IMPORTANT DAYS

World Post Day observed on 9th October

 World Post Day is celebrated each year on October 9 globally. October 9 was chosen as it marks the
anniversary of the Universal Postal Union (UPU), which was created in 1874 in Switzerland.
 The first World Post Day was celebrated in 1969. The purpose of the day is to create awareness of the
role of the postal sector.
 The theme of 2021 World Post Day is ―Innovate to recover.‖

INDIAN AFFAIRS
Shipping Minister Sonowal launched 'MyPortApp' for digital monitoring of port operations
 Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal launched a port mobile
application called 'MyPortApp' in Kolkata. The App is aimed at promoting transparency and easy access to
port-related information.
 Targeted towards Port users for availing various Port services, the app includes all port details digitally
and monitors operations virtually. Union Minister also inaugurated a 1 Mega Watt solar plant in Haldia
port to produce renewable energy for port operations.

ITBP scaled 6,000-metre Height Mountain in Eastern as 'Norbu Wangdu Peak'

 The personnel of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and the Ladakh Police have scaled two unnamed
6,000-metre height mountains in Eastern Ladakh. The height of the peak is 6,250 meters.
 They have named one of them as 'Norbu Wangdu peak' - dedicating it to ITBP's mountaineer late Nurbu
Wangdus, who died during an avalanche in October 2019.

Union fishery minister launched nationwide River Ranching Programme

 The Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Parshottam Rupala, launched the River
Ranching Programme at Brijghat, Garh Mukteshwar in Uttar Pradesh.
 It was programmed to address increased fish catch, improved livelihood of fishers and to maintain the
cleanliness of the river. It has been introduced as special activity under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada
Yojana.

3rd India-UK Energy for Growth Partnership Ministerial Energy Dialogue held
 The 3rd India – UK Energy for Growth Partnership – Ministerial Energy Dialogue was held. It was co-
chaired by Union Minister for Power and New and Renewable Energy, RK Singh from the Indian side.
 The sides deliberated and agreed on a Forward Action Plan on power and clean transport, renewables,
green finance, and clean energy research as part of the roadmap 2030.

India & Denmark signed 4 MoUs, including agreements on groundwater resources, skill
development
 India and Denmark exchanged four agreements. The 1st MoU is for the mapping of groundwater
resources and aquifers. The 2nd MoU was signed on the Traditional Knowledge Digital Library Access
Agreement.
 The 3rd is for establishing a Centre of Excellence towards natural refrigerants for tropical climates with
potential applications. The 4th agreement was a Joint Letter of Intent.

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 INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
136 countries agreed to establish 15% minimum Corporate Tax Rate
 A group of 136 countries has signed a landmark global treaty to enforce a corporate tax rate of at least
15% for large multinationals. It was announced by Organization for Economic Cooperation and
Development (OECD).
 The deal marks a shift in tax policy because it not only imposes a minimum corporate tax rate, but it also
forces companies to pay taxes where they operate.

BANKING AND FINANCE

BharatPe launched ‘buy now, pay later’ platform, postpe
 Fintech Company BharatPe announced its entry into the ‗Buy Now Pay Later‘ category with the launch of
‗postpe‘. The new platform provides credit to customers to buy now, but pay later from anywhere.
 Customers using the postpe platform can download the app from Play Store and avail interest-free credit
limit of up to Rs 10 lakh. The company said that postpe is not only limited to big-ticket purchases but can
also be used for micro-purchases, making it the first of its kind.

BSE received in-principle approval from RBI for TReDS business

 BSE Technologies Private Limited (BSE Tech), wholly owned subsidiary of BSE has received an in-
principle approval from RBI for setting up and operating Trade Receivables Discounting System (TReDS)
under the Payments and Settlement Systems Act, 2007.
 TReDS is an electronic platform for facilitating the financing/discounting of trade receivables of Micro,
Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) through multiple financiers.

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

NMCG signed MoU with WASH to train officials in Urban Local Bodies
 National Mission of Clean Ganga (NMCG) has signed a MoU with Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Institute
(WASH Institute). It will conduct a series of trainings to enhance the quality of service of officials in Urban
Local Bodies (ULBs).
 The project will be funded by the US Agency for International Development and supported by The Bill
and Melinda Gates Foundation.

MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS

MetLife acquired stake in PNB Metlife to 47.32% in Rs 1,906 crore
 US-based insurer Metlife Inc. acquired the combined 15.27% stakes of I.G.E. (India) Private Limited
(IGE) and Elpro International Limited (Elpro) in the PNB MetLife India Insurance Company Ltd (PNB
MetLife) for about ₹1,906 crore cash.
 On concluding this deal, the cumulative shareholding of MetLife International Holdings would amount to
a totality of 47.32% making it the largest shareholder in the private life insurer.

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 APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATIONS
CoinSwitch Kuber appointed Ranveer Singh as Brand Ambassador
 Crypto platform CoinSwitch Kuber announced Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh as it‘s first-ever brand
ambassador. The move follows the start-up recent fundraises that catapulted the company into the
unicorn club earlier.
 Ranveer Singh will feature in three ad films for CoinSwitch Kuber‘s ongoing ‗Kuch Toh Badlega‘ campaign.
The move also marks the growing celebrity endorsements in the fairly new crypto currency market that
has attracted investor interest globally.

Senco Gold & Diamonds appointed Kiara Advani as Brand Ambassador

 Senco Gold & Diamonds has roped in Kiara Advani as its brand ambassador for its entire gold jewellery
range. She will feature in its new campaign „Now is the time‟ which is currently running across digital
and print media.
 In Sept 2021, the company had also launched an online gold transaction platform, DG Gold. Earlier, it had
signed Indian sprinter Dutee Chand as its brand ambassador.

RANKINGS
Mukesh Ambani joined Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk in Exclusive $100 Billion Club
 Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) Chairman Mukesh Ambani joined the world‘s most exclusive wealth club
with a fortune of at least $100 billion. As per the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Mukesh Ambani is now
worth $100.6 billion, after his wealth increased by $23.8 billion in 2021.
 Asia‘s richest person Mukesh Ambani has now entered the rarefied group of 11 men including Jeff Bezos,
Elon Musk, Warren Buffet, and Larry Page after the stock of his conglomerate reached a record high.

UNESCO launched 2021 State of the Education Report for India

 The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) launched its 2021 State
of the Education Report (SOER) for India: ―No Teacher, No Class‖. This publication is the annual flagship
report of UNESCO New Delhi and it is based on extensive research.
 This third edition of the State of Education Report focused on the theme of teachers, teaching and
teacher education. Access to the internet in schools is 19% all over India.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

NASA Perseverance rover sent first image from Mars rover show ancient river delta on Mars
 The NASA Perseverance rover has sent its first images of a 3.7-billion-year-old ancient river delta. The
discovery will help in guiding scientists in their search for evidence of ancient life.
 NASA's Perseverance rover landed in the Jezero crater in February, 2021. The images also reveal the
watery life cycle of the now dried-out lake at Jezero Crater. New species distantly related to
Tyrannosauru

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 AWARDS AND HONOURS
Telugu filmmaker B Gopal chosen for Satyajit Ray Award
 Telugu filmmaker Bejawada Gopal has been chosen for the fourth Satyajit Ray Award for his overall
contribution to Indian cinema. Instituted by the Satyajit Ray Film Society Kerala, the award comprises Rs
10,000 cash prize, a memento, and a plaque.
 Dada Saheb Phalke awardee, Adoor Gopalakrishnan, actress Madhabi Mukherjee, and producer Mohan G
were the earlier recipients of the honor.

SPORTS
Germany unveiled Euro 2024 championship logo
 Germany has unveiled the logo for soccer‘s 2024 European Championship during a ceremony with a light
show in the stadium that will hold the final. The logo features an outline of the Henri Delaunay Cup —
the bulbous tournament trophy, set on a coloured oval outline that resembles the Olympiastadion‘s roof.
 It features colours from the flags of UEFA‘s 55 member nations, set in 24 slices around the trophy to
represent the 24 teams that will ultimately qualify for the tournament in Germany.

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