Daily GK Update- 26th Sept, 2021

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. World’s Highest EV Charging Station inaugurated in Himachal Pradesh: The world’s highest electric vehicle charging station has been inaugurated in Kaza village of Lahaul and Spiti district in Himachal Pradesh. The electric vehicle charging station is set up at a height of 500 ft. The aim of this initiative is to check vehicular pollution and promote electric vehicles for a clean and green environment in the region. India is gaining good momentum in the electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem. There is a good response for battery-operated small electric vehicles like e-scooter, electric three-wheelers, e-rickshaws, e-carts, and e-bikes in the country. Both battery electric vehicle and fuel cell vehicle technologies are complementary to each other and are all set to overtake fossil-run automotive by 2050 in the country.

Note: Himachal Pradesh Governor: Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar; Himachal Pradesh CM: Jai Ram Thakur.

 

2. Former ISRO chief K Kasturirangan to head education ministry’s panel: The Union education ministry has formed a 12-member committee to develop new curriculums for school, early childhood, teacher and adult education. The panel tasked with developing four national curriculum frameworks (NCFs) will be headed by National Education Policy-2020 (NEP-2020) drafting committee chairperson K Kasturirangan.

The function of the committee: The committee will discuss “position papers” finalised by national focus groups on different aspects of the four areas drawing inputs from state curriculum frameworks. The NCFs serve as a guideline for syllabus, textbook and teaching practices for schools in India.

Note: Minister of Education: Dharmendra Pradhan.

 

3. SAUBHAGYA Scheme Completes 4 years of successful implementation: The Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana -“Saubhagya Scheme” has completed four years of successful implementation, on 25 September 2021. The scheme was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 25th of September, 2017 with an outlay of Rs. 16,320 crore. Saubhagya scheme aims to achieve universal household electrification by providing last mile connectivity and electricity connections to all households in rural areas and all poor households in urban areas across the country. As of March 31, 2021, 2.82 crore households have been electrified since the launch of SAUBHAGYA.

 

4. Chetan Bhagat releases trailer of his upcoming book ‘400 Days’: Chetan Bhagat will release his new novel titled ‘400 Days’ on October 08, 2021. He has released the cover for the same. It is the third novel in the Keshav-Saurabh series, after ‘The Girl in Room 105’ and ‘One Arranged Murder’. The novel is a tale of suspense, human relationships, love, friendship, the crazy world we live in and, above all, a mother’s determination to never give up.

 

5. A audiobook title ‘Jungle Nama’ released by Amitav Ghosh: Amitav Ghosh’s “Jungle Nama” has now been released as an audiobook with music and voice of US-based Ali Sethi. Jungle Nama evokes the wonder of the Sundarban through its poetry, accompanied by stunning artwork by the renowned artist Salman Toor. This is an illuminated edition of a fabulous folk tale that every book lover will want to possess.

About the book: Jungle Nama is Amitav Ghosh’s verse adaptation of an episode from the legend of Bon Bibi, a tale popular in the villages of the Sundarban, which also lies at the heart of the novel The Hungry Tide. It is the story of the avaricious rich merchant Dhona, the poor lad Dukhey, and his mother; it is also the story of Dokkhin Rai, a mighty spirit who appears to humans as a tiger, of Bon Bibi, the benign goddess of the forest, and her warrior brother Shah Jongoli.

 

INTERNATIONALUPDATES:

 

1. First in-person Quad Leaders’ Summit held in Washington: The first in-person meeting of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) was held on September 24, 2021, at the White House in Washington D.C. Quad nation comprise of India, the United States, Australia and Japan. The heads of government of Australia, India, Japan, and the United States participated in the Quad leaders meeting, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

The four Pacific nation security cooperation bloc recommended various initiatives to deepen the ties and advance practical cooperation on 21st-century challenges which included:

(1) ending the COVID-19 pandemic, including by increasing production and access to safe and effective vaccines;

(2) promoting high-standards infrastructure;

(3) combatting the climate crisis;

(4) partnering on emerging technologies, space, and cybersecurity;

(5) cultivating next-generation talent in all of our countries

 

2. Statue of Bitcoin founder Satoshi Nakamoto unveiled in Hungary: Hungary has unveiled the statue of Bitcoin founder Satoshi Nakamoto. The imposing bronze statue was unveiled in Hungary’s capital, Budapest. This is the first such statue across the world to pay homage to the creator of Bitcoin digital currency. It has been constructed in a business park near the Danube River in Budapest. The bust sits atop a stone plinth and is also engraved with the name of Satoshi Nakamoto, who is the pseudonym of the mysterious developer of Bitcoin whose true identity is still unknown.

Creators of the statue: Statue has been created by Reka Gergely and Tamas Gilly. They have portrayed a human form and have stayed true to the anonymity of Nakamoto, the person nobody knows how do they look like.

About the Bitcoin:  Bitcoin was created in 2008 in the backdrop of global financial crisis. Its aim was to circumvent traditional financial institutions by means of developing secure technology for peer-to-peer online transactions. It does not involve intermediaries like banks. The founding white paper published in 2008 and was authored by Nakamoto.

