Current Affairs 27 August 2020

We are here for you to provide the important Recent and Latest Current Affairs 27 August 2020, which have unique updates of Latest Current Affairs 2020 events from all newspapers such as The Hindu, The Economic Times, PIB, Times of India, PTI, Indian Express, Business Standard and all Government official websites.

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Top 20 Current Affairs of 27 August 2020

NATIONAL AFFAIRS

NITI Aayog Released Export Preparedness Index (EPI) 2020: Gujarat Tops the Overall Rankings

i.On 26th August 2020, NITI Aayog in partnership with Institute of Competitiveness released the Export Preparedness Index (EPI) 2020, this is the first report to examine export preparedness and performance of the states of India. Gujarat was identified as the top performing state in the category of Coastal state and also topped the Overall rankings.
ii.The landlocked states, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand had taken several measures to promote exports which can be implemented by the other states with similar socio-economic challenges.
iii.This data driven effort identifies the core areas that are significant to promote the exports at sub national level.
About NITI Aayog:
CEO– Amitabh Kant
Headquarters– New Delhi
<<Read Full News>>

Tamil Nadu Women Topped the List of MUDRA Loan Scheme Beneficiaries

i.In accordance with the data provided by the Ministry of Finance to the Rajya Sabha, as of March 31, 2020, women in Tamil Nadu topped the list of loan benefit under Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) by availing Rs 58,227 crore loan. They are followed by women in West Bengal (Rs 55,232 crore), Karnataka (Rs 47,714 crore), Bihar (Rs 44,879 crore) and Maharashtra (Rs 42,000 crore).
ii.Together women from these five States have got 52% of the total MUDRA loan.
About Ministry of Finance: 
Union Minister– Nirmala Sitharaman
Minister of State (MoS)– Anurag Singh Thakur
<<Read Full News>>

ISRO Signs MoU with VSSUT to Set up First of Its Kind Innovation cum Incubation Centre to Promote Space Research

i.On 25th August 2020, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) signed a Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) with Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology (VSSUT), Burla, Odisha, a technical institute, to set up the first of its kind innovation cum incubation centre, VSSUT Space Innovation Centre(VSSSIC) in India to promote space research.
ii.The MoU was signed over the virtual platform in the presence of K Sivan, Chairman of ISRO and Atal Chaudhuri, Vice Chancellor of VSSUT.
iii.ISRO and VSSUT will collaborate to develop high end simulation tools, miniature test facilities like Static test facility and solid propulsion research lab and establishment of testing facilities for scaled down model.
About ISRO:
Chairman– K.Sivan
Headquarters– Bengaluru, Karnataka
About VSSUT:
Vice Chancellor– Atal Chaudhuri
Location– Sambalpur, Odisha
<<Read Full News>>

Karnataka CM Addresses virtual Indo-Japan business forum from Bengaluru

On August 26th, 2020 Karnataka Chief Minister B. S. Yediyurappa addressed a virtual Indo-Japan business forum organised by the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC). The Chief Minister also signed a Japan-India Start-up Initiative to promote start-ups in the State.
The Government of Karnataka has set up a 519 acres Japanese Industrial Township at Vasanthanarasapura near Tumakuru to enable more Japanese investments in the state.
About Karnataka:
Governor – Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala 
Nuclear Power Plant – Kaiga Generating Station, Uttara Kannada District.
<<Read Full News>>

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

17th Meeting of India-Vietnam Joint Commission Held via Video Conference; Two MoUs Inked

i.On August 25, 2020, the 17th meeting of the India-Vietnam Joint Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technological Cooperation was held virtually which was co-chaired by India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Binh Minh. 
ii.The focus of the meet was to review the recent developments in India-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and to put forth measures and orientations for cooperation in the new period, towards the 50th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic ties (January 26, 1972-2022).
iii.India-Vietnam signed the following Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs):

• Cooperation between Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service (SSIFS), New Delhi and Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam (DAV), Hanoi.
• MoU between National Maritime Foundation, New Delhi and Scientific Research Institute of Sea and Islands, Hanoi.

