Current Affairs 20 August 2020

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Current Affairs 20 August 2020

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1. "Sadbhavana Diwas" Observed  on 20th August
  • Sadbhavana Diwas is observed on August 20 every year in the memory of late erstwhile Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi who dreamed about a developed India. The day is celebrated to mark the birth of our sixth and youngest Prime Minister. Contributions to the betterment of our society are made on this day, paying respect to Gandhi and his vision for the country.
  • Rajiv Gandhi became Prime Minister at an age of 40 years after the assassination of his mother Indra Gandhi and served from 1984-89. A year after Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination, the Indian National Congress instituted Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award in 1992.
  • It was established to accredit outstanding contributions in promoting national integration, peace, and harmony.
2. Rural School in Nagaland Wins Pallikkutam National Award for Innovation in Education
  • St. Christopher School in Chessore Village, Nagaland won the Gold Award along with cash prize of Rs.1 Lakh from the first ever Pallikkutam National Award for Innovation in Education instituted by Rajagiri Media. The awards were announced over a virtual meeting.
  • The St Christopher School won the award for ensuring a seamless class for the students with the limited infrastructure and resources in the rural area. The Prize money for Gold  Award is Rs.1,00,000.
  • The rural school provided a balanced online and offline activities for the students over the Whatsapp.
Foot Notes:
About Nagaland:
Capital: Kohima
Chief Minister: Neiphiu Rio
Governor: R N Ravi
 
3. Luis Rodolfo Abinader sworn in as 54th President of Dominican Republic
  • Luis Rodolfo Abinader Corona has been sworn in as the 54th President of Dominican Republic. Luis Rodolfo Abinader is a businessman who has never held any other elected office. He succeeds Danilo Medina of Liberation Party.
  • The 53-year old Luis Rodolfo Abinader was elected to the four-year term on July 5, which ended the 16-year run in power by the Center-Left Dominican Liberation Party (PLD). He finished second in the 2016 President election. Abinader’s Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM) won the elections with 53% vote, while Gonzalo Castillo who was the candidate of the ruling PLD got 37.7%.
  • The swearing-in ceremony was attended by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
Foot Notes:
About Dominican Republic:
Capital: Santo Domingo
Currency: Dominican Peso
 
4. Michael Cohen’s Book “Disloyal: The True Story of the Former Personal Attorney to President Donald J. Trump” is set to Publish on 8 sept
  • Michael Cohen’s book about President Donald Trump titled “Disloyal: The True Story of the Former Personal Attorney to President Donald J. Trump” published by Skyhorse Publishing is set to release on 8th September 2020.
  • Skyhorse describes “Disloyal” as a devastating business and political horror story of the century.
  • On 13th August 2020, Cohen released the foreword of the book with the writing of his former boss.
Foot Notes:
About Skyhorse Publishing:
Founder: Tony Lyons
Founded: September 2006
Headquarters location: New York, United States
President: Tony Lyons

5. ADB approves USD 1 billion package for rapid transit system in India
  • The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a USD 1 billion (about ₹7,485 crore) loan to support the construction of the modern, high-speed Delhi-Meerut regional rapid transit system, a first of its kind in India.
  • The transit system project aims to help decongest the city and improve regional connectivity by establishing transit options through densely populated sections of the NCR connecting Delhi to Meerut in Uttar Pradesh.
  • Delhi accounts for 37 percent of the population of the national capital region (NCR).
  • The 82-km Delhi-Meerut regional rapid transit system network is the first of three priority rail corridors in the country's integrated transport network under the NCR regional plan 2021.
  • This project will finance the construction of railway tracks, station buildings, maintenance facilities and traction and power supply.
Foot Notes:
About ADB:
Headquarters: Mandaluyong, Philippines 
President: Masatsugu Asakawa
Members: 68 countries
 
