Important Weekly Current Affairs PDF Download (Aug 15th to 21st Aug 2024)

Dear Readers, Here we have given the list of Important Weekly Current Affairs of Aug 15th to 21st Aug 2024. Candidates those who are preparing for Upcoming SBIClerk 2024 and other competitive exams can make use of it.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: IMPORTANT DAYS

• World Photography Day is celebrated on August 19 every year.
• World Mosquito Day is observed annually on 20 August & the theme 2024 is “Accelerating the fight against malaria for a more equitable world”

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BANKING & FINANCE

• Axis Bank has introduced the Primus Credit Card, a super premium offering designed for ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNW).
• The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has announced the incorporation of NPCI BHIM Services Ltd (NBSL), formerly known as Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM), as a wholly-owned subsidiary.
• The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) has introduced a new requirement for valuation reports under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), 2016.
• RBL Bank has introduced the Special Edition of ‘Vijay Fixed Deposits,’ designed to honour the 78^th year of independence and appreciate service members.
• Ather Energy, an electric two-wheeler manufacturer, has secured $71 million in a new funding round led by the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF), taking its valuation to $1.3 billion, making it a unicorn.
• The finance ministry has exempted the income of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) from payment of income tax for five years, extending until the fiscal year 2027-28.
• State Bank of India (SBI), India’s largest lender, has increased its marginal cost of funds-based lending rate (MCLR) by 10 basis points.
• Banks have urged the government to organize more frequent Lok Adalats through Debt Recovery Tribunals (DRTs) to address distressed loans outside of court.
• Several mid-tier banks, including RBL Bank, Bank of Maharashtra (BoM), Federal Bank, and Tamilnad Mercantile Bank (TMB), have introduced special fixed deposit (FD) schemes to increase deposit growth.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved Tata Capital Limited’s (TCL) conversion from a Non-Banking Finance Company (NBFC)–Core Investment Company (CIC) to an NBFC–Investment Credit Company (ICC).
• The Reserve Bank of India imposed penalties on 5 entities, including CSB Bank, Union Bank of India and Muthoot Housing Finance for contravention of various regulatory norms.
• Punjab National Bank (PNB) has launched the PNB ANTAH DRISHTI Braille Debit Card, a new debit card specifically designed for visually impaired customers.
• Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) Bank launched the “Kisan Ka Samman” program to honour financially disciplined farmers in Jammu & Kashmir.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) imposed monetary penalties on 3 financial institutions for various lapses. The three financial institutions include Bank of Maharashtra, Hinduja Leyland Finance, and Poonawalla Fincorp.
• Sanjay Vinayak Mudaliar, Executive Director of Bank of Baroda (BoB), inaugurated the ‘phygital’ branch at ChandaNagar, Hyderabad.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released the results of its bi-monthly Consumer Confidence Survey (CCS) for July 2024.
• Central banks play a crucial role in maintaining economic stability and growth by implementing stable monetary policy and ensuring financial stability.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has cautioned non-banking financial company – peer-to-peer (NBFC-P2P) lending platforms that they cannot promote P2P lending as an investment product with features such as tenure-linked assured minimum returns, and liquidity options.
• The Markets regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has proposed the expansion of the sustainable finance framework in the securities market by introducing a new category of financial instruments.
• According to data from the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), the top three players on India’s flagship payments platform, Unified Payments Interface (UPI), processed 93% of all such transactions in July 2024.
• According to the latest “Men and Women” report released by the National Statistical Office (NSO), only 20.8% or around a fifth of the total amount of bank deposits in India belongs to women account holders.
• Private sector lender Karnataka Bank has partnered with Sachin Bansal-founded Navi to launch credit lines on Unified Payments Interface (UPI)-based transactions.
• ICICI Bank has formulated a long-term vision for enhancing sustainability and becoming carbon neutral in scope 1 and scope 2 emissions by financial year 2032.
• India’s flagship payments platform, Unified Payments Interface (UPI), reported a 45% year-on-year (Y-o-Y) growth in transaction volume to reach 14.44 billion in July, 2024.
• Outward remittances under the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI’s) Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) dropped by 24.39% year-on-year to $6.9 billion in Q1 FY25, compared to $9.1 billion in the same period the previous year.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) study forecasts that private sector capital expenditure (capex) could rise to ₹2.45 trillion in FY25, up from ₹1.59 trillion in FY24.
• Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman chaired a review meeting of Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) in New Delhi.
• Fintech Association of India (FACE) has asked its members to explore joining the Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System (CFCFRMS) – part of the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal.
• ICICI Lombard General Insurance has teamed up with 7 different financial institutions for bancassurance partnerships.
• State Bank of India (SBI), ICICI Bank, and IDBI Bank are the primary creditors, holding significant claims in the Jaiprakash Associates (JAL) insolvency case.
• The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has launched a new feature called ‘UPI Circle-Delegate Payments’ on its Unified Payments Interface (UPI) platform.
• The Government introduced the Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024 which seeks to increase the option for nominees per bank account to four, from the existing one, among others.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL NEWS

