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August 2020 Daily News Current Affairs

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  1. Aug 31, 2020
    1. General Events / Conferences (Aug 21-31, 2020)
      1. Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju attended meeting of Sports Ministers of BRICS nations, stating India's plans to host BRICS Games 2021, aligned with Khelo India Games 2021.
        1. India will assume BRICS presidency in 2021
      2. 5th BRICS Industry Minister's Meeting held virtually, attended by SOM praklash on India's Behalf (Minister of State for Commerce and Industry).
      3. World Water Week 2020 observed as World Water Week at Home (WWWeek at Home) Between Aug 24-28, with theme Water and Climate change: Accelerating Action.
      4. Andhra Govt UPI-based digital payment services in village and ward secretariats, in association with NPCI and Canara Bank. It would be available in over 15000 villages and ward secretariats.
      5. Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda e-inaugurated Tribes India Showroom Mumbai.
      6. Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) launched in-house mobile app “Pensioners Corner”, to reach out to its pensioners.
      7. National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) developed Vendor Performance Evaluation System as a transparent ‘Performance Rating’ System for its Consultants, Contractors and Concessionaires.
      8. Uttar Pradesh government renamed Manduadih railway station as Banaras railway station.
      9. All India Football Federation (AIFF) signed MoU with International Professional Scouting Organisation (IPSO), to deliver courses and webinars with regards to scouting in India.
      10. MSME and Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari launched an online farm-to-fork service VedKrishi.com promoted by farmers for selling non-toxic farm produce.
      11. India and Uzbekistan held their first National Coordination Committee meeting, which was held virtually.
      12. Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958 is extended for six more months in state of Assam.
      13. China launched first Type-054 frigate built for Pakistan Navy, as Most advanced warship China Built for a Foreign Navy.
      14. Indian Air Force launched mobile application MY IAF, developed in association with Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), to provide career related information in IAF.
      15. Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad launched completely wireless BSNL Bharat AirFibre for rural areas in Bihar. He also launched Next Generation Network Telephone Exchange at New Bihar Vidhan Mandal compound.
      16. 17th Joint Commission meeting between India and Vietnam held virtually.
      17. 14th India-Singapore Defence Policy Dialogue (DPD) held virtually.
      18. Department of Economic Affairs (Ministry of Finance) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) India launched Sustainable Finance Collaborative (SFC), to boost country’s efforts on mobilizing sustainable and green finance.
      19. Jammu and Kashmir Govt created an e-auction portal to promote trading of GI-tagged ‘Kashmir Saffron’, to assure buyers to have access to quality ‘Kashmir Saffron’. URL is saffroneauctionindia.com.
      20. Jammu and Kashmir's Doda District launched ‘Iraada’ campaign, to cover eligible left-out beneficiaries under various social welfare schemes.
      21. As a boost for Make in India, first ever rockets fully manufactured by the private sector have been successfully test fired by army. The Pinaka rockets were manufactured by Economic Explosives Ltd (EEL) and are first munition of its kind made by private sector in India.
      22. 8th East Asia Summit - Economic Ministers’ Meeting held Virtually, attended by 10 ASEAN members and eight other nations, including India, USA, and China. It was attended by Piyush Goyal (Minister of Commerce and Industry) on India'a Behalf.
    2. Reliance Industries Subsidiary Reliance Retail Ventures Ltd (RRVL) acquired retail businesses of Kishore Biyani led Future Group for INR 24713 crores, to expand its retail business. RRVL will acquire retail, wholesale, logistics and warehousing business from Future Group.
    3. Misc. MOUs /Agreements (August 2020) -
      1. Hyderabad-based Greenko Energies partnered with NTPC, to develop round-the-clock on-demand power supply from wind and solar projects.
      2. UTI Infrastructure Technology And Services Limited (UTIITSL) signed an MoU with National Health Authority (NHA), for providing printing services of e-cards to beneficiaries under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY).
      3. Haryana Government signed MoU with M3M Foundation to facilitate online preparation of students preparing for government jobs.
      4. Payments Firm Mastercard partnered with artificial intelligence (AI) company Goals101.ai, to make banking more personalised and automated, Using big data, AI and automation.
      5. Clean energy firm ReNew Power and UN Environment Programme (UNEP)'s District Energy in Cities Initiative to promote increased access to renewable energy and improved energy efficiency.
      6. MoU worth 110 crores signed between Himachal Government and Microtek Technologies, for setting up manufacturing unit of thermometers, UPS, invertors and other electronics products at Baddi in Solan district.
      7. Chamber of Marathwada Industries and Agriculture (CMIA) partnered with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), to set up a help desk which will provide support to MSMEs.
      8. Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) signed a pact with Israel based REE Automotive to explore production of electric commercial vehicles.
      9. UP Expressway Industrial Development Authority signed deal with a consortium of six banks, led by Bank of Baroda, for funding construction of Bundelkhand Expressway.
      10. National Research Development Corporation (NRDC) and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-National Aerospace Laboratories (CSIR-NAL) partnered to establish an Innovation cum Incubation Centre with external private funding to promote start-ups in emerging area of Aerospace technologies.
      11. Ministry of Tourism signed MoU with Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) & FICCI Ladies Organisation(FLO) to promote tourism as sustainable livelihood model for women's economic empowerment.
      12. Jute Corporation of India (Under Textiles Ministry) signed MOU with National Seeds Corporation (under Ministry of Agriculture), to provide certified good quality seeds (JRO-204) to jute farmers in 2021-22.
      13. MoU signed between All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) and Delhi Police, for extending Ayurveda Preventive and Promotive health services in residential colonies of Delhi Police, through a mobile unit named ‘Dhanwantari Rath’.
      14. Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) signed MoUs with AFC India Limited, and National Cooperative Union of India (NCUI), to synergize activities in interest of agriculture and allied sectors.
    4. Swedish telecommunication giant Ericsson and UN International Children's Fund (UNICEF) partnered to help map school internet connectivity in 35 countries by the end of 2023, as part of Giga initiative of UNICEF and International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
      1. Ericsson is first private sector partner to make a multimillion-dollar commitment to the initiative.
    5. PAG accquired controlling stake of 51 % in wealth management and capital markets business of Edelweiss Financial Services, for 2244 Crores.
      1. These businesses will be carved out of Edelweiss subsidiary, as Edelweiss Global Investment Advisors.
    6. Cricket Coach Gurcharan Singh authored book Pitching It Straight, along with sports journalist MS Unnikrishnan.
    7. India gave $5 million to Myamar, for 3rd year of India-Myanmar Border Area Development, which was signed in 2012.
      1. Under this, India would grant $5 million per annum for basic infrastructure and livelihood development of Chin State and Naga Self-Administered Zone.
    8. SBI received global recognition for its employee welfare HR initiative 'Nayi Disha, by winning 3 Brandon Hall Excellence Awards, also known as Academy Awards of Learning & Development.
    9. India ranked 72nd among 106 countries in terms of average wage per month (INR 32800), as per ranking prepared by Picodi.com -
      1. Switzerland is at top of List (INR 449000), followed by Luxembourg (300000) and US (264000). Cuba is at Bottom (2700).
    10. A descent of Tipu Sultan, Noor Inayat Khan became first Indian-origin woman to get memorial plaque in London, after Her London House got a distinct blue plaque to commemorate her work as a British spy, during World War II.
    11. Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic Updates (August 2020)-
      1. National -
        1. Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) approved Serum Institute of India Pune to conduct Phase II+III clinical trials of Oxford University-Astra Zeneca COVID-19 vaccine (COVISHIELD) in India.
        2. Electronic Vaccine Intelligence Network (eVIN), being implemented under National Health Mission, has ensured essential immunization services during COVID pandemic, by strengthening immunization supply chain systems across country.
        3. Health & Family Welfare Harsh Vardhan announced  successful completion of PAN-India 1000 Genome sequencing of SARS- CoV-2. He also launched largest network of 5 dedicated COVID-19 Biorepositories established by Department of Biotechnology, at THSTI Faridabad, ILS Bhubaneshwar, ILBS New Delhi, NCCS Pune and InStem Bangalore.
        4. A health startup at IIT Madras in collaboration with HELYXON has developed a device called OXY2, which can easily take vitals of an individual such as heart rate, temperature, oxygen saturation and respiration rate clinically accurate. It can be clipped on to a patient’s finger and the data is sent to a mobile phone through radio waves.
        5. A state-of-the-art Thermal Scanner - a Mass Fever Screening System, funded by UNICEF has been installed at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (Hyderabad), To enhance efficacy of screening process.
        6. Delhi Airport developed a first-of-its-kind portal where India-bound international arriving flyers can fill the mandatory self-declaration form and also apply online for exemption from mandatory institution quarantine process.
        7. Karnataka Government launched India’s first mobile RT-PCR lab in Bengaluru, developed by Indian Institute of Science Bengaluru and named Mobile Infection Testing and Reporting (MITR). It is capable of conducting 9000 tests per month.
        8. Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) Launched mobile application COVID19BWM, to track Biomedical Waste Amid COVID-19.
        9. IIT Madras and healthcare startup Helyxon deployed remote patient monitoring solutions for COVID-19, which accurately monitors four critical parameters – temperature, oxygen saturation, respiratory rate and heart rate.
        10. In fight against Covid-19, Mumbai Division of Central Railway (CR) designed a health assistant robot ‘Rakshak’, who can remotely communicate between doctor and patient.
        11. Israel provided state-of-the-art Artificial Intelligence-based technologies and high-end equipment to AIIMS to fight COVID-19 pandemic.
        12. Delhi International Airport developed a web portal named ‘AIR SUVIDHA’ for India-bound international passengers.
        13. Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari launched ATULYA, a handheld steriliser from Maser Technology (Based on DRDO technology).
        14. Unique UVGI based Room Disinfection Device has been developed by IIT Ropar, in collaboration with Momentum India Pvt. Ltd.
        15. Industrial Training Institute Berhampur filed 3 Patents for COVID-19 related innovations - Mobile Swab Collection Kisok, UVC Sole Sanitizer and UVC Robo Warrior.
        16. Defence Institute of Advanced Technology Pune (DIAT) launched two products namely “Pavitrapati” & “Aushada tara” to fight against COVID-19.
        17. Karnataka Government will build transit homes for migrant workers, to provide better living conditions for migrant workers, amid reverse migration in Karnataka due to COVID-19.
        18. As per CRISIL report, Average income of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) doubled during COVID-19 lock down. In 2020-21, Govt had allocated 61,500 crores for MGNREGA, which was later increased by 40000 crores, as additional fund under Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan.
        19. Delhi Government launched Fitness Campaign Healthy Body, Healthy Mind fitness campaign for students, amid COVID-19 pandemic.
      2. International -
        1. COVAX Facility of World Health Organization renewed its invitation to countries to join its COVID-19 vaccine facility. COVAX facility is a mechanism designed to guarantee rapid and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines, backed by Bill Gates Foundation.
        2. Russia launched world’s first COVID-19 vaccine named Gam-COVID-Vac (trade name Sputnik V), making it the first country to successfully register vaccine. Vaccine is developed jointly by Russian Defence Ministry and Gamaleya Research Institute.
        3. European Union announced €1.65 million humanitarian aid to support those affected by severe flooding in South Asia, most notably India, Bangladesh and Nepal.
        4. Malaysia detected a new COVID-19 strain that is 10 times more infectious, called DG14G.
        5. US Food and Drugs Administration authorised emergency use of saliva based diagnostic test for COVID-19, a cheap and fast method for COVID-19 Detection, named SALIVA DIRECT.
    12. Obituaries (August 2020) -
      1. Ebrahim Alkazi - Indian theatre Personality. He was recepient of Many coveted awards, including all 3 Padma Awards.
      2. Amar Singh - Member of Rajya Sabha. He Also held several key positions throughout his career.
      3. Lee Teng-hui - Taiwan’s first democratically elected president.
      4. Notable Deaths due to COVID-19 -
        1. Kamal Rani Varun - Minister of Technical Education (Uttar Pradesh)
        2. Rahat Indori - Renowned Poet.
        3. Chetan Chauhan - Former Indian cricketer and UP minister.
      5. Sa Kandasamy - Noted Tamil writer and documentary filmmaker.
      6. Shivajirao Patil Nilangekar - Former Maharashtra Chief Minister.
      7. John Hume - Nobel Peace Prize Winner, from Northern Ireland. He was co-recipient of 1998 Edition, with David Trimble, and also a received both Gandhi Peace Prize and the Martin Luther King Award. He is the only person to receive three major peace awards.
      8. Shirley Ann Grau - Noted Pulitzer Prize Winning American writer.
      9. Ram D. Pradhan - Former Governor of Arunachal Pradesh.
      10. William Kirk English - Noted American computer scientist who co-invented Computer mouse.
      11. Sadia Dehlvi - Noted activist and writer.
      12. Mukund Lath - Noted Indian scholar and cultural historian, known for his writings on music, dance, aesthetics and culture of India.
      13. PK Muthusami - Noted Tamil lyricist.
      14. Manitombi Singh - Former Indian footballer.
      15. Nandi Yellaiah - Long Standing (8 Terms) MP from Telangana.
      16. James Arthur Harris - Noted American WWE Wrestler, better known by ring name Kamala.
      17. Pandit Jasraj - Noted Indian classical Singer, belonging to Mewati gharana.
      18. Chunakkara Ramankutty - Noted Malayalam poet-lyricist.
      19. GK Menon - Noted Sports Journalist.
      20. Gopalaswamy Kasturirangan - Former Indian First Class cricketer from Tamilnadu.
      21. Angela Buxton - Noted British tennis player.
      22. Russell Kirsch - American Computer scientist who invented “pixel” and scanned world’s first digital photograph.
      23. Nishikant Kamat - Noted Indian filmmaker and actor, worked in Hindi, Tamil and Marathi Films.+
      24. Bhaskar Maity - Former Indian Footballer (goalkeeper).
      25. Gail Sheehy - Noted American author.
      26. Pascal Lissouba - First democratically elected President of the Republic of the Congo.
      27. Pranab Mukherjee - Former (13th) President of India. He was also recepient of top Indian Civil honors - Bharat Ratna and Padma Vibhushan. To honor him, Seven Day mourning was observed by Govt.
      28. Chadwick Boseman - Noted American Actor, best known for his work as ‘Black Panther’ in Avengers Franchise.
      29. Purushotham Rai - Former Noted athletic coach, and recepient of Dronacharya Award (in 2020), highest sporting award for a coach in India.
      30. A R Lakshmanan - Former judge of Supreme Court and ex-chairman of law commission of India.
      31. Arnold Meyer Spielberg - Noted American computer Scientist, who designed GE-225 mainframe computer in 1950s.
      32. Archana Mahanta - Noted Assamese Folk Singer.
    13. Misc. Sports Events (Aug 2020) -
      1. India withdrew from women’s world team Squash championship scheduled in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) in December 2020, due to lack of preparation of its players.
      2. Noted England Cricketer Ian Botham has been made a member of House of Lords of British Parliament.
      3. ICC announced that Men’s T20 World Cup 2020 that was postponed due to COVID-19, will be held in Australia in 2022. India will host ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 as planned.
      4. Indian Umpire, KN Ananthapadmanabhan has been included in ICC’s international panel of umpires following India's Nitin Menon’s promotion to ICC elite panel.
      5. Punjab Cricket Association named its new stadium in Mullanpur after last ruler of erstwhile Patiala state, late Maharaja Yadavindra Singh. He played a Test match for India in 1934.
      6. Portugese Footballer Cristiano Ronaldo named as Juventus' 'Most Valuable Player of the Year', for his 37 Goals season.
      7. Virtual Sports Platform Dream11 won IPL 2020 title sponsorship bid for Rs 222 crores, replacing VIVO that backed out amid anti-china sentiment.
      8. Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and INOX Group signed sponsorship agreement to support Team India for Tokyo Olympics, rescheduled to be held from July 23 to August 8, 2021.
      9. England's James Anderson became first-ever fast bowler to take 600 wickets in Test cricket, achieving this against Pakistan.
      10. German Golfer Sophia Popov won Women’s British Open 2020 title (rebranded as 2020 AIG Women’s Open).
      11. Hyderabad’s Neelakantha Bhanu Prakash Jonnalagadda won first-ever Gold Medal for India in Mental Calculations World Cup (MCWC) by Mind Sports Olympiad (MSO), creating a new All-Time Record.
      12. India and Russia became joint winners of FIDE online Chess Olympiad 2020, which was held online for first time due to pandemic.
      13. West Indies Cricketer Dwayne Bravo became first bowler to take 500 wickets in Twenty20 Cricket Format.
    14. Industrial / Misc. Awards (Aug 2020) -
      1. Prem Bhatia awards for outstanding journalism for 2020 have been won by Dipankar Ghose of Indian Express and non-profit journalism website People’s Archive of Rural India (PARI) for their coverage of COVID-19 and its impact across country, winning cash prizes of Rs 2 lakh and Rs 1.5 lakh respectively.
      2. Researchers from IIT Kharagpur have been conferred ‘Gandhian Young Technological Innovation Awards 2020’ for developing a mechanism for generating electricity from wet clothes left under sunlight to dry. GYTI Awards were instituted by Society for Research and Initiatives for Sustainable Technologies and Institution (SRISTI).
      3. DRDO's Defence Institute of Advanced Technology (DIAT) Pune won 1st prize in Smart India Hackathon (SIH)-2020, the 36-hour non-stop digital product building competition of national level held at Noida Institute of Engineering & Technology (NIET), Uttar Pradesh.
        1. DIAT team won 1st Prize of Rupees 1 Lakh for solving problem statement MS331 in category of software posed by Madhya Pradesh Government. Team provided solution DRISHTI for face, expression and gesture recognition using Artificial Intelligence.
      4. Union Home Minister’s Medal for Excellence in Investigation for 2020 awarded to 121 Police personnel. This medal was constituted in 2018.
      5. Journalists Nitin Sethi and Shiv Sahay Singh named winners of Asian College of Journalism’s (ACJ) Award 2019 for Investigative Journalism and K. P. Narayana Kumar Memorial Award for Social Impact Journalism, respectively.
      6. Indian-origin physician Ravi Solanki named among 19 winners of UK’s Royal Academy of Engineering President’s Special Awards for Pandemic Service, for exceptional achievements in tackling COVID-19 throughout UK.
      7. First-ever Pallikkutam National Award for Innovation in Education, instituted by Rajagiri Media, won by St Christopher School, Chessore Village, Nagaland. Award honours education leadership by way of innovations that help them cross Covid-19 induced academic lockdown. Awards are sponsored under CSR initiative of Federal Bank.
      8. Solapur based social activist Ganesh Vilas Lengare has been awarded Star 2020 Certificate by the World Book of Records (London), for his efforts to help needy during coronavirus induced lockdown.
      9. Chief Scientist of World Health Organisation, Soumya Swaminathan has been conferred with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister's special award, in recognition of her advisory role in combating the COVID-19 pandemic in state.
      10. PSU NLC India Limited (NLCIL) won Swachhta Hi Seva 2019 award for valuable contribution in implementation of Swachhta Hi Seva Programme.
      11. Water technology Firm Va Tech Wabag won Global Water Award, for its 45 million litres a day tertiary treatment reverse osmosis (TTRO) plant at Koyambedu in Chennai.
      12. US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) honoured Mahindra group Chairman Anand Mahindra and Adobe Chairman and CEO Shantanu Narayen with its 2020 Leadership Awards.
    15. Misc. Appointments (Aug 2020) -
      1. British high commissioner to India Philip Barton got appointed as UK's permanent under-secretary to head the newly merged Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
      2. Jaideep Bhatnagar is appointed as Director General of All India Radio News.
      3. Great Eastern Shipping Company Ltd appointed former RBI Governor Urjit Patel as an additional and independent director.
      4. P S Ranipse is appointed as Inspector General (IG) in Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
        1. Note that A P Maheshwari is curent Chief (DG - Director General) of Central Reserve Police Force ( CRPF).
      5. PNB Housing Finance appointed Hardayal Prasad as its new MD & CEO.
      6. Harsh Kumar Bhanwala has been appointed as executive chairman of Capital India Finance.
      7. Kishor Rungta has been appointed as Chairman of Fertilisers Association of India (Southern Region).
      8. G Satheesh Reddy has been given 2 year extension as Chairman of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
      9. Satyanarayan Goel has been appointed as Interim MD & CEO of executive chairman of Indian Energy Exchange (IEX), after Rajiv Srivastava had resigned from this post.
