Dear Readers, Here we have given the list of Important Weekly Current Affairs of 1st August 2020. Candidates those who are preparing for Upcoming SBI Clerk 2020 and other competitive exams can make use of it.
CURRENT AFFAIRS: DAYS
Muslim Women Rights Day
- The Modi government is observing July 31 as Muslim Women Rights Day, marking the first anniversary of the passage of the anti-triple talaq law in Parliament.
World Ranger Day
- World Ranger Day is celebrated on 31 July to commemorate Rangers killed or injured in the line of duty and to celebrate the work Rangers do to protect the world’s natural and cultural heritage.
National Mountain Climbing Day
- National Mountain Climbing Day is celebrated on August 1 every year.
World Breastfeeding Week
- World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated every year from 1 to 7 August to encourage breastfeeding and improve the health of babies around the world. The theme of World Breastfeeding Week 2020 is “Support breastfeeding for a healthier planet”.
World Lung Cancer Day
- World Lung Cancer Day is observed on August 1 to raise awareness about the causes and treatment of lung cancer and to highlight the issues that a lack of sufficient research funding can create.
World Sanskrit Day
- The World Sanskrit Day is being celebrated on Aug 3rd .
Hiroshima Day
- Hiroshima Day is observed annually on 6 August. Hiroshima Day 2020 marks the 75th year of walking the path of the atomic bomb.
National Handloom Day
- The National Handloom Day is observed annually on 7th of August to honour the handloom weavers in the country and also highlight the handloom industry.
CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL
Atal Innovation Mission launches ‘AIM-iCREST’, in partnership with Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Wadhwani Foundation
- In a major initiative to encourage and enable holistic progress in the incubator ecosystem across the country, NITI Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), has launched AIM iCREST – an Incubator Capabilities enhancement program for a Robust Ecosystem focused on creating high performing Startups. This is a first of its kind initiative for advancing innovation at scale in India.
Housing minister Hardeep Puri launches digital platforms to market residential properties
- Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri launched digital platforms of real estate bodies CREDAI and NAREDCO to market residential properties, besides releasing a guide book for affordable rental housing scheme for migrants.
Narendra Singh Tomar releases booklet on Best Practices in Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme
- Union Minister of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Narendra Singh Tomar released a booklet on “Best Practices in Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme (DILRMP)” of Department of Land Resources (DoLR), Ministry of Rural Development based on the presentations made by the States during Regional and National workshops since inception of the programme.
Nitin Gadkari inaugurates upstream carriageway of Mahatma Gandhi bridge over river Ganga in Bihar
- Road, Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari inaugurated the upstream carriageway of Mahatma Gandhi bridge over river Ganga in Bihar through video conference.
- Over 5.5 kilometres long, the four lane bridge lies on NH-19 between Patna and Hajipur.
Government launches programme for artisans involved in manufacturing of agarbatti
- The government (MSME Ministry) has approved a programme for the benefit of artisans involved in manufacturing of agarbatti and to develop village industry under the ‘Gramodyog Vikas Yojana’.
Amit Shah inaugurates international webinar on ‘Lokmanya Tilak – Swaraj to Self-reliant India’ organized by ICCR
- Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated a two-day international webinar on the theme of ‘Lokmanya Tilak – Swaraj to Self-reliant India’ organized by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations on the 100th death anniversary of the great freedom fighter Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak.
Swachh Bharat Mission (Rural) moves towards 2nd phase, ODF-Plus
- In the run up to 74th Independence day. The Swachh Bharat mission has focused on rural and urban areas separately and played a crucial role in ensuring sanitation in the country.
Dr Harsh Vardhan launches ‘Vidyarthi Vigyan Manthan 2020-21
- Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan launched ‘Vidyarthi Vigyan Manthan, 2020-21. This initiative is a national programme for popularizing science among school students of Class 6th to 11th. It was designed to identify the bright minds with a scientific aptitude among the student community.
Northern Railway runs first-ever Vyapar Mala Express train
- Northern Railway ran first-ever Vyapar Mala Express train. General Manager of Northern and North Central Railway Rajiv Chaudhry stated, this train destined for Jirania in Tripura has 46 wagons.
Central Government to fund 112 startups to promote Agri Firms
- The Central Government will spend nearly twelve crore rupees for funding 112 startups to promote agri firms in the current financial year.
Shri Sanjay Dhotre inaugurates BHARAT AIRFIBER , a last mile telecom connectivity solution based on Radio Network
- Sanjay Dhotre, Union Minister of State for HRD, Electronics, Communication, and IT, Govt Of India, inaugurated “Bharat Air Fibre Services” at Akola in Maharashtra. With inauguration of Bharat Air Fibre services, residents of Akola & Washim district will get Wireless Internet Connections on demand.
Govt formulates draft Defence Production and Export Promotion Policy 2020
- Defence Ministry has formulated a draft Defence Production and Export Promotion Policy 2020 (DPEPP-2020).
24 states in the country get linked to ‘One Nation One Ration Card’
- As four new states complete technical requirements, they have also been linked to the scheme. These four states are UT of Jammu & Kashmir, Manipur, Nagaland and Uttarakhand.
- With the addition of these four states, now 24 states across the country are connected with the One Nation One Ration Card Scheme.
India’s tourism ministry inaugurates Thenzawl Golf Resort project in Mizoram
- Ministry of Tourism, Government of India virtually inaugurated the state-of-the-art Thenzawl Golf Resort project in Mizoram.
Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar launches the Sahakar Cooptube NCDC Channel
- Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar launched the National Cooperative Development Corporation’s YouTube channel, ‘Sahakar Cooptube NCDC India’, to encourage farmers and the youth to take benefit of cooperatives.
HRD minister releases 8-week alternative academic calendar for classes 6 to 8
- Union Human Resource Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank released an eight-week alternative academic calendar, developed by NCERT, for classes 6 to 8. The alternative calendar maps the themes with learning outcomes to facilitate the assessment of progress in the learning of children.
FAO claims new platform to help fight food loss, wastage
- The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has unveiled a new platform to help accelerate global reduction in food loss and waste. The platform will contain information on measurement, reduction policies, alliances, actions and examples of successful models applied to reduce food loss and waste.
India contributes over $15 million to India-UN Development Partnership Fund
- India has contributed $15.46 million to the India-UN Development Partnership Fund, underscoring the country’s commitment to supporting developing nations in their developmental priorities across all the Sustainable Development Goals.
