved the extension of the boundary of Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve, in the Chandrapur district of the Vidarbha region, by around 79 sq km.

•The plan has suggested integrating climate change adaption in wildlife conservation. “To develop a Climate Action Plan for the Coastal Region of the state in sync with the ‘State Climate Change Action Plan’ with special emphasis on ‘Climate Change Adaptation’ (CCA) and ‘Disaster Risk Reduction (DDR)’,” the plan states.

Google partners MeitY Startup Hub to launch Appscale Academy

•MeitY Startup Hub, an initiative of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), and Google have partnered to launch ‘Appscale Academy’, a growth and development programme, to train early to mid-stage startups across India. The programme focuses on the emerging startup ecosystem in Tier II and Tier III cities of India to provide them with the help needed to build scalable app solutions.

•Appscale Academy will focus on helping local early to mid-stage startups build and scale a range of world-class apps across domains, including gaming, healthcare, fintech, edtech, social impact, and others.

•Applications for the Appscale Academy will be open till December 15, 2021. Out of the applicants, 100 startups will be selected based on defined qualitative and quantitative parameters by a panel of industry experts, members of MeitY Startup Hub, and Google Play.

India ranked 9th In “Global Climate Tech Investment trend” report

•In accordance with the report ‘Five years on: Global climate tech investment trends since the Paris Agreement’ by London & Partners, and Co, India ranked 9th in the list of top 10 countries for climate technology investment from 2016 to 2021. Indian climate tech firms received USD 1 billion in venture capital (VC) funding in this period.

•The report analyzed the trends in the climate sector since the 2016 United Nations Conference of Parties (COP) in Paris, France. The list has been topped by the United States (US) with USD 48 billion which is followed by China USD 18.6 billion.

SPORTS

Netherland’s All-rounder cricketer Ryan ten Doeschate announced retirement 

•Ryan ten Doeschate, the 41-year-old Cricket all-rounder from the Netherlands, announced retirement from International Cricket after Netherland failed to qualify for the Super 12 stage of the International Cricket Council (ICC) T20 World Cup. During the qualifiers, Netherland lost to Namibia and failed to enter the Super 12 stage, which was his last international match.

•Ryan ten Doeschate has scored 2074 runs from 57 international Test matches, 1541 runs from 33 One Day Internationals & 533 runs from 24 T20 internationals, since his debut in 2006.

APPOINTMENT & RESIGNATION

Centre extends RBI Governor Das’s tenure for 3 more years

•The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the reappointment of Shaktikanta Das as the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India ( RBI) for a further period of three years with effect from December 10, 2021.

•He assumed the charge as the 25th governor of RBI on December 12, 2018, for three years. Before his appointment at RBI, Das served as a member of the 15th Finance Commission. He is a 1980 batch Indian Administrative Services (IAS) officer from the Tamil Nadu cadre.

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Thrift Day 2021: 31st October

•World Thrift Day is celebrated every year on October 31, across the world, but in India, the day is celebrated annually on October 30. This day is celebrated to promote the importance of savings and how saving money is important in today’s world. It is an important day to be remembered for individuals as well as the country’s economy. Savings, as we all know, is a necessity for every depositor who contributes to economic development.

•World Savings Day was first introduced in 1924 as World Thrift Day at the first International Thrift Congress held in Milan, Italy. It was decided that the day will be marked across the globe to encourage the idea of saving money and restore the public’s confidence in banks.

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

TVS Motor Company Wins India Green Energy Award 2020

•TVS Motor Company has been awarded the ‘Outstanding Renewable Energy User’ at the third Edition of India Green Energy Award 2020 by the Indian Federation of Green Energy (IFGE).

•The award was presented by Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari. IFGE has recognized the efforts of TVS Motor in researching and implementing the use of alternative power sources in the renewable energy domain while ensuring their longevity and stability.

BOOKS & AUTHOR

Former Union minister Nishank gifts his book to PM Modi

•The former Union Minister of Education Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ has gifted a copy of his book titled ‘AIIMS Mein Ek Jang Ladte Hue’ to Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi in Delhi. The book was written by Pokhriyal while he was battling C-19 at AIIMS in Delhi. The book was published by Prabhat Prakashan Pvt. Ltd.

RANKING

State Energy Efficiency Index 2020: Karnataka on Top

•Karnataka has topped the State Energy Efficiency Index 2020 (SEEI), scoring 70 points out of 100 on the back of several initiatives to improve energy efficiency in the state. Rajasthan is on second rank followed by Haryana on third. Last year i.e in SEEI 2019 ranking, Rajasthan was on top. The State Energy Efficiency Index (SEEI) 2020 was released under the Ministry of Power.

•State Energy Efficiency Index is released by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) and Alliance for an Energy-Efficient Economy (AEEE).

•The SEE index, assesses the states in four categories of Aspirant with a score below 30 points, Contenders with a score between 30-50, Achievers with a score of 50-60 and the Frontrunners with above 60 points score.

•SEEI 2020 has assessed the performance of 36 states and Union territories in energy efficiency (EE) using 68 qualitative, quantitative, and outcome-based indicators aggregating to a maximum score of 100 across six sectors.

BANKING AND ECONOMIC

SBI General Insurance ties up with Google Pay for health insurance

•SBI General Insurance made a technological partnership with Google Pay to enable users to buy SBI General’s health insurance on the Google Pay app. This collaboration marks Google Pay’s 1st partnership with an insurer in India to offer health insurance.

•The users were enabled to buy both individual and family plans under SBI General’s Arogya Sanjeevani policy through Google Pay Spot.

INTERNATIONAL

Facebook to change corporate name to Meta

•Facebook is now called Meta, in a rebrand that focuses on building the “metaverse,” a shared virtual environment that it bets will be the successor to the mobile internet. The name change, the plan for which was first reported by the Verge, is a significant rebrand for Facebook, but not it’s first. In 2019 it launched a new logo to create a distinction between the company and its social app.

