Hello and welcome to exampundit. Here are the important Current Affairs Today 26th 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 – 26th August 2020
NEWS AT A GLANCE
- ICICI Bank uses satellite data to assess the creditworthiness of farmers.
- SBI General Insurance has launched a first-of-its-kind insurance product called ‘Shagun – Gift an Insurance”, which is a unique gift of Personal Accident policy.
- Paytm Payments Bank has integrated Aadhaar enabled Payment System (AePS) on its platform.
- The Finance Ministry of the Government of India has declared in a series of statements that Businesses with an annual turnover of up to Rs 40 lakh will enjoy GST exemption
- Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) has taken a big major leap towards ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ by creating the local and self- employment for the migrant workers through its Honey Mission Programme.
- President Ram Nath Kovind celebrated Van Mahotsav today with planting a Neem sapling in the President’s Estate.
- The Centre has constituted a National Council for Transgender Persons through a notification.
- Baggage Sanitization & Wrapping machine has been launched by the Ahmedabad Railway Division at Ahmedabad Railway Station, Gujarat.
- WWF-India Kerala State Office is joining hands with the Society for Odonate Studies (SOS) and Thumbipuranam for the first-ever state “Dragonfly Festival” in Kerala, christened ‘Thumbimahotsavam 2020’.
- Uttar Pradesh government has ordered complete ban on organising any cultural and religious meeting in the state till 30th September.
- Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani inaugurated FABEXA 2020- India’s First and Longest Virtual Exhibition organized by one of the oldest cloth markets in the country, Maskati Mahajan.
- The World Health Organisation has urged wealthier member states to join its Covid-19 vaccine facility by the end of the month, amid fears it may not raise enough money to fund the global inoculation programme.
- The International Conference on Aerosol Air Quality, Climate Change and Impact on Water Resources and Livelihoods in the Greater Himalayas is set to be held from September 14 to 16.
- Average income of MGNREGA workers doubled during coronavirus lockdown, as per the CRISIL report.
- TVS Automobile Solutions Ltd, part of the USD 8.5 billion TVS Group has selected Google Cloud as its technology partner to build its digital transformation strategy.
- Chamber of Marathwada Industries and Agriculture (CMIA) partnered with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on 24 August to set up help desk for MSMEs amid Covid-19.
- Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has signed Memorandum of understanding (MoUs) with AFC India Limited, and National Cooperative Union of India (NCUI), Delhi.
- The Government of India Navratna, NLC India Limited (NLCIL) has bagged the award for making an extremely valuable contribution in the implementation of the “Swachhta Hi Seva Programme”.
- Indian Energy Exchange (IEX), Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Rajiv Srivastava has resigned from the post.
- Renowned Indian scientist, G Satheesh Reddy was given a two-year extension as the chairman of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
- The ARMY 2020 International Military and Technical Forum has been organised in Moscow, Russia from August 23 to 29, 2020.
- Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has identified 108 systems and subsystems for designing and development by the Indian Industry only.
- India’s first multi-wavelength satellite, AstroSat, has detected an extreme ultraviolet (UV) light from a galaxy, called AUDFs01.
- Tata Group is launching a new app named “Super App” purported to bring together the country’s disparate sales sector to offer a range of consumer goods.
- Jammu and Kashmir’s agriculture department has created an e-auction portal to promote trading of GI-tagged ‘Kashmir Saffron’.
- Former President of the Republic of Congo, Pascal Lissouba passed away.
- Noted Malayalam filmmaker AB Raj, also known as A Bhaskar Raj, who had been active in the world of movies for over three decades since 1951, died at his residence in Chennai. He was 95.
- A team of researchers from the Department of Zoology, Andhra University has spotted a specie of rare fish called Mahseer (scientific name Tor) on 24 August 2020, from the upper part of Sileru river, in Andhra Pradesh.
NEWS IN DETAILS
BANKING & FINANCE
ICICI Bank uses satellite data to assess creditworthiness of farmers
- ICICI Bank uses satellite data to assess the creditworthiness of farmers.
- ICICI Bank has become the 1st bank in India to use such a technique to measure an array of parameters related to the land, irrigation and crop patterns and use it in combination with demographic and financial parameters to make quick lending decisions for farmers.
- The satellite data with demographic and financial details provides strong information on the land asset of the farmers.
