National
Agriculture Reform Bills
The Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha passed two bills aimed at transforming agriculture in the country and raising farmers income. The Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 permits the electronic trading
of farmers’ produce and allows setting up of transaction platforms for facilitating direct online buying and selling of farm products. The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 provides for a farming agreement prior to the production or rearing of any farm produce. A guaranteed price to be paid for the purchase of farming produce will be mentioned in such agreements.
Rajya Sabha deputy chairman
National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate Harivansh Narayan Singh reelected as Rajya Sabha deputy chairman. He had beaten Manoj Kumar Jha of the Rashtriya Janatha Dal (RJD), who was the joint opposition candidate in a voice vote.
Literacy Rate
Kerala emerged as the most literate state in the country having 96.2 percent, while Andhra Pradesh featured at the bottom with a rate of 66.4 percent, showed a report based on National Statistical Office (NSO) survey. The report on ‘Household Social Consumption: Education in India’ as part of the ‘75th round of National Sample Survey - from July 2017 to June 2018’ provides the state-wise detail of literacy rate among the persons aged seven years and above. The report says that the overall literacy rate in the country is about 77.7 percent. In rural areas, the literacy rate is 73.5 percent compared to 87.7 percent in urban areas of the country. At the all-India level, the male
literacy rate is higher at 84.7 percent compared to 70.3 percent among women. The report also revealed that nearly 4 percent of rural households and 23 percent of urban household possessed computer. Among persons of age 15-29 years,
nearly 24 percent in rural areas and 56 percent in urban areas were able to operate a computer.
Blue Flag eco-label certification
On 18 September 2020, the Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said that eight beaches of the country have been recommended for the coveted 'Blue Flag' international eco-label. Blue Flag beaches are considered the cleanest beaches of the world. The eight beaches are Shivrajpur in Gujarat, Ghoghla in Daman & Diu, Kasarkod and Padubidri beach in Karnataka, Kappad in Kerala, Rushikonda in Andhra Pradesh, Golden beach of Odisha and Radhanagar beach in Andaman and Nicobar. The clean beaches are the testimony to the environment in the coastal area. Blue Flag certification is a globally recognised eco-label accorded by an international agency ‘Foundation for Environment Education, Denmark’ based on 33 stringent criteria in four major heads-environmental education and information, bathing water quality,
environment management and conservation and safety and services in the beaches. India has its eco-label called "BEAMS" and is e-hoisting the flag simultaneously at these eight beaches. "BEAMS" (Beach Environment & Aesthetics Management Services) has been launched by the Society of Integrated Coastal Management (SICOM, MoEFCC) under its Integrated Coastal Zone Management Project (ICZM).
Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle
On 7 September 2020, India successfully flight-tested the indigenouslydeveloped Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV), joining a select group of countries having the capability to develop the next-generation hypersonic cruise missiles. The HSDTV has a range of uses, including missiles of the future for air defence, surveillance and reconnaissance besides in the development of energy-efficient, low cost and reusable satellite-launch vehicles. Joining an elite group of countries i.e. the USA, Russia and China, who possess the technology.
International
New PM of Japan
Yoshihide Suga sworn in as the new Prime Minister of Japan by Emperor Naruhito. Suga replaced Shinzo Abe, the country’s longest-serving Prime Minister resigned from his position citing health reasons. Earlier he was elected as Prime Minister by the country's lower house of parliament.
Global Ayurveda Summit
Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu inaugurated CII Global Ayurveda Summit virtually on 15 September 2020. On this occasion he said that Ayurveda should tide over the challenges posed by Western medicine
and reach out to the world. India’s export of ayurvedic products is worth more than $ 780 million a year and the sector is expected to grow at a rate of 20 percent till 2022. A month long summit aims at showcasing Ayurveda and herbal medicine and promote the theme ‘Ayurveda for Immunity’.
G20 Environment Ministerial Meeting
On 16 September 2020, the G20 Environment Ministerial Meeting took place through video conferencing under the Presidency of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Union Environment Climate Change and Forest Minister Prakash Javadekar participated said that India took significant steps to protect environment and forest and wildlife as well as combating pollution and climate change.
Representing India, the minister applauded the launch of Global Initiative to reduce Land Degradation and Coral Reef program and two documents on climate change related to managing emissions and climate change adaptations under the G20 this year.
Venice Film Festival
77th edition of the Venice International Film Festival closing ceremony was held on 12 September 2020. Indian Filmmaker Chaitanya Tamhane’s Film “The Disciple” won the best Screenplay award. Chloe Zhao’s “Nomadland” won the prestigious Golden Lion award at the festival. The film stars Oscar-winner Frances McDormand as the lead. The festival's Grand Jury prize was awarded to Nuevo Orden (New Order) directed by Michel Franco. The best actor award
went to Italian star Pierfrancesco Favino in “Padrenostro” (Our Father) Silver lion grand jury prize conferred on ‘New Order’ of Michel Franco and Silver lion award for best director conferred on Kiyoshi Kurosawa of “Wife of a Spy”.
UN’s Commission on Status of Women
India defeated China to become member of UN’s Commission on Status of Women (UNCSW). It is a body of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). UNCSW is the principal global intergovernmental body exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women. India will be a member of the commission for four years from 2021.
Others
IPL 2020 The 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) kicked off at the Sheikh Zayed stadium in Abu Dhabi, U.A.E on 19 September 2020. The 53-day tournament was shifted from India to the U.A.E and will be played in three venues- Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Dubai. Mahendra Singh Dhoni led Chennai Super Kings defeated the defending champions Mumbai Indians led by Rohit Sharma by five wickets in the opening game. Ambati Rayudu smashed 71 runs off 48 balls, while Faf du Plessis cracked 58 off 44 balls helped CSK to win the game.
International Literacy Day
The 8th of September marks the celebration of International Literacy Day. This year theme is ‘Literacy teaching and learning in the Covid19 crisis and beyond.’ The theme highlights literacy learning in a lifelong learning perspective and therefore mainly focus on youth and adults. The 8th of September was proclaimed International Literacy Day by UNESCO in 1966 to remind the international community of the importance of literacy for individuals, communities and societies, and the need for intensified efforts towards more literate societies. The issue of literacy is a key component of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals and the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Model Questions
1. Who is appointed as the chairperson of National School of Drama?
1) Kangana Ranaut 2) Amitabh Bachchan 3) Paresh Rawal
4) Nasiruddin Shah 5) Akshay Kumar
2. Who resigned as the Union Minister for Food Processing Industries?
1) Piyush Goel 2) Ramvilas Paswan 3) Harsimrat Kaur Badal
4) Pralhad Joshi 5) Mahendra Nath Pandey
3. The list of Important days given. The wrong combination is…
1) Engineers day-15 September
2) World First Aid Day- Second Saturday of September
3) World Suicide Prevention Day10 September
4) International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies - 7 September
5) All of above correct
4. Union Minister of State for the Development of North Eastern Region Dr Jitendra Singh laid foundation stone for the construction of Arun Jaitley Memorial Sports Complex in….
1) Jammu 2) Ahmedabad 3) Kochi 4) Bhubaneswar 5) Cuttack
5. Which nation will host a summit of the council of heads of government of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) on 30 November 2020?
1) China 2) Russia 3) India 4) Uzbekistan 5) Kyrgyzstan
KEY: 1-3; 2-3; 3-5; 4-1; 5-3
