September 2020 Daily News Current Affairs

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Sep 30, 2020
1. PM Narendra Modi inaugurated 6 mega development projects in Uttarakhand under Namami Gange Mission, along with Ganga Avalokan Museum, the first of its kind on the River Ganga at Haridwar.
  1. He also released book Rowing Down the Ganges, ” and new logo for Jal Jeevan Mission.
  2. He Announced 100-day campaign from 02-10-2020, to ensure drinking water connection to every school and Anganwadi in country.
2. Sri Lanka approved banning cattle slaughter across nation, deciding to import beef for those who consume it.
3. World Risk Index (WRI) 2020 by UN University’s Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNUEHS) and International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict (IFHV) -
  1. Top 3 (Most risk) - Vanuatu (1), Tonga (2), Dominica (3)
  2. Bottom 3 (Least risk) - Qatar (181), Malta (180), St. Vincent and the Grenadines (179)
  3. India ranked 89th.
  4. Neighbors - Pakistan (87), Bangladesh (13), Sri Lanka (74), Nepal (121)
4. Sep 30 is observed as World Translation Day, marked by UN in 2017 to pay tribute to language professionals. 2020 theme is Finding the words for a world in crisis.
  1. Sep 30 is also establishment day of Harijan Sevak Sangh, founded by MK Gandhi on September 30, 1932.
5. As a push for electric mobility, Government sanctioned 670 Electric buses in states of Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat and Chandigarh and 241 Charging Stations in Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Gujarat and Port Blair under Phase-II of FAME India Scheme.
  1. Phase-II of FAME India Scheme is being implemented for 3 years w.e.f. 01st April, 2019 with support of 10000 crores. This phase focuses on supporting electrification of transportation and aims to support approx 7000 e-Buses, 5 lakh e-3 Wheelers, 55000 e-4 Wheeler Passenger Cars and 10 lakh e-2 Wheelers.
6. General Events / Conferences (Sep 21-30, 2020) -
  1. Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) sanctioned 3 additional branches of National Investigation Agency (NIA) which will be located at Chennai, Imphal, and Ranchi.
  2. Google India partnered with Ministry of Consumer Affairs to launch nationwide Digitally Safe Consumer campaign to raise awareness among consumers about online safety and better protect consumer interest online.
  3. India-UK Water Partnership Forum held virtually, which also included signing MoU between Ganga and the British water.
  4. India and Denmark held virtual bilateral summit, attended by Prime Ministers of Both Nations (Narendra Modi and Mette Frederiksen). An MoU was signed between India and Denmark, for co-operation in field of Intellectual Property. It was also decided to elevate India-Denmark relations to a Green Strategic Partnershio, to promote sustainable mutual growth.
  5. 51st annual International Film Festival of India (IFFI), which was postponed due to COVID-19 pandemicm will now take place from January 16th to 24th, 2021 in Goa.
  6. Foundation stone of ‘Centre for Disability Sports laid at Gwalior (Madhya Pradesh).
  7. One of first medical device parks in country will soon be det up in Kerala, focusing on high-risk medical device sector to provide. Named MedSpark, it is envisaged as joint initiative of Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences & Technology (SCTIMST) and Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation Ltd (KSIDC).
  8. Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar launched Centralized Farm Machinery Performance Testing Portal, to improve services of farm machinery testing institutions.
  9. Indian PM Narendra Modi and Sri Lanka PM H.E. Mahinda Rajapaksa held Virtual Summit.
  10. World Bank approved $200 million to help Bangladesh improve access to safe water and sanitation services in rural areas.
  11. Ex-INS Viraat reached Alang for recycling, which was decommissioned from Indian Navy after 30 years of service, in 2017.
  12. Environment Minister Prakash Javedkar represented India at Ministerial Roundtable Dialogue on Biodiversity, that was held virtually and hosted by China.
7. Women's Tennis Tournament Fed Cup has been renamed as Billie Jean King Cup.
  1. Almost 6 decades after King helped US to win inagural Fed Cup.
  2. This tournament becomes first tennis competition to be named after a woman.
8. MIT professor Regina Barzilay won a new $1 million award for artificial intelligence, for using computer science to detect cancer and discover new drugs.
  1. Barzilay is a breast cancer survivor whose 2014 diagnosis led her to shift her AI work to creating systems for drug development and early cancer diagnosis.
9. W.E.F 25-09-2020, National Medical Commission (NMC) officially replaced Medical Council of India (MCI) as India's apex regulator of medical education and profession. It has abolished Indian Medical Council Act 1956.
  1. Suresh Chandra Sharma has been appointed as chairman of NMC, for 3 years. Rakesh Kumar Vats is secretary of NMC.
10. Govt unveiled Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) train, whose design is inspired by Delhi's iconic Lotus Temple and can attain a top speed of 180 KMPH on Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut corridor.
11. Punjab Govt launched Smart Ration Card scheme to cover 1.41 crore beneficiaries across state and a separate state-funded scheme to provide subsidised rations to 9 lakh beneficiaries not covered under NFSA.
12. UK India Business Council has signed an MoU with West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC), to focus on accelerating industrial development in state.
13. Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved USD 270 million loan for Madhya Pradesh Urban Services Improvement Project.
14. Assam Govt announced Paryatan Sanjeevani Scheme, under which loan up to 20 lakh with interest subsidy would be provided to entrepreneurs to revive tourism industry.
  1. Advances will be provided for five years, while state government will give first year's interest.
  2. Paryatan Sarathi scheme was also launched, which will provide information about Assam tourism, tour packages etc.
15. HDFC Bank launched a Warehouse Commodity Finance App, to enable customers in drawing down and managing loan against pledge of commodities online without physical intervention.
16. Alapan Bandyopadhyay has been named new Chief Secretary of West Bengal.
17. Nagaland Govt launched Livelihood Generation Program for Returned Migrant Workers Due to Covid19 Pandemic, to assist Indigenous Returned Migrant Workers of Nagaland.
18. Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik Monday launched next stage of slum upgradation and de-listing initiative JAGA Mission, to improve living conditions of 18 Lakh slum dwellers by providing them with basic amenities.
  1. JAGA Mission has received international acclaim as largest slum titling and upgradation initiative in world and been awarded World Habitat Award 2019.
19. Andhra CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy launched YSR Jala Kala, To benefit the small and medium farmers who have no open water source for irrigation.
  1. Under this, borewells will be dug free of cost to needy farmers, estimated to bring in five lakh acres under cultivation through groundwater irrigation. It is expected to cost 2340 crores in four years.
Sep 29, 2020
1. Sep 29 is observed as World Heart Day, launched in 2000 by the World Heart Federation. 2020 theme is Use Heart To Beat Cardiovascular Disease.
  1. Sep 29 is also observed as UN International Day of Awareness on Food Loss and Waste Reduction.
2. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launched book titled A bouquet of flowers written by Krishna Saksena.
3. Actor Sonu Sood has been conferred with SDG Special Humanitarian Action Award by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), for helping migrants, stranded people during COVID-19 Lockdown.
4. Filmmaker Shekhar Kapur has been appointed President of Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) and chairman of FTII governing council.
5. IDBI Bank become first Bank to implement new feature of document embedding facility with Letter of Credit (LC) / Bank Guarantee (BG) messages over SFMS (Structured Financial Messaging System) platform of Indian Financial Technology and Allied Services (IFTAS).
6. Vakrangee Ltd received RBI approval to set up Bharat Bill Payment Operating Unit (BBPOU), to handle payment services related to bills, under Payment and Settlement Systems Act 2007.
7. S S Deswal (ITBP DG) has been given additional charge of counter-terrorism force National Security Guard (NSG).
8. IIT Madras developed ‘MOUSHIK’, an indigenously-made microprocessor for the Internet of things (IoT) devices. funded by Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
9. Maharashtra government announced playback singer Usha Mangeshkar as winner of Lata Mangeshkar award 2020-21, which includes cash prize of 5 lakh rupees.
10. All India Football Federation (AIFF) awards 2019-20 -
  1. Men’s Footballer of the Year - Gurpreet Singh Sandhu
  2. Women’s Player of the Year - Sanju Yadav
  3. Men’s Emerging Footballer - Anirudh Thapa
  4. Women’s Emerging Footballer - Ratanbala Devi
  5. Best Referee - L. Ajit Kumar Meetei (Manipur)
  6. Best Grassroots Development Programme - West Bengal
11. RBI will implement Technology Vision for Cyber Security’ for Urban Co-operative Banks (2020-2023), to enhance IT security system of Urban Co-operative banking to prevent cyber-attacks.
  1. RBI has mooted 5 pillared strategic approach ‘GUARD’ (G – Governance Oversight, U – Utile Technology Investment, A – Appropriate Regulation and Supervision, R – Robust Collaboration D – Developing necessary skills set)
12. BCCI appointed Neetu David as Chairman of 5 member women’s national selection panel.
13. RBI annouced Positive Pay System for Cheque Truncation System from 01-01-2021, developed by National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).
  1. Banks will be required to enable system for all account holders issuing cheques for amounts of Rs 50,000 and above.
  2. Banks may consider making it mandatory in case of cheques for amounts of Rs 5,00,000 and above.
  3. RBI had announced Positive Pay mechanism in order to prevent frauds with high value cheques.
  4. Under this, cheques will be processed for payment by drawee bank based on information passed on by its customer at time of issuance of cheque.
14. Narendra Singh Tomar (Agri. and Farmers welfare Minister) has been given additional charge of Ministry of Food Processing Industries, after Serving Food Processing Industries Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal resigned from Central Government Cabinet.
15. Insurance Regulator IRDAI Named LIC, GIC and New India Assurance as domestic systemically important insurers (D-SIIs), deciding to subject them to enhanced regulatory supervision.
  1. D-SIIs refer to insurers of such size, market importance and domestic and global inter-connectedness whose distress or failure would cause a significant dislocation in the domestic financial system.
  2. Likewise, among banks, RBI had earlier declared SBI, ICICI Bank, and HDFC Bank as Domestic Systemically Important Banks (D-SIBs).
16. Kerala Tourism’s ‘Human by Nature Print Campaign’ won Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Grand Title Winner 2020 for Marketing category.
  1. PATA Grand Title Winners are presented in Three Categories - Marketing, Sustainability, Human Capital Development.
  2. Other Winners -
    1. Sustainability - Anurak Community Lodge by YAANA Ventures (Thailand)
    2. Human Capital Development - Unleashing Greatness by MGM China
Sep 28, 2020
1. Sep 28 - UN International Day for Universal Access to Information (commonly called Access to Information Day), being held since 2016. Other Observations on Sep 28 -
  1. Sep 28 is also observed as World Rabies Day (Diesease caused by Dog Bites). 2020 Theme is End Rabies: Collaborate, Vaccinate.
  2. Sep 28 is Birth Anniversary of Legendary Indian Freedom Fighter Sardar Bhagat Singh (Born 1907).
2. Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved 300 million USD loan to finance inclusive water supply and sanitation infrastructure and services in secondary towns of Rajasthan.
3. 4th edition of India-Japan Maritime bilateral Naval exercise (JIMEX) held in North Arabian Sea.
4. Telco Vodafone won tax case against India at international arbitration Tribunal over retrospective tax demand of INR 20,000 crores including capital gains tax and withholding tax.
  1. Permanent Court of Arbitration tribunal said that imposition of a tax liability on Vodafone by India is breaching investment treaty agreement signed between India and Netherlands.
  2. Tribunal asked Indian government to pay compensation of $5.47 million to Vodafone as legal costs.
5. Ministry of Coal directed Mineral Exploration Corporation Limited (MECL) to start exploring Kolar Gold Field (Karnataka), after pause of 16 years. Kolar Gold fields were closed in February 2001, because of environmental and economic reasons.
6. National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) notified increase in average body weight for Indians by 5kg in its recent report.
  1. Average weight for Indian men has been increased from 60kg in 2010 to 65kg now.
  2. While for Indian women, average weight has been increased from 50kg in 2010 to 55kg now.
  3. NIN also revised heights - Now average height for Indian men is 5.8 feet (177 cm) And that for women is 5.3 feet (162 cm).
7. Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation released Health in India report, highlighting health of religious communities across country.
  1. Report highlighted that 7.5% Indians suffered from ailments (6.8% in rural areas and 9.1% in urban areas).
  2. Among religious communities, Zoroastrians were most susceptible to ailments (31.1%) and Hindus least (7.2 %).
8. Govt Appointed PD Vaghela as new Chairman of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), replacing RS Sharma.
9. American investment firm General Atlantic invested 3675 crores into Reliance Retail ventures Limited (RRVL) for .84 % stake. This is 3rd investment in Reliance Retail Since October 2020. Earlier,
  1. American investment firm KKR invested 5550 crores into Reliance Retail ventures Limited (RRVL) for 1.28% stake.
  2. American investor Silver Lake invested 7500 Crores INR for 1.75% Stake in Reliance Retail.
  3. In concerned 3 Deals, RRVL has divested 3.87 % Stake so far.

Sep 27, 2020

Mercedes F1 Racer Valtteri Bottas (Finland) won Russian Grand Prix.

2020 F1 Season-

Round	Grand Prix	Winner	Race date
1	Austrian Grand Prix	Valtteri Bottas (Finland)	5 July
2	Styrian Grand Prix	Lewis Hamilton (UK)	12 July
3	Hungarian Grand Prix	Lewis Hamilton (UK)	19 July
4	British Grand Prix	Lewis Hamilton (UK)	2 August
5	70th Anniversary Grand Prix	Max Verstappen (Belgian-Dutch)	9 August
6	Spanish Grand Prix	Lewis Hamilton (UK)	16 August
7	Belgian Grand Prix	Lewis Hamilton (UK)	30 August
8	Italian Grand Prix	Pierre Gasly (France)	6 September
9	Tuscan Grand Prix	Lewis Hamilton (UK)	13 September
10	Russian Grand Prix	Valtteri Bottas (Finland)	27 September
11	Eifel Grand Prix		11 October
12	Portuguese Grand Prix		25 October
13	Emilia Romagna Grand Prix		1 November

Sep 27 - World Tourism Day, marked in 1970. 2020 Theme is tourism and rural development.
1. In 2020, For first time in 40-year history of World Tourism Day, official celebration was not hosted by a single Member of UN WTO. Instead, nations from Mercosur bloc (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, with Chile joining with observer status) served as joint hosts.
2. On this occasion -
  1. Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated 4- day Destination North East 2020, with theme The Emerging Delightful Destinations.
  2. SAATHI (System for Assessment, Awareness & Training for Hospitality Industry) initiative was launched to assist hospitality industry to ensure safety and hygiene for tourists and workforce, in association with Quality Council of India.
Global Human rights NGO Amnesty International halted Its India Operations, stating that it is being targeted over its adverse reports on alleged rights violations during Delhi riots and in Jammu and Kashmir after abrogation of Article 370.
1. While, government said that It was receiving foreign funds illegally and was not registered under Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act.
India announced bringing together its Indo-Pacific and Asean policies under a single unit, with China in focus.
1. It will be accomplished with Ministry of External Affairs creating a new vertical, which includes a new Oceania territorial division with Australia at its centre, as well as including Indo-Pacific and Asean divisions within it.
2. Reenat Sandhu will head the new vertical.

