Current Affairs Today 24th and 25th July 2020-Download in PDF

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Current Affairs Today – 24th and 25th July 2020

NEWS AT A GLANCE

  1. India’s third-largest public sector bank, Bank of Baroda (BoB) has launched ‘Insta Click Savings Account’, a 100 per cent paperless digital self-assisted online savings account.
  2. Government of India (GoI) has announced that it is to take various initiatives to boost the fertilizer sector so that an adequate amount of fertilizers could be made available to farmers during the sowing season.
  3. Indian Railways is planning to radio-frequency identification tags (RFID) Tag all wagons by the end of 2022.
  4. The Department of Science and Technology (DST) has launched the India-Russia Joint Technology Assessment and Accelerated Commercialization Programme.
  5. Department of Posts has extended all small savings schemes upto the branch post office level.
  6. Karnataka State Government approved the formation of the Karnataka Digital Economy Mission.
  7. Ahmedabad Railway Division has successfully introduced a unique concept of Baggage Sanitization and Wrapping at Ahmedabad Railway Station.
  8. Rajasthan Government is to set up the first plasma bank of the state in Jaipur.
  9. The Central American country, Republic of Nicaragua became the 87th country to sign the International Solar Alliance (ISA) Framework Agreement.
  10. World Trade Organization (WTO) General Council has granted the “Observer” status to the central Asian country Turkmenistan.
  11. The United Nations Environment Programme and the International Energy Agency released a report on “Cooling Emissions and Policy Synthesis”.
  12. Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) and Union Bank of India, after its amalgamation with Corporation Bank and Andhra Bank, have announced a corporate agency agreement to distribute LIC policies.
  13. Airtel Payments Bank Ltd and National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) have collaborated in order to train and skill young people in rural areas on financial services and helping them in finding jobs and become entrepreneurs in the sector.
  14. Digital payments major, Amazon Pay has launched vehicle insurance in partnership with Bengaluru-based startup Acko General Insurance.
  15. Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda today inaugurated an e-Symposium on Handicrafts organized by Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Centre for Policy Research and Analysis, Indian Institute of Management, Shillong.
  16. Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, virtually participated in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Health Minister’s Digital Meet on 24th July.
  17. India and Israel have jointly developed an ultra-rapid testing kit for COVID-19.
  18. Microfinance Institutions Network (MFIN) has appointed Alok Misra as its new Chief Executive Officer & Director.
  19. Government of India has appointed Partha Pratim Sengupta as the new Managing Director (MD) & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Indian Overseas Bank (IOB).
  20. Rajesh Bhushan has been appointed as the new Health Secretary in the Union Health Ministry.
  21. President Ram Nath Kovind today appointed Smt. Anandiben Patel the Governor of Madhya Pradesh.
  22. Largest Solar Power Plant at Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala has been commissioned by the Vice Admiral Anil Kumar Chawla.
  23. Sri Lankan bowling allrounder, Sripali Weerakkody has announced her retirement from International Cricket with immediate effect.
  24. All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Nagpur has designed and developed a ‘smart wristband’ for effective tracking and monitoring of Covid-19 positive and suspect patients.
  25. A portal “Restartindia” has been launched by the Kerala-based NBFC, Muthoot Fincorp. ‘
  26. Legendary Jazz Singer, Annie Ross passed away.
  27. Eminent danseuse and choreographer Amala Shankar passed away.
  28. A professor of Banaras Hindu University (BHU) has launched a dedicated website called SARDIJUKAM.Com which will help people in coping up from this fear
  29. Union Health Ministry has set to launch new sets of health warnings for all tobacco products by making an amendment in the Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Packaging and Labeling) Rules, 2008.
  30. Pharma Company Cipla is all set to launch the anti-viral drug Favipiravir for the treatment of COVID-19 patients.

NEWS IN DETAILS

BANKING & FINANCE

‘Insta Click Savings Account’ launched by BOB

  • India’s third-largest public sector bank, Bank of Baroda (BoB) has launched ‘Insta Click Savings Account’, a 100 per cent paperless digital self-assisted online savings account.
  • The account is activated in real-time, which means the customer can start transacting, using the Baroda M Connect Plus application with the MPIN received on the mobile number, immediately.
  • The product also offers customers the option to subscribe to a wide range of digital channels like mobile banking, Internet banking, UPI (unified payments interface), and debit card.
  • Insta Click Savings Account uses a new form of digital KYC (know-your-customer) and Aadhaar-based OTP (one-time personal identification number) authentication of the customer, which can be operated from the bank’s website, through mobile phone, IPad, laptop, and PC.

