GK and Current Affairs Updates

NATIONAL

Chhattisgarh CM launches cow dung based power generation project

• Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Saturday launched an electricity generation project that uses cow dung as fuel at a farmers' event to mark Gandhi Jayanti , officials said.

• Addressing a farmers' rally at Basic School ground in Bemetara district, Baghel said the project will see involvement of villagers, women and youth, and was a step towards realizing Mahatma Gandhi's dream of 'Gram Swaraj' (village self rule).

• "The entire world is worried over global warming. There is talk of green energy everywhere, so our government has decided to make electricity from cow dung. In every village, such a unit will be set up in gauthans (a place in rural areas where cattle are kept), where cow dung is procured under the Godhan Nyay Yojana scheme," he said.

Alibag's famed white onion gets Geographical Indication Tag

• The famed white onion of Alibag in Maharashtra's Raigad district has earned itself a 'Geographical Indication', giving the crop a unique identity and wider markets, agriculture department.

• They pointed out that Alibag's white onion, which has medicinal qualities and is used for the treatment of heart ailments, controlling cholesterol and creation of insulin, has been mentioned in the official gazette as long back as 1883.

• "The agriculture department here and Konkan Agriculture University had jointly submitted the GI application on January 15, 2019. On September 29 this year, the proposal was scrutinised in the Mumbai office of the Registrar of Patents and it was decided to confer GI tag on Alibag's white onion.

Maharashtra: Palghar's Famed Wada Kolam Rice Gets Geographical Indication Tag

• A variety of rice widely grown in Wada in Palghar district in Maharashtra has been given a 'Geographical Indication' tag, which will give it a unique identity as well as wider markets.

•  Wada Kolam rice got the 'Geographical Indication' tag in a meeting held in Mumbai on September 29.

• Wada Kolam, also known as Zini or Jhini rice, is a traditional variety grown in Wada tehsil of Palghar, with the grain being off white in colour.

SPORTS

India win first-ever medal, a silver at World Women's Team Chess Championship

• India clinched a silver medal after going down 0-2 to Russia in the final of the FIDE World Women's Team Chess Championship on Saturday.

• After losing the first match 1.2.-2-5 despite a brilliant win for D Harika on the board , the Indians were outclassed 3-1 in the second as a strong Russian team stormed to a title triumph. It was India's first ever medal in the world team chess championship.

APPOINTMENT & RESIGNATION

CRISIL appointed Amish Mehta as new MD & CEO

• Amish Mehta has been appointed as the new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD & CEO) of rating agency Crisil with effect from October 01, 2021. He has replaced Ashu Suyash. Crisil is owned by S&P.

• Mehta has more than two decades of leadership experience across industries and joined Crisil in October 2014 as President and Chief Financial Officer. In July 2017, he was elevated as the President and Chief Operating Officer, responsible for the global analytical centre, India research and SME, the global innovation and excellence hub and corporate strategy.

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Day for Farmed Animals 2021: 02nd October

• World Day for Farmed Animals (WDFA) is observed on October 02, which marks the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. The day is organised by the International animals’ welfare organization, World Animal Protection along with Asia for Animals coalition to show the importance and urgency of farm animal welfare. The day is dedicated to exposing the needless suffering and death of farmed animals who are raised and slaughtered for food.

• World Day for Farmed Animals has been organized each year since 1983 by the Farm Animal Rights Movement (FARM), this year with the participation of Animal Justice, the Animal Law Firm, the Animal Activism Mentorship Program, Jewish Veg, Switch4Good, and Their Turn.

67th National Wildlife Week 2021: 02nd  to 08th October

• National Wildlife Week is annually celebrated across India between 2nd to 8th October with an aim to protect and preserve the flora and fauna of India. The Wildlife Week 2021 is celebrated from 2nd October to 8th October. In 2021, we are celebrating 67th Wildlife Week. This year National Wildlife Week theme 2021: “Forests and Livelihoods: Sustaining People and Planet”.

• The Indian Board of Wildlife was constituted and the idea of Wildlife Week was conceptualised in 1952 to raise awareness about the long term goals of protecting the wildlife of India. Initially, in 1955 the Wildlife day was celebrated which was later upgraded as Wildlife Week in 1957.

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

Indian organisation LIFE shares Alternative Nobel with three others

• The Delhi-based environmental organisation “Legal Initiative for Forest and Environment (LIFE)” has been felicitated with the 2021 Right Livelihood Award, an international honour, also known as Sweden’s alternative Nobel Prize. LIFE has been selected for the award for its “grassroots approach of empowering vulnerable communities to protect their livelihoods and claim their right to a clean environment.”

• The Award was established in 1980 by German-Swedish philanthropist Jakob von Uexkull to “honour and support those who offer a practical and exemplary contribution in such fields as environmental protection, human rights, sustainable development, health, education, which are not included in Nobel Prize list. The Right Livelihood Award comes with a cash prize of 1 million Swedish crowns ($115,000) and long-term support to highlight and expand Laureates’.

USIBC to present Global Leadership Award to Shiv Nadar and Mallika Srinivasan

• The US India Business Council (USIBC) has chosen Shiv Nadar and Mallika Srinivasan as the recipient of its 2021 Global Leadership Award. Shiv Nadar is the founder and chairman emeritus of HCL Technologies Limited. Mallika Srinivasan is the chair and managing director, Tractors and Farm Equipment Limited (TAFE). Both will be honoured at the 2021 India Ideas Summit to be held on October 6-7, 2021.

• The Global Leadership Awards which are given annually since 2007, honour top corporate executives from the United States and India. According to the statement, they have demonstrated exemplary leadership and played a significant role in advancing the strategic and economic partnership between the two countries. Nisha Desai Biswal is the President of USIBC.

NATIONAL

Prime Minister of India chaired 38th PRAGATI Meeting

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi has chaired the 38th PRAGATI meeting to review multiple projects, grievances and programmes of central and state government. PRAGATI stands for Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation. In the meeting, eight projects were taken for review having a cumulative cost of around Rs 50,000 crore. 297 projects worth Rs. 14.39 lakh crore has been reviewed so far in the previous 37 PRAGATI meetings.

• PRAGATI is an ambitious multi-purpose and multi-modal platform, launched in March 2015, by PM Modi as a unique integrating and interactive platform, aimed at addressing common man’s grievances and simultaneously monitoring and reviewing important programmes and projects of the Government of India as well as projects flagged by State Governments.

Amazon brings global computer science education initiative to India

• E-commerce major Amazon India has announced the launch of Amazon Future Engineer, its global computer science education programme in India. The programme will enable access to quality computer science education and career opportunities for students from underrepresented and underserved communities. In the first year of its launch, Amazon aims to enable and deliver learning opportunities to more than 1 lakh students from 900 government and aided schools across seven states in India.

• Amazon Future Engineer aims to address the gap by bringing early exposure and access to computer science education to students through in-person, online and blended learning formats.

• Amazon is working with its global knowledge partner Code.org, a global non-profit organization dedicated to computer science education.

SPORTS

Indian hockey star Rupinder Pal Singh announces retirement

• The Olympic bronze medal-winning Indian hockey player, Rupinder Pal Singh has announced his retirement from international hockey to make way for young and talented players.

• The 30-year-old Rupinder represented the Indian hockey team in 223 matches in his 13 years hockey career. Rupinder was part of the Indian hockey team that won the bronze medal in the 2020 Summer Tokyo Olympics, held in July – August 2021.

Boxing great Manny Pacquiao announced retirement

• After 26 years and 72 professional bouts, Former world champion Manny Pacquiao announced his retirement from professional boxing. He made his professional debut in 1995 at age 16.

