Moody’s Retains India’s GDP growth forecast to 9.6% for CY2021
Moody’s Investors Service has retained India’s growth forecast for the calendar year (CY) 2021 at 9.6 per cent, in its August update to ‘Global Macro Outlook 2021-22’ report. The GDP growth forecast for calendar year 2022 is retained at 7 percent. In India, economic activity is picking up alongside a gradual easing of restrictions that were implemented in response to the second wave. And there is further upside to growth as economies around the world progressively reopen.
Amul ranks 18th in Rabobank 2021 Global Dairy Top 20 Report
Amul, Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF) has dropped two places to rank 18th in Rabobank’s 2021 Global Top 20 Dairy Companies list. Amul was placed at 16th spot in 2020. Amul has achieved an annual turnover of $5.3 billion.
French-based dairy company Lactalis has topped the list as the world’s largest dairy company with a turnover of US $23.0 billion. It has unseated Switzerland-based global behemoth Nestle, which dominated the list for decades.
What is Rabobank’s Global Dairy Report?
Rabobank’s Global Dairy Top 20 Report is released annually to rank the dairy industry upon their sales data and financial statements.
India Conducts Maritime Partnership Exercise with Algerian Navy
The Indian Naval Ship, INS Tabar, is on her goodwill visit to the number of ports in Africa and Europe since June 2021 till September 2021. As a part of this visit, INS Tabar took part in the Maiden Maritime Partnership Exercise with Algerian Navy, off the Algerian coast, in the Mediterranean Sea. The Algerian Naval Ship ANS Ezzadjer participated in the exercise.
The objective of the exercise:
- The objective of the exercise was to enhance interoperability, understand the concept of operations followed by each other, and opened the possibility of increasing interaction and collaboration between the two navies in the future.
- INS Tabar is a Talwar-class stealth Frigate built in Russia for the Indian Navy. The ship is a part of the Indian Navy’s Western Fleet, based in Mumbai.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Algeria Capital: Algiers;
- Algeria Currency: Algerian dinar;
- Algeria President: Abdelmadjid Tebboune.
Paralympics 2020: Singhraj Adhana wins bronze medal in 10m Air Pistol
At the ongoing Tokyo Paralympics 2020, Indian shooter Singhraj Adana has won the bronze medal in the P1 Men’s 10m Air Pistol SH1 final on August 31, 2021. Adana shot a total of 216.8 to finish at third place. China dominated the finals with defending champion Chao Yang (237.9 — Paralympic record) and Huang Xing (237.5) winning the gold and silver medals respectively.
PayU acquires BillDesk for $4.7 bn
Netherlands-based Prosus NV has announced to acquire the Indian digital payments provider BillDesk and merge it with its own fintech service business PayU. The size of the deal is $4.7 billion. This acquisition will make the combined entity of PayU and BillDesk as the leading online payment providers globally and in India by total payment volume (TPV).
About the deal:
- The transaction is subject to approval from the Competition Commission of India (CCI).
- This acquisition will also raise Prosus’s investment into India to $10 billion, which has so far invested $6 billion in the Indian tech ecosystem.
- Prosus NV is the global consumer internet group and one of the largest technology investors in the world.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- PayU CEO: Laurent le Moal;
- PayU Founded: 2006;
- BillDesk Founder(s): M.N. Srinivasu; Ajay Kaushal; Karthik Ganapathy;
- BillDesk Headquarters: Mumbai;
- BillDesk Founded: 29 March 2000.
IIT Madras announces online platform ‘E-Source’
The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras is working on developing an innovative digital model to address the problem of e-waste (electronic wastes). The digital platform, named as ‘e-Source,’ will act as an exchange platform, to serve as an online marketplace for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE).
About the ‘e-Source’ platform:
- The platform will link various stakeholders (buyers and sellers) of used and waste electronic equipment and components, both in the formal and informal economy.
- The initiative is being led by the Indo-German Centre for Sustainability (IGCS), a centre set up at IIT Madras in 2010 at the initiative of the German and Indian governments.
Ladakh based Dorje Angchuk to be inducted as Honorary Member of the IAU
Dorje Angchuk, an Engineer in charge at the Indian Astronomical Observatory of the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) at Hanle in the Ladakh region, has been admitted as an Honorary Member of the International Astronomical Union (IAU). Angchuk is the first and only Indian to bag the position in the prestigious body.
Angchuk has been selected for ‘his passionate promotion of astronomy in the Ladakh region, through his excellent astrophotography’. He will be joining ten other Honorary Members from around the world, selected by IAU to join a select list of 20 international experts.
About the honorary member of the IAU
The Honorary Members recognition by the IAU gives official recognition to individuals who have significantly contributed to the progress of astronomical research and culture in their country, but who do not qualify as Individual Members. This membership category was introduced in August 2018 and already has 9 members.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- The Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) is an autonomous institute of the Department of Science & Technology (DST), Govt. of India, headquartered in Bengaluru;
- The International Astronomical Union (IAU) headquarters: Paris, France.
