Current Affairs Today 12th August 2020-Download in PDF

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Current Affairs Today – 12th August 2020

NEWS AT A GLANCE

  1. World Lion Day is observed globally on August 10 every year to raise awareness about lions and educate people about issues concerning their protection and conservation.
  2. World Elephant Day is observed every year on August 12 worldwide for the preservation and protection of the global elephants.
  3. The International Youth Day (IYD) is observed on August 12 annually to draw attention of governments and others towards youth issues worldwide.
  4. The E-Commerce Form Amazon India has launched its seller-driven campaign known as ‘Itna Aasan Hai’ in order to highlight how the sellers are thriving on the Amazon ecosystem with ease.
  5. Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar virtually launched the Krishi Megh (National Agricultural Research & Education System -Cloud Infrastructure and Services).
  6. Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a week-long campaign ‘Gandagi Bharat Chorho’ to free India of garbage and waste.
  7. The Tribal Affairs Ministry has stated that all the nine museums dedicated to tribal freedom fighters will be completed by 2022.
  8. The Human Resources Development Minister, Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’, has launched the ‘Minimum Standards of Architectural Education Regulations, 2020.’
  9. Chhattisgarh’s Jagdalpur has become the first municipal corporation of the country, where people of urban area have been provided forest land right certificates.
  10. Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar launched the anti-bullying campaign of Faridabad police by unveiling its Instagram, Facebook and Twitter pages to flag the problem of bullying at home, in neighbourhood, schools, colleges and workplace.
  11. The Gujarat government has launched the ‘Mukhya Mantri Kisan Sahay Yojana’ as a temporary replacement of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana for a year.
  12. The Punjab government has decided to start distribution of smartphones to students free of cost, on August 12.
  13. Russia has proposed to host the first meeting of Russia-India-China (RIC) Defence Ministers in Moscow, Russia in September.
  14. The former defence minister and retired army general, Walter Roger Martos Ruiz becomes new Prime Minister of the country.
  15. Russia has decided to name its first COVID 19 vaccine as ‘Sputnik V’ for the foreign markets since this name is a reference to the first satellite of the world.
  16. Sinovac Biotech Ltd. of China has launched a phase 3 human trial of COVID-19 vaccine candidate on August 11, 2020, which will involve as many as 1,620 patients in Indonesia.
  17. The European Union has announced €1.65 million humanitarian aid to support those affected by severe flooding in South Asia, most notably India, Bangladesh and Nepal.
  18. Reliance Industries, headed by the Indian Billionaire Mukesh Ambani, has jumped 10 places to break into the world’s top 100 companies on the Fortune Global 500 list.Reliance is ranked 96th in the 2020 ranking released by Fortune.
  19. Former NABARD Chief, Harsh Kumar Bhanwala has been appointed as executive chairman of the Capital India Finance Limited.
  20. Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has approved procurement proposals worth Rs.8,722.38 crore to strengthen the Armed Forces by relying on indigenous capability to take forward the initiative on ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’.
  21. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launched a number of modernization and up-gradation of facilities and new infrastructure creation by Defence Public sector undertakings (PSUs) and Ordnance Factory Board (OFB), through the digital link here.
  22. The Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has laid the foundation for a missile-seeker facility and a warhead production unit at Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) at Hyderabad, as part of the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat Saptah’ being celebrated by the company.
  23. The Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Shri Prakash Javadekar unveiled an e-version of the book titled ‘Connecting, Communicating, Changing’.
  24. Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga has released ”Corona Kavithakal”, a collection of poems, written by Governor PS Sreedharan Pillai during the lockdown.
  25. Noted Urdu poet Rahat Indori passed away.
  26. Veteran Tamil film songwriter, PK Muthusamy passed away.
  27. Former Indian footballer and Mohun Bagan captain, Laishram Manitombi Singh has passed away, after suffering from a prolonged illness at an age of 39.
  28. StepOne, a Bengaluru-based Startup has announced a 24×7 national COVID Telemed Helpline.

