Daily Current Affairs and GK | 1 November 2021

Topic: Corporates/Companies

1. Facebook, a Social media giant, is going to change its name to 'Meta'.

• Mark Zuckerberg has announced that Facebook is going to change its parent company name to 'Meta'.
• 'Meta' will be part of a rebrand to highlight the company's new focus on developing the 'Metaverse'.
• During the describing the Metaverse, Zuckerberg said that it will be the next generation of the Internet, as a virtual environment that would allow people to be present with each other in a digital space.
• In Meta's vision, people will gather and communicate by entering virtual environments, whether they're talking with co-workers in boardrooms or hanging out with friends in far-flung corners of the world.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Defence

2. A task force has been formed between India and Israel to identify new areas of defence cooperation.

• A Joint Working Group of India-Israel on Bilateral Defence Cooperation has agreed to form a task force to prepare a comprehensive ten-year roadmap to identify new areas of cooperation.
• The decision to set up a task force was taken at the 15^th meeting of the Joint Working Group held in Tel Aviv, Israel.
• Defence Secretary Dr Ajay Kumar and the Director-General of Israel’s Ministry of Defence, Major General (Retd) Amir Eshel has co-chaired the meeting.
• The Joint Working Group is the apex body of the Ministry of Defence of India and the Ministry of Defence of Israel to comprehensively review and guide all aspects of bilateral Defence cooperation.
• Both sides have reviewed the progress made in military-to-military relations, including exercises and industry cooperation.
• The decision to set up a Sub Working Group on Defence Industry Cooperation was also made and both sides signed a Terms of Reference in this regard.
• Sub-working group formation will help inefficient utilization of bilateral resources, effective flow of technologies, and sharing of industrial capabilities.

Topic: Important Days

3. National Unity Day: 31^st October

• National Unity Day or Rashtriya Ekta Diwas is celebrated every year on 31 October.
• It is observed to mark the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
• Rashtriya Ekta Diwas was first celebrated in 2014.
• Vallabhbhai Jhaverbhai Patel was the first Deputy Prime Minister of India and the first Home Minister of India.
• He was popularly known as Iron Man of India, patron saint of India's civil servants, Unifier of India, and Bismarck of India.
• He successfully worked for the integration of 565 princely states into India and played a key role in the establishment of the All India Services.
• The World’s tallest statue, the Statue of Unity, was inaugurated and dedicated to Sardar Patel at his 143rd birth anniversary on 31 October 2018.

Topic: Biotechnology and Diseases

4. Union Health Minister launched Nationwide Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine drive.

• Union Health Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya launched the nationwide expansion of the Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) drive under the Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP).
• PCV vaccine will reduce child mortality by around 60 percent. Pneumonia is a leading cause of death among children under the age of five.
• The Union Minister also released communication and awareness packages on the vaccine.
• Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) is one of the largest public health programmes. It covers 10 diseases at the national level.
• In India, around 16 percent of deaths in children occur due to pneumonia. The PCV vaccine will ensure the healthy growth and development of children.

Topic: Appointments

5. Centre appoints Justice Ashok Bhushan as full-time chairperson of NCLAT.

• Centre has appointed Justice Ashok Bhushan as the full-time chairperson of the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT).
• Justice Ashok Bhushan is a retired Supreme Court judge. He retired from the Supreme Court in July this year.
• The post of NCLAT chairperson was lying vacant since the retirement of then chairperson Justice S J Mukhopadhaya, in March 2020.
• Justice Bhushan has been appointed for four years or till he attains the age of 70 years, or until further orders.
• Chief Justice of the Manipur High Court, Justice Ramalingam Sudhakar, has been appointed as the full-time chairperson of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT).
• He has been appointed for a period of five years, or till he attains the age of 67 years, or until further orders. NCLT’s first chairperson, Justice M M Kumar, retired in January 2020.

Topic: State News/Tamil Nadu

6. July 18 to be celebrated as Tamil Nadu Day.

• Tamil Nadu government has announced that July 18 will be celebrated as Tamil Nadu Day.
• On 18 July 1967, a resolution moved by then Chief Minister C.N. Annadurai was adopted in the State Legislative Assembly to rename the then Madras Presidency as Tamil Nadu.
• Previous AIADMK government had announced that November 1 will be celebrated as Tamil Nadu Day.
• On 1 November 1956, parts of the then Madras Presidency became Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala.
• Chief Minister M.K. Stalin announced that ‘Border Saviours’ would be honoured with a cash prize of ₹1 lakh each on November 1 this year as a special case.
• These ‘Border Saviours’ indulged in the struggle of safeguarding the border of Tamil Nadu when the linguistic States were formed.
• Government is providing them monthly financial assistance of ₹5,500 along with a medical allowance ₹500.

Topic: Important Days

7. Kerala celebrating its 65^th formation day on 1 November.

• Kerala is celebrating its 65^th "Kerala Pirayi," the formation day of the State, on 1 November.
• Kerala was created on 1 November 1956 by amalgamating the province of Malabar, Cochin, and Thiruvithancoor.
• Before 1956, Kerala was divided into four regions: South Canara (Kasaragod region), Malabar, Cochin, and Travancore.
• On this occasion, events will be organized across the state. Schools will also reopen with the 'Praveshanolsavam' ceremony.
• Kerala was formed following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act 1956 after separating it from the Madras Presidency.
• Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Lakshadweep, and Puducherry also celebrate their formation day on 1 November.