• The Indian Railways and the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) have launched the ‘One India – One Ticket’ initiative to enhance passenger travel experience using mainline railways and Namo Bharat trains.
• India is set to host the 3rd Voice of Global South Summit on August 17, 2024.
• The Environment Ministry of India announced the inclusion of three new wetlands into the Ramsar site network, increasing the total count to 85.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi outlined the government’s plan to achieve the goal of ‘Viksit Bharat 2047,’ emphasizing a transformative vision to make India a developed nation by its centenary of independence.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his Independence Day address, reiterated India’s ambition to host the 2036 Summer Olympics.
• The ₹34,000-crore Pradhan Mantri-Kisan Urja Suraksha evamUtthaanMahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) program, aimed at enhancing solar energy infrastructure in agriculture, is facing delays.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the Indian-American community in Long Island, New York, on September 22, 2024.
• The Centre’s expert panel, led by Sanjay Kumar (former Director General of Forests), is considering the extent of Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESAs) in the Western Ghats.
• The Pradhan Mantri-Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) has provided free hospitalization benefits worth Rs 90,204 crore to beneficiaries since its launch.
• Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced the start of ‘Kisan Ki Baat,’ a monthly radio program set to begin in September.
• Union Minister of Port Shipping and Waterways, Shri SarbanandaSonowal, officially launched the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the Green Tug Transition Program (GTTP).
• The government has finalized a tender to procure 1,000 Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) as part of the IndiaAI Mission.
• The Union government has introduced a digital platform called Krishi-Decision Support System (Krishi-DSS) to provide comprehensive geospatial data for agricultural decision-making.
• The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved five infrastructure projects including the proposal of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) for the development of a new Civil Enclave at Bagdogra Airport, Siliguri, West Bengal and Bihta, Patna, Bihar at an estimated cost of ₹1,549 crore and ₹1,413 crore, respectively.
• Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has announced the new chairpersons for six parliamentary committees, including the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
• Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena has issued several directives to improve traffic management and encourage better parking practices in Delhi.
• To support exporters in maintaining their competitiveness in a challenging global market, the Indian government is likely to extend two critical export promotion measures: the Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) scheme and the Interest Equalisation Scheme (IES).
• The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has successfully facilitated the export of India’s first ready-to-drink fig juice, made from GI-tagged Purandar figs, to Poland.
• India’s first fully digital court, named “24*7 ONCOURTS,” dedicated to handling cheque bounce cases, was inaugurated in Kollam, Kerala, by Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai of the Supreme Court.
• Nepal is set to export close to 1,000 MW of electricity to India, marking a new milestone in the energy collaboration between the two nations.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: INTERNATIONAL NEWS

• Sri Lanka’s telecommunications regulator has granted a license to Elon Musk’s Starlink, the satellite unit of SpaceX, to provide satellite broadband services in the country.
• The UAE Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology joined its BRICS counterparts on the launch of a Centre for Industrial Competences in cooperation with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) to support the development of Industrial skills and capabilities.
• Indonesia marked 79 years of independence on August 17, 2024 with a ceremony in the unfinished future capital of Nusantara, which was planned to relieve pressure on Jakarta but whose construction has lagged behind schedule.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: AWARDS AND HONOURS

• The National Institute for MSME (NI-MSME), under the Ministry of MSME, Government of India, has been awarded the Accreditation Certificate for successfully meeting the National Standards for Civil Services Training Institutions (NSCSTI).
• The government has identified 28 coal mining projects to be operated through mining developers-cum-operators (MDOs), with 18 mines already awarded to leading private companies.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) declared monkeypox a global public health emergency for the second time in two years.
• President DroupadiMurmu approved 103 Gallantry awards for personnel from the Armed Forces and Central Armed Police Forces.
• The 70th National Film Awards celebrated significant achievements in Indian cinema, with Southern films dominating the major categories.
• Blessy directorial Aadujeevitham-The Goat Lifebagged nine awards, including that of best popular film, best director and best actor, at the Kerala State Film Awards 2023.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: STATE NEWS

