Current Affairs 10th August 2021| Current Affairs News

 

CURRENT AFFAIRS : IMPORTANT DAYS

Nagasaki Day Observed on August 9

• Nagasaki Day is observed on 9 August.
• In 2021, the world is observing the 76th anniversary of the Nagasaki bombing.

Aim :

• To promote peace politics and raise awareness of the effects of the bomb attack on Nagasaki.
• This day plays an important role as it focuses on anti-war and anti-nuclear demonstrations in many countries.
• The bomb that was dropped on Nagasaki was code-named the ‘Fat Man’, due to the design of the bomb as it had a wide, round shape.
• It is the second city after Hiroshima to be attacked by a nuclear bomb.
• An area of about 5 square miles was completely obliterated and around 65,000 people were killed in the bombing.

World Lion Day Observed On Aug 10, 2021 

• Globally every year on August 10 World Lion Day is observed.

Objective :

• To raise awareness about lions and to mobilise support for their protection and conservation.
• It was established by ‘Big Cat Rescue’ – world’s largest accredited sanctuary for big cats.
• World Lion Day was launched in 2013.

Intention of the day :

• To find sustainable solutions to protect and save wild lion populations from extinction globally.
• There is only one species of the lion in the world whose scientific name is Panthera leo.
• As per the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN)’s Red List of Threatened Species (2016), the Panthera leo has two subspecies: Panthera Leo and Panthera leo persica, found in Africa and Asia.

Note :

• Lions are currently listed as “vulnerable” on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. 
• In West Africa, the species is now classified as “critically endangered.”

About IUCN :

• Headquarters: Gland, Switzerland
• CEO: Bruno Oberle
• Founder: Julian Huxley
• Director General : Bruno Oberle
• President : Zhang Xinsheng
• Founded: 5 October 1948, Fontainebleau, France
• Motto: United for Life and Livelihoods

World Biofuel Day: 10 August

• The World Biofuel Day is observed every year on August 10

Objective :

• To raise awareness about the importance of non-fossil fuels as an alternative to conventional fossil fuels and highlight the various efforts made by the Government in the biofuel sector.
• The day was first observed in 2015 by the Ministry of Petroleum and Gas.
• Also, the day honours the research experiments by Sir Rudolf Diesel.

About Biofuel :

• Any fuel that is derived from biomass (plant, or algae material, or animal waste) is known as biofuel.
• They are renewable, biodegradable, and sustainable sources of energy.
• Biofuels are known to contain no sulfur and produce low carbon monoxide and toxic emissions, as compared to conventional fossil fuels.

Benefits :

• Reducing dependence on crude oil
• Fostering a cleaner environment
• Generating additional income and employment for rural areas.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : NATIONAL NEWS

Karnataka becomes First State To Issue Order Implementing NEP-2020

• Karnataka has become the first state in the country to issue the order with regard to the implementation of National Education Policy-2020.
• The National Education Policy-2020 will be implemented in the state with effect from the current academic year, 2021-2022.

Key People :

• Kumar Nayak, Additional chief secretary to higher education, Thimmegowda vice-chairman Karnataka higher education council, and other senior officials were also present in the meeting.

About National Education Policy 2020 :

• National Education Policy 2020 which was approved by the Union Cabinet of India on 29 July 2020 & it outlines the vision of India’s new education system.
• It is a comprehensive framework for elementary education to higher education as well as vocational training in both rural and urban India.
• The policy aims to transform India’s education system by 2040.
• Reducing the curriculum load of students and allowing them to be more “inter-disciplinary” and “multi-lingual“.
• The “10 + 2” structure will be replaced with the “5+3+3+4” model.
• It will Focus on Foundational Literacy and Numeracy

About Karnataka :

• Governor: Thawar Chand Gehlot
• Chief minister: Basavaraj Bommai
• Capital: Bengaluru (Executive Branch)
• State Higher Education Minister of karnataka : C N Ashwath Narayan

Recent News :

• Earlier on July 29, 2021, on the first anniversary of NEP, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched SAFAL (sTRUCTURED Assessment For Analysing Learning), a competency-based assessment for grades 3,5, and 8 introduced by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).

CURRENT AFFAIRS : APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Rekha Sharma Gets Three-Year Extension Chairperson of National Commission for Women

• The Central Government has given a three-year extension to Rekha Sharma ( 57-year-old ) as Chairperson of the National Commission for Women.
• Sharma first assumed the charge as Chairperson of NCW on August 7, 2018.
• She will serve for another three years term with effect from August 07, 2021, or till the age of 65 years or until further orders whichever is the earliest.
• She was also the pioneer in setting up a special ‘Happy to Help’ task force during the coronavirus pandemic to help the elderly stuck at homes alone.
• She has also been credited for starting a WhatsApp number for women to lodge complaints during the pandemic.

