September Current Affairs 2020 Weekly Test -4

Answer – 3) Durgam Cheruvu
Explanation:
Telangana Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister K Taraka Ramarao inaugurated the cable stayed bridge on Durgam Cheruvu constructed across Durgam Cheruvu Lake along with a four-lane elevated corridor connecting it with Jubilee Hills in Hyderabad (Telangana)during an event. Union Minister of State (MoS) for Home Affairs Gangapuram Kishan Reddy was the chief guest of the event. Cost of both the structures together is over Rs 334 crore.

Answer – 2) United Nations
Explanation:
Maritime Union of India (MUI) has collaborated with the United Nations to assist seafarers who are stranded on ships due to COVID-19 Pandemic. Through the Seafarers Crisis Action Team (SCAT), MUI will provide round-the-clock advice, counselling and assistance to Indian seafarers and their family members.

Answer – 5) All the 1), 2) and 3)
Explanation:
Senior Officials from Ministry of External Affairs of India, Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade of Australia, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan and Department of State of United States of America held video conference for dialogue on regional and global issues of common interest under the Quadrilateral coalition or QUAD (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue) Framework. The officials exchanged views on cooperation in areas of maritime security, counter-terrorism, connectivity and infrastructure development, with objective of promoting peace, security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

Answer – 1) Lebanon
Explanation:
Mustapha Adib, Lebanon’s Prime Minister designate, resigned after failing to form a government in a month of negotiations. His resignation comes amidst a political crisis over government formation, after he was appointed to the position on August 31, 2020.

Answer – 3) Rs 50,000
Explanation:
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued a directive under Section 10 (2) read with Section 18 of Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007 (Act 51 of 2007) stating an introduction of Positive Pay System for Cheque Truncation System (CTS) for banks in order to check fraud. It will be implemented from January 01, 2021. To be developed by National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), this system will require re-confirmation of key details for payments beyond Rs 50,000. It should be noted that the usage of Positive Pay System is at the choice of account holder; however, banks may make it mandatory in case of cheques for amounts of Rs 5 lakh and above.

Answer – 4) Madhya Pradesh
Explanation:
Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Chief Minister (CM) of Madhya Pradesh (MP) launched the “Mukhyamantri Kisan Kalyan Yojna” in line with the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan) Scheme of the central government. Under this scheme annually Rs.4000 will be transferred to the accounts of around 175000 farmers of MP in two equal installments in addition to the Rs.6000 annually transferred to the farmers under the PM-Kisan Scheme. This will enable the farmers of MP to get samman nidhi of Rs.10000 per year.

Answer – 4) Amitabh Bachchan
Explanation:
The Reserve Bank of India(RBI) roped in Indian Film Actor Amitabh Bachchan for the customer awareness campaign to prevent naive account holders from being deceived by fraudsters. As part of the RBI’s public awareness campaign, the regulator continues to inform customers about do’s and don’ts for safe and secure transactions. RBI has become the most popular central bank on twitter, with about 9.66 lakh followers while US Federal Reserve, world’s most powerful central bank has about 6.64 lakh followers.

Answer – 1) Moctar Ouane
Explanation:
Former Foreign Affairs Minister Moctar Ouane (64) was appointed as the New Prime Minister of Mali by the decree signed by Mali’s new interim President Bah N’Daw, following the military coup on 18th August 2020, The new President Bah N’Daw, Vice President Assimi Goita and the PM Moctar Ouane will lead the transitional government of Mali until the election in 18 months.

Answer – 5) “Tourism and Rural Development”
Explanation:
World Tourism Day (WTD) is held annually on September 27 globally to raise awareness on the importance of tourism in the social, cultural, political and economic aspects of any region. The year 2020 marked a worst-hit on the tourism sector due to COVID-19 induced lockdowns and restriction on travels. However, to reshape this effect into opportunity, the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has designated 2020 as the Year of Tourism and Rural Development. Therefore, the 2020 edition of WTD was held with the theme “Tourism and Rural Development” to promote the potential of tourism to create jobs and opportunities in rural areas and to preserve cultural and natural heritage all around the world. Notably, this is for the first time that the official celebration was not hosted by a single Member State of the UNWTO’s instead, nations from the Mercosur bloc (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, with Chile joining with observer status) served as joint hosts.

