Hello and welcome to exampundit. Here are the important Current Affairs Today 10th September 2020. These are important for the upcoming Exams. Candidates who were preparing for the examination can use these current affairs and also you can download the same as PDF.
Current Affairs Today – 10th September 2020
NEWS AT A GLANCE
- World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) is observed on 10 September every year, in order to provide worldwide commitment and action to prevent suicides.
- Union Minister of Finance, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman launched the Doorstep Banking Services by Public Sector Banks (PSBs).
- SBI managing director C S Setty has announced that State Bank of India will launch a loan product, SAFAL, for organic cotton growers who don’t have any credit history.
- SBI recently launched a new investment plan named SBI Magnum Children’s Benefit Fund.
- Goldman Sachs has predicted India’s GDP for FY21 at -14.8%. For Calendar Year 2020 it has projected a contraction of 11.1%.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi will digitally launch Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana.
- The last phase of clinical trials of the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca has been put on hold after one of the participants fell ill in the United Kingdom.
- Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu virtually inaugurating the 125th Birth Anniversary celebrations of the Kavi Samrat Shri Viswanatha Satyanarayana.
- Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has launched two nutrition schemes ‘YSR Sampoorna Poshana’ and ‘YSR Sampoorna Poshana Plus’ to provide nutritious food to pregnant women, lactating mothers and children in the state.
- Karnataka Chief Minister, B.S. Yediyurappa inaugurated the ‘Veer Savarkar’ flyover in Bengaluru.
- Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa unveiled the country’s first integrated air ambulance srvice jointly launched by the International Critical Air Transfer Team (ICATT) and the Kyathi in the city.
- Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal launches e-filing consumer complaint system to help Delhiites during COVID-19 pandemic.
- Telangana Government and UK India Business Council renew their MoU to strengthen the state’s industrial development, government of Telangana.
- A parachutist completed the world’s first jump from a solar-powered aircraft after the plane soared to a height of 1,520 metres (nearly 5,000 ft) over western Switzerland.
- A powerful typhoon Haishen damaged buildings, flooded roads and knocked out power to thousands of homes in South Korea after battering islands in southern Japan and injuring dozens of people.
- The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has announced that it will be leading the global procurement and supply of the COVID-19 vaccine in order to ensure that all the countries have safe, equitable, and fast access to the initial doses when they are available.
- The United States President Donald Trump has been nominated for the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize because of his efforts on brokering the Israel-UAE Peace Deal.
- India and Angola held their first joint commission meeting on September 8, 2020. In the meeting, the countries have decided to expand their trade relation.
- ‘Levels and Trends in Child Mortality’ report was published by United Nations (UN).
- STEPapp (Student Talent Enhancement Program Application) has received a mandate from the Indian Ministry of Tribal Affairs to implement its gamified learning app across all Tribal Schools in India in a landmark development.
- WE HUB, India’s first state-led incubator to foster and promote women entrepreneurship to start-up, scale-up and accelerate with global market access, announced its partnership with NutriHub, first of its kind incubator to cater start-ups needs in the Nutricereals sector.
- The All India Tennis Association (AITA) has elected BJP Rajya Sabha member Anil Jain as its new president.
- Playerzpot announced the signing of cricketers Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Smriti Mandhana as its brand ambassadors.
- The Chief Minister of Haryana Manohar Lal Khattar has launched an online registration portal for admissions in undergraduate (UG) programmes in government, aided and self-financed colleges for the new academic session 2020-21.
- Veteran Telugu stage and film actor Jayaprakash Reddy died of heart attack at his residence in Guntur. He was 74.
- Senior BJD leader and former Rajya Sabha MP from Odisha Narendra Swain died at a private hospital in Cuttack. He was 81.
- Liberation war fighter and a prominent public figure of Bangladesh Ziauddin Tariq Ali passed away in Dhaka.
- Reliance-backed eCommerce platform Fynd has launched a new hyper-casual game titled ‘Social Doori’ to encourage social distancing amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
- The fossil, which belongs to unknown species of Kapi ramnagarensis, is said to be the earliest ancestor of the modern-day gibbon.
NEWS IN DETAILS
IMPORTANT DAYS AND THEMES
World Suicide Prevention Day observed on September 10
- World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) is observed on 10 September every year, in order to provide worldwide commitment and action to prevent suicides.
- The theme for 2020 World Suicide Prevention Day is ‘Working Together to Prevent Suicide’.
- The International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) collaborates with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) to host World Suicide Prevention Day with various activities around the world since 2003.
