02 August 2018 - Daily Current Affairs


02 August 2018 - Daily Current Affairs

02 August 2018 - Daily Current Affairs

1. Indian-origin mathematician Akshay Venkatesh wins Fields medal 2018

  • Renowned Indian-Australian mathematician ‘Akshay Venkatesh’ (36-year) is one of four winners of mathematics’ prestigious Fields medal 2018 (also known as the Nobel prize for math).
  • Mr. Venkatesh (teaching at Stanford University) has won the Fields Medal for his profound contributions to an exceptionally broad range of subjects in mathematics.
  • The other three winners are Caucher Birkar (Iranian) Peter Scholze (Germany) Alessio Figalli (Italy).
  • Each winner receives a 15,000 Canadian-dollar cash prize.
Note:
  • The Fields medals are awarded every four years to the most promising mathematicians under the age of 40.
  • The prize was inaugurated in 1932 at the request of Canadian mathematician John Charles Fields, who ran the 1924 Mathematics Congress in Toronto.

2. President of India Presents Outstanding Parliamentarian Award for the years 2013-2017

  • The President Ram Nath Kovind presented the Outstanding Parliamentarian Award for the years 2013-2017 in New Delhi.
  • Speaking on the occasion, the President congratulated all those being conferred with the Outstanding Parliamentarian Award.
Note:
  • The Outstanding Parliamentarian Award is an award given by the Indian Parliamentary Group to an outstanding sitting Member of the Indian Parliament for overall contribution in the Indian Parliament.
  • The award was instituted in 1992 by Shivraj Patil (Speaker of Lok Sabha from 1991 to 1996).
Outstanding Parliamentarian Awards
Name of Parliamentarian
Year
Shri Bhartruhari Mahtab
2017
Shri Dinesh Trivedi
2016
Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad
2015
Shri Hukmdev Narayan Yadav
2014
Smt Najma Heptulla
2013

National Affairs

3. The Union Government launches the scheme Seva Bhoj Yojna

  • The Union Ministry of Culture has launched the new scheme ‘Seva Bhoj Yojna’ with a total outlay of Rs. 325.00 Crores for FY 2018-19 & 2019-20.
  • Seva Bhoj Yojna will provide financial assistance on the purchase of specific food items by Charitable Religious Institutions (CRIs) for free distribution among people.
  • The objective of the scheme to reimburse Centre’s share of Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) and Interstate GST charged on raw food materials purchased by the religious institutions will be refunded.
  • Eligible religious & charitable institutions must register with Darpan portal of NITI Aayog and get Unique ID generated by it.

4. Cabinet approves re-structuring of the Agricultural Scientists' Recruitment Board (ASRB)

  • The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Modi has approved the proposal for restructuring of Agricultural Scientists' Recruitment Board (ASRB) to ensure more transparency and efficiency in the recruitment of meritorious scientists to various positions in ICAR.
  • Now, The ASRB will be a 4 Member body including a chairperson instead of 3 Members.
  • ASRB would be for a period of three years or till attainment of 65 years of age (whichever earlier).
  • The ASRB would be delinked from Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR) and be attached with Department of Agricultural Research & Education (DARE) for the purpose of autonomy, secrecy, accountability and efficient functioning.
Note:
  • The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is an autonomous body responsible for coordinating agricultural education and research in India.
  • It reports to the Department of Agricultural Research and Education, Ministry of Agriculture.

6. Union Cabinet clears purchase of 51% controlling stakes in IDBI Bank by LIC

  • The Union Cabinet has cleared the purchase of 51% controlling stake in IDBI Bank by state-run Life Insurance Corporation (LIC).
  • As per the proposal, the debt-laden bank will issue preferential shares to LIC to raise capital.
  • The measure will financially strengthen both LIC and IDBI, as well as their subsidiaries which offer financial products.
  • The IDBI would get an opportunity to tap 11 lakhs LIC agents for doorstep banking services.

7. MSME launches Mission Solar Charkha for implementation of 50 Solar Charkha Clusters across the country

  • The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) has launched the Mission Solar Charkha for implementation of 50 Solar Charkha Clusters across the country.
  • The scheme aims to generate direct employment to nearly one lakh people.
  • Solar Charkha Units have been classified as village industries.
Note:
  • On 27th June, The Mission was launched by President Ram Nath Kovind at UN Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Day.

8. 2-day Indo-US Military Cooperation Meeting begins in New Delhi

  • A two-day Indo-US Military Cooperation Meeting has begun as a prelude to 2 plus 2 Dialogue between the two countries in New Delhi
  • The meeting was co-chaired by Lt Gen Satish Dua (Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the chairman) Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC) and Lt Gen Bryan Fenton, Deputy Commander, Indo-Pacific Command.
  • India and the US were also working to have a joint drill of all the three armed forces of the two countries.

9. India & Germany sign pact on financial and technical cooperation

  • India and Germany have signed an agreement on financial & technical cooperation focusing on sustainable urban development and renewable energy.
  • The agreement was signed between Sameer Kumar Khare(Joint Secretary in the Finance Ministry) and Martin Ney (German Ambassador to India) in New Delhi.
  • The government-to-government Umbrella Agreement on Financial Cooperation and Technical Co-operation 2017 is worth about 5,000 thousand crore rupees.

9. Rajasthan becomes the first Indian state to implement biofuel policy

  • Rajasthan has become the first Indian state to implement the national policy on biofuels unveiled by the centre in May this year.
  • Biodiesel plant with a capacity of eight tonnes per day has already been installed in the state.
  • Soon, the State Government will release Biofuel Rules, 2018.
  • Women's self-help groups (SHGs) will be created by the State Rural Livelihood Development Council to encourage the use of biofuels.

Sports

10. Pradip Choudhury felicitated by Mohun Bagan Ratna Award 2018

  • Mohun Bagan has conferred Pradip Choudhury (former Mohun Bagan captain) with the prestigious Mohun Bagan Ratna Award 2018 at the club's annual day program in Kolkata.
  • Goalkeeper Shilton Paul has been awarded the Best Football Player of the Year prize.
  • Sudip Chatterjee was honoured with the Best Cricket Player of the Year award.
  • Mohun Bagan Ratna is the highest decoration of ‘Mohun Bagan former club’ presented annually on Mohun Bagan Day.
Note:
  • Best Youth Football Player: Sourav Das.
  • Special Award: Rahim Ali for his performance in the U-17 World Cup.

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