Current Affairs 19th and 20th September 2021| Current Affairs News

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CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL NEWS

Ministry of Law and Justice unveiled “Ek Pahal” campaign for Justice Delivery at doorstep

• As the nation celebrates “Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav”, the Department of Justice launched the “Ek Pahal” drive across the country from 17th September till 2nd October to encourage mass registration under Tele-Law.
• The medium of Tele Law effectively provides pre-litigation advice / consultation to beneficiaries by Panel Lawyers through a huge network covering 51,434 Common Service Centres in 50,000 Gram Panchayats in 633 districts across 34 States and UTs.
• With registration login of 5480 beneficiaries this login drive registered 138% increase over daily average registration of beneficiaries. 
• More than 25000 banners in regional languages were displayed at CSC.
• A Pan-India Special Campaign for creating Legal Awareness was launched by NALSA through its country-wide organisational framework on 17th September 2021.
• The highlights of this campaign include deployment of 185 Mobile Vans and other vehicles to show-case films and documentaries on Access to Justice programme, holding of 4100 Legal Aid Clinics to give pre-litigation / legal advice to common citizens with the help of 37,000 Panel Lawyers and Para-Legal Volunteers besides holding awareness programmes at the village level on legal aid in 672 districts.

About NALSA:

• National Legal Services Authority of India was formed on 9 November 1995 under the authority of the Legal Services Authorities Act 1987.
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• The principal objective of NALSA is to provide free and competent legal services to the weaker sections of the society and to ensure that opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any citizen by reason of economic or other disabilities, and to organize Lok Adalats for amicable settlement of disputes.

MyGov introduces Planetarium Innovation Challenge for Indian start-ups and tech entrepreneurs

• MyGov India has launched the Planetarium Innovation Challenge for Indian start-ups and tech entrepreneurs.
• The challenge aims to bring together the tech firms and Start-ups (based out of India) with the potential to build indigenous planetariums system software using latest technologies including Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR) and Merged Reality (MR).
• Inspired by the Chandrayaan launches, Indian Space Research Organization conducted the ISRO Quiz Competition-2019 in collaboration with MyGov where several schools, parents and enthusiastic mentors made it memorable through their active participation.

About the challenge:

• Planetarium Innovation Challenge was launched by MyGov India last week.
• The Registration is open till 10th of October.
• The challenge invites applications from start-ups and tech entrepreneurs to develop state-of-the-art technology for our Planetariums.
• There is an opportunity for Planetariums in India to deploy new technologies (Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality and Merged Reality), especially for smaller cities and rural areas, all Made in India.
• The Innovation Challenge is open to experts from all domains of Planetarium Technology at https://innovateindia.mygov.in.
• The first winner, second winner and third winner under the contest will get the cash prizes of five lakh, three lakh and two lakh rupees respectively.

IIT Delhi researches develops device that can generate electricity through water droplets to power small electronic devices

• IIT Delhi researchers have designed and fabricated a device that can generate electricity from water drops, raindrops, water streams, and even from ocean waves using “Triboelectric Effect” and “Electrostatic Induction”. 
• The device is called “Liquid-solid Interface Triboelectric Nanogenerator”.
• The generated electricity can be stored in batteries for further use.
• The device has a very simple structure consisting of specially designed nanocomposite polymers and contact electrodes and can generate a few Milliwatt (mW) powers, which is sufficient to power small electronic devices like watches, digital thermometers, radio frequency transmitters, healthcare sensors, pedometers.
• When compared to conventional methods, such as the use of the piezoelectric effect, the present device can generate significantly more electricity.
• Prof. Neeraj Khare from the Department of Physics and his group at the Nanoscale Research Facility (NRF), IIT Delhi, have been working on harvesting electrical energy from to be wasted mechanical vibrations using the triboelectric effect.
• The group has filed an Indian patent on the various aspects of the use of ferroelectric polymer for harvesting mechanical energy including the present device

About Triboelectric effect:

• “Triboelectric effect is a known phenomenon for a long time, and in this effect, charges are generated when two surfaces are in friction.
• The best example is sparkling lights when we move the blankets/jackets.
• It is only lately that it has been extensively investigated as a practical alternative for energy harvesting”.

