Current Affairs Today 27th and 28th September 2020-Download in PDF

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Current Affairs Today – 27th and 28th September 2020

NEWS AT A GLANCE

1. The World Tourism Day is observed worldwide on September 27 since 1980.
2. The World Rabies Day is celebrated annually on September 28 to raise awareness about the impact of rabies on humans and animals, provide information and advice on how to prevent the disease and take efforts to control rabies.
3. The International Day for the Universal Access to Information (commonly known as Access to Information Day) is held on 28 September ever year.
4. Fino Payments Bank along with fintech partners has introduced NFC-based contactless payments solution for mass transit systems, especially state bus transport services in India.
5. BOB Financial Solutions Limited (BFSL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bank of Baroda has selected RegTech firm Signzy, in a bid to digitize its customer verification through ‘Video KYC’.
6. The Reserve Bank has roped in Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan for the customer awareness campaign to prevent gullible account holders from being duped by fraudsters.
7. Life sciences firm Bayer has partnered with private sector lender Axis Bank for its better life farming (BLF) initiative in India to provide enhanced and holistic financial solutions to smallholder farmers and rural farming communities.
8. SBI Card announced the launch of its new brand campaign, Contactless Connections that spreads the message that love and care can be shared even during this difficult period where social distancing is the norm.
9. The Manila-headquartered Asian Development Bank (ADB) said it has approved two loans totalling $570 million (about Rs 4,200 crore) for urban sector projects in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.
10. Rajasthan State Government has got 300-million-dollar loan approval from Asian Development Bank for water supply, sanitation infrastructure and services in secondary towns of Rajasthan.
11. Regulator IRDAI has identified LIC, GIC and New India Assurance as domestic systemically important insurers (D-SIIs) and subsequently decided to subject them to enhanced regulatory supervision.
12. The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), the oldest ally of Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), has quit the coalition due to the differences over the three farm bills which were recently passed by Parliament.
13. The Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan announced that Government of India is to increase the health care expenditure in the country by 2.5% of GDP by 2025.
14. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the 75th United Nations General Assembly session on September 26, 2020.
15. The Centre on Friday unveiled the first look of the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) train that can attain a top speed of 180 kilometres per hour on the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut corridor.
16. The Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, inaugurated the`Mukhyamantri Kisan Kalyan Yojna` on 26 September 2020.
17. Uttar Pradesh’s first vulture conservation and breeding centre is set to be established at Bhari Baisi village in Farenda range of Gorakhpur forest division.
18. President Ram Nath Kovind today gave assent to the Jammu and Kashmir Official Languages Bill, 2020, which was recently passed by the parliament.
19. Odisha Government is launching Radio Pathshala program for students upto class 8.
20. Madhya Pradesh government will honour Corona warriors from the medical field in Bhopal.
21. The Prime Minister-designate of Lebanon, Mustapha Adib has announced his resignation following his failure to form a new cabinet.
22. The city of Tel Aviv in Israel, is working on creating wireless electric roads to charge and power public transportation in the city.
23. The World Bank is an international financial institution has approved a 200 million dollar loan agreement to Bangladesh to improve access to safe water and sanitation services in the rural areas of the country.
24. A webinar was held between India and Cambodia.
25. India, Sri Lanka Bilateral Summit held – PM Modi announces 15 million dollars grant assistance for promoting Buddhist ties.
26. External Affairs Minister of India S Jaishankar addressed the Ministerial meeting of Alliance for Multilateralism.
27. Education Ministry organised a National Webinar on ‘Credit Mechanism, Mobility and Academic Bank of Credit’.
28. Centre for Disability Sports Foundation Stone was Laid at Gwalior,Madhya Pradesh. The function was organised by DEPwD which is under Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry.
29. India has been ranked at 89th position among 181 countries on the World Risk Index (WRI) 2020 which describes the natural disaster risk for various countries and regions
30. The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with its Denmark counterpart in the field of Intellectual Property Cooperation.
31. India and Sri Lanka have agreed to enhance cooperation to combat terrorism and drug trafficking.
32. Filmmaker Sreehari Dharman’s “Aavruthi” (Fence) won the best film trophy at the closing ceremony of IFFT-Orange Short and Documentary Film Festival which is jointly organised by the Orange Academy and the IFFT from Thrissur, Kerala.
33. Flight Lieutenant Shivangi Singh is set to become the first woman fighter pilot of India to fly the Rafale combat aircraft.
34. The Defence Research Development Organization (DRDO) has started the production of Pinaka missiles.
35. Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes-Finland) has won the Formula One Russian Grand Prix 2020 held on 27 September 2020.
36. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has appointed Neetu David, one of finest woman cricketers of India in the late ’90s and early 2000, as the Chairman of the 5 member women’s national selection panel.
37. The former Union Minister Jaswant Singh has passed away after a prolonged illness. He was 82.
38. Popular Kannada actor Rockline Sudhakar, who recently recovered from Covid-19, passed away after suffering a massive cardiac arrest.He was 65.
39. Well-known economist and Padma Bhushan awardee Isher Judge Ahluwalia died on Saturday after battling brain cancer for nearly a year.
40. in will host a virtual ‘Handicrafts Mela’ from September 26-October 10, showcasing more than 270 art and craft forms from various parts of the country.

