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Current Affairs for IAS Exams - 01 October 2019

::NATIONAL::

Scientists excavate ancient river in Prayagraj

The Union Water Ministry has excavated an old, dried-up river in Prayagraj (formerly Allahabad) that linked the Ganga and Yamuna rivers. The aim is to develop it as a potential groundwater recharge source, according to officials at the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), a body under the Union Jal Shakti Ministry that coordinates the cleaning of the Ganga.
The “ancient buried river” as it was described at a conference organised by the Ministry, is around 4 km wide, 45 km long and consisted of a 15-metre-thick layer buried under soil.
The newly discovered river, according to Mr.Mathuria, was a “buried paleochannel that joins the Yamuna river at Durgapur village, about 26 km south of the current Ganga-Yamuna confluence at Prayagraj.
This report concluded that evidence from palaeochannels suggested that the mythological Saraswatiriver did indeed exist. They claimed to have based their conclusions on reports and maps of palaeochannels in north India and a separate, ongoing project by the Central Groundwater Board to map the aquifers (extremely deep stores of groundwater) of India.
“Knowledge on subsurface connectivity between Ganga and Yamuna rivers will play a very crucial role in planning of Ganga cleaning and protecting safe groundwater resources,” Mr.Mathuria,executive director NMCG said.

Supreme court recalls its directions regarding SC/ST act

The Supreme Court on Tuesday recalled its direction in the March 20, 2018 verdict which had virtually diluted provisions of arrest under the SC/ST Act.
A bench of justices Arun Mishra, M.R. Shah and B.R. Gavai said the struggle of SC/ST people for equality is still not over in the country.The bench said SC/ST people still face untouchability, abuse and are being socially outcast.
The apex court further said the Constitution provides for protection of SC/ST people under Article 15 but they still face social abuse and discrimination.
Dealing with the misuse of provisions of SC/ST Act and lodging of false cases, the bench said it is not due to the caste system but due to human failure.

::ECONOMY::

RBI to promote innovations and ideas in payment via contests

Reserve Bank of India has announced two contests to promote innovations and ideas in the payment and settlement systems.
Shortlisted participants will get an opportunity to present their ideas before a jury of eminent persons while outstanding innovators will be awarded prizes and citations.
The contest will be organised through Institute for Development and Research in Banking Technology (IDRBT), Hyderabad.
While individuals, groups, entrepreneurs, companies, start-ups and similar entities can participate in ‘Payment and Settlement Systems Innovation Contest’, students at the undergraduate or above levels can participate in ‘Payment and Settlement Systems Innovative Ideas Competition’.
The submissions can be made under the categories of Offline payments, Payment options for feature phone users, Simple and easy Know Your Customer, Automated online dispute redressal systems, Cross border remittances and Safety and security in payment systems among others.

Govt.issues directions regarding payment of stipend to trade apprentices

The Government has issued a notification regarding minimum stipend payable to trade apprentices.
This was stated by Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Dr.MahendraNathPandey at State Ministers’ Conference on Skill Development in New Delhi today.
He said a minimum stipend will be given based on one's qualification and it will be in the range of five thousand to nine thousand rupees per month from now onwards.
He further said that employers having four or more workers are eligible to engage apprentices.The minister stressed the need to create a new structure of KaushalVikasMitra from State to village level.
Dr.Pandey said the government has accorded priority to skill development, and appealed to States to take all possible steps to implement the law related to apprenticeship in companies.

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::INTERNATIONAL::

Pakistan claims having adequate forex reserves to quit IMF

Cash-strapped Pakistan will have no need to go back to the IMF in the future once it receives the last loan programme of $6 billion from the global lender, governor of the State Bank of Pakistan has said.
Reza Baqir said the recent structural reforms implemented under commitments made with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had started providing much-needed support to the weak economy to enable it to stand on its own feet.
The IMF approved the latest 39-month-long loan programme in July, when the lender released the first tranche of $991.4 million of the total loan programme of $6 billion.
The reforms introduced to determine the rupee-dollar exchange rate would help in maintaining the reserves at an optimal level, he said.
It used to fix the rate but the practice caused depletion in the country’s foreign currency reserves almost every time after Islamabad completed the IMF loan programme since 1995. This forced Pakistan to return to the IMF time and again, Mr.Baqir said.
The central bank still has the option to intervene in the market to control exchange rate in case it finds market participants are involved in manipulating the market-based exchange rate.

China conducts massive military parade to celebrate 70th anniversary of communism

China is celebrating its 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) with a massive military parade, showcasing its most advanced weapons.
It is China’s most important and high-profile event of the year. The official ceremonies began on Monday with Chinese President Xi Jinping paying his respects to the founder of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) Mao Zedong's embalmed body in Beijing.
President Xi, accompanied by six other members of the CPC's Standing Committee, visited Mao's Mausoleum.
Later, addressing a reception at the Great Hall of the People to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC) President Xi said, over the past 70 years, the Chinese people under the leadership of the ruling CPC had successfully blazed a path of socialism with Chinese characteristics and advanced socialism with Chinese characteristics into a new era.
Hailing the remarkable achievements made by the Chinese people, Xi said Chinese nation has been able to reduce the absolute poverty to a great extent.
The main event of the celebrations of the day was the largest parade held by the Chinese military involving 15,000 troops and a display of the nation's latest nuclear and hypersonic missiles, besides stealth aircraft and a host of other weaponry to showcase its military might.
The celebrations came at a time when the country is facing serious political and economic challenges. The parade is being held in the shadow of unending protests in Hong Kong where thousands of people have taken to the streets in protest against what they say is increasing control by Beijing over the territory's society and politics.

::SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY::

DRDO successfully test fires Brahmos supersonic cruise missile

Defence Research and Development Organization, DRDO, successfully test-fired a land-attack version of BrahMos supersonic cruise missile off the coast of Odisha from the Integrated Test Range in Chandipur on Monday.
The missile, with a strike range of 290km, can be fired from land as well as sea-based platforms.
Defence sources said it has been fitted with increased indigenous equipment and is a version used by the Army.
On 11 March, 2017, the first extended version of the missile was successfully tested. It had a strike range of 450 kilometres.

::SPORTS::

Wilson and Satishkumar wins Asian age group swimming championship

In Swimming, India's N Wilson Singh and Satish Kumar Prajapati produced impressive performances to win a gold medal in 10 metres platform synchronised event at the ongoing 10th Asian Age Group Championships in Bengaluru today.
The duo scored 290.19 score to beat Uzbekistan's ZaynetdinovMarsel and KhasanovBotir, who scored 280.53 points.
India, thus, extended their total tally to 60 medals (17 gold, 23 silver and 20 bronze) in the prestigious championships, which is the largest aquatic event in Asia.