Current Affairs: September 13, 2019

Indian, Chinese soldiers engage in face-off briefly near Pangong Tso Lake in Ladakh

Soldiers of Indian and Chinese Army were engaged in a face-off near the northern bank of Pangong Tso Lake in Ladakh but disengaged after talks between the two sides there.

Prime Minister inaugurates multi-modal cargo terminal on River Ganga at Sahibganj in Jharkhand

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a multi-modal cargo terminal on River Ganga at Sahibganj online from Ranchi. It has been built by Inland Waterways Authority of India.

Prime Minister launches Kisan Maan Dhan Yojana (KMDY), a pension scheme for farmers at Ranchi

PM launched Kisan Maan Dhan Yojana (KMDY) for farmers in Ranchi that will provide pension of Rs 3,000 per month farmers on attaining the age of 60. Farmers between the age of 18 to 40 years can join.

PM launches National Pension Scheme for Traders and Self-Employed Persons from Ranchi

PM launched the National Pension Scheme for Traders and Self-Employed Persons in Ranchi. It is open for traders with annual turnover not exceeding Rs 1.5 crore. Pension of Rs 3,000 per month will be provided on attaining the age of 60. Traders between the age of 18 to 40 years can join.

New Jharkhand Vidhan Sabha building inaugurated by Prime Minister in Ranchi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the New Jharkhand Vidhan Sabha building in Ranchi. He also inaugurated Eklavya Model Residential schools to provide quality education to ST students in tribal-dominated areas.

Study of Artificial Intelligence introduced at school level

Ministry of Human Resource and Development has prepared a module to introduce the study of Artificial Intelligence at the school level by joining hands with the technology leaders like Intel.

India becomes a member of Global Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Research and Development (R&D) hub

India has joined the Global Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Research and Development (R&D) hub as a new member. This was announced by the Department of Biotechnology.

India to host first Military Medicine Conference of SCO countries

First Military Medicine Conference of Shanghai Co-operation Organisation (SCO) countries is being held in New Delhi on September 12-13. Organised by HQ IDS (Headquarter Integrated Defence Staff)

Mukhya Mantri Dal Poshit Yojana launched in Uttarakhand

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat launched the ‘Mukhya Mantri Dal Poshit Yojana’ under which ration card holders will get two kgs of pulses at subsidised rates every month.

A committee formed by National Green Tribunal (NGT) to tackle illegal groundwater extraction

Expressing concern over depleting groundwater levels, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has set up a committee to formulate steps required to prevent its unauthorised extraction.

Maitree – 2019, the Indo-Thailand Joint Military Exercise to be held in Meghalaya

Joint Military Exercise MAITREE-2019 between India and Thailand will be conducted at Foreign Training Node, Umroi (Meghalaya) from 16-29 Sep 2019.

BSE Sensex: 37,104.28 (–166.54), NSE Nifty: 10,981.05 (–54.65)

The barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, fell 166.54 points or 0.45% to 37,104.28. The Nifty 50 index declined 54.65 points or 0.50% to 10,981.05.

Risk weight requirement for consumer loans reduced from 125% to 100%

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) reduced the risk weight requirement for consumer loans to 100% from 125%, a move that will reduce cost of such loans.

India’s industrial production grows by 4.3% in July 2019

India’s factory output, as measured by the Index of Industrial Production (IIP), grew 4.3% in July 2019 (6.5% in July 2018.), dragged mainly by manufacturing sector’s poor show.

Inflation based on the Consumer Price Index (retail inflation) remains 3.21% in August

Inflation based on the Consumer Price Index (retail inflation), inched up to a 10-month high of 3.21% in August mainly due to higher prices of food items like meat and fish, vegetables and pulses.

Gujarat keeps up as top state in LEADS (Logistics Ease Across Different States) Index for 2019

Gujarat has retained the top slot on the LEADS (Logistics Ease Across Different States) 2019 index which is an indicator of the efficiency of logistical services necessary for promoting exports.

Hima Das is the new brand ambassador of Gatorade by PepsiCo

Indian female sprinter Hima Das was named as the brand ambassador of Gatorade by PepsiCo

India’s ambassador to UAE Navdeep Singh Suri conferred with the Order of Zayed II honour

Outgoing India’s ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Navdeep Singh Suri conferred with the Order of Zayed II, the highest civilian honour in the country, by President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Times Higher Education World University Ranking: No Indian university in top 100

No Indian university has figured in top 100 of the Times Higher Education World University Ranking. Six Indian universities including five IITs (Ropar, Indore, Delhi, Bombay, Kharagpur) and IISc, Bengaluru in top 500.

17 Indian peacekeepers in UNMISS awarded medals

Seventeen Indian peacekeepers deployed with the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) have been awarded medals in recognition of their service to the people in the world’s youngest country.

Chhaya Sharma wins 2019 Asia Society Game Changers award

Indian woman police officer Chhaya Sharma, who led the investigation into the brutal 2012 Nirbhaya gangrape, among the six winners of the 2019 Asia Society Game Changers award announced in New York

September 12: International Day for South-South Cooperation

International Day for South-South Cooperation was observed on September 12 with its theme as ‘From Commitment to Action — Follow up to Buenos Aires Plan of Action+40’.

Tonga’s Prime Minister Akilisi Pohiva dies in Auckland (NZ)

Tonga’s Prime Minister Akilisi Pohiva, who is credited with helping bring democracy to the small Pacific island nation, died in Auckland (New Zealand) at the age of 78.

Feroz Shah Kotla renamed as Arun Jaitley stadium

Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) renamed the Feroz Shah Kotla as Arun Jaitley stadium in memory of the late politician-cum-sports-administrator.