Answer – 4) SAATHI
Explanation:
The Ministry of Tourism celebrated WTD 2020 through a virtual platform from New Delhi where Union Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Steel Dharmendra Pradhan was the chief guest. It was also attended by Union Minister of Tourism and Culture (I/C) Prahlad Singh Patel, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism Yogendra Tripathi, Director General, Tourism Meenakshi Sharma, among others. The event saw the launch of initiatives which are as follows: During the event SAATHI (System for Assessment, Awareness & Training for Hospitality Industry) Application was launched by Dharmendra Pradhan. Dharmendra Pradhan also launched a film ‘Pathik’, an initiative on Incredible India Tourist Facilitators Certification Programme (IITFC) and an ICPB (India Convention Promotion Bureau) MICE (Meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) Promotional film to communicate a positive message for welcoming events to India when competing destinations are already actively marketing their products.

Answer – 5) HDFC Bank
Explanation:
HDFC Bank launched India’s first Warehouse Commodity Finance App. The app will help customers to draw down and manage the loan against the pledge of commodities online without physical intervention or multiple visits to a bank branch. This will bring improved efficiencies and time savings for the agri value chain. The app will benefit enormously the agri processors, traders and farmers who are primary beneficiaries of WHR loans (Warehouse Receipt Loans).

Answer – 2) Lakshmi Vilas Bank
Explanation:
The Reserve Bank of India(RBI) approved that the daily affairs of Lakshmi Vilas Bank (LVB)will be run by a Committee of Directors (CoD) composed of 3 independent directors namely, Meeta Makhan, Chairperson of the CoD, Shakti Sinha, Member and Satish Kumar Kalra, Member. The CoD will exercise the discretionary powers of Managing Director(MD) and Chief Executive Officer(CEO) in the ad-interim. Until a new MD is appointed, the existing senior management team and the board of directors will discharge the day-to-day affairs of the bank as usual.

Answer – 3) Suresh Chandra Sharma
Explanation:
Medical Council of India (MCI) had faced corruption charges and was dissolved by the Government of India in 2018 with the Board of Governors (BoG)-MCI chaired by Dr Vinod Kumar Paul, member (health), Niti (National Institution for Transforming India) Aayog. This Board of Governors was appointed under section 3A of the Indian Medical Council (IMC) Act, 1956 (102 of 1956) in supersession of the MCI constituted under sub-section (1) of section 3 of IMC ACT. The NMC Act came into existence on August 8, 2019. After that, the Central Government in exercising the powers conferred by sub-section (3) of the section 1 of the NMC Act, 2019 (30 of 2019), the provisions of sections 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 11, 16, 17, 18, 19, 56 and 57 of the NMC Act were brought into force with effect from September 2 2019. Dr Suresh Chandra Sharma, former head of the ear nose throat (ENT) department at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi has been appointed as the first chairman of NMC for a period of three years under sub-section (2) of section 4 of NMC Act w.e.f. September 25, 2020.

Answer – 1) Denmark
Explanation:
India and Denmark signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance cooperation in the area of Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) through exchange of best practices and collaborating in training programmes. The MoU will also include ways to protect traditional knowledge.

Answer – 3) 2022
Explanation:
The first look of India’s first RRTS (Regional Rapid Transit System) train unveiled by Durga Shanker Mishra, Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) and Chairman, National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) during an event. This first RRTS train will provide its services to 82 km long Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS in 2022 after trials. It should be noted that NCRTC is the nodal agency for executing this first RRTS project of India while the train sets are being manufactured by Bombardier Transportation India Private Limited at their Savli plant in Gujarat under the government’s Make in India policy and AtmaNirbhar Bharat Abhiyan. It will be one of the fastest RRTS in India which will reduce travel time from Meerut to Delhi to less than 60 minutes.

