Most Important Current Affairs Quiz for 18th, 19th and 20th October
Important Headlines
International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is observed globally on 17 October every year. The day aims to raise awareness of the need to eradicate poverty and destitution around the world, particularly in developing countries.
2020 Theme: “Acting together to achieve social and environmental justice for all”. The theme for the Day this year addresses the challenge of achieving social and environmental justice for all.
36th Raising Day of National Security Guard
The 36th Raising Day of National Security Guard (NSG) is observed on 16 October. NSG plays a crucial role in India’s security apparatus. It has been associated with the utmost courage and professionalism.
The NSG is a Federal Contingency force to deal with anti-terrorist activities. The NSG is a force equipped and trained to deal with the specific situation and is therefore used in exceptional circumstances to thwart serious acts of terrorism.
It was established in 1984, NSG is popularly known as the Black Cats. It is an elite striking force in the country trained and equipped to handle situations like a terrorist attack, hijacking, and hostage captivity.
Useful notes for all competitive exams:
- National Security Guard Headquarters: New Delhi.
- DG of National Security Guard: Anup Kumar Singh.
- The motto of National Security Guard: Sarvatra Sarvottam Suraksha.
National News
Union Education Minister launched “KAPILA” Kalam Program
Union Education Minister, Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ has virtually launched the campaign ‘KAPILA’, which stands for Kalam Program for Intellectual Property Literacy and Awareness campaign on 15th October 2020. The day was launched in honour of 89th birth anniversary celebration of former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam.
Through the campaign, the government will spread awareness through educational programs about the importance of patenting an invention, to lead India towards self-reliance.
In order to promote awareness in the field, the Ministry has decided to celebrate the week from 15 to 23 October as ‘Intellectual Property Literacy Week’.
Various awareness programs will be organised to create awareness about the system and the importance of the process of applying for a patent.
CRPF collaborates with IIT Delhi, DRDO, JATC to augment R&D capabilities
The country’s largest para-military force, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has collaborated with IIT Delhi, Defence Research and Development Organisation, and Joint Advanced Technology Centre (JATC) to augment its Research and Development capabilities.
The CRPF officers/SOs(Subordinate Officers) who are trained by the IIT Delhi will also be associated with joint research projects undertaken by DRDO and IIT Delhi in the field of defence/security tech solutions.
CRPF has over 3 lakh personnel, of which more than 500 officers/SOs holds a degree in Engineering.
Useful notes for all competitive exams:
- Central Reserve Police Force Director-General: AP Maheshwari.
- Central Reserve Police Force Headquarters: New Delhi, India.
SC appoints former judge to monitor steps to prevent stubble burning
The Supreme Court has appointed Justice Madan B Lokur, a former judge of the apex court, as a one-man monitoring committee to prevent stubble burning in the states of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, amid rising levels of pollution in the national capital and adjoining regions.
The bench also directed court-appointed Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) and chief secretaries of Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh to help the Lokur panel with physical surveillance of fields to check instances of stubble burning and other related matters.
J&K L-G announces ‘My Town My Pride’ programme
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha has announced that the government is coming up with a movement called ”My Town My Pride” from October 19 to provide governance at the doorsteps in urban areas on the pattern of the ”Back to Village” programme.
The programme will also ensure that on-the-spot grievance redressal, instant delivery of services to the masses, and on the ground speedy execution of people-centric projects.
The “My Town My Pride” programme anticipates the time-bound delivery of documents like domicile, SC/ST/RBA/ALC/OBC certificates, revenue
services.
This programme will also ensure the time-bound delivery of benefits of various welfare schemes like pensions, scholarships, PMAY, KCC, Health golden cards, Ladli Beti, etc.
International Headlines
Jacinda Ardern wins 2nd term as New Zealand’s PM
The Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern, won a landslide victory in the country’s general election, to be elected as the PM for the second consecutive three-year term.
In the battle against Covid, Ardern was alone among her western peers in pursuing an explicit elimination strategy and imposed one of the strictest nationwide lockdowns in the world.
Useful notes for all competitive exams:
- New Zealand Capital: Wellington.
- New Zealand New Zealand dollar.
Appointments
Rajkiran Rai becomes new chairman of IBA
The Managing Director and CEO of Union Bank of India, Rajkiran Rai G has been elected as the Chairman of Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) for the term 2020-21.
He succeeds Rajnish Kumar as the IBA Chairman after Kumar recently retired as SBI Chief. Apart from this, Dinesh Kumar Khara, the Chairman of State Bank of India has been elected as the deputy chairman of the association.
IBA is an association of banks and other entities in the banking ecosystem in India catering to its members
Useful notes for all competitive exams:
- IBA Headquarters location: Mumbai, Maharashtra.
- IBA Founded: 26 September 1946.
Rohan Jaitley elected unopposed as DDCA President
Advocate Rohan Jaitley, the son of late Union Minister Arun Jaitley, has been elected unopposed as the President of the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA).
He was the single candidate left for the post, as the lone candidate who had filed his nomination against him withdrew his candidature.
GoI extends Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla’s tenure till 2021
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the extension of the tenure of Home Secretary, Ajay Kumar Bhalla till August 22, 2021.
