SALEM INSTITUTE OF BANKING (IBPS /SBI -PO/Clerk/SO, RBI, RRB,TNPSC NIACL, OICL, NABARD, ) Current Affairs – August 15 to 21 NATIONAL NEWS

Inter-State Council reconstituted with PM Modi as chairman

• The government has reconstituted the Inter State Council and the Standing Committee of the Inter State Council. • Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the Chairman of the Inter State Council. • Chief Ministers of all States and six Union Ministers including Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah and Nirmala Sitharaman are the members of the Council. • While ten Union Ministers including Nitin Gadkari, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Ram Vilas Paswan, S Jaishankar and Piyush Goyal are the permanent invitees in the Council. • Home Minister Amit Shah will be the Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Inter State Council. Union Ministers Nirmala Sitharaman, Narendra Singh Tomar, Thaawar Chand Gehlot and Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and eight State Chief Ministers will be its members. • These States are Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab and .

Delhi: DTC to provide free rides to women on Raksha Bandhan

• Women in the national capital will be able to travel free of cost on Transport Corporation, DTC buses on Raksha Bandhan. • The free travelling facility for lady passengers will be available in both, AC and non AC buses between 8.00 A.M. to 10.00 P.M. • Keeping in view of a heavy rush of commuters on this day, DTC has also decided to put its maximum buses on road to cater the extra rush of the passengers. • Raksha Bandhan is observed on the last day of the Hindu lunar calendar month of Shraavana, which typically falls in August. The expression “Raksha Bandhan,” Sanskrit, literally, “the bond of protection, obligation, or care,” is now principally applied to this ritual.

Nagaland State Police Dept gets first Laboratory-cum-Training Centre

• Nagaland State Police Department got its first Laboratory-cum-Training Centre for Prevention of Cyber Crime against Women and Children. • Inaugurating the centre at Police Training School, Chumoukedimaunder Dimapur district, Deputy Chief Minister Y.Patton said cyber-crimes pose a great challenge to the traditional policing and as such the police personnel need to sharpen their skills to tackle the threats. • An awareness creation for prevention of cyber-crimes must be given priority while imparting trainings as most people fall victims to cyber-crimes due to ignorance.

• Meanwhile, IGP, CID, Nagaland, Zekotso Mero informed that the training will commence immediately where 50 police personnel from different police units will be trained.

National tribal festival ‘Aadi Mahotsav’ begins in Leh-Ladakh

• Aadi Mahotsav, the national tribal festival, will start at Polo Ground in Leh-Ladakh. • The nine-day event will be inaugurated by the Jammu and Kashmir Governor, Satya Pal Malik. • The theme of the festival is – A celebration of the spirit of Tribal Craft, Culture and Commerce. • Around 160 Tribal artisans from more than 20 states across the country will actively participate and showcase their masterpieces in this event. • The event will have reputed local cultural troupes presenting Ladakhi folk dances. • It is being jointly organised by Ministry of Tribal Affairs and Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of .

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SALEM INSTITUTE OF BANKING (IBPS /SBI -PO/Clerk/SO, RBI, RRB,TNPSC NIACL, OICL, NABARD, ) Current Affairs – August 15 to 21 Massive campaign to be launched to make India free of single-use plastic

• Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar has announced that a massive campaign will be launched to make India free of single-use plastic. • In this regard, a series of meetings will be held with all stakeholders including state governments to chalk out a concrete plan to make it a people’s campaign to realise the ultimate target.

• Mr. Javadekar made this announcement at Sau Paulo in Brazil, after Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day speech urged people to shun single-use plasticand encouraged the use of jute and cloth bags to protect the environment.

I&B implements accessibility standards for differently-abled starting Aug 15

• Information and Broadcasting Ministry has decided toimplement Accessibility Standards for Persons with Disabilities in television programmes for private TV channels from this Independence Day. • This is a step towardsimplementation of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act. • In a significant beginning from this year’s Independence Day, the Ministry has asked Private Satellite News TV channels also to telecast a short programme on Independence Day celebrations, along with corresponding sign language interpretation today in the afternoon or evening. • The Ministry was given Special Jury Award at this function for its path breaking work in making television accessible for people with hearing disabilities.

Chief Ministers of various states agree to boost agriculture exports

• Chief Ministers of various statesreached a consensus on how to boost agricultural exports. • Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis chaired the second meeting of the high-powered committee of Chief Ministers for transformation of Indian agriculture in Mumbaiorganised by NITI Aayog. • There was also unanimity on drafting a market intelligence based export policy. • The meeting was attended by Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath and Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar among others. • Mr Fadnavis while appreciating the participation of all states in the meeting, expressed that some states have come out with solutions on the difficulties faced in the agriculture sector and those aspects will be particularly looked into in future meetings so that they can be implemented across the country.

There was broad discussion on universalisation of agriculture credit and also aspects related to productivity, marketing and export.

Government relaxes norms for shares with differential voting rights

• The Ministry of Corporate Affairshas amended the provisions relating to the issue of shares with Differential Voting Rights(DVRs) provisions under the Companies Act. • Its objective is to enable promoters of Indian companiesto retain control of their companies in their pursuit for growth and creation of long-term value for shareholders. • The key change brings in an enhancement in the previously existing cap of 26 per cent of the total post- issue paid-up equity share capital to a revised cap of 74 per cent of the total voting power. • Another key change brought about is the removal of the earlier requirement of distributable profits for 3 years for a company to be eligible to issue shares with Differential Voting Rights. • These two initiatives have been taken by the Government in response to requests from innovative tech companies and startups and to strengthen the hands of Indian companies.

Scheme to involve school eco clubs in DDA’s plantation drive launched

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SALEM INSTITUTE OF BANKING (IBPS /SBI -PO/Clerk/SO, RBI, RRB,TNPSC NIACL, OICL, NABARD, ) Current Affairs – August 15 to 21 • In Delhi, a scheme to involve school eco clubs in the DDA’s plantation drive was launched at a green belt in Rohini’s sector 37 by Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri. • As part of an afforestation drive of the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), four lakh indigenous trees will be planted this year across various biodiversity parks and other green belts in the national capital. • Delhi Governor (LG) and DDA Chairman Anil Baijalexpressed happiness at the response of the schools and said there was a need to incentivise the performers of the scheme.

MP: About 80 lakh farmer families to benefit from PMKSNY

• In Madhya Pradesh, about 80 lakh eligible farmer families will benefit from the Pradhanmantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana in the state. • Under the scheme, total Rs 6 thousand that is Rs 2 thousand each in three installments are being deposited every year directly in the accounts of the eligible farmer families. • The scheme has been envisioned with an aim to improve the life of small and marginal farmers of the country. • More than 35 lakh beneficiarieshave been selected so for in Madhya Pradesh for Pradhanmantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana. • Out of them, over 29 lakh 70 thousand farmers have got the first instalment of scheme. • The second instalment of this scheme has also been deposited in the bank accounts of more than 9 thousand farmers of the state till 15 August. • To prevent any type of corruption in the Pradhanmantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana, list of farmer families is being prepared by the Patwaris in collaboration with the Gram Sabha. • Only after the approval of the Gram Sabha, the benefit of the scheme will be given to the farmer families.

HRD Minister inaugurates two-day international conference on teacher education

• Union Human Resource Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ inaugurated an international conference on teacher education in . • For thousands of years, Indian teacher was considered as Vishwa Guru or world’s teacher. There are 85 lakh teachers in the country. • The two-day event is being organized by the National Council of Teacher Education as part of silver jubilee celebration of its establishment in 1995. • Secretary of Department of School Education and Literacy Rina Ray expressed that the Union Human Resource Development Ministry will launch the world’s biggest project for teacher training on August 22 to train over 42 lakh school teachers across the country.

Assam gets its first ever CNG fuel station in Dibrugarh

• Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal will inaugurate the first ever CNG fuel station of the state in Dibrugarh. • With the inauguration of this clean and green fuel station, it will reduce environmental pollution. • Mr. Sonowal has given much emphasis to make the state free from pollution.

Since the CNG is affordable fuel it will be cost effective for the users. UP govt to set up Atal Bihari Vajpayee residential schools for children of labourers

• In Uttar Pradesh, state government will set up Atal Bihari Vajpayee residential schools for children of labourers in all 18 divisions of state. • Chief Minister of state Yogi Adityanath announced many projects in state in remembrance of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee including a memorial in Bateshwar, the former prime minister’s native village in Agra.

