Daily GK Update- 7th Oct, 2021

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Vice President inaugurates Mahabahu Brahmaputra River Heritage Centre: Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu has inaugurated the Mahabahu Brahmaputra River Heritage Centre in the presence of Governor Jagdish Mukhi and Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in Guwahati in the state of Assam. The centre was originally served as the residence of the British deputy commissioner of Kamrup. Nearly 150 years after it was constructed, the iconic DC Bungalow of Guwahati was opened to the public as a heritage centre.

History of the DC Bungalow: After the British annexed Assam in 1826 (after the Treaty of Yandaboo), the post of DC was created for Guwahati in 1839. Several sites were surveyed for DC residence before Barphukanar Tilla on the banks of the Brahmaputra, where cannons used in the Battle of Saraighat lay scattered, was chosen. Post-independence, it continued to be the DC’s bungalow until 2011.

 

2. PM Modi visits Azadi@75 Expo in Lucknow: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated ‘Azadi@75 – New Urban India: Transforming Urban Landscape’ Conference-cum-Expo in Lucknow at the Indira Gandhi Pratishthan as a part of Azadi@75 celebrations. The theme of the three-day event is “New Urban India”. It will culminate on October 07, 2021. The Conference-cum-Expo is organised by the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA). The Conference-cum-Expo is a platform to showcase the prospective transformative urban missions and highlight the achievements and the flagship urban development missions undertaken in the past 7 years of the Modi government. Key highlights:

(1) PM virtually handed over keys of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban (PMAY-U) houses to 75,000 beneficiaries in 75 districts of Uttar Pradesh and interacted with beneficiaries of the scheme of Uttar Pradesh.

(2) PM inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of 75 urban development projects of the state under Smart Cities Mission and AMRUT.

(3) He flagged off 75 buses under FAME-II for seven cities including Lucknow, Kanpur, Varanasi, Prayagraj, Gorakhpur, Jhansi and Ghaziabad.

(4) PM announced the setting up of Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Chair in Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (BBAU), Lucknow.

(5) He attended the three exhibitions organised in the Conference-cum-Expo.

 

3. Alibaug white onion gets GI tag for health benefits: The famed white onion of Alibag in Maharashtra’s Raigad district was given the Geographical Indication (GI) tag bringing worldwide recognition to its unique sweet taste, no-tears factor, as well as its medicinal properties. The soil of Alibaug taluka has low sulphur content. The NABL-approved lab test report mentions low pungency, sweet taste, ‘no tear’ factor, low pyruvic acid, high protein, fat & fibre, etc. The agriculture department here and Konkan Agriculture University had jointly submitted the GI application on January 15, 2019. On September 29 this year, the proposal was scrutinised in the Mumbai office of the Registrar of Patents and it was decided to confer GI tag on Alibag’s white onion.

Note: Maharashtra Governor: Bhagat Singh Koshyari; Maharashtra Capital: Mumbai; Maharashtra CM: Uddhav Thackeray.

 

4. CM Gehlot launches ‘Mukhyamantri Paryatan Udyog Sambal Yojana’: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot launched ‘Mukhyamantri Paryatan Udyog Sambal Yojana-2021’ to provide relief to the entrepreneurs of the tourism and hospitality sector affected by COVID-19 pandemic. Along with that the Chief Minister also launched a mobile app ‘Rajasthan Tourism Official’ designed to help tourists visiting Rajasthan in making their tour programmes. Beside this, the CM released a collection ofvarious policies, schemes and guidelines issued by the tourism department for tourism development in the state.

 

5. Nagaland to Celebrate Hornbill Festival: With decline in COVID-19 cases, the Nagaland government is gearing up to organise the Hornbill festival this year from December one. The Hornbill festival is an annual tourism promotional event of the Nagaland governmentorganized by the departments of Tourism and Art & Culture showcasing the rich Naga tradition and culture at the Naga Heritage Village, Kisama, about 12 km from the state capital.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India joins Seychelles’ Tax Inspectors Without Borders programme: The Tax Inspectors Without Borders (TIWB) has launched its programme in Seychelles. India has been chosen as the Partner Administration for this programme. The country will be providing its Tax Expert in support of the initiative. The focus of the 12-month programme will be on Transfer Pricing cases of tourism and financial services sectors. About the TIWB:

(1) TIWB is a joint initiative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), since its launch in 2015.

(2) The aim of the initiative is to aid countries in strengthening their tax administration by transferring technical know-how and skills to the tax auditors through sharing of best audit practices.

(3) This is the sixth TIWB programme in which India has supported by providing Tax Expert.

