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Current Affairs Today – 14th October 2020
NEWS AT A GLANCE
- The World Standards Day (WSD), also known as International Standards Day, is celebrated globally on 14 October annually.
- A new entry-level credit card named Axis ACE Credit Card launched by Axis bank with an aim to increase the participation of users in the digital economy.
- The banks’ maximum aggregate retail exposure limit to entities with turnover up to Rs 50 crore to Rs 7.5 crore by Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
- The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has projected the Indian economy to contract by 10.3 percent in 2020-21, from its earlier prediction of -4.5 percent due to rise in Covid cases.
- Every year National Philately Day is celebrated on October 13.
- The newly formed Trichy Circle of the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) will soon launch a cultural campaign to make youth aware of the country’s national heritage.
- The Uttar Pradesh government has launched “Mission Shakti” program which will be dedicated to the coming Navratra festival for women’s safety, dignity and empowerment.
- Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Edappadi K. Palaniswami signed 14 Agreements worth Rs. 10, 055 crore with potential to generate employment in the State.
- PepsiCo, which is an American multinational food, snack and beverage corporation has planned to establish potato chips in Uttar Pradesh with Rs 814 crore investement.
- North Korea unveiled what analysts believe to be one of the world’s largest ballistic missiles at a military parade celebrating the 75th anniversary in Pyongyang.
- Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Asia Pacific group has kept Pakistan in its ‘Enhanced Follow Up’ list.
- Seventh Meeting of Ministers of Justice of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) will be held on October 16.
- The fifth meeting of India Mexico bilateral high-level group on trade, investment and cooperation was held virtually.
- The Sixth Session of India-Norway Joint Commission was held. India was represented by the External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.
- The IIFL Wealth Hurun India 40 & under Self-Made Rich List 2020 announced.
- Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed loan agreement worth 270 million dollars with India with an aim to improve water supply and integrated storm water and sewage management infrastructure in 64 cities of Madhya Pradesh.
- Intel India and the State Government of Telangana partnered with each other with an aim to launch of an applied artificial intelligence (AI) research (INAI) center in Hyderabad.
- India and Maldives on October 12, 2020 concluded the Line of Credit (LOC) Agreement of USD 400 million for the implementation of the Greater Male Connectivity Project (GMCP).
- With an aim to foster cooperation in the Indo-pacific region the National Maritime foundation of India and Taiwan Asia Exchange Foundation recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU).
- The Earthshot Prize is launched by Prince William and Sir David Attenborough, which offers £50m (US$65m) in funding for solutions to the environmental and climate crises.
- Bank of Ghana has won the Central bank of the year award 2020.
- Delhi girl Chaitanya Venkateswaran recently became the British high commissioner to India for a day.
- The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has test-fired Nirbhay Cruise Missile from Odisha.
- All India Football Federation, the apex body for the sport of football in the country, announced the launch of their new motto ‘Indian Football. Forward Together’, defining the new brand direction.
- Robert Lewandowski who is a Polish professional footballer who plays as a striker for Bundesliga club Bayern Munich won the UEFA Men’s Player of the Year Award 2020.
- IIT Delhi-incubated startup Nanosafe Solutions has developed a range of antimicrobial mixing traditional science with nanotechnology i.e. antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal water storage containers and launched it as “AqCure”, which is based on the inherent antimicrobial properties of copper.
- In order to implement the Bharat net project, the BSNL has provided a contract to a private firm Hughes.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the autobiography of former Union Minister Dr Balasaheb Vikhe Patil through video conferencing on 13 October 2020.
- A former intelligence officer with the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), GBS Sidhu has written the book titled” The Khalistan Conspiracy”.
- Veteran film-maker B. Vijaya Reddy, better known as Vijay in the Kannada film industry, passed away in Chennai.
- Former India football captain Carlton Chapman passed away due to heart attack in Bengaluru at the age of 49.
- Former speaker of Odisha Assembly and renowned writer Sarat Kumar Kar, passed away at a private hospital in Bhubaneswar.
