October 2021 Daily News Current Affairs

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Oct 31, 2021
1. Oct 31 is observed as National Unity Day (Rashtriya Ekta Diwas), which marks birth anniversary of Shri Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (Former Deputy Prime Minister of India).
  1. Background -
    1. It was introduced by Government in 2014, marking Birth Anniversary of Legendary Leader and 1st Home Minsiter and Deputy PM of India, Shri Sardar Valabh Bhai Patel.
    2. On this occasion in 2018, PM Narendra Modi inaugurated Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's memorial in Gujarat's Narmada district. Called the Statue of Unity, the bronze sculpture is the world's tallest statue measuring 600 feet (182m). It has overtook China's Spring Temple Buddha (153m) and USA's Statue of Liberty (93m). It was constructed in 33 months at 2,989 crores.
  2. Other observations on Oct 31 -
    1. Oct 31 is also Death Anniversary of Former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. She was killed on this day in 1984.
    2. Oct 24 - 31 is observed annually as Global Media and Information Literacy (MIL) Week, initiated in 2012.
  3. On this occasion -
    1. Union Minister Jitendra Singh dedicated to the nation “Sardar Patel Leadership Centre” at Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) in Mussoorie.
2. Oct 31 is Observed as UN World Cities Day, proclaimed in 2013. 2021 Theme is Adapting Cities for Climate Resilience.
3. Home Minister Amit Shah launched Dairy Sahakar scheme at Anand (Gujarat), on occasion of celebration of 75th Foundation Year of Cooperative Milk Producer Amul.
  1. Dairy Sahakar Scheme, with investment of 5000 crores, will be implemented by NCDC under Ministry of Cooperation.
  2. Under it, financial support will be extended by NCDC to eligible cooperatives for activities such as bovine development, milk procurement, processing and others.
4. As per report Five years on: Global climate tech investment trends since the Paris Agreement by London & Partners, and Co -
  1. India ranks 9th in list of top 10 countries for climate technology investment from 2016 to 2021. Indian climate tech firms received USD 1 billion in venture capital (VC) funding in this period.
  2. List is topped by United States (48 Billion), China (18.6 Billion), Sweden.
5. Govt reconstituted seven-member Economic Advisory Council to PM, for 2 years.
  1. Rakesh Mohan, Poonam Gupta and TT Ram Mohan have been appointed as part-time members of reconstituted EAC-PM.
  2. Bibek Debroy will continue to be chairman of PM-EAC. Other part-time members of include Sajid Chenoy, Neelkanth Mishra and Nilesh Shah.
6. Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology Initiative MeitY Startup Hub and Google partnered to launch ‘Appscale Academy’, a growth and development programme, to train early to mid-stage startups across India.
7. Govt appointed K V Kamath as chairperson of National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development (NaBFID), a newly set up development financial institution (DFI), for infrastructure financing as per National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development (NaBFID) Act 2021.
  1. Authorized share capital of NaBFID is Rs one lakh crore with initial paid-up capital 20000 crores.
8. Maharashtra government approved its own Wildlife Action Plan (2021-2030), making Maharashtra India’s first state to pass its own Wildlife Action Plan.
  1. It also approved extension of boundary of Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve, in the Chandrapur district of the Vidarbha region, by 79 sq km.
9. Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) launched e-National Level Awareness Programme ‘SAMBHAV”, to promote engagement of the youth in promoting entrepreneurship.
10. Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel launched Go-Green scheme, to provide electric two-wheelers at subsidised rates to construction and industrial workers of state.
  1. Organised sector workers will get subsidy of 30 % on vehicle’s price (upto 30000), on purchase of battery-powered two-wheelers.
  2. For construction sector workers, 50 % subsidy (upto 30000), will be provided on purchase of battery-powered two-wheelers.
11. Times Higher Education (THE)’s World Reputation Rankings 2021 -
  1. Top 5 -
    1. Harvard University (US)
    2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (US)
    3. University of Oxford (UK)
    4. Stanford University (US)
    5. University of Cambridge (UK)
  2. Indian Universities in List -
    1. Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru is best ranked Indian Institiute in overall list (ranked 91-100), followed by IIT Delhi, IIT Bombay, and IIT Madras.
12. General Conferences (Oct 21-31, 2021) -
  1. India’s largest aromatic garden has been opened in Nainital district (Uttarakhand), spread in over 3 acres, with 140 different species of aromatic species.
  2. Chennai-Mysore-Chennai Shatabdi Express became first train of Southern Railway to receive Integrated Management Systems (IMS) certification, for its world-class maintenance, environment-friendly resources and convenient and safe travel experience.
    1. It is also first Shatabdi train and only second mail/express train of Indian Railways to receive this certification.
    2. First train of Indian Railways to be IMS certified is Habibganj-Hazrat Nizamuddin-Habibganj Bhopal Express.
  3. Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port (SPM) in Kolkata became the first Major Indian Port to get a Radio over Internet Protocol (ROIP) System, as a long-range marine communication solution, to aid especially during storms and inclement weather.
  4. Uttar Pradesh government renamed Faizabad Junction as Ayodhya Cantt railway station.
    1. Opened in 1874, the Faizabad railway station comes under Northern Railway zone.
  5. Civil Aviation Ministry launched Krishi Udan 2.0 scheme, to focus on optimizing and incentivizing air transportation of agricultural produce from hilly areas, northeastern states, and tribal regions across India.
  6. Former US President Donald Trump announced to launch his own social media platform called TRUTH Social.
  7. India handed over 34.9km-long cross-border rail link connecting Jaynagar in Bihar to Kurtha in Nepal to Nepal government, to enhance trade and commerce activities between the two countries.
  8. MSME Minister Narayan Rane Launched SAMBHAV, as National Level Awareness Programme of MSME Ministry.
13. Visits to India (October 2021) -
  1. Mette Frederiksen, Prime Minister of Denmark visited India -
    1. MOUs Signed -
      1. MoU between CSIR National Geophysical Research Institute and Aarhus University (Denmark) and Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland on mapping of ground water resources and aquifers.
      2. Traditional Knowledge Digital Library Access Agreement between CSIR and Danish Patent and Trademark Office.
      3. MoU between IISC Bengaluru and Danfoss Industries Private Limited (Denmark) to establish a Centre of Excellence towards natural refrigerants for tropical climates with potential applications.
14. Visits from India (October 2021) -
  1. India, Israel, US and UAE agreed to establish a joint economic cooperation forum, during visit of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to Israel. Israel also joinied India-led International Solar Alliance as its newest member
  2. EAM S Jaishankar Visited 3 Central Asian countries – Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Armenia.
    1. India announced a $200-million line of credit for Kyrgyzstan and signed an agreement to carry out small but high impact projects for community development in Kyrgyzstan.
  3. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman visited USA, to attend Annual Meetings of IMF and WorldBank, G20 Finance Ministers and related meets.
  4. Minister of Steel Ram Chandra Prasad Singh visited Russia, to attend Russian Energy Week. A MoU regarding collaboration in coking coal used in steel making and R&D in steel sector was also signed.
  5. India's Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra visited Uzbekistan, to observe conduct of Presidential elections.
Oct 30, 2021
1. Oct 24-30 is observed by UN as Disarmament Week. 2021 Theme is Disarmament: Securing Humanity's Future.
2. As per 6th edition of Public Affairs Index report by Bengaluru- based Public Affairs Centre (PAC) -
  1. Top 3 -
    1. Large states - Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Telangana
    2. Small states - Sikkim, Meghalaya, Mizoram
    3. Union Territories - Puducherry, Jammu and Kashmir, Chandigarh
3. Asian Development Bank approved USD 250 million loan to support India's National Industrial Corridor Development Program (NICDP), as first subprogram of programmatic USD 500 million loan, to develop 11 industrial corridors spanning 17 states.
4. Kotak Mahindra Bank partnered with National Payments Corporation of India, to launch credit cards named Veer, on RuPay Network, to celebrate India’s 75th year of Independence.
5. Govt appointed former SC Judge Ashok Bhushan as new Chairperson of National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT). Also, Ramalingam Sudhakar has been appointed as new President of National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT).
6. France launched advanced satellite named Syracuse 4A into orbit, onboard Ariane 5 rocket from Kourou (French Guiana), designed to allow France’s armed forces across the globe to communicate swiftly and securely.
7. Karnataka topped State Energy Efficiency Index 2020 released by Ministry of Power, followed by Rajasthan and Haryana.
8. South Korea inaugurated Shinincheon Bitdream Fuel Cell Power Plan, as World’s Largest Hydrogen Fuel Cell Power Plant, with 78 MW capacity.
9. Former Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ wrote book titled AIIMS Mein Ek Jang Ladte Hue, while battling COVID-19 at AIIMS in Delhi.
Oct 29, 2021
1. 2021 G20 summit (16th G20 Meet) held in Rome (Capital of Italy).
  1. On India's Behalf, PM Narendra Modi attended G20 Rome Summit 2021.
    1. Also, Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya attended G20 Joint Finance and Health Ministers’ Meeting, held on sidelines of G20 Meet.
  2. About -
    1. G20 (Group of Twenty) is an intergovernmental forum comprising 19 countries and European Union (EU), which works to address major global issues.
    2. G20 Members -
      1. Australia, Canada Saudi Arabia, US, India, Russia, South Africa, Turkey, Argentina, Brazil , Mexico, France, Germany, Italy, UK, China, Indonesia, Japan South Korea AND European Union.
2. Indo-US Joint Military Training Exercise Ex Yudh Abhyas 2021 (17th Edition), has been conducted at Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson, Alaska (USA).
3. Oct 29 is observed as Internet Day.
  1. In 2005, it was decided to propose to UN, to designate October 29 as World-wide Day of Information Society, resulting in Internet Day being celebrated on that day.
  2. Oct 29 is also observed as World Stroke Day.
4. Government re-appointed Shaktikanta Das as RBI Governor, for his 2nd 3 years term.
5. 18th ASEAN-India Summit and 16th East Asia Summit 2021 Held Virtually, hosted by Brunei, and virtually attended by PM Narendra Modi on India's Behalf.
  1. EAS was formed in 2005, with participation of 10 ASEAN Member nartions and India, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, US and Russia.
6. Indian Navy organized Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue 2021, held since 2018, to review opportunities and challenges arising within Indo-Pacific.
  1. IPRD 2021 was held under broad theme of “Evolution in Maritime Strategy during the 21st Century: Imperatives, Challenges, and, Way Ahead”.
7. UN Security Council adopted a unique first-of-its-kind resolution to urge armed conflict parties to immediately safeguard the right to education and ensure the protection of schools, titled Resolution 2601.
8. World Meteorological Organization published its annual ‘State of the Climate in Asia 2020 report -
  1. As per report, extreme weather events due to climate change costed India suffered average annual economic loss of $87 billion.
  2. Asia witnessed hottest year on record in 2020, with mean temperate 1.39 degrees Celsius above as compared to 1981-2010 average.
9. As per World Bank's Changing Wealth of Nations Report 2021 -
  1. Wealth increased significantly across globe between 1995 and 2018 but it has been done by worsening equality and risking future prosperity.
  2. Report states that GDP should not be a measure of a nation’s well-being, as it does not account for income inequality, pollution, and other measures that affect quality of life.
10. Indian Navy received its first P15B stealth guided missile destroyer from Mazgaon Shipbuilders, named Vishakhapatnam.
  1. Contract for four ships under Project 15B, known as Vishakhapatnam class ships, was signed in January 2011.
  2. 4 ships, designed by Directorate of Naval Design and built by Mazagaon Dock Shipbuilders, are christened after major cities from all four corners of India - Mormugao, Vishakhapatnam, Surat, and Imphal.
  3. This project is follow-on of Kolkata Class (Project 15A) destroyers, commissioned in last decade.
Oct 28, 2021
1. Y 12704 (Visakhapatnam), the lead ship of Project 15B stealth guided missile destroyers, built at Mazgaon Docks Limited, has ben delivered to Indian Navy.
  1. The contract for four ships of Project 15B, as the Visakhapatnam class ships are known, was signed in January 2011.
  2. This project is a follow-on of the Kolkata class (Project 15A) destroyers commissioned in last decade.
2. Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved $251 million loan for climate-resilient, integrated urban flood protection and management in Chennai-Kosasthalaiyar basin (Tamil Nadu), to strengthen resilience of Chennai city to floods.
3. Indigenously built Indian Coast Guard Ship ‘Sarthak’ has been commissioned into service, to be based at Porbandar in Gujarat and operate on Western Seaboard. ICGS Sarthak is 4th in the series of five OPVs being built by Goa Shipyard Limited for ICG.
4. Union Minister Jitendra Singh launched India’s First Manned Ocean Mission Samudrayan Project at Chennai.
  1. With This, India joined elite club of nations such as USA, Russia, Japan, France and China to have such underwater vehicles for carrying out subsea activities.
  2. Deepwater manned submersible has been codenamed as the ‘MATSYA 6000’, developed by Chennai-based National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT). The will help conduct deep-ocean exploration of non-living resources located at a depth of about 1000 and 5500 meters, such as polymetallic manganese nodules, gas hydrates, hydro-thermal sulphides and cobalt crusts.
5. 7th Indian Navy Frigate of P1135.6 class (Talwar-class frigates) has been launched at Yantar Shipyard, Kaliningrad (Russia), formally named as Tushil.
  1. Under an Inter-Governmental Agreement, 2 ships of Project 1135.6 ships were to be built in Russia and 2 ships in India by Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL).
6. Oct 28 is observed as International Animation Day, proclaimed in 2002, to celebrate art of animation.
  1. It commemorates first public performance of Charles-Émile Reynaud's Théâtre Optique at Grevin Museum in Paris, 1892.

