INDIA, TODAY’S, TOP NEWS: 19 SEPTEMBER, 2020 (GPN):

NATIONAL NEWS:

1. *PM Modi inaugurates Kosi Rail mega bridge* and 12 railway projects in Bihar through video-conference.

2. *President Ram Nath Kovind has accepted the resignation of Smt. Harsimrat Kaur Badal* from the Union Council of Ministers.

3. Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar assigned charge of Ministry of Food Processing Industries

4. *Centre raises FDI limit for defence sector through automatic route to 74%* : For companies seeking new industrial licences, the FDI is allowed up to 74% through automatic route, beyond which it would be permitted through government route. For the existing licensees, infusion of fresh foreign investment up to 49% can be done by making declaration of change or transfer within 30 days.

5. *Paytm is back on the Play Store hours after the app was taken down for violating policies on gambling.* Earlier yesterday, Google removed the Paytm app from the Play Store while other apps like Paytm for Business, Paytm mall, Paytm Money, and a few more were still available on the platform

6. *Gujarat government unveils subsidy schemes for e-vehicles* : To promote the use of electric vehicles, the state government announced subsidy schemes for electric two-wheelers and e-rickshaws. This is to achieve the target of having 10,000 electric two-wheelers and 5,000 e-rickshaws.

7. Cracking down on the *PMC Bank fraud accused Rakesh and Sarang Wadhawan, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday, attached three hotels owned* by Rakesh Wadhawan in connection to the case. As per the press release, three Delhi-based hotels – Hotel Conclave Boutique, Hotel Conclave Executive, Hotel Conclave Comfort (FAB Hotels) owned by Wadhawan and others amounting to Rs 100 crores, have been attached. Currently, Wadhawan along with Sarang is in jail after being denied bail in the case, by a Mumbai court inspite of being infected by Coronavirus (COVID-19).

8. *The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Friday predicted widespread rainfall with isolated heavy falls* over Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra and Goa during the next two days. Heavy to very heavy falls is also likely over Madhya Maharashtra, Konkan and Goa and Marathawada

9. *Himachal opens borders* : No pass or registration is now required. Tourists can enter freely without the need of carrying a negative Covid report, or having five days’ hotel booking. The severe blow to the tourism-dependent economy demanded action.

10. *Lok Sabha passed two farm bills amidst the protests from the opposition.* The bills were on agriculture market reforms and contract farming provisions. The bill to amend the essential commodities Act, yet another farm bill was passed on September 15, 2020.

11. *What is the bill on agricultural market?*

Benefits
*It will create a platform where the traders and farmers can buy and sell their farm produce outside their registered Mandi operating under agricultural produce Market Committee (APMC).* It will promote interstate and intrastate trading of farmer produce. The bill will help to reduce transportation cost and help farmers get better prices.

12. *Concerns*
According to the opposition, the states will lose their revenue as they will not be able to collect Mandi fees if the farmers sell their produce out of the registered APMC mandis
This will eventually end the minimum support price system.

13. The farmers currently engaged in contract farming are those who are weaker in terms of ability to negotiate what they need. The wholesalers, exporters, processes will have edge in disputes.

14. *Lok Sabha on Thursday witnessed a long debate over the farm reform bills after which the BJP-led coalition succeeded in passing the three bills with the support of AIADMK, YSRCP, TDP, BJD.* BJP’s stauch ally Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) opposed the Bills with the party’s president Sukhbir Singh Badal announcing that Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal will resign from the government to protest farm bills, followed by her resignation after the bills were, however, passed.

15. *State Bank of India (SBI) has released the official notification for the recruitment of 92 Specialist Cadre Officers and other posts.* Interested candidates should complete online registration formalities from September 18 to October 8, 2020. They should visit the official websites: https://bank.sbi/careers or https://www.sbi.co.in/careers to know the details

16. *The Himachal Pradesh government has decided to reopen schools from Classes 9 to 12 from Monday,* almost six months after remaining shut due to the coronavirus pandemic. The decision in this regard was taken in a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Friday evening. But *Delhi schools to remain closed till October 5*

17. *Bollywood actor turned politician, Gurdaspur MP Sunny Deol says agricultural ordinances will help farmers* get better price, sell it at a place of their choosing and might be able to increase trade after the new bills come into effect.

18. *Winter arrives in Ladakh, stretchers pile up at standoff zone* : In the Pangong sector, where the situation has been particularly tense since August 29, the edges of the Pangong lake have begun to freeze this week. Temperatures at the heights held by Indian and Chinese troops at Finger 4, for instance, dip to minus 4 degrees. By mid-October, the lake surface will be totally frozen.

