Daily Current Affairs in English 06 Aug & 07 Aug 2022 – Useful for all Competitive Exams

August 14, 2022
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Important Days

Hiroshima Day is observed globally on 6th August

Hiroshima Day is observed on August 6 to commemorate the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, Japan, in 1945, at the end of World War II.

The horrific incident took place on August 6, 1945, when the United States dropped an atomic bomb named “Little Boy”, on the town of Hiroshima in Japan. 2022 marks the 77th anniversary of the world’s first atomic bombing.

The day, which is observed at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, Japan, highlights the effects of nuclear wars, pays respect to those who got killed, discourages nuclear proliferation, and promotes world peace.

National

3rd Anniversary Of The Abrogation Of Article 370 

05th August is the third anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370. It is on this day in August 2019, when provisions of Article 370, which gave special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, were abrogated by the Union Government.

The State was further divided into two Union Territories –  Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

Earlier, Jammu and Kashmir was the only state in the country with a separate constitution as per the provisions mentioned in Article 370, a ‘temporary provision’ that grants special autonomous status to the State.

After the revocation of Article 370, all Central laws and various welfare schemes are applicable there and the decision has also paved the way for attracting investment in the region which in turn has brought in development.

Quality Council collaborates with National Health Authority 

In order to accredit and rate HMIS (Health Management Information System) and LMIS (Laboratory Information Management System) solutions that have been integrated with the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, the National Health Authority (NHA) has onboarded the Quality Council of India (QCI) for six months.

The National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH), a constituent board of QCI, is in charge of national accreditation in the medical field, according to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

The world’s largest floating solar power plant going to be built in Khandwa, MP 

The world’s largest floating solar power plant is going to be built at Khandwa in Madhya Pradesh. With an aim to increase the power generation capacity of the central state of Madhya Pradesh and address the electricity problems in the region.

A floating solar power plant is going to be built in Khandwa which will generate 600 Megawatt power by 2022-23.

Useful Notes for All Competitive Exams:

  • Madhya Pradesh Capital: Bhopal;
  • Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister: Shivraj Singh Chouhan;
  • Governor of Madhya Pradesh: Mangubhai C. Patel.

Goa Police and blockchain network 5ire agree to work to build smart policing 

In order to digitize its operations, Goa Police declared that it had inked an agreement (MoU) with Level-1 blockchain network 5ire.

S.P. Crime, Nidhin Valsan, IPS, and Pratik Gauri, the founder, and CEO of 5ire, signed the MoU on behalf of the Goa Police. Goa would become the first police state in India to totally abandon paper with the signing of this MoU.

With the implementation of a smart policing solution to increase openness and efficiency in policing, the MoU would establish a public-private collaboration between 5ire and the Goa Police.

Uttarakhand govt decides to develop one Sanskrit-speaking village in each district 

Uttarakhand government has decided to develop one Sanskrit-speaking village in each of the 13 districts in the state. Citizens of these villages will be trained by experts to use the ancient Indian language as a medium of daily communication, Uttarakhand’s Minister for Sanskrit Education.

Sanskrit teachers will be sent to the selected villages to teach locals how to communicate in the language. They will also be taught the Vedas and the Puranas to help them acquire proficiency in Sanskrit. To be called ”Sanskrit Gram”, each of these villages will be a center of ancient Indian culture

Useful Notes for All Competitive Exams:

  • Uttarakhand Chief Minister: Pushkar Singh Dhami;
  • Uttarakhand Capitals: Dehradun (Winter), Gairsain (Summer);
  • Uttarakhand Governor:  Lt Gen Gurmit Singh.

Haryana government developed the Cheerag program for EWS Students 

The “Chief Minister Equal Education Relief, Assistance and Grant (Cheerag)” program was recently introduced by the administration of Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar.

It was put in lieu of a comparable program started by the Bhupinder Singh Hooda administration in 2007 under Rule 134 A of the 2003 Haryana School Education Rules.

According to the plan, government students from the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) who attend private schools will receive a free education.