NEWS IN DETAILS

IMPORTANT DAYS AND THEMES

World Tourism Day Observed on 27 September

• The World Tourism Day is observed worldwide on September 27 since 1980.
• This date was chosen by the United Nations World Tourism Organization as on that day in 1970, the Statutes of the UNWTO were adopted.
• In 2020 the theme of WTD is “Tourism and Rural Development”.
• The purpose of this day is to raise awareness on the role of tourism within the international community and to demonstrate how it affects social, cultural, political and economic values worldwide.

Extra Shots:

UNWTO

• Headquarters location: Madrid, Spain
• Head: Zurab Pololikashvili
• Founded: 1 November 1974
• Formation: 1 November 1974
• Parent organization: United Nations Economic and Social Council
• Area: Europe

World Rabies Day observed on 28 September 2020

• The World Rabies Day is celebrated annually on September 28 to raise awareness about the impact of rabies on humans and animals, provide information and advice on how to prevent the disease and take efforts to control rabies.
• The theme for the 14th WRD in 2020 is ‘End Rabies: Collaborate, Vaccinate’.
• The day also marks the death anniversary of the French chemist and microbiologist, Louis Pasteur’, who developed the first rabies vaccine.

International Day for Universal Access to Information observed on 28 September

• The International Day for the Universal Access to Information (commonly known as Access to Information Day) is held on 28 September ever year.
• Universal access to information means that everyone has the right to seek, receive and impart information for healthy and inclusive knowledge societies.
• Initially the day was designated by the UNESCO in November 2015 and was first held on 28 September 2016.
• It was later proclaimed on 15 October 2019 at the 74th UN General Assembly.
• Theme 2020: Access to Information – Saving lives, Building Trust, Bringing Hope!

BANKING & FINANCE 

Fino Payments Bank launches contactless payments for mass transport

• Fino Payments Bank along with fintech partners has introduced NFC-based contactless payments solution for mass transit systems, especially state bus transport services in India.
• Fino, which has over 80 per cent of its banking network of 2.75 lakh points in villages, aims to tap the opportunity to digitise cash used in mass transit systems.
• Fino has already issued over 30 lakh NFC-enabled smart cards that are accepted across 20,000 Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation buses.

Extra Shots:

Fino Payments Bank

• Head Office: Mumbai
• MD & CEO: Rishi Gupta

BOB Financial Solutions Limited partners Signzy to unveil its ‘Video KYC’

• BOB Financial Solutions Limited (BFSL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bank of Baroda has selected RegTech firm Signzy, in a bid to digitize its customer verification through ‘Video KYC’.
• With this alliance, BFSL has now enabled a quick, zero-contact and paperless KYC that omits the requirement for physical submission of KYC documents.
• It also ensures end-to-end security in the entire KYC process to both financial services providers as well as their users.

RBI ropes in Amitabh Bachchan for customer awareness campaign

• The Reserve Bank has roped in Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan for the customer awareness campaign to prevent gullible account holders from being duped by fraudsters.
• As part of the public awareness initiative of RBI, the regulator keeps informing about dos and don’ts that have to be followed by customers to transact safely and securely.

