Current Affairs Today 15th September 2020-Download in PDF

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Current Affairs Today – 15th September 2020

NEWS AT A GLANCE

1. In India, the Engineer’s Day is celebrated on September 15 every year, since 1968, to recognise the contribution of engineers’ in the development of the nation.
2. International Day of Democracy is observed globally on 15th September every year.
3. The World Lymphoma Awareness Day (WLAD) is observed on September 15 every year.
4. S&P Global Ratings has projected the GDP of India to contract by 9% in the fiscal year 2020-21 (FY21), as against its previous estimate of a 5% contraction, due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
5. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has estimated that the GDP of India is expected to contract by 9 percent in the fiscal 2020-21 (FY21). This estimate is worse that ADB’s previous estimate of -4%.
6. The Union Minister of State, Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), Dr Jitendra Singh along with Youth Affairs & Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju and Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha laid the foundation stone for the construction of Arun Jaitley Memorial Sports Complex at Hiranagar, in Kathua district of Jammu & Kashmir
7. The Union Government on September 14, 2020 banned the export of onions with immediate effect.
8. Union Government has dismissed a media report claiming that process of new recruitment has been banned.
9. BJP has launched a week-long campaign namely Seva Saptah to mark the 70th birthday of Prime Minister Narendra Modi which falls on 17th this month.
10. Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar introduced – The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 and the Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Shri Raosaheb Patil Danve introduced The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020 in the Lok Sabha on September 14, 2020.
11. Prime Minister Narendra Modi today inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for seven projects related to urban infrastructure in Bihar through video conferencing.
12. Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan said that a state-wide genetic study on Covid patients will be carried out.
13. The Centre is working to release the funds related to Polavaram Project to the State of Andhra Pradesh at the earliest.
14. 15^th September is the 111th Birth Anniversary of the first Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu C. N. Annadurai, popularly known as Arignar Anna.
15. India has been elected as a member of the United Nation’s Commission on Status of Women (UNCSW).
16. Bangladesh Commerce Ministry of has given special permission for traders to export Hilsa fish to India on a limited scale in view of the forthcoming Durga Puja.
17. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) became the second Indian firm to attain a market valuation of over Rs 9 lakh crore after Reliance Industries Limited.
18. Mumbai-based Liberty General Insurance has partnered with SpiceJet to offer Liberty Secure Travel’ an insurance policy to consumers who book airline travel through SpiceJet’s website and mobile site.
19. IT services major Infosys will acquire Czech Republic-based GuideVision for up to 30 million euros (about Rs 260.4 crore).
20. Aditya Puri, MD of HDFC Bank has been conferred the Lifetime Achievement Award by Euromoney Awards of Excellence 2020.
21. Rajesh Khullar has been appointed as Executive Director at World Bank
22. Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yoshihide Suga, has been elected as the new Chief of country’s ruling, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Prime Minister designate of Japan.
23. NDA candidate Harivansh has been re-elected as the Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha.
24. Paytm First Games (PFG), a subsidiary of digital financial service platform Paytm, has roped in Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar as its brand ambassador.
25. Interior designer Gauri Khan has authored her first book titled “My Life In Design”, which will be published by Penguin Random House India in 2021.
26. Veteran Congress leader and former Chhattisgarh minister Chanesh Ram Rathiya has passed away due to COVID-19. He was 78.
27. India-born renowned Pakistani Shia scholar Allama Zameer Akhtar Naqvi has died following a heart attack. He was 76
28. Former MLA from Panaji Baban Naik died after suffering a heart attack in his home at the age of 76.
29. Eminent litterateur and radio announcer Nadia Bihari Mohanty passed away due to Covid-19 at a private hospital in Cuttack. He was 90.
30. Amitabh Bachchan has partnered with Amazon and will lend his voice for a unique user experience on Alexa-enabled devices.

NEWS IN DETAILS

IMPORTANT DAYS AND THEMES

National Engineer’s Day observed on15 September

• In India, the Engineer’s Day is celebrated on September 15 every year, since 1968, to recognise the contribution of engineers’ in the development of the nation.
• The day marks the birth anniversary of the engineering pioneer of India, Sir Mokshagundam Vishweshvaraya, (popularly known as Sir MV).
• Sir MV was regarded as the “Father of Modern Mysore”.
• He was awarded ‘Bharat Ratna’ for his exceptional contribution to the building of India in 1955.