Oct 27, 2021

Oct 27 is observed as World Day for Audiovisual Heritage. 2021 theme is Your Window to the World. It was marked by UNESCO in 2005.
1. Oct 27 is also observed as Infantry Day by Indian Army, as on this day an Infantry Company of First Battalion of Sikh Regiment was airlifted from Delhi to Srinagar to liberate Kashmir from invading Pakistan Army. 2021 marks 75th Infantry Day of Indian Army. On this occaison, J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha dedicated a war memorial 'Saviours of Kashmir' at Srinagar International Airport.
China adopted a new Land Border Law for protection and exploitation of its 22000-km land border areas (with 14 countries), to come into effect from January 1, 2022.
12th edition of UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Emissions Gap Report 2021 titled The Heat is On -
1. This annual series gives overview of difference between where greenhouse gas emissions are predicted to be in 2030 and where they should be, to avert worst impacts of climate change.
2. Report states that -
  1. World needs to cut greenhouse emissions by half in next 8 years to reach 1.5 degrees Celsius target. This will require removing additional 28 gigatonnes of CO2 equivalent from annual emissions.
  2. Report explains that new climate pledges along with other mitigation measures are putting world at risk of a global temperature rise of 2.7 degrees Celsius by 2100, which is way above goals of the Paris Climate Agreement.
  3. Climate pledges for 2030 have only limited impact on global emissions resulting in a reduction of projected 2030 emissions by only 7.5 %. Whereas 30 % reduction in emissions is needed to limit warming to 2 degrees Celsius and a 55 % reduction in emissions to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
  4. If countries achieved their net-zero pledges, it could help in limiting warming to about 2.2 degrees Celsius which is closer to the 2 degrees Celsius goal of Paris Agreement. However, current 2030 commitments and lack of policies do not put G20 member countries on track of achieving their climate pledges.
3. About Paris Agreement -
  1. Paris Agreement's long-term temperature goal is to keep rise in mean global temperature to well below 2 °C above pre-industrial levels, and preferably limit the increase to 1.5 °C to substantially reduce effects of climate change.
  2. Emissions should be reduced as soon as possible and reach net-zero by the middle of the 21st century.
  3. To stay below 1.5 °C of global warming, emissions need to be cut by approx 50% by 2030.
As per Indian Telegraph Right of Way (Amendment) Rules 2021 notified by govt -
1. It incorporates provisions related to nominal one-time compensation and uniform procedure for establishment of overground telegraph line in Indian Telegraph Right of Way Rules 2016.
2. Govt fixed cap of rs 1000 per km as amount of one-time compensation for establishment of an overground telegraph line.
Chidanand Rajghatta 's new book Kamala Harris: Phenomenal Woman, has been released.
1. It is biography of Kamala Harris, the first women US Vice President (and an Indian Origin person).
Government has set up National Steering Committee for implementation of NIPUN Bharat Mission (National Initiative for Proficiency in Reading with Understanding and Numeracy), under chairpersonship of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Vice Chairpersonship of Minister of State for Education, Annpurna Devi.
1. NIPUN Bharat aims at ensuring that every child necessarily attains foundational literacy and numeracy by end of Grade 3, by 2026-27. It aims to cover the learning needs of children in the age group of 3 to 9 years.
Armed Forces of India and United Kingdom (UK) participated in sea phase of 1st Tri-Service exercise Konkan Shakti 2021, off Konkan coast in Arabian Sea. Harbour phase was held in Mumbai earlier in October 2021.
2021 Denmark Open Badminton 2021 -
1. Men's singles - Viktor Axelsen (Denmark)
2. Women's singles - Akane Yamaguchi (Japan)
3. Men's doubles - Japan's Takuro Hoki AND Yugo Kobayashi
4. Women's doubles - China's Huang Dongping AND Zheng Yu
5. Mixed doubles - Japan's Yuta Watanabe AND Arisa Higashino
Goa became first state to become Open Defecation Free (ODF), and achieve Electricity for every household
1. Goa also became first state to provide tap water to every household under “Har Ghar Jal Mission”.

Red Bull's Belgian-Dutch racing driver Max Verstappen won US Grand Prix 2021 -

F1 Season 2021 -

Grand Prix	Winner	Race date
Bahrain Grand Prix	Lewis Hamilton (UK)	28 March
Emilia Romagna Grand Prix	Max Verstappen (Belgian-Dutch)	18 April
Portuguese Grand Prix	Lewis Hamilton (UK)	2 May
Spanish Grand Prix	Lewis Hamilton (UK)	9 May
Monaco Grand Prix	Max Verstappen (Belgian-Dutch)	23 May
Azerbaijan Grand Prix	Sergio Pérez (Mexico)	6 June
French Grand Prix	Max Verstappen (Belgian-Dutch)	20 June
Styrian Grand Prix	Max Verstappen (Belgian-Dutch)	27 June
Austrian Grand Prix	Max Verstappen (Belgian-Dutch)	4 July
British Grand Prix	Lewis Hamilton (UK)	18 July
Hungarian Grand Prix	Esteban Ocon (France)	1 August
Belgian Grand Prix	Max Verstappen (Belgian-Dutch)	29 August
Dutch Grand Prix	Max Verstappen (Belgian-Dutch)	5 September
Italian Grand Prix	Daniel Ricciardo (Australian -Italian)	12 September
Russian Grand Prix	Lewis Hamilton (UK)	26 September
Turkish Grand Prix	Valtteri Bottas (Finland)	10 October
United States Grand Prix	Max Verstappen (Belgian-Dutch)	24 October
Mexico City Grand Prix		31 October
São Paulo Grand Prix		7 November
Australian Grand Prix		21 November
Saudi Arabian Grand Prix		5 December
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix		12 December

Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray inaugurated India’s 1st State government-owned Wildlife DNA testing analysis laboratory, at Regional Forensic Science Laboratory (Nagpur).
France launched satellite named Syracuse 4A,onboard Ariane 5 rocket from Kourou (French Guiana).
1. It is designed to allow France’s armed forces across the globe to communicate swiftly and securely. The satellite can survey its close surroundings and move itself to escape an attack.
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP’s Fabio Quartararo (France) became 2021 MotoGP World Champion, with Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) securing second.
Govt signed share purchase agreement with Tata Sons for sale of national carrier Air India, for 18000 crores.
1. Earlier in Oct 2021, Govt had accepted offer by Talace Pvt Ltd, a unit of the holding company of TATA Sons, to pay Rs 2700 crore cash and take over Rs 15300 crore of airline's debt.
2. Air India will be third airline brand under Tata Sons, which holds majority in AirAsia India and Vistara.
Airline IndiGo and Kotak Mahindra Bank, launched co-branded travel credit card ‘Ka-ching’, on Visa platform.
Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari launched knowledge App and platform CUNSULT, as a forum for mentors to share their life experiences, to allow people to learn from wisdom which has been acquired over lifetime.

