Daily Current Affairs 10 September 2020 for Banking/Insurance/SSC and other related exams.
NATIONAL NEWS
PM Modi digitally launches Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana & e-Gopala App
Prime Minister Narendra Modi digitally launched the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY). He also inaugurated the e-Gopala app that will provide farmers marketplace for livestock. He also launched several other initiatives in the fisheries and animal husbandry sectors in Bihar.
- The PMMSY is a flagship scheme for focused and sustainable development of fisheries sector in the country with an estimated investment of ₹20,050 crore for its implementation during 2020-21 to 2024-25 as part of Aatmanirbhar Bharat package.
- The investment of ₹20,050 crore under PMMSY is the highest ever in the fisheries sector.
- The e-Gopala app is a comprehensive breed improvement marketplace and information portal for direct use of farmers. The aim to bridge the gap and provide viable solutions to the farmers on all these aspects.
India to Have 220 GW Renewable Energy Capacity by 2022, Says PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi exuded confidence that India will increase its existing clean energy capacity of 134 GW to 220 GW by 2022 and stressed on reducing tariffs further through technological advancements.Modi also mentioned the ‘One World, One Sun, One Grid’ project which is aimed at renewable energy supplies across nations
- It was announced by New and Renewable Energy Minister RK Singh at the Virtual World Solar Technology Summit organised by the International Solar Alliance.
Govt Launches Aatmanirbhar Bharat ARISE Challenge For MSMEs & Startups
The Centre launched the Aatmanirbhar Bharat ARISE-Atal New India Challenges programme to support MSMEs and start-ups for making India innovative, resilient, tech-driven, and research and development (R&D)-oriented.
- The Niti Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), in collaboration with ISRO and four ministries, will focus on challenges in 15 sectors through the programme.
- This support for MSMEs (micro, small and medium enterprises) and start-ups in product development would make India innovative, resilient, tech-driven and R&D-oriented.
Food processing minister inaugurates Organic India unit in Uttar Pradesh
Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal inaugurated Organic India Pvt Ltd”s plant at Barabanki in Uttar Pradesh that has been set up at a cost of Rs 55 crore.
- Inaugurating the food processing unit through video conference, she said the food processing sector is witnessing robust growth and has been identified as a champion sector by the central government.
- “Food processing sector is growing at 8.5 per cent annually,” the minister said.
Karnataka CM inaugurates flyover named after Veer Savarkar in Bengaluru
Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa inaugurated the ‘Veer Savarkar’ flyover in Bengaluru. The inauguration of the 400-metre long flyover built on Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan Road in Yelahanka in the city was held three months after it was postponed in May. The flyover has been named after Hindutva ideologue Vinayak Damodar Savarkar.
Education Ministry organises 2 -day conclave on School Education in 21st Century under Shikshak Parv
Education Ministry is organising a two-day conclave on School Education in 21st Century under Shikshak Parv through online medium.
- The focus will be on Principal and Teacher practitioners, who will discuss how they have already implemented certain themes of the NEP in creative ways.
- Shikshak Parv is being celebrated from 8th September- 25th September, to felicitate the Teachers and to take New Education Policy 2020 forward.
All Urban Areas in Haryana, Every City in Punjab Open Defecation Free: Govt
All urban areas in Haryana have been certified as open defecation free (ODF), the Union housing and urban affairs ministry said.
- It stated that all cities in Punjab have been certified ODF, while Chandigarh has achieved 100 per cent door-to-door waste collection
Over Rs 10,000 Cr released by MoRTH under Aatma Nirbhar Bharat scheme
Road, Transport and Highways Ministry has released over ten thousand crore rupees during the COVID-19 period under Aatma Nirbhar Bharat scheme. The Ministry said, another sum of two thousand 475 crore rupees is being processed and is likely to be released soon.
- The Ministry said, this has proved extremely beneficial towards timely completion of National Highway projects in the country. It has also extended a number of relief packages for its contractors and concessionaires owing to COVID-19 scenario.
Telangana, Haryana states take several activities under Ek Bharat-Shreshtha Bharat programme
Under the Ek Bharat-Shreshtha Bharat programme, Telangana and Haryana States have achieved synergy and artists, students and literary personalities learnt arts, language and culture of each other’s to a large extent.
- Telangana and Haryana states have taken up several activities under the Ek Bharat-Shreshtha Bharat programme and achieved the objective to a large extent during the past few years.
Karnataka CM BS Yediyurappa launches country’s first integrated air ambulance
Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa unveiled the country’s first integrated air ambulance service jointly launched in the State capital, Bengaluru by the International Critical Air Transfer Team (ICATT) and the Kyathi in the city.
