IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF SEPTEMPER 27^th  & 28^th  2019

              IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF SEPTEMBER 27^th & 28^th 2019 

1.      World Heart Day is being observed on 29th September 2019.

a.       The World Heart Day is an international campaign held on 29th September by the World Heart Foundation to inform people about cardiovascular diseases, which are the biggest cause of death.

b.       This day promotes preventative measures to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

c.       Theme of World Heart Day 2019 : "My Heart, Your Heart" 

2.      World Rabies day was observed on 28th September 2019.

a.       World Rabies Day is an international campaign coordinated by the Global Alliance for Rabies Control, a non-profit organization with headquarters in the US and UK.

b.        Theme of World Rabies Day 2019 : “Rabies: Vaccinate to eliminate”

3.      A joint military exercise between India and Kazakhstan named KAZIND-2019 is scheduled to be held in Pithoragarh district, Uttarkhand from 3-15 October 2019.

a.       The main focus of this exercise is counter terrorism operation.

4.      Finance Ministry in a notification announced the deadline to link PAN with Aadhaar has been extended from September 30 to December 31, 2019. 

a.       The government is yet to notify the implications in case the linkage isn't done by the specified deadline. 

b.       The rule regarding the consequences of not linking PAN with Aadhaar was revised in the 2019 Budget.

5.      Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan today launched 'WING - Women Rise Together', a capacity development programme for women-led startups. 

a.       Supported by the government's Startup India, the programme aims to support aspiring and established female entrepreneurs by giving them access to incubation, workshops and investors.

6.      The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has initiated Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) against Lakshmi Vilas Bank (LVB) due to high level of bad loans, lack of sufficient capital to manage risks and negative return on assets for two consecutive years.

a.       The RBI move comes amidst the Delhi Police's Economic Offences Wing registering a complaint against the board of LVB alleging cheating and misappropriation of funds.

7.      India is among the top 20 countries that have improved the most on the World Bank's Ease of Doing Business 2020 report.

a.       India made it easier to do business in four areas measured by the bank's annual survey such as starting a business, resolving insolvency, trading across borders and construction permits.

b.       Note : The detailed report will be published on October 24.

8.      The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has banned the export of all varieties of onions with immediate effect amid rising prices. 

a.       Price of onions touched as much as ₹80 per kilogram in several states across the country.

9.      The Indian Railways has now enabled QR code-based paperless ticket booking at 12 stations of the North Western Railway (NWR) zone.

a.       Travellers can book unreserved tickets at the last minute using the facility.

10. To hear a bunch of petitions related to abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A in Jammu and Kashmir, the Supreme Court has set up a 5-judge Constitution bench. 

a.       The bench will be headed by : Justice NV Ramana.

11. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today launched INS Nilgiri.

a.       INS Nilgiri is the first of the Indian Navy's seven new stealth frigates featuring enhanced stealth features, weapons and sensors.

12. Former Foreign Secretary K.P.S. Menon (Jr.) (90) passed away.

a.       Mr. Menon was Foreign Secretary from 1987 to 1989. 

b.       A 1951 batch of the Indian Foreign Service (IFS), he had also served as Ambassador to Bangladesh, Egypt, Japan, Hungary and China.

13. Mexican singer and six-time Grammy Award nominee José José (71) passed away.

a.       Referred by his fans as 'El Príncipe de la Canción' (The Prince of Song), José had been battling pancreatic cancer. 

14. Joseph Wilson (69), the American diplomat who challenged former US President over the invasion of Iraq, has passed away.

a.       He had disproved allegations used by the Bush administration as grounds for invasion that then-Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein had bought uranium from Africa. 

b.       He was the acting ambassador to Iraq in the run-up to the 1991 Gulf War.

15. Vice President, M Venkaiah Naidu today presented the prestigious Saraswati Samman award to Telegu poet K Siva Reddy for his collection of poems titled Pakkaki Ottigilite (Turning Aside While Lying Down).

a.       This award was conferred by the KK Birla Foundation.

