Current Affairs 16 October 2020

We are here for you to provide the important Recent and Latest Current Affairs 16 October 2020, which have unique updates of Latest Current Affairs 2020 events from all newspapers such as The Hindu, The Economic Times, PIB, Times of India, PTI, Indian Express, Business Standard and all Government official websites.

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Top 25 Current Affairs of 16 October 2020

NATIONAL AFFAIRS

Cabinet Approvals on October 14, 2020

On October 14, 2020, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the following proposals, which were detailed by Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Keshav Javadekar during a press conference.

• Cabinet approved Special Package J&K and Ladakh under DAY-NRLM 
• Cabinet approved Rs. 5718 cr World Bank aided project STARS to Strengthen School Education System
• Cabinet approved Demerger of Nagarnar Steel Plant from NMDC Ltd. and it’s strategic disinvestment 
• Govt allowed ADNOC to Export Oil from Strategic Reserve
• Cabinet approved India-Australia MoU for collaboration in R&D for sustainable groundwater management

About Australia:
Capital– Canberra
Currency– Australian dollar
Prime Minister– Scott John Morrison
<<Read Full News>>

Union Minister Harsh Vardhan Launches Second Phase of “Thalassemia Bal Sewa Yojana”

On October 14, 2020 Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Dr Harsh Vardhan virtually launched the Second Phase of “Thalassemia Bal Sewa Yojana” from Nirman Bhawan, New Delhi. It will benefit underprivileged patients. 
Beneficiaries:
The beneficiaries are Underprivileged Thalassemia Patients who are eligible for Bone Marrow Transplantation but lack financial support. 
Funding:
The program is funded by Coal India’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
About Ministry of Health and Family Welfare:
Union Minister – Dr Harsh Vardhan
Minister of State (MoS) – Ashwini Kumar Choubey
<<Read Full News>>

India provides USD 1 Million to UNRWA for Palestinian Refugees

On 14th October, 2020 the Government of India contributed USD 1 Million (Approximately INR 7.3 Crores) to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency in Near East (UNRWA) for Palestine refugees. It will help in improving the lives of Palestine refugees suffering due to the pandemic. 
The contribution was presented by Representative of India to the State of Palestine, Sunil Kumar to Sami Mshasha, Officer-in-Charge of Department of External Relations and Communication and Director of Communication of UNRWA.
About United Nations Relief and Works Agency in Near East (UNRWA) for Palestine refugees:
Commissioner-General – Philippe Lazzarini
Headquarters – Amman, Jordan
<<Read Full News>>

Chandigarh University Bags First Rank in India for Filing Highest Number of Patents : Intellectual Property India Report

According to Intellectual Property India’s Annual Report for 2018-19, Chandigarh University (Gharuan, Mohali, Punjab) has emerged as the Leading Stand-Alone University in India for filing 336 Patents, which is the highest number of patents in a year. 
The reports were released by the Office of Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trademarks, Government of India.
Top 3 Indian Applicants for patents from Academic Institutes and Universities:

About Indian Patent Office:
The Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs and TradeMarks (CGPDTM) known as the Indian Patent Office, is an agency under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade.
Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharashtra.
Controller General of Patents, Designs & Trade Marks – Shri. O P Gupta
<<Read Full News>>

Housing & Urban Affairs ministry Launched ARHC Website & National Report on Angikaar – Campaign for Change Management

i.On October 14, 2020, a webinar was conducted at the launch of Affordable Rental Housing Complex (ARHC) portal (http://arhc.mohua.gov.in/) and for the releasing of guidelines and guidebook, from New Delhi which was addressed by Hardeep S. Puri, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Housing & Urban Affairs.
ii.He also launched a National Report on ANGIKAAR – a campaign for change management for PMAY-U (Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban) beneficiaries through a 3 C strategy- Community Engagement, Convergence and Communication. The report is a recollection of various activities under the campaign i.e. October 2019-Ocober 2020. 
iii.A short movie ‘ANGIKAAR 2019…a reminiscence’ showing a journey of the campaign so far, was also released.
<<Read Full News>>

GoI notifies Directorate General of Shipping as National Authority for Recycling of Ships

On October 15, 2020, Government of India (GoI) notified Directorate General of Shipping as National Authority for Recycling of Ships under Section 3 of the Recycling of Ships Act, 2019. 
i.As apex body, DG Shipping will administer, supervise and monitor all activities related to recycling of ships. 
ii.National Authority of Ship Recycling will be set up in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
About Ministry of Shipping:
Directorate General of Shipping is an attached officer under the Ministry of Shipping
Minister of State (MoS) (Independent Charge) – Mansukh Mandaviya
Headquarters – New Delhi
<<Read Full News>>