Oct 26, 2021
1. Power Minister RK Singh launched Green-Day-Ahead Market (GDAM), to further strengthen electricity trade in India, by opening doors for renewable energy wherein any renewable energy generating company can set up and sell renewable energy on exchange.
2. Zimbabwean novelist and filmmaker Tsitsi Dangarembga has been awarded Peace Prize of the German Book Trade 2021, for her artistic work as well as her political commitment. The award, which has been awarded since 1950, includes 25000 euros cash.
3. BCCI Announced two new Teams to comete in IPL - Ahmedabad and Lucknow, taking number of IPL teams in next season to 10.
  1. Sanjiv Goenka-owned RPSG group placed the winning bid worth Rs 7,090 crore for Lucknow IPL team, while CVC Capital Partners claimed Ahmedabad with a bid of Rs 5,166 crore.
4. Saudi Arabia announced to use one of world’s biggest natural-gas projects, the $110 billion Jafurah development, to produce Blue Hydrogen. It was announced during a climate conference in Riyadh.
  1. Saudi Arabia termed production of hydrogen as a key focus, to transition into a green-energy nation.
  2. Earlier, Saudi Arabia pledged to become carbon neutral by 2060, by incorporating carbon sequestration and hydrogen production.
  3. About -
    1. As per World Energy Council (WEC), 96 % of hydrogen production is derived from fossil fuels through carbon-intensive processes.
    2. Types of Hydrogen -
      1. Blue Hydrogen is produced by converting natural gas and capturing carbon dioxide emissions. The process releases CO2 emissions during production of hydrogen however these are trapped through carbon capture.
      2. Green Hydrogen is extracted through electrolysis of clean energy sources such as renewables. Therefore, this process releases zero carbon (CO2) emissions but is expensive and commercially not viable yet.
      3. Grey Hydrogen is extracted through burning of fossil fuels. It is not an expensive type but releases a lot of CO2 emissions.
5. NASA launched first of its kind DART (Double Asteroid Redirection Test) Mission, aboard SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
  1. It is world’s first mission to test asteroid-deflecting technology, expected to crash into moonlet Dimorphos at 15,000 mph during September 26 - October 1 in 2022, to deflect asteroid by a fraction.
Oct 25, 2021
1. Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has been re-elected for his second five-year term.
2. Asian Development Bank approved $100 million loan to promote agribusiness network to boost farm incomes and reduce food losses in Maharashtra, under Maharashtra Agribusiness Network (MAGNET) Project.
3. Asian Development Bank approved $4.5 million project readiness financing loan to support project preparation and design activities to improve urban mobility in Aizawl (capital of Mizoram).
4. PM Narendra Modi launched Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission, at Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh).
  1. With outlay of 64,180 crore, PM Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (announced in Budget 2021-22), is largest pan-India Health Infrastructure Scheme that aims to provide a much-needed fillip to India's capacity to address emergent Public Health issues, and bring about a paradigm shift in India’s healthcare infrastructure and make it more resilient.
5. India's central Investment Promotion and Facilitation Agency Invest India has been elected as President of World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WAIPA) for 2021-2023.
6. Indian Railways began dissolving Indian Railway Stations Development Corporation (IRSDC), in line with recommendation from cabinet secretariat to integrate, and undertake structural reforms in various bodies under Railways Ministry.
  1. Stations managed by IRSDC shall be handed over to respective Zonal Railways and all projects related documents shall be handed over to respective Zonal Railways by IRSDC.
Oct 24, 2021
1. Oct 24 is observed as -
  1. United Nations Day. It marks enactment of UN Charter on this day in 1945. 2021 theme is Building Back Together for Peace and Prosperity.
  2. WHO World Polio Day. 2021 Theme is One Day. One Focus: Ending Polio.
  3. International Day of Diplomats, celebrated since 2017.
  4. World Development Information Day, established by UN in 1972.
  5. Oct 24 is also foundation day of ITBP.
  6. Oct 24, 2021 is also 100th Birth Anniversary of Noted cartoonist RK Laxman.
2. Kung Fu Nuns of Nepal, of Drukpa order of Buddhism has won Martial Arts Education Prize 2021 from UNESCO International Centre for Martial Arts, for their brave acts of service.
  1. Kung Fu Nuns (Nepal) are an order of Buddhist nuns who belong to Drukpa Kagyu lineage, a thousand-year-old sect led by the Gyalwang Drukpa.
3. National Stock Exchange (NSE) launched NSE-Shine, in collaboration with Bengaluru-based startup Chainflux, as a blockchain platform for gold bullion. The platform will provide a data framework for bullion bar integrity for settlement of Gold derivatives contracts.
  1. Blockchain platform and NRS is an initial step to create a digital, tamper-proof code of practice for maintaining bullion integrity.
4. As per International Energy Agency (IEA) World Energy Outlook 2021 report, almost USD 4 trillion investment into clean energy is required to meet Paris Agreement pledge to limit the global temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
5. Rajiv Nigam (Former Chief Scientist at NIO Goa) has been Selected as 2022 recipient of J.A. Cushman Award for Excellence in Foraminiferal Research, given by Cushman Foundation (US).
6. RBI announced SBR (Scale Based Regulation) framework for NBFCs, replacing a vastly scattered governance regime.
  1. New calibrated SBR framework classifies NBFCs based on their asset size, business undertaken, inter-connectedness with system and perceived risk. Previously, NBFC categorisations were based on the asset size and activities.
  2. Thus, NBFCs are now classified into a four tier pyramid where base layer is subjected to least regulation and top layer is subjected to most stringent regulations.
    1. At bottom of pyramid, base layer comprises all non-deposit taking, peer-to-peer lending platforms, account aggregators, non-operating financial holdings & type-I NBFCs with asset size within 1000 crores.
    2. Middle layer encompasses systemically important non-deposit taking NBFCs, deposit-taking NBFCs, housing financing, infrastructural financing, infrastructure debt fund, core investment, and standalone primary dealer NBFCs with asset size exceeding 1000 crore.
    3. Upper Layer (NBFC-UL) shall consist of systematically significant NBFCs identified based on qualitative parameters like group structure, credit penetration, nature of liabilities and quantitative parameters like risks, asset size, system interconnections.
    4. Lastly, Top layer shall ideally remain vacant unless notified as NBFC-UL with significantly higher risk, thereby warranting higher supervision.
    5. Unlike in earlier regime, a risk management committee is to be constituted in all NBFCs.
Oct 23, 2021
1. Oct 23 - International Snow Leopard Day, observed since 2014. It commemorates anniversary of Bishkek Declaration 2013, to raise awareness for its conservation and protection of snow leopards.
2. HDFC Bank, Mastercard, United States International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), and US Agency for International Development (USAID) launched a $100 million credit facility for MSMEs in India.
3. Tamil film Koozhangal (internationally translated as Pebbles), has been selected as India’s official entry for 94th Academy Awards (Oscars 2022).
  1. It has been directed by Vinothraj PS and produced by Vignesh Shivan and Nayanthara.
4. Writing for My Life, an anthology of author Ruskin Bond has been released. It contains some of the most exemplary stories, essays, poems and memories of Ruskin Bond. This anthology has been released over 25 years after the first anthology of Bond titled, “The Best of Ruskin Bond”.
5. Election Commission of India introduced Garuda app, for digital mapping of all polling stations, to ensure faster, smarter, transparent and timely completion of election work.
Oct 22, 2021
1. NatWest Group India announced winners of 11th edition of NatWest Group Earth Heroes Awards (8 Winners) -
  1. Nitish Kumar (Odisha) - Green Warrior
  2. Shilpa SL (Karnataka) - Green Warrior
  3. Satpura Tiger Reserve (Madhya Pradesh) - Earth Guardian
  4. Parambikulam Tiger Conservation Foundation (Kerala) - Earth Guardian
  5. Arunima Singh (Uttar Pradesh) - Save the Species
  6. Anil Bishnoi (Rajasthan) - Save the Species
  7. Karma Sonam (Ladakh) - Inspire
  8. Brij Mohan Singh Rathore (Madhya Pradesh) - Lifetime Achievement
2. Oct 22 is observed as International Stuttering Awareness Day, marked in 1998.
3. Noted lyricist Gulzar's new book Actually… I Met Them: A Memoir, has been released.
4. Sahitya Akademi awardee Shafey Kidwai's new book Sir Syed Ahmad Khan: Reason, Religion And Nation, has been released.
5. Mercer Consulting's 13th edition of Global Pension Index -
  1. India has been ranked at 40th position (out of 43 countries).
  2. List is topped by Iceland, followed by the Netherlands and Norway.
6. 2021 BNP Paribas Open Tennis (Also called Indian Wells Masters) -
  1. Men's singles - Cameron Norrie (UK). He Defeated Nikoloz Basilashvili (Georgia)
  2. Women's singles - Paula Badosa (Spain). She defeated Victoria Azarenka (Belarus)
  3. Men's doubles - John Peers (Australia) AND Filip Polášek (Slovakia)
  4. Women's doubles - Hsieh Su-wei (Chinese Taipei) AND Elise Mertens (Belgium)
7. Actress Divya Dutta's new book The Stars in My Sky: Those Who Brightened My Film Journey, has been released.
8. National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) announced creation of 1000 crore Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for FPOs, a dedicated fund for providing credit guarantees to FPOs (Farmer Producer Organizations). The fund has been launched under trusteeship of NABARD Subsidiary NABSanrakshan Trustee Pvt Ltd.
9. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launched book Veer Savarkar: The Man Who Could Have Prevented Partition, authored by Uday Mahurkar and Chirayu Pandit.
10. As per World Justice Project’s (WJP) Rule of Law Index 2021 -
  1. India ranked 79 out of 139 countries.
  2. Top 3 - Denmark, Norway and Finland.
  3. Neighbors - China (98), Sri lanka (76), Pakistan (130), Bangladesh (124)
11. Madhya Pradesh govt announced implementation of Mukhyamantri Ration Apke Dwar Yojana, to provide Ration at doorstep of villagers, where there are no Fair Price Shops (FPS). It will cover over 7500 villages in 16 Districts.
12. Book The Origin Story of India’s States, written by Venkataraghavan Subha Srinivasan, has been released. It includes stories behind birth of India’s 28 states and 8 union territories.
13. Microsoft launched a new programme Microsoft AI Innovate, for nurturing and scaling startups that are leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI).
  1. The 10-week initiative will support startups in India leveraging AI technologies, helping them scale operations, drive innovation, and build industry expertise.
14. Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel launched Shri Dhanwantri Generic Medical Store scheme, to provide low-cost generic medicines and enable seamless healthcare services to vulnerable people of state. Under it, over 180 medical shops will be opened in 169 cities.
Oct 21, 2021
1. Oct 21 is observed as Police Commemoration Day in India, in memory of the policemen killed at Hot Springs in North Eastern Ladakh by Chinese troops on this date in 1959.
  1. Till October to November of 1959, Indian Police personnel were responsible for defending 2,500 mile long border of India with then Tibet.
  2. Oct 21 also observed as World Iodine Deficiency Day.
  3. Oct 21 also marks anniversary of Azad Hind Movement, which marks establishment of Azad Hind Movement in Singapore, on Oct 21, in 1943. It was conceptualized by Netaji Subhsh Chandra Bose.
2. Social Media Firm Facebook re-branded its parent company with new name Meta, to showcase company's growing focus on Metaverse.
  1. Facebook defines Metaverse as a set of virtual spaces where people can create and explore with other people who aren’t in same physical space, and can experience internet in 3D.
3. Govt renamed Mount Harriet island peak in Andaman and Nicobar Islands as Mount Manipur, as a tribute to freedom fighters of Manipur.
4. India, Israel, US and UAE agreed to establish a joint economic cooperation forum, during visit of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to Israel.
5. United Nations has set up a special trust fund to provide urgently needed cash directly to people of Afghanistan, through a system tapping into donor funds frozen, since country was taken over by Taliban.
6. Sandra Mason has been elected as first-ever President of Carribean Nation Barbados.
  1. With this, Barbados has officially removed UK's Queen Elizabeth II as its head of state and become world's newest republic.
7. Financial Action Task Force (FATF) placed Jordan, Mali and Turkey on its grey list, for failing to check terror financing and retained Pakistan on Grey List as well.
8. South Korea test-launched its first domestically produced space rocket named Nuri, as a significant step in country’s satellite launch programme.
  1. Nuri (Korean meaning world ), also known as KSLV-II (Korean Space Launch Vehicle-II), is a three-stage launch vehicle, and successor to Naro-1 (KSLV-1), developed by Korea Aerospace Research Institute.
9. Imprisoned Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been awarded European Union's highest award for human rights- Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought.
10. 4th General Assembly of Gurugram (Haryana) Based International Solar Alliance (ISA) held virtually.
  1. It deliberated on key initiatives in solar energy sector including operationalization of India’s One Sun One World One Grid (OSOWOG) initiative, USD 1 trillion Solar Investment Roadmap for 2030 and approval of a Blended Financial Risk Mitigation Facility.
  2. ISA is a treaty-based alliance of 121 countries initiated by India, mainly aiming to work for efficient consumption of solar energy to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
  3. ISA's current Director General is India's Ajay Mathur.
11. Global Food Security Index (GFSI) 2021, released by Economist Impact and Corteva Agriscience, measuring issues of food affordability, quality and safety across 113 countries -
  1. India ranks 71st.
  2. Neighbors - Pakistan (75th), Sri Lanka (77th), Nepal (79th), Bangladesh (84th), China (34th).
  3. Top 5 - Ireland (1st), Austria (2nd), UK (3rd), Finland (4th), Switzerland (5th).
12. Cabinet Approvals (Oct 21, 2021) -
  1. General -
    1. Approved releasing additional instalment of Dearness Allowance to Central Government employees and Dearness Relief (DR) to pensioners, wef July 2021, representing increase of 3% over existing rate of 28% of Basic Pay / Pension.
      1. It will cost 9489 crores per annum, and will benefit 47.14 lakh Central Government employees and 68.62 lakh pensioners.
  2. CCEA -
    1. Approved PM GatiShakti National Master Plan, including institutional framework for rolling out, implementation, monitoring and support mechanism for providing multi-modal connectivity.
      1. Implementation framework includes Empowered Group of Secretaries (EGOS), Network Planning Group (NPG) and Technical Support Unit (TSU) with required technical competencies.
      2. EGOS will be headed by Cabinet Secretary and will consist of Secretaries of 18 Ministries as members and Head of Logistics Division as Member Convenor. EGOS will review and monitor implementation of PM GatiShakti NMP, to ensure logistics efficiency.
      3. Network Planning Group will consist heads of Network Planning wing of respective infrastructure ministries, to assist EGOS.
      4. Technical Support Unit (TSU) is approved for providing required technical competencies, with domain experts from various infrastructure sectors.
Oct 20, 2021
1. Oct 20 is observed as World Statistics Day (every 5 years), being observed since 2010, declared by UN Statistical Commission. It is celebrated once in 5 years. Last observation was on Oct 20, 2020; with theme Connecting the world with data we can trust.
  1. India celebrates Statistics Day on 29th June, on birthday of legendry statistician Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis.
  2. 51 African countries jointly celebrate African Statistics Day annually on 18 November.
  3. Other Observations on Oct 20 -
    1. World Osteoporosis Day.
    2. International Chef’s Day.
2. 6th Edition of India - UK Joint Company Level Military Training EXERCISE AJEYA WARRIOR held at Chaubatia (Uttarakhand).
3. PM Narendra Modi inaugurated Kushinagar International Airport (Uttar Pradesh), to ease and facilitate air travel requirements of International Buddhist pilgrims in India, with inaugural flight to land at the airport from Colombo (Sri Lanka).
  1. He also visited Mahaparinirvana temple, to mark Abhidhamma Day, which symbolises end of three-month rainy retreat (Varshavaas or Vassa) for Buddhist Monks, during which they stay at one place in vihara & monastery and pray.
4. General Conferences (Oct 11-20, 2021) -
  1. Government approved to invite expression of interest for installation of pilot 1000 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project, as joint project by Ministry of New & Renewable energy and Ministry of Power.
  2. PM Narendra Modi attended virtual G20 Extraordinary Leaders’ Summit on Afghanistan, to promote peace and stability after taliban takeover.
  3. Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan declared Kochi as a 'dementia-friendly city', while inaugurating a dementia-friendly district programme called Udbodh.
  4. Haryana Govt banned participation of its State govt employees in politics and elections, amid over and year long protests against new farm laws.
  5. 9 day Bathukamma floral festival held in Telangana, which is celebrated in state during Durga Navratri.
  6. Delhi govt launched Desh ke mentor programme, under which students of Delhi government schools will be provided guidance on career choices by citizens who are successful in their respective fields.
  7. Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi launched Mera Ghar Mere Naam Scheme, to give ownership rights to people living in houses within the ‘lal lakir’ of villages and cities.
    1. Lal Lakir refers to the land which is part of the village habitation and is used for non-agriculture purposes only.
  8. Rajasthan Govt recalled recently passed marriage registration bill to re-examine , amid concerns that it may encourage child marriages.
  9. Rural Development & Panchayati Raj Minister Giriraj Singh launched Climate Resilience Information System and Planning (CRISP-M) tool for integration of climate information in Geographic Information System (GIS) based watershed planning under MNREGA.
  10. Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Singh Thakur launched MyParkings app, as a solution for hassle-free parking and booking of online parking slots will enable people to park their vehicles without inconvenience.
  11. NITI Aayog launched Geospatial Energy Map of India, jointly with Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). It provides holistic picture of all energy resources in India, which enables visualisation of energy installations.
  12. Inaugural session of International Conference and Exhibition on Digital technologies - “Future Tech 2021” organized by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).
Oct 19, 2021
1. Ministry of Information and Broadcasting announced that Film Directors Istvan Szabo (Hungary) and Martin Scorsese (US) will be conferred Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award at 52nd International Film Festival of India 2021, to be held in Goa in November 2021.
2. DRDO successfully flight-tested indigenous unmanned aerial target system ABHYAS - High-speed Expendable Aerial Target (HEAT), which can be used as an aerial target for evaluation of various missile systems.
3. NITI Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) launched Booklet Innovations for You, to showcase success stories of Atal Innovation Mission’s Startups in different domains.
4. In a first for any NBFC in India, PSU REC Limited (formerly Rural Electrification Corporation) raised USD 75 million, 5-year Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) linked Syndicated Term Loan, with Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC).
  1. REC also entered into interest rate swap referencing SOFR to hedge interest rate risk on this facility, as first such deal by any Corporate in India.
  2. Proceeds from this facility shall be utilized to fund infrastructure power sector projects as permitted under ECB guidelines of RBI.
5. Tourism Minister G. Kishan Reddy unveiled UNESCO World Heritage Listing Plaque at Ramappa - Kakatiya Rudreshwara Temple in Telengana, the first World Heritage Site from state.
Oct 18, 2021
1. China pledged to inject $233 million into Kunming biodiversity fund, to protect biodiversity in developing countries, during first of a two-part summit on safeguarding plants, animals and ecosystems; held in Kunming city.
  1. Summit aims to establish a new accord setting out targets for 2030 and 2050.
2. Manipur CM N Biren Singh launched CM’s Health for All scheme, focused on early identification and diagnosis of diseases through check-ups at people’s doorsteps, treatment, and follow-ups.
3. Payments Firm PayPal signed MoU with Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), to jointly launch the India Digital Trade Facilitation Forum (IDTFF) for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
  1. It aims at providing education, training and capacity building to empower MSMEs and help scale their businesses across global markets using digital platforms.
4. As per IMF Report -
  1. Global debt jumped to a new high of USD 226 trillion in 2020, Due to COVID-19 restrictions and related impacts.
  2. For India -
    1. India’s debt increased from 68.9 % of its GDP in 2016 to 89.6 % in 2020.
    2. It is projected to jump to 90.6 % of GDP in 2021, and decline to 88.8 % of GDP in 2022 and further down to 85.2 % of GDP in 2026.
5. As per study by Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) -
  1. India should increase its solar power capacity to 5630 gigawatt, to meet its target of becoming a net-zero emissions nation by 2070.
  2. At present, India has 100 GW of installed renewable energy capacity, of which solar comprises 40 GW.
  3. India has ambitious target to scale up its total renewable energy capacity to 450 GW by 2030.
Oct 17, 2021
1. India has been re-elected to UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for 2022-2024 term, for sixth term.
  1. Elections were held by United Nations General Assembly for 18 new members of UNHRC, who will serve for 3 years term starting January 2022.
  2. UNHRC has 47 members, headquartered in Geneva (Switzerland).
2. 2021 Indian Premier League (IPL) Cricket (14th Edition, sponsored by Vivo) -
  1. Chennai Super Kings won the title (their 4th), defeating Kolkata Knight Riders in Final.
  2. Player Stats -
    1. Player of the series - Harshal Patel (RCB)
    2. Most runs - Ruturaj Gaikwad (CSK)
    3. Most wickets - Harshal Patel (RCB)
3. Former Cricketer Rahul Dravid has been named head coach of Indian Cricket Team, succeding Ravi Shastri.
4. Inaugural Earthshot prize Winners 2021 (also called Eco Oscars), presented by Queen Elizabeth II's grandson Prince William -
  1. 5 projects from Costa Rica, Italy Bahamas and India won prizes, each receiving million pounds ($1.4 million).
  2. These new annual awards were created by Prince William to reward efforts to save planet in face of climate change and global warming.
  3. Winners -
    1. Protect & Restore Nature - Republic of Costa Rica
    2. Clean Our Air - Takachar (India)
      1. Delhi-based Firm Takachar has been honored for its technology to create fuel, fertiliser and other speciality chemicals from agricultural waste.
    3. Revive our Oceans - Coral Vita (Bahamas)
    4. Build a Waste Free World - The City of Milan Food Waste Hubs (Italy)
    5. Fix our Climate - Aem Electrolyser (Thailand / Germany / Italy)
5. China launched Shenzhou-13 spacecraft carrying three astronauts,on a 6-month long mission, launched aboard a Long March-2F rocket.
  1. The spacecraft will dock with Tianhe module, the core module of a future space station where they will live and work for six months.
6. China launched its first solar observation satellite, onboard Long March 2D rocket, as 550-kg Xihe satellite. It will monitor Sun for three years.
  1. Until now, China had a solar monitoring network on ground, but no access to optical data outside atmosphere. The Xihe satellite will aid the country to fill this gap.
7. Oct 17 is UN International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. 2021 It is being observed since 1987.
  1. Oct 17 is also observed as World trauma day.
8. Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) constituted a four-member high powered advisory committee on settlement orders and compounding of offences, headed by Vijay C Daga, retired judge of High Court of Bombay.
Oct 16, 2021
1. Oct 16 as observed as World Food Day, commemorating creation of UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in 1945. 2021 Theme is Safe food now for a healthy tomorrow.
  1. On this occasion, Ministry of Food Processing Industries, under the Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro food processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme, organised Food Tech Summit.
2. India won 2021 SAFF Championship (13th edition), the biennial football championship organised by South Asian Football Federation.
  1. It was hosted by Maldives (Changed earlier from Pakistan to Bangladesh and later to Maldives).
  2. It was 8th SAFF Title for India, won by defeating Nepal in Final.
  3. Notably, Indian footballer Sunil Chhetri got past Noted Brazilian football player Pele's international goals record, during match against Maldives, during 2021 SAFF Championship. Currently, Chhetri has 80 International goals to his name. Among Active international players, only Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) is ahead of him (115 Goals).
3. US Space Agency NASA launched Lucy Spacecraft, which will fly by 8 ancient asteroids, to study about solar system’s evolution. It will consist of a main-belt asteroid and seven Jupiter Trojan asteroids.
  1. It was launched aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket.
  2. Lucy is designed to travel nearly 4 billion miles. First asteroid flyby of Lucy will happen in 2025, with other 7 Trojan asteroids to be flown by between 2027 - 2033.
  3. Lucy mission has been named after discovered partial skeleton from a human ancestor that is believed to have lived more than 3 million years ago. The fossilized remains were named Lucy.
Oct 15, 2021
1. Oct 15 is observed as International Day of Rural Women. 2021 theme is Rural women cultivating good food for all.
  1. India's Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare observes this day as Rashtriya Mahila Kisan Diwas, since 2016.
2. Oct 15 is observed globally by UN as World Student’s Day, on occasion of birth anniversary of former president of India, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam.
  1. UN marked this day in 2010. 2021 theme Learning for people, planet, prosperity and peace.
3. 8th edition of India-Sri Lanka bilateral Army exercise Mitra Shakti held at Combat Training School, Ampara (Sri Lanka).
4. Indian Navy participated in Second Phase of Multilateral Maritime Exercise Malabar 21, along with Japan, Australia and US Navies, conducted in Bay of Bengal. 1st Phase was conducted in Phillipines Sea in Aug 2021.
5. Jonas Gahr Store has been named as new Prime Minister of Scandinavian European Nation Norway.
6. Indian Army's team from 4/5 Gorkha Rifles (Frontier Force), won Gold medal at Cambrian Patrol Exercise at Brecon, Wales (UK).
  1. Ex Cambrian Patrol organised by the UK Army is considered the ultimate test of human endurance, team spirit and is sometimes referred as the Olympics of Military Patrolling among militaries in the world.
Oct 14, 2021
1. Oct 14 is observed as World Standards Day. 2021 theme is shared vision for a better world.
  1. Oct 14 is also observed as International E-Waste Day, observed since 2018.
  2. Oct 14, 2021 is obseved as World Sight Day, observed annually on second Thursday of October.
2. PM Narendra Modi inaugurated PM Gati Shakti-National Master Plan, from Pragati Maidan in New Delhi.
  1. It aims to provide multi-modal connectivity to economic zones in country.
  2. Undet it, centralised portal will be set up to bring together infrastructure schemes (to be completed by 2024-25), of 16 Ministries & State Governments on a common platform, for integrated planning and coordinated implementation.
  3. Govt aims to lend more speed (Gati) and power (Shakti) to infrastructure connectivity projects by connecting all concerned departments on one platform.
3. Sujeet Sarkar's new book Quest for a Stable Afghanistan: A View from Ground Zero, has been released.
4. India won its first-ever medal in FIDE world women's team chess championship, after losing in final to Russia, in 2021 edition of championship.
5. Nobel Prizes 2021 -
  1. Winners -
    1. Physics -
      1. Syukuro Manabe (Japan)- For physical modelling of Earth’s climate, quantifying variability and reliably predicting global warming
      2. Klaus Hasselmann (Germany) - For physical modelling of Earth’s climate, quantifying variability and reliably predicting global warming
      3. Giorgio Parisi (Italy) - For discovery of the interplay of disorder and fluctuations in physical systems from atomic to planetary scales.
    2. Chemistry -
      1. Benjamin List (Germany) AND David W.C. MacMillan (Scotland) - For development of asymmetric organocatalysis
    3. Physiology / Medicine -
      1. David Julius (US) AND Ardem Patapoutian (Lebanon) - For their discoveries of receptors for temperature and touch
    4. Literature -
      1. Abdulrazak Gurnah (Tanzania) - For his uncompromising and compassionate penetration of effects of colonialism and fate of refugee in gulf between cultures and continents.
    5. Peace -
      1. Maria Ressa (Filipino-American) AND Dmitry Andreyevich Muratov (Russia) - for their efforts to safeguard freedom of expression, which is a precondition for democracy and lasting peace
    6. Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel -
      1. David Card (Canada) - for his empirical contributions to labour economics
      2. Joshua D. Angrist (Israeli-American) AND Guido W. Imbens (Netherlands) - for their methodological contributions to the analysis of causal relationships.
  2. Facts About Nobel prizes -
    1. In 2018, it was for first time in 70 years of Nobel Prizes, that no Literature Prize was given. It was announced by Swedish Academy after a sexual assault scandal. It was postponed to 2019.
    2. Background -
      1. Will of Swedish scientist Alfred Nobel established five Nobel prizes in 1895 - Chemistry, Literature, Peace, Physics, and Physiology or Medicine, first awarded in 1901.
      2. In 1968, Sweden's central bank Sveriges Riksbank established the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel, which, although not being a Nobel Prize, has become informally known as Nobel Prize in Economics
    3. Indian Nobel Laureates -
      1. Rabindranath Tagore in 1913 (Literature)
      2. C.V. Raman in 1930 (Physics)
      3. Mother Teresa in 1979 (Peace)
      4. Amartya Sen in 1998 (Economic Studies)
      5. Kailash Satyarthi in 2014 (Peace)
    4. Indian Origin Nobel Laureates -
      1. Har Gobind Khorana (US) - In 1968 for Physiology / Medicine.
      2. Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar (US) - In 1983 for Physics.
      3. Venkatraman Ramakrishnan (UK/US) - In 2009 for Chemistry.
      4. Abhijit Banerjee (US) - In 2019 for Economics

