NATIONAL UPDATES:
1.
Indian Railways introduces Drone based surveillance system: Drone based
surveillance system has been introduced by the Indian Railways for Railway
security. The Railway Protection Force (RPF) has decided to employ large number
of drones for the purpose of Railway security. As a result, RPF has procured
nine drones at a cost of around Rs 32 lakh at the South Eastern Railway,
Central Railway, Modern Coaching Factory, Raebareli and South Western Railway.
The deployment of drones aims to provide a force multiplier and increases the
effectiveness of the security personnel deployed. Two Ninja UAVs have been
procured by the Mumbai Division of Central Railway for better security and
surveillance in Railway areas such as station premises, Railway track sections,
yards as well as workshops.
Note: Union Minister of Railways: Piyush
Goyal.
2.
Flipkart establishes academic collaboration with IIT Patna: An Memorandum of
understanding (MoU) has been signed by India’s homegrown ecommerce player
“Flipkart” with Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) Patna. The MoU will
encourage industry focused applied research in the areas of Artificial
Intelligence (AI), Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Machine Learning (ML).
This is flipkart’s effort towards strengthening its academic collaboration
which it has been promotiong for past 5 years now. The partnership is expected
to bring real world industry exposure to students and scholars of IIT Patna. It
will also offer opportunities to the faculty members to work closely with
Flipkart on various research projects. IIT Patna will also conduct a number of
programs like joint research activities, writing research papers, organizing
seminars, internship/mentorship opportunities etc.
Note: Chief Executive Officer of Flipkart:
Kalyan Krishnamurthy.
3.
Satya Pal Malik appointed as Governor of Meghalaya: President of
India, Ram Nath Kovind has appointed Satya Pal Malik as the Governor of
Meghalaya with effect from 18 August 2020. Prior to this, He was serving as the
Governor of Goa. Satya Pal Malik replaced Tathagata Roy who completed his
5-year term by serving as governor of Tripura for 3 years and remaining in
Meghalaya. He was also the last governor of Jammu and Kashmir state, before its
bifurcation into Union Territory. Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari
has been given additional charge as the Governor of Goa, in addition to his own
duties.
Note: Chief Minister of Meghalaya: Conrad
Kongkal Sangma; Capital: Shillong
4.
IIT Madras Tops Atal Rankings (ARIIA) 2020: The Indian Institute of Technology,
Madras has retained the top position in the ‘Atal Ranking of Institutions on
Innovation Achievements,’ (ARIIA) 2020 for being the best centrally funded
institution in India. The 2020 ‘Atal Ranking of Institutions on Innovation
Achievements (ARIIA),’ was released by Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, in presence
of Union Minister of Education, Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank,’ in a virtual event
on 18 August 2020. In 2020, 674 Institutions of National Importance, Central
Universities and centrally funded technical institutions participated in the
rankings, as compared to 496 in 2019. The top five centrally funded
institutions in the list:
S. No. Winner
1 IIT
Madras
2 IIT
Bombay
3 IIT
Delhi
4 IISc
Bengaluru
5 IIT
Kharagpur
For the first time, ARIIA 2020 rankings had
a special prize category for women-only higher educational institutions. The
winners of this category: Avinashilingam Institute for Home Science and Higher
Education for Women followed by Indira Gandhi Delhi Technical University for
Women.
Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology,
Odisha bags the 1st spot in private institutions category followed by SRM and
Vellore Institute of Technology.
Note: The ARIIA ranking was launched in
2019 by the Innovation Cell of the Ministry of Education. The objective of
ARIIA is to rank higher education institutions and universities in India as per
Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Startup, and Development amongst faculty and
students.
5.
Ashok Lavasa steps down as Election Commissioner of India: Ashok Lavasa has
stepped down as the Election Commissioner of India. He has submitted his
resignation to President of India, Ram Nath Kovind. Lavasa is set to join the
Philippines-based Asian Development Bank as the vice-president from September
2020. He will succeed the incumbent vice-president Diwakar Gupta, who is in
charge of private sector operations, and public-private partnerships. Ashok
Lavasa is a retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of Haryana
cadre (Batch 1980) and assumed charge as the Election Commissioner of India on
23rd January, 2018.
Note: Chief Election Commissioner of India:
Sunil Arora.
