1. Haryana govt launches mobile water testing labs
- Haryana government has launched a mobile water testing laboratory van, fully equipped with a multi-parameter system containing analysers, sensor, probes and instruments meant for assessing water quality.
- Water quality in Haryana is mainly affected by constituents like total dissolved solids (TDS), fluoride, nitrate, iron and alkalinity.
- This initiative work under the Jal Jeevan Mission, which aims to provide tap water to rural households by 2024, is being done on a war footing and it gives a lot of emphasis on water quality surveillance and monitoring.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Governor of Haryana: Satyadeo Narayan Arya.
- Chief Minister of Haryana: Manohar Lal Khattar.
2. Kerala becomes 1st state to have completely digital, hi-tech classrooms
- Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan has declared the state public education sector completely digital as Kerala has become the first state in the country to have high-tech classrooms in all its public schools.
- The high-tech classroom project was implemented by Kerala Infrastructure and Technology for Education (KITE) with financial assistance from Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB).
- MP and MLA funds, local self-government institutions fund were also utilised for setting up the classrooms.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Chief Minister of Kerala: Pinarayi Vijayan; Governor: Arif Mohammad Khan.
3. Goa Govt ties up with India Post to get farmers enrolled in PM-KISAN scheme
- The Goa Government has tied up with India Post to get 11,000 farmers enrolled in the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sanman Nidhi scheme.
- This is the first such exercise in India to enrol farmers in the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme, whereby the postman will be utilised to benefit farmers. All 255 post offices in Goa and 300 staff are involved in this initiative.
- This PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme where the farmers directly received direct benefit transfer of Rs 2,000 in three instalments every year, is for the economically weaker farmers.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Goa Capital: Panaji.
- Governor of Goa: Bhagat Singh Koshyari.
- Chief Minister of Goa: Pramod Sawant.
4. ADB approves 300 million US dollar loan for Rajasthan’s water supply
- India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has signed a 300 million US dollar loan to finance inclusive and sustainable water supply and sanitation infrastructure and services in 14 secondary towns of the state of Rajasthan.
- The project aims at providing better quality and more sustainable Water Supply and Sanitation (WSS) services in the project towns. It will improve quality of life in these towns, including for the poor and vulnerable after signing the loan agreement.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Chief Minister of Rajasthan: Ashok Gehlot; Governor: Kalraj Mishra.
- President of Asian Development Bank: Masatsugu Asakawa.
- Asian Development Bank Headquarters: Mandaluyong, Philippines.
- Asian Development Bank Founded: 19 December 1966.
5. India Ranks 129 in CRI Index released by Oxfam
- India has been ranked 129 among 158 countries in the 2020 Commitment to Reducing Inequality (CRI) Index.
- The third edition of the index focuses on Fighting Inequality in the time of COVID-19.
- The 2020 CRI index has been topped by Norway. South Sudan is the lowest ranking country in the index at 158th position.
6. Prince William launches “Earthshot Prize” to boost climate innovation
- Britain’s Prince William and Naturalist David Attenborough have launched an “Earthshot Prize”, with an aim to encourage change and support to repair the planet.
- The Earth shot Prize aims to “incentivize change and help to repair our planet over the next 10 years,” and “turn pessimism into optimism” by rewarding innovative solutions to environmental problems.
- The first five Earthshots will be awarded for projects that focus on protecting and restoring nature and clean air, reviving oceans, fixing the climate and reducing waste.
7. Los Angeles Lakers wins 17th NBA Championship
- The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Miami Heat to win the National Basketball Association (NBA) Championship 2020.
- This is the 17th NBA title win for LA Lakers and also there first since 2010, after late Kobe Bryant’s fifth and final title a decade ago.
- LeBron James of the Lakers’ was named the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) for the fourth time in his career.
- With this, he became the first player in league history to be named Finals MVP with three different franchises.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- National Basketball Association (NBA) Championship Founded: 6 June 1946, New York, United States.
8. International Day for Disaster Reduction: 13 October
- The United Nations International Day for Disaster Reduction is observed globally on 13th October.
- The day is celebrated to promote a global culture of risk-awareness and disaster reduction and also celebrates how people and communities around the world are reducing their exposure to disasters and raising awareness about the importance of reining in the risks that they face.
- This year’s International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction is all about governance.
- You can measure good disaster risk governance in lives saved, reduced numbers of disaster-affected people and reduced economic losses.
