Current Affairs Today 17th August 2020-Download in PDF

Admin

Hello and welcome to exampundit. Here are the important Current Affairs Today 17th August 2020. These are important for the upcoming Exams. Candidates who were preparing for the examination can use these current affairs and also you can download the same as PDF.

Current Affairs Today – 17th August 2020

NEWS AT A GLANCE

  1. State Bank of India (SBI) has introduced “KCC (Kisan Credit Card) Review option” on its digital agricultural solution platform, YONO Krishi, to enable farmers to access their KCC limit in four clicks.
  2. Investment bank Barclays has revised downward the growth projection for India in FY21 (2020-21) to a contraction of 6%. Earlier it had estimated a contraction of 3.2%.
  3. Multi Commodity Exchange of India (MCX) will launch India’s first bullion index named Bulldex, on August 24, 2020.
  4. The Government of India has come up with its ambitious plan of trans-national electricity grid, for supplying solar power across the globe.
  5. The project to connect all the villages of India with optical fibre network will be completed in the next 1,000 days.
  6. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 15, 2020, announced that the centre has been planning to launch Project Lion and Project Dolphin to replicate the success of Project Tiger.
  7. The Union Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Steel Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has informed that Odisha will become the epicenter of India’s overall steel industry, to accelerate the development of the domestic steel sector of the country.
  8. New Zealand Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern has decided to delay New Zealand’s national elections by four weeks due to the latest coronavirus outbreak in Auckland.
  9. The National Stock Exchange (NSE) announced the launch of a digital learning platform for investor education.
  10. The Delhi government, in a bid to enhance road safety in the national capital signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bloomberg Philanthropies, joining30 world cities in the initiative for global road safety.
  11. Niti Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) in collaboration with IT industry body Nasscom launched an artificial intelligence-based module for school students to empower youngest minds and drive innovations in the country to the next level.
  12. Indian Hotels Company Ltd (IHCL) has joined hands with Tata Power for supply of solar energy for its Mumbai hotels as part of strategy to focus on sustainable and cost-efficient business practices.
  13. Central Government has formed a search-cum-selection committee to name the new three government nominees on the all-important Monetary Policy Committee (MPC). The committee will be headed by Cabinet secretary Rajiv Gauba.
  14. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has approved the proposal for a major expansion of the National Cadet Corps (NCC) to cover 173 border and coastal districts, to meet the aspirations of youth in all the border and coastal districts.
  15. In Football, the Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne has been named as the Premier League Player of the Season 2019-20.
  16. The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Ropar, has developed a first-of-its-kind UVGI-based room disinfection device ‘UVSAFE’, which harnesses the germicidal effects of UV-C radiations to inactivate viruses and bacteria including corona viruses.
  17. Former Indian cricketer and Uttar Pradesh minister Chetan Chauhan has passed away due to multiple organ failure. He was 73.

NEWS IN DETAILS

BANKING & FINANCE 

SBI rolls out YONO Krishi review to empower farmers

  • State Bank of India (SBI) has introduced “KCC (Kisan Credit Card) Review option” on its digital agricultural solution platform, YONO Krishi.
  • The objective behind this is to enable farmers to access their KCC limit in four clicks.
  • With this added feature, farmers will no longer need to visit the bank branch to apply for a revision in their KCC limit.

Extra Shots:

SBI

  • Chairperson: Rajnish Kumar
  • Headquarters: Mumbai
  • Founded: 1 July 1955

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

Barclays Slashes India’s GDP growth to -6 percent in FY21

  • Investment bank Barclays has revised downward the growth projection for India in FY21 (2020-21) to a contraction of 6%. Earlier it had estimated a contraction of 3.2%.
  • The reason for downward revision continues to be India’s rising coronavirus infection curve.
  • For FY22 also, Barclays has revised its growth projection to 7% from 7.4% estimated earlier.

Extra Shots:

Barclays

  • Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
  • CEO: Jes Staley

MCX to launch India’s first bullion index, Bulldex

  • Multi Commodity Exchange of India (MCX) will launch India’s first bullion index named Bulldex, on August 24, 2020.
  • The Bulldex will have a market lot size of 50 and gold and silver will be underlying. It will be a cash-settled futures contract.
  • Multi Commodity Exchange of India Ltd is an independent commodity exchange based in India.

Extra Shots:

MCX

  • CEO: P.S. Reddy
  • Chairperson: Mr. Saurabh Chandra
  • Headquarters: Mumbai
  • Founded: 10 November 2003

NATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS

PM Modi Announces One Sun, One World, One Grid (OSOWOG) initiative

  • The Government of India has come up with its ambitious plan of trans-national electricity grid, for supplying solar power across the globe.

