Current Affairs 17th October 2020| Current Affairs News

 CURRENT AFFAIRS: DAYS

International Day for the Eradication of Poverty

• The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is celebrated each year on October 17 throughout the world.
• 2020 Theme: Acting together to achieve social and environmental justice for all.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL

GST compensation: Centre to borrow Rs 1.1 lakh crore to meet shortfall

• The central government will borrowRs 1 lakh crore under the special window to meet the shortfall of Goods and Services Tax (GST) compensation.
• The amount borrowed will be passed on to the states as back-to-back loan in lieu of GST compensation cess.
• This borrowing will not have any impact on the fiscal deficit of the government. The amount will be reflected as the capital receipts of the state governments and as part of financing of its respective fiscal deficits.
• The general government (states + centre) borrowings will not increase because of this, as the states that get the benefit from the special window are likely to borrow a considerably lesser amount from the additional borrowing facility of 2 percent of gross state domestic product (from 3 percent to 5 percent) under the Aatma Nirbhar Package.

About MoF

• Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs of India: Nirmala Sitharaman
• Constituency: Karnataka

Union Education Minister virtually launches ‘KAPILA’ Kalam Program for IP Literacy and Awareness Education campaign 

• Union Education Minister Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ virtually launched the ‘KAPILA’ Kalam Program for Intellectual Property Literacy and Awareness campaign on the 89th birth anniversary of former President and Scientist Late APJ Abdul Kalam.
• Under this campaign, students pursuing education in higher educational institutions will get information about the correct system of application process for patenting their invention and they will be aware of their rights.
• The Institution Innovation Council (IIC 2.0) annual report was also presented on the occasion and the launch of IIC 3.0 was announced. It has also been decided to celebrate the week of October 15th to 23rd as ‘Intellectual Property Literacy Week’. The IIC 3.0 website was also launched.

About MoE

• Minister of Education: Ramesh Pokhriyal
• Constituency: Haridwar, Uttarakhand

Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar inaugurates Food and Agri Week 2020

• Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Food Processing Industries, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Narendra Singh Tomar virtually inaugurated the India – International Food & Agri Week being organised from 16th to 22nd October 2020.
• Tomar stated that Indian food processing sector is 32% of India’s food market. He stated that the focus of this agro and food tech is the use of technology in the field of food and agriculture sector to increase the income of farmers.
• MFP scheme is an important element of PMKSY whose objective is to link agricultural production to the market by bringing together the farmers, processors and retailers.
• Under this scheme, Ministry will provide 50% subsidy for transportation of eligible crops from surplus production cluster to consumption centre for six months and/or Hiring of appropriate storage facilities for eligible crops (for maximum period of 3 months).
• CII in association with the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Ministry of Fisheries & Animal Husbandry and Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Government of India, is organizing its first ever Virtual CII Agro & Food Tech : India – International Food & Agri Week from 16th to 22nd October 2020 on CII HIVE – virtual platform with an intent to create a platform for the benefit of the stakeholders involved in the agriculture & allied sectors.

About Minister of Agriculture and Farmer’s Welfare:

• Narendra Singh Tomar, (Cabinet Minister)
• Constituency: Morena, Madhya Pradesh
• Parsottambhai Rupala, (Minister of State)

CURRENT AFFAIRS: INTERNATIONAL

Myanmar Navy to acquire its first submarine, INS’ retrofitted Sindhuvir

• Myanmar is all set to acquire its first diesel-electric submarine, with the Indian Navy handing over its retrofitted INS Sindhuvir to the country for training and operations.
• India will be delivering a kilo class submarine INS Sindhuvir to the Myanmar Navy. This will be the first submarine in the Myanmar navy. This is in accordance with our vision of SAGAR – Security and Growth for All in the Region.
• New Delhi and Naypyidaw are also working on the supply of Indian field guns (105 mm artillery guns), ammunition, night vision devices and other military hardware.
• Both India and Myanmar are in talks for the supply of more military hardware, including 105 mm artillery guns, ammunition, sonars and advanced light torpedoes ‘Shyena’. The two countries are also working on more joint-training and exercises to enhance Indo-Myanmar military-to-military cooperation.
• The Indian Navy had bought the INS Sindhuvir, a Soviet-origin Kilo-class submarine, from Russia in 1980s and has operated it since 1988.