•The metaverse is a term coined in the dystopian novel “Snow Crash” three decades ago and now attracting buzz in Silicon Valley. Zuckerberg said the new name, coming from the Greek word for “beyond,” symbolized there was always more to build. It refers broadly to the idea of a shared virtual realm that can be accessed by people using different devices.

Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue starts

•Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue (IPRD) 2021 is being organized as a three-day online event on 27, 28 and 29 October 2021. IPRD 2021 will focus on the theme ‘Evolution in Maritime Strategy during the 21st Century: Imperatives, Challenges and Way Ahead’. It will focus on eight specific sub-themes.

•The National Maritime Foundation is the Indian Navy’s knowledge partner for IPRD 2021. It is also the Indian Navy’s chief organiser for IPRD 2021.

NATIONAL

PM Modi to attend18th ASEAN-India summit virtually

•Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi has attended the 18th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-India Summit virtually. This was the 9th ASEAN-India Summit attended by PM Modi. The Summit was held under the chairmanship of the Sultan of Brunei.

•The Heads of State/Government of the ASEAN Countries participated in the Summit to review the status of the ASEAN-India Strategic Partnership and progress made in key areas of Covid-19 & Health, Trade & Commerce, Connectivity, and Education & Culture. The year 2022 will mark 30 years of ASEAN-India relations partnership, and will be celebrated as ‘ASEAN-India Friendship Year’.

Defence minister Shri Rajnath Singh chairs Ambassadors’ Round Table for DefExpo 2022

•In a major outreach to the friendly foreign countries as also to the defence manufacturing industries of the world, Defence minister, Rajnath Singh has chaired the Ambassadors’ Round Table for Def Expo 2022, in New Delhi. DefExpo 2022 will be Asia’s largest defence exhibition. The Round Table was aimed to brief the Ambassadors of foreign missions about the planning, arrangements and other details of DefExpo 2022, which will be held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat between March 10-13, 2022.

•More than 200 delegates, including Ambassadors, Heads of Missions and Defence Attaches attended the Round Table, reflecting the growing global interest in the Indian Defence space. Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, Secretary (Defence Production) Shri Raj Kumar and other senior officials of the Ministry of Defence & Government of Gujarat were also present.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

India successfully tests nuclear-capable Agni-V ballistic missile

•Recently, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has carried successful test-firing of surface-to-surface ballistic missile Agni-5.  The test-firing was carried around 7:50 PM from APJ Abdul Kalam Island in Odisha on October 27, 2021. Agni-5 is a nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), which uses a three-stage solid-fuelled engine.

•The defence ministry of India said the successful test of Agni-5 is in line with India’s stated policy to have credible minimum deterrence that underpins the commitment to ‘No First Use’. The missile has been successfully tested five times and is in the process of induction into the Army. The successful test-firing of surface to surface ballistic missile Agni-5 has also come in the midst of a lingering border stand-off with China in Eastern Ladakh.

APPOINTMENT & RESIGNATION

Anita Anand is only the second woman to become Canada’s defence minister

•Indo-Canadian Anita Anand became just the second woman to be appointed Canada’s minister of national defence as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his new cabinet. The ministers were sworn in by governor-general Mary May Simon in a ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa. She is the first woman to serve as defence minister since Kim Campbell in the 1990s.

SMB Neobank FloBiz ropes in Manoj Bajpayee as brand ambassador for myBillBook

•FloBiz, a neobank for Indian Small to Medium-sized Businesses (SMBs), announced Padma Shri Awardee actor Manoj Bajpayee as the brand ambassador for its flagship product. He will promote the ‘’Business Ko Le Seriously’’ campaign to mark the importance of digital solutions. He has signed to accelerate myBillBook’s outreach to the SMB sector and promote the adoption of myBillBook– a simple to use GST (Good & Services Tax) billing and accounting software.

K V Kamath appointed as NaBFID chairperson

•The government of India has appointed K V Kamath as chairperson of the National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development (NaBFID). He is a well-known banker in India and is the first head of the New Development Bank (NDB). NaBFID is a newly set up development financial institution (DFIs) in India. It has been set up for infrastructure financing as per the National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development (NaBFID) Act 2021. The authorized share capital of the NaBFID is Rs one lakh crore. The initial paid-up capital of NaBFID is Rs 20,000 crore.

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Psoriasis Day 2021: 29th October

•World Psoriasis Day is observed every year on 29 October by the International Federation of Psoriasis Associations (IFPA) to promote awareness, empowerment, and action for improving the quality of life for people with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. The theme for 2021 World Psoriasis Day is “Uniting for action”.

•Psoriasis is a kind of skin disorder that reasons skin cells to multiply up to ten times faster. Psoriasis causes the skin to build up into bumpy red patches embraced with white scales.

International Internet Day 2021: 29th October

•International Internet Day is celebrated on October 29 every year across the world to celebrate the usage of the internet for the first time. The day marks the sending of the first electronic message which was transferred from one computer to another in 1969. At that time the Internet was known as ARPANET (Advanced Research Projects Agency Network).

•Charley Kline, a student programmer at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), transmitted the first-ever electronic message ‘LO’ on October 29, 1969.

•The first International Internet Day was celebrated on October 29, 2005, to celebrate this momentous event in the history of telecommunications and technology.

NATIONAL

GAIL Ltd will build India's largest green hydrogen plant in next 12-14 months

•State-owned GAIL (India) Ltd will build India’s largest green hydrogen-making plant as it looks to supplement ‎its natural gas business with carbon-free fuel. GAIL Chairman and Managing Director Manoj Jain said the company is looking at building a 10-megawatt (MW) electrolyzer capable of generating 4.5 tonnes of green hydrogen daily.

•The firm has already floated a global tender to buy the electrolyzer and is hoping to get delivery in 12-14 months. It will be double the size of the one announced by state electricity producer NTPC.