Oct 13, 2021

Oct 13 is observed as International Day of Disaster Risk Reduction, marked by UN in 1989.
Netherlands national observatory ASTRON based powerful radio antenna Low-Frequency Array (LOFAR) received signals from planet outside of Solar System, detected stars that are emitting radio signals, for the first time.
1. It hints towards presence of hidden planets around these stars, possibly answering question if there is life beyond Solar System.
German rail operator Deutsche Bahn and Siemens launched world’s first automated, driverless train in Hamburg city, to join S-Bahn rapid urban rail network of Hamburg.
Researchers at Southwest Research Institute (US) found that Pluto, which had earlier lost its status as a planet, is having its atmosphere Disappeared slowly. It lies over 4.8 billion kilometres away from Earth.
1. Researchers found that since Pluto is moving farther away from the Sun, its atmosphere is refreezing back onto its surface, making Pluto colder.
Noted Telugu filmmaker B Gopal has been chosen for 4th Satyajit Ray Award for his contribution to Indian cinema.
Indian American Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella won C K Prahlad award for Global Business Sustainability Leadership for 2021, along with three other top leaders at Microsoft, for their collaborative leadership to transform Microsoft into a carbon negative company by 2030 and remove all its historical emissions by 2050.
1. Others to win the award - Microsoft President and Vice-Chair Brad Smith, CFO Amy Hood and chief environment officer Lucas Joppa.
UCO Bank MD & CEO A K Goel has been elected as chairman of Indian Bank’s Association (IBA) for 2021-22, replacing Rajkiran Rai G (Union Bnak MD & CEO).
Noted Malayalam writer Benyamin won 45th Vayalar Ramavarma Memorial Literary Award for his book “Manthalirile 20 Communist Varshangal”.
1. This award, instituted by Vayalar Ramavarma Memorial Trust, comprises a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh.