• It is currently being modernized by the Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) in Vizag, after which its service life will be extended by 10-15 years. It will then serve the Myanmar Navy till the 2030s.

About Myanmar

• Capital: Naypyitaw
• President: Win Myint
• Currency: Burmese kyat

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BANKING AND FINANCE

Jana Bank to be sponsor bank for Ashoknagar Co-operative Bank

• Jana Small Finance Bank, a Bengaluru-based small finance bank (SFB), has partnered with Ashoknagar Co-operative Bank Limited under the bank sponsorship programme.
• With this, Jana Bank has become the first SFB to go live under the sponsorship programme.
• Recently, the RBI permitted co-operative banks that are Core Banking Solution (CBS)-enabled, to issue ATM cards/ATM-cum-debit cards in a tie-up with a sponsor bank.
• Ashoknagar Co-operative Bank Limited, in association with Jana Small Finance Bank, can extend ATM, POS and e-commerce services to its customers.
• This association marks the fulfilment of Jana Bank’s endeavour to promote a full suite of services to co-operative banks.

About Jana SFB

• Headquarters: Bengaluru
• MD&CEO: Ajay Kanwal

About Ashoknagar Co-operative Bank Limited

• Headquarters: Bengaluru
• President: Nagaraj

SBI authorised to issue, encash Electoral Bonds from Oct 19-28

• The Ministry of Finance has stated that the State Bank of India (SBI), in the 14th Phase of sale, has been authorised to issue and encash Electoral Bonds through its 29 Authorized Branches with effect from 19th October  to  28th of October this year. Electoral Bonds will  be valid for fifteen calendar days from the date of issue and no payment will be made to any payee Political Party if the Electoral Bond is deposited after expiry of the validity period. The Ministry stated, the Electoral Bond deposited by an eligible Political Party in its account will be credited on the same day.
• It  stated, Election Commission of India  has accorded ‘No objection’ from Model Code of Conduct (MCC) angle with conditions that no political functionary will make any reference in this regard during any public speech or communication to the press or public in the constituencies going for poll and the relevant provisions of MCC will be strictly followed. The Government had notified the Electoral Bond Scheme in 2018.

About SBI:

• Chairperson: Rajnish Kumar
• Headquarters: Mumbai
• Founded: 1 July 1955

About electoral bond:

• An electoral bond is like a promissory note that can be bought by any Indian citizen or company incorporated in India from select branches of State Bank of India. The citizen or corporate can then donate the same to any eligible political party of his/her choice.
• The bonds are similar to bank notes that are payable to the bearer on demand and are free of interest. An individual or party will be allowed to purchase these bonds digitally or through cheque.

RBI imposes Rs 4.5-cr penalty on IndusInd Bank for non-compliance with its directions

• The Reserve Bank of India has imposed a monetary penalty of Rs 4.5 crore on IndusInd Bank Ltd for non-compliance with certain provisions of directions issued by it
• The central bank stated the non-compliance was with respect to certain provisions of directions issued by it on ‘Exposure Norms’, ‘Prudential Norms on Income Recognition, Asset Classification and Provisioning pertaining to Advances’, among others.
• RBI also flagged non-compliance of its directions on ‘SPARC (Supervisory Programme for Assessment of Risk and Capital) – Monitoring of Information Submission by bank’, ‘Creation of a Central Repository of Large Common Exposures – Across Banks’ read with directions on ‘Central Repository of Information on Large Credits (CRILC) – Revision in Reporting’, and ‘Disclosure in Financial Statements – Notes to Accounts’.
• “This penalty has been imposed in exercise of powers vested in RBI under…the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 (the Act).

About RBI:

• Headquarters: Mumbai
• Governor: Shaktikanta Das
• Deputy Governor: Shri M. K. Jain, Shri B.P. Kanungo, Michael Debabrata Patra.

