Important Days
International Day to Protect Education from Attack: 09 September
International Day to Protect Education from Attack is observed globally on 9th September. In proclaiming the International Day to Protect Education from Attack to be celebrated for the first time in 2020.
The purpose of the day is to raise awareness regarding the importance of safeguarding schools as places of protection and safety for students and educators and the need to keep education at the top of the public agenda.
The day was established by a unanimous decision of the UN General Assembly, calling on UNESCO and UNICEF to raise awareness of the plight of millions of children living in countries affected by conflict. The resolution proclaiming the Day was presented by the State of Qatar and co-sponsored by 62 countries.
Useful notes for all competitive exams:
- UNESCO headquarters: Paris, France.
- UNESCO Head: Audrey Azoulay.
- UNESCO Founded: 16 November 1945.
- UNICEF Executive Director: Henrietta H. Fore.
- UNICEF Founded: 11 December 1946.
- UNICEF Headquarters: New York, United States.
National
Union Minister Bhupender Yadav inaugurates PRANA portal
Union Minister of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav launched a portal named PRANA, for the regulation of air pollution in 132 cities across the country.
PRANA stands for Portal for Regulation of Air pollution in Non-Attainment cities. The portal (prana.cpcb.gov.in) will support tracking of physical as well as the financial status of city air action plan implementation and disseminate information on air quality to the public.
The cities which come under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) will be covered. Apart from this, the Union Minister also dedicated the first functional smog tower of India, installed in Anand Vihar in New Delhi to the country.
Uttarakhand Governor Baby Rani Maurya Resigns
Uttarakhand Governor Baby Rani Maurya has announced her resignation from the position on September 08, 2021, almost two years before completing her term, citing personal reasons.
The 64-year-old Baby Rani Maurya was appointed as the Governor of Uttarakhand in August 2018, succeeding Krishan Kant Paul. Prior to becoming the governor of Uttarakhand, she served as the mayor of Agra in Uttar Pradesh, from 1995 to 2000.
AP Govt. appoints former SBI Chairperson Rajnish Kumar as an economic advisor
The Andhra Pradesh government has appointed Rajnish Kumar as its economic advisor. A former SBI chairman, Rajnish Kumar’s tenure in the cabinet rank position is for two years.
Rajnish Kumar who had retired as SBI chairman in October 2020, is an independent non-executive director at the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation. He joined SBI as a Probationary officer in 1980.
The appointment comes amid the growing concerns over the state’s financial situation which has been badly hit by the Covid pandemic, even as the opposition has been critical over the sops and freebies being distributed by the Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy-led state government. Rajnish Kumar’s appointment is expected to help the state government steer through the financially tough juncture.
Useful notes for all competitive exams:
- Andhra Pradesh Governor: Biswabhusan Harichandan;
- Andhra Pradesh Chief minister: Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy;
- Andhra Pradesh Capitals: Visakhapatnam (executive capital), Kurnool (judicial capital), Amaravati (legislative capital).
Gujarat govt launches Vatan Prem Yojana
The Government of Gujarat announced, that it plans on undertaking public welfare projects worth Rs. 1,000 crores jointly with non-resident Gujaratis by December 2022.
The projects will be under the state government’s ‘Vatan Prem Yojana’. The Yojana was launched in Gujarat focusing on rural development through public and state contributions.
The state government will undertake various rural development projects and activities. This scheme will be undertaken with 40% state government’s contribution and 60% contribution from the general public.
The state government has invited Non-Resident Gujaratis and NRIs are also invited to contribute.
This scheme aims to provide them with an opportunity to change their love for the nation into service for the nation. This scheme aims at making the rural areas self-reliant. It is an important step in the holistic development of villages.
Useful notes for all competitive exams:
- Gujarat Chief Minister: Vijay Rupani;
- Gujarat Governor: Acharya Devvrat.
India’s tallest air purifier tower installed in Chandigarh
India’s tallest air purification tower has been inaugurated in the Union Territory of Chandigarh. The tower has been installed at the initiative of the Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee (CPCC) at Transport Chowk, Sector 26, by Pious Air Pvt Limited.
This is the highest air purifier tower of the country and covers an area of around a 500-meter radius and is 24-meter-high. The purification tower will clean 3.88 crore cubic ft of air from the surrounding environment.
Appointments
Tata AIA Life names Neeraj Chopra as brand ambassador
Tata AIA Life Insurance has announced the signing of a multi-year brand partnership with Indian athlete and Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra, as its brand ambassador.
This association also marks the very first brand partnership to be signed with the champion javelin thrower, post his historic win at the recent Tokyo Olympics.
Neeraj Chopra closely embodies Tata AIA’s vision of enabling dreams and inspiring healthier and happier lives and its core value of passion for excellence. He has consistently set high benchmarks and pioneered change through dedication to his sport.
Over the next few years, Neeraj will support Tata AIA’s efforts in offering solutions to its consumers across the country.
Centre appoints G.S Pannu as Officiating ITAT President
The Central Government has appointed G.S. Pannu as President of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal. G. S. Pannu is presently a Vice-President, ITAT, New Delhi, and will be Officiating President of ITAT with effect from September 6, 2021, till the appointment of regular President.
