Current Affairs 14th to 16th October 2021| Current Affairs News

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CURRENT AFFAIRS: IMPORTANT DAYS

World Student’s Day- OCT 15

• World Student’s Day is celebrated every year on October 15.
• The day is celebrated in honour of the birth anniversary of the former president of India, Late Dr APJ Abdul Kalam.
• Since 2010, the United Nations Organisation (UNO) has marked October 15 as World Student’s Day in an attempt to acknowledge the efforts of Dr Kalam toward education and his students.
• The theme of world students’ day was ‘Learning for people, planet, prosperity, and peace’.
• APJ was born on October 15, 1931, in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, Kalam worked as a scientist and administrator at the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
• Kalam also gave invaluable contributions towards developing India’s civilian space and military missile programs before becoming the 11th president of India.

International Day of Rural Women- Oct 15

• The United Nations’ International Day of Rural Women celebrates and honours women and girls living in rural areas on 15 October each year.
• It recognizes the huge role that rural mothers, daughters and grandmothers play in producing food, and building agricultural and rural development worldwide.
• The theme for the International Day of Rural Women (15 October), “Rural Women Cultivating Good Food for All”
• Established by the UN General Assembly in its resolution 62/136 of 18 December 2007, this international day recognizes “the critical role and contribution of rural women, including indigenous women, in enhancing agricultural and rural development, improving food security and eradicating rural poverty.”

World Standards Day- Oct 14

• World Standards Day is an international day celebrated internationally each year on 14 October.
• The day honours the efforts of the thousands of experts who develop voluntary standards within standards.
• The International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) was established in 1947 with 67 technical committees. However, it was in 1970 that the first World Standards Day was formally inaugurated by Faruk Sunter, the then President of the ISO.
• The date was chosen as 14 October to commemorate the first meeting of delegates from 25 countries on 14 October 1946 in London, who decided to design a global organisation for facilitating standardisation.
• The theme for this year’s World Standards Day is “Standards for sustainable development goals – shared vision for a better world”.
• The theme aims to address social imbalances, develop a sustainable economy and slow the rate of climate change.

World Food Day- Oct 16

• World Food Day is an international day celebrated every year worldwide on 16 October to commemorate the date of the founding of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization in 1945.
• This day aims at tackling global hunger and striving to eradicate hunger across the world.
• The theme for World Food Day 2021 is ‘Safe food now for a healthy tomorrow’
• Every year, we celebrate World Food Day to appreciate the amazing food we eat, but also to tackle world hunger. This day is celebrated on October 16, which marks the creation of FAO in 1945.
• World Food Day was established in November 1979, suggested by former Hungarian Minister of Agriculture and Food Dr Pal Romany. It is celebrated by more than 150 countries around the world.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : NATIONAL NEWS

Cabinet Approval on October 12, 2021

• The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its following approvals
• The Union Cabinet has approved the continuation of Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) till 2025-26 with an outlay of Rs 1,41,600 crores w.e.f October 1, 2021. 
• It will be regarded as SBM-Urban 2.0 with the aim of ‘Garbage Free’ Urban India.
• The Union Cabinet also approved the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation 2.0 (AMRUT 2.0) till 2025-26 with an outlay of Rs 2,77,000 crore. 
• It aims to make cities ‘water secure’ and ‘self-sustainable’ through circular economy of
• The Union Cabinet cleared the proposal of affiliation of 100 schools, including both private and public, with the Sainik School Society, under the Ministry of Defence (MoD).
• CCEA approved the proposal of the Department of Fertilizers for fixation of Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) Rates for P&K Fertilizers for the year 2021-22(from 1st October, 2021 to 31st March, 2022).

Power Finance Corporation receives Maharatna status

• Power Finance Corporation Ltd (PFC) was accorded the status of ‘Maharatna central public sector enterprise (CPSE)’ by the Department of Public Enterprises, under the Ministry of Finance.
• This status is giving the PFC for greater operational and financial autonomy. 
• PFC is the largest infrastructure finance company exclusively dedicated to the power sector under the administrative control of the power ministry.

Maharatna status:

• With this, PFC can now invest up to ₹5,000 crore, or 15 percent of its net worth, in a single project.
• It enhances powers to the PFC board while taking financial decisions.

Other Maharatna CPSEs

• PFC is the 11th firm to join Maharatna CPSE club.
• The other 10 Maharatna CPSEs are Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd, Bharat Petroleum Corp. Ltd, Coal India Ltd, GAIL (India) Ltd, Hindustan Petroleum Corp. Ltd, Indian Oil Corp. Ltd, NTPC Ltd, Oil & Natural Gas Corp. Ltd, Power Grid Corp. of India Ltd, and Steel Authority of India Ltd.

Note:

• There are 14 Navratna and 73 Miniratna CPSEs.Navratna and Miniratna CPSEs can invest up to Rs 1,000 crore and Rs 500 crore, respectively.

About Power Finance Corporation Ltd (PFC)

• Chairman and managing director – Ravinder Singh Dhillon
• Headquarters – New Delhi
• Founded –1986

CRISP-M Tool for Mahatma Gandhi NREG Scheme Launched; Climate Resilient Program Started in 7 States

• Union Minister of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj Shri Giriraj Singh virtually launched Climate Resilience Information System and Planning (CRISP-M) tool for integration of climate information in Geographic Information System (GIS) based watershed planning under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA Scheme (MGNREGS). 
• Giriraj Singh launched this service along with Lord Tariq Ahmad, Minister of State for South Asia and the Commonwealth in the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
• This tool will be implemented in seven districts of states such as Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Rajasthan. 
• The Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), Government of UK and Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India are jointly working towards climate resilience.

Mahatma Gandhi NREGA & Mahatma Gandhi NREGS

• Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (Mahatma Gandhi NREGA) is the foundation for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (Mahatma Gandhi NREGS) and provides guaranteed employment.
• Central Government has powers to make rules and to amend Mahatma Gandhi NREGA. State Governments have powers to make rules and amend the concerned State scheme.