16. Bollywood Actor Ayushmann Khurrana won the Actor of the Year award at the 11th edition of GQ Men of the Year Awards held in Mumbai. 

a.       Shahid Kapoor won the Ultimate GQ Man award and the Rule Breaker of the Year award went to Katrina Kaif. 

b.       Hrithik Roshan was given the Game Changer of the Year award.

17. Eminent Archeologist Dr. G.B. Deglurkar was conferred with prestigious Punyabhushan Award for his long-standing contribution to the field of Indian Archaeology through renowned Deccan College Post graduate & Research Institute. 

18. On the occasion of World Tourism Day, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu has presented the National Tourism Awards for the year 2017-18. Here are some important names :

a.       Best State for Comprehensive Development of Tourism : Andhra Pradesh

b.       Adventure Tourism Category : Goa & Madhya Pradesh

c.       Best Film Promotion Friendly State : Uttarakhand

d.       Best state in innovative use of IT category : Telangana

19. Indian multinational corporation Infosys has won the United Nations Global Climate Action Award (UNGCAA) in the ‘Climate Neutral Now’ category for “Infosys’ Journey to Carbon Neutrality”.

20. The Indian Air Force (IAF) has appointed Air Marshal B Suresh as Western Air Commander of the Air Force in New Delhi. 

a.       He is going to replace Air Marshal Raghunath Nambiar on October 31. 

21. Suresh Chitturi, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of India’s leading poultry firm Srinivasa Farms, has been appointed as Chairman of the International Egg Commission (IEC). 

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF SEPTEMPER 21st  to 26^th  2019

              IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF SEPTEMBER 21st to 26^th 2019 

1.      Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with United Nations chief Antonio Guterres and other world leaders, inaugurated the 50 kilowatt Gandhi Solar Park at the headquarters of the UN in New York. 

a.       The leaders also released a commemorative postage stamp of Mahatma Gandhi issued by the United Nations at the programme 'Leadership Matters: Relevance of Mahatma Gandhi in the Contemporary World'.

2.      Army Chief General Bipin Rawat has confirmed that Balakot terror camp has been reactivated by Pakistan very recently, almost 7 months after Indian Air Force jets bombed the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorist facility there.

3.      Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been nominated by President Reuven Rivlin to form the country's next government. 

a.       Netanyahu's Likud party has won 32 seats and needs support from at least 61 out of the total 120 MPs to form the government. 

4.      The Australian capital of Canberra has become the 1st city in the country to legalise, possessing and growing marijuana for personal use.

5.      The Election Commission of India has announced that elections for Maharashtra and Haryana Assemblies will be held on October 21. 

a.       The elections will be held in a single phase for 288 seats in Maharashtra and 90 seats in Haryana. 

b.       The counting of votes for both the states will take place on October 24.

6.      Rajasthan's cultural festival 'Abhaneri Festival', named after the village Abhaneri in the Dausa district, is being held from September 30 to October 1. 

a.       Abhaneri is popular for the Chand Baori stepwell, one of the largest stepwells built over a thousand years ago. 

b.       The festival will witness various Rajasthani & local folk performances like Kachhi Ghori, Kalbeliya, Ghoomar and Bhawai.

7.      Home Minister Amit Shah has announced that a mobile app will be used in 2021 census. 

a.       This will be the first time in the history of census in India that data will be collected through a mobile app. 

8.      The Supreme Court is going to have a permanent 5-judge Constitution bench from October 1 to decide cases related to the interpretation of Constitution, statutes, and laws. 

a.       Presently, the Constitution bench, comprising a minimum of five judges, is set up on a reference made by a 3-judge bench on complex questions of law, which require authoritative pronouncement.