Sep 26, 2020
1. India signed MoU with Denmark, for co-operation in field of Intellectual Property, which was approved by Cabinet in September 2020.
  1. It was signed during Virtual India-Denmark Summit, attended by India's PM Narendra Modi and Denmark's PM Mette Frederiksen.
2. Defence Acquisition Council under headed by Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh approved Capital acquisitions of various equipment required by Indian Armed Forces at approx 2290 crores.
  1. Under Buy Indian (IDDM) category, DAC approved procurement of Static HF Tans-receiver sets and Smart Anti Airfield Weapon (SAAW).
3. Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh unveiled Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020.
  1. First DAP was promulgated in 2002 and has since been revised periodically to provide impetus to domestic industry.
  2. DAP 2020 Main Review Committee was formed in 2019, under DG (Acquisition) Apurva Chandra.
  3. DAP 2020 has been aligned with vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat, empowering Indian domestic industry and turning India into a global manufacturing hub.
  4. Recently, Cabinet had approved a policy for raising cap on foreign direct investment (FDI) through automatic approval in defence sector to 74% from 49%, while affixing a ‘national security’ clause to it.
  5. Raksha Mantri also launched Defence India Startup Challenge (DISC 4) during iDEX event, featuring initiatives aimed at expanding horizons of Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) ecosystem.
4. United Kingdom and UN will co-organise a global climate summit in December 2020, to mark fifth anniversary of signing of Paris Climate Agreement in 2015.
  1. Also, United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 26) will be held in Glasgow (Scotland) in November 2021. It has been postponed from 2020 to 2021, due to COVID-19 Pandemic.
5. Taskforce led by Prime Minister's Office (PMO) initiated action for management of air pollution in National Capital Region (NCR), led by P K Mishra, Principal Secretary to PM.
6. Minister for Chemicals & Fertilizers D.V. Sadananda Gowda launched POS 3.1 software, SMS Gateway and Home Delivery facility of Fertilizers (RBK) for farmers in Andhra Pradesh.
7. BrahMos surface-to-surface supersonic cruise missile featuring indigenous Booster has been flight tested successfully, with range 290 KM and top speed of Mach 2.8 (Approx 3500 Per Hour).
8. Fisheries and Animal Husbandry Minister Giriraj Singh released 2nd edition of newsletter “Matsya Sampada”, after 1st edition in Jul 2020.
  1. Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) aims to enhance fish production to 220 lakh tons by 2024-25, doubling export earnings to 100000 crores and generate 55 lakhs employment opportunities in fisheries sector.
9. Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Thaawar chand Gehlot launched Ambedkar Social Innovation and Incubation Mission (ASIIM) under Venture Capital Fund for SCs, to promote innovation among SC students in higher educational institutions.
  1. ASIIM will Support 1000 Start-ups of SC Youth over next 4 Years.
  2. Venture Capital Fund for SCs (VCF-SC) was launched in 2014-15, to developing entrepreneurship amongst SC/Divyang youth.
10. India's NITI Aayog and Netherlands's Delhi Based Embassy signed Statement of Intent (SoI) to support decarbonization and energy transition agenda for accommodating cleaner and more energy.
11. ISRO's Ultra-Violet Imaging Telescope (UVIT), which detected first extreme-UV rays in Universe from cosmic noon, completed 5 years of operation.
  1. Its a 3-in-1 imaging telescope simultaneously observing in visible, near-ultraviolet (NUV), and far-ultraviolet (FUV) spectrum.
  2. UVIT is part of India's first dedicated multi-wavelength space telescope Astrosat.
  3. Its superior spatial resolution capability enabled astronomers to probe star formation in galaxies as well as resolve cores of star clusters (3 times better than NASA's GALEX).
  4. Observations from UVIT recently led to discovery of a galaxy located at a distance of about 10 billion light-years from Earth and emitting extreme ultraviolet radiation that can ionize intergalactic medium.
12. TIME magazine’s list of 100 most influential people for 2020 includes India's PM Narendra Modi, Actor Ayushman Khurrana and Bilkis, who emerged as face of Shaheen Bagh protests.
13. Sep 26 is observed as International Day for the total elimination of nuclear weapons.
  1. Sep 26 is also observed as World Environmental Health Day (WEHD), declared by International Federation of Environmental Health (IFEH) in 2011.
14. Sep 26 is Foundation day of CSIR (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research), set up in 1942. On this occasion -
  1. Avra Laboratories, founded by Padmabhushan A. V. Rama Rao, announced to establish 3 research chairs at CSIR.
  2. Science & Technology Minister Harsh Vardhan launched CSIR Technologies for rural development, under a joint initiative of CSIR, Unnat Bharat Abhiyan (UBA), IIT Delhi (IITD) and Vijnana Bharti (VIBHA). Earlier in July 2020, A tripartite MoU was signed about the same.
  3. President Ram Nath Kovind presented Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prizes 2020 to 14 Scientists -
    1. Biological Sciences - Subhadeep Chatterjee (CDFD), Vatsala Thirumalai (NCBS)
    2. Chemical Sciences - Jyotirmayee Dash (IACS), Subi Jacob George (JNCASR)
    3. Earth, Atmosphere, Ocean and Planetary Sciences - Abhijit Mukherjee (IIT Kharagpur), Suryendu Dutta (IIT Bombay)
    4. Engineering Sciences - Amol Arvindrao Kulkarni (NCL Pune), Kinshuk Dasgupta (BARC)
    5. Mathematical Sciences - Razat Shubra Hazra (ISI Kolkata), U K Anandavardhana (IIT Bombay)
    6. Medical Sciences - Bushra Ateeq (IIT Kanpur), Ritesh Agarwal (PGIMER Chandigarh)
    7. Physical Sciences - Rajesh Ganpathy (JNCASR), Surjit Dhara (UOHYD)
Sep 25, 2020
1. Sep 25 - World Pharmacist Day, marked by FIP Council in 2009.
2. Sep 25 is Observed by India as Antyodaya Diwas, announced in 2014. It marks Birth anniversary of noted philosopher Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay.
  1. On this day in 2014, Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) had revamped it’s existing skill development program called Aajeevika Skills as Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY).
  2. On this day in 2017, Saubhagya Scheme or Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana was launched, to provide electricity to all rural households.
  3. On this occasion, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar launched campus of new Indian Agricultural Research Institute Gogamukh (Assam), named after Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya.
  4. On this occasion, Income Tax Department launched Faceless Income Tax Appeals, as announced in Aug 2020, as part of “Transparent Taxation - Honoring the Honest” platform.
3. West Bengal Govt. inaugurated 2 green projects worth around 1226 crores, to be built by European Union countries in Kolkata and East Midnapore district.
  1. One project involves waste management and sustainable development at Kolkata Leather Complex at Bantala.
  2. Other is a solar power project worth Rs 1200 crore to be set up in East Midnapore by a German company.
4. Financial Firm Bajaj Finserv launched its healthtech solutions business named Bajaj Finserv Health Ltd (BFHL). It offered ‘Aarogya Care’, providing preventive, personalised, prepaid health care packages to consumers.
5. National Stock Exchange (NSE) and Singapore Exchange (SGX) signed formal agreement to cement key terms for operationalising NSE IFSC-SGX Connect.
  1. NSE IFSC- SGX Connect aims to bring together international and Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT) participants to create a bigger liquidity pool for Nifty products in GIFT City.
6. Colombian journalist Jineth Bedoya Lima has been awarded Golden Pen of Freedom by World Association of News Publishers (Wan-Ifra).
7. Alexander Lukashenko has been appointed as President of Belarus for his 6th Term.
8. Rebel Commander Ishmael Toroama has been elected as President of Bougainville, an autonomous region in Papua New Guinea.
9. New Zealand became first country to require financial sector to report on climate risks, aimed at tackling climate crisis.
10. As per NASA Report, Greenland and Antarctica's ice sheets will contribute more than 38 centimetres to global sea level rise by 2100, if greenhouse gas emissions continue.
  1. Findings are in line with projections in Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's (IPCC) 2019 Special Report on Oceans, which projected that Greenland would contribute 8 to 27 cm to global sea level rise between 2000-2100.
11. SEBI has set up a technical group on social stock exchange to develop a framework for onboarding non-profit organisations and for-profit enterprises as well as prescribe disclosure requirements on financials and governance. It will be headed by Harsh Kumar Bhanwala.
12. Tamil Nadu became first state in to launch with policies on Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain and Cybersecurity policies.
13. SBI started programme named Mahila Atmanirbharshil Aachani (Women Self-Reliance programme), To accelerate SHG finance in Assam.
14. Indian PM Narendra Modi has been awarded Ig Nobel Prize 2020 for Medical Education, becoming 2nd Indian Prime Minister to be honoured with the Ig Nobel Prize, after Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 1998.
  1. Mr Vajpayee had jointly won Ig Nobel Peace Prize with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif of Pakistan for aggressively peaceful explosions of atomic bombs.
Sep 24, 2020
1. Sep 24 is observed as World Maritime Day. 2020 theme is Sustainable Shipping for a Sustainable Planet.
  1. In India, Apr 5 is observed as National Maritime Day in India, being observed since 1964. On this day in 1919, SS Loyalty, the first ship of The Scindia Steam Navigation Company travelled from Mumbai to United Kingdom (London).
2. Mohamed Hussein Roble has been appointed as new Prime Minister of Somalia (East Africa).
3. India's Khushi Chindaliya has been appointed as Regional Ambassador for India by United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)- Tunza Eco-Generation.
4. Book Voices of Dissent authored by Historian Romila Thapar has been released.
5. New book Kitchens of Gratitude written by Noted chef Vikas Khanna has been released. He was also recently honoured with 2020 Asia Game Changer Award.
6. Government appointed Simanchala Dash as an advisor to Executive Director, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
  1. Surjit Singh Bhalla is current executive Director at IMF, Representing India, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Sri Lanka.
7. RBI appointed AK Dixit as new administrator of Punjab and Maharashtra Co-operative (PMC) Bank.
  1. In September 2019, RBI had superseded board of PMC bank, due to fraud and financial irregularities.
8. Assam Govt launched Mukhyamantrir Grammya Paribahan Achoni Yojana. Under it, Light Motor Vehicle Service would be launched in all villages of the state to improve rural connectivity. In first phase, 10,000 villages would be covered with outlay of 100 crores.
9. Rajasthan Govt approved Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation’s scheme called ‘Moksha Kalash Yojana-2020’, aims to allow free bus travel to two members of the family of deceased to immerse ashes of their loved ones in Ganga in Haridwar.
10. Moctar Ouane is appointed as acting Prime Minister of Mali (West Africa). Also, Bah Ndaw has been named as Interim President of Mali.
11. Parliament Monsoon Session 2020 -
  1. Facts -
    1. It was 4th session of 17th Lok Sabha and 252nd Session of Rajya Sabha.
    2. Productivity of Lok Sabha was approx 167% and Rajya Sabha was approx 100.47%.
    3. All 11 Ordinances promulgated during inter session replaced by Acts of Parliament during Monsoon Session 2020.
    4. 23 Bills were passed during the Session. 3 Bills were Introduced and are in Pending State.
  2. Notable Info Disseminated During Question Hour -
    1. Indian tsunami early warning Centre is currently serving 25 Indian ocean countries under O-SMART scheme of Ministry of earth sciences. O-SMART is Ocean Services, Modelling, Applications, Resources and Technology scheme, which updates information on Marine living resources in Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
    2. Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor will be commissioned by October 2022, being constructed at Kalpakkam Atomic Power Station in Chennai (Tamil Nadu). It will add 500 MW of power to national grid. It is a pool-type reactor whose core are immersed in water. It has negative void coefficient, providing high level of nuclear safety. 3 stage in Indian Nuclear Programme -
      1. Pressurized Heavy Water Reactor
      2. Fast Breeder Reactor
      3. Thorium based reactor
    3. 32 earth observation sensors are currently in orbit, providing space based information. Number of satellites launched by ISRO that are no longer operational and currently in orbit are 47.
    4. Presently, Department of Science & Technology has 3 binational Centres - Indo-French Centre for Promotional of Advanced Research (IFCPAR - 1987), Indo-US Science & Technology Forum (IUSSTF - 2000), and Indo-German Science & Technology Centre (IGSTC - 2010).
    5. Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has formulated and is implementing a National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR) for 2018-2025, to reducte adverse consequences of drug abuse through a multi-pronged strategy.
    6. Ministry of Food Processing Industries is implementing Mega Food Park Scheme (MFPS) to create modern infrastructure for food processing industries, now a component of new Central Sector Umbrella Scheme– Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY)
      1. So far, Ministry has approved 37 MFPs in 23 States/UTs, with 19 MFPs as operational. Total 42 Mega Food Parks(MFPs) were envisaged by Government.
    7. World Bank has so far provided 3 loans worth $2.5 billion to India, to combat COVID-19 pandemic. It consists health ($1 billion), social protection ($0.75 billion) and economic stimulus ($0.75 billion).
    8. Sports Ministry will establish Khelo India Centre of Excellence (KISCE) in 6 states - Meghalaya, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Assam and Sikkim.
      1. Earlier, Ministry identified 8 centres including Karnataka, Odisha, Kerala, Telengana, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland in first leg. Their existing centres will be upgraded into Khelo India State Centre of Excellence (KISCE).
    9. DRDO has set up 8 advanced technology centres to carry out research on futuristic military applications.
  3. Bills -
    1. Bills Passed in Parliament (Passed by Both Houses Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha) -
      1. Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2020 -
        It aims to Bring Co-operative banks in compliance of several provisions of Banking Regulation Act 1949, making their regulation similar to that of commercial banks.
        
        Bill makes two kinds of changes - extending previously omitted provisions of BR Act to co-operative banks, and amendments to certain provisions of Act that apply to all banks. Changes Include -
        Bill provides that co-operative banks cannot employ as Chairman, someone who is insolvent or has been convicted of a crime. It empowers RBI to remove Chairman if he is not fit and proper.
        
        Bill provides that Board of Directors must have not less than 51% of members who have practical experience in related areas. It allows RBI to direct a bank to reconstitute Board if it does not conform to requirements.
        
        BR Act empowers RBI to supersede Boards of multi-state co-operative banks for upto 5 years and appoint an Administrator. These banks are co-operative banks with operation in Multiple states, and are registered under Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act 2002. Bill will enable RBI to supersede Board of Directors to all co-operative banks.
        
        Under Bill, audit of co-operative banks would be conducted on par with scheduled commercial banks.
        
        Bill makes applicable certain provisions relating to winding up and special provisions for speedy disposal of winding up proceedings of banks will now be applicable to co-operative banks.
        
        Bill modifies BR Act to provide that co-operative banks may, with prior approval of RBI, issue equity, preference or special shares at face value or at a premium to members or other persons. Banks may also issue unsecured debentures or bonds with maturity of not less than 10 years.
        
        Under BR Act, RBI may after placing a bank under moratorium, prepare a scheme for reconstruction or amalgamation of the bank. Banks under moratorium do not face any legal action for 6 months. Bill allows RBI to initiate a scheme for reconstruction or amalgamation of a bank without imposing a moratorium.
        
        Bill prohibits members from demanding payment against surrender of their share capital. This provision raises concerns for existing members of co-operative societies whose option to exit by surrendering their share capital will be restricted.
      2. Bilateral Netting of Qualified Financial Contracts Bill 2020 -
        It seeks to provide a legal framework for bilateral netting of qualified financial contracts, which are over the counter derivatives contracts.
        
        Bilateral netting refers to offsetting of all claims arising from dealings between two parties, to determine a net amount payable or receivable from one party to other. Bill allows for enforcement of netting for qualified financial contracts.
        
        Qualified financial contracts (QFC) means any bilateral contract notified as a QFC by relevant authority. Aauthority may designate an entity regulated by it as a qualified financial market participant to deal in QFCs.
        
        Provisions of Bill will apply to QFCs between 2 qualified financial market participants, where at least one party is an entity regulated by specified authorities (RBI, SEBI, IRDAI, PFRDA or the IFSCA).
        
        Bill provides that netting of QFCs is enforceable if contract has a netting agreement. Netting agreement is an agreement that provides for netting of amounts involving two or more QFCs.
        
        Government can amend list of authorities and Acts which regulate entities that are party to a QFC.
      3. Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill 2020 AND Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill 2020 AND Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill 2020
        These 3 bills replace Ordinances with same name, passed in July 2020. The three Ordinances aim to increase availability of buyers for farmers’ produce, by allowing them to trade freely without any license or stock limit.
        
        Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Ordinance 2020 -
        It allows intra-state and inter-state trade of farmers’ produce outside premises of market yards run by market committees formed under state APMC Acts.
        
        Permits electronic trading of scheduled farmers’ produce (agricultural produce regulated under any state APMC Act) in specified trade area.
        
        Prohibits state governments from levying any market fee, cess or levy on farmers, traders, and electronic trading platforms for trade of farmers’ produce conducted in an ‘outside trade area’.
        
        Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Ordinance 2020 -
        Provides for a farming agreement between a farmer and a buyer prior to production or rearing of any farm produce. Minimum period of an agreement will be one crop season, or one production cycle of livestock. Maximum period is 5 years, unless the production cycle is more than five years.
        
        The price of produce should be mentioned in agreement. For prices subjected to variation, a guaranteed price for produce and a clear reference for any additional amount above the guaranteed price must be specified.
        
        Farming agreement must provide for a conciliation board as well as a conciliation process for settlement of disputes.
        At first, disputes must be referred to board for resolution.
        
        If dispute remains unresolved by Board after 30 days, parties may approach Sub-divisional Magistrate.
        
        Parties may appeal an Appellate Authority against decisions of Magistrate.
        
        The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Ordinance 2020 -
        Essential Commodities Act 1955 empowers government to designate certain commodities (such as food items, fertilizers, and petroleum products) as essential commodities. Government may regulate production and supply of such essential commodities.
        
        Ordinance provides that government may regulate supply of certain food items only under extraordinary circumstances, including war, famine, extraordinary price rise and natural calamity.
        
        Ordinance requires that imposition of any stock limit on agricultural produce must be based on price rise. A stock limit may be imposed only if there is 100% increase in retail price of horticultural produce and 50% increase in retail price of non-perishable agricultural food items.
      4. Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Bill 2020 -
        It amends Epidemic Diseases Act 1897, which provides for prevention of spread of dangerous epidemic diseases.
        
        Bill amends Act to include protections for healthcare personnel combatting epidemic diseases and expands powers of government to prevent spread of such diseases.
        
        Bill repeals Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Ordinance that was promulgated in April 2020.
        
        Bill specifies that no person can commit an act of violence against a healthcare service personnel, or cause damage or loss to any property during an epidemic. Contravention of this provision is punishable with imprisonment between three months and five years, and a fine between Rs 50,000 and two lakh rupees.
        
        Persons convicted of offences under Bill will also be liable to pay compensation to the healthcare service personnel whom they have hurt. If convicted person fails to pay compensation, amount will be recovered as an arrear of land revenue under Revenue Recovery Act 1890.
        
        Inquiry or trial should be concluded within 1 year.
      5. Indian Medicine Central Council (Amendment) Bill 2020 -
        It amends Indian Medicine Central Council Act 1970, which provides for constitution of a Central Council which regulates education and practice of Indian Medicine system.
        
        Bill replaces Indian Medicine Central Council (Amendment) Ordinance 2020, which was promulgated in April 2020.
        
        Bill provides that Central Council will stand superseded from April 24, 2020 (date of promulgation of Ordinance). Central Council will be reconstituted within 1 year. In interim, government will constitute a Board of Governors of up to 10 members.
      6. Homoeopathy Central Council (Amendment) Bill 2020 -
        It amends Homoeopathy Central Council Act 1973, which sets up Central Council of Homoeopathy which regulates homoeopathic education and practice.
        
        Bill replaces Homoeopathy Central Council (Amendment) Ordinance 2020, which was promulgated in April 2020.
        
        1973 Act was amended in 2018 to provide for supersession of Central Council of Homoeopathy. Central Council was required to be reconstituted within 1 year. This period was amended in 2019 to require reconstitution of Central Council in 2 years.
        
        In interim, government constituted a Board of Governors, to exercise powers of Central Council.
        
        Bill amends Act to increase period for supersession of Central Council from 2 to 3 years.
      7. The Salaries and Allowances of Ministers (Amendment) Bill 2020 AND The Salary, Allowances and Pension of Members of Parliament (Amendment) Bill 2020 -
        This Bill replaces The Salaries and Allowances of Ministers (Amendment) Ordinance 2020.
        
        2 Ordinances amended Salary, Allowances, and Pension of Members of Parliament Act 1954 to reduce salaries of MPs by 30% and Salaries and Allowances of Ministers Act 1952, to reduce sumptuary allowance of Ministers by 30%.
        
        Government also amended Rules notified under 1954 Act to reduce certain allowances of MPs for one year
        
        These reductions are being made to supplement esources of Govt to tackle COVID-19 pandemic.
      8. The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Second Amendment) Bill 2020 -
        It replaces Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Ordinance 2020.
        
        Bill amends Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code 2016, which provides time-bound process for resolving insolvency in companies and among individuals. Bill seeks to temporarily suspend initiation of corporate insolvency resolution process (CIRP) under Code.
        
        In case of a default, Code allows creditors / company to initiate CIRP by filing an application before National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT). Bill provides that for defaults arising during 6 months from March 25, 2020, CIRP can never be initiated. Government may extend this to one year.
        
        Under Code, an appointed Resolution Professional may hold someone liable to make personal contributions to assets of company in certain situations. Bill prohibits Resolution Professional from filing such an application in relation to defaults for which initiation of CIRP has been prohibited.
      9. The Taxation and Other Laws (Relaxation and Amendment of Certain Provisions) Bill 2020
        It replaces Taxation and other Laws (Relaxation of Certain Provisions) Ordinance 2020.
        
        Ordinance provides for extension of various time limits under Taxation and Benami Acts.
      10. Labour Law Reforms (Industrial Relations Code 2020 AND The Occupational Safety, Health And Working Conditions Code, 2020 AND The Code On Social Security 2020)
        There are over 100 state and 40 central laws regulating various aspects of labour. To improve compliance and ensure uniformity in labour laws, it recommended consolidation of labour laws into broader groups.
        
        In 2019, Ministry of Labour and Employment introduced 4 Bills to consolidate 29 central laws. These Codes regulate: (i) Wages, (ii) Industrial Relations, (iii) Social Security, and (iv) Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions.
        
        While Code on Wages 2019 has been passed by Parliament, Bills on other three areas were referred to Standing Committee on Labour. Government has replaced these Bills with new ones in 2020 Monsoon Session.
        
        Common Changes across 2020 Labour Codes -
        2019 Bills provided that government will act as appropriate government for any central public sector undertaking (PSUs). 2020 Bills add that government will continue to be appropriate government for a central PSU even if holding of government in that PSU becomes less than 50% post commencement of Bills.
        
        2019 Bills specified that government would be appropriate government for certain industries including railways, mines, telecom, and banking. 2020 Bills add that government will also be appropriate government for any “Controlled Industry”.
        
        2019 Bills allowed for compounding (settling) of offences which were not punishable with imprisonment, or with imprisonment and fine, subject to certain conditions.
        
        Code on Industrial Relations 2020 -
        Standing Orders -
        2019 Bill provided that all industrial establishment with 100 workers or more must prepare standing orders on matters listed in a Schedule to Code. 2020 Bill provides that this will apply to establishments with at least 300 workers.
        
        2019 Bill provided that government may make provisions related to standing orders applicable to establishments with less than 100 workers through a notification. 2020 Bill removes this.
        
        2019 Bill provided that once an establishment is covered under provisions related to standing orders, these provisions will continue to apply even if its employee strength reduces below threshold (100 workers). 2020 Bill removes this requirement.
        
        Closure, lay-off and retrenchment -
        Under 2019 Bill, an establishment having at least 100 workers was required to seek prior permission of government before closure, lay-off, or retrenchment. 2020 Bill provides that prior permission will be required for establishments with at least 300 workers.
        
        2019 Bill empowered government to increase / decrease threshold for establishments to seek prior permission before closure, lay-off or retrenchment. 2020 Bill only allows an increase in threshold.
        
