Current Affairs 24 October 2020

Important Day

1. World Development Information Day

• World Development Information Day is celebrated on 24 October every year.
• It is celebrated to draw the attention of the world to development problems and the need to strengthen international cooperation to solve them.

Appointment

2. Dabur Honey appoints Ritabhari Chakraborty as its Brand Ambassador

• Dabur Honey has unveiled a new campaign “Aaj theke shudhu, chini noy, madhu”, featuring Ritabhari Chakraborty with famous Bengali song by Asha Bhonsle “Jaabo ki jaabo na”.
• The campaign aims to create awareness about importance of Honey for health.
• Dabur Founder : S.K. Burman (in 1884)

National

3. Ministry of Union Housing and Urban Affairs launches ‘e-Dharti Geo portal’

• It will integrate legacy drawings such as maps and lease plans in management information system.
• It will allow data to become geographic information system enabled.
• Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs : Hardeep Singh Puri.

4. Uttarakhand launches Integrated Model Agricultural Village scheme

• Uttarakhand Chief Minister inaugurated Integrated Model Agricultural Village scheme (Ekikrit Adarsh Krishi Gram Yojana) in the state in partnership with NABARD.
• This Scheme will help in strengthening the economy of farmers and doubling their income.
• Uttarakhand Capitals : Dehradun (Winter), Gairsain (Summer).
• CM : Trivendra Singh Rawat 

5. Tamil Nadu implements Smart Black Board scheme

• Tamil Nadu has launched the Smart Black Board scheme in 80,000 government schools to ensure better teaching environment.
• The scheme envisages usage of audio visual teaching material that can be fed into computer screens in classes using pen drives.
• Tamil Nadu Capital : Chennai.
• CM : Edappadi K. Palaniswami.

6. Indian Railways Launches Freight Business Development Portal to Boost Freight Business

• Aim of the portal is to motivate new customers to transport goods through railways and provide better facilities to existing customers.
• Indian Railway is 3rd largest railway network in world by size.

7. India gained decade of life expectancy since 1990: Lancet study

• The study, published in Lancet journal, noted that life expectancy in India has risen from 59.6 years in 1990 to 70.8 years in 2019, ranging from 77.3 years in Kerala to 66.9 years in UP.
• It states that 58% of total disease burden in India is due to NCDs.
• It assessed causes of death & disease in more than 200 countries.

8. NTPC ranks first among Indian PSUs in Forbes’ ‘World’s Best Employer 2020’

• The employers were judged based on their COVID-19 responses, image, economic footprint, talent development, gender equality, and social responsibility.
• NTPC Founded: 1975.
• HQs : New Delhi, India.

9. EC sets up panel to revise expenditure limit for Lok Sabha, assembly polls

• Election Commission has set up a committee to examine issue of revising expenditure limit for candidates for Lok Sabha & assembly polls.
• It will examine in view of increase in no. of electors & rise in Cost Inflation Index.
• Committee comprises of Harish Kumar & Umesh Sinha.
• The expenditure limit for candidates was last revised in 2014.

Economy

10. Cabinet approves procurement of 12 lakh tonne apple in J&K

• Cabinet approved extension of a scheme under which National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation will procure 12 lakh tonne apple in J&K during 2020-21 season.
• NAFED has been allowed to use the Government guarantee of ₹2,500cr for this operation.
• J&K Capitals (winter) : Jammu.
• Capitals (Summer) : Srinagar

11. India’s biggest property deal, RMZ to sell $2bn of offices to Brookfield

• Raj and Manoj Menda owned developer RMZ Corp will sell 12.5mn sq.ft. of its commercial properties to Canada’s Brookfield Asset Management in the biggest real estate deal in India.
• RMZ will sell a part of its core portfolio across Bengaluru & Chennai.
• Canada PM : Justin Trudeau.
• Capital : Ottawa.

12. Meghalaya launches ‘micro ATM’ service in rural areas

• Meghalaya CM has launched ‘micro ATM’ service in rural areas.
• He distributed handheld devices through which money could be withdrawn to banking correspondent agents.
• Initiative is being promoted by Meghalaya State Rural Livelihood Society, MRB & NABARD.
• Meghalaya Capital : Shillong.
• CM : Conrad Sangma.

13. Indian Navy gets first batch of women pilots for Maritime Reconnaissance missions

• Indian Navy got its first batch of women pilots for Maritime Reconnaissance (MR) missions on Dornier aircraft.
• Lieutenant Shubhangi Swaroop, Divya Sharma and Lt Shivangi were operationalised by the Southern Naval Command.
• Chief of Naval Staff : Admiral Karambir Singh.

14. Andhra Pradesh launched YSR Bima for BPL families

• Andhra Pradesh CM launched ‘YSR Bima’ scheme under which 1.41crore BPL families possessing white ration-cards will be provided insurance cover for death & permanent disability.
• The State will pay Rs. 510crore towards premium every year.
• AP CM : Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy.
• Governor : Biswabhusan Harichandan

Defence

15. DRDO successfully conducts final trial of Nag anti-tank guided missile

• India successfully carried out the final trial of the DRDO-developed Nag anti-tank guided missile with a warhead.
• The test was carried out at the Pokhran field firing ranges in Rajasthan.
• The Nag anti-tank missile is ready for induction in the Indian Army.

Sports

16. Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports appoints Bimal Julka as chairman

• Bimal Julka, former chief information commissioner of the Govt. of India.
• Julka is taking over from John Loffhagen.
• FIFS Formed : 2017.
• Head Quarters : Gurugram, Haryana.

Obituary

17. Jaya Suvarna passes away

• Former chairman of Bharat Cooperative Bank (Mumbai) Ltd. and founder-president of Rashtriya Billava Mahamandala Jaya C. Suvarna passed away.
• He was 74.
• He was also the honorary president of Kudroli Gokarnanatheswara Temple Development Committee, Mangaluru.
• Bharat Cooperative Bank Ltd. founded : 1978.