Nitin Gadkari has launched Blasting Process for one of the Asia's Longest bi-directional Road Tunnel "Zojila Tunnel" in J&K

• Union Minister Nitin Jairam Gadkari of Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MORTH) & Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MOMSME) initiated the first blasting process for the construction of one of the longest bi-directional road in Asia i.e. 14.15 Km Zojila Tunnel with altitude of about 3000 m in Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) to provide all-weather connectivity between Srinagar valley and Leh (Ladakh plateau) on National Highway (NH) -1.
• This geo-strategically sensitive project involves the construction at an altitude of 11578 feet under Zojila pass connecting Srinagar and Leh through Dras & Kargil.
• The project will be implemented by National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL) while its construction work will be carried by Hyderabad (Telangana) based Megha Engineering & Infrastructure Limited (MEIL).
• The total capital cost of the project would be Rs 6,808.63 crore and the total integrated cost of the project including Zojila tunnel (14.15 Km) and approaches upto Z-Morh tunnel (18.63 Km) would be Rs.10643 Crores. With the approach road, the total project length is 32.78 km
• It should be noted that the NHILDCL is also implementing a 6.5 km long Z-Morh tunnel project to ensure all-weather connectivity between Srinagar (J&K) and Kargil (Ladakh) and its work will be completed by June 2021.

PFC + JKPCL → Agreement for Liquidity Infusion Scheme Under "Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan"

• Power Finance Corporation Limited (PFC) and Jammu Kashmir Power Corporation limited signed and exchanged an agreement for Liquidity Infusion Scheme under "Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan" for the UT of J&K.
• PFC has sanctioned Rs. 2790 Crore to JKPCL for the clearance of the outstanding dues of Central Public Sector Undertaking as on 31st March 2020.
• About Power Finance Corporation Limited (PFC)
• CMD - Ravinder Singh Dhillon > HQ - New Delhi

CRPF + IIT Delhi + DRDO + JATC → To Augment its R&D Capabilities

• In order to augment its R&D capabilities, CRPF has collaborated with IIT Delhi, DRDO, and Joint Advanced Technology Center, a joint initiative of DRDO and IIT Delhi.
• It will also help in integrating with DRDO labs for realistic indigenisation of technologies on the internal security grid.
• It will also provide operational feedback on futuristic technologies, which enable the IIT Tech experts to conduct proactive R&D.

CRPF + IIT Delhi + DRDO + JATC → To Augment its R&D Capabilities

• Certificate course under IIT Delhi Continuing Education Program
• Under the Continuing Education Program of IIT Delhi, a batch of 40 engineering graduate officers or subordinate officers of the CRPF with the right aptitude and potential will undergo 3-6 months certificate course.
• Higher degree courses at IIT Delhi
• Further, from this trained batch a few selected officers will undergo higher degree courses at IIT Delhi. These trained officers also act as technical advisers to CRPF.
• Trained officers of CRPF will be associated with projects
• The CRPF officers / SOs (Subordinate Officers) who are trained by the IIT Delhi will also be associated with joint research projects undertaken by DRDO and IIT Delhi in the field of defense / security tech solutions.
• About CRPF
• Director General - AP Maheshwari
• HQ - New Delhi

Astrosat, India's first Multi-Wavelength Astronomical Observatory completed 5 years of Imaging Celestial Objects in Space

• Astrosat, the first multi-wavelength astronomical observatory of India completed its 5 years of imaging celestial objects in space
• It has carried out 1,166 observations of 800 unique celestial sources proposed by scientists from India and abroad.

Nagaland Health Minister launched a handbook on "TB Harega, Desh Jeetega"

• Nagaland Minister for Health and Family Welfare, S. Pangnyu Phom launched a handbook on "TB Harega, Desh Jeetega!" -an elected representative's book on Tuberculosis in Kohima, Nagaland.
• The book will promote advocacy and community involvement in TB program.
• India has committed to end Tuberculosis by 2025, which is five years ahead of Global 'End TB target of 2030.
• About Nagaland
• Capital - Kohima
• CM - Neiphiu Rio
• Governor - Ravindra Narayan Ravi

Deepankar Aron's Book "On the Trails of Buddha: A Journey to the East"

• Jagdeep Dhankhar, Governor of West Bengal released the book "On the Trails of Buddha: A Journey to the East" authored by Deepankar Aron, IRS (Indian Revenue Service) Officer.
• His first pictorial book "World Heritage sites of Uttarakhand" was published by Beehives Communications Pvt. Ltd. in 2010.
• Shashi Tharoor wrote a new book titled "The Battle of Belonging"
• Renowned Author and Politician Shashi Tharoor is set to release his new book titled "The Battle of Belonging" in November 2020. The book is published by Aleph Book Company. Shashi Tharoor described this book as his "magnum opus" on the Theory, evolution and practice of Nationalism across the globe and especially in India.
• About "The Battle of Belonging"
• The book appears to be an extension of his book "Why I Am a Hindu". It provides the historical context to the ideas of nationalism, patriotism, humanism, democracy and their
• This book established the actual Indianism and the what it means to be a patriotic and nationalistic Indian in the 21st century.
• Some of his works include India: From Midnight to the Millennium (1997), The Five Dollar Smile And Other Stories (1993).
• IMD operationalized Advanced High-resolution Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi and rest of India
• India Meteorological Department (IMD) under the ministry of Earth Science has operationalized ENFUSER - Environmental information FUsion SERvice, a high resolution city scale model for Delhi.
• The ENFUSER will identify the hotspots of air pollution and pollution up to street levels.
• To provide air quality forecast, the air quality forecast model WRF-Chem has also been updated with high-resolution land use land cover
• About IMD
• HQ - New Delhi
• Chief - Dr. Mrutyunjay Mohapatra