PM launched Rs 100 Lakh cr Gati Shakti- National Master Plan for Infrastructure Development from New Delhi

• The Central government is undertaking efforts for the Next Generation Infrastructure to improve ease of living as well as ease of doing business. 
• On these lines, the Prime Minister (PM) of India, Narendra Damodardas Modi had announced ‘PM GatiShakti – National Master Plan for Multi-Modal Connectivity’ in his Independence Day speech on August 15, 2021.
• Following this, on October 13 2021, GatiShakti, a Rs. 100 lakh-crore project was officially launched by the Indian PM during an event at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.
• Gati Shakti is a digital platform collaborating 16 Central Ministries and Departments for integrated planning and coordination to implement infrastructure connectivity projects of more than 1,200 industrial clusters.
• In line with PM Gati Shakti, Mumbai Port Trust is undertaking a number of projects promoting multimodal connectivity which is premised upon two pillars, namely cargo-related projects and Sea Tourism.

National Conference for Zoo Directors & Veterinarians 2021 held in Gujarat; Prani Mitra Awards 2021 conferred

• A two-day National conference for zoo directors and veterinarians 2021 was hosted by Sardar Patel Zoological Park, Kevadia, Gujarat. 
• Organized by Central Zoo Authority (CZA), it was attended by Union Minister Bhupender Yadav, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC).
• At the valedictory, Mrs Sudha Murthy, Chairperson Infosys Foundation was felicitated.
• An outreach movie titled ‘Live in harmony with nature, stop illegal trade in wildlife’ produced by Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) was also released during the conference.

About Central Zoo Authority (CZA):

• Parent Organization– Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC)
• Chairman– Union Minister MoEF&CC (Currently- Bhupender Yadav)
• Headquarter– New Delhi, Delhi

Department of Biotechnology has launched country’s first ‘One Health’ consortium

• The Department of Biotechnology has launched the country’s first ‘One Health’
• This programme envisages carrying out surveillance of important bacterial, viral and parasitic infections of zoonotic and transboundary pathogens in India.
• Secretary, Department of Biotechnology, Renu Swarup, this Consortium consisting of 27 organisations is one of the biggest one health programs launched by Govt of India in post-COVID times.
• The Ministry of Science and Technology, this Use of existing diagnostic tests and the development of additional methodologies when required are mandated for the surveillance and for understanding the spread of emerging diseases.

Implementation of best global standards for MSMEs: Ashwini Kumar Choubey

• Minister of State for Consumer Affairs Ashwini Kumar Choubey has implemented the best global standards which will facilitate access to national and international markets for Small and Medium Enterprises. 
• At the function of the World Standards Day, Mr Choubey, the critical role that standards play in ensuring the integration of diverse technologies and interoperability of innovations required for propelling smart cities of the future.
• Also pressed on the significance of environmental sustainability through standardization.
• The Minister elaborated in view of the pandemic, the path to move towards Sustainable Development Goals, has become an absolute necessity, for which relevant, faster and better standards are essential.

India hosts first ever SCO Seminar on Role of Women in Armed Forces

• India hosted the first ever SCO Seminar on Role of Women in Armed Forces. Secretary (West) Reenat Sandhu, the role of India’s women military officers at the global level in UN peacekeeping missions.
• In the past decades have opened up new vistas for women in the Armed Forces of India and India has been an active participant in the deliberations on issues focusing on women empowerment and gender mainstreaming at various UN bodies. 
• The Indian Army has contributed women officers as Military Observers and Staff Officers apart from them forming part of Medical Units being deployed in UN Missions.
• In 1960, women of the Indian Armed Forces Medical Services headed the UN Peacekeeping mission in the Republic of Congo to assist with the setting up of a 400-bed hospital. In 2007, India created history by deploying the first ever all-female Formed Police Unit for UN Peacekeeping in Liberia.
• In 2019, India deployed a Female Engagement Team as part of the UN Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This female engagement team deployed in Congo has played a critical role in peacekeeping and inspiring women in local communities.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : INTERNATIONAL NEWS

IMF Retained India’s 2021 GDP Growth Forecast to 9.5%

• In its October 2021 World Economic Outlook (WEO) titled ‘Recovery During a Pandemic Health Concerns, Supply Disruptions, and Price Pressures’, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has retained India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth forecast for 2021 unchanged at 9.5 percent (July 2021 forecast).
• India’s GDP growth forecast for 2022 was also unchanged at 8.5 percent. 
• The IMF has reduced the global economy growth in 2021 by 0.1 percent to 5.9 percent (from 6 percent of July 2021 projection) and the growth was projected at 4.9 percent in 2022. 
• India’s consumer price index-based inflation is expected to be at 5.6 percent in 2021(reduced from 6.2 percent in 2020) and expected inflation to be at 4.9 percent in 2022.

About International Monetary Fund (IMF):

• MD – Kristalina Georgieva
• Establishment – 1944
• Headquarters – Washington, D.C., United States
• Member Countries – 190

PM Narendra Modi Participated in Virtual G20 Extraordinary Leaders’ Meeting 2021 on Afghanistan

• Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi virtually participated in the ‘G20 Extraordinary Leaders’ Meeting on Afghanistan’, which has been organised to discuss the situation in Afghanistan.
• The meeting was convened by Italy (as it is currently holding the G2O Presidency) and chaired by Italian PM Mario Draghi.

About G20:

• The G20 is the international forum established in 1999 to bring together the world’s major economies.
• Its members account for more than 80 percent of world GDP, 75 percent of global trade and 60 percent of the global population.
• The G20 does not have a permanent secretariat, whereas its activities are established by the rotating Presidencies.
• G20 members: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Japan, India, Indonesia, Italy, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union. Spain is also invited as a permanent guest.

WHO releases 1st Ever Global Roadmap to Defeat Meningitis by 2030

• The World Health Organization (WHO) along with its partners (including UNICEF, PATH, the Gates Foundation) have launched the 1st ever Global strategy to defeat “Meningitis”- a disease that kills hundreds of thousands of people each year.
• The strategy “Global Roadmap to Defeat Meningitis by 2030” was launched by WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, during a meeting in Geneva, Switzerland.

What is Meningitis

• Meningitis is an inflammatory disease that affects the membranes that surrounds the Brain & Spinal cord.
• It can be caused by either Bacteria or by Viruses, while the one caused by Bacteria is the most serious one leading to around 250,000 deaths a year.
• WHO Target – As per the current roadmap, WHO & its partners target to eliminate the Bacterial Meningitis by 2030 & reduce the overall deaths by 70%.
• WHO & partners, decided on collaborative research towards vaccines for Meningitis & provide proper guidance to countries to eliminate the disease.
• Meningitis as an epidemic is spread across the world, yet most prevalent in the 26 Sub-Saharan African Countries.