International Day of Democracy observed on 15 September

• International Day of Democracy is observed globally on 15th September every year.
• The International Day of Democracy provides an opportunity to review the state of democracy in the world.
• Democracy is as much a process as a goal, and only with the full participation of and support by the international community, national governing bodies, civil society and individuals, can the ideal of democracy be made into a reality to be enjoyed by everyone, everywhere.

World Lymphoma Awareness Day observed on 15 September

• The World Lymphoma Awareness Day (WLAD) is observed on September 15 every year.
• The day is dedicated to raising awareness of lymphoma, an increasingly common form of cancer.
• WLAD is a global initiative, initiated in 2004 by the Lymphoma Coalition (LC), a non-profit network organisation of 83 lymphoma patient groups from 52 countries around the world.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

S&P Global Ratings Projects India’s GDP at -9% in FY21 & 6% in FY22

• S&P Global Ratings has projected the GDP of India to contract by 9% in the fiscal year 2020-21 (FY21), as against its previous estimate of a 5% contraction, due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• For the Fy22 (2021-22), S&P expects GDP growth of 6%.
• For the Fy23 (2022-23), GDP is projected at 6.2%.

Extra Shots:

S&P Global Ratings

• Headquarters: New York, New York, United States
• Parent organization: S&P Global
• Founder: Henry Varnum Poor

Asian Development Bank projects Indian economy to shrink by 9% in FY21, grow by 8% in FY22

• The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has estimated that the GDP of India is expected to contract by 9 percent in the fiscal 2020-21 (FY21). This estimate is worse that ADB’s previous estimate of -4%.
• However, for the FY22 (2021-22), ADB expects India’s GDP at 8 percent.
• ADB also expects the gross domestic product (GDP) growth for developing Asia at – 0.7 percent in 2020, the first negative economic growth since 1962.

Extra Shots:

ADB

• Headquarters: Mandaluyong, Philippines
• President: Masatsugu Asakawa
• Founded: 19 December 1966
• Membership: 68 countries
• Purpose: Economic development

NATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS

Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh virtually lays foundation stone of Arun Jaitley Memorial Sports Complex in Jammu

• The Union Minister of State, Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), Dr Jitendra Singh along with Youth Affairs & Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju and Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha laid the foundation stone for the construction of Arun Jaitley Memorial Sports Complex at Hiranagar, in Kathua district of Jammu & Kashmir through video conferencing on 12 September 2020.
• Arun Jaitley Memorial Sports Complex will spread over 270 kanals of land and is being undertaken under the Prime Minister’s Development Package (PMDP) at an estimated cost of Rs.58.23 crore.
• The State of Art Sports Complex will be first of its kind sports complex in the Northern Region, having multiple sports facilities of international and national standards in one place.
• It will boost the overall Sports Infrastructure in the UT of Jammu & Kashmir.

Extra Shots:

Jammu & Kashmir

• Capitals- Jammu (Winter), Srinagar (Summer)
• Lt Governor- Manoj Sinha
• National Parks: City Forest (Salim Ali) National Park, Dachigam National Park, Hemis National Park, Kishtwar National Park
• Wildlife Sanctuaries: Baltal-Thajwas WLS, Changthang Cold Desert WLS, Gulmarg WLS, Jasrota WLS, Karakoram (Nubra Shyok) WLS etc

Government bans export of onions with immediate effect

• The Union Government on September 14, 2020 banned the export of onions with immediate effect.
• The order bans export of all varieties of onions except cut, sliced onions or onions broken in powder form.
• The ban also covers Bangalore Rose onions and Krishnapuram onions, which were free for export till now.
• A notification was issued in this regard by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade under the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Govt dismisses media report claiming ban on process of new recruitment

• Union Government has dismissed a media report claiming that process of new recruitment has been banned.
• Press Information Bureau said in a tweet that the claim is misleading.
• recruitment will continue normally through government agencies like Staff Selection Commission and Union Public Service Commission.