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SALEM INSTITUTE OF BANKING (IBPS /SBI -PO/Clerk/SO, RBI, RRB,TNPSC NIACL, OICL, NABARD, ) Current Affairs – August 15 to 21 • Announcing a number of projects named after the former prime minister, the Chief Minister informed that a 25-foot-tall statue will be stalled at the Secretariat Lok Bhawan on Vajpayee’s birth anniversary on December 25. • He informed that a ‘Centre of Excellence’ will be established in DAV College in kanpur where Atal ji had his education. • CM expressed that the work to set up a medical university in Lucknow is underway and a satellite centre of KGMU is being set up in Balrampur, from where Vajpayee had contested elections in 1957.

President Kovind to attend golden jubilee celebration of MGIMS in Maharashtra

• President Ram Nath Kovindattended the golden jubilee celebration of Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Science at Sevagram in Wardha District of Maharashtra. • The dignitaries including Governor of Maharashtra Vidyasagar Rao and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will grace the occasion. • Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Science (MGIMS) is known worldwide for its quality healthcare and community based medical education. • Dr Sushila Nauar founded MGIMS in 1969 as a Gandhi centenary project. In last five decades the hospital has grown from a 15 bedded hospital to one having 934 beds.

President Kovind will also visit the Bapu Kuti at Sevagram Ashram of the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi. Five new fish species discovered in Arunachal Pradesh

• In Arunachal Pradesh, researchers of the Rajiv Gandhi University have discovered five new fish species in various districts of the state. • The scientific names of the newly-discovered fish species are Mystus prabini, found in Sinkin and Dibang rivers in Lower Dibang Valley district and Exostoma kottelati, found in Ranga River in Lower Subansiri district. • Other discovered species are Creteuchiloglanis tawangensis, found in the Tawangchu River in Tawang district, Garra ranganensis, found in Ranga river and Physoschistura harkishorei, found in Dibang and Lohit rivers in Lower Dibang Valley district. • Majority of the water bodies in remote areas of Arunachal Pradesh are still not easily accessible to the researchers due to a difficult terrain that includes rain forests, steep hills besides communication problems. • The researchers, however, are optimistic that meticulous exploration may result in more discoveries of new fish species from the state in the future.

President inaugurates bunker museum at Maharashtra Raj Bhavan

• President Ram Nath Kovindinaugurated an underground Bunker Museum at Raj BhavanMumbai. • On the occasion, the president also laid the foundation stone of reconstruction of Governor’s Office-cum- Residence. • The thematic underground bunker museum spread over an area of 15,000 sq.ft. Will be opened for the public through prior online booking later during the year. • The Bunker Museum has Virtual Reality Booths in which visitors can time-travel to the 19th century when the bunker was constructed to fire cannons at approaching enemy ships. • Jal Bhushan, the office and residence of the Governor of Maharashtra, has a history of nearly 200 years. • The House has undergone several modifications and renovations. • Apart from serving as the office and residence of the Governor, ‘Jal Bhushan’ also has a Conference Room, a Meeting Room, a Dining Room and offices of the Secretary to Governor, ADC, Private Secretary and PRO to the Governor.

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SALEM INSTITUTE OF BANKING (IBPS /SBI -PO/Clerk/SO, RBI, RRB,TNPSC NIACL, OICL, NABARD, ) Current Affairs – August 15 to 21 PM Modi to embark on 3-day visit to UAE, Bahrain

• Prime Minister Narendra Modiwill embark on a three-day visit to – UAE and Bahrain beginning 23rd of this month. • Mr Modi will first travel to UAE where he will meet the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyanand discuss bilateral, regional and international matters of mutual interest. • The robust flow of bilateral investments and an annual bilateral trade of about 60 billion US dollar, the UAE is India’s third-largest trade partner. • UAE is also the fourth-largest exporter of crude oil for India. The visit will further strengthen India’s friendly bilateral ties with the UAE. • From UAE, the Prime Minister will leave for Bahrain on August 24 on a two-day visit. • It will be the first ever Prime Ministerial visit from India to that country. • During his visit, Mr Modi will hold talks with his counterpart Prince Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa on the entire spectrum of bilateral relations as well as on regional and international issues of mutual interest. • Mr Modi will also launch the renovation of Shreenathji templein Manama. • The bilateral trade of both countries has been on the rise for the last few years, reaching about 1.3 billion US dollar in 2018-19.

Govt directs all CAPFs to adopt uniform retirement age of 60 years

• All personnel working in the Central Armed Police Forces, CAPFs will now retire at a uniform age of 60 years. • A Home Ministry order issued has corrected the anomaly where personnel between the ranks of Constable to Commandant in four forces -Central Reserve Police Force, Border Security Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police force and Sashastra Seema Bal –superannuated at the age of 57, instead of 60. • Officers from the rank of Deputy Inspector General upto the top-most rank of Director General in these four forces retired after attaining the age of 60.

• However, in two other forces of the Central Industrial Security Force and the Assam Rifles, all personnel retired at the age of 60.

Maharashtra Transport Minister launches live tracking system for MSRTC buses

• Maharashtra Transport Minister Diwakar Raote launched a tracking system for MSRTC buses which will allow people to have real-time information about their commute. • The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation has over 18,000 buses in its fleet and carries more than 67 lakh passengers daily. • GPS machines are being installed in all the buses. At present, it is ready on Mumbai-Nashik route for all Shivneri buses, the premium brand of MSRTC. • The cost of the project, including deployment of GPS machines, tracking software, and putting up screens to display information at bus stops, is 32 crore rupees.

President Ram Nath Kovind launches plantation drive as part of Van Mahotsav celebration

• President Ram Nath Kovindplanted a sapling of Maulsari in the Rashtrapati Bhavan Estateand launched a plantation driveas part of Van Mahotsavcelebrations. • The President met students and urged them to encourage fellow citizens to plant more trees and reaffirm the commitment to a greener and sustainable planet. • Over the next few weeks, the President’s Secretariat will be planting over three thousand trees and around three thousand shrubs. • The President’s Estate spread over 330 acres of harbours rich biodiversity.

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SALEM INSTITUTE OF BANKING (IBPS /SBI -PO/Clerk/SO, RBI, RRB,TNPSC NIACL, OICL, NABARD, ) Current Affairs – August 15 to 21 PARLIAMENT NEWS

Manmohan Singh, Neeraj Shekhar elected unopposed to Rajya Sabha

• Former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh was declared elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan. • The Returning Officer and Assembly Secretary Pramil Kumar Mathur made the announcement to this effect after the end of the deadline for withdrawal of nominations for the same. • The Chief Whip, Dr. Mahesh Joshi, received the election certificate on behalf of Dr. Singh. • In Uttar Pradesh, BJP candidate Neeraj Shekhar, was declared elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha. • No other nomination had been filed for the seat. He is the son of former Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar. • The by-poll was necessitated due to Shekhar’s resignation from the Rajya Sabha. • After resigning from Samajwadi Party, he joined the ruling BJP recently. The term of the seat is up to 25th November 2020

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Alejandro Giammattei wins Guatemala’s presidential race

• Guatemalans have voted in Alejandro Giammattei of the Vamos party as the country’s next president, hoping he will be able to address the issues of crime and security, as well as the concerns around his human rights record. • The 63-year-old conservative candidate and former surgeon won a runoff election with 58.26 percent of the votes after 98 percent of voting centres had been counted. • He defeated former First Lady Sandra Torres from the centrist National Unity of Hope party, who received about 40 percent of the votes. • Giammattei will assume office on January 14, 2020.

North Korea fires two unidentified projectiles into sea

• North Korea fired two unidentified projectiles into the sea which is latest in a series of such launches by Pyongyang. • South Korean military confirmed the projectiles were fired from near the city of Tongchon of Kangwon Province into the East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan. • It was North Korea’s sixth round of weapons launch since July. • Experts opined that North Korea began stepping up its weapons demonstrations while expressing frustration over stalemated nuclear negotiations with the United States and continuance of U.S.-South Korea joint military drills that the North Korea see as invasion rehearsal.

Vice President embarks on three nations tour to Lithuania, Latvia & Estonia

• Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu will embark on a three-nation visit to Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. • The Vice President will be accompanied by a high-level delegation. Vice President’s visit will be the first-ever high level visit to the three Baltic countries. • The visit takes place in the context of increasing political engagement, as well as intensified trade and commercial ties. • The visit of Vice President to the three Baltics countries is to advance India’s outreach to the important countries in the region. • This visit will also provide an opportunity to brief the Baltic countries and get their views on enhanced opportunities for cooperation, thus further strengthening our existing friendly ties. • Notably, India and Baltic countries have historical connect and common linguistic roots. • The cutting edge technology and innovation ecosystems of the Baltic countries complement India’s huge market and appetite for these technologies.

