Current Affairs Quiz - September, 2021

Notes:
NITI Aayog and Gujarat University has signed a Statement of Intent (SoI) to Promote Cooperation in Agriculture. The SoI focuses on technical collaboration between the two institutions with the aim to strengthen knowledge-sharing and policy development in India. The SoI is expected to give a thrust to India’s efforts towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Notes:
The International Day of clean Air For Blue Skies was celebrated on September 7, 2021. The theme is “Healthy Air, Healthy Planet” which emphasizes the health aspects of air pollution, especially considering the COVID-19 pandemic. The day serves as a rallying call to action to align our efforts and claim our right to clean air. #HealthyAirHealthyPlanet. The day is facilitated by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

Notes:
Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, launched Vidyanjali Portal and several other initiatives in the education sector on September 7, 2021. Vidyanjali portal was launched to enable community or volunteers to contribute by connecting with the government and government-aided schools of their choice directly. He also addressed the inaugural conclave of ‘Shikshak Parv’ through video-conferencing. He launched the Indian Sign Language Dictionary (audio and text embedded sign language video for the hearing impaired, in conformity with Universal Design of Learning) and Talking Books (audio books for the visually impaired). School Quality Assurance and Assessment Framework of the Central Board of Secondary Education were also launched. PM also launched NISHTHA, a teachers’ training programme for NIPUN Bharat.

Notes:
UCO Bank has partnered with Finwizard Technology, which runs Fisdom, to offer wealth management products and services via its mBanking Plus App. Under this collaboration, customers of UCO bank can make seamless investments in mutual funds via its mBanking Plus App. Kolkata-based UCO Bank is one of the leading public sector banks in India with over 3 crore customers Currently, the bank has around 22,000 employees and 3,069 pan India branches with overseas presence in Hong Kong, Singapore and Iran.

Notes:
Amazon India has announced the launch of Kisan Store – an online platform that will enable farmers across India to get access to more than 8,000 agriculture inputs such as seeds, farm tools and accessories, plant protection, nutrition, and more. These products, which are listed by small and medium businesses (SMBs), will be available at competitive prices on Amazon India, with the added convenience of delivery at the doorstep of the farmers. The store was launched by Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.

Notes:
Microsoft and OYO have announced a multi-year strategic partnership to co-develop next-gen travel and hospitality products and technologies. The duo plan to develop solutions using Microsoft’s cloud and AI capabilities that will be geared to benefit clients who operate small and medium hotel and home storefronts across the world.

Notes:
Central government has approved the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme of worth Rs 10,683 crore for the textiles sector. This PLI scheme was approved in order to boost domestic manufacturing and exports. This scheme will help in creating direct additional employment of more than 7.5 lakh people and several supporting activities. As a part of incentives approved for textiles sector, the payout will be spread over a period of five years. This PLI scheme was approved for textiles, MMF (man-made fibre) fabrics, MMF apparel and 10 segments or products of technical textiles. This PLI scheme will impact and benefit special states including Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Odisha.

Notes:
Tamil Nadu government has decided to commemorate the death anniversary of Subramania Bharathi, a firebrand poet & freedom fighter, as Mahakavi Day on September 11. Death anniversary of Subramania Bharati is on September 11. Year 2021 will mark the 100th death anniversary of the poet. His works ignited patriotism and left indelible mark on Tamil literature. To mark the centenary, weekly events will be held at the Bharathiyar Memorial House in the state for next one year. Government will also be conducting a state-level poetry competition for school and college students and “Bharati young poet Award’’ will be presented along with a purse of Rs one lakh. Women Livelihood Mission will also be renamed after Bharatiyar. This scheme is to be implemented by the rural development department.

Notes:
In a bid to encourage decentralised renewable energy (DRE) Smart Power India (SPI), a subsidiary of the Rockefeller Foundation and Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) joined hands with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy to elucidate the role of DRE for the overall development of the nation. This partnership came as part of the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.

Notes:
Paytm has announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Paytm Money, is launching a wealth and investment advisory marketplace on its platform to offer curated advisory services and products to retail investors. Paytm Money has partnered with start-up WealthDesk to offer investment portfolios called ‘WealthBaskets’ as the first step to build up the advisory ecosystem.