NEWS IN DETAILS

IMPORTANT DAYS AND THEMES

World Lion Day observed on 10 August

  • World Lion Day is observed globally on August 10 every year to raise awareness about lions and educate people about issues concerning their protection and conservation.
  • In 2020, the World Lion Day is being observed virtually due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

World Elephant Day observed on 12 August

  • World Elephant Day is observed every year on August 12 worldwide for the preservation and protection of the global elephants.
  • The main objective of World Elephant Day is to create awareness on elephant conservation, and to share knowledge and positive solutions for the better protection and management of wild and captive elephants.
  • The day is being officially celebrated since 2012.

International Youth Day observed on 12 August

  • The International Youth Day (IYD) is observed on August 12 annually to draw attention of governments and others towards youth issues worldwide.
  • The day was designated by the United Nations in 1999.
  • The first IYD was observed on 12 August, 2000.
  • 2020 Theme: Youth Engagement for Global Action

Extra Shots:

United Nations

  • Secretary general: António Guterres Trending
  • Headquarters: New York, New York, United States
  • Founded: 24 October 1945, San Francisco, California, United States
  • Awards: Nobel Peace Prize, Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Subject, Peabody Award

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

Amazon India launches ‘Itna Aasan Hai’ campaign

  • The E-Commerce Form Amazon India has launched its seller-driven campaign known as ‘Itna Aasan Hai’ in order to highlight how the sellers are thriving on the Amazon ecosystem with ease.
  • This campaign is meant to communicate to existing and prospective sellers who are on the platform, how easy and simple it is to sell on the e-commerce platform.
  • The company wants to communicate this idea to the sellers in a way that is easily understandable making it that much more memorable.

Extra Shots:

Amazon:

  • CEO: Jeff Bezos
  • Founder: Jeff Bezos
  • Founded: 5 July 1994, Bellevue, Washington, United States

NATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS

Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar launched Krishi Megh

  • Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar virtually launched the Krishi Megh (National Agricultural Research & Education System -Cloud Infrastructure and Services).
  • Krishi Megh is in line with the digital agriculture of New India.
  • Also, he launched KVC ALUNET (Krishi Vishwavidyalaya Chhatr Alumni Network) and Online Accreditation System for Higher Agricultural Educational Institutions (HEI).

‘Gandagi Bharat Chorho’: PM Modi Launches Week-Long Cleanliness Campaign For Garbage-Free India

  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a week-long campaign ‘Gandagi Bharat Chorho’ to free India of garbage and waste.
  • The campaign will continue till August 15. The rural and urban areas of the country will witness special ‘swachhta’ initiatives during the week.
  • Punjab Cricket Association’s new international stadium to be named after Patiala’s last ruler
  • The Punjab Cricket Association has decided to name its new stadium in Mullanpur after the last ruler of erstwhile Patiala state, late Maharaja Yadavindra Singh, who played a Test match for India in 1934.
  • He was the father of Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh
  • The PCA has also started the process of renovating the existing IS Bindra Stadium to turn it into an international cricket academy.

“Tribal Freedom Fighters’ Museums” being developed by Tribal Affairs Ministry

  • The Tribal Affairs Ministry has stated that all the nine museums dedicated to tribal freedom fighters will be completed by 2022.
  • Out of the nine proposed museums sanctioned for tribal freedom fighters, two are nearing completion and the rest are at different stages of progress.

Education Minister launches Minimum Standards of Architectural Education Regulations

  • The Human Resources Development Minister, Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’, has launched the ‘Minimum Standards of Architectural Education Regulations, 2020.’
  • The regulations have been prepared by the experts of the Council of Architecture.
  • These will be able to address the major concerns and challenges lying in the area of human habitat and built environment in the country.

