CURRENT AFFAIRS: DAYS
World Mosquito Day
- World Mosquito Day, observed annually on 20 August, is a commemoration of British doctor Sir Ronald Ross’s discovery in 1897 that female mosquitoes transmit malaria between humans.
- The theme for the year 2020 is on the topic ‘Malaria’. The day is celebrated to appreciate the efforts taken by healthcare officials, NGOs and government agencies in helping people fight against various incurable diseases caused by Malaria.
Sadbhavana Diwas
- The Congress party observes former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s birth anniversary as Sadbhavna Diwas every year. He was born on August 20, 1944.
- The Congress observes Sadbhavna Diwas to promote national integration and harmony. Several events are organized remembering Rajiv Gandhi on this day.
CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL
Indian Railways introduces drone-based surveillance system to protect railway assets
- The Mumbai Division of Central Railway zone has recently procured two Ninja UAVs.
- For drone flying, surveillance as well as for its maintenance, a team of four Railway Protection Force (RPF) staff, Mumbai has been trained.
- These drones are capable of Real Time Tracking, Video Streaming, as well as they can be operated on Automatic Fail Safe Mode. The extensive use of drones has been planned by the RPF for the purpose of Railway security.
- RPF has procured as many as nine drones at a cost of Rs 31.87 lakh at Central Railway, South Eastern Railway, South Western Railway, Modern Coaching Factory, and Raebareli.
- The drone-based surveillance system acts as an “Eye in the sky” and monitors the whole area.
About Indian Railways
- Head Quarters: New Delhi
- Chairman: V K Yadhav
Union Cabinet gives a go ahead to setting up of National Recruitment Agency, to benefit job seeking youth of the country
- The Cabinet has approved the setting up of the National Recruitment Agency (NRA) to conduct Common Eligibility Test. Union Minister Prakash Javadekar termed it as a historic decision which will benefit job seeking youth of the country. He stated, this fulfills the long standing demand of the youth of the country.
- The National Recruitment Agency will conduct a Common Eligibility Test to screen and shortlist candidates for the Group B and C (non-technical) posts. The NRA will have representatives from the Ministry of Railways, Ministry of Finance, SSC, RRB and IBPS. Special focus on creating examination infrastructure in the 117 Aspirational Districts would go a long way in affording access to candidates at a place nearer to where they reside.
- The CET score of the candidate shall be valid for a period of three years from the date of declaration of the result. The best of the valid scores shall be deemed to be the current score of the candidate. There shall be no restriction on the number of attempts to be taken by a candidate to appear in the CET subject to the upper age limit. Relaxation in the upper age limit shall be given to candidates of SC/ST/OBC and other categories as per the extant policy of the Government.
- Candidates would have the facility of registering on a common portal and give a choice of Centres. Government has sanctioned a sum of 57 crore rupees for the National Recruitment Agency. The expenditure will be undertaken over a period of three years. National Recruitment Agency will ensure transparency and ease in recruitment process, both for the candidate and the recruiting organisation. CET scores can be shared with Central and State Governments, PSUs, private sector thus reducing recruitment costs of these organisations.
Other approvals:
- The Cabinet which met under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister also approved a proposal for leasing out three airports of the Airports Authority of India through Public Private Partnership. Union Minister Prakash Javadekar stated, the three airports are Jaipur, Guwahati and Thiruvananthapuram.
- Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved Fair and Remunerative Price of sugarcane payable by sugar mills for the sugar season 2020-21 at 285 rupees per quintal for a basic recovery rate of 10 per cent.
- CCEA also approved one-time relaxation to Power Finance Corporation and Rural Electrification Corporation for extending loans to DISCOMs above limits of working capital cap of 25 percent of last year’s revenues under Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana.
CURRENT AFFAIRS: INTERNATIONAL
UAE connects first Arab nuclear plant to power grid
- The oil-rich United Arab Emiratesannounced that it has connected its Barakah nuclear power plant to the national grid in a new first for the Arab world.
- The milestone follows the successful start-up of the plant’s first reactor at the end of last month and launches the UAE on the road to meeting 25% of its electricity needs from nuclear power.
- Barakah, which means “blessing” in Arabic, is a regional first. Saudi Arabia, the world’s top oil exporter, has stated it plans to build up to 16 nuclear reactors, but the project has yet to materialise.
- Barakah was built by a consortium led by the Korea Electric Power Corporation at a cost of some $24.4 billion.
- More than 950 kilometres (nearly 600 miles) of 400 kV overhead power lines had to be built to link the plant to the grid. Barakah’s other three reactors are stated to be almost ready for operation.
- Construction work has already been completed on Unit 2, and Units 3 and 4 are respectively 93% and 86% complete.
- The UAE lies just across the Gulf from Iran which has a nuclear power plant of its own outside the coastal city of Bushehr, as well as a controversial uranium enrichment programme.
About UAE:
- President: Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan
- Capital: Abu Dhabi
- Currency: United Arab Emirates dirham
