Daily GK Update- 31st Oct, 2021

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Maharashtra became 1st state to pass its own Wildlife Action Plan 2021-30: During the 17th meeting of the State Board for Wildlife (SBWL), the government of Maharashtra approved its own Wildlife Action Plan (2021-2030), which will be implemented over the next 10 years. Maharashtra became India’s first state to pass its own Wildlife Action Plan. The board has also approved the extension of the boundary of Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve, in the Chandrapur district of the Vidarbha region, by around 79 sq km.

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

Note: Maharashtra Governor: Bhagat Singh Koshyari; Maharashtra Capital: Mumbai; Maharashtra CM: Uddhav Thackeray.

 

2. India and ADB inks $4.5 million project readiness financing loan for Mizoram: The Government of India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have signed a $4.5 million project readiness financing (PRF) loan, for the proposed Aizawl Sustainable Urban Transport Project. The project will support preparation and design activities to improve urban mobility in Aizawl, the capital city of the northeastern state of Mizoram.

 

3. Expenditure Finance Committee approves Rs 2,117 cr Nag River revitalization project: The Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC) of Department of Expenditure, under Ministry Of Finance has approved the Nag River revitalization project. The project was conceptualised by Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari for Nagpur in Maharashtra. The Rs 2,117 crore ambitious project includes construction of three STP projects, a 500-kilometer sewerage network, a pumping station and community toilets. The project is proposed to be completed in 8 years.

 

4. Microsoft launches AI Innovate initiative to empower startups in India: Microsoft has announced the launch of a new program to support the startup ecosystem in India. The “Microsoft AI Innovate” is a 10-week initiative that will support startups in India that are leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI), to scale operations, drive innovation, and build industry expertise. The new program is open for both B2B and B2C startups, from diverse industries including financial services, healthcare, education, agriculture, space, manufacturing and logistics, retail, and e-commerce. The program has been launched in collaboration with TiE Mumbai.

 

5. Rashtriya Ekta Diwas or National Unity Day: 31st October: In India, the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas or National Unity Day is observed every year on October 31 since 2014, to commemorate the birth anniversary of the Iron Man of India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. This year marks the 146th anniversary of the great leader who played an instrumental role in India’s struggle for independence, and later during the integration of the country.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. PM Modi participates 18th ASEAN-India summit virtually: Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi has attended the 18th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-India Summit virtually. This was the 9th ASEAN-India Summit attended by PM Modi. The Summit was held under the chairmanship of the Sultan of Brunei. The Heads of State/Government of the ASEAN Countries participated in the Summit to review the status of the ASEAN-India Strategic Partnership and progress made in key areas of Covid-19 & Health, Trade & Commerce, Connectivity, and Education & Culture. The year 2022 will mark 30 years of ASEAN-India relations partnership, and will be celebrated as ‘ASEAN-India Friendship Year’.

 

2. Mansukh Mandaviya addresses CII Asia Health 2021 Summit: The Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya participated in the CII Asia Health 2021 summit on October 28, 2021, through video-conferencing. The theme of the two-day summit is ‘Transforming Healthcare for a better tomorrow. The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has organised the summit to provide a centralised forum to deliberate on the most critical challenges that India and the world face in delivering healthcare, with a focus on the digital transformations that result in improved patient outcomes and experience.

The Union Health Minister highlighted the successful initiatives taken by the Hon’ble Prime Minister during the COVID-19 pandemic to increase public awareness. He mentioned how campaigns like ‘Dawai Bhi Kadai Bhi’ and ‘Do Gaj ki Doori, Mask hai Zaruri’ reached out to the masses and helped curb the COVID-19 infection in the country.

 

3. World Cities Day: 31st October: The United Nations General Assembly has designated the 31st of October as World Cities Day. The Day is celebrated to promote the international community’s interest in global urbanization, push forward cooperation among countries in meeting opportunities and addressing challenges of urbanization, and contribute to sustainable urban development around the world. The global theme of World Cities Day 2021 is “Adapting cities for climate resilience”, acknowledging that integrated climate resilience policies and action plans will greatly reduce climate-related risks for urban populations.

History of World Cities Day: Urban October was launched by UN-Habitat in 2014 to emphasize the world’s urban challenges and engage the international community towards the New Urban Agenda. World Cities Day 2021 is the Eighth global celebration since the day was launched on 31 October 2014 in Shanghai, China.

 

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

History of the day: World Savings Day was first introduced in 1924 as World Thrift Day at the first International Thrift Congress held in Milan, Italy. It was decided that the day will be marked across the globe to encourage the idea of saving money and restore the public’s confidence in banks. The day was established in 1925 during the 1st International Savings Bank Congress (World Society of Savings Banks). As people were not sure about saving after the First World War, the idea was to make people aware of the significance of saving money.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Netherland’s Ryan ten Doeschate retired from International Cricket: Ryan ten Doeschate, the 41-year-old Cricket all-rounder from the Netherlands, announced retirement from International Cricket after Netherland failed to qualify for the Super 12 stage of the International Cricket Council (ICC) T20 World Cup. During the qualifiers, Netherland lost to Namibia and failed to enter the Super 12 stage, which was his last international match. Ryan ten Doeschate has scored 2074 runs from 57 international Test matches, 1541 runs from 33 One Day Internationals & 533 runs from 24 T20 internationals, since his debut in 2006.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. AU Small Finance Bank launches QR Code Sound Box: The AU Small Finance Bank has announced the launch of a QR Code Sound Box, to provide instant voice-based payment alerts to merchant partners. It is a first-of-its kind product launched by a bank. What is QR code sound box: It is a small and portable speaker, having a dedicated SIM slot for data connectivity, to give voice notification. The device will help the small merchants to run their operations smoothly without the need to read SMS every time when a customer makes a payment.