R K Singh, Union Minister of Power & New and Renewable Energy, launched the new market segment, Green Day Ahead Market

•The Union Minister of Power & New and Renewable Energy, R K Singh has launched a new market segment, “Green Day Ahead Market (GDAM)”. This makes India as the only large electricity market in the world to implement a GDAM exclusively for renewable energy. The launch of the green day-ahead market will deepen the green market and will provide competitive price signals, besides offering an opportunity to market participants to trade in green energy, in the most transparent, flexible, competitive, and efficient manner.

•The new initiative will open the renewable energy sector to enable anyone to set up the capacity and sell it to distribution companies and industries.

•Meanwhile, the electricity generation and distribution companies will be able to buy or sell renewable energy through open access.

India successfully test-fires surface-to-surface ballistic missile Agni-5

•The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) carried successful test-firing of surface-to-surface ballistic missile Agni-5 on October 27, 2021, from APJ Abdul Kalam Island in Odisha. Agni-5 is a nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), which uses a three-stage solid-fuelled engine. The missile can strike targets at ranges up to 5,000 km with a very high degree of accuracy.

•The indigenously-developed surface-to-surface missile, Agni-5, is capable of striking a target more than 5,000 km. It is about 17-metre long, 2-metre wide and has a launch weight of around 50 tonnes. The missile can carry a nuclear warhead of more than one tonne. The successful test of Agni-5 is in line with India’s stated policy to have ‘credible minimum deterrence’ that underpins the commitment to ‘No First Use’.

Union Minister for MSME Narayan Rane launches “SAMBHAV” National Level Awareness Programme, 2021

•The Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) has launched an e-National Level Awareness Programme ‘SAMBHAV”, to promote engagement of the youth in promoting entrepreneurship. The e-National Level Awareness Programme 2021 ‘SAMBHAV” was launched by Union Minister of MSME Narayan Rane in New Delhi.

•The mass outreach program will be a one-month long initiative under the Ministry of MSME in which students from different colleges/ITIs from all parts of the country will be encouraged by 130 field offices of the Ministry to take up entrepreneurship.

•During the campaign, the college students will be made aware of the various schemes being implemented by the Ministry of MSME through Audio/Video film presentations.

•Awareness programs will be conducted in more than 1,300 colleges across the country in which 1,50,000 students are expected to participate.

SPORTS

Fabio Quartararo Becomes 2021 MotoGP World Champion

•Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP’s Fabio Quartararo became the ‘’2021 MotoGP World Champion’’. Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) secured second and Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar), finished third. Fabio Quartararo is the sixth-youngest rider to clinch a premier class world title, aged 22 years, 187 days on race day of the Emilia Romagna GP.

•Quartararo became the first French rider to clinch a premier class world title and the seventh overall in GP racing along with Johann Zarco (2 titles), Mike Di Meglio (1), Arnaud Vincent (1), Olivier Jacque (1), Christian Sarron (1) and Jean-Louis Tournadre (1).

APPOINTMENT & RESIGNATION

Siddharth Lal appointed Eicher Motors MD for 5 years starting May 1

•Eicher Motors Ltd passed the resolution to reappoint Siddhartha Lal as the Managing Director of the company for five years, starting May 1, 2021.

•The board also approved a revised remuneration structure for the Managing Director, with a maximum cap of 1.5 per cent of profits as per Section 198 of the Companies Act. The proposal for reappointment was cleared with almost 93.8 per cent of the total 226 million votes casted going in favour of the resolution.

IMPORTANT DAYS

International Animation Day 2021: 28th October

•International Animation Day is observed every year on October 28 to celebrate the art of animation and also recognise the artists, scientists and technicians behind animation. This year marks the 20th International Animation Day. The day was created in 2002 by International Animated Film Association (ASIFA), an International Animated Film Association, a member of UNESCO.

•ASIFA created the International Animation Day (IAD) in 2002, honouring the birth of animation, recognized as the first public performance of projected moving images: Emile Reynaud’s Theatre Optique in Paris, on the 28th October 1892.

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

Tsitsi Dangarembga received the German Book Trade Peace Prize 2021 at a ceremony in Frankfurt

•The Peace Prize of the German Book Trade 2021 has been awarded to the Zimbabwean author and a filmmaker Tsitsi Dangarembga for a “new Enlightenment”, a work on violence in her country and all over the world by Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels, an association of German book publishers and booksellers.

•Dangarembga is the first black woman to win the German Peace Prize. She has won the PEN Pinter prize 2021. Her debut novel, Nervous conditions were the first to be published in English by black women from Zimbabwe.

BOOKS & AUTHOR

The biography titled “Kamala Harris: Phenomenal Woman” written by Chidanand Rajghatta

•Renowned journalist and writer Chidanand Rajghatta have authored a new book “Kamala Harris: Phenomenal Woman”, a biography of Kamala Harris, the first women Vice President of the United States of America (USA).

•The book features the life incidents of Kamala Harris, a woman of mixed race (India and Jamaica) who has become the first Indian descent, the first woman to become the vice president of the USA.

BANKING AND ECONOMIC

CCI approves HDFC Bank's acquisition of 4.99% stake in HDFC ERGO

•The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the acquisition of 4.99 percent of the outstanding equity share capital in HDFC ERGO General Insurance Company by private sector lender HDFC Bank. HDFC Bank will acquire 3.56 crore shares or 4.99% stake for Rs 1,906 crore from the parent company Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC). HDFC ERGO General Insurance Company is a joint venture between HDFC and European insurer ERGO International AG.

•The proposed combination will enable the lender to participate in the growth opportunity of HDFC ERGO General Insurance and create long-term value for its shareholders, as per a combination notice filed with the regulator. 

INTERNATIONAL

Sea phase of India-UK maiden Tri-Service exercise 'Konkan Shakti 2021' in full swing

•The Armed Forces of India and the United Kingdom (UK) are undertaking the sea phase of the maiden Tri-Service exercise ‘Konkan Shakti 2021’ off the Konkan coast in the Arabian Sea from October 24 to 27, 2021. The harbour phase of the seven-day exercise was held in Mumbai from October 21 to 23, 2021. The exercise Konkan Shakti 2021 aims at further strengthening the cooperation between the two countries.

