Daily GK Update: 2nd October 2021

 National & International Appointments

1. Govt. extends additional charge of PK Purwar as MTNL CMD

• The union govt has extended the additional charge of PK Purwar as CMD of MTNL for one year.
• Purwar also holds the position of chairman and managing director of debt-ridden firm BSNL.
• Purwar has held the top position at MTNL for about five and half years. 
• The government has announced the merger of BSNL and MTNL, which is yet to be firmed up.
• MTNL reported a total loss of Rs 2,554 crore for the last fiscal compared to Rs 3,811 crore in 2019-20.

 National Affairs

2. Iconic Indian superhero - Chacha Chaudhary declared mascot of Namami Gange

• The iconic Indian superhero - Chacha Chaudhary has been declared as the mascot of the Namami Gange Programme.
• The decision was taken during the 37th Executive Committee meeting of the National Mission for Clean Ganga, NMCG.
• As a step towards this NMCG has tied-up with Diamond Toons to develop and distribute comics, e-comics and animated videos.
• NMCG has been focusing on youth as part of its outreach and public communications efforts as they are the impellers of change

 Agreement

3. India, US to set-up joint working group in defence industrial security

• India and US have decided to set-up a joint working group in defence industrial security.
• This group will meet periodically to align the policies and procedures expeditiously that will allow the defence industries to collaborate on cutting edge defence technologies.
• The Industrial Security Agreement summit between India and the US was held New Delhi.
• The summit was organised to develop protocol for the exchange of classified information between both the nations.

 Schemes

4. PM Modi launches Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0 and AMRUT 2.0

• PM Narendra Modi launched Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0, SMB-U and Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) 2.0.
• The two missions have been designed to realize the aspiration to make all cities Garbage Free and Water Secure. 
• It will also help in achieving the targets set under the Sustainable Development Goals-2030.
• the aim of SBMU 2.0 is to make cities garbage-free.
• the Second Phase of AMRUT is to make cities water secure. 

 National & International Appointments

5. Air Marshal BR Krishna assumes charge of CISC

• Air Marshal BR Krishna assumed charge of Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC).
• Commissioned as a fighter pilot in 1983, he has had a distinguished career spanning over 38 yrs. 
• He has flown a wide variety of fighters, transport aircraft and helicopters in the inventory of Indian Air Force (IAF).
• He is an alumnus of National Defence Academy, Defence Services Staff College and National Defence College.

 National & International Appointments

6. Air Marshal Sandeep Singh takes charge as vice-chief of IAF

• Air Marshal Sandeep Singh took over as Vice Chief of the Air Staff (VCAS).
• An alumnus of National Defence Academy, Air Marshal Singh was commissioned in the flying branch of IAF in December 1983 as a fighter pilot.
• He is an Experimental Test Pilot and a Qualified Flying Instructor.
• He has over 4400 hours of flying experience in operational and experimental test-flying of various types of fighter aircraft.

 Agreement

7. Food regulator, food processing ministry sign MoU to support micro entrepre

• FSSAI has signed an MoU with the MoFPI to support micro food entrepreneurs, FPOs, SHGs to improve the standard of food businesses.
• As part of Aatma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan, the step will help micro enterprises improve the quality of their food products and become competitive.
• food handlers of micro level food processing units will be provided training 
• On completion of training, food handlers will be provided ‘Food Safety Supervisor’ certificate by FSSAI.

 Sports

8. Indian men's team win bronze in Asian Table Tennis Championships

• Indian men's table tennis team created history by winning a medal at the Asian Table Tennis Championship 2021.
• The team consisting of Sathiyan Gnanasekaran, Sharath Kamal, Harmeet Desai, Sanil Shetty, and Manav Thakkar won the bronze medal after losing to South Korea 0-3 in the semi-finals.
• This is India's second medal at Asian Championships since 1976.
• The Indian team was assured of a medal after beating Iran 3-1 in the quarterfinals.

 Banking & Finance

9. WB to extend $150 million to Chennai’s Sustainable Urban Services Program

• The World Bank will give $150 million loan to support the Tamil Nadu’s Chennai City Partnership: Sustainable Urban Services Program.
• The program seeks to help strengthen institutions, improve the financial health of service agencies, and drive significant improvements in the quality of urban services — water supply and sewerage, mobility, health, and solid waste management.
• This program will support the TN in its efforts to transform the city and its services.

 National Affairs

10. Environment Ministry launches guidelines for ecotourism, river dolphins

• Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change released the 'Guidelines for sustainable Ecotourism' in forest and wildlife areas' to promote a better understanding of nature and wildlife conservation.
• The new guidelines will be applicable for sites falling in forests, wildlife areas and eco-sensitive zones.
• The guidelines emphasise the engagement of local communities in a manner that enriches local economies and encourage sustainable use of indigenous material

 National Affairs

11. Venkaiah Naidu unveils SACRED portal for senior citizens in India

• Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu launched “SACRED portal” for senior citizens in India. 
• Portal has been developed by Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in order to provide a platform for senior citizens seeking employment opportunities.
• Full form of SACRED is “Senior Able Citizens for Re-Employment in Dignity.
• Citizens aged 60 and more can register on this portal and find jobs & work opportunities.