Monthly Current Affairs September 2021

FINANCE AND BANKING

• RBI nod to Jammu & Kashmir govt to acquire over 16.76 crore shares in J&K Bank
  • The Reserve Bank has accorded approval to Jammu & Kashmir government to acquire over 16.76 crore shares in J&K Bank on preferential basis.

• RBI removes UCO Bank from Prompt Corrective Action framework
  • RBI recently removed UCO Bank from its Prompt Corrective Action Framework (PCAF) subject to certain conditions and continuous monitoring.
  • The RBI had initiated prompt corrective action in May 2017 in view of high non-performing assets and negative return on assets.

• RBI allows banks to sell fraud loans to asset reconstruction companies
  • RBI recently allowed banks to sell fraud loan exposures to asset reconstruction companies (ARCs).
  • Banks will now be able to transfer to ARCs loan exposures classified as fraud as on the date of transfer, provided that the responsibilities of the bank with respect to continuous reporting, monitoring, filing of complaints with law enforcement agencies and proceedings related to such complaints shall also be transferred to the ARC.

ECONOMY

• Indian Oil lists foreign currency bonds on IFSC exchanges
  • Indian Oil listed has listed its foreign currency bonds on IFSC (International Financial Services Centre) exchanges at Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT).

• BRICS bank NDB admits UAE, Uruguay, Bangladesh as new members
  • The New Development Bank (NDB) set up by the BRICS group of nations has admitted the United Arab Emirates, Uruguay and Bangladesh as the first batch of new members as part of its expansion drive.

• ADB, India government sign loans for projects in Maharashtra and Jharkhand
  • The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and government of India have signed two loans worth $412 million for projects in Maharashtra and Jharkhand.
  • $300 million for Maharashtra to ramp up rural connectivity projects.

NATIONAL

• Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman launches My Pad My Right project in Tripura
  • Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman launched the ‘My Pad My Right’ (MPMR) project.
  • The project is an initiative of NABARD and its NAB Foundation to provide better livelihood and menstrual hygiene to women in rural areas through grants, wage support and capital equipment.

• Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit gets additional charge of Punjab, UT Chandigarh
  • Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit has been given the additional charge of Punjab and the Union Territory of Chandigarh. Earlier, V P Singh Badnore was the governor of Punjab and the administrator of Chandigarh.

• India becomes first Asian country to launch Plastics Pact
  • The India Plastics Pact officially launched at the annual sustainability summit of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), with the country becoming the first in Asia to join the initiative.
  • The Pact aims to tackle plastic pollution in the country, bringing together businesses from across the Indian plastics value chain to move towards a circular plastics system that aims to keep the material in the economy, and out of the environment.

INTERNATIONAL

• Sri Lanka declares food emergency as forex crisis worsens
  • Sri Lanka declared a state of emergency over food shortages as private banks ran out of foreign exchange to finance imports.

• Fumio Kishida will be Japan's new prime minister
  • Fumiko Kishida will become the next prime minister of Japan after winning a runoff in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leadership vote. He will be replacing Yoshihide Suga.

• Iran becomes full-time SCO member
  • Iran was officially admitted as a full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).
  • The decision to admit Iran as a full member was declared in the 21th summit of the SCO leaders in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. So far Iran was an observer member of the organization.
  • Iran will be the 9th member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

REPORTS AND INDEXES

• AMUL Ranks 18th and France's 'Lactalis' Tops in Rabobank 2021 Global Dairy Report
  • Dutch multinational banking and financial services company Rabobank has come up with 2021's Global Dairy Top 20 report.
  • As per the report, France based dairy major company -'Lactalis' became the World's number 1 dairy company in terms of market capital.

• National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) rankings 2021
  • Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan released the 6th edition of National Institutional Ranking Framework, NIRF rankings 2021.
  • The NIRF India Ranking 2021 has been announced for eleven categories -- Overall, University, Management, College, Pharmacy, Medical, Engineering, Architecture, ARIIA (Atal Ranking of Institutions on Innovation Achievements), Law and Research Institutions.

• Times World University Rankings 2022
  • The Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2022 has been announced.
  • The Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2022 include more than 1,600 universities across 99 countries and territories, making them the largest and most diverse university rankings to date.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

• IIT Ropar startup claims developing world’s first plant-based smart air-purifier
  • A startup company of IIT Ropar has claimed that it has developed the world’s first, state-of-the-art ‘Smart Bio-Filter’ that can make breathing fresh.

• Skyroot Aerospace first spacetech startup to formally sign up with ISRO
  • Skyroot Aerospace, a Hyderabad-based space technology startup, has become the first private company to formally enter into an agreement with ISRO to use its expertise and access facilities to test and qualify its small rocket ahead of launch next year.