About Vietnam:
Capital– Hanoi
Currency– Vietnamese dong
<<Read Full News>>

World Health Organization (WHO) declares Africa free of Wild Poliovirus 

On August 25, 2020 the African Continent was declared free of wild polio by the independent body, the Africa Regional Certification Commission(ARCC), which is responsible for certifying the eradication of wild poliovirus in the World Health Organization (WHO) African Region. 
i.The commission led by Professor Rose Gana Fomban Leke, chairperson of ARCC, certified that no cases had occurred on the continent for the past four years, which was one of the criteria for eradication of Wild Poliovirus.
ii.The Poliovirus is now found only in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
About WHO
Director General – Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus(Ethiopia)
Headquarters – Geneva, Switzerland
<<Read Full News>>

BANKING & FINANCE

Highlights of RBI Annual Report 2019-20; India’s Growth Projected at -4.5%

i.On August 25, 2020, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released its Annual Report for 2019-20. It is Report of the Central Board of Directors on the working of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for the year ended June 30, 2020 submitted to the Central Government in terms of Section 53(2) of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934
ii.In the report, RBI projected that India’s growth at minus 4.5% for 2020-21. It will be (-) 3.7% in the single hit scenario and (-) 7.3% in the double hit scenario in FY2020-21.
iii.The RBI’s balance sheet increased by 30%, or Rs 12,31,888 crore, from Rs 41,02,905 crore to Rs 53,34,793 crore.
iv.On the global front, the growth is projected at (-) 6.0% in the single hit scenario and (-) 7.6% in the double hit scenario in FY20-21.

• Bank frauds more than double in FY20 to Rs 1.85 trillion
• Setting up GST Council type authorities for land, labour, power 
• RBI to dissolve Banking Codes and Standards Board of India
• Integration of three existing Ombudsman schemes into one

About Reserve Bank of India (RBI):
Headquarters– Mumbai, Maharashtra
Governor– Shaktikanta Das
Deputy Governors– 4 (Bibhu Prasad Kanungo, Mahesh Kumar Jain, Michael Debabrata Patra, one is yet to be appointed).
<<Read Full News>>

HSBC India Launched Omni Collect, a One Stop Solution to Businesses

HSBC India has launched Omni Collect, a one-stop solution in India. It supports businesses to offer multiple payment options on a single platform. It is designed for businesses to easily collect payments through various digital methods, thereby allowing them to easily adapt to the changes in consumer spending.
Key Info
i.With Omni Collect solution, HSBC India will enable businesses to offer different digital payment modes to their clients and also provide them with a comprehensive view of their collections.
ii.HSBC India has the potential to support both in-store and online purchases across multiple providers with single  Application Programming Interface(API) connectivity.
iii.This will remove the complication of relying on multiple connections, minimize operational cost and build sustainable efficiency into the client’s collection processes.
Additional Info
i.Advanced Travel Partners International (ATPI) is the 1st client of HSBC India to go live with this solution and has started to receive  payments through the online payment gateway.
ii.The solution is also available in Australia, mainland China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Note– The solution is the addition to the electronic receivables solution suite of HSBC India.
Recent Related News:
i.NPCI launched RuPay commercial card named SBM EnKash RuPay Business Card in partnership with State Bank of Mauritius (SBM) India, EnKash, YAP (API- Application Programing Interface provider) and RuPay for young entrepreneurs and small business owners. The card will be disbursed through SBM touchpoints.
ii.Nandan Nilekani, founding architect of Aadhaar and co-founder and non-executive chairman of Infosys Ltd, launched a new credit protocol infrastructure called the ‘Open Credit Enablement Network (OCEN) protocol, which has been developed by Indian Software Product Industry RoundTable (iSpirit), a think-tank of the software industry.
About HSBC India:
HeadQuarters– Mumbai, Maharashtra
CEO– Surendra Rosha

Axis Bank Introduced ‘Liberty Savings Account’ for the Indian Youth; 1st of its Kind Savings Account to Cover Pandemic

Axis Bank, India’s third-largest private sector bank, has introduced ‘Liberty Savings Account’ for the Indian Youth, to address the ever changing lifestyle needs of young and digitally interested Indians. It offers a complimentary hospital cash insurance cover of upto Rs 20,000 per year, which covers hospital expenses incurred under COVID -19, which makes this a 1st of its kind savings account to cover the pandemic.

• This account targets to meet the lifestyle requirements of the working class that falls under 35 years of age.

Key Features of the Liberty Savings Account
Minimum Balance– It allows customers to maintain a minimum balance of Rs 25,000 per month or spend the same amount each month on lifestyle needs through  the Liberty debit card or savings account (via NetBanking, Axis Mobile or UPI- Unified Payments Interface).
Annual Savings & Lounge Benefit– It offers an annual savings amounting to Rs 15,000. It also offers 4 complimentary airport lounge access in 1 year
CashBack & Gift Vouchers-It offers Cashback like, 5% cashback on Debit card spends across Food, Entertainment, Shopping & Travel and gift Vouchers
About Axis Bank:
Headquarters– Mumbai, Maharashtra
MD and CEO– Amitabh Chaudhry
Tagline– Badhti Ka naam Zindagi.