Under the Cheerag program, government school children in grades 2 through 12 may enroll in private schools. To qualify, parents’ verifiable annual income must be less than Rs. 1.8 lakh.

The state of Haryana will pay back: -Rs 700 for each student in grades two through five, Rs 900 per student in grades six through eight, and Rs 1,100 for each student in grades nine through twelve.

International

Sweden and Finland were approved to join NATO by US Senate

With 95 senators voting in favor of the measure, the US Senate decisively approved the NATO membership of Sweden and Finland. Republican Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri cast the lone dissenting vote, contending that the threat posed by China should receive considerably more attention than European security.

Finland and Sweden’s membership in NATO has the strong support of US President Joe Biden, who in July forwarded the issue to the Senate for consideration.

Useful Notes for All Competitive Exams:

  • NATO Chairman: Jens Stoltenberg

Appointments

Ravinder Takkar named as Chairman of Vodafone Idea 

Ravinder Takkar, the managing director (MD) and chief executive officer (CEO) of telecom operator Vodafone Idea Limited (Vi), will replace Himanshu Kapania as the telco’s new chairman.

He will step down as non-executive chairman of the board with effect from 18 August this month. However, he will continue to be a part of the VIL board as a non-executive director.

Useful Notes for All Competitive Exams:

  • Vodafone Idea Limited Founder: Kumar Mangalam Birla;
  • Vodafone Idea Limited Founded: 31 August 2018;
  • Vodafone Idea Limited Headquarters: Gandhinagar.

Oil India named Ranjith Rath as the new Chairman & MD 

Ranjit Rath has taken over as the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of state-run Oil India Ltd (OIL). He replaces Sushil Chandra Mishra who retired on 30 June.

The newly appointed OIL CMD has so far been associated with diverse roles spanning from strategy formulation, business development, and upstream asset management to the application of geosciences and exploration geology in several important projects including the creation of strategic petroleum reserves (SPR).

Useful Notes for All Competitive Exams:

  • Oil India Ltd Headquarters: Noida;
  • Oil India Ltd Founded: 18 February 1959.

Fintech platform BharatPe named Nalin Negi as the new CFO 

Nalin Negi has been appointed as the new chief financial officer (CFO) of Fintech startup BharatPe. Earlier he was the CFO of credit card issuer SBI Card.

In his new role, Negi will be working towards making the company’s EBITDA positive by March 2023 and leading the financial readiness for the company, which is getting ready for an initial public offering (IPO).

Ebitda stands for earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization. He will report to Suhail Sameer, CEO, BharatPe, and work closely with the Board of BharatPe.

Agreements

NIESBUD tie-up with Hindustan Unilever Ltd to develop entrepreneurial skills 

National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIESBUD) and Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for developing entrepreneurial skills among the youth and identifying other aspects for mutual collaboration.

The alliance will further enhance employment generation and create sustainable livelihood opportunities, giving a major boost to nano and micro-entrepreneurship advancement in the country.

Useful Notes for All Competitive Exams:

  • Hindustan Unilever Limited CEO: Sanjiv Mehta (10 Oct 2013–);
  • Hindustan Unilever Limited Headquarters: Mumbai;
  • Hindustan Unilever Limited  Established: 17 October 1933.

Agreement Between NPCI and IIT Kanpur for Research Collaboration 

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur, paves the way for the exchange of creative ideas and collaboration on the creation of homegrown digital payment solutions.

The collaboration will also aid in strengthening cybersecurity safeguards for the goods and services provided by NPCI and its affiliates. The MoU will spur NPCI and IIT Kanpur to work together on a variety of projects.

Amazon India signed an agreement with Indian Railways to boost delivery 

Amazon India has engaged with the Railway of India to boost its delivery services in the country. Through this partnership, Amazon India will be able to transport packages on more than 110 inter-city routes, ensuring one to two-day delivery for its customer.

Amazon began working with the Indian Railways in 2019. The company has increased its transportation lanes five-fold, it said.