• He became the first boxer to win the lineal championship in five different weight classes and is the only boxer to hold world championships across four different decades. He held the welterweight title as recently as 2019 at age 40. 

Queenslandon Test: Indian women team played their first-ever pink-ball test

• The first pink-ball day and night Test match between India and Australian women team at the Carrara Oval in Queenslandon, Australia on 30th September. The BCCI and Cricket Australia wish to slot in a Test in the full series they play going forward. The Indian team lead by Mithali Raj.

• Australia played the first pink-ball Test against England in 2017 in Sydney during the women’s Ashes.  The two teams last played a Test in Adelaide in 2006 when Australia won convincingly. Jhulan Goswami is one of two survivors from that Test along with Mithali Raj.

APPOINTMENT & RESIGNATION

Padmaja Chunduru Takes Over As MD And CEO, NSDL

• Padmaja Chunduru has been appointed as the managing director and chief executive officer (MD & CEO) of National Securities Depositories (NSDL). She has replaced GV Nageswara Rao as the MD & CEO of NSDL. In India, there are two depositories namely National Securities Depositories Ltd (NSDL) and Central Securities Depositories Ltd (CDSL). Both the depositories hold our financial securities.

• Padmaja Chunduru is a Post Graduate in Commerce from Andhra University. She has around 37 years of experience in the banking domain. She has served as MD & CEO of the Indian Bank from September 2018 to August 2021. She has extensive experience in stakeholder management, digital transformation, regulatory affairs, international experience and driving innovation with a focus on delivering growth and enhancing value.

Vinod Aggarwal has been appointed president of ASDC

• The Automotive Skills Development Council (ASDC) has appointed automobile industry veteran Vinod Aggarwal as its president. Aggarwal, who is currently the managing director and CEO of VE Commercial Vehicles Ltd (VECV), replaces Nikunj Sanghi, who will leave ASDC after serving it for four years.

• ASDC was set up a decade ago and is promoted by the top industry associations — SIAM, ACMA and FADA — along with the central government and the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC). It is a sector skills council for the auto industry, which aims to make the country self-sufficient to sustain the growth and competitiveness of the automotive industry.

Sunil Kataria appointed as new chairman of ISA

• The newly elected Executive Council of the Indian Society of Advertisers (ISA) has elected Sunil Kataria, Chief Executive Officer, India and SAARC, Godrej Consumer Products Limited as the Chairman of the ISA. Sunil has led the Society over the past five years to greater heights garnering support from the fellow Executive Council members, the ISA members and other industry bodies.

• ISA is the apex national body as a strong voice to advertisers over the last 69 years. Its cross-sector advertiser members contribute to more than half of the annual national non-governmental ad spends. ISA, which is a founder member of the World Federation of Advertisers (WFA) and one of the founders of ASCI, continues to partner with other industry bodies that connect to the advertisers. The ISA played a significant role in the formation of BARC and is closely partnering with it towards advertisers getting robust and credible data.

IMPORTANT DAYS

Gandhi Jayanti 2021: 2nd  October

• Every year 2nd October is celebrated as a Gandhi Jayanti to remember the birth anniversary of the father of our nation Mahatma Gandhi. The year 2021 marks the 152nd birth anniversary of the global peace icon who was born on 2 October 1869, in Porbandar in Gujarat. This day is referred to as Gandhi Jayanti in India.

• On 15 June 2007, the United Nations General Assembly voted to establish 2 October as the International Day of Non-Violence. The International Day of Non-Violence is observed on 2 October, the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, leader of the Indian independence movement and pioneer of the philosophy and strategy of non-violence. The International Day is an occasion to “disseminate the message of non-violence, including through education and public awareness”.

BOOKS & AUTHOR

The Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka’s First Novel Since 1973

• A novel titled “Chronicles from the Land of the Happiest People on Earth” authored by Wole Soyinka has been released. Wole Soyinka is Africa’s first Nobel laureate in Literature. He wrote his last novel ”Season of Anomy” in 1973.

• He returns with a new novel after nearly 50 years. His notable plays include ”The Jero Plays”, ”The Road”, ”The Lion and the Jewel”, ”Madmen and Specialists” and ”From Zia, With Love”.

INTERNATIONAL

IFSCA constitutes panel for development of sustainable finance hub

• International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) has constituted an Expert Committee to recommend an approach towards the development of the Sustainable Finance Hub at IFSC. The expert committee will be chaired by C.K. Mishra, Former Secretary to Government of India, Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change. The committee consists of a total of 10 members including the chairperson and the member secretary.

• The committee shall study the current regulatory practices in Sustainable Finance across major International financial jurisdictions and recommend a robust framework to develop a world-class sustainable finance hub at IFSC, along with a road map for the same.

• IFSCA was established by the Ministry of Finance on April 27 2020, as a unified regulator of all financial products, financial services, and financial institutions in the International Financial Services Centres (IFSCs) in India. It has its headquarter at GIFT city in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

NATIONAL

'Elder Line' rings in hope for senior citizens

• Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment has launched India’s first Pan-India helpline for senior citizens named ‘Elder Line’ for which the toll-free number is 14567. The platform will allow senior citizens to connect and share their concerns, get information and guidance on problems that they face on a day-to-day basis.

• It will provide free information and guidance on pension issues, legal issues, extend emotional support, and even intervenes on the field in cases of abuse, and rescues the homeless elderly. Tata Trusts and NSE Foundation are the technical partners for “Elder Line”.

Government increases the income limit of disabled dependents for family pension

• Ministry of defence and union government has decided to increase the income limit of disabled dependents for family pension to children/siblings suffering from mental or physical disability. The child/sibling will be eligible for family pension for life if his/her overall income from sources other than a family pension is less than 30% of the last pay drawn by the deceased government servant/pensioner concerned plus the dearness relief admissible thereon.

• The financial benefit in such cases will accrue with effect from 08 February 2021. Presently, the disabled child/sibling is eligible for family pension if the overall monthly income of the disabled child/sibling from sources other than the family pension is not more than Rs 9,000, along with dearness relief.

Hurun India Rich List 2021: Mukesh Ambani on tops

• Reliance Industries Chairman, Mukesh Ambani has topped the IIFL Wealth Hurun India Rich List for the 10th consecutive year. In 2021, his total net worth was recorded at Rs 7,18,000 crore. Meanwhile, Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani is in the second spot with a net worth of Rs. 5,05,900 crore. Shiv Nadar & the family of HCL technologies are third in the list with a net worth of Rs 2,36,600 crore.

• The Hurun India Rich list 2021 has named the richest individuals in the country with a wealth of Rs 1,000 crore or more as on September 15, 2021. The Hurun India Rich List 2021, features as many as 1,007 individuals across 119 cities with a net worth of Rs 1,000 crore. As per the report, India has 237 billionaires, up 58 compared to last year.

APPOINTMENT & RESIGNATION

NBA signs Bollywood star Ranveer Singh as brand ambassador for India

• The National Basketball Association (NBA) has named Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh as its brand ambassador for India. He will work with the NBA to help grow the league’s profile in India throughout its landmark 75th anniversary season in 2021-22. For the 2021-22 season, Singh will participate in a number of league initiatives that will be featured on NBA India’s and his personal social media accounts.

• The NBA is a global sports and media business built around four professional sports leagues: the National Basketball Association, Women’s National Basketball Association, the NBA G League and the NBA 2K League. The NBA games and programming is available in 215 countries and territories and merchandise for sale in more than 100,000 stores in 100 countries.

IMPORTANT DAYS

International Day of Older Persons 2021: 01st October

• International Day of Older Persons is observed globally on 1st October every year. The day aims to raise awareness about issues affecting the elderly, such as senescence and elder abuse, and appreciate the contributions that older people make to society. The theme of International Day of Older Persons 2021: Digital Equity for All Ages.