Centre forms GoM for better implementation of schemes meant for SC, ST, OBC, minorities, women

• The Centre has constituted a group of ministers (GoM) chaired by Rajnath Singh for better implementation of various welfare schemes meant for SC, ST, OBC, minorities and women, and the panel met for the first time.
• The development comes ahead of the assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh and some other states early next year.
• Education Minister and the BJP’s Uttar Pradesh in-charge Dharmendra Pradhan is a member of the GoM.

Committee members:

• Union ministers Ashwini Vaishnaw, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Arjun Munda, Kiren Rijiju and Virendra Kumar are also part of the panel.
• The broader objective of the GoM is to work for empowerment and prosperity of backward classes and minorities

Cabinet Approves government Guarantee of upto Rs 30600 Crore to back Security Receipts to be issued by NARCL

• The Cabinet had approved a government guarantee of up to Rs 30600 crore to back security receipts to be issued by National Asset Reconstruction Company (NARCL).
• NARCL proposes to acquire stressed assets of about Rs. 2 Lakh crore in phases within extant regulations of RBI.
•  It intends to acquire these through 15% Cash and 85% in Security Receipts (SRs).
• The following frequently asked questions explain various aspects regarding Central Government guarantee to back Security Receipts issued by National Asset Reconstruction Company Limited for acquiring of stressed loan assets.
• Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), strengthening of Securitization and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Securities Interest (SARFAESI Act) and Debt Recovery Tribunals, as well as setting up of dedicated Stressed Asset Management Verticals (SAMVs) in banks for large-value NPA accounts have brought sharper focus on recovery.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: INTERNATIONAL NEWS

WEF to host 5 day Davos annual meet in Jan 2022

• The World Economic Forum stated its next annual meeting will be held in the Swiss ski resort town of Davos in January 2022, making it the first major in-person congregation of the world leaders in almost two years since the deadliest pandemic hit the world.
• The WEF’s 2020 Davos annual meeting was the last such summit before the COVID-19 pandemic virtually shut down the entire world while the Geneva-based organisation for international public-private cooperation had to skip to skip its yearly congregation in 2021 due to safety and health concerns posed by the deadly virus that was first detected in China in December 2019 before it became a global pandemic by February-March period last year.
• The meeting will focus on accelerating stakeholder capitalism, harnessing the technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and ensuring a more inclusive future of work.
• The Annual Meeting 2022 will be the first global leadership event to set the agenda for a sustainable recovery.

About WEF:

• The World Economic Forum, based in Cologny, Geneva Canton, Switzerland, is an international NGO, founded on 24 January 1971 by Klaus Schwab.
• Headquarters: Cologny, Switzerland
• Founder: Klaus Schwab

CURRENT AFFAIRS: STATE NEWS

India’s 61st Software Technology park centre inaugurated in Nagaland

• Nagaland’s first and India’s 61st Software Technology Park of India (STPI) centre was inaugurated at the state capital by Union Minister of State (MoS) for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Electronics and IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar at the Directorate of Information Technology & Communication (DITC).
• Prabir Kumar Das, jurisdictional director of ATPI in Northeast and West Bengal, stated the state-of-the-art STPI centre, covering 18,137 sq ft, in Kohima is envisaging to host as a Centre of Entrepreneurship in IT Applications in Graphic Design, where start-ups, students and innovators can utilize the facility for research and development of new innovative solutions.

