INTERNATIONAL

New Quad India, Israel, UAE, U.S. to launch international forum for economic cooperation

•India, Israel, United Arab Emirates and the United States have decided to launch a new quadrilateral economic forum. Quadrilateral builds on ongoing cooperation between U.S., Israel and UAE after the Abraham Accords last year. This QUAD grouping had decided to establish an international forum for economic cooperation and discussed possibilities for joint infrastructure projects expanding economic and political cooperation in the Middle East and Asia.

•India, the United States, Israel and the UAE have decided to form a forum for future economic cooperation and to explore possibilities of joint infrastructure projects in the fields of Transportation, Technology, Maritime security, Economics, Trade as well as for additional joint projects.

NATIONAL

India hits 100-crore C-19 vaccine milestone

•India completed 100 crore doses of C-19 vaccines on 21st October, in about 9 months since the drive began. PM Modi called the achievement “the triumph of Indian science, enterprise and collective spirit of 130 crore Indians”. The Prime Minister visited the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital here and interacted with healthcare workers and people receiving the vaccine.

•To mark the occasion, the Union Health Ministry held a series of events and released a two-minute and four-second video with rap and visual representation of the country’s fight against C-19.

Madhya Pradesh government has announced the implementation of Mukhyamantri Ration Aapke Dwar Yojana in the state

•The government of Madhya Pradesh (MP) has announced the implementation of the scheme ‘‘Mukhyamantri Ration Apke Dwar Yojana”, which will start from November 2021. Under this scheme, the ration will be provided at the doorstep of the villagers where there are no Fair Price Shops (FPS).

•To provide ration material to the vulnerable sections such as Divyanga (Specially-Abled) and senior citizens near their homes. To ensure proper ration supply for poor tribal families in each village bin 74 tribal dominated blocks of 16 districts.

SPORTS

Australian fast bowler James Pattinson retires from international cricket

•Australian fast bowler James Pattinson has retired from international cricket after realising that he won’t be in the reckoning for the Ashes series due to fitness issues. The 31-year-old, who has played 21 Tests and 15 ODIs, though will continue to play domestic cricket.

•Pattinson claimed 81 Test wickets and 16 ODI scalps in his career after making his Test debut in December 2011 alongside Mitchell Starc and David Warner against New Zealand in Brisbane. His last Test was against New Zealand in Sydney in January 2020 while he last played an ODI way back in September 2015 against England at Leeds.

Tennis Overview of 2021 BNP Paribas Open held at Indian Wells-USA

•The 2021 BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament, also known as the 2021 Indian Wells Masters, was held from October 04 to 18, 2021 at Indian Wells, California, US. This marks the 47th edition of the men’s BNP Paribas Open (ATP Masters) and the 32nd Edition of the women’s BNP Paribas Open (WTA Masters).

•Cameron Norrie won his maiden ATP Masters 1000 by winning the Men’s singles title at the 2021 BNP Paribas Open.

•Paula Badosa defeats Victoria Azarenka to win the Women’s Singles Title.

•Elise Mertens and Su Wei Hsieh won the Women’s Doubles title.

•John Peers and Filip Polasek won the Men’s Doubles title.

OBITUARY

Sri Lanka’s first Test captain Bandula Warnapura passed away at 68

•Sri Lanka’s first-ever Test captain Bandula Warnapura passed away, following a brief illness. He was 68. A right-handed batsman, he led his country when it faced England in its first-ever Test match in 1982 and played three more Tests, scoring 96 runs overall at an average of 12.

•He also played 12 ODI matches, scoring 180 runs at an average of 15.

Colin Powell, first Black US secretary of state, passed away due to C-19

•Colin Powell, the trailblazing soldier and diplomat whose sterling reputation of service to Republican and Democratic presidents was stained by his faulty claims to justify the 2003 US war in Iraq, died of C-19 complications. He was 84. He instead joined President George W.

•Bush’s administration in 2001 as secretary of state. He was the first Black person to represent the US government on the world stage.

IMPORTANT DAYS

International Stuttering Awareness Day 2021: 22nd October

•Every year October 22 is observed as International Stuttering Awareness Day, since 1998. The day is intended to raise public awareness of the millions of people who have a speech disorder of stuttering or stammering. Theme 2021: “Speak the change you wish to see”.

•The International Stuttering Awareness Day, ISAD, (October 22) began in 1998, spear-headed by Michael Sugarman, Oakland, California. ISAD recognizes the growing alliance between SLPs and consumers, who are learning from each other and working together to share, give support, and educate one another and the general public on the impact that stuttering has on individuals’ lives. Online Conferences, organized by Judy Kuster, have been an integral part of International Stuttering Awareness Day since its inception.

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

Alexei Navalny wins Sakharov Prize, the EU's highest award for human rights work

•The European Parliament has awarded the European Union’s top human rights prize, Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought for 2021, to the imprisoned Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. The 45-year-old activist has been awarded for his immense personal bravery to fight tirelessly against the corruption of Vladimir Putin’s regime.

•Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, commonly known as Sakharov Prize, is European Parliament’s top human rights prize. The prize honours individuals and groups of people who have dedicated their lives to the defence of human rights and freedom of thought.

BANKING AND ECONOMIC

RBI slaps Rs 1 cr penalty on Paytm Payments Bank

•The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed a penalty of Rs 1 crore on Paytm Payments Bank Limited (PPBL) over certain specified violations, as referred in Section 26 (2) of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007. RBI observed that the information submitted during Paytm Payments Bank’s application for the issue of the final Certificate of Authorisation (CoA) did not reflect the factual position.

•It has also penalised Western Union Financial Services by imposing a penalty of Rs 27.8 lakh for violating the prescribed limit of remittances per year.

NATIONAL

PM Modi inaugurated Kushinagar International Airport, Kushinagar airport now hub of Buddhist tourist circuit

•Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated the Kushinagar International Airport in Uttar Pradesh. The airport has been built at an estimated cost of Rs. 260 crore, by the Airport Authority of India. Besides, it has the longest runway in Uttar Pradesh. It will facilitate domestic & international pilgrims to visit the Mahaparinirvanasthal of Lord Buddha in Kushinagar.

•Kushinagar is the final resting place of Gautama Buddha, where he attained Mahaparinirvana after his death. The airport will help in boosting tourism on the Buddhist circuit. The first international flight at the Kushinagar International Airport landed from Colombo, Sri Lanka, carrying a Sri Lankan delegation of over a hundred Buddhist Monks & dignitaries. Now the number of airports handling passenger flights in Uttar Pradesh has increased to 9.

SPORTS

China wins Uber Cup and Indonesia wins Thomas Cup

•China beat Japan 3-1 in a thrilling Uber Cup final in Aarhus, Denmark, to reclaim the Uber Cup title. This is China’s 15th Uber Cup title win in 19 finals. The match pivoted on the longest match in the Uber Cup history when Chen Qing Chan and Jia Yi Fan won their doubles match. Indonesia lifted the Thomas Cup trophy for the first time since 2002 after defeating the defending champions China 3-0 in the final match held in Aarhus, Denmark.

•Uber and Thomas Cup are the biennial international badminton championship played by the women and men’s national teams of the members of the Badminton World Federation.

APPOINTMENT & RESIGNATION

Retired commodore Amit Rastogi new CMD of National Research Development Corporation

•Commodore Amit Rastogi (Retd) has been appointed as the new Chairman & Managing Director of the National Research Development Corporation (NRDC). Prior to this, he was the Director of Electrical Engineering at Integrated Headquarters, Ministry of Defence for 5 years and Additional General Manager Tech Services at Naval Dockyard for 2 years.