Extra Shots:
ICICI Bank
- CEO: Sandeep Bakhshi
- Headquarters: Mumbai
- Founder: Industrial Credit and Investment Corporation of India
- Founded: June 1994, Vadodara
SBI General Insurance launches “Shagun – Gift an insurance” policy
- SBI General Insurance has launched a first-of-its-kind insurance product called ‘Shagun – Gift an Insurance”, which is a unique gift of Personal Accident policy.
- The unique feature of this policy is that it can be gifted to anyone, which means it is not necessary for the policy buyer to be related to the insured.
- A Gift giver (policy buyer) can gift this product to anyone like family, friends, extended family and even domestic helpers, chauffeurs, drivers, cook, etc.
- Gift Receiver (insured) should be in the age group of 18 years to 65 years. It can be availed for up to 1 Year.
Extra Shots:
SBI General Insurance
- Headquarters location: Mumbai
- Founded: 2009
- Parent organization: State Bank of India
Paytm Payments Bank enables banking services through Aadhaar cards
- Paytm Payments Bank has integrated Aadhaar enabled Payment System (AePS) on its platform.
- The integration will allow customers to access basic banking services like cash withdrawal, balance enquiry and draw mini statement using their Aadhaar card.
- Features like cash deposit and interbank fund transfer will also be made live soon that will benefit people in rural and semi-urban areas who have limited access to the physical bank branch and ATM.
Extra Shots:
Paytm Payments Bank
- Headquarters: Noida
- Owner: One97 Communications Ltd.
- Founder: Vijay Shekhar Sharma
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
Businesses, with an annual turnover of up to Rs 40 lakh are exempted from GST
- The Finance Ministry of the Government of India has declared in a series of statements that Businesses with an annual turnover of up to Rs 40 lakh will enjoy GST exemption. Previously the threshold limit was Rs 20 lakh.
NATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS
KVIC creates self-employment for migrant workers through its flagship Honey Mission Programme
- Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) has taken a big major leap towards ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ by creating the local and self- employment for the migrant workers through its Honey Mission Programme.
- To provide the livelihood opportunity under the mission, Pratap Chandra Sarangi, Minister of State for MSME distributed 700 bee boxes to the 70 migrant workers of Bulandshahr and Saharanpur districts of Uttar Pradesh on August 25, 2020.
Extra Shots:
Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC)
- Founded: 1956
- Purpose: To plan, promote, facilitate, organise and assist in the establishment and development of khadi and village industries
- Headquarters: Mumbai
- Chairperson: Vinai Kumar Saxena
- Parent agency: Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
President Ram Nath Kovind celebrates Van Mahotsav
- President Ram Nath Kovind celebrated Van Mahotsav today with planting a Neem sapling in the President’s Estate.
- Van Mahotsav is an annual one-week tree planting festival which is celebrated in the country.
- The unique festival was started in the year 1950 by Kanaiyalal Maneklal Munshi by planting a tree at Rajghat in Delhi.
Centre constitutes National Council for Transgender Persons
- The Centre has constituted a National Council for Transgender Persons through a notification.
- Thawar Chand Gehlot, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister will be the ex-officio Chairperson and Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment will be ex-officio Vice-Chairperson.
- The National Council will advise the Centre on the formulation of policies, programmes, legislation and projects with respect to transgender persons.
- It will monitor and evaluate the impact of policies and programmes designed for achieving equality and full participation of transgender persons.
STATE CURRENT AFFAIRS
Ahmedabad Railway Division launches Baggage Sanitization & Wrapping machine
- Baggage Sanitization & Wrapping machine has been launched by the Ahmedabad Railway Division at Ahmedabad Railway Station, Gujarat.
- The machine is a first of its kind across the Indian Railways.
- The recently launched machine aims to ensure safe travel amid the pandemic.
- It uses ultraviolet radiation for 360-degree sanitization 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
Kerala’s 1st-ever Dragonfly Festival
- WWF-India Kerala State Office is joining hands with the Society for Odonate Studies (SOS) and Thumbipuranam for the first-ever state “Dragonfly Festival” in Kerala, christened ‘Thumbimahotsavam 2020’.
- This is part of the National Dragonfly Festival organised by WWF India, Bombay Natural History Society and Indian Dragonfly Society in association with National Biodiversity Board, UN Environmental Programme, UN Development Programme and IUCN-CEC.