    16. Misc. Corporate News / Events (August 2020) -
      1. Government notified new GST e-invoice scheme under which businesses with turnover of Rs 500 crore and above will generate all invoices on a centralised government portal starting October 1, 2020. Earlier, this turnover threshold was 100 crores.
      2. Government notified changes in Securities Contracts (Regulation) Rules 1957, providing more time to listed entities to meet criteria of minimum public shareholding of 25 % (3 years as compared to 2 earlier).
      3. Kotak Mahindra Bank launched 2 month-long campaign called ‘Kona Kona Umeed’, with offers to lift up hope and optimism among its customers in midst of Coronavirus pandemic.
      4. BOB Financial Solutions partnered with Innoviti Payment Solutions, to launch a new credit card which offers EMI on PoS terminals.
      5. Global financial software solution provider Craft Silicon Tied up with PayU, aimed at innovating digital loan repayment solutions for small finance banks, micro-lending institutions and NBFCs.
      6. Airtel Payments Bank partnered with Bharti AXA General Insurance, to offer Smart Plan Shop Package Policy for financial protection of bank’s retailers and merchants.
      7. To address queries from customers effectively and promptly, Axis Bank launched Automated Voice Assistant ‘AXAA’.
      8. MoU signed by Bombay Stock Exchange with Akola (Maharashtra) based bullion trade and industry associations namely Akola Sarafa Association and Akola Sarafa Va Suvarnakar Yuva Sangh.
      9. Capital fund Endiya Partners received Investment of 75 crores (approx $10 million) from International Finance Corporation (IFC), member of World Bank Group.
      10. SBM Bank India partnered with InstaReM (consumer and SME brand under global fintech platform Nium), to improve existing outbound remittance service offerings from India.
        1. Also, SBM Bank India signed bancassurance partnership with Bharti AXA Life Insurance, for distribution of life insurance products.
      11. Punjab National Bank launched a campaign named ‘DIGITAL APNAYEN’ to encourage customers to use digital banking channels.
      12. Federal Bank chosen Fiserv, a global provider of payments and financial services technology solutions, to enable digitisation of bank’s end-to-end card issuance and processing cycle. Last Month, BOB Financial Solutions Limited has signed similar pact with Fiserv.
      13. Muthoot Finance tied-up with Kotak Mahindra General Insurance to offer COVID-19 insurance cover of up to Rs 1 lakh against gold loan.
      14. Lakshmi Vilas Bank (LVB) launched DigiGo, as a digital initiative to enable the opening of savings account instantly.
      15. Fino Payments Bank launched Jan BachatKhata, an Aadhaar Authentication based digital savings account. Under it JBK, customers can transact at a Fino branch or merchant point with fingerprint and OTP combination, while at non-Fino points they need Aadhaar authentication.
      16. Unitus Ventures secured investment of Rs 75 crore (USD 10 million) under SIDBI”s Fund of Funds for Startups initiative.
      17. Universal Sompo General Insurance signed agreement with BSE Ebix Insurance Broking (BSE Ebix), to sell general insurance products, particularly related to Covid-19 in India.
      18. Edelweiss Tokio Life Insurance partnered with Element AI, a global developer of artificial intelligence-powered (AI) solutions, to develop a strategic AI roadmap for the new-age insurer and prioritise investments.
      19. Government will to sell up to 15 % stake of its 89.97 % stake in Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) through an offer for sale (OFS), with floor price of 1001 per share.
      20. RBI canceled Certificate of Registration of 19 NBFCs, while 9 NBFCs surrendered their Certificate of Registration to RBI.
      21. Axis Bank launched initiative named Gig-a-Opportunities, to attract skilled talent that can work with bank remotely, from across country.
      22. Karnataka Vikas Grameen Bank (KVGB) signed Bancassurance Pact with SBI General Insurance, to sell general insurance products to bank's customers.
        1. Canara HSBC Lie Insurance signed similar Tie up with Andhra Pragathi Grameena Bank (APGB).
      23. RBL Bank partnered with IT Firm Accenture to transform bank's IT systems and accelerate its digital transformation.
        1. HDFC Bank signed a similar Tie up with IT Firm Adobe.
      24. Tata Capital launched Swift Insta Personal Loans on Whatsapp, enabling customers to easily apply for loans on Whatsapp.
      25. Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance launched ‘Smart Assist, a real-time technology-based assistant service.
    17. Persons Resigned / Retired (Aug 2020) -
      1. Noted German Footballer Benedikt Howedes announced his Retirement.
      2. Spanish goalkeeper Iker Casillas retired from football.
      3. Lebanon's Prime Minister Hassan Diab resigned amid public outrage over Beirut blasts.
      4. Noted Indian Cricketers M S Dhoni and Suresh Raina announced their retirement from International Cricket.
      5. Mali's President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta resigned, after being detained by Army.
      6. England Female Cricketer Laura Marsh announced her retirement from all forms of cricket.
      7. Indian table tennis Player Poulomi Ghatak announced her retirement from Sport.
      8. Australian Criekcter Cameron White announced his retirement from Cricket.
      9. Japan's longest serving Prime Minister Shinzo Abe resigned. He held the post for 2 terms.
      10. Sri Lankan Cricketer Tharanga Paranavitana announced his retirement.
      11. Most successful men’s doubles pair in tennis history, Mike Bryan and Bob Bryan (US) announced retirement from Tennis.
      12. Noted Japanese Badminton player Ayaka Takahashi announced her retirement.
    18. YONO Krishi platform, part of SBI YONO, has been integrated with government’s online seed portal Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) and Indian Institute of Horticulture Research (IIHR) to serve agricultural needs of farmers.
      1. SBI also added a new feature called Kisan Credit Card Review on its YONO Krishi app, offering technology-backed solutions to farmers. Now, farmers will no longer need to travel to branch to apply for a revision in their KCC limit.
    19. Competition Commission of India Approvals (August 2020) -
      1. Approved combination Between Keihin Corporation, Nissin Kogyo Co. Ltd, Showa Corporation and Hitachi Automotive Systems, forming a Joint Venture between Honda Motor Co and Hitachi Limited.
      2. Approved acquisition of C&S Electric Limited by Siemens India Limited (100%).
      3. Approved acquisition by Lightstone Fund S.A., of certain equity stakes in 91 Streets Media, Ascent Health and Wellness Solutions, API Holdings, Aahaan Commercials and Lokprakash Vidhya.
      4. Approved proposal of Tau Investment to acquire shares in J B Chemicals, envisaging acquisition of acquisition of up to 64.90% of share capital of J B Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals by Tau Investment Holdings.
      5. Approved acquisition of compulsorily convertible preference shares and equity of Nxtra Data Limited by Comfort Investments II.
  2. Aug 30, 2020
    1. Mustapha Adib has been named as Prime Minister Designate of Lebanon.
      1. Earlier PM Hassan Diab had resigned amid public outrage over Beirut blasts, but will continue to server as Care Taker PM till a regular appointment.
    2. Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) launched new forum on Artificial Intelligence, to be chaired by IBM India and South Asia MD Sandip Patel, aimed at encouraging public-private partnerships in research and development.
    3. Central Government issued rules for administration in UT of Jammu and Kashmir, specifying functions of Council of Ministers, President and Lieutenant Governor.
      1. Lieutenant Governor -
        1. Executive functions of LG include public order, police, anti-corruption, All India Services and Critical issues that affect peace of UT or affecting minorities.
        2. In case of difference of opinion between Minister and LG, decision of the LG is to be accepted by Council of Minsters.
      2. Role of President -
        1. When difference of opinion arises between LG and Council of ministers, LG shall refer to President and shall act according to his advice.
      3. Role of Council of Minister -
        1. Executive powers of CM and Council of Minsters are restricted to areas such as land revenue, imposition of new tax, sale or lease o government property, reconstituting departments.
    4. Punjab Government passed resolution against farm ordinances of central government, which were introduced in June 2020. Ordinances -
      1. Farmers’ Produce Ordinance 2020 - to provide barrier-free trade of farmers produce outside the markets that are specified under State Agriculture Market Laws.
      2. Farmers Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Ordinance 2020 - provided a framework to empower and protect farmers with reference to sale and purchase of farm products, overriding state APMC laws.
      3. Essential Commodities Ordinance 2020 - It amended Essential Commodities Act, excluding essential commodities such as pulses, oil seeds, onion, potatoes are excluded from the act.
    5. India co-sponsored a UN security council resolution that calls for the full, effective, and meaningful participation of women personnel in peacekeeping operations. The resoluton was put forth by Indonesia.
    6. Aug 30 - UN International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances.
    7. 51st International Film Festival of India (IFFI) will be held in Goa in November 2020. Due to Covid 19, it would screen films on official digital platform along with theatrical screenings.
    8. Indian Army Chief Manoj Mukund Naravane released book titled National Security Challenges: Young Scholars’ Perspective.
    9. Mercedes F1 Racer Lewis Hamilton (UK) won Belgian Grand Prix.
      1. 2020 F1 Season-
        1. Round Grand Prix Winner Race date
          1 Austrian Grand Prix Valtteri Bottas (Finland) 5 July
          2 Styrian Grand Prix Lewis Hamilton (UK) 12 July
          3 Hungarian Grand Prix Lewis Hamilton (UK) 19 July
          4 British Grand Prix  Lewis Hamilton (UK) 2 August
          5 70th Anniversary Grand Prix Max Verstappen (Belgian-Dutch) 9 August
          6 Spanish Grand Prix Lewis Hamilton (UK) 16 August
          7 Belgian Grand Prix  Lewis Hamilton (UK) 30 August
          8 Italian Grand Prix   6 September
          9 Tuscan Grand Prix   13 September
          10 Russian Grand Prix   27 September
          11 Eifel Grand Prix   11 October
          12 Portuguese Grand Prix   25 October
          13 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix   1 November
    10. Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Alumni Council signed an agreement with Russia’s Lomonosov Moscow State University (MSU) and Russoft to build world’s largest and fastest hybrid quantum computer in India.
    11. Uttar Pradesh government launched NRI unified portal, eanabling Overseas Indians to get their issues resolved quickly.
  3. Aug 29, 2020
    1. UAE Government launched AGRIOTA, as a new technology driven agricultural commodity trading platform, to bridge rural farmers from India and gulf Food Industry.
    2. Govt will create a smart rural water supply eco-system to measure and monitor service delivery of the water supply in rural areas, under Jal Jeevan Mission.
      1. Jal Jeevan Mission aims at providing functional household tap connection to every rural household of the country by 2024, aiming to supply 55 litres per capita per day of water.
      2. At Village level, Paani Samiti will function as a 'local public utility' for drinking water management.
    3. Sri Lanka announced to adopt India First Policy for security policy , terming China Port deal a mistake.
      1. This will change its Geo-political situations with China. China is trying to exercise dominance over Sri Lanka, for its strategic location in Indian Ocean Region.
    4. India withdrew from International Military Exercise to be held in Russia, Kavkaz 2020, citing logistics difficulties due to COVID-19 pandemic.
    5. United Nations released its first-ever guidelines on access to social justice for people with disabilities, to make it easier for disabled people to access justice systems.
    6. Defence Ministry has set up 3-member committee headed by Lt. Gen. Shekatkar, to review effective utilisation of the Armed Forces Headquarters Civil Services (AFHQ CS) cadre.
    7. Dutch author Marieke Lucas Rijneveld become youngest to win International Booker Prize, winning the 2020 title for his debut novel The Discomfort of Evening, translated from Dutch by Michele Hutchison.
      1. International Booker Prize (formerly Man Booker International Prize), hosted in UK, was introduced in 2004 to complement Man Booker Prize. Since 2016, it has been given annually to a single book translated into English and published in UK / Ireland, with a £50,000 prize shared between author and translator.
      2. It is different The Booker Prize for Fiction, formerly known as Booker–McConnell Prize (1969–2001) and Man Booker Prize (2002–2019), which is a literary prize awarded each year for best original novel written in English language and published in UK.
    8. Supreme Court ruled that states can sub classify list of SC, Socially and Educationally Backward Classes and STs to provide preferential treatment to those that are deprived within, disagreeing with 2004 judgement of Supreme Court in E V Chinnaiah Vs State of Andhra Pradesh.
      1. Since a 5 judge bench can not overrule /revisit decision of a coordinate bench of 5 judges, matter is now referred to bench of 7 judges.
    9. Arunachal Pradesh Government passed resolution to bring state under Schedule VI of Indian Constitution.
      1. 6th schedule provides for administration of tribal areas in Assam, Tripura, Meghalaya and Mizoram, safeguarding rights of tribal population.
      2. It was included based on reports of Bardoloi Committee that was formed by Constituent Assembly.
    10. India's first International Women Trade Centre will be set up in Kerala, Under Green Park initiative of Kerala, and in line with UN Sustainable Development goals.
      1. It will accelerate women entrepreneurship by providing them a safe place to start business, expand and get their products marketed globally.
    11. Assam Cabinet passed resolution to set up a Skill University at MAngaldoi in Assam, with investment of 900 crores, as assistance from Asian Development Bank.
      1. Cabinet also approved People of Assam can apply for Group III and Group IV exams up to 40 years.
    12. NITI Aayog launched Nationally Determined Contributions Transport Initiative for Asia (NDC-TIA), to decarbonize transport and provide technical support on Green Gas emission reduction measures.
      1. The 4 years NDC-TIA Program aims to promote decarbonizing of transport in India, Vietnam, and China.
      2. It is supported by International Climate Initiative (IKI) of Germany and implemented by consortium of 7 organisations.
    13. UN Renewed Lebanon peacekeeping mandate and reduced peace keeping forces in Lebanon, from 15000 to 13000.
      1. UN Interim Force in Lebanon was established in 1978. It patrols southern border of Lebanon known as Blue Line - Lebanon-Israel border.
    14. Aug 29 is observed as National Sports Day in India. It marks birth anniversary of India’s hockey legend, Major Dhyan Chand.
      1. On this occasion, National Sports Awards 2020 were conferred, which were announced recently.
        1. This year, enhancement in prize money in 4 of 7 categories of National Sports and Adventure Awards was announced.
        2. Prize money for Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award increased to 25 lakh from 7.5 lakh, Arjuna Award 15 lakh from 5 lakh, Dhronacharya (Lifetime) awardees 15 lakh (from 5 lakh), Dhronacharya (Regular) 10 lakh (earlier 5 lakh) and Dhyanchand Awardees 10 lakh (earlier 5 lakh).
      2. On this occasion, UP Govt launched Major Dhyan Chand Vijaypath Yojana, under which 19 international players from the state will get road connectivity to their houses.
      3. Aug 29 is also observed as UN International Day Against Nuclear Tests, established in December 2009.
      4. Aug 29 is also observed as Telugu Language Day, in India.
  4. Aug 28, 2020
    1. Minister for Electronics and IT Ravi Shankar Prasad launched Chunauti, as a Next Generation Startup Challenge Contest to further boost startups and software products with special focus on Tier-II towns of India, with budget of 95 Crores over 3 years.
      1. It aims to identify around 300 startups working in identified areas and provide them seed fund of upto Rs. 25 Lakh and other facilities.
    2. Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) - National Mission for Financial Inclusion, completed 6 years of successful implementation on Aug 28, 2020.
      1. As of now, over 40 Crore PMJDY Accounts have been opened, with 63.6 % in Rural areas and 55.2% women accounts.
      2. Total deposit balances under PMJDY Accounts stand at Rs. 1.31 lakh crores.
      3. Under PM Garib Kalyan Yojana, amount of 500 per month for three months (April to June 20) was credited to accounts of women account holders under Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), totaling 30705 crores.
      4. On Aug 20 this year, Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPRD) also completed 50 years of establishment.
    3. Govt launched PM Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) online dashboard, as an interactive online platform that would provide a one stop solution to all stakeholders looking for information and tracking monitoring of progress of PM SVANidhi Scheme of Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
      1. SVANidhi Scheme for street vendors aims to over 50 lakh urban and rural street vendors, with INR 10000 credit provided to them, to be returned within a year.
    4. Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce and Industry & Railways attended 17th ASEAN-India Economic Ministers Consultations held virtually, attended by 10 ASEAN countries - Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
    5. Railways flagged off first ever RORO service of South Western Railway from Nelamangla (near Bengaluru) to Bale (near Solapur).
      1. Roll On Roll Off (RORO)is a concept of carrying road vehicles loaded with various commodities, on open flat railway wagons.
      2. RO-RO train services were first introduced in Indian Railways on Konkan Railways in 1999.
    6. As per Ministry of Coal, India aims for 100 million tonnes of coal gasification by 2030, to be achieved through investments worth 4 lakh crores.
      1. Coal Gasification is process by which coal is converted into synthesis gas, called Syngas, mixture of Carbon Monoxide, Hydrogen, Carbon Dioxide.
      2. Syngas is used in applications such as making fertilizers. It will reduce India's Urea Imports.
    7. Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed contract with Bharat Earth Movers Ltd (BEML), Tata Power and L&T, for supply of Six Pinaka Regiments to Regiment of Artillery of Indian Army, at cost 2580 Crores, as a boost to Make in India initiative.
    8. Japan committed Official Development Assistance loan of JPY50 billion (3,500 crores INR) to India, for COVID-19 Crisis Emergency Response Support.
    9. CSIR-CMERI (Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute) developed World’s Largest Solar Tree, installed at its Durgapur Campus (WB).
      1. Installed capacity of Solar Tree is above 11.5 kWp, capable of generating 12000-14,000 units of Clean and Green Power annually.
      2. There are total 35 Solar PV Panels in each tree with a capacity of 330 wp each.
    10. Scientists from Raman Research Institute (RRI) have found a new way of inferring state of a system from an interference pattern, which they term ‘Quantum State Interferography’, which can help make such manipulations simpler so that several crucial operations in quantum technologies become less cumbersome.
    11. Scientists from International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy & New Materials (ARCI) brought out a single-step method to develop super-hydrophobic functional surfaces that have ability to repel water, to help prevent rusting.
      1. This indigenous laser processing allows fabrication of fast and flexible super-hydrophobic surfaces on a wide range of materials.
    12. National Statistical Office (under Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation) released estimates of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for first quarter (April-June) Q1 of 2020-21, both at Constant (2011-12) and Current Prices-
      1. GDP at Constant (2011-12) Prices in Q1 of 2020-21 is estimated at 26.90 lakh crores, as against 35.35 lakh crores in Q1 of 2019-20, showing a contraction of 23.9 %. Growth in earlier 4 Quarters -
        1. Q4 of FY 2019-20 - 3.1 %
        2. Q2 of FY 2019-20 - 4.7 %
        3. Q2 of FY 2019-20 - 4.5 %
        4. Q1 of FY 2019-20 - 5 %
      2. GDP at Current Prices in Q1 of 2020-21 also shown contraction of 22.6 %.
      3. The Contraction was evident, due to Covid-19 Pandemic induced Lockdown during concerned period.
  5. Aug 27, 2020
    1. Government appointed Ashwani Bhatia as Managing Director (MD - IT&SARG) of State Bank of India (SBI).
      1. SBI Currently has 4 MD and One Chairman (Rajnish Kumar).
      2. MD Names - Dinesh Kumar Khara (Global Banking & Subsidiaries), Arijit Basu (Commercial Client Group), C. S. Setty (R&db), Ashwani Bhatia (IT&SARG)
      3. Ashwani Bhatia was earlier MD & CEO of SBI Mutual Fund. Vinay Tonse will be new MD& CEO of SBI Mutual Fund.
    2. National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) introduced a dedicated debt and credit guarantee product to ensure unhindered flow of credit in rural areas hit by COVID-19 pandemic.
      1. Nabard signed a pact with Vivriti Capital and Ujjivan Small Finance Bank recently, to roll out the initiative, which will enhance access to sustainable finance for microenterprises and low-income households.
    3. HSBC India introduced Omni Collect, as one-stop solution to provide multiple payment options on single platform, to simplify way businesses collect payments through various digital modes.
    4. IT Firm Tech Mahindra collaborated with NITI Aayog’s Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP), to support women entrepreneurs across country by providing mentorship in developing go-to-market strategy.
    5. Axis Bank announced to acquire 17% stake in Max Life Insurance, instead of 29% as quoted earlier. It will take Axis Bank's Ownership in Max Life to 18%.