 

3. Lunar Crater named after Arctic explorer Matthew Henson: The International Astronomical Union has named a crater at the Moon’s south pole after the Arctic explorer Matthew Henson, a Black man who in 1909 was one of the first people to stand at the very top of the world. The proposal to name the crater after Henson was put forward by Jordan Bretzfelder who is an Exploration Science summer intern with Lunar & Planetary Institute, in Houston.

About the Artemis Programme: Artemis Programme was launched by NASA which aims to land the next slate of lunar explorers on the Henson Crater. They will be selected from NASA’s increasingly diverse astronaut pool. Henson Crater is located between Sverdrup and de Gerlache craters at the south pole of the Moon. This program provides a cornerstone to study planetary processes as well as to create the infrastructure to advance human exploration at the Moon and on Mars.

Note: International Astronomical Union Headquarters: Paris, France; International Astronomical Union Founded: 28 July 1919; International Astronomical Union President: Ewine van Dishoeck.

 

4. World Environmental Health Day: 26th September: The International Federation of Environmental Health (IFEH) declared to observe World Environmental Health Day on 26 September every year. This day is celebrated to shed the light on important work of environmental health around the world. The day is important in the current situation as most parts of the world continue to recover from the ongoing coronavirus pandemic situation. In such times, the importance of the Environmental Health workforce has been highlighted more than ever before. The theme for the 2021 World Environmental Health Day: Prioritizing Environmental Health for healthier communities in the global recovery.

History of the day: In 2011, the International Federation of Environmental Health (IFEH) declared to observe World Environmental Health Day on 26 September. The day was started by the Federation during a meeting in Indonesia on this day in 2011.

Note: The International Federation of Environmental Health was established in 1986 and is based in London, England.

 

5. World Rivers Day 2021: 26th September: World Rivers Day is celebrated every year on the “Fourth Sunday of September” since 2005, to raise global awareness of the need to support, protect and preserve the rivers around the world. In 2021, World Rivers Day is being celebrated on 26 September. The theme for World Rivers Day 2021 is “Waterways in our communities” with a specific emphasis on the need to conserve and repair urban waterways, which are frequently under stress.

History of the day: Mark Angelo, a well-known river environmentalist, addressed the United Nations in 2005 during its Water for Life campaign, a decade-long effort to raise awareness about vulnerable water supplies throughout the world. Angelo called for an annual World Rivers Day to help the cause gain traction.

 

6. International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons: 26th September The United Nations observes 26 September every year as the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons. The aim of the day is to enhance public awareness about the threat posed to humanity by nuclear weapons and the necessity for their total elimination. It provides an opportunity to educate the public and their leaders about the real benefits of eliminating such weapons, and the social and economic costs of perpetuating them.

History of the day: The General Assembly declared the International Day in December 2013, in its resolution 68/32 as a follow-up to the high-level meeting of the General Assembly on nuclear disarmament held on 26 September 2013, in New York. This was the latest in a series of efforts by the General Assembly to raise public awareness and to seek deeper engagement on nuclear disarmament matters.

Note: Headquarters of United Nations: New York, USA; Founded: 24 October 1945; Secretary-General of the United Nations: Antonio Guterres.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Lewis Hamilton wins the Russian Grand Prix 2021: Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-Great Britain), has won the F1 Russian Grand Prix 2021. This is his 100th Grand Prix win. It was Hamilton’s fifth win of the season and his first since the British Grand Prix in July. Max Verstappen (Red Bull–Netherlands) came second while Carlos Sainz Jr. (Ferrari-Spain) came third in the Russian Grand Prix 2021.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. RBI fixes minimum ticket size to issue securitisation notes: The Reserve Bank of India has issued guidelines regarding the Securitisation of Standard Assets. As per the guidelines, the minimum ticket size for the issuance of securitization notes will be Rs. 1 crore. Securitisation involves transactions where credit risk in assets are redistributed by repackaging them into tradeable securities with different risk profiles which may give investors of various classes access to exposures which they otherwise might be unable to access directly. It means securities issued by the special purpose entity as a part of a securitization.

About Minimum Retention Requirement (MRR):

(1) For underlying loans with an original maturity of 24 months or less, the MRR shall be 5% of the book value of the loans being securitised.

(2) For underlying loans with an original maturity of more than 24 months as well as loans with bullet repayments, the MRR shall be 10% of the book value of the loans being securitised.

(3) In the case of residential mortgage-backed securities, the MRR for the originator shall be 5% of the book value of the loans being securitised, irrespective of the original maturity.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. Asiamoney 2021 Poll: HDFC Bank most outstanding company in India: According to Asiamoney 2021 Poll, HDFC Bank has received the most votes among listed companies in India, leading to the bank being awarded the ‘Overall Most Outstanding Company in India. This is in addition to the bank being voted ‘Most Outstanding Company in India – Banking Sector,’ for the 4th consecutive year, since the inception of the poll in 2018. The poll aims to identify and recognise publicly listed companies by country and sector.