Extra Shots:
Kerala:
- Capital: Thiruvananthapuram
- Chief Minister: Pinarayi Vijayan
- Governor: Arif Mohammed Khan
- Festivals: Onam, Vishu, Thrissur Pooram, Nehru Trophy Boat Race
- National Parks: Anamudi Shola National Park, Eravikulam National Park, Mathikettan Shola National Park, Pambadum Shola National Park, Periyar National Park,Silent Valley National Park
- Wildlife Sanctuaries: Aralam WLS, Chimmony WLS, Idukki WLS, Periyar WLS, Wayanad WLS, Peppara WLS, Neyyar WLS, Kurinjimala WLS, Malabar WLS etc
UP govt orders complete ban on any cultural and religious meeting till Sept 30
- Uttar Pradesh government has ordered complete ban on organising any cultural and religious meeting in the state till 30th September. this prohibition has been imposed in the state because it is feared that anti-social elements may try to disturb law and order and communal harmony.
Extra Shots:
Uttar Pradesh:
- Statehood Day: 24th January 1950
- Capital: Lucknow
- Chief Minister: Yogi Adityanath
- Governor: Anandiben Patel
- State formed in: 24 January 1950
- Literacy Rate: 67.68%
Gujarat inaugurates FABEXA 2020, nation’s first and longest virtual exhibition
- Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani inaugurated FABEXA 2020- India’s First and Longest Virtual Exhibition organized by one of the oldest cloth markets in the country, Maskati Mahajan.
- A 90-day long virtual exhibition is showcasing the thousands of textile products online.
- The exhibition is organized every year in a large exhibition centre, but this year, due to Covid19 pandemic, it is being organized in virtual mode.
- More than 100 exhibitors have participated in this exhibition.
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
INTERNATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS
WHO urges nations to join its global COVID-19 vaccine plan
- The World Health Organisation has urged wealthier member states to join its Covid-19 vaccine facility by the end of the month, amid fears it may not raise enough money to fund the global inoculation programme.
- The mechanism, known as Covax, aims to ensure the equitable global distribution of 2bn doses of effective vaccines by the end of 2021 but the initiative has so far failed to build momentum.
- Under the current plan, high-income countries pay to buy vaccines from the facility, while 92 so-called “funded” countries receive financial assistance.
Extra Shots:
WHO
- Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
- Founded: 7 April 1948
- Parent organization: United Nations Economic and Social Council
- Heads: Tedros Adhanom, Soumya Swaminathan, Jane Ellison
SUMMITS AND CONFERENCES
International Conference on ‘Aerosol Air Quality, Climate Change and Impact on Water Resources and Livelihoods in the Greater Himalayas’
- The International Conference on Aerosol Air Quality, Climate Change and Impact on Water Resources and Livelihoods in the Greater Himalayas is set to be held from September 14 to 16.
- The three-day conference will be organised by the Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES), Nainital in association with Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University.
- The international conference will be held on online platform.
- The conference will deliberate on topics such as rapid increase in the air pollution associated with industrialisation, urbanisation and its resultant impact on regional and global air quality, visibility degradation, cloud formation, and atmospheric chemistry, radiation budget, ecosystem, Himalayan climate, and glaciology, cryosphere, monsoon patterns, water availability, and human health.
RANKS AND INDICES
CRISIL: Average income of MGNREGA workers doubled during Corona virus lockdown in April-July period
- Average income of MGNREGA workers doubled during coronavirus lockdown, as per the CRISIL report.
- The average income per month for unskilled workers under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) nearly doubled to around 1,000 rupees per month during the first four months of the current fiscal.
Extra Shots:
CRISIL
- CEO: Ashu Suyash
- Headquarters: Mumbai
- Parent organization: S&P Global
- Founded: 1987
AGREEMENTS AND MOU SIGNED
TVS Automobile Solutions selects Google Cloud as technology partner
- TVS Automobile Solutions Ltd, part of the USD 8.5 billion TVS Group has selected Google Cloud as its technology partner to build its digital transformation strategy.
- Through this partnership, TVS Automobile Solutions Ltd would advance its goal of creating a ‘digital ecosystem’ empowering thousands of small entrepreneurs across automotive retailers and garages.