About National Commission for Women :

• Formed: 1992
• Objectives: Protecting and promoting the interests of women in India
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• First executive: Jayanti Patnaik
• The National Commission for Women concerned with advising the government on all policy matters affecting women

MS Dhoni becomes the first brand ambassador of HomeLane                      

• Home interiors brand HomeLane has appointed Mahendra Singh Dhoni as an equity partner and brand ambassador with a 3 year strategic partnership.
• HomeLane plans to add 25 new Tier II and Tier III cities over the next 2 years and has earmarked Rs 100 crores in marketing spends to support this aggressive expansion.
• With the approaching cricket and festive season, HomeLane and MS Dhoni are partnering on a revolutionary new campaign that will premiere during the next IPL season.

Note :

• MS Dhoni will be HomeLane’s first brand ambassador and the first celebrity to endorse an end-to-end home interiors brand.

About HomeLane :

• Founded: 2014
• Headquarters: Bengaluru
• CEO : Srikanth Iyer
• Founders : Rama Harinath, Srikanth Iyer, Tanuj Choudhry, Vivek Parasuram
• Currently Homelane provides its services in 16 cities across India, covering Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Delhi NCR, Kolkata, Pune, Coimbatore, Visakhapatnam, and Mysore through 27 Experience Centres.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : AGREEMENTS

ADB approves USD 300 million additional loan For Rural Roads In Maharashtra

• Asian Development Bank has approved a USD 300 million loan as additional financing for the ongoing Maharashtra Rural Connectivity Improvement Project that is upgrading rural roads and connecting remote areas with markets.
• The Project was approved in August 2019, for improving and maintaining the condition and safety of 2,100 kilometres (km) of rural roads across Maharashtra.

Important Features of the Additional Financing : 

• To help accelerate Maharashtra’s economic recovery from COVID-19 devastation by generating rural employment and transforming agriculture.
• It will improve an additional 1,100 rural roads and 230 bridges for a total length of 2,900 km in 34 districts of Maharashtra
• It will also provide last-mile connectivity to a large number of small villages, enhancing access to health and education facilities and greatly benefiting the poor and vulnerable population by increasing agricultural productivity.
• Also it is expected to generate about 3.1 million person-days of employment for local communities, of which at least 25 per cent will be for women, over the construction and maintenance periods.

About ADB :

• Headquarters: Mandaluyong, Philippines
• Founded: 19 December 1966
• President : Masatsugu Asakawa
• Membership : 68 Countries

About Maharashtra :

• Governor: Bhagat Singh Koshyari
• Capital: Mumbai
• Chief minister: Uddhav Thackeray

CURRENT AFFAIRS : SUMMITS & CONFERENCES

Kiren Rijiju to attends 8th SCO Meeting of Ministers of Justice

• On Aug 06, 2021, The Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju attended the eighth meeting of Ministers of Justice of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) On virtually.

Keypeople :

• The Minister of State for Law & Justice, Prof SP Singh Baghel also attended the meeting.

About the meeting :

• The three days’ meeting was hosted by Tajikistan.
• The meeting was chaired by Tajikistan’s Justice Minister, MK Ashuriyon.
• The Ministers of (Law and) Justice and senior officials and experts from the Ministries of Law & Justice of ‘India, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyz Republic, Pakistan, Russian Federation, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan’ participated in the meeting.
• In that meeting , Kiren Rijiju highlighted the initiatives taken by the Government of India for providing affordable and easy access to justice for all.
• Further it will deliberate on areas of cooperation and the role of coronavirus laws in the pandemic, providing free legal aid to citizens in accordance with national legislation, the role of ministries of law and justice in countering corruption and other allied areas of cooperation and assistance in legal services.

About Shanghai Cooperation Organisation :

• Headquarters: Beijing, China
• Founded: 15 June 2001
• Founders: China, Russia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan
• Secretary General: Vladimir Norov
• Deputy Secretaries General: Sabyr Imandosov; Sherali Jononov; Wang Kaiwen; Aziz Nosirov; Vladimir Potapenko

PM Modi Chairs UN Security Council Debate

• On Aug 09, 2021, Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi becoming the first India PM chaired the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) open debate via video conferencing.
• Theme of the debate : ‘Enhancing Maritime Security – A Case for International Cooperation’.
• India assumed the rotating Presidency of the United Nations Security Council for August 2021, taking over from France.
• The debate focuses on the ways to effectively counter maritime crime and insecurity, and strengthen coordination in the maritime domain.
• India will organize two more meetings during its presidency, on peacekeeping and counterterrorism.

