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Important Current Affairs 22nd October 2020

INTERNATIONAL

Singapore becomes 1st country to use facial recognition to pay taxes

• Singapore became the World’s First Country to attach Facial verification in the National Identification Database. The function is called “SingPass Face Verification”. This technology is being rolled out to the city-state’s SingPass digital identity scheme, offering access to no less than 400 online services, including tax declarations and public housing applications.

• According to the Singapore authorities, the technology helps ensure that the right person is genuinely present in front of their screen, rather than a photograph, a video, a replayed recording or a deepfake.

NATIONAL

Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik launches ‘Mo Bidyut’ portal

• Odisha Chief Minister, Naveen Patnaik has launched the electricity consumer service portal ”Mo Bidyut” and a mobile app through video conference.

• The bilingual online electricity integrated consumer service portal www.mobidyut.com developed by the Energy Department and dedicated to the public under 5T (Teamwork, Transparency, Technology, Time leading to Transformation) initiative of the state government. Through this people will now be able to avail efficient, time-bound, and transparent online service delivery.

Uttar Pradesh emerges as top destination in 2019

• Uttar Pradesh has emerged as the top destination for attracting the highest number of domestic tourists visiting the state in 2019 as per the Indian Tourism Statistics (ITS) 2020, released by the Ministry of Tourism. About 53.6 crore domestic tourists visited Uttar Pradesh in 2019, which is 23.1% of the total travellers. Tamil Nadu (21.3%) came second followed by Andhra Pradesh (10.2%).

Tamil Top destination for attracting foreign travellers

1. In terms of Foreign tourists, Tamil Nadu has topped the list with nearly 68 lakh foreigners visiting the state in 2019.

2. Maharashtra (over 55 lakh) is at the second position in this list while Uttar Pradesh (over 47 lakh) has secured the third position in attracting foreign tourists visiting in 2019.

3. Goa came last on this list with over 9 lakh foreign tourist visits in 2019.

RPF launches ‘Meri Saheli’ initiative on AP Express

• Railway Protection Force (RPF), Visakhapatnam has started implementing ‘Meri Saheli’ initiative in AP Express (Visakhapatnam to New Delhi), in order to provide proactive security to women passengers.

• The main motto of ‘Meri Saheli’ is to provide safety and security to women passengers travelling in trains throughout their journey.

• A team of women Sub Inspectors and women constables of RPF will enter all coaches including ladies coaches and identify women passengers, who are travelling alone before the departure of the train.

• These passengers will be briefed about all precautions to be taken during the journey and inform about help no. 182 apart from giving contact numbers of RPF to contact in case of any issue.

Nokia selected by NASA to build 4G LTE Mobile Network on the Moon

• Nokia has been selected by NASA to build the first cellular network on the moon. NASA aims to return humans to the moon by 2024 and dig in for a long-term presence there under its Artemis programme. The first wireless broadband communications system in space would be built on the lunar surface in late 2022.

• The network will configure itself and establish a 4G/LTE communications system on the moon, Nokia said, though the aim would be to eventually switch to 5G. It will partner with a Texas-based private spacecraft design company, Intuitive Machines, to deliver the equipment to the moon on their lunar lander.

• The network will give astronauts voice and video communications capabilities, and allow telemetry and biometric data exchange, as well as the deployment and remote control of lunar rovers and other robotic devices.

• The network will be designed to withstand the extreme conditions of the launch and lunar landing and to operate in space. It will have to be sent to the moon in an extremely compact form to meet the stringent size, weight and power constraints of space payloads.

Narendra Singh Tomar launches AYUSHMAN SAHAKAR scheme

• Union Agriculture Minister, Narendra Singh Tomar has launched “AYUSHMAN SAHAKAR”. The scheme is a unique way to assist cooperatives to play an important role in the creation of healthcare infrastructure in the country.

• AYUSHMAN SAHAKAR scheme has been formulated by the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC).

• The NCDC would extend term loans to prospective cooperatives to the tune of 10 thousand crores in the coming years.

• NCDC’s scheme will be a step towards strengthening farmers welfare activities by the Central Government.

• NCDC’s Ayushman Sahakar scheme aims at bringing transformation in the health services primarily in the rural areas.

• The scheme also provides working capital and margin money to meet the operational requirements of the health facilities. It provides interest subvention of one per cent to women majority cooperatives.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 IIT Kharagpur’s develops ‘COVIRAP’ Technology for C-19

• The researchers at IIT Kharagpur have developed ‘COVIRAP,’ the C-19 diagnostic test technology, which is fairly easy to conduct and affordable as well and can produce results within one hour. This COVIRAP technology has been successfully validated for its efficacy in C-19 detection by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and been granted certification, after rigorous testing with patient samples by an authorized ICMR laboratory.

• This testing technology is comparable to the celebrated RT-PCR tests, and will just cost the common people with a testing cost of around Rs 500.

• COVIRAP is a cuboid-shaped portable testing device that can deliver results in an hour, making it an effective tool to scale up coronavirus screening in peripheral and rural areas.

• This machine can be developed at a cost of less than Rs 10,000 with minimal infrastructural requirement making the technology affordable to common people. The testing process in this new machine is completed within one hour.

• This implies influenza, malaria, dengue, Japanese encephalitis, tuberculosis and many other infectious, as well as vector-borne diseases, can be tested using the same machine.

• This will virtually minimise the need for thermal cyclers or real-time PCR machines, without sacrificing the expected high standards of a molecular diagnostic test.

IMPORTANT DAYS

National Police Commemoration Day: 21 October

• In India, the National Police Commemoration Day is observed on 21st October every year. The day is marked to remember and honour the brave policemen who have laid down their lives in the line of duty.

• On 21 October 1959, twenty Indian soldiers were attacked by Chinese troops in Ladakh’s Hot Spring area, in which, ten Indian policemen lost their lives and seven were imprisoned. Since that day, 21 October has been observed as Police Commemoration Day in honour of the martyrs.

International Stuttering Awareness Day: 22 October

• International Stuttering Awareness Day is observed globally on 22nd October every year. The day is intended to raise public awareness of the millions of people who have a speech disorder of stuttering or stammering.

• This year’s theme is “Journey of Words – Resilience and Bouncing Back”.

• The International Stuttering Awareness Day, ISAD, (October 22) began in 1998, spear-headed by Michael Sugarman, Oakland, California. ISAD recognizes the growing alliance between SLPs and consumers, who are learning from each other and working together to share, give support, and educate one another and the general public on the impact that stuttering has on individuals’ lives. Online Conferences, organized by Judy Kuster, have been an integral part of International Stuttering Awareness Day since its inception.

SUMMITS AND MOU’S

India participates in 18th meeting of Prosecutors General of SCO

• The 18th meeting of Prosecutors General of SCO was held on 20 October 2020, via video conference. India was represented by the Solicitor General Tushar Mehta. During the meeting, all the prosecutors agreed to strengthen cooperation in preventing and combating corruption, mutual legal assistance and exchange of regulatory legal acts.