NIDM in collaboration with IMD organises webinar series on “Hydro-Meteorological Hazards Risk Reduction”
- National Institute of Disaster Management in collaboration with India Meteorological Department organised a webinar series on “Hydro-Meteorological Hazards Risk Reduction”. The webinar series include four webinars focusing on Thunderstorms and Lightning, Cloudburst and Floods, Cyclones and Storm Surges and Climate Change and Extreme Weather Events.
Indian Railways to run first Kisan Rail special service between Maharashtra-Bihar
- Indian Railways is all set to run its first timetabled “Kisan Rail” special parcel service.
- Piyush Goyal chaired Railway Ministry is introducing the first Kisan Rail service from Devlali in the state of Maharashtra to Danapur in the state of Bihar.
Govt to launch National Clinical Registry for COVID-19
- The Government is set to launch a National Clinical Registry for COVID-19. The main objective of this registry is to collect real time clinical data which will help in evidence based clinical practice, research, formulation of guidelines and policy making.
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NITI Aayog:
- Chief Executive Officer (CEO)– Amitabh Kant
- Headquarters– New Delhi
MoHUA
- Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairsand Civil Aviation: Hardeep Singh Puri
- Constituency: Uttar Pradesh
MoRD
- Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Minister of Rural Development: Narendra Singh Tomar
- Constituency: Morena,MP
MoRTH
- Minister for Road Transport & Highways, Minister of Shipping and MSME: Nitin Jairam Gadkari
- Constituency: Nagpur, Maharshtra
Bihar
- Capital: Patna
- Governor: Phagu Chauhan
- Chief Minister: Nitish Kumar
KVIC
- Chairman: Vinai Kumar Saxena
- Headquarter: Mumbai, Maharashtra
ICCR:
- Headquarters: New Delhi
- President: Vinay Sahasrabuddhe
- Director General: Shri Dineshk Patnaik
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare:
- Harsh Vardhan, Health minister
- Constituency: Chandni Chowk, Delhi
- Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Minister of State for Health
BSNL:
- CEO: Pravin Kumar Purwar
- Headquarters: New Delhi
Ministry of defence:
- Rajnath Singh, Minister of Defence
- Constituency: Lucknow
- Shripad Yesso Naik, Minister of State for Defence
MoFPD
- Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution: Ram Vilas Paswan
- Constituency: Hajipur, Bihar
Ministry of Tourism
- Minister of Tourism: Prahlad Singh Patel
- Constituency: Damoh Loksabha ,Madhya Pradesh
Ministry of Education:
- Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’, Cabinet Minister
- Constituency: Haridwar
- Sanjay Shamrao Dhotre, Minister of State
FAO:
- Headquarters: Rome, Italy
- Head: Qu Dongyu
UNOSSC
- Director: Jorge Chediek
- Headquarter– New York, United States (US)
National Institute of Disaster Management:
- Executive Director: Major General Manoj Kumar Bindal
- Location: New Delhi
India Meteorological Department:
- Headquarters: New Delhi
- Agency executive: Dr. Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, Director General of Meteorology
Ministry of Railways
- Minister of Railways and Minister of Commerce and Industry: Piyush Vedprakash Goyal
- Constituency: Maharasthra
CURRENT AFFAIRS: INTERNATIONAL
ADB signs Dollar 200 million financing deal with Reliance for power plant in Bangladesh
- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has signed a dollar 200 million financing deal with the Reliance Bangladesh LNG and Power Limited (RBLPL) to build and operate a 718 megawatt combined-cycle gas-fired power plant in Bangladesh.
UAE becomes first country in Arab World to produce nuclear energy
- As the Barakah Nuclear Plant’s 1st Unit got operational, UAE became the first country in the Arab World to produce nuclear energy.
ISA amends framework agreement to enable UN member states to join grouping
- In a major development and push to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of achieving universalization of membership of the International Solar Alliance (ISA), the requisite number of member countries have given the go-ahead.
Global Economy Could Lose $108 Billion In Remittances: ADB
- Global remittances will fall by 6 billion dollars if the Covid-19 economic impact persists throughout the year, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) stated.
U.K. to issue coin to honour Gandhiji
- Chancellor of the exchequer Rishi Sunak’s office confirmed that Mahatma Gandhi’s image on a coin is being considered as part of efforts to celebrate achievements of non-white individuals such as Indian-origin British spy Noor Inayat Khan and Jamaican British nurse Mary Seacole.
National Bank of Bahrain selects Infosys Finacle for transformation of transaction banking business
- National Bank of Bahrain and Infosys Finacle announced the bank’s decision to adopt the Finacle Cash Management Suite to digitally transform its transaction banking business.
India extends Line of Credit worth 18 million US dollars to Maldives for expansion of fishing facilities at MIFCO
- India has extended Line of Credit worth 18 million US dollars to the Government of Maldives for the expansion of fishing facilities at Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company (MIFCO).
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ADB:
- Headquarters: Mandaluyong, Philippines
- President: Masatsugu Asakawa
UAE:
- Capital: Abu Dhabi
- Currency: United Arab Emirates dirham
- President: Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan
International Solar Alliance:
- Headquarters: Gurugram
- Founded: 30 November 2015
- Leader: Upendra Tripathy
UK:
- Currency: Pound sterling
- Capital: London
- Prime minister: Boris Johnson
NBB
- Chief executive officer– Jean-Christophe Durand
- Headquarters– Manama, Bahrain
Thailand:
- Currency: Thai baht
- Capital: Bangkok
Maldives:
- Capital: Malé
- Currency: Maldivian rufiyaa
CURRENT AFFAIRS: BANKING AND FINANCE
SIDBI, TransUnion CIBIL launch financial knowledge platform for MSMEs
- The Small Industries Development Bank of India in association with TransUnion CIBIL has launched a comprehensive financial education and knowledge platform for micro, small and medium enterprises.
- The one-stop knowledge portal- MSMESaksham, will guide MSMEs (micro, small and medium enterprises) seeking seamless and quick access to finance and will also support them in managing their credit obligations.
Canara Bank ties up with three insurers to provide Corona Kavach policies
- Canara Bank has tied-up with three insurance companies to sell short-term Corona Kavach policy to cover COVID-19 related health expenses.
- The bank has tied up with New India Assurance Company Ltd, Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Co Ltd and HDFC ERGO Health Insurance.
Kotak Mahindra Bank launches two-month campaign with offers, discounts
- Kotak Mahindra Bank has launched a special two-month campaign “Kona Kona Umeed” with offers and discounts across its suite of products, including for loans, savings accounts, current accounts, corporate salary accounts as well as important deals on Kotak debit cards, credit cards and digital payments.