Alfa Romeo's Finnish racing driver Valtteri Bottas won Turkish Grand Prix 2021, -

F1 Season 2021 -

Grand Prix	Winner	Race date
Bahrain Grand Prix	Lewis Hamilton (UK)	28 March
Emilia Romagna Grand Prix	Max Verstappen (Belgian-Dutch)	18 April
Portuguese Grand Prix	Lewis Hamilton (UK)	2 May
Spanish Grand Prix	Lewis Hamilton (UK)	9 May
Monaco Grand Prix	Max Verstappen (Belgian-Dutch)	23 May
Azerbaijan Grand Prix	Sergio Pérez (Mexico)	6 June
French Grand Prix	Max Verstappen (Belgian-Dutch)	20 June
Styrian Grand Prix	Max Verstappen (Belgian-Dutch)	27 June
Austrian Grand Prix	Max Verstappen (Belgian-Dutch)	4 July
British Grand Prix	Lewis Hamilton (UK)	18 July
Hungarian Grand Prix	Esteban Ocon (France)	1 August
Belgian Grand Prix	Max Verstappen (Belgian-Dutch)	29 August
Dutch Grand Prix	Max Verstappen (Belgian-Dutch)	5 September
Italian Grand Prix	Daniel Ricciardo (Australian -Italian)	12 September
Russian Grand Prix	Lewis Hamilton (UK)	26 September
Turkish Grand Prix	Valtteri Bottas (Finland)	10 October
United States Grand Prix		24 October
Mexico City Grand Prix		31 October
São Paulo Grand Prix		7 November
Australian Grand Prix		21 November
Saudi Arabian Grand Prix		5 December
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix		12 December

As per Forbes World's Best Employers rankings 2021 -
1. Reliance is top Indian Employer to work for (overall 52nd), followed by ICICI (65), HDFC Bank (77) and HCL Technologies (90).
2. Globally, South Korean Electronics Giant Samsung is at top, followed by IBM, Microsoft, Amazon and Apple.
2021 Global Hunger Index -
1. India ranks 101st.
2. Neighbors - China (1-18), Pakistan (92), Bangladesh (76), Sri Lanka (65)
India's 1st Atal Community Innovation Center inaugurated at Vivekananda Global University (Jaipur), to be set up by Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) and NITI Aayog.
Former SBI Chairman Rajnish Kumar released his memoir titled The Custodian of Trust – A Banker’s Memoir.
1. Also, fintech startup BharatPe has appointed Rajnish Kumar as Chairman of its board.
RBI granted banking licence to Unity Small Finance Bank, established jointly by Centrum Financial Services Ltd (CFSL) and Resilient Innovations Private Limited (BharatPe). It will be 12th Small Finance Bank in India.
Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh) will become first city in India to use ropeway services in public transportation. It will be 4.2 KM Long, to be set up with cost 424 crores.
1. Overall, Varanasi will be third city in the world after Bolivia and Mexico City to use ropeway in public transportation.
Unique clove spice grown in hills of Kanyakumari district in Tamil Nadu has been accorded a geographical indication (GI) as ‘Kanyakumari clove’.
1. In India, total production of cloves is 1,100 metric tons and of this, 1,000 metric tons is produced in Tamil Nadu, with 750 metric tons in Kanyakumari district alone.
Railways launched two long haul freight trains “Trishul” and “Garuda” - which are multiple times longer than normal composition of freight trains.
1. Trishul is first long haul train of South Central Railway (SCR) and consists of 177 wagons, or equal to three freight trains.
2. Garuda was launched from Raichur of Guntakal division to Manuguru of Secunderabad division.
International Energy Agency (IEA) invited India to become its full-time member, which will require India to increase its strategic oil reserved to 90 days requirement.
New Chief Justices of Various High Courts -
1. Himachal Pradesh - Mohammad Rafiq
2. Madhya Pradesh - Ravi Malimath
3. Andhra Pradesh - Prashant Kumar Mishra
4. Gujarat - Aravind Kumar
5. Chhattisgarh - Arup Kumar Goswami
6. Rajasthan - Akil Kureshi
7. Sikkim - Biswanath Somadder
8. Tripura - Indrajit Mahanty
9. Uttar Pradesh - Rajesh Bindal
10. West Bengal - Prakash Shrivastava
11. Karnataka - Ritu Raj Awasthi
12. Telangana - Satish Chandra Sharma
2021 Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) Report, jointly released by UNDP and Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative -
1. It provides estimates on multidimensional poverty across 109 developing countries, including 26 low-income, 80 middle-income and 3 high-income countries.

Oct 12, 2021
1. UN Human Rights Council recognized access to a clean and healthy environment as a fundamental right.
  1. Another proposal led by Marshall Islands (independent island country) to create a new special rapporteur on climate change was also approved.
2. Oct 12 is observed as World Arthritis Day.
3. Department of Biotechnology launched India’s first ‘One Health’ Consortium, to carry out surveillance of important viral, bacterial and parasitic infections of the zoonotic as well as the transboundary pathogens.
4. India ranked 3rd in EY’s Renewable Energy Country Attractiveness Index (RECAI), with US and China at 1st and 2nd place respectively.
5. Asian Development Bank (ADB) announced to boost its climate financing goals by $20 billion to a new target of $100 billion through 2030, up from $80 billion goal earlier.

Oct 11, 2021

Oct 11 is observed as UN International Day of Girl Child, Being observed since 2012. 2021 Theme is My Voice, Our Equal Future.
Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu presented 22nd Lal Bahadur Shastri National Award for Excellence to noted pulmonologist and AIIMS Dr Randeep Guleria.
Petroleum PSU Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) launched UFill, as a digital customer experience, to help customers have complete control over Time, Technology and Transparency as part of their fuelling experience.
Central Govt accorded Maharatna status to Power Ministry PSU Power Finance Corporation (PFC), giving PFC greater operational and financial autonomy.
1. Incorporated in 1986, PFC is largest Infrastructure Finance Company in India, exclusively dedicated to Power Sector.
2. Board of a ‘Maharatna’ CPSE can make equity investments to undertake financial joint ventures and wholly-owned subsidiaries and undertake mergers / acquisitions in India and abroad, subject to ceiling of 15% of Net Worth of concerned CPSE, limited to 5000 crores in one project.
3. Other Maharatna PSUs are -
  1. Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited
  2. Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited
  3. Coal India Limited
  4. GAIL (India) Limited
  5. Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited
  6. Indian Oil Corporation Limited
  7. NTPC Limited
  8. Oil & Natural Gas Corporation Limited
  9. Power Grid Corporation of India Limited
  10. Steel Authority of India Limited
PM Narendra Modi launched Indian Space Association (ISpA), as Premier Industry Association of Space and Satellite companies, which will aspire to be collective voice of Indian Space industry.
1. It will undertake policy advocacy and engage with all stakeholders in the Indian Space domain, including the Government and its agencies.

Cabinet Approvals (Oct 11, 2021) -

General -
1. Approved launching affiliated Sainik Schools under Sainik Schools Society (Ministry of Defence), to function as an exclusive vertical which will be different from existing Sainik Schools.
  1. In first phase, 100 affiliate partners are proposed to be drawn from States/NGOs/Private partners.
  2. It will aim to -
    1. Provide cost-effective ways in reaching out to larger populations across all regions in country.
    2. Meeting growing demand for Sainik Schools and providing effective physical, psycho-social, spiritual, intellectual, emotional and cognitive development.
    3. Savings in training duration, deployment of trainers, maintenance and operations budgets, while substantially improving the quality to youth entering the various walks of life.
2. Approved continuation of Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) till 2025-26.
  1. It will focus on sustainability of Open Defecation Free (ODF) outcomes, achieving scientific processing of Solid Waste in all cities, and managing Wastewater in cities with less than 1 lakh population in Census 2011 (cities not covered under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT).
  2. Financial outlay of 1,41,600 crores has been finalized for SBM-U 2.0, including central share of 36,465 for 2021-22 to 2025-26 (over 2.5 times outlay of 62009 crores in last phase of Mission).
  3. Fund sharing pattern between Centre and States (As per Population) -
    1. Million plus -25:75
    2. 1-10 lakhs - 33:67
    3. Under 1 lakh - 50:50
    4. Union territories without legislature - 100:0
    5. Union territories with legislature: 80:20
  4. Expected Outcomes -
    1. Sanitation -
      1. All statutory towns to become at least ODF+
      2. All cities with <1 lakh population to be made ODF++
      3. Putting in place systems and processes so that all wastewater is safely treated and optimally reused and no untreated wastewater pollutes water bodies
    2. Solid Waste Management: All cities to achieve at least 3-star Garbage Free certification
3. Approved Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation 2.0 (AMRUT 2.0) till 2025-26
  1. It aims to make cities ‘water secure’ and ‘self-sustainable’ through circular economy of water.
  2. Reliable and affordable water supply and sanitation services will be provided to urban households, leading to ease of living by providing piped water supply and sewerage / septage facility.
  3. AMRUT 2.0 targets -
    1. Universal coverage of water supply by providing household tap connections in all 4,378 statutory towns.
    2. 100% coverage of household sewerage/ septage management in 500 AMRUT cities.
    3. Provide 2.68 crore tap connections and 2.64 crore sewer/ septage connections.
  4. Outlay for AMRUT 2.0 is 2,77,000 crore, including central share of 76,760 crore for 2021-22 to FY 2025-26.
  5. Mission has a reform agenda focussed towards financial health and water security of ULBs. Meeting 20% of water demand through recycled water, reducing non-revenue water to less than 20% and rejuvenation of water bodies are major water related reforms.
  6. AMRUT is first focused national water Mission was launched in June 2015 to facilitate ease of living to citizens in 500 cities by providing tap connections and sewer connections.
    1. So far, 1.1 crore household tap connections and 85 lakh sewer/ septage connections have been provided.

CCEA -

Approved proposal of Department of Fertilizers for fixation of Nutrient Based Subsidy Rates for P&K Fertilizers for 2021-22 (1st October 2021 to 31st March 2022). Approved rates for Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) -

Per Kg Subsidy rates (in Rs.)

N (Nitrogen)

P(Phosphorus)

K(Potash)

S(Sulphur)

18.789

45.323

10.116

2.374

Net subsidy required for Rabi 2021-22 after deducting savings will be Rs.28,655 crore.
This will enable smooth availability of all P&K fertilizers to farmers during Rabi Season 2021-22 at subsidized prices.

Oct 10, 2021

World Space Week (WSW) is observed Annually Between Oct 4 - 10, declared by UN in 1999. 2021 theme is Women in Space.
1. Dates commemorate launch of first artificial satellite Sputnik I (on 4 October 1957) and entry into force of Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in Exploration and Use of Outer Space including Moon and Other Celestial Bodies (10 October 1967).
Oct 10 is Observed as World Mental Health Day by World Health Organization. 2021 Theme is Mental Health in an Unequal World. It was first celebrated in 1992 at initiative of the World Federation for Mental Health.
1. Oct 10 is also observed as World Day Against Death Penalty.

2021 ISSF Junior World Championships (Lima, Peru)

India Ranked at top with 43 Medals (17 Gold, 16 Silver and 10 Bronze).

Medal Table -


Rank	Nation	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
1	India	17	16	10	43
2	United States	7	8	6	21
3	Italy	3	3	4	10
4	France	3	3	3	9
5	Germany	3	1	6	10

2021 World Wrestling Championships (Oslo, Norway) -

Medal Table -


Rank	Nation	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
1	Iran	7	3	3	13
2	United States	5	5	5	15
3	Japan	5	3	4	12
4	Russian Wrestling Federation	4	5	9	18
5	Kyrgyzstan	2	2	2	6

India ranked 15th, combined with Belarus and Kazakhstan. India won 2 Medals (1 Silver and 1 Bronze).
Indian Medalists -
1. Anshu Malik (57 kg women's freestyle) became first Indian women finalist at World Wrestling Championships, and also first female player from India to claim a silver medal.
2. Sarita Mor won Bronze in 59 kg Women's freestyle.