 

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

Note: The headquarters of NaBFID is in Mumbai.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

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

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

Reason to change its name: The name change comes as the world’s largest social media company battles criticisms from lawmakers and regulators over its market power, algorithmic decisions and the policing of abuses on its services.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. TVS Motor Company awarded India Green Energy Award 2020: TVS Motor Company has been awarded the ‘Outstanding Renewable Energy User’ at the third Edition of India Green Energy Award 2020 by the Indian Federation of Green Energy (IFGE). The award was presented by Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari. IFGE has recognized the efforts of TVS Motor in researching and implementing the use of alternative power sources in the renewable energy domain while ensuring their longevity and stability.

Daily GK Update- 30th Oct, 2021

 

aNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

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

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

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

(3) The market-based competitive prices will provide another option to renewable generators to sell power as well as accelerate the renewable capacity addition towards the government’s vision of building India as a sustainable and efficient energy economy.

 

2. Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel launched ‘Go Green’ Scheme: Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has launched the ‘Go-Green’ scheme & its Portal to provide electric two-wheelers at subsidised rates to construction and industrial workers of the state. The scheme is aimed at reducing fuel bills and also curbing vehicular pollution. The organised sector workers, such as an industrial labourer, would get a subsidy of 30 per cent on the vehicle’s price or Rs. 30,000, whichever is less, on the purchase of battery-powered two-wheelers. For construction sector workers, 50 per cent subsidy or Rs. 30,000, whichever is less on the purchase of battery-powered two-wheelers.

Note: Gujarat Capital: Gandhinagar; Gujarat Governor: Acharya Devvrat; Gujarat Chief minister: Bhupendrabhai Patel.

 

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

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

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

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

 

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

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. PM Modi attend 16th East Asia Summit virtually: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has participated in the 16th East Asia Summit (EAS) through a video conference on October 27, 2021, during which he re-affirmed India’s focus on a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific and the principle of ASEAN Centrality in the region. The 16th EAS was hosted under the Chairmanship of Brunei. This was the 7th East Asia Summit for Prime Minister Modi.

About the Summit:

(1) The Summit ended with the adoption of three Statements by EAS leaders, which includes, Mental Health, Economic recovery through Tourism and Sustainable Recovery.

(2) Established in 2005, the East Asia Summit is the premier leader-led forum in the Asia-Pacific region to deal with issues relating to security and defence for the strategic, geopolitical and economic evolution of East Asia.

(3) The members of EAS includes 10 ASEAN member states, and India, China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia, New Zealand, the United States and Russia.

 

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

About the Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue:

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

(2) Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue (IPRD) is the apex international annual conference of the Indian Navy. It was first conducted in 2018.

(3) IPRD aims to review both opportunities and challenges that arise within the Indo-Pacific.

 

3. Shavkat Mirziyoyev re-elected as President of Uzbekistan: Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the incumbent President of Uzbekistan has won a 2nd five-year term as the President of Uzbekistan. He is a member of the UzLiDeP (Uzbekistan Liberal Democratic Party). Shavkat Mirziyoyev took office in 2016 following the death of Islam Karimov, the first post-independence president of Uzbekistan.

Note: Uzbekistan Capital: Tashkent; Uzbekistan Currency: Uzbekistani som; Uzbekistan Prime Minister: Abdulla Aripov.

 

4. France launched Military Communications Satellite “Syracuse 4A”: France has successfully launched a state-of-the-art satellite namely ‘Syracuse 4A’ into orbit which was carried off by Ariane 5 rocket from Kourou, in French Guiana. It is designed to allow France’s armed forces across the globe to communicate swiftly and securely. The satellite can survey its close surroundings and move itself to escape an attack.

Syracuse IV produces a throughput three times higher (1.5 Gbit/sec) than Syracuse III by operating in two bands: X and Ka. Three satellites are to be placed in orbit: the second in 2022 and the third on an unknown date. The total cost of the Syracuse IV programme is EUR3.6 billion (nearly USD4.2 billion). Syracuse IV is the first French military satellite with the ability to detect other satellites that are trying to gather information from it or to destroy it.

Note: France Capital: Paris; France Currency: Euro; France Prime Minister: Jean Castex.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Kotak Mahindra Bank tied up with IndiGo to launch ‘Ka-ching’ Credit Card: IndiGo and Kotak Mahindra Bank (KMB) entered into a strategic partnership for the launch of a co-branded credit card named ‘Ka-ching’. The credit card was launched under IndiGo’s 6E Rewards programme and linked with it to enable the members to earn rewards by using the card on IndiGo and other merchants. The co-branded card will be available in 2 variants such as 6E Rewards and 6E Rewards XL by offering exclusive travel benefits for domestic and international travel.

Note: Kotak Mahindra Bank Founded: 2003; Kotak Mahindra Bank Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra; Kotak Mahindra Bank MD & CEO: Uday Kotak; Kotak Mahindra Bank Tagline: Let’s make money simple.

 

2. HDFC Ltd and India Post Payments Bank partnered to Offer Home Loans: HDFC Ltd and India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) made a strategic partnership to offer HDFC Ltd’s home loans to 4.7 crore customers of IPPB through its wide network of 650 branches and over 1.36 lakh banking access points. The partnership helps to promote affordable housing in the remotest locations of India. Under the partnership, IPPB will offer home loans for customers in unbanked and underserved areas through nearly 1,90,000 banking service providers including postmen and Gramin Dak Sevaks.