AIIB in talks with India for financing $8 billion health infrastructure scheme
- The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is in discussion with the Indian government for financing a USD 8-billion scheme for improving health infrastructure at the district level to make the country better prepared for the future healthcare challenges.
Sebi to set up virtual museum of securities market
- Regulator Sebi is planning to set up a virtual museum of securities market to highlight achievements and milestones in the Indian capital market.
- Sebi has invited Expression of Interest (EoI) from agencies to develop the virtual museum.
Bangladesh Receives $202 million from World Bank to Increase Food Security for 4.5 Million People
- The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors approved $202 million in additional financing for the Modern Food Storage Facilities Project to increase the storage capacity of Bangladesh’s national strategic grain reserves by 535,500 tons for 4.5 million households.
Paisabazaar.com launches ‘Paisabazaar Stack’ – to offer completely digital lending solutions
- com, India’s largest digital marketplace for lending products, announced the launch ‘Paisabazaar Stack’ – a Stack of capabilities that would make loan disbursals and credit card issuance completely digital.
Bank of Baroda Credit Card offers EMIs on PoS Terminals in partnership with Innoviti
- BOB Financial Solutions Limited ties up with Innoviti Payment Solutions.
- The Bank of Baroda credit cardholders pan India would be serviced at 70,000+ Innoviti PoS terminals across 1,000+ cities.
IFSCA sets up panel to suggest ways for development of international retail business
- International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) announced setting up an expert committee suggest ways for the development of international retail business.
- The committee will be headed by Pradip Shah (Chairman, Indasia Fund Advisors Pvt Ltd.).
ADB to lend Thailand $1.5 billion to aid its coronavirus response
- The Asian Development Bank will provide a USD 1.5 billion loan to Thailand to aid its response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Aditya Birla Health Insurance Provides a Health Cushion to Customers for COVID-19 with New Services and Products
- Aditya Birla Health Insurance (ABHICL), the health insurance arm of Aditya Birla Capital Limited, has introduced an array of services and product solutions that will enable customers to take care of their health in such difficult times.
Bandhan Bank holding firm sells 20.95% stake to meet RBI norms
- Bandhan Bank Ltd stated it has met the promoter holding norms of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) after its holding company Bandhan Financial Holdings Ltd (BFHL) sold 95% stake in the bank to at least seven investors.
Reserve Bank of India keeps repo rate unchanged at 4 percent
- RBI governor Dr. Shaktikanta Das stated that the apex bank’s monetary policy committee has decided to unanimously leave the policy repo rate unchanged at 4 per cent. He stated, the reverse repo rate stands unchanged at 35 per cent.
PayU introduces payouts solutions to scale up financial operations for merchant
- PayU has introduced Payouts from Payins feature that will help merchants in receiving payins (settlements and payments) directly into virtual accounts created by PayU, eliminating the need for constant recharging.
NHB, NABARD get special liquidity facility of Rs.5,000 crore each
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced additional special liquidity facility of 5,000 crore each for the National Housing Bank (NHB) and the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) at the policy repo rate of 4 per cent.
RBI to set up innovation hub
- The Reserve Bank will set up an innovation hub aimed at roping in start-ups to come up with ideas for addressing issues related to financial inclusion and efficient banking services.
RBI sets up panel under KV Kamath for one-time restructuring of loans
- The central bank is constituting an Expert Committee under KV Kamath which shall make recommendations to the RBI on the required financial parameters, along with the sector-specific benchmark ranges for such parameters, to be factored into resolution plans
Airtel Payments Bank partners Bharti AXA General Insurance to secure retailers and merchants
- Airtel Payments Bank has entered into a partnership with Bharti AXA General Insurance to offer shop insurance to the bank’s retailers and merchants.
- Under the strategic alliance, the Smart Plan Shop Package Policy provides financial protection in case of damage to assets inside the shop due to fire and allied perils and burglary, among others, as covered in the product.
South India Bank gets RBI nod for setting up non-financial subsidiary
- Private sector lender South Indian Bank (SIB) said the RBI has given an in-principle approval for setting up a wholly owned non-financial subsidiary.
RBI permits banks to invest in debt instruments through mutual funds
- RBI has permitted banks to invest in debt instruments through mutual funds or exchange traded funds without allocating additional charges.
NPCI launches loyalty platform ‘nth Rewards’
- NPCI has launched a business intelligence and analytics enabled omni-channel multi-branded loyalty platform, nth Rewards. It will allow users to earn points through various bank transactions and redeem them on various products, such as e-vouchers, donations, hotel and flight bookings.
SBM Bank collaborates with InstaReM to enhance outbound remittance
- SBM Bank India has partnered with InstaReM to improve existing outbound remittance service offerings from India. The users of both SBM Bank and InstaReM will be able to remit money to more markets and send funds overseas in real-time.
IBBI amends Insolvency & Bankruptcy Board of India, Liquidation Process, Third Amendment, Regulations, 2020
- The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India notified the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India, Liquidation Process, Third Amendment, Regulations, 2020.
- The Regulations require the committee of creditors to fix the fee payable to the liquidator
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SIDBI
- Chairman and Managing Director (CMD)– Mohammad Mustafa
- Headquarter– Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
TransUnion CIBIL
- Headquarter– Mumbai, Maharashtra
Canara Bank
- Headquarters: Bengaluru
- CEO: Lingam Venkat Prabhakar
Kotak Mahindra Bank
- Headquarters– Mumbai, Maharashtra
- Managing Director(MD) and Chief executive Officer(CEO)– Uday Kotak
- Tagline– Lets make money simple
AIIB
- Headquarters: Beijing, China
- President: Jin Liqun
SEBI
- Headquarters: Mumbai
- Chairperson: Ajay Tyagi
World Bank
- Headquarters: Washington, D.C., United States
- President: David Malpass
Paisabazaar.com:
- Naveen Kukreja: CEO & Co-founder
- Headquarters: Gurgaon, Haryana.
