Daily Current Affairs 18th October, 2019

Daily Current Affairs 18 October 2019 for Banking/Insurance/SSC and other related exams.

NATIONAL NEWS

Livestock population in India rises 4.6 per cent to nearly 536 million, shows census

The population of cows in the country has risen by 18 per cent in the last seven years, while that of oxen dipped by 30 per cent, according to the latest census of livestock. The total number for livestock was pegged at around 536 million.

• The provisional data of the 20th Livestock Census released by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying showed that the livestock population increased by 4.6 per cent, from 512.06 million in 2012.

India lags in female representation in senior management: Credit Suisse report

India is ranked 23rd for female representation at senior management levels, only marginally better than Japan and South Korea, according to a new study by the Credit Suisse Research Institute (CSRI).

• CSRI released its third CS Gender 3000 report, which is titled “The CS Gender 3000 in 2019: The changing face of companies”.
• With 15% of female CEOs, Singapore and Italy rank the highest in terms of female CEO representation globally, followed by Thailand (9%) and the Philippines (8%).

NITI Aayog launches India Innovation Index 2019

NITI Aayog with Institute for Competitiveness as the knowledge partner released the India Innovation Index (III) 2019. Karnataka is the most innovative major state in India.

• Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Telangana, Haryana, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Gujarat, and Andhra Pradesh form the remaining top ten major states respectively.
• Sikkim and Delhi take the top spots among the northeastern & hill states, and union territories/city-states/small states respectively.
• Delhi, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh are the most efficient states in translating inputs into output.

Annual Ganges River Dolphin Census held in Uttar Pradesh

The annual Ganges river dolphin census was held in Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh. It was undertaken by World Wide Fund for Nature-India in collaboration with the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department.

• It was conducted along 250-km-long riverine stretch of Upper Ganga between Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary and Narora Ramsar site.

Commemorative stamp on centenary of NIN released

Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Harsh Vardhan released a postal stamp to commemorate the centenary celebrations of the city-based ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) in New Delhi. The postal stamp has been brought out under the ‘Corporate My Stamp’ scheme of India Posts.

• About 5,000 stamps with a face value of ₹5 each have been printed and the India Posts would print an additional 1,000 sheets for sale online at the e-post office and for display and sale at national and global philately exhibitions by the Department.

Tamil Nadu constitutes two panels over water disputes with Kerala

The Tamil Nadu government constituted two committees to deal over water disputes with Kerala relating to the Parambikulam-Aliyar Project (PAP) and the Pandiyar-Punnampuzha project. Secretary of Tamil Nadu’s Public Works Department (PWD) K. Manivasan would lead both the committees constituted by the State government.

CM Kamal Nath inaugurates “Magnificent Madhya Pradesh Conference”

Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Kamal Nath formally inaugurated the 2-day Magnificent Madhya Pradesh Conference started.

• The event showcasing various opportunities that exist in the state in variegated sectors, including food processing, pharmaceuticals, textile and garment, warehousing and logistics, IT &ESDM, urban development and renewable energy.

NH No. 703AA in Punjab named as Guru Nanak Dev Ji Marg

Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has announced the naming of new National Highway No. 703AA as “Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji Marg.”

• The road starting from Kapurthala connecting Goindwal Sahib and terminating near Taran Taran in Punjab. The naming would be effective from next month.
• The decision has been taken to mark the 550th Birth Anniversary of Shri Guru Nanak Dev.

Odisha’s first Robot Restaurant opens in Bhubaneswar

Odisha’s smart city Bhubaneswar gets it 1st Robo Chef Restaurant in Odisha. The Robot Restaurant opened at the Infocity DLF tower of Bhubaneswar claims to be the first restaurant in Eastern India where two indigenously developed robots, ‘Champa’ and ‘Chameli’ are engaged.

• The robots are developed at a Jaipur-based startup using SLAM technology, and It automatically navigates like humans, follows the routes and instructions.

Army, NASSCOM to come together for facilitating modern-day IT jobs for veterans

In a path-breaking initiative which will have far-reaching implications, Army and NASSCOM will come together to find modern-day jobs for Army veterans in the IT Sector.

• Army produces a large number of cadres in various IT related fields but many of them face difficulties in finding suitable options in the second inning after an active army life mostly because of the technological and cultural differences.
• Now for ensuring easy access to such jobs, the idea is being driven jointly by Army, NASSCOM and US Bank Wells Fargo.

India ranked third in 2019 Hurun Global Unicorn List; China pips US to top ranking

The Hurun Research Institute has released the inaugural Hurun Global Unicorn List 2019, a ranking of the world’s billion-dollar tech ‘start-ups’ founded in the 2000s and not yet listed on a public exchange.

• India accounts for 21 of the world’s 494 unicorns; China has 206, while the US has 203.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Italy set to introduce web tax on digital giants from 2020

Italy approved a new tax on digital companies, including U.S. tech giants, as part of its 2020 draft budget. The levy, due to be introduced from next year, will oblige companies such as Facebook, Google and Amazon, to pay a 3% levy on internet transactions, according to a text of the draft budget.

• The Italian scheme is expected to yield about 600 million euros ($662 million) a year.

Bangladesh: Baul festival concludes in Dhaka

A three day long festival of Baul songs named Indo-Bangla Baul Music Festival ended with spell binding performances by Bauls from India and Bangladesh. The program was organised to observe the 129th death anniversary of Baul saint Fakir Lalon Shah.

• More than 25 Bauls performed during the program. Bauls Swapan Adhikari, Karuna Prasad and Ila Biswas from India and renowned Baul singers from Bangladesh – Tuntun Baul, Razzak Fakir, Abu Bakr Siddik and Arefina Iva also performed during the event.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

Home Credit, Karur Vysya Bank tie up for joint lending partnership

The India arm of Netherlands-based Home Credit Group has tied up with Karur Vysya Bank (KVB) for joint lending to tap the large unbanked customer base across the country.

Insurance Australia Group to exit SBI General Insurance Company

Insurance Australia Group (IAG) has decided to sell its 26 per cent stake in SBI General Insurance. IAG will offload the stake in favour of Premji Invest which will control 16.01 per cent interest and Warburg Pincus Group which will hold 9.99 per cent interest.

APPOINTMENTS

World Steel Association elected Sajjan Jindal as vice Chairman

The World Steel Association (Worldsteel) has elected Sajjan Jindal, Chairman and Managing Director, JSW Steel, as Vice-Chairman of the association for one year.

AWARDS

Thiruvananthapuram corporation receives Zero waste City award in Malaysia

Kerala’s capital city, Thiruvananthapuram corporation has been placed in a zero-waste cities list and received an award for its green city projects at International Zero Waste Cities Conference (IZWCC ) held in Malaysia.

• The corporation has initiated many such projects such as Green city, and green protocol at the time of cricket matches and famous Attukal pongala.

OBITUARIES

Veteran broadcast journalist P.V. Krishnamoorthy passes away

P.V. Krishnamoorthy, veteran broadcast journalist, has passed away. He was 98. He was appointed as the first Director General of Doordarshan in 1976.

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