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Daily Current Affairs 19th Sep 2020

To prepare for any competitive exam, one of the important sections to read and learn is current affairs. Exams like UPSC, Bank, SSC, RRB or any Government

Maharashtra Cabinet greenlit Balasaheb Thackeray Road Accident Insurance Scheme for Accident victims

  • Maharashtra Cabinet approved the implementation of Balasaheb Thackeray Road Accident Insurance Scheme with an annual outlay of Rs 125 crore to provide timely medical and financial aid to the road accident victims during the golden hour i.e. initial 72 hours.
  • In this regard, an careful of up to Rs 30,000 will be borne by the State for 74 enlisted medical procedures
  • The scheme is formulated on the lines of Mahatma Phule Jan Arogya Yojana wherein empaneled hospitals treat patients and recover the cost from insurance providers.
  • About Maharashtra
  • Capital - Mumbai
  • CM - Uddhav Thackeray
  • Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari

Karnataka CM launched 'Arthika Spandana' Loan Disbursal Scheme

  • Karnataka CM B.S. Yediyurappa has launched 'Arthika Spandana' program to disburse loans of Rs 39,300 crore through various co-operative institutions.
  • Under this scheme, Rs 15,300 crore will be disbursed to the agricultural sector and the remaining sum of Rs 24,000 will be earmarked for the non-agricultural sector.
  • Rs 4,525 crore has been granted by the center to the state in order to strengthen farmers 'producers' organizations and primary agricultural cooperatives, among others.

Cabinet approved establishment of new All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at Darbhanga, Bihar

  • In order to boost health infrastructure in Bihar the Central Government has given its consent for the establishment of a new All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) at Darbhanga, Bihar with an outlay of Rs1264 crore .

Cabinet approved establishment of new All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at Darbhanga, Bihar

  • About Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY)
  • Announced in 2003, PMSSY, focuses on providing affordable reliable tertiary healthcare services and also to augmentation facilities for quality medical education in the country
  • It has two components:
  • Setting up of AiiMS like Institutions: A total 22 new AiiMS have been announced so far under this component. 6 AIIMS are already functional & 16 more AiiMS are announced. Out of which 15 AiiMS are approved by the cabinet
  • Upgradation of Government Medical College (GMC) Institutions: 75 projects have been considered under this component under 6 phases.

ARIES, HNBGU hold International Online Conference on Aerosol Air Quality, Climate Change and Impact on Greater Himalayas

  • Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES), Nainital an autonomous research institute under Department of Science and Technology (DST), Ministry of Science and Technology, and Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University (HNBGU), a central university in Srinagar, Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand jointly organized an International Conference on 'Aerosol Air Quality, Climate Change and
  • Impact on Water Resources and Livelihoods in the Greater Himalayas' at ARIES. Nainital.
  • The International Conference will discuss the effect of Aerosols on the Himalayan Regions in India, Nepal and Bangladesh
  • The Conference has been organized as part of the celebrations of the Golden Jubilee Commemoration Year of DST. It is the first online international conference to be held at ARIES, Nainital during the Pandemic.
  • ARIES, Nainital
  • Director - Dipankar Banerjee
  • Manora Peak, Nainital. Uttarakhand, India.

Telangana Minister KT Rama Rao Launched First Of Its Kind Web Portal Of Pothgal Pacs

  • Telangana's Minister of Information Technology and Industries, Kalvakuntla Taraka Rama Rao (KTR) launched the Primary Agriculture Cooperative Society (PACS), Pathgal web portal - www.pacspothgal.com at Mustabad Mandal, Rajanna Sircilla district.
  • This is the first of its kind portal which contains all the details of the loans, loan processes and services offered by the co operative society.
  • Pacspothgal web portal is available in both Telugu and English.
  • The portal provides the data and information of various services like paddy procurement and others with figures, fixed deposits and lockers.
  • This also provides data on the projects like petrol bunks, godowns, food processing industries, ATMs, official buildings, etc.
  • About Telangana
  • Capital - Hyderabad
  • CM K. Chandrashekar Rao
  • Governor - Tamilisai Soundararajan

NABARD launches Awareness & Sensitization programme for FPO

  • An Awareness & Sensitization programme was launched by National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) for the newly proposed Farmer Producer Organizations (FPO) along with district administration, the objectives of the awareness cum sensitization programme is to aid the farmers to form FPO's and seli their product on reasonable rates by avoiding brokers.
  • About NABARD
  • HQ - Mumbai
  • Formed-1982
  • Chairman - Govinda Rajulu Chintala
  • Penguin Books published Arundhati Roy's Book titled "Azadi"
  • Arundhati Roy's new book titled "Azadi: Freedom, Fascism, Fiction" is published by Penguin Books Limited. The nonfiction book is a collection of essays that shows the meaning of Freedom in the world of increasing authoritarianism.
  • The word 'Azadi' means Freedom in Urdu, the slogan Azadi! Was used in the freedom struggle in Kashmir which was also used against the Hindu Nationalism Projects of India.
  • The essay collection includes meditations on language and roles of fiction and alternative imaginations amid global pandemic due to COVID-19.