Paralympics 2020: Mariyappan Thangavelu wins Silver in men’s high jump
India’s Mariyappan Thangavelu has won the silver medal in the men’s high jump (T63) at the Tokyo Paralympics. He cleared the 1.86m mark to take home silver. In the same event, Sharad Kumar won the bronze medal, clearing 1.83m mark. Sam Grewe of the United States won the gold medal after he cleared the 1.88m mark. With the two new medals, India’s medal tally at the Tokyo Paralympics has now reached to 10.
Neurosurgeon Basant Misra receives prestigious AANS Award
Odisha-born neurosurgeon Dr Basant Kumar Misra has been conferred the prestigious American Association of Neurological Surgeons’ ‘International Lifetime Achievement Award in Neurosurgery’. Misra is the first Indian physician to receive the AANS honor which was conferred on him at a virtual ceremony during the AANS Annual Scientific Meeting 2021 held in Orlando, Florida. He was the world’s first surgeon to perform Computer-Guided Aneurysm surgery.
About the Dr Basant Kumar Misra:
- Mishra completed his MBBS from VIMSAR, Burla. He received a Master of Surgery from Delhi University in 1980 and MCh Neurosurgery from AIIMS New Delhi in 1983.
- He is the chief of surgery, head of the department of neurosurgery, and Gamma knife radiosurgery, PD Hinduja Hospital and Medical Research Centre, Mumbai. He is president of the Asian Australasian Society of Neurological Surgeons and the World Federation of Skull Base Societies, is also first vice president of the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies.
- He is also the recipient of the most prestigious Dr BC Roy National Award in the category of ‘Eminent Medical Person’ (Highest Medical Award in India) in 2018.
Punjab to Launch ‘Mera Kaam Mera Maan’ Scheme to Help Unemployed Youth
The Punjab Cabinet gave a nod to a new scheme that will help the unemployed youth in the state to hone their skills and increase their chances of getting a job. These youngsters will be given short-term skill training free of cost under the ‘‘Mera Kaam Mera Maan” scheme of the state government. A target of 30,000 beneficiaries has been proposed, at a cost of ₹ 90 crores.
About the scheme:
- The scheme also provides an employment assistance allowance of ₹ 2,500 per month for a period of 12 months from the start of the training course, which will be conducted at Punjab Skill Development Mission training centres.
- The allowance shall be given during the training period, and after successfully completing the training, during the pre-placement and post-placement period of 12 months from the date of the start of the programme.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Punjab CM: Captain Amarinder Singh.
- Punjab Governor: Banwarilal Purohit.
FM Nirmala Sitharaman inaugurates ‘My Pad, My Right’ project in Tripura
In Tripura, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has inaugurated a project called ‘My Pad, My Right’ initiated by NABARD and NABFOUNDATION at Killa village in Gomati district on the second and concluding day of her visit to the state. The project aims to bring livelihood and menstrual hygiene closer to rural women by way of grant, wage support and capital equipment.
The Union Minister also flagged off the mobile ATM van of Tripura State Co-Operative Bank Limited which will cover all Gram Panchayats and Village Committees of South Tripura District.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Chief Minister of Tripura: Biplab Kumar Deb; Governor: Satyadeo Narain Arya.
TN Governor Banwarilal Purohit gets additional charge of Punjab, 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. The President has also appointed Purohit as the Administrator of Chandigarh, in addition to his duties as the Governor of Punjab. Traditionally, Punjab Governor has functioned as the Administrator of Chandigarh.
SBI opened a floating ATM on Dal Lake in J&K’s Srinagar
State Bank of India has opened a floating ATM on a Houseboat at Dal Lake in Jammu and Kashmir’s Srinagar for the convenience of locals and tourists. The floating ATM was inaugurated by SBI Chairman Dinesh Khare. This is not the first time that SBI has launched a floating ATM as back in 2004, the bank took this initiative in Kerala. The SBI installed a floating ATM at Jhankar yacht, which operates between Ernakulum and Vaypeyan region, owned by Kerala Shipping and Inland Navigation Corporation (KSINC).
The SBI’s floating ATM was commissioned by Ashok K., Deputy Managing Director of Mumbai Corporate Center, launched by Kinney. The State Bank of India is the nation’s largest commercial bank, in terms of assets, deposits, customers, branches and employees. The bank has the largest network of 22,224 branches and 63,906 ATM / CDM in India with 71,705 BC outlets.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- SBI Chairperson: Dinesh Kumar Khara.
- SBI Headquarters: Mumbai.
- SBI Founded: 1 July 1955.
Adidas roped Mirabai Chanu for its ‘Stay in Play’ campaign
Adidas has roped in Tokyo Olympic Silver-medalist Mirabai Chanu as the face of its ‘‘Stay in Play” campaign for its latest product innovation designed to keep more menstruating women in sports. The new TechFit Period Proof tights, featuring an absorbent layer to help protect against leaks when worn with a tampon or pad.
Such innovations showcase Adidas’ commitment to encourage and support women in sport. Adidas found that teenage girls are dropping out of sport at an alarming rate, with one of the key reasons being fear of period leakage.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Adidas Founder: Adolf Dassler;
- Adidas Founded: 18 August 1949;
- Adidas Headquarters: Herzogenaurach, Germany;
- Adidas CEO: Kasper Rorsted.
