Hello and welcome to exampundit. Here are the important Current Affairs Today 24th 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 – 24th October 2019
IMPORTANT DAYS AND THEMES
United Nations Day celebrated on 24 October
- 24th October has been celebrated as United Nations Day since 1948. UN Day marks the anniversary of the entry into force in 1945 of the UN Charter.
- United Nations will commemorate the 75th anniversary of the United Nations in 2020 with inclusive global conversation on the role of global cooperation in building the future we want.
Extra Shots:
United Nations: It is an International Organization. Its Objective of UN is to not only maintain International Peace and Security but also to develop Friendly relations among nations.
- Founded – 24th October, 1945
- Headquarter- New York,United States
- Secretary General- Antonio Guterres (9th SG OF UN)
- He is from PORTUGAL
- Portugal (Capital/Currency) – Lisbon/ Euro
- United States (Capital/Currency) – Washington, D.C/ US Dollar
World Development Information Day observed on 24 October
- The United Nations observes World Development Information Day on 24 October every year.
- The General Assembly in 1972 established World Development Information Day to draw the attention of the world to development problems and the need to strengthen international cooperation to solve them.
World Polio Day is celebrated on 24 October
- World Polio Day is celebrated on 24 October.
- The day aims to raise awareness and resources to support the polio eradication effort.
- On this day, Rotarians and other partners reach out to leaders and communities to engage them in the effort through various events, fundraisers, and social media campaigns to support a Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI).
BANKING CURRENT AFFAIRS
Vreedhi Financial Services receives an NBFC licence from RBI
- Vreedhi Financial Services (VFS) has secured a non-banking finance company licence from the Reserve Bank of India.
- It’s objective is to provide credit and other services to micro-enterprises operating in tier two-three cities and small towns.
- The company will create a digital lending model by the next financial year.
- It will address the gap between the addressable and viable credit in the micro-enterprises space which is $123 billion as per the study conducted by the International Finance Corporation (IFC).
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RBI: The Reserve Bank of India is India’s central banking institution, which controls the issuance and supply of the Indian rupee.
- Founded: 1 April 1935, Kolkata
- Headquarters: Mumbai
- Governor: Shaktikanta Das
- Deputy Governors: B P Kanungo, M K Jain, N S Vishwanathan
NATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS
Union Cabinet approves merger of BSNL and MTNL
- The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the merger of loss-making telecom firms BSNL and MTNL as part of a revival package.
- The Cabinet has also given in-principle nod to the merger of BSNL and MTNL and till modalities are in place, MTNL will be a subsidiary of BSNL
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BSNL: Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited is an Indian state-owned telecommunications company.
- Headquarters: New Delhi
- Founder: Government of India
- CEO: Pravin Kumar Purwar
MTNL: Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited is a state-owned telecommunications service provider in the metro cities of Mumbai and New Delhi in India and in the island nation of Mauritius in Africa.
- Headquarters: New Delhi
- CEO: Sunil Kumar
STATE CURRENT AFFAIRS
Vijaya Bank Museum inaugurated in Bengaluru
- The Vijaya Bank Heritage Museum has been inaugurated at the headquarters of the erstwhile Vijaya Bank i.e. Bengaluru.
- The museum has a rare collection of photos through which the growth of the bank is showcased. The memories of the erstwhile Vijaya Bank can now be refreshed at a museum dedicated to its history.
- Vijaya Bank was one of the premier nationalised banks in the country.
- The erstwhile Vijaya Bank, along with the erstwhile Dena Bank, was amalgamated with Bank of Baroda on April 1, 2019.
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Vijya Bank: Vijaya Bank was a public sector bank with its corporate office in Bengaluru, Karnataka, India. It was one of the nationalised banks in India. The bank offered a wide range of financial products and services to customers through its various delivery channels.
- Headquarters location: Bengaluru
- Founder: A. B. Shetty
- Founded: 23 October 1931
- CEO: R. A. Sankara Narayanan
AGREEMENTS AND MOU SIGNED
GeM and Federal Bank sign MoU for payment related services
- The Government e-Marketplace (GeM) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Federal Bank to offer a number of services including transfer of funds through GeM Pool Accounts (GPA), advising of Performance Bank Guarantees (e-PBG) and Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) to the registered users on the portal.
- The MoU will facilitate a cashless, paperless and transparent payment system on the portal and would create an efficient procurement system for government entities.
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Federal Bank: Federal Bank is a Private Sector, scheduled commercial bank in India, headquartered in Aluva, Kochi. The Bank also has its Representative Offices abroad at Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
- MD & CEO : Shyam Srinivasan
- Tagline: Your Perfect Banking Partner
- Headquarters: Kochi, Kerala
APPOINTMENT
Deepika Padukone, PV Sindhu named as ambassadors for ‘Bharat Ki Laxmi’ initiative
- Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone and Indian badminton player PV Sindhu were named the ambassadors for Bharat Ki Laxmi.
