SPOTLIGHT

Monthly Current Affairs

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SPOTLIGHT – SEPTEMBER
2020
BY- ANUJ JINDAL
 KEY BENEFITS OF OUR COURSES

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Table of Contents
NATIONAL NEWS ..................................................................................................................................... 4
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING .............................................................................................................. 82

INTERNATIONAL NEWS .......................................................................................................................... 87

BANKING AND ECONOMY .....................................................................................................................105
GDP FORECASTS .............................................................................................................................................. 134

APPOINTMENTS ....................................................................................................................................138
IMPORTANT DAYS ................................................................................................................................143
AWARDS ...............................................................................................................................................150
SPORTS .................................................................................................................................................159
MISCELLANEOUS ...................................................................................................................................161
QUESTIONS ...........................................................................................................................................166
ANSWERS .............................................................................................................................................197
 NATIONAL NEWS
1. In order to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Poland’s solidarity movement, Qutub Minar
was illuminated in Poland’s national flag colours (white and red).
• Solidarity movement (began in 1980) – it was a non-violent revolt against the authoritative
communist parties of Poland. In 1989, first partially free elections were held in Poland
(which led to the solidarity of Poland).
• Tadeusz Mazowiecki became the first non-communist leader of Poland in 1989.

2. Department of Economic Affairs has issued a notification to give the status of an

infrastructure project to Affordable Rental Housing Complex (ARHC) by including ARHCs
in the harmonized list of infrastructure sub-sectors.
• ARHC was launchefd in July as a sub-scheme under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana
(PMAY) to provide rental apartment to urban migrants.

3. Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Sh. Ram Vilas Paswan has
reviewed the implementation of “One Nation One Ration Card” scheme (effective from July 1,
2020).
• After inclusion of Ladakh and Lakshdweep, there are a total of 26 States/UTs connected
with each other under the One Nation One Ration Card scheme.
• The scheme allows beneficiaries in these 26 States/UTs to access their subsidised food
grains from any Fair Price Shop (FPS) of their choice w.e.f. 1st September 2020.
• Remaining States/UTs are targeted to be integrated within the scheme by March 2021.

4. Minister of New and Renewable Energy R K Singh has launched the pan-India Green Term
Ahead Market (GTAM) in electricity.
• Purpose: - to incentivize the renewable energy producing states and promote production of
renewable energy.
• The facility will allow selling off the power by the producers of renewable energy in the open
market without getting into long term Power Purchase Agreements.
 • G-TAM will offer four types of contracts, viz. intra-day, day ahead contingency, daily and
weekly.

5. Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has announced to extend a development

assistance loan of ₹3,500 crore (JPY 50 billion) to India for the Covid-19 Crisis Emergency
Response Support.
• This loan will help in implementation of “Prime Minister Atmanirbhar Swasth Bharat
Yojana” (PM-ASBY), governed by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, under the
Atmanirbhar Bharat Package for the health sector.
• The Health Ministry aims to strengthen the public healthcare system, expand and
strengthen surveillance capacities, research and national digital health mission through PM-
ASBY.
Extra Facts:

• In addition to this, Japan also gave a grant of JPY 1 billion (nearly ₹70 crore) to India for
providing medical equipment to strengthen the public health and medical system in India.
• In India, JICA has ongoing health projects in Tamil Nadu and Odisha.

6. Ministry of Defence has signed contracts to supply six Pinaka regiments (a system of rocket
launchers) to the Indian Army at an approximate cost of Rs 2,580 crore by 2024.
• Manufacturers – Bharat Earth Movers Ltd, Tata Power Company Ltd and Larsen &
Toubro – have to use at least 70% indigenous "content" in the Pinaka regiments.
• First used in Kargil war, Pinaka is a DRDO designed and developed system of multi-barrel
rocket launchers.

7. CSIR’s Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (CMERI) claims to have

developed the world’s largest 'solar tree' in Durgapur in West Bengal.
• It has an annual capacity to generate 12,000-14,000 units of electricity.
 • These solar trees can be customized for usage in agricultural activities such as high
capacity pumps, e-Tractors and e-Power Tillers.

8. Odisha govt has launched the ‘AMA SAHAR’ and ‘SWACHHA SAHAR ODISHA’ web apps to
provide citizen centric services, as a part of 5T initiative of the state.
• These apps aim to bring better fiscal management in Urban Local Bodies.

9. European Investment Bank (EIB) will provide €650 million for the construction of metro line
(32.4 km) in Kanpur city.
• This is the first metro line of Kanpur city (aka industrial capital of Uttar Pradesh) and
second metro rail project supported by the EIB in Uttar Pradesh, following the €450 million
worth of metro project in Lucknow.

Extra facts:
§ This is the 5th investment of EIB in metro projects in India after Bhopal, Pune,
Bangalore and Lucknow metro projects.
§ With this, the total amount committed by EIB in India’s metro projects reached €2.65
billion.

10. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has launched ‘Chhavni Covid: Yodha Sanrakshan
Yojana’ – a group life insurance scheme – to provide life insurance of Rs five lakhs each to
more than 10,000 employees working in all 62 cantonment boards across India.
• The scheme will be run by Life Insurance Corporation.
• The scheme will benefit the contractual as well as permanent employees working in the
cantonment areas.

11. According to a population projection report published by a technical panel of the

Ministry of Health, the quantum of Indian population below the age of 24 will decrease to
34.7% in 2036 in comparison to 50.1% in 2011.
• The report used 2001-2011 data as the base to predict population trends for 2011-2036.
Ø National Averages:
• In 2011, 50.1% (30.8% of 0-14 years + 19.3% of 15-24 years) of the population was aged
24 years and below. However, this proportion of youth population of India will decline in
2036 to 34.7%.
• The population share of people older than 24 years is expected to increase to 15% in 2036
from 8.4% in 2011.
• Total population – India’s population is expected to grow by 25%, with reference to 2011,
to 152 crores by 2036.

• The decadal rate of population growth is 12.6% in 2011-21 in comparison to 8.4% in 2021 -
31.
 • According to these projections, India will overtake China as the world’s most populous
country around 2031 – almost a decade later than the United Nations projection of 2022.

Ø Urban vs Rural:
• Urban population will grow by 57%, from 377 million in 2011 to 594 million in 2036.
• Percentage of total population living in urban areas will increase to 39% in 2036 in
comparison to 31% in 2011.
• Proportion of the rural population will decline from 69% to 61%. The rate of increase in
urban population is double of the growth rate of rural population.

Ø North India vs South India population:

North India South India

 • As much as 54% of the growth in • Five southern states of Kerala,
population in India between 2011 Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh,
and 2036 will take place in the Telangana and Tamil Nadu will
five states of UP, Bihar, account for only 9% of the
Maharashtra, West Bengal and population growth.
Madhya Pradesh.
• Uttar Pradesh and Bihar will • Put together, these 5 states will
account for 34% of the increase see a population increase of 29
in population between 2011 and million – which is nearly half of
2036. the total increase that UP alone
would witness in 2036.
• UP’s population will grow by 30% -

(59 million) while Bihar’s

population will increase by 42%
(44 million) between 2011 and
2036.

Ø Fertility Rate and Demographic structure:

• Total Fertility Rate (TFR) is expected to decline from 2.5 in 2011 to 1.73% in 2036 (if the
current pace of decline is maintained).
• The only Indian state with a TFR higher than 2 by 2035 will be Bihar at 2.38.
• Average (Median) Age – This implies that the average (median) age of Indians is expected
to increase to 34.7 years in 2036 as compared to 24.9 years in 2011, signifying an older
population.
• Crude death rate (deaths per thousand population) will increase marginally from 7.2 to 7.3.
It will be higher in southern states in comparison to northern states (like UP and MP).
• Life Expectancy at Birth is expected to increase from 66 for men and 69 for women in
2011 to 71 and 74 in 2036 respectively.
 o Kerala is expected to perform exceptionally well here by becoming the only Indian
state with a life expectancy above 80 for women and 74 for men by 2036.
o The seven North-eastern states will see a life expectancy of 77 for women and 73 for
men by 2036.
• Sex Ratio is expected to improve from 943 in 2011 to 957 by 2036. Three southern states
of Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu are likely to have more women than men by
2036.

Ø Suggestions of the committee:

• This ageing population will have several negative consequences such as low labour
productivity, increasing dependency in socio-economic life, and a need for wider social
security coverage.
• Therefore, the govt should try to absorb the youth in decent and sustainable work.

Ø About the Technical Group: -

• The group was constituted by the National Commission on Population (NCP) under the
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to provide population projections for the period 2011
to 2036.
• The report was released in July 2020. The group submitted its report in November 2019.
Source: The Wire and the official report
(https://thewire.in/government/india-population-growth-government-report-2036-projections-urban-
migration)

12. A new sports complex in Anantnag and a new high tech Spice Park in Pulwama will be
developed in J&K for overall development of the UT.
• Spice Park in Pulwama would ensure good prices for the saffron rich market of the region.
• Sports complex in Anantnag would help drive away youth from terrorism.
• In June 2019, 'Back to the Village' programme was started in J&K wherein gazetted
officers of the Union territory stay with the people of various panchayats in the UT for 2
days and harmonize with them.
 • This program aims to maintain peace and affection between people and government in
J&K.

13. Ministry of Coal has organized a webinar on coal gasification and liquefaction to discuss
the ways to achieve the target of 100 million tonnes (MT) coal gasification by 2030.
• This target of 100 MT would require an investment of over Rs 4 lakh crores.
• To encourage use of clean sources of fuel, government has provided for a concession of
20% on revenue share of coal used for gasification.
• A Steering Committee has been constituted, under the chairmanship of Dr V.K. Saraswat
(NITI Aayog Member) for development of Surface Coal Gasification in India.
• Coal India Ltd has also planned to set up at least 3 gasification plants (besides Dankuni
in West Bengal).
• Coal India Ltd has signed an MoU with GAIL for marketing synthetic natural gas.

• It is the process of producing syngas which is the cleanest

way to convert the energy content of coal into electricity,
hydrogen, clean fuels, and value- added chemicals.
• Gasification technology can help India overcome "the
chronic shortage of oil, gas, methanol, ammonia and urea".

14. National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data on accidental deaths and suicides in
2019 has been released.
• Total suicides in India – almost 1.39 lakh in 2019 from 1.34 lakh in 2018.
• Top state in suicide – Maharashtra accounted for 13.6% of the total suicide cases,
followed by Tamil Nadu (9.7%) and West Bengal (9.1%).
• States with increase in overall suicides in 2019 – Bihar (44.7%), Punjab (37.5%),
Daman & Diu (31.4%), Jharkhand (25.0%), Uttarakhand (22.6%) and Andhra Pradesh
(21.5%).
• Major cause of suicide in 2019 – family problems (accounting for 32.4% suicides)
 • Rate of Suicides – All India rate of suicides was 10.4 during the year 2019. A & N Islands
reported the highest rate of suicide (45.5) followed by Sikkim (33.1), Puducherry (32.5).

Ø Suicide by Farmers and daily wagers:

• Farmer and daily wagers suicide – Increased by about 6% in 2019 from 2018.
o Farmers suicide cases fell marginally by 76 cases.
o Daily wagers’ suicided cases increased by 8% in 2019.
o Farmers’ suicide rate accounts for 7.4% of the total suicides cases in India in
2019.
• States with zero agricultural suicide cases – West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha,
Uttarakhand, Manipur, Chandigarh, Daman & Diu, Delhi, Lakshadweep and
Puducherry.

Ø Data on Accidental Deaths in 2019:

• Total accident death cases – 4.21 lakh in 2019 as compared to 4.12 lakh in 2018 (an
increase of 2.3% in 2019 over 2018).
• Accidental deaths due to nature – It accounted for 1.9% deaths out of the total accident
deaths in 2019. The total deaths due to natural calamities has increased by 18.2% in 2019
in comparison to 2018.
• State with highest accidental deaths in 2019 – Maharashtra (16.7%) followed by Madhya
Pradesh (10.1%)
• All India Average Rate of accidental deaths (per one lakh of population) – 31.5
o Highest rate of accidental deaths – Puducherry (72.8) followed by Chhattisgarh
(68.6).
• Highest Percentage increase in accident deaths – Chandigarh reported an increase of
71.1% in total accidental deaths in the year 2019 as compared to 2018.

15. India and Russia will conduct their bilateral naval exercise “Indra” 2020 in the Andaman
Sea close to the strategic Strait of Malacca later this week.
 • India has withdrawn from the Kavkaz-2020 multinational exercise in Russia that is
scheduled for later this month, due to Covid-19.

16. NITI Aayog has launched ‘Empowering Tribals, Transforming India’ – an online
performance dashboard – to review the progress made by the schemes of Ministry of Tribal
Affairs for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• The dashboard was developed by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
• The dashboard captures information on performance of five Scholarship Schemes of the
Ministry. In total, performance of 11 schemes / initiatives of the Ministry will be shown.
• SDGs were adopted in 2015 by India as part of the resolution 'Transforming our world: the
2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development'.

17. According to a new report by Purely Diamonds, Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam), Delhi, and
Chennai are the top 3 cheapest cities in the world respectively for renting house.
• New York is the most expensive city for renting house.

18. Union Cabinet has approved 'Mission Karmayogi' or National Programme for Civil
Services Capacity Building (NPCSCB) for civil servants.
• Purpose: to build the capacity of civil servants in India to make them capable for future
challenges by making them more professional, progressive, energetic, enabling,
transparent and technology-enabled.
• The aims to transform Human Resource Management from ‘rules-based’ to ‘roles-based’.
• It will have four components for its implementation.
Ø First – Prime Minister's Public Human Resources (HR) Council
o Chaired by – Prime Minister
o Purpose – It will serve as the apex body for formulating strategies for Civil Services
Reform and capacity building.
Ø Second – Capacity Building Commission
 o Purpose – to harmonize training standards, create shared faculty and resources, and
have supervisory role over all Central Training Institutions.
Ø Third – Special Purpose Vehicle for owning and operating the digital assets and the
technological platform (“iGOTKarmayogi”) for online training
o The SPV will be formed under the Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013.
o Integrated Government Online Training- iGOTKarmayogi - Platform will impart online
training to civil servants under the mission.
Ø Fourth – Coordination Unit headed by the Cabinet Secretary (incumbent: Rajiv Gauba)
o Purpose – for coordinating activities of Mission Karmayogi

19. Ministry of Jal Shakti has launched the ‘Water Heroes - Share Your Stories’ contest 2.0
to create awareness about water conservation among people.
• The series of Contest will end on August 31, 2021.
• In the contest, people are required to submit their videos (on MyGov portal) along with a
write up and photos on conservation of water.

20. 3rd annual leadership summit of US India Strategic and Partnership Forum (USISPF)
started on August 31 through video conference.
 • Theme of the summit – 'US-India: Navigating New Challenges'.
• USISPF was formed in 2017 to accelerate collaboration between India and US.

21. Madhya Pradesh govt has ‘Gandagi Bharat Chhodo’ campaign.

• The campaign was divided into five themes - Cleanliness Oath, Continuous reduction in
urban waste emissions, Cleanliness in COVID conditions, Separation of waste from
sources of houses and launching a special cleanliness campaign for public places.

22. The date of commissioning of the Ratnagiri Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (RRPCL)
project in Maharashtra has been pushed forward to 2025 instead of 2022 due to delay in land
acquisition.
• Facts about Ratnagiri Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd:-

It is the "WORLD'S LARGEST REFINERY PROJECT".

Started in 2015 as a joint venture project between – Indian Oil Corporation,

Bharat Petroleum Corporation, and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd.

Saudi Aramco (World's largest oil producer) and Abu Dhabi National Oil
Company (Adnoc) joined the project in 2018.

It will produce Euro VI level fuels.

Its annual capacity – 60 million-tonne-per-annum of crude oil processing

23. Andhra Pradesh is in the process of establishing AP General Insurance Company

(APGIC) to run its own YSR Crop Insurance scheme.
• The farmers can get enrolled in the scheme by paying a nominal premium of Rs 1.
• The authorised share capital of the company is ₹101 crore.
 • AP government made it mandatory for farmers to register themselves on e-Karshak app
(real-time crop registration window) in order to be eligible for the scheme.

24. IIT-Guwahati has collaborated with University of Pardubice (Czech Republic) to develop
indigenous algorithms to protect India’s digital data from cyber-attacks.
• The team of IIT is led by Prof. Gaurav Trivedi and Prof. Zdenek Nemec and Prof. Jan
Pidanic lead the team from the University of Pardubice.

25. Parliament has passed the Jammu and Kashmir Official Languages Bill, 2020 to make
Urdu, Kashmiri, Dogri, Hindi and English as official languages of J&K Union Territory.
• Earlier, only English and Urdu were official languages of the erstwhile State.

26. Ministry of Tribal Affairs has launched the “Tribes India on Wheels” mobile vans in 31
cities across the country to ensure that natural immunity boosting products are available to
everyone.
• A total of 57 mobile vans have been flagged off in 31 cities.
• TRIFED has adopted the title ‘Go Vocal for Local Go Tribal’ to help the tribal communities
sustain their livelihood in the wake of Covid-19.

27. Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) has set up a Quality Control
Laboratory for Sea food export at Porbandar in Gujarat.
• Purpose: to ensure that the quality of sea food is in accordance with international
regulatory standards.

28. J&K govt has approved to set up a 10-member biodiversity council for conservation of
biodiversity in the UT.
• Chairperson – Principal Chief Conservator of Forests of J&K
• Fund – The council shall constitute “Jammu and Kashmir Biodiversity Council Fund” for
financing its activities.
29. Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has launched India’s ‘Future Business Group’
initiative to provide support to new businesses launched during the past few years.
• Purpose: - to support the emergence of new-age businesses, attract global investment in
new businesses in India and to foster government-industry cooperation.
• The group will work with the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade
(DPIIT) to create a 'National Strategy For Future Businesses'.
• The theme of this group is ‘Nurturing the existing new businesses and fast-tracking the
entry and growth of new businesses in India for getting growth back”.

30. Ministry of Shipping has directed all 12 major ports to procure or charter only those tug
boats which are made in India in line with the Atmanirbhar Bharat programme.
• The ministry has also proposed to set up a standing specifications committee, headed
by A. Janardhana Rao (MD of Indian Ports Association), to shortlist around five variants of
tug boats and prepare an approved standardised tug design and specifications.

31. Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment, Thaawarchand Gehlot, launched

"KIRAN” – the 24x7 Toll-Free Mental Health Rehabilitation Helpline.
• Developer – Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities to provide relief and
support to persons with Mental Illness.

32. In December 2019, the Central govt announced reforms in the organizational structure of
Indian Railways.
• The strength of Railway board was reduced to 5 from 8 (including Chairman).
• The head of the Railway board will be called as the CEO instead of Chairman. Vinod
Kumar Yadav has been appointed as the first CEO of the Railway Board.
• Union Cabinet had also allowed to merge the existing services into single central service
called the Indian Railway Management Service.
33. Ministry of road transport and highways has proposed to make FASTag mandatory in
all four-wheelers from 1 January 2021.
• Also, the ministry plans to amend central motor vehicle rules for making FASTag mandatory
for all four wheelers sold before 1 December, 2017.

34. India and Russia have finalized a deal for manufacturing AK-47 203 rifles (advanced
version of AK-47 rifles) in India.
• The Indian Army needs about 770,000 AK-47 203 rifles, of which 100,000 will be imported
and the rest will be made in India.

35. Vice President Venkaiah Naidu has released the “State of the Young Child in India”
report which has Young Child Outcomes Index (YCOI) and Young Child Environment Index
(YCEI) as of its part.
• Prepared by – Mobile Creches (civil society organisation) and supported by Bernard Van
Leer Foundation.
• The report mentions that 159 million children aged below 6 years in India, 21% are
undernourished, 36% are underweight and 38% do not receive full immunization.
Young Child Outcomes Index (YCOI) Young Child Environment Index (YCEI)
• The results of YCOI are based on a • This index was released for 2015-16
comparative analysis of public data for only.
2005-06 and 2015-16.
• Kerala emerged on top while Bihar • Top – Kerala (0.855), Goa (0.846), and
performed the worst. Sikkim (0.819)
• Bottom – Jharkhand (0.578), Manipur
(0.537), and Arunachal Pradesh
(0.533).
 • The overall India score is 0.585 • The overall India score for 2015-16 for
(improved from 0.443 score in 2005- the child environment Index is 0.672.
06).
• Parameters of ranking – health (infant • Parameters – poverty alleviation,
mortality rate), nutrition (stunting), and strengthening primary healthcare,
cognitive growth (net attendance at the improving education levels, safe water
primary school level) of children in the supply and promotion of gender equity.
0-6 years age group.

36. Assam has re-launched its old scheme named Swami Vivekananda Assam Youth
Empowerment (SVAYEM) worth Rs 1,000 crore for providing self-employment to around 2 lakh
youths of the state.
• The scheme would provide a seed-funding of Rs 50,000 each to selected youths to start
business ventures.
• It was earlier launched in 2017.
• A second scheme, which provides a Rs 50,000 subsidy to anyone who has taken an
education loan will be launched again.
37. Minister of Finance has released the 4th edition of Business Reform Action Plan
(BRAP) ranking (or Ease of Doing Business rankings of states) for 2019.
• BRAP is prepared by Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP) under Ministry
of Commerce and Industry.
• Ranking of States based on the implementation of BRAP started in the year 2015.
• India is among the very few nations which has state-specific rankings to improve ease of
doing business at the grassroot level.

38. Minister of Education, Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’, has launched ‘EnglishPro’ mobile
app.
• It is developed by The English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU), Hyderabad
under its University Social Responsibility (USR) programme.

39. 12th Mekong Ganga Cooperation (MGC) Senior Officials' Meeting was held virtually.
 • MGC is an initiative by six countries - India and five ASEAN countries, namely, Cambodia,
Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam for cooperation in tourism, culture, education,
as well as transport and communications.
• MGC is launched in 2000.

40. Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP) has signed an agreement with
India Sweden Healthcare Innovation Centre (ISIC) to make quality healthcare affordable and
accessible in India.
• Purpose: to expand biopharmaceuticals, med-tech, diagnostics, nutraceuticals and other
healthcare solutions in India.
• This partnership will extend to the ISIC Innovation Challenge 2020.
• ISIC Innovation Challenge 2020 will identify, mentor and provide incubation and
networking opportunities to healthcare solutions.

41. India and Bangladesh operationalized the Daukandi (Bangladesh) – Sonamura (Tripura)
Inland Waterway Protocol route across river Gomti.
• The route was operationalized under the Protocol for Inland Water Trade & Transit
(1972).
• Bangladeshi vessel “MB Premier” (carrying cement) is the first ever export consignment
from Bangladesh to Tripura through this Daukandi – Sonamura inland waterways.

42. Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has conducted the flight test
of the hypersonic technology demonstrator vehicle (HSTDV) from the Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam
launch complex on Wheeler Island off the Odisha coast.
• Benefits – It will lead to the development of hypersonic cruise missiles and vehicles in
future.
• The vehicle used the Scramjet engine (developed by DRDO) that helped the flight achieve
a speed six times the speed of sound.
• Now, India has joined the elite league of nations to possess hypersonic missile tech.
43. According to the latest data from Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), India received
its highest rainfall since 1926 in the month of August 2020.
• In August, the rainfall is 32.7 cm or about 27% more than what is normal for the month. In
August 1926, the rainfall recorded was 34.8 cm.
• For the full year of 2020, the rainfall will remain within the forecast of a normal (96 to 104%
of the long period average) rainfall, predicted in June 2020.

44. Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) has partnered with Freshworks Inc. (a customer-
engagement software company) to support innovators and entrepreneurs in India.
• Freshworks Inc. will provide credit to the beneficiaries of startups under AIM to empower
them to function efficiently.

45. All fruits and vegetables of J&K have been covered under Operation Green: Top to
Total scheme.
• The scheme was expanded from Tomato, Onion and Potato (TOP) to all notified fruits and
vegetables (TOTAL) for a period of six months on pilot basis.
• Aim - to support farmers of Fruits and Vegetables under Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan in
order to prevent them from making distress sales.
46. Himachal Pradesh govt and the World Bank have signed a loan of $82 million for
implementing the Himachal Pradesh State Roads Transformation Project.
• The project aims to improve the condition, safety, resilience, and engineering standards of
state road network.
• Besides, the project will also strengthen transport and road safety institutions of Himachal
Pradesh.

47. Union Minister of Development of North Eastern Region, Jitendra Singh, has announced
that Chandrayaan-3 is likely to be launched in early 2021 instead of the second half of 2020.
• Also, the Moon mission will include a rover and a lander but not an orbiter like its
predecessor - Chandrayaan-2.
• According to the data from NASA, Moon has iron-rich rocks, and the presence of water and
oxygen on it created rust on the poles of the Moon.
• Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3) aboard the Chandrayaan-1 has found out the presence of
water on moon.
• This new discovery of rust on moon has been published in the Science Advances.

48. Eurasian Foundation (New Delhi), Institute of Oriental Studies (Moscow) and the
Russian Centre of Science and Culture (New Delhi) have organized ‘Indo-Russian Young
Scholars International Conference 2020’.
• The conference was organized to mark the 20th Anniversary of the Declaration of Strategic
Partnership between India and Russia.

49. Manoj Sinha (L-G of J&K) has launched the Smart Performance Appraisal Report
Recording Online Window (SPARROW) system for J&K Administrative Service officers.
• Purpose: - to streamline the process of performance appraisal of govt employees in the
UT.
50. Karnataka Cabinet approved the Rejuvenating Watersheds for Agriculture Resilience
through Innovative Development (REWARD) project worth Rs 600 crores for helping 20
taluks with low groundwater levels in the state.
• Funding: World Bank will fund 70% of the project (Rs 420 crore) while 30% of the
expenses (Rs 180 crore) will be borne by the state government.
• The project will be implemented over 10 lakh hectares in low groundwater level taluks in 20
districts over the next six years.

51. Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) and Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA)
have organized the ‘National Tribal Research Conclave’ virtually.
• Tribal Affairs Ministry signed an agreement with IIPA for setting up of National Institute of
Tribal Research at the IIPA campus, New Delhi.
• During the conclave, the Ministry and IIPA reviewed different schemes and initiatives
launched for the welfare of tribal people such as:
Online Performance Dashboard:

• Launched by NITI Aayog to review the progress of schemes of MoTA in achieving

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), strategy for New India and other policy initiatives.
• Developed by - Centre of Excellence of Data Analytics (under National Informatics Centre)
• The portal has a slogan “Empowering Tribals- Transforming India”.

52. Haryana has launched a first-of-its-kind WhatsApp chatbot named “Aapka Mitra” to
facilitate online admission in Under-Graduate courses in the state.
• National Informatics Centre is conducting the entire process of online UG admissions.

53. Andhra Pradesh has launched two nutrition schemes 'YSR Sampoorna Poshana' and
'YSR Sampoorna Poshana Plus' to provide nutritious food to pregnant women, lactating
mothers and children.
 • YSR Sampoorna Poshana Plus scheme will to supply nutritious food exclusively in 77
Tribal areas, covering 8320 Anganwadi Centres.
• Remaining urban and rural areas lying in plain lands will be covered under YSR Sampoorna
Poshana scheme.
• Also, YSR Sampoorna Poshana App was launched.
F Astonishing Facts:
• Over 52.9% of the pregnant women across the state are suffering from acute anaemia,
• 31.9% of children are having low birth weight in A.P.
• 31.4% of the children are suffering from stunted growth in the state.

54. Andhra Pradesh has renamed its Agriculture Electricity Cash Transfer Scheme as YSR
Free Agriculture Power scheme on September 1, 2020.
• Every farmer will be able to avail uninterrupted nine-hour power supply during the
agricultural season, under the scheme.
• Andhra Pradesh has announced to observe 2020 as the year of zero accident as well as
the year of women safety.

55. First ever cannabis medicine project will be set up at Indian Institute of Integrative
Medicine (IIIM) in Jammu in collaboration with Canada.
• This is the first ever cannabis medicine project in India and first major foreign investment
in Jammu and Kashmir after it became a Union Territory.
• North India's first biotech industrial park is being built in Kathua near Jammu.
• J&K’s first ever seed processing plant is almost ready in Kathua.
• Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is also working on the lemon
grass cultivation project in districts of Kathua, Udhampur, Doda and Kishtwar of J&K.

56. National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and LinkedIn have partnered for
providing digital skills to youth by offering free courses on e-Skill India digital platform (till
March 31, 2021).
57. Central govt has decided to monitor India’s performance on 29 select global indices for
bringing improvement in the country under its 'Global Indices to Drive Reforms and Growth
(GIRG)' drive.
• For this purpose, Niti Aayog has formed Multidimensional Poverty Index Coordination
Committee (MPICC), chaired by Sanyukta Samaddar, to analyse India’s performance in
the Index and bring reforms in line with the suggestions of the index.
• NITI Aayog is the nodal agency for monitoring the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI).
• Preparation of a MPI Parameter Dashboard to rank States and UTs, and a State Reform
Action Plan (SRAP) are at an advanced stage of development.
58. Ministry of Education has launched the “Padhna Likhna Abhiyan” to literate adults
above 15 years of age in urban and rural areas and achieve India’s target of total literacy by
2030.
• Almost 57 lakh non-literate and non-numerate adults (with a special focus on women,
SC/ST and minority sectors) will be educated in basic functional literacy and numeracy.
• The scheme was launched on 54th International Literacy Day (September 8).
• Priority will be given to districts with female literacy rates less than 60%, as per latest
census.
• Motto behind the scheme – "Saakshar Bharat-Aatmanirbhar Bharat" (literate India, self-
reliant India).

59. Patrika Gate – built by the Patrika Group of Newspapers – has been inaugurated on the
Jawaharlal Nehru Marg in Jaipur, Rajasthan.
• In 2019, Jaipur was declared as the UNESCO World Heritage Site. It became the second
city of the country after Ahmedabad to get the recognition.
• PM Modi released two books Samvad Upnishad and Akshar yatra that are written by the
Patrika Group Chairman Shri Gulab Kothari.

60. WE HUB, Telangana (an incubator to foster and promote women entrepreneurship), has
partnered with NutriHub (a first of its kind incubator for start-ups in the Nutri-cereals sector).
• Purpose: to promote women entrepreneurship in the agricultural sector.
• NutriHub incubator is supported by the Department of Science & Technology (DST) and it
is hosted by the ICAR-Indian Institute of Millet Research, Hyderabad.

61. International Solar Alliance’s (ISA) First-ever World Solar Technology Summit 2020
has culminated.
• FICCI was the convener of the summit.
• ISA has signed an MoU with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and the World
Bank for implementing ‘One Solar One World and One Grid’ (OSOWOG) project.
 • ISA also signed an MoU with NTPC Limited (India’s largest power generator) for
implementing solar energy projects in 47 member countries of ISA.
• Seoul-based Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and the ISA signed agreement to
provide technical assistance in deploying one million solar irrigation pumps.
• ISA signed an agreement with the International Institute of Refrigeration (based in Paris)
to set up solar heating and cooling demonstration projects in member countries.
• ISA’s Solar Compass 360 (ISA’s technology journal) was launched.
• ISA launched the ISA Journal on Solar Energy (I JOSE) to help authors from across the
globe to publish their articles on solar energy.
• India sets up a Project Preparation Facility to develop profitable Solar Energy projects in
ISA member countries with the help of EXIM Bank of India.
• Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Dharmendra Pradhan, has announced that 5
public sector oil companies will join ISA's Coalition for Sustainable Climate Action (ISA-
CSCA) as corporate partners to contribute to ISA's Corpus Fund: -
o Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC)
o Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL)
o Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL)
o Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) and
o GAIL (India) Limited.

62. Karnataka has launched the first-ever integrated air ambulance services of India in
Bengaluru.
• It will be operated by International Critical Air Transfer Team (ICATT – an air ambulance
firm) in collaboration with Kyathi (aviation technology firm).

63. National Statistical Organisation (NSO) has published the final report of the 75th round
of National Sample Survey (July 2017- June 2018) on household social consumption.
• The report highlighted the digital divide across states.
• Across India, only one in ten households have a computer.
 • Internet penetration – In urban areas, 42% households have Internet access while in rural
areas, only 15% have internet.
• Himanchal Pradesh has the highest internet penetration at 70% while Odisha has the
least internet penetration with only 1 in 10 homes have Internet.
• There are ten other States with less than 20% Internet penetration, including States with
software hubs such as Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

64. Minister of Agriculture, Narendra Singh Tomar, has launched 22 bamboo clusters in
nine states to increase exports of bamboo products.
• Also, the new logo of the National Bamboo Mission was launched.
• National Bamboo Mission was launched in 2006-07 and was subsumed under Mission for
Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) during 2014-15.

65. Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana
(PMMSY), that was announced in May as part of the economic stimulus package, for
sustainable development of fisheries sector.
• Budget of the scheme – Rs 20,050 crore (highest ever investment in the fisheries sector)
for 2020-21 to 2024-25.
• PM Modi also launched the e-Gopala App – a comprehensive breed improvement
marketplace and information portal for the direct use of farmers.
• The app will provide all information about managing livestock, animal nutrition, vaccination,
pregnancy diagnosis and calving etc.
Targets of PMMSY:
F Enhancing fish production by an additional 70 lakh tonne by 2024-25
F Increasing fisheries export earnings to Rs 1,00,000 crore by 2024-25
F Reducing post-harvest losses from 20-25% to about 10%
F Doubling of incomes of fishers and fish farmers
F Generation of additional 55 lakhs direct and indirect employment opportunities fisheries
sector and allied activities.

