Important Weekly Current Affairs PDF Download (24th to 31st July 2020)

Dear Readers, Here we have given the list of Important Weekly Current Affairs of 4th July 2020. Candidates those who are preparing for Upcoming SBI Clerk 2020 and other competitive exams can make use of it.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: DAYS

National Broadcasting Day

• National Broadcasting Day is observed every year on July 23.

National Thermal Engineer Day

• National Thermal Engineer Dayis celebrated on July 24 to appreciate the contribution of thermal engineers in everyday life. Electronics thermal management is key for its longevity and reliable operations.

World IVF Day

• World IVF Day, observed on July 25, symbolises the essence and significance of the In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) technique in infertility treatment

Kargil Vijay Diwas

• India is observing Kargil Vijay Diwas on July 26^th to commemorate its victory over Pakistan in the high-altitude conflict in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kargil district and along the Line of Control (LoC) and pay tributes to soldiers who lost their lives more than two decades ago.

82nd CRPF Raising Day

• CRPF Raising Day is celebrated every year on July 27^th.

World Hepatitis Day

• World Hepatitis Day, observed on July 28 every year, aims to raise global awareness of hepatitis — a group of infectious diseases known as Hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E — and encourage prevention, diagnosis and treatment. This year’s theme is “Hepatitis-free future,”

World Nature Conservation Day

• World Nature Conservation Day is observed on July 28 every year to raise awareness about conserving nature
• The aim of marking the World Nature Conservation Day is to save our trees, water and other resources.

International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem

• The International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem, adopted by the General Conference of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 2015 and celebrated annually on 26 July.

International Tiger Day

• Global Tiger Day, often called International Tiger Day, is an annual celebration to raise awareness for tiger conservation, held annually on 29 July. It was created in 2010 at the Saint Petersburg Tiger Summit.

World day against trafficking in persons

• The world day against trafficking in persons is marked on July 30 every year to raise awareness about the menace of human trafficking and to protect the human rights of the victims.
• The theme of this year’s World Day Against Trafficking focuses on first responders to human trafficking.“Committed To The Cause -Working On The Frontline To End Human Trafficking”.

International Day of Friendship

• International Day of Friendship is observed annually on July 30 to cherish the bond of friendship which will ultimately help to develop love and peace among human beings.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL

Prime Minister lays foundation stone for Rs.3,054-crore Manipur water supply project

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the 3,054-crore “Manipur Water Supply Project” in Imphal.

Prakash Javadekar virtually launches piloting of National Transit Pass System

• Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar virtually launched piloting of the National Transit Pass System at Indira Paryavaran Bhawan in Delhi.

First ever container cargo from Kolkata via Chittagong port reaches Agartala

• The first ever container cargo from Kolkata via Chittagong port has reached Agartala.
• Under the Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade, in addition to the six existing Ports of Call, five more in each country have been added recently, the Ministry of Shipping stated.

Government sanctions Rs.8,700 cr to help complete construction of 60,000 houses

• The Finance Ministry announced that over 8,700 crore has been approved under a special scheme, ‘SWAMIH’, to ensure completion of about 60,000 houses.
• ‘SWAMIH’ (Special Window for Affordable and Mid Income Housing) scheme aims to complete construction of stalled, brownfield, RERA-registered residential developments that are in the affordable housing/mid-income category.

India Conducts The First Test Under ‘Study In India’ Programme Online

• The Indian Scholastic Assessment Test, or Ind-SAT, in its first, has been under the ‘Study in India’ Programme. Ind-SAT is an eligibility test for granting scholarships and admissions to foreign students to study in selected Indian universities under the Study in India programme

Indian Railways to cover all wagons under RFID for tracking by 2022

• The Indian Railways will use radio-frequency identification tags (RFID) for tracking of all wagons by
• A total of 23,000 wagons have been covered under the RFID project so far and the target is to cover all wagons by December 2022.

India will be looking at a demand drop in electricity between 7-17 percent by 2025: TERI

• Demand for electricity in India will be lower by 7 to 17% due to covid-19 by 2025, a new report by TERI has found. All 10 of India’s largest power-consuming states will see a demand drop between 5 to 15%.

Indian Railways constructing world’s first electrified tunnel to run double-stack containers

• Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Ltd (DFCCIL) has recently conducted a tunnel-breaking ceremony was held on the completion of caving work for the one-kilometre long tunnel of Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC) through Aravalli mountain range, near Sohna in

Deadline For Mandatory Hallmarking Of Gold Jewellery Extended Till June 1 Next Year

• The government has extended deadline for mandatory hallmarking of gold jewellery and artefacts by over four months till June 1, 2021, in the wake of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Government launched four schemes for setting up of Bulk Drugs & Medical Devices Parks

• Chemicals and Fertilizers Minister Sadananda Gowda launched four schemes of Department of Pharmaceuticals for promotion of domestic manufacturing of bulk drugs and medical devices parks in the country.

Centre to convert ravines of Chambal region into arable land with World Bank help

• The Centre, in collaboration with the World Bank, has decided to convert monumental dwelling of ravines in Gwalior-Chambal belt of Madhya Pradesh into arable land.

Govt notifies changes in FDI norms on civil aviation; permits NRIs to own 100% stake of Air India

• The government has notified changes in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) norms on civil aviation. It will permit non-resident Indian nationals to own 100 per cent stake of Air India.

HRD Minister launches India Report on Digital Education, 2020

• Human Resources and Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank launched India Report on Digital Education, 2020. The report elaborates on the innovative methods adopted by Ministry of HRD, Education Departments of States and Union Territories for ensuring accessible and inclusive education to children at home and reducing learning gaps.

The Centre would develop Leh and Kargil as smart cities in newly-formed UT of Ladakh

• The ministry of housing and urban affairs has formed a five-member central team under Smart Cities director Rahul Kapoor to handhold the union territory in formulating detailed projects reports for both the cities.

Namami Gange project included in ‘Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration’

• The Namami Gange project has been included in the prestigious ‘Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration’.

Cabinet approves MoU signed between India & Zimbabwe on Traditional Systems of Medicine

• The Union Cabinet gave ex-post facto approval to Memorandum of Understanding signed between India and Zimbabwe on Cooperation in the field of Traditional Systems of Medicine and Homeopathy.

Govt Unveils Amended Draft Acquisition Procedure for Defence Products

• The government issued an amended draft Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP), wherein it elaborated on how to use “leasing” method to get various defence products and on procedure to procure information and communication technology (ICT) systems for the armed forces.

Govt Releases Guidelines For Schemes To Boost Domestic Manufacturing Of Bulk Drugs, Med Devices

• Minister for Chemicals and Fertilisers Sadananda Gowda outlined plans to boost local manufacturing in bulk drugs and medical device industries to reduce the country’s reliance on imports, particularly from China.
• India has a robust $40 billion pharmaceutical sector that is seen as a reliable supplier of generic drugs.