    6. Book Running Toward Mystery: The Adventure of an Unconventional Life written by Tenzin Priyadarshi and Zara Houshmand has been released.
    7. Book Delhi Riots 2020: The Untold Story written by Monika Arora, Prerna Malhotra, and Sonali Chitalkar shall be released in September 2020.
    8. Odisha government launched a new scheme for promoting intensive aquaculture through Biofloc technology in fisheries, to boost employment.
      1. Biofloc based farming system promotes intensive fish/ shrimp production in a limited area, without significantly increasing usage of basic natural resources of water and land.
      2. In This, waste organic matter in tank, is digested using probiotics and carbon source such as molasses and gets converted to fish feed.
    9. Axis Bank introduced ‘Liberty Savings Account’ for Youth, to address changing lifestyle needs of young and digitally interested Indians. It offers a complimentary hospital cash insurance cover of up to Rs 20,000 per year.
    10. Religare Health Insurance Company renamed itself as Care Health Insurance.
    11. Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu released 2 reports - Status of Sex Ratio at Birth in India and Elderly Population in India: Status and Support Systems, brought out by Indian Association of Parliamentarians for Population and Development (IAPPD). It states that India’s population is expected to grow to 1.52 billion by 2036 (by 25 % with reference to 2011).
  6. Aug 26, 2020
    1. ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company and Bharti AXA General Insurance Company announced merger of their businesses, resulting in entity with combined annual premium of 16,447 crores and market share of 8.7%.
    2. Cricketers Jaques Kallis (South Africa), Zaheer Abbas (Pakistan) and Pune-born Australian Female Cricketer Lisa Sthalekar are inducted into International Cricket Council’s Hall of Fame.
      1. 6 Indian Players are in ICC Hall of fame - Bishan Bedi, Kapil Dev, Rahul Dravid, Sunil Gavaskar, Anil Kumble and Sachin Tendulkar.
      2. England has most (28) Players in ICC Hall of Fame.
    3. Aug 26 - Observed by US as Women's Equality Day. It commemorates 1920 adoption of the Nineteenth Amendment to US Constitution, which prohibits states and federal government from denying right to vote to citizens of US on basis of sex. It was first celebrated in 1973.
      1. Aug 26 is also Mother Teresa's Birth Anniversary, noted social worker. She came to India in 1929 and worked for welfare of poor. She was honored by Nobel peace Prize in 1979.
    4. China launched 5th Optical remote sensing Earth observation satellite Gaofen-9 (05), onboard Long March-2D carrier rocket.
      1. Gaofen satellites are part of civilian China High-resolution Earth Observation System (CHEOS), initiated in 2010 to provide all-weather, all-day coverage with optical and synthetic aperture radar satellites.
    5. German Football Club Bayern Munich won UEFA Champions League 2019-20 title by defeating Paris Saint-Germain.
    6. Book Who painted my lust red? authored by Sree Iyer has been released, as second book in series of Iyer’s Money Trilogy series. First book was Who painted my money white?.
    7. Tata Group will launch a new app named Super App, offering several consumer services Including food and grocery, fashion, electronics, financial services, bill payments etc.
    8. ICICI Bank began using satellite data to assess creditworthiness of farmers, becoming 1st bank in India to do so. Satellite data with demographic and financial details provides strong information on land asset of the farmers.
    9. SBI General Insurance launched first-of-its-kind insurance product called Shagun – Gift an Insurance, which can be gifted by buyer to anyone. It makes it unnecessary for buyer to be related to insured.
    10. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology (VSSUT) signed MoU to set up first of its kind innovation cum incubation centre at VSSUT, to promote space research.
    11. Book Cricket Drona on noted coach Vasudev Jagannath Paranjpe has been released, written by his son Jatin Paranjpe and Anand Vasu.
  7. Aug 25, 2020
    1. Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari inaugurated and laid foundation stones for 45 highway projects in Madhya Pradesh, consisting of Road length of 1361 kilometers and cost 11427 crores.
    2. Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released its Annual Report for FY 2019-20. Key Highlights (Stats as on June 30, 2020) -
      1. RBI Projected India's GDP Growth Rate to be -4.5 % in FY 21 (2020-21), due to COVID-19 Pandemic.
      2. Balance sheet size of RBI increased by 30 % to Rs 53.3 lakh crores from 41.03 lakh crores an year ago.
      3. Income -
        1. Gross total income for 2019-20 amounted to 1.496 Lakh Crores as compared to 1.93 Lakh Crores in 2018-19.
          1. Note that previous year’s (2018-19) income (1.93 Lakh Crores) included a write back of excess provision from Contingency Fund amounting to 52600 Crores. Excluding same from previous year’s income, shows marginal increase in income for 2019-20.
        2. Expenditure of RBI in 2019-20 remained 92500 Crores (including risk provision of 73600 crores towards Contingency Fund), as compared to expenditure of 17000 Crores in 2018-19.
        3. 2019-20 ended with overall surplus of 57128 Crores, which was transferred to government. It is calculated by deducting expenditure from income (149600 - 92500 = 57128 Crores Approx). In 2018-19, Surplus transferred to Govt was much higher at 175987 Crores.
      4. Bank frauds of 100000 and above -
        1. More than doubled in value to Rs 1.85 Lakh Crores in FY20, Compared to 71500 Crores in FY 19. Number of such cases increasing 28% in the same period, to over 8700.
        2. Public sector banks (PSBs) accounted for 80% of 1.85 Lakh Crores reported as frauds in FY20, followed by private sector banks at 18%.
        3. Frauds in loans constituted 98% of total frauds or at Rs 1.82 Lakh Crores.
      5. Gold -
        1. RBI Holds 661.41 metric tonnes of gold as compared to 618.16 metric tonnes as on June 30, 2019.
      6. Securities -
        1. RBI’s holding of domestic securities increased by 18.40 %, from 9.89 Lakh Crores as on June 30, 2019 to 11.7 Lakh Crores as on June 30, 2020.
      7. Currency (at end-March 2020) -
        1. Notes -
          1. Value and volume of banknotes in circulation increased by 14.7 % and 6.6 % respectively, during 2019-20.
          2. In value terms, share of 500 and 2,000 banknotes together accounted for 83.4 % of total value of banknotes in circulation.
          3. In volume terms, 10 and `100 banknotes constituted 43.4 % of total banknotes in circulation.
        2. Coins -
          1. Value of coins in circulation increased by 1.8 % in 2019-20 while total volume increased by 1.2 %.
      8. RBI suggested setting up GST (Goods and Services Tax) Council type apex authorities for land, labour and power to drive structural reforms and expedite implementation of national infrastructure pipeline.
      9. Dissolution of Banking Codes and Standards Board of India (BCSBI) -
        1. BCSBI was set up in 2006, to formulate codes of conduct to be adopted by banks voluntarily for ensuring fair treatment of customers.
        2. RBI has since set up CEPD, issued Charter of Customer Rights (CoCR) and considerably strengthened Ombudsman mechanism to enhance consumer protection.
        3. Thus, it has been decided to dissolve BCSBI, which is now in an advanced stage of completing its dissolution process.
      10. RBI will be integrating 3 existing Ombudsman schemes Into one - Banking Ombudsman Scheme 2006, Ombudsman Scheme for NBFCs 2018 and Ombudsman Scheme for Digital Transactions 2019.
    3. ASTROSAT, India's first multi wavelength satellite detected extreme UV light from galaxy that 9.3 billion light years away from Earth, in a research led by India's Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA).
      1. ASTROSAT, which was launched in September 2015, has 5 major instruments - soft X-ray, hard X-ray, far UV, near UV, and visible light.
      2. Earlier, NASA's Hubble Space Telescope (HST) did not detect any UV emission from this galaxy.
      3. AstroSat/UVIT was able to achieve this because background noise in UVIT detector is much less than those on HST.
    4. WWF-India Partnered with Society for Odonate Studies (SOS) and Thumbipuranam for first-ever State Dragonfly Festival in Kerala, named Thumbimahotsavam 2020.
    5. 41st GST Council Meeting Held Virtually, chaired by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
      1. GST council discussed revenue compensation to states, for which no Concluison was reached. Central Government gave 2 compensation options to states -
        1. Borrow compensation amount arising from implementation of GST (Rs 97,000 crore) - States will not bear Interest and Principal. It will be paid via cess on luxury goods.
        2. Borrow entire shortfall (2.35 lakh crores) - States will have to bear interest burden in this case.
      2. No GST Rate Changes Proposed during Meet.
    6. Finance Ministry stated that businesses with annual turnover of up to 40 lakhs are exempted from GST, up from Earlier limit of 20 lakhs.
      1. Furthermore, businesses with a turnover up to Rs 1.5 crore can now opt for Composition Scheme and pay only 1 % tax (up from 75 Lakh earlier).
  8. Aug 24, 2020
    1. Amidst all galaxies in universe, many are tiny ones, which are 100 times less massive than our Milky-way galaxy.
      1. While most of these tiny Galaxies (called dwarf galaxies) form stars at a much slower rate than massive ones, some dwarf galaxies are seen forming new stars at a mass-normalized rate 10-100 times more than that of Milky-way galaxy.
      2. Researchers at Nainital Based Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES) found that clue to this strange behaviour lies in disturbed hydrogen distribution in these galaxies and also in recent collisions between two galaxies.
      3. Researchers used Devasthal Fast Optical Telescope (DFOT) near Nainital and Giant Meter wave Radio Telescope (GMRT).
      4. ARIIES will also conduct an International Conference on Climate Change and its Impact on Himalayan Region, in September 2020.
    2. Commodity exchange Multi-Commodity Exchange of India Ltd (MCX), launched India’s first bullion index, MCX iCOMDEX Bullion, or Bulldex.
      1. It will track real-time performance of gold (1kg) and silver (30kg) futures contracts.
      2. The weigthage of gold is 70.52 percent and the remaining 29.48 percent is silver.
    3. Piyush Goyal, Minister of Railways and Commerce & Industry reviewed progress of Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation India Limited (DFCCIL).
      1. First 2 DFC - Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (Uttar Pradesh to Mumbai, 1504 KM) and Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (Ludhiana in Punjab to Dankuni in West Bengal, 1856 KM), will decongest railways by moving 70% of India's goods train to these two corridors. These will be completed by December 2021, at cost 81459 crores.
    4. NITI Aayog in partnership with Institute of Competitiveness released Export Preparedness Index (EPI) 2020, as first report to examine export preparedness and performance of Indian states.
      1. Overall, most of Coastal States are best performers. Gujarat, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu occupy top three ranks. 6 of 8 coastal states feature in top 10 rankings.
      2. In landlocked states, Rajasthan performed best, followed by Telangana and Haryana.
      3. Among Himalayan states, Uttarakhand is highest, followed by Tripura and Himachal Pradesh.
      4. Across Union Territories, Delhi performed best, followed by Goa and Chandigarh.
    5. Nuakhai Juhar festival celebrated in Odisha, Chhattisgarh and other neighbouring states, to welcome new crop of season.
    6. India’s longest river crossing ropeway, across river Brahmaputra, has been opened to public.
      1. 1.8-kilometre-long ropeway, built at 56 crores, extending from central to northern Guwahati, will reduce travel time between both banks to 8 minutes.
    7. Central Government asked State governments to include all disabled persons under National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013.
      1. Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan benefits are for persons who are not covered under NFSA Act or Public Distribution System of States. Therefore, disabled persons without rations cards are also eligible to receive benefits under Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abbhiyan.
      2. Scheme is to lapse on August 31, 2020. Therefore, Central Government asked states to identify disabled persons who do not hold ration cards and include them under NFSA 2013.
    8. Bureau of Indian Standards prepared draft standard for supply of piped drinking water, aimed at providing safe and adequate drinking water to rural households by 2024. Key Recommendations Include -
      1. Drinking water should conform to Indian Standard (IS) 10500.
      2. At water reservoirs in distribution system, water should be sampled every eight hours.
    9. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal e-launched National GIS-enabled Land Bank system (https://iis.ncog.gov.in/parks), developed by integration of Industrial Information System (IIS) with State GIS Systems.
      1. Project was launched for 6 states Initially.
      2. IIS portal is a GIS-enabled database of industrial areas/clusters across states, with committed approach towards resource optimization, industrial upgradation and sustainability.
    10. Government of Kerala launched Marine Ambulance services named Pratheeksha, to provide more efficient rescue services.
    11. Government has set up an expert panel to redefine roles and responsibilities of Defence Research Development Organization (DRDO), to fulfil aim of GoI to reduce Indian military dependence on imports. Panel is chaired by IIT Delhi director V Ramgopal Rao.
    12. Russia released video of detonation of world’s most powerful hydrogen bomb, the Tsar Bomb, tested in October 1961.
      1. It is believed to be 3,333 times more destructive than Hiroshima-Nagasaki Atom bombs Little Boy and Fat Man.
      2. The video was kept secret earlier, which has now been released.
    13. Government will implement Rs 1,200 crore project to link Nubra and Zanskar regions of Ladakh and Leh with National Power Grid, to check huge power cuts in These regions. Project will Include extension of Srinagar-Leh transmission line to Zanskar and Nubra regions.
    14. World Health Organisation declared Africa as polio-free, with This disease now remaining only in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
      1. Nigeria is last African country to be declared free from wild polio.
      2. 95 percent of Africa's population has now been immunised, which was one of conditions set by Africa Regional Certification Commission before declaring continent free from wild polio.
    15. Aug 24 is observed as World Gujarati Day, Marking Poet Narmad's birth anniversary.
  9. Aug 23, 2020
    1. National e-Governance Division (NeGD) signed MOU with CSC (Common Service Center) e Governance Services India Limited, To enable Digital Inclusion across India.
      1. It aims to facilitate delivery of UMANG services at CSCs, making services on UMANG app available to citizens through network of3.75 lakh CSCs.
      2. This will benefit citizens who do not have access to smartphones or are not comfortable accessing App based e services on their own.
    2. Ministry of Culture has announced 7 new circles of Archaeological Survey of India, to strengthen preservation and registration of archaeological monuments along with registration of artefacts with self declaration.
      1. New circles have been created in Trichy, Raiganj, Rajkot, Jabalpur, Jhansi & Meerut.
      2. This has taken number of ASI circles to 36.
    3. Indian Railways aims to meet all it's energy consumption needs of over 33 billion units by 2030, up from Current annual requirement of 21 billion units, through Solar Power. Railways aims to achieve 100% electrification by 2023 and become “net zero carbon emitter” by 2030.
    4. National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language (NCPUL) organised Inaugural session of World Urdu Conference, in New Delhi.
    5. 78 new routes under 4th round of Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS)- UdeDesh Ka AamNagrik (UDAN) have been approved by Ministry of Civil Aviation, to enhance connectivity to remote areas.
      1. So far, 766 routes have been sanctioned under UDAN scheme. 29 served, 08 unserved (including 02 heliports and 01 water aerodrome), and 02 underserved airports have been included in list for approved routes.
      2. Since its inception, MoCA has operationalized 274 UDAN routes that have connected 45 airports and 3 heliports.
    6. India signed $500 Million USD Loan Agreement with Beijing-Based Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), for Mumbai Urban Transport Project-III (Maharashtra). It aims to improve network capacity, service quality and safety of suburban railway system in Mumbai.
    7. Government constituted a 30-member National Council for Transgender Persons, under Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act 2019.
      1. Minister of Social Justice & Empowerment will be Chairperson (ex-officio).
      2. It will advise Government on formulation of policies, programmes, legislation and projects with respect to transgender persons.
    8. Aug 23 is observed as UN International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition, the day designated by UNESCO to memorialize transatlantic slave trade.
  10. Aug 22, 2020
    1. As per Digital Quality of Life Index 2020 report by SurfShark -
      1. India is ranked 57th in Digital Quality of Life Index 2020.
      2. Denmark topped the index, followed by Sweden.
    2. IIT Roorkee signed MoU with Bureau of Indian Standards for collaboration in the areas of standardisation and conformity assessment based on equality and reciprocity.
    3. Uttar Pradesh government signed a ‘plan of cooperation’ with Israel government to resolve water crisis in Bundelkhand region.
    4. National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) launched its international arm NPCI International Payments Ltd, to expand real-time payment system Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and card payment network RuPay in other countries, with Ritesh Shukla as CEO of New entity.
    5. Iran unveiled surface-to-surface ballistic missiles Named Martyr Qassem Soleimani and Martyr Abu Mahdi, with ranges upto 1400 and 1000 KMs respectively.
    6. Book India Tomorrow: Conversations with the Next Generation of Political Leaders, by Harsh Shah and Pradeep Chhibber has been released.
    7. New Book One Arranged Murder written by Chetan Bhagat will be released in September 2020.
    8. Andhra Pradesh government signed MOU with Reliance Retail and Allana Group to help members of women self-help groups market their products.
    9. Book Disloyal: A Memoir: The True Story of the Former Personal Attorney to President Donald J. Trump, written by Michael Cohen has been released.
    10. Jharkhand Govt unveiled state’s new emblem, which represents the state’s progress, culture, flora and fauna. Pictorial Representation -
    11. The Beauty of Living Twice Book by Noted American Actres Sharon Stone shall be released in March 2021.
    12. Using ALMA telescope in Chile, astronomers found an extremely distant (12 billion light-years) and very young galaxy, which looks similar to our galaxy Milky Way.
      1. It has two features reminiscent of our Milky Way - a rotating disk, similar to flat disk of our galaxy, in which our own sun revolves around galactic center. And a galactic bulge, a large group of stars packed tightly its center.
      2. Result represents breakthrough in field of galaxy formation, showing that structures that we observe in nearby spiral galaxies and in our Milky Way were already in place 12 billion years ago.
    13. Meghalaya CM Conrad K Sangma launched 'Restart Meghalaya Mission, to revive the State's economy battered by COVID-19 pandemic. Amount of 14515 crores would be spent for implementation of the mission during the next three years.
    14. Aug 22, 2020 is observed as Earth Overshoot Day. It is day each year when humans have consumed a year's worth of planet's natural resources. It was earlier called Ecological Debt Day. It is calculated illustrative calendar date on which humanity’s resource consumption for year exceeds Earth’s capacity to regenerate those resources that year.
  11. Aug 21, 2020
    1. National Sports Awards 2020 announced -
      1. Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Awrad (Highest Sports honor in India) -
        1. Rohit Sharma - Cricket
        2. Mariyappan T. - Para Athletics
        3. Manika Batra - Table Tennis
        4. Vinesh - Wrestling
        5. Rani - Hockey
      2. Arjuna Award -
        1. Ishant Sharma - Cricket
        2. Deepti Sharma - Cricket
        3. Atanu Das -Archery
        4. Dutee Chand - Athletics
        5. Satwik Sairaj Rankireddy - Badminton
        6. Chirag Chandrasekhar Shetty - Badminton
        7. Vishesh Bhriguvanshi - Basketball
        8. Subedar Manish Kaushik - Boxing
        9. Lovlina Borgohain - Boxing
        10. Sawant Ajay Anant - Equestrian
        11. Sandesh Jhingan - Football
        12. Aditi Ashok - Golf
        13. Akashdeep Singh - Hockey
        14. Deepika - Hockey
        15. Deepak - Kabaddi
        16. Kale Sarika Sudhakar - Kho Kho
        17. Dattu Baban Bhokanal - Rowing
        18. Manu Bhaker - Shooting
        19. Saurabh Chaudhary - Shooting
        20. Madhurika Suhas Patkar - Table Tennis
        21. Divij Sharan - Tennis
        22. Shiva Keshavan - Winter Sports
        23. Divya Kakran - Wrestling
        24. Rahul Aware - Wrestling
        25. Suyash Narayan Jadhav - Para Swimming
        26. Sandeep - Para Athletics
        27. Manish Narwal - Para Shooting
      3. Dronacharya Award (For Outstanding Coaches in Sports) 
        1. Life- Time Category -
          1. Dharmendra Tiwary - Archery
          2. Purushotham Rai - Athletics
          3. Shiv Singh - Boxing
          4. Romesh Pathania - Hockey
          5. Krishan Kumar Hooda - Kabaddi
          6. Vijay Bhalchandra Munishwar - Para Powerlifting
          7. Naresh Kumar - Tennis
          8. Om Parkash Dahiya - Wrestling
        2. Regular -
          1. Jude Felix Sebastian - Hockey
          2. Yogesh Malviya - Mallakhamb
          3. Jaspal Rana - Shooting
          4. Kuldeep Kumar Handoo - Wushu
          5. Gaurav Khanna - Para Badminton
      4. Dhyan Chand Award (Lifetime Achievement in Sports / Games) -
        1. Kuldip Singh Bhullar - Athletics
        2. Jincy Philips - Athletics
        3. Pradeep Shrikrishna Gandhe - Badminton
        4. Trupti Murgunde - Badminton
        5. N. Usha - Boxing
        6. Lakha Singh - Boxing
        7. Sukhvinder Singh Sandhu - Football
        8. Ajit Singh - Hockey
        9. Manpreet Singh - Kabaddi
        10. J. Ranjith Kumar - Para Athletics
        11. Satyaprakash Tiwari - Para Badminton
        12. Manjeet Singh - Rowing
        13. Sachin Nag - Swimming (posthumous)
        14. Nandan P Bal - Tennis
        15. Netarpal Hooda - Wrestling
      5. Malualna Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy -
        1. Panjab University, Chandigarh
      6. Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Awards 2019 -
        1. Anita Devi - Land Adventure
        2. Sarfraz Singh -Land Adventure
        3. Taka Tamut - Land Adventure
        4. Narender Singh - Land Adventure
        5. Keval Hiren Kakka - Land Adventure
        6. Satendra Singh - Water Adventure
        7. Gajanand Yadava - Air Adventure
        8. Magan Bissa - Life Time Achievement (posthumous)
      7. Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar -
        1. Identification and Nurturing of Budding and Young Talent - Lakshya Institute, Army Sports Institute
        2. Encouragement to sports through Corporate Social Responsibility - Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC)
        3. Employment of sportspersons and sports welfare measures - Air Force Sports Control Board
        4. Sports for Development - International Institute of Sports Management (IISM)
      8. About the awards -
        1. Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna -
          1. Named after former PM Rajiv Gandhi, It was instituted in 1991-92. First recipient was Chess Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand. In this, a medal, a citation and 7.5 lakh rupees are given to the winner.