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

Nirmala Sitharaman Virtually Participated in 4th G20 Finance Ministers & Central Bank Governors; DSSI extended till June 2021

i.As a part of the Finance Track for the G20 (Group of Twenty) Leaders Summit 2020, the 4th G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) meeting was held virtually on October 14, 2020. It was organized under the Saudi Arabian Presidency where Indian side was represented by Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman. 
ii.The meeting was co-chaired by Mohammed Al-Jadaan, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Finance, and Ahmed Al-Kholifey, governor of the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority.
iii.During this meeting, the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors agreed to extend the Debt Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI) by 6 months i.e. till June 2021 to ease liquidity pressures. It was initially in force till December 2020.
About G-20 or Group of Twenty:
Composition– 19 countries and the European Union (EU)
The 19 countries are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, France, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, the UK, and the United States (US).
2020 Presidency– Saudi Arabia
2020 theme– Realizing Opportunities of the 21st Century For All
Chairman– Saudi Arabian King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (2020)
<<Read Full News>>

India registers 25-30 Percent drop in Tuberculosis Case Notifications: WHO Report

According to the Global Tuberculosis Report 2020 released by World Health Organization (WHO), there has been a 25 to 30 % drop in Tuberculosis (TB) across three high-burden countries – India, Indonesia and Philippines between January-June 2020. 
WHO has collected data from 200 countries for the report, the reduction in case notifications may lead to dramatic increase in additional TB deaths.
About World Health Organization (WHO):
Director General – Tedros Adhanom
Headquarters – Geneva, Switzerland
<<Read Full News>>

BANKING & FINANCE

IRDAI Introduces Standard Life Product, ‘Saral Jeevan Bima’; Mandated Life Insurers to launch by Jan 1, 2021

i.On October 15, 2020, Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) released Guidelines for Standard Life Insurance Product ‘Saral Jeevan Bima’. 
ii.The insurance scheme should be mandatorily offered by All Life Insurance Companies from January 1, 2021. 
iii.A Standard Insurance Product will enable the customers to easily make an informed choice, enhance trust between Insurers and insured and reduce mis-selling.
About Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI):
Chairman – Subhash Chandra Khuntia
Headquarters – Hyderabad, Telangana 
<<Read Full News>>

ECONOMY & BUSINESS

PhonePe in Association with Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Launched Car and Bike Insurance Products on its Platform

i.On October 14, 2020 PhonePe in association with Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Company launched car and bike insurance products on its platform. 
ii.This launch enables more than 230 million registered PhonePe users to insure their vehicles, in under 2 minutes, without having to upload any documents before making a purchase. They can also view their policy documents instantly on the app.
About Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Company:
Managing Director(MD) and Chief Executive Officer(CEO)– Tapan Singhel
Head Office– Pune, Maharashtra
About PhonePe:
HeadOffice– Bengaluru, Karnataka
Chief Executive Officer(CEO)– Sameer Nigam
<<Read Full News>>

IKEA in Partnership with Citibank India and Mastercard Launched a Co-Branded Card,  ‘IKEA Family Credit Card by Citi’

i.On October 13, 2020 In order to make shopping at IKEA, home furnishing company  more affordable, convenient and rewarding, it has launched ‘IKEA Family Credit Card by Citi’, in partnership with Citibank India (Citi) and Mastercard. This card is IKEA’s first co-branded card in India. 
ii.It is a first for any co-branded card in India, to have a full digital in-store card application process with instant verification and immediate usage.
About Citibank India:
HeadQuarters– Mumbai, Maharashtra
Chief Executive Officer(CEO), Citi India and Regional Head for South Asia – Ashu Khullar
About IKEA:
Headquarters– Sweden
<<Read Full News>>

