Test : September 2019 Weekly Current Affair - 5" - Current Affairs MCQ

On September 15, 2019, Mayank Vaid became the first Indian and the 44th person to complete Enduroman, a triathlon from England to France which is considered as toughest endurance competition in the world. The event started in Marble Arch, London and ended in Arc de Triomphe, Paris, France. He also broke the world record for the shortest completion time in the ‘Enduroman – Arch to Arc’ triathlon in 50 hours and 24 minutes.

5 days maiden trilateral exercise of Singapore, India and Thailand named SITMEX (Singapore-India-Thailand Maritime Exercise) was commenced on September 16, 2019 at Port Blair, the capital of Andaman and Nicobar islands to strengthen the maritime relationships of the three countries and to enhance security. The maiden IN-RSN-RTN Trilateral exercise will conclude on September 20, 2019.

On September 14, 2019 the opening ceremony of exercise “TSENTR 2019” which forms part of the Russian Armed Forces’ annual training cycle, under the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation(SCO) and Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), was conducted at the DONGUZ ranges near Orenburg, Russia. 8 SCO member countries inclusive of Russia namely China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India, and Pakistan are participating in the exercise that will conclude on 23 September 2019. The exercise which mainly focuses on countering international terrorism, comprises of two modules where the first module focuses on counter-terror operations,defensive measures and the second module focuses on offensive operations.

India’s GDP (Gross Domestic Product) growth recorded for the Q1(Apr-June) 2019-20 is 5% which is at a six-year low.

On September 16, 2019, The Export Credit Guarantee Corporation (ECGC) has released a new Export Credit Insurance Scheme (ECIS) called NIRVIK (Niryat Rin Vikash Yojana) to ease the lending of loan to exporters so that they can get loans easily from banks. The details of the scheme were shared by Union Minister of Commerce and Industry and Railways, Piyush Goyal during a press conference at New Delhi. Central government will also give support of 8,500 crore rupees to ECGC in the next five years.

On September 16, 2019 Bangladesh Prime Minister(PM) Sheik Hasina was awarded Dr Kalam Smriti International Excellence Award for the year 2019 in Dhaka, Bangladesh. She was awarded by T.P. Sreenivasan, Chief Adviser of the Dr Kalam Smriti International Advisory Council for her contribution in holding a healthy relation between India and Bangladesh,International peace and cooperation. With this award, Hasina has so far received 37 international accolades.

On September 16, 2019, renowned Indian photographer Raghu Rai was chosen as the first recipient of the inaugural “Acadmie des beaux-arts Photography Award – William Klein” for the year 2019 and will be awarded in the Palais de l’Institut de France, Paris, France on October 30. The award is named in honour of William Klein, the American born French photographer and filmmaker. The award, which will be conducted once in every two years alternating with Photography Prize Marc Ladreit de Lacharrière, will reward the photographer of all nationalities and ages for their entire career in photography. The award carries a monetary prize of 1,20,000 euros.

Asia’s first environment school named World Environment School, Coorg (WESc) was launched on the occasion. It is set up in Coorg, Karnataka.It will be operational from 2021 for grade 6 to 12 students and educate the next generation of environmental leaders.

India’s first Central Police University will be established in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh near the Yamuna Expressway with the aim to improve the law and order of the country. In-Principle approval has been given by the centre for the establishment of the university and 100 acres of land has also been identified for this in Sector Techzone, Greater Noida.

On September 16, 2019 president of Sri Lanka(SL) Shri Maithripala Sirisena unveiled “Lotus tower” which is the tallest tower of South Asia that cost over $100 million. 80% of the funding cost of the tower situated in Colombo, Srilanka has been done by China under the Belt and Road Initiative(BRI).Building features: It is a 350-meter-tall building having 17 storeys spread over an area of 30,600 sq. metres.

On September 17, 2019, Airtel Payments Bank, a public limited company with its headquarters in New Delhi has launched “Bharosa” savings account services with the aim of deepening the financial inclusion in India. Customers of Airtel Payments Bank will get personal accident insurance up to Rs 5 Lakh, even with the minimum balance of 500. However, the customer will need to make a debit transaction at least once a month.

Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Labour and Employment Santosh Kumar Gangwar notified that over 6 crore members of the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) will get 8.65% interest on deposits, which will be credited to the accounts, for 2018-19 after the approval from the Ministry of Finance. The decision was made on February 21, 2019.