        2. Arjuna Award -
          1. It was instituted in 1961, as India’s second-highest sporting award.  It is bestowed upon sportsperson for consistently outstanding performance for four years. 
          2. It carries bronze statuette of Arjuna, a scroll and a monetary award of 5 lakh rupees.
        3. Dhyan Chand Award -
          1. It is lifetime achievement sporting honour in India, named after legendary hockey player Dhyan Chand. It has been given since 2002. It comprises a statuette, a certificate, ceremonial dress, and a cash prize of 5 lakh.
        4. Dronacharya Award -
          1. It is awarded for Outstanding Coaches in Sports and Games, named after Guru Drona, a character from epic Mahabharata of ancient India. It was instituted in 1985.
          2. Award comprises a bronze statuette of Dronacharya, a certificate, ceremonial dress, and a cash prize of  5 lakh.
      9. Applications were considered by Selection Committee headed by Retd. SC Judge Mukundakam Sharma.
        1. National sports awards will be given away on National Sports Day, August 29, the birth anniversary of hockey wizard Major Dhyan Chand.
    2. Indian Coast Guard (ICG) launched an Interceptor Boat ICGS C-454 in Surat, Gujarat. Ship ICGS C-449 was also launched.
    3. British Snooker Player Ronnie O’Sullivan defeated Kyren Wilson to win World Snooker Championship 2020 (England), as his 6th World Championship title.
    4. MoU been signed by IIM Kozhikode (IIM-K) with Switzerland-based HELP Logistics, to produce humanitarian logistics in India and region by offering consulting services as well as logistics training for humanitarian community.
    5. Green Deposit Programme launched by HSBC India, exclusively for corporate clients. Under this, bank will use deposits to finance green initiatives and environment friendly projects.
    6. Google launched its jobs app Kormo in India, to help Indians looking for entry-level roles, as a rival to Microsoft’s LinkedIn.
    7. Aug 21 is observed as International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to Victims of Terrorism.
      1. It is also observed as World Senior Citizens' Day. Note that International Day for Older Persons is observed on October 1.
    8. Francisco Asue has been reappointed as Prime Minister of Republic of Equatorial Guinea for 3rd consecutive term.
    9. Keith Rowley has been appointed as Prime Minister of Caribbean Nation Trinidad and Tobago for 2nd consecutive term.
    10. Yes Bank Launched Loan against Securities, as an unique digital solution. It will enable customers to avail loan facility against the securities that they hold. The customers are required only to pledge the securities and not selling them.
    11. Luis Rodolfo Abinader has been appointed as President of Caribbean Nation Dominican Republic.
    12. MoU been signed by Flipkart and IIT Patna, to encourage industry focused applied research in areas of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Machine Learning (ML).
    13. Book Full Spectrum: India’s Wars, 1972-2020 written by Air Vice Marshal Arjun Subramaniam has been released.
    14. All India Football Federation (AIFF) launched web platform “E-Pathshala” in partnership with the Sports Authority of India (SAI), as an Athlete Coaching Program in football for Grassroots and Intermediate.
    15. Government appointed Rakesh Asthana as new director-general of Border Security Force (BSF).
      1. BSF has been working without a regular chief since March 2020. ITBP chief S.S. Deswal has been holding additional charge as director-general of BSF.
    16. Chhattisgarh government launched student centric scheme Padhai Tuhar Para, to enable school students to study with help of community in their localities and villages, amid suspension of classes due to coronavirus outbreak. State government also announced to launch three other schemes -
      1. Bultu Ke Bol - Bluetooth-based programme will be rolled out to provide study materials to students living in remote areas.
      2. Mukhyamantri Slum Swasthya Yojana - Health facilities to the people at their doorstep with the help of 70 mobile medical units.
      3. Radhabai Diagnostic Centre Scheme will be rolled out to offer pathology and other testing facilities to people at concessional rates.
    17. Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) appointed GP Garg as executive director (ED).
      1. Ajay Tyagi is current Chief (Chairman) of SEBI.
  12. Aug 20, 2020
    1. General Events / Conferences (Aug 11-20, 2020)-
      1. 4th Session of BRICS Anti-Drug Working Group held Virtually, with Indian delegation led by Rakesh Asthana, Director General, Narcotics Control Bureau.
      2. Taiwan accquired 66 latest F-16 jets from US, expected to escalate the tensions between US and China further. This is first purchase of Taiwan from US since 1992.
      3. Ministry of AYUSH launched 3 month campaign Ayush for Immunity.
      4. India and UAE held their 13th Joint Commission Meeting virtually.
      5. Assam cabinet approved Non-Government Educational Institutions (Regulation of Fees) Rules 2020, to monitor fees of the private educational institutes.
      6. Mumbai’s Dadar become first city in India to have women symbols on traffic signals and signage.
      7. Indian Railways observed Cleanliness Week between August 10 -15, 2020, to give message of significance of cleanliness.
      8. Mount Sinabung of Indonesia erupted, after staying dormant for 400 years and erupting recently in 2010 and 2014.
      9. Drone based surveillance introduced by Railway Protection Force (RPF), for Railway security, procuring 9 drones for various zones / units.
      10. MOU signed by Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) and FICCI Ladies Organisation (FLO) with Ministry of Tourism for women empowerment, to lay emphasis on personal and hospitality skills.
      11. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar attended 6th roundtable of ASEAN-India Network of Think Tanks (AINTT).
      12. Software  Technology Parks in India (STPI) are to have largest ecosystem to incubate new technologies, with setting up 21 Centres of Excellence in these parks. Government has already launched 12 CoEs.
      13. Border Roads Organisation (BRO) constructed a 180-feet (50-metre) bailey bridge in Jauljibi sector of Pithoragarh district (Uttarakhand), providing connectivity and relief to about 15,000 people in 20 villages.
      14. To achieve its mandates in an improved, timely and effective manner, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) approved establishment of 19 Integrated Regional Offices (IROs), which will start functioning from October 2020.
      15. Government aims at 10% blending target for mixing ethanol (Green Fuel produced by Sugar Mills) with petrol by 2022 & 20% blending target by 2030. To achieve blending targets, Government is encouraging sugar mills and molasses based standalone distilleries to enhance their ethanol distillation capacity.
      16. Ministry of Labour and Employment launched official Logo of “Labour Bureau”, which displays three goals that Labour Bureau aspires to achieve in producing quality data i.e. Accuracy, Validity and Reliability.
      17. Google and Central Water Commission(CWC) launched flood forecasting initiatives across India, making CWC first government entity to partner with Google, to measure water levels on an hourly basis.
      18. Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu inaugurated year-long Diamond Jubilee celebrations (60 years) of IIT Delhi, which was established in 1959.
    2. Central Government approved investment clearance of about 7922 crores for six projects of Irrigation, Multipurpose and flood control schemes for Himachal Pradesh.
      1. This includes Renuka ji Dam Project (National Project) with estimated cost of Rs 6947 crores and five proposals related to flood protection works/anti-erosion measures with estimated cost of Rs. 975 crores.
      2. Himachal Pradesh will also get 40 MW free electricity generated under Renuka Ji Dam Project by HPCL, along with 3.15 % water share from this project.
    3. As per NASA, Earth's magnetic field has a weak spot called South Atlantic Anomaly, named after its location somewhere over South America and southern Atlantic Ocean.
      1. This small but evolving dent in Earth’s magnetic field can cause big headaches for satellites.
      2. South Atlantic Anomaly arises from two features of Earth’s core: The tilt of its magnetic axis, and the flow of molten metals within its outer core.
    4. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)', Chandrayaan-2 completed an year around Moon in lunar orbit, completing over 4400 orbits around Moon.
      1. Launched in July 2019, soft-landing attempt of Chandrayaan 2 Vikram was not successful, but orbiter was placed successfully in lunar orbit. It has fuel adequate to keep Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter operational for 7 more years.
      2. ISRO plans to launch India's 3rd Lunar Mission Chandrayaan 3 in March 2021.
    5. As per ICMR Cancer Registry Programme Report 2020, number of cancer patients in India are to increase to 15.7 lakhs by 2025, from 13.9 lakh in 2020. Tobacco related cancers account for 27 of India’s cancer cases, with highest incidence observed in North East.
    6. Myanmar suspended several projects under China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC), being used by China to widen its influence, under its Belt and Roads Initiative (BRI).
      1. Myanmar is being cautious towards CMEC, after seeing Increasing chinese influence in Pakistan and Sri Lanka, which are being pushed towards debt trap by China.
      2. Also,Myanmar Government and ten armed ethnic groups in country signed National Ceasefire Agreement at Union Peace Conference.
    7. Aug 20 is observed as Sadbhavana Diwas, commemorating birth anniversary of former PM Rajiv Gandhi.
      1. On this occasion, Rajasthan Government launched Indira Rasoi Yojna, to provide nutritious food to poor people in urban areas at affordable prices. Food will be provided at Rs 8 per meal, with government gicing subsidy of Rs 12 per meal.
      2. Aug 20 is also observed as World Mosquito Day.
      3. Aug 20 is also observed as Akshay Urja diwas in India, observed since 2004.
    8. Reliance Retail acquired equity shares of Vitalic Health and its subsidiaries for a cash consideration of 620 crores, representing 60% holding in Vitalic Health and direct 100% equity ownership of its subsidiaries - Tresara Health, Netmeds and Dadha Pharma Distribution.
    9. Uttar Pradesh government announced Electronic Manufacturing Policy 2020, aimed at inviting investment of 40000 crores in 5 years and generate 4 lakh direct employment. It will replace Electronic Manufacturing Policy 2017.
      1. Investors will be provided with double rate of land subsidy to set up manufacturing units in Purvanchal regions and Bundelkhand.
      2. Investors will be eligible for capital subsidy of 15 % and additional capital subsidy of 10 % on investment over 1000 crores.
    10. Asteroid 2020 QG made record for coming closer to Earth than any other known Near-Earth Asteroids (NEA), passing 2950 km above Southern Indian Ocean.
    11. Supreme Court refused to direct transfer of contributions made to PM CARES fund to National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), in response to petition by NGO seeking transfer of funds.
      1. SC Stated that contributions made to PM CARES Fund were funds of a charitable trust, however, there was no statutory prohibition on contributions made to NDRF by individuals or any organizations.
    12. J & K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Formed a committee to work out modalities for economic revival of UT, territory and extending support to its business community. Committee will be headed by advisor to Lt Governor, Kewal Kumar Sharma.
    13. Madhya Pradesh govt announced ration at minimum price for people with no ration card. State Govt will Provide salt, wheat, and rice for Rs. 1 and Rs. 1.5 per litre of Kerosene per family, from September 2020, to poor but does not have a ration card.
      1. Madhya Pradesh State Govt. also proposed to reserve Jobs under state Govt for MP Residents. Formal guidelines about the same are yet to be announced.
  13. Aug 19, 2020
    1. Cabinet Approvals (Aug 19, 2020) -
      1. General -
        1. Approved leasing out 3 airports (Jaipur, Guwahati and Thiruvananthapuram) airports of Airports Authority of India (AAI) to Adani Enterprises Ltd, through Public Private Partnership (PPP). Adani Enterprises will take over Operation, Management and Development of these Airports, for 50 years.
        2. Approved creation of National Recruitment Agency (NRA), to bring transformational reform in recruitment process for central government jobs.
          1. NRA will conduct a Common Eligibility Test (CET), as first-level /Tier I Examination, to screen candidates for Group B and C (non-technical) posts in Railways, Central Departments, SSC and Banks.
          2. It aims at saving candidates from paying fees for multiple exams and travelling long distances to appear in exams.
          3. CET score shall be valid for three years. Best of valid scores shall be deemed to be current score of candidate.
          4. NRA shall conduct a separate CET each for three levels of graduate, higher secondary (12th pass) and the matriculate (10th pass).
          5. Initially, scores would be used by three major recruitment agencies - SSC, RRB, IBPS. It is expected to enhance to other recruitment agencies in Central Government.
          6. Also, Madhya Pradesh Govt announced offering jobs on the basis of NRA CET marks, becoming first state to do so.
          7. Government sanctioned 1517 crores for National Recruitment Agency (NRA), to be undertaken over 3 years. Focus will be on setting up examination infrastructure in 117 Aspirational Districts.
      2. CCEA Approvals -
        1. Approved Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) of sugarcane payable by sugar mills for 2020-21 sugar season (October-September), under Sugarcane (Control) Order 1966 .
          1. FRP of sugarcane for 2020-21 sugar season at 285 per quintal for a basic recovery rate of 10%.
          2. Premium of 2.85 per quintal for every 0.1% increase above 10% in recovery. Reduction in FRP by 2.85 per quintal for every 0.1 percentage point decrease in recovery, in respect of mills with recovery between 9.5 - 10 %.
          3. For mills having recovery 9.5 % or below, FRP is fixed at 270.75 per quintal.
          4. Also, Ramesh Chand task force by Niti Aayog has recommended to link sugarcane prices to sugar rates. It also recommended for a one-time increase in the minimum sugar price at Rs 33 per kg.
        2. Approved one-time relaxation to Power Finance Corporation (PFC) and Rural Electrification Corporation (REC) for extending loans to Distribution Companies (DISCOMs) above limits of working capital cap of 25% of last year’s revenues, under Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana (UDAY).
    2. Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu announced Atal Ranking of Institutions on Innovation Achievements (ARIIA) 2020 -
      1. Institute of National Importance, Central Universities & CFTIs
        1. IIT Madras (TN)
        2. IIT Bombay
        3. IIT Delhi
      2. Govt. And Govt. Aided College/institutes -
        1. College of Engineering Pune (Maharashtra)
      3. Govt. And Govt. Aided Universities -
        1. Institute of Chemical Technology (Maharashtra)
        2. Panjab University (Chandigarh)
      4. Private or Self-financed Universities -
        1. Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology Khordha (Odisha)
        2. S.R.M. Institute of Science and Technology (TN)
      5. Private or Self-financed College / Institutes -
        1. S R Engineering College (Telangana)
      6. Higher Educational Institutions Exclusively for Women (Launched This year) -
        1. Avinashilingam Institute for Home Science and Higher Education for Women
        2. Indira Gandhi Delhi Technical University for Women
    3. Aug 19 - UN World Humanitarian Day, Being observed since 2009. It is dedicated to recognize humanitarian personnel and those who have lost their lives working for humanitarian causes.
      1. Aug 19 is also observed as World Photography Day.
      2. Aug 19 is also birth anniversary of 9th president of India - Shanker Dayal Sharma.
    4. Department of Science & Technology invited proposals from researchers in area of CCUS under Accelerating CCUS Technologies (ACT) in collaboration with other ACT member countries.
      1. This aims to facilitate emergence of CO2 Capture, Utilisation, and Storage (CCUS) via translational funding of projects, aimed at accelerating and maturing CCUS.
      2. 16 countries / regions are working in ACT with, to fund innovation that can lead to safe and cost-effective CCUS technology.
      3. CCUS is one of identified innovation challenges in Mission Innovation (MI) Programme, a global initiative of 24 countries and European Union, to accelerate global clean energy innovation.
    5. Scientists from Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences Bengaluru (CeNS) designed a metal mesh structure instead of continuous film on desired transparent substrates, to make it a transparent shield for electromagnetic interference (EMI).
      1. This metal mesh can be created on any desired substrates, without compromising conductivity of electrodes.
      2. Invisible shield can be used in various military stealth applications and can cover electromagnetic wave emitter or absorber devices without compromising their aesthetics.
    6. Swachh Survekshan 2020 Survey Report -
      1. Rankings -
        1. Cities (1 L - 10 L) - Ambikapur (CG), Mysore (Karnataka), New Delhi (NDMC)
        2. Cities (>10 L) - Indore (MP, Adjuged as Cleanest City in India for 4th time in a row), Surat (Gujarat), Navi Mumbai (Maharashtra)
        3. Jalandhar Cantt Named cleanest Cantonment Board.
        4. States (< 100 ULBs) - Jharkhand (1), Haryana (2), Uttarakhand (3)
        5. States (> 100 ULBs) - Chhattisgarh (1), Maharashtra (2), Madhya Pradesh (3)
        6. Ganga T0wns - Chunar, UP (1), Bithoor, UP (2), Gaucher, Uttarakhad (3)
      2. Other Highlights -
        1. Cities Of Indore, Ambikapur, Navi Mumbai, Surat, Rajkot And Mysuru Rated As 5-Star Cities. 86 Cities ranked 3-Star And 64 Cities As 1-Star.
        2. New Performance Category—"Prerak Dauur Samman” Introduced in SS 2021, With Five Additional Sub Categories.
      3. Background -
        1. SS 2016 survey was conducted for rating 73 cities, followed by SS 2017 ranking 434 cities.
        2. SS 2018, (world’s largest cleanliness survey) ranked 4203 cities, followed by SS 2019 which covered 4237 cities. 
        3. SS 2020 surveyed total 4242 cities, 62 Cantonment Boards and 97 Ganga Towns.
    7. Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar stated that 80 % of CAMPA (Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority) funds must be used for plantation drives and afforestation, while rest for capacity building.
      1. Project Dolphin, announced by PM Narendra Modi in his Independence Day speech, will be launched within 15 Days.
      2. Finance Commission had increased forest-based devolution of funds from 7 to 10 %.
    8. Turkey announced discovery of 320 billion cubic metres natural gas reserves in Black Sea coast, which will help it reduce its energy imports from Russia, Iran and Iraq.
    9. Rajiv Kumar has been appointed as an Election Commissioner of India.
      1. He will replace Ashok Lavasa, who is to join Asian Development Bank as its vice president (for Private Sector Operations and Public–Private Partnerships). ADB has 6 Vice presidents, to assist the President.
      2. Election Commission consists of a Chief Election Commissioner and two Election Commissioners. Sunil Arora is current Chief Election Commissioner and 2 Election Commissioners are Rajiv Kumar and Sushil Chandra.
    10. India and Israel signed a new cultural agreement to strengthen people-to-people exchanges, as a three year programme (2020-23).
    11. RBI launched National Strategy for Financial Education (NSFE) 2020-25, as 2nd national strategy (first NSFE launched in 2013).
      1. RBI came up with 5-Core Actions approach - Capacity, Content, Communication, Community, and Collaboration.
      2. Strategy also suggested adopting robust monitoring and framework to evaluate the progress.
    12. India, Australia, and Japan will launch a trilateral Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (SCRI) in order to reduce dependency on China, first proposed by Japan.