President of Asian Development Bank:
Masatsugu Asakawa.
6.
Mobile App launched to source loan applications of Street Vendors: Minister of State
(I/C), Housing and Urban Affairs, Hardeep Singh Puri has launched a mobile
application for Urban Local Bodies (ULB) functionaries. This app will offer
user friendly digital interface for the ULB functionaries to source loan
applications of street vendors under the Prime Minister Street Vendors
AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) Scheme. During the launch event, the minister
also urged the Ministers of Urban Development including other senior officials
to conduct meetings with key stakeholders for the successful implementation of
PM SVANidhi. He also encouraged the states to link other schemes for economic
upliftment of vendors and urged the state to set up forum chaired by District
Collector to help beneficiary raise their grievances in a conducive environment.
7.
Delhi Police signs MoU with All India Institute of Ayurveda: Delhi Police has
signed an Memorandum of understanding (MoU) with All India Institute of
Ayurveda (AIIA), an autonomous Institute under Ministry of AYUSH. The MoU will
offer Ayurveda Preventive and Promotive health services in the residential
colonies of Delhi Police through a mobile unit named ‘Dhanwantari Rath’ and
Police Wellness Centres. These sources would be catered by AIIA, supported by
Ministry of AYUSH. “Dhanwantari Rath” is a mobile unit of Ayurveda health care
services which comprises a team of Doctors who would be visiting Delhi Police
colonies on regular intervals. Police wellness centres and Dhanwantari Rath
would be outreach OPD services of AIIA. These services seek to aid the Families
of Delhi Police with the help of Ayurveda Preventive health care services.
Note: Chief Minister of Delhi: Arvind
Kejriwal; Governor of Delhi: Anil Baijal.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1.
Mali’s President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita resigns after military mutiny: Malian President,
Ibrahim Boubacar Keita has resigned and dissolved parliament hours after
mutinying soldiers detained him at gunpoint, plunging a country already facing
an insurgency and mass protests deeper into crisis. Keita won a second term in
elections in 2018, but there has been anger over corruption, the mismanagement
of the economy and the rise of communal violence in areas of the country. The
soldiers were expected to deliver a statement later, while countries in West
Africa, along with former colonial power France, the European Union and the
African Union, denounced the actions of the soldiers and warned against any
unconstitutional change of power.
Note: Republic of Mali Capital: Bamako;
Currency: West African CFA franc.
2.
World Humanitarian Day: 19 August: World Humanitarian Day (WHD) is observed
globally on 19th August every year. This day is celebrated to pay tribute to
humanitarian personnel and those workers who lost or risked their lives while
doing humanitarian service. World Humanitarian Day (WHD) 2020 is the 11th
edition of World Humanitarian Day. This year World Humanitarian Day comes as
the world continues to fight the COVID-19 pandemic over recent months. Aid workers
are overcoming unprecedented access hurdles to assist people in humanitarian
crises in 54 countries, as well as in a further nine countries which have been
catapulted into humanitarian need by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Note: Headquarters of WHO: Geneva,
Switzerland; Director-general of WHO: Tedros Adhanom.
OTHER UPDATES:
SPORTS
1.
Dream 11 wins title sponsorship rights of IPL 2020: The title
sponsorship rights of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 has been bagged by the
fantasy gaming start-up “Dream 11“. The fantasy gaming start-up has bagged the
title sponsorship rights for Rs 222 crore. Dream 11 has bagged the rights as
Expression of Interest (EOI) was invited by the Board of Control for Cricket in
India (BCCI) for IPL 2020’s title sponsorship after the Chinese mobile phone
brand, Vivo, pulled out of it. The title rights bagged by the fantasy gaming
start-up “Dream 11” are valid till December 31, 2020. IPL 2020 is expected to
be held from September 19 to November 10, 2020.
Note: Founders of Dream 11: Harsh Jain and
Bhavit Sheth.
(Interim) Chief Executive Officer of Board
of Control for Cricket in India: Hemang Amin; President of the Board of Control
for Cricket in India: Sourav Ganguly.
2.