About Asia’s Outstanding Companies Poll:

(1) The poll, known as Asia’s Outstanding Companies Poll, is designed to acknowledge listed companies that have excelled in areas such as financial performance, management team excellence, investor relations, and CSR initiatives.

(2) Further, the poll aims to identify and recognise publicly listed companies in 2 categories: by country and by sector, in which it operates.

(3) Over 1,070 fund managers, analysts, bankers, and rating agencies took part in the voting which concluded on July 16, 2021.

Note: Headquarters of HDFC Bank: Mumbai, Maharashtra; MD and CEO of HDFC Bank: Sashidhar Jagdishan; The tagline of HDFC Bank: We understand your world.

 

DEFENCE

 

1. Defence ministry places order for 118 Arjun Mk-1A tanks: Ministry of Defence will procure 118 Main Battle Tanks, MBTs Arjun Mk-1A for the Indian Army. The order was worth Rs 7,523 crore with Heavy Vehicles Factory, Avadi to sharpen the army’s combat edge. It will support the Make in India initiative in the defence sector and it will help in achieving the goal of Aatmanirbhar Bharat. About the Arjun Mk-1A Tank:

(1) The Main Battle Tank Mk-1A is a new variant of the Arjun Tank. It has been designed to enhance firepower, mobility, and survivability.

(2) Arjun Tank has been part of the Indian Army for the last 15 years. It has been designed and developed by Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (CVRDE).

(3) It will be manufactured at the government’s Heavy Vehicles Factory in Chennai. It can work during day and night conditions and can hit the target in both static and dynamic modes.

Daily GK Update- 25th Sept, 2021

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. PM Modi to roll out National Digital Health Mission: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will announce the nationwide roll-out of the National Digital Health Mission (NDHM), which has been renamed as Pradhan Mantri Digital Health Mission (PM-DHM), on September 27. Under this, a unique digital health ID will be provided to the people, which will contain all the health records of the person. The id will be created using details such as Aadhaar and the user’s mobile number. About the initiative:

(1) The initiative will be rolled out on the final day of Arogya Manthan, which was kicked off to mark the third anniversary of the government’s flagship health insurance scheme — Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana.

(2) The project is currently in its pilot phase in the Union territories of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, Ladakh, Lakshadweep, and Puducherry.

(3) The mission essentially consists of four main building blocks — unique digital health id, health care professionals registry, health facility registry and electronic health records.

(4) To begin with, three components, unique health id, doctor’s registry and the health facility registry, have been made operational, the officials cited above said.

(5) The initiative supports Universal Health Coverage in an efficient, accessible, inclusive, affordable and safe manner through the provision of a wide range of data, information and infrastructure services.

 

2. PFRDA to observe NPS Diwas on October 01, 2021: Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) will observe October 01, 2021 as the National Pension System Diwas (NPS Diwas). This campaign has been started by PFRDA under the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ to promote pension and retirement planning for a carefree ‘azad’ retirement. PFRDA is promoting this campaign on its social media platforms with #npsdiwas. The pension regulator aims to encourage every citizen (working professionals and self-employed professionals) to plan towards creating a financial cushion to ensure for onself a financially sound future after retirement. NPS subscribers will enjoy the benefits, power of compounding now and reap many of the benefits after retirement.

 

3. Govt accepts RN Ravi’s resignation as interlocutor for Naga peace talks: The government of India accepts RN Ravi’s resignation as interlocutor for Naga peace talks. Ravi has negotiated for several years with key insurgent groups for the signing of the Naga Peace Accord. Recently, R N Ravi has been appointed as governor of Tamil Nadu. Akshay Mishra is likely to be appointed as the new peace talks interlocutor. He is serving in the Intelligence Bureau.

Agreement with NSCN-IM:

(1) In recent years, the Naga peace process has derailed due to the deteriorating relationship between the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-(Isak Muivah) with the Centre, and Ravi.

(2) The Nagaland Peace Accord framework was signed on 3 August 2015 by the Government of India, and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN).

(3) Greater Nagaland covering the area of its neighbouring states and Myanmar is the main demand of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN).

 

4. Air India chief Rajiv Bansal appointed Civil Aviation Secretary: Rajiv Bansal appointed as Secretary in the Ministry of Civil Aviation. Bansal is currently Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) of Air India. He is a 1988-batch IAS Nagaland cadre, Bansal was serving as additional secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas before Air India. He will replace the current Aviation Secretary Pradeep Singh Kharola, who retires on 30 September. Last year in February, Bansal was appointed as the chairman and managing director of Air India for a second time. His appointment came just days after the government announced 100% stake sale of the debt-ridden Air India.

 

5. Antyodaya Divas: 25th September: In India, the Antyodaya Diwas is observed every year on September 25, to mark the birth anniversary of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya. Antyodaya means “uplifting the poorest of the poor” or “rise of the last person”. The day was declared by the Modi Government on September 25, 2014, and officially celebrated since 2015.

About Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya:

(1) Deendayal Upadhyaya was a humanist, economist, journalist, philosopher and abled statesman.

