Hello and welcome to exampundit. Here are the important Current Affairs Today 17th October 2019. These are important for the upcoming Exams. Candidates those who were preparing for the examination can use these current affairs and also you can download the same as PDF.
Current Affairs Today – 17th October 2019
BANKING CURRENT AFFAIRS
India Post launches mobile banking facility for savings accounts
- The Department of Post announced that it has launched mobile banking for its savings account customers.
- The facility will be available all the post office savings account holders of the CBS (core banking solutions) post offices.
- The launch of the mobile banking facility comes almost a year after the Department of Post launched Internet banking facility for its savings account holders.
FINANCE AND ECONOMY
CCI approves Kora to invest on Edelweiss Securities
- The Competition Commission of India (CCI) approved the Kora Master Fund LP investment of $75 million up to 10% in Edelweiss Securities Ltd.
- US-based Kora signed an agreement with Edelweiss in August 2019.
- As per the share subscription agreement, Kora is to invest in Edelweiss Securities Ltd (ESL) and Edelweiss Global Investment Advisory (EGIA) business subsidiaries.
- Kora is a foreign portfolio investor.
Extra Shots:
CCI: CCI is responsible to enforce the Competition Act 2002 across India. It aims to prevent activities that will cause an appreciable adverse effect on competition in India. CCI is a Trade Practices Commission.
- Formed on: 14 October 2003
- Chairman: Vijay Kumar Agarwal
- Secretary: PK Singh
NATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS
Kiran Uniyal sets Guinness World Records
- Kiran Uniyal, w/o a serving Colonel of Indian Army has created Individual Guinness World Records for “The most full contact knee strikes in three minutes (one leg) (female), 263 strikes” & “The most full contact knee strikes alternate legs in one minute(female),120 strikes”.
- The earlier records were of 177 strikes and 102 in female category respectively.
- The objective of both her records were to promote martial arts for girls and women safety and self-defence.
Textiles Secretary Inaugurates IHGF-Delhi Fair 2019
- Textiles Secretary, Ravi Capoor, inaugurated the 48th edition of the Indian Handicrafts and Gifts Fair (IHGF) at the India Expo Centre & Mart at Greater Noida.
- More than 3,200 Indian exhibitors are participating in the fair. Around 110 overseas buyers from 110 countries are participating in the event as well.
- They are here to source furniture, fashion, lifestyle and textiles products of the exhibitors.
- The theme of IHGF-Delhi Fair 2019: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
J&K’s Chenani-Nashri Tunnel to be renamed after Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee
- India’s longest Tunnel Chenani- Nashri on NH 44, in Jammu and Kashmir will be named after Bhartiya Jansangh Founder Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2017 had dedicated to the nation this 9.2 km long tunnel that reduces the distance between Jammu and Srinagar by 31 km.
Maharashtra Highway Police launched MRADMS Maharashtra
- The Maharashtra Highway Police launched MRADMS Maharashtra, a mobile application, for its personnel on 16 October.
- The app will collect and analyze the data related to road accidents in the state.
- Maharashtra state highway police will conduct training programmes for its personnel on how to use the app.
- The aim of the app is to minimize the loss of life by making roads safe for driving.
STATE CURRENT AFFAIRS
Shirui Lily Festival inaugurated in Manipur
- Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Tourism and Culture Prahlad Singh Patel inaugurated Shirui Lily Festival, 2019 at Shirui Vangayan Ground of Ukhrul in Manipur.
- Mr Patel along with State Chief Minister N. Biren Singh also inaugurated the Strength of Unity Statue as a mark of opening the third edition of the four-day state festival.
- This joint efforts of the State Government and Central Government can only promote tourism and culture of a region to the level of people’s expectation.
- Manipur
- Capital: Imphal
- Governor: Padmanabha Balkrishna Acharya
Jammu and Kashmir University organized Sangam festival
- Jammu University organized the five-day youth festival Sangam 2019-20.
- It was conducted by Jammu University’s Bhaderwah campus in association with the Rashtriya Rifles.
- The youth festival was inaugurated by Lt. General Ranbir Singh, the General Officer Commanding-in-chief, Northern Command.
- The festival aimed to promote peace and prosperity in the Chenab Valley region. It was held in J&K’s Doda district.
- The theme for the Sangam 2019-20, youth festival was Let’s Build our Nation.
INTERNATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS
UAE announces establishment of world’s 1st AI University
- UAE announced the establishment of the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence( MBZUAI) in Abu Dhabi.
- This is the first graduate-level, research-based AI university in the world. MBZUAI will enable graduate students, businesses and governments to advance the artificial intelligence field.
- MBZUAI will introduce a new model of academia and research to the field of AI, providing students and faculty access to some of the world’s most advanced AI systems to unleash its potential for economic and societal development.
Death Anniversary of Fakir Lalon Shah observed in Bangladesh
- The 129th death anniversary of the mystic bard Fakir Lalon Shah is being observed in Bangladesh.
