Current Affairs Today 25th September 2019 | Current Affairs News

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CURRENT AFFAIRS: INTERNATIONAL

Gandhi Solar Park inaugurated at UN headquarters on Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared his thoughts on Mahatma Gandhi at a programme hosted by India in New York.
• Mr Modi along with others world leaders also inaugurated the Gandhi Solar Park at the UN headquarters and released a commemorative stamp issued by the UN on the occasion of Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary.
• UN Secretary-General António Guterres and a number of heads of state were present on the occasion.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred the “Global Goalkeeper” award by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by his government.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: STATE

J&K becomes first state to issue highest number of golden cards under Ayushman Bharat scheme

• Jammu and Kashmir has become the first state in the country to issue highest number of golden cards under Ayushman Bharat-PradhanMantri Jan ArogyaYojana (AB-PMJAY).
• Over 11 lakh golden cards have been generated within first 90 days of the launch of the scheme with 60% families having at least one golden card which is highest in the country.
• This was stated by Chief Executive Officer, State Health Agency, Bhupinder Kumar at a function in Jammu, organized to mark the first anniversary of the launch of Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana in the State.
• Under the scheme, 155 Hospitals including 126 public and 29 private hospitals have been empanelled to provide free and cashless treatment to the entitled beneficiaries while as per Socio Economic Caste Census (SECC) 6.30 lakh poor and vulnerable families of J&K are entitled for it.

USEFUL INFO
Jammu & Kashmir Capital	Jammu & Srinagar
Jammu & Kashmir CM	Vacant
Jammu & Kashmir Governor	Satya Pal Malik

Jitendra Singh inaugurated the Cane and Bamboo Technology Park at Burnihat, Assam

• The Union Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurated the Cane and Bamboo Technology Park-cum-Office  Premises of Cane and Bamboo Technology Centre (CBTC) at Burnihat, Assam
• The Bamboo Technology Park has been developed to exclusively deal with Bamboo & Cane, catering to the needs of the industries, entrepreneurs, designers, crafts persons, rural people, teachers, policy makers, technicians and technologists
• The Cane and Bamboo Technology Centre (CBTC) was established in Guwahati as a centre for “Cane and Bamboo Technological Up gradation and Networking Project” implemented by NEDFi under the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)country program for India

USEFUL INFO
Assam Capital	Dishpur
Assam CM	Sarbananda Sonowal
Assam Governor	Jagdish Mukhi

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BANKING AND FINANCE

ADB predicts Indian economy to grow 6.5 % in FY19, 7.2 % in FY20

• The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has revised its outlook (Asian Development Outlook 2019) for India’s economy with growth now expected at 6.5 per cent in fiscal year (FY) 2019 and 7.2 per cent in FY20
• In July, ADB had forecast 7 per cent growth for FY19 and 7.2 per cent in FY20.
• India’s fiscal year starts on April 1 and ends March 31 of the next calendar year

USEFUL INFO
Asian Development Bank (ADB)
President	Takehiko Nakao
Headquarters	Mandaluyong, Philippines

PMC Bank customers can not withdraw more than ₹1,000 from their accounts, says RBI

• The Reserve Bank of India has put restrictions on the amount depositors of Mumbai-based Punjab and Maharashtra Cooperative Bank (PMC Bank) can withdraw from their accounts with the urban co-operative bank.
• The issue of the directions to PMC Bank should not be construed as cancellation of banking licence by the central bank. PMC Bank can continue to undertake banking business with restrictions till further notice/instructions from RBI.
• As on March 2019, PMC Bank had business of Rs 20,000 crore consisting of Rs 11,617 crore deposits and Rs 8,383 crore advances. The bank will do business with restrictions till further notice or directions by RBI.
• The bank has 137 branches in 6 states including those in New Delhi. It had 3.76% gross non-performing assets (NPAs) and net 2.19 % NPAs as at the end of March 2019.