        Negotiating Union and Council -
        Under 2019 Bill, if there were more than 1 registered trade union of workers in an establishment, trade union having more than 75% of workers as members would be recognised. 2020 Bill lowers this threshold to 51% of workers.
        
        In case no trade union is eligible as sole negotiating union, 2019 Bill provided that a negotiating council will be formed consisting of representatives of unions that have at least 10% of workers as members. The 2020 Bill raises this threshold to 20%.
        
        New provision under 2020 Bill -
        2020 Bill classifies any dispute in relation to discharge, retrenchment, or termination of services of an individual worker to be an industrial dispute.
        
        Worker may apply to Industrial Tribunal for adjudication of dispute,45 days after application for conciliation of dispute was made.
        
        Code on Social Security 2020 -
        Social security entitlements -
        2019 Bill mandated social security for certain establishments, based on thresholds. 2020 Bill states that government may apply Code to any establishment.
        
        2019 Bill empowered government to set up social security funds for unorganised workers, gig workers and platform workers.
        2020 Bill states that government will set up such a fund. State governments will also set up separate social security funds for unorganised workers.
        
        2020 Bill also makes provisions for registration of all three categories of workers - unorganised workers, gig workers and platform workers.
        
        2019 Bill provided for establishment of a national / state-level boards for administering schemes for unorganised sector workers. 2020 Bill states that in addition to unorganised workers, National Social Security Board may also act as Board for purposes of welfare of gig workers and platform workers.
        
        2020 Bill changes definitions of certain terms in Code, including employees, inter-state migrant workers and platform workers.
        
        Under 2019 Bill, gratuity was payable on termination of employment, if employee has been in organisation for at least 5 years. 2020 Bill reduces gratuity period from 5 to 3 years for working journalists.
        
        Provisions on appeals, assessment, and offences and penalties -
        Under 2019 Bill, authorised officers were empowered to review disputes regarding applicability of provisions of provident fund (PF) and employee state insurance (ESI) to certain establishments, and determine amounts due from employers under PF/ESI. 2020 Bill removes provisions for such review.
        
        Under 2019 Bill, after passing orders, authorized officer could, within 5 years, reopen any case and pass further orders to re-determine amounts due from employer. 2020 Bill removes this provision.
        
        2020 Bill changes penalties for certain offences.
        
        Other changes -
        Bill expands representation of government officials in National Social Security Board for unorganised workers from 5 to 10 members (taking total count of members from 37 in 2019 Bill to 42 in 2020 Bill).
        
        Similarly, number of state government officials in state Boards for unorganised workers has been increased from 7 to 10 members (taking total members from 31 in 2019 Bill to 34 in 2020 Bill).
        
        2020 Bill adds new clauses which may become applicable in cases of an epidemic. Government may defer or reduce employer’s or employee’s contributions (under PF and ESI) for a period of up to 3 months in case of a pandemic / endemic / national disaster.
        
        Code on Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions, 2020
        Exemption -
        2019 Bill permitted government to exempt any establishment from any provisions of Code. 2020 Bill empowers state government to exempt any new factory from provisions of the Code, to create more economic activity and employment.
        
        Threshold for coverage of establishments -
        2019 Bill defined a factory as any premises where manufacturing process is carried out and it employs over 10 workers (if process is carried out using power), or 20 workers (if carried out without using power), This was same as Factories Act 1948. 2020 Code increases threshold 20 workers (using power) and 40 workers (without using power).
        
        2019 Bill excluded mines from definition of a factory. 2020 Bill removes this provision.
        
        2019 Bill applied to establishments or contractors employing 20 or more contract workers. 2020 Bill replaces this, saying that Code will apply to establishments / contractors employing 50 or more workers.
        
        Aappropriate government will decide whether an activity of establishment is a core activity or not. However, Bill defines a list of non-core activities where prohibition would not apply, including list of 11 works.
        
        2019 Bill provided that it will not be applicable to offices of central / state governments. 2020 Bill clarifies that Code will apply to contract labour engaged through a contractor in offices of central / state governments.
        
        Under 2019 Bill, construction works employing 10 or more workers were considered as building or other construction works. 2020 Bill removes this condition.
        
        Work hours and employment conditions -
        2019 Bill allowed government to notify maximum daily work hours for workers. 2020 Bill fixes maximum limit at eight hours per day.
        
        2019 Bill allowed government to prohibit employment of women for undertaking dangerous operations. 2020 Bill provides that women will be entitled to be employed in all establishments for all types of work under Bill.
        
        Inter-state migrant workers and unorganized workers -
        2019 Bill defined inter-state migrant worker as a person who has been recruited for working in another state.
        
        2020 Bill adds that any person who moves on his own to another state and obtains employment there will also be considered an inter-state migrant worker.
        
        2020 Bill also specifies that only those persons will be considered as inter-state migrants who are earning a maximum of 18000 per month, or such higher amount which government may notify.
        
        2020 Bill provides for certain benefits for inter-state migrant workers, including option to avail benefits of public distribution system in native state or state of employment, and insurance and provident fund benefits.
        
        2019 Bill required contractors to pay displacement allowance to inter-state migrant workers at time of their recruitment, which was equivalent to 50% of monthly wages. 2020 Bill removes this.
        
        2020 Bill requires central / state governments to maintain details of inter-state migrant workers. An inter-state migrant worker can register on portal on basis of self-declaration and Aadhaar.
        
        2020 Bill provides for establishment of a Social Security Fund for welfare of unorganised workers.
      11. Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2020 -
        It amends Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act 2010, which regulates acceptance and utilisation of foreign contribution by individuals, associations and companies.
        
        Under Act, certain persons are prohibited to accept any foreign contribution. Bill adds public servants to this list.
        
        Under Act, foreign contribution cannot be transferred to any other person unless such person is also registered to accept foreign contribution. Bill amends this to prohibit transfer of foreign contribution to any other person.
        
        Under Act, a registered person must accept foreign contribution only in a single branch of a scheduled bank. Bill amends this to state that foreign contribution must be received only in an account designated by bank as “FCRA account” in such branch of State Bank of India, New Delhi. No funds other than foreign contribution should be received / deposited in this account.
        
        Under Act, if a person accepting foreign contribution is found guilty of violating any provisions of Act or Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act 1976, unutilised foreign contribution may be utilised, only with approval of government. Bill adds that government may also restrict usage of unutilised foreign contribution for persons who have been granted prior permission to receive such contribution.
        
        Under Act, every person who has been given a certificate of registration must renew certificate within 6 months of expiration. Bill provides that government may conduct an inquiry before renewing certificate to ensure suitability.
        
        Under Act, a person who receives foreign contribution must use it only for purpose for which contribution is received. They must not use more than 50% of contribution for meeting administrative expenses. Bill reduces this limit to 20%.
        
        Bill adds a provision allowing government to permit a person to surrender their registration certificate.
        
        Under Act, government may suspend registration of a person for a period not exceeding 180 days. Bill adds that such suspension may be extended up to an additional 180 days.
      12. Jammu and Kashmir Official Languages Bill 2020 -
        It seeks to declare certain languages as official languages of UT of Jammu and Kashmir.
        
        Bill declares Kashmiri, Dogri, Urdu, Hindi and English as official languages to be used for official purposes of UT. Bill adds that business in Legislative Assembly of UT territory will be transacted in these official languages.
        
        Bill clarifies that English may continue to be used in the union territory for those administrative and legislative purposes for which it was being used before the commencement of the Act.
      13. National Forensic Sciences University Bill 2020 -
        Bill establishes Gujarat Forensic Sciences University Gandhinagar (established under the Gujarat Forensic Sciences University Act 2008) and Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan National Institute of Criminology and Forensic Sciences New Delhi, as a University called National Forensic Sciences University at Gujarat.
        
        It declares University to be an institution of national importance, and repeals 2008 Act.
        
        Objectives include promoting academic learning in the field of forensic science in conjunction with applied behavioural science studies, law and other allied areas to strengthen criminal justice institutions in India.
      14. Rashtriya Raksha University Bill 2020 -
        It establishes Raksha Shakti University Gujarat (established under Raksha Shakti University Act 2009) as a University called Rashtriya Raksha University, declaring it as an institution of national importance. Bill also repeals 2009 Act.
        
        Bill provides for creation several authorities for ensuring its operationalization. Governing Body will consist of up to 15 members.
      15. Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2020 -
        It seeks to amend Companies Act 2013.
        
        Producer companies -
        Under 2013 Act, certain provisions from Companies Act 1956 continue to apply to producer companies.
        
        Producer companies include companies which are engaged in the production, marketing and sale of agricultural produce, and sale of produce from cottage industries.
        
        Bill removes these provisions and adds a new chapter in Act with similar provisions on producer companies.
        
        Changes to offences - Bill makes three changes -
        Removes penalty for certain offences. For example, it removes penalties which apply for any change in rights of a class of shareholders made in violation of Act.
        
        Second, it removes imprisonment in certain offences. For example, it removes the imprisonment of three years applicable to a company for buying back its shares without complying with Act.
        
        Third, it reduces amount of fine payable in certain offences. For example, it reduces maximum fine for failure to file annual return with the Registrar of Companies from five lakh rupees to two lakh rupees.
        
        Under Act, one person companies or small companies are only liable to pay up to 50% of penalty for certain offences.
        Bill extends this provision to all producer companies and start-up companies, extends this provision to apply to violation of any provision of Act and limits penalty to 2 lakh rupees for company and one 1 lakh rupees for a defaulting officer.
        
        Direct listing in foreign jurisdictions -
        Bill empowers government to allow certain classes of public companies to list classes of securities in foreign jurisdictions.
        
        Exclusion from listed companies -
        Bill empowers government, in consultation with SEBI, to exclude companies issuing specified classes of securities from the definition of a "listed company".
        
        Remuneration to non-executive directors -
        Act makes special provisions for payment of remuneration to executive directors of a company if the company has inadequate or no profits in a year.
        
        Bill extends this provision to non-executive directors, including independent directors.
        
        Beneficial shareholding -
        Under Act, if a person holds beneficial interest of at least 10% shares in a company or exercises significant influence or control over company, he is required to make a declaration of his interest to company.
        
        Bill empowers government to exempt any class of persons from complying with these requirements if considered necessary in public interest.
        
        Exemptions from filing resolutions -
        Act requires companies to file certain resolutions with Registrar of Companies. However, banks are exempt from filing resolutions passed to grant loans, or to provide guarantees or security for a loan. Under Bill, This exemption has been extended to registered non-banking financial companies and housing finance companies.
        
        Corporate Social Responsibility -
        Under Act, companies with net worth, turnover or profits above a specified amount must constitute CSR Committees and spend 2% of their profits in last 3 years, towards CSR policy. Bill exempts companies with a CSR liability of up to Rs 50 lakh a year from setting up CSR Committees.
        
        Periodic financial results for unlisted companies -
        Bill empowers government to require classes of unlisted companies to prepare and file periodical financial results, and to complete audit or review of such results.
        
        Benches of NCLAT -
        Bill seeks to establish benches of National Company Law Appellate Tribunal. These shall ordinarily sit in New Delhi or such other place as may be notified.
      16. Indian Institutes of Information Technology Laws (Amendment) Bill 2020 -
        It amends Indian Institutes of Information Technology Act 2014 and Indian Institutes of Information Technology (Public-Private Partnership) Act 2017.
        
        Indian Institutes of Information Technology (Public-Private Partnership) Act 2017 declares certain Indian Institutes of Information Technology established under Public-Private Partnership mode as institutions of national importance. Under the Act, 15 institutes are currently incorporated as institutions of national importance.
        
        Bill seeks to declare 5 Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs) set up under the Public Private Partnership mode in Surat, Bhopal, Bhagalpur, Agartala, and Raichur as institutions of national importance. Currently, these institutes are registered as Societies under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 and do not have the power to grant degrees or diplomas.
      17. Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda Bill 2020 -
        It seeks to confer status of Institution of National Importance to Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda Jamnagar by conglomerating cluster of Ayurveda Institutes at Gujarat Ayurveda University campus (Jamnagar), namely -
        Institute for Post Graduate Teaching and Research in Ayurveda, Shri Gulabkunwerba Ayurveda Mahavidyalaya, Institute of Ayurveda Pharmaceutical Sciences including Pharmacy Unit and to subsume Maharshi Patanjali Institute for Yoga & Naturopathy Education & Research into Department of Swasthvritta of the Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda.
      18. The Aircraft (Amendment) Bill 2020 -
        It seeks to amend Aircraft Act 1934, which regulates the manufacture, possession, use, operation, sale, import and export of civil aircrafts, and licensing of aerodromes. Key Provisions -
        
        Authorities - Bill converts 3 existing bodies under Ministry of Civil Aviation into statutory bodies under the Act. These three authorities are Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) and Aircraft Accidents Investigation Bureau (AAIB). Each of these bodies will be headed by a Director General.
        DGCA will carry out safety oversight and regulatory functions.
        
        BCAS will carry out regulatory oversight functions related to civil aviation security.
        
        AAIB will carry out investigations related to aircraft accidents and incidents.
        
        Power of centre to make rules - Under the Act, government may make rules on several matters, including registration of aircraft, regulating air transport services, and prohibition of flight over any specified area. Bill adds regulation of air navigation services to this list.
        
        Adjudicating officers: - Bill provides appointment of designated officers, to adjudicate penalties under Bill.
        
        Offences and Penalties - Under the Act, penalty for various offences is imprisonment of up to two years, or a fine of up to Rs 10 lakh, or both. Bill raises the maximum limit on fines for all these offences from Rs 10 lakh to one crore rupees.
        Under Bill, central government may cancel licences, certificates, or approvals granted to a person under Act if the person contravenes any provision of the Act.
        
        Bill allows for compounding of certain offences / rules under the Act.
        
        Courts will not take cognizance of any offence under this Act, unless a complaint is made by, or there is previous sanction from Director General of Civil Aviation, BCAS, or AAIB.
        
        Exemption for Armed Forces - Armed Forces Aircrafts are exempted from the provisions of the Act. Bill expands this exemption to include aircraft belonging to any armed force of India.
    2. Bills Intoduced in Parliament -
      1. The National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions Bill 2020 -
        It seeks to regulate and standardise education and practice of allied healthcare professionals.
        
        An Allied health professional should have obtained a diploma or degree under this Bill, of over 2000 Hours duration.
        
        A Healthcare professional should have obtained a degree under this Bill, of minimum 3600 hours duration.
        
        Bill sets up National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions, to perform related following functions with regard to Allied and Healthcare professionals.
        
        Commission will constitute a Professional Council for every recognised category of allied and healthcare professions.
        
        Within six months from passage of Bill, states will constitute State Allied and Healthcare Councils.
        
        Prior permission of State Council will be required to establish a new institution, open new courses, increase admission capacity.
        
        Bo person is allowed to practice as a qualified allied / healthcare practitioner other than those enrolled in a State / National Register. Any person who contravenes this, will be punished with fine of 50000.
      2. Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Bill 2020 -
        It seeks to provide for the regulation of Assisted Reproductive Technology services in the country.
        
        Bill defines ART to include all techniques that seek to obtain a pregnancy by handling sperm or oocyte (immature egg cell) outside human body and transferring embryo into reproductive system of a woman.
        
        National Registry will be established under the Bill and will act as a central database with details of all ART clinics and banks in country. Registration will be valid for five years and can be renewed for a further 5 years.
        
        ART bank can obtain semen from males between 21 and 55 years of age, and oocytes from females between 23 and 35 years of age. Oocyte donor should be a married woman with at least one alive child. Woman can donate oocyte only once in her life.
        
        Child born through ART will be deemed to be a biological child of commissioning couple. A donor will not have any parental rights over the child.
        
        Bill provides that National and State Boards for Surrogacy constituted under Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill 2019 will act as the National and State Board respectively for regulation of ART services.
        
        Offences will be punishable with imprisonment for a term between eight and 12 years, and a fine between 10 and 20 lakh rupees.
      3. Factoring Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2020 -
        It seeks to amend Factoring Regulation Act 2011, to widen scope of entities which can engage in factoring business.
        
        Under Act, factoring is a business where an entity (factor) acquires receivables of another entity (assignor) for an amount. Receivables is amount yet to be paid by customers (debtors) to assignor for use of any goods / services.
        
        Act proposes Changes in definition of receivables, assignment and factoring business.
        Act defines factoring to mean acquisition of receivables of an assignor by accepting assignment of such receivables, or financing against security interests of any receivables through loans / advances.
        
        Bill amends this to define factoring business as acquisition of receivables of an assignor by assignment for a consideration. Acquisition should be for collection of receivables or financing against such assignment.
        
        Registration of factors - Under Act, no company can engage in factoring business without registering with RBI. For a NBFC to engage in factoring, its financial assets and income from factoring business should both be more than 50% or more than a threshold notified by RBI. Bill removes this threshold for NBFCs to engage in factoring.
        
        Registration of transactions - Under Act, factors are required to register details of every transaction of assignment of receivables in their favour, within 30 days. Failing it, will atract fine of up to 5000 per day. Bill removes 30 day time period.
        Further, Bill states that where trade receivables are financed through Trade Receivables Discounting System (TReDS), details regarding transactions should be filed with Central Registry by concerned TReDS, on behalf of factor.
        TReDS is an electronic platform for facilitating financing of trade receivables of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.
        
        Bill empowers RBI to make regulations for manner of granting registration certificates to a factor, manner of filing of transaction details with Central Registry for transactions done through TReDS and any other matter as required.
Sep 23, 2020
1. Indian and Australia Navies Held Passage Exercise (PASSEX) in east Indian Ocean region, to enhance interoperability.
  1. India has held similar Passex Exercises with US, Japan and France too, in recent past.
2. Sep 23 is observed as International Day of Sign Languages (IDSL), observed first in 2018. It aims to raise awareness of importance of sign language in the full realization of the human rights of people who are deaf. 2020 theme is Sign Languages Are for Everyone.
  1. Sep 23 is also observed as Ayushman Bharat Diwas in India, day on which Ayushman Bharat Yojana or PM Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) was launched from Ranchi on Sep 23, 2018.
3. India extended 250 million USD loan to Maldives, to combat economic impact of COVID-19.
4. 2020 Italian Open Tennis-
  1. Men's Singles - Novak Djokovic (Serbia). He defeated Diego Schwartzman (Argentina).
  2. Women's Singles - Simona Halep (Romania). She Defeated Karolína Plíšková (Czech Republic).
  3. Men's Doubles - Marcel Granollers (Spain) AND Horacio Zeballos (Argentina)
  4. Women's Doubles - Hsieh Su-wei (Chinese Taipei) AND Barbora Strýcová (Czech Republic)
5. Kerala won UN Interagency Task Force (UNIATF) 2020 award on prevention and control of non-communicable diseases, for its excellent contribution towards the non-communicable diseases-related sustainable development goals.
6. Shivangi Singh became first woman fighter pilot to fly Rafale aircraft, which was inducted recently in Indian Air Force, 's No. 17 squadron, called Golden Arrows.
7. American investment firm KKR invested 5550 crores into Reliance Retail ventures Limited (RRVL) for 1.28% stake. This is 2nd investment in Reliance Retail Since October 2020.
  1. Earlier, American investor Silver Lake invested 7500 Crores INR for 1.75% Stake in Reliance Retail.

