Adda247.com: Current Affairs 2020: Recent Episodes
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Welcome to Current Affairs Section of Adda247. Get Daily & Latest Current Affairs 2020 for UPSC, IAS/PCS, Banking, IBPS, SBI, RBI, SSC, Railway, UPPSC, RPSC, BPSC, MPPSC, TNPSC, UKPSC, APPSC, MPSC, KPSC and other competition exams.
The investment & wealth management subsidiary of Paytm, Paytm Money has appointed Varun Sridhar as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company. He will replace former MD and CEO Pravin Jadhav who resigned from the startup due to differences with the management of Paytm.
International Day of Friendship is observed globally on 30th July. This day is celebrated to mark the importance of friends and friendship in life. The day also advocates the role that friendship plays in promoting peace in several cultures across the world.
Power Finance Corporation (PFC) has signed an agreement with the Indian Institute of Technology- Kanpur for Training, Research, and Entrepreneurship Development in Smart Grid Technology. The agreement was on a virtual platform. The objective of the pact is to provide support to IIT-Kanpur in developing infrastructure for research and development on smart grid technology.
Ministry of Human Resource Development has been renamed as Ministry of Education. The Union Cabinet has approved the change in the name of the ministry. The HRD Ministry is currently headed by Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank.
Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved USD 3 million (about Rs 22 crore) grant to India from its Asia Pacific Disaster Response Fund to further support the government”s emergency response to COVID-19 pandemic.
United Nations observes 30 July every year as World Day Against Trafficking in Persons. In 2013, the General Assembly designated July 30 as the World Day against Trafficking in Persons to raise awareness of the situation of victims of human trafficking and for the promotion and protection of their rights.
Unnat Bharat Abhiyan-Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi (UBA-IITD) and Vijnana Bharti (VIBHA), New Delhi has signed a tripartite MoU with CSIR. The signed MoU will offer access to CSIR rural technologies for UBA. It will also lay the foundation for cooperation as well as joint action in the area of Unnat Bharat Abhiyan (UBA) for rural development of India.
Ministry of Home Affairs has released the Unlock-3 guidelines which will be valid upto 31st August 2020. The new guidelines seeks to re-open more activities in areas outside the Containment zones and to extend the lockdown in containment zones upto 31st August 2020.
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the National Education Policy 2020. The recently approved National Education Policy 2020 will replace the thirty-four year old National Policy on Education (NPE), 1986. National Education Policy 2020 is the first education policy of the 21st century and aims to bring transformational reforms in both school and higher education sectors.
A fleet of five French-manufactured Rafale multi-role combat jets arrived in India. Rafale Jets landed at the Ambala Air Force base after covering a distance of 7,000 km from the Merignac airbase in French port city of Bordeaux. Two Sukhoi 30 MKIs escorted the fleet of Rafale jets after they entered the Indian air space.
Indian climate activist, Archana Soreng has been named by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to his new advisory group comprising young leaders who will provide perspectives and solutions to tackle the worsening climate crisis, as the global body mobilizes action as part of the COVID-19 recovery efforts.
India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Riva Ganguly Das is appointed by the Government as the Secretary East, in the Ministry of External Affairs. He will succeed Vijay Thakur Singh after her retirement on 30th September this year.
Legendary Jazz Singer, Annie Ross passed away. She was born Annabelle McCauley Allan Short in Surrey, England, on July 25, 1930. She was a popular jazz singer in the 1950s before crossing over into a successful film career.
Digital payments major, Amazon Pay has launched vehicle insurance in partnership with Bengaluru-based startup Acko General Insurance. Amazon Pay, which is the payments unit of Amazon India, will help customers purchase insurance effortlessly and Amazon Prime members will get extra benefits including additional discounts.
National Broadcasting Day is observed on 23rd July all over India. On this day in 1927, the first-ever radio broadcast in the country went on the air from the Bombay Station under the Indian Broadcasting Company.
Russia has conducted a successful flight test of an MGTD-20 gas turbine 3D-printed aircraft engine. The flight tests were held at Kazanbash aviation centre in Tatarstan. Its production is scheduled for 2021-2022.
The Reserve Bank of India has released the 21st Issue of the Financial Stability Report (FSR). The FSR reflects the collective assessment of the Sub-Committee of the Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC) on risks to financial stability and the resilience of the financial system. The Report also discusses the issues relating to the development and regulation of the financial sector.
The present non-executive chairman of Bajaj Finance, Rahul Bajaj has decided to step down on July 31, 2020. He will be replaced by his son Sanjiv Bajaj (the present Vice Chairman of the company). Rahul Bajaj will continue to serve as a non-executive non-independent director of the company.