Extra Shots:

BOB:

  • Founder: Sayajirao Gaekwad III
  • Founded: 20 July 1908, Vadodara
  • Owner: Government of India
  • Chairman: Hasmukh Adhia

NATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS

Government to revitalize Fertilizer Industry to boost indigenous production

  • Government of India (GoI) has announced that it is to take various initiatives to boost the fertilizer sector so that an adequate amount of fertilizers could be made available to farmers during the sowing season.
  • The information was made by the Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers DV Sadananda Gowda.

Various Measures taken by GoI:

  • GoI is to revive the closed fertilizer units of Fertilizer Corporation of India (FCIL) at Ramagundam, Talcher, Gorakhpur & Sindri, and Himachal Futuristic Communications Ltd. (HFCL) unit at Barauni.
  • The aim is to become self-sufficient in urea production.
  • This is a Joint Venture of nominated PSUs to set up gas-based fertilizer plants of 1.27 MMTPA capacities each.
  • Under the provisions of New Investment Policy-2012 and its amendment in 2014, Chambal Fertilizers & Chemicals Limited (CFCL) has set up a Brownfield project at Gadepan, Rajasthan with a production capacity of 12.7 LMT Urea per annum.

Extra Shots:

Fertilizer Corporation of India (FCIL)

  • Owner: Government of India
  • Founded: 1961
  • Headquarters: Noida
  • Type of business: Publicly listed company

Indian Railways to RFID Tag all wagons by 2022 December

  • Indian Railways is planning to radio-frequency identification tags (RFID) Tag all wagons by the end of 2022.
  • Indian Railways is expected to complete this process of fitting RFID in all the wagons by December 2022.

Highlights:

  • The RFID tags will be used to track all wagons.
  • Around 23,000 wagons have been covered under the RFID project.
  • The Project is still in progress amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Currently, the Indian Railway is maintaining such data manually that leaves scope for errors.
  • The RFID devices will be easier for the railways to know the exact position of all the wagons, locomotives, and coaches.
  • The RFID tag will be fitted in the rolling stock and the trackside readers will be installed at stations and key points along the tracks to read the tag from a distance of about two meters and transmit the wagon identity over a network to a central computer.
  • The moving wagon can be identified and its movement will be tracked.

Extra Shots:

Indian Railways

  • Headquarters: New Delhi
  • Founded: 16 April 1853, India

DST launched India-Russia Joint Technology Assessment and Accelerated Commercialization Programme

  • The Department of Science and Technology (DST) has launched the India-Russia Joint Technology Assessment and Accelerated Commercialization Programme.
  • DST has launched the programme in partnership with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and Foundation for Assistance to Small Innovative Enterprises (FASIE) of the Russian Federation.
  • The programme will connect Indian, and Russian Science & Technology (S&T) led SMEs and Start-ups for joint R&D for technology development and for cross-country technology adaptation.
  • The programme is to strengthen the Science, Technology, and Innovation ties between India and Russia.
  • The programme can leverage joint intellectual and financial resources to develop technologies that would provide the solutions for the future.
  • The programme will run through two annual cycles with up to five projects to be funded under each cycle.
  • The project aims to lead S&T focus areas, including IT & ICT (including AI, AR, VR), Medicine & Pharmaceuticals, Renewable Energy, Aerospace, Alternative Technologies, Environment, New Materials, Biotechnologies, Robotics, and Drones.

Extra Shots:

DST:

  • Headquarters location: New Delhi
  • Founded: May 1971
  • Subsidiary: National Innovation Foundation – India

Postal dept extends all small savings schemes to branch post office level

  • Department of Posts has extended all small savings schemes up to the branch post office level.
  • The decision aims to empower rural India by bringing all Post Office Savings schemes to the doorstep of the people living in rural areas.
  • The new order has allowed Branch Post Offices to offer facilities of Public Provident Fund, Monthly Income Scheme, National Savings Certificate, Kisan Vikas Patra and Senior Citizen Savings Schemes.

 STATE CURRENT AFFAIRS

Karnataka Cabinet approves Karnataka Digital Economy Mission

  • Karnataka State Government approved the formation of the Karnataka Digital Economy Mission.
  • The Mission was aimed to promote over 7,000 start-ups, e-commerce, and other gig economy companies in the State.
  • Karnataka Digital Economy Mission or new company will be incorporated under Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013 with the Government of Karnataka holding 49% and the remaining 51% by the industries and other stakeholders.