Axis Bank partners with Bayer”s BLF initiative

• Life sciences firm Bayer has partnered with private sector lender Axis Bank for its better life farming (BLF) initiative in India to provide enhanced and holistic financial solutions to smallholder farmers and rural farming communities.
• Through the partnership, Axis Bank will offer end-to-end financial solutions and services such as affordably priced loans, deposits, withdrawals and payments.
• Digital financial solutions and doorstep delivery of these services will be part of the bank”s offering to ensure convenient and hassle-free transactions.

Extra Shots:

Axis Bank

• CEO: Amitabh Chaudhry
• Headquarters: Mumbai
• Founded: 1993, Ahmedabad

SBI Card launches new brand campaign ‘Contactless Connections’

• SBI Card announced the launch of its new brand campaign, Contactless Connections that spreads the message that love and care can be shared even during this difficult period where social distancing is the norm.
• The campaign endeavours to bring a fresh breath of positivity by demonstrating that people can connect emotionally and spread joy despite the social distancing practices by which we are bound.

Extra Shots:

SBI Card

• CEO: Ashwini Kumar Tewari
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Chairperson: Rajnish Kumar
• Managing director: Ashwini Kumar Tewari
• Parent organizations: State Bank of India, The Carlyle Group

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

Asian Development Bank Approves $570 Million Loans for Urban Projects in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh

• The Manila-headquartered Asian Development Bank (ADB) said it has approved two loans totalling $570 million (about Rs 4,200 crore) for urban sector projects in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.
• The $300 million loan has been approved to finance inclusive water supply and sanitation infrastructure and services in secondary towns of Rajasthan.
• It has approved a $270 million loan for construction of water supply and integrated storm water and sewage management infrastructure in Madhya Pradesh.

Extra Shots:

ADB

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

Rajasthan gets 300-Million-dollar Loan approval from Asian Development Bank for its secondary towns

• Rajasthan State Government has got 300-million-dollar loan approval from Asian Development Bank for water supply, sanitation infrastructure and services in secondary towns of Rajasthan.
• The project is likely to build citywide access for improved water supply services for around 5.7 lakh people and enhanced sanitation services for about 7.2 lakh people in minimum 14 secondary towns.

Extra Shots:

Rajasthan

• Statehood Day: 30 March 1949
• Capital: Jaipur
• Chief Minister: Ashok Gehlot
• Governor: Kalraj Mishra

IRDAI Identifies LIC, GIC, New India Assurance Systemically Important Insurers

• Regulator IRDAI has identified LIC, GIC and New India Assurance as domestic systemically important insurers (D-SIIs) and subsequently decided to subject them to enhanced regulatory supervision.
• The three insurers have also been asked to raise the level of corporate governance, identify all relevant risks and promote a sound risk management culture.

Extra Shots:

IRDAI

• Founded: 1999
• Sector: Insurance
• Headquarters: Hyderabad
• Type: Statutory corporation
• Chairperson: Subhash Chandra Khuntia

NATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS

Shiromani Akali Dal quits BJP-led NDA over farm bills protest

• The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), the oldest ally of Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), has quit the coalition due to the differences over the three farm bills which were recently passed by Parliament.
• SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal announced the decision to cut ties with the NDA on 26 September 2020, amid the rising farmer agitation in Punjab over the three farm legislations.
• The SAD and the BJP had been allies since 1996.
• The SAD is the third major NDA ally to pull out of the coalition after the Shiv Sena and the Telegu Desam Party (TDP).

GoI to increase public health care expenditure from 1.15% to 2.5% by 2025

• The Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan announced that Government of India is to increase the health care expenditure in the country by 2.5% of GDP by 2025.
• Currently, the government is spending 1.15% of GDP to fulfil health care needs.

PM Narendra Modi’s address at 75th UN General Assembly

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the 75th United Nations General Assembly session on September 26, 2020.
• The theme of the 75th UN General Assembly session is – “The Future we want, the United Nations we need, reaffirming our collective commitment to multilateralism – confronting the COVID-19 through effective multilateral action. “
• The UN General Assembly was conducted virtually this year due to COVID-19 pandemic.
• PM Modi highlighted that world of 1945 was significantly different from today’s world and the current global situation.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted that reform in the responses, in the processes, in the character of the United Nations is the need of the hour.
• The Prime Minister also highlighted how India managed to free 600 million people from Open Defecation in 4-5 years and provide access to free health care services to more than 500 million people within 2-3 years.
• He stated that India is also implementing a huge campaign to make the nation tuberculosis-free by 2025.