ECONOMY & BUSINESS

Greenko Energies Signs MoU with NTPC for Renewable Energy Power Solutions to Provide On Demand Electricity

i.On 25th August 2020, Greenko Energies Private Limited, hyderabad based energy solution provider entered into a Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) with NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam(NVVN), a wholly-owned subsidiary of NTPC limited to explore renewable energy power supply solution and energy storage.
ii.The value proposition of the potential offerings will meet the requirements of electricity distribution companies (discoms) and other power consumers in India.
About Greenko Energies:
Founder, CEO & MD– Anil Kumar Chalamalasetty
Founder, President & Joint MD– Mahesh Kolli
Headquarters– Hyderabad, Telangana
About NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam(NVVN):
CEO– Mohit Bhargava
Headquarters– New Delhi
NTPC is working on expanding green energy and exploring the opportunity to acquire 1000 megaWatt(MW) of operation solar power projects, as a part of its aim to achieve a 32 GW clean energy portfolio by 2032.
<<Read Full News>>

UTI Infrastructure Technology and Services Ltd Signed MoU with NHA to Provide Print Services of E-Cards for AB-PMJAY Beneficiaries

i.UTI Infrastructure Technology And Services Limited (UTIITSL) has signed Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) with the National Health Authority (NHA) to provide printing services(through its branches and PSAs), support the beneficiary identification(i.e., fill up online validation process) and verification process in issuing  e-cards to beneficiaries under the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY). 
ii.The MoU was signed by Vipul Aggarwal, Deputy Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of NHA and Vijay Kumar Jain, Managing Director & CEO of UTIITSL.
About UTI Infrastructure Technology And Services Limited:
Registered Office– Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra
MD & CEO– Vijay Kumar Jain
About National Health Authority:
Headquarters– New Delhi, India
CEO– Indu Bhushan (CEO of AB-PMJAY)
<<Read Full News>>

POWERGRID Signs MoU with ACTREC for Construction of Operation Theater Complex in Navi Mumbai

On 25th August 2020, The Power Grid Corporation (POWERGRID), an enterprise under the government of India signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with TATA Memorial Centre (TMC) – Advanced Centre for Treatment Research & Education in Cancer (ACTREC), under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) for the construction of “POWERGRID OT Complex” a modular operation theatre complex in Navi Mumbai.
V K Singh, Director (Personnel), POWERGRID and Sudeep Gupta, Director, ACTREC, TMC signed the MoU in the presence of D. K. Singh, ED (NR-I), S. D. Joshi, ED (WR-II), M. K. Singh, ED (CSR & ESMD), POWERGRID and other officials of POWERGRID and TMC.
PowerGrid OT Complex:
Features:
i.The complex will provide a high degree of sterility to prevent infection and will help to reduce the cost of health care.
ii.This complex will improve the outcome of the treatments and ensures treatment for more number of patients.
Financial support:
i.Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative of Power Grid Corporation will extend a financial support of Rs.26.40 crore for the development of PowerGrid OT Complex (14 numbers) for Women and Children Cancer Hospital.
ii.In the ratio of 50:50, DAE and POWERGRID will fund the total project cost Rs.60 crores for the ground plus 7 floors OT complex.
Previous MoU:
POWERGRID signed an MoU with TMC in 2016-17 to provide financial assistance of Rs.30 Crore for the construction of Radiation Research Unit at ACTREC, TMC, Kharghar, Navi Mumbai.
About ACTREC:
Director– Sudeep Gupta
Location– Kharghar, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra
About Power Grid Corporation:
CMD– K Sreekant
Headquarters–  Gurgaon, Haryana

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS        

NLCIL wins Swachhta Hi Seva 2019 award

On 23rd August, 2020 NLCIL (Formerly known as Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC) India Ltd) bagged the Swacchta Hi Seva (Cleanliness is Service) 2019 award for transforming the Neyveli Township into a plastic-free, clean and green campus.
Key Points:
The Evaluation Committee of Ministry of Coal, Government of India carried out the assessment and gave marks to each unit of the NLCIL based on the performance.
i.The award has been conferred to three units of NLCIL:

ii.The awareness for the campaign were spread through Pictorial displays, and Street plays were staged at public places emphasizing on health, hygiene, the environment and ecology.
iii.School Students were sensitized on the importance of cleanliness and social media too played a major role to create awareness.
iv.The programme was implemented in two phases – First phase from September 11 to November 2, 2019 and the second phase from October 3 to October 27, 2019.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

