Daily Current Affairs For Competitive Exam - 19th September

International Affairs

The meeting of BRICS Representatives in charge of security was recently held in New Delhi, India. 

This meeting was hosted by Ajit Doval (National Security Adviser).  

The meeting was attended by representatives in charge of security of BRICS nations viz. Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

The United States has agreed to partner with India for the 2017 Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit, the biennial investors’ summit to create a business-friendly environment in Gujarat.

Note : Last year, US Secretary of State John Kerry attended the investors' summit.

Gujarat CM : Vijay Rupani

The United States is the third-most depressed nation in the world, after India and China, according to a WHO report on mental illness. 

Reportedly, 15 million US citizens are depressed, with 60% of them actually taking antidepressants. 

Important Note : India, US, and China are also the nations most affected by anxiety, and drug and alcohol use.

National Affairs

At least 17 Jawans were martyred in the terror attack at the battalion headquarters of the Army at Uri, Jammu and Kashmir today. 

To take stock of the situation, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and Army Chief General Dalbir Singh will visit the state today. 

Meanwhile, Home Minister Rajnath Singh has called an emergency meeting over the attack.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has issued a high alert across all the airports in the country following this terrorist attack.

To promote the Swachh Bharat Mission and encourage people to use clean toilets, Ludhiana administration has started the “Selfie with my Shauchalya” campaign. 

Under this, beneficiaries of toilets provided by the Punjab government have been urged to click a selfie with their toilets. 

The owner of the cleanest toilet, having all facilities, would be specially honoured on October 2nd.

New Appointments

Alka Sirohi appointed Chairman of the Union Public Service Commission(UPSC).

Nadia Murad, a Yazidi woman who was sold as a sex slave by the Islamic State before she managed to escape, was today appointed as a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador on human trafficking. 

Murad, who was also nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, spoke about the plight of Yazidi sex slaves under ISIS at the UN last year.

Lt Gen DR Soni, VSM, takes over as the 19th General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Army Training Command.

Science & Technology

NASA’s Cassini spacecraft after studying Saturn, its rings and moons for more than 12 years, has entered in the final year of its epic voyage. 

In its epic voyage, the Cassini spacecraft will make the closest-ever observations of the planet. 

Beginning November 30, 2016 Cassini will make the closest-ever observations of Saturn.

Business & Economy

The government is planning to double the number of schemes under Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to 147 by March, Finance Secretary Ashok Lavasa announced today. 

For this, the government has launched pilots for paying subsidy on food, kerosene, and fertilisers directly via bank accounts of beneficiaries. 

At present, benefits and subsidies in 74 schemes are paid directly to beneficiaries under DBT.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is going to attend the 3-day annual meeting of IMF andWorld Bank in Washington, US which begins on October 7. 

Newly appointed RBI Governor Urjit Patel may also attend the meeting.

In addition to discussing the global economic situation, the meetings will also discuss IMF quota reforms, infrastructure financing, and Brexit's impact, among others.

China-based Alibaba has become the most valuable Asian listed company, after its market valuation rose to $266 billion. 

Note : Alibaba, the world's largest e-commerce platform, posted a 59% rise in revenue in the June quarter, the strongest since its IPO in 2014.

India has extended a new $750 million line of credit for post-earthquake reconstruction projects​ in Nepal. 

India had already announced $1 billion in aid after the earthquake that claimed over 8,000 lives in Nepal last year. 

This comes amidst delegation-level talks between PM Narendra Modi and his Nepalese counterpart Pushpa Kamal Dahal.

Awards & Honors

To honour legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar's contributions to Bengali songs, the West Bengal government is going to confer this year's 'Banga Bibhushan' on her.

Sports

Indian shooters Akhil Sheoran and Vinita Bhardwaj won Gold medals at the 6th World University Championships at Bydgoszcz, Poland. 

Deepak Punia, the son of a former milkman Subhash Punia, won the 85kg wrestling gold at the Cadet World Championships held in Georgia. 

Deepak is only the third cadet world champion from India after the tournament was restarted in 2011.

Deaf Indian shooter Priyesha Deshmukh won the bronze medal in her first-ever international competition at the 1st World Deaf Shooting Championships held in Kazan.