HRD Ministry renamed as Ministry of Education

• Ministry of Human Resource Development has been renamed as Ministry of Education.
• The Union Cabinet has approved the change in the name of the ministry. The HRD Ministry is currently headed by Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank.

Ayush Minister launches dedicated Web-Portal for National AYUSH Mission

• Ayush Minister Shripad Yesso Naik reviewed the centrally- sponsored scheme of National Ayush Mission and operationalization of AYUSH Health and Wellness Centers during a webinar of Health and Ayush Ministers of all states.

MoD with MyGov conducts quiz competition on ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat – Swatantra Bharat’

• An online quiz competition on ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat – Swatantra Bharat’ is being conducted by Ministry of Defence in coordination with MyGov in order to create patriotic feeling among youth and masses.

Piyush Goyal inaugurates CII National Digital conference on Ease of Doing Business for Atmanirbhar Bharat

• Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal Inaugurating CII National Digital conference on Ease of Doing Business for Atmanirbhar Bharat, the Minister emphasized that slowly but surely a single window concept will be achieved

ITBP to get Khadi commission products

• The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) signed an agreement with The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) to get supplies from the Commission.

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Indian Railways

• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Chairman: V.K.Yadhav

The Energy and Resources Institute( TERI)

• Location: New Delhi, India
• Director: Ajay Mathur

World Bank

• President– David Robert Malpass
• Headquarters– Washington, D.C., United States

MoAFW

• Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Minister of Rural Development: Narendra Singh Tomar
• Constituency: Morena, Madhya Pradesh

Air India:

• Headquarters: Delhi, India
• Chairman & MD: Rajiv Bansal

Ministry of Human Resource Development:

• Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’, Cabinet Minister
• Constituency: Haridwar
• Sanjay Shamrao Dhotre, Minister of State

Zimbabwe:

• Capital: Harare
• President: Emmerson Mnangagwa
• Currencies: United States Dollar, RTGS dollar

Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers:

• V. Sadananda Gowda, Cabinet Minister
• Constituency: Bangalore North
• Mansukh L. Mandaviya, Minister of State

Ayush Ministry:        

• Shripad Naik, Minister of State (Independent charge)
• Constituency: North Goa

Ministry of Commerce and Industry:

• Piyush Goyal, Cabinet Minister
• Constituency: Maharashtra
• Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of State
• Som Parkash, Minister of State

Khadi and Village Industries Commission:

• Headquarters: Mumbai
• Chairperson: Vinai Kumar Saxena

ITBP:

• Headquarters: New Delhi, India
• S S Deswal: Director General of ITBP

CURRENT AFFAIRS: INTERNATIONAL

Nicaragua latest country to sign International Solar Alliance Framework Agreement

• Nicaragua has become the latest country to join the International Solar Alliance Framework Agreement, an initiative led by India to promote sustainable energy.

High Commissioner Riva Ganguly Das inaugurates school building in Bangladesh

• High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh Riva Ganguly Das and Information Minister of Bangladesh Dr. Hasan Mahmud jointly inaugurated the Science block building of Alipur Rahmania School and College, Chattogram.

India, Israel jointly develop ultra rapid testing kit for COVID-19; results within 30 sec

• India and Israel have jointly developed an ultra rapid testing kit for COVID-19.
• The testing kit which has proven it’s efficacy in lab results will now be subjected to broader trials.

India, UK affirm shared commitment towards FTA between both countries

• India and the United Kingdom have affirmed their shared commitment towards Free Trade Agreement between both the countries. The two sides will engage into early harvest schemes or limited trade agreements in a staged manner marking preparatory steps towards the free trade agreement.

WHO launches Covid-19 Law Lab to aggregate legal info from over 190 countries

• The World Health Organisation (WHO) launched its Covid-19 Law Lab to gather and share pandemic-related legal documents from over 190 countries across the world.
• It is a joint project of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), WHO, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law at Georgetown University.

India extends medical assistance worth about USD 1 million to North Korea

• India has extended medical assistance worth about USD 1 million to North Korea in response to a request received from the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Ministry of External Affairs stated.

DST launches Rs. 15 crore fund to support India-Russia collaboration joint R&D and cross-country tech adaptation

• The Department of Science and Technology has launched the India-Russia Joint Technology Assessment and Accelerated Commercialization Programme in partnership with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and Foundation for Assistance to Small Innovative Enterprises (FASIE) of the Russian Federation.

India hands over 10 broad gauge locomotives to Bangladesh

• India handed over 10 broad-gauge (BG) locomotives to Bangladesh, aiming to help handle the increasing volume of passenger and freight train operations in the neighbouring country.

IMF approves $4.3 bn to South Africa in biggest COVID-19 loan

• The IMF has decided to grant South Africa $4.3 billion in emergency funding, the largest amount given to any country yet to fight the coronavirus pandemic.

India, Indonesia Defence Ministers’ Dialogue held in New Delhi

• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh led the Indian delegation while the Indonesian delegation was led by their Defence Minister General Prabowo Subianto. Defence Ministers’ Dialogue between India and Indonesia was held in New Delhi.

India and EU renew Agreement on Scientific and Technological Cooperation for next 5 yrs till 2025

• India and European Union have renewed its Agreement on Scientific and Technological Cooperation for the next five years till 2025.

India begins reconstruction of 300-year-old Sree Sree Joy Kali Matar Temple in Bangladesh

• India began the reconstruction a 300-year-old temple Sree Sree Joy Kali Matar Temple in Bangladesh’s northern Natore district. The reconstruction is happening with Indian grant assistance of Bangladeshi Taka 97 lakhs and a total cost of Bangladeshi Taka of 1.33 Crores under the High Impact Community Development Project (HICDP) scheme of India.

New Supreme Court building in Mauritius ‘landmark project’ completed under India’s development partnership: MEA

• External Affairs Ministry stated the new Supreme Court building in Mauritius is another landmark project completed under India’s development partnership. Ministry spokesperson stated, this is an example of India’s ability to implement such projects in various parts of the world.

Australia to make Google and Facebook pay for news content

• The Australian government stated it plans to give Google and Facebook three months to negotiate with Australian media businesses fair pay for news content.

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Manipur

• Capital: Imphal
• Chief minister: N. Biren Singh
• Governor: Najma Heptulla

Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change:

• Prakash Javadekar, Cabinet Minister
• Constituency: Maharashtra
• Babul Supriyo, Minister of State

Nicaragua:

• Capital: Managua
• Currency: Nicaraguan córdoba

International Solar Alliance (ISA):

• Director General: Upendra Tripathy
• Headquarters: Gurugram, Haryana

Bangladesh:

• Prime Minister: Sheikh Hasina
• Capital: Dhaka
• Currency: Bangladeshi taka

Israel:

• Prime minister: Benjamin Netanyahu
• Capital: Jerusalem
• Currency: Israeli Shekel

UK:

• Prime minister: Boris Johnson
• Capital: London
• Currency: ‎Pound sterling‎ (‎GBP‎)

WHO:

• Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
• Tedros Adhanom: Director-General

DST:

• Ashutosh Sharma: present secretary
• Headquarters : New Delhi

Indonesia:

• President: Joko Widodo
• Capital: Jakarta
• Currency: Indonesian rupiah

European Union:

• President of the Commission: Ursula von der Leyen
• Headquarters: Brussels, Belgium

Mauritius:

• Prime minister: Pravind Jugnauth
• Capital: Port Louis
• Currency: Mauritian rupee

Australia:

• Capital: Canberra
• Currency: Australian dollar

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BANKING AND FINANCE

Bharti AXA General Insurance receives Rs.800 crore worth crop insurance mandate from Maharashtra, Karnataka under PMFBY

• Bharti AXA General Insurance, had received 800 crore worth crop insurance mandate from the governments of Maharashtra and Karnataka to insure their farmers under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY).