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS          

Gurdeep Singh, CMD of NTPC Gets Extension on His Term Till July 2025

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) extended the tenure of Gurdeep Singh, the Chairman and Managing Director(CMD) of NTPC limited. Gurdeep Singh will serve as the CMD till July 2025, which makes him as the one of the longest serving chief of NTPC Ltd.
Gurdeep’s extended second term will start from 4th February 2021 and end on 31st July 2025, the date of his retirement.
About Gurdeep Singh:
i.Gurdeep Singh is a mechanical engineer by training.
ii.He was appointed as the CMD of NTPC in February 2016.
iii.Prior to this appointment, he served as the Managing Director(MD) of the Gujarat State Electricity Corporation Limited.
iv.He served in various firms in the power sector which includes, CLP, Calcutta Electric Supply Corporation(CESC), IDFC, Powergen and AES.
Future Plans of NTPC:
i.With a total capital expenditure of Rs.1 trillion between 2019 and 2024, NTPC plans to become a 130Gigawatt (GW) power producer by 2032.
ii.NTPC is discussing with the state governments of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh for the allocation of land parcels to establish Ultra Mega Renewable Energy Power Parks (UMREPP).
iii.NTPC plans to build the massive clean energy parks at a cost of 2 billion USD for each park.
About NTPC:
Chairman & Managing Director(CMD)– Gurdeep Singh
Headquarters– New Delhi

Sooronbai Jeenbekov, President of Kyrgyzstan announced his Resignation 

i.On 15th October 2020, Sooronbai Jeenbekov, the President of Kyrgyzstan announced his resignation to end the commotion and disorder caused by the results of the 2020 Parliament elections.
ii.Following the demands of the citizens of Kyrgyzstan and to settle the protest at Bishkek, the President, Sooronbai Jeenbekov announced his resignation.
iii.Sooronbai Jeenbekov accepted the appointment of Sadyr Zhaparov as the Prime Minister(PM) after the parliament of Kyrgyzstan named him as the PM in the repeat vote conducted on 14th October 2020.
About Kyrgyzstan:
Capital– Bishkek
Currency– Kyrgyzstani Som
<<Read Full News>>

OBITUARY

New Zealand’s Former Captain & Oldest Surviving Test Cricketer John R Reid Passed Away at 92

On 14th October 2020, John R Reid, former captain of New Zealand’s Cricket Team and the oldest surviving Test Cricketer passed away at the age of 92 in Auckland, New Zealand. He was born on 3rd June 1928 in Auckland, New Zealand.
About John R Reid:
i.John R Reid, one of the world’s best all-rounders in the 1950 and later 1960s.
ii.He served as the captain of the New Zealand’s cricket team for 34 test matches including the first 3 victories of New Zealand.
iii.He had played around 246 first class games in which he scored 16128 runs, including the 39 centuries and took 466 wickets.
iv.He made his test debut in 1949 and played around 58 tests scoring 3428 runs and took 85 wickets.
v.He retired in 1965 with a record for most Tests, most as captain, most runs, most catches and most wickets for New Zealand.
vi.He served as a New Zealand selector and manager, later he was appointed as the President of New Zealand Cricket Council (NZCC) in 2003.
vii.He was appointed as ICC (International Cricket Council) match referee in 1993.
Honours:
i.John R Reid was honoured with the tag of an officer of the order of the British Empire for his service to cricket in 1962.
ii.He was also made a companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2014.

Jnanpith & Padma Shri Awardee and Malayalam Poet ‘Mahakavi’ Akkitham Achuthan Namboothiri Passed Away at 94

On October 15, 2020 ‘Mahakavi’(great poet) Akkitham Achuthan Namboothiri, renowned Malayalam Poet passed away at the age of 94  at a private hospital in Thrissur, Kerala. He is the last Malayalam poet to be called as ‘Mahakavi’. He introduced “meaningful modernism” in Malayalam poetry several decades ago.
He is a recipient of Jnanpith Award(2019),India’s highest literary honour and Padma Shri(2017). He was born on March 18, 1926 in Kumaranallur in Palakkad District, Kerala.

• Noted painter Akkitham Narayanan is his younger brother.

About ‘Mahakavi’ Akkitham Achuthan Namboothiri :
i.He started his career with Unni Namboothiri magazine as an editor.
ii.He served as the co-editor of Mangalodayam and Yogakshemam journals. He also worked at Kozhikode station of the All India Radio (AIR).
iii.He has published about 45 books, that comprises poetry anthologies, plays and short stories. 
Awards
i.He received the Sanjayan Award in 1952 for his work Irupatham Noottandinte Ithihasam(Epic of the 20th Century), that is his poetic masterpiece.
ii.Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Poetry in 1971 and Sahitya Akademi Award in 1973 for his work Balidarshanam.
iii.In 2016, Kerala Government awarded him Ezhuthachan Puraskaram, their highest literary award.
iv.He received Padma Shri in 2017 for Literature and Education.
v.In 2019, he received 55th Jnanpith Award

BOOKS & AUTHORS

Pradeep Goorha Penned His 2nd Book titled “Mr Prime Minister, We Shrank The Dragon”

