Daily GK Update: 22nd September 2021

 National & International Appointments

1. Air Marshal V R Chaudhari appointed as next Chief of Air Staff

• Air Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari has been appointed as the next Chief of the Air Staff (CoAS), with effect from 1st October 2021.
• Presently, he is serving as the Vice Chief of Air Staff.
• He will succeed incumbent Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria, whose tenure will come to end on September 30, 2021
• He was the chief of Western Air Comma from August 1, 2020.
• He also flew several Air Defence missions during 1999 Kargil war with Pakistan.

 National Affairs

2. FSSAI releases 3rd edition of State Food Safety Index 2020-21

• Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has released third State Food Safety Index (SFSI) of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) for evaluating food safety across all States/UTs in 2020-21.
• Top state in larger states category: Gujarat, followed by Kerala and Tamil Nadu
• Top state in smaller states category: Goa, Meghalaya and Manipur
• Top UT: Jammu & Kashmir, Andaman & Nicobar Islands and New Delhi
• He also flagged off 19 Mobile Food Testing Vans

 National & International Organizations

3. Iran becomes 9th member of Shanghai Cooperation Organization

• Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) leaders have agreed to change the membership of the Islamic Republic of Iran from an observer state to a full member state.
• After this, Iran becomes the 9th main member of SCO
• Iran was holding the observer status for the past 15 years
• The technical and legal process could take up to two years to conclude.
• Full member of SCO: China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India and Pakistan
• SCO HQs: Beijing, China

 State Affairs

4. Uttar Pradesh Government to set up ‘Electronic Park’ near Noida

• Uttar Pradesh govt has cleared proposal to develop ‘Electronic Park’, along Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority area, near Noida to promote electronics industry.
• Park is proposed to be developed in 250 acres near Jewar Airport.
• It will be built at an investment of around Rs 50,000 crore as well as generate employment for thousands of local youths
• Companies manufacturing mobile phones, TVs, electronic devices will establish their units in the park.

 Defense

5. Third India-Indonesia bilateral maritime exercise ‘Samudra Shakti’ begins

• Third edition of India and Indonesia bilateral maritime exercise titled as ‘Samudra Shakti’ began on September 20, 2021 in Sunda Strait, Indonesia
• It is a 3-day exercise and will culminate on 22 Sep 2021
• Sunda Strait lies between Indonesian islands of Java and Sumatra
• Indian Navy has deployed its 2 frontline warships Shivalik and Kadmatt
• It will strengthen bilateral relationship, enhance mutual understanding and interoperability in maritime operations between 2 navies

 Important Dates

6. World Rhino Day: 22nd September

• World Rhino Day is observed on 22nd September every year to celebrates and raise awareness of the need to protect all the five existing species of Rhinoceros
• Rhino species:
  • Black Rhino
  • White Rhino
  • Greater one-horned Rhino
  • Sumatran Rhino
  • Javan Rhinos
• The day was first announced by World Wildlife Fund-South Africa in 2010.
• It is being observed internationally for the first time in 2011.

 National Affairs

7. Kovalam and Eden beaches get Blue Flag Certification

• Kovalam in Tamil Nadu and Eden in Puducherry beaches has been globally recognized and coveted International eco-label ‘Blue Flag Certification’
• Foundation for Environment Education in Denmark (FEE) has also given re-certification for 8 nominated beaches Shivrajpur-Gujarat, Ghoghla-Diu, Kasarkod and Padubidri-Karnataka, Kappad-Kerala, Rushikonda- Andhra Pradesh, Golden-Odisha and Radhanagar- A&N
• Blue Flag is indication of 100% compliance to 33 stringent criteria

 National Affairs

8. Centre forms panel for India’s sustainable finance road map

• Central govt has set up key task force to assess climate and ESG resilience in India’s financial sector and recommend a concrete road map to strengthen India’s sustainable finance architecture.
• It will be headed by Economic Affairs Secretary, Ajay Seth
• The panel will look out at ways to further strengthen the resilience of the country’s financial sector against risks emanating from various climate and environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues.

 National & International Appointments

9. Justin Trudeau wins third term as Prime Minister of Canada

• Canada PM Justin Trudeau (49 years) has won third term of the 2021 parliamentary elections to serve as the Prime Minister of Canada, after his party won elections on September 20, 2021
• His Liberal Party only manage to win minority seats in the election, leading in 155 of 338 seats in the House of Commons, compared with 123 seats for Conservatives under Erin O’Toole
• A party needs 170 seats to form a majority in the House of Commons.
• Justin Trudeau is in power since 2015

 National Affairs

10. ECI organizes National Conference on Accessible Elections

• Election Commission of India has organized virtual National Conference on Accessible Elections 2021 to assess present accessibility policies and discuss strategies for addressing barriers to enhance participation in electoral process 
• During conference, crossing Barriers- Accessibility Initiatives 2021 was also launched
• Braille Language versions of Voter Guide, Letter to new voter and Booklet of 50 motivational songs on voter awareness was also launched

 Summits & Conferences

11. National conference on Agriculture for Rabi campaign 2021 held

• National Conference on Agriculture for Rabi campaign 2021-22 has been virtually inaugurated
• Aim: to review and assess the crop performance during the preceding crop season and fix crop-wise targets for Rabi season in consultation with State Govt, ensure supply of critical inputs and facilitate adoption of innovative technologies with view to enhance production and productivity of crops
• Special campaign will be launched to increase production of oilseeds in Rabi season 

 National Affairs

12. Telecom Department initiates new reforms with simplifying KYC process

• Dept of Telecommunications (DoT) has started implementation of new telecom reforms by simplifying the KYC (Know Your Customer) process
• DoT implemented three fresh ways:
  • Aadhaar-based e-KYC: It has been re-introduced for new mobile phone connections.
  • Self-KYC: Issuance of mobile connection is done via an app/portal-based online process 
  • OTP based conversion of connection: It enables a subscriber to convert his mobile connection from prepaid to postpaid and vice-versa

 National Affairs

13. Ministry of Education forms National Steering Committee for Curriculum

• Ministry of Education has formed National Steering Committee for development of National Curriculum Frameworks under K Kasturirangan chairmanship
• Other members: Mahesh Pant, Govind Prasad Sharma, Najma Akhtar, TV Kattimani, Michel Danino, Milind Kamble, Jagbir Singh, Manjul Bhargava, M K Sridhar, Dhir Jhingran. Shankar Maruwada
• Committee will develop National Curriculum Frameworks for School Education, Early Childhood Education, Teacher Education, Adult Education.

 Agreement

14. Centre signs MoU with CSC e-Governance Services India Limited

• Department of Food and Public Distribution (DFPD) has signed MoU with CSC e-Governance Services India (CSC) to increase the business opportunities and income of Fair Price Shops by way of delivery of CSC services through interested Fair Price Shop (FPS) dealers.
• CSC has been advised to identify feasible activities like Utility Bill payments, PAN Application, Passport Application, etc. to facilitate the consumer and simultaneously provide additional income to the FPSs.