66. Atal Innovation Mission has launched the Aatmanirbhar Bharat ARISE-ANIC program
is to promote research & innovation and increase competitiveness of Indian startups and
MSMEs.
• Under the program, Ministries and the associated industries will collaborate to boost
research, innovation and facilitate innovative solutions to sectoral problems to fast track the
growth of the Indian MSME sector.
• The initiative will help promote technopreneurs (technology-entrepreneurs).
• Rs 50 lakh will be provided by the initiative to speed up the development of the technology
solution.

67. Union Minister of State for Shipping (I/C) Mansukh Mandaviya has launched 'SAROD-
Ports' (Society for Affordable Redressal of Disputes - Ports) under the Societies
Registration Act, 1860.
• Purpose: to resolve the disputes in the Maritime Sector.
• In 2018, the Union Cabinet has approved amendments in the Model Concession
Agreement to facilitate formation of SAROD-PORTS as a dispute resolution mechanism for
Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects in major ports.

68. South India’s first ‘Kisan Rail’ was flagged off from Anantapur Railway Station (Andhra
Pradesh) to Adarsh Nagar (Delhi) with 322 tonnes of fruits and vegetables.

69. Overseas Friends of the BJP (OFBJP), a unit of BJP, has registered under the 1938
Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) of the U.S. Department of Justice.
 • Thus, BJP became the first mainstream political party from India to name itself as an
agent of an organisation in the United States.

70. India and Japan have signed a logistics agreement (called as the ‘Acquisition and Cross-
Servicing Agreement’ or ACSA) to allow the Armed Forces of both countries to provide services
and supplies to each other.
• The agreement facilitates bilateral training activities, UN Peacekeeping Operations,
Humanitarian International Relief, maritime cooperation, and other mutually agreed
activities by both countries.
• India now has military logistics agreements with all Quad countries, Australia, Japan and
the U.S.

71. Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs, Hardeep Singh Puri, has launched the Climate
Smart Cities Assessment Framework 2.0 (CSCAF) to provide a clear roadmap for cities to
inculcate a climate-sensitive approach in planning and development of urban areas.
• CSCAF framework has 28 indicators across five categories: (i) Energy and Green
Buildings, (ii) Urban Planning, Green Cover and Biodiversity, (iii) Mobility and Air Quality,
(iv) Water Management and (v) Waste Management.
• Climate Centre for Cities (under National Institute of Urban Affairs) is implementing the
framework in partnership with the Housing Ministry.
• The minister has simultaneously launched the ‘Streets for People Challenge’ to make the
cities more walkable and pedestrian friendly.

72. Department of Science and Technology (DST) has recently released the Science &
Technology Indicators (STI 2019-20).
• As per the data mentioned in STI, nearly 8 out of every 10 patent applications filed in India
in more than a decade have been by foreigners residing abroad.
• During 2005-06 and 2017-18, more than 5.1 lakh patent applications were filed in India.
Out of which, 76% applications were filed by "foreigners resident abroad".
 • In terms of companies, Qualcomm (American company) tops the table with 6,960
applications, followed by Koninklijke Philips (Dutch company), with 3,670 applications.
• In the five years between 2013-14 and 2017-18, most of the top 19 patent filing companies
were tech and telecom firms.

73. Odisha government launched ‘Garima’ scheme for promoting livelihoods, security and
social dignity of sanitation workers.
• Budget – Rs 50 crore
• Under the scheme, sanitation workers will be registered on the Swachh Sahar Odisha
portal.
• The scheme would provide insurance, health check-ups, ex-gratia payment to compensate
sanitation workers in case of partial and permanent disability due to accidents and injury
among other things.
• State’s Housing and Urban Development Department has signed an MoU with Urban
Management Centre (not-for-profit organisation) for implementing the scheme.
74. Union government has approved to rename the Hubballi railway station in Karnataka after
Shree Siddharoodha Swamiji.

75. 2nd edition of States’ Startup Ranking Framework 2019 has been released by the
Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).
• On the basis of below-mentioned parameters, the states have been recognized as best
performer, top performers, leaders, aspiring leaders, and emerging startup
ecosystem.
• A total of 22 states and 3 UTs participated in the ranking.

• The index divided the states/ UTs in two categories – Category X and Category Y – to bring
standardization in rankings.
• Category Y has all UTs, except Delhi, and all states in North East India, except Assam.
• Category X has all the remaining states.
76. 13th edition of the Aero India 2021 (Asia’s Largest Aeroshow) will be held at Air Force
Station, Yelahanka, Bengaluru, (Karnataka) in February.
• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has recently launched the website of Aero India 2021.
77. Central govt has formed an Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) under the
chairmanship of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will oversee the process of corporatisation
of the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB).

78. Department of Posts (Ministry of Communications) has launched Five Star Villages
scheme to expand the reach of flagship postal schemes in rural areas of the country.
• Under the scheme, all the branch offices will serve as the one-stop shops to cater all post
office related needs of the villagers.
• Ratings will be given on the basis of coverage of schemes. If a village attains universal
coverage for one scheme is equal to one star of rating.
• The scheme is being launched on pilot basis in Maharashtra; based on the experience
here, it will be implemented nation-wide.
• The schemes to be covered under the Five Star Villages scheme are:-

Savings Bank accounts, Recurring Deposit Accounts, NSC/KVP certificates

Sukanya Samridhi Accounts/ PPF Accounts

Funded Post Office Savings Account linked India Post Payments Bank
Accounts

Postal Life Insurance Policy/Rural Postal Life Insurance Policy

Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana Account/Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti

Bima Yojana Account

79. Andhra Pradesh has formally launched the 'YSR Aasara' programme to reimburse
outstanding bank loans of women self-help groups as on April 11, 2019, in four instalments.
• The scheme aims to empower women economically and socially.
 • In February 2020, 'Jagananna Vasthi Deevena' scheme was launched to give financial
assistance of Rs 2,300 crore is to be provided to meet the hostel and mess expenses of
students pursuing post-intermediate courses.

80. Jammu and Kashmir has launched the Jammu and Kashmir Integrated Grievance
Redress and Monitoring System (JK-IGRAMS) to create an interface with the public and
focus on governance issues in the Union Territory.
• Also, the UT has launched a new health insurance scheme, with an annual budget of Rs
123 crore, to provide health insurance cover free of cost to all those residents of Jammu
and Kashmir.
• The scheme will cover all those who are presently not covered under AB-PMJAY or
Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana.

81. Madhya Pradesh has reintroduced its Deendayal Antyodaya Rasoi Scheme, which was
discontinued by the previous Congress govt in 2019, to provide meals at a subsidised rate to
underprivileged people.
• Now the rate per thali has been increased to Rs 10 from Rs 5.
• The scheme was launched in 2017 in 49 districts of the state in the name of BJP ideologue
Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya.
• The previous govt led by CM Kamal Nath had announced to introduce Indira Thali scheme
but the scheme couldn’t be implemented.

82. Nagaland govt has launched the Naga Tele-health platform to provide medical services to
the people digitally.
• Naga Tele Health has been launched in partnership with USAID’s NISHTHA-Jhpiego to
ensure that the initiative reach the most remote places also.
• NISHTHA is USAID's health systems strengthening project, implemented by Jhpiego, in
India. Jhpiego is an international non-profit health organization affiliated with Johns
Hopkins University.
83. India's largest piggery mission worth Rs 209 crores was launched in Meghalaya to make
Meghalaya self-sufficient in pork production.
• It is funded by National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC).
• Piggery means a farm where pigs are bred or kept.

84. Union Cabinet has approved to increase the FDI limit in defence sector from 49% to
74% through automatic route.
• However, the govt has added a new national security clause, in addition to the existing
four conditions specific to FDI in defence sector, as a condition for enhancing the FDI limit.
• As per the clause, foreign investment in the Defence Sector shall be subject to scrutiny on
ground of National Security and the Government reserves the right to review any foreign
investment in the Defence Sector that may affect national security.

85. India-US 2+2 inter-sessional meeting was held virtually to review the progress made in
defence, security, and foreign policy areas since the last 2+2 ministerial meeting (held in
December 2019 in Washington DC).
• In June 2020, US has announced to withdraw from World Health Organization by June
2021.

86. Ministry of Education has organized a conclave on School Education in the 21st
Century under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 as a part of the ‘Shiksha Parv’.
• PM Narendra Modi addressed the conclave and stressed on the importance of promoting
methods of ‘New Age Learning’ which are Engage, Explore, Experience, Express and
Excel.
• PM mentioned that ‘skills of the 21st century’ comprises ‘5C’ – Critical Thinking,
Creativity, Collaboration, Curiosity and Communication.
• PM emphasized on the need to develop mathematical thinking and scientific temperament
in children.
 • Shiksha Parv 2020 – It is being celebrated by Education Ministry from September 8 to
September 25, 2020.
• In August 2020, a ‘Conclave on Transformational Reforms in Higher Education under
National Education Policy' was also organized.

87. Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) is in process of
developing two schemes -- credit guarantee and seed funds -- to support startups in the
country.
• According to DPIIT Secretary Guruprasad Mohapatra, the credit guarantee scheme will
have a corpus which would be given to banks and they will further lend to startups.
• This loan will be in the form of credit and not venture capital.
• Startup India scheme was launched in January 2016 to promote budding entrepreneurs in
the country.
Note: These policies are still in the process of formulation. Therefore, all the aforementioned facts are
preliminary and can be changed.

88. Goa CM Pramod Sawant has announced that the insurance cover of Rs 50 lakh under the
Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY) has been extended to all health workers who
are at the forefront of the battle against Covid-19 in the state.
• Details of the insurance under the PMGKY:
• Amount – Rs 50 lakh in case of death or disability
• Tenure – Applicable till September 2020
• Financing Agency – National Disaster Response Force
• Scheme launched – March 2020
• Beneficiaries - safai karamcharis, ASHA workers, nurses, ward boys, paramedics,
technicians, doctors and specialists, besides other health workers, in case of loss of life on
account of contracting covid-19.

89. Gujarat has announced to launch the Mukhyamantri Mahila Kalyan Scheme (MMKS) to
provide interest free loans of up to Rs 1 lakh to women self-help groups in the state.
 • The scheme will be launched on the birthday of PM Narendra Modi (on September 17).
• Purpose: to help women start their own business and become self-employed.
• Interest on the scheme will be borne by the state govt.
• 50,000 SHGs in urban and rural areas each will be covered.
• Gujarat Livelihood Promotion Company will implement the scheme in rural areas, while
the Gujarat Urban Livelihood Mission will implement it in urban areas.

90. National Commission for Indian System of Medicine Bill, 2019 and National
Commission for Homoeopathy Bill, 2019 were passed in Lok Sabha.
• The bills were passed in Rajya Sabha in January, 2019 and recommended to standing
committee for review.
• The National Commission for Indian System of Medicine Bill, 2019 aims to regulate
alternative systems of medicine.
o This medicine bill also introduces a common entrance exam and an exit exam for all
medical graduates to obtain their license to practice Indian medicine.
o Under the new bill, the national commission will have four autonomous boards to
handle different works of the commission.
• National Medical Commission for Homoeopathy Bill, 2019 aims to create a new
regulatory body for homoeopathy in the country.
o It proposes a teacher’s eligibility test to assess the standard of teachers before
appointment and promotions.
o The National Commission will have three autonomous boards for administering
overall education of homoeopathy.

91. Maharashtra govt has launched the “My family, My Responsibility” campaign to fight
against the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Local Urban Bodies will reach out to every family/home in the state to assess the health
condition of its residents, and provide medical help and guidance if needed.
92. Ministry of Road Transport & Highways is in the process of implementing ‘Integrated
Road Accident Database Project (iRAD)’ across the country.
• Initially, it will be launched in six states, viz. Maharashtra, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh,
Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
• The project will be developed and implemented by lIT-Madras and National Informatics
Centre Services Inc.
• It will help stakeholders such as the Police, Transport, Health, etc to use their mobile app
to collect accident data on the spot and take remedial actions to reduce damage forthwith.
• Recently, the ministry of road has conducted the 2-days Orientation and Training
programme on iRAD App for Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh.

93. Ministry of Culture has informed Lok Sabha that it has formed a 16-member panel to
study the origin and evolution of the Indian culture (which is estimated to be 12,000 years old).
• K N Dikshit (Chairman of Indian Archaeological Society, New Delhi) is also a part of this
panel.

94. Ministry for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare organized a webinar on Enhancing Water
Use Efficiency and Coverage of Micro Irrigation in Indian Agriculture.
• Minister of Agriculture, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar, has announced that central govt has
set the target of covering 100 lakh ha area under micro-irrigation in 5 years.
• During the last five years, an area of 47.92 lakh ha has been covered under micro irrigation
in the country. Out of which, 11.72 lakh ha was covered in 2019-20 alone.
• Agriculture Ministry has created a dedicated Micro Irrigation Fund (MIF) of Rs. 5000
crores with NABARD to help States in expanding coverage of Micro Irrigation. Out of
which, projects worth Rs 3805.67 crore have been sanctioned for covering 12.53 lakh ha
under MIF.

95. Ministry of Steel has prepared a draft framework policy for development of steel clusters
in the country.
 • The framework policy aims to set up greenfield steel clusters (or new projects) along with
development and expansion of existing steel clusters.
• The policy will increase production of value-added steel and generate employment.
Extra Facts –
National Steel Policy, 2017:

ü It projects India’s total steel capacity to grow to 300 million tonne by 2030-31. Out of
which over 200 million tonne can come from Eastern region (comprising Chhattisgarh,
Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh) alone.
ü The eastern region has the potential to add more than 75% of the incremental steel
capacity.

Mission Purvodaya 2020:

ü The govt has launched the ‘Mission Purvodaya’ in Jan 2020 for the development of
eastern India through integrated steel hubs.

96. ICAR- National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR) has recognized Shweta
Kapila cow breed as the Goan cow breed.
• Found in Goa, this cow breed is famous for giving more nutritious milk than other breeds.

97. Telangana State Building Permission Approval and Self Certification System (TS-
bPASS) Bill has been passed by the state Assembly.
• Purpose: - to enable citizens to comply with buildings and layout permission rules on their
own through the self-certification system.
• The self-certification system will allow the citizens to get instant approval for constructing
building on 75- 600 sq yards through self-certification under TS-bPASS. For 75 sq yards,
registration with urban local body is sufficient.
98. Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman has tabled the first batch of supplementary
demand for grants for FY21 worth Rs 2.36 trillion in the Parliament.
• The Finance minister seeks to recapitalize public sector banks (PSBs) with additional issue
of government securities worth ₹20,000 crore in FY21.
• Capital infusion in PSBs through issue of government bonds will not impact fiscal deficit in
the current financial year because there is no cash outgo.
• Supplementary Grants – The additional grant required to meet the expenditure of the
government is called Supplementary Grant. Article 115 of the constitution provides for
Supplementary, additional or excess grants.

99. 'Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package Insurance Scheme for Health Workers
Fighting COVID-19' has been extended for next six months.
• It was earlier extended till September 25.
• The insurance provided under this scheme is over and above any other insurance cover
being availed of by the beneficiary.
• The entire amount of premium for this scheme is being borne by the Ministry of Health and
Family Welfare.
• Ministry of Health has partnered with the New India Assurance (NIA) Company Limited
for providing the insurance amount.

100. India and the United States have signed a statement of intent to enhance cooperation in
the field of defence technology during the 10th Defence Technology and Trade Initiative
(DTTI) Group’s virtual Meeting.
• 1st DTTI Industry Collaboration Forum (DICF) took place virtually on September 10. The
forum aims to facilitate cooperation between the industry and govt for mutually developing
next-generation technologies under the DTTI Group.

101. Ministry of Food Processing Industries has established 37 mega food parks (MFP) in
23 States/UTs since the inception of Mega Food Park Scheme (MFPS) in 2008.
 • Out of these 37 MFPs, 19 are operational as on date.
• Mega Food Park Scheme (MFPS) has now become a component of the Pradhan Mantri
Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY) in order to create modern infrastructure for the food
processing industries.

102. Salary, Allowances and Pension of Members of Parliament (Amendment) Bill, 2020 was
introduced in the Lok Sabha to cut the salaries of parliamentarians by 30% for one year.
• In April 2020, the central govt has suspended the Members of Parliament Local Area
Development Scheme (MPLADS) funds for two years (2020-21 to 2021-22).
About MPLADS: -
ü Introduced in 1993
ü To provide funds to Member of Parliament for developing infrastructure of their
respective constituencies in accordance with the needs of that constituency.
ü Annual fund of Rs 5 crores is given to MPs for each constituency.

103. Aircraft (Amendment) Bill, 2020 was passed by Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
• The bill amends the Aircraft Act, 1934 which regulates the manufacture, possession, use,
operation, sale, import and export of civil aircrafts, and licensing of aerodromes.
Salient Features of the bill:
• It gives statutory powers to three bodies of Ministry of Civil Aviation – the Directorate
General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) and the
Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).
o Each of these bodies will be headed by a Director General who will be appointed by
the centre.
• The bill accords recognition to the DCGA, Bureau of Civil Aviation Security and the
Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau and clearly defines their roles, which was earlier
missing.
o DGCA will carry out safety oversight and regulatory functions of civil aviation.
o BCAS will carry out functions related to civil aviation security.
 o AAIB will carry out investigations related to aircraft accidents and incidents.
• The Bill empowers the DGCA to impose penalties up to ₹1 crore, from the existing ₹10
lakh, on airlines, airports and other aviation entities.

104. Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is constructing Atal tunnel under the Rohtang pass in
Himachal Pradesh.
• The tunnel will provide connectivity to Leh and forward areas all-round the year.

105. Central govt has increased the scholarship amount under ‘Pragati and Saksham
Scholarship Schemes’ for students of Jammu and Kashmir from Rs 5,000 to Rs 50,000 per
annum from 2020-21 onwards.
• Union Ministry of Education had launched the schemes to encourage girls and specially-
abled students for pursuing technical education.
• The scheme are implemented by All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).
• Applications for availing the scheme can be submitted through National e-Scholarship
Portal (NSP) of Government of India.
• Both the schemes were launched 2014-15.

• To provide scholarship to girls who wish to pursue

technical education.
Pragati • Family Income threshold – Rs 8 lakh or less

• To provide scholarship to the specially-abled students

with 40% disability who wish to pursue technical
Saksham education at degree or diploma level.
• Family Income threshold – Rs 8 lakh or less
106. Jammu and Kashmir administration has launched the “Backyard Horticulture”
programme to promote the organic fruit production in the state and to increase the greenery in
the UT.
• Under the programme, at least three fruit plants of Rs. 200 will be distributed among the
farmers at 90% subsidy.

107. Madhya Pradesh govt has launched the ‘Poshan Sarkar’ programme to ensure active
participation of village panchayats and urban bodies in the Nutrition Month celebration.
• India celebrates September as the nutrition month.

108. Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers, D.V. Sadananda Gowda, has asserted that
India will become self-reliant in the production of fertilizers by 2023.
• New fertilizer manufacturing units are being setup across India with an investment of Rs
40,000 crore to reduce dependency on import.
• The govt is encouraging the production of organic and Nano fertilizers as they are 25 to
30% cheaper and give 18 to 35% higher yield and keep the soil in good health.

109. Primary Agricultural Co-Operative Society (PACS), Pothgal has become the first PACS
in India to launch its own web portal containing all information related to the services offered
by it.
• Pothgal is located in Pothgal village in Rajanna Siricilla District, Telangana.

110. Delhi Metro has developed India’s first indigenous signalling technology named as i-
ATS (Automatic Train Supervision) to support the government’s 'Make in India' initiative.
• An ATS (Automatic Train Supervision) is a computer based system, which manages train
operations.
• It will reduce India’s dependence on imports of signalling technology.
111. Trade Promotion Council of India (TPCI) has formed three committees to boost Indian
exports in different sectors.
Committee Chair Purpose
Committee on Food and Laxman Singh Rathore To boost India’s exports in the
Beverages (President – International field of food and beverages.
Business of Ramdev Food
Products Pvt. Ltd.)
Committee on Food Processing R. Senguttuvan To increase the efficiency of
Technology India’s food processing and
packaging machineries and
technology.
To adopt best global practices in
the field of Food Processing to
boost exports.
Committee on Chemical and Manish Shah To explore and develop a
Allied Products strategy for revamping the
chemical sector in India.

112. CII Global Ayurveda Summit 2020 was organized virtually by Confederation of Indian
Industry.
• Theme – ‘Ayurveda for Immunity’.

113. India has joined the Djibouti Code of Conduct (DCOC) as an observer nation.
• DCOC was founded in 2009 to counter piracy and armed robbery against ships in the
Western Indian Ocean Region, the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea.
• The “Jeddah Amendment to the Djibouti Code of Conduct 2017” was adopted to
address wider maritime security issues in order to boost the sustainable development of the
maritime sector.
• The grouping has 18 member-states.
 • Other observers of DCOC/ Jeddah Amendment are Japan, Norway, the United Kingdom,
the United States.

114. Union Cabinet has approved establishment of a new All India Institute of Medical
Sciences (AIIMS) at Darbhanga, Bihar under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha
Yojana (PMSSY).
• PMSSY is under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Total 22 new AIIMS

have been
announced.

Set up AIIMS like Out of them, 6

Components -> institutes across AIIMS are
India functional
PMSSY (launched
in 2003) 16 more AIIMS are
Upgradation of
announced. Out of
Government which 15 AIIMS are
Medical College/ approved by the
Institutions Cabinet.

115. Ministry of Labour has informed Rajya Sabha that it is planning to set up a national
database of the unorganized workforce, including migrant labourers, which will use Aadhaar
number of workers to provide them social security coverage.
• The existing Interstate Migrant Workmen (Regulation of Employment and Conditions
of Service) Act, 1979 is being merged with one of the four labour codes. So, the
requirement of registering migrant workers has been annulled.
• Therefore, this new database is being developed to register migrant workers data.
116. Maharashtra Cabinet has approved to implement the Balasaheb Thackeray Accidental
Insurance Scheme that provides treatment of up to Rs 30,000 to accident victims within 72
hours.
• An accident victim of any state or the country can avail the benefits of the scheme if he or
she meets with a road accident within Maharashtra.

117. Parliament has passed the ‘Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda Bill, 2020’.
• The bill ensures the establishment of a state-of-the-art Ayurvedic institution called the
Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda (ITRA) at Jamnagar, Gujarat.
• ITRA- Gujarat will be accorded the status of Institution of National Importance (INI).
• ITRA will be established by grouping the existing Ayurveda institutes at Gujarat Ayurved
University campus in Jamnagar.
• ITRA will be the first institution with INI status in the AYUSH sector.

118. Central govt has launched the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Solutions Challenge for
startups to develop innovative solutions for challenges in healthcare, education, agriculture,
smart mobility, transportation and natural language processing segments.
• The winner of the challenge will get an award of Rs 20 lakhs.
• The top 15 startups will be given an opportunity to showcase their solution at a virtual
global summit on AI—RAISE (Responsible AI for Social Empowerment) 2020— to be
organized by Ministry of Electronics and IT in October 2020.
• The govt will also adopt the solutions given by the startups in the challenge.

119. Tamil Nadu state assembly has approved to establish new Anna University (HQ-
Chennai) for affiliating all engineering colleges in the state with it.
• The existing Anna University at Guindy in the city will become a unitary institution under the
name of Anna Technological and Research University (ATRU).
• The state assembly also passed a Bill to amend the Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport
Authority (CUMTA) Act, 2010, to make the Chief Minister its chairman.
120. Historic Kosi Rail Mega Bridge on Kosi river has been inaugurated in Bihar by PM
Narendra Modi.
• Apart from this, new railway projects such as establishing new lines, electrifying existing
railways etc. were also inaugurated in Bihar.

121. India’s first general aviation terminal for private jets has been established at Delhi’s
Indira Gandhi International airport.

122. According to the Minister for Chemicals & Fertilizers, Shri D V Sadananda Gowda,
central govt has set a target of increasing the number of Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya
Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBJK) in the country to 10,500 by the end of March 2025.
• As on 15th September 2020, the number of stores has increased to 6,606.
• With the increment, PMBJK will reach to every district in India.
• At present, there are four warehouses of PMBJP at Gurugram, Chennai, Bengaluru &
Guwahati. However, two more warehouses in Western and Central India are being planned
to be opened.

123. Central govt has set up a high-level committee, to be headed by Ajay Tirkey –
secretary of the department of land resources under the Ministry of Rural Development, to
prepare a roadmap for regularisation of land leasing in the agriculture sector.
• Purpose: to suggest standard measures on land leasing in order to extend the benefits of
Central government schemes to the farmers and to protect the interests of landowners.
• A Niti Aayog expert committee led by T Haq had proposed legalising land leasing to
promote agricultural efficiency and to ensure complete security of the ownership rights of
the landowner.
124. WhatsApp has partnered with Common Services Centers (CSC) for launching a
WhatsApp chatbot to provide digital literacy services to citizens in order to bridge the digital
divide in India and promote rural entrepreneurship.
• Through this chatbot, people can access the details and course modules of flagship
programmes like the PM Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA) and the Digital
Beti initiative in English, Hindi and seven other regional languages.
PM Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan Digital Beti initiative
• Launched in 2016-17 to make 6 crore • Digital Beti program is a joint initiative of
Indians digitally literate by 31st March, CSC and Facebook to overcome the
2020. digital gender gap by providing digital
training to women entrepreneurs from
rural areas.

125. Karnataka CM B.S. Yediyurappa has launched the “Arthika Spandana” programme of
disbursing loans worth Rs 39,300 crores through various cooperative institutions.
• Under the scheme, the primary agricultural cooperatives would be upgraded as multi-
service centres.
• Also, the state govt had launched another scheme to provide loans to dairy farmers and
fisherman at 0% interest rate.

126. Gujarat govt has launched a subsidy scheme as part of the “Panchsheel gift” – a
package of five development schemes to celebrate the 70th birthday of Prime Minister
Narendra Modi.
• The subsidy scheme will provide subsidies to consumers for purchasing e-vehicles like e-
scooter and e-rickshaw.
• Students (of Class 9 to college) will get a subsidy of Rs 12,000 each to buy e-scooters. For
e-rickshaws, the subsidy is Rs 48,000.
• Additionally, a subsidy scheme of Rs 5 lakh has also been announced to set up
infrastructure facilities in the state for charging battery-powered vehicle.
127. Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has formed a 7-member task
force to look into guidelines/ provisions for vegan foods.
• The task force includes Shankar Narayan, founder-president of Satvik Vegan Society
(formerly Indian Vegan Society).

128. Ministry of Electronics and IT has launched the Scheme for Accelerating Startups
around Post COVID Technology Opportunities (SASACT) for startups at a budget of Rs 9.6
crore.
• Startups which develop innovative solutions in response to the needs arising in a post
Covid-19 world will be able to get a maximum of Rs 40 lakhs support under the scheme.
• Four agencies are implementing the scheme. Out of which, one is Society for Innovation
and Entrepreneurship (SINE) at the IIT-Bombay.

129. Central government has formed an expert committee under the National Cyber
Security Coordinator (Rajesh Pant) to study reports of surveillance of Indians by Chinese firm
Zhenhua Data.

130. Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), in collaboration with the Ministry of Electronics and
Information Technology (MeitY), has launched the ICT Grand Challenge with a prize money
of Rs 50 lakhs for 1st winner.
• Under the challenge, the people have to develop solutions under the theme of 'Smart
Water Supply Measurement and Monitoring System'.
131. Gujarat govt has announced the Mukhyamantri Mahila Utkarsh Yojana (MMUY) to
provide interest-free loans to women’s joint liability and earning group (JLEG) in the state.
• The government is planning to provide total lending up to Rs 1,000 crore to these groups in
the state.
• 10 lakh women across the state are expected to be covered under the scheme.
• Under the MMUY, 50,000 JLEGs will be formed in urban areas and 50,000 in rural areas.
Each group will have 10 women members in it.

132. Parliament has passed the Homoeopathy Central Council (Amendment) Bill, 2020 to set
up a central council for regulating the Homoeopathy industry in India.
• The bill aims to amend the Homoeopathy Central Council Act, 1973. The new bill will
ensure that all kinds of medicines are available to the citizens.

133. Parliament has passed the Indian Medicine Central Council (Amendment) Bill, 2020 for
regulating the Indian medicine system that includes Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy.
• The bill aims to amend the Indian Medicine Central Council Act, 1970.

134. National Forensic Sciences University Bill, 2020 has been passed by the Lok Sabha to
establish the National Forensic Sciences University by upgrading the Gujarat Forensic
Sciences University.
• Purpose: the university will promote studies and research in forensic sciences.
• The university will grant degrees and other academic distinctions.

135. India has provided a financial assistance of $250 million to Maldives to help it mitigate the
economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• As part of this funding, State Bank of India will subscribe to the Treasury Bond issued by
the Government of Maldives.
136. India will conduct an e-summit with Sri Lanka to give a push to the neighbourhood
policy of India.
• This would be the first e-summit that PM Modi will conduct with any leader in the
neighbourhood.

137. Kochi became the first city of Kerala to be included in the biodiversity index as part of
the ‘INTERACT-Bio’ project.
• The project is implemented by Centre for Heritage, Environment and Development
through ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability.
• The project was executed with the help of the German’s Federal Ministry for the
Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety and India’s Ministry of
Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

138. Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has asserted that 11
industrial corridors will be developed in the country till 2024-25.
• These 11 industrial corridors include the Delhi-Nagpur IC, Delhi Mumbai IC, Amritsar
Kolkata IC, Chennai Bengaluru IC, Bengaluru Mumbai IC among others.

139. Jammu and Kashmir LG Manoj Sinha has launched the National Generic Document
Registration System (NGDRS) for online registration of sale/ purchase or transfer of land
transactions.
• This system marks a major shift from the existing manual registration system to online
system and boost transparency.

140. Central govt will organize the virtual Vaishwik Bharatiya Vaigyanik (VAIBHAV) Summit,
in collaboration with the academic organisations of India, from 2nd Oct to 2nd Nov 2020.
• Purpose of the summit – to bring academia and scientists together to derive innovative
solutions for solving emerging challenges in India.
141. Niti Aayog and the Indian School of Public Policy (ISPP) have signed a statement of
intent for training, mentoring and capacity building of government officials as well as public
policy scholars.

142. Tamil Nadu has become the first state in India to release policies on Artificial Intelligence,
Blockchain and Cybersecurity at Connect 2020 event.
• The policies are Tamil Nadu Cyber Security Policy, 2020, Tamil Nadu Blockchain Policy,
2020, and Tamil Nadu Safe and Ethical Artificial Intelligence Policy, 2020.
• The Government aims to transform the State as the “Innovation Hub and Knowledge
Capital of India”.
• Centres of Excellence in FinTech and in Emerging Technologies (CEET) were also
established at Chennai.

143. Konkan Railways has delivered two trains (with diesel-electric multiple unit) to Nepal
that will run from Jaynagar in Bihar and Kurtha in Dhanusa district in Nepal.
• This is the first broad-gauge railway service in Nepal.
• The trains have been manufactured by Integrated Coach Factory, Chennai.
• Another rail project of linking Jaynagar-Janakpur-Bardibas railways in Nepal is being built at
a cost of Rs10 billion with support from the Indian government.

144. Central government has directed all students pursuing MD or MS to undergo compulsory
posting at a district hospital for 3 months, from 2020-21 onwards, under the Indian Medical
Council Act, 1956.
• This 3 months rotation will be termed as ‘District Residency Programme’ (DRP) and the
student undergoing training shall be termed as a ‘District Resident’.
• MD- Doctor of Medicine and MS - Master of Science degree.
145. Parliament has passed the Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and
Facilitation) Bill, 2020 and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on
Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020.
• PM Narendra Modi has asserted that Minimum Support Prices and govt’s procurement of
farmers’ produce will continue to remain in place.
Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020

§ It will give the freedom to the farmers and traders to sell their produce at remunerative
prices in any market in India. Earlier, the farmers and traders were restricted to sell their
produce in the APMC Mandis only.

§ It will promote efficient and barrier free inter-state and intra-state trading of farmers’
goods. States cannot charge any fees from farmers and traders for selling their produce
in different states.

§ It will also provide framework for electronic trading.

Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill,
2020

§ It will give farmers the right to enter into a contract with agribusiness firms, processors,
wholesalers, exporters, or large retailers for the sale of future farming produce at a pre-
agreed price. Basically, the bill will smoothen the way for carrying out contract farming
in a transparent manner.

§ Contract farming – agriculture production done on the basis of an agreement between

the buyer and farm producers.

§ This means that farmers will be able to sell farm services and future farming produce at
an already mutually agreed remunerative price in fair and transparent manner.

146. Lok Sabha has passed the Factoring Regulation Amendment Bill, 2020 to amend the
Factoring Regulation Act, 2011.
 • Key feature of the new bill – It will allow the businesses (especially MSMEs) to take credit
by pledging their trade receivables.
• Factoring – It means selling of one’s trade receivables (invoices) to a third party to meet
the liquidity requirements.

147. Lok Sabha passed the Bilateral Netting of Qualified Financial Contracts Bill, 2020,
which allows for enforcement of netting for qualified financial contracts (QFC).
• Netting off of QFCs is expected to save up to Rs 46,000 crores on an annual basis.
• The bill is based on the model netting act of the International Swaps and Derivatives
Association.
• The bill also has provision for close-out netting (means balancing off payments in the case
of termination of a QFC).
• What is a QFC? – The new bill recognizes a QFC as a bilateral contract that has been
notified by a relevant authority such as the RBI, SEBI, IRDAI, PFRDA (Pension fund
regulator), or IFSCA (International Financial Services Centres Authority).
• What is Netting? – Balancing of payments between two parties.
o Example: - If ‘A’ owes Rs 10,000 to B and B owes Rs 10,000 to A. Then, both A and
B will balance or net off their payments by paying nothing to each other. They both
owe Rs 10,000 to each other and so, they won’t pay anything to each other and keep
those Rs 10,000 with themselves and present it as a net off in their account books.