About World Health Organization (WHO):

• Director General – Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
• Founded – 7 April 1948
• Headquarter – Geneva, Switzerland

India and Armenia to enhance cooperation in trade, education, cultural exchanges

• External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar who is in Yerevan, Armenia on the third and last leg of visit to central Asia paid homage at the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex.
• He had a warm and productive meeting with Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan. They discussed a roadmap to take the bilateral cooperation forward. Both agreed on enhancing the trade, education and cultural exchanges.
• The Ministers recognised the shared interests in strengthening connectivity, including the International North South Transport corridor.
• The External Affairs Minister met President of the National Assembly of Armenia Alen Simonyan. Dr. Jaishankar appreciated the National Assembly President’s perspective on regional and international issues of shared interest.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: STATE NEWS

Manipur CM launches “Chief Minister’s Health for All” scheme

• In Manipur, Chief Minister N. Biren Singh launched the “Chief Minister’s Health for All”.
• The scheme was already announced by him on the 71st Birthday of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 17th September this year.
• Door-to-door health screening will be conducted across the State and Jan Aushadhi medicines will be provided to patients free of cost for primary health care under the scheme. The Chief Minister Gi Hakchel Gi Tengbal and Ayushman Bharat health cards will also be issued to the patients having severe and chronic illness, if eligible. The Chief Minister also distributed ASHA Plus devices, smartphones and tablets to CHOs, Nurses and ASHA workers for the newly launched campaign.
• During the campaign Screening will be done using a hand-held device known as ASHA Plus for 10 non-communicable diseases, viz. Hypertension, Diabetes, Heart Disease, Kidney Ailments, Respiratory Disease like COPD, three common Cancers, Mental Health problems and Stroke/Post Stroke.
• In the first phase, 1628 villages will be selected comprising all 16 districts. These villages will be linked to 118 Primary Health Sub Centres, 29 Primary Health Centres and 7 Community Health Centres.

Aravind Kumar sworn in as Chief Justice of Gujarat High Court

• Justice Aravind Kumar was sworn in as the Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court.
• Governor Acharya Devvrat administered the oath of office to him at Raj Bhavan in Gandhinagar.
• Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Speaker of Gujarat Assembly Nimaben Acharya, Chief Secretary Pankaj Kumar and the Judges of Gujarat High Court were present on this occasion.
• Justice Aravind Kumar succeeds Justice Vikram Nath as the Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court. Before this assignment, he was working as a Judge of the Karnataka High Court.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BUSINESS NEWS

JNPT records over 40% growth in container traffic in 1st half of current financial year

• Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) has recorded over 40 percent growth in container traffic in first half of the current financial year as compared to the corresponding period last year.
• It has handled over 27 lakh TEUs during first half of the current financial year. Mentioning about the recently flagging off of the Dwarf container train services from JNPT, Chairman, JNPT Sanjay Sethi, the Port has been undertaking various measures to ensure the port is at par with technologically advanced global ports.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : BANKING & ECONOMY

RBI Granted Licence to Centrum-BharatPe’s United SFB; become 12th SFB of India

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued the ‘Small Finance Bank’ (SFB) licence to Centrum-BharatPe’s ‘Unity Small Finance Bank Ltd (USFBL)’ to carry on an SFB business in India.
• USFBL is a consortium that was established jointly by Centrum Financial Services Ltd (CFSL), a subsidiary of Centrum Capital Limited (CCL), and Resilient Innovations Private Limited (BharatPe).
• With the establishment of USFBL, the number of SFBs in India was increased to 12.
• Former State Bank of India (SBI) chairman Rajnish Kumar was appointed as the chairman of the BharatPe board.

Note 

• RBI Imposed Monetary Penalty of Rs 30 lakh on Janata Sahakari Bank Ltd, Pune, Maharashtra for non-compliance with certain directions issued by RBI.

About Reserve Bank of India (RBI):

• Governor – Shaktikanta Das
• Establishment – 1st April 1935
• Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharashtra
• Deputy Governors – Mahesh Kumar Jain, Michael Debabrata Patra, and M Rajeshwar Rao, T. Rabi Sankar

PhonePe Tie-up with NBBL Launched Recurring Payment Link – ClickPay

• The digital payment platform PhonePe has partnered with National Payments Corporation of India’s (NPCI) Bharat BillPay Ltd (NBBL) and launched a unique payment link named ‘ClickPay’ to enable customers to make recurring online bill payments.

Features of ClickPay:

• Two-step process: The recurring payment link which will be sent by the biller (on clicking the link) will lead the customer directly to the payment page for paying the bill amount instantly.
• This feature will facilitate the customers as it will overcome the need for remembering the unique identifiers and account details associated with making bill payments.
• It will also reduce the errors that are occurring due to manual inputs during bill payments.
• Using PhonePe the users could send and receive money, recharge mobile, data cards, pay at stores, make utility payments, make investments, buy gold, etc.
• Note – In April 2021, the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) formed its wholly-owned subsidiary NBBL to offer recurring payment services and transferred all its Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS) transaction mandates to it.

About PhonePe:

• CEO – Sameer Nigam
• It was acquired by Flipkart acquires in 2016
• Establishment – 2015
• Headquarters – Bengaluru, Karnataka

PayPal signs MoU with IIFT to launch India Digital Trade Facilitation Forum

• Digital payments firm PayPal signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) to increase the knowledge base of Indian micro, small & medium enterprises (MSMEs). 
• It will be done through the launch of India Digital Trade Facilitation Forum (IDTFF) for MSMEs.

What will IDTFF do

• IDTFF will educate, guide, and raise awareness amongst MSMEs about marketing, scaling, digitalization and exports through masterclasses. 
• This will help them to expand their consumer base and reach a global audience.
• Virtual webinars will also be hosted with industry experts, traders and policymakers on ongoing challenges.