About Indusind Bank:

• CEO: Sumant Kathpalia
• Headquarters: Pune

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.

About IDBI bank:

• Headquarters: Mumbai
• CEO: Rakesh Sharma

CURRENT AFFAIRS: STATES

IAV’s first phase becomes operational at Thonnakkal

• The Institute of Advanced Virology (IAV) in the district will evolve into a global centre for high-end virology research and help Kerala scale greater heights in its efforts to improve public health and contain virus outbreaks, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has stated.
• The first phase of IAV, situated at the Bio 360 Life Science Park at Thonnakkal, became functional with two divisions. Dedicating the facility to the State at an online function, the Chief Minister stated it was heartening to note that IAV has become functional at a time when Kerala is battling the COVID-19 pandemic.
• A robust public health system has helped Kerala effectively check the Nipah virus outbreak of 2018 and fight the current COVID-19 pandemic. However, such a system alone will not help the State tackle lifestyle diseases or epidemics. Institutes such as the IAV gain relevance in this context, according to him.

About Kerala:

• Capital: Thiruvananthapuram
• Governor: Arif Mohammad Khan
• Chief minister: Pinarayi Vijayan

UP govt to launch 6-month long women empowerment programme ‘Mission Shakti’ to raise awareness

• Uttar Pradesh government will launch 6-month long women empowerment programme ‘Mission Shakti’ to raise awareness and tackle crime against women in the state. Governor Anandiben Patel will launch the campaign in Lucknow while chief minister Yogi Adityanath will kick-start it in Balrampur. Ministers and other people’s representatives will launch the campaign in other districts.
• Six month campaign has two phases, Mission Shakti’ and ‘Operation Shakti. Mission Shakti will feature awareness campaigns related to women’s safety. The CM’s Office stated that initiatives like gender-based sensitisation, training, corporate activity, voice messages, interviews, programmes in Durga Puja and other cultural pandals should be organised to create greater awareness under ‘Mission Shakti’.
• A weeklong special campaign will be launched every month during the campaign to create awareness among masses and sensitise people on the subject.

About UP:

• Capital: Lucknow
• Governor: Anandiben Patel
• Chief minister: Yogi Adityanath

CURRENT AFFAIRS: APPS AND PORTALS

Leather Sector Skill Council launches SCALE India android app

• The Leather Sector Skill Council (LSSC) announced the launch of Skill Certification Assessment for Leather Employees (SCALE) India android app. Operating under the aegis of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship(MSDE), LSSC is committed to strengthening its digital capabilities on quality assurance across training delivery, monitoring, assessments, verification and linkages to ASEEM portal.
• The services are accessible through the web and android application that virtually works on any smart handheld device, desktop/laptop, smartphones, tablets. Apart from providing end to end quality assurance across training, assessment, and certification services, the app will also help employers engage with other stakeholders seamlessly and provide a marketplace for human capital for the leather industry.
• SCALE will help candidates in the skilling ecosystem to get assessed and certified on their knowledge, skills and behaviour on a specific qualification pack. It also enables access to micro-learning modules for bridging the skill gaps that are identified and can be re-assessed and certified at the end of the learning on the specific qualification pack. It further assists the candidate to become a productive resource who is readily employable in the industry.

About Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship:

• Mahendra Nath Pandey, Cabinet Minister
• Constituency: Chandauli
• Raj Kumar Singh, Minister of State

J&K L-G launches mobile app for Vaishno Devi devotees

• Lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha, who is also the chairman of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, launched a mobile app for the cave shrine devotees at the civil secretariat in Srinagar.
• This initiative has been taken by the shrine board with a view to maximise the use of available technology and digitisation for the larger facilitation of devotees.
• Initially, five links have been provided in the app including today’s darshan, live aarti, yatra registration parchi, pooja prasad (home delivery) and donations.
• The facility of booking of various services like battery operated vehicles, helicopter services, accommodation, online havan, etc. will also be made available on the app shortly.