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SALEM INSTITUTE OF BANKING (IBPS /SBI -PO/Clerk/SO, RBI, RRB,TNPSC NIACL, OICL, NABARD, ) Current Affairs – August 15 to 21 PM Modi leaves for two-day visit to Bhutan

• Prime Minister Narendra Modihas left for a two-day visit to Bhutan. • India-Bhutan partnership is of a special character and substance and forms an important pillar of Government of India’s Neighbourhood First policy. • His visit to Bhutan in the beginning of the current term reflects the high importance that the Government attaches to India’s relations with that country which is a trusted friend and neighbour. • Both countries jointly celebrated the Golden Jubilee of the establishment of formal diplomatic relations last year. • He will receive audiences with the King of Bhutan, hold delegation-level talks with his counterpart, meet the Leader of Opposition, inaugurate 720 megawatt Mangdechhu hydro-power project and release a commemorative stamp to mark the 50 years of Indo-Bhutan hydropower relations. • He will also inaugurate the Ground Station for South Asian Satellite and launch the first phase of RuPay Card and address the students of Royal University of Bhutan. • India and Bhutan will ink MoUs in science, technology, engineering and maths and judicial sectors.

UN says 2nd attempt to return Rohingya to Myanmar planned

• The United Nation refugee agency has informed Myanmar and Bangladesh are making a second attempt to start repatriating Rohingya muslimsafter more than seven lakh of them fled a security crackdown in Myanmar almost two years ago. • Agency spokeswoman Caroline Gluck confirmed that the Bangladesh government has asked for its help in verifying the 3,450 people on a new list of returnees are going back to Myanmar voluntarily. • She announced the list was whittled from 22,000 names that Bangladesh had sent to Myanmar for verification. • Two year back, Myanmar’s military launched a counterinsurgency campaign in response to attack by Rohingya insurgent group.

Iceland’s Okjokull glacier commemorated with plaque

• In Iceland, people will gather to commemorate the loss of the glacier Okjokull, which was officially declared dead in 2014 at the age of 700. • The glacier was officially declared dead by the Icelandic Meteorological Office when it was no longer thick enough to move. • What once was glacier has been reduced to a small patch of ice atop a volcano. • Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdottir, Environment Minister Gudmundur Ingi Gudbrandsson and former Irish President Mary Robinson will all take part in a commemoration ceremony later in the day. • The people attending the ceremony will walk up the volcano northeast of the capital Reykjavik to lay a plaque which carries a letter to the future. • The plaque is also labelled “415 ppm CO2 ″, referring to the record level of carbon dioxide measured in the atmosphere last May. • Iceland loses about 11 billion tonnes of ice per year, and scientists fear that all of the island country’s 400-plus glaciers will be gone by 2200.

Happy to receive a book written in Hindi from Lithuania: Vice President

• Vice President M Venkaiah Naiduhas expressed happiness at receiving a copy of ‘History of Lithuania” in Hindi during his official visit to Lithuania. • Mr Naidu appreciated the step taken to publish Comparative Dictionary of 108 Common Lithuanian and Sanskrit words. • The next endeavour should be to compile and publish a comprehensive dictionary of 10,000 common words in both languages.

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SALEM INSTITUTE OF BANKING (IBPS /SBI -PO/Clerk/SO, RBI, RRB,TNPSC NIACL, OICL, NABARD, ) Current Affairs – August 15 to 21 5th Meeting of India-Nepal Joint Commission to be held in Kathmandu

• The 5th Meeting of India-Nepal Joint Commission will be held in Kathmandu on 21- 22 August. • Minister for External Affairs of Dr S. Jaishankar and Nepal’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Pradeep Kumar Gyawali will co-chair the meeting and lead their respective delegations. • According to Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Joint Commission Meeting will review the overall state of bilateral relations and various areas of cooperation such as connectivity and economic partnership, trade and transit, power and water resources, culture, education and other matters of mutual interest. • India-Nepal Joint Commission was established in June 1987. Its meetings are held alternately in Nepal and India. • The last meeting of the Commission was held in New Delhi on October 2016. • During the visit, the Minister of External Affairs Dr Jaishankar will pay courtesy calls on President of Nepal Bidya Devi Bhandari and Prime Minister Mr K P Sharma Oli.

Sri Lanka: Anura Kumara Dissanayake to contest Presidential election

• In , leader of Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) Anura Kumara Dissanayake has announced to contest the upcoming Presidential election. • The JVP leader was named as a candidate at a rally of National people’s power led by JVP and held at Face in Colombo. • He is the second major candidate to have announced his candidature for polls to be held by end of the year. • Former defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa had announced his candidature last week. • United National party (UNP) led by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremsinghe is still undecided on the issue of candidature.

NGT forms panel to examine allegations of illegal sand mining in River Yamuna

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has formed a committee to examine allegations of illegal sand mining in the Yamuna River and sought a report within a month.

• The NGT action follows a move by the Delhi Jal Board which alleged illegal sand mining in the Yamuna River.

• A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel asked the panel consisting of Delhi District Magistrate, Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) and Central Pollution Control Board to look into the matter and take appropriate action.

• The green tribunal declared that the DPCC will be the nodal agency for coordination and compliance.

First Central Institute of Chemical Engineering & Technology to be set up in Gujarat

• Union Minister of State for Chemical & Fertilizers Mansukh Mandaviya has announced that the first Central Institute of Chemical Engineering & Technology (CICET) will be set up in Gujarat. • Mr Mandaviya expressed that looking to the significant presence of Chemical industries in Vapi, Ankleshwar and Vatva, Government is planning to set up Central Institute of Chemical Engineering & Technology -CICET on the line of CIPET to benefit the chemical industry. • The state will get the country’s first CICET either in Vatva or Surat. • The Minister announced to set up a CIPET training institute in Valsad which will benefit the tribal students. • A Skill Development Centre will start functioning from this October in Bhavnagar. CIPET will also start diploma courses in Sanand near Ahmedabad.

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SALEM INSTITUTE OF BANKING (IBPS /SBI -PO/Clerk/SO, RBI, RRB,TNPSC NIACL, OICL, NABARD, ) Current Affairs – August 15 to 21 Pak Army chief General Bajwa gets a three-years extension

• Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan extended the term of the Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa for another three years. • Citing the decision made by Pak- Prime Minister, the Dawn reported that the decision has been taken in view of the regional security environment.

The 58-year-old general was expected to retire this year.

Bangladesh presents model relationship in India’s neighbourhood first policy: EAM S Jaishankar

• External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has announced that Bangladesh presents the model relationship in India’s neighbourhood first policy. • The purpose of this visit is to affirm the strong relationship between the two countries and also to prepare for the forthcoming visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to India. • Dr Jaishankar expressed that the partnership between the two countries will benefit by controlling terror, crime and extremism.

India, Zambia sign 6 MoUs following delegation level talks between PM Modi & Zambian President

• The visit of Zambia President Edgar Chagwa Lungu‘s visit to India will further enhance the age-old relationship between the two countries. • Both the countries will increase their participation in the fields of health care, tourism, agriculture, food processing and mining. • The State visit of President Lungu will provide an opportunity to further energize India’s mutually beneficial partnership with Zambia. • Mr Lungu expressed hope that more Indian companies will invest in Zambia. He reaffirmed Zambian government’s commitment to enhance relations.

• Mr Modi held delegation-level talks with President of Zambia Edgar Chagwa Lungu.

• India and Zambia also signed six MoUs in several areas including geology, defence, arts and culture.

• Mr Lungu arrived in New Delhi on a three-day visit to India.

Madhya Pradesh para swimmer Satendra Singh Lohia crosses America’s Catalina Channel

• Divyang Satendra Singh Lohiafrom Madhya Pradesh has become the first Asian swimmerto cross the Catalina Channel of America. • Satendra holds the Asian record of crossing both the English and Catalina channels. • Gwalior born Satendra led the Indian Para Relay team along with five team mates and crossed the Catalina Channel in 11 hours 34 minutes. • At that time, the water temperature was around 13 degrees Celsius. • The Indian Para Relay Team started 42 km of swimming at 10.57 p.m. from St. Catalina Island and finished swimming at Los Angeles at 10.30 a.m. • Satyendra has also honoured with the Vikram Award, the highest sports award in Madhya Pradesh.