• First all-civilian SpaceX crew launches into space
  • The first all-civilian crew bound for orbit has blasted off from the US state of Florida on board a SpaceX rocket ship, marking a new era in the space tourism business.
  • The spacecraft, carrying billionaire e-commerce executive Jared Isaacman and three other private citizens he chose to join him, lifted off from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral.

AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

• Department of Animal husbandry & Dairying (DAHD) & Department of Rural Development (DoRD) sign an MoU
  • Department of Animal husbandry and Dairying and Department of Rural Development signed an MoU for Leveraging SHG platform for rural economic growth through convergence of Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), MoFAHD and National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM), MoRD.

• Arunachal Pradesh comes up with scheme to boost agriculture and horticulture produce
  • Arunachal Pradesh Government has come up with two ambitious schemes, one in agriculture sector called ‘AtmaNirbhar Krishi Yojna’ and the other for horticulture named ‘AtmaNirbhar Bagwani Yojna’.
  • A total amount of Rs 120 crores – Rs 60 crore for each scheme - has been allocated to the two concerned departments of Agriculture and Horticulture.

• ICRISAT awarded 2021 Africa Food Prize
  • The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) has been awarded the 2021 Africa Food Prize for work that has improved food security across 13 countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

DEFENCE

• India, Singapore Conduct 3-Day Naval Exercise Near South China Sea
  • India and Singapore have carried out a major naval wargame in the southern fringes of the South China Sea, in reflection of their growing congruence of interests in the strategically key region.
  • The Indian Navy deployed its guided-missile destroyer INS Ranvijay, anti-submarine warfare corvette INS Kiltan and guided-missile corvette INS Kora and one P8I long-range maritime patrol aircraft for the SIMBEX Exercise from September 2-4.

• Indian Army contingent to participate in Exercise ZAPAD 2021
  • A 200 member contingent of Indian Army will participate in Exercise ZAPAD 2021, a Multi Nation exercise being held at Nizhniy in Russia from 3-16 September.

• India, Australia begin 5-day naval exercise to secure Indo-Pacific region
  • India and Australia began a five-day mega naval wargame with an aim to strengthen joint capabilities in support of a stable and secure Indo-Pacific region.
  • This is the 4th edition of the AUSINDEX Exercise taking place in the North Australian exercise area from Sep 6-10.

EVENTS

• FM Sitharaman chairs 24th Financial Stability and Development Council meet
  • Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman chaired the 24th meeting of the Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC) at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
  • The meeting was held to discuss the state of the financial sector and a strategy to support the nascent recovery of the pandemic-hit economy.

• 8th Meeting of Agricultural Experts of BIMSTEC Countries held
  • India hosted the 8th Meeting of Agriculture Experts of Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Countries virtually.

• 13th BRICS Summit
  • As part of India’s ongoing Chairship of BRICS in 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the 13th BRICS Summit in virtual format.
  • The theme for the Summit is ‘BRICS@15: Intra-BRICS cooperation for continuity, consolidation and consensus’.

AWARDS AND REWARDS

• POWERGRID wins the Prestigious global ATD Best Award
  • Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID) was awarded the Association for Talent Development (ATD) 2021 BEST Award.

• Ramon Magsaysay Award 2021
  • Ramon Magsaysay Award 2021 has been announced.
  • The Awards, established in honor of the late former president Ramon Magsaysay, is Asia's premier prize and highest honor being given to individuals and groups who have impacted the Asian region and the world. It is considered as Asia's equivalent of the Nobel Prize.

• Teachers' day 2021: President Kovind presents National Teacher Awards
  • President Ram Nath Kovind presented the National Teacher Award to 44 teachers on the occasion of Teachers' Day.
  • Out of the total 44 teachers, 9 of the awardees are women.

SPORTS

• US Open 2021
  • The 2021 US Open was the 141st edition of tennis' US Open and the fourth and final Grand Slam event of the year. It was held on outdoor hard courts at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City.
  • Daniil Medvedev won the men's singles title. Emma Raducanu won the women's singles title.

• Italian Grand Prix 2021
  • The 2021 Italian Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Autodromo Nazionale Monza. It was the 14th round of the 2021 Formula One World Championship and the second Grand Prix in Italy of the season, after the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.
  • Australian Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren) won the Italian Grand Prix. The victory was McLaren's first since 2012 and Ricciardo's first since he was at Red Bull in 2018.

• Joe Root, Eimear Richardson Named ICC Players Of The Month For August
  • England Test skipper Joe Root and Ireland's Eimear Richardson have been voted as the winners of the ICC Players of the Month for August 2021.