Current Affairs 19 September 2020

We are here for you to provide the important Recent and Latest Current Affairs 19 September 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 20 Current Affairs of 19 September 2020

NATIONAL AFFAIRS

PM Modi inaugurates Kosi Rail Mega Bridge and 12 other Railway Projects in Bihar

On 18th September, 2020 Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the historic Kosi Rail Mahasetu (mega bridge) and other projects including a new railway bridge on the Kiul River, two new railway lines, 5 Electrification projects, Bihar’s first Electric Locomotive Shed at Barauni and 3rd Line Project between Barh-Bakhtiyarpur in Bihar through video conference. 
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Phagu Chauhan, Governor of Bihar, Minister of Railways, Piyush Goyal were present during the inauguration. 
About Bihar:
Dam – Kohira Dam (Kohira River) & Nagi Dam (Nagi River)
Lakes – Kanwar Lake (Garhpura), Muchalinda Lake (Mocharim Bodhgaya), GhoraKatora Lake (near Rajgir)
<<Read Full News>>

Hardeep Singh Puri Inaugurated India’s first General Aviation Terminal at Delhi Airport

On September 17, 2020, Minister of State (MoS) Hardeep Singh Puri, Ministry of Civil Aviation inaugurated India’s first General Aviation Terminal at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, Delhi to handle the flight operations and movement and processing of passengers flying through of private jets or chartered flights. 

• It was built at a cost of Rs150 crore over one-and-a-half years by Bird ExecuJet Airport Services Private Limited, a joint venture between Bird Group and ExecuJet Aviation Group, an international business aviation company based in Switzerland’s Zurich Airport.
• This terminal can handle Code C type aircraft, which are 50-seater charter aircraft and the biggest in their category.
• It should be noted that flight operations of private jets are classified under the “general aviation” category.

Key Points:
-It will be guarded by Central Industrial Security Force (CISF)
-Currently, India has more than 100 general aviation aircraft and more than 300 non-scheduled operators registered with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
About Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA):
Director General– Arun Kumar
Headquarters– New Delhi

National Jal Jeevan Mission, Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MEITY) launch ICT Grand Challenge

On September 18, 2020 Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MEITY) in partnership with National Jal Jeevan Mission (NJJM), Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti has launched ICT (Information & Communication Technology) Grand Challenge for Development of ‘Smart Water Supply Measurement & Monitoring System’ to be deployed at the village level. 
The ICT grand challenge will invite proposals from Indian Tech start-ups, MSMEs (Micro, Small, Medium Enterprises), Indian Companies for the solution.
Supporting Agencies:
The Challenge is supported by Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), MEITY Startup Hub & Software Technology Parks of India (STPI).
Jal Jeevan Mission:
Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) aims to provide Functional Household Tap Connection (FHTC) to every rural house by 2024. 
About Ministry of Jal Shakti:
Ministry of Jal Shakti is a ministry under Government of India which was formed in May 2019 . This was formed by merging of two ministries; Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation and Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation.
Union Minister – Gajendra Singh Shekhawat 
Minister of State (MoS) – Rattan Lal Kataria
<<Read Full News>>

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

Singapore topped in 2nd Smart City Index 2020; 4 Indian Cities in Top 100 

On September 17, 2020, Institute for Management Development (IMD), in collaboration with Singapore University for Technology and Design (SUTD), IMD World Competitiveness Center, and
i.Smart Cities Observatory (SCO) has released the 2nd edition of global listing of smart cities i.e. “Smart City Index (SCI) 2020” in which the ranking of four Indian cities- New Delhi, Mumbai (Maharashtra), Hyderabad (Telangana), and Bengaluru (Karnataka) was declined as the technological advancement in these cities is not up to date to cater the COVID19 Pandemic.
ii.The index was topped by Singapore followed by Helsinki (Finland) and Zurich (Switzerland) in the second and the third place respectively. 
iii.It should be noted that Indian cities have suffered more from the pandemic because they were not prepared.
About Institute for Management Development (IMD):
Location– Lausanne (Switzerland) and Singapore
President – Jean-Francois Manzoni‎
<<Read Full News>>

