Daily Current Affairs- 20 October

Author : Palak Khanna

Updated On : October 20, 2022

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Today's Current Affairs - 20th October 2022

NATIONAL

PM Modi lays foundation stone of new strategic air base in Gujarat's Deesa

  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for Indian Air Force (IAF)’s new airbase at Deesa in Banaskantha district of Gujarat and described it as an effective center of India’s security. He said the Deesa air base, mere 130 kilometers from the Indo-Pak border, will be able to give a better response to any threat coming from the western side.
  • Although the land for Deesa airbase was allotted an in-principle approval given to Indian Air Force (IAF) by the Vajpayee government way back in 2000, the project was put on a back burner by the UPA government for the next 14 years. Although the project was revived when Narendra Modi took over as PM, it was the 2017 massive floods in Banaskantha that really kick-started the project.
  • It was then Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman who got the airbase approved by the government along with the ₹1,000 crore funding.
  • While PM Modi said the Deesa airbase will provide faster offensive capability to the IAF in this sector, the new airfield will also plug a crucial tactical gap between forward air bases at Naliya, Bhuj in Gujarat, and Phalodi in Rajasthan.
  • The Deesa air base will be the fire wall between enemy aircraft taking off from Mirpur Khas, Hyderabad, Shahbaz F-16 airbase in Jacobabad in Pakistan with Gujarat’s more than a trillion dollar industrial complex in and around Ahmedabad, Bhavnagar and Vadodara as target to economically hit India in the worst-case scenario. Deesa will also make Pakistani cities of Hyderabad, Karachi, and Sukkur vulnerable with its deep penetration strike aircraft.

 SPORTS

Sajan Bhanwal becomes first-ever Indian Greco-Roman wrestler to win medal at U-23 World Championship

  • Sajan Bhanwal became the first-ever Indian Greco-Roman wrestler to win a medal at the Under-23 World Championship defeating Ukraine’s Dmytro Vasetskyi in the 77 kg bronze medal play-off at Pontevedra, Spain.
  • The bout ended at 10-10 but since the Indian had scored the last point he was declared the winner on criteria.
  • Six Greco-Roman wrestlers are participating in the championship along with two women and one free-style wrestler.

 SCIENCE & TEHNOLOGY

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi unveils indigenous trainer aircraft HTT-40, designed & developed by HAL, during DefExpo 2022

  • Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi unveiled HTT-40, an indigenous trainer aircraft designed and developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), at the India Pavilion during 12th DefExpo in Gandhinagar, Gujarat on October 19, 2022. Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh, Chief Minister of Gujarat Shri Bhupendrabhai Patel were among those present on the occasion. The aircraft has state-of-the-art contemporary systems and has been designed with pilot-friendly features. With over 60 per cent in-house parts and collaboration of private industry, it is a shining example of the vision of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’.
  • The HTT-40 would be used for basic flight training, aerobatics, instrument flying and close formation flights whereas its secondary roles would include navigation and night flying. It is a testament to the cutting-edge technology designed to meet primary training requirements of the Indian defence services.
  • Built around a meticulously-tested turbo-prop engine, the aircraft is equipped with the latest avionics, an air-conditioned cabin and ejection seats. It boasts of unique features like running change-over of pilots, hot-refuelling and short-turnaround time. All the tests required for certification were completed in record six years from the first flight.

 APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Pradeep Singh Kharola appointed CMD of India Trade Promotion Organization

  • Former Civil Aviation Secretary Pradeep Singh Kharola was named Chairman and Managing Director of India Trade Promotion Organization (ITPO) on Wednesday, according to a Personnel Ministry order.
  • Kharola, a Karnataka cadre Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer from the 1985 batch, retired as civil aviation secretary in September last year. In March of this year, he was appointed chairman of the National Recruitment Agency (NRA), which is responsible for conducting computer-based Common Eligibility Tests for government job recruitment.
  • The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has accepted Kharola's appointment as Chairman and Managing Director, ITPO, on a contract basis for two years from the date of assumption of charge of the post, it said.

Mallikarjun Kharge Elected As The New Congress President

  • Veteran Karnataka leader Mallikarjun Kharge defeated his rival Shashi Tharoor to become the first non-Gandhi Congress president in 24 years, and the first Scheduled Caste chief of the grand old organization in four decades. Kharge polled 7897 of the 9385 votes cast while Tharoor garnered a meagre 1072. Sources said 416 votes were invalid.
  • He is the first non-Gandhi to head the Congress in 24 years, after Sitaram Kesri was unceremoniously ousted in 1988 through a Congress Working Committee resolution that invited Sonia Gandhi to become the party chief. Sonia had become a primary member of the Congress only a year ago at the AICC Kolkata plenary in 1997.
  • Kharge is also the only Congress chief who has been leader of opposition in a state assembly (Karnataka); leader of the party in Lok Sabha and who is now the leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha.
  • This was the first election for the post of Congress president in 22 years and only the fifth major contest in the party’s 137 year history.

