01 Sep 2021 Current Affairs in English

September 2, 2021
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Latest Current Affairs Daily Update

Important Days

International Day for People of African Descent

The International Day for People of African Descent is celebrated for the first time on 31 August 2021. The United Nations aims to promote the extraordinary contributions of the African diaspora around the world and to eliminate all forms of discrimination against people of African descent.

The year 2020 marked the midterm of the International Decade for People of African Descent. While some progress has been made at legislative, policy and institutional levels, people of African descent continue to suffer intersectional and compounded forms of racial discrimination, marginalization, and exclusion.

National

Maharashtra govt launches “Mission Vatsalya” for women’s

Maharashtra government launched a special mission called “Mission Vatsalya” in order to help women who lost their husbands to COVID-19. Mission Vatsalya will provide several services and some 18 benefits under one roof to those women.

It has been designed for widows, with a special focus on widows coming from rural areas, poor backgrounds, and deprived sections. Under this mission, schemes like Sanjay Gandhi Niradhar Yojana and Gharkul Yojana will benefit women. 

Under this scheme, 8,661 women have applied for the Sanjay Gandhi Niradhar Anudan Yojana, 405 for the Shravanbal Seva State Pension Scheme, and 71 for the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme.

Useful notes for all competitive exams:

  • Maharashtra Governor: Bhagat Singh Koshyari;
  • Maharashtra Capital: Mumbai;
  • Maharashtra CM: Uddhav Thackeray.

Appointments

9 new Supreme Court judges, including 3 women, takes oath

  • Nine new judges, including three women, have been administered the oath of office as judges of the Supreme Court by Chief Justice of India (CJI) NV Ramana.
  • The strength of the Supreme Court would go up to 33, including the CJI, out of the sanctioned strength of 34, after the swearing-in of the nine new judges.

Here are the names of nine new judges of the Supreme Court:

  1.  Justice Vikram Nath:  Justice Nath, who was the chief justice of the Gujarat High Court, is in line to become the CJI upon the retirement of sitting top court judge Justice Surya Kant in February 2027.
  2. Justice BV Nagarathna: Justice Nagarathna was a judge of the Karnataka High Court. Justice Nagarathna is in line to become the first woman CJI in September 2027.
  3. Justice PS Narasimha: Justice Narasimha was a senior advocate and former additional solicitor general. Justice Narasimha would succeed Justice Nagarathna as the CJI and would have a tenure of over six months.
  4. Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka: Justice Oka was the chief justice of the Karnataka High Court).
  5.  Justice Jitendra Kumar Maheshwari: Justice Maheshwari was the chief justice of the Sikkim High Court.
  6.  Justice Hima Kohli:  Justice Kohli was the chief justice of the Telangana High Court
  7.  Justice CT Ravikumar:  Justice Ravikumar was a judge of the Kerala High Court
  8.  Justice MM Sundresh:  Justice Sundresh was a judge of the Madras High Court
  9. Justice Bela M Trivedi:  Justice Trivedi was a judge of the Gujarat High Court

Useful notes for all competitive exams:

  • 48th Chief Justice of India (CJI): Nuthalapati Venkata Ramana;
  • Supreme Court of India Established: 26 January 1950.

Rajnish Kumar appointed as an independent director of HSBC Asia

The former State Bank of India (SBI) chairman, Rajnish Kumar has been appointed as an independent director of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) Asia entity on August 30, 2021.

He has also been appointed as a member of the Audit Committee and Risk Committee of the company. Kumar is also currently a director of India’s Lighthouse Communities Foundation, an independent director of Larsen & Toubro Infotech, a senior advisor of Baring Private Equity Asia Pte. Ltd in Singapore and an advisor of Kotak Investment Advisors Ltd in Mumbai.

Useful notes for all competitive exams:

  • HSBC CEO: Peter Wong;
  • HSBC Founder: Thomas Sutherland;
  • HSBC Founded: March 1865.

Economy

PFRDA increases the entry age in National Pension System (NPS) to 70 years

The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has increased the entry age for the National Pension System (NPS) from 65 years to 70 years. Earlier the eligible age to invest in NPS was 18-65 years which has now been revised to 18-70 years.

As per the revised norms, any Indian Citizen, resident or non-resident, and Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) between the age of 65-70 years can join NPS and continue or defer their NPS Account up to the age of 75 years.

If a person joins NPS after 65 years, then the Normal Exit shall be after 3 years. Exit before 3 years will be considered premature exit. There is also a limit on the amount that can be exposed to equity in case the NPS is open after 65 years. The maximum equity exposure is 15% and 50% under Auto and Active Choice respectively.