19. Indian Army says troops violated AFSPA rules in Shopian encounter, will face action if proved guilty.

20. *China will not sustain in front of ITBP, Indian Army is all set to tackle every challenge on LAC* During the Chinese attack in 1962 a need was felt for a force that specializes in mountaineering and could meet the challenges of the mountains, so the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) was formed.

21. *Army Chief General M M Naravane arrived in Srinagar on a two-day visit* and took “a firsthand assessment” of the situation along the Line of Control in North Kashmir.

22. *COVID-19 IN INDIA*
TOTAL CASES 5214677
TOTAL ACTIVE 1017754
RECOVERED 4112551
TOTAL DEATHS 84372

*✈INTERNATIONAL NEWS*

1. *India flags Pakistan’s online propaganda over Kashmir ahead of UNGA debate:* Pakistan has yet again resorted to anti-India campaign in a bid to draw the international community’s attention towards Kashmir. Ahead of the 75th session of the General Debate United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Pakistan has planned an online anti-India and free Kashmir propaganda on social media platforms on September 19. The High-level General Debate will take place from September 22-26 and conclude on September 29.

2. *Nepal government introduced new textbooks with revised political map of the country. The new political map includes Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura areas.* These regions are claimed by India.

3. India and Nepal have border disputes over Kalapani, Limpiyadhura and Lipulekh regions. The region is a trijunction between India, China and Nepal. The countries have border demarcation issues over the Susta area in the West Champaran district of Bihar as well. The new political map was launched by Nepal in May 2020.

4. *The Kali river in the Kalapani region demarcates boundary between India and Nepal.* : The border issue between the countries date back to 1816. In 1816, the Treaty of Sugauli was signed between British India and the Kingdom of Nepal. According to the Treaty, the Kali river is marked as the western boundary of Nepal with India. However, the issue lies in locating the source of the Kali river. Hence, both the countries are producing maps of their own.

5. *External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has called Japan as one of the most trusted Partners of India* . Emphasising on the strong India-Japan economic relations, he said that the strategic autonomy is a new horizon which is opening up as an area of cooperation between the two countries.

6. *United Nations named an 18-year-old Indian teenager in the list of 2020 Class of Young leaders for Sustainable Development Goals.* : Udit Singhal, the Delhi based teenager is the founder of Glass2Sand. It is zero waste ecosystem that converts glass to sand. The system has been addressing the growing problem of glass in the national capital region largely. His initiative prevented empty glass bottles getting dumped into landfills.

7. *India has allowed the export of around 25,000 tonnes of onions to Bangladesh on an emergency basis* even as its ban on export of onion comes into effect.

8. *Pakistan maritime security agency or PMSA has taken into custody 56 Indian fishermen* along with 10 Indian boats, alleging they crossed into Pakistani waters.

*WORLD NEWS*

1. *The US on Friday issued orders to ban popular Chinese social media apps TikTok and WeChat* from Sunday to safeguard national security.

2. *The Libyan Prime Minister Fayez Serraj is to resign by the end of October 2020.* The United Nations has welcomed his resignation.

3. *Reason for resignation?*

*Currently, Libya has no single government. Government of National Accord controls the Western parts of Libya from Tripoli* . The UN backed government of national record failed to provide stability to Libya. Basically, the GNA has no security forces. The public administration does not exist under GNA. Very few banks operate in the regions. The regions are also facing abundant water, petrol and power shortages.

4. National Army has already taken control of most of the oil fields in the Eastern part of the country. The army is backed by Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Russia and France. The army is headed by Field Marshal Khalifa Aftar. He is a Libyan American Soldier. He served in the Libyan Army under the leadership of Gaddafi. Libya has the largest oil reserve in Africa. It is also one of the largest Oil producers in the world.

5. *The government of Bangladesh ordered the closure of the largest and oldest Deobandi Hathazari Madrasa* till further orders.

6. The Madrasa has been facing protests due to internal rift in the organisation on the issue of administrative control of the institution. Students of Madrasa had protested on Wednesday to press for their demands.

7. *On September 18: Every year, the World Bamboo Day is celebrated by the World Bamboo Organization.* It was officially established at the eighth World Bamboo congress that was held in Bangkok in 2009.

8. *WORLD COVID NEWS*
CONFIRMED 2,32,60,775
DEATHS 8,05,765

* SPORTS:*

*USD 74.93 GBP 94.16*
_In Gurgaon_
*Gold ₹51,777@10 gm 24 (Krt)*
*Silver ₹67,810@ Kg*
⛽ *Petrol ₹ 79.38*
⛽ *Diesel ₹ 72.49*

* FACTS ABOUT INDIA*

*India currently has 49 satellites serving various applications in Earth’s orbit* and four more are ready for launch in 2020. GISAT-1 Microsat 2-A, GSAT-12R and RISAT-2BR2 are ready for shipment, which means they are ready to be sent to the spaceport in Sriharikota for launch.