SBI Life signs corporate agency pact with Repco Home Finance

• SBI Life Insurance has signed a corporate agency agreement with city-based Repco Home Finance Ltd to offer the company’s range of products to RHFL customers.
• According to the agreement, the partnership would see over 148 branches and 27 satellite centres of RHFL spread across the country to offer SBI Life Insurance products to its customers.
• Through this partnership, SBI Life Insurance will reach more new customers across geographies to meet their diverse insurance needs.
• The corporate agency agreement was signed by RHFL CFO T Karunakaran, General Manager K Prabhu and SBI Life, Regional Director, E ThirumudiPandian in the presence of Repco Home Finance Ltd MD and CEO, Yashpal Gupta and others.

Pine Labs and Federal Bank join hands to offer EMIs

• Merchant focussed company, Pine Labs announced that it has entered into a strategic alliance with Federal Bank to offer equated monthly instalments (EMIs) on debit card-based offline transactions to all the bank’s customers.
• The objective of this association is to provide affordability solution to debit card-holders of Federal Bank by way of POS-based EMI solutions.
• The tie-up focused on technology and analytics to deliver customer-centric digital services.
• Pine Labs currently offers credit and debit card EMI services in over 1.20 lakh stores across 85,000 merchants in India. It has created a network of 90 brands and 19 banking and financial institutions.

USEFUL INFO
Federal Bank MD & CEO	Shyam Srinivasan
Federal Bank Headquarters	Aluva, Kerala
Federal Bank Tagline	Your Perfect Banking Partner

CURRENT AFFAIRS: APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATION

Kotak Mutual Fund’s Nilesh Shah appointed as new Amfi chairman

• Nilesh Shah, Managing Director of Kotak Asset Management Company (AMC), has been appointed as the new chairman of the Association of Mutual Funds in India (Amfi), with immediate effect.
• Nilesh Shah succeeded Managing Director, and CEO of ICICI Prudential Asset Management Company, Nimesh Shah, who was appointed to the post in 2018.
• The board has also appointed Saurabh Nanavati, Chief Executive Officer, Invesco Mutual Fund, the new Vice-Chairman of AMFI
• Amfi was incorporated on August 22, 1995, as a non-profit organisation. As of now, all the 44 asset management companies that are registered with Sebi, are its members.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: AWARDS AND HONOURS

Journalist Ravish Kumar receives first Gauri Lankesh Memorial Award

• Senior journalist and Ramon Magsaysay awardee Ravish Kumar received the first Gauri Lankesh Memorial Award in Bengaluru.
• He was chosen for the award for sharp news analysis and uncompromising secular stance by the Gauri Lankesh Memorial Trust, founded in memory of the journalist.
• Three books launched at the event titled Delhi Nota by senior journalist D Umapathi, Ravish Kumar’s ‘Free Voices’ translated as Maatige Enu Kadime and Neera Nade by Prof Vinaya Okkunda.

Amitabh Bachchan selected for Dadasaheb Phalke award

• Veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan has been named for the prestigious Dada Sahab Phalke award for his outstanding contribution to the film industry.
• The award is named after the father of Indian cinema, Dhundiraj Govind Phalke, and is considered the highest honour for an artiste in Indian cinema.
• The award was introduced by the Government of India to commemorate Dadasaheb Phalke’s contribution to Indian cinema in 1969
• The government honoured him with the Padma Shri in 1984, the Padma Bhushan in 2001 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2015 for his contributions to the arts.

Government of India has instituted ‘Sardar Patel National Unity Award

• The Government has instituted the ‘Sardar Patel National Unity Award ‘ for outstanding contribution by an individual, group or institution for the unity and integrity of India
• The award will be the Highest Civilian Award for contribution to Unity and Integrity of India.
• This highest civilian conferment will be announced on October 31 every year on the occasion of the National Unity Day, the day nation celebrates the birth anniversary of Sardar Patel.
• The award shall be conferred by the President with a citation presented by him in a presentation ceremony along with the Padma award ceremony held in Rashtrapati Bhawan
• The Award would consist of a medal and a citation. No monetary grant or cash award would be attached to this Award.
• Not more than three Awards would be given in a year. It would not be conferred posthumously except in very rare and highly deserving cases

