Current Affairs is the most important area in all competitive exams. But the difficulty level is very high. That’s why; many aspirants get confused, how to select Current Affairs for Preparation of Competitive Examination? In this Post, Daily Current Affairs 17 September 2021, we have tried to cover each and every point and also included all important facts from National/ International news that are useful for upcoming competitive examinations such as UPSC, SSC, Railway, State Govt. etc.
Cabinet approves 100% FDI under automatic route in Telecom Sector
The Union Cabinet approved 100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the telecom sector through the automatic route. The government also announced a host of reliefs for the telecom sector. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved a number of structural and process reforms in the Telecom sector on September 15, 2021, to provide relief to ailing telecom service providers, struggling with high levels of debt.
Some major reforms announced are as follows:
- Change in the definition of AGR: The definition of Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) has been changed and now all non-telecom revenue will be removed from AGR.
- Rationalised Spectrum Usage Charges: The monthly compounding of interest on spectrum usage charges is replaced by annual compounding and the interest rate will come down, based on the formula MCLR + 2%. Penalty on payment of licence fees, spectrum user charges and all kinds of charges have been completely scrapped.
- Four-year Moratorium on dues: Moratorium has been announced on statutory dues of the telecom sector for four years. It will be applicable from October 1, 2021
- Foreign Direct Investment (FDI): government has increased the FDI in the Telecom sector under the automatic route from 49% to 100%.
- Auction calendar fixed – Spectrum auctions will henceforth be held in the last quarter of every financial year.
Cabinet approves Rs 26,058 crore PLI Scheme for Automobile Industry and Drone Industry
The Union Cabinet approved a Rs 26,058 crore production linked incentive (PLI) scheme for auto, auto-components, and drone industry to enhance India’s manufacturing capabilities, Union Minister Anurag Thakur said on Wednesday.
From the total budget of Rs 26,058 crores, an amount of Rs 25,938 crores has been sanctioned for the automobile industry and Rs 120 crores for the drone industry.
The PLI scheme provides incentives to the industry for boosting domestic production and reduce dependence on imports.
NITI Aayog Launches Report on ‘Reforms in Urban Planning Capacity in India’
NITI Aayog has launched a report titled ‘Reforms in Urban Planning Capacity in India’ which presents measures to ramp up urban planning capacity in India.The report, titled ‘Reforms in Urban Planning Capacity in India’, was released by NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman Dr. Rajiv Kumar, CEO Shri Amitabh Kant and Special Secretary Dr K. RajeswaraRao.
The report was released on September 16, 2021, jointly by NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman Dr. Rajiv Kumar, CEO Shri Amitabh Kant, and Special Secretary Dr K. Rajeswara Rao. The report suggests that every city must aspire to become a ‘Healthy City for All’ by 2030. The report has also recommended a Central Sector Scheme named ‘500 Healthy Cities Programme’, for a period of 5 years. Under this priority cities and towns would be selected jointly by the states and local bodies.
Nitin Gadkari Reviews Progress of India Longest Delhi-Mumbai Expressway
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Thursday reviewed the progress of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway (DME), which is expected to halve the commute time between the national capital and the financial hub from nearly 24 hours to 12 hours. Shri Nitin Gadkari reviewed the progress of 1,380 kilometers long Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, being developed at a cost of Rs 98,000 crores.
The eight-lane Delhi-Mumbai Expressway will be covering the states of Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Delhi.
Once completed, the expressway will be the longest expressway in India and reduce the travel time between Delhi and Mumbai to about 12.5 hours. The project is planned to be completed by March 2023.
The Delhi-Mumbai Expressway is also the first in Asia and only the second in the world to feature animal overpasses, to facilitate unrestricted movement of wildlife.
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha launches Mission ‘One Gram Panchayat-One DIGI-Pay Sakhi’
In order to promote door-to-door digital banking and financial services in remote areas of Jammu and Kashmir, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday launched ‘One Gram Panchayat-One DIGI-Pay Sakhi’ in the union territory at a function here, an official spokesman said. The mission was launched at Jammu & Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development Institute, Pampore.
The DIGI-Pay aims to promote door-to-door digital banking and financial services in remote areas of the Union Territory. Initially, the facility will be provided in 2,000 remote villages of the UT.
The first phase will cover 80 women from Self Help Group (SHG) from across the Jammu and Kashmir division to promote financial inclusion within the UT’s SHG ecosystem and create financial access points with greater transparency even in the remotest of the areas.
Australia partners with UK and US to get its first nuclear-powered submarine
Australia is joining a new Indo-Pacific security partnership with the U.S. and U.K. that will allow it to acquire nuclear-powered submarines, sparking a rift with France at a time when the Biden administration is pushing allies to counter Chinese assertiveness. Australia, the UK, and the US have announced a new trilateral security partnership, with its first initiative to develop nuclear-powered submarines for Australia.
The new alliance called AUKUS (Australia, UK, US) aims to further strengthen the existing and strong security cooperation between the three members of the grouping, and deepen ties in the Indo-Pacific region. With the development of nuclear-powered submarines, Australia will join an elite group of only six countries (India, the US, the UK, France, Russia, and China) that currently operate nuclear-powered submarines.
Australia will also be only the second country to be given access to U.S. nuclear technology to build nuclear-powered submarines, after Britain in 1958.
Power Finance Corporation (PFC) issues India’s first-ever Euro Green Bond
Power Finance Corporation Ltd (PFC) has successfully issued its maiden Euro 300 million 7 year Euro Green Bond issuance on September 13. The pricing of 1.841 percent achieved is the lowest yield locked in by an Indian issuer in the Euro markets.