SBM Bank collaborates with EnKash and Yap to launch co-branded Business Credit Card on RuPay network for MSMEs and start-ups

• SBM Bank India, EnKash, YAP and RuPay joined hands to launch India’s most comprehensive business credit card, the SBM EnKash RuPay Business Card.

Muthoot Fincorp launches mentoring portal for MSMEs

• Muthoot Fincorp, has launched a portal Restartindia, a free mentoring platform to help the Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector to restart businesses across the country.

RBI signs $400 mn currency swap facility for Sri Lanka

• The Reserve Bank of India has agreed to a $400 million currency swap facility for Sri Lanka till November 2022, the Indian High Commission stated

Special Liquidity Scheme for NBFCs/HFCs: FinMin sanctions 5 proposals for Rs.3,090 crore

• The Finance Ministry stated that five proposals involving an amount of 3,090 crore had been sanctioned under the Rs.30,000 crore Special Liquidity Scheme for NBFCs and HFCs.

African Development Bank commits $98 million to Rwanda for multisector COVID-19 response

• The African Development Bank approved a concessional loan of $97.675 million to Rwanda to strengthen its national budget as it works to mitigate impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tata AIA Life Insurance launches express claims service that promises payouts in 4 hours

• Private sector Tata AIA Life Insurance has announced a new facility that promises to process life insurance claim pay-outs within four hours of registering them.

SBI providing USD 16 million liquidity support for local businesses in Maldives

• The State Bank of India (SBI) is providing liquidity support of USD 16.20 million for local businesses and deferred loan repayment for over 200 retail accounts

Bharti AXA General Insurance Launches ‘Bohot Zaroori Hai’ Campaign For Farmers

• Bharti AXA General Insurance, one of the world’s largest insurance companies, has launched its crop insurance campaign – ‘Bohot Zaroori Hai’ – for farmers in Maharashtra and Karnataka to encourage them about their yield protection and financial security.

SBI Card, IRCTC launch co-branded contactless credit card on RuPay platform

• SBI Card in collaboration with Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation, launched the IRCTC SBI Card.

Bank of Maharashtra, Uniken partner for Omni-channel security

• For securing its internet banking channels as well as the mobile, card, call centres and ATMs, among others, from cyber fraud, the state-owned Bank of Maharashtra has teamed-up with Uniken, a pioneer in the field of digital security in India. As a part of this partnership, the bank will use Uniken’s REL-ID technology for Omni-channel security.

Banks sanctions about Rs 90,000 crore concessional credit to 1.1 crore Kisan Credit Card holders

• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated banks have sanctioned Rs 89,810 crore to about 1 crore Kisan Credit Card (KCC)holders to help farmers meet finances for kharif sowing and allied activities

ADB approves $3 million grant to India to combat COVID-19

• Multilateral funding agency ADB stated it has approved $3 million (about Rs.22 crore) grant to India from its Asia Pacific Disaster Response Fund to further support the government’s emergency response to COVID-19 pandemic.

Axis Bank launches AI-powered conversational voice BOT for IVR

• Private sector lender Axis Bank unveiled as Automated Voice Assistant ‘AXAA’, which is an artificial intelligence-powered conversational voice BOT.

AIIB plans to approve loans worth $3 billion over next 12 months for infra projects

• Beijing-based multilateral funding agency AIIB is looking to provide loans worth USD 3 billion for various large infrastructure projects, including Delhi and Meerut Rapid Rail, Mumbai Metro Rail and Chennai Peripheral Ring Road project, over the next 12 months.

MobiKwik launches personal UPI payment link mpay.me

• FinTech company MobiKwik launched me– a UPI payment link service to send and receive money from any UPI payment app.

Craft Silicon, PayU announce strategic tie-up to advance digital loan repayment

• Craft Silicon, a global financial software solution provider, announces a strategic association with PayU, India’s online payment solutions provider.

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Bharti AXA General Insurance

• CEO: Sanjeev Srinivasan
• Headquarters location: Mumbai

SBM bank

• CEO: Parvataneni Venkateswara Rao
• Headquarters: Port Louis, Mauritius

Muthoot Fincorp

• Headquarters: Kochi
• Founded: 1887
• Chairperson: M G George Muthoot

Srilanka:

• Capitals: Colombo, Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
• Currency: Sri Lankan rupee
• President: Gotabaya Rajapaksa

RBI:

• Founded: 1 April 1935, Kolkata
• Governor: Shaktikanta Das
• Headquarters: Mumbai

African Development Bank

• Headquarters: Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
• President: Akinwumi Adesina

SBI

• Chairperson: Rajnish Kumar
• Headquarters: Mumbai
• Founded: 1 July 1955

Maldives

• Capital: Male
• Currency: Maldivian rufiyaa
• President: Ibrahim Mohamed Solih

IRCTC

• Headquarters– New Delhi, India
• Chairman & Managing Director– Mahendra Pratap Mall

SBI Card

• Headquarters– Gurgaon, Haryana.
• Managing Director(MD) and Chief executive Officer(CEO)– Ashwini Kumar Tewari

Bank Of Maharashtra:

• Headquarters: Pune
• CEO: A. S. Rajeev
• Tagline : One Family One Bank

Asian Development Bank:

• Headquarters: Mandaluyong, Philippines
• President: Masatsugu Asakawa

Axis Bank:

• CEO: Amitabh Chaudhry
• Headquarters: Mumbai

AIIB

• Headquarters: Beijing, China
• President and Chairman: Jin Liqun

Mobikwik

• CEO: BipinPreet Singh
• Headquarters location: Gurugram

PayU:

• Headquarters: Netherlands
• Laurent Le Moal: (CEO)

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

India’s GDP to contract 6% in FY21, says DBS

• Singaporean brokerage DBS forecast deeper distress for the country which will lead to a 6% growth contraction in FY21. In its earlier forecast, the brokerage had penciled in a minus 4.8% growth for the current fiscal.

NTPC floats tender to acquire 1 GW solar projects

• State-run power giant NTPC has floated a tender to acquire 1 GW operational solar projects, which entails an investment of around 5,000 crore.

