Current Affairs – 22 Oct 2021

International Stuttering Awareness Day: 22 October

Every year October 22 is observed as International Stuttering Awareness Day, since 1998. The day is intended to raise public awareness of the millions of people who have a speech disorder of stuttering or stammering. Theme 2021: “Speak the change you wish to see”.

History of International Stuttering Awareness Day:

The International Stuttering Awareness Day, ISAD, (October 22) began in 1998, spear-headed by Michael Sugarman, Oakland, California. ISAD recognizes the growing alliance between SLPs and consumers, who are learning from each other and working together to share, give support, and educate one another and the general public on the impact that stuttering has on individuals’ lives. Online Conferences, organized by Judy Kuster, have been an integral part of International Stuttering Awareness Day since its inception.

What is Stuttering?

Stuttering is a speech disorder characterized by the repetition of sounds, syllables, or words; prolongation of sounds; and interruptions in speech known as blocks. An individual who stutters exactly knows what he or she would like to say but has trouble producing a normal flow of speech.

RBI impose Rs 1 cr penalty on Paytm Payments Bank

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed a penalty of Rs 1 crore on Paytm Payments Bank Limited (PPBL) over certain specified violations, as referred in Section 26 (2) of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007. RBI observed that the information submitted during Paytm Payments Bank’s application for the issue of the final Certificate of Authorisation (CoA) did not reflect the factual position.

It has also penalised Western Union Financial Services by imposing a penalty of Rs 27.8 lakh for violating the prescribed limit of remittances per year.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

• Chairman of Paytm Payments Bank Ltd: Vijay Shekhar Sharma;
• MD and CEO of Paytm Payments Bank Ltd: Satish Kumar Gupta;
• Paytm Payments Bank Ltd Headquarters: Noida, Uttar Pradesh.

Alexei Navalny Wins European Union’s Sakharov Prize

The European Parliament has awarded the European Union’s top human rights prize, Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought for 2021, to the imprisoned Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. The 45-year-old activist has been awarded for his immense personal bravery to fight tirelessly against the corruption of Vladimir Putin’s regime.

About the award:

Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, commonly known as Sakharov Prize, is European Parliament’s top human rights prize. The prize honours individuals and groups of people who have dedicated their lives to the defence of human rights and freedom of thought.

MP Govt announced Implementation of “Mukhyamantri Ration Aapke Dwar Yojana”

The government of Madhya Pradesh (MP) has announced the implementation of the scheme ‘‘Mukhyamantri Ration Apke Dwar Yojana”, which will start from November 2021. Under this scheme, the ration will be provided at the doorstep of the villagers where there are no Fair Price Shops (FPS).

To provide ration material to the vulnerable sections such as Divyanga (Specially-Abled) and senior citizens near their homes. To ensure proper ration supply for poor tribal families in each village bin 74 tribal dominated blocks of 16 districts.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

• Madhya Pradesh Capital: Bhopal;
• Madhya Pradesh Governor: Mangubhai C. Patel;
• Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister: Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

India ranks 79th in World Justice Project’s Rule of Law Index 2021

India has ranked 79 out of 139 countries and jurisdictions in the World Justice Project’s (WJP) Rule of Law Index 2021. The WJP Rule of Law Index 2021 ranks the countries based on scores ranging from 0 to 1, with 1 indicating the strongest adherence to the rule of law. Denmark, Norway and Finland topped the World Justice Project’s (WJP) Rule of Law Index 2021.

Here is the list of Countries according to their rankings:

Alok Mishra becomes new MD of India Ports Global Limited

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet(ACC) has appointed Captain Alok Mishra as the Managing Director of India Ports Global Limited (IPGL). He is currently serving as the Head of operation and transformation lead at the Gateway Terminals India Pvt Ltd (GTI), Mumbai Maharashtra.

Alok Mishra has been appointed for the full-time role for a term of 5 years. Alok Mishra succeeds Harjeet Kaur Joshi, CMD of Delivery Company of India Ltd (SCI), who held the additional charge as the MD of IPGL.

Defence Minister launched the book on Veer Savarkar

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launched the book titled “Veer Savarkar: The Man Who Could Have Prevented Partition” authored by Uday Mahurkar and Chirayu Pandit at Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi. Minister Rajnath Singh described Savarkar as an “icon of Indian history” and also described his contributions to a nation that was not yet considered and highlighted the prolonged controversies from time to time on the great leader Savarkar.

Former hockey international Saranjeet Singh passes away

Former hockey international Saranjeet Singh has passed away. The former State Bank of India hockey player, who played for Coronation Club in the local league, represented Hyderabad juniors and seniors for many years in the late 70s and 80s and also played for India, which toured Germany in 1983.

