Hello and welcome to exampundit.in. Here are the important Current Affairs Today 16th October 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 – 16th October 2020
NEWS AT A GLANCE
- Every year 14 October is observed as The International E-Waste Day (IEWD) is celebrated since 2018.
- Every year 15th October is observed as The Global Handwashing Day (GHD).
- Every year 16th October is celebrated as the World Food Day (WFD) across the globe.
- National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) partnered with EarlySalary launched Salary Card which is a Zero Touch Digital Card.
- The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has approved the implementation of the Strengthening Teaching-Learning and Results for States (STARS) project, as a new Centrally Sponsored Scheme under Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education for improving the quality of education, in the Indian School Education System.
- A campaign launched by the Rajasthan police to spread awareness among woman about the crime against them and to educate them of their rights and ways to secure justice if they end up becoming its victims.
- Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has set a new Guinness World Record for most users taking an online artificial intelligence, AI lesson to 13,000 students from class 8 and above between October 13-14 in 24 hours.
- The Ministry of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy) has launched the Jan Andolan campaign against COVID-19.
- The Government of India has started to identify private facilities and government facilities to create a hub to store COVID-19 vaccines.
- The new integrated passenger terminal building of AAI-run Trichy airport in Tamil Nadu, with enhanced passenger handling capacity, will be functional from March 2022.
- Rs 520 crore a special package approved by the Union Cabinet chaired by PM Narendra Modi for J&K and Ladakh under National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM).
- Chief Minister of Delhi, Shri Arvind Kejriwal launched ‘Red light on, Gaadi off’ campaign to fight air pollution.
- Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has ordered to establish women help desks in each and every police station of state.
- Kyrgyzstan President Sooronbai Jeenbekov has resigned from his post on 15 October 2020.
- India has been re-elected as the President of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and France as the Co- President for tenure of two years.
- The first edition of Lectures designed to introduce India to foreign diplomats posted in New Delhi was inaugurated today by Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla.
- The Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare organized Mahila Kisan Diwas through Video Conferencing today.
- Indian Rugby Football Union (IRFU) which is the governing body for rugby union in India signed MoU with Odisha State Government to sponsor the Indian National Rugby Team for tenure of three years (till 2023).
- Indian Bank has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and with Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) for payment of subsidy to street vendors under the Centre’s SVANidhi Scheme.
- Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) has received Rs 5,550 crore from global investment firm KKR, which has picked up 1.28 per cent stake in its retail arm.
- Merchant payment network BharatPe has elevated Dhruv Bahl as its chief operating officer (COO) with immediate effect.
- Uber has appointed Manikandan Thangarathnam as the mobility head in the city of Bengaluru.
- Sanjeev Krishan has been appointed as the new Chairman of PwC in India for a four-year term commencing on 1 January 2021.
- The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) will launch Nano Satellite ‘India Sat’ into Sub-orbit that is made by three Tamil Nadu Students.
- Veteran sports journalist and Cricket commentator, Kishore Bhimani, has passed away. He was 80.
- Costume designer Bhanu Athaiya, the first Indian to win the Oscar award, has passed away due to prolonged illness. She was 91.
NEWS IN DETAILS
IMPORTANT DAYS AND THEMES
International E-Waste Day is observed on 14 October
- Every year 14 October is observed as The International E-Waste Day (IEWD) is celebrated since 2018.
- 2020 is the third edition of the International E-Waste Day
Objective:
- to promote the correct disposal of e-waste throughout the world with the aim to increase re-use, recovery and recycling rates.
Theme:
- The theme for 2020 IEWD is Education.
History:
- The day was developed in 2018 by the WEEE Forum, an international association of e-waste collection schemes, with the support of its members.
Global Handwashing Day is observed on 15 October
- Every year 15th October is observed as The Global Handwashing Day (GHD).
Objective:
- It is an international handwashing promotion campaign to motivate and mobilize people around the world to improve their handwashing habits.
Theme:
- Theme of GHD 2020 is Hand Hygiene for All.
History:
- The day was established by the Global Handwashing Partnership (GHP) (formerly called “Public Private Partnership for Handwashing” (PPPHW)) in 2008
World Food Day is observed as 16 October
- Every year 16th October is celebrated as the World Food Day (WFD) across the globe.
Objective:
- to eradicate worldwide hunger from our lifetime.
Theme:
- Theme 2020: “Grow, Nourish, Sustain. Together”.
History:
- WFD commemorates the day in 1945 when the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) was founded.
Extra Shots:
FAO
- Headquarters: Rome, Italy
- Head: Qu Dongyu
- Founded: 16 October 1945, Quebec City, Canada
BANKING & FINANCE
NPCI partnered with EarlySalary launched ‘Salary Card’
- National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) partnered with EarlySalary launched Salary Card which is a Zero Touch Digital Card.
- This Salary card contains unique feature which enables the customers to set up a high credit limit to suit their shopping, medical, travel, entertainment and other needs.
- This Salary Card Credit Solution is powered by Rupay.
