Daily Current Affairs 16th October 2019

Table of Contents

Dear Aspirants,

General awareness section is the most important part of every competitive exam, it can help you score well in the exam if you are updated with all the current news. Banking Awareness, Static GK and the current news are the parts that make the GA section complete. It is important to know what is happening in and outside of India. GK updates are incorporated with the important news that made the headlines today. It 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 16th October to help you prepare the Current affairs part. After reading this section, you can successfully attempt Current Affairs Quiz.

हिंदी में पढ़ें

National

1. CBIC launches programme to strengthen Make in India

Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs has launched a revamped and streamlined programme to attract investments into India and strengthen Make in India through manufacture and other operations under the bond scheme, of Customs Act, 1962.
The Section enables conduct of manufacture and other operations in a customs bonded warehouse.
The scheme has been modernized with clear and transparent procedures, simplified compliance requirements ICT-based documentation and account keeping, by the issue of Manufacture and Other Operations in Warehouse Regulations 2019.
CBIC has collaborated with Invest India to launch a dedicated microsite for providing information and promoting the scheme and for the facilitation of investors. The site can be accessed at www.investindia.gov.in/bonded-manufacturing.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For IBPS RRB Main 2019:

Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs is a part of the Department of Revenue under the Ministry of Finance, Government of India.

2. Govt launches Food Safety Mitra Scheme

Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Harsh Vardhan launched Food Safety Mitra Scheme, Eat Right Jacket and Eat Right Jhola. Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has introduced the scheme of Food Safety Mitra (FSM) through which it plans to engage motivated individuals with the food safety ecosystem at ground level.
A Food Safety Mitra Scheme is an individual professional certified by FSSAI who assists in compliances related to FSS Act, Rules & Regulations with three avatars- Digital Mitra, Trainer Mitra and Hygiene Mitra depending upon their respective roles and responsibilities.
During the event, the Minister also launched Eat Right Jhola which is a reusable, washable and bio-degradable bag. Eat Right Smart Jacket has been introduced to giving an identity to FSSAI staff to ensure transparent inspection. It’s embedded with an RFID tag and QR code.

3. Indian Railways to become net zero carbon emitter by 2030

Indian Railways (IR) has announced that it will become a net-zero carbon emitter by 2030. The move will be a part of India’s strategy to combat climate change.
The announcement was made by railways and commerce minister Piyush Goyal at the India Energy Forum by CERAWEEK in New Delhi. India is the biggest emitter of greenhouse gases after the US and China, and is among countries most vulnerable to climate change.
Indian railways is the world’s largest railway network. It has a rail network of around 1,25,000km under single management. IR is to go green by setting up solar power generation capacities in its large tracts of land along its network.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For RRB NTPC/IBPS RRB Mains:

John Mathai was the first Railways Minister of Independent India.

State News

4. UP Culture Dept to organise training & performance programme of KHON Ramlila

The Culture Department of Uttar Pradesh government is going to organise the country’s first training and performance programme of world-famous KHON Ramlila, a masked form of Ramlila art of Thailand in collaboration with the Thai government.
KHON Ramlila of Thailand is included in the list of UNESCO’s Intangible cultural heritage and it’s a form of masked dance depicting the scenes of Ramlila.
It has no dialogues and background voices narrate the whole story of Ramayana. KHON Ramlila’s performance is also a visual delight famous for its beautiful attire and golden masks.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For RRB NTPC/IBPS RRB Mains:

Thailand Capital: Bangkok; Currency: Baht.

Appointment

5. Kishan Dan Dewal concurrently accredited as the next Ambassador of India to Georgia

Kishan Dan Dewal (IFS officer of 2003 batch), has been concurrently accredited as the next Ambassador of India to Georgia. He will replace Yogeshwar Sangwan.
Dewal is presently serving as Ambassador of India to the Republic of Armenia.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For IBPS RRB Main 2019:

President of Georgia: Salome Zurabishvili; Prime Minister of Georgia: Giorgi Gakharia.
Capital of Georgia: Tbilisi; Currency of Georgia: Georgian lari.

6. J.P.S. Chawla assumes charge as new Controller General of Accounts

Government of India has appointed J. P. S. Chawla, (1985-batch Indian Civil Accounts Service (ICAS) Officer) as the new Controller General of Accounts (CGA), Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure. He will replace Girraj Prasad Gupta.
Prior to assuming the charge of CGA, Chawla served as Principal Chief Controller of Accounts, Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC) where he was instrumental in the finalisation of the accounting procedure and operationalisation of GST Network (GSTN) before the national rollout of GST.
He also played a key role in the integration of the IGST refund payment network of CBIC with the Public Financial Management System (PFMS) as part of the Government of India’s decision to digitise all Government receipts and payments through the PFMS portal of the Office of Controller General of Accounts.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For IBPS RRB Main 2019:

Controller General of Accounts headquarters: New Delhi.

7. Anoop Kumar Mendiratta appointed as new Law Secretary

Anoop Kumar Mendiratta has been appointed as the new Law Secretary (Secretary, Legal Affairs) in the Union Law Ministry. He is presently the District and Sessions Judge, North-East District, Karkardooma Courts, Delhi. He will serve in the position till 30 March 2023, or until he attains the age of 60.

