Hello and welcome to exampundit.in. Here are the important Current Affairs Today 8th 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 – 8th October 2020
NEWS AT A GLANCE
- India celebrates the ‘Ganga River Dolphin Day’ on October 5 every year all across the country.
- Air Force day observed on 08 October every year across the country.
- With an aim to ease processing of loan applications, the Housing and Urban Affairs Secretary Durga Shanker Mishra has initiated the Application Programming Interface (API), integration between the PM SVANidhi Portal and the State Bank of India (SBI) portal.
- With an aim to boost solar energy generation capacity in India the Asian Development Bank (ADB) will invest $15 million in Avaada Energy Private Limited (AEPL).
- With an aim to help small and local businesses the technology giant Google has launched a ‘Make Small Strong’ initiative in India.
- The first ever Brand & Logo for Indian Cotton launched by the Union Minister of Textiles and Women & Child Development, Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani through Video Conferencing.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched Jan Andolan, a campaign for covid-19 appropriate behaviour.
- Railway Minister Piyush Goyal renamed Naugarh railway station to Siddharthnagar railway station which is situated at Siddharthnagar district in Uttar Pradesh.
- Russia successfully test-fired its Hypersonic Cruise missile named TSIRKON (Zircon) in the Barents Sea.
- In order to boost economic ties between US and Bangladesh, the United States government has decided to open a Foreign Commercial office in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
- Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment is organizing an International Conference on ‘Mental Health – Looking beyond COVID 19’ virtually through Video Conferencing.
- The World Water Development Report 2020 and PCRWR Groundwater Investigation and Mapping report released by the United Nations.
- NCRB (National Crime Records Bureau) has released the report ‘safest city for women’ in India report.
- With an aim to showcase and promote new agriculture technology and innovations, Prasar Bharati sign an MoU with IFFCO.
- The Union Cabinet approved the Memorandum of Understanding signed between India and Japan on cyber security.
- India has signed agreements of cooperation in Artificial Intelligence, 5G technology with Japan.
- The Union Territory of Ladakh signed an MoU with the National Dairy Development Board to conduct survey in the rural livelihood of Ladakh.
- India and France will jointly launch the constellation of maritime surveillance satellites that will be able to trace illegal spillage of oil by ships in the Indian Ocean Region.
- On 7th October, 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry announced by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.
- South Central Railway has conferred “Man of the Month” safety awards to 45 employees for taking timely action to prevent unsafe conditions.
- M Rajeshwar Rao has been appointed as the new deputy governor of RBI by the Government of India.
- The senior IPS officer M A Ganapathy appointed as the Director General of Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) by the Government of India.
- Omar al Razzaz, the Prime Minister of Jordon submitted his resignation to Jordan’s King Abdullah.
- Offshore Patrol vessel ‘Vigraha’, designed and built by the Larsen and Toubro (L&T) Shipbuilding under the ‘Make in India’ initiative is launched by the Indian Coast Guard at a private shipyard in Kattupalli, north of Chennai on 6th October 2020.
- DISHTAVO (Digital Integrated System for Holistic Teaching And Virtual Orientations), an online learning platform involving YouTube channel is launched by Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant.
- The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has launched an online discovery platform for startups called “Startup India Showcase”.
- Prasanth Rajesh, Tamil Nadu Premier League Spinner has passed away at the age of 35 due to sever heart attack.
- Uttar Pradesh Congress leader Naseeb Pathan died of COVID-19 at Lucknow.
- Ashwani Kumar, former Governor of Manipur and Nagaland, and ex-CBI Director passed away.
NEWS IN DETAILS
IMPORTANT DAYS AND THEMES
India celebrates the ‘Ganga River Dolphin Day’ on October 05
- India celebrates the ‘Ganga River Dolphin Day’ on October 5 every year all across the country.
- To celebrate this day ‘My Ganga My Dolphin’ campaign launched by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), the Wildlife Institute of India and the Forest Department to conduct Dolphin census in 250 km stretch from Bijnor to Narora.
- On 20th October 2010, Ganga Dolphins were declared as the national aquatic animals.
Air Force day observed on 08 October
- Air Force day observed on 08 October every year across the country.
- This year India celebrates the 88th anniversary of the official foundation day of the force as India Air Force was established on 8 October 1932 by the British Empire.