India’s first RRTS train with design speed of 180 kmph unveiled

• The Centre on Friday unveiled the first look of the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) train that can attain a top speed of 180 kilometres per hour on the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut corridor.
• The design is inspired by Delhi’s iconic Lotus Temple and is aligned with PM Narendra Modi’s ‘Make in India’ policy

STATE CURRENT AFFAIRS

Madhya Pradesh CM launches ‘Mukhyamantri Kisan Kalyan Yojna’ on lines of PM-Kisan Scheme

• The Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, inaugurated the`Mukhyamantri Kisan Kalyan Yojna` on 26 September 2020.
• This scheme has been launched on the lines of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan) Scheme of the Government of India.
• Under the Mukhyamantri Kisan Kalyan Yojna, the MP state government would transfer Rs 4,000 to accounts of 1,75,000 farmers in the state.
• This amount will be transferred in two installments every year.
• The initiative aims to provide additional Rs 4,000 to each farmers so that farmers can get Rs 10,000 annually.
• It must be noted that farmers get Rs 6000 annually under the PM-Kisan scheme of the central government in three installments of Rs 2000 each.

Extra Shots:

Madhya Pradesh:

• Statehood Day: November 1, 1956
• Capital: Bhopal
• Chief Minister: Shivraj Singh Chauhan
• Governor: Anandiben Patel
• National Park: Bandhavgarh NP, Fossil NP, Kanha NP, Madhav NP, Panna NP, Pench NP, Sanjay NP, Satpura NP

UP’s First Conservation Centre For Vultures To Come Up In Gorakhpur Forest Division

• Uttar Pradesh’s first vulture conservation and breeding centre is set to be established at Bhari Baisi village in Farenda range of Gorakhpur forest division.
• This vulture breeding and conservation centre will be the first in India which will be dedicated to king vulture and also the first vulture conservation and breeding centre in Uttar Pradesh.
• The centre will be established on the lines of Haryana’s Pinjore vulture conservation and breeding centre.

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

President Ram Nath Kovind give assent to Jammu and Kashmir Official Languages Bill, 2020

• President Ram Nath Kovind today gave assent to the Jammu and Kashmir Official Languages Bill, 2020, which was recently passed by the parliament.
• The Act makes Kashmiri, Dogri, Hindi, English and Urdu as the official language of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
• Earlier only Urdu and English were the official language for the Union territory.

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

Odisha Govt to launch Radio Pathshala program for students upto class 8

• Odisha Government is launching Radio Pathshala program for students upto class 8.
• The program will be broadcast from All India Radio stations in the state for 15 minutes daily.
• the School and Mass Education department has turned to All India Radio as an effective medium for learning for about 60 lakh students in the government and aided schools across the state.
• More than ten Akshvani Kendras in the state will carry the classes between 10 to 1015 hours daily from Monday to Friday beginning today.
• The audio of the program will also be made available on the online DIKSHA platform for the students for whom schools have been kept out of bounds since March this year.

MP govt to honour Corona warriors from medical field in Bhopal

• Madhya Pradesh government will honour Corona warriors from the medical field in Bhopal.
• Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan will present a letter of appreciation certificates to all the doctors and health workers who contributed during the corona pandemic.
• The program will be jointly organized by Medical Education and Public Health & Family Welfare departments. A video film in honour of Corona warriors will be shown.

Extra Shots:

Madhya Pradesh:

• Statehood Day: November 1, 1956
• Capital: Bhopal
• Chief Minister: Shivraj Singh Chauhan
• Governor: Anandiben Patel
• National Park: Bandhavgarh NP, Fossil NP, Kanha NP, Madhav NP, Panna NP, Pench NP, Sanjay NP, Satpura NP

INTERNATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS

Lebanon PM-designate Mustapha Adib steps down amid failure over govt formation

• The Prime Minister-designate of Lebanon, Mustapha Adib has announced his resignation following his failure to form a new cabinet.
• Mustapha Adib, Lebanon’s former ambassador to Germany, was selected for the post on 31 August 2020.
• The previous government led by Hassan Diab resigned following the Beirut port blast on August 4 that killed some 200 people and left thousands homeless.

