Minister Rajnath Singh Launched 15 Products Developed by Defence PSUs and OFB
- Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh launches 15 products developed by Defence PSUs and OFB
- On August 13, 2020, as a part of the Atma Nirbhar Week celebration (Atmanirbharta Saptah) between August 7-14, 2020 of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and to boost Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan (self-reliant India movement), Union Defence Minister (Raksha Mantri) Rajnath Singh virtually launched 15 products of Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) and Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) viz. four products each by OFB and BEML, two by BEL and one each by HAL, BDL, MDL, GRSE and GSL.
- ii.Nag Missile Carrier (NAMICA): Developed by Ordnance Factory Medak (OFMK), Telangana in association with Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL), Hyderabad it (Telangana), it can act as an import substitution of around Rs. 260 Cr in the first phase, which may go upto more than Rs 3000 Cr.
- iii.150 Ton payload capacity Dump Truck: It is one of the biggest Electric Mining Dump Trucks with expected foreign exchange savings of Rs. 1500 Crs.
Rajnath Singh Launched Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Organisation Virtually
Shri Rajnath Singh Launches NIIO
i.Rajnath Singh, Union Defence Minister launched the Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Organisation(NIIO) through an online webinar.
ii.On the occasion Indian Navy signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with Uttar Pradesh Expressway Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA); Raksha Shakti University (RSU), Gujarat; Maker Village, Kochi; and Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM).
iii.‘SWAVLAMBAN’, a compendium of Indian Navy’s Indigenisation perspective plans was also released.
National Health Authority Approves to Integrate Health Schemes of Central Ministries with Ayushman Bharat Scheme
integration of central health schemes with AB-PMJAY
i.On 13th August 2020, The Governing board of National Health Authority(NHA) approved the proposal to integrate the existing health schemes of the central ministries with the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) for employees, during the governing board’s review meeting on the implementation AB-PMJAY chaired by Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister of Health.
ii.The integration of the central ministry schemes and AB-PMJAY will promote the development in the supply side and enhance the demand creation of the services of the health care.
MoS for External Affairs: India Signs MoU with Nigeria on Space Cooperation
India-Nigeria sign MoU on space cooperation
i.On 13th August 2020, Government of India signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on space cooperation with the Federal government of Republic of Nigeria at the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria.
ii.Over a virtual platform, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, Minister of Science and Technology, Federal Republic of Nigeria and Abhay Thakur, Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria signed the MoU on behalf of Nigeria and India respectively.
iii.The MoU enhances the Socio economic development, space exploration, environmental safety and trade between India and Nigeria.
Odisha retains Top Position in Implementation of AMRUT Scheme
Odisha tops in implementation of AMRUT scheme
i.Odisha has retained top position in the implementation of Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) scheme. According to rankings released by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), Odisha regained its top position by securing a score of 85.67 percent, followed by Union Territory of Chandigarh (75.08) and Telangana (74.04).
ii.Out of the total 191 projects started under the AMRUT scheme, 148 projects have been implemented and other projects are expected to be completed before the deadline in March, 2021.
Around 818 million Children Across the World Lack Basic Hand Washing Facilities at their Schools: WHO & UNICEF Report
Around 818 mln children lack basic hand-washing facilities
As per the latest report, ‘Progress on drinking water, sanitation and hygiene in schools Special focus on COVID-19’ released by World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF):
i.Around 818 million children across the world lacked basic hand-washing facilities in their schools which makes them prone to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and other transmittable diseases.
ii.Of the 818 million children, 355 million went to schools which had facilities with water but no soap, and 462 million to schools which had no facilities or water available for handwashing.
European Union to Provide 1.65 million euros in Humanitarian Aid Funding to Support Victims of South Asia Floods
EU to give 1-65 million euro to flood hit people
The European Union (EU) will provide 1.65 million euros in humanitarian aid funding to support flood victims of South Asia most notably in Bangladesh, India and Nepal. The funding is part of the EU’s Acute Large Emergency Response Tool (ALERT).
The measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus will be incorporated in all programming.
RBI Tightens Norms for Core Investment Companies; Formation of Group Risk Management Committee Mandated
RBI tightens norms for core investment companies
i.On August 13, 2020, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has revised the guidelines applicable for Core Investment Companies (CICs) on the basis of the recommendations of the Working Group (WG) to Review the Regulatory and Supervisory Framework for Core Investment Companies (CICs), constituted under the Chairmanship of Tapan Ray, former Secretary, Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA).
ii.In this regard, RBI has made the guidelines stricter for CICs by mandating more disclosures, better risk management and a simpler group structure w.e.f. August 13, 2020. The existing entities have been given time till 31 March 2023 to reorganize their business structure.
iii.CICs with assets of over Rs 5,000 crore will have to appoint a chief risk officer (CRO).
