Today Current Affairs for Competitive Exams - Current Affairs 2021 Online - 7th August 2021

Obituaries • The state government has sanctioned funds to the tune of Rs 150 crore • Bobby Eaton, a legendary pro wrestler, for Mahajyoti (Mahatma Jyotiba Phule passed away in August 2021. Eaton’s Research and Training Institute), of career spanned four decades, during which Rs 40 crore have been disbursed. which he won nine tag team titles in the NWA and WCW. Amazon India's new specialized centre • Richard Trumka, President of the powerful AFL-CIO labor organization, • Amazon has announced the launch of a passed away in August 2021. AFL-CIO new specialized Fulfilment Centre (FC) is the American Federation of Labor and in Telangana. Congress of Industrial Organizations. • With this expansion, it now has 5 fulfilment centres offering storage space R K Singh launches e-certification programme of more than 5 million cubic feet to more than 35,000 sellers in the state. • Power Minister R K Singh has launched • Spread over 2 lakh square feet of floor an e-certification programme, 'reform area, the new FC is located in and regulatory knowledge base for Hyderabad. power sector', to provide regulatory training. NCW Chairperson nominated for another term • He also launched a Regulatory Data Dashboard. • The Women and Child Welfare Ministry • It is an e-compendium of data have informed that Rekha Sharma has containing state-wise details of tariff and been nominated as Chairperson of the power discoms (distribution companies) National Commission for Women (NCW) performance, developed by IIT Kanpur. for another term of three years. • She will hold the office for another 3 Maharashtra govt to train 2,000 OBC students years or till the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier. • The Maharashtra government has • NCW is the statutory body of the govt, decided to train 2,000 OBC students for concerned with advising the government the Maharashtra Public Service on all policy matters affecting women. Commission (MPSC) exams and 1,000 for the Union Public Service J&J’s single-dose Covid vaccine given approval Commission (UPSC) exams. 1 | P a g e

• Johnson and Johnson's single-dose • The 2nd Institute of Electrical and Covid-19 vaccine became the fifth Electronics Engineers (IEEE) vaccine to be approved by the International Conference on Range government of India. Technology (ICORT-2021) was held • This will be the fifth Covid-19 vaccine to virtually on 5 August 2021. get approval after Covishield, Covaxin, • The conference was organized by Sputnik V, and Moderna in India. Integrated Test Range (ITR) Chandipur, • Biological E will be an important part of a laboratory of DRDO. Johnson and Johnson's global supply • The event hosted speakers from across chain network. the globe, who presented their • The vaccine is called Janssen. technological achievements in multiple subjects. First bio-bank for heart failure research Govt aims to increase fisheries exports • The first National Heart Failure Biobank (NHFB) of the country has been • The govt aims to increase fisheries inaugurated at the Sree Chitra Tirunal exports to ₹1 Tn by FY25. Institute for Medical Sciences and • It will support the development of the Technology (SCTIMST) on 5 August fishing harbor and fish landing centers 2021. with modern infrastructure under the • It would collect blood, biopsies, and Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada clinical data as a guide to future Yojana, Parshottam Rupala. therapies. • The Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada • The biobank will provide insights into Yojana (PMMSY) is being implemented heart diseases and heart failure among to bring about Blue Revolution with the Indian children and adults. highest-ever estimated investment of ₹20,050 cr. Suryoday Bank launches health savings account Sjoerd steps down as women's hockey team coach • Suryoday Small Finance Bank (SSFB) has launched a 'Suryoday Health and • Sjoerd Marijne would be stepping down Wellness Savings Account'. as the coach of the women's national • It will help customers grow their wealth hockey team. and also take care of their family's • Marijne said the bronze medal match health amid the covid-19 pandemic. against Great Britain in the ongoing • The account offers an attractive interest Olympics was his last assignment with rate and comes with three major the side. benefits for a family of four -- top-up • The Dutch coach had taken charge of health insurance of ₹25 lakh, annual the team for the first time in 2017. healthcare package, etc. • He was offered an extension by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) but he 2nd IEEE International Conference held refused the offer.

US passes a bill

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• The US has passed a bill to strengthen • India plans to conduct airborne radar support for Taiwan to participate in surveys to map the surface topography WHO. of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. • The bill states that the COVID-19 • This mapping of the strategic pandemic transcends all borders and archipelago is proposed to be done by that Taiwan should not be excluded Indian National Centre for Ocean from the global health body. Information Services (INCOIS) and • Taiwan's efforts to join WHO begin in National Remote Sensing Centre. 1997 and with US support, the country • It will be done through Airborne LiDAR had participated in World Health Terrain Mapping (ALTM) of surface Assembly as an observer from 2009- topography on the land side of the 2017 against Beijing's pressure. coast.

