Daily GK Update- 9th Nov, 2021

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. PM Modi dedicates to nation multiple National Highway and Road projects: Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone and dedicated various National Highway and Road projects to the nation in the temple town of Pandharpur in Maharashtra, through video conference. These initiatives are aimed at improving connectivity in the region to facilitate the hassle-free and safe movement of devotees.

About the Project:

(1) PM laid the foundation stone for four laning of five sections of Sreesanth Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Palkhi Marg (NH-965) and four laning of three sections of Sant Tukaram Maharaj Palkhi Marg (NH-965G).

(2) The Sreesanth Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Palkhi Marg will be completed in five phases at estimated costs of more than Rs. 6690 crore while Sant Tukaram Maharaj Palkhi Marg will be completed in three phases at estimated costs of about Rs. 4400 crore.

(3) The project also includes the construction of dedicated walkways for ‘Palkhi’ on either side of these National Highways

(4) PM also dedicated to the nation more than 223 km of completed and upgraded road projects of over Rs. 1180 crore at different National Highways aimed at boosting connectivity to Pandharpur.

 

2. Meghalaya approves creation of new district named Eastern West Khasi Hills District: The Meghalaya Cabinet has approved the proposal of the creation of a new district called Eastern West Khasi Hills district. The new district has been formed by upgrading the Mairang civil sub-division. Mairang will now be a sub-division under the West Khasi Hills district. The new district will be inaugurated on November 10, 2021 by Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma. This will increase the total number of districts in the state to 12.

Significance of the move: This move will help in ensuring that the administration will remain closer to the people. It will also ensure that the implementation of several schemes is more effective.

Note: Meghalaya Capital: Shillong; Meghalaya Governor: Satya Pal Malik; Meghalaya Chief minister: Conrad Sangma.

 

3. National Legal Services Day: 9th November: In India, 09 November is celebrated as “National Legal Services Day” every year by all Legal Services Authorities, to commemorate the enactment of the Legal Services Authorities Act 1987. The Day is celebrated to make people aware of the various provisions under the Legal Services Authorities Act and the right of the litigants.

History of the day: On 11 October 1987, the Legal Services Authorities Act 1987 was enacted, while the act took effect on 9 November 1995. The National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) was constituted under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 on 5 December 1995, to provide free Legal Services to the weaker sections of the society and to organize Lok Adalats for amicable settlement of disputes.

 

4. A new book titled “An Economist at Home and Abroad: A Personal Journey” by Shankar Acharya: Noted Economist and former Chief Economic Adviser to the Government of India, Dr Shankar Acharya has authored a new book titled “An Economist at Home and Abroad: A Personal Journey”. The book features the professional and personal life of the most accomplished policy economist Dr Shankar Acharya.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. 2022 QS World University Rankings announced: QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) has released the 2022 QS World University Rankings. The ranking has been topped by the National University of Singapore (NUS) for the 4th year in a row. It is followed by China’s Peking University at 2nd position and Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, and the University of Hong Kong in Hong Kong at 3rd.

Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB) (42nd regionally) and IIT Delhi (45th regionally) are the only two Indian institutions among the Top-50. IIT Madras, which was in 50th place last year, has lost four places and now ranks 54th. India features 118 Indian Universities following China with 126 universities.

 

2. Alphabet Inc launches AI-driven drug discovery start-up Isomorphic Labs: Google parent company Alphabet Inc. has launched a new company in London called Isomorphic Labs. The company aims to use AI (artificial intelligence) for drug discovery and medicine to find cures for some of humanity’s most devastating diseases. Demis Hassabis will be the CEO of Isomorphic Labs. Hassabis is the CEO and co-founder of DeepMind, another Alphabet subsidiary that used AI to predict the 3D structure of a protein directly from its amino acid sequence.

The London-based Isomorphic Labs will work on the most important applications of AI — in the field of biological and medical research. The company aims to use AI to accelerate drug discovery, and ultimately, find cures for some of humanity’s most devastating diseases. The new venture also plans to partner with biomedical and pharmaceutical companies, using artificial intelligence to discover new medicinal advancements.

Note: Google CEO: Sundar Pichai; Google Founded: 4 September 1998, California, United States; Google Founders: Larry Page, Sergey Brin.

 

3. International Week of Science and Peace 2021: 9th to 14th November: International Week of Science and Peace (IWOSP) is a global observance celebrated every year from November 9 to 14. The event is celebrated to encourage people to develop better technology and cultivate peace in their countries. The annual celebration of this event contributes towards the promotion of science, technologies, and peace as well as generating awareness in the general public. The participation and awareness of the events contribute to the right application of science for promoting peace all through the year.