Extra Shots:
WHO
- Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
- Founded: 7 April 1948
- Parent organization: United Nations Economic and Social Council
- Heads: Tedros Adhanom, Soumya Swaminathan, Jane Ellison
BANKING & FINANCE
Finance Minister launches Doorstep Banking Services by PSBs
- Union Minister of Finance, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman launched the Doorstep Banking Services by Public Sector Banks (PSBs).
- The service aims to provide banking services to the customers of Public Sector Banks at their doorstep via three modes-
- Call Centre (18001037188 or 18001213721)
- Web Portal (www.psbdsb.in)
- Mobile App (Doorstep Banking (DSB)
- The targetted customers are- Senior citizens, Defense personnel, CRPF, widows, Divyang individuals, Students, Salaried employees, Corporate clients, Retail shopkeepers and street vendors.
- The service is available in 11 languages.
- It aims to deliver the services in 3 hours. For this 100 Doorstep banking centres have been established across India.
- All 12 Public Sectors banks have been covered in this scheme.
- Available Services: Services like- Cheques/DD/PO, New cheque book requisition, 15G, 15H forms, IT Challan, Standing Instructions request, A/c Statement, Non-personalised Cheque Books, DD, PO, Prepaid instrument/Gift card, TDS / Form 16 Certificate issuance, Term Deposit Receipt /Acknowledgement can be availed by the customers at their doorsteps.
SBI to launch loan product ‘SAFAL’ for organic cotton growers
- SBI managing director C S Setty has announced that State Bank of India will launch a loan product, SAFAL, for organic cotton growers who don’t have any credit history.
- It stands for Safe and Fast Agriculture Loan (SAFAL).
- SBI will use Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) for this purpose.
SBI Magnum Children’s Benefit Fund (Investment Plan)
- SBI recently launched a new investment plan named SBI Magnum Children’s Benefit Fund.
- SBI Magnum Children’s Benefit Fund (Investment Plan) would look to invest at least 65 per cent in domestic stocks.
- Your funds are locked-in for five years, or till the child turns 18, whichever is earlier.
- You can invest only in the minor’s name from the minor’s bank account or from a joint account with the minor.
- The fund already has an existing Savings Plan, which invests at least 75 percent in fixed income securities. That plan was launched in 2002.
Extra Shots:
SBI
- Chairperson: Rajnish Kumar
- Headquarters: Mumbai
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
Goldman Sachs predicts India’s GDP for FY21 at -14.8%
- Goldman Sachs has predicted India’s GDP for FY21 at -14.8%. For Calendar Year 2020 it has projected a contraction of 11.1%.
- For FY22, Goldman Sachs predicts India’s GDP to grow at 15.7% and for Calendar Year 2021 at 9.9%.
Extra Shots:
Goldman Sachs
- CEO: David M. Solomon
- Headquarters: New York, New York, United States
- Founded: 1869, New York, New York, United States
- Founders: Marcus Goldman, Samuel Sachs
GOVERNMENT SCHEMES
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launch Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi will digitally launch Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana.
- He is also going to launch e-Gopala application.
- The scheme will be launched for sustainable development of fisheries in India. It is going to be implemented between 2020-21 and 2024-25. Under the scheme, total funds allocations to the fisheries sector is Rs 20,050 crores.
Features of the scheme
- The scheme will be a boost to double the income of fish farmers.
- It is aimed at increasing the fish production to 70 lakh tonnes by 2024-25.
- This is going to reduce the post-harvest losses of fisheries sector to 10%.
- It will also generate 55 lakhs direct and indirect employment in this sector.
- The scheme will also establish finfish hatcheries, biofloc ponds, ornamental fish culture units, ice plants, cages and fish feed plants.
NATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS
AstraZeneca-Oxford COVID-19 vaccine trial paused after participant falls ill
- The last phase of clinical trials of the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca has been put on hold after one of the participants fell ill in the United Kingdom.
- AstraZeneca described the pause as a “routine” pause in the case of “an unexplained illness”.
- The AstraZeneca-Oxford COVID vaccine is one of the leading COVID-19 vaccine candidates, whose trials are being conducted in multiple nations including India and the United States.
Vice President inaugurates 125th Birth Anniversary celebrations of Kavi Samrat Shri Viswanatha Satyanarayana
- Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu virtually inaugurating the 125th Birth Anniversary celebrations of the Kavi Samrat Shri Viswanatha Satyanarayana.
- He had highlighted the importance of imparting learning in the mother tongue, preserving culture and protecting the nature.
- He also called making nature’s protection a people’s movement.
