19 SEP 2020

 

International Equal Pay Day: 18 September

International Equal Pay Day is being celebrated for the first time ever on 18 September, 2020.

• On November 15, 2019, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming September 18 as International Equal Pay Day.
• The resolution was introduced by the Equal Pay International Coalition (EPIC), with the support of Canada, Australia, Germany, Panama, New Zealand, South Africa and Switzerland.
• EPIC is led by the International Labour Organization, UN Women and partners. Its goal is to achieve equal pay for women.
• International Equal Pay Day represents the longstanding efforts towards the achievement of equal pay for work of equal value.
• According to the United Nations (UN), Across all regions, women are paid less than men, with the gender pay gap estimated at 23 per cent globally.

China Brucellosis outbreak

Brucellosis, also known as Malta fever has recently affected thousands of people in Northwest of China.

• It has been caused due to an outbreak caused by a leak at a biopharmaceutical company last year.
• The disease, also known as Malta fever or Mediterranean fever, can cause symptoms including headaches, muscle pain, fever and fatigue.
• The disease is generally caused buy direct contact with livestock carrying the bacteria called brucella.
• So far, China has not reported any fatalities due to the disease. However, around 1401 have tested positive to the disease.

Union govt approves amendment in Foreign Direct Investment Policy in Defence Sector

The Union Government has approved the amendment in Foreign Direct Investment Policy in Defence Sector.

• Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has said that for new licensees, FDI is allowed upto 74 per cent through automatic route and beyond 74 per cent to be permitted through government route.
• For existing licensees, infusion of fresh foreign investment up to 49 percent can be done by making declaration of change or transfer within 30 days.
• This will enhance ease of doing business and contribute to growth of investment, income and employment.

Bangladesh govt orders closure of largest Deobandi Madrasa

The government of Bangladesh ordered the closure of the largest and oldest Deobandi Hathazari Madrasa till further orders.

• The Education Ministry in its order said that the Hathazari Madrasa at Chittagong will be closed due to the breach of conditions.
• On August 28, the Ministry had allowed Madrasas to resume their academic activities on the condition that the health guidelines issued by the government are followed.
• The Madrasa has been facing protests due to internal rift in the organisation on the issue of administrative control of the institution.
• Al-Jamiatul Ahlia Darul Ulum Moinul Islam popoularly known as Hathazari Madrasa was established in 1896.
• It shifted to its present location in Hathazari, Bangladesh in 1901. It has close to 7000 students.
• The Madrasa has faced controversy in the past due to its alleged links with Islamist groups such as Hifazat-e-Islam in the country.

Govt sets up group under cyber security head Rajesh Pant to probe China Watching

The Government set up an expert committee under the National Cyber Security Coordinator to study the revelations in China Watching that a Shenzhen-based company, with links to the Chinese government, is monitoring over 10,000 Indian individuals and entities.

• The “targets,” as the ongoing investigation has revealed, include President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, key Opposition leaders and men and women from across a range of disciplines, politics, legislature, science and strategy to business, judiciary and the media.
• The expert committee, led by Lt Gen (retd) Rajesh Pant, India’s chief coordinator on cyber security, will evaluate the “implications” of the digital surveillance by Data Information Technology Co. Limited and “assess any violations of law and submit its recommendations within thirty days.”

LG Manoj Sinha launches National Generic Document Registration System in J&K

In the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha launched the National Generic Document Registration System (NGDRS) at a ceremony organized at the Deputy Commissioner's office in Srinagar.

• NGDRS represents a major shift from the existing manual registration system to online registration of all transactions in sale-purchase and transfer of land.
• Stamp papers have been replaced by e-stamps which have been incorporated in coordination with Stockholding Corporation of India.
• J&K will be the 10th among States and UTs to become part of NGDRS.
• The overall intent is to ensure hassle-free service delivery and transparency in the registration process by online uploading of the document, appointment with the registration office, e-stamp, and a one-time visit to the Registration office.
• The entire process has been reduced to 15 minutes which earlier would take several days in view of multiple steps involved. Now all 5 steps are under the digital process.

Gujarat Chief Minister announces subsidy schemes for e-scooters, rickshaws

Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has announced an assistance scheme to encourage use of battery-operated two-wheelers and three-wheelers in the state.

