Current Affairs 8 September 2020

We are here for you to provide the important Recent and Latest Current Affairs 8 September 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 8 September 2020

NATIONAL AFFAIRS

Andhra Pradesh Retains Top Spot in EODB 2019 During BRAP 2018-19 Ranking

i.On September 5, 2020, Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman has virtually announced the 4th edition of State Business Reform Action Plan (BRAP) Ranking for 2018-19 which was released by Department of Industrial Promotion and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of commerce and industry. In accordance with that, Andhra Pradesh (AP) topped the Ease of Doing Business (EODB) ranking 2019, followed by Uttar Pradesh (UP) and Telangana at 2nd & 3rd place respectively. 
ii.Among Union Territories (UTs), Delhi bagged the top spot.
iii.It should be noted that EODB is a joint initiative by the DPIIT and the World Bank (WB) to improve the overall business environment in the States.
About Minister of Commerce and Industry:
Union Minister– Piyush Vedprakash Goyal (Constituency- Maharashtra)
Minister of State– Hardeep Singh Puri, Som Prakash
<<Read Full News>>

INDRA NAVY-20- Maritime Exercise between India and Russia kicks off at Bay of Bengal 

i.The 11th Edition of bi-annual, bilateral Maritime Exercise INDRA NAVY – 20 between Indian Navy and Russian Navy was conducted successfully from September 4 to 5. The Exercise was conducted in Bay of Bengal, close to the Strategic point of Strait of Malacca. Due to the Pandemic, INDRA NAVY-20 was undertaken in a ‘non-contact, at sea only’ format.
ii.The exercise is aimed at enhancing interoperability, improving understanding and imbibing best practices between the two navies. 
iii.The INDRA military exercise has been conducted by India and Russia starting from 2003. The 10th edition of the exercise was conducted off Visakhapatnam in December 2018.
About Indian Navy:
Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS)– Admiral Karambir Singh
Integrated Headquarters MoD (Navy)– New Delhi
About Russia:
Capital – Moscow
President – Vladimir Putin
Currency – Russian Rouble
<<Read Full News>>

Atal Innovation Mission Partnered with Freshworks Inc., to Empower its Startup Innovators 

i.In a virtual programme, Atal Innovation Mission(AIM), a flagship initiative set up by the NITI Aayog, has partnered with Freshworks Inc., a customer-engagement software company to provide robust support to innovators and entrepreneurs in India. 
ii.AIM has also collaborated with ScooNews, one of India’s largest education media houses to share and spread inspiring stories of grassroots innovations.
About Freshworks Inc.,
Founder & CEO– Girish Mathrubootham
HeadQuarters– San Mateo, California, United States
About Atal Innovation Mission (AIM)
Mission Director – Ramanan Ramanathan 
Headquarters – New Delhi, India
<<Read Full News>>

India’s agriculture technology can grow to $24.1 billion in 5 years: Ernst & Young Report

i.According to a report by Ernst & Young, India’s agriculture technology has the potential to grow at $24.1 billion in 5 years.  The report also stated that with a turnover of $204 million, India’s agri-tech sector is at under 1% of its market potential. 
ii.Major gains will be made by companies addressing supply chain and financial service solutions, driven by availability of affordable high-speed internet and maturing of India’s digital content ecosystem. 
The market for tech enabled supply chain and output market linkages would be the largest segment and would be worth around $12 billion by 2025.
About Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare:
Union Minister – Narendra Singh Tomar
Minister of State (MoS) – Parshottam Khodabhai Rupala, Kailash Choudhary
<<Read Full News>>

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

Saudi Arabia Hosted Virtual G20 Education Ministers Meet from Riyadh; Union Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal represented India 

i.On September 5, 2020, as a part of Sherpa Track for the G20 (group of twenty) Leaders Summit 2020, which will be held at the end of 2020, the current chair of G20 i.e. Saudi Arabia hosted the virtual G20 Education Ministers Meeting from Riyadh (Capital of Saudi Arabia) to discuss and share experiences of member countries in the three identified areas viz. Education Continuity in Times of Crises, Early Childhood Education and Internationalization in Education.
ii.The meet was chaired by Saudi Arabia’s Education Minister Dr. Hamad Al-Asheikh where India was represented by Union Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, Ministry of Education.
iii.The focus of the meet was Fostering 21st Century Human Capabilities.
About G-20 or Group of Twenty:
Composition– 19 countries and the European Union (EU)
The 19 countries are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, France, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, the UK, and the US.
2020 Presidency– Saudi Arabia
2020 theme– Realizing Opportunities of the 21st Century For All
Chairman– Saudi Arabian King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (2020)
<<Read Full News>>