Donald Trump to launch social media platform called Truth Social

Donald Trump has announced plans to launch a social media platform called TRUTH Social that will be rolled be out early next year. The former US president, who was banned from Facebook and Twitter earlier this year, says his goal is to rival the tech companies that have denied him the megaphone that was paramount to his rise. Truth social will be a product of a new venture called the Trump Media & Technology Group. He wants to create a platform that rivals Twitter or Facebook, but that simply won’t happen.

Reliance Brands acquires 40% stake in designer Manish Malhotra’s MM Styles

Reliance Industries Ltd’s Reliance Brands Ltd (RBL) and famous designer Manish Malhotra have announced a strategic partnership to acquire a 40 per cent stake in Malhotra’s MM Styles Pvt Ltd. According to a Reliance Brands statement, this “strategic partnership” is the first “external investment” for MM Styles Pvt Ltd.

Launched in 2005, the Manish Malhotra luxury retail is spanned across four flagship stores in Mumbai, New Delhi, and Hyderabad. Manish Malhotra, the main architect behind the 16-year-old couture house, will continue to be at the helm of affairs of MM Styles Pvt Ltd as managing and creative director.

Barbados elects its first-ever president, removing UK’s Queen Elizabeth

Barbados has elected its first-ever president as it prepares to become a republic, removing Queen Elizabeth as head of state. Dame Sandra Mason, 72, is set to be sworn in on 30 November, which will mark the country’s 55th anniversary of independence from Britain. The first woman to serve on the Barbados Court of Appeals, Dame Sandra has been governor-general since 2018. The historic election came after a joint session of the House of Assembly and the Senate.  described the vote as a “seminal moment” for the nation.

About the Barbados: 

• With a population of about 285,000, Barbados is one of the more populous and prosperous Caribbean islands. Once heavily dependent on sugar exports, its economy has diversified into tourism and finance.
• Barbados will not be the first former British colony in the Caribbean to become a republic. Guyana took that step in 1970, less than four years after gaining independence from Britain. Trinidad and Tobago followed suit in 1976 and Dominica in 1978.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

• Prime Minister of Barbados: Mia Mottley;
• Barbados Capital: Bridgetown;
• Barbados Currency: Barbados Dollar;
• Barbados Continent: North America.

SAI appoints Commodore PK Garg as new CEO of TOPS

The Sports Authority of India (SAI) appointed Commodore PK Garg as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) at the Mission Olympic Cell meeting. He joined the Indian Navy in 1984 and was in charge of many important and prestigious assignments over 34 years of service. Commodore Garg, who was the High-Performance Director with Sports Authority of India till June 2021, is also an Arjuna Awardee recipient (1990) in Sailing and has also won the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Awardee in 1993-94.

About the PK Garg: 

As an ex-athlete, Garg represented India in five Asian Games from 1986 to 2002 in the Enterprise Class Sailing Event and has been a National Champion five times. He also won the Gold and Silver at the Enterprise Class Sailing World Championships in 1993 in Zimbabwe and 1997 in Goa. He also won a couple of Bronze medals at the 1990 and 1994 Asian Games. He served as Secretary of Services Sports Control Board (Indian Armed Forces) from 2014-17 and has served as the Joint Secretary of the Yachting Association of India for four years. He will be assuming the charge of CEO TOPS on Monday, October 25, 2021.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

• Sports Authority of India Founded: 1984.

Centre approves hike in DA/DR for central government employees and pensioners

The Union Cabinet has approved a further hike of 3 per cent in Dearness Allowance (DA) and Dearness Relief (DR) for the central government employees and pensioners. The increase of 3% is over the existing rate of 28 per cent of the basic pay/pension and will be effective from July 1, 2021. Now after this hike, the DA/DR will increase to 31%.

It must be remembered that earlier in July 2021, the government had announced an 11% hike in DA/DR from 17% to 28% of the basic pay/pension. It will cost the exchequer Rs 9,488.70 crore per annum. As a result, the DA and DR instalments are due for four periods including January 1, 2020, July 1, 2020, January 1, 2021, and July 1, 2021. However, the rate of DA/DR for the period between January 2020 to June 2021 shall remain at 17%.

Economist Gita Gopinath to leave IMF in January 2022

The International Monetary Fund’s Chief Economist and Director of the Research Department, Gita Gopinath will leave the organisation in January 2022. She will return to Harvard University’s economics department. She was on public service leave during her tenure at the organisation, and the leave will end in January 2022. Gopinath, during her tenure, co-authored the “Pandemic Paper”, a document that set globally endorsed targets for vaccinating the world against Covid-19, the IMF said.

Harvard had extended Gopinath’s leave by one year as an exceptional case, which allowed her to serve as the chief economist at the IMF for three years. IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said Gopinath’s contribution to the fund was “truly remarkable”.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

• IMF Headquarters: Washington, D.C. U.S;
• IMF Managing Director and Chairman: Kristalina Georgieva.