Extra Shots:

Lebanon (Capital/Currency): Beirut/ Lebanese pound

Tel Aviv to become first city with electric roads that charge public buses

• The city of Tel Aviv in Israel, is working on creating wireless electric roads to charge and power public transportation in the city.
• The project is being funded by a combination of government and private funds.
• The roads will span from Tel Aviv University Railway station to Klatzkin Terminal in Ramat Aviv, a route of about 1.2 miles. The electric road itself will be about 37 miles long, a little less than half a mile.

Extra Shots:

Israel (Capital/Currency): Jerusalem/ Israeli Shekel

• President: Reuven Rivlin

World Bank & Bangladesh signs loan agreement worth 200 million dollar for safe water & sanitation

• The World Bank is an international financial institution has approved a 200 million dollar loan agreement to Bangladesh to improve access to safe water and sanitation services in the rural areas of the country.
• The Bangladesh Rural Water, Sanitation and Hygiene project is expected to provide clean water through piped water schemes in rural areas 6 lakh people.
• The project will also help in setting up more than 2500 handwashing stations in public places with overhead tanks for running water and sanitation facilities.

Extra Shots:

Bangladesh (Capital/Currency): Dhaka/Taka

• Prime Minister: Sheikh Hasina

Webinar on Defence Industry Global Outreach for Collaborative Partnership held between India and Cambodia

• A webinar was held between India and Cambodia.
• It was organized by the Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence through The Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers.
• Currently, India holds webinars with friendly foreign countries with an aim to boost defence exports and achieve defence export target of $5 billion in the next five years.
• The Theme of webinar was “Indian Defence Industry Global Outreach for Collaborative Partnership: Webinar and Expo”.

Extra Shots:

Combodia (Capital/Currency): Phnom Penh/Riel

• Prime Minister: Hun Sen

India, Sri Lanka Bilateral Summit held

• India, Sri Lanka Bilateral Summit held – PM Modi announces 15 million dollars grant assistance for promoting Buddhist ties.
• A bilateral summit was held between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksa.
• The Meeting was held virtually because COVID19 crisis. In the Summit PM Modi has announced USD 15 million grant assistance to Sri Lanka for the promotion of Buddhist ties between the two countries.

Highlights:

• India will facilitate the visit of a delegation of Buddhist pilgrims from Sri Lanka in the first inaugural flight to Sacred City of Kushinagar.
• Kushinagar Airport was designated as an international airport recently recognizing its importance as a Buddhist site.
• Both Nations agreed to explore opportunities in the areas of Ayurveda and Yoga.
• Both country leaders agreed to continue the successful Indian housing project and gave instructions to the relevant officials to fast-track the construction of 10,000 houses in the plantation sector.

Extra Shots:

Sri Lanka (Capital/Currency): Colombo, Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte/Sri Lankan Rupee

• President: Gotabaya Rajapaksa
• Prime Minister: Mahinda Rajapaksa

SUMMITS AND CONFERENCES

Union External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar addresses Ministerial meeting of Alliance for Multilateralism

• External Affairs Minister of India S Jaishankar addressed the Ministerial meeting of Alliance for Multilateralism.
• During the Meeting he highlighted the the international solar alliance and coalition for disaster resilient infrastructure.
• Discussions were held about the Jal Jeevan and Ujala schemes and the Aarogya Setu app.

Extra Shots:

Ministry of External Affairs

• Union Minister: Subrahmanyam Jaishankar
• Minister of State: V. Muraleedharan

National Webinar on Credit Mechanism, Mobility and Academic Bank of Credit organised by Education Ministry

• Education Ministry organised a National Webinar on ‘Credit Mechanism, Mobility and Academic Bank of Credit’.
• The Ministry is observing “ShikshakParv” from8 to 25 September, 2020.
• As a part of this initiative the ministry has organised various webinars on the newly announced NEP 2020.
• This Credit Mechanism, Mobility and Academic Bank of Credit webinar was initiated by Dr. Pankaj Mittalby who highlighted the importance of ShikshakParv and the concept of the webinar.

