Top Current Affairs 8th October 2021 at Freshers Wisdom

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World Egg Day: 8 October

• World Egg Day is observed on the second Friday of October every year.
• For 2021, it is being observed on 8 October.
• This day aims at celebrating this excellent superfood and spreading awareness about its benefits. 
• The day was established in Vienna in 1996.
• Egg contains 13 different vitamins and minerals required by the body and is a rich source of quality protein.

Guwahati airport’s operations handed over to Adani Group

• The Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati was handed over to the Adani Group for operations, management and development responsibilities on 8 October 2021.
• The concession agreement between the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and Adani Enterprise Limited was signed on 19 Jan’21 in New Delhi.
• In the initial 3years, Adani will be supported by the employees of the AAI. 

RBI increases IMPS limit to Rs 5 lakh from Rs 2 lakh earlier

• The Reserve Bank of India has increased the limit of IMPS (Immediate Payment Service) transaction to Rs 5 lakh from Rs 2 lakh earlier for the convenience of the consumers.
• Immediate Payment Service is an instant payment inter-bank electronic funds transfer system in India.
• The RBI had also made the National Automated Clearing House (NACH) available on all days effective August 1, 2021.

World Investor Week: 4-10 October

• World Investor Week is being observed from 4-10 October 2021.
• The International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) oragnizes it to raise awareness of the importance of investor education and protection.
• The key messages of the IOSCO WIW campaign in 2021 will be based on two themes: 1) sustainable finance and 2) frauds and scams prevention. 

Delhi govt imposes fine on L&T for violation of dust control norms

• As a part of its anti-dust campaign, the Delhi government has imposed a fine of ₹5 lakhs on construction company Larsen & Toubro (L&T).
• It has been fined for not adhering to dust control guidelines during the construction of an underpass near Pragati Maidan.
• The government has also launched a ‘Dust Pollution Control Self-Assessment Portal’ to further bolster the anti-dust campaign.

Reserve Bank of India retains GDP growth target at 9.5% for FY22

• The Reserve Bank of India has maintained its GDP growth target for the financial year 2021-22 at 9.5%.
• This consists of 7.9% in Q2, 6.8% in Q3 and 6.1% in Q4 of 2021-22.
• India’s gross domestic product (GDP) had surged 20.1% in the April-June quarter of FY22, according to the data released by the government’s statistics office.

Maharashtra to set up anti-Drug cells in all districts

• Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil has directed officials to set up an ‘Anti-Drug Cell’ in each district.
• It will be set up under the chairmanship of the Superintendent of Police to curb the growing menace of narcotics substances.
• The authorities will set up committees to take joint action with help from the police, industry, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

India joins High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People

• India on 7 October 2021 officially joined the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People.
• It is a group of more than 70 countries encouraging the adoption of the global goal to protect 30×30.
• Its members include European, Latin American, Africa and Asian countries.
• India is the first of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) bloc of major emerging economies to join it.

RBI repo rate remains unchanged at 4%, reverse repo rate at 3.35%

• The Monetary Policy Committee of the Reserve Bank of India has maintained a status quo on interest rates for the eighth consecutive time and retained the monetary stance as accommodative.
• Repo rate remains unchanged at 4 percent while reverse repo rate is maintained at 3.35 percent.
• Repo rate is the rate at which the RBI lends short-term money to banks. 

Centre govt released guidelines for cybersecurity in the power sector

• The central government on 7 Oct 2021 released the guidelines for cybersecurity in the power sector with the aim to create a secure power cyber ecosystem
• The guidelines have been prepared by Central Electricity Authority (CEA).
• It lays down a cyber assurance framework and puts in place mechanisms for security threat early warning and response to security threats.

India, UK to begin two-week joint military exercise ‘Ajeya Warrior’

• India and United Kingdom(UK) on 7 October 2021 kickstarted a two-week military exercise “Ajeya Warrior” at Chaubatia in Uttarakhand.
• The 6th edition of the “Ajeya Warrior” exercise is part of an initiative to develop interoperability and sharing of expertise with friendly foreign nations.
• The exercise would culminate on 20 Oct 2021. 

UAE launches plan to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050

• The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on 7 October 2021 announced a plan for net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
• UAE would also oversee 600 billion dirhams ($163 billion) in investment in renewable energy. 
• This makes UAE the first country in the Middle East and North Africa region to launch a concrete initiative to achieve that climate commitment.

Gurugram NGO wins the prestigious Mahatma Awards for Social Impact

• Lotus Petal Foundation, a Gurugram based NGO, has been conferred with the Mahatma Award 2021 for Social Impact.
• The NGO (non-governmental organization) has been recognized for its interventions in education, healthcare, and nutrition for underprivileged children living in semi-urban areas of the city. 
• The award was presented in a ceremony held at India International Centre in New Delhi.