About Nagaland:

• Capital: Kohima
• Governor: Jagdish Mukhi
• Chief minister: Neiphiu Rio
• National Park: Ntangki National Park

Manipur’s Sirarakhong Chilli and Tamenglong Orange received GI tag

• Manipur Chief Minister, N. Biren Singh has announced that the famous Sirarakhong Chilli and Tamenglong Orange have now received the Geographical Index (GI) tag. 
• He made the announcement while speaking at the inaugural function of the Van Dhan Vikas Kendra (VDVK) Mela, 2021, organised by the State Forest Department at GM Hall.
• Prior to the inauguration of the fair, the Chief Minister also inaugurated a VDVK Outlet and Extension Centre at Forest Department Head Office, Sanjenthong, where products manufactured by different Vandhan Kendras of the State are showcased and sold.

About Manipur:          

• Capital: Imphal
• Governor: Najma Heptulla
• Chief minister: N. Biren Singh
• National Park: Keibul Lamjao National Park

‘Katley’ announced as state fish of Sikkim

• The Sikkim government has declared ‘Cooper Mahseer’ locally named ‘Katley’ as the state fish.
• The official stated the state government has declared Neolissochilus hexagonolepis commonly known as Copper Mahseer and locally named as ‘Katley’ as a state fish to highlight the importance of the fish and to give emphasis to its conservation measures.
• In Sikkim, Katley is found in varied altitudes covering entire state predominantly confined in Teesta and Rangit rivers and their tributaries.
• In the year 1992, ICAR-National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources (ICAR-NBFGR), Lucknow had categorized Katley fish as endangered species.
• Later on, in the year 2014 the fish was also categorized as endangered by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature)”.

About Sikkim:

• Capital: Gangtok
• Governor: Ganga Prasad
• Chief minister: Prem Singh Tamang

Najafgarh – Dhansa Bus Stand section inaugurated on the Grey Line of Delhi Metro 

• The Dhansa Bus Stand – Najafgarh section on Delhi Metro’s Grey Line was opened at with Union minister for housing and urban affairs Hardeep Singh Puri and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal inaugurating the stretch through video conference.
• The newly opened Dhansa Bus Stand station is an underground facility, and is an extension of the Dwarka-Najafgarh corridor, which is known as the Grey Line.
• Now, the line will have four stations — Dwarka, Nangli, Najafgarh and Dhansa Bus Stop.
• The stretch between Najafgarh and Dhansa Bus stand is only 1.2 kilometres long, but it is significant as it will provide the Metro link to at least 50 villages in that area.

About New Delhi:

• Chief minister: Arvind Kejriwal
• Lieutenant Governor: Anil Baijal

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BUSINESS NEWS

NPCI partners with Liquid Group 

• NPCI International Payments Limited, the NPCI’s international arm of National Payments Corporation of India, announced that it has partnered with Singapore-based Liquid Group to enable UPI QR-based payments acceptance in 10 North and Southeast Asian markets.
• The partnership between NIPL and Liquid Group will enable BHIM app users to make UPI QR-based payments at over 2 million merchants progressively across North Asia and Southeast Asia from early 2022.
• Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is an instant real-time payment (RTP) system, allowing users to transfer money on a real-time basis, across multiple bank accounts without revealing details of one’s bank account to the other party.
• UPI is amongst the most successful RTP systems globally, providing simplicity, safety, and security in person to person (P2P) and person to merchant (P2M) transactions.
• In 2020, UPI enabled commerce worth USD 457 Billion, which is equivalent to approximately 15% of India’s GDP.

About NPCI:

• The National Payments Corporation of India is the specialised division of Reserve Bank of India which is under the jurisdiction of Ministry of Finance, Government of India.
• It was created by RBI for operating retail payments and settlement systems in India.
• Headquarters: Mumbai

About Liquid Group:

• “Liquid Group is a fintech company specialising in digital payments, providing real-time cross border corporate payment solutions for B2B and B2C segments.
• It also operates XNAP network – growing to be the largest QR payment network in the world, currently with the strongest presence in Asia.”