• India will host the SCO Prosecutors General Meeting in 2021. SCO is an important regional grouping which gives India an opportunity to engage its extended neighbourhood especially central Asian countries.

RANKING

India ranked 2nd in OECD International Migration Outlook report

• India has acquired the second rank in terms of the number of migrants going to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries and acquiring the citizenship of those countries. China retained its top spot with 4.3 lakh migrants, which was 1 per cent lower than the 2019 report.

• This is the 44th edition of the annual report. The data was released by the OECD in its 2020 edition of the annual International Migration Outlook report, which analyses the recent developments in migration movements and policies in its countries.

• From India, 3.3 lakh migrants moved, and this is 10 per cent more than the last edition. Romania emerged as the third-largest exporter of human capital to these countries. Paris-based OECD is an association of 37 developed countries which often attract immigrants for work opportunities, education and asylum.

BOOKS AND AUTHORS

NK Singh launches his autobiography ‘Portraits Of Power’

• Veteran Economist and bureaucrat N K (Nand Kishore) Singh has released his autobiography titled “Portraits of Power: Half a Century of Being at Ringside”.

• The book portrays the life of NK Singh who played an active role in the development of the Indian economy. He is currently serving as the Chairman of the 15th Finance Commission. The book is published by Rupa Publications India.

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Important Current Affairs 21st October 2020

NATIONAL

UP Governor launches “Safe City Project” for women's safety

• Uttar Pradesh (UP) Governor, Anandiben Patel has launched “Safe City Project” – a women’s safety campaign in Lucknow, UP. The Project is a 180-day-long campaign under which police and other departments will work towards strengthening the security of women in public places. The campaign will involve the movement of women police personnel to inculcate a feeling of pride and safety for women in Lucknow. The UP Governor flagged off 100 pink scooters and 10 four-wheeler police vehicles as part of the campaign. The vehicles are equipped with first-aid kits, flashlights and other facilities.

• It is a mission mode initiative of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). Its main aim of Safe City Project is to create a safe, secure and empowering environment for women in public places.

• Eight cities (Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad and Lucknow) have been identified for implementation of this project in the first phase.

• The projects will be financed under Nirbhaya Fund at a cost of INR 2919.55 Crores.

Nitin Gadkari laid the foundation stone of multi-modal logistic park in Assam

• The Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari virtually laid the foundation stone for the first-ever multi-modal logistic park of India, at Jogighopa, in Bongaigaon district of Assam.

• The logistic park will provide direct connectivity to air, road, rail and waterways to the people of Assam and other parts of North East.

• The fund for the multi-modal logistics park would be spent in three components – road and railway connectivity as well as building and infrastructure work. It will also give employment to 20 lakh people.

• The overall cost of this project is around Rs 693.97 Crore and is being developed under the Bharatmala Pariyojana of the Central Government.

Kati Bihu festival celebrated across Assam

• Kati Bihu is one of the sets of three Bihu festivals (agricultural festivals) was celebrated in the state of Assam. The Kati Bihu is also known as Kangali Bihu, the festival of the poor (the word “Kongal” means “poor”) is celebrated in mid-October when the crops are at growing stage and the granaries of the farmers are depleting.

• The Kati Bihu is celebrated with the lamp called ‘Saki’ which is lit on the tips of bamboo poles in the fields which represents a guide to spirits and earthen lamps are lit in the garden, under the tulsi plants and in the granaries.

• The farmers chant spells to ward off the negativity and pests in the field and pray for a prosperous harvest.

• The locals of Assam celebrate the festival by lighting Diya in their fields and homes and perform cultural dance and organise feasts.

IIT Madras startup launches ‘mooPay’ for dairy farmers in Rajasthan

• The IIT-Madras incubated dairy-tech startup, “Stellapps” has launched a first-of-its-kind, fully-automated direct payment platform, ‘mooPay’, for dairy farmers in Rajasthan. The Digital technology solutions provider Stellapps is a first of its kind end-to-end dairy technology solutions company of India. It is also one of the technology pioneers of the World Economic Forum (WEF).

• mooPay is a payment gateway for dairies and dairy farmers where the dairy officials can transfer milk payments digitally to member farmers from the dairies’ existing bank account to farmers’ savings bank account.

• Directly depositing payments in farmers’ bank accounts will help enhance farmer savings and will also build farmer loyalty to the dairy.

• This will remove the risks and costs of transferring money in cash to hundreds of thousands of farmers in hundreds of villages.

Australia to join Malabar-2020 Naval Exercise with India, US & Japan

• India has invited Australia to participate in its trilateral naval exercise “Malabar-2020” which is scheduled to be held in November 2020, in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea. In 2020, the exercise will be held in a ‘non-contact – at sea’ format. It aims to increase cooperation and enhance safety and security in the maritime security domain.

• The Malabar series of naval exercises began in 1992 as a bilateral exercise between the Indian Navy-US Navy. Later, Japan joined the Naval exercise in 2015. It must be remembered that US-India-Japan and Australia are already the part of the “Quad” alliance.

ADB and India inks USD 177 million loan for Maharashtra

• The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of India have signed a loan agreement worth USD 177 million, to upgrade 450 km of state highways and major district roads in Maharashtra. The project aims to improve connectivity between rural areas and urban centres in the state to enable rural communities to have better access to markets, employment opportunities and services, which in turn will expand development and livelihood opportunities outside of the state’s major urban centres to second-tier cities and towns thus reducing income disparities.

• Under the project, 2 major district roads and 11 state highways, with a combined length of 450 km, will be upgraded to 2-lane standard across seven districts of Maharashtra.

• The Government of Maharashtra will contribute $78.99 million equivalent toward the $255.99 million total costs of the project.

SPORTS

India’s Elavenil Valarivan wins gold in International Air Rifle Championship

• In Shooting, the world number one Elavenil Valarivan of India won the gold medal in women’s event of the 2020 Sheikh Russel International Air Rifle Championship. The event was organised by Bangladesh Shooting Sport Federation (BSSF).

• Japan’s Naoya Okada won the gold in the men’s event, while India’s Shahu Tushar Mane bagged a silver. The event was a 60-shots competition in which shooters from six nations participated which included Bangladesh, India, Japan, Korea, Indonesia and Bhutan.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

India successfully test-fires “SANT” Missile off Odisha coast

• India successfully flight-tested its indigenously developed Stand-off Anti-tank (SANT) missile from Integrated Test Range (ITR) off Odisha coast. The missile was test-fired from a roof-top launcher of the ground-based platform. It is an upgraded version of the anti-tank missile, Helicopter Launched Nag (HeliNa). This was the 11th missile test-fired by India within one and a half month.

