National News
‘Green Deposit Programme’- HSBC India
- The ‘Green Deposit Programme’ is launched for corporate clients who will be responsible to provide finance to the green initiative projects and eco-friendly projects.
Open API Service Feature in Aarogya Setu App
- An Open API Service feature has been added in the Aarogya Setu App by GOI.
- The aim behind the introduction of this new feature is to help people, businesses and economy in its efforts to return to normalcy.
‘Harit Path’ App to Monitor Plantation along National Highways
- Union Minister for road transport and highways launched an app called ‘Harit Path’ app.
- The ‘Harit Path’ app will monitor and track the trees plantation along the national highways.
WHO Urges countries to Join Against COVID-19 ‘Vaccine Nationalism’
- To provide COVID-19 vaccines worldwide, the World Health Organization (WHO) has urged countries to join its Covid-19 Vaccine Global Access (COVAX) facility by 31st August 2020, for ensuring less wealthy countries have access to COVID-19 vaccines.
Draft Health Data Management Policy—By National Health Authority
- The draft proposes to secure electronic health records, electronic medical records by adopting technical measures and thus to increase data privacy.
NITI Aayog launched NDC-TIA Indian Component
- NITI Aayog has launched an Indian component called as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC)- Transport Initiative for Asia (TIA), which is a multi-stakeholder dialogue platform.
7 New Circles of Archaeological Survey of India
- The Union Ministry of Culture and Tourism announced 7 new circles of Archaeological Survey of India.
- The new circles belong to the states of Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, West Bengal and Gujrat.
‘Chunauti’--A Next Generation Startup Challenge Contest
- Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology has launched a next-generation startup challenge contest, titled as ‘Chunauti’.
- The contest is launched to boost and encourage startups and software products especially in tier-II cities of India.
Uttar Pradesh partners with Israel
- The agreement is signed to solve the water crisis and to have proper water management in the Bundelkhand region.
- Hence the UP government has signed this agreement under ‘plan of cooperation’ with Israel’s water resource minister.
Ministry of Tourism partners with TAAI and FICCI Ladies Organisation
- Ministry of Tourism has signed an agreement with Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) and FICCI Ladies Organisation (FLO).
- The agreement is signed for the purpose of women empowerment.
CMIA partners with UNDP
- The Chambers of Marathwada Industries and Agriculture (CMIA) has partnered with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) to form a help desk for the MSMEs in India.
‘Pensioners Corner’ Mobile App—By CISF
- The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has developed and launched a mobile app called ‘Pensioners Corner’.
Punjab passed a Resolution Against Centre’s Farm Ordinance
- The Punjab assembly passed and gave approval for a resolution against Centre’s Farm Ordinance.
- The resolution was tabled by Punjab’s CM Amarinder Singh.
Agriota: Tech-Driven Agri Commodity Trading and Sourcing e-market
- The platform is launched to bridge the gap between Indian rural farmers and food industries of Gulf countries.
Banking
‘National Strategy for Financial Education 2020-2025’- RBI
- The Reserve Bank of India has released a national strategy for financial education for a period of five years.
- This National Strategy for Financial Education 2020-2025 aims to create a financially aware and empowered India.
GST exemption to the Businesses with Annual Turnover of upto Rs 40 lakh
- The ministry of finance has made an announcement to exempt the businesses with an annual turnover of Rs 40 lakh from GST.
- Earlier the businesses with an annual turnover of Rs 20 lakh were exempted from GST.
Debt and Credit Guarantee Programme introduced by NABARD
- The name of the programme or the product is ‘Structured Finance and Partial Guarantee Program’.
- The ‘Structured Finance and Partial Guarantee Program’ will provide partial guarantee on pooled loans offered to NBFCs and MFIs.
RBI Annual Report 2019-2020
- The gross non-performing ratio of the banking system has reduced to 9.1% when compared with March 2019 which was 11.2%.
ICICI Bank uses Satellite Data to Assess Creditworthiness of Farmers
- ICICI Bank is making use of imagery from earth observation satellites i.e. making use of data from the satellite to Assess Creditworthiness of farmers.
- Thus by doing so, ICICI Bank has become the first bank in India to use such an advance technique.
Liberty Saving Account—By Axis Bank
- The Liberty Saving Account will address the need of the youth and digitally interested Indians like changing lifestyles and hospital cash insurance covers.
National GIS-enabled Land Bank System
- The system is developed by integrating the Industrial Information System (IIS) to the State’s GIS. Until now, six major states are included in this system.
HDFC Bank partners with Adobe
- HDFC Bank has entered into a partnership with Adobe to offer and enhance the digital experience to its customers.
‘Smart Assist’- By Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance Company Ltd
- Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance Company Ltd has launched ‘Smart Assist’.
- ‘Smart Assist’ is a real-time technology-based assistant service.
Canara HSBC OBC Life Insurance partnered with Andhra Pragathi Grameena Bank
- The partnership is made to sell insurance policies related to life, health and pension of Canara HSBC OBC Life Insurance at branches of APGB.
Index and Ranking
NITI Aayog’s Export Preparedness Index 2020
- The EPI 2020 identifies challenges and opportunities along with the encouragement of facilitative regulatory framework.
