Today Current Affairs for Competitive

Exams - Current Affairs 2020-2021

Online
Atal Innovation Mission launches 'AIM-iCREST'  Supreme Court has barred the registration of BS-
IV vehicles till further orders.
 NITI Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), has
 It also expressed displeasure on the sale of a large
launched AIM iCREST – an Incubator Capabilities
number of vehicles in March during COVID-
enhancement program for a Robust Ecosystem.
induced lockdown.
 It is focused on creating high performing Startups.
 On July 8, 2020, the court had recalled its March
 This is a first of its kind initiative for advancing
27 order by which it had allowed sale of BS-IV
innovation at scale in India.
vehicles for 10 days across India, except in Delhi-
 AIM has joined hands with Bill & Melinda Gates
NCR, after lifting of the COVID-19 induced
Foundation and Wadhwani Foundation for the
lockdown.
same.
J&K government establishes 12 AMRIT pharmacies
MobiKwik launches personal UPI payment link
 J&K Govt has established 12 AMRIT Pharmacies
 FinTech company MobiKwik has launched
across the UT to reduce Out Of Pocket
mpay.me - a UPI payment link service to send and
Expenditure for consumers.
receive money from any UPI payment app.
 These stores provide branded drugs and implants
 Through mpay.me, users and merchants can set
surgical and disposable at affordable prices.
up a link using their mobile number to start
 AMRIT pharmacies sell branded drugs such as
receiving money.
those used for treating cancer and cardiovascular
 This single link created using mpay.me can be
diseases at an average discount of up to 60 per
shared anywhere to send and receive money and
cent.
will work seamlessly on mobile as well as desktop.
Railways installs automatic lighting system
Reliance Power, JERA ink loan agreement
 In a unique step towards energy conservation, the
 Reliance Power has signed a loan agreement,
Indian Railways has recently installed automatic
along with Japanese utility JERA, for $642 million
lighting systems at three railways stations in
with a group of lenders for their 745-megawatt
Madhya Pradesh.
gas-based project in Bangladesh.
 Railways have installed these automatic lighting
 In September 2019, Reliance Power inducted JERA
systems at Jabalpur, Narsinghpur and Bhopal
as a partner for the 750 MW-gas based combined
railways stations of MP, which fall under the West
cycle power project.
Central Railway zone.
 Reliance Power holds 51% stake while JERA will
 The system is controlling the lighting at these
hold 49% stake in the joint venture company.
stations.
SC bans registration of BS-IV vehicles
Maratha community not entitled for EWS quota