NHAI has Developed , ‘Vendor Performance Evaluation System’ to Establish a Transparent and Comprehensive Performance Rating System

i.The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has developed the ‘Vendor Performance Evaluation System’ to establish a transparent and comprehensive performance rating system for its consultants, contractors and concessionaires.
ii.The portal-based objective assessment of vendors was initiated  to track the vendor performance for various NHAI projects.
iii.The vendors are required to conduct a self-assessment and upload the documents related to the project activities executed by them on the portal.
About NHAI:
HeadQuarters– New Delhi, India
Chairman– Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, Indian Administrative Service (IAS) 
<<Read Full News>>

SPORTS

Indian Table Tennis player Poulomi Ghatak retires at 37

On August 24, 2020 One of the most successful Indian Table Tennis players Poulomi Ghatak announced her retirement from the sport at the age of 37. The Kolkata born Poulomi Ghatak is a seven-time National Champion. She Won the Junior National Championship thrice and the Senior National Championship seven times, held in between 1998 and 2016.
Achievements:
i.She won the bronze medal at Commonwealth Games in Melbourne in 2006 and bagged the Silver medal at the Commonwealth Games in 2010 in New Delhi.
ii.She Represented India at the 2000 Sydney Olympics at the age of 16.
iii.She has won the National Championships seven times and is one short of Indu Puri’s record. 
iv.Ghatak bagged Gold Medal at the 2006 South Asian Federation Games (SAF) in both Women’s Singles & Doubles.
v.In 2007, she won bronze medal at the Commonwealth Champions, which was held in London & Ontario (Canada)
Poulomi took a break from the sport after the 2017 Senior Nationals in 2017 where she finished as runner-up. She will focus on her coaching role in the future.

BOOKS & AUTHORS

‘Cricket Drona’ A Book on Renowned Coach Vasudev Jagannath Paranjpe to be Released

‘Cricket Drona’ a book on one of India’s most renowned cricket coaches, Vasudev Jagannath Paranjpe will be released on September 2, 2020. The Book is written by Vasudev Paranjpe’s son and current national selector Jatin Paranjpe along with Cricket Journalist Anand Vasu and published by Penguin.
i.The book talks about the impact of Paranjpe on shaping the careers of India’s greatest cricketers like Gavaskar, Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Rohit Sharma.
ii.The book will be a first-hand chronicle of stories, life lessons and game-changing experiences written by people who have crossed paths with Vasudev Paranjpe at some point in their career.
iii.The book also consists of essays written by Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Sunil Gavaskar.

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Water Week 2020: August 24 – 28, 2020

i.The World Water Week of the year 2020 is observed as the World Water Week at Home (WWWeek at Home) from 24rd August 2020 to 28th August 2020.The World Water Week, organised by Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) has been annually celebrated as the most influential, innovative and dynamic movement for transforming the global water issues. 
ii.The World Water Week has been celebrated and organised since 1991.
iii.The theme of WWWeek at Home 2020 is ‘Water and Climate change: Accelerating Action’.
iv.The sessions will be conducted virtually to engage the participants in productive discussions amid the global pandemic.
About SIWI:
Executive Director– Torgny Holmgren
Headquarters– Stockholm, Sweden
<<Read Full News>>

STATE NEWS

Haryana Govt Signed MoU with M3M Foundation to Enable Students to get into Government Jobs

i.Haryana employment department signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with M3M Foundation, the philanthropic arm of M3M Group to facilitate students’ online preparation, training and mentoring for entrance examinations of government jobs. 
ii.The MoU was signed by Seema Kaushik, Director, Department of Employment, Government of Haryana and Dr. Payal Kanodia, Trustee, M3M Foundation at Haryana Niwas in Chandigarh in the presence of Dushyant Chautala, Haryana deputy chief minister.
About Haryana
National Park– Kalesar National Park, Sultanpur National Park
Capital– Chandigarh
About M3M Foundation:
HeadQuarters– Gurugram, Haryana
Founder– LAL Chand Bansal 
<<Read Full News>>

AC GAZE

England pacer James Anderson became 1st fast bowler to take 600 Test wickets

England pacer James Anderson,38-year-old,has become the first fast bowler in history to take 600 Test wickets in his 156th test.He attained this feat during the third Test against Pakistan at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton,England, who is only the fourth bowler in the test cricket to join the 600-Plus Club with the three legendary spinners Sri Lankan Muttiah Muralitharan(800), Australian Shane Warne(708) and Indian Anil Kumble(619).

Note: The test match England Vs Pakistan (August 5-25, 2020) ended in a draw, England won the series 1-0, in the first test in Manchester followed by two drawn tests in Southampton.

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