This Euro Green Bond is the first-ever Euro-denominated Green bond issuance from India. It is also the first-ever Euro issuance by an Indian NBFC.
Ministry of Defence constitutes High-Level Expert Committee for a comprehensive review of NCC; Chairman: Shri Baijayant Panda
Ministry of Defence has constituted a High-Level Expert Committee, under the chairmanship of former Member of Parliament Shri Baijayant Panda, for a comprehensive review of National Cadet Corps (NCC) in order to make it more relevant in changed times. The Terms of Reference of the Committee, inter-alia, broadly provide for suggesting measures which can empower NCC cadets to contribute more effectively towards nation-building and national developmental efforts in various sectors; propose measures for gainful engagement of its Alumni for the betterment of the organization as a whole and to study/recommend best practices of similar international youth organizations for inclusion in the NCC curriculum.
The 15-member committee will also include Cricketer MS Dhoni and Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra as members.
Terms of Reference of the Committee
- Suggest measures to empower NCC cadets to contribute more effectively towards nation building
- Propose ways for gainful engagement of NCC Alumni for the betterment of the organization
- Recommend best practices of similar international youth organizations for inclusion in the NCC curriculum.
PM Narendra Modi features in Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People 2021 List
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Serum Institute of India CEO Adar Poonawalla have been named among the world’s 100 most influential people of 2021 by TIME magazine.
The List has named people in six categories- Icons, Pioneers, Artists, Leaders, Titans, and Innovators.
Apart from PM Modi, the list also includes West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Serum Institute of India CEO Adar Poonawalla.
Globally, US President Joe Biden, US Vice President Kamala Harris, former US President Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Duke and Duchess of Sussex Prince Harry and Meghan, and co-founder of the Taliban Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar have also found place in TIME magazine’s world’s 100 most influential people of 2021 list.
World Patient Safety Day : 17 September
For World Patient Safety Day, 17 September 2021, WHO urges all stakeholders to “Act now for safe and respectful childbirth!” with the theme “Safe maternal and newborn care”. Approximately 810 women die every day from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth. In addition, around 6700 newborns die every day, amounting to 47% of all under-5 deaths. Moreover, about 2 million babies are stillborn every year, with over 40% occurring during labour. Considering the significant burden of risks and harm women and newborns are exposed to due to unsafe care, compounded by the disruption of essential health services caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the campaign is even more important this year.
The World Health Organization (WHO) observed the first WPSD in 2019. It was adopted at the 72nd World Health Assembly on 25 May 2019. The theme for 2021 WPSD is ‘Safe maternal and newborn care’.
PM Modi launches Sansad TV along with LS Speaker Om Birla
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rajya Sabha chairperson M Venkaiah Naidu and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla jointly launched Sansad TV on Wednesday. which has been created by merging Lok Sabha TV and Rajya Sabha TV, jointly with Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.
Sansad TV programming will touch upon the functioning of the Parliament and democratic institutions, governance and implementation of schemes and policies, history and culture of India and issues of interest to the common man. The new channel adds another important chapter in the country’s parliamentary system.
Kushinagar Airport declared as Customs Notified Airport
The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) notification no. 72/2021- Customs (N.T.) dated 13.09.2021, has declared Kushinagar Airport as a Customs notified airport. This would also facilitate international passenger movements including that of Buddhist pilgrims.
About the airport:
- The Kushinagar airport is an international airport spread across an area of 600 acres.
- It had been granted the licence to operate international flights by DGCA last February.
- In August, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) extended the validity of the airport’s licence to operate international flights till February 21, 2023. The licence was due to expire on August 21, 2021.
3-day Indian Army Chief’s Conclave in Delhi begins
The 8th edition of the Indian Army Chief’s Conclave, a gathering of serving and former Chiefs of Army Staff of the Indian Army, organised at New Delhi from September 16-18. A three-day conclave of the Indian Army Chief will begin from September 16 in New Delhi, the Defence Ministry informed.
“The 8th edition of Army Chief’s Conclave will be marked by serving and former Chiefs of Army Staff,” it said.
About the conclave:
- The Conclave is a forum for the exchange of ideas between the old guard and the current leadership of the Indian Army. It will involve discussions on the rapid transformation of the Indian Army, self-reliance through Atmanirbhar and Make in India initiatives in defence manufacturing and skilling of the Indian soldier to fight modern wars.
- The former Army Chiefs will pay homage to the fallen brave hearts during a wreath-laying ceremony at the National War Memorial.
- The Chiefs will also interact with members of the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers where they will be apprised of the institutional symbiosis between the Indian Army and indigenous private defence manufacturers.
- The Chiefs are also scheduled to meet the prodigious soldiers who earned laurels for the Nation in the recently concluded Olympic Games at Tokyo.
Ford becomes the latest US car manufacturer to exit India
Ford Motor Co. will stop making cars in India and record roughly $2 billion in restructuring charges, scaling back significantly in a country that past management saw becoming one of its three biggest markets. Ford will wind down an assembly plant in Gujarat by the fourth quarter, as well as vehicle and engine manufacturing plants in Chennai by the second quarter of next year.
US car giant Ford is to stop making cars in India and shut down both of its plants in the country, according to a company statement.
Ford said it would close the plants in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu states by the second quarter of 2022 but it would continue to make car engines for export.
Ford Motor Company has announced that it would stop producing cars in India as the global auto industry continues to grapple with a shortfall in semiconductors and other components due to supply chain disruptions. Other US companies that stopped operation in India are Ford’s American rival General Motors (GM) and the American motorcycle company Harley-Davidson.
