Current Affairs Today 22nd October 2020-Download in PDF

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Current Affairs Today – 22nd October 2020

NEWS AT A GLANCE

  1. Every year India observe the Police Commemoration Day on 21st
  2. Every year October 22 is observed as International Stuttering Awareness Day
  3. Tata group flagship firm Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) became the most-valuable information technology (IT) company globally, surpassing rival Accenture for the first time.
  4. The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the adoption of Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj act.
  5. The State of Global Air report 2020 was released.
  6. Union Minister for MSME, Nitin Gadkari launched India’s first-ever high-quality Khadi Fabric Footwear, designed by Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC).
  7. The South-Central Railway has started the third Kisan rail from the Zone today to reach Adarsh Nagar Station in New Delhi.
  8. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will virtually launch several important projects in Gujarat on 24th of October.
  9. Standard Chartered GBS is leasing 7.7 lakh square feet at DLF Downtown in Chennai’s Taramani to set up its largest office establishment globally.
  10. Kerala’s first water taxi service launched in the backwaters of Alappuzha. The water taxi is set to ferry passengers.
  11. In the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, the 3rd World Statistics Day on the theme ‘Connecting the world with Data we can Trust’ was celebrated in Budgam.
  12. Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal laid the foundation stone of Assam Agar International Trade Centre at Golaghat.
  13. Uttar Pradesh Government has announced to provide financial assistance to labourers for historical and religious tour in a unique step towards welfare of the labourers in state.
  14. The Tamil Nadu State government is to implement the smart blackboard scheme in more than 80,000 Government schools.
  15. NASA selected Nokia to build the first ever cellular network on the moon.
  16. The 18th meeting of Prosecutors General of SCO was held on 20 October 2020, via video conference.
  17. The Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and external affairs minister Jay Shankar will hold 2+2 dialogue with their United States counter parts mark as per and Mike pompeo.
  18. The India Vietnam Business Forum was organised virtually on 20th
  19. Dr Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare virtually addressed the World Bank- IMF annual meeting.
  20. The Ministry of Tourism released the Indian Tourism Statistics (ITS), 2020 report.
  21. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and UNICEF released the Anemia Mukt Bharat Index.
  22. The world economic forum recently released the third edition of the future of jobs report 2020.
  23. The JK Government signed an historic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with online store Flipkart to provide a platform for local artisans, craftsmen, weavers to reach customers across the globe.
  24. SEBI has constituted a Market Data Advisory Committee (MDAC), a Standing Committee – to recommend appropriate policy for access to securities market data, identify segment wise data perimeters, data needs and gaps, recommend data privacy and data access regulations applicable to market data.
  25. Mangdechhu hydroelectric project in Bhutan has been awarded the prestigious Brunel Medal for excellence in civil engineering by the UK-based Institute of Civil Engineers.
  26. Indigenously built Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) stealth corvettes INS Kavaratti under Project 28 (Kamorta class) will be commissioned into the Indian Navy by Chief of the Army Staff General Manoj Naravane, at Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam.
  27. The Odisha Government will pay the Indian Rugby Football Union (also known as Rugby India) ₹3 crore as sponsor of National teams over three years.
  28. Andrey Rublev joined Novak Djokovic as the only men to win four tour singles titles in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season as he beat Borna Coric 7-6 (5), 6-4 in the final of the St. Petersburg Open tennis tournament.
  29. The researchers at IIT Kharagpur have developed ‘COVIRAP,’ the Covid-19 diagnostic test technology that can produce results within one hour.
  30. Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri launched the Affordable Rental Housing Complex (ARHC) Portal(arhc.mohua.gov.in) under PM Awas Yojana via a webinar.
  31. Veteran economist and bureaucrat, and the current Chairman of the 15th Finance Commission, NK Singh launched his autobiography, “Portraits of Power: Half A Century of Being at Ringside” in a virtual event on 19 October 2020.
  32. The Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru has recorded a growth in freight movement.

NEWS IN DETAILS

IMPORTANT DAYS AND THEMES

National Police Commemoration Day Observed on 21 October

  • Every year India observe the Police Commemoration Day on 21st

Objective:

  • to remember and honour the brave policemen who have laid down their lives in the line of duty.

International Stuttering Awareness Day Observed on 22 October

  • Every year October 22 is observed as International Stuttering Awareness Day.

Objective:

  • to raise public awareness of the millions of people who have a speech disorder of stuttering or stammering.

Theme:

  • Theme 2020: “Journey of Words – Resilience and Bouncing Back”

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

TCS surpasses Accenture to become most-valuable IT services firm globally

  • Tata group flagship firm Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) became the most-valuable information technology (IT) company globally, surpassing rival Accenture for the first time.
  • At the last closing price of Rs 2,825, TCS was valued at $144.73 billion (Rs 10.6 trillion).
  • Accenture is currently valued at $142.4 billion, while IBM’s market cap is $110.5 billion.