Extra Shots:

Karnataka:

  • Statehood Day: 1st November 1956
  • Capital: Bengaluru
  • Chief Minister: B. S. Yediyurappa
  • Governor: Vajubhai Vala
  • National Park: Anshi NP, Bandipur NP, Bannerghatta NP, Kudremukh NP, Rajiv Gandhi (Nagarahole) NP.

Ahmedabad Railway Division successfully introduces unique concept of Baggage Sanitization

  • Ahmedabad Railway Division has successfully introduced a unique concept of Baggage Sanitization and Wrapping at Ahmedabad Railway Station.
  • It is a first of its kind across the Indian Railways.
  • The Division has come up with baggage sanitization and wrapping machine to ensure safetravel amid the pandemic.
  • The baggage sanitization and wrapping machine ensure 360 degree sanitization of the luggage by using ultra violate radiation.
  • The machine has been installed by a private enterprise.
  • This service will be voluntary for passengers for which they will have to pay charge upto 80 rupees depending upon the size and weight of the luggage.

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

Rajasthan launches the first plasma bank of the state

  • Rajasthan Government is to set up the first plasma bank of the state in Jaipur.
  • The first ever plasma bank of India was established in Delhi.
  • The plasma banks set up by the state governments operate within the states. On the other hand, the plasma bank launched in Delhi operates at national level.
  • The second national level plasma bank is to be opened in Tamil Nadu.

Extra Shots:

Plasma Therapy:

  • Under Plasma Therapy, the blood plasma is collected from a COVID-19 recovered patient. It is then transfused into a COVID-19 patient. The blood plasma is the fluid left after the components of blood are removed. The components of the blood are RBC, WBC, and platelets. RBC is Red Blood Corpuscles and WBC is White Blood Corpuscles. The RBCs are the ones carrying oxygen in the blood.

INTERNATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS

Nicaragua becomes the 87th Country to sign ISA agreement

  • The Central American country, Republic of Nicaragua became the 87th country to sign the International Solar Alliance (ISA) Framework Agreement.
  • The agreement was signed by the Permanent Representative of Nicaragua to the United Nations Jaime Hermida Castillo at the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations in New York.

Extra Shots:

Nicaragua (Capital/Currency): Managua/ Nicaraguan córdoba

  • President: Daniel Ortega

Turkmenistan gets observer status in WTO

  • World Trade Organization (WTO) General Council has granted the “Observer” status to the central Asian country Turkmenistan.
  • After receiving the observer status from WTO, Turkmenistan has become the last former Soviet republic to establish formal ties with the trade body.
  • Turkmenistan has become the 25th observer of the organization.

Extra Shots:

World Trade Organization (WTO)

  • Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
  • Membership: 164 member states
  • Head: Pascal Lamy
  • Founded: 1 January 1995
  • Purpose: Reduction of tariffs and other barriers to trade

Turkmenistan (Capital/Currency): Ashgabat/ Turkmenistan manat

  • President: Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow

RANKS AND INDICES

World will need at least 14 billion cooling appliances by 2050

  • The United Nations Environment Programme and the International Energy Agency released a report on “Cooling Emissions and Policy Synthesis”.
  • The report cited benefits of cooling efficiency and Kigali Amendment report.
  • He reports says that by 2050, the world will need at least 14 billion cooling appliances.
  • Currently, there are 3.6 billion appliances in use globally.

 AGREEMENTS AND MOU SIGNED

LIC signs agreement with UBI to distribute latter’s policies

  • Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) and Union Bank of India, after its amalgamation with Corporation Bank and Andhra Bank, have announced a corporate agency agreement to distribute LIC policies.
  • The bank will market LIC products of term insurance, pension, plan, children plan, ULIPs, and endowment schemes.

Extra Shots:

Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC)

  • Chairperson: M R Kumar
  • Headquarters: Mumbai
  • Founder: Government of India
  • Founded: 1 September 1956

Airtel Payments Bank partners NSDC to train rural youth

  • Airtel Payments Bank Ltd and National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) have collaborated in order to train and skill young people in rural areas on financial services and helping them in finding jobs and become entrepreneurs in the sector.
  • The collaboration has an objective to design & conduct focused skill development programs for rural youth and enabling them to adopt the tools to boost online banking and digital financial services.

Extra Shots:

Airtel Payments Bank Ltd

  • Headquarters location: New Delhi
  • CEO: Anubrata Biswas
  • Founded: January 2017
  • Subsidiary: YTS Solutions Pvt. Ltd.
  • Parent organizations: Bharti Airtel, Kotak Mahindra Bank

National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC)

  • CEO: Manish Kumar
  • Headquarters location: New Delhi
  • Founded: 2008
  • Type of business: Non-profit organisation

Amazon Pay ties up with Acko to sell auto insurance

  • Digital payments major, Amazon Pay has launched vehicle insurance in partnership with Bengaluru-based startup Acko General Insurance.
  • Amazon Pay, which is the payments unit of Amazon India, will help customers purchase insurance effortlessly and Amazon Prime members will get extra benefits including additional discounts.