• On 14 December 1990, the United Nations General Assembly designated October 1 as the International Day of Older Persons (resolution 45/106). This was preceded by initiatives such as the Vienna International Plan of Action on Ageing, which was adopted by the 1982 World Assembly on Ageing and endorsed later that year by the UN General Assembly.

World Vegetarian Day2021: 01st October

• World Vegetarian Day is observed annually on October 1 globally to raise awareness about the ethical, environmental, health, and humanitarian benefits of a vegetarian lifestyle. World Vegetarian Day is celebrated to emphasize environmental considerations, animal welfare and rights issues and personal health benefits to encourage people into ditching animal products. The full week between October 1–7 is observed as the International Vegetarian Week (IVW).

• Vegetarianism was frequently referred to as a Pythagorean Diet, before the popularization of the term ‘vegetarian’ in the mid-1800s. Ancient Greek philosopher and mathematician Pythagoras was an early advocate for the diet hence, it was named after him. Established by the North American Vegetarian Society in 1977 and endorsed by the International Vegetarian Union in 1978, World Vegetarian Day is observed annually around the globe on October 1.

International Coffee Day 2021: 01st October

• Every year, International Coffee Day is observed on October 1, to celebrate and promote the use of coffee. There are many who believe that coffee might pose ill effects on their health, therefore, on this day people are educated about the various benefits of this beverage. On International Coffee Day, the hard work and efforts of these workers and people who are associated with the coffee industry are also recognised.

• Considering the number of sectors and workers involved, the day is not only observed to cherish the beverage but also to voice out for the injustices suffered by the sector and the people associated with it. The day also aims to promote the fair trade of coffee and bring the plight of coffee growers across the globe to the limelight.

BOOKS & AUTHOR

Indra Nooyi memoir “The secrets to balancing work and family life”

• In her book, My Life in Full: Work, Family and our Future, Indra Nooyi focuses on the importance that organisational support plays in working women’s lives. For instance, she lists the offer of three months of paid leave by BCG to take care of her father in India when he was diagnosed with cancer.

• Indra Nooyi tells the story of that journey in her memoir, My Life in Full (published by Hachette India) in 313 pages that are packed with her experiences of settling in America, negotiating the boardroom, balancing work and family life and what the pandemic has meant for workplaces.

BANKING AND ECONOMIC

RBI removes Indian Overseas Bank from Prompt Corrective Action framework

• Reserve Bank of India has announced the removal of Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) restrictions on Indian Overseas Bank (IOB). This decision gives the bank more freedom for lending, especially to corporations and grow the network, subject to prescribed norms. IOB was placed under PCA in 2015.

• The bank has provided a written commitment that it would comply with the norms of Minimum Regulatory Capital, Net NPA and Leverage ratio on an ongoing basis and has apprised the RBI of the structural and systemic improvements that it has put in place which would help the bank in continuing to meet these commitments. IOB is being tipped as a privatisation candidate. In 2021, RBI has also removed PCA restrictions on IDBI Bank and UCO Bank.

INTERNATIONAL

Fumio Kishida to Become Japan’s Next Prime Minister After Party Election Win

• Japan’s former Foreign Minister, Fumio Kishida has won the ruling party’s leadership election, virtually ensuring that he will become the country’s next prime minister. Kishida won 257 votes in a runoff to defeat Taro Kono, a popular vaccines minister who previously held the positions of defence and foreign minister.

• The 64-year-old replaces outgoing party leader Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, who is stepping down after serving only one year since taking office last September. Kishida previously served as LDP policy chief and was foreign minister between 2012-17, during which he negotiated accords with Russia and South Korea, with whom Japan’s relations are often frosty.

North Korea claims successful test of a hypersonic missile

• North Korea successfully tested a new hypersonic missile called Hwasong-8, in a bid to increase the nation’s capabilities for self-defence. The missile was one of the five most important new weapons systems laid out by North Korea in the five-year military development plan. This was the country’s third missile test in a month. Earlier it tested a new type of cruise missile, as well as a new train-launched ballistic missile system.

• Hypersonic missiles fly at lower altitudes compared to ballistic weapon systems and can attain more than five times the speed of sound, restricting the interception capabilities of adversaries.

NATIONAL

Government of India started the work of developing ‘Parshuram Kund’ in Arunachal Pradesh

• The government of India has started work for the development of ‘Parshuram Kund’, a Hindu pilgrimage site on the Brahmputra plateau in the lower reaches of the Lohit river in Arunachal Pradesh. The project costing Rs 37.88 crore was sanctioned under the Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD) Scheme of the Ministry of Tourism.

• The ‘National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive’ (PRASHAD) is a Central Sector Scheme launched in 2014-15 with complete financial assistance by the Government of India. It was targeted to develop tourism infrastructure to harness pilgrimage and heritage tourism destinations for its direct and multiplier effect upon employment generation and economic development.

Housing Minister Hardeep Puri launches seventh edition of Swachh Survekshan 2022

• Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister, Hardeep Singh Puri has launched the 7th edition of Swachh Survekshan 2022. The seventh edition of the annual cleanliness survey in the urban areas, under which district rankings have been introduced for the first time. The voice of senior citizens and young adults will also be given priority.

• This survey will create a level playing field for smaller cities by introducing 2 population categories:-under 15,000 & btw 15,000-25,000. The scope of the survey has been expanded to now cover 100 per cent wards for sampling as compared to 40 per cent in previous years, according to the ministry.

• The Mission is also committed to continuously engage with citizens to improve the quality of public sanitation infrastructure and services. To this end, the ‘Sarvajanik Shauchalay Safai Jan Bhagidari Utsav’ will be facilitated to assess the quality of community and public toilets and capture citizen feedback for process improvement in future.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla inaugurated 'Nidhi 2.0' scheme

• The Speaker of Lok Sabha, Om Birla has inaugurated the NIDHI 2.0 (National Integrated Database of Hospitality Industry) scheme, during an event organised by the Ministry of Tourism, on the occasion of 2021 World Tourism Day. The NIDHI 2.0 database will have more inclusivity, by not only including accommodation units, but also travel agents, tour operators, & others.

• The NIDHI scheme was launched by the Ministry of Tourism to facilitate the digitalization of the tourism sector and promote ease of doing business for the hospitality & tourism sector, by encouraging all accommodation units to register themselves on the platform to become part of the hospitality industry.

• As a part of the occasion, the Ministry of Tourism signed an MoU with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and The Responsible Tourism Society of India (RTSOI) to actively promote and support ‘sustainability initiatives’ in the tourism sector of each other.

Titled  “जनCARE” launched by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh

• As a part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh (Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology) launched the “AmritGrand Challenge Program” titled “जनCARE”. The Grand Challenge aims to identify 75 Start-Up and entrepreneurs, who come out with Innovative Ideas and Solutions for India’s healthcare challenges, that can work in Low Resource Settings, for strengthening Healthcare Delivery in India.

• The Challenge has been launched jointly by Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), NASSCOM and NASSCOM Foundation, as a nationwide “Discover – Design – Scale” program.

• The “जनCARE” Amrit Challenge will recognise start-ups in fields like Innovations in Telemedicine, Digital Health, mHealth with BIG Data, AI, BlockChain and other technologies.The Challenge will end on December 31, 2021.

APPOINTMENT & RESIGNATION

CavinKare CMD CK Ranganathan named as the new AIMA president for One year

• Chairman & managing director CavinKare Pvt Ltd, CK Ranganathan has been appointed president of All India Management Association (AIMA) for a period of one year till the National Management Convention is held in September 2022. He takes over from Harsh Pati Singhania, vice chairman & managing director, JK Paper Ltd. Under his leadership, technology will drive AIMA”s services and the new initiatives would include face recognition tools for admission and recruitment testing services and remotely proctored semester examination for education institutes.

