PM Modi addressed Invest India conference in Canada virtually

• PM Modi virtually delivered the keynote address at the Invest India Conference in Canada which aims to showcase opportunities to the business community in Canada for investing in India in the agricultural, medical, educational and business front.
• The conference was attended by representatives from banks and insurance companies, investment funds, companies from various sectors like aviation, electronics and manufacturing, consulting firms, universities etc.

About Canada

• Capital - Ottawa
• Currency - Canadian dollar
• PM- Justin Trudeau

SWAMITVA Scheme → PM to distribute Property Cards for Rural Landowners

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to launch the physical distribution of property cards under the SVAMITVA (ownership) scheme

• The move will provide villagers a way to use property as a financial asset.
• The villagers could use their property for taking loans and other financial benefits.
• Beneficiaries - This launch will enable one lakh property holders to download their property cards using SMS link. SMS link would be sent on their mobile phones. Then, they would be given physical property cards by the respective state governments. These beneficiaries comes from 763 villages across six states. Out of these, 346 comes from Uttar Pradesh, 221 from Haryana, 100 from Maharashtra, 44 from Madhya Pradesh, 50 from Uttarakhand and 2 from Karnataka.
• Maharashtra's system - the beneficiaries from all states will receive the physical copies of their property cards within a day except for Maharashtra. In Maharashtra there is a system of recovering a nominal cost of property cards. So it will provide property card within a month after applying for it.

SWAMITVA Scheme to distribute property cards to rural landlords

About SWAMITVA Scheme

• The scheme was launched by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.
• It was launched on 24 April 2020 on the occasion of National Panchayati Raj Day.
• The objective of the scheme is to provide a record of rights of rural household owners in rural areas and issue of property cards.
• This scheme is being implemented across the country for a period of four years which is in a phased manner by 2020-2024.
• It aims to cover 6.62 lakh villages.

MCGM + Google → To mark the Containment Zones in Mumbai on Google Maps

• The Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai has collaborated with Google to mark Containment Zones in Mumbai on Google Maps.
• This will enable citizens to determine the safety of an area before travelling.
• The information to be provided on the platform will be provided by BMC.
• The Containment areas will be shaded in Gray on Google Maps.

About Maharashtra

• Capital - Mumbai
• Chief Minister - Uddhav Thackeray
• Governor - Bhagat Singh Koshyari

Bhuvan Bam named Myntra's First Digital Brand Ambassador

• YouTube sensation Bhuvan Bam has been named as Fashion e-commerce platform Myntra's First Digital Brand Ambassador.
• He has been appointed to strengthen Myntra's digital presence ahead of the festive season.
• The collaboration will create content to ensure that Myntra's features go beyond traditional forms of communication.

WEF Annual Meeting 2021 will take place in Lucerne-Burgenstock

• The World Economic Forum (WEF) has announced that it will hold its annual meeting in Lucerne-Burgenstock, Switzerland from May 18 to 21, 2021.
• The Annual Meeting 2021 will be preceded by high-level Davos Dialogues ".
• The Davos Dialogues will be digitally convened by the World Economic Forum around 25 January.
• Global leaders will share their views on the state of the world in 2021.
• The WEF has planned to held Annual Meeting 2022 in Davos.
• Annual Meeting 2021 The Annual Meeting in Lucerne-Burgenstock will be organized under the theme "The Great Reset". I will focus on the solutions that are required to address the world's most pressing challenges. In the meeting, global leaders would come together to formulate a common
• recovery path and ta prepare the Great Reset "after the COVID-19 era ends. The meeting also seeks to rebuild a cohesive and sustainable society.

About World Economic Forum (WEF)

• Founder & Executive Chairman - Klaus Schwab, HQ-Cologny

WTO upgraded its World Merchandise Trade Forecast at 9.2% in 2020 from 12.9%

• World Trade Organization (WTO) lowered its projection on the volume of world merchandise trade in 2020 to 9.2% as compared to 12.9% fall in April 2020. This is due to the strong trade performances in June-July, 2020 due to easing of lockdowns in many parts of the world.
• For 2021, WTO forecasts a 7.2% world trade increase, far below the April estimate of 21.3% growth (between 21% to 24%) and pre-pandemic level.

About World Trade Organization (WTO)

• Director-General - To be Appointed (Roberto Azevedo stepped down on 31 August 2020)
• HQ - Geneva, Switzerland
• Members - 164 Nations

NDB approved funds for Delhi-Meerut rapid rail and Mumbai metro

• The New Development Bank, which is also known as BRICS Bank, has approved infrastructure projects worth 741 million dollars in India.
• A loan of USD 500 million has been approved for the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) Project and a loan of USD 241 million has been approved for Mumbai Metro Rail II (Line 6) Project.

NDB approved funds for Delhi-Meerut rapid rail and Mumbai metro

About New Development Bank

• The NDB was established by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
• The NDB was formerly referred to as the BRICS Development Bank.
• HQ - Shanghai, China
• President - Marcos Prado Troyjo

Chetan Anand appointed as the Brand Ambassador of India's first Badminton Brand, Transform

• Chetan Anand, Indian Badminton player and Commonwealth Games medalist was appointed as the brand ambassador of Transform, India's first homegrown badminton brand which was actually launched on 7th October 2020
• Chetan Anand was signed as the face of Transform along with his academy in Hyderabad
• The racquets of Transform are made out of military grade graphite. These racquets have the best weight to strength ratio which is on par with the best racquets available in the market which are imported to India from overseas.
• The initiative of Transform is promoted by VICKY Sports. one of India's top 3 sports brands.
• Chetan Anand 40 years old Indian badminton player from Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh. He won his first Asian Satellite Tournament in 2001. He received the Arjuna Award in 2006 for his performance in CWG.

Veteran Marathi Actor and Producer Avinash Kharshikar passed away at 68

• Producer and Veteran Marathi Actor Avinash Kharshikar passed away due to heart attack
• Avinash Kharshikar started his career in Marathi film industry in 1978.
• He debuted in the movie Bandiwan Mi Ya Sansari and he is well known for his comic performances in the Marathi films, Tele serials and plays

Justice KK Usha first Woman Chief Justice of Kerala High Court from Bar passed away years

• Justice KK Usha, the former Chief Justice of Kerala High Court passed away
• She was the first woman to be directly elevated to the High Court bench from the bar and become Chief Justice.
• KK Usha became the Chief Justice of Kerala High Court in 2000 and served till 2001.

World Egg Day 2020 → October 9

• World Egg Day is observed annually on the 2nd Friday of October, in 2020 the day falls on October 9.
• The day aims to raise awareness of the benefits of eggs and their importance in human nutrition.
• The day was established by the International Egg Commission (IEC) in 1996 in a conference held at Vienna.

About International Egg Commission (IEC)

• Administration Office - United Kingdom
• Membership - Over 80 countries including India
• Chairman - Suresh Chitturi, India