Extra Shots:

Amazon

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

SUMMITS AND CONFERENCES

Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda inaugurates e-Symposium on Handicrafts

  • Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda today inaugurated an e-Symposium on Handicrafts organized by Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Centre for Policy Research and Analysis, Indian Institute of Management, Shillong.
  • The e-symposium was titled ‘Emergent North-East India: Strategic and Developmental Imperatives in Handicrafts’.

Dr. Harsh Vardhan represents India at SCO Health Ministers Digital Meet

  • Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, virtually participated in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Health Minister’s Digital Meet on 24th July.
  • The meeting was chaired by Mr. Mikhail Murashko, Minister of Health of the Russian Federation.

Highlights:

  • The Ministers discussed the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, as it was the key topic of discussion.
  • India proposed to set up a Sub-Group on Traditional Medicine under the existing Institutional Meetings of the SCO Health Ministers to fulfill the WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy 2014-2023.
  • India also suggested reinforcing the effective implementation of the joint statement on cooperation in combating epidemics signed at the Qingdao Summit in 2018.

Extra Shots:

SCO

  • Headquarters: Beijing, China
  • Deputy Secretaries General: Sabyr Imandosov; Wang Kaiwen; Aziz Nosirov; Vladimir Potapenko
  • Founded: 15 June 2001
  • Secretary General: Vladimir Norov
  • Official language: Chinese and Russian
  • Founders: China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan

AGREEMENTS AND MOU SIGNED

India, Israel jointly develop ultra-rapid testing kit for COVID-19

  • India and Israel have jointly developed an ultra-rapid testing kit for COVID-19.
  • The testing kit which has proven its efficacy in lab results will now be subjected to broader trials.
  • Indian DRDO scientists along with Defence Research Wing of Israel have been conjointly working on the COVID testing kit.
  • The rapid testing kit can generate preliminary COVID results within 30 seconds.

Extra Shots:

Israel (Capital/Currency): Jerusalem/ Israeli Shekel

  • Prime Minister: Benjamin Netanyahu

APPOINTMENTS IN NEWS

Alok Misra becomes new CEO & Director of MFIN

  • Microfinance Institutions Network (MFIN) has appointed Alok Misra as its new Chief Executive Officer & Director.
  • The appointment will be effective from 1st August 2020. Dr Misra takes over from the present CEO, Harsh Shrivastava, who has put down his papers after spending over 2 years at MFIN.

Extra Shots:

Microfinance Institutions Network (MFIN)

  • CEO: Harsh Shrivastava
  • Founded: 2009
  • Vice President: Dibyajyoti Pattanaik
  • Location: Gurgaon, Haryana, India

Partha Pratim Sengupta becomes new MD & CEO of IOB

  • Government of India has appointed Partha Pratim Sengupta as the new Managing Director (MD) & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Indian Overseas Bank (IOB).
  • He will replace Karnam Sekar, who retired from the post of the MD and CEO at IOB on June 30, 2020. Sengupta has been appointed upto a date of attaining the age of superannuation, December 31, 2022, or until further orders.

Extra Shots:

Indian Overseas Bank (IOB)

  • Headquarters: Chennai
  • CEO: Shri Karnam Sekar
  • Founder: M. Ct. M. Chidambaram Chettyar
  • Founded: 10 February 1937, Chennai
  • Owner: Government of India

Rajesh Bhushan appointed as new Health Secretary

  • Rajesh Bhushan has been appointed as the new Health Secretary in the Union Health Ministry.
  • He was IAS officer of 1987 Batch, Bihar Cadre.
  • He will succeed Preeti Sudan upon completion of her tenure on 31st of this month.

Other Appointments:

  • Ajay Tirkey has been appointed as Secretary, Department of Land Resources in the Ministry of Rural Development.
  • Ram Mohan Mishra will take over as Secretary in the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
  • Sushil Kumar has been appointed as Secretary, National Commission for Scheduled Castes in the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
  • Anil Kumar Jain has been given additional charge as Secretary, Mines along with his post of Secretary in the Coal Ministry.