China has successfully launched “Tianwen-1” its first independent mission to Mars. A Long March 5 rocket carrying the spacecraft ignited at the Wenchang Space Launch Site in south China’s tropical Hainan province.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister, Bhupesh Baghel has launched “Godhan Nyay Yojna”. The scheme will help to promote cattle rearing, ensure the safety of livestock, help cattle ranchers earn extra income, help in tackling the problem of open grazing by stray cattle and encourage the use of organic fertilizers as well as boost rural economy among other things.
Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) and Union Bank of India, after its amalgamation with Corporation Bank and Andhra Bank, have announced a corporate agency agreement to distribute LIC policies.
Microfinance Institutions Network (MFIN) has appointed Alok Misra as its new Chief Executive Officer & Director. The appointment will be effective from 1st August 2020. Dr Misra takes over from the present CEO, Harsh Shrivastava, who has put down his papers after spending over 2 years at MFIN.
India’s third-largest public sector bank, Bank of Baroda (BoB) has launched ‘Insta Click Savings Account’, a 100 percent paperless digital self-assisted online savings account.
India-based mobility platform, Ola is rolling out its enterprise mobility solution ‘Ola Corporate’ across global markets. It will be rolling out the enterprise offering to customers across Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.
SpaceX has successfully launched South Korea’s first military satellite “ANASIS-II”. The satellite was deployed into a geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) by a Falcon 9 rocket. It was launched from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in the US of Florida.
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has provided drones named ‘Bharat’ to the Indian Army. The indigenously developed drones are sent in order to provide accurate surveillance along the Line of Actual Control in high altitude and mountainous terrains of Eastern Ladakh.
Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh has inaugurated the Air Force Commanders’ Conference (AFCC) at Air Headquarters (Vayu Bhawan) New Delhi. The conference will be held with the theme “IAF in the Next Decade”.
The creator of the brown bear mascot “Misha” for the 1980 Moscow Summer Olympics, Viktor Chizhikov passed away. The artist’s drawings were used in popular magazines, including “Young Naturalist”, “Twinkle”, “Funny Pictures” and “Murzilka”.
The human trial of COVID-19 vaccine candidate developed by the University of Oxford and backed by AstraZeneca Plc has shown a positive result. The researchers found their experimental COVID-19 vaccine produced a dual immune response in people aged 18 to 55. Oxford’s vaccine is designed to reduce disease and transmission. Director at the Jenner Institute of Oxford University, Dr Adrian Hill, explains the mechanism of this vaccine “this vaccine triggers both arms of the immune system”.
In Odisha’s Balasore district, a farmer Basudev Mahapatra has spotted a turtle which is yellow in colour and according to the experts, it is the product of albinism. The turtle is known as the “Indian flap shell turtle”. The turtle is commonly found in Pakistan, Sri Lanka, India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Myanmar. It is omnivorous and its diet consists of frogs, snails and even some aquatic vegetation.
Systems, Applications & Products in Data Processing (SAP) has announced the appointment of Kulmeet Bawa as President and Managing Director for SAP Indian Subcontinent. He will replace the incumbent Deb Deep Sengupta.
Spanish novelist, Juan Marse passed away. He was one of Spain’s most-respected novelists over the past few decades and the winner of the 2008 Cervantes Prize, the Spanish-speaking world’s top literary award. His most important novel was “Úlitmas trades on Teresa” (“Last Afternoons with Teresa”) published in 1965.
Union Food Processing Minister, Harsimrat Kaur Badal has virtually inaugurated the “Zoram Mega Food Park” in Mizoram. Ministry of Food Processing Industries is focusing on boosting the food processing industry.
Acquisition Wing of Ministry of Defence (MoD) has signed a contract with Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) for procurement of Mine Plough (MP) for Tank T-90 S/SK. The contract to procure 1,512 Mine Plough (MP) for Tank T-90 S/SK has been signed with the approval of Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh.
International Cricket Council’s (ICC’s) announced, the T20 Men’s World Cup, scheduled to be played in Australia in October-November 2020, has formally been postponed to 2022 due to COVID-19.
Veteran Odia Actor, Bijay Mohanty passed away. He started his career with theatre as a performer and directed many plays before venturing into movies. His performance in his debut film, Chilika Tire, earned him several accolades including the National Film Award.
Delhi Cabinet has approved ‘Mukhya Mantri Ghar Ghar Ration Yojana’, which will be launched in six to seven months and will be linked to Centre’s ‘one nation, one ration card’ scheme. The scheme will help the beneficiaries get ration delivered at home. They will not have to come to the ration shops.
United Nations celebrates World Chess Day globally on 20 July every year. The day marks the date of the establishment of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) in Paris in 1924.
A civil rights veteran, The Rev Cordy Tindell Vivian who worked alongside the Rev Martin Luther King Jr, passed away. He also led the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and became its interim president in 2012.