148. India has launched its first-ever cargo ferry vessel to Maldives named as “MCP Linz”.
• MCP Linz – operated by Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) – has been operationalized
under an MoU signed between India and Maldives in 2019.
• The ferry will connect Tuticorin (T.N.) and Cochin (Kerala) ports in India with
Kulhudhuhfushi and Male ports in the Maldives.

149. The Central govt has increased the Minimum Support Prices (MSP) on Rabi crops for
2020-21 (October-March sowing season).
 • This step is in line with the recommendations of Swaminathan Commission.
• National Commission on Farmers (aka Swaminathan Commission) was constituted on
November 18, 2004 under the chairmanship of Professor M.S. Swaminathan.
• The Commission recommended that MSP should be at least 50% more than the weighted
average cost of production of crops.
• Wheat's MSP has increased by 2.6%.

150. PM Narendra Modi has laid the foundation stone of nine highway projects in Bihar.
• He also inaugurated the 'Ghar Tak Fibre' / ‘Har Gao Mein Optical Fibre’ project to
provide optical fibre internet Service to all the 45,945 villages of Bihar.
• Ghar Tak Fibre project will be implemented by Department of Telecom, Ministry of
Electronics & IT, and Common Service Centres (CSC).

151. Destination Northeast 2020 festival will be held on September 27 (World Tourism Day) to
promote Northeast as tourists’ and investment destination.
 • Theme - “The Emerging Delightful Destinations”

152. Ministry of New and Renewable of energy has informed that a committee has been
formed to set specific targets for the development of hydrogen as source of energy.
• Currently, the hydrogen energy is not included in its plan to develop 175 Gigawatts of
renewable power by 2022.
• Hydrogen use in India will expand between 3 to 10 times by 2050 if the country shifts
towards a carbon neutral economy.

153. Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Bill, 2020 has been passed by the Rajya Sabha to
prohibit violence against healthcare workers during epidemics
• Imprisonment or fine - 3 months and 5 years, and a fine between Rs 50,000 and Rs 2
lakh for committing violence against health workers.
• In case of grievous harm done to health workers, the imprisonment and fine will be 6
months and 7 years, and Rs 1 lakh and Rs 5 lakh.

154. Parliament has passed the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2020 to
amend the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010.
• The bill makes Aadhar card for Indian individuals and organizations (particularly for those
receiving foreign funding) mandatory to bring transparency.
• For foreign organizations and individuals contributing to Indian organizations, Overseas
Citizenship of India (OCI) card and passports are mandatory documents for
identification.
• Further, the NGOs receiving foreign funding in the range of 20-50% of their annual funding
have been asked to reduce their administrative expenses.

155. Union Minister of Earth Sciences, Harsh Vardhan, has informed Rajya Sabha that Indian
Tsunami Early Warning Centre (established at Indian National Centre for Ocean
 Information Services, Hyderabad) is providing Tsunami Services to 25 countries in Indian
Ocean region.
• O-SMART (Ocean Services, Modelling, Applications, Resources and Technology) scheme
of Ministry of Earth Sciences was approved by the central govt in 2018.
• The scheme aims to promote sustainable development in coastal and ocean sectors. Early
Warning Systems have been established under the scheme to prevent ocean disaster like
Tsunami, storm surges etc.

156. Ministry of Jal Shakti has informed Lok Sabha that the number of arsenic-affected
habitation (small settlements having 10-100 households) has significantly increased in the
country from 1,800 in 2015 to 4,421 as on September 17, 2020.
• Arsenic-Affected Habitation – population facing the problem of arsenic water i.e., the
quantity of arsenic in the drinking water is much above the threshold limit.
• Most of the arsenic-affected habitations lie in the Ganga and Brahmaputra alluvial plains,
with Assam having the highest share of such habitations (1,853), followed by Bengal
(1,383).
• The number of fluoride affected habitations has significantly come down in the last five
years — from 12,727 in 2015 to 5,485 as of September 13, 2020. Rajasthan has the
highest number of such habitations at present.
• Jal Jeevan Mission of the govt aims to provide qualitative piped drinking water to all rural
households by 2024.

157. A virtual India-UK Water Partnership Forum was held to discuss ways to develop the
water infrastructure in India.
• Both countries also signed an MoU for water conservation and infrastructure development
in India.
Extra Fact:
Director General of National Mission for Clean Ganga – Rajiv Ranjan
Mishra
158. Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor will be commissioned by 2022 at Kalpakkam Atomic
Power Station in Tamil Nadu. The reactor will give 500 MW electricity.
• Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Ltd (BHAVINI) is constructing the reactor, which was
scheduled for commission in 2012.
• 700 MW Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR) at Kakrapar Atomic Power Plant
(KAPP) at Kakrapar, Gujarat will be commissioned by the end of 2020.

159. Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted a successful

flight test of the ABHYAS High-speed Expendable Aerial Target (HEAT) system – a missile
target vehicle – at the Interim Test Range, Balasore, Odisha.
• ABHYAS has been developed by DRDO’s Aeronautical Development Establishment
(ADE).

160. Parliament has passed the Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2020 to ease the compliance
burden on companies.
Provisions Companies Act, 2013 Companies (Amendment) Bill,
2020
Producer companies Under the 2013 Act, certain It adds a new chapter with similar
provisions from the Companies provisions on producer
Act, 1956 continue to apply to companies.
producer companies (comprising
of agricultural and cottage
industries).
Changes to offences Strict penalties and punishments The Bill makes three changes to
were prescribed under the act. decriminalize various penal
provisions: -

o Removal of penalty for

certain offences
 o Removal of imprisonment
in certain offences
o Reduction in the amount of
fine payable for certain
offences
Penalties for one-person or small One person companies or small The new bill has extended this
companies companies are only liable to pay penalty of 50% to all producer
up to 50% of the penalty for companies and start-up
certain offences (such as failing companies.
to file annual return).
o The penalty has been
extended for all provisions
of the act.
o Penalty amount – max. Rs
2 lakh for the company and
Rs 1 lakh rupees for a
defaulting officer.
Corporate Social Responsibility Companies with net worth, o Companies with a CSR
turnover or profits above a liability of up to Rs 50 lakh
specified amount are required to a year need not set up
constitute CSR Committees.
CSR Committees.

o They need to spend 2% of o Further, companies which

their average net profits in spend any amount in

the last three financial excess of their CSR

years, towards its CSR obligation in a financial

policy. year can set off the excess

amount towards their CSR
obligations in subsequent
financial years.
Note: The bill has various provisions in it. Only the most important provisions from the exam point of view
have been mentioned in the table.
161. Parliament has passed the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020 that seeks
to amend the Essential Commodities Act, 1955.
Provisions under Essential Commodities Act, Provisions under the Essential Commodities
1955 (Amendment) Bill, 2020
o Central govt can regulate production, Now, the central government can regulate the

supply, distribution, and trade of essential supply of essential food items, only under

commodities (such as food items, drugs, extraordinary circumstances of (i) war, (ii) famine,
(iii) extraordinary price rise, and (iv) natural
fertilisers, and petroleum products).
calamity of grave nature.

o These food items include cereals, pulses,

potato, onions, edible oilseeds, and oils.
o This bill only de-regularises food items.
o Central government can regulate the stock Now, the govt will regulate the stock limit only
of an essential commodity that a person in case of extraordinary price rise situations
can hold. (mentioned below).
o 100% increase in the retail price in case of
horticultural produce.
o 50% increase in the retail price in case of
non-perishable agricultural food items.
o The increase will be calculated over the
price prevailing 12 months ago, or the
average retail price of the last five years,
whichever is lower.
Exemptions –
o stock limit does not apply to the processor
or value chain participant, in case:
 § he has a stockpile less than the
prescribed limit for the processor or if
he needs it for exports.
OR
o If the stock is held by govt for public
distribution system.

162. Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare has released the First
Advance Estimates of production of major Kharif crops for 2020-21.
• Long Period Average (LPA) rainfall is 7% higher in 2020-21.
Crops Production estimate

Total Food Grains production 144.52 million tonnes (record)

Rice 102.36 million tonnes (record)
Nutri / Coarse Cereals 32.84 million tonnes

Maize 19.88 million tonnes

Pulses 9.31 million tonnes

Tur 4.04 million tonnes

Oilseeds 25.73 million tonnes

Groundnut 9.54 million tonnes (record)

Soyabean 13.58 million tonnes

Cotton 37.12 million bales (of 170 kg each)

Jute & Mesta 9.66 million bales (of 180 kg each)

Sugarcane 399.83 million tonnes

163. During the National Conference for Rabi Campaign 2020, the central government has set
the target of total food grain production at a record 301 million tonnes for the 2020-21 crop
year (1.5% higher from FY20).
• Total food grain production achieved in 2019-20 is 296.65 million tonnes.
 • The target for mustard (under oilseeds) alone has been raised from 92 to 125 lakh tonnes
to boost indigenous production of edible oil and reduce imports of palm oil.
Crops Targets of 2020-21 (in million Output achieved in 2019-20 (in
tonnes) million tonnes)
Rice 119.6 118.43
Wheat 108 107.59
Coarse cereals 47.80 47.48
Pulses 25.60 23.15
Oilseeds 37 33.42
Total food grain 301 million tonnes 296.65 million tonnes

164. Kumudini Tyagi and Riti Singh have become the first women airborne tacticians
(combatants) in the country who will operate warships.
• This is the first time that women officers have joined the helicopter stream of the Indian
Navy.

165. Parliament has passed the Indian Institutes of Information Technology Laws
(Amendment) Bill, 2020.
• It seeks to declare five Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs) set up under
the public- private partnership mode in Surat, Bhopal, Bhagalpur, Agartala, and Raichur as
institutions of national importance.
• Rashtriya Raksha University Bill, 2020 was passed by Parliament. It seeks to upgrade
the Gandhinagar police training university into a national university.

166. India has launched the “Strengthening Clinical Trial Research Capacities in
Neighbouring Countries” programme under the Ind-CEPI mission to boost the capacity of
neighbouring countries such as Nepal, Maldives, Bangladesh, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and
Afghanistan.
 • Necessary training for strengthening the clinical trial infrastructure for Covid-19
vaccines will be given to these neighbouring countries in compliance with International
Conference on Harmonisation - Good Clinical Practice (ICH-GCP).
• Department of Biotechnology aims to strengthen the development of vaccines and
related technologies in India through the India Centric Epidemic Preparedness (Ind-
CEPI) mission.
• The Ind-CEPI mission is aligned with the Global Initiative of the Coalition for Epidemic
Preparedness Innovations (CEPI).

167. KRITAGYA hackathon for university students, faculties, and innovators has been
announced by ICAR under National Agricultural Higher Education Project (NAHEP) to
promote innovation in farm mechanisation with special emphasis on women friendly equipment.
• Kri – Krishi (Agriculture) Ta – Taknik (Technology) Gya – Gyan (Knowledge)
• Prizes – 5 lakh (first), 3 lakh (second), and 1 lakh (third)

• NAHEP was launched in 2017-18 by Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR)

for 5 years for promoting technological advancements in the field of agriculture.
• World Bank and Central govt of India are sharing the total cost of NAHEP ($165 million)
in a 50:50 ratio.

168. Parliament has passed the three labour codes bill – Industrial Relations code bill 2020,
Social Security Code bill 2020, and Occupational Safety, health and working conditions bill
2020.
• Codes on Wages Bill, 2019 was passed last year.
• Under Industrial Relations code bill 2020, factories or companies with less than 300
workers don’t need prior orders for retrenchment and deciding on the working terms of staff.
o Prior notification of 60 days needs to be given to the company for going on strike.
o National Industrial Tribunal will be set up for deciding the disputes.
• Under Social Security Code bill 2020, gratuity period has been reduced from 5 years to 3
years for working journalists only.
 • Under Occupational Safety, health and working conditions bill 2020, the definition of the
factory has been revised:
o Now, manufacturing units with power, having 20 employees, and,
o Manufacturing units without power, having 40 employees, will be defined as
factory.
o Definition of an inter-state migrant – Any worker who has come from one state to
another state on his own and earning Rs.18000 per month.
o Working hours fixed at 8 hours per day.

169. India and Australia conducted PASSEX naval exercise in the Indian Ocean Region.
170. Major Port Authorities Bill, 2020 has been passed by Lok Sabha. It amends Major Port
Act, 1963.
• The bill envisages to create a Board of Major Port Authority for each major port. These
Boards will replace the existing port trusts.

171. Ministry of Railways has informed Parliament about its target of 100% of electrification of
broad gauge by 2023.
• 63% of railway lines have been electrified in the country.

172. Central govt has formed five task forces for promoting MSMEs in five key areas.

First area is Industry 4.0 i.e., promoting MSME in AI, 3D and virtual reality.

Second area is export promotion and import reduction, and to boost

manufacturing in order to make India - a global manufacturing hub.

Third area is to improve the existing cluster schemes to assist the MSMEs at all
levels.

Fourth area is to focus on how to integrate the technology centres.

Fifth area are is explore schemes and initiatives like ZED (zero defect and zero
effect) and LEAN (for manufacturing competitiveness) etc. to increase market
competitiveness for MSMEs, to make their quality better.

173. Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana - “Saubhagya” was launched in 2017 and
has completed three years on 25 Sep. 20. since its inception.
• Purpose: to ensure electrification of all willing households in rural and urban India.
• Budget: The scheme started with an outlay of Rs 16,320 crores (Rs 14,025 for rural + Rs
2,295 for urban).
• Progress achieved so far: over 2 crore 62 lakh households were electrified.
174. India and Japan have conducted 4th edition of the biennial JIMEX 20 bilateral maritime
exercise in North Arabian Sea.

175. Ministry of Rural Development has celebrated the Antyodaya Diwas on 25th September
to commemorate the birth anniversary of BJP leader Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya.
• The ministry also celebrated the launch day of Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen
Kaushalya Yojana (25th September 2014) with the “Kaushal Se Kal Badlenge” program.

176. India has extended a grant of $15 million to Sri Lanka during an e-summit between India
and Sri-Lanka for promoting Buddhist cultural ties between the two countries.
• Under the grant, people to people linkage between the two countries will be deepened in
the sphere of Buddhism.
• Sri Lanka invited PM Modi for inaugurating the Jaffna Cultural Centre, which is an iconic
project built with Indian assistance.

177. Central govt has laid the foundation stone for Post-Harvest Management Centre for
Medicinal Plants at Bhaderwah town in J&K to increase the quality of medicinal plant produce
and subsequently increase farmers’ income.
• Besides, 21 AYUSH Health & Wellness Centres were also inaugurated in Jammu &
Kashmir.

178. Foundation stone for India’s first ‘Centre for Disability Sports’ was laid at Gwalior
(Madhya Pradesh). It was announced in March 2019.
• Section 30 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, mandates the govt to
take measures to ensure "effective participation of PwD in sports activities which includes
the development of infrastructural facilities for sports activities for them".
179. India and Israel have partnered for jointly developing the hi-tech defence weapons and
supplying them to the other friendly countries.
• To implement this purpose, a sub-working group has been formed under the India-Israel
joint working group on defence cooperation – headed by Indian defence secretary (Dr.
Ajay Kumar) and his Israeli counterpart.
• The sub-working group chairs – Sanjay Jaju (India) and Eyal Calif (Israel).
• Functions of the sub-group: Focus will be on transfer of technology, co-development and
co-production, technology security, Artificial Intelligence, innovation in weapon
manufacturing and joint export to third countries.

180. Uttar Pradesh has launched the U-Rise portal – Unified Reimagined Innovation For
Students Empowerment portal – to provide career counselling assistance to students.
• Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University, Lucknow and state’s skill department
collaborated to launch this portal.
181. Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan has laid the foundation stone for MedSpark (one of the first
medical device parks in India).
• MedSpark will be built on the 9-acre land of Life Science Park, Thonnakkal village by
Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST) and
Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation Limited (KSIDC).

182. Minister of Agriculture, Narendra Singh Tomar, has launched "Centralized Farm
Machinery Performance Testing Portal” to improve services of farm machinery testing
institutions.
• The portal will bring transparency in the entire process of testing and evaluation of farm
machines and help the farmers know about the progress made in evaluation of their
machines.

183. Flight Lieutenant Shivangi Singh is the first woman fighter pilot of Rafale squadron
(named as Golden Arrows, in Ambala).

184. West Bengal has announced two projects – first is a waste management and sustainable
development project at Kolkata and second is solar power project in East Midnapore.
• Waste management project will be built with the assistance of Netherlands.
• Solar power project will be built with the assistance of Germany.
• Funding for both project – Rs 1226 crore – will be shared by Netherlands and Germany
(both countries are members of European Union).
185. Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal launched Mukhyamantrir Grammya Paribahan
Achoni Yojana to improve rural connectivity and generate employment in the villages.
• The transport department of the state distributed vehicles to rural people.

186. Pixxel (an Indian space-tech startup based in Bengaluru) has signed an agreement with
Momentus Inc (Silicon Valley-based in-space satellite transportation and infrastructure
company) to launch its 2nd satellite on the falcon-9 rocket of SpaceX into space in 2021.
• Pixxel’s 1st satellite will be launched at the end of 2020 on a Russian Soyuz rocket.
• Pixxel was founded in 2019 by Awais Ahmed and Kshitij Khandelwal.

187. India has announced to support the expansion of Hanimaadhoo International Airport
located in the northern part of the Maldives.
• Earlier, India extended an $800m line of credit through EXIM Bank for several infrastructure
projects in the Maldives.
• This credit line is also expected to support the Hanimaadhoo Airport expansion.

188. Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has submitted its report on forest cover to the
parliament. The report highlighted the following facts:
National level facts Facts about Gujarat
The forest cover in the country is 21.67% of Forest cover as a percentage of total area of
total area. Gujarat is 7.57%.
The National Forest Policy of 1988 envisaged -
to have one-third of the total land area of the
country under forest or tree cover.
The aggregate forest and tree cover of India Aggregate forest and tree cover decreased
rose from 783.67 thousand sq km in 2006 to from 23.01 thousand sq km in 2006 to 21.77
807.28 thousand sq km in 2017. thousand sq km in 2017.
 o Forest cover in 2017 - 712.25 thousand o Forest cover in 2017 - 14,860 sq km
sq. km (increased) (increased from 2006)
o Tree cover in 2017- 95.03 thousand sq o Tree cover in 2017 - 6,910 sq km
km (increased) (decreased)
o Forest cover includes all lands more than 1 hectare with a tree canopy density of more than
10%, irrespective of ownership and legal status.
o Tree cover is the area under trees, excluding the forest cover.

189. Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation has released the ‘Health in
India’ report, which measures the health information for separate religious communities,
including estimates of their susceptibility to ailments.
• The report surveyed around 1.13 lakh households covering 5.55 lakh persons. The
information in the report is based on the NSS Schedule 25.0 (Household Social
Consumption: Health).
• Facts of the report: -
Þ In terms of religion, Zoroastrian community is most susceptible to ailments.
o National Sample Survey (NSS)’s 75th Round, released in July, shows that 31.1% of
Zoroastrians reported that they were suffering from an ailment at the time the survey
was conducted.
Þ In terms of gender, females are more susceptible to ailments.
o In rural India, 6.1% of males were suffering from ailments, compared to 7.6% of
rural women.
o In urban India, 8.2% males were sick as compared to 10% females.
Þ National level data:
o Overall India – Around 7.5% Indians were reported sick
o Urban – 9.1% population reported ailment
o Rural – 6.8% were sick
190. ‘Health in India’ report has been published by the National Statistical Organisation
(NSO).
• The report is based on the 75th round of the National Sample Survey (July 2017- June
2018) on household social consumption related to health.
Findings:
F Two out of five children do not complete their immunisation programme. As a result of
which, most of these children remain unprotected against measles, and partially
protected against a range of other diseases.
F Only 59.2% of children under five years are fully immunised in India. This is contrary to
the Centre’s Health Management Information System’s data, which claims that 86.7%
were fully immunized in 2017-18.
F States with high immunization coverage – Manipur (75%), Andhra Pradesh (73.6%)
and Mizoram (73.4%)
F State with low immunization coverage – Nagaland (12%), Puducherry (34%) and
Tripura (39.6%)

191. Ministry of Health has launched the National Clinical Registry for COVID-19 and a
vaccine portal, developed by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
• National Clinical Registry for COVID-19 – It will maintain data on clinical practice,
research, formulating guidelines and policymaking for tackling Covid-19.
 • The portal – it will maintain all information on clinical signs and symptoms, laboratory
investigations, management protocols, clinical course of COVID-19 disease, disease
spectrum and outcomes of patients.

192. Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (led by GMR Group) has become the first airport in
the Asia- Pacific region that has been granted the Airport Health Accreditation (AHA) by
ACI (a worldwide association for the air transport industry).
• The accreditation is for the safety measures being taken at the aerodrome.

193. Ministry of Defence has released the new Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020,
which was prepared by a committee (headed by Director General Acquisition - Apurva
Chandra) that was set up in 2019.
• The new rules removed the offset clause requirement in Inter-Governmental
Agreements (IGA), government-to-government, and single vendor acquisitions.
• Further, the rules introduced a new clause of leasing of military weapons has also been
included in addition to the existing ‘buy’ and ‘make’ category.
• These rules will be applicable from Oct 1, 2020. DAP 2020 is the renamed version of the
Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP).
ü Under offset clause, foreign companies are required to invest part of their deal value in the
importing or purchasing country in order to improve the domestic defence manufacturing of
that country.

Note: The final Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020 has been covered in PIB 247 of September
2020.

194. Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has approved for buying additional 72,000 SiG Sauer
Assault Rifles from the US, for the use of Indian Army, at a cost of Rs 780 crore through the
Fast Track Procedure (FTP).
 • DAC also approved the procurement of Static HF (high frequency) Trans-receiver sets
under the Buy Indian (IDDM) Category at a cost of ₹540 crore to enable seamless
communication between Indian Army and the Indian Air Force.
• DAC also approved the procurement of smart anti-airfield weapon (SAAW) systems for
the Navy and the Indian Air Force at an approximate cost of ₹970 crore.
• In total acquisition worth ₹2,290 crore was approved.

195. Ministry of External Affairs has created a new division ‘Oceania’ which includes the
Indo-Pacific and South-east Asia divisions of the ministry within it.
• Oceania division will be headed by additional secretary Reenat Sandhu.
• The Oceania division will also include Pacific Island states such as the Cook Islands,
Tuvalu, Papua New Guinea, Nauru, the Marshal Islands, Solomon Islands and Tonga.

196. Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has notified hydrogen-enriched

compressed natural gas (CNG) as an automobile fuel.
• According to the ministry, an ideal blend of 18% hydrogen in CNG (H-CNG) can be used
as automotive fuel after compression.
• It can reduce carbon monoxide emission by 70%.

197. Assam govt has launched the ‘Paryatan Sanjeevani Scheme’ to extend loans between
Rs 1-20 lakhs with interest subsidy to local youth for promoting tourism sector of the state.
 • Another scheme, 'Paryatan Sarathi' was also launched to provide information about
Assam tourism, facilities for bookings, tour packages, hotels along with online payment
gateway options.

198. Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan has launched the 'Mukhyamantri Kisan
Kalyan Yojana' on the lines of Centre's Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan)
Scheme.
• Under the state scheme, Rs 4000 will be transferred to the bank accounts of farmers in two
instalments, over and above the instalment of Rs 6000 which farmers get under PM-Kisan
scheme.
• In total, farmers of MP will get Rs 10,000 now.
• Also, the bhumi pujan of ₹2,400 crore- Narmada Irrigation Project was held.

199. Ministry of Tourism, in association with the Quality Council of India, has launched
“Saathi” (System for Assessment, Awareness & Training for Hospitality Industry) app for
hospitality sector.
• Purpose: to help hotels to operate safely and instil confidence about the safety of the
hotels among staff and tourists in the wake of coronavirus.
• A film ‘Pathik’ (an ICPB MICE promotional film) on Incredible India Tourist Facilitators
Certification Programme (IITFC) to aware people about Indian destinations.
• ICPB = India Convention Promotion Bureau; MICE = tourism for the purpose of meetings,
incentives, conferencing, exhibitions.

200. Ministry of Health has launched the “Mapping of Health and Nutrition Status” study, a
real time data collection program, for collecting data on dietary intake of Indians through crowd
sourcing approach.
• Minister of Health has also released ‘What India Eats’ report to know the main dietary
patterns in India in order to help nutrition and health policy makers to understand
distributions in diets within populations.
 • According to ‘What India Eats’ report, a meagre 5% of rural Indians and 18% of urban
populace in the country consume the recommended amount of good quality proteins.

201. Maritime Union of India has partnered with the United Nations to help Indians who are
stranded on the ship due to Covid-19.
• International Maritime Organisation (a specialized organization of the UN) has established
the Seafarers Crisis Action Team (SCAT) for this purpose.

202. Prime Minister has announced to inaugurate six mega projects (such as sewage
treatment plants) in Uttarakhand under the Namami Gange Mission.
• India’s first museum on Ganga river has been established at Chandi Ghat, Haridwar.
• ‘Rowing down the Ganges’ book has been co-published by National Mission for Clean
Ganga and Wildlife Institute of India.
• The logo of Jal Jeevan Mission and ‘Margdarshika (guidance books) for Gram
Panchayats and Paani Samitis under Jal Jeevan Mission’ will also be launched.

203. India and Denmark have established 'Green Strategic Partnership' during their online
meet.
• Under the partnership, both countries will strengthen their cooperation for implementing the
Paris Agreement and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
• India proposed to create the India-Denmark Energy Park and India-Denmark Skill
Institutes to help Danish companies operating in India.
• Denmark’s PM – Mette Frederiksen
204. Ministry of Defence has launched the Defence India Startup Challenge-4 (DISC4) under
iDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence) initiative to encourage startups to innovate in
defence technology.
• Under the DISC4, innovators, MSMEs and startups have to find new ideas applicable to 11
specific challenges of the Indian defence sector.
• Also, the Ministry launched iDEX4Fauji initiative to ensure the participation of personnel of
armed forces for providing innovative solution for the defence sector.

iDEX was launched in 2018 to promote innovation in defence equipment

production.

205. India and Bangladesh PM will hold their first virtual summit in December.
• India will release a commemorative stamp on Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (aka
Bangabandhu), the father of Bangladesh, to celebrate his centenary birth anniversary.
• India and Bangladesh are celebrating this year as the Mujib Barsho i.e., the year of
Mujibur Rahman.
• Minister of External Affairs, S Jaishankar has also announced the "Bangabandhu-Bapu
Digital Museum".
• India and Bangladesh also conducted the 6th round of the Joint Consultative
Commission meeting, which was chaired by the Ministers of External Affairs of both
countries.

206. National Institute of Nutrition (NIN), premier nutrition research body of the Indian
Council of Medical Research, has released the new reference weight and height for average
Indian men and women.
• This new reference height and weight will be taken as the reference for calculating normal
body mass index (BMI) of Indians.
Gender Height Weight
Men 5.8 feet (177cm) 65kg
Women 5.3 feet (162cm) 55kg
 • Age of an average Indian men and women for reference has been to 19-39 years instead of
20-39 years.
• Reason behind increasing the reference weight and height of average Indians is the
increased nutritional food intake. Data from rural and urban areas was taken into account
this time as against only urban data taken in 2010.
• For the first time, share of fibre consumption has been recommended by ICMR-NIN at
about 40 grams per 2,000 kilo calories of food consumption.
• Last time, these nutritional limits were revised in 2010.

207. For the first time, India Happiness Report has been released.
• Total number of people surveyed from all states and UTs – 16950
• Who released the report? – Professor Rajesh K Pillania (a management strategist)
• Time period of the survey – March 2020 and July 2020.
• Six parameters of happiness –
o Family relations and friendship
o Work-related issues like income and growth
o Social issues and philanthropy
o Physical and mental health
o Religion or spiritual affiliation
o Covid-19's effect on happiness
• Results –
o Mizoram, Andaman & Nicobar, and Punjab are the top 3 happiest states/UTs.
o Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Uttarakhand ranked at the bottom.

208. National Statistical Office has conducted a ‘Time Use’ survey between January and
December 2019 to assess the time spent by Indians on various activities (categorized into,
employment-related and unpaid domestic work).
• The table lists % of men/women aged 15-59 who participated in various activities in a day in
2019.
 • 38.2% of the total Indian population is engaged in employment related activities.

209. Nagaland govt has launched the Livelihood Generation Programme for Returned
Migrant Workers due to Covid-19 pandemic for providing digital skills to the migrants workers
to reduce unemployment.

210. Odisha govt has launched the second phase of its JAGA mission or Odisha Liveable
Habitat Mission (OLHM) to convert all slums in the State into Adarsh (ideal) colonies within the
next three years.
• Launched in 2018, the mission aims to make slums, a liveable place by providing basic
amenities like piped water supply, paved roads, storm water drains, street lights, sanitation,
household electricity, community spaces and recreational areas.
• The state has also signed an MoU with Centre for Policy Research (based in Delhi) for
the implementation of the project.

211. Andhra Pradesh govt has launched the YSR Jala Kala scheme.
• Purpose: To benefit the small and medium farmers who have no open water source for
irrigation by digging borewells for free of cost.
 • Target: The scheme is estimated to bring in 5 lakh acres under cultivation through
groundwater irrigation.
• Eligibility: Farmer without a borewell and with a land of 2.5 acres is eligible.

212. NITI Aayog and Embassy of the Netherlands (in New Delhi) have signed a Statement of
Intent to cooperate for decarbonisation and energy transition (to cleaner fuels) of both
countries.

213. National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) has released “Crime in India” 2019 report.
• Overall Crime increased 1.6% between 2018 and 2019.
• Crime against women increased by 7.3% between 2018 and 2019.
• Crime against children increased by 4.5% between 2018 and 2019.
State wise crime analytics
Uttar Pradesh Highest cases of atrocities against SCs/STs and crime against women
Assam Highest rate of crimes per lakh population against women
Rajasthan Highest rate of crimes per lakh population against SC/ST

214. Union Minister for Chemicals & Fertilizers, Shri D. V. Sadananda Gowda, has approved
to set up 10 Plastic Parks in India.
• Out of these 10, six plastic parks (in M.P. (2 parks), Odisha, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu, and
Assam) are already under construction.
• Purpose: to reduce India’s dependence on plastics imports for domestic consumption.

215. Rajasthan has launched the “Moksha Kalash Yojana-2020” to provide free bus travel to two
members of a family to immerse ashes of their loved ones in the Ganga in Haridwar.

216. Kineco Ltd (based in Goa), in collaboration with DRDO, has developed India’s first
indigenously developed sonar dome for Indian Navy.
• It will be deployed on Indian Navy’s Kolkata and Vishakhapatnam-class stealth destroyers.
 • Indian Navy had to depend on Germany for the import of sonar domes on its warships.

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING

1. India and Japan have signed an MoU for improving the quality and testing of Indian textiles to
make it suitable for Japanese market.
• Parties to the MoU – Textiles Committee, India and M/s Nissenken Quality Evaluation
Centre, Japan.

2. Union Cabinet has approved the MoU signed between Geological Survey of India and the
Geological Survey of Finland for cooperation in the field of geology and mineral resources.

3. SIDBI has signed an MoU with the Maharashtra Government to develop the micro, small and
medium enterprise (MSME) ecosystem in the state.
• Under the agreement, a Project Management Unit (PMU) will be deployed by SIDBI in
collaboration with the Maharashtra govt to design schemes/programmes for MSMEs.

4. Assam State Rural Livelihoods Mission (ASRLM) has signed an MoU with North East
Small Finance Bank (NESFB) to expand the reach of the mission to Self-Help Groups (SHGs)
and Producer Groups/ Enterprises.
• This collaboration also aims to empower women entrepreneurs.
• The bank will also provide loans to the SHGs within a range of Rs.1 lakh to Rs. 5 lakh
depending on the proposals.

5. National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) has signed an MoU with the IIT-Roorkee for
developing designs for making Indian cities more accessible, safe, and inclusive for Persons
with Disabilities (PwDs), elderly, women, and children among others.
• The MoU was signed under the ‘Building Accessible Safe Inclusive Indian Cities’
(BASIIC) program of NIUA.
 • NIUA, in collaboration with Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and support from the
Department for International Development (UK), launched BASllC program in 2019 to make
Indian cities more sensitive and responsive to the needs of the people with disabilities.

6. STEPapp (Student Talent Enhancement Program Application) and Ministry of Tribal Affairs
have signed an MoU to launch the app across all tribal schools in India.
• STEPapp is a learning platform that enables students to gain conceptual clarity in math &
science through its gamified format, making it fun and enjoyable.
• This is the first time a government institution has partnered with an Indian EdTech startup
on a monetised project.

7. United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the State Rural Livelihood Mission
(SRLM) of Uttar Pradesh have signed MoU to reduce malnutrition in the state under the
Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme.
• Under this partnership, nutrition production units will be set up in the state. These units will
be run by women-led microenterprises.

8. Telangana has renewed its MoU with the UK India Business Council to accelerate the
industrial development of the state.

9. SIDBI has signed an MoU with the Rajasthan government to develop the MSME ecosystem
in the state.
• SIDBI and state govt will provide financial, technical, marketing and export support to
MSMEs in the state as part of the scheme.

10. Odisha govt has signed an MoU with the National Co-operative Development Corporation
(NCDC) for promotion and management of Farmer Producer Organisation (FPOs).
 • NCDC will form FPOs to impart training and proper guidance to the small and marginal
farmers of Odisha to face various challenges in production, technical knowhow, quality of
production, credit, seed production etc.
• These FPOs will be governed/managed as per the Cooperative Society Act.