IRCTC introduces an airport-style executive lounge at New Delhi railway station

• IRCTC has started a brand new executive lounge at the New Delhi Railway Station.
• The facility that has been set up on the first floor of platform number one of the station would be operational round the clock providing the passengers with recliners, entertainment rooms, massage chairs, multi-cuisine buffet, wash-n-change facilities, business centre and even massage chairs.
• People can avail the mentioned facilities, business centre and even massage chairs.
• People can avail the mentioned facilities at a nominal price of Rs 150 plus taxes for the first hour with an additional Rs 99 for every added hour.

About IRCTC:

• Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation is under the ownership of Indian Railways, Ministry of Railways, Government of India that provides services like ticketing, catering, and tourism services for the Indian Railways.
• Headquarters: New Delhi

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BANKING NEWS

World Bank Group Discontinues Doing Business Report  on country investment climates

• The World Bank Group has decided to discontinue publication of its Doing Business report on country investment climates following allegations of irregularities.
• The decision was taken after a probe of data irregularities allegedly due to pressure by some top bank officials to boost China’s ranking in 2017 came to light.
• Observing that the trust in the research of the World Bank Group is vital, it stated, World Bank Group research informs the actions of policymakers, helps countries make better-informed decisions, and allows stakeholders to measure economic and social improvements more accurately.
• As per the ”Doing Business” 2020 report, India had jumped 14 places to the 63rd position on the ease of doing business ranking.
• India has improved its rank by 79 positions in five years (2014-19).

About World Bank:

• The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans and grants to the governments of low- and middle-income countries for the purpose of pursuing capital projects.
• Headquarters: Washington, D.C., United States
• President: David Malpass

CURRENT AFFAIRS: APPOINTMENT AND RESIGNATION NEWS          

Fino Payments Bank appointed Pankaj Tripathi as brand ambassador

• Fino Payments Bank Limited (FPBL), a fintech for emerging Indian customers will now work with actor Pankaj Tripathi as its brand ambassador.
• During the two-year engagement effective 1st September 2021, Pankaj Tripathi will be the face of Fino Payments Bank’s marketing campaigns across various platforms.
• He will work with the brand in promoting its products and services representing through Fino’s ever-present and friendly neighbourhood local banker.
• Pankaj Tripathi will be the face of Fino’s first ‘Fikar Not’ campaign conceptualised to allay the fears, especially confidence issues associated with the banking process.
• Fino believes its customers should not have any ‘Fikar’ or worry when doing banking.

About Fino Payment Bank:

• Fino Payments Bank is the Digital Banking Partner for millions of hardworking Indians.
• Present in 94% of India’s districts with over 6.41L banking outlets, 54 Bank Branches and 143 Customer Service Points.
• Financial Inclusion Network and Operations (FINO), based in the financial capital of India, is an integrated technology platform and delivery channel, enabling sourcing and servicing micro customers on a large scale.

Amarinder Singh resigns as chief minister of Punjab and Charanjit Singh Channi to be next chief minister of Punjab

• Captain Amarinder Singh forced to resign as the chief minister of Punjab following months of infighting between him and Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) chief Navjot Singh Sidhu.
• The final decision of the new chief minister was left to the party president Sonia Gandhi.
• Charanjit Singh Channi took oath as the chief minister of Punjab in a ceremony skipped by his predecessor Amarinder Singh but attended by Rahul Gandhi.
• Channi is likely to call on the sulking Captain after his oath-taking ceremony.
• The Captain, whose shock exit befuddled the top brass, has decided to skip the event even as the high command was keep to put up a show of strength after months of infighting between Singh and Navjot Singh Sidhu.
• Channi will be the first Dalit to hold the post in the state.
• Sukhjinder Randhawa, who was the frontrunner for the post just a few hours before Channi’s appointment, was given the post of deputy chief minister along with Brahm Mohindra.

About Punjab:

• Capital: Chandigarh
• Governor: V. P. Singh Badnore
• Chief minister: Captain Amarinder Singh
• National parks: Bir Moti Bagh National Park.