International Week of Science and Peace 2021 History: The International Week of Science and Peace was first observed in 1986 and the event was quite successful. Keeping in view the success and impact of this event, the celebration started to take place continuously by the efforts of the organizers in the successive years. It was proclaimed as an International Week of Science and Peace by the UN General Assembly in the month of December 1988.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Manika Batra & Archana Kamath clinches women’s doubles title in WTT Contender Table Tennis Tournament: In Table Tennis, Indian duo Manika Batra and Archana Girish Kamath clinched the women’s doubles title in the WTT Contender tournament on November 07, 2021, in Lasko, Slovenia. The Indian pair defeated the Puerto Rican team of Melanie Diaz and Adriana Diaz, 11-3, 11-8, 12-10 to win the title. Meanwhile, Manika Batra also claimed a bronze medal in women’s single title after Wang Yidi of China defeated her by 2-4 (11-7, 7-11, 13-11, 10-12, 11-7, 11-5).

 

2. TCS becomes Jaguar’s Formula E title partner: Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has joined British racing team Jaguar Racing as the title partner, ahead of the 2021/22 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. The team will be known as Jaguar TCS Racing. TCS and Jaguar will create a dynamic platform that will drive research and innovation while steering towards advanced concepts and electric vehicle (EV) technologies. The rebranding of the team also brings an all-new livery for 2022. The team heads into Season 8 on the back of its most successful Formula E campaign. Together with drivers Mitch Evans and Sam Bird, Jaguar was second overall in the 2021 Formula E World Championship.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Bandhan Bank named Zubeen Garg as brand ambassador for Assam: Bandhan Bank has announced Popular Assamese & Bollywood singer Zubeen Garg as the brand ambassador for the Bank in Assam. This association is a landmark one for Bandhan Bank as this is the first time ever that the Bank has associated with a brand ambassador since its inception six years back.

To mark the commencement of this association, Zubeen has released his new music video which showcases diverse elements of Assamese culture and heritage. The song and video have been produced courtesy of Bandhan Bank. Titled ‘Axom Amaar Mone Praane,” the song is a melodious blend of the different kinds of folk music native to Assam.

Note: Bandhan Bank HQ: Kolkata, West Bengal; Bandhan Bank Founded: 2001; MD and CEO of Bandhan Bank: Chandra Shekhar Ghosh.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. Government collected Rs 1.30 lakh crores as GST for October: Gross Goods and service tax (GST) collection for the month of October came in at Rs 1,30,127 crore, the second-highest collection since GST was implemented in July 2017. The highest-ever GST collection of ₹ 1.41 lakh crore was recorded in April 2021. Revenues for the month are 24% higher year-on-year. Of the gross GST revenue collected in October, Rs 23,861 crore was towards CGST, Rs 30,421 crore was towards SGST and Rs 67,361 crore was towards IGST, and Cess amounted to Rs 8,484 crore. According to the decision taken by the GST Council, back to back the loan of Rs 1.59 lakh crore has been released in advance in lieu of a shortfall in the release of GST compensation during the current fiscal.

List of previous months GST Collection:

September 2021: Rs. 1,17,010 crores

August 2021: Rs. 1.12 lakh crores

July 2021: Rs. 1,16,393 crores

June 2021: Rs. 92,849 crores

May 2021: Rs. 1,02,709 crores

April 2021: Rs. 1.41 lakh crores (All time Highest)

March 2021: Rs. 1.24 lakh crores

February 2021: Rs 1,13,143 crores

January 2021: Rs. 1,19,847 crores

 

DEFENCE

 

1. 3rd Goa Maritime Conclave 2021 Begins: The third edition of Goa Maritime Conclave (GMC) 2021 has been organised by the Indian Navy from November 07 to 09, 2021 at Naval War College, Goa. Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Karambir Singh would chair the conclave. The theme for 2021 GMC is “Maritime Security and Emerging Non-Traditional Threats: A Case for Proactive Role for IOR Navies”.

Chiefs of Navies/ Heads of Maritime Forces from 12 Indian Ocean Region (IOR) countries are participating in the conclave, which includes Bangladesh, Comoros, Indonesia, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Myanmar, Seychelles, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Thailand. The conclave provides a platform to discuss non-traditional threats in the Indian Ocean Region and other issues.