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SALEM INSTITUTE OF BANKING (IBPS /SBI -PO/Clerk/SO, RBI, RRB,TNPSC NIACL, OICL, NABARD, ) Current Affairs – August 15 to 21 DEFENCE NEWS

Japanese Maritime Self Defence Ship Visits Kochi

• Missile destroyer, JS Sazanami of the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF), commanded by Commander Shoji Ishkawa, is on a two day goodwill visit to Kochi. • During the stay at Kochi, various activities such as visit of IN personnel onboard JS Sazanamiand professional interaction between the two navies were conducted. • The visiting crew were also given a conducted tour of the Anti-Submarine Warfare School and the Naval Offshore Patrol Vessel, INS Sunayna. • JS Sazanami with about 25 officers, 156 sailors and eight Japanese Coast Guard personnel (3 officers + 5 sailors) on board for the current deployment is planned to depart for Bahrain on this week.

PM Modi announces creation of Chief of Defence post

• Addressing the nation from the Red Fort on the occasion of Independence Day, the Prime Minister announced that the country will now have a Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, who will ensure synergy among the three Services and provide effective leadership to them. • He unveiled Jal Jiwan Missionunder which the government will spend Rs 3.5 lakh crore to provide piped drinking water to all households. • The Prime Minister also touched upon a host of other issues including tackling cross-border terrorism, corruption, poverty, ensuring ease of living, banning single-use plastic and curbing indiscriminate use of fertilizers.

High-level meeting held between Indian, Sri Lankan Coast Guards over security concerns

• The Indian Coast Guard held a High-Level Meeting (HLM) with the Sri Lanka Coast Guard at Coast Guard Headquarters in New Delhi. • The Indian side was led by Director General, Coast Guard K Natarajan, while the Sri Lankan delegation was headed by RearAdmiral Samantha Wimalathunge. • The meeting took place under the provisions of the MoU signed between the two sides for the establishment of a collaborative relationship to combat transnational illegal activities at sea and develop regional co- operation. • A four-member delegation of the Sri Lanka Coast Guard led by its DG Rear Admiral Samantha Wimalathunge Director General (DG) is presently on an official visit to India.

• During the meeting, both sides agreed to strengthen co-operation in addressing a spectrum of maritime issues concerning safety and security.

Three committees set up for UT related issues by J&K govt

• The Jammu and Kashmir Government has set into motion a process to work out different modalities by constituting three high-level committees for the formal establishment of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmirand Ladakh. • These Committees will devise modalities for the functioning of proposed Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir and deal with financial matters and staff-related issues in both the proposed union territories. • The order issued by the General Administration Department, a committee headed by Advisor (S) to Governor will devise the modalities for functioning of proposed UT of Jammu and Kashmir. • Satya Pal Malik is the current Governor of Jammu and Kashmir State, appointed by President Ram Nath Kovind on 21 August 2018.

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SALEM INSTITUTE OF BANKING (IBPS /SBI -PO/Clerk/SO, RBI, RRB,TNPSC NIACL, OICL, NABARD, ) Current Affairs – August 15 to 21 BUSINESS & ECONOMY

Wholesale inflation in July falls to multi-year low of 1.08 %

• Wholesale price-based inflationin July fell to a multi-year low of 1.08 per cent mainly on account of cheaper fuel and food items. • Data released by the Government showed inflation in food articles was 6.15 per cent in July as against 6.98 per cent in the previous month. • Similarly, wholesale inflation in fuel and power segment contracted further to (-) 3.64 per cent as against (-) 2.2 per cent in June. • The retail inflation last month too had eased to 3.15 per cent over the previous month when it was 3.18 per cent.

Inflation based on Wholesale Price Index, WPI was at 2.02 per cent in June this year and 5.27 per cent in July 2018. Exports rise by 2.25% to 26.33 billion US dollar in July

• India’s exports grew by 2.25 per cent to 26.33 billion US dollar in July this year. • According to data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Imports, it’s slipped by 10.43 per cent to 39.76 billion US dollar, narrowing trade deficit to 13.43 billion US dollar in July. • The deficit was 18.63 billion US dollar in July last year. • Export sectors that recorded positive growth in the last month include chemical, iron and pharmaceuticals. • Shipments of gems and jewellery, engineering goods, petroleum products recorded negative growth. As per data, oil imports declined 22.15 per cent to 9.6 billion US dollar. • Cumulatively, from April to July 2019, exports dipped 0.37 per cent to 107.41 billion US dollar, while imports were contracted by 3.63 per cent to 166.8 billion US dollar.

India’s foreign exchange reserves at new life-time high of $430.572 bn

• India’s foreign exchange reserves surged by $1.620 billion to $430.572 billion in the week to 9 August on rise in foreign currency assets, according to the latest RBI data released. • In the previous reporting week ended on 2 August, the reserves had declined by $697.2 million to $428.952 billion. • Expressed in dollar terms, foreign currency assets include the effect of appreciation/depreciation of non-US units like the euro, pound and yen held in the reserves. • The country’s gold reserves surged by $1.591 billion to $26.754 billion, according to data. • Special drawing rights with the International Monetary Fund were up by $6.7 million to $1.441 billion. • The country’s reserve position with the fund rose by $7 million to $3.636 billion.

RBI Governor Shaktikant Das rules out asset quality review of large NBFCs

• After over a dozen public sector banks, including State Bank of India, have voluntarily linked their loans and deposits pricing to the repo rate. • Reserve Bank Governor Shaktikanta Das stressed on the need for the entire system switching to this model. • At an annual banking conference organized by the industry lobby FICCI in Mumbai, the RBI Governor announced such a move can speed up the monetary transmission process. • While the SBI was to first one to link its loans and deposits to the repo rate from May and home loans from July. • Six other peer banks like Bank of Baroda, Union Bank and Canara Bank among others also announced the same last week. • Earlier this month, in last monetary policy, RBI lowered the repo rates by 35 basis points to a nine-year low of 5.4 percent.

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SALEM INSTITUTE OF BANKING (IBPS /SBI -PO/Clerk/SO, RBI, RRB,TNPSC NIACL, OICL, NABARD, ) Current Affairs – August 15 to 21 Task force on new direct tax law submits report to Nirmala Sitharaman

• A Task Force appointed by the Central Government to draft New Direct Tax law submitted its report to Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

The report was submitted by Convenor of the Task force Akhilesh Ranjan.

• The Task Force was constituted by the Government in November 2017 to review the existing Income Tax Act, 1961 and to draft a new direct tax law in consonance with economic needs of the country.

AGREEMENTS & MOU

India and Bhutan resolve to expand bilateral cooperation

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi has returned home after a successful two day visit to Bhutan. • During the visit, Prime Minister Modi and the Bhutanese leadership resolved to take the bilateral cooperation beyond hydroelectric power sector. • The two countries signed various MoUs to diversify the friendship. The sectors include space, education, science, technologyand legal education. • The Prime Minister expressed, going beyond the traditional sectors of cooperation, both countries are seeking to cooperate extensively in new frontiers, from schools to space, and digital payments to disaster management.

1.3 billion Indian people are ready to partner with Bhutanese people in their future endeavours, especially in education. APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNS

Ghotu Ram Meena is India’s new envoy to Republic of Congo

• Ghotu Ram Meena has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Republic of Congo. • Currently, Meena is serving as a counsellor, Embassy of India in Kyiv, Ukraine appointed by Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). • India and the Republic of Congo enjoy warm and friendly relations. The African country has supported India’s candidature at various international forums.

Ravi Shastri re-appointed as head coach of Indian men’s team

• Ravi Shastri was re-appointedhead coach of the Indian men’s team by the Kapil Dev-led Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC), which unanimously felt that the incumbent’s communication skills and understanding of team issues stood out. • Shastri, who had the public backing of captain Virat Kohlieven before the short-listing was initiated, has been reappointed for a two-year period, ending with the 2021 T20 World Cup in India. • The three-member CAC also comprised former India coach Anshuman Gaekwad and ex women’s captain Shantha Rangaswamy. • This will be Shastri’s fourth stint with the national team, having served briefly as the Cricket Manager (2007 tour of Bangladesh), Team Director (2014-2016) and head coach (2017-2019). • Shastri pipped former New Zealand coach Mike Hesson, Australian Tom Moody and former India teammates Robin Singh and Lalchand Rajput to the post. • India has won 11 out of 21 Tests, 43 out of 60 ODIs and 25 T20 Internationals out of 36 on his watch.