STATE CURRENT AFFAIRS
Andhra Pradesh CM launches ‘YSR Sampoorna Poshana’ scheme to provide nutritious food to women, children
- Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has launched two nutrition schemes ‘YSR Sampoorna Poshana’ and ‘YSR Sampoorna Poshana Plus’ to provide nutritious food to pregnant women, lactating mothers and children in the state.
- YSR Sampoorna Poshana will cover the urban and rural areas lying in plain lands while YSR Sampoorna Poshana Plus is intended to supply nutritious food exclusively in 77 Tribal areas covering 8320 Anganwadi Centres.
- Around 30.16 lakh women/mothers and children will benefit from these two schemes.
Extra Shots:
Andhra Pradesh:
- Capital: Amravati
- Chief Minister: Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy
- Governor: Biswabhusan Harichandan
- Literacy rate: 67.4%
- National Park: Sri Venkateswara National Park, Sri Venkateswara National Park, Papikonda National Park
Karnataka CM inaugurates flyover named after Veer Savarkar
- Karnataka Chief Minister, B.S. Yediyurappa inaugurated the ‘Veer Savarkar’ flyover in Bengaluru.
- The inauguration of the 400-metre long flyover built on Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan Road in the city.
- The Bengaluru’s civic body Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) built the flyover at the cost of Rs 34 crore.
- The project of constructing the flyover began in September 2017.
Extra Shots:
Karnataka:
- Statehood Day: 1st November 1956
- Capital: Bengaluru
- Chief Minister: B. S. Yediyurappa
- Governor: Vajubhai Vala
- National Park: Anshi NP, Bandipur NP, Bannerghatta NP, Kudremukh NP, Rajiv Gandhi (Nagarahole) NP.
First Air Ambulance in India: Karnataka
- Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa unveiled the country’s first integrated air ambulance srvice jointly launched by the International Critical Air Transfer Team (ICATT) and the Kyathi in the city.
- ICATT-Kyathi’s fixed wing aircraft is capable of long-distance emergency medical transportation, combined with helicopter and land ambulance services providing last mile connectivity.
- The fixed wing air ambulance will be stationed at the HAL airport in Bengaluru.
- The ambulance is equipped with state-of-the-art German Isolation Pod.
- ICATT-Kyathi will also enable safe transportation for critical Covd-19 patients.
Extra Shots:
Karnataka:
- Statehood Day: 1st November 1956
- Capital: Bengaluru
- Chief Minister: B. S. Yediyurappa
- Governor: Vajubhai Vala
- National Park: Anshi NP, Bandipur NP, Bannerghatta NP, Kudremukh NP, Rajiv Gandhi (Nagarahole) NP.
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal launches e-filing consumer complaint system
- Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal launches e-filing consumer complaint system to help Delhiites during COVID-19 pandemic.
- Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on (September 8, 2020) inaugurated the Delhi government’s e-filing consumer complaint system, which aims to help Delhiites during the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic.
- Delhi’s Consumer Affairs Minister Imran Hussain and top government officials of the Consumer Affairs Department were present during the inauguration of the E-filing consumer complaint system.
Telangana Government and UK India Business Council renew their MoU to strengthen the state’s industrial development
- Telangana Government and UK India Business Council renew their MoU to strengthen the state’s industrial development, government of Telangana.
- This collaborative partnership between the UKIBC and the Government of Telangana is well-established and has already led to two UK business delegations to the State and a further delegation of leading UK universities.
- These interactions boost business investment, accelerate improvements in the ease of doing business, facilitate UK-Telangana business partnerships and expand higher education collaboration.
Extra Shots:
Telangana
- Statehood day:2 June 2014
- Capital:Hyderabad
- Chief Minister: Kalvakuntla Chandrashekhar Rao
- Governor: Tamilisai Soundararajan
- Literacy Rate: 66.46%
INTERNATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS
Parachutist makes world’s first jump from solar-powered plane
- A parachutist completed the world’s first jump from a solar-powered aircraft after the plane soared to a height of 1,520 metres (nearly 5,000 ft) over western Switzerland.
- The two-seater prototype plane made the test flight in good weather and to promote renewable energy.
- Parachutist Raphael Domjan reached a speed of 150 kilometres per hour during his jump, landing near the project base in Payerne.
Typhoon Haishen wreaks havoc in South Korea
- A powerful typhoon Haishen damaged buildings, flooded roads and knocked out power to thousands of homes in South Korea after battering islands in southern Japan and injuring dozens of people.
- Typhoon Haishen was passing waters off the eastern coastal city of Sokcho after barrelling through South Korea’s southern and eastern regions.