 

2. World Cotton Day: 7th October: World Cotton Day (WCD) is observed globally on 7th October. The international day aims to celebrate the advantages of cotton, ranging from its qualities as a natural fibre to the benefits people obtain from its production, transformation, trade and consumption. WCD Day was initiated by the Group of Cotton-4 countries namely Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad and Mali to reflect the importance of cotton as a global commodity.

History of the day: The initiative of World Cotton Day was born in 2019, when four cotton producers in sub-Saharan Africa– Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad and Mali, known as the Cotton Four -proposed the World Trade Organization a World Cotton Day celebration on October 7.

Note: World Trade Organization Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland; World Trade Organization Founded: 1 January 1995; World Trade Organization Director-General: Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Magnus Carlsen wins Meltwater Champions Chess Tour title: World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen has won the inaugural Meltwater Champions Chess Tour, to claim the non-fungible token (NFT) trophy and $1,00,000 in the finals. The 10-month long online chess tournaments were held on chess24.com from November 22, 2020, till October 4, 2021. The tournaments are not rated by FIDE. The MCCT tour comprised of 10 total tournaments. The 2021 Meltwater Champions Chess Tour was the most viewed online chess event in the history of the game. Magnus Carlsen is now considered as the undisputed best online chess player in the world.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. CoinDCX ropes Amitabh Bachchan to raise crypto awareness: Crypto exchange CoinDCX has roped in Amitabh Bachchan as a brand ambassador to spread awareness about cryptocurrencies. Through this collaboration, CoinDCX wants to increase awareness around crypto and popularise it as an emerging asset class. CoinDCX wants to ensure that crypto is accessible to everyone. The crypto industry in India is on an exponential climb, rising gradually over the previous few years, with millions of Indians emerging as early adopters of the crypto asset class.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2021 announced: The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2021 was awarded jointly to Benjamin List and David W.C. MacMillan “for the development of asymmetric organocatalysis.”  This has had a great impact on pharmaceutical research and has made chemistry greener. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has decided to award the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2021. Catalysts are thus fundamental tools for chemists, but researchers long believed that there were, in principle, just two types of catalysts available: metals and enzymes. Benjamin List and David MacMillan are awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2021 because in 2000 they, independent of each other, developed a third type of catalysis. It is called asymmetric organocatalysis and builds upon small organic molecules.

About the Benjamin List: Benjamin List, born 1968 in Frankfurt, Germany. Ph.D. 1997 from Goethe University Frankfurt, Germany. Director of the Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung, Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany.

About the David W.C. MacMillan: David W.C. MacMillan, born 1968 in Bellshill, UK. Ph.D. 1996 from University of California, Irvine, USA. Professor at Princeton University, USA.

 

DEFENCE

 

1. 5th India-Japan Bilateral Maritime Exercise JIMEX-21 begins: The fifth edition of India – Japan Maritime Bilateral Exercise JIMEX was held in the Arabian Sea from 06 to 08 October 2021. The Indian Navy is represented by indigenously built Guided Missile Stealth Destroyer Kochi and Guided Missile Frigate Teg, P8I Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft, Dornier Maritime Patrol Aircraft, integral helicopters and MiG 29K fighter aircraft.

About the JIMEX: JIMEX series of exercises between the Indian Navy (IN) and the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) are being held since 2012. JIMEX-21 aims to develop a common understanding of operational procedures and enhance inter-operability through the conduct of a multitude of advanced exercises, across the entire spectrum of maritime operations. It will further enhance the cooperation and mutual confidence between the two navies.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Atal Vajpayee’s Former Private Secretary Shakti Sinha passes away: Shakti Sinha, former bureaucrat, and academician who was private secretary to late prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, passed away. Sinha, an IAS officer of the 1979 batch, was also former Director of Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML). He worked closely with Vajpayee between 1996 and 1999 and had written a memoir titled Vajpayee: The Years That Changed India.

Daily GK Update- 6th Oct, 2021

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. AIIB approves $356 mn loan for Phase II of Chennai Metro Rail: The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has approved a loan worth US $356.67 million to support the expansion of Chennai Metro Rail (CMRL). The fund will be used for the construction of a new metro corridor as part of CMRL’s Phase-II development project. With this investment, the Beijing-based financial institution’s total financing in India for various projects has reached to $6.7 billion, making India its largest beneficiary, in terms of getting approvals for many projects. AIIB has approved funding for 28 projects in India, with the energy and transport sectors receiving the highest amount of AIIB’s financing.

 

2. Centre declares Chacha Chaudhary as official Mascot of ‘Namami Gange’ Mission: The iconic Indian comic book cartoon character, Chacha Chaudhary, whose brain works faster than a computer, has been declared as the official mascot for the centrally-sponsored NamamiGangeProgramme. An outlay of Rs. 2.26 crore has been dedicated to the project. The comics will initially be launched in Hindi, English and Bengali languages. The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) has tied up with Diamond Toons, the publisher of the Chacha Chaudhary comics, to conceptualize, develop and distribute the new comics, e-comics and animated videos featuring the cartoon character. Chacha Chaudhary has been chosen to especially connect children with the campaign of river cleanliness.

