Indian Railways to become 'net zero' carbon emitter by 2030

NATIONAL NEWS

UP Culture Dept to organise training & performance programme of KHON Ramlila

• The Culture Department of Uttar Pradesh government is going to organise the country’s first training and performance programme of world famous KHON Ramlila, a masked form of Ramlila art of Thailand in collaboration with Thai government.
• KHON Ramlila of Thailand is included in the list of UNESCO’s Intangible cultural heritage and it’s a form of masked dance depicting the scenes of Ramlila.
• It has no dialogues and background voices narrate the whole story of Ramayana. KHON Ramlila’s performance is also a visual delight famous for its beautiful attire and golden masks.

Indian Railways to become 'net zero' carbon emitter by 2030

• As part of India’s strategy to combat climate change, Indian Railways will become "net zero" carbon emitter by 2030, said railways and commerce minister Piyush Goyal.
• India is the biggest emitter of greenhouse gases after the US and China, and is among countries most vulnerable to climate change.
• The country has an installed renewable energy capacity of about 80 gigawatts (GW) and is running the world’s largest renewable energy programme, with plans to achieve 175GW by 2022 and 500GW by 2030, as part of its climate commitments.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurates 41st DRDO Directors Conference in New Delhi

• Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh inaugurated the 41st DRDO Directors Conference in New Delhi.
• DRDO has played significant role in ensuring technological advancement of our forces and safeguarding our country.

Food Safety Mitra scheme launched on the World Food Day

• On the occasion of World Food Day, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr Harsh Vardhan launched Food Safety Mitra Scheme, Eat Right Jacket and Eat Right Jhola.
• Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has introduced scheme of Food Safety Mitra (FSM) through which it plans to engage motivated individuals with the food safety ecosystem at ground level.
• An FSM is an individual professional certified by FSSAI who assists in compliances related to FSS Act, Rules & Regulations with three avatars- Digital Mitra, Trainer Mitra and Hygiene Mitra depending upon their respective roles and responsibilities.
• During the event, the Minister also launched Eat Right Jhola which is a reusable, washable and bio-degradable bag.

Livestock population in India rises 4.6 per cent to nearly 536 million, shows census

• The provisional data of the 20th Livestock Census released by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying showed that the livestock population increased by 4.6 per cent, from 512.06 million in 2012.
• The population of cows in the country has risen by 18 per cent in the last seven years, while that of oxen dipped by 30 per cent, according to the latest census of livestock. The total number for livestock was pegged at around 536 million.
• Interestingly, there is a 6 per cent decline in the total number of indigenous cattle over the previous census. On the contrary, the population of total exotic/crossbred cattle has increased by 26.9 per cent in 2019 as compared to previous census.
• Among the States, Uttar Pradesh has the highest number of livestock of 67.8 million (68.7 million in 2012), followed by Rajasthan 56.8 million (57.7 million), Madhya Pradesh: 40.6 million (36.3 million) and West Bengal: 37.4 million (30.3 million)

DEFENCE

India hands over 2 more Mi-24V helicopters to Afghanistan

• India handed over two more Mi-24V helicopters to Afghanistan's Air Force.
• These helicopters are a replacement for the four helicopters gifted by India to Afg in 2015/2016.
• The helicopters handed over during a ceremony held at the military airport in Kabul. According to the Afghan Ministry of Defence, the occasion was also attended by Afghanistan's acting defence minister Asadullah Khalid.

INDEX

Global Hunger Index 2019

• India is ranked 102 of 117 countries in the Global Hunger Index 2019, behind its neighbours Nepal, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
• Seventeen countries, including Belarus, Ukraine, Turkey, Cuba and Kuwait, shared the top rank with GHI scores of less than five.
• In 2018, it was ranked 103 out of 119 countries. In 2000, the country was ranked 83 out of 113 countries. Now, with 117 countries in the fray, it has dropped to 102.
• The GHI score is calculated on four indicators — undernourishment; child wasting, the share of children under the age of five who are wasted (that is, who have low weight for their height, reflecting acute undernutrition); child stunting, children under the age of five who have low height for their age, reflecting chronic undernutrition; and child mortality, the mortality rate of children under the age of five.

ECONOMIC AND FINANCE

IMF lowers growth estimate to 6.1%

• The International Monetary Fund cut its estimate for India’s growth this year to 6.1% from 7% projected in July, calling on the country to use monetary policy and broad-based structural reforms to address cyclical weakness and strengthen confidence.
• India’s economy is set to grow at 6.1% in 2019, picking up to 7% in 2020,” the IMF’s latest World Economic Outlook, adding that the downward revision reflected a weaker-than-expected outlook for domestic demand.

BANKING

India Post launches mobile banking app for its savings account customers

• India Post has launched a new mobile app to facilitate easier transactions for customers. The app is available on Google Play Store.
• Customers can use it to make deposits into their PPF accounts and other schemes without having to visit the post office in person.
• The facility will be available to all savings account holders of core banking solutions (CBS)- enabled post offices.

APPOINTMENT

Zimbabwe and Nepal readmitted as ICC members

• Zimbabwe have been reinstated as a member of the ICC, three months after being suspended for government interference in its board.
• Zimbabwe will now be able to take up their place in the ICC Men's U19 Cricket World Cup in January and the ICC Super League later in 2020.
• Nepal has also been reinstated on a conditional basis following their 2016 suspension for breach of the ICC regulations which prohibit government interference and require free and fair elections.
• Election of a 17-member Central Working Committee for the Cricket Association (CAN) of Nepal were completed earlier this month and paved the way for the re-admittance of the CAN.

J.P.S. Chawla assumes charge as new Controller General of Accounts

• Government of India has appointed Shri J. P. S. Chawla, 1985-batch Indian Civil Accounts Service (ICAS) Officer as the new Controller General of Accounts (CGA), Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure with effect from October 15, 2019 on regular basis.
• Shri J. P. S. Chawla has however been officiating as CGA with effect from September 1, 2019.
• During his 34-year career he has held various cadre posts at different levels in a number of Ministries/Departments with Prasar Bharti, Urban Development, Civil Aviation & Tourism and Agriculture to name a few.

Kishan Dan Dewal concurrently accredited as the next Ambassador of India to Georgia

• Shri Kishan Dan Dewal (IFS-2003), presently Ambassador of India to the Republic of Armenia, has been concurrently accredited as the next Ambassador of India to Georgia.

In a first, serving judge appointed as the Union Law Secretary

• In a first, a serving District and Sessions Judge has been appointed as the Union Law Secretary.
• Anoop Kumar Mendiratta is currently the District and Sessions Judge, North-East District, Karkardooma Courts, New Delhi.
• Mendiratta has been appointed to the post on contractual basis till March 30, 2023.
• Normally, the posts of Secretary (Legal Affairs and Legislative Department) are held by Indian Legal Service Officers.

SPORTS

Valtteri Bottas wins Japanese Grand Prix as Mercedes win constructors' title

• Valtteri Bottas won the Japanese Grand Prix with team-mate Lewis Hamilton third behind Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel, securing a Formula 1 record sixth straight World Championship double for Mercedes.