Adani Ports signs up for Science-Based Targets initiative

• Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ) has signed up for the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) becoming the first Indian port to commit to set science-based emissions reduction targets — across their entire value chain — that are consistent with keeping global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

Microsoft, NBA team up to put virtual fans in basketball arenas

• The National Basketball Association with Microsoft restarts its coronavirus-interrupted season on July 30 in its “bubble” in Orlando, Florida, the stands could have more than 300 fans – none of whom will actually be in the arena.

Wibmo launches video-based customer identification process for banks

• Wibmo Inc, a global provider of payer authentication services and card payment security solutions, announced the launch of Wibmo Video-KYC, its video-based KYC solution to enable banks to digitally onboard their customers.

India’s e-commerce penetration may double, become $99 bn market by 2024: Goldman Sachs

• India’s e-commerce penetration is expected to more than double to nearly 11% by 2024 from 4.7% in 2019, and the industry is likely to reach $99 billion in size. This is according to Goldman Sach’s review of global e-commerce markets.

Flipkart launches hyperlocal delivery service in Bengaluru

• Walmart-owned Flipkart has launched a hyperlocal 90-minute delivery service called Flipkart Quick in Bengaluru across categories including grocery, mobiles, electronics and home accessories.

Sundaram Mutual launches ‘Any-day SIP’

• Sundaram Mutual has given investors the freedom to select a date on which their systematic investment plan (SIP) needs to be deducted from bank account rather than choosing from the six different dates usually fixed by the fund houses.
• The ‘Any-day SIP’, which is available in all open-ended schemes, will be available for transactions made through the Sundaram Mutual website

Sembcorp completes 800MW of SECI wind power projects

• Sembcorp Energy India Limited (SEIL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Singapore-based Sembcorp Industries, announced the completion of its 800MW wind power projects awarded by the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI). With this, the private sector power generator’s renewable energy capacity in India touched 1730MW.

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DBS bank:

• CEO: Piyush Gupta
• Headquarters: Singapore

NTPC:

• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Gurdeep Singh: (Chairman & MD)

Adani Ports & SEZ:

• CEO: Karan Adani
• Headquarters: Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India

Microsoft:

• CEO: Satya Nadella
• Headquarters: Washington, United States

National Basketball Association (NBA):

• Commissioner: Adam Silver
• Headquarters: New York City

Flipkart

• CEO: Kalyan Krishnamurthy
• Head Quarters: Bengaluru

Sundaram Finance:

• Headquarters:Chennai, Tamil Nadu
• T. Srinivasaraghavan: (Managing Director & CEO)

Sembcorp:

• CEO: Neil McGregor
• Headquarters: Singapore

CURRENT AFFAIRS: STATES

One-stop’ scheme to fast-track investments

• A “one-stop shop” scheme approved in Rajasthan is set to fast-track investments and help revive industries in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic by giving as many as 98 types of clearances under one roof to the potential investors through the Bureau of Investment Promotion (BIP).

Karnataka government tweaks three laws, approves labour ordinance

• The Karnataka state cabinet deemed the amendments to the Factories Act, Industrial Disputes Act and Contract Labour Act a necessity to ensure ‘ease of doing business’.

Gujarat: India’s first honey testing laboratory set up at NDDB in Anand district

• In Gujarat, India’s first honey testing laboratory has been set up at the National Dairy Development Board in Anand district. Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar stated the new lab will test honey as per the norms specified by the food safety regulator FSSAI.

Ahmedabad Railway Division successfully introduces unique concept of Baggage Sanitization

• In Gujarat, Ahmedabad Railway Division has successfully introduced a unique concept of Baggage Sanitization and Wrapping at Ahmedabad Railway Station. It is a first of its kind across the Indian Railways

Assam government deploys drone and anti-depredation quick response vehicle to guard forest areas

• Assam deployed a Surveillance Quadcopter (Drone) and an anti-depredation quick response vehicle.
• The inauguration of the vehicle an intensified 24X7 surveillance would be made possible over the forest cover of the state helping to rein in the increasing incidents of human-animal conflict.

J-K Announces Launch Of ‘Macadamisation Program’ For Improvement Of Roads

• Lieutenant Governor Girish Chandra Murmu announced the launch of a ‘Macadamisation Program’ for the improvement of roads across Jammu and Kashmir.

Delhi government launches website for job seekers, employers

• Delhi government started portal for employers and the job seekers.
• CM Kejriwal launched the website http://jobs.delhi.gov.in, named as ‘Rozgar Bazar’, a sort of marketplace for job seekers and the people recruiters.

Tamil Nadu CM launches free mask plan for ration card holders

• Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Palaniswami launched a free mask distribution scheme to benefit over 69 lakh families in the first phase, as part of measures to help fight COVID-19.

Road In Lucknow Named After Former MP Governor Lalji Tandon

• The Lucknow Municipal Corporation named a road and a crossing in the city after former Madhya Pradesh Governor Lalji Tandon.

 ‘BANDICOOT’: Guwahati gets Northeast’s first manhole cleaning robot

• Manholes in Guwahati will now be cleaned by robots. Named ‘BANDICOOT’, the robot has been procured by Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC).BANDICOOT was developed by a Start-up India company called

Kerala announces new Entrepreneurship Development Programme

• The Kerala government announced a new Entrepreneurship Development Programme to address the issues of shortage of working capital and availability of credit faced by startups and small entrepreneurs in the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami lays foundation for Rs 2,368 worth projects

• Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami has laid the foundation stone for the construction work on eight new industrial projects that would come up in the state for an investment of Rs 2,368 crore,. Besides, he inaugurated 11 completed projects which fetched Rs 3,185 crore investment.

Green J&K Drive-2020 begins in Ramnagar Wildlife Sanctuary of Jammu

• In Jammu and Kashmir, the Wildlife Protection Wing of Forest Department kick-started Green J&K Drive-2020 at Ramnagar Wildlife Sanctuary in order to mark 72nd Van-Mahotsav and setting the ball rolling for monsoon plantation in Jammu Region.

Indian Railways installs automatic lighting systems at three railways stations in Madhya Pradesh

• In a unique step towards energy conservation, the Indian Railways has recently installed automatic lighting systems at three railways stations in Madhya Pradesh.

IT industry, Cyberabad cops to launch Sanghamitras

• The Society for Cyberabad Security Council (SCSC) and Cyberabad Police will launch Sanghamitra. A friend of community, each of the Sanghamitras will lend a helping hand to those in the distress and provide them with immediate help.

Pawan Hans Launches First UDAN-RCS Service In Uttarakhand

• Flagging off the first helicopter service by Pawan Hans in Uttarakhand under the UDAN-RCS scheme, Hardeep Singh Puri, MoS, I/C, Civil Aviation stated that launch of the heli service and opening of these new routes will bring people of the state closer and support tourism in the region.

Kerala plans to provide tap connections to all rural households by 2023

• Kerala govt has planned to provide tap connections to every rural household by 2023. Out of total 67.15 lakh rural households, the state is making efforts to achieve the target of 21.42 lakh FHTCs in 2020-21.