For maritime security, Modi expressed 5 basic principles:

1) Free maritime trade sans barriers so as to establish legitimate trade.

2) Settlement of maritime disputes should be peaceful and on the basis of international law only.

3) Responsible maritime connectivity should be encouraged.

4) Fourth is the need to collectively combat maritime threats posed by non-state actors and natural calamities.

5) Preserve the maritime environment and maritime resources.

Note :

• This is India’s tenth tenure at the UN Security Council. So far it has been President of the body nine times: June 1950, September 1967, December 1972, October 1977, February 1985, October 1991, December 1992, August 2011, and November 2012.

About UN Security Council :

• Headquarters: New York, New York, United States
• Founded: 24 October 1945
• Membership : 15 Countries

CURRENT AFFAIRS : DEFENCE NEWS

Indian Army contingent to participate in International Army Games at Russia

• The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has announced that  101-member contingent of the Indian Army will participate in International Army Games 2021
• This is the seventh edition of the International Army Games, 2021 & it is scheduled to be held in Russia from August 22 to September 4.
• The competition will be held in eleven countries.
• Over 280 teams from 42 countries will compete in the game to show their combat skills, professionalism and determination to win.
• The Indian contingent will participate in Army Scout Masters Competition (ASMC), Elbrus Ring, Polar Star, Sniper Frontier and Safe Route games.
• India had also co-hosted the games in 2019 and had stood first in Army Scouts Master Competition in Jaisalmer.

Aim of International Army Games, 2021 :

• To promote military to military cooperation while building upon the best practices of participating nations.

About Russia International Army Games :

• It is an annual Russian military sports event organized by the Ministry of Defense of Russia (MoD). 
• The event is also known as the ‘War Olympics’.
• It was first organised in August 2015 

About Indian Army :

• Commander-in-Chief: President Ram Nath Kovind
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Founded: 1 April 1895, India

About Ministry of defence :

• Officeholder: Rajnath Singh (Minister)
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Founded: 15 August 1947

About Russia :

• Capital: Moscow
• President: Vladimir Putin
• Currency: Russian ruble

CURRENT AFFAIRS : SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

ISRO launches INS-2B Bhutanese satellite into space by December 2021

• Indian Space Research Organization is set to launch a INS-2B Bhutanese satellite in December 2021.
• The development of the INS-2B satellite of Bhutan is being underway by four Bhutanese engineers who are being trained by ISRO.
• The event was organised by the Indian embassy in Bhutan as part of India’s 75th year of Independence – ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’.

About the Indo-Bhutan space cooperation :

• India and Bhutan have been engaged in space cooperation with a ground Earth station for South Asia Satellite (SAS) that was inaugurated in Thimphu, Bhutan.
• The SAS was launched by India in 2017.

About ISRO :

• Founder: Vikram Sarabhai
• Founded: 15 August 1969
• Headquarters: Bengaluru
• Director: Kailasavadivoo Sivan

CURRENT AFFAIRS : BOOKS & AUTHORS 

Shabana Azmi Launches A book titled “The Year That Wasn’t – The Diary of a 14-Year-Old” 

• Veteran Bollywood actress, Shabana Azmi has launched the book titled “The Year That Wasn’t – The Diary of a 14-Year-Old”.
• The book was written by a 14-year-old girl, Brisha Jain & the book has been published by Vitasta Publishing Pvt Ltd.

About the Book :

• The Book narrates the lockdown days seen through her eyes as the Covid-19 pandemic spread last year.
• It handholds readers through a journey of a lifetime – the hopeful beginning of a brand new decade; the tumultuous confusion of a burgeoning worldwide calamity; lockdown travails; a death march that won’t halt; coping with the whole new world of online schooling; a new digital divide; the vaccine race; the waning of the pandemic’s severity and it’s resurgence

About Shabana Azmi :

• Shabana Azmi is a Veteran Bollywood actress & she is a social and women’s rights activist.
• She is a Goodwill Ambassador of the United Nations Population Fund (UNPFA).
• She received five National Film Awards and five Filmfare Awards.
• In appreciation of Azmi’s life and works, the President of India gave her a nominated (unelected) membership of the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of parliament

