09 August 2019 - Daily Current Affairs

09 August 2019 - Daily Current Affairs

1. Former President Pranab Mukherjee receives Bharat Ratna


  • President Ram Nath Kovind conferred country's highest civilian award Bharat Ratnaon former President Pranab Mukherjee and posthumously on social activist Nanaji Deshmukh and singer Bhupen Hazarika.
  • Pranab Mukherjee received the award from the President, at a function in Rashtrapati Bhawan. Bhupen Hazarika's son Tej Hazarika received the award on his behalf. While a relative of Nanaji Deshmukh, Virender Jeet Singh received the award for him.
  • Mukherjee, 83, served the country as its 13th President for five years from July 25, 2012 and emerged in the role as a respected and admired leader whose words were 13th President heard with attention.
  • Nanaji Deshmukh was born in 1916 in a Marathi family in Parbhani, Maharashtra. As a child, he was inspired by freedom fighter Bal Gangadhar Tilak.
  • Nanaji established India's first Saraswati Sishu Mandir at Gorakhpur in 1950.
  • Bhupen Hazarika was born on September 8, 1926, in Sadiya, Assam, British India. He was the eldest of their ten children. He made his singing debut at the age of 12 in 1939.
  • He was also one of the leading author-poets of Assam with more than 1,000 lyrics and several short stories, essays and travelogues to his credit. Bhupen Hazarika, popularly known as the 'Bard of Brahmaputra'.
Note:
  • The last time Bharat Ratnas were conferred was in 2015, when educationalist-politician Madan Mohan Malviya and former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee were the recipients.
  • A total of 48 Bharat Ratnas have been conferred by India since the honour was instituted in 1954.
  • First Bharat Ratna was awarded in 1954 to C. V Raman (scientist), C. Rajagopalachari (politician) and Sarvepali Radhakrishnan (philosopher)
  • Bharat Ratna Awardee receives a certificate known as ‘Sanad’ signed by the President of India and a medallion.
  • Initially, the medal was made from Gold but later was changed to Toned Bronze.
  • The Medallion is in the shape of a Peepal Leaf.
  • On it is an embossed replica of sun and words Bharat Ratna embossed in Devanagari script.

2. HRD Ministry launches ‘Samagra Shiksha-Jal Suraksha’ Drive


  • Union HRD Minister Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ has launched ‘Samagra Shiksha-Jal Suraksha’ drive to create awareness about Water Conservation among all school Children in the country.
  • Inspired by Prime Minister’s impetus to Jal Sanchay, Government of India has launched the Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA).
  • This concept of water conservation is essential for students so that they can understand the importance of water and how it is shaping their lives meaningfully, thereby enabling them to participate in water conservation activities in their day to day lives.
  • This drive has been launched by the Department of School Education & Literacy, MHRD to promote water conservation activities for School Students, so that they can become competent, conscientious and committed water citizens of our nation.
Source: PIB

3. IIT Madras partners with NIOT to harness electricity from ocean waves


  • Researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras and National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) are developing turbines that can harness the power of ocean waves to generate electricity.
  • India’s long coastline and many estuaries and gulfs provide ample opportunities to harness wave power to meet rising energy needs.
  • The Department of Ocean Engineering, IIT Madras, under the aegis of the Indian Government’s Department of Ocean Development has been working to bring wave energy closer to reality since 1983.
  • The most recent research IIT Madras in collaboration with National Institute of Ocean Technology, is being funded by ministry of earth sciences.
  • It focuses on improving the devices and machines used for wave energy harvesting.
Source: Economic Times

4. UNIDO and National Institute of Solar Energy to partner for skill development program


  • National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) has signed an agreement to initiate a skill development programme for different levels of beneficiaries in the solar thermal energy sector.
  • Under the agreement NISE and UNIDO will engage national and international experts to bring the best practices by developing specialized training material.
  • The agreement is part of the ongoing MNRE-GEF-UNIDO project implemented jointly by UNIDO and to support capacity building and skill development of technical manpower in the Concentrated Solar Thermal Energy Technologies (CST).
Source: PIB

5. Special postage stamp to be released to commemorate golden jubilee of IFFI


  • To commemorate the Golden Jubilee Edition of International Film Festival of India (IFFI), PIBA special Postage Stamp and First Day Cover will be released.
  • The festival will take place from the 20th to 28th November in Goa.
  • Competition for designing the Postage Stamp and First Day Cover has been launched by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting on MyGov platform.
  • Those interested may log in on to www.mygov.in to participate in the competition.
  • The contest is open till 15th August. The winner will receive a Certificate of Appreciation along with travel and hospitality for three nights and three days to Goa to attend the Festival.
Source: AIR

