Daily Current Affairs: October 14 & 15, 2021

Daily Current Affairs (October 14 & 15, 2021) like many other sections is inevitable and this also helps to score in the Banking awareness, Static GK, and Financial Awareness sections. Remember, Banking Awareness, and Static Awareness Questions are asked from the General Awareness section. This will also help you to ride your preparations for the forthcoming exams.

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Important Days

National Philately Day – 13 October

• National Philately Day is observed on 13 October as a part of the National Postal Week by the Department of Posts to promote the collection and study of postage stamps.
• Philately is considered the ‘king of hobbies’ as the collectors, through various philatelic items, develop a better appreciation of the history, culture, personalities and their societies.
• India Post celebrates the National Postal Week from 9–16 October every year aimed at generating a broad awareness about India Post’s role and activities among the public and media at the national level.

World Standards Day – 14 October

• World Standards Day is observed every year on 14 October to raise awareness about the importance of standardisation in the global economy among consumers, regulators and industry.
• Theme of World Standards Day for 2021: ‘Standards for sustainable development goals – a shared vision for a better future’.

International E-Waste Day – 14 October

• International E-Waste Day is Observed on 14 October to promote the correct disposal of e-waste throughout the world with the aim to increase re-use, recovery and recycling rates.
• Theme of International E-Waste Day for 2021: ‘Consumer is the key to circular economy’.

World Students’ Day – 15 October

• World Students’ Day is observed on 15 October every year in honour of the birth anniversary of former Indian President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam. This day aims to acknowledge the efforts of Dr. Kalam towards education and students.
• Theme of World Students’ Day for 2021: ‘Learning for people, planet, prosperity and peace’.
• The United Nations declared 15 October as World Students’ Day in 2010.

Global Handwashing Day – 15 October

• Global Handwashing Day is observed on 15 October every year to raise awareness about the importance of washing hands with soap and how it can help us prevent diseases and save lives.
• This day was declared by the United Nations General Assembly in 2008.
• Theme of Global Handwashing Day for 2021: ‘Our future is at hand – Let’s move forward together’.

National News

Union Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister launches Climate Resilience Information System and Planning (CRISP-M) tool

• Union Minister of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Giriraj Singh launched the Climate Resilience Information System and Planning (CRISP-M) tool for integrating climate information in Geographic Information System (GIS)-based watershed planning under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act.
• The implementation of the CRISP-M will open up new possibilities for the rural communities to deal with the issues of climate change.

Union Minister of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj: Giriraj Singh

• Constituency: Begusarai

Power Finance Corporation (PFC) gets Maharatna status from the Union Government

• Government of India’s Department of Public Enterprises granted the prestigious ‘Maharatna’ status to the Power Finance Corporation (PFC) to pave the way for the company’s greater financial and operational efficiency.
• PFC became the 11^th public sector enterprise to get this status in India.
• ‘Maharatna’ status is granted to a company that has recorded more than Rs. 5000 crores of net profit for three consecutive years, an average annual turnover of Rs. 25,000 crores for three years or should have an average annual net worth of Rs. 15,000 crores for three years.

Power Finance Corporation (PFC)

• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Founded: 16 July 198

Department of Biotechnology launches India’s first ‘One Health’ Consortium

• The Department of Biotechnology has launched the ‘One Health’ consortium virtually to monitor significant bacterial, viral and parasitic infections caused by zoonotic and transboundary pathogens across India.
• This project focuses on the usage of existing diagnostic tests as well as the development of new approaches for the surveillance and understanding of the spread of emerging diseases.
• The ‘One Health Consortium’ consisting of 27 organisations is led by the Department of Biotechnology – National Institute of Animal Biotechnology, Hyderabad.

National Capital Region Planning Board approves the Draft regional plan – 2041

• The Draft Regional Plan-2041 was approved by the National Capital Region (NCR) Planning Board setting the path for a future-ready, slum-free National Capital Region with an air ambulance and high-speed connectivity through heli-taxis, road, rail and inland waterways.
• This draft plan emphasises 30-minute connectivity by super-fast trains within NCR’s major cities, as well as the viability of a 30-minute Mass Transit Rail System (MTRS) from the NCR’s nearest borders to Delhi.