Extra Shots:
Indian Air Force
- Chief: chief Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria
BANKING & FINANCE
API integration between PM SVANidhi and SBI portal launched
- With an aim to ease processing of loan applications, the Housing and Urban Affairs Secretary Durga Shanker Mishra has initiated the Application Programming Interface (API), integration between the PM SVANidhi Portal and the State Bank of India (SBI) portal.
Extra Shots:
SBI
- Headquarters: Mumbai
- Founded: 1 July 1955
- Chairman: Dinesh Kumar Khara
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
ADB to invest $15 Million in Avaada Energy to expand Renewable Energy Capacity in India
- With an aim to boost solar energy generation capacity in India the Asian Development Bank (ADB) will invest $15 million in Avaada Energy Private Limited (AEPL).
- The project will contribute to the Government of India’s strategy to increase the share of renewable energy generation capacity from about 20% in 2018 to 40% by 2030.
Extra Shots:
ADB
- Headquarters: Mandaluyong, Philippines
- President: Masatsugu Asakawa
- Founded: 19 December 1966
- Purpose: Economic development
- Membership: 68 countries
‘Make Small Strong’ initiative launched in India by Google
- With an aim to help small and local businesses the technology giant Google has launched a ‘Make Small Strong’ initiative in India.
Objective:
- To support those small businesses, Kirana stores, vegetable vendors who have suffered massive loss during the lockdown period which was imposed to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
Extra Shots:
- Headquarters: California, US
- CEO: Sundar Pichai
NATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS
‘Kasturi Cotton’: The new Brand name of Indian Cotton
- The first ever Brand & Logo for Indian Cotton launched by the Union Minister of Textiles and Women & Child Development, Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani through Video Conferencing.
- The launch took place on the occasion of the 2nd World Cotton Day on 7th October 2020.
- The brand name ‘Kasturi Cotton’ will represent Whiteness, Brightness, Softness, Purity, Luster, Uniqueness and Indianness.
PM Modi launches “COVID-19 Appropriate Behaviour” Campaign
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched Jan Andolan, a campaign for covid-19 appropriate behaviour.
- The campaign was launched by the Prime Minister in the social media platform Twitter.
Objective of the Campaign:
- To encourage people participation and provides key messages of following social distancing, significance of mask wearing and hand hygiene.
STATE CURRENT AFFAIRS
Naugarh Railway Station to be renamed as Siddharthnagar
- Railway Minister Piyush Goyal renamed Naugarh railway station to Siddharthnagar railway station which is situated at Siddharthnagar district in Uttar Pradesh.
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
Russia’s TSIRKON (Zircon) Hypersonic Cruise missile successfully tests fires
- Russia successfully test-fired its Hypersonic Cruise missile named TSIRKON (Zircon) in the Barents Sea.
- The Missile hit the destined the target located at a distance of 450 km in less than 4 and half minutes.
- The test fire was conducted to celebrate the birthday of the Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Extra Shots:
Russia (Capital/Currency): Moscow/ Russian ruble
- President: Vladimir Putin
US government to open Foreign Commercial Service Office in Bangladesh
- In order to boost economic ties between US and Bangladesh, the United States government has decided to open a Foreign Commercial office in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
- The announcement was made after the virtual high-level virtual meeting between two countries.
Extra Shots:
Bangladesh (Capital/Currency): Dhaka /Bangladeshi taka
- President: Abdul Hamid
SUMMITS AND CONFERENCES
International Conference on Mental Health organized by Union Social Justice Ministry
- Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment is organizing an International Conference on ‘Mental Health – Looking beyond COVID 19’ virtually through Video Conferencing.
- The conference will be organized in collaboration with University of Melbourne, Australia.
- The Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment, Dr. Thaawarchand Gehlot will inaugurate the event.
Objective:
- To discuss on mental health rehabilitation, particularly, in the context of situation arising out of COVID 19 pandemic.
Extra Shots:
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
- Union Minister: Thaawar Chand Gehlot
- Minister of State: Krishan Pal
RANKS AND INDICES
World Water Development Report 2020 released by United Nations
- The World Water Development Report 2020 and PCRWR Groundwater Investigation and Mapping report released by the United Nations.
Report Highlights:
- Around 74% of all-natural disasters between 2001 and 2018 were water-related and during the past 20 years.
- Floods could cost South Asia as much as US$215 billion each year by 2030
- Global floods and extreme rainfall events have increased by more than 50% this decade, and are now occurring at a rate four times higher than in 1980.