Answer – 3) SBI Card
Explanation:
SBI Card (legally- SBI Cards and Payment Services Limited) launched ‘Contactless Connections’, a new brand campaign. The campaign spreads the message that sharing of love and care is possible even during this difficult period(COVID-19) where social distancing is the norm. This campaign is in continuation of the SBI card’s brand campaign “Ghar Mein Khushiyaan”.

Answer – 5) Sanju Yadav
Explanation:
Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, (28 years) from Chandigarh, goalkeeper of Indian National Men’s Football team and Sanju Yadav (22 years) from Haryana, Midfielder of India’s National Women’s Football team were declared as the winners of the annual All India Football Federation (AIFF) Men’s Footballer of the Year Award 2019-2020 and AIFF Women’s Footballer of the Year Award 2019-2020 respectively.

Other 2019-2020 AIFF Awards:

Answer – 3) China
Explanation:
Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Prakash Javadekar represented India at the virtual Ministerial Roundtable Dialogue on Biodiversity Beyond 2020. The meeting was held to exchange views on Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Development. The meeting was hosted by China. The Dialogue was conducted on the topic of Biodiversity Beyond 2020: Building a Shared Future for All Life on Earth. 15Ministers from different countries participated in the Roundtable Dialogue. Prakash Javadekar called all countries to join hands at the start of the “UN Decade of Action and Delivery for Sustainable Development”. The 15th Conference of Parties (COPs) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is scheduled to be held in 2021 at Kunming, China.

Answer – 1) Nepal
Explanation:
The Nepal earthquake of 2015 also known as “Gorkha earthquake” had severely affected thousands of lives as well as the economy. At that time, India being the Nepal’s immediate neighbour, was the first to respond with Operation Maitri which provided rescue and relief by its armed forces and also announced a post-earthquake reconstruction package of US$ 1 billion (which comprises US$ 250 million grant and US$ 750 million concessional Line of Credit). Now, as a part of fulfilling this post-earthquake reconstruction commitment, on 22nd September, 2020, Ms. Namgya Khampa, Deputy Chief of Mission of Embassy of India, handed over cheques worth NPR (Nepalese Rupees) 1.54 billion (about INR 96 crore) to Mr. Sishir Kumar Dhungana, Secretary, Ministry of Finance of Nepal towards housing & school sector assistance.

Answer – 3) Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
Explanation:
Reserve Bank of India(RBI) released “’Technology Vision for Cyber Security’ for Urban Co-operative Banks (UCBs) – 2020-2023”. It aims to enhance the cyber security in the Urban Co-operative banking sector against the growing Information Technology (IT) and cyber threat environment. Based on the inputs from diverse stakeholders, the technology vision document was formalized. Need of the document5 pillared strategic approach The document will achieve its objective through a five-pillared strategic approach ‘GUARD’– Governance Oversight, Utile Technology Investment, Appropriate Regulation and Supervision, Robust Collaboration and Developing necessary IT, cyber security skills set.

Answer – 5) Kerala
Explanation:
Kerala won the UN Interagency Task Force (UNIATF) Award 2020 for its contribution towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to the non-communicable diseases. Tedros Adhanom, Director General of World Health Organisation (WHO) announced the annual UNIATF Award for the year 2020 on prevention and control of non-communicable diseases. This is the first time for Kerala to be recognised by this annual UN Award and along with Kerala 6 other health ministries across the globe have won the 2020 UNIATF Award.

Answer – 1) 89
Explanation:
According to the World Risk Index (WRI) 2020, India has been ranked at the 89th spot among 181 Countries. The World Risk Index is a statistical model for the assessment of global risk of disasters such as earthquakes, storms, floods, droughts and sea-level rise.

