Daily Current Affairs 18th August, 2020

Daily Current Affairs 18 August 2020 for Banking/Insurance/SSC and other related exams.

NATIONAL NEWS

Govt launches e-portal on tribal health & nutrition

Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda inaugurated the e-portal on tribal health and nutrition named ‘Swasthya’.

• The portal provides all health and nutrition related information of the tribal population of India on a single platform.
• Swasthya will also curate innovative practices, case studies, and best practices collected from different parts of India to facilitate the exchange of evidence, expertise and experiences.

PM announces Project Lion, Project Dolphin on 74th I-Day

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing the nation on 74th Independence Day, announced the launch of Project Lion and Project Dolphin for the conservation of the two endangered species in the country using modern technology.

• Project Lion is to involve conservation of Asiatic Lions. It will focus on habitat development by engaging modern technologies.
• Project Dolphin was launched to conserve and protect the Dolphins in the rivers and oceans in the country. The project will conserve dolphins in aquatic habitat using modern technology especially in anti-poaching activities.

Indian Railways constructing world’s tallest pier bridge across river Ijai in Manipur

Indian Railways is constructing the world’s tallest pier bridge in Manipur. The bridge which is being constructed across river Ijai near Noney is an engineering marvel because the tallest pier height will be 141 meter.

• It will surpass the existing record of 139 meter of Mala – Rijeka viaduct, Montenegro in Europe.
• The total estimated cost of the bridge is 280 crore rupees, and it will be completed by March 2022.
• The bridge is a part of Jiribam-Tupul-Imphal new BG line project. The total length of the bridge will be 703 meter.

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister announces Padhai Tuhar Para Scheme for School Students

The Chief Minister of Chattisgarh announced the launch of a special scheme Padhai Tuhar Para Scheme (Education up to your locality), on Independence Day.

• Under the scheme, students will be able to study in their own neighbourhoods as classes have been suspended due to the outbreak of coronavirus.
• Padhai Tunhar Para scheme aims to teach children with the help of the community in the villages. The scheme was launched to take the Padhai Tunhar Duar scheme, an online education platform further.

West Bengal govt launches COVID Patient Management System

The West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee launched COVID Patient Management System. The Chief Minister, inaugurated the system in three COVID Hospitals of Kolkata.

• Under the system the family members of patients will be able to know the status of their patient under treatment at Government Hospitals.

Gwalior-Chambal Expressway to be named after Atal Bihari Vajpayee

The Gwalior-Chambal Expressway will be named Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Chambal Progressway, Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan said.

• While paying tribute to former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his second death anniversary, Chouhan said, “Vajpayee continues to inspire us to work for the public” and also recalled few emotional moments with him.

After Mughalsarai Junction, Varanasi’s Railway Station Gets a New Name

The Union Home Ministry has approved the renaming of Manduadih railway station in Uttar Pradesh as ‘Banaras’. The Uttar Pradesh government had sent a request for renaming the railway station in Varanasi district.

• The name Banaras means ‘bana rahe ras’. This word reflects the real culture of the city.

IIT Kharagpur launches DEEKSHAK platform for Organizations to conduct Online Classes

IIT Kharagpur has developed an e-classroom software called “DEEKSHAK” for organizations to conduct online classes.

• Researchers at IIT Kharagpur have come up with this software as users are frequently experiencing challenges and more importantly, the operational requirements of an electronic classroom.
• DEEKSHAK is a low bandwidth web-based software that can be accessed using any computer or even on mobile phones.

Bangladesh navy ship ‘Sangram’ visits Goa

Bangladesh Navy Ship BNS Sangram, a guided missile stealth corvette, made a port call at Mormugao Port, Goa. The ship was received by officers from Headquarters Goa Naval Area and the Officiating Defence Advisor at the Bangladesh High Commission in India.

• BNS Sangram is en route to participate as a member of United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon.

Zydus Cadila Launches “Most Affordable” COVID-19 Drug Remdesivir In India

Drug firm Zydus Cadila said it has launched Remdesivir under the brand name Remdac, used to treat patients suffering from severe symptoms of COVID-19, in the Indian market.

• Priced at ₹ 2,800 per 100 mg vial, Remdac is the most economical Remdesivir brand in India.
• The drug will be made available across India through the group’s strong distribution chain reaching out to government and private hospitals treating COVID-19 patients.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

UK launches £3-million fund for India to tackle Covid-19 challenges

The UK Government has launched a £3-million Innovation Challenge Fund in India to support research and development (R&D) proposals to tackle the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic to the economy and the environment.