• AIMA is the national apex body of the management profession in India. It works closely with industry, government, academia and students to further the cause of the management profession in India.

IMPORTANT DAYS

International Translation Day 2021: 30th September

• Every year, International Translation Day is marked on 30 September. The International Federation of Translators (FIT) organise the day ever since it was set up in 1953. The day aims to celebrate the work of language translation professionals which facilitates dialogue, understanding and cooperation, contributing to the development and strengthening of world peace and security. International Translation Day 2021 theme: “United in translation”.

• The International Federation of Translators (FIT) organise the day ever since it was set up in 1953. The first official celebration of ITD was held in 1991. The day also marks the feast of St. Jerome, the Bible translator who is considered the patron saint of translators.

World Maritime Day 2021: 30th September

• World Maritime Day 2021 is observed globally on 30th September. The exact date of celebrating World Maritime Day is left to the individual governments but is usually celebrated during the last week in September. The theme of World Maritime Day 2021 is “Seafarers at the core of shipping’s future”.

• The theme for this year reflects a clear need to raise awareness of seafarersʹ crucial role in world trade and increase their visibility. The World Maritime theme for 2021 will provide the opportunity to focus on seafarers as the people at the heart of shipping, while also allowing for activities to delve into specific topics relevant to the role of the seafarer in safety, maritime security, environmental protection and seafarersʹ well-being; and the future of seafaring against a backdrop of increased digitalization and automation.

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

Yemeni humanitarian organization wins 2021 UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award

• A humanitarian organization from Yemen has been declared as the winner of the 2021 UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award. The organisation named “Jeel Albena Association for Humanitarian Development”, founded in 2017 by Ameen Jubran has won the prestigious honour to support and provide a lifeline to tens of thousands of Yemenis people displaced by the country’s conflict.

• The UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award honours individuals, groups or organizations for going above and beyond the call of duty to protect refugees, other displaced and stateless people.

BANKING AND ECONOMIC

NPCI launches 'RuPay On-the-Go' with YES BANK in partnership with Neokred and Seshaasai

• The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has partnered with private sector lender YES Bank to launch first-of-its-kind ‘RuPay On-the-Go’ contactless payments solutions. The RuPay On-the-Go contactless solution is mainly a wearable payment solution, launched to enable customers to make small and large value transactions from accessories that they wear every day.

• The solution would eliminate the need to carry a physical card, and customers can use the solution at RuPay contactless-enabled PoS at retail outlets and pay up to Rs 5,000 without the need for a PIN. The solution is based on a simple ‘Tap, pay, go’ mechanism. It has been launched in association with fintech infrastructure partner Neokred and manufacturing partner Seshaasai.

NATIONAL

Chennai's MGR Railway Station gets powered by solar energy

• Dr MG Ramachandran Central (DRM) or Chennai Central railway station will get 100 per cent of energy through Solar Energy. The Chennai Central railway station comes under the South Central Railway (SCR) zone and which is going to become the world’s largest green railway network. The station will now become the first Indian Railways station, which will get 100 per cent day energy through solar panels.

• The solar power capacity of the station is 1.5 MW and Solar panels are installed on the shelters of the station.

• South Central Railways has adopted the concept of ‘energy neutral’ railway stations and become the first Indian Railway zones to do so.

• India has targeted to become “net-zero carbon emission” before the year 2030.

Sojat Mehndi from Rajasthan and Judima rice wine from Assam gets GI tag

• Judima, homemade rice wine from Assam and Sojat Mehndi (Henna) from Rajasthan, has been awarded the geographical indication (GI) tag. A GI tag is awarded to products associated with a specific geographical origin. Award of a GI sign not only helps in tracing the origins of products but also helps in confirming authenticity and marketing of indigenous specialities.

• Judima is a local fermented drink made with rice, brewed by the Dimasa community in Assam. It derives its name from the words Ju which means wine and Dima means ‘belonging to the Dimasa’. It is the first traditional brew in all of the northeast to bag GI tag.

• Sojat Mehendi, originating from Mehendi leaves grown in Sojat, is naturally cultivated using rainwater. Sojat tehsil of the Pali district in Rajasthan has a suitable geological structure, topography and drainage system, climate and soil for naturally cultivating the mehndi leave crop.

SPORTS

Ostrava Open 2021: Sania Mirza & Zhang Shuai Win Doubles Title

• India’s Sania Mirza and her Chinese partner Zhang Shuai won the women’s doubles title in the women’s doubles final at the Ostrava Open in Ostrava, Czech Republic. The second-seeded Indo-Chinese duo defeated the third seeded pair of American Kaitlyn Christian and New Zealander Erin Routliffe 6-3 6-2 in the summit clash in one hour and four minutes.

• This was Sania’s second final of the season, following a runner-up finish at the WTA 250 Cleveland event in the US last month with Chirstina Mchale.

APPOINTMENT & RESIGNATION

Lt Gen Gurbirpal Singh takes charge as 34th Director-General of NCC

• Lieutenant General Gurbirpal Singh has taken charge as the 34th Director-General of the National Cadet Corps (NCC). He succeeds Lt Gen Tarun Kumar Aich. He was commissioned into the PARACHUTE REGIMENT in 1987.

• An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, Indian Military Academy, Dehradun as well as NCC, he attended the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington and the National Defence College Course in New Delhi. Lt Gen Singh has been a Company Commander in the counter-insurgency environment in Nagaland and the Siachen Glacier.

India beats Germany, UK, Russia to bag prestigious IAEA Auditor

• India has been elected as the external auditor to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), a prestigious institution that promotes peaceful use of nuclear energy, for a period of six years from 2022 to 2027 after beating Germany and the United Kingdom among other counties. India’s comptroller and auditor general GC Murmu was selected as the external auditor of IAEA and the ministry of external affairs (MEA).

• In the first round of voting for the post, Germany got 36 votes, India 30, the UK eight, Russia 11, Turkey 9, Egypt 20, Republic of Korea 2 and the Philippines 7 votes. The second round boiled down to the race between India and Germany with India managing to beat the European country.

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Heart Day 2021: 29th September

• World Heart Day is celebrated on 29 September annually to draw people’s attention to heart illness and the range of associated health issues.  The day which is celebrated annually creates awareness of Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) including heart disease & stroke and highlights the preventive and control measures. The day was created by the World Heart Federation, to raise awareness about cardiovascular disease, including heart disease and stroke.

• This year, the theme of World Heart Day is “Use Heart to Connect”.

International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste 2021: 29th September

• International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste is celebrated on September 29, since 2020, to promote and implement global efforts to resolve the issue of food wastage. The United Nations General Assembly designated 29 September as the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste in 2019.

• The theme for 2021 is Stop food loss and waste. For the people. For the planet. The main objective of this day is to take steps towards responsible consumption and production as well as zero hunger, along with working towards addressing the problem of climate change through sustainable food habits.

BOOKS & AUTHOR

Book “The Battle of Rezang La” written by Kulpreet Yadav

• A new book has titled “The Battle of Rezang La” written by Kulpreet Yadav. A new book tells the story of 120 Indian soldiers who put up a valiant fight against the 5,000-strong Chinese military troops in the 1962 Indo-China war, preventing a possible occupation of the entire Ladakh region.

• The Battle of Rezang La”, published under Penguin Random House’s ”Veer” imprint, is written by ex-naval officer and author Kulpreet Yadav.