General Conferences (Oct 1-10, 2021) -
1. Minister of State for Tourism, Ajay Bhatt flagged off Buddhist Circuit Train FAM Tour from Safdarjung railway station (Delhi), as part of Dekho Apna Desh initiative. It will cover prominent Buddhist sites and conferences at Bodhgaya and Varanasi.
2. Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu has inaugurated Mahabahu Brahmaputra River Heritage Centre, in Guwahati (Assam). It originally served as residence of British deputy commissioner of Kamrup.
3. PM Narendra Modi inaugurated Azadi@75 – New Urban India: Transforming Urban Landscape Conference-cum-Expo, in Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh). It is organised by Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA).
4. Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya launched i-Drone, a drone-based vaccine delivery model for Northeast states, which stands for ICMR’s Drone Response and Outreach in North East. It aims to facilitate vaccine delivery to hard-to-reach.
5. 1st consignment of Geographical Indication (GI) tagged sweet dish Mihidana, from Bardhaman (West Bengal) has been exported to the Kingdom of Bahrain.
6. Govt announced to set up 75 Science Technology and Innovation (STI) Hubs across country, exclusively for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs).
7. India hosted world's largest virtual fintech summit - Global FinTech Fest, with participation of Over 25,000 delegates. It focused on how globally economies are being re-shaped by fintech adoption.
8. Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) launched Multilingual Dementia Research and Assessment (MUDRA) Toolbox in five languages - Hindi, Bengali, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam. It has been launched for undertaking uniform, standardized dementia research in country.
9. International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) observes World Investor Week annually between Oct 4 - 10.
10. International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) launched global FinTech Hackathon Series ‘I-Sprint’21’. The first Sprint of the series is “Sprint01: BankTech”, which focuses on FinTechs for the Banking sector.
11. Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Anurag Thakur launched nationwide Clean India programme from Prayagraj (UP), to last through Month of October 2021.
12. Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia flagged off first direct flight on Agra (UP) - Lucknow (UP) route, under Ude Desh Ka Aam Naagrik (UDAN) scheme.
  1. He also inaugurated greenfield Sindhudurg airport (Maharashtra) & also flagged off first flight from Sindhudurg to Mumbai under RCS-UDAN (Regional Connectivity Scheme - Ude Desh Ka Aam Naagrik) scheme.
13. Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) facilitated exports of first consignment of various products derived from Jackfruit, Passion fruit and Nutmeg (Jaiphal) sourced from farmers in Thrissur (Kerala), to Melbourne (Australia).
14. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced construction of a 3 km long 4-lane bridge on Brahmaputra river in Kamrup district, with estimated cost 3094 crores. It will facilitate direct connectivity to renowned silk town of Sualkuchi and industrial region of Amingaon with Guwahati and International airport.
15. Ports, Shipping and Waterways Minister Sarbanand Sonowal launched port mobile application called MyPortApp, which includes all port details digitally and monitor operations virtually.
16. India and US agreed to establish a Indo-US Industrial Security Joint Working Group, during Industrial Security Agreement (ISA) summit between India and US, in New Delhi.
17. Assam Fisheries Minister launched app Fishwaale, India’s First e-Fish Market app.
18. Telangana State Election Commission developed India’s first smartphone-based eVoting solution.
Ministry of Textiles approved continuation of Comprehensive Handicrafts Cluster Development Scheme (CHCDS), with outlay of 160 crores, up to March 2026.
1. Under this, Infrastructural support, market access, design and technology up-gradation support will be provided to handicrafts artisans.
2. CHCDS aims to create world-class infrastructure that caters to the business needs of the local artisans & SMEs to boost production and export.
Coup Leader Mamady Doumbouya has took over as Interim president of Guinea (West Africa). Also, Mohamed Béavogui has been named as interim prime minister of Guinea.
Lasker Awards 2021 -
1. Basic -
  1. Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann, Dieter Oesterhelt
    1. For discovery of light-sensitive microbial proteins that can activate or silence individual brain cells and for their use in developing optogenetics – a revolutionary technique for neuroscience.
2. Clinical
  1. Katalin Karikó, Drew Weissman
    1. For discovery of a new therapeutic technology based on the modification of messenger RNA – enabling rapid development of highly effective Covid-19 vaccines.
3. Special Achievement
  1. David Baltimore
    1. Renowned for his discoveries in virology, immunology, and cancer.
4. About -
  1. Lasker Awards have been awarded annually since 1945 to living persons who have made major contributions to medical science or who have performed public service on behalf of medicine.
  2. They are administered by Lasker Foundation, founded by Albert Lasker and his wife Mary Woodard Lasker.

