NATIONAL UPDATES:
1.
NHA ties with Google to strengthen the implementation of PMJAY: National Health
Authority signed a Statement of
Intent (SoI) with Google to collaborate and strengthen the
implementation of Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya
Yojana (PMJAY). The two organizations will now work together to increase
process efficiencies in day-to-day applications. Google will support NHA in
improving digital presence of PMJAY and showcasing relevant content to the 50
crore entitled beneficiaries. Google will also help provide training and
support to NHA personnel to build on digital skills. NHA is the nodal agency
for implementing Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana.
Note: NHA is the programme
implementing authority of the world's largest public-funded health insurance
scheme “Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY).
NHA's CEO: Indu Bhushan
2. Union
govt launches eco-friendly crackers to fight air pollution: Union Health
Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan has launched eco-friendly green
firecrackers, which have been manufactured in India and are available in
markets for sellers and consumers. Council of Scientific and Industrial
Research (CSIR) labs have been successful in developing various
environment-friendly fireworks such as sound-emitting crackers, flowerpots,
pencils, chakkar and sparklers. A green logo as well as a Quick Response (QR)
coding system has been developed for the differentiation of green crackers from
conventional crackers.
3.
India to shift to BS VI vehicular emission norms from BS IV by April 2020: India will shift to
Bharat Stage Six (BS VI) vehicular emission norms from BS IV by April 2020 in
order to curb vehicular pollution. This announcement was made by the
Environment and Forest Minister Mr Prakash Javadekar in New Delhi.
BS6-compliant vehicles will be available in Delhi in April 2020 and BS6
petrol/diesel is already available in Delhi/NCR.
Note: Bharat stage Emission Standards
(BSES) are emission standards instituted by the Government of India to regulate
the output of air pollutants from internal combustion engines and Spark-ignition
engines equipment, including motor vehicles. The standards and the timeline for
implementation are set by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) under the
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1.
Anumula Gitesh Sarma appointed as the next High Commissioner of India to
Australia: The
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) of Government of India notified that Mr
Anumula Gitesh Sarma was appointed as the next High Commissioner of India to
Australia. He is an Indian Foreign Service (IFS) Officer of the 1986 batch. He
succeeds Dr. Ajay M. Gondane.
Note: Australia Capital: Canberra;
Currency: Australian dollar
2. New
book documenting Gandhi’s legacy launched in South Africa: A new book
titled “150 Years of Celebrating the Mahatma the South African
Legacy”, by Fakir Hassen launched in Johannesburg, South Africa.
This book released on the occasion of Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary.
The book chronicles commemorations of Gandhi’s activities, including his birth
and death anniversaries & his visit in South Africa, which was stifled by
the apartheid-era minority white government and revived after former president
Nelson Mandela.
Note: Capitals of South Africa: Cape Town,
Pretoria, Bloemfontein; Currency: Rand
3.
World Habitat day: October 7: The World Habitat Day was observed every
year on first Monday in October all over the world. This year it was observed
on October 7, 2019 with the theme “Frontier Technologies as an innovative tool
to transform waste to wealth”. The aim of this day is to reflect on the state
of cities and towns and the basic human right to adequate shelter. The theme
for 2019 aims to promote the contribution of innovative frontier technologies
such as automation, robotics, electric vehicles, renewable energy technology
and artificial intelligence (AI) to sustainable waste management to achieve
Sustainable Development Goal 11: inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
cities. In 1985 United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) declared the first Monday
of October as World Habitat Day through Resolution 40/202. It was first
celebrated in 1986.
OTHER UPDATES:
SPORTS
1. Christine
Wolf clinches Hero Indian Women’s Open golf title: Austria’s Christine
Wolf has won the Hero Women’s Indian Open at Gurugram, Haryana.
It was Christine’s first title after six years on the Ladies European Tour.