STATE CURRENT AFFAIRS

Chhattisgarh’s Jagdalpur becomes country’s first Municipal Corporation to provide forestland right certificates to people of urban area

  • Chhattisgarh’s Jagdalpur has become the first municipal corporation of the country, where people of urban area have been provided forest land right certificates.
  • Jagdalpur is among the few municipal corporations, jurisdiction areas of which includes forestlands.
  • Nearly 1777 applications have been received for forestland right certificates, which will be resolved as per the rules.

Extra Shots:

Chhattisgarh

  • Statehood Day: November 1, 2000
  • Capital: Raipur
  • Chief Minister: Bhupesh Baghel
  • Governor: Anusuiya Uikey
  • Literacy Rate: 60.21%
  • National Park: Indravati (Kutru) National Park, Kanger Valley National Park, Guru Ghasi Das (Sanjay) National Park

Haryana CM launches anti-bullying campaign of Faridabad Police

  • Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar launched the anti-bullying campaign of Faridabad police by unveiling its Instagram, Facebook and Twitter pages to flag the problem of bullying at home, in neighbourhood, schools, colleges and workplace.
  • The district police aims to implement targeted programmes to counter the menace of bullying.
  • The campaign will particularly target teenagers, the segment worst-affected by the problem.
  • Bullying destroys a victim’s confidence, impairs their personality development, stunts their social intelligence and drives them to depression and a host of other diseases.

Extra Shots:

Haryana:

  • Capital: Chandigarh
  • Chief Minister: Manohar Lal Khattar
  • Governor: Satyadev Narayan Arya
  • National Park: Sultanpur National Park, Kalesar National Park

‘Mukhya Mantri Kisan Sahay Yojana’ launched in Gujarat

  • The Gujarat government has launched the ‘Mukhya Mantri Kisan Sahay Yojana’ as a temporary replacement of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana for a year.
  • The main reason has been cited as the high premiums quoted by insurance firms in the state.
  • The scheme is different from the PMFBY in the sense that it will cover all the 56 lakh farmers in the state, unlike the PMFBY in which, on an average, 15-17 lakh farmers who applied for crop insurance, used to be covered.
  • The new scheme will be restricted to crop losses taking place during the ongoing Kharif season.
  • It will cover only drought, flooding and unseasonal rainfall and the insurance coverage will be up to a maximum of four hectares.
  • Farmers who suffer crop loss of less than 33% will not get any compensation whereas the farmers suffering damage of 33-60% will get an assistance of Rs 20000 per hectare. For crop loss above 60 per cent, the compensation amount will be Rs 25000 per hectare.
  • A portal will be created in order to link the land records and manage the scheme properly.
  • The farmers will have to visit the village level e-gram centre in order to apply online on the designated portal. This centre will be paid Rs 8 per successful application.

Extra Shots:

Gujarat:

  • Capital: Gandhinagar
  • Chief Minister: Vijay Rupani
  • Governor: Acharya Devvrat
  • State formed on: 1 May 1960
  • Literacy Rate: 79.31%
  • National Park: Vansda NP, Blackbuck NP, Gir Forest NP,  Marine NP, Gulf of Kutch

Punjab to launch scheme to distribute smartphones

  • The Punjab government has decided to start distribution of smartphones to students free of cost, on August 12.
  • In order to avert any kind of large gatherings, the government has decided to launch the scheme at 26 different locations in Chandigarh and Punjab.
  • All the district headquarters and also some major towns will be covered under this scheme.
  • The government has received the first consignment of 50000 smartphones and the remaining will be sent to the state very soon.
  • In the first phase of the scheme, 1.75 lakh phones would be distributed by the state government.

INTERNATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS

Russia is planning to conduct Russia-India-China summit in November

  • Russia has proposed to host the first meeting of Russia-India-China (RIC) Defence Ministers in Moscow, Russia in September.
  • The meeting will provide an opportunity for India and China to keep their communication channels open amid the Line of Actual Control (LAC) standoff.
  • Russia will organize a RIC summit on the sidelines of the G20 meeting, which is scheduled to be held in Riyadh in November 2020 amid the rising tension between India and China.