IFSCA
- Chairman– Injeti Srinivas
- Headquarters– Gandhinagar, Gujarat
ABHICL
- CEO: Mayank Bathwal
- HQ: Mumbai, Maharashtra
Bandhan Bank:
- Headquarters: Kolkata
- CEO: Chandra Shekhar Ghosh
RBI:
- Governor: Shaktikanta Das
- Headquarters: Mumbai
PayU:
- Headquarters: Hoofddorp Netherlands
- CEO: Laurent Le Moal
NHB:
- Founded: 9 July 1988
- Headquarters: New Delhi
- Managing Director: Shri Sriram Kalyanaraman
Nabard:
- Founded: 12 July 1982
- Headquarters: Mumbai
- Agency executive: Harsh Kumar Bhanwala (Chairperson)
Airtel Payments Bank:
- Headquarters: New Delhi
- CEO: Anubrata Biswas
Bharti AXA General Insurance:
- CEO: Sanjeev Srinivasan
- Headquarters: Mumbai
SIB
- CEO: V. G. Mathew
- Headquarters: Thrissur
NPCI:
- Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
- Non-Exe Chairman: Biswamohan Mahapatra
- MD & CEO: Dilip Asbe
SBM Bank:
- Headquarters: Port Louis, Mauritius
- Chairman: Mr. Kee Chong LI KWONG WING
Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India:
- Chairperson: M. S. Sahoo,
- Founded: 1 October 2016
- Headquarters: New Delhi
CURRENT AFFAIRS: BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
ICICI Pru MF launches ETF on Nifty Alpha Low Volatility index
- ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund has launched ‘Alpha Low Vol 30 ETF’ an open-ended index exchange traded fund. The offering aims to provide returns that closely correspond to the returns of Nifty Alpha Low-Volatility 30 Index.
Amazon’s Project Kuiper gets FCC approval for over 3,200 internet satellites
- Amazon has received approval from the S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to launch and operate a planned constellation of 3,236 internet satellites.
Tech Mahindra launches ‘Mhealthy’ to screen employees for COVID-19 risk factors at workplaces
- Tech Mahindra announced the launch of Mhealthy, a solution to enable workforce and community safety against COVID-19.
- Mhealthy is a comprehensive solution powered by new generation technologies including artificial intelligence and machine learning to enable data driven digital diagnostics.
Airtel, Amazon Web Services to help MSMEs, others adopt cloud solutions
- Airtel announced a multi-year strategic collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to offer cloud solutions to small and medium enterprises (SME) as well as large businesses in India.
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ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund:
- CEO: Nimesh Shah
- Headquarters: Mumbai
Amazon:
- Founder: Jeff Bezos
- Headquarters: Seattle, Washington, United States
Tech Mahindra
- CEO: C. P. Gurnani
- Headquarters: Pune
Airtel
- CEO: Gopal Vittal
- Headquarters: New Delhi
CURRENT AFFAIRS: STATES
Odisha CM Launches Online Portal To Issue Fire Safety Certificates
- Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik launched the Odisha Agni-Shama Seva online portal for issuance of fire safety certificates to different categories of buildings through online mode.
Madhya Pradesh to begin ‘Ek Mask-Anek Zindagi’ public awareness campaign
- A public awareness campaign called ‘Ek Mask-Anek Zindagi’ means one mask-many lives will be conducted till August 15 in many districts of Madhya Pradesh.
J&K govt orders fast tracking of Environment Clearance Process in minor minerals mining operations
- The Jammu and Kashmir government has ordered the fast tracking of Environment Clearance Process in minor minerals mining operations across the Union Territory.
Andhra Pradesh’s three-capital bills get Governor’s assent
- Andhra Pradesh Governor Biswa Bhusan Harichandan gave his assent to the AP Decentralisation and Inclusive Development of All Regions Bill, 2020, and the AP Capital Region Development Authority (Repeal) Bill, 2020.
Telangana launches iMASQ mobile covid-19 testing centers
- The Telangana government has rolled out mobile covid-19 testing centers in containment zones and low income group residential areas across the state.
UP to set up MSME industrial parks
- Uttar Pradesh government will set up industrial parks for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) in six of its most industrialised districts, including Varanasi and Kanpur, and has invited proposals from consultants for it.
Andhra CM launches e-rakshabandhan program for women safety
- Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy launched an e-rakshabandhan program, to protect women and children from cyber and other crimes.
- Reddy stated that the launch of appolice.gov.in web portal will provide information on various issues like how to deal with cybercrime, harassment, and other issues pertaining to women’s safety.
Rajasthan solar shines bright amidst gloom, adds max capacity in FY20 in India
- According to a recent survey of states by JMK Research and Analytics, Rajasthan has added maximum capacity of 1,745 megawatt solar plants in the country in 2019-20, followed by Karnataka (1,443 MW) and Tamil Nadu (1,342 MW).
Indira Rasoi Yojana to start in Rajasthan from August 20
- Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot directed officials to start the Indira Rasoi Yojana in urban areas of Rajasthan from August 20. The scheme, named after former prime minister Indira Gandhi.
J&K Lt Guv approves creation of Block Development Fund on pattern of Constituency Development Fund
- Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Girish Chandra Murmu has approved the creation of Block Development Fund on the pattern of Constituency Development Fund.
Ladakh celebrates first anniversary of becoming UT
- Ladakh is celebrating the first anniversary of realisation of its seven decades-old dream. It was on this day last year, Ladakh was granted the status of Union Territory. Lieutenant Governor RK Mathur has greeted the people on the occasion.
India’s first snow leopard conservation centre to come up in Uttarakhand
- Uttarakhand state forest department will open India’s first conversation centre for snow leopards in Uttarakashi district.
Haryana CM Khattar launches ”Parivar Pehchan Patra”
- Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar launched ”Parivar Pehchan Patras” to enable the citizens to get the benefits of various central and state government schemes.
Andhra Pradesh govt ties up with ISB to set up public policy lab
- The government of Andhra Pradesh, through the AP Economic Development Board, has entered into an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian School of Business (ISB) for policy guidance to spur growth in post pandemic with special focus on economic development and job creation.
K’taka Medical Education Minister inaugurates nation’s first ICMR approved mobile RTPCR Covid lab
- Nation’s first ICMR approved mobile RTPCR Covid lab developed by Indian Institute of Science in Bengaluru was inaugurated by Karnataka Medical Education Minister K Sudhakar.
Foundation stone laid for Indian Institute of Management in Sirmaur, Himachal Pradesh
- Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal along with Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh Jai Ram Thakur; Minister of State for Finance Anurag Singh Thakur and Minister of State for Education Sanjay Dhotre laid the foundation stone of the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Sirmaur in Himachal Pradesh
Chhattisgarh govt launches scheme for tendu leaves collectors
- Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel launched a social security scheme for tendu leaves collectors in the state, which will benefit over 12 lakh families, mostly tribals and forest dwellers engaged in its collection
Haryana CM Khattar launches welfare schemes for women, kids
- Khattar launched the ‘Mukhya Mantri Doodh Uphar Yojana’ and ‘Mahila Evam Kishori Samman Yojana’. He urged the DCs to include ‘Mukhya Mantri Doodh Uphar Yojana’ in their flagship programmes.