Norway’s Mariaane Skarpnord finished as runner-up while England’s Meghan
MacLaren finished third in the competition. Among the Indian players, Anika
Varma finished at 5th position while Tvesa Malik was at 6th position.
2. Harmanpreet
Kaur becomes first Indian to play 100 T20Is: Indian women
cricketer Harmanpreet Kaur became the first Indian to play
100 T20 International matches. She achieves this feat in the sixth T20I
against South Africa in Surat. Harmanpreet Kaur is among 10 female
players who have reached the three-figure mark in terms of appearances. New
Zealand’s Suzie Bates and Australia’s Ellyse Perry top the list with 111
appearances. Overall, Harmanpreet has two more appearances in T20Is
than MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma, who have played the highest
number of matches for India in men’s cricket.
3.
Sumit Nagal achieved a career-best ranking of 129 in ATP men’s singles: Indian tennis
player Sumit Nagal, aged 22, from Haryana achieved a career-best ranking of 129
in the latest Association of Tennis Professional (ATP) men’s singles rankings
2019. He moved up six places from 135. The first place was held by Novak
Djokovic (Serbia), followed by Rafael Nadal (Spain) and Roger Federer
(Switzerland). In the doubles ranking, Juan Sebastian Cabal & Rober Farah
of Colombia held the top spot followed by Horacio Zeballos of Argentina (3) and
Nicolas Mahut (4) of France.
4.
17th IAAF World Athletics Championships For 2019 Held In Doha, Qatar: The 17th Edition of
the IAAF World Athletics Championships for 2019 was held at Khalifa
International Stadium, Doha, Qatar from September 27-October 6, 2019. The
biennial event was organized by the International Association of Athletics
Federations (IAAF) and Qatar Athletics Federation. It was the first edition of
the competition under its rebranded name, having previously been known as the
World Championships in Athletics. Mascot: The event mascot was “Falah”, an
anthropomorphic falcon dressed in athletic gear in the maroon colour of the
flag of Qatar. The 18th edition will be held in Eugene, Oregon, United States
in 2021.
Medal tally: Top 3 countries
Rank
|
Country
|
Gold
|
Silver
|
Bronze
|
Total
|
1
|
United States
|
14
|
11
|
4
|
29
|
2
|
Kenya
|
5
|
2
|
4
|
11
|
3
|
Jamaica
|
3
|
5
|
4
|
12
|
Indian Performance: 27 athletes from India
represented in the championships.
Annu Rani became the first Indian to reach
the finals of the women’s javelin throw event in the World Championships in
Doha. She threw the javelin 62.43m in her second attempt and emerged as the
fifth-best performer of the qualification round breaking her previous record of
62.34m. But she missed out the qualification for 2020 olympics.
India’s Avinash Sable qualified for Tokyo
Olympics in men’s 3000m steeplechase event by finishing it in 8 minute 21.37
seconds. Olympics qualifying standard was 8:22.00.
Indian team comprising of Muhammed Anas,
VK Vismaya, Nirmal Noah and Jisna Mathew, finished 7th in the finals of 4*400m
mixed relay and qualified for the 2020 Tokyo olympics.
MP Jabir qualified for the 400m hurdles
semifinals at the World Athletics Championship. With this, he became the second
Indian male hurdler to reach the semifinals after Joseph Abraham (2007 Osaka
World Championships).
BANKING AND FINANCE
1.
State Bank launches debit card with EMI facility on POS: In order to
provide a superior and affordable shopping experience to its customers, Indian
multinational, public sector bank, the State Bank of India (SBI) has launched
the “Debit Card EMI facility” for its existing customers. Under this service,
the consumer can opt for an EMI (equated monthly installment) period ranging
from 6 months to 18 months. iv. SBI debit card facility is available for those
with good credit history. To know your eligibility, customers need to type
DCEMI and send an SMS (short message service) to 567676 from registered mobile
number.
Note: SBI Headquarters: Mumbai,
Maharashtra; Chairman: Rajnish Kumar
2.
