Daily Current Affairs 3rd November, 2021

Daily Current Affairs 3 November 2021 for Banking/Insurance/SSC and other related exams.

NATIONAL NEWS

Home Minister launches ‘Ayushmaan CAPF’ health card to provide health care services to all CAPF personnel, their dependents
Home Minister Amit Shah launched the ‘Ayushmaan CAPF’ Scheme health cards at the national level in New Delhi. The Home Minister launched the scheme by handing over the Ayushmaan card to a personnel.

• He also handed over ‘Ayushmaan CAPF’ Scheme health cards to the Director General, National Security Guard, NSG for distribution to NSG personnel.
• He said, the scheme has been designed to cover all serving personnel and their dependents of the seven Central Armed Police Forces.The scheme is a joint initiative of the Home Ministry, Health Ministry and National Health Authority (NHA).

Indian Railways to develop an Art Gallery with Souvenir Shop at Kevadiya Railway Station
Indian Railways will develop an Art Gallery with Souvenir Shop at Kevadiya Railway Station under Public-Private Partnership. This Art Gallery showcases different Art and Craft forms of Gujarat and India. Vadodara Division of Western Railway has awarded first its kind contract in Indian Railways for the development of Art Gallery with Souvenir Shop.

• This Art Gallery will be developed and operated by a private party with earnings to Railways of 24.7 lakh rupees and potential revenue of 2.83 crore rupees.
• This concept will not only enrich the experience of people visiting Kevadiya, but on the social front, this unique concept will also provide employment to the local tribal people of the Narmada district by giving them an opportunity to promote their tribal art.

National Tribal Dance Festival 2021 held in Chhattisgarh
The National Tribal Dance Festival and Rajyotsava 2021 was held at Science College ground in Raipur, the capital of Chhattisgarh. Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh Bhupesh Baghel presided over the inaugural ceremony.

• The participants had come from several countries and also artists from 27 states and six Union Territories of the country—the dance troupes were performed by artistes from seven countries including Nigeria, Uzbekistan, Sri Lanka, Uganda, Switzerland, Maldives, Palestine and Syria.

BANKING & FINANCE

IREDA launches ‘whistle blower’ portal to check fraud, abuse of power
The Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA), a PSU under the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, on Tuesday launched a ‘whistle-blower Portal’, as a part of ‘Vigilance Awareness Week 2021’.

• Through this portal, IREDA employees can raise concerns related to fraud, corruption, abuse of power etc. The portal has been developed by IT Team of the company.
• Whistle-blower portal is a part of a IREDA’s “zero tolerance” of corruption. Reiterating the Good and Clean Governance policy of the company, he stressed the importance of transparency and procedural fairness.

RBI approves Bandhan Bank as ‘agency bank’ to conduct govt biz
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has authorised Bandhan Bank as an agency bank for undertaking government business.

• With this, the bank joins ranks with a few other scheduled private sector banks to be empanelled as agency banks of the RBI.
• As an agency bank of the RBI, Bandhan Bank will be able to handle transactions related to collection of State taxes and revenue receipts such as GST and VAT, collection of stamp duty and pension payments on behalf of the Central and the State governments.

Bank of Baroda signs MoU with NCDEX e-Markets 
Bank of Baroda has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NCDEX e Markets Ltd (NEML) to become a “clearing bank” for handling financial transactions in the NeML market place and procurement/auction platform.

• The bank will partner with agriculture marketing federations and other procurement agencies across the country and increase its presence in agri e-commerce through its wide network across the country.

SBI launches pre-approved 2-wheeler loan ‘SBI Easy Ride’ on YONO
The country’s largest lender State Bank of India (SBI), has announced the launch of a pre-approved 2-wheeler loan scheme ‘SBI Easy Ride’ through YONO.

• Eligible SBI customers can avail of end-to-end digital two-wheeler loans through the YONO app without visiting the bank branch.
• Customers can apply for the Easy Ride loan for an amount up to ₹3 lakh at a competitive interest rate of 10.5% per annum onwards for a maximum tenure of 4 years. The minimum loan amount has been fixed at ₹20000.

ICICI Lombard ties up with Vega Helmets to increase road safety awareness
ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company has collaborated with Vega Helmets to provide a personal accidental policy on every online purchase of Vega Helmet to increase road safety awareness and inculcate the habit of protection.

• The personal accident insurance policy will provide individuals with the benefit of Accidental Death with Sum insured of 1 Lakh INR.
• As the pandemic induced lockdowns are slowly being lifted and the masses are en route to the new normal, people are still hesitant to go back to public transport as their preferred medium of commute.