• SANT is an air-to-surface missile developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for the Indian Air Force. The SANT missile has both lock-on before launch and lock-on after launch capability and can destroy targets 15 km to 20 km away.

SUMMITS AND MOU’S

Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju attended Y20 Global Summit Virtually

• The first-ever virtual G20 (Group of Twenty) Youth 20 (Y20) Global Summit was virtually hosted from Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia for exchanging ideas and dialogues for the empowerment of youth Post C-19, where Indian side was represented by Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Kiren Rijiju. Indian side emphasized on galvanizing the youth to take on the challenges set forth by the worldwide C-19 Pandemic.

• The theme of the Summit was “Government – Youth dialogue on post-C-19 opportunities”. The Summit concluded with the drafting of the Y20 Communique under the three overarching priority areas viz. Future Fit; Youth Empowerment; and Global Citizenship.

• Notably, the year 2020 marks the 10th anniversary of Y20 as the official G20 youth engagement group. Y20 is a forum for developing cooperation with the future generation and provides a platform for young people to have their voices heard on issues relevant to the G20 agenda.

RANKING

India 4th most powerful country in Asia Power Index 2020

• India has been ranked at 4th position, with a score of 39.7 out of 100, in the Asia Power Index 2020, released by the Sydney-based Lowy Institute. The Asia Power Index 2020 ranks 26 countries and territories to assess the relative power of states in Asia.

• The United States has retained its position as the most powerful country influencing the Asia-Pacific with a score of 81.6. It is followed by China (76.1) and Japan (41) at second and third spot respectively. The annual Asia Power Index is an analytical tool that ranks countries in terms of what they have, and what they do with what they have (resources and influence) to have dominant power in Asia.

BANKING AND ECONOMY

IDBI Bank launches banking services on WhatsApp

• IDBI Bank announced the launch of banking services on WhatsApp. The WhatsApp Banking service is being offered through a dedicated WhatsApp verified number ensuring end-to-end encryption, the Bank stated.

• The facility will enable IDBI Bank customers to avail various essential services such as account balance information, last five transactions, request for a cheque book and an email statement, interest rates, as well as details of IDBI Bank branches/ATMs in the vicinity, to begin with.

Obituary

Veteran TV Actress Zarina Roshan Khan passes away

• Renowned TV actress, Zarina Roshan Khan passed away. She was fondly remembered for her role in the television show ‘Kumkum Bhagya’ as Indu Dadi.

• Zarina had begun her career as a stunt woman, before taking up acting as a profession and has featured in several shows and films. The actor has also performed in serials like Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai and played the role of a mother in several Hindi films.

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Important Current Affairs 19th October 2020

International

Jacinda Ardern wins 2nd term as New Zealand’s PM

• The Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern, won a landslide victory in the country’s general election, to be elected as the PM for the second consecutive three-year term. In the battle against C-19, Ardern was alone among her western peers in pursuing an explicit elimination strategy and imposed one of the strictest nationwide C-19s in the world.

• Ardern’s centre-left Labour Party won 49.2% of the total 83.7% votes counted in the 120-member parliament. The 40-year-old is serving as the 40th Prime Minister of the country since 26 October 2017.

WHO backs India’s proposal against “C-19 Vaccine Nationalism”

• Early in October, 2020, India and South Africa urged the TRIPS Council of the World Health Organization to waive certain rules to scale-up research, development, manufacturing and supply of medical products to fight against C-19. This has been backed by the World Health Organization.

• India and South Africa had proposed to ease international and intellectual property agreements on C-19 vaccines, treatments and tests. This will make tools related to C-19 available at affordable costs.

India-Sri Lanka to hold SLINEX military exercise

• On October 19, 2020, India and Sri Lanka are to begin a three-day military exercise “SLINEX”. The eighth edition of the exercise is to be held off coast of Trincomalee. It is to be conducted in non-contact at-sea only format. This strategy has been adopted due to C-19 pandemic.

• The drill will include series of anti-air weapons firing, cross deck flying operations to fine tune high degree of inter-operability. Indian Navy is to deploy INS Kiltan and INS Kamorta, Chetak helicopters and Dornier maritime patrol aircrafts in the exercise.  The Sri Lankan Navy is to be represented by SLN Ships Sayura and Gajabahu. Gajabahu is a training ship and Sayura is an offshore patrol vessel.

• In 2019, the SLINEX exercise was conducted in Vishakhapatnam. The exercise is being conducted in consonance with India’s SAGAR (Security and Growth for all in the Region) and Neighbourhood first policy of India.

Awards

Aishwarya Sridhar wins Wildlife Photographer of the Year Award

• A 23-year-old, Mumbai based girl, Aishwarya Sridhar became the first Indian woman to win the 2020 Wildlife Photographer of the Year award. It is the 56th year of the prestigious award. Her image titled ‘Lights of passion’, won among 50,000 entries from over 80 countries across the world.

• Only 100 images were shortlisted and she won the award for her photograph in the Behaviour Invertebrates category. She is the first and youngest girl to win this prestigious award from India in the Adult category. The award winners were announced at the Natural History Museum in London.

Ranking

India ranked 94 in Global Hunger Index 2020

• India ranked 94 among 107 nations in the Global Hunger Index 2020. With a score of 27.2, India has been placed in the “serious” category in the GHI scale. Although there is an improvement in a score as compared to 38.9 in 2000, 37.5 in 2006, and 29.3 in 2012 but still it represent a serious level of hunger. Last year, India’s rank was 102 out of 117 countries. According to the report, 14 per cent of India’s population is undernourished. It also showed the country recorded a 37.4 per cent stunting rate among children under five and a wasting rate of 17.3 per cent. The under-five mortality rate stood at 3.7 per cent.

• The neighbouring Bangladesh, Myanmar and Pakistan too are in the ‘serious’ category but ranked higher than India in this year’s hunger index. While Bangladesh ranked 75, Myanmar and Pakistan are in the 78th and 88th position. Nepal in 73rd and Sri Lanka in 64th position are in ‘moderate’ hunger category, the report showed.

Appointments & Resignation

Rohan Jaitley elected unopposed as DDCA President

• Advocate Rohan Jaitley, the son of late Union Minister Arun Jaitley, has been elected unopposed as the President of the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA). He was the single candidate left for the post, as the lone candidate who had filed his nomination against him withdrew his candidature.

• The 31-year-old lawyer is slated to remain in the post till June 30, 2021. Notably, late Arun Jaitley had also served as the president of DDCA between 1999 and 2013.

Sports

Pakistan’s fast Bowler Umar Gul announces retirement

• Pakistani pace bowler, Umar Gul has announced that he will retire from all forms of cricket. The 36-year-old Gul, who played his last match for Pakistan an ODI in 2016, featured for Balochistan team in the National T20 Cup.