• The announcement was made to check air pollution in the state.
• Gujarat Government will provide subsidy of 12,000 rupees to school students studying in Standard-9th to colleges for battery-operated two-wheelers.
• Government is targeting to provide such subsidies for 10,000 such vehicles.
• Similarly, a subsidy of 48,000 rupees will be given for three-wheeler e-rickshaw for individual and institutional beneficiaries. This subsidy will be given for 5,000 e-rickshaw.
• Chief Minister also announced a 50-lakh rupee scheme for creating necessary infrastructure for charging e-vehicles.

PM Modi inaugurates Kosi Rail mega bridge & 12 railway projects in Bihar

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has dedicated the historic Kosi Rail Mahasetu (mega bridge) to the nation through video-conference.

• He also inaugurated 12 rail projects related to passenger facilities to benefit the people of Bihar.
• The 1.9-kilometre long Kosi mega bridge has been completed at a total cost of 516 crore rupees.
• The bridge connects the Mithila and Kosi region. With the construction of the bridge the rail distance between Nirmali and Saraigarh would come down from the present 298 kilometres to 22 kilometres.
• This bridge is of strategic importance along the Indo-Nepal border.
• During the heavy flood and severe Indo-Nepal earthquake in 1934, the Koshi rail link was washed away and thereafter due to the meandering nature of river Kosi no attempt was made to restore this rail link for a long period.
• The project was completed during the COVID-pandemic where the migrant labour also participated.

UN names Indian teenager Udit Singhal to 2020 Class of Young Leaders for SDGs

Udit Singhal, an 18-year-old youngster from India has been named by the United Nations to the 2020 cohort of young leaders for the Sustainable Development Goals.

• It is the highest-profile recognition opportunity at the world body for youngsters who are leading efforts to combat the world's most pressing issues.
• Singhal has been named to the 2020 Class of 17 Young Leaders for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• He is the founder of Glass2Sand, a zero-waste ecosystem that addresses the growing menace of glass waste in Delhi.
• Through the initiative, empty glass bottles are prevented from being dumped into landfills, where they won't decompose for a million years, and are crushed into commercially valuable sand.

Canara Bank introduces i-Lead 2.0 to boost customer services

Canara Bank has launched a lead management system (LMS) - i-Lead 2.0 (Inspiring Leads System version 2.0).

• This new initiative is being introduced with the motive of building and sustaining business relationships with both new customers to bank and existing customers to bank.
• Through LMS, customers can enquire and get services rendered through simple modes such as internet banking, mobile banking, call centre, SMS and missed call.
• A unique reference number will be generated, which is communicated to the customers at the time of lead generation from above sources.
• Along with that, SMS/notifications are triggered to the customer at every stage of the lead cycle (from lead generation to lead closure).

ICICI Home Finance launches home loan scheme ‘Apna Ghar Dreamz’

ICICI Home Finance has launched a new loan scheme ‘Apna Ghar Dreamz’, with credit amount in the range of Rs 2 lakh to 50 lakh, for skilled workers employed in the informal sector in Delhi.

• The scheme is meant for skilled workers such as carpenters, plumbers, electricians, tailors, painters, welders, auto mechanics, manufacturing machine operators, computer mechanics, RO repair technicians, small and medium business owners and grocery store owners in the city.
• The loan scheme is targeted at the informal segment of the population who wish to purchase their own home, but may not have all documents that a formal financial institution would require.
• Customers seeking to avail the special 20-year tenure loan would need to provide documents such as PAN and Aadhaar details, and bank statements of the past six months.
• The customers should have a minimum account balance of Rs 1,500 for loan up to 5 lakh and Rs 3,000 for loan above 5 lakh.

Stage all set for 13th edition of IPL Cricket in Abu Dhabi

After a long wait, cricket stars will be in action at the 13th edition of Indian Premier League at Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.

• The fans will have a lot to cheer as Rohit Sharma led Mumbai Indians will take on Mahendra Singh Dhoni led Chennai Super Kings.
• The tournament, which has been shifted to the UAE due to COVID-19 pandemic, is a TV only event.
• In all, 60 matches will be held in three avenues- Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Dubai.
• All the participating teams have arrived in UAE to fight it out in a neutral venue away from their home conditions.
• The organizers have ensured adequate safety arrangements in place creating bio bubbles.

A new book titled “Azadi” authored by Arundhati Roy

Arundhati Roy’s new book titled “Azadi: Freedom. Fascism. Fiction”.

• The book has been published by Penguin Books Limited.
• The non-fiction book is a collection of essays that shows the meaning of Freedom in the world of increasing authoritarianism.
• The essay collection includes meditations on language and roles of fiction and alternative imaginations amid global pandemic due to COVID-19.