Extra Shots:
EarlySalary
- CEO & Co-Founder: Akshay Mehotra
- Headquarters: Pune, Maharashtra
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
Cabinet approves Rs. 5718 crore World Bank-supported STARS project for Improving School Education
- The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has approved the implementation of the Strengthening Teaching-Learning and Results for States (STARS) project, as a new Centrally Sponsored Scheme under Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education for improving the quality of education, in the Indian School Education System.
- The total project cost is Rs 5718 crore with the financial support of World Bank amounting to US $ 500 million (approximately Rs. 3700 crore).
- The project will cover 6 States namely Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala and Odisha.
- The project envisages improving the overall monitoring and measurement activities in the Indian School Education System by supporting the:
- selected states in developing, implementing, evaluating and improving interventions with direct linkages to improved education outcomes and school to work transition strategies for improved labour market outcomes.
Extra Shots:
World Bank
- Headquarters: Washington, D.C., United States
- President: David Malpass
- Parent organization: World Bank Group
- Founded: July 1944
NATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS
Rajasthan Police Launches Drive for Women’s Safety and Security
- Rajasthan police launched a campaign with an aim to spread awareness among woman about the crime against them and to educate them of their rights and ways to secure justice if they end up becoming its victims.
- Named ‘AAWAJ’ — Action Against Women-related crime and Awareness for Justice the campaign was launched by Civil Rights and Anti-Human Trafficking Unit of the police and will run across the state to generate gender equality and curb crimes against women.
CBSE sets a new Guinness World Record, deliver online AI lesson to 13000 students in 24 hours
- Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has sets a new Guinness World Record for most users taking an online artificial intelligence, AI lesson to 13,000 students from class 8 and above between October 13-14 in 24 hours.
- The training was part of the ongoing AI for Youth Virtual Symposium organized by Intel and CBSE.
Extra Shots:
CBSE
- Parent organization: Ministry of Education
- Chairperson: Manoj Ahuja, IAS
Jan Andolan campaign against COVID-19 launched in India
- The Ministry of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy) has launched the Jan Andolan campaign against COVID-19.
- The Union government launched a public awareness drive as part of its fight against Covid-19.
- The network of about 750 AYUSH Medical Colleges with their communities of students and teachers will also play an important role in this effort.
India’s Plan to store COVID-19 Vaccines
- The Government of India has started to identify private facilities and government facilities to create a hub to store COVID-19 vaccines.
- India is under the plan of rolling out multiple vaccines for COVID-19.
- The Government of India is to use the Electronic Vaccine Intelligence Network (EVIN) to store the vaccine.
- The eVIN is used to monitor supply chain of COVID-19 response material.
- It was an indigenously developed system that is now being used to monitor supply chain of COVID-19 response material.
New passenger terminal building of Trichy airport to be functional from March 2022
- The new integrated passenger terminal building of AAI-run Trichy airport in Tamil Nadu, with enhanced passenger handling capacity, will be functional from March 2022.
- The existing integrated passenger terminal is in use for both international and domestic air traffic and has exhausted its design capacity.
STATE CURRENT AFFAIRS
Rs 520 crore package approved for J&K and Ladakh under NRLM
- Rs 520 crore a special package approved by the Union Cabinet chaired by PM Narendra Modi for J&K and Ladakh under National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM).
- This special package has been approved for a period of five years till the financial year 2023-24.
- The Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM): ensure sufficient funds to both the Union Territories with the aim to eliminate rural poverty and improved access to financial services.
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
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal launches campaign ‘Red light on, Gaadi off’ to tackle air pollution
- Chief Minister of Delhi, Shri Arvind Kejriwal launched ‘Red light on, Gaadi off’ campaign to fight air pollution.
- The ‘Red Light on Gaadi Off’ campaign will aim to bring a behavioural change in that regard. It will help reduce air pollution. This campaign will be another step towards reducing pollution.
UP govt decides to set up women help desk in every police station of state
- Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has ordered to establish women help desks in each and every police station of state.
- The Mission Shakti to be launched for the women’s safety and security on tomorrow, the first day of the Navratri, the chief minister dedicated the upcoming Navratri days to women’s and empowerment.
- Women police personnel will be given the charge of these women help desks so that every woman in state can register her complain freely and fearlessly.
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
INTERNATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS
Kyrgyzstan President Sooronbai Jeenbekov steps down
- Kyrgyzstan President Sooronbai Jeenbekov has resigned from his post on 15 October 2020.
- The 61-year-old has served as the President of Kyrgyzstan from 2017 to 2020.
- He was also the Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan from April 2016 to August 2017.
Extra Shots:
Kyrgyzstan (Capital/Currency): Bishkek/Kyrgyzstani som
India re-elected as President of International Solar Alliance
- India has been re-elected as the President of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and France as the Co- President for tenure of two years.
- The decision was taken on the third assembly meeting which is held virtually through online mode. The event was attended by 34 ISA Members ministers.
