Daily Current Affairs For BPSC as on 20.08.2022

NATIONAL:

1. Bharat Ratna for Dalai Lama

Why in news - The All-Party Indian Parliamentary Forum for Tibet is to urge the government to confer the Bharat Ratna on the Dalai Lama.

Key Points –

• Other proposals –

A. A joint session of Parliament to be addressed by Dalai Lama.

B. Adoption of a policy on the lines of the United States’ Tibetan Policy and Support Act.

• Tibetan Democracy Day - Sept 2.

2. Swachhata Pakhawada

Why in news - Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) is organizing Swachhata Pakhawada from August 16 to 31, 2022.

Key Points –

• It was started in April 2016.

• Aim - to bring an intense focus on the issues and practices of Swachhta by engaging GOI Ministries/Departments.

3. Pravasi Bhartiya Divas (PBD) 2023

Why in news - The 17th PBD 2023 will be held at Indore in Jan 2023.

Key Points –

• It is celebrated on Jan 9 to mark the contribution of the overseas Indians in the development of India.

• It also commemorates the return of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa to India on Jan 9, 1915.

INTERNATIONAL:

1. Spanish Stonehenge

Why in news - Spain sees mysterious underwater “Stonehenge” emerging from drought-hit dam.

Key Points –

• Official name - Dolmen of Guadalperal.

• It is a circle of dozens of megalithic stones which supposedly date back to 5000 BC (prehistoric).

• It is now fully exposed in one corner of the Valdecanas reservoir, Spain.

• It was discovered by Hugo Obermaier in 1926.

2. Human Milk Bank “Amrit Kosh”

Why in news - The first-ever human milk bank in Nepal was inaugurated in Kathmandu.

Key Points –

• Aim - to give premature and other at-risk infants access to breast milk.

• The government of Nepal, EU and UNICEF have set up the bank in partnership.

• The neonatal mortality rate (deaths per 1,000 live births in the first 28 days) in Nepal is 16.

ECONOMY:

1. Startup Goodfellows

Why in news - Ratan Tata invested in India’s first senior citizen companionship startup Goodfellows.

Key Points –

• The company was founded by his assistant Shantanu Naidu.

• Goodfellows provides authentic companionship to seniors through young, educated graduates having emotional intelligence.

SCIENCE – TECH:

1. First Steel Slag Road in AR

Why in news - Border Road Organization to build steel slag road in Arunachal Pradesh on a pilot project.

Key Points –

• A steel slag road connecting the port with the city was opened in Surat, Gujarat, in June 2022.

• Slag is a by-product of the production of steel.

• NHAI would also use steel slag for the construction of a portion of the Mumbai-Goa highway.

RANKS & INDICES:

1. Monthly Oil Report

Why in news – OPEC released its monthly oil report.

Key Points –

• India’s demand for petroleum would grow by 7.73% in 2022 (fastest in world).

• It is projected to rise to 5.14 million bpd in 2022 (4.77 mn barrels bpd in 2021).

• Demand rises in other economies also – Europe (4.62%)> US (3.39%)> China (1.23%).

• India is the world’s third largest oil importing and consuming nation behind the US and China.

IMPORTANT DATES:

1. World Humanitarian Day

Why in news – It is observed on August 19 to pay tribute to aid workers who risk their lives in humanitarian service.

Key Points –

• It commemorates the death of Sergio Vieira de Mello in the bombing of the Baghdad headquarters of the UN (19 August 2003).

AGREEMENTS:

1. Mastercard partners with leading badminton players

Why in news – Mastercard partnered with leading badminton players to promote digital payments in India.

Key Points –

• Mastercard has appointed Lakshya Sen, Kidambi Srikanth, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty as brand ambassadors in India.

• Aim – To spread awareness about the safety, security and convenience of digital payments in India.

2. Paytm and Samsung

Why in news – Paytm partnered with Samsung stores to facilitate smart payments as well as its loan service through deployment of pointof sale devices.

3. TCS and Five Star Bank

Why in news – TCS partnered with “Five Star Bank” to offer hyper-personalized customer experience on its digital transformation journey.

