Dear Readers, Daily Current Affairs News Updates about the National and International events were listed here. Read Current Affairs Today here and stay updated with current news. Candidates those who are preparing for IBPS/SBI/PO/Clerk exam and all other competitive exams can use this and try the Current Affairs Quiz to test your knowledge level.
CURRENT AFFAIRS: DAYS
Hiroshima Day
- Hiroshima Day is observed on 6 August every year. This is the day when atomic bomb was dropped on the Japanese city of Hiroshima.
- The Day is observed to advocate, pray and work for a ban on all nuclear weapons and an end to war and violence through anti-war and anti-nuclear discussions and demonstrations around the world.
National Handloom Day
- The 5thNational Handloom Day will be celebrated every year on August 7
- Prime Minister NarendraModi inaugurated the first National Handloom Day on August 7, 2015
- National Handloom Day is an initiative by the Government to honour and revive the roots of handlooms and help in promoting the socio-economic development of the country.
- The main event will be held in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. Bhubaneswar has been chosen as the venue for the main event due to its rich tradition of Handlooms.
CURRENT AFFAIRS:NATIONAL
President Kovind gives assent to AERA (Amendment) Bill- 2019
- President Ram NathKovind has given his assent to The Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India, AERA (Amendment) Bill- 2019
- The bill increases the threshold of annual passenger traffic for major airports from 15 lakh to over 35 lakh passengers.
- Earlier, the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India Act, 2008 defined a major airport as one with annual passenger traffic over 15 lakh, or any other airports as notified by the central government.
RajyaSabha passes Consumer Protection Bill
- Parliament has approved a Consumer Protection Bill 2019
- The bill to revamp the process of administration and settlement of consumer disputes, with strict penalties including jail term for adulteration and misleading ads by companies.
- The Consumer Protection Bill 2019, already passed by LokSabha, was approved in the Upper House by voice vote and will replace the Consumer Protection Act, 1986.
- The Bill has a provision to set up a Central Consumer Protection Authority to promote, protect and enforce the rights of consumers.
CURRENT AFFAIRS: INTERNATIONAL
US labels China a ‘currency manipulator’
- The US Treasury has officially labeled China a “currency manipulator”. Currency manipulation is a situation when a country intentionally influences the exchange rate between its currency and the US dollar to gain “unfair competitive advantage in international trade”.
- This comes after the People’s Bank of China (Chinese central bank) allowed the renminbi to fall below a key threshold, marking a dramatic escalation in the trade war between the two economic powers.
| USEFUL INFO |
| China Capital | Beijing |
| China Currency | Renminbi, Yuan |
| China President | Xi Jinping |
CURRENT AFFAIRS: STATE
Mohali gets first 3-D traffic signal
- In a first-of-its-kind initiative in the country, Mohali traffic police have launched 3-D Smart Traffic Signal devised by the students of a Chandigarh university.
- The wireless system, called ‘Intelights’, has been installed at the traffic crossing near the Airport Road, on a pilot project basis, and will regulate traffic signals with a smart bird’s eye view wireless sensor system.
- The team worked to develop one-of-its-kind, real-time solution for defending ‘Green Corridors’ for ambulances while controlling the movement of vehicles on roads.
- Intelights proposes a 360-degree solution to curb the rising problem of traffic congestion. One of the major reasons for traffic congestion is the inefficient working of traffic signal timers installed at intersections.
| USEFUL INFO |
| Punjab Capital | Chandigarh |
| Punjab CM | Amarinder Singh |
| Punjab Governor | V P Singh Badnore |
CURRENT AFFAIRS: BANKING AND FINANCE
Third bi-monthly monetary policy statement 2019-20
- On the basis of an assessment of the current and evolving macroeconomic situation, theMonetary Policy Committee (MPC) decided to reduce the policy repo rate under the liquidity adjustment facility (LAF) by 35 basis points (bps) from 5.75 per cent to 5.40 per cent with immediate effect
- GDP forecast for FY20 reduced to 6.9 percent from 7 percent
| USEFUL INFO |
| RBI Headquarters | Mumbai |
| RBI Governor | Shaktikant Das |
| RBI Deputy Governor | BP Kanungo, N S Vishwanathan, and Mahesh Kumar Jain |
| Repo Rate | 5.40 % |
| Reverse Repo | 5.15 % |
| Bank Rate | 5.65% |
| Marginal standing facility (MSF) | 5.65% |
| SLR | 18.75 % |
| CRR | 4 % |
CURRENT AFFAIRS: BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
Apple issues Apple Credit Card in partnership with Goldman Sachs
- Apple in partnership with Goldman Sachs has started the issue of its Credit Card that is named “Apple Card”. The issue has been started from August 06, 2019.