* THOUGHT OF THE DAY*

The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts.
Good Morning.

JOKES OF THE DAY:

An Intelligent student

1)*Teacher* : what do u call a person
who cannot hear anything?

*Student* : u can call him anything, bcoz he cannot hear anything:-)

2)A young woman is visiting her parents. While helping her mother fix dinner, she opens the refrigerator. On the inside of the door, she sees a spicy picture of a lovely, slender, perfectly built young woman.

“What’s this about, Mom?” she asks.

“Oh, I put that up there to remind me not to overeat,” the mother answers.

“Is it working?” her daughter asks.

“Yes and no,” her mom replies. “I’ve lost 15 pounds, but your dad has gained 20.”

3) Have you ever been guilty of looking at others your own age and thinking, surely I can’t look that old? Well…you’ll love this one.

My name is Alice, and I was sitting in the waiting room for my first appointment with a new dentist. I noticed his diploma on the wall, which bore his full name. Suddenly, I remembered a tall, handsome, dark-haired boy with the same name had been in my high school class some 30-odd years ago. Could he be the same guy that I had a secret crush on way back then?

Upon seeing him, however, I quickly discarded any such thought. This balding, gray-haired man with the deeply lined face was way too old to have been my classmate. After he examined my teeth, I asked him if he had attended Morgan Park High School.

“Yes. Yes, I did. I’m a mustang,” he gleamed with pride.

“When did you graduate?” I asked.

“In 1975. Why do you ask?”

“You were in my class!” I exclaimed.

He looked at me closely. Then, that ugly, old, balding, wrinkled faced, fat-assed, gray-haired, decrepit son-of-a-bitch asked:
“What did you teach?”

4) One afternoon at Cheers, Cliff Clavin was explaining the Buffalo Theory to his buddy Norm. Here’s how it went:

“Well ya see, Norm, it’s like this… A herd of buffalo can only move as fast as the slowest buffalo. And when the herd is hunted, it is the slowest and weakest ones at the back that are killed first.

This natural selection is good for the herd as a whole, because the general speed and health of the whole group keeps improving by the regular killing of the weakest members.

In much the same way, the human brain can only operate as fast as the slowest brain cells. Excessive intake of alcohol, as we know, kills brain cells. But naturally, it attacks the slowest and weakest brain cells first.

In this way, regular consumption of beer eliminates the weaker brain cells, making the brain a faster and more efficient machine.

That’s why you always feel smarter after a few beers.”
5) man suffered a serious heart attack while shopping in a store. The store clerk called 911 when they saw him collapse to the floor. The paramedics rushed the man to the nearest hospital where he had emergency open heart bypass surgery. He awakened from the surgery to find himself in the care of nuns at the Catholic Hospital. A nun was seated next to his bed holding a clipboard loaded with several forms, and a pen.

She asked him how he was going to pay for his treatment. `Do you have health insurance?` she asked.

He replied in a raspy voice, “No health insurance.”

The nun asked, “Do you have money in the bank?”

He replied, “No money in the bank.”

“Do you have a relative who could help you with the payments?” asked the irritated nun.

He said, “I only have a spinster sister and she is a nun.”

The nun became agitated and announced loudly, “Nuns are not spinsters! Nuns are married to God.”

The patient replied, “Perfect. Send the bill to my brother-in-law.”
6) man had been driving all night and by morning was still far from his destination. He decided park somewhere quiet so he could get an hour or two of sleep.

As luck would have it, the quiet place he chose happened to be on one of the city’s major jogging routes. No sooner had he settled back to snooze when there came a knocking on his window. He looked out and saw a jogger running in place.

“Yes?”

“Excuse me, sir,” the jogger said, “do you have the time?”

The man looked at the car clock and answered, “8:15.”

The jogger said thanks and left. The man settled back again, and was just dozing off when there was another knock on the window and another jogger.

“Excuse me, sir, do you have the time?”

“8:25!”

The jogger said thanks and left. With other joggers passing by it was only a matter of time before another one disturbed him.

To avoid the problem, he got out a pen and paper and put a sign in his window saying, “I do not know the time!”

Once again he settled back to sleep. He was just dozing off when there was another knock on the window.

“Sir, sir? It’s 8:45!”

