Daily Current Affairs 8 September 2020 for Banking/Insurance/SSC and other related exams.
NATIONAL NEWS
PM Modi inaugurates Patrika Gate in Jaipur through video conference
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inauguratef the Patrika Gate in Jaipur through video conferencing.
- The iconic gate is built by the Patrika Group of Newspapers on the Jawaharlal Nehru Marg in Jaipur.
- “Prime Minister Modi shall also release two books written by the group chairman.
Kerala most literate state in India, Delhi grabs second place
Kerala emerged as the most literate state in the country, while Andhra Pradesh featured at the bottom with a rate of 66.4 percent, showed a report based on National Statistical Office (NSO) survey.
- The report on ‘Household Social Consumption: Education in India as part of the 75th round of National Sample Survey – from July 2017 to June 2018’ provides for state-wise detail of literacy rate among the persons aged seven years and above.
- As per the study, Kerala is the very first place with 92.2 percent followed by Delhi with 88.7 percent. Uttrakhand is at number 3 with 87.6 percent, Himachal Pradesh’s 86.6 percent, and Assam’s at 85.9 percent.
- On the other hand, Andhra Pradesh featured at the bottom with a rate of 66.4 percent. Rajasthan is the second-worst performer with a literacy rate of 69.7 percent. Bihar has a literacy rate of 70.9 percent, Telangana 72.8 percent, Uttar Pradesh 73 percent, and Madhya Pradesh 73.7 percent.
Bengaluru tops the list of cities for career in AI
Hyderabad is one of the top five cities in the country to offer jobs in the field of artificial intelligence (AI), a latest report by job portal site Indeed has revealed.
- Bengaluru tops the list of destinations for a career in AI, followed by Mumbai, Hyderabad, Pune, and Chennai.
- Job searches in the field have risen 106 per cent in the past year (June 2019 to June 2020), and this has increased further by 20 per cent from March to July 2020, in line with the onset of the pandemic.
CM Arvind Kejriwal launches Delhi’s campaign against dengue
Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal launched the second edition of its “10 Hafte-10 Baje-10 Minute” (10 weeks, 10 o’ clock, 10 minutes) campaign against dengue and other vector-borne diseases such as malaria and chikungunya.
- In this campaign, the government asks citizens to take 10 minutes every Sunday for 10 weeks to inspect their house for any signs of stagnant water and drain it.
- It will ensure that there is no breeding of mosquitoes and vector-borne diseases such as dengue, malaria, and chikungunya.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Union Minister Prahlad Singh Patel virtually attends 5th BRICS Culture Ministers’ Meet, hosted by Russia
Union Minister of State (I//C) for Culture and Tourism Shri Prahlad Singh Patel virtually attended 5th BRICS Culture Ministers’ Meeting.
- The 5th BRICS Culture Ministers’ Meeting was held through video conference under the Chairpersonship of Russian Federation.
- The participants of the meeting deliberated on the impact of the epidemiological situation on the cultural sphere in the BRICS countries.
35th FAO Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific 2020 held virtually, hosted by Bhutan
The 35th Session of the Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific held virtually on a videoconferencing platform, on an exceptional basis, in light of the global COVID-19 pandemic and associated public health concerns.
- The Conference was held under the Chair of the Host Country, Bhutan. The Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Parshottam Rupala represented India in the conference.
- The conference focused on regional priorities and issues such as COVID 19, the state of agriculture, natural resources management, food security and nutrition
Germany launches Indo-Pacific strategy with ‘key role’ for India
Germany, current EU president and Europe’s biggest economy, has launched its Indo-Pacific strategy with India that is expected to play a key role in Berlin’s outreach in the region where China’s aggressive foreign policy has rattled countries.
- The strategy released by German Foreign Ministry has several indirect references to Chinese behaviour that challenged rules-based world order. Berlin’s strategy also suggested opening dialogue with institutions where India plays a key role — Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation and Indian Ocean Rim Associationp — in the areas of business and maritime safety, as well as disaster risk management.
- The German government also announced that it will work to maintain rules-based order together with partners in the Indo-Pacific region.
BANKING & FINANCE
Mahindra Finance’s subsidiary set to enter online insurance, will launch portal called PayBima
Mahindra Finance is set to enter the business of online insurance broking giving digital services to the customers of its insurance brokerage subsidiary, Mahindra Insurance Brokers, through a soon-to-be launched portal called PayBima.
- The new portal would play a role in the transformation of Mahindra’s insurance broking services to a “phygital” model, which would leverage its feet-on-the-street agents at more than 400 locations in the country, with the digital aggregation and settlement services.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
Andhra Pradesh government signs MoUs with Netherlands, 7 firms on food processing, marketing
The Andhra Pradesh State government signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with the Netherlands government and seven companies in food processing, marketing and technologies, to benefit the horticulture and aquaculture farmers across the State.
- These MOUs will help the food processing sector of various agricultural products, including bananas, tomatoes, mangoes, sugar, chillies, vegetables, and aqua products.
- AP has also entered into an agreement with the following firms, Tiruchirappalli-based ICAR-National Research Centre for Banana, Pune-based Futuretech Foods Private Limited, Big Basket, ITC, Lawrencedale Agro Processing India Private Limited, IFB and Empire Company.