•NRDC was established in India in 1953 to help develop and promote technologies developed at various national R&D institutions.

Sahdev Yadav elected new President of Indian Weightlifting Federation

•Sahdev Yadav, former Secretary-General of IWLF, was unanimously elected as the President of the Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWLF). The election also saw the appointment of S.H. Anande Gowda and Naresh Sharma as the new Secretary-General & Treasurer of IWLF.

•10 new Vice Presidents, 4 Joint Secretaries & 7 executive committee members were also elected, in the election conducted by Returning Officer Narinder Paul Kaushik, Delhi District Court.

AMFI appoints Balasubramanian as new Chairman

•A Balasubramanian has been elected as the new Chairman of the Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI). He replaces Nilesh Shah, the Managing Director of Kotak Mutual Fund.

•Balasubramanian is Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Aditya Birla Sun Life Asset Management. Meanwhile, Radhika Gupta, the MD and CEO of Edelweiss AMC, has been appointed as vice-chair of AMFI.

CoinDCX onboards Ayushmann Khurrana for its ‘Future Yahi Hai’ campaign

•Ayushmann Khurrana has become the latest celebrity to venture into the cryptocurrency space through his association with CoinDCX’s ‘Future Yahi Hai’ campaign. The CoinDCX ‘Future Yahi Hai’ Megadrive is directed towards addressing major questions and doubts and dispelling myths when it comes to crypto investments from the perspective of young India. CoinDCX is India’s largest cryptocurrency exchange valued at $1.1 billion.

•The campaign, which eventually plans to rope in popular personalities from various spheres, aims to drive home a simple but engaging narrative that breaks through misconceptions surrounding crypto for both new and old investors and, consequently, increases participation in crypto-enabled financial services.

•Khurrana joins A-listers like Amitabh Bachchan, Ranveer Singh and Salman Khan to be associated with various crypto exchanges and crypto trade platforms like Chingari and Coin SwitchKuber.

IMPORTANT DAYS

National Police Commemoration Day 2021: 21st October

•In India, the Police Commemoration Day is observed on October 21 every year. The day is marked to remember and honour the brave policemen who have laid down their lives in the line of duty.

•Police Commemoration Day commemorates the day in 1959, when twenty Indian soldiers were attacked by Chinese troops in Ladakh’s Hot Spring area, in which, ten Indian policemen lost their lives and seven were imprisoned. Since that day, 21 October has been observed as Police Commemoration Day in honour of the martyrs.

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

World-renowned Kung Fu nuns win UNESCO prize for Martial Arts education

•The well known Kung Fu Nuns of the Drukpa order of Buddhism has won the inaugural UNESCO’s Martial Arts Education Prize 2021, for their brave and heroic acts of service and championing of gender equality across the Himalayas. The Nuns empower young girls through martial arts, to defend themselves, build confidence, and take on leadership roles in their communities.

•The award has been launched by UNESCO ICM (International Centre of Martial Arts for Youth Development and Engagement), to collect and promote good practices of martial arts education(MA Edu.)

BOOKS & AUTHOR

Book ‘Sir Syed Ahmad Khan: Reason, Religion And Nation’ by Prof Shafey Kidwai

•Sahitya Akademi awardee Professor Shafey Kidwai has authored a new book titled “Sir Syed Ahmad Khan: Reason, Religion And Nation”. The objective of the book is to analyse Sir Syed Ahmad Khan the founder of Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental College that grew into Aligarh Muslim University.

•The book is published by Routledge India. The foreword of the book is written by professor Irfan Habib. The book was released ahead of the 204th birth anniversary (17th October 2021) of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan.

BANKING AND ECONOMIC

RBI imposes fine of Rs 1.95 crore on Standard Chartered Bank

•The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) imposed a fine of Rs 1.95 crore on the Standard Chartered Bank for failing to report a cyber security incident within the prescribed time period, and failure to credit the amount involved in unauthorised electronic transactions, among other reasons. Standard Chartered Bank was penalised also for its non-compliance of RBI’s directions on customer protection.

•Standard Chartered Bank had also allowed direct sales agents to conduct KYC verifications and failed to ensure the integrity of data submitted in the Central Repository of Information on Large Credits (CRILC).

INTERNATIONAL

European Union launches first green bond in October 2021

•The European Commission issued its inaugural green bonds Tuesday, raising 12 billion euros ($13.8 billion) from a sale that attracted strong demand from investors.

•The EU's executive branch is planning to issue up to 250 billion euros in green bonds by the end of 2026 as part of its plans to finance the 27-nation bloc's recovery from the C-19 crisis.

NATIONAL

Tamil Nadu set to be first state to give kids C-19 vaccine

•Tamil Nadu is to become the first in the country to administer C-19 vaccines to those aged 2-18 years, said State Health Minister M Subramaniam on Wednesday.

•The Centre has made a formal announcement on the vaccine and sent the proposal for an expert opinion, and once Tamil Nadu gets the nod, the State would be the first to administer the vaccine, Subramaniam told reporters here.

•An expert panel of the Central drug authority has recommended granting emergency use authorisation to Bharat Biotech's Covaxin for children and adolescents in the 2 to 18 years age group with certain conditions.

•If approved by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI), it would be the second C-19 vaccine after Zydus Cadila's needle-free ZyCoV-D to receive EUA for use in those below 18 years.

AIIMS Launched 'dental hygiene app' for children

•The Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry at AIIMS has launched a dental health education app for children to help them develop good oral health practices.

•The “Healthy Smile” app is a bilingual app—developed through the AIIMS intermural research grant—has features such as a musical 2-minute brushing timer with “motivational songs”, brushing demonstration videos, preventive dental care tips, oral care tips for pregnancies, and FAQs.

•AIIMS authorities said that this was felt to be required because dental caries was found to be prevalent in the pediatric population in the country to the extent of 40-50 percent.

SPORTS

MS Dhoni becomes first in world cricket to captain in 300 T20 Games

•Chennai Super Kings skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Friday became the first player in world cricket to captain a team in 300 T20 games across various competitions, during his side's IPL summit clash against Kolkata Kight Riders here.

•The 40-year-old former India captain, playing his 10th IPL final (ninth for CSK as captain), has led the 'Yellow Brigade' in 214 games across 12 editions that they have taken part out of the 14 IPL seasons.

•He has also led Rising Pune Supergiants during one IPL season apart from leading India in six T20 World Cups. His crowning glory would certainly be leading India to the T20 World Cup title in South Africa back in 2007.

APPOINTMENT & RESIGNATION

Ritesh Chauhan appointed as the CEO of PM Fasal Bima Yojana

•Senior bureaucrat Ritesh Chauhan has been appointed as the chief executive officer (CEO) of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) and Joint Secretary, Agriculture under the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare.

•Chauhan will have a combined tenure of seven years up to September 22, 2023. He is a 2005-batch IAS officer of the Himachal Pradesh cadre. He will succeed Ashish Kumar Bhutani, who was appointed in 2018.

UCO Bank chief A K Goel is new IBA chairman, succeeds Union Bank MD

•A K Goel, managing director and chief executive (MD & CEO) of UCO Bank has been elected as the chairman of Indian Bank’s Association (IBA) for 2021-22. He has replaced Rajkiran Rai G, MD & CEO, Union Bank of India.

•IBA is a representative body of management of banking in India operating in India and is headquartered in Mumbai.