Sanjay Dhotre Attended 6th BRICS Communication Ministers Meeting held virtually

i.On September 17, 2020, the 6th BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) Communication Ministers Meeting was hosted by Maxim Parshin, Deputy Minister of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media of Russia in a virtual format where India was represented by Sanjay Dhotre, Minister of State (MoS) for Communications, Electronics & Information Technology and Education.
ii.It should be noted that this meet is held annually under the rotating Chairship of member countries. India will take over the Chairship of the next BRICS Communications Ministers’ Meeting to be hosted in 2021 by India.
iii.During the meet, a general agreement was made to continue cooperation among BRICS Countries on important areas
About BRICS:
Russia will host the 12th or 2020 BRICS summit. It was planned to be held in Saint Petersburg from July 21 to 23, 2020, but was postponed  due to the outbreak of the global COVID-19 pandemic.
Presidency– Russia (India will assume the Presidency of BRICS in 2021)
Members– Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa
Establishment– 2009
Theme for 2020– “BRICS Partnership for Global Stability, Shared Security and Innovative Growth”.
About Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (Meity):
Union Minister– Ravi Shankar Prasad
Secretary– Ajay Prakash Sawhney
<<Read Full News>>

Ajit Doval Attended 10th BRICS NSAs Meet virtually

i.On September 17, 2020, the 10th meeting of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) National Security Advisors (NSAs) was hosted by Russia, the current chair of BRICS, where India was represented by Ajit Doval, Adviser to the Prime Minister (PM) of India on National Security. The focus of the meet was to exchange views on combating terrorism and extremism.
ii.Notably, a draft anti-terrorist strategy of the BRICS nations has been prepared, which will be submitted for approval during the upcoming summit. 
iii.During the meet an agreement was reached on further expanding the dialogue on security issues, organized crime, drug trafficking and providing for closer coordination among law enforcement agencies of the member nations.
About BRICS:
Presidency– Russia (India will assume the Presidency of BRICS in 2021)
Members– Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa
Establishment– 2009
Theme for 2020– “BRICS Partnership for Global Stability, Shared Security and Innovative Growth”.
<<Read Full News>>

BANKING & FINANCE

Canara Bank Introduced i-Lead 2.0 to Enhance Customer Services

i.On September 17, 2020 In order to provide its services regardless of where the customers reside, Canara Bank has launched a Lead Management System (LMS) – i-Lead 2.0 (Inspiring Leads System version 2.0). 
ii.It will help the bank to build and sustain business relationships with new customers and existing customers of the bank.
About Canara Bank:
Managing Director(MD) and Chief Executive Officer(CEO)– L.V.Prabhakar
HeadOffice– Bangalore, Karnataka
Tagline– Together We Can
<<Read Full News>>

KVGB Launched Vikas Laghu Suvarna, a Special Gold Loan Scheme

Karnataka Vikas Grameena Bank (KVGB) launched Vikas Laghu Suvarna, a special gold loan scheme with a reduced interest rate of 7.25%. The bank has slashed the interest rate to provide easy and affordable credit at cheap cost to the customers in need, considering the pandemic situation in the country.
About Vikas Laghu Suvarna:
80% market Value– Under Vikas Laghu Suvarna, the bank offers 80% of the market value of the gold subject to a maximum of Rs 3200 per gram.
Maximum– Loans up to a maximum of Rs 15 lakh will be provided. 
Repayment– Within 6 months the loan is repayable.
General Info
Karnataka Vikas Grameena Bank was formed by amalgamating 4 Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) namely, Malaprabha Grameena Bank, Bijapur Grameena Bank, Varada Grameena Bank and Netravathi Grameena Bank.
About Karnataka Vikas Grameena Bank (KVGB):
Chairman– P Gopi Krishna
HeadOffice- Dharwad, Karnataka

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS      

United Nations Named Indian Teenager Udit Singhal to the 2020 Cohort of Young Leaders for SDGs

i.Udit Singhal (18 years), the founder of Glass2S and, a zero waste ecosystem to control the increasing menace of glass waste in Delhi, has been named to the 2020 Cohort of young leaders for the Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs) by the United Nations(UN). 
ii.The Galss2Sand have prevented around 8000 bottles from being dumped into the landfills and have produced 4815 kilograms(Kg) of high grade silica sands with them.
About Office of the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth:
Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth– Jayathma Wickramanayake
Headquarters– New York, United States of America(USA)
<<Read Full News>>  

Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ Honoured 12 Faculties with First Ever AICTE Visvesvaraya Best Teachers Award 2020

On 15th September 2020, on the occasion of National Engineers Day, Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’, Union Minister of Education presented the first ever “AICTE Visvesvaraya Best Teachers Award 2020” to the 12 faculty members of All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) approved institutions over a virtual ceremony.
Key People:
Professor Anil D Sahasrabudhe, Chairman of AICTE, Professore MP Poonia, Vice Chairman of AICTE, Rajiv Kumar, Member Secretary of AICTE were present during the virtual ceremony.
AICTE Visvesvaraya Best Teachers Award 2020:
i.This national level annual award scheme was introduced in 2020 to identify the teachers and recognize their expertise and best practices and innovation in the field of higher technical education. The award comprises a cash award of Rs. 25,000 with a badge and certificate of excellence.  
ii.This is aimed to recognise the outstanding faculties on every Engineers Day and encourage them to update themselves to the current needs of higher education at global level.
iii.The entries for the awards were evaluated by the 7-member committee chaired by Prem Vrat, pro-chancellor, professor of eminence, and chief mentor at The North Cap University, Gurugram, based on the parameters that focus on research, feedback, contribution to the student development and resolution to societal problems.
List of Award winners of 2020
Other launches:
Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ also launched the Scheme for Promoting Interests, Creativity and Ethics among Students(SPICES) to promote the healthy co-curricular activities among the students for their development.

