Current Affairs Daily Digest – September 12 2019
1. Dr Pramod Kumar Mishra appointed Principal Secretary to PM Modi
Appointments Committee of Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of Dr. P.K. Mishra as Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi with effect from 11 September 2019.
He was currently functioning as Additional Principal Secretary to PM Modi. His appointment as Principal Secretary will be co-terminus with the term of Prime Minister or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
2. International Day for South South Cooperation is observed on 12 September
International Day for South-South Cooperation is observed on 12 September. South-South cooperation is a broad framework where the South Countries have collaborated in various domains including political, economic, social, cultural, environmental and technical domains.
The day celebrates the political, social and economical developments made by regions and countries in the south in recent years.
The theme for the 2019 South-South Cooperation is From Commitment to Action
3. 24th World Energy Congress held in Abu Dhabi
The 24th World Energy Congress was held in Abu Dhabi, at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, United Arab Emirates (UAE) from 9-12 September 2019. It was held under the patronage of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of UAE.
4. President of India addresses India-Iceland Business Forum in Reykjavik
President of India Ram Nath Kovind, addressed the India-Iceland Business Forum in Reykjavik, (capital of Iceland) on 11 September 2019. President Kovind is on a 3 day visit to Reykjavik, Iceland from 9-11 September 2019. This is part of President’s three first leg visit to– Iceland, Switzerland and Slovenia. This is also the first visit of an Indian President to Iceland since visit of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam in 2005.
5. PK Sinha appointed Principal Advisor to PM Modi
Appointments Committee of Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of P.K. Sinha as Principal Advisor to Prime Minister Narendra Modi with effect frrom 11 September 2019.
He is currently functioning as as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). His appointment as Principal Advisor will be coterminus with the term of Prime Minister or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
6. DRDO flight tests Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM)
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the government agency charged with the military’s research and development, successfully flight tested indigenously developed low weight, fire and forget Man Portable Antitank Guided Missile (MPATGM) in ranges of Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh (AP).
7. 8th Asian Ministerial Energy Roundtable (AMER8) held in Abu Dhabi
United Arab Emirates hosted the 8th Asian Ministerial Energy Roundtable (AMER8) on 10 September 2019, alongside the 24th World Energy Congress (which will be held from 9-12 September 2019) in Abu Dhabi, UAE. India is the co-host along with UAE at the AMER8 event.
8. India to receive first Rafale fighter jet in September
The first Rafale fighter jet will be handed over to India in September, French President Emmanuel Macron said in Paris during the course of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to his country. Modi is currently on a three-nation tour and landed in France.
9. Karnataka Bank chief becomes Indian Banks’ Association committee member
Mahabaleshwara MS, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Karnataka Bank, has been inducted to the managing committee of Indian Banks’ Association (IBA). This was announced during the annual general meeting of IBA in Mumbai.
10. India’s fuel demand rose 2.8% YoY in August
India’s fuel demand rose 2.8 percent in August compared with the same month last year. Consumption of fuel, a proxy for oil demand, totalled 17.04 million tonnes, data from the Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC) of the oil ministry showed
11. CBDT launches one-time facility for compounding of income tax offences
A one-time facility to apply for compounding of income tax offences has been launched and taxpayers can avail this opportunity by December 31, a latest CBDT directive said. It said this “one-time measure” is being undertaken to mitigate unintended hardship to taxpayers in deserving cases and to reduce the pendency of existing prosecution cases before the courts.”
12. State Bank Of India To Sell Up To 4.5% Stake In SBI Life Insurance
State Bank of India said it will sell stake in its life insurance arm to meet the minimum public shareholding norms. SBI’s board has approved an offer-for-sale of at least 3.5 percent stake—or 3.5 crore shares—in SBI Life Insurance Company Ltd., with an option of oversubscription of 1 percent, India’s largest lender informed the exchanges.