4. IRCTC and BSF

Why in news – BSF has signed an MoU with the IRCTC to ensure the safety and security of booking data.

5. Axis Bank and FCI

Why in news – Axis Bank has signed an MoU with Food Corporation of India to provide “Ultima Salary Package”, a best-in-class salary account with exclusive benefits.

SPORTS:

1. FIBA U-18 Women’s Asian Championship

Why in news – The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) is scheduled to host the event in Bengaluru.

Key Points –

• Venue - Sree Kanteerva and Koramangala Indoor stadiums, Bengaluru.

• Duration - September 5 to 11, 2022.

• 16 countries would participate in the event.

STATES/UTs:

1. Vidya Rath: School on Wheels Project

Why in news – Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma launched the Vidya Rath project on Aug 15. 2022.

Key Points –

• Aim - Imparting elementary education to economically challenged children of the society.

• It is for 10 months after which children would be integrated into the general system of education.

2. Adventure Sport tag to “Dahi Handi”

Why in news – “Dahi Handi” got adventure sport status in Maharashtra.

Key Points –

• Participants (Govindas) can apply for government jobs under the sports quota.

• Compensation for accidents during the formation of human pyramids –

A. Death – Rs 10 lakhs.

B. Serious injuries - Rs 7 lakh

C. Fractures - Rs 5 lakh.

BIHAR:

1. Har Ghar Nal Ka Jal Yojana

Why in news – Under “Saat Nischay”, the government has provided tap water to 1.63 crore families.

Key Points –

• The target of providing tap water from 2% (2015) to 99% (2022) has also been achieved.

• To achieve the target, the government has invested Rs 29,245 crores.

• It is operated by three departments -

A. Public Health Engineering

B. Panchayati Raj

C. Urban Development and Housing Department.

2. Mukhyamantri Udyami Yojana

Why in news – Till Aug 17, 2022, 10,000 people have been transferred Rs 4,00,000 each under this scheme.

Key Points –

• An amount of Rs 10,00,000 is to be given for purchase of machines.

• Out of Rs 10,00,000, Rs 5,00,000 is in the form of subsidy.

• It has 4 components –

A. Scheduled Caste-Tribe Entrepreneur

B. Extremely Backward Class Entrepreneur,

C. Women Entrepreneur

D. Youth Entrepreneur Scheme.

3. Relief Amid Drought in Bihar

Why in news – MP and UP have released 10,000 cusecs of water from Bansagar and Rihand reservoirs respectively.

Key Points –

• It benefitted farmers of South Bihar (irrigation).

• This monsoon, Bihar recorded about 40% less rainfall than normal.

4. Arun Agarwal

Why in news – The current president of Bihar Industries Association (BIA), Arun Agarwal has been re-elected for 2022-23.

Key Points –

• He got elected for the fourth time.

• General secretary - Gaurav Shah. He succeded Ashish Rohatgi.

• Treasurer - Manish Kumar.

POINTERS:

• Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has announced the opening of its first international marketing and sales office in which country – Malaysia.

• Where was the 4th India-Philippines Strategic Dialogue held on 18 August 2022 – Manila.

• Which Union Minister has launched an online marketplace application 'Aqua Bazaar' – Parshottam Rupala.

• Who has been recommended by the Bureau of Financial Services Institutions (FSIB) for the post of Chairman of NABARD – Mohammad Mustafa.

• Who has won gold medal in 2022 WSPS Shooting World Cup in Changwon, South Korea in August 2022 – Rahul Jakhar.

• Who becomes India's 106th unicorn after raising $33.5 million in funding round – Shiprocket.

• Who became the first Indian footballer to play in the UEFA Women's Champions League – Manisha Kalyan.

• Which state accounts for the highest share in the total cost of projects sanctioned by banks and financial institutions in 2021-22 – Rajasthan.

• Which bank has introduced a new term deposit scheme called KBL Amrit Samriddhi - Karnataka Bank.

• At which place Vietnam and India bilateral military exercise Vinbax 2022 was concluded – Chandimandir, Haryana.

 

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