Mole Day observed on 23rd October
On 23rd October every year mole day is celebrated which is popular amongst all chemistry enthusiasts. This day is marked to commemorate and honour the Avogadro‘s number. The celebration of this day happens from 6:02 a.m. to 6:02 p.m commemorating the chemistry is measuring unit. This occasion aims to make the students interested in chemistry and its concepts. The theme for the occasion, inspired by the mascot – A Mole. This year the theme is DispicaMole Me.
History of the day:
Mole Day originated in 1980 when an article came into the hype in the science teacher which was about a high school chemistry teacher celebrating this day with her ideas. This day was internationally accepted when the National Mole Day Foundation was established on 15 May 1991.
Chhattisgarh launched “Shri Dhanwantri Generic Medical Store” Scheme
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has virtually launched a new scheme named ‘Shri Dhanwantri Generic Medical Store scheme’ to provide low-cost generic medicines and enable seamless healthcare services to the vulnerable people of the state. The scheme will be implemented by the Urban Administration and Development Department (UADD).
Under the scheme, around 188 medical shops are planned to be opened in 169 cities. Currently, 84 generic medical shops are opened in the inaugural session to distribute medicine. Under this scheme, people will get a discount between 09 per cent and 71 per cent on the MRP (Market Rate Price) of generic medicines.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Chhattisgarh Capital: Raipur;
- Chhattisgarh Governor: Anusuiya Uikey;
- Chhattisgarh Chief Minister: Bhupesh Baghel.
HDFC Bank, Mastercard, DFC, USAID launched a $100 Million Credit Facility
HDFC Bank, Mastercard, United States International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), and US Agency for International Development (USAID) launched a $100 million credit facility for MSMEs (Micro Small and Medium Enterprises) in India. The credit facility is part of USAID’s global Women Economic Empowerment Fund initiative and its COVID-19 response in India.
HDFC Bank will ensure the credit facility to be available for new-to-credit small businesses owners including at least 50 per cent of women entrepreneurs through its branch network across India. To promote and support small businesses in India for digitisation needs and to recover from the economic impacts of the COVID-19.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- HDFC Bank Headquarters: Mumbai;
- HDFC Bank Founded: August 1994;
- HDFC Bank CEO: Sashidhar Jagdishan;
- HDFC Bank Tagline: We understand your world.
Bharti AXA sign Bancassurance Partnership with Utkarsh Small Finance Bank
Bharti AXA Life Insurance Company Limited (Bharti AXA Life) has entered into a bancassurance partnership with Utkarsh Small Finance Bank to ensure distribution of life insurance products through the bank’s network across India. This partnership will enable the Bharti AXA life to reach Tier II and Tier III markets with insurance solutions and increase the reach of insurance in India.
Under this partnership, the Bharti AXA Life’s insurance comprehensive suite of life insurance plans including the protection, health, savings and investment plans will be made available for the customers of the bank across 202 districts of 19 states and 2 Union territories.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Utkarsh Small Finance Bank Headquarters: Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh;
- Utkarsh Small Finance Bank MD & CEO: Govind Singh.
A book titled “The Origin Story of India’s States” by VS Srinivasan
The book titled ‘The Origin Story of India’s States’ is written by Venkataraghavan Subha Srinivasan and published by Penguin Random House India (PRHI). It is a story about the birth of India’s 28 states and 8 union territories. Also, their continuous changes. Venkataraghavan Subha Srinivasan is a writer, actor and strategy consultant from Bengaluru, Karnataka. This is his first non-fiction book.
Parambikulam Tiger Conservation Foundation wins Earth Heroes Awards 2021
The Parambikulam Tiger Conservation Foundation has bagged the Earth Guardian Award instituted by the NatWest Group. The eight winners of the award were felicitated by the UN Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora secretary-general Ivonne Higuero through a virtual ceremony.