- Renowned philanthropist and social worker Savithri Vaithi succumbed to a cardiac arrest in Chennai. He was 92.
NEWS IN DETAILS
IMPORTANT DAYS AND THEMES
World Standards Day observed on 14 October
- The World Standards Day (WSD), also known as International Standards Day, is celebrated globally on 14 October annually.
Objective:
- To raise awareness about the importance of standardisation to the global economy among the consumers, regulators and industry.
Theme:
- World Standards Day 2020 theme is “Protecting the planet with standards”.
BANKING & FINANCE
ACE Credit Card launched by Axis Bank
- A new entry-level credit card named Axis ACE Credit Card launched by Axis bank with an aim to increase the participation of users in the digital economy.
- The card has been launched in collaboration with Google Pay and will run on Visa (Signature) platform.
- User will get 5% Cashback on Bill payments (electricity, internet, gas and more), DTH and mobile recharges done through Google Pay.
Extra Shots:
Axis Bank
- CEO: Amitabh Chaudhry
- Headquarters: Mumbai
- Founded: 1993, Ahmedabad
Banks’ aggregate exposure limit for small businesses raised to Rs 7.5 crore by RBI
- The credit card named Axis ACE Credit Card to entities with turnover up to Rs 50 crore to Rs 7.5 crore by Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
- RBI has also decided to extend the existing enhanced Held to Maturity (HTM) limit of 22 percent for SLR securities acquired between September 1, 2020 and March 31, 2021, up to March 31, 2022.
Extra Shots:
RBI
- Governor: Shaktikanta Das
- Headquarters: Mumbai
- Founder: British Raj
- Founded: 1 April 1935, Kolkata
- Deputy Governors: M. D. Patra, B.P. Kanungo, M. K. Jain and M Rajeshwar Rao
IMF projects India’s GDP to contract 10.3% in 2020
- The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has projected the Indian economy to contract by 10.3 percent in 2020-21, from its earlier prediction of -4.5 percent due to rise in Covid cases.
- IMF estimates the GDP of India to grow at 8.8 percent in 2021-22, as compared to 6 percent predicted earlier, regaining the position of the fastest growing emerging economy.
Extra Shots:
IMF
- Headquarters: Washington, D.C. U.S
- Managing Director: Kristalina Georgieva
- Chief Economist: Gita Gopinath
- Membership: 189 countries
NATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS
India Post to Launch Stamped Mask & Virtual i-Card on Philately Day
- Every year National Philately Day is celebrated on October 13.
- India Post also celebrated National Postal Week from 9 to15 October 2020.
- This year India Post Mumbai Division introduced Stamped Mask & Virtual i-Card on Philately Day.
Stamped Mask:
- The Stamped mask contains images of postage stamps imprinted on them.
- Objective: to make masks attractive and also drive home the importance of the role played by Masks during the current Covid situation.
Virtual i-Card:
- This virtual card containing the name, beat number, area of service, contact number and photo of the postman / postwoman, would be circulated to customers.
- Objective: will help them to know their postmen better and contact them directly in case of any emergency.
Extra Shots:
India Post:
- Parent Ministry: Ministry of Communications
- Headquarters: New Delhi
ASI Trichy Circle to soon launch cultural campaign to make youth aware of country’s national heritage
- The newly formed Trichy Circle of the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) will soon launch a cultural campaign to make youth aware of the country’s national heritage.
- school and college students will be involved in the campaign that will centre around heritage hotspots like the Big Temple in Thanjavur.
Extra Shots:
ASI
- Founder: Alexander Cunningham
- Founded: 1861
- Headquarters: New Delhi
STATE CURRENT AFFAIRS
UP govt launched ‘Mission Shakti’
- The Uttar Pradesh government has launched “Mission Shakti” program which will be dedicated to the coming Navratra festival for women’s safety, dignity and empowerment.
- During Durga Puja various programmes will be organised from gram panchayats to industrial units.