Amazon is one of the enablers for the company to offer 1-day and 2-day delivery promises to customers in the hinterlands of the country. It is now working with Railways on more than 110 inter-city routes.

Useful Notes for All Competitive Exams:

  • Amazon Founder: Jeff Bezos;
  • Amazon CEO: Andy Jassy;
  • Amazon HQ: Seattle, Washington, United States;
  • Amazon Formed: 5 July 1994.

IOCL and Bangladesh ink MoU to supply emergency petroleum products 

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the emergency delivery of petroleum products via Bangladeshi territory to India was signed by the Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) and the Bangladesh Roads and Highways department in Dhaka.

The Indian High Commission stated in a tweet that this is an interim setup to help with the urgent supply of petroleum products due to damage caused by the flood in Assam this year.

Oil tankers will enter from Meghalaya and travel into Bangladeshi territory on their way to Tripura. For use of Bangladeshi land, the IOCL shall be responsible for paying all administrative costs, fees, and local taxes, including the road usage fee.

Useful Notes for All Competitive Exams:

  • IOCL Chairman: Shrikant Madhav Vaidya
  • Bangladesh’s Prime Minister: Sheikh Hasina Wazed
  • Bangladesh’s Capital: Dhaka

K-DISC inks MoU with LinkedIn to Promote Employability 

Kerala Development and Innovation Strategy Council (K-DISC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional network, along with the ICT Academy of Kerala (ICTAK) under the Kerala Knowledge Economy Mission (KKEM) as a part of Connect Career to Campus campaign (CCC).

Kerala government aims to boost employability skills with this partnership among the youth of Kerala to get relevant jobs using LinkedIn.

State Government announces that various products and services will be made available for the students on LinkedIn. The products and services include LinkedIn Insights, curated LinkedIn learning courses, and LinkedIn jobs.

Economy

RBI Hikes Repo Rate By 140 Base Points In 3 Months 

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on August 5, 2022, raised the repo rate by 50 basis points (bps) to 5.4 percent, taking it above the pre-pandemic levels of 2020, as has been speculated for a while.

This is the third time that the RBI has raised the repo rate in a span of a few months, by a huge 140 bps in three months, to be precise. One bps equals 0.01 percentage point.

Bankings

4th RBI Monetary Policy review: Repo rate raised by 50 bps 

The Reserve Bank of India has retained its retail inflation forecast for the current fiscal year at 6.7 percent. It has increased the policy repo rate under the liquidity adjustment facility (LAF) by 50 basis points to 5.40 percent with immediate effect.

RBI hiked the policy repo rate for the third time in a row. The Reserve Bank of India’s Monetary Policy Committee is headed by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das.

Consequently, the various rates are as under:

  • Policy Repo Rate: 5.40%
  • Standing Deposit Facility (SDF): 5.15%
  • Marginal Standing Facility Rate: 5.65%
  • Bank Rate: 5.65%
  • Fixed Reverse Repo Rate: 3.35%
  • CRR: 4.50%
  • SLR: 18.00%

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 India’s Trade Deficit At Record High: 31 billion Dollar 

India’s trade deficit widened to a record $31.02 billion in July, as imports of goods surged despite curbs and merchandise exports contracted for the first time in 20 months.

July merchandise exports declined by 0.76% from a year ago to $37.24 billion, while imports grew 44% to $66.26 billion during the month because of high commodity prices and a weak rupee, data released by the ministry of commerce and industry showed.

The trade deficit is said to take place when the imports done by a country exceed that of the exports done by a country in a fiscal year.

New Payment System For NRIs: The BBPS 

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) proposed to allow non-resident Indians (NRIs) to make utility, education, and other bill payments on behalf of their family members living in India.

The payments will be processed through Bharat Bill Payment System’s (BBPS) cross-border inward bill payments facility.

BBPS is a payments system conceptualized by RBI and run by the National Payments Corporation of India(NPCI) to help customers make bill payments both digitally and physically, say, through bank branches and business correspondents.