Raninder Singh re-elected as NRAI president for fourth time

• Raninder Singh was re-elected as the President of the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) the governing body for the sport of Shooting in India, in the General Body Elections held at the IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali.
• The General Body Election of the NRAI had representation from 59 of its members, of whom 56 voted in favour of the re-election of Raninder Singh while 3 votes were cast in favour of Shyam Singh Yadav.
• Kunwar Sultan Singh was elected unopposed as the secretary general of the national shooting body while Randeep Mann has been made the treasurer.
• Odisha MP Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo will continue to be the federation’s senior vice-president besides the eight VP.

About NRAI:

• The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) was founded in 1951 with a view to promote and popularize the shooting sports in India.
• The first speaker of Lok Sabha, Sh. G.V. Mavlankar was the founder and the first president of NRAI followed by Sh. Govind Vallabh Pant, Sh. Lal Bahadur Shastri, Sh. Y. B. Chauhan, Sh. G.S. Dhillon, Sh. Joginder Singh, and so on and so forth. Presently the president of NRAI is Sh. Raninder Singh, a very keen and skilled shooter from Patiala Royal Family.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: AWARDS AND HONOURS

Telangana government’s digital media chief won Chanakya Award for the second time

• Dileep Kontham, Director of Digital Media in the Telangana Government, won the Public Relations Council of India (PRCI)’s Chanakya Award for the Year 2021 at the PRCI Global Communications Conclave held in Goa.
• The PRCI Award recognizes individuals, businesses and other institutions that have made outstanding contributions in the field of public relations, in their designated areas.
• Kontham received the award from Goa Minister Pramod Sawant for his exceptional work as part of the digital media wing of the Telangana government.
• It should be noted that he also won the PRCI award for the year 2020 when the Prime Minister of Karnataka presented the award to Mr Dileep in March 2020.

About Telangana:

• Capital: Hyderabad
• Governor: Tamilisai Soundararajan
• Chief minister: K. Chandrashekar Rao
• National parks: Kasu Brahmananda Reddy National Park, Mahavir Harina Vanasthali National Park and Mrugavani National Park

NTPC won six awards at PRCI conclave       

• The National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), Ramagundam, bagged six awards in various categories at the 15th Annual Global Communication Conclave, organised by the Public Relations Council of India (PRCI) in Goa.
• The awards were presented by Goa Arts and Culture Minister Dr Govind Gaude, in the presence of NTPC’s Executive Director (HR) MSD Bhatta Mishra, PRCI chairman emeritus & chief mentor MB Jayaram and PRCI national president Dr T Vinay Kumar.

About NTPC:

• NTPC Limited, formerly known as National Thermal Power Corporation Limited, is an Indian statutory corporation.
• It engaged in generation of electricity and allied activities.
• It is a statutory corporation incorporated under the Companies Act 1956 and is under the jurisdiction of Ministry of Power, Government of India.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : APPS & SERVICES

LIC launches mobile app ‘Pragati

• On Sep 17, 2021, Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) launched a new mobile app ”PRAGATI” for its Development Officers.

About ”PRAGATI” :

• ”PRAGATI” – Performance Review Application, Growth And Trend Indicator.
• Pragati’ is a comprehensive mobile application which gives various information which are updated in near real-time about the performance of their agency force in critical areas of business performance like Premium collection, agency activation, prospective MDRT / centurion agents etc.apart from monitoring their team on activities such as usage of agents mobile apps and NACH validations.
• There is also a calculator to measure their cost ratio.

About LIC :

• LIC is an Indian statutory insurance and investment corporation.
• It is under the ownership of the Ministry of Finance ,Government of India .
• Chairperson: M R Kumar
• Managing Directors : Mukesh Gupta, Smt. Ipe Mini, Siddharth Mohanty, Rajkumar
• Headquarters: Mumbai
• Founded: 1 September 1956

CURRENT AFFAIRS : BOOKS & AUTHORS

Rajnath Singh launches Shining Sikh Youth of India’

• On Sep 17, 2021, To commemorate 400th birth anniversary of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur the ninth Guru of Sikhs the Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh & and Hardeep Singh Puri Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister of India  jointly released a book titled ‘Shining Sikh Youth of India.
• The book has been authored by Dr Prabhleen Singh, administrative officer at the Punjabi University, Patiala.