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SALEM INSTITUTE OF BANKING (IBPS /SBI -PO/Clerk/SO, RBI, RRB,TNPSC NIACL, OICL, NABARD, ) Current Affairs – August 15 to 21 Harshad Pandurang Thakur appointed NIHFW Director

• Harshad Pandurang Thakur has been appointed as the Director of National Institute of Health and Family Welfare. • The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, appointed him for a period of five years. • The NIHFW, an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, acts as an apex technical institute as well as a think tank for the promotion of health and family welfare programmes in the country.

Rajnath Singh approves setting up of committee to review Defence Procurement Procedure

• Defence Minister Rajnath Singhhas approved the setting up of a Committee under the Chairmanship of Director General (Acquisition) to review the Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) 2016 and Defence Procurement Manual (DPM) 2009. • The Committee will revise and align the procedures with the aim of ensuring seamless flow from asset acquisition to life cycle support. • Apart from DG (Acquisition) 11 other members, not below the rank of Joint Secretary/Major General equivalent, are part of this high-level committee.

The Committee has been given six months to submit its recommendations Bangladesh Cricket Board name Domingo as new national coach

• The Bangladesh Cricket Boardappointed former South African Coach Russel Domingo as the Head Coach for the national cricket team. • This was announced in Dhaka by BCB President Nazmul Hasan. • Russel Domingo has served as the Head Coach for South Africa’s T20 side in 2012. • He later replaced Gary Kirsten as South Africa Coach in the Tests and ODIs in 2013. • However, he has never played professional cricket in his career. Russel will serve as Bangladesh Coach for two years.

He succeeds Steve Rhodes whose tenure was cut short after Bangladesh finished at the 8th position in the 10-nation World Cup this year.

Ravinder Takkar appointed Vodafone Idea CEO; Balesh Sharma steps down

• Vodafone Idea declared Balesh Sharma has stepped down from the position of chief executive officer (CEO) citing personal reasons. • Ravinder Takkar, currently Vodafone Group’s representative in India, will be appointed as the new MD and CEO with immediate effect. • Ravinder Takkar is currently a board member of Vodafone Idea and Indus Towers, where he is responsible for all Vodafone Group interests in India. • Prior to his current role, Ravinder was the CEO of Vodafone Romania for three years and CEO of Vodafone Partner Markets in London.

Lt. Gen. appointed as the Army Commander: Sri Lanka

• Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva was appointed as the 23rd Commander of the . • Secretary of Defence, General Shantha Kottegoda confirmed that Shavendra Silva was appointed as the Commander of the Sri Lanka Army by President .

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SALEM INSTITUTE OF BANKING (IBPS /SBI -PO/Clerk/SO, RBI, RRB,TNPSC NIACL, OICL, NABARD, ) Current Affairs – August 15 to 21 • Shavendra Silva joined the Sri Lanka Army in 1984 and led the Army’s 58th Division in the war against the LTTE and served as the Army Chief of Staff since January this year.

Paytm promotes CFO Madhur Deora as President

• Digital payments player Paytmannounced the promotion of its Chief Financial Officer Madhur Deora as the company’s President. • Prior to joining Paytm in October 2016, Deora served as Managing Director in Citigroup’s investment banking business. • Paytm is the single largest platform for banks, financial services, and insurance (BFSI) payments.

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman to be conferred with Vir Chakra on Independence Day

• Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman of Indian Air Forcewill be conferred with Vir Chakraon Independence Day. • Abhinandan Varthaman had shot down F-16 jet of Pakistan Air Force. • President Ram Nath Kovind has approved 132 Awards to Armed Forces Personnel and members of Paramilitary Forces. • The awards include two Kirti Chakras, one Vir Chakra, 14 Shaurya Chakras, eight Bar to Sena Medals (Gallantry), 90 Sena Medals (Gallantry), five Nao Sena Medals (Gallantry), seven Vayu Sena Medals (Gallantry) and five Yudh Seva Medals. • Central Reserve Police Force Deputy Commandant Harshpal Singh and Sapper Prakash Jadhav of Indian Army will be presented the Kirti Chakra. • President Ram Nath Kovind has also awarded one President’s Tatrakshak Medal (Distinguished Service), five Tatrakshak Medals (Gallantry) and two Tatrakshak Medal (Meritorious Service) to Indian Coast Guard personnel.

Priyam Chatterjee becomes first Indian chef to receive French honour

• Priyam Chatterjee became thefirst Indian chef to be awarded the ‘Chevalier de l’Ordre du Mérite Agricoleto’ by the government of France torecognise his contribution towards reinventing the gastronomic scene in India. • Chatterjee (30) is best known for revisiting the traditional dishes from his native state of West Bengal and giving it a French twist. • Chatterjee is currently the head chef at Jaan Restaurant Yacht in France, before which he was the head chef of Rooh, and Qla, both located in Mehrauli. • The award, instituted in 1883, the ‘Ordre du Mérite Agricole‘ (Order of Agricultural Merit) is a distinction bestowed by the French Republic for outstanding contributions, among others, to agriculture, agro-food industry and gastronomy.

Tamil Nadu Honours ISRO Chief K Sivan with APJ Abdul Kalam Award

• Tamil Nadu State government honoured its ‘son of the soil’ and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chief K Sivan by presenting him with Dr A P J Abdul Kalam award. • Siva, the ISRO chief who was born in Kanniyakumari and studied in a government school, was not present to collect the award, due to his engagements. • The Kalam award is given to those who work for promoting scientific growth, humanities and students’ welfare hailing from Tamil Nadu. • The award carries 8 gm gold medal, Rs five lakh and a citation.

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SALEM INSTITUTE OF BANKING (IBPS /SBI -PO/Clerk/SO, RBI, RRB,TNPSC NIACL, OICL, NABARD, ) Current Affairs – August 15 to 21 • The citation hailed Sivan as “Rocket Man” and traced his humble origins and his splendid rise in career including a stint as Director of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre and Liquid Propulsion Centre. • Sivan took over as ISRO chief from A S Kirankumar in 2018 and oversaw the launch of India’s ambitious moon mission, Chandrayaan-2, in July.

Deepa Malik nominated for Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award

• Paralympics silver medallist Deepa Malik was nominated for the country’s highest sporting honour the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award. • The name of 48-year-old Deepa, who won a silver in the shot put F53 category in the 2016 Rio Paralympics, was added for the Khel Ratna by a 12-member selection committee on the second day of the two-day meeting by the panel headed by Justice (Retd) Mukundakam Sharma. • Six-time world champion and Olympic bronze medallist boxer M C Mary Kom recused herself from the meeting to avoid conflict of interest as her personal coach Chhotelal Yadav was in contention for the Dronacharya Award. • The committee also picked 19 sports persons for the Arjuna Award, including the likes of cricketers Ravindra Jadeja and Poonam Yadav, track and field stars Tejinder Pal Singh Toor, Mohammed Anas and Swapna Barman, footballer Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, hockey player Chinglensana Singh Kangujam and shooter Anjum Moudgil. • The panel also nominated three names for the Dronacharya Award, including former badminton star Vimal Kumar and three for the Dronacharya Award in lifetime caregory.

Prasar Bharati to soon introduce two awards – Neelum Sharma Tejaswini award & Achyutananda Sahoo Award

• Prasar Bharti Head has announced that Prasar Bharati would soon be introducing two awards – the Neelum Sharma Tejaswini award and the Achyutananda Sahoo Award. • At a solemn condolence meet at DD News in New Delhi to remember Senior DD News anchor Neelum Sharma who passed away on the 17th of August. • Information and Broadcasting Secretary – Amit Khare. • Prasar Bharti Chairman – A Suryapakash • CEO Prasar Bharati – Shashi Shekhar Vempatti

Chief scientist K Thangaraj won JC Bose Fellowship for the year 2019

• K Thangaraj, chief scientist at the CSIR (Council of Scientific & Industrial Research) – Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), , Telangana, bagged this year’s J C Bose Fellowship for his outstanding contribution in the field of population and medical genomics. • JC Bose fellowship is awarded to active scientists and engineers in recognition of their outstanding performance and contributions by the Science and Engineering Research Board, Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India. • The award is named after Sir Jagadish Chandra Bose who was the inventor of Cresco graph (a device used to measure the growth of plants) and also known as the father of Bengali science fiction.