Science and Technology

6. SpaceX launched AMOS-17 communication satellite by Falcon 9


  • American carrier rocket Falcon 9 lifts off successfully the Israeli AMOS-17 communication satellite into the orbit.
  • The rocket was launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Amos-17 is set to replace Amos-5 satellite launched in 2011.
  • Communication with Amos-5 was lost in 2015. Amos-17, built by Boeing, will provide Ka, Ku and C-band signal transmission and expand Israeli communications satellite operator Spacecom’s coverage in Africa, the Middle East and Europe.
Source: DD News

Banking and Economy

7. Mastercard launches identity check express to secure online transactions


  • Global payment and technology company, Mastercard launched an Identity Check Express solution.
  • It is a next-generation, mobile-first authentication solution to secure online transactions.
  • The solution, will help eliminate unnecessary friction and enhance the security of online transactions.
  • Mastercard Identity Check Express combines the latest technology, including device intelligence and behavioural biometrics, with the latest EMV 3-D Secure and FIDO authentication standards.
  • It will deliver an uninterrupted mobile payment experience.
  • Identity Check Express was showcased at the Global Mastercard Cybersecurity Summit, held for the first time in India.
  • Mastercard is an American Multinational Financial Service corporation headquarted at New York, USA.
  • Source: Livemint

 

8. CAIT launches initiative to accelerate use of digital payments among merchants


  • Traders body Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) has launched an initiative -- Digi Vyapari-Safal Vyapari
  • This is to accelerate acceptance of digital payments among merchants across the country.
  • For this the CAIT has partnered with HDFC Bank, Mastercard, Common Service Centres (CSCs) of Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (Meity) and Global Linkers.
 Source: Asian Age

Sports 

9. South African Hashim Amla announces retirement from international cricket


  • Hashim Amla announced his retirement from all forms of international cricket.
  • Hashim Amla made his international debut in a Test match vs India in Kolkata in 2004
  • Amla played 349 matches across three formats for the Proteas, scoring more than 18 000 runs
  • Amla is the fastest batsman to reach 2000, 3000, 4000, 5000, 6000 and 7000 ODI runs
  • Amla will continue to play domestic T20 cricket in South Africa.
  • Amla is the second South African cricketer to end his international career this week after fast bowler Dale Steyn.
  • Amla retires from the sport after having played 124 Tests, 181 ODIs and 44 T20 internationals for the Proteas.
  • Amla amassed 9282 runs in Tests at an average of 46.64 with 28 hundreds and 41 fifties while in ODIs he scored 8113 runs at 49.46 with 27 centuries and 39 half-centuries.

10. World Archery suspends AAI for defying guidelines


  • The World Archery (WA) suspended the Archery Association of India (AAI) for defying its guidelines by electing two parallel bodies.
  • The decision is effective from 12th August and the last event in which the archers can participate under the Indian flag is the World Archery Youth Championships in Madrid from 19th to 25th of this month.
  • Olympic quota places will be up for grabs at the Asian Championships and Asian Para Championships, to be held in Bangkok in November.
  • India so far have three men's places secured for the next Olympics but has yet to win a women's spot.
Source: AIR

11. Former NZ captain Brendon McCullum retires from all forms of Cricket


  • Former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum announced his retirement from all forms of competitive cricket after the conclusion of the ongoing Global T20 Canada.
  • McCullum, who is playing for Toronto Nationals, had retired from all forms of international cricket in 2016 but continued to ply his trade in various T20 leagues across the globe.
  • The 37-year-old former Black Caps skipper has played 101 Tests in which he scored 6453 runs with 12 hundred and highest score of 302.
  • In 260 ODIs, he scored 6083 runs with five hundreds while 71 T20 Internationals fetched him 2140 runs.
  • However, he has a staggering T20 career (all leagues included) as he scored 9922 runs 370 games so far.
Source: Time of India

State News

12. Manipur tops in Breastfeeding, Infant & Young Child Feeding Practices


  • Manipur has topped the ranking in Breastfeeding and Infant and Young Child Feeding Practices in the country.
  • Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Bihar are at the bottom positions in the report card.
  • National capital Delhi is also among the worst-performing States.
  • The Breastfeeding report card has been developed by devising a composite score based on three indicators namely early initiation of breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding for six months and complimentary feeding at 6-8 months of child's age.
Source: AIR

Important Days

13. International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples observed today


  • The International Day of the World's Indigenous People is observed on 9th August each year to promote and protect the rights of the world's indigenous population.
  • This year’s day is devoted to the right to education.
  • The theme of this year is ‘Indigenous Languages’.
Note:
  • On December 23, 1994, The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 9th August as the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples through its resolution 49/214.

Post a Comment

0 Comments

Top Post Ad

Below Post Ad