11. Gujarat government has signed an MoU with Small Industries Development Bank of India
(SIDBI) for capacity building of MSMEs in the state.
• Under the MoU, training and capacity building programmes for MSMEs will be conducted
by SIDBI.

12. France-based EDF Group has signed an MoU with International Institute of Nuclear Energy
(I2EN), France, and Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute (VJTI), Mumbai.
• Purpose: to conduct a pre-feasibility study for the establishment of a centre of excellence in
the civil nuclear sector in Maharashtra.
• EDF is involved in the development of Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project (in Maharashtra). If
built, it would be the world’s largest nuclear power generating station with a capacity of
10,000 MW approx.

13. Gujarat’s Climate Change department has signed MoU with 10 organisations for mitigation
of climate change and increasing the use of renewable energy.
• An MoU on “Climate Change Risk Assessment of Mitigation” was signed by the state
govt with the IIM-Ahmedabad for financing climate projects.
• State govt also signed an MoU with IIT-Gandhinagar for capacity building, research and
enhancing the public utility of scientific information in the field of climate change and
environment.
• An MoU was also signed with the Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation and
Gujarat Gas to increase the usage of clean fuels like CNG in vehicle.
14. BHEL has signed an MoU with SwissRapide AG (a Swiss company) for bringing Maglev
Train projects in India.
• BHEL will indigenously manufacture the Maglev Train projects with the help of
SwissRapide AG.
• Maglev Rail system is a high-tech rail system that enables high speed of 500 km/h. It
operates through magnetic levitation (Maglev), therefore, it is cost and energy efficient.
• Magnetic levitation helps the train to move on the force of magnet.

15. Ministry of AYUSH and Ministry of Women and Child Development have signed an MoU
for controlling malnutrition as a part of POSHAN Abhiyaan.
• Under the MOU, AYUSH and WCD Ministry would try to integrate Ayush in POSHAN
Abhiyaan for effective management of malnutrition.
• As part of the MoU, the anganwadi worker who is providing the Ayurveda nutrition
message to the community at ground level may be designated as ‘DHATRI’ - Dedicated
Health Activist to Replenish the Innutrition.
• The two Ministries have also decided to launch the hashtag #Ayush4Anganwadi for
creating awareness on the digital media.

16. Israel’s Start-Up Nation Central and India’s International Centre for Entrepreneurship
and Technology (iCreate) signed an MoU for accelerating cooperation between start-ups and
corporates from both countries in the field of innovation and technology.
 • iCreate was established in 2012 to create a hi-tech start-up ecosystem.
• Start-Up Nation Central is an independent non-profit organization in Israel that works in the
field of innovation.

17. National Medicinal Plants Board (under Ministry of AYUSH) has signed MoU with the below
mentioned industry bodies to promote the cultivation of medicinal plants.

Association for Ayurvedic Medicines

Ayurvedic Drug
Manufactures of Manufacturers
Manufacturer's
Ayurvedic Medicines, Organisation of India,
Association, Mumbai
New Delhi Thrissur

Association for Herbal

Confederation of
and Nutraceutical Federation of Indian
Indian Industry, New
Manufacturers of Industries, New Delhi
Delhi
India, Mumbai

18. UK India Business Council has signed an MoU with West Bengal Industrial Development
Corporation (WBIDC) for developing industries in the state.

19. India and Denmark have signed an MoU for strengthening the intellectual property rights
ecosystem in their countries by learning from the experiences of others.
• Parties to the MoU – Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (India)
and Danish Patent and Trademark Office of Ministry of Industry, Business & Financial
Affairs (Denmark).

20. Indian Railways has extended its MoU signed with the IIT-Kanpur for modernisation of
railway infrastructure.
 INTERNATIONAL NEWS
1. First Meeting of the BRICS Sports Ministers was held via video conference.
• BRICS Sports Ministers approved an MoU for cooperation in the field of Physical Culture
and Sport.
o The MoU envisages to hold the annual BRICS Games in the country of BRICS
Chairmanship.
• BRICS 2020 Chairman – Russia
• BRICS 2021 Chairman – India
• BRICS 2020 Theme – "BRICS Partnership for Global Stability, Shared Security and
Innovative Growth”.

2. 4th meeting of the BRICS Anti-Drug Working Group was held.

• BRICS foreign ministers’ virtual meeting was held.
• 10th meeting of the National Security Advisors of BRICS was held virtually.
• 6th BRICS Communication Ministers Meeting was held virtually in Russia

3. During, 5th BRICS Culture Ministers’ Meeting 2020, the BRICS countries have decided to
open the BRICS Corner under the aegis of BRICS Alliance of Libraries in 2021 during India's
BRICS Presidency.
• The Corner will disseminate information related to the history and culture of BRICS
countries.
• Also, BRICS Joint Exhibition titled ‘Bonding Regions & Imagining Cultural Synergies’
will be hosted by National Gallery of Modern Arts (New Delhi) in 2021 under the
auspices of the BRICS Alliance of Art Museums and Galleries (launched in 2018).

4. 17th ASEAN-India Economic Ministers’ consultations were co-chaired by Shri Piyush

Goyal, (Minister of Commerce) and Tran Tuan Anh (Minister of Industry of Vietnam).
 • On the recommendation of ASEAN India Business Council’s report, the ministers’
reviewed ASEAN India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA). AITIGA was signed in
2009 and became effective in India in 2010.
• ASEAN-India Leaders’ Summit is scheduled in November 2020.
• ASEAN summit is a biannual meeting.

5. 27th ASEAN regional forum was held under the chairmanship of Vietnam.
• India will co-chair ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) workshops on port security and the
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982).
• 30th Meeting of States Parties to United Nations Convention on Law of Sea was held during
24-26 August.

6. ASEAN-India Ministerial Meeting 2020 was held virtually.

• Progress on ASEAN-India Plan of Action (2016-2020) was reviewed.
• ASEAN-India Plan of Action (2021-2025) was adopted for deepening cooperation in
different areas including trade, investment and people-to-people contact.
• 17th ASEAN-India Summit will be held in November 2020. Usually, ASEAN-India summit
is conducted in the country which is holding the chairmanship of ASEAN for that year for
eg. 16th ASEAN-India summit was held in Bangkok, Thailand (Chair of ASEAN for 2019).
• ASEAN+ INDIA comprise 1/4th of the global population, and their combined GDP has
been estimated at over USD 3.8 trillion.

7. G20 Foreign Ministers’ Extraordinary Meeting was held virtually.

• G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting will take place alongside G20 Summit 2020 (to be hosted
by Saudi Arabia in November 2020).
• G20 Education Ministers’ Meet 2020, G20 Labour and Employment Minister’s
meeting, was virtually held.
 • G20 Trade and Investment Ministers meeting was held where India refused to accept the
concept of Data Free Flow with Trust (DFFT) among countries citing the inefficiency of the
DFFT framework in protecting data.
• DFFT concept was introduced by Former Japan PM Shinzo Abe at the 2019 G20 Osaka
Summit in Japan.
• G20 Trade Ministers’ meet was held.
• During G20 Environment Ministers Meet 2020, Global Initiative to reduce Land
Degradation and Coral Reef program was launched to strengthen the implementation of
existing frameworks to prevent, halt, and reverse land degradation and to ensure
conservation of coral reef across the world.
• Global Coral Reef R&D Accelerator Platform was launched to advance research and
development for conserving the coral reef and reducing their further degradation.

8. Japan has proposed to create Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (SCRI) with India and
Australia as its partners.
• Purpose: to strengthen the supply chain and reduce dependence on one country for
export-import of goods.
• The initiative aims to diversify the countries’ supply chain to reduce dependence on just one
country (in this case – China).

Attract FDI to convert Indo-

Pacific into an “economic
powerhouse”.
Twin Objectives of the
initiative
Build complementary
relationship among countries.

9. World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), in collaboration with Cornell SC Johnson

College of Business and INSEAD, has released the 13th Global Innovation Index (GII) 2020.
• Title of the report – Who Will Finance Innovation?
• Total – 131
• Top country – Switzerland
• India’s rank – 48th (up by 4 places from 2019 ranking); For the first time in top 50.
• Top Asian country – Singapore at 8th rank, Republic of Korea at 10th (entered for the first
time in top 10).
• Parameter – 80 indicators divided into two categories of input and output.
o A new indicator has been added this year to the GII i.e., Brand Value. On this
indicator, India ranks 31st. India hosts 164 of the world’s top 5,000 brands.

Institutions

Human Capital and research

Input Infrastructure

Market Sophistication
Parameters
Business Sophistication
Knowledge and technology
outputs
Output
Creative outputs

Ø What does the report say about India?

o Bengaluru, Delhi and Mumbai feature in the top 100 science & technology hotspots,
further endorsing India’s presence in the global innovation economy.
o India, along with China, Vietnam and the Philippines, has made the most significant
progress in the GII innovation ranking over time.
10. Times Higher Education has released the Times World University Rankings 2021.
• Total university – 1527 institutions from 93 countries were assessed by THE in
comparison to 1400 institutions from 92 countries last year.
• Top university – University of Oxford, United Kingdom
• Indian university – Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru in the 301-350.
o IIT Ropar, which was in the 301-350 bracket last year, is now in the 351-400 bracket.
o In April, IIT Delhi, IIT Bombay, IIT Madras, IIT Kanpur, IIT Kharagpur, IIT Roorkee
and IIT Guwahati, had announced to boycott the rankings collectively for this year.
• Parameters – Teaching (30%), Research (30%), Citations (30%), Industry Income (2.5%)
and International Outlook (7.5%).

11. UN Environment Programme (UNEP) launched “The Little Book of Green Nudges” book.
• It is UNEP’s first book on behavioural science and nudge theory that aims to inspire up to
200 million students around the globe to adopt environmentally friendly habits and greener
lifestyles.
• It has been prepared by UNEP’s The Behavioural Insights Team and GRID-Arendal.
 • It contains 40 ready-made nudges - simple measures that make it easier to make green
choices.

12. UN Women and UN Development Program have released the “From insights to action:
Gender equality in the wake of COVID-19” report.
• The report highlights that by 2021, around 435 million women and girls will be living on less
than $1.90 a day — including 47 million living in poverty as a result of COVID-19.
• The Covid-19 pandemic can push 96 million people into extreme poverty across the world.
• It is estimated that 18.6% of world’s poor women and girls would live in South Asia by
2030. Before Covid-19, the estimate was 15.8%.
• Gender poverty gaps will worsen as a result of the crisis which means that female poverty
will increase.

13. World Wide Fund (WWF), UN Environment Programme (UNEP), EAT (NPO), and Climate
Focus have launched the Enhancing Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) for
Food Systems report.
• The report suggests various measures for achieving climate goals and limiting global
warming to 1.5º C by bringing improvements in national food systems.
• Policymakers can improve their climate change mitigation and adaptation contributions by
as much as 25% by controlling the food loss and waste worldwide.
• Food systems – production, processing, distribution, preparation and consumption of food
– account for up to 37% of all greenhouse gas emissions. Thus, by transforming the
sector into a sustainable sector, climate change can be mitigated.

14. During the 3rd annual Leadership Summit of US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF),
the forum announced the formation of its India Executive Leadership Board.
• The USISPF was established in 2017.
• Dr. Mukesh Aghi is the President and Chief Executive Officer of USISPF.
15. 35th Session of the FAO Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific (APRC 35) was held
virtually. It was scheduled to be hosted by Bhutan.
• Bangladesh will host the 36th Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific in 2022.

16. US-India-Israel forum on strategic, tech and development/water cooperation held discussions.
• The US-India-Israel forum was initiated in 2017 to strengthen developmental, economical,
and technological relationship among these countries.
• All the three nations have decided to collaborate on 5G technologies.
• The tech-triangle (Silicon Valley, Tel Aviv and Bangalore) have all earned reputations as
leading innovative technology hubs.

17. Northrop Grumman (American defence company) has named its commercial cargo
spacecraft as “S.S. Kalpana Chawla” to honour Chawla who is the first India-born woman to
enter space.
• S.S. Kalpana Chawla is bound for the International Space Station.

18. UNICEF has collaborated with Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) to procure and
supply doses of Covid-19 vaccines on behalf of the COVAX Global Vaccines Facility for 92
low and lower middle-income countries.
• UNICEF has already become the world's largest single vaccine buyer, procuring more than
2 billion doses of various vaccines annually for routine immunisation and outbreak response
on behalf of nearly 100 countries.

19. United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME) has recently
released the “Levels and trends in child mortality 2020” report.
World India
F Globally, deaths of children U-5 years has F Child mortality rate dropped in 2019 to 8.24
declined to 5.2 million in 2019 from 12.5 lakh from 3.4 million in 1990.
million in 1990.
 F Nearly half (49%) of all under-five deaths in F U-5 children’s mortality rate has reduced
2019 occurred in just five countries: from 126 in 1990 to 34 in 2019.
Nigeria, India, Pakistan, the Democratic
Republic of the Congo and Ethiopia.
ü Nigeria and India alone account for
almost 1/3rd of U-5 deaths.
F Global U-5 mortality rate has declined by F Infant mortality rate declined to 28 in 2019
almost 60% since 1990 to 38 deaths per from 89 in 1990.
1,000 live births in 2019.
- F Neo-natal mortality rate declined to 22 in
2019 from 57 from 1990.
- F Sex-specific U-5 mortality rate –
ü Male – 122 in 1990 to 34 in 2019
ü Female – 131 in 1990 to 35 in 2019

20. First India-France-Australia trilateral dialogue was held where the strategic development of
Indo-Pacific region was discussed.

21. Foreign Ministers of Russia India China (RIC) have met in Moscow, Russia.
• Russia holds the current presidency of RIC-SCO-BRICS for 2020.
• Under the RIC framework, the foreign ministers of the three countries meet periodically to
discuss bilateral, regional and international issues of their interest.

22. Economic Freedom of the World: 2020 Annual Report (comprising Global Economic
Freedom Index 2020) has been prepared by Canada’s Fraser Institute.
• It is released in India in collaboration with Centre For Civil Society (New Delhi-based think
tank).
• Total – 162
• Top country – Hong Kong followed by Singapore
 • India’s rank – 105th (down by 26 spots from 79th position in last year’s rankings)
• Bottom country – Venezuela
• Parameters – total 5: Size of Government, Legal System and Property Rights, Sound
Money, Freedom to Trade Internationally, and Regulation.
• The most recent comprehensive data available are from 2018.

23. Ecological Threat Register, conducted by the Sydney-based Institute for Economics and
Peace (IEP), has estimated that around 1.2 billion people could be displaced by 2050
worldwide due to climate change.

• Global population would grow from 7.8 billion at present to 10 billion

Food crisis by 2050. Thus, global demand for food will increase by 50% from
the present level and 3.5 billion people could suffer from food
insecurity by 2050.
• By 2040, a total of 5.4 billion people (more than half of the world's
projected population) will live in countries facing high or extreme water

Water crisis stress, in comparison to 2.6 billion people facing water stress at
present.
• As per the report, water-related violent incidents have already
increased by 270% worldwide.
 • In terms of natural disasters, Asia-Pacific is the most affected
region with 29% of all natural disasters taking place there in the past

Natural disasters
30 years.
• Natural disasters kill seven times more people in the least
developed nations than in highly developed ones because of the low-
resilience of least developed countries to handle disasters.

24. 10th East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Meeting was held virtually.
• Chair of the meeting – Vietnam’s Deputy PM Pham Bin Minh.
• India’s Minister of State for External Affairs Shri V. Muraleedharan also attended the
meeting.
• 15th EAS annual Summit is scheduled in November 2020 under the chairmanship of
Vietnam (Chair of ASEAN for 2020).
About EAS:

Ø Established in 2005.
Ø Members – (Total 18) 10 ASEAN members + India, China, Japan, Republic of Korea,
Australia, New Zealand, United States and Russia.
Ø The EAS is an ASEAN-centred forum. Therefore, it can only be chaired by an ASEAN
member.
Ø The EAS membership represents around 54% of the world’s population and accounts for
58% of global GDP.

25. “United in Science Report 2020” has been released by World Meteorological Organization
(WMO).

26. WHO has release the Countdown to 2023: WHO report on global trans-fat elimination
2020 report.
 • 58 countries have introduced laws that will protect 3.2 billion people from the trans-fat by
the end of 2021. However, more than 100 countries still need to take actions to remove
these harmful substances from their food supplies.
• Consumption of industrially produced trans fats are estimated to cause around 5 lakh
deaths per year due to coronary heart disease.
• 15 countries including India account for approximately 2/3rd of the worldwide deaths
linked to trans-fat intake.
• In 2018, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) proposed to reduce the
limit of trans-fat in food to 2% and set the target to eliminate it by January 2022.
• WHO recommends that trans-fat intake should be limited to less than 1% of total energy
intake. WHO aims to achieve a world free of industrially produced trans fats by 2023.

27. 17th Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Culture Ministers’ Meeting was held
virtually.
• National Museum of India will organize the first SCO Exhibition on Shared Buddhist
Heritage in 2020.
• India supported SCO’s proposal to celebrate 2021 as the Year of SCO culture because
2021 is the 20th anniversary of SCO.
• 19th edition of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Governments
will take place in New Delhi on 30 November, 2020.
• SCO Defence Ministers 2020 meet is scheduled for September 2 in Moscow, Russia.
• SCO foreign ministers' 2020 meeting is scheduled for September 10 in Russia.
• BRICS foreign ministers 2020 is scheduled virtually on September 4.
• SCO chair for 2020 – Russia
• BRICS chair for 2020 – Russia

28. UN’s High-Level Forum on the Culture of Peace was convened by Tijjani Muhammad-
Bande (President of 74th UN General Assembly).
• In 1999, UN adopted the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace.
 • The theme for the 2020 High-Level Forum will be “The Culture of Peace: Change our
world for the better in the age of COVID-19”.

29. During the SCO – Council of Foreign Ministers’ meeting 2020, Russia handed over the
chairmanship of Russia-India-China Forum to India (to be handled by Minister of External
Affairs S. Jaishankar).
• India and China adopted a 5-point action plan in Moscow to quickly disengage at the Line of
Actual Control.
• MEA Jaishankar met his Iranian and Kyrgyz counterparts to strengthen bilateral relations.

30. 45th regular session of the UN Human Rights Council was held in Geneva, Switzerland.
• UN High Commissioner for Human Rights – Michelle Bachelet
• “Global Human Rights Update” 2020 was released by the Bachelet during the session.
• The report referred to the condition of law and order in Kashmir where a partial lockdown is
in place for more than a year since India abrogated Article 370.

31. BP has released the 69th edition of its annual Energy Outlook 2020 report. The report
analyses energy outlook in three scenarios – rapid, net zero, and business-as-usual.
• India will be largest source of demand growth for energy by 2050 in all three scenarios.
• India's primary energy consumption will grow by 2.5% between 2018 and 2050 as
against 0.1% growth in China's energy consumption and 0.3% growth globally.
• Despite a lower growth rate of energy demand at 0.1%, China will be largest consumer
for energy in all three scenarios, accounting for over 20% of the world's energy demand in
2050.
• India's oil consumption will get double to 10 million barrels by 2050 under the business-
as-usual scenario.
• India’s gas demand will rise from 58 billion cubic meters (bcm) to 357 bcm under the Rapid
scenario.
• India's combined oil and gas imports more than double by 2050.
 • Globally, demand for oil remains "broadly flat" due to the shift towards renewable energy.
Three scenarios:-

new policy measures will lead to a significant

Rapid scenario
increase in carbon prices.

policies embodied in the Rapid scenario will be

'Net Zero'
reinforced with shifts in societal behaviour, which
scenario
will accelerate the reduction in carbon emissions.

government policies, technologies and social

Business-as-
preferences continue to evolve in a manner and
usual scenario
speed seen over the recent past

32. World bank has released its Human Capital Index 2020.
• Title – Human Capital in the Times of Covid-19
• Total countries – 174
• India’s Rank – 116 (score 0.49 - increased from 0.44 in 2018)
o Last year, India was ranked 115 out of 157 countries.
• Parameters – health and education of children divided into five indicators of child,
survival, school enrolment, quality of learning, healthy growth, and adult survival.
Key observations of the report:
• Even before the effects of the pandemic, a child born in a typical country could expect to
achieve just 56% of their potential human capital.
• Due to the pandemic, most children - more than 1 billion - have been out of school and
could lose out, on average, half a year of schooling, adjusted for learning.
• 80 million children are missing out on essential vaccinations.
• There has been major decline in remittances and total income is going down by 11 or
12%.
33. Institute for Management Development (IMD), in collaboration with Singapore University
for Technology and Design (SUTD), has released the 2nd edition of the Global Smart Cities
Index 2020.
• According to the index, a smart city is an urban setting that apply technology to enhance
the benefits and diminish the shortcomings of urbanization.
• Total cities – 109
• Top 3 cities – Singapore, Helsinki (Finland) and Zurich (Switzerland) respectively
• Indian cities rank – The cities witnessed a downfall in their rankings, primarily due to the
pandemic.
o Hyderabad at 85th position (down from 67 in 2019)
o New Delhi at 86th rank (down from 68 in 2019)
o Mumbai was at 93rd place (in 2019 it was at 78)
o Bengaluru at 95th (79 in 2019)
• Parameters – health and safety, mobility, activities, opportunities and governance.

34. Mexico has become the first country in the world to issue a Sovereign Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs) Bond.
• This innovative bond was issued under the new “SDG Sovereign Bond Framework” of
Mexico developed with investment bank Natixis.
• Seven-year SDG Bond worth USD 890 million has been issued by Mexico.

35. A meeting of the Quad Foreign Ministers is scheduled to take place in Tokyo in October
2020.
• U.S. aims to persuade India to sign the last foundational agreement, Basic Exchange and
Cooperation Agreement for Geo-Spatial cooperation (BECA), at the next India-U.S. 2+2
ministerial dialogue likely to held in October end.
• India has already signed three foundational agreements with US:
o Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA),
o Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA)
 o General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA)

36. The Square Kilometre Array (SKA) programme is an international initiative that began in 1993
to construct the world’s largest radio telescope at an area of 1 sq. km in two sets located in
Australia and South Africa (by the year 2027 tentatively).
• The project is being executed by the Not-for-profit - SKA organization (headquartered at
Jodrell Bank Observatory, a UNESCO World Heritage site near Manchester, UK).
• National Centre for Radio Astrophysics (NCRA) of the Tata Institute of Fundamental
Research (TIFR) is the lead Telescope Manager of the project.
• The project is funded by 15 countries (including India and China).
• Why in news – Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has bagged the opportunity to design
and built the control systems of the project.

37. Airbus SE (French aerospace company) has unveiled three first-of-its-kind concept zero-
emission commercial aircraft codenamed as ‘ZEROe’, which will run on hydrogen as a
primary power source in place of jet fuels.
• The company hopes to launch the aircrafts worldwide, including in India, by 2035.

38. NASA has announced to launch its Artemis program to land the first woman and the next
man on the south pole of the Moon in 2024.

39. United Nations and Britain will co-host a global climate summit on December 12, 2020 (the
fifth anniversary of the landmark Paris Agreement).
• This summit is precursor to the U.N. Climate Change Conference (COP 26) to be held in
Glasgow, UK in November 2021.
• China has announced to become carbon neutral by 2060 and reach its peak of carbon
emission in 2030.

40. G4 (India, Brazil, Japan and Germany) Foreign Ministers Meeting was held virtually.
 • All these four countries are seeking permanent membership of UN Security Council.

41. New Zealand has become the world’s first country to make climate risk reporting
mandatory for banks, asset managers and insurers.
• Under new rule, large financial institutions would be required to report annually on
governance, risk management and strategies for mitigating climate change impacts.
• New Zealand PM - Jacinda Arden

42. China hosted the virtual Ministerial Online Roundtable ‘Biodiversity Beyond 2020:
Building a Shared Future for All Life on Earth’.
• United Nations Summit on Biodiversity will be held on 30 September 2020 in New York,
at the level of Heads of State and Government under the theme of “Urgent action on
biodiversity for sustainable development.”
• 2011-2020 is the UN Decade on Biodiversity.
• 15th conference of parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity will be held
Kunming, China in 2021.

43. World Economic Forum (WEF) has organized virtual 4th Sustainable Development Impact
(SDI) Summit under the theme of “Realizing a Great Reset for Sustainable Development”.
• The summit has five sub-themes are: Shared Prosperity; Catalyzing Cooperation; Better
Business; Harnessing Technology; and Liveable Planet.
• WEF released its 'EarthTime Visualisation' report which mentions that Delhi will have
eight months a year with temperature averaging 32°C by 2100, up from six at present.
• As per the report, average June-August temperatures will reach 38°C (100.4°F) for many
parts of the world by 2100.

44. SAARC Foreign Ministers meet was held virtually under the chairmanship of Nepal.
 • India highlighted the financial assistance given by it to support neighbouring countries, such
as Sri Lanka ($ 400 Mn aid), Bhutan ($200 million), Maldives ($150 million foreign currency
swap support).
• Conference on Interaction and Confidence- Building Measures in Asia (CICA),
comprising of 27 members (incl. India) and 8 observer states, was also held, where
Kazakhstan was appointed as the new Chairman of CICA.
• CICA Secretariat – Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan

45. World Risk Index 2020 has been released by UN university institute for environment and
human security as a part of World Risk Report 2020.
• The index tracks a country’s vulnerable to natural disasters.
• Total countries - 181
• Top three countries (at most risk): Vanuatu (South Pacific); Tonga (South Pacific);
Dominica (Carribean)
• Most risked continent (at most risk) – Oceania followed by Africa and the Americas.
• India – 89th overall and fourth most at risk in South -Asia.
• Countries at least risk – Qatar and Malta (according to some websites)
Note: Countries at least risk – Qatar and Malta – is not mentioned in any official site. It has been picked up
from some unreliable websites for your knowledge enhancement. It is subject to change, if any official
source does not validate it.

46. Saudi Arabia has flagged off the World’s first shipment of blue ammonia to Japan
(producing company – Saudi Aramco).
• Blue ammonia, which is produced by converting hydrocarbons into hydrogen and then
ammonia, helps in generating electricity (through thermal power) without carbon emissions.
• Japan aims to be a world-leader in the use of hydrogen, which is contained in ammonia
and reduce its GHG emissions by 26% by 2030 under the Paris Agreement.

47. International Air Transport Association (IATA) and United Nations Office of Counter-
Terrorism (UNOCT) have signed an MoU for strengthening cooperation for the United
Nations Countering Terrorist Travel Programme (CT Travel Programme).
• IATA is the first non-government partner to join the CT Travel Programme.
• CT Travel Programme – launched in 2019 by UN to counter terrorism by increasing
surveillance on international travelling.
48. Financial Times has released its Masters in Management (MIM) 2020 to assess the
performance of business schools across the world.
• FT MIM Rankings is seen as a global benchmark for B-Schools offering full-time two-year
masters in management programmes across the world.
• Total institutes – 100
• Top institute – University of St Gallen, Switzerland
• All Indian institutes in the list (total 5) – IIM- Ahmedabad at 20th, IIM-Calcutta at 21st, SP
Jain Institute of Management & Research (new entry in 2020 list) & IIM-Bangalore at 36th,
and IIM-Udaipur at 72nd.
• Parameters – Total 23 parameters were used.

BANKING AND ECONOMY

1. According to the data National Statistical Office, GDP in April to June 2020 quarter
contracted by a record 23.9% in comparison to the same period last year.
• This is the record fall in GDP in decades.
• India is expected to take up a V-shaped recovery.

2. In order to ease the liquidity pressures, RBI has announced to conduct special open market
operations (OMOs) of Rs 10,000 crore each on September 10 and 17 to improve market
conditions.
• RBI also allowed banks to hold fresh acquisitions of statutory liquidity ratio securities
acquired from September 1 under Held-To-Maturity (HTM) up to an overall limit of 22% of
net demand and time liabilities up to March 31, 2021, which shall be reviewed thereafter.
o Currently, SLR is 18%. The existing limit for investments in HTM category is 25% of
total investment.
• RBI will conduct long term repo operations worth Rs 1 lakh crore at floating rates (or the
current repo rate of 4%) in the middle of September.
3. Adani Group and GVK Group have announced that Adani Group will buy 74% stake in
Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) by acquiring debt of GVK-ADL.
• MIAL 74% stake bifurcation – 50.5% of GVK, 10% of Airport Company of South Africa,
13.5% of South African Bidvest company. Rest of the 26% stake will be with Airports
Authority of India.
• Adani will also hold stake in the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport project.
• At present, Adani Enterprises runs six airports— Lucknow, Ahmedabad, Jaipur,
Mangaluru, Thiruvananthapuram, and Guwahati. Thus, Adani emerged as one of the
largest private airport developers in India.

Adani MIAL holds

acquired debt GVK Group
GVK ADL 74% stake in
of GVK Airport holds 50.5%
(holding Navi Mumbai
Developers stake in
company of International
Ltd Mumbai Intl.
GVK Group) Airport
Airport (MIAL)
(GVK-ADL). Limited

4. Vedanta Ltd has partnered with State Bank of India for launching a long-term syndicated
loan facility worth ₹10,000 crore.
• Meaning – A syndicated loan is offered by a group of lenders to provide credit to a large
borrower.
• SBI will act as the facility agent and SBICAP Trustee will act as the security trustee.

5. Department of Telecommunications and SEBI have allowed Reliance Jio Infratel to sell
units in its Tower Infrastructure Trust to Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P.
• This deal between Reliance and Brookfield was announced in July 2019.

6. Reliance Industries has acquired Kishore Biyani’s Future Group for Rs 24,713 crore
through its subsidiary - Reliance Retail Ventures (RRV).
 • As part of the deal, Future’s retail and wholesale businesses will be transferred to Reliance
Retail and Fashion Lifestyle Ltd (a subsidiary of RRV).

7. Indian government had launched the Sovereign Gold Bond scheme in 2015 to curb the
import of gold in India.
• The sixth and last tranche of Sovereign Gold Bonds for 2020-21 will open for subscription
for a period of five days till September 4.
• Function – Under this scheme, RBI issues bonds linked to the market value of gold on
behalf of Government of India. So that, people who want to invest in gold can buy these
bonds instead of physical gold.
• Gold Bonds tenure – 8 years (exit option is allowed after 5 years)
• Interest Rate – fixed at 2.5% p.a.
• Selling Agency - Gold bonds can be bought from stock exchanges BSE and NSE, the
Stock Holding Corporation, and designated branches of India Post.
• Tax for individuals - Interest is taxable, capital gains (at the time of redemption) are
exempted.

8. ICICI Prudential Life Insurance has launched “LiGo” – an AI-powered voice chatbot – on
Google Assistant to serve its customers better.
• The customers can instantly access information about their policies by activating 'Google
Assistant' and chatting with LiGo.

9. Data Security Council of India (DSCI) and PayPal India have jointly released “Fraud & Risk
Management in Digital Payments” report.
• The report studies the sophisticated online payment fraud mechanisms, threats in the
payment ecosystem etc.
• It also suggested ways for incorporating better fraud prevention strategies with the help of
state of the art technology.
Note: You are not required to memorize all the points mentioned in the picture above. Only memorize the
future target given in the report. Other facts have been provided to enhance your understanding of the
topic.

10. As per the ranking released by renewable energy consultancy Mercom Capital Group, Adani
Green is the world’s top solar power developer.
• Adani has a total capacity of 12.3 GW of solar power (2.3 GW is operational + 2 GW under
construction + 8 GW solar project awarded by govt in June 2020).
 • GCL New Energy (based in Hong Kong) is the world’s second largest solar developer
with 7.1 GW.
• In terms of operational solar capacity, GCL New Energy was the top developer with 7.1 GW
and Adani ranks 8th globally (only Indian company in top 10).

11. IRDAI has formed a six-member working group, headed by Dinesh Pant, to study the
feasibility and need of index-linked insurance products in India.

12. Central government has decided to cap (limit) the export incentives given under the
Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS) at Rs 2 crore per exporter during
September-December, 2020.
• This limit can be further downgraded so that the incentives do not overrun the budget
(which is ₹5,000 crore) allocated by govt for this purpose.
• Indian government has announced a new WTO-compliant scheme called Remission of
Duties or Taxes On Export Product (RoDTEP) which will replace MEIS starting 1
January, 2021.
 • Ministry of Finance has set up a committee under the chairmanship of GK Pillai to
finalise the rates under RoDTEP. These rates will reimburse all embedded taxes paid by
exporters such as taxes paid on inputs.

13. Rabobank (a Dutch multinational banking and financial services company) has released its list
of world’s top 20 dairy companies.
• 1st rank – Switzerland’s Nestle (turnover of $22.1 billion)
• Only Indian company in the list – Amul, Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation
(turnover of $5.5 bn) at 16th rank.
14. International Monetary Fund’s Chief economist Gita Gopinath has released the following
graph which mentions that India’s GDP shrank the most among other G-20 countries in April
to June quarter of 2020.
• India’s National Statistical Office has reported that India’s GDP growth contracted 23.9%
in Q1 of 2020 by comparing its level a year ago (year-on-year).

15. Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) will complete the set of Forensic
Accounting and Investigation Standards (FAIS) by December end, to raise the quality
benchmark of forensic investigations of audits.
• India will become the first country in the world to develop a full set of FAIS standards for
forensic professionals and stakeholders.
• FAIS would help Forensic Accounting and Investigation professionals to conduct their
examinations in a highly professional manner and collect evidences which may be subject
to high level of scrutiny in a court of law.
• There will be 30 standards.
16. Tata Power has signed a power purchase agreement with Tata Motors Ltd. (TML) to supply
solar power to Tata Motors for the India’s ‘largest carport’ (owned by TML) in Pune.