•The two forces integrated within their groups with exercises such as replenishment at sea approaches, air direction and strike operations by fighter aircraft (MiG 29Ks and F35Bs), cross control of helicopters (Sea King, Chetak and Wildcat), transiting through war-at-sea scenarios, and gun shoots on expendable air targets. The simulated induction of Army troops was also undertaken and was followed by the setting up of a joint command operations centre. The two forces thereafter effected a rendezvous at sea with advanced air and sub-surface exercises.

NATIONAL

Yogi government renames Faizabad Railway Junction to Ayodhya Cantt

•The Uttar Pradesh government has decided to rename the Faizabad Junction to Ayodhya Cantt railways station. Opened in 1874, the Faizabad railway station comes under the Northern Railway zone.

•It falls under the Lucknow-Varanasi section. Earlier in 2018, the Yogi Adityanath government had renamed Faizabad Ayodhya on the occasion of Diwali. The BJP government also changed the name of Allahabad to Prayagraj and Mughalsarai railway junction as Pt Deen Dayal Upadhyay junction.

Finance Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman participates in 6th Annual Meeting of Board of Governors of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank

•The Union Minister of Finance & Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman has participated in the 6th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) through a video conference from New Delhi. The theme of the Annual Meeting of AIIB was “Investing Today and Transforming Tomorrow”.

•This year the meeting was jointly organized by AIIB in collaboration with the Government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The basic objective of the annual meet is to take key decisions on important matters relating to AIIB, and its future vision. The Finance Minister of India shared her thoughts on the theme “COVID-19 Crisis and Post-COVID Support”, during the Governor’s Roundtable Discussion.

India's 1st Banni buffalo calf born through IVF procedure

•The first IVF calf of “Banni” breed of buffaloes, found primarily in Gujarat’s Kutch region, was born at a farmer’s house in the state’s Gir Somnath district. The process was carried out to enhance the number of genetically superior buffaloes to increase milk production. Banni buffalo is known for its resilience and higher milk-producing capacity in an arid environment.

•The breed had achieved six pregnancies from 18 recipient buffaloes at his farm, which were implanted with embryos through IVF technology, and the process was carried out by JKBovagenix of NGO JK Trust. India has more than 109 million buffaloes that are 56 per cent of the world’s buffalo population.

In a unique initiative to celebrate Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, Union Minister Sh. G.K Reddy launches the Amrit Mahotsav Podcast

•The Union Minister for Culture and Tourism, G.K Reddy has launched the Amrit Mahotsav Podcast, as a part of the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav celebration by the ministry. The Amrit Mahotsav Podcast series (Zara Yaad Karo Qurbani) is a tribute to the Indian National Army (persons and movements), which significantly contributed to India’s freedom struggle, some of which have remained untold and not found a place in the conventional storyline.

•As an ode to the sacrifices made, it is only befitting to salute these heroes by recollecting their stories of courage and valour as part of commemorating 75 years of India’s independence.

World’s biggest cricket bat unveiled

•Former India captain and now Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) president Mohd Azharuddin has unveiled what is certified by the Guinness Book of World Records to be the biggest cricket bat, designed by Pernod Ricard India (P) Ltd, on Tank Bund.

•The bat measures 56.10 feet, weighs 9-tonnes and is made of poplar wood. This was to convey best wishes to the Indian cricket team and bring back the T-20 World Cup in Dubai.

IMPORTANT DAYS

Indian Army 75th Infantry Day: 27th  October 2021

•The Indian Army celebrates October 27 every year as the ‘Infantry Day’. This year nation celebrates its 75th Infantry Day on October 27, 2021. On this day that the 1st Battalion of the Sikh Regiment landed at Srinagar airbase and displayed resoluteness and extraordinary courage and became ‘The Wall’ to thwart the evil designs of the Pakistan Army, who had invaded Kashmir with the help of tribal raiders in 1947.

•Infantry Day is celebrated as a remembrance of the first military event of independent India, when the First Battalion of the Sikh Regiment of Indian Army fought battle to accomplish victory over the first attack on the Indian soil by the Pakistan Army and Lashkar invader on October 27, 1947, in the Kashmir valley, who tried to grab J&K.

World Day for Audiovisual Heritage 2021: 27th October

•The World Day for Audiovisual Heritage is observed every year on 27 October. The World Day for Audiovisual Heritage is a key initiative for both UNESCO and the Coordinating Council of Audiovisual Archives Associations (CCAAA) to honour audiovisual preservation professionals and institutions that safeguard our heritage for future generations. The day was chosen to raise awareness of the significance and preservation risks of recorded sound and audiovisual documents.

•The theme of the World Day for Audiovisual Heritage 2021: “Your Window to the World”.

Vigilance Awareness Week 2021: October 26 to November 01

•The Vigilance Awareness Week 2021 has been organised by the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) from 26 October to 01 November 2021. The annual event is celebrated during the week in which the birthday of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel falls, which is held on October 31. The theme of Vigilance Awareness Week 2021: ‘Independent India @75: Self Reliance with Integrity‘.

•The week-long celebration aims to promote integrity, transparency and accountability amongst public servants and create awareness about the existence, causes and gravity of corruption and the threat posed by it to society as a whole.

BANKING AND ECONOMIC

ICICI Bank overtakes HUL in m-cap to occupy 5th spot

•Private sector lender ICICI Bank has crossed the market capitalisation of Hindustan Unilever to become the fifth-largest company by market value. According to BSE data, ICICI Bank’s market capitalisation (m-cap) stood at Rs.5.83 lakh crore, just above HUL’s Rs.5.76 lakh crore. This follows the bank posting its highest ever quarterly net profit in the July to September 2021 quarter.

•The bank’s scrip touched a 52-week high of Rs.859.70 on the BSE before ending at Rs.841.05, registering a gain of 10.8 per cent over the previous day’s close. ICICI Bank becomes the second lender after HDFC Bank to break into the top five companies on the BSE in terms of m-cap.