BANKING AND ECONOMIC

Reserve Bank of India sets Rs 50,000 cr as WMA limit

• The Reserve bank of India has set the limit for Ways and Means Advances (WMA) for the second half of the financial year 2021-22 i.e October 2021 to March 2022 at Rs. 50,000 crore.

• The Reserve Bank may trigger fresh floatation of market loans when the Government of India utilises 75 per cent of the WMA limit. The Reserve Bank retains the flexibility to revise the limit at any time, in consultation with the Government of India, taking into consideration the prevailing circumstances.

The Cryptotech Industry Could Add $184B Of Economic Value

• The crypto industry in India has the potential to add $184 billion of economic value, in the form of investments and cost savings, by 2030, according to a report from the country’s premier trade body for the tech industry. The report, entitled “Crypto Industry in India,” was published by the National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM) in conjunction with Binance-owned crypto exchange WazirX.

• The “CryptoTech” industry – companies involved in trading, payments, remittances, retail and more – is expected to reach a size of $241 million in India by 2030, and $2.3 billion globally by 2026. The industry currently employs 50,000 people in India, a number which NASSCOM expects to grow to over 800,000 by the end of the decade.

NATIONAL

Union Home Minister Amit Shah addresses first national cooperative conference

• Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah has inaugurated and addressed the first-ever National Cooperative Conference (Sehkarita Sammelan) at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi. The minister outlined the government’s vision and roadmap for the development of the Cooperative sector.

• This conference was India’s first such cooperative conference, to provide a platform for accelerating and strengthening Indian cooperatives on the global stage.

• The conference was organised jointly by the IFFCO, National Cooperative Federation of India, Amul, Sahakar Bharti, NAFED, KRIBHCO and all cooperatives together.

• Over 2,100 representatives from different states and various cooperative sectors across the country participated in the conference to contribute towards realizing the dream of a self-reliant India.

Nagaland's "sweet cucumber" gets geographical indication tag

• Nagaland’s “sweet cucumber” was awarded a geographical identification (GI) tag as an agricultural product under provisions of The Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999. The cucumber is one of the most important crops in the Northeast region. Nagaland has the fifth-highest cultivation of this fruit area-wise and ranks third in production.

• Naga cucumber is recognised for its sweetness and unique green colour. It is rich in potassium and has low calories. The cucumber is not the first product from the small state to receive a vaunted GI tag. Both the regional variants of tree tomato (tamarillo) and the famed Naga king chilli are also GI tagged.

SPORTS

England’s All-rounder cricketer Moeen Ali announced retirement from Tests cricket

• England cricket all-rounder Moeen Ali has announced his retirement from the Test match career. The 34-year-old Ali made his debut in Test cricket in 2014 and represented England in 64 Test matches.

• He took 195 Test wickets including 5 five-wicket hauls and scored five-Test match centuries during his Test career. Moeen, however, will continue to play limited-overs cricket for England.

APPOINTMENT & RESIGNATION

UBL’s Debabrata Mukherjee elected Chairman of Audit Bureau of Circulations for 2021-2022

• The chief marketing officer of United Breweries, Debabrata Mukherjee, was unanimously elected chairman of the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) for 2021-2022. Mukherjee, who has over 27 years of experience, was responsible for managing brands such as Kingfisher, Heineken and Amstel. A publisher member on the council, Pratap G. Pawar of Sakal Papers, was unanimously elected deputy chairman for the year.

• ABC is a non-profit circulation-auditing organisation. It certifies and audits the circulations of major publications, including newspapers and magazines in India.

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Rabies Day 2021: 28th September

• World Rabies Day is celebrated annually on September 28 to raise awareness about the impact of rabies on humans and animals, provide information and advice on how to prevent the disease and take efforts to control rabies. 2021 is the 15th edition of World Rabies Day.

• The theme for the WRD in 2021 is ‘Rabies: Facts, not Fear’. The day also marks the death anniversary of the French chemist and microbiologist, Louis Pasteur’, who developed the first rabies vaccine.

International Day for Universal Access to Information 2021: 28th September

• The International Day for the Universal Access to Information (commonly known as Access to Information Day) is observed globally on 28th September every year. Universal access to information means that everyone has the right to seek, receive and impart information for healthy and inclusive knowledge societies.

• The International Day for Universal Access to Information 2021 highlights the importance of expanding access to information laws, and their implementation worldwide to build back strong institutions for sustainable development and to uphold the vision of information as a public good, as well as to strengthen international cooperation in the field of implementing the right to information as a fundamental right. Furthermore, the global discussions on “building back better” remain context-adaptive to the C-19 pandemic.

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

IUCAA scientist among 2021 Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar winners

• Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for science and technology 2021, were announced during the 80th foundation day of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). Every year, CSIR presents this award to scientists below 45 years of age for their contributions in biology, chemistry, mathematics, physics, medicine, engineering and earth, atmosphere, ocean and planetary sciences. The award comprises a cash prize of Rs 5 lakh.

• During the ceremony, vice president M Venkaiah Naidu advised CSIR to reinvent itself and turn futuristic while pursuing the science of the highest order.

BANKING AND ECONOMIC

HDFC Bank most outstanding company in India : Asiamoney

• According to Asiamoney 2021 Poll, HDFC Bank has received the most votes among listed companies in India, leading to the bank being awarded the ‘Overall Most Outstanding Company in India. This is in addition to the bank being voted ‘Most Outstanding Company in India – Banking Sector,’ for the 4th consecutive year, since the inception of the poll in 2018. The poll aims to identify and recognise publicly listed companies by country and sector.

• The poll, known as Asia’s Outstanding Companies Poll, is designed to acknowledge listed companies that have excelled in areas such as financial performance, management team excellence, investor relations, and CSR initiatives.

• Further, the poll aims to identify and recognise publicly listed companies in 2 categories: by country and by sector, in which it operates.

1 crore, minimum ticket size to issue securitisation notes: RBI

• The Reserve Bank of India has issued guidelines regarding the Securitisation of Standard Assets. As per the guidelines, the minimum ticket size for the issuance of securitization notes will be Rs. 1 crore.

• Securitisation involves transactions where credit risk in assets are redistributed by repackaging them into tradeable securities with different risk profiles which may give investors of various classes access to exposures which they otherwise might be unable to access directly. It means securities issued by the special purpose entity as a part of a securitization.

RBI allows banks to sell 'fraud loans' to ARCs

• The Reserve Bank of India has allowed lenders/banks to transfer of loans that have been classified as fraud by these lenders to Asset Reconstruction Companies (ARCs). Stressed loans including fraud loans that are in default for more than 60 days or classified as NPA are permitted to be transferred to ARCs. This comes in the wake of banks reporting frauds aggregating Rs 3.95-lakh crore between FY19 and FY21.

• Under the new guidelines, loans can be transferred only after a minimum holding period (MHP) of three months in case of loans with tenor up to 2 years, and six months for those with the tenor of more than 2 years.

• In case of loans where the security does not exist or cannot be registered, the MHP shall be calculated from the date of the first repayment of the loan.

NATIONAL

First Palmetum of Uttarakhand inaugurated in Haldwani

• First Palmetum of Uttarakhand and the biggest Palmetum of North India developed by Research wing of Uttarakhand forest department was inaugrated on sunday in Haldwani of Nainital district in Uttarakhand.

• Sanjiv Chaturvedi, 2002 batch Indian Forest Services officer who heads the research wing of the state forest department said, "The Palmetum has around 100 different species of Palms with an aim of promoting conservation, further research and to create awareness about importance and ecological role of various palm species."

• Completed in a period of 3 years, it has been funded under CAMPA (Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority) scheme of central government with an amount of 16 lakhs spanning in an area of approximately 3 acres.

• Canna garden with 40 different colours of Canna species is also one of the point of attraction adding to the aesthetic value of Palmetum.

