Home » Current Affairs 26th August 2021| Current Affairs News

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Daily Current Affairs PDF of 26th August 2021

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CURRENT AFFAIRS: IMPORTANT DAYS

Women’s Equality Day – Observed on Aug 26

Women’s Equality Day is celebrated in the United States on August 26 to commemorate the 1920 adoption of the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which prohibits the states and the federal government from denying the right to vote to citizens of the United States on the basis of sex.
The fight for equality never really ends for women regardless of which milieu they may inhabit.
On this Women’s Equality Day, watch rare films that depict women as beings with agency, self-belief and yes, a hunger for equality.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL NEWS

Ministry of Jal Shakti introduces ‘SUJALAM’ Campaign

The Jal Shakti Ministry started a 100-day campaign — Sujalam — as part of the ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ (August 25) to create more ODF plus villages by undertaking wastewater management at the village level.
The effort of the campaign would be directed towards achieving the Open Defecation Free (ODF) plus status for villages across the country in an accelerated manner in a short time.

About the Campaign:

“The campaign has started from August 25 2021, and will continue to run for the next 100 days”.
The aim of the 100-day campaign is to create more and more ODF plus villages by undertaking wastewater management at the village level particularly through the creation of one million soak-pits and also other greywater management activities.
The campaign will not only build the desired infrastructure like soak pits for the management of grey water in villages but will also aid in the sustainable management of water bodies.
The disposal of wastewater and clogging of water bodies in the villages or on the outskirts of the villages remain one of the major problems.
The campaign would help in the management of the wastewater and in turn, would help to revive the water bodies.

Ministry of Electronics & IT initiates SAMRIDH programme

Work towards making India’s Startups and the Startup Ecosystem the best in the whole world.
This vision of Prime Minister was also emphasised by Electronics and Information Technology Minister Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw stated, “Government will support startups and entrepreneurs in the most challenging phase which is the initial risk phase and also stated to serve 1.3 billion people India will scale up the network of incubators and accelerators to phenomenal levels.”
“Start-up Accelerators of MeitY for product Innovation, Development and growth (SAMRIDH)”programme, which was launched by Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology so as to create a conducive platform to Indian Software Product star-ups to enhance their products and securing investments for scaling their business.

About the programme:

The programme is being implemented by MeitY Start-up Hub (MSH).
The initiative will not only provide the funding support to the startups but will also help in bringing skill sets together which will help them to become successful.
Reiterating the vision of technology and energy of youngsters is a great potential source of energy for inclusive development.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: INTERNATIONAL NEWS

World’s tallest observation wheel ‘Ain Dubai’ to be opened in UAE

The world’s largest and tallest observation wheel will open in the UAE on October 21;
This will be the newest monument to join Dubai’s lengthy line of record-breaking attractions.
Ain Dubai would carry guests to a height of 250 metres, about double the height of the London Eye, from which they will be able to experience a breathtaking view of Dubai’s stunning skyline.
Ain Dubai, located on Bluewaters Island, is the newest addition to Dubai’s long list of world-record-breaking attractions.

About the Wheel:

It will provide over 19 customised experiences against the background of the Dubai skyline, ranging from dining in the sky to exclusive celebration packages to business and event options.
It will provide experiences ranging from one round of about 38 minutes to two rotations of about 76 minutes.
Visitors can also use its private cabin, which offers complete privacy.
Birthdays, engagements, marriages, and corporate celebrations will all have their own special celebration packages.
The private cabins can be customised to accommodate a variety of events, ranging from intimate gatherings to cultural celebrations to pamper VIP visitors.

About UAE:

Currency: United Arab Emirates dirham
Capital: Abu Dhabi
President: Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan

Bangladesh Telecom Regulatory Commission bans PubG, Free fire apps

The Bangladesh Telecom Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has ordered the Department of Telecommunication (DoT) to ban internet games like PubG and Freefire.
The action follows an instruction by the High Court of Bangladesh to shut down the dangerous and harmful apps and softwares on the internet for three months.
In order to fully shut down an app or website, internet gateways, as well as broadband and mobile operators will be required to take further action on the instruction of the DoT.
The process of shutting down other harmful apps such as TikTok, Bigo Live and Likee has also been started.
BTRC is evaluating and reviewing which apps were to be brought under this list.
However, despite shutting down these apps, they can still be accessed through the use of Virtual Private Network (VPN) services for which further action will be required.
The High Court order came in response to a petition filed in June citing the harmful effects of these apps on children and young people.
It creates a violent mindset among teenagers and damages the culture and value of the country.