Mr. Pannu was born on 01 Aug 1962 at Hoshiarpur (Punjab), he is a C.A and joined Government Service 14 September 2000. Presently posted as Vice-President at ITAT, New Delhi. Before joining ITAT, practiced as a Chartered Accountant at New Delhi from 1986-2000.
Useful notes for all competitive exams:
- India’s Income Tax Appellate Tribunal was set up on 25 January 1941.
Agreements
HDFC Bank partners with NSIC to provide credit support to MSMEs
HDFC Bank has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC) for providing credit support to the micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) sector.
The branches of HDFC bank will extend support to the MSME projects in the areas they are located in and to other important industrial sectors across the country. Under this, the country’s largest private sector bank will also provide MSMEs with a set of specially-tailored schemes to enhance their competitiveness.
National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC), is an ISO 9001:2015 certified Government of India Enterprise under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME).
Useful notes for all competitive exams:
- Headquarters of HDFC Bank: Mumbai, Maharashtra;
- MD and CEO of HDFC Bank: Sashidhar Jagdishan;
- The tagline of HDFC Bank: We understand your world.
Banking
RBI removes lending curbs on UCO Bank
Reserve Bank of India has taken public sector lender UCO Bank out of the Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) framework on improvement in financial and credit profile.
This decision gives the bank more freedom for lending, especially to corporations, and grows the network, subject to prescribed norms.
The Kolkata-based lender was placed under PCA in May 2017 on account of high Net Net-Performing Assets (NPAs) and negative Return on Assets (RoAs).
Following UCO Bank’s exit, two banks — Indian Overseas Bank and Central Bank of India — remain under PCA. The central bank uses the PCA framework to rein in banks that have breached certain regulatory thresholds in bad loans and capital adequacy.
PCA entails curbs on high-risk lending, setting aside more money on provisions, and restrictions on management salary.
Useful notes for all competitive exams:
- UCO Bank Headquarters: Kolkata;
- UCO Bank MD and CEO: Atul Kumar Goel;
- UCO Bank Founder: Ghanshyam Das Birla;
- UCO Bank Founded: 6 January 1943.
Karnataka Bank launches POS device ‘WisePOSGo’
The Karnataka Bank has launched an all-in-one Point-of-Sales (POS) swiping machine dubbed as ‘WisePOSGo’, for its merchant customers to process business payments.
The private sector lender has rolled out this POS device in collaboration with Mswipe Technologies Pvt Ltd. The introduction of ‘WisePOSGo’ is yet another step in the direction of expanding the digital payment infrastructure in the country and promote a cashless economy.
WisePOSGo is a compact, lightweight and user-friendly device, designed to keep in view the specific cost-centric requirements of the bank’s MSME customers.
Useful notes for all competitive exams:
- Karnataka Bank Headquarters: Mangalore;
- Karnataka Bank CEO: Mahabaleshwara M. S;
- Karnataka Bank Founded: 18 February 1924.
Economy News
S&P Global Ratings Projects India’s GDP for FY22 at 9.50%
S&P Global Ratings has revised India’s growth forecast and now expects the economy to grow 9.5 percent in 2021-22 (FY22) and 7.0 percent in 2022-23 (FY23).
India’s external position is very strong and this is quite supportive of India’s sovereign rating despite the fact that we have had this deterioration in fiscal position concurrently.
India is expected to post strong economic growth in the coming quarters, even as inflation, led by food prices, is likely to remain elevated.
Summits and Conferences
India to host G-20 summit in 2023
India will hold the G20 presidency from December 1, 2022, and will convene the G20 leaders’ summit in 2023 for the first time.
Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Minister has been appointed as India’s Sherpa for the G20 in 2023 (18th edition). A sherpa is a diplomat who undertakes preparatory work prior to a summit conference.
The 2021 edition of the G20 meet will be held in Rome, Italy. The 2022 G20 meet will be held in Bali, Indonesia.
Sports
Guinness World Records recognize Ronaldo for most goals scored
Portuguese captain Cristiano Ronaldo has broken the world record for most goals scored in men’s international football. Ronaldo surpassed Iranian striker Ali Daei’s long-held record of 109 international goals by scoring a brace against Ireland in a World Cup Qualifier.
Ronaldo at 36 years of age is now a Guinness world record holder of most international goals of all time with 111 goals.
The Guinness world book of records has recognized Cristiano Ronaldo as a world record breaker for the most goals scored in international football (soccer) matches scored by an individual (male).
Books and Authors
A book titled “Gita Govinda: Jaydeva’s Divine Odyssey” by Utpal K. Banerjee
Union Minister of Culture Shri Kishan Reddy Gangapuram has launched a book titled “Gita Govinda: Jaydeva’s Divine Odyssey” authored by Dr. Utpal K. Banerjee. The book is the first-ever fully-rhymed translation of the book GeetaGovindam by great 12th-century poet Jayadeva.
Union Minister also launched a program named ‘BujurgonkiBaat–DeshKeSaath’ that aims at enhancing the interaction between the youth and the elder persons who are 95 years and above and thus have spent around 18 years in India before independence.