Maharashtra govt announces partnership with Google for introducing digital education tools in schools across state
- The Maharashtra government has announced a partnership with Google for introducing digital education tools in schools across the state. It will enable 2.3 crore students and teachers to access the technology giant’s blended learning programmes that combine classroom approach with online learning.
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Odisha
- Capital: Bhubaneswar
- Governor: Ganeshi Lal
- Chief minister: Naveen Patnaik
Madhya Pradesh:
- Governor :Anandiben Patel(Additional Charge)
- Chief Minister: Shivraj Singh Chouhan
- Capital: Bhopal
Jammu And Kashmir:
- Capitals: Jammu (Winter), Srinagar (Summer)
- Lieutenant Governor: G.C. Murmu
Andhra Pradesh:
- Capitals: Amaravati
- Governor: Biswabhusan Harichandan
- Chief Minister: Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy
Telangana:
- Capital: Hyderabad
- Governor: Tamilisai Soundararajan
- Chief minister: K. Chandrashekar Rao
UP
- Capital: Lucknow
- Governor: Anandiben Patel
- Chief minister: Yogi Adityanath
Rajasthan:
- Capital: Jaipur
- Governor: Kalraj Mishra
- Chief minister: Ashok Gehlot
Jammu and Kashmir:
- Capitals: Jammu (Winter), Srinagar (Summer)
- Lieutenant Governor: Girish Chandra Murmu
Ladakh:
- Capitals: Leh, Kargil
- Lieutenant Governor : RK Mathur
Uttarakhand
- Capitals: Dehradun, Gairsain (Summer)
- Chief Minister:Trivender Singh Rawat
- Governor: Baby Rani Maurya
Haryana
- Capital: Chandigarh
- Chief minister: Manohar Lal Khattar
- Governor: Satyadev Narayan Arya
Karnataka:
- Capital: Bengaluru
- Chief minister: B. S. Yediyurappa
- Governor: Vajubhai Vala
Himachal Pradesh
- Capitals: Shimla (Summer), Dharamshala (Winter)
- Chief minister: Jai Ram Thakur
- Governor: Bandaru Dattatreya
Chhattisgarh
- Chief minister: Bhupesh Baghel
- Governor: Anusuiya Uikey
- Capitals: Raipur
Maharashtra:
- Capital: Mumbai
- Governor: Bhagat Singh Koshyari
- Chief Minister: Uddhav Thackeray
CURRENT AFFAIRS: MOU
IIT Kanpur partners with MoD for using AI, ML to redress grievances
- Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for developing a prompt and predictive grievance redress mechanism using artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning tools.
Andhra Pradesh government signs MoUs for women’s empowerment
- The state government signed MoUs with ITC Ltd, Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL) and Proctor and Gamble (P&G), which will lend a helping hand in empowering women of the State.
CURRENT AFFAIRS: MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS
Oman India Joint Investment Fund II buys 1.63% in DCB Bank
- Oman India Joint Investment Fund II (OIJIF) has acquired 07 million shares or 1.63% stake in Mumbai based DCB Bank through a block trade on stock exchanges. The stake is valued at₹42 crore.
LIC acquires close to 5% stake in Yes Bank
- Yes Bank stated LIC had acquired close to 5 per cent shareholding in the bank by purchasing shares from the open market. With the fresh acquisition, the hold of LIC has increased from 0.75 per cent to 4.98 per cent, Yes Bank stated.
Tata Capital Growth Fund to invest USD 30 mn in Biocon Biologics
- Biotechnology major Biocon stated Tata Capital Growth Fund will invest USD 30 million (Rs 225 crore) in its subsidiary Biocon Biologics to acquire 0.85 per cent equity stake in the company. The firm stated this deal values Biocon Biologics at USD 3.5 billion.
STATIC GK
Tata Capital:
- CEO: Rajiv Sabharwal
- Headquarters: Mumbai
Biocon Limited:
- Headquarters: Bangalore, Karnataka
- Chairperson & MD: Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw
DCB Bank
- Headquarters: Maharashtra
- CEO: Murali M. Natrajan
LIC:
- Chairperson: M R Kumar
- Headquarters: Mumbai
Yes Bank:
- CEO: Prashant Kumar
- Headquarters: Mumbai
CURRENT AFFAIRS: APPS AND PORTALS
Dodo Drop: The Indian ‘SHAREit’ developed by Kashmiri teenager
- Ashfaq Mehmood Choudhary, a 17-year-old boy from Chattyear of Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district, has developed a file-sharing app ‘Dodo Drop’ which would enable users to share audios, videos, images, and texts between two devices without Internet access.
DNHDD launches E-Gyan Mitra mobile app for online education
- Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu bordering Gujarat has launched E-Gyan Mitra mobile app for online education.
CPCB developed biomedical waste tracking app ‘COVID19BWM APP’
- The Supreme Court has made it mandatory for all municipal corporations and state pollution control boards to use the ‘COVID19BWM APP’ for tracking biomedical waste daily.
Web portal for management of development works in Haryana’s urban local bodies
- Haryana minister Anil Vij launched a web portal to manage and monitor development works in all urban local bodies in the state.
Indian Railways launches an OHE Inspection app
- Indian Railways launched an OHE Inspection app which monitors technical snags in real-time and sends alerts eliminating delays caused by such defects.
- The OHE Inspection app will capture in real-time OHE (Overhead Equipment) defects and send out quick alerts.
Telangana launches GRID Policy for IT industry development
- Telangana Cabinet approved the GRID (Growth in Dispersion) Policy to give incentives to IT companies that will set up their units.
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Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu:
- Capital: Daman
- Administrator: Praful Khoda Patel
CURRENT AFFAIRS: APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATIONS
Tech major HP appoints Ketan Patel as Greater India Managing Director
- Tech major HP has appointed Ketan Patel as the managing director of its Greater India operations.
- In this role, he will be responsible for the company’s business in India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
Great Eastern Shipping appoints Urjit Patel as additional director
- Great Eastern Shipping Company Ltd has appointed former RBI Governor Urjit Patel as an additional and independent director for a term of five years.
Ivory Coast defence minister Hamed Bakayoko nominated as new prime minister
- Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara has appointed Defence Minister Hamed Bakayoko as prime minister. Former Prime Minister Amadou Gon Coulibaly died suddenly this month.