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Food Day 2021: 16th October

•World Food Day (WFD) is celebrated every year on 16 October across the globe to eradicate worldwide hunger from our lifetime. WFD also commemorates the date of the founding of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in 1945. Theme 2021: “Safe food now for a healthy tomorrow”.

•The main focus of this day is that food is a basic and fundamental human right. WFD commemorates the day in 1945 when the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) was founded.

RANKING

Global Hunger Index 2021: India ranks on 101st

•India’s rank has dropped to the 101st position among 116 countries in the Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2021. In 2020, India was placed at 94th spot, out of 107 countries. The 2021 GHI score of India is recorded at 27.5 out of 50, which comes under the serious category. Neighbouring countries like Nepal (76), Bangladesh (76), Myanmar (71) and Pakistan (92) are also in the ‘alarming’ hunger category but have fared better at feeding its citizens than India, according to the report.

•A total of 18 countries, including China, Kuwait and Brazil, shares the top rank. The GHI score of these 18 nations is less than 5. This means that these countries suffer very less from hunger and malnutrition.

Forbes World’s Best Employer 2021 Ranking: Reliance Industries is on tops

•Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries has topped the Indian corporates in the World’s Best Employers 2021 rankings published by Forbes. Globally, Reliance is placed at 52nd position among 750 global corporates. South Korean giant Samsung Electronics has topped the overall ranking as World’s Best Employers 2021, followed by US giants IBM, Microsoft, Amazon, Apple, Alphabet and Dell Technologies.

•The World’s Best Employers 2021 has been prepared by Forbes in partnership with market research company Statista.

•The ranking is based upon surveying 1,50,000 full-time and part-time workers from 58 countries working for multinational companies and institutions, where employees rated their employers on numerous points.

•Parameters used during the survey for the ranking include the image, economic footprint, talent development, gender equality and social responsibility.

NATIONAL

India's first Atal Community Innovation Center launched by Vivekananda Global University, Jaipur

•India’s 1st Atal Community Innovation Center (ACIC) was inaugurated at Vivekananda Global University, Jaipur (VGU). It will be the first centre in the country to be set up by the Government of India, Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) and NITI Aayog.

•ACIC aims to support and nurture innovative ideas that can take the shape of big ideas and help transform society for a better tomorrow. This center, started under the joint aegis of Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog and VGU, will benefit the hardworking, passionate and courageous businessmen of Rajasthan who want to take their business towards heights.

Indian Army contingent departs for Indo-US Joint Military Exercise 'Ex Yudh Abhyas 2021' in Alaska

•The 17th edition of the Joint Military Training Exercise “Ex Yudh Abhyas 2021” between the Indian Army and the United States Army, is scheduled to take place from October 15 to 29, 2021 at Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson, Alaska in USA. The Indian contingent will comprise of 350 personnel of an Infantry Battalion Group.

•The exercise will further enhance understanding, cooperation and interoperability between the two Armies. The previous version of the exercise was held at Mahajan Field Firing Ranges in Bikaner, Rajasthan in February 2021.

•The exercise aims at enhancing understanding, cooperation and interoperability between two Armies.

•The joint exercise will focus on Combined Arms Manoeuvres in cold climatic conditions and is primarily aimed at sharing tactical level drills and learning best practices from each other. The exercise will culminate after a 48-hour long validation.

SPORTS

Ireland's Amy Hunter becomes world's youngest ODI centurion

•Ireland’s Amy Hunter hit 121 not out on her 16th birthday against Zimbabwe, making her the youngest batter to score an ODI century in either men’s or women’s cricket.

•The Belfast batter – who was playing in only her fourth ODI – broke the record previously held by India’s Mithali Raj, scorer of a century against Ireland in 1999 when she was 16 years 205 days.

APPOINTMENT & RESIGNATION

World Steel Association elects JSW Steel's Sajjan Jindal as Chairman; becomes first Indian to hold the post

•World Steel Association (WSA) has elected Sajjan Jindal, Chairman and Managing Director of JSW Steel Ltd, as Chairman for the year 2021-22. Jindal is the first representative from India to serve as Chairman of the WSA.  JSW Steel is the flagship business of the diversified $13 billion JSW Group and engaged in the manufacturing of iron and steel products in India and across the globe.

•Worldsteel acts as the focal point for the steel industry, providing global leadership on all major strategic issues impacting the industry, particularly focusing on economic, environmental and social sustainability. Worldsteel members represent approximately 85% of the world’s steel production, including more than 160 steel producers, national and regional steel industry associations and steel research institutes.

OYO names silver-medallist Paralympian Deepa Malik as independent director

•Hospitality firm Oravel Stays Ltd (OYO) has appointed Deepa Malik, an Indian athlete and a silver-medalist at the 2016 Paralympic Games, as an independent director on the company’s board of directors.

•Malik’s experience and her passion for travel and adventure would be invaluable for OYO for years to come. Malik joins the board of OYO that has three other independent directors and one nominee director, besides Ritesh Agarwal being the chairman.

OBITUARY

Fertiliser major IFFCO's Chairman Balvinder Singh Nakai, 87, passed away

•Fertiliser major IFFCO’s Chairman Balvinder Singh Nakai has passed away. He was an eminent farmer – cooperator and was deeply involved in providing strength to the Indian cooperative movement for the last three decades.

•He made pioneering contributions towards empowering farmers.

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Student’s Day is celebrated on October 15

•World Student’s Day is celebrated every year on October 15. The day is celebrated in honour of the birth anniversary of the former president of India, Late Dr APJ Abdul Kalam. Since 2010, the United Nations Organisation (UNO) has marked October 15 as World Student’s Day in an attempt to acknowledge the efforts of Dr Kalam toward education and his students. The current year’s (2021) theme of World Students’ Day is “Learning for people, planet, prosperity and peace“.

•A.P.J Abdul Kalam was born on 15 October 1931 at Dhanushkodi, Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu. His full name was Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam.

•In 2002, he was elected as the President of India and before becoming president he was working with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) as an aerospace engineer.

International Day of Rural Women 2021: 15th October

•The International Day of Rural Women is observed globally on 15 October each year. The day recognizes the crucial role of women and girls in ensuring the sustainability of rural households and communities, improving rural livelihoods and overall well-being. In India, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare observes the day as the Rashtriya Mahila Kisan Diwas since 2016, to increase the active participation of women in agriculture.

•This International Day, under the theme “Rural women cultivating good food for all”, let’s recognize the work of these heroines in the food systems of the world, and let’s claim rural areas with equal opportunities for all.

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

Satya Nadella-led Microsoft team wins C.K. Prahalad Award

•Indian American Microsoft CEO, Satya Nadella has won the prestigious C K Prahlad award for Global Business Sustainability Leadership for the year 2021, along with three other top leaders of Microsoft. The four top Microsoft leaders have received the Award for their collaborative leadership to transform Microsoft into a carbon negative company by 2030 and remove all its historical emissions by 2050.

•Apart from Nadella, Microsoft’s President and Vice-Chair Brad Smith, Chief financial officer Amy Hood and chief environment officer Lucas Joppa have shared the award for Global Business Sustainability Leadership.

BANKING AND ECONOMIC

Kotak Mahindra Bank launched Micro ATMs across the India

•The private lender Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd has announced the launch of Micro ATMs across the country. Customers of all banks who possess a debit card can use a Kotak Micro ATM for key banking services such as cash withdrawals and checking account balances. A mini version of an ATM, micro ATMs are small handheld devices. The bank will use its extensive Business Correspondents (BC) network to launch micro ATMs.