Sep 22, 2020

Sep 22 is observed as World Rhino Day, as an international ecological observance to raise awareness on protection of 5 existing species of rhinoceros - white rhino, black rhino, Indian rhino, Javan rhino, and Sumatran rhino.
1. Sep 22 is also observed as World rose day, for welfare of cancer patients.
Kritagya (Krishi-Raknik-Gyan) Hackathon has been launched by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICMR), under National Agricultural Higher Education Project. It aims to promote Farm Mechanisation, specially women friendly equipments.
RBI released a cybersecurity vision framework for urban cooperative banks (UCBs). Considering heterogeneity of UCB sector in terms of size, a four guiding principles has been taken into account while formulating framework.
1. A differentiated tier-wise approach will be followed while prescribing cyber security controls for UCBs, with Board of UCBs having primary responsibility for implementing cyber security controls.
2. It would include appointing a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) and setting up of various committees, for UCBs with higher digital depth.
Finance Ministry allowed 5 states to raise additional financial resources of 9913 crores through Open Market Borrowings (OMBs). States are - Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Goa, and Tripura. This has been accorded after these States successfully met reform condition of implementation of One Nation One Ration Card System.
1. In view of COVID-19 pandemic, Central Government in May 2020 allowed additional borrowing limit of up to 2 % of Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) to States for FY 2020-21, this came out as 427302 crores available to States.
2. 1 % percent of this was subject to implementation of following four specific State level reforms - Implementation of One Nation One Ration Card System, Ease of doing business reform, Urban Local body/ utility reforms and Power Sector reforms.
Uttar Pradesh government launched unified portal called ‘U-Rise’- Unified Re-imagined Innovation For Student Empowerment, to guide students in learning, career counselling, and getting employment in state. It has been developed by Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam Technical University.
Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chauhan launched Mukhyamantri Kisan Kalyan Yojana, on lines of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana.
1. In this, Samman Nidhi of 4000 will be given by state government in 2 installments to beneficiary farmers of PM Kisan samman Nidhi Yojana.
2. In Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana, farmers are paid 6000 in 3 installments. This will enable farmers in state to get 10000 annually.
American Aircraft Maker Airbus revealed concepts of new hydrogen-powered zero-emission commercial aircraft that could enter service by 2035. Airbus has introduced 3 concepts for zero emission under code name ZEROe.
1. Turbofan design - Can accommodate 120 to 200 passengers and can fly at a range of 2000 plus nautical miles.
2. Blended wing body design - Can accommodate up to 200 passengers, with wingsd merge with main body of aircraft.
3. Turboprop design - Can accommodate up 200 passengers. It can travel at a speed of 1000 + nautical miles and are perfect for short haul trips.

72nd annual primetime Emmy Awards Winners, announced in Los Angeles (US) -

Sl. No.	Category	Winner
1.	OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES	Succession
2.	OUTSTANDING COMEDY SERIES	Schitt’s Creek
3.	LEAD ACTOR, DRAMA	Jeremy Strong, (Succession)
4.	LEAD ACTRESS, DRAMA	Drama- Zendaya, (Euphoria)
5.	LEAD ACTOR, COMEDY	Eugene Levy (Schitt’s Creek)
6.	LEAD ACTRESS, COMEDY	Catherine O’Hara (Schitt’s Creek)

Sep 21, 2020
1. Sep 21 is observed as UN International Day of Peace. 2020 theme is Shaping Peace Together. It was first observed in 1981.
  1. Sep 21 is also observed as World Alzheimer’s Day, first observed in 2012.
2. PM Narendra Modi laid foundation stone of 9 highway projects in Bihar, along with foundation of Har Gaon Optical Fibre Cable for Internet Services to connect all villages of Bihar.
  1. These projects carry Road length of about 350 kilometers, involving construction value of Rs 14258 crore.
  2. It is part of PM’s package of Rs 1,25,000 crore announced in 2015. This included 75 projects worth Rs 54700 crores, of which 13 projects have been completed. Under This package, number of bridges over river Ganga in Bihar, will become 17.
  3. The Har Gaon Optical Fibre Cable campaign aims to connect all 45945 villages in Bihar with Optical Fibre Internet Service, by 31-03-2021. It will make Bihar First State to Connect all Villages by optical Fiber Network Internet.
3. 1st ever Direct cargo ferry service between India and Maldives has been launched, with MCP Linz operated by Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) reached northern Maldivian town of Kulhudhufushi, which was set sail from Kochi.
  1. This is first ferry service in the Indian Ocean region operated by SCI.
4. International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) Expert Committee on international retail business development in IFSC submitted its Interim report, headed by Pradip Shah. Committee suggests that IFSC can aim at -
  1. Becoming a gateway to India growth story for international investors and business
  2. Providing Indian diaspora and individuals from Asia and Africa with a comprehensive range of financial services
  3. Serving domestic residents availing liberalized remittance scheme.
  4. Detailed report will Follow.
5. Cabinet Approvals (Sep 21, 2020) -
  1. CCEA -
    1. Approved increase in Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) for all mandated Rabi crops for marketing season 2021-22, in line with the recommendations of Swaminathan Commission.
      1. Highest increase in MSP has been announced for lentil (Rs. 300 per quintal) followed by gram and rapeseed & mustard (Rs. 225 per quintal each) and safflower (Rs. 112 per quintal).
      2. For barley and wheat, increase of Rs. 75 per quintal and Rs 50 per quintal respectively has been announced.
6. First Advance Estimates of production of major Kharif crops for 2020-21 -
  1. Foodgrains – 144.52 million tonnes. (record)
  2. Rice – 102.36 million tonnes.(record)
  3. Nutri / Coarse Cereals – 32.84 million tonnes.
  4. Maize – 19.88 million tonnes.
  5. Pulses – 9.31 million tonnes.
  6. Tur – 4.04 million tonnes.
  7. Oilseeds – 25.73 million tonnes.
  8. Groundnut – 9.54 million tonnes. (record)
  9. Soyabean – 13.58 million tonnes.
  10. Cotton – 37.12 million bales (of 170 kg each)
  11. Jute & Mesta - 9.66 million bales (of 180 kg each)
  12. Sugarcane – 399.83 million tonnes
  13. Also, government has set foodgrain production target at a record 301 million tonnes for 2020-21 crop year (July - June), up nearly 1.5 per cent from previous year's (2019-20) output of 296.65 million tonnes. The same was announced during National Conference for Rabi Campaign.
7. DRDO Conducted Successful flight test of ABHYAS - High-speed Expendable Aerial Target (HEAT). The vehicle is a drone that will be used as a target for various missile systems.
  1. Laser Guided Anti Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) was also successfully test fired.
  2. Also, Authority Holding Sealed Particulars (AHSP) responsibility of Pinaka weapon system has been handed over by DRDO to DGQA. Pinaka is a free flight artillery rocket system having a range of 37.5 km, launched from a multi barrel rocket launcher which can launch salvo of 12 rockets in 44 seconds.
8. Ministry of Road Transport and Highways notified Standards for Safety Evaluation of vehicles being propelled by Hydrogen Fuel cells, through an amendment to Central Motor Vehicles Rules 1989.
  1. This would facilitate promotion of Hydrogen Fuel Cell based vehicles, which are energy efficient and environment friendly.
9. As a large scale reform in medical education, Government constituted National Medical Commission (NMC), along with 4 Autonomous Boards. This scraps Medical Council of India (MCI) and repeals Indian Medical Council Act 1956.
  1. 4 Autonomous Boards - UG and PG Medical Education Boards, Medical Assessment and Rating Board, and Ethics and Medical Registration Board.
  2. S C Sharma has been selected as Chairperson of NMC, for 3 years.
  3. This is in line with National Medical Commission Act 2019, which was passed in August 2019.
10. Scientists at Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) introduced new catalytic properties in gold by altering most stable fcc lattice, converting it into a new avatar that can trigger gold-based catalysis for industry.
  1. Gold is used extensively in jewelry and industrial applications, because of its high resistance against conventional oxidizing environments.
  2. Unique property of Gold (Au) is mainly dictated by its atomic arrangement in crystal structure, called face-centered cubic (fcc) lattice.
11. Scientists from India, Serbia, and USA studied some of brightest blazers called TeV (Tera-electron Volt) blazars and found that they stand out as a semblance of stability of brightness among blazar family in short duration.
  1. Blazars are one of most luminous and energetic objects in universe powered by material falling onto a supermassive black hole at center of host galaxy.
Sep 20, 2020
1. General News / Events (Sep 11-20, 2020) -
  1. First Ever peace talks between Afghanistan Govt and Taliban held in Doha (Qatar).
  2. Liberia (West Africa) declared rape a national emergency, after recent spike of cases.
  3. US signed framework for defence cooperation with Maldives, to deepen engagement in support of maintaining peace and security in strategic Indian Ocean, amid China's growing interference in the region. US will also open an embassy in Maldives.
  4. Govt Approved Upgrading Veer Savarkar International Airport, Port Blair (Andaman and Nicobar Islands), Including a new terminal building, at cost 700 crores. It will augment passenger handling capacity from 18 lakh to 50 lakh annually.
  5. Nagaland government launched tele-medicine platform Naga Telehealth, to enable people have access to qualified doctors for consultation.
  6. UK signed its first major post-Brexit trade pact by signing a deal with Japan, to boost trade by about £15bn.
  7. 13th edition of Aero India-21 will be held at Air Force Station Yelahanka (Bengaluru), Between Feb 3 - 7, 2021.
    1. Aero India is Asia’s largest air show and aviation exhibition held biennially in Bengaluru since 1996.
  8. Madhya Pradesh Govt Launched Poshan Sarkar programme, to ensure participation and leadership of local bodies-Gram Panchayats and Urban Bodies in nutrition campaign. September is observed as nutrition month, across India.
  9. National Jal Jeevan Mission and Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MEITY) launched ICT Grand Challenge, to create innovative Smart Water Supply Measurement and Monitoring System, to be deployed at village level.
  10. Chennai division of Southern Railway launched mobile app 'Freight Seva', to strengthen its customer base and attract new streams of freight and parcel traffic.
  11. India and Bangladesh will resume joint coordinated border patrolling to reduce criminal activities.
  12. Ministry of Road Transport and Highways advised States . UTs to stamp International Convention of Road Traffic of 19th September 1949, on first page of International Driving Permit issued by them.
2. J&K LG Manoj Sinha launched National Generic Document Registration System for region, as online registration system for transactions in purchase or sale of land.
  1. It was developed under Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme, to address diversity and variations prevailing across UT.
3. RBI mandated banks to fully automate NPA classification and provisioning calculation process, till June 30, 2021.
4. Govt enhanced 10-fold scholarship amount under ‘Pragati and Saksham Scholarship Schemes’ for students of Jammu and Kashmir, from 5,000 to 50,000 per annum.
  1. Also, J&K UT Horticulture Department launched Flagship programme “Backyard Horticulture” under CAPEX scheme in Jammu district.
5. Electricite de France (EDF), International Institute of Nuclear Energy (I2EN) and Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute (VJTI) signed MOU, for establishment of a nuclear energy centre of excellence in Jaitapur district, Maharashtra.
6. PSU BHEL tied up with SwissRapide AG to bring Maglev trains (magnetic levitation) to India.
  1. Maglev Rail system hovers in the air instead of rolling, due to magnetic levitation. It enables system to be highly energy efficient, and achieve speeds over 500 km/h.
7. To tap new markets and identify new opportunities for trade and investment, Trade Promotion Council of India (TPCI) constituted 3 committees focussing on food and beverages (headed by Laxman Singh Rathore) , food processing technology (headed by R Senguttuvan) and chemical and allied products.
8. Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) developed indigenously built signalling technology i-ATS, for metro trains. ATS (Automatic Train Supervision) is indispensable for high density operations.
9. Maharashtra Govt launched Balasaheb Thackeray Road Accident Insurance scheme, to provide medical and financial aid to victims during golden hour, with Initial expenditure of up to 30000 to be borne by State.
10. Government has set up an expert committee (headed by Rajesh Pant) under National Cyber Security Coordinator to study revelations in China Watching, an investigation by The Indian Express, that a Shenzen-based company is monitoring over 10000 Indian individuals and entities.
11. Scientists for the first time, discovered a Jupiter-sized planet orbiting a white dwarf or a dead star, located about 80 light years away, in northern constellation Draco . Planet named WD 1856 b, orbits smaller star every 34 hours.
12. Government has constituted a high-level committee to prepare a roadmap for regularisation of land leasing in agriculture sector, headed by Ajay Tirkey.
13. Ministry of corporate affairs extended tenure of Company Law Committee by one year to September 2021, chaired by corporate affairs secretary Rajesh Verma.
  1. It was set up to suggest measures to de-clog and improve functioning of National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) and make recommendations on various issues pertaining to implementation of Companies Act and Limited Liability Partnership Act.
Sep 19, 2020
1. Former US President, Barack Obama announced his first presidential memoir titled “A Promised Land”, to be published in November 2020.
2. Sep 19, 2020, is observed as International Coastal Cleanup Day, observed annually on third Saturday of September.
  1. Sep 19 is also observed as International Red Panda Day.
3. Anil Dhasmana (Former RAW chief) has been appointed as chief of National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO).
4. As first such initiative, 8 Indian beaches have been recommended for Blue flag certification.
  1. Blue Flag certificate is an internationally recognized eco-label given by ‘Foundation for Environment Education, Denmark’.
  2. Blue Flag beaches are considered the benchmark for clean and hygienic beaches in world.
5. Canadian Poet Margaret Atwood won 2020 Dayton Literary Peace Prize’s lifetime achievement award, also called Richard C. Holbrooke Distinguished Achievement Award.
6. Canara Bank launched lead management system (LMS) – i-Lead 2.0 (Inspiring Leads System version 2.0), to provide services to customers, irrespective of their location.
7. Bandhan Bank has set up a new vertical called “Emerging Entrepreneurs Business (EEB)”, to support emerging needs of unbanked / underbanked customers.
8. Gujarat government launched Mukhyamantri Mahila Utkarsh Yojana (MMUY), which will provide interest-free loans to women’s groups. Under it, 50000 joint liability and earning group (JLEG) will be formed in each of Rural and urban areas, with 10 members in each group.
9. Arundhati Roy’s new book titled “Azadi: Freedom. Fascism. Fiction” has been published.
10. As per 1st all India Happiness Report 2020, Happiest states / UTs -
  1. Overall - Mizoram, Punjab, Andaman and Nicobar Islands
  2. Big states - Punjab, Gujarat, Telangana
  3. Small states - Mizoram, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh
  4. Uts - Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Puducherry, Lakshadweep
11. Indian Chef Vikas Khanna has been honoured with Asia Game Changer Award 2020, for running massive food distribution drive ‘FeedIndia’ during COVID-19 pandemic. He is among 6 honourees named for this award.
12. Karnataka Govt launched Arthika Spandana programme of disbursing loans of approx 39300 crores through various cooperative institutions, with 15300 crores to be disbursed to agriculture sector.
13. Mexico become first country to issue a sovereign bond linked to sustainable development goals set by United Nations, issuing EUR 750 million. It will mature in September 2027 and offers a yield to maturity rate of 1.603% and a coupon rate of 1.350%.
14. Indian PSU ONGC Videsh Ltd exited Sudan oilfields after Sudan refused to pay for oil it lifted from ONGC fields, since 2011.
15. RBI issued draft on rupee IR derivatives, allowing foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) to undertake exchange-traded rupee interest rate derivatives transactions subject to an overall ceiling of 5,000 crores.
  1. Interest Rate Derivatives (IRDs) are contracts whose value is derived from one or more interest rates, prices of interest rate instruments, or interest rate indices.
  2. Proposed directions are aimed at encouraging higher non-resident participation, enhance role of domestic market makers in offshore market and improve transparency.
Sep 18, 2020
1. World Bank released annual Human Capital Index 2020 -
  1. India has been ranked at the 116th among 174 countries in Index. India’s score has increased to 0.49 from 0.44 in 2018.
  2. Top 3 - Singapore (1), Hong Kong (2), Finland (3).
  3. Last year, India had raised objections over Human Capital Index, wherein India was ranked 115th out of 157 countries.
2. PM Narendra Modi dedicated to nation the Kosi Rail Mahasetu (mega bridge), along with 12 rail projects in Bihar.
  1. In 1887, a meter gauge link was built in between Nirmali and Bhaptiahi (Saraigarh). During heavy flood and severe Indo Nepal earthquake in 1934, the rail link was washed away and thereafter due to meandering nature of river Kosi no attempt was made to restore this.
  2. Kosi Mega Bridge line project was sanctioned during 2003-04, with length 1.9 KM and cost 516 Crores.
  3. Regular train service through this route will be highly beneficial to Supaul, Arariya and Saharsa districts.
3. Tata Group won contract for construction of India’s new Parliament building with a bid of Rs 861.90 crores, as a part of Central Vista redevelopment project.
  1. Central Vista Redevelopment Project envisages construction of new Parliament building, close to existing one.
  2. It also envisages a common secretariat to house all 51 ministries in 10 administrative buildings.
  3. It will include conversion of North and South blocks into museums and development of Central Vista avenue that connects Rajpath to India Gate.
4. India's first exclusive private jet terminal inaugurated at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, to exclusively handle flight operations of private jets. It can handle up to 150 private jet flights per day.
5. Sep 18 is observed as World Water Monitoring Day, established in 2003 by America's Clean Water Foundation (ACWF) as a global educational outreach program.
6. Sep 18 is observed as World Bamboo Day. 2020 Theme is Bamboo Now.
7. Sep 18, 2020 is observed by UN as First ever International Equal Pay Day.
Sep 17, 2020
1. Sep 17 is observed as World Patient Safety Day, being observed since 2019 by World Health Organisation (WHO).
2. US identified India along with other 20 Nations as a major drug transit or illicit drug producing countries in world. Major reason behind India being on list is India is in middle of two major illicit opium production regions - Golden Triangle and Golden Crescent.
  1. Golden Crescent includes Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Golden Triangle includes Laos, Burma and Thailand.
3. Gujarat Govt announced scheme for e-Vehicles, to encourage use of battery-operated 2/3 wheelers and curb air pollution.
  1. State Government would provide a subsidy of 12,000 rupees to students who are studying in Standard-9th to colleges, in order for them to use battery-operated two-wheelers.
  2. Subsidy of 48,000 rupees would be given for three-wheeler e-rickshaw to the individual and institutional beneficiaries.
4. Smart City Index 2020, compiled by Institute for Management Development and Singapore University for Technology and Design (SUTD) -
  1. Top 5 - Singapore, Helsinki (Finland), Zurich (Switzerland), Auckland (New Zealand), Oslo (Norway).
  2. Indian Cities in List - Hyderabad (85), New Delhi (86), Mumbai (93), Bengaluru (95). Ranks of These Indian cities fell by 18, 18, 15 and 16 places respectively, as compared to last year.
5. United Nations named Indian teenager Udit Singhal in list of 2020 Class of Young leaders for Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) along with 17 others, organized biennially.
  1. Udit has been selected because of his Glass2Sand initiative, a zero waste ecosystem that converts glass to sand, aimed at addressing growing problem of glass in national capital region.
6. Government amended public procurement (Preference to make in India ) order 2017.
  1. It states that entities from other countries that do not allow Indian companies to participate in their government procurement procedures, shall not be allowed to participate in Indian government procurement procedures.
  2. It has been done to promote Make in India and to curb investments from neighboring countries with emphasis on China.
  3. Earlier, share of class 1 and class 2 local suppliers were fixed at 50 % and 20 % respectively. After these amendments, Govt will set upper threshold for procurement above which foreign companies will have to create joint ventures with Indian companies, to participate in government tenders.
7. India joined Djibouti Code of Conduct as an observer, also called Jeddah Amendment, a regional maritime security cooperation agreement.
  1. It was established by International Maritime Organization (IMO) in 2008, with 19 member states adjoining Gulf of Aden, Red Sea, East Coast of Africa and Indian Ocean Region.
  2. Other observers of grouping are Norway, Japan, UK, US.
Sep 16, 2020
1. Asian Development Bank (ADB) and France’s ENGIE group signed loan of up to 466 crores for setting up a 200-MW solar power project in Gujarat.
2. Deendayal Antyodaya Rasoi Scheme to provide meals at a subsidised rate to underprivileged people has been re-introduced in Madhya Pradesh, increasing rate per thali from 5 to 10.
  1. This 2017 scheme was discontinued by previous Congress government in May 2019. It has now been re-launched.
  2. Kamal Nath Led Congress Govt introduced Indira Thali scheme of similar sort, which couldn’t be implemented.
3. Monitored population sizes of mammals, fish, birds, reptiles, and amphibians have declined an average of 68% between 1970 and 2016, according to World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF) Living Planet Report 2020.
  1. Populations in Latin America and the Caribbean have fared worst, with an average decline of 94%.
4. Scientists from Florida State University (US) discovered a rare supernova explosion one-hundred million light-years away from Earth, from unique star known as “supernova LSQ14fmg”. Researchers, for first time, are able to trace origins of group of supernovae and origin of solitary star that caused it.
5. World’s oldest film festival, Venice International Film Festival's 77th edition held in Venice (Italy). Winners -
  1. GOLDEN LION for Best Film to: Nomadland by Chloé Zhao
  2. Golden Lion For Lifetime Achievement - Ann Hui and Tilda Swinton
  3. Grand Jury Prize to: New Order by Michel Franco
  4. SILVER LION for Best Direction - Kiyoshi Kurosawa for Wife of a Spy
  5. Volpi Cup for Best Actress: Vanessa Kirby for Pieces of a Woman
  6. Volpi Cup for Best Actor: Pierfrancesco Favino for Padrenostro
  7. Also, Notably, India's Chaitanya Tamhane’s Marathi Movie The Disciple won Best Screenplay award at Venice Film Festival.
6. Israel, United Arab Emirates and Bahrain signed Abraham Accords, first Arab-Israeli peace deal in 26 years, mediated by US.
  1. This is first time any Arab country has normalized relations with Israel, since Egypt in 1979 in Jordan in 1994.
  2. US president Donald Trump has been nominated for nobel Peace Prize 2021, for mediating Historic Peace Accord between Israel and arab Nations UAE and Bahrain.
  3. Accords are named after patriarch Abraham, regarded as a prophet by both religions of Judaism and Islam, and traditionally considered a shared patriarch of Jewish and Arab people.
7. Tripura CM Biplab Kumar Deb laid foundation stone for state's first-ever Special Economic Zone (SEZ) of state at Sabroom, to be set up with 635 crores, with focus on agro-based processing such as food processing, rubber, bamboo and textile sector.
8. Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers PSU Hindustan Organic Chemicals Limited (HOCL) has been granted Bureau of Indian Standards - BIS certification for all its products, Including Phenol (Carbolic Acid) Grade a, Acetone, Stabilized Hydrogen Peroxide Grade 1.
9. Govt has formed a High Level Taskforce constituted headed by P. K. Mishra (Principal Secretary to Prime Minister), to suggest measures to improve air quality in National Capital Region of Delhi.
10. Ministry of Women and Child Development signed MoU with Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH), to work together to control menace of malnutrition through integration of AYUSH systems with ongoing nutrition interventions under Umbrella ICDS program.
  1. Another MOU was also signed between these two ministeries, for controlling Malnutrition as a part of POSHAN Abhiyaan.
11. President gave Narendra Singh Tomar (Agri. and Farmers welfare Minister) the additional charge of Ministry of Food Processing Industries.
  1. This came after former Serving Food Processing Industries Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal had resigned from Central Government Cabinet.
12. Maharatna PSU Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited Hyderabad (BHEL-HYD) is setting up a facility to assess Low Cycle Fatigue effects in rotors required for coal based thermal power plants, under a Clean Energy Research Initiative supported by DST, for establishment of High Temperature Spin Test Rig (HTSTR).
  1. This may soon enable India to manufacture its own super alloy steam turbine rotors for efficient coal based thermal power plants.
13. Soon after expanding support to Artisans engaged in making Agarbatti, MSME has issued guidelines for two more schemes which include ‘Pottery Activity’ and Beekeeping Activity, aimed at 8000 beneficiaries in 2020-21, with outlay of 130 crores.
  1. These beneficiary oriented Self-Employment initiatives are aimed at rejuvenating grass root economy contributing to AtmaNirbhar Bharat Abhiyan.
14. Sep 16 - UN International Day for Preservation of the Ozone Layer. 2020 observes 35th annivrsary of Vienna Convention for Protection of Ozone Layer, which was signed in 1985, to provide frameworks for international reductions in production of chlorofluorocarbons.
  1. Montreal Protocol, which was signed in 1987, has been a huge success and led to phase-out of 99 % of ozone-depleting chemicals.
15. Scientists from Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) found a new way to probe into supermassive black holes – detecting their properties like mass and spin by observing how they rip apart stars.
  1. Study focused on observations of a given stellar disruption event (TDE), has inferred black hole mass, star mass, and point of closest approach of star's orbit.
    1. Tidal disruption events (TDE) are when Stars are disrupted when black hole's tidal gravity exceeds star's self-gravity.
16. Power Ministry drafted Rules providing for Rights of Electricity Consumers for the First Time, termed Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules 2020. Suggestions are invited till 30-09-2020. Salient Points -
  1. SERCs to fix average number and duration of outages per consumer per year for DISCOMs.
  2. New Connection -
    1. Only two documents for connection up to load of 10 kw and no estimation of demand charges for loads up to 150 kw to expedite giving connection.
    2. Time period of not more than 7 days in metro cities, 15 days in other municipal areas and 30 days in rural areas.
  3. 2 to 5% rebate on serving bills with delay of sixty days or more. Bills over 1000 or more to be paid online only.
  4. Recognition to emerging category of consumers known as “Prosumers”.
  5. Persons who have set up a rooftop units / solarised irrigation pumps, will have right to produce electricity for self-use and inject excess in grid.
  6. 24x7 toll free call centre, web-based and mobile applications for common services.
Sep 15, 2020
1. Sep 15 - UN International Day of Democracy, proclaimed by UN General Assembly in 2007.
2. Sep 15 - Engineer's Day in India. It commemorates Mokshagundam Vishweshvaraya (popularly known as Sir MV). In 1955, he was conferred India's highest honour, Bharat Ratna. 15 September is celebrated as Engineer's Day in India, Sri Lanka and Tanzania in his memory.
  1. He was chief engineer responsible for the construction of Krishna Raja Sagara dam in North-West suburb of Mysuru city and chief engineer of flood protection system for city of Hyderabad.
  2. On This occasion, A Customized Stamp on India’s First Anti Satellite Missile (A-SAT) launch has been released by Department of Posts. ASAT test was done successfully in Mar 2019, named Mission Shakti.
  3. First AICTE-Visvesvarya Best Teacher Awards 2020 were presented by Minister of Education Ramesh Pokhriyal‘Nishank’ to 12 faculty members of AICTE approved institutes.
  4. On this occasion, PM Narendra Modi inaugurated 7 projects under Namami Gange and AMRUT Schemes in Bihar, costing approx 541 Crores. 4 of these projects are related to water supply, 1 to river front development and 2 related to sewerage treatment.
    1. He also dedicated to the nation 3 key projects related to Petroleum sector in Bihar - Durgapur-Banka section of Paradip-Haldia-Durgapur Pipeline Augmentation Project and two LPG Bottling Plants.
    2. PM Modi also attended ‘Grih Pravesh’ programme under Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana (Gramin) in Madhya Pradesh, inaugurating 1.75 Lakh Houses.
  5. However, Telangana state celebrates Engineers day on July 11th on birthday of Ali Nawaz Jung Bahadur.
3. RBI Notified Compliance Functions in Banks and Role of Chief Compliance Officer (CCO). Banks will be required to have an effective compliance culture, independent corporate compliance function, and a strong compliance risk management programme at bank and group level.
4. Harivansh Narayan Singh has been re-elected as Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha.
  1. Rajya Sabha is chaired by Vice President of India, Currently M Venkaiah Naidu.
5. Cabinet Approvals (Sep 15, 2020)-
  1. General -
    1. Approved establishment of a new All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at Darbhanga (Bihar), under Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY), at cost 1264 crores.
    2. Approved Haryana Orbital Rail Corridor Project from Palwal to Sonipat via Sohna-Manesar-Kharkhauda. This Rail Line will start from Palwal and end at existing Harsana Kalan station (On Delhi-Ambala section).
      1. Length of this 5 year Project is 121.7 KM, with cost approx 5617 Crores.
      2. Districts of Palwal, Nuh, Gurugram, Jhajjar and Sonipat districts of Haryana will be benefitted through this rail line.
    3. Approved 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.
6. Book Titled ‘End of an Era, India Exits Tibet’ Authored by Claude Arpi has been Released.
7. International Financial Services Centre Authority (IFSCA) and India Gold Policy Centre (IGPC) - IIMA signed agreement to provide expertise to facilitate establishment of International Bullion Exchange (IBE) in India.
8. Reliance Industries (RIL) became first Indian company to surpass $200 billion in market capitalisation (m-cap), reaching peak of $208 billion. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) is a distant second, with m-cap of $119 billion.
9. Andhra Pradesh CM YS Jaganmohan Reddy launched YSR Aasara scheme for women empowerment.
  1. State government released Rs 6792 crores towards first installment of total due of Rs 27169 crores to banks of 8.7 lakh Self Help Groups (SHG).
  2. Under this, State government will reimburse outstanding bank loans of self-help groups as on April 11, 2019, in four instalments.
10. IT Firm HCL Technologies joined NVIDIA Partner Network (NPN), the US-based technology company’s partner program, to pursue expanded opportunities in Artificial Intelligence (AI) space. HCL also launch of NEXT.ai, HCL’s AI Lab.
11. Microsoft Partnered with industry-driven learning ecosystem Nasscom FutureSkills, to launch a nation-wide initiative that aims to skill 10 lakh students in Artificial Intelligence (AI) by 2021.
Sep 14, 2020
1. Interior designer Gauri Khan authored her first book titled My Life In Design.
2. HDFC Bank MD Aditya Puri has been conferred Lifetime Achievement Award by Euromoney Awards of Excellence 2020, as As first-of-its kind recognition for an Indian corporate leader.
3. India appointed Sameer Kumar Khare as new Executive Director at Asian Development Bank (ADB).
  1. Also, Rajesh Khullar has been appointed by India as Executive Director at World Bank.
4. Yoshihide Suga has been elected as Prime Minister-designate of Japan, to succed Shinzo Abe, longest serving PM of Japan.
5. American Banking Major Citigroup named Jane Fraser as its next chief executive officer, and first female to hold this post.
6. Subhash Kamath has been elected as chairman of board of governors of Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI).
7. Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed agreement for $15 million of debt financing through subscription of nonconvertible debentures for Coimbatore Based poultry farming Firm Suguna Foods.
8. Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik launched new scheme named GARIMA which aims to ensure the economic safety and social dignity of core sanitation workers in state. Around 20000 core sanitation workers and their families will benefit from the scheme, with fund approx 50 crores.
9. Meghalaya government launched India’s Biggest “Piggery Mission” with an outlay of Rs 209 Crores, aimed at making Meghalaya self-sufficient in pork production over 3 years.
10. Govt renamed Hubballi Railway Station in Karnataka as Shree Siddharoodha Swamiji Railway Station.
11. Government constituted an Expert Committee for making an overall assessment of relief to bank borrowers related to waiver of interest and waiver of interest on interest on COVID-19 related moratorium. It will be headed by Rajiv Mehrishi (former CAG of India), with State Bank of India providing secretarial support.
12. World Health Organisation’s independent panel for pandemic preparedness and response appointed India's Preeti Sudan (former health secretary) as one of its 11 panellists from across world.
13. ICICI Bank has launched a new product named “iStartup 2.0”, to cater to the banking needs of startups and entrepreneurs.
14. Mastercard launched “Central Bank Digital Currencies” (CBDCs), a Virtual Testing Environment for Central Banks to Assess and Explore National Digital Currencies.
15. Sep 14 is observed as Hindi Diwas. On the occasion, International Hindi Conference was organised by World Hindi Council in New Delhi. It commemorates adoption of Hindi written in Devanagari script as one of the two official languages of the Republic of India by Constituent Assembly of India, in 1949.