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Rajasthan:

• Governor: Kalraj Mishra
• Capital: Jaipur
• Chief minister: Ashok Gehlot

 Karnataka

• Chief minister: B. S. Yediyurappa
• Capital: Bengaluru
• Governor: Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala

Gujarat:

• Capital: Gandhinagar
• Chief minister: Vijay Rupani
• Governor: Acharya Devvrat

Assam

• Capital: Dispur
• Chief minister: Sarbananda Sonowal
• Governor: Jagdish Mukhi

Delhi

• Chief minister: Arvind Kejriwal
• Deputy CM: Manish Sisodia
• Lieutenant Governor: Anil Baijal

Tamil Nadu

• Capital: Chennai
• Chief minister: Edappadi K. Palaniswami
• Governor: Banwarilal Purohit

Kerala

• Capital: Thiruvananthapuram
• Chief Minister: Pinarayi Vijayan
• Governor: Arif Mohammad Khan

Jammu and Kashmir:

• Capitals: Jammu (Winter), Srinagar (Summer)
• Lieutenant Governor :G. C. Murmu

Madhya Pradesh:

• Governor: Anandiben Patel,(Additional Charge)
• Chief Minister: Shivraj Singh Chouhan (BJP)
• Capital: Bhopal

Pawan Hans:

• Headquarters: Noida, India
• Chairman and Managing Director: Sanjeev Razdan

CURRENT AFFAIRS: ACQUISITIONS AND MERGERS

JSW Energy set to acquire GMR’s Odisha thermal plant

• JSW Energy Limited is expected to sign a deal with GMR Energy for acquiring 100 per cent stake in GMR Kamalanga Energy. The transaction had been put on hold given the ongoing uncertainty and will be revisited once the situation normalizes.

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JSW Energy Limited:

• CEO: Prashant Jain
• Headquarters: Maharashtra

CURRENT AFFAIRS: APPS AND PORTALS

IMD launches weather app for real-time updates and warnings across India

• The India Meteorological Department (IMD) launched its own app that will give real-time updates and warnings across 450 cities across the country, the first of its kind official weather app.

Paswan launches BIS-Care mobile app, 3 portals

• Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan launched a mobile app BIS-Care, which consumers can use for checking the authenticity of ISI and hallmark quality certified products.
• The minister also launched three portals of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) on standardisation, conformity assessment and training, which consumers and stakeholders can login through manakonline.in.

A Startup introduces mobile app for detection, risk assessment of Covid-19 infected individuals

• A Bangalore based startup has introduced a mobile app for detection and risk assessment of Covid-19 infected individuals. The technology has been developed with the support of the Department of Science and Technology.

Microsoft launches new Family Safety app for iOS and Android

• Microsoft is launching a new Family Safety app for iOS and Android.
• The software giant has been testing the app, and it’s designed to allow families to manage screentime and app usage.

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BIS

• Headquarters– New Delhi, India
• Director General– Pramod Kumar Tiwari

MoCA

• Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution: Ram Vilas Paswan
• Constituency: Hajipur, Bihar

CURRENT AFFAIRS: MOU

Amazon Pay ties up with Acko to offer vehicle insurance

• Digital payments major Amazon Pay has launched vehicle insurance in partnership with Bengaluru-based startup Acko General Insurance. The product will now be available on the Amazon Pay home page.

NHPC, GEDCOL ink pact to develop floating solar power projects in Odisha

• State-run hydro giant NHPC stated it has inked a MoU with Green Energy Development Corporation of Odisha Limited (GEDCOL) to form a joint venture for developing floating solar energy projects in the state with initial capacity of 500 MW.

ADB, GCF Commit to Partnership to Boost Green Recovery from COVID-19

• The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Green Climate Fund (GCF) have agreed to partner toward a “green recovery” for members confronting the harsh economic impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

TRIFED signs MoU with IIT Delhi under govt’s ‘Unnat Bharat Abhiyan’

• The Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) has entered into a partnership with IIT Delhi under the HRD Ministry’s flagship ‘Unnat Bharat Abhiyan’ (UBA) to boost livelihood opportunities and income generation for tribal communities.

 Total, IOC form joint venture to manufacture bitumen derivatives

• French energy giant Total SA and the country’s top oil firm Indian Oil Corp (IOC) announced a 50:50 joint venture to manufacture and market high-quality bitumen derivatives and specialty products for the growing road-building industry in India.

Gujarat, UK India Business Council sign MoU to strengthen state’s industrial growth

• The United Kingdom India Business Council signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Industrial Extension Bureau (iNDEXTb), Industries and Mines Department, Government of Gujarat.

PFC ties up with IIT-Kanpur for research, training in smart grid technology

• State-owned Power Finance Corporation (PFC) has signed an agreement with the Indian Institute of Technology- Kanpur for training, research, and entrepreneurship development in smart grid technology.

CSIR, UBA-IIT Delhi & Vijnana Bharati signs tripartite MoU

• Unnat Bharat Abhiyan-Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi (UBA-IITD) and Vijnana Bharti (VIBHA), New Delhi has signed a tripartite MoU with CSIR. The signed MoU will offer access to CSIR rural technologies for UBA.

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Amazon Pay

• Headquarters: Seattle, Washington United States
• CEO & MD for Amazon Pay India: Mahendra Nerurkar

Acko General Insurance Ltd

• Founder: Varun Dua
• Headquarters: Mumbai

NHPC:

• Headquarters: Faridabad, Haryana
• Abhay Kumar Singh: Chairman & MD

GCF

• Headquarters –Incheon, South Korea
• Executive Director – Mr. Yannick Glemarec

Total S.A.

• Headquarters– Paris, France
• CEO– Patrick Pouyanné

IOC

• Headquarters– New Delhi, India
• Chairman– Shrikant Madhav Vaidya

Gujarat:

• Capital: Gandhinagar
• Chief minister: Vijay Rupani
• Governor: Acharya Devvrat

PFC (Power Finance Corporation)

• Chairman and MD – Ravinder Singh Dhillon
• Headquarters – New Delhi.

CSIR:

• Director General: Shekhar C. Mande
• HQ: New Delhi

CURRENT AFFAIRS: APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATIONS

Amudha appointed Joint Secretary in PMO

• Amudha, a 1994 batch IAS officer of Tamil Nadu cadre, has been brought to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) as Joint Secretary in a reshuffle involving 16 officials of elite services from different categories.

Partha Pratim Sengupta appointed new MD, CEO of Indian Overseas Bank

• Partha Pratim Sengupta has been appointed as its new managing director and chief executive of Indian Overseas Bank (IOB). He was the deputy managing director, State Bank of India (SBI), as MD & CEO.

Sahil Seth appointed as honorary adviser for BRICS CCI

• Sahil Seth, Deputy Commissioner of Mumbai Customs, has been appointed as an honorary adviser to the steering committee for the BRICS Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) young leaders for the period 2020-2023.