Daily GK Update- 8th Nov, 2021

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Union Power Minister inaugurated the “Pakal Dul Hydro Electric Project” in J&K: Union Power Minister R K Singh virtually inaugurated the diversion of the Marusudar River of Pakal Dul Hydro Electric Project in Kishtwar, J&K. Pakal Dul HE Project (1,000 MW) is being constructed by Chenab Valley Power Projects Pvt Limited (CVPPPL) and Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation. Marusudar River is a major tributary of the Chenab River.

Pakal Dul HE Project:

(1) Pakal Dul HE Project is a 1000 MW project. It is being constructed by Chenab Valley Power Projects [P] Ltd. It is a joint venture company of JKSPDC (Govt of J&K) and NHPC Ltd (Govt of India Enterprise).

(2) Pakal Dul H.E. Project will help in fulfilling the target of 450 GW Renewable energy by 2030.

CVPPPL has been charged with 3094 MW Hydro Power Projects for construction in J&K. The dam will divert water to the south using a 10 km long headrace tunnel. This project was awarded to a consortium of domestic & foreign countries comprising Bharat Heavy Electricals, AFCONS and Jay Prakash Associate, in February 2014.

(3) Through this project, an investment of Rs 8212 crores is being made in this region. The investment will in turn provide direct & indirect employment opportunities. It will help in the overall development of local inhabitants.

 

2. India’s first rooftop drive-in theatre launched in Mumbai: The first open-air rooftop drive-in movie theatre in India has been inaugurated at Jio World Drive mall of Reliance Industries in Mumbai, Maharashtra. The drive-in theatre will be operated and managed by the multiplex chain PVR Ltd. The theatre has been launched in partnership with the Reliance Retail and multiplex chain PVR. The facility can accommodate around 290 cars. The first movie screened at the theatre was Akshay Kumar’s Sooryavanshi.

 

3. Tripura develops country’s ‘first-ever’ bamboo made cricket bat, stumps: Bamboo and Cane Development Institute (BCDI) of Tripura along with the North East Centre of Technology Application and Reach (NECTAR) claimed to have developed the country’s first-ever bamboo made cricket bat maintaining all the standard protocols used for manufacturing cricket bats. These bats could be used in all forms of cricket. The most preferred wood for the production of cricket bats is willow. The company’s CEO recently gave Biplab Kumar Deb a demonstration of the product. Key Highlight:

(1) For the development of the bats, the hard Boom (local name) bamboo has been utilized. “Kanakaich (a local kind of bamboo)” has also been used to build bamboo wickets, which are almost completely solid.

(2) To create this product, we made use of our exclusive bamboo blue board technology.

(3) First, a Cambridge university paper released a lengthy piece on the usage of bamboo as a substitute for traditional bat-making methods four to five months ago.

(4) According to BCDI-NECTAR chairman Dr Abhinab Kant, the project was later taken over by NECTAR, with the BCDI taking on the remaining work.

Note: Chief Minister of Tripura: Biplab Kumar Deb; Governor: Satyadeo Narain Arya.

 

4. A book titled ‘Not Just Cricket: A Reporters Journey’ by Pradeep Magazine: A book titled ‘’Not just cricket: A Reporters Journey’’ authored by Pradeep Magazine is going to be released in Dec 2021. It consists of life experiences, social, political, ups and downs of Indian cricket by the journalist Pradeep Magazine. He is the author of the book “Not quite cricket” which exposed the match-fixing scandal.

 

5. A new book titled “The Cinema of Satyajit Ray” authored by Bhaskar Chattopadhyay: A new book titled ‘The Cinema of Satyajit Ray’ written by the author Bhaskar Chattopadhyay and published by Westland details the life of legendary Indian Filmmaker – ‘Satyajit Ray’. Bhaskar Chattopadhyay also authored novels like “Patang” (2016), “Here Falls the Shadow” (2017), and “The Disappearance of Sally Sequeira” (2018).

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. UK unveils commemorative £5 coin celebrating legacy of Mahatma Gandhi: The Government of the United Kingdom (UK) has unveiled a £5 coin to commemorate the life and legacy of Mahatma Gandhi. It is the first time Mahatma Gandhi has been commemorated on an official UK coin. The coin is available in a range of standards, including gold and silver, The special collectors’ coin was designed by Heena Glover. Rishi Sunak, Chancellor of the UK, chose the final design for the coin. The coin features an image of a lotus, India’s national flower, alongside one of Gandhi’s most famous quotes – ‘My life is my message’.