Extra Shots:
TVS Automobile Solutions Ltd
- Founded: 2009
- Parent organization: T V Sundram Iyengar & Sons Private Limited
CMIA partnered with UNDP to set up help desk for MSMEs
- Chamber of Marathwada Industries and Agriculture (CMIA) partnered with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on 24 August to set up help desk for MSMEs amid Covid-19.
- The partnership aims to establish Covid-19 help desk in order to facilitate Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). The help desk will be active till January 2021.
- The Covid-19 help desk will provide various information on government safety guidelines, regulatory norms and government Covid-19 response schemes and support measures.
- It will provide support to MSMEs through in-person and phone consultation
Extra Shots:
UNDP
- Headquarters: New York, New York, United States
- Founded: 22 November 1965, United States
- Head: Achim Steiner
- Parent organization: United Nations Economic and Social Council
- Awards: Shorty Social Good Award for Best in Live Events
- Nominations: Latin American Green Award: Human Development
APEDA signs MoUs with AFC India, NCUI to synergize the activities in the interest of agriculture and allied sectors
- Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has signed Memorandum of understanding (MoUs) with AFC India Limited, and National Cooperative Union of India (NCUI), Delhi.
- The MoU aims to utilise their expertise by mutually working together to synergize the activities in the interest of agriculture and allied sectors for bringing better value to the stakeholders.
Extra Shots:
APEDA
- Founded: 1986
NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL AWARDS
NLCIL bags “Swachhta Hi Seva award” for transforming Neyveli Township
- The Government of India Navratna, NLC India Limited (NLCIL) has bagged the award for making an extremely valuable contribution in the implementation of the “Swachhta Hi Seva Programme”.
- Rakesh Kumar, CMD of NLCIL hailing the efforts of NLCIL in transforming the entire Neyveli into a plastic-free, clean and green campus, and announcing the “Swachhta Hi Seva 2019” Award.
Extra Shots:
NLCIL
- CMD: Rakesh Kumar
APPOINTMENTS IN NEWS
Indian Energy Exchange MD & CEO Rajiv Srivastava resigns
- Indian Energy Exchange (IEX), Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Rajiv Srivastava has resigned from the post.
- The Board of Directors of Indian Energy Exchange (IEX) accepted his resignation.
- He was relieved from his position with immediate effect from 24th August 2020. Satyanarayan Goel, the current non-executive chairman of the board of IEX was given additional charges as the interim MD and CEO of the company.
Extra Shots:
Indian Energy Exchange (IEX)
- Headquarters: New Delhi
- Founded: 27 June 2008
- MD & CEO: Satyanarayan Goel (intrim)
DRDO chief G Satheesh Reddy gets two-year extension
- Renowned Indian scientist, G Satheesh Reddy was given a two-year extension as the chairman of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
- He was appointed to the post in August 2018 for two years.
- The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the extension of Reddy”s tenure as the DRDO chairman and as the Secretary of the Department of Defence Research & Development (DoDRD) for a period of two years beyond August 26.
Extra Shots:
DRDO
- Headquarters: DRDO Bhavan, New Delhi
- Founded: 1958
- Jurisdiction: India
- Subsidiaries: Gas Turbine Research Establishment, Defence Scientific Information & Documentation centre
DEFENCE CURRENT AFFAIRS
India Pavilion Inaugurated at Army-2020 International Military and Technical Forum In Russia
- The ARMY 2020 International Military and Technical Forum has been organised in Moscow, Russia from August 23 to 29, 2020.
- The forum is being organised by the Russian Defence Ministry since 2015, at the Patriot Park near Moscow.
- The India Pavilion at the 6th edition of the International Military-Technical Forum was inaugurated by Secretary (Defence Production) Raj Kumar and Indian Ambassador DB Venkatesh Verma.
- Delegations from at least 70 nations have confirmed their participation in the high-profile event.
- Over 730 pieces of Russian weapons and equipment, as well as 28,000 exhibits from industrial enterprises will be showcased for a free inspection.
- For the first time, a line of 23 tanks and armoured vehicles were deployed in an open area in Patriot Park.
- Discussions will also be held among global military officials, researchers and defence industry experts about the application of 3D technologies in designing, manufacturing and operating weapons and military equipment.
Extra Shots:
Russia (Capital/Currency): Moscow/ Russian Rouble
- President: Vladimir Putin
DRDO identifies 108 Systems and Subsystems for industry to design, develop, manufacture
- Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has identified 108 systems and subsystems for designing and development by the Indian Industry only.
