12 October 2019 - Daily Current Affairs
1. Amit Shah inaugurates 14th Annual Convention of CIC
- Home Minister Amit Shah has inaugurated the 14th annual convention of the Central Information Commission (CIC) in New Delhi.
- All the present and former Chief Information Commissioners, Information Commissioners of the Central Information Commission, State Information Commission, RTI activists and NGOs associated with the implementation of the RTI Act will attend the Convention.
- Gandhian thought and RTI,
- RTI as a tool for effective governance, and
- challenges ahead
- The Central Information Commission (CIC) is the authorised body (established in 2005), under the Government of India to act upon complaints from those individuals who have not been able to submit information requests to a Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer.
- The Chief Information Commissioner of India: Sudhir Bhargava
2. Power Minister inaugurates Conference of Power & Renewable Energy Ministers of States and UTs
- Union Minister of State for Power and New & Renewable Energy (I/C) Shri RK Singh inaugurated the two-day ‘Conference of Power and Renewable Energy Ministers of States and UTs’ at Tent City, Narmada, Gujarat.
- The Conference is being attended by the Energy Ministers and top officials of energy departments of the States.
- The Conference will see deliberation over a range of issues pertaining to power and renewable energy sector such as – 24/7 power supply for all, Ease of doing business, Sanctity of contracts, regulatory issues, implementation of various schemes.
- Power Finance Corporation (PFC) a PSU under the Ministry of Power has appointed ICRA and CARE as the designated credit rating agencies for carrying out the rating exercise.
3. Narendra Singh Tomar inaugurates first-ever ‘India International Cooperatives Trade Fair’
- Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Shri Narendra Singh Tomar has inaugurated the first-ever ‘India International Cooperatives Trade Fair’(IICTF) at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.
- This unique three-day forum aims to promote cooperative-to-cooperative trade within India and abroad leading to enhanced rural and farm prosperity.
- It also provides an opportunity for participating countries to showcase their products in the Indian market.
4. Railway police’s website & mobile app “Sahyatri” launched
- Union Minister Nityanand Rai has launched a Government Railway Police’s website “railways.delhipolice.gov.in” and a mobile application “Sahyatri”.
- The database of criminals, including their photographs, active in railways’ jurisdiction all over India would be uploaded on the Railway police’s website.
- It will also have the facility to scan and read QR codes and make an emergency call.
- The 'Sahyatri 'app will help railway passengers find out the jurisdiction of a police station and the details of GRP officials by geotagging with Google Maps.
- It will also help the railway police in addressing complaints of passengers from across India and crime detection by integrating the criminal database online.
5. Govt collaborates with IIM Bangalore to launch Mahatma Gandhi National Fellowship
- The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) announced its partnership with the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Bangalore to launch a new programme 'Mahatma Gandhi National Fellowship'.
- The two-year Fellowship programme will be delivered by IIMB’s Centre of Public Policy (CPP).
- The programme will be launched on a pilot basis in Gujarat, Karnataka, Meghalaya, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
- Those who have a graduate degree from a recognised university and are citizens of India in the age group of 21-30 years will be eligible to apply for it.
6. PM Modi’s new aircraft with missile defence systems will land in June 2020
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two brand-new special aircraft that will reach India next year may be placed under the Indian Air Force rather than Air India.
- The two long-haul Boeing 777-300ER aircraft are being customised at Boeing’s Dallas facility and are expected to arrive in New Delhi on June 2020.
- Missile defence systems that will make the aircraft as secure as the Boeing 747-200B used by US President Donald Trump.
- It will be India’s first dedicated aircraft for the three dignitaries - the President, Vice President and Prime Minister.
7. Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board organizes City Walk Festival in 11 cities
- Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board has organized a month-long City Walk Festival in 11 cities (from 12th October to 10th November).
- The City Walk Festival organized in Bhopal, Indore, Ujjain, Gwalior, Panna, Vidisha, Khajuraho, Chanderi, Jabalpur, Burhanpur and Orchha.
- In a unique way to promote tourism, local, national and international tourists of all age groups is participating in the festival.