      1. SCRI is a direct response to individual economies and companies who are concerned about Chinese political behavior and disruption which may lead to supply chains.
    13. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla attended 5th World Conference of Speakers of Parliament held Virtually, organized by Parliament of Austria and Inter-Parliamentary Union.
      1. Also, External Affairs Minister S Jai Shankar Virtually attended ASEAN-India Network of Think Tanks (AINTT)', 6th round table conference.
    14. National Commission on Population report on population projections for 2011-36 -
      1. Sex ratio of country is to increase from 943 (2011) to 957 (2036).
      2. Population of India is to reach 1.52 billion by 2036.
      3. Between 2011 and 2021, population growth rate is to decline to 12.5%, and to further 8.4% in 2021-31.
    15. Asian Development Bank approved 1 billion USD loan to support construction of modern high-speed Delhi-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System in India, first of 3 priority rail corridors in integrated transport network of NCR Regional Plan 2020-21.
  14. Aug 18, 2020
    1. NITI Aayog's Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) and India-Sweden Healthcare Innovation Centre are collaborating to promote vibrant start-up ecosystem across India.
      1. Under AIM, various initiatives are being run such as Atal New India Challenge (ANIC), Atal Incubation Centre (AIC), Atal Community Innovation Centers (ACIC), Atal Tinkering Lab (ATL) and Atal Research & Innovation for Small Enterprises (ARISE).
      2. India-Sweden Healthcare Innovation Centre is a collaboration between AIIMS Delhi, AIIMS Jodhpur and Business Sweden.
    2. Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda e-launched tertiary processing centresof Trifood Project of TRIFED (Ministry of Tribal Affairs), in Raigad (Maharashtra) and Jagdalpur (Chhattisgarh).
      1. TRIFOOD aims to enhance the income of tribals through better utilization of and value addition to MFPs collected by tribal forest gatherers. To achieve this, 2 Minor Forest Produce (MFP) processing units will be set up initially.
    3. Ministry of Tribal Affairs and Ministry of Rural Development signed a Joint Communication, for leveraging each other’s strengths to propel rural economy and jointly promote sustainable livelihood opportunities among tribal women Self  Help Groups (SHGs) under National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM).
    4. MoU signed between Ministry of Shipping and Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Aimed at skilling, re-skilling and up-skilling manpower for growing maritime industry and development of coastal community.
    5. Book titled Gastric Cancer, edited by noted Oncologist and Padma Shree recipient Ashok K. Vaid has been released.
    6. Scientists at International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy & New Materials (ARCI) used waste biomass to develop materials for making cost-effective supercapacitor devices.
      1. It paves way towards affordable electric / hybrid vehicles, which use supercapacitors significantly in braking systems and start-stop cycles.
      2. Research used waste biomass like tamarind seeds and industrial cotton waste.
    7. Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari launched Harit Path, a mobile app to monitor plantations through geo-tagging and web-based GIS enabled monitoring tools, developed by NHAI. Ministry aims to achieve 100% plantation on highways by March 2022, and reduce Road construction cost by at least 25 %.
    8. ESIC, which is implementing Atal Bimit Vyakti Kalyna Yojna, has decided on several measures to provide unemployment benefit to workers covered under ESI Scheme.
      1. Scheme is extended by 1 more year, upto 30-06-2021.
      2. Payment of relief has been enhanced to 50% of average of wages from earlier 25% of average wages payable upto maximum 90 days of unemployment.
      3. Instead of relief becoming payable 90 days after unemployment, it shall become due for payment after 30 days.
    9. Minister for Consumer Affairs Ram Vilas Paswan launched online system of Registration and Renewal of Jewellers and online system of recognition and renewal of Assaying and Hallmarking Centres, at URL www.manakonline.in
      1. Hallmarking of precious metals will be mandatory from 1st June 2021.
    10. Power enerating Companies and Transmission Companies have been advised by Ministry of Power to charge Late Payment Surcharge at a rate not exceeding 12% per annum, to alleviate financial stress in power system. With this, financial burden on Discoms will ease out.
    11. Govt's Covid-19 Tracker App Aarogya Setu launched a new innovative feature called Open API Service, to help businesses and economy to start functioning while being safe.
      1. Service can be availed by India-registered organizations with over 50 employees.
    12. Satya Pal Malik is appointed as New Governor of Meghalaya (earlier Governor of Goa).
    13. Bhagat Singh Koshyari (Governor of Maharashtra) has been given additional charge as Governor of Goa.
    14. Aug 19, 2020 is Observed as First Parkash Purab of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.
    15. Communications and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad launched Swadeshi Microprocessor Challenge, to provide further impetus to strong Start-up ecosystem of country.
      1. IIT Madras and Center for Development of Advance Computing (CDAC) have developed microprocessors named SHAKTI (32 bit) and VEGA (64 bit) respectively, using Open Source Architecture under Microprocessor Development Programme of Ministry of Electronics and IT.
      2. Challenge is spread over 10 months - 25 Finalists to win 1 Crore of Award and top 10 teams will get seed fund of 2.30 Crore and 12 months incubation support.
  15. Aug 17, 2020
    1. Parsi New Year, also known as Navroz or Jamshedi Navroz, is celebrated every year on August 17 to mark beginning of new Iranian calendar.
    2. Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda launched Swasthya, a first of its kind Tribal Health & Nutrition Portal as One-stop solution for health & nutrition status of tribal population of India.
      1. Portal will be managed by Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Knowledge Management in Health and Nutrition, established by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs in collaboration with Piramal Swasthya.
    3. Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship's National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) signed MoU with Government of Goa, to set up an International Skill Hub in state.
      1. Goa government also signed a tri-partite agreement with Siemens Limited and German-headquartered GIZ, to carry out world-class German dual vocational education and training in Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) of state.
    4. Telengana Govt launched AI4AI: Artificial Intelligence for Agricultural Innovation in collaboration with Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR), World Economic Forum (WEF).
      1. Telangana government had declared 2020 as Year of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to accelerate AI readiness and develop a conducive AI innovation ecosystem in State.
    5. Punjab Govt launched Punjab Smart Connect Scheme that aims at providing more than 1.74 lakh class XII students with smartphones by November 2020, costing approx 90 Crores.
    6. RBI asked large urban cooperative banks (UCBs) to undertake system-based asset classification from June 30, 2021, to improve efficiency and transparency.
      1. UCBs with assets over 2000 crores , will be required to implement system-based asset classification from June 30, 2021.
      2. UCBs with assets between 1000 - 2000 crores and having self-assessed themselves as being under Level III / IV on Comprehensive Cyber Security Framework, will be required to implement system-based asset classification from September 30, 2021.
    7. Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan committed USD 25 million to expand Unified Champion Schools (UCS) to six countries - India, Argentina, Egypt, Pakistan, Romania and Rwanda.
      1. The four-year project will play a critical role in making the Indian education system more inclusive by creating 120 Unified Champion Schools across 12 states.
    8. Delhi government signed MoU with Bloomberg Philanthropies, joining 30 world cities in initiative for global road safety.
      1. Delhi government also signed MoU with IIT Bombay and Tata Projects, for setting up smog tower at Connaught Place (CP).
    9. Book A Bend in Time: Writings by Children on the COVID-19 Pandemic written by Bijal Vachharajani has been released.
    10. Centre for Capital Markets and Risk Management (CCMRM) at IIM Bangalore and NSE’s Investor Protection Fund Trust (NSE IPFT) launched Platform for Investor Education (PIE).
    11. Researchers from Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) has developed a sustainable process for making brick-like structures on moon.
      1. It exploits lunar soil and uses bacteria and guar beans to consolidate the soil into possible load-bearing structures.
      2. Process developed by IISc and Isro team uses urea — which can be sourced from human urine — and lunar soil as raw materials for construction on moon’s surface, bringing down overall expenditure considerably.
    12. RBI approved dividend of INR 57128 crores to government for FY 20 (2019-20), maintaining Contingency Risk Buffer at 5.5%.
      1. Last year (FY 19), RBI’s board had approved a payment of 1.76 trillion to government (1.23 trillion as dividend and 52,640 crores from its surplus capital). Revenues have fallen this year as India’s economy heads for its first full-year contraction in more than four decades.
      2. RBI largely earns through its trading of currencies and government bonds. Part of these earnings are set aside by RBI for its operational and contingency needs, while rest is transferred to government as dividend.
    13. European Union has launched Project Nirmanshree, a 1-million-euro project in four districts of Maharashtra and Odisha, under which it will train 3000 women in several skills Including masonry, plumbing and electrical fitting.
      1. Project is being implemented in Beed and Osmanabad districts of Maharashtra and the Dhenkanal and Jajpur districts 0f Odisha.
    14. RBI revised guidelines applicable for Core Investment Companies (CICs),on the basis of recommendations of Working Group headed by Tapan Ray.
      1. RBI made guidelines stricter for CICs by mandating more disclosures, better risk management and a simpler group structure.
      2. Existing entities have been given time till 31 March 2023 to reorganize their business structure.
      3. CICs with assets of over Rs 5,000 crore will have to appoint a chief risk officer (CRO).
      4. CIC in the group, or CIC with largest asset size, will have to form a group risk management committee (GRMC).
      5. It has been decided to limit number of layers of CICs within a group, including the parent, to, to make group structures simpler.
      6. These firms are mandated to prepare a consolidated financial statement as per the provisions of the Companies Act, 2013.
      7. About -
        1. CICs are non-bank lenders holding not less than 90% of their net assets as investments in equity shares, preference shares, bonds, debentures, debt or loans in group companies.
  16. Aug 16, 2020
    1. UT of Puducherry Observed its De-Jure day on 16th August, meaning The Legal Merger of the UT with the Indian Union.
      1. Puducherry became independent by virtue of a referendum on October 18, 1954. But treaty of cession signed between French and Indian governments was ratified by French Parliament only on August 16, 1962.
      2. Aug 16 is also Death anniversary of Former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee. On this occasion, Madhya Pradesh Govt announced to name Gwalior-Chambal Expressway as Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Chambal Progressway.
    2. Mercedes F1 Racer Lewis Hamilton (UK) won Spanish Grand Prix.
      1. 2020 F1 Season-
        1. Round Grand Prix Winner Race date
          1 Austrian Grand Prix Valtteri Bottas (Finland) 5 July
          2 Styrian Grand Prix Lewis Hamilton (UK) 12 July
          3 Hungarian Grand Prix Lewis Hamilton (UK) 19 July
          4 British Grand Prix  Lewis Hamilton (UK) 2 August
          5 70th Anniversary Grand Prix Max Verstappen (Belgian-Dutch) 9 August
          6 Spanish Grand Prix Lewis Hamilton (UK) 16 August
          7 Belgian Grand Prix   30 August
          8 Italian Grand Prix   6 September
          9 Tuscan Grand Prix   13 September
          10 Russian Grand Prix   27 September
          11 Eifel Grand Prix   11 October
          12 Portuguese Grand Prix   25 October
          13 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix   1 November
    3. India and Nigeria signed MOU on Cooperation in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes, through Video conferencing.
    4. Defence Ministry approved Expansion in National Cadet Corps (NCC) Scheme, to expand it to 173 border areas and coastal districts, with Induction of 100000 new cadets.
  17. Aug 15, 2020
    1. Aug 15, 2020 - 74th Independence Day of India.
      1. Sports Ministry organiseed Fit India Freedom Run, as largest country-wide run, to run Between August 15 - October 2, 2020. Also, Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju Launched Fit India Youth Club initiative, to promote fitness among citizen.
      2. On this occasion, India Post released a set of 5 commemorative postage stamps and a miniature sheet on UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India, as erd part of series. Stamps depict 5 cultural sites - Historic City of Ahmedabad, Churches and Convents of Goa, Group of Monuments at Pattadakal, Khajuraho Group of Monuments, Qutub Minar.
      3. Online Short Film Contest held by National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), has been won by Abhijit Paul's short Film Am I?
      4. PM Narendra Modi addressed the nation from Red fort in Delhi.
        1. PM announced that Govt will launch Project Lion and Project Dolphin using modern technology to replicate the success of Project Tiger, to conserve Asiatic Lion and Dolphins in India, Respectively.
        2. PM Narendra Modi announced One Sun, One World, One Grid (OSOWOG) plan, as a trans-national electricity grid, for supplying solar power across globe. OSOWOG will connect 140 countries through a common grid that will be used to transfer solar power.
        3. 9 museums being set up Tribal Affairs Ministry, dedicated to tribal freedom fighters, will be ready by end of 2022.
        4. PM launched National Digital Health Mission, which will enable every Indian to get a Health ID card. It will contain all relevant information about person’s past medical condition, treatment and diagnosis, aimed at improving efficiency, effectiveness and transparency of health care in India.
          1. It will operate under Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana or Ayushman Bharat.
          2. National Health Authority (NHA) also approved integrating existing health schemes of Ministries / PSUs with Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY).
          3. Also, National Health Authority released Draft Health Data Management Policy under National Digital Health Mission, to provide adequate guidance and set framework to secure processing of personal and sensitive personal data of individuals.
        5.  Optical fibre network to be extended to all villages. In last 5 years, 1.5 Lakh village panchayats have been connected with optical fibre. Within next 1000 days, India will take optical fibre to 6 lakh villages.
        6. Govt has set up a committee to reconsider minimum age for marriage of girls.
        7. Andaman and Nicobar Islands provided with high-speed internet. In the next 1000 days, Lakshadweep will also be connected with high-speed internet. 
        8. A 7500 MW solar park is being built in Ladakh for electricity and infrastructure development, aimed at making Ladakh, Leh and Kargil region as carbon neutral.
        9. Govt will unveil a new National Cyber Security Policy 2020 soon, to replace Cyber Security Policy 2013.
      5. Gallantary Awards 2020-
        1. President Ram Nath Kovind approved 84 Gallantry Awards and other decorations to Personnel of Armed and Paramilitary Forces.
        2. Awards include 1 Kirti Chakra, 9 Shaurya Chakras, five Bar to Sena Medals (Gallantry), 60 Sena Medals (Gallantry), four Nao Sena Medals (Gallantry) and five Vayu Sena Medals (Gallantry).
        3. Kirti Charka - Abdul Rashid Kalas (Head Constable, Jammu and Kashmir Police).
        4. Shaurya Chakra - Krishan Singh Rawat (Army), Anil Urs (Army), Alok Kumar Dubey (Army), Vishak Nair (Air Force), Amit Kumar (J & K Police), Mahaveer Prasad Godara (CISF), Eranna Nayaka (CISF), Mahendra Kumar Paswan (CISF), Satish Prasad Kushwaha (CISF).
        5. Nao Sena Medal - Mrigank Sheokand, Dhanush Menon, Haridas Kundu, Naveen Kumar
        6. Vayu Sena Medal - Amber Agrawal, Arun B, Karan Ranjit Deshmukh, Kuldeep Singh Rajawat, Pahad Singh Kharawad
        7. Additionally, 926 Police personnel been awarded Medals on Independence Day 2020.
    2. US relaxed ban on H-1B visa, allowing H-1B visas holders to enter the United States to return to the same jobs they had prior to the proclamation of visa ban.
    3. Google launched its new People Cards feature in India that let users create their virtual visiting card and build their public profile for search engine.
    4. Spanish mountaineer Juan Antonio, who recently climbed a virgin peak in Spain has decided to name the peak and its route after Indian IAS Ashish Chauhan, who helped Juan during his 2018 expedition to Gangotri.
    5. RBI released final framework for authorisation of a new umbrella entity (NUE) for retail payments.
      1. Guidelines demand that applicants must have at least 3 years experience in payments space and minimum paid-up capital of 500 crores.
      2. At present, only National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), a not-for-profit company, performs this role.
      3. NUE could choose to be a for-profit entity or a not-for-profit.
      4. No single promoter shall have more than 40% investment in NUE.
      5. Promoter shareholding can be diluted to minimum of 25% after 5 years of commencement of business.
      6. Minimum net-worth of Rs 300 crore shall be maintained at all times.
      7. Entity will be entitled to set up, manage and operate new payment systems in the retail space such as ATMs, white label PoS, Aadhaar-based payments and remittance services.
      8. Applications for setting up NUE must reach RBI by February 26, 2021.
    6. RBI issued draft guidelines for establishing self-regulatory organizations (SROs), which will be responsible for framing and enforcing rules for payment systems operators. SRO shall serve as a two-way communication channel between its members and RBI.
    7. HDFC Bank launched “Shaurya KGC Card” for Indian armed forces personnel, to offer agriculture loans for military and paramilitary professionals.
    8. Airline GoAir appointed Kaushik Khona as its New Chief Executive Officer.
    9. Nagaland Govt launched Yellow Chain, a centralized e-commerce system to provide the people of the state integrated platform to build sustainable businesses.
    10. Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank rolled out Council of Architecture (Minimum Standards of Architectural Education) Regulations 2020, to replace Architecture Regulations 1983. It has been prepared by the experts of Council of Architecture (CoA). As Per new Norms -
      1. Architecture course will have minimum duration of 5 academic years or 10 semesters of 90 days each.
      2. Candidates who secure 50% marks in aggregate at 10+2 level examination or passed 10+3 Diploma Examination with Mathematics as compulsory subject with at least 50% can only apply To enroll in an Architectural course, candidates must qualify an Aptitude Test in Architecture conducted by Council.
    11. Goa’s traditional festive sweet dish ‘Khaje’, spicy Harmal Chilli and Myndoli Banana (Moira Banana) has obtained Geographical Indication (GI) tag from Geographical Indications Registry.
      1. GI registration is administered by Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act 1999, which protects produce from being illegally used and ensures benefits to local growers.
    12. Former RBI Deputy Governor S S Mundra is appointed as non-executive chairman of Indiabulls Housing Finance (IBH).
    13. Forbes magazine released The Highest-Paid Actors Of 2020 -
      1. Akshay Kumar is placed among top 10 highest-paid actors of 2020, With earnings $48.5 million (Ranked 6th).
      2. Top 6 - Dwayne Johnson, Ryan Reynolds, Mark Wahlberg, Ben Affleck, Vin Diesel, Akshay Kumar
    14. Soma Mondal has been selected by Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) as next chairman of Maharatna PSU Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL).
    15. Pramod Bhasin has been appointed as a new Chairman of Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER).
    16. RBI introduced a mechanism of ‘Positive Pay’ feature for all cheques of value Rs 50,000 and above, to help avert cheque frauds. Limit of 50,000 will cover approx 20 % of transactions by volume and 80 % by value.
    17. Reliance Foundation launched W-GDP Women Connect Challenge, in association with US Agency for International Development (USAID) and Women’s Global Development and Prosperity (W-GDP), to bridge gender and digital divide in India.
  18. Aug 14, 2020
    1. Ministry of Tribal Affairs announced several initiatives Including Tribal Health and Nutrition Portal ‘Swasthya’ and e-newsletter on health and nutrition ALEKH, opening of National Overseas Portal and National Tribal Fellowship Portal.
    2. First World Solar Technology Summit will be organized by International Solar Alliance (ISA) on a virtual platform, on September 08, 2020. ISA will also launch ISA Journal on Solar Energy (I JOSE), that would help authors from across globe to publish their articles on solar energy.
    3. Finance ministry expanded scope of the partial credit guarantee scheme (PCGS) to provide greater flexibility to state-owned banks in purchasing bonds and commercial papers of non-banking financial companies (NBFCs).
      1. Centre had announced PCGS in July 2019, allowing public sector banks to purchase high-rated pooled assets from financially sound NBFCs and housing finance companies (HFCs).
      2. It was extended in May 2020 as PCGS 2.0, to cover primary market issuance of bonds by NBFCs, HFCs and micro finance institutions (MFIs) with low credit ratings, to provide liquidity support to institutions with low credit ratings.
      3. Under PCGS 2.0, Centre provided 20% first loss sovereign guarantee to public sector banks, resulting in liquidity infusion of 45,000 crores into system.
    4. Scientists from Institute of Nano Science & Technology Mohali (INST) synthesised different magnetic nano-transducers, for successful application as magnetic hyperthermia agents for cancer therapy.
      1. Magnetic hyperthermia-mediated cancer therapy (MHCT), a non-invasive cancer treatment technique involves delivery and localisation of magnetic materials within targeted tumour site followed by subsequent application of an alternating magnetic field (AMF), generating heat at tumour site.
      2. Scientists are on lookout for new materials which can make this treatment more efficient. The INST research is a boost in this direction.