- COVID-19 and the climate emergency are telling us that we need a clear vision, plans and competent, empowered institutions acting on scientific evidence for the public good.
9. Nagaland’s Environment Minister C M Chang passes away
- Nagaland’s environment minister, C M Chang passed away due to COVID-19. He was a retired IAS officer and former Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha (2009-13).
- He was elected to the Nagaland Legislative Assembly from 51 Noksen constituencies under Tuensang district in 2013 and later retained the same seat in 2018 on Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) ticket.
10. Former Indian Football Captain Carlton Chapman passed away
- Former Indian football captain, Carlton Chapman passed away. He was born on 13th April 1971 in Bengaluru, Karnataka. He announced his retirement from professional Football in 2001.
- He was the captain of the Indian team when India won the South Asian Football Federation Gold Cup in 1997.
- He was a leading midfielder played for Indian from 1995 to 2001. He joined Quartz FC, Kozhikode as the technical director in 2017.
11. PM Modi releases Rs 100 commemorative coin to honour Vijaya Raje Scindia
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi has released a commemorative coin of Rs 100 to mark the birth centenary of Rajmata Vijaya Raje Scindia, one of the founder member of the ruling BJP, through a virtual ceremony.
- The special coin has been minted by the Ministry of Finance.
- Vijaya Raje Scindia, who dedicated her life to poor people, is also popularly known as the Rajmata of Gwalior.
12. Assam Govt Hikes Wages Of Mid-Day Meal Workers
The Assam Government on Tuesday announced that it will hike the wages of mid-day meal workers of the schools by Rs. 500. This was announced by State Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
The minister said that the state government will add additional Rs. 500 to the existing salary of the mid-day meal workers. The benefits will be given to both the cook and the helper. The new wages will come into effect from April 1, the minister said. Earlier, the workers used to get Rs. 1000 which will now be increased to Rs. 1500.
13. Assam Govt Releases Durga Puja Protocol
The Assam Government released the Durga Puja protocol on Tuesday. State Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that there is no trouble in conducting Durga Puja but the committees will have to follow the guidelines issued by the government.
The minister, while addressing a press conference at Janata Bhawan today said that the puja committees will have to take permission of the Deputy Commissioners’.
The other guidelines issued by the government to celebrate Durga Puja are:
- The puja committees will have to conduct the puja in open pandals
- No cultural functions, competitions will be allowed during the puja
- The restaurants will have to be closed by 9 pm
- The main committee and the priests will have to mandatorily undergo the COVID-19 test on Panchami
- The committee members will also have to under test after idol immersion
- More than 50 persons will not be allowed in the pandals at a time
- The committee will have to ensure that the pilgrims should enter the pandal with proper hand sanitization
- No pillion riders will be allowed during Durga Puja barring ladies who will only be allowed for pillion riding
- The committees will have to ensure that there should be two gates in the pandals- Entry & Exit
14. Assam, Arunachal To Constitute Inter-State Panel
The Arunachal Pradesh and Assam administrations on Monday decided to constitute an inter-state committee to address the border disputes between the two northeastern states.
The committee, comprising deputy commissioners, superintendents of police and district forest officers of the bordering districts of the two states will resolve the border disputes in their areas at the district level, an official communiqu said as reported by news agency PTI.
The two states, agreed to maintain peace and status quo along the inter-state border to prevent unscrupulous elements from taking advantage of the border disputes during a chief secretary-level meeting.
The two top officials decided to regularly convene inter-state coordination meetings to resolve issues amicably, the report said.
It also stated that the two sides also decided to work together on issues like drug trafficking and the movement of extremists.
The officials also agreed to address the issues of cases pending against government officials over border disputes.
They decided to consult and engage community-based organisations to resolve border problems.
The two sides also decided to increase cultural exchanges between the people of the two states and to conduct sporting events.
The Arunachal Pradesh delegation comprised Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar, Home Commissioner Kaling Tayeng, DGP R P Upadhyaya, IGP (Law and Order) Chukhu Apa and deputy commissioners of Lower Siang, Lower Dibang Valley and Papumpare districts, besides Border Affairs Director Hage Lailang among others.
The Assam team comprised its Chief Secretary Sanjay Kumar Krishna, Additional Chief Secretary Jishnu Barua (Home and Political and Border Protection & Development), DGP Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta, SDGP (Border) Mukesh Agarwal among others.