NATIONAL UPDATES:
1.
Union Cabinet approves Haryana Orbital Rail Corridor Project: The Cabinet
Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi,
has given its approval to the Haryana Orbital Rail Corridor Project from Palwal
to Sonipat via Sohna-Manesar-Kharkhauda. The project will be implemented by
Haryana Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (HRIDC) and the
estimated completion cost of the project is Rs. 5,617 crore.
About Haryana Orbital Rail Corridor
Project: The Rail Line will start from Palwal and end at existing Harsana Kalan
station (On Delhi-Ambala section). This project will offer connectivity enroute
to existing Patli Station (On Delhi-Rewari line), Sultanpur station (On Garhi
Harsaru-Farukhnagar Line) and Asaudha Station (On Delhi Rohtak Line). The
project will connect unserved areas of the state of Haryana, and hence, will
boost the economic and social activities in Haryana State.
Note: Chief Minister of Haryana: Manohar
Lal Khattar; Governor: Satyadeo Narain Arya.
2.
Maharashtra Govt launches ‘My Family, My Responsibility’ campaign: The Chief Minister
of Maharashtra, Uddhav Thackeray has launched a state-wide campaign titled, ‘My
Family, My Responsibility’, to curb the spread of coronavirus pandemic. The
campaign will be conducted in two phases. The first phase of the campaign will
end on October 10 and the second phase will take place between October 12 to
24. Under the campaign:
(1) The door-to-door survey will be
conducted by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), to check the
citizens for fever, low oxygen levels and other Covid-19 symptoms.
(2) The campaign will aim to achieve
effective health care education for the control of Covid-19 outbreak.
(3) Public representatives and NGO
volunteers will be roped in for the campaign and volunteers will go door to
door to check the citizens for fever, low oxygen levels and other Covid-19
symptoms.
(4) Working hours of employees in private
offices will be staggered and they are to be called to work on alternate days
and must work from home as much as possible. Offices have been asked to adopt
digital methods to avoid human contact. Video conferencing systems must be used
for meetings and the health of all employees must be prioritised.
Note: Chief Minister of Maharashtra: Uddhav
Thackeray; Governor: Bhagat Singh Koshyari.
3.
Rajasthan Govt signs MoU with SIDBI to develop its MSME ecosystem: The Government of
Rajasthan signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Small Industries
Development Bank of India (SIDBI) to develop its micro, small and medium
enterprises (MSMEs) ecosystem. This MoU will support the state government to
have a better understanding and provide better solutions for the problems of
MSMEs. Under this MoU, the Department of Industries of Rajasthan and SIDBI will
work together to provide financial, technical, marketing and export support to
the MSMEs in the state. This partnership with SIDBI will promote the state’s innovative
cluster-based thinking.
Note: CM Rajasthan Chief Minister: Ashok
Gehlot; Rajasthan Governor: Kalraj Mishra; Rajasthan Capital: Jaipur.
4.
Centre Extends ‘Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package Insurance Scheme for Health
Workers Fighting COVID-19’ for another 6 months: The Insurance
Scheme announced under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package for health workers
who are fighting to contain COVID-19 has been extended for another six months
till March 2021. This is the second extension given to the scheme, which aims
to provide an insurance cover of Rs 50 lakh to around over 22 lakh public
healthcare providers. The ‘Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package Insurance Scheme
for Health Workers Fighting COVID-19’ was announced on 30 March 2020 for a
period of 90 days, i.e. till June 2020. This scheme was then extended for a
further period of 3 months i.e. up to 25 September 2020.
5.
Govt Opens Defence Sector to 74% FDI via Automatic Route: The Union Cabinet
approved a policy for raising the cap on foreign direct investment (FDI)
through automatic approval in the defence sector to 74% from 49% while affixing
a ‘national security’ clause to it. Foreign investment in the defence sector
shall be subject to scrutiny on ground of national security and the government reserves
the right to review any foreign investment in the defence sector that may
affect national security. Under the existing policy, the defence industry is
allowed to bring FDI up to 49% under the automatic route. Beyond this, it can
get FDI under government route, in cases resulting in access to modern
technology or for other reasons to be recorded.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1.