- The ICATT Kyathi’s fixed wing aircraft for long distance emergency medical transport, combined with helicopter and land ambulance services providing last mile connectivity, will address the growing need for timely and quality emergency medical services in India.
UP government signs pact with UN for take-home-ration scheme
The Uttar Pradesh government signed a Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) with United Nation World Food Programme for manufacturing and distribution of take-home ration with the help of Self Help Groups.
- As per the MoU, take-home ration for child nutrition will be distributed through self-help groups in UP. In the first phase, the work of distributing about 30 percent of take-home ration will be done.
- The Self Help Groups will provide its products to the Uttar Pradesh Child Nutrition Department.
EPFO decides to pay 8.5% interest during 2019-20
The Labour and Employment Minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar chaired the 227th Meeting of the Central Board of Trustees of Employees’ Provident Fund.
- In view of the exceptional circumstances arising out of Covid-19, the Central Board has recommended the same interest rate at 8.50 per cent to the Central Government.
- It would comprise of 8.15 per cent from debt income and balance 0.35 per cent capital gain from the sale of Exchange Traded Funds, ETFs subject to their redemption by 31st December this year.
Mumbai International airport put in place QR code-enabled check-in mechanism
Mumbai International airport has put in place a QR code-enabled contactless check-in mechanism for the passengers.
- The QR code-enabled contactless check-in facility at Mumbai International Airport allows passengers to use their mobile phones to remotely operate check-in and self-bag drop kiosks for printing boarding passes and bag tags.
- The touch less technology solution is a vital step in reducing passenger contact with kiosk surfaces and is in full compliance with the civil aviation ministry’s passenger processing guidelines.
Nagaland gets its first ‘Naga Tele health’, a telemedicine platform
In a step towards making health and wellness services closer to the community, Nagaland received its first Naga Tele health, a telemedicine platform, where citizens can directly connect with medical officers and specialist doctors and seek general and specialized tele-consultation at their doorstep free of cost.
- The Naga Tele-Health is an initiative of the Nagaland government supported by USAID NISHTHA Jhpiego to provide quality healthcare services at the Ayushman Bharat – Health and Wellness Centres in the state.
India’s child mortality rate declined between 1990 and 2019: UN
India’s child mortality rate has declined substantially between 1990 and 2019 but the country, along with Nigeria, still accounted for almost a third of all under-five deaths last year, according to a new UN report which warned that COVID-19 pandemic threatens to undo decades of progress in eliminating preventable child deaths globally.
- The ‘Levels & Trends in Child Mortality’ Report 2020 said that the number of global under-five deaths dropped to its lowest point on record in 2019 — down to 5.2 million from 12.5 million in 1990.
- According to the new mortality estimates released by UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO), the Population Division of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs and the World Bank Group, the under-five mortality rate (deaths per 1,000 live births) in India declined to 34 in 2019 from 126 in 1990.
- The country registered a 4.5 per cent annual rate of reduction in under-five mortality between 1990-2019. The number of under-five deaths in India dropped from 3.4 million in 1990 to 824,000 in 2019.
- The infant mortality rate (deaths per 1,000 live births) in India declined from 89 in 1990 to 28 last year, with the country registering 679000 infant deaths last year, a significant decline from 2.4 million infant deaths in 1990.
- The country also witnessed a decrease in neonatal mortality rate between 1990 and 2019 from 57 to 22 – 1.5 million neonatal deaths in 1990 to 522,000 deaths in 2019.
- Further, the probability of dying among children aged 5—14 years declined from 21 in 1990 to 5 in 2019 (447,000 deaths in 1990 to 136,000 deaths in 2019) and the probability of dying among youth aged 15—24 years dipped from 24 to 10 (407,000 deaths to 246,000 deaths) between the period under review.
- The sex-specific under-five mortality rate (deaths per 1,000 live births) in India in 1990 stood at 122 males and 131 females and this declined to 34 males and 35 females in 2019.
First World Solar Technology Summit held virtually
The first World Solar Technology Summit was hosted by the International Solar Alliance (ISA) on September 8, 2020 virtually.
- International Solar Alliance (ISA) aims to create a a world solar bank with authorised capital of dollar 15 billion to fund projects.
- The summit assumes significance in view of India’s ambitious target of having hundred gigawatt of solar energy by 2022.
- State-run EESL (Energy Efficiency Services Limited) has been entrusted by the ISA to do this exercise for a presidential order of 47 million home power systems worth about dollar 28 million.