About the Book :

• The book covers 100 inspirational and motivational success stories of Sikh youth in India who have done exemplary work in their respective fields.
• It carries the inspiring life stories and messages for today’s youth from these icons inspiring upcoming generations towards the prosperous line.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : SPORTS NEWS

Pankaj Advani Wins Asian Snooker Championship Title 2021

• Pankaj Advani of India won the Asian Snooker Championship 2021 by defeating Amir Sarkhosh in Doha, Qatar.
• He won in the best of 11 frames final.
• He has won this title for a second consecutive time.
• Yasin Merchant (1989, 2001), Alok Kumar (2004), Aditya Mehta (2012) were the other Indians who won the championship.

About Pankaj Advani :

• Pankaj Advani was born in Pune, Maharashtra, India.
• He is a 23 time world champion & he has won the IBSF World Billiards Championship 15 – times, the World Team Billiards Championship 1 – time, the IBSF World Snooker Championship (15 Reds) 3 – times, (6 Reds) 2 – times, the IBSF World Team Cup 1 – time and the IBSF World Team Championship – 1 time.
• In 2019, Pankaj also became the only player who won the titles in all forms of billiards, snooker, 6Reds, and 10 Reds competitions.
• He is the winner of the last Asian Snooker Championship held in 2019.

Awards & Honours :

• Pankaj Advani received the Arjuna Award in 2004, also he was awarded Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna in 2006.
• He received Padma Shri in 2009 and Padma Bhushan, India’s third highest civilian honour, in 2018.

About ACBS Asian Snooker Championship :

• The ACBS Asian Snooker Championship is the premier non-professional snooker tournament in Asia.
• The event series is sanctioned by the Asian Confederation of Billiard Sports and started in 1984.

Punjab’s Harmilan Kaur Bains breaks 19-year-old record to win 1500m title : 60th National Athletics Championships

• On Sep 16, 2021, Harmilan Kaur Bains of Punjab has created a new national record in the women’s 1500m race by clocking 4:05.39 seconds to bag the gold in the women’s 1500m event, at the 60th National Open Athletics Championships in Warangal.
• The 20-year-old Harmilan erased the mark set by Sunita Rani (4:06.03) at the 2002 Asian Games & she also broke OP Jaisha’s meet record of 4:11.83 (2006).

CURRENT AFFAIRS : OBITUARIES

Algeria’s ex-president Abdelaziz Bouteflika Passes away

• Former Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika Passed away.
• He was 84.

About Abdelaziz Bouteflika :

• Bouteflika was born on 2 March 1937 in Oujda, Morocco.
• He was an Algerian politician who served as President of Algeria for almost 20 years, from 1999 to his resignation in 2019.
• After Algeria gained its independence from France, he served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs between 1963 until 1979.
• He served as President of the United Nations General Assembly during the 1974–1975 session.
• Bouteflika became president of Algeria in 1999 & he would win re-election in 2004, 2009, and 2014.

About Algeria :

• President: Abdelmadjid Tebboune
• Capital: Algiers
• Currency: Algerian dinar

Noted Odia litterateur & Former Editor Manorama Mohapatra passes away

• Noted Odia litterateur, social worker and journalist Manorama Mohapatra passed away.
• She was 87.

About Manorama Mohapatra :

• Born on June 10, 1934.
• Manorama is the daughter of renowned freedom fighter and former Editor of The Samaj, Dr Radhanath Rath. 
• She was Former Editor of Odia daily ‘The Samaja’.
• She was the head of the Odisha Sahitya Akademi in 1991.
• For her immense contribution to the field of literature, she was appointed as Secretary of Utkal Sahitya Samaj from 1982 to 1990 and as President of Orissa Sahitya Academy in 1991, the first woman to hold this post, till 1994.