Defense

Indian Navy’s all-female crew completes the first solo maritime mission 

Women officers in the Indian Navy made history when they flew a Dornier 228 on the first-ever all-female autonomous maritime reconnaissance and surveillance mission in the North Arabian Sea.

Five officers from the Indian Navy Air Squadron (INAS) 314 stationed at the Naval Air Enclave in Porbandar, Gujarat, completed the mission.

Lt Cdr Aanchal Sharma, the mission commander, piloted the plane while assisted by Lt Shivangi and Lt Apurva Gite, Lt Pooja Panda, and SLt Pooja Shekhawat, tactical and sensor officers.

The women officers underwent extensive mission briefings and months of ground training in preparation for this historic sortie, according to a statement from the Ministry of Defence. Frontline Naval Air Squadron INAS 314 is stationed in Porbandar, Gujarat.

India-US Armies to hold mega military exercise “Yudh Abhyas” in Uttarakhand’s Auli 

The Indian Army and the US Army will conduct the 18th edition of the fortnight-long mega military exercise “Yudh Abhyas” from October 14 to 31, 2022, at Auli in Uttarakhand.

The exercise is aimed at enhancing understanding, cooperation, and interoperability between the two armies. The previous edition of the exercise took place in Alaska, the US, in October 2021.

The exercise is aimed at enhancing understanding, cooperation, and interoperability between the armies of India and the US.

The “Yudh Abhyas” exercise is taking place in the backdrop of India’s lingering border row with China in eastern Ladakh.

Awards

Bihar’s Langat Singh College astronomy lab is included in the Unesco heritage list 

The astronomical observatory at the Langat Singh College, commonly known as L. S. College, Muzaffarpur, Bihar is now included in the UNESCO list of Important Endangered Heritage observatories of the world.

The college authorities have requested the state government to conserve the old Astro lab as a specimen of the glorious past of the state and also to preserve and promote it as a heritage structure.

The UNESCO team member informed him that the astronomical observatory at Muzaffarpur is now on the UNESCO list and has been uploaded to the UNESCO site.

Useful Notes for All Competitive Exams:

  • UNESCO Founded: 16 November 1945;
  • UNESCO Headquarters: Paris, France;
  • UNESCO Members: 193 countries;
  • UNESCO Head: Audrey Azoulay.

Science and Technology

ISRO launched the tiniest rocket to display the Tricolor in Space 

A tiny satellite launch vehicle will be sent from Sriharikota by the Indian Space Research Organization on 7th August 2022. It is a three-stage vehicle, and each step of propulsion uses solid fuel.

The goal of the project is to place an Earth observation satellite called EOS-02 into low earth orbit along with a satellite called “Azaadi SAT.” The satellite will be launched from Sriharikota.

750 female students from government schools in remote areas from Kashmir to Kanyakumari created the “Azaadi Satellite.“

Srimathy Kesan, the founder of Space Kidz India, said that the opportunity for the girls to participate in the program was fantastic.

Sports

Commonwealth Games 2022: Bajrang Punia Wins Gold in Men’s 65kg Category 

Bajrang Punia has won his 3rd Commonwealth Games medal and his second successive Gold medal in the men’s 65kg category.

The Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist beat Lachlan McNeil of Canada in the final (9-2). He had won silver in his maiden CWG in 2014 and then bettered the color four years ago in Gold Cost by winning gold.

Commonwealth Games 2022: Indian Grappler Divya Kakran won the Bronze medal 

Indian wrestler, Divya Kakran has won a bronze medal in the women’s 68 kg category at the Commonwealth Games 2022. In the bronze medal match, Kakran defeated Tonga’s Tiger Lily Cocker Lemalie in 26 seconds via Victory by Fall. Kakran bagged the medal in only 26 seconds via Victory by Fall.

Divya Kakran (born 1998) is a freestyle wrestler from India. Divya has won 60 medals, including 17 gold medals in the Delhi State Championship, and has won the Bharat Kesari title eight times.

