Current Affairs for SSC CGL Exams - 20 OCTOBER 2019

::NATONAL::

Prime Minister NarendraModi has appealed to the entertainment fraternity to harness the immense power of creativity for the nation-building.
He interacted with the members of the creative and entertainment world in New Delhi yesterday on ways to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi exchanged thoughts on a wide range of subjects.
He said Mahatma Gandhi is synonymous with simplicity and his thoughts reverberate far and wide. He said, several people from the world of films and television have been doing great work when it comes to popularising the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi.
The Prime Minister appealed to the gathering to think about ensuring more tourists come to India. He asked the members of the film industry to visit the Dandi museum and the ‘Statue of Unity.
Prime Minister said that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami informed him that after the Informal Summit between Prime Minister Modi and Chinese President Xi Jingping in Mamallapuram, tourist arrivals have increased.

Delhiites breathed easy yesterday as pollution levels in the national capital reduced significantly owing to gusty winds and rainfall in neighbouring areas.
The overall air quality index (AQI) fluctuated between 128 and 157, which falls in the moderate category, according to the Central Pollution Control Board's data.
KuldeepSrivastava, a senior scientist at the Indian Meteorological Department said, rainfall in Punjab, Haryana, and nearby areas due to a western disturbance reduced the effect of stubble burning on the city's air quality.

Finance Minister NirmalaSitharaman has said that India is committed to have a sound macro-economic environment conducive to fuel growth and ensure inclusive development, notwithstanding the recent slowdown.
Addressing the annual meeting of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington yesterday, Sitharaman said, India is firmly committed to the path of fiscal consolidation. She said fiscal deficit has been budgeted to be 3.3 per cent of GDP in Financial Year 2019-20 compared to the 3.4 per cent in the preceding year.
The IMF in its latest World Economic Outlook released on Tuesday, projected the country's growth rate at 6.1 per cent for 2019 and noted that the Indian economy is expected to pick up at 7 per cent in 2020.
Sitharaman said India has provided impetus to growth by rationalising and reducing corporate tax rates that will stimulate private sector investment in infrastructure and industry.

Global Finance Ministers yesterday agreed to double a key pool of money that the International Monetary Fund can use to aid distressed countries but again put off giving more votes to major emerging economies.
The IMF has been working to restructure its voting shares to give more weight to growing economies like China, India and Brazil but some traditional powers have resisted since they stand to lose influence in the institution.
However, a new division of voting power would be expected to result in increases in the quota shares of dynamic economies in line with their relative positions in the world economy.

India and the Philippines have committed to work closely to defeat and eliminate terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. In Joint press statements after delegation-level talks with President Rodrigo Duterte of Philippines, President Ram NathKovind said, both countries have been the victims of terrorism.
The President said, the Philippines and India have also agreed to deepen defense and maritime security partnership and to make it a key pillar of their bilateral cooperation. The President conveyed New Delhi's readiness to cooperate with Manila to strengthen the Space programme.

Chile's President Sebastian Pinera has declared a state of emergency in Santiago and gave the military responsibility for security after a day of violent protests over an increase in the price of metro tickets.
Protestors clashed with riot police throughout yesterday in several parts of the capital, Santiago, and the subway system was shut after attacks on stations in some of the worst violence the city has seen in years. At least 16 buses were torched and a dozen metro stations totally destroyed.
The President has appointed Major General Javier Iturriagadel Campo as the head of national defence. In a statement, he said the objective of the state of emergency is to ensure public order and peace for the inhabitants of Santiago.

Switzerland Glaciers have lost a tenth in their volume in the past five years. The melting is the largest in the last 5 years of observation.
The Cryospheric commission at the Swiss Academy of Sciences published the annual study on the state of glaciers. According to the study, around 20 glaciers have shown melt rates that have reached record levels.
There are more than 500 glaciers in the country. There are campaigns and awareness programs being conducted all over the country about the fast melting of the glaciers.
Recently, “Funeral March” was undertaken to mark the disappearance of Pizol Glacier in the beginning of 21st century.
More than 4,000 glaciers are to disappear from the Alps at the end of this century if green house gas emissions are not controlled.

Indian junior hockey men's team lost a second consecutive final to Great Britain in the Sultan of Johor Cup as it succumbed to a 1-2 loss at Johor Bahru, Malaysia today.
The first three-quarters of the match went goalless. Indian forward Gursahibjit Singh broke the deadlock in the 49th minute with a goal from a penalty corner.