Note: MD and CEO of India Post Payments Bank (IPPB): J Venkatramu; India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) was incorporated as Payments Banking Company under Section 22 (1) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949; India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) Headquarters: New Delhi.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

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

 

DEFENCE

 

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

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

 

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

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

Daily GK Update- 29th Oct, 2021

 

aNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Culture Minister G.K Reddy launches Amrit Mahotsav Podcast: The Union Minister for Culture and Tourism, G.K Reddy has launched the Amrit Mahotsav Podcast, as a part of the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav celebration by the ministry. The Amrit Mahotsav Podcast series (Zara Yaad Karo Qurbani) is a tribute to the Indian National Army (persons and movements), which significantly contributed to India’s freedom struggle, some of which have remained untold and not found a place in the conventional storyline. As an ode to the sacrifices made, it is only befitting to salute these heroes by recollecting their stories of courage and valour as part of commemorating 75 years of India’s independence.

 

2. Goa became the 1st state to achieve ODF and Electricity for each household: Goa has achieved Open Defecation Free (ODF) and Electricity for every household. The original ODF protocol was issued in the year 2016. According to it, a city or ward is notified as ODF city or ward if not a single person is found defecating in the open, at any point of the day. Goa has also become the first state to provide tap water to every household under the “Har Ghar Jal Mission”. Apart from that, Goa achieved a 100 per cent target to provide free ration to the poor and needy. It has also completed 100 per cent first dose of covid-19 vaccination.

Note: Goa Capital: Panaji; Goa CM: Pramod Sawant; Goa Governor: S. Sreedharan Pillai.

 

3. National Steering Committee for NIPUN Bharat Mission setup by govt: Department of School Education and Literacy has constituted the National Steering Committee (NSC) for the implementation of the NIPUN Bharat Mission. It seeks to develop a methodology of assessment to analyze the progress of education and provide feedback to States/UTs. To achieve the goal of universal proficiency in foundational literacy and numeracy for every child by end of Class 3 by 2026-27. The Union Education Minister, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan will be the Chairperson of the NSC and Minister of State for Education, Smt. Annpurna Devi will be the Vice-Chairperson.

 

4. Centre to set up two container-based mobile hospitals with 100 beds in Delhi and Chennai: The Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has announced that up two container-based mobile hospitals with all healthcare facilities is planned to be set up under the PM Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission. The hospital will be first of its kind in Asia. The unique feature of the hospitals will be that they can be rushed to any place, by rail or air to address a health emergency. The two hospitals will be placed in Delhi and Chennai. They would have 100 beds each and each hospital unit would have 33 containers for emergency medical care.

 

5. India’s first Radio over Internet Protocol system inaugurated in Kolkata: The Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port (SPM) in Kolkata has become the first Major Indian Port to get a Radio over Internet Protocol (ROIP) System. The ROIP was inaugurated by Vinit Kumar, Chairman of SPM, on October 25, 2021.  SMP, Kolkata has been constantly maintaining its pivotal position in Indian Major Ports for the past 152 years. ROIP system is a long-range marine communication solution, to aid especially during storms and inclement weather. Using the ROIP mode of communication, the vessels at Sandheads can be directly communicated via Radio, from Kolkata. The solution shall cover the entire Hugli River Estuary from Kolkata to Sandheads, and will have base stations at 4 Locations: Kolkata, Hugli point, Haldia and Sagar Pilot Station.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

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

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

 

2. A new Book titled “Kamala Harris: Phenomenal Woman” by Chidanand Rajghatta: Renowned journalist and writer Chidanand Rajghatta have authored a new book “Kamala Harris: Phenomenal Woman”, a biography of Kamala Harris, the first women Vice President of the United States of America (USA). The book features the life incidents of Kamala Harris, a woman of mixed race (India and Jamaica) who has become the first Indian descent, the first woman to become the vice president of the USA.

 

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

History of the day: Charley Kline, a student programmer at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), transmitted the first-ever electronic message ‘LO’ on October 29, 1969. The first International Internet Day was celebrated on October 29, 2005, to celebrate this momentous event in the history of telecommunications and technology.

 

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

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

Note: President of International Federation of Psoriasis Associations: Hoseah Waweru; International Federation of Psoriasis Associations Founded: 1971; International Federation of Psoriasis Associations Headquarters: Sweden.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Ahmedabad and Lucknow are the two new teams of the IPL: Ahmedabad and Lucknow are the two new teams that will be part of the Indian Premier League (IPL) from 2022. Hence taking the total number of teams in the competition to ten. RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group (RPSG) is the owner of the Lucknow team while CVC Capital Partners is the owner of the Ahmedabad team. RPSG group has won the bid for Lucknow at Rs. 7090 crore, while CVC Capitals a.k.a Irelia has won the bid for Ahmedabad at Rs. 5625 crore. The IPL’s first season was played in 2008. There have been fourteen seasons of the IPL tournament. The 15th season will see 10 teams competing for the IPL title.

 

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

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

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Union Bank, CDAC join hands for cyber security: The Union Bank of India (UBI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Hyderabad to launch a 1st of its kind initiative on Cyber Security Awareness. CDAC will assist UBI in educating its employees & customers with awareness on Cyber Security & tips to protect themselves from Cyber fraud. The Bank has previously launched an e-book & an online game ‘Spin-N-Learn’, as a part of National Cyber Security Awareness Month (October).