9.      Madhya Pradesh CM Kamal Nath laid the foundation stone of the Bhopal metro rail project to be set up at a cost of ₹6,941.4 crore. 

a.       The Bhopal metro will be called 'Bhoj Metro', named after Raja Bhoj, the city's erstwhile ruler. 

b.       Around 28 metro stations, including two underground, will be built under the project.

10. The RBI has prescribed a Turn Around Time (TAT) framework to reverse failed digital transactions. 

a.       It directed banks to auto-reverse failed ATM transactions, when the amount is debited but not dispensed, within five days. 

b.       It also prescribed a ₹100-per-day penalty for delay in resolution, adding the amount should be transferred to customers' accounts without waiting for them to file claims.

11. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) increased the withdrawal limit for crisis-hit Punjab and Maharashtra Co-operative (PMC) Bank's customers from the earlier ₹1,000 to ₹10,000 for 6 months. 

a.       With this relaxation, over 60% of the depositors of Mumbai-based bank will be able to withdraw their entire account balance. 

b.       The ₹10,000 limit includes ₹1,000 already withdrawn by the customers.

12. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has announced that the national capital will soon become the "1st state" to implement the Street Vending Act, 2014, to provide legal protection to street vendors and hawkers. "

13. The government has notified an 8.65% interest rate on Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) for 2018-19. 

a.       Around ₹54,000 crore will be credited to the accounts of over 6 crore subscribers of retirement fund body Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO).

b.       This is 10 basis points higher than the EPF interest rate of 8.55% in 2017-18.

14. The government has reconstituted the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister for a period of 2 years, effective from today (26th September 2019). 

a.       Bibek Debroy will continue to be the Chairman and Ratan P Watal will continue to be the Member Secretary. 

b.       While Ashima Goel continues to be one of the part-time members, Sajjid Chinoy was named as the second part-time member.

15. PM Narendra Modi in an India-Pacific Islands Developing States (PSIDS) Leaders' Meeting announced a $150 million line of credit to the member nations for undertaking solar, renewable energy and climate-related projects.

a.       Modi also announced the allocation of a $12-million grant to PSIDS ($1 million each) towards the implementation of high impact developmental projects.

16. The United States signed a deal with El Salvador to help the Central American nation give refuge to more asylum seekers. 

a.       Individuals arriving at the US-Mexico border through El Salvador should be able to seek protection there even if they intend to apply for asylum in the US.

17. Former BCCI president N Srinivasan's daughter Rupa Gurunath is set to become the 1st  woman president of a BCCI affiliated unit as she will take over the position of the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) head. 

18. Army chief General Bipin Rawat will take over as the Chairman of Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC).

a.       He will replace Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa who will be retiring by the end of this month. 

b.       Note : The senior-most among the chiefs of the three services is appointed as the chairman of Chiefs of Staff Committee.

19. Noida-based fintech giant Paytm has promoted its Senior Vice President of Finance Vikas Garg as the startup's Deputy Chief Financial Officer. 

20. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) successfully launched the RamanSat 2 miniature satellite designed by 17-year-old student Aabhaas Sikka. 

a.       The satellite was developed by Sikka during his internship with SPACE India with help from SPACE Group Founder and CMD Sachin Bahmba along with the company's research team.

b.       It is carrying equipment to measure the radiation from Sun and space.

21. ISRO chief K Sivan has announced that India's Mangalyaan mission, which was initially meant to last 6 months, completed 5 years of orbiting Mars. 

a.       "It's working and continuously sending pictures. It still has some time to go," he added. 

22. The UAE's Hazzaa AlMansoori has become the 1st Arab astronaut to reach the International Space Station (ISS). 

a.       Hazzaa was a part of the UAE's armed forces and had worked as a military pilot. 

23. A book titled 'Sridevi: The Eternal Screen Goddess', which is based on the late actress Sridevi's life is going to be released soon.

a.       The book is written by author-screenwriter Satyarth Nayak.

b.       Bollywood Actor Kajol has penned the foreword of the book.