Extra Shots:

Russia (Capital/Currency): Moscow/ Russian Rouble

  • President: Vladimir Putin

Walter Roger Martos Ruiz becomes new PM of Peru

  • The former defence minister and retired army general, Walter Roger Martos Ruiz becomes new Prime Minister of the country.
  • His appointment was confirmed by President of Peru, Martin Vizcarra. Ruiz will succeed Pedro Álvaro Cateriano Bellido.
  • The swearing-in ceremony took place at the Government Palace in Lima.

Extra Shots:

Peru (Capital/Currency): Lima/ Nuevo Sol

  • Prime Minister: Walter Roger Martos Ruiz

Russia names its new Covid-19 vaccine as ‘Sputnik V’

  • Russia has decided to name its first COVID 19 vaccine as ‘Sputnik V’ for the foreign markets since this name is a reference to the first satellite of the world.
  • This is a big success for the Russian government since Russia is the first country to register a vaccine for the COVID 19 disease.
  • WHO is also not sure of the effectiveness and safety of this vaccine.
  • Russia has also stated that around 20 countries have already pre-booked one billion doses of COVID 19 vaccine for the patients in their countries.

Sputnik V

  • Sputnik V was the first-ever artificial satellite launched by Russia. Now, Russia has compared the development of COVID 19 vaccine with that space race and in order to showcase its victory in this race, that space reference is being used in this case also.

Extra Shots:

Russia (Capital/Currency): Moscow/ Russian Rouble

  • President: Vladimir Putin

China’s Sinovac launches phase 3 trial of COVID-19 vaccine in Indonesia

  • Sinovac Biotech Ltd. of China has launched a phase 3 human trial of COVID-19 vaccine candidate on August 11, 2020, which will involve as many as 1,620 patients in Indonesia.
  • Sinovac has been developing the vaccine with Indonesian state-owned peer Bio-Farma.

China (Capital/Currency): Beijing/Renminbi

  • President: Xi Jinping
  • Official Language: Mandarin

EU announces €1.65 million humanitarian aid to support flood victims in India, Nepal and Bangladesh

  • The European Union has announced €1.65 million humanitarian aid to support those affected by severe flooding in South Asia, most notably India, Bangladesh and Nepal.

Extra Shots:

EU:

  • Headquarters: Brussels, Belgium
  • Founded: 1 November 1993, Maastricht, Netherlands
  • Government: Sui generis Intergovernmental and supranational
  • Founders: Germany, Italy, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg

RANKS AND INDICES

Reliance Industries at 96th rank in Fortune Global 500 list

  • Reliance Industries, headed by the Indian Billionaire Mukesh Ambani, has jumped 10 places to break into the world’s top 100 companies on the Fortune Global 500 list.
  • Reliance is ranked 96th in the 2020 ranking released by Fortune.
  • This is the highest any Indian company has been ranked on the Fortune Global 500 list.
  • The list has been topped by Walmart with revenue of $524 billion, followed by three Chinese companies – Sinopec Group ($407 billion), State Grid ($384 billion) and China National Petroleum ($379 billion).

APPOINTMENTS IN NEWS

Harsh Kumar Bhanwala becomes new executive chairman of Capital India Finance

  • Former NABARD Chief, Harsh Kumar Bhanwala has been appointed as executive chairman of the Capital India Finance Limited.
  • Prior to this, Bhanwala was chairman of National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) for over six years.
  • He was appointed as the chairman NABARD in December 2013 and demitted the office on May 26, 2020.