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS          

Government forms Expert Committee under NCSC Rajesh Pant to probe reports of snooping by Chinese firm

i.On September 16, 2020 Government of India formed an Expert Committee led by National Cyber Security Coordinator (NCSC) Lt General (retd)Rajesh Pant, India’s Chief Coordinator on Cyber Security to examine the reports of digital surveillance on Prominent Indian Nationals including President, Army Chief by Chinese firm Shenzhen Zhenhua Data Information Technology Company Ltd.
ii.The Expert Committee will submit its recommendations in 30 days. 
About National Security Council (NSC):
Head – Narendra Modi, Prime Minister
Secretary – Ajit Doval, National Security Advisor
<<Read Full News>>

President Accepts the Resignation of Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Union Minister of Food Processing Industries

i.On 18th September 2020, President of India, Ram Nath Kovind accepted the resignation of Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Union Minister of Food Processing Industries with immediate effect.
ii.Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Lok Sabha leader of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) tendered her resignation in protest against anti-former ordinances and legislation which were passed on 17th September 2020.
iii.Cabinet Minister Narendra Singh Tomar was assigned to the additional charge of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries(MoFPI).
About Ministry of Food Processing Industries:
Union Minister (additional charge)– Narendra Singh Tomar
Minister of State(MoS)– Rameswar Teli
<<Read Full News>>

Centre Sets up High-Level Committee Headed by Ajay Tirkey to Prepare Roadmap to Regularise Land Leasing in Agri Sector

i.In order to prepare a roadmap for regularisation of land leasing in the agriculture sector, the Centre has set up a high-level committee headed by Ajay Tirkey, secretary of the department of land resources under the ministry of rural development. 
ii.The reform will lay down rights of landless farm workers who are deprived of welfare benefits.
iii.The proposed framework will recognise the rights of landowners and cultivators and farm workers.
About Ministry of Rural Development:
Union Minister– Narendra Singh Tomar(Constituency- Morena, Madhya Pradesh)
Minister of State– Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti
<<Read Full News>>

FSSAI constitutes task force to look into guidelines for Vegan Foods

On September 16, 2020 Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) formed a seven-member task force for framing guidelines/provisions for vegan foods in the country. 
Members of the Task Force:
Shankar Narayan, founder-president of Satvik Vegan Society, Sumedha S. Deshpande, Retired Principal Scientist (food and nutrition) of Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Sangeeta Pandey, Head of Nutrition and Dietetics, Mount Carmel College, Bengaluru, Lalitha Appukkuttan, NIMS Medicity, Thiruvananthapuram, Palak Mehta, Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Vegan First, Pune, and a representative each from Ministry of Commerce and Industry and Quality Council of India will be the other members of the task force.
About Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI):
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Arun Singhal
Headquarters – New Delhi
<<Read Full News>>

 SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Scientists Discovered 1st Ever Planet, ‘WD 1856 b’ Orbiting a White Dwarf, ‘WD 1856+534’

An international team of astronomers have discovered the 1st ever planet, ‘‘WD 1856 B’’ orbiting a white dwarf (‘WD 1856+534’) or a dead star, located about 80 light years away in the northern constellation Draco. The Jupiter sized planet has a very short orbital period, i.e., a year on this planet is only 1.4 days. The findings are published in the Journal Nature.

• The discovery was made using NASA’s(The National Aeronautics and Space Administration) Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) and retired Spitzer Space Telescope.
• WD 1856 b is about 7 times larger than ‘WD 1856+534’.

