CURRENT AFFAIRS AUGUST 20

1. PM Narendra Modi to visit France, UAE, Bahrain from Aug 22 to 26

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be on a three-nation state visit to France, UAE and Bahrain from 22nd to 26th August.

• The Prime Minister's bilateral visit to France will be between 22nd and 23rd of this month.
• On the second leg of the visit, Mr Modi will be in the United Arab Emirates from 23rd to 24th of this month.
• Mr Modi will receive the Order of Zayed, the highest civil decoration of UAE which was conferred on him earlier this year in recognition of Prime Minister's leadership for giving a big boost to bilateral relations between the two countries.
• Mr Modi will return to France to attend the G7 Summit.

Points to remember

• The 45th G7 summit will be held on August 24-26, 2019, in Biarritz, France.

2. ISRO successfully places Chandrayaan-2 spacecraft into lunar orbit

Indian Space Research Organisation has successfully placed Chandrayaan-2 spacecraft into lunar orbit as planned.

• After this, four more orbit manoeuvres will be carried out till September 1st to bring it closer to Moon’s surface in the proximity of 100 km of lunar orbit.
• Chandrayaan 2 was launched on July 22 by GSLV Mark III-M1 launch vehicle.
• Lander Vikram and rover Pragyan soft-land on the south pole of the moon on September 7.

3. Nation pays homage to former PM Rajiv Gandhi on 75th birth anniversary

The nation is paying homage to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on his 75th birth anniversary on 20 August 2019.

• Several programmes are being organised in different parts of the country to mark the occasion.
• Rajiv Gandhi served as Prime Minister from 1984 to 1989.
• This day is also observed as Sadbhavna Diwas to promote national integration and communal harmony among people of all religion and languages.

4. NGT forms a panel to examine allegations of illegal sand mining in River Yamuna

 

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has formed a committee to examine allegations of illegal sand mining in the Yamuna River and sought a report within a month.

• The NGT action follows a move by the Delhi Jal Board which alleged illegal sand mining in the Yamuna river.
• A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel asked the panel consisting of Delhi District Magistrate, Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) and Central Pollution Control Board to look into the matter and take appropriate action.

5. Manipur CM launches ‘School Fagadaba’ scheme

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh launched a scheme to improve the infrastructure of government schools in the state.

• The scheme named ‘School Fagadaba’ (Make education better) was launched at the cabinet hall of Chief Minister’s Secretariat.
• The objective of the scheme is to ensure better infrastructure, quality education and overall improvement of government schools to make them model schools.
• The state government is also installing biometric attendance machines in government schools to ensure the presence of teachers in their posting places.

Points to remember

• Capital: Imphal
• Governor: Padmanabha Acharya

Points to remember

• राजधानी: इंफाल
• राज्यपाल: पद्मनाभ आचार्य

6. Paytm elevates CFO Madhur Deora as the next President

Paytm has elevated its CFO Madhu Deora as President of the company.

• Madhur joined the digital payment firm in October 2016.
• Earlier, Deora has served as Managing Director in Citigroup's investment banking business in New York, London and Mumbai.

7. Prasar Bharati to soon introduce two awards - Neelum Sharma Tejaswini award & Achyutananda Sahoo Award

Prasar Bharti Chairman A Suryapakash has announced that Prasar Bharati would soon be introducing two awards - the Neelum Sharma Tejaswini award and the Achyutananda Sahoo Award.

• The awards will be launched to remember Senior DD News anchor Neelum Sharma who passed away on the 17th of August.
• Neelum Sharma was remembered with fondness and great affection as friends, colleagues and acquaintances from across the networks of Doordarshan paid her glowing tributes.

8. India's junior women boxers win 4 gold medals at Serbian tourney

India's junior women boxers clinched 12 medals at the third Nation's Cup in Vrbas, Serbia.

• The team won four gold, four silver and four bronze medals and claimed the runners-up trophy.
• Tamanna clinched gold in 48 Kilogram category along with  Ambeshori Devi in 57 Kilogram, Preeti Dahiya in 60 Kilogram and Priyanka in 66 Kilogram category.
• Over 160 boxers from 20 countries participated in this tournament, for which India sent a 13-member squad.

9. Former Bihar CM Jagannath Mishra passes away

Veteran Congress leader and three-time Bihar Chief Minister Dr Jagannath Mishra passed away after a prolonged illness.

• Dr Mishra became Chief Minister in 1975, 1980 and 1989. He was also Union Minister.
• Bihar Governor Phagu Chouhan, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and several leaders expressed grief over the demise of Jagannath Mishra.

10. Veteran music director-composer Khayyam passes away

Veteran music director-composer Khayyam, best known for his music in classic films such as 'Umrao Jaan' and 'Kabhi Kabhi', passed away.

• He was 92 and his complete name was Mohammed Zahur Khayyam Hashmi. 
• Besides ‘Kabhi Kabhi’ and ‘Umrao Jaan’, the musician's other notable works include films such as "Trishul", "Noorie" and "Shola Aur Shabnam".
• In 2007, Khayyam was honoured with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in Creative Music by the Sangeet Natak Akademi. Four years later, he was conferred with Padma Bhushan.