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Current Affairs 02 October 2020
Daily Current Affairs 02 October 2020: This post contains the latest current affairs for 02 October 2020 that are important for all competitive exams like Bank, SSC, IBPS, SBI exams. You can also attempt our Current Affairs Quiz after reading our daily current affairs.
National
Thaawarchand Gehlot e-launches ASIIM initiative to support 1000 Start-ups of SC Youth over next 4 Years
- The Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Shri Thaawarchand Gehlot launched an initiative called the “Ambedkar Social Innovation and Incubation Mission (ASIIM) through Video Conferencing on 30 September 2020 in New Delhi.
- The ASIIM initiative has been launched under the Venture Capital Fund for SCs to promote innovation and enterprise among SC students studying in higher educational institutions.
What is ASIIM?
- Under ASIIM, 1,000 SC youth would be identified in the next 4 years having start-up ideas through the Technology Business Incubators (TBIs) in various higher educational institutions.
- They will be funded @ Rs. 30 lakhs in 3 years as equity funding so that they can translate their start-up ideas into commercial ventures.
- Successful ventures would further qualify for venture funding of up to Rs. 5 Crore from the Venture Capital Fund for SCs.
Venture Capital Fund for SCs
- The Venture Capital Fund for SCs (VCF-SC) was launched by the Ministry of Social Justice in 2014-15 to develope entrepreneurship amongst the SC/Divyang youth and enable them to become ‘job-givers’.
- The fund provides concessional finance to the entities of the SC entrepreneurs.
South Eastern Railway launches ‘Operation My Saheli’ to ensure security of women passengers
- The South Eastern Railway zone of the Indian Railways has launched the ‘Operation My Saheli’ initiative to boost the security of women passengers in trains.
- Currently the Operation has been introduced as a pilo project in three trains since September 18. They are Howrah-Yeshvantpur Duronto Special, Howrah-Ahmedabad Special and Howrah-Mumbai Special.
- The project has been executed under the framework of the ‘Nirbhaya Fund’.
Indian Coast Guard Commissions ICGS ‘Kanaklata Barua’ FPV in Kolkata
- The Indian Coast Guard Fast Patrol Vessel (FPV) ICGS ‘Kanaklata Barua’ was commissioned at the Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd in Kolkata on 30 September 2020.
- Jiwesh Nandan, additional secretary, Ministry of Defence commissioned the CGS Kanaklata Barua through video conferencing.
- The ICGS Kanaklata Barua is the fifth and final ship in the series of five FPVs built by GRSE, for the Indian Coast Guard.
- These FPVs are medium-range surface vessels designed to perform multipurpose operations like patrolling, anti- smuggling, anti-poaching and rescue operations.
Loans & Agreements
Gujarat inks MoU with Denmark in water sector
- The Government of Gujarat has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Denmark in water sector.
- The MoU was signed through online interactive platform between the Gujarat government arm ‘Gujarat Water Supply and Sewerage Board’ and ‘Deanish Water Forum’.
- The MoU will facilitate technology exchange, training, capacity building, knowledge exchange, cooperation in water supply, waste water treatment/reuse and water management.
- It has been signed for five-year period and involves setting up Indo-Danish Water Technology Alliance in Gujarat and contribute to United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal – 6.
BRICS Bank Approves Loan worth USD 741 million for Mumbai Metro & Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Rapid Rail
- The Shanghai-based New Development Bank (NDB) has approved USD 741 million loan for two projects in India which includes Mumbai Metro and the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) Project.
- From the total loan approved by the NDB Board, USD 241 million loan is for the Mumbai Metro Rail II Project.
- The fund will be used for the purpose of implementing a metro rail Line 6 with a length of about 14.47 km to improve Mumbai’s transport and traffic conditions by providing a modern metro system, featuring high-capacity, safe and comfortable mode of transport.
- Apart from this, the NDB Board has approved a loan of USD 500 million for the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS Project.
- The National Capital Region Transport Corporation Limited (NCRTC) will use the fund for construction of a rapid rail corridor connecting the National Capital Territory of Delhi with the cities of Ghaziabad and Meerut located in the state of Uttar Pradesh.
Banking & Economy
CBDT Extends Deadline for filing ITR for assessment year 2019-20 to November 30
- The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has once again extended the last date for filing income tax returns (ITR) for assessment year 2019-20, (financial year 2018-19).
- The new deadline is 30 November 2020. Earlier the last date for filing the ITR of the year concerned was September 30.
- This is the fourth time that the deadline is being extended for AY 2019-20 due to the difficulties being faced by the Covid-19 pandemic.
- It was first revised till June 30, then July 31, then September 30 and now till November 30.
- It must also be noted that the deadline for filing ITR for assessment year 2020-21 (which is financial year 2019-20), is also November 30.
Obituary
Kuwait’s Emir, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmed al-Sabah passes away at 91; Nawaf al Ahmad appointed as new ruler
- The incumbent Emir (King or Ruler) of the Kuwait Sabah al-Ahmed al-Sabah, has passed away. He was 91.
- He had ruled the oil-rich Gulf Arab state since 2006.
- Meanwhile, his half-brother, Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmed, has been named as his successor by the cabinet.
- The 83-year-old Nawaf al-Ahmed took the oath of the office of 30 September 2020.
Veteran Artist KC Sivasankar, illustrator of Vikram and Betaal series, passes away at 97
- The legendary artist KC Sivasankar who is best known for illustrating the Vikram Betaal series, has passed away after long illness. He was 97
- He is also known for illustrating popular children’s magazine Chandamama aka Ambulimama.
- He had contributed to the field of art for over 60 years.
Important Days
International Day of Older Persons: 01 October
- The International Day of Older Persons is observed each year on 1st October since 1991.
- The day aims to raise awareness about issues affecting the elderly, such as senescence and elder abuse, and appreciate the contributions that older people make to society.
- The United Nations General Assembly adopted the day on December 14, 1990.
- Theme 2020: Pandemics: Do They Change How We Address Age and Ageing?
World Vegetarian Day: 01 October
- World Vegetarian Day is observed annually on October 1 globally to raise awareness about the ethical, environmental, health, and humanitarian benefits of a vegetarian lifestyle.
- The day was initiated by the North American Vegetarian Society in Scotland in 1977 during the World Vegetarian Congress.
- The full week between October 1–7 is observed as the International Vegetarian Week (IVW).
International Coffee Day: 01 October
- International Coffee Day is celebrated on 1st October every year to celebrate millions of people across the world who do hard work to create and serve the beverage in the consumable form such as farmers, roasters, baristas, and coffee shop owners etc.
- The first ICD was launched in 2015 by the International Coffee Organization in Milan.
- The theme 2020 of the day is ‘‘Coffee’s Next Generation’’.
International Day of Non-Violence: 02 October
- Every year, 02 October is celebrated as the International Day of Non-Violence, to mark the birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi. This day is referred to as Gandhi Jayanti in India.
- On 15 June 2007 the United Nations General Assembly, voted to establish 2 October as the International Day of Non-Violence.
- The day aims to “spread the message of non-violence, including through education and public awareness.
- The year 2020 marks 151st birth anniversary of the global peace icon who was born on 2 October 1869, in Porbandar in Gujarat.
Current Affairs Quiz – 02 October 2020