Pooja Desai from Vadodara crowned Mrs. India – Pride of Nation 2019

• Pooja Desai crowned as Mrs. India – Pride of Nation 2019 along with the subtitle of Mrs. India – Most Beautiful Hair.
• She was the only contestant from Vadodara and first one from Gujarat to win this title.
• The grand finale, organized by Glamour Gurgaon, was held at The Leela Ambience, Gurgaon
• The competition was judged by celebrities like Padmini Kolhapure and Nayani Dixit among others.
• This pageant was the vision of Barkha Nangia, Director of Glamour Gurgaon, to equip enterprising women with skills and opportunities to pursue their dreams even after marriage.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BOOKS AND AUTHORS

Roopa Pai’s “From Leeches to Slug Glue 25 Explosive Ideas that Made and Are Making Modern Medicine” to be released

• Indian journalist and children’s author Roopa Pai’s book titled From Leeches to Slug Glue: 25 Explosive Ideas that Made (and Are Making) Modern Medicine will be released on 28 September. The book is published by publisher Puffin Books.
• The book will trace the origins of path-breaking experiments and discoveries in the evolution of science and medicine spanning over 2,500 years and several geographies.
• The book also offers a view of how science and medicine have advanced through the ages, across continents.

‘Girl Power: Indian Women Who Broke The Rules’ by Neha J Hiranandani

• ‘Girl Power: Indian Women Who Broke The Rules‘ written by author Neha J Hiranandani was released.
• The book is about the stories/achievements of 50 Indian women role models. The book is published by Scholastic India.
• Some of the women featured in the list were badminton player PV Sindhu, actress Priyanka Chopraa and real life heroines such as Subhasini Mistry, who won Padma Bhushan for healthcare,Chandro Tomar, the octogenarian sharpshooter, popularly known as ‘Revolver Dadi’, queen Abbakka of Chowta dynasty etc.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: SUMMITS AND CONFERENCE

Shri Nitin Gadkari inaugurates 16th Global SME Business Summit

• Union Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Road Transport & Highways Shri Nitin Gadkari has said that reducing the cost of capital, logistics and power are crucial for making the Indian MSME sector globally competitive. The Minister inaugurated the 16^th Global SME Business Summit 2019 in New Delhi.
• The Summit is organized every year by Ministry of MSME and Confederation of Indian Industries (CII).
• Government’s target is to increase MSME’s  present share of 29 percent of GDP to 50 percent in next five years and raise its export contribution from 49 percent to  60 percent . To achieve these targets logistics, power and capital cost will need to be reduced.
• The theme this year is Making Indian MSMEs Globally Competitive.

Climate Action Summit 2019

• UN Climate Action Summit was held in New York, United States to address the global climate emergency.
• UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will convene a summit to mobilize political and economic energy at the highest levels to advance climate action that will enable implementation of many of the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
• The UN 2019 Climate Summit will convene on the theme, ‘Climate Action Summit 2019: A Race We Can Win. A Race We Must Win.’
• It will seek to challenge states, regions, cities, companies, investors and citizens to step up action in the areas of energy transition, climate finance and carbon pricing, industry transition, nature-based solutions, cities and local action, and resilience.

5th India International Science Festival to be held in Kolkata

• The 5th edition of India International Science Festival (IISF) 2019 will be held at Kolkata from 5th to 8th November, 2019.
• The Union Minister for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences and Health & Family Welfare, Dr. Harsh Vardhan announced this at Press Conference in New Delhi
• “IISF 2019 will play a crucial role in promoting love and passion of science among students by bringing science outside the lab.
• The theme for this year’s festival is RISEN India – Research, Innovation, and Science Empowering the Nation.
• India International Science Festival (IISF) is an annual event organised jointly by science & technology- related Ministries and Departments of the Government of India and Vijnana Bharati (Vibha)
• The IISF 2019 is the fifth edition since its inception in 2015. The first and second IISF were held in New Delhi, the third in Chennai and the fourth IISF was held in Lucknow,

