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1)  World Standards Day observed on 14th October

•World Standards Day or International Standards Day is observed globally on 14 October every year. The day aims to raise awareness about the importance of standardisation to the global economy among consumers, regulators and industry.

•World Standards Day 2021 theme is “Standards for sustainable development goals – shared vision for a better world”.

2)  International E-Waste Day: 14 October

•The International E-Waste Day (IEWD) is celebrated on 14 October every year since 2018, to promote the correct disposal of e-waste throughout the world with the aim to increase re-use, recovery and recycling rates. 2021 is the fourth edition of the International E-Waste Day. This year’s International E-Waste Day will focus on the crucial part each of us has in making circularity a reality for e-products.

•The theme for 2021 IEWD is “Consumer is the key to Circular Economy!”. The day was developed in 2018 by the WEEE Forum, an international association of e-waste collection schemes, with the support of its members.

3)  PM Modi inaugurates Rs 100 lakh crore PM Gati Shakti-National Master Plan

•With the vision of holistic and integrated infrastructure development in the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated PM Gati Shakti-National Master Plan, from Pragati Maidan in New Delhi. The Rs 100 lakh crore PM Gati Shakti-National Master Plan aims to provide multi-modal connectivity to economic zones in the country.

4)  India’s first Atal Community Innovation Center launched in Jaipur

•India’s 1st Atal Community Innovation Center (ACIC) was inaugurated at Vivekananda Global University, Jaipur (VGU). It will be the first centre in the country to be set up by the Government of India, Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) and NITI Aayog.

5)  Centre accords “Maharatna” status to state-owned PFC Ltd

•The Government of India has accorded ‘Maharatna’ status to the state-owned Power Finance Corporation Ltd (PFC). The new status will give PFC greater operational and financial autonomy. PFC was incorporated in 1986, as an Indian financial institution under the ownership of the Ministry of Power. It is the largest Infrastructure Finance Company in India, exclusively dedicated to Power Sector.

•The grant of ‘Maharatna’ status to PFC will impart enhanced powers to the PFC Board while taking financial decisions. The Board of a ‘Maharatna’ CPSE can make equity investments to undertake financial joint ventures and wholly-owned subsidiaries and undertake mergers and acquisitions in India and abroad, subject to a ceiling of 15% of the Net Worth of the concerned CPSE, limited to Rs.5,000 crore in one project. The Board can also structure and implement schemes relating to personnel and Human Resource Management and Training. They can also enter into technology Joint Ventures or other strategic alliances among others.

6)  India Ranks Third in 2021 EY Index

•India has retained the third position in the 58th Renewable Energy Country Attractiveness Index (RECAI) released by the consultancy firm Ernst & Young (EY). According to the report, the US, mainland China and India continue to retain the top three rankings and Indonesia is a new entrant to the RECAI.

•The 2021 RECAI ranks the world’s top 40 global markets (nations) on the attractiveness of their renewable energy investment and deployment opportunities. With the environment, social and governance (ESG) measures soaring to the top of the agenda for companies and investors, RECAI also highlights that corporate power purchase agreements (PPAs) are emerging as a key driver of clean energy growth.

7)  ADB Raises 2019–2030 Climate Financing Goal to $100 Billion

•The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has announced an increase in its climate financing goals 2019-2030 for developing member countries (DMCs) by $20 billion to $100 billion. Earlier in 2018, ADB had announced an $80 billion goal for climate financing for developing countries in Asia during 2019-2030. The additional $20 billion in financing support will be used for climate mitigation efforts including low-carbon energy sources, climate adaptation projects and private sector projects.

•The fight against climate change will be won or lost in Asia and the Pacific, and we are committed to serving as a climate bank and a long-term climate partner for our region. The Manila-based lender will plan for climate adaptation financing of $34 billion, including agriculture, urban and water adaptation projects.

8)  IMF Projects Indian Economy to grow at 9.5% in FY22

•The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has estimated the Indian economy to grow by 9.5% in the current fiscal year, i.e 2021-22 (FY22) and 8.5% in FY23 (2022-23), in its latest World Economic Outlook report, released on October 12, 2021. Meanwhile, IMF expects the global gross domestic product (GDP) to grow by 5.9 per cent in 2021 and 4.9% in 2022.

•In its World Economic Outlook (WEO), the IMF has maintained India’s gross domestic product (GDP) estimates for next financial year at 8.5 per cent, unchanged from its July projections. The WEO, titled ‘Recovery During a Pandemic Health Concerns, Supply Disruptions, and Price Pressures’, has forecast world economic growth at 4.9 per cent for 2022, the same as earlier.

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1)  International Day for Disaster Reduction: 13 October

•The United Nations International Day for Disaster Reduction is held annually on 13 October since 1989. The day is celebrated to promote a global culture of risk-awareness and disaster reduction and also celebrates how people and communities around the world are reducing their exposure to disasters and raising awareness about the importance of reining in the risks that they face.

•The theme of the 2021 International Day for Disaster Reduction is “International cooperation for developing countries to reduce their disaster risk and disaster losses”.

2)  PM Narendra Modi addresses 28th NHRC Foundation Day programme

•The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi addressing at the 28th National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Foundation Day programme, through video conferencing, in New Delhi on October 12, 2021.