- The move is in line with Prime Minister’s Atmanirbhar Bharat. Apart from this, DRDO has taken several initiatives to strengthen the indigenous defence ecosystem.
- This initiative is aimed to pave the way for Indian Defence industry to develop many technologies towards building an AtmaNirbhar Bharat.
Extra Shots:
DRDO
- Headquarters: DRDO Bhavan, New Delhi
- Founded: 1958
- Jurisdiction: India
- Subsidiaries: Gas Turbine Research Establishment, Defence Scientific Information & Documentation centre
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY CURRENT AFFAIRS
Indian Satellite ‘AstroSat’ Detects UV Light From Galaxy 9 Billion Light Years Away
- India’s first multi-wavelength satellite, AstroSat, has detected an extreme ultraviolet (UV) light from a galaxy, called AUDFs01.
- This galaxy is 9.3 billion light-years away from Earth, in the Hubble Extreme Deep field..
- The discovery was made by an international team of astronomers led by Dr Kanak Saha, associate professor of astronomy at the Pune-based Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA).
- This research was published on August 24, 2020, by Nature Astronomy.
- AstroSat is India’s first multi-wavelength satellite, which has five unique X-ray and ultraviolet telescopes working in tandem.
WEBPORTALS & APPS IN NEWS
Tata Group to launch “Super App” for digital services
- Tata Group is launching a new app named “Super App” purported to bring together the country’s disparate sales sector to offer a range of consumer goods.
- The app will put the conglomerate in competition with giants of the region like Reliance Industries and global titans like Amazon.
- The app will offer food and grocery ordering, fashion and lifestyle, consumer electronics and consumer durables, insurance and financial services, education, healthcare and bill payments.
Extra Shots:
Tata Group
- Founder: Jamsetji Tata
- Founded: 1868, Mumbai
- Parent organization: Tata Sons
E-auction portal launched to promote trading of GI-tagged ‘Kashmir Saffron’
- Jammu and Kashmir’s agriculture department has created an e-auction portal to promote trading of GI-tagged ‘Kashmir Saffron’.
- The Department, under the aegis of India International Kashmir Saffron Trading Centre (IIKSTC), has created the portal in collaboration with NSE-IT, with the sole motive to assure buyers to have access to quality ‘Kashmir Saffron’.
- The Saffron growers of Kashmir valley and buyers across India have been requested to register themselves as sellers and buyers for E- trading on www.saffroneauctionindia.com.
Extra Shots:
Jammu & Kashmir:
- Capitals- Jammu (Winter), Srinagar (Summer)
- Lt Governor- Manoj Sinha
- National Parks: City Forest (Salim Ali) National Park, Dachigam National Park, Hemis National Park, Kishtwar National Park
- Wildlife Sanctuaries: Baltal-Thajwas WLS, Changthang Cold Desert WLS, Gulmarg WLS, Jasrota WLS, Karakoram (Nubra Shyok) WLS etc
OBITUARY
Former Congo President Pascal Lissouba passes away
- Former President of the Republic of Congo, Pascal Lissouba passed away.
- He became the minister of agriculture in 1960 after Congo became an independent country.
- He served as the president from 1992 to 1997.
Malayalam Filmmaker AB Raj passes away
- Noted Malayalam filmmaker AB Raj, also known as A Bhaskar Raj, who had been active in the world of movies for over three decades since 1951, died at his residence in Chennai. He was 95.
- Raj started his film career in the late 1940s under the guidance of TR Sundaram.
- He went to Sri Lanka in 1951 and during his 10-year-long stay in the island nation, directed 11 Sinhalese movies.
MISCELLANEOUS
Andhra University Researchers find rare fish ‘Mahseer’ in Sileru river
- A team of researchers from the Department of Zoology, Andhra University has spotted a specie of rare fish called Mahseer (scientific name Tor) on 24 August 2020, from the upper part of Sileru river, in Andhra Pradesh.
- This species of fish is listed under the endangered category by IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature).
- Professor D.E. Babu, the leader of the research team has informed that the Golden Mahseer fish, is basically found in the Himalayan region, where the temperature around year does not exceed 20° Celsius such as Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Nepal and Bhutan.
- But it is rare to find it in Andhra Pradesh region of the country and calls for a much-detailed study.
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