The association with CDAC, Hyderabad will help the bank in conducting online and offline sessions on cyber security awareness as well as mass campaigns and social media campaigns to educate the staff, customers besides preparation of information security material. As part of the National Cyber Security Awareness Month, the bank launched an e-book and Spin-N-Learn, an online game on its website besides conducting on Monday conclave.

Note: Union Bank of India Founded: 1919; Union Bank of India Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra; Union Bank of India MD & CEO: Rajkiran Rai G; Union Bank of India Tagline: Good People to Bank with.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. CCI approves acquisition of 4.99% stake in HDFC ERGO by HDFC Bank: The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the acquisition of 4.99 percent of the outstanding equity share capital in HDFC ERGO General Insurance Company by private sector lender HDFC Bank. HDFC Bank will acquire 3.56 crore shares or 4.99% stake for Rs 1,906 crore from the parent company Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC). HDFC ERGO General Insurance Company is a joint venture between HDFC and European insurer ERGO International AG. The proposed combination will enable the lender to participate in the growth opportunity of HDFC ERGO General Insurance and create long-term value for its shareholders, as per a combination notice filed with the regulator.

Note: HDFC Bank Headquarters: Mumbai; HDFC Bank Founded: August 1994; HDFC Bank CEO: Sashidhar Jagdishan; HDFC Bank Tagline: We understand your world.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Tsitsi Dangarembga receives Peace Prize of the German Book Trade 2021: The Peace Prize of the German Book Trade 2021 has been awarded to the Zimbabwean author and a filmmaker Tsitsi Dangarembga for a “new Enlightenment”, a work on violence in her country and all over the world by Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels, an association of German book publishers and booksellers. Dangarembga is the first black woman to win the German Peace Prize. She has won the PEN Pinter prize 2021. Her debut novel, Nervous conditions were the first to be published in English by black women from Zimbabwe.

About German Peace Prize: Awarded by: Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels, the German Publishers and Booksellers Association, Germany; Prize money: 25,000 euros.

 

 

 

 

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Daily GK Update- 28th Oct, 2021

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. PM Modi launches 5,000-crore ‘Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission’: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched the “Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission” from his parliamentary constituency Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. The Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission is one of the largest pan-India schemes for strengthening healthcare infrastructure across the country and is in addition to the National Health Protection Mission (Ayushman Bharat Yojana). About the scheme:

(1) Total outlay of the scheme: Rs. 5,000-crore

(2) Purpose: to address gaps in public health infrastructure, with a focus on critical care facilities and primary care in both urban and rural areas.

(3) Benefit: The scheme shall strengthen India’s ability to fight and contain outbreaks of diseases in the future.

(4) Under the scheme, 17,788 rural health and wellness centres in 10 high focus states will get the support of the scheme. For urban areas, 11,024 urban health and wellness centres will be established in all the states. Apart from this, a national institution for one health, four new national institutes for virology, a regional research platform for WHO South-East Asia Region, nine biosafety level-III laboratories, five new regional national centres for disease control will also be set up.

 

2. Centre plans to form empowered group of secretaries under Cabinet secretary to review implementation of PM GatiShakti: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has decided to set up an institutional framework to implement, support and monitor the entire programme of PM GatiShakti– the national master plan for ‘multi-modal connectivity’. Under this, the government will constitute an empowered group of secretaries (EGOS), a network planning group and a technical support unit.

(1) EGOS: This will have the cabinet secretary as the Chairperson, the head of the commerce ministry’s logistics division as convenor and secretaries of 18 ministries as members.

(2) Term of Refenerence of EGOS: Review implementation of the programme and prescribe norms for undertaking any subsequent amendments to it.

(3) Network Planning Group: This group will assist the EGOS and consist of heads of such wings of respective infrastructure ministries.

(4) Technical support unit: It will have experts from various infrastructure sectors, including aviation, maritime, rail, roads and highways, ports, etc, to oversee the complexities involved in the overall integration of networks.

 

3. Central Government notifies Indian Telegraph Right of Way (Amendment) Rules, 2021: The Department of Telecom (DoT) has notified the Indian Telegraph Right of Way (Amendment) Rules, 2021 on October 21, 2021, by amending the Indian Telegraph Right of Way Rules, 2016. The new rules have been introduced to ease the Right of Way (RoW) related permission and procedures for establishment and augmentation of Digital Communications Infrastructure across the country. Amendments notified are as follows:

(1) The one-time compensation for establishment of overground telegraph line has been fixed at maximum Rs 1000 per kilometre.

(2) No fee will be charged other than Administrative fee and Restoration charges for establishing, maintaining, working, repairing, transferring or shifting the underground and overground telegraph infrastructure.

(3) Besides, Documentation for Right of Way (RoW) application for overground telegraph line has also been simplified.

 

4. GAIL to build India’s largest green hydrogen plant: State-owned GAIL (India) Ltd will build India’s largest green hydrogen-making plant as it looks to supplement ‎its natural gas business with carbon-free fuel. GAIL Chairman and Managing Director Manoj Jain said the company is looking at building a 10-megawatt (MW) electrolyzer capable of generating 4.5 tonnes of green hydrogen daily. The firm has already floated a global tender to buy the electrolyzer and is hoping to get delivery in 12-14 months. It will be double the size of the one announced by state electricity producer NTPC.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India, UK and Australia to jointly launch IRIS initiative at COP26: India, Australia, and the UK in collaboration with small island developing states (SIDS), have planned to launch a new initiative “Infrastructure for Resilient Island States (IRIS)”, on the sidelines of the Conference of Parties (COP26). The IRIS platform aims at creating an infrastructure that can withstand disasters and lessen economic losses in island nations. The IRIS initiative will be launched with initial funding of $10 million from Australia, India and the UK. The 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) is scheduled to take place from October 31 to November 12, 2021.

