Daily Current Affairs and GK | 21 August 2020

1. Indore tops Swachh Survekshan 2020 for the fourth time.

• Indore has topped Swachh Survekshan 2020 and Surat and Navi Mumbai come at second and third place, respectively.
• Indore has topped Swachh Survekshan for the fourth time consecutively.
• Chhattisgarh has topped the Swachh Survekshan 2020 as best performing states with more than 100 urban local bodies.
• Jharkhand has topped the Swachh Survekshan 2020 as best performing states with less than 100 urban local bodies.
• Other winners in different categories of Swachh Survekshan 2020 are as follows:
  • Cleanest cantonment- Jalandhar Cantt followed by Delhi Cantt
  • Cleanest Ganga town (started last year)- Varanasi
  • Ahmedabad topped in the Cleanest mega city category having population of more than 40 lakh.
  • Maximum citizens’ participation among cities with more than 1 lakh population- Shahjahanpur (Uttar Pradesh)
  • Maximum citizens’ participation among cities with less than 1 lakh population-Nandprayag (Uttarakhand)
  • Names of Five star cities- Indore, Ambikapur, Navi Mumbai, Surat, Rajkot and Mysuru
  • Number of three start cities- 86 cities
  • Number of one star cities- 64 cities

• Swachh Survekshan 2020 is the fifth edition of cleanliness survey annually conducted by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA). Quality Council of India conducts assessment for Swachh Survekshan. Swachh Survekshan was first time carried in 2016.
• Swachh Survekshan 2021, sixth edition of Swachh Survekshan was launched by MoHUA last month. 

(Source: News on AIR)

2. Disarmament and non-proliferation were discussed between India and South Korea.

• Recently India and South Korea have exchanged views on contemporary issues of global development and mutual interest in the field of disarmament and non-proliferation.
• Both sides have agreed to hold the next round of consultations to carry forward their fruitful discussions.
• South Korea:
  • There is an East Asian nation on the southern half of the Korean peninsula.
  • Its capital is Seoul and the currency is South Korean won.
  • Moon Jae-in is the President of this country.

(Source: News on AIR)

3. Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan launched a video game called Corona Fighters.

• Recently, the country's Health Minister, Dr. Harsh Vardhan has launched a video game called Corona Fighters.
• This is the first interactive game of its kind on COVID-19. It follows the prevalent COVID appropriate practices.
• The game is a new and highly creative way to teach people the right tools and behaviors to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Speaking on the occasion, the Health Minister said that until a vaccine is prepared to fight COVID-19, appropriate behavior and prevention will serve as a powerful social vaccine and protect everyone.

(Source: News on AIR)

4. India and Israel signed a cultural agreement.

• Recently India and Israel have signed a cultural agreement.
• Under this agreement, a three-year program has been outlined to further strengthen strategic bilateral ties.
• Its purpose is to promote people-to-people exchanges.
• This agreement will contribute to the development of the people of both countries in their relationship to the history and culture, and in particular to raising awareness among the youth.
• On 18 May 1993, a cultural agreement was signed between the two countries and the cooperation program for the year 2020-23 is based on that agreement.
• The agreement includes the following-
  • To encourage cooperation and organize literature in the protection of cultural heritage and archeology with the help of Israel Archaeological Authority (IIA) and Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
  • Promote the translation of famous works in each other's languages ​​and encourage the participation of films and filmmakers in each other's international film festivals, etc.
• Israel:
  • It is a Middle Eastern country located on the Mediterranean Sea.
  • Its capital is Jerusalem and the currency is the Israeli shekel.
  • Benjamin Netanyahu is the Prime Minister of the country.

5. 21 August: International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism.

• Every year on 21 August, International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism is celebrated.
• The day is celebrated to pay tribute to the victims of terrorism around the world.
• The day was announced by the United Nations General Assembly in 2017 and was celebrated for the first time in 2018.
• Terrorism is, in a broad sense, intentional violence for political or religious purposes. It is mainly used to refer to spreading violence during peace or to common people during war.

6. Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda launches TRIFOOD project in Raigad and Jagdalpur.

• Recently, Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda launched the TRIFOOD project in Raigad, Maharashtra and Jagdalpur in Chhattisgarh.
• Tertiary processing centers have been launched under this project.
• The objective of this project is to increase the income of tribals through better use and value addition of minor forest produce (MFP) collected by tribal forest collectors.
• The TRIFOOD project is being implemented by the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED).
• The unit in Raigad, Maharashtra, will also produce traditional mahua drinks, amla juice, candies, jamun juice and custard apple pulp.
• The multi-item processing center at Jagdalpur in Chhattisgarh will be used for processing items like mahua, amla, honey, cashew, tamarind, ginger, garlic and other fruits and vegetables.
• Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED):
  • It is the national level apex organization under the administrative control of Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
  • It came into existence in 1987.
  • Its head office is located in New Delhi.