Extra Shots:

TCS

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

NATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS

Union Cabinet approves adoption of Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act

  • The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the adoption of Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj act.
  • The adoption of Panchayati Raj act will now establish the three tier of Grass root level democracy in Jammu and Kashmir.

Extra Shots:

Panchayati Raj system

  • It is a rural local self-government. It was constitutionalised by the 73rd constitutional amendment act 1992.

India recorded the highest air pollution exposure

  • The State of Global Air report 2020 was released.
  • The report was released by US based institutes.
  • These institutes were Health Effects Institute and Institute for Health metrics and evaluation.
  • The report has been created based on data from ground monitors and satellites.
  • According to the report, India recorded the highest PM 2.5 exposure in the world in 2019.
  • India was followed by Nepal and Niger.

India’s first-ever khadi fabric footwear launched

  • Union Minister for MSME, Nitin Gadkari launched India’s first-ever high-quality Khadi Fabric Footwear, designed by Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC).
  • These footwears are made of Khadi fabric like Silk, Cotton and Wool.
  • These footwears will bear paintings from across the country including the famous Madhubani painting.
  • Mr Gadkari also launched the online sale of Khadi footwear through KVIC’s e-portal khadiindia.gov.in.

Extra Shots:

KVIC

  • Founded: 1956
  • Headquarters: Mumbai
  • Chairperson: Vinai Kumar Saxena

SC Railway starts 3rd Kisan rail from Zone to reach Adarsh Nagar Station in New Delhi

  • The South-Central Railway has started the third Kisan rail from the Zone to reach Adarsh Nagar Station in New Delhi.
  • This is the third Rail continuously starting from the district of Anantapur.
  • A total of 242.6 tonnes of commodities have been transported by this train.
  • The Government of India has started Kisan Rail concept to boost the income of farmers, while providing a hassle-free, safe and fast transport services for the marketing of the agriculture sector.

Extra Shots:

South Central Railway zone

  • Founded: 2 October 1966, Andhra Pradesh
  • Jurisdiction: Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana

PM Modi to launch several important projects in Gujarat on Oct 24

  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi will virtually launch several important projects in Gujarat on 24th of October.
  • These projects include the launch of rope-way project of Girnar Hills and launch of Kisan Suryodaya Yojna to provide electricity during daytime to farmers of Gir-Somnath, Patan and Dahod districts.
  • The Prime Minister will also launch 850 additional beds equipped with the latest equipment at the U.N. Mehta Heart Research Institute and a separate hospital for children born with congenital heart diseases in Civil Hospital campus in Ahmedabad.

Stanchart to set up its largest global campus in Chennai

  • Standard Chartered GBS is leasing 7.7 lakh square feet at DLF Downtown in Chennai’s Taramani to set up its largest office establishment globally.
  • The unique building design has a wide span of atriums, interconnecting internal staircases, terraces and skylight for employees to connect and collaborate.

STATE CURRENT AFFAIRS

Kerala’s first water taxi service launches in backwaters of Alappuzha

  • Kerala’s first water taxi service launched in the backwaters of Alappuzha. The water taxi is set to ferry passengers.
  • The water taxi, a catamaran diesel-powered craft with a seating capacity for 10 passengers, is 1st in a series of 4 boats.

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

3rd World Statistics Day celebrated in Budgam

  • In the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, the 3rd World Statistics Day on the theme ‘Connecting the world with Data we can Trust’ was celebrated in Budgam.
  • The event highlighted the importance of trustworthy data for the effective and result oriented policy making and the need to fill the gap between the statisticians and policy makers.
  • On the occasion, the Evaluation Study Reports on National Rural Livelihood Mission and Janani Surakhsha Yojna prepared by District Statistics and Evaluation Office Budgam were also released.

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

Assam CM lays foundation stone of Assam Agar International Trade Centre at Golaghat

  • Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal laid the foundation stone of Assam Agar International Trade Centre at Golaghat.
  • Objective: to promote the business potential of the farmers as well as entrepreneurs associated with agarwood plantation and trade in the state.
  • This trade centre is the first of its kind in the country.

Extra Shots:

Assam

  • Capital: Dispur
  • Chief Minister: Sarbananda Sonowal
  • Governor: Jagdish Mukhi
  • National Park: Dibru-Saikhowa NP, Kaziranga NP, Manas NP, Nameri NP, Rajiv Gandhi Orang NP, Dehing Patkai

UP govt announces to provide assistance to labourers for historical & religious tour

  • Uttar Pradesh Government has announced to provide financial assistance to labourers for historical and religious tour in a unique step towards welfare of the labourers in state. Government will also provide money to buy books for the study of their daughters.
  • Government will give financial assistance of 12 thousand rupees to the labourers of state for the tour of historical and religious sites under Swami Vivekananda Historical Tourism Scheme.
  • It was also decided to provide 7,500 rupees assistance for purchase of books under Mahadevi Verma Book Purchase Financial Assistance Scheme.
  • Government has also decided to provide money to encourage those children of the labourers who are performing well in sports.