Extra Shots:
UN
- Headquarters: New York, United States
- Founded: 24 October 1945
- Secretary General: Antonio Guterres
NCRB: Released the report ‘safest city for women’
- NCRB (National Crime Records Bureau) has released the report ‘safest city for women’ in India report.
Report Highlights:
Sexual assault cases on women:
- Out of the 19 metros in India, Kolkata has recorded the least
- Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu and Patna in Bihar are the two cities that recorded a lesser number of cases.
- Uttar Pradesh (59,853) has the highest number of crimes against women cases
- Maharashtra (37,144) ranks third after Rajasthan (41,550).
Extra Shots:
NCRB
- Founded: 11 March 1986
- Headquarters: Delhi
- Director: Ramphal Pawar, IPS
- Parent department: Ministry of Home Affairs
AGREEMENTS AND MOU SIGNED
Prasar Bharati sign an MoU with IFFCO to promote agriculture technology
- With an aim to showcase and promote new agriculture technology and innovations, Prasar Bharati sign an MoU with IFFCO.
- Objective of this MoU:
- DD Kisan will showcase innovative techniques in an easy language for the growth in the field of agriculture.
- These new agriculture techniques and their implementation should be properly explained to the farmers.
Extra Shots:
IFFCO
- Headquarters: New Delhi
- Founded: 1967
Prasar Bharati
- CEO: Shashi Shekhar Vempati
- Founded: 23 November 1997
India-Japan MoU on cyber Security approved by the Cabinet
- The Union Cabinet approved the Memorandum of Understanding signed between India and Japan on cyber security.
Objective of the MoU:
- To enhance cooperation between the countries in the area of cyberspace and share information on cyber security.
Extra Shots:
Japan (Capital/Currency): Tokyo/Japanese yen
- Prime minister: Yoshihide Suga
India signs MoU with Japan for cooperation in AI, 5G, Critical Information Infrastructure
- India has signed agreements of cooperation in Artificial Intelligence, 5G technology with Japan.
- The countries also agreed to give momentum to the supply chain initiative in the Indo-Pacific region.
- The agreement was signed by the ministers during the 13th India-Japan Foreign Ministers Strategic Dialogue by the External Affairs Minister Shri S Jaishankar and his Japanese Counterpart Motegi.
Extra Shots:
Japan (Capital/Currency): Tokyo/Japanese yen
- Prime minister: Yoshihide Suga
National Diary Development Board signs MoU with Ladakh
- The Union Territory of Ladakh signed an MoU with the National Dairy Development Board to conduct survey in the rural livelihood of Ladakh.
Objective of the Survey:
- To collect data required to create a road map towards promotion and development of dairy sector in Ladakh and the roadmap will act as a guide to enhance the income of rural population in the area.
Extra Shots:
NDDB
- Founded: 16 July 1965
- Headquarters location: Anand
- Key person: Amrita Patel
Indo-French satellites to jointly trace illegal oil spillage by ships
- India and France will jointly launch the constellation of maritime surveillance satellites that will be able to trace illegal spillage of oil by ships in the Indian Ocean Region.
- The satellites have been designed by a joint team of ISRO and the French Space agency, CNES.
Extra Shots:
France (Capital/Currency): Paris/Euro
- Prime minister: Jean Castex
- President: Emmanuel Macron
NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL AWARDS
Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2020 announced
- On 7th October, 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry announced by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.
2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry:
| Winner | Reason | Country |
| Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer A. Doudna | “for the development of a method for genome editing.” | France and America |
2020 Nobel Prize in Physics:
| Winner | Reason | Country |
| Roger Penrose | for the discovery that black hole formation is a robust prediction of the general theory of relativity | UK |
| Reinhard Genzel and Andrea Ghez | For the discovery of a supermassive compact object at the centre of our galaxy | USA |
2020 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
| Person Name | Reason | Country |
| Harvey J Alter + Charles M Rice + Michael Houghton | for the discovery of the Hepatitis C virus.
|
Indian Railway presented “Man of the Month” safety awards
- South Central Railway has conferred “Man of the Month” safety awards to 45 employees for taking timely action to prevent unsafe conditions.
- Gajanan Mallya, General Manager, South Central Railway presented these Man of the Month awards.
