Daily Current Affairs 29 September for Banking/Insurance/SSC and other related exams.
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NATIONAL NEWS
Delhi CM announces 15-point winter action plan to fight air pollution
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced a 15-point Winter Action Plan to control air pollution in Delhi during the winter season.
- Further, Kejriwal stated that Delhi has developed specific action plans for 13 identified hotspots, including free distribution of bio-decomposer to over 5,000 acres of farmland, strict monitoring of construction sites, use of anti-dust machines, and reduced vehicular pollution.
- Additionally, open waste burning will be banned and if pollution levels rise, the graded response will be implemented rigorously. Collaborative efforts with neighbouring states will continue.
Bihar to get second tiger reserve in Kaimur district
After the Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR) in West Champaran district, Bihar is set to get a second tiger reserve in Kaimur district (Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary) by the end of the year or early 2024. The total tiger count in the State currently is 54.
- The State Forest Department officials said they were working to obtain the National Tiger Reserve Conservation Authority’s (NTCA) approval for declaring it a tiger reserve.
- Earlier, tigers were spotted in the Kaimur hills area. A report of the NTCA said that the tiger population in the Valmiki reserve has increased from 31 in 2018 to 54.
Cartography museum inaugurated at Mussoorie’s George Everest House
Tourism minister Satpal Maharaj on the occasion of World Tourism Day on September 27,2023 inaugurated a cartography museum at Park Estate, erstwhile home of renowned surveyor, Sir George Everest, after whom the world’s highest peak is named.
- The estate is located in the Hathipaon area of the hill town. Everest owned the house from 1832 to 1843 and it was amongst the earliest houses to be built in Mussoorie. It has been renovated by the tourism department with the support of Asian Development Bank (ADB) on a budget of Rs 23.5 crore.Â
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Scientists discover an ‘Eighth Continent’ that had been hidden for 375 years
A team of seismologists and geologists have discovered a continent that was hidden for around 375 years. The small team has created a newly refined map of Zealandia or Te Riu-a-Maui, which is considered as the ‘eighth continent of the world’ that is beneath the Pacific Ocean.
- The updated map has shown the location of the magmatic arc axis that forms the Zealandia continent as well as a number of important geological features. The researchers found it using the data obtained from dredged rock samples recovered from the ocean floor.
- Measuring 4.9 million square kilometres in size, it is more than six times the size of Madagascar and roughly half of Australia.It extends from south of New Zealand northward to New Caledonia and west to the Kenn Plateau off Australia’s east.
Russia to boost its defence spending by 70% in 2024
Russia plans to boost defense spending by nearly 70% in 2024 amid the ongoing Ukraine conflict, allocating approximately $111.15 billion, surpassing social policy spending.
- The country plans to funnel massive resources into its Ukraine offensive which is calls ‘special military operation’ and also a ‘hybrid war’ unleashed by the West.
- With Moscow’s “special military operation” now dragging through its 20th month, both sides have been digging deep and procuring weapons from allies in preparation for a protracted conflict.
BANKING & FINANCE
ADB approves reforms to unlock $100 billion new funding capacity
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) said it has approved capital management reforms that would unlock $100 billion in funds over the next decade.
- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved capital management reforms that unlock $100 billion in new funding capacity over the next decade to address the region’s overlapping, simultaneous crises.
- The reforms were introduced through an update of ADB’s Capital Adequacy Framework (CAF) and several other initiatives it did not mention. The break-up was of a $10 billion increase out of its claimed $100 billion increase.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
Google and HP join hands to make chromebooks under Rs 20,000 for students
In a significant development aligned with the Make in India initiative, tech giants HP and Google have teamed up to manufacture budget-friendly Chromebook laptops in India.
- This strategic partnership aims to target the affordable notebook market, particularly catering to students, educational institutions, and government procurement needs.
- The Chromebook devices are expected to be priced at approximately Rs 20,000, with potential for even lower rates in bulk purchases. Production will take place at the Flex facility near Chennai, where HP has been manufacturing laptops and desktops since August 2020.
India’s fiscal deficit at Rs 6.4 lakh cr in April-Aug, 36% of full-year target: CGA
The Centre’s fiscal deficit in the first five months of 2023-24 touched 36 per cent of the full-year target, government data showed.
- In absolute terms, the fiscal deficit, the gap between expenditure and revenue was Rs 6.42 lakh crore as of August-end, according to the data released by the Controller General of Accounts (CGA).
- The deficit stood at 32.6 per cent of the Budget Estimates (BE) in the corresponding period of the financial year 2022-23.
SPORTS
Cricketing history made: Nepal’s record-breaking triumph against Mongolia in Asian Games T20 Tournament
Teenager Kushal Malla has broken the record for the fastest men’s T20I century held previously by a trio of players including India captain Rohit Sharma as Nepal created their own piece of history by scoring the highest total ever against Mongolia at the Asian Games.
- Malla took just 34 deliveries to reach his century in Hangzhou, surpassing the 35-ball efforts of Rohit and David Miller from 2017 and Sudesh Wickramasekara in 2019 as Nepal amassed a whopping 314/3 from their 20 overs against Mongolia at the Asian Games.
- That total was 36 runs higher than the previous best in T20I, with Afghanistan (278/3 v Ireland) and the Czech Republic (278/4 v Turkey) holding the previous highest total with their own large scores from 2019.
AWARDS
Tata Consultancy Services tops Kantar’s 2023 most valuable brands report
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) continues to be India’s most valuable brand at $43 billion, according to Kantar BrandZ Top 75 most valuable Indian brands report.
- HDFC Bank, Infosys and Airtel also held on to their top four positions, while State Bank of India rose one spot to enter the Top five. There are four newcomers to the 2023 Indian brand ranking, plus two re-entrants.
- PhonePe – the highest entry at 21st spot has become a leading digital payment app by investing heavily in the strength of its infrastructure, building connections with partner banks and developing a huge network of merchant acceptance points.
- The year 2023 is the 10th ranking of India’s most valuable brands, during which time the Top 50 have increased almost fivefold in value, from USD 69.6bn in 2014 to USD 339.9bn in 2023.