Economy
NPCI launches NTS platform for Card Tokenisation
The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has announced the launch of the NPCI Tokenization system.
The NTS will support the tokenization of RuPay cards to further enhance the safety of customers and provide a seamless shopping experience.
NPCI is the specialized division of the Reserve Bank of India which works under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Finance.
Quick Facts: Northern goshawk is the state bird of Punjab.
Government Schemes
250mm Seer Water Water Supply Scheme launched in Kashmir
Union Minister Piyush Goyal has inaugurated a 250mm Seer Water Supply Scheme in Kashmir.
The project will benefit around 10,000 people and the competition of the project will be done under the ambit of Jal Jeevan Mission.
The Minister also inaugurated the Forest Department’s Deodar sapling plantation drive ‘Green JK Drive’ which will include the plantation of 1 lakh saplings.
International Affairs
Kung Fu Nuns win the UNESCO Martial Arts Education Prize 2021
The prestigious “Martial Arts Education Prize 2021” has been conferred to the world-renowned Kung Fu Nuns of the Drukpa order of Buddhism.
The Prize was given to them from the UNESCO International Centre for Martial Arts to honor their acts of service and championing of gender equality in the Himalayas.
The Kung Fu Nuns belong to the Drukpa Lineage of Indian Buddhism who serves others by means of their unimaginable acts of bravery.
Quick Facts: The Kung Fu Nuns belong to the Drukpa Kagyu lineage, a thousand-year-old sect led by the Gyalwang Drukpa.
Environment
IITM develops new Air Quality Early Warning System
The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) has developed a new Air Quality Early Warning System (AQWS) and Decision Support System (DSS).
DSS and AQWS systems were launched for better air-quality management in the Delhi-NCR region.
A dedicated website has been created to deliver quantitative information regarding the contribution of emissions from Delhi and adjoining regions.
Quick Facts: IITM is an autonomous institute in Pune working under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
International Affairs
Russia and India sign MoU to collaborate in mining and steel sector
India and Russia have signed an MoU in the mining and steel sector with a special focus on coking coal.
The MoU was signed between the Union Minister of Steel Ram Chandra Prasad and Russia’s Minister of Energy Nikolay Shulginov.
The signing of the deal is part of India’s National Steel Policy 2017 which aims to reach 300 million tonne steel production by 2030.
Quick Facts: The world’s coldest city Oymyakon is located in Russia.
Environment
WMO’s report suggest that Africa’s glaciers are to disappear soon
WMO and other agencies released its new report warning that Africa’s rare glaciers are going to disappear in the next two decades because of climate change.
The shrinking glaciers of Mount Kenya, Mount Kilimanjaro, and the Rwenzori Mountains in Uganda are the symbol of rapid and widespread changes to come.
By the year 2030, around 118 million extremely poor people will be exposed to floods, drought, and extreme heat in Africa.
Miscellaneous
Police Commemoration Day 2021 observed on 21st October
October 21 is celebrated as the Police Commemoration Day to pay tributes to all the police personnel who died in the line of duty.
Since 2012, the Police Commemoration Day parade is being held at the National Level at the Police Memorial in Delhi.
India’s first national police museum was inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi in Delhi.
Quick Facts: The Indian Police Services were formerly known as the Imperial Police.
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