Weekly Current Affairs 15th To 21st August 2020

Published on August 25, 2020

International News

UK launched Innovation Challenge Fund in India

The United Kingdom has launched 3 million pound Innovation Challenge Fund in India.
The funds will offer finance to Indian Scientist associated with academics and industries in India so that they can work to find a solution to tackle COVID-19 and Climate change issue.

National News

AYUSH for Immunity Campaign

Ministry of AYUSH a campaign titled ‘AYUSH for Immunity’ which will be carried out for three months.
‘AYUSH for Immunity’ campaign is launched with the aim of enhancing immunity among people so that they can fight any disease.

National Digital Health Mission

On the occasion of 74th Independence Day of India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched National Digital Health Mission.
The aim behind this National Digital Health Mission is to revolutionize the health sector of India.

‘Fit India Youth Clubs’

Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Kiren Rijiji has launched an initiative called ‘Fit India Youth Clubs’.
It’s a nationwide initiative which aims to promote the importance of health fitness among every citizen of India.

‘Yellow Chain’ e-commerce Platform-Nagaland

The government of Nagaland has launched an e-commerce platform named ‘Yellow Chain’.
The platform will promote local businesses and entrepreneurs of the state.

Electronic Manufacturing Policy 2020---Uttar Pradesh

This policy aims to invite investment of Rs 40,000 crores for the upcoming 5 years in the state.
The policy also aims to develop 4 lakh employment opportunities in the state.

Swadeshi Microprocessor Challenge-Innovate Solution for #Aatmanirbhar Bharat

Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has launched a challenge which is called as:- Swadeshi Microprocessor Challenge-Innovate Solution for #Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
The challenge is launched with an aim to invite startups, innovators and students and their professors to use microprocessors and carry out research in this field.

National Recruitment Agency approved by Union Cabinet

Union Cabinet has approved to set up a National Recruitment Agency (NRA) which will conduct Common Eligibility Test (CET).
The approval to set NRA was given by union cabinet which is headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the announcement for same was made by Union Minister Prakash Javadekar.

‘Pavitrapati’ and ‘Aushada Tara’- Launched by DIAT

The two products named as ‘Pavitrapati’ and ‘Aushada Tara’ are launched to combat COVID-19.
The products are launched by Defence Institute of Advanced Research (DIAT), Pune.

Banking

‘Shaurya Kisan Gold Credit (KGC) Card’

HDFC Bank has launched ‘Shaurya Kisan Gold Credit (KGC) Card’.
It is the tri-colour theme-based card which is launched for Indian Armed Forces i.e. Indian Army, Indian Navy, Indian Air Force and Para Military Forces and to their families.

‘Digital Apnayen’—By Punjab National Bank

The aim behind launching this campaign is to encourage customers to prefer digital banking system.
The campaign will be in progress till 31st March 2021 and was launched on the occasion of Independence Day of India.

ADB approved Loan for India’s Rapid Transit System

Asian Development Bank has approved the loan to construct the modern, high-speed Delhi-Meerut, Uttar Pradesh RRTS (Regional Rapid Transit System), which will be of 82 km long.
For this purpose, ADB has approved to grant a loan of USD 1 Billion i.e. Rs 7458 crore to India.

RBI releases Draft for Self-Regulatory Body for Payment System Operators

The Reserve Bank of India has released a draft framework which will offer a grant of recognition to the association of industry to be termed as Self-Regulatory Organisation (SRO) for Payment System Operators (PSO).
SRO will be responsible to frame and enforce rules for PSO in order to protect customers and promote ethics, quality and professionalism.

‘Framework for Authorisation of Pan-India Umbrella Entity for Retail Payments’

The Reserve Bank of India has released ‘Framework for authorisation of pan-India Umbrella Entity for Retail Payments’.
This new pan-India umbrella Entity will be set up with a capital of Rs 500 crore.