About PayPal:

• President and CEO– Dan Schulman
• Headquarters– California, United States

Saraswat Bank partners with Axis Securities to Integrate Banking with Investments

• Saraswat Cooperative Bank Ltd. (Saraswat Bank) has partnered with Axis Securities to offer its customers investing services through a 3-in-1 account.
• The facility will integrate savings bank account maintained by the co-operative bank with the demat and trading account offered by Axis Securities, which is a subsidiary of Axis Bank.

Objective:

• To make investments simple and accessible to all.
• This facility will make it easier for customers to transfer funds quickly, reduce paperwork and most importantly, provide a comprehensive platform to invest in various investment instruments like equities, derivatives, currency, commodities, MF, IPO, etc.,

About Axis Securities Limited

• Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director– B. Gopkumar

About Saraswat Bank:

• Chairman– Gautam E Thakur
• Saraswat Bank is the largest Urban Co-operative Bank in India.
• Founded– 14 September 1918

SBI, UBI, PNB & Indian Bank picked up stakes in NARCL

• The State Bank of India (SBI), Union Bank of India (UBI), Punjab National Bank (PNB) and Indian Bank have picked up more than 12% stake each in the proposed bad bank National Asset Reconstruction Company Ltd (NARCL).

Details of acquisition:

• The SBI and UBI have picked up a 13.27% stake each which represents a cumulative 3.88 crore shares in NARCL.
• The PNB has picked up a 12.06% stake which is around 1.8 crore shares in NARCL.
• The Indian Bank has picked up around a 13.27% stake, subscribing 1.98 crore equity shares for a cash consideration of Rs 19.80 crore.

Note:

• The acquisition is expected to be completed by March 2022.
• The lenders have subscribed to the equity shares of NARCL at Rs 10 per share.

About NARCL:

• NARCL will take over the bad assets of banks in its own account for a speedy resolution of troubled loans.
• 51% stakes of NARCL will be owned by the PSBs and the rest will be owned by private-sector lenders

Indian Bank and Fisdom Joined Hands for Digital Wealth Management Products

• Indian Bank made a tie up with a fintech company Fisdom for its mobile banking app to manage the new digital wealth management products.
• Fisdom offers financial products, such as mutual funds, insurance and National Pension Scheme (NPS) on its platform. 
• Indian Bank is the seventh-largest public sector bank in India, following the merger with Allahabad Bank.
• This partnership makes the customers to invest in pension funds and digital gold and even file income tax returns online.

IOB Joined with TN Govt’s IFHRMS

• Indian Overseas Bank is now integrated with TN Govt’s IFHRMS (Integrated Finance Human Resource Management System) portal designed for collection of all treasury receipts.
• With this, Indian Overseas Bank is now authorized to collect all the receipts of Tamil Nadu Government under IFHRMS portal through both offline and online. 
• IFHRMS portal is developed to improve operational efficiency by integrating Human Resources and Financial services. 
• Indian Overseas Bank has also joined Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) in promoting pension and retirement planning.

PNB Housing shelves ₹ 4,000-cr share sale plan to Carlyle Group, other investors

• PNB Housing Finance Limited (PNBHFL) has called off its proposed ₹ 4,000 crore share sale plan to Carlyle Group and other marquee investors including General Atlantic and Ares SSG, citing protracted delays and uncertainty over regulatory approvals required for the preferential issue.
• PNBHFL decided not to proceed with the proposed preferential issue and therefore will now evaluate other alternatives to raise capital.
• Under the proposed deal, Pluto Investments, an affiliated entity of Carlyle Asia Partners IV and Carlyle Asia Partners had agreed to invest upto ₹ 3,185 crore through a preferential allotment of equity shares and warrants, at a price of ₹ 390 per share.
• The Competition Commission of India had in early August approved (deemed approval under green channel) the Carlyle Group led ₹ 4,000 crore equity investment transaction in PNBHFL even as SAT was then yet to pronounce its verdict on the valuation controversy

CURRENT AFFAIRS : APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Meera Mohanty appointed as JS in PMO & Ritesh Chauhan will be CEO, PM Fasal Bima Yojana

• As part of a bureaucratic reshuffle, Meera Mohanty appointed as the Joint Secretary (JS) in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and Ritesh Chauhan has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), replacing Ashish Kumar Bhutani.

About Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)

• In 2021, the flagship crop insurance scheme of the Government of India the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) has completed five years of its launch.
• PMFBY was launched on 2016. 
• The scheme was conceived as a milestone initiative to provide a comprehensive risk solution at the lowest uniform premium across the country for farmers.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : AWARDS & HONOURS

James Sangma of Meghalaya Won 2021 PETA India Award for ‘Vegan Leather’ Initiative

• It is of PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) India 2021 for his Vegan Leather initiative.
• He started an initiative to make ‘Vegan Leather’ from Pineapples in the northeastern states of India.

About Vegan Leather

• Vegan leather is a material that mimics leather, but is created from artificial or plant products instead of animal skins. 
• It is most often made from two different plastic polymers; polyurethane (PU) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) – they are commonly used due to their wrinkled texture which helps to give the effect of real leather.

About Pineapple leather

• Pineapple leather is a non-woven textile material, but it is not made from animal skin.
• It is also called Pinatex, made from a combination of natural fibers from the pineapple leaf, and plastic and resin.

About PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals)

• President – Ingrid Newkirk
• Founded: 1980
• Headquarters: Norfolk, Virginia, United States

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella Gets 2021 C K Prahalad Award for Global Business Sustainability Leadership

• Microsoft Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Indian American Satya Nadella got the prestigious C K Prahlad award for Global Business Sustainability Leadership for the year 2021.

About Microsoft

• Chief Executive Officer: Satya Nadella
• Chairperson: John W. Thompson
• Founded: 4 April 1975, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States
• Headquarters: Redmond, Washington, United States

Pradeep Kumar Panja appointed as the Chairman of Karnataka Bank

• Karnataka Bank Ltd has received approval from the Reserve Bank of India to appoint Pradeep Kumar Panja, an Independent Director of the bank, as part-time non-executive Chairman with effect from November 14, for a period of three years.
• He will succeed P Jayarama Bhat, who will complete his term on November 13.
• Pradeep Kumar Panja retired as Managing Director (Corporate Banking) of State Bank of India (SBI). Prior to this, he also held the post of Managing Director of State Bank of Travancore for about a year.
• Panja, who hails from Panja village in Dakshina Kannada, has been on the board of Karnataka Bank Ltd since August 19, 2020.
• His appointment as an Independent Director was approved by the shareholders at the 97th Annual General Meeting held on September 2.