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Statistics Day 2022 : 20th October

  • World Statistics Day 2022 is celebrated annually on October 20th to recognize the importance of statistics in our daily lives. The United Nations Statistical Commission has been at the forefront of advocating for the use of statistics to track progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Good data and statistics are essential for effective planning, monitoring and evaluation of progress towards the SDGs.
  • The theme of Statistics Day, 2022 is “Data for Sustainable Development”. On this occasion, MoSPI also recognizes the outstanding contribution through high-quality research in the field of applied and theoretical statistics benefiting the official statistical system through awards instituted for this purpose.
  • The day celebrates the role of statistics and statisticians in improving the world we live in and marks the anniversary of the founding of the United Nations Statistical Commission in 1947.

World Osteoporosis Day 2022: 20th October

  • World osteoporosis day is a global healthcare event observed every year on 20 October. The day is observed to promote the early diagnosis of osteoporosis, its treatment and preventive tips for strong bones. The campaigns are mainly focused on encouraging people to take preventative measures for their bone health to avoid any risk of osteoporosis and associated complications in the future.
  • This year 2022, the World Osteoporosis Day theme is “Step Up For Bone Health”, intending to encourage people around the world to check for bone density and bone health status regularly (especially people above 50) and inculcate healthy lifestyle to strengthen the bone health. The theme “Step Up For Bone Health” appeals the global healthcare organizations and policymakers to create better opportunities and accessible facilities for everyone to avail of timely diagnosis and treatment to prevent torments of osteoporosis and its complications.

RANKING

Reliance Jio topples BSNL to become largest fixed-line service provider in August

  • Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Jio became the largest landline service provider in the country for the first time, in August. With 7.35 million landline connections as on August 31, Reliance Jio beat state-owned telecom operator and hitherto market leader BSNL’s 7.13 million connections, according to the latest data released by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai). Third-placed MTNL provided 2.6 million connections.
  • The development marks a watershed moment in India’s telecom history since fixed-line or landline connections formed the final segment where a state-owned operator was in the top spot. Reliance Jio had been looking to make inroads into the segment over the past few years and launched Jio Fibre in 2019, which included both landline and fibre-based broadband services.
  • Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) had earlier pointed out the declining number of landline connections in the country as a cause for concern since the same network is also used to deliver fixed-line broadband services. Largely dominated by BSNL and MTNL, the number of landline connections declined from 36.76 million in 2010 to 20.58 million in 2020.

BANKING AND ECONOMY

MoS Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar flags off first SemiconIndia FutureDesign Roadshow in Gandhinagar

  • Rajeev Chandrasekhar, state minister for electronics and IT for the Union, officially kicked off the first SemiconIndia FutureDesign roadshow in Gujarat. Speaking at the event, Chandrasekhar stated that the roadshows were organised with the intention of encouraging startups, next-generation innovators, and business titans to invest in semiconductor design.
  • As envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it will contribute to the development of a strong semiconductor ecosystem in the nation.
  • At the occasion, the minister also unveiled the ISRO-tested and approved NavIC Receiver Chipsets.
  • They are prepared for commercial market deployment.The government wants to get as many young Indians interested in and involved in the Semicon India trip by bringing the programme to every student and every campus.

CCI imposes Rs 392.36 cr fine on MakeMyTrip, Goibibo, OYO for anti-competitive conduct

  • The Competition Commission of India (CCI) on Wednesday imposed monetary penalties of Rs 223.48 crore on MakeMyTrip-Goibibo (MMT-Go) and Rs 168.88 crore on OYO (Oravel Stays Limited) for indulging in unfair business practices in the hotel segment.
  • The CCI, in a 131-page order, said that it has carried out an in-depth analysis for delineation of relevant market, laying special emphasis on such assessment in case of platform markets.
  • The fair-trade regulator said that after examining the parity obligation vide which MMT-Go was imposing wide price parity as well as room availability parity obligations on its hotel partners, it has found that the deep discounts and parity conditions together has created an ecosystem that reinforces MMT-Go’s dominant position in the relevant market.
  • It added that these conditions help MMT-Go to retain and further increase its network of users, who are increasingly dependent on the platform for availing of the best deals.
  • Secondly, it impedes the competitive process between OTAs by limiting the competitive levers/instruments at the disposal of other portals that, for instance, cannot get better prices from hotels by offering lower commission rates.  