Index and Ranking

Atal Rankings of Institutions on Innovation Achievements 2020

As per the rankings, IIT Madras has retained its top position in ARIIA for this year as well. IIT Madras is remarked as the best centrally funded institution in India.
The rankings were declared on the basis of two broad categories and six subcategories.

Appointments

Name of the Person	Designation
Kaushik Khona	CEO of GoAir
Rakesh Asthana	Director-General of Border Security Force (BSF)
Satya Pal Malik	Governor of Meghalaya
Bhagat Singh Koshyari	Governor of Goa
GP Garg	New Executive Director of SEBI (Securities Exchange Board of India)
Rohit Sharma	Brand Ambassador of Oakley

Important Days

Date	Day	Theme
15^th August 2020	74th Independence Day of India	--
19^th August 2020	World Humanitarian Day	--
19^th August 2020	World Photography Day	--
20^th August 2020	Renewable Energy Day or Indian Akshay Urja	--
20^th August 2020	Harmony Day or Sadbhavana Diwas	--

MoUs Signed

Flipkart Signs MoU with IIT Patna

The MoU is signed to work for industry focused research.
Under this MoU, industry focused research will be carried out in the field of AI, Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Machine Learning (ML).

All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) signs MoU with Delhi Police

The MoU is signed to offer Ayurveda Preventive and Promotive Health Services to the police and their families at their residential colonies in Delhi.
The Ayurveda services will be offered through a mobile unite which is named as ‘Dhanwantari Rath’.

Government Schemes

Chhattisgarh launched Various Scheme

Government of Chhattisgarh has launched various schemes which are mentioned below:

‘Bultu Ke Bol’: It is the Bluetooth based programme which will provide study materials to the students living in remote areas where they do not have access to the internet.
Radhabai Diagnostic Centre Scheme: This scheme aims to offer pathology and other facilities at economically lower price rates to the people.

Defence

Anti-Drone System—By DRDO

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed and deployed an anti-drone system near Red Fort on the occasion on 74th Independence Day of India.
This anti-drone system has the capability to detect and jam micro drones to 3km range.

Science and Technology

Air Unique Quality Monitoring (AUM) Photonic System

The system is titled as ‘Air Unique Quality Monitoring (AUM) Photonic System’.
The system is developed by Scientific and Industrial Research Center (GVP-SIRC) and GVP College of Engineering, Visakhapatnam.

Price Monitoring and Resource Unit (PMRU) -- Karnataka

Price Monitoring and Resource Unit (PMRU) is established in Karnataka.
The announcement for the establishment of PMRU was made by Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilisers DV Sadananda Gowda.

NTPC develops Infrastructure at Rihand Project, Uttar Pradesh

The National Thermal Power Corporation has developed an infrastructure at Rihand Project in Uttar Pradesh.
The infrastructure is developed to conduct transportation of fly ash (coal combustion product) to cement plants at low cost.

‘Kormo App’- By Google

The app is launched to help people in fading employment opportunities and jobs.
The app will prove beneficial to millions of Indians to get jobs as per their qualification.\

Sports

‘E-Pathshala’—By AIFF and SAI

All India Football Federation (AIFF) has joined with Sports Authority of India (SAI) to launch an e-platform called ‘E-pathshala’.
The e-platform will provide athlete coaching program in football to the children.

Summits and Conferences

4th Meet of BRICS Anti- Drug Working Group

The meeting was chaired by Russia and was participated by respective members of each BRICS nation.
India was represented by Rakesh Asthana, who is DG of Narcotics Control Bureau (HQ: New Delhi).

13th India-UAE Joint Commission Meet on Trade, Economic, Technical Cooperation

On 17th August, the 13th session of India-UAE Joint Commission Meet on Trade, Economic and Technical Cooperation was conducted virtually.
The meeting was conducted between Union External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

6th Roundtable of ASEAN-India Network of Think Tanks (AINTT)

The Union Minister of External Affairs participated in 6th Roundtable of ASEAN-India Network of Think Tanks (AINTT).
In this event, he highlighted the need to go beyond orthodox in the field of trade, politics and security.