About Bangladesh:

Capital: Dhaka
Currency: Bangladeshi taka
Prime minister: Sheikh Hasina

CURRENT AFFAIRS: STATE NEWS

India’s first green hydrogen electrolyser manufacturing unit launched at Bengaluru

Ohmium International, a US-based renewableenergy start-up, has launched India’s first green hydrogen electrolyzer gigafactory at Bengaluru through its India subsidiary.
The gigafactory will manufacture India-made Proton Exchange Membrane(PEM) hydrogen electrolyzers with an initial manufacturing capacity of about 500 MW per year and will scale it up to 2 GW per year.
The PEM hydrogen electrolyser is the main equipment for the production of green hydrogen as it uses power generated from renewable resources to break water into hydrogen and oxygen.
It would ensure availability of an end-to-end solution within the country and cut down dependence on imports for this key equipment.

About Karnataka:

Capital: Bengaluru
Governor: Thawar Chand Gehlot
Chief minister:Basavaraj Bommai
National Parks: Bannerghatta National Park, Bandipur National Park, Nagarhole National Park, Kudremukh National Park, Anshi National Park.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BUSINESS NEWS

Infosys shares hit $100 billion m-cap, fourth Indian firm to reach milestone

Infosys shares hit a record high and helped it enter the ‘Big Four’ club.
Reliance Industries, Tata Consultancy Services and HDFC Bank is the other firms with a market capitalisation of $100 billion or above.
The shares of Information Technology major Infosys hit a record high during intraday trading, which helped the company cross $100 billion in market capitalisation.
Infosys is the fourth Indian company to achieve this milestone.
The Sensex too rose above 100 points tracking gains in Infosys, Tata Steel and Reliance Industries amid a positive trend in global equities.
Reliance Industries (m-cap of $140 billion), Tata Consultancy Services (m-cap $115 billion) and HDFC Bank (m-cap $100.1 billion) are the other Indian firms in the club with Infosys.
The shares of Infosys reached 1,755.60 apiece on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which pushed the company’s m-cap to Rs.7.44 trillion or $100 billion.

About Infosys:

Infosys Limited is an Indian multinational information technology company that provides business consulting, information technology and outsourcing services.
The company was founded in Pune and is headquartered in Bangalore.
CEO: Salil Parekh
Headquarters: Bengaluru

BharatPe introduces P2P lending app ‘12% Club’

BharatPe has entered peer-to-peer (P2P) lending with its product ‘12% club’, which will allow consumers to not only earn 12 per cent interest on the funds they invest but also borrow at an interest rate of 12 per cent.
The fintech company has partnered with central bank approved non-banking finance companies to offer this product to consumers and is aiming to achieve an investment asset under management (AUM) of $100 million and a lending AUM of $50 million by March 2022.
Consumers on the ‘12% Club’ app can invest their savings anytime by choosing to lend money through BharatPe’s partner P2P NBFCs.
Additionally, consumers can avail of collateral-free loans of upto Rs 10 lakhs on the ‘12% Club’ app for a tenure of three months, as per their convenience.
There are no processing charges or pre-payment charges on the consumer loans.

About BharatPe:

Resilient Innovations Private Limited (“BharatPe”) is a private company limited engaged in the business of facilitating a suite of financial services to merchants through its digital platform, on software as a service model, and providing other value-added services to such merchants.
BharatPe is solving for ease of doing business.
Payments are their first product and the plan is to be the utility app for 10 Mn+ offline retailers in India for all their business needs.
Co – Founded in 2018 by CEO Ashneer Grover and COO Shashvat Nakrani, BharatPe has its head office in Delhi.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BANKING NEWS

HDFC Bank now divests over 2% stake in CDSL for Rs 222.71 crore

HDFC Bank has divested more than 2 per cent stake in Central Depository Services (India) Ltd (CDSL) in tranches during June-August this year, garnering nearly Rs 223 crore from the sale.
HDFC Bank sold 23,11,000 equity shares of face value of Rs 10 each fully paid up held by the bank in CDSL through the secondary market route on the NSE.
The divestment of 2.21 per cent stake in Central Depository Services (India) Ltd took place over a period from June 22 to August 24, 2021.
The bank sold 20, 36,000 shares (1.95 per cent) of CDSL at an average price of Rs 937.46 per piece on June 22. On August 23, it sold 2, 13,481 shares at Rs 1,168.94 apiece and on August 24, it sold 61,519 shares for Rs 1,119.31 apiece.
The shares were sold for a cash consideration of Rs 222.71 crore.
CDSL provides depository services to market participants.
It has three operating services: depository, data entry and record keeping of KYC documents of capital market investors, and repository.

