Current Affairs 2021

Mumbai-born Shailesh G Jejurikar, the newly appointed P&G global COO [31 Jul 2021]

Procter & Gamble has announced the appointment of Shailesh G Jejurikar as its global COO. This is the first time an Indian has been given the role at the US-based company, headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. 54 years old Jejurikar, whose appointment is effective from October 1, will report to Jon R. Moeller, the new CEO of P&G, in his new role. Moeller, currently, is Vice Chairman and Chief Operation Officer at the company.

Basavaraj Bommai takes oath as Chief Minister of Karnataka [28 Jul 2021]

Basavaraj Bommai took oath as the new Chief Minister of Karnataka. The 61-year-old leader was administered the oath of office and secrecy by Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot at the Raj Bhavan, Bangalore.

Tokyo Olympics 2020 - Mirabai Chanu wins silver medal in weightlifting [24 Jul 2021]

Mirabai Chanu wins India’s first medal at Tokyo Olympics 2020: When one of India’s greatest moments in weightlifting was being hoisted into reality by the legendary Karnam Malleswari, at the Sydney Games in 2000, the state of Manipur was laying the ground for their own moment in the sun, albeit 21 years later. A generational effort that culminated in Mirabai Saikom Chanu’s monstrous 202-kg combined lift for the Tokyo Olympics silver medal in the 49-kg weightlifting category.

India targets Rs. Rs. 100 billion Blue Economy [15 Jul 2021]

India aims to achieve the Rs.100 billion Blue Economy through its Deep Ocean Mission(DOM) and ocean resources in the coming years. According to Science and Technology Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh. Deep Ocean Mission will also have far-reaching benefits for the common man as it could help in providing clean drinking water and explore the avenues of desalination of water as well as extracting minerals from the ocean belt. Deep ocean Mission planned by the Ministry of Earth Science will be carried out in collaboration with the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). It will be a major step in the direction of integrating and bringing together the efforts of the different streams of science operating under different MInistries in the Government.

ISRO successfully tests Vikas engine for Gaganyaan mission [14 Jul 2021]

The Indian Space Research Organisation(ISRO) successfully conducted the third long-duration hot test of the liquid propellant Vikas engine for the Gaganyaan programme, the country's first manned mission to space.

NTPC to set up India’s single largest solar park at Rann of Kutch [13 Jul 2021]

NTPC Renewable Energy Ltd, a 100% subsidiary of NTPC, has received the go-ahead from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) to set up a 4750 MW renewable energy park at Rann of Kutch in Khavada, Gujarat. This will be India’s largest solar park to be built by the largest power producer in the country. NTPC Renewable Energy Ltd (NTPC REL), has been given the go-ahead by MNRE on 12th July 2021 under Mode 8 (Ultra Mega Renewable Energy Power Park) of the Solar Park Scheme. NTPC REL has plans to generate green hydrogen on a commercial scale from this park. As a part of its green energy portfolio augmentation, NTPC Ltd, India’s largest energy integrated company aims to build 60 GW Renewable Energy Capacity by 2032. Currently, the state-owned power major has an installed capacity of 66 GW across 70 power projects with an additional 18 GW under construction. Recently, NTPC has also commissioned India’s largest Floating Solar of 10 MW (ac) on the reservoir of Simhadri Thermal Power Plant, Andhra Pradesh. An additional 15 MW (ac) would be commissioned by August 2021. Further, a 100 MW Floating Solar Project on the reservoir of Ramagundam Thermal Power Plant, Telangana is in the advanced stage of implementation. Additionally, NTPC RE Ltd. has recently signed an MoU with UT, Ladakh, and Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) for the generation of green hydrogen and deployment on FCEV buses. The signing of the MoU was also marked with the inauguration of NTPC’s first solar installations in Leh in form of solar trees and a solar car port. 

Indian stem cell & developmental biologist part of WHO advisory committee on human genome editing [12 Jul 2021]

Indian stem cell and developmental biologist Prof. Maneesha S Inamdar has been part of the WHO Expert Advisory Committee on Developing Global Standards for Governance and Oversight of Human Genome Editing, which released two new companion reports providing the first global recommendations to help ensure that human genome editing is used for public health, with an emphasis on safety, effectiveness, and ethics. The reports, released on July 12, 2021, contained a forward-looking Governance Framework for oversight mechanisms for research into and potential application of human genome editing technology at institutional, national, regional, and international levels. Professor Maneesha S Inamdar, along with her group, is conducting research at the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bengaluru, an autonomous Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) that uses gene-editing tools to manipulate stem cells in vitro. This can generate disease models for scientific insight into human development and devising therapeutic strategies. She pioneered human embryonic stem cell derivation and use in India and has contributed significantly to national and international stem cell guidance documents, ethics committees, and training programs.

As part of the WHO Committee, she contributed scientific knowledge and perspective to provide guidance, expertise, and support throughout the project for the conceptualization and development of the WHO Governance Framework and Recommendations on Human Genome Editing. Representing the LMIC countries in Asia, she contributed with the Committee towards ensuring that in addition to scientific considerations, procedural and substantive values and principles such as inclusiveness, diversity, equity, and global health justice identified by the Committee, informed decisions. She is a member of the Education, Engagement, and Empowerment (3E) subgroup of the Committee, and as part of the committee, she was also involved in making recommendations to the Secretariat and WHO Director-General on global governance structures for human genome editing, considering the relevant broader issues associated with oversight and governance of emerging technologies.

Euro 2020: Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma named player of the tournament [12 Jul 2021]

Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma has been named Uefa's player of the tournament for Euro 2020. The 22-year-old, who is set to join Paris St-Germain from AC Milan, saved two penalties in the Azzurri's shootout win over England, which gave them a first European title since 1968.

Wimbledon 2021: Novak Djokovic beats Matteo Berrettini for 20th Grand Slam title [12 Jul 2021]

Novak Djokovic won his sixth Wimbledon title to equal Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal's record of 20 men's Grand Slam victories after fighting back to beat Italy's Matteo Berrettini. Top seed Djokovic has now won all three Grand Slam men's titles in 2021.

UEFA Euro 2020 Final: Italy crowned European champions after shootout win over England [12 Jul 2021]

Italy won the European Championship for the first time since 1968 as Gianluigi Donnarumma saved two England penalties en route to a 3-2 shootout win after the teams had fought out a 1-1 extra-time draw at a raucous Wembley.