India in World Risk Index (WRI) 2020:

Answer – 2) Tennis
Explanation:
International Tennis Federation (ITF) announced that Fed Cup, the women’s world cup of tennis, has been renamed as the Billie Jean King Cup by BNP Paribas, a French international banking group. This is the 1st time a major global team competition has been named after a woman. Billie Jean King is an American Former World No. 1 professional tennis player. She is a global campaigner for equality who has dedicated her life to combating all forms of discrimination.

Answer – 3) Cricket
Explanation:
Dean Mervyn Jones, former Australian and Victorian cricketer and Commentator passed away at the age of 59 in Mumbai, Maharashtra due to cardiac arrest. He was born on 24th March 1961 in Melbourne, Australia.

Answer – 3) Singer
Explanation:
Renowned Indian Singer SP Balasubrahmanyam (Popularly known as SPB) passed away at a Private Hospital in Chennai at the age of 74 due to Cardio-Respiratory arrest. He was admitted to hospital after testing positive for COVID-19. Even Though he tested Negative on September 4, he continued to be on Ventilator and ECMO support, and breathed his last on September 25. He was born on 4th June, 1946 at Nellore, Andhra Pradesh. He is a Six-time National Award Winner for Best Male Playback Singer (1979, 1981, 1983, 1988, 1995, 1996). In 2011, he was awarded Padma Bhushan by the Government of India.

Answer – 4) Mangaluru
Explanation:
India’s first Coast Guard academy will be established at Mangaluru as per the statement of Defence Spokesperson (PRO) Bengaluru. Around 158 acres Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) land has been taken over for setting up ICG Academy.

Answer – 3) IDFC First Bank
Explanation:
IDFC First Bank announced that it will launch SafePay, a digital facility. It enables contactless debit card payments by waving a smartphone against a Near Field Communication (NFC)-enabled Point of Sale(POS) terminal. It is the 1st such facility which is made available in an integrated mobile banking app. The SafePay feature has been successfully tested and certified by Visa. It allows contactless payments of up to Rs 2,000 per transaction and maximum limit of Rs 20,000 per day.

Answer – 1) Odisha
Explanation:
Krushi Bhavan, a facility developed for the State’s Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment located in Bhubaneswar, Odisha won 10th annual AZ Awards 2020 as People’s Choice Winner under the category social good. The awards were revealed at its first-ever virtual AZ Awards Gala. The 12,077-square-metre Krushi Bhavan is one among 20 winners and the only winner from India. Naveen Patnaik, Chief Minister of Odisha dedicated this award to farmers and artisans of the state.

Answer – 3) Railways
Explanation:
Suresh Channabasappa Angadi, Union Minister of State for Railways and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s Member of Parliament(MP) from Belagavi constituency of Karnataka passed away at the age of 65 after testing positive for COVID-19 at the COVID Facility, New Delhi. He is the first Central Minister to die of Coronavirus. He was born on 1st June 1955 at Belagavi, Karnataka.

Answer – 3) 5.9%
Explanation:
As per the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)’s Trade and Development Report 2020– From global pandemic to prosperity for all: Avoiding another lost decade, global economy is expected to contract by 4.3%(-4.3%) in 2020, with global output falling short by over USD 6 trillion of the estimates by the economists before the spread of COVID-19. It also has projected India’s economy to contract by 5.9%(-5.9%) in 2020 and expects the economy to rebound to 3.9% in 2021. -5.9% is expected to be translated into a permanent income loss.

Answer – 3) A K Dixit
Explanation:
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) appointed AK Dixit, ex-General Manager of Union Bank of India (UBI) as the new administrator of Punjab and Maharashtra Cooperative (PMC) Bank Limited with effect from September 23, 2020. He succeeds J.B. Bhoria, ex-chief general manager with the central bank who stepped down from the post of administrator on September 22, 2020, due to health reasons. Administrator was appointed in the exercise of the powers conferred on RBI as per Banking Regulation Act, 1949 under subsections 1 and 2 of section 36AAA and Section 56. Surinderpal Singh Ram Singh has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of PMC bank limited with effect from September 11, 2020. He succeeds Shiny Mithbaokar, who was relieved from September 10, 2020.

