Current Affairs 20th October 2021| Current Affairs News

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CURRENT AFFAIRS: IMPORTANT DAYS

The International Chefs Day- Oct 20

The International Chefs Day is observed every year on 20 October.
The day aims to celebrate and honour the noble profession and educate people around the world about eating healthy.
It is also the day for experienced chefs to pass on their knowledge and culinary skills to the next generation with a sense of pride and commitment.
Theme of International Chefs Day 2021 campaign is “Healthy Food for the Future”
Esteemed chef Bill Gallagher created International Chefs Day in 2004. Gallagher was also the president of the World Association of Chefs Societies (World Chefs). Since 2004, World Chefs has used International Chefs Day to celebrate the nobility of this culinary profession.

World Osteoporosis Day- Oct 20

The World Osteoporosis Day (WOD)is observed annually on October 20.
The day aims to raise global awareness of the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis and metabolic bone disease.
WOD is organized by the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF), by launch of a year-long campaign with a specific theme.
In 2021 the Global WOD Campaign theme is “Serve Up Bone Strength”.
World Osteoporosis Day was launched on 20 October 20 1996 by the United Kingdom’s National Osteoporosis Society and supported by the European Commission. Since 1997, the awareness day has been organised by the International Osteoporosis Foundation.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL NEWS

India to participate in Moscow Format meet on Afghanistan

India will participate in the Moscow Format meeting on Afghanistan.
The meeting is being hosted by Russia.
This is the first Moscow format dialogue since the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan in August. India received an invitation for the Moscow Format meeting on Afghanistan and will be participating in it.
Russian Foreign Minister, representatives of ten nations will take part in the Moscow format meeting. Discussion will focus on situation in Afghanistan, and formation of an inclusive government.
Taliban delegation will be headed by Abdul Salam Hanafi, deputy Prime Minister of the interim Afghan government.
The Moscow format was introduced in 2017 on the basis of the six-party mechanism for consultations between special representatives from Russia, Afghanistan, China, Pakistan, Iran, and India.

About Russia:

President: Vladimir Putin
Capital: Moscow
Currency: Russian ruble

About Afghanistan:

Capital: Kabul
Currency: Afghan afghani

Rajnath Singh has launched the Web Based Project Monitoring Portal for Military Engineer Services

Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh launched Web Based Project Monitoring Portal (WBPMP) for Military Engineer Services (MES) at New Delhi.
The portal conceptualized in accordance with the Digital India Mission of the Union Government, has been developed by Bhaskar acharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geo-informatics (BISAG-G).
The newly launched unified portal is the first project management e-Governance to be implemented by the MES.
It will enable real time monitoring of projects from its inception to completion.
All stakeholders not only from MES but also Armed Forces users can gain access to the project information.
This is one among many initiatives of MES for the scientific management of this organisation.

Home Minister flagged off Modi Van under ‘Seva Hi Sangathan’ programme

Home Minister Amit Shah flagged off Modi Van under the ‘Seva Hi Sangathan’ programme to commemorate Prime Minister Narendra Modi completing 20 years as the Head of Government.
Five Mobile Medical Vans will operate in five Assembly Constituencies in Kaushambi district of Uttar Pradesh.
They will work under the aegis of Kaushambi Vikas Parishad run by BJP’s National Secretary Vinod Sonkar.
These vans will persuade villagers to administer pledge for the conservation of water and for the cleanliness of the river as well as ponds in their villages
These vans will also broadcast Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s monthly radio programme ‘Man Ki Baat

Interest Rates on ‘Small Savings Schemes’ Unchanged for Q3-FY22

The Central Government has kept the interest rates on ‘Small Savings Schemes’ (SSS) unchanged for the third quarter of Financial Year 2022, ie; from 1st October 2021 to 31st December 2021.
The interest rates on SSS were altered by the Central government on a Quarterly basis & some of the rates allocated for current quarter are:
Public Provident Fund (PPF) – 7.1%
National Savings Certificate (NSC) – 6.8%
Senior Citizens Savings Scheme – 7.4% (5-year scheme, where interest is paid quarterly)
Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana account – 7.6%

Addl.Info:

West Bengal is India’s largest contributor in SSS, followed by Uttar Pradesh.

Devusinh Chauhan participates in Ministerial Roundtable Session of ITU Digital World 2021

The Minister of State (MoS) for Communication, Devusinh Chauhan, participated in the Ministerial Roundtable Session of the 50th-anniversary edition of International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Digital World 2021, which was held in Vietnam and hosted by the government of Vietnam.
The Prime Ministers of Vietnam and Ministers of Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Costa Rica, Lao P.D.R, Myanmar and Vietnam have participated.
Discussion Topic: ‘Cutting the cost: can affordable access accelerate digital transformation?’