UNICEF to lead global procurement and supply of coronavirus vaccines
- The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has announced that it will be leading the global procurement and supply of the COVID-19 vaccine in order to ensure that all the countries have safe, equitable, and fast access to the initial doses when they are available.
- UNICEF is the world’s largest single buyer of vaccines for diseases like polio and measles and procures over 2 billion doses on behalf of nearly 100 countries each year.
Extra Shots:
UNICEF
- Headquarters: New York, New York, United States
- Head: Henrietta H. Fore
- Founded: 11 December 1946, New York, New York, United States
- Founders: United Nations General Assembly, Ludwik Rajchman
- Parent organizations: United Nations General Assembly, United Nations Economic and Social Council
US President Donald Trump nominated for 2021 Nobel Peace Prize for brokering peace deal between Israel and UAE
- The United States President Donald Trump has been nominated for the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize because of his efforts on brokering the Israel-UAE Peace Deal.
- The nomination of Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize has been submitted by Tybring-Gjedde, a member of the Norwegian Parliament.
- Tybring-Gjedde specifically praised Trump for his efforts towards resolving the protracted conflicts worldwide.
SUMMITS AND CONFERENCES
India-Angola Joint Commission meet held
- India and Angola held their first joint commission meeting on September 8, 2020.
- In the meeting, the countries have decided to expand their trade relation.
- They held discussions in various sectors including Food processing, agriculture, defence, pharmaceuticals, health, digitization and telecom.
- India’s dependence on Angola in oil sector have increased the trade deficit.
- India is Angola’s 3rd largest trading partner sharing about 10% external trade.
- It mainly accounts for bulk crude oil purchase. India’s corporate sector see Angola as a land of opportunity.
Extra Shots:
Angola (Capital/Currency): Luanda/ Angolan kwanza
- President: João Lourenço
RANKS AND INDICES
UNICEF report on Child Mortality Rate
- ‘Levels and Trends in Child Mortality’ report was published by United Nations (UN).
- As per the new estimate on mortality released by UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO), the Population Division of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs and the World Bank Group, the under-five mortality rate (deaths per 1,000 live births) in India has declined to 34 in 2019 from 126 in 1990.
Findings:
- India registered a 4.5 % reduction in under-five mortality between 1990-2019 on yearly basis.
- The number of under-five deaths in India have dropped from 3.4 million in 1990 to 824,000 in 2019.
- The infant mortality rate in India declined from 89 in 1990 to 28 in 2019.
- India and Nigeria accounts for one-third of under five deaths in 2019.
- Child mortality deaths under five has dropped from 12.5 million in 1990 to 5.2 million in 2019,
- India have witnessed decline in neonatal mortality rate from 57 in 1990 to 22 in 2019.
- India accounts for around 22 million neonatal deaths in 1990 which reduced to 522,000 in 2019.
Extra Shots:
UNICEF
- Headquarters: New York, New York, United States
- Head: Henrietta H. Fore
- Founded: 11 December 1946, New York, New York, United States
- Founders: United Nations General Assembly, Ludwik Rajchman
- Parent organizations: United Nations General Assembly, United Nations Economic and Social Council
AGREEMENTS AND MOU SIGNED
STEPapp collaborates with the Tribal Development Department, Govt of India in bringing gamified learning to underprivileged students
- STEPapp (Student Talent Enhancement Program Application) has received a mandate from the Indian Ministry of Tribal Affairs to implement its gamified learning app across all Tribal Schools in India in a landmark development.
- This is the first time a government institution has tied up with an Indian EdTech startup on a monetised project.
- This initiative will benefit more than 1.5 lakh students from grades 1st-12th across the country immediately and will expand the scope in the coming years.
- Through this association, STEPapp will enhance the students’ performance in school exams as well as in competitive exams.
- This will also enable schools to measure the students’ learning outcomes through dashboards.
- The content provided will be in the English language.
WE HUB & NutriHub partner to Scale-up Agriculture Businesses
- WE HUB, India’s first state-led incubator to foster and promote women entrepreneurship to start-up, scale-up and accelerate with global market access, announced its partnership with NutriHub, first of its kind incubator to cater start-ups needs in the Nutricereals sector.
- The partnership will initiate virtual co-incubation for women-led start-ups in the agripreneurship space.
- NutriHub, through its existing R&D facility, will support WE HUB start-ups with technical advice, testing, product development, access to laboratories, equipment, and technical staff.
- WE HUB and NutriHub will also collaborate in conducting start-up related events, workshops, to generate interest among potential start-ups.