Pradeep Goorha authored his 2nd book titled “Mr Prime Minister, We Shrank The Dragon”, published by Partridge Publishing India is set to be released. The Fiction book is based on the reality around the issues along the Northern borders of India and the illegal occupation of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir(PoK), Gilgit-Baltistan by Pakistan.
About The Book:
i.Pradeep Goorha’s “Mr Prime Minister, We Shrank The Dragon” attempts to provide the solutions to solve the issues of the illegal occupation of Pakistan along the northern borders of India.
ii.Through this book Pradeep Goorha introduces his readers to believe that the problems are not as hard as they appear.
About Pradeep Goorha:
i.Pradeep Goorha, is an alumnus of IIT Roorkee and Clemson University, South Carolina. 
ii.He was a management consultant and he also worked for the London based Commonwealth Secretariat.
iii.He has been a columnist for business magazines in India and authored articles including Gains from Failure, The Going Concern Chimera, etc.,
iv.His debut book was “Survival Redux”, a historical fiction published by Createspace Independent Pub in 2016 in the United States of America.

IMPORTANT DAYS

International Day of Rural Women 2020 – October 15

i.United Nations(UN)’s International Day of Rural Women is annually observed across the globe on 15th October to recognise the role and contribution of rural women in agriculture and rural development, food security and eradicating rural poverty. The day also promotes gender equality and  elimination of gender discrimination.
ii.The First International Day of Rural Women was observed on 15th October 2008.
iii.The theme of International Day of Rural Women 2020 is “Building rural women’s resilience in the wake of COVID-19”.
About UN Women:
Executive Director– Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka
Headquarters– New York, United States of America
Goodwill Ambassadors(South Asia)– Sania Mirza, Farhan Akhtar 
<<Read Full News>>

Global Handwashing Day 2020:  October 15

i.Global Handwashing Day is celebrated annually on October 15. The global advocacy day aims to raise awareness and understanding about the importance of handwashing with soap as an effective and affordable way to prevent diseases and save lives. 
ii.Theme of Global Handwashing Day 2020 – “Hand Hygiene for All.”
iii.The theme follows the recent global initiative, Hand Hygiene for All Global Initiative, led by the World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Children’s Fund(UNICEF).
<<Read Full News>>

World Students Day observed on 15th October, 2020

The World Students Day is observed annually on 15th October to celebrate the Birth Anniversary of India’s 11th President Dr. Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam (known as APJ Abdul Kalam). This is Abdul Kalam’s 89th Birth Anniversary.
The theme of World Student Day 2020 is “Learning for People, Planet, Prosperity and Peace”.
Key Points:
i.Abdul Kalam was born on October 15, 1931 in Rameshwaram, Tamil Nadu.
ii.He spent four decades as Scientist, Science Administrator at Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
iii.He is also known as ‘Missile Man of India’ for work on Development of Ballistic Missile and Launch Vehicle Technology.
iv.He is recipient of Padma Bhushan (1981), Padma Vibhushan (1990), Bharat Ratna (1997).
v.He passed away on July 27, 2015 at IIM (Indian Institute of Management) Shillong, Meghalaya.

STATE NEWS

K. Shanmugam, Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary Gets Another 3 month extension

On October 14, 2020 Centre approved another 3 month extension of service (from November 1, 2020 to January 31, 2021) to Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary K. Shanmugam, a 1985-batch Indian Administrative Service(IAS) officer. 
Key Info
This is his second extension of service following a 3 month extension(August 1- October 31, 2020). He was due to retire from service on July 31, 2020.
Note– Tamil Nadu government, on August 13, 2020 had requested the Centre to extend his services for another term.
About  K. Shanmugam:
i.He assumed charge as Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu on June 30, 2019, following the retirement of incumbent Girija Vaidyanathan.
ii.Prior to becoming Chief Secretary he was the finance secretary of the state. He hails from Salem.
Additional Info
i.The process of selection of the next Chief Secretary is expected to begin shortly.
ii.Currently there are over 20 senior IAS officers in the cadre of Additional Chief Secretary in the state government and those who are on deputation to the Centre.  
About Tamil Nadu:
Wildlife Sanctuary– Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Mundanthurai Wildlife Sanctuary, Point Calimere Wildlife Sanctuary, Kalakad Wildlife Sanctuary, Kanyakumari Wildlife Sanctuary
Bird Sanctuary– Vettangudi birds Sanctuary, Karikili Birds Sanctuary, Kanjirankulam Birds Sanctuary, Chitrangudi Birds Sanctuary, Vedanthangal Birds Sanctuary.

