Daily GK Update- 22nd Oct, 2021

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

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

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

 

2. CII organises International Conference and Exhibition “Future Tech 2021”: The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has organised an International Conference and Exhibition on Digital technologies, “Future Tech 2021- a Journey of digital transformation to technology adoption and acceleration” from October 19 to 27, 2021.  The focus theme of the International conference is “Driving technologies for building the future, we all can trust”.

The inaugural session was virtually attended by Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Minister of State in the Ministry of Electronics & IT, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. The theme will have 5 pillars: Strategy, Growth, Resilience, Inclusiveness, Trust. The International conference will serve as a platform for Indian industry and entrepreneurs to understand the nuances of technologies and identify the right approach and technologies for their business as well as B2B partnerships.

Note: Confederation of Indian Industry President: T. V. Narendran; Confederation of Indian Industry Founded: 1895; Confederation of Indian Industry Director-General: Chandrajit Banerjee; Confederation of Indian Industry Headquarters: New Delhi, India.

 

3. Amit Rastogi appointed new Chairman & Managing Director of NRDC: Commodore Amit Rastogi (Retd) has been appointed as the new Chairman & Managing Director of the National Research Development Corporation (NRDC). Prior to this, he was the Director of Electrical Engineering at Integrated Headquarters, Ministry of Defence for 5 years and Additional General Manager Tech Services at Naval Dockyard for 2 years. NRDC was established in India in 1953 to help develop and promote technologies developed at various national R&D institutions.

 

4. A book ‘Sir Syed Ahmad Khan: Reason, Religion And Nation’ by Prof Shafey Kidwai: Sahitya Akademi awardee Professor Shafey Kidwai has authored a new book titled “Sir Syed Ahmad Khan: Reason, Religion And Nation”. The objective of the book is to analyse Sir Syed Ahmad Khan the founder of Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental College that grew into Aligarh Muslim University. The book is published by Routledge India. The foreword of the book is written by professor Irfan Habib. The book was released ahead of the 204th birth anniversary (17th October 2021) of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. 4th General Assembly of International Solar Alliance begins: The Fourth General Assembly of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) has been organised virtually between October 18 and 21, 2021. The Assembly will be presided over by President of the ISA Assembly RK Singh, who is also the Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy.

The key initiatives that will be deliberated at the Fourth General Assembly of the ISA include:

(1) Operationalisation of the OSOWOG (One Sun One World One Grid) initiative, the $1-trillion Solar Investment Roadmap for 2030.

(2) Approval for a Blended Financial Risk Mitigation Facility.

(3) Strategic Plan of the ISA for the next five years.

(4) Country Partnership Framework.

(5) Strategy for Private Sector Engagement.

(6) Viability Gap Financing scheme to facilitate affordable finance for solar energy projects across ISA’s membership.

(7) Discuss partnership with Global Energy Alliance (GEA) to scale up technical and financial support to LDCs and SIDS.

 

2. China launches historic Shenzhou-13 crewed mission with 3 astronauts for 6 months: The Chinese space agency has launched Shenzhou-13 crewed mission, the country’s first long-duration stay aboard.          The three-person crew are expected to spend six-months in space, to set up new record for the time spent in space by Chinese astronauts. The members of the crew includes Zhai Zhigang, Wang Yaping and Ye Guanfu, who will spend the time in space in testing the station’s technology and conducting spacewalks. Wang Yaping is China’s first female astronaut on board the space station. The Shenzhou-13 crewed spaceship launched by a Long March 2F rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi Desert, located in Inner Mongolia.

 

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

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

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. China and Indonesia won Uber Cup and and Thomas Cup Respectively: China beat Japan 3-1 in a thrilling Uber Cup final in Aarhus, Denmark, to reclaim the Uber Cup title. This is China’s 15th Uber Cup title win in 19 finals. The match pivoted on the longest match in the Uber Cup history when Chen Qing Chan and Jia Yi Fan won their doubles match. Indonesia lifted the Thomas Cup trophy for the first time since 2002 after defeating the defending champions China 3-0 in the final match held in Aarhus, Denmark. Uber and Thomas Cup are the biennial international badminton championship played by the women and men’s national teams of the members of the Badminton World Federation.