BJP launches week-long ‘ Seva Saptah’ to mark PM Modi’s 70th birthday

• BJP has launched a week-long campaign namely Seva Saptah to mark the 70th birthday of Prime Minister Narendra Modi which falls on 17th this month.
• Various social initiatives are being undertaken by the party leaders and workers across the country.
• Party national president J P Nadda launched the campaign at Chhaprauli village in Uttar Pradesh’s Gautam Buddh Nagar district.

Bills Introduced in Lok Sabha to Transform the Agriculture

• Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar introduced – The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 and the Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Shri Raosaheb Patil Danve introduced The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020 in the Lok Sabha on September 14, 2020.
• The bills are aimed at transforming the agriculture besides raising farmers’ income

STATE CURRENT AFFAIRS

PM Modi inaugurates & lays foundation stones for seven projects related to urban infrastructure in Bihar

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi today inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for seven projects related to urban infrastructure in Bihar through video conferencing.
• Out of these, four projects are related to water supply, two to sewerage treatment and one to riverfront development. The total cost of these projects is Rs. 541 crore.

Highlights:

• The implementation of these projects has been undertaken by BUIDCO under Urban Development and Housing Department of Bihar.
• Sewerage treatment plants built under Namami Gange at Beur and Karmalichak in Patna Municipal Corporation was inaugurated by the Prime Minister.
• He also inaugurated water supply projects built under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation in Siwan Municipal Council and Chapra Municipal Corporation. Both these projects will help local residents get pure drinking water 24 hours a day.
• The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of Munger water supply scheme under AMRUT Mission  which will help residents of Munger Municipal Corporation get pure water through pipelines.
• The foundation stone of Muzaffarpur Riverfront Development Scheme, being built under Namami Gange, was also laid by the Prime Minister.
• Under the project, three ghats of Muzaffarpur, Poorvi Akhada Ghat, Seedhi Ghat and Chandwara Ghat will be developed.

Extra Shots:

Bihar

• Capital: Patna
• Chief Minister: Nitish Kumar
• Governor: Phagu Chauhan

Kerala to conduct genetic study of Covid patients

• Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan said that a state-wide genetic study on Covid patients will be carried out.
• It has been decided that the genetic study of patients infected by the Covid 19 virus that was conducted in the northern districts of the State in collaboration with the Institute of Genomics and Integrated Biology under CSIR, will be extended across the State.

Extra Shots:

Kerala:

• Capital: Thiruvananthapuram
• Chief Minister: Pinarayi Vijayan
• Governor: Arif Mohammed Khan
• Festivals: Onam, Vishu, Thrissur Pooram, Nehru Trophy Boat Race
• National Parks: Anamudi Shola National Park, Eravikulam National Park, Mathikettan Shola National Park, Pambadum Shola National Park, Periyar National Park,Silent Valley National Park
• Wildlife Sanctuaries: Aralam WLS, Chimmony WLS, Idukki WLS, Periyar WLS, Wayanad WLS, Peppara WLS, Neyyar WLS, Kurinjimala WLS, Malabar WLS etc

Centre to release funds related to Polavaram Project to Andhra Pradesh

• The Centre is working to release the funds related to Polavaram Project to the State of Andhra Pradesh at the earliest.

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

111th Birth Anniversary of 1st CM of Tamil Nadu C. N. Annadurai being celebrated

• 15^th September is the 111th Birth Anniversary of the first Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu C. N. Annadurai, popularly known as Arignar Anna.
• He was also a Member of Rajya Sabha from 1963 to 1967. Well known for his powerful oratorical skills, Anna was a prolific writer too.
• Subsidy mechanism for rice and two language policy are some of his prominent administrative innovations. Several functions are being conducted in various parts of the state in memory of Arignar Anna today.
• The Tamil University in Thanjavoor has announced a 50 per cent discount sale of its prestigious publications in connection with Anna Birth Anniversary today.

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.

INTERNATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS

India becomes member of United Nation’s Commission on Status of Women (UNCSW)

• India has been elected as a member of the United Nation’s Commission on Status of Women (UNCSW).
• UNCSW is a body of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and is responsible for promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women.
• India will be a member of the UNCSW for four years — from 2021 to 2025. Three countries, India, China and Afghanistan had contested the elections in which India and Afghanistan have been elected to UNCSW while China has failed to do so.
• TS Tirumurti, permanent representative of India to the United Nations shared the information.

