NATIONAL UPDATES:
1.
Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik launches ‘Mo Bidyut’ portal: Odisha Chief
Minister, Naveen Patnaik has launched the electricity consumer service portal
“Mo Bidyut” and a mobile app through video conference. The bilingual online
electricity integrated consumer service portal www.mobidyut.com developed by
the Energy Department and dedicated to the public under 5T (Teamwork,
Transparency, Technology, Time leading to Transformation) initiative of the
state government. Through this people will now be able to avail efficient,
time-bound, and transparent online service delivery.
Features of “Mo Bidyut”: This portal will
benefit around 89 lakh electricity consumers of the state. The Mo Bidyut
supports the people to obtain new electricity connections, enables online bill
payment and the grievances related to electricity services can be addressed
through this portal. Under Mo Bidyut, permanent connection up to 5 Kilo Watt
(KW), single Phase for a domestic, general-purpose and specified public purpose
like irrigation, pumping and agriculture will be provided 48 hours after the
submission of application with payment. The electricity services provided by
the Mo Bidyut will be governed and monitored under the “Mo Sarkar” (My
Government).
Note: Chief Minister of Odisha: Naveen
Patnaik; Odisha Capital: Bhubaneswar; Odisha Governor: Ganeshi Lal.
2.
Nitin Gadkari laid the foundation stone of multi-modal logistic park in Assam: The Union Minister
of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari virtually laid the foundation
stone for the first-ever multi-modal logistic park of India, at Jogighopa, in
Bongaigaon district of Assam.
About Logistic Park: The logistic park will
provide direct connectivity to air, road, rail and waterways to the people of
Assam and other parts of North East. The fund for the multi-modal logistics
park would be spent in three components – road and railway connectivity as well
as building and infrastructure work. It will also give employment to 20 lakh
people. The overall cost of this project is around Rs 693.97 Crore and is being
developed under the Bharatmala Pariyojana of the Central Government.
Note: Chief Minister of Assam: Sarbananda
Sonowal; Governor: Prof. Jagdish Mukhi.
3.
Narendra Singh Tomar launches AYUSHMAN SAHAKAR scheme: Union Agriculture
Minister, Narendra Singh Tomar has launched “AYUSHMAN SAHAKAR”. The scheme is a
unique way to assist cooperatives to play an important role in the creation of
healthcare infrastructure in the country. AYUSHMAN SAHAKAR scheme has been
formulated by the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC). The NCDC
would extend term loans to prospective cooperatives to the tune of 10 thousand
crores in the coming years. NCDC’s scheme will be a step towards strengthening
farmers welfare activities by the Central Government. NCDC’s Ayushman Sahakar
scheme aims at bringing transformation in the health services primarily in the
rural areas. The scheme also provides working capital and margin money to meet
the operational requirements of the health facilities. It provides interest
subvention of one per cent to women majority cooperatives.
4. NK
Singh launches his autobiography ‘Portraits Of Power’: Veteran Economist
and bureaucrat N K (Nand Kishore) Singh has released his autobiography titled
“Portraits of Power: Half a Century of Being at Ringside”. The book portrays
the life of NK Singh who played an active role in the development of the Indian
economy. He is currently serving as the Chairman of the 15th Finance
Commission. The book is published by Rupa Publications India. The book portrays
NK Singhs’s stents from 1964 when he joined the Indian Administrative Service
(IAS), serving in higher positions of the Indian Government before entering
politics as a member of Rajya Sabha. This book covers all the personal and
national movements that happened in his life.
About NK Singh: He served in the Prime
Minister’s Office (PMO), as the Secretary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari
Vajpayee (1998 2001). He served in the Indian Embassy in Japan as Minister of
Economic and Commercial He served in the Indian Embassy in Japan as Minister of
Economic and Commercial from 1981 to 1985.
5.
NITI Aayog to establish Frontier Technologies Cloud Innovation Centre: NITI Aayog
announced the establishment of first of its kind the Frontier Technologies
Cloud Innovation Centre (CIC). This is being developed in order to address
societal challenges through digital innovation. For developing the system, NITI
Aayog is collaborating with Amazon Web Services (AWS). This also aligns with
the Prime Minister’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and NOTI Aayog’s Atal
Innovation Mission.
Cloud Innovation Centre (CIC): This CIC is
a part of the AWS CIC Global Programme. It provides an opportunity to the
government agencies, non-profits and educational institutions in order to come
together on pressing challenges, to test new ideas, to apply design thinking,
and to access the technology expertise of AWS. The Frontier technologies CIC
will enable the budding innovators and start-ups to help in piloting the
state-of-the-art, cloud-centric digital innovations by using the emerging
technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Internet Of Things, robotics and
blockchain.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1.
9th Session of India-Oman Joint Commission Virtual Meeting held: 9th Session of
India-Oman Joint Commission Meeting held to improve Trade & Investment.
India-Oman Joint Commission Meeting conducted through online mode to boost
bilateral Trade & Investment. It was attended by representatives of various
government departments/ministries from both sides. The meeting was chaired by
Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, Hardeep Singh Puri, and H.E. Mr.
Qais bin Mohammed al Yousef, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment
Promotion of the Sultanate of Oman. Highlights:
(1) Both sides agreed to cooperate in areas
of Agriculture & Food Security, Standards & Metrology, Tourism,
Information Technology, Health & Pharmaceuticals, MSMEs, Space, Civil
Aviation, Energy including renewable energy, Culture, Mining, and Higher
Education.
(2) Indian side appreciated Oman for
signing and ratification of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) Framework
Agreement
For Oman, India was the 3rd largest source
for its imports and 3rd largest market for its non-oil exports.
