15th Aug 2021 Current Affairs in English

Latest Current Affairs Daily Update

International

Pakistan successfully test-fires nuclear-capable ballistic missile Ghaznavi

The Pakistan Army successfully test-fired a nuclear-capable surface-to-surface ballistic missile Ghaznavi. The Ghaznavi missile can strike targets up to 290 kilometres and is capable of carrying both nuclear as well as conventional warheads.

The training launch was aimed at ensuring the operational readiness of Army Strategic Forces Command (ASFC) and re-validating technical parameters of the weapon system.

Useful notes for all competitive exams:

  • President of Pakistan: Arif Alvi.
  • Prime Minister of Pakistan: Imran Khan.

Agreements

Indian Navy, IDFC FIRST bank bring ‘Honour FIRST’ banking solutions

The Indian Navy has inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Infrastructure Development Finance Company (IDFC) First Bank to initiate ‘Honour FIRST’.

‘Honour FIRST’ is a premium banking solution for serving personnel and veterans of the Indian Navy. Designed especially keeping in mind the needs of the Armed Forces and its veterans, the Honour FIRST Defence Account is supported by a dedicated team of defence veterans.

The MoU for Honour FIRST was signed at the Naval Headquarters in New Delhi between Commodore Neeraj Malhotra, Commodore – Pay and Allowances, Indian Navy and IDFC FIRST Bank’s senior officials.

Useful notes for all competitive exams:

  • IDFC First Bank Establishment: 2018;
  • IDFC First Bank MD & CEO: V. Vaidyanathan;
  • IDFC First Bank Headquarters; Mumbai, Maharashtra.

Defence

Indian Navy takes part in US Navy-led multinational SEACAT exercises

The Indian Navy participated in the U.S. Navy-led Southeast Asia Cooperation and Training (SEACAT) military exercise in Singapore, to demonstrate its maritime manoeuvres.

The main objective of SEACAT 2021 was to enhance the interoperability and shared maritime security concerns and preserve rules-based international order. The exercise comprised approximately 400 personnel and 10 ships.

The 20th edition of the exercise was organised by the U.S. Navy, in Hybrid format, and included 20 other partner nations from the Indo-Pacific region, including India.

SEACAT was held for the first time in 2002. The exercise aims to foster enhanced cooperation between Southeast Asian countries by incorporating standardized training, tactics and procedures when faced with crises, contingencies or illegal activities in the maritime domain.

Summits and Conferences

India organizes the IBSA Tourism Ministers’ Meet Virtually

India organized the IBSA (India, Brazil and South Africa) Tourism Ministers’ meeting through the virtual platform. The Union Minister of Tourism of India, Shri G. Kishan Reddy, chaired the meeting.

The Minister of Tourism of the Federative Republic of Brazil, Gilson Machado Neto and the Deputy Minister of Tourism of the Republic of South Africa, Fish Amos Mahlalela, attended videoconferencing under India’s IBSA Chairship.

The meeting provided a platform to promote tourism cooperation among the member states and recognized the importance of strengthening cooperation in tourism to overcome the impact of the Covid 19 pandemic on the tourism sector.

The meeting ended with the adoption of the IBSA Tourism Ministers Joint Statement- a document on cooperation and promotion for the speedy recovery of travel and tourism.

Narendra Singh Tomar addresses 6th SCO Meet of Agriculture Ministers

The Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Narendra Singh Tomar has addressed the 6th meeting of Agriculture Ministers of the member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), through videoconferencing. The meeting was organized under the chairmanship of Tajikistan in Dushanbe.

During the meeting, Narendra Singh Tomar highlighted the taking several steps being taken by the Government of India to develop innovative technologies and their dissemination from Lab to Land to empower rural youth, farmers and farm women.

Apart from Tomar, Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shobha Karandlaje also attended the meet.

Business

HCL Technologies becomes 4th IT firm to hit Rs 3 trillion market-cap

HCL Technologies’ market capitalisation (market-cap) touched Rs 3 trillion for the first time. HCL becoming the fourth Indian information technology (IT) firm to achieve this milestone after Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Infosys and Wipro.