Sep 13, 2020

US Open Tennis 2020 (140th Edition) -
1. Men's Singles - Dominic Thiem (Austria). He defeated Alexander Zverev (Germany)
  1. Its 1st Grand Slam Title for Dominic Thiem.
2. Women's Singles - Naomi Osaka (Japan). She defeated Victoria Azarenka (Belarus).
  1. Its 3rd Grand Slam Title for Naomi Osaka. Other wins - Australian Open 2019 and US Open 2018.
3. Men's Doubles - Mate Pavić (Croatia) AND Bruno Soares (Brazil)
4. Women's Doubles - Laura Siegemund (Germany) AND Vera Zvonareva (Russia)
According to CARE Ratings, employment growth rate declined to 3.5% in FY 2020 (2019-20), from 3.8% in FY 19 (2018-19). In FY20, 1.70 lakh jobs were added, compared to 1.76 lakh in FY 2019.
1. The employment growth rate is expected to decline sharply in FY 21 (2020-21), due to COVID-19 Pandemic.
Scientists revealed detecting potential signs on life on our inhospitable Neighbor Venus, detecting gas called phosphine in acidic clouds of Venus, that indicates microbes may inhabit it.
1. Phosphine is produced by bacteria thriving in oxygen-starved environments on Earth.
2. Presence of Phosphine was confirmed using ALMA radio telescope in Chile.
Manila (Philippines) based Asian Development Bank (ADB) appointed Takeo Konishi as Country Director of India.
1. Also, India appointed Sameer Kumar Khare as new Executive Director at Asian Development Bank (ADB).
Uttar Pradesh government announced to form Uttar Pradesh Special Security Force (UPSSF), to protect courts, airports, metros, banks and other government offices in state. It will reportedly be allowed to conduct searches and arrests without warrants.
Israel and Bahrain agreed to establish full diplomatic relations, mediated by US. It came soon after forming of Historic Israel-UAE Peace Deal titled Abraham Accord.
1. US president Donald Trump has been nominated for nobel Peace Prize 2021, for mediating Historic Peace Accord between Israel and UAE.

Mercedes F1 Racer Lewis Hamilton (UK) won Tuscan Grand Prix.

2020 F1 Season-

Round	Grand Prix	Winner	Race date
1	Austrian Grand Prix	Valtteri Bottas (Finland)	5 July
2	Styrian Grand Prix	Lewis Hamilton (UK)	12 July
3	Hungarian Grand Prix	Lewis Hamilton (UK)	19 July
4	British Grand Prix	Lewis Hamilton (UK)	2 August
5	70th Anniversary Grand Prix	Max Verstappen (Belgian-Dutch)	9 August
6	Spanish Grand Prix	Lewis Hamilton (UK)	16 August
7	Belgian Grand Prix	Lewis Hamilton (UK)	30 August
8	Italian Grand Prix	Pierre Gasly (France)	6 September
9	Tuscan Grand Prix	Lewis Hamilton (UK)	13 September
10	Russian Grand Prix		27 September
11	Eifel Grand Prix		11 October
12	Portuguese Grand Prix		25 October
13	Emilia Romagna Grand Prix		1 November

