Daily GK Update- 17th Oct, 2021

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. PM Narendra Modi dedicates 7 new Defence PSUs to the nation: Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated seven new Defence PSUs, carved out of OFBs, to the nation. These 7 new companies have been formed following the dissolution of the 200-year-old Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) w.e.f October 01, 2021. Under the OFB there were 41 factories and 9 ancillary bodies. Now, these factories will be distributed among the seven newly created companies. Also, the 70,000 employees of these OFBs will be sent to the seven new entities, with no change in the service condition of the employees.

The seven new defence PSUs includes: (1) Munition India Ltd; (2) Armoured Vehicles Nigam Ltd; (3) Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Ltd; (4) Troop Comforts Ltd; Yantra India Ltd; (5)  India Optel Ltd; and (6) Gliders India Ltd

 

2. Union Minister Anurag Thakur launches MyParkings App: The Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Anurag Singh Thakur inaugurated the ‘MyParkings’ app. The IOT technology-enabled app has been developed by Broadcast Engineering Consultants India Limited (BECIL) with South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) to digitize all authorized parking under SDMC municipal limits.

About the facility: The facility will be subsequently rolled out in other municipality divisions across India. The main objective of the app is to help reduce pollution by minimising the time spent searching for parking spots. The MyParking App will offer an effortless solutions to users for hassle-free parking and booking of online parking slots to park their vehicles without inconvenience.

 

3. India Ranks Third in 2021 EY Index: India has retained the third position in the 58th Renewable Energy Country Attractiveness Index (RECAI) released by the consultancy firm Ernst & Young (EY). According to the report, the US, mainland China and India continue to retain the top three rankings and Indonesia is a new entrant to the RECAI. The 2021 RECAI ranks the world’s top 40 global markets (nations) on the attractiveness of their renewable energy investment and deployment opportunities. With the environment, social and governance (ESG) measures soaring to the top of the agenda for companies and investors, RECAI also highlights that corporate power purchase agreements (PPAs) are emerging as a key driver of clean energy growth.

 

4. Ritesh Chauhan named as CEO of PM Fasal Bima Yojana: Senior bureaucrat Ritesh Chauhan has been appointed as the chief executive officer (CEO) of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) and Joint Secretary, Agriculture under the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare. Chauhan will have a combined tenure of seven years up to September 22, 2023. He is a 2005-batch IAS officer of the Himachal Pradesh cadre. He will succeed Ashish Kumar Bhutani, who was appointed in 2018.

 

5. Vishwakarma Vatika to be set up at Hunar Haats: The Government of India has decided to set up a “Vishwakarma Vatika” at every “Hunar Haats” to protect, preserve and promote India’s glorious legacy of centuries-old skills of artisans and craftsmen. The first such “Vishwakarma Vatika” has been set up in “Hunar Haat” at Rampur, Uttar Pradesh, organised from October 16 to 25, 2021.  The name is derived from the Hindu deity “Vishwakarma” who is worshipped as the God of architects.

About the Vishwakarma Vatika: The “Vishwakarma Vatika” will be inaugurated by Union Minister for Education and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Shri Dharmendra Pradhan on October 16, 2021. The new initiative will provide a single stop place to proficient craftsmen, sculptors, stonemasons, blacksmiths, carpenters, potters and other artisans from across the country, to give live demonstrations of how India’s traditional art and craft and elegant indigenous handmade products are made.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

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

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

About the Global Hunger Index: The Global Hunger Index (GHI) measures and tracks hunger at global, regional, and national levels. The index is published jointly by Welthungerhilfe (WHH) and Concern Worldwide. Based on current GHI projections, the index states that the world as a whole will not achieve a low level of hunger by 2030.

GHI scores are determined based on values of four indicators:

(1) Undernourishment (share of the population with insufficient caloric intake),

(2) Child wasting (share of children under age five who have low weight for their height, reflecting acute undernutrition),

(3) Child stunting (share of children under age five who have low height for their age, reflecting chronic undernutrition), and

(4) Child mortality (mortality rate of children under age five, partly reflecting the fatal mix of inadequate nutrition and unhealthy environments).

 

2. Global Handwashing Day: 15th October: The Global Handwashing Day (GHD) is observed on 15 October every year. It is an international handwashing promotion campaign to motivate and mobilize people around the world to improve their handwashing habits. The day was established by the Global Handwashing Partnership (GHP) (formerly called “Public Private Partnership for Handwashing” (PPPHW)) in 2008. Theme of GHD 2021 is “Our Future Is at Hand – Let’s Move Forward Together”.