•The micro ATM is a simple, innovative and highly effective solution to deliver essential banking services such as cash withdrawals in a convenient manner to people residing in relatively remote locations.

•It is a viable alternative to a regular ATM, allowing for faster expansion and increasing banking touchpoints for consumers. Kotak’s network of micro ATMs across the country will help customers of all banks (Kotak and non-Kotak customers) get easy access to their bank accounts and promote financial inclusion.” 

INTERNATIONAL

India agrees to $200 mn Line of Credit to support projects in Kyrgyzstan

•India announced a $200-million line of credit for Kyrgyzstan and signed an agreement to carry out small but high impact projects for community development in the Central Asian state. The two initiatives were among several measures announced by external affairs minister S Jaishankar at the end of a two-day visit to Kyrgyzstan.

•External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held “constructive” talks with the top Kyrgyz leadership to boost bilateral ties, including defence cooperation and discussed global issues like Afghanistan. Jaishankar, who arrived as part of his four-day visit to Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Armenia with an aim to further expand bilateral ties with the three Central Asian countries, called on Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov and discussed with him expanding economic between the two countries.

NATIONAL

Haryana Govt Issues Order Banning Employees From Being Part Of Political Parties

•Facing farmers’ protests over new farm laws for over a year now, the Haryana government has banned the participation of its employees in politics and elections. A notification has also been issued from the office of the chief secretary in this regard while implementing Haryana Civil Services (Government Employees Conduct) Rules, 2016.

•The administrative secretaries, heads of department, managing directors, chief administrators of boards, corporations, divisional commissioners, deputy commissioners of Haryana, registrar of universities of Haryana and registrar (general), Punjab and Haryana High Court have been directed to ensure compliance of Rules 9 and 10 of Haryana Civil Services (Government Employees’ Conduct) Rules, 2016 in letter and in spirit. Any violation of the same should invite immediate and strict disciplinary action.

APPOINTMENT & RESIGNATION

Arun Kumar Mishra appointed EESL's chief executive officer

•Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), a joint venture of Public Sector Undertakings under the Ministry of Power has announced the appointment of Arun Kumar Mishra as chief executive officer (CEO) on deputation. He will be responsible for EESL’s operations across the nation.

•EESL, an energy service company (ESCO), is among the earliest entrants in India’s energy efficiency market estimated at around Rs.74,000 crores and is presently running the world’s largest domestic lighting programme. With India rolling out the world’s largest electricity smart metering programme, EESL and IntelliSmart, its joint venture with India’s quasi-sovereign wealth fund National Investments and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF), have been present in India’s smart meter programme space.

Former IAS Amit Khare appointed as advisor to Prime Minister

•Former bureaucrat Amit Khare, who last month retired as higher education secretary, has been appointed as advisor to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for two years on contract basis. Mr Khare, a 1985 batch (retired) IAS officer of Jharkhand cadre, had superannuated on September 30.

•The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of Khare as advisor to the prime minister in Prime Minister’s Office, in the rank and scale of secretary to government of India.

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Standards Day 2021: 14th October

•World Standards Day or International Standards Day is observed globally on 14 October every year. The day aims to raise awareness about the importance of standardisation to the global economy among consumers, regulators and industry.

•World Standards Day 2021 theme is “Standards for sustainable development goals – shared vision for a better world”.

•The date was chosen to mark the first gathering of delegates in 1956 from 25 countries in London who decided to create an international organisation for facilitating standardisation. The ISO was formed a year later in 1947. However, the first World Standards Day was celebrated in 1970.

International E-Waste Day 2021: 14th October

•The International E-Waste Day (IEWD) is celebrated on 14 October every year since 2018, to promote the correct disposal of e-waste throughout the world with the aim to increase re-use, recovery and recycling rates. 2021 is the fourth edition of the International E-Waste Day. This year’s International E-Waste Day will focus on the crucial part each of us has in making circularity a reality for e-products.

•The theme for 2021 IEWD is “Consumer is the key to Circular Economy!”. The day was developed in 2018 by the WEEE Forum, an international association of e-waste collection schemes, with the support of its members.

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

Dr Randeep Guleria bags Lal Bahadur Shastri National Award for Excellence

•The Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu presented the 22nd Lal Bahadur Shastri National Award for Excellence to the eminent pulmonologist and Director of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Dr Randeep Guleria at Upa-Rashtrapati Nivas. He lauded Dr Guleria’s devotion to duty and in nurturing the Department of Pulmonary Medicine and Sleep Disorders in AIIMS.

•Dr Randeep Guleria’s stellar role in creating awareness about the pandemic in recent times has not only been reassuring for all of us but has also soothed the frayed nerves of every person who has met, seen, or heard him speak on multiple forums on various aspects related to COVID 19. Dr Guleria is widely respected for his ground-breaking work in his chosen field and is known to be a highly efficient and dedicated hospital administrator, as well.

RANKING

India retains 3rd position in renewable energy investment attractiveness index

•India has retained the third position in the 58th Renewable Energy Country Attractiveness Index (RECAI) released by the consultancy firm Ernst & Young (EY). According to the report, the US, mainland China and India continue to retain the top three rankings and Indonesia is a new entrant to the RECAI.

•The 2021 RECAI ranks the world’s top 40 global markets (nations) on the attractiveness of their renewable energy investment and deployment opportunities. With the environment, social and governance (ESG) measures soaring to the top of the agenda for companies and investors, RECAI also highlights that corporate power purchase agreements (PPAs) are emerging as a key driver of clean energy growth.

BANKING AND ECONOMIC

RBI grants small finance bank licence to consortium of Centrum and BharatPe

•The Reserve Bank of India has granted a banking licence to Unity Small Finance Bank Ltd (USFBL), which was established jointly by the Centrum Financial Services Ltd (CFSL) and Resilient Innovations Private Limited (BharatPe), to carry on a SFB business in India. It is the first time ever that two partners are uniting equally to build a Bank. The proposed business model is one of collaboration and open architecture, uniting all its stakeholders to deliver a seamless digital experience.

•RBI had accorded “in-principle” approval to CFSL, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Centrum Capital, on June 18 to set up a small finance bank (SFB). Centrum’s MSME and Micro Finance businesses shall be merged into Unity Small Finance Bank.

Retail inflation eases to 4.35% in September 

•Retail inflation declined to 4.35 per cent in September, mainly due to lower food prices, according to government data released. The Consumer Price Index-based (CPI) inflation was at 5.30 per cent in August and at 7.27 per cent in September 2020. As per the data released by the National Statistical Office (NSO), the inflation in the food basket eased to 0.68 per cent in September 2021, significantly down from 3.11 per cent in the preceding month.

•The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), which mainly factors in CPI-based inflation while arriving at its bi-monthly monetary policy, has been tasked by the government to keep it at 4 per cent, with a tolerance band of 2 per cent on either side.

•The CPI headline momentum is moderating, which combined with favourable base effects in the coming months could bring about a substantial softening in inflation in the near term.

NATIONAL

Government of India launched ‘My Port App’ 

•The Centre government has launched ‘MyPortApp’ in Kolkata for digital monitoring of port operation. It has been launched for promoting transparency and to provide port-related information. The app has been launched for those port users who want to use various port services. It includes all facts about the port digitally.

•The app incorporates information related to Vessel Berthing, Rake & Indent, Rake Receipt, Container Status, Tariff, Bills, Port Holidays and can be accessed anywhere 24×7.