• The Karnataka government has directed all state departments to close their accounts in the State Bank of India (SBI) and Punjab National Bank (PNB).
• Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has directed officials to formulate an action plan for establishing 100 food processing, aqua, horticulture, and mineral-based industrial development parks.
• The Himachal Pradesh government has launched a new initiative, the HIM-UNNATI scheme, aimed at promoting natural farming across the state.
• Madhya Pradesh has become the first state in India to provide money directly to girl students for purchasing sanitary napkins.
• The Odisha government has introduced a one-day menstrual leave policy for working women in both the public and private sectors.
• The Andhra Pradesh (AP) government aims to achieve a 15% annual growth rate in the State Gross Domestic Product (GSDP).
• Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath hoisted the national flag at an event to mark the nation’s 78th Independence Day in front of Vidhan Bhavan in Lucknow, UP.
• The Maharashtra government launched the “Mukhyamantri Majhi LadkiBahin Yojana,” aimed at providing financial aid to women across the state.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

• Shri Rajeeva has been appointed as the Executive Director of Punjab & Sind Bank for a period of three years, effective immediately or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be the chief guest at The Economic Times World Leaders Forum on August 31 in New Delhi.
• Standard Chartered Bank has announced the appointment of Aditya Mandloi as Head of Wealth and Retail Banking (WRB) for India and South Asia.
• The Centre has appointed Govind Mohan, an Indian Administrative Services (IAS) officer, as the next Union Home Secretary.
• Vinay Mohan Kwatra, former Foreign Secretary, has assumed charge as the Ambassador of India to the United States.
• Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has announced that he will not seek re-election as the leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in next month’s party polls.
• The Centre has appointed Rahul Navin as the full-time Director of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for a two-year term, according to a government order.
• Deepak Sood has been appointed as the Whole Time Member (Non-Life) of the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) by the Central Government.
• The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) announced that Rajesh Kumar Singh will become the new Defence Secretary succeeding Giridhar Aramane.
• Paetongtarn Shinawatra, a 37-year-old billionaire heiress, is set to become Thailand’s youngest-ever Prime Minister.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has appointed Salee Sukumaran Nair as Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Tamilnad Mercantile Bank for a period of 3 years from the date of assuming charge, subject to shareholders approval.
• Kelly Ortberg, an aerospace industry veteran, has been named as the new President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Boeing.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : ENVIRONMENT

• A new flowering plant species named CeropegiaShivarayina was discovered at Vishalgarh Fort in Kolhapur district, Maharashtra.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BUSINESS NEWS

• The annual inflation rate based on the All India Wholesale Price Index (WPI) for July 2024 stands at 2.04%, a decrease from 3.36% in June 2024.
• India’s total exports (merchandise and services combined) for July 2024 were estimated at USD 62.42 billion, reflecting a growth of 2.81% compared to July 2023.
• Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) has launched India’s first biofuel blend High Flash High-Speed Diesel (HFHSD) bunker facility at Mumbai Port.
• Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K. Stalin inaugurated an industrial housing facility for Apple contract manufacturer Foxconn women employees at SIPCOT Industrial Park in VallamVadagal near Sriperumbudur.
• Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) have set a new milestone in the Indian debt market, with net investments exceeding ₹1 lakh crore as of mid-August 2024.
• In the fiscal year 2022-23 (FY23), listed companies in India have recorded a significant shortfall in their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) spending, with a five-year high of ₹1,475 crore remaining unspent.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: SUMMITS AND CONFERENCE

• The leaders of South Korea, Japan, and the United States issued a joint statement, commemorating the anniversary of their summit at Camp David.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : ACQUISITIONS & MERGERS

• The Adani Group-controlled Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) has pledged a 51% stake in the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIAL) to the State Bank of India (SBI).