 

2. International Day of Radiology: 8th November: International Day of Radiology is observed globally on 8th November every year. The day is celebrated to promote the awareness of the value that radiology contributes to safe patient care, and improve public understanding of the vital role radiologists and radiographers play in the healthcare continuum. The theme for 2021 is ‘Interventional Radiology – Active care for the patient’

Radiology: Radiology is the medical discipline that uses medical imaging to diagnose and treat diseases within the bodies of animals and humans. A variety of imaging techniques such as X-ray radiography, ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), nuclear medicine including positron emission tomography (PET), fluoroscopy, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are used to diagnose or treat diseases.

History of the day: The day also marks the anniversary of the discovery of x-rays by Wilhelm Roentgen in 1895. World Radiology Day was first celebrated in the year 2012.

 

3. World Urbanism Day: 8th November: World Urbanism Day, also known as “World Town Planning Day”, is celebrated on 8 November globally, to recognise and promote the role of planning in creating livable communities. World Urbanism Day provides an opportunity to look at planning from a global perspective, in order to draw attention to the environmental impact resulting from the development of cities and territories. WUD is organised by the International Society of City and Regional Planners (ISOCARP). The day was founded in 1949 by the late Professor Carlos Maria della Paolera of the University of Buenos Aires, to advance public and professional interest in planning.

Note: ISOCARP Headquarters: The Hague, Netherlands; ISOCARP Founded: 1965.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Manu Bhaker and Javad Foroughi wins gold in inaugural President’s Cup: India’s woman pistol star Manu Bhaker and Iranian Olympic champion Javad Foroughi has won the 10m air pistol mixed team gold at the inaugural ISSF President’s Cup at the Wroclaw in Poland. The Indo-Iranian pair beat the French-Russian duo of Mathilde Lamolle and Artem Chernousov 16-8 to clinch the gold medal. A seven-member Indian contingent is participating in the ISSF President’s Cup.

 

2. Rashid Khan becomes youngest bowler to take 400 T20 wickets: Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan became the youngest bowler to take 400 T20 wickets during his team’s crucial Super 12 encounter against New Zealand in Dubai. Martin Guptill became Rashid’s 400th victim in T20 cricket. Rashid joined an elite list of cricketers as he picked up his 400th wicket in ongoing New Zealand vs Afghanistan T20 World Cup game.  He is the 4th bowler to enter the 400 club after Dwayne Bravo (553), Sunil Narine (425) and Imran Tahir (420).

Earlier, Rashid had become the fastest bowler to register 100 dismissals in Twenty20 Internationals during a T20 World Cup 2021 match against Pakistan. Rashid has 103 wickets for Afghanistan and 93 scalps for Sunrisers Hyderabad while the rest have come for the teams he plays for in different T20 tournaments around the world.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. SBI launches ‘Video Life Certificate’ facility for pensioners: The State Bank of India has launched a video life certificate service for pensioners. This new facility will allow pensioners to submit their life certificates via video from their homes. This facility is available for pensioners (other than family pensioners). Thus, the spouse of the pensioner receiving a pension from the government will not be able to use this facility.

About the facility:

(1) As per SBI, the process of video life certificate is paperless and free of cost.

(2) It is important for pensioners and family pensioners to submit their life certificates before November 30 every year to avoid their pensions getting suspended.

(3) If the life certificate is not submitted by the pensioner, then he/she will stop receiving his/her pension. If you are a pensioner with a pension account with SBI, here is how you can use the video facility to submit your Jeevan Patra before the deadline.

Note: SBI Chairperson: Dinesh Kumar Khara; SBI Headquarters: Mumbai; SBI Founded: 1 July 1955.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. PhonePe launched tokenisation solution ‘SafeCard’: Digital Payment firm, PhonePe has launched a tokenization solution named ‘SafeCard’ for online debit and credit card transactions. Earlier in September 2021, RBI had made a device-based tokenization framework applicable to Card-on-File Tokenisation (CoFT) services as well i.e Card-on-File (CoF) means that the Credit/Debit card details are stored by merchants for ease of payment.

Here are some other tokenisation solutions launched in recent times:

(1) PayU- ‘PayU Token Hub’

(2) CCAvenue- ‘TokenPay’

Note: CEO of Phonepe: Sameer Nigam; Headquarters location of Phonepe: Bengaluru, Karnataka.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Puneeth Rajkumar honoured posthumously with Basavashree Award 2021: Kannada actor Puneeth Rajkumar will be posthumously conferred the Basavashree award 2021 by the Bruhanmutt. Fondly called Appu, Puneeth, who was born in Chennai on March 17, 1975, was an actor, playback singer, television presenter, and producer. Puneeth, son of Matinee Idol Rajkumar, was a lead actor in 29 films and as a child and appeared in many films.

