Current Affairs - October 20, 2017 Current Affairs

Jaipur and Srinagar Airport got first and second rank respectively in the category of 2-5 million passengers in Airport Council International (ACI)-Airport Service Quality (ASQ) Survey. This is for the second consecutive time Jaipur Airport has been rated the Best Airport in the World in the traffic volume of 2 to 5 million passengers per year. Jaipur was ranked as the Best Airport in the same category in 2016. The Airport Service Quality (ASQ) Awards are the aviation industry's most prestigious honours. It measures passengers views on indicators like airport access, check-in, security screening, restrooms, stores and restaurants.

Assam State Government rolled out 'Tourism Policy of Assam 2017' with an aim to increase tourist inflow in the state by at least two to three times within next five years. Tourism Policy of Assam 2017' will be effective from January 2018 to December 2022. In the policy, special emphasis has been laid on making the state a preferred destination of film making by offering a range of incentives to movie producers.

Indian Army organises Jashn -e-Kokernag to strengthen jawan-awam relationship. With the slogan of"Jawan aur Awaam Amun Hai Muqam"( Army and Locals together, peace will prevail ), 19 batch Rashtriya Rifles of the Indian Army on 19th October 2017 organised 'Jashn-e-Breng' festival in Kokernag village of the Anantnag district to promote peace and brotherhood between security forces and the local population.

Environmental scientist Hans Joachim Schellnhuber received Blue Planet Prize, world's most prestigious award for pioneers in environmental science. He is the second recipient of the Blue Planet Prize. She has been awarded for her research about biodiversity and natural capital. Blue Planet Prize was instituted by Asahi Glass Foundation ( an affiliate of Asahi Glass manufacturing company of Japan) in 1992.

The first-ever Tri-Services Joint Exercise between Indian and Russian Armed Forces, INDRA-2017 began. The Indian contingent comprises of 350 personnel from Army, 80 from Air Force, two IL 76 aircraft and one Frigate and Corvette each from the Navy. It is a landmark event in the history of Indo-Russian defense co-operation and will strengthen mutual confidence, inter-operability and enable sharing of best practices between both the armed forces.

The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) has approved three foreign direct investment (FDI) proposals, including that of Merlin Entertainment-owned Madame Tussauds, to open single-brand retail. Madame Tussauds is expected to open its first museum in India in Delhi. DIPP has approved 20 single-brand retail proposals worth Rs.4,900 crore.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued revised guidelines on Interest Subvention Scheme under Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM), stating that banks will provide funds to women Self Help Groups (SHGs) in rural areas at 7 per cent under the DAY-NRLM in current fiscal, 2017-18. These guidelines will be implemented by 21 public sector banks and 19 private banks. Women SHGs availing credit up to Rs. 3 lakh rupees will be eligible for this interest subvention scheme.

Indian-American Gitanjali Rao, 11, was announced the winner of Discovery Education's 3M Young Scientist Challenge. The sensor-based device detects the quality of water and shares the results to a mobile application via Bluetooth. There are over 5,000 water systems in the US alone with lead contamination issues. Detection and preventive action can help mitigate the problem.

The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) appointed NRI businessman Sunny Verghese, co-founder, and CEO of Singapore-based Olam International, as its new chairman from 2018. He succeeds Paul Polman, CEO of Unilever as the Chairman. It is a global network of more than 200 CEOs who are responsible for a combined revenue of more than $ 8.5 trillion and 19 million employees.

Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurated the first phase of Piped Natural Gas supply system in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. In the first phase, 255 houses in Nalco Nagar in Chandrasekharpur of Bhubaneswar were supplied with environment-friendly PNG. As part of the City Gas Distribution project, around 25 thousand households in twin-city Bhubaneswar and Cuttack would get PNG connection by end of next year.

India, Brazil and South Africa (IBSA) have signed the IBSA Trust Fund Agreement that seeks to fight poverty in developing countries. It was signed at the 8th IBSA trilateral Ministerial Commission Meeting in Durban, South Africa. It is an international tripartite grouping for promoting international cooperation among these countries.

Kotak Mahindra Bank in collaboration with financial technology firm Zeta has launched a multi-wallet digital prepaid solution for salaried employees named 'Paymint'. It will be able to manage multiple reimbursements and allowances offered to employees including meal vouchers, medical reimbursements, travel allowances, conveyance and other similar allowances. Paymint will not only help corporate to get rid of cumbersome process of executing employee benefits programme but will also simplify the process for employees.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadanvis announced that the State Government has released a sum of Rs 4,000 crore under the first phase of the farm loan waiver scheme. Out of Rs 4000 crore, Rs 3200 crore is for writing off the loans of 4.62 lakh farmers and Rs 800 crore will be distributed as incentive for 3.78 lakh farmers who are paying their loans on time.

20th October 2010 is observed as World Statistics Day. The theme for the year 2017 is Better Data, Better Lives. It emphasizes the critical role of high-quality official statistical information in analysis and informed policy decision-making in support of sustainable development.