21 SEP 2020

  

World Alzheimer’s Day: 21 September

World Alzheimer’s Day is observed on September 21 across the world.

• The day is observed to raise awareness about the neurological condition, underlying causes, symptoms and its management.
• Alzheimer’s is a neurological disorder that causes problems of memory loss, thinking skills, and behaviour.
• The theme for World Alzheimer Day 2020 is ‘Let’s talk about dementia’.

International Day of Peace: 21 September

International Day of Peace is observed globally on 21st September every year.

• It is observed to spread awareness and preach peace and harmony all across the globe.
• On this day, the body encourages countries to observe the day by creating an environment of “24 hours of non-violence”.
• Theme for world peace day 2020 is- “Shaping Peace Together”

India, China hold 6th Commander level Talks at Moldo to address border tensions

India and China are scheduled to hold a Corps Commander-level talks at Moldo, on the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC), on the border standoff.

• This will be the sixth such talks on the issue.
• An official from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is likely to be part of Indian delegation.
• This is the first time that an MEA official will be present in this meeting, people aware of the developments said.
• In the previous five meetings, the Corps commander-ranked officers have failed to break the deadlock.
• This will be the first meeting since the foreign ministers of the two countries agreed on a five-point roadmap to take forward the disengagement and de-escalation process.

India extends 250 million dollars support to Maldives to overcome economic impact of Covid-19

India has provided financial assistance of 250 million dollars as budgetary support to the Maldives government to mitigate the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

• India has provided substantial and continued assistance to the Maldives during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The budgetary support of 250 million dollars has been extended without conditions.
• The Maldives government is at liberty to use the money in repairing the domestic economic situation in line with its own priorities.
• The financial assistance is being routed through SBI, Male so that it does not reflect in the external borrowings of the Maldives.
• Indian government has provided a sovereign guarantee to SBI for this financial assistance.

Govt launches Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan in 272 most affected districts

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has formulated and is implementing a National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR) for 2018-2025.

• The Plan aims at reduction of adverse consequences of drug abuse through a multi-pronged strategy.
• The activities under the NAPDDR include awareness generation programmes in schools, colleges, Universities, workshop and provisioning of treatment facilities and capacity building of service providers.
• The Ministry has also launched Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan in 272 most affected districts with focus on institutional support, community outreach and awareness generation.

Ministry of AYUSH partners with Ministry WCD to control Malnutrition

A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between the Ministry of AYUSH and Ministry of Women and Child Development to control Malnutrition as a part of POSHAN Abhiyaan.

• The MoU will see some time-tested and scientifically proven Ayush-based solutions being adopted for controlling malnutrition in the country.
• The MoU will help in tackling the problem of malnutrition in mothers and children in the country.
• The Ministry of AYUSH and Ministry of WCD will work together towards integrating Ayush in POSHAN Abhiyaan and management of malnutrition through the principles and practices of Ayurveda, Yoga and other Ayush systems.

Indian Railways observes “Swachhta Pakhwara”

Indian Railways is observing “Swachhta Pakhwara” from 16th to 30th September 2020.

• During the inaugural day of Pakhwara, Swachhta pledge was administered to Railway employees at all Zonal Railway HQs, Divisional Offices and other establishments.

• During the Pakhwara, intensive cleaning and sanitization of stations, trains, tracks, colonies and other railway establishments is being carried out with special focus on plastic waste management.
• Railway Board through Northern Railway, in partnership with United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), organised a webinar on “Swachhata and Environment”.
• The Webinar was held to flag off the “Swachhata Pakhwada” beginning from September 16 and ending on September 30, 2020.

Tamil Nadu becomes first state to unveil ethical AI, blockchain, cybersecurity policies in country

Tamil Nadu became the first state in the country to come out with policies on Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain and Cybersecurity policies.

• The policies go by the names Tamil Nadu Cyber Security Policy, 2020, Tamil Nadu Blockchain Policy, 2020, and Tamil Nadu Safe and Ethical Artificial Intelligence Policy, 2020.
• In order to promote IT/ITeS industry in the State and to attract more investments, eight Special Economic Zones were established in Chennai and tier-II cities by Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu Limited (ELCOT) and a start-up warehouses were set up in Chennai and Coimbatore.
• State Family DataBase (SFDB) and Block-Chain Backbone infrastructure will be established in the state for the implementation of these policies.

Indian Army organises annual 'Shikara Race' in Srinagar

Fifteen Shikaras participated in the annual 'Shikara Race' organised by 20 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) of Indian Army for the people in Srinagar.

• The aim behind the race was to promote tourism in the newly formed Union Territory.
• This event is organised by Indian Army every year along with boat races and other races for children but could not do the same this year due to COVID-19 outbreak.
• The tourists who came to Srinagar to enjoy the race said that events like this should be organised more often as they help in developing good bonds with the locals.

PM Modi lays foundation stone for nine highway projects worth over Rs 14,000 Cr in Bihar through video conference

Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of nine highway projects worth 14,258 crore rupees in Bihar through video conferencing.

• These highway projects involve a road length of about 350 kilometres at a cost of four thousand two hundred 58 crore rupees.
• These roads will enhance better connectivity, convenience and economic growth in and around the state.
• Movement of people and goods will also improve substantially, especially with the neighbouring states of Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand.
• The Prime Minister also inaugurated the Optical Fibre internet services where all the 45 thousand nine hundred 45 villages of Bihar have been connected through Optical Fibre Internet Service.

HDFC Bank tops the BrandZ Top 75 Most Valuable Indian Brands 2020 report

For the seventh straight year, HDFC Bank remained the top-ranked brand in India with a total brand value of more than $20.2 billion, according to the 2020 BrandZ Top 75 Most Valuable Indian Brands ranking released by WPP and Kantar.

• According to the report, the total value of the BrandZ India Top 75 fell by 6 per cent in 2020, shedding $13 billion in value for a total brand value of $215.608 billion.
• LIC is ranked second while Tata Consulting Services has been ranked at no.3.

SBI starts women self-reliance programme in Assam

To accelerate SHG finance in the Bank in a mission mode, State Bank of India (SBI) started a programme by the name “Mahila Atmanirbharshil Aachani” (Women Self-Reliance programme).

• SBI stated that women SHGs are very active and credit worthy in rural areas of Assam as it relies on social collateral rather than on financial collateral.
• It also empowers the women by encouraging them to create their micro enterprises for self-reliance and to maintain a sustainable economic condition.
• The basic objective of the programme is to create a strong bonding with the SHG members besides extending credit linkages to the women SHGs nurtured and sponsored by NRLM, Assam for self-reliance and economic upliftment.