Newly Launched Schemes | Current Affairs August 2020 | 2020 Monthly Current Affairs

Hello Friends Here we are with the Current Affairs August 2020 | 2020 Monthly Current Affairs. Proceed Below to get complete information of August 2020 Current Affairs:

In this Blog We will cover the new Launched Schemes by Various States and Government of India:

Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare launches “Krishi Megh”

• Krishi Megh (National Agricultural Research & Education System -Cloud Infrastructure and Services) has been launched. It will help in meeting the services and infrastructure requirements of Digital Agriculture of National Agricultural Research and Education System (NARES).

• The minister also launched the KVC ALUNET (Krishi Vishwavidyalaya Chhatr Alumni Network) and Online Accreditation System for Higher Agricultural Educational Institutions (HEI).

• The National Agricultural Higher Education Project has been funded by the Government of India and the World Bank. 

PM Modi addresses on New Education Policy 2020

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has addressed the nation on 7th August to deliver his speech on the New Education Policy 2020. PM’s speech began with address at the conclave on ‘Transformational Reforms in Higher Education under National Education Policy’ is being organised by the University Grants Commission and Ministry of Education.

Key highlights and updates on PM’s speech:

• National Research Foundation will work closely with National Educational Technology Forum (NETF) to enable scientific steps to include technology in the education system.

• K Kasturirangan, an Indian space scientist who has played a crucial role in drafting the New Education Policy 2020.

• National Education Policy was approved after extensive discussions over 3-4 years and deliberation over lakhs of suggestions

• New Education Policy is the foundation of strengthening the 21st century India. Every student will be future-ready and will contribute to nation building.

Jal Shakti Minister launches Swachh Bharat Mission Academy

• The Swachh Bharat Mission Academy has been launched by the Union Minister for Jal Shakti, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.

• It has been launched as a crucial part of the phase 2 of Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen).

• It is a phone-based academy and offers a 60-minutes module, which is an IVR based training course, covering a wide range of topics under Open Defecation Free sustainability (ODF-S) as well as Solid and Liquid Waste Management (SLWM).

• It will ensure behaviour change and promote the capacity building of the key stakeholders such as Swachhagrahis, PRIs members, community-based organizations, NGOs, SHGs etc.

Current Affairs August 2020

Raksha Mantri launches Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Organisation

• Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Organisation (NIIO) has been launched by the Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh.

• NIIO is a three-tiered organisation and it will enable its end users to interact with academia as well as industry for the promotion of innovation and indigenisation for self-reliance in defence, with the help of its dedicated structures.

• The twin aspects of innovation and indigenisation would be brought together by the Naval Technology Acceleration Council (N-TAC).

National Schemes

The Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) has launched one-stop knowledge portal named as “MSMESaksham” in association with TransUnion CIBIL. 

Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Harsh Vardhan has launched ‘Vidyarthi Vigyan Manthan, 2020-21’. It is a national programme which has been launched to popularize science among school students of Class 6th to 11th.

• Government of Dubai Authority on commodities trade and enterprise, Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) has rolled out a technology-driven agri-commodity trading and sourcing platform “Agriota E-Marketplace”.

• The India Component of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC)–Transport Initiative for Asia (TIA) will be launched by the NITI Aayog. It aims to set up a multi-stakeholder dialogue platform to decarbonize transport in India.

• A two-day international webinar on ‘Lokmanya Tilak – Swaraj to Self-Reliant India’ was inaugurated by Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah.

• In Himachal Pradesh, Union Education Minister, Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank has laid the foundation stone of Indian Institute of Management (IIM) at Dhaula Kuan in Sirmour district.

• The Indian railways begin its “Kisan Rail” services to transport perishable goods. India’s first ‘Kisan Rail’ will run between Devlali in Maharashtra’s Nashik and will reach Danapur in Bihar. The train will cover the journey of 1,519 km.

• Indian Railways has launched an Overhead Equipment (OHE) Inspection app which will help in minimizing the train delays and long waits due to technical snags.

• India gives USD 15.5 million to the India-UN Development Partnership Fund, under its commitment to supporting developing nations in their developmental priorities across all the Sustainable Development Goals.

Current Affairs August 2020

• The Electronic Vaccine Intelligence Network (eVIN) is an innovative technological solution implemented under National Health Mission (NHM) by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW).

• Line of Credit of worth 18 million US dollars has been extended by the Government of India to the Government of Maldives, with the primary objective of expanding the fishing facilities at Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company (MIFCO). 