The vice presidency of ISA are as follows
- Fiji & Nauru for Asia Pacific Region
- Mauritius & Niger for Africa Region
- UK & Netherlands for Europe and others Region
- Cuba and Guyana for Latin America and Caribbean Region
Foreign Secretary inaugurates 1st edition of Sushma Swaraj Lectures 2020
- 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 2020.
SUMMITS AND CONFERENCES
DAC& FW organizes Mahila Kisan Diwas
- The Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare organized Mahila Kisan Diwas through Video Conferencing.
- The event was held under the guidance of Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar which was attended by Minister of State for Agriculture Parshottam Rupala, Agriculture Secretary Sanjay Agarwal and other senior officers of the Department.
- An e-book on ‘Inspiring Stories of Progressive Women Farmers’ was released and two short films on ‘Mahila Krishak and her Contribution in Agriculture’ and ‘Global Examples of Successful Women Farmers’ were launched.
AGREEMENTS AND MOU SIGNED
IRFU signed MoU with Odisha to sponsor Indian National Rugby Team for 3 years
- Indian Rugby Football Union (IRFU) which is the governing body for rugby union in India signed MoU with Odisha State Government to sponsor the Indian National Rugby Team for tenure of three years (till 2023).
- The Agreement was signed by R Vineel Krishna, Director of Sports & Youth Services Department, Odisha and Maneck Unwala, President of IRFU.
Indian Bank inks MoU with Housing Ministry, SIDBI for street vendors
- Indian Bank has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and with Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) for payment of subsidy to street vendors under the Centre’s SVANidhi Scheme.
- Indian Bank has developed an integrated online system to make payments of interest subvention and cash incentives to all street vendor-beneficiaries across the country through the Direct Benefit Transfer.
- The Centre introduced the Prime Minister Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (SVANidhi Scheme) to provide loans to the vendors and hawkers, among others.
- The MoU was signed by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs joint secretary (NULM) Sanjay Kumar and Indian Bank’s New Delhi field general manager Vikas Kumar.
Extra Shots:
SIDBI
- Founded: 2 April 1990
- Headquarters location: Lucknow
- Chairman and Managing Director: Mohammad Mustafa
Reliance Industries’ retail arm receives Rs 5,550 crore from KKR for 1.28 per cent stake sale
- Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) has received Rs 5,550 crore from global investment firm KKR, which has picked up 1.28 per cent stake in its retail arm.
- The investment valued Reliance Retail, which runs grocery stores and fashion chains, at a pre-money equity value of Rs 4.21 lakh crore.
- This was the second investment by KKR in Reliance Industries’ units. It had previously picked up a 2.32 per cent stake in the digital arm, Jio Platforms, for Rs 11,367 crore.
Extra Shots:
RIL
- Owner: Mukesh Ambani
- CEO: Mukesh Ambani
- Founder: Dhirubhai Ambani
- Founded: 8 May 1973, Maharashtra
APPOINTMENTS IN NEWS
BharatPe elevates Dhruv Dhanraj Bahl to chief operating officer
- Merchant payment network BharatPe has elevated Dhruv Bahl as its chief operating officer (COO) with immediate effect.
- In his new role, Bahl will be leading operations across customer support, deployments – QR, Swipe & Cards, KYC, loan disbursals and lead generation.
Manikandan Thangarathnam appointed as mobility head of Uber in Bengaluru
- Uber has appointed Manikandan Thangarathnam as the mobility head in the city of Bengaluru.
Extra Shots:
Uber
- CEO: Dara Khosrowshahi
- Founded: March 2009, San Francisco, California, United States
- Headquarters: San Francisco, California, United States
Sanjeev Krishan appointed as the new Chairman of PwC in India
- Sanjeev Krishan has been appointed as the new Chairman of PwC in India for a four-year term commencing on 1 January 2021.
- Sanjeev succeeds Shyamal Mukherjee, the current Chairman, who will step down on 31 December 2020 at the completion of his term.
Extra Shots:
PwC
- Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
- Founded: 1998
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY CURRENT AFFAIRS
Tamil Nadu Students developed Nano Satellite named ‘India Sat’
- The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) will launch Nano Satellite ‘India Sat’ into Sub-orbit that is made by three Tamil Nadu Students.
- The Three Tamil Nadu Students are M. Adnaan, M.Keasavan and V.Arun.
- They designed this satellite as part of the global competition held by the cubes in space, which is a programme of Idoodledu Inc in association with NASA.
Extra Shots:
NASA
- Headquarters: Washington, USA
OBITUARY
Cricket Journalist and Commentator Kishore Bhimani Passes Away
- Veteran sports journalist and Cricket commentator, Kishore Bhimani, has passed away. He was 80.
- Bhimani was a leading cricket commentator in the Eighties and Nineties and is best remembered for being on air during the tied Test of 1986 between India and Australia in Chepauk, Chennai.
Bhanu Athaiya, first Indian to win Oscar, passes away
- Costume designer Bhanu Athaiya, the first Indian to win the Oscar award, has passed away due to prolonged illness. She was 91.
- Bhanu Athaiya won the Best Costume Design Oscar for her work in the 1982 film Gandhi, directed by Richard Attenborough.
