Top Best Current Affairs 17 October 2020

In a bid to tackle air pollution in the national capital, Delhi government on Thursday launched 'Red Light On, Gaadi Off' initiative. The initiative part of 'Yuddh, Pradushan Ke Viruddh' campaign promotes switching off the engine of the vehicles while waiting at the red signals.

Russia sees minimal chances of extending the New START treaty with the United States - their last major nuclear arms pact - as it does not accept conditions set out by Washington, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov was quoted as saying on Monday.

Kyrgyzstan President, Sooronbai Jeenbekov has resigned from his post, following 10 days of unrest caused by protesters who have demanded his removal from office. On 4th October 2020, he was re-elected as the President in Parliamentary election, causing political turmoil throughout the country.

As a part of finance track of the G20 leaders summit 2020, the 4th G20 finance ministers and central bank governors meeting was held virtually on 14 october 2020. It was organised under the Saudi Arabian presidency where indian side was represented by Union minister for finance and corporate Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman.

The first Indian to win the Oscar award, Bhanu Athaiya passed away. She won the Best Costume Design Oscar for her work in the 1982 film Gandhi, directed by Richard Attenborough. In 2012, Athaiya returned her Oscar to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for safekeeping.

The Punjab Cabinet on Wednesday cleared the decks for the State Government to launch its own SC Post Matric Scholarship Scheme in place of the Centre's defunct scheme, in order to facilitate SC students to pursue higher education in government and private institutions, with Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh also announcing increase in income criteria from earlier Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 4 lakh to accommodate more students.

India has banned the import of air conditioners with refrigerants in a bid to increase domestic manufacturing. A notification was issued by the Director-General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) late on Thursday, banning the import of split AC system and other air conditioners with refrigerants.

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has extended the tenure of state-run National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) Ltd, chairman and managing director, Gurdeep Singh till 31 July 2025. He had first assumed the charge of utility's chairman and managing director in February 2016.