Daily Current Affairs and GK | 15 September 2020

1. Foundation stone laid for construction of LILO of Kishenganj-Darbhanga 400kV Transmission line in Bihar.

• Power and New renewable energy minister has laid foundation stone of Line In Line Out (LILO) Kishenganj –Darbhanga 400kV transmission line in Bihar.
• It will help to improve power scenario in Saharsa, Khagaria and Begusarai districts.
• POWERGRID Ltd is the implementing agency for this project.
• Saharsa is located in the Northern part of Bihar and is prone to floods.
• POWERGRID:
  • It is a Maharatna company headquartered in Gurugram.
  • It is a central PSU under the Ministry of Power.
  • It engaged in the work of power transmission, operation and maintenance of the Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS).

2. Yoshihide Suga elected as new leader to succeed PM Shinzo Abe.

• Japan's ruling party Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has elected Yoshihide Suga as its leader to succeed Shinzo Abe.
• Shinzo Abe had resigned due to health problems.
• Yoshihide Suga will be the new Prime Minister of Japan. He is currently the chief Cabinet secretary of Abe's government.
• Japan:
  • It is an island country of East Asia.
  • Its capital is Tokyo and currency is Japanese Yen.
  • Japan has parliamentary cabinet system and the Prime Minister is the head of the Executive.
  • PM is elected from Diet members.
  • Japanese parliament is known with the name of 'Diet'.

(Source: News on AIR)

3. A webinar on “In the Footsteps of the Buddha” under Dekho Apna Desh Webinar Series.

• A webinar titled “In the Footsteps of the Buddha” was presented by the Ministry of Tourism under Dekho Apna Desh Webinar series.
• It focused on the truth of overcoming suffering and bringing happiness to the individual, family and society by Buddha.
• Dekho Apna Desh Webinar Series is an effort to showcase India’s rich diversity under Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat.
• Minister of Tourism: Prahlad Singh Patel
• Buddha:
  • He was born into a noble family of the kshatriyas in Lumbini in 563 BCE.
  • His childhood name was Siddhartha Gautama and he belong Shakya clan.
  • He attained enlightenment under a peepal tree in Bodhgaya.
  • His first sermon is called Dharma Chakra Pravartana or the Turning of the Wheel of Law at Sarnath.
  • He explained the four noble truths:
    • World is full of suffering and misery.
    • Desire is the cause of suffering.
    • Suffering can be extinguished.
    • The path to end suffering is the Noble Eight Fold path- Right View, Right Thought, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness and Right Concentration.
  • He died in Kushinagara in UP. This is called Mahaparinibban.

(Source: PIB)

4. International Day of Democracy: 15 September

• International Day of Democracy is celebrated every year on 15 September to review the status of democracy in the world.
• UN General Assembly passed a resolution in 2007 to celebrate 15 September as the International Day of Democracy.
• Theme 2020: COVID-19: A Spotlight on Democracy
• COVID-19 crisis has resulted in social, political and legal challenges worldwide. As every country is adopting measures to fight this pandemic, it is very important that these states uphold the rule of law, protect and respect international standards and basic principles of legality, and the right to access justice, remedies and due process of law.
• It is important for the governments globally to be transparent, responsive and accountable in their response to COVID-19 pandemic.
• This day presents an opportunity to urge all the governments to respect their citizen’s rights to active, substantive and meaningful participation in democracy.
• The first International Day of Democracy was celebrated in 2008.
• SDG 16: Promote just, peaceful and inclusive societies.

5. Engineer’s Day: 15 September

• Engineer’s Day is celebrated to commemorate the birth anniversary of India’s greatest engineer Sir M Vishweshvaraya. 
• He was born on 15 September 1861 in Karnataka.
• He constructed many dams in India, including Krishna Raja Sagara dam.
• He was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1955.
• He wrote many books like Reconstructing India, Planned Economy of India, etc.
• He was also called the “precursor of economic planning in India” as per IEI.

6. Shweta Kapila recognised as Goan breed.

• Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)- National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR) has recognized Shweta Kapila as a Goan breed.
• This breed of cow is found in Valpoi, Saakeri and other areas of Goa.
• Shweta Kapila breed of cow gives more nutritious milk than other breeds.
• National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR):
  • Two institutes, namely National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources and National Institute of Animal Genetics, were established in Bangalore in 1984. In 1985, the institutes were shifted to Karnal.
  • In 1995, the two institutes were merged to form the National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR).
  • The institute is responsible for the identification, evaluation, characterization, conservation and utilization of livestock and poultry genetic resources of the country.

(Source: The Hindu Businessline)

7. ADB appoints Takeo Konishi as its new Country Director for India.

• Takeo Konishi has been appointed as Asian Development Bank’s new Country Director for India.
• He has succeeded Kenichi Yokoyama, who has been appointed as Director-General of ADB’s South Asia Department.
• Mr. Konishi will oversee the implementation of ADB’s India Country Partnership Strategy, 2018-2022.
• Asian Development Bank (ADB):
  • It is a regional development bank established in 1966.
  • Headquarters: Mandaluyong, Philippines
  • Members: 68 countries
  • Current President: Masatsugu Asakawa
  • India is currently ADB’s fourth-largest shareholder and has been its largest borrower since 2010.
  • ADB has provided support of $1.5 billion to the Indian government for immediate response to COVID-19.