PM Modi addressed 28th National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)Foundation Day programme

•The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi addressing at the 28th National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Foundation Day programme, through video conferencing, in New Delhi on October 12, 2021.

•Prime Minister Narendra Modi has addressed the 28th NHRC Foundation Day programme, through video conferencing on October 12, 2021, in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and NHRC chairperson. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of India is a Statutory public body constituted on 12 October 1993 under the Protection of Human Rights Act 1993, for the promotion and protection of human rights and dignity of the marginalised.

•The Prime Minister concluded by mentioning the human rights of future generations. He emphasized that with measures like International Solar Alliance, renewable energy goals and Hydrogen Mission, India is rapidly moving in the direction of sustainable life and eco-friendly growth.

Adani Group takes over management of Jaipur International Airport from AAI

•Gautam Adani-led Adani Group has took over the responsibilities of the Jaipur International Airport from the Airports Authority of India (AAI). The airport has been leased out to the group by the government of India for a period of 50 years. For the last two months, officials from Adani group have been observing operations at the airport. Airport director J S Balhara handed over a symbolic key of the airport to Chief Airport Officer Adani Jaipur International Ltd Vishnu Jha in the presence of other officials.

•Jaipur airport is the 11th busiest airport in India in daily scheduled flight operations. Located in the southern suburb of Sanganer, the airport was granted the status of the international airport on 29 December 2005. The civil apron can accommodate 14 aircraft and the new terminal building can handle up to 1,000 passengers at a time.

Delhi Government launched ‘Desh Ke Mentor’ Programme for career guidance

•Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has launched a programme under which students of Delhi government schools will be provided guidance on career choices by citizens who are successful in their respective fields. The ‘Desh ke mentor’ programme entails ‘adopting’ one to 10 government school students who can be mentored by citizens who are successful in their respective fields. The Delhi government had in August announced that Bollywood actor Sonu Sood will be the brand ambassador for the mentors’ programme.

•Mentors will take out 10 minutes every week to guide students over the phone. Interested citizens can adopt between one to 10 children studying in the city’s government schools as part of the initiative.

SPORTS

ISSF Junior World Championship : Indian Shooters win 43 medals

•The 2021 International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Junior World Championship Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun was held at Lima in Peru. The Indian shooters claimed a historic win with 43 medals to stand atop in the medal table. These included 17 Gold, 16 Silver and 10 Bronze medals. The USA finished second on the medal table with 21 medals including six gold, eight silver and six bronze.

•Meanwhile, Manu Bhaker created a milestone record of becoming the first Indian shooter to win the highest number of medals in a single edition of the ISSF Junior World Championships, with as many as five medals. These included 4 gold medals and a bronze.

FIFA unveils ‘Ibha’ - official mascot of U-17 2022 Women's World Cup

•World football body, FIFA has unveiled the official mascot of the U-17 Women’s World Cup India 2022 “Ibha” an Asiatic lioness representing women power. The tournament will be held in India from October 11-30 next year. The announcement coincided with the International Day of the Girl Child.

•According to a release issued by the global body, Ibha aims to inspire women and girls across India and around the world to realise their potential. Ibha is a strong, playful and charming Asiatic lioness that aims to inspire and encourage women and girls by using teamwork, resilience, kindness and empowering others.

APPOINTMENT & RESIGNATION

BharatPe appointed Rajnish Kumar as Chairman of board

•The fintech startup, BharatPe has appointed former State Bank of India (SBI) Chairman Rajnish Kumar as the Chairman of its board.

•The former SBI chairman will work closely with the top officials of the company on key business and regulatory initiatives. He will also take part in defining BharatPe’s long-term and short-term strategy.

Alexander Schellenberg appointed as Austria’s new Chancellor

•Alexander Schellenberg was elected as Austrian Chancellor after the resignation of Sebastian Kurz. Sebastian Kurz resigned because of his involvement in a corruption scandal. Apart from Alexander, Michael Linhardt joined in for the role of foreign minister. He was the former ambassador to France. The appointment of both persons helped in ending the crisis within the Austrian government, the Austrian People’s Party and Green Party Coalition.

•Alexander Schellenberg is a graduate from the College of Europe. He was a career diplomat & became a mentor to Sebastian Kurz when he became a foreign minister. Kurz selected him as the director of strategic foreign policy planning as well as the head of the European department.

Chief Economic Adviser KV Subramanian Resigns

•The Chief Economic Adviser (CEA) KV Subramanian has decided to return to academia after the completion of his three-year term in the Finance Ministry of India. KV Subramanian had taken over the charge of Chief Economic Adviser on December 7, 2018. The appointment was made nearly five months after his predecessor Arvind Subramanian had stepped down.

•KV Subramanian, earlier in his career, had been part of the expert committees for the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Subramanian has also been well-versed with the private sector, with brief stints in top corporates including ICICI Bank, JPMorgan Chase, and Tata Consultancy Services.

IMPORTANT DAYS

International Day for Disaster Reduction 2021: 13th October

•The United Nations International Day for Disaster Reduction is held annually on 13 October since 1989. The day is celebrated to promote a global culture of risk-awareness and disaster reduction and also celebrates how people and communities around the world are reducing their exposure to disasters and raising awareness about the importance of reining in the risks that they face.

•The theme of the 2021 International Day for Disaster Reduction is “International cooperation for developing countries to reduce their disaster risk and disaster losses”.

NATIONAL

Telangana , Uttarakhand introduced mobile court units

•Telangana and Uttarakhand have become the first states in the country to introduce mobile court units to allow witnesses and victims, including women and children, to record evidence from remote locations under circumstances which do not permit them to appear before courts in person.

•The aim is to allow recording of evidence of women and child victims or witnesses, doctors and medical practitioners and investigation officers on demand. The mobile court unit facility is meant for subordinate courts.

Railways launched two long haul freight trains Trishul and Garuda

•The Indian Railways has launched two long haul freight trains "Trishul" and "Garuda" -- which are twice or multiple times longer than the normal composition of freight trains. These long haul trains provide a very effective solution to the problem of capacity constraints in critical sections.

•Trishul is South Central Railway (SCR)'s first long haul train comprising three freight trains, i.e. 177 wagons. This train was launched on Thursday from the Kondapalli station of the Vijayawada division to the Khurda division of the East Coast Railway.

•SCR followed it up with the running of yet another similar train 'Garuda' on Friday from Raichur of Guntakal division to Manuguru of Secunderabad division.

Parliamentary Standing committees for 2021-22 reconstituted

•Various department-related Parliamentary Standing Committees were reconstituted on Saturday by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla in consultation with Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu.

•Bharatiya Janata Party member Sushil Kumar Modi has been appointed the new chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice, in place of Bhupender Yadav who has become a minister.

•Congress MP Anand Sharma will continue to head the Parliamentary panel on Home Affairs and Jairam Ramesh will retain the chairmanship of the Committee on Science and Technology, Environment, Forests and Climate Change.

SPORTS

Valtteri Bottas Wins Turkish Grand Prix 2021

•Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes-Finland) has won the F1 Turkish Grand Prix 2021, held on October 10, 2021. This is his first title of this season. Max Verstappen (Red Bull – Netherlands) came second while Sergio Perez (Mexico- Red Bull) finished third. Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton finished fifth.

APPOINTMENT & RESIGNATION

Harpreet Kochhar Appointed President of Public Health Agency of Canada

•A senior Indo-Canadian scientist has been appointed president of the Public Health Agency of Canada or PHAC, replacing an incumbent who has had a controversial tenure which included being censured by the speaker of the House of Commons.