INTERNATIONAL

India, UK and Australia to launch IRIS at COP26

•India, Australia, and the UK in collaboration with small island developing states (SIDS), have planned to launch a new initiative “Infrastructure for Resilient Island States (IRIS)”, on the sidelines of the Conference of Parties (COP26). The IRIS platform aims at creating an infrastructure that can withstand disasters and lessen economic losses in island nations.

•The IRIS initiative will be launched with initial funding of $10 million from Australia, India and the UK. The 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) is scheduled to take place from October 31 to November 12, 2021.

NATIONAL

Invest India as President of Geneva-based WAIPA for 2021-2023

•Invest India, a young startup within the Government of India has been unanimously elected as the President of the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WAIPA) for 2021-2023.

•Invest India is the National Investment Promotion and Facilitation Agency to help investors looking for investment opportunities and options in India.

NITI Aayog AIM's digi-book- Innovations for You

•The Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) of NITI Aayog has launched a Digi-book named “Innovations for You”. The sector in focus in this Digi-book is Healthcare. “Innovation for you” is an initiative of Niti Aayog to share success stories of Atal Innovation Mission’s Startups in different domains.

•The Digi-book was launched with the aim of serving as an encouragement for upcoming entrepreneurs in order to work on the path of creativity and imagination for addressing some of the pressing challenges in India. It also aims to showcase the best innovations and entrepreneurs to bring them to the forefront.

Indian Navy launches Offshore Sailing Regatta from Kochi to Goa

•The Indian Navy has organised an Offshore Sailing Regatta from Kochi to Goa, as a part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations, and above all, boost the spirit of adventure and ocean sailing among the Navy Personnel.

•The event organised under the aegis of the Indian Naval Sailing Association (INSA) will see the participation of six Indian naval sailing vessels (INSVs), comprising of four 40 footers ad two 56 footers. The vessels will cover a total distance of 360 nautical miles between the starting point at the Naval base in Kochi to Goa.

SPORTS

FIFA Rankings: India gain one spot, now ranked 106th

•India has ranked 106th in the FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) Rankings 2021, the position of team India was increased to one spot. After the victory in the SAFF (South Asian Football Federation) Championship 2021 of team India led by Sunil Chhetri, it has secured the 106th position.

•The team has defeated Nepal in the summit clash. Under the FIFA Rankings, Belgium is at 1st position. Brazil holds 2nd position, France holds 3rd position.

Ahmedabad and Lucknow will be the two new teams of IPL

•Ahmedabad and Lucknow are the two new teams that will be part of the Indian Premier League (IPL) from 2022. Hence taking the total number of teams in the competition to ten. RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group (RPSG) is the owner of the Lucknow team while CVC Capital Partners is the owner of the Ahmedabad team.

•RPSG group has won the bid for Lucknow at Rs. 7090 crore, while CVC Capitals a.k.a Irelia has won the bid for Ahmedabad at Rs. 5625 crore. The IPL’s first season was played in 2008. There have been fourteen seasons of the IPL tournament. The 15th season will see 10 teams competing for the IPL title.

APPOINTMENT & RESIGNATION

Adidas India ropes in Deepika Padukone as Global brand ambassador

•German sportswear brand Adidas has roped in Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone as global ambassador for women sports.

•She will represent Adidas women globally. She joins the elite list of female brand ambassadors of Adidas in India, including Mirabai Chanu; boxers Lovlina Borgohain, Nikhat Zareen and Simranjeet Kaur; sprinter Hima Das, and squash player Dipika Pallikal.

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

Rajinikanth received  Dadasaheb Phalke Award

•Actor Rajinikanth was honoured with the prestigious 51st Dadasaheb Phalke Award at the 67th National Film Awards ceremony, for his contribution as an actor, producer and screenwriter. He received the prestigious award from Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu for his stupendous contribution to Indian cinema.

•Instituted in 1969, the award is the highest honour for an artiste in Indian cinema. The award was decided by a jury consisting of five members: Asha Bhonsle, director Subhash Ghai, Mohanlal, Shankar Mahadevan and actor Biswajeet Chatterjee. The Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2019 was to be announced last year but was postponed because of the C-19 pandemic, as were the National Film Awards for 2019.

Former NIO Scientist Dr. Rajiv Nigam Selected for 2022 Joseph A. Cushman Award

•Former Chief Scientist at CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), Dr. Rajiv Nigam has been selected for the 2022 Joseph A. Cushman Award for Excellence in Foraminiferal Research. Dr. Nigam is the first Indian Citizen to be selected for the prestigious award. He has been chosen for his outstanding lifetime contributions to the field of foraminifera (microfossil) research.

•Dr. Nigam will receive the award at the Cushman Reception during the 2022 Geological Society of America meeting in Denver, Colorado, USA, from October 9-12-2022. The Joseph A. Cushman Award was established by USA based Cushman foundation for foraminiferal research in 1979.

BOOKS & AUTHOR

Ruskin Bond's new anthology released

•“Writing for My Life”, an anthology of author Ruskin Bond has been released. It contains some of the most exemplary stories, essays, poems and memories of Ruskin Bond. This anthology has been released 25 years after the first anthology of Bond titled, “The Best of Ruskin Bond”. The selections for this anthology have been made by Bond himself and his editor Premanka Goswami. Ruskin Bond is an Indian author of British descent. His first novel is The Room on the Roof.

•An anthology is a collection of literary works chosen by the compiler; it may be a collection of plays, poems, short stories, songs or excerpts by different authors.

INTERNATIONAL

South Korea launches first homegrown space rocket Nuri

•South Korea recently launched its first indigenously developed rocket, known as “Korean Satellite Launch Vehicle II” or “Nuri”. The launch vehicle lifted off from the Naro Space Center, in Goheung, built on an island nearly 300 miles (500 kilometres) south of Seoul. Nuri rocket is 47.2 metres long and weighs 200 tons.