State News

Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh launches the ‘Chief Minister’s Health for All’ scheme

• Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh launched the ‘Chief Minister’s Health for All’ scheme in which door-to-door health screening will be conducted across Manipur and Jan Aushadhi medicines will be provided to patients free of cost for primary health care.
• Patients with severe and chronic illnesses will also be issued Chief Minister Gi Hakchel Gi Tengbal (CM Health Care Scheme) and Ayushman Bharat health cards, if they are eligible.

Manipur

• Capital: Imphal
• Chief Minister: Biren Singh
• Governor: Ganesan

International News

India gets re-elected as a member of the UN Human Rights Council for sixth time

• India was re-elected as a member to the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for 6^th time for the 2022–24 term from January 2022. India vowed to continue to work for the promotion and protection of human rights through “Samman, Samvad and Sahyog”.
• India received 184 votes in the 193-member assembly, while the required majority was 97.
• India’s current term was set to end on 31 December 2021.

UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC)

• Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
• President: Nazhat Shameem

Banking & Economy

IndusInd Bank, Karur Vysya Bank and Kotak Mahindra Bank receive authorization from the RBI direct and indirect Taxes

• IndusInd Bank, Karur Vysya Bank and Kotak Mahindra Bank have been authorised by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for the collection of direct and indirect taxes on behalf of the Central Board of Direct Taxes and the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs.
• IndusInd Bank customers will soon be able to pay their direct and indirect taxes through the bank’s state-of-the-art digital platforms such as ‘Indusnet’ — its net banking platform and ‘IndusMobile’ — its mobile banking application.
• Kotak Mahindra Bank also received approvals to collect direct and indirect taxes such as income tax and Goods and Services Tax (GST) through its banking network.
• Karur Vysya Bank had initiated the integration process with CBDT. Once completed, the bank’s customers would be able to remit their direct taxes through any branch, net banking and the DLite mobile app of the bank.

IndusInd Bank

• Headquarters: Pune, Maharashtra
• MD & CEO: Sumant Kathpalia

Karur Vysya Bank

• Headquarters: Karur, Tamil Nadu
• MD & CEO: Ramesh Babu

Kotak Mahindra Bank launches micro ATMs across all over India

• Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited (KMBL), by using its business correspondents network, will launch the micro ATMs across India from which the customers of all banks can use a Kotak micro ATM for key banking services such as cash withdrawals and checking account balances.
• The micro ATM is a simple, innovative and highly effective solution to deliver essential banking services such as cash withdrawals in a convenient manner to people residing in relatively remote locations.

Kotak Mahindra Bank

• Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra
• MD &CEO: Uday Kotak

International Monetary Fund (IMF) projects India’s economic growth at 9.5 per cent for 2021

• The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has projected India’s GDP growth forecasts at 5 per cent in 2021 and 8.5 per cent for 2022.
• In July of this year (2021), the IMF lowered India’s growth prediction for the current fiscal year by 300 basis points to 9.5 per cent, down from 12.5 per cent in April 2021.

International Monetary Fund (IMF)

• Headquarters: Washington D.C., the United States
• President: Kristalina Georgieva

Department of Posts launches the digital version of the postal life insurance policy named ‘ePLI-bond’

• The Department of Posts launched a digital version of the postal life insurance policy — ePLI bond, which subscribers can access through Digilocker.
• The Department of Post’s first digital integration with Digilocker is the ePLI bond which will benefit citizens by offering easy access and speedy claim settlements.
• ePLI bond is made available in collaboration with Digilocker developed by the National eGovernance Division (NeGD) of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (Meity).

Appointments

Navrang Saini gets additional charge as the Chairperson of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI)

• The Union Government has assigned the additional charge of the Chairperson of Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) to the Whole-time member of IBBI, Navrang Saini for a period of three months.
• He succeeded M. S. Sahoo, who was the first Chairperson of IBBI since 1 October 2016.

Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI)

• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Founded: 1 October 2016

Atul Kumar Goel was elected as the Chairman of the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA)

• The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of UCO Bank Atul Kumar Goel was appointed as the Chairman of the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) for 2021–22.
• He succeeded G. Rajkiran Rai, MD & CEO of Union Bank of India.
• He was shortlisted by the Banks Board Bureau (BBB) to take over as the CEO of Punjab National Bank (PNB) from January 2022.

Sajjan Jindal was appointed as the Chairman of the World Steel Association

• World Steel Association (WSA) elected Sajjan Jindal as its Chairman for the year 2021-22.
• He is the Chairman and Managing Director of JSW Steel Limited.
• He became the first representative from India to serve as the Chairman of the WSA.

World Steel Association (WSA)

• Headquarters: Brussels, Belgium

Awards and Recognitions

James Sangma wins the Progressive Business Concept Award from PETA for promoting vegan pineapple leather

• The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has named Meghalaya’s Environment and Forest Minister James Sangma as the winner of the Progressive Business Concept Award for promoting vegan pineapple leather.
• This move of vegan pineapple-leather production will protect animals and the environment.

Agreements and MoUs Signed

ICC partners with UNICEF to raise awareness on the mental health of children

• The International Cricket Council (ICC) has partnered with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to amplify awareness around the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents throughout the men’s cricket T20 World Cup.
• UNICEF’s global campaign #OnYourMind, which calls for commitment, communication and action to support good mental health for all children, will be amplified as a result of this partnership.

Ranks and Indices

India ranks third in the Renewable Energy Country Attractiveness Index

• India remained at the third position among 40 nations in the 58^th edition of Ernst and Young’s ‘Renewable Energy Country Attractiveness Index’ (RECAI).
• The United States and China retained their top two positions in the Renewable Energy Country Attractiveness Index’ (RECAI).
• Indonesia is a new entrant to the RECAI.
• India ranked sixth among the top 30 Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) markets in the newly introduced PPA index — RECAI Corporate PPA Index while Spain ranked first.

Media.net’s CEO Divyank Turakhia tops the Hurun Rich List 2021

• net’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Divyank Turakhia was on top of the Hurun Rich List 2021 with a net worth of Rs. 12,500 crores.
• He was followed by the co-founder of Browser stack Nakul Aggarwal and Ritesh Arora with a wealth of Rs. 12,400 crores each.

India ranks 101 in the Global Hunger Index 2021

• India’s rank has slipped by seven places from 94 to 101 among 116 countries in the Global Hunger Index 2021 and is behind its neighbouring countries Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal.
• This index was jointly prepared by Irish aid agency Concern Worldwide and German organisation Welt Hunger Hilfe.

• The Global Hunger Index (GHI) score is calculated on four indicators — undernourishment, child wasting, child stunting and the mortality rate of children under the age of five.
• The Opposition parties slammed the Government over India slipping to 101st position in the Global Hunger Index (GHI) even as the government termed the methodology used for the rankings “unscientific”.

Defence News

India and the US start the 17^th edition of ‘Yudh Abhyas’ military exercise

• The 17^th edition of the joint military training exercise Yudh Abhyas 2021 began in Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson, Alaska of the United States, from 15–29 October 2021.
• The earlier version of this exercise was held in India at Mahajan Field Firing Ranges in Bikaner, Rajasthan.
• This joint military exercise aims at enhancing understanding, cooperation and interoperability between two armies.

Sports News

Divya Deshmukh becomes India’s 21^st Woman Chess Grandmaster

• Fifteen-year old Divya Deshmukh became India’s 21^st Woman Chess Grandmaster (WGM) after achieving her 2^nd International Master (IM) at first saturday Grand Master (GM) in Budapest, Hungary.
• Leon Mendonca (Men) has become India’s 67^th Chess Grandmaster.

Obituary

Kannada Actor G. K. Govind Rao passed away

• Writer, theatre personality, Kannada film actor and activist K. Govind Rao passed away at the age of 86.
• He had participated in many pro-people movements and had authored many books and also acted in many plays, movies and TV serials.

Daily CA- 14 & 15 October One Liners

Can you score 20/20 in Today’s Current Affairs Quiz? Attempt the Current Affairs Quiz of  October 14 & 15, 2021, now from the link given below.