CURRENT AFFAIRS AUGUST 9TH

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1. Reconstruction of 380 earthquake affected cultural and heritage sites completes in Nepal

In Nepal reconstruction of 380 earthquake affected cultural and heritage sites have been completed.

• More than 2.12 billion Nepali rupees spent on reconstruction of 96 World Heritage monuments and 284 other archaeological and cultural sites.
• Over 150 heritage sites are scheduled to be reconstructed in the current financial year.
• Besides the Government of Nepal many other countries including India, China, USA, Switzerland, Sri Lanka and Japan are providing financial assistance for the reconstruction of quake-affected heritage monuments.
• A total of 891 sites of archaeological and cultural importance were damaged in Nepal due to the devastating earthquake in 2015.

2. Two-day 22nd National Conference on e-Governance 2019 inaugurated in Shillong

Dr Jitendra Singh inaugurated the 22nd National Conference on e-Governance 2019 (NCeG), the first-ever in North East region, in Shillong, Meghalaya.

• The Conference is being attended by senior government officers from across India, researchers and eminent personalities from the IT industry.
• The conference will be held with the theme “Digital India: Success to Excellence”.
• The conference will provide a platform to disseminate knowledge on effective methods of designing and implementing sustainable e-Governance initiatives to provide end-to-end Digital services.

3. Union HRD Minister to launch ‘Samagra Shiksha-Jal Suraksha’ Drive

Union HRD Minister Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ launched ‘Samagra Shiksha-Jal Suraksha’ drive.

• The drive aims to create awareness about Water Conservation among all school students in the country.
• The drive will organise water conservation activities for School Students so that they can become competent, conscientious and committed water citizens of our nation.

4. Govt sanctions over 5,000 electric buses under the second phase of FAME India scheme

Government has sanctioned five thousand 595 electric buses in 64 cities for intracity and intercity operations under the second phase of FAME India scheme.

• The objective of the scheme is to encourage faster adoption of electric and hybrid vehicle by way of offering upfront incentives on the purchase of electric vehicles.
• The Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid & Electric Vehicles (FAME) India was launched in 2015 under National Electric Mobility Mission (NEMM).

5. Manipur tops in Breastfeeding, Infant & Young Child Feeding Practices

Manipur has topped the rankings in Breastfeeding and Infant and Young Child Feeding Practices in the country.

• Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan released a report on Breastfeeding in New Delhi.
• Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Bihar are at the bottom positions in the report card.
• The Breastfeeding report card has been developed by devising a composite score based on three indicators namely early initiation of breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding for six months and complementary feeding at 6-8 months of child's age.

6. India's first underwater train to be launched in Kolkata

India's first underwater train project in Kolkata is almost complete and the metro will soon be operational soon.

• An example of impeccable engineering, this train is proof of the progress made by Indian Railways.
• The 16-kilometre long Kolkata Metro project will connect Salt Sector 5 with Howrah Maidan.
• The tunnel is provided with four-layers of protection to shield the tunnel from the water of Hubli river.

7. President confers Bharat Ratna on Pranab Mukherjee

President Ram Nath Kovind conferred country's highest civilian honour Bharat Ratna on former President Pranab Mukherjee and posthumously on social activist Nanaji Deshmukh and singer Bhupen Hazarika.

• Pranab Mukherjee received the award from the President, at a function in Rashtrapati Bhawan.
• Bhupen Hazarika's son Tej Hazarika received the award on his behalf.
• While a relative of Nanaji Deshmukh, Virender Jeet Singh received the award for him.

Points to remember

• The Bharat Ratna is the highest civilian award of the Republic of India.
• Recipients receive a Sanad (certificate) signed by the President and a peepal-leaf–shaped medallion.

8. NITI Aayog to launch the Fourth Edition of Women Transforming India Awards

 

The NITI Aayog launched the Fourth Edition of Women Transforming India (WTI) Awards

• The Women Transforming India (WTI) Awards is being organized in collaboration with the United Nations to recognize women entrepreneurs from across India.
• This year’s theme is ‘Women and Entrepreneurship’, in continuation of the theme for WTI Awards 2018.
• WhatsApp has collaborated with NITI Aayog for WTI Awards 2019 and will be providing support amounting to US$100,000 to the award winners.

9. Amla retires from international cricket

South African batsman Hashim Amla has retired from all international cricket with immediate effect.

• Amla played 124 Tests, 181 ODIs and 44 T20Is between in his 15-year-long cricketing career.
• He collected the country’s third-most runs in ODI cricket after former skipper AB de Villiers and Kallis.
• He is the only South African to have scored a triple century in the Test format.

10. World Archery suspends AAI for defying guidelines

The World Archery (WA) suspended the Archery Association of India (AAI) for defying its guidelines by electing two parallel bodies.

• The last event in which the archers can participate under the Indian flag is the World Archery Youth Championships in Madrid from 19th to 25th of this month.
• The AAI had to find a solution by the end of last month as per the deadline was given by WA's executive board and since no progress has been made, the world governing body implemented the suspension order.