•The three-stage rocket is fitted with six liquid-fuelled engines. It has been built at an estimated cost of 2 trillion won (£1.23bn or $1.6bn).

China launches classified space debris mitigation technology satellite

•China successfully launched a new satellite named Shijian-21. The satellite will be used to test and verify space debris mitigation technologies. Shijian-21 was launched from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in southwest China’s Sichuan Province on a Long March-3B carrier rocket.

•The satellite will be mainly used to test and verify space debris mitigation technologies. This launch marked the 393rd mission for the Long March series carrier rockets.

China passes new law to strengthen land border protection

•China on Saturday passed a new law to strengthen land border protection amid the ongoing military tension along the disputed boundary with India, firming up the military-civilian role in defending the country’s borders.

•Long-standing border disputes should be resolved through negotiations, the new law adds, according to Chinese official media.

NATIONAL

Tamil nadu 'Koozhangal' : India's official entry to the Oscars 2022

•Tamil drama Koozhangal (Pebbles), directed by filmmaker Vinothraj PS, has been selected as India's official entry for the 94th Academy Awards.

•The movie follows an alcoholic abusive husband who, after his long-suffering wife runs off, sets out with his young son to find her and bring her back.

•It stars newcomers – Chellapandi and Karuththadaiyaan – and is produced by Vignesh Shivan and Nayanthara.

•"India's official entry for Oscars this year is Koozhangal. It was picked by a 15-member jury, headed by filmmaker Shaji N Karun, in a unanimous decision," Supran Sen, Secretary-General, Film Federation of India.

PM Modi to launch the Aatmanirbhar swasth Bharat Yojana (PM-ASBY)

•Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch Pradhan Mantri Atmanirbhar Swasth Bharat Yojana, a mega health infrastructure scheme worth over Rs 64,000 crore, in his Lok Sabha constituency Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh on Monday. The scheme was announced in the Budget speech of FY 21-22, for an outlay of about Rs 64,180 crore over six years (till FY 25-26) and will be in addition to the National Health Mission, as per the information provided by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. 

•This would be Prime Minister Modi’s second visit to Uttar Pradesh, which goes to polls next year, in a week. Healthcare professionals from public health centers, sub-district and district hospitals, and the Government Medical College of Varanasi will join in virtually.

Nagaland will host 56th National Cross Country Championship 2022

•The 2022 South Asian Federation Cross Country Championships is scheduled to be held in Kohima, Nagaland on January 15, 2022. Besides this, the 56th National Cross Country Championships will also be clubbed with the South Asian Federation Cross Country Championships. This will be the first-ever national athletics event hosted by Nagaland.

•Top athletes from the eight South Asian countries will take part in the day-long international sports event. The championship will involve running on different types of terrain including sprint over dirt, jog downhill and mounting uphill.

BOOKS & AUTHOR

Vice President releases 100th book of Vanguri Foundation of America

•Vice President, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu emphasized the need to preserve our rich cultural and linguistic heritage and urged everyone to make efforts, individually and collectively, for this.

•The Vice President made these remarks at the virtual release of the 100th book of the Vanguri Foundation of America. The book titled as ‘7va Prapancha Sahiti Sadassu Sabha Vishesha Sanchika’ is based on the 7th World Telugu Literary Summit organised by the Vanguri Foundation of America in collaboration with other Telugu cultural organisations in October last year.

Book “The Origin Story of India’s States” by VS Srinivasan

•The book titled ‘The Origin Story of India’s States’ is written by Venkataraghavan Subha Srinivasan and published by Penguin Random House India (PRHI). It is a story about the birth of India’s 28 states and 8 union territories. Also, their continuous changes.

•Venkataraghavan Subha Srinivasan is a writer, actor and strategy consultant from Bengaluru, Karnataka. This is his first non-fiction book.

BANKING AND ECONOMIC

Bharti AXA Life Insurance signs bancassurance pact with Utkarsh Small Finance Bank

•Bharti AXA Life Insurance Company Limited (Bharti AXA Life) has entered into a bancassurance partnership with Utkarsh Small Finance Bank to ensure distribution of life insurance products through the bank’s network across India. This partnership will enable the Bharti AXA life to reach Tier II and Tier III markets with insurance solutions and increase the reach of insurance in India.

•Under this partnership, the Bharti AXA Life’s insurance comprehensive suite of life insurance plans including the protection, health, savings and investment plans will be made available for the customers of the bank across 202 districts of 19 states and 2 Union territories.

INTERNATIONAL

Turkey itself on FATF grey list after preventing Pak’s blacklisting earlier

•Global terror financing watchdog Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has retained Pakistan on its ‘Grey List’ of countries. In a briefing, FATF president Marcus Pleyer also said that three new countries Turkey, Jordan, and Mali have also been added to the Grey List. In June this year, the FATF had retained Pakistan on its ‘Grey List’ for failing to check money laundering, leading to terror financing.

•The FATF asked Islamabad to investigate and prosecute UN-designated terror terrorists including Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azhar. It also asked Pakistan to work to address its strategically important deficiencies.

•Pakistan was placed on the Grey List by the FATF in June 2018. Since then, Pakistan continues to be in the list due to its failure to comply with the FATF mandates. Due to its placing on the Grey List, it has become increasingly difficult for Pakistan to get financial aid from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank, Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the European Union.

NATIONAL

DRDO successfully tests high-speed expendable aerial target Abhyas off Odisha coast

•The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully flight-tested the High-speed Expendable Aerial Target (HEAT)- ABHYAS, from the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur off the coast of Bay of Bengal in Odisha. The target aircraft is equipped with a MEMS-based Inertial Navigation System (INS) for navigation along with the Flight Control Computer (FCC) for guidance and control.

•ABHYAS is designed & developed by DRDO laboratory, Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), Bengaluru, for the Indian Armed Forces. The air vehicle ABHYAS can be used as an aerial target for the evaluation of various missile systems.

•The vehicle is programmed for fully autonomous flight. The check-out of air vehicles is done using a laptop-based Ground Control Station (GCS).