(2) Deendayal Upadhyaya cleared the civil services examination. He, however, didn’t join the service and became a volunteer of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

(3) In the 1940s, Deendayal Upadhyaya launched ‘Rashtra Dharma’, a monthly journal, from Uttar Pradesh’s Lucknow for spreading the ideology of Hindutva nationalism. Later, he started ‘Panchjanya’, a weekly magazine, and a daily, ‘Swadesh’.

(4) Deendayal Upadhyaya’s philosophical idea of ‘Integral Humanism’ was adopted in 1965 as the official doctrine of the Jan Sangh and later the Bharatiya Janata Party.

(5) Deendayal Upadhyaya advocated ‘Samyanit Upabhog’ (sustainable consumption). He did not favour the exploitation of Mother Nature practised by the capitalist societies of the West.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. UN chief appoints Kailash Satyarthi as SDG Advocate: Nobel Peace Laureate Kailash Satyarthi has been appointed by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres as a Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Advocate in the 76th UN General Assembly. Guterres appointed Satyarthi, STEM activist Valentina Munoz Rabanal, Microsoft President Brad Smith and K-pop superstars BLACKPINK as new SDG Advocates. With this, the UN now has total of 16 SDG Advocates.

About the SDG Advocates: (1) The SDG Advocates use their considerable spheres of influence to reach new constituencies to act now and keep the promise of the Sustainable Development Goals for people and for the planet.

(2) The UN said climate action, bridging the digital divide, gender equality and the promotion of the rights of children are key issues to be championed by the new SDG Advocates.

(3) The SDG Advocates are prominent leaders in the world who work to mobilise action to deliver the 17 SDGs by 2030, using their considerable spheres of influence.

 

2. GoI hosted first India-UK Consular Dialogue: The government of India has hosted the first India-United Kingdom Consular Dialogue in the virtual medium. Joint Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, Devesh Uttam led the Indian delegation while the UK delegation was led by Jennifer Anderson. Both sides discussed the ways to strengthen people-to-people contacts as part of the India-UK 2030 roadmap. Significance of the Dialogue:

(1) At this inaugural Consular Dialogue, the two sides discussed ways to further strengthen people-to-people contacts between the two countries as part of the India-UK 2030 roadmap.

(2) They also discussed ways to facilitate consular access and early resolution of consular grievances including through systematic information sharing, and cooperation on visas, extradition cases and mutual legal assistance.

(3) Both sides agreed to hold the next round of this Dialogue in 2022, in London, at a mutually convenient date.

(4) Earlier, India and the UK held the first meeting of the India-UK Financial Markets Dialogue on 8th July.

 

3. World Pharmacist Day: 25th September: World Pharmacist Day is observed globally on 25th September every year. This day is celebrated to create awareness about the role of a pharmacist in improving health. The day was an initiative of the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) along with the council of this organization. This year’s theme is “Pharmacy: Always trusted for your health“.

History of World Pharmacist Day: The day was designated in 2009 by the FIP Council (International Pharmaceutical Federation or Federation Internationale Pharmaceutique) at the World Congress of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences in Istanbul, Turkey. The purpose of the day is to draw attention to pharmacies and the positive benefits they offer when it comes to health and FIP encourages all its members to participate to make the event a success.

Note: International Pharmaceutical Federation Headquarters location: The Hague, Netherlands; International Pharmaceutical Federation Founded: 25 September 1912; International Pharmaceutical Federation President: Dominique Jordan.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Odisha to host Men’s Hockey Junior World Cup: Odisha will host the Men’s Hockey Junior World Cup at the Kalinga Stadium here from November 24 to December 5. Hockey India had recently approached the Odisha government to support them for the Men’s Junior World Cup to be held in two months time. Patnaik also unveiled the logo and the trophy for the event. Lucknow had hosted the tournament’s last edition in 2016 where India claimed the honours. At the upcoming event, 16 nations will vie for the title. The participating teams are India, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, South Africa, Egypt, Belgium, England, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, USA, Canada, Chile and Argentina.

Note: Chief Minister of Odisha: Naveen Patnaik and Governor is Ganeshi Lal.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Government sets up India Debt Resolution Company Ltd (IDRCL): The government has set up an asset management company (AMC) named India Debt Resolution Company Ltd (IDRCL) with a paid-up capital of Rs. 80.5 lakh on an authorized capital of Rs 50 crore. IDRCL will work in tandem with the National Asset Reconstruction Company Ltd (NARCL) to clean up bad loans. Bank of Baroda (BoB), Punjab National Bank (PNB), Bank of India (BoI), Bank of Maharashtra, SBI, Union Bank of India, Canara Bank, Indian Bank and IDBI Bank are the shareholders of IDRCL.