About Jammu and Kashmir:

• Capital: Srinagar (May-October),Jammu (November-April)
• Lieutenant Governor: Manoj Sinha

Current Affairs 16th October 2020| Current Affairs News

 CURRENT AFFAIRS: DAYS

Global Handwashing Day

• Global Handwashing Day occurs on 15 October of each year.
• It is an international handwashing promotion campaign to motivate and mobilize people around the world to improve their handwashing habits.
• The theme of Global Handwashing Day 2020 is ‘Hand Hygiene for All’.

International Day of Rural Women

• International Day of Rural Women celebrated every year on 15 October.
• This day was created in 1995 by Civil society organizations at the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing and was declared an official UN Day in 2007 by the UN General Assembly.
• The theme for International Day of Rural Women 2020 is “Building rural women’s resilience in the wake of COVID-19.”

World Food Day

• World Food Day is an international day celebrated every year around the world on 16 October in honor of the date of the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in 1945.
• This year World Food Day marks the 75th Anniversary of the founding of FAO, with a view to looking towards the future we need to build together and the theme “Grow, nourish, sustain. Together. Our actions are our future.”

CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL

Cabinet Decisions

• The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has approved a Special Package worth Rs. 520 crore in the UTs of J&K and Ladakh for a period of five years till FY 2023-24 and ensure funding of Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) in the UTs of Jammu and Kashmir & Ladakh on a demand driven basis without linking allocation with poverty ratio during this extended period.
• Cabinet approved MoU between India and Australia for collaboration in capacity building, research and development and making impact for sustainable groundwater management.
• Implementation of the Strengthening Teaching-Learning and Results for States (STARS) project with a total project cost of Rs 5718 crore with the financial support of World Bank amounting to US $ 500 million (approximately Rs. 3700 crore).

Dr Harsh Vardhan launches second phase of “Thalassemia Bal Sewa Yojna” for underprivileged thalassemic patients

• Union health minister, Dr Harsh Vardhan, launched the second phase of “Thalassemia Bal Sewa Yojna” for the underprivileged thalassemic patients, virtually from Nirman Bhawan.
• Launched in 2017, this scheme is a Coal India CSR funded Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) programme that aims to provide a one-time cure opportunity for haemoglobinopathies like thalassaemia and sickle cell disease for patients who have a matched family donor.
• The CSR initiative was targeted to provide financial assistance to a total of 200 patients by providing a package cost not exceeding 10 lakhs per HSCT.

About MoHFW

• Minister of Science and Technology, Minister of Health and Family Welfare and Minister of Earth Sciences: Dr. Harsh Vardhan
• Constituency: Chandni Chowk, New Delhi

Foreign Secretary inaugurates 1st edition of Lectures designed to introduce India to foreign diplomats posted in New Delhi

• The first edition of Lectures designed to introduce India to foreign diplomats posted in New Delhi was inaugurated by Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla.
• It has been named as Sushma Swaraj Lectures
• MEA Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava stated, 45 foreign diplomats are attending the lectures which will give them an introduction to Indian history, polity, culture and economy.

Current Affairs 15th October 2020| Current Affairs News

 

CURRENT AFFAIRS: DAYS

International E-waste Day

• The third International E-Waste Day will be held on the 14th October 2020 to promote the correct disposal of e-waste throughout the world.
• This year a particular focus will be given to educating children and youth about the ways to tackle the growing e-waste problem.
• International E-Waste Day has been developed by the WEEE Forum, an international association of electronic waste collection schemes.

World Students’ Day

• World Students’ Day is observed on 15 October annually to mark the birth anniversary of A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
• In 2010, the United Nations Organization (UNO) declaredOctober 15 as the World Students’ Day to honour his efforts on promoting education.
• This day honours and pays respect to him and his efforts in the field of science and technology and also the role of the teacher that he played throughout his scientific and political careers.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL

PM Modi to release commemorative coin on 75th anniversary of FAO

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will release a commemorative coin of Rs 75 denomination on the 75th anniversary of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) to mark India’s long-standing relations with the UN agency.
• Modi will also dedicate to the nation 17 recently developed biofortified varieties of eight crops.
• India’s proposals for declaring 2016 as the International Year of Pulses and 2023 as the International Year of Millets have also been endorsed by the FAO.
• Indian civil service officer Binay Ranjan Sen was the Director General of FAO during 1956-1967. The World Food Programme, which has won the Nobel Peace Prize 2020, was established during his time.