•Prime Minister Narendra Modi has addressed the 28th NHRC Foundation Day programme, through video conferencing on October 12, 2021, in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and NHRC chairperson. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of India is a Statutory public body constituted on 12 October 1993 under the Protection of Human Rights Act 1993, for the promotion and protection of human rights and dignity of the marginalised.

•The Prime Minister concluded by mentioning the human rights of future generations. He emphasized that with measures like International Solar Alliance, renewable energy goals and Hydrogen Mission, India is rapidly moving in the direction of sustainable life and eco-friendly growth.

3)  Haryana bans govt employees from participation in politics, elections

•Facing farmers’ protests over new farm laws for over a year now, the Haryana government has banned the participation of its employees in politics and elections. A notification has also been issued from the office of the chief secretary in this regard while implementing Haryana Civil Services (Government Employees Conduct) Rules, 2016.

•The administrative secretaries, heads of department, managing directors, chief administrators of boards, corporations, divisional commissioners, deputy commissioners of Haryana, registrar of universities of Haryana and registrar (general), Punjab and Haryana High Court have been directed to ensure compliance of Rules 9 and 10 of Haryana Civil Services (Government Employees’ Conduct) Rules, 2016 in letter and in spirit. Any violation of the same should invite immediate and strict disciplinary action.

4)  IEA invites India to become full-time member

•International Energy Agency (IEA) has invited India to become its full-time member. This membership invitation was given in the light that, India is the world’s third-largest energy consumer. If this proposal is accepted, it will require India to increase its strategic oil reserved to 90 days requirement.

•Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri held discussions with IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol. During the discussion, IEA executive director invited India to deepen its cooperation with IEA by becoming its full member.

5)  Germany launches World’s First Self-Driving Train

•German rail operator, Deutsche Bahn and industrial group, Siemens launched the first automated & driverless train of the world. The self-driving train was launched in the city of Hamburg. This project is being developed by ‘Siemens and Deutsche Bahn’. It is being dubbed as “world-first”. The project is part of a 60-million-euro modernisation of the rapid urban rail system of Hamburg. These automated trains will offer a reliable service without laying a single kilometre of new track.

6)  India announces $200 million line of credit for Kyrgyzstan

•India announced a $200-million line of credit for Kyrgyzstan and signed an agreement to carry out small but high impact projects for community development in the Central Asian state. The two initiatives were among several measures announced by external affairs minister S Jaishankar at the end of a two-day visit to Kyrgyzstan.

•External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held “constructive” talks with the top Kyrgyz leadership to boost bilateral ties, including defence cooperation and discussed global issues like Afghanistan. Jaishankar, who arrived as part of his four-day visit to Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Armenia with an aim to further expand bilateral ties with the three Central Asian countries, called on Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov and discussed with him expanding economic between the two countries.

7)  Alexander Schellenberg appointed Austria’s new Chancellor

•Alexander Schellenberg was elected as Austrian Chancellor after the resignation of Sebastian Kurz. Sebastian Kurz resigned because of his involvement in a corruption scandal. Apart from Alexander, Michael Linhardt joined in for the role of foreign minister. He was the former ambassador to France. The appointment of both persons helped in ending the crisis within the Austrian government, the Austrian People’s Party and Green Party Coalition.

•Alexander Schellenberg is a graduate from the College of Europe. He was a career diplomat & became a mentor to Sebastian Kurz when he became a foreign minister. Kurz selected him as the director of strategic foreign policy planning as well as the head of the European department.

8)  India’s retail inflation eases to 4.35% in September

•Retail inflation declined to 4.35 per cent in September, mainly due to lower food prices, according to government data released. The Consumer Price Index-based (CPI) inflation was at 5.30 per cent in August and at 7.27 per cent in September 2020. As per the data released by the National Statistical Office (NSO), the inflation in the food basket eased to 0.68 per cent in September 2021, significantly down from 3.11 per cent in the preceding month.

9)  Amit Khare appointed advisor to PM Modi

•Former bureaucrat Amit Khare, who last month retired as higher education secretary, has been appointed as advisor to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for two years on contract basis. Mr Khare, a 1985 batch (retired) IAS officer of Jharkhand cadre, had superannuated on September 30.

•The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of Khare as advisor to the prime minister in Prime Minister’s Office, in the rank and scale of secretary to government of India.

10)  EESL appoints Arun Kumar Mishra as CEO

•Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), a joint venture of Public Sector Undertakings under the Ministry of Power has announced the appointment of Arun Kumar Mishra as chief executive officer (CEO) on deputation. He will be responsible for EESL’s operations across the nation.

11)  Former SBI Chief Rajnish Kumar appointed as Chairman of BharatPe

•The fintech startup, BharatPe has appointed former State Bank of India (SBI) Chairman Rajnish Kumar as the Chairman of its board. The former SBI chairman will work closely with the top officials of the company on key business and regulatory initiatives. He will also take part in defining BharatPe’s long-term and short-term strategy.

12)  Indian Shooters win 43 medals at ISSF Junior World Championship

•The 2021 International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Junior World Championship Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun was held at Lima in Peru. The Indian shooters claimed a historic win with 43 medals to stand atop in the medal table. These included 17 Gold, 16 Silver and 10 Bronze medals. The USA finished second on the medal table with 21 medals including six gold, eight silver and six bronze.

•Meanwhile, Manu Bhaker created a milestone record of becoming the first Indian shooter to win the highest number of medals in a single edition of the ISSF Junior World Championships, with as many as five medals. These included 4 gold medals and a bronze.