UIDAI to host "Aadhaar Hackathon 2021" from October 28-31

•Government agency UIDAI is hosting a Hackathon titled “Aadhaar Hackathon 2021”. The hackathon is starting on 28 Oct 21 and would continue till 31 Oct 21. With new challenged and themes, the Hackathon 2021 will have two topics. The first theme is around “Enrolment and Update”, which essentially covers some of the real-life challenges being faced by the residents while updating their address. The second theme of the Hackathon is around the “Identity and Authentication” solution offered by UIDAI.

•UIDAI is soliciting innovative solutions to prove Identity without sharing the Aadhaar number or any demographics information. Also, it is looking for innovative applications around face authentication API – the newly launched authentication modality of UIDAI. The objective is to popularize some of the existing and new APIs to solve the needs of residents.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Microsoft Launches Program To Support AI Startups In India

•Microsoft recently announced the launch of Microsoft AI Innovate, a 10-week initiative that will support startups in India leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies, helping them scale operations, drive innovation, & build industry expertise. The program will also enable startups to reach out to newer customers and geographies with Microsoft’s sales and partners.

•To support the startup ecosystem in the country, the company has launched a programme, Microsoft AI Innovate, for nurturing and scaling startups that are leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI). Microsoft AI Innovate was aimed at bringing together startups, corporates, industry bodies, governments, and venture capital firms, to create a shared platform for learning and innovation. The selected startups in each of the cohorts will have access to industry deep-dive sessions and AI masterclasses by industry experts, mentoring by unicorn founders, skilling and certification opportunities, among other benefits.

APPOINTMENT & RESIGNATION

ICRA appoints Ramnath Krishnan MD and group CEO

•Ramnath Krishnan has been appointed as the new Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of rating agency ICRA. He replaces N Sivaraman, who resigned with immediate effect citing personal reasons on October 23, 2021. Gurgaon based ICRA is a unit owned by global rating agency Moody’s Corporation.

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Polio Day 2021: 24th October

•World Polio Day is celebrated annually on October 24, to raise awareness for polio vaccination and eradication of polio. The Day was established by Rotary International to commemorate the birth of Jonas Salk, who led the first team to develop a vaccine against poliomyelitis. 2021 theme for World Polio Day is “Delivering on a Promise.”

•Polio is a crippling and potentially fatal infectious disease. There is no cure, but there are safe and effective vaccines. Polio can be prevented through immunization. The Polio vaccine, given multiple times, almost always protects a child for life. The strategy to eradicate polio is, therefore based on preventing infection by immunizing every child until transmission stops, and the world is polio-free.

World Development Information Day 2021: 24th October

•The United Nations’ World Development Information Day is held on October 24 every year. The day aims to draw the attention of world public opinion to development problems and the need to strengthen international cooperation to solve them for overall growth and development. The World Development Information Day was established by the UN General Assembly in 1972, to coincide with the United Nations Day.

•The General Assembly in 1972 established World Development Information Day to draw the attention of the world to development problems and the need to strengthen international cooperation to solve them. The Assembly decided that the date for the Day should coincide with United Nations Day, 24 October, which was also the date of the adoption, in 1970, of the International Development Strategy for the Second United Nations Development Decade.

International Day of Diplomats 2021: 24th October

•The International Day of Diplomats is celebrated on 24 October every year. The day aims to commemorate the contributions made by diplomats in shaping the world since ancient times and in making our planet a better place. It also aims to bridge the gap in perception and reality of diplomats’ lives among the general public.

•The first International Day of Diplomats was celebrated in Brasília on 24 October 2017. The day was proposed by Indian poet-diplomat Abhay K and saw participation from the diplomats of Bangladesh, France, Ghana, Israel, Italy, Mexico, South Africa and Turkey.

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

Parambikulam Tiger Conservation Foundation wins Earth Heroes Awards 2021

•The Parambikulam Tiger Conservation Foundation has bagged the Earth Guardian Award instituted by the NatWest Group. The eight winners of the award were felicitated by the UN Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora secretary-general Ivonne Higuero through a virtual ceremony.

•These awards were instituted by NatWest Group India. They are part of an initiative which recognises the efforts of individuals and institutions that are working to subvert climate change by conserving & preserving biodiversity in India.

Martin Scorsese, Szabo to get Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement award

•Hollywood veteran Martin Scorsese and celebrated Hungarian filmmaker Istevan Szabo will be honoured with the Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement award at this year’s International Film Festival of India (IFFI). The 52nd edition of the film festival will be held from November 20 to 28 in Goa.

•While Szabo is known for his masterpieces like 1966’s “Father” and 1981 movie “Mephisto”, Scorsese is one of the major figures of the New Hollywood era, widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential directors in film history.

•The opening film of this edition of IFFI will be “The King of all the World”, directed by Carlos Saura. Around 30 titles have been shortlisted for screening at 52nd IFFI from prominent International Film Festivals in the Festival Kaleidoscope and World Panorama Section. The festival will also pay a special tribute to Sean Connery, the first actor to portray fictional British spy James Bond on the big screen.

INTERNATIONAL

Barbados elects first president, British Queen to be replaced as head of state

•Barbados has elected its first-ever president as it prepares to become a republic, removing Queen Elizabeth as head of state. Dame Sandra Mason, 72, is set to be sworn in on 30 November, which will mark the country’s 55th anniversary of independence from Britain. The first woman to serve on the Barbados Court of Appeals, Dame Sandra has been governor-general since 2018. The historic election came after a joint session of the House of Assembly and the Senate. Described the vote as a “seminal moment” for the nation.

•With a population of about 285,000, Barbados is one of the more populous and prosperous Caribbean islands. Once heavily dependent on sugar exports, its economy has diversified into tourism and finance.

•Barbados will not be the first former British colony in the Caribbean to become a republic. Guyana took that step in 1970, less than four years after gaining independence from Britain. Trinidad and Tobago followed suit in 1976 and Dominica in 1978.