• The Peshawar-born Gul made his international debut in an ODI in 2003. He played his first Test that year itself. His last Test was against South Africa in 2013. From 47 Test matches, Gul took 163 wickets at an average of 34.06. He also claimed 179 wickets from 130 ODIs, besides 85 wickets from 60 T20Is.

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Important Current Affairs 18th October 2020

National

J&K L-G announces ‘My Town My Pride’ programme

• Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha has announced that the government is coming up with a movement called ”My Town My Pride” from October 19 to provide governance at the doorsteps in urban areas on the pattern of the ”Back to Village” programme.

• The three main objectives of the programme:

1. Public outreach in towns

2. Strengthening grassroots democracy

3. Service delivery at doorsteps

• The programme will also ensure that on-the-spot grievance redressal, instant delivery of services to the masses, and on the ground speedy execution of people-centric projects.

• The “My Town My Pride” programme anticipates the time-bound delivery of documents like domicile, SC/ST/RBA/ALC/OBC certificates, revenue services.

• This programme will also ensure the time-bound delivery of benefits of various welfare schemes like pensions, scholarships, PMAY, KCC, Health golden cards, Ladli Beti, etc.

International

India’s night trial of Nuclear Capable PRITHVI II missile successful

• India recently conducted the night trial of indigenously developed nuclear capable Prithvi II missile. The test was successful. The test was conducted at the Integrated Test Range, Balasore, Odisha.

• Prithvi II is a surface-to-surface missile. The first trial of Prithvi II was conducted in September 2020. The launch was conducted by the Strategic Force Command. The complete trial of the missile was monitored by Defence Research Development Organization.

• The missile has a range of 25-350 kilometres. It is capable of carrying 500 kg to 1000 kg of Nuclear material. It is powered by Liquid Propulsion Single Engine and is a single stage missile. It uses advanced inertial guidance system. It was first inducted into the Indian Defence System in 2003.

Science & Technology

DRDO test fires Naval Version of BRAHMOS missile successfully

• On October 18, 2020, the Defence Research Development Organization test fired the naval version BRAHMOS missile from INS Chennai successfully. The missile was test fired from an indigenously built stealth destroyer INS Chennai. The missile hit a target in Arabian Sea.

• BRAHMOS is a supersonic missile. It was jointly developed by India and Russia.

• The major classification of the missiles is Cruise Missiles and Ballistic Missiles.

• The Ballistic Missiles are those missiles that have a ballistic trajectory. The currently operational ballistic missiles in the Indian Defence Systems are Prithvi I, Agni I, Prithvi II, Agni II and Dhanush.

Appointment & Resignation

IWF appoint Michael Irani as interim president

• Dr Michael Irani of Great Britain (GBR) has been appointed as the Interim President of the International Weightlifting Federation(IWF), at the meeting of the IWF Executive Board, in accordance with the constitution of IWF. Michael Irani was appointed following the resignation of IWF President Tamás Aján. Prior to this, Michael Irani was serving as the chairman of the IWF Medical Committee.

• Michael Irani was born in Bombay, India.

• Michael Irani is a leading physician in Rheumatology who works as a Consultant Rheumatologist at Ashford Hospital NHS Trust.

• He was the former Chairman of the anti-doping Commission of IWF.

• He was a member of the IWF Medical Committee since 1992.

• He served as the President of the European Weightlifting Federation(EWF) Medical Committee from 1995 to 1999.

Vishal V Sharma appointed India’s next permanent representative to UNESCO

• Vishal V. Sharma has been appointed as the next Permanent Representative of India to the Permanent Delegation of India to United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), with the rank of Ambassador. He will replace Jawed Ashraf. Sharma is expected to take up the assignment shortly.

UNESCO headquarters: Paris, France.

UNESCO Head: Audrey Azoulay.

UNESCO Founded: 16 November 1945.

Days

36th Raising Day of National Security Guard

• The 36th Raising Day of National Security Guard (NSG) is observed on 16 October. NSG plays a crucial role in India’s security apparatus. It has been associated with the utmost courage and professionalism.

• The NSG is a Federal Contingency force to deal with anti-terrorist activities. The NSG is a force equipped and trained to deal with the specific situation and is therefore used in exceptional circumstances to thwart serious acts of terrorism. It was established in 1984, NSG is popularly known as the Black Cats. It is an elite striking force in the country trained and equipped to handle situations like a terrorist attack, hijacking, and hostage captivity.

Books & Authors

A book titled ‘The Battle of Belonging’ authored by Shashi Tharoor

• Renowned Author and Politician, Shashi Tharoor is set to release his new book titled “The Battle of Belonging” is set to be released in November 2020. The book is published by Aleph Book Company. Shashi Tharoor described this book as his “magnum opus” on the Theory, evolution and practice of Nationalism across the globe and especially in India.

• The book appears to be an extension of his book “Why I Am a Hindu”.

• It provides the historical context to the ideas of nationalism, patriotism, humanism, democracy and their origins.

• This book established the actual Indianism and what it means to be a patriotic and nationalistic Indian in the 21st century.

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Important Current Affairs 11th October 2020

National

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will distribute property cards

• Under Svamitva scheme, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will distribute property cards to rural land owners.

• The property cards are to be distributed to villages in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Uttarakhand.

• Svamitva is Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas to provide the right to document residential properties to the rural population. It enables the rural population to use property as a financial asset.

Andhra Pradesh CM launches Jagananna Vidya Kanuka’ scheme to distribute school kits

• Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has launched a new scheme named the ‘Jagananna Vidya Kanuka’ scheme to distribute school kits among the poor children of the state.

• The state shall spend around Rs 650 crore towards the scheme. 42,34,322 kits will be distributed across the state under the scheme.

• Under this scheme, the government school students from classes 1 to 10 across the state will set the school kits or Vidya Kanuka, which will contain three pairs of uniform, one pair of shoes, two pairs of socks, a belt, one set of textbooks and notebooks and one school bag.

Amazon India partners with IRCTC to offer train ticket bookings

• Amazon India said it had partnered with Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) to provide their customers with the facility to book reserved train tickets on its platform.

• For the introductory period, Amazon.in has waived off service and payment gateway transaction charges.

• With this launch, Amazon Pay adds another travel category, thereby offering its customers a one-stop-shop for booking flights, bus and train tickets

BRICS Bank grants approval to USD 741 million for Rapid Rail & Mumbai Metro

• BRICS Bank, also known as New Development Bank, approved USD 741 million funds for Delhi-Meerut Rapid Rail and Mumbai metro projects. Of this total amount, USD 500 million have been allocated for the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) Project and USD 241 million have been allocated for Mumbai Metro Rail Project.

• The rapid rail network will connect the National Capital Territory of Delhi with the cities of Meerut and Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh.

• The Mumbai metro rail line 6 will have a length of about 14.47 km. It will provide much needed rail connectivity between the western and eastern suburbs.

