Daily Current Affairs 19th October, 2019

Daily Current Affairs 19 October 2019 for Banking/Insurance/SSC and other related exams.

NATIONAL NEWS

Buddhist circuit train between India and Nepal to run between October 19-26

The Indian Railways will run its first Buddhist Circuit train between India and Nepal from October 19 to October 26. The train journey will cover sites significant to Gautam Buddha’s life in both India and Nepal.

• According to the Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), the Buddhist circuit train will cover important Buddhist destinations such as: Lumbini – the birthplace of Buddha, Bodhgaya – the place of enlightenment, Sarnath – the place of Buddha’s first sermon and Kushinagar – the place of Buddha’s Nirvana.
• The train will originate and terminate at Safdarjung railway station in New Delhi.

Dr Jitendra Singh inaugurates 11th Nuclear Energy Conclave

The Union Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region (I/C), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh inaugurated the 11th Edition of Nuclear Energy Conclave 2019 in New Delhi.

• The theme of the Conclave: “Economics of Nuclear Power- Innovation towards Safer & Cost-Effective Technologies”. It was organized by India Energy Forum (IEF).
• Government is setting up the nuclear plants in other parts of the country. A nuclear plant is coming up in the Gorakhpur of Haryana.

India to host Interpol General Assembly in 2022

India will host the 91st Interpol General Assembly in 2022 after a proposal received the overwhelming support of member countries at this year’s congregation at Santinago in Chile.

• The International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) had hosted the general assembly, where representatives of all member countries converge, in India in 1997.

Goa CM releases commemorative IRONMAN 70.3 postal stamp

The Chief Minister of Goa, Pramod Sawant, released a special commemorative IRONMAN 70.3 Goa postal stamp in Panaji. The IRONMAN 70.3 Goa, Half Distance Triathlon will be held in India for the first time ever on October 20.

• India Post issued the stamp and it is the first occasion in the 40 plus years of the IRONMAN history where a nation’s postal department has extended its support in this manner.

Indian defence exports to grow to Rs 35,000 cr by 2024

Indian defence industry is becoming export-oriented and country’s defence exports are set to grow to Rs 35,000 crore by 2024, Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat said.

Defence of Andaman and Nicobar Islands exercise 2019 (Danx-19)

Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) has conducted the 2nd edition of Defence of Andaman & Nicobar Islands 2019 (DANX-19).

• The components of the Indian Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard carried out mobilisation and field manoeuvres to validate defensive plans of Headquarters ANC towards pursuance of the Command’s responsibility, namely ensuring the territorial integrity of the A&N Islands.

Karnataka, Kerala, Gujarat top in university-industry linkages in research: Govt report

Karnataka, Kerala and Gujarat have topped in the University-Industry Linkages (UILs) and have scored 7.8, 7.3 and 6.7, respectively, on the scale of ten in a research report conducted by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

• The analysis conducted on the basis of ten parameters shows that UILs are found moderate in India with an overall score of 4.7 points out of 10 but surprisingly a lot of disparities have been observed among the states.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

United Nation General Assembly Elects 14 Member States to Human Rights Council

The United Nation General Assembly has elected 14 States to the 47 member body of UN Human Rights Council(UNHRC). The UNHRC is responsible for promoting and protecting all human rights around the globe.

• The Assembly elected Armenia, Brazil, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, Libya, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Namibia, Netherlands, Poland, Republic of Korea, Sudan and Venezuela.
• All 14 members will serve three-year terms beginning on 1 January 2020.
• The newly-elected States are replacing the following outgoing members: China, Croatia, Cuba, Egypt, Hungary, Iceland, Iraq, Japan, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Tunisia and the United Kingdom.

NASA Astronauts complete All-Woman Spacewalk

Nasa astronauts Christina Koch and Jessica Meir have made history by completing the first-ever all-female spacewalk. They spent 7 hours outside the International Space Station (ISS) replacing a failed power control unit.

• Ms Koch had already carried out four spacewalks but it was the first such mission for Ms Meir, who became the 15th woman to walk in space.

Pak to remain on FATF grey list till February 2020

In a major development, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) decided “in principle” that Pakistan will remain on its grey list till February 2020 and directed the country to take “extra measures” for the “complete elimination” of terror financing and money laundering.

• The country was placed on the Grey List by the watchdog in June 2018 and was given 15 months to complete implementation of a 27-point action plan, failing which it be placed in the Black List.

SPORTS

Ronaldo Singh wins gold medal in Asian Track Cycling Championships

Indian cyclist Ronaldo Singh bagged a gold medal in the men’s junior Keirin event at the Asian Track Cycling Championships being held at Incheon in South Korea.

APPOINTMENTS

Sudhaker Shukla appointed as whole-time member of IBBI

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of Sudhaker Shukla as Whole-Time Member, Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI).

Former IMF chief Christine Lagarde appointed head of European Central Bank

European Union leaders confirmed the appointment of Christine Lagarde as the new chief of the European Central Bank.

• She will be replacing Mario Draghi (Italy) from November 1. Lagarde’s confirmation for a non-renewable term of 8-years.

OBITUARIES

Renowned painter Kalidas Karmakar passes away in Dhaka

Internationally acclaimed painter of Bangladesh Kalidas Karmakar passed away in Dhaka. He was born on January 10, 1946, in Faridpur district, he completed his graduation from the Government College of Fine Arts and Crafts in Kolkata in 1969.

Legendary Cuba ballet dancer Alicia Alonso passes away

Cuban ballet dancer Alicia Alonso has passed away at the age of 98. She is considered one of the greatest 20th Century ballerinas.

BOOKS

A book titled “Mind Master: Winning Lessons from a Champion’s Life” penned by Viswanathan Anand

Indian Chess player, Viswanathan Anand has penned a book titled “Mind Master: Winning Lessons from a Champion’s Life”. The book, published by Hachette India, is releasing on December 11.

• The book is based on the experience he had in the game of Chess. In the book, he revisits his greatest games and worst losses, his unique experiences of playing against the best minds, and the methods he employs to prepare for wins, cope with disappointments and, simply, stay in the game.

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