Extra Shots:
Uttar Pradesh:
- Statehood Day: January 26, 1950
- Capital: Lucknow
- Chief Minister: Yogi Adityanath
- Governor: Anandiben Patel
- Literacy Rate: 67.68%
- Nation Park: Dudhwa National Park
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister signs 14 MoUs to generate employment
- Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Edappadi K. Palaniswami signed 14 Agreements worth Rs. 10, 055 crore with potential to generate employment in the State.
- The Tamil Nadu State Government is also ranked first among Indian states in attracting investments during the first six months of this year.
Extra Shots:
Tamilnadu
- Capital: Chennai
- Chief Minister: Edappadi K.Palanisamy
- Governor: Banwarilal Purohit
- Chief Justice of Madras High Court: Vijaya Kamlesh Tahilramani
- National Park: Guindy NP,Gulf of Mannar Marine NP, Indira Gandhi (Annamalai) NP, Mudumalai NP, Mukurthi NP.
PepsiCo plans to establish potato chips plant in Uttar Pradesh with Rs 814 crore outlay
- PepsiCo, which is an American multinational food, snack and beverage corporation has planned to establish potato chips in Uttar Pradesh with Rs 814 crore investement.
- The unit is being set up in Kosi – Mathura on 35 acres of land provided by UP State Industrial Development Authority (UPSIDA).
Extra Shots:
PepsiCo
- CEO: Ramon Laguarta
- Headquarters: Purchase, Harrison, New York, United States
- Founder: Caleb Bradham
INTERNATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS
North Korea unveils massive new ballistic missile in military parade
- North Korea unveiled what analysts believe to be one of the world’s largest ballistic missiles at a military parade celebrating the 75th anniversary in Pyongyang.
- The massive weapon Hwasong-15, was carried by an 11-axle truck, capable of carrying a super-heavy nuclear warhead.
Extra Shots:
North Korea (Capital/Currency): Pyongyang/ North Korean won
- President: Kim Jong-un
Pakistan listed on ‘Enhanced Follow-up List’ by FATF
- Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Asia Pacific group has kept Pakistan in its ‘Enhanced Follow Up’ list.
- The organisation had downgraded Pakistan status from “regular follow-up” to “enhanced follow up”.
- According to the FATF’s report, Pakistan complied with only two of the 40 recommendations of Financial Action Task Force.
Extra Shots:
FATF
- Headquarters: Paris, France
- President: Marcus Pleyer
- Founder: Group of Seven
- Founded: 1989
SUMMITS AND CONFERENCES
Seventh Justice Ministers Meet of SCO to be hosted by India
- Seventh Meeting of Ministers of Justice of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) will be held on October 16.
- This Year India will host this SCO Justice Ministers Meeting. Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad will represent India in this meet.
- Due to coronavirus situation this year the meeting will be held through online mode.
- This meeting will be attended by Law and Justice Ministers from China, Pakistan, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyz Republic.
- They will discuss on the action plan of the working groups of experts on legal services and forensic activities.
Extra Shots:
SCO
- Headquarters: Beijing, China
- Founded: 15 June 2001
- Deputy Secretaries General: Sabyr Imandosov; Wang Kaiwen; Aziz Nosirov; Vladimir Potapenko
- Secretary General: Vladimir Norov
5th India-Mexico High level Group on Trade, investment and cooperation held
- The fifth meeting of India Mexico bilateral high-level group on trade, investment and cooperation was held virtually.
Highlights:
- The countries reviewed their bilateral trade and commercial relations.
- The countries discussed bilateral investment treaty, audio visual co-production, cooperation Framework on phytosanitary and sanitary products, market access for Agricultural Products and technical barriers to trade.
- The countries also discussed on cooperation in intellectual property rights.
Sixth Session of India-Norway Joint commission held
- The Sixth Session of India-Norway Joint Commission was held.
- India was represented by the External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.
- Both the countries agreed to engage in regular consultations on the issues of United Nations Security Council.
- The countries also hoped for an early conclusion of India and European Free Trade Association trade negotiations.
- The four members of EFTA are Iceland, Switzerland, Norway and Liechtenstein.