Motilal Oswal AMC appoints Navin Agarwal as MD
- Motilal Oswal Asset Management Company has appointed Navin Agarwal as MD and CEO, with the incumbent Aashish Somaiyaa putting in his papers.
SN Rajeswari appointed chairman of Oriental Insurance
- The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of SN Rajeswari as Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) of Oriental Insurance Company Limited (OICL) on July 30.
Wrestler Babita Phogat, kabaddi player Kavita are Haryana sports deputy directors
- Haryana government has decided to appoint Olympian wrestler Babita Phogat and kabaddi player Kumari Kavita Devi as deputy directors (sports) under the outstanding sportspersons category.
Air Marshal V R Chaudhari takes over as chief of IAF’s Western Air Command
- Air Marshal V. R. Chaudhari took over as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Western Air Commandof Indian Air Force. The Air Marshal took over command from Air Marshal B Suresh.
Irfaan Ali declared president of Guyana
- The presidential candidate for the main opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic, Mohamed Irfaan Ali, was declared president elect of
- He succeeds David Arthur(A.) Granger, a member of A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance for Change (ANPU-AFC).
Sashidhar Jagdishan to take over as MD and CEO of HDFC Bank
- The Reserve Bank of India has approved the appointment of Sashidhar Jagdishan as Managing Director and CEO of HDFC Bank.
Govt appoints 3 members of Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs
- Bureaucrats Ajay Jain, Vivek Johri and Sungita Sharma have been appointed as members of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), according to a Personnel Ministry order.
Jaideep Bhatnagar takes over as Director General of AIR News
- Jaideep Bhatnagar, an Indian Information Service Officer of 1986 batch, has taken over the charge as Director General, News Services Division of All India Radio.
Govt extends Ajay Tyagi’s term as Sebi chairman by 18 months till Feb 2022
- Government extended Ajay Tyagi’s term as Sebi chairman by 18 months till February 2022. This will come into effect from 1 September to 28 February, 2022.
President appoints Manoj Sinha as new Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir
- The President Ram Nath Kovind has appointed Manoj Sinha as the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir. The President accepted the resignation of Girish Chandra Murmu as Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir.
Parekh Ashvin named as Independent Director at Nippon Life India AMC
- Nippon Life India Asset Management (NAM India), the Asset Manager of Nippon India Mutual Fund (NIMF), has named Parekh Ashvin, as its Independent Director on the Board of Directors of Nippon Life India Asset Management Limited for a tenure of 5 years.
WTF Sports appoints Suresh Raina, Harmanpreet Kaur as global brand ambassadors
- Win Trade Fantasy (WTF) Sports, one of India’s biggest fantasy sports gaming platform has formally announced their launch globally and appointed famed cricketers Harmanpreet Kaur and Suresh Raina as Global Brand Ambassadors.
Former J&K Lt Guv Girish Chandra Murmu to be new CAG of India
- Former Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Girish Chandra Murmu will be the new Comptroller and Auditor General of the country. Mr Murmu will succeed Rajiv Mehrishi.
PNB Housing Finance appoints Hardayal Prasad as MD and CEO
- PNB Housing Finance, the housing finance arm, promoted by Punjab National Bank (PNB) has appointed Hardayal Prasad as its new managing director (MD) and chief executive officer (CEO). Neeraj Vyas, the current interim MD and CEO of the company, will step down from the position on August 10.
Capital India Finance Limited Appoints Former Chairman, NABARD, Dr. Harsh Kumar Bhanwala As Executive Chairman
- Capital India Finance Limited announced the appointment of Harsh Kumar Bhanwala, an Industry Veteran and former Chairman – NABARD, as the Executive Chairman, to the board
Pradeep Kumar Joshi appointed as UPSC chairman
- Educationist Professor Pradeep Kumar Joshi was appointed as the chairman of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), that conducts the civil services examination to select India’s bureaucrats and diplomats among others, officials stated.
Ex-BMC chief Praveen Pardeshi to head UN crisis response team
- Former BMC Commissioner Praveen Pardeshi will soon join United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) as global programme coordinator.
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Great Eastern Shipping Company Ltd
- Head Quarters– Mumbai, Maharashtra
- Chairman- K. M. Sheth
Ivory Coast
- Capital: Yamoussoukro
- Currency: West African CFA franc
Motilal Oswal group:
- Headquarters: Mumbai
- Motilal Oswal: Chairman and Managing Director
Oriental Insurance Company Limited (OICL):
Guyana
- Capital: Georgetown
- Currency: Guyanese dollar
HDFC:
- CEO: Aditya Puri
- Headquarters: Mumbai
- Tagline : We Understand Your World
Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC):
- Chairperson: M. Ajit Kumar
- Headquarters: New Delhi
SEBI
- Founded: 12 April 1992
- Headquarters: Mumbai
- Chairperson: Ajay Tyagi
PNB Housing Finance:
- Headquarters: New Delhi, India
- Managing Director: Neeraj vyas
United Nations Institute for Training and Research:
- Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
- Executive Director: Nikhil Seth
CURRENT AFFAIRS: AWARDS AND HONORS
Grievance System At West Bengal CMO Gets Award
- The public grievance system at the West Bengal Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) has been conferred with the Digital India Platinum Award by Skoch Foundation.
- The state was conferred with the award at the 66th Skoch Summit held in New Delhi.
Apple tops Saudi Aramco as most valuable publicly listed co
- Saudi Aramco had a market capitalisation of $1.760 trillion as of its last close
- Apple Inc’s surged over 10 per cent to a record high after reporting blockbuster quarterly results, helping the iPhone maker eclipse Saudi Aramco to become the world’s most valuable publicly listed company.
11 women entrepreneurs chosen for Women Entrepreneurship and Empowerment award
- Eleven women entrepreneurs have been shortlisted for cash awards amounting to Rs 25 lakh under ‘Women Entrepreneurship and Empowerment’ initiative supported by the Department of Science and Technology.
IIT Kharagpur researchers awarded for generating power from wet clothes
- A group of researchers from IIT Kharagpur has conferred the ‘Gandhian Young Technological Innovation Awards 2020’ for developing a mechanism for generating electricity from wet clothes left under sunlight to dry.
