Top Current Affairs – September 18, 2020 (Morning Digest)

GKToday presents daily digest of Top Current Affairs covering major news updates of the day. Here are the morning updates for Current Affairs of 18 September 2020:

Two agriculture sector bills passed in Lok Sabha amid protests

The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill were passed by voice vote.

India’s first general aviation terminal for private jets inaugurated

Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri inaugurated India’s first General Aviation Terminal at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International airport. The terminal would be managing the flight operations of private jets. It has 57 parking bays and can cater up to 150 private jets a day.

NASA to set up community response forum to analyse impact of stubble burning

A month before the beginning of Northern India’s harvest season, when there will be an increase in pollution in Delhi due to large-scale stubble burning in the region, NASA’s Universities Space Research Association is setting up a ‘community response forum’ to analyse impact on the national capital and the neighbouring regions.

Rich nations bought more than half the stock of potential COVID-19 vaccines

As study by Oxfam revealed that a group of wealthy nations, which represent just 13% of the global population, has secured majority stock of possible COVID-19 vaccine doses. These include the US, Britain, EU countries, Australia, Japan, Switzerland, Israel and others.

Centre sets up high-level committee to prepare framework to regulate land leasing in agri sector

The objective is to ensure rights for landless farm workers who are not included in welfare benefits. This roadmap is needed for framing a land-leasing legislation that enables the actual tillers and cultivators to profit from government’s support schemes, many of which are based on land ownership.

India cautions against securitisation of environmental issues

At the UNSC’s high-level open debate on maintenance of international peace and security – Humanitarian Effects of Environmental Degradation and Peace and Security, India warned against linking aspects related to environmental degradation with peace and security as the latter does nothing to address climate crisis.

Pakistan to make Gilgit-Baltistan its fifth province

Two years after the power of the Islamabad-controlled council was transferred to the local assembly, the Pakistan government intends to make Gilgit-Baltistan the country’s fifth province. India opposes all changes made in the disputed region as it claims it to be part of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Month: Current Affairs - September, 2020