Chennai Central station becomes first to fully powered by solar energy

• In a big leap towards becoming the world’s largest green railway network, Puratchi Thalaivar Dr. M.G. Ramachandran Central (DRM) or Chennai Central railway station, under the South Central Railway (SCR) gets powered by Solar Energy.

• The Chennai Railway station has become the first Indian Railway station that meets the 100% day energy requirement target by solar panels installed on the platform shelters of the station.

• While tweeting a picture of the station, Union Railways Minister Ashwani Vaishnav informed that the station has installed a solar power capacity of 1.5 MW, and thereafter all the energy needs at the stations will be met by this solar power.

PM Modi to launch Ayushman Bharat Digital mission on September 27

• Prime Minister Narendra will, at 11am on Monday, launch the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission via video conferencing.

• The project, also known as Pradhan Mantri Digital Health Mission or the National Digital Health Mission, was announced by PM Modi from the ramparts of the Red Fort during his Independence Day speech last year, and is currently being implemented in a pilot phase in six Union territories, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) noted in a statement.

PM Modi addressed UNGA 

• Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi has addressed the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), in New York. He is the first world leader scheduled to address the UN General Assembly at 6.30 PM IST. Prior to this, PM Modi had addressed UN General Assembly in 2019.

• The theme of the 2021 UN General Assembly session was ‘building resilience through hope – to recover from Covid-19, rebuild sustainably, respond to the needs of the planet, respect the rights of people, and revitalise the United Nations.

SPORTS

Hamilton wins 100th Formula One race with victory in Russian GP

• Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-Great Britain), has won the F1 Russian Grand Prix 2021. This is his 100th Grand Prix win. It was Hamilton’s fifth win of the season and his first since the British Grand Prix in July. Max Verstappen (Red Bull–Netherlands) came second while Carlos Sainz Jr. (Ferrari-Spain) came third in the Russian Grand Prix 2021.

India's Visnu Shivraj Pandian wins bronze at IOSC

• India's Visnu Shivaraj Pandian won the bronze medal in the 10m air rifle event at the International Online Shooting Championship (IOSC) on Sunday. The 17-year-old Visnu was the only Indian in the final after shooting the fifth highest qualification score of 621.1.

• The gold was won by Mireia Rossello of Spain with a score of 250.7 (625.9) while the silver was bagged by Ukraine's Tetyana Halkina with 247.9 (619.3).

• World No. 41 Etienne Germond of France, who shot the best qualification score of 628.4 on Saturday, decided to skip the final.

• The two-day competition was organised by former India shooter Shimon Sharif.

SUMMIT'S & MOU's

HAL signs pact with Alliance Air for deployment of aircraft in AP

• Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) on Sunday said it has signed a lease agreement with Alliance Air Aviation Limited for the supply of two Civil Do-228 aircraft for regional operations in Arunachal Pradesh, aimed at giving boost to India's Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS). The HAL Do- 228 is a versatile aircraft well-suited for operations in the North East and has the capabilities of short take-off and landing, ability to land and take-off from semi-prepared runways, the company said in a release.

• This development opens a new vista in civil aviation for HAL, it said, adding the company is keen to increase its footprint in the regional civil aviation by engaging more numbers of HAL Do-228 by air operators of the country.

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Tourism Day 2021: 27th September

• World Tourism Day is observed globally on 27th September every year. The purpose of this day is to raise awareness on the role of tourism within the international community and to demonstrate how it affects social, cultural, political and economic values worldwide. In the ongoing pandemic times, it is important to raise awareness about the tourism sector given that 90% of world heritages sites closed as a result of the pandemic last year and young people in rural communities were unemployed.

• The theme for World Tourism Day 2021 is “Tourism for Inclusive Growth”. UNWTO has designated it as an opportunity to look beyond tourism statistics and acknowledge that, behind every number, there is a person.

World Environmental Health Day 2021: 26th September

• The International Federation of Environmental Health (IFEH) declared to observe World Environmental Health Day on 26 September every year. This day is celebrated to shed the light on important work of environmental health around the world. The day is important in the current situation as most parts of the world continue to recover from the ongoing coronavirus pandemic situation. In such times, the importance of the Environmental Health workforce has been highlighted more than ever before.

• The theme for the 2021 World Environmental Health Day: Prioritizing Environmental Health for healthier communities in the global recovery.

• In 2011, the International Federation of Environmental Health (IFEH) declared to observe World Environmental Health Day on 26 September. The day was started by the Federation during a meeting in Indonesia on this day in 2011.

World Rivers Day 2021: 26th September

• World Rivers Day is celebrated every year on the “Fourth Sunday of September” since 2005, to raise global awareness of the need to support, protect and preserve the rivers around the world. In 2021, World Rivers Day is being celebrated on 26 September. The theme for World Rivers Day 2021 is “Waterways in our communities” with a specific emphasis on the need to conserve and repair urban waterways, which are frequently under stress.

• Mark Angelo, a well-known river environmentalist, addressed the United Nations in 2005 during its Water for Life campaign, a decade-long effort to raise awareness about vulnerable water supplies throughout the world. Angelo called for an annual World Rivers Day to help the cause gain traction.

INTERNATIONAL

WHO revises air quality guidelines for the first time 

• The World Health Organisation (WHO) has announced a tight revision in its air quality guidelines (AQG). This is the first revision in the global air quality by WHO since 2005. In the new guidelines, WHO has lowered the acceptable exposure levels to key pollutants, including ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide and particulate matter (PM).

• WHO has lowered acceptable thresholds for several pollutants, including PM 2.5. Now, PM 2.5 concentrations must remain below 15µg/m³.

• According to the new limits, average annual PM2.5 concentrations should not be higher than 5 micrograms per cubic meter.

NATIONAL

India Army kicks off ‘Bijoya Sanskritik Mahotsav’ in Kolkata

• Indian Army will organize “Bijoya Sanskritik Mahotsav” from 26 to 29 September in Kolkata. This Mahotsav will be observed to mark the golden jubilee of the India-Pak war 1971. The event will be inaugurated by Lieutenant General Manoj Pande, Army Commander, Eastern Command. Various cultural programs including a film screening, theatre plays, musical concerts, and band performances will be conducted during this event. It will be organized as part of the Swarnim Vijay Varsha celebrations to commemorate the golden jubilee of the India-Pak war.

• The war started on 3 December 1971 and ended on 16 December 1971. It was a military confrontation between India and Pakistan for the Independence of Bangladesh.

• The war started when Pakistan launched airstrikes on 11 Indian airbases. It was perhaps the first time in which India’s all three forces fought in unison.

Defence ministry places order for 118 Arjun Mk-1A tanks worth ₹7,523 crore

• Ministry of Defence will procure 118 Main Battle Tanks, MBTs Arjun Mk-1A for the Indian Army. The order was worth Rs 7,523 crore with Heavy Vehicles Factory, Avadi to sharpen the army’s combat edge. It will support the Make in India initiative in the defence sector and it will help in achieving the goal of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

• The Main Battle Tank Mk-1A is a new variant of the Arjun Tank. It has been designed to enhance firepower, mobility, and survivability.

• Arjun Tank has been part of the Indian Army for the last 15 years. It has been designed and developed by Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (CVRDE).

APPOINTMENT & RESIGNATION

Gordon Brown appointed WHO Ambassador for Global Health Financing

• The WHO announced the appointment of The Rt Hon Gordon Brown, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, as WHO Ambassador for Global Health Financing. He is widely credited with preventing a second Great Depression through his stewardship of the 2009 London G20 summit. He mobilized world leaders to commit an additional $1.1 trillion to restore credit, growth and jobs.