MEITY Startup Hub ties with India Accelerator HP Handicrafts Corp signs MoU with Flipkart

• MeitYStartup Hub (MSH), an initiative of • The Himachal Pradesh State the Ministry of Electronics and IT Handicrafts and Handloom Corporation (MeitY), has joined hands with India has signed an MoU with Flipkart. Accelerator. • It is for online sale and promotion of the • The collaboration shall support deep- products made by local artisans and tech startups from concept validation to craftsmen to customers across the product development and further globe. venture journey by assisting them on • The MoU would provide an e-commerce aspects such as best practices, platform for over 20,000 artisans fundraising, go-to-market, knowledge associated with handloom and sharing/ technical know-how, etc. handicrafts in the state.

8700 sq km of Amazon forest destroyed Uttarakhand announced cash award for Vandana

• Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon • Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami rainforest reached near-record levels for has announced a cash award of 25 lakh the 12 months through July 2021. rupees for Vandana Katariya, who • A total of 8,712 square kilometers represented India at the Tokyo Olympics (3,364 square miles) of forest cover -- in Women’s Hockey. an area nearly the size of Puerto Rico -- • The CM also announced that a new was destroyed from August 2020 to July sports policy will be implemented in the 2021. state soon. • The information was given by satellite • Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren has also data from Brazilian space agency announced that Indian women's hockey INPE's DETER monitoring program. team players hailing from the state will receive Rs 50 lakh each. Govt to conduct surveys of A&N Islands Subhas Sarkar participates in G20 meeting

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• Minister of State for Education Subhas Pradesh against an allocation of Sarkar participated in the G20 Research Rs10,870 crore for the financial year Ministers’ meeting on 6 August 2021. 2021-22 under the Jal Jeevan Mission. • It was hosted in blended mode by Italy. • It is the highest allocation to any state • G20 Education Ministers exchanged under the JJM. views on enhancing research • JJM is envisioned to provide safe and collaborations and sharing digital space adequate drinking water through among G20 Countries for a strong, individual household tap connections by sustainable, resilient, and inclusive 2024 to all households in rural India. recovery. ADB approves loan for rural roads in MH Cycling expedition flagged off from Port Blair • Asian Development Bank has approved • As part of the Swarnim Vijay Varsh a USD 300 million loan as additional celebration, a cycling expedition was financing for the ongoing Maharashtra flagged off from Port Blair in Andaman Rural Connectivity Improvement (MRCI) to Diglipur on 5 August 2021. project. • The expedition carrying Victory Flame • The MRCI project would provide last- will cover a distance of 340 km in five mile connectivity to a large number of days. small villages, enhancing access to • The Victory Flame will be kept in health and education facilities and Andaman and Nicobar Islands till 28 greatly benefit vulnerable populations by August 2021 before handing it over to increasing agriculture productivity. the Eastern Command. R K Vishnoi assumes charge as THDCIL CMD 8,000 PM Bharatiya Janaushadhi Kendras opened • R K Vishnoi has taken over as the • The government has opened more than Chairman and Managing Director of 8000 Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya state-owned THDCIL. Janaushadhi Kendras as of 2 Aug 2021 • THDC India Limited (THDCIL) is a under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya leading power sector company and a Janaushadhi Pariyojana. joint venture between NTPC and Uttar • The aim of the scheme is to open about Pradesh government. 10,500 Janaushadhi Kendras covering • Vishnoi is currently representing India in all the districts of the country by March the International Commission on Large 2025. Dams for the Technical Committee on • The government has enhanced the Seismic Safety of Dams. incentive granted to store-owners from the existing Rs 2,50,000 to Rs 5 lakh. N.Korea continues missile programs in 2021

Centre releases grant-in-aid to UP under JJM • North Korea continued developing its nuclear and ballistic missile programs • The Jal Shakti ministry has released a during the first half of 2021 in violation of Rs 2,400 crore grant-in-aid to Uttar

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international sanctions according to a • Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik launched United Nations report. nine online services of the energy • The report is by a panel of independent department. sanctions monitors to the U.N. Security • These online services will be available Council North Korea sanctions to beneficiaries on committee. edistrict.odisha.gov.in and • North Korea is formally known as the eicelectricityodisha.nic.in. Democratic People's Republic of Korea • With the new online platform, the (DPRK). electrical workforce such as the electrical workmen, supervisors, and Pakistan gets USD 500 mn loan from ADB contractors can now apply online for grants and renewal of their licenses. • The Asian Development Bank has approved a USD 500 million loan for 1,040 KRS operated over 72 routes debt-ridden Pakistan to help it buy coronavirus vaccines. • Union Minister of Railways Ashwini • The loan was sanctioned under ADB’s Vaishnaw informed Rajya Sabha that USD 9 billion Asia Pacific Vaccine 1,040 Kisan Rail services have been Access Facility launched in December operated over 72 routes across the 2020. country so far. • The Asian Development Bank is a • The concept of running Kisan rail trains regional development bank established over the Indian Railways network was on 19 December 1966, which is started in 2020 for boosting the income headquartered in the Ortigas Center, of farmers while providing safe and Philippines. hassle-free transport services for the marketing of the agriculture sector. Russia lays optic cable through Arctic Vman concludes first ever deal from GIFT City • Russia has started laying its first undersea fibre optic communications • Vman, an aviation leasing company, cable through the Arctic as part of a signed an agreement to lease an Airbus state-run project to bring high-speed H125 Helicopter, marking the first such internet to its remote hydrocarbon-rich transaction after relaxation of leasing north. norms in the country. • Dubbed the "Polar Express", the cable • Vman is the first company to start link, due to be completed in 2026, would operations from International Financial pass 12,650 kilometres over Russia's Services Centre in GIFT City. long northern coast from the Barents • Gujarat International Finance Tec-City Sea to the far eastern port of (GIFT City) is a planned business Vladivostok. district in Gujarat, India.

