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Current Affairs 24 October 2020
Daily Current Affairs 24 October 2020: This post contains the latest current affairs for 24 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
Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh bags top position for implementation of PMGSY
- The Union Ministry of Rural Development has declared the list of top performing 30 districts in the country for implementing the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).
- The Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh has bagged top position in the list for successful implementation of PMGSY programme.
- Total 8 district from Himachal Pradesh have figured in the list. The other districts are Chamba, Shimla, Kangra, Una, Sirmour, Hamirpur and Solan.
- The Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), was launched by the Union government to provide all weather road connectivity to unconnected habitations, having population of more than 250 in the state, as part of a poverty reduction strategy.
Uttarakhand CM Trivendra Rawat Launches Integrated Model Agricultural Village Scheme to boost farmers income and productivity
- The Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat inaugurated the Integrated Model Agricultural Village scheme (Ekikrit Adarsh Krishi Gram Yojana), with the aim to strengthen the economy of farmers and also help in doubling their income.
- The initiative has been launched in partnership with National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).
- The state government has also enhanced the limit for interest free loan to farmers to Rs 3 lakh from Rs 2 lakh .
- NABARD will lend a helping hand to farmers to switch over to mechanised and scientific farming to boost productivity.
NITI Aayog sets up panel headed by Rajiv Kumar for reforms in urban planning education
- The policy think tank NITI Aayog has constituted a 14-member advisory committee to look into introducing reforms in the urban planning education system.
- The panel will be headed by NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman Rajiv Kumar.
Key function of the committee will be to :
- Review the current urban planning education system in India in terms of multi-disciplinarity, curriculum and related issues at graduate and post graduate levels in the context of the challenges posed by rapid urbanization.
- Examine the availability, demand and supply of qualified urban planners in the country.
Indian Bank partners IIT-Madras to launch ‘IND Spring Board’ for funding startups
- State-owned Indian Bank has collaborated with IIT-Madras Incubation Cell (IITMIC) to launch an initiative called ‘IND Spring Board’, for funding start-ups.
- Under the initiative, IITMIC will refer start-ups with proven technology and established cash flows to the Indian bank. It would also extend advisory to the bank on the business model.
- Indian Bank will extend loans of up to Rs 50 crore to these start-ups for their working capital requirements or purchase of machinery and equipment, among others.
International
Andorra Joins IMF as its 190th Member
- Andorra (officially the Principality of Andorra) has joined the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on 16 October 2020, to become its 190th member.
- Andorra is a microstate situated between France and Spain. However, it is the largest microstate in Europe.
- IMF’s Membership allows the Andorran government to benefit from IMF policy advice, especially as the country tackles the crisis caused by COVID-19 and can now receive an annual review or “health check” of its economy by the IMF, tap technical assistance, and access IMF lending if needed.
Appointments
India gets Chairmanship of ILO Governing body after a gap of 35 years
- India has assumed the Chairmanship of the Governing Body of International Labour Organization (ILO), after a gap of 35 years.
- The Labour and Employment Secretary, Apurva Chandra, has been elected as the Chairperson of the Governing Body of the ILO for the period October 2020- June 2021.
- Mr Chandra is a 1988 batch Indian Administrative Service officer of Maharashtra Cadre. He would preside over the upcoming the Governing Body’s meeting, to be held in November 2020.
- The Governing Body is the apex executive body of the ILO which decides policies, programmes, agenda, budget and elects the Director-General. At present ILO (Headquarter- Geneva, Switzerland) has 187 members. It meets three times a year, in March, June and November.
Saad Hariri Reappointed as Lebanon Prime Minister
- Former Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri has been re-appointed to the post on 22 October 2020, after winning a slim majority of votes in parliament election.
- Hariri received 65 parliamentary votes out of 118, giving him the mandate to form his new government.
- Previously he had served as Prime Minister of Lebanon from 9 November 2009 to 13 June 2011 and then from 18 December 2016 to 21 January 2020.
- In October 2019, Hariri announced his resignation amid 2019-20 mass-protests.
- Hariri is the third person to be tasked with forming a government this year, after academic Hassan Diab, who succeeded in forming a government but resigned and then diplomat Mustafa Adib.
Days
International Snow Leopard Day : 23 October
- Every year, October 23 is observed as International Snow Leopard Day since 2014.
- The day commemorates the anniversary of the Bishkek Declaration and to celebrate this endangered cat and raise awareness for its conservation and protection.
- It was on October 23, 2013, when political leaders from 12 countries came together to endorse the ‘Bishkek Declaration’ on the conservation of snow leopards.
- Snow Leopard is found in 12 countries. They are India, Nepal, Bhutan, China, Mongolia, Russia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
World Polio Day: 24 October
- The World Polio Day is celebrated annually on October 24, to raise awareness for polio vaccination and eradication of polio.
- The Day was established by Rotary International to commemorate the birth of Jonas Salk, who led the first team to develop a vaccine against poliomyelitis.
- 2020 theme for World Polio Day is “A win against polio is a win for global health.”
- As of August 2020, Afghanistan and Pakistan are the only two nations which remains with the continued transmission of wild poliovirus.
United Nations Day: 24 October
- Every year 24 October is celebrated as United Nations Day since 1948.
- It was on this day in 1945 that the Charter of the United Nations came into force.
- With the ratification of the UN Charter by the majority of its signatories, including the five permanent members of the Security Council, the United Nations officially came into being.
- It was declared to be an international observance in 1971 by UNGA and that it should be observed as a public holiday by United Nations member states.
- The year 2020 marks the 75th anniversary of the United Nations and its founding Charter.
World Development Information Day: 24 October
- The United Nations’ World Development Information Day is held on October 24 every year.
- The day aims to draw attention of world public opinion to development problems and the need to strengthen international cooperation to solve them for overall growth and development..
- The World Development Information Day was established by the UN General Assembly in 1972, to coincide with the United Nations Day.
Obituary
Malayalam Singer, Music Composer and actor Zero Babu passes away at 80
- Renowned Malayalam playback singer, music director and actor K J Mohammed Babu, has passed away. He was 80.
- He was popularly known as ‘Zero’ Babu, ever since he acted the role and performed a song called Open Zero in a play.
- Babu was a recipient of the Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award.
- Babu has sung in nearly 300 films and various plays.
Current Affairs Quiz – 24 October 2020
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