Top Current Affairs of the Week (26 July- 01 August 2020)
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www.gradeup.co Top Current Affairs of the Week (26 July- 01 August 2020) Kargil Vijay Diwas being observed today • Kargil Vijay Diwas is observed every year on July 26 to mark India’s victory over Pakistan in 1999 Kargil conflict in Kargil-Drass sector of J&K • It is a 3-day long celebration dedicated to our Kargil War’s Heroes and mark the success of Operation Vijay which was fought for more than 60 days • ‘Operation Vijay’, was India’s reaction against Pakistan for its infiltrators in the Indian territory of Kargil • This year wreath lying ceremony will take place at Drass War Memorial Nicaragua becomes 87th country to sign ISA Framework Agreement • Nicaragua has become the 87th country that joined International Solar Alliance (ISA) Framework Agreement • ISA agreement on behalf of Nicaragua was signed by Permanent Representative to the UN Jaime Hermida Castillo at the Permanent Mission of India to UN in New York • Nicaragua is an Central American country • ISA an initiative led by India to promote sustainable energy. • HQs: Gurugram, Haryana • Director General: Upendra Tripathy Union Minister launches ‘RestartIndia’ advisory platform for MSMEs • Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has launched ‘RestartIndia’ advisory platform ‘www.restartindia.in’ to help MSMEs in restarting businesses across the country. • The platform is developed jointly by Muthoot Fincorp and INKtalks under Atmanirbhar project. • It will act as a single platform for professionals/ experts from various fields and industry domains to address the questions and provide information on various govt schemes and initiatives raising self- confidence of MSMEs. NDA 2020: A Practice Course with 5000 Questions, Click Here to Join! Kakrapar Atomic Power Project (KAPP-3) attains its first criticality • Unit 3 of Kakrapar Atomic Power Project (KAPP-3) in Gujarat achieved its ‘first criticality’ • KAPP-3 is India’s first indigenously developed 700 MWe (megawatt electric) Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR) • Criticality is attained when every nuclear fission event releases a sufficient number of neutrons to sustain an ongoing series of reactions or a self-sustaining chain reaction producing heat, used to generate steam that then spins a turbine to create electricity. WHO launches COVID-19 Law Lab for implementing legal frameworks • WHO launches COVID-19 Law Lab (www.COVIDLawLab.org) for implementing legal frameworks for global pandemic responses • It is a database of laws that 190 countries have implemented in response to COVID-19 1 www.gradeup.co • Its aim is to ensure that laws protect the health and wellbeing of individuals and communities adhering to international human rights standards • It is a joint initiative of UNDP, WHO, UNAIDS and O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law, Georgetown University Jordan Henderson won FWA Footballer of the Year 2020 award • Captain of Premier League club Liverpool, Jordan Henderson (30 years) has been named as the Footballer of the Year by the Football Writers’ Association (FWA) for 2019-20 • He has played 30 Liverpool’s league matches in this season and scored four goals. • Kevin De Bruyne, Marcus Rashford and Virgil van Dijk are the runner-up • FWA is an annual award given to the player for best performance in English football season since 1947– 48 season Run to the Moon initiative raises Rs 19 lakh for Sport’s unsung warriors • 'Run to the Moon’ initiative has raised Rs 19 lakhs for unsung warriors of Indian Sports. • It was an initiative of IDBI Federal Life Insurance and NEB Sports in which 14,000 runners participated across the world covering 9,08,800 kilometres over the 30-day span. • It was led by badminton coach Pullela Gopichand and Arjuna Awardees Ashwini Nachappa and Malathi Holla • It was aimed at raising funds for needy coaches and sports support staff to make ends meet amid COVID- 19 Haryana to host 2021 Khelo India Youth Games • Haryana will host 2021 Khelo India Youth Games as announced by Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju and Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar • It is the 4th edition and is scheduled to take place after Tokyo Olympics, 2021. • It will be held at Panchkula in Haryana as it is equipped with the best sporting infrastructure to host a multi-sport event to lodge facilities for the large number of participants who are expected to attend. • Haryana won KIYG 2018 edition with 102 medals. World’s 1st electrified container tunnel to be constructed in Haryana • Indian Railways is constructing World’s first electrified double-stack container tunnel on Western Dedicated Freight Corridor. • It is a 1km D-shaped tunnel in which Goods train will be able to run at speed of more than 100 km • Implementing Agency: Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL) • It is one of the biggest Railway tunnels in India in terms of cross-sectional area, measuring 150 sq metres whose one end is near Rewari and other at Dadri. HRD Ministry forms ‘Stay in India and Study in India’ committee • HRD Ministry has set up ‘Stay in India and Study in India’ committee to form guidelines and recommend measures for students to study in India • It will be headed by D. P. Singh, chairman of UGC • It is a part of Govt plan to retain aspiring students, who wants to study abroad, by providing appropriate opportunities for education in premier Indian institutions and addressing concerns of students returning from abroad due to COVID. 