About FAO

• Headquarters: Rome, Italy
• Head: Qu Dongyu

Prolonged closure of schools may cost India $400 billion: World Bank

• According to the recent World Bank report titled ‘Beaten or Broken? Informality and Covid-19 in South Asia’, the prolonged closure of schools in India could cost the country over $400 billion in future earnings.
• For the continent, the estimated loss, in an optimistic scenario, stands at $622 billion, while for the pessimistic scenario, this could stand at $880 billion. The report added that this continental loss is largely driven by India.
• The report further estimated that the South Asian region is going to witness its worst-ever recession this year, exacerbated by the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic.
• The report noted: “Temporary school closures in all South Asian countries have had major implications for students. They have kept 391 million students out of school in primary and secondary education, further complicating efforts to resolve the learning crisis.”
• It added: “While most governments have made enormous efforts to mitigate the impact of school closures, it has been difficult to engage children through remote learning initiatives.”
• The report stated that around 55 lakh students may drop out of the education system that can have a lifetime impact on them.

About World Bank:

• Headquarters: Washington, D.C., United States
• President: David Malpass

Cabinet approves World Bank supported ‘STARS’ project to boost school education system

• The Union Cabinet has approved World Bank supported Strengthening Teaching-Learning and Results for States -STARS project. The Project seeks to support States in developing, implementing, evaluating and improving interventions with direct linkages to improved education outcomes. Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar stated that the total project cost is 5 thousand 718 crore rupees with the financial support of World Bank amounting to 500 million US dollar.
• Mr Javadekar stated, STARS project would be implemented as a new Centrally Sponsored Scheme under Department of School Education and Literacy. He stated, it will cover six States, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala and Odisha. The Minister stated, this is an important milestone and the beginning of the New Education Policy.

Current Affairs 14th October 2020| Current Affairs News

 CURRENT AFFAIRS: DAYS

World Standards Day

• World Standards Day, also known as International Standards Day, is celebrated on October 14 each year.
• The purpose of the day is to raise awareness about the importance of standardisation to the global economy among the consumers, regulators and industry.
• World Standards Day 2020is themed “Protecting the planet with standards”

National Philately Day being celebrated across country

• The National Philately Day is being celebrated throughout the country on 13th oct. The Philately is the study of postage stamps and postal history.
• The day also marks the collection, appreciation and research activities on stamps and other philatelic products. My Stamp is the brand name for personalized sheets of Postage Stamps of India Post.
• The personalization is achieved by printing a thumb nail image of the customer’s photograph and logos of institutions or images of artwork, heritage buildings, famous tourist places, historical cities, wildlife, other animals and birds on a selected  template sheet having Postage Stamps.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL

MoRTH enhances allocation of funds for SARDP-NE related works

• The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has enhanced the allocation of funds for expenditure under Special Accelerated Road Development Programme in North Eastern Areas (SARDP-NE) related works during the current financial year.
• Under the revised allocation, almost double the amount originally allocated has been allowed. Against the earlier Rs 390 crore expenditure envisaged to be incurred from National Investment Fund during 2020-21, a sum of Rs 760 crore has been set aside for the same period. Of this, Rs 300 crore is specifically marked for Arunachal Pradesh package.
• Additionally, the allocations to National Highways in NE Region under 10% mandatory Pool Fund has been on an upward route in the last five years.
• A sum of Rs 4,520 crore was allocated for the year 2016-17, Rs 5,265 crore for the year 2017-18, Rs 6,210 crore for the year 2018-19, Rs 6,070 crore was allocated for the year 2019-20, and Rs 6,780 crore has been allocated for the year 2020-21.

