Daily Current Affairs and GK | 8 August 2020

1. Letter of Recommendation module for PM SVANidhi Scheme launched.

• Letter of Recommendation module for PM SVANidhi Scheme has been launched by Housing and Urban Affairs Secretary.
• The Letter of Recommendation module or programme will make the scheme accessible to street vendors who are without identity card and Certificate of Vending and are out of the surveyed list for getting benefits under PM SVANidhi Scheme.
• Through the module, street vendors get a digitally enabled process in which an eligible vendor can formally ask Letter of Recommendation from the Urban Local Body.
• When the vendor will receive Letter of Recommendation from Urban Local Body, he will be able to apply for loan under PM SVANidhi scheme of Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
• The vendor who will receive Letter of Recommendation will get identity card and Certificate of Vending within 30 days.

2. Dr. Pradeep Kumar Joshi appointed as UPSC chairman.

• Dr. Pradeep Kumar Joshi has been appointed as UPSC chairman and he will take place of Arvind Saxena.
• Dr. Pradeep Kumar Joshi has been a member of UPSC since 2015.
• His tenure as UPSC Chairman will continue till May 12, 2021.
• He has also served as chairman of Chhattisgarh Public Service Commission and Madhya Pradesh Public Service Commission.
• Chairman and members of UPSC:
  • The chairman of UPSC and its members are appointed by President of India. Presently, there are 8 members in UPSC.
  • The number of members is not fixed by Constitution and the number of members depends on the discretion of the President.
  • The tenure of Chairman and members is six years or 65 years age, whichever is earlier.
  • President decides the conditions of the service of chairman and member.

(Source: News on AIR)

3. Inauguration of submarine Optical Fibre Cable connecting Chennai and Port Blair.

• A submarine Optical Fibre Cable connecting Chennai and Port Blair will be inaugurated by PM.
• Submarine optical fibre cable will also connect Port Blair to other places such as Swaraj Dweep, Little Andaman, Car Nicobar, Kamorta, Great Nicobar, Long Island and Rangat.
• The cable will ensure faster and reliable telecom and broadband connectivity to Andaman and Islands.
• On 30^th December 2018, PM has launched foundation stone for this project at Port Blair.
• Submarine optical cable will have the following benefits:
  • Tourism and employment generation will be encouraged
  • E-administration services like tele-medicine and tele-education can be provided
  • Small entrepreneurs will benefit from increasing opportunities in e-commerce
• Andaman and Nicobar Islands:
  • It is an archipelago and Union Territory of India. It has 572 islands.
  • Andaman is separated from Nicobar by 10^o channel.
  • The capital and the largest city of Andaman and Nicobar is Port Blair. 
  • Port Blair is located in South Andaman.

4. Rashtriya Swachhata Kendra to be inaugurated by PM.

• Rashtriya Swachhata Kendra, an interactive experience centre on the Swachh Bharat Mission, will be inaugurated by PM.
• Rashtriya Swachhata Kendra will provide information to future generations about journey of Swachh Bharat Mission.
• The installations in the centre will information, awareness and education on Swachhata and related aspects. 
• PM had first announced Rashtriya Swachhata Kendra on 10th April 2017, when Champaran Satyagrah’s centenary was celebrated.
• Swachh Bharat Mission:
  • The mission was launched in 2014.
  • Under the mission, more than 10 crore individual toilets have been constructed so far.
  • On 2 October 2019, the rural areas in all States have declared themselves Open Defection (ODF) Free.
  • Swachh Bharat Mission – Gramin is being implemented by Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation.
  • Swachh Bharat Mission- Urban is being implemented by Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.

(Source: DD News)

5. A memorial for Indian soldiers to be constructed by Bangladesh.

• A memorial for Indian soldiers, who were martyred in 1971 liberation war, will be constructed by Bangladesh.
• 2021 is the 50^th anniversary of 1971 liberation war of Bangladesh.
• In 1971, India has helped Bangladesh in its liberation from Pakistan.
• Bangladesh:
  • It is a South Asian country that lies to the east of India. Myanmar is located to southeast of Bangladesh.
  • Its capital and largest city is Dhaka. Its currency is Bangladeshi Taka.
  • India shares longest border with Bangladesh (4096.70 Km).  