Extra Shots:

Education Ministry

• Union Minister: Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’
• Minister of State: Dhotre Sanjay Shamrao

Centre for Disability Sports Foundation Stone Laid at Gwalior,Madhya Pradesh, organised by Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities

• Centre for Disability Sports Foundation Stone was Laid at Gwalior,Madhya Pradesh. The function was organised by DEPwD which is under Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry. Because of the coronavirus situation the function was held through video conferencing.
• Union Minister, Narendra SinghTomar and Bharat Singh Kushwah, Minister of State for Horticulture &Food Processing were presented in this occasion.
• Cabinet approved for Setting up of a Centre for Disability Sports at Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh on 28 February, 2019.
• Total estimated cost to set up the Centre is Rs.170.99 crore.

Extra Shots:

Madhya Pradesh:

• Statehood Day: November 1, 1956
• Capital: Bhopal
• Chief Minister: Shivraj Singh Chauhan
• Governor: Anandiben Patel
• National Park: Bandhavgarh NP, Fossil NP, Kanha NP, Madhav NP, Panna NP, Pench NP, Sanjay NP, Satpura NP

RANKS AND INDICES

India Ranks 89 among 181 Countries in World Risk Index 2020

• India has been ranked at 89th position among 181 countries on the World Risk Index (WRI) 2020 which describes the natural disaster risk for various countries and regions.
• As per the World Risk Report 2020, India (6.62) was ‘poorly prepared’ to deal with ‘climate reality’, due to which it was more vulnerable to extreme natural disasters.
• The World Risk Report is released annually since 2011 by the United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS) and Bundnis Entwicklung Hilft, in cooperation with the University of Stuttgart in Germany.
• The Pacific island state of Vanuatu leads the index as the country with the highest disaster risk (49.74).
• Qatar has the lowest risk (0.31).
• In terms of the continents, Oceania ranks first in terms of highest disaster risk, followed by the Americas, Asia and Europe.

AGREEMENTS AND MOU SIGNED

India & Denmark Inks MoU for Cooperation in the field of Intellectual Property

• The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with its Denmark counterpart in the field of Intellectual Property Cooperation.
• The MoU was signed between Dr. Guruprasad Mohapatra, Secretary, DPIIT and Mr. Freddy Svane, Ambassador of Denmark on 26 September 2020.
• The MoU aims at increasing IP co-operation between the two countries and provide opportunities to both countries to learn from the experience of each other.
• The two sides will draw up Biennial Work Plan to implement the MoU.

Extra Shots:

Denmark (Capital/Currency): Copenhagen/ Danish krone

• Prime Minister: Mette Frederiksen

India, Sri Lanka to enhance cooperation in combating terrorism & drug trafficking

• India and Sri Lanka have agreed to enhance cooperation to combat terrorism and drug trafficking.
• The Joint Statement on Virtual Bilateral Summit said both countries have decided to continue the fruitful and efficient development partnership in accordance with the priority areas identified by the Government and people of Sri Lanka.
• Prime Minister Modi reaffirmed India’s continued commitment for all possible support to Sri Lanka for minimising the health and economic impact of the pandemic.
• Both leaders agreed to work together to expeditiously complete construction of 10,000 housing units in the plantation areas.

Extra Shots:

Sri Lanka (Capital/Currency): Colombo, Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte/Sri Lankan Rupee

• President: Gotabaya Rajapaksa
• Prime Minister: Mahinda Rajapaksa

NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL AWARDS

‘Aavruthi’ Wins Best Film At IFFT-Orange Online Film Festival

• Filmmaker Sreehari Dharman’s “Aavruthi” (Fence) won the best film trophy at the closing ceremony of IFFT-Orange Short and Documentary Film Festival which is jointly organised by the Orange Academy and the IFFT from Thrissur, Kerala.
• “Aavruthi” (Fence) also bagged the best director and best cinematography trophies for director Dharman and Arun Sekhar, respectively. Gokul Ambat’s “Black Mark” was declared the second-best film, while Kiran KR won the best editor for “Atom”.
• The best sound designer award went to Shaiju M and Sony James for “21 Days”.

APPOINTMENTS IN NEWS

Varanasi’s Shivangi Singh set to become India’s first woman fighter pilot to fly Rafale

• Flight Lieutenant Shivangi Singh is set to become the first woman fighter pilot of India to fly the Rafale combat aircraft.
• Shivangi Singh, who hails from Uttar Pradesh’s Varanasi, was commissioned into the Indian Air Force (IAF) in the year 2017 as part of the second batch of women fighter pilots.
• At present, Shivangi Singh, who had been flying the MiG-21 Bison aircraft, is undergoing conversion training, which is necessitated when a combat pilot shifts from one fighter to another one.