Moothon, Run Kalyani win big at 20th New York Indian Film Festival
- Malayalam films Moothon and Run Kalyani have won big at the 20th edition of New York Indian Film Festival, which went virtual this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Dalmia Bharat Group wins FICCI CSR Award for Environment Sustainability
- Dalmia Bharat Group, a leader in India’s core manufacturing space since 1939, has won an award for Environment Sustainability at 18th FICCI CSR award ceremony, organized by FICCI. The award recognizes efforts of companies in integrating and internalizing Corporate Social Responsibility.
IICT Scientist to be awarded CRSI Bronze Medal
- Srihari Pabbaraja, senior principal scientist working in the Department of Organic Synthesis and Process Chemistry, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT), Hyderabad, has been selected for the Chemical Research Society of India (CRSI) Bronze medal 2021 for his contributions on the total synthesis of natural products and method development for new chemical entities.
Indian Express’ Dipankar Ghose, website PARI chosen for 2020 Prem Bhatia journalism awards
- The Prem Bhatia awards for outstanding journalism for this year have gone to Dipankar Ghose of the Indian Express and non-profit journalism website People’s Archive of Rural India (PARI) for their coverage of COVID-19 and its impact across the country.
STATIC GK
Dalmia Bharat Group:
- Headquarters: Mumbai, India
- Chairman: Sanjay Dalmia
CURRENT AFFAIRS: SUMMITS AND CONFERENCE
Dr Harsh Vardhan Chairs Session Of Bureau Of WHO Executive Board
- Dr Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare presided over a meeting of the Bureau of the Executive Board as Chairman of the Executive Board of the World Health Organization (WHO), The Bureau also includes the Vice Chairs of the Executive Board and the Director General of WHO.
STATIC GK
WHO:
- Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
- Tedros Adhanom: Director-General
CURRENT AFFAIRS: RANKING
Reliance Industries ranked second biggest brand globally after Apple
- Billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s oil-to-telecom conglomerate Reliance Industries has been ranked second biggest brand after Apple on the FutureBrand Index 2020.
- The 2020 list is topped by Apple, while Samsung is ranked third, followed by Nvidia, Moutai, Nike, Microsoft, ASML, PayPal and Netflix. Reliance ranks 91st on PWC 2020 list, it stated.
STATIC GK
Reliance Industries:
- Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra
- Chairman & MD: Mukesh Ambani
CURRENT AFFAIRS: BOOKS AND AUTHORS
Nitish releases book “Siyasat Mein Sadasyata” by Speaker Vijay Kumar Choudhary
- Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar released a book “Siyasat Mein Sadasyata” – a compilation of articles, views and life journey – of Bihar Assembly Speaker Vijay Kumar Choudhary.
Union Ministers Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Smriti Irani launch the book ‘Swachh Bharat Kranti’
- The book “The Swachh Bharat Revolution”, edited by Parameswaran Iyer, Secretary of Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation has been translated into Hindi and published by as the Swachh Bharat Kranti.
‘Amazing Ayodhya’: New book to tell history of Lord Rama’s birth place
- Publishing house Bloomsbury announced their latest book that will shed light on the history of Ayodhya. Titled “Amazing Ayodhya”, the book by Neena Rai promises to offer “authentic information about the city, which will not only help understand the life and times of ancient Hindus, but also the revered figures of Rama and Sita.
Biography of India’s youngest Basketball captain Vishesh Bhriguvanshi to hit stands soon
- A new book on the inspirational story of Vishesh Bhriguvanshi, India’s youngest basketball team captain, will hit the stands on August 29, the National Sports Day, announced publishing house
Yatish Yadav’s new book ‘RAW: A History of India’s Covert Operations’
- Journalist and author Yatish Yadav’s new book RAW: A History of India’s Covert Operations is a window into the heroic covert operations carried by India’s external spy agency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW).
CURRENT AFFAIRS: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Central Railway designs robot ‘Rakshak’ for health assistant
- The Mumbai Division of Central Railway (CR) has designed a health assistant robot ‘Rakshak’ who can remotely communicate between doctor and patient.
Scientists discover active volcanoes on Venus
- A recent study has identified 37 recently active volcanic structures on Venus, the second planet from the Sun. The study provides some of the best evidence yet that Venus is still a geologically active planet.
INST scientists develop economical nonsurgical prevention of cataract
- A team of scientists from the Institute of Nano Science & Technology (INST) an autonomous institute under the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India has developed nanorods from the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) Aspirin, a popular medication used to reduce pain, fever, or inflammation and found it to be an effective non–invasive small molecule-based nanotherapeutics against cataract.
IIT Madras and Helyxon develop remote patient monitoring solutions for COVID-19
- IIT Madras’ Healthcare Technology Innovation Centre (HTIC) and Helyxon, a healthcare startup in IIT Madras Research Park have announced successful deployment of remote patient monitoring solutions for COVID-19 that they have jointly developed.
SpaceX capsule and NASA crew make first splashdown in 45 years
- Test pilots Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken arrived back on Earth in their SpaceX Dragon capsule named Endeavour, less than a day after departing the International Space Station and two months after blasting off from Florida. The capsule parachuted into the calm gulf waters about 40 miles off the coast of Pensacola, hundreds of miles from Tropical Storm Isaias pounding Florida’s Atlantic coast.
SWR Installs ‘UV Bag Bath’ At Bengaluru Railway Station
- A unique COVID prevention kiosk was inaugurated at KSR Bengaluru Railway Station by Bengaluru Division as a part of its continued fight against COVID-19 pandemic.
- The kiosk is in the form of a luggage disinfecting tunnel named ‘UV Baggage Bath’.
US conducts test flight of unarmed Minuteman 3 missile
- An unarmed Minuteman 3 intercontinental ballistic missile was launched from California on a test flight to a target in the Pacific Ocean from Vandenberg Air Force Base.
New grasshopper species discovered after 116 years, named after kerala biologist
- A new species of pygmy grasshopper, discovered after 116 years by a group of foreign researchers in Sri Lanka, has been named after Indian orthopterist (one who studies grasshoppers) and conservation biologist Dhaneesh Bhaskar of Kerala.
Godrej Appliances launches Godrej Viroshield, UV-C tech based sanitisation device in Kerala
- Godrej Appliances has launched a UV-C technology-based disinfecting device Godrej Viroshield in the The product has been tested and certified by ICMR empanelled lab for its UVC Irradiance.
IISC Bengaluru develops mobile RT-PCR covid-19 testing lab
- Karnataka inaugurated a mobile RT-PCR covid- 19 testing lab which was the first in the country and would help ramp up testing in the state.
- The Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, has developed the MITR (Mobile Infection Testing and Reporting) lab, which is capable of conducting 9,000 tests per month.