About the mission: Namami Gange Programme is an Integrated Conservation Mission, approved as a ‘Flagship Programme’ by the Union Government in June 2014 to accomplish the twin objectives of effective abatement of pollution and conservation and rejuvenation of National River Ganga. It is being operated under the Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti.

 

3. Himachal Pradesh becomes 1st state to begin organised cultivation of dalchini: The CSIR’s Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (IHBT) has introduced cinnamon cultivation in Himachal Pradesh on a pilot basis. True cinnamon or Cinnamomumverum is grown mainly in Sri Lanka, while minor producing countries include Seychelles, Madagascar, and India. India imports 45,318 tonnes of cinnamon annually from China, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Indonesia and Nepal. With the cultivation of Cinnamomum Verum, HP has become the first state of India to have organized cultivation of cinnamon.

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

 

4. Cabinet nod to ‘PM Poshan’ scheme for providing cooked meals to school kids: The Union Cabinet approved the roll-out of the ‘PM POSHAN in Schools’ scheme for the five years, from 2021-22 to 2025-26, with a financial outlay of Rs 54061.73 crores from the central government and Rs 31,733.17 crore from the state governments and union territory administrations. The scheme will provide hot cooked meal to students of elementary classes in government and government-aided schools across the country. The existing mid-day meal scheme will be subsumed into the PM Poshan Shakti Nirman scheme with the addition of several new components in it.

 

5. Alok Sahay appointed as Secretary-General of Indian Steel Association: The Indian Steel Association (ISA) has announced that Alok Sahay has assumed office as its new secretary-general and executive head, taking over from Bhaskar Chatterjee. Sahay who is the former executive director of the Steel Authority of India (SAIL) has experience of almost four decades in the steel industry. Sahay has worked closely with the steel industry and the Government as one of the core industry representatives to advocate on trade-related matters at national and international forums. His experience also includes training at British Steel and tenure as visiting fellow at Queen Elizabeth House, Oxford University.

Note: Indian Steel Association Headquarters: New Delhi; Indian Steel Association Established: 2014.

 

6. Sanjay Bhargava to head Starlink satellite broadband venture in India: Sanjay Bhargava, who had worked with Elon Musk as part of a team that had founded electronic payment firm, PayPal, will now head the tech billionaire entrepreneur’s Starlink satellite broadband venture in India. Bhargava joins SpaceX as Starlink’s country director (India), as the Musk-led US aerospace company gears up to compete with Bharti group-backed OneWeb.

 

INTERNATIONALUPDATES:

 

1. Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed takes oath for second term: The Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Abiy Ahmed has been sworn in for a second five-year term. He was administered the oath of office by Supreme Court Chief Justice Meaza Ashenafi. Abiy’s Prosperity Party was declared the winner of June’s parliamentary elections, which were criticised by opposition parties but described by external observers as improved from past elections. He is serving as prime minister of Ethiopia since 2018. Mr Abiy won the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize for restoring ties with neighbouring Eritrea and for pursuing sweeping political reforms. He is dealing with a war that is spreading from the Tigray region and ethnic violence.

Note: Ethiopia Capital: Addis Ababa; Currency: Ethiopian birr.

 

2. India slips two spots to 59th on Digital Quality of Life index: India has ranked 59 among 110 countries in the Digital Quality of Life Index, according to a global study by the British Virgin Islands-based cybersecurity company Surfshark. While India has witnessed a drop compared to last year — falling from 57th spot to 59th — it now ranks 17th in Asia and first in the South Asia region. Its its e-security has also improved and it now ranks 36th (was 57th in 2020), higher than China which ranks 72nd. According to the index, India ranks 67th on internet quality indicator.

Denmark topped the index for the second year in a row, followed by South Korea and Finland, while the bottom five countries include Ethiopia, Cambodia, Cameroon, Guatemala, and Angola. The countries where the internet is least affordable are Nigeria, Côte D’Ivoire and Mali, where people are required to do approximately a week’s worth of work to afford the internet.