Indian Banks’ Association: A K Goel elected Chairman for 2021-22

• The Managing Committee of the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) has elected A K Goel, Managing Director & CEO, UCO Bank, as the Chairman of the Association for the term 2021-22.
• The other office-bearers of the Association elected are Dinesh Kumar Khara, Chairman,State Bank of India, L V Prabhakar, MD & CEO, Canara Bank, and Rakesh Sharma, MD & CEO, IDBI Bank Ltd as Deputy Chairmen of the Association.
• Madhav Nair, Country Head & CEO, Mashreqbank PSC, has been elected as Honorary Secretary of the Association, according to IBA.

About IBA:

• IBA — set up in September 1946
• It is a representative body of the management of banking in India. It is a non-profit association.
• IBA is managed by the managing committee and the current committee consists of one Chairman and three Deputy Chairmen and one Honorary Secretary, besides members.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : SUMMITS & CONFERENCES

India, US to raise $100 billion per year to fight climate change

• On Oct 14, 2021, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and her American counterpart, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, participated in the 8th U.S.-India Economic and Financial Partnership.

Key People :

• Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das also attended virtually.
• The 8th U.S.-India Economic and Financial Partnership was organised on the sidelines of the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank in Washington.

About the Meeting :

• During the meeting, the two countries reaffirmed their commitment to raise $100 billion annually for developing countries from public and private sector sources, to tackle climate change.
• The India-US Economic and Financial Partnership was launched in 2010 as a framework to cement economic bonds between the two countries and build a foundation for greater cooperation and economic growth in the future.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : DEFENCE NEWS

PM Modi launches 7 new Defence PSUs

• On the auspicious occasion of Vijayadashami (Oct 15, 2021), Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated to the nation seven new defence public sector undertakings (DPSUs), created by incorporating the dissolved erstwhile Ordnance Factory Board (OFB).
• It was created after dissolving the over 200-year-old Ordnance Factory Board (OFB).
• To enhance functional autonomy, efficiency and unleash new growth potential & innovation, the Government had decided to convert OFB from a Government Department into seven 100 percent Government-owned corporate entities as a measure to improve self-reliance in the defence preparedness of the country.

List of 7 new Defence PSUs :

1. Munition India Ltd,
2. Armoured Vehicles Nigam Ltd
3. Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Ltd
4. Troop Comforts Ltd
5. Yantra India Ltd
6. India Optel Ltd
7. Gliders India Ltd

• The new companies would play an important role in import substitution, in line with the vision of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’.
• All the seven companies will be producing parachutes, troop comfort items, weapons, vehicles, ammunition, opto-electronics gear and more for the use of the three services, State police as well as Central Armed Police Force (CAPF).
• The assets of the OFB including its 41 ordnance factories and 9 ancillary bodies were transferred to the seven new firms.
• There are around 70,000 employed in these factories who have now been sent to the seven new entities & there will be no change in the service condition of the employees.

17th Edition of Indo-US Joint Military Exercise Ex – Yudh Abhyas 2021 organised in USA

• The 17th edition of the Joint Military Training Exercise “Ex Yudh Abhyas 2021” between the Indian Army and the United States Army, is scheduled to take place from October 15 to 29, 2021 at Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson, Alaska in USA.
• The Indian contingent will comprise 350 personnel of an Infantry Battalion Group.

Aim :

• To enhance understanding, cooperation and interoperability between two Armies.
• The joint exercise will focus on Combined Arms Manoeuvres in cold climatic conditions and is primarily sharing tactical level drills and learning best practices from each other.

Note :

• Exercise YudhAbhyas is the largest running joint military training and defence cooperation endeavor between India and USA.
• The previous version of the exercise was held at Mahajan Field Firing Ranges in Bikaner, Rajasthan in February 2021.

About Indian Army :

• Founded: 1 April 1895
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Commander-in-Chief: President Ram Nath Kovind
• Chief of Defence Staff : General Bipin Rawat
• Chief of the Army Staff : General Manoj Mukund Naravane
• Vice Chief of the Army Staff : Lieutenant General Chandi Prasad Mohanty

About United States Army :

• Founded: 14 June 1775, United States
• Headquarters: The Pentagon; Arlington County, Virginia, U.S
• Commander-in-Chief: President Joe Biden
• Secretary of Defense : Lloyd Austin
• Secretary of the Army :  Christine Wormuth
• Chief of Staff : James C. McConville
• Vice Chief of Staff : Joseph M. Martin

About USA :

• President: Joe Biden
• Capital: Washington, D.C.
• Currency: United States Dollar

CURRENT AFFAIRS : APPS & SERVICES

BPCL Unveils automated fuelling technology UFill

• Indian government-owned Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited(BPCL), has unveiled an automated fuelling technology system, called “UFill”.
• To provide swift, secure and smart experience to its customers at outlets by providing them with control of fuelling .
• It is a digital customer experience which delivers on BPCL’s promise of ensuring that their customers have complete control over time, technology, and transparency as part of their fueling experience.
• The UFill proposition has been launched in 65 cities across India and will soon be launched across India.
• It can be used with any payment app like GPay, PayTM, PhonePe etc as well as offers real time QR and voucher code through SMS.
• Adding to transparency and convenience, if the amount paid in advance is partially used, the balance amount is immediately refunded to the bank account of the customer.
• It is effective across the stakeholder chain, right from the company officials to end-users, including dealers, managers and driveway salesmen (DSM).

Union Minister Anurag Thakur launches MyParkings App in New Delhi

• On Oct 14, 2021, Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Anurag Thakur launched the ‘MyParkings’ app.
• It has been developed by Broadcast Engineering Consultants India Limited (BECIL) with South Delhi Municipal Corporation with the purpose to digitize all authorized parking under SDMC municipal limits.

Key people :

• The app launch was attended by Mukkesh Suryaan, Mayor, South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC); Gyanesh Bharti, Commissioner, SDMC and George Kuruvilla, CMD, BECIL.
• This facility will be rolled out in future to other municipality divisions across India.
• The app will help reduce pollution from vehicles by minimising the time spent searching for parking spots.
• It will offer an effortless solution to users for hassle-free parking and booking of online parking slots to park their vehicles without inconvenience.