About the IDRCL: IDRCL is a service company/operational entity which will manage the asset and engage market professionals and turnaround experts. Public Sector Banks (PSBs) and Public FIs will hold a maximum of 49% stake while the remaining stake will be with private sector lenders. It must be noted that last week, the government had cleared a guarantee of Rs. 30,600 crore for security receipts issued by NARCL.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. BPCL, SBI Card launch co-branded RuPay contactless credit card: Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) and SBI Card have joined hands to launch the ‘BPCL SBI Card co-branded RuPay Contactless Credit Card, offering fuel and other benefits. The card will provide rewarding fuel savings and other benefits to the customers. Cardholders will also get accelerated savings on other categories of spends, which include groceries, departmental stores, dining, and movies.

The facility of the card: As per the details revealed, users of BPCL SBI Card RuPay will get 13X reward points on every ₹100 spent on fuel purchases at BPCL petrol pumps and 1% fuel surcharge waiver on every transaction up to ₹4,000. This will translate to a 4.25% value back. Customers using this card will earn 2,000 activation bonus reward points worth ₹500 on payment of the joining fee.

Note: CMD Of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd: Arun Kumar Singh; Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd Headquarters: Mumbai; Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd Founded: 1952.

SBI Card MD and CEO: Rama Mohan Rao Amara; SBI Card Founded: October 1998; SBI Card Headquarters: Gurugram, Haryana.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka bags Global Goalkeeper Award 2021: The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announced its annual Goalkeepers ‘Global Goals Awards’ 2021, as part of its annual Goalkeepers campaign. Goalkeepers is the foundation’s campaign to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (Global Goals). By sharing stories and data behind the Global Goals through an annual report, we hope to inspire a new generation of leaders—Goalkeepers who raise awareness of progress, hold their leaders accountable, and drive action to achieve the Global Goals. The award were given in following categories:

(1)  The 2021 Global Goalkeeper Award: Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, former United Nations under-secretary-general and executive director of UN Women. She has been honoured for fighting for gender equality and her continued advocacy to address the Covid-19 pandemic’s disproportionate impact on women and girls. This award recognises a leader who has driven progress on a global scale toward achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs).

(2) The 2021 Progress Award: Jenifer Colpas from Colombia, for her work which centres around improving access to clean water and sanitation. Colpas is the co-founder and executive director of Tierra Grata, a social enterprise that develops low-cost, easy-to-install solutions providing access to clean energy, safe water, and sanitation services to rural communities in Colombia. This award celebrates an individual who supports progress using science, technology, or business.

(3) The 2021 Campaign Award: Satta Sheriff of Liberia, for her work promoting gender equality. Sheriff is the founder and executive director of Action for Justice and Human Rights (AJHR), a youth-led NGO which ensure access to justice and respect for human rights in Liberia, with a focus on women and girls. This award celebrates a campaign that has raised awareness or built a community by inspiring action and creating change.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Former Arunachal Governor YS Dadwal passes away: Former Governor of Arunachal Pradesh and Commissioner of Delhi Police, Yudhvir Singh Dadwal, has passed away. Dadwal, a 1974-batch IPS officer, was the 16th police commissioner of Delhi from July 2007 to November 2010. After retirement, he was appointed as the Director-General of the Central Paramilitary Force, Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) in November 2010. In 2016, Dadwal was appointed as the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh.

Daily GK Update- 24th Sept, 2021

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Union Minister Piyush Goyal Launches National Single Window System: The Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal has launched the ‘National Single Window System (NSWS)’, for investors and businesses. NSWS is a single-window portal that will act as a one-stop shop for investors or entrepreneurs, to get approvals and clearances needed from Government. It shall give freedom from the legacy of running to government offices for approvals and registrations needed by investors, entrepreneurs, and businesses in India.

Significance: The new system aims to bring transparency, accountability and responsiveness in the ecosystem. Currently, the portal hosts approvals across 18 Central Departments and 9 States. The remaining 14 Central depts and five states will be added by December 2021. The portal has been developed jointly by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) along with Invest India.

 

2. Tamil Nadu and Puducherry beaches get coveted ‘blue flag’ certification: Two more beaches in India have been awarded “Blue Flag” certification, an international eco-level tag, taking the total number of such beaches in the country to 10. The two beaches to receive the certification this year are Kovalam in Tamil Nadu and Eden in Puducherry. The Foundation for Environment Education (FEE), Denmark, which accords the Blue Flag certification, has also given re-certification for eight nominated beaches – Shivrajpur-Gujarat, Ghoghla-Diu, Kasarkod and Padubidri-Karnataka, Kappad-Kerala, Rushikonda- Andhra Pradesh, Golden-Odisha and Radhanagar- Andaman and Nicobar, which were awarded the Blue Flag certificate last year. These eight beaches got the Blue Flag certification on October 6, 2020.

Blue Flag certification: (1) Blue Flag certification is a globally recognised eco-label accorded on the basis of 33 stringent criteria in four major heads which are environmental education and information, bathing water quality, environmental management and conservation and safety and services in the beaches.

(2) The Blue Flag beach is an eco-tourism model endeavouring to provide the tourists/beachgoers clean and hygienic bathing water, facilities, a safe and healthy environment and sustainable development of the area.

(3) The recommendations are done by an independent national jury composed of eminent environmentalists and scientists.