17. SEBI has allowed mutual funds to side pocket debt in cases where borrowers have
approached the Asset Management Company (AMC) for debt restructuring till December 31.
• Earlier, restructuring of debt was only allowed for debt which has been downgraded below
investment grade (rating below BBB-) or which is a defaulted debt.
• This step would allow even higher rates debt to be side pocketed.
• SEBI has also directed credit rating agencies that if the debt is restructured only because of
covid-19, then it should not be recognised as an event of default.

What is
side
1. Side pocketing is
pocketing? an accounting method used to separate
illiquid investments from the more
liquid and quality investments in a debt
portfolio.
2. The asset managment fund puts
illiquid assets into a side pocket, in the
event of any rating downgrade, and
existing holders receive a pro-rata
allocation in it.

18. RBI has released new guidelines for priority sector lending for commercial banks, small
finance banks, regional rural banks, urban cooperative banks and local area banks.

Ø As per the new guidelines, banks will be ranked on the basis of incremental (or per capita)
credit flow to priority sector, from FY22 onwards. This means that-
 o A higher weight of 125% will be assigned for extending PSL credit in the identified
districts where the credit flow is comparatively lower (per capita PSL less than ₹6,000).
o Lower weight of 90% would be assigned for extending credit to areas where the credit
flow is comparatively higher (per capita PSL greater than ₹25,000).
o RBI has identified 205 districts with high PSL credit and 184 districts with low PSL credit
flow.
Ø The prescribed targets for small and marginal farmers and weaker sections are being
increased in a phased manner.
o Those with landholding of up to 1 hectare will be classified as marginal farmers, while
those with more than 1 hectare and up to 2 hectares will be called small farmers.
Ø Loan limits for renewable energy have been doubled.
o Bank loans up to ₹30 crore to borrowers for purposes like solar-based power generators,
biomass-based power generators, wind mills, micro-hydel plants and for renewable-
energy based public utilities, will be eligible for priority sector classification.
o For individual households, the loan of ₹10 lakh per borrower for renewable purposes will
be classified under priority sector.
Ø Eligibility for bank loans, given for social infrastructure development, to be classified as
priority sector: -
o Bank loans up to a limit of ₹5 crore per borrower for setting up schools, drinking water
facilities and sanitation facilities;
o loans up to a limit of ₹10 crore per borrower for building health care facilities including
under ‘Ayushman Bharat’ in Tier II to Tier VI centres will be considered as PSL.
o In case of Urban Co-operative Banks, the above limits are applicable only in centres
having a population of less than 1 lakh.
Ø Total PSL target for urban cooperative banks will also be increased to 75% of their adjusted
net bank credit (ANBC) by 31st March 2024, as compared to 40% at present.

19. K.V. Kamath panel has submitted its recommendations for resolution of stressed assets in the
wake of covid-19.
 • Recommendations – RBI has specified five financial ratios and sector-specific thresholds
for resolution of COVID-19 related stressed assets in 26 sectors.
• Five financial ratios: -

total outside
current debt average
liabilities/
total assets / service debt
adjusted
debt/EBITDA current coverage coverage
tangible
liabilities ratio ratio
networth

• The above mentioned ratios will act as the floor or ceiling rate, in accordance with the
case.
• At the time of finalizing the resolution plan, the pre- COVID-19 operating and financial
performance of the borrower and impact of COVID-19 on its operating and financial
performance shall be taken into account by lenders to assess the cashflow in subsequent
years.
• RBI has accepted almost all recommendations of the panel.
• Out of the 26 sectors, a great relief has been given to the realty sector with highest
EBITDA ratio among other sectors.
• For the residential real estate, the EBITDA ratio is set at 9 or less than that. For commercial
real estate, the ratio is set at 12 or less. Other ratios are more or less same for all sectors.

20. RBI has released revised rules for opening current accounts with banks.
• As per the new rule, a company which has availed cash credit (CC) /overdraft facility (OD)
from one bank cannot open current account in other banks.
• It can open a current account with its lending banks under certain circumstances, otherwise
it is encouraged to use the cash credit facility.
• The credit balances in such CC/OD accounts cannot be used as margin for availing any
non-fund based credit facilities (like bank guarantees).
Note: The RBI’s circular for the current account has been covered in RBI 247 of August.
21. Tata Consultancy Services has partnered with Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) in South
Africa to digitalize the logistics marketplace in South Africa.
• TPT is part of Transnet SOC Ltd, a state-owned freight transport and handling company.
• Both companies will create a new platform named 'Cargo Connect' under this partnership
to allow customers submit logistics related requests and allow service providers to bid
online.

22. KfW IPEX Bank (German) has provided a loan of EUR 10 million to Srei Equipment Finance
Ltd for purchase of construction machinery by the latter.
• Srei would use these construction machinery in Indian infrastructure projects.
• These machines will be exported by Germany to India.

23. WhatsApp (owned by Facebook) has partnered with CyberPeace Foundation to create
awareness on cyber safety among student.
• This partnership with WhatsApp is under the “e-Raksha” program.
• This partnership aims to bolster the educational system in India against cyberattacks.

24. 60th Annual Convention of Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) was held
virtually.
• SIAM appointed Mr Kenichi Ayukawa as its new President.
• During his address at the convention, the Minister of Road, Transport and Highways, Nitin
Gadkari, said that India has now the second largest road network in the world.

25. Aditya Birla Idea Payments Bank has ceased to be a banking company within the meaning
of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.
• Aditya Birla Idea Payments Bank was promoted by Grasim Industries Limited and
Vodafone Idea Limited with 51% and 49% shareholdings respectively.
 • After the closure of this payments bank, there are now five payment banks in India – Airtel
Payments Bank, India Post Payments Bank, Fino Payments Bank, Jio Payments Bank and
Paytm Payments Bank.
• Also, Westpac Banking Corporation has also ceased to be a banking company.

26. RBI has announced to launch the Digital Payments Index (DPI) to assess the extent of
digitalisation of payments effectively.
• DPI would be based on multiple parameters.
• The DPI will be made available from July 2020 onwards.
• RBI’s Deepening of Digital Payments (Chair: Nandan Nilekani) had earlier recommended
to create a Financial Inclusion Index to measure the extent of financial inclusion in India.

27. Employees Provident Fund Organisation’s (EPFO) Central Board of Trustees met virtually,
under the chairmanship of Labour and Employment Minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar.
• The board recommended the Central govt to pay 8.5% interest to beneficiaries for 2019-20.
• The 8.5% interest comprises of 8.15% interest from debt income (to be paid first) and
0.35% (capital gain) to be paid by December 31.
• Also, the limit of the maximum assurance benefit under the Employees’ Deposit Linked
Insurance Scheme will be increased to ₹7 lakh from ₹6 lakh, on the recommendations of
the board.

28. SEBI has released the detailed operating guidelines for portfolio management services at
the international financial services centre (IFSC).
• Portfolio management companies need to have a minimum net worth of at least USD
$7,50,000.
• The minimum amount of funds to be accepted by portfolio managers operating in IFSC
should be $70,000.
29. Ministry of Finance has formed a panel, under the chairmanship of Rajiv Mehrishi, to study
the impact of waiving off the interest on loans during the moratorium offered to Covid-hit
borrowers that ended August 31.
• The panel will measure the impact of interest waiver on the national economy and financial
stability and waiving of interest on interest on the covid-19 related moratorium.
• SBI will provide secretarial support to the panel.

30. RBI has released guidelines for appointment of chief compliance officer (CCO) in banks to
bring uniformity in approaches followed by banks in appointing CCOs.
• CCO should be appointed for a minimum fixed period of 3 years.
• The CCO should be a senior executive of the bank, preferably in the rank of a general
manager or an equivalent position (not below two levels from the CEO).
• RBI clarified that there shall not be any "dual hatting”, which means that the CCO shall not
be given any responsibility which brings elements of conflict of interest with the board.

31. ICICI Prudential Life Insurance has entered into a corporate agency agreement with NSDL
Payments Bank, a subsidiary of National Securities Depository Ltd (NSDL).
• Purpose: to sell ICICI’s insurance policies to NSDL’s customers.

32. Mastercard has launched the Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) testing platform to
help central banks in evaluating their digital currency.
• Central banks can ensure the simulation of issuance, distribution and exchange of CBDCs
between banks, financial service providers and consumers.

33. ICICI Bank has launched ‘iStartup 2.0’ initiative to help startups in regulatory assistance,
analytics, staffing, accounting, customer acquisition and digital outreach to customers, among
others.
• Startups can open their current accounts in three variants--Platinum, Gold and Silver—
under this initiative.
 • Startups can easily open an account and get the account number instantly at the time of
incorporation as the Bank has integrated its API (application programming interface) with
the website of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA).

34. Ministry of Finance has launched the EASE 2.0 Reform Agenda ranking to assess the
performance of public sector banks on six parameters.
• EASE ranking system was launched in 2018 for institutionalizing clean and smart banking.
• The overall score of PSBs in EASE 2.0 has increased by 37% (from 49.2 to 67.4 out of
100) between March-2019 and March-2020.
• The highest improvement was seen in the ‘Responsible Banking’, ‘Governance and HR’,
‘PSBs as Udyamimitra for MSMEs’, and ‘Credit off-take’ parameters.

35. Asian Development Bank (ADB) has signed a loan agreement with ENGIE group of France
for setting up a 200-MW solar power project in Gujarat for ₹466 crore.
• The project will be developed in the Raghanesda Solar Park.
 • Electro Solaire Private Limited (ESPL), a special purpose vehicle owned by the ENGIE
group, will implement the project.
• ENGIE has 810 MW of solar power and 280 MW of wind power portfolio in India.

36. Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved Carlyle Group (US-based global
investment firm) to acquire 20% stake in Piramal Pharma for around $490 million.
• The investment will be done through CA Clover Intermediate II Investments – a subsidiary
of Carlyle Group.

37. HCL Technologies (India) has collaborated with NVIDIA Partner Network (US-based
technology company) to expand research in Artificial Intelligence (AI) space.
• HCL also announced the launch of NEXT.ai (HCL's AI Lab), in partnership with NVIDIA, for
upskilling of engineers and architects in AI solutions.

38. Asian Development Bank (ADB) has extended $15 million debt to Suguna Foods Private
Limited to help sustain poultry farming operations, as well as rural livelihoods and food
security in India during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
• Suguna is one of India’s largest poultry broiler enterprises.

39. SEBI has changed the rules of investment for multi-cap mutual fund companies to diversify
their investments portfolio across the large, mid and small -cap companies.
• The multi-cap funds will now invest minimum 75% of total assets in equities with 25%
each in large-cap, midcap and small-cap companies. (Cap stands for capitalization.)
• Classification of large, mid and small cap companies:
o Large Cap: 1st -100th company in terms of full market capitalization
o Mid Cap: 101st -250th company in terms of full market capitalization
o Small Cap: 251st company onwards in terms of full market capitalization
• Earlier scenario – the minimum mandated investment in equity and equity related
instruments was 65% of total assets without any classification across segments.
 • Compliance date – within 1 month after the release of stock list by Association of Mutual
Funds in India (AMFI) in January 2021.
• Implication – This will encourage multi-cap mutual funds to buy stocks of mid and small
cap companies. Usually, these multi-cap mutual funds prefer to buy the stocks of large-cap
companies. Now, this move will help the mid and small-cap companies to get liquidity of
around Rs 40,000 crores.

40. International Financial Services Centre Authority (IFSCA) has signed an MoU with the
India Gold Policy Centre (IGPC) at the IIM- Ahmedabad (IIM-A).
• As part of the MoU, IGPC -IIMA will provide guidance to IFSCA for establishing the
International Bullion Exchange (IBE) at IFSCA in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

41. RBI has proposed to allow foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) to undertake exchange -traded
rupee interest rate derivatives (IRD) transactions for a maximum of ₹5,000 crore.
• IRD are contracts whose value is derived from one or more interest rates.

42. Titan has partnered with State Bank of India to launch ‘Titan Pay’ - India's First Payment
Watch.
• SBI customers can use their Titan watches to make payments of up to Rs 2000 without
using their debit cards at the Point of Sale (PoS) machines.

43. SEBI has allowed Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) and Infrastructure Investment
Trust (InvITs) to be listed on stock exchanges operating in the International Financial Services
Centre (IFSC).
• SEBI has also directed stock exchanges in IFSC to draft a detailed framework for listing of
REITs and InvIT units.
44. ICICI Home Finance has launched a new loan scheme ‘Apna Ghar Dreamz’ to provide a
home loan of Rs 2 lakh to 50 lakh to skilled workers employed in the informal sector in
Delhi.

45. DBS Bank India has launched DBS Digital Business Loans for SMEs – an online platform
for offering loans to small and mid-size businesses in a hassle-free manner.
• Maximum amount of loan to be given by the platform is Rs 20 crore.

46. SEBI has directed that mutual fund purchases will be calculated based on the net asset
value (NAV) of the day, the investor’s money reaches the asset manager, and not the day of
application w.e.f., 1st January, 2021.
• Under current rules, the NAV of the same day is considered for purchases of less than ₹2
lakh, even if the money does not reach the asset management company (AMC), but the
order is placed within the cut-off time.
• The new circular requires that in addition to submitting the application before the cut off
time, the money also has to reach the fund house on the same day.
• Exception – This provision does not apply to liquid and overnight funds.
• SEBI has also mandated the mutual fund operators to use automated order management
system and scheme-wise order placements if the fund manager is dealing for multiple MF
schemes.

47. IRDAI’s Working Group on ‘Pandemic Risk Pool’ led by Suresh Mathur has suggested to
create a pandemic risk pool of the value of Rs 75,000 crores with public- private government
participation.
• The risk pool will make India resilient against any future epidemic/ pandemic.

48. Karnataka Vikas Grameena Bank (KVGB) has launched a special gold loan scheme “Vikas
Laghu Suvarna” with a reduced interest rate of 7.25%.
• Customers can take easy loan at low interest by pledging gold.
49. Canara Bank has launched lead management system (LMS) - i-Lead 2.0 (Inspiring Leads
System version 2.0) to provide its services to customers at every corner of the nation.

50. Ministry of Corporate Affairs has extended the tenure of the 11-members Company Law
Committee (formed in 2019) by one year till September 2021.
• The committee is chaired by Corporate Affairs Secretary (incumbent: Rajesh Verma).

51. Ministry of Finance has notified that the concessional customs duties (including zero
import duty) will be provided to the importers, under free-trade agreements (FTAs), only if
they prove that the imported product has contributed to at least 35% in value addition in the
countries of origin.

52. Ministry of Finance has launched the 'India's External Debt: A Status Report: 2019-2020'.
Parameters March end of 2020 March end of 2019
External Debt $558.5 billion (2.8% increase $543 billion
from March 2019)
Ratio of foreign currency reserves to 85.5% 76%
external debt
External debt as a ratio to GDP ratio 20.6% 19.8%
FII investment in G-Sec $21.6 billion (23.3% decrease $28.3 billion
(2nd largest constituent of India’s from 2019)
sovereign debt which shrank by 3% in
2020 to reach $100.9 billion)
Loans from external multilateral and $87.2 billion (increased by -
bilateral agencies 4.9% from 2019)
(largest constituent of the sovereign
debt)
Non-sovereign debt $457.7 billion (increased by -
4.2%)
53. Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved Alstom SA (France) to completely
acquire the Bombardier Transportation (global rail solutions division of Bombardier,
headquartered in Canada) in India.
• CCI has also given approval to CDPQ (pension company in Canada) and Bombardier Inc.
for buying 18% and 3% stake in Alstom, respectively.

54. “Indian Banks: A Time to Reform” research paper has been released by Raghuram Rajan
and Viral Acharya. The paper talks about various reforms Indian banking system needs.
Note: It is important for you to understand the reforms suggested by this research paper for your Phase 2
examination and interviews. Therefore, I have prepared a video on YouTube for this only.

55. HCL Technologies has decided to acquire of DWS Ltd (an IT firm in Australia) for $115.8
million in order to further expand its digital offerings especially in Australia and New Zealand.

56. SEBI has released an alternative risk management framework to prevent commodities’
prices from turning negative or zero (as it happened in case of oil in April 2020).
• SEBI has also formed a task force of Clearing Corporations (CCs) and market participants
to review the risk management framework in such cases.
• SEBI has clarified that the commodities which need specialized storage space in physical
markets, which, if not followed, may cause environmental hazards, like crude oil or any
other commodities of similar nature, will be considered as vulnerable to the possibility of
near zero and negative prices.
• SEBI has prescribed five situations in which this framework will be applicable: -
1st • There is a fall in the commodity prices by more than 50% within 20 trading
condition days, while comparing the intra-day highest and lowest prices.

2nd • If the international exchange/ clearing corporation, in case of international

condition contracts, wants to apply this framework to avoid negative prices.
 3rd condition • Options contracts having strike price values of near zero/negative are
introduced by the stock exchange for trading.
4th condition • Price of the underlying commodity/futures contract comes down to the level
equal to or lower than the maximum price movement observed over the
MPOR (Margin Period of Risk) in past 12 months.
5th condition • Any other conditions as per the discretion of the CC, which might indicate
the likelihood of negative prices.
Note: In order to understand the framework in detail, watch our video on YouTube.

57. Visa and IFundWomen have partnered to launch a grant program in India to boost female
entrepreneurship and empower budding businesswomen by providing guidance, financial
support and resources (such as funding).
• Visa has partnered with FICCI Ladies Organisation (the ladies’ wing of FICCI) and
Instamojo as Digitization partner for the program in India.
• Visa also launched the First India edition of Visa Everywhere Initiative in which three
fintech startups – Payswiff, Phi Commerce and Samunnati – were awarded.

58. SBI has launched the “Mahila Atmanirbharshil Aachani” (Women Self-Reliance programme)
in Assam to provide funding to women self-help groups (SHG).

59. National Stock Exchange (NSE) and Singapore Exchange (SGX) have signed a formal
agreement to set up NSE IFSC-SGX Connect platform at Gujarat International Finance Tec
(GIFT) City in Gandhinagar.
• The platform will enable both exchanges to jointly launch trading of derivatives based on
the stock index Nifty 50 and its stock constituents at GIFT.
• SGX is also planning to set up a special purpose vehicle (SPV) at GIFT city to facilitate
trading of its clients at NSE- IFSC.
• The arrangement was arrived at, in August 2019. However, the formal agreement has been
signed now.
60. Bandhan Bank has launched a new vertical — Emerging Entrepreneurs Business (EEB) —
to help the entrepreneurs who have little or no access to banking facilities.
• The bank appointed Kumar Ashish as executive president and head of the EEB vertical.
• Bandhan Bank MD & CEO – Chandra Shekhar Ghosh

61. SEBI has set up a Technical Group on Social Stock Exchange, under the chairmanship of
Harsh Kumar Bhanwala, to develop a framework for onboarding and management of non-
profit organisations and for-profit enterprises on social stock exchange.
• In June 2020, a working group on social stock exchange, chaired by Ishaat Hussain,
submitted its report, highlighting the need to prepare detailed guidelines for onboarding of
non-profit and for-profit social organizations.
• Social Stock Exchange lists social welfare organizations to help them raise capital.

62. Reliance Industries has announced to sell its 1.28% stake in Reliance Retail Ventures to
KKR (US-based investment firm) for Rs 5,550 crore.

63. Bharti Airtel has bought a strategic stake in AI tech startup Waybeo under its start-up
accelerator programme.
• Waybeo is the 5th startups to join Airtel’s start-up accelerator programme after Vahan,
Spectacom, Lattu Kids and Voicezen.

64. SEBI has amended ICDR (Issue of Capital and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations to
make fund raising for companies through rights issue easier. Major changes: -
• The issuer will be eligible to make truncated disclosures (presenting information in a
shortened manner), if the issuer has been filing periodic reports, statements, information in
compliance with Listing Regulations, for last one year instead of last three years as required
earlier.
• SEBI has also increased the threshold limit from Rs 10 crore to Rs 50 crore for filing
request for rights issue with SEBI.
 • Mandatory minimum subscription criteria of 90% for rights issue shall not be applicable
where the objective of the right issue is financing rather than capital expenditure for a
project.

65. Parliament passed the Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2020 to bring cooperative
banks under the administrative control of RBI.
• It aims to amend the Banking Regulation Act of 1949.
• The bill empowers RBI to supersede any decision made by the Board of Directors for up to
five years under certain conditions, without consulting with the State govt, to protect the
interest of depositors.
• Benefits - It allows cooperative banks to issue equity shares, preference shares, and
special shares, and unsecured debentures, bonds, or other securities with a maturity of ten
or more years to raise funds.
• Exemptions - Right now, agriculture credit societies and cooperative land mortgage banks
are exempted from this bill. The excluded entities are not allowed to use the words ‘bank’,
‘banker’, or ‘banking’ in their name.

Administrative
Banking processes will be
processes will be under Registrar
under RBI. of Cooperative
Societies

Cooperative
Banks

66. RBI has released the 'Technology Vision for Cyber Security’ for Urban Co-operative
Banks – 2020-2023.
 • The vision document envisages to strengthen Urban Co-op Bank’s cyber security through a
5 – pillared approach named as ‘GUARD’.
• GUARD stand for – Governance Oversight, Utile Technology Investment, Appropriate
Regulation and Supervision, Robust Collaboration and Developing necessary IT, cyber
security skills set.

67. Ministry of Corporate Affairs has suspended the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016
for another three months starting 25 September to protect companies in distress from being
dragged into bankruptcy tribunals in wake of Covid-19 crisis.
• In March, the IBC was suspended for six months till September 25.
• IBC (Second Amendment) Bill, 2020 has been recently passed by the Parliament. This
bill allows the central govt to suspend the operations of IBC for up to one year through
notification.
• Also, the bill prohibits initiation of fresh insolvency proceedings against companies which
have defaulted on payments of loans from March 25 (when the nationwide lockdown
began).
68. SEBI has capped the advisory fees charged by registered investment advisers (RIAs) at
2.5% of the value of assets being advised, or ₹1,25,000 if they charge a flat fee.
• Advisers with over 150 clients must corporatize their business, or stop signing up new
clients.
• Existing clients have been given the option to choose either the advisory or distribution
services of the RIA at a group or family level. However, the clients should not be forced to
redeem their existing assets under advisory or distribution.
• On the other hand, SEBI has allowed grandfathering of existing assets of clients so that
the clients will not have to redeem their assets based on the service they choose.
• Eligibility of RIAs - existing RIAs who are 50 years or older have to hold NISM (National
Institute of Securities Markets) -accredited certifications for offering services.

69. Facebook has partnered with Matrix Partners (an early stage venture capital fund) to help
early stage small businesses in India to build their brand.
• This tie-up is a part of Facebook’s VC Brand Incubator Program.
• Facebook launched this initiative in India in 2019, to help small and medium businesses to
build their brands through advertising and marketing via Facebook’s family of apps.
• Facebook has also launched new programme called Campaign Lab that helps direct-to-
consumer small businesses to get creative solutions to ease their path to success.

70. S&P Global Ratings has released the “Global banking: recovery will stretch to 2023 and
beyond” report.
• The report mentions that for India, Mexico and South Africa, a recovery to pre-covid-19
levels will be only after 2023.
• 20 largest banking jurisdictions (countries) were analysed in this report. These were divided
into three groups: early- exiters, mid-exiters, and late-exiters, based on their estimated
recovery to pre-covid levels.
 • India’s banking sector is in the later- exiters category. It would be the hardest hit and the
last to recover from Covid-19 disruptions.

71. RBI has announced to introduce the ‘positive pay’ system for cheque from January 1, 2021
in order to reduce frauds in cheques amounting from Rs 50,000 or above.
• Under the mechanism, the account holder has to re-confirm the key details such as date,
name of the beneficiary, payee, amount to the drawee bank electronically to reduce frauds.
• This ‘positive pay’ system for cheque will be introduced to cheque truncation system
(CTS) of the banks.
• Availing of this facility would be at the discretion of the account holder. However, banks
may introduce the system mandatorily in case of cheques of Rs 5 lakh and above.

72. Central government has operationalized 'Faceless Income Tax Appeals' system under which
the entire process of appeals from filing to the final appellate order will be done online without
physical interaction between taxpayers, their counsel, and Income tax department.
• This faceless system will not apply on serious frauds.
• It was announced to be launched on September 25 (on Deendayal’s birthday) during the
launch of "Transparent Taxation - Honouring the Honest" platform (in August 2020).
• Mechanism of the faceless tax system (read it for the purpose of understanding only):

Territorial jurisdiction
A central computer is abolished as tax
picks up (using data payer may belong to
analytics and AI) tax one city but the Central issuance of
returns for scrutiny Income Tax Return may notices with Document
and then allots them be assessed in some Identification No.(DIN).
randomly to a team of other city (selected by
officers. the computer
randomly).
73. Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has identified LIC,
General Insurance Corporation of India and New India Assurance (a general insurance
companies) as domestic systemically important insurers (D-SIIs) for 2020-21.
• Impact – These insurers are now subject to enhanced regulatory supervision.
• What is D-SIIs? – D-SIIs refer to insurers of such size, market importance and domestic
and global inter-connectedness whose distress or failure would cause a significant
dislocation in the domestic financial system. IRDAI selects D-SIIs on an annual basis.
• In January 2019, IRDAI constituted a Committee on Domestic Systemically Important
Insurers, under the chairmanship of Pravin Kutumbe, for preparing framework for
identification of systematically important insurers.

74. Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved two loans totalling USD 570 million for
developing the urban infrastructure of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.
• Madhya Pradesh – USD 270 million for improving the Urban Services of the state. Water
supply, integrated storm water and sewage management infrastructure will be developed.
• Rajasthan – USD 300 million for developing infrastructure of water supply and sanitation
among others in Rajasthan's secondary towns.

75. IDFC First Bank has launched ‘SafePay’ which will allow the account holders to make
contactless debit card payment by using their mobile phones.
• IDFC First Bank claims SafePay to be the first of its kind facility.

76. RBI has approved a three-member committee of directors (who are independent) to operate
the Lakshmi Vilas Bank with the same powers of MD and CEO.
• Reason – Shareholders rejected the appointment of MD and CEO of the bank at the annual
meeting. The bank is suffering from severe liquidity crunch and is striving to survive.
• The committee is chaired by Meeta Makhan, with Shakti Sinha and Satish Kumar Kalra as
members.
77. Axis Bank has partnered with Bayer’s Better Life Farming initiative in India to provide
financial services to smallholder farmers and rural farming communities.
• Launched in 2018 by Bayer, International Finance Corporation (World Bank Group),
Netafim and Swiss Re Corporate Solutions, the Better Life Farming (BLF) is a global
alliance to support smallholder farmers in developing economies to increase crop yields
and farm incomes.

78. SEBI has asked stock exchanges and clearing corporations to liquidate assets of
defaulting brokers within six months of declaring them as defaulters.
• This move comes in the wake of defaults by Mumbai-based broker Anugrah Stock and
Broking.

79. HDFC Bank has launched the India’s first Warehouse Commodity Finance App.
• Purpose: to help customers in managing their loans (taken against pledge of commodities)
online.

80. Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) has signed an MoU with Yes Bank to empower the small
and medium enterprises (SMEs) listed on the platform.
• BSE and Yes Bank will conduct awareness and knowledge-sharing programmes for
providing banking and financial solutions to SMEs.

81. CRIF High Mark (Indian credit bureau owned by CRIF) has joined hands with SIDBI for
launching of sector-based insight reports titled ‘Industry Spotlight’ for MSMEs in India.
• Under the partnership, a series of quarterly reports providing data and trends on key
industry sectors in each edition will be launched.

82. SEBI has released a detailed code of conduct for mutual funds that shall be followed by the
fund managers, including chief investment officers, and dealers of asset management
companies.
 • Currently, the code of conduct under SEBI mutual fund regulations is applicable to trustees
and the asset management companies.
• SEBI has allowed the debenture trustees of companies (in which mutual funds have
invested) to conduct an independent inspection of assets on which a charge is being
created in order to strengthen the role of these trustees.
• Also, SEBI has made it mandatory for listed companies to disclose their forensic audit
reports and the comments of management on the report, through stock exchange filings.

83. RBI has extended the overdraft time limit and the limit of ways and means advances for
states and UTs till 31st March 2021.
• These limits were enhanced in April 2020.
What did RBI announce in April 2020?
ü Time period for which a state or UT can ü The limit of Ways and Means Advances for
avail the overdraft facility from RBI (the state and UTs was enhanced by 60% as
banker to the govt) was enhanced: - compared to March 31, 2020.
 • From 14 to 21 working days in a month, • Ways and Means Advances are
and, temporary credit extended by RBI to
• From 36 to 50 working days in a quarter states and UTs to fill in the mismatches
in their cash flow statements.
• WMA is extended on repo-linked
interest rates.

84. IDBI Bank has become the first bank to implement the new feature of document
embedding facility with Letter of Credit/Bank Guarantee messages on structured financial
messaging system, managed by Indian Financial Technology and Allied Services (IFTAS).
• IFTAS is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the RBI.
• The messages will be managed by IFTAS’s middleware application i@Connect-SFMS
developed by IDBI Intech Limited.

85. IIFL Wealth Hurun India Rich List 2020 has been released.
• Mukesh Ambani topped the list for a ninth consecutive year.

86. Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has clarified that transactions done in electricity, clean
energy certificates, securities and commodities (traded through recognised exchanges) are not
subjected to TCS or TDS deductions on e-commerce platforms.
• This TDS and TCS regime was introduced through the Finance Act, 2020. It will be
effective from 1 October, 2020.
• As per the new regime, e-commerce platforms will deduct 1% TDS of the sellers who are
using the e-commerce platform for sales.
• Besides this, every seller with a sale of more than ₹50 lakh should collect 0.1% TCS (of the
value of goods) from the buyers.
• Motor vehicle sales by producers to dealers will be covered under the new TCS
provisions. Dealers having sales of more than ₹50 lakh will have to collect 0.1% TCS from
buyers on sale of cars priced up to ₹10 lakh.
 • In the case of costlier cars, TCS has been applicable at the rate of 1% (reduced to 0.75%
during the pandemic) under a different section of the law.
TDS (Tax Deducted at Source) TCS (Tax Collected at Source)

• It is the tax which is deducted at the • It is the tax which is paid by the buyers
source from where the income is to companies or sellers.
generated. For example: In case of motor vehicles, the tax will
For example: In this case, sellers are selling their be collected from the buyers on the products and
products on e-commerce platform, let’s say, the sellers will deposit the tax directly to the govt.
Amazon.
Amazon will deduct the tax of the sellers from the
revenue earned by them through the platform, and
deposit it to the govt on behalf of the sellers
because Amazon is the source from where the
income of sellers is generated.

GDP FORECASTS

1. S&P Global Ratings has reduced India’s GDP growth rate to (-) 9% for FY21.
• India’s GDP growth rate for FY22: 10%
FY21 GDP growth rate forecast for India (till now):
Global Agencies Domestic Agencies
Moody’s: (–) 11.5% India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra): (–) 11.8%
Fitch: (–) 10.5% Crisil: (–) 9%
Goldman Sachs: (–) 14.8% Care Ratings: (–) 8%
S&P: (–) 9% -
Nomura: (–) 10.8% -

2. India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra) forecasts India’s GDP growth rate to contract by
11.8% in FY21.
 • For FY22, GDP growth rate forecast is 9.9%.
• It would be the sixth and the worst instance of economic contraction, others being in FY-
1958, FY-1966, FY-1967, FY-1973 and FY-1980. The lowest was -5.2% recorded in FY80.

3. Fitch Ratings has forecasted India’s GDP growth rate at -10.5% for FY21 as against 5%
estimated earlier.
• Global GDP growth rate for FY21 – (-) 4.4% (earlier 4.6% estimated)
• China is the only country among major economies which will see a positive GDP growth at
+2.7% (compared to +1.2% forecasted in June 2020).
• Nomura has also reduced India’s GDP growth rate to -9% in 2020 (calendar year) and -
10.8% FY21 (fiscal year).

4. Goldman Sachs has estimated India’s GDP growth rate to shrink 14.8% in FY21.
• India’s GDP growth rate for Calendar Year 2021 – (-) 9.9%
• India’s GDP growth rate for FY22 – (+) 15.7%
5. Crisil Research has forecasted that India’s GDP growth rate would shrink 9% in FY21.

6. Moody’s has forecasted that India’s GDP growth rate would contract at 11.5% in FY21.
• India’s FY22 growth rate would be 10.6% largely due to the strong statistical base effect.
• India’s fiscal deficit will reach 12% of GDP in FY21.

7. Care Ratings has forecasted that India’s GDP growth rate would contract to 8.0- 8.2% for
FY21.

8. For the first time since 1960, Asian Development Bank has forecasted a negative growth
rate for the Developing Asian region (excluding developed nations like Japan, Australia and
New Zealand) at -0.7% for 2020 (FY21).
• Developing Asia region’s GDP Growth in 2021 (FY22) will be 6.8%, particularly due to the
weak base (of 2020).
• India’s GDP growth rate for 2020 (FY21) is -9%.
• India’s GDP growth rate for 2021 (FY22) is +8%.
9. OECD, in its Interim Economic Outlook report, has forecasted the global GDP growth rate
to be at -4.5% in FY21, in comparison to its previous forecast of -6% in June 2020.
• For FY22, the global GDP growth rate is 5%.
• The world could face a loss of $7 trillion in income due to the pandemic.
• India’s GDP growth rate for FY21 will be -10.2%, in comparison to the -3.7% to -7.3%
growth rate forecasted in June.
• India’s GDP growth rate for FY22 will be +10.7%.

10. Ministry of Finance expects India’s GDP to grow by 19% in 2021-22, which indicates a V-
shaped recovery for India.
• This is a positive outlook, even if half of the 19% is inflation.
• The ministry has not revealed the GDP growth forecast for 2020-21.