- It is a virtual credit card that is built-in the Apple Pay App and hence lives on an iPhone. The physical version of the Apple Card does not have any number like other credit cards. Even CVV number is not written on it.
- The transactions are authorized by Apple Pay — Face ID, Touch ID, unique transaction codes. Goldman Sachs is the issuing bank for the Apple Card.
| USEFUL INFO |
| Apple Headquarters | California, United States |
| Apple CEO | Tim Cook |
| Goldman Sachs Headquarters | New York, United States |
| Goldman Sachs CEO | David M. Solomon |
India’s Reliance to buy majority stake in Google-backed Fynd for $42.3 million
- Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries is acquiring 87.6% stake in Fynd, a seven-year-old Mumbai-based startup that connects brick and mortar retailers with online stores and consumers, for 2.95 billion Indian rupees ($42.33 million).
- Google-backed Fynd is an online platform that acts as a bridge between physical retail stores and buyers online and helps you to find branded products as well as shop on the platform as well just like any e-commerce site.
CURRENT AFFAIRS: APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATION
ONGC, IOC get new directors
- ONGC said Rajesh Kumar Srivastava has taken over as the new director (exploration), replacing A K Dwivedi.
- IOC said Sandeep Kumar Gupta has taken over as the director (finance) of the company. He replaces A K Sharma who retired from service in May.
| USEFUL INFO |
| Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) |
| ONGC Headquarters | VasantKunj, Delhi |
| ONGC Chairman | ShashiShanker |
| Indian Oil CorporationHeadquarters | New Delhi |
| Chairperson | Sanjiv Singh |
KandikuppaSreekant becomes Power Grid CMD
- State-owned Power Grid Corporation stated that its Director (Finance) KandikuppaSreekant has taken over as the company’s chairman and managing director.
- KandikuppaSreekant assumed the charge of the chairman and managing director of Power Grid Corporation of India.
- Prior to this appointment, Sreekant was the finance director of Power Grid.
| USEFUL INFO |
| Power Grid Corporation of India Limited |
| Headquarters | Gurgaon, Haryana |
| Chairman& Managing Director | KandikuppaSreekant |
CURRENT AFFAIRS: AWARDS AND HONOUR
India’s Naaz Joshi Creates History As She Wins 3rd Consecutive Miss World Diversity Title
- India’s transsexual woman Naaz Joshi has made the country proud with a third successive victory in the beauty pageant Miss World Diversity. Naaz was crowned Miss World Diversity 2019 in Port Louis, Mauritius.
- This was her third successive victory in this beauty pageant competition as she won the title previously in 2017 and 2018.
CURRENT AFFAIRS: BOOKS AND AUTHOR
Hillary and Chelsea Clinton co-write The Book of Gutsy Women
- American politician,diplomat,lawyer,writer and public speaker Hilary Rodham Clinton and her daughter Chelsea Clinton are to write a book called “The Book ofGutsy Women” to honour famous women personalities.
- The book will be published by Simon&Schuster publications on October 1, 2019.
CURRENT AFFAIRS: SUMMITS AND CONFERENCE
22nd National Conference on e-Governance 2019 to be held at Shillong, Meghalaya
- 22nd National Conference on e-Governance (NCeG) 2019 on 8-9th August, 2019 at Shillong, Meghalaya
- The conference was organized byThe Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances (DARPG), in association with Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY), and the State Government of Meghalaya
- Chief Minister of Meghalaya ConardKongalSangma will be the Chief Guest of the event.
- The theme of this Conference is “Digital India: Success to Excellence”.
- The Conference is a part of the DARPG’s 100 days initiatives in the new Government.
- This is the first time the event is being organized in North-Eastern region of the country.
| USEFUL INFO |
| Meghalaya Capital | Shillong |
| Meghalaya CM | Conrad Sangma |
| Meghalaya Governor | Tathagata Roy |
CURRENT AFFAIRS: SPORTS
Aamir Khan launches Mission Shakti sports initiative
- Aamir Khan attended the launch function of Mission Shakti, an initiative by Maharashtra minister SudhirMungantiwar to train athletes from Chandrapur and Gadchiroli for international events like the Olympics. Among those present at the function in Ballarpur.
CURRENT AFFAIRS: OBITUARY
Former External Affairs Minister SushmaSwaraj passes away
- Former External Affairs Minister SushmaSwaraj has passed away at the age of 67 years. She was in a critical condition as she was rushed to AIIMS.
- Swaraj had suffered a cardiac arrest. SushmaSwaraj had been the Union Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Modi government from 2014-2019.
Former Tamil Nadu Minister Jennifer Chandran passed away
- Former Tamil Nadu Fisheries Minister S. Jennifer Chandran has passed away
- She served as a Minister in the DMK government from 1996-2001
- She won from the Tiruchendur Assembly constituency in 1996 and contested unsuccessfully in 2001