- It is an initiative by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.
- The aim of this initiative is to celebrate the contribution & accomplishments of women of the nation for the public good.
- The hashtag for the initiative is #BharatKiLaxmi.
Braj Raj Sharma appointed as SSC Chairman
- The Central government has appointed Braj Raj Sharma as the Chairman of the Staff Selection Commission (SSC).
- He will replace Pankaj Kumar, who has been appointed as CEO of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI).
- The appointment was approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC).
- Braj Raj Sharma position, as the Secretary Department of Border Management, will be replaced by Nagendra Nath Sinha, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) chairman.
SPORTS CURRENT AFFAIRS
Praveen Kumar wins gold in Wushu World Championship
- Praveen Kumar has become the 1st Indian man to win a gold medal at the Wushu World Championships.
- He defeated Philippines’ Russel Diaz by 2-1 in the men’s sanda event in the 48kg category of the 15th World Wushu Championships held in Shanghai.
- Among other Indians, Poonam in women’s 75kg category and Sanathoi Devi in women’s 52kg category secured silver medals while Vikrant Baliyan bagged the bronze in the men’s 60kg category.
- Wushu Sanda is a martial art which combines full-contact kickboxing, including close range punches and kicks, with wrestling, takedowns, throws, sweeps and kick catches.
Abhishek Nayar retires from all forms of cricket
- Veteran Mumbai all-rounder Abhishek Nayar has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket.
- He represented India in 3 One Day Internationals but his record as a First Class player is more promising.
Anandan won 2 gold medals at the 7th CISM World Military Games
- Para-athlete Anandan Gunasekaran won two gold medals in the disabled men’s 100m and 400m IT1 events at the 7th CISM World Military Games on 22 October at Wuhan, China.
- Gunasekaran clocked 12.00 seconds in the 100m event.
- Anandan Gunasekaran won his second gold in the disabled men’s 400m IT1 event.
Extra Shots:
China (Capital/Currency): Beijing/Renminbi
- President: Xi Jinping
DEFENCE CURRENT AFFAIRS
Indian Army to conduct 2019 “Sindhu Sudarshan” exercise 2019 in Rajasthan deserts
- The Indian Army (IA) is to conduct exercise codenamed “Sindhu Sudarshan” for the year 2019 in the deserts of Rajasthan from November 29 to December 4, 2019.
- The aim of this exercise is to evaluate the capability of the defence services in an integrated air-land battle.
- The exercise showcasing a high degree of synergy between the Army and Air Force will be reviewed by Lieutenant General SK Saini.
Extra Shots:
- Chief of the Army Staff: General Bipin Rawat.
- Air Chief Marshal: Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria.
BOOKS & AUTHORS
A new book entitled “Ten Studies in Kashmir: History and Politics” released
- An Indian historian, educationist and Padma Shri recipient, Kashi Nath Pandit’s new book entitled “Ten Studies in Kashmir: History and Politics”, published by Academic Foundation.
- A new book looks at the riveting history of Jammu and Kashmir from the time of its political and geographic consolidation to the abrogation of the state’s special status.
- The book, which comes after the scrapping of Article 370 provisions in August, will shed light on the happenings from 1947 till the revocation of the special status of the state.
AWARDS
Mohun Bagan confers life membership to Abhijit Banerjee
- The Mohun Bagan Athletic Club has conferred life membership to Nobel laureate Abhijit Banerjee.
- The club handed him the First Day Cover of 1911 and the maroon green jersey with his name written on it.
- He was also given a book on the history of the club.
Extra Shots:
Mohun Bagan Athletic Club is a professional football club based in West Bengal, India. The club was established on 15 August 1889 by Bhupendra Nath Bose and is one of the oldest existing association football club in India and Asia.The club plays in the I-League under licence from the All India Football Federation.
Nedumangad won the 2019 Deen Dayal Upadhyay Panchayat Sashaktikaran Puraskar award
- Kerala’s Nedumangad block panchayat won the prestigious Deen Dayal Upadhyay Panchayat Sashaktikaran Puraskar for 2019.
- A total of nine awards were given to Kerala civic bodies, including Kolazhy of Thrissur district, Tirunavaya, and Maranchery of Malappuram, Srikrishnapuram of Palakkad, Sasthankotta of Kollam and Pappinisseri of Kannur.
- The award recognized the good work provided by the panchayats at different levels, including the delivery of services and sanitation.
OBITUARIES
Belgian Paralympian Marieke vervoort ends life through euthanasia at 40
- Marieke Vervoort, Belgian Paralympic athlete has ended her life at the age of 40 through euthanasia (the practice of intentionally ending a life to relieve pain and suffering).
- She was suffering from a muscle disease that caused her constant pain, paralysis in her legs.
- She won gold in the 100 meters and silver in the 200 meters at the 2012 London Games, while at the Rio Games 2016.