(Source: The Hindu Businessline)

8. DP World signed up as global logistics partner of RCB.

• DP World has signed up as the global logistics partner of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB).
• For this, a long term sponsorship agreement has been signed between the two parties.
• DP World is a Dubai government-owned ports and logistics firm.
• DP World is a global partner of the European Tour and Title Sponsor of the DP World Tour Championship.
• European Golf icon Ian Poulter is the Global Brand Ambassador of DP World.

9. Harivansh re-elected as Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha.

• Harivansh Narayan Singh has been re-elected as the Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha.
• The Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha is elected from the members of Rajya Sabha.
• In case of the absence of Chairman, the Deputy Chairman presides over the proceedings of the Rajya Sabha.
• S V Krishnamoorthy Rao was the first Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha. 
• Rajya Sabha:
  • It is also called the Council of States. It is the upper house of the Parliament.
  • Article 80 of the Indian Constitution states that the maximum strength of Rajya Sabha is 250. Out of this, 12 are nominated by the President while 238 represents the states and two UTs- Delhi and Puducherry.
  • The current strength is 245 members.
  • The allocation of seats to the States and UTs in Rajya Sabha is given in the Fourth Schedule.
  • Vice President of India is the ex-officio chairman of Rajya Sabha.

(Source: News on AIR)

10. Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2020 and two other bills introduced in Lok Sabha.

• Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2020, Factoring Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2020 and Bilateral Netting of Qualified Financial Contracts Bill 2020 have been introduced in Lok Sabha.
• Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2020 will replace Banking Regulation (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020, which was issued by the government on 26 June 2020 to amend Banking Regulation Act, 1949.
• If the bill becomes an act, it will amend section 45 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 and RBI will be able to prepare reconstruction scheme for banks without first imposing a moratorium on the withdrawal of deposits.
• The bill will bring urban cooperative banks (UCBs) and multi-state cooperative banks (MSCBs) under RBI’s regulations, which apply to commercial banks.
• The bill does not bring any changes to the regulation of cooperative banks by state cooperative laws.
• Currently, urban cooperative banks are facing losses, not meeting minimum regulatory capital requirements and having negative net worth.
• Factoring Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2020 will amend the Factoring Regulation Act 2011 and allows certain non-banking financial companies to participate in factoring business and as a financier in Trade Receivables electronic Discount System (TReDS) platform.
• Bilateral Netting of Qualified Financial Contracts Bill 2020 aims to provide enforceability of bilateral netting of qualified financial contracts.
• In bilateral netting, two counterparties in a contract can offset claims against and decide a single net payment obligation due to be exchanged between them. 

11. National Commission for Homoeopathy Bill and National Commission for Indian System of Medicine Bill passed in Parliament.

• The National Commission for Homoeopathy Bill 2020 and the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine Bill 2020 have been passed by the Parliament.
• Both bills aim to ensure an adequate supply of quality medical professionals for homoeopathy and the Indian System of Medicine.
• National Commission for Homoeopathy Bill 2020 seeks to replace the Homoeopathy Central Council Act, 1973.
• It also aims to set up a National Commission for Homoeopathy. There will be 20 members in this Commission, including a Chairperson, President of the Homoeopathy Education Board, DG of the National Institute of Homoeopathy, among others.
• National Commission for Indian System of Medicine Bill 2020 will repeal the Indian Medicine Central Council Act, 1970.
• It proposes to set up a National Commission for Indian System of Medicine that will consist of 29 members, including a Chairperson, President of the Board of Ayurveda, President of the Board of Unani, Siddha, and Sowa-Rigpa, among others.
• The two bills also propose setting up of Advisory Councils for both Homoeopathy as well as for Indian System of Medicine.
• The bills also propose a National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for admission to both undergraduate and Post-Graduate courses of Homoeopathy and for various disciplines of Indian System of Medicine.

12. Potential sign of alien life detected on Venus.

• The researchers detected a gas called phosphine in the harshly acidic clouds of Venus using the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope in Hawaii.
• This indicates that microbes may inhibit Venus giving a sign of possible life beyond Earth. As on Earth, phosphine is produced by bacteria in anaerobic environments.
• The detection of phosphine was confirmed using the Atacama Large Millimeter/ submillimeter Array (ALMA) radio telescope in Chile.
• Phosphine (PH3) is a colorless, flammable and explosive gas that is highly toxic to humans. It is a phosphorus atom with three hydrogen atoms attached.
• Venus:
  • It is called the morning star and evening star. It is also known as the twin sister of Earth due to similar size and structure.
  • It is the second planet from the Sun, followed by Earth.
  • It is the hottest planet in the Solar system.
  • One day on Venus lasts for 243 Earth Days. It spins in the opposite direction of the Earth with Sun rising in the west and setting in the east.
  • Venus does not have any moons or rings.
  • The surface temperature of Venus is around 465 °C.

(Source: The Hindu Businessline)