Highlights:

  • The mega plan is called “One Sun, One World, One Grid” (OSOWOG). It was announced by PM Modi in his Independence Day address on 15 August 2020.
  • This idea of OSOWOG was first floated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2018 during the first assembly of the International Solar Alliance (ISA).
  • As per the draft plan prepared by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), the OSOWOG will connect 140 countries through a common grid that will be used to transfer solar power.
  • “The vision behind the OSOWOG mantra is “the Sun never sets” and is a constant at some geographical location, globally, at any given point of time.”
  • The OSOWOG plan will be executed in three phases to share solar and other renewable energy resources
  • Phase I: Indian grid will be connected with the Middle East, South Asia and South-East Asian grids
  • Phase II: Connect the first phase nations with the African Region countries rich in solar and other renewable energy resources.
  • Phase III: Global interconnection

All villages to be connected with optical fibre in next 1,000 days: PM Modi

  • The project to connect all the villages of India with optical fibre network will be completed in the next 1,000 days.
  • This was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi while addressing the nation on Independence Day on 15 August 2020.
  • He said that India’s over six lakh villages will be connected with optical fibre network in the coming 1,000 days.
  • Apart from this, a high speed internet connectivity via submarine optical fibre cable will be extended to Lakshadweep in the next 1,000 days to provide high speed internet services in the region.

Central government to launch projects for lion, dolphin conservation

  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 15, 2020, announced that the centre has been planning to launch Project Lion and Project Dolphin to replicate the success of Project Tiger.
  • The projects will be launched by the central government for the biodiversity conservation of these species.
  • PM Modi informed about these projects in his Independence Day Speech 2020.
  • It was also informed that Project dolphin will focus on both the sea and river dolphins which will also give a boost to biodiversity and will create employment opportunities.
  • This will also become a centre of attraction for tourism.

STATE CURRENT AFFAIRS

Centre plans to make Odisha the epicenter of India’s overall steel industry

  • The Union Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Steel Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has informed that Odisha will become the epicenter of India’s overall steel industry, to accelerate the development of the domestic steel sector of the country.

Highlights:

  • Government has proposed to set up an integrated steel hub in Odisha, to make the state, the nerve Centre of Mission Purvodaya, which aims at accelerated development of eastern India through establishment of integrated steel hub.
  • It is envisioned that the Odisha steel hub will produce 100 million tonnes of steel from out of the total 300 million tonnes national steel production target.
  • The Centre has allocated capital investment of Rs 5 lakh crore for this project.
  • The proposed steel hub, accompanied by Make in India and Local for Vocal programmes will create more than 25 lakh jobs in the region, as well as contribute towards making of Atmanirbhar Bharat.

Extra Shots:

Odisha:

  • Statehood Day: 1st April 1936
  • Capital: Bhubaneswar
  • Governor: Ganeshi Lal
  • Chief Minister: Naveen Patnaik

INTERNATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS

New Zealand delays elections in Auckland by four weeks after COVID-19 outbreak

  • New Zealand Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern has decided to delay New Zealand’s national elections by four weeks due to the latest coronavirus outbreak in Auckland.
  • The announcement was made on August 17, 2020.

Extra Shots:

New Zealand (Capital/Currency): Wellington/ New Zealand dollar

  • Prime Minister: Jacinda Ardern

AGREEMENTS AND MOU SIGNED

NSE, IIM-Bangalore join hands to offer platform for investor education

  • The National Stock Exchange (NSE) announced the launch of a digital learning platform for investor education.
  • The platform, an online investor education resource centre, has been developed jointly by NSE Investor Protection Fund Trust and IIM Bangalore.
  • The platform has four learning modules each comprising number of videos, audios, podcasts, deep-dives and blog posts presenting the content using the latest animation and data visualization technology to actively engage different cohorts of potential investors.

Extra Shots:

NSE

  • of listings: 1,952
  • Location: Mumbai, India
  • Owner: National Stock Exchange of India Limited
  • Founded: 1992
  • Indices: NIFTY 50; NIFTY Next 50; NIFTY 500

Delhi govt inked MoU with Bloomberg Philanthropies to enhance road safety

  • The Delhi government, in a bid to enhance road safety in the national capital signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bloomberg Philanthropies, joining30 world cities in the initiative for global road safety.
  • Under this initiative the Delhi government will be supported by the world’s leading experts in road safety and will receive technical assistance to conduct various periodic road user behaviour surveys and training for staff.

Extra Shots:

Bloomberg Philanthropies

  • Location: New York City, United States of America
  • Founder: Michael Bloomberg
  • Founded: 2006
  • Headquarters: New York, New York, United States

Niti Aayog partners Nasscom to launch AI-based module for school students

  • Niti Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) in collaboration with IT industry body Nasscom launched an artificial intelligence-based module for school students to empower youngest minds and drive innovations in the country to the next level.
  • This module is the next step in bringing artificial intelligence (AI) to Indian classrooms and is a successor to the AI base module launched in February this year.
  • The ‘AI Step-up Module’ provides a comprehensive set of ‘learn it yourself’ advanced modules to those who wish to expand their knowledge base after becoming familiar with the basics of the AI discipline through the AI base module.

