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Current Affairs 23 July 2020
Daily Current Affairs 23 July 2020: We have collected the latest current affairs for 23 July 2020 that are important for all competitive exams like Bank, SSC, IBPS, SBI exams. The GK current affairs will help you score more in these competitive exams. Improve your general knowledge with our daily online current affairs. You can also read the daily current affairs on our mobile app.
National News
Delhi Govt approves ‘Mukhya Mantri Ghar Ghar Ration Yojana’ to provide ration at doorstep
- Delhi Government under Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has approved ‘Mukhya Mantri Ghar Ghar Ration Yojana’, under which the eligible beneficiaries would get ration delivered at home.
- Under the ‘Mukhya Mantri Ghar Ghar Ration Yojana’ scheme, wheat, flour, rice and sugar-packed hygienically in bags will be delivered to the doorstep of people.
- However, taking ration from a Public Distribution System (PDS) shop will be optional.
- This scheme will be launched in six to seven months.
- Along with this scheme, Centre’s ‘One Nation One Ration Card’ scheme and ‘Mukhya Mantri Ghar Ghar Ration Yojana’ will also be implemented from the same day in Delhi.
CBDT and CBIC sign MoU for exchange of information on automatic and regular basis
- The Central Board of Direct Taxes, (CBDT) and the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs, (CBIC) have inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for exchange of information between the two organizations.
- The MoU was signed by CBDT Chairman Pramod Chandra Mody and CBIC Chairman M. Ajit Kumar, on 21 July 2020.
- This new MoU supersedes the MoU signed between CBDT and the erstwhile Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) in the year 2015.
- The MoU comes into force from the date it was signed and is an ongoing initiative of CBDT and CBIC.
- The latest MoU will facilitate the sharing of data and information between CBDT and CBIC on an automatic and regular basis.
- CBDT and CBIC will also exchange with each other, on request and spontaneous basis, any information available in their respective databases which may have utility for the other organization.
- A Data Exchange Steering Group has also been constituted for this purpose, which will meet periodically to review the data exchange status and take steps to further improve the effectiveness of the data sharing mechanism.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurates 3-days long Indian Air Force (IAF) commanders’ conference in New Delhi
- The three-day-long Indian Air Force (IAF) commanders’ conference began in New Delhi on 22 July 2020.
- The conference was inaugurated by Union Defense Minister Shri Rajnath Singh and chaired by India’s Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal R.K.S. Bhadauria.
- The theme of the IAF Commanders’ Conference is “Indian Air Force in the Next Decade”.
Indian Army Gets DRDO’s indigenously-developed Bharat Drone for accurate surveillance along China border
- The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has provided its indigenously-developed drone ‘Bharat’ to the Indian Army to conduct accurate surveillance in high altitude areas and mountainous terrain along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh, amid the ongoing border dispute between India and China.
- The Bharat series of drones has been developed by a Chandigarh-based laboratory of the DRDO, to carry out accurate surveillance in high altitude areas and mountainous terrain along India’s lines of control with Pakistan and China.
- It is among the world’s most agile and lightest surveillance drone.
Key Features of Bharat Drone
- The Made-in-India, small yet powerful drone works autonomously at any location with great accuracy.
- Its unibody biomimetic design with advance release technology is a lethal combination for surveillance missions
- It is equipped with artificial intelligence that helps it to detect friends and enemies and take action accordingly.
- It can survive in extreme cold weather temperature and is continuously being developed further for even harsher weather.
- It provides real-time video transmission during the entire mission and with very advanced night vision capabilities, it can detect people hidden in deep forests.
- It has been built in a way that makes it impossible to be detected by Radar.
Agreements
India, Maldives sign agreement for establishment of ‘Emergency Medical Services’ unit in Male
- India and Maldives have signed an MVR 8 Million agreement for establishment of ‘Emergency Medical Services’ Centre in Dharavandhoo, an island located north of the country’s capital, Male.
- The project includes the development of a fully-fledged emergency centre, training facilities and office space within Dharavandhoo Hospital, to:
- enhance timely access to quality emergency care,
- increase collaboration between healthcare facilities and disaster response agencies,
- overcome the challenges presently faced by Dharavandhoo Hospital, especially during this critical times of need.