24. Former French President Jacques Chirac (86) passed away.

a.       He served as President for two terms spanning 12 years between 1995-2007 and had twice served as the Prime Minister of the country. 

b.       One of Chirac's political reforms was to cut the presidential term of office from 7 years to 5 years.

25. Former India Test opener Madhav Apte (86) passed away.

a.       Apte was the 4th-oldest living Indian Test cricketer. 

b.       He played seven Tests for India, scoring 542 runs at an average of 49.27 from November 1952 to April 1953. 

c.       He played 67 first-class matches, scoring 3,336 runs and slamming six centuries.

26. Telugu actor Venu Madhav (50) passed away due to kidney-related ailments.

a.       The actor is known for his role in films like, 'Sampradayam', 'Master', 'Tholi Prema', 'Yuvaraju', 'Simhadri', among others.

27. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has received the 'Global Goalkeeper Award' for the 'Swachh Bharat' campaign from Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. 

a.       At the same event, Payal Jangid, a 17-year-old campaigner against child labour and child marriage in Rajasthan, was given the Changemaker Award by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. 

28. The Government of India has instituted the highest civilian award in the field of contribution to the unity and integrity of India, in the name of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. 

a.       The award will be announced on the occasion of the National Unity Day, the birth anniversary of Sardar Patel (October 31). 

b.       This award would consist of a medal and a citation.

29. 16 year old Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg has been awarded the 2019 Right Livelihood Award (also known as Sweden's 'alternative Nobel Prize'). 

a.       She was recognised "for inspiring and amplifying political demands for urgent climate action reflecting scientific facts".

b.       Other winners include :

i)       Davi Kopenawa (Brazilian indigenous leader)

ii)     Guo Jianmei (Chinese lawyer)

30. Zoya Akhtar directorial 'Gully Boy', starring Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt in the lead roles, has been declared as India's official entry for the 92nd Academy Awards (OSCARS) in the Best International Feature Film category. 

a.       'Super Deluxe', 'AndhaDhun' and 'Article 15' were among the other films considered by the jury. 

b.       Note : The Academy Awards will be held on February 9, 2020.

31. NDTV's Ravish Kumar was awarded the 1st Gauri Lankesh Memorial Award for Journalism by the Gauri Lankesh Memorial Trust. 

a.       Important Note : Last month Ravish was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award 2019.

32. Bollywood Actor Amitabh Bachchan has been unanimously selected for the Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2019. 

a.       Dadasaheb Phalke Award is the highest and most acclaimed award in Indian cinema conferred upon a veteran luminary in appreciation of his or her lifetime cinematic achievement.

33. Hollywood actor Tom Hanks will be honoured with Cecil B DeMille Award at the Golden Globe Awards on January 5, 2020.

a.       The award recognises an individual who has made a lasting impact on the film industry. 

34. Billy Porter became the 1st openly gay black man to win the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for 'Pose' at 71st Emmy Awards 2019. 

a.       Jodie Comer won the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for 'Killing Eve'. 

b.       The award for Outstanding Television Movie went to 'Black Mirror: Bandersnatch', while 'Chernobyl' was named Outstanding Limited Series.

c.       'Game of Thrones' season 8 won the Outstanding Drama Series award.

35. Rohtak-born batsman Shafali Verma has become the youngest Indian to play a T20I, achieving the feat at the age of 15 years and 239 days against South Africa. 

a.       Note : The previous record was held by Sneha Deepthi, who had made her debut at the age of 16 years and 204 days against Bangladesh in 2013.

36. Barcelona forward Lionel Messi and 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup-winning US co-captain Megan Rapinoe were named The Best FIFA Men's and Women's Player, respectively. 

a.       Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp and former US women's football team coach Jill Ellis won The Best Men's and Women's Coach award, respectively. 

b.       Hungarian footballer Daniel Zsori won the Puskás Award for his overhead kick goal.