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Current Affairs for IAS Exams - 09 October 2019

::NATIONAL::

PM urges people to avoid wastage of food and water and conserve energy

Prime Minister NarendraModi has urged the people not to waste food, and conserving energy and water. Speaking at a Dussehra event in the national capital yesterday evening, Mr Modi said that as a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi in his 150th birth anniversary year, people should take up the mission of not wasting food and avoiding single-use plastic.
Prime Minister also stressed the need work for the empowerment of women and ensuring their dignity by taking forward the spirit of Navratra. Mr Modi called upon people to felicitate the daughters who have achieved something or who have inspired others during Diwali this year.
Prime Minister also hailed the valour of the Indian Air Force and asked people to especially remember it on its raising day like they pay respect to Lord Hanuman on Vijayadashami. Mr Modi said, its a coincidence that this year the two events are being celebrated on the same day.
Prime Minister also participated in the special puja at the venue and burnt the effigy of Ravana, signifying the victory of good over evil. Greeting people on the occasion, Mr Modi said India is a land of festivals and every festival brings the society together.

Defence ministry claims Rafale jets to increase India’s air dominance

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has said that Rafale multi-role fighter jets will boost India's air dominance exponentially. Talking to media persons at Merignac in France, Mr Singh said, the aircraft will enhance the Indian Air Force's combat capability massively.

The Minister said, India does not purchase arms and other defence equipment to threaten any country but to increase its capabilities and strengthen defences. Defence Minister yesterday formally took delivery of the first of the 36 French-made aircraft acquired by the IAF.
Mr Singh attended the handover ceremony along with his French counterpart Florence Parly at aircraft maker Dassault Aviation facility in Merignac, southwestern France.
Mr Singh performed Shastra Puja on the new aircraft and undertook a sortie in the Rafale. He said, Indian Air Force is the fourth-largest in the world and the Rafale Combat Aircraft will make us even stronger to ensure peace and security in the region.
Defence Minister said, it marks a new milestone in the Indo-French strategic partnership and indeed a new high in the bilateral defence cooperation. Mr Singh said the strong cooperation between India and France will continue to grow and contribute to global peace, prosperity and environmental sustainability.
India had ordered 36 Rafale fighter jets from France in a deal worth 59,000 crore rupees in September 2016. All 36 jets are expected to arrive in India by September 2022.

::ECONOMY::

India’s rank in world competitive index slips downwards

India has slipped 10 spots to rank 68th out of 141 surveyed countries in the annual global competitiveness index as several other economies in the world climbed up on the list due to improvements in economic and business activities.
The development suggests that the slowdown in the Indian economy is having a negative effect on the country's global rankings.
Last year India was ranked 58th in the annual Global Competitiveness Index compiled by Geneva-based World Economic Forum (WEF). However, this year it is among the worst-performing BRICS nations along with Brazil, which has ranked 71 this time.
Singapore, on the other hand, replaced the United States as the world's most competitive economy. Hong Kong SAR came in at 3rd position while Netherlands was ranked 4th and Switzerland at 5th spot.
While announcing the fresh index, the WEF said that India's rank is high in terms of macroeconomic stability and market size but added that the banking system has been affected by a high delinquency rate.
India's rank was as high as 15th in terms of corporate governance and ranks second in the world for shareholder governance, according to the WEF study. India also ranked third in terms of market size and renewable energy regulation.
While the WEF study did list a few positives, it said that there are major shortcomings in some of the basic enablers of competitiveness in India. It said Information, communication and technology adoption in India has been weak; poor health conditions and low life expectancy are other reasons why India ranked low in terms of competitiveness.