Overview of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visit to Russia from September 3-5, 2020; SCO Defence Ministers Meet Held

i.The Union Minister Rajnath Singh, Ministry of Defence (MoD) paid a 3 days visit to Moscow, Russia from September 3-5, 2020 to attend a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) defence ministers and to hold talks with his Russian counterpart Sergey Shoigu on further boosting bilateral defence cooperation.
ii.It was his second visit to Moscow since June, 2020. He had represented India at the Victory Day Parade in Moscow on June 24 that commemorated the 75th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in the Second World War. Click Here to Read

• Rajnath holds talks with Russian counterpart; AK-47 203 rifles deal finalized between both nations
• Rajnath visits Russian armed forces’ main cathedral in Moscow
• He addressed Combined Meeting of Defence Ministers of SCO, CSTO & CIS Member States in Moscow
• He met his Chinese counterpart Wei Fenghe amid border tension in Ladakh
• He also held meeting with counterparts from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan
• He left Iran to meet his Iranian counterpart Brigadier General Amir Hatami in Tehran 

About Iran:
Currency– Iranian rial
President– Hassan Rouhani
About Russia:
Currency– Russian Rouble
President– Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin
<<Read Full News>>

Eurasian Foundation Organised Indo Russian Young Scholars International E-Conference 2020

i.Eurasian Foundation organised the Indo Russian Young Scholars International E-conference 2020 on “India-Russia domestic and bilateral development” from 3rd September 2020 to 5th September 2020 over a virtual platform.2020 marks the 20th anniversary of the Declaration of Strategic Partnership between India and Russia.It also marks 75th anniversary of victory day of Russia.
ii.The event was organised in collaboration with Indian Centre, Institute of Oriental studies, Russian Academy of Sciences, MoscoUnion Minister of Education Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal represented India in a virtual meeting of G20 Education Ministersw, Russia and Russian Centre of Science and Culture, New Delhi.
iii.V Muraleedharan Minister of State of External Affairs & Parliamentary Affairs, Government of India emphasized the progress of both India and Russia in the aspects of COVID, Atmanirbhar Bharat, Make in India and global world order.
About Eurasian Foundation:
President– Lisa Coll
Headquarters– Washington, DC, United States of America
<<Read Full News>>

ECONOMY & BUSINESS

TPT South Africa Partners with TCS for Logistics Supply Chain Transformation

i.Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) in South Africa, a part of Transnet SOC Ltd, a state owned freight transport and handling company, partners with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) to develop an integrated online logistics marketplace platform “Cargo Connect”. 
ii.This first of its kind portal in Africa will bring together all the cargo owners, shipping lines, clearing and forwarding agents and road or rail haulers.
iii.Cargo Connect will function as an online logistic market place where the customers can submit the logistics related requests and all the service providers to bid online.
About TCS:
CEO & MD– Rajesh Gopinathan
Headquarters– Mumbai, Maharashtra
About TPT:
CEO– Velile Dube
Headquarters– Durban, South Africa
<<Read Full News>>

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

DRDO successfully tests Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle using Scramjet Propulsion System 

i.On September 07, 2020, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully tested Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV) using the Indigenously developed Scramjet Propulsion System in its second attempt. The Technology will be very critical as it will play an important part in developing hypersonic cruise missile systems being developed by DRDO.
ii.The HSTDV is designed to cruise at Mach 6 speed (or six times the speed of sound), and the test was conducted from Dr Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha Coast. 
iii.India has joined the elite club of the United States, Russia and China to develop and successfully test Hypersonic Technology. 
Second Attempt:
DRDO had carried out its maiden test of the HSTDV in June, 2019. On that occasion, the Agni-I ballistic carrier vehicle which was supposed to provide the HSTDV with an altitude boost failed.
About DRDO:
Chairman – Dr G. Satheesh Reddy 
Headquarters – New Delhi  
<<Read Full News>>

Thaawarchand Gehlot launched ‘24×7 toll-free Mental Health Rehabilitation Helpline ‘KIRAN’

i.In order to provide relief and support to persons with Mental Illness, Shri Thaawarchand Gehlot, Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment has launched the 24×7 Toll-Free Mental Health Rehabilitation Helpline “KIRAN” (1800-500-0019). 
ii.The Helpline has been developed by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment. 
iii.It was launched considering the increasing incidence of Mental Illness, particularly in the wake of COVID-19 Pandemic.
Constituency
Thaawarchand Gehlot, Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment – Rajya Sabha (M.P)
<<Read Full News>>