Donald Trump is launching a new social network called Truth Social

•Donald Trump has announced plans to launch a social media platform called TRUTH Social that will be rolled be out early next year. The former US president, who was banned from Facebook and Twitter earlier this year, says his goal is to rival the tech companies that have denied him the megaphone that was paramount to his rise.

•Truth social will be a product of a new venture called the Trump Media & Technology Group. He wants to create a platform that rivals Twitter or Facebook, but that simply won’t happen.

NATIONAL

DA hike: Centre approves 3% Dearness Allowance increase for Central govt employees and pensioners

•The Union Cabinet has approved a further hike of 3 per cent in Dearness Allowance (DA) and Dearness Relief (DR) for the central government employees and pensioners. The increase of 3% is over the existing rate of 28 per cent of the basic pay/pension and will be effective from July 1, 2021. Now after this hike, the DA/DR will increase to 31%.

•It must be remembered that earlier in July 2021, the government had announced an 11% hike in DA/DR from 17% to 28% of the basic pay/pension. It will cost the exchequer Rs 9,488.70 crore per annum. As a result, the DA and DR instalments are due for four periods including January 1, 2020, July 1, 2020, January 1, 2021, and July 1, 2021. However, the rate of DA/DR for the period between January 2020 to June 2021 shall remain at 17%.

Chhattisgarh: Offering low-cost medicines, CM Bhupesh Baghel launches new scheme

•Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has virtually launched a new scheme named ‘Shri Dhanwantri Generic Medical Store scheme’ to provide low-cost generic medicines and enable seamless healthcare services to the vulnerable people of the state. The scheme will be implemented by the Urban Administration and Development Department (UADD).

•Under the scheme, around 188 medical shops are planned to be opened in 169 cities. Currently, 84 generic medical shops are opened in the inaugural session to distribute medicine. Under this scheme, people will get a discount between 09 per cent and 71 per cent on the MRP (Market Rate Price) of generic medicines.

APPOINTMENT & RESIGNATION

SAI appoints Arjuna Awardee Commodore PK Garg as new CEO of TOPS

•The Sports Authority of India (SAI) appointed Commodore PK Garg as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) at the Mission Olympic Cell meeting. He joined the Indian Navy in 1984 and was in charge of many important and prestigious assignments over 34 years of service. Commodore Garg, who was the High-Performance Director with Sports Authority of India till June 2021, is also an Arjuna Awardee recipient (1990) in Sailing and has also won the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Awardee in 1993-94.

•As an ex-athlete, Garg represented India in five Asian Games from 1986 to 2002 in the Enterprise Class Sailing Event and has been a National Champion five times. He also won the Gold and Silver at the Enterprise Class Sailing World Championships in 1993 in Zimbabwe and 1997 in Goa. He also won a couple of Bronze medals at the 1990 and 1994 Asian Games. He served as Secretary of Services Sports Control Board (Indian Armed Forces) from 2014-17 and has served as the Joint Secretary of the Yachting Association of India for four years. He will be assuming the charge of CEO TOPS on Monday, October 25, 2021.

Indian-American economist Gita Gopinath set to leave IMF in January 2022

•The International Monetary Fund’s Chief Economist and Director of the Research Department, Gita Gopinath will leave the organisation in January 2022. She will return to Harvard University’s economics department. She was on public service leave during her tenure at the organisation, and the leave will end in January 2022. Gopinath, during her tenure, co-authored the “Pandemic Paper”, a document that set globally endorsed targets for vaccinating the world against Covid-19, the IMF said.

•Harvard had extended Gopinath’s leave by one year as an exceptional case, which allowed her to serve as the chief economist at the IMF for three years. IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said Gopinath’s contribution to the fund was “truly remarkable”.

OBITUARY

Former hockey player Saranjeet Singh passes away at 59

•Former hockey international Saranjeet Singh has passed away. The former State Bank of India hockey player, who played for Coronation Club in the local league, represented Hyderabad juniors and seniors for many years in the late 70s and 80s and also played for India, which toured Germany in 1983.

IMPORTANT DAYS

Mole Day 2021: 23rd October

•On 23rd October every year mole day is celebrated which is popular amongst all chemistry enthusiasts. This day is marked to commemorate and honour the Avogadro‘s number. The celebration of this day happens from 6:02 a.m. to 6:02 p.m commemorating the chemistry is measuring unit. This occasion aims to make the students interested in chemistry and its concepts. The theme for the occasion, inspired by the mascot – A Mole. This year the theme is DispicaMole Me.

•Mole Day originated in 1980 when an article came into the hype in the science teacher which was about a high school chemistry teacher celebrating this day with her ideas. This day was internationally accepted when the National Mole Day Foundation was established on 15 May 1991.

International Snow Leopard Day 2021: 23rd October

•Every year, October 23 is observed as International Snow Leopard Day since 2014. The day commemorates the anniversary of the Bishkek Declaration and to celebrate this endangered cat and raise awareness for its conservation and protection. It was on October 23, 2013, when political leaders from 12 countries came together to endorse the ‘Bishkek Declaration on the conservation of snow leopards.

•Snow Leopard is found in 12 countries. They are India, Nepal, Bhutan, China, Mongolia, Russia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

BANKING AND ECONOMIC

Reliance to acquire 40% stake in designer Manish Malhotra's MM Styles Private Limited

•Reliance Industries Ltd’s Reliance Brands Ltd (RBL) and famous designer Manish Malhotra have announced a strategic partnership to acquire a 40 per cent stake in Malhotra’s MM Styles Pvt Ltd. According to a Reliance Brands statement, this “strategic partnership” is the first “external investment” for MM Styles Pvt Ltd.

•Launched in 2005, the Manish Malhotra luxury retail is spanned across four flagship stores in Mumbai, New Delhi, and Hyderabad. Manish Malhotra, the main architect behind the 16-year-old couture house, will continue to be at the helm of affairs of MM Styles Pvt Ltd as managing and creative director.