Daily Current Affairs and GK | 15, 16 and 17 August 2020

By PendulumEdu | Last Modified: 17 Sep 2022 15:50 PM IST

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1. Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Suresh Raina retired from international cricket.

  • Recently, former captains of the Indian cricket team Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Suresh Raina announced their retirement from international cricket.
  • Right-handed batsman and wicket-keeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni is one of the highest run-scorers in One Day Internationals. Dhoni has scored more than 10,000 runs in this format.
  • India won 2007 ICC Twenty-Twenty World Cup, 2010 and 2016 Asia Cups, 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup and ICC in 2013 ICC Champions Trophy under the captaincy of Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
  • After Dhoni retired, Suresh Raina has also announced his exit from international cricket.
  • Suresh Raina is the first Indian to slam hundreds in all three formats of the cricket.

(Source: News on AIR)

2. The tricolor was hoisted for the first time at the iconic Times Square in New York on the occasion of India's 74th Independence Day.

  • The tricolor was first hoisted at the iconic Times Square in New York on the occasion of India's 74th Independence Day.
  • Consul General of India in New York, Randhir Jaiswal, hoisted the Indian flag.
  • The Federation of Indian Associations organized the event.
  • More than two hundred Indian Americans attended the event, shouted patriotic slogans and waved the Indian flag.
  • Times Square:
    • It is a major commercial intersection, tourist destination and entertainment center in the Midtown Manhattan section of New York City.
    • Times Square is one of the most visited tourist attractions in the world.
    • It was formerly known as Longcare Square, but was renamed Times Square in 1904 after The New York Times moved its headquarters here.

(Source: News on AIR)

3. World’s tallest pier bridge being constructed by Indian Railways.

  • World’s tallest pier bridge is being constructed by Indian railways in Manipur.
  • The bridge is being constructed across river Ijai near Noney, a town in western part of Manipur.
  • The height of tallest pier (pillar) of the bridge will be 141 meter.
  • The bridge is located in Marangching village in Noney district.
  • The bridge will exceed current record of 139 meter of Mala-Rijeka viaduct, Montenegro in Europe.
  • The deadline of completion of bridge is March 2022 and estimated cost of the bridge is 280 crore rupees.
  • The bridge is being constructed as part of Jiribam-Tupul-Imphal new BG line project.
  • Jiribam-Tupul-Imphal new BG (Broad Gauge) line project of North East Frontier Railway has total 45 tunnels in the project. Tunnel No. 12 is the longest with a length of 10.280 km.
  • Tunnel No. 12 will be the longest railway tunnel in the North East.
  • Manipur:
    • Nagaland is located to its north. Mizoram is located to its southwest. Assam is located to its west. Myanmar is located to its south and east.
    • It capital is Imphal. Its governor is Najma Heptulla. N. Biren Singh is its Chief Minister.

(Source: News on AIR)

4. Infrastructure was developed by NTPC at the Rihand project for increased use of fly ash.

  • Recently National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC) has developed infrastructure at the Rihand project of Uttar Pradesh to make fly ash available to cement plants at cheaper rates.
  • Full use of fly ash will be ensured through this step.
  • This effort of the NTPC will enable the ashes to be transported from remote locations to the consumption center.
  • According to a data, 40 million tonnes of ash was used for various purposes in the financial year 2019-20.
  • NTPC Limited:
    • It is a Central Public Sector Enterprise under the Ministry of Power.
    • It is the largest power generation company in India.
    • The company was established on 7 November 1975.

(Source: News on AIR)

5. Indian Meteorological Department has issued a red category warning for heavy rainfall in Pune and Satara districts of Maharashtra.

  • Recently the Meteorological Department of India has issued a red category warning for heavy rains in Pune and Satara districts of Maharashtra.
  • According to the forecast, Mumbai, Raigad and Palghar may also receive heavy rains.
  • The Indian Meteorological Department uses four color codes to issue warnings-
    • Green: No warning has been issued.
    • Yellow: Issued when there is severely bad weather.
    • Orange / Amber: Issued when there is very bad weather.
    • Red: When bad weather conditions persist, which can threaten life and property.
  • India Meteorological Department:
    • It is an agency of the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
    • It was founded in 1875 and is headquartered in New Delhi.
    • It is responsible for meteorological observations, weather and earthquake prediction.

(Source: News on AIR)

 

6. Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the National Digital Health Mission.

  • Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the National Digital Health Mission while addressing the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on Independence Day.
  • The National Digital Health Mission aims to develop a national digital health ecosystem.
  • This will ensure timely and efficient access to inclusive, affordable and safe healthcare to all citizens.
  • Also, every Indian will be provided with a health ID card similar to the Aadhaar card, in which all relevant information about his medical condition and treatment and testing will be provided.

(Source: News on AIR)

7. Government of India will soon launch Project Lion and Project Dolphin.

  • Recently the Prime Minister announced that the Government of India would soon launch Project Lion and Project Dolphin for the Asian Lions.
  • With this, the success of Project Tiger and Project Elephant will be repeated by the Central Government.
  • The project will focus on both the river and the sea dolphin.
  • This will also promote biodiversity and create employment opportunities.
  • Dolphin:
    • The Ganges river dolphin is one of the four freshwater dolphin species in the world. The other three are found in the Yangtze River (now extinct) in China, the Indus River in Pakistan, and the Amazon River in South America.
    • There is an endangered freshwater or river dolphin found in the region of the Indian subcontinent, which is divided into two subspecies, the Ganges River Dolphin and the Indus River Dolphin.
    • Its scientific name is Platanista gangetica.
    • The Ganges river dolphin is the national aquatic animal of India.
    • The Ganges river dolphins fall under Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act and have been declared an endangered species by IUCN.
  • Asiatic Lion:
    • Currently, Asiatic Lion is limited to the Gir National Park in Gujarat. Earlier, it was also found in West Asia and Middle East.
    • The Asiatic lions are listed as Endangered under the IUCN Red List.
    • Its scientific name is Panthera leo persica.