Features of MyParkings App :

1. On Spot & Advanced Bookings of vehicle Parking
2. Flexibility of selecting slots through easy to use mobile app
3. Parking solution enabled with Prepaid/Smart Cards
4. Option of Paperless check-in & check-out of the vehicles
5. Share parking for Safety & recall
6. Display of Amenities & facilities in & nearby parking location
7. Management of parking Pass for daily/regular commuters
8. Options for EV charging station & Integration of card with DTC/Delhi METRO
9. Smart QR Code for slot booking, check in & checkout
10. ANPR – Automatic number plate recognition system

About BPCL :

• Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra
• Chairman & MD : Arun Kumar Singh
• Founded: 1952

CURRENT AFFAIRS : RANKING & INDEX

Global Hunger Index 2021 : India Ranks 101 Out of 116 Countries

• In the Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2021, India’s rank has dropped to 101 with a GHI score of 27.5 out of 50, which comes under serious category among 116 countries.
• India’s neighbours like Nepal (76), Bangladesh (76), Myanmar (71) and Pakistan (92) are also in the ‘alarming’ hunger category.
• The report was prepared by the Irish aid agency Concern Worldwide and Germany’s Welt Hunger Hilfe.
• The report termed the level of hunger in India as “alarming”.
• Based on the current GHI projections, the world as a whole and 47 countries in particular will fail to achieve a low level of hunger by 2030.
• In 2020, India was placed at 94th place with a score of 27.2, out of 107 countries.
• India’s GHI score has decelerated, from 38.8 in 2000 to the range of 28.8-27.5 between 2012 and 2021.

About GHI :

• The Global Hunger Index (GHI) measures and tracks hunger at global, regional, and national levels.
• 18 countries, including China, Brazil and Kuwait, shared the top rank with a GHI score of less than five.
• This means that these countries suffer very less from hunger and malnutrition.

GHI scores are determined based on values of four indicators:

• undernourishment (share of the population with insufficient caloric intake),
• child wasting (share of children under age five who have low weight for their height, reflecting acute undernutrition),
• child stunting (share of children under age five who have low height for their age, reflecting chronic undernutrition), and
• child mortality (mortality rate of children under age five, partly reflecting the fatal mix of inadequate nutrition and unhealthy environments).
• The Global Hunger Index measures hunger on a 100-point scale, with 0 being the best score (no hunger) and 100 being the worst.

Level	Value
Low severity	≤ 9.9
Moderate severity	10.0–19.9
serious severity	20.0–34.9
alarming severity	35.0–49.9
extremely alarming severity	≥ 50.0

About Welthungerhilfe :

• Headquarters : Bonn, Germany
• Founder: Heinrich Lübke
• Founded: 1962
• Welthungerhilfe is a German non-denominational and politically independent non-profit and non-governmental aid agency working in the fields of development cooperation and emergency aid.

About Concern Worldwide :

• CEO : Dominic MacSorley
• Headquarters location: Dublin, Ireland
• Founded: 1968
• Founders: Jack Finucane, Aengus Finucane, John O’Loughlin Kennedy, Kay O’Loughlin Kennedy
• Concern Worldwide is Ireland’s largest aid and humanitarian agency.

Reliance Industries tops India Inc in Forbes World’s Best Employer 2021 Ranking

• Reliance Industries, the country’s largest company by revenues, profits and market value, has topped Indian corporates in the World’s Best Employers rankings 2021 published by Forbes.
• It has been prepared by Forbes in partnership with market research company Statista.
• Mukesh Ambani-owned RIL was placed at the 52nd position in the overall ranking of 750 global corporations.
• The global ranking was topped by South Korean giant Samsung Electronics, followed by US giants IBM, Microsoft, Amazon, Apple, Alphabet and Dell Technologies.
• The rankings were compiled after surveying 150,000 full-time and part-time workers from 58 countries working for multinational companies and institutions.
• Parameters used during the survey for the ranking includes image, economic footprint, talent development, gender equality and social responsibility.

Highlights :

• According to the Forbes ranking, other Indian names in the top 100 rankings were ICICI Bank at 65, HDFC Bank at 77 and HCL Technologies at 90.
• State Bank of India (SBI) was placed at 119 and Larsen & Toubro at 127.
• Infosys was ranked at 588 and Tata Group at 746 & Life Insurance Corp (LIC) was placed at 504.
• Other Indian firms on the list included Bajaj at 215, Axis Bank at 254, Indian Bank at 314, Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) at 404, Amara Raja Group at 405, Kotak Mahindra Bank at 418 and Bank of India at 451.
• ITC was placed at 453, while Cipla was at 460 and Bank of Baroda at 496.

Recent News :

• On October 07, 2021, The Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) Chairman Mukesh Ambani topped the Forbes India Rich list for 2021.

About Reliance Industries Limited :

• CEO: Mukesh Ambani
• Founder: Dhirubhai Ambani
• Founded: 8 May 1973, Maharashtra
• Headquarters : Mumbai, Maharashtra

India ranks third in RE Attractiveness Index

• In the 58th edition of EY’s ‘Renewable Energy Country Attractiveness Index’ (RECAI), India remained at the third position with an index score of 70.2 released by the consultancy firm Ernst & Young (EY).

Top 5 in RECAI :

1. United States – 72.8
2. Mainland China – 70.7
3. India – 70.2
4. France – 67.4 (Rank improved from 5 in the 57th edition)
5. UK – 67.3 (Rank deteriorated from 4)

Corporate PPA Index 2021: 

• Corporate Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) Index was newly included in the current edition of RECAI, in which India ranked 6th among the top 30 PPA markets.

About RECAI :

• The Renewable Energy Country Attractiveness Index (RECAI) ranks the world’s top 40 markets on the attractiveness of their renewable energy investment and deployment opportunities.
• RECAI is a biannual report being released since 2003.