Reliance Nippon Life AMC to be rebranded Nippon India Mutual Fund: The largest
Japanese life insurance company, Nippon Life Insurance has renamed Reliance
Nippon Life Asset Management (RNAM) as Nippon India Mutual Fund (NIMF) after
acquiring 75 % stake in RNAM from Reliance Capital for around Rs 6,000 crore.
With the help of a 130 year old Nippon Life’s international network, it will be
helpful in expanding the company in the tier-II and -III cities to offer a
range of products suited to the investors’ need on the debt side of the mutual
fund industry. NIMF runs as an advisor for India focused equity and fixed
income funds in Japan (launched by Nissay Asset Management), Korea (launched by
Samsung Asset Management) and in Thailand (launched by BBL Asset Management)
& controls offshore funds through its subsidiaries in Singapore and
Mauritius, and also has a representative office in Dubai, thereby, catering to
investors across Asia, West Asia, the UK, the US, and Europe.
Note: Nippon Life Insurance Headquarters:
Osaka, Japan; President: Hiroshi Shimizu
AWARDS & HONOURS
1.
2019 Nobel Prize in Medicine awarded jointly to three-person: William G Kaelin
Jr, Peter J Ratcliffe and Gregg L Semenza are jointly awarded 2019 Nobel Prize
in Physiology or Medicine for discovering how cells sense and adapt to oxygen
availability. This was announced by the Nobel Assembly at the Karolinska
Institute, Sweden. The scientists identified molecular machinery that regulates
the activity of genes in response to varying levels of oxygen. This discovery
will help to form new strategies to fight anemia, cancer and several other
diseases.
About Nobel Prize:
Nobel Prize is a set of annual
international awards bestowed for outstanding work in the fields of physics,
chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature, economics, and the promotion of
peace.
DEFENCE
1.
10th edition of Indo Maldives joint exercise begin at Pune: The 10th edition
of the joint exercise between India and Maldives named Ekuverin for the year
2019 begun at Aundh Military Station in Pune, Maharashtra. This 14 day joint
exercise between Indian Army (IA) and Maldives National Defence Forces will be
conducted till October 20, 2019. Under the United Nations (UN) mandate, the
exercise focuses to enhance interoperability between the two nations in
carrying out counter insurgency and counter-terrorism operations in a
semi-urban environment while sharing best practices. Previous edition: The previous/9th
edition of the exercise was conducted at Northern Area Headquarter, Lhaviyani
Atoll, Maalifushi of Maldives in 2018.
Note: Maldives Capital: Malé; Currency:
Maldivian rufiyaa.
2.
Indian Army’s first mountain combat exercise ‘Him Vijay’ 2019 begun in
Arunachal Pradesh: The
Indian Army’s first and biggest mountain combat exercise “Him Vijay” for the
year 2019 begun at Arunachal Pradesh. It is an important exercise for
validating the operational concepts of the newly raised Integrated Battle
Groups (IBGs) to meet the requirements of modern warfare. The exercise has two
phases, where the first phase will be conducted from October 7-10, 2019 and the
second phase will be conducted from October 20-24, 2019. The key focus of the
exercise is to test mobility, communication and coordination of fast-moving
troops in difficult terrain.
OBITUARIES
1.
Grammy awardee, Drummer Ginger Baker passed away: English drummer
Peter Edward familiarly known as Ginger Baker and co-founder of the rock band
“Cream” passed away at the age of 80 in England due to old age ailments. Born
on August 19, 1939 in London, England Ginger Baker’s music career spanned for 6
decades and emerged as the first superstar percussionist. He won the Grammy
Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall
of fame in 1993 as a member of ‘Cream’. He launched a band in 1970 named band
Air Force with his last Long Playings (LPs) in 2014 called “why?”. He was also
credited as number three on Rolling Stones’ 100 Greatest Drummers of All Time
published in 2006.