Addl.Info:

In September 2020 Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the ‘Har Gaon Optical Fibre Cable’ project to provide internet services to six lakh villages through optical fibre cable in 1,000 days.

About International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

Secretary-General: Houlin Zhao
Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
Founded: 17 May 1865

About Vietnam

Prime Minister: Pham Minh Chinh
Capital: Hanoi
Currency: Vietnamese dong

Amit Shah launched Development Projects in Andaman and Nicobar Islands; Mount Harriet to be named Mount Manipur

Union Minister Amit Shah, Ministry of Cooperation inaugurated 14 projects worth Rs 299 crore and laid foundation stones of 12 projects worth Rs 643 crore from the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Island in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
With this, a development work of about Rs 1,000 crore is initiated in Andaman Islands.
The Central Government has renamed Mount Harriet, an island peak in Andaman and Nicobar Islands as Mount Manipur as a tribute to the freedom fighters of Manipur.
Mount Harriet is the third-highest island peak in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

About Andaman and Nicobar Islands:

Lieutenant Governor– Admiral Devendra Kumar Joshi
Capital– Port Blair
Zoological Site– Zoological Survey of India Museum

CURRENT AFFAIRS : INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Highlights of FM Nirmala Sitharaman’s Visit to the USA in October 2021

The union minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs, Nirmala Sitharaman made a week-long official visit to the USA (United States of America) to attend the Annual Meetings of International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank, G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) meetings, India-US Economic and Financial Dialogue, and other associated investment meetings.

About International Monetary Fund (IMF):

Managing Director – Kristalina Georgieva
Establishment – 1944
Headquarters – Washington, D.C, United States (US)
Members – 190 Countries (Including India)

Around USD 4 trillion required in clean energy investment to limit global warming: IEA

In accordance with the ‘World Energy Outlook (WEO) 2021 report’ by International Energy Agency (IEA), almost USD 4 trillion investment into clean energy is required by 2030 to meet the Paris Agreement pledge to limit the global temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
The report is released ahead of the United Nations (UN) Climate Change Conference, or COP26, which will take place in Glasgow from October 31 to November 12, 2021.
WEO 2021 will act as a guidebook to COP26.

About WEO:

Launched in 1998, it is the world’s most authoritative source of analysis and projections with respect to energy.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BANKING AND ECONOMY

Google Payment India reports ₹14.8 crore revenue in FY 21

Google Payment India Private Limited reported its revenues for the financial year 2020-21 as ₹14.8 crore.
The company further reported a net profit of ₹4 crore during the same fiscal. This is a 210 per cent increase from the last financial year.
The company’s total expenses for the fiscal were reported as ₹12.8 crore. The company’s assets stood at ₹118.9 crore for FY21 compared to ₹85 crore same time last year whereas its liabilities stood at ₹109 crore for the fiscal compared to ₹75 crore same time last year
The payments company’s net worth stood at ₹12 crore for FY21 compared to ₹10 crore at the same time last year.
Its return on equity for the fiscal grew by 11.70 per cent for the fiscal.

ICICI Prudential Life Insurance reported 47% rise in Q2 net profit

ICICI Prudential Life Insurance reported a 46.6 per cent jump in its net profit for the second quarter of the fiscal, aided by robust growth in premium income.
For the quarter-ended September 30, 2021, the private sector life insurer posted a net profit of ₹444.57 crore as against a net profit of ₹303.22 crore in the same period last fiscal.
Net premium income increased by 8.33 per cent to ₹9,286.53 crore in the second quarter of the fiscal from ₹8,572.19 crore a year ago.
Net income from investments surged by 70.4 per cent on a year-on-year basis to ₹13,545.83 crore in the July-September 2021 quarter.

PhonePe transactions grows 33.6% between July and September

During July to September 2021, PhonePe saw 33.6 per cent growth in transactions from the previous quarter at 526.5 crore, while the value of transactions grew 23.3 per cent to ₹9,21,674 crore.
According to the Q3 (July-September) 2021 data released on PhonePe Pulse — an interactive website with digital payment data, insights and trends in India — money transfers with UPI and merchant payments clocked 221 crore and 231 crore transactions, respectively.
Further, offline merchant payments grew faster than online, 65 per cent higher than the previous quarter, marking a period of recovery after the second wave of the pandemic and the rapid reopening of stores.
Digital transactions grew 80% in last 250 days reported by Razorpay.

