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Current Affairs 21 August 2020
Daily Current Affairs 21 August 2020: This post contains the latest current affairs for 21 August 2020 that are important for all competitive exams like Bank, SSC, IBPS, SBI exams. You can improve your general knowledge with our daily online current affairs. You can also read the daily current affairs on our mobile app.
National News
Indore Adjudged as Cleanest City of India in Swachh Survekshan 2020
- Indore city of Madhya Pradesh has been ranked as the cleanest city of India under the Swachh Survekshan 2020. It has won the Cleanest city tag for the fourth consecutive year.
- The results were announced on 20 August by the Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoUHA), Hardeep Singh Puri.
- Surat (Gujarat) and Navi Mumbai (Maharashtra) are the second and third most cleanest city, respectively in the ranking.
- 2020 Swachh Survekshan is the 5th edition of the annual exercise and covered 4,242 cities.
- Complete list of winners
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla participates in 5th World Conference of Speakers of Parliament
- The fifth edition of the World Conference of Speakers of Parliament was held virtually on 19 and 20 August 2020.
- The two day conference was organized virtually for the first time due to COVID-19.
- The event was organized by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), Geneva, jointly with the Parliament of Austria and with the support of the United Nations (UN).
- The theme of the conference was Parliamentary leadership for more effective multilateralism that deliver peace and sustainable development for the people and planet.
- From India, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla participated in the inaugural ceremony of the conference.
- The second part of the conference will be held in physical format in 2021 in Vienna, Austria
DRDO Successfully Test Fires First Pinaka Rockets Produced by Private Sector
- The Indian Army successfully test-fired the first ever privately manufactured Pinaka rockets recently from the firing range in Pokharan, which achieved the desired results by accurately hitting targets.
- The rockets have been manufactured by Economic Explosives Ltd (EEL) and are the first ammunition of its kind made by the private sector in India.
- Six Pinaka rockets were test fired as part of the final developmental trials.
- This development will enable Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to do away with its single source dependency on Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) for the rockets and also boost Make in India initiative.
Apps & Services
Google launches Mobile app ‘Kormo’ in India to help people find entry-level jobs
- Google has launched its employment application named ‘Kormo Jobs’ in India. It would help millions of Indians to get entry-level jobs.
- Kormo Jobs will help to provide entry-level jobs to thousands of people, to help those who have lost their jobs during the coronavirus and young professionals who are looking for jobs.
- Google had first launched the employment application in Bangladesh in 2018 and further expanded it to Indonesia in 2019.
- In 2019, Google had also tested this app in India but under the brand ‘Spot’ on Google Pay app, which saw more than 2 million verified jobs posted on the platform, including from companies like Zomato and Dunzo.
- After receiving positive response, Google is now rebranding the Jobs Spot on Google Pay as Kormo Jobs in India and making it a standalone Android app.
Business News
Apple Becomes First U.S. Company to reach $2 Trillion Market Cap
- Apple Inc. has become the first publicly traded U.S. company to reach a market capitalization of over $2 trillion, after its share price climbed above $467.77 on 19 August 2020.
- Apple is also the world’s only second company to hit $2 trillion in market cap.
- Before this, Oil Major Saudi Aramco was the world’s first and only publicly listed company to reach a $2 trillion market value in December 2019.
Banking & Economy News
NPCI launches its subsidiary firm – NPCI International Payments Ltd (NIPL)
- National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has launched its wholly-owned subsidiary firm named NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL).
- Ritesh Shukla has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NIPL.
- NIPL will venture into newer international markets and co-create payment systems with participating nations. The primary focus of NIPL would be the internationalization of RuPay and UPI, along with a few more offerings of NPCI.
ADB approves USD 1 billion loan for Delhi-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System
- Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a USD 1 billion (about Rs. 7,485 crore) loan for the construction of the modern, high-speed Delhi-Meerut regional rapid transit system (RRTS) in India.
- The 82-kilometer Delhi-Meerut regional rapid transit system is a first of its kind project in India to help decongest the city and improve regional connectivity by establishing transit options through the densely populated sections of the NCR, connecting Delhi to Meerut in Uttar Pradesh,
- The total project cost is estimated to be USD 3.94 billion, and of this, the Centre will provide USD 1.89 billion while the co-financiers are expected to provide USD 1 billion.
Appointment
Luis Rodolfo Abinader sworn in as President of Dominican Republic
- Luis Rodolfo Abinader has been sworn in as 54th President of the Dominican Republic on 16 August 2020.
- The 53-year-old economist and businessman Abinader succeeds Danilo Medina, who served the country from 2012 to 2020.
Important Days
Akshay Urja Diwas 2020: 20 August
- Akshay Urja Diwas (Renewable Energy Day) is observed every year on 20 August since 2004 to raise awareness about the developments and adoption of renewable energy in India.
- The Akshay Urja Day was initiated by the Indian Ministry for New & Renewable Energy Sources in 2004.
- The energy such as Biogas, Solar Energy, Wind energy, hydroelectrical power are few example of Akshay Urja.
- 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.
Sadbhavana Diwas: 20 August
- Every year India observes Sadbhavana Diwas on August 20 to commemorate the birth anniversary of late erstwhile Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi.
- ‘Sadbhavana’ means goodwill and bonafide.
- August 20, 2020 marks the 76th birth anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi who was the youngest Prime Minister of India at the age of 40.
- The day aims to promote National Integration and Communal Harmony among people of all relgions, languages and regions and stop violence.
World Senior Citizen Day: 21 August
- The World Senior Citizen Day is observed globally on August 21 every year to raise awareness about issues affecting older people, such as deterioration with age and the abuse of the elderly and support, honor and show appreciation to seniors and to recognize their achievements.
- The Day was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly on December 14, 1990.
- The day was officially founded by the former President of the United States of America, Ronald Reagan in 1988 to dedicate a day to older adults and their issues.
International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism: 21 August
- The International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism is a UN recognised day observed on August 21 to pay tribute to the individuals across the globe who have been attacked, injured, traumatized or lost their lives because of terrorist attacks.
- The day was designated by United Nations General Assembly in 2017 and first time the day was observed in 2018.