- More than 100 city walks organized during the festival on subjects including art, culture, heritage, food, textile, photography and spiritualism.
- In this festival, the tourists will be acquainted with the rich heritage, natural beauty, glorious history, traditions and ancient heritage of the Madhya Pradesh.
Honour & Awards
8. Abiy Ahmed Ali win 2019 Nobel Peace Prize
- The Nobel Peace Prize 2019 was awarded to Abiy Ahmed Ali "for his efforts to achieve peace and international cooperation, and for his decisive initiative to resolve the border conflict with neighbouring Eritrea.
- Current, Abiy Ahmed Ali is the Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (since 2 April 2018).
- He was awarded for his work in ending the 20-year stalemate between Ethiopia and Eritrea.
- The Nobel Peace Prize is one of the five Nobel Prizes (Chemistry, Physics, Physiology or Medicine, and Literature) established by the will of Swedish industrialist, inventor, and armaments manufacturer Alfred Nobel.
9. Health Minister gives Kayakalp Awards to hospitals
- Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan gave away Kayakalp Awards to different Central Government institutions, district hospitals, community health centres and private hospitals for their work in maintaining high standards of sanitation and hygiene in public health facilities.
- In the Central Government institutions, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi bagged a cash prize of three crore rupees,
- While, Jawaharlal Institute of Post-graduate Medical Education & Research, Puducherry received a cash award of 1.5 crore rupees.
10. Ashleigh Barty wins ‘The Don’ Award
- Ashleigh Barty has been awarded Australian sport’s highest individual honour ‘The Don’ Award at the annual Sport Australia Hall of Fame.
- Now, she has joined legends like Cathy Freeman and Ian Thorpe in lifting the prestigious prize.
- Barty was the first Australian to win the French Open in 46 years and is now aiming to become the first Australian woman to end the season with the No.1 ranking since Margaret Court in 1973.
Important Days
11. 12th October: World Migratory Bird Day
- World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) 2019 is being observed on 12th October (second Saturday of October).
- The WMBD is an annual awareness-raising campaign highlighting the need for the conservation of migratory birds and their habitats.
- The theme for 2019: Protect Birds: Be the Solution to Plastic Pollution!
International Affairs
12. The 2019 C40 World Mayors Summit in Copenhagen
- Copenhagen is hosting the C40 Summit in Copenhagen, Denmark. (9th October to 12th October 2019)
- The main objective of the summit is to show how cities are delivering their strong commitments for healthier, sustainable, resilient and inclusive future.
- The 2019 summit in specific aims to build a global coalition of cities, citizens and businesses that rallies around ambitious climate action that the earth needs right now.
- The 2019 marks 14 – year establishment of C40 Leadership group.
Science & Defence
13. NASA launches a satellite to explore where air meets space
- The NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) launched a satellite called ‘Icon’ to explore the mysterious, dynamic region where air meets space.
- The satellite ‘Icon’ is short for Ionospheric Connection Explorer- rocketed into orbit following a two-year delay.
- It was dropped from a plane flying over the Atlantic off the Florida coast.
- Five seconds after the satellite's release, the attached Pegasus rocket ignited, sending Icon on its way.
Banking & Finance
14. Moody’s cuts India’s GDP growth forecast to 5.8% for FY20
- US-based Major credit rating agency Moody's Investors Service estimated that the Indian economy expected to 5.8% from 6.2%. in the financial year 2020.
- It stated that the Indian economy is experiencing a pronounced slowdown partly due to long-lasting factors.
- Moody's Investors Service was established in 1909, headquarters in New York, USA.
- Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC: was founded in 1860, headquarters in New York, USA, subsidiary of S&P Global.
- Fitch Ratings: was founded in 1914, headquarters in New York City and London.
Sports
15. Mary Kom settles for bronze at World Women’s Boxing Championships
- Mary Kom Settles for Bronze (in 51-kg division) medal after Losing Intense Semi-final at Women's World Boxing Championships 2019 in Russia.
- She lost her semi-final bout against Turkey's Buse naz Cakirogllu.
- The 2019 AIBA Women's World Boxing Championships are held in Ulan-Ude, Russia.