Utkarsh Small Finance Bank has inaugurated its first branch at Chennai in Tamil Nadu

Utkarsh Small Finance Bank Limited has announced the inauguration of its first branch in the city of Chennai and in the state of Tamil Nadu.
The Bank today has 601 branches in 202 districts spread across 19 states and 2 Union Territories in the country.
The residents of Ashok Nagar, Chennai can now avail the Bank’s products and services, which includes savings bank account, current account, fixed deposits, recurring deposits, housing loans, business loans and loan against property amongst other facilities.
The launch of this branch is aligned with the Bank’s strategy to extend its reach to offer various financial services across the country.

About Utkarsh Small Finance Bank:

Headquarters: Varanasi
Tagline: Apki Umeed ka Khata
MD and CEO: Govind Singh

Vodafone-Idea Joined Hands With L&T For Testing 5G Based Smart City Solutions

Vodafone Idea Limited (VIL), a Telecom operator and Larsen and Toubro (L&T), an Indian Multinational conglomerate company have joined hands for a pilot project to test 5G-based smart city solutions.
Internet of Things (IoT) and 5G network IoT is the network of physical objects or devices (things) that are embedded with sensors, software and other technologies to exchange and transfer data over the internet.
IoT is transforming the way businesses operate by reinventing processes, operations, customer experiences and developing newer business models and revenue opportunities IoT is crucial to the roll-out of 5G as it will enable connecting billions of devices under the service.

Tata AIG launches ‘RPAS Insurance’ & appoints ‘TropoGo’ as its Distribution partner

Tata AIG General Insurance Co. Ltd. launched a ‘Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS)’ Insurance for drone owners & operators.
It also announced TropoGo, a deep tech startup on the drone ecosystem, as its distribution partner for the RPAS insurance scheme.

RPAS Insurance:

Tata AIG has launched the RPAS Insurance after satisfying the recommendations made by IRDAI’s Working Group on RPAS Insurance, and other valuable inputs from the Drone Federation of India (DFI).
RPAS Insurance Products cover both Hull and Third-Party Liability risks on Drones, optional coverage for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS)operations, night flying, data loss liability, etc.
India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation targets over Rs 5,000 crore investments in the drone manufacturing industry and an annual sales turnover of over Rs 900 crore by FY24.
It also targets to make India a drone hub by 2030.

Addl.Info:

India has made relaxations to the rules for owning and operating drones along with inclusion of drones in Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme

About Tata AIG General Insurance Company:

MD & CEO – Neelesh Garg
Founded – 2001
Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharashtra

About TropoGo:

Founder – Sandipan Sen
Headquarter – Bangalore, Karnataka

IndiaFirst Life Introduces ‘Saral Bachat Bima’ Insurance Plan

IndiaFirst Life Insurance Company Limited (IndiaFirst Life) ,a joint venture of Bank of Baroda and Union Bank of India introduced ‘’IndiaFirst Life Saral Bachat Bima Plan’’.
It is a savings and protection cover plan for the entire family.

About IndiaFirst Life Insurance Company Limited (IndiaFirst Life)

MD & Chief Executive Officer(CEO): R. M. Vishakha
Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra
Founded: 16 November 2009

NSE Tie-up with Chainflux and Launched Blockchain Platform ‘NOSE-Shine’ for Gold Bullion

National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) in collaboration with Chainflux has launched a blockchain platform for gold bullion named ‘NSE-Shine’.
The platform was inaugurated by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)’s Executive Director, VS Sundaresan.
The platform will provide a data framework for bullion bar integrity for settlement of Gold derivatives contracts.
Indian Bullion and Jewellers’ Association (IBJA) and the India Gold Policy Centre (IGPC) at the Indian Institute of Management – Ahmedabad (IIM-A) have worked along with the NSE and Chainflux to develop NSE-Shine.

About National Stock Exchange of India (NSE):

MD & CEO – Vikram Limaye
Establishment – 1992
Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharashtra

CURRENT AFFAIRS : APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Sahdev Yadav appointed as President of Indian Weightlifting Federation

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

CURRENT AFFAIRS : AWARDS & HONOURS

India’s Vidyut Mohan wins Inaugural ‘2021 Earthshot Prize’ under ‘Clean Our Air’ Category

An Indian Social Enterprise ‘Takachar’, under the leadership of Vidyut Mohan was named as the winner of inaugural ‘2021 Earthshot Prize’ that was created by the United Kingdom’s Prince William to reward people fighting to save planet earth.
Takachar won the ‘Earthshot Prize’, also known as ‘Eco Oscars’, under the “Clean Our Air” category for its invention to recycle agricultural waste.
Takachar Invention – A Cheap, small-scale, portable technology that attaches to tractors and converts crop residues to bio-products like fuel & fertilizers.