Answer – 1) Jineth Bedoya
Explanation:
Colombian Journalist Jineth Bedoya Lima was honoured with the prestigious Golden Pen of Freedom Award 2020, an annual press freedom award of the World Association of News Publishers(WAN-IFRA). The award was presented to recognise her contribution towards promoting and protecting women rights and her courage to overcome her personal tragedy which inspires other women across the globe.

Answer – 4) Haridwar
Explanation:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated Six Development Projects in Uttarakhand under the Namami Gange Mission. PM Modi also inaugurated the first-of-its-kind “Ganga Avalokan” Museum on River Ganga at Chandi Ghat, Haridwar. It has been established by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), which is the nodal body to implement the ‘Namami Gange’ Programme along with Wildlife Institute of India (WII). PM Modi released a book ‘Rowing down the Ganges’, it is co-published by NMCG & WII.

Answer – 5) All the 1), 2) and 3)
Explanation:
The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has identified Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), General Insurance Corporation of India (GIC) and The New India Assurance Co. Ltd. (New India Assurance) as Domestic Systemically Important Insurers (D-SIIs) for 2020-21. Note– IRDAI annually identifies D-SIIs and publishes the names of these insurers for public information.

Answer – 2) Kerala
Explanation:
Kerala Tourism’s ‘Human by Nature Print Campaign’ campaign bagged the Prestigious Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Grand Title Winner 2020 for Marketing. Department of Tourism, Government of Karnataka won the PATA Gold Award 2020 for its Marketing Campaign – ‘Script your Adventure 2019’. It was one of the 21 Gold Award winners from across the globe.
PATA Grand Title Winners 2020:

Answer – 2) Japan
Explanation:
The Fourth Edition of the Biennial Japan-India Maritime Exercise JIMEX-2020 took place between Indian Navy and Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) in the North Arabian Sea from 26th September-28th September, 2020. Due to Pandemic, JIMEX-2020 is conducted in a ‘non-contact at-sea-only format’.

Answer – 3) Assam
Explanation:
Syeda Anwara Taimur, Assam’s first and only woman Chief Minister(CM) passed away in Australia due to cardiac arrest. She was around the age of 83. She is the 1st Muslim woman CM of any state in India. She was born on November 24, 1936 in Assam, British India. She is a 4 time (1972, 1978, 1983 and 1991) Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) and a 2 time Rajya Sabha MP- Member of Parliament (nominated in 1988 and elected in 2004).

Answer – 1) 1st
Explanation:
The First Ever “International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste (IDAFLW)” was observed. It was observed to promote and implement global efforts to resolve the issue of food wastage, and to take steps towards Zero Hunger and address the problem of climate change through Sustainable food habits. The Theme for International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste 2020 is “Stop food loss and waste. For the People. For the Planet”. It is observed by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

Answer – 3) 5
Explanation:
President Ram Nath Kovind also gave assent to Jammu and Kashmir Official Languages Bill, 2020. This will make Kashmiri, Dogri, Hindi, English and Urdu as Official Language of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Prior to this, Urdu and English were the official languages of Jammu & Kashmir. Jammu & Kashmir will now have 5 Official Languages.

Answer – 5) USD 15 million
Explanation:
PM Modi also announced a grant assistance of US$ 15 million (approximately Rs.110 crores) for the promotion of Buddhist ties between the two countries. It will deepen people-to-people linkages through construction/renovation of Buddhist Monasteries, capacity development, cultural exchanges, archaeological cooperation, reciprocal exposition of The Buddha’s relics and strengthening the engagement between Buddhist Scholars and clergy of two countries.

Answer – 4) Jaswant Singh
Explanation:
Jaswant Singh’s books include, “Jinnah: India, Partition, Independence (2009)” and A Call to Honour (2006).