Bhalla, a 1984 batch IAS officer of Assam-Meghalaya cadre, was appointed as Home Secretary in August 2019. He was to superannuate on November 30, 2020.
IWF appoint Michael Irani as interim president
Dr Michael Irani of Great Britain (GBR) has been appointed as the Interim President of the International Weightlifting Federation(IWF), at the meeting of the IWF Executive Board, in accordance with the constitution of IWF.
Michael Irani was appointed following the resignation of IWF President Tamás Aján. Prior to this, Michael Irani was serving as the chairman of the IWF Medical Committee.
Useful notes for all competitive exams:
- International Weightlifting Federation Headquarters: Budapest, Hungary.
- International Weightlifting Federation Founded: 1905.
Vishal V Sharma appointed India’s next permanent representative to UNESCO
Vishal V. Sharma has been appointed as the next Permanent Representative of India to the Permanent Delegation of India to United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), with the rank of Ambassador.
He will replace Jawed Ashraf. Sharma is expected to take up the assignment shortly.
Useful notes for all competitive exams:
- UNESCO headquarters: Paris, France.
- UNESCO Head: Audrey Azoulay.
- UNESCO Founded: 16 November 1945..
Economy
GoI to borrow Rs 1.1 lakh crore to meet shortfall of GST compensation
The central government will borrow Rs 1.1 lakh crore under the special window to meet the shortfall of Goods and Services Tax (GST) compensation.
Under the Special Window, the estimated shortfall of Rs 1.1 lakh cr (assuming all States join) will be borrowed by Government of India in appropriate tranches.
The borrowed amount will be passed on to the States as a back-to-back loan in lieu of GST Compensation. This will not have any impact on the fiscal deficit of the Government of India.
Defence
India successfully test-fires BrahMos missile from INS Chennai
India successfully test-fired the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, from the Indian Navy’s indigenously-built stealth destroyer INS Chennai with the weapon hitting a pre-designated target in the Arabian Sea.
The missile hit the target in the Arabian Sea successfully with pinpoint accuracy after performing high-level and extremely complex manoeuvres.
The highly versatile BrahMos has been jointly designed, developed and produced by India and Russia under the joint venture, BrahMos Aerospace. The supersonic cruise missile can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft, and land platforms.
The missile has a top speed of Mach 2.8, nearly three times the speed of sound. The extended-range BrahMos supersonic cruise missile that can hit targets 400 km away. The range has been increased from the existing 290 km.
8th India-Sri Lanka Maritime Exercise SLINEX-20 begins
The 8th edition of the annual Indian Navy (IN) – Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) bilateral maritime exercise SLINEX-20 starts at Trincomalee, Sri Lanka from 19 to 21 October 2020.
The Indian Navy will be represented by the indigenously built ASW corvettes Kamorta and Kiltan. The Sri Lanka Navy will be represented by SLN Ships Sayura (Offshore Patrol Vessel) and Gajabahu (Training Ship).
The SLINEX-20 will enhance interoperability, improve mutual understanding and exchange best practices and procedures for multi-faceted maritime operations between both navies.
The exercise is being conducted in a non-contact ‘at-sea-only’ format in the backdrop of COVID-19 pandemic. SLINEX series of exercise emphasises the deep engagement between India and Sri Lanka which has strengthened mutual cooperation in the maritime domain.
India conducts successful night trial of nuclear-capable Prithvi-2 missile
India has successfully conducted the night trial of its nuclear-capable Prithvi-2 missile from Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur near Balasore, off Odisha coast.
The user flight trial was carried out by the Strategic Forces Command of the armed force under the watch of DRDO scientists as part of a training exercise.
- The state-of-the-art missile is India’s first indigenous surface-to-surface strategic missile, developed by DRDO under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme.
- The 9-metre tall liquid-propelled Prithvi-2 has a range of 350 km and can carry a 1-tonne warhead.
- It uses Advanced Inertial Guidance System (AIGS) with manoeuvring trajectory to reach the target with a few metre accuracy.
- It has been designed to deliver advanced warheads deep into enemy territory. The missile dives at the target at an 80-degree angle.
Useful notes for all competitive exams:
- DRDO Chairman: Dr G. Satheesh Reddy.
- DRDO Headquarters: New Delhi.
Sports
Pakistan’s fast Bowler Umar Gul announces retirement
Pakistani pace bowler, Umar Gul has announced that he will retire from all forms of cricket. The 36-year-old Gul, who played his last match for Pakistan an ODI in 2016, featured for Balochistan team in the National T20 Cup.
The Peshawar-born Gul made his international debut in an ODI in 2003. He played his first Test that year itself. His last Test was against South Africa in 2013. From 47 Test matches, Gul took 163 wickets at an average of 34.06. He also claimed 179 wickets from 130 ODIs, besides 85 wickets from 60 T20Is.
Obituary
Bihar Panchayati Raj Minister Kapil Deo Kamat passes away
The senior Janata Dal (United) leader Kapil Deo Kamat, who was serving as the Panchayati Raj Minister of Bihar, passed away due to COVID-19.
He was a JDU MLA from Babubarhi assembly constituency in Madhubani district, Bihar.
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