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Current Affairs for IAS Exams - 20 September 2020

::NATIONAL::

President Ram NathKovind has said that determined efforts should be made to make Jammu and Kashmir a hub of knowledge, innovation and learning by implementing National Education Policy in letter and spirit.
Mr Kovind said this while addressing a Conference on implementation of National Education Policy in Jammu and Kashmir through video conference today. He said that it is his dream to see Jammu and Kashmir emerge as a centre of knowledge, enterprise, innovation and skill development.
President said that India has an unprecedented demographic dividend but it could be positively realized only if young people become skilled, professionally competent, and above all educated in the real sense.
Emphasizing on value-based education, Mr Kovind said that it is important to understand our tradition and rich cultural heritage which can be achieved only in the mother tongue.
He observed that the three-language formula which is envisioned in this education policy is of immense significance and could promote multilingualism as well as national unity.

Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Dr. P. K. Mishra chaired the meeting of the High-Level Task Force constituted to improve the air quality in the National Capital Region of Delhi.
Dr Mishra emphasized that the meeting was called well in advance before the onset of harvesting and winter season to ensure proper precautionary and preventive measures to combat the causes of air pollution are taken well in time.
A review was carried out of the main sources of air pollution, measures taken and the progress made by the State Governments and various Ministries. It was noted that the incidence of stubble burning has reduced by more than 50 per cent in last two years and the number of Good AQI days have gone up.
The efforts and plan made by the States of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh for control of crop residue burning were examined in detail, including ground level deployment and availability of machinery for in-situ management of crop residue.

Public Sector Banks have recovered more than 10 thousand crore rupees from willful defaulters during the last three financial years. This was stated by the Minister of State for Finance Anurag Thakur in a written reply in the RajyaSabha today.
He said, willful defaulters by public and private sector banks was 219 and the total amount owned by them was 12 thousand 338 crore rupees during the last financial year as per the Central Repository of Large Credit database. He said, Public Sector Banks report frauds to the CBI including willful default.
He said, 512 cases were registered with CBI by public sector banks and prosecution was launched in 269 cases during the period from the year 2018 to August this year.

The government on Saturday said a Cabinet note has been formulated for the vehicle scrappage policy.
“Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has formulated a note for Cabinet on creation of an ecosystem for voluntary and environment friendly phasing out of unfit and old polluting vehicles,” Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways V.K. Singh told the RajyaSabha in reply to a query.
The proposed policy, once approved, will be applicable on all vehicles, the government had said earlier.The policy was sent for a fresh round of consultation with stakeholders on the direction of the PMO.

India and Bangladesh have agreed to resume the joint coordinated border patrolling to reduce criminal activities like smuggling of cattle, weapons and narcotics on the border. The decision was taken during the 50th DG level conference of the border guarding forces of India and Bangladesh which concluded in Dhaka on Saturday.
Recognising the increasingly violent attacks on the border guarding forces, both the countries agreed for real time sharing of intelligence on smuggling syndicates and list of smugglers to ensure that the India-Bangladesh border remains peaceful and secure.
Booth countries agreed to take effective steps for the prevention of human trafficking and illegal crossing of the International Border (IB).Bangladesh reassured India that it will not allow any Indian Insurgent Groups (IIGs) to use its soil for anti-India activities.
Responding to Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB) concerns about the border deaths, BSF reiterated its policy of use of non-lethal weapons. In his interaction with the media, DG BSF RakeshAsthana said that BSF has been instructed to resort to firing only as the last resort.

China on Saturday launched a mechanism that would allow it to sanction foreign companies, upping the ante in a tech war with the U.S. a day after Washington moved to curb popular Chinese apps TikTok and WeChat.
China’s long-expected “unreliable entities list” is seen as a weapon for Beijing to retaliate against the U.S., which has used its own “entity list” to shut Chinese telecom giant Huawei out of the US market, while also moving against TikTok and WeChat.
Punitive measures may include fines against the foreign entity, banning it from conducting trade and investment in China, and restrictions on the entry of personnel or equipment into the country.It covers “foreign enterprises, other organisations and individuals”, the Ministry said.

The Institute for Management Development (IMD) along with Singapore University have released the Smart City index for the year 2020 on September 17. The report highlights that the Indian cities have declined in their technological updates.
Smart City Index is prepared by IMD World Competitiveness Centre, SCO Smart City Observatory and Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD).
The index offers a balanced focus on economic and technological aspects of smart cities. It also includes humane dimensions of smart cities including the quality of life, environment and inclusiveness.
Those cities that apply technologies to overcome the shortcomings and enhance the benefits of urbanisation are called as smart cities.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni hasn’t lost an ounce of his leadership acumen even after a 437-day hiatus as Chennai Super Kings defeated Mumbai Indians in the opening match of the 13th edition of the IPL on Saturday.
AmbatiRayudu blazed his way to a 71 off 48 balls, which included six fours and three sixes, and Faf du Plessis (55 not out off 44 balls, six fours) more than made up for Suresh Raina’s absence at No. 3 to help CSK chase down a tricky 163-run target in 19.2 overs with five wickets to spare.