About the award: The award honours people for services to society in their respective fields by following the principles of Lord Basaveshwar. It is presented by Chitradurga Bruhanmutt since 1997. The award includes Rs 5 lakh cash and a memento. PT Usha (2009), Malala Yousufzai (2014), P Sainath (2016), Dr K Kasturirangan (2020) are some to win the award in recent times.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Dronacharya Awardee Eminent Cricket Coach Tarak Sinha passes away: Eminent Cricket Coach and Dronacharya Awardee, Tarak Sinha has passed away after a prolonged illness. He is known for training some of India’s finest cricketers like Manoj Prabhakar, Raman Lamba, Ajay Sharma, Atul Wassan, Surinder Khanna, Sanjiv Sharma, Aakash Chopra, Anjum Chopra, Rumeli Dhar, Ashish Nehra, Shikhar Dhawan and Rishabh Pant.

Daily GK Update- 7th Nov, 2021

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. PM Modi Unveils Shri Adi Shankaracharya Samadhi and Statue in Kedarnath: Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Kedarnath in Uttarakhand on November 05, 2021, to inaugurate key infrastructure projects related to the redevelopment of Kedarnath. PM inaugurated the reconstructed Shri Adi Shankaracharya Samadhi (final resting place) at the premises of the Kedarnath Temple in Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand and unveiled the statue of Shri Adi Shankaracharya at the Samadhi. The Samadhi was damaged in the 2013 Kedarnath flood.

About the Statue:

(1) The 12-feet long statue weighing around 35 tonnes (35,000kg) has been constructed by Mysore-based sculptor Arjun Yogiraj.

(2) During the visit, PM Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of several reconstruction projects worth over Rs 400 crore at Kedarpuri.

(3) The unveiling programmes of the statute was organized at the 12 Jyotirlingas and Jyotishpeeth across the country including Char Dhams (Badrinath, Dwarka, Puri and Rameshwaram).

 

2. India and World Bank sign USD 40 million agreement to strengthen health systems in Meghalaya: The Government of India and the World Bank have inked USD 40 million health project agreement for the state of Meghalaya. The Meghalaya Health Systems Strengthening Project will improve the quality of health services in the state and strengthen the management and governance capabilities of the state to handle future health emergencies including the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

3. Ministry of Rural Development inks MoU with Flipkart to enhance rural livelihoods: The e-commerce marketplace Flipkart has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) to support the ambitious Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM) program. The MoU will help to empower local businesses and self-help groups (SHGs) by bringing them on the e-commerce platform to sell their products. SHGs led by women would be given special focus. The MoU is a part of Flipkart’s Samarth programme which aims to support skilled craftsmen, weavers and artisans of under-served community by helping them to sell online through Flipkart marketplace. Under the programme, e-commerce knowledge and training around onboarding, cataloging, marketing, account management, business insights, and warehousing are also imparted.

 

4. National Cancer Awareness Day: 7th November: The National Cancer Awareness Day is observed annually in India on November 7, to spread awareness on cancer, its symptoms and treatment. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cancer is the second leading cause of death globally. In 2018, approximately 18 million cases were there globally, of which, 1.5 million were in India alone. In 2018, there were around 0.8 million cancer deaths in India against 9.5 million globally.

National Cancer Awareness Day 2021 History: On 7 November 2014, Former Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare Dr. Harsh Vardhan announced that seventh November will be celebrated as national Cancer awareness day every year to highlight the contributions of an eminent scientist who is important and a role model for all those who are fighting cancer.

 

5. “The Sage with Two Horns: Unusual Tales from Mythology” authored by Sudha Murty: The chairperson of the Infosys Foundation and a renowned author, Sudha Murty has published her new book titled “The Sage with Two Horns: Unusual Tales from Mythology”, the 5th and last book of the “Unusual Tales from Mythology” series. The series features the stories of kings and queens, gods and goddesses, sages, and extraordinary men and women of wisdom.

List of books of the “Unusual Tales from Mythology” series:

(1) The Serpent’s Revenge: Unusual Tales from the Mahabharata

(2) The Upside-Down King: Unusual Tales about Rama and Krishna

(3) The Man from The Egg: Unusual Tales About The Trinity

(4) The Daughter from a Wishing Tree: Unusual Tales about Women in Mythology

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Britain approves world’s first oral pill to treat Covid-19: Britain’s health regulators have approved the world’s first pill to treat cases of symptomatic COVID-19. Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said, the antiviral molnupiravir has been found to be safe and effective at reducing the risk of hospitalisation and death in people with mild to moderate COVID-19, who are at increased risk of developing the disease.