1|P ag e
 The Maratha community will not be entitled to
avail the 10% reservation in jobs and education
for economically weaker sections (EWS) in the
general category in Maharashtra.
 A Government Resolution (GR), issued recently
stated that the Maratha community is covered
under Socially and Educationally Backward
Classes.
 The Maratha community is not included among
backward classes.
Ayush Minister launches a Web-Portal
 Ayush Minister Shripad Yesso Naik has launched a
dedicated Web-Portal for National AYUSH
Mission.
 It is for submission of State Annual Action Plans,
Utilization Certificates, Physical and Financial
Progress report, and other information related to
the Ministry.
 The Minister also released 4 publications
including Operational Guidelines for
establishment of AYUSH Health and Wellness
Centers.
Fully digital single-window clearance
 The govt is working on a single-window portal
that drastically reduces the number of times
businesses would need to interact with the
government for getting clearances.
 This was informed by Commerce and Industry
Minister Piyush Goyal at the online
National Digital Conference on ‘Easing Doing
Business for Atmanirbhar Bharat’.
 A soft launch of the Land Bank Portal will be
undertaken soon.
Hardik Shah appointed personal secretary to PM
 Hardik Satishchandra Shah was appointed Private
Secretary to PM Narendra Modi on 30 July 2020.
 Shah is a 2010-batch IAS officer of Gujarat cadre
and is currently serving as a Deputy Secretary in
the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).
 His appointment is with effect from the date of
assumptions of the charge of the post, on co-
terminus basis, or until further order, whichever is
earlier.
Sonam Tshering Lepcha passes away
2|P ag e
 Folk musician and Padma Shri awardee Sonam
Tshering Lepcha passed away at Kalimpong in July
2020.
 He travelled to various parts of Sikkim and
complied a wide range of Indian folk and
traditional Lepcha songs and played folk music on
All India Radio in 1960.
 He was awarded the Padma Shri for his
contribution in the field of folk music.
International Day of Friendship: 30th July
 The International Day of Friendship is observed on
July 30 each year.
 It is a United Nations (UN) day that promotes the
role that friendship plays in promoting peace in
many cultures.
 In 2011, the UN proclaimed the International Day
of Friendship with the idea that friendship
between peoples, countries, and cultures can
inspire peace efforts and build bridges between
communities.
DST to develop COVID risk assessment app
 The Centre for Augmenting WAR with COVID-19
Health Crisis (CAWACH) has selected a Bengaluru
based startup to develop a COVID risk assessment
mobile application.
 The 'Lyfas' COVID score has been developed by
startup Acculi Labs with support from the DST.
 It will detect the possible infection in an
asymptomatic individual to prioritise the
conventional testing queue.
CSIR, UBA-IIT Delhi, Vijnana Bharati signs MoU
 An MoU has been signed between Unnat Bharat
Abhiyan-Indian IIT Delhi (UBA-IITD) and Vijnana
Bharti (VIBHA), New Delhi.
 It will provide access to CSIR rural technologies for
UBA and is expected to lay the foundation for
cooperation and joint action in the area of Unnat
Bharat Abhiyan (UBA) for rural development of
India.
 UBA is a flagship national program of the Ministry
of HRD.
Paytm Money: Varun Sridhar new CEO
 Paytm Money, the subsidiary of One97 Bengaluru's Life Sciences Park
Communications Ltd which operates Paytm, has
 Karnataka CM B S Yediyurappa on 29 July 2020
appointed Varun Sridhar as its new CEO.
laid the foundation stone for the Rs 5,000-crore
 Sridhar’s appointment comes just months after its
Bengaluru Life Sciences Park, coming up on 52
former MD and CEO Pravin Jadhav resigned from
acres at Electronics City.
the startup due to differences with the
 The first phase of the project is a public-private
management of Paytm.
partnership (PPP) between the state government
 Sridhar has most recently served as CEO of
and Labzone Corp.
FinShell India, which is a part of Chinese
 It is expected to be completed by December 2022.
mobile company, OPPO.
ADB approves 3 mn US dollar grant to India
IRCS to buy 1.80 lakh face masks from KVIC
 The Asian Development Bank has approved a $3
 Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC)
million grant to India from its Asia Pacific Disaster
has received a purchase order from Indian Red
Response Fund (APDRF).
Cross Society (IRCS) to supply 1.80 lakh face
 This grant will further support the government’s
masks.
emergency response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
 The masks for IRCS will be made of 100 per cent
 This support will enhance disease surveillance and
double-twisted handcrafted cotton fabric in
help in early detection, contact tracing, and
brown colour with red piping.
treatment.
 KVIC has specially designed these double-layered
 This will be further supplemented by other public
cotton masks for the IRCS as per the designs
health measures.
provided by them.
Rajat Bhatia announces retirement
Sunil ydv SS honoured with Karamveer Chakra
 Rajat Bhatia, a stalwart in Indian domestic cricket,
 Founder of SS Motivation, World record holder
announced his retirement from all forms of the
Sunil ydv SS was honoured with “Karamveer
game on 29 July 2020.
Chakra Award" by Global Fellowship Award
instituted by United Nations and International  Bhatia last played a first-class game in 2018 for
Uttarakhand.
Confederation of NGO (iCONGO).
 The former Delhi cricketer played 112 first-class
 He was awarded at the ReX ConcLIVE hosted at IIT
games in his 21-year-long domestic career.
Delhi.
 He was also a part of Kolkata Knight Riders’ title-
 He received the award for his relentless
winning IPL side in 2012.
contribution to society through his Telegram
channel “SS Motivation.” Sembcorp commissions three wind power projects
Bharti AXA Gen Insurance launches a campaign  Sembcorp Energy India has announced the
successful completion of its three wind power
 Bharti AXA General Insurance has launched its
crop insurance campaign - 'Bohot Zaroori Hai' - for projects with a total capacity of 800 megawatts
farmers in Maharashtra and Karnataka. (MW).
 It will encourage them about their yield  The projects were auctioned by the Solar Energy
protection and financial security. Corporation of India (SECI).
 With this, Sembcorp became the first
 The campaign is aimed at making the farming
independent power producer (IPP) to fully
communities aware about the relevance and
commission its projects awarded in the first three
significance of crop insurance that mitigates the
wind auctions held by SECI.
rural distress caused by crop failure.
Delhi govt launches awareness campaign
3|P ag e
 The Delhi government has launched an awareness Naval Communication Network training lab
programme aimed at ensuring residences, offices,
 The Naval Communication Network (NCN)
schools, and other private and public spaces
Training Lab at Signal School, Kochi was
prepared to deal with earthquakes.
inaugurated on 29 July 2020.
 It aims at making homes, offices, schools, etc.
 It is designed to provide comprehensive and
fully prepared to efficiently deal with
realistic training to naval personnel in the
earthquakes.
operation and management of NCN.
 The campaign will also help people be well-
 The Lab is equipped with modern IT infrastructure
prepared and take measures to minimise the
to impart training on NCN related applications,
damage.
security features and troubleshooting protocols.
FIFA Council approves relief plan regulations
ICMR to hold International Symposium
 Bureau of the FIFA Council has approved the $1.5
 The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)
bn COVID-19 relief plan regulations which will
will conduct the International Symposium on
support all 211 FIFA member associations and the
Novel Ideas in Science and Ethics of Vaccines
six confederations to assist in the alleviation of
Against COVID-19 Pandemic on July 30, 2020.
the financial impact of the pandemic.
 The symposium will have leading medical experts
 The regulations establish strict compliance and
and scientists as speakers.
audit requirements, as well as clear loan
 During the event, Dr Anthony S Fauci would be
repayment conditions, under the supervision of a
speaking on “Confronting the pandemic”.
steering committee.
N Sivaraman appointed group CEO of Icra
US signs MoU with Vietnam
 Domestic rating agency Icra has appointed N
 The US and Vietnam signed an MoU to strengthen
Sivaraman as its new MD and group CEO.
Hanoi’s fisheries management and law
enforcement capabilities amid disputes with  Last July 2019, Icra board asked its then MD and
group CEO Naresh Takkar to go on leave till the
Beijing in the South China Sea.
completion of an enquiry against him after an
 The MoU also provides for support against
anonymous complaint was sent to markets
“intimidation” of Vietnam’s fishermen in the
regulator Sebi.
South China Sea.
 The agency had then named Chief Financial
 The United States looks forward to working
Officer Vipul Agarwal as the interim chief
together with Vietnam to strengthen the
operating officer.
sustainability of its fisheries.

Attempt Daily Current Affairs Quiz

4|P ag e