About MoRTH

• Minister for Road Transport & Highways, Minister of Shipping andMSME: Nitin Jairam Gadkari
• Constituency: Nagpur, Maharashtra

Atal Innovation Mission collaborates with CGI to promote innovation across schools

• Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog, has signed a Statement of Intent with CGI India in order to promote innovation across the schools.
• Atal Innovation Mission, AIM has collaborated with CGI India which is one among the largest IT and business consulting services firms, for creating a successful and innovative workforce from the Atal Tinkering Lab, ATL schools.
• As part of the Statement of Intent, CGI has agreed to adopt 100 schools with ATLs across Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad and Mumbai to promote and train students. CGI volunteers will coach and mentor students at the ATLs to enhance technical literacy and provide immersive learning experiences to the students through hands-on experience using STEM tools.
• CGI will also conduct training workshops for teachers at select schools on topics such as design thinking, computational thinking, robotics and coding.
• AIM is the flagship programme of the Government that promotes a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship across country. Its ATLs are accessed by over 2.5 million school kids in India. ATL is a dedicated innovation workspace set-up at schools where students get access to do-it-yourself (DIY) kits and learn to tinker and create innovative solutions using the latest technologies.

About Niti Aayog:

• Headquarters:New Delhi
• Narendra Modi, (Chairperson)
• Rajiv Kumar, (Vice Chairperson)
• Amitabh Kant, (CEO)

Trifed in Collaboration with Chhattisgarh MFP Federation and IIT, Kanpur to Launch “Tech for Tribals Initiative”

• TRIFED under Ministry of Tribal Affairs in collaboration with Chhattisgarh MFP Federation and IIT, Kanpur will be launching Tech for Tribals initiative. In order to provide advance level training to the Vandhan tribal beneficiaries, TRIFED has collaborated with MSME through its ESDP scheme for providing skill upgrading and entrepreneurial capacity building support to the Van Dhan tribal beneficiaries to establish their sustainable enterprise.
• The program titled “Tech for Tribals” aims at the holistic development of tribals with a focus on entrepreneurship development, soft skills, IT, and business development through SHGs operating through Van Dhan Kendras (VDVKs).
• The beneficiaries will undergo a 30 days program over six weeks comprising 120 sessions. The training will be initially held from 12th Oct. to 7th Nov., 2020, in which Vandhan beneficiaries across all districts of Chhattisgarh State will be trained on various facets of micro-enterprise creation, management and functioning.
• The training module developed by IIT, Kanpur will be disseminated among beneficiaries in a phased manner through various modes like online lectures and trainings, online activities and gradually move to face to face interactions in class rooms, practical, onsite visits and exposure visits.

About Chhattisgarh:

• Capital: Raipur
• Governor: Anusuiya Uikey
• Chief Minister: Bhupesh Baghel

About Ministry of Tribal Affairs:       

• Arjun Munda, Cabinet Minister
• Constituency: Khunti
• Renuka Singh Saruta, Minister of State

India among top 3 overseas investment destinations’

• India will be one of the top three overseas investment destinations for the next two-three years, according to a survey by Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) and EY, which assessed the country’s competitiveness on selected parameters.
• According to the survey, India is the number one choice for future investments for over two-thirds of multinational companies. More than 80% of all respondents and 71% of the non-India headquartered respondents plan to invest globally over the next two-three years and about 30% companies were planning to invest over $500 million each globally.
• It stated new investments will be driven by capacity expansion, digital transformation, research and development and greenfield investments. The respondents stated market potential, skilled workforce and political stability are the top reasons to make India their favoured destination.

About CII:

• President: Uday Kotak
• Director General: Chandrajit Banerjee
• Headquarters: New Delhi

CURRENT AFFAIRS: INTERNATIONAL

Nepal Re-Elected To UN Human Rights Council

• Nepal has been re-elected as a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) in the elections held at UN Headquarters in New York, Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced.