 

3. Air Marshal VR Chaudhari appointed as new IAF Chief: Vice Chief of the Indian Air Force Air Marshal, Vivek Ram Chaudhari has been appointed the next Chief of Air Staff. The current Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria is set to retire on September 30. Chaudhari had taken over as the vice chief on July 1 this year, after Air Marshal HS Arora retired. He is a recipient of the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and the Vayu Sena Medals.

Experience of VR Chaudhari:

Note: Indian Airforce founded: 8 October 1932; Indian Airforce Headquarters: New Delhi.

 

4. Zee Entertainment & Sony Pictures signs merger deal: The Board of Directors of ZEE Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL) has unanimously approved the merger of the company with Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI). As a part of the merger, shareholders of SPNI will also infuse growth capital into SPNI, which will make them the majority stakeholder in the merged entity. The merged entity will be listed on the Indian stock exchanges.

About the deal:

(1) Zee Entertainment will hold 47.07 per cent stake, while Sony India will hold a 52.93 per cent stake in the combined company.

(2) Following the merger, Sony India will have the right to appoint the majority of directors to the merged company.

(3) Puneet Goenka, the CEO of Zee Entertainment, will be the MD and CEO of the merged entity for a period of 5 years.

Note: Sony Pictures Networks India Headquarters: Mumbai; Sony Pictures Networks India Founded: 30 September 1995.

 

INTERNATIONALUPDATES:

 

1. PM Modi departs for 3-day visit to US: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has embarked on a three-day visit to the United States. He is accompanied by a high-level delegation consisting of National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and senior officials including Harsh Vardhan Shringla. This is Prime Minister Modi’s first visit abroad beyond the neighbourhood since the Covid-19 pandemic outbreak.

PM Modi, Joe Biden meeting at White House:

(1) Biden will host PM Modi at the White House on September 24.

(2) This is going to be the first in-person meeting between the two leaders after Biden took over as the US President on January 20.

(3) PM Modi and President Biden are expected to discuss ways to stem radicalisation and combat terrorism. They are also expected to discuss ways to bolster defence, trade ties, security collaborations and clean energy partnerships among others.

(4) PM Modi and Biden will discuss the current regional security situation following the recent developments in Afghanistan. PM Modi will also hold business interactions during his US visit from September 22-25.

PM Modi will address the UN General Assembly:

(1) PM Modi will address the General Debate of the High-Level Segment of 76th Session of UN General Assembly (UNGA) on September 25 in New York.

(2) The theme for this year’s general debate is building resilience through hope to recover from COVID-19, rebuild sustainability, respond to the needs of the planet, respect the rights of people and revitalise the United Nations.

Bilateral meetings: Prime Minister’s visit would be bilateral meetings with our close partners Japan and Australia where he will hold several bilateral meetings including with US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

 

2. India will become 3rd largest importer by 2050: India could become the world’s third-largest importer by 2050, according to a report released by the UK’s Department of International Trade. With a 5.9 per cent share of global imports by 2050, the country will become the third-largest importer, following China and the United States. At present, India occupies the eighth spot on the list of the largest importing countries with a 2.8 per cent share. As per the Global Trade Outlook report, the country’s position on the list will jump to the fourth position by 2030 with a 3.9 per cent share.

About UK’s Department of International Trade: The Department for International Trade is a United Kingdom government department responsible for striking and extending trade agreements between the United Kingdom and foreign countries, as well as for encouraging foreign investment and export trade.

 

3. Bangladesh’s PM Hasina receives SDG Progress award: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been conferred with the SDG Progress award for Bangladesh’s steady progress in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by the UN-sponsored Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN). Prime Minister Hasina is currently visiting the US to attend the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

About the SDSN: The SDSN was set up in 2012 under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General. Led by development economist Jeffery Sachs, the SDSN seeks to mobilize global scientific and technological expertise to promote practical solutions for sustainable development.

Note: Prime Minister of Bangladesh: Sheikh Hasina; Capital: Dhaka; Currency: Taka; President of Bangladesh: Abdul Hamid.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Pankaj Advani wins his 24th world title in Doha: Star Indian cueist Pankaj Advani has grabbed his 24th World title when he triumphed at the IBSF 6-Red Snooker World Cup with a victory over Pakistan’s Babar Masih in the final. Advani, who won his 11th Asian title last week, started the final with a comfortable 42-13 win in the opening frame. The 36-year-old won the third and fourth in quick succession to go 3-1 up. The Pakistani cueist, in no mood to play second fiddle to his worthy opponent, crafted a wonderful 56 break to bridge the gap.

