Daily GK Update- 25th Oct, 2021

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Centre further extends Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package: Government has decided to extend the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package (PMGKP): Insurance Scheme for Health Care Workers Fighting COVID-19’ for a further period of 180 days with effect from October 21, 2021. The current period of the policy was to end on October 20, 2021. The insurance policy was announced on March 30, 2020, which aims to provide an insurance cover of Rs 50 lakh to nearly 22.12 lakh health workers who are deputed to take care of COVID-19 patients.

 

2. UIDAI to host ‘Aadhaar Hackathon 2021’: Government agency UIDAI is hosting a Hackathon titled “Aadhaar Hackathon 2021”. The hackathon is starting on 28 Oct 21 and would continue till 31 Oct 21. With new challenged and themes, the Hackathon 2021 will have two topics. The first theme is around “Enrolment and Update”, which essentially covers some of the real-life challenges being faced by the residents while updating their address. The second theme of the Hackathon is around the “Identity and Authentication” solution offered by UIDAI. UIDAI is soliciting innovative solutions to prove Identity without sharing the Aadhaar number or any demographics information. Also, it is looking for innovative applications around face authentication API – the newly launched authentication modality of UIDAI. The objective is to popularize some of the existing and new APIs to solve the needs of residents.

 

3. Microsoft Launches Program To Support AI Startups In India: Microsoft recently announced the launch of Microsoft AI Innovate, a 10-week initiative that will support startups in India leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies, helping them scale operations, drive innovation, & build industry expertise. The program will also enable startups to reach out to newer customers and geographies with Microsoft’s sales and partners.

To support the startup ecosystem in the country, the company has launched a programme, Microsoft AI Innovate, for nurturing and scaling startups that are leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI). Microsoft AI Innovate was aimed at bringing together startups, corporates, industry bodies, governments, and venture capital firms, to create a shared platform for learning and innovation. The selected startups in each of the cohorts will have access to industry deep-dive sessions and AI masterclasses by industry experts, mentoring by unicorn founders, skilling and certification opportunities, among other benefits.

Note: Microsoft CEO and Chairman: Satya Nadella; Microsoft Headquarters: Redmond, Washington, United States.

 

4. A book titled “The Origin Story of India’s States” by VS Srinivasan: The book titled ‘The Origin Story of India’s States’ is written by Venkataraghavan Subha Srinivasan and published by Penguin Random House India (PRHI). It is a story about the birth of India’s 28 states and 8 union territories. Also, their continuous changes. Venkataraghavan Subha Srinivasan is a writer, actor and strategy consultant from Bengaluru, Karnataka. This is his first non-fiction book.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Barbados elects its first-ever president, removing UK’s Queen Elizabeth: Barbados has elected its first-ever president as it prepares to become a republic, removing Queen Elizabeth as head of state. Dame Sandra Mason, 72, is set to be sworn in on 30 November, which will mark the country’s 55th anniversary of independence from Britain. The first woman to serve on the Barbados Court of Appeals, Dame Sandra has been governor-general since 2018. The historic election came after a joint session of the House of Assembly and the Senate.  described the vote as a “seminal moment” for the nation.

About the Barbados: With a population of about 285,000, Barbados is one of the more populous and prosperous Caribbean islands. Once heavily dependent on sugar exports, its economy has diversified into tourism and finance. Barbados will not be the first former British colony in the Caribbean to become a republic. Guyana took that step in 1970, less than four years after gaining independence from Britain. Trinidad and Tobago followed suit in 1976 and Dominica in 1978.

Note: Prime Minister of Barbados: Mia Mottley; Barbados Capital: Bridgetown; Barbados Currency: Barbados Dollar; Barbados Continent: North America.

 

2. Donald Trump to launch social media platform called Truth Social: Donald Trump has announced plans to launch a social media platform called TRUTH Social that will be rolled be out early next year. The former US president, who was banned from Facebook and Twitter earlier this year, says his goal is to rival the tech companies that have denied him the megaphone that was paramount to his rise. Truth social will be a product of a new venture called the Trump Media & Technology Group. He wants to create a platform that rivals Twitter or Facebook, but that simply won’t happen.