Senior bureaucrat Rajesh Bhushan appointed Union Health Secretary, succeeds Preeti Sudan

• Senior bureaucrat Rajesh Bhushan has been appointed Union Health Secretary as part of a minor top-level bureaucratic reshuffle by the government.
• Bhushan will succeed Preeti Sudan, who was given a three-month extension in April and demits office on July 31.

President Kovind appoints Anandiben Patel the Governor of MP

• President Ram Nath Kovind appointed Anandiben Patel the Governor of Madhya Pradesh.
• Presently, she is the Governor of Uttar Pradesh. She has been given the additional charge of the Governor of Madhya Pradesh after the demise of Lal Ji Tandon

Air Marshal VR Chaudhari appointed as chief of IAF’s Western Air Command

• Air Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari has been appointed as the new commander-in-chief of the Indian Air Force’s Western Air Command (WAC) which looks after aerial defence of the sensitive Ladakh sector as well as various other parts of North India.

Naveen Tahilyani to take charge as Tata AIA Life Insurance MD & CEO

• Tata AIA Life Insurance has appointed Naveen Tahilyani as the new Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director. This is Tahilyani’s second stint at Tata AIA Life Insurance.

Croatian parliament approves new gov’t led by incumbent PM Andrej Plenkovic

• The Croatian parliament, approved a new government led by incumbent Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic.

Somalia’s Deputy Prime Minister Mahdi Mohammed Gulaid Appointed As Acting Prime Minister

• Somalia’s Deputy Prime Minister Mahdi Mohammed Gulaid has announced his appointment as the interim prime minister. He succeeded Hassan Ali Khaire.

Tunisia appoints interior minister Mechichi as the new prime minister

• Tunisia’s President Kais Saied appointed the Interior Minister, Hichem Mechichi, as the new Prime Minister for the North African country.
• Mechichi will succeed Elyes Fakhfakh, who resigned last week over allegations of conflict of interest.

Young Indian activist Archana Soreng  named by UN chief to new advisory group on climate change

• A climate activist from India Archana Soreng has been named by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to his new advisory group comprising young leaders who will provide perspectives and solutions to tackle the worsening climate crisis, as the global body mobilises action as part of the COVID-19 recovery efforts.

Former Coal India chief Anil Kumar Jha appointed member of key green panel

• The government has appointed former chairman of Coal India Anil Kumar Jha, as a member of a key panel that deals with violation of environment rules.

 ICRA names Sivaraman as new MD and Group CEO

• The board of directors of ICRA Ltd has appointed N Sivaraman as the Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer of the credit rating agency for three years with effect from August 10.

Jin Liqun re-elected AIIB President

• The board of governors of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), elected Jin Liqun for a second term as President. His second five-year term will begin on January 16, 2021.

Paytm Money appoints Varun Sridhar as new CEO

• Paytm Money, the subsidiary of One97 Communications Ltd which operates Paytm, has appointed Varun Sridhar as its new CEO.

 B Ramesh Babu assumes charge as MD, CEO of Karur Vysya Bank

• Karur Vysya Bank (KVB) stated B Ramesh Babu has assumed charge as the new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the bank with effect from July 29, 2020.

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IOB

• Headquarters – Chennai, Tamil Nadu
• Tagline- Good people to grow with

UN

• Headquarters: New York, United States
• Founded: 24 October 1945
• Secretary general: António Guterres

 MoEFCC

• Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: Prakash Keshav Javadekar
• Constituency: Madhya Pradesh

ICRA ratings:

• Headquarters: Gurgaon
• Arun Duggal, Non-Executive chairman and independent director.

Karur Vysya Bank (KVB):

• Headquarters: Karur
• CEO: P. R. Seshadri

CURRENT AFFAIRS: AWARDS AND HONORS

India’s first solar-powered ferry Aditya wins global honour

• Aditya, India’s first solar-powered ferry that commenced operations in 2017 in Kerala’s Vembanad backwaters, has won the prestigious Gustave Trouve Award for Excellence in Electric Boats and Boating.

SS Motivation Founder & CEO Sunil ydv SS Receives Karamveer Chakra Award from United Nations and ICONGO

• Founder of SS Motivation, World record holder Sunil ydv SS was honoured with “Karamveer Chakra Award” by Global Fellowship Award instituted by United Nations and International Confederation of NGO (iCONGO) at the ReX ConcLIVE hosted in IIT Delhi.

Avni Doshi, an Indian-origin author, on 2020 Booker Prize longlist for debut novel

• Dubai-based Indian-origin author Avni Doshi is among the 13 authors longlisted for the prestigious 2020 Booker Prize for her debut novel ‘Burnt Sugar’, alongside double Booker winner Hilary Mantel for ‘The Mirror and The Light’.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: RANKING

Mukesh Ambani now world’s 5th RICHEST

• Billionaire Mukesh Ambani is now the world’s fifth-richest man. The Real-Time Billionaires List by Forbes Magazine shows Ambani, the chairman of oil-to-conglomerate Reliance Industries, at the fifth position, just below Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg. Ambani’s wealth is pegged at $75 billion, meaning Rs 5.61 lakh crore. Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos is at the top with a net worth of $185.8 billion.

Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance breaks into top 50 most valued firms globally, ranks 48

• Billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries Ltd has broken into the top 50 most valued companies globally after it became the first company with market capitalisation of over Rs 13 lakh crore.
• The oil-to-telecom conglomerate is ranked 48th in market cap globally, according to stock market data.

Hyderabad is 16th most surveilled city in the world

• Telangana’s capital Hyderabad has found a place among the top 50 CCTV-surveilled cities in the world.
• According to a report published by the UK tech firm Comparitech, Hyderabad ranks 16th in the list and is the top-ranked Indian metropolis

India among top 10 countries gaining forest area in the world: FAO

• India has ranked third among the top 10 countries that have gained in forest areas in the last decade, the latest Global Forest Resources Assessment (FRA) brought out by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations

Reliance overtakes Exxon to become world’s 2nd most valuable energy firm

• Reliance Industries has overtaken ExxonMobil to become the world’s second most valuable energy company after its market capitalisation scaled to a record high of over Rs 14 lakh crore.

Agartala ranks no. 1 among 10 smart cities of Northeast India

• Tripura’s capital city Agartala has been ranked first amongst the ten smart cities in the North Eastern Region after it scaled up from 76 to 54 in the national rankings of the 100 smart cities of India.

Microsoft, Samsung ranked India’s most attractive employer brands by Randstad Research

• Microsoft India, has emerged as India’s most ‘attractive employer brand’, according to the findings of Randstad Employer Brand Research (REBR) 2020. Samsung India emerged as the runner up, followed by Amazon India.

Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur tops Niti’s aspirational districts ranking for Feb-June 2020

• Bijapur district in Chhattisgarh has topped the list of aspirational districts ranked by government think-tank NitiAayog for the February-June 2020 period.
• Ri-Bhoi (Meghalaya) and Bahraich (Uttar Pradesh) have been placed at the second and third positions

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FAO

• Headquarters: Rome, Italy
• Head: Qu Dongyu

Tripura

• Capital: Agartala
• Chief minister: Biplab Kumar Deb
• Governor: Ramesh Bais

Microsoft India

• Headquarters: Hyderabad
• Chairman: Bhaskar Pramanik

NITI Aayog

• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Chairperson: Narendra Modi
• Vice Chairman: Rajiv Kumar

CURRENT AFFAIRS: SUMMITS AND CONFERENCE

Arjun Munda inaugurates e-Symposium “Emergent North-East India: Strategic and Developmental Imperatives in Handicrafts” organized by IIM, Shillong

• Shri Arjun Munda, Union Minister for Tribal Affairs inaugurated an e-Symposium on Handicrafts titled “Emergent North-East India: Strategic and Developmental Imperatives in Handicrafts” organized by Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Centre for Policy Research and Analysis, Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Shillong.

6th BRICS Environment Ministers Meeting

• Representing India at the 6th BRICS Environment Ministers’ Meeting, Union Environment Minister, Prakash Javadekar, stated that India attaches great importance to the grouping.

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Ministry Of Tribal Affairs:

• Minister of Tribal Affairs- Arjun Munda
• Constituency- Jharkhand

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BOOKS AND AUTHORS

The Pandemic Century by Mark Honigsbaum

• “The Pandemic Century”, the book by British medical historian Mark Honigsbaum combines science history, medical sociology and front-line reportage to tell the history of global contagion dating from the Spanish Flu (1918) to the present day coronavirus pandemic.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar unveils new book on India’s ‘struggle gaining influence in foreign policy’

• External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, announced publication of his book ‘The India Way: Strategies for an Uncertain World’ by HarperCollins India.

The Book “Quest for Restoring Financial Stability in India” by Former Deputy Governor of RBI, Dr. Viral V. Acharya released

• The book titled, Quest for Restoring Financial Stability in India, Former Deputy Governor of RBI, Dr. Viral V. Acharya, talks about his quest for restoring financial stability in India and offers a concrete plan for sustained improvement.

Dr. Harsh Vardhan releases book on Standard Treatment Guidelines for of Substance Use Disorders (SUD) and Behavioral Addictions

• Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare released the e-book titled “Standard Treatment Guidelines for the Management of Substance Use Disorders and Behavioural Addictions” that aims to tackle substance abuse and behavioral addiction in the country.

Matthew McConaughey writing ‘Greenlights,’ a book based on his life-changing adventures

• The Oscar-winner Matthew McConaughey to announce the publication of his upcoming book,Greenlights (Crown Publishing), inspired by his personal writings that he’s done throughout his life.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

China launches ambitious Tianwen-1 Mars rover mission

• China’s first fully homegrown Mars mission Tianwen-1 mission launched atop a Long March 5 rocket from Hainan Island’s Wenchang Satellite Launch Center.

IIM Bangalore’s NSRCEL launches Women Startup Programme

• NSRCEL, the startup and innovation hub at the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore, has opened up applications to the third cohort of the Women Startup Program.

AIIMS Nagpur develops smart band to monitor COVID-19 patients

• The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Nagpur, has developed a smart wrist band.
• The device, designed and developed with the help of teams at IIT Jodhpur and IIIT Nagpur, works without a smartphone and helps ensure effective monitoring and tracking of confirmed and suspected COVID-19 patients.

IIT Delhi, Wells Fargo sign MoU for home-based Covid-19 testing kit

• The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi and Wells Fargo have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for development of a peptide-based ELISA test for the detection of Covid-19 antibodies.

BHU Professor launches website to help people in coping up fear of COVID-19

• A professor of Banaras Hindu University (BHU) has launched a dedicated website called Com which will help people in coping up from this fear and will also help in recovery them from depression and other Covid related issues.

DRDO establishes COVID-19 testing facility in Leh

• The DRDO has established a COVID-19 testing facility at the Defence Institute of High Altitude Research (DIHAR) in Leh to augment the existing capacity for identification of coronavirus cases in the union territory of Ladakh.

China launches new high-resolution mapping satellite

• China sent a new high-resolution mapping satellite into space from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in the northern province of Shanxi.
• The Ziyuan III 03 satellite was launched by a Long March-4B rocket at 11:13 a.m. Beijing time, according to the center. It was the 341st flight mission by the Long March rocket series.

IIT Kharagpur researchers develop portable device for low-cost Covid-19 rapid test

• IIT Kharagpur have developed a novel portable rapid diagnostic device to detect Covid-19 infection.
• The test costs only Rs 400, taking all components of expenses and business model into account.

IIT Madras startup launches wrist band for detecting COVID symptoms

• A wearable wrist tracker to detect COVID-19 symptoms at an early stage will be available in the market next month with its developer, a IIT Madras incubated start up, raising a funding of Rs 22 crore for the purpose.

Medical bed isolation system ‘Aashray’ launched to combat Covid-19

• A Pune deemed to be University has developed ‘Aashray’, a medical bed isolation system to combat COVID-19 by preventing or minimising the spread of the virus.

CSIO-AMESYS INDIA develops decontamination box ‘Suraksha’

• Central Scientific Instruments Organisation (CSIO), along with AMESYS INDIA has been developed a microorganism decontamination box. The decontamination device has been named as ‘Suraksha’.

IIT-Hyderabad develops electrodes from corn husk

• Researchers from Indian Institute of Technology-Hyderabad (IIT-H), in collaboration with the International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials (ARCI), have developed an efficient method to derive ‘activated carbon electrode’ material from corn husk for high-voltage super capacitors.

NASA set to launch robotic rover to seek signs of past Martian life

• NASA is set to launch an ambitious mission to Mars with the liftoff of its next-generation Perseverance rover, a six-wheeled robot tasked with deploying a mini helicopter, testing out equipment for future human missions and searching for traces of past Martian life.

Iran Launches Underground Ballistic Missiles During Exercise

• Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard launched underground ballistic missiles as part of an exercise involving a mock-up American aircraft carrier in the Strait of Hormuz.

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China

• President– Xi Jinping
• Capital– Beijing
• Currency– Renminbi

DRDO:

• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Dr G. Satheesh Reddy: Chairman, DRDO

NASA:

• Headquarters: Washington, D.C.,United States
• Administrator: Jim Bridenstine

Iran

• Capital– Tehran
• Currency– Iranian Rial

CURRENT AFFAIRS: DEFENCE

Largest solar power plant of Navy commissioned in Kerala

• The Indian Navy’s largest solar power plant has been commissioned at Ezhimala, in Kannur district of Kerala. Vice Admiral Anil Kumar Chawla launched plant operations via virtual conferencing.

DRDO Launches ‘Dare To Dream 2.0’ Contest For Startups With The Aim To Promote Innovators

• The Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) on launched ‘Dare to Dream 2.0’ contest for innovators and those looking to launch a startup on the 5th death anniversary of former President of India and noted scientist Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam.