- He is believed to be born in 1774 though no written records exist.
- He died in 1890.
- He was born Hindu but he was raised by a Muslim family after he was abandoned by his own family.
- Fakir Lalon Shah songs talk about humanism, love and equality going beyond the limitations imposed by religion, caste and creed.
SUMMITS AND CONFERENCES
Bengaluru to host the 5th Edition of World Coffee Conference
- Bengaluru has been selected to host the 5th Edition of World Coffee Conference from 7-9 September 2020.
- International Coffee Organization (ICO) that functions under the United Nations.
- The Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India, will host the 3-day event.
- The theme of the conference is Sustainability Through Consumption.
RANKS AND INDICES
India ranked 82 in the 2019 World Giving Index
- India ranked 82 spots among the 128 countries surveyed in the World Giving Index (WGI).
- The average figures for India over the past decade show that 34 per cent people helped a stranger, 24 per cent donated money and 19 per cent volunteered or donated their time.
- According to the WGI, the USA stood at the top followed Myanmar, New Zealand and Australia.
India ranks 3rd in the 2019 Hurun Global Unicorn List
- India ranked third in the 2019 Hurun Global Unicorn List. It accounts for 21 of the world’s 494 unicorns.
- China topped the list with 206 Unicorns, followed by the US with 203 Unicorns.
- The first edition of the Hurun Global Unicorn List 2019 was released by the Hurun Research Institute.
- The list is a ranking of the world’s billion-dollar tech start-ups that were founded in the 2000s and not yet listed on a public exchange.
AGREEMENTS AND MOU SIGNED
Mastercard and MS Dhoni partner to build ‘Team Cashless India’
- Mastercard, along with cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni, launched a nationwide initiative ‘Team Cashless India’ to accelerate the acceptance and adoption of digital payments.
- The initiative ‘Team Cashless India’ brings consumers and merchants to the forefront of the digital payments dialogue.
- The campaign encourages all Indians to nominate one or more merchants who currently do not accept digital payments.
- Mastercard will work together with Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), acquirer banks and fintech companies to support nominated merchants to deploy digital payments acceptance infrastructure.
Madhya Pradesh to sign MoU to promote IT firms
- Madhya Pradesh State government is to sign an MoU with the National Organization of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM) on 17 October.
- The agreement aims to create more jobs for the youth by promoting investment in information technology, sector.
- Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath has approved the proposal.
- The move has been considered as an important step for the IT sector.
- The MoU will be signed by Debjani Ghosh, President of NASSCOM.
- It will be signed in the presence of NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant on 18 October at Indore.
- The MoU will set up industries with good investment in the state. Employment opportunities will be provided to the youth through the IT sector.
SPORTS CURRENT AFFAIRS
Indian Women football Team wins 3rd SAFF U-15 Women’s Championship 2019
- The Indian football team won the 3rd Edition of the SAFF U-15 Women’s Championships 2019 by beating Bangladesh by 5-3 in the penalty shoot-out.
- The tournament was organized by the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) and was held at Changlimithang Stadium in Thimpu, Bhutan.
- Indian captain Shilky Devi slotted home from the final spot-kick to hand her side 5-3 win.
AWARDS
Lionel Messi wins 3rd straight Golden Shoe as top scorer in European Leagues
- Barcelona captain Leo Messi received his 6th Golden Shoe as the top scorer in the European leagues.
- Messi won the trophy for a 3rd straight year after scoring 36 goals, 3 more than his closest challenger, Kylian Mbappe of Paris Saint-Germain.
- Messi now has two more Golden Shoes than his great rival Cristiano Ronaldo.
- The award was created in 1967 when it was won by Eusebio.
IMPORTANT DAYS AND THEMES
15th October: World Maths Day
- World Maths Day is celebrated on 15 October every year.
- The Day aims to encourage students globally to take part in competitive math-themed games.
- The winners of the events will be given an opportunity to win prizes and scholarships.
- The World Maths Day first instituted by 3P Learning in 2007.
- The 3P Learning company was founded in 2003 and is headquartered in Sydney, Australia.
15th October: Global Handwashing Day
- Global Handwashing Day is celebrated on 15 October every year.
- The Day is observed to increase awareness and understanding about the importance of handwashing with soap.
- It also encourages people to hand as it is an effective and affordable way to prevent diseases and save lives.
- The theme for 2019 Global Handwashing Day is Clean Hands for All.
- The theme promotes handwashing programs.
- It should be known that it can put individuals at higher risk for diseases that impact their health, education, and economic outcomes.
17 October: International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
- The United Nations’ (UN) International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is observed on October 17 each year since 1993.
- It promotes people’s awareness of the need to eradicate poverty and destitution worldwide, particularly in developing countries.
- 2019 Theme: Acting Together to Empower Children, their Families and Communities to End Poverty.