- The alliance, which is an Indian initiative, was jointly launched by Prime Minister Modi and former French President Hollande on November 30, 2015, in Paris, on the sidelines of COP21, the UN climate conference.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
SCO Foreign Ministers meeting held in Russia
External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar attended the meeting of Council of Foreign Ministers of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Moscow, Russia.
- India has been taking active part in various SCO dialogue mechanisms under the Chairmanship of the Russian Federation this year.
Northrop Grumman names spacecraft in honour of Kalpana Chawla
An American commercial cargo spacecraft Northrop Grumman, bound for the International Space Station has been named after fallen NASA astronaut Kalpana Chawla, the first India-born woman to enter space, for her key contributions to human spaceflight.
- Northrop Grumman is proud to name the NG-14 Cygnus spacecraft after former astronaut Kalpana Chawla. It is the company’s tradition to name each Cygnus after an individual who has played a pivotal role in human spaceflight.
- Chawla was selected in honor of her prominent place in history as the first woman of Indian descent to go to space.
BANKING & FINANCE
Bank of Baroda tops EASE 2.0 Index by IBA
Bank of Baroda has topped the EASE Banking Reforms Index 2.0. State Bank of India and erstwhile Oriental Bank of Commerce are second and third respectively.
- EASE (Enhanced Access and Service Excellence) reform index is prepared by the Indian Banking Association (IBA).
The Index measures the performance of the Public Sector Bank on more than 120 objective metrics based on six themes. - The aim of this index is to bring fruitful change in the PSBs by brining in healthy competition among these PSBs and by encouraging them to learn from each other.
- The six theme of EASE 2.0 are- ‘Responsible Banking’, ‘Customer Responsiveness’, ‘Credit off-take’, ‘Governance and HR’, ‘PSBs as Udyamimitra for MSMEs’, and ‘Deepening Financial Inclusion and Digitalisation.
SBI to launch loan product ‘SAFAL’ for organic cotton growers
State Bank of India is planning to launch a loan product, SAFAL, primarily focused on organic cotton growers who don’t have any credit history.
- The bank is using Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) in a big way for generating business.
India, ADB sign 500 million US dollar loan for Delhi-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System corridor
India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a 500 million US dollar loan for Delhi-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) corridor.The first tranche of a total one billion dollar facility, to build a modern, high-speed 82-kilometer Delhi-Meerut RRTS corridor will improve regional connectivity and mobility in India’s national capital region (NCR).
- With a design speed of 180 kilometer per hour and high-frequency operations of every 5 to 10 minutes, the 82-kilometer corridor connecting Sarai Kale Khan in Delhi to Modipuram in Meerut in Uttar Pradesh is expected to reduce the journey time to about one hour from the present 3 to 4 hours.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
WE HUB, NutriHub partner to aid women entrepreneurs in agri business
WE HUB, an incubator to foster and promote women entrepreneurship, has announced its partnership with NutriHub, a first of its kind incubator to cater start-ups needs in the Nutricereals sector.
- The partnership will initiate virtual co-incubation for women-led start-ups in the agripreneurship space. NutriHub, through its existing R&D facility, will support WE HUB start-ups with technical advice, testing, product development, access to laboratories, equipment, and technical staff.
NABARD Sanctions Micro Irrigation Projects Worth Rs 3,805.67 Crore So Far: Narendra Singh Tomar
Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has sanctioned micro irrigation projects worth Rs 3,805.67 crore so far.
- The projects have been sanctioned under the dedicated Rs 5,000-crore Micro Irrigation Fund (MIF) set up under NABARD in 2019-20 to facilitate states in mobilizing resources for expanding coverage of micro irrigation.
- Under MIF, funds are given to states at a concessional rate of interest in order to promote micro irrigation.
SPORTS
Bhuvneshwar Kumar & Smriti Mandhana roped in as brand ambassadors of Playerzpot
Playerzpot, the fantasy sports gaming platforms, announced the signing of cricketers Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Smriti Mandhana as its brand ambassadors.
- The partnership will see the cricketers in the brand’s upcoming campaigns and promote Playerzpot through engagement activities.
IMPORTANT DAYS
World Suicide Prevention Day
World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) is an awareness day observed on 10 September every year, in order to provide worldwide commitment and action to prevent suicides, with various activities around the world since 2003. The International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) collaborates with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) to host World Suicide Prevention Day.
- An estimated one million people per year die by suicide or about one person in 10,000 (1.4% of all deaths), or “a death every 40 seconds or about 3,000 every day”. As of 2004 the number of people who die by suicide is expected to reach 1.5 million per year by 2020.
- The theme of the World Suicide Prevention Day 2020 is “Working Together to Prevent Suicide”.
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