Extra Shots:

UNCSW

• Founded: 21 June 1946
• Headquarters location: New York, New York, United States
• Parent organization: United Nations Economic and Social Council
• Formation: 21 June 1946

Bangladesh govt allows limited export of Hilsa fish to India

• Bangladesh Commerce Ministry of has given special permission for traders to export Hilsa fish to India on a limited scale in view of the forthcoming Durga Puja.
• The Commerce Ministry has allowed nine exporters to send a total of approximately 1,500 tonnes of Hilsa to India. The first consignment of Hilsa was reported to have been sent to India on Monday. The export will be allowed till 10th of October.
• Bangladesh had imposed a ban on the export of Hilsa in 2012.

Extra Shots:

Bangladesh (Capital/Currency): Dhaka/Taka

• Prime Minister: Sheikh Hasina
• Official Language: Bengali

RANKS AND INDICES

TCS Becomes Second Indian Firm to Cross Rs 9 Lakh Crore-market Valuation Mark

• Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) became the second Indian firm to attain a market valuation of over Rs 9 lakh crore after Reliance Industries Limited.
• The company’s market valuation went past Rs 9 lakh crore in early trade helped by a rally in its share price.
• The stock of the software services firm gained 2.91 per cent to Rs 2,442.80- its record high on the BSE.

Extra Shots:

TCS

• CEO: Rajesh Gopinathan
• Founded: 1 April 1968
• Headquarters: Mumbai
• Founders: Faquir Chand Kohli, J. R. D. Tata, Tata Sons

AGREEMENTS AND MOU SIGNED

Liberty General Insurance Partners with SpiceJet to Offer Travel Insurance

• Mumbai-based Liberty General Insurance has partnered with SpiceJet to offer Liberty Secure Travel’ an insurance policy to consumers who book airline travel through SpiceJet’s website and mobile site.
• Applicable across SpiceJet’s domestic network, Liberty’s new zero-cancellation service offered under the Liberty Secure Travel Policy allows Passengers can claim a full cancellation-fee reimbursement for a flight-booking made in advance not beyond 90 days.

Extra Shots:

Liberty General Insurance

• Headquarters: Mumbai
• CEO: Roopam Asthana
• Founded: 2013

ACQUISITION & MERGER

Infosys to acquire GuideVision for about 30 million euros

• IT services major Infosys will acquire Czech Republic-based GuideVision for up to 30 million euros (about Rs 260.4 crore).
• The acquisition is being carried out by Infy Consulting Company Ltd, a step-down subsidiary of Infosys Ltd. As per the regulatory filing, the cost of acquisition is “up to 30 million euros including earn-out and bonuses.
• The acquisition is expected to close during the third quarter of FY2021, subject to customary closing conditions, it added.
• This acquisition is an important milestone in our journey to build capabilities relevant to the digital priorities of Infosys clients.
• Infosys launched Cobalt in August 2020, which is a set of services, solutions, and platforms to help its clients, mostly large enterprises, build new cloud-first capabilities.

Extra Shots:

Infosys

• Founded: 7 July 1981, Pune
• CEO: Salil Parekh
• Headquarters: Bengaluru

NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL  AWARDS

Aditya Puri conferred Lifetime Achievement Award by Euromoney 2020

• Aditya Puri, MD of HDFC Bank has been conferred the Lifetime Achievement Award by Euromoney Awards of Excellence 2020.
• He has been awarded for his skills in building a world-class bank in India at a time where there were no similar institutions in existence.

Extra Shots:

HDFC Bank

• CEO: Aditya Puri
• Headquarters: Mumbai
• Founded: August 1994, India
• Parent organization: Housing Development Finance Corporation

APPOINTMENTS IN NEWS

Rajesh Khullar appointed Executive Director at World Bank

• Rajesh Khullar has been appointed as Executive Director at World Bank.
• He is a 1988-batch IAS officer.
• Sameer Kumar Khare has been appointed Executive Director of the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
• He is a 1989-batch IAS officer of Assam-Meghalaya cadre.
• The order regarding this was issued by the Personnel Ministry.