 

3. India ranks 79th in World Justice Project’s Rule of Law Index 2021: India has ranked 79 out of 139 countries and jurisdictions in the World Justice Project’s (WJP) Rule of Law Index 2021. The WJP Rule of Law Index 2021 ranks the countries based on scores ranging from 0 to 1, with 1 indicating the strongest adherence to the rule of law. Denmark, Norway and Finland topped the World Justice Project’s (WJP) Rule of Law Index 2021.

Here is the list of Countries according to their rankings:

Rank	Country
1	Denmark
2	Norway
3	Finland
79	India
139	Venezuela, RB
138	Cambodia
137	Congo, Dem. Rep.

 

4. Disarmament Week 2021: 24th October to 30th October: Disarmament Week is observed annually to promote awareness and understanding of the issues of disarmament in several countries. The week aims to reduce the use of weapons, specifically nuclear weapons, to bring peace in society. This year, the disarmament week will be starting on October 24. The week-long observance will continue till October 30. Disarmament Week seeks to promote awareness and a better understanding of disarmament issues and their cross-cutting importance.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Bharti AXA sign Bancassurance Partnership with Utkarsh Small Finance Bank: Bharti AXA Life Insurance Company Limited (Bharti AXA Life) has entered into a bancassurance partnership with Utkarsh Small Finance Bank to ensure distribution of life insurance products through the bank’s network across India. This partnership will enable the Bharti AXA life to reach Tier II and Tier III markets with insurance solutions and increase the reach of insurance in India. Under this partnership, the Bharti AXA Life’s insurance comprehensive suite of life insurance plans including the protection, health, savings and investment plans will be made available for the customers of the bank across 202 districts of 19 states and 2 Union territories.

Note: Utkarsh Small Finance Bank Headquarters: Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh; Utkarsh Small Finance Bank MD & CEO: Govind Singh.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. HDFC Bank, Mastercard, DFC, USAID launched a $100 Million Credit Facility: HDFC Bank, Mastercard, United States International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), and US Agency for International Development (USAID) launched a $100 million credit facility for MSMEs (Micro Small and Medium Enterprises) in India. The credit facility is part of USAID’s global Women Economic Empowerment Fund initiative and its COVID-19 response in India. HDFC Bank will ensure the credit facility to be available for new-to-credit small businesses owners including at least 50 per cent of women entrepreneurs through its branch network across India. To promote and support small businesses in India for digitisation needs and to recover from the economic impacts of the COVID-19.

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. Parambikulam Tiger Conservation Foundation wins Earth Heroes Awards 2021: The Parambikulam Tiger Conservation Foundation has bagged the Earth Guardian Award instituted by the NatWest Group. The eight winners of the award were felicitated by the UN Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora secretary-general Ivonne Higuero through a virtual ceremony.

About Earth Guardian Award: These awards were instituted by NatWest Group India. They are part of an initiative which recognises the efforts of individuals and institutions that are working to subvert climate change by conserving & preserving biodiversity in India.

Parambikulam Tiger Reserve: Parambikulam Tiger Reserve also includes erstwhile Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary, which is spread across 391 square kilometres. It is a protected area in Palakkad district of Kerala. It was established in 1973. The sanctuary lies in the Sungam range of hills in between Anaimalai Hills and Nelliampathy Hills. Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary was declared a part of Parambikulam Tiger Reserve in 2010. Tiger reserve implements the Participatory Forest Management Scheme (PFMS).

 

2. Martin Scorsese, Szabo to get Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement award: Hollywood veteran Martin Scorsese and celebrated Hungarian filmmaker Istevan Szabo will be honoured with the Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement award at this year’s International Film Festival of India (IFFI). The 52nd edition of the film festival will be held from November 20 to 28 in Goa. While Szabo is known for his masterpieces like 1966’s “Father” and 1981 movie “Mephisto”, Scorsese is one of the major figures of the New Hollywood era, widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential directors in film history.

The opening film of this edition of IFFI will be “The King of all the World”, directed by Carlos Saura. Around 30 titles have been shortlisted for screening at 52nd IFFI from prominent International Film Festivals in the Festival Kaleidoscope and World Panorama Section. The festival will also pay a special tribute to Sean Connery, the first actor to portray fictional British spy James Bond on the big screen.