Shares of HCL Tech hit a fresh record high of Rs 1,118.55, up 2 per cent on the BSE in intra-day trade, surpassing its previous high of Rs 1,101 touched on 12th Aug in intra-day deal.

HCL Tech is the third-largest Indian IT services company by revenue, after TCS and Infosys.

The company has a strong globally diversified presence and provides comprehensive IT services to an established customer base. It has strong expertise in engineering and R&D services and its end customers are spread across industry segments.

Useful notes for all competitive exams:

  • HCL Technologies CEO: C Vijayakumar.
  • HCL Technologies Founded: 11 August 1976.
  • HCL Technologies Headquarters: Noida.

Science and Technology

Chandrayaan-2 orbiter detects water molecules on the lunar surface

India’s Chandrayaan-2 moon mission may have made a hard landing on the lunar surface in 2019, but the orbiter accompanying it has been providing useful information to scientists back on Earth.

A research paper revealed that the Chandrayaan-2 orbiter confirmed the presence of water molecules (H2o) and hydroxyl (OH) on the surface of the moon. The findings were published in the journal Current Science.

The Chandrayaan-2 mission was launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) in July 2019. But Vikram lander on-board the mission crash-landed on the lunar surface just 2.1 km from its destination in September that year.

Chandrayaan-2 was launched with the aim of mapping the variations in lunar surface composition, as well as locating and studying the surface of the Moon for the presence of water.

Useful notes for all competitive exams:

  • ISRO Chairman: K.Sivan.
  • ISRO Headquarters: Bengaluru, Karnataka.
  • ISRO established: 15 August 1969.

Books and Authors

Vice President releases book ‘Accelerating India: 7 Years of Modi Government’

The Vice President, M. Venkaiah Naidu has released a book ‘Accelerating India: 7 Years of Modi Government’ at Upa-Rashtrapati Nivas.

The book commemorates the achievement and evaluation of two elected terms of PM Modi as the Head of Parliamentary.

Releasing the book, VP Naidu said that as India will celebrate 75 years of independence, it was time to study the progress of the constitutional promise of a ‘dignified life to the common man.

Sports

Indian Bank signs MoU with Paralympic Committee

Public sector Indian Bank has signed an MoU with the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) as one of the banking partners of the Paralympic Games scheduled to commence from August 24 in Tokyo, Japan.

The bank, through its year-long association with PCI, will provide financial assistance to paralympic athletes. The President of the Paralympic Committee of India is Deepa Malik.

In a year-long association, the bank will provide financial assistance to Paralympic athletes to prepare for the coveted sporting events in the domestic arena as well as global platforms. Timely financial aid provided to these sportspersons will encourage them to focus their efforts on the game and win laurels for the country.

Useful notes for all competitive exams:

  • Indian Bank Headquarters: Chennai;
  • Indian Bank CEO: Padmaja Chunduru;
  • Indian Bank: 1907.

World Cup-winning U19 India captain Unmukt Chand announces retirement

World Cup-winning U19 India captain, Unmukt Chand has announced his retirement from cricket in India. He had made an unbeaten 111, leading a tense victory over Australia in the 2012 U-19 World Cup final in Townsville, Australia.

The 28-year-old, who also led India A as well as Delhi and Uttarakhand in domestic cricket, had represented Mumbai Indians, Delhi Capitals and Rajasthan Royals in the IPL.

Since his debut in 2010, Chand played in 67 First-Class matches, scoring 3379 runs with an average of 31.57. In 120 List A matches, Chand amassed 4505 runs at an average of 41.33. In 77 T20s, he made 1565 runs at an average of 22.35.

India sends largest ever contingent for Tokyo Paralympic Games

The upcoming Tokyo Paralympics will witness the largest ever Indian contingent being send, with 54 para-sportspersons participating across 9 sports disciplines.

The 54-member Indian contingents were given a formal and virtual send-off on August 12, 2021, by Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag.

The 2020 Summer Paralympics Games are scheduled to be held in Tokyo, Japan from August 24 to September 05, 2021.