Niti Aayog and World Bank join hands to push electric vehicles financing
Niti Aayog and the World Bank are working together to facilitate a program for faster and easier financing of electric vehicles (EV) after high-street banks seemed lukewarm due to a small resale market, higher default probabilities and significant upfront costs.

• The two entities are setting up a $300-million ‘first loss risk sharing instrument’, with State Bank of India (SBI) as its program manager. This facility would seek to garner around $1.5 billion in financing for EVs.
• The instrument would act as a hedging mechanism, for banks to access in case of defaults of loans on purchase of EVs, and is expected to bring down the cost of financing for EVs by 10-12%.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

Defence Ministry approves acquisition of arms, military equipment worth Rs 7,965 crore
The Defence Ministry approved the procurement of arms and military equipment worth Rs 7,965-crore, including 12 light utility helicopters from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, according to an official statement.

• Besides clearing the proposal to buy 12 helicopters, the DAC approved the procurement of Lynx U2 naval gunfire control system from Bharat Electronics Limited that will enhance the tracking and engagement capabilities of naval warships.

IOC to set up India’s first mega-scale Maleic Anhydride Plant at Panipat
State-owned Indian Oil Corp (IOC) said it will invest Rs 3,681 crore in setting up India’s first mega-scale Maleic Anhydride Plant to manufacture value-added chemical products at its Panipat refinery and petroleum complex (PRPC) in Haryana.

• The project is proposed to have a capacity of 120,000 tonnes per annum of Maleic Anhydride (MAH) that is used to make speciality products like polyester resins and surface coatings plasticisers, agrochemicals and lubricant additives.
• The plant will also manufacture 20,000 tonnes a year of 1,4-Butanediol (BDO) that finds applications in Poly Urethanes (PU) and Poly Butylene Terephthalates (PBT) — engineering grade plastic and biodegradable fibres.

Ministry of Rural Development signs MoU with Flipkart to help empower local businesses and SHGs
The Ministry of Rural Development has signed an MoU with Flipkart to help empower local businesses and self-help groups (SHGs) especially those that are led by women by bringing them into the e-commerce fold.

• The partnership is aligned with Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihood Mission- DAY-NRLM’s goal of strengthening the capabilities of rural communities for self-employment and entrepreneurship.

Elon Musk’s Starlink Registers Company In India, Targets Rural Areas For Satellite Internet
Elon Musk’s satellite internet division Starlink has registered its business in India.

• The company’s India unit, Starlink Satellite Communications Private Limited (SSCPL) will enable the satellite Internet provider to go ahead with the regulatory procedures in order to operate in the country.
• In India, Starlink plans to “carry on the business of telecommunication services” including satellite broadband internet services, content storage and streaming, multi-media communication, among others, according to the company filing.

SPORTS

India’s G Sathiyan and Harmeet Desai win men’s doubles title at WTT Contender Tunis
As a pair, G. Sathiyan and Harmeet Desai of India won their first international title by bagging the men’s doubles title of the World Table Tennis Contender Tunis, with a 11-9, 4-11, 11-9, 11-6 victory over France’s Emmanuel Lebesson and Alexander Cassin in the final.

• The Indian duo pocketed the first game but they lost momentum and allowed the French pair to level the match.

APPOINTMENTS

Arun Chawla appointed as director-general of Ficci 
Industry chamber Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) announced the appointment of Mr Arun Chawla as the FICCI’s new Director General. Mr Arun Chawla will assume the new charge with immediate effect.

• Mr Chawla joined FICCI in 2001 and is currently the Deputy Secretary General.

AWARDS

National Sports Awards 2021 announced
Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports announced the National Sports Awards 2021 to recognize and reward excellence in sports.The awardees will receive their awards from the President of India at a specially organized function at the Darbar Hall of Rashtrapati Bhavan on 13th November, 2021.
Key Highlights

• Major Dhyan Chand KhelRatna Award 2021 will be given to 12 Sports persons
• 35 Sports persons will receive Arjuna Awards for outstanding performance in Sports and Games 2021.

Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Awards 2021 (Rs 25 Lakhs each)
Neeraj Chopra (Athletics)
Ravi Kumar (Wrestling)
Lovlina Borgohain (Boxing)
PR Sreejesh (Hockey)
Avani Lekhara (Para Shooting)
Sumit Antil (Para Athletics)
Pramod Bhagat (Para Badminton)
Krishna Nagar (Para Badminton)
Manish Narwal (Para Shooting)
Mithali Raj (Cricket)
Sunil Chhetri (Football)
Manpreet Singh (Hockey)
Arjuna Awards (Rs 15 Lakhs each)
Arpinder Singh (Athletics)
Simranjit Kaur (Boxing)
Shikhar Dhawan (Cricket)
CA Bhavani Devi (Fencing)
Monika (Hockey)
Vandana Katariya (Hockey)
Sandeep Narwal (Kabaddi)
Himani Uttam Parab (Mallakhamb)
Abhishek Verma (Shooting)
Ankita Raina (Tennis)
Deepak Punia (Wrestling)
Dilpreet Singh (Hockey)
Harman Preet Singh (Hockey)
Rupinder Pal Singh (Hockey)
Surender Kumar (Hockey)
Amit Rohidas (Hockey)
Birendra Lakra (Hockey)
Sumit (Hockey)
Nilakanta Sharma (Hockey)
Hardik Singh (Hockey)
Vivek Sagar Prasad (Hockey)
Gurjant Singh (Hockey)
Mandeep Singh (Hockey)
Shamsher Singh (Hockey)
Lalit Kumar Upadhyay (Hockey)
Varun Kumar (Hockey)
Simranjeet Singh (Hockey)
Yogesh Kathuniya (Para Athletics)
Nishad Kumar (Para Athletics)
Praveen Kumar(Para Athletics)
Suhash Yathiraj (Para Badminton)
Singhraj Adhana (Para Shooting)
Bhavina Patel (Para Table Tennis)
Harvinder Singh (Para Archery)
Sharad Kumar (Para Athletics)
Dronacharya Award life-time achievement (15 Lakhs)
P. Ouseph (Athletics)
Sarkar Talwar (Cricket)
Sarpal Singh (Hockey)
Ashan Kumar (Kabaddi)
Tapan Kumar Panigrahi (Swimming)
Dronacharya Regular (Rs 10 Lakhs each)
Radhakrishnan Nair P (Athletics)
Sandhya Gurung (Boxing)
Pritam Siwach (Hockey)
Jai Prakash Nautiyal (Para Shooting)
Subramanian Raman (Table Tennis)
Dhyan Chand Award (10 Lakhs)
Sajjan Singh (Wrestling)
Lekha K.C (Boxing)
Abhijeet Kunte (Chess)
Davinder Singh Garcha (Hockey)
Vikas Kumar (Kabaddi)
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy 2021: Panjab University – Chandigarh

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Haryana CM launches ‘Uttam Beej portal’ 
Manohar Lal Khattar, Chief Minister (CM) of Haryana has launched the ‘Uttam Beej portal’ which will benefit the farmers of Haryana by providing quality seeds with transparency.

• The portal will provide transparency in the seed production programme arranged by both the Government and private seed producing agencies and ensure the quality of certified seeds.

ISRO to provide world a solar power calculator application that can measure solar energy potential of any region
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that Indian Space Research Organisation- ISRO will soon provide the world a solar power calculator application that can measure solar energy potential of any region across the globe.

• Speaking at the session on Accelerating Clean Technology Innovation and Deployment of the global COP-26 Summit in Glasgow, Mr Modi said, through this calculator, solar power potential of any place in the world can be calculated based on satellite data.
• Mr Modi said, this application will be useful in deciding the location of solar projects and will strengthen ‘One Sun, One World and One Grid’ initiative.

BOOKS & AUTHORS

“The Story Of The First Civilizations From Mesopotamia To The Aztecs” book by Subhadra Sen Gupta
Posthumous book of award-winning author Subhadra Sen Gupta, who passed away due to Covid-19 this year, informs children about the ancient civilisations from across the world – Mesopotamia, Egypt, Indus Valley, China, Greece, Rome, the Americas and Africa — in a fun manner.

• The book, “The Story of the First Civilizations: From Mesopotamia to the Aztecs”, is published under Speaking Tiger’s ‘Talking Hub’ imprint.

IMPORTANT DAYS

National Ayurveda Day 
India celebrates Ayurveda Day every year on the auspicious occasion of Dhanteras. This day has been marked every year since 2016 on the occasion of Dhanwantri Jayanti.

• As this year, Dhanteras fall on November 2, so Ayurveda Day 2021 is being celebrated on November 2,2021.
• The day is marked to spread awareness on the importance of Ayurveda in our daily lives.

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