Points to be Noted
i.The dense leftover of a Sun-like star, White Dwarf, is 40% larger than Earth.
ii.WD 1856 b orbits white dwarf every 34 hours, i.e., more than 60 times faster than Mercury orbits the Sun. 
Key Info
Researchers noted that in around five billion years, the Sun will become a white dwarf.
About White Dwarf
i.When stars like the sun exhaust its fuel, it bulges up to hundreds to thousands of times its original size, forming a cooler red giant star. 
ii.Finally, it releases its outer layers of gas, losing up to 80% of its mass. The remaining hot core becomes a white dwarf.
iii.Any object that is nearby is usually immersed and burned during this process. WD 1856 b have avoided this destruction.
About The National Aeronautics and Space Administration(NASA):
Headquarters– Washington, United States of America
Administrator– James Frederick “Jim” Bridenstine 

OBITUARY

Balli Durga Prasad Rao, Tirupati Lok Sabha MP Passed Away of COVID-19

On September 16, 2020 Balli Durga Prasad Rao, Tirupati(Andhra Pradesh-AP) Lok Sabha MP(Members of Parliament) passed away of COVID-19 at Apollo Main Hospital in Chennai, TamilNadu. He was around the age of 64. He belongs to Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party(YSRCP). He was born in Nellore district, AP on June 15, 1956.

• The first-time MP from the Tirupati (SC-Scheduled Caste) reserved constituency served as the School Education Minister in the Chandrababu Naidu Cabinet in the undivided Andhra Pradesh during 1995-96.

Note– He is the 2nd sitting MP after H. Vasanthakumar, Congress MP, from Kanyakumari constituency in Tamil Nadu and 1st from AP to die of COVID-19.
Key Info about Balli Durga Prasad Rao
i.Balli Durga Prasad Rao is a lawyer by profession. He started his political career as a member of TDP(Telugu Desam Party).
ii.For 4 times he served as an MLA(Member of the Legislative Assembly) from Gudur constituency of Nellore district, i.e., in 1985, 1994, 1999 & 2009.
iii.He was also as Member of Public Accounts Committee(PAC) between 2009 and 2014 in the erstwhile undivided state of Andhra Pradesh
iv.In 2019 he joined YSRCP and contested in Tirupati Lok Sabha elections

BOOKS & AUTHORS

“A Promised Land”: First Volume of Former US President Barack Obama’s Memoir 

On 17th September 2020, Penguin Random House announced that the first volume of the Former President of United States of America(USA), Barack Obama’s memoir “A Promised Land” is set to hit the stores on 17th November 2020, two weeks after Election day. 
This book will be released by Crown, a division of Penguin Random House around the world in 25 languages which includes Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, Czech, Finnish and Vietnamese.
Note:
The publication date of the 2nd volume is not yet decided.
About “A Promised Land”:
i.The memoir is a collection of Obama’s presidential campaign, his term in office and major events during his term and other important happenings during his term.
ii.This book also holds the personal journey of Michelle and Obama during his term as President.
iii.This also offers his thoughts and ideas to solve the ongoing issues in the country and to make the democracy of the US work for everyone.
About Barack Obama:
i.Barack Obama served as the 44th President of the United States of America.
ii.He was the first African American President of the Harvard Law Review.
Books:
His other books include “Of Thee I Sing” (children’s book), “Change We Can Believe In”, etc.,
Awards:
i.He received the Grammy awards under Best Spoken Word Album for Dreams From My Father in 2006 and The Audacity of Hope in 2008.
ii.He received the Nobel Peace Prize 2009 for his efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation.

IMPORTANT DAYS

11th edition of  World Bamboo Day observed on September 18, 2020

11th World Bamboo Day (WBD) was observed on September 18, 2020 to increase the awareness of Bamboos globally by the World Bamboo Organization (WBO). The Theme for this edition of World Bamboo Day is “BAMBOO NOW”. 
The World Bamboo Day is observed annually on September 18. It was established by Mr. Kamesh Salam, Former President of World Bamboo Organization, during the 8th World Bamboo Congress (WBC) at Prachan Buri, Bangkok, Thaïland in 2009. 
About World Bamboo Organization:
President – Michel Abadie
Headquarters – Boston, Massachusetts (United States)
<<Read Full News>>

STATE NEWS

Gujarat Govt Announced Subsidy Schemes for E-Scooters, Rickshaws

i.In order to encourage the use of electric vehicles to prevent air pollution Chief Minister Vijay Rupani announced subsidy schemes for electric two-wheelers and e-rickshaws during a virtual programme on climate change to commemorate the founding day of the state climate change department. Apart from this, memorandum of understandings (MoUs) were also inked during the event.
ii.Students will get a subsidy of Rs 12,000 each to buy e-scooters. Under this scheme, the government will provide assistance to students studying from Class 9 to college to purchase battery-powered two-wheelers. The target is to provide this assistance to 10,000 such vehicles.
iii.The Climate Change department signed virtual MoUs with 10 organisations to mitigate the effects of climate change and increasing the use of renewable energy via the usage of space technology and geo-informatics.
About Gujarat:
Capital– Gandhinagar
Governor– Acharya Devvrat
<<Read Full News>>

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