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 Government to implement Smart Black Board Scheme

  • The Tamil Nadu State government is to implement the smart blackboard scheme in more than 80,000 Government schools.
  • This is to ensure better teaching environment.
  • The smart blackboard scheme aims to use audio visual teaching material that can be integrated along with digital classrooms.
  • It will create materials that can be fed into computer screens using pen drives.
  • The Tamil Nadu State government has also decided to reduce be syllabus of 2020-21 by 40 percentage.

INTERNATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS

NASA selected Nokia to build first ever cellular network on the Moon

  • NASA selected Nokia to build the first ever cellular network on the moon.
  • Nokia’s Bell Labs unit is planning to build what it describes as an ultra-compact, low-power, space-hardened, end-to-end LTE solution that will be available on the moon by late 2022.

Extra Shots:

NASA

  • Headquarters: Washington, D.C., United States
  • Founder: Dwight D. Eisenhower
  • Founded: 1 October 1958, United States

SUMMITS AND CONFERENCES

18th meeting of Prosecutors General of SCO was held on 20 October 2020

  • The 18th meeting of Prosecutors General of SCO was held on 20 October 2020, via video conference.
  • India was represented by the Solicitor General Tushar Mehta.
  • India will host the SCO Prosecutors General Meeting in 2021.

India, Vietnam Business Forum held virtually

  • The India Vietnam Business Forum was organised virtually on 20th
  • The trade between India and Vietnam has grown steadily and presently stands at 12.34 billion dollars in 2019-20.
  • Export basket from India to Vietnam includes bovine meat, fishery products, corn, steel, pharmaceuticals, cotton, machinery while imports from Vietnam include mobile phones, electrical machinery and equipment, computers, electronic hardware, natural rubber, chemicals, and coffee.
  • The bilateral trade turnover is still not commensurate with the levels of economic development and more needs to be done to broaden and intensify the trade relations to achieve its full potential.

Extra Shots:

Vietnam (Capital/Currency): Hanoi/ Vietnamese dong

  • President: Nguyen Phu Trong

World Bank- IMF annual meeting 2020

  • Dr Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare virtually addressed the World Bank- IMF annual meeting.
  • The theme of the meeting was “Unleashing the South Asian Century through Human Capital for All”and “Investing in Covid-19 Vaccines and Primary Healthcare Delivery System”.

Extra Shots:

World Bank

  • Headquarters: Washington, D.C., United States
  • President: David Malpass
  • Parent organization: World Bank Group
  • Founded: July 1944

RANKS AND INDICES

Indian Tourism Statistics (ITS), 2020

  • The Ministry of Tourism released the Indian Tourism Statistics (ITS), 2020 report.
  • Uttar Pradesh has emerged as the top destination for attracting the highest number of domestic tourists visiting the state in 2019.
  • Tamil Nadu (21.3%) came second followed by Andhra Pradesh (10.2%).
  • Goa came last on this list with over 9 lakh foreign tourist visits in 2019.

Anemia Mukt Bharat Index

  • The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and UNICEF released the Anemia Mukt Bharat Index.
  • Objective: to reduce the prevalence of Anemia all over India.
  • Haryana State has the best Anemia Mukt Bharat (AMB) Index among 29 states in the country.
  • Haryana was ranked at the top slot with an AMB Index of 46.7.

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

World Economic Forum: “The Future of Jobs Report, 2020”

  • The world economic forum recently released the third edition of the future of jobs report 2020.
  • According to the report the covid-19 and its impacts will disrupt more than 85 million jobs by 2025.
  • The automation and new division of labour between the Machines and humans will be the major reason for disruption of jobs in the next five years.
  • The redundancy in workforce will decrease from 15.4 % to 9 percentage.

Extra Shots:

World Economic Forum

  • Headquarters: Cologny, Switzerland
  • Founder: Klaus Schwab
  • Founded: January 1971
  • Leader: Klaus Schwab

AGREEMENTS AND MOU SIGNED

J&K Govt inks MoU with Flipkart to provide platform for local artisans, craftsmen, weavers

  • The JK Government signed an historic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with online store Flipkart to provide a platform for local artisans, craftsmen, weavers to reach customers across the globe.
  • This partnership will provide an appropriate opportunity for the momentous growth and development of the respective sectors.
  • This e-marketing channel shall involve and benefit artisans and weavers both in organized and unorganized sector and for the first six months, Flipkart will not charge any fee from the artisans and weavers.