India amongst countries which pay budget dues in time to UN

India is among a handful of only 34 UN member states which paid their regular budget dues in full and on time to the world organisation.
India paid 23.25 million dollars in regular budget assessments by January 31, 2019, the 30-day due period specified as per UN's Financial Regulation rules.
Only 33 other nations paid their regular budget assessments in full within this 30 day due period. Subsequent to the end of the 30 day due period (January 31), 95 additional member states paid their 2019 regular budget assessment in full.
As of October 8, 2019, 129 Member States have paid their regular budget dues in full, according to UN sources. Member states have paid USD 1.99 billion towards the 2019 regular budget assessment, while the outstanding amount for 2019 for regular budget is USD 1.386 billion.
However, 64 states are yet to pay their regular budget dues in full for 2019. These include Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Brazil, Central African Republic, North Korea, Iran, Israel, Mexico, Oman, the Philippines, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, US and Venezuela.
While India has been among the few countries to have fully paid its dues to the UN on time, the UN owed India USD 38 million, among the highest it has to pay to any country, for peacekeeping operations as of March 2019.
The UN is facing a "severe liquidity crisis", reaching its deepest deficit of the decade, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has said, warning that the world organisation will not have enough cash by next month to cover payrolls.

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::INTERNATIONAL::

China expects India would jointly work towards peace along their borders

Chinese Ambassador to India Sun Weidong has said that the two countries should jointly maintain peace and tranquility along their border before a final settlement on the issue is found. In an interview to a news agency, he said it is normal for neighbours to have differences which should be resolved through dialogue and consultation.
The Chinese envoy said, the two emerging Asian powers should not let the boundary dispute adversely impact the normal development of bilateral relations. Mr Sun called the India-China boundary question as a complex and sensitive issue left over from history.
He said, over the past decades, not a single bullet has been fired at the China-India border area, and peace and tranquility has been maintained. Mr Sun said, boundary question is only one part of China-India relations and the two countries need to keep in mind the larger picture of the bilateral ties.
Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to arrive in Chennai on Friday to hold the second informal summit with Prime Minister NarendraModi in coastal town of Mamallapuram.
There has been indication that the second informal summit between Mr Modi and Mr Xi may focus on ways to further enhancing peace and tranquility along the border. The first informal summit between the two leaders took place in picturesque Chinese lake city Wuhan in April 2018.

India inaugurates infrastructure facilities for oil refinery in Mongolia

Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas DharmendraPradhan participated in the ceremony for commissioning the infrastructure facilities constructed to support the proposed oil refinery project in Mongolia.
Prime Minister of Mongolia, UkhnaagiinKhurelsukh, six Cabinet Ministers & Governor of Dornogovi Province, T Enkhtuvsh also participated in the ceremony.
The Minister said this important event will pave the way to open a new chapter in bilateral trade and investment relations between India and Mongolia. The construction of the 1.5 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) Oil Refinery Project with Indian assistance is a shining example of our friendship.
On completion of the project, it will meet about three-fourth of Mongolian requirement of oil. India remains committed to working with the government and the people of Mongolia to further strengthen our Strategic Partnership for mutual prosperity.

::SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY::

IAU names minor planet after Indian musician

A minor planet, between Mars and Jupiter, has been named after 'PanditJasraj,' the doyen of Indian classical vocal music.
International Astronomical Union (IAU) named minor planet 2006 VP32 (number -300128), discovered on November 11, 2006, as 'Panditjasraj.'
'Panditjasraj' traverses the cosmos between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter."It was made official by IAU on September 23, followed by a citation," his daughter DurgaJasraj told PTI.
With this honour, Padma Vibhushan recipient PanditJasraj has become the first Indian musician to join the galaxy of immortal composers like Mozart, Beethoven and Tenor Luciano Pavarotti.
As minor planet discoveries are confirmed, they are given a permanent number by IAU's Minor Planet Centre.'Panditjasraj' minor planet can be seen on their official website with the number 300128, his date of birth in reverse order (28/01/30).

::SPORTS::

India maintains second position in ICC women’s ranking

In the latest ICC women's ODI rankings, India maintained their second position but increased the points lead over third-placed England.
The ICC ranking released today said, the Indian women's team is now three points ahead of England. India now has 125 points against England's 122.In the T20 International ranking, India are placed at the fifth position.