An e-Portal named “Automobile Solutions Portal for Industry, Research & Education (ASPIRE)” has been launched by the International Centre for Automotive Technology (ICAT).
The mobile application of PM Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) has been launched. It aims to offer user friendly digital interface to the Lending Institutions (LIs) as well as to their field functionaries in order to source and process loan applications to the street vendors under the scheme.
A mission titled as “Hope” has been launched to “Mars” by the United Arab Emirates. With the help of mission, UAE aims to provide a complete picture of the Martian atmosphere for the first time, studying daily and seasonal changes. An unmanned “Hope” Probe blasted off from Japan’s Tanegashima Space Center at 1:58 a.m.
The Germany forward player & World Cup winner, Andre Schurrle has announced retirement from the sport. He helped his country to win the 2014 FIFA World Cup. He represented Germany in 57 matches, scoring 22 goals. He also played for Chelsea from 2013-15 and also won a Premier League winners medal in 2015.
Eminent Indian mathematician of the post-Independence era, Professor C S Seshadri, has passed away. He was the founder and Director-Emeritus of the Chennai Mathematical Institute, an institute for the study of mathematics in India.
The 3rd G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) meeting was held under the Saudi Arabian Presidency through Video Conferencing. India was represented by Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman in the meeting.
Lewis Hamilton won the Formula-1 Hungarian Grand Prix 2020 at Hungaroring, Mogyoród, Hungary. Max Verstappen (Dutch-Red Bull) was second, followed by Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes- Finland) at the third spot. Hungarian Grand Prix 2020 was the third race of the 2020 Formula One World Championship.
Bollywood director Rajat Mukherjee passed away. He was in his late 50s. He was known for directing films like Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya was released in 2001 and Road starring Vivek Oberoi and Antara Mali, had released in 2002.
The United Nations observes 18 July every year as Nelson Mandela International Day. The day acknowledges Nelson Mandela’s contribution to the struggle for democracy internationally and the promotion of a culture of peace throughout the world.
Bollywood actor, Priyanka Chopra Jonas has been chosen as the ambassador of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2020.
The Uttarakhand government has decided to convert waste generated in the state to electricity under an initiative titled ‘Waste to Energy’. According to Uttarakhand Environment Protection and Pollution Control Board (UEPPCB), this waste can generate up to 5 megawatts of electricity and curb pollution.
Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda has been appointed as the first woman prime minister of Gabon. She is the 12th PM of the country and succeeds Julien Nkoghe Bekale.
Spanish professional football club, Real Madrid has been crowned La Liga Champions for the 34th time after defeating Villarreal 2–1 at Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano in Madrid, with one match remaining. Karim Benzema was the leading scorer for a 2-1 victory against Villarreal.
Arjuna awardee, para-athlete, and para-badminton player, Ramesh Tikaram passed away due to COVID-19.
Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Shripad Yesso Naik has inaugurated the 5th edition of the conference on “Aerospace and Defence Manufacturing Technologies“.
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved acquisition by Aceso Company Pte. Ltd. (Aceso) in HealthCare Global Enterprises Limited (HCG). CCI has approved acquisition under Section 31(1) of the Competition Act, 2002.
Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has entrusted capital procurement powers to Armed Forces. The decision was taken during the Special Meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council held under the chairmanship of Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh.
The Railways Minister Piyush Goyal has announced, India’s first cable-stayed Railways bridge “Anji Khad Bridge” to connects Katra and Reasi in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). This bridge being developed by Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL).
The GMR Hyderabad International Airport (GHIAL) has introduced India’s first-ever fully contactless airport car parking to provide a safe airport amid COVID-19. GHIAL has also scaled up its NETC (National Electronic Toll Collection) FASTag Car Parking in collaboration with NPCI (National Payments Corporation of India).
The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), Hyderabad observed “Swachhata Pakhwada“.
Tata group chairman, Natarajan Chandrasekaran and Chief Executive Officer and President of Lockheed Martin, Jim Taiclet to receive the US-India Business Council(USIBC) Global Leadership Award 2020.
Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi has developed the world’s most affordable COVID-19 Diagnostic Kit “Corosure”.
Assam Chief Minister, Sarbananda Sonowal has announced, Poba Reserve Forest in Dhemaji district would be upgraded to a wildlife sanctuary.
IT giant, Google to buy 7.73% stake in Reliance Industries Limited(RIL)’s Jio Platforms for Rs 33,737 crores.
Indian-origin, Chandrikapersad ‘Chan’ Santokhi has been elected the president of South American country “Suriname”. A former Justice Minister, Santokhi of the Progressive Reform Party (PRP) was elected unopposed.
Marcus Rashford becomes the youngest ever recipient of an honorary degree from The University of Manchester.
In this episode we have talked about current affairs of July 2020 in which Chief Minister Pema Khandu releases book on the endangered tribe