Extra Shots:
South Central Railway
- Founded: 2 October 1966, Andhra Pradesh
- Jurisdiction: Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana
- Subsidiary: Hyderabad railway division
APPOINTMENTS IN NEWS
M Rajeshwar Rao appointed as the new deputy governor of RBI
- M Rajeshwar Rao has been appointed as the new deputy governor of RBI by the Government of India.
- He replaced NS Vishwanathan after Mr. Vishwanathan has resigned on March 2020.
- Prior to this appointment, M Rajeshwar Rao was an executive director at RBI.
Extra Shots:
RBI
- Governor: Shaktikanta Das
- Headquarters: Mumbai
- Founder: British Raj
- Founded: 1 April 1935, Kolkata
- Deputy Governors: M. D. Patra, B.P. Kanungo, M. K. Jain and M Rajeshwar Rao
M A Ganapathy appointed as the Director General of Bureau of Civil Aviation Security
- The senior IPS officer M A Ganapathy appointed as the Director General of Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) by the Government of India.
- He will hold the position till his superannuation on February 29, 2024.
- He is from 1986 batch IPS officer of Uttarakhand cadre.
Extra Shots:
BCAS
- Founded: 1978
- Headquarters: New Delhi
Prime Minister of Jordon Omar Razzaz resigns
- Omar al Razzaz, the Prime Minister of Jordon submitted his resignation to Jordan’s King Abdullah.
- The King accepted his resignation but asked him to stay on as a caretaker premier until he designates a successor to oversee parliamentary elections on November 10.
Extra Shots:
Jordon (Capital/Currency): Amman/ Jordanian dinar
DEFENCE CURRENT AFFAIRS
Offshore Patrol Vessel ‘Vigraha’ launched by Indian Coast Guard
- Offshore Patrol vessel ‘Vigraha’, designed and built by the Larsen and Toubro (L&T) Shipbuilding under the ‘Make in India’ initiative is launched by the Indian Coast Guard at a private shipyard in Kattupalli, north of Chennai on 6th October 2020.
- ICGS ‘Vigraha’ is the seventh and last in the series of seven vessels.
- The other vessels are: ICGS” Vikram”, ICGS” Vijaya”, ICGS” Veera”, ICGS” Varaha”, ICGS” Varad”, ICGS” Vajra”
Extra Shots:
L&T
- CEO: S N Subrahmanyan
- Founded: 7 February 1938, Mumbai
- Headquarters: Mumbai
WEBPORTALS & APPS IN NEWS
G ‘DISHTAVO’ YouTube channel for e-learning in higher education launched by Goa
- DISHTAVO (Digital Integrated System for Holistic Teaching and Virtual Orientations), an online learning platform involving YouTube channel is launched by Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant.
Objective:
- DISHTAVO is a comprehensive and holistic program to create e-content in the form of video lectures of syllabus pertaining to the colleges affiliated to the Goa University.
- Under this initiative, teachers can record lectures in all higher education disciplines and degree programs including BA, BSc, BCom, Music, Home Science and so on.
DPIIT launched an online startup discovery platform ‘Startup India Showcase’
- The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has launched an online discovery platform for startups called “Startup India Showcase”.
Objective:
- This website is to make a repository of India’s most promising startups that have proved their capabilities, from across sectors such as fintech, enterprise tech, social impact, healthtech, and edtech, among others.
Feature:
- Each startup will have its own profile page, with a detailed information about its product and innovation, as well as video and PDF links.
Extra Shots:
DPIIT
- Founded: 1995
- Parent organization: Ministry of Commerce and Industry
OBITUARY
Prasanth Rajesh, Tamil Nadu Spinner Passes away
- Prasanth Rajesh, Tamil Nadu Premier League Spinner has passed away at the age of 35 due to sever heart attack.
Congress Leader Naseeb Pathan passes away
- Uttar Pradesh Congress leader Naseeb Pathan died of COVID-19 at Lucknow.
- He began his political career with party leader Sanjay Gandhi and was twice elected the MLC in the state.
Ashwani Kumar, Former CBI director passes away
- Ashwani Kumar, former Governor of Manipur and Nagaland, and ex-CBI Director passed away.
- He was born at Nahan in Sirmaur district and joined the Indian Police Force in 1973.
- From March 2013 to July 2014, he served as the Governor of Nagaland and also held the additional charge of Governor of Manipur for some time.