Awards & Honours :

• Manorama Mohapatra won the Sahitya Academy Award in 1984, Soviet Nehru Award in 1988, Critic Circle of India Award in 1990, Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar Samman in 1991 and Rupambara Award in 1994.
• She was honoured by the Rama Devi University with the Honorary D.Lit Award in 2019.

Noted theoretical physicist and Padma Shri awardee Thanu Padmanabhan passes away

• On Sep 17, 2021, Noted theoretical physicist and recipient of Padma Shri, Professor Thanu Padmanabhan Passed away.
• He was 64.

About Thanu Padmanabhan :

• Born in Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) on March 10, 1957.
• He was professor at the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune, Maharashtra.
• He was ranked 24th amongst top scientists in the world by the Stanford University for his research in Theoretical Physics.
• He wrote over 300 papers in international journals and also authored several books.
• Padmanabhan had conducted research on gravitation, structure formation in the universe and quantum gravity.

Awards & Honours :

• The Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment had recently awarded Padmanabhan the ‘Kerala Sasthra Puraskaram‘, a lifetime achievement award.
• In 2007, he received Padma Shri Award.

Daily CA on Sep 18 :

• World Bamboo Day is celebrated every year on 18th September & the theme for 12th edition of WBD 2021 is ‘#PlantBamboo: It Is Time To Plant Bamboo’.
• “To build momentum around the urgent need to address the gender pay gap,” the United Nations observes the International Equal Pay Day on September 18 each year.
• World Water Monitoring Day was originally celebrated annually on September 18. & the theme is valuing water.
• The International Coastal Cleanup Day is traditionally held on the third Saturday in September & the Theme of 2021: “Keep trash in the bin and not in the ocean”.
• Vi (Vodafone-Idea) has partnered with the Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority and Celltick to launch the first cell broadcast-based Public Warning System to alert citizens on a real-time basis on disasters.
• The National Statistical Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation has conducted the latest survey on All India Debt & Investment Survey during the period January – December, 2019 as a part of 77th round of National Sample Survey (NSS).
• Agencies of the United Nations (UN) have called for a sweeping review of global support to farmers that are making the planet warmer and also keeping it away from attaining the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.
• Bulgarian President Rumen Radev has reappointed incumbent caretaker premier Stefan Yanev to lead an interim administration until a new government is formed, the official state gazette has shown.
• Byju’s and NITI Aayog have partnered together to provide free access to tech-driven learning programmes to children from India’s 112 aspirational districts.
• HSBC India has launched a digital proposition aimed at simplifying cross-border transactions.
• DBS has been named the world’s best bank by UK-based financial publication Euromoney, making it the fourth consecutive year it has gained the accolade from a financial publication.
• TAGG, a leading homegrown tech-driven lifestyle electronics brand, onboards the Vice-Captain of the Indian Cricket Team and the Captain of Mumbai Indians, Rohit Sharma as a TAGGSTER (Brand Ambassador) to help steer the brand to new heights in the audio and wearable industry.
• Amit Saxena, Global Deputy CTO of State Bank of India joins RBI Innovation Hub as the CTO.
• Alka Nangia Arora, IDAS (91) assumed the additional charge of the post of Chairman cum Managing Director (CMD), The National Small Industries Corporation Ltd. (NSIC) on 14th September, 2021.
• British human rights lawyer Amal Clooney was named as one of 17 special advisers to the new chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court.
• QCI launched the Prof. S.K. Joshi Laboratory Excellence Award virtually amidst eminent dignitaries from Government & Industry.
• President Kovind conferred National Florence Nightingale awards to nursing personnel
• On September 17, 2021, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, addressed the 21st Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), in hybrid format in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
• The 15th Edition of Indo-Nepal joint military training ‘Exercise Surya Kiran‘ is commencing from September 20 at Pithoragarh in Uttarakhand.
• SpaceX’s first private flight has been launched 4 Amateurs On Private Earth-Circling Trip at Kennedy Space Center, in Cape Canaveral, in Florida.
• Former Gabonese Prime Minister Casimir Oye Mba Passed away.