Vega got Rohit Sharma as Brand Ambassador

• Beauty Accessories Brand VEGA has appointed Rohit Sharma as its Brand Ambassador.
• Rohit will endorse the men's personal grooming electronics range under the "Vega Men 'brand.
• India + Netherlands E-Health Initiative
• India and Netherlands discussed a joint thrust in the e-health sector to provide digital health facilities and security to Indians and help Netherlands to accelerate the digital transformation of health.
• This collaboration is part of National Digital Health Mission (NDHM) of India.
• . The discussion was made in a webinar on "Energizing Partnership between India & Netherlands on Digital Health Solutions", organized by Embassy of India, The Hague along with Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands, India, Invest India and Primus Partners, management consultancy firm.
• About Netherlands
• Capital - Amsterdam
• PM - Mark Rutte
• Currency - Euro

3rd Assembly of International Solar Alliance held virtually

• The third assembly of the International Solar Alliance was held in a virtual mode where India and France were re-elected as the President and Co-President of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) for a term of two years at the virtual third Assembly of ISA .
• ISA is working with World Resources Institute (WRI) to develop a roadmap for mobilization of USD 1 trillion by 2030 and for implementing the vision of One Sun, One World, One Grid. The financial assistance for the same is being provided by Netherlands, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Bloomberg New Energy Finance and Climate Works Foundation.
• On the lines of the global demand for cooling and heating utilities, the Seventh Program on Solarizing Heating and Cooling systems was launched by the ISA Secretariat i.e. Gurugram (Haryana).
• Kalpana Chawla awards Visvesvaraya award, and Diwakar awards presented during the assembly
• . For the first time ISA Solar Awards were presented which are as follows:

Kalpana Chawla Awards

• Bhim Singh from IIT (Indian Institute of Technology) Delhi and Dr. Ayesha Al Nuaimi from Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
• Named after the American astronaut of Indian origin, Kalpana Chawla awards recognize outstanding contribution of scientists and engineers working in the field of solar energy

Visvesvaraya award

• it was awarded to Japan while for Europe and other regions it was awarded to the Netherlands.
• Named after Bharat Ratna Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya, the award carries an amount of 12,330 USD as prize money, a scroll and a certificate to recognize the countries with a maximum floating solar capacity in each of the four regions of USA.

About International Solar Alliance (ISA)

• In November 2015, ISA was jointly launched by India and France during the 21st session of the United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP-21) in Paris, France to promote solar energy among its member countries. The major objective of the organization is the deployment of 1000 GW of solar capacity and mobilization of US $ 1000 billion of investment in the solar energy sector by 2030.
• Director General - Upendra Tripathy
• HQ - Gurugram

Rajkiran Rai G → New Chairman of IBA Succeeding Rajnish Kumar

• . At the meeting of the Managing Committee of the Indian Banks' Association (IBA), Rajkiran Rai G, MD & CEO, Union Bank of India (UBI), has been elected as the Chairman of the Association for the term 2020-21.
• He succeeded Rajnish Kumar.
• While, Dinesh Kumar Khara, Chairman, SBI, was elected as Deputy Chairman of the Association for the year 2020-21. He is one among the 3 deputy chairman namely, CH S Mallikarjuna Rao, MD & CEO of Punjab National Bank and Madhav Kalyan, CEO of J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, India.
• Earlier, Rajkiran Rai G served as the Deputy Chairman of IBA.
• About Indian Banks' Association (IBA)
• It was formed on September 26, 1946. It is an association of banks and other entities in the banking ecosystem in India catering to its members.
• HQ - Mumbai
• CEO - Sunil Mehta

Bhanu Athaiya, Costume Designer & India's First Oscar Winner Passed Away at 91

• . Bollywood Costume Designer, Bhanu Athaiya, who was the first Indian to win the Oscars Award passed away at the age of 91 in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
• Bhanu Athaiya debuted as a costume designer for the film Shahenshah in 1953.
• Her book titled "The Art of Costume Design" was published by HarperCollins in 2010.
• Awards
• She won the Oscar award for best costume design in 1983 for the film Gandhi directed by Richard Attenborough starring Ben Kingsley as Mahatma Gandhi. She returned her Oscar to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2012 for
• Safekeeping She won the National Award for Best Costume Design in 1991 and 2002 for Lekin and Laggan respectively.

World Food Day 2020 → October 16

• UN's World Food Day is annually celebrated on October 16 to commemorate the founding date of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the UN in 1945, 2020 marks the 75th anniversary of FAO.
• The day raise global awareness and action for those who suffer from hunger and also for the need to ensure healthy diets for all.
• Theme of World Food Day 2020 - "Grow, Nourish, Sustain. Together".