About HDFC:

HDFC Bank Limited is an Indian banking and financial services company, headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
HDFC Bank is India’s largest private sector bank by assets and by market capitalization as of April 2021.
It is the third largest company by market capitalization on the Indian stock exchanges.
CEO: Sashidhar Jagdishan
Headquarters: Mumbai
Tagline: We understand your World.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman reviews performance of PSBs and launches EASE 4.0

Union finance and corporate affairs minister Nirmala Sitharaman reviewed the performance of 12 public sector banks in an annual review meeting held in Mumbai.
She unveiled the Enhanced Access and Service Excellence (EASE) 3.0 report and gave EASE 3.0 awards to best performing PSB’s.
Sitharaman handed over EASE 3.0 awards to Canara Bank, Punjab National Bank, Indian Bank, Union Bank of India, Bank of Baroda and State Bank of India for their achievements in clean and smart banking.
She also launched EASE 4.0 on the occasion.
EASE is a common reform agenda for PSBs aimed at institutionalizing clean and smart banking.
Sitharaman stated that collectively all public sector banks have done well.
She has requested all the banks to work in collaboration with state governments.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: APPOINTMENT AND RESIGNATION NEWS

Carol Furtado to take oath as Ujjivan SFB’s OSD

The board of directors of Ujjivan Small Finance Bank approved the appointment of Carol Furtado as the officer on special duty (OSD).
Furtado, who will be handling day-to-day operations from August 26, will be serving as the OSD until outgoing MD & CEO Nitin Chugh is in office.
Furtado will take charge as the interim CEO, subject to RBI approval, after September 30.
She was the CEO of Ujjivan Financial Services, the promoter of Ujjivan SFB.

Nitin Chugh in recent news:

Nitin Chugh has resigned from the position of Managing Director and CEO of Ujjivan Small Finance Bank, a subsidiary of the listed entity Ujjivan Financial Services, with effect from September 30.
Chugh has confirmed to the bank, in his resignation letter, that he is resigning due to personal reasons and there are no material reasons.
He was appointed as MD and CEO of the bank for a period of three years with effect from December 1, 2019.

About Ujjivan Small Finance Bank:

The Company was originally incorporated as Ujjivan Financial Services Private Limited on December 28 2004 at Bengaluru Karnataka India as a private limited company under the Companies Act 1956.
On receipt of License from RBI, UFSL set up Ujjivan Small Finance Bank (USFB) and USFB commenced its Banking operations from February 1, 2017.
This is ‘scheduled bank’ included in the Second Schedule to the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 and a listed Entity.
Headquarters: Bengaluru
Founder: Samit Ghosh

CURRENT AFFAIRS: AWARDS AND HONOURS

Sri Basava International Award conferred for seer of Bhalki Hiremath

Karnataka government has selected Sri Basavaliga Pattaddevaru, senior seer of Bhalki Hiremath, for the prestigious Sri Basava International Award.
Minister for Kannada and Culture V. Sunil Kumar will present the award at Ravindra Kalakshetra in Bengaluru on August 18.
The septuagenarian seer has spent over five decades in the Lingayat religious institution in Bidar district.

About Sri Basavaliga Pattaddevaru:

He has set up educational and charitable institutions, apart from spreading the message of Sri Basaveshwara and other sharanas of the 12th century.
A child rescue centre and adoption agency he set up 18 years ago, has raised, educated and offered for adoption around 75 children so far.