Moon is Rusting: Orbital Data Reveals Presence of Hematite at High Latitudes on the Moon

i.On 2nd September 2020, New research paper titled “Widespread hematite at high latitudes of the Moon” published on Science Advances reviewed the data from the Moon Mineralogy Mapper Instrument(M3) of Chandrayan-1 orbiter of Indian Space Research Organization(ISRO).
ii.Shuai Li from the University of Hawaii was the lead author of the research paper.
iii.The lunar hematite is formed by the oxidation of iron on the moon’s surface by the oxygen hitched from the Earth’s upper atmosphere, travelling 239000 miles (385000 kilometer) to the moon by the solar wind.
About NASA:
Administrator– Jim Bridenstine
Headquarters– Washington, D.C., United States of America
About Jet Propulsion Laboratory(JPL):
Director– Michael Watkins
Location– California, United States of America
<<Read Full News>>

WIHG Developed a Neural-Based Practical Approach for Automatic Interpretation of 3D Seismic Data, 1st of its kind Approach

i.A neural-based (machine learning-based) practical approach for automatic interpretation of 3D seismic data, has been developed by the scientists from Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology(WIHG), an autonomous Institute under the Department of Science & Technology(DST). 
ii.This 1st of its kind approach was developed by computing a new attribute called meta-attribute.
iii.It aids the scientists who were struggling with the manual interpretation of growing seismic data(a time picture of subsurface structure) to explore causes of earthquakes, especially when the area is geologically complex.
About Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology(WIHG):
HeadQuarters- Dehradun, Uttarakhand
Director– Dr. Kalachand Sain
<<Read Full News>>

ENVIRONMENT

JNTBGRI Identified New & Rare Species of Climber “Pothos boyceanus” in Western Ghats

Scientists of Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute(JNTBGRI) from Palode of Kerala, have identified a new and extremely rare climber named “Pothos boyceanus” after Peter G.Boyce, expert on ‘Araceae’ of Southeast Asia.

• The discovery of Pothos boyceanus by G. Rajkumar, Nazarudeen Ahammed, T. Shaju, and R. Prakashkumar, Director of JNTBGRI was published in Taiwania, international journal of biodiversity.
• The discovery was made during a floristic survey of the Western Ghats in the evergreen forests of Valara, Iddukki at Kerala.

About Pothos boyceanus:
i.This climber aroid belongs to the genus – Pothos, subgenera – Allopothos and family – Araceae.
ii.The characteristics of this species are ligule, slightly-winged petiole, asymmetric lamina, cylindric spadix and ovoid, milky-white berries.
Key Points:
i.The repeated survey located only 100 individuals in a scattered area of 10 square kilometers which qualifies this species as critically endangered as per the International Union for Conservation of Nature(IUCN) norms.
ii.The discovery of Pothos boyceanus has increased the total number of species of the genus Pothos in Kerala to 6.

SPORTS

England Cricketer Ian Bell announces Retirement at the age of 38

On September 5, 2020 ,A 38 years old England Cricketer Ian Ronald Bell announced retirement from Professional Cricket. He was the second player after Ian Botham to be involved in five Ashes series wins.  
i.Ian Bell has represented England in 118 Test Matches, 161 One Day Internationals (ODIs), and 8 Twenty20 Internationals (T20I).
ii.He has scored 7,727 runs in Test Cricket at an average of 42.69, while scoring 5,416 runs in the 50-over format.
iii.He is Third-highest run getter for England in the 50-over format. 
iv.He has scored 13,331 runs in international cricket, making him England’s fourth-highest run-getter across all formats.
v.He last played for England in 2015 in a test match against Pakistan.

French Driver Pierre Gasly wins 2020 Italian Grand Prix 

On September 5, 2020 French Driver Pierre Gasly won the Italian Grand Prix for his Racing Team Alpha Tauri. This was maiden Formula One win for both Pierre Gasly and his racing team Alpha Tauri. Lewis Hamilton was dominating until he was penalized.
i.Pierre Gasly became the first Frenchman to win a race since Olivier Panis won Monaco Grand Prix in 1996. 
ii.The 24-year-old Frenchman finished ahead of Mclaren Driver Carlos Sainz and Racing Point’s Lance Stroll. 
iii.All the three drivers had never won a race and each had only one top-three finish to their names.
iv.Alpha Tauri became the first team outside Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull to win a race since 2013.