•Dr Harpreet S Kochhar, currently a senior bureaucrat with Health Canada, the country’s health ministry, with the designation of associate deputy minister of health, will assume charge later this month, replacing Iain Stewart.

IMPORTANT DAYS

National Postal Day 2021: 10th October

•In India, the National Postal Day is celebrated annually on 10 October, as an extension of World Post Day, which is celebrated on 9 October. The Day aims to commemorate the role played by the Indian postal department for the past 150 years, which was founded in 1854 by Lord Dalhousie. Indian postal service is an integral part of India. The postal services in India have given the best performance despite the diversity in culture, tradition and difficult geographical terrains.

•PIN in Pincode stands for Postal Index Number. The 6-digit PIN system was introduced by Shriram Bhikaji Velankar, an additional secretary in the Union Ministry of Communications on 15 August 1972. The first digit of the PIN code marks the region. The second digit denotes the sub-region. The third digit marks the district. The last three digits show the post office under which a particular address falls.

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

Benyamin chosen for Vayalar Ramavarma Memorial literary Award

•Writer Benyamin has been chosen for the coveted Vayalar Ramavarma Memorial Literary Award. His Manthalirile 20 Communist Varshangal fetched Benyamin the honour, which comprises a purse of `1 lakh and a bronze statue designed by Kanayi Kunjiraman. The award function will be held at the Nishagandhi auditorium at 5.30 pm on October 27, the death anniversary of Vayalar.

•The jury chaired by Perumbadavam Sreedharan had K R Meera, George Onakkoor and C Unnikrishnan as its members. Works, including prose, poetry and literary criticism, published in the previous five years till 2020 were considered for the award. As a preliminary step before  deciding on the final choice, 550 people were asked to submit their suggestions. Of them, 169 people responded and they suggested 197 works.

BANKING AND ECONOMIC

Reliance New Energy Solar acquires rec solar holdings for $771 million

•Reliance New Energy Solar(RNESL) today said that it has acquired 100% shareholding of REC Solar Holdings AS (REC Group) from China National Bluestar (Group) Co Ltd., for a value of $771 million.

•The purchase by Reliance New Energy Solar Ltd (RNESL) follows the June announcement by RIL - operator of the world's biggest refining complex - that it would invest $10.1 billion in clean energy over three years in a drive to become net carbon zero by 2035.

PNB launches ‘6S Campaign’ under customer outreach programme

•Punjab National Bank (PNB) has launched ‘6S Campaign’ under a customer outreach programme to extend financial services at a concessional rate during the festival season. The ‘6S Campaign’ encapsulates different schemes such as – Swabhiman, Samruddhi, Sampark and Shikhar, Sankalp and Swagat. The objective is to drive a special awareness campaign for the development of financial services in the country and to accelerate credit growth, improve penetration of social security schemes and drive digital banking push.

•Through Swabhimaan, the Bank aims to aggressively push the financial inclusion agenda by deepening penetration of the three Jan Suraksha or Social Security Schemes pertaining to the insurance and pension sector namely, Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Yojana, and Atal Pension Yojana.

•Under the Samruddhi scheme, Bank aims to drive credit outreach for the agricultural sector which is the cornerstone of the Indian economy.  

NATIONAL

Tata Sons wins bid for acquiring national carrier Air India

•Tata Group, the progenitor of the Air India airline, reclaimed it, nearly 60 years after it was nationalised. Tata Sons bid Rs.180 billion for the government’s 100% stake in Air India. The government is seeking to sell 100 per cent of its stake in the state-owned national airline, including Air India’s 100 per cent shareholding in AI Express Ltd and 50 per cent in Air India SATS Airport Services Private Ltd.

•The stake sale process, which begun on January 2020, faced delays due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In April 2021, the government asked potential bidders to put in financial bids.

•JRD Tata founded the airline in October 1932 and it was at that time called Tata Airlines. This marks the return of Air India to Tata fold after 68 years. The government nationalised the airline in 1953. With this, the airline will go back to the Tatas who have a long history with the national carrier.

C-19:Maharashtra Government Launched 'Mission Kavach Kundal' From 8th To 14th Oct

•The state government of Maharashtra has launched a special C-19 vaccination drive named as Mission Kavach Kundal, with the target of inoculating 15 lakh people everyday. The week-long drive has been organised from October 08 to October 14, 2021. The drive is in line with Centre’s target of reaching 100 crore vaccination mark till 15 October 2021.

•Meanwhile, the country reported 22,431 new cases in the last 24 hours. The active caseload is presently 2,44,198, which is the lowest in 204 days. 

SPORTS

20-year-old Anshu becomes first Indian woman wrestler to win World Championships silver

•At the 2021 World Wrestling Championships, Indian wrestler Anshu Malik created history as she became the first Indian women finalist at the World Championship, and also the first female player from India to claim a silver medal. The 19-year old Anshu settled for a silver medal after losing to 2016 Olympic champion Helen Lousie Maroulis of the United States in a 57kg freestyle bout.

•Till date, Indian women wrestlers Alka Tomar (2006), Geeta Phogat (2012), Babita Phogat (2012), Pooja Dhanda (2018) and Vinesh Phogat (2019) have been able to win a bronze each. Wrestler Sushil Kumar (2010) is the lone wrestler from India to win World Championship till date. Besides this, Sarita Mor claimed her maiden medal by winning bronze in the 59kg category at the 2021 World Wrestling Championships being held at Oslo, Norway from October 02 to 10, 2021.

•Centre organises 'Buddhist Circuit Train FAM Tour and Conference' to promote religious tourism

Union Minister of State for Tourism, Ajay Bhatt has flagged off the “Buddhist Circuit Train

•FAM Tour” from Safdarjung railway station (part of Delhi Suburban Railways). Ministry of Tourism in association with the Indian Railway Catering & Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has organized the Buddhist Circuit Train FAM Tour as part of the Union government’s “Dekho Apna Desh” initiative.

•The tour will cover the visit of prominent Buddhist sites and conferences at Bodhgaya and Varanasi. The event is likely to be attended by around 125 delegates including tour operators, hoteliers, media and officials of the Ministry of Tourism and state governments.

APPOINTMENT & RESIGNATION

E.R. Sheikh assumed charge as first Director General of the Ordnance Directorate (Co-ordination and Services).

•E.R. Sheikh has assumed charge as first Director-General of the Ordnance Directorate (Co-ordination and Services). It is the successor organization of the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB).

•He has contributed to the establishment of the modern production line system for the manufacture of small arms ammunition at the Ordnance Factory Varangaon. He led the successful development of the Bi-Modular Charge System for artillery ammunition.

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Post Day 2021: 09th October

•World Post Day is celebrated each year on October 9 globally. The purpose of World Post Day is to create awareness of the role of the postal sector in people’s and businesses’ everyday lives and its contribution to the social and economic development of countries. The theme of 2021 World Post Day is “Innovate to recover.”

•World Post Day is celebrated each year on 9 October, the anniversary of the establishment of the Universal Postal Union in 1874 in the Swiss Capital, Bern. It was declared World Post Day by the UPU Congress held in Tokyo, Japan in 1969. Since then, countries across the world participate annually in the celebrations. Posts in many countries use the event to introduce or promote new postal products and services.