 

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

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

Note: President of ASIFA: Sayoko Kinoshita; ASIFA Founder: John Halas; ASIFA Founded: 1960, Annecy, France.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Viktor Axelsen and Akane Yamaguchi won Denmark Open 2021: Danish Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen won the Mens’ single 2021 Denmark Open Badminton held at the Odense Sports Park, Denmark. He defeated world number one Kento Momota of Japan. Akane Yamaguchi of Japan won her second title in the women’s category defeating An Se-young (South Korea).

List of all winners of Denmark Open 2021:

Category	Winner
Mens’ single	Viktor Axelsen (Denmark)
Womens’ single	Akane Yamaguchi (Japan)
Men’s double	Takuro Hoki, and Yugo Kobayashi (Japan)
Women’s double	Huang Dongping and Zheng Yu (China)
Mixed double	Yuta Watanabe and Arisa Higashino (Japan).

 

2. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen wins United States Grand Prix 2021: Max Verstappen (Red Bull – Netherlands) has won the 2021 United States Grand Prix held at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, United States. This is the 8th win for Verstappen in this season. The race was the 17th round of the 2021 Formula One World Championship. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-Great Britain) stood second while Sergio Perez (Mexico- Red Bull) came third.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. RBI introduces Scale Based Regulation (SBR) for NBFCs: The Reserve Bank of India has put in place a revised regulatory framework for NBFCs which is a Scale Based Regulation (SBR). These guidelines shall be effective from October 01, 2022. Now for regulation of NBFCs under the new Scale Based Regulation (SBR), RBI has categorized NBFCs into four layers (or 4 scales) based on their size, activity, and perceived riskiness. These are: NBFC – Base Layer (NBFC-BL), NBFC – Middle Layer (NBFC-ML), NBFC – Upper Layer (NBFC-UL) and NBFC – Top Layer (NBFC-TL).

(1) The Top Layer will ideally remain empty: This layer can get populated if the Reserve Bank is of the opinion that there is a substantial increase in the potential systemic risk from specific NBFCs in the Upper Layer.

(2) Minimum Net Owned Fund Requirement: Regulatory minimum Net Owned Fund (NOF) for NBFC-ICC, NBFC-MFI and NBFC-Factors will be increased to Rs. 10 crore (from Rs 2 crore at present). For NBFC-P2P, NBFC-AA, and NBFCs with no public funds and no customer interface, the NOF shall continue to be Rs. 2 crore.

(3) Ceiling on IPO Funding: There will be a ceiling of Rs. 1 crore per borrower for financing subscription to Initial Public Offer (IPO) of NBFCs. This IPO ceiling will come into effect from April 01, 2022.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. Siddhartha Lal reappointed Eicher Motors MD for 5 years: Eicher Motors Ltd passed the resolution to reappoint Siddhartha Lal as the Managing Director of the company for five years, starting May 1, 2021. The board also approved a revised remuneration structure for the Managing Director, with a maximum cap of 1.5 per cent of profits as per Section 198 of the Companies Act. The proposal for reappointment was cleared with almost 93.8 per cent of the total 226 million votes casted going in favour of the resolution.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Dr. Rajiv Nigam Selected for 2022 Joseph A. Cushman Award: Former Chief Scientist at CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), Dr. Rajiv Nigam has been selected for the 2022 Joseph A. Cushman Award for Excellence in Foraminiferal Research. Dr. Nigam is the first Indian Citizen to be selected for the prestigious award. He has been chosen for his outstanding lifetime contributions to the field of foraminifera (microfossil) research. Dr. Nigam will receive the award at the Cushman Reception during the 2022 Geological Society of America meeting in Denver, Colorado, USA, from October 9-12-2022. The Joseph A. Cushman Award was established by USA based Cushman foundation for foraminiferal research in 1979.

 

DEFENCE

 

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

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

Daily GK Update- 27th Oct, 2021

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Invest India elected as President of Geneva-based WAIPA: Invest India, a young startup within the Government of India has been unanimously elected as the President of the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WAIPA) for 2021-2023. Invest India is the National Investment Promotion and Facilitation Agency to help investors looking for investment opportunities and options in India.

The members of the Steering Committee of WAIPA for 2021-23 includes:

President: Invest India

Two Vice Presidents: Egypt and Switzerland

9 Regional Directors: Brazil, South Korea, Finland, Kuwait, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Azerbaijan, Ghana, and Samoa.

Note: World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies Founded: 1995.

 

2. NITI Aayog launches “Innovations for You” Digi-Book: The Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) of NITI Aayog has launched a Digi-book named “Innovations for You”. The sector in focus in this Digi-book is Healthcare. “Innovation for you” is an initiative of Niti Aayog to share success stories of Atal Innovation Mission’s Startups in different domains. The Digi-book was launched with the aim of serving as an encouragement for upcoming entrepreneurs in order to work on the path of creativity and imagination for addressing some of the pressing challenges in India. It also aims to showcase the best innovations and entrepreneurs to bring them to the forefront.

NITI Aayog’s Digi Book:

(1) NITI aayog has launched the DIGI book, as India is celebrating the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.

(2) Digi-book is a compilation of 45 health tech start-ups. These start-ups have been incubated at the Atal Incubation Centres across the country.