RANKS AND INDICES
The richest self-made Indians under 40
- The IIFL Wealth Hurun India 40 & under Self-Made Rich List 2020
- The list is topped by the founders of Zerodha, Nithin Kamath and Nikhil Kamath.
AGREEMENTS AND MOU SIGNED
India and ADB signed MoU worth 270 million dollars to develop urban services in Madhya Pradesh
- Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed loan agreement worth 270 million dollars with India with an aim to improve water supply and integrated storm water and sewage management infrastructure in 64 cities of Madhya Pradesh.
- This agreement will strengthen capacities of urban local bodies (ULBs) for improved service delivery in the state of Madhya Pradesh.
Extra Shots:
ADB
- Headquarters: Mandaluyong, Philippines
- President: Masatsugu Asakawa
- Founded: 19 December 1966
- Purpose: Economic development
- Membership: 68 countries
Telangana State Government and Intel to establish Applied Artificial Intelligence Research Center
- Intel India and the State Government of Telangana partnered with each other with an aim to launch of an applied artificial intelligence (AI) research (INAI) center in Hyderabad.
- For this initiative, Telangana government partnered with International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad (IIIT-H) and Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) which is the founding healthcare partner in the initiative.
- This centre will identify and solve the challenges in the healthcare and smart mobility segments.
India sign LOC agreement Maldives of $400 mn for GMCP implementation
- India and Maldives on October 12, 2020 concluded the Line of Credit (LOC) Agreement of USD 400 million for the implementation of the Greater Male Connectivity Project (GMCP).
- It is the single largest connectivity and infrastructure project in the island nation.
- The agreement was signed between Nirmit Ved, General Manager of Exim bank and Maldives Finance Minister Ibrahim Ameer.
Extra Shots:
Maldives (Capital/Currency): Malé/ Maldivian rufiyaa
- President: Ibrahim Mohamed Solih
India tied-up with Taiwan Think Tanks join hands for Indo-Pacific Cooperation
- With an aim to foster cooperation in the Indo-pacific region the National Maritime foundation of India and Taiwan Asia Exchange Foundation recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU).
- The think tanks will set up a joint task force to deepen the bilateral dialogue in the Indo-pacific region.
- Taiwan recently named India as one of its new south bound policy target countries.
Extra Shots:
Southbound policy
- Under the new South Bound policy, the Government of Taiwan is to enhance cooperation with 18 South Asian, South East Asian countries and Australia. The aim of the policy is to make Taiwan less dependent on the China mainland. It was officially launched in 2016
Tiwan (Capital/Currency): Taipei/ New Taiwan dollar
- President: Tsai Ing-wen
NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL AWARDS
£50m Earthshot Prize launched by Prince William and Sir David Attenborough for environmental solutions
- The Earthshot Prize is launched by Prince William and Sir David Attenborough, which offers £50m (US$65m) in funding for solutions to the environmental and climate crises.
- The aim of the prize, which was launched by Prince William and The Royal Foundation, is to provide an incentive to find solutions to repair the planet over the next decade.
Central bank of the year award 2020 awarded to “Bank of Ghana”
- Bank of Ghana has won the Central bank of the year award 2020.
- Apart from this, Mark Carney (Governor of the Bank of England) has won the Governor of the year at the Central bank of the year award 2020.
APPOINTMENTS IN NEWS
New Delhi woman Chaitanya Venkateswaran ‘becomes’ British High Commissioner for a day
- Delhi girl Chaitanya Venkateswaran recently became the British high commissioner to India for a day.
- The 18-year-old won the ‘High Commissioner for the Day’ contest organised by the mission in the run-up to the International Day of the Girl Child, which is on October 11.
DEFENCE CURRENT AFFAIRS
Nirbhay Cruise Missile test-fired by DRDO from Odisha
- The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has test-fired Nirbhay Cruise Missile from Odisha.
- Nirbhay is India’s first indigenously developed cruise missile
- The Missile is powered by a solid rocket booster developed by DRDO’s Advanced Systems Lab.