Banking and Economy

NABARD inks 3 MoUs with SBI to extend credit support for various projects in Gujarat

• The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development -NABARD has inked three Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with Public Sector Bank- State Bank of India(SBI) to extend credit support for various projects in Gujarat.

• The MoUs were signed for financing joint liability groups and Self-Help Groups-support credit inflows to Farmer Producers’ Organizations and economic support for watershed development projects.

• These will help in providing credit support to the different sections of the society including the priority sector.

Science and Technology

Coastal security exercise “Sagar Kavach” concludes

• A two-day Coastal Security Exercise namely ‘Sagar Kavach’ conducted by the Indian Navy along with Indian Coast Guard and all stakeholders involved in Coastal Security from the coast of Kerala.

• The exercise was monitored from Joint Operations Centre, Kochi. Sagar Kavach is a half-yearly exercise with an objective to check the Coastal Security mechanism and validate Standard Operating Procedures.

•  The exercise conducted along the coastal areas of Kerala, Karnataka and Lakshadweep assumes significance in the backdrop of the prevailing security situation in the country.

Appointments and Resignations

Nilesh Shah re-elected as Chairman of AMFI

• Nilesh Shah has been re-elected as the Chairman of the Mutual fund industry body, Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI).

• Shah is the managing director of Kotak Asset Management Company (AMC).The decision was taken at the annual general meeting (AGM) of the AMFI on 07 October 2020.

• Shah was earlier elected as the chairman for the financial year 2019–20. He would continue to hold the office till the conclusion of the next AGM.

Ranking

Forbes India Rich List

• The Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) Chairman Mukesh Ambani, has topped the Forbes India Rich list for 2020, released on 8th October 2020.

• He has retained his position as the wealthiest Indian for the 13th consecutive year on Forbes India list.

• The second spot has been retained by Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani, with a net worth of $25.2 billion.

• Tech tycoon Shiv Nadar acquired the third spot with net worth of $20.4 billion.

Days

World Investor Week

• World Investor Week (WIW) is promoted by the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) and will be held between October 05 and October 11, 2020.

• This is the 4th World Investor Week and it aims to raise awareness about the importance of investor education and protection.

National Postal Week

• The Department of Posts is celebrating National Postal Week from 9-15 October, 2020, to mark the occasion of the World Postal Day.

• Every year, the National Postal week is organised to generate awareness of the role and activities of the postal services among the public and media on a national scale.

• Online campaign will be organised to create awareness about new offerings and availability of citizen centric services in Post Offices.

Indian Foreign Service Day

• Indian Foreign Service Day is celebrated on 9 October every year since 2011 to commemorate the day the Indian Cabinet created the IFS.

• Months before India’s independence, in September 1946, the Indian Foreign Service was created “for India’s diplomatic, consular and commercial representation overseas.

World Migratory Bird Day 2020

• Officially, the World Migratory Bird Day is observed twice in a year, firstly on Second Saturday of May and again on Second Saturday of October, so as to follow the seasonal migrations of birds, which peak in those months.

• In 2020, the WMBBD falls on 09 May 2020 and 10 October 2020. The Day was officially declared by the United Nations in 2006.

• The theme of 2020 World Migratory Bird Day is “Birds Connect Our World”.

• The day aims to raise awareness of migratory birds and the need for international cooperation to conserve them.

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Important Current Affairs 10th October 2020

National

First State to provide 100% Tap Water Connections is Goa

• Goa has become the first state in India to provide 100% tap water connections in rural areas under “Har Ghar Jal State”.

• The State of Goa is now planning to install sensor-based service delivery monitoring system to monitor the functionality of water supply.

• The Jal Jeevan Mission aims to provide 55 litres of tapped water per person per day to all the households by 2024.

The Additional charge of Ministry of Consumer Affairs is given to Piyush Goyal

• The additional charge of Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution has been given to the Union Minister Piyush Goyal.

• He currently serving as the Union Minister of Railways and Minister of Commerce and Industry.

International

Bishr al-Khasawneh appointed as Jordan’s New Prime Minister

• Bishr al-Khasawneh has been appointed as New Prime Minister of Jordan which is a Western Asia.

• The appointment was approved by King of Jordan, Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein.He succeeded Former PM Omar al Razzaz.

Banking and Economy

RBI keeps key interest rates unchanged; projects GDP to shrink by 9.5% in FY21

• The Reserve Bank of India in its Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting on October 9, 2020 has decided to:

• keep the policy repo rate under the liquidity adjustment facility (LAF) unchanged at 4.0 percent.

• reverse repo rate remains unchanged at 3.35 percent

• decided to maintain its accommodative stance.

• The MPC has projected the Indian economy to contract 9.5 percent in the current fiscal 2020-21.

Awards

Nobel Peace Prize 2020

• The Norwegian Nobel Committee has awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 2020 to World Food Programme (WFP) on 9th October 2020.

• The World Food Programme (WFP) has won the prestigious honor “for its efforts to combat hunger, for its contribution to bettering conditions for peace in conflict-affected areas and for acting as a driving force in efforts to prevent the use of hunger as a weapon of war and conflict.”

Science and Technology

India’s Anti-Radiation Missile RUDRAM successfully tested

• The new generation anti-radiation missile named Rudram 1 which has been generated to kill enemy radar is successfully tested in the Balasore test range located off the coast of Odisha in Bay of Bengal.

• This missile was developed by Defence research and development organisation.

• The missile can reach up to a range of 200 km, can achieve a maximum speed of 2 mach and can be fired from an altitude envelope of 500 meters to 15kms

Obituary

First woman chief justice of Kerala KK Usha passes away

• Former Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court, Justice KK Usha, passed away.

•  She served as a judge from 1991 to 2000 and when she was appointed Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court from 2000 to 2001, Justice Usha became the first woman to join the High Court Judiciary from the Bar and became a Chief Justice.

Mexican scientist Mario Molina passes away

• Mexican scientist and a Nobel Prize receipt Mario Molina have passed away at the age of 77.Molina was the first Mexican to win the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1995.

• He was appointed a scientific adviser to the then U.S. President Barack Obama in the year 2008.

Appointments and Resignations

Manoj Kumar Appointed as chairman and managing director of Western Coalfields Ltd

• According to a personnel ministry order, Manoj Kumar has been appointed as chairman and managing director of Western Coalfields Ltd.

• Currently, Manoj Kumar is serving as the director in the Western Coalfields Ltd.

Days

World Mental Health day

• On 10th October the WHO celebrates World Mental Health day every year.

• Objective of the day is to raise awareness of mental health issues around the world and mobilizing efforts in support of mental health.

• The theme for World Mental Health Day 2020 is ‘Mental Health for All’.

• The World Federation for Mental Health took the initiative of celebrating this day since 1992.

The 2020 World Egg Day

• Every year on the second Friday of October, world celebrates World Egg day. This year the day is being observed on 9th October 2020.

• Objective of the day is to raise awareness of the benefits of eggs and their importance in human nutrition.