CURRENT AFFAIRS: RANKING

Infosys, TCS among 17 Indian firms in Forbes best ‘regarded’ companies list

• As many as 17 Indian companies, including Infosys, TCS and HDFC, have been named in the list of World’s Best Regarded Companies compiled by Forbes.
• IT major Infosys has been ranked third in the list of World’s Best Regarded Companies, along with global payments technology company Visa and Italian car-maker Ferrari on the first and second position, respectively.
• Infosys jumped to the third spot from 31st position in 2018.
• The other top ten companies in the list for 2019 are Netflix at the 4th position, followed by PayPal (5), Microsoft (6), Walt Disney (7), Toyota Motor (8), Mastercard (9), Costco Wholesale (10).
• Indian companies Tata Consultancy Services (22nd position) and Tata Motors (31) featured among the top 50 in the coveted list.
• Other Indian companies in the list include Tata Steel (105), Larsen & Toubro (115), Mahindra & Mahindra (117), HDFC (135), Bajaj Finserv (143), Piramal Enterprises (149), Steel Authority of India (153), HCL Technologies (155), Hindalco Industries (157), Wipro (168), HDFC Bank (204), Sun Pharma Industries (217), General Insurance Corporation Of India (224), ITC (231) and Asian Paints (248).

CURRENT AFFAIRS: DEFENCE

Indian, Japanese and U.S. maritime forces to participate in exercise Malabar 2019

• The 23rd edition of the Trilateral Maritime Exercise MALABAR, is scheduled between the navies of India, Japan and USA from 26 Sep to 04 Oct 19 off the coast of Japan.
• Two frontline indigenously designed and built Indian Naval Ships, the Multipurpose Guided Missile Frigate Sahyadri and Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Corvette Kiltan, arrived at Sasebo, to participate in the Exercise.
• In addition to the ships, a ‘P8I’ Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft, also arrived in Japan for the Exercise
• MALABAR 2019 would endeavour to further strengthen India – Japan – US Naval cooperation and enhance interoperability, based on shared values and principles.
• The Exercise would encompass conduct of complex maritime operations in the surface, sub-surface and air domains, and focus on Anti-Submarine Warfare, Anti-Air and Anti-Surface Firings, Maritime Interdiction Operations (MIO) including Visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS) and tactical scenario based Exercise at Sea

ICGS ‘Varaha’ commissioned by Defense Minister Rajnath Singh

• Defense Minister Rajnath Singh formally commissioned the Coast Guard offshore patrol vessel ‘Varaha’ at the Chennai Port Trust.
• The ICGS Varaha, the fourth in the series of seven 98-m Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV) of the Indian Coast Guard (ICG)
• The ship will have on board 14 officers and 89 men
• The ship has been designed and built indigenously by Larsen & Toubro (L&T) at its Katupalli ship building yard in North Chennai.

USEFUL INFO
Defence Minister	Raj Nath Singh
Constituency	Lucknow,Uttar Pradesh

CURRENT AFFAIRS: SPORTS

Lionel Messi wins best men’s player of the year

• Barcelona’s Lionel Messi won the best men’s player at the Best Fifa Football Awards in Milan as Juventus’ Cristiano Ronaldo and Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk missed out on the top prize.
• It is the sixth time Messi has been voted the world’s best, after wins in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2015.
• United States forward Megan Rapinoe won the best women’s player award.
• Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson was also a winner as he took the best goalkeeper prize ahead of Manchester City’s Ederson and Barcelona’s Marc-Andre terStegen.
• Sari van Veenandaal wins The Best Women’s Goalkeeper award. She was one of the integral parts of Netherlands’ Women’s World Cup campaign.
• Marcelo Bielsa and Leeds United squad wins the FIFA Fair Play award.
• The World Cup winner Jill Ellis wins The Best Women’s Coach award. She guided the United States to back-to-back victories in the World Cup and is the first coach ever to win two Women’s World Cup.

Aditi best Indian at Ladies French Open golf

• India’s Aditi Ashok was the best Indian at the Lacoste Ladies Open de France as she shot even par 71 in the final round to finish Tied-26th here.
• While Aditi ended with a total of 289, DikshaDagar (72) was Tied-43rd and Tvesa Malik (74) was Tied-63rd.
• American Nelly Korda shot a four-under 67 to win her first Ladies European Tour title.
• Korda has won two titles on the LPGA Tour and one on the Symetra Tour.

Cyprus, Israel to host U17 European Championship in 2021, 2022

• Cyprus and Israel have been chosen to host the UEFA European Under-17 Championship final tournaments of 2021 and 2022 respectively
• While Romania and Slovakia have been chosen to host the UEFA European U19 Championship final tournaments of 2021 and 2022, respectively