- Out of the total MVR (Maldivian rufiyaa) 8.45 million, The government of India is providing a grant of MVR 7.5 million and rest MVR 980,800 will be taken from the state budget of Maldives.
- The project is one of the several small and medium projects that are being financed by India under a grant assistance of around 20 million US dollars for the neighbouring country.
Defence Ministry signs Rs 557 crore contract with BEML to procure 1512 mine ploughs for T-90 tanks
- The Ministry of Defence has signed Rs 557 crore contract with Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) for procurement of 1,512 mine plough (MP) for the Indian Army.
- These Mine ploughs will be fitted on main battle Tank T-90 S/SK of Indian Armoured Corps.
- Mine ploughs help tanks to clear minefields and minimize risks to men and machines.
- The Mobility of Tank Fleet will enhance manifold, and would enable the Armoured Formation to reach deep into enemy territory without becoming mine causality.
- These 1,512 mine ploughs project is planned to be completed by 2027.
International News
SpaceX Launches South Korea’s Military Communications Satellite ANASIS-II
- On 20 July 2020, Elon Musk-owned private operator SpaceX launched South Korea’s first dedicated military communications satellite, named ANASIS-II on-board its Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket from SLC-40 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.
- ANASIS-II stands for Army/Navy/Air Force Satellite Information System 2.
- It is a secure communications satellite for the South Korean Agency for Defense Development and will supplement the Koreasat-5/ANASIS-I satellite, a combined civilian and military communications satellite launched in 2006.
- With this successful launch, South Korea has become the 10th country in the world to own a military-only communications satellite, which will provide “permanent and secured military communications”.
US Navy and Indian Navy conduct naval exercise PASSEX in A&N
- The United States Navy and the Indian Navy undertook Passage Exercise (PASSEX), a joint maritime drill in the Indian Ocean region near Andamans and Nicobar Islands on 20 July 2020.
- The high-end Passex exercise was carried out to maximize training and interoperability, including air defence of the two navies.
- The passage exercise involved a total of eight Indian and US warships.
- World’s largest aircarft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) along with Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Princeton (CG 59) and Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers USS Sterett (DDG 104) and USS Ralph Johnson (DDG 114), participated from US Navy.
- Four frontline warships of the Indian Navy took part from in the exercise.
- The Indian Navy had also conducted similar PASSEX exercises with Japanese Navy (Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force) and French Navy in recent past.
Banking & Economy
Nomura estimates India’s GDP to contract by 6.1% in FY21
- The Indian economy is expected to contract by 6.1 percent in the current fiscal (2020-21), as per the Japanese financial services firm Nomura.
- The contraction in the GDP is due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which has impacted both supply and demand forces in the economy since March 2020.
Ramesh Babu Boddu appointed as MD & CEO of Karur Vysya Bank
- Ramesh Babu Boddu has been appointed as the Managing Director and CEO, as well as an Additional Director at of Karur Vysya Bank for a period of three years from the date of taking charge.
- Boddu succeeds PR Seshadri who had resigned on March 31, 2020 citing personal reasons.
- He has retired as Deputy Managing Director in State Bank of India in April 2020.
Award
Renowned Indian Animator Arnab Chaudhuri Posthumously Conferred with Toonz Media Award 2020
- The prestigious ‘Legend of Animation’ award of the Toonz Media Group (TMG) has been posthumously conferred to the legendary animation director Arnab Chaudhuri, for his invaluable contribution to the animation and entertainment industry of India.
- The award was given on 20 July at the Animation Masters Summit (AMS) 2020 – Digital Edition, an annual event celebrated by Toonz Media Group. It was held digitally this year.
- The ‘Legend of Animation’ award is given away every year to honour a genius from the field of animation in India.
- Arnab, who passed away on December 25, 2019, was one of the pioneers of the Indian Animation industry, and his animation movie ‘Arjun: The Warrior Prince’ is the only animation from India to date to be longlisted for Oscar awards.