6. Three male paddlers (table tennis players) chosen for TOPS come from Gujarat.

• Three male paddlers chosen for Target Olympics Podium Scheme (TOPS) come from Gujarat and their names are Harmeet Desai, Manav Thakkar and Manush Shah.
• The name of the fourth paddler, who has been chosen for the scheme, is Soumyajit Ghosh.
• Harmeet was a member of the team, which has won bronze medal at Asian Games in Jakarta. He has also won team and individual gold at Commonwealth TT championships.
• Manush has won a grand double at Khelo India in Pune.
• Target Olympics Podium Scheme (TOPS): 
  • TOPS was launched by Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in September 2014.
  • It aims to provide finance to Developmental Group of Athletes who can win medals in 2024 and 2028 Olympics.

(Source: News on AIR)

7. ICC Men’s T20 World Cup for year 2021 to be hosted by India.

• ICC Men’s T20 World Cup for year 2021 will be hosted by India and ICC Men’s T20 World Cup for year 2020 will be held in Australia in 2022.
• ICC Men’s T20 World Cup for year 2020 has been earlier postponed due to Covid-19.
• ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2021 in New Zealand has been postponed till February– March 2022.
• All teams qualified for ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 will participate in the event to be hosted by India in 2021.
• Qualification event for ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup was scheduled in Sri Lanka in July 2020, but this was postponed. Now, the event will be organized in 2021.
• International Cricket Council (ICC):
  • It was formed in 1909.
  • It is headquartered in Dubai, UAE.
  • Its CEO is Manu Sawhney.

(Source: News on AIR)

8. 78^th anniversary of Quit India movement: 8 August 2020.

• 8^th August 2020 is 78^th anniversary of Quit India movement of 1942.
• 8^th August is celebrated as August Kranti Day every year.
• Quit India movement was started by Mahatma Gandhi with the slogan “Do or Die”.
• Quit India movement was started from Gawalia Tank in Mumbai.
• On August 9, 1942, the British arrested main leaders of the movement, but the movement continued. There was violence during the movement.
• During the movement, parallel government were formed at places such as Balia in UP, Tamulak in Bengal, Satara in Maharashtra and Talchar in Orissa.

(Source: News on AIR)

9. Delhi Airport develops first-of-its-kind portal for all international arriving passengers.

• Delhi International Airport Limited has made first-of-its-kind portal for all international arriving passengers.
• Under this portal, India bound international arriving flyers can fill the mandatory self-declaration form. The passengers can also apply on this portal for exemption from compulsory institutional quarantine.
• The online forms have been developed in association with various ministries including Ministry of Civil Aviation, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Ministry of External Affairs and Governments of various states and union territories like Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Delhi, Haryana, etc.
• Delhi Airport is a hub for international travel and with India signing up air bubble mechanism with different countries, the number of international arrivals will increase.
• This initiative will make passengers’ journey seamless and contactless as they won’t have to fill the physical forms on arrival.
• Delhi International Airport Ltd is a consortium of GMR Group, Airports Authority of India and Fraport.

(Source: DD News)

10. Union Minister of State for Shipping launched Online Exit Examination for seafarers.

• Union Minister of State for Shipping Mansukh Mandaviya has launched Online Exit Exam for the seafarers.
• In the times of COVID-19 pandemic, seafarers who are getting training in different Maritime Training Institutes under Directorate General of Shipping can take the exam from their homes.
• India is the only country with Online Exit Examination for Seafarers in the world.
• India has set a target to prepare 5 lakh seafarers to cater the needs of Indian and global maritime industry.
• Seafarers are people who work on ships or travel regularly by sea.

(Source: PIB)