BOOKS & AUTHORS

‘Sridevi: Girl Woman Superstar’: Penguin announces book on Indian cinema legend

• On cinema legend Sridevi’s 56th birth anniversary, Penguin Random House India has announced a book on the life of the actor. • The book, titled “Sridevi: Girl Woman Superstar”, is written by author-screenwriter Satyarth Nayak and approved by the actor’s producer husband Boney Kapoor.

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SALEM INSTITUTE OF BANKING (IBPS /SBI -PO/Clerk/SO, RBI, RRB,TNPSC NIACL, OICL, NABARD, ) Current Affairs – August 15 to 21 • The writer revealed that the book will delve deep into Sridevi’s iconic body of work in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada cinema. • The book recounts the life and times of the iconic actor who changed how women stars were perceived in the male-dominated film industry. • Sridevi passed away at the age of 54 in February 2018 in Dubai.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Huawei launches its own operating system Harmony OS

• Huawei Technologies Counveiled its much-anticipated in-house operating system Harmony OS, marking the Chinese tech giant’s arguably biggest push to build its own software ecosystem. • The move is also expected to offset the influence of the US government’s restrictions over the use of Google’s Android operating system in smartphones and other hardware. • Yu Chengdong, CEO of Huawei’s consumer business group, expressed an operating system is needed to address future challenges in the era of internet of things, and it is hard to deliver a smooth experience across different devices with millions of lines of code. • Unlike the much-expected name of HongMeng, Huawei adopted Harmony for its in-house operating system to solve all these problems. • Huawei has over 500 million registered users and 910,000 mobile application developers on Huawei’s platform.

NASA scientists fly over Greenland to track melting ice

• NASA scientists are crisscrossing Greenland on a mission to track melting ice. • Greenland has been melting faster in the last decade and this summer, it has seen two of the biggest melts on record since 2012. • Both warmer air and warmer water are eating away at Greenland, causing it to lose billions of tons of ice daily in the summer. • A team of scientists and engineers aboard a research plane this week are dropping probes into the ice to help figure out which is the bigger cause.

UK Researchers develop new technique to make cancer treatment more effective, affordable

• Researchers in the University of Sheffield in Britain recently developed a new technique that could make light-based cancer treatment more effective and safer for patients while reducing its cost. • Light-based or photo-dynamic therapy is already a clinically-approved treatment, which uses drugs that only work when exposed to light to destroy cancer cells. • However, many of these drugs are frequently toxic even without light, causing many side effects in patients and leading to treatment failure. • The researchers have sought to improve these drugs by using small carbon dots as a way to get the drug to the tumour. • Carbon dots are fluorescent nanoparticles with very little toxicity, making them extremely useful for this application.

Two different versions of the carbon dots were developed as part of the research, one with the drug bound on the surface and the other where the drug was inside the dot.

• The research has the potential to produce cheaper anti-cancer drugs with greater efficiency to kill tumours and less side-effect in patients.

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SALEM INSTITUTE OF BANKING (IBPS /SBI -PO/Clerk/SO, RBI, RRB,TNPSC NIACL, OICL, NABARD, ) Current Affairs – August 15 to 21 ISRO successfully manoeuvres Chandrayaan-2 satellite into lunar orbit

• The Indian Space Research Organisation, ISRO, has successfully manoeuvred Chandrayaan-2 satellite into lunar orbit today at 0902 hours using the on-board propulsion system. • The satellite is placed in 114 Kilometres-by-18072 Kilometres orbit and the duration of manoeuvre was 1738 seconds. • Following this a series of four-orbit manoeuvres will be performed, including the one tomorrow, to reach an orbit of 100 Kilometres over the surface of the moon. • The lander and rover within it will separate from the Orbiter at this stage and soft-land on the South Pole of the moon on 7th of September. • ISRO has achieved a milestone today by precisely placing the spacecraft around moon by maintaining precise altitude, velocity and time of the burn.

Moon is 3.84 lakh Kilometres away from Earth. Success in soft landing the lander Vikram on the lunar surface will make India the fourth country after Russia, US and to land on moon. ISRO Chairman: Targeting at launching Small Satellite Launch vehicle by December

• Indian Space Research Organisation Chairman Dr.K Sivan has shared that they are targeting at launching Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) by December. • This new space vehicle of ISRO is designed to inject small satellites weighing up to 500 Kilograms in low earth orbit. • This is a new programme to be launched by ISRO to enable commercial use of small satellites at minimum cost and manpower. • ISRO Chairman also expressed about the future launches to be taken up by the organization.

SPORTS NEWS

Simone Biles Makes History with the ‘Hardest Move in the World’ at the U.S. Gymnastics Championships

• The only person Simone Bileshas to compete against is herself. • The gymnast—who took home gold in the individual all-around, team all-around, vault, and floor at the 2016 Olympic game, is the most decorated American gymnast, and she keeps raising the bar (pun intended) on what’s possible during these competitions. • During the U.S. Gymnastics Championships this weekend, Biles made history when she became the first woman to ever hit a triple double, meaning a double back flip with three twists, on floor during a competition. • She attempted the move during her floor routine at the championships and had an uneasy landing when she had to put both hands on the ground to steady her.

Dutch Hero Wesley Sneijder Announces Retirement From Football

• The Netherlands’ most-capped player Wesley Sneijder announced on Monday his retirement from football, bringing down the curtain on a trophy-laden career that spanned 17 years. • The 35-year-old, who played 134 times for his country, made the announcement while speaking to the YouTube channel of his hometown club FC Utrecht after having bought a corporate box at their stadium. • Sneijder’s career included a World Cup runners-up medal as well as Champions League, La Liga and Serie A titles. • The playmaker had successful spells with Real Madrid, Inter Milan and Galatasaray after having graduated from Ajax’s academy in 2002. • His final club was Al Gharafa in Qatar’s top-flight.

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SALEM INSTITUTE OF BANKING (IBPS /SBI -PO/Clerk/SO, RBI, RRB,TNPSC NIACL, OICL, NABARD, ) Current Affairs – August 15 to 21 Prithviraj Tondaiman best placed Indian in Shotgun World Cup

• India’s Prithviraj Tondaimanshot a 47 on the first day qualifiers of the men’s trap event in the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Shotgun World Cup in Lahiti, Finland. • He was the best placed Indian at sixth, as the fourth and final stage of the ISSF World Cup got underway. • The competition schedule has five finals over the next one week, which will see the distribution of eight Tokyo 2020 Olympic quota places. • Prithviraj had rounds of 22 and 25 to grab the sixth and final qualifying spot with three more qualifying rounds to go before the finals. • In the women’s trap, Shagun Chowdhary shot 44 over two rounds to lie 11th, while Seema Tomar shot 40 to be in 35th spot. Manisha Keer was down in 54th with a score of 36.

Deepak Punia becomes India’s first junior World Champion in 18 years

• Wrestler Deepak Punia has become India’s first junior World Champion in 18 years. • He claimed a gold medal at the Junior Worlds with a win over Russia’s Alik Shebzukhov at Tallinn, Estonia. • The score was tied 2-2 at the end of the 86-kg men’s freestyle bout. However, Deepak was declared champion because he had scored the last point. • In 92-kg weight category, Vicky claimed bronze after he defeated Batmagnai Enkhtuwacin of Mongolia 4-3. • The President of Indian Wrestling Federation, Brijbhushan Sharan Singh congratulated Deepak for his achievement.

India win gold at Under- 12 Asian Tennis Team championship in

• India has won gold at the Under 12 Asian Tennis Team championship held in Kazakhstan. • India defeated Chinese Taipei 2-1 in the summit clash to win the title. • The final was a tie of three matches – 2 singles and one doubles and India won both the singles matches while lost the doubles encounter. • The team comprised Manas Dhamme, Arnav Paprakar and Tamil Nadu’s Pranav Rethin. Manas and Rethin won their singles matches. Manas and Arnav. • However, lost their doubles encounter. 12-year-old Manas remained unbeaten in the entire tournament.

Liverpool Beat Chelsea on Penalties to Win UEFA Super Cup in Istanbul

• Adrian was the shootout hero as Liverpool lifted the UEFA Super Cup with victory over Chelsea in Istanbul. • And the 32-year-old saved Tammy Abraham’s spot-kick as Jurgen Klopp’s men won 5-4 on penalties at Vodafone Park after a 2-2 draw. • Chelsea weren’t finished, though, and had their equaliser when Jorginho converted a controversial penalty 10 minutes into the extra period. • The young forward tried to go straight down the middle, but the Spanish stopper was equal to the task to make the decisive save. • It was Liverpool’s fourth UEFA Super Cup triumph and made amends for their Community Shield defeat by Manchester City on penalties.