WhatsApp collaborated with Common Services Centers for Digital Literacy Service Chatbot

  • WhatsApp has partnered with Common Services Centers (CSC) for a WhatsApp chatbot to empower rural communities by providing digital skills at their doorstep, and to create livelihood through promotion of rural entrepreneurship WhatsApp chatbot is expected to be used by 10 million beneficiaries by August 2021
  • This partnership aims to provide cost-effective video, voice and data content and services, in the areas of e-governance, education, health. telemedicine, entertainment as well as other private services.
  • People can send a "Namaste at CSC Academy's official WhatsApp account +919999189321 to access details and course modules of major programmes.
  • CSCs - These are physical facilities that deliver Government's e Services at rural and remote locations where access to computers and internet is negligible or absent.
  • As per government, CSC is a 'strategic cornerstone' of the National e-Governance Plan (NeGP), approved by the government in May 2006, as part of its commitment in the National Common Minimum Program to introduce e-governance on a massive scale .

WhatsApp collaborated with Common Services Centers for Digital Literacy Service Chatbot

  • Relevance of this partnership
  • Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA), an initiative of the government to provide digital literacy to 6 crore rural citizens, is being implemented by CSCs across the country
  • Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, training has been suspended across the country.
  • Now this partnership will enable the delivery of digital literacy modules through WhatsApp will help in the extension of the programme in rural as well as urban areas.
  • Apart from PMGDISHA, there is also a Digital Beti initiative which aims to train 5,000 rural entrepreneurs on digital literacy in over 3,000 villages across 10 Indian states.
  • About WhatsApp
  • Owner - Facebook
  • Founders - Jan Koum and Brian Acton

Mexico became the first country to issue 7-year Sovereign SDG Bond worth $ 890m

  • Mexico became the first country in the world to inaugurate sustainable financing programs for the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by issuing a seven-year Sovereign SDGS Bond worth USD 890 million under its new "SDG Sovereign Bond Framework" developed with investment bank Natixis located in Paris France.
  • This transaction allows Mexico to expand its investor base by accessing international funds working towards sustainable economic development. Notably, the demand for these bonds reached approximately US $ 5.70 billion, equivalent to 6.4 times the allocated amount with a participation of 267 global investment firms.

Mexico became the first country to issue 7-year Sovereign SDG Bond worth $ 890m

  • About Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
  • Also known as Global Goals 17 SDGs were adopted by all UN member states ie 195 in 2015 at the twenty-first session of the Conference of the Parties (COP-21) in Paris, France by agreeing on the '2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development on the Pledge "Leave No One Behind the objective behind these goals is to end poverty, Protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030
  • These SDGs replaced the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) initiated in 2000 to tackle the indignity of poverty. The 17 SDGS Goal are as follows:
  • GOAL 1: No Poverty
  • GOAL 2: Zero Hunger
  • GOAL 3: Good Health and Wellbeing
  • 4 GOAL 4: Quality Education
  • GOAL 5: Gender Equality
  • 6 GOAL 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
  • 7 GOAL 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
  • GOAL 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
  • GOAL 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure GOAL
  • 10 GOAL10: Reduced Inequality
  • 11 GOAL 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
  • 12 GOAL 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
  • 13 GOAL 13: Climate Action
  • 14 GOAL 14: Life Below Water
  • 15 GOAL 15: Life on Land
  • 16 GOAL 16: Peace and Justice Strong Institutions
  • 17 GOAL 17: Partnerships to achieve the Goal

Mexico became the first country to issue 7-year Sovereign SDG Bond worth $ 890m

  • About UNDP
  • Administrator - Achim Steiner Ha - New York
  • About mexico
  • Capital - Mexico City
  • Currency - Mexican peso
  • President - Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador

Global Initiative to reduce Land Degradation and Coral Reef program launched at G20 Meet

  • The Environment Ministerial Meeting (EMM) of the G20 Countries took place through video conference. The G20 EMM took place as part of the Sherpa Track for the G20 Leaders Summit, it was hosted through a video conference under the Presidency of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
  • Global Initiative to Reduce Land Degradation and Coral Program
  • A Global Initiative to Reduce Land Degradation and Coral Program and two other documents related to managing emissions and climate change adaptations were launched in the meeting.