About Ernst & Young :

• CEO: Carmine Di Sibio
• Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
• Founded: 1989, England, United Kingdom
• Chairperson: Carmine Di Sibio

CURRENT AFFAIRS : SPORTS NEWS

Football: Sunil Chhetri equals Pele with 77th goal

• Sunil Chhetri has equalled the legendary Pele by making the 77th international goal as his 83rd minute strike, on October 10, 2021.
• Note: 77th goal by Chhetri during the strike helped India to beat Nepal by 1-0.
• This goal also saved his side from the verge of elimination in SAFF Championships.

‘Our Goal for All’ – Tagline for 2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup Unveiled

• Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and the Local Organising Committee (LOC) unveiled ‘Our Goal for All’ as the official tagline for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup India 2022.

Important Notes:

• ’Our Goal for All’ implies the unity and collective effort of the Asian football members to create a glorious future for women’s football.
• The AFC Women’s Asian Cup India 2022 will take place in three Indian cities of Maharashtra – Navi Mumbai, Mumbai and Pune– from January 20 to February 6 in 2022.
• Top 12 football teams from Asia will participate in the cup which include reigning champions Japan, 2018 runners-up Australia, third-placed China PR and hosts India. 
• They will be joined by Indonesia, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Korea Republic, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and others.

About Asian Football Confederation (AFC)

• President– Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa
• Headquarters- Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
• Founded- 1954

Divya Deshmukh becomes India’s 21st Woman Grand Master

• Divya Deshmukh, a 15-year-old from Nagpur, Maharashtra became the 21st Woman Grand Master (WGM) of India after qualifying in the 3rd WGM norm. 
• She attained these feet during the “First Saturday Grand Master (GM)” in Budapest,
• During the tournament, she also qualified for the 2nd norms of International Masters (IM), now there is only one norm ahead for her to qualify as an IM.
• Divya Deshmukh scored 5 points from 9 rounds during the tournament to secure the 3rd & final WGM-norm.
• In September 2021, R Raja Rithvik became the 70th Grandmaster of India.
• Note – Subbaraman Vijayalakshmi was India’s 1st Women Grandmaster, while Viswanathan Anand became India’s 1st Grandmaster in 1988.

About All India Chess Federation (AICF):

• President – Sanjay Kapoor
• Founded – 1951
• Headquarters – Chennai, Tamil Nadu

 Daily CA On Oct 13 :

• Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved the proposal of the Department of Fertilizers for fixation of Nutrient Based Subsidy Rates for Phosphatic and Potassic fertilisers (P&K) for the year 2021-22.
• The Union Cabinet has approved the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation 2.0 (AMRUT 2.0) till 2025-26 & it has providing reliable and affordable water supply and sanitation services to urban households is a national priority.
• Coal Crisis in India: Govt Enabled Imported Coal Power Plants to Sell Un-requisitioned Power; Allowed 50% Sale of Coal from Captive Mines
• OneWeb (a venture backed by Bharti Airtel), has entered into an arrangement with NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), the commercial arm of ISRO, to use Indian-built PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) and the heavier GSLV (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle) – MkIII as potential platforms to launch OneWeb’s satellites in India from 2022.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually launched the Indian Space Association (ISpA), a private industry body to help boost space technology in India.
• India and Nepal have signed two agreements aimed at boosting cross-border train services and reviewed ongoing railway projects as part of efforts by the two countries to improve regional connectivity and trade.
• High Commissioner for United Nation Human Rights Council (UNHRC), Michelle Bachelet addresses the Human Rights Council and recognised access to a clean and healthy environment as a fundamental right.
• The Karnataka State Higher Education Council has entered into an MoU with the National Association of Software and Service Companies, NASSCOM to provide industry-suited skill training to the youth. 
• The 2nd edition of ‘Ecological Threat Report (ETR) 2021: Understanding ecological threats, resilience and peace’ was released by the Institute of Economics and Peace (IEP).
• Shivalik Small Finance Bank announced a strategic partnership with Bengaluru-based insurtech company, Go Digit General Insurance, to provide an array of instant, easy-to-understand insurance products through the bank’s network of branches across India.
• Assets under management (AUM) of non-banking financial companies (NBFCs), which primarily offer loans against gold, are expected to rise 18–20 per cent to ₹3 lakh crore this fiscal against ₹1.1 lakh crore in FY21, according to Crisil Ratings.
• The Reserve Bank of India has granted a banking licence to Unity Small Finance Bank Ltd (USFBL), which was established jointly by the Centrum Financial Services Ltd (CFSL) and Resilient Innovations Private Limited (BharatPe), to carry on a SFB business in India.
• The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has retained India’s GDP at 9.5 per cent for the current fiscal i.e 2021-22 while cutting forecasts for the global economy by 5.9 per cent for the year 2021.
• Former IAS officer Amit Khare has been appointed as advisor to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 
• Ram Nath Kovind, President of India, has approved the appointment of the chief justices (CJ) to 8 high courts (HC) across India. 
• Indian Navy hosts its largest naval train, Ex Milan in February 2022 for which 46 countries have been invited.
• On Oct 12, 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the 28th National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) foundation day programme through video conferencing in New Delhi.
• Indian Technology Congress Association in Bengaluru focuses on constructing synergies between academia, trade and analysis organisations.
• The 2021 International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Junior World Championship Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun was held at Lima in Peru from September 27 to October 10, 2021 in that India has won 43 medals, including 17 Gold, 16 Silver and 10 Bronze medals to stand atop in the medal table.
• On Oct 11, 2021, The World football governing body, FIFA unveiled the official mascot named “IBHA” of the U-17 Women’s World Cup India 2022.
• Australia beat India by 14 runs in the third and final T20 Women’s International to seal the multi-format series by 11-5 points.
• On Oct 11, 2021, Versatile National Award-winning Malayalam actor Nedumudi Venu Passed away.
• Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO), chairman Balvinder Singh Nakai passed away.
• On Oct 10, 2021, Noted Kannada film actor Sathyajith Passed away.