11. UNCTAD Trade and Development Report 2020 has been released by United Nations
Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
• Global GDP would shrink by 4.3% in FY21, which is equivalent to a loss of $6 trillion global
output/ income.
• Global trade will shrink by around 1/5th, global FDI flows would contract by 40% and
remittances will drop by over $100 billion.
• Poverty Alert! - 90 to 120 million people will be pushed into extreme poverty in the
developing world, with close to 300 million facing food insecurity.
Region GDP growth rate for FY21 GDP growth rate for FY22
World - 4.3% +4.1%
India - 5.9% + 3.9%

12. National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) has forecasted India’s GDP
growth rate for FY21 as -12.6%.
• FY21 quarter wise fall – Q1: 23.9%; Q2: 12.7%; Q3: 8.6%; Q4: 6.2%.
• India will catch up with its pre-pandemic growth rate of 7% p.a. only by 2037-38.
 • However, Indian economy would achieve its pre-pandemic output growth of 5.8% only by
2022-23.

13. ICRA has forecasted a -11% GDP growth rate for India for FY21 from -9.5%.

APPOINTMENTS
1. Mustapha Adib (Lebanon’s former envoy to Germany) has been elected as the new Prime
Minister of Lebanon.
• Lebanon’s cabinet resigned after the Beirut explosion.
• Lebanon Capital and Currency – Beirut; and pound
• Lebanon’s President – Michel Aoun

2. Hemant Khatri has been appointed as the chairman and managing director (CMD) of
Hindustan Shipyard Limited.

3. Usha Padhee (IAS Officer) has been appointed as the First Woman Director General of
Bureau of Civil Aviation Security.
• Usha Padhee is also the joint secretary in the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

4. K Padmakar has been additional charge of Chairman and Managing Director of Bharat
Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL).
• K Padmakar is also the Director (HR) of BPCL.

5. Murali Ramakrishnan has been appointed as the MD and CEO of the South Indian Bank
(private sector bank).

6. T. Krishnakumar has been appointed as the Chairman of Coca-Cola’s India Inc.

 • Sanket Ray has been named as President of Coca-Cola’s India and South- west Asia
business.

7. S Krishnan has been appointed as the MD & CEO of state-owned Punjab & Sind Bank.

8. Aveek Sarkar has been elected as the chairman of the Press Trust of India.

9. Ayushmann Khurrana has been appointed as the brand ambassador of Bajaj Allianz Life
Insurance.

10. Paresh Rawal has been appointed Chairperson of the National School of Drama Society.

11. Jane Fraser has become the first woman CEO of Citigroup.
• She is also the President of Citigroup.

12. Subhash Kamath (CEO of advertising agency BBH and Publicis Worldwide, India) has been
elected as the chairman of the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI).

13. All India Tennis Association (AITA) has elected Anil Jain (a BJP Rajya Sabha member) as
its new president.
• AITA has recently increased the number of joint secretaries to four from two.

14. Ayushmann Khurrana has been appointed as the celebrity advocate for UNICEF India’s
campaign to end violence against children.
• Khurrana will work towards this initiative in India as he joins the likes of David Beckham,
who works on this campaign globally.

15. Yoshihide Suga has been elected as the new PM of Japan.

16. India and Afghanistan have been elected as Members of the UN Commission on the
Status of Women for a four-year term beginning from 2021-2025.
• The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is a functional commission of the UN
Economic and Social Council (comprising of 54 members) that is focussed on gender
equality and women empowerment.
• India will begin its term at UN Security Council as a non-permanent member for 2021-22 in
January.

17. Sachin Tendulkar has been appointed as the brand ambassador of Paytm First Games.

18. Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar has been given the additional charge of
Ministry of Food Processing Industries as the current Minister Smt. Harsimrat Kaur Badal
has resigned.

19. Sahil Seth has been appointed as an honorary adviser to the steering committee for the
BRICS Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) young leaders for the period 2020-2023.
• Founded in 2012, BRICS CCI is the parent organisation which promotes commerce and
industry in the BRICS nations.

20. Anil Dhasmana has been appointed as the chief of National Technical Research
Organisation (NTRO).
• NTRO is India’s technical body that is responsible for geospatial intelligence and satellite
imagery.

21. Alcoholic beverages company United Spirits Ltd has appointed Pradeep Jain as its chief
financial officer.
• Anand Kripalu (MD and CEO of Diageo India- United Spirits Ltd) as the chairman of the
Royal Challengers Bangalore team.
 • UK-based Diageo is the major shareholding company of United Spirits.

22. RBI has appointed A.K. Dixit as the new administrator of Punjab and Maharashtra Co-
operative Bank Ltd.

23. Girija Shanker Mungali has been appointed as one of the seven members of the Asian
Football Confederation’s task force for regulating football clubs in Asia and Australia.
• Mungali is the only Indian in this committee.
• Asian Football Confederation’s HQ - Malaysia

24. Arthur Gregg Sulzberger has been appointed as the chairman of the New York Times Co.
(newspaper company).
• A.G. is the son of the former chairman of New York Times, Arthur Ochs Sulzberger Jr.

25. Gopalkrishna Gandhi (grandson of Mahatma Gandhi) has been appointed as the life trustee
of the India International Centre (IIC).
• Gandhi is not the only trustee of IIC. There are other trustees as well.
• India International Centre is a non-government institution that aims to promote
understanding and cooperation between the different communities of the world.

26. National Medical Commission (NMC) has appointed Dr Suresh Chandra Sharma as its first
chairperson for a period of 3 years.
• NMC has come into existence from Sept. 25 as the country's apex regulator of medical
education and profession replacing the Medical Council of India (MCI) under the National
Medical Commission Act, 2019.
• The NMC comprises a chairman, 10 ex-officio members and 22 part-time members.

27. L Adimoolam has been elected as the president of the Indian Newspaper Society (an apex
body of the publishers of newspapers, magazines and periodicals in the country).
28. Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) has appointed Sunil Sethi (Chairman of
the Fashion Design Council of India) as its Advisor for giving his advice for promoting of Khadi
in India and abroad.
• Sethi will primarily give advice on the latest design in the readymade garments segment.

29. Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) has appointed Rajat Sud as its new Managing
Director.

30. Acer India has appointed Sonu Sood as its brand ambassador.
• Acer Inc. is a Taiwanese multinational electronics company.

31. Reserve Bank of India has roped in Amitabh Bachchan for its customer awareness
campaign to prevent account holders from being duped by fraudsters.
• As part of the campaign, Big B posted an awareness message on RBI’s Twitter account
named as ‘RBI Says’.

32. P.D. Vaghela has been appointed as the new chairman of Telecom Regulatory Authority of
India (Trai) by the appointments committee of the cabinet.

33. Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has appointed eminent filmmaker Shekhar Kapur
as the new president of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) Society, based in
Pune.
• He has also been appointed as the Chairman of the FTII governing council which runs the
FTII society.

34. Total 24 parliamentary committees were re-constituted. Almost all committees saw the latest
chairperson getting re-elected for the next term as well.
 • All the reconstituted committees have 21 members from Lok Sabha and 10 members of
Rajya Sabha.
• Some important parliamentary committees:
Committee Chairperson
Parliamentary committee on IT [see note below] Shashi Tharoor
Parliamentary committee on finance Jayant Sinha
Parliamentary committee on home affairs Anand Sharma
Parliamentary committee on science and Jairam Ramesh
technology, environment and forests and climate
change
Parliamentary committee on labour Bhratuhari Mahtab
Note: Do read about the Facebook conflict which the Tharoor committee is investigating.

IMPORTANT DAYS
1. PM Modi has called for celebrating September 2020 as the National Nutrition Month (or
Poshan Month). September is being celebrated as the National Nutrition Month since 2018.
• Poshan Abhiyan -National Nutrition Mission was launched in 2018.
• A nutrition park was inaugurated in October 2019 near the Statue of Unity in Narmada
district, Kevadia, Gujarat.
• National Nutrition Week 2020 is observed from September 1 to September 7 by Ministry
of Women and Child Development since 1982.

2. National Small Industry Day is observed on August 30 annually.

• On this day, Punjab National Bank launched PNB Seva Scheme to provide funding to the
small-scale industries for their working capital requirements in these unprecedented
times.
3. World Coconut Day is observed on September 2 to commemorate the foundation day of
Asian and Pacific Coconut Community (1969), which operates under the UN Economic and
Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN-ESCAP).
• Theme – “Invest in Coconut to save the world”
• Asian and Pacific region house most of the world’s coconut growing production centres.
• Asian and Pacific Coconut Community Secretariat is located in Jakarta, Indonesia.

4. National Teachers’ Day is observed on September 5 on the birth anniversary of former

President Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan.
• National Teachers’ Award 2020 (highest accolade for teachers in India) was given to a
total of 47 teachers this year.
• For the first time, a teacher – Sudha Painuli (vice-principal of EMRS-Kalsi, Dehradun) –
from Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS established under the Ministry of Tribal
Affairs) has been selected for this award.

Ministry of Tribal Affairs aims to establish an Eklavya Model Residential School in

every block with more than 50% ST population and at least 20,000 tribal persons,
by 2022.

5. The very first International Day of Clean Air for blue skies was observed on September
7th, 2020 by UN to create awareness about the importance of clean air.
• Theme - "Clean Air for All"
• The resolution for the day was adopted in 74th session of UN in 2019.

6. International Literacy Day is observed on September 8 across the world by UN.

• Theme - Literacy teaching and learning in the COVID-19 crisis and beyond.
CERTAIN FACTS ABOUT INDIA'S LITERACY RATES:
 • The report on ‘Household Social Consumption: Education in India as part of 75th round of
National Sample Survey - from July 2017 to June 2018’ provides details of literacy rates
in India. It was released in November 2019.
o It assessed literacy rates of population aged 7 or above.
• India's literacy rate is 77.7%.
• Most Literate state - Kerala (with 96.2% literacy) , Delhi (88.7%) rate.
• Least Literate state - Andhra Pradesh (66.4% rate)
• Rural areas literacy rate - 73.5%
• Urban areas literacy rate - 87.7%
• Male literacy rate - 84.7%
• Female literacy rate - 70.3%
• Kerala's male literacy rate is 97.4% as compared to 95.2% among females.

7. World Suicide Prevention Day is observed on 10th September by International Association

for Suicide Prevention.
• Theme – Working together to prevent suicide
Note: NCRB’s report on suicide and accidents has been recently released. Read it in September 1 and 2,
2020 document.

8. First ever International Day to Protect Education from Attack was celebrated on 9
September, 2020 by UN.
• Theme - Protect Education, Save a Generation
• UNESCO and UNICEF will facilitate the annual observance of the Day.
• Two reports related to education were released.
Education under Attack 2020 report Save Our Education 2020 report

• Education under Attack 2020 was • Save the Children organization has
released by Global Coalition to released its Save Our Education 2020
 Protect Education from Attack. The report. The report predicts that at least
report surveyed 37 countries. 9.7 million children will be out of
school forever by the end of this year
due to Covid-19 pandemic.
• According to the report, from 2015 to • COVID-19 leaves estimated $77 billion
2019, military use of schools or gap in education spending for world’s
universities was reported in 33 poorest children.
countries, including India.
• GCPEA found over 1,200 reported • Girls are at increased exposure to
attacks on higher educational facilities gender-based violence and risk of child
and their students and personnel marriage and teen pregnancy during
between 2015 and 2019. In India, school closures.
Sudan, and Turkey, over 1,000
university students and personnel were
injured, killed, or detained as a result of
such attacks.
• India comes under the category of -

countries that have more than 500

students, teachers, or other education
personnel harmed by individually
targeted attacks.

9. National Engineer’s Day – India observes this day on September 15 to honour the eminent
engineer Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya (who was born on Sept 15). He was the first civil
engineer of India.
• He is also known as the father of Indian engineering.

10. International Day of Democracy is observed on 15 September by UN.

• This year, the focus is on “Covid-19: A Spotlight on Democracy”.
11. World Ozone Day (also known as International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer)
is observed on September 16 by UN.
• Theme – "Ozone for life: 35 years of ozone layer protection".
• 2020 marks the 35 years of the Vienna Convention for the protection of the ozone layer
(signed in 1985).
• Montreal Protocol 1987 set the target of reducing all ozone-depleting substances by 99%.
• The Kigali Amendment to Montreal Protocol came into force in 2019 to reduce
hydrofluorocarbon (HFCs) and greenhouse gases.

12. 2nd World Patient Safety Day is observed on September 17, 2020 by WHO.
• Theme - Health Worker Safety: A Priority for Patient Safety
• In India, National Patient Safety Implementation Framework (2018-25) was adopted to
improve the level of patient safety in India.

13. World Bamboo Day is observed on September 18 by World Bamboo Organization.

• Theme - BAMBOO NOW

14. First ever International Equal Pay Day is observed on September 18, 2020 by UN to
promote equal pay for both men and women for work of equal value.
• In India, women earn 19% less than men.

15. International Coastal Cleanup Day is observed on the 3rd Saturday in September. In 2020, it
lies on September 19.
• According to the Association for Community Awareness (ASCOA), the theme of the
International Coastal Cleanup Day 2020 is ‘Achieving a trash free Coastline’.
• For the first time, Ministry of Environment has recommended 8 beaches for the ‘Blue Flag
Certification’ given by the Foundation for Environmental Education (based in Denmark).
• The certification is given to the cleanest beaches in the world.
 • Last year, the Ministry of Environment had selected 12 beaches for Blue Flag certification.
Out of those 12 beaches, 8 have been recommended.
• Now, India also has its own eco-label called "BEAMS" (Beach Environment & Aesthetics
Management Services) launched by the Society of Integrated Coastal Management (under
Ministry of Environment) under the Integrated Coastal Zone Management Project (ICZM).

16. World Alzheimer’s Day is observed on 21 September and is part of World Alzheimer's
Month.
• Theme - ‘Let’s talk about dementia’
• Dementia is a mental disorder characterised by memory disorders, personality changes,
and impaired reasoning.
• Alzheimer is a progressive disease that destroys memory and other important mental
functions.

17. International Day of Peace is observed on September 21 by UN.

• Theme – Shaping Peace Together

18. International Day of Sign Languages is observed on September 23.

• Theme - Sign Languages are for Everyone!
 • International Week of the Deaf, an initiative of the WFD, is celebrated annually in the last
week of September.
• The theme of the 2020 International Week of the Deaf will be “Reaffirming Deaf
People’s Human Rights”.
• World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) was established on September 23, 1951.
• United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was adopted in
2006 and it entered into force in 2008.

19. World Maritime Day is observed on September 24 by UN.

• Theme - Sustainable Shipping for a Sustainable Planet
• In India, National Maritime Day is celebrated on April 5 every year.

20. World Environment Health Day is observed on September 26.

• Theme - Environmental Health, A Key Public Health Intervention In Disease Pandemic
Prevention (according to the International Federation of Environmental Health)

21. World Tourism Day is observed on September 27 by UN.

• Theme - “Tourism and Rural Development”
• Minister of Oil and Petroleum, Dharmendra Pradhan, has urged for switching prime
tourist destinations to switch to 100% clean fuel.
• UN World Tourism Organization has designated 2020 as the Year of Tourism and Rural
Development.

22. 1st edition of the International Day of Awareness on Food Loss and Waste Reduction is
observed on 29 September by UN.
• Theme - “Stop food loss and waste. For the people. For the planet.”
• Food and Agriculture Organization has created the Food Loss Index (FLI) to monitor
SDG Target 12.3 to assess the percentages of food removed from the supply chain.
• Globally, 14% of food is wasted according to FAO.
 AWARDS
1. Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB) project won the
Award of Excellence in the ‘Innovation in Rainwater Harvesting’ category at the National
Water Innovation Summit 2020 (organized by Union Ministry of Jal Shakti along with Elets
Technomedia Ltd).
• The project stores water in abandoned quarries (pits) for supply to the city.
• CMWSSB’s ‘DIAL FOR WATER 2.0’ scheme (online booking service for water tankers
launched in 2019) has won the Skoch Award Gold in the ‘Digital India’ category.

2. Va Tech Wabag (Water technology company) has won the ‘distinction’ award at Global
Water Award 2020 under 'wastewater project of the year' category for its tertiary treatment
reverse osmosis (TTRO) plant at Koyambedu in Chennai.
• TTRO plant was developed for Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board.
• The plant makes Chennai the first Indian city to reuse more than 20% of its treated
wastewater and supply it to industries.
• Kanpur STP financing, India has won the Global Water Awards 2020 in Water Deal of
the Year category.
• The Global Water Awards 2020 is given in six categories.
IMPORTANT FACTS:-

Ø The Global Water Awards are given during Global Water Summit. But this time, these
awards are being given virtually.
Ø 4th edition of the Global Water Summit will be held in New Delhi, India from 9-11
November, 2020.
Ø Theme of the summit – Clean and Safe Drinking Water for All
Ø Organizers – Energy and Environment Foundation in support of Ministry of Jal Shakti
and NITI Aayog.
3. Hyderabad International Airport has won the CII-GBC 'National Energy Leader' and
'Excellent Energy Efficient Unit' award given by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)
- Godrej Green Business Centre (GBC).
• The award was given at the 21st National Awards for 'Excellence in Energy Management"
organized by CII and GBC, during the 19th edition of 'Energy Efficiency Summit".
• RINL-Vizag Steel has won Excellent Energy Efficient Unit Award by CII-GBC in National
Award competition for Excellence in Energy Management. RINL stands for Rashtriya Ispat
Nigam Limited.

4. Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust has conferred the Indira Gandhi Peace Prize for 2019 on
David Attenborough (English broadcaster and natural historian) at a virtual event.

5. UNESCO has given International Literacy Prizes 2020.

• The awards are given in two categories: -
About the Award:

F Established in 1989; named after King

UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize (2 awards) Sejong of South Korea who invented the
Korean alphabet; given to two
organizations or individuals who fight
against illiteracy.
 2020 Winners:

ü ‘Ageing Nepal’ in Nepal – for its ‘Basic

Literacy Class for Older Persons’
programme
ü ‘United World Schools’ in United
Kingdom – for its ‘Providing Non-Burmese
Speaking Out-of-School Children with
Access to Education’ programme
About the Award:

F Confucius Prize (named after Chinese

scholar Confucius) recognizes the activities
of individuals, governments or NGOs
working in literacy serving rural adults and
out of school youth, particularly women and
girls. It is given to 3 organizations or
individuals.
UNESCO Confucius Prize for Literacy (3 awards)
2020 Winners:

ü ‘Just Commit Foundation’ in Ghana – for

its ‘Inspirational Business Stories’
programme
ü ‘University Center for Social
Participation’ in Mexico – for its ‘Literacy
programme: learning by teaching’
ü ‘General Literacy Office in Sanaa’ in
Yemen for its ‘Educating and integrating
 refugees in literacy classes in Yemeni
society’ programme

6. 8th edition of the World Summit on the Information Society Prizes 2020 have been
announced by International Telecommunication Union.
• From India, Sabooj Sathi online 3.0 initiative of West Bengal has won this award in the
category of “ICT application: benefits in all aspects of life – E-government”.
• West Bengal launched the flagship scheme titled "Sabooj Sathi" in 2015-16 for providing bi-
cycles to all students of Class IX to XII in Government Schools to increase access to high
schools.

7. 77th edition of the Venice Film Festival was held in Venice, Italy.
Category Winners
Golden Lion Nomadland, (Director: Chloé Zhao)
Silver Lion – Grand Jury Prize New Order, (Director: Michel Franco)
Silver Lion – Award For Best Director Kiyoshi Kurosawa For “Wife Of A Spy” Movie
Award For Best Screenplay Chaitanya Tamhane For “The Disciple” Movie
Coppa Volpi For Best Actress Vanessa Kirby For “Pieces Of A Woman” Movie
Coppa Volpi For Best Actor Pierfrancesco Favino For “Padrenostro” Movie
Orizzonti Award For Best Film The Wasteland (Director: Ahmad Bahrami)

Note: Only important awards have been mentioned in the table above. If you want to read the complete list
of awardees, you can click at this link – https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/entertainment-
others/venice-film-festival-2020-winners-list-6593715/

8. Aditya Puri (MD of HDFC Bank) has won the Lifetime Achievement Award at Euromoney
Awards of Excellence 2020 for his contributions in developing HDFC bank.
Euromoney Awards of Excellence 2020 (Global)
World’s Best Bank JP Morgan
World’s Best Investment Bank Goldman Sachs
 Global Excellence in Leadership HSBC’s CEO Noel Quinn & Credit Suisse CEO
Thomas Gottstein
Banker of The Year Brian Moynihan, Bank of America
Asia's best bank DBS, Singapore
Asia's best investment bank Citi

Note: - The award was given in various categories and regions. I have put the important categories here. If
you want to know more about the awards, you can click on this link –
https://www.euromoney.com/awards/awards-for-excellence/awards-for-excellence-2020#global

9. Asia Society, in collaboration with Citigroup, presents the 2020 Asia Game Changers
awards to six persons to recognize their contributions towards fighting the ills of society.
• Winners of 2020 awards:
1) Miky Lee (American- 2) Naomi Osaka 3) BTS (South Korean
South Korean (Japanese tennis boys’ band)
businessperson) champion)
4) Joe and Clara Tsai 5) VIKAS KHANNA (Chef 6) Yo-Yo Ma (American
(Taiwanese-Canadian in Michelin company) cellist)
Corporates and
philanthropist)

10. First-ever AICTE Visvesvaraya Best Teacher Awards 2020 has been presented to 12
faculty members of AICTE approved institutes on the occasion of Engineer’s Day (Sept 15).
• The Awards (to be given annually on Engineer’s day) has been constituted to felicitate
extraordinary teachers in the field of higher technical education at national level for Degree
and Diploma institutions across India.

11. UN has nominated Udit Singhal from India as a part of the 2020 Class of Young Leaders for
SDGs which comprises 17 young leaders (including Singhal) from across the globe.
 • He has been nominated for his Glass2Sand initiative that aims to reduce glass bottle
waste to zero in Delhi.

12. Deen Dayal Upadhyay Panchayat Sashaktikaran Puraskar (DDUPSP), a national award
recognising the best-administered village panchayats, has been given to Andankoil (East)
panchayat in Karur district of Tamil Nadu.
• Total six village panchayats from Tamil Nadu have received this award.

13. Emmy Awards 2020 (American TV awards) have been presented to many excellent shows
and actors. Out of which, ‘Schitt’s Creek’ (a Canadian Sitcom created by Daniel Levy and
Eugene Levy) has won seven awards in different categories, including best comedy award.
• ‘Succession’ (created by Jesse Armstrong) won the Outstanding drama series award.
• Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series - Jesse Armstrong (Succession, "This Is Not For
Tears")
14. PM Narendra Modi has become the 2nd Indian PM (after PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee) to get the
Ig Nobel Prize 2020 for Medical Education.
• Leaders like Jair Bolsonaro (Brazil), Boris Johnson (UK), Donald Trump (USA), Vladimir
Putin (Russia) are among the other winners of this award.
• Ig Psychology Prize was awarded to Miranda Giacomin (Canada) and Nicholas Rule
(USA) for devising a method to identify narcissists by examining their eyebrows.

• Ig Nobel Prize is a satirical and parody award given out by a magazine Improbable
Research every year since 1991.

• The award aims to "honour achievements that first make people laugh, and then make
them think".

15. 45th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) award winners: -

• People's Choice Award – Nomadland (director - Chloe Zhao)
• From India – Marathi movie "The Disciple" (director - Chaitanya Tamhane) won the
Amplify Voices Award at TIFF.
• "Night of the Kings" movie (director Phillipe Lacote) has shared the Amplify Voices
Award with The Disciple.
• NETPAC (Network for the Promotion of Asian Pacific Cinema) Award – Gaza mon amour
(created by Tarzan Nasser and Arab Nasser)
• FIPRESCI (International Federation of Film Critics) Prize – "Beginning" (created by Dea
Kulumbegashvili)

16. TIME Magazine’s list of 100 most influential people of 2020 has been released.
Toppers in the list in different categories
Category Person
Pioneer Megan Thee Stallion
Artists The Weeknd
 Leader Anthony Fauci
Titans GABRIELLE UNION
Icons AMY O'SULLIVAN

Indians in the Times 100 list

Pioneers Ravindra Gupta (Professor of the University of
Cambridge and Imperial College, London)
Artists Ayushman Khurana
Leaders PM Narendra Modi
Titans Sunder Pichai (Alphabet CEO)
Icons Bilkis (woman protesting against CAA)

17. Surat’s Khushi Chindaliya (aged 17) has been appointed as the Regional Ambassador for
India by the United Nations Environment Programme - Tunza Eco-Generation.
• In 2003, UNEP adopted a long-term strategy named as Tunza Youth Strategy for engaging
young people in environmental activities.
• "TUNZA" is a word in Kiswahili (language in Eastern Africa) which means to treat with care
or affection.

18. Golden Pen of Freedom Award 2020, the annual press freedom award of the World
Association of News Publishers (WAN-IFRA), has been awarded to Colombian journalist,
Jineth Bedoya Lima.
• She is also the recipient of the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize
2020.

19. Kerala has won the United Nation Interagency Task Force Award for its outstanding
performance on those Sustainable Development Goals which are focused on controlling non-
communicable diseases.
Note: Besides this, there were various other countries which were conferred this award. If you want to have
a look at it, you can visit this link - https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/25-09-2020-uniatf-awards-2020
20. Regina Barzilay (Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor) has won the first edition
of the annual $1 million award for artificial intelligence, given by Association for the
Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (world’s biggest AI society).
• Reason – Barzilay won the award for deploying AI in cancer detection and drug discovery.
• The award is funded by Chinese online education company Squirrel AI.
• This is the topmost award of the above mentioned AI society.

21. 10th edition of the Azure AZ Awards 2020. The awards recognize the best work in
Architecture.
• Krushi Bhawan, Bhubaneswar, India (People’s Choice) won the Azure AZ Award in the
category of Social Good.
Note: There are other winners of this award in different categories. Only the winner from India has been
mentioned here owing to the importance that it holds.

22. All India Football Federation has announced its annual awards for 2019-20.
• Sanju Yadav and Gurpreet Singh Sandhu have won the Player of the Year award.

23. Actor Sonu Sood has won the United Nations Development Programme's (UNDP)
prestigious SDG Special Humanitarian Action Award.
• Reason – for helping migrants during lockdown in India.

24. Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has given PATA awards to various organizations.
 PATA Grand Title Winners 2020

• Human By Nature Print Campaign, Kerala Tourism, India in category of Marketing.

• Anurak Community Lodge, YAANA Ventures, Thailand in category of Sustainability.
• Unleashing Greatness – MGM’s Human Capital Development Initiative, MGM China,
Macao, China in category of Human Capital Development.
PATA Gold Award Winners 2020

• Total – 20 awards;
• including, Marketing Campaign (State and city - Global), Script Your Adventure 2019,
Department of Tourism, Government of Karnataka, India

SPORTS
1. Thomas and Uber Cup badminton championships 2020 will be held in Aarhus (Denmark)
from October 3 to 11.

2. Cycling Federation of India (CFI) has announced to host the first-ever Cycling Summit in
in Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore in 2021 to promote the culture of cycling in India.
• CFI has also signed an MoU with Contarctica (a marketing exploration firm) for the summit.

3. India’s GM P. Iniyan has won the 48th annual world open chess tournament 2020.
• The tournament is usually held in Philadelphia (USA) but this year it was held online.

4. David Capel (former England all-rounder) has announced retirement.

5. France’s Pierre Gasly has won the Italian Grand Prix 2020.

6. England batsman Ian Bell has announced retirement from professional cricket.
7. International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) will host the Men’s World Cup 2020,
Women’s World Cup 2020 and ITTF Finals in Weihai city of China.

8. Poonam Khatri (Martial artist) has won a silver medal at the Wushu World Championship
2019 which is now being upgraded to a gold medal.
• Poonam is now the third Indian to win a gold in Wushu World Championship after Pooja
Kadiyan (2017) and Praveen Kumar (2019).

9. Dominic Thiem (Austria) has won the US Open 2020 in men’s singles category.
• Naomi Osaka (Japan) won US Open 2020 in women’s singles category.
Fun Fact:

Ø It is Osaka’s 3rd grand slam win after she won US Open in 2018 and Australia Open in
2019.

10. Lewis Hamilton won the Tuscan Grand Prix held at Mugello Circuit, Italy.

11. Slovenian Tadej Pogacar (21-year-old) has become the youngest rider since World War II to
win the Tour de France 2020 (cycling event).

12. Bryson DeChambeau (American golfer) has won the US Open (Golf) 2020.

13. Magnus Carlsen and Wesley So have co-won the Saint Lous Rapid & Blitz online
tournament 2020.
• P Harikrishna (India) was at the 7th position.

14. Julia Engstrom (Sweden) has won the 2020 Lacoste Ladies Open De France (women’s golf
tournament that is held in France).
15. Novak Djokovic and Simona Halep have won the Rome Masters or Italian Open 2020 in
men and women’s single category respectively.

16. Swedish pole vaulter Armand Duplantis has made the world record in outdoor pole vault
by climbing 6.15 meters at the Golden Gala Pietro Mennea meet in Rome.
• Before him, the record was held by Sergey Bubka (Ukraine) at 6.14 meters.

17. Fed Cup (women's tennis international team competition) is renamed as the Billie Jean King
Cup to honour Billie Jean King - the tennis legend and founder of the Women's Tennis
Association (WTA).
• It is the first time a major global team competition has been named after a woman.
• The first edition of the Billie Jean King Cup Finals (12-teams) will take place in Budapest,
Hungary, in April 2021.

18. Valtteri Bottas (of Mercedes team) has won the Russian Grand Prix 2020.

MISCELLANEOUS
1. “Capital and Ideology” book has been authored by Thomas Piketty (French economist) and
translated by Arthur Goldhammer.

2. Filmmaker Karan Johar has written his first children's book titled “The Big Thoughts of Little
Luv”.
• His other book is his own autobiography titled “An Unsuitable Boy” (published in 2017).

3. Channing Tatum (Hollywood actor) has written his first children's book titled 'The One And
Only Sparkella’ which he dedicated to his daughter.
4. Historian Ramachandra Guha has written “The Commonwealth of Cricket: A Lifelong Love
Affair with the Most Subtle and Sophisticated Game Known to Humankind” book.

5. Two books on Sheela Birnstiel, popularly known as Ma Anand Sheela, will be published by
the end of this year.
• “Nothing To Lose” written by Manbeena Sandhu is her biography. It will be published by
Harper Collins (India).
• “My Story in My Own Words” memoir of Birnstiel will be published by Penguin Random
House.
• Birnstiel is known for her active participation in the Rajneesh movement.

6. “Invertonomics: Eight Ideas to Transform India” book has been authored by Goonmeet
Singh Chauhan.

7. Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (WIHG) has developed a neural-based (machine

learning-based) practical approach for automatic interpretation of 3D seismic data.
• This is the first of its kind approach.
• Wadia is an autonomous Institute under the Department of Science & Technology.
8. Radha Nair has written ‘Breaking The Cocoon @ 40’ book which is inspired by her own
experiences.

9. Govind Swarup – also known as the “Father of Indian Radio Astronomy” – has passed
away.
• He was the founder-director of TIFR – National Centre for Radio Astrophysics (NCRA) in
Pune.
• Swarup led the the team that set up the Ooty Radio Telescope (Tamil Nadu) and Giant
Meterwave Radio Telescope (Pune).

10. ‘Eye Opener’ is the autobiography of G.K. Mahantesh.

• G.K. Mahantesh is the President of the Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI)
and President of World Blind Cricket (WBC).

11. Raghuvansh Prasad Singh (Former Union Minister and a 5-time Lok Sabha MP) has passed
away.
• He is known as an architect of the MGNREGA programme.

12. “The End of an Era; India Exits Tibet” book has been written by Claude Arpi.

13. Seva Saptah is being observed across the nation from September 14-20, 2020 to celebrate
the 70th birthday of PM Narendra Modi (on September 17).

14. Tata Projects Ltd has won the bid to construct the new Parliament building as part of the
Narendra Modi govt’s Central Vista project.
• Central Vista project aims to redevelop the three-km stretch from Rashtrapati Bhavan to
India Gate in Delhi.

15. “AZADI” book has been written by Arundhati Roy.

16. Former U.S. President Barack Obama has announced to release the first half of his memoirs
“A Promised Land” in November.
• The memoir talks about the term of Obama’s presidency from 2009-17. He was the first
black president of America.

17. International Institute of Information Technology- Bhuvneshwar has developed a first-of-

its-kind helmet-like ventilation device named as the ‘Swasner’.

18. Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas (SAM) and FICCI have released a new report titled as
“India -Japan: Time to Seize New Opportunities”.

19. A study commissioned by the Observer Research Foundation (an Indian think-tank) has
found that the retreat of glaciers in the Himalayan Hindu Kush region is now affecting the
surface water and groundwater availability in the region.
• According to ISRO, approximately 75% of the Himalayan glaciers are retreating at an
alarming rate.

20. Romila Thapar (prominent historian) has written the “Voices of Dissent” book.

21. According to a study conducted by NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland,
global sea level will rise by 15 inches by 2100 due to the melting of Greenland and Antarctica
ice sheets due to global warming.
• This new study is part of the Ice Sheet Model Intercomparison Project (ISMIP6), which is
led by NASA Goddard.
• The study was published in journal The Cryosphere.
 • Lead researcher of the study - Sophie Nowicki
• The results of this study are similar to Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s
(IPCC) data released in 2019.

22. Ang Rita Sherpa from Nepal has passed away. He is the first man to climb Mount Everest 10
times.

23. Former Australia batsman Dean Jones has passed away.

24. Isher Judge Ahluwalia (Economist) has passed away.

• She is the former chairperson of Indian Council for Research on International Economic
Relations (ICRIER).

