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Current Affairs 26 August 2020
Daily Current Affairs 26 August 2020: This post contains the latest current affairs for 26 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
Nitin Gadkari inaugurates 45 Highway projects worth around Rs 11,427 cr in Madhya Pradesh
- The Union Minister for Road Transport, Highways and MSMEs Nitin Gadkari virtually inaugurated 45 highway projects in Madhya Pradesh on 25 August 2020.
- These projects includes construction of 1,361 km of Road, two over bridges and six bridges at an estimated cost of Rs 11,427 crore.
- The implementation of these projects will create tourism and employment opportunities in the state, as well as help in the development of entire Madhya Pradesh including backward areas.
- Part from this, Nitin Gadkari also announced his plan to open a driving training school in every district of the country.
- Click here to see List of Projects of Madhya Pradesh
Discoveries
Andhra University Researchers find rare fish ‘Mahseer’ in Sileru river
- A team of researchers from the Department of Zoology, Andhra University has spotted a specie of rare fish called Mahseer (scientific name Tor) on 24 August 2020, from the upper part of Sileru river, in Andhra Pradesh.
- This specie of fish is listed under the endangered category by IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature).
- Professor D.E. Babu, the leader of the research team has informed that the Golden Mahseer fish, is basically found in the Himalayan region, where the temperature around year does not exceed 20° Celsius such as Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Nepal and Bhutan.
- But it is rare to find it in Andhra Pradesh region of the country and calls for a much detailed study.
Indian Satellite ‘AstroSat’ Detects UV Light From Galaxy 9 Billion Light Years Away
- India’s first multi-wavelength satellite, AstroSat, has detected an extreme ultraviolet (UV) light from a galaxy, called AUDFs01.
- This galaxy is 9.3 billion light-years away from Earth, in the Hubble Extreme Deep field..
- The discovery was made by an international team of astronomers led by Dr Kanak Saha, associate professor of astronomy at the Pune-based Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA).
- This research was published on August 24, 2020, by Nature Astronomy.
- AstroSat is India’s first multi-wavelength satellite, which has five unique X-ray and ultraviolet telescopes working in tandem.
Conferences and Forums
International Conference on ‘Aerosol Air Quality, Climate Change and Impact on Water Resources and Livelihoods in the Greater Himalayas’ to be held at ARIES, Nainital in September 2020
- The International Conference on Aerosol Air Quality, Climate Change and Impact on Water Resources and Livelihoods in the Greater Himalayas is set to be held from September 14 to 16.
- The three-day conference will be organised by the Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES), Nainital in association with Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University.
- The international conference will be held on online platform.
- The conference will deliberate on topics such as rapid increase in the air pollution associated with industrialisation, urbanisation and its resultant impact on regional and global air quality, visibility degradation, cloud formation, and atmospheric chemistry, radiation budget, ecosystem, Himalayan climate, and glaciology, cryosphere, monsoon patterns, water availability, and human health.
India Pavilion Inaugurated at Army-2020 International Military and Technical Forum In Russia
- The ARMY 2020 International Military and Technical Forum has been organised in Moscow, Russia from August 23 to 29, 2020.
- The forum is being organised by the Russian Defence Ministry since 2015, at the Patriot Park near Moscow.
- The India Pavilion at the 6th edition of the International Military-Technical Forum was inaugurated by Secretary (Defence Production) Raj Kumar and Indian Ambassador DB Venkatesh Verma.
- Delegations from at least 70 nations have confirmed their participation in the high-profile event.
- Over 730 pieces of Russian weapons and equipment, as well as 28,000 exhibits from industrial enterprises will be showcased for a free inspection.
- For the first time, a line of 23 tanks and armoured vehicles were deployed in an open area in Patriot Park.
- Discussions will also be held among global military officials, researchers and defence industry experts about the application of 3D technologies in designing, manufacturing and operating weapons and military equipment.
India and Uzbekistan holds first-ever virtual National Coordination Committee meeting to monitor implementation of mutually agreed projects
- India and Uzbekistan conducted their inaugural National Coordination Committee meeting on 24 August 2020 through virtual mode, to monitor the implementation of mutually agreed projects between the two countries.
- The Committee was constituted under the directions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
- The meeting was co-chaired by the Minister of State for External Affairs V. Muraleedharan and Uzbek Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Investments and Foreign Economic Relations Sardor Umurzakov.
Banking & Economy
Centre announces Tax exemptions for businesses with annual turnover of up to Rs 40 lakh
- The Ministry of Finance has announced that the businesses with an annual turnover of up to Rs 40 lakh are now GST exempt.
- Earlier, this limit was Rs 20 lakh.
- The Ministry has also informed that those businesses with an annual turnover up to Rs 1.5 crore can opt for the Composition Scheme and pay only 1 percent tax.
ICICI Bank becomes first bank in India to use satellite data to assess credit worthiness of farmers
- Private lender ICICI Bank has become the first ever bank in India to make use of satellite data, imagery from Earth observation satellites, to assess credit worthiness of farmers.
- Using the satellite data, the bank will be able to measure an array of parameters related to the land, irrigation and crop patterns and use it in combination with demographic and financial parameters to make speedy lending decisions for farmers.
- This innovative technology provides quick and technically sound analysis of the land, crop and irrigation patterns from remote locations, without the need of the customer or a bank official having to visit the land.
Insurance
SBI General Insurance Launches unique ‘Shagun – Gift an insurance’ policy
- SBI General Insurance has launched first-of-its-kind insurance product called ‘Shagun – Gift an Insurance”, which is a unique gift of Personal Accident policy.
- The unique feature of this policy is that it can be gifted to anyone, which means it is not necessary for the policy buyer to be related to the insured.
Key Features of ‘Shagun – Gift an Insurance’
- A Gift giver (policy buyer) can gift this product to anyone like family, friends, extended family and even domestic helpers, chauffeurs, drivers, cook, etc
- Gift Receiver (insured) should be in the age group of 18 years to 65 years
- Policy can be availed for up to 1 Year
- Shagun covers personal accident insurance which provides complete financial protection to the insured person against uncertainties such as accidental death and partial or total disabilities, and permanent as well as temporary disabilities resulting from an accident.
Appointments
DRDO chief G Satheesh Reddy gets two-year extension till August 2022
- The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the extension of the tenure of renowned scientist G Satheesh Reddy as the Chairman of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), and as the Secretary of the Department of Defence Research & Development for a period of two years.
- Reddy was appointed as the chief in August 2018 for two years. His tenure was to end on 26 August 2020.
- Now he will continue to serve the post for two more years, till August 2022.