Current Affairs 13th October 2020| Current Affairs News

 CURRENT AFFAIRS: DAYS

World Arthritis Day (WAD)

• Since 1996, October 12 is observed as World Arthritis Day. Arthritis is inflammation of the joints which affects movement.
• This year’sWorld Arthritis Day theme – “It’s in your hands, take action”

International Day for Disaster Reduction

• The United Nations General Assembly has designated October 13th as theInternational Day for Disaster Risk Reduction to promote a global culture of disaster risk reduction.
• It is an opportunity to acknowledge the progress being made toward reducing disaster risk and losses in lives, livelihoods and health in line with theSendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 adopted at the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Japan in March 2015.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL

Central govt employees can now get Rs 10,000 interest-free advance

• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the conference announced a one-time Rs 10,000 interest-free festival advance to all its officers and employees under the Special Festival Advance Scheme.
• The scheme has been announced as part of plans to increase consumer spending to spur demand in the economy which has suffered a blow from the pandemic.
• The festival advance was discontinued from 6th Pay Commission for central government employees. But as a one-time measure, an interest-free advance will be given to all officers and employees of the central government.

About the special festival advance

• The Rs 10,000 advance will come as a pre-paid RuPay card, which can be availed and spent by March 31, 2021.
• The Interest-free advance of Rs 10,000 will be recoverable in maximum 10 instalments
• The government expects to disburse Rs 4,000 crore on this scheme. If given by state governments, another Rs 8000 crore is likely to be disbursed. Assuming 50% adoption by states the estimate is Rs 4,000 crore.
• It is recommended to restore festival advance to govt employees for festivals up to 31st January 2021.
• Additional consumer demand generated because of this scheme is expected to be Rs 8,000 crore.

Rajnath Singh Lays Foundation Stone For Nechiphu Tunnel In Arunachal Pradesh

• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh laid the foundation stone for the strategically important Nechiphu tunnel at West Siang district in Arunachal Pradesh via video conferencing.
• The 450m-long tunnel, which will bypass the existing road, will be D-shaped and comprise two lanes of 5m width each. Another 1.8 km-long tunnel is also being constructed on the BCT road and both will reduce the distance to the area bordering China by 10km.
• Nechiphu tunnel will be crucial not only for the armed forces but also for the local civilian population in places like Bhalukpong and Tawang.
• The Defence Minister also inaugurated 43 BRO-made bridges across 7 Border States of the country, including 7 in Arunachal and 4 in Sikkim.
• Meanwhile, the defence minister also informed that the Centre is initiating all necessary steps to better road infra in the Northeast and the Border States across the nation.

About MoD

• Defence Minister: Rajnath Singh
• Constituency: Lucknow, Up

About Arunachal Pradesh

• Capital: Itanagar
• Governor: D. Mishra.
• Chief minister: Pema Khandu

PM Modi to release autobiography of Dr. Balasaheb Vikhe Patil

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will release the autobiography of Balasaheb Vikhe Patil and rename Pravara Rural Education Society as ‘Loknete Dr. Balasaheb Vikhe Patil Pravara Rural Education Society’, through video conferencing in a programme.
• Balasaheb Vikhe Patil served as Member of Lok Sabha for multiple terms. His autobiography is titled ‘Deh Vechwa Karani’ which means ‘dedicating one’s life for a noble cause’.
• Patil is known for his path-breaking work in various fields, including agriculture and cooperatives.
• Pravara Rural Education Society was established in 1964 at Loni in Ahmednagar district, with the aim to provide world class education to the rural masses and empower the girl child.
• The Society is currently serving with the core mission of educational, social, economical, cultural, physical and psychological development of students.

India’s sulfur dioxide emissions see first decline in 4 years

• India’s sulfur dioxide emissions dropped in 2019, the first decline in four years for the world’s largest spewer of the pollutant responsible for human health risks and acid rain.
• Emissions from India dropped 6% last year as the country consumed less coal, mirroring a similar decline in global emissions of the toxic gas, according to a new report from Greenpeace India and the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air. All three of the world’s top emitters — India, Russia and China — saw reductions in sulfur dioxide, according to the report which analyzed NASA satellite data.
• The reduction in sulfur dioxide, which increases the risks of heart and lung diseases, is good news for Indian cities that have some of the world’s dirtiest air. Still, dangers remain as coal is set to dominate the nation’s energy mix for years to come.
• India accounted for 21% of global SO2, mostly from coal-fired power plants that lack pollution-curbing equipment, the report stated. In contrast, China, the world’s biggest coal burner, saw SO2 emissions plummet 5% last year and 87% since 2011, thanks to strengthened emissions standards and increased use of scrubbers at power plants.
• India’s environment ministry in 2015 set new standards for emissions of SO2, nitrogen oxides and mercury, asking power plants to comply in two years. The generators instead successfully lobbied to get the deadline pushed back until 2022, and are now seeking a further extension, citing lack of clarity on how the costs will be compensated.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: INTERNATIONAL