Topic: Reports and Indices

8. NITI Aayog released a report on Health Insurance for India’s Missing Middle.

• NITI Aayog released a report titled Health Insurance for India’s Missing Middle.
• It will bring out the gaps in health insurance coverage across the Indian population and offer a solution to address the situation.
• The report has been released in the presence of NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant and Additional Secretary Dr. Rakesh Sarwal.
• The report has highlighted the need for health insurance coverage for all. It also emphasized upon the need to increase the penetration of health insurance.
• According to the report, only 20% of the population– 25 crore individuals –are covered through social health insurance, and private voluntary health insurance.
• The report has recommended three models for increasing the health insurance coverage in the country.
• It has also recommended sharing of government scheme data with private insurance companies.
• According to the report, the government and the private sector will need to come together to increase health insurance coverage in India.
• NITI Aayog Member Dr V.K. Paul said that government will play an important role in increasing consumer awareness and confidence to improve operational efficiency.
• The report is an attempt to highlight the need to broaden Universal Health Coverage.

Topic: Government Scheme and Initiatives

9. Union Minister of Home Affairs and Cooperation launched "Dairy Sahakar" scheme.

• Union Minister of Home Affairs and Cooperation, Amit Shah, launched the "Dairy Sahakar" scheme in Gujarat.
• The scheme has been launched as part of the celebration of the 75^th Foundation Year of Amul.
• "Dairy Sahakar" scheme will be implemented by NCDC with an outlay of Rs 5000 crore under the Ministry of Cooperation.
• Under Dairy Sahakar, financial assistance will be given to eligible cooperatives for bovine development, milk procurement, processing, and quality assurance.
• The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying is implementing various schemes for the development of the Animal Husbandry and dairy sector.
• It will support the existing efforts for strengthening the dairy sector in the country.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: International News

10. G20 countries agreed on the need to keep global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

• G20 leaders have agreed on the need to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius.
• The group of 20 major countries emits nearly 80 percent of carbon emissions. The pledges by the Group of 20 major economies are seen as crucial for the success of COP26.
• These countries also agreed to “accelerate actions” towards net-zero carbon emission.
• G20 leaders reaffirmed their support for the Paris Agreement's goals of keeping the global average temperature increase well below 2 degrees and pursuing efforts to limit it to 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels.
• According to the experts, the 1.5-degree target will require slashing down global emissions nearly by half by 2030.
• China is the biggest carbon polluter and it has set a target to become carbon neutral before 2060.

Topic: Important Days

11. World Cities Day: 31 October

• World Cities Day is observed every year on 31 October across the world.
• The global theme of World Cities Day 2021 is “Adapting cities for climate resilience”.
• World Cities Day is observed to promote the international community’s interest in global urbanization and to enhance cooperation among countries to address the challenges of Urbanization.
• United Nations General Assembly adopted 31 October as World Cities Day through its resolution A/RES/68/239 in 2014.
• It was first celebrated by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) in 2014.
• World Cities Day gives an opportunity to showcase the organization’s full range of resources, expertise, networks, and programmes to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
• SDG 11: Inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable cities, and human settlements.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

12. Central government launches initiative to enable women connected with SHGs to earn Rs 1 lakh per annum.

• Central government has launched an initiative to enable women connected with self-help groups (SHGs) to earn Rs 1 lakh per annum.
• Rural development ministry will also provide livelihood support in the next two years to 25 million rural women connected with SHGs.
• As per the ministry, the focus will be on diversification of household level livelihood activities to realise the goal of an annual income Rs 1 lakh.
• The ministry said that under National Rural Livelihood Mission, 7.7 crore women have been mobilised into 70 lakh SHGs.

Topic: State News/ Madhya Pradesh

13. Madhya Pradesh government announces Mukhyamantri Awasiya Bhu-adhikar Yojana.

• Madhya Pradesh government has announced Mukhyamantri Awasiya Bhu-adhikar Yojana to provide free plots to families who do not own plots.
• Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said the scheme will also open the way for the construction of houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.
• This scheme has been started to provide residential plots to the eligible families on Abadi land in each Gram Panchayat.
• Under the scheme, the maximum area of the plot for allotment will be 60 sq m. District collectors have been empowered with respect to the availability of Abadi land.
• The CM said for getting a residential plot, applications have to be submitted online through SAARA portal.
• Eligible applicants will be given land ownership rights in joint names of husband and wife.

Topic: Infrastructure and Energy

14. World’s first and India’s largest landfill gas-to-compressed biogas plant inaugurated in Hyderabad.

• World’s first and India’s largest landfill gas-to-compressed biogas plant has been inaugurated at Hyderabad Integrated Municipal Solid Waste site.
• The plant has been inaugurated by Ramky Enviro. Ramky Enviro Engineers Ltd is one of Asia’s leading providers of comprehensive environment management services.
• The focus of the project is on the conversion of landfill gas into compressed biogas as an automotive fuel.
• The benefits of the project include carbon sequestration and reduced emissions of GHGs into the environment.