India got 116th rank in World Bank's Human Capital Index 2020

  • The 2020 Human Capital Index (HCI) is a collaboration between the Human Development Practice Group and the Development Economic Group of the World Bank
  • World Bank released the report titled The Human Capital Index 2020 Update: Human Capital in the Time of COVID-19. India has been placed at the 116th position among 174 countries in the Human Capital index 2020
  • The country of Singapore topped the score with 0.88 followed by Hong Kong at 0.81 and Japan at 0.80
  • Human capital is the stock of habits, knowledge, social and personality attributes embodied in the ability to perform labor so as to produce economic value.
  • The report based on recent cross-sections of 174 economies for the five HCl components (child survival, Expected years of school, harmonized test scores, fraction of children under 5 not stunted, and adult survival), as used to calculate the 2020 HCI.

 Michelin Star Chef Vikas Khanna honored with 2020 Asia Game changer Award for Feeding Millions amid COVID-19

  • The Michelin Star Chef Vikas Khanna received the 2020 Asia Game Changer Award from Asia Society, a United States based non-profit organization for feeding millions of people across India amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, by coordinating a food distribution drive from Manhattan.
  • He is the only Indian among the six awardees who were recognized by the Asia Society.
  • Khanna's food distribution drive
  • Vikas Khanna launched the food distribution drive #FoodIndia which has distributed around 35 million meals, which includes cooked food and dry rations.
  • He partnered with National Disaster Relief Force of India for logistics and on ground support.
  • Asia Game Changer Award
  • The Asia Game Changer Award was launched by the Asia Society in 2014 to ider and honor the individuals for their contribution to the future of Asia. The award will be presented to the honorees over a virtual ceremony which will be held in October 2020 as a global virtual event hosted farm in New York.

Michelin Star Chef Vikas Khanna honored with 2020 Asia Game changer Award for Feeding Millions amid COVID-19

  • Other honorees
  • Yo-Yo Ma - American cellist is honored for his lifetime contribution to music and for his initiative #sangsofcomfort amid pandemic
  • Naomi Osaka - Japanese-Haitian Tennis Champion is honored for her using her global platform to call for racial justice and social change.
  • BTS (Bangtan Sonyeondan) - Korean boy band, is honored for their contribution towards inspiring global audience to stand against discrimination
  • Miky Lee - Producer of Oscar winning film "Parasite" is honored for highlighting the economic inequality and for enhancing the profile of Asians on screen.
  • Joe Tsal & Clara Tsal - Business leaders and philanthropists are honored for their life saving philanthropy amid COVID-19 pandemic.
  • About Asia Society
  • President and CEO - Ambassador Josette Sheeran HQ - New York, USA

ICICI Home Finance launched "Apna Ghar Dreamz" Home Loan Scheme for Skilled Labors in Delhi

  • The ICICI Home Finance launched 'Apna Ghar Dreams', its new home loan scheme for skilled laborers like electricians, mechanics, painters, grocery store owners etc. in the informal sector of Delhi.
  • The credit amount of this loan ranges from Rs 2. lakh to 50 lakhs.
  • This scheme targets the people of the informal sector without all the documents which are required to get a loan from a formal financial institution.

Indian cricketer Suresh Raina becomes brand ambassador of online poker platform of 9poker

  • 9stacks, India's fastest growing online poker platform, has made Suresh Raina, the Indian cricketer its brand ambassador.
  • A left-handed batsman and a spin bowler, Suresh Raina will be part of the upcoming campaign and 9 match engagement activities.
  • About 9stacks
  • CEO & Co-founder - Sudhir Kamath

Former Indian Cricketer Sadashiv Raoji Patil passes away at 86

  • Former Indian Cricketer Sadashiv Raaji Patil who represented India in one test match passed away at the age of 86 at his residence in Kolhapur, Maharashtra.
  • Sadashiv Raoji Patil made his first class debut for Maharashtra in 1952-53 season.
  • He made his test debut in 1955-56 test series at the Brabourne Stadium against New Zealand and he also received the India Test Cap
  • He has played around 36 first class matches for Maharashtra scoring 866 runs and 83 wickets between 1952-1964

Former President of Mali, Moussa Traore passed away at 83

  • Former President of Republic of Mali (South Africa) General Moussa Traoré, who reigned over Mali for more than 22 years passed away