Daily Current Affairs- 20 October

Author : Palak Khanna

October 20, 2022

SHARE

Today's Current Affairs - 20th October 2022

NATIONAL

PM Modi lays foundation stone of new strategic air base in Gujarat's Deesa

  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for Indian Air Force (IAF)’s new airbase at Deesa in Banaskantha district of Gujarat and described it as an effective center of India’s security. He said the Deesa air base, mere 130 kilometers from the Indo-Pak border, will be able to give a better response to any threat coming from the western side.
  • Although the land for Deesa airbase was allotted an in-principle approval given to Indian Air Force (IAF) by the Vajpayee government way back in 2000, the project was put on a back burner by the UPA government for the next 14 years. Although the project was revived when Narendra Modi took over as PM, it was the 2017 massive floods in Banaskantha that really kick-started the project.
  • It was then Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman who got the airbase approved by the government along with the ₹1,000 crore funding.
  • While PM Modi said the Deesa airbase will provide faster offensive capability to the IAF in this sector, the new airfield will also plug a crucial tactical gap between forward air bases at Naliya, Bhuj in Gujarat, and Phalodi in Rajasthan.
  • The Deesa air base will be the fire wall between enemy aircraft taking off from Mirpur Khas, Hyderabad, Shahbaz F-16 airbase in Jacobabad in Pakistan with Gujarat’s more than a trillion dollar industrial complex in and around Ahmedabad, Bhavnagar and Vadodara as target to economically hit India in the worst-case scenario. Deesa will also make Pakistani cities of Hyderabad, Karachi, and Sukkur vulnerable with its deep penetration strike aircraft.

 SPORTS

Sajan Bhanwal becomes first-ever Indian Greco-Roman wrestler to win medal at U-23 World Championship

  • Sajan Bhanwal became the first-ever Indian Greco-Roman wrestler to win a medal at the Under-23 World Championship defeating Ukraine’s Dmytro Vasetskyi in the 77 kg bronze medal play-off at Pontevedra, Spain.
  • The bout ended at 10-10 but since the Indian had scored the last point he was declared the winner on criteria.
  • Six Greco-Roman wrestlers are participating in the championship along with two women and one free-style wrestler.

 SCIENCE & TEHNOLOGY

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi unveils indigenous trainer aircraft HTT-40, designed & developed by HAL, during DefExpo 2022

  • Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi unveiled HTT-40, an indigenous trainer aircraft designed and developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), at the India Pavilion during 12th DefExpo in Gandhinagar, Gujarat on October 19, 2022. Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh, Chief Minister of Gujarat Shri Bhupendrabhai Patel were among those present on the occasion. The aircraft has state-of-the-art contemporary systems and has been designed with pilot-friendly features. With over 60 per cent in-house parts and collaboration of private industry, it is a shining example of the vision of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’.
  • The HTT-40 would be used for basic flight training, aerobatics, instrument flying and close formation flights whereas its secondary roles would include navigation and night flying. It is a testament to the cutting-edge technology designed to meet primary training requirements of the Indian defence services.
  • Built around a meticulously-tested turbo-prop engine, the aircraft is equipped with the latest avionics, an air-conditioned cabin and ejection seats. It boasts of unique features like running change-over of pilots, hot-refuelling and short-turnaround time. All the tests required for certification were completed in record six years from the first flight.

 APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Pradeep Singh Kharola appointed CMD of India Trade Promotion Organization

  • Former Civil Aviation Secretary Pradeep Singh Kharola was named Chairman and Managing Director of India Trade Promotion Organization (ITPO) on Wednesday, according to a Personnel Ministry order.
  • Kharola, a Karnataka cadre Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer from the 1985 batch, retired as civil aviation secretary in September last year. In March of this year, he was appointed chairman of the National Recruitment Agency (NRA), which is responsible for conducting computer-based Common Eligibility Tests for government job recruitment.
  • The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has accepted Kharola's appointment as Chairman and Managing Director, ITPO, on a contract basis for two years from the date of assumption of charge of the post, it said.

Mallikarjun Kharge Elected As The New Congress President

  • Veteran Karnataka leader Mallikarjun Kharge defeated his rival Shashi Tharoor to become the first non-Gandhi Congress president in 24 years, and the first Scheduled Caste chief of the grand old organization in four decades. Kharge polled 7897 of the 9385 votes cast while Tharoor garnered a meagre 1072. Sources said 416 votes were invalid.
  • He is the first non-Gandhi to head the Congress in 24 years, after Sitaram Kesri was unceremoniously ousted in 1988 through a Congress Working Committee resolution that invited Sonia Gandhi to become the party chief. Sonia had become a primary member of the Congress only a year ago at the AICC Kolkata plenary in 1997.
  • Kharge is also the only Congress chief who has been leader of opposition in a state assembly (Karnataka); leader of the party in Lok Sabha and who is now the leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha.
  • This was the first election for the post of Congress president in 22 years and only the fifth major contest in the party’s 137 year history.