HDFC Bank Virtually Launched ‘Shaurya KGC Card’, a First-of-its-Kind Card for Indian Armed Forces
HDFC Bank launches first-of-its-kind card Shaurya KGC Card
i.On August 14, 2020 Aditya Puri, Managing Director of HDFC Bank, launched digitally the 1st of its kind card, ‘Shaurya KGC(Kisan Gold Credit) Card’, a tri color themed card for Indian armed forces personnel, i.e, Army, Navy, Air force and Para military forces and their families.
ii.It will benefit over 45 lakh users. The product is aimed largely towards armed forces personnel from semi-urban and rural communities.
iii.The product is based on the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) guidelines by the government.
SBI rolls out “KCC (Kisan Credit Card) Review option” for Farmers
SBI rolls out YONO Krishi review to empower farmers
State Bank of India(SBI) has launched “KCC (Kisan Credit Card) Review option” on its digital agricultural solution platform, YONO (“You Only Need One”) Krishi.
With this application the farmers can access their KCC limit in the virtual platform. It is expected to benefit more than 75 Lakh Farmers who have Kisan Credit Card accounts with SBI. The Farmers will no longer need to visit the bank branch physically to apply for a revision in their KCC limit.
Former RBI Deputy Governor Subhash Sheoratan Mundra Appointed as Non-Executive Chairman of Indiabulls Housing Finance Ltd
RBI deputy governor S S Mundra appointed as non-executive chairman
On August 12, 2020 Indiabulls Housing Finance Limited(IBH) appointed Former Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Deputy Governor Subhash Sheoratan Mundra (SS Mundra) as its Non-Executive Chairman with immediate effect.
Note – IBH’s Executive Chairman Sameer Gehlaut has taken up the position of chief executive officer of another listed firm Indiabul
Indian Cricketer Harbhajan Singh Appointed as Brand Ambassador of eBikeGO
eBikeGO, Amritsar based e-mobility start-up appointed Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh as its brand ambassador for a year. He will help the company to upgrade itself and will also have an active presence on the company’s website and campaigns across media.
Key Info
i.The company with this association and with the recently announced government’s new Electric Vehicle (EV) policy aims to build mass appeal, positive voice and widespread adoption for electric mobility thereby looking to capture 10% of electric two wheeler market share by 2022.
ii.With existing operations spanning Mumbai, Bengaluru, Delhi, Amritsar, Jaipur and Hyderabad , the company is focussing on expanding its footprint to new markets such as Chennai and Pune among others.
IIA discovers He-enhanced star among Omega Centauri
Indian Scientist from Indian Institute of Aerophysics (IIA), Bengaluru, Karnataka, an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology (DST) discovered a helium (He)-enhanced cool bright star among metal rich samples of the globular cluster, Omega Centauri.
IIT Ropar Developed “UVSAFE”, UVGI Based Room Disinfection Device
Indian Institute of Technology, Ropar(IIT-R) in collaboration with Momentum India Private Limited developed “UVSAFE”, a state of the art room disinfection device based on Singular Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation(UVGI). The efficiency of the device was tested by FICCI Research and Analysis Centre(FRAC)(NABL Accredited Laboratory, New Delhi).
It was designed by Khushboo Rakha, Assistant Professor, Division of Metallurgical and Supplies Engineering and Naresh Rakha, Senior Scientific Officer of IIT- R with technical support from Shahriar Reza (Design Marketing consultant).
IIT Delhi Found WHO listed Priority Pathogens in the Waters of River Yamuna
Pathogens listed as critical by WHO found in river Yamuna
i.The research team of Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi(IIT-D) found the critical group and multi drug resistant bacteria of the World Health Organization’s(WHO’s) 2017 list of antibiotic resistant priority pathogens, in the waters of River Yamuna.
ii.The study was conducted on the 20 major sewer drains and the waters of Yamuna at 5 locations across Delhi over two seasons and isolated the Faecal Coliform(FC) from all the samples.
iii.The research paper on the study was published in the Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering.
Veteran Malayalam Poet and Drama Writer Chunakkara Ramankutty Passed Away at 84
Malayalam lyricist Chunakkara Ramankutty passes away
On 12th August 2020, Veteran malayalam poet, lyricist and drama writer Chunakkar Ramankutty passed away at the age of 84 due to old age related ailments in a hospital at Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.He hails from Chunakkara, Alappuzha, Kerala.
Assam Government to Launch ‘Orunodoi’ Scheme to provide Financial Assistance
Assam govt to roll out Arunodoi scheme
On August 12, 2020, Finance Minister of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sharma announced that the Government of Assam will roll out the ‘Orunodoi’ Scheme, which will provide Financial Assistance of Rs. 830 per month through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme to around 17 Lakh Families in the state. It is expected to be the largest direct benefit Transfer scheme in Assam.
Delhi Govt Signed MoU with Bloomberg Philanthropies to Enhance Road Safety
Delhi govt signs MoU on road safety
i.In a bid to enhance road safety i.e. eliminate road accidents and create safe mobility for commuters, Kailash Gahlot, Delhi Transport Minister signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bloomberg Philanthropies.
ii.On signing this MoU, Delhi has joined 30 world cities in the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety, a network committed to reducing the deaths and injuries from road traffic crashes.
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