CURRENT AFFAIRS: DEFENCE NEWS

• DRDO successfully conducted the maiden flight test of the Long Range Glide Bomb (LRGB), GAURAV, from the Su-30 MK-I platform of the Indian Air Force (IAF).
• United States (US) aerospace giant Boeing has partnered with India’s AI Engineering Services Limited (AIESL) to enhance local maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) capabilities for the Indian Navy’s fleet of 12 P-8I maritime surveillance aircraft.
• The Indian Air Force (IAF) and Indian Army have jointly carried out a first-of-its-kind precise para-drop operation of the Aarogya Maitri Health Cube at a high-altitude area close to 15,000 feet.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

• Geophysicists using seismic data from NASA’s Insight lander have uncovered a large underground water reservoir on Mars.
• Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched the Earth Observation Satellite ‘EOS-08’ using the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV)-D3 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
• Ola Electric, the winner of the Centre’s flagship Rs 18,100 crore production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for advanced chemical cells (ACC), unveiled the ‘Bharat’ battery cell — an indigenous 4680 cell.
• Krutrim, the Artificial Intelligence (AI) startup founded by Bhavish Aggarwal, plans to launch its first AI chip, Bodhi 1, by 2026, followed by a superior Bodhi 2 in 2028.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BOOKS AND AUTHOR

• Alpana Killawala’s book, A Fly on the RBI Wall: An Insider’s View of the Central Bank, provides an in-depth look at her 25-year career with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the evolution of its communication strategies.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: MOUS AND AGREEMENT

• The Society for Applied Microwave Electronics Engineering & Research (SAMEER), an R&D institute under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, has signed a significant Transfer of Technology (ToT) agreement with ToshniwalHyvacPvt. Ltd. and Sir Automation Industries.
• India and the U.S. signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enable Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) from both countries to participate more effectively in global markets, drive innovation, and foster trade.
• The Assam government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Prasar Bharati to produce and broadcast a 52-episode documentary series on the legendary Ahom General LachitBorphukan.
• The Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) have launched a joint project to address labor challenges in the Indian cotton industry, focusing on eliminating child and forced labor.
• IIT Bhubaneswar has partnered with IG Drones, a leading drone-tech and AI company, to establish an Advanced Drone Excellence Centre at the IIT Bhubaneswar Research and Entrepreneurship Park.
• India and the United Kingdom have commenced negotiations to strengthen their partnership in the critical minerals sector under the newly established UK-India Technology Security Initiative (TSI).

CURRENT AFFAIRS: RANKING AND INDEX

• Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd. (RVNL) Added to the MSCI India Index, part of the MSCI Global Standard Index.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: SPORTS NEWS

• Sachin Tendulkar, the iconic cricketer, is stepping into the world of entrepreneurship by launching a new sports athleisure brand.
• In the latest ICC ODI rankings, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma has moved up to second place among batters following his impressive performance in the recent series against Sri Lanka.
• Former Indian all-rounder Dodda Ganesh has been appointed the head coach of Kenya’s men’s cricket team.
• Zeeshan Ali announced his resignation as the coach of the Indian Davis Cup team, a month before the team’s upcoming match against Sweden in Stockholm.
• Following his historic bronze medal at the Paris Olympics, Indian hockey legend PR Sreejesh has announced his retirement.
• VVS Laxman, the former Indian batting great, is set to extend his tenure as the head of the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru for at least another year, according to a report by ESPNcricinfo.
• Kylian Mbappe made an impactful debut for Real Madrid, scoring a crucial goal to help his team win the UEFA Super Cup with a 2-0 victory over Atalanta in Warsaw.
• Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) announced the immediate suspension of wicketkeeper-batter Niroshan Dickwella following allegations of an anti-doping violation.
• Indian para-athletes Sumit Antil and Bhagyashri Jadhav have been named joint flag-bearers for the Paris 2024 Paralympics Opening Ceremony, scheduled for August 28.
• Ashutosh Singh will serve as the new national coach for India’s Davis Cup team.
• Brooks Koepka secured his fifth career LIV Golf title, defeating Jon Rahm in a playoff at the LIV Golf Greenbrier.
• IlkayGündoğan, who captained Germany during Euro 2024 on home soil, officially retired from international football at 33.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : OBITUARIES

• RN Agarwal, an acclaimed aerospace scientist and a key figure in India’s missile technology, passed away at the age of 84 in Hyderabad.
• Actor Gena Rowlands, who was in the entertainment industry for over six decades, died at the age of 94.
• Veteran Gandhian and social worker Shobhana Ranade passed away in Pune, Maharashtra at the age of 99.
• Director General of Indian Coast Guard Rakesh Pal Passed away in Chennai, Tamil Nadu (TN).
• Former director-general of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Girish Sahni, known for developing clot busters for treatment of cardiovascular diseases passed away at the age of 68.

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