Business News

RuPay launches #FollowPaymentDistancing campaign

RuPay has launched a strategic campaign titled – #FollowPaymentDistancing to promote and encourage contactless payments among customers. Due to COVID-19, customers have been following several norms and measures to stay safe by following healthy habits, self-care routines, and social distancing.

RuPay’s #FollowPaymentDistancing campaign encourages consumers to start ‘payment distancing’ and switch to contactless digital payments with RuPay Contactless Cards which is safe as well as time-conserving.

Contactless payments allow merchants to offer their consumers a safer, cleaner way to pay, reduce long queues at checkout counters, and have more control over physical space during these tough times. The campaign aims to educate both the merchants and consumers about the benefits of using contactless payments during these unprecedented situations.

PhonePe receives direct broking license from IRDAI

Flipkart-owned digital payments platform PhonePe has received an insurance broking licence from the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI). This means that with the new ‘direct broking’ licence, PhonePe can now distribute insurance products from all insurance companies in India, on its platform.

Earlier in January 2020, PhonePe entered the insurance sector, but with a limited insurance ‘corporate agent’ licence, which restricted it to partner with only three insurance companies per category.

Prior to getting a broking licence, PhonePe, from January 2020, operated as a corporate agent and launched several offerings across general insurance, term insurance and health insurance. However, as a corporate agent, it was only restricted to partner with three insurance companies per category.

Useful notes for all competitive exams:

  • CEO of Phonepe: Sameer Nigam
  • Headquarters location of Phonepe: Bengaluru, Karnataka.

Sports

Paralympics 2020: Javelin Thrower Sumit Antil wins gold for India

India’s Sumit Antil has won the gold medal in the men’s javelin throw F64 final event at the Tokyo Paralympics, and in the process set a new world record throw of 68.55m. The 23-year-old Sumit hails from Sonepat in Haryana.

Michal Burian of Australia won the silver medal (66.29m), while Sri Lanka’s Dulan Kodithuwakku won the bronze medal. This is the second gold medal for India at the ongoing Tokyo Games and now the total medal tally of India has reached 7.

Earlier, the bronze medal won by Vinod Kumar in the discus throw F56 final was declared as ineligible by the classification panel.

Indian cricketer Stuart Binny announces retirement

Indian all-rounder cricketer, Stuart Binny has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket on August 30, 2021. He had represented Team India in six Tests, 14 ODIs and three T20Is, scoring a total of 459 runs and 24 wickets.

Binny is the son of Roger Binny, a former India selector who was part of the 1983 world cup winning squad. In the Indian Premier League, he played for the Rajasthan Royals. Binny holds the record of the best bowling figures in ODI format.

He produced a sensational spell taking 6/4 in just 4.4 overs as India bowled out Bangladesh for 58 after having themselves being shot out for 105 in a low-scoring affair.

Paralympics 2020: Devendra Jhajharia Wins silver in the Javelin throw

At the ongoing Tokyo Paralympics 2020, India’s greatest Paralympian, Devendra Jhajharia won the silver medal in the men’s javelin throw – F46 final event on August 30, 2021.

The 40-year-old Devendra performed his best throw of 64.35, for the silver. In the same event, Sundar Singh Gurjar won the bronze medal, with his best throw of 64.01. With this, the total medal tally of India at the Paralympics 2020 Games reaches seven.

Paralympics 2020: Yogesh Kathuniya wins silver in the discus throw

India’s discus thrower Yogesh Kathuniya has clinched the silver medal at the ongoing Tokyo Paralympics in the men’s Discus Throw F56 final event. Yogesh claimed the second spot with a throw of 44.38m.

Batista dos Santos from Brazil won gold, setting a Paralympic record with a throw of 45.59m. L. Diaz Aldana from Cuba bagged bronze.

Obituary

Noted Bengali Writer Buddhadeb Guha passes away

Eminent Bengali writer Buddhadeb Guha has passed away. He was the author of many notable works such as “Madhukar” (Honey Gatherer), “Koehler Kachhe” (Near the Koel bird) and “Sobinoy Nibedon” (Humble Offering).

He also won several awards including Ananda Purashkar in 1976, Shiromani Purashkar and Sharat Puraskar.

Renowned cricket coach Vasoo Paranjape passes away

Former India cricketer and coach, Vasoo Paranjape has passed away. He was considered a mentor of stalwarts like Sunil Gavaskar, Dilip Vengsarkar, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and Rohit Sharma to name a few. He also gave Gavaskar the nickname ‘Sunny’.

Paranjape was born on November 21, 1938, in Gujarat, Paranjape was a former Ranji Trophy player and a coach at the National Cricket Academy. He was the father of former India and Mumbai cricketer Jatin Paranjape.

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