 

3. Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2021: October 01 to 31: Every year the Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM) is observed in the month of October, from 01 to 31. The annual international health campaign aims to increase awareness of the disease and to raise funds for research into its cause, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cure. The pink ribbon is an international symbol of breast cancer awareness.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Smriti Mandhana becomes first Indian women to score a Test hundred on Australian: In a historic moment in women’s cricket, Smriti Mandhana became the first Indian woman to score a Test hundred on Australian soil. She completed her century to shape up India’s first innings on the second day of the first pink ball day and night. The match was played at the Carrara Oval in Queensland, Australia today. She scored 127 runs with 22 fours and a six.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. SBI launches NAV-eCash card in collaboration with Indian navy: State Bank of India (SBI) has announced the launch of SBI’s NAV-eCash card on INS Vikramaditya, the largest naval aircraft carrier of India. The new journey envisioned for the card is set to change the payment ecosystem, while the ship is sailing with no dependency on utilisation of any form of cash to avail any of the services on board. The new NAV-eCash card will facilitate both online and offline transactions. The card will obviate the difficulties faced by personnel onboard in handling physical cash during deployment of the ship at high seas. The new journey envisioned in the form of a NAV-eCash Card will change the payment ecosystem while the ship is sailing with no dependency on cash for utilization of any of the services on board.

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

 

2. B C Patnaik takes charge as MD of LIC: BC Patnaik has taken charge as Managing Director of Life Insurance Corporation of India. He was appointed as Managing Director by the Government of India notification dated July 5, 2021. Prior to taking charge as Managing Director of LIC, Patnaik was Secretary-General, Council for Insurance Ombudsmen, (CIO) Mumbai. He joined LIC of India in March 1986 as a Direct Recruit Officer.

Note: LIC Headquarters: Mumbai; LIC Founded: 1 September 1956; LIC Chairman: M R Kumar.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. Britannia ties up with Accenture to accelerate its digital transformation: Packaged-food major Britannia Industries has collaborated with the global IT and professional services company Accenture to accelerate its digital transformation across multiple retail channels. Accenture, through a digital transformation program, has helped Britannia Industries to accelerate innovation, capture value and improve the customer and supplier experience. For Britannia’s large network of suppliers, this project will help streamline procurement and supply chain management, using SAP Ariba solutions to expedite digital onboarding, contract management and procurement processes.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. M. Venkaiah Naidu presented Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi Award: Vice President of India, M. Venkaiah Naidu has presented Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi Award for National Integration and National Contribution. This award has been conferred to eminent writer Nirode Kumar Barooah, Assam Branch of the Kasturba Gandhi National Memorial Trust and Shillong Chamber Choir at a special function in Guwahati. The award carries a cash reward of Rs 5 lakh, a citation, and a shawl. It is one of the biggest civilian awards of Assam.

About the awardees: This award was instituted by the Assam government in memory of the state’s first chief minister Gopinath Bordoloi. The Assam branch of the Kasturba Gandhi National Memorial Trust was founded by Mahatma Gandhi on 9 January 1946. Shillong Chamber Choir (SCC) is a renowned musical group founded in 2001. It has performed on various national and international platforms.

 

DEFENCE

 

1. AUSINDEX’: India, Australia participate in 4th edition: India and Australia have participated in the fourth edition of the biennial maritime series ‘AUSINDEX’. The exercise will allow the Australian Navy and Indian Navy to strengthen “inter-operability, gain from best practices”. The maritime exercise is conducted in Australia and India, with the recent one being held in the Northern Australia Exercise Area.

About the exercise: HMAS Rankin, Royal Australian Air Force P-8A and F-18 aircraft, helicopters of Australian and Indian Navy participated in this maritime exercise. The exercise has provided an opportunity for both navies to enhance inter-operability and develop a common understanding of procedures for maritime security operations.  

Daily GK Update- 5th Oct, 2021

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Prime Minister Narendra Modi launches Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0 and AMRUT 2.0: Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi launched the second phase of the two flagship missions, namely, Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban (SBM-U) and Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) on October 01, 2021, from Dr Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi. The SBM-U 2.0 and AMRUT 2.0 have been designed to realise the aspiration of making all cities ‘garbage free’ and ‘water secure’.Outlay of the missions:

The outlay of SBM-U 2.0 is around Rs 1.41 lakh crore.

The outlay of AMRUT 2.0 is around Rs 2.87 lakh crore

 

2. Union Minister Anurag Thakur launches month-long nationwide ‘Clean India Programme’ in October 2021: The Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has launched a month-long Clean India Programme from October 01 to 31, 2021, as part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebaration. The nation-wide cleanliness drive was inaugurated by the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Anurag Thakur, from Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh. The aim of the programme is to create awareness, mobilize people and ensure their involvement in cleaning waste mainly Single Use Plastic waste throughout the country. This cleanliness drive aims to propagate the mantra of “Clean India: Safe India”. The initiative is seen to be the largest cleanliness drive of the world in which over 75 lakh tonnes of waste, mainly plastic waste,  from different parts of the country will be collected and processed in a ‘Waste to Wealth’ model.

