Top Current Affairs 22 October 2021
Top Current Affairs 22 October 2021: This post contains the current affairs for 22 October 2021 that are important for competitive exams like IBPS PO and Clerk, SBI PO and Clerk, RBI Assistant and Grade B, other Insurance exams. You can also attempt our Current Affairs Quiz after reading our daily current affairs.
National
Centre further extends Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package: Insurance Scheme for Health Workers fighting COVID-19 for 6 months
- Government has decided to extend the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package (PMGKP): Insurance Scheme for Health Care Workers Fighting COVID-19’ for a further period of 180 days with effect from October 21, 2021.
- The current period of the policy was to end on October 20, 2021.
- The insurance policy was announced on March 30, 2020, which aims to provide an insurance cover of Rs 50 lakh to nearly 22.12 lakh health workers who are deputed to take care of COVID-19 patients.
Centre approves 3% hike in DA/DR for central government employees and pensioners w.e.f July 2021
- The Union Cabinet has approved a further hike of 3 percent in Dearness Allowance (DA) and Dearness Relief (DR) for the central government employees and pensioners on October 21, 2021.
- The increase of 3% is over the existing rate of 28 percent of the basic pay/pension and will be effective from July 1, 2021.
- Now after this hike, the DA/DR will increase to 31%.
- It must be remembered that earlier in July 2021, the government had announced 11% hike in DA/DR from 17% to 28% of the basic pay/pension.
- It will cost the exchequer Rs 9,488.70 crore per annum.
International
Russian filmmaker Klim Shipenko becomes first to shoot film in space
- A Russian film crew has scripted record by undertaking the first-ever motion picture shooting session in the International Space Station (ISS).
- The Russian film director Klim Shipenko and actress Yulia Peresild spent 12 days in the ISS for filming 30 minutes duration scenes for the film “The Challenge”. It took around 30 hours to record the material while in space.
- “The Challenge” is the first feature film to be shot in space. The film is based on the life of a woman doctor who goes to space to save a cosmonaut’s life.
Russian Activist Alexei Navalny Wins European Union’s Sakharov Prize
- The European Parliament has awarded the European Union’s top human rights prize, Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought for 2021, to the imprisoned Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
- The 45-year-old activist has been awarded for his immense personal bravery to fight tirelessly against the corruption of Vladimir Putin’s regime.
- Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, commonly known as Sakharov Prize, is European Parliament’s top human rights prize.
- The prize honours individuals and groups of people who have dedicated their lives to the defense of human rights and freedom of thought.
Banking
RBI impose Rs 1 cr penalty on Paytm Payments Bank
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed a penalty of Rs 1 crore on Paytm Payments Bank Limited (PPBL) over certain specified violations, as referred in Section 26 (2) of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007..
- RBI observed that the information submitted during Paytm Payments Bank’s application for issue of final Certificate of Authorisation (CoA) did not reflect the factual position.
Appointment
OnePlus appoints Navnit Nakra as India CEO and Head of India region
- Chinese Smartphone maker OnePlus has announced the appointment of Navnit Nakra as its India CEO and Head of OnePlus India region operations.
- Prior to this, Nakra served as the Vice President, Chief Strategy Officer and Head of Sales of OnePlus in India.
- He had joined the company in February 2020.
Ayushmann Khurrana joins CoinDCX as Brand Ambassador
- Ayushmann Khurrana has been roped in as the brand ambassador of the cryptocurrency exchange platform CoinDCX to promote its ‘Future Yahi Hai’ campaign.
Under the campaign, Ayushmann Khurrana will address major questions and doubts and myths related to crypto investments from the perspective of young India.
Imtiaz Ali appointed as Ambassador of Russian Film Festival in India
- The renowned film director, producer, and writer, Imtiaz Ali has been roped in as the ambassador of the Russian Film Festival in India.
- The first-ever online Russian Film Festival in India is organized by ROSKINO, a Russian film promotion body, from October 16 to November 27, 2021.
- As a part of the festival, ten notable Russian films of various genres will be premiered on Disney+ Hotstar for Indian audiences.
- The Russian Film Festival provides an effective platform to Russian government to promote domestic content abroad as well as will act as a ground for many future cinematic collaborations between the India and Russia.
Sahdev Yadav appointed as President of Indian Weightlifting Federation
- The Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWF) has appointed veteran sports administrator Sahdev Yadav as the President. He has been appointed for a period of four-year term.
- Other appointments include, Secretary general – Anand Gowde and Treasurer – Naresh Sharma.
- Besides this, 10 vice presidents, four joint secretaries and seven executive committee members were also elected.
Agreement
Kumar Mangalam Birla to invest in UAE’s digibank ‘Zand’
- Kumar Mangalam Birla, the Chairman of Aditya Birla Group, is set to invest in Zand, the first digital only independent bank in UAE.
- For this investment, Birla will partner with Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Managing Director of Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA).
- Initial investment is projected between $50-$100 million, which is expected to be made from Birla’s private family office.
- Birla is the first Indian to make an invest in the banking system of UAE.
Sports
Indonesia and China Lifts 2020 Thomas Cup and Uber Cup respectively
- This is the 14th Thomas Cup badminton title for Indonesia and the first since 2002.
- Japan and hosts Denmark shared the bronze.
- UBER Cup: Meanwhile in Uber Cup, China beat defending champions Japan 3-1, to clinch their 15th Uber Cup trophy. South Korea and Thailand shared bronze.
- Thomas Cup is the biennial international badminton championship contested by the men’s national teams of the member associations of Badminton World Federation (BWF) while Uber Cup is women’ team event.
- The 2020 Thomas & Uber Cup was the 31st edition of the Thomas Cup and the 28th edition of the Uber Cup.
Days
International Stuttering Awareness Day: 22 October
- Every year October 22 is observed as International Stuttering Awareness Day, since 1998.
- The day is intended to raise public awareness of the millions of people who have a speech disorder of stuttering or stammering.
- Theme 2021: “Speak the change you wish to see”