(3) These start-ups have been leveraging technologies such as AI, IoT, ICT and others for providing socially relevant solutions to health issues like neonatal & child care, mental health, dental care, anaemia and monitoring human vitals.

 

3. India’s first ‘test tube’ Banni buffalo calf born in Gujarat: The first IVF calf of “Banni” breed of buffaloes, found primarily in Gujarat’s Kutch region, was born at a farmer’s house in the state’s Gir Somnath district. The process was carried out to enhance the number of genetically superior buffaloes to increase milk production. Banni buffalo is known for its resilience and higher milk-producing capacity in an arid environment. The breed had achieved six pregnancies from 18 recipient buffaloes at his farm, which were implanted with embryos through IVF technology, and the process was carried out by JKBovagenix of NGO JK Trust. India has more than 109 million buffaloes that are 56 per cent of the world’s buffalo population.

 

4. U.P. govt renames Faizabad station as Ayodhya Cantt: The Uttar Pradesh government has decided to rename the Faizabad Junction to Ayodhya Cantt railways station. Opened in 1874, the Faizabad railway station comes under the Northern Railway zone. It falls under the Lucknow-Varanasi section. Earlier in 2018, the Yogi Adityanath government had renamed Faizabad Ayodhya on the occasion of Diwali. The BJP government also changed the name of Allahabad to Prayagraj and Mughalsarai railway junction as Pt Deen Dayal Upadhyay junction.

Note: UP Capital: Lucknow; UP Governor: Anandiben Patel; UP Chief minister: Yogi Adityanath.

 

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

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

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. South Korea flight tests first homegrown space rocket “Nuri”: South Korea recently launched its first indigenously developed rocket, known as “Korean Satellite Launch Vehicle II” or “Nuri”. The launch vehicle lifted off from the Naro Space Center, in Goheung, built on an island nearly 300 miles (500 kilometres) south of Seoul. Nuri rocket is 47.2 metres long and weighs 200 tons. The three-stage rocket is fitted with six liquid-fuelled engines. It has been built at an estimated cost of 2 trillion won (£1.23bn or $1.6bn).

Note: South Korea President: Moon Jae-in; South Korea Capital: Seoul; South Korea Currency: South Korean won.

 

2. China launches satellite ‘Shijian-21’: China successfully launched a new satellite named Shijian-21. The satellite will be used to test and verify space debris mitigation technologies. Shijian-21 was launched from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in southwest China’s Sichuan Province on a Long March-3B carrier rocket. The satellite will be mainly used to test and verify space debris mitigation technologies. This launch marked the 393rd mission for the Long March series carrier rockets.

Note: China Capital: Beijing; China Currency: Renminbi; China President: Xi Jinping.

 

3. World Day for Audiovisual Heritage: 27th October: The World Day for Audiovisual Heritage is observed every year on 27 October. The World Day for Audiovisual Heritage is a key initiative for both UNESCO and the Coordinating Council of Audiovisual Archives Associations (CCAAA) to honour audiovisual preservation professionals and institutions that safeguard our heritage for future generations. The day was chosen to raise awareness of the significance and preservation risks of recorded sound and audiovisual documents. The theme of the World Day for Audiovisual Heritage 2021: “Your Window to the World”.

History of the day: The 33rd session of UNESCO’s General Conference adopted 33 C/Resolution 53 to proclaim 27 October as World Day for Audiovisual Heritage, in commemoration of the adoption, in 1980 by the 21st session of the General Conference, of the Recommendation for the Safeguarding and Preservation of Moving Images.

Note: UNESCO headquarters: Paris, France; UNESCO Head: Audrey Azoulay; UNESCO Founded: 16 November 1945.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Nagaland to host 56th National Cross Country Championship: The 2022 South Asian Federation Cross Country Championships is scheduled to be held in Kohima, Nagaland on January 15, 2022. Besides this, the 56th National Cross Country Championships will also be clubbed with the South Asian Federation Cross Country Championships. This will be the first-ever national athletics event hosted by Nagaland. Top athletes from the eight South Asian countries will take part in the day-long international sports event. The championship will involve running on different types of terrain including sprint over dirt, jog downhill and mounting uphill.

Note: Chief Minister of Nagaland: Neiphiu Rio; Governor of Nagaland: Jagdish Mukhi.

 

2. Hyderabad Cricket Association unveiled World’s biggest cricket bat: Former India captain and now Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) president Mohd Azharuddin has unveiled what is certified by the Guinness Book of World Records to be the biggest cricket bat, designed by Pernod Ricard India (P) Ltd, on Tank Bund. The bat measures 56.10 feet, weighs 9-tonnes and is made of poplar wood. This was to convey best wishes to the Indian cricket team and bring back the T-20 World Cup in Dubai.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. ICICI Bank surpasses HUL to occupy 5th spot in m-cap: Private sector lender ICICI Bank has crossed the market capitalisation of Hindustan Unilever to become the fifth-largest company by market value. According to BSE data, ICICI Bank’s market capitalisation (m-cap) stood at ₹5.83 lakh crore, just above HUL’s ₹5.76 lakh crore. This follows the bank posting its highest ever quarterly net profit in the July to September 2021 quarter.