2 www.gradeup.co • HRD Minister: Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' Central Reserve Police Force observed its 82nd Raising Day • 82nd Raising Day of Central Reserve Police Force foundation day is being observed on 27 July 2020. • CRPF was founded as Crown Representative’s Police on July 27, 1939 and its first batllion was raised at Neemuch town of Madhya Pradesh • It was renamed as Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) on CRPF Act enactment on December 28, 1949. • CRPF looks after internal security scenario and is at the forefront to keep our nation safe. • Director General of CRPF: AP Maheshwari. DST launches India-Russia Joint Technology Assessment Programme • DST has launched India-Russia Joint Technology Assessment and Accelerated Commercialization Programme to strengthen Science, Technology and Innovation ties between India and Russia. • It is being launched by Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and Foundation for Assistance to Small Innovative Enterprises (FASIE) of Russian Federation. • It will connect Indian, and Russian Science & Technology led SMEs and Start-ups for joint R&D RBI signs $400 million currency swap agreement with Sri Lanka • RBI has signed an agreement for extending $400 million currency swap facility to Sri Lanka • It will boost foreign reserves and ensure financial stability of the country • It will be available till November 2022. • This currency swap was announced in April under South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) framework • Sri Lanka’s forex reserves were at $ 6.7 billion in June 2020 while India’s forex reserves were at $ 517.63 billion till July 17 World Hepatitis Day being observed today • World Hepatitis Day is being observed annually on 28 July to spread awareness of viral hepatitis related disease • July 28 is chosen to commemorate the birthday of Nobel-prize winner Dr Baruch Blumberg, who discovered hepatitis B virus (HBV) and developed It diagnostic test and vaccine • Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver that causes a range of health problems including liver cancer. • 5 main strains of the hepatitis: A, B, C, D, E • Theme 2020: Hepatitis-free future NDA 2020: An Express Course, Click Here Govt issues GI certification for Kashmir Valley’s Saffron • Union Govt has issued GI registration certificate for Saffron grown in Kashmir Valley putting it on the world map with authentication. • With this, Kashmir Saffron will gain more prominence in the export market helping the farmers in getting better remunerative price • It will also stop prevalent adulteration fetching much better prices for authenticated saffron • GI certification depicts specific geographical origin and certifies unique qualities enabling right to use sign 3 www.gradeup.co FM reviewed SWAMIH to boost investment in Real Estate Sector • Finance Ministry reviewed Special Window for Affordable and Mid Income Housing (SWAMIH) performance to boost investment in Real Estate Sector • SWAMIH Investment Fund has been established for construction of stalled, RERA-registered affordable and mid-income category housing projects • Under this, Rs 8767 crore has been approved for 81 projects for completing 60,000 homes • Fund is managed by SBICAP Venture and Sponsored by DEA, Finance Ministry Ministry of Earth Sciences rolls out ‘Mausam’ Mobile App • Ministry of Earth Sciences has rolled out ‘Mausam’ App for India Meteorological Department (IMD) • It is available on Playstore and Appstore. • The app is designed for general public and will communicate weather info and forecasts in a lucid manner • It has 5 features: Current Weather, Nowcast (warning of coming weather condition), City Forecast, Warnings and Radar products • It has been developed by ICRISAT’s Digital Agriculture & Youth (DAY) team, IITM, Pune and IMD. Vice Admiral MA Hampiholi took charges as commandant of INA • Vice Admiral MA Hampiholi, AVSM, NM took charge as the Commandant in Indian Naval Academy (INA). • He succeeded Dinesh K Tripathi, AVSM, NM • MA Hampiholi is an alumnus of National Defence Academy (NDA), Khadakvasala, Defence Services Staff College, and the prestigious National Defence College,