ADB appoints Takeo Konishi as Country Director for India: The Asian
Development Bank (ADB) has appointed Takeo Konishi as its new Country Director
for India. Konishi will replace Kenichi Yokoyama who has taken over as
Director-General of ADB’s South Asia Department. India is the fourth-largest
shareholder of ADB and has been its largest borrower since 2010. As head of the
country office in New Delhi, Konishi will lead to ADB operations and policy
dialogue with the government and other development partners in India. He will
oversee the implementation of ADB’s India Country Partnership Strategy,
2018-2022 that focuses on building industrial competitiveness to create more
jobs, providing inclusive infrastructure networks and services, and addressing
environmental and climate change concerns. Konishi has 22 years of professional
experience, including almost two decades with ADB in many senior roles
including as Country Director of Uzbekistan Resident Mission and Advisor in the
Central and West Asia Department.
Note: President of Asian Development Bank:
Masatsugu Asakawa; Asian Development Bank Headquarters: Mandaluyong,
Philippines; Asian Development Bank Founded: 19 December 1966.
2.
Rajesh Khullar appointed Executive Director at World Bank: A 1988 batch IAS
officer, Rajesh Khullar has been appointed as Executive Director at World Bank
in Washington DC. The Appointment Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved
the appointment of Rajesh Khulla for a tenure of three years from the date of
assumption of charge or till the date of his superannuation (August 23, 2023).
Khullar is currently posted as principal secretary to chief minister Manohar
Lal Khattar. He will join the World Bank in the first week of November. As
executive director, Khullar will represent India, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Sri
Lanka in the World Bank. The World Bank Group comprises 25 executive directors
who each represent a country or constituency of countries, are either appointed
or elected to the position.
Note: President of World Bank: David
Malpass; World Bank Headquarters: Washington D.C., United States; World Bank
Founded: July 1944.
3.
International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer: 16th September: The United Nations
observes 16th September every year as International Day for the Preservation of
the Ozone Layer. The ozone layer is a fragile shield of gas which protects the
Earth from the harmful portion of the rays of the sun and thus help in
preserving life on the planet. The theme of the day for 2020: “Ozone for life:
35 years of ozone layer protection”. It marks 35 years of the Vienna
Convention. The day was designated by the United Nations General Assembly on
December 19, 2000, to commemorate the signing of the Montreal Protocol on
Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer in 1987.
Note: United Nations Environment Programme
Headquarters location: Nairobi, Kenya; United Nations Environment Programme
Head: Inger Andersen; United Nations Environment Programme Founded: 5 June
1972.
OTHER UPDATES:
SPORTS
1.
Paytm First Games ropes in Sachin Tendulkar as brand ambassador: Paytm First Games
(PFG), a subsidiary of digital financial service platform Paytm, has roped in
Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar as its brand ambassador. Tendulkar would
promote the gaming platform PFG and all its fantasy sports such as cricket,
kabaddi, football, and basketball. Paytm is the official umpire partner for IPL
till 2022 and has been the title sponsor for Indian cricket.
About Paytm First Games (PFG): It is a
joint venture between One97 Communications Ltd and AG Tech Holdings. It offers
over 50 games, where the most popular is fantasy sports. It currently engages
with more than 80 million users, where the majority of them are from smaller
cities and towns.
Note: President of Paytm: Amit Nayyar;
Paytm founder: Vijay Shekhar Sharma; Paytm Founded: August 2010; Paytm
Headquarters: Noida, Uttar Pradesh.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1.
SBI General Insurance inks corporate agency agreement with YES Bank: SBI General
Insurance and YES Bank have signed a corporate agency agreement. Under the
corporate agency agreement, the YES Bank will distribute the general insurer’s
retail products to its customers. The products of SBI General Insurance Company
will be offered to YES BANK’s customers across 28 states and 8 Union
Territories. The partnership between SBI General Insurance and YES Bank will be
committed to offering customers a broad range of non-life insurance products
and services and deploying technology across the customer value chain to
facilitate superior experiences for them.