25. Swami Pratyagbodhananda, an eminent Hindu spiritual guru at Arsha Vidya Gurukulam (a
US-based ashram in Pennsylvania) has passed away.
• The Arsha Vidya Gurukulam was set up in 1986 by Swami Dayananda Saraswati for
imparting Vedic education in US.

26. Astrosat, India's first multi-wavelength astronomical observatory, has completed five
years of imaging celestial objects in space.
• It was launched in 2015 by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

27. Rajnath Singh has launched ‘A bouquet of flowers’ book written by Dr Krishna Saksena
(the first lady to get PhD, way back in 1955 from Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh).
QUESTIONS
Q.1) Waingagana river flows in which state? National Food Security Act as well as
[a] Telangana Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana till
[b] Madhya Pradesh November 2020?
[c] Maharashtra [a] Andhra Pradesh
[d] Karnataka [b] Rajasthan
[e] Odisha [c] Kerala
[d] Uttarakhand
Q.2) 40th anniversary of solidarity movement [e] Uttar Pradesh
of which country was celebrated by India by
illuminating Qutub Minar in white and red Q.8) Which country hosted the 6th edition of
colour? the International Military-Technical Forum
[a] German “Army-2020”?
[b] Ukraine [a] India
[c] Poland [b] Philippines
[d] Denmark [c] Japan
[e] Finland [d] South Korea
[e] Russia
Q.3) Ken and Betwa are the tributaries of
which river? Q.9) Where is the Mount Sinabung located?
[a] Godavari [a] Indonesia
[b] Krishna [b] Philippines
[c] Brahmaputra [c] Singapore
[d] Yamuna [d] Thailand
[e] Kaveri [e] Japan

Q.4) Which country will become the Q.10) Which company has partnered with
Chairman of BRICS in 2021? State Bank of India for launching a long-term
[a] India syndicated loan facility worth ₹10,000 crore?
[b] Russia [a] Vedanta Ltd
[c] China [b] Bajaj Finance Limited
[d] South Africa [c] Muthoot Finance Ltd
[e] Brazil [d] Tata Capital
[e] Shriram Transport Finance Company
Q.5) When was the ASEAN India Trade in
Goods Agreement came into effect in India? Q.11) Reliance Jio Infratel is selling units in
[a] 2009 its Tower Infrastructure Trust to which
[b] 2010 company?
[c] 2011 [a] SBA Communications
[d] 2012 [b] Brookfield Infrastructure Partners
[e] 2013 [c] Vertical Bridge
[d] United States Cellular Co.
Q.6) How much stake will Adani Group [e] CTI Towers, Inc.
acquire in Mumbai International Airport
Limited? Q.12) How much interest rate is earned on
[a] 51% Sovereign Gold Bond scheme?
[b] 47% [a] 1.5%
[c] 60% [b] 2%
[d] 50.5% [c] 2.5%
[e] 74% [d] 3%
[e] 3.5%
Q.7) Which state has announced to provide
free food grains to the beneficiaries under the
Q.13) Which city project has won the Award [a] Moscow, Russia
of Excellence in the ‘Innovation in Rainwater [b] Kunming, China
Harvesting’ category at the National Water [c] Tokyo, Japan
Innovation Summit 2020? [d] New Delhi, India
[a] Chennai [e] Seoul, South Korea
[b] Mangalore
[c] Pune Q.18) Which organization has developed
[d] Nagpur world’s largest 'solar tree' in Durgapur in
[e] Guwahati West Bengal?
[a] Centre for Cellular Molecular Biology
Q.14) Which of the following statement is true [b] National Institute of Solar Energy
in the context of Green Term Ahead Market? [c] Central Scientific Instruments Organisation
[a] It is a stock-trading platform launched to [d] Central Mechanical Engineering Research
keep a check on profit broking by firms Institute
[b] It is a real time gold and bullion exchange [e] Central Salt Marine Chemicals Research
platform Institute
[c] It aims to incentivize the renewable energy
producing states and promote production of Q.19) How much amount will be provided to
renewable energy beneficiaries under the ‘Chhavni Covid:
[d] It aims to facilitate selling of local Yodha Sanrakshan Yojana’ as insurance
handicraft products on e-commerce platforms cover?
[e] It aims to promote indigenous production [a] Rs 5 lakhs
of defence goods by promoting transfer of [b] Rs 2 lakhs
technology goods [c] Rs 1 lakh
[d] Rs 20 lakh
Q.15) European Investment Bank will provide [e] Rs 10 lakh
€650 million for the construction of metro line
(32.4 km) of which Indian city? Q.20) Which state witnessed the highest
[a] Ahmedabad suicides in India as per the National Crime
[b] Surat Records Bureau’s (NCRB) data on accidental
[c] Nizamabad deaths and suicides in 2019?
[d] Hyderabad [a] Maharashtra
[e] Kanpur [b] Telangana
[c] Andhra Pradesh
Q.16) Who has been elected as the new [d] Karnataka
Prime Minister of Lebanon? [e] Tamil Nadu
[a] Elias Bou Saab
[b] Albert Serhan Q.21) As per the NCRB’s data on accidental
[c] Salim Jreissati deaths and suicides in 2019, farmer suicide
[d] Mustapha Adib accounts for __ percent of the total suicide
[e] Saleh Gharib cases in India?
[a] 6.1%
Q.17) Where will the 4th edition of the Global [b] 7.4%
Water Summit 2020 be held? [c] 7%
[d] 6.3% [d] 50
[e] 8% [e] 17

Q.22) Which state witnessed highest cases of Q.27) Which company has launched the
accidental deaths in 2019, as per NCRB’s “LiGo” – an AI-powered voice chatbot – on
data on accidental deaths and suicides? Google Assistant to serve its customers
[a] Uttar Pradesh better?
[b] Bihar [a] Aditya Birla Sun Life Insurance
[c] Delhi [b] Exide Life Insurance Company
[d] Maharashtra [c] ICICI Prudential Life Insurance
[e] Madhya Pradesh [d] HDFC Life Insurance Company
[e] Max Life Insurance Company
Q.23) Which country has proposed the
Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (SCRI)? Q.28) Which company is the world’s top solar
[a] India power developer, as per the rankings of
[b] Japan Mercom Capital Group?
[c] Australia [a] GCL New Energy
[d] USA [b] Lightsource bp
[e] France [c] Brookfield Renewable
[d] SB Energy
Q.24) Where will the SCO Defence Ministers’ [e] Adani Green
2020 meeting be held?
[a] Russia Q.29) Who heads the six-member working
[b] Kazakhstan group formed by IRDAI to study the feasibility
[c] Uzbekistan and need of index-linked insurance products
[d] Kyrgyzstan in India?
[e] India [a] K.V. Rama Moorthy
[b] Dinesh Pant
Q.25) India’s e-commerce market is expected [c] Prashant Kumar
to increase to __ USD billion by 2026, [d] Nitin Chugh
according to the “Fraud & Risk Management [e] Mahabaleshwara M. S
in Digital Payments” report?
[a] $200 bn Q.30) Who has been appointed as the
[b] $250 bn chairman and managing director of Hindustan
[c] $300 bn Shipyard Limited?
[d] $150 bn [a] Sanjay Aggarwal
[e] $100 bn [b] S. Harishankar
[c] Atul Kumar Goel
Q.26) How many schemes’ performance is [d] Sanjiv Chadha
provided on ‘Empowering Tribals, [e] Hemant Khatri
Transforming India’ dashboard?
[a] 11 Q.31) “An Unsuitable Boy” is the
[b] 6 autobiography of which famous personality?
[c] 20 [a] Anu Malik
[b] Karan Johar Q.36) What will be the sex ratio of India in
[c] Navjot Singh Sidhu 2036, according to population projection
[d] Sachin Tendulkar report 2011-2036?
[e] Farhan Akhtar [a] 990
[b] 960
Q.32) According to the latest population [c] 957
projection report published by a technical [d] 930
panel of the Ministry of Health, the quantum [e] 943
of Indian population below the age of 24 will
decrease to __ percent in 2036 in comparison Q.37) Which state will see the highest growth
to 50.1% in 2011? in its population by 2036, according to
[a] 10.7% population projection report 2011-2036?
[b] 28.9% [a] Bihar
[c] 25.3% [b] Madhya Pradesh
[d] 30.1% [c] Uttar Pradesh
[e] 34.7% [d] Telangana
[e] Rajasthan
Q.33) What will be India’s population in 2036,
according to population projection report Q.38) What is the expected Life Expectancy
2011-2036? at Birth for females in 2036, according to
[a] 152 crores population projection report 2011-2036?
[b] 190 crores [a] 60
[c] 162 crores [b] 55
[d] 182 crores [c] 74
[e] 170 crores [d] 80
[e] 79
Q.34) What will be the Total Fertility Rate of
India in 2036, according to population Q.39) Which state is expected to become the
projection report 2011-2036? only Indian state with a life expectancy above
[a] 1.50% 80 for women and 74 for men by 2036,
[b] 2.93% according to population projection report
[c] 1.73% 2011-2036?
[d] 2.5% [a] Odisha
[e] 1.61% [b] Maharashtra
[c] Punjab
Q.35) What will be the Average (Median) Age [d] Andhra Pradesh
of Indians in 2036, according to population [e] Kerala
projection report 2011-2036?
[a] 20.5 years Q.40) According to the population projection
[b] 25.8 years report 2011-2036, population in urban areas
[c] 29.7 years is expected to grow by __ percent in 2036?
[d] 40 years [a] 50%
[e] 34.7 years [b] 57%
[c] 40%
[d] 65% Q.46) Which organization has released ‘From
[e] 37% insights to action: Gender equality in the
wake of COVID-19’ report?
Q.41) Which state has topped in the Young [a] UNICEF
Child Outcomes Index under the State of the [b] International Labour Organization
Young Child in India report? [c] Womankind Worldwide
[a] Kerala [d] UN Women
[b] Maharashtra [e] Women’s Environment and Development
[c] Tamil Nadu Organization
[d] Telangana
[e] Karnataka Q.47) As per the Enhancing Nationally
Determined Contributions (NDCs) for Food
Q.42) What is India’s overall score of Young Systems report, Food systems account for up
Child Environment Index for 2015-16? to __ percent of all greenhouse gas
[a] 0.789 emissions?
[b] 0.567 [a] 25%
[c] 0.987 [b] 50%
[d] 0.866 [c] 47%
[e] 0.672 [d] 33%
[e] 37%
Q.43) Swami Vivekananda Assam Youth
Empowerment is the scheme of which state? Q.48) As per the revised priority sector
[a] Uttar Pradesh lending guidelines, how much weightage will
[b] Assam be given to banks – for the purpose of
[c] Bihar ranking – for extending credit in the identified
[d] Tamil Nadu districts where the credit flow is comparatively
[e] Telangana lower?
[a] 125%
Q.44) Which state has topped in the 4th [b] 100%
edition of Business Reform Action Plan? [c] 200%
[a] Uttarakhand [d] 175%
[b] Madhya Pradesh [e] 150%
[c] Andhra Pradesh
[d] Kerala Q.49) Who has been appointed as the MD &
[e] Rajasthan CEO of state-owned Punjab & Sind Bank?
[a] Sanjiv Chadha
Q.45) Pang Lhabsol is the cultural festival of [b] S. Harishankar
which state? [c] S Krishnan
[a] Nagaland [d] Sarvjit Singh Samra
[b] Sikkim [e] Sanjay Aggarwal
[c] Assam
[d] Tripura Q.50) Who memoir is titled as “My Story in
[e] Mizoram My Own Words”?
[a] Aruna Roy
[b] Medha Patkar [a] Arunachal Pradesh
[c] Sheela Birnstiel [b] Sikkim
[d] Irom Sharmila [c] Bihar
[e] Pramila Nesargi [d] Assam
[e] Nagaland
Q.51) What is the average range of rainfall
forecasted for this year by Indian Q.56) Which organization has organized
Meteorological Department? ‘Indo-Russian Young Scholars International
[a] 80-100% Conference 2020’?
[b] 120-140% [a] EURASIAN FOUNDATION
[c] 70-90% [b] ALLIANCE FOR PEACEBUILDING
[d] 96 to 104% [c] GENERATIONS FOR PEACE
[e] 94-109% [d] AGE INTERNATIONAL
[e] ADYAN FOUNDATION
Q.52) With which company has Atal
Innovation Mission partnered to support Q.57) Which state/UT has launched the
innovators and entrepreneurs in India? Smart Performance Appraisal Report
[a] Infosys Recording Online Window (SPARROW)
[b] Freshworks Inc system?
[c] Mindtree [a] Delhi
[d] Wipro [b] Arunachal Pradesh
[e] Mphasis [c] Ladakh
[d] Punjab
Q.53) All fruits and vegetables of which UT [e] J&K
have been recently covered under Operation
Green: Top to Total scheme? Q.58) Which multilateral agency is financing
[a] Chandigarh Rejuvenating Watersheds for Agriculture
[b] Delhi Resilience through Innovative Development
[c] Daman & Diu and Dadar & Nagar Haveli (REWARD) project of Karnataka?
[d] Jammu and Kashmir [a] European Central Bank
[e] Chandigarh [b] World Bank
[c] International Monetary Fund
Q.54) Which state has signed a loan [d] Asian Development Bank
agreement of $82 million with World Bank for [e] Japan International Cooperation Agency
its Roads Transformation Project?
[a] Uttar Pradesh Q.59) With which IIT has National Institute of
[b] Himachal Pradesh Urban Affairs signed an MoU for making
[c] Maharashtra Indian cities more accessible, safe, and
[d] Madhya Pradesh inclusive for PwD, elderly, women, and
[e] Rajasthan children etc?
[a] IIT- Kozhikode
Q.55) Which State’s Rural Livelihoods [b] IIT-Kanpur
Mission has signed an MoU with North East [c] IIT-Roorkee
Small Finance Bank to expand its reach? [d] IIT-Varanasi
[e] IIT-Guwahati [c] Nolty Theriot
[d] Mukesh Aghi
Q.60) Recently, Tribal Affairs Ministry signed [e] Susan Ritchie
an agreement with Indian Institute of Public
Administration (IIPA) for setting up of National Q.64) How much EBITDA ratio has been
Institute of Tribal Research at the IIPA recommended by KV Kamath panel for the
campus. Where is the campus located? residential real estate sector?
[a] Chennai [a] 9
[b] Bangalore [b] 12
[c] Mumbai [c] 10
[d] New Delhi [d] 5
[e] Chandigarh [e] 8

Q.61) What is the theme of BRICS for the Q.65) Which company has partnered with
year 2020? Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) in South
[a] BRICS: Economic Growth for an Africa to digitalize the logistics marketplace in
Innovative Future South Africa?
[b] BRICS: Building Responsive, Inclusive [a] IBM
and Collective Solutions [b] Dell Technologies
[c] BRICS: Stronger Partnership for a Brighter [c] Intel
Future [d] Tech Mahindra
[d] BRICS Partnership for Global Stability, [e] Tata Consultancy Services
Shared Security and Innovative Growth
[e] BRICS in Africa: Collaboration for Q.66) Who has been appointed as the
Inclusive Growth and Shared Prosperity in President of Society of Indian Automobile
the 4th Industrial Revolution Manufacturers?
[a] Malachy Nugent
Q.62) Which of the following agency will [b] Vikram J. Singh
organize the BRICS Joint Exhibition titled [c] Kenichi Ayukawa
‘Bonding Regions & Imagining Cultural [d] Nelson Chaudhuri
Synergies’ in 2021? [e] Nisha Rajan
[a] International Council of African Museums
[b] National Gallery of Modern Arts (New Q.67) When is the International Day of Clean
Delhi) Air for blue skies observed?
[c] Brazilian Agency of Museums [a] September 7
[d] National Administration of Cultural [b] September 21
Heritage (China) [c] September 19
[e] Russian State Museum [d] September 5
[e] September 10
Q.63) Who is the President and Chief
Executive Officer of US-India Strategic Q.68) When is the International Literacy Day
Partnership Forum (USISPF)? observed?
[a] Gaurav Verma [a] August 23
[b] Nivedita Mehra [b] September 8
[c] October 10 [c] 2025
[d] June 17 [d] 2024
[e] July 19 [e] 2032

Q.69) What is urban areas literacy rate in Q.74) In which state/UT is the North India's
India as per the ‘Household Social first biotech industrial park being developed?
Consumption: Education in India’ survey of [a] Delhi
NITI Aayog? [b] Bihar
[a] 73.5% [c] Uttar Pradesh
[b] 87.7% [d] Jammu & Kashmir
[c] 66.4% [e] Andhra Pradesh
[d] 70.3%
[e] 84.7% Q.75) Where is the Patrika Gate located?
[a] Rajasthan
Q.70) Who has won the Indira Gandhi Peace [b] Bihar
Prize for 2019? [c] Uttar Pradesh
[a] Ketan Thakkar [d] Gujarat
[b] Patrícia Medici [e] Madhya Pradesh
[c] Abdullahi Hussein Ali
[d] David Attenborough Q.76) Who heads the Niti Aayog’s
[e] Siddharth Aryan Multidimensional Poverty Index Coordination
Committee?
Q.71) Which state has launched the [a] Rajeshwari Kothari
Sampoorna Poshana scheme to provide [b] Sandeep Mehta
nutritious food to pregnant women, lactating [c] Sanyukta Samaddar
mothers and children? [d] Priya Gangwal
[a] Haryana [e] Karan Mehra
[b] Andhra Pradesh
[c] Maharashtra Q.77) How many public sector oil companies
[d] Madhya Pradesh will join the International Solar Alliance’s
[e] Gujarat Coalition for Sustainable Climate Action?
[a] 10
Q.72) In which state/UT is the first ever [b] 5
cannabis medicine project launched? [c] 7
[a] Assam [d] 9
[b] Madhya Pradesh [e] 3
[c] Gujarat
[d] Rajasthan Q.78) Which state has launched the first-ever
[e] Jammu & Kashmir integrated air ambulance services of India?
[a] Karnataka
Q.73) By which year does India want to [b] Meghalaya
achieve the target of total literacy? [c] Telangana
[a] 2030 [d] Andhra Pradesh
[b] 2027 [e] Kerala
 [b] Agriculture Insurance Company of India
Q.79) What is the name of the app launched Ltd.
by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to provide [c] Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Co. Ltd
all information about managing livestock, [d] Mahindra Insurance Brokers
animal nutrition, vaccination, pregnancy [e] Navi General Insurance Ltd.
diagnosis and calving etc.?
[a] e-Pashudhan Q.84) Which company will buy 1.75% stake
[b] e-Samadhan in Reliance Retail Ventures Ltd for Rs 7,500
[c] e-Sanrakshan crore?
[d] e-Pashu [a] Silver Lake
[e] e-Gopala [b] Walmart
[c] ExxonMobil
Q.80) Which company has named its [d] Amazon
commercial cargo spacecraft as “S.S. [e] Johnson & Johnson
Kalpana Chawla” in honour Chawla who is
the first India-born woman to enter space? Q.85) What is the Ind-Ra’s forecast India’s
[a] BAE Systems GDP growth rate for FY21?
[b] Lockheed Martin [a] -9.8%
[c] GE Aviation [b] -10.5%
[d] Northrop Grumman [c] -8.7%
[e] General Dynamics Corporation [d] -11.8%
[e] -5.6%
Q.81) What is Infant mortality rate in India in
2019, according to the “Levels and trends in Q.86) Which company has become the first
child mortality 2020” report? PSU in power sector to monetize its assets
[a] 28 through Infrastructure Investment Trust?
[b] 89 [a] NTPC Limited
[c] 190 [b] National Hydroelectric Power Corporation
[d] 115 [c] Power Grid Corporation of India Limited
[e] 130 [d] Nuclear Power Corporation of India
Limited
Q.82) How many payment banks operate in [e] NLC Ltd.
India at present?
[a] 5 Q.87) Who has been appointed as the brand
[b] 6 ambassadors of Playerzpot?
[c] 11 [a] Smriti Mandhana
[d] 4 [b] Harmanpreet Kaur
[e] 7 [c] Shafali Verma
[d] Deepti Sharma
Q.83) Which company has launched [e] Jemimah Rodrigues
PayBima – a digital insurance portal – to help
customers directly buy insurance policies Q.88) ‘United World Schools’ initiative has
online? won the UNESCO King Sejong Literacy
[a] Acko General Insurance Ltd.
Prize. This initiative was launched by which Q.93) In which state is the India's largest
country? piggery mission worth Rs 209 crores
[a] United Kingdom launched?
[b] USA [a] Meghalaya
[c] Nepal [b] Nagaland
[d] South Korea [c] Mizoram
[e] Mexico [d] Tripura
[e] Arunachal Pradesh
Q.89) Who is the author of ‘Breaking The
Cocoon @ 40’ book? Q.94) Who heads the govt panel formed to
[a] Krishan Mehta study the impact of waiving off the interest on
[b] Chanchal Kumari loans during the moratorium offered to Covid-
[c] Harshita Gupta hit borrowers that ended August 31?
[d] Radha Nair [a] Rajiv Mehrishi
[e] Priyansh Garg [b] Ramprit Mandal
[c] Dileshwar Kamait
Q.90) Who is known as the Father of Indian [d] Gopal Jee Thakur
Radio Astronomy? [e] Dinesh Chandra Yadav
[a] Lalon
[b] C V Raman Q.95) Who has been appointed Chairperson
[c] Govind Swarup of the National School of Drama Society?
[d] APJ Abdul Kalam [a] Smriti Irani
[e] Meghnad Saha [b] Paresh Rawal
[c] Sunny Deol
Q.91) Which state has launched ‘Garima’ [d] Amitabh Bachchan
scheme for promoting livelihoods, security [e] Anupam Kher
and social dignity of sanitation workers?
[a] Maharashtra Q.96) Which company has filed the most
[b] Uttarakhand patents in India in 2019-20, as per the
[c] Odisha Science & Technology Indicators (STI 2019-
[d] Tamil Nadu 20)?
[e] Madhya Pradesh [a] Carlyle Group
[b] Qualcomm
Q.92) Which state has signed an MoU with [c] Gilead Sciences
the SIDBI to develop the MSME ecosystem in [d] Sanofi S.A
the state? [e] Johnson & Johnson
[a] Uttar Pradesh
[b] Rajasthan Q.97) Who heads the Empowered Group of
[c] Odisha Ministers to oversee the process of
[d] Karnataka corporatisation of the Ordnance Factory
[e] Kerala Board?
[a] Nirmala Sitharaman
[b] S. Jaishankar
[c] D. V. Sadananda Gowda
[d] Rajnath Singh [a] Gujarat
[e] Ravi Shankar Prasad [b] Madhya Pradesh
[c] Andhra Pradesh
Q.98) Who has been elected as the chairman [d] Tamil Nadu
of the Advertising Standards Council of India? [e] Telangana
[a] Subhash Kamath
[b] Ajay Nishad Q.103) Which state has launched the
[c] Veena Devi Deendayal Antyodaya Rasoi Scheme?
[d] Alok Kumar Suman [a] Punjab
[e] Kavita Singh [b] Odisha
[c] Haryana
Q.99) What is India’s rank in the Global [d] Madhya Pradesh
Economic Freedom Index 2020? [e] Rajasthan
[a] 100
[b] 105 Q.104) Which country is the Chair of East
[c] 97 Asia Summit 2020?
[d] 78 [a] Cambodia
[e] 56 [b] Thailand
[c] Philippines
Q.100) With which country has India recently [d] Vietnam
signed a logistics agreement (called as the [e] Laos
‘Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement’
or ACSA)? Q.105) What is the trans-fat level (of total
[a] Japan energy intake) prescribed by WHO?
[b] Russia [a] less than 1%
[c] Australia [b] more than 1.5%
[d] Maldives [c] less than 2%
[e] Afghanistan [d] less than 3%
[e] less than 2.5%
Q.101) Recently, Minister of Housing and
Urban Affairs, Hardeep Singh Puri, has Q.106) SCO has proposed to declare 2021
launched the Climate Smart Cities as the Year of __?
Assessment Framework 2.0 (CSCAF) to [a] Year of SCO technology
provide a roadmap to cities. How many [b] Year of SCO economies
indicators does the framework have? [c] Year of SCO investments
[a] 33 [d] Year of SCO culture
[b] 40 [e] Year of SCO cooperation
[c] 50
[d] 78 Q.107) What is the minimum fixed tenure of
[e] 28 chief compliance officer in banks as
prescribed by RBI?
Q.102) Which is the best performing state in [a] 3 years
the States’ Startup Ranking Framework 2019 [b] 5 years
(in category X)? [c] 6 years
[d] 2 years of Women, along with India, for a four-year
[e] 4 years term beginning from 2021-2025?
[a] Bahrain
Q.108) Which company has launched the [b] UAE
Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) [c] Saudi Arabia
testing platform to help central banks in [d] Afghanistan
evaluating their digital currency? [e] Qatar
[a] Razorpay
[b] Mastercard Q.113) Who has been appointed as the brand
[c] Paytm ambassador of Paytm First Games?
[d] PayPlaza [a] Akshay Kumar
[e] Visa [b] Sachin Tendulkar
[c] Virat Kohli
Q.109) Which bank has topped in the EASE [d] Shahrukh Khan
2.0 Reform Agenda ranking? [e] Sonu Sood
[a] Bank of Baroda
[b] State Bank of India Q.114) On whose birthday does India
[c] Oriental Bank of Commerce observes National Engineer’s Day?
[d] Bank of Maharashtra [a] Venkatraman Radhakrishnan
[e] Corporation Bank [b] M. Visvesvaraya
[c] S. Chandrashekar
Q.110) What is the GDP growth forecast for [d] Satyendra Nath Bose
Developing Asian region by the Asian [e] Jagadish Chandra Bose
Development Bank for FY21?
[a] 1% Q.115) When is the International Day of
[b] -1.2% Democracy observed?
[c] -5% [a] September 15
[d] -0.7% [b] September 21
[e] -2.3% [c] September 6
[d] September 9
Q.111) RBI has proposed to allow foreign [e] September 10
portfolio investors (FPIs) to undertake
exchange -traded rupee interest rate Q.116) Which bank has won the Asia's best
derivatives (IRD) transactions for a maximum bank award at Euromoney Awards of
of ___ crores? Excellence 2020?
[a] Rs 3,000 crore [a] Japan Finance Corporation
[b] Rs 5,000 crore [b] Standard Chartered Bank (Thai)
[c] Rs 4,000 crore [c] Bank of the Philippine Islands
[d] Rs 2,000 crore [d] DBS, Singapore
[e] Rs 1,000 crore [e] Arab Bank

Q.112) Which country has been elected as a Q.117) Who has won the Lifetime
Member of the UN Commission on the Status Achievement Award at Euromoney Awards of
Excellence 2020?
[a] Carlos Torres Vila technology company) to expand research in
[b] Brian Moynihan Artificial Intelligence (AI) space?
[c] Jes Staley [a] Tech Mahindra
[d] Aditya Puri [b] Wipro
[e] Warren Buffett [c] Infosys
[d] Oracle Financial Services Software
Q.118) Which of the following has won the [e] HCL Technologies
‘world’s best bank’ awards at the Euromoney
Awards of Excellence 2020? Q.123) What is the percentage of minimum
[a] JP Morgan total assets that multi-cap mutual funds are
[b] Goldman Sachs required to invest in equities of large, mid and
[c] HSBC small -cap companies?
[d] Citigroup [a] 60%
[e] DBS [b] 75%
[c] 45%
Q.119y) Who is the author of “The End of an [d] 80%
Era; India Exits Tibet”? [e] 50%
[a] Sanjiv Chadha
[b] Julie Sweet Q.124) Which Indian director has won the
[c] Lisa SuI Venice Film Festival 2020 award in the Award
[d] Robert H. Swan for Best Screenplay category?
[e] Claude Arpi [a] Ramesh Sippy
[b] Hansal Mehta
Q.120) When is the International Day to [c] Shakun Batra
Protect Education from Attack observed? [d] Chaitanya Tamhane
[a] September 15 [e] Priyadarshan
[b] September 10
[c] September 9 Q.125) Who among the following is known as
[d] September 21 the architect of the MGNREGA programme?
[e] September 11 [a] Sanjay Jaiswal
[b] Radha Mohan Singh
Q.121) Which state has announced to launch [c] Rama Devi
the Mukhyamantri Mahila Kalyan Scheme to [d] Raghuvansh Prasad Singh
help women start their own business and [e] Ashok Kumar Yadav
become self-employed?
[a] Gujarat Q.126) Which state has signed an MoU with
[b] Tamil Nadu the National Co-operative Development
[c] Andhra Pradesh Corporation for promotion and management
[d] Odisha of Farmer Producer Organisation?
[e] Maharashtra [a] Rajasthan
[b] Tamil Nadu
Q.122) Which company has collaborated with [c] Odisha
NVIDIA Partner Network (US-based [d] Maharashtra
[e] Madhya Pradesh
 [e] Lucknow Metro
Q.127) Which company has got the CCI’s
approval to buy a 20% stake in Piramal Q.132) Which company has signed an MoU
Pharma for around $490 million? with SwissRapide AG (a Swiss company) for
[a] Pfizer Inc bringing Maglev Train projects in India?
[b] Carlyle Group [a] Hinduja Group
[c] Roche Holding AG [b] L&T
[d] AbbVie Inc [c] Mahindra Group
[e] Novartis AG [d] BHEL
[e] Reliance Industries
Q.128) Which company has signed a $15 Mn
debt agreement with Asian Development Q.133) Djibouti Code of Conduct is related to
Bank to help sustain poultry farming which of the following issue?
operations, as well as rural livelihoods and [a] Health Sector Reforms
food security in India? [b] Maritime Security
[a] Nestle India Ltd [c] Climate Change
[b] LT Foods Ltd [d] Gender Equality
[c] KRBL Ltd [e] Eliminating Poverty
[d] KSE Ltd
[e] Suguna Foods Q.134) How much amount will the winner of
the central govt’s Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Q.129) Who has been appointed as the new Solutions Challenge for startups get?
PM of Japan? [a] Rs 20 lakhs
[a] Yoshihide Suga [b] Rs 40 lakhs
[b] Taro Aso [c] Rs 30 lakhs
[c] Sanae Takaichi [d] Rs 15 lakhs
[d] Seiko Hashimoto [e] Rs 10 lakhs
[e] Seiichi Eto
Q.135) Where is India’s first general aviation
Q.130) Who has won the US Open 2020 in terminal for private jets established?
women’s singles category? [a] Visakhapatnam International Airport
[a] Ashleigh Barty [b] Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International
[b] Sofia Kenin Airport
[c] Naomi Osaka [c] Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International
[d] Simona Halep Airport
[e] Elina Svitolina [d] Indira Gandhi International airport
[e] Veer Savarkar International Airport
Q.131) Which branch of the Indian metro has
developed India’s first indigenous signalling Q.136) How many Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya
technology? Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBJK) does the govt
[a] Kolkata Metro aim to open by the end of March 2025?
[b] Delhi Metro [a] 50,000
[c] Hyderabad Metro [b] 40,000
[d] Mumbai Metro [c] 37,000
[d] 10,500 [a] R. Senguttuvan
[e] 20,000 [b] Manish Shah
[c] Mehul Mishra
Q.137) What is India’s rank in the Human [d] Laxman Singh Rathore
Capital Index 2020? [e] Debjyoti Bose
[a] 116
[b] 130 Q.142) How many new AIIMS -like institutes
[c] 140 does the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha
[d] 125 Yojana aim to establish across India?
[e] 170 [a] 22
[b] 33
Q.138) Which Indian city is the highest [c] 10
ranked in the Global Smart Cities Index [d] 40
2020? [e] 57
[a] Hyderabad
[b] Bangalore Q.143) In which city of Gujarat will the
[c] New Delhi Institute of Teaching and Research in
[d] Mumbai Ayurveda be established?
[e] Chennai [a] Jamnagar
[b] Ahmedabad
Q.139) By which year does India aim to [c] Surat
become self-reliant in the production of [d] Rajkot
fertilizers? [e] Gandhinagar
[a] 2024
[b] 2025 Q.144) When is the World Patient Safety Day
[c] 2023 observed?
[d] 2022 [a] September 19
[e] 2027 [b] September 29
[c] September 23
Q.140) Recently, Primary Agricultural Co- [d] September 17
Operative Society (PACS), Pothgal has [e] September 11
become the first PACS in India to launch its
own web portal containing all information Q.145) Which company has become the first
related to the services offered by it. Which country in the world to issue a Sovereign
state does the PACS Pothgal belong to? Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
[a] Telangana Bond?
[b] Tamil Nadu [a] Philippines
[c] Kerala [b] Singapore
[d] Karnataka [c] USA
[e] Odisha [d] Mexico
[e] Japan
Q.141) Who heads the Committee on Food
and Beverages formed by Trade Promotion Q.146) What is India’s GDP growth rate for
Council of India? FY21 by OECD?
[a] -10.2% the Parliament. Which of the following act
[b] -9.7% does the bill aim to amend?
[c] -11.3% [a] Banking Regulation Act, 1949
[d] -14.2% [b] Banking Regulation Act of 1963
[e] -12.2% [c] Banking Regulation Act of 1972
[d] Banking Regulation Act of 1980
Q.147) Which company has launched a new [e] Banking Regulation Act of 1957
loan scheme ‘Apna Ghar Dreamz’ to provide
a home loan of Rs 2 lakh to 50 lakhs to Q.152) With which country has India
skilled workers employed in the informal conducted PASSEX naval exercise in the
sector in Delhi? Indian Ocean Region?
[a] HDB Finance Services [a] Thailand
[b] Power Finance Corporation Limited [b] Singapore
[c] Muthoot Finance Ltd [c] Australia
[d] Tata Capital Financial Services [d] Sri Lanka
[e] ICICI Home Finance [e] New Zealand