Awards & Honours :

• Shabana Azmi was honoured among “women in cinema” at the 30th International Film Festival of India.
• In 1988, the Government of India awarded her with Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian honour of the country.
• In 2012, she was awarded Padma Bhushan, the third highest civilian honour by the Government of India.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : SPORTS NEWS

2020 Tokyo Olympics: Peres Jepchirchir wins women’s marathon

• Kenya’s Peres Jepchirchir won the women’s marathon at 2020 Tokyo Olympics claiming a one-two in sweltering conditions in Japan’s northern city of Sapporo.
• Jepchirchir beat world record holder Brigid Kosgei in the closing stages to win in two hours 27 minutes 20 seconds.
• Brigid Kosgei was second & American Molly Seidel took bronze in the women’s marathon.

About the race :

• The race was run at midnight and the temperature still hit 88 degrees (31 C).
• It led to nearly 30 runners not getting to the finish line as Chepngetich captured gold.
• This was the 10th edition of the Women’s marathon at the Olympics.

About Peres Jepchirchir :

• Peres Jepchirchir was the gold medallist at the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships in 2016 and the gold medalist again at the championships in 2020.

England’s James Anderson Becomes Third Highest Wicket-Taker in Test Cricket

• England’s James Anderson Becomes Third Highest Wicket-Taker in Test Cricket.
• He surpassed India’s Anil Kumble, who took 619 test wickets.
• He achieved this huge feat after KL Rahul knocked one to wicket-keeper Jos Buttler.
• The 40-year-old achieved this feat on Day 3 of the first Test between England and India.

About James Anderson :

• Anderson is the leading wicket-taker of all-time at Test cricket level, as the only fast bowler to have taken 600 or more Test wickets.
• He achieved the milestone on the 3rd day of the Nottingham Test against India.
• He became the most capped player for England in Test cricket.
• He has also played nearly 200 One Day Internationals.
• As of January 2021 he is ranked 6th in the ICC Test Bowling Rankings.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : OBITUARIES

Noted Kerala sculptor and cartoonist P.S. Banarji passes away 

• Cartoonist, sculptor and folk singer P.S. Banarji passed away.
• He was 41.

About P.S. Banarji :

• Cartoonist Banerjee has been awarded the Lalithakala Academy Fellowship.
• Banarji was noted for his Ayyankali and Buddha sculptures at Venganur and Koduman.
• He is known for folk songs, like the popular ‘Tharaka Pennale’.
• He was working as a graphic designer in an IT firm.

Daily CA On Aug 08 & 09 :