Awards

8. India wins four UNESCO heritage awards

The UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation awards were announced at a ceremony held in Penang, Malaysia. 4 heritage landmarks from India were chosen for the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation 2019.

Heritage landmark	Award category	Place
Flora Fountain	Honourable mention	Mumbai
KenesethEliyahoo Synagogue	Award of Merit	Mumbai
Our Lady of Glory Church	Award of Merit	Mumbai
Vikram Sarabhai Library from (IIM)	Award of Distinction	Ahmedabad

Renewal of Tai Kwun Centre for Heritage and Arts in Hong Kong received the Award of Excellence, which is the highest award among all categories.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For RRB NTPC/IBPS RRB Mains:

UNESCO President: Audrey Azoulay; Founded: 16 November 1945.
Headquarters- Paris, France.

Summit and Conferences

9. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurates 41st DRDO Directors Conference in New Delhi

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the 41st DRDO Directors Conference in New Delhi. Chiefs of the three forces & DRDO Chairman G Satheesh Reddy were also present on the occasion.
The discussion included efforts taken by DRDO to ensure technological advancement of the Indian forces to safeguard the country.
It was suggested that DRDO can play a significant role in becoming a catalyst in the absorption of technology.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For RRB NTPC/IBPS RRB Mains:

DRDO was formed in 1958; It is headquartered in New Delhi.

Important Days

10. World Food Day: 16 October

World Food Day is celebrated every year around the world on 16 October in honor of the date of the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations in 1945.
The theme for WFD 2019 is “Our Actions Are Our Future”.
This day generates awareness globally for those who suffer from hunger and to ensure the need for food security and nutritious diets for all. The main focus of this day is that food is a basic and fundamental human right.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For RRB NTPC/IBPS RRB Mains:

Food and Agriculture Organization headquarters: Rome, Italy.
Food and Agriculture Organization Established: 16 October 1945.

Ranks and Reports

11. India ranked 102 in Global Hunger Index 2019

The 2019 Global Hunger Index (GHI) indicates that the level of hunger and undernutrition worldwide falls into the serious category. As per the index, India ranks 102nd out of 117 qualifying countries, with a score of 30.3.
India has slipped from 95th rank in 2010 to 102nd in 2019 on the Global Hunger Index (GHI), with the increase in the prevalence of wasting (low weight for height) among children with score under 5 contributing the most to the country’s poor performance.
Seventeen countries, including Belarus, Ukraine, Turkey, Cuba and Kuwait, shared the top rank with GHI scores less than 5.
There were only four countries in the alarming hunger category are Madagascar, Chad, Yemen and the Central African Republic in the extremely alarming hunger category.
The report warned that climate change was causing alarming levels of hunger and making it more difficult to feed people in the world’s most vulnerable regions.
The Global Hunger Index is a peer-reviewed annual report, jointly published by Concern Worldwide and Welthungerhilfe, designed to comprehensively measure and track hunger at the global, regional, and country levels.
The aim of the GHI is to trigger action to reduce hunger around the world.

12. IMF cuts World and India growth rates

The World Bank-International Monetary Fund (IMF) annual meetings kicked off on a somber note, with the IMF downgrading global growth in 2019 to 3%, the slowest since the global financial crisis.
India’s growth projections have also been downgraded to 6.1% and 7.0% in 2019 and 2020 respectively, down by 1.2 percentage points and 0.5 percentage points relative to April projections, owing to weaker than expected domestic demand. India’s growth rate in the April-June quarter had hit 5%, the lowest in six years, as per government data. Consumption, investment and exports were down.
The IMF projected the U.S. would grow at 2.4% and 2.1% in 2019 and 2020 respectively.
For China, growth was projected to grow at 6.1% and 5.8% in 2019 and 2020.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For RRB NTPC/IBPS RRB Mains:

MD of IMF: Kristalina Georgieva, Headquarters: Washington DC, USA.

Sports

13. Zimbabwe, Nepal readmitted as ICC members

Zimbabwe and Nepal were re-admitted as ICC members in a meeting held in Dubai.
Zimbabwe will now be able to take up their place in the ICC Men’s U19 Cricket World Cup in January and the ICC Super League later in 2020.
Zimbabwe Cricket had been suspended from membership of the International Cricket Council (ICC) with immediate effect in July this year. Nepal had been banned in 2016 for “governmental interference” as well.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For RRB NTPC/IBPS RRB Mains:

ICC Chairman: Shashank Manohar; Headquarters: Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
The 13th edition of ICC Cricket World Cup will be held in India from February 9 to March 26, 2023.

14. Mercedes’s Valtteri Bottas won 2019 Japanese Grand Prix

Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas (Finland) won the 2019 Japanese Grand Prix held at the Suzuka International Racing Course in Suzuka in Mie Prefecture, Japan.
Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel (Germany) and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton (Britain) were ranked at the 2nd and 3rd places respectively.