 
6. Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot launches Indira Rasoi Yojana on 20 August
  • To ensure that people belonging to the economically weaker sections get meals at a highly subsidised rate, the Rajasthan government will be providing fresh and nutritious meals for Rs 8 from August 20. Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot launched the "Indira Rasoi Yojana" to provide quality nutritious meals to the downtrodden section of society.
  • The Indira Rasoi Yojana would be started in 213 urban local bodies of the state and the meals will be made available from 8.30 am till 1 pm and from 5 pm to 8 pm.
Foot Notes:
About Rajasthan:
Governor: Kalraj Mishra
Capital: Jaipur 
Chief Minister: Ashok Gehlot
 
7. LokSabha Speaker Om Birla attends inaugural ceremony of 5th World Conference of Speakers of Parliament
  • LokSabha Speaker Om Birla attended the inaugural ceremony of the Fifth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament (5WCSP).
  • The two day Conference is being organized jointly by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), Geneva and the Parliament of Austria with the support of the United Nations (UN).
  • This is the first time that an international Parliamentary Conference of such a magnitude is being organised in Virtual mode.
  • The Conference is being held in the backdrop of the current crisis of COVID-19 pandemic is expected to strengthen multilateralism and international cooperation in order to rebuild a better world.
Foot Notes:
About LokSabha:
Seats: 543
Founded: 17 April 1952
Last election: Indian general election, 2019
Leader of the House: Narendra Modi, BJP
Next election: May 2024
 
8. Indian Railways introduces drone-based surveillance system for security
  • Indian Railways have introduced a Drone based surveillance system for Railway security. Railway Protection Force, RPF has planned extensive use of drones for the purpose of Railway security.
  • Nine drones have been procured by RPF so far at a cost of around 32 lakh at South Eastern Railway, Central Railway, Modern Coaching Factory, Raebareli  and South Western Railway.
  • Mumbai Division of Central Railway has recently procured two Ninja UAVs for better security and surveillance in Railway areas like station premises, Railway track sections, yards and workshops.
  • A team of four staff members of RPF Mumbai has been trained for drone flying, surveillance and maintenance. These drones are capable of Real Time Tracking, Video Streaming.
Foot Notes:
Railway Minister: Piyush Goyal
Chairman: Vinod Kumar Yadav
 
9. PM Modi greets people on Prakash Purab Utsav of ‘Guru Granth Sahib’
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted people on the Prakash Purab Utsav of the holy book Guru Granth Sahib Ji. The Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji illuminates the entire world with its pure teachings.
  • The first Prakash Purab Utsav marked the installation of Guru Granth Sahib in Harmandir Sahib, also known as the Golden temple, in 1604.
  • Guru Granth Sahib is regarded by Sikhs as the final, sovereign and eternal living Guru following the lineage of the ten human gurus of the religion
10. India ranks first in the number of organic farmers
  • The growth story of organic farming is unfolding with increasing demand not only in India but also globally. India ranks first in number of organic farmers and ninth in terms of area under organic farming. 
  • Sikkim became the first state in the world to become fully organic and other states including Tripura and Uttarakhand have set similar targets.
  • The growth story of organic farming is unfolding with increasing demand not only in India but also globally. India ranks first in number of organic farmers and ninth in terms of area under organic farming. Sikkim became the first state in the world to become fully organic and other states including Tripura and Uttarakhand have set similar targets.
  • The Government initiated Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North East Region (MOVCD) and Paramparagat Krishi Vika sYojana (PKVY) in 2015 to encourage chemical free farming. It also aims at assisting farmers to adopt organic farming and improve earnings due to premium prices. Agri-export Policy 2018, has also given a major thrust in the field of Organic farming in the country. The major organic exports from India have been flax seeds, sesame, soybean, tea, medicinal plants, rice and pulses. Quick and easy certification process of the Organic produce under Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) and National Program for Organic Production (NPOP) have helped poise India to be a leader in terms of Organic produce in years to come.
Foot Notes:
About Sikkim:
Capital: Gangtok
Chief Minister: Prem Singh Tamag
Governor: Ganga Prasad
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