Hima Das, Mohammad Anas win gold at Athleticky Mitink Reiter event

• Top Indian sprinters Hima Dasand Mohammad Anas have won a gold each in 300m races at the Athleticky Mitink Reiter event in Czech Republic. • While Hima won the gold in women’s event, Mohammad Anas claimed the yellow medal in men’s category. • This was Hima’s sixth gold in 2019 in European races since last month. • Mohammad Anas won the gold clocking 32.41 seconds. India’s Nirmal Tom clinched a bronzemedal in the same event by clocking a timing of 33.03 seconds.

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SALEM INSTITUTE OF BANKING (IBPS /SBI -PO/Clerk/SO, RBI, RRB,TNPSC NIACL, OICL, NABARD, ) Current Affairs – August 15 to 21 • National record holder Anas has already qualified for 400m event for the World Championships to be held in Doha in September-October while Hima is yet to achieve it.

World Skills International Competition: Indian contestants given grand send-off in New Delhi

• A team of 48 Indian contestantswho will take part in World Skills International Competition at Kazan in Russia was given a grand send-off in New Delhi. • The team will participate in 44 skills, including mobile robotics, prototype modelling, hairdressing, baking, welding and car painting at the event from 22nd to 27th of this month.

Nearly 1,500 contestants from 60 countries will compete in 56 skill competitions. Majority of the contestants, including six women, are from rural areas.

Minister for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship – Dr. Mahendra Nath Pandey. India’s junior women boxers win 4 gold medals at Serbian tourney

• India’s junior women boxersclinched 12 medals at the third Nation’s Cup in Vrbas, Serbia. • The team won four gold, four silver and four bronze medals and claimed the runners-up trophy. • Tamanna clinched gold in 48 Kilogram category along with Ambeshori Devi in 57 Kilogram, Preeti Dahiya in 60 Kilogram and Priyanka in 66 Kilogram category. • In 50 Kilogram, Karnataka’s Anju Devi settled for silver along with Maharashtra’s Simran Verma in 52Kilogram, Haryana’s Manshi Dalal in 75 Kilogram and Punjab’s Tanishbir Kaur Sandhu in 80 Kilogram category. • In addition, Goa’s Aashreya Naik picked up a bronze medal in 63 Kilogram category along with Neha in 54 Kilogram category, Khushi in 70 and Alfiya Akram Khan Pathan in plus-80 Kilogram category.

Over 160 boxers from 20 countries participated in this tournament, for which India sent a 13-member squad. Indian team retain top-spot in ICC test rankings

• Indian skipper Virat Kohliretained the top spot in the latest Test batsmen’s rankings released by the International Cricket Council in Dubai. • Australia’s Steve Smith moved to the second position. • Smith overtook New Zealand Captain Kane Williamson to reach the second spot. • Smith is now just nine points behind Kohli. Kohli has 922 points whereas Smith has 913 points.

In the bowlers’ rankings, Australia’s Pat Cummins retained the top spot.

• India are on top of the team table with 113 points followed by New Zealand 111 points and South Africa 108 points.

S Sreesanth’s ban to end in August 2020: BCCI Ombudsman

• The Ombudsman of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), has ordered that Indian pacer S Sreesanth‘s ban for alleged spot-fixing will end in August next year. • In his order passed on 7th of this month, Ombudsman D.K.Jainobserved that the cricketer, who is now 36, is well past his prime, having already served six years. • Ends of justice would be met by making it a seven-year suspension and letting Sreesanth play next year. • The BCCI banned Sreesanth for life in August 2013 along with his Rajasthan Royals teammates Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan for indulging in alleged spot-fixing in the Indian Premier League of that year.

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SALEM INSTITUTE OF BANKING (IBPS /SBI -PO/Clerk/SO, RBI, RRB,TNPSC NIACL, OICL, NABARD, ) Current Affairs – August 15 to 21 Former Chelsea and Arsenal full back Ashley Cole announces retirement from football

• The former full back Ashley Colerevealed on Sky Sports that he would be hanging up his boots for good. • The 38-year-old spent last season at Derby County, while his former team-mate Frank Lampard was manager, but has decided not to carry on. • Cole made his debut for Arsenal in 1999 as an 18-year-old and won two Premier League titles and three FA Cups during his seven seasons at the club. • After 228 appearances, he moved to London rivals Chelsea in a controversial transfer and departed in acrimonious circumstances. • Cole won his third Premier League title as well as the Champions League and Europa League. He also added four more FA Cups and the League Cup before leaving in 2014. • He then returned to England in January on a short term contract with Derby County as he helped them reach the play-off final in the Championship.

IMPORTANT DAYS

73rd Independence Day: 15 August

Independence Day of India is a National Festival, celebrated every year on 15th of August. It is a day of great significance for the people of India.

• On this day in 1947, India got freedom from the British rule after long years of slavery. • It has been declared as the National and Gazetted Holiday throughout the country, to commemorate its independence from British Empire on 15th of August in 1947. • This year in 2019, India will celebrate its 73rd Independence Day to pay tribute and remember all the freedom fighters that had contributed a lot and fought for the Independence of India. • Prime Minister Narendra Modi hoisted the national flag at the ramparts of the historic Red Fort in Delhi and addressed the nation.

Bangladesh’s National Mourning Day: 15 August

• The neighbouring country Bangladesh, which was part of India before partition in 1947, observes August 15 as its National Mourning Day. • On this day, founding father of People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was assassinated along with most of his family members. • To mark this day, National Mourning Day is observed across Bangladesh. The day is a public holiday in the country. • On this day, the national flag of Bangladesh is lowered to half-mast at all government, semi-government and autonomous offices in the country.

First death anniversary of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee being observed today

• Today is first death anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The BJP stalwart had breathed his last on this day last year. • Atal Bihari Vajpayee served as the Prime Minister for three times. His first term was for only 13 days in 1996. • He served his second term for a period of eleven months from 1998 to 1999 and then a full term from 1999 to 2004. • He was awarded India’s highest civilian honour – Bharat Ratna – in 2015. • His legacy comprises forward looking economic policies, massive infrastructure projects and development of national highways. • It was under his leadership that India successfully conducted Pokhran-II nuclear tests and cemented its position as a nuclear state in 1998.

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SALEM INSTITUTE OF BANKING (IBPS /SBI -PO/Clerk/SO, RBI, RRB,TNPSC NIACL, OICL, NABARD, ) Current Affairs – August 15 to 21 • Born on 25th December 1924, in Gwalior, he rose to eminence as an erudite politician. • As a foreign minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the first person to speak in Hindi in the United Nations in 1977.

Indonesia Independence Day: August 17th

• Indonesia’s Independence Day, also known as Hari Kemerdekaan, colloquially known as Tujuhbelasan (“the Seventeenth”). • On this day in 1945, the Indonesian leader Soekarno read a proclamation at his home in Jakarta, declaring the independence of Indonesia. • August 17th was also the date when the red and white national flag, known to locals as Sang Saka Merah- Putih, was flown for the first time. • Indonesia is the world’s 4th most populous country, with over 300 different ethnic and linguistic groups. • The day starts with flag-hoisting ceremony, followed by a parade and local games competitions like balap karung (a two-person gunny sack race), panjat pinang (where contestants climb up a greased pole or tree to grab a prize at the top), and many more local games.

World Photography Day: August 19th

• World Photography Day is observed on 19 August annually to raise awareness about the importance of photography. • Founded in 2009 by the Australian photographer Korske Ara, the date of the 19th was chosen to celebrate World Photo Day as it is the date that the patent of the daguerreotype (an early method of photography) was purchased by the French government. • On this particular day, millions of people capture different ideas and share their world with others, try to dwell in the imaginations of other photographers and moreover try bringing more happiness through the means of photography.

World Humanitarian Day: August 19th

• World Humanitarian Day is observed annually on 19 Augustaround the world to pay tribute to aid workers who risk their lives in humanitarian service. • This day also honour the work of women in crises throughout the world. The 2019 WHD campaign is #WomenHumanitarians. • Women make up a large number of those who risk their own lives to save others. They are often the first to respond and the last to leave. • These women deserve to be celebrated. They are needed today as much as ever to strengthen the global humanitarian response. • And world leaders as well as non-state actors must ensure that they – and all humanitarians – are guaranteed the protection afforded to them under international law.

World Mosquito Day: August 20th

• World Mosquito Day is observed on 20 August every year to raise awareness about the diseases caused by the ‘female mosquitoes Anopheles’.