• The theme for 2020 World Egg Day is “Eat your egg today and every day”

The 2020 World Sight Day

• Every year on the on the second Thursday of October, world celebrates world sight day.This year the day is observed on 8th October.

• Objective is to draw public awareness towards blindness & vision impairment and educate target audiences about blindness prevention.

• World Sight Day 2020 Theme: Hope In Sight.

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Important Current Affairs 8th October 2020

National

India gets its first ever Brand & Logo for its Cotton on World Cotton Day

• On the occasion of the 2nd World Cotton Day, the Union Minister of Textiles and Women & Child Development, Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani, launched the first ever Brand & Logo for Indian Cotton on  7th October, 2020 through Video Conferencing.

• It means that from now on, the premium Cotton of India would be known as ‘Kasturi Cotton’ in the world cotton Trade.

• The Kasturi Cotton brand will represent Whiteness, Brightness, Softness, Purity, Luster, Uniqueness and Indianness.

International

Jordan’s Prime Minister Omar Razzaz resigns

• Jordan’s Prime Minister Omar al Razzaz submitted his resignation to Jordan’s King Abdullah.

• King Abdullah accepted his resignation but asked him to stay on as a caretaker premier until he designates a successor to oversee parliamentary elections on Nov. 10.

• The monarch dissolved parliament at the end of its four-year term in a move that under constitutional rules meant the government had to resign within a week.

Banking and Economy

ICICI becomes the first Bank to offer debit card to customers availing LAS

• ICICI Bank and Visa has partnered to launch a debit card facility for the customers who avail Loans Against Securities (LAS) from the bank.

• Thus ICICI Bank has become the first bank in India to launch this facility after RBI allowed banks to issue electronics cards to customers who avail OD (Overdraft) facility.

• Customer can make use of this card to make payments through POS (Point of Sale) and online transactions by making use of sanctioned LAS account. The maximum daily transaction limit is Rs 3 lakhs.

Summits and Mou’s

NCERT signed an MoU with ISLRTC for deaf children

• To make textbooks and other study material easily accessible for deaf children through sign language, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) signed an MoU with the Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre (ISLRTC).

• It will not only enhance their vocabulary, but also enhance their capabilities to understand concepts.

Awards

Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer A. Doudna wins Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2020

• The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2020 jointly to Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer A. Doudna “for the development of a method for genome editing.”

• Emmanuelle Charpentier is a Director of the Max Planck Unit for the Science of Pathogens, Berlin, Germany.Jennifer A. Doudna is a Professor at the University of California, Berkeley, USA and Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

Govt announces results of 1st National Startup Awards

• The Union Minister of Railways and Commerce & Industry Shri Piyush Goyal announced the Results of the first ever National Startup Awards 2020 on 6th October 2020.

• The award has been introduced by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) to recognize and reward outstanding Startups and ecosystem enablers that are building innovative products or solutions and scalable enterprises, with high potential of employment generation or wealth creation, demonstrating measurable social impact.

• The first edition of the Awards had applications from 12 sectors, which were further sub-classified into a total of 35 categories. A total of 1641 applications were received from startups from 23 States and 4 Union Territories.

• All applicants were evaluated against six broad parameters namely Innovation, Scalability, Economic Impact, Social Impact, Environmental Impact, and Inclusiveness and Diversity.

Acquisitions and Mergers

ADIA will invest Rs 5,512.5 crore in Reliance Industries Ltd

• Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) will invest Rs 5,512.5 crore in Reliance Industries Ltd’s retail arm.

• With this investment, RRVL has raised Rs 37,710 crore from leading global investors including Silver Lake, KKR, General Atlantic, Mubadala, GIC, TPG and ADIA in less than four weeks.

Science and Technology

C-DAC to commission India’s fastest HPC-AI Supercomputer ‘PARAM Siddhi – AI’ with NVIDIA

• The Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) will be commissioning India’s largest HPC-AI supercomputer ‘PARAM Siddhi – AI’.

• This initiative will place India among the top countries in global AI supercomputing research and innovation.

• The initiative was headed by Abhishek Das, Scientist and Program Director (HPC-AI Infrastructure Development) at C-DAC, who conceived the idea and designed the architecture for the largest HPC-AI infrastructure in India.

ICG Offshore Patrol Vessel ‘Vigraha’ Launched to Enhance Coastal Security

• The seventh offshore patrol vessel of the Indian Coast Guard (ICG), ‘Vigraha’ was formally unveiled at the Kattupalli port. The vessel is expected to be inducted into the Coast Guard after completion of extensive trials and testing for the equipment and machinery by March 2021.

• The vessel, built by Larsen and Toubro, is the last in the series of seven OPVs contracted to the company by the Ministry of Defence in 2015.

• The OPV is 98 metres long, 15 metres wide, has 3.6 m draught, 2140T displacement and a range of 5,000 nautical miles.

Appointments and Resignations

MA Ganapathy Appointed Director General of Civil Aviation Security

• A 1986 batch IPS officer of Uttarakhand cadre,M A Ganapathy has been appointed as the Director General of Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) for a tenure up to his superannuation on February 29, 2024

• The post of BCAS chief fell vacant after Rakesh Asthana was appointed as the Director General of Border Security Force in August.

Days

Air Force Day 2020

• Air Force Day is observed every year on 8 October.The Air Force Day 2020 celebrates the 88th anniversary of the official foundation day of the force on October 8.

• Indian Air Force was officially established on 8 October 1932 by the British Empire as the Royal Indian Air Force. The name was changed to Indian Air Force in 1950.

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Important Current Affairs 7th October 2020

National

MoHUA enters into MoU with Swiggy to take street food vendors online under PM SVANIDHI scheme

• The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has entered into an MoU with Swiggy, one of the leading food delivery platforms, to onboard street food vendors on its e-commerce platform under the Prime Minister Street Vendor’s AtmaNibhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) Scheme

• The MoU aims at giving the street food vendors online access to thousands of consumers and help them grow their businesses.

• The Ministry and Swiggy will run a pilot programme by on-boarding 250 vendors across five cities namely – Ahmedabad, Chennai, Delhi, Indore, and Varanasi.

CM Kejriwal announces campaign against pollution-‘Yudh Pradushan Ke Virudh’

• Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal launched a mega anti-air pollution campaign, saying polluted air can be life threatening in view of the C-19 pandemic.

• Under the campaign “Yudh Pradushan ke Virudh”, separate plans have been prepared for each of the 13 pollution hotspots in the city.

International

12th BRICS Summit to be held virtually on November 17, Russia to chair

• The 12th BRICS Summit will be held on 17th November 2020 via video conference. The theme of the Meeting of the Leaders of BRICS countries is “BRICS Partnership for Global Stability, Shared Security and Innovative Growth”.

• The Summit this year is being held under the Chairmanship of Russia and aims at a multifaceted cooperation between the member countries.