Commonwealth Games 2022: Wrestler Mohit Grewal Bags Bronze In Men’s Freestyle 

Indian grappler, Mohit Grewal has clinched the bronze medal in the Men’s Freestyle 125kg in the Commonwealth Games 2022 after defeating Jamaica’s Aaron Johnson. Grewal defeated Johnson 5-0 in the bronze medal match.

He bagged the medal in only three minutes and 30 seconds. Mohit started his campaign on a winning note against Alexios Kaouslidis of Cyprus in the quarterfinal bout but lost to eventual champion Amarveer Dhesi of Canada in the semi-final.

Commonwealth Games 2022: Sakshi Malik Wins Gold in Women’s Wrestling 

Star Indian wrestler, Sakshi Malik has won the gold medal in the Women’s Wrestling Freestyle 62Kg at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games. She defeated Ana Godinez Gonzalez of Canada in the final.

The 29-year-old defeated England’s Kelsey Barnes 10-0 via technical superiority in the quarter-final and then beat Cameroon’s Berthe Emilienne Etane Ngolle 10-0 via technical superiority in the semi-final.

Commonwealth Games 2022: India’s Deepak Punia won a gold medal in Wrestling 

India’s wrestler Deepak Punia won the gold medal in the Commonwealth Games 2022 by defeating Pakistan’s Muhammad Inam by 3-0 in the men’s 86 kg category in the final.

In the semifinal earlier, Deepak saw out Canada’s Alexander Moore 3-1 as he gained early points. This is India’s third gold medal in wrestling.

Commonwealth Games 2022: Sudhir won the gold medal in men’s heavyweight para powerlifting

Sudhir claimed the gold medal in the men’s heavyweight para powerlifting event at the Commonwealth Games 2022. Sudhir, an Asian Para Games bronze medallist, lifted 208kg in his first attempt before increasing it to 212kg in his second effort to gather 134.5 points and break the Games record.

Ikechukwu Christian Obichukwu won the silver with 133.6 points, while Micky Yule bagged the bronze with 130.9 points.

The 27-year-old Sudhir, who has an impairment due to the effects of polio, thus opened India’s para sports medal account in the ongoing CWG.

Commonwealth Games 2022: Murali Sreeshankar wins silver in the long jump 

Murali Sreeshankar has clinched a silver in the men’s long jump to give India its second medal in athletics at the Commonwealth Games 2022. Sreeshankar has soared to 8.08m in his fifth attempt to finish second behind Laquan Nairn of Bahamas in a nerve-wracking men’s long jump final.

Nairn also had the best jump of 8.08m but his second best of 7.98m was better than the 7.84m of Sreeshankar. Jovan van Vuuren (8.06m) of South Africa took the bronze.

Commonwealth Games 2022: Anshu Malik Clinches Silver In Women’s Freestyle 

Indian Grappler or wrestler, Anshu Malik won the silver medal in the Women’s Freestyle 57kg category in the Commonwealth Games 2022.

She faced a 3-7 defeat against Nigeria’s Adekuoroye in the gold medal match. Malik bagged the first medal for India in the wrestling of the Commonwealth Games 2022.

Summits and Conferences

IDF World Dairy Summit 2022 to be held in New Delhi

International Dairy Federation World Dairy Summit (IDF WDS 2022), is scheduled to be held in New Delhi from September 12. India will look to improve its per animal milk productivity by drawing lessons from advanced nations.

Currently, the world’s largest milk producer with about 210 million tonnes of production per year, India lags behind many advanced countries in dairy productivity.

This, according to dairy sector leaders, will be a key takeaway for the country from the Summit that has a theme of “livelihood and nutrition”.

India to host a special meeting of the UN SC Counterterrorism Committee 

In October, India will host diplomats from the UN Security Council‘s 15 member countries for a special counterterrorism meeting. India’s two-year term as an elected non-permanent member of the UN Security Council is halfway over. In December of this year, India’s term on the Council will come to a close, and for that month, it will also serve as President of the influential UN body.

India will welcome diplomats from the 15-nation Security Council, including the US, China, and Russia, for the special meeting of the Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee in October.

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