Note: Badminton World Federation Founded: 5 July 1934; Badminton World Federation President: Poul-Erik Hoyer Larsen; Badminton World Federation  Headquarters: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

 

2. Sahdev Yadav becomes new President of IWF: Sahdev Yadav, former Secretary-General of IWLF, was unanimously elected as the President of the Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWLF). The election also saw the appointment of S.H. Anande Gowda and Naresh Sharma as the new Secretary-General & Treasurer of IWLF. 10 new Vice Presidents, 4 Joint Secretaries & 7 executive committee members were also elected, in the election conducted by Returning Officer Narinder Paul Kaushik, Delhi District Court.

Note: Indian Weightlifting Federation Headquarters: New Delhi.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. RBI imposes fine of Rs 1.95 crore on Standard Chartered Bank: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) imposed a fine of Rs 1.95 crore on the Standard Chartered Bank for failing to report a cyber security incident within the prescribed time period, and failure to credit the amount involved in unauthorised electronic transactions, among other reasons. Standard Chartered Bank was penalised also for its non-compliance of RBI’s directions on customer protection. Standard Chartered Bank had also allowed direct sales agents to conduct KYC verifications and failed to ensure the integrity of data submitted in the Central Repository of Information on Large Credits (CRILC).

Note: Standard Chartered Bank CEO: Bill Winters; Standard Chartered Bank Founded: 1969, London, United Kingdom.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. IndiaFirst Life Introduces ‘Saral Bachat Bima’ Insurance Plan: IndiaFirst Life Insurance Company Limited (IndiaFirst Life), a joint venture of Bank of Baroda and Union Bank of India introduced “IndiaFirst Life Saral Bachat Bima Plan”. It is a savings and protection cover plan for the entire family. The plan includes paying for the short term and enjoying long term benefits and it will provide consistent protection through insurance cover.

Benefits of the plan:

(1) An amount equal to the Sum Assured on Death (SAD) will be paid in case of accidental death during the first policy year. In case of death of the life insured, an advanced payment by way of funeral cover. Flexibility to receive the death benefit as a lump sum or regular income for 5 years.

(2) Boost savings with guaranteed additional benefits of 4.75% to 6% per annum. Option to opt for Waiver of Premium Rider.

(3) No medical test and short application form.

Note: IndiaFirst Life MD & CEO: M. Vishakha; IndiaFirst Life Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra; IndiaFirst Life Founded: 16 November 2009.

 

2. Ayushmann Khurrana joins CoinDCX for ‘Future Yahi Hai’ campaign: Ayushmann Khurrana has become the latest celebrity to venture into the cryptocurrency space through his association with CoinDCX’s ‘Future Yahi Hai’ campaign. The CoinDCX ‘Future Yahi Hai’ Megadrive is directed towards addressing major questions and doubts and dispelling myths when it comes to crypto investments from the perspective of young India. CoinDCX is India’s largest cryptocurrency exchange valued at $1.1 billion. The campaign, which eventually plans to rope in popular personalities from various spheres, aims to drive home a simple but engaging narrative that breaks through misconceptions surrounding crypto for both new and old investors and, consequently, increases participation in crypto-enabled financial services.

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

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Sri Lanka’s first Test captain Bandula Warnapura passes away: Sri Lanka’s first-ever Test captain Bandula Warnapura passed away, following a brief illness. He was 68. A right-handed batsman, he led his country when it faced England in its first-ever Test match in 1982 and played three more Tests, scoring 96 runs overall at an average of 12. He also played 12 ODI matches, scoring 180 runs at an average of 15.