Cricketer Rishabh Pant inks NFT pact with Indian firm Rario

• India cricketer Rishabh Pant has inked a deal with cricket non-fungible token (NFT) platform Rario.
• The licensed cricket digital collectibles platform Rario lets users trade and purchase NFTs by cricketers and their international leagues.
• These are typically crypto-assets or intangible digital items like an in-game item, video, or image.

In India, 5 out of 6 multidimensionally poor are from lower tribes

• Five out of six multidimensionally poor people in India are from lower tribes or castes, according to a new analysis on global multidimensional poverty released by the United Nations on 7 October 2021.
• The global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) is released by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative.

Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd signs pact with SPM

• Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd (GRSE) has signed a concessional agreement with Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port Trust, to use the latter’s facilities for ship repair.
• As per the agreement, GRSE will upgrade, operate and manage the infrastructural facilities at the docks of the SMPK for their effective utilization.
• SPM Port Trust was formerly known as Kolkata Port Trust.

PNB launches ‘6S Campaign’ under Centre’s Customer Outreach Programme

• Punjab National Bank (PNB) has launched the ‘6S Campaign’ under customer outreach program to extend financial services at a concessional rate.
• The ‘6S Campaign’ encapsulates different schemes such as – Swabhiman, Samruddhi, Sampark and Shikhar, Sankalp, and Swagat.
• The objective is to accelerate credit growth, improve penetration of social security schemes and drive digital banking push.

Textiles Min inks MoU with Germay’s GIZ to boost cooperation in cotton

• The textiles ministry on 7 October 2021 has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Germany’s Deutsche Gesellschaft fur InternationaleZusammenarbeit (GIZ).
• The objective of the MoU is to increase the value addition from sustainable cotton production in India by focusing on sustainable cotton and strengthening downstream processing.
• India is the largest cotton producer in the world.

HAL delivers ‘heaviest’ Semi-Cryogenic propellant tank to ISRO

• Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) on 7 October 2021 delivered the ”heaviest” Semi-Cryogenic propellant tank to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
• The semi cryo-liquid oxygen (LOX) tank – the first developmental welded hardware is a part of the SC120 stage, intended for payload enhancement by replacing the L110 stage in the existing Mk-III launch vehicle.

Anshu Malik becomes first Indian woman to win silver in WWC

• Anshu Malik on 7 October 2021 became the first Indian woman to win a silver medal in the World Wrestling Championships(WWC).
• Anshu lost the final to Olympic medallist Helen Maroulis 4-1 in Oslo, Norway.
• Sarita Mor has clinched a bronze medal in the WWC.
• She has become the sixth Indian woman bronze medalist and seventh medalist at the World Championships overall.

The Indian passport ranked 90th in Henley Passport Index

• India’s rank has slipped by six places to 90 on the Henley Passport Index, which lists the world’s most travel-friendly passports.
• India was at 84th rank in 2020.
• The rankings are based on the analysis of data provided by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
• Japan and Singapore stood at the top.
• South Korea and Germany share the second position.

England Cricket Board Chairman Ian Watmore steps down

• Ian Watmore, the Chairman of England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), has stepped down from his role with immediate effect.
• Ian Watmore, the first paid chairman of the ECB, had served just 13 months out of his five-year term after taking over from a retiring Colin Graves in 2020.
• Watmore’s deputy, Barry O’Brien, will step up as interim chair.

IIT Madras study finds pharmaceutical contaminants in Cauvery river

• Researchers at IIT Madras have found a high level of pharmaceutical contaminants in river Cauvery.
• These pharmaceutical contaminants included anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen, anti-hypertensives such as atenolol.
• The study was carried out with joint funding from Water Technology Initiatives of the Department of Science and Technology, and the UK Natural Environment Research Council.

Maharashtra government to launch ‘Mission Kawach Kundal’

• The Maharashtra government will undertake a special vaccination drive against Covid-19 from October 8 to 14, 2021.
• Under ‘Mission Kawach Kundal’, 15 lakh people will be vaccinated everyday.
• The state’s target is to inoculate 9.15 crore people (eligible for taking vaccine in the state). 
• The state had achieved the target of inoculating 15.16 lakh people in a day in the past.

Fitch Ratings cuts India’s FY22 GDP growth projection to 8.7%

• Fitch Ratings has cut India’s economic growth forecast to 8.7 percent for the current fiscal but raised GDP growth projection for FY23 to 10%.
• In its APAC Sovereign Credit Overview, Fitch Ratings gave India ‘BBB-/Negative’ sovereign rating.
• It had, in June 2021, cut the growth forecast from 12.8 per cent.
• The government on June 28, 2021 announced a fiscal package worth about 2.75 of GDP.

NTPC signs pact with Electricite France S.A.