• Bangladesh has decided to construct a monument for the Indian soldiers who died in 1971 during the Bangladesh’s struggle for independence from Pakistan.

• Submarine Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) connecting Andaman & Nicobar Islands to the mainland has been launched. The 2300 Kms long submarine cable will boost the endless opportunities in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands by providing better internet & mobile connectivity.

• National Portal on Human-Elephant conflict called “SURAKHSYA” has been launched to collect real-time information and to manage conflicts on a real-time basis.

• National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) Online Dashboard has been launched. NIP will act as one stop solution for all stakeholders seeking for information on infrastructure projects in New India.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi rolled out the platform for “Transparent Taxation – Honoring the Honest”. The new platform will carry forward the journey of direct tax reforms and will also reward the honest taxpayers.

• Indian Railways is observing “Cleanliness Week” from 10th August in order to mark the Independence Day.

Current Affairs August 2020

• 2nd edition of Student Entrepreneurship Programme (SEP 2.0) has been rolled out by the Niti Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) in collaboration with Dell Technologies. It will enable young innovators of Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs) to work closely with Dell volunteers.

• Reliance Foundation has launched the “W-GDP Women Connect Challenge” across India in association with US Agency for International Development (USAID) and Women’s Global Development and Prosperity (W-GDP).

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced the “One Sun, One World, One Grid” (OSOWOG) plan. Under this, there will be a trans-national electricity grid, for supplying solar power across the globe.

• A campaign on “Ayush for Immunity” has been launched by the Ministry of AYUSH. The webinar was streamed by the Ministry of AYUSH on its new digital communication platform Ayush Virtual Convention Centre (AVCC).

• Ministry of Tribal Affairs has launched the Tribal Health and Nutrition Portal “Swasthya” and enewsletter on health and nutrition “ALEKH”. The ministry has also announced the opening of National Overseas Portal and National Tribal Fellowship Portal.

• An “Innovation Challenge Fund” of £3 Million has been launched by the government of United Kingdom (UK) in India. The newly launched fund aims to support research and development (R&D) proposals to address the challenges posed to the economy and the environment, by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Current Affairs August 2020

• Drone based surveillance system has been introduced by the Indian Railways for Railway security. The Railway Protection Force (RPF) has decided to employ large number of drones for the purpose of Railway security.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi unfurled the national flag and delivered his seventh consecutive Independence Day speech from the iconic Red Fort. In the 1 hour 26-minute speech, he focused on the themes of “Aatma Nirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India)”, “Vocal for local” and “Make in India to Make for World”.

• Government of India, the Government of Maharashtra, Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has signed a loan agreement for a $500 million Mumbai Urban Transport Project-III.

• Ministry of Tribal Affairs has signed a joint communication with Ministry of Rural Development to promote sustainable livelihood opportunities. Through the joint communication, both ministries will together promote sustainable livelihood opportunities among tribal women Self Help Groups(SHGs) under National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM).

• Union Minister for road transport and highways, Nitin Gadkari has launched a mobile app named ‘Harit Path’ to monitor plantation along national highways. 

• An online system of Registration and Renewal of Jewellers has been launched along with the online system of recognition and renewal of the Assaying and Hallmarking Centres. These systems are expected to bring about ease of doing business for the jewellers as well as the entrepreneurs. Hallmarking of precious metals will become mandatory from 1st June 2021.

Current Affairs August 2020

• “Chunauti”, a Next Generation Startup Challenge Contest has been launched to further boost startups and software products with special attention on TierII towns of India.

• Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal has virtually launched the “National GIS-enabled Land Bank system".

• “Tribes India Showroom” has been e-inaugurated in Indian Globe Chambers of LIC Western Zonal Office, Fort, Mumbai. It is an initiative of TRIFED, Ministry of Tribal Affairs to promote the livelihood of the tribal people marketing.

• TRIFED has launched the “Tribes India on Wheels”, a van which brings various kinds of immunity boosting products like wild honey, organic haldi, amla, ginger, black pepper etc. It will boost the sales and enhance tribal income in these challenging times.

• Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare has decided to integrate the electronic Pension Payment Order (e-PPO) with Digi Locker.

• The longest river ropeway of India has been inaugurated in Assam. It is 1.8 Km long and connects Guwahati and North Guwahati over Brahmaputra river.

Newly Launched Schemes | Current Affairs August 2020 | 2020 Monthly Current Affairs