Extra Shots:

NITI Aayog

  • Formed: 1 January 2015
  • Objectives: Foster involvement and participation in the economic policy-making process by the State Governments of India
  • Jurisdiction: Government of India
  • Headquarters: New Delhi
  • Chairperson: Narendra Modi

NASSCOM

  • Chairperson: Keshav R Murugesh
  • Headquarters location: New Delhi
  • Members: over 2,800 companies
  • Founded: 1 March 1988
  • Founders: Dewang Mehta, Nandan Nilekani
  • Affiliations: NASSCOM Foundation, National Institute for Smart Government, Data Security Council of India

IHCL joins hands with Tata Power for supply of solar energy

  • Indian Hotels Company Ltd (IHCL) has joined hands with Tata Power for supply of solar energy for its Mumbai hotels as part of strategy to focus on sustainable and cost-efficient business practices.
  • The company has signed a solar energy power purchase agreement (PPA) with TP Kirnali Solar Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Tata Power Company Ltd.
  • IHCL hotels in Mumbai, namely The Taj Mahal Palace, Taj Lands End and Taj Wellington Mews, will get approximately 60 per cent energy from green source and will reduce nearly 22.9 million kg of carbon dioxide emissions on an annual basis.
  • This agreement is valid for a period of 25 years.

Extra Shots:

Indian Hotels Company Ltd (IHCL)

  • Parent organization: Tata Group
  • Headquarters: Mumbai
  • Founder: Jamsetji Tata

RECENT COMMITTEES IN NEWS

Center forms search-cum-selection committee to name the new three government nominees on Monetary Policy Committee

  • Central Government has formed a search-cum-selection committee to name the new three government nominees on the all-important Monetary Policy Committee (MPC). The committee will be headed by Cabinet secretary Rajiv Gauba.
  • Urjit Patel is also a part of this committee.
  • Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has 6 members which include 3 members from the government side.
  • These nominees from the Central government can hold office for 4 years.
  • The present three Government nominees are- Chetan Ghate, Pami Dua and Ravindra H Dholakia who were appointed in September 2016 and will complete their term in September 2020. Hence there is a need to find three new government nominees on MPC.

DEFENCE CURRENT AFFAIRS

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh approves proposal to expand NCC in 173 border and coastal districts

  • Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has approved the proposal for a major expansion of the National Cadet Corps (NCC) to cover 173 border and coastal districts, to meet the aspirations of youth in all the border and coastal districts.

Highlights:

  • With the expansion of NCC in border and coastal districts, these areas will get trained manpower for disaster management, and the youth will also get skill training for making their career in the armed forces.
  • A total of one lakh cadets from 173 border and coastal districts will be inducted to the NCC.
  • Of the total, one-third of the Cadets would be girl Cadets.
  • More than 1000 schools and colleges have been identified in border and coastal districts where NCC will be introduced.
  • As part of the expansion plan, a total of 83 NCC units will be upgraded (Army 53, Navy 20, Air Force 10) to impart NCC training to the cadets in the border and coastal areas.

Extra Shots:

National Cadet Corps (NCC)

  • Director General: Lt Gen Rajeev Chopra, AVSM
  • Motto: एकता और अनुशासन; Unity and discipline
  • Founder: Government of the United Kingdom
  • Founded: 16 April 1948
  • Headquarters location: New Delhi
  • Role: Student Uniformed Group

SPORTS CURRENT AFFAIRS

Kevin de Bruyne named Premier League Player of the Season 2019-20

  • In Football, the Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne has been named as the Premier League Player of the Season 2019-20.
  • He is the only third Belgian footballer to win the award for the league’s top performer, after Eden Hazard (2014-15) and Vincent Kompany (2011-12).
  • The 29-year-old scored 20 goals in the 2019-20 season.

Other awards include:

  • Young Player of the Season – Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)
  • Manager of the Season – Juergen Klopp (Liverpool)
  • Goal of the Season – Son Heung-min (Tottenham Hotspur)
  • Premier League 2 (PL2) Player of the Season – Curtis Jones (Liverpool)

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY CURRENT AFFAIRS

IIT Ropar develops UVGI-based room disinfection device ‘UVSAFE’

  • The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Ropar, has developed a first-of-its-kind UVGI-based room disinfection device ‘UVSAFE’, which harnesses the germicidal effects of UV-C radiations to inactivate viruses and bacteria including corona viruses.
  • The machine harnesses the germicidal results of UV-C radiations to inactivate viruses and micro-organism whereas the “State of the Artwork” design of UV Secure ensures Zero-shadow 360 degree2 disinfection via its Prismatic Physique and foldable wings.

OBITUARY

Former Indian cricketer and Uttar Pradesh Minister Chetan Chauhan passes away at 73

Related Post
  1. February 2023 | Daily Current Affairs – PDF Download
  2. Daily Current Affairs in Hindi January 2023 PDF Download
  3. January 2023 | Daily Current Affairs – PDF Download