- The Nirbhay Subsonic Missile can fly at a speed of 0.7 Mach
Extra Shots:
DRDO
- Chairman: Dr.G. Satheesh Reddy
- Headquarters; New Delhi
SPORTS CURRENT AFFAIRS
AIFF announces ‘Indian Football – Forward Together’ as its new motto
- All India Football Federation, the apex body for the sport of football in the country, announced the launch of their new motto ‘Indian Football. Forward Together’, defining the new brand direction.
Extra Shots:
AIFF
- President: Praful Patel
- Founded on: 1937
UEFA Men’s Player of the Year won by Robert Lewandowski
- Robert Lewandowski who is a Polish professional footballer who plays as a striker for Bundesliga club Bayern Munich won the UEFA Men’s Player of the Year Award 2020.
- The final result was based on the total number of points from the votes cast by the coaches and journalists.
- In 2019, The award won by Virgil van Dijk (Dutch professional footballer).
Extra Shots:
UEFA
- President: Aleksander Ceferin
- First vice-president: Karl-Erik Nilsson
- Headquarters: Nyon, Switzerland
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY CURRENT AFFAIRS
IIT Delhi-incubated Startup Launches Antimicrobial Water Storage Containers ‘AqCure’
- IIT Delhi-incubated startup Nanosafe Solutions has developed a range of antimicrobial mixing traditional science with nanotechnology i.e. antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal water storage containers and launched it as “AqCure”, which is based on the inherent antimicrobial properties of copper.
- AqCure water containers have>99.99% antibacterial, >99.99% antifungal, and >99% antiviral activity tested as per ISO and ASTM standards.
5,000 remote villages to receive Internet using ISRO satellites
- In order to implement the Bharat net project, the BSNL has provided a contract to a private firm Hughes.
- The firm is to provide internet services to 5000 remote villages using ISRO satellites.
- The remote villages to receive the internet connection are located in Tripura, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Eastern Ladakh and Manipur.
- In order to achieve this, the ISRO communication satellite such as GSAT 11 and GSAT 19 are to be used.
Extra Shots:
ISRO
- Founder: Vikram Sarabhai
- Founded: 15 August 1969
- Headquarters: Bengaluru
- Director: Kailasavadivoo Sivan
BOOKS & AUTHORS
Autobiography of former Union Minister Balasaheb Vikhe Patil
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the autobiography of former Union Minister Dr Balasaheb Vikhe Patil through video conferencing on 13 October 2020.
- The autobiography of Dr. Patil has been titled ‘Deh Vechwa Karani,’ means ‘dedicating one’s life for a noble cause.’
- Dr Patil was a prominent leader from Maharashtra who served as seven time Member of Lok Sabha.
A former RAW officer unravels the path to 1984 in his book `The Khalistan Conspiracy’
- A former intelligence officer with the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), GBS Sidhu has written the book titled” The Khalistan Conspiracy”.
- The book published by HarperCollins will be released on October 24.
- The contents of this book revolve around a two-phased, top-secret operation, which he named “Operation Bhindranwale-Khalistan”.
OBITUARY
Kannada film director Vijay Reddy passes away
- Veteran film-maker Vijaya Reddy, better known as Vijay in the Kannada film industry, passed away in Chennai.
- He was 84.
Former Indian football captain Carlton Chapman passes away
- Former India football captain Carlton Chapman passed away due to heart attack in Bengaluru at the age of 49.
- Under his captaincy, the Indian team won the SAFF Championship trophy in Kathmandu (Nepal) in 1997.
Former Odisha Assembly Speaker Sarat Kar passes away
- Former speaker of Odisha Assembly and renowned writer Sarat Kumar Kar, passed away at a private hospital in Bhubaneswar.
- He was 81.
Philanthropist Savithri Vaithi passes away at 92
- Renowned philanthropist and social worker Savithri Vaithi succumbed to a cardiac arrest in Chennai. He was 92.
- Vaithi was the founder of the Vishranthi Old Age Home and Madras Charity Club.