Oct 09, 2021
1. Rating agency Moody’s upgraded India’s sovereign rating outlook to ‘stable’, from negative, amid quick economic recovery across sectors. It expects Indian GDP to grow at 9.3% growth in FY 22 (2021-22), followed by 7.9% in FY 23 (2022-23).
2. Indian GDP Growth Forecasts (October 2021) -
  1. World Bank estimated India’s real GDP in FY 22 (2021-22), to be 8.3%, in its latest update for South Asia.
  2. As per IMF, Indian economy is expected to grow at 9.5 % in FY 22 (2021-22) and 8.5 % in FY 23 (2022-23).
  3. FICCI Projected India’s GDP to grow at 9.1 % in FY 22 (2021-22).
3. RBI granted National Asset Reconstruction Company (NARCL) the licence to register as an asset reconstruction company (ARC), under Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest (SARFAESI) Act 2002.
4. Kotak Mahindra Bank became First private sector bank to receive Govt approval for collection of direct & indirect taxes, through its banking network.
5. Andhra Pradesh CM Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy launched Swechha, program to tackle stigma attached to menstruation and encourage a healthy dialogue of information.
  1. Under it, 10 sanitary napkins will be given every month to about 10 lakh adolescent girls studying from 7th-12th grades in all government schools and intermediate colleges.
6. Oct 09, 2021 is observed as World Migratory Bird Day. 2021 theme is Sing, Fly, Soar – Like a Bird.
  1. It is officially celebrated twice in a year since 2006, Firstly on Second Saturday of May and again on Second Saturday of October.
7. Oct 9 is observed as World Post Day. It marks establishment of Universal Postal Union in 1874 in Swiss Capital, Bern. It was declared in 1969. 2021 Theme is Innovate to recover.
  1. In India, National Postal Day is celebrated annually on 10 October, as an extension of World Post Day. Also, National Postal Week in India is observed Between 9th to 15th October.
    1. Also, Department of Posts launched digital version of Postal Life Insurance policy bonds, also termed as “ePLI bond”, on 12 October (Postal Life Insurance Day).
  2. Oct 9 is also obsebved as Indian foreign service (IFS) day in India, observed since 2011, to commemorate the day the Cabinet created the Foreign Service.
  3. Oct 9 is also observed as Territorial Army Day, which came into being when Territorial Army Act was enacted on Aug 18, 1948. It was formally raised by first Governor General Shri C Rajagopalachari on 09 Oct. 1949.
8. As per Henley Passport Index 2021 -
  1. India ranked 90th this year, down by 6 places as compatd to last year.
  2. Top 5 -
    1. Japan, Singapore
    2. Germany, South Korea
    3. Finland, Italy, Luxembourg, Spain
  3. Weakest Passports -
    1. Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Pakistan, Yemen
9. India's Reliance Industries subsidiary Reliance New Energy Solar (RNESL) acquired 100 % stake in Norway-based REC Solar Holdings, from China National Bluestar Co Ltd, for $771 million.
  1. RIL aims to invest about $10.1 billion in clean energy over 3 years, in a drive to become net carbon zero by 2035.
Oct 08, 2021
1. Oct 8 is observed as Indian Air Force Day. 2021 is 89th observance of the day.
2. Wildlife Week is observed across India every year between 2nd October and 8th October. 2021 Theme is Forests and Livelihoods: Sustaining People and Planet.
3. 5th edition bilateral maritime exercise JIMEX, between Japan and India Navies, conducted in Arabian Sea.
4. Cabinet Approvals (Oct 08, 2021) -
  1. CCEA -
    1. CCEA empowered Air India Specific Alternative Mechanism (AISAM) approved highest price bid of 18000 Crores, by Tata Sons Subsidiary Talace Pvt Ltd, for sale of 100% equity shareholding of Government of India in Air India, along with equity shareholding of Air India in AIXL and AISATS.
5. National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) approved Chhattisgarh Government’s proposal of declaring combined areas of Guru Ghasidas National Park and Tamor Pingla Wildlife Sanctuary as a Tiger Reserve.
  1. It will be 4th Tiger Reserve in Chhattisgarh, after Achanakmar, Udanti-Sitanadi, and Indravati Reserves.
Oct 07, 2021
1. Oct 07 is observed as World Cotton Day, being observed since 2019.
  1. On this occasion, Germany's Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) signed MOU with India's Ministry of Textiles, for Indo German Technical Cooperation Project on Sustainability and Value Added in the Cotton Economy. It is focussing on 4 majorly cotton producing states- Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
2. Misc. MoUs (October 2021) -
  1. French Power Sector Firm Électricité de France S.A. (EDF) and India's NTPC signed MoU to explore potential power project development opportunities in Middle East, Asia, Europe and Africa.
  2. India and Croatia signed agreement for academic collaboration in India’s traditional medicine systems, especially in field of Ayurveda. It was signed between All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) and Croatia’s Kvarner Health Tourism Cluster, during first International Yoga and Ayurveda conference in Zagreb (Croatian Capital).
  3. Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways announced forming a Special Purpose vehicle (SPV) for development of a Multimodal Logistics Park (MMLP) at VOC Port in Chennai. All 3 stake holders (Chennai Port Authority, TIDCO and NHAI) will be equity partners in proposed SVP.
  4. Jammu and Kashmir administration signed MoU with Government of Dubai, for Infrastructure develoment including industrial parks, multipurpose towers, super specialty hospitals etc.
  5. Union Bank of India signed MoU with Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) Hyderabad, to launch a 1st of its kind initiative on Cyber Security Awareness.
3. G Satheesh Reddy (DRDO Chairman) has been conferred with Aryabhata Award by Astronautical Society of India (ASI), for his life-time contribution to the promotion of astronautics in India.
4. RBI Bi-Monthly Monetary Policy Review -
  1. RBI kept key lending rates unchanged. It also expects GDP Growth forecast for FY 2021-22 at 9.5 %.
  2. Key Monetary Policy Rates -
    1. Repo Rate : 4.00%
    2. Reverse Repo Rate : 3.35%
    3. Marginal Standing Facility Rate : 4.25%
    4. Bank Rate : 4.25%
    5. CRR : 4.00%
    6. SLR : 18.00%
5. India officially joined High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People, a group of over 70 countries encouraging adoption of global goal to protect 30x30.
  1. India is first of BRICS bloc of major emerging economies (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) to join HAC.
  2. Global 30x30 goal aims to prevent mass extinctions and bolster resilience to climate change, by protecting at least 30 % of our lands, rivers, lakes, and wetlands by 2030.
Oct 06, 2021
1. Cabinet Approvals (Oct 06, 2021) -
  1. General -
    1. Approved Productivity Linked Bonus equivalent to 78 days' wages for FY 2020-21 for all eligible non-gazetted Railway employees (excluding RPF/RPSF personnel), with financial implication approx 1985 crores. Approx 11.56 lakh non-gazetted Railway employees are likely to benefit from this.
2. World Bank Approved $150 million loan to support Tamil Nadu Government Chennai City Partnership: Sustainable Urban Services Programme.
3. World Bank Approved $40 million loan to improve quality of health services in Meghalaya and strengthen state’s capacity to handle future health emergencies.
4. India’s 1st Atal Community Innovation Center inaugurated at Vivekananda Global University (Jaipur), set up under NITI Aayog's Atal Innovation Mission.
5. Labour ministry reconstituted expert group responsible for determining the national floor level minimum wages under the Code on Wages. It will now be headed by Labour expert SP Mukherjee, who replaces Ajit Mishra.
6. Beijing Based Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) approved $356.67-million loan for expansion of Chennai metro rail system.
7. Tata Technologies Ltd collaborated with Manipur government, to transform technical training and encourage entrepreneurship and innovation in state.
  1. Under this 3 years collaboration, a center for invention, innovation, incubation and Training (CIIIT) on industrial experiential learning will be established in Manipur.
8. Ranjit Rae’s Debut Book Kathmandu Dilemma: Resetting India-Nepal Ties, has been released.
9. ISRO's commercial wing NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), announced its first 'demand-driven' communication satellite mission.
  1. Under it, NSIL will get its first four-tonne Ku-band communication satellite 'Gsat-24', made by ISRO and launched by an French company Arianespace's Ariane-5 rocket. NSIL will then lease the satellite capacity to DTH Firm Tata Sky.
10. India's Adani Group signed a Build Operate Transfer (BOT) agreement with Sri Lankan Firms John Keells Holdings and Sri Lanka Ports Authority, to jointly develop Colombo West International Container Terminal at Colombo Port, with over $ 700 Million Investment.
  1. As per the 35 year-long BOT agreement, Adani Group will have majority (51%), while John Keells would hold 34%, and SLPA 15%.
11. Acuité Ratings & Research became first Indian credit rating company to be associated with Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI), a United Nations-backed initiative that deals with ESG (Environment Social Governance) credit risk. It will act as a signatory to PRI’s ESG in Credit Risk and Ratings Statement.
12. Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma launched Mission Basundhara, aimed at streamlining land revenue services and facilitating easy access to the public for their land-related work.
13. Newly Approved GI (Geographical Indication) Tags -
  1. White onion of Alibag in Maharashtra’s Raigad district, chosen for its sweet taste, no-tears factor and medicinal properties.
  2. Wada Kolam Rice (Palghar (Maharashtra))
  3. Edayur Chilli (Kerala)
  4. Kuttiattoor Mango (Kerala)
  5. Chinnor rice (Madhya Pradesh)
14. Jerry Rao's new book on Gandhi’s political economy, Titled Economist Gandhi, has been released.
15. ESAF Small Finance Bank launched Supreme, a Current account product for Non-Resident Indians.
16. World’s third and India’s first public transport ropeway will be constructed in Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh), from Cantt Railway Station to Church Square, to ease traffic congestion.
17. Indian Railways' first vertical lift bridge will be completed as New Pamban Bridge (Tamil Nadu), by March 2022. It will replace existing century-old iconic British structure between Pamban and Rameswaram.
Oct 05, 2021
1. Oct 5 is observed as World Teachers Day, marked by UNESCO in 1994. 2021 Theme is Teachers at the heart of education recovery.
  1. Note that National Teachers' Day in India is observed on Sep 5. It commemorates Birth anniversary of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, first Vice President and second President of India.
  2. Oct 05 is also observed as Gangetic Dolphin Day in India, celebrated since 2010. On October 5 in 2010, dolphins were declared as National Aquatic Animal.
2. Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani topped IIFL Wealth Hurun India Rich List 2021, for his 10th consecutive year. He is followed by Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani, and HCL Founder Shiv Nadar.
  1. Mukesh Ambani also Topped 2021 Forbes List of India’s Richest, his 14th Time in a Row. He is followed by Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani, and HCL Founder Shiv Nadar.
3. Novel Chronicles froam the Land of the Happiest People on Earth, authored by Wole Soyinka, has been released.
4. FC Goa won their 1st Durand Cup football title, beating Mohammedan Sporting, in Kolkata.
5. Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu presented Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi Award for National Integration and National Contribution, to eminent writer Nirode Kumar Barooah, Assam Branch of the Kasturba Gandhi National Memorial Trust and Shillong Chamber Choir.
  1. 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.
  2. It was instituted by Assam government in memory of state’s first chief minister Gopinath Bordoloi.
6. Abiy Ahmed has been re-appointed as Prime Minister of Ethiopia (East Africa), for his 2nd term.
7. Industrial / Misc. Awards (October 2021) -
  1. HCL Founder Shiv Nadar and TAFE CMD Mallika Srinivasan have been chosen as recipients of 2021 Global Leadership Award, by US India Business Council (USIBC), to be honoured at 2021 India Ideas Summit to be held in October 2021.
8. 2021 Right Livelihood Award Winners (also known as alternative Nobel Prize) -
  1. Marthe Wandou (Cameroon)
  2. Vladimir Slivyak (Russia)
  3. Freda Huson (Canada)
  4. Legal Initiative for Forest and Environment (India)
  5. About -
    1. Right Livelihood Award was established in 1980 by German-Swedish philanthropist Jakob von Uexkull, and is presented annually in early December, in such fields as environmental protection, human rights, sustainable development, health, education, and peace.
    2. Prize money of €200,000 is shared among winners.
9. Law Minister Kiren Rijiju inaugurated Sports Arbitration Centre of India (SACI) at Ahmedabad (Gujarat), as first Sports Arbitration Centre of India.
10. BC Patnaik has been appointed as Managing Director of Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC).
  1. LIC Board has One Chairman (Currently M R Kumar) and 4 Managing Directors (Currently Raj Kumar, Siddhartha Mohanty, Ipe Mini and B C Patnaik).
Oct 04, 2021
1. Oct 4 is observed as World Animal Day, an international day of action for animal rights and welfare.
2. Oct 04, 2021 is observed as World Habitat Day, observed annually on first Monday of October. 2021 theme is Accelerating urban action for a carbon-free world.
3. South American Nation Venezuela introduced a new currency with six fewer zeros, with highest denomination of new currency equalling 100 bolivars, as compared to the earlier higher denomination of 1 million bolivar.
  1. It was done due to Venezuela's old currency being almost worthless after long-lasting inflation. New currency is expected to help ease both cash transactions and bookkeeping calculations.
4. Misc. Appointments (October 2021) -
  1. Notable Brand Ambassador Appointments -
    1. Government of Uttar Pradesh named actress Kangana Ranaut as brand ambassador of its One district-one product scheme.
    2. Director Imtiaz Ali has been named as ambassador of Russian Film Festival in India.
  2. Automotive Skills Development Council named Vinod Aggarwal as its president.
  3. Padmaja Chunduru has been named as MD & CEO of National Securities Depositories (NSDL).
  4. Crypto exchange CoinDCX roped in Amitabh Bachchan as its brand ambassador, to spread awareness about cryptocurrencies.
  5. Indian Steel Association named Alok Sahay as its secretary-general.
  6. Amish Mehta has been appointed as MD & CEO of rating agency CRISIL.
  7. P L Haranadh has been appointed as Chairman of Paradip Port Trust (Odisha).
  8. Competition Commission of India chief Ashok Kumar Gupta has been given additional charge as chairperson of National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA).
  9. Amit Khare has been named as advisor to PM Narendra Modi.
  10. Ritesh Chauhan has been named chief executive officer of Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana.
  11. JSW Steel CMD Sajjan Jindal has been named as Chairman of World Steel Association, for 2021-22 period, as first representative from India to serve as Chairman of WSA.
  12. PSU Energy Efficiency Services Limited named Arun Kumar Mishra as its CEO.
  13. Amit Rastogi is named as CMD of National Research Development Corporation.
  14. RBI approved appointment of Pradeep Kumar Panja as Chairman of Karnataka Bank.
  15. IBBI Member Navrang Saini has been given additional charge as Chairperson of Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI).
  16. RBI Approved Reappointment of Amitabh Chaudhry as MD & CEO of Axis Bank.
  17. Sahdev Yadav has been elected as President of Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWLF).
  18. A Balasubramanian (Aditya Birla Sun Life AMC CEO) has been elected as Chairman of Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI).
  19. Indian-Origin Canadian politician Anita Anand has been named as new Defence Minister of Canada, in a cabinet reshuffle by PM Justin Trudeau after his liberal party returned to power.
  20. RBI approved appointment of Baldev Prakash as MD and CEO of J&K Bank, for 3 years.
5. RV Suchiang has been named Chief Secretary of Meghalaya, also become first native woman chief secretary of state.
6. FIH Hockey Star Awards 2021 -
  1. Women’s Hockey Player of the Year - Gurjit Kaur
  2. Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year - Savita
  3. Women’s Coach of the Year - Sjoerd Marijne (NED)
  4. Men’s Hockey Player of the Year - Harmanpreet Singh
  5. Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year - PR Sreejesh
  6. Men’s Rising Star of the Year - Vivek Prasad
  7. Men’s Coach of the Year - Graham Reid (AUS)
7. NASA announced Psyche mission, which will launched in August 2022, to explore a giant metal asteroid known as 16 Psyche in main asteroid belt, between Mars and Jupiter. It is expected to reach the asteroid in 2026.
  1. Psyche mission is one of the two missions of NASA to explore the early Solar System. Another Mission, Lucy, will be launched in October 2021, to explore Jupiter’s Trojan asteroids.
8. Indian Navy and State Bank of India Jointly launched SBI's NAV-eCash card, aboard India's largest naval aircraft carrier-INS Vikramaditya.
9. Environment Ministry proposed amending Forest Conservation Act 1980, to do away with requirement of prior government approval for development of border infrastructure on forest land, which delays critical projects.
  1. Under the Act, Approval by Central Government is mandatory before any State / UT order on diversion, de-reservation, and assignment of lease of any forest land or the use of forest land for non-forest activities.