• At least 12 grants of up to £250,000 are expected to be awarded.
• The fund invites tech innovators with connections to the AI-Data cluster in Karnataka and the Future Mobility cluster in Maharashtra to submit research and development proposals for tackling Covid-19 or which promote a greener planet.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

Google partners Central Water Commission for flood forecasting initiative

Google in association with the Central Water Commission (CWC) has taken flood forecasting initiative over the past several months, and sent numerous public alerts to people in impacted regions across the country.

• These alerts provide timely, updated, and critical information that can help users make informed decisions on their safety, and that of their families and friends.
• Any user in the affected region having an Android smartphone with location services enabled will receive these alerts.

Universal Sompo General Insurance announces collaboration with BSE EBIX

General Insurance company Universal Sompo General Insurance announced its partnership with BSE Ebix Insurance Broking Private Limited (BSE Ebix) to offer Universal Sompo’s recently launched Corona Kavach cover, a short-term policy to cover COVID-19 related hospitalization expenses through BSE Ebix’s certified Point of Sales Person (PoSPs).

• This Corona Kavach policy can be purchased on an individual or family floater basis for a period of 3.5, 6.5, or 9.5 months.
• It offers sums insured ranging from a minimum of Rs 50,000 to Rs 5,00,000 (in multiples of Rs 50,000) for hospitalization expenses related to COVID-19. This policy covers the cost of PPE kit, gloves, masks, and other similar expenses incurred during the treatment of COVID-19.

SPORTS

AIFF, SAI launch E-Pathshala to encourage kids to play football

The All India Football Federation and Sports Authority of India joined hands to launch E-Pathshala, a web platform to recognise the creativity and “develop interest in football.

• This platform of E-Pathshala will act to develop their interest in football through recognitive approaches like painting, skills, building blocks and many more.

APPOINTMENTS

Rakesh Asthana appointed as DG of Border Security Force

1984 batch Gujarat cadre IPS officer Rakesh Asthana has been appointed as the Director General of Border Security Force, BSF. He will be in the post up to 31st July, 2021, the date of his superannuation.

• Mr Asthana is at present working as the Director General of Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, BCAS. He will continue to hold the additional charge of DG, Narcotics Control Bureau.
• 1986 batch IPS officer of Andhra Pradesh cadre, V S K Kaumudi will be Special Secretary (Internal Security) in the Home Ministry.
• Uttar Pradesh cadre IPS officer Md Jawed Akhtar has been appointed the DG, Fire Services, Civil Defence and Home Guard. Mr Akhtar is presently working as Special DG, Central Reserve Police Force.

AWARDS

WHO chief scientist honoured with Tamil Nadu CM’s special award

Chief Scientist of World Health Organisation, Soumya Swaminathan conferred with the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s special award, in recognition of her advisory role in combating the COVID-19 pandemic in the state.

• Swaminathan received the award from Chief Minister K Palaniswami on the 74th Independence Day celebration at Fort St George.

Telangana CM honours poet Tirunagari Ramanujam with Dasaradhi Award for 2020

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao honoured well-known poet Tirunagari Ramanujam with the Dasaradhi Award for 2020 at Pragathi Bhavan.

• The CM also presented him with a memento, shawl and a cash prize of Rs 1,01,116.
• Tirunagari Ramanujam is a great literary personality about whom the entire Telangana society is proud of. Among his well-known works include Bala Veera Sathakam, Aksharadhara, and Tirunagareeyam.

BOOKS

“Full Spectrum: India’s Wars, 1972-2020” authored by Arjun Subramaniam

The book titled, “Full Spectrum: India’s Wars, 1972-2020″ has been authored by Retired Air Vice Marshal Arjun Subramaniam. The book portrays the comprehensive account of war and conflict in contemporary India over the past five decades next month.

It will be published by HarperCollins Publishers India Pvt. Ltd.

It is the sequel to his 1st book, ‘India’s Wars: A Military History, 1947-1971’.

OBITUARIES

Filmmaker Nishikant Kamat passes away

Nishikant Kamat, the filmmaker who delivered successful films such as Madaari and Drishyam, died of multiple organ failure. He was 50.

• Nishikant Kamat made his film debut as an actor with 2004 film Hava Aney Dey. He gradually veered towards direction and earned awards and accolades with his Marathi films such as Dombivali Fast and Lai Bhaari. Kamat went to direct Hindi films such as Madaari, Mumbai Meri Jaan and Force.
• He got national spotlight with Drishyam, which starred Ajay Devgn and Tabu in lead roles, and was a remake of the 2013 Malayalam film starring Mohanlal.

Padma Vibhushan Pandit Jasraj passes away at 90

Indian classical vocalist Pandit Jasraj passed away at the age of 90. He died of cardiac arrest at his house in New Jersey state of US.

• Pandit Jasraj, whose career in music spanned over 80 years belonged to the Mewati Gharana. He is a recipient of several accolades including the prestigious Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan.

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