On September 15, 2019 Meghalaya based rights activist Agnes Kharshiing, the survivor of coal mafia assaults a year ago, was honoured with Turkish award, the 11th International Hrant Dink award for the year 2019 along with Nebahat Akkoç, Turkish activist against male violence at the Lutfi Kirdar International Convention and Exhibition Centre, in Istanbul. Agnes is awarded for defending women, children and poor rights, environmental rights. The award was presented to them commemorating the memory of Turkish-American journalist Hrant Dink who was assassinated in 2007 in Istanbul, Turkey.

On September 17, 2019, The president of Asian Development Bank (ADB), Takehiko Nakao has announced his resignation effective from January 16, 2020. The new president will be elected in accordance with an open, transparent and merit-based principle.President of ADB Takehiko Nakao resigns. Takehiko joined as the president of ADB on April 28, 2013

On September 17, 2019, The smiling panda, named Bing Dwen Dwen was revealed as the official mascot for Beijing Winter Olympics 2022 at a ceremony held at Shougang Ice Hockey Arena in Beijing, China. A walking Chinese lantern Shuey Rhon Rhon was declared as the official mascot for Winter Paralympics 2022.

Upon promulgation of the Ordinance, any production, manufacturing, import, export, transport, sale (including online sale), distribution or advertisement (including online advertisement) of e-cigarettes shall be a cognizable offence punishable with an imprisonment of up to one year or fine up to Rs. 1 lakh or both for the first offence; and imprisonment of up to three years and fine up to Rs. 5 lakh for a subsequent offence.

The Defence Minister of India Mr Rajnath Singh at the 2nd annual session of the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM) for 2019 in New Delhi addressed that India will achieve $26 billion defence industry target by 2025.

On September 17, 2019 according to the report by the United Nations(UN) named ‘The International Migrant Stock 2019’, India topped the country of origin of international migrants in 2019 with 17.5 million migrants globally, making it the largest diaspora in the world. Currently the world’s migrant population stands at 272 million in 2019, according to the report which grew by 23% over a decade.

Raazi won the Best Film award in the 20th edition of NEXA International Indian Film Academy Awards (IIFA Awards) for 2019 in Mumbai, Maharashtra.

A documentary film, “Moti Bagh” based on the life of a farmer Vidya dutt Sharma (82) , who belongs to a remote village in Pauri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand has been nominated for an Oscar 2020. The film, directed by Nirmal Chander Dandriyal, shows the struggles of Sharma to keep his farm alive and on deserted hilly land.

Belgium remain on top of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association(FIFA) Men’s ranking as on 19th September, 2019.
FIFA Rankings Men – Top 10 Teams
1. Belgium
2. France (+1)
3. Brazil (-1)
4. England
5. Portugal (+1)
6. Uruguay (-1)
7. Spain (+2)
8. Croatia (-1)
9. Colombia (-1)
10. Argentina

On September 18, 2019 the Indian army conducted massive integrated exercise named ‘Chang Thang’ in the Eastern Ladakh region bordering China in a very high altitude area in order to test and improve its capabilities in war fighting. The exercise involved all the arms of the Indian army like T-72 tanks, artillery guns and helicopters, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles etc. The exercise was monitored by Lieutenant General Ranbir Singh, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command.

A new provision was inserted in the Income-tax Act with effect from FY 2019-20 to attract fresh investments in manufacturing companies and boost ‘Make-in-India’ initiative. Any new domestic company incorporated on or after October 1, 2019 making fresh investment in manufacturing was given an option to pay income-tax at the rate of 15% from earlier 25%. It is available to the companies which do not avail any exemption/incentive and commence their production on or before March 31, 2023.

On September 19, 2019 Capital market regulator SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India) has formed a 15-member committee headed by Ishaat Hussain, Director at State Bank of India(SBI) Foundation and former Tata Sons Director, to suggest possible measures and regulations in creating the ‘social stock exchanges’. The formation of this committee comes after Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s maiden union budget speech to take the capital markets closer to inclusive growth and financial inclusion.

On September 19, 2019, the Indian Air force (IAF) has appointed Air Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria to take over as the next and 26th chief of air staff. Currently serving as the Vice Chief of the IAF, Bhadauria will replace incumbent Chief BS Dhanoa who will be superannuated on September 30, 2019