Sep 12, 2020
1. Sep 12 - UN International Day for South-South Cooperation.
  1. Sep 12, 2020 is also observed as World First Aid Day, observed on 2nd saturday of september.
2. Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) constituted 25-member Development Council for Footwear & Leather Industry (DCFLI), to be headed by R K Gupta as chairman for 2 years. It will formulate and implement developmental measures for growth of labour intensive footwear and leather sectors in India.
3. Govt has formed an expert committee, for conducting holistic study of origin and evolution of Indian culture to since 12000 years before present and its interface with other cultures of world. It will be headed by K.N. Dikshit (Chairman of Indian Archaeological Society).
4. United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) appointed Bollywood Actor Ayushmann Khurrana as its celebrity advocate for children’s rights campaign, ”For Every Child”.
5. J&K Lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha Launched health scheme for State, intended to provide universal health insurance cover to all residents of UT, at annual cost of 123 crores.
  1. It will provide health insurance cover free of cost to all residents of J&K, who are presently not covered under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, with same benefits as under AB-PMJAY, with an annual health insurance cover of 5 lakh per family.
  2. LG also launched a new grievance redressal portal for UT, to be linked to Union government’s grievance mechanism.
6. 2020 Economic Freedom of the World Report, by Fraser Institute -
  1. Top 5 - Hong Kong (1), Singapore (2), New Zealand (3), Switzerland (4), Australia (5)
  2. Bottom 3 - Libya (160), Sudan (2), Venezuela (3)
  3. India Ranked 105th, falling 26 places as compared to 79th rank last year.
  4. Neighbors - China (124), Bangladesh (133), Pakistan (129), Sri Lanka (85)
7. US Govt approved deal in which Oracle and Walmart will partner with viral video-sharing app TikTok in U.S., allowing Tiktok to avoid a shutdown.
  1. TikTok was instructed to either close its operation in US, or sell company to a US-based company.
8. As per Asian Development Bank, Asia’s coronavirus-battered economy will shrink for first time since 1962. Region’s GDP will decline by 0.7 % in 2020. Indian Economy is expected to shrink 9 % in FY 21.
9. Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) recommended setting up of an industry body for cloud service providers as part of a “light touch regulatory framework”.
10. India has been elected as a member of United Nation's Commission on Status of Women (CSW), a body of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), for upto 2025.
Sep 11, 2020
1. Results of 2nd edition of Ranking of States on Support to Startup Ecosystems released, formed by Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) -
  1. States’ Startup Ranking Framework 2019 has 7 broad reform areas and 30 action points, with participation of 22 States and 3 UTs.
  2. States are classified into 5 Categories - Best Performers, Top Performers, Leaders, Aspiring Leaders and Emerging Startup Ecosystems.
  3. Results -
    1. Category X -
      1. Best Performer - Gujarat
      2. Top Performers - Karnataka, Kerala
      3. Leaders - Bihar, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan
      4. Aspiring Leaders - Haryana, Jharkhand, Punjab, Telangana, Uttarakhand
      5. Emerging Startup Ecosystems - Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu Uttar Pradesh
    2. Category Y -
      1. Best Performer - Andaman and Nicobar Islands
      2. Leader - Chandigarh
      3. Aspiring Leader - Nagaland
      4. Emerging Startup Ecosystems -Mizoram, Sikkim
    3. Top States across 7 Reform Areas -
      1. Institutional Leaders - Karnataka
      2. Regulatory Change Champions - Karnataka
      3. Procurement Leaders - Karnataka
      4. Incubation Hubs - Gujarat
      5. Seeding Innovation Leaders - Bihar
      6. Scaling Innovations Leaders - Gujarat
      7. Awareness and Outreach Champions - Gujarat
2. Government constituted an Empowered Group of Ministers under Chairmanship of Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh, to oversee process of conversion of Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) into several Government owned corporate entities.
3. Sep 11 is observed in India as National Forest Martyrs Day, observed by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. 2020 observes 15th edition of this day.
4. Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs (I/C), Hardeep Singh Puri, launched Climate Smart Cities Assessment Framework (CSCAF) 2.0, along with ‘Streets for People Challenge’ .
  1. CSCAF aims to provide a clear roadmap for cities towards combating Climate Change while planning and implementing their actions.
  2. This assessment framework has 28 indicators across 5 categories - Energy and Green Buildings, Urban Planning, Green Cover & Biodiversity, Mobility and Air Quality, Water Management and Waste Management.
5. Scientists at Nainital Based Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES) estimated turbulence parameters in lower troposphere over central Himalayan region for first time, which may make weather predictions more certain in Himalaya region, preventing air traffic disasters more effectively.
  1. Researchers calculated magnitude of refractive index structure (Cn2), which represents strength of atmospheric turbulence. Cn2 is found to be large at lower altitudes, due to mountain wave activities and presence of low-level clouds.
6. Researchers at Pune based Agharkar Research Institute (ARI) found biogenic methane hydrate deposits in Krishna-Godavari (KG) basin.
  1. Methane hydrate is formed when hydrogen-bonded water and methane gas come into contact at high pressures and low temperatures in oceans. Methane is a clean and economical fuel, and a good alternative to fossil fuels.
  2. It is estimated that one cubic meter of methane hydrate contains 160-180 cubic meters of methane.
7. Construction Began for 3rd ship (INS Udaygiri) of P17A class stealth frigates (Nilgiri Class).
  1. 7 frigates under P17A series will be constructed indigenously, having stealth features.
  2. First Frigate under this project, INS Nilgiri, was launched in 2019.
8. NITI Aayog constituted a Multidimensional Poverty Index Coordination Committee (MPICC), chaired by Sanyukta Samaddar.
  1. NITI Aayog is nodal agency for Global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) and has been assigned responsibility of leveraging monitoring mechanism for it and to drive reforms.
  2. Global MPI is an international measure of multidimensional poverty covering 107 developing countries and was first developed in 2010 by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), released in July annually.
9. As per 2019 annual Ease of doing business ranking of states / UTs by Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade -
  1. Top 5 - Andhra Pradesh (topped for 3rd time in a row), Uttar Pradesh (jump of 10 places), Telangana, MP, Jharkhand.
  2. Bottom 3 - Odisha (34), Sikkim (35), Tripura (36)
Sep 10, 2020
1. PM Narendra Modi launched Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana, Along with e-Gopala application, for farmers in Bihar.
  1. It aims to enhance fish production to 220 lakh metric tons by 2024-25 from 137.58 lakh metric tons in 2018-19 at an average annual growth rate of about 9%. It aims to reduce post-harvest losses of fisheries sector from 20% to 25% to 10%.
  2. The scheme has estimated investment of 20050 crores, with Central share of 9407 crores. It will be implemented for 5 years (FY 2020-21 to FY 2024-25).
  3. It aims at generation of additional 55 lakhs direct and indirect gainful employment opportunities in fisheries sector and allied activities.
  4. The scheme was approved by cabinet and was earlier launched by Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Giriraj Singh in May 2020.
  5. E-Gopala app is launched as a digital medium which will help livestock owners to choose advanced livestocks, giving all information related to productivity, health and diet to cattle owners.
2. Indian Air Force formally inducted Rafale fighter jets, into 17th Squadron, the Golden Arrows (Stationed at Ambala).
  1. Earlier, First 5 of 36 Dassault Rafale fighter jets had landed at Ambala airbase, for Induction Into air force, as first imported fighter to be inducted into Service since Sukhoi-30s from Russia in late 90s.
  2. It is Part of €7.87 billion Deal signed Between India and France, in September 2016.
3. American aerospace and defense Firm Northrop Grumman named its next space station resupply ship (NG-14 Cygnus spacecraft) as S.S. Kalpana Chawla, honoring Late Indian Astronaut Kalpana Chawla.
4. New Book Breaking the Cocoon @ 40, written by Radha M Nair, has been released.
5. Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated final stretch of Phase-I of Kochi metro's Thykoodam-Petta stretch, with Phase-1 costing 6218 crores.
6. Indian IT Firm TCS partnered with Transnet Port Terminals in South Africa, to develop marketplace by bringing together cargo owners, shipping lines, clearing and forwarding agents, and road/rail haulers.
7. Scientists at Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute (JNTBGRI) identified a new and rare species of the climber genus, Pothos (family Araceae) in Western Ghats in Idukki district (Kerala), named after Peter C. Boyce, an expert on Araceae of southeast Asia.
8. India's Srei Equipment Finance received investment of 10 million euros from Germany-based KfW IPEX-Bank, backed by cover from France-based Euler Hermes.
9. American Aerospace Firm SpaceX delivered its 13th batch of 60 Starlink satellites, onboard a resuable two-stage Falcon 9 rocket. It was carried during world Space Week (Oct 4-10, 2020).
  1. Starlink is a satellite internet constellation being constructed by SpaceX, providing satellite Internet access. It will consist of thousands of mass-produced small satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO).
  2. China also Luanched its first reusable spacecraft, named Chongfu Shiyong Shiyan Hangtian Qi (CSSHQ), launched on a Long March-2F carrier.
10. Karnataka Cabinet approved a Rs 600 cr project - Rejuvenating Watersheds for Agriculture Resilience through Innovative Development (REWARD) - for benefit of 20 taluks with low groundwater levels in Karnataka. World Bank will fund 70% of the project.
11. Assam government re-launched an old scheme with aim of providing self-employment to around 2 lakh youths, Called Swami Vivekananda Assam Youth Empowerment (SVAYEM), worth 1000 crores.
  1. It provides 50000 as seed money to selected youths to start business ventures.
12. Sep 10 - World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD). 2020 theme is Working Together to Prevent Suicide.
  1. Sep 10, 2020 also marks 125th Birth Anniversary of Legendary Telugu Writer Viswanatha Satyanarayana.
13. General Events / Conferences (Sep 1-10, 2020)
  1. Bangladesh Govt launched campaign Asol Chini, To keep a check on rumors and fake news information.
  2. Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal inaugurated Organic Food Processing Unit at Braabanki (Uttar Pradesh), operated by Organic India Pvt Ltd, to benefit 5000 farmers with investment of 50 crores.
  3. Karnataka Govt inaugurated ‘Veer Savarkar’ flyover in Bengaluru, despite oppositon from other parties. Vinayak Damodar Savarkar has been a noted yet controversial independence activist.
    1. Karnataka CM also unveiled country's first integrated air ambulance service, jointly launched by International Critical Air Transfer Team (ICATT) and Kyathi.
  4. Government approved 27 projects under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana, to develop integrated cold chains, generating employment for 16000 people. Scheme aims to modernize agricultural processing and to decrease agri-waste.
  5. Haryana Govt launched Educational WhatsApp Chatbot Apka Mitra, for admission into UG courses across state.
  6. https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1654856
  7. Govt launched mobile app named EnglishPro, developed by English and Foreign Languages University Hyderabad.
  8. Jal Shakti Ministry launched Water Heroes – Share Your Stories Contest, to reach out to people on subject of water conservation. Contest will be held Between September 2020 to August 2021. Ministry will select 10 entries every month, with prize or 10000 each.
  9. Odisha Govt launched mobile Apps AMA SAHAR and SWACHHA SAHAR, to provide Citizen Centric Services, as part of 5T Approach.
  10. Assam's First newspaper for kids ‘The Young Minds’ has been launched, to promote creative thinking among children.
  11. India-US-Israel Trilateral summit held Virtually, with countries deciding to work together in 5G technology.
  12. Central Institute of Petrochemicals Engineering & Technology (under Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers) established 2 new Centres for Skilling and Technical Support - CSTS at Bhagalpur (Bihar) and Varanasi (UP), to train 1000 youths at each, annually.
  13. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar attended Foreign Ministers meeting of Shanghai Cooperation Organization(SCO)m during his visit to Moscow (Russia).
    1. India will host summit of council of heads of SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organization), in November 2020.
  14. India and Angola held their first joint commission meeting, held Virtually. 3 MOUs were signed - health, training and visa facilitation.
  15. Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, invoking it’s power under section 69A of IT Act, has banned 118 mobile app, to protect sovereignty and integrity of India. Banned apps are mostly of chinese origin.
  16. For first time since end of the cold war in 1990, whole of Germany resonated with sound of emergency siren as an emergency test. 10th September will now be observed as National Warning Day across country.

Sep 09, 2020

73rd session of WHO South East Asia Region held Virtually, attended by Minister for Health and Family Welfare Harsh Vardhan on India'a Behalf. Member States adopted Declaration on collective response to COVID-19 in South-East Asia Region.
Noted actor Paresh Rawal has been appointed as new chief of National School of Drama by President Ram Nath Kovind.
State Bank of India will launch a loan product named SAFAL (Safe and Fast Agriculture Loan), primarily for organic cotton growers with no credit history.
Sep 09 is obsered by UN as International Day to Protect Education from Attack.
All India Tennis Association (AITA) elected Anil Jain as its new president, with Anil Dhupar as secretary general.
RBI ceased Banking operations by Aditya Birla Idea Payments Bank (ABIP).
1. ABIP had earlier surrendered its payments bank license, due to non profitability. Vodafone Idea had 51% in ABIP bank, with remaining 49% held by Grasim Industries Limited.
Government of Andhra Pradesh and Lawrencedale Agro Processing India (LEAF) signed an agreement to expand the scope of food processing in State.
Australia appointed former cricketer Matthew Hayden and Indian-origin politician Lisa Singh as trade envoys for advancing business ties with India.
Jammu & Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha launched online portal, Smart Performance Appraisal Report Recording Online Window (SPARROW) for Jammu & Kashmir Administrative Service Officers (JKAS).
Misc. Meetings Held Virtually due to Covid-19 Pandemic (Sep 2020) -
1. 35th Session of Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific (APRC 35) held virtually, with Chair Bhutan as Host Country. Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Parshottam Rupala represented India.
2. Virtual G-20 Meets 2020 (Chaired by Saudi Arabia) -
  1. G-20 Foreign ministers’ meet, attended by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on India's Behalf. India proposed development of G-20 Principles on Coordinated Cross border movement of people.
  2. G-20 Education ministers’ meet, attended by Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank on India's Behalf.
  3. G-20 Agriculture and Water Ministers Meet, attended by Minister of Jal Shakti Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Minister of State (MoS) for Agriculture, Parshottam Rupala.
  4. G20 Labour and Employment Ministers Meet, attended by Santosh Gangwar on India's Behalf.
  5. G20 Finance and Health Ministers Meeting, attended by Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Minister for Health and Family Welfare.
  6. G20 Environment Ministerial Meeting Held Virtually, with India Represented by Environment, Climate Change and Forest Minister Prakash Javadekar.
    1. During the meet, Global Initiative to reduce Land Degradation was launched, to strengthen implementation of existing frameworks to prevent, halt, and reverse land degradation.
    2. Global Coral Reef R&D Accelerator Platform was also launched, to advance research, innovation and capacity building in all facets of coral reef conservation.
  7. G-20 Trade and Investment Ministers meet held Virtually, attended by Commerce and Industry & Railways Minister Piyush Goyal.
3. 3rd annual leadership summit of US India Strategic and Partnership Forum (USISPF) held virtually.
4. Minister of State (I/C) for Culture and Tourism, Prahlad Singh Patel participated in 17th Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Culture Ministers’ Meeting held Virtually. He also attended BRICS Culture Ministers’ Virtual Meet.
5. First India-France-Australia Trilateral Dialogue held virtually, to strenthen the strong bilateral relations further.
6. Minister of State for External Affairs, V. Muraleedharan attended 10th East Asia Summit Foreign Minister’s virtual meeting. He also attended 27th ASEAN regional forum.
7. India, France, Australia hold virtual trilateral dialogue on economic, strategic challenges in Indo-Pacific.
8. BRICS Meets -
  1. 6th BRICS Communication Ministers Meeting held virtually, attended by Sanjay Dhotre (Minister of State for Communications, Electronics & Information Technology and Education), on India's Behalf.
  2. BRICS Meet on national security, attended NSA Ajit Doval On India's Behalf.
9. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar chaired IBSA (India-Brazil-South Africa) Foreign Ministers meet, held Virtually.
10. 4th edition of Global Ayurveda Summit held virtually, with theme Emerging Opportunities for Ayurveda during Pandemic. It is organized by CII (Confederation of Indian Industry)-Kerala in partnership with Ministry of Ayush.
11. 10th Indo-US Defense Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI) Group Meeting held virtually. India and US signed statement of intent to strengthen dialogue on defence technology cooperation.
  1. India and US also held a bilateral 2+2 Inter-sessional meeting in virtual mode.
12. 74th Session of UN General Assembly High-Level Forum on the Culture of Peace held virtually.
13. World Economic Forum's Sustainable Development Impact Summit held Virtually.
  1. It was stated that Indian capital Delhi may have 8 months a year with temperature averaging 32°C by 2100, up from 6 at present.
Maruti Suzuki MD and CEO Kenichi Ayukawa has been elected as new President of Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) for 2 years.
IT Firm Infosys completed acquisition of US-based product design and development firm Kaleidoscope Innovation, acquired for up to USD 42 million.
US President Donald Trump announced Wilmington (North Carolina) as first World War II Heritage City, marking 75th anniversary of end of World War II.
1. During the war, Wilmington was site of North Carolina Shipbuilding Company, which built 243 ships under emergency shipbuilding program.

Scuderia AlphaTauri F1 Racer Pierre Gasly (France) won Italian Grand Prix.

2020 F1 Season-

Round	Grand Prix	Winner	Race date
1	Austrian Grand Prix	Valtteri Bottas (Finland)	5 July
2	Styrian Grand Prix	Lewis Hamilton (UK)	12 July
3	Hungarian Grand Prix	Lewis Hamilton (UK)	19 July
4	British Grand Prix	Lewis Hamilton (UK)	2 August
5	70th Anniversary Grand Prix	Max Verstappen (Belgian-Dutch)	9 August
6	Spanish Grand Prix	Lewis Hamilton (UK)	16 August
7	Belgian Grand Prix	Lewis Hamilton (UK)	30 August
8	Italian Grand Prix	Pierre Gasly (France)	6 September
9	Tuscan Grand Prix		13 September
10	Russian Grand Prix		27 September
11	Eifel Grand Prix		11 October
12	Portuguese Grand Prix		25 October
13	Emilia Romagna Grand Prix		1 November

Uttarakhand Govt observed Sep 9 as Himalaya Day, being observed since 2010.