Answer – 4) Hyderabad
Explanation:
The Airport Council International(ACI), a worldwide association for the air transport industry, granted GMR Group-led Rajiv Gandhi International Airport located at Hyderabad, Telangana, the Airport Health Accreditation (AHA) for the safety measures being taken at the aerodrome. The airport is among the 1st airports in the Asia Pacific region to have received this accreditation.

Answer – 4) Madhya Pradesh
Explanation:
In Madhya Pradesh, fifteen elephants deployed for various tasks in the state’s Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve are on a unique week-long picnic these days. This picnic is organized every year as an annual Elephant Festival. The rejuvenation camp for elephants recently, giving them a break from their routine work.

Answer – 4) Assam
Explanation:
Satindra Mohan Dev Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium situated at Silchar, Assam. It was earlier known as the District Sports Association Stadium. After extensive upgrade of facilities, it was renamed after the father of Sri Santosh Mohan Dev.

Answer – 2) Jnanpith award
Explanation:
Renowned Malayalam poet Akkitham Achuthan Namboothiri was conferred the Jnanpith award, the country’s highest literary award, on Thursday at a special function held at his house at Kumaranallur, near here. The 93-year-old poet is instrumental in heralding modernism in Malayalam poetry. A true Gandhian, social reformer, journalist and an iconic example of simplicity, Akkitham has been a man who wears many hats with aplomb besides his gifted literary life. Jnanpith Award, highest literary award in India, given annually for the best creative literary writing to writers in any of the 22 “scheduled languages” recognized in the Indian Constitution.

Answer – 3) Indonesia
Explanation:
Recently, an investigation by the global watchdog Rainforest Action Network (RAN) has shown that various food, cosmetics and finance companies have links with companies implicated in the destruction of the Leuser Ecosystem, a forest area on the island of Sumatra, Indonesia. Leuser Ecosystem is among the most ancient and life-rich ecosystems ever documented by science and is a world-class hotspot of biodiversity and is widely acknowledged to be among the most important areas of intact rainforest left in all of Southeast Asia. The ecosystem has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Answer – 3) Azerbaijan
Explanation:
Clashes erupted between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the volatile Nagorno-Karabakh region (also known as Artsakh), reigniting concern about instability in the South Caucasus, a corridor for pipelines transporting oil and gas to world markets. Both sides, which fought a war in the 1990s, reported fatalities. Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, a breakaway region that is inside Azerbaijan but is run by ethnic Armenians, declared martial law and mobilised their male populations. Armenia said Azerbaijan had carried out an air and artillery attack on Nagorno-Karabakh.

Answer – 4) Himachal Pradesh
Explanation:
To augment border infrastructure, the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL), under Ministry of Road, Transport & Highways (MoRTH), has expedited making detailed project report for the world’s longest high-altitude Shinkun La Tunnel. The tunnel (13.5 Km long) is proposed to be built on the border between Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh. Once it is complete, the Manali-Kargil highway will remain open throughout the year. The tunnel will provide all-weather road connectivity between Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir in Zanskar valley. With the construction of the tunnel, inhabitants of around 15-odd villages of Zanskar Valley in Jammu and Kashmir will be relieved since the valley remains cut off due to heavy snowfall during the winter.

Answer – 4) Karnataka
Explanation:
India’s sandalwood trees are facing a serious threat due to Sandalwood Spike Disease (SSD). The natural population of sandalwood in Marymoor Sandal Forest of Kerala and various reserve forests in Karnataka, including MM Hills (Malai Mahadeshwara Wildlife Sanctuary), are heavily infected with SSD.

Answer – 2) Rajasthan
Explanation:
A special drive to uproot the invasive Lantana bushes in the Sajjangarh Wildlife Sanctuary in Rajasthan’s Udaipur district has been carried out along with the plantation of native species on the cleared patches of land. This has helped in ecological restoration of grasslands and saved biodiversity.