• Electricite de France S.A. (EDF) and NTPC Ltd, have signed an MoU.
• EDF is one of the world’s leading power sector companies headquartered in Paris, France.
• Both the firms will explore power project development opportunities around regions of mutual interest like Middle-East, Europe, Africa, etc.
• They will also collaborate for knowledge sharing, R&D, and technical services globally.

Rajnish Kumar’s memoirs ‘The Custodian of Trust’ to release on Oct 18

• “The Custodian of Trust”, memoirs of Rajnish Kumar, former chairman of State Bank of India (SBI), will be launch on October 18, 2021.
• This was announced by publishing house Penguin Random House India (PRHI).
• Kumar’s through the book shares his journey as a banker- from being a probationary officer in SBI to becoming its chairman in 2017.
• He served as the chairman from Oct 2017-Oct 2020.

Forbes Releases 40th Annual Forbes 400 Ranking of the Richest American

• Forbes released its 40th annual Forbes 400 list, the definitive ranking of the wealthiest people in America.
• The aggregate wealth of The Forbes 400 reached a record-breaking $4.5 trillion.
• Former Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos retains the top spot for the fourth consecutive year, with a net worth of $201 bn.
• Elon Musk of Tesla and SpaceX is at 2nd while Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg is at 3rd.

Indian economy to grow at 9.1% in FY22: FICCI survey

• Industry body FICCI has marginally revised upward its FY22 growth forecast for the Indian economy to 9.1% from 9% estimated earlier.
• The median growth forecast for agriculture and allied activities has been estimated at 3.2% for FY22. 
• The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) is a non-governmental trade association and advocacy group which was established in 1927.

Nobel Prize in Literature 2021 awarded to Abdulrazak Gurnah

• The Nobel Prize for Literature 2021 has been awarded to the Abdulrazak Gurnah. 
• Abdulrazak Gurnah is a professor at the University of Kent.
• His novel “Paradise” was shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 1994.
• He is the author 10 novels including Paradise and Desertion.
• The Nobel prize is awarded by the Swedish Academy and is worth 10 million Swedish crowns ($1.14 million).

89th Indian Air Force Day: 8 October 2021

• The 89th Indian Air Force Day will be celebrated on 8 October 2021.
• On this day, the Air Force in India was officially raised as the supporting force of the Royal Air Force of the United Kingdom in 1932.
• The first operational squadron came into being in April 1933.
• Every year, the day is celebrated at the Hindon Air Force Station, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh.

MobiKwik gets SEBI nod to launch IPO of up to ₹1,900 crore

• MobiKwik has received approval from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to launch an initial public offering (IPO) through which it plans to raise up to ₹1,900 crores.
• The IPO includes the issue of new shares worth ₹1,500 crore and an offer for sale (OFS) of shares worth up to ₹400 crore.
• It had filed the Draft Red Herring Prospectus (DRHP) for the IPO with Sebi in July 2021.

Indian-origin girl wins UK PM’s award for climate campaign

• A six-year-old Indian-origin girl was on 7 Oct 2021 named a winner of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Points of Light award.
• Aleesha Gadhia is a climate activist and mini ambassador for UK-based non-profit Cool Earth and has raised over GBP 3,000 for the organisation.
• She campaigns to raise awareness of deforestation and climate change issues.

AIIA and Kvarner Health Tourism Cluster sign MoU

• The Ministry of Ayush on 6 October 2021 entered into an agreement with Croatia.
• The MoU was signed between the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) and Croatia’s Kvarner Health Tourism Cluster.
• AIIA is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Ayush.
• The two sides will undertake academic activities in the field of Ayurveda in collaboration with the identified institutions.

Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov win 2021 Nobel Peace Prize

• Journalists Maria Ressa, of the Philippines, and Dmitry Muratov, of Russia, have won the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize.
• They have been honoured for their efforts to safeguard freedom of expression, which is a precondition for democracy and lasting peace.
• Maria Ressa is CEO of Philippines based news organisation Rappler while Dmitry Muratov is editor-in-chief of the Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta.

Mysore Dasara festival inaugurated on 7 October 2021

• The world-famous Mysore Dasara festival was inaugurated by former Karnataka Chief Minister and senior BJP leader S M Krishna on 7 October 2021 at Chamundi Hills.
• It is believed that Goddess Chamunda had killed the demon Mahishasur on this day.
• After his death, the city acquired the name of Mysuru (Mysore). 
• The festivities began with the Vijayanagar kings from the 15th century.

RBI to introduce Internal Ombudsman for NBFCs for grievance redressal

• The Reserve Bank of India has decided to introduce the Internal Ombudsman Scheme (IOS).
• It will be introduced for certain categories of non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) having higher customer interface to strengthen the internal grievance redress mechanism of NBFCs.
• IOS will require select NBFCs to appoint an Internal Ombudsman at the top of their internal grievance redress mechanism.