 

2. Yahoo Inc. stops its services in China: Yahoo Inc. has announced that the company has stopped providing service in mainland China with effect from November 01, 2021, due to the increasingly challenging business and legal environment in the country. With this Yahoo has ended its 22-year presence in the Chinese market. This means that services like Yahoo Weather, Yahoo Finance, and other websites run by Yahoo such as AOL.com, TechCrunch and Engadget will not be accessible from within China. Earlier, US tech platform LinkedIn also announced the closure of its localized social media network in China on October 14.

 

3. New Zealand names critically endangered native long-tailed bat as Bird of the Year: The critically endangered New Zealand long-tailed bat has been named as the New Zealand Bird of the Year 2021. The long-tailed bat is the only land mammal of New Zealand. It is also known as the long-tailed wattled bat or pekapeka-tou-roa. The Bird of the Year competition is organised annually by New Zealand based independent conservation organisation Forest & Bird to raise awareness among the citizens about the native birds of the country.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Akash Kumar settles for bronze in 2021 AIBA Men’s World Championships: Indian boxer Akash Kumar managed to clinch the bronze medal at the 2021 AIBA Men’s World Boxing Championships on November 05, 2021 at Belgrade in Serbia. The 21-year-old Akash lost 0-5 in the 54 kg category to Makhmud Sabyrkhan of Kazakhstan. Akash is the seventh Indian male boxer to win a medal at the world championships.

 

2. Rahul Dravid appointed head coach of Indian men’s cricket team till 2023 ODI World Cup: Former captain Rahul Dravid has been appointed as the head coach of the Indian men’s cricket team by the BCCI. The former right-handed batsman has been appointed for a period of two years till the 2023 50-over World Cup. Dravid will begin his tenure as full-time coach from the T20I series against New Zealand starting November 17, 2021 in Jaipur.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Finance Ministry issues uniform staff accountability framework for NPA accounts up to Rs 50 crore: Department of Financial Services (DFS), under the finance ministry, has issued guidelines to be adopted by all public sector banks (PSBs) on Staff Accountability Framework for NPA Accounts up to Rs. 50 crore’. These guidelines will be applicable on loans that are turning into non-performing assets (NPAs) on or after April 1, 2022. Thses shall not be applicable on fraud cases. Banks with the approval of their Board may decide on a threshold of Rs 10 lacs or Rs 20 lacs depending on their business size for examining the aspect of staff accountability.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. Barclays’ new chief is India-born CS Venkatakrishnan: Barclays new CEO is CS Venkatakrishnan, an Indian-American and the first person of color to hold that position. Venkatakrishnan, who was most recently Barclays’ co-president and head of global markets, is stepping in as CEO after Jes Staley resigned over his ties with late financier Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender who died by suicide in prison three years ago. As chief risk officer, Venkatakrishnan put in place processes that proved instrumental in helping Barclays steer clear of the Archegos Capital Management implosion; more recently, he was put in charge of the bank’s markets division.

 

2. CCI approves acquisition of 100% shareholding in Exide Life by HDFC Life: The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the accquisition of 100% shareholding in Exide Life Insurance Company Limited by HDFC Life Insurance Company. The acquisition has been approved under Section 31(1) of the Competition Act, 2002. After the acquisition Exide Life will become wholly owned subsidiary of HDFC Life. It is proposed to merge Exide Life with HDFC Life.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Priyanka Mohite to Receive 2020’s Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award: Maharashtra-based, 28-year old mountaineer Priyanka Mohite was selected by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports for the prestigious ‘Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award 2020’ for outstanding contribution in the field of land adventure. She scaled the world’s highest peak Mt Everest, Mt Lhotse and Mt.Makalu. She is the 1st Indian woman to climb Mt Annapurna, the 10th highest mountain peak in the world.

Tenzing Norgay National Award 2020: Priyanka is one among the 7-recipients of the ‘2020 Tenzing Norgay National Award’ & will receive the award from President Ram Nath Kovind in during the 2021 National Sports Award.

 

Awardee	Category
Priyanka Mangesh Mohite	Land Adventure
Jay Prakash Kumar	Land Adventure
Col. Amit Bisht	Land Adventure
Sheetal	Land Adventure
Srikaanth Viswanathan	Water Adventure
Lt. Col. Servesh Dhadwal	Air Adventure
Jai Kishan	Life Time Achievement

 

About Tenzing Norgay National Award: Established in 1994 as ‘National Adventure Award’, later renamed as ‘Tenzing Norgay National Award’ in 2002. Tenzing Norgay is regarded as the 1st person to scale Mount Everest. It is the highest National Award in the field of adventure on land, sea and air, which is equivalent to the Arjuna Award.