    5. Scientists from Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) studied numerous stars of Omega Centauri Globular  cluster and discovered He-enhanced cool bright stars among metal-rich sample of Omega Centauri.
      1. This is first-ever spectroscopic determination of He-abundance in Omega Centauri.
      2. Globular clusters have millions of stars formed from same gaseous cloud, thus having homogeneous chemical compositions. But, Omega Centauri, the largest globular cluster in our Galaxy Milky Way, has stars that do not show same metal content.
      3. Study provides important clue for origin of He-enhanced population, establishing that these are second generation of stars formed from metal-rich and He-enhanced material from first generation of stars.
    6. As per Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Odisha remained at first position among states, in terms of AMRUT Scheme (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation) Implementatoion.
      1. It aims to provide piped water supply to households in urban areas of the state.
      2. Odisha is followed by Chandigarh, Telangana, Gujarat and Karnataka.
    7. India will fund a major connectivity project in Maldives through a USD 400 million line of credit and USD 100 million grant, The 6.7 km Greater Male Connectivity Project (GMCP).
      1. It will be largest civilian infrastructure project in Maldives, connecting Male with three neighbouring islands - Villingili, Gulhifahu and Thilafushi.
    8. Israel successfully tested advanced missile defence system Arrow-2, developed to defend against the short- and mid- range rockets.
    9. India extended 1 million USD to Carribean Nation Antigua and Barbuda, to combat COVID-19 outbreak. India has offered same level of assistance (1 million USD) to each of 20-member Caribbean Community under CARICOM.
    10. NITI Aayog US Based IT Firm Oracle to modernise vital IT infrastructure in 112 most backward districts under its Aspirational Districts Programme. Oracle will provide new cloud solution and will aid District Magistrates to transform lives of citizens in Aspirational districts.
    11. Orunodoi / Arunodoi Scheme of Assam Govt will be launched on Oct 02, 2020, which will provide Assistance of 830 per month to around 17 Lakh Families in state, with under 2 Lakh as annual income. This is in addition to annual income of 10000 that will be provided.
      1. Women being primary caretaker of family are kept as beneficiaries of the scheme.
    12. NASA planet hunter TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite) found 66 new Exo planets.
      1. Launched in 2018, TESS has so far identified 1835 Exoplanets. Mission has now been extended till September 2022.
    13. A Ministry of Corporate Affairs panel made various proposals on business responsibility reporting, aiming to have a single source for all non-financial disclosures by corporates. It recommends -
      1. Putting in place two formats for disclosing information.
      2. Business Responsibility Report should be called as the Business Responsibility and Sustainability Report (BRSR). This would help better reflecting the "intent and scope of reporting requirement.
      3. Reporting may be done by top 1,000 listed companies in terms of their market capitalisation.
    14. Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) has opened a Quality Control Laboratory in coastal city of Porbandar (Gujarat), facilitating tests for seafood processors and exporters.
    15. Karnataka Government will build an industrial corridor between Mysuru and Bidar, to augment development of commerce and industry, aiming to achieve 35 lakh crore of GDP by 2025.
    16. Indian Railways is constructing world’s tallest pier bridge in Manipur, with 141 metres height and 703 metres length.
      1. It has surpassed the record of 139 metres tall Mala-Rijeka bridge in Montenegro.
      2. Bridge is a part of the 111 km long Jiribam-Tupul-Imphal railway line project.
      3. Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari also laid foundation stone for 13 highway projects in Manipur, worth over 3000 crores.
    17. United Kingdom launched 3 million pounds of Innovation Challenge Fund in India, to support Indian scientists in industries and academia to tackle COVID-19 and climate change.
    18. A high-level GST council ministerial panel suggested e-way bill for intra state movement of Gold, to help track movement of gold under tax evasion and smuggling.
      1. e-Way bill is required to carry consignment of goods of value exceeding Rs 50,000.
      2. Gold was kept outside ambit of e-way bill, as leaking of details being collected might cause security issues in transporting the precious stones and metals.
    19. United Arab Emirates (UAE) became first Gulf country to sign peace agreement with Israel, called Abraham Accord.
      1. UAE became third Arab country, after Egypt in 1979 and Jordan in 1994, to agree to formally normalize its relationship with Israel, as well as the first Persian Gulf country to do so.
      2. Name Abraham honours three major Abrahamic religions Judaism, Christianity and Islam. The deal has stopped Israeli annexation of West Bank, which is sandwiched between Israel and Jordan.
    20. August 14 is observed as Naga Independence Day, celebrated in states of Nagaland and Manipur.
      1. When India became independent from British rule, Nagas under Naga National Council wished to remain free. On 14 August 1947, Nagas declared independence of Naga region.
      2. Nagas did not take part in first and second general elections held in 1952 and 1957 respectively.
    21. Arunachal Pradesh Government formed a committee under chairmanship of Deputy CM Chowna Mein, to discuss possible solutions of the Patkai Autonomous Council and Mon autonomous Region.
      1. Regions under Autonomous councils of Arunachal Pradesh are currently under 5th Schedule of Indian Constitution. This does not provide special rights for the indigenous communities as that of the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
      2. Autonomous councils in the sates are demanding to include Arunachal under the sixth schedule, to make the Arunachalees the owners of Natural resources rather than being protectors.
  19. Aug 13, 2020
    1. India@75 Summit – Mission 2022 organised Virtually by Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), with focus on ‘reinventing technology in India’.
    2. Dinesh K Tripathi has been appointed as Director General Naval Operations (DGNO).
    3. Indian Coast Guard Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV) Sarthak has been launched,as 4th in the series of 5 OPVs, built by Goa Shipyard Limited.
    4. Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh launched Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Organisation (NIIO), which puts in place dedicated structures for end users to interact with academia and industry towards fostering innovation and indigenisation for self-reliance in defence.
      1. NIIO is a three-tiered organisation, having Naval Technology Acceleration Council (N-TAC) and a Technology Development Acceleration Cell (TDAC).
    5. NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant inaugurated Online Performance Dashboard Empowering Tribals, Transforming India developed by Ministry of Tribal Affairs, as an interactive platform with real-time details of initiatives by Ministry of Tribal Affairs to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
    6. A Price Monitoring and Resource Unit (PMRU) has been set up in Karnataka under the aegis of National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers. It will function at the State level under direct supervision of the State Drug Controller for increasing outreach of NPPA.
    7. As per Govt Data, India ranks first in number of organic farmers and ninth in terms of area under organic farming. Sikkim became first State in the world to become fully organic. North East India has traditionally been organic and the consumption of chemicals is far less than rest of country.
      1. Government had launched two dedicated programs in 2015 to provide a boost to natural, organic and chemical-free farming - Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North East Region (MOVCD) Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY).
      2. Agri-export Policy 2018 also aims to help India emerge as a major player in global organic markets.
      3. India’s major organic exports include flax seeds, sesame, soybean, tea, medicinal plants, rice and pulses.
    8. Power PSU NTPC developed an infrastructure at Rihand project in Uttar Pradesh to transport fly ash in bulk to cement plants, in line with NTPC's commitment towards 100 percent utilization of fly ash from power plants.
    9. Central Govt will assist UT of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) to establish Grievance Portal in each of 20 districts of UT, named Awaaz e-Awam.
    10. NITI Aayog's Atal Innovation Mission in collaboration with NASSCOM launched ‘ATL AI Step Up Module’ for students, in order to drive AI education and innovation to the next level in schools across country.
      1. This module is the next step in bringing AI to Indian classrooms and is a successor to the AI Base module launched in February 2020.
      2. With this, through hands-on projects and activities, the step-up module encourages a deeper understanding of AI which can be applied in real world.
    11. During Atmanirbhar Week Observed by Defence Ministry (Aug 10-17), Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh launched Department of Defence Production’s Indigenisation portal SRIJAN, at URL http://srijandefence.gov.in
      1. It will help industry partners to play active role in goal of self-reliance in defence sector, by acting as a one stop shop online portal that provides access to vendors to take up items that can be taken up for indigenization.
    12. With support from Department of Science and Technology’s Clean Air Research Initiative, Gayatri Vidya Parishad-Scientific and Industrial Research Centre (Visakhapatnam) developed an indigenous photonic system for real-time remote monitoring of air quality parameters, titled AUM (Air Unique-quality Monitoring).
      1. AUM can identify, classify, and quantify various pollutants simultaneously and meteorological parameters, with high precision.
    13. Aug 13 - World organ donation day.
      1. Aug 13 is also observed as International Left-Handers Day.
      2. 13 August is also commemorated as "Patriots Day" in Manipur, to honour Kangeilpak soldiers that lost their lives during Anglo-Manipur War.
  20. Aug 12, 2020
    1. Aug 12 - International Youth Day, proclaimed by UN General Assembly (UNGA) in December 1999. 2020 Theme is Youth Engagement for Global Action.
      1. On this occasion, West Bengal Govt Launched Karma Sathi Prakalpa Scheme, to provide soft loans and subsidies to make youth self-reliant.
    2. Aug 12 is Observed as World Elephant Day, being observed since 2012.
      1. On eve of World Elephant Day, India launched Portal called SURAKHSYA, which will collect real time information about human elephant conflicts.
      2. As per World Animal Protection report Elephants. Not Commodities, Over 200 elephants in India are kept in severe inadequate conditions. Report says that of 509 elephants kept for tourism related activities in India, 45% (225) are in inadequate conditions.
      3. Aug 12 is also Birth anniversary of ISRO Founder Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, knows as father of India's Space Proramme. ISRO announced that Chandrayaan 2 Orbiter has captured Moon images of “Sarabhai” Crater, which is around 250 - 300 KMs from where Apollo 17 and Luna 21 Missions had landed.
    3. Andhra Pradesh CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy launched YSR Cheyutha Scheme 2020, aimed at making women self-reliant by promoting entrepreneurship in them.
      1. State government has allocated 4,500 crore for the scheme. in addition.
      2. YSR Cheyutha Scheme will benefit around 23 lakh women who belong to SC, ST, BC, and minority communities and are in the age group of 45-60 years. They will get incentives of Rs. 18,750 per annum (75000 in four years).
      3. Beneficiaries will also be extended loans that will be worth 3 -4 times value of amount received under YSR Cheyutha with help of banks.
      4. State government also plans to launch YSR Asara Scheme, aimed at providing relief to about 90 lakh women who belong to 9.33 lakh DWCRA groups by waiving their outstanding loans which amount to 27,168 crores.
    4. PM Narendra Modi unveiled a new platform called Transparent Taxation-Honouring the Honest.
      1. 2020-21 Budget had mentioned a 'taxpayer charter', which wass expected to have statutory status and will empower citizens by ensuring time-bound services by the Income Tax department.
    5. A National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 has been formed by Govt, headed by Niti Aayog Member V K Paul, to form strategy to ensure COVID-19 vaccines’ availability and its last mile delivery.
    6. Meghalaya cabinet approved Policy on Reservation of seats for Women in Village Employment Councils (VECs), reserving at least 50 % seats for women in grassroot village level community institutions (VECs).
    7. IIT Guwahati and Imperial College London (UK) Researchers developed a tailored ‘meta-grid’ of nanoparticles that could make light-emitting diodes (LEDs) brighter, energy-efficient and durable.
      1. Meta-grid' or ‘metamaterial grid’ is a specifically patterned array (grid) of nanoparticles acting as metamaterials, capable of exhibiting extraordinary optical properties.
    8. Government constituted a 3 member committee for determination of ceiling rates under a scheme for reimbursement of taxes and duties to exporters, named Remission of Duties and Taxes on Export Products (RoDTEP). It will be headed by G K Pillai.
    9. Markets regulator SEBI amended international financial services centre (IFSC) guidelines pertaining to eligibility criteria and shareholding limit for clearing corporations that wish to operate in such centres.
      1. Any recognised stock exchange or clearing corporation will form a subsidiary to provide services of clearing corporation in IFSC, with at least 51 % stake held by such exchange / clearing corporation.
      2. Any other stock exchange or Financial Firm will be allowed to acquire 15 % stake in such clearing corporation operating in an IFSC.
    10. Bihar State Pollution Control Board (BSPCB) signed MOU with IIT-Delhi to set up a geographical information system-based platform for air quality management.
    11. Mizoram Governor PS Sreedharan Pillai wrote 13 Books during Covid-19 Lockdown, Including Corona Kavithakal (collection of poems) and Republic Day 2020 and Thus Speaks the Governor.
    12. IIT Kanpur developed indigenous seed balls named BEEG (Bio -compost Enriched Eco-friendly Globule), developed in collaboration with Agnys Waste Management Private Limited. It will help people and farmers in plantation with safety in Corona times and will also provide employment.
    13. National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI) launched its own business intelligence and analytics enabled omni-channel multi-branded loyalty platform - ‘nth Rewards’. It will allow users to earn ‘nth’ (denoting infinite possibilities) points through various transactions and redeem them.
    14. New Book on Climate Change, titled Our Only Home: A Climate Appeal to the World, written by Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama and German environmental journalist Franz Alt, will be released soon.
    15. Kerala-based South Indian Bank obtained in-principle approval from RBI, to set up a wholly owned non- financial subsidiary.
    16. New plant species of genus Ardisia spotted in Anamalai Tiger Reserve in Tamil Nadu (Western Ghats) has been named after an early 20th century botanist who helped expand knowledge on Indian flora. It is named Ardisia Ramaswami after M.S. Ramaswami.
    17. Soon after disbanding handloom, powerloom and handicrafts boards, textiles ministry has abolished Cotton Advisory Board, and notified that 8 Textiles Research Associations have ceased to be ''affiliated bodies'' of ministry.
      1. Cotton Advisory Board advises government on matters pertaining to production, consumption and marketing of cotton.
    18. India and Maldives signed contract for development of 5 eco-tourism zones in Addu atoll of Malidves, under High-Impact Community Development project (HICDP) scheme which involves a total grant assistance of 5.5 million US dollars to Maldives. Currently, 9 such high-impact projects being implemented in Maldives.
  21. Aug 11, 2020
    1. Ministry of Textiles disbanded All India Powerloom Board after All India Handicrafts and Handloom boards. All 8 Textiles Research Associations in country will now cease to be “affiliated bodies” of ministry.
      1. Board was constituted in 1981. Powerloom is a mechanised loom that was developed during early Industrial Revolution.
    2. Study by Bombay Natural History Society found 77 new species of butterflies in ecologically sensitive forest of Matheran hill station in Mumbai, taking number of butterfly species in forest up to 140.
    3. Andhra Pradesh Government launched new State Industrial Development Policy for years 2020-23, aimed at creating employment. Key Features -
      1. It envisages multi-faceted end-to-end business enablement centre that will offer 10 services to investors throughout entire life cycle of industry.
      2. Services from multiple state agencies will be integrated under an end-to-end business enablement centre YSR AP One.
      3. Policy paves way to develop infrastructure facilities targeting MSMEs at affordable rates.
      4. Industrial zoning is to be the key focus area of policy to ensure planned industrial development.
      5. Policy will ensure minimised environmental impacts amidst industrial development.
      6. It will enable faster approval process and enable district level interventions.
      7. State Government will create 30 skill development centres and 2 skill development universities under policy.
    4. Hyderabad based Aerospace Start up Skyroot Aerospace test fired an upper stage rocket engine, becoming first Indian private company to demonstrate capability of homegrown rocket engine.
      1. The 3D printed rocket engine was named after the Nobel Laureate Sir C V Raman, demonstrating first 100% 3D printed bi-propellant liquid rocket engine injector.
    5. Indian Armed Forces will revive 3500 crores worth Project Cheetah, that was pending for a long time.
      1. Under this, around 90 Israel Origin Heron drones of services are to be upgraded with laser-guided bombs, air launched anti-tank guided missiles and air to ground anti-tank guided missiles. They are currently deployed in Ladakh and China borders.
      2. Heron is a medium-altitude UAV, capable of returning to base autonomously in case of lost communication. It carries up to 250 kg weight.
    6. Saudi Arabia ended its loan and oil supply to Pakistan, and asked to pay back USD 1 billion to Saudi Arabia, which was given as a part of a $6.2 billion package announced by Saudi Arabia in November 2018.
    7. Russia launched world’s first COVID-19 vaccine named Gam-COVID-Vac (trade name Sputnik V), making it the first country to successfully register vaccine. Vaccine is developed jointly by Russian Defence Ministry and Gamaleya Research Institute.
    8. Research based on data obtained by NASA’s Dawn Spacecraft stated that Ceres, the largest object in asteroid belt between Jupiter and Mars is an ‘Ocean World’ which has a big reservoir of salty water under its frigid surface. This has raised interest in dwarf planet, where there can be a possible outpost of life.
    9. Financial Firm Paytm launched India’s 1st Pocket Android POS (Point of Sale) Device named ‘Paytm All-in-One Portable Android Smart POS’ for contactless ordering and payments.
      1. It is first such Android-based device to be introduced in India, against portable Linux based POS devices presently available.
    10. Walter Roger Martos Ruiz Has been appointed new Prime Minister of Peru (South America).
    11. Mohamed Ould Bilal has been appointed new Prime Minister of Mauritania (Northwest Africa).
    12. President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko won his sixth consecutive term as country’s president.
    13. US Based Boston Group signed MoU with Andhra Pradesh government to set up an IT company in Visakhapatnam.
    14. e-commerce Firm Flipkart signed MoU with One District, One Product (ODOP) scheme of Uttar Pradesh Government. Under it, artisans, weavers and craftsmen under ODOP scheme will be brought into the ambit of Flipkart Samarth initiative.
      1. Flipkart also signed MoU with Assam Govt, to promote state’s local arts, crafts and handloom sectors by bringing them into e-commerce fold.
    15. Red Bull F1 Racer Max Verstappen (Belgian-Dutch) won 70th Anniversary Grand Prix (Silverstone Circuit, UK).
      1. 2020 F1 Season-
        1. Round Grand Prix Winner Race date
          1 Austrian Grand Prix Valtteri Bottas (Finland) 5 July
          2 Styrian Grand Prix Lewis Hamilton (UK) 12 July
          3 Hungarian Grand Prix Lewis Hamilton (UK) 19 July
          4 British Grand Prix  Lewis Hamilton (UK) 2 August
          5 70th Anniversary Grand Prix Max Verstappen (Belgian-Dutch) 9 August
          6 Spanish Grand Prix   16 August
          7 Belgian Grand Prix   30 August
          8 Italian Grand Prix   6 September
          9 Tuscan Grand Prix   13 September
          10 Russian Grand Prix   27 September
          11 Eifel Grand Prix   11 October
          12 Portuguese Grand Prix   25 October
          13 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix   1 November
  22. Aug 10, 2020
    1. Aug 10 is observed as World Biofuel Day, to create awareness about importance of non-fossil fuels as an alternative to conventional fossil fuels.
      1. A webinar was held on this occasion, with Theme Biofuels towards Atmanirbhar Bharat.
      2. National Policy on Biofuels 2018 aims 5% blending of Biodiesel in HSD by 2030.
      3. Aug 10 is also birth anniversary of V V Giri, 4th president of India Between 1969 - 1974.
      4. Aug 10 is also observed as World Lion Day.
    2. General Events / Conferences (Aug 1-10, 2020) -
      1. Trifed (Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India) Launched its Own Virtual Office Network to Spearhead Tribal Socio-Economic Development, on its 33rd Foundation day.
      2. Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare Minister Narendra Singh Tomar launched Sahakar Cooptube NCDC Channel initiative by National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC).
      3. Northern Railway ran first-ever Vyapar Mala Express train, destined for Jirania in Tripura (from Punjab), loaded with Wheat, Rice and Pulses. This is an express service where piece-meal stock will reach its destination in a shorter time.
      4. Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar launched Doordarshan Assam, a 24-hour dedicated channel for Assam State.
      5. Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ laid foundation stone of Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Sirmaur in Himachal Pradesh, under a 2014 decision of govt, to establish 7 new IIMs.
        1. Foundation Stone for IIM Dhaula Kuan (Delhi) was also laid.
      6. Madhya Pradesh Govt launched a public awareness campaign "Ek Mask-Anek Zindagi", to run between August 1-15.
      7. Flipkart will onboard 6 lakh artisans across country to its Samarth programme in 2020, which was launched in 2019. It aims to help local artisans use Flipkart to sell their products.
      8. Tamil Nadu Govt expresse its disagreement with recently launched centre’s three-language policy proposed by government in National Education Policy 2020. State will continue with its dual language policy of Tamil and English.