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Statistics Day 2022 : 20th October

  • World Statistics Day 2022 is celebrated annually on October 20th to recognize the importance of statistics in our daily lives. The United Nations Statistical Commission has been at the forefront of advocating for the use of statistics to track progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Good data and statistics are essential for effective planning, monitoring and evaluation of progress towards the SDGs.
  • The theme of Statistics Day, 2022 is “Data for Sustainable Development”. On this occasion, MoSPI also recognizes the outstanding contribution through high-quality research in the field of applied and theoretical statistics benefiting the official statistical system through awards instituted for this purpose.
  • The day celebrates the role of statistics and statisticians in improving the world we live in and marks the anniversary of the founding of the United Nations Statistical Commission in 1947.

World Osteoporosis Day 2022: 20th October

  • World osteoporosis day is a global healthcare event observed every year on 20 October. The day is observed to promote the early diagnosis of osteoporosis, its treatment and preventive tips for strong bones. The campaigns are mainly focused on encouraging people to take preventative measures for their bone health to avoid any risk of osteoporosis and associated complications in the future.
  • This year 2022, the World Osteoporosis Day theme is “Step Up For Bone Health”, intending to encourage people around the world to check for bone density and bone health status regularly (especially people above 50) and inculcate healthy lifestyle to strengthen the bone health. The theme “Step Up For Bone Health” appeals the global healthcare organizations and policymakers to create better opportunities and accessible facilities for everyone to avail of timely diagnosis and treatment to prevent torments of osteoporosis and its complications.

RANKING

Reliance Jio topples BSNL to become largest fixed-line service provider in August

  • Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Jio became the largest landline service provider in the country for the first time, in August. With 7.35 million landline connections as on August 31, Reliance Jio beat state-owned telecom operator and hitherto market leader BSNL’s 7.13 million connections, according to the latest data released by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai). Third-placed MTNL provided 2.6 million connections.
  • The development marks a watershed moment in India’s telecom history since fixed-line or landline connections formed the final segment where a state-owned operator was in the top spot. Reliance Jio had been looking to make inroads into the segment over the past few years and launched Jio Fibre in 2019, which included both landline and fibre-based broadband services.
  • Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) had earlier pointed out the declining number of landline connections in the country as a cause for concern since the same network is also used to deliver fixed-line broadband services. Largely dominated by BSNL and MTNL, the number of landline connections declined from 36.76 million in 2010 to 20.58 million in 2020.

BANKING AND ECONOMY

MoS Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar flags off first SemiconIndia FutureDesign Roadshow in Gandhinagar

  • Rajeev Chandrasekhar, state minister for electronics and IT for the Union, officially kicked off the first SemiconIndia FutureDesign roadshow in Gujarat. Speaking at the event, Chandrasekhar stated that the roadshows were organised with the intention of encouraging startups, next-generation innovators, and business titans to invest in semiconductor design.
  • As envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it will contribute to the development of a strong semiconductor ecosystem in the nation.
  • At the occasion, the minister also unveiled the ISRO-tested and approved NavIC Receiver Chipsets.
  • They are prepared for commercial market deployment.The government wants to get as many young Indians interested in and involved in the Semicon India trip by bringing the programme to every student and every campus.

CCI imposes Rs 392.36 cr fine on MakeMyTrip, Goibibo, OYO for anti-competitive conduct

  • The Competition Commission of India (CCI) on Wednesday imposed monetary penalties of Rs 223.48 crore on MakeMyTrip-Goibibo (MMT-Go) and Rs 168.88 crore on OYO (Oravel Stays Limited) for indulging in unfair business practices in the hotel segment.
  • The CCI, in a 131-page order, said that it has carried out an in-depth analysis for delineation of relevant market, laying special emphasis on such assessment in case of platform markets.
  • The fair-trade regulator said that after examining the parity obligation vide which MMT-Go was imposing wide price parity as well as room availability parity obligations on its hotel partners, it has found that the deep discounts and parity conditions together has created an ecosystem that reinforces MMT-Go’s dominant position in the relevant market.
  • It added that these conditions help MMT-Go to retain and further increase its network of users, who are increasingly dependent on the platform for availing of the best deals.
  • Secondly, it impedes the competitive process between OTAs by limiting the competitive levers/instruments at the disposal of other portals that, for instance, cannot get better prices from hotels by offering lower commission rates.  

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