Indian, Taiwanese think tanks join hands to foster cooperation in Indo-Pacific region 

• The Taiwan-Asia Exchange Foundation (TAEF), a leading think tank from Taiwan has signed a memorandum with India’s National Maritime Foundation (NMF) in order to foster cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region as part of Taiwan’s South bound policy.
• The two groups will set up a joint task force to deepen bilateral dialogue. The memorandum’s aim is to conduct joint research and expand cooperation.
• The goal of the TAEF is to promote comprehensive ties between Taiwan and the 10 ASEAN countries, six South Asian states, as well as Australia and New Zealand through cooperation and exchanges in three major fields – including think tanks, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and young leaders – to consolidate a sense of regional community in Asia and establish long-term cooperative partnerships.

About Taiwan

• Capital: Taipei
• President: Tsai Ing-wen
• Currency: New Taiwan dollar

Seventh round of military level talks between India & China underway to de-escalate tension along LAC

• In Ladakh region, the talk between India and China is underway to resolve the border issues on Line of Actual Control. The Commander level talks between both the countries began at the Chushul border personnel meeting point on Indian side.
• The Military commanders are meeting for the seventh time to work out the measures to preserve the peace and tranquility at the Line of Actual Control in Eastern Ladakh region.
• Fire and Fury GOC, Lt Gen Harinder Singh and his successor after a couple of days, Lt Gen PGK Menon are leading the Indian delegation.
• Sources associated with the talks process said that for the first time, China also sent a senior level foreign ministry official in their delegation. During the sixth round of talks between commanders on September 21, a senior diplomat and East Asia region joint secretary Naveen Srivastava participated in Indian delegation.
• The talks mainly focus on disengagement of forces from several friction points especially finger areas of Pangong Tso to ease the unprecedented tensions on the border between the two countries.

About China:

• Capital: Beijing
• President: Xi Jinping
• Currency: Renminbi

India donates 1.8 million N95 masks to Philadelphia

• India has donated 8 million N95 masks to Philadelphia, the largest city in the US state of Pennsylvania, to help in its fight against Covid-19, setting another example of a robust Indo-US partnership in the health sector.
• The move comes after the Mayor of Philadelphia, Jim Kenney, made a request to India for supply of masks to be used by the city’s frontline workers.
• “Philadelphia receives 1.8 million N95 masks from India to aid their fight against COVID-19,” India’s Ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu. “Another example of the robust India-US reliable partnership in the health sector!” he added.
• On October 5, at the request of the city mayor, 1.8 million N95 masks were delivered to Philadelphia for use of frontline workers. Philadelphia is the sixth-most populous US city.
• The move is also an indication of India’s capabilities in manufacturing personal protective equipment (PPE) not only for domestic use, but also exports, officials said.

FATF’s Asia Pacific Group keeps Pakistan on ‘enhanced follow-up list’ for slow progress against terror financing

• In a major setback to Pakistan, the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF’s) Asia Pacific Group (APG) on Money Laundering has reprimanded the South-Asian country for its slow progress on the technical recommendations of the FATF to fight terror financing.
• Earlier, Pakistan had requested for its ratings pertaining to targeted financial sanctions on terrorism and terrorist financing to be revised.
• The APG stated that the insufficient progress made by the country fails to justify a re-rating.
• The APG stated, Pakistan will remain in the enhanced follow-up list and will have to continue to report back to the APG on progress to strengthen its implementation of comprehensive Anti-money Laundering and Terrorist Financing measures.