5 Rafale jets land at IAF Ambala air base

• Five Rafale jets, the first of the 36 contracted by India, landed at the Ambala air base.
• The fighter jet, to be inducted into the Indian Air Force’s ‘Golden Arrow’ squadron, is the first imported fighter jet to be inducted into the IAF in 23 years after the Russian Sukhoi-30 fighters.

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Indian Navy

• Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS): Admiral Karambir Singh
• Vice Chief of the Naval Staff (VCNS): Vice Admiral G Ashok Kumar

Ministry Of  Defence:             

• Rajnath Singh, Minister of Defence
• Constituency: Lucknow
• Shripad Yesso Naik, Minister of State for Defence

DRDO:            

• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Dr G. Satheesh Reddy, Chairman, DRDO

Indian Air Force (IAF)

• Chief of the Air Staff (CAS)– Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria
• Headquarters– New Delhi

CURRENT AFFAIRS: SPORTS

IPL 2020 in UAE to start on September 19, final on November 8

• The Indian Premier League is all set to begin from September 19 and will continue till November 8 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). IPL Chairman, Brijesh Patel, has confirmed the schedule.

Jordan Henderson named as FWA Footballer of the Year

• Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson has been voted the 2019/20 Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year.

Sri Lanka woman cricketer Sripali Weerakkody retires from international cricket

• Sri Lanka women cricketer Sripali Weerakkody announced to retire from the international cricket with immediate effect.

Haryana to host 2021 Khelo India Youth Games after Tokyo Olympics

• Haryana will host the fourth edition of the Khelo India Youth Games after the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, the state’s chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar and union sports minister Kiren Rijiju The Games will be held in Panchkula.

Young Bangladesh pacer Kazi Anik handed two-year ban for doping violation

• Young Bangladesh pacer Kazi Anik Islam has been handed a two-year ban by the national cricket board for failing a dope test in 2018.

Jamie Vardy wins Premier League’s Golden Boot award

• Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy bagged the Premier Leagues Golden Boot award after netting 23 goals across the 2019/20 season.

Child welfare activist Achyuta Rao passes away due to COVID

• Founder and President of Balala Hakula Sangham, P Achyuta Rao passed away due to COVID-19.

Kansai Yamamoto, fashion designer, passes away

• Japanese fashion designer Kansai Yamamoto, known for his avant-garde collections and career-defining collaboration with David Bowie, has passed away aged 76.

Divij Sharan-Vijay Sundar Prashanth win doubles title in Surrey

• Vijay Sundar Prashanth and Divij Sharan combined well to win the doubles title in the LTA British Tour tennis tournament at the National Tennis Centre in Surrey.

Punjab’s Princepal Singh picked for NBA developmental league

• Princepal Singh, the starry-eyed kid from Dera Baba Nanak village, has signed to play in the NBA G-League, the National Basketball Association’s official minor league, in 2020-21.

India’s 2018 Asian Games mixed relay medal upgraded to gold after Bahrain’s disqualification

• The Indian 4x400m mixed relay team’s silver medal in the 2018 Asian Games has been upgraded to gold following the disqualification of original winners Bahrain on account of a doping ban handed to one of its runners.

Veteran All-Rounder Rajat Bhatia Announces Retirement From All Forms Of Cricket

• Veteran domestic all-rounder and former Kolkata Knight Riders star Rajat Bhatia has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket.

Harikrishna finishes 2nd at Biel Chess Festival

• Indian Grandmaster P Harikrishna finished second in the rapid section of the 53rd Biel International Chess Festival in Switzerland.

England wins Wisden Trophy

• England beat the West Indies by 269 runs to claim a series-clinching win in the third Test at Old Trafford. They regain the Wisden Trophy because they lost in the Caribbean last year.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: OBITUARY

Annie Ross, jazz singer turned actor, passes away at 89 

• Annie Ross, a popular jazz singer in the 1950s before crossing over into a successful film career, has passed away. She was 89.

Eminent dancer Amala Shankar passes away at 101

• Eminent dancer and choreographer Amala Shankar passed away at the age of 101.
• Amala Shankar, who had been active even in her early 90s, was awarded the Banga Bibhusan by the West Bengal government in 2011 for her contribution in the field of arts.

Noted Urdu journalist, satirist Nusrat Zaheer passes away

• Veteran Urdu journalist and satirist Nusrat Zaheer passes away at his native place Saharanpur at the age of about 70 years.

Veteran Urdu poet Shams Jalnavi passes away at 95

• Noted Urdu poet Mohammad Shamshuddin, popularly known as ‘Shams Jalnavi’, died here in Maharashtra due to old age.

Tanzania’s Former President Benjamin Mkapa passes away

• Tanzania’s former president Benjamin Mkapa has passed away.
• Mkapa served as the third president of the country, from 1995 to 2005, before handing over power to the fourth president Jakaya Kikwete.

Fleetwood Mac founding guitarist Peter Green passes away

• Blues guitarist Peter Green, a co-founder of the band Fleetwood Mac, has passed away at the age of 73.
• Green was known for his blues guitar sound even prior to the forming of Fleetwood Mac.

Senior advocate Bhaskarrao Awhad passes away

• Senior advocate and former president of Bar Council of Maharashtra Bhaskarrao Awhad passed away. He was 77.

Actor John Saxon passes away at Age 83

• John Saxon, the teen idol who later starred in martial arts and horror films, passed away at the age of 83.In 1973, Saxon starred with Bruce Lee in Enter The Dragon, one of the most profitable movies ever made.

Actor Olivia de Havilland passes away

• Olivia de Havilland, two-time Oscar winner has passed away.  She was 104.

Bollywood action director Parvez Khan passes away

• Bollywood action director Parvez Khan, known for his work in Andhadhun, Johnny Gaddaar and Bullett Raja, has passed away after suffering a massive heart attack. He was 55.

Senco Gold CMD Shaankar Sen passes away

• Shaankar Sen, chairman and managing director of Senco Gold Ltd., which runs the chain of Senco Gold and diamond jewellery stores, passed away. He was 60.

Actor Kumkum passes away

• Veteran Bollywood actor Kumkum, who featured in over 100 films and popular songs such as “Kabhi Aar Kabhi Paar” and “Mere Mehboob Qayamat Hogi”, passed away.

Former Puducherry MLA and NR Congress leader V Bhalan passes away of COVID-19

• Former Puducherry MLA and NR Congress General Secretary V Bhalan passed away of COVID-19. He was 68.

Justice Sanjay Gupta passes away

• Justice Sanjay Gupta of J&K High Court passed away due to illness. He was 59.

Maidan coach Ashok Mustafi passes away

• Veteran Maidan coach Ashok Mustafi, who also trained former India captain and BCCI president Sourav Ganguly during his formative years, passed away after a prolonged illness.

Padma Shri awardee Sonam Tshering Lepcha dies at 92

• Folk musician and Padma Shri awardee Sonam Tshering Lepcha passed away at Kalimpong due to old age ailments.

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