Daily CA on Sep 19 and 20 :

• As the nation celebrates “Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav”, the Department of Justice launched the “Ek Pahal” drive across the country from 17th September till 2nd October to encourage mass registration under Tele-Law.
• MyGov India has launched the Planetarium Innovation Challenge for Indian start-ups and tech entrepreneurs.
• IIT Delhi researchers have designed and fabricated a device that can generate electricity from water drops, raindrops, water streams, and even from ocean waves using “Triboelectric Effect” and “Electrostatic Induction”. 
• The Centre has constituted a group of ministers (GoM) chaired by Rajnath Singh for better implementation of various welfare schemes meant for SC, ST, OBC, minorities and women, and the panel met for the first time.
• The Cabinet had approved a government guarantee of up to Rs 30600 crore to back security receipts to be issued by National Asset Reconstruction Company (NARCL).
• The World Economic Forum stated its next annual meeting will be held in the Swiss ski resort town of Davos in January 2022, making it the first major in-person congregation of the world leaders in almost two years since the deadliest pandemic hit the world.
• Nagaland’s first and India’s 61st Software Technology Park of India (STPI) centre was inaugurated at the state capital by Union Minister of State (MoS) for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Electronics and IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar at the Directorate of Information Technology & Communication (DITC).
• Manipur Chief Minister, N. Biren Singh has announced that the famous Sirarakhong Chilli and Tamenglong Orange have now received the Geographical Index (GI) tag. 
• The Sikkim government has declared ‘Cooper Mahseer’ locally named ‘Katley’ as the state fish.
• The Dhansa Bus Stand – Najafgarh section on Delhi Metro’s Grey Line was opened at with Union minister for housing and urban affairs Hardeep Singh Puri and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal inaugurating the stretch through video conference.
• NPCI International Payments Limited, the NPCI’s international arm of National Payments Corporation of India, announced that it has partnered with Singapore-based Liquid Group to enable UPI QR-based payments acceptance in 10 North and Southeast Asian markets.
• IRCTC has started a brand new executive lounge at the New Delhi Railway Station.
• The World Bank Group has decided to discontinue publication of its Doing Business report on country investment climates following allegations of irregularities.
• Fino Payments Bank Limited (FPBL), a fintech for emerging Indian customers will now work with actor Pankaj Tripathi as its brand ambassador.
• Captain Amarinder Singh forced to resign as the chief minister of Punjab following months of infighting between him and Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) chief Navjot Singh Sidhu.
• Raninder Singh was re-elected as the President of the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) the governing body for the sport of Shooting in India, in the General Body Elections held at the IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali.
• Dileep Kontham, Director of Digital Media in the Telangana Government, won the Public Relations Council of India (PRCI)’s Chanakya Award for the Year 2021 at the PRCI Global Communications Conclave held in Goa.
• The National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), Ramagundam, bagged six awards in various categories at the 15th Annual Global Communication Conclave, organised by the Public Relations Council of India (PRCI) in Goa.
• On Sep 17, 2021, Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) launched a new mobile app ”PRAGATI” for its Development Officers.
• On Sep 17, 2021, To commemorate 400th birth anniversary of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur the ninth Guru of Sikhs the Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh & and Hardeep Singh Puri Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister of India  jointly released a book titled ‘Shining Sikh Youth of India.
• Pankaj Advani of India won the Asian Snooker Championship 2021 by defeating Amir Sarkhosh in Doha, Qatar.
• On Sep 16, 2021, Harmilan Kaur Bains of Punjab has created a new national record in the women’s 1500m race by clocking 4:05.39 seconds to bag the gold in the women’s 1500m event, at the 60th National Open Athletics Championships in Warangal.
• Former Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika Passed away.
• Noted Odia litterateur, social worker and journalist Manorama Mohapatra passed away.
• On Sep 17, 2021, Noted theoretical physicist and recipient of Padma Shri, Professor Thanu Padmanabhan Passed away.