      9. Andhra Pradesh Govt launched ‘E-Raksha Bandhan’, an online training programme on cybersecurity, aimed at creating awareness among public on cybercrimes.
      10. India-Canada IC-IMPACTS Annual Research Conference held Virtually, to discuss ways of enhancing cooperation.
      11. Maharashtra government tied up with Google to provide online education to students in state, becoming first state to do so.
      12. India held international workshop on COVID-19- Good Governance Practices in a Pandemic, organized by Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) and National Centre for Good Governance (NCGG).
      13. E-Gyan Mitra mobile app launched by UT of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, to provide online education.
      14. Conclave on Transformational Reforms in Higher Education under National Education Policy held through video conference, organised by Ministry of Education and University Grants Commission.
      15. Indian Railways launched Overhead Equipment (OHE) Inspection app which will help in minimizing the train delays and long waits due to technical snags.
      16. Pakistan released a new political map claiming entire territory of Jammu & Kashmir, and part of Gujarat including the erstwhile state of Junagadh as part of its territory.
      17. Punjab Govt. launched a collaborative 'Pride of Punjab' programme as a partnership between Department of Youth Services and Sports and YuWaah - a joint initiative of UNICEF and other agencies.
      18. Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) allowed registration of electric vehicles without pre-fitted batteries. There is now no need to specify Make/Type or any other details of Battery for purpose of Registration.
        1. MORTH also invited suggestions on proposal to separate emission norms for Agricultural machinery and Construction Equipment Vehicles.
      19. As a Boost for Atmanirbhar Bharat, Ministry of Defence prepared list of 101 items for which there would be an embargo on import beyond timeline indicated against them.
      20. Training provider Simplilearn signed pact with National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) to upskill a wider section of learners in digital technology skills.
      21. US military test-fired unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile, with range over 9000 KM.
      22. Chhattisgarh government launched Adarsh police station scheme, to develop all police stations in state.
    3. Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksa’s SLPP party won 2020 Sri Lankan parliamentary elections, paving way for 4th term of Mahinda Rajapaksa as PM.
      1. He has been elected as President of Sri Lanka twice and appointed as Prime Minister 4 times.
    4. National Statistical Office released Envistats India 2020 report -
      1. Number of heat wave days in 2019 increased over 82.6%, to 157 in 2019.
      2. Highest number of heat wave days was recorded in Rajasthan followed by Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
    5. Lok Sabha launched a new French Course at beginner level for staff and officials, implemented by Parliamentary Research and Training Institute for Democracy (PRIDE). Lok Sabha plans to launch similar courses in other important world languages. PRIDE was set up in 1976.
    6. US Presidential Candidate Joe Biden nominated Indian Origin Kamala Harris to run for Vice-President Post.
    7. Supreme Court ruled that daughters have equal rights as that of sons on parental property, remaining coparcener throughout their life.
      1. Coparcener is a person who assumes legal rights in parental property by birth only. Current judgement makes a daughter now a coparcener as well.
      2. SC ruled that daughters would have equal coparcenary rights in Hindu Undivided Family (HUF) properties. This would hold irrespective of whether the father was alive or not at the time of the amendment. 
      3. Hindu Succession Act 1956 act codifies laws related to intestate or unwilled succession among Buddhists, Hindus, Jains and Sikhs. It was amended in 2005, adding Section 6.
      4. Till 2005, Hindu Succession Act 1956 was biased against women.
    8. Gujarat Government launched scheme Mukhya Mantri Kisan Sahay Yojana, to replace Centre's Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana in state for the current year. Scheme is being replaced as insurance firms have sought high premium from government.
      1. If approved, state government will have to pay 4500 crores. This is much higher than average yearly premium of 1800 crores paid by govt under PMFBY.
      2. Compensation is to be provided if loss of crop is more than 33% due to excess rain or drought or unseasonal rainfall, for upto 4 hectares land.
      3. If crop loss is between 33% and 66%, farmer will get 20000 per hectare and If crop loss is above 60%, farmer will get 25000 per hectare.
    9. Chhattisgarh Govt launched Indira Van Mitan Yojana, to support forest dwellers of Chhattisgarh. Under this, groups of youngsters are to be formed in 10000 villages of Chhattisgarh, from tribal areas, to manage forest based economic activities.
    10. Antibiotic resistant priority pathogens that were published by World Health Organization in 2017, as greatest threat to human lives, have been found in River Yamuna.
      1. IIT Delhi Researchers found Beta-lactamases-Enzymes that help bacteria stay resistant to commonly used antibiotics, showing poor sewage collection and lack of sewage treatment plants.
    11. Bangladesh will construct war memorial for Indian soldiers killed in 1971 Liberation war of Bangladesh. It is to be constructed in Ashuganj, Brahmanbaria bordering Tripura.
  23. Aug 09, 2020
    1. August 9, 2020 marks 75th anniversary of atomic bombing in Nagasaki during World War II. The incident took place on August 9, 1945, when United States dropped an atomic bomb named Fat Man, on Nagasaki in Japan.
      1. Three Days Earlier, on Aug 6, An atomic bomb named Little Boy was dropped on Hiroshima (Japan). The two bombings killed between 129000 and 226000 people, most of whom were civilians. It still remains only use of nuclear weapons in armed conflict.
    2. Aug 9 is observed as International Day of World’s Indigenous Peoples (Also called World Tribal Day). 2020 Theme is COVID-19 and indigenous peoples’ resilience.
      1. The day was proclaimed by UNGA in 1994. August 9 marks 1st meeting of UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations of Sub-Commission on Promotion and Protection of Human Rights was held in 1982.
      2. On this occasion, Chhattisgarh's Jagdalpur became first municipal corporation in country where people of an urban area have been provided forest land right certificates.
    3. Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched financing facility of Rs. 1 lakh crore under Agriculture Infrastructure Fund.
      1. He also released sixth instalment of funds of 17,000 crore to 8.5 crore farmers under PM-KISAN scheme.
      2. Cabinet had approved Central Sector Scheme of financing facility under “Agriculture Infrastructure Fund” of Rs. 1 Lakh Crore, to catalyze creation of post-harvest management infrastructure and community farming assets.
      3. 3% interest subvention and credit guarantee of up to Rs 2 Crore will be provided to beneficiaries to increase viability of these projects.
    4. Work began on 687 kilometre Long Katra (J&K) - Delhi Express Road Corridor, which is to be ready by 2023.
      1. It will reduce travel time from Katra to Delhi, to around 6.5 hours, connecting holy cities of Katra and Amritsar and offering connectivity to major religious shrines in between.
      2. It will cost approx 35000 crores.
    5. Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare Minister Narendra Singh Tomar launched Krishi Megh (National Agricultural Research & Education System -Cloud Infrastructure and Services) along with KVC ALUNET (Krishi Vishwavidyalaya Chhatr Alumni Network) and Online Accreditation System for Higher Agricultural Educational Institutions (HEI).
      1. Krishi Megh will help in meeting requirements of Digital Agriculture of National Agricultural Research and Education System (NARES).
      2. National Agricultural Higher Education Project is designed for strengthening national agricultural education system, to provide more relevant and high-quality education to agricultural students.
    6. Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) Headed by Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh approved capital acquisitions of various platforms and equipment required by Indian Armed Forces, worth approx 8722 crores. It includes -
      1. 106 HAL Basic Trainer Aircrafts.
      2. Upgraded version of Super Rapid Gun Mount (SRGM) from Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL).
      3. 125 mm APFSDS (Armour Piercing Fin Stabilized Discarding Sabot) ammunition for Indian Army.
    7. Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar unveiled book Connecting, Communicating, Changing, marimg Vice President’s 3 years in office.
    8. Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank launched Minimum Standards of Architectural Education Regulations 2020, prepared by experts of Council of Architecture (CoA). It aims to address major challenges in area of human habitat and propel India to a new high in areas of innovation and skills development.
    9. Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat launched Swachh Bharat Mission Academy, along with designated toll-free Number (18001800404).
      1. IVR based free mobile online learning course on ODF Plus will be crucial in achieving goals underlined in Phase 2 of SBM(G).
      2. Under Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen), Rural India was declaed Open Defecation Free (ODF) on 2nd October 2019 (150th Birth Anniversary of M K Gandhi).
      3. Phase II of the SBM (G) was launched in 2020, which focuses on ODF sustainability and Solid and Liquid Waste Management (SLWM).
    10. NITI Aayog's Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) in collaboration with Dell Technologies launched Student Entrepreneurship Programme 2.0 (SEP 2.0) for young innovators of Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs). SEP 2.0 will allow student innovators to work closely with Dell volunteers.
      1. Student Entrepreneurship Programme (SEP) 1.0 was launched in January 2019.
    11. PM Narendra Modi launched 2300 Kms long submarine Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) connecting Andaman & Nicobar Islands to mainland (Chennai), whose foundation stone was laid in December 2018.
      1. It will allow access to cheap and better telecom connectivity in UT of Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
      2. Also, Bharti Airtel became first mobile operator to launch ‘Ultra-Fast 4G’ services in A&N.
      3. The submarine OFC is to deliver bandwidth of 2×200 Giga bits per second between Chennai and Port Blair, and 2 x100 Giga bits per second bandwidth between Port Blair and other islands.
      4. PM also announced that Great Nicobar Island will get a trans-shipment port with an investment of Rs. 10,000 crores.
    12. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman inaugurated National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) Online Dashboard, as a one stop for looking for information on infrastructure projects Across Nation, hosted on India Investment Grid (IIG) (www.indiainvestmentgrid.gov.in).
      1. In budget FY 20 (2019-20), Finance Minister Smt. Sitharaman announced outlay of 100 lakh Crore for infrastructure projects over 5 years.
      2. Task Force on National Infrastructure Pipeline suggested infrastructure investment of Rs 111 Lakh Crore during FY 2020-25.
      3. Projects worth 44 lakh Crores are under implementation, 33 lakh Crores at conceptual stage and 22 lakh Crores under development and balance projects worth 11 lakh Crores are unclassified.
    13. Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) will open first of its kind Training cum Production Center of Silk in Arunachal Pradesh, in tribal village of Chullyu. It will be opened in September 2020.
    14. Railways Minister Piyush Goyal dedicated a Railway Museum at Hubballi in Karnataka, as first of its kind in North Karnataka and second in South Western Railway after historic Rail Museum at Mysuru.
    15. Researchers from Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences Bangalore (CeNS) synthesized a durable, efficient, cost-effective catalyst for sustained & efficient Hydrogen Evolution.
      1. They synthesized novel COP consisting of palladium Pd(II) ions, that serve as a source of active sites for H-adsorption, and benzene tetramine (BTA) chelating ligands capable of better charge transfer.
      2. To phase out fossil fuels and combat climate change, hydrogen is projected among next generation low carbon fuels. Future of use of hydrogen as a fuel lies in design of efficient electrocatalysts for facilitating electrochemical splitting of water to produce hydrogen.
    16. As per a research by Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Carbon outflux from Earth’s interior to exosphere through volcanic eruptions, fault zones etc, contribute to global carbon cycle that effects short and long term climate of Earth.
      1. Himalaya hosts about 600 geothermal springs having varied temperature and chemical conditions.
      2. CO2 in these thermal springs are sourced from metamorphic decarbonation of carbonate rocks present deep in Himalayan core along with magmatism and oxidation of graphite.
  24. Aug 08, 2020
    1. PM Narendra Modi inaugurated Rashtriya Swachhata Kendra - an interactive experience centre on the Swachh Bharat Mission, at the Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti at Rajghat, New Delhi.
      1. It was Launched on occasion of Anniversary of Quit India Movement, also known as August Movement. It was launched at Bombay session of Congress Committee by M K Gandhi on 8 August 1942.
      2. It was first announced by PM on 10th April 2017, on occasion of centenary celebrations of M K Gandhi's Champaran Satyagraha.
    2. Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO recognised 2 two villages — Venkatraipur in Ganjam and Noliasahi in Jagatsinghpur district as Officially Tsunami Ready. India will become first country to implement Tsunami Ready programme in Indian Ocean Region.
    3. Comprehensive platform to help global community step up action to reduce food loss and waste has been launched by Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations (FAO).
      1. FAO will observe International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste for the First time ever, on 29 September 2020.
      2. Platform enables access to all FAO food loss and waste resources, for which funding has been provided by Swiss Development Cooperation.
    4. Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) extended USD 250-million line of credit (LOC) to Mozambique (East Africa) for improving power supply quality in country. With this, Exim Bank has fo far extended 14 LOCs to Mozambique, totalling USD 772.44 million.
    5. LIC increased its stake in Recently reformed Yes Bank, acquiring 4.23% stake a taking Its stake in Yes Bank from 0.759% to 4.989%.
      1. Also, State Bank of India (SBI) stake in Yes Bank came down to 30 % after follow on public offer (FPO), from 48.21 % earlier.
    6. Oman India Joint Investment Fund II (OIJIF) acquired 1.63% stake in Mumbai based DCB Bank, for approx 42 crores.
      1. OIJIF is a private equity fund backed by State Bank of India (SBI) and State General Reserve Fund of Oman (SGRF).
    7. Haryana Govt Launched 2 New Schemes -
      1. 'Mahila Evam Kishori Samman Yojana - Free sanitary napkins to about 22.50 lakh women and girls below poverty line.
      2. Mukhya Mantri Doodh Uphar Yojana - provide fortified flavoured skimmed milk powder, for children aged 1-6 years.
    8. Bharti Airtel signed multi-year strategic collaboration agreement with Amazon Web Services (AWS), cloud arm of Amazon, to deliver cloud solutions to large enterprise and small and medium enterprise (SME) customers in India.
    9. New twighopper (pygmy grasshopper called so because of its resemblance to tiny twigs) species discovered from rainforests of Sri Lanka by Croatian and German researchers has been named Cladonotus bhaskari, after Indian biologist and grasshopper expert Dhaneesh Bhaskar.
      1. This is first new twighopper (Cladonotus) species to be discovered in last 116 years.
    10. Andhra Pradesh government signed agreement with Hyderabad-based Indian School of Business (ISB), to devise strategies to achieve economic recovery and growth in the post Covid-19 period.
  25. Aug 07, 2020
    1. National Film Development Corporation began a first of its kind online patriotic film festival, to run betwen 7 - 21 August 2020, showcasing high quality Independence Day themed patriotic films, at URL www.cinemasofindia.com.
    2. World Breastfeeding Week is observed Globally annually between Aug 1-7.
    3. Aug 7 is observed as National Handloom Day, being observed since 2015. It commemorates Swadeshi movement that was launched On Aug 7, 1905. It focuses on contribution of handloom to the socio economic development of the country and also increase the income of weavers.
      1. Also, Aug 07, 2020 Marks 150th Birth Anniversary of Abanindranath Tagore, principal artist and creator of Indian Society of Oriental Art.
    4. US President Donald Trump signed executive order imposing a ban on Chinese video-sharing platform TikTok, barring any transactionswith the same.
    5. SEBI Chairman Ajay Tyagi's Term has been extended by 18 months, till February 2022.
    6. Book Amazing Ayodhya authored by Neena Rai has been released.
    7. BookRAW: A History of India's Covert Operations authored by Yatish Yadav has been released.
    8. Chhattisgarh Govt. launched social security scheme Shaheed Mahendra Karma Tendupatta Sangrahak Samajik Suraksha Yojana, for tendu leave collectors in state. Tendu leaves are used for making bidis.
    9. National Bank of Bahrain selected Infosys Finacle to digitally transform its transaction banking business.
  26. Aug 06, 2020
    1. President appointed Manoj Sinha as Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir.
      1. He replaced Girish Chandra Murmu, who has now been appointed as New Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG).
    2. Proposals have been approved for construction of nearly 10.28 Lakh houses under PMAY(U), aimed at Housing for All by 2022, with construction of 2 Crore Houses.
      1. With this, number of sanctioned houses under PMAY(U) is now 1.07 Crores. More than 35 Lakh have been completed.
    3. RBI Formed Expert Commitee Headed by K.V. Kamath, to make recommendations on the required financial parameters to be factored in debt resolution plans amid economic slowdown due to Covid19-related Stress.
    4. Island nation Mauritius declared environmental emergency after Japanese vessel MV Wakashio offshore began leaking oil into ocean.
      1. Mauritius appealed to France for help, as French island of Reunion lies near Mauritius in Indian Ocean.
    5. Catastrophic blast driven by Ammonium Nitrate occurred in Lebanon capital City Beirut, claiming hundreds of lives.
      1. Ammonium Nitrate is main ingredient used to manufacture commercial explosives. Storage of large quantities of ammonium nitrate is illegal.
      2. UN released 15 million USD emergency funds for relief efforts after explosion at Beirut port.
    6. Gujarat Government launched Industrial Policy 2020. Earlier policy of 2015 had ended on December 31, 2019 and was extended up to the date of release of new policy. Highlights -
      1. Average annual outlay for New Gujarat Industrial Policy 2020 will be upto INR 8,000 crores. Aims to provide Rs 40,000 crores as subsidies to industries in next 5 years.
      2. Will help industries willing to relocate from China through “Relocation Incentives”.
      3. De-links incentives from state GST and provides for upto 12% of fixed Capital investment will be given to large industries for setting up manufacturing operations in state in form of capital subsidy. Gujarat became first state to do so.
      4. State Government will provide 65% of cost of acquiring foreign patented technologies by MSMEs, up to 50 lakhs.
      5. To encourage MSMEs to use rooftop solar power, state government will pay 50 paise to every solar unit of solar power bought from MSMEs. Thus, new purchase price stands at Rs 2.25 per unit.
      6. Policy increased seed support from Rs 20 lakhs to Rs 30 lakhs.
      7. It provides incentives to private developers to set up industrial parks, which will be 25% of Fixed Capital Investment, with upper limit as 30 crores.
    7. Delhi Govt. launched Delhi Electric Vehicle Policy, to run for 3 years before next review.
      1. It aims to have 25% electric vehicles by 2024, which is currently at 0.29%.
      2. State government will give incentives up to 1.5 lakhs for cars and 30,000 for bikes and smaller vehicles, along with waiver of registration fee, road tax.
      3. Policy aims to create State Electric Vehicle Board along with 200 charging stations in one year, to ensure charging stations within 3 KMs.
      4. State Government will provide incentives to those willing to exchange their petrol and diesel-run vehicles, as first such Initiative in India.
      5. Policy will be in addition to centre’s Fame India Phase II scheme.
    8. India extended Line of Credit worth 18 million USD to Maldives, for expansion of fishing facilities at Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company (MIFCO), as part of 800 million USD line of credit offered by India.
    9. RBI will set up an 'Innovation Hub' for ideation and incubation of new capabilities which can be leveraged to deepen financial inclusion and promote efficient banking services.
    10. RBI Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) kept key rates unchanged in its Bi-monthly Review. Key Rates are -
      1. Repo Rate - 4.00 %
      2. Reverse Repo - 3.35 %
      3. Bank Rate - 4.25 %
      4. CRR (Cash Reserve Ratio) - 3 %
      5. SLR(Statutory Liquidity ratio) - 18.00 %
      6. Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) Rate - 4.25 %
    11. India contributed 15.46 million USD to India-UN Development Partnership Fund. Of this, 9.46 million USD has been dedicated to Commonwealth countries and 6 million USD to overall fund.
  27. Aug 05, 2020
    1. Pradeep Kumar Joshi has been appointed as Chairman of Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
    2. NITI Aayog's Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) declared results of its flagship national annual innovation Marathon challenge ATL Tinkering Marathon 2019, with 150 winners of the Marathon. 
      1. Challenge was executed by AIM in partnership with MyGOV on MyGov’s Innovate Platform, With central theme Research, Ideate, Innovate, Implement – Mindful Innovation for the greater good.
    3. Indian Railways introduced first Kisan Rail from Devlali (Maharashtra) to Danapur (Bihar), covering 1519 kms. Kisan Rail was announced in budget FY 21 (2020-21), aimed at ensuring that agro products get transported fast across country.
      1. Kisan Rail is part of Govt's aim to double farmers’ income by 2022.
      2. In Union Budget 2020-21, It was also announced to build a seamless national cold supply chain for perishables, inclusive of milk, meat, and fish.
    4. An MoU has been signed between Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), aimed at collaborative research and information dissemination in area of food and nutrition.
      1. Also, Rockefeller Foundation selected India's FSSAI among 10 global organizations for Food Systems Vision Prize, for its ‘Eat Right India’ movement.