Sep 08, 2020
1. First-ever World Solar Technology Summit Organized Virtually by Gurugram (India) based International Solar Alliance (ISA), with focus on technologies that will help boost efforts towards harnessing solar energy more efficiently.
  1. It was announced that 5 PSUs under Petroleum & Natural Gas Ministry will join ISA’s Coalition for Sustainable Climate Action (ISA-CSCA) as Corporate Partners.
  2. PSUs are - Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), Indian Oil (IOCL), Bharat Petroleum (BPCL), Hindustan Petroleum (HPCL) and GAIL (India).
2. PM Narendra Modi today inaugurated Patrika Gate in Jaipur, as 9th Gate of City of Jaipur (Rajasthan), built by Patrika Group of Newspapers.
3. Sep 8 is observed as UN International Literacy Day, proclaimned by UNESCO in 1966. 2020 theme is Literacy teaching and learning in the COVID-19 crisis and beyond. On this occasion, UNESCO honored 2020 Laureates of UNESCO Literacy Prizes -
  1. UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize awards for mother-tongue literacy education and training, sponsored by South Korea
    1. ‘Ageing Nepal’ in Nepal for its ‘Basic Literacy Class for Older Persons’ programme
    2. ‘United World Schools’ in United Kingdom for its ‘Providing Non-Burmese Speaking Out-of-School Children with Access to Education’ programme.
  2. UNESCO Confucius Prize for Literacy (Supported by China)
    1. ‘Just Commit Foundation’ in Ghana for its ‘Inspirational Business Stories’ programme
    2. ‘University Center for Social Participation’ in Mexico for its ‘Literacy programme: learning by teaching’
    3. ‘General Literacy Office in Sanaa’ in Yemen for its ‘Educating and integrating refugees in literacy classes in Yemeni society’ programme.
  3. On this occasion, National Statistical Office's report on literacy data between July 2017 - 2018 was released,
    1. Kerala had highest literacy rate (96.2%), followed by Delhi (88.7%), Uttarakhand (87.6%).
    2. Bottom 3 - Andhra Pradesh (66.4%), Rajasthan (69.7%), Bihar (70.9%).
    3. Overall literacy rate - 77.7%.
4. Cabinet Approvals (Sep 07, 2020) -
  1. CCEA -
    1. Approved monetisation of assets of Ministry of Power PSU POWERGRID, through Infrastructure Investment Trust (InvIT) model, as first time a Power PSU will undertake asset recycling by monetising its assets through InvIT model, using proceeds to fund new capital projects.
  2. General -
    1. Approved amendments to 3 Labour Codes, as proposed in Industrial Relations Code 2019. The three codes include Occupational safety and health, social security and industrial relations.
      1. Industrial Relations Code 2019 will replace three existing laws - Trade Unions Act 1926, Industrial Disputes Act 1947 and Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act 1946.
5. Andhra Pradesh Govt launched YSR Sampoorna Poshana / Sampoorna Poshana Plus scheme, to provide nutritious food to lactating mothers and pregnant women. State Government is to spend 1863 crores per annum towards the scheme, with 1100 expenditure per beneficiary every month.
6. David Attenborough, Noted British renowned naturalist, has been conferred with Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development 2019 for his efforts towards awakening humankind to need to preserve and protect planet’s biodiversity. The same was announced in November 2019.
7. Tamil Nadu Government released Electronics and Hardware Manufacturing Policy, aiming to increase electronics industry output to 100 billion USD by 2025. It aims to contribute 25% of India’s total electronic exports, after implementation of policy, by undertaking skill training of more than one lakh people by 2024.
8. First ever Cannabis Medicine project that is to be set up in Jammu and Kashmir in collaboration with Canada, is to be first foreign investment in UT of J&K.
  1. Project is to be set up at Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine in Jammu and Kashmir, making J&K first State/ UT in country to develop medicines from cannabis plant.
9. UNICEF released Levels and Trends in Child Mortality report -
  1. India Findings - Child mortality rate of India declined from 126 in 1990 to 34 in 2019, registering 4.5% annual rate of reduction.
  2. Globally, child mortality deaths under five dropped from 12.5 million in 1990 to 5.2 million in 2019.
  3. Around 53% of under-five deaths occurred in sub-saharan Africa in 2019 and 28% in central and southern Asia. These two regions alone account to 80% of the total under-five deaths in 2019.
10. Supreme Court stayed reservation for Maratha community in government jobs and educational institutions in Maharashtra, referring the case to a larger bench to consider constitutional validity of 2018 Maharashtra government law providing reservation to Marathas in state.
11. American investor Silver Lake invested 7500 Crores INR for 1.75% Stake in Reliance Retail.
  1. This is 2nd investment by Silver Lake in a subsidiary of Reliance Industries. It earlier invested 10202 crores for 2.08% stake in Reliance Jio.
Sep 07, 2020
1. Sep 1 - 7 is observed annually as National Nutrition Week. PM Narendra Modi also stated to observed September as Nutrition Month.
2. RBI Committee under chairmanship of K.V. Kamath, which was tasked to make recommendations on required financial parameters to be factored in resolution plans under Resolution Framework for Covid19-related Stress, subimtted its report.
  1. Committee recommended financial ratios for 26 sectors which could be factored by lending institutions while finalizing a resolution plan for borrowers.
3. 24x7 Toll-Free Mental Health Rehabilitation Helpline KIRAN (1800-500-0019) has been launched by Thaawarchand Gehlot (Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment), to provide relief and support to persons with Mental Illness. It has been launched in 13 Languages.
4. Ministry of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) enhanced support under scheme announced to support Agarbatti Industry. Size of program has been increased to over 55 Crores, compared to 2.66 Crores earlier. It includes -
  1. Immediate support to 1500 artisans of about 3.45 Crores (By Providing 400 Automatic Agarbatti making machines, against 200 earlier).
  2. Development of 2 centers of Excellence costing at 2.20 Cr at IITs/NITs and at FFDC Kannauj.
  3. Setting up of 10 new SFURTI clusters at approx 50 Crores, benefitting about 5000 additional artisans.
  4. Under expanded program, Artisans developing hand rolled Agarbatti and ‘Migrant workers’ will be given preference.
5. Researchers at Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS) found that UV and blue light combination reversibly switches system between 3D and 1D photonic structure, a novel interaction that can help make tunable and effective optical devices.
  1. They discovered that high levels of light in blue wavelengths or actinic light lead to switching between two photo isomers - Chiral Nematic (Ch) and Twist Grain Boundary Smectic C (TGBC), which are liquid crystal phases possessing photonic structures in 1 and 3D, respectively.
6. Sep 07, 2020 observed as first-ever International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies, proclaimed by UN.
7. ISRO’s maiden mission to Moon, Chandrayan-1, has sent images which show that Moon may be rusting along poles.
  1. This indicates that Moon's poles may have water, as water and oxygen are needed to interact with iron to create rust. As of now, Moon is known have iron rich rocks, but not water and Oxygen.
  2. Further, reason for this rutsing may also be help provided by Earth's atmosphere.
  3. To decipher the same and do other studies, ISRO will launch Chandrayaan-3 in Early 2021. It will be mission repeat of Chandrayaan-2, which could not Land successfully on Moon's surface. It will include a Lander and Rover similar to that of Chandrayaan-2, but no orbiter.
8. DRDO successfully flight tested a Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV), which is an unmanned scramjet vehicle with the ability to travel at six times the speed of sound.
  1. Test was conducted from Dr A P J Abdul Kalam Launch Complex at Wheeler Island, off the coast of Odisha.
  2. Scramjets are a variant of air breathing jet engines and have the ability to handle airflows of speeds much higher than the speed of sound. Hypersonic speeds are five times (or more) higher than the speed of sound.
  3. India became 4th Nation (After Russia, China, US), to have indigenously developed HSTDV technology.
9. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman inaugurated Doorstep Banking Services by PSBs, As part of EASE Reforms. It was launched during conferring awards to felicitate best performing banks on EASE Banking Reforms Index.
  1. Bank of Baroda, SBI and erstwhile OBC ranked top 3 in the ‘Top Performing Banks’ category according to EASE 2.0 Index. Bank of Maharashtra was named as Top Improver.
Sep 06, 2020
1. South India’s First Kisan Rail flagged off from Anantapur (Andhra Pradesh) to Adarsh Nagar (New Delhi).
  1. Earlier, Indian Railways introduced first Kisan Rail from Devlali (Maharashtra) to Danapur (Bihar), as announced in budget FY 21, to ensuring that agro products get transported fast across country.
2. India signed $500 million loan agreement with Asian Development Bank (ADB), as first tranche of $1 billion facility approved earlier, for high-speed 82-kilometer Delhi-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) corridor. It is aimed at improving regional connectivity and mobility in India’s national capital region (NCR).
3. Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar inaugurated 22 bamboo clusters in 9 States (Gujarat, MP, Maharashtra, Odisha, Assam, Nagaland, Tripura, Uttarakhand and Karnataka), along with logo for National Bamboo Mission. It is aimed at boosting Bamboo production and exports.
  1. Earlier in 2017, bamboo was removed from category of trees, by amneding Indian Forest Act 1927. It enabled anyone to undertake cultivation and business in bamboo and its products.
4. NITI Aayog's Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) launched Aatmanirbhar Bharat ARISE-Atal New India Challenges, to spur applied research and innovation in Indian MSMEs and startups.
  1. The programme will be driven by Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and 4 ministries - Defence, Food Processing Industries, Health and Family Welfare and Housing and Urban Affairs.
  2. Aatmanirbhar Bharat ARISE–ANIC programme will support deserving applied research–based innovations by providing funding support of up to Rs 50 lakh for speedy development of the proposed technology solution and/or product.
  3. Govt Aims to enhance MSME contribution to GDP from 30 % to 50%, and in exports from 49% to 60%.
  4. Other Partnerships signed by AIM -
    1. With Freshworks Inc (customer-engagement software firm), to provide robust support to innovators and entrepreneurs in India.
    2. With ScooNews (education media house), to share and spread inspiring stories of grassroots.
5. Minister of State for Shipping (I/C) Mansukh Mandaviya launched SAROD-Ports (Society for Affordable Redressal of Disputes - Ports), aimed to become a pivotal mechanism of justice in Port sector, by resolving disputes in fair manner, saving huge legal expenditure and time.
6. Home Ministry granted Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) registration to Amritsar based Gurdwara Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple), enabling it to receive foreign donations, and using them for providing assistance to poor, medical assistance to needy and organise langars.
7. Government constituted an Expert Committee headed by Rajiv Mehrishi (former CAG of India), to Measure impact on economy and financial stability of waiving of interest and waiving of interest on interest on the COVID-19 related moratorium.
8. India and Japan signed Agreement concerning Reciprocal Provision of Supplies and Services between Armed Forces of both nations and enhance interoperability.
9. India signed $82 million loan agreement with World Bank, for implementation of Himachal Pradesh State Roads Transformation Project, to strengthen transport and road safety institutions of Himachal Pradesh.
10. Department of Posts launched scheme called Five Star Villages, to ensure universal coverage of flagship postal schemes in rural areas.
  1. Schemes covered include Savings accounts, Recurrent Deposit Accounts, NSC / KVP certificates, Sukanya Samridhi Accounts/ PPF Accounts, Funded Post Office Savings Account linked India Post Payments Bank Accounts, Postal Life Insurance Policy/Rural Postal Life Insurance Policy and PM Suraksha Bima Yojana Account / PM Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana Account.
  2. A Village will attain Single star if it implements universal coverage of any one of mentioned schemes, 2 star for 2 schemes and so on.
  3. It is initially Launched on pilot basis in Maharashtra, to be implemented by team of 5 Gramin Dak Sevaks who will be assigned a village.
Sep 05, 2020
1. Sep 5 - National Teachers' Day in India. It commemorates Birth anniversary of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, first Vice President and second President of India. On this occasion, President Ram Nath Kovind presented National Award to Teachers to 47 Teachers from across nation.
2. Sep 5 - UN International Day of Charity. It was declared in 2012 and commemorates anniversary of passing away of Mother Teresa (on Sep 5, 1997).
3. 11th edition of exercise INDRA NAVY, biennial bilateral maritime exercise between Indian and Russian Navies held in Bay of Bengal.
4. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited Moscow (Russia), to attend Defence Ministers meet of Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Collective Security Treaty Organization and Commonwealth Security Treaty Organization, in commemoration of 75th Anniversary of Russian victory in World War II.
  1. India and Russia finalised a deal to manufacture AK-47 203 rifles in India. Indian Army needs around 770,000 AK-47 203 rifles. Of these, 100000 will be imported and rest will be manufactured in India.
  2. Russia also assured timely delivery of S400 missile defence systems to India, by end of 2021. India signed deal of 5 billion USD in 2018 to buy 5 - S400 missile defence systems.
  3. Rajnath Singh also Visited Iran, to dicsuss and improve bilateral defence relations.
5. Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (With Brand Name Amul), became first Indian dairy firm to feature in global top 20 list released by Rabobank, a Dutch multinational banking and financial services company.
  1. Switzerland’s Nestle topped the list with a turnover of US $22.1 billion. Amul achieved annual turnover of $5.5 billion.
6. Persons Resigned /Retired (September 2020) -
  1. German Olympic gold medalist alpine ski racer Viktoria Rebensburg announced her retirement.
  2. England cricketer Ian Bell announced retirement.
  3. Serving Food Processing Industries Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal resigned from Central Government Cabinet.
    1. President gave Narendra Singh Tomar (Agri. and Farmers welfare Minister) the additional charge of Ministry of Food Processing Industries.
  4. Prime Minister-designate of Lebanon, Mustapha Adib announced his resignation following his failure to form a new cabinet.
    1. Mustapha Adib was named Prime Minister Designate of Lebanon in Aug 2020, after Earlier PM Hassan Diab had resigned amid public outrage over Beirut blasts.
7. Historian Ramachandra Guha has written a new Book about game of Cricket, titled The Commonwealth of Cricket: A Lifelong Love Affair with Most Subtle and Sophisticated Game Known to Humankind.
8. Andhra Pradesh Govt received Approval from IRDAI, to form its Crop Insurance Firm Andhra Pradesh General Insurance Company (APGIC).
  1. Andhra Pradesh is among few states like Bihar, West Bengal that have chosen to have their own crop insurance schemes.
  2. APGIC will run state’s own YSR Free Crop Insurance Scheme, to provide free crop insurance to all farmers from 2019–2020.
9. European Investment Bank (EIB) will invest 650 million euros in construction of First metro line in Kanpur City (Uttar Pradesh).
10. Indian GDP Forecasts (Sep 2020) -
  1. Indian FY 21 GDP Contractions expected by Several Agencies, due to COVID-19 Pandemic -
    1. 10.9% - SBI’s Ecowrap research report.
    2. 14.8 % - American brokerage Godman Sachs.
    3. 11.8 % - India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra), the India arm of Fitch Ratings .
    4. 9 % - S&P Global Ratings.
    5. 11.5 % - Moody’s
    6. 9 % - CRISIL
    7. 10.2 % - Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). In FY22 (2021-22), OECD projects India’s GDP to grow at 10.7%.
    8. 9 % - Asian Development Bank (ADB). FY22 (2021-22) India GDP growth is expected at 8 %. ADB expects GDP growth for developing Asia at - 0.7 % in 2020, the first negative economic growth since 1962.
    9. 5.9 % - United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). India's GDP is expected to Grow at 3.9% in FY 22 (2021-22).
    10. 11 % - Rating Agency ICRA
    11. 12.6 % - National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER). For 2021-22, NCAER projects the GDP of India to grow by 7%.
11. Govt. approved INR 25215 crores deal between Reliance Industrial Investments and Holdings Ltd (RIIHL) and Canadian firm Brookfield Infrastructure Partners LP, involving sale of over 1.35 lakh mobile towers.
  1. Tower Company, Reliance Jio and RPPMSL executed the deal, under which Jio will remain tenant of new entity for 30 years.
Sep 04, 2020
1. RBI released revised Priority Sector Lending (PSL) Guidelines, to align with emerging national priorities and bring sharper focus on inclusive development.
  1. Bank finance to start-ups (up to 50 crores), loans to farmers for installation of solar power plants for solarisation of grid connected agriculture pumps and loans for setting up Compressed Bio Gas (CBG) plants are included as fresh categories eligible for finance.
  2. Some salient features of revised PSL guidelines -
    1. To address regional disparities in flow of priority sector credit, with higher weightage to incremental priority sector credit in ‘identified districts’.
    2. Targets prescribed for small and marginal farmers and weaker sections are being increased in a phased manner.
    3. Higher credit limit for Farmers Producers Organisations (FPOs) /Farmers Producers Companies (FPCs) at a pre-determined price.
    4. Loan limits for renewable energy have been doubled.
    5. For improvement of health infrastructure, credit limit for health infrastructure (including those under ‘Ayushman Bharat’) has been doubled.
2. Togo became First African Nation to have eliminated human African trypanosomiasis or sleeping sickness, as a public health problem.
  1. Sleeping sickness is caused by parasites which are transmitted by infected tsetse flies and is only found in 36 countries in sub-Saharan Africa.
3. Adani Group will accquire 74% stake in Mumbai International airport, acquiring current promoter GVK 's 50.50 % stake and 23.5 % stake of Airports Company of South Africa (ACSA) and Bidvest Group.
4. Misc. MOUs / Agreements (Sep 2020) -
  1. Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP) signed pact with India Sweden Healthcare Innovation Centre (ISIC) to jointly identify and nurture frugal innovations and make quality healthcare affordable and accessible.
  2. Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation Ltd (APIIC) signed MoU with CSIR- Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (CSIR-IICT), as a step up towards setting up a Bulk Drug Park (BDP) in State.
  3. Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) signed MoU with State Governments of Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Gujarat, to develop MSME ecosystem in these States.
  4. IIT Guwahati collaborated with University of Pardubice (Czech Republic), for developing indigenous algorithms that can protect nation’s digital data from cyber attacks.
  5. CSIR - Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (CMERI) and National Institute of Solar Energy Gurugram (NISE) signed MoU, as a ‘Strategic Association’ to bolster Solar Energy sector across nation.
  6. WhatsApp partnered with Cyber Peace Foundation (CPF) to create awareness on cyber safety among students.
  7. UK India Business Council (UKIBC) renewed its MoU with Government of Telangana, aimed at boosting business investment and improve the ease of doing business.
  8. Uttar Pradesh rural livelihood mission (SRLM) signed MOU with UN World Food Programme for manufacture and supply of Take Home Ration (THR) through SHGs.
  9. Assam State Rural Livelihoods Mission (ASRLM) signed MoU with North East Small Finance Bank (NESFB), to support Bank Linkage of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and Producer Groups/ Enterprises under ASRLM.
  10. National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) signed MoU with Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee for collaboration in areas of universal design principles and inclusive development in backdrop of ‘Building Accessible Safe Inclusive Indian Cities’ (BASIIC) program.
  11. National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and Professional Networtk LinkedIn partnered, to enhance employability and to upskill India’s youth.
  12. MoU signed between Govt. of Odisha and National Co-operative Development Corporation (NCDC), for promotion and management of Farmer Producer Organisations.
  13. Israel's Start-Up Nation Central and India's International Centre for Entrepreneurship and Technology (iCreate) signed agreement to initiate a bilateral program to accelerate innovation and technology cooperation between start-ups and corporates from both countries.
  14. Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board (UTDB) and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) signed ) to promote adventure sports activities at Tehri Lake.
  15. IIT Kanpur extended its MOU with Indian Railways to encourage state-of-the-art collaborative research for modernization of Railway Infrastructure.
  16. Axis Bank joined Bayer’s Better Life Farming initiative in India to provide enhanced and holistic financial solutions to smallholder farmers and rural farming communities.
  17. International Air Transport Association signed MoU with UNOCT, as 1st private partner to Cooperate on India-funded CT Travel Programme.
  18. Stock exchange BSE signed pact with Yes Bank, to empower the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) listed on BSE.
5. Book Invertonomics: Eight Ideas to Transform India by Goonmeet Singh Chauhan has been released.
6. Scientists at Australian National University (ANU) detected most massive black hole collision ever.
  1. Short gravitational-wave signal, GW190521 that was captured by LIGO and VIRGO gravitational-wave observatories in 2019, came from 2 highly spinning, mammoth black holes that weighed at 85 and 66 times mass of Sun, respectively.
7. 2 books on Sheela Birnstiel (known as Ma Anand Sheela), have been pubslihed. One is biography Nothing To Lose by Manbeena Sandhu, and other a memoir titled My Story in My Own Words.
8. Sikkim celebrated festival of Pang Lhabsol, to commemorate consecration of Mount Khangchendzonga as guardian deity of Sikkim.
9. Researchers identified a new species of freshwater fish from Ganga in West Bengal, named Systomus gracilus for its thin and compressed body. ‘Gracilus’ means slim in Latin.
10. Insurance regulator IRDAI constituted a working group to examine various aspects for allowing life insurance companies to offer index-linked products, headed by Dinesh Pant. Current regulations do not specifically permit insurers to sell index-linked products.
Sep 03, 2020
1. Indian renewable energy Firm Adani Green has been ranked as world's biggest solar energy company, in terms of capacity, with around 2.3 GW of operational projects. It has another 2 GW projects under construction and 8 GW of awarded projects.
2. Cabinet approved appointment of Railway Board Chairman, Vinod Kumar Yadav as CEO of the board, through a long-pending organizational restructuring of Railway Board. Railway Board has now been downsized from 8 members to 5.
  1. Pradeep Kumar, PC Sharma, PS Mishra, and Manjula Rangarajan ae named as Members.
3. New publication The Little Book of Green Nudges has been launched by United Nations Environment Programme, to encourage around students around world to adopt environmentally friendly habits and greener lifestyles.
  1. Book comprises of 40 ready-made nudges- simple measures that make adoption of green choices much easier.
4. Punjab government launched I Rakhwali App to ensure greenery and to protect environment.
5. Obituaries (Sep 2020) -
  1. David Capel - Former England Cricketer.
  2. Joe Ruby - Noted American Animator who created Scooby-Doo characrter.
  3. Notable deaths due to Covid-19
    1. S Padmavati - India's first Female cardiologist.