HZL & Gujarat Signed an MoU to Set Up World’s Biggest Zinc Smelter Plant, First in the State with Zero Liquid Discharge

i.On 14th October 2020, the Hindustan Zinc Limited(HZL), a subsidiary of Vedanta Limited, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the government of Gujarat to set up World’s Biggest Zinc smelter complex in Doswada GIDC (Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation), Tapi, Gujarat. This 300 KTPA (Kilo Tonnes Per Annum) greenfield facility of HZL is the first of its kind in Gujarat with zero liquid discharge.
ii.This is one of the largest MoU signed under Gujarat’s modified industrial policy, that provides benefits to companies that invest in backward tribal districts.
iii.M. K. Das, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Industries and Mines, Government of Gujarat and Arun Misra, CEO of Hindustan Zinc Limited signed the MoU.
About Hindustan Zinc Limited(HZL):
HZL is one of the World’s largest and India’s only integrated producer of Zinc, Lead and Silver.
CEO– Arun Misra
Headquarters– Udaipur, Rajasthan
About Gujarat:
Bird Sanctuary– Porbandar Birds Sanctuary, Khijadia Bird Sanctuary and Nal Sarovar Birds Sanctuary
International Airports– Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, Surat International Airport
<<Read Full News>>

Punjab Cabinet Approved Dr BR Ambedkar SC Post Matric Scholarship Scheme

On October 14, 2020, the Punjab Cabinet headed by Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh approved the launch of state’s Post Matric Scholarship Scheme “Dr. BR Ambedkar SC Post Matric Scholarship Scheme” to be effective from academic session 2021-22. This scheme will replace the Centre’s “Post Matric Scholarship Scheme”, which became defunct in 2018, to facilitate Scheduled Caste (SC) students to pursue higher education in government and private institutions.

• The outlay of the scheme is estimated to be about Rs 600 crore. Of this, the tentative liability of the Government institutions would be about Rs 168 crore and the remaining Rs 432 crore would be borne by the private educational institutions and the government.
• The income criteria is also revised under the new scheme. Now, the combined income of both parents for a student to avail assistance has been enhanced from Rs 2.50 lakh to Rs 4 lakh.

Eligibility:
The scheme will be applicable to persons belonging to SC, who are domiciled in Punjab and have done matriculation from Punjab (including Chandigarh). All central/state government and private institutions in Punjab (including Chandigarh) will be covered under the scheme.
About Punjab:
Capital– Chandigarh
Governor– Vijayender Pal Singh Badnore

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal Launched  ‘Red Light On Gaadi Off’ Campaign to Reduce Air Pollution

i.On October 14, 2020 In a bid to reduce air pollution, Arvind Kejriwal, Chief Minister(CM) of Delhi launched ‘Red Light On Gaadi Off’ Campaign. Under this antipollution campaign, people will be encouraged to turn off the engines of their vehicles while waiting at traffic signals.
ii.Prakash Javadekar, Union Environment Minister stated that only 4% pollution is due to stubble burning in Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR), while the remaining 96% is due to local factors like biomass burning, garbage dumping, etc.
About Delhi:
UNESCO Heritage site– Humayun’s Tomb, Qutb Minar and its Monuments, Red Fort Complex
Airport– Indira Gandhi International Airport
<<Read Full News>>

AC GAZE

RRVL Gets of Rs.5550 Crore from Alyssum Asia Holdings

On 15th October 2020, Reliance Retail Ventures Ltd (RRVL), a subsidiary of Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) received the subscription amount of Rs.5550 crores from Alyssum Asia Holdings II Pte.Ltd., a unit of KKR, a global investment firm and allocated 81348479 equity shares to KKR.  KKR has picked up 1.28% stake in RRVL for its investment of Rs.5550 crores.

MSME Ministry introduces AI & ML in its portal ‘Champions’

Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) has introduced Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Machine Learning (ML) for Strengthening its single window system portal ‘Champions’. The conceptualization and scope analysis has been done with the help of National Informatics Centre (NIC) based on guidance provided by the team of Intel. AI & ML will help in understanding issues on a real-time basis on available social media and online data.

Pernod Ricard India Foundation and WWF India Partners to Secure Future of Assam’s Wild Elephants 

On October 13, 2020 Pernod Ricard India Foundation and World Wide Fund for Nature-India (WWF India) partners to conserve the Asian elephant in Assam through effective human-elephant conflict management. The project will work across 150 villages in Kamrup, Sonitpur, Biswanath, and Nagaon districts. It will also train community members on effective situation management by developing a toolkit and forming anti-depredation squads, which will help them protect their property, crops, and lives.

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