Rohit Sharma appointed Oakley’s brand ambassador in India: Sports eyewear
brand “Oakley” has appointed Indian cricketer, Rohit Sharma as its brand
ambassador for a period of two years in India. As a part of the partnership,
Sharma will be sporting Oakley eyewear equipped with patented Prizm technology
created specifically for sports lenses. With this partnership, Sharma will
sport the brand’s performance eyewear on and off the pitch. He joins the likes
of Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh and Milind Soman who have endorsed the brand
before.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1.
RBI releases framework for authorisation of pan-India Umbrella Entity for
Retail Payments: Presently
NPCI is the only Umbrella Entity for Retail Payments in India. Now Reserve Bank
of India has released the ‘framework for authorization of pan-India Umbrella
Entity for Retail Payments’ in India. This means that RBI has allowed
companies/entities to apply to RBI to set-up pan-India umbrella entity/entities
focussing on retail payment systems in India. After receiving approval from
RBI, the entity may start functioning as an Umbrella Entity for Retail Payments
in India just like NPCI. Here are some major points about this framework:
(1) Paid-up capital: The umbrella entity
shall have a minimum paid-up capital of Rs 500 crore.
(2) Promoters Share: No single Promoter /
Promoter Group shall have more than 40% investment in the capital of the
umbrella entity.
(3) The Promoters / Promoter Groups shall
upfront demonstrate the capital contribution of not less than 10% i.e., ₹50
crores at the time of making an application for setting up of the umbrella
entity. The balance capital shall be secured at the time of commencement of
business/operations.
(4) The Promoter / Promoter Group
shareholding can be diluted to a minimum of 25% after 5 years of the
commencement of the business of the umbrella entity.
(5) The umbrella entity shall commence
business/operations within a time of 6 months, extendable to a maximum of one
year, if required, from the date of ‘in-principle approval’.
(6) A minimum net-worth of Rs 300 crore
shall be maintained at all times.
(7) The entity shall be a Company
incorporated in India under the Companies Act, 2013.
(8) The umbrella entity shall be a Company
authorized by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) under Section 4 of the PSS Act, 2007.
2.
Fino Payments Bank launches “Jan BachatKhata”: Fino Payments Bank has launched Jan
BachatKhata, which is an Aadhaar Authentication based digital savings account
that brings neo-banking experience to consumers. Under the Jan BachatKhata,
customers can transact at a Fino branch or merchant point with fingerprint and
OTP combination, while at non-Fino points they need Aadhaar authentication.
Earlier, Fino Payments Bank had introduced Shubh and Bhavishya,
subscription-based savings accounts targeted at specific customer segments.
Note: Chairman of Fino Payments Bank: Prof
Mahendra Kumar Chouhan; Fino Payments Bank established: 13 July 2006; MD &
CEO of Fino Payments Bank: Rishi Gupta; Headquarters of Fino Payments Bank:
Mumbai, Maharashtra.
Neo bank means– A bank without any
branches. A bank that is entirely online rather than being physical. Neo
banking provides complete digital banking experience through mobile applications.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1.
Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award 2020: The National Sports Awards selection
committee has recommended four sportspersons for India’s highest sporting
honour, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award 2020. Indian cricketer, Rohit Sharma and
wrestler Vinesh Phogat are among the four sportspersons. Apart from Rohit and
Vinesh, table tennis player Manika Batra and Paralympian M Thangavelu are the
other two names. In a first, this year’s National Sports Awards ceremony is
likely to be held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Rohit Sharma will be
the fourth cricketer after legendary Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli
to be conferred the award. Tendulkar was awarded the Khel Ratna in 1998, Dhoni
got it in 2007 and Kohli received in 2018.
Note: Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award was
instituted in 1991-92. Chess Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand was the first
recipient of this award. The winner of the Khel Ratna Award gets a reward of
7.5 lac rupees. This award is given annually to those sportspersons who make
the country proud at international events. The Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award
can be given a maximum of three persons in a year. But, this is the only second
time that the names of 4 athletes have been recommended for the award.
OBITUARIES
1.
Computer scientist Russell Kirsch passes away: Computer scientist
Russell Kirsch who invented the “pixel” and scanned the world’s first digital
photograph, passed away. He created a small, 2-by-2-inch black-and-white
digital image of his son, which was among the first images ever scanned into a
computer. Pixels are the digital dots that are used to display photos, video
and more on phone as well as computer screens. Russell Kirsch also developed a
technique to smooth out images with the help of pixels with variable shapes
instead of the squares.
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