OBITUARY

Jiri Menzel, Oscar Winning Czech Director, Passed Away  at 82

Jiri Menzel, director(film & theatre), writer and actor of Czech Republic( its short-form Czechia) passed away at the age of 82 after battling serious health issues. His 1st feature film, ‘Closely Watched Trains’ won an Academy Award(Oscars) for Best Foreign Language film in 1968. He was born in Prague, Czechoslovakia on 23 February 1938.

Note– ‘Closely Watched Trains’ is a World War II drama based on a 1965 novel by Bohumil Hrabal. In Addition to the Oscars, the film bagged the Grand Prize at the 1966 Mannheim-Heidelberg International Filmfestival among others

Key Achievements
i.His film, Larks on a String which was banned by the Czechoslovakian government and released later won the Golden Bear at the 40th Berlin International Film Festival.
iii.He Won the Czech Lion for lifetime artistic contribution and was honoured by the Karlovy Vary festival. 
iv.He is a recipient of the Medal of Merit, the French Order of Arts and Literature and a score of other international awards.
v.He was awarded an IIFA Lifetime Achievement Award in November 2013.

Kesavananda Bharati Swamiji of Edneer Mutt passed away at 80 

On 6th September 2020, Kesavananda Bharati Swamiji, a petitioner of the historic judgement of the Supreme court on the Fundamental Rights case passed away at the age of 80 in the Edneer Mutt, Kerala due to cardiac and breathing problems.

Key Points:
i.Kesavananda Bharati has headed the Edneer Mutt since 1961.
ii.Apart from promoting advaita philosophy, He was a classical singer who managed and ran the troupe – Yakshagana Mela for more than 15 years and took part as a bhagavata(singer & Director) and performed Carnatic music.
iii.He supported to eliminate the inhibition with the Yakshagana artists and conducted Yakshagana shows and Talamaddale programmes in the Mutt.

IMPORTANT DAYS

1st International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies 2020: September 7 

i.The United Nations'(UN) 1st International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies is observed on September 7, 2020 across the world to emphasize the need for further efforts to improve air quality, including reducing air pollution, to protect human health. 
ii.The day also highlights that air pollution is now the biggest  environmental threat to health, but it is preventable. 
Theme for 2020- “Clean Air for All”.
iii.In India, Prakash Javadekar, Union Environment Minister will chair a webinar on this occasion.
About UN:
Secretary General– Antonio Guterres
HeadQuarters– New York, United States
<<Read Full News>>

STATE NEWS

Assam State Rural Livelihoods Mission (ASRLM) signs MoU with Northeast Small Finance Bank (NESFB)

On September 05, 2020, Assam State Rural Livelihood Mission (ASRLM) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Northeast Small Finance Bank (NEFSB) to bring the Self-Help Groups (SHGs), producer groups and enterprises under banking network. This is the first among all State Livelihood Missions to initiate signing of MoU with new generation small finance banks. 
The MoU was signed by Utpala Saikia, State Mission Director, ASRLM and Rupali Kalita, Managing Director cum Chief Executive Officer (CEO), NESFB. 
About NESFB:
Managing Director, CEO – Rupali Kalita 
Headquarters – Guwahati, Assam
About Assam: 
Governor – Jagdish Mukhi
National Parks – Kaziranga National Park, Saikhowa National Park, Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park, Manas National Park, Nameri National Park.
<<Read Full News>>

Delhi Government Relaunched “10 Hafte 10 Baje 10 minute” 10-week Anti Dengue Campaign

i.On 6th September 2020, Government of Delhi relaunched the 10-week anti dengue campaign “10 Hafte 10 Baje 10minute” to create awareness on the prevention of the vector borne diseases – dengue and chikungunya among the common people.
ii.The first 10-week anti dengue campaign “10 Hafte 10 Baje 10 Minute – Har Ravivar, Dengue Par Vaar” was launched in 2019, which reduced the mortality rate of the dengue in Delhi.
iii.Under this campaign the residents are advised to check their homes for stagnant clean water on every sunday from 10 weeks at 10 am for 10 minutes and drain and replace the stagnant water, which is the breeding ground of the Aedes Mosquitoes which spreads dengue, malaria etc.
About Delhi:
Wildlife Sanctuary– Asola-Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary (Aravalli hill range)
Dam– Delhi Dam (also known as Hartwick Dam) is an Embankment Dam.
<<Read Full News>>

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