DEFENCE CURRENT AFFAIRS

DRDO initiates the Mass Production of Pinaka Missile

• The Defence Research Development Organization (DRDO) has started the production of Pinaka missiles.
• All Details of missile production have been handed over to Directorate General of Quality Assurance.
• Pinaka is a multibarrel rocket launch (MBRL) system used by the Indian Army.
• As of 2014 India has been producing 5000 missiles every year.
• Pinaka is a free flight artillery rocket system having a range of 37.5 km.

Extra Shots:

DRDO:

• Chairman: Dr G. Satheesh Reddy
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Founded: 1958

SPORTS CURRENT AFFAIRS

Valtteri Bottas wins Russian Grand Prix 2020

• Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes-Finland) has won the Formula One Russian Grand Prix 2020 held on 27 September 2020.
• This is his second win of the season.
• Max Verstappen (Red Bull – Netherlands) came second followed by the 6-time world-champion Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-Great Britain), who stood third because of penalties.

BCCI Appoints Neetu David as head of India women’s selection committee for 4 years

• The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has appointed Neetu David, one of finest woman cricketers of India in the late ’90s and early 2000, as the Chairman of the 5 member women’s national selection panel.
• The other member of the newly-elected panel includes Mithu Mukherjee, Renu Margrate, Arati Vaidya and V Kalpana.
• The Neetu David-led panel has been appointed for a period of four years. It replaces previous panel, led by Hemlata Kala, whose term ended in March 2020.
• The first assignment of the David-led panel will be to pick three teams for the Women’s T20 Challenge, to held in UAE in November 2020 alongside the IPL play-offs.

Extra Shots:

BCCI

• President: Sourav Ganguly (Term ended, still holding the office until further interference by Hon. Supreme court of India)
• Secretary: Jay Shah (Term ended, still holding the office until further interference by Hon. Supreme court of India)
• Headquarters: Mumbai
• Vice president(s): vacant
• Founded: December 1928
• Sponsors: BYJU’S, Paytm, Nike, Dream11, Hyundai Motor Company, Ambuja Cements

OBITUARY

Former Union Minister Jaswant Singh Passes Away At 82

• The former Union Minister Jaswant Singh has passed away after a prolonged illness. He was 82.
• Jaswant Singh had served as the external affairs minister, defense minister and finance minister of India, during the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s Cabinet.
• Prior to pursuing career in politics with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Mr. Singh was an officer in the Indian Army in the 1950s and 60s.

Kannada Film Comedian Rockline Sudhakar passes away

• Popular Kannada actor Rockline Sudhakar, who recently recovered from Covid-19, passed away after suffering a massive cardiac arrest.He was 65.
• Rockline Sudhakar was the production manager at the Rockline Productions.
• He is a well-known personality in Kannada film industry and has been part of many films like Upendra’s Topiwala, Yash’s Mr and Mrs Ramachari, Bhootayyana Mommaga Ayyu, Ayyo Rama, and more.
• He made his debut with a film titled Belli Modagalu in 1992.

Renowed economist Isher Judge Ahluwalia passes away at 74

• Well-known economist and Padma Bhushan awardee Isher Judge Ahluwalia died on Saturday after battling brain cancer for nearly a year.
• Isher Ahluwalia was Chairperson of the think-tank Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) for 15 years and had stepped down last month due to ill health.
• She had wide experience in the fields of economic growth, productivity, industrial and trade policy reforms, and urban planning and development.

MISCELLANEOUS

Amazon.in to host ‘Handicrafts Mela’ from September 26 to October 10 to support artisans, weavers

• in will host a virtual ‘Handicrafts Mela’ from September 26-October 10, showcasing more than 270 art and craft forms from various parts of the country.
• Over eight lakh artisans and weavers associated with 1,500 Amazon Karigar sellers and 17 government emporiums including Tantuja, Harit Khadi, Tribes India and national-level artisan organisations like Craftmark and Dastkari Haat Samiti will benefit from this mela.
• Amazon’s Handicrafts Mela – which will showcasing over 55,000 unique products – will help customers discover and purchase products from artisans and weavers from different parts of the country

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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