7) The following ad in the Atlanta Journal is reported to have received numerous calls:

“Single Black Female seeks companionship, ethnicity unimportant. I am a very good-looking girl who loves to play. I love long walks in the woods, riding in your pickup truck, hunting, camping, and fishing trips, cozy winter nights lying by the fire. Candlelight dinners will have me eating out of your hand. Fondle and caress me the right way and watch me respond. I’ll be at the front door when you get home from work, wearing only what nature gave me. Kiss me and I’m yours. Call xxx-xxxx and ask for Daisy.”

Over 15,000 men found themselves talking to the local Humane Society about an eight week-old black Labrador retriever.
8) underwear making company was having a tough time with stock theft. On departure for home, all workers’ bags were searched and everything always seemed OK.

All security measures one can think of were put in place, Auditors were called in but still no one was caught and stocks continued to disappear.

All workers, including management were checked on departure, each wearing just one underwear and no one was caught with more than one pair.

Then…

One day, the Auditor advised security to check all workers on their arrival… and the case was solved!
*GK TODAY*

Tallest road…. Khardungla Pass (Leh Manali, India)
9) Santa walks into a bar. He asks the barman, “How tall is a penguin?”

The barman says about three feet.

Santa, “Don’t you get any penguins taller than that!”

The barman says, “Maybe maximum four feet but no taller than that.”

.
.
.
.
Santa, “Oh shit, in that case I just drove over a nun.”

*TELL ME WHY❓❓*

*Why do snakes not die from their own venom?*

There are two reasons why snakes don’t die from their own venom. … Just like humans have special cells in their bodies, called immune cells, that fight diseases that get into the blood system, snakes have special immune cells that can fight their own venom and protect them from it if it gets into their own blood.

snakes cannot kill themselves with their own venom. They can however die from the physical injuries of the bite itself. Also, while they are immune to their own venom, specimens from the same species could have slightly different venom compositions and kill each other. The pharmacological effects of snake venoms are classified into three main types, hemotoxic, neurotoxic, and cytotoxic

*Note* Snakes are more likely to bite when harassed. The best way to keep snakes away?
If snakes seem to always find their way into your yard, keep them away with ammonia. Snakes hate the smell and won’t come near it. Soak rags in ammonia and place them in unsealed plastic bags. Leave the plastic bags where you usually see the snakes, and they won’t come back again

*LEARN SANSKRIT*

*सङ्कट* : Crisis

*HOW IT WORKS* ⁉

*How Do Chameleons Change Colors?*

Chameleon’s are famous for their quick color-changing abilities. It’s a common misperception that they do this to camouflage themselves against a background. In fact, chameleons mostly change color to regulate their temperatures or to signal their intentions to other chameleons.

Normally, the pigments are locked away inside tiny sacs within the cells. But when a chameleon experiences changes in body temperature or mood, its nervous system tells specific chromatophores to expand or contract. This changes the color of the cell.

‍♂️ *GK TODAY*

*Books and Authors*

*Panchatantra* : Vishnu Sharma
*Mudra Raksha* : Vishaka Dutta
*Raghuvansham* : Kalidas
*Kamasutra* : Mallanga Vatsyayana
*Artha Shastra*: Kautilya

*VEDIK GYAN*

*Gayatri Devi* Goddess is also known as Savitri and Vedamata (mother of vedas). Gayatri is often associated with Savitr, a solar deity in the vedas. Saivite texts identify Mahagayatri as the consort of Shiva, in his highest form of Sadasiva with five heads and ten hands and according to other texts like Skanda Purana, Gayatri is the name of the consort of Lord Brahma.

Gayatri Devi is an incarnation of Saraswati Devi, consort of Lord Brahma, symbolising the “shakti” (strength) and “dev” (quality) of Knowledge, Purity and Virtue. Saraswati Devi is held to be the patronness of the Arts, being a poet and musician, as well as skillful composer. In the form of Gayatri Devi, with the blessings of Lord Brahma, she is believed to have given the four Vedas to mankind.

*HEALTH CARE: HOME REMEDIES*
( *Note* : These home tips followed in villages/ancient traditions, it is up to you to use it or not)

*Black pepper* , also known as the king of spices that has a load of health benefits and a major benefit of consuming pepper is that it aids in weight loss. It is also said to be good for digestion and prevents cancer by detoxifying the body. When this spice is added to the food, it makes your food taste better and spicier:-

Helps in losing weight
Detoxifies your body
Prevents cancer
Cleanses your intestines and stomach
It consists of potassium that helps in regulating heart rate and high blood pressure
Helps in producing red blood cells
Rich in vitamin B and produces calcium Prevents constipation Prevents skin deformation & wrinkles

*PLZ FOLLOW GOVT. NORMS, MAINTAIN SOCIAL DISTANCE, KEEP YOURSELF & YOUR FAMILY SAFE* ENDS