• World Mosquito Day was first established in 1897, when the link between mosquitos and malaria transmission was discovered by Sir Ronald Ross. • It aims to raise awareness about the causes of malaria and how it can be prevented, as well as fundraising for research into the cure of malaria. • It is also a salute to the ground breaking work of Sir Ross and scientists who have followed him. • Mosquito name comes from Spanish word meaning “little fly”.

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SALEM INSTITUTE OF BANKING (IBPS /SBI -PO/Clerk/SO, RBI, RRB,TNPSC NIACL, OICL, NABARD, ) Current Affairs – August 15 to 21 Sadbhavana Diwas: August 20th

• Sadbhavana Diwas is celebrated to commemorate the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on 20 August every year. • In 2019, 75th birth anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi will be celebrated. • This day is observed to encourage the national integration, peace, affection and communal harmony among the Indian people of all religions. • ‘Sadbhavana’ in English language means goodwill and bonafide. Being as the youngest Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi’s thought process was modern and different from others. • He had the vision of a developed nation via many national as well as international projects that he pioneered. • The main theme of Sadbhavana Diwas is to promote national integration and communal harmony among people of all religion and languages.

Indian Akshay Urja Day: August 20th

• Akshay Urja diwas is an awareness campaign about the developments of renewable energy in India, celebrated on August 20 every year since 2004. • The Indian Ministry for New & Renewable Energy Sources initiated Akshay Urja Day (Diwas) in 2004. • The first function was organised at New Delhi in 2004 and 2005 followed repeated in Nagpur in 2006 and at Hyderabad in 2007 and Panchkula, Haryana in 2008. • The day commemorates the birthday of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. • The Ministry for New & Renewable Energy Sources, Govt. of India promotes innovation to adopt renewable energy sources to produce power for the electricity grid and for several standalone applications and decentralised power production. • The energy such as Solar Energy, Wind energy, hydroelectrical power is few example of Akshay Urja. • It is essential to develop way to use akshay urja or renewable energy more efficiently. • The main motive of Akshya urja Diwas is to make people aware that they have to think about the renewable energy (Akshya Urja) apart from tradition energy. • The energy which we are getting naturally doesn’t have any side effect on environment, and by using this energy we can use the traditional energy for more long time.

OBITUARIES

Ivory Coast music star DJ Arafat dies in road crash

• DJ Arafat, a singer from Ivory Coast with a huge following in francophone Africa, has died after a road accident in Abidjan. • Born in Abidjan in 1986, the artist, whose real name is Ange Didier Huon, had a massive audience in French- speaking western and central African countries. • He issued 11 albums, mainly of “coupe-decale” – a dance music form combining rapid percussion, choppy rhythms with hip hop-style vocals. • DJ Arafat’s fame expanded to Europe and the United States, thanks in part to sports stars who made some of the genre’s dance steps popular. • He Arafat was named “Best Artist of the Year” at the Ivorian “Coupe-decale” Awards in 2016 and 2017.

Argentina World Cup winner Jose Luis Brown dies at 62

• Former Argentina defender and FIFA World Cup-winner Jose Luis Brown passed away, aged 62. • Brown, who played club football in Argentina, Colombia, France and Spain, had suffered from Alzheimer’s. • El Tata famously scored the opening goal of the Mexico 1986 Final helping the Diego Maradona-led Argentina to a memorable 3-2 win over Germany in Mexico City.

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SALEM INSTITUTE OF BANKING (IBPS /SBI -PO/Clerk/SO, RBI, RRB,TNPSC NIACL, OICL, NABARD, ) Current Affairs – August 15 to 21 • As a coach, he was technical assistant for Sergio Batista in the team that won the 2008 Beijing Olympic Football Tournament. A year later, he helped the national team qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup Nigeria 2009.

Renowned Bangladeshi novelist Rizia Rahman passes away

• Renowned Bangladeshi novelistand the Ekushey Padak winning author Rizia Rahman passed away in Dhaka at the age of 79. • She wrote in all genres of creative work including short stories, poems, essays and children’s fiction but she was renowned for her novels. • Bong Theke Bangla, Rokter Okshor and Ghar-Bhanga-Gharare among some of his more well-known novels. • She was born in Kolkata in 1939and migrated to East Bengal after the partition. • She received the Bangla Academy Literary Award in 1978 and was awarded Ekushey Padak this year. • President Abdul Hamid and State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid expressed condolences at the death of Rizia Rahman.

Former cricketer VB Chandrasekhar passes away

• Former India and Tamil Nadu opener V.B. Chandrasekharpassed away. He was 57. • Police confirmed the body of the former cricketer was recovered from his residence. They suspect it to be a case of suicide. • A hard-hitting opener, he represented India in seven ODIs, with an innings of 53 being his highest score. • In 81 First Class matches, Chandrasekhar notched up 4999 runs at 43.09 with 10 centuries. • After his eventful cricketing career, where he was a part of the last Tamil Nadu team to triumph in the Ranji Trophy in 1988. • He later led the State side and then briefly played for Goa. VB focused on coaching and commentary. • VB coached the Tamil Nadu Ranji team and was continually involved with the game. • Significantly, he was the cricket manager of Chennai Super Kings in the franchise’s first three years and was instrumental in getting the iconic M.S. Dhoni to CSK.

Padma Shri awardee Damodar Ganesh Bapat dies at 84: A life dedicated to leprosy patients

• Damodar Ganesh Bapat, noted social worker and Padma Shri awardee, died at the age of 84. • Damodar Ganesh Bapat, who was an octogenarian, dedicated his life to the treatment and service of leprosy patients. • Damodar Ganesh Bapat was associated with the Bharatiya Kushta Nivarak Sangh (BKNS) in Jangjir-Champa district of Chhattisgarh for four decades. He had joined BKNS as its secretary in 1972. • Born in Amaravati district of Maharashtra, Bapat was the youngest of three sons of a railway employee. He completed his graduation in Nagpur. • He started off as a teacher in backward tribal areas. That’s when he visited BKNS and the plight of leprosy patients there concerned him. • He was awarded Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award, by President Ram Nath Kovind in 2018 for his service to the society.

Former Bihar Chief Minister Jagannath Mishra Passes Away Aged 82 ••• Former Bihar Chief Minister Jagannath Mishra passed away in a hospital in Delhi. ••• He was 82. He had been unwell for the last several months.

••• Dr. Mishra was Chief Minister of the State in 1975, 1980 and in 1989-90.

••• He was the State’s last Congress Chief Minister.

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SALEM INSTITUTE OF BANKING (IBPS /SBI -PO/Clerk/SO, RBI, RRB,TNPSC NIACL, OICL, NABARD, ) Current Affairs – August 15 to 21 ••• He was Agriculture Minister in Prime Minister P.V. Narsimha Rao government at the Center in 1995.

••• Dr. Mishra, who was affectionately called Doctor Sahib, later joined the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and then moved on to JD (U).

••• Dr. Mishra, before he joined politics, was an economics professor at Bihar University. He has authored several research papers and books.

Former Madhya Pradesh CM Babulal Gaur passes away

• In Madhya Pradesh, former Chief Minister of the state Babulal Gaur died in Bhopal. • The 89-year-old was admitted to the hospital on 7th of August in a critical condition after his blood pressure dropped. • Babulal Gaur served as the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh from August 2004 to November 2005 and represented Govindpura Assembly seat for 10 times. • Born on 2nd June 1930, the Bharatiya Janata Party leader was credited with expanding party’s foothold in Madhya Pradesh.

Veteran music director-composer Khayyam passes away

• Veteran music director-composerMohammed Zahur Khayyam Hashmi, popularly known as Khayyam, best known for his music in classic films such as ‘Umrao Jaan’ and ‘Kabhi Kabhi’, passed away after a prolonged illness at a hospital in Mumbai. • He was 92. Veteran music-director composer Khayyam began his career in music from the city of Ludhiana at the tender age of 17. • Besides ‘Kabhi Kabhi’ and ‘Umrao Jaan’, the musician’s other notable works include films such as “Trishul”, “Noorie” and “Shola Aur Shabnam”. • In 2007, Khayyam was honoured with Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in Creative Music by the Sangeet Natak Akademi. • Four years later, he was conferred with Padma Bhushan, the country’s third highest civilian award.

• He won three Filmfare Awards for Best Music in 1977 for Kabhi Kabhie and 1982 for Umrao Jaan, and a lifetime achievement award in 2010

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