 

3. Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment organises VAYO NAMAN Programme for senior citizens: To mark the occasion of International Day of Older Persons, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment organised VAYO NAMAN Programme in New Delhi. The Vice President Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu presented Vayoshreshtha Samman-2021 to senior citizens as a part of the occasion and dedicated Elderly Line 14567 to the Nation. Shri M. Venkaiah also launched two portals of Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, namely SAGE (Seniorcare Aging Growth Engine) and SACRED (Senior Able Citizens for Re-Employment in Dignity). The SAGE portal aims to encourage entrepreneurs and start-ups in the area of elderly care. The portal will act as a “one-stop access” of elderly care products and services. The SACRED portal will connect the senior citizens with job providers in the private sector.

 

4. Union Minister Amit Shah flags off ‘Sudarshan Bharat Parikrama’: Union Home Minister, Amit Shah flagged off All India Car Rally ‘Sudarshan Bharat Parikrama’ of the National Security Guard (NSG) on October 02, 2021, as a part of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’, to celebrate the 75th year of India’s Independence. The NSG’s car rally was flagged off from the historic Red Fort in Delhi. It will end on October 30, 2021, at the Police Memorial in New Delhi. The month-long campaign will cover a 7,500 kms long journey through 18 cities in 12 states, passing through important and historical places associated with the Freedom Movement and Freedom Fighters of the country. The rally has been organized under the aegis of the Union Home Ministry.

 

5. Ministry of Labour & Employment launches DigiSaksham programme in association with Microsoft: Ministry of Labour & Employment in partnership with Microsoft India has launched DigiSaksham Programme. It is a digital skills programme to increase the employability of youth by imparting them with digital skills. DigiSaksham will be implemented in the field by Aga Khan Rural Support Programme India (AKRSP-I). It aims to benefit more than 3 lakh youths in the first year. Under this initiative, the jobseekers  registered on National Career Service (NCS)  Portal will be able to access training on topics like JavaScript, Data Visualisation, Advance Excel, Power Bi, HTML, Programming languages, software development fundamentals, Introduction to coding, etc.

 

6. Ganga River Dolphin Day: 5th October: In India, the ‘Ganga River Dolphin Day’ is observed every year on October 5, to raise awareness and encourage conservation of Ganga River Dolphins. It was on this day in 2010, that Ganga Dolphins were declared national aquatic animals. Then, in 2012, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the Uttar Pradesh government jointly began the dolphin conservation campaign in the country.

Conservation of Dolphins: The Gangetic Dolphins are included under the First Schedule of Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. They have been declared “Endangered” under IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature). They are listed under Appendix I as most endangered under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). They are listed under Appendix II of Conservation on Migratory Species. The Vikramshila Ganges Dolphin Sanctuary was established in Bihar under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India Pavilion inaugurated at Dubai Expo 2020: The World Expo 2020 has been organised at Dubai in the United Arab Emirates from 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2022. The main theme of the Dubai Expo 2020 is “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future”. The Expo was originally scheduled to take place from 20 October 2020 to 10 April 2021 but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Expo 2020 is the first to be held in the MENA & SA (the Middle East and North Africa & South Asia) region. World Expos provide a platform to showcase the greatest innovations that have shaped the world we live in today. The grand event will have 191 country pavilions.

India Pavilion in World Expo 2020: Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi participated at the launch of the India Pavilion at Dubai Expo 2020 through video conferencing on October 01, 2021. He invited global investors to invest in India and be a part of India’s growth story. The theme of the India pavilion at the Expo is “Openness, Opportunity and Growth”. It will showcase resurgent India’s march to becoming a USD 5 Trillion economy, the exceptional fightback against COVID-19 and the country’s emergence as a global business hub presenting huge opportunities for the world.

 

2. World Teachers’ Day observed on 5th October: World Teachers’ Day, also known as International Teachers Day, is held annually on October 5 since 1994. The Day aims to focus on appreciating, assessing and improving the educators of the world and to provide an opportunity to consider issues related to teachers and teaching. The Theme for 2021 International Teachers Day is “Teachers at the heart of education recovery”.

History of the day: The day was established in 1994, to commemorate the signing of the 1966 UNESCO/ILO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers, which is a standard-setting instrument that addresses the status and situations of teachers around the world.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. FC Goa lift maiden Durand Cup football trophy: FC Goa beat Mohammedan Sporting to win their maiden Durand Cup football title, 1-0, in the final, held at Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, Kolkata. FC Goa Captain Eduardo Bedia scored the all-important goal in the 105th minute after the final match went into the extra time. The 2021 Durand Cup was the 130th edition of the Durand Cup, the oldest football tournament in Asia. The tournament was held from September 05 to October 03, 2021, in West Bengal.