Banking and Economy

Sebi introduces ‘very high risk category’ in risk-o-meter tool for mutual fund schemes

• Market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has introduced a new “very high risk” category on its Mutual Funds (MF) riskometer tool, to warn investors, investing in mutual fund schemes.

• Currently the mutual fund (MF) risk-o-meter has five categories – low, moderately low, moderate, moderately high and high. It indicates the scheme’s risk level.

• The revamped 6 categories Risk-o-meter will come into effect from 01 January 2021.

Awards

Roger Penrose, Reinhard Genzel and Andrea Ghez wins 2020 Nobel Prize in Physics

• The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced the 2020 Nobel Prize in Physics on 6th October 2020.

• One half of the award has been given to Roger Penrose for black hole discovery; and the other half jointly to Reinhard Genzel and Andrea Ghez.

• UK’s Roger Penrose has been awarded “for the discovery that black hole formation is a robust prediction of the general theory of relativity”

• America’s Reinhard Genzel and Andrea Ghez have jointly won “for the discovery of a supermassive compact object at the centre of our galaxy.

IACC presents lifetime achievement award to Ratan Tata

• The Indo-American Chamber of Commerce (IACC) has presented the lifetime achievement award to business icon Ratan Tata for his pioneering role in the Business Relations of India-USA and for his lifetime achievement in Global Leadership.

• Tata, who grew the revenues for India’s largest conglomerate ‘The Tata Group’ to nearly USD 100 billion by 2011-12, remains an influential industrialist, philanthropist and humanitarian to the day.

• This award was announced in the virtual event of IACC “C-19 Crusader Award-2020”. This is the 1st time IACC conferred the Lifetime Achievement award to any individual.

Appointments and Resignations

Dinesh Kumar Khara becomes new Chairman of SBI

• The government of India has appointed Dinesh Kumar Khara as the new Chairman of State Bank of India for a period of three years. His appointment is effective from October 7. Currently, Khara is the Managing Director in-charge of Global Banking & Subsidiaries.

• The Banks Board Bureau (BBB) had recommended Khara for the post of Chairman of SBI on August 28, ruling out an extension to Rajnish Kumar, whose term is ending on October 6.

Ranking

Mumbai ranks second after Delhi in crimes against women, shows NCRB data

• According to the latest data released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), Mumbai recorded 6,519 cases, after national capital Delhi at 12,902 cases during the year 2019.

• Mumbai is ranked second among 19 cities in the country in recording the highest number of crimes against women after Delhi. Mumbai has 76.5 rate of crime against women as compared to other cities such as Jaipur (235), Lucknow (175.4), Delhi (170.3), Indore (169.1), Patna (102.3), Kanpur (98.5), Nagpur (93.6) and Bengaluru (85.9).

• Delhi and Mumbai are ranked in the top two, respectively, for reporting the maximum number of cases of crimes against children.

• Mumbai also has the highest number of sexual harassment incidents on public transport and recorded the highest number of cases for use of children in pornography.

• The financial capital also ranked third on the list of rape cases after Delhi and Jaipur.

Days

World Cotton Day

• The WHO-recognised World Cotton Day (WCD) is observed on 7th October since 2019 to celebrate the international cotton industry and its contribution to communities and the global economy..

• The day was inaugurated by the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva on October 7, 2019.

• WCD Day was initiated by the Group of Cotton-4 countries namely Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad and Mali to the reflect the importance of cotton as a global commodity.

Wildlife week is celebrated on October 2 to 8.

• The Wildlife Week was adopted by National Board of Wildlife.

• This Week was conceptualized in 1952 with an objective of raising awareness to serve the long-term goal of safeguarding the lives of wildlife through critical action.

• The Government of India is also established an Indian Board of Wild Life which works to improve awareness towards the preservation of wildlife.

• The annual theme of the campaign is to promote the preservation of fauna of animal life.

Books and Authors

Book named “Bapu-The Unforgettable” released by Delhi Deputy CM  Manish Sisodia

• The Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, Manish Sisodia released the book named “Bapu-The Unforgettable”.

• The book was released on Gandhi Jayanti virtually through video conferencing.

• The event was organised by the Delhi Archives & Department of Art, Culture and Language, Government of Delhi.

• A webinar titled “Footprints of Gandhi Ji in Delhi” also took place in that event.

“Baahubali” series author Anand Neelakantan pens debut kids’ book

• The author of Baahubali series, Anand Neelakantan has authored his first kid’s book titled “The Very, Extremely, Most Naughty Asura Tales for Kids”, published by Puffins Publishers Private Limited under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.

•  The illustrations of the book are made by Subhadeep Roy and Shiladitya Bose.

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Important Current Affairs 24th September 2020

National 

Government implements O-SMART Scheme
• The Ministry of Earth Sciences has implemented the Ocean Services, Modelling, Applications, Resources, and Technology(O-SMART) Scheme. 
• The scheme covers 16 sub-projects related to the Ocean development activities including resources, services, technology, observations, and sciences. The Indian Tsunami Early Warning Centre is also working under the O-SMART Scheme.
• The Scheme generates and regularly update information on Marine Living Resources and their relationship with the physical in Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

Government to set up Neutrino Observatory in the country
• The central government is planning to set up a Neutrino Observatory in the country. This was informed by the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge), Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh on September 21, 2020 in a written reply in the lower house of the Parliament, Lok Sabha.
• The India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO) will be a world-class underground laboratory with a rock cover that will study the neutrinos produced in the atmosphere of the Earth.

Railway plans to complete 100 % electrification of its broad gauge routes by 2023
• The Indian Railways have set the target to achieve 100 percent electrification of its broad gauge routes by 2023.
• This information was stated by the Railway Minister Piyush Goyal in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha on 23 September 2020.

Banking and Economy

Sebi constitutes technical group on social stock exchange
• Sebi set up a technical group on social stock exchange to develop a framework for onboarding non-profit organisations and for-profit enterprises as well as prescribe disclosure requirements on financials and governance.
• The regulator has constituted the technical group under the chairmanship of Harsh Kumar Bhanwala, former chairman of Nabard.
• Other members of the group include Ingrid Srinath, founder-director, Centre for Social Impact and Philanthropy at Ashoka University; Pushpa Aman Singh CEO of Guidestar; and Santhosh Jayaram, Partner and Head- Sustainability and CSR Advisory at KPMG.

HDFC Life enters into partnership with YES Bank to sell insurance policies
• HDFC Life said it has entered into a partnership with YES Bank to sell policies to the bank’s customers.
• This CA arrangement will enable customers of YES Bank to avail HDFC Life’s wide range of life insurance products, which include solutions for protection, savings and investment, retirement and critical illness.

UNCTAD sees India growth moderating at -5.9% in 2020
• United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has predicted that the GDP of India will contract by 5.9% in the year 2020.
• For the year 2021, UNCTAD projects the Indian economy to grow by 3.9%.The projection was made in its Trade and Development Report 2020.