 

2. Beijing 2022 Launches Official Slogan: “Together for a Shared Future”: The Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics unveiled its official motto, “Together for a Shared Future”, during a ceremony at the city’s Capital Museum. The motto was chosen after a lengthy process that included a total of 79 different proposals. This motto embodies the Olympic spirit, the Chinese way of revealing the Olympic spirit. That’s because ‘together’ embodies a type of unity, cohesion and a way of overcoming difficulties. The Games will be held from February 4-20, with Beijing set to become the first city to host both the Summer and Winter Olympics.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Yes bank tie-up with VISA to offer credit cards: Yes Bank has partnered with Visa to offer credit cards to its customers, following the regulatory ban on Mastercard by RBI. The Visa co-branded cards come with nine credit card variants covering all segments, consumer cards, business cards, and corporate cards across YES First, YES Premia and YES Prosperity. YES Bank earlier had an exclusive tie-up with Mastercard. However, its credit card issuances had been impacted after the Reserve Bank of India barred Mastercard from onboarding new customers on its domestic card network. Yes Bank has achieved the transition to Visa as a payment network within a record time of fewer than 60 days, post the bank imposed on Mastercard from July 22, 2021. The private sector lender is also in the process of completing technology integration with NPCI and plans to issue Rupay branded credit cards in due course.

Note: YES bank HQ: Mumbai, Maharashtra; YES bank MD & CEO: Prashant Kumar.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. ADB cuts India’s GDP forecast for FY22 to 10%: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has revised downwards India’s economic growth forecast for the current fiscal, 2021-22 (FY22) to 10 per cent. Earlier this was projected at 11 per cent. The Manila-based multilateral funding agency ADB has predicted the GDP growth for fiscal 2022-23 (FY23) to 7.5 per cent. The growth forecast for India in the fiscal year 2021 (ending in March 2022) was revised down, as the spike in COVID-19 cases during May dented the recovery, the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

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

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Bangladeshi Fairooz Faizah Beether gets 2021 Changemaker Award: Fairooz Faizah Beether of Bangladesh has been chosen for the 2021 Changemaker Award for her work promoting good health and well-being by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The award celebrates an individual who has inspired change using personal experience or from a position of leadership.

About the award: The Changemaker Award is part of the Goalkeepers Global Goals award instituted by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to accelerate progress towards attaining the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the UN. 

Daily GK Update- 23rd Sept, 2021

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Uttar Pradesh Government to set up ‘Electronic Park’: The Yogi Adityanath led Uttar Pradesh government has cleared a proposal to develop an ‘Electronic Park’, along the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) area, near Noida, to promote the electronics industry. The park is proposed to be developed in an area of 250 acres of the YEIDA near Jewar Airport.

About the park: National and international companies manufacturing mobile phones, TVs and other electronic devices and accessories will establish their units in the park. The new Electronic Park will be built at an investment of around Rs 50,000 crore as well as generate employment for thousands of local youths.

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

 

2. Assam set up a tea Park at Kamrup district’s Chayygaon: Assam is setting up a tea Park at Chayygaon in Kamrup District. This tea garden will have rail and port connectivity, cargo and warehouse amenities, processing facilities like tea grinding, blending, packaging and other utility services under one roof. Tea garden companies using garden lands for plantation of Segun and agar or selling off the tea estates, the Minister stated that tea garden owners cannot sell off their estates as the leased land still belongs to Assam Government and instead asked them to focus on innovation and branding of Assam Tea.

Note: Assam Governor: Jagdish Mukhi; Assam Chief Minister: Himanta Biswa Sarma.

 

3. Ladakh set to roll out 1st edition of ” Himalayan Film Festival 2021″: The first edition of ‘The Himalayan Film Festival-2021’ (THFF) will begin from 24 to 28 September at Leh, Ladakh. The film festival is being organised by the Administration of Union Territory of Ladakh in collaboration with the Directorate of Film Festivals, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. The film festival is being hosted in collaboration with the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Leh. The five-day film festival is a part of the celebration of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ commemorating 75 years of India’s Independence.

The film festival will have active participation from the local filmmakers and showcase talent from across the 12 Himalayan states and UTs. Popular films from the Himalayan states viz Assam, Sikkim, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh besides Indian Panorama selected films will be showcased during the festival.

Note: Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh: Radha Krishna Mathur.

 

4. Centre forms panel to firm up India’s sustainable finance road map: The central government has set up a key task force to assess climate and ESG resilience in India’s financial sector and recommend a concrete road map to strengthen India’s sustainable finance architecture. The task force will be headed by economic affairs secretary, Ajay Seth.

Key recommendations made by the task force will include: (1) how to further strengthen the resilience of the country’s financial sector against risks emanating from various climate and environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues.

(2) how to grow sustainable finance in India and set a clear time frame for their implementation.

 

5. Vanijya Saptah being celebrated from 20-26 September: The Commerce Ministry has decided to celebrate ‘Vanijya Saptah’ from 20 to 26 September. In this Saptah, many programmes and events will be organized to showcase India’s rising economic force across the country. Five national seminars will be organized by the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) in five regions of the country. The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) also launch the Industrial Park Rating System. Industrial Park Rating System will recognize the performance of the Industrial park. It will also assess the performance of private industrial parks and SEZs.