Odisha launches online service of energy dept 60 beggars get job under Raj govt scheme

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• At least 60 beggars have been provided • Hyderabad has reported an unusual jobs by the Rajasthan government incidence of white fungus or Aspergillus under a scheme through 'vocational developing an abscess in the brain of a training for life with dignity'. Covid recovered patient. • The beggars underwent a one-year • The patient had recovered from Covid- program which was introduced by 19 in May 2021 but had developed limb Rajasthan Skill and Livelihoods paralysis and communication difficulties. Development Corporation (RSLDC). • A brain MRI revealed clot-like structures • The scheme was started under the that did not go away despite the use of collaboration between RSLDC and medicines. Sopan Institute of Science, Technology, and Management. India and China disengage in Gogra

PM-DAKSH portal, mobile application launched • India and China have completed force withdrawal from the Gogra region of • Social Justice and Empowerment eastern Ladakh after a year-long Minister Dr. Virendra Kumar launched standoff. the PM-DAKSH portal and mobile • The disengagement procedure, which application on 7 Aug'21. included both sides removing all • It will make the skill development temporary structures took place over schemes accessible to the target groups two days, on August 4 and 5, 2021. of backward classes, Scheduled Castes, • With the Gogra agreement, both have and safai karamcharis. now conceded in 4 of the 6 flashpoints • The Pradhan Mantri Dakshta Aur including Galwan. Kushalta Sampann Hitgrahi (PM- DAKSH) Yojana is being National Handloom Day: 7 August implemented from the year 2020-21. • National Handloom Day is celebrated India's trade deficit with China dips every year on 7 August. • The day was declared in the year 2015 • India's trade deficit with China has by the government of India. declined from USD 53.57 billion in 2018- • The date was chosen to commemorate 19 to USD 44.02 billion in 2020-21. the Swadeshi Movement which took • Exports to China have increased to USD place on 7th August 1905, in the 21.19 billion in 2020-21 from USD 16.61 Calcutta Town Hall. billion in 2019-20. • The main objective of the movement • Exports were USD 16.75 bn in 2018-19. was to revive domestic products and • Imports from China during 2018-19, production functioning. 2019-20 and 2020-21 were worth USD 70.32 billion, USD 65.26 billion and USD US Women win Olympic gold In 65.21 billion, respectively. • and won a gold White fungus abscess found in a patient medal in beach volleyball at Tokyo Olympics on 6 August 2021.

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• April Ross now has the complete set of • The initiative will allow customers to buy Olympic beach volleyball medals: silver insurance policies and make premium in London, bronze in Rio de Janeiro, payments digitally, from their homes. and gold she won with Alix Klineman at the Tokyo Games. TRIFED celebrates 34th Foundation Day • She beat Mariafe Artacho del Solar and Taliqua Clancy of Australia 21-15, 21- • TRIFED (Tribal Co-operative Marketing 16. Development Federation of India) was founded on 6 Aug 1987. Rs 50 lakh each to 9 women hockey players • It celebrated its 34th Foundation Day on 6 Aug'21. • The Haryana government will honor the • It was founded to drive tribal nine history-making women's hockey development through marketing support players of the state with a cash reward for tribal products, both, handicrafts, and of Rs 50 lakh each, Non-Timber Forest Produce. • This was announced by Chief Minister • It was established under the Multi-state Manohar Lal Khattar. Co-operative Societies Act 1984 under • The Indian women's team finished fourth the Ministry of Welfare. after losing 3-4 to Great Britain in the bronze medal play-off match in Tokyo Drone use permission to NISER Bhubaneswar on 6 August 2021. • Ministry of Civil Aviation and Directorate ICICI to provide UPI autopay facility General of Civil Aviation have granted conditional exemption from Unmanned • ICICI Prudential Life Insurance has Aircraft System (UAS) Rules, 2021 to partnered with the government the National Institute of Science payments corporation - National Education and Research (NISER), Payments Corporation of India or NPCI. Bhubaneswar. • It will provide the Unified Payments • The approved locations for drone Interface (UPI) Autopay facility to operations for the NISER include Raja- customers. Rani Temple, Bhubaneswar and Lingaraj Temple, Bhubaneswar.

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