2021 Season awards winners:

Golden Glove for the best goalkeeper: Naveen Kumar (FC Goa)

Golden boot for top scorer: Marcus Joseph (Mohammedan)

Golden ball for the best player: Edu Bedia (Goa)

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Government keeps interest rates on Small Savings Schemes unchanged for Quarter-3 of 2021-22: The government of India has announced that the rate of interest on Small Savings Schemes for the third quarter (Oct-Dec) of 2021-22 will remain unchanged as the last quarter (July-Sept) of 2021-2022. West Bengal is the highest contributor to the small saving schemes while Uttar Pradesh is the second top contributor.

Various Interest Rates for Quarter-3 (Oct-Dec) of 2021-22 are listed below:

S.No	Small Savings Scheme	Interest Rate
1	Post Office Savings Account	4%
2	5-Year Post Office Recurring Deposit (RD) Account	5.80%
3	Post Office Time Deposit (TD) Account – One Year	5.50%
4	Post Office Time Deposit Account (TD) – Two Years	5.50%
5	Post Office Time Deposit Account (TD) – Three Years	5.50%
6	Post Office Time Deposit Account (TD) – Five Years	6.70%
7	Post Office Monthly Income Scheme Account (MIS)	6.60%
8	Senior Citizen Savings Scheme (SCSS)	7.40%
9	15-Year Public Provident Fund Account (PPF)	7.10%
10	National Savings Certificates (NSC)	6.80%
11	Kisan Vikas Patra (KVP)	6.90%
12	Sukanya Samriddhi Account	7.60%

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. GST collection for September crosses ₹1.17 lakh crore: The gross GST revenue collected in the month of September was 1,17,010 crore rupees, which included a CGST component of 20,578 crores, SGST is 26,767 crore and IGST component of 60,911 crore rupees. The revenue for September was 23% higher than the GST revenues in the same month last year. During the month, revenue from import of goods was 30% higher.

GST Collection previous months:

August: Rs 1.12 lacs cr.

July 2021: Rs 1,16,393 crore

June 2021: Rs 92,849 crore

May 2021: Rs 1,02,709 crore

April 2021: ₹1.41 lakh crore(All time Highest)

March 2021: Rs. 1.24lacs cr.

Feb 2021: Rs 1,13,143 crore

January 2021: ₹ 1,19,847 crore

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. The Nobel Prize in Physics 2021 announced: The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has decided to award the Nobel Prize in Physics 2021. Syukuro Manabe, Klaus Hasselmann, Giorgio Parisi jointly won the 2021 Nobel Prize in Physics for groundbreaking contributions to our understanding of complex physical systems. The Nobel Prize in Physics is awarded by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, Stockholm, Sweden. The prestigious award comes with a gold medal and 10 million Swedish kronor (over $1.14 million).

Contribution of  Syukuro Manabe and Klaus Hasselmann: Syukuro Manabe (Princeton University, USA) and Klaus Hasselmann (Max Planck Institute for Meteorology, Hamburg, Germany) awarded for the physical modelling of Earth’s climate, quantifying variability and reliably predicting global warming”.

Contribution of Giorgio Parisi: Giorgio Parisi (Sapienza University of Rome, Italy) was awarded for the discovery of the interplay of disorder and fluctuations in physical systems from atomic to planetary scales.

 

DEFENCE

 

1. Indian contingent departs for Sri Lanka joint exercise Mitra Shakti 21: The 8th edition of the India – Sri Lanka bilateral joint Exercise “Mitra Shakti-21” is scheduled to take place at Combat Training School, Ampara in Sri Lanka from October 4 to 15, 2021. The aim of the exercise is to enhance interoperability and sharing best practices in counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations between Armies of both countries and further strengthen the relationship between both the South Asian Nations.

About the exercise: The exercise will involve tactical level operations at the sub-unit level in an international Counter Insurgency and Counter Terrorism environment and will go a long way in further strengthening the relationship between both the South Asian Nations and will act as a catalyst in bringing synergy and cooperation at the grass-root level between both Armies.

Daily GK Update- 4th Oct, 2021

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. PM Modi launches Jal Jeevan Mission App and Rashtriya Jal Jeevan Kosh: Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi virtually launched the Jal Jeevan Mission App and Rashtriya Jal Jeevan Kosh, on October 02, 2021, as a part of the flagship Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), launched in 2019. The Jal Jeevan Mission has been empowering women of the country by saving their time and efforts which was earlier consumed in covering long distances to fetch drinking water.

About the Jal Jeevan Mission app:  The Jal Jeevan Mission App has been launched to improve awareness among stakeholders and for greater transparency and accountability of schemes under the Mission. All details about the mission, including how many households received water, quality of water, among other things, will be available in one place on the mobile application.