NABARD organizes awareness cum sensitization programme for newly proposed FPO in J&K
An awareness cum sensitization programme for newly proposed Farmer Producer Organizations (FPO) was organized by NABARD in coordination with District Administration in Anantnag, J & K.
- The programme was organised to promote sustainable and equitable agriculture and rural prosperity through effective credit support related services, institutional development and other initiatives.
Voda Idea rebrands itself as ‘Vi’, unveils new logo
Two years after Vodafone and Idea Cellular merged operations to form Vodafone Idea Ltd (VIL), the operator has rebranded its services as ‘Vi’ (read as ‘we’), as it starts afresh in a highly competitive telecom market.
- Until now, VIL was offering services under two separate brands – Vodafone and Idea.
- The new brand will focus on initiatives such as digital and IoT and continue to invest in 4G services.
Assam State Rural Livelihoods Mission and NESFB sign MoU
Assam State Rural Livelihoods Mission (ASRLM) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with North East Small Finance Bank (NESFB) to work in cohesion in support of Bank Linkage of the Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and Producer Groups/ Enterprises under ASRLM.
- ASRLM is the first amongst all the State Livelihood Missions to initiate the signing of MoU with the new generation small finance banks.
- This collaboration of ASRLM and NESFB will cater to the financial needs of many SHG members, other higher level federation like VOs, CLFs, Producer Groups, Producer Collectives etc. to kick-start their dream projects of livelihood enhancement.
TPT South Africa partners with TCS for logistics supply chain transformation
Tata Consultancy Services has partnered with Transnet Port Terminals in South Africa to help the latter develop an integrated online marketplace platform by bringing together cargo owners, shipping lines, clearing and forwarding agents, and road/rail haulers.
- A new platform named ‘Cargo Connect’, which will function as an online logistics marketplace where customers can submit logistics related requests and allow service providers to bid online.
- Customers will be able to select the preferred proposal and award the cargo contract to that bidder.
APPOINTMENTS
FADA appoints Vinkesh Gulati as its new President for 2020-22
Auto dealer’s body The Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations(FADA) has announced the appointment of Vinkesh Gulati as its 35th President for the period 2020-22.
- Gulati is the Director of United Automobiles, based out of Allahabad and Faridabad.
- FADA also appointed Manish Raj Singhania, Managing Partner – Ralas Motors, Raipur (dealer for Mahindra & Mahindra) as the Vice President and Chittur Selvakumar Vigneshwar, Deputy Managing Director – Anaamalais Toyota, Coimbatore (dealer for Toyota, VECV and Benelli) as the Secretary.
- Sai Giridhar – Director, Saisha Motors – Jaipur (dealer for Skoda Auto) will be treasurer for the year 2020-22
AWARDS
David Attenborough awarded the Indira Gandhi Peace Prize 2019
The Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust will present the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development for 2019 to renowned broadcaster Sir David Attenborough.
- The prize is awarded to him for a lifetime of doing more to reveal the wonders of the natural world than perhaps any other individual.
- The Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development was instituted in the memory of the former prime minister by a trust in her name in 1986. It consists of a monetary award of Rs 25 lakh along with a citation.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
India successfully flight tests indigenous Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle
India successfully flight-tested the indigenously-developed hypersonic technology demonstration vehicle (HSTDV), joining a select group of countries having the capability to develop the next-generation hypersonic cruise missiles. The missile was tested from APJ Abdul Kalam launch complex at Wheeler Island, off the coast of Odisha
- The HSTDV, based on hypersonic propulsion technologies and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), will help India develop futuristic space assets like long-range missile systems and aerial platforms.
- The HSTDV is capable of powering missiles to attain a speed of around Mach 6 or six times the speed of sound, adding only a very few countries like the US, Russia and China have such a capability.
OBITUARIES
Oscar-winning Czech director Jiri Menzel passes away
Oscar-winning Czech director Jiri Menzel has died after battling serious health issues.He was 82.
- Menzel won an Academy Award in 1968 for best foreign language film for World War Two drama Closely Watched Trains.
- In the year 2013 he was also conferred with Lifetime Achievement Award at International film festival held in India.
Swami Kesavananda Bharati, seer of Edneer Mutt passes away aged 79
The head of the Edneer Mutt in Kasargod Swami Kesavananda Bharati passed away due to age-related ailments. He was 79.
- Bharati was a patron of education, culture and arts.
- He had challenged a Kerala Land Reform Act nearly four decades ago.
- He was the petitioner in Supreme Court`s noted judgement that parliament cannot alter the basic structure of the Constitution.
IMPORTANT DAYS
First International Day of Clean Air for blue skies
The very first International Day of Clean Air for blue skies observed on September 7th, 2020, following the recognition by the United Nations General Assembly of the importance of clean air for the health and day-to-day lives of people.
- The Day aims to Raise public awareness at all levels, individual, community, corporate and government that clean air is important for health, productivity, the economy and the environment.
International Literacy Day
International Literacy Day is observed every year on 8 September in an effort to highlight the importance of literacy to individuals and communities around the world.
- The theme of International Literacy Day 2020 is “Literacy teaching and learning in the COVID-19 crisis and beyond.”