    2. Sekhar Basu - Noted atomic scientist and former chairman of Atomic Energy Commission.
  4. Govind Swarup - Noted Scientist, a pioneer of radio astronomy.
  5. Jaya Prakash Reddy - Noted Telugu Actor.
  6. Kesavananda Bharati - Noted Hindu monk, who served as Shankaracharya (head) of Edneer Mutt in Kerala.
  7. Johnny Bakshi - Noted Filmmaker.
  8. Jiri Menzel - Oscar-winning Czech film director.
  9. Raghuvansh Prasad Singh - Former Union Minister (Rural Development, in 2004).
  10. Diana Rigg - Noted British Actress.
  11. Swami Agnivesh - Noted social activist and founder of political party Arya Sabha. He had served as cabinet minister in Haryana.
  12. Ashok Gasti - Serving Rajya Sabja BJP MP from Karnataka.
  13. Balli Durga Prasad Rao Garu - Serving Lok Sabha YSR Congress Party MP from Andhra Pradesh.
  14. Jaswant Singh Jasol - Former Cabinet Minister (Also served in Army). He held Charge as Minister of External Affairs, Finance And Defense.
  15. Babu Sivan - Noted Tamil Director.
  16. Amitabha Ghosh - Former (16th) RBI Governor. He was shortest-serving RBI Governor, who stayed on this post for 21 days, in 1985.
  17. PR Krishnakumar - Noted Ayurveda physician from Tamilnadu.
  18. Moussa Traore - Former President of Mali (West Africa). He was a former military leader, who forcibly took over reign from Modibo Keita (known as ‘father of independence’).
  19. Kapila Vatsyayan - Noted scholar of Indian classical dance, art and architecture. She was founding Director of Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts.
  20. Sadashiv Patil - Former Maharashtra Cricketer.
  21. S. P. Balasubrahmanyam - Noted Musician and Singer.
  22. Suresh C. Angadi - Serving Union Minister of State (Railways).
  23. Winston Groom - Noted American Writer. He wrote Forrest Gump, which was made into a Oscar winning movie.
  24. Dean Jones - Australian Cricketer.
  25. Ashalata Wabgaonkar - Noted Marathi actress.
  26. Ang Rita Sherpa - Noted Nepal-based Mountaineer. He was first man to climb Mount Everest 10 times.
  27. John Turner -Former Canadian Prime Minister.
  28. Bibhuranjan Choudhury - Noted Assam Musician.
  29. Ruth Bader Ginsburg - US Cultural and liberal icon (Also US Supreme Court Judge).
  30. Bhupesh Pandya - Bollywood Actor.
  31. Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah - 15th Ruler of Kuwait and the 6th Emir of the State of Kuwait.
  32. Abhilash - Noted songwriter.
  33. G S Amur -Noted Kannada writer and critic.
  34. Syeda Anwara Taimur - Former and Only Female chief minister of Assam.
  35. Isher Judge Ahluwalia - Noted economist. She served for 15 years as director of Delhi-based Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER).
6. Pope Francis' new book Let Us Dream will be released in December 2020.
7. RBI approved Murali Ramakrishnan as new MD and CEO of South Indian Bank.
8. Government appointed S Krishnan as MD & CEO of Punjab & Sind Bank.
9. Usha Padhee has been named Director-General of Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), as first woman to hold this post.
10. Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic updates (Sep 2020) -
  1. National -
    1. Indian Railways developed a remote-controlled medical trolley named ‘MEDBOT’ to help deliver food and medicines to COVID-19 patients.
    2. IIT Delhi incubated startup Chakr Innovation launched ‘Chakr DeCoV’ to decontaminate N95 masks.
    3. Institute of Pesticide Formulation Technology (Under Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers) developed 2 new technologies - “Disinfectant spray for surface application” and “Disinfectant spray for Vegetables & fruits.”
    4. As per Supreme Court’s direction, loans that had not been declared non-performing assets (NPA) by end of 6-Month Moratorium Period ending August 2020, must not be declared NPA until further orders, as a relief to borrowers amid COVID-19 Pandemic.
    5. Maharashtra Govt launched ‘My Family, My Responsibility’ Campaign, to Tackle COVID-19.
    6. IIT Guwahati in collaboration with Workspace Metal Solutions Udaipur, developed a first-of-its-kind self-check kiosk.
    7. Tata CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) test, powered by CSIR-IGIB (Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology) FELUDA, received approval from Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) for commercial launch.
      1. It meets high quality benchmarks with 96% sensitivity and 98% specificity for detecting SARS-CoV-2 virus. CRISPR is a genome editing technology to diagnosing diseases.
      2. Tata CRISPR test is world’s first diagnostic test to deploy a specially adapted Cas9 protein to successfully detect virus causing Covid-19.
    8. Government extended Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package Insurance Scheme to provide an insurance cover of Rs 50 lakhs to COVID-19 health care providers. It was announced in March 2020 for 90 days, which is now extended for another 180 days.
    9. Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) and Mylan Laboratories partnered to address unmet patient needs amidst COVID-19 pandemic. Under it, CSIR’s constituent laboratory Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (CSIR-IICT) and Mylan will collaborate to identify potential therapies for COVID-19.
    10. Central Govt eased norms for State Disaster relief Fund, allowing states to use state disaster response fund (SDRF) upto 50% (up from 35 % earlier). It would will help states in developing covid-19 related infrastructure.
      1. On recommendations of 13th finance commision, SDRF was constituted under disaster management Act 2005. Government allocates 75% of SDRF to states and 90% for special category states annually.
  2. International -
    1. To ensure that all countries have safe, fast and equitable access to initial doses of COVID-19 vaccine, UNICEF announced that it will be leading procurement and supply of Corona Virus vaccines, as world’s largest and fastest operation of its kind.
    2. Italy's Fiumicino International Airport (FCO) became first airport in world to be certified with “COVID-19 5-star airport rating” from Skytrax, a U.K.-based airport and airline review firm.
    3. International Energy Agency (IEA), in collaboration with India's NITI Aayog, presented a ‘Special Report on Sustainable Recovery’ post Covid-19, as Part of IEA’s flagship World Energy Outlook series.
    4. Saudi Arabia suspended travel to and from India, Brazil and Argentina, amid rising COVID-19 cases in these nations.
11. Children’s picture book The Big Thoughts of Little Luv, authored by Filmmaker Karan Johar has been released.
12. Ananda Bazar Group's Aveek Sarkar has been elected as chairman of Press Trust of India (PTI).
Sep 02, 2020
1. Cabinet Approvals (Sep 02, 2020)
  1. MOUs -
    1. Japan - Cooperation in field of good quality textiles
    2. Finland - Cooperation in field of Geology and Mineral Resources
  2. General -
    1. Approved Introducing Jammu and Kashmir Language Bill 2020 in Parliament, to make five languages namely Urdu, Hindi, Dogri, English and Kashmiri as official language of UT of J&K.
    2. Approved launching of a National Programme for Civil Services Capacity Building (NPCSCB), to will be delivered by setting up an Integrated Government Online Training-iGOT Karmayogi Platform. Framework consists of
      1. Prime Minister's Public Human Resources (HR) Council
      2. Capacity Building Commission
      3. Special Purpose Vehicle for owning and operating digital assets and technological platform for online training
      4. Coordination Unit headed by Cabinet Secretary.
2. To avoid manual interpretation of growing 3D seismic data, to explore causes of earthquake, a new machine learning-based solution has been developed by Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology(WIHG).
  1. This first of its kind approach has been developed by computing a new attribute called meta-attribute.
3. Scientists at Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences Nainital (ARIES) found low concentration of near surface ozone in Brahamputra River Valley region (Including Guwahati), compared to other urban locations in India.
  1. Tropospheric, or ground-level ozone, is created by chemical reactions between oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOC). It increases when pollutants react in presence of sunlight, impacting human health.
4. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced 4th edition of Business Reform Action Plan (BRAP) ranking of states -
  1. Top 5 -
    1. Andhra Pradesh
    2. Uttar Pradesh
    3. Telangana
    4. Madhya Pradesh
    5. Jharkhand
  2. Background -
    1. Ranking of States based on implementation of Business Reform Action Plan started in 2015. BRAP 2018-19 includes 180 reform points covering 12 business regulatory areas.
5. World Intellectual Property Organization released Global Innovation Index 2020 (131 Nations) -
  1. Top 3 - Switzerland (1), Sweden (2), USA (3)
  2. Bottom 3 - Yemen (131), Guinea (130), Myanmar (129)
  3. India Ranked 48th, compared to 52nd rank in 2019.
  4. Neighbors - China (14), Pakistan (107), Bangladesh (116), Sri Lanka (101)
6. UTs of Ladakh and Lakshadweep have been integrated in existing national portability cluster of One Nation One Ration Card.
  1. Now, 26 States/UTs are connected under One Nation One Ration Card plan, enabling migratory PDS beneficiaries in these States/UTs to access subsidised foodgrains at same Scale and Central Issue Prices from any Fair Price Shop (FPS).
7. Misc. Appointments (Sep 2020) -
  1. S R Sarma has been appointed as Chief of Materiel of the Indian Navy.
  2. Raj Kumar Srivastava is appointed as New Ambassador of India to Croatia.
  3. Hemant Khatri has been appointed as Chairman and Managing Director of defence PSU Hindustan Shipyard Ltd.
  4. Govt. extended term of Pramod Chandra Mody as Chairman of Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), by 6 months.
  5. Satpal Singh Satti is appointed as Chairman of 6th Himachal Pradesh State Finance Commission.
  6. Former Prime Minister of India (11th) and Karnataka CM, H D Deve Gowda has been appointed as a member of Rajya Sabha.
  7. Amazon signed actor Amitabh Bachchan for its Alexa voice assistant, making him first Indian celebrity to lend his voice to Alexa.
  8. Girija Shanker Mungali has been appointed a member of Asian Football Confederation’s task force, tasked to regulate football clubs in Asia and Australia.
  9. Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) appointed Sunil Sethi, as its advisor.
  10. Government extended term of Uday Kotak as non-executive chairman of debt-ridden IL&FS group by one year.
  11. PSU EESL Appointed Rajat Sud as its Managing Director.
  12. RBI Apponited Actor Amitabh Bachchan for promoting customer awareness campaign, aimed at preventing customers from being duped by fraudsters.
8. R. K. Singh (Minister of State (IC) Power and New & Renewable Energy) launched pan-India Green Term Ahead Market (GTAM) in electricity, aimed at Greening Indian short term power Market.
  1. GTAM aims to benefit buyers of renewable energy through competitive prices and transparent and flexible procurement. It will increase in number of participants in renewable energy sector.
  2. India’s target is 175 GW of RE Capacity by 2022.
9. Industrial Awards (Sep 2020) -
  1. NTPC Team won All India Management Association (AIMA) - Chanakya (Business Simulation Game) National Management Games (NMG) 2020, winning it for first time in five years.
  2. Hyderabad's GMR Rajiv Gandhi International Airport won National Energy Leader and Excellent Energy Efficient Unit awards at 21st National Awards for ‘Excellence in Energy Management’. RINL Vizag Steel Plant also won Excellent Energy Efficient Unit award.
  3. World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Honored West Bengal government for Sabuj Sathi project, under e-government category. Under this 2015 scheme, bicycles are given to students between classes 9 and 12, to reduce issue of dropping out of school.
  4. Kerala Tourism’s ‘Human by Nature’ campaign won PATA (Pacific- Asia Travel Association) Grand Award 2020 for Marketing.
10. Assam Govt approved extsnsion of 3053 hectares in area of Kaziranga National Park. It Includes 7th, 8th, and 9th additions to National park, which is a World Heritage Site, and is home of Asiatic one-horned rhinos.
11. Karnataka Govt approved new Information Technology Policy 2020, to be effective till 2025. It aims at creating 6 million jobs, and enable IT industry to contribute 30% to India’s goal of becoming a 5 trillion-dollar economy.
12. Germany launched its Indo-Pacific strategy with India, expected to play a key role in Germany’s outreach in region, where China’s aggressive foreign policy has been a matter of concern for countries.
13. As per A United States Report on Chinese Military power, Chinese Navy is now largest in world. As per report, Western theatre command of china is oriented towards India.
14. Assam Assembly passed Assam Heritage (Tangible) Protection, Preservation, Conservation and Maintenance Bill 2020, to protect Tangible Heritage that are not currently covered by any law.
  1. Bill seeks to include museum objects such as sculptures, coins, manuscripts, epigraphs and other works of cultural artifacts and craftsmanship.
  2. It is a step towards implementing Clause 6 of Assam Accord, which says that constitutional, legislative and administrative safeguards may be provided to protect social, cultural and linguistic identities and heritage of Assamese people.
15. Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2021 -
  1. Indian Universities -
    1. No Indian institute featured among the top 300 educational institutes in world.
    2. 3 Indian institutes among top 500 in world, down from 9 last year.
    3. Top 5 Indian Universities in List - IISc Bengaluru (301 - 350), IIT Ropar (351 - 400), IIT Indore (401 - 500), BHU (601-800), ICT Mumbai (601-800).
    4. IIT Bombay and IIT Delhi, which were last year in top 5 Indian Universities in list, have now been omitted from list. 7 IITs in List this year, compared to 14 last year.
    5. This year India has 63 Universities in overall list, compared to 56 last year.
  2. Top 5 Global Universities -
    1. University of Oxford (UK), ranked at top for 5th consecutive year.
    2. Stanford University (US)
    3. Harvard University (US)
    4. California Institute of Technology (US)
    5. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (US)
16. Jammu and Kashmir UT Government has set up 10-member Biodiversity Council, to be headed by Chief Conservator of Forests, to look after conservation of biological diversity.
17. Sep 2 is observed as World Coconut Day Globally, declared by UN-ESCAP.
18. Supreme Court granted 10 years to telecom firms to pay back AGR (adjusted gross revenue (AGR) dues amounting to about 1.6 lakh crores.
  1. Telecos will have to pay 10% of dues by 2021, and rest can be paid in installments by March 31, 2031. AGR liability on Vodafone-Idea is Rs approx 58000 crore and Bharti Airtel 44000 crores.
  2. AGR is usage and licensing fee that Department of Telecommunication charges on telecom operators, . It is divided as licensing fees and spectrum usage charges, fixed between 3%-5% and 8% respectively.
Sep 01, 2020
1. Agreement signed between Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) and Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA) for setting up of National Institute of Tribal Research (NITR) at IIPA New Delhi, to be engaged in quality tribal research in collaboration with reputed NGOs in country.
2. Misc. Corporate News (Sep 2020) -
  1. Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) procured 250 electric vehicles from Tata Motors (150 Nexon electric compact SUVs) and Hyundai Motor India (100 Kona electric premium SUVs). This will utilize 5 Million USD from the recent grant provided by Asian Development Bank (ADB).
  2. ICICI Bank launched virtual property exhibition under name ‘Home Utsav’.
  3. ICICI Prudential Life Insurance introduced AI powered voice chatbot, “LiGo”, on Google Assistant, to address policyholders' queries.
  4. Payments Firm LazyPay launched LazyUPI digital credit card, which combines concept of Buy-Now-Pay-Later with UPI, to enable users access to real-time credit using UPI across omnichannel networks.
  5. Govt appointed KPMG-led consortium to advise Ministry of Defence on OFB (Ordnance Factory Board) corporatisation.
  6. On occasion of Bank of India (BoI)’s 115th Foundation Day, It launched an international contactless debit card Signature Visa Debit Card for high net worth individuals, who maintain average quarterly balance of 10 lakhs.
  7. Telecom Firm Vodafone-Idea announced its new unified brand identity, renaming all its products under a new name and logo “Vi”.
  8. ACI Worldwide (Global provider of real-time digital payment solutions) modernized payments infrastructure for ATM and point-of-sale (POS) at State Bank of India (SBI), India’s largest bank.
  9. Mahindra Finance will enter business of online insurance broking giving digital services to customers of its insurance brokerage subsidiary, Mahindra Insurance Brokers, through portal PayBima.
  10. As per Ernst and Young, Indian agriculture sector will rise to about 24 billion by 2025, with more digitalization and diversification.
  11. ICICI Lombard signed bancassurance tie up with Yes Bank, for selling insurance products to bank's customers. ICICI Prudential tied similar pact with NSDL Payments Bank.
  12. Liberty General Partnered with Airline SpiceJet, to Offer ‘Liberty Secure Travel’ an Insurance Policy, with Zero Cancellation Service.
  13. Razorpay Launched Cash Advance, Collateral Free Line of Credit, to Increase MSME Cash Flow, impacted by COVID-19 Pandemic.
  14. ICICI Home Finance launched Apna Ghar Dreamz loan scheme for skilled laborers in informal sector in Delhi.
  15. SBI General Insurance and YES Bank signed corporate agency agreement (bancassurance), to distribute the general insurer’s retail products to Bank's customers.
    1. Yes bank also signed similar bancassurance tie-up with HDFC (Housing Development Finance Corporation) Life.
  16. SBI and Titan partnered to launch contactless payment services through watches, called Titan Pay.
  17. Govt approved restructuring of Board of Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL), including elevating 04 posts of CEOs of Integrated Steel Plants of SAIL as Functional Directors, along with several other changes.
  18. State Bank of Mauritius (SBM) India and Mastercard launched unique debit card customized for refined needs of high net worth customers, called SBM World Debit Card.
  19. Karnataka Vikas Grameena Bank (KVGB) launched gold loan scheme titled Vikas Laghu Suvarna, giving loans up to 15 lakh on reduced interest rate of 7.25 %, and giving 80 % of market value of gold subject to a maximum of 3200 a gram.
  20. IDFC First Bank launched contactless debit card-based payment facility named SafePay, allowing transactions up to Rs 20000 per day. It is first such facility that allows payments by simply waving one's smartphone against a near field communication (NFC)-enabled PoS terminal.
  21. Payments Firm Visa launchd a grant program in India to support women entrepreneurs with its global partner, IFundWomen.
  22. Google Pay partnered with VISA for rollout of tokenization across its platform that will enable users to safely transact with their debit or credit cards.
  23. Volvo Car India partnered with HDFC Bank to launch Volvo Car Financial Services to enable buyers get easy finance for its vehicles.
  24. Flipkart and Bajaj Allianz General Insurance launched a cyber insurance cover for online financial frauds, called Digital Suraksha Group Insurance.
  25. SBI Card launched campaign Contactless Connections, which aims at inspiring optimism during Pandemic.
  26. NABARD began a Sanitation Literacy Campaign (SLC) in Karnataka to promote literacy on ‘WASH’ (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) in 2000 villages.
  27. Yearly Terget MOUs signed by Large PSUs (for 2020-21) -
    1. NTPC - Electricity generation of 340 Billion Units and 15 MMT of coal production.
    2. NHPC - Electricity generation target at 27500 Million Units.
3. Competition Commission of India Approvals (Sep 2020) -
  1. Approved incremental acquisition by SABIC International Holdings (affiliate of Saudi Basic Industries Corporation), of 6.51% shareholding in ClariantAG.
  2. Approved acquisition of Metso Oyj’s minerals business by Outotec Oyj (Both Finland Based Companies).
  3. Approved combination involving acquisition of 20% equity of Piramal Pharma by CA Clover Intermediate II Investments (Curie).
  4. Approved acquisition of Nutrition & Biosciences (Spinco) by International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF), which relates to sole control by IFF, over Nutrition & Biosciences business of DuPont de Nemours, by acquiring control over SpinCo, a company newly formed by DuPont.
  5. Approved acquisition of sole control over Bombardier Transport by Alstom S.A, and acquisition of approximately 18% and 3% share capital of Alstom S.A. by Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ) and Bombardier Inc (Bombardier) respectively.
  6. Approved acquisition of 100% equity shares of Medlife International by API Holdings, and of up to 19.59% equity share capital of API Holdings by Medlife’s shareholders.
  7. Approved demerger of Textiles Business of GHCL Ltd into its wholly owned subsidiary GHCL Textiles Limited. Pursuant to demerger, GHCL will retain its chemicals and consumer products business and GHCL Textiles will have demerged Textiles business.
  8. Approved acquisition of certain real estate projects of RMZ Group and 100% equity shareholding in CoWrks by Brookfield Private Capital (DIFC) Limited. Acquiring entity will be a newly formed company belonging to Brookfield Private Capital (DIFC) Limited.
4. Govt. capped benefits under Merchandise Export from India Scheme (MEIS) at Rs 2 crore per exporter on exports made between September - December 2020 without changing coverage of scheme and applicable rates.
  1. Also, MEIS scheme will be withdrawn from January 1, 2021.
5. Durgapur based CSIR-CMERI (Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute) developed 2 variants of battery operated spray systems - for marginal famers (5 Litres capacity) and small farmers (10 Litres Capacity).
  1. This meets need of small and marginal farmers of having efficient pesticides spraying methods, as they are unable to afford drip irrigatoion systemrs. These farmers use manual sprayers, which cost them much and are not also much efficient.
6. Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu released The State of Young Child in India report, prepared by Mobile Creches, a policy advocacy organisation. As per the report -
  1. Out of 16 Crore children aged below 6 years in India, 21 % are undernourished, 36 % are underweight and 38 % do not receive full immunization.
  2. Based on ranking on Young Child Outcome Index (YCOI) - Kerala, Goa, Tripura and Tamil Nadu are top performers. While eight states - Assam, Meghalaya, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, lag behind national average.
7. Misc. Sports News (Sep 2020) -
  1. Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) accepted proposal of Department of Sports to grant benefit of sports quota to athletes of 20 new disciplines. List of sports which qualify for appointment of meritorious sportspersons under Central Government, is now revised from 43 to 63.
  2. Indian Chess Player P Iniyan won Annual World Open online chess tournament held Virtually.
  3. Cycling Federation of India (CFI) will host first-ever Cycling Summit in 2021, to promote culture of cycling in country.
  4. Windies Cricketer Dwayne Bravo became first cricket ambassador for “SBOTOP” sportsbook brand.
  5. Indian Police Officer Poonam Khatri claimed World Championship status after her silver medal at Wushu World Championship 2019 has been upgraded to a Gold medal. Mariyam, Gold winner in 75 kg category, recently failed dope test, conferring gold medal to Poonam.
  6. Portugese Footballer Cristiano Ronaldo became second male player to score 100 international goals, after hitting his 100th goal for Portugal during UEFA Nations League match against Sweden. First Player to do so is Ali Daei of Iran.
8. To achieve 1 billion tonnes (BT) coal production by 2023-24, Coal India Ltd will invest over Rs. 1.22 lakh crores on about 500 projects by 2023-24, Including 14,200 Crores on 49 First Mile Connectivity projects.
9. Gross GST revenue collected in August 2020 stood at 86449 crores (CGST - 15906, SGST - 21064 crore, IGST - 42264, Cess - 7215 crores).
10. India, Japan and Australia will launch Supply Chain Resilience Initiative, to build resilient supply chains in Indo-Pacific region, an idea Mooted by Japan. This is being done due to China's aggressive practices in Region.

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