Test: August 2021 Weekly Current Affair - 2 - UPSC MCQ

India and Saudi Arabia are all set to conduct their first-ever naval exercise, in reflection of their growing defence and military cooperation, officials said. Indian Navy’s guided-missile destroyer INS Kochi reached Saudi Arabia for the ‘Al-Mohed Al-Hindi 2021’ exercise.

The Earth Sciences Ministry will implement Deep Ocean Mission at a total budget of 4077 crore rupees in the five years. This information was given by Minister of State for Science and Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh said.

Equitas Small Finance Bank Ltd. (ESFB) has introduced an unique programme ‘Equitech’ (Equitas Fintech Accelerator Programme) to help budding fintech entrepreneurs to be mentored by industry experts and venture capitalists.

Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Dr Virendra Kumar launched PM-DAKSH Portal and PM-DAKSH Mobile App developed by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in collaboration with NeGD, to make the skill development schemes accessible to the target groups.

NABARD has sanctioned loans worth ₹ 188.81 crore for Construction of Super Speciality Block, Bambolim and Enhancement of Solid Waste Treatment Plant, Saligao under Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) to the Government of Goa for various Social infrastructure Projects in the State, taking the cumulative sanctions to ₹ 217.72 crore during 2021-22.

Ayush Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has assured all help for establishing the first Bio-Bank of the world in Ayurveda at All India Institute of Ayurveda in New Delhi.

State-owned THDCIL said R K Vishnoi has taken over as the Chairman and Managing Director with immediate effect. THDC India Limited (THDCIL) is a joint venture between NTPC and Uttar Pradesh government.

The Reserve Bank of India notified the enhancement of collateral free loans to self-help groups (SHGs) from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 20 lakh under Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM).

The Himachal Pradesh State Handicrafts and Handloom Corporation has signed a Memorandum of understanding (MoU) with online retailer Flipkart for online sale and promotion of the products made by local artisans and craftsmen to customers across the globe.

Leading stock exchange NSE said it has joined hands with the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) for research collaboration.

The Appointments Committee of the Union Cabinet appointed Kamlesh Kumar Pant, a 1993-batch IAS officer of Himachal Pradesh cadre as the new chairman of National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), under a senior-level bureaucratic reshuffle effected.

CoinDCX has become the first Indian cryptocurrency exchange to enter the unicorn club with a $90-million (Rs 668-crore) series-C funding round. The fund-raise was led by Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin’s B Capital.

Asian Development Bank said it has approved a USD 300 million loan as additional financing for the ongoing Maharashtra Rural Connectivity Improvement Project that is upgrading rural roads and connecting remote areas with markets.

Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has launched eNagar mobile application and portal. The eNagar covers 10 modules with 52 services including property tax, professional tax, water & drainage, Complaints and grievance redressal, building permission, fire and emergency services.

Former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag highlighted the need to talk about mistakes — be it in cricket, business or life — at the announcement of a new book called ‘The Biography of a Failed Venture’, written by Prashant Desai, a senior director at Everstone Group and head of strategy and investor relations at Burger King India.

Home interiors company, HomeLane has entered into a three-year strategic partnership with Mahendra Singh Dhoni as an equity partner and brand ambassador.

The Centre has notified the Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021, prohibiting manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of identified single-use plastic (SUP) items, including candy sticks, plates, cups and cutlery, from July 1, 2022.
The thickness of plastic carry bags will be increased from 50 microns to 75 microns from September 30, 2021, and to 120 microns from December 31, 2022, according to the notification dated August 12. This will also allow the plastic carry bags to be reused.

The Reserve Bank has canceled the license of Raigad based Karnala Nagari Sahakari Bank Limited in Maharashtra. RBI said the bank has been directed to cease all its operations from 13th August.

Indian and American bodies have signed an agreement on monsoon data analysis and cooperation to improve weather forecasts in the region.

The Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) has entered into an agreement for USD 100 million line of credit to Mauritius for procurement of defence items from India, the RBI said in a release.

The Telangana government’s Information Technology, Electronics and Communications (ITE&C) department has won the AI Gamechanger Award at the Xperience-AI Summit organised by NASSCOM.

Bollywood actor Ayushmann Khurrana was recently appointed as Unicef’s Celebrity Advocate for their global campaign EVAC (Ending Violence Against Children), and he wants to build awareness on a national level about online safety for children in India. The star is flagging off Facebook India and Unicef India’s one-year joint initiative to protect children’s rights.

All India Radio Live streams on NewsOnAir App are getting popular across the world. In the latest world rankings on the popularity of AIR Live-Streams on NewsOnAir App , Fiji displaced United Kingdom to follow United States and Australia in the top three ranks.

Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla was given a one year extension beyond his present tenure that was to end next week, according to an official order from the Personnel Ministry.

India Olympics winner list
1.Neeraj Chopra(Javelin throw) – Gold
2.Ravi Kumar Dahiya(Wrestling – 57 KG) – Silver
3.Mirabai Chanu(Weight Lifting – 49 Kg Women)-Silver
4.PV Sindhu(Women’s Singles Badminton) -Bronze
5.Lovlina Borgohain(Women’s Welterweight Boxing) – Bronze
6.Hockey Indian Hockey Team-Bronze
The men’s hockey team won bronze, which is the first Olympic medal for India in the sport in 41 years.
7.Bajarang Punia(Wrestling – 65 Kg) – Bronze