Current Affairs Updates: 21 January 2021

Newspaper The PDF UPSC:

🏮Current Affairs Updates: 21 January 2021🏮

📌Sikkim government has decided to set up a Film City Complex in the vicinity of the capital city of Gangtok

Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh was briefed about the proposed Film City in Sikkim by a team of senior officers of the State government of Sikkim. As per the proposal, Sikkim government has decided to set up a Film City Complex in the vicinity of the capital city of Gangtok. The Film City Complex envisages an acting school, different kinds of film sets as well as artificial sets, ramps for fashion events, miniplex cinema, amphitheatre, mobile theatre, concert halls, recreation park, editing studios, and sound studios.

📌Meghalaya celebrates its 49th Statehood day in Shillong

Meghalaya celebrated its 49th Statehood day today at U Soso Tham Auditorium, Shillong with an array of cultural programs in a subtle manner unlike yesteryears. The State gained its Statehood day on this very day in 1972 under the North Eastern Areas (Re-organisation) Act, 1971 along with Manipur and Tripura.

📌Karnataka tops in India Innovation Index-2020

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister Dr. C. N. Aswatha Narayana has expressed happiness over the top ranking received by Karnataka in the India Innovation Index-2020 released by Niti Aayog. He has said that the state could retain the top position despite the new indicators that were added as parameters.

📌Cabinet approves Rs 5,282 cr investment for Ratle Hydro Power Project in J&K

The Cabinet has given its approval for the investment of over 5200 crore rupees for 850 MW Ratle Hydro Electric (HE) Project located on river Chenab, in Kishtwar in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. This will be a new Joint Venture Company (JVC) of National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) and Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation Ltd (JKSPDC) with equity contribution of 51 per cent and 49 per cent respectively.

📌Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurates 1st small-scale LNG supply infrastructure of Shell Energy India at Gujarat

Union Minister for Petroleum, Natural Gas and Steel Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurated the first small-scale LNG supply infrastructure of Shell Energy India at its LNG terminal at Hazira in Gujarat. This will now augment Shell’s natural gas supply offerings in India to include supply of LNG via trucks. After virtual inauguration, Mr. Pradhan complimented Shell for their efforts in expanding the LNG infrastructure in the country.

📌Joe Biden's speechwriter is Indian-American Vinay Reddy from Telangana

Joe Biden, the new US President delivered his inaugural address laying out the agenda for his administration. Biden's speechwriting team who helped him shape the draft is led by an Indian-American, Vinay Reddy, who was a speechwriter for the Biden-Harris campaign and previously served as chief speechwriter when Biden was Vice President in Barack Obama's second term.

📌India sends 1 million doses of COVID vaccine to Nepal as gift under 'Vaccine Maitri' Initiative

India sent 1 million doses of a COVID vaccine to Nepal as a gift under the 'Vaccine Maitri' Initiative. Nepal health minister Hridayesh Tripathi said the vaccine gifted by India will be given to health workers and other front-line personnel within a week to 10 days.

📌India, EU hold their first maritime security dialogue in virtual format

India and the EU have held their first maritime security dialogue in a virtual format. The consultations involved exchanges on developments in maritime security environment, regional cooperation activities, developments of mutual interest and opportunities for cooperation between India and the EU. The EU-India Maritime Dialogue was chaired by Director Joanneke Balfoort on the European Union External Action Service side and Joint Secretary Sandeep Arya on the Indian side.

📌SEBI penalises HDFC Bank in BRH Wealth Kreators case

The Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has imposed a fine of Rs1 crore for invoking securities pledged by BRH Wealth Kreators in violation of the regulator's interim orders. SEBI said that the bank had extended loan facility to BRH and BRH commodities to the tune of ₹87.75 crore against shares, however, it invoked securities pledged to the extent of ₹158.68 crore without giving any notice to the clients. It has therefore asked HDFC bank to deposit an equivalent amount of ₹158.68 crore along with interest.

📌RBI imposes ₹2 crore penalty on Standard Chartered Bank

The Reserve Bank on Thursday imposed a penalty of ₹2 crore on Standard Chartered Bank–India for delays in reporting of frauds to it. The monetary penalty has been imposed on the bank for non-compliance with certain directions contained in the 'Reserve Bank of India (Frauds - Classification and Reporting by commercial banks and select FIs) Directions 2016'.

📌Coal Minister Pralhad Joshi presents Coal Minister's Award to 3 coal companies in function held in New Delhi

Coal Minister Pralhad Joshi presented Coal Minister's Award to three coal companies of Coal India Limited, Northern Coalfields Limited, Central Coalfields Limited and Western Coalfields Limited in a function held in New Delhi. The award has been instituted to promote best and sustainable practices for coal mining in the country. Mr Joshi also launched 'Project Passion'- the Enterprise Resource Planning of Coal India Limited which will help improve business performance and growth of the company with enhanced data integrity.