Extra Shots:

Capital India Finance Limited

  • Headquarters: India
  • Founded: 1994
  • Parent organization: Capital India Corp LLP

DEFENCE CURRENT AFFAIRS

DAC approved procurement proposals worth Rs.8,722.38 crore

  • Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has approved procurement proposals worth Rs.8,722.38 crore to strengthen the Armed Forces by relying on indigenous capability to take forward the initiative on ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’.
  • The approval was announced in a meeting held under the Chairmanship of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh for capital acquisitions of various equipment and platforms required by the Indian Armed Forces.
  • DAC has approved the procurement of 106 Basic Trainer Aircraft from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

Defence Minister launched modernization and up-gradation of facilities of Defence PSUs and OFB

  • Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launched a number of modernization and up-gradation of facilities and new infrastructure creation by Defence Public sector undertakings (PSUs) and Ordnance Factory Board (OFB), through the digital link here. It is a part of the Atma Nirbhar Week celebration of the Ministry of Defence (MoD).
  • Modernization of facilities at Opo-Electronic Factory (OLF) Dehradun will serve the purpose of the manufacturing of high-end Optoelectronic products for T-90 Tanks.

Defence Minister laid foundation for a Missile-seeker facility and Warhead production unit

  • The Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has laid the foundation for a missile-seeker facility and a warhead production unit at Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) at Hyderabad, as part of the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat Saptah’ being celebrated by the company.
  • The foundation laying ceremony has been organized virtually from New Delhi.
  • BDL is establishing a Seeker Facility Centre for manufacturing and testing of indigenously developed Seekers for missiles.

Extra Shots:

Bharat Dynamics Limited

  • Headquarters: India
  • Founder: India
  • Founded: 1970, Hyderabad
  • Parent organizations: Government of India, Ministry of Defence

BOOKS & AUTHORS

Third series of book titled ‘Connecting, Communicating, Changing’ comprising collection of speeches by Vice President Venkaiah Naidu released

  • The Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Shri Prakash Javadekar unveiled an e-version of the book titled ‘Connecting, Communicating, Changing’.
  • Apart from this, the print coffee table version of the book was also released by Union Minister of Defense Shri Rajnath Singh.
  • The book chronicles Shri M Venkaiah Naidu’s three years in office as the Vice President of India.
  • Vice President Venkaiah Naidu has completed three years in office on 11 August 2020.

Three of 13 books penned by Mizoram governor during lockdown released

  • Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga has released ”Corona Kavithakal”, a collection of poems, written by Governor PS Sreedharan Pillai during the lockdown.
  • The governor has recently penned at least 13 books in English and Malayalam.
  • Two more books,” Republic Day 2020” and” Thus Speaks the Governor”, written by Pillai, were also released by Gauhati High Court Chief Justice Ajai Lamba through a video message.

OBITUARY

Noted Urdu Poet Rahat Indori passes away

  • Noted Urdu poet Rahat Indori passed away.
  • He was also a bollywood lyricist and known for the lyrics of songs like “M Bole to” from Munnabhai MBBS (2003), and “Neend Churai Mei” from Ishq (1997).

Veteran Tamil film songwriter P K Muthusamy passes away

  • Veteran Tamil film songwriter, PK Muthusamy passed away.
  • He had penned memorable Tamil film lyrics like ‘Mannukku Maram Baaramaa ?’ – which means ‘are the trees a burden on the earth?’.
  • His other famous songs composed by Muthusami include ‘Mapilai vandar’ and ‘Chinna Chinna nadai nadandu’ etc.

Former India defender and Mohun Bagan captain Laishram Manitombi Singh  passes away

  • Former Indian footballer and Mohun Bagan captain, Laishram Manitombi Singh has passed away, after suffering from a prolonged illness at an age of 39.
  • He captained Mohun Bagan for consecutive two seasons (2003-2004) wherein he scored three goals, and also led the club to win the Airlines Gold Cup in 2004.
  • Manitombi was a key member of the India Under-23 side that lifted the LG Cup in 2003 by defeating Vietnam 3-2 in Ho Chi Minh City.
  • He also represented India in the 2002 Asian Games in Busan.

MISCELLANEOUS

Bengaluru-based startup StepOne launches national COVID-19 Telemed helpline

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