• To raise awareness about the handloom industries and hand-weavers, the Modi Government announced August 7 as the National Handloom Day in the year 2015 & the theme of 2021 is “Hand Loom – An Indian Legacy.”
• Nation observes 79th anniversary of Quit India movement on  8 August
• The International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples is observed on 9 August each year to raise awareness and protect the rights of the world’s indigenous population with the theme of “Leaving no one behind: Indigenous peoples and the call for a new social contract.” 
• Union Minister of Culture G Kishan Reddy inaugurated an exhibition on the Quit India Movement in New Delhi which has been organized on its 79th anniversary.
• A study by ICMR involving 98 people, 18 of whom had inadvertently received Covishield as first dose and Covaxin as the second in Uttar Pradesh, showed that combining these two Covid-19 vaccines elicited better immunogenicity than two doses of the same vaccine.
• In the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha flagged off Cyclothon event ‘Pedal for Dal’ from the shores of the Dal Lake in the run-up to the Independence Day celebrations.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch Ujjwala 2.0 (Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana – PMUY) by handing over LPG connections at Mahoba in Uttar Pradesh on August 10.
• India approved US major Johnson & Johnson’s (J&J) single dose Covid-19 vaccine for emergency use.
• To increase non-life insurance penetration in the rural market, SBI General Insurance will tap customers of fintech player SahiPay, which provides digital and financial services in the semi-urban and rural parts of the country.
• The Monetary Policy Committee of RBI kept the Repo rate unchanged at 4 percent & the Repo rate was kept unchanged for the 7th consecutive time.
• To provide easy access to investors to participate in public and rights issues by using various payment avenues, markets regulator Sebi allowed payments banks to carry out the activities of investment bankers.
• DBS has been honoured as the global winner for Most Innovative in Digital Banking by Financial Times publication, The Banker, in its 2021 Innovation in Digital Banking Awards.
• Central Bank of India has entered into a strategic Co-lending Partnership with Dhanvarsha Finvest (DFL) to offer loans against gold ornaments under priority sector to MSME borrowers at competitive rates.
• Bollywood superstar and MotoGP enthusiast, John Abraham was announced as the India Ambassador for Eurosport India’s Motorsport property – MotoGP. 
• Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba has been given a one-year extension by the government, according to a Ministry of Personnel order.
• Bhutan’s India-assisted Mangdechhu Hydroelectric Project was conferred with the Brunel Medal awarded by the London-based Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE).
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award will now be known as the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award.
• Edtech major Byju’s announced a Rs 2 crore cash reward for Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra.
• Mahatma Gandhi National Council of Rural Education has announced a national award for Andhra Loyola College, Vijayawada for environmental best practices and conducting Swachh programmes.
• India has emphasized the implementation of the recently-signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Bangladesh over disaster management, resilience and mitigation on a priority basis.
• On Aug 08, 2021, India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Navies carried out a naval exercise ‘Zayed Talwar 2021’ Off Abu Dhabi Coast.
• On Aug 07, 2021, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Dr Virendra Kumar launched PM-DAKSH Portal and PM-DAKSH Mobile App, to make the skill development schemes accessible to the target groups.
• The United States has approved the sale of Harpoon Joint Common Test Set (JCTS) and related equipment to India for an estimated cost of $82 million.
• Indonesia’s most volatile volcano Mount Merapi ( Literally Known as Fire Mountain ) erupted on the densely populated island of Java.
• A New Book Titled A Begum and A Rani : Hazrat Mahal & Lakshmibai in 1857 authored by Rudrangshu Mukherjee 
• On Aug 05, 2021, 23-year-old  Jan-Krzysztof Duda of Poland won the 2021 FIDE World Cup after beating GM Sergey Karjakin in the finals at a score of 1.5/0.5.
• On Aug 07, 2021, 23-year-old India’s javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra won a gold medal in men’s javelin throw at the Tokyo 2020 Games & Neeraj Chopra threw 58m in his second attempt to claim the yellow medal.
• On Aug 07, 2021, In men’s freestyle 65kg wrestling, Indian wrestler Bajrang Punia won the bronze medal at Tokyo Olympics 2020.
• In the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the United States has topped the overall with 113 medals, which includes 39 Gold, 41 Silver and 33 Bronze Medal.
• On Aug 08, 2021, Veteran actor Anupam Shyam Passed away.

Daily CA On Aug 10 :

• Nagasaki Day is observed on 9 August & In 2021, the world is observing the 76th anniversary of the Nagasaki bombing.
• Globally every year on August 10 World Lion Day is observed, to raise awareness about lions and to mobilise support for their protection and conservation.
• The World Biofuel Day is observed every year on August 10, to raise awareness about the importance of non-fossil fuels as an alternative to conventional fossil fuels and highlight the various efforts made by the Government in the biofuel sector.
• Karnataka has become the first state in the country to issue the order with regard to the implementation of National Education Policy-2020.
• The Central Government has given a three-year extension to Rekha Sharma ( 57-year-old ) as Chairperson of the National Commission for Women.
• Home interiors brand HomeLane has appointed Mahendra Singh Dhoni as an equity partner and brand ambassador with a 3 year strategic partnership.
• Asian Development Bank has approved a USD 300 million loan as additional financing for the ongoing Maharashtra Rural Connectivity Improvement Project that is upgrading rural roads and connecting remote areas with markets.
• On Aug 06, 2021, The Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju attended the eighth meeting of Ministers of Justice of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) On virtually.
• On Aug 09, 2021, Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi becoming the first India PM chaired the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) open debate via video conferencing & the Theme of the debate : ‘Enhancing Maritime Security – A Case for International Cooperation’.
• The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has announced that  101-member contingent of the Indian Army will participate in International Army Games 2021
• Indian Space Research Organization is set to launch a INS-2B Bhutanese satellite in December 2021.
• Veteran Bollywood actress, Shabana Azmi has launched the book titled “The Year That Wasn’t – The Diary of a 14-Year-Old” & the book was written by a 14-year-old girl, Brisha Jain & the book has been published by Vitasta Publishing Pvt Ltd.
• Kenya’s Peres Jepchirchir won the women’s marathon at 2020 Tokyo Olympics claiming a one-two in sweltering conditions in Japan’s northern city of Sapporo.
• England’s James Anderson Becomes Third Highest Wicket-Taker in Test Cricket.
• Cartoonist, sculptor and folk singer P.S. Banarji passed away.