- The ranking for EPI 2020 is topped by Gujarat.
Appointments
| Name of the Person | Designation |
| Rajiv Kumar | Election Commissioner of India |
| Francisco Asue | Prime Minister of Republic of Equatorial Guinea |
| Ashwani Bhatia | MD of State Bank of India (SBI) |
| Vinay M Tonse | MD and CEO of SBI Funds Management Pvt Ltd (SBIFMPL) |
| Jasneet Kaur | Chief Human Resource Officer of BharatPe |
| Sandip Patel | Chair the forum on Artificial Intelligence formed by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) |
| Lt Gen Shekatkar | Head the three-member committee to review the utilization of Armed Forces Headquarters Civil Services (AFHCS) |
| Mustapha Adib | Prime Minister of Lebanon |
Awards and Honours
| Award | Awardee |
| ‘Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award 2019 | Wing Commander Gajanand Yadava |
| Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar 2020 | Army Sports Institute, Pune |
| International Booker Prize 2020 for her debut novel ‘The Discomfort of Evening' | Marieke Lucas Rijneveld |
| National Award to Teachers 2020 | Sudha Painuli |
Important Days
| Date | Day | Theme |
| 23rd August 2020 | International Day for Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition | -- |
| 24th August To 28th August 2020 | World Water Week 2020 | Theme: ‘Water and Climate Change: Accelerating Action’ |
| 26th August 2020 | Women’s Equality Day | -- |
| 29th August 2020 | International Day against Nuclear Tests | -- |
| 29th August 2020 | National Sports Day | -- |
| 29th August 2020 | Telugu Language Day | -- |
| 30th August 2020 | International Day of Victims of Enforced Disappearances | -- |
MoUs Signed
Atal Innovation Mission Partners with Business Sweden
- Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) of NITI Aayog has partnered with Business Sweden on behalf of India-Sweden Healthcare Innovation Centre.
Ministry of Skill Development partners Ministry of Shipping
- Ministry of Skill Development has signed an agreement with the Ministry of Shipping.
- The agreement is signed to achieve skill development in the port and maritime sector.
GOI, Gov. of Maharashtra and MRVC signs MoU with AIIB
- Government of India, Government of Maharashtra and Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation (MRVC) has signed a loan agreement with Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).
- The loan agreement is for USD 500 million.
APEDA signs MoU with AFC India Ltd and NCUI, Delhi
- The MoU is signed to uplift the agriculture and allied sectors in order to bring better value to the stakeholders.
NeGD signs MoU with CSC E-Governance Services India Ltd
- National e-Governance Division (NeGD) has entered into MoU with CSC (Common Service Center) E-Governance Services India Ltd.
- The MoU is signed to offer UMANG services to citizens.
IIT Alumni Council signs MoU with Russia to build Quantum Computers
- IIT Alumni Council has signed MoU with Russia’s Lomonosov Moscow State University (MSU) and Russoft to build the world’s largest and fastest hybrid quantum computer in India.
Government Schemes
‘Ek Sankalp-Bujurgo ke Naam’ Campaign—Madhya Pradesh
- The campaign is launched for those elder and helpless people who are staying alone in their homes in the pandemic situation of COVID-19.
‘Green Deposit Programme’- HSBC India
- The ‘Green Deposit Programme’ is launched for corporate clients who will be responsible to provide finance to the green initiative projects and eco-friendly projects.
Major Dhyan Chand Vijaypath Yojana—Uttar Pradesh
- Government of Uttar Pradesh has launched Major Dhyan Chand Vijaypath Yojana.
- Under this yojana, road connectivity will be established upto the houses of 19 international players.
Defence
‘MY IAF’ app—By Indian Air Force
- The app will provide data related to career options to the aspirants who wish to join the Indian Air Force.
India decides to Pull Out of Kavkaz 2020 Military Exercise
- India has taken the decision to withdraw the participation in Kavkaz 2020 military exercise.
- Kavkaz 2020 is the international military exercise was is to be held in Russia.
Science and Technology
AIR Scanner—IIT Bombay
- The AIR Scanner app is developed with an aim to have a replacement for Chinese based scanning apps.
- The app is developed by Rohit Kumar Chaudhary and Kavin Agrawal, students from IIT Bombay.
Summits and Conferences
5th World Conference of Speakers of Parliament
- The conference was organized by Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), Geneva in partnership with Parliament of Austria with support from United Nations.
National Coordination Committee Meeting between India and Uzbekistan
- In the meeting, the dignitaries of both the nations discussed their bilateral interest like Line of Credit projects, trade between them and investment support.
Indo Japan Business Forum
- In order to boost investment in the electronics manufacturing sector, CM announced a 25% capital investment subsidy on land.
14th India Singapore Defence Policy Dialogue (DPD)
- India was represented by Defence Secretary Dr Ajay Kumar and Singapore was represented by Permanent Secretary of Defence Mr Chan Heng Kee.
World Urdu Conference 2020
- The conference was organized by the National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language (NCPUL).
- The conference was virtually addressed by Union Education Minister, Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank.
ASEAN India Business Council Meet
- The ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) India Business Council Meet was addressed by union commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal.
- He assured to achieve a target of $300 billion by boosting trade activities and businesses among the ASEAN nations.