World Migratory Bird Day Observed on 09 October 2021

•Every year, World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) is officially celebrated twice in a year since it started in 2006. Firstly it is held on the Second Saturday of May and again on the Second Saturday of October. In 2021, the WMBBD falls on May 08, 2021, and October 09, 2021. The theme for 2021 WMBD is “Sing, Fly, Soar – Like a Bird!”

•The day is observed to spread awareness for the need to conserve migratory birds and their habitats. The day is organized by a collaborative partnership among two UN treaties namely the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) and the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (AEWA) and the Colorado-based non-profit organization, Environment for the Americas (EFTA).

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

Karnataka Vikas Grameena Bank bags two PFRDA awards

•Karnataka Vikas Grameena Bank (KVGB), sponsored by Canara Bank, has bagged two national awards (‘APY Big Believers’ and ‘Leadership capital’) for significant enrolment under the Atal Pension Yojana (APY) from the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA). KVGB Chairman P. Gopi Krishna received awards from PFRDA Chairman Supratim Bandopadhyay.

•KVGB is playing a pivotal role in implementing all three social security schemes (PMJJBY, PMSBY and APY) launched by the Central government. KVGB has a business turnover of ₹28,410 crores with a clientele base of nearly 90 lakh in nine districts – Dharwad, Gadag, Haveri, Belagavi, Vijayapura, Bagalkot, Uttara Kannada, Udupi and Dakshina Kannada – of Karnataka.

Fédération Internationale de Hockey Stars Awards 2021

•Indian hockey players swept the 2020-21 edition of the FIH Stars Awards, the international hockey federation (FIH) announced. The winners were decided based on an online poll conducted from August 23 to September 15 which saw national associations, represented by their respective national captains and coaches, players, media and hockey fans cast their votes.

•Votes from national associations counted for 50 per cent of the overall result, while fans and players (25 per cent) as well as media (25 per cent), accounted for the other half.

FIH Stars Awards 2020-21 Winners

• Player of the Year: Harmanpreet Singh (men) and Gurjit Kaur (women)

• Goalkeeper of the Year: PR Sreejesh (men) and Savita Punia (women)

• Rising Star of the Year: Vivek Sagar Prasad (men) and Sharmila Devi (women)

• Coach of the Year: Graham Reid (men) and Sjoerd Marijne (women)

RANKING

Mukesh Ambani tops Forbes India rich list with $92 billion net worth

•The Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) Chairman Mukesh Ambani has topped the Forbes India Rich list for 2021, released. The list ranks India’s 100 richest Indians. He has retained his position as the wealthiest Indian for the 14th consecutive year on the Forbes India list, since 2008.

•The tycoon added $4 billion to his net worth in 2021, to bring his total fortune to $92.7 billion. The total fortune of Forbes India 100 Richest Indian in 2021 is recorded at US$775 billion. India’s 100 richest are now worth $775 billion. The second spot has been retained by Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani, with a net worth of $74.8 billion. Tech tycoon Shiv Nadar acquired the third spot with net worth of $31 billion.

NATIONAL

Make In India: Centre approves setting up of 7 mega textile parks with Rs 4,445 crore outlay

•The Centre has approved the setting up of seven new mega textile parks, or PM MITRA parks across the country in an effort to help furthering the growth of the textile sector in the economy and position India strongly on the Global textiles map. The Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel Parks (PM MITRA) will be based on the 5F vision of the Hon’ble Prime Minister. The ‘5F’ Formula consists of Farm to fibre; fibre to factory; factory to fashion; fashion to foreign.

•These parks will be set up at Greenfield and Brownfield sites in different States by a Special Purpose Vehicle which will be owned by the State Government and Government of India in a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Mode. The total outlay for the project has been set at Rs 4,445 crore for five years.

Shri Mansukh Mandaviya releases State of the World’s Children report of UNICEF

•Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has released UNICEF’s global flagship publication “The State of the World’s Children 2021; On My Mind: promoting, protecting and caring for children’s mental health in New Delhi. The report details the significant impact of C-19 pandemic on children’s mental health.

•This is very vital to address mental health as an important aspect for creating a healthy society. Mansukh noted that teachers are very important stakeholders for addressing mental health issues along with parents and family.

•UNICEF India Representative Dr Yasmin Ali Haque presented some key findings of the report.

•As per the report, around 14 per cent of 15 to 24-year-olds in India, or 1 in 7 of them, reported often feeling depressed or having little interest in doing things.

'India's First' E-fish Market App Launched In Assam

•Assam Minister for Fisheries, Environment and Forest and Excise, Parimal Suklabaidya launched an App Fishwaale, India’s first e-fish market. Table size fish such as bhangon, mrigal and rohu and freshwater and seawater frozen fish (icebox) will be available coupled with dry fish packets, dry fish raw, fish pickles and processed fish products.

•Developed by Aqua Blue Global Aquaculture Solutions Pvt. Ltd. in collaboration with the fisheries department at a function held at Sri Madhabdev Bhawan auditorium, the minister called the app “a one-stop solution for aquaculture” that will help both the buyers and sellers. This platform will help the fish farming community get a reasonable price for their produce and lead to the elimination of middlemen.

SPORTS

Germany unveil logo for Euro 2024 at Berlin's Olympiastadion

•Germany has unveiled the logo for soccer’s 2024 European Championship during a ceremony with a light show in the stadium that will hold the final. The logo features an outline of the Henri Delaunay Cup — the bulbous tournament trophy — set on a coloured oval outline that resembles the Olympiastadion’s roof. It features colours from the flags of UEFA’s 55 member nations, set in 24 slices around the trophy to represent the 24 teams that will ultimately qualify for the tournament in Germany.

•Logos for each of the 10 host cities; Berlin, Cologne, Dortmund, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Gelsenkirchen, Hamburg, Leipzig, Munich and Stuttgart were also presented. The tournament is due to be played in June and July 2024 with the match schedule to be confirmed next year.

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Egg Day: 2021

•World Egg Day is celebrated worldwide on the ‘Second Friday of October’ month each year since 1996. This year’s World Egg Day will take place on Friday 8 October and will mark the 25th anniversary of the event. The 2021 celebration will centre around the brilliant versatility of the egg and its multitude of benefits to people at every stage of life. The theme for 2021 World Egg Day is “Eggs for all: Nature’s perfect package”.

•World Egg Day was established at Vienna 1996, when it was decided to celebrate the power of the egg on the second Friday in October each year. The day helps to raise awareness of the benefits of eggs and their importance in human nutrition.

Indian Air Force Day 2021: 08th  October

•Indian Air Force Day is celebrated every year by the Indian Air Force on the 8th of October. This year Indian Air Force celebrated its 89th anniversary. Indian Air Force was officially established on 8 October 1932 by the British Empire as the Royal Indian Air Force. The name was changed to Indian Air Force in 1950.

•The IAF was founded on October 8, 1932, and the force has participated in several crucial wars and landmark missions. It was officially established as an auxiliary air force of the British Empire which honoured India’s aviation service during World War II with the prefix Royal. After India gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1947, the name Royal Indian Air Force was kept and served in the name of Dominion of India. With the government’s transition to a Republic in 1950, the prefix Royal was removed.

World Investor Week: (04-10) October 2021

•The International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) is preparing to launch its fifth annual World Investor Week (WIW) from 4 to 10 October 2021. The World Investor Week (WIW) is an initiative promoted by the IOSCO to raise awareness about the importance of investor education and protection and highlight the various initiatives of securities regulators in these two critical areas.

•The key messages of the IOSCO WIW campaign in 2021 will be based on two themes: 1) sustainable finance and 2) frauds and scams prevention. The IOSCO WIW campaign continues to gain support among a growing number of jurisdictions, stakeholders and major international organizations.