About United Kingdom:

Prime Minister – Boris Johnson
Currency – Pound sterling
Capital – London

CURRENT AFFAIRS : SUMMITS & CONFERENCES

International Conference and Exhibition on Digital technologies – “Future Tech 2021”

The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has organised the International Conference and Exhibition on Digital technologies – “Future Tech 2021” is scheduled from 19 – 27 October 2021.
The event will revolve on 5 theme pillars: Strategy, Growth, Resilience, Inclusiveness, Trust.
The focus theme of the International conference is “Driving technologies for building the future, we all can trust”
Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Minister of State in the Ministry of Electronics & IT, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship virtually attended the inaugural session.
The International conference would comprise interaction amongst entrepreneurs, industry leaders and Government officials.
It shall provide a platform for discussion on application of digital technologies.

About Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology :

Founded: 1991
Headquarters: New Delhi
Cabinet Minister : Ashwini Vaishnaw
Minister of State : Rajeev Chandrasekhar

CURRENT AFFAIRS : RANKING & INDEX

Mercer CFS Global Pension Index survey 2021 : India ranks 40 & Top- Iceland

India has ranked 40th out of 43 pension systems across the world in the 2021 Mercer CFS Global Pension Index survey.
India had an overall index value of 43.3.
Globally, Iceland was ranked highest with an overall index value of2 while Thailand had the lowest overall index value at 40.6.
India had stood at 34th position out of 39 pension systems rated in 2020.
The index highlights the key strengths of retirement systems around three sub-indices – adequacy, sustainability and integrity, (India scoring 33.5, 41.8 and 61.0 respectively.)

Adequacy :

The adequacy sub-index represents the adequacy of the advantages which might be being offered.

Sustainability :

The sustainability sub-index represents the probability that the current system will be able to perform in the future.

Integrity :

The integrity sub-index contains many legal requirements that affect the overall management and operation of the system and affect citizens’ trust in their system.
The coverage under private pension arrangement is just about 6 per cent in India.
With over 90 per cent of the total workforce being in the unorganised sector, measures should be taken to get a larger workforce under pension savings.
Four new pension schemes have been added to 2021 MCGPI – Iceland, Taiwan, UAE and Uruguay.

About Mercer CFS Global Pension Index :

The Mercer CFA Institute Global Pension Index 2021 benchmarks 43 retirement income systems around the world, highlighting strengths and weaknesses.
The Index is to measure each retirement income system against more than 50 indicators.
The Index is published by Mercer, in collaboration with CFA Institute and the Monash Centre for Financial Studies.

About Mercer :

CEO: Martine Ferland
Headquarters: New York, New York, United States
Founded: 1975

CURRENT AFFAIRS : SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

IIT Kanpur team identifies a novel target to treat prostate cancer

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur, have discovered that a particular gene (DLX1) has an important role to play in the growth and development of prostate cancer.
The team of researchers led by Dr. Bushra Ateeq, Professor at the Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering.
DLX1 gene plays an important role in the development of jaws, skeleton, and interneurons in the brain.
DLX1 protein has been used as a urine-based biomarker as it is found at elevated levels in prostate cancer patients.
Androgen receptor is responsible for promoting the development of prostate cancer.
The team also found that Bromodomain and extra terminal (BET) protein assists the function of both androgen receptor and ERG.
Using small molecules as inhibitors, the researchers have shown in mice a new therapeutic strategy to treat people with DLX1-positive prostate cancer.

About IIT Kanpur :

Established : 1959
Chairman : K Radhakrishnan
Director : Abhay Karandikar
Located at : Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh

CURRENT AFFAIRS : BOOKS & AUTHORS

Gulzar pens a book titled “Actually… I Met Them: A Memoir”

A New Book Titled “Actually… I Met Them: A Memoir” authored by Indian lyricist Gulzar.
It is published by the Penguin Random House India.

About the Book :

In this book, Gulzar has shared many interesting unknown facts about legends like Kishore Kumar, Bimal Roy, Ritwik Ghatak, Hrishikesh Mukherjee and Mahasweta Devi, among others.

About Gulzar :

Gulzar is an Indian lyricist, poet, author, screenwriter, and film director.
In April 2013, Gulzar was appointed as the Chancellor of Assam University.
He directed films such as Aandhi and Mausam during the 1970s and the TV series Mirza Ghalib in the 1980s.

Awards & Honours :

He was awarded Padma Bhushan in 2004, the third-highest civilian award in India.
He won the Sahitya Academy Award, and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for the highest award in Indian cinema.
He has won 5 Indian National Film Awards, 22 Filmfare Awards, one Academy Award and one Grammy Award.

Actress Divya Dutta To Release Her Second Book Titled ‘The Stars in My Sky’

National Award-winning actress Divya Dutta is set to release her second book ‘The Stars in My Sky’: Those who Brightened My Film Journey.
The Book will be published by Penguin Random House India and it is expected to be out on October 25.
The book’s foreword is written by megastar Amitabh Bachchan.