Current Affairs Quiz 21st ans 22nd August 2021 : Daily GK Update Quiz

Exp. India’s highest herbal park inaugurated in Uttarakhand

India’s highest altitude herbal park situated at a height of 11,000 feet was inaugurated on 21st August at Mana village close to the Indo-China border in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district, officials said. Mana is the last Indian village in Chamoli bordering China and is adjacent to the famous Himalayan temple of Badrinath. The herbal park has around 40 species found in high altitude alpine areas in the Himalayan region.

Exp. Apple tops Hurun Global 500 Most Valuable Companies list 2021

Apple is the world’s most valuable company (USD 2,443 billion) according to the Hurun Global 500 Most Valuable Companies list 2021.

The world’s top six valuable companies remained unchanged as Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet, Facebook and Tencent. Globally, the US-led with 243 companies, up by one; followed by China 47, down by four, Japan was third with 30 and the UK was fourth with 24.

While India is ranked 9th with 12 companies. Reliance Industries (USD 188 billion) ranked at 57 is the top Indian company in the list.

Exp. Apple tops Hurun Global 500 Most Valuable Companies list 2021

Apple is the world’s most valuable company (USD 2,443 billion) according to the Hurun Global 500 Most Valuable Companies list 2021.

The world’s top six valuable companies remained unchanged as Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet, Facebook and Tencent. Globally, the US-led with 243 companies, up by one; followed by China 47, down by four, Japan was third with 30 and the UK was fourth with 24.

While India is ranked 9th with 12 companies. Reliance Industries (USD 188 billion) ranked at 57 is the top Indian company in the list.

Exp. The Reserve Bank of India introduced the financial inclusion index on August 17, 2021.

The Financial Inclusion Index will be used to capture the extent of financial inclusion in India. This index was part of the announcements made in first bi-monthly monetary policy of April 2021.

Financial Inclusion Index has been conceptualised as a comprehensive index comprising the details of banking, insurance, investments, postal and pension sector in consultation with government and sectoral regulators.

Exp. FM launched ‘Ubharte Sitaare Fund’

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to launch an ambitious ‘Ubharte Sitaare Fund’ on August 21, 2021. It will be launched for export-oriented firms and startups.

Ubharte Sitaare fund has been set up jointly by Exim Bank and SIDBI. This fund is a mix of structured support– financial as well as advisory services by investing in equity or equity like instruments; debt– both funded & non-funded and technical assistance such as advisory services, grants & soft loans; to the Indian companies.

About: It will identify Indian enterprises having potential advantages with respect to technology, products or processes along with export potential, but are currently underperforming or unable to use their potential to grow.

Exp. Kotak Mahindra Bank has launched a platform named ‘Neo Collections’, which is a Do It Yourself Digital Repayment Platform for missed loan repayments. Kotak Mahindra Bank has launched the Neo Collections platform in tie-up with Creditas Solutions.

The main objective of this DIY digital repayment platform is to make repayments for outstanding loans more convenient for customers.

Exp. Shanti Lal Jain has been appointed as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Indian Bank for a period of three years. He will replace Padmaja Chunduru as MD and CEO of Indian Bank. He is currently the Executive Director (ED) at the Bank of Baroda.

Indian Bank for a period of three years with effect from the date of assumption of office on or after September 1, 2021.

Exp. Chairman of 15th Finance Commission, NK Singh, has been elected as the new president of Institute of Economic Growth (IEG) Society. It is an autonomous, multidisciplinary centre that is used for advanced research and training.

He succeeded former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh who was the President of IEG since 1992. His name was recommended by Dr Manmohan Singh for the consideration of the IEG’s general assembly. Dr Manmohan Singh stepped down from this position for health concerns.

Exp. Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) signed an agreement for cooperation in remote sensing satellite data sharing, according to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

The pact inked on August 17 enables building a virtual constellation of specified remote sensing satellites of BRICS space agencies and their respective ground stations will receive the data.

Exp. 21 August: World Senior Citizen Day

World Senior Citizen Day is observed globally on August 21 every year. The day is celebrated to raise awareness about issues affecting older people, such as deterioration with age and the abuse of the elderly and support, honour and show appreciation to seniors and to recognize their achievements.

The Day was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly on December 14, 1990.

Exp. Indian Navy and Royal Australian Navy signed a ‘Joint Guidance for the Australia- India Navy to Navy Relationship’ document on August 18, 2021.

Joint Guidance will serve as a guideline document in order to showcase the determination of both the Navies in order to work together bilaterally or multilaterally.

The broad scope of the document focuses on developing mutual understanding, on cooperating for regional security, on collaborating in mutually beneficial activities and on developing interoperability.

Exp. India’s Amit Kumar bagged a silver medal when finished second in the men’s 10000 m race walk event of the World Athletics U20 Championships at Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi, Kenya on 21 Aug, with a time of 42 minutes 17:94 seconds.

Hosts Haristone Wanyonyi won a rare gold with a time of 42:10.84s and Paul McGrath took home bronze in 42:31.11s.

Exp. Malayalam actor Chithra, who has also acted in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Hindi films, passed away on 21 August. She suffered a cardiac arrest at her home in Chennai. She was 56.

Chithra was a known name in the south film industry. She acted in almost 100 films throughout her career and worked with the likes of Mohanlal and Prem Nazir in her debut film Attakalasham in 1983.

Exp. The Godfather of Sudoku, Japan’s Maki Kaji, passed away at the age of 69, due to bile duct cancer, on August 17, 2021.

He was the creator of popular numbers puzzle Sudoku. His work was spreading the joy of puzzles. He created the puzzle to be easy for children and others.

Exp. Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Kalyan Singh died on 21st August in Lucknow due to sepsis and multi-organ failure. He was 89.

Mr Singh was Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, India’s most populous state, twice — June 1991 to December 1992 and September 1997 to November 1999. He also served as Governor of Rajasthan between 2014 and 2019.

Exp. Headquarters: Shanghai, China

Formation: September 2006 (UNGA 61st session)