Note: MD & CEO of Yes Bank: Prashant
Kumar.
MD & CEO of SBI General Insurance:
Prakash Chandra Kandpal.
BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
1.
Asian Development Bank projects Indian economy to shrink by 9% in FY21, grow by
8% in FY22: The
Asian Development Bank (ADB) has estimated that the GDP of India is expected to
contract by 9 percent in the fiscal 2020-21 (FY21). This estimate is worse that
ADB’s previous estimate of -4%. However, for the FY22 (2021-22), ADB expects
India’s GDP at 8 percent. ADB also expects the gross domestic product (GDP)
growth for developing Asia at – 0.7 percent in 2020, the first negative economic
growth since 1962.
2.
Amazon signs Amitabh Bachchan for its Alexa voice assistant: Amazon.com Inc has
signed up Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan for its Alexa voice assistant.
Amitabh Bachchan is the first Indian celebrity to lend his voice to Alexa. Alexa
users will be able to access Amitabh Bachchan’s voice on Alexa by purchasing
the Amitabh Bachchan voice experience. Amazon first used a celebrity voice when
Hollywood actor Samuel L. Jackson made a debut on Alexa. It has since added
professional voice actors who recite Shakespeare, Mark Twain, proverbs and
fables. Last year, rival Google Assistant added the voice of American singer
John Legend.
Note: Amazon CEO: Jeff Bezos; Amazon
Founded: 5 July 1994; Amazon Headquarters: Seattle, Washington, United States.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1.
BPCL conferred with CII Environmental Project Award: Bharat Petroleum
Corporation Limited (BPCL) has been awarded with Confederation of Indian
Industry (CII) Environmental Project Awards at 7th CII Environmental Best Practices
Awards Conference. It has been honoured with the 'Most Innovative Environmental
Project' & 'The Most Useful Environmental Project' awards for indigenous
development of the research and patented product BHARAT GSR CAT (Gasoline
Sulphur Reduction Catalyst).
Note: CII’s MD & CEO: Uday Kotak
DEFENCE
1.
India & US conducts 10th DTTI Group Meeting virtually: The 10th Defense
Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI) Group Meeting was held virtually by the
Indian and U.S. Defense Delegations. The meeting was co-chaired by Mr. Raj
Kumar, Secretary, Defence Production, from the Indian Ministry of Defence and
Ms. Ellen M. Lord, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment,
from the U.S. Department of Defense. During the meeting, the co-chairs signed a
Statement of Intent (SOI) that declared their intent “to strengthen our
dialogue on defense technology cooperation by pursuing detailed planning and
making measurable progress” on several specific DTTI projects.
DTTI Group meeting aims to bring sustained
leadership focus to the bilateral defense trade relationship and create
opportunities for co-production and co-development of defense equipment. Four
Joint Working Groups focused on land, naval, air, and aircraft carrier
technologies have been established under DTTI to promote mutually agreed
projects within their domains. DTTI Group Meetings are held twice a year,
alternating between India and the United States.
OBITUARIES
1.
Renowned social activist Swami Agnivesh passes away: Social activist and
Arya Samaj leader, Swami Agnivesh, who is widely known for his work against
slavery and bonded labour, has passed away. Agnivesh was elected as a member of
the Legislative Assembly of Haryana in 1977 and served as a cabinet Minister
for Education in 1979. Agnivesh became president (2004–2014) of the World
Council of Arya Samaj, which is the highest international body of the Arya
Samaj.
2. Former Maharashtra Cricketer Sadashiv Patil passes away: Former Maharashtra cricketer, Sadashiv Patil passed away. He had represented India in only one Test and played 36 first-class matches between 1952 and 1964. He made his first-class debut for Maharashtra during the 1952-53 season and his only test debut against New Zealand at the Brabourne Stadium in 1955.
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