15th October 2020 Daily GK Update: Read Daily GK, Current Affairs for Bank Exam

Here is the daily GK update of 15th October 2020 covering the following news headlines: Exim Bank, EpiVacCorona, Sujal, The HealthyLife Programme, Bank of Ghana.

Daily GK updates are incorporated with the important news that made the current affairs headlines for banking or other competitive exams. Daily GK Update is the complete bag of the important news that held all day long. One should have complete knowledge about the banking terms, current affairs news, etc. So, here is the GK update of 15th October 2020 to help you prepare the Current affairs part. After reading this section, you can successfully attempt Current Affairs Quiz.

National News

1. Exim Bank extends USD 400 million soft loan to Maldives

• The Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) on behalf of the Government of India has extended a Line of Credit (LoC) of USD 400 million (about Rs 2,932 crore) to the Maldives.
• The soft loan will be used for financing the Greater Male Connectivity Project (GMCP) in the Maldives, which is the single-largest connectivity and infrastructure project in the island nation.
• LoCs or soft loans are concessional loans that are offered at cheap rates.
• The soft loans to the Maldives have funded connectivity, water, sewerage projects, Addu Development Project, an international cricket stadium, Gulhifalhu port, Hanimaadhoo airport and road construction work.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

International News

2. Russia approves 2nd coronavirus vaccine “EpiVacCorona”

• Russia has given regulatory approval to a second Covid-19 vaccine, named ‘EpiVacCorona’, after early-stage studies.
• The new coronavirus vaccine comes two months after a similar move for Russia’s first vaccine Sputnik V prompted widespread criticism from scientists both at home and abroad.
• Russia became the first country to give regulatory approval to a Covid-19 vaccine in August when Sputnik V was officially registered ahead of the large-scale clinical trial. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that the country has registered the second Covid-19 vaccine.
• The second Russian vaccine to receive regulatory approval was developed by the Vector State Research Centre of Virology and Biotechnology.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

• Russia President: Vladimir Putin.
• Russia Capital: Moscow.
• Russia Currency: Russian Ruble.

State News

3. Odisha launches ‘Sujal’ Mission to provide tap water fit for drinking

• Chief Minister of Odisha, Naveen Patnaik has inaugurated “Sujal”, ‘Drink from Tap Mission’ scheme, to provide round the clock supply of quality tap drinking water in all urban areas of the state.
• The state has set the target to provide piped water connections to all urban areas in the state by March 2022.
• Odisha government has set Rs 1300 crore for this scheme which will benefit over 15 lakh people in 15 towns in a phased manner.
• Once fully implemented, Odisha will become the first state in the country to provide quality drinking water, fit for direct consumption, in urban areas.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams: 

• Chief Minister of Odisha: Naveen Patnaik.
• Odisha Capital: Bhubaneswar.
• Odisha Governor: Ganeshi Lal.

4. Gujarat govt announces to set up the world’s biggest Zinc Smelter project

• Gujarat government has signed a pact with Vedanta Group firm Hindustan Zinc Ltd (HZL) to set up a greenfield zinc smelter in the state.
• This facility will entail an investment of Rs 5000- 10,000 crore in phases, creating more than 5,000 direct and indirect jobs and will be operational by 2022.
• The proposed 300 (kilo tonnes per annum) production capacity project would provide big employment opportunities to the local youths in this tribal area.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams: 

• Gujarat Chief Minister: Vijay Rupani.
• Gujarat Governor: Acharya Devvrat.

Banking News

5. HDFC Bank to launch ‘The HealthyLife Programme’ for its customers

• India’s leading private sector bank, HDFC Bank and Apollo Hospitals have collaborated to launch the “HealthyLife Programme”, a holistic healthcare solution.
• This programme will be launched for HDFC Bank customers, to make healthy living accessible and affordable while making the process convenient and easy for the customers.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

• HDFC Bank CEO: Aditya Puri.
• The tagline of HDFC Bank: We Understand Your World.
• HDFC Bank Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra.

Agreements

6. Microsoft & AICTE collaborate to empower students and educators

• Microsoft and All India Council For Technical Education (AICTE) have partnered to empower students and educators in new-age technologies.
• This technology including artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), data science and cloud computing.
• Over 1,500-course modules from Microsoft will be made available to students and educators free of cost through AICTE’s e-learning portal Educator Licensure Information System (ELIS).
• For this, Microsoft has integrated its learning resource centre Microsoft Learn with the ELIS platform to provide access to personalised learning paths and resources for students and educators.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

• Chief Executive Officer of Microsoft: Satya Nadella.
• Microsoft Founded: April 4, 1975; Headquarters of Microsoft: Washington, United States.

Awards

7. “Bank of Ghana” wins Central bank of the year award 2020

• “Bank of Ghana” has won the Central bank of the year award 2020.
• Apart from this, Mark Carney (Governor of the Bank of England) has won the Governor of the year at the Central bank of the year award 2020.
• Central Banking Awards is held annually to recognize excellence in the central banking community.
• This was the 7th edition of the award and the ceremony was held virtually on.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

Important Days

8. International Day of Rural Women: 15 October

• The International Day of Rural Women is observed globally on 15 October each year.
• The day recognizes the crucial role of women and girls in ensuring the sustainability of rural households and communities, improving rural livelihoods and overall well-being.
• In India, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare observes the day as the Rashtriya Mahila Kisan Diwas since 2016, to increase the active participation of women in agriculture.
• The theme for this International Day of Rural Women is “Building rural women’s resilience in the wake of COVID-19,” to create awareness of these women’s struggles, their needs, and their critical and key role in our society.

9. World Students’ Day: 15 October

• World Students’ Day is observed every year on 15 October to mark the birth anniversary of former President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam.
• This year marks the 89th birth anniversary of the former president and ‘Missile Man’ Dr APJ Abdul Kalam.
• In 2010 the United Nations declared 15 October “World Students’ Day”, due to Kalam’s love for students and who himself was a dedicated teacher and identified himself foremost in that role before anything else.

Obituaries

10. Renowned Kuchipudi dancer Shoba Naidu passes away

• Renowned Kuchipudi dancer, Shobha Naidu passed away.
• Her major achievements include choreography and presentation of Ballets Vipranarayana, Kalyana Srinivasam and many others, in which she was the main protagonist and portrayed various roles like Satyabhama, Devadevaki, Padmavathi, Mohini, Sai Baba, and Goddess Parvati which won her great appreciation. Some of the famous awards won by her includes, Padma Shri in 2001, Sangeet Natak Akademi in 1991.

11. Former New Zealand cricketer John R Reid passes away

• Former New Zealand cricket allrounder, John Richard Reid passed away. He was also New Zealand’s oldest surviving Test player. He was the first cricketer to lead New Zealand to a Test victory.
• Reid scored 3428 runs in 58 Test matches with an average of 33.28, hitting 22 half-centuries and six centuries in a career that spanned over 16 years. His maiden Test century, a knock of 135, came against South Africa in Cape Town in 1954.

Miscellaneous

12. PM Modi to release commemorative coin to mark 75th Anniversary of FAO

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will release a commemorative coin of Rs 75 denomination on the occasion of 75th Anniversary of Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) on 16 October 2020.
• PM Modi will also dedicate to the Nation 17 recently developed biofortified varieties of 8 crops.
• India’s proposals for declaring 2016 as the International Year of Pulses and 2023 as the International Year of Millets have also been endorsed by the FAO.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams: 

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