Current Affairs 27-28 October, 2019

1. Odisha govt inks LoU for 'drink from tap mission' with UNICEF

• In a bid to provide quality drinking water to every urban household in the state, Odisha has inked a Letter of Understanding (LoU) on "drink from tap mission" with the United Nations Children's Fund UNICEF.
• According to the Housing and Urban Development Department, UNICEF will provide technical cooperation to the government of Odisha for implementation of the "drink from tap" program which aims at providing piped quality drinking water supply to each household on a 24-hour basis, in first phase 1.20 lakh people are going to benefit.
• "Investment in water is a critical layer of foundation to make Odisha a healthy society and eventually a productive state," Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said.

Foot Notes
About Odisha
1. Capital: Bhubaneswar
2. Governor: Ganeshi Lal
3. Chief Minister: Naveen Patnaik

About UNICEF
1. The United Nations Children's Fund
2. Headquarters: New York,United States
3. Head: Henrietta H. Fore

2. Jasprit Bumrah, Smriti Mandhana win Wisden India Almanack Cricketer of the Year award

• Fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah and batswoman Smriti Mandhana won the Wisden India Almanack Cricketer of the Year award. They were the two winners from India among five who won the award.
• The other winners from Asia were Pakistan’s Fakhar Zaman, Sri Lanka’s Dimuth Karunaratne, and Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan.
• Mandhana became the third woman to win the award, after Mithali Raj and Deepti Sharma. Legends Gundappa Viswanath and Lala Amarnath were inducted into the Wisden India Hall of Fame.

3. India, France explore 3rd country projects in Western Indian Ocean region

• India and France have taken concrete steps to firm up their strategic partnership in the western Indian Ocean, as part of their respective Indo-Pacific strategies, within two months of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s trip to Paris.
• Leaders of India, France and Vanilla Islands – consisting of Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius and Seychelles in the western Indian Ocean – are currently meeting for the first time in Reunion Islands (French territory) for exploring economic and development partnership.
• India is being represented by the minister of state for external affairs V Muraleedharan at the meet.

About France
1. Capital: Paris
2. President: Emmanuel Macron
3. Currency: Euro

4. Yoga grandma V Nanammal passes away at 99 in Coimbatore

• Inspirational yoga teacher V Nanammal passed away in Coimbatore. She was 99 years old. Known affectionately as "Yoga Grandma", Nanammal received the Padma Shri - one of India's highest civilian honours.
• Born into an agricultural family, she was taught yoga by her father. Her children said that Nanammal had predicted her death and had told her family members that she will die 48 days from the very conversation she had with them. However, her family said that she died exactly eight days before the date she had predicted.
• She became a popular figure on YouTube in her later years, still performing some of the most formidable yoga positions in her trademark pink sari.

Foot Notes:
About V Nanammal
1. Born: 1920
2. Died: October 26, 2019 Tamil Nadu
3. Occupation: Yoga instructor
4. Awards    :

• Nari Shakti Puraskar (2016)
• Yoga Ratna award (2017)
• Padma Shri award (2018)

About Yoga Day
1. Yoga Day: 21 June

5. Disabled voters, people older than 80 years can now vote through postal ballot

• The disabled and people over 80 years of age can now cast their vote through postal ballot, the government said, in a move that will help increase voter turnout.
• At present, voting through postal ballot is available to armed forces and those assigned poll duties.
• On the recommendation of the Election Commission, the Ministry of Law and Justice has amended the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, allowing senior citizens and person with disabilities in the absentee voter list.

Foot Notes:
1. Chief Election Commissioner of India: Mr. Sunil Arora

6. With Theme ‘Integrity-A Way of Life’ MIA launches ‘Vigilance Awareness Week’ from 28 Oct-2 Nov

• Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) will be observing the Vigilance Awareness Week from October 28 to November 2 on a theme of ‘Integrity- A way of Life’.
• This is observed every year during the week in which the birthday of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (31st October) falls. This awareness week campaign affirms our commitment to promotion of integrity and probity in public life through citizen participation.
• The CVC has the mandate under the Central Vigilance Commission Act, 2003 to fight corruption and to ensure integrity in public administration.

7. Gandhi Mandela Award 2019, an initiative to commemorate All Time World Pioneers

• The Gandhi Mandela Foundation, a New Delhi based non-profit organization, under the aegis of Interactive Forum on Indian Economy (a govt of India recognized 80G, 12A complaint), committed to the ideas of Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela, has constituted India's first International Award, The Gandhi Mandela Award.
• Announcing the award on the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, the Foundation said that the award honours exemplary work and achievements of the Heads of State and Government and other distinguished persons/organizations around the world.
• "Mahatma Gandhi was nominated five times for the Nobel Peace Prize but never given one so it will be a befitting tribute to him to set up a Global Award in his name debuting on his 150th birth anniversary and also in the name of Nelson Mandela, who embraced the ideals of non-violence, pluralism and forbearance.

8. After Diu, Government Plans To Make Ladakh Self Reliant On Renewable Energy

• Ladakh, India's newest union territory could soon be running on renewable energy. Tapping into its natural advantage due to the cloudless days and a clear mountain sky in Ladakh, the government is all set to make the mountainous region energy self-sufficient.
• According to Anand Kumar, secretary, ministry of new and renewable energy (MNRE) the UT currently has a demand of around 53 MW and new solar plants are planned to be added by the end of 2020 to make the area completely run on renewable energy.

9. Sophie Wilmes chosen as first woman prime minister of Belgium

• Belgium’s first female prime minister in its 189-year history has taken office, after Sophie Wilmès was named as the head of the country’s next caretaker government.
• Wilmès succeeds the liberal leader Charles Michel, who will become president of the European council on 1 December. Her role has been described as a poisoned chalice, as linguistically divided parties struggle to form a government.
• Belgium has had a caretaker government since December last year when Michel’s four-party coalition collapsed as the Flemish nationalists quit in protest at a UN migration pact.

Foot Notes:
About Belgium
1. Prime minister: Sophie Wilmès
2. Capital: Brussels
3. Currency: Euro

10. India and Ecuador ink Protocol to start trade negotiations

• India and South American nation Ecuador have inked the Protocol for Completion of the Joint Feasibility Study (JFS) between the two countries, in line with the government’s efforts to expand its trade presence in the region.
• The Protocol was inked in New Delhi by Shyamal Misra, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Commerce and Industry and Héctor Cueva, ambassador of Ecuador in India. This has now opened the doors for both the countries to initiate trade negotiations for a Partial Scope Agreement (Preferential Trade Agreement).
• The two countries have great possibilities to contribute to the competitiveness of productive sectors in each Member country, and improving bilateral trade and enhancing the conditions for business cooperation.

Foot Notes:
About Ecuador
1. Capital: Quito
2. Currency: United States Dollar
3. Official language: Spanish

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Current Affairs 25-26 October, 2019

Current Affairs 24 October, 2019

Current Affairs 23 October, 2019