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

Nobel Literature Prize 2021: Abdulrazak Gurnah named winner

•The Nobel Prize in Literature 2021 was awarded to Abdulrazak Gurnah born in Zanzibar and active in England, “for his uncompromising and compassionate penetration of the effects of colonialism and the fate of the refugee in the gulf between cultures and continents.” The Nobel Prize in literature is awarded by the Swedish Academy, Stockholm, Sweden.

•The Tanzanian novelist was born in Zanzibar in 1948 and has since lived in the UK and Nigeria. He writes in English, and his most famous novel is Paradise, which was shortlisted for the Booker prize in 1994. Gurnah currently lives in the UK and taught English Literature at the University of Kent. Until recently, he was Professor of English and Postcolonial Literatures at the University of Kent, Canterbury and has published ten novels and a number of short stories.

BANKING AND ECONOMIC

RBI Monetary Policy: Status Quo on rates

•The Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) kept the repo rate unchanged in the fourth bi-monthly policy meet for the financial year 2021-22 headed by RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das has maintained the status quo.

•The Monetary Policy Committee kept the repo rate unchanged at 4 per cent. The reverse repo rate will continue to be 3.35 per cent. The meeting was held between October (6 to 8). The remaining will take place in December (6 to 8) and February (7 to 9, 2022).

Bharatpe enters ‘Buy Now Pay Later’ segment

•Fintech company BharatPe, announced its entry into the ‘Buy Now Pay Later’ (BNPL) category with the launch of ‘postpe’. The new platform provides credit to customers to buy now, but pay later from anywhere. Customers using the postpe platform can download the app from Play Store and avail interest-free credit limit of up to Rs 10 lakh. The company said that postpe is not only limited to big-ticket purchases but can also be used for micro-purchases, making it the first of its kind.

•BharatPe stated that it aims to facilitate a loan book of $300 million on postpe in the first 12 months for its lending partners. The fintech company added that customers can shop across offline as well as online and repay easily through EMIs.

•All a customer has to do is scan the QR code through the postpe app and pay using credit. Users can also pay through a postpe card that will be accepted across millions of offline as well as e-commerce platforms. Cashbacks and rewards are also on offer.

INTERNATIONAL

Moody's upgrades India's ratings outlook after nearly two years to Stable from Negative

•Rating agency Moody’s Investors Service has upgraded India’s sovereign rating outlook to ‘stable’ from ‘negative’, on October 05, 2021, following an improvement in the financial sector and faster-than-expected economic recovery across sectors. Moody’s expects real GDP growth to average around 6 per cent over the medium term, reflecting a rebound in activity to levels at potential as conditions normalise

•While it retained India’s rating at Baa3, reflecting the lowest investment grade rating, Moody’s said it expects real GDP to surpass pre-pandemic levels of 2019-20 this year itself, as the ongoing economic recovery is picking up steam with activity upticks broadening across sectors. It expects 2021-22 to record 9.3% growth in GDP, followed by 7.9% next year.

5 billion people could face difficulty accessing water in 2050: WMO

•More than five billion people globally are expected to face a shortage of water by 2050, a United Nations (UN) agency report has warned.

•The World Meteorological Organization (WMO), said that climate change increases the global risk of water-related hazards like floods and droughts, and the number of people affected by water scarcity is also expected to soar.

•"According to figures cited in the report, 3.6 billion people had inadequate access to water at least one month per year in 2018. By 2050, this is expected to rise to more than five billion.

Ghana to host first-ever African Paralympic Games in 2023

•Ghana will host the first-ever African Paralympic Games in 2023, the President of National Paralympic Committee of Ghana (NPC-Ghana) Samson Deen said on Tuesday.

•According to Deen, about 50 African countries were expected to participate in the continental showpiece.

•He said Ghana had begun preparations for the Games with support from the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

•"The government has been committed to offering the necessary support and logistics that will make hosting of the African Paralympic Games in 2023 possible.

NATIONAL

Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy launched ‘Swechha’ programme

•Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has launched the ‘Swechha’ program to tackle the stigma attached to menstruation, prioritize female personal hygiene, and encourage a healthy dialogue of information. ‘Swechha’ (meaning freedom) is intended to ensure affordable access to health and menstrual hygiene in adolescent girls and women.

•The state government will provide good quality branded sanitary napkins to female students at government educational institutions free of cost.

•Ten sanitary napkins will be given every month to about 10 lakh adolescent girls studying from 7th-12th grades in all government schools and intermediate colleges across the state at a financial outlay of INR 32 crores.

•A total of 120 napkins per year is allotted to every female student, even during summer vacations, the students will be supplied with their quota before they leave school.

Telangana Develops India's First Smartphone-Based E-Voting Solution

•Telangana on Wednesday said it has developed the country's first smartphone-based e-voting solution, in the face of the C-19 pandemic that has rushed the world into all-digital operations.

•The solution has been successfully developed and tested while a dry run, in the form of a dummy election, is being conducted in Khammam district, with registration on the application open from October 8-18.

•The initiative has been driven by the Telangana State Election Commission (TSEC) with the implementation support of the Emerging Technologies Wing of the state's IT Department, and the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC), it said.

OBITUARY 

Veteran television actor Arvind Trivedi, passed away

•Veteran television actor Arvind Trivedi, who is famously known for his iconic role of demon-king Raavan in Ramanand Sagar’s TV serial Ramayan, has passed away. He was 82.

•He was also part of the political field, as an MP from Sabarkatha constituency in Gujarat, and had served the Parliament from 1991-96. He served as the acting chairman of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) from 2002 to 2003.

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Cotton Day 2021: 07th October

•World Cotton Day (WCD) is observed globally on 7th October. The international day aims to celebrate the advantages of cotton, ranging from its qualities as a natural fibre to the benefits people obtain from its production, transformation, trade and consumption. WCD Day was initiated by the Group of Cotton-4 countries namely Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad and Mali to reflect the importance of cotton as a global commodity.

•The initiative of World Cotton Day was born in 2019, when four cotton producers in sub-Saharan Africa– Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad and Mali, known as the Cotton Four -proposed the World Trade Organization a World Cotton Day celebration on October 7.

BANKING AND ECONOMIC

Kotak Mahindra Bank becomes 1st scheduled private sector bank to collect direct, indirect taxes

•Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd (KMBL) has received approval from the government for the collection of direct & indirect taxes, such as income tax, Goods and Services Tax (GST) etc, through its banking network. With this, the bank becomes the first scheduled private sector bank to receive approval after the announcement by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman allowing all banks to participate in the government-related business.

•After technical integration, KMBL customers will be able to pay their direct and indirect taxes straight from KMBL’s mobile banking or net banking platforms as well as through KMBL’s branch banking network, resulting in immense ease and convenience for customers.

Reserve Bank of India grants licence to NARCL under Sarfaesi Act

•The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has granted the National Asset Reconstruction Company (NARCL) the licence to register as an asset reconstruction company (ARC). The Licence is given under Section 3 of the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest (SARFAESI) Act 2002.

•As per Section 3 of the SARFAESI Act, a company can carry the business of asset reconstruction only after obtaining a certificate of registration from RBI and, having the owned fund of not less than Rs 2 crore or such other amount not exceeding 15% of total financial assets acquired or to be acquired by the securitisation company or reconstruction company. The NARCL has been incorporated under the Companies Act, and public sector banks will hold 51 per cent in NARCL.