About the Rashtriya Jal Jeevan Kosh (RJJK): Rashtriya Jal Jeevan Kosh (RJJK) will enable individuals, institutions, corporations, or philanthropists, either in India or abroad, to contribute/donate to provide tap water connection in every rural household, school, Anganwadi centre, ashram shala, and other public institutions. The RJJK has been launched as a registered public charitable trust, set up by the department of drinking water and sanitation, under the ministry of Jal Shakti.

 

2. GoI launches ‘Waste to Wealth’ web portal: The government of India has launched a web portal called “Waste to Wealth” to enhance cooperation for sustainable development through economy and community participation. The web portal will bring together technology providers, government stakeholders and urban local bodies to find solutions to India’s waste problems, mainly plastic waste. The portal has been launched by the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser and inaugurated by the Principal Scientific Advisor K. Vijay Raghavan on October 02, 2021, on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti.

 

3. Kiren Rijiju inaugurates India’s first Sports Arbitration Centre in Gujarat: The Union Minister of Law and Justice, Kiren Rijiju has inaugurated the first Sports Arbitration Centre of India at Ahmedabad in Gujarat. This Sports Arbitration Centre of India (SACI) will serve as an independent body to fast track disputes in the sports sector and serve as a mechanism to redress issues related to sports.

About the SACI: The SACI will be promoted by Ahmedabad-based SE TransStadia Pvt Ltd. and all legal backing will be provided by the Ministry of Law and Justice. The SACI will have a far-reaching impact for the sports sector of the country by creating a reputation and establishing credibility for itself through the provision to settle disputes and other issues and concerns of the sports sector in a fast, transparent and very accountable manner.

 

4. World’s largest Khadi National Flag hoisted in Leh, Ladakh: The world’s largest national flag, made up of Khadi cloth, has been installed in Leh, Ladakh, on the occasion of the 152nd birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi on October 02, 2021. The Khadi national flag was inaugurated by Ladakh Lieutenant Governor RK Mathur. The flag is made by Khadi Dyers and Printers based in Mumbai which is affiliated to the Khadi Village and Industries Commission. The Sura-Soi Engineer Regiment was entrusted with the responsibility of bringing the national flag from Mumbai to Leh and also with the task of installing it at the top of the high mountains for the unveiling ceremony. About the flag:

(1) The tricolour is 225-feet long and 150-feet wide. It weighs around 1,000 kg.

(2) The flag has been prepared by the 57 Engineer Regiment of the Indian Army.

(3) The flag is the largest handwoven and handspun cotton khadi flag ever manufactured in India.

 

5. Kangana Ranaut becomes brand ambassador of UP’s ODOP Scheme: The Uttar Pradesh government led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has named veteran Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut as the brand ambassador of the ambitious “One District One Product (ODOP) scheme” of the state. CM Yogi also presented Kangana with a silver coin which was used for ‘Ram Janm Bhumi Pujan’.

About the ODOP scheme: The UP government has launched the one district-one product (ODOP) programme with the aim to create product-specific traditional industrial hubs across 75 districts of the state. The scheme encourages such indigenous and specialized products and crafts of UP that are not found anywhere else.

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

 

INTERNATIONALUPDATES:

 

1. World Habitat Day: 4th October: The United Nations designated the first Monday of October as World Habitat Day. In 2021, World Habitat Day is being celebrated on October 04. The day is commemorated every year worldwide to throw light on the condition of our towns and cities, and on the basic right of all to adequate shelter. The day is also intended to remind the world that we all have the power and the responsibility to shape the future of our cities and towns. The theme for 2021 World Habitat Day is “Accelerating urban action for a carbon-free world”.

History: In 1985 the United Nations designated the first Monday of October every year as World Habitat Day. World Habitat Day was first celebrated in 1986 with the theme “Shelter is My Right”.

 

2. World Animal Day: 4th October: The World Animal Day is observed annually on October 04 since 1929. The day aims to raise the status of animals in order to improve welfare standards around the globe. It was originated by Heinrich Zimmermann and he organized the first World Animal Day on 24 March 1925 at the Sport Palace in Berlin, Germany. The event was moved to 4 October for the first time in 1929.

 

3. World Space Week: 4th-10th October: The World Space Week (WSW) is observed every year from October 4 to 10, to celebrate science and technology, and their contribution towards the betterment of the human condition. WSW was declared by the United Nations General Assembly on December 6, 1999. The 2021 theme is “Women in Space”!

