Daily Current Affairs, 11th September 2020

1) PM Modi to launch “Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana”

•Prime Minister Narendra Modi will digitally launch the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana. Along with the scheme, the PM will also launch e-Gopala application. The scheme aims to enhance fish production to 70 lakh tonnes by 2024-25. It aims to double the income of fish farmers.

•The Prime Minister will also inaugurate one-unit fish feed mill at Madhepura, Bihar and two units of ‘Fish on Wheels’ at Patna under ‘blue revolution’. He will also interact with the beneficiaries on the occasion.

2) Shipping Minister launches ‘SAROD-Ports’ for disputes of maritime sector

•Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has launched a dispute redressal mechanism named “SAROD-Ports” (Society for Affordable Redressal of Disputes-Ports) to facilitate affordable and timely resolution of disputes for the maritime sector.

3) Climate Smart Cities Assessment Framework (CSCAF 2.0) launched

Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs (I/C), Shri Hardeep Singh Puri has launched the Climate Smart Cities Assessment Framework (CSCAF) 2.0. The framework was launched during a virtual event organized by the Smart Cities Mission, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA). Along with the CSCAF 2.0, the minister also launched the ‘Streets for People Challenge’.

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The objective of Climate Smart Cities Assessment Framework (CSCAF) is to provide a clear roadmap for cities towards combating Climate Change while planning and implementing their actions along with investments. CSCAF initiative intends to inculcate a climate-sensitive approach to urban planning and development in India. The framework has 28 indicators across five categories namely:
•Energy and Green Buildings
•Urban Planning, Green Cover & Biodiversity
•Mobility and Air Quality
•Water Management
•Waste Management

The Streets for People Challenge is the response to the need for making our cities more walkable and pedestrian friendly. It aims to inspire cities to create walking-friendly and vibrant streets through quick, innovative, and low-cost measures. The Challenge will support cities across the country to develop a unified vision of streets for people in consultation with stakeholders and citizens.

4) GoI constitutes committee for assessment of relief to bank borrowers

•Government of India has constituted an Expert Committee for making an overall assessment of relief to bank borrowers related to waiver of interest and waiver of interest on interest on the COVID-19 related moratorium. State Bank of India will provide secretarial support to the committee. The Committee may consult banks or other stakeholders, as deemed necessary, for the purpose.

5) First batch of five Rafale aircraft formally inducted into IAF

•The first batch of five Rafale fighter jets was formally inducted into the Indian Air Force (IAF) on 10 September 2020 at the Air Force Station in Ambala. They have been inducted in the Indian Air Force’s 17 Squadron ‘Golden Arrows’ based in Ambala. The first five Rafale aircraft had arrived from France on 27 July 2020.

6) Conclave on “School Education in 21st Century” begins

•A two-day conclave on ‘School Education in 21st Century’ commenced virtually. The conclave has been organised by Ministry of Education as part of Shikshak Parv 2020. Shikshak Parv is being celebrated from 8th-25th September, 2020 to felicitate the teachers and to take New Education Policy 2020 forward. The conclave was addressed by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi under the National Education Policy- 2020 (NEP-2020).

•The conclave featured the discussions held in two technical sessions on six subjects of New Education Policy 2020. The first technical session started with a discussion on the subject of ‘Foundational Literacy and Numeracy’. Some other subjects on which discussions were held: “Art Integrated and Toy Integrated Pedagogy”; “Early Childhood Care and Education”; “Teaching in Mother Tongue”; and “No hard separation”.

7) First India-France-Australia Trilateral Dialogue held virtually

•The first India-France-Australia Trilateral Dialogue was held virtually. The meeting was held with the objective of building on the strong bilateral relations that the three countries share with each other and synergising their respective strengths to ensure a peaceful, secure, prosperous and rules-based Indo-Pacific Region. During the dialogue, the three sides discussed economic and geostrategic challenges and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and domestic responses to COVID-19.

•The meeting was co-chaired by Foreign Secretary of India, Harsh Vardhan Shringla,  French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs Secretary-General, François Delattre and  Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Secretary, Frances Adamson.

•The three countries also had an exchange on the priorities, challenges and trends in regional and global multilateral institutions, including the best ways to strengthen and reform multilateralism. Cooperation on Marine Global Commons and potential areas for practical cooperation at the trilateral and regional level were also discussed, including through regional organisations such as ASEAN, IORA and the Indian Ocean Commission.

8) Crisil projects India’s GDP for FY21 at -9%

•CRISIL has projected India’s GDP rate at -9% for the financial year 2020-21 (FY21). CRISIL revising its forecast down from 5% owing to uncertainty over the spread of Covid-19 and lack of adequate financial support from the government.

•For FY22, Crisil has projected India’s GDP to grow at 10%. For the next three years, between fiscals 2023 and 2025, CRISIL projects the Indian GDP to average a growth of 6.2% annually.




9) ICICI Bank introduces ‘iStartup2.0’

•ICICI Bank has launched a new product named “iStartup 2.0”, to cater to the banking needs of startups and entrepreneurs. The programme for startups that takes care of their banking as well as beyond-banking needs such as regulatory assistance, analytics, staffing, accounting, customer acquisition and digital outreach to customers, among others.

10) Former health secretary Preeti Sudan appointed WHO panellist

•The World Health Organisation’s independent panel for pandemic preparedness and response appointed former health secretary, Preeti Sudan as one of its 11 panellists from across the world. The decision by the panel’s two heads, former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clarke and former Liberia President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

•In a meeting of the Chairs, Helen Clarke is believed to have conveyed that Sudan’s experience as the head of the government ministry that led India’s response to the pandemic makes her much more suited for the job.

•The panel stated that while it reviewed more than 120 people, it made the final appointments based on skills (including expertise in outbreak response, managing national health systems, leadership in youth and community engagement, socio-economic analytical capabilities), knowledge about the international system including WHO and experience from similar international processes.

11) NSDC, LinkedIn partner to provide digital skills training for youth

•National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and LinkedIn have announced a partnership to provide access to free learning resources for digital skills. A total of 10 learning paths consisting of 140 courses will be made available for free on e-Skill India digital platform until March 31, 2021.

12) Mastercard launches Central Bank Digital Currency testing platform

•Mastercard has launched “Central Bank Digital Currencies” (CBDCs), a Virtual Testing Environment for Central Banks to Assess and Explore National Digital Currencies. Mastercard has invited Central Banks, Commercial Banks and tech and advisory firms to evaluate the suitability of CBDCs in a country or region.

13) Police Officer Poonam Khatri crowned Wushu World Champion

•Indian Police Officer, Poonam Khatri has claimed World Championship status after her silver medal at the Wushu World Championship last year has been upgraded to a Gold medal. Poonam hails from Haryana’s Jhajjar district.

•Poonam had lost the final to Iranian opponent Mariyam in the Women’s 75 kg category but after Mariyam recently failed the dope test, the gold medal has been awarded to Poonam Khatri. The information was clarified by Secretary-General of the Indian Wushu Association, Suhel Ahmed.