Q.148) When did the Kigali Amendment to Q.153) Which country will co-host the UN
Montreal Protocol come into effect? Global Climate Summit 2020?
[a] 2019 [a] Japan
[b] 2016 [b] Russia
[c] 2018 [c] India
[d] 2014 [d] UK
[e] 2013 [e] USA

Q.149) What is the theme of the World Ozone Q.154) By how much amount will the global
Day 2020? remittance drop due to Covid-19, according to
[a] Protect the ozone layer and climate the UNCTAD Trade and Development Report
[b] Protect Ozone for a Healthy Earth 2020?
[c] Ozone: A lifejacket to humans [a] $90 billion
[d] Ozone for life: 35 years of ozone layer [b] $200 billion
protection [c] $500 billion
[e] Ozone and Climate Change [d] $180 billion
[e] $100 billion
Q.150) Whose memoir is titled as “A
Promised Land”? Q.155) Who heads the SEBI’s Technical
[a] Li Wenliang Group on Social Stock Exchange?
[b] Kim Jong-un [a] Harsh Kumar Bhanwala
[c] Moon Jae-in [b] M. D. Patra
[d] Donald Trump [c] Ashok Gulati
[e] Barack Obama [d] Alok Sinha
[e] M. V. Rao
Q.151) Recently, Banking Regulation
(Amendment) Bill, 2020 has been passed by
Q.156) How much is the total Kharif food (NAHEP). When was the NAHEP program
grain production estimate for 2020-21, launched?
according to the First Advance Estimates of [a] 2014-15
production of major Kharif crops? [b] 2015-16
[a] 231.47 million tonnes [c] 2018-19
[b] 178.90 million tonnes [d] 2019-20
[c] 190.11 million tonnes [e] 2017-18
[d] 144.52 million tonnes
[e] 180.12 million tonnes Q.161) How many plastic parks will be set up
in India, as announced by Minister for
Q.157) What is India’s total food grain Chemicals & Fertilizers?
production target for 2020-21 that was set at [a] 20
the National Conference for Rabi Campaign [b] 10
2020? [c] 40
[a] 450 million tonnes [d] 35
[b] 301 million tonnes [e] 60
[c] 147 million tonnes
[d] 289 million tonnes Q.162) Which state has launched the
[e] 400 million tonnes “Moksha Kalash Yojana-2020” to provide free
bus travel to two members of a family to
Q.158) Who among the following has become immerse ashes of their loved ones in the
first woman airborne tacticians (combatant) of Ganga in Haridwar?
India? [a] Rajasthan
[a] Kumudini Tyagi [b] Uttar Pradesh
[b] Riti Singh [c] Maharashtra
[c] Bharat Singh [d] Gujarat
[d] Both a and b [e] Madhya Pradesh
[e] Both a and c
Q.163) Which has become the world’s first
Q.159) How many Indian Institutes of country to make climate risk reporting
Information Technology will be accorded the mandatory for banks, asset managers and
status of institutions of national importance by insurers?
Indian Institutes of Information Technology [a] Australia
Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2020? [b] Japan
[a] 5 [c] South Korea
[b] 10 [d] Singapore
[c] 15 [e] New Zealand
[d] 20
[e] 6 Q.164) Which bank has launched a new
vertical — Emerging Entrepreneurs Business
Q.160) Recently, KRITAGYA hackathon has (EEB) — to help the entrepreneurs who have
been launched by ICAR to promote little or no access to banking facilities?
innovation in farm mechanisation under [a] Bank of Baroda
National Agricultural Higher Education Project [b] Dhanlaxmi Bank
[c] HDFC Bank [d] Vishnu Sen
[d] Bandhan Bank [e] Piyali Mishra
[e] SBI
Q.170) Golden Pen of Freedom Award 2020
Q.165) What is the new threshold for filing has been awarded to Jineth Bedoya Lima.
request with SEBI for rights issue? Which country does she belong to?
[a] Rs 60 crore [a] Peru
[b] Rs 50 crore [b] Brazil
[c] Rs 70 crore [c] Colombia
[d] Rs 20 crore [d] Israel
[e] Rs 10 crore [e] Jordan

Q.166) Who is the new administrator of Q.171) How many task forces have been
Punjab and Maharashtra Co-operative Bank formed by the central govt for promoting
Ltd? MSMEs in various key sectors?
[a] A.K. Dixit [a] Five
[b] Pradip Shah [b] Six
[c] Kumar Sanjeev [c] Three
[d] Vaishnavi Gupta [d] Seven
[e] Prakash Sen [e] Four

Q.167) Which one of the following is not a Q.172) With which country has India signed
species of Rhino? an MoU for cooperation on intellectual
[a] Sumatran Rhino property rights?
[b] Tunaz Rhino [a] Netherlands
[c] Black Rhino [b] Israel
[d] Javan Rhino [c] Denmark
[e] Greater One-horned Rhino [d] Finland
[e] United Kingdom
Q.168) When is the World Maritime Day
observed? Q.173) In which city is India’s first ‘Centre for
[a] September 24 Disability Sports’ be established?
[b] April 5 [a] Meerut
[c] May 17 [b] Gwalior
[d] June 18 [c] Surat
[e] October 16 [d] Ahmedabad
[e] Gandhinagar
Q.169) Who has been appointed as the
Regional Ambassador for India by the United Q.174) Which country hosted the recently
Nations Environment Programme - Tunza concluded Ministerial Online Roundtable
Eco-Generation? Biodiversity Beyond 2020: Building a Shared
[a] Khushi Chindaliya Future for All Life on Earth?
[b] Priyanka Patel [a] UK
[c] Govardhan Pathak [b] China
[c] USA Q.179) Which of the following company has
[d] India been chosen as the domestic systemically
[e] Russia important insurers (D-SIIs) for 2020-21 by
IRDAI?
Q.175) In its 'Technology Vision for Cyber [a] LIC, GIC, New India Assurance
Security’ for Urban Co-operative Banks – [b] HDFC Standard Life, ICICI Prudential Life,
2020-2023 document, RBI has suggested a LIC
five-pillared approach GUARD to strengthen [c] Aditya Birla Health, GIC, Bajaj Allianz
the cyber-security of UCBs. What does ‘U’ General
stand for in the full form of GUARD? [d] Navi General Insurance Ltd., Edelweiss
[a] Unified General Insurance, ECGC Ltd.
[b] Utility [e] HDFC ERGO General Insurance, Kotak
[c] Utile Mahindra General Insurance, LIC
[d] Unilateral
[e] Umbrella Q.180) Recently, legendary batsman Dean
Jones has passed away. What is the
Q.176) IBC (Second Amendment) Bill, 2020 nationality of Jones?
empowers the government to extend the [a] Scotland
suspension of fresh insolvency cases for a [b] USA
period of __ years? [c] Australia
[a] 2 years [d] England
[b] 1 year [e] Sri Lanka
[c] 3 years
[d] 4 years Q.181) With which country has India signed
[e] 5 years an MoU for improving the quality and testing
of Indian textiles?
Q.177) RBI’s positive pay cheque system can [a] Japan
be availed by account holders on cheques [b] Malaysia
amounting ___ or above? [c] Philippines
[a] Rs 50,000 [d] USA
[b] Rs 10,000 [e] Australia
[c] Rs 20,000
[d] Rs 40,000 Q.182) Which state has launched ‘Gandagi
[e] Rs 60,000 Bharat Chhodo’ campaign?
[a] Jharkhand
Q.178) What is the India’s GDP forecast for [b] Bihar
FY21 by National Council of Applied [c] Uttar Pradesh
Economic Research? [d] Madhya Pradesh
[a] -12.6% [e] Tamil Nadu
[b] -23.9%
[c] -14.5% Q.183) Which state has made it mandatory
[d] -9.5% for farmers to register themselves on e-
[e] -11.2% Karshak app (real-time crop registration
window) in order to be eligible for the state’s [e] Cuttack, Odisha
own crop insurance scheme?
[a] Maharashtra Q.188) What is the upper limit for incentives
[b] Andhra Pradesh (to be given to exporters by govt) set by the
[c] Telangana government under the Merchandise Exports
[d] Odisha from India Scheme for September-December
[e] Uttar Pradesh quarter of 2020?
[a] Rs 4 crores
Q.184) Which IIT has collaborated with [b] Rs 5 crores
University of Pardubice to develop indigenous [c] Rs 3 crores
algorithms to protect India’s digital data from [d] Rs 2 crores
cyber-attacks? [e] Rs 1 crores
[a] IIT-Calcutta
[b] IIT-Delhi Q.189) Which has become the only Indian
[c] IIT-Guwahati company to enter in the Rabobank’s list of
[d] IIT-Madras world’s top 20 dairy companies?
[e] IIT-Kharagpur [a] Tamil Nadu Co-operative Milk Producers
Federation Ltd
Q.185) Which language(s) does the Jammu [b] Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing
and Kashmir Official Languages Bill, 2020 Federation
seek to establish as official language of the [c] Kerala Cooperative Milk Marketing
UT? Federation Ltd
[a] Kashmiri [d] Orissa State Cooperative Milk Producers
[b] Hindi Federation Ltd
[c] Dogri [e] Mother Dairy Fruit & Vegetable Pvt Ltd
[d] Urdu
[e] All of the Above Q.190) Which country will become the first in
the world to develop a full set of Forensic
Q.186) Where is the world's largest refinery Accounting and Investigation Standards?
project being developed? [a] Russia
[a] Maharashtra [b] USA
[b] Tamil Nadu [c] UK
[c] Telangana [d] India
[d] Madhya Pradesh [e] Japan
[e] Andhra Pradesh
Q.191) What is India’s rank in the Global
Q.187) Where has Marine Products Export Innovation Index 2020?
Development Authority recently established [a] 30
Quality Control Laboratory for Sea food [b] 40
export? [c] 50
[a] Porbandar, Gujarat [d] 48
[b] Amritsar, Punjab [e] 21
[c] Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
[d] Vishakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh
Q.192) Recently, Bombay Stock Exchange [b] Bytedance
has partnered with iHub to encourage and [c] Xiaomi
support start-ups in raising capital. Which [d] Alibaba
state govt has established iHub? [e] Tencent
[a] Andhra Pradesh
[b] Telangana Q.197) How much assistance will the startups
[c] Kerala get from Ministry of Electronics and IT under
[d] Gujarat the Scheme for Accelerating Startups around
[e] Karnataka Post COVID Technology Opportunities?
[a] Rs 50 lakh
Q.193) Who has been appointed as the First [b] Rs 10 lakh
Woman Director General of Bureau of Civil [c] Rs 25 lakh
Aviation Security? [d] Rs 30 lakh
[a] Usha Padhee [e] Rs 40 lakh
[b] Saroj Pathak
[c] Payal Tiwari Q.198) Recently, Parliament has passed the
[d] Bhavana Singh Homoeopathy Central Council (Amendment)
[e] Sia Pandey Bill, 2020. Which act is being amended by the
new bill?
Q.194) When is National Small Industry Day [a] Homoeopathy Central Council Act, 1990
observed? [b] Homoeopathy Central Council Act, 1956
[a] December 23 [c] Homoeopathy Central Council Act, 1973
[b] August 16 [d] Homoeopathy Central Council Act, 1980
[c] Jul 10 [e] Homoeopathy Central Council Act, 1935
[d] September 1
[e] August 30 Q.199) Where will the National Forensic
Sciences University be established?
Q.195) What is the theme of World Coconut [a] Gujarat
Day 2020? [b] Maharashtra
[a] Coconut for Family Wellness [c] Tamil Nadu
[b] Coconut for Good Health, Wealth & [d] Kerala
Wellness [e] Delhi
[c] Coconut, the tree of life Sustains family
well being Q.200) Which state/UT has launched the
[d] Coconut for Family Nutrition, Health and National Generic Document Registration
Wellness. System (NGDRS) for online registration of
[e] Invest in Coconut to save the world sale/ purchase or transfer of land
transactions?
[a] Andaman and Nicobar
Q.196) Central government has formed an [b] Puducherry
expert committee under the National Cyber [c] Assam
Security Coordinator (Rajesh Pant) to study [d] Jammu and Kashmir
reports of surveillance of Indians by Chinese [e] Daman & Diu and Dadar & Nagar Haveli
firm. Which firm is being talked about?
[a] Zhenhua Data
Q.201) Which bank has launched the Vikas [a] 2nd Friday of August
Laghu Suvarna scheme? [b] 3rd Sunday of November
[a] SIDBI [c] 3rd Saturday of September
[b] Karur Vyasa Bank [d] 4th Monday of October
[c] Karnataka Vikas Grameena Bank [e] 2nd Thursday of December
[d] Oriental Bank of Commerce
[e] HDFC Bank Q.207) What is the name of India’s own eco-
label for maintaining cleanliness of beaches
Q.202) Who is the chairperson of the and promoting sustainable development of
Company Law Committee? marine ecosystem?
[a] Rajesh Verma [a] Beams
[b] Injeti Srinivasan [b] Light
[c] Arun Srivastava [c] Clean
[d] Ajay Tiwari [d] Spot
[e] Piyush Sinha [e] Swachch

Q.203) Who has been appointed as the chief Q.208) Which Indian has been appointed as
of National Technical Research a part of the 2020 Class of Young Leaders for
Organisation? SDGs by UN?
[a] Damini Saxsena [a] Mansi Thakur
[b] Vishwajeet Nayak [b] Chanchal Singh
[c] Anil Dhasmana [c] Aditi Kumari
[d] Jignesh Parikh [d] Udit Singhal
[e] Manohar Gupta [e] Pawan Singh

Q.204) Which day has been designated as Q.209) Where is the Mekedatu dam located?
the International Equal Pay Day by UN? [a] Karnataka
[a] September 18 [b] Kerala
[b] September 23 [c] Tamil Nadu
[c] September 30 [d] Odisha
[d] September 19 [e] Andhra Pradesh
[e] September 21
Q.210) Where is the Mullaperiyar dam
Q.205) How many beaches have been located?
recommended by India for the ‘Blue Flag [a] Andhra Pradesh
Certification’? [b] Kerala
[a] 8 [c] Karnataka
[b] 10 [d] Odisha
[c] 15 [e] Puducherry
[d] 12
[e] 21
Q.211) How many months’ internship has
Q.206) When is the International Coastal been prescribed for MD or MS students under
Cleanup Day observed? the District Residency Programme?
[a] 3
[b] 6 [e] Gujarat
[c] 12
[d] 18 Q.217) Which company has unveiled three
[e] 15 first-of-its-kind concept zero-emission
commercial aircraft codenamed as ‘ZEROe’?
Q.212) Factoring Regulation Amendment Bill, [a] Boeing
2020 aims to replace which of the following [b] Lockheed Martin
act? [c] General Dynamics Corporation
[a] Factoring Regulation Act, 1980 [d] Airbus SE
[b] Factoring Regulation Act, 2002 [e] GE Aviation
[c] Factoring Regulation Act, 2011
[d] Factoring Regulation Act, 2009 Q.218) With which company has
[e] Factoring Regulation Act, 1998 IFundWomen partnered to launch a grant
program in India to boost female
Q.213) What is the new minimum support entrepreneurship?
price for wheat for 2020-21 rabi crop season? [a] Google
[a] 1975 [b] Visa
[b] 1998 [c] Microsoft
[c] 1967 [d] Paytm
[d] 1943 [e] Mastercard
[e] 1923
Q.219) In which state has SBI launched the
Q.214) Who heads the National Commission “Mahila Atmanirbharshil Aachani”?
on Farmers? [a] Assam
[a] M.S. Swaminathan [b] Arunachal Pradesh
[b] Ashok Dalwani [c] Meghalaya
[c] Narinder Singh Randhawa [d] Bihar
[d] Sonny Ramaswamy [e] Mizoram
[e] NK Singh
Q.220) In which country is the Square
Q.215) With which country does the “MCP Kilometre Array (SKA) programme
Linz” cargo ferry vessel connect India? developing the world’s largest radio
[a] Singapore telescope?
[b] Australia [a] Australia
[c] Philippines [b] South Africa
[d] Maldives [c] Japan
[e] Sri Lanka [d] Both a and b
[e] Both b and c
Q.216) In which has PM Modi launched the
'Ghar Tak Fibre' project? Q.221) What is the GDP growth rate for
[a] Bihar FY22, as projected by Ministry of Finance?
[b] Uttar Pradesh [a] 19%
[c] Maharashtra [b] 20%
[d] Madhya Pradesh [c] 21%
[d] 23% [d] MS Dhoni
[e] 25% [e] Akshay Kumar

Q.222) How many trading days will be Q.227) Which country has received the
considered for observing the fall in World’s first shipment of blue ammonia for
commodity prices, by more than 50%, for generating electricity?
triggering the SEBI’s alternative risk [a] Saudi Arabia
management framework for commodities? [b] Japan
[a] 20 [c] France
[b] 30 [d] Russia
[c] 40 [e] Sri Lanka
[d] 45
[e] 60 Q.228) How much area is under forest cover
in India, as per the Comptroller and Auditor
Q.223) Who has been appointed as the new General of India’s report?
Managing Director and CEO of the South [a] 11.47%
Indian Bank? [b] 33.45%
[a] Murali Ramakrishnan [c] 23.45%
[b] Shikha Sharma [d] 21.67%
[c] Shyam Srinivasan [e] 16.73%
[d] Rakesh Sharma
[e] Sanjay Aggarwal Q.229) Which airport has become the first
airport in the Asia- Pacific region to get the
Q.224) When is the International Day of Airport Health Accreditation (AHA) by ACI?
Peace observed? [a] Rajiv Gandhi International Airport
[a] September 23 [b] Veer Savarkar International Airport
[b] September 18 [c] Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International
[c] September 15 Airport
[d] September 21 [d] Visakhapatnam International Airport
[e] September 11 [e] Indira Gandhi International Airport

Q.225) Who has won the Tour de France Q.230) According to the Ministry of Statistics
2020? and Programme Implementation’s ‘Health in
[a] Sreedhar Savanur India’ report, around ___ percent of Indian
[b] Primož Roglič population is suffering from diseases?
[c] Tadej Pogačar [a] 10.12%
[d] Jakob Fuglsang [b] 4.3%
[e] Maximilian Schachmann [c] 6.4%
[d] 7.5%
Q.226) Who has been chosen by RBI for its [e] 9.1%
customer awareness campaign?
[a] Sonu Sood Q.231) Which organization has released the
[b] Virat Kohli World Risk Index 2020?
[c] Amitabh Bachchan
[a] UN University Institute for Environment [e] Tourism and Rural Development
and Human Security
[b] Australian Research Institute for Q.236) When is the World Rabies Day
Environment and Sustainability observed?
[c] INSEAD [a] October 28
[d] Cornell University, New York [b] July 28
[e] Massachusetts Institute of Technology, [c] August 28
US [d] September 28
[e] November 28
Q.232) Which religious community is the
most susceptible to diseases, according to Q.237) Which bank has partnered with
the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Bayer’s Better Life Farming initiative in India
Implementation’s ‘Health in India’ report? to provide financial services to smallholder
[a] Zoroastrian farmers and rural farming communities?
[b] Jain [a] HDFC Bank
[c] Muslim [b] Axis Bank
[d] Sikh [c] SBI
[e] Christian [d] Canara Bank
[e] Punjab National Bank
Q.233) When is the World Environment
Health Day observed? Q.238) Who among the following has been
[a] September 5 awarded the Players of the Year award by All
[b] September 14 India Football Federation?
[c] September 19 [a] Gurpreet Singh Sandhu
[d] September 26 [b] Anirudh Thapa
[e] September 10 [c] Ratanbala Devi
[d] Ajit Kumar Meetei
Q.234) Who heads the three-member [e] Sandesh Jingan
committee of directors – appointed by RBI –
of Lakshmi Vilas Bank? Q.239) Which organization has released the
[a] Meeta Makhan “Well Spent: How Strong Infrastructure
[b] Shakti Sinha Governance Can End Waste in Public
[c] Satish Kumar Kalra Investment” report?
[d] Preetam Srivastava [a] European Bank for Reconstruction and
[e] Aditya Puri Development
[b] Greenpeace International
Q.235) What is the theme of the World [c] Organization for Economic Cooperation
Tourism Day 2020? and Development
[a] Tourism and Jobs: a better future for all [d] Academy for Educational Development
[b] Tourism and the Digital Transformation [e] International Monetary Fund
[c] Sustainable Tourism – A Tool for
Development Q.240) Which organization has signed an
[d] Tourism - Promoting Universal MoU with United Nations Office of Counter-
Accessibility Terrorism for strengthening cooperation for
the United Nations Countering Terrorist Q.245) How many Indian Institutes have been
Travel Programme (CT Travel Programme)? ranked in the Top 100 of Financial Times’
[a] International Air Transport Association Masters in Management (MIM) 2020
[b] Asian Development Bank rankings?
[c] United Nations Economic and Social [a] 5
Commission for Asia and the Pacific [b] 21
[d] International Maritime Organization [c] 10
[e] International Monetary Fund [d] 12
[e] 15
Q.241) Which state has launched the
‘Paryatan Sanjeevani Scheme’? Q.246) Who heads the Parliamentary
[a] Assam Committee on IT?
[b] Gujarat [a] Shashi Tharoor
[c] Tamil Nadu [b] Jairam Ramesh
[d] Uttar Pradesh [c] Jayant Sinha
[e] Punjab [d] Anand Sharma
[e] Bhraturari Mahtab
Q.242) How much amount will be disbursed
under the 'Mukhyamantri Kisan Kalyan Q.247) When is the International Day of
Yojana' of Madhya Pradesh? Awareness on Food Loss and Waste
[a] Rs 9000 Reduction observed?
[b] Rs 6000 [a] 10 September
[c] Rs 7000 [b] 29 September
[d] Rs 3000 [c] 14 September
[e] Rs 4000 [d] 20 September
[e] 18 September
Q.243) Which of the following is the head of
the Oceania vertical of Ministry of External Q.248) Who has been appointed as the new
Affairs? president of the Film and Television Institute
[a] Kundan Kumar of India Society?
[b] Krishnendra Pratap Singh [a] Anupam Kher
[c] Shripad Yesso Naik [b] Hrishikesh Mukherjee
[d] Reenat Sandhu [c] Bimal Roy
[e] S.B. Naithani [d] Shekhar Kapur
[e] Shyam Benegal
Q.244) Who has been appointed as the new
chairman of Telecom Regulatory Authority of Q.249) Who has ranked at the top in the IIFL
India? Wealth Hurun India Rich List 2020?
[a] Ajay Bhalla [a] Hinduja Brothers
[b] Piyush Joshi [b] Shiv Nadar and Family
[c] P.D. Vaghela [c] Azim Premji
[d] Payal Sinha [d] Cyrus S Poonawalla
[e] Atul Chankraborty [e] Mukesh Ambani
Q.250) With which bank has Bombay Stock [e] Asian Development Bank
Exchange signed an MoU to empower the
small and medium enterprises (SMEs) listed Q.255) What is India’s GDP growth rate for
on its platform? FY21 according to ICRA?
[a] Yes Bank [a] -11%
[b] HDFC Bank [b] -12.3%
[c] State Bank of India [c] -9.8%
[d] Axis Bank [d] -8.7%
[e] SIDBI [e] -14.8%

Q.251) Which bank has launched India’s first Q.256) Which state has launched the “My
Warehouse Commodity Finance App? family, My Responsibility” campaign to fight
[a] HDFC Bank the COVID-19 pandemic?
[b] Bank of India [a] Tamil Nadu
[c] Indian Bank [b] Kerala
[d] Allahabad Bank [c] Karnataka
[e] Punjab National Bank [d] Maharashtra
[e] Madhya Pradesh
Q.252) With which country has India recently
established the 'Green Strategic Q.257) In how many states will the Integrated
Partnership'? Road Accident Database Project be launched
[a] Denmark initially?
[b] Finland [a] six
[c] Netherlands [b] seven
[d] France [c] eleven
[e] United Kingdom [d] fifteen
[e] five
Q.253) What is the name of the app launched
by Ministry of Tourism and Quality Council of Q.258) Which IIT is implementing the
India for the hospitality sector? Integrated Road Accident Database Project in
[a] Saathi collaboration with the National Informatics
[b] Prekshak Centre Services Inc?
[c] Sanrachna [a] IIT-Delhi
[d] Saavdhan [b] IIT-Madras
[e] Samiksha [c] IIT-Bombay
[d] IIT-Roorkee
Q.254) With which multilateral agency has [e] IIT-Kharagpur
Maritime Union of India partnered to help
Indians who are stranded on the ship due to Q.259) What is the corpus of Micro Irrigation
Covid-19? Fund (MIF) set up by the Agriculture Ministry
[a] World Health Organization in collaboration NABARD?
[b] European Central Bank [a] Rs 10000 crores
[c] International Monetary Fund [b] Rs 9000 crores
[d] United Nations [c] Rs 1500 crores
[d] Rs 3000 crores [e] Rs 40 lakh
[e] Rs 5000 crores
Q.265) With which company has Ministry of
Q.260) National Steel Policy, 2017 projects Health partnered to provide the insurance
India’s total steel capacity to grow to __ amount under the 'Pradhan Mantri Garib
million tonne by 2030-31? Kalyan Package Insurance Scheme for
[a] 200 MT Health Workers Fighting COVID-19'?
[b] 400 MT [a] Universal Sompo General Insurance Co.
[c] 300 MT Ltd.
[d] 900 MT [b] The Oriental Insurance Co. Ltd.
[e] 700 MT [c] Shriram General Insurance Co. Ltd.
[d] United India Insurance Co. Ltd.
Q.261) In Indian which state is the Shweta [e] New India Assurance Company Ltd
Kapila cow breed found?
[a] Goa Q.266) How much assistance is provided to
[b] Rajasthan each constituency per year under the
[c] Tamil Nadu Members of Parliament Local Area
[d] Kerala Development Scheme (MPLADS) funds?
[e] Assam [a] Rs 1 crore
[b] Rs 10 crores
Q.262) Which article of the constitution [c] Rs 5 crores
provides for the Supplementary, additional or [d] Rs 3 crores
excess grants of government? [e] Rs 2 crores
[a] Article 224
[b] Article 115 Q.267) Which state/UT has launched the
[c] Article 229 “Backyard Horticulture” programme?
[d] Article 140 [a] Tamil Nadu
[e] Article 167 [b] Andaman and Nicobar
[c] Kerala
Q.263) How many mega food parks have [d] Puducherry
been established in India till now? [e] Jammu and Kashmir
[a] 37
[b] 23 Q.268) Recently, Central govt has increased
[c] 41 the scholarship amount under ‘Pragati and
[d] 57 Saksham Scholarship Schemes’ for students
[e] 60 of Jammu and Kashmir to __ per annum from
2020-21 onwards?
Q.264) Aircraft (Amendment) Bill, 2020 has [a] Rs 10000
increased the amount of penalty for [b] Rs 20000
defaulters to __ from ₹10 lakh? [c] Rs 30000
[a] Rs 1 crore [d] Rs 40000
[b] Rs 50 lakh [e] Rs 50000
[c] Rs 90 lakh
[d] Rs 2 crores
Q.269) Which country will be largest source [a] Tamil Nadu
of demand growth for energy by 2050, as per [b] Andhra Pradesh
the annual Energy Outlook 2020 report of [c] Uttar Pradesh
BP? [d] Madhya Pradesh
[a] India [e] Gujarat
[b] China
[c] USA Q.274) Where is the Hanimaadhoo
[d] Russia International Airport located?
[e] Japan [a] Thailand
[b] Philippines
Q.270) International Financial Services [c] Singapore
Centre Authority (IFSCA) has signed an MoU [d] Japan
with the India Gold Policy Centre to get [e] Maldives
guidance for establishing the International
Bullion Exchange at IFSCA. In which IIM is Q.275) On which ghat will India’s first
the India Gold Policy Centre located? museum on Ganga river be established?
[a] IIM-Bangalore [a] Har ki Pauri
[b] IIM-Calcutta [b] Gau Ghat
[c] IIM-Lucknow [c] Ashti Parvath Ghat
[d] IIM-Udaipur [d] Subhash Ghat
[e] IIM-Ahmedabad [e] Chandi Ghat

Q.271) Who heads the high-level committee Q.276) On how many challenges does the
to prepare a roadmap for regularisation of Defence India Startup Challenge-4 focus?
land leasing in the agriculture sector? [a] 11
[a] Ajay Tirkey [b] 9
[b] Praful Raichur [c] 5
[c] Meghan Parikh [d] 14
[d] Kaveri Priyam [e] 21
[e] Mithali Mehta
Q.277) Which state has witnessed the
Q.272) With which country has India highest crime against women, as per the
partnered for jointly developing the hi-tech “Crime in India” 2019 report?
defence weapons and supplying them to the [a] Assam
other friendly countries? [b] Meghalaya
[a] Japan [c] Mizoram
[b] USA [d] Tripura
[c] Russia [e] Nagaland
[d] Israel
[e] Iran Q.278) Which of the following is not a
parameter of the Times World University
Q.273) Which state has launched the U-Rise Rankings 2021?
portal for provide career counselling [a] Teaching
assistance to students? [b] Research
[c] Citations Q.282) Who has been appointed as the
[d] Industry Income Managing Director of Energy Efficiency
[e] Faculty’s expertise Services Limited?
[a] Jai Bhasin
Q.279) Which bank has launched the [b] Aarav Chadra
‘iStartup 2.0’ initiative to help startups in [c] Reyansh Deshmukh
regulatory assistance, analytics, staffing, [d] Rajat Sud
accounting, customer acquisition and digital [e] Aditya Dayal
outreach to customers, among others?
[a] HDFC Bank Q.283) Which state has won the United
[b] Axis Bank Nation Interagency Task Force Award for its
[c] State Bank of India outstanding performance for controlling non-
[d] ICICI Bank communicable diseases?
[e] Kotak Mahindra Bank [a] Rajasthan
[b] Kerala
Q.280) Who has been appointed as the [c] Karnataka
celebrity advocate for UNICEF India’s [d] Madhya Pradesh
campaign to end violence against children? [e] Maharashtra
[a] Sonu Sood
[b] Ayushmann Khurrana Q.284) Who has won the men’s singles in
[c] Amitabh Bachchan Rome Masters 2020?
[d] Virat Kohli [a] Roger Federer
[e] Mahindra Singh Dhoni [b] Novak Djokovic
[c] Rafael Nadal
Q.281) Who has been appointed as the first [d] Dominic Thiem
chairperson of National Medical [e] Andy Murray
Commission?
[a] Balram Bhargava Q.285) Who is the author of Voices of
[b] Sudhir Gupta Dissent?
[c] Rajdeep Guleria [a] Kiran Desai
[d] Suresh Chandra Sharma [b] Tanuja Desai Hidier
[e] Rajesh Bhushan [c] Romila Thapar
[d] Anuja Chauhan
[e] Chitra Divakurni
 ANSWERS
1 C 51 D 101 E 151 A 201 C 251 A

2 C 52 B 102 A 152 C 202 A 252 A

3 D 53 D 103 D 153 D 203 C 253 A

4 A 54 B 104 D 154 E 204 A 254 D

5 B 55 D 105 A 155 A 205 A 255 A

6 E 56 A 106 D 156 D 206 C 256 D

7 B 57 E 107 A 157 B 207 A 257 A

8 E 58 B 108 B 158 D 208 D 258 B

9 A 59 C 109 A 159 A 209 A 259 E

10 A 60 D 110 D 160 E 210 B 260 C

11 B 61 D 111 B 161 B 211 A 261 A

12 C 62 B 112 D 162 A 212 C 262 B

13 A 63 D 113 B 163 E 213 A 263 A

14 C 64 A 114 B 164 D 214 A 264 A

15 E 65 E 115 A 165 B 215 D 265 E

16 D 66 C 116 D 166 A 216 A 266 C

17 D 67 A 117 D 167 B 217 D 267 E

18 D 68 B 118 A 168 A 218 B 268 E

19 A 69 B 119 E 169 A 219 A 269 A

20 A 70 D 120 C 170 C 220 D 270 E

21 B 71 B 121 A 171 A 221 A 271 A

22 D 72 E 122 E 172 C 222 A 272 D

23 B 73 A 123 B 173 B 223 A 273 C

24 A 74 D 124 D 174 B 224 D 274 E

25 A 75 A 125 D 175 C 225 C 275 E

26 A 76 C 126 C 176 B 226 C 276 A

27 C 77 B 127 B 177 A 227 B 277 A

28 E 78 A 128 E 178 A 228 D 278 E

29 B 79 E 129 A 179 A 229 A 279 D

30 E 80 D 130 C 180 C 230 D 280 B

31 B 81 A 131 B 181 A 231 A 281 D

32 E 82 A 132 D 182 D 232 A 282 D

33 A 83 D 133 B 183 B 233 D 283 B

34 C 84 A 134 A 184 C 234 A 284 B

35 E 85 D 135 D 185 E 235 E 285 C

36 C 86 C 136 D 186 A 236 D

37 C 87 A 137 A 187 A 237 B

38 C 88 A 138 A 188 D 238 A

39 E 89 D 139 C 189 B 239 E

40 B 90 C 140 A 190 D 240 A

41 A 91 C 141 D 191 D 241 A

42 E 92 B 142 A 192 D 242 E

43 B 93 A 143 A 193 A 243 D

44 C 94 A 144 D 194 E 244 C

45 B 95 B 145 D 195 E 245 A

46 D 96 B 146 A 196 A 246 A

47 E 97 D 147 E 197 E 247 B

48 A 98 A 148 A 198 C 248 D

49 C 99 B 149 D 199 A 249 E

50 C 100 A 150 E 200 D 250 A

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