Acquisitions and Mergers

KKR to invest in Reliance Retail for 1.28% stake
• Global investment firm KKR is going to invest in the Reliance Retail ventures Limited (RRVL). With investment of Rs 5,550 crore, KKR will be acquiring 1.28% equity stake in the RRVL on a fully diluted basis.
•  This is the second such investment deal with Reliance Retail in past one month after American private firm Silver Lake invested Rs 7,500 cr into the company for a 1.75% Stake.
• This is also KKR’s second investment in a subsidiary of Reliance Industries, as earlier this year, the firm had invested Rs 11,367 crore in Jio Platforms for a 2.32 percent stake.

Science and Technology

DRDO successfully test fires high-speed expendable aerial target (HEAT)- ABHYAS
• The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully flight-tested an indigenously-developed unmanned aerial vehicle, Abhyas, that can be used as target for evaluation of various missile systems.
• Two Abhyas vehicles, developed by Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), were flight tested from a test range off Odisha coast.
• The High-speed Expendable Aerial Target (HEAT) was launched using twin underslung booster.

Sports

Former cricketer Ash Barty wins Golf Club Championship
• Ashleigh Barty, who is the top-ranked WTA player in the world, and a former professional cricket player, has now added another feat in her sporting list by winning golf club championship.
• The 24-year-old, world number one Australian, has won the Brookwater Golf Club women’s championship.
• Ash Barty had withdrawn from participating in US Open and French Open due to C-19 pandemic.

Appointments and Resignations

RBI appoints AK Das as the new administrator of PMC Bank
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has appointed AK Das (ex-general manager at Union Bank of India), as the new administrator of the Punjab and Maharashtra Co-operative (PMC) Bank.
• He has replaced JB Bhoria who has stepped down from his role as the administrator of the bank due to health reasons.
• In September 2019, the RBI had superseded the board of PMC bank due to fraud and financial irregularities in the PMC bank.

Bah Ndaw named Mali’s interim president
• Former Mali defense minister and retired colonel Bah Ndaw has been named the president of the country’s new transition government, while the leader of the junta that seized power last month. 
• Colonel Assimi Goita, was appointed vice president of the country.
• He will be in power for 18 months before holding elections and returning Mali to civilian rule.

Simanchala Dash appointed as advisor to IMF Executive Director
The Appointments Committee of Cabinet has approved the proposal to appoint Simanchala Dash as an advisor to Executive Director, International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington.

Books and Authors

A book titled “Voices of Dissent” authored by Romila Thapar
• A new book titled “Voices of Dissent” authored by Historian Romila Thapar will be jointly published by Penguin Random House India and Seagull Books. 
• The book is a historical essay that explores dissent, including its articulation and public response to its forms, with a focus on the recent protest in India against the citizenship law and the National Register of Citizens.
 

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Important Current Affairs 21st September 2020

National

PM to inaugurate VAIBHAV Summit on 2nd October 2020

• Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Vaishwik Bharatiya Vaigyanik (VAIBHAV) Summit on 2nd October’2020 through videoconferencing.

• The VAIBHAV Summit is a joint initiative of all S&T and Academic Organisations of India (working in Research, Academic and Scientific fields) to enable deliberations on thought processes, practices and R&D culture with a problem-solving approach for well-defined objectives.

• The month-long Summit will provide a platform to leverage the expertise and knowledge of global Indian researchers for solving emerging challenges and create an ecosystem of Knowledge and Innovation in the country through global outreach.

10th Meeting of BRICS National Security Advisors

• 10th Meeting of the BRICS High Representatives on National Security was held virtually. The 10th meeting of the NSAs was hosted by the current chair of BRICS i.e. Russia.

• The National Security Advisors of the BRICS nations met to deliberate upon the issues related to strengthening political security and cooperation among the five countries.

• National Security Advisor Ajit Doval represented India in a virtual meet of top security officials from Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa (BRICS) grouping.

Tamil Nadu becomes first state to unveil ethical AI, blockchain, cybersecurity policies in country

• Tamil Nadu has become the first state in India to launch policies on Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain and Cybersecurity policies.

• Chief minister Edapaddi K Palaniswami unveiled the Tamil Nadu Cyber Security Policy, 2020, Tamil Nadu Blockchain Policy, 2020, and Tamil Nadu Safe and Ethical Artificial Intelligence Policy, 2020 at Connect 2020.

• The project will be implemented by establishing and leveraging the State Family Data Base (SFDB) and Block-Chain Backbone infrastructure.

Banking and Economy

Fitch Solutions projects India’s GDP growth at -8.6% in 2020-21

• Fitch Solutions has revised downward its forecast for Indian economic growth and now estimates that India’s GDP will contract by 8.6% in 2020-21 (FY21).Earlier this was estimated at -4.5%.

• It has also forecasted a 5 percent year-on-year (y-o-y) growth in 2021 and 2022.

Obituary

Renowned US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg passes away at 87

• Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, an American jurist who served as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, has passed away due to complications of metastatic pancreatic cancer. She was 87.

• She was appointed in 1993 by President Bill Clinton and served until her death in 2020.She was the second woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court.

Veteran Communist leader and former Lok Sabha Member Roza Deshpande passes away

• Veteran Communist leader and former Lok Sabha Member Roza Deshpande died at her residence in Mumbai due to old age. She was 91. Deshpande, was the daughter of Shripad Amrit Dange, one of the founders of the Communist Party of India.

• Deshpande had taken part in the Sanyukta Maharashtra Movement (the movement for the creation of the State of Maharashtra) and the Goa liberation struggle as a Member of the All India Students’ Federation. In 1974, she was elected to the Lok Sabha from the Bombay South Central constituency.

Ranking

HDFC Bank leads ‘BrandZ Top 75 Most Valuable Indian Brands’ ranking

• HDFC Bank has topped the BrandZ Top 75 Most Valuable Indian Brands 2020 Rankings. HDFC Bank has topped this ranking for the 7th consecutive year. It has a total brand value of more than $20.2 billion

• LIC is ranked second while Tata Consulting Services has been ranked at no.3.

Days

International Day of Peace

• The International Day of Peace (or World Peace Day) is observed annually on 21 September to spread awareness and preach peace and harmony all across the globe.

• The 2020 theme for the International Day of Peace is “Shaping Peace Together.”

• The Day established in 1981 by the United Nations General Assembly. It is also known as World Peace Day.

World Alzheimer's Day

• World Alzheimer's Day is observed on 21 September every year to spread awareness about Alzheimer and Dementia disease.

• The theme for World Alzheimer Day 2020 is ‘Let’s talk about dementia’.

• In Alzheimer’s disease loss of connections between nerve cells (neurons) in the brain occurs. Progressively brain disorder which slowly destroys memory and thinking skills etc. In older adults it is the most common cause of dementia.

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