Daily GK Update- 6th Nov, 2021

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. PM Modi launch “One Sun, One World, One Grid” initiative: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his British counterpart Boris Johnson jointly launched the ‘One Sun, One World, One Grid’ (OSOWOG) initiative at the COP 26 Climate Meet in Glasgow. This project is about setting a ‘trans-national electricity grid to supply solar power across the world.

About OSOWOG: The vision behind OSOWOG is ‘The Sun Never Sets. It is a constant at some geographical location, across the globe, at any given point of time. This is the most ambitious scheme undertaken by India and is significant in terms of economic benefits. It has been taken up under the technical assistance program of the World Bank. This plan will also leverage the International Solar Alliance (ISA). Key points:

(1) On the occasion, he also announced that India’s space agency, ISRO will provide a calculator to the world soon, that can measure the solar energy potential of any region.

(2) ‘One Sun, One World, One Grid’ (OSOWOG) solution will be used to tackle the challenge of solar power.

(3) Earth’s atmosphere receives enough sunlight in one hour, that can be used to power the electricity needed of every human on earth for a year.

(4) However, solar energy is only available during the day. Another challenge is that it is dependent on weather conditions.

 

2. Amit Shah launches ‘Ayushman CAPF’ health card: Union Home Minister Amit Shah has announced that the Central government has extended the benefits of the “Ayushman CAPF healthcare scheme” to the personnel of all Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs). The scheme was launched in line with the commitment of the Modi govt to ensure healthcare facilities of CAPF personnel so that they can discharge their duties with full concentration. Under this scheme, CAPF personnel & their families would be able to avail cashless in-patient and out-patient healthcare facilities across the hospitals that come under Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY.

Who are covered under the scheme: It covers all Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) officials & serving personnel as well as their dependents from seven forces namely, Border Security Forces (BSF), Assam Rifles, Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and National Security Guard (NSG).

 

3. Niti Aayog, World Bank ready electric vehicles financing push: NITI (National Institution for Transforming India) Aayog and the World Bank (WB) are working together to facilitate a program for faster and easier financing of electric vehicles (EVs). NITI Aayog and World Bank are setting up a $300-million ‘first loss risk sharing instrument’, with the State Bank of India (SBI) as its program manager. The current rate of interest for electric two-wheelers & electric 3 Wheelers, which is in the range of 20-25 per cent is expected to be reduced to 10-12 per cent.

Note: World Bank Founded: July 1944; World Bank Headquarters: Washington DC, USA; World Bank President: David R. Malpass.

 

4. GoI form empowered group of secretaries under Cabinet secretary to review implementation of PM GatiShakti: Centre has constituted an Empowered Group of Secretaries (EGoS) to review and monitor the mechanism for the development and implementation of the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan (NMP). The Cabinet Secretary will be the Chairperson of 20-member EGoS. Head of Logistics Division will be the Member and Convenor. The Logistics Division will act as Secretariat to the EGoS for its Terms of Reference (ToRs).

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. US lawmaker introduces Bill to declare Diwali a national holiday: United States lawmakers led by Congresswoman Carolyn B Maloney from New York, introduced a bill to declare Diwali a national holiday in the country. The lawmaker announced the Deepavali Day Act in the House of Representatives. The historic legislation is being supported by a number of lawmakers including Indian-American Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi. Meanwhile, Krishnamoorthi also introduced a resolution in the US Congress to recognise the religious and historical significance of the festival of lights.

Note: United States Capital: Washington, DC; United States President: Joe Biden; United States Currency: United States Dollar.

 

2. International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict: 6th November: The International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict is an international day observed annually on November 6. On 5 November 2001, the UN General Assembly declared 6 November of each year as the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict. At the time of war, it affects the ecosystem such as water supply is poisoned, the forest is burnt, animals being killed, etc. Though humanity has always counted its war casualties in terms of dead and wounded soldiers and civilians, destroyed cities and livelihoods, the environment has often remained the unpublicized victim of war. Water wells have been polluted, crops torched, forests cut down, soils poisoned, and animals killed to gain military advantage.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Unmukt Chand becomes the 1st Indian male to sign up for BBL: Unmukt Chand has become the first Indian male cricketer to sign up for the Big Bash League as he is set to feature in the Melbourne Renegades side in the upcoming edition. The 28-year-old, who led India to the Under-19 World Cup title in 2012, has represented India A, apart from featuring in teams like Delhi Daredevils, Mumbai Indians, and Rajasthan Royals in the IPL. He announced his retirement from Indian cricket in August this year stating that he would explore ‘better opportunities from around the world’.