8. Government of India sent technical equipment and materials to Mauritius to remove bottlenecks related to oil spill prohibition.

  • Recently, the Government of India has sent 30 tons of technical equipment and materials to Mauritius to check and remove bottlenecks in its southeast coastal region.
  • Also, a technical action team of 10 members has also been sent to Mauritius.
  • India's assistance is in line with India's policy of providing humanitarian assistance and relief to neighboring countries in the Indian Ocean region.
  • Mauritius declared an environmental emergency recently due to an oil spill from a Japanese ship stranded in the Indian Ocean.
  • The ship, named MK Wakashio, is owned by Japan but registered in Panama.

(Source: News on AIR)

9. Fourth meeting of the BRICS Anti-Drug Working Group concludes.

  • Recently the fourth meeting of the BRICS Anti-Drug Task Force was held.
  • The Indian delegation was led by Director General of Narcotics Control Bureau Rakesh Asthana at the meeting.
  • India has called for information sharing between BRICS countries to combat drug menace.
  • At the same time, special attention was paid to prevent misuse of advanced technologies for drug trafficking.
  • BRICS:
    • BRICS is a group formed by five major emerging countries - Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
    • Originally the first four were classified as BRIC in 2006. With South Africa joining in 2010 it became BRICS.
    • Together these countries represent 42% of the population, 23% of global GDP, 30% of geographical area and 18% of global trade.

(Source: News on AIR)

10. The ‘Nasha-Mukt Bharat’ Campaign launched in Jammu and Kashmir by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

  • Recently, Nasha-Mukt Bharat Campaign has been launched by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in Jammu and Kashmir.
  • This campaign has been started with the aim of curbing the menace of drug addiction in Indian society.
  • The campaign is being carried out in 272 most sensitive districts of India and 10 districts of Jammu and Kashmir including Poonch, Rajouri, Kishtwar, Doda, Anantnag, Pulwama, Kulgam, Shopian, Budgam and Bandipora.
  • Presently, Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed a significant increase in substance abuse cases.
  • Under this program, emphasis will be laid on creating awareness in schools, colleges and universities.

11. Defense Minister Rajnath Singh launched SRIJAN portal.

  • Recently the Defense Minister of India Rajnath Singh has launched the SRIJAN portal.
  • It is a one stop shop online portal which allows sellers to take up goods for indigenization.
  • This is an initiative in the field of defense production in line with the Make in India opportunity.
  • Self-sufficiency in defense manufacturing will not only meet the domestic requirement but will also boost exports.

(Source: News on AIR)

12. Researchers at ISRO and IISc Bengaluru developed a sustainable process for making space bricks on the lunar surface.

  • Recently a team of researchers from the Indian Space Research Organization and the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, have developed a sustainable process for making space bricks on the lunar surface.
  • Under this process load bearing bricks can be made using lunar soil, bacteria and guar beans.
  • In the new process, urea derived from human urine can be mixed with lunar soil to form the structure on the moon.
  • Guar gum is used instead of cement which will significantly reduce total expenditure, and will also reduce carbon footprint.
  • These space bricks can be used in future for structures to inhabit the lunar surface.
  • Shipping bricks from the earth is not feasible as it takes 7.5 lakh rupees to transport one pound of construction material.

(Source: News on AIR)

13. Union Territory of Puducherry celebrated the 59th anniversary of De-Jure Day on 16 August.

  • The Union Territory of Puducherry celebrated the 59th anniversary of De-Jure Day on 16 August 2020.
  • De-Jure means the legal merger of the Union Territory with the Union of India.
  • On 18 October 1954, Puducherry became independent from France on the basis of a referendum.
  • The referendum was held at Keezhoor and to commemorate the occasion a memorial was built at this place.
  • But the Treaty signed between France and the Government of India was ratified by the French Parliament on 16 August 1962.
  • Puducherry:
    • Puducherry is one of the 8 union territories of India.
    • The Union Territory of Puducherry is located in the southern part of the Indian peninsula.
    • It is made up of four regions of preceding French India, Puducherry, Karaikal, Yanam and Mahe. It is named after the largest district of Puducherry.
    • Chief Minister: P. Narayanaswamy

(Source: News on AIR)

14. Inauguration of direct telephone services between Israel and the UAE.

  • Recently direct telephone services between Israel and the UAE were inaugurated.
  • The two countries have recently reached a historic peace agreement to normalize relations.
  • This agreement will be known as the Abraham Accord.
  • The agreement came after a lengthy dialogue between Israel, the UAE and the US.
  • Under the deal, Israel has agreed to suspend the territory contract of the occupied West Bank.
  • The West Bank is a geographic region near the Mediterranean coast of Western Asia, bounded by Jordan in the east and Israel on the south, west, and north.

15. Former Indian cricketer and Uttar Pradesh minister Chetan Chauhan passed away.

  • Recently former Indian cricketer and Uttar Pradesh minister Chetan Chauhan passed away at the age of 73.
  • He was the minister for Sainik Welfare, Home Guards, PRD and Civil Security in the UP cabinet.
  • He was elected to the Lok Sabha twice in 1991 and 1998 from Amroha in Uttar Pradesh.
  • He played 40 Tests scoring 2084 runs with 16 half-centuries and two wickets.
  • He was awarded the Arjuna Award in 1981.

(Source: News on AIR)

 

 

 

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