President Kovind appoints Anandiben Patel the Governor of MP

  • President Ram Nath Kovind today appointed Smt. Anandiben Patel the Governor of Madhya Pradesh.
  • Presently, she is also the Governor of Uttar Pradesh.
  • She has been given the additional charge of the Governor of Madhya Pradesh after the demise of Lal Ji Tandon.

ExtraShots:
Madhya Pradesh:

  • Statehood Day: November 1, 1956
  • Capital: Bhopal
  • Chief Minister: Shivraj Singh Chauhan
  • Governor: Anandiben Patel
  • National Park: Bandhavgarh NP, Fossil NP, Kanha NP, Madhav NP, Panna NP, Pench NP, Sanjay NP, Satpura NP

DEFENCE CURRENT AFFAIRS

Largest Solar Power Plant of Indian Navy Commissioned in Ezhimala

  • Largest Solar Power Plant at Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala has been commissioned by the Vice Admiral Anil Kumar Chawla.
  • It is a 3 MW Solar Power Plant which has been set-up in line with the Indian Government’s initiative of ‘National Solar Mission’ which aims to achieve 100GW of solar power by 2022.
  • The 3 MW Solar Power Plant established at Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala is the largest in the Indian Navy and has an estimated life of 25 years

SPORTS CURRENT AFFAIRS

Sripali Weerakkody retires from International Cricket

  • Sri Lankan bowling allrounder, Sripali Weerakkody has announced her retirement from International Cricket with immediate effect.
  • She made her international debut in 2006 and played 89 ODIs (One Day International) and 58 T20Is (Twenty20 International) fro Sri Lanka.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY CURRENT AFFAIRS

A Smart Wristband Designed and Developed by AIIMS Nagpur

  • All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Nagpur has designed and developed a ‘smart wristband’ for effective tracking and monitoring of Covid-19 positive and suspect patients.
  • The new device, a wristband is designed in collaboration with IIT Jodhpur and IIT Nagpur looks to overcome the limitations of existing online mobile apps used for tracking and monitoring coronavirus patients.

WEB PORTALS & APP IN NEWS

Muthoot Fincorp launches portal “Restartindia” for MSMEs

  • A portal “Restartindia” has been launched by the Kerala-based NBFC, Muthoot Fincorp.
  • The portal has been launched for the Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector in order to restart businesses across the country.
  • It will provide solutions for problems faced by a large number of women entrepreneurs and will majorly focus on nano and micro enterprises.
  • Muthoot Fincorp and INKtalks, a free and open platform for advisory support, have jointly conceptualised the portal.
  • The “Restartindia” portal will also offer details of MSME-focused governmental, institutional support as well as resources on how to run or establish a sustainable business venture.

Extra Shots:

Muthoot Fincorp

  • Founded: 1997
  • Parent organization: Muthoot Pappachan Group

OBITUARY

Legendary Jazz Singer Annie Ross passes away

  • Legendary Jazz Singer, Annie Ross passed away.
  • She was born Annabelle McCauley Allan Short in Surrey, England, on July 25, 1930.
  • She was a popular jazz singer in the 1950s before crossing over into a successful film career.

Eminent danseuse & choreographer Amala Shankar passes away

  • Eminent danseuse and choreographer Amala Shankar passed away.
  • She was honored with the West Bengal government’s Banga Bibhusan award in 2011 for her contributions to art.

MISCELLANEOUS

BHU Professor launches website to help people in coping up fear of COVID-19

  • A professor of Banaras Hindu University (BHU) has launched a dedicated website called SARDIJUKAM.Com which will help people in coping up from this fear and will also help in recovery them from depression and other Covid related issues.
  • A website for those who fear that their normal cough and cold could be a symptom of Corona infection and also for them who don’t know what to do in their quarantine period and getting more time in recovery because of anxiety and depression.
  • It has some special features like QUARANTINE KAVACH. Along with the website people can also take help of the mobile app with same name for all their Covid related queries.

New health warnings for all tobacco products to come into effect from 1st December

  • Union Health Ministry has set to launch a new sets of health warnings for all tobacco products by making an amendment in the Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Packaging and Labeling) Rules, 2008.
  • The new warnings will come into effect from 1st December this year.
  • The text messages that will be printed on the packs are – ‘tobacco causes painful death’.

Cipla all set to launch anti-viral drug Favipiravir for treatment of COVID-19 patients

  • Pharma Company Cipla is all set to launch the anti-viral drug Favipiravir for the treatment of COVID-19 patients.
  • CSIR has played an important role in the process by transferring the cost-effective technology to Cipla.
  • The technology provided by the Institute is very efficient and affordable.
  • It allows the company to make large quantities of drugs within a short span of time.

Extra Shots:

Cipla