(Source: News on AIR)

7. Jaipur, Guwahati and Thiruvananthapuram airports will be leased under Public Private Partnership Scheme.

• Recently, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the leasing of three airports of Airports Authority of India under PPP scheme.
• Under this, Jaipur, Guwahati and Thiruvananthapuram airports have been approved to be given to Adani Enterprises Limited for 50 years for operation, management and development.
• These projects will bring necessary investments in the public sector, besides efficiency in service delivery, expertise, enterprise and business skills.
• The government leased AAI's Delhi and Mumbai airports for operations, management and development under public-private partnership nearly ten years ago.
• Airports Authority of India (AAI):
  • The Ministry of Civil Aviation is a statutory body functioning under the Government of India.
  • It is responsible for the construction, upgrade, maintenance and management of civil aviation infrastructure.
  • Its headquarters is located in New Delhi.
  • It was established on 1 April 1995.

8. Flavonoids related to the treatment of tuberculosis and chikungunya were artificially made in the laboratory for the first time.

• Recently, scientists at Agharkar Research Institute (ARI), Pune have found the way to synthesize the flavonoid molecules in laboratory related to the treatment of tuberculosis and chikungunya in India.
• Agharkar Research Institute is an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India.
• It may also be a potential treatment for COVID-19.
• ‘Rugosaflavonoid A’ has been obtained by ARI from a Chinese medicinal plant, Rosa rugosa, and ‘Podocarflavone A’ from a plant called Podocarpus macrophyllus.
• Flavonoids:
  • There are immunity enhancing ingredients. Therefore, a flavonoid-rich diet is recommended.
  • A diet rich in flavonoids protects us from heart, liver, kidney, brain and other infectious diseases.
  • Most Ayurvedic products are rich in flavonoids. Flavonoids are mostly found in tomatoes, onions, lettuce, grapes, apples, strawberries, peaches and other vegetables.

9. A tattoo sensor designed to monitor vital health parameters.

• Recently a tattoo sensor has been designed to monitor important health parameters.
• The tattoo sensor is being manufactured by Dr. Saurabh Kumar of the Center of Nanoscience and Engineering (CeNSE) at the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru. He is a recipient of the INSPIRE Faculty Fellowship established by the Department of Science and Technology.
• Skin-compliant sensors have the ability to continuously monitor non-invasive and important health parameters.
• In addition, it also has the ability to replace conventional health monitoring devices, as such devices are heavy, rigid, and non-practical.
• This tattoo sensor is designed to suit the skin of about 20 microns thick.
• These sensors do not interfere with the daily activities of the user.
• Through this, one can get information about pulse rate, respiratory rate, exposure to UV rays, skin hydration level, glucose level etc.

(Source: PIB)

10. Five engineers and two technicians were trapped in a major fire at Srisailam power station.

• Recently, five engineers and two technicians were trapped in a major fire at the Srisailam power station in one of the units of Hydel Power Station of Srisailam project.
• The fire was caused by a short circuit at Srisailam power station.
• The Srisailam dam has been constructed on the Krishna River in Andhra Pradesh's Kurnool district and is the second largest hydroelectric power station in the country.
• Krishna River:
  • It is the fourth largest river in India in terms of water flow and river basin.
  • It originates in Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra.
  • It flows from Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and eventually falls into the Bay of Bengal.
  • Ghatprabha, Malprabha and Tungabhadra are its major tributaries.
  • Srisailam dam is situated on the same river on the border of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

(Source: The Hindu)

11. Colorful water of the Vrishabhavathi river of Bengaluru worried the residents.

• The colorful water of Bengaluru's Vrishabhavathi River has made residents worried.
• Recently, it has been seen that the water of the river Vrishabhavathi became black on the first day, yellow on the second day and turquoise on the third day.
• This situation has arisen with the use of this river as a sewer for unwanted wastes, sewage in the city.
• Vrishabhavathi River:
  • It is a small river that flows south of Bengaluru.
  • This river was ever so pure that its water was used for drinking and used by the famous Gali Anjaneya temple.
  • It is believed that the river originates at the feet of the monolithic Nandi statue at the Big Bull temple in Basavanagudi, hence the name Vrishabhavathi.
  • It is a tributary of Arkavathi.
  • Arkavathi is a tributary of the major South Indian River Kaveri.

(Source: The Hindu)

12. A study found that a record amount of ice melted in Greenland during the extra-warm year 2019.

• A recent study by a geologist at the Alfred Wegener Institute in Germany found that Greenland melted a record amount of ice during the extra-warm year 2019.
• 586 billion tons of snow melted in summer that is enough to cover California in more than four feet of water. Due to this Greenland melt the global sea level has increased by 1.5 mm last year.
• A study in Nature Communications Earth and Environment states that since 2003 ice melted at an average of 259 billion tons every year.
• Earlier in 2012, 511 billion tonnes of snow melted.
• A factor called Greenland Blocking has been found to be responsible for this, which either slows the ice melting rate or it supercharges the climate related melting.
• Greenland blocking creates a high pressure area over Canada that diverts the northern jet stream causing the warm southerly winds from the United States and Canada to turn to Greenland, causing the ice to melt at a faster rate.

(Source: The Hindu)