      2. Award recognizes organisations that developed inspiring vision of regenerative food system that they aspire to create by 2050.
    5. 24 Apps have been awarded under AatmaNirbhar Bharat App Innovation Challenge, out of Approx 6940 entries, which was launched in July 2020.
      1. The first of its kind, App Innovation challenge sought entries for 9 different categories.
      2. Another 20 Apps were identified for Special Mention which have a great potential in being Apps for future.
      3. Three Prizes are conferred In each category, with prize money 20 Lakh, 15 Lakh and 10 Lakh Respectively.
    6. Insolvency and Bankruptcy board of India (IBBI) amended Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India Regulations 2017, as second amendment.
      1. IBC 2016 enables a corporate person to initiate voluntary liquidation process if it has no debt or it will be able to pay its debts fully from proceeds of assets. Corporate person appoints an insolvency professional to conduct voluntary liquidation process.
      2. However, there can be situations which may require appointment of another resolution professional as liquidator. Amendment provides that corporate person may replace liquidator by appointing another insolvency professional as liquidator.
    7. IBBI notified Insolvency Resolution Process for Corporate Persons (4th Amendment) Regulations, 2020.
      1. IBC 2016 envisages appointment of an authorised representative (AR) by Adjudicating Authority to represent financial creditors, in committee of creditors. AR is chosen by creditors out of 3 Insolvency Professionals. Amendment provides that -
        1. 3 IPs offered by interim resolution professional must be from State / UT, which has highest number of creditors.
        2. Representative shall seek voting instructions only after circulation of minutes of meeting.
        3. After evaluation of all resolution plans as per evaluation matrix, committee of creditors shall vote on all compliant resolution plans simultaneously. Plan with highest and over 66 % vote share, shall be considered approved.
    8. First Lieutenant Governor of UT of Jammu & Kashmir, Girish Chandra Murmu has been appointed as New Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG). He replaced Rajiv Mehrishi, for this post.
    9. Natonal Highways Authority of India (NHAI) signed MoU with IIT Delhi to set up a Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Use of Artificial Intelligence in Data Driven decision making and Advance Data Management System for Highways.
    10. Ministry of Jal Shakti launched a new version of India Water Resources Information System (India-WRIS), containing information related to Water Resources through dashboards for various aspects.
      1. Government had launched first version of India-WRIS in July 2019, to ensure Judicious use of water resources.
      2. Jal Shakti Ministry established a dedicated organization, National Water Informatics Centre (NWIC) to maintain India WRIS.
    11. PM Narendra Modi performed Bhoomi Pujan at Shree Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir at Ayodhya (Uttar Pradesh).
      1. This came after Historic Supreme court Judgement In November 2019, which ruled construction of a Ram temple by a trust at disputed site. It also ruled that an alternative five-acre plot must be found for a mosque in Ayodhya.
      2. Timeline of Ram Janambhoomi Dispute -
        1. 1526 - Mughal Ruler Babar demolished Shri Ram Temple in Ayodhya, Making Babri Masjid at that place.
        2. 1859 - British officials erected a fence to separate places of worships, allowing inner court to be used by Muslims and outer court by Hindus.
        3. 1885 - Mahant Raghubir Das files a suit seeking permission to build a temple on Ram chabootra but his plea was rejected by Faizabad district court.
        4. 1950 - First title suit is filed by Gopal Singh Visharad asking for right to worship the idols installed at ‘Asthan Janmabhoomi’.
        5. 1959 - Nirmohi Akhara entered fray and filed third suit, seeking possession of site. It claims itself to be the custodian of the spot at which Lord Rama was supposedly born.
        6. 1961 - UP Sunni Central Board of Waqf moves in to claim possession of mosque and adjoining land.
        7. 1989 - Vishwa Hindu Parishad carried out Shilanyas ceremony in Ayodhya and first stone of the planned Ram temple is put in place.
        8. 6 Dec, 1992 - Babri mosque is razed to ground by Hindus, Triggering large scale communal riots.
        9. Sep 2010 - Allahabad High Court gives verdict partitioned 2.77 acres 2:1 between Hindu and Muslim groups.
        10. 9 Nov 2019 - 70-year long dispute came to an end. SC ordered setting up of a trust that will pave way for construction of a temple at Ayodhya. It also orders allotting 5 acres to Muslims in Ayodhya for building a mosque.
    12. The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) developed novel external shading solution for windows in residential and commercial buildings under the project Habitat Model for Efficiency and Comfort, named ShadeSmart.
      1. It is developed as an innovative and cost-effective solution for achieving indoor comfort with reduced electricity consumption in air conditioning and lighting.
      2. ShadeSmart changes its configuration depending upon the Sun’s position.
      3. TERI also launched a Flood Early Warning System (FEWS) for Guwahati City, in Collaboration with National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
    13. Scientists from Institute of Nano Science and Technology Mohali (INST) developed an equipment-free fluoride ion detection and quantification in drinking water with naked-eye. It can be operated by non-experts for household use to evade Fluorosis-based disorders.
      1. Researchers designed urea as an unusual donating moiety instead of traditional donor moieties, such as amines, to obtain better optoelectronic properties.
    14. On Aug 05, 2020, UTs of Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir Observed their first anniversary of formation.
      1. Government had revoked special status to Jammu and Kashmir by modifying Article 370 of Constitution, on Aug 05, 2019.
      2. After abrogation of article 370, UTs of Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir were carved out under Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act 2019.
  28. Aug 04, 2020
    1. International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) has set up a panel to formulate a plan to develop international retail business at International Financial Services Centre (IFSC), chaired by Pradip Shah (chairman at Indasia Fund Advisors).
    2. Book Vishesh: Code To Win has been written by sportswoman-turned-author Nirupama Yadav. It is set to be released on August 29, the National Sports Day.
    3. Rajasthan Govt amended Rajasthan Judicial Service Rules 2010 to include reservations for Gurjars. Candidates from most backward class (MBC), including Gurjars will get 5% reservation in Rajasthan Judicial Services instead of earlier 1%.
    4. Manipur government appointed Rajesh Kumar as new chief secretary of state.
    5. Book Greenlights has been written by Oscar Winning Actor Matthew McConaughey, expcted to be released in October 2020.
    6. Andhra Pradesh governor Biswa Bhusan Harichandan gave his assent to AP Decentralisation and Inclusive Development of All Regions Bill 2020 and AP Capital Region Development Authority (Repeal) Bill 2020. This has Cleared legislative hurdles of state Govt's plans to have three capitals for Andhra Pradesh.
    7. Maharashtra government approved ambitious Maharashtra Agribusiness Network (MagNet) project, aimed at fruit and vegetable producers, to improve processing and minimise losses in sector of perishables.
      1. Project amount is estimated at $143 million, of which 70 % is to be given by Asian Development Bank as a loan.
    8. TATA Capital invested about $30 million for a 0.85% stake in Biocon Biologics, the biosimilar arm of Biocon, valuing the company at an equity valuation of $3.5 billion and enterprise valuation of $4 billion.
  29. Aug 03, 2020
    1. Mohamed Irfaan Ali is named as New President of Guyana (South America).
    2. Bihar CM Nitish Kumar released book titled Siyasat Mein Sadasyata authored by Bihar Assembly Speaker Vijay Kumar Choudhary.
    3. Securities Market regulator SEBI will set up a virtual museum of securities market to highlight achievements and milestones in the Indian capital market.
    4. India’s first Snow Leopard Conservation Centre will be opened in Uttarkashi forest division in Uttarakhand, to be built by Uttarakhand forest department along United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as part of its six-year long project, SECURE Himalayas.
    5. Mercedes F1 Racer Lewis Hamilton (UK) won British Grand Prix.
      1. 2020 F1 Season-
        1. Round Grand Prix Winner Race date
          1 Austrian Grand Prix Valtteri Bottas (Finland) 5 July
          2 Styrian Grand Prix Lewis Hamilton (UK) 12 July
          3 Hungarian Grand Prix Lewis Hamilton (UK) 19 July
          4 British Grand Prix  Lewis Hamilton (UK) 2 August
          5 70th Anniversary Grand Prix   9 August
          6 Spanish Grand Prix   16 August
          7 Belgian Grand Prix   30 August
          8 Italian Grand Prix   6 September
          9 Tuscan Grand Prix   13 September
          10 Russian Grand Prix   27 September
          11 Eifel Grand Prix   11 October
          12 Portuguese Grand Prix   25 October
          13 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix   1 November
    6. Aug 03, 2020 is observed as World Sanskrit Day. It is celebrated on Shraavanapoornima, that is the Poornima day of the Shraavana month in the Hindu calendar. In 2021, it will be observed on Aug 22.
    7. Hamed Bakayoko is named as Prime Minister of Ivory Coast (West Africa).
    8. Bandhan Bank stated to have met promoter holding norms of RBI (15 %), after its holding company Bandhan Financial Holdings Ltd (BFHL) sold 20.95% stake in bank to over 7 investors.
  30. Aug 02, 2020
    1. Health and Family Welfare Minister Harsh Vardhan launched Vidyarthi Vigyan Manthan, 2020-21, as a national programme aimed at popularizing science among school students of Class 6th to 11th. VVM is an initiative of Vijnana Bharati (VIBHA) and Vigyan Prasar.
    2. Ministry of Education will review higher education institutes that offer Chinese language training, with links with official Chinese language learning and training department “Hanban”. Hanban is a Chinese organization which runs hundreds of Confucious Institutes abroad.
    3. Aviation security regulator BCAS issued guidelines for drone operating systems, which would act like cockpits on ground to remotely pilot unmanned aerial vehicle.
      1. Owners of any unmanned aerial vehicle will be required to do a one-time registration of their drones. Except for nano category, for remaining every flight the users will require permission to fly on a mobile app.
      2. Any drone without a digital permit to fly will simply not be able to takeoff to prevent unauthorized flights and to ensure public safety.
      3. Unmanned aircraft system traffic management (UTM) regulates the drone airspace and coordinates closely with defence and civilian air traffic controllers (ATCs) to ensure that unmanned aerial vehicles remain on approved flight paths.
    4. UAE's Barakah nuclear power plant started operations, as first in Arab world.
      1. Barakah was expected to start its operation in 2017, but kept facing delays. It is a joint venture with Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) and Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO). Barakah means “blessing” in Arabic.
      2. For now, only 1 of 4 reactors is working, planned to have all 4 reactors operational by 2023. This will produce 5.6 gigawatts energy, a quarter of country’s need for electricity.
    5. American Tech Firm Apple's Stocks increased 10% after reporting stellar quarterly results, making Apple world’s most valuable publicly listed company (valued $1.82 trillion). Saudi Arabia’s Aramco is 2nd most valuable company, valued at $1.760 trillion.
    6. India's Reliance and Japan’s JERA will develop a new gas-fired power generation project in Bangladesh, as a Joint Venture. Total $642 million have been allocated for the same, Including 200 Million USD from ADB.
      1. It Includes building a 745 MW natural gas combined-cycle power project in Meghnaghat, near Dhaka.
      2. Electricity generated will be sold under a long-term power purchase agreement between Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) and project company for 22 years.
      3. Reliance Power holds 51% stake while JERA will hold 49% stake in joint venture company.
    7. RBI approved appointment of Sashidhar Jagdishan as New CEO of India's Biggest Private Sector Lender, HDFC Bank. He will replace Aditya Puri.
    8. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) extended timeline for public to review draft on Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) notification 2020, created to replace existing EIA notification 2006.
      1. In Environment Protection Act 1986, it was mentioned that India will frame EIA norms which came into effect in 1994 and later modified by a draft in 2006.
      2. Key Policy Changes Proposed -
        1. It re-categorises all projects related to production of bulk drugs and intermediates for several ailments from ‘A’ category to ‘B2’ category.
        2. It states that projects / activities can receive clearance post-facto. It implies that those projects can also seek clearance that violate Environment (Protection) Act 1986. However, Supreme Court stated that such clearances are against law.
        3. It exempts various projects from EIA including "strategic" projects labeled by Government, placing them in public domain.
        4. Draft exempts up to 150,000 sq m construction projects from assessment. These projects can now gain clearance after scrutiny by state-level expert appraisal committee. Earlier, exemption was granted to construction projects of up to 20,000 sq. m or above.
    9. Amid growing recognition of contributions of people from BAME community (Black, Asian and minority ethnic), Britain will Mint a coin to remember M K Gandhi.
    10. US President Donald Trump signed an executive order that bans federal agencies from hiring foreign workers especially those on H-1B visa on contracting or subcontracting.
      1. It came after a recent announcement by US government that H-1B visas along with other types of foreign work visas will remain suspended until end of 2020.
    11. Maharashtra government scrapped erstwhile BJP-Shiv Sena government’s move to give pension to those who fought against Emergency imposed by then Congress PM Indira Gandhi, in 1975.
      1. Under scheme, anyone who underwent imprisonment for upto a month would get 5000 as pension and anyone who undergone over 3 months of imprisonment would get 10000 as pension.
    12. Government widened scope of Rs 3-lakh crore MSME credit guarantee scheme by doubling upper ceiling of loans outstanding to Rs 50 crore and including certain individual loans given to professionals like doctors, lawyers and chartered accountants for business purposes.
      1. Maximum amount of guaranteed emergency credit line (GECL) funding under scheme would also increase from 5 crore to 10 crores.
      2. Announced as part of 20.97 lakh crores economic package to tackle impact of COVID-19, with Concessional rate of 9.25 %. It will now be applicable for companies with an annual turnover of 250 crores, as against earlier 100 crores.
      3. Under scheme, 100 % guarantee coverage will be provided by National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company for additional funding of up to 3 lakh crore to eligible MSMEs in form of a guaranteed emergency credit line (GECL) facility. For this, corpus of 41,600 crore was set up by government, spread over current and next three financial years.
    13. India's fiscal deficit during Q1 of FY 21 (Apr - Jun) widened to Rs 6.62 trillion or 83.2 per cent of budget estimates, mainly on account of poor tax collections due to lockdown.
      1. Government pegged fiscal deficit for FY 21 (2020-21) at 7.96 trillion or 3.5 % of GDP in Budget. These figures, however, may have to be revised significantly in view of the economic disruptions created by Covid-19 crisis.
  31. Aug 01, 2020
    1. On occasion of first anniversary of law-making Triple Talaq a criminal offence which got enacted last year, India observed Aug 01, 2020 as First ever Muslim Women’s Rights Day across country. Triple Talaq Bill was passed by Both houses in July 2019.
      1. Aug 01, 2020 is 100th Death Anniversary of Noted Freedom Fighter Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak. A webinar themed 'Tilak - Swaraj to Self-reliant India was organized on this occasion.
      2. Aug 1 is also observed as World Lung Cancer Day.
    2. July 31 is Observed as UNESCO World Ranger Day, to commemorate Rangers killed or injured in line of duty.
    3. Researchers from ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) found a rare fish that changes colour and carries neurotoxic venom in its spines, for first time in Indian waters.
      1. Band-tail scorpionfish (Scorpaenospsis neglecta) was found off Sethukari coast in Gulf of Mannar during an underwater survey.
    4. Launch of ISRO's new type of earth observation satellite, GISAT-1, has been postponed due to technical reasons. It was planned to be launched onboard GSLV-F10.
    5. Tripartite MoU signed between Department of Defence of Ministry of Defence (MoD), Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances (DARPG) and IIT Kanpur. IIT Kanpur will develop Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) Techniques to conduct analysis of Public Grievances received on Centralized Public Grievances Redress & Monitoring System (CPGRAMS).
    6. Book The Swachh Bharat Revolution, edited by Parameswaran Iyer has been translated into Hindi and published as Swachh Bharat Kranti. Book is about journey of Swachh Bharat Mission, which has 35 essays contributed by several stakeholders.
    7. Ministry of petroleum and Natural Gas simplified guidelines for grant of authorization for bulk and retail marketing of Petrol and Diesel, aimed at increasing private sector participation in their marketing.
      1. Entity desirous of seeking authorization for either retail or bulk must have a minimum net worth of 250 crores at time of making application (500 crores in case of authorization for both retail and bulk).
      2. For retail authorization, the entity is required to set up at least 100 retail outlets.
      3. Policy has opened up marketing sector of Petroleum products by removing the strict conditions applicable earlier.
    8. Minister of State for Culture & Tourism (I/C) Prahlad Patel inaugurated Thenzawl Golf Resort Project implemented under Swadesh Darshan Scheme of Ministry of Tourism.
    9. Under ongoing auction process of coal mines for commercial coal mining in India, an entity of a country, which shares land border with India, can invest only under Government route.
      1. Earlier in 2019, Government had amended FDI Policy 2017, to permit 100% FDI under automatic route in coal mining activities.
    10. To provide impetus to self-reliance in defence manufacturing, Ministry of Defence (MoD) has formulated a draft Defence Production and Export Promotion Policy 2020 (DPEPP 2020). Policy goals / objectives -
      1. To achieve a turnover of Rs 1,75,000 Crores (US$ 25Bn) including export of Rs 35,000 Crore (US$ 5 Billion) in Aerospace and Defence goods and services by 2025.
      2. To develop a dynamic and competitive Defence industry, including Aerospace and Naval Shipbuilding.
      3. To promote export of defence products and become part of global defence value chains.
    11. Scientists at Institute of Nano Science & Technology Mohali (INST) developed nanorods from nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) Aspirin, a popular medication used to reduce pain, and found it to be an effective non–invasive small molecule-based nanotherapeutics against cataract.
      1. Cataract is a form of blindness that occurs when structure of crystallin proteins that make up lens in our eyes deteriorates, causing damaged proteins to aggregate and form a milky blue / brown layer, which affects lens transparency. Prevention of formation of these aggregates in early stage is a major treatment strategy for cataracts.
      2. They used anti-aggregation ability of self-build aspirin nanorods as effective non invasive small molecule-based nanotherapeutics against cataract.
      3. This easy to use and low-cost alternative nonsurgical treatment method will benefit patients who cannot access expensive cataract treatments and surgeries.
    12. Scientists from Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) and Indian Institute of Science (IISc) developed a model to enhance estimating key aspects of medical inventory requirements during early phase of a Pandemic.
      1. It would be relevant for COVID-19, as disease character and the behavioral patterns of the people change and affect the efficacies of disease spread and management in a second-wave, requiring constant alertness on the part of forecasters.
      2. Model shows that there is a universality to evolution of disease across countries that can then be used to make reliable predictions.
    13. Minister of State for HRD, Electronics, Communication, and IT, Sanjay Dhotre inaugurated Bharat AirFibre Services at Akola in Maharashtra, enabling residents of Akola & Washim district to get Wireless Internet Connections on demand.
      1. Bharat Air Fibre services are introduced by BSNL, which aims at providing Wireless Connectivity within 20 KMs from BSNL Locations.
    14. Gross GST revenue collected in July 2020 was 87422 crores( CGST 16147 crores, SGST 21418 crores, IGST 42592 crores and Cess 7265 crores).
    15. 4 more States/UT (Jammu & Kashmir, Manipur, Nagaland and Uttarakhand) have been linked with One Nation One Ration Card scheme, taking number of States/UTs connected under scheme.
      1. With this, about 65 crores (80%) of total NFSA population is now potentially enabled for receiving food grains anywhere in these States/UTs through national portability of ration cards. Remaining States/UTs are to be integrated by March 2021.
      2. One Nation One Ration Card aims to ensure delivery of food security entitlements to all beneficiaries covered under National Food Security Act 2013 (NFSA).
    16. Application window under Production Linked Incentive Scheme (PLI) has been closed, which was Nofitied in April 2020, for boosting Domestuc Domestic Large Scale Electronics Manufacturing.
      1. PLI Scheme extends incentive of 4% to 6% on incremental sales (over base year) of goods under target segments that are manufactured in India to eligible companies, for 5 years subsequent to base year (FY2019-20). 22 companies filed application under PLI Scheme.
      2. Over 5 years, Scheme is expected to lead to total production of about INR 11.5 lakh crores, with companies under Mobile Phone segment having proposed a production of INR 9 Lakh crores. More than 60% will be contributed by exports of order of INR 7,00,000 crores.
      3. It will generate 3 lakh direct employment opportunities and 9 Lakh indirect, in next 5 years.
      4. Domestic Value Addition is to grow from 15-20% to 35-40% in case of Mobile Phones and 45-50% for electronic components.

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