Current Affairs for SSC CGL Exams - 5 OCTOBER 2019

::NATIONAL::

The Vice President of India, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu today underlined the need for India to engage with the international community in a sustained and fruitful dialogue that would take the country’s development agenda forward and help in creating a harmonious and prosperous world.
Addressing the 18th meeting of the Governing Body of Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) at Sapru House in New Delhi today, he said that country was undergoing rapid transformation today.
Stating that India was economically vibrant and enjoyed the status of being a favoured destination for foreign investments, he said, “the intensive thrust on all round development and the transformative reforms currently under implementation, have drawn appreciation from observers all over the world.”
Shri Naidu said that India’s robust diplomatic outreach and engagement with world nations has secured it an important place in the comity of nations. “We must now build on our successes and forge ahead,” he added.

The Cabinet has approved a new process of strategic disinvestment with a view to expediting privatization of select PSUs.
Official sources said, the Cabinet approved the new policy under which the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management, DIPAM under the Ministry of Finance has been made the nodal department for the strategic stake sale.
DIPAM and NITI Aayog will now jointly identify PSUs for strategic disinvestment. The decision has been taken with a view to streamlining and speeding up the process.

On expected lines, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has today slashed the policy repo rate under the liquidity adjustment facility (LAF) by 25 basis points to 5.15 per cent from 5.40 per cent with immediate effect. Consequently, the reverse repo rate under the LAF stands reduced to 4.90 per cent, and the marginal standing facility (MSF) rate and the Bank Rate to 5.40 per cent.
Announcing its fourth bi-monthly monetary policy statement in Mumbai, RBI has revised the GDP outlook for 2019-20 to 6.1%, from 6.9% in previous Monetary Policy committee meet. For 2020-21, RBI has revised the GDP outlook to 7.2%.
The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) also decided to continue with an accommodative stance as long as it is necessary to revive growth, while ensuring that inflation remains within the target.
The RBI statement said these decisions are in consonance with the objective of achieving the medium-term target for Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation of 4 per cent within a band of /- 2 per cent, while supporting growth.

In a major decision to give a boost to Electric Vehicles in country, Union Minister of State for Power and New & Renewable Energy (IC) and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Shri RK Singh has approved amendments in Electric Vehicle Charging Guidelines and Specifications.
Speaking about the decision, Power Minister Shri RK Singh said that revised guidelines are more consumer friendly as they incorporate a number of suggestions received from various stakeholders. “We have tried to address the concerns of EV owners in new guidelines” he said and expressed hope that revised guidelines will encourage faster adoption of EVs in India.
Assuming that most of the charging of EVs would take place at homes or at offices where the decision of using Fast or Slow chargers would rest on the consumers, it has been clarified in the guidelines that private charging at residences/offices shall be permitted and DISCOMs may facilitate the same.

Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Shri Ram Vilas Paswan today showcased the Bullet Resistant Jackets being made under the ‘Make in India’ initiative .
The standard is expected to fulfil the long pending demand of Indian Armed Forces, Paramilitary Forces and State Police Forces and will assist them in streamlining their procurement process.
Addressing the media after showcasing the jackets, Union Minister Shri Ram Vilas Paswan expressed happiness over the fact that India has now joinedselected League of Nations such as US, UK & Germany to have its own standard for Bullet Resistant Jackets. ShriPaswan informed the gathering that the standard that has been set by BIS is at par with International Standards.
He said that this will also lead to an increase in the employment generation across the nation.ShriPaswan congratulated the BIS officials for this feat and said that their efforts and contribution for setting such standards should be recognised and appreciated.
As the critical performance requirements and their evaluation procedures have been clearly brought out in this standard, it will ensure the availability of quality Bullet Resistant Jackets at economical price.
Central Armed Police Forces like CRPF, BSF, SSB, CISF, NSG etc. have already initiated the process of procuring such jackets as per the Indian Standard set by BIS.

India's Avinash Sable has qualified for Tokyo Olympics in men's 3,000-metre steeplechase event by shattering his own national record at the World Championships in Doha yesterday.
Avinash clocked 8 minutes 21.37 seconds to breach the Olympics qualifying standard of 8 minutes 22 seconds. He also bettered his own national record of 8 minute and 25.23 seconds which he clocked on Tuesday during the first round heats.