Extra Shots:

World Bank

• Headquarters: Washington, D.C., United States
• President: David Malpass
• Parent organization: World Bank Group
• Membership: 189 countries (IBRD); 173 countries (IDA)
• Founders: John Maynard Keynes, Harry Dexter White

Yoshihide Suga elected as Prime Minister-designate of Japan, to succeed PM Shinzo Abe

• Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yoshihide Suga, has been elected as the new Chief of country’s ruling, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Prime Minister designate of Japan.
• Suga received maximum votes of 377 in the Party election, held to pick a successor to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who announced in August 2020 that he would resign due to health problems.
• The 71-year-old will assume charge of the office from 16 September 2020.

Extra Shots:

Japan (Capital/Currency): Tokyo/ Japanese yen

• President: Yoshihide Suga

Harivansh re-elected as Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha

• NDA candidate Harivansh has been re-elected as the Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha.
• The upper house cleared his name with a voice vote. BJP President JP Nadda had moved the proposal to elect Harivansh as the deputy chairman and his motion was adopted. Later, Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu announced his name.

Paytm named Sachin Tendulkar as brand ambassador for its gaming platform ‘Paytm First Games’

• Paytm First Games (PFG), a subsidiary of digital financial service platform Paytm, has roped in Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar as its brand ambassador.
• Tendulkar would promote the gaming platform PFG and all its fantasy sports such as cricket, kabaddi, football, and basketball.

Extra Shots:

Paytm

• Founder: Vijay Shekhar Sharma
• Founded: August 2010, Noida
• CEO: Vijay Shekhar Sharma
• Headquarters: B-121, Sector 5, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
• Parent organization: One97 Communications

BOOKS & AUTHORS

Gauri Khan authors book titled ‘My Life in Design’

• Interior designer Gauri Khan has authored her first book titled “My Life In Design”, which will be published by Penguin Random House India in 2021.
• It is a coffee-table book, in which Gauri has written about her journey as a designer.

OBITUARY

Former Chhattisgarh Minister Chanesh Ram Rathiya passes away of COVID-19

• Veteran Congress leader and former Chhattisgarh minister Chanesh Ram Rathiya has passed away due to COVID-19. He was 78.
• He had served as animal husbandry minister in the Digvijay Singh led-Congress government in erstwhile Madhya Pradesh.
• Rathiya also served as the food and civil supplies minister in the Ajit Jogi government (2000-2003) after the formation of Chhattisgarh in 2000.

India-born Famed Pakistani Shia Scholar Passes Away

• India-born renowned Pakistani Shia scholar Allama Zameer Akhtar Naqvi has died following a heart attack. He was 76.
• Naqvi, a PhD holder from the University of Karachi, was known to have a deep knowledge of science, philosophy, literature, culture, journalism and Islamic history.
• He authored 28 books on various subjects, including Urdu ghazals and the battle of Karbala. He was also the editor of the Al Kalam magazine besides heading the Anees Academy.

Former Panaji MGP MLA Baban Naik dies of heart attack

• Former MLA from Panaji Baban Naik died after suffering a heart attack in his home at the age of 76.
• Naik, who was MGP MLA between 1972-77 and president of Panaji Municipal Council between 1975-76.

Eminent writer Nadia Bihari passes away

• Eminent litterateur and radio announcer Nadia Bihari Mohanty passed away due to Covid-19 at a private hospital in Cuttack. He was 90.
• He was known for his contribution towards children’s literature, Nadia Bihari shot to the limelight with his popular children-oriented radio show ‘Sishu Sansara’, which was one of the longest running programmes in Akasvani.

MISCELLANEOUS

Alexa gets Amitabh Bachchan to voice its devices

• Amitabh Bachchan has partnered with Amazon and will lend his voice for a unique user experience on Alexa-enabled devices.
• The company and Amitabh Bachchan have collaborated to create a unique celebrity voice experience.
• Customers in India will be able to access Mr Bachchan’s iconic voice on Alexa by purchasing the Amitabh Bachchan voice experience.
• This feature will only be available next year.
• The Amazon Alexa team will work closely with Bachchan to capture the iconic voice and deliver a unique voice experience to customers.
• It will include popular offerings including jokes, weather, shayaris, motivational quotes and advice.

Extra Shots:

Amazon

• CEO: Jeff Bezos
• Founder: Jeff Bezos
• Founded: 5 July 1994, Bellevue, Washington, United States
• Headquarters: Seattle, Washington, United States

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