Daily CA On Oct 14 15 & 16 :

• World Student’s Day is celebrated every year on October 15, it is celebrated in honour of the birth anniversary of the former president of India, Late Dr APJ Abdul Kalam with the theme of ‘Learning for people, planet, prosperity, and peace’.
• The United Nations’ International Day of Rural Women celebrates and honours women and girls living in rural areas on 15 October each year with the theme of Rural Women Cultivating Good Food for All”
• World Standards Day is an international day celebrated internationally each year on 14 October.
• World Food Day is an international day celebrated every year worldwide on 16 October to commemorate the date of the founding of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization in 1945.
• The Union Cabinet has approved the continuation of Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) till 2025-26 with an outlay of Rs 1,41,600 crores w.e.f October 1, 2021. 
• Power Finance Corporation Ltd (PFC) was accorded the status of ‘Maharatna central public sector enterprise (CPSE)’ by the Department of Public Enterprises, under the Ministry of Finance.
• Union Minister of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj Shri Giriraj Singh virtually launched Climate Resilience Information System and Planning (CRISP-M) tool for integration of climate information in Geographic Information System (GIS) based watershed planning under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA Scheme (MGNREGS). 
• PM launched Rs 100 Lakh cr Gati Shakti- National Master Plan for Infrastructure Development from New Delhi
• A two-day National conference for zoo directors and veterinarians 2021 was hosted by Sardar Patel Zoological Park, Kevadia, Gujarat. 
• The Department of Biotechnology has launched the country’s first ‘One Health’
• Minister of State for Consumer Affairs Ashwini Kumar Choubey has implemented the best global standards which will facilitate access to national and international markets for Small and Medium Enterprises. 
• India hosted the first ever SCO Seminar on Role of Women in Armed Forces. Secretary (West) Reenat Sandhu, the role of India’s women military officers at the global level in UN peacekeeping missions.
• In its October 2021 World Economic Outlook (WEO) titled ‘Recovery During a Pandemic Health Concerns, Supply Disruptions, and Price Pressures’, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has retained India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth forecast for 2021 unchanged at 9.5 percent (July 2021 forecast).
• Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi virtually participated in the ‘G20 Extraordinary Leaders’ Meeting on Afghanistan’, which has been organised to discuss the situation in Afghanistan.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) along with its partners (including UNICEF, PATH, the Gates Foundation) have launched the 1st ever Global strategy to defeat “Meningitis”- a disease that kills hundreds of thousands of people each year.
• External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar who is in Yerevan, Armenia on the third and last leg of visit to central Asia paid homage at the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex.
• In Manipur, Chief Minister N. Biren Singh launched the “Chief Minister’s Health for All”.
• Justice Aravind Kumar was sworn in as the Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court.
• Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) has recorded over 40 percent growth in container traffic in first half of the current financial year as compared to the corresponding period last year.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued the ‘Small Finance Bank’ (SFB) licence to Centrum-BharatPe’s ‘Unity Small Finance Bank Ltd (USFBL)’ to carry on an SFB business in India.
• The digital payment platform PhonePe has partnered with National Payments Corporation of India’s (NPCI) Bharat BillPay Ltd (NBBL) and launched a unique payment link named ‘ClickPay’ to enable customers to make recurring online bill payments.
• Digital payments firm PayPal signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) to increase the knowledge base of Indian micro, small & medium enterprises (MSMEs). 
• Saraswat Cooperative Bank Ltd. (Saraswat Bank) has partnered with Axis Securities to offer its customers investing services through a 3-in-1 account.
• The State Bank of India (SBI), Union Bank of India (UBI), Punjab National Bank (PNB) and Indian Bank have picked up more than 12% stake each in the proposed bad bank National Asset Reconstruction Company Ltd (NARCL).
• Indian Bank made a tie up with a fintech company Fisdom for its mobile banking app to manage the new digital wealth management products.
• Indian Overseas Bank is now integrated with TN Govt’s IFHRMS (Integrated Finance Human Resource Management System) portal designed for collection of all treasury receipts.
• PNB Housing Finance Limited (PNBHFL) has called off its proposed ₹ 4,000 crore share sale plan to Carlyle Group and other marquee investors including General Atlantic and Ares SSG, citing protracted delays and uncertainty over regulatory approvals required for the preferential issue.
• As part of a bureaucratic reshuffle, Meera Mohanty appointed as the Joint Secretary (JS) in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and Ritesh Chauhan has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), replacing Ashish Kumar Bhutani.
• James Sangma of Meghalaya Won 2021 PETA India Award for ‘Vegan Leather’ Initiative
• Microsoft Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Indian American Satya Nadella got the prestigious C K Prahlad award for Global Business Sustainability Leadership for the year 2021.
• Karnataka Bank Ltd has received approval from the Reserve Bank of India to appoint Pradeep Kumar Panja, an Independent Director of the bank, as part-time non-executive Chairman with effect from November 14, for a period of three years.
• The Managing Committee of the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) has elected A K Goel, Managing Director & CEO, UCO Bank, as the Chairman of the Association for the term 2021-22.
• On Oct 14, 2021, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and her American counterpart, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, participated in the 8th U.S.-India Economic and Financial Partnership.
• On the auspicious occasion of Vijayadashami (Oct 15, 2021), Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated to the nation seven new defence public sector undertakings (DPSUs), created by incorporating the dissolved erstwhile Ordnance Factory Board (OFB).
• The 17th edition of the Joint Military Training Exercise “Ex Yudh Abhyas 2021” between the Indian Army and the United States Army, is scheduled to take place from October 15 to 29, 2021 at Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson, Alaska in USA.
• Indian government-owned Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited(BPCL), has unveiled an automated fuelling technology system, called “UFill”.
• On Oct 14, 2021, Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Anurag Thakur launched the ‘MyParkings’ app.
• In the Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2021, India’s rank has dropped to 101 with a GHI score of 27.5 out of 50, which comes under serious category among 116 countries.
• Reliance Industries, the country’s largest company by revenues, profits and market value, has topped Indian corporates in the World’s Best Employers rankings 2021 published by Forbes.
• In the 58th edition of EY’s ‘Renewable Energy Country Attractiveness Index’ (RECAI), India remained at the third position with an index score of 70.2 released by the consultancy firm Ernst & Young (EY).
• Sunil Chhetri has equalled the legendary Pele by making the 77th international goal as his 83rd minute strike, on October 10, 2021.
• Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and the Local Organising Committee (LOC) unveiled ‘Our Goal for All’ as the official tagline for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup India 2022.
• Divya Deshmukh, a 15-year-old from Nagpur, Maharashtra became the 21st Woman Grand Master (WGM) of India after qualifying in the 3rd WGM norm.