(3) Bilateral trade between India and Oman
grew at 8.5% in 2019-20 over the previous year to reach USD 5.93 billion.
Note: Oman Capital: Muscat; Currency: Omani
rial
2.
First-ever SCO Startup Forum to be launched on 27th October: The first-ever SCO
Startup Forum will be launched on 27th October 2020 ahead of the SCO trade
ministers meeting on 28th October. The forum will lay the foundation for
multilateral cooperation and engagement among the SCO Member States to develop
and hone their startup ecosystems, collectively. Prasar Bharati Special
Correspondent in Beijing reports that Innovation and Startups will be the key
focus area of SCO Heads of Government meeting on 30th November 2020 to be
hosted by India.
The Forum shall identify areas of
cooperation by launching multiple entrepreneurial activities like startup
showcases through a dedicated virtual platform, mobilizing capital for
startups, sharing of best practices, procuring social innovations, multilateral
incubator programs and knowledge exchange workshops etc. It will aid to
understand the cultural and economic features of the startup ecosystem in the
SCO Member States. In the run up to the launch of SCO Startup Forum, a virtual
SCO preparatory Seminar and a workshop were also organized by India. Around 40
Indian Missions roped in to further augment Startup India efforts.
3.
Japan Coast Guard tests unmanned SeaGuardian Aircraft: Amid tensions
between Beijing and Tokyo, Japan began test flights of an unmanned aerial
vehicle SeaGuardian in a bid to learn whether it can carry out key duties,
including search, recuse and maritime surveillance. The tests will involve the
use of the 12-meter-long, 24-meter-wide UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) developed
by US defence firm General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, reported NHK World.
The SeaGuardian is equipped with radars and high-definition cameras and is
capable of flying for more than 24 hours nonstop. Hence, it will cover the
outermost exclusive economic zone of Japan. It will test the real-time ending
of data and images to the ground and the safety of the vehicle.
4. India, Netherlands collaborate for e-health
initiative: India
and the Netherlands unveiled plans for a joint thrust in the e-health sector,
with the aim of providing digital health facilities and security to every
Indian. The alliance was announced at a web-based workshop hosted by management
consultancy firm Primus Partners. Part of India’s ambitious National Digital
Health Mission (NDHM), this cooperative initiative will see the two countries
work closely to create capacities and put in place the requisite technology
backbone to enable this revolutionary initiative.
5.
International Chef’s Day: 20th October: International Chefs Day is observed
globally on 20 October every year. The day aims to celebrate and honour the
noble profession and educate people around the world about eating healthy. It
is also the day for experienced chefs to pass on their knowledge and culinary
skills to the next generation with a sense of pride and commitment. The theme
of International Chefs Day 2020 campaign is Healthy Food for the Future.
International Chefs Day was created by Dr Bill Gallagher, a renowned chef and
the former president of the World Association of Chefs Societies (World Chefs),
in 2004.
OTHER UPDATES:
BANKING AND FINANCE
1.
Canara HSBC OBC Life Insurance launches ‘Invest 4G plan’ with multiple saving
options, protection cover: Canara HSBC Oriental Bank of Commerce Life Insurance
has launched a new Unit Linked insurance plan (Ulip) titled ‘Invest 4G’. It is an individual life insurance savings
plan which can be customized as per the goals and changing requirements of the
individual. New “Invest4G” offers three options to the individuals: Life
Option, Care Option and Century Option. Life option ensures financial
protection to a family in case of the customer’s unfortunate demise. Care Option
provides life coverage along with Premium Funding Benefit and Century Option is
a whole life option available for the policyholder till the age of 100 years.
2.
Paytm to partner with various banks for Co-Branded Credit: Digital financial
services platform Paytm said it would be partnering with various card issuers
to introduce co-branded credit cards, with an aim to issue two million such
cards in the next 12-18 months. These credit cards will be issued based on the
traditional credit score as well as the user’s purchase patterns on Paytm.
These cards are designed to help them lead a healthier financial life through
managing and analysing the spends to make well-informed decisions.
BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
1.
TCS surpasses Accenture to become most-valuable IT services firm globally: Tata group flagship
firm Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) became the most-valuable information
technology (IT) company globally, surpassing rival Accenture for the first
time. At the last closing price of Rs 2,825, TCS was valued at $144.73 billion
(Rs 10.6 trillion). Accenture is currently valued at $142.4 billion, while
IBM’s market cap is $110.5 billion.
DEFENSE
1.
India successfully test-fires “SANT” Missile off Odisha coast: India successfully
flight-tested its indigenously developed Stand-off Anti-tank (SANT) missile
from Integrated Test Range (ITR) off Odisha coast. The missile was test-fired
from a roof-top launcher of the ground-based platform. It is an upgraded
version of the anti-tank missile, Helicopter Launched Nag (HeliNa). This was
the 11th missile test-fired by India within one and a half month.
About SANT: SANT is an air-to-surface
missile developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for
the Indian Air Force. The SANT missile has both lock-on before launch and
lock-on after launch capability and can destroy targets 15 km to 20 km away.
OBITUARIES
1. Veteran TV Actress Zarina Roshan Khan passes away: Renowned TV actress, Zarina Roshan Khan (54 years) passed away due to sudden cardiac arrest. She is well known for her role in the television show ‘Kumkum Bhagya’ as Indu Dadi, since 2014. She began her career as a stunt woman, before taking up acting as a profession and has featured in several shows and films. The actor has also performed in serials like Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai and played the role of a mother in several Hindi films.
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