 

3. International Day for the Eradication of Poverty: 17th October: The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is observed every year on 17 October across the globe. The day aims to raise awareness of the need to eradicate poverty and destitution around the world, particularly in developing countries. 2021 Theme: Building Forward Together: Ending Persistent Poverty, Respecting all People and our Planet”.

History of the day: This year marks the 28th anniversary of the declaration by the General Assembly, in its resolution 47/196 of 22 December 1992, of 17 October as the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. This year also marks the 32nd anniversary of the Call to Action by Father Joseph Wresinski — which inspired the observance of October 17 as the World Day for Overcoming Extreme Poverty — and the recognition by the United Nations of the day as the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. India beat Nepal 3-0 to win 2021 SAFF Championship: India beat Nepal, 3-0, to win the 2021 SAFF Championship final title, held on October 16, 2021, at the National Football Stadium in Male, Maldives. This is the eighth SAFF Championship title claimed by the Indian men’s national football team. Previously the team had won the title in 1993, 1997, 1999, 2005, 2009, 2011, 2015. Sunil Chhetri, Suresh Singh Wangjam and Sahal Abdul Samad were the goal scorer for the Indian team in final. Top Scorer in the championship Sunil Chhetri (Captain) – 5 goals. Meanwhile, Sunil Chhetri scored his 80th international strike at the championship to equal his score with iconic Lionel Messi and became the second-highest goal-scorer in international football among active players.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

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

About the Micro ATM:

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

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

Note: Kotak Mahindra Bank Establishment: 2003; Kotak Mahindra Bank Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra; Kotak Mahindra Bank MD & CEO: Uday Kotak.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. ADB Raises 2019–2030 Climate Financing Goal to $100 Billion: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has announced an increase in its climate financing goals 2019-2030 for developing member countries (DMCs) by $20 billion to $100 billion. Earlier in 2018, ADB had announced an $80 billion goal for climate financing for developing countries in Asia during 2019-2030. The additional $20 billion in financing support will be used for climate mitigation efforts including low-carbon energy sources, climate adaptation projects and private sector projects. The fight against climate change will be won or lost in Asia and the Pacific, and we are committed to serving as a climate bank and a long-term climate partner for our region. The Manila-based lender will plan for climate adaptation financing of $34 billion, including agriculture, urban and water adaptation projects.

Note: President of ADB: Masatsugu Asakawa; Headquarters: Manila, Philippines.

 

2. OYO appoints Paralympian Deepa Malik as independent director: Hospitality firm Oravel Stays Ltd (OYO) has appointed Deepa Malik, an Indian athlete and a silver-medalist at the 2016 Paralympic Games, as an independent director on the company’s board of directors. Malik’s experience and her passion for travel and adventure would be invaluable for OYO for years to come. Malik joins the board of OYO that has three other independent directors and one nominee director, besides Ritesh Agarwal being the chairman.

 

DEFENCE

 

1. 37th Raising Day of National Security Guard: The National Security Guard (NSG) force, popularly known as Black Cats, observes its Raising Day on October 16, every year. The year 2021 marks the 37th anniversary of the establishment of the NSG. NSG is an elite counter-terrorism unit under the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs.

About National Security Guard (NSG): The NSG is a Federal Contingency force to deal with anti-terrorist activities. The NSG is a force equipped and trained to deal with the specific situation and is therefore used in exceptional circumstances to thwart serious acts of terrorism. It was established in 1984, NSG is popularly known as the Black Cats. It is an elite striking force in the country trained and equipped to handle situations like a terrorist attack, hijacking, and hostage captivity.

Note: National Security Guard Headquarters: New Delhi; DG of National Security Guard: M A Ganapathy; The motto of the National Security Guard: Sarvatra Sarvottam Suraksha.

 

2. Second Phase of Exercise Malabar 2021 organised in Bay of Bengal from Oct 12 to 15 2021: The second phase of Exercise Malabar 2021, between the Quad countries, conducted in the Bay of Bengal from October 12 to 15, 2021. The Phase 1 of Exercise Malabar 2021 was conducted off the coast of Guam, in the Philippine Sea, in the Western Pacific from August 26 to 29, 2021. Exercise Malabar 2021 is the 25th edition of MALABAR. The Indian Navy participated with INS Ranvijay, INS Satpura, P8I Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft and a Submarine. Japan Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF), Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and the United States Navy (USN) are the other participants in the exercise.

The Exercise Malabar was first held in 1992 as a bilateral drill between the Indian Navy and the US Navy in the Indian Ocean. Later in 2015, Japan became a permanent member of the exercise.