History of World Space Week: WSW was declared by the United Nations General Assembly on December 6, 1999. The dates commemorate the launch of the first artificial satellite, Sputnik I, on 4 October 1957 and the entry into force of the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies on 10 October 1967.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Birendra Lakra and SV Sunil announces retirement from International Hockey: S V Sunil, the veteran forward and star striker of India men’s field hockey team and Olympic bronze medal-winning Indian hockey star defender Birendra Lakra have announced their retirement from international hockey. The 31-year-old Lakra was part of the bronze medal-winning Indian side in the Tokyo Olympics 2020 as vice-captain. He has represented India in 197 games with 10 goals. The 32-year-old Sunil has scored 72 goals in 264 appearances for the national team.

 

2. Indian men’s team wins bronze medal in Asian Table Tennis Championship 2021: The Indian men’s table tennis team claimed the bronze medal in the Asian Table Tennis Championships in Doha, Qatar, after losing to South Korea 0-3 in the semi-finals. The Indian team was assured of a medal after beating Iran 3-1 in the quarterfinals. Both the semifinalists secure a bronze. This is the second medal for India at the Asian Championships since 1976. The bronze medal-winning Indian team comprised of Sathiyan Gnanasekaran, Sharath Kamal, Harmeet Desai, Sanil Shetty, and Manav Thakkar.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Government extends ECLGS Scheme till 31.03.2022 (or till Rs 4.5 lakh crore guarantee): The Government of India has extended the timeline of the Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) till 31.03.2022 or till guarantees for an amount of Rs 4.5 lakh crore are issued under the scheme, whichever is earlier. Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) was launched by Government of India as a special scheme in view of COVID-19. The last date of disbursement under the scheme has also been extended to 30.06.2022. ECLGS is managed by National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company Ltd (NCGTC).

 

2. Govt approves IPO of ECGC and capital infusion of Rs 4,400 crore to ECGC: The government of India has approved a capital infusion of Rs. 4,400 crore to ECGC Ltd for a period of five years, i.e. from FY 2021-2022 to FY 2025- 2026. ECGC Limited is a wholly-owned CPSE of the Government of India. The government has also approved the Initial Public Offer (IPO) on the Stock Exchange of ECGC Ltd. ECGC was set up with the objective of improving the competitiveness of the exports by providing Credit Risk Insurance and related services for exports.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. Piramal Group acquires DHFL for Rs 34,250 crore: Piramal Enterprises has completed the acquisition of Dewan Housing Finance Limited (DHFL) by paying the consideration amount of Rs 34,250 crore. This is the first successful resolution of a financial services company under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC). Dewan Housing Finance (DHFL) is the first financial services firm to go for bankruptcy proceedings. It is a non-deposit-taking housing finance company. The creditors of DHFL will recover an aggregate amount of Rs 38,000 crore from the DHFL’s resolution, which includes Rs 34,250 crore paid by Piramal Enterprises and Rs 3,800 crore from the cash balance of DHFL.

 

2. Amish Mehta appointed as new MD & CEO of CRISIL: Amish Mehta has been appointed as the new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD & CEO) of rating agency Crisil with effect from October 01, 2021. He has replaced Ashu Suyash. Crisil is owned by S&P. Mehta has more than two decades of leadership experience across industries and joined Crisil in October 2014 as President and Chief Financial Officer. In July 2017, he was elevated as the President and Chief Operating Officer, responsible for the global analytical centre, India research and SME, the global innovation and excellence hub and corporate strategy.

Note: Crisil Founded: 1987; Crisil Headquarters: Mumbai.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Indian Organisation LIFE receives 2021 Right Livelihood Award: The Delhi-based environmental organisation “Legal Initiative for Forest and Environment (LIFE)” has been felicitated with the 2021 Right Livelihood Award, an international honour, also known as Sweden’s alternative Nobel Prize. LIFE has been selected for the award for its “grassroots approach of empowering vulnerable communities to protect their livelihoods and claim their right to a clean environment.” Apart from this, other three awardees who were also honoured include:

(1) Cameroonian women rights activist Marthe Wandou

(2) Russian environmental activist Vladimir Slivyak

(3) Canadian Indigenous rights defender Freda Huson

About the Awards: The Award was established in 1980 by German-Swedish philanthropist Jakob von Uexkull to “honour and support those who offer a practical and exemplary contribution in such fields as environmental protection, human rights, sustainable development, health, education, which are not included in Nobel Prize list. The Right Livelihood Award comes with a cash prize of 1 million Swedish crowns ($115,000) and long-term support to highlight and expand Laureates’.

 

2. Shiv Nadar to be awarded Global Leadership Award 2021: The US India Business Council (USIBC) has chosen Shiv Nadar and Mallika Srinivasan as the recipient of its 2021 Global Leadership Award. Shiv Nadar is the founder and chairman emeritus of HCL Technologies Limited. Mallika Srinivasan is the chair and managing director, Tractors and Farm Equipment Limited (TAFE). Both will be honoured at the 2021 India Ideas Summit to be held on October 6-7, 2021.