current affairs 25 August 2021 (In English)

FM launches "Uberte Stars Fund" to support India's Future Export Champions.

• Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman launched an ambitious Rising Stars Fund -USF for export-oriented firms and startups at an event in Lucknow.
• India Exim Bank's Uberte Stars Program (USP) recognizes Indian companies
• That have the potential to become future champions in the domestic sector while meeting global demands.
• The objective of the fund is to arrange funds for promotion of micro, small and medium companies.
• The fund has been set up by Exim Bank and SIDBI.
• This scheme will be successful in Uttar Pradesh as the state has the largest number of MSMEs.

USAID, DFC join hands with Kotak to support women entrepreneurs and fund MSMEs in India.

• This agreement will help MSMEs to rebuild and scale their business which have been affected by COVID-19.
• USAID (United States Agency for International Development) and USDFC (U.S. International Development Finance Corporation) are sponsoring a US $50 million loan portfolio guarantee to Kotak Mahindra Bank (KMBL).
• This will help in providing credit to the end borrowers which in turn will lead to a sustainable and inclusive economic growth.
• DFC will provide a similar guarantee to the bank. This guarantee is financially sponsored by USAID.

Union Minister launched indigenous food products of Manipur.

• Union Minister of State for Food Processing Industries and Jal Shakti Prahlad Singh Patel launched 7 indigenous food products of Manipur in Imphal as a part of Make in India initiative.
• The indigenous food products are Black Rice Ladoo, Black Rice Fruit and Nut Cookies, Hot and Spicy Bhujia, Kabok (Puffed Rice) Mixture, Manipuri Cassava Barfi, Bamboo Shoot Muraba and Fig Ladoo.
• These products were developed under the Incubation Lab Project of Manipur Food Industries Corporation Limited (MFICL) in collaboration with TQS Global, Ghaziabad with a budget provision of Rs.10 lakh.

Karnataka govt constituted a high-level committee to identify 75 sportspersons for the Paris Olympics.

• A committee has been formed to identify 75 promising players from Karnataka for the Paris Olympics 2024.
• This includes former India hockey player VR Raghunath, swimming coach Nihar Amin and ace shuttler Anoop Sridhar.
• Govt will give 5 lakh rupees to each of the selected 75 players for training, supplements, sports kits etc.
• Sridhar and Raghunath, who are part of the committee, are Arjuna award winners, Ameen Dronacharya awardees.

Madhya Pradesh govt launched a massive talent search drive in the field of sports.

• State govt has decided to search and train new talented sportspersons in 18 sports academies of the state.
• Players of the state can register online in the Talent Search-2021 campaign.
• Talent Search 2021 campaign to spot and shine the sporting talent of the future.
• This campaign will be run in coordination with the Sports and Youth Welfare, School Education and Tribal Welfare Departments.