About Earth Guardian Award
These awards were instituted by NatWest Group India. They are part of an initiative which recognises the efforts of individuals and institutions that are working to subvert climate change by conserving & preserving biodiversity in India.
Parambikulam Tiger Reserve:
- Parambikulam Tiger Reserve also includes erstwhile Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary, which is spread across 391 square kilometres.
- It is a protected area in Palakkad district of Kerala. It was established in 1973.
- The sanctuary lies in the Sungam range of hills in between Anaimalai Hills and Nelliampathy Hills.
- Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary was declared a part of Parambikulam Tiger Reserve in 2010. Tiger reserve implements the Participatory Forest Management Scheme (PFMS).
Turkey joins Pakistan in FATF Grey list
Global terror financing watchdog Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has retained Pakistan on its ‘Grey List’ of countries. In a briefing, FATF president Marcus Pleyer also said that three new countries Turkey, Jordan, and Mali have also been added to the Grey List. In June this year, the FATF had retained Pakistan on its ‘Grey List’ for failing to check money laundering, leading to terror financing.
The FATF asked Islamabad to investigate and prosecute UN-designated terror terrorists including Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azhar. It also asked Pakistan to work to address its strategically important deficiencies.
Pakistan was placed on the Grey List by the FATF in June 2018. Since then, Pakistan continues to be in the list due to its failure to comply with the FATF mandates. Due to its placing on the Grey List, it has become increasingly difficult for Pakistan to get financial aid from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank, Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the European Union.
Martin Scorsese, Szabo to get Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement award
Hollywood veteran Martin Scorsese and celebrated Hungarian filmmaker Istevan Szabo will be honoured with the Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement award at this year’s International Film Festival of India (IFFI). The 52nd edition of the film festival will be held from November 20 to 28 in Goa.
While Szabo is known for his masterpieces like 1966’s “Father” and 1981 movie “Mephisto”, Scorsese is one of the major figures of the New Hollywood era, widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential directors in film history.
The opening film of this edition of IFFI will be “The King of all the World”, directed by Carlos Saura. Around 30 titles have been shortlisted for screening at 52nd IFFI from prominent International Film Festivals in the Festival Kaleidoscope and World Panorama Section. The festival will also pay a special tribute to Sean Connery, the first actor to portray fictional British spy James Bond on the big screen.
UIDAI to host ‘Aadhaar Hackathon 2021’
Government agency UIDAI is hosting a Hackathon titled “Aadhaar Hackathon 2021”. The hackathon is starting on 28 Oct 21 and would continue till 31 Oct 21. With new challenged and themes, the Hackathon 2021 will have two topics. The first theme is around “Enrolment and Update”, which essentially covers some of the real-life challenges being faced by the residents while updating their address. The second theme of the Hackathon is around the “Identity and Authentication” solution offered by UIDAI.
UIDAI is soliciting innovative solutions to prove Identity without sharing the Aadhaar number or any demographics information. Also, it is looking for innovative applications around face authentication API – the newly launched authentication modality of UIDAI. The objective is to popularize some of the existing and new APIs to solve the needs of residents.
Microsoft Launches Program To Support AI Startups In India
Microsoft recently announced the launch of Microsoft AI Innovate, a 10-week initiative that will support startups in India leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies, helping them scale operations, drive innovation, & build industry expertise. The program will also enable startups to reach out to newer customers and geographies with Microsoft’s sales and partners.
To support the startup ecosystem in the country, the company has launched a programme, Microsoft AI Innovate, for nurturing and scaling startups that are leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI). Microsoft AI Innovate was aimed at bringing together startups, corporates, industry bodies, governments, and venture capital firms, to create a shared platform for learning and innovation. The selected startups in each of the cohorts will have access to industry deep-dive sessions and AI masterclasses by industry experts, mentoring by unicorn founders, skilling and certification opportunities, among other benefits.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Microsoft CEO and Chairman: Satya Nadella;
- Microsoft Headquarters: Redmond, Washington, United States.