• Mr Brown has tirelessly called on wealthy nations as well as the private sector to ensure the equitable distribution of C-19 vaccines, advocating for a concerted global effort — rooted in science and sound economics – to save lives, end the pandemic and restore livelihoods the world over.

OBITUARY

Kamla Bhasin, noted activist and author, passes away at 75

• Women’s rights activist and noted author, Kamla Bhasin, has passed away battling cancer. She started working on developmental issues in the 1970s and her work focused on gender, education, human development and the media.

• The noted poet and author has authored several books, especially on gender theory and feminism, many of which have been translated into more than 30 languages.

IMPORTANT DAYS

International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons 2021: 26th September

• The United Nations observes 26 September every year as the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons. The aim of the day is to enhance public awareness about the threat posed to humanity by nuclear weapons and the necessity for their total elimination. It provides an opportunity to educate the public and their leaders about the real benefits of eliminating such weapons, and the social and economic costs of perpetuating them.

• The General Assembly declared the International Day in December 2013, in its resolution 68/32 as a follow-up to the high-level meeting of the General Assembly on nuclear disarmament held on 26 September 2013, in New York. This was the latest in a series of efforts by the General Assembly to raise public awareness and to seek deeper engagement on nuclear disarmament matters.

BOOKS & AUTHOR

Book “The Fractured Himalaya” authored by former Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao

• A book titled “The Fractured Himalaya: How the Past Shadows the Present in India-China Relations”, authored by Nirupama Rao.

• The book traces how the origins of the dispute between India and China form part of a living history that shapes their fractious relationship today. Understanding this complex panorama yields lessons for all of us who seek a wider perspective on China and its profile in the Indo-Pacific. Nirupama Rao is a former Foreign Secretary.

Book The Long Game: How the Chinese Negotiate with India by former foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale

• A book titled “The Long Game: How the Chinese Negotiate with India” authored by Vijay Gokhale. In this new book, former foreign secretary of India, Vijay Gokhale, unpacks the dynamics of India-China relations through the prism of six historical and recent events.

• The book gives a practitioner’s insight into strategies, tactics, and tools that China uses for diplomatic negotiations. His 1st book is “Tiananmen Square: The Making of a Protest” was published earlier this month.

INTERNATIONAL

Hungary: Statue honouring mysterious Bitcoin founder unveiled

• Hungary has unveiled the statue of Bitcoin founder Satoshi Nakamoto. The imposing bronze statue was unveiled in Hungary’s capital, Budapest. This is the first such statue across the world to pay homage to the creator of Bitcoin digital currency. It has been constructed in a business park near the Danube River in Budapest. The bust sits atop a stone plinth and is also engraved with the name of Satoshi Nakamoto, who is the pseudonym of the mysterious developer of Bitcoin whose true identity is still unknown.

• Statue has been created by Reka Gergely and Tamas Gilly. They have portrayed a human form and have stayed true to the anonymity of Nakamoto, the person nobody knows how do they look like.

World's highest electric vehicle charging station inaugurated in India's northern Himachal state

• The world’s highest electric vehicle charging station has been inaugurated in Kaza village of Lahaul and Spiti district in Himachal Pradesh. The electric vehicle charging station is set up at a height of 500 ft. The aim of this initiative is to check vehicular pollution and promote electric vehicles for a clean and green environment in the region. India is gaining good momentum in the electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem.

• There is a good response for battery-operated small electric vehicles like e-scooter, electric three-wheelers, e-rickshaws, e-carts, and e-bikes in the country. Both battery electric vehicle and fuel cell vehicle technologies are complementary to each other and are all set to overtake fossil-run automotive by 2050 in the country.

Apple Co-Founder Is Launching A Space Startup

• Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak speaks during a press conference on the sidelines of the World of Business Ideas forum in Bogota, Colombia, 06 June 2018. During the event Wozniak stated that digital privacy must be a priority for big tech companies for the security of users. EPA/MAURICIO DUENAS CASTANEDA

• Apple’s co-creator Steve Wozniak has launched a new space start-up called Privateer Space, bringing potential competition to a field dominated by billionaires Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson. Privateer will be represented at the Advanced Maui Optical and Space Surveillance Technologies Conference, scheduled to run from September 14-17 in Hawaii.

• The global space economy, which has attracted many top companies such as Tesla and Amazon, involves various activities such as research and development, space tourism and the utilisation of space. Bank of America predicts the space economy will have more than tripled in size by 2030, with a $1.4 trillion market value.

Lunar Crater named after Matthew Henson by International Astronomical Union

• The International Astronomical Union has named a crater at the Moon’s south pole after the Arctic explorer Matthew Henson, a Black man who in 1909 was one of the first people to stand at the very top of the world. The proposal to name the crater after Henson was put forward by Jordan Bretzfelder who is an Exploration Science summer intern with Lunar & Planetary Institute, in Houston.

• Artemis Programme was launched by NASA which aims to land the next slate of lunar explorers on the Henson Crater. They will be selected from NASA’s increasingly diverse astronaut pool. Henson Crater is located between Sverdrup and de Gerlache craters at the south pole of the Moon. This program provides a cornerstone to study planetary processes as well as to create the infrastructure to advance human exploration at the Moon and on Mars.

NATIONAL

PM Modi to announce nationwide rollout of Pradhan Mantri Digital Health Mission

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will announce the nationwide roll-out of the National Digital Health Mission (NDHM), which has been renamed as Pradhan Mantri Digital Health Mission (PM-DHM), on September 27. Under this, a unique digital health ID will be provided to the people, which will contain all the health records of the person. The id will be created using details such as Aadhaar and the user’s mobile number.

• The initiative will be rolled out on the final day of Arogya Manthan, which was kicked off to mark the third anniversary of the government’s flagship health insurance scheme — Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana.

• The project is currently in its pilot phase in the Union territories of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, Ladakh, Lakshadweep, and Puducherry.

SPORTS

Odisha to host FIH Hockey Men's Junior World Cup 2021

• Odisha will host the Men’s Hockey Junior World Cup at the Kalinga Stadium here from November 24 to December 5. Hockey India had recently approached the Odisha government to support them for the Men’s Junior World Cup to be held in two months time. Patnaik also unveiled the logo and the trophy for the event. Lucknow had hosted the tournament’s last edition in 2016 where India claimed the honours.

• At the upcoming event, 16 nations will vie for the title. The participating teams are India, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, South Africa, Egypt, Belgium, England, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, USA, Canada, Chile and Argentina.

IMPORTANT DAYS

Antyodaya Divas 2021:  25th  September

• In India, the Antyodaya Diwas is observed every year on September 25, to mark the birth anniversary of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya. Antyodaya means “uplifting the poorest of the poor” or “rise of the last person”. The day was declared by the Modi Government on September 25, 2014, and officially celebrated since 2015.

• Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya, born in Mathura in 1916 was one of the key leaders of Bharatiya Jana Sangh from which the BJP later emerged. He was the leader of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh from 1953 to 1968.

• Deendayal Upadhyaya was a humanist, economist, journalist, philosopher and abled statesman.

• Deendayal Upadhyaya was introduced to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) by his classmate named Baluji Mahashabde.

World Pharmacist Day 2021: 25th September

• World Pharmacist Day is observed globally on 25th September every year. This day is celebrated to create awareness about the role of a pharmacist in improving health. The day was an initiative of the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) along with the council of this organization. This year’s theme is “Pharmacy: Always trusted for your health“.

• The day was designated in 2009 by the FIP Council (International Pharmaceutical Federation or Federation Internationale Pharmaceutique) at the World Congress of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences in Istanbul, Turkey. The purpose of the day is to draw attention to pharmacies and the positive benefits they offer when it comes to health and FIP encourages all its members to participate to make the event a success.