- These programs will enable women, entrepreneurs to gain a deeper understanding of the industry landscape, hence helping them scale- up and sustain in the ecosystem.
APPOINTMENTS IN NEWS
Anil Jain Elected As New President of All India Tennis Association
- The All India Tennis Association (AITA) has elected BJP Rajya Sabha member Anil Jain as its new president.
- He will replace Praveen Mahajan, whose tenure as AITA President came to an end this year.
- Previously, Jain served as the Vice-President of AITA from 2016-2020.
- Apart from him, Anil Dhupar has been chosen as the Secretary-Genral, while India’s Davis Cup captain Rohit Rajpal was elected as the Treasurer of the national federation.
- They all have been elected unanimously for a four-year term till 2024.
Extra Shots:
All India Tennis Association
- President: Praveen Mahajan
- Founded: March 1920
- Sport: Tennis
- Headquarters: R.K. Khanna Tennis Stadium, Delhi
Playerzpot appointed Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Smriti Mandhana as brand ambassadors
- Playerzpot announced the signing of cricketers Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Smriti Mandhana as its brand ambassadors.
- The partnership will see the cricketers in the brand’s upcoming campaigns and promote Playerzpot through engagement activities.
- The duo will anchor the brand with their sports charisma and help in creating a higher brand recall amongst the key target audience.
WEBPORTALS & APPS IN NEWS
Haryana launches chatbot ”Apka Mitra” for admission-related queries and online admission platform for UG courses
- The Chief Minister of Haryana Manohar Lal Khattar has launched an online registration portal for admissions in undergraduate (UG) programmes in government, aided and self-financed colleges for the new academic session 2020-21.
- This portal has been launched in wake of COVID-19 Pandemic, so that students can complete their entire admission process from home.
- Besides, the registration and prospectus fee of all undergraduate courses has also been waived.
- CM Khattar also launched an educational WhatsApp chatbot ”Apka Mitra” to resolve any admission-related queries of the students.
- Students can send a message on WhatsApp chatbot number 7419444449 to get any information regarding admissions, scholarships etc.
Extra Shots:
Haryana:
- Capital: Chandigarh
- Chief Minister: Manohar Lal Khattar
- Governor: Satyadev Narayan Arya
- National Park: Sultanpur National Park, Kalesar National Park
OBITUARY
Telugu Actor Jayaprakash Reddy passes away
- Veteran Telugu stage and film actor Jayaprakash Reddy died of heart attack at his residence in Guntur. He was 74.
- Jayaprakash Reddy, popularly known as JP, began his career as a school teacher.
- His passion for acting drove him towards the stage and he played varied roles in countless dramas.
- JP acted in more than 100 films along side the top heroes of Telugu films like Chiranjeevi, Balakrishna, Nagarjuna, Venkatesh, Pawan Kalyan and Mahesh Babu
Former BJD MP Narendra Swain passes away
- Senior BJD leader and former Rajya Sabha MP from Odisha Narendra Swain died at a private hospital in Cuttack. He was 81.
- Swain was elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha in 2015
Liberation war fighter Ziauddin Tariq Ali passes away in Dhaka
- Liberation war fighter and a prominent public figure of Bangladesh Ziauddin Tariq Ali passed away in Dhaka.
- He was a member of the cultural group ‘Muktir Gaan’, that inspired the freedom fighters through their songs during the Liberation War in 1971.
- He was instrumental in setting up the Liberation War Museum in Dhaka in 1996 with contributions from the common people.
MISCELLANEOUS
Reliance-backed Fynd launches mobile game to encourage social distancing
- Reliance-backed eCommerce platform Fynd has launched a new hyper-casual game titled ‘Social Doori’ to encourage social distancing amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
- The hypercasual game is based on an Avatar selected by the user.
- Being positioned in a public place, the Avatar would engage the player by guiding on various safety measures, including maintaining safe social distance, among others.
13-million-year-old fossil ape discovered in Uttarakhand
- The fossil, which belongs to unknown species of Kapi ramnagarensis, is said to be the earliest ancestor of the modern-day gibbon.
- The finding fills a major gap in the ape fossil record and provides an important evidence about the ancestor of gibbon that migrated from Africa to Asia.
Extra Shots:
Uttarkhand
- Statehood Day: 9th November 2000
- Capital: Dehradun
- Governor: Baby Rani maurya
- Chief Minister: Trivendra Singh Rawat
- National Park :Jim Corbett NP, Gangotri NP, Nanda Devi NP, Rajaji NP