STATIC GK
Apple Inc:
- CEO: Tim Cook
- Headquarters: Cupertino, California, United States
CURRENT AFFAIRS: DEFENCE
Indian Army begins process to grant Permanent Commission to eligible women officers
- Indian Army has kickstarted the process to grant Permanent Commission to eligible women officers, nearly two weeks after the defence ministry approved the proposal.
STATIC GK
Indian Army:
- Head quarters: New Delhi
- Chief of Defence Staff (CDS): General Bipin Rawat
- Chief of the Army Staff (COAS):General Manoj Mukund Naravane
CURRENT AFFAIRS: SPORTS
Real Madrid and Barcelona Named World Most Valuable Brands in Football
- According to the 2020 Brand Finance Football report, the two most valuable clubs in the world football play are the top two heavyweights of La Liga.
- For the second year in a row, Real Madrid lead the way as the most valuable football club brand in the world, closely followed by Barcelona, who have overtaken Manchester United to move from third in the 2019 edition to second in this year’s rankings.
Germany’s World Cup winner Benedikt Howedes announces retirement
- Benedikt Höwedes, a defender who helped Germany win the World Cup title in 2014, retired from football.
Lewis Hamilton wins his seventh British Grand Prix
- Lewis Hamilton claimed his seventh British Grand Prix victory in dramatic fashion, crossing the line on three wheels after a puncture in the final lap. Max Verstappen finished Second.
- Charles Leclerc finished third for Ferrari with Daniel Ricciardo fourth for improving Renault and British driver Lando Norris fifth for McLaren.
Sehwag, Sardar in 12-member selection panel for National Sports Awards
- Former India cricketer Virender Sehwag and hockey stalwart Sardar Singh were included in a 12-member committee constituted by the sports ministry to select this year’s National Sports Awards winners.
India withdraws from women’s world team squash championship
- India has withdrawn from the women’s world team championship scheduled in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from December 15 to 20.
HRD Minister, Sports Minister to launch ‘Fit India Talks’ to inspire school children
- The government’s flagship program Fit India is launching a series of interactive sessions with some of the top sports persons of the country intended to inspire the school children.
- The sessions, titled Fit India Talks, will premiere in the presence of Human Resource Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank and Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju along with badminton star PV Sindhu and Indian football team skipper Sunil Chhetri.
Real Madrid legend Casillas announces retirement
- Spanish Iker Casillas has officially announced his retirement at the end of a 22-year playing career, with the legendary Real Madrid goalkeeper hanging up his gloves at the age of 39.
NSNIS Patiala and CSS-SRIHER, Chennai, launch courses in sports physiotherapy, sports nutrition
- Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports (NSNIS) Patiala and CSS-SRIHER, Chennai, launched six-month online courses in sports physiotherapy and sports nutrition aimed at grassroot-level development in the country.
Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju chairs 1st General Council meeting of Khelo India Scheme
- Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju chaired the 1st General Council meeting of the Khelo India Scheme.
BCCI suspends title sponsorship deal with Vivo for upcoming IPL
- The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has suspended the title sponsorship deal with Chinese mobile phone company Vivo for the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League.
STATIC GK
SRFI
- President – Debendranath Sarangi.
- Headquarter – Chennai,Tamil Nadu.
Spain
- Capital: Madrid
- Currency: Euro
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports:
- Kiren Rijiju, Minister of State (Independent Charge)
- Constituency: Arunachal West
BCCI:
- President: Sourav Ganguly
- Secretary: Jay Shah
- Headquarters: Mumbai
CURRENT AFFAIRS: OBITUARY
Former Saurashtra coach Hasmukhbhai Joshi passes away
- Former Saurashtra coach and manager Hasmukhbhai Joshi, popularly known as ‘Bababhai’ in cricketing circles, passed away.
Former Taiwan president dubbed ‘Mr Democracy’ Lee Teng-hui passes away at 97
- Taiwan’s former president Lee Teng-hui, who defied China and earned the nickname “Mr Democracy” for the part he played in the island’s transition away from authoritarian rule, has passed away.
Former Arunachal Pradesh Governor RD Pradhan passes away
- The veteran bureaucrat and former Arunachal Pradesh Governor RD Pradhan passed away. He was 92.
Tamil writer, filmmaker Sa Kandasamy passes away
- Tamil writer and documentary filmmaker Sa Kandasamy has passed away. He was 81.
- He was a prolific Tamil writer and literary critic. Kandasamy’s “Vicharanai Commission” won the Sahitya Akademi award for best Tamil novel in 1998.
Former Goa Assembly Speaker Anant Shet passes away
- Former speaker of Goa Assembly and BJP leader Anant Shet has passed away. He was 59.
Uttar Pradesh minister Kamal Rani Varun passes away due to coronavirus
- Uttar Pradesh’s Technical Education Minister Kamal Rani Varun, has passed away due to novel coronavirus.
John Hume: Nobel Peace Prize winner passes away aged 83
- The Nobel Peace Prize winner and prominent Northern Ireland politician John Hume has passed away aged 83.
Senior CPI (M) leader Sunnam Rajaiah passes away of COVID-19
- Former Bhadrachalam MLA, and senior CPI (M) leader and Girijana Sangam leader Sunnam Rajaiah reportedly passed away of COVID-19.
Ebrahim Alkazi, credited for revolutionising theatre in India, passes away at 95
- Theatre legend Ebrahim Alkazi, 95, passed away. Alkazi, credited for revolutionising theatre in India, became one of the most prominent theatre artistes in Mumbai during the 1940s and 1950s. However, at 37, Alkazi moved to Delhi and served as the director of National School of Drama (NSD) for the next 15 years (1962 to 1977) — the longest tenure ever in the history of the institute.
Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Shivajirao Patil Nilangekar passes away at 88
- Senior Congressman and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Shivajirao Patil Nilangekar passed away. He was 88.
Philanthropist Doris Buffet passes away at 92
- Doris Buffett, a self-styled retail philanthropist who is a sister of Billionaire Warren Buffett, has passed away.She was 92.
Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Shirley Ann Grau passes away at 91
- Shirley Ann Grau, a Pulitzer Prize-winning fiction writer has passed away. She was 91.
- Grau won the 1965 Pulitzer Prize for her fourth book, The Keepers of the House.
Author and activist Sadia Dehlvi passes away at 63
- Noted Delhi-based writer and activist Sadia Dehlvi has passed away after a prolonged battle with cancer. She was 63.