10. Misc. Sports Events (October 2021) -
  1. India pulled out of 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games’ hockey competition, amid discriminatory quarantine rules by UK for travellers from India. UK had refused to consider India’s COVID-19 vaccination certificates and imposed a 10-day quarantine on travellers from India.
  2. Indian Women's cricket team played their first pink-ball day and night Test match, against Australia.
  3. Noted Filipino professional boxer Manny Pacquiao announced his retirement, Regarded as one of greatest professional boxers of all time.
  4. Indian Hockey Players and members of Olympic bronze medal-winning team, Rupinder Pal Singh, S V Sunil and Birendra Lakra announced retirement.
  5. Noted Norweign Chess Player Magnus Carlsen won inaugural Meltwater Champions Chess Tour, held online.
  6. Indian men’s table tennis team won bronze medal in Asian Table Tennis Championships 2021 in Doha (Qatar).
  7. Germany unveiled logo for soccer’s 2024 European Championship, to be contested by 24 teams.
  8. Ireland’s Cricketer Amy Hunter became youngest batter to score an ODI century in either men’s or women’s cricket, when she scored one against Zimbabwe, at age 16.
  9. Divya Deshmukh became India’s 21st Woman Chess Grand Master, after achieving her 2nd International Master in Budapest (Hungary).
  10. International Cricket Council (ICC) and UNICEF partnered to help break stigma around mental health by raising awareness amongst children and adolescents.
  11. Australian fast bowler James Pattinson retired from international cricket.
  12. Indian Fencer Bhavani Devi, who was first Indian to compete in Fencing Games in Olympics, won Charlellville National Competition in France in individual women’s sabre event.
  13. Hyderabad Cricket Association unveiled world's biggest cricket bat, designed by Pernod Ricard India, and certified by Guinness Book of World Records. It measures 56.10 feet and weighs 9-tonnes.
  14. Ryan ten Doeschate - Noted Cricketer from the Netherlands, announced retirement from International Cricket.
11. Misc. Defence News / Events (October 2021) -
  1. Russia successfully test-launched a Tsirkon (Zircon) hypersonic cruise missile from Severodvinsk nuclear submarine for the first time, marking its first launch from a submarine.
  2. Indian Air Force will take forward proposed procurement of 114 Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) under Make in India initiative, to cost around USD 18 billion.
  3. Indian Naval Fast Attack Craft (IN FAC) T 80 has been decommissioned after 23 years of service. It was first of Super Dvora Mk II class, built by lAI Ramta (Israel).
  4. Russia and China held their joint naval exercise Joint Sea 2021, at Russia’s Peter the Great Gulf, in the Sea of Japan.
  5. Indian Army successfully tested Agni-5 Surface to Surface Ballistic Missile, capable of striking targets at ranges up to 5,000 kilometres, from APJ Abdul Kalam Island (Odisha).
Oct 03, 2021
1. Dubai Expo 2020, world's biggest event since pandemic, began after prolonged delays due to pandemic. 2021 theme is Connecting Minds, Creating the Future. It'll run till 31 March, 2022.
  1. Theme of Indian pavilion at Dubai Expo 2020 is Openness, Opportunity and Growth.
2. Misc. Science News / Events (October 2021) -
  1. Union Minister Jitendra Singh launched new Heli-borne survey technology for ground water management, developed by CSIR-NGRI Hyderabad, beginning with States of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Punjab and Haryana. This technique provides high resolution 3D image of sub-surface up to depth of 500 meters below ground.
  2. United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced project to launch a probe to explore an asteroid between Mars and Jupiter to collect data on origins of universe. If successful, it will join nations including US, Japan and European Union, that have successfully landed probes on either an asteroid or a comet. UAE will launch it in 2028 and land in 2033.
  3. World Health Organization recommended widespread use of world's first malaria vaccine- RTS, S/AS01 (RTS,S) among children, especially in sub-Saharan Africa and in other regions with high malaria transmission.
  4. CSIR - Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (IHBT) introduced cinnamon cultivation in Himachal Pradesh on a pilot basis.
    1. True cinnamon / Cinnamomumverum is grown mainly in Sri Lanka, with minor produce in Seychelles, Madagascar, and India. Now, HP become first state of India to have organized cultivation of cinnamon.
  5. Telecom Secretary K. Rajaraman Inaugurated futuristic Quantum Communication Lab at C-DOT Delhi and Indigenously developed Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) solution by C-DOT, which can support distance of over 100 kilometers on standard optical fiber.
  6. Australia announced to build a 20-kilogram semi-autonomous lunar rover for NASA, to take to the moon by 2026, in search of oxygen.
  7. A Russian film crew returned to Earth after filimg first movie shot in space, titled The Challenge.
  8. A plant discovered in 2019 in Uttarakhand, called Allium Negianum, has been confirmed as a new species of Allium- a genus that includes many staple foods such as garlic and onion, among 1100 species worldwide. Its name honors late Kuldeep Singh Negi, an eminent explorer.
  9. A new micro snail species has been found in a limestone cave at Mawsmai Village in East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya, named Georissa Mawsmaiensis. Its very small and measures under 2 millimeters in length.
  10. China launched satellite named Shijian-21, to test and verify space debris mitigation technologies.
3. Covid-19 Pandemic Updates (Oct 2021) -
  1. Supreme Court approved ex-gratia policy of 50000 to families of people who died due to COVID-19 or committed suicide due to COVID-19. It will be disbursed through disaster response funds in each state within 30 days of application.
  2. Maharasahtra government launched a special Covid-19 vaccination drive named as Mission Kavach Kundal, with the target of inoculating 15 lakh people everyday.
  3. PM Narendra Modi dedicated 35 Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) Oxygen Plants to the nation, established under PM CARES (Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situation), at AIIMS Rishikesh.
Oct 02, 2021
1. Oct 02 is Birth Anniversary of M K Gandhi and Former PM Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Ji (2nd PM of India). It is observed as UN International Day of Non-Violence, established in 2007. On this occasion -
  1. On this occasion -
    1. An 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' corner was inaugurated at High Commission of India in Ottawa (Canada), to showcase exquisite GI-tagged tribal art and craft products from India.
    2. Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) hoisted Monumental Khadi National Flag in Leh (Ladakh), as world’s largest Khadi National Flag, to pay homage to M K Gandhi. It measures 225 feet long, 150 feet wide and weighs (approx.) 1400 kg.
    3. During Iconic Week of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav of MoEFCC (4-10th October 2021), Wetlands of India Portal (http://indianwetlands.in), was launched.
    4. J & K LG Manoj Sinha inaugurated Retreat Ceremony at Octroi Post in Suchetgarh on India-Pakistan Border.
    5. Govt launched waste to wealth web portal to bring together technology providers, government stakeholders and urban local bodies to find solutions to India's waste problems.
    6. All India Car Rally of National Security Guard (NSG), titled Sudarshan Bharat Parikrama, has been flagged off, to celebrate 75 years of India’s Independence.
    7. PM Narendra Modi launched Jal Jeevan Mission mobile application, for improving awareness and transparency of schemes under the initiative. He also launched Rashtriya Jal Jeevan Kosh, which will facilitate contributions for providing tap water connection in Rural Parts.
  2. Oct 2 is also observed as World Day for Farmed Animals.
2. NITI Aayog launched The State Nutrition Profiles for 19 States / UTs, jointly with International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), Indian Institute of Population Sciences (IIPS), UNICEF and Institute of Economic Growth (IEG).
  1. SNPs include a comprehensive compilation of crucial data that can positively affect policy decisions and facilitate research in the area.
3. Iconic Indian comic book cartoon character Chacha Chaudhary has been declared as mascot of Namami Gange Programme.
4. PM Narendra Modi launched 2nd phases of Swachh Bharat Mission-urban (SBM-U) and Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) in New Delhi.
  1. SBM-U 2.0 -
    1. It envisions to make all cities ‘Garbage Free’ and ensure grey and black water management in all cities other than those covered under AMRUT, make all urban local bodies as ODF+ and those with a population of less than 1 lakh as ODF++.
    2. It will focus on source segregation of solid waste, utilizing principles of 3Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle), scientific processing of municipal solid waste and remediation of legacy dumpsites for effective solid waste management.
    3. Outlay of 141600 crores has been finalized for SBM-U 2.0, which is much over 62009 crores spent in 1st phase.
    4. About Phase 1 -
      1. SBM was launched on 2nd October 2014, to Eradicate open defecation in all statutory towns, 100% scientific management of municipal solid waste in all statutory towns and effecting behaviour change through Jan Andolan.
  2. AMRUT 2.0 -
    1. It aims to provide 100% coverage of water supply to all households in around 4700 urban local bodies by providing about 2.68 crore tap connections and 100% coverage of sewerage / septage in 500 cities, by providing around 2.64 crore sewer/septage connections, to benefit over 10.5 crore people.
    2. It will adopt principles of circular economy and promote conservation and rejuvenation of surface and groundwater.
    3. Pey Jal Survekshan will be conducted to promote progressive competition among cities.
    4. Outlay of AMRUT 2.0 is around 2.87 lakh crore.
    5. About Phase 1 -
      1. AMRUT was launched as first water – focused Mission in 2015, with outlay of 1,00,000 crore. It caters to 500 major cities covering 60% of urban population. Projects worth over 80,000 crore have been grounded.
5. Obituaries (October 2021) -
  1. Ghanashyam Nayak - Noted Actor.
  2. Arvind Trivedi - Noted actor from Gujarat. He is most known for his role as Ravana in television series Ramayan.
  3. Nedumudi Venu - Noted actor from Kerala, who predominantly worked in Malayalam cinema.
  4. Abdul Qadeer Khan - Nuclear Scientist, Known as father of Pakistan’s Nuclear Programme.
  5. Abolhassan Banisadr - Iran’s first president after Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution.
  6. Bandula Warnapura - Sri Lankan Cricketer, and Sri Lanka's first-ever Test captain.
  7. Colin Powell - First US Black Secretary of State.
  8. Saranjeet Singh - Former Indian hockey Player.
  9. Puneeth Rajkumar - Noted Kannada Actor and Artist, also known as Appu. Karnataka Government announced State's highest civilian award Karnataka Ratna for Puneeth, posthumously.
  10. Alan Davidson - Noted Australian Cricketer.
  11. Madhavan Krishnan Nair - Noted Padma Shri awardee Oncologist.
  12. Sunao Tsuboi - Japanese Hiroshima nuclear bomb attack survivor and a campaigner against nuclear weapons.
6. Govt approved setting up of 7 PM MITRA parks, as announced in Union Budget for 2021-22.
  1. 7 Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel Parks (PM MITRA) will be setup at Greenfield / Brownfield sites located in different States.
  2. PM MITRA is inspired by the 5F vision Formula - Farm to fibre; fibre to factory; factory to fashion; fashion to foreign.
  3. Maximum Development Capital Support of 500 crore to all Greenfield PM MITRA and up to 200 Crore to Brownfield PM MITRA will be provided for development of Common Infrastructure and 300 Crore of Competitiveness Incentive Support will also be provided to each PM MITRA park, for establishment of textile manufacturing units.
  4. State Government supports will include provision of 1,000 Acre land for development of a world class industrial estate.
7. Ministry of Road Transport & Highways notified constitution of National Road Safety Board, with Head Office in National Capital Region, with a Chairman and 3 - 7 Members. It shall promote road safety, innovation and adoption of new technology, for regulating motor vehicles.
8. Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya released UNICEF’s global flagship publication The State of the World’s Children 2021, which details significant impact of COVID-19 pandemic on children’s mental health.
Oct 01, 2021
1. Defence ministry dissolved Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) w.e.f October 1, and transferred its assets, employees and management to seven public sector units (PSUs), Namely -
  1. Munition India Limited
  2. Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited
  3. Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Limited
  4. Troop Comforts Limited
  5. Yantra India Limited
  6. India Optel Limited
  7. Gliders India Limited.
  8. About OFB -
    1. OFB was 37th-largest defence equipment manufacturer in world and 2nd-largest in Asia. It was world's largest government-operated production organisation, and oldest organisation in India.
    2. Every year, 18 March is celebrated as Ordnance Factory Day in India.
    3. Its existence began in 1712, with Establishment of the Dutch Ostend Company's Gun Powder Factory at Ichhapur. In 1979, Ordnance Factory Board was established.
2. Oct 1 is observed as UN International Day of Older Persons. 2021 Theme is Digital Equity for All Ages. It was established by UN in 1990.
  1. On this occasion -
    1. Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment organised VAYO NAMAN Programme, in honour of Senior Citizens.
    2. Announced developent of Senior Able Citizens for Re Employment in Dignity (SACRED) Portal, to bring employment seeker senior citizens and employment providers on one platform.
    3. Announced Senior care Ageing Growth Engine' (SAGE), project to support India’s elderly, shaped on recommendations of empowered expert committee report on startups for elderly.
  2. Oct 1 is also observed by Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) as National Pension System Diwas (NPS Diwas).
  3. Oct 1 is also observed as International Coffee Day, being observed since 2015.
  4. Oct 1 is also observed as World Vegetarian Day, established by North American Vegetarian Society in 1977.
  5. Oct 1 is also National day of China.
3. Gross GST revenue collected in September 2021 stood at 1.17 Lakh crores (CGST 20578 crore, SGST 26767 crore, IGST 60911 crore, and Cess 8754 crores.
4. Sandeep Singh has been appointed as new Vice Chief of Indian Air Force, succeeding Vivek Ram Chaudhari.
5. Adhir Arora has been appointed as new Chief Hydrographer to Govt of India.
6. Notable Ministerial Secretary Appointments -
  1. K. Rajaraman - Department of Telecommunications (Ministry of Communications).
  2. Rajiv Bansal - Ministry of Civil Aviation.
7. Misc. Corporate News / Events (Oct 2021) -
  1. Govt extended Credit Guarantee Scheme for Subordinate Debt scheme upto March 31, 2022, which was approved in June 2020, to provide credit facility through lending institutions to promoters of stressed MSMEs.
  2. RBI superseded board of Debt-laden NBFCs Srei Infrastructure Finance Limited (SIFL) and Srei Equipment Finance Limited (SEFL), and appointed Rajneesh Sharma as Administrator.
  3. Payments Firm Paytm acquired 100% stake in Mumbai-based digital lending startup CreditMate.
  4. Fintech Firm BharatPe launched its new Buy Now Pay Later category product, named postpe.
  5. BSE Subsidiary BSE Technologies Ltd received RBI approval for setting up and operating trade receivables discounting system (TReDS) under the Payments and Settlement Systems Act, 2007.
  6. Punjab National Bank launched '6S Campaign' under customer outreach programme, encapsulating different schemes such as – Swabhiman, Samruddhi, Sampark and Shikhar, Sankalp and Swagat.
  7. Kotak Mahindra Bank launched Micro ATMs, To deliver essential banking services conveniently to consumers in relatively far-off areas.
  8. RBI imposed penalty of 1 crore on Paytm Payments Bank Limited, for non-compliance with certain RBI guidelines.
  9. State-owned GAIL (India) Ltd will build India's largest green hydrogen-making plant, to supplement ‎its natural gas business with carbon-free fuel.
  10. Ministry of Finance approved interest rate on employees’ provident fund (EPF) deposits for 2020-21 at 8.5%, same as for FY 20 (2019-20).
8. Inspectors Without Borders (TIWB) joint initiative of UN Development Programme (UNDP) and Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), launched its programme in Seychelles (East African Nation in Indian Ocean).
  1. This programme is expected to be of 12 months, during which India, in collaboration with TIWB Secretariat and UNDP, will aid Seychelles in strengthening its tax administration by transferring technical know-how and skills.
9. Ministry of Textiles approved continuation of Comprehensive Handicrafts Cluster Development Scheme (CHCDS) up to March 2026, with outlay of 160 crores.
  1. It aims to create world-class infrastructure that caters to the business needs of the local artisans & SMEs to boost production and export.
  2. Mega handicraft clusters having more than 10000 artisans will be selected for overall development under this scheme.
10. Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Anurag Thakur launched month-long Clean India drive on October 1, from Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh) , as part of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.

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