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

Note: ICICI Bank MD & CEO: Sandeep Bakhshi; ICICI Bank Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra; ICICI Bank Tagline: Hum Hai Na, Khayal Apka.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

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

 

2. Adidas ropes in Deepika Padukone as Global brand ambassador: German sportswear brand Adidas has roped in Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone as global ambassador for women sports. She will represent Adidas women globally. She joins the elite list of female brand ambassadors of Adidas in India, including Mirabai Chanu; boxers Lovlina Borgohain, Nikhat Zareen and Simranjeet Kaur; sprinter Hima Das, and squash player Dipika Pallikal.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

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

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

Some of the winners:

 

Best Feature Film:	Marakkar: Lion of the Arabian Sea (Malayalam)
Best Actor (shared):	Manoj Bajpayee for Bhonsle (Hindi), and Dhanush for Asuran (Tamil)
Best Actress:	Kangana Ranaut for Panga (Hindi) and Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi (Hindi)
Best Supporting Actress:	Pallavi Joshi for The Tashkent Files (Hindi)
Best Supporting Actor:	Vijay Sethupathi for Super Deluxe (Tamil)
Best Director:	Sanjay Puran Singh Chauhan for Bahattar Hoorain (Hindi)
Best Action Direction:	Avane Srimannarayana (Kannada), Vikram Mor
Best Choreography:	Maharishi (Telugu), Raju Sundaram
Best Special Effects:	Marakkar: Lion of the Arabian Sea (Malayalam), Siddharth Priyadarshan
Special Jury Award:	Oththa Seruppu Size 7 (Tamil), Radhakrishnan Parthiban
Best Lyrics:	Prabha Varma for Kolaambi (Malayalam)
Best Music Direction:	D. Imman for Viswasam (Tamil)
Best Background Music:	Prabuddha Banerjee for Jyeshthoputro (Bengali)
Best Children’s Film:	Kastoori (Hindi)
Best Film on Environment Conservation:	Water Burial (Monpa)
Best Film on Social Issues:	Anandi Gopal (Marathi)
Best Female Playback Singer:	Savani Ravindra for Bardo (Marathi)
Best Male Playback Singer:	B Praak for Kesari (Hindi)
Best Hindi Film:	Chhichhore
Most Film Friendly State:	Sikkim
Best Book on Cinema:	A Gandhian Affair: India’s Curious Portrayal of Love in Cinema, by Sanjay Suri

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Invest India elected as President of Geneva-based WAIPA: Invest India, a young startup within the Government of India has been unanimously elected as the President of the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WAIPA) for 2021-2023. Invest India is the National Investment Promotion and Facilitation Agency to help investors looking for investment opportunities and options in India.

The members of the Steering Committee of WAIPA for 2021-23 includes:

President: Invest India

Two Vice Presidents: Egypt and Switzerland

9 Regional Directors: Brazil, South Korea, Finland, Kuwait, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Azerbaijan, Ghana, and Samoa.

Note: World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies Founded: 1995.

 

2. NITI Aayog launches “Innovations for You” Digi-Book: The Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) of NITI Aayog has launched a Digi-book named “Innovations for You”. The sector in focus in this Digi-book is Healthcare. “Innovation for you” is an initiative of Niti Aayog to share success stories of Atal Innovation Mission’s Startups in different domains. The Digi-book was launched with the aim of serving as an encouragement for upcoming entrepreneurs in order to work on the path of creativity and imagination for addressing some of the pressing challenges in India. It also aims to showcase the best innovations and entrepreneurs to bring them to the forefront.

NITI Aayog’s Digi Book:

(1) NITI aayog has launched the DIGI book, as India is celebrating the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.

(2) Digi-book is a compilation of 45 health tech start-ups. These start-ups have been incubated at the Atal Incubation Centres across the country.

(3) These start-ups have been leveraging technologies such as AI, IoT, ICT and others for providing socially relevant solutions to health issues like neonatal & child care, mental health, dental care, anaemia and monitoring human vitals.

 

3. India’s first ‘test tube’ Banni buffalo calf born in Gujarat: The first IVF calf of “Banni” breed of buffaloes, found primarily in Gujarat’s Kutch region, was born at a farmer’s house in the state’s Gir Somnath district. The process was carried out to enhance the number of genetically superior buffaloes to increase milk production. Banni buffalo is known for its resilience and higher milk-producing capacity in an arid environment. The breed had achieved six pregnancies from 18 recipient buffaloes at his farm, which were implanted with embryos through IVF technology, and the process was carried out by JKBovagenix of NGO JK Trust. India has more than 109 million buffaloes that are 56 per cent of the world’s buffalo population.

 

4. U.P. govt renames Faizabad station as Ayodhya Cantt: The Uttar Pradesh government has decided to rename the Faizabad Junction to Ayodhya Cantt railways station. Opened in 1874, the Faizabad railway station comes under the Northern Railway zone. It falls under the Lucknow-Varanasi section. Earlier in 2018, the Yogi Adityanath government had renamed Faizabad Ayodhya on the occasion of Diwali. The BJP government also changed the name of Allahabad to Prayagraj and Mughalsarai railway junction as Pt Deen Dayal Upadhyay junction.

Note: UP Capital: Lucknow; UP Governor: Anandiben Patel; UP Chief minister: Yogi Adityanath.

 

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

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

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. South Korea flight tests first homegrown space rocket “Nuri”: South Korea recently launched its first indigenously developed rocket, known as “Korean Satellite Launch Vehicle II” or “Nuri”. The launch vehicle lifted off from the Naro Space Center, in Goheung, built on an island nearly 300 miles (500 kilometres) south of Seoul. Nuri rocket is 47.2 metres long and weighs 200 tons. The three-stage rocket is fitted with six liquid-fuelled engines. It has been built at an estimated cost of 2 trillion won (£1.23bn or $1.6bn).