 

INTERNATIONALUPDATES:

 

1. Justin Trudeau wins 3rd term as Prime Minister of Canada: Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has won the third term to serve as the PM of the country, after his party won the 2021 parliamentary elections on September 20, 2021. However, the Liberal Party of the 49-year-old Justin Trudeau could only manage to win minority seats in the election. Justin Trudeau is in power since 2015. Trudeau’s Liberals were leading or elected in 157 seats exactly the same number they won in 2019, 13 short of the 170 needed for a majority in the House of Commons.

Note: Canada Capital: Ottawa; Currency: Canadian dollar.

 

2. World’s oldest living twins are 107-year-old Japanese sisters: Guinness World Records has certified two Japanese sisters as the world’s oldest living identical twins at 107. Umeno Sumiyama and Koume Kodama were born the third and fourth of 11 siblings on Shodoshima island in western Japan on Nov. 5, 1913. Sumiyama and Kodama were 107 years and 300 days old as of Sept 1, breaking the previous record set by famous Japanese sisters Kin Narita and Gin Kanie at 107 years and 175 days.

 

3. International Day of Sign Languages: 23rd September: The International Day of Sign Languages (IDSL) is celebrated annually across the world on 23 September. This day is celebrated to raise awareness of sign languages and strengthen the status of sign languages. The theme for the 2021 International Day of Sign Languages is “We Sign For Human Rights” highlighting how each of us – deaf and hearing people around the world – can work together hand in hand to promote the recognition of our right to use sign languages in all areas of life.

History of International Day of Sign Languages: The proposal for the Day came from the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD), a federation of 135 national associations of deaf people, representing approximately 70 million deaf people’s human rights worldwide. The choice of 23 September commemorates the date that the WFD was established in 1951. The International Day of Sign Languages was first celebrated in 2018 as part of the International Week of the Deaf.

Note: World Federation of the Deaf President: Joseph J. Murray; World Federation of the Deaf Founded: 23 September 1951, Rome, Italy; World Federation of the Deaf Headquarters location: Helsinki, Finland.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. GM D. Gukesh of India wins Norway Chess Open 2021: India’s D Gukesh won his second consecutive tournament of this month, the Norway Chess Open 2021 Masters section. Gukesh scored an unbeaten 8.5/10 and finished a full point ahead of the competition to win the tournament. Iniyan secured sole second position with 8.5/10 points, finishing a half point ahead of top seed Dmitrij Kollars (Germany) and Valentin Dragnev (Austria).

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Federal Bank partners OneCard for mobile-first credit card: Federal Bank has announced a tie-up with OneCard for a mobile-first credit card that targets the country’s young, tech-savvy population. The launch comes ahead of the festive season as Federal Bank aims to cash in on consumer credit demand, which is expected to peak around the festive season on the back of economic revival.

About the credit card:

(1) The credit card will be issued through the OneCard app in under three minutes, as per the company, and can be activated and used instantly in virtual format until the physical card gets delivered.

(2) Users can control their cards through the app—from tracking spends and rewards to setting transaction limit on the card and more.

(3) Federal Bank’s target user base for this offering is young working professionals aged between 23 and 35 years, as per the bank.

Note: Federal Bank MD and CEO: Shyam Srinivasan; Federal Bank Headquarters: Aluva, Kerala; Federal Bank Founder: K.P Hormis; Federal Bank Founded: 23 April 1931.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. OECD lowered India’s FY22 growth projection to 9.7%: The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has marginally lowered India’s growth projection for the ongoing fiscal to 9.7%, a reduction of 20 basis points (bps). For FY23, OECD reduced India’s growth projection by 30 basis points to 7.9%. According to OECD data, India is the worst hit among major economies, with its real GDP in the June quarter 15% lower than the pre-pandemic forecast and around 7% lower than the December quarter.

Note: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Headquarters: Paris, France; Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development  Founded: 30 September 1961.

 

2. Facebook India appointed Rajiv Aggarwal as Head of Public Policy: Facebook India has appointed former IAS officer Rajiv Aggarwal as the Director of Public Policy. He succeeds Ankhi Das, who quit the company in October last year. She was embroiled in a controversy for opposing the enforcement of hate-speech rules against right-wing leaders in the country. In his new role, Aggarwal will define and lead important policy development initiatives for Facebook in India on an agenda that covers user safety, data protection and privacy, inclusion and internet governance.

Note: Facebook Founded: February 2004; Facebook CEO: Mark Zuckerberg; Facebook Headquarters: California, United States.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. SV Sarasvati receives National Florence Nightingale Award 2020: Brigadier SV Sarasvati, the Deputy Director-General of Military Nursing Service has been honoured with the National Florence Nightingale Award 2020. The National Florence Nightingale Award, the highest national distinction a nurse can achieve. President Ram Nath Kovind conferred the award in a virtual ceremony on Brig Saraswati for her contribution as a nurse administrator.

SV Sarasvati as a renowned operation theatre nurse, she has assisted in more than 3,000 lifesaving and emergency surgeries and has trained residents, operation room nursing trainees and auxiliary staff in her career. She has served at several pan-India Army hospitals and United Nations Peace Keeping Forces in Congo, according to the government statement, where she has done various outreach activities for the troops and trained more than 1,000 soldiers and families in basic life support.