Roadmap for Banking of the Future
Current Affairs 26 August 2021
Daily Current Affairs 26 August 2021: This post contains the latest current affairs for 26 August 2021 that are important for all competitive exams like Bank, SSC, IBPS, SBI exams. You can also attempt our Current Affairs Quiz after reading our daily current affairs.
National
Ministry of Electronics & IT launches SAMRIDH programme to boost start-up ecosystem in India
- Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology has launched the “Start-up Accelerators of MeitY for pRoduct Innovation, Development and growth (SAMRIDH)” programme. The programme was launched by Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister MeitY.
- Aim: The objective of the SAMRIDH programme is to create a conducive platform to Indian Software Product start-ups to enhance their products and securing investments for scaling their business.
- The programme is being implemented by MeitY Start-up Hub (MSH). It will focus on accelerating the 300 start-ups by providing customer connect, investor connect, and international immersion in next three years.
- Investment of up to Rs. 40 lakh will be provided to the start-up through selected accelerators.
Ministry of Jal Shakti launches 100 days ‘SUJALAM’ Campaign
- Ministry of Jal Shakti has launched a ‘100 days campaign’ named SUJALAM to create more and more Open Defecation Free (ODF) Plus villages by undertaking waste water management at village level.
- The campaign started on August 25, 2021 is part of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ celebrations. The three focus area of SUJALAM campaign are:
- Construction of 1 million soak pits;
- Retrofitting of toilets and
- Access to toilets for new households.
- The Campaign would help in management of the wastewater and in turn would help to revive the waterbodies through creation of 1 million Soak-pits and also other Grey water management activities.
India’s first green hydrogen electrolyser manufacturing unit starts at Bengaluru
- US-based Ohmium International has started India’s first green hydrogen electrolyzer manufacturing unit at Bengaluru, Karnataka. The factory will manufacture India-made Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) hydrogen electrolyzers.
- Green hydrogen is made from non-fossil sources as against blue hydrogen that is made from fossil sources. Making green hydrogen in India will give a cost advantage for manufacturers rather than going for imports.
- The factory has a capacity of manufacturing approximately 0.5 GW per year.
International
World’s tallest observation wheel ‘Ain Dubai’ to be unveiled in UAE
- The world’s largest and tallest observation wheel is set to be unveiled in Dubai, UAE on October 21, 2021.
- The observation wheel called as ‘Ain Dubai’, is 250 m (820 ft) in height, located at Bluewaters Island.
- The record breaking wheel is 42.5 m (139 ft) taller than the current world’s tallest observation wheel, High Roller, in Las Vegas, measuring 167.6 m (550 ft).
Conference
Ajit Doval chairs 11th BRICS NSA Virtual Meeting
- The 11th Meeting of the BRICS High Representatives Responsible for National Security was held on August 24, 2021, via video conferencing
- The National Security Advisor of India Ajit Doval hosted the meeting, since India is the chair for 2021 BRICS summit. The 15th BRICS Summit is scheduled to be held in September 2021.
- The BRICS meeting of NSA provided a platform for the five countries to strengthen political security cooperation.
Ranking
India Ranks Second In Global Manufacturing Risk Index 2021, China Tops: Cushman & Wakefield Report
- India has been ranked second in Cushman & Wakefield’s 2021 Global Manufacturing Risk Index. China is at the top spot. The ranking ranks country based on the most favorable locations for international manufacturing,
- Last year India was third in the ranking. This year India replaced the USA to get the second spot.
- This year, the US is at third position, followed by Canada, Czech Republic, Indonesia, Lithuania, Thailand, Malaysia and Poland.
Defence Exercise
5th India-Kazakhstan Joint Training Exercise “KAZIND-21” to Commence from August 30
- The 5th edition of Indo- Kazakhstan Joint Training Exercise, “KAZIND-21” will be held from August 30 to September 11, 2021, at Training Node, Aisha Bibi, Kazakhstan.
- The joint training exercise will boost the bilateral relations between India and Kazakhstan Armies.
- The Exercise is also a platform for the Armed Forces of India & Kazakhstan to train for Counter Insurgency/ Counter Terrorism operation in mountainous, rural scenario under UN mandate.
Banking
RBI approves re-appointment of Sandeep Bakhshi as ICICI Bank MD & CEO
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved the re-appointment of Sandeep Bakhshi as the MD & CEO of ICICI Bank.
- This will be with effect from October 15, 2021, till October 3, 2023.
HDFC Bank divests over 2% stake in CDSL for Rs 222.71 crore
- HDFC Bank has divested more than 2% stake in Central Depository Services (India) Ltd (CDSL) in tranches during June-August 2021 for Rs 222.71 crore.
- CDSL provides depository services to market participants. It has three operating services: depository, data entry and record keeping of KYC documents of capital market investors, and repository.
Business
BharatPe launches P2P lending app ‘12% Club’
- BharatPe has launched “12% Club” app that will allow consumers to invest and earn up to 12 percent annual interest or borrow at a similar rate.
- BharatPe has partnered with LenDenClub (RBI-approved NBFC) for this app and lending arrangement.
- Consumers can invest their savings anytime by choosing to lend money on “12% Club” app. Apart from this, consumers can avail collateral-free loans of up to Rs 10 lakh on the 12 percent Club app for a tenure of 3 months.
Infosys becomes 4th Indian company to touch $100 bn market cap
- On August 24, 2021, Infosys became the fourth Indian company to touch a market capitalization (m-cap) of USD 100 billion.
- TCS, Reliance Industries and HDFC Bank are the first three companies to cross the market capitalization of USD 100 billion.
- According to the latest m-cap data, RIL is the most-valued firm at Rs 13.7 trillion, followed by Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) at Rs 13.4 trillion and HDFC Bank at Rs 8.42 trillion.
Sports
Shot-putter Tek Chand was India’s flag-bearer at the Tokyo Paralympics opening ceremony
- Indian shot-putter Tek Chand was the flag-bearer for the Indian contingents at the opening ceremony of Paralympics in Tokyo on August 24, 2021.
- Tek Chand replaced Rio Olympics gold-medallist high-jumper Mariyappan Thangavelu, who was earlier named as the flag bearer, however he has been quarantined along with five other para-athletes, after coming in close contact of a COVID positive person during their flight to Tokyo.
Obituary
Former national footballer SS Hakim passes away at 82
- Syed Shahid Hakim, a former India footballer and member of the Indian team that played in the 1960 Rome Olympics, has passed away suffering a stroke. He was 82.
- Hakim saab, as he was popularly known, was 82 years old.
- He had served as assistant coach with P. K. Banerjee in 1982 Asian Games in New Delhi.
- Hakim was also a FIFA badge holder international referee having officiated in 1988 AFC Asian Cup matches
- During his more than five-decade career in Indian football, Hakim was awarded with several honours and awards including the Dronacharya award and the prestigious Dhyan Chand Award.