BOOKS & AUTHOR

Audiobook ‘Jungle Nama’ released by Amitav Ghosh

• Amitav Ghosh’s “Jungle Nama” has now been released as an audiobook with music and voice of US-based Ali Sethi. Jungle Nama evokes the wonder of the Sundarban through its poetry, accompanied by stunning artwork by the renowned artist Salman Toor. This is an illuminated edition of a fabulous folk tale that every book lover will want to possess.

• Jungle Nama is Amitav Ghosh’s verse adaptation of an episode from the legend of Bon Bibi, a tale popular in the villages of the Sundarban, which also lies at the heart of the novel The Hungry Tide. It is the story of the avaricious rich merchant Dhona, the poor lad Dukhey, and his mother; it is also the story of Dokkhin Rai, a mighty spirit who appears to humans as a tiger, of Bon Bibi, the benign goddess of the forest, and her warrior brother Shah Jongoli.

BANKING AND ECONOMIC

Bharat Petroleum, SBI Card Launch Co-Branded RuPay Credit Card

• Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) and SBI Card have joined hands to launch the ‘BPCL SBI Card co-branded RuPay Contactless Credit Card, offering fuel and other benefits. The card will provide rewarding fuel savings and other benefits to the customers. Cardholders will also get accelerated savings on other categories of spends, which include groceries, departmental stores, dining, and movies.

• As per the details revealed, users of BPCL SBI Card RuPay will get 13X reward points on every ₹100 spent on fuel purchases at BPCL petrol pumps and 1% fuel surcharge waiver on every transaction up to ₹4,000.

• This will translate to a 4.25% value back. Customers using this card will earn 2,000 activation bonus reward points worth ₹500 on payment of the joining fee.

NATIONAL

Pension regulator PFRDA has kickstarted a campaign under 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav'

• Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) will observe October 01, 2021 as the National Pension System Diwas (NPS Diwas). This campaign has been started by PFRDA under the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ to promote pension and retirement planning for a carefree ‘azad’ retirement. PFRDA is promoting this campaign on its social media platforms with #npsdiwas.

• The pension regulator aims to encourage every citizen (working professionals and self-employed professionals) to plan towards creating a financial cushion to ensure for onself a financially sound future after retirement. NPS subscribers will enjoy the benefits, power of compounding now and reap many of the benefits after retirement.

Govt sets up NARCL, big boost for Banking Sector

• The government has set up an asset management company (AMC) named India Debt Resolution Company Ltd (IDRCL) with a paid-up capital of Rs. 80.5 lakh on an authorized capital of Rs 50 crore. IDRCL will work in tandem with the National Asset Reconstruction Company Ltd (NARCL) to clean up bad loans.

• Bank of Baroda (BoB), Punjab National Bank (PNB), Bank of India (BoI), Bank of Maharashtra, SBI, Union Bank of India, Canara Bank, Indian Bank and IDBI Bank are the shareholders of IDRCL.

Former ISRO chief K Kasturirangan to head education ministry’s panel to develop new curriculum for schools

• The Union education ministry has formed a 12-member committee to develop new curriculums for school, early childhood, teacher and adult education. The panel tasked with developing four national curriculum frameworks (NCFs) will be headed by National Education Policy-2020 (NEP-2020) drafting committee chairperson K Kasturirangan.

• The committee will discuss “position papers” finalised by national focus groups on different aspects of the four areas drawing inputs from state curriculum frameworks. The NCFs serve as a guideline for syllabus, textbook and teaching practices for schools in India.

APPOINTMENT & RESIGNATION

Air India chief Rajiv Bansal appointed as Civil Aviation Secretary

• Rajiv Bansal appointed as Secretary in the Ministry of Civil Aviation. Bansal is currently Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) of Air India. He is a 1988-batch IAS Nagaland cadre, Bansal was serving as additional secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas before Air India. He will replace the current Aviation Secretary Pradeep Singh Kharola, who retires on 30 September.

• Last year in February, Bansal was appointed as the chairman and managing director of Air India for a second time. His appointment came just days after the government announced 100% stake sale of the debt-ridden Air India.

RN Ravi resigns as Naga peace talks interlocutor

• The government of India accepts RN Ravi’s resignation as interlocutor for Naga peace talks. Ravi has negotiated for several years with key insurgent groups for the signing of the Naga Peace Accord. Recently, R N Ravi has been appointed as governor of Tamil Nadu. Akshay Mishra is likely to be appointed as the new peace talks interlocutor. He is serving in the Intelligence Bureau.

• In recent years, the Naga peace process has derailed due to the deteriorating relationship between the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-(Isak Muivah) with the Centre, and Ravi.

• The Nagaland Peace Accord framework was signed on 3 August 2015 by the Government of India, and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN).

OBITUARY

Ex-Delhi police chief, who handled Batla House case, passes away at 70

• Former Governor of Arunachal Pradesh and Commissioner of Delhi Police, Yudhvir Singh Dadwal, has passed away. Dadwal, a 1974-batch IPS officer, was the 16th police commissioner of Delhi from July 2007 to November 2010.

• After retirement, he was appointed as the Director-General of the Central Paramilitary Force, Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) in November 2010. In 2016, Dadwal was appointed as the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh.

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka bags 2021 Global Goalkeeper Award

• The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announced its annual Goalkeepers ‘Global Goals Awards’ 2021, as part of its annual Goalkeepers campaign. Goalkeepers is the foundation’s campaign to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (Global Goals). By sharing stories and data behind the Global Goals through an annual report, we hope to inspire a new generation of leaders—Goalkeepers who raise awareness of progress, hold their leaders accountable, and drive action to achieve the Global Goals.

• Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, former United Nations under-secretary-general and executive director of UN Women. She has been honoured for fighting for gender equality and her continued advocacy to address the Covid-19 pandemic’s disproportionate impact on women and girls. This award recognises a leader who has driven progress on a global scale toward achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs).

BOOKS & AUTHOR

‘400 Days’ is the new book of Chetan Bhagat

• Chetan Bhagat will release his new novel titled ‘400 Days’ on October 08, 2021. He has released the cover for the same. It is the third novel in the Keshav-Saurabh series, after ‘The Girl in Room 105’ and ‘One Arranged Murder’.

• The novel is a tale of suspense, human relationships, love, friendship, the crazy world we live in and, above all, a mother’s determination to never give up.

BANKING AND ECONOMIC

Federal Bank partners with OneCard to launch mobile-based credit card

• Federal Bank has announced a tie-up with OneCard for a mobile-first credit card that targets the country’s young, tech-savvy population. The launch comes ahead of the festive season as Federal Bank aims to cash in on consumer credit demand, which is expected to peak around the festive season on the back of economic revival.

• The credit card will be issued through the OneCard app in under three minutes, as per the company, and can be activated and used instantly in virtual format until the physical card gets delivered.

• Users can control their cards through the app—from tracking spends and rewards to setting transaction limit on the card and more.

Yes bank partners with VISA for credit cards

• Yes Bank has partnered with Visa to offer credit cards to its customers, following the regulatory ban on Mastercard by RBI. The Visa co-branded cards come with nine credit card variants covering all segments, consumer cards, business cards, and corporate cards across YES First, YES Premia and YES Prosperity.

• YES Bank earlier had an exclusive tie-up with Mastercard. However, its credit card issuances had been impacted after the Reserve Bank of India barred Mastercard from onboarding new customers on its domestic card network.

• Yes Bank has achieved the transition to Visa as a payment network within a record time of fewer than 60 days, post the bank imposed on Mastercard from July 22, 2021. The private sector lender is also in the process of completing technology integration with NPCI and plans to issue Rupay branded credit cards in due course.