Note: South Korea President: Moon Jae-in; South Korea Capital: Seoul; South Korea Currency: South Korean won.

 

2. China launches satellite ‘Shijian-21’: China successfully launched a new satellite named Shijian-21. The satellite will be used to test and verify space debris mitigation technologies. Shijian-21 was launched from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in southwest China’s Sichuan Province on a Long March-3B carrier rocket. The satellite will be mainly used to test and verify space debris mitigation technologies. This launch marked the 393rd mission for the Long March series carrier rockets.

Note: China Capital: Beijing; China Currency: Renminbi; China President: Xi Jinping.

 

3. World Day for Audiovisual Heritage: 27th October: The World Day for Audiovisual Heritage is observed every year on 27 October. The World Day for Audiovisual Heritage is a key initiative for both UNESCO and the Coordinating Council of Audiovisual Archives Associations (CCAAA) to honour audiovisual preservation professionals and institutions that safeguard our heritage for future generations. The day was chosen to raise awareness of the significance and preservation risks of recorded sound and audiovisual documents. The theme of the World Day for Audiovisual Heritage 2021: “Your Window to the World”.

History of the day: The 33rd session of UNESCO’s General Conference adopted 33 C/Resolution 53 to proclaim 27 October as World Day for Audiovisual Heritage, in commemoration of the adoption, in 1980 by the 21st session of the General Conference, of the Recommendation for the Safeguarding and Preservation of Moving Images.

Note: UNESCO headquarters: Paris, France; UNESCO Head: Audrey Azoulay; UNESCO Founded: 16 November 1945.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Nagaland to host 56th National Cross Country Championship: The 2022 South Asian Federation Cross Country Championships is scheduled to be held in Kohima, Nagaland on January 15, 2022. Besides this, the 56th National Cross Country Championships will also be clubbed with the South Asian Federation Cross Country Championships. This will be the first-ever national athletics event hosted by Nagaland. Top athletes from the eight South Asian countries will take part in the day-long international sports event. The championship will involve running on different types of terrain including sprint over dirt, jog downhill and mounting uphill.

Note: Chief Minister of Nagaland: Neiphiu Rio; Governor of Nagaland: Jagdish Mukhi.

 

2. Hyderabad Cricket Association unveiled World’s biggest cricket bat: Former India captain and now Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) president Mohd Azharuddin has unveiled what is certified by the Guinness Book of World Records to be the biggest cricket bat, designed by Pernod Ricard India (P) Ltd, on Tank Bund. The bat measures 56.10 feet, weighs 9-tonnes and is made of poplar wood. This was to convey best wishes to the Indian cricket team and bring back the T-20 World Cup in Dubai.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. ICICI Bank surpasses HUL to occupy 5th spot in m-cap: Private sector lender ICICI Bank has crossed the market capitalisation of Hindustan Unilever to become the fifth-largest company by market value. According to BSE data, ICICI Bank’s market capitalisation (m-cap) stood at ₹5.83 lakh crore, just above HUL’s ₹5.76 lakh crore. This follows the bank posting its highest ever quarterly net profit in the July to September 2021 quarter.

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

Note: ICICI Bank MD & CEO: Sandeep Bakhshi; ICICI Bank Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra; ICICI Bank Tagline: Hum Hai Na, Khayal Apka.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

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

 

2. Adidas ropes in Deepika Padukone as Global brand ambassador: German sportswear brand Adidas has roped in Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone as global ambassador for women sports. She will represent Adidas women globally. She joins the elite list of female brand ambassadors of Adidas in India, including Mirabai Chanu; boxers Lovlina Borgohain, Nikhat Zareen and Simranjeet Kaur; sprinter Hima Das, and squash player Dipika Pallikal.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

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

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

Some of the winners:

 

Best Feature Film:	Marakkar: Lion of the Arabian Sea (Malayalam)
Best Actor (shared):	Manoj Bajpayee for Bhonsle (Hindi), and Dhanush for Asuran (Tamil)
Best Actress:	Kangana Ranaut for Panga (Hindi) and Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi (Hindi)
Best Supporting Actress:	Pallavi Joshi for The Tashkent Files (Hindi)
Best Supporting Actor:	Vijay Sethupathi for Super Deluxe (Tamil)
Best Director:	Sanjay Puran Singh Chauhan for Bahattar Hoorain (Hindi)
Best Action Direction:	Avane Srimannarayana (Kannada), Vikram Mor
Best Choreography:	Maharishi (Telugu), Raju Sundaram
Best Special Effects:	Marakkar: Lion of the Arabian Sea (Malayalam), Siddharth Priyadarshan
Special Jury Award:	Oththa Seruppu Size 7 (Tamil), Radhakrishnan Parthiban
Best Lyrics:	Prabha Varma for Kolaambi (Malayalam)
Best Music Direction:	D. Imman for Viswasam (Tamil)
Best Background Music:	Prabuddha Banerjee for Jyeshthoputro (Bengali)
Best Children’s Film:	Kastoori (Hindi)
Best Film on Environment Conservation:	Water Burial (Monpa)
Best Film on Social Issues:	Anandi Gopal (Marathi)
Best Female Playback Singer:	Savani Ravindra for Bardo (Marathi)
Best Male Playback Singer:	B Praak for Kesari (Hindi)
Best Hindi Film:	Chhichhore
Most Film Friendly State:	Sikkim
Best Book on Cinema:	A Gandhian Affair: India’s Curious Portrayal of Love in Cinema, by Sanjay Suri