About the Rescue center:

The centre was set up in 2003 when an abandoned baby from Ujani village near Aurad in Bidar district was adopted.
The seer moved court to adopt the child.
The Central and State governments later recognised the centre as an authorised Central adoption resource agency.
Each year, the seer celebrates his birthday as ‘Day of the Blessed Children’, along with the rescued children.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: MOU’s AND AGREEMENTS

Poonawalla Fincorp signed MoU with Institute of Company Secretaries of India

Poonawalla Fincorp Limited (Formerly Magma Fincorp Limited), has signed an MoU with Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) to provide collateral-free term loans to ICSI members as well as its employees.
The scheme will benefit over 65,000 ICSI members across the country.
The scheme offers an attractive interest rate, zero prepayment charges and host of other attractive benefits.
This is a unique offering covering company secretary’s professionals across the country powered by a completely digital and 100% paperless process along with E-Agreement and E-NACH for fully online offering.
In line with the company’s objective of providing hassle-free loans to professionals to meet their financial needs, the company has planned for similar such tie-ups.
It demonstrates its irrefutable support towards nation-building while creating opportunities of growth and development of professionals and entrepreneurs.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : SUMMITS & CONFERENCES

Ajit Doval To Chair 11th BRICS NSA Virtual Meeting

On Aug 24, 2021, India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval hosted the 11th Meeting of the BRICS High Representatives Responsible for National Security through video conferencing.

Keypeople :

Secretary of the Security Council of Russia Gen Patrushev, Chinese Politburo Member Yang Jeichi, South African Deputy Minister of State Security Ncediso Goodenough Kodwa and Gen Augusto Heleno Ribeiro Pereira, Minister of State and Head of the Institutional Security Cabinet of the Presidency of Brazil attended the high-level meeting.
The meeting adopted and recommended the BRICS counter-terrorism action plan for consideration.
During the meeting, discussed the Afghanistan scenario, and developments in Iran, West Asia and the Gulf region.
The 15th BRICS Summit is scheduled to be held in September 2021.
The BRICS meeting of NSA is an important platform for the five countries to strengthen political security cooperation.

About BRICS :

Headquarters : Shanghai, China
BRICS members comprise Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

Spices Board & Embassy of India, Bangkok Organized an International Buyer Seller Meet (IBSM)

The Spices Board in association with the Embassy of India, Bangkok organized an International Buyer Seller Meet (IBSM) and a webinar.
It brings together the Indian spice exporters, leading spice importers in Thailand, trade associations, chamber of commerce, leading supermarket chains, departmental stores etc.
It brought together over 240 exporters from India and 60 plus importers from Thailand.

About Spices Board of India :

Founded: 1987
Headquarters: Kochi, kerala
Secretary and Chairman: Shri D. Sathiyan

CURRENT AFFAIRS : DEFENCE NEWS

Indian Navy participates in Multilateral Maritime Exercise Malabar

Indian Naval Ships Shivalik and Kadmatt are participating in the annual Exercise MALABAR-21 from 26 – 29 August 2021 along with the US Navy (USN), Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) and the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).

Aim :

To enhance interoperability, gain from best practices and develop a common understanding of procedures for Maritime Security Operations.
Malabar series of maritime exercises commenced in 1992 as an IN-USN Exercise.
In 2015, JMSDF joined Malabar as a permanent member & the 2020 edition witnessed participation of the Royal Australian Navy.
2021 marks the 25th edition of Ex Malabar, being hosted by USN in the Western Pacific.

About Indian Navy :

Headquarters : New Delhi
Founded: 26 January 1950
Commander-in-Chief: President Ram Nath Kovind
Chief of Defence Staff : General Bipin Rawat
Chief of the Naval Staff : Admiral Karambir Singh
Vice Chief of the Naval Staff : Vice Admiral Satish Namdeo Ghormade
Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff : Vice Admiral Ravneet Singh

First batch of MMHG handed over to Indian Army

The Indian Army has received the first batch of locally manufactured Multi-Mode Hand Grenades (MMHG) manufactured by Economic Explosives Limited (EEL) in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in Nagpur.
It has been designed by the transfer of technology from Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO)’s Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory.

Keypeople :

Chief of the Army Staff General M M Naravane, Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO Dr G Satheesh Reddy and Director General, Infantry Lt Gen A K Samantra also present.

About MMHG :

MMHG features a distinctive design and can be used in both defensive (fragmentation) and offensive (stun) modes.
It has a highly accurate delay time, very high reliability in usage and safe for carriage.
MMHG will replace Grenade No 36 of First World War vintage design.

Note :

Earlier, in Oct 2020, The EEL had signed a contract with the Ministry of Defence to supply 10 lakh modern hand grenades for the Indian Army and Indian Air Force.

About EEL :

Headquarters: Nagpur
Founded: 1995
Chairman : SN Nuwal