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

RECENT COMMITTEES IN NEWS

SEBI Constitutes “Market Data Advisory Committee”

  • SEBI has constituted a Market Data Advisory Committee (MDAC), a Standing Committee – to recommend appropriate policy for access to securities market data, identify segment wise data perimeters, data needs and gaps, recommend data privacy and data access regulations applicable to market data.
  • The committee is headed by Madhabi Puri Buch, Whole Time Member.

Extra Shots:

SEBI

  • Founded: 12 April 1992
  • Headquarters: Mumbai
  • Chairperson: Ajay Tyagi

NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL AWARDS

Mangdechhu hydroelectric project in Bhutan wins prestigious award

  • Mangdechhu hydroelectric project in Bhutan has been awarded the prestigious Brunel Medal for excellence in civil engineering by the UK-based Institute of Civil Engineers.
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi had inaugurated the 720 MW project on August 17 last year during his visit to Bhutan.
  • Mangdechhu River in Trongsa Dzongkhag district of central Bhutan at a cost of Rs 4,500-crore, is seen as a symbol of friendship between the two countries.
  • The Mangdechhu project was funded by India through a 70 per cent loan and a 30 per cent grant.
  • The Mangdechhu power plant was developed by the Mangdechhu Hydroelectric Project Authority, which was jointly constituted by the Indian and the Bhutanese governments.

DEFENCE CURRENT AFFAIRS

Indigenously built ASW stealth corvette INS Kavaratti to be commissioned into Navy

  • Indigenously built Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) stealth corvettes INS Kavaratti under Project 28 (Kamorta class) will be commissioned into the Indian Navy by Chief of the Army Staff General Manoj Naravane, at Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam.
  • Stealth ASW Corvette, Kavaratti is indigenously designed by the Indian Navy’s in-house organization, Directorate of Naval Design (DND) and built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata.

SPORTS CURRENT AFFAIRS

Odisha to sponsor national rugby teams for next 3 years

  • The Odisha Government will pay the Indian Rugby Football Union (also known as Rugby India) ₹3 crore as sponsor of National teams over three years.
  • The sponsorship will help in training, conditioning and incentivising the Indian national rugby teams (men and women) participating in international events.

Extra Shots:

Odisha:

  • Statehood Day: 1st April 1936
  • Capital: Bhubaneswar
  • Governor: Ganeshi Lal
  • Chief Minister: Naveen Patnaik

Russia’s Andrey Rublev wins St. Petersburg Open tennis tournament

  • Andrey Rublev joined Novak Djokovic as the only men to win four tour singles titles in the St. Petersburg Open tennis tournament.
  • The 22-year-old Rublev added the title in Russia to trophies in Doha, Adelaide and Hamburg.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY CURRENT AFFAIRS

‘COVIRAP’ Technology for COVID-19 Test gets ICMR Certification

  • The researchers at IIT Kharagpur have developed ‘COVIRAP,’ the Covid-19 diagnostic test technology that can produce results within one hour.
  • This COVIRAP technology has been successfully validated for its efficacy in COVID-19 been granted certification, after testing with patient samples by an authorized ICMR laboratory.
  • This test technology is comparable to the celebrated RT-PCR tests, and will just cost the common people with a testing cost of around Rs 500.

Extra Shots:

ICMR

  • Headquarters: New Delhi
  • Leader: Balram Bhargava
  • Founder: Government of India
  • Founded: 1911
  • Motto: भवन्ति (परीक्ष्य कारिणो हि कुशला, Sanskrit)

WEBPORTALS & APPS IN NEWS

ARHC Portal Under PM Awas Yojana launched

  • Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri launched the Affordable Rental Housing Complex (ARHC) Portal(arhc.mohua.gov.in) under PM Awas Yojana via a webinar.
  • A National Report on ANGIKAAR – a campaign for change management for PMAY (U) beneficiaries through a 3 C strategy- Community Engagement, Convergence and Communication was also launched by Shri Hardeep S. Puri.

BOOKS & AUTHORS

‘Portraits of Power’, autobiography of NK Singh, Chairman of 15th Finance Commission, released

  • Veteran economist and bureaucrat, and the current Chairman of the 15th Finance Commission, NK Singh launched his autobiography, “Portraits of Power: Half A Century of Being at Ringside” in a virtual event on 19 October 2020.
  • The book has been published by the Rupa Publications India.

MISCELLANEOUS

Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru records growth in freight movement

  • The Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru has recorded a growth in freight movement.
  • Between April and September, the Bengaluru International airport processed 131,603 metric tonnes of freight.
  • The Bangalore airport has emerged as the leading cargo center for the pomegranate exports from India by processing 180,745 kgs of pomegranate from April to August this year.
  • The Government of India’s Vande Bharat Mission and Air Bubble programmes have enabled Bengaluru airport to connect with 22 international destinations.

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