Chand has now shifted his base to the United States of America (USA). He was recently named ‘Player of the Tournament as his side, Silicon Valley Strikers, won the Minor League Cricket (MCL) title. The right-handed batter will travel to Australia later this month and be available for the entire duration of the tournament.

 

2. Sports ministry upgrades three new facilities in Lucknow, Delhi and Chennai as KISCE: The Ministry of Sports has upgraded three existing sports facilities across the country as the Khelo India Sports Centres of Excellence (KISCE).

The three new centres are: (1) Guru Gobind Singh Sports College, Lucknow; (2) Chhatrasal Stadium, Delhi; (3) Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Chennai

Now the total number of KISCEs in India has increased to 27 spread across 26 States and Union Territories.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. RBI issues revised PCA framework for banks: The RBI has issued a revised Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) framework for banks to enable supervisory intervention at “appropriate time” and also act as a tool for effective market discipline. Capital, asset quality and leverage will be the key areas for monitoring in the revised framework. The revised PCA framework will be effective from January 1, 2022. The framework was last revised in April 2017.

Objective of PCA: The objective of the PCA framework is to enable supervisory intervention at an appropriate time and require the supervised entity to initiate and implement remedial measures in a timely manner, so as to restore its financial health. The central bank also stressed that the PCA framework does not preclude the RBI from taking any other action as it deems fit at any time, in addition to the corrective actions prescribed. PCA framework is applicable only to commercial banks. Co-operative banks and non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) are not covered under it. Key Points:

(1) The framework will apply to all banks operating in India, including foreign banks operating through branches or subsidiaries based on breach of risk thresholds of identified indicators.

(2) The framework also details conditions for exit from PCA and withdrawal of restrictions. If a bank is put under the PCA, several restrictions are placed on it.

(3) The restrictions are imposed on dividend distribution and remittance of profits, bringing in the capital (in the case of foreign banks), branch expansion, and capital expenditure.

 

2. RBI named Bandhan Bank as agency bank: The Reserve Bank of India has now appointed Bandhan Bank as an Agency Bank of the RBI to conduct government business. Bandhan Bank now joins several other private banks that have been empanelled as an Agency Bank of the RBI. Bandhan Bank will now be authorised to handle transactions related to GST, VAT and the collection of state taxes.

List of Banks recently appointed as Agency Bank of RBI: (1) South Indian bank; (2) Karnataka bank; (3) DCB Bank; (4) RBL Bank; (5) Dhanlaxmi Bank; (6) IndusInd Bank and (7) Bandhan Bank

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. Edelgive Hurun India Philanthropy List 2021: Hurun India and EdelGive have jointly released the Edelgive Hurun India Philanthropy List 2021. The list was topped by Azim Premji, the founder chairman of Wipro, with a donation of Rs 9,713 crore during fiscal 2020-21 which is around Rs 27 crore a day. HCL’s Shiv Nadar once again retained the second spot on the list with an annual donation of Rs 1,263 crore, marking a 59 per cent rise. Mukesh Ambani, the chairman of Reliance Industries, and his family occupied the third spot on the philanthropy list with an annual donation of Rs 577 crore.

Here is the top 5 Philanthropist in the list:

 

Rank	Person	Donation
1	Azim Premji	Rs 9,713 crore
2	Shiv Nadar	Rs 1,263 crore
3	Mukesh Ambani	Rs 577 crore
4	Kumar Mangalam Birla	Rs 377 crore

 

2. Arun Chawla named as Director-General of FICCI: Industry chamber Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) named Arun Chawla as its new director-general. He will assume charge with immediate effect. He joined FICCI in 2011 and is currently the deputy secretary-general of the chamber. He joined the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry in 2011 and is currently the deputy secretary-general of the chamber.

Note: FICCI Founded: 1927; FICCI Headquarters: New Delhi; FICCI President: Uday Shankar; FICCI Secretary General: Dilip Chenoy.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. South African author Damon Galgut wins Booker Prize: South African playwright and novelist, Damon Galgut has won the 2021 Booker Prize for “The Promise”, his third shortlisted novel which chronicles a family in his homeland from the late apartheid era through to Jacob Zuma’s presidency. Spanning several decades, the book shows the family’s growing disintegration as the country emerges into democracy. Mr. Galgut took the prize on his third time as a finalist, for a book the judges called a “tour de force.” He was previously shortlisted for “The Good Doctor” in 2003 and “In a Strange Room” in 2010, but lost both times.