CURRENT AND CORPORATE AFFAIRS : 17 AUGUST 2020
COVID-19
(1.) COVID-19 recovery rate reaches 71.61 per cent; More
than 18 lakh people recovered so far :- The sustained decline in
the COVID-19 fatality rate in the country has made India as one of the
countries with lowest COVID related mortality across the world. The
fatality rate stands at 1.93 per cent in the country.
Union Health Ministry said, this is a result of coordinated efforts of
the Centre, State and Union Territories governments which has led to
a continuous decline in the Mortality Rate. The USA has crossed 50
thousand deaths in 23 days, Brazil in 95 days and Mexico in 141 days,
while India took 156 days to reach this national figure.
Over 53 thousand people in the country got cured and returned to their
homes in the last 24 hours. With this the cumulative recoveries fro
COVID-19 in the country inched further closer to touch the two
million mark. So far, a total of 18 lakh 62 thousand 258 people have recovered in the country and with this the nationwide recovery rate
now stands at 71.61 per cent.
NATIONAL NEWS
(1.) Defence Minister approves proposal for major expansion of NCC to cover 173 border and coastal districts :-The National Cadet Corps ( NCC) is all set for a major expansion to cover 173 border and coastal districts. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has approved a proposal of the National Cadet Corps for a major expansion scheme to meet the aspirations of youth in all the
border and coastal districts. The proposals of the scheme were announced by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day address on 15th Aug.
A total of one lakh cadets from 173 border and coastal districts will be inducted to the NCC. One-third of the Cadets would be girl Cadets. Our correspondent reports, more than 1000 schools and colleges have been identified in border and coastal districts where NCC will be introduced. As part of the expansion plan, a total of 83 NCCunits will be upgraded (Army 53, Navy 20, Air Force 10), to impart NCC training to the cadets in the border and coastal areas.
(2.) Nation remembers former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his second death anniversary :-President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh along with other senior leaders visited former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s Samadhi, Sadaiv Atal, in the National Capital today. They paid floral tributes to the leader on his second death anniversary. President Ram Nath Kovind today unveiled the portrait of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his second death anniversary, at the headquarters of Indian Council for Cultural Relations in Delhi.
(3.) India dispatches over 30 tonnes of technical equipment to Mauritius to deal with oil spill :- The Government of India has dispatched over 30 tonnes of technical equipment and material to Mauritius to supplement the country’s ongoing oil spill containment and salvage operations. In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said, the decision has been taken, in response to a request of the Government of Mauritius for assistance in dealing with the environmental crisis due to oil spill on its south-east coast. A 10- member Technical Response Team, consisting of Indian Coast Guard personnel specially trained to deal with oil spill containment measures, has also been deployed to Mauritius.
(4.) India calls for real-time information sharing among BRICS nations to tackle drug menace :- India called for realtime information sharing among BRICS nations to tackle the drug menace. The fourth meeting of the BRICS anti drug working group was held recently. The meeting focused on misuse of darknet and other advanced technologies for drug trafficking. The Working Group comprising Brazil, Russia, China, South Africa and India held fruitful discussions.
STATE NEWS
(1.) Pilgrimage to Vaishno Devi shrine in J&K resumes after five-month hiatus :- The pilgrimage to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine temple resumed today after remaining suspended for nearly five months in view of the Coronavirus Pandemic. The yatra was suspended on March 18. As per the SOPs, every pilgrim will have to wear a face mask and face cover and install Aarogya Setu App on his/her mobile phone. Pilgrims will also have to undergo thermal scanning at Yatra entry points. At the base camp in Katra, the devotees are coming in small numbers, but are excited with the start of the Yatra after a gap of five months. Devotees can get online Yatra Prachi on
website: maavaishnodevi.org
(2.) Odisha will become epicenter of India’s overall steel industry, says Dharmendra Pradhan :- Odisha will become the epicenter of India’s overall steel industry. In a series of tweets, Union Petroleum & Natural Gas and Steel Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said that to further accelerate the development of the domestic steel sector and make Odisha the nerve Centre of Mission Purvodaya in steel, an integrated steel hub is proposed in the
state. With a capital investment of five lakh crore rupees, the envisioned steel hub will produce 100 million tonnes of steel from out of the 300 million tonnes national steel production target, the minister said.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
(1.) Bangladesh to open popular tourist spot and sea beach at Cox’s Bazar from tomorrow :- Continuing with the gradual resumption of economic activities in the country, the government of Bangladesh has decided to open the popular tourist spot and sea beach at Cox’s Bazar from Monday. The sea beaches, tourist spots, hotels and motels in Cox’s Bazar will open on a limited scale after remaining closed for more than 5 months, reports the official news agency BSS.
(2.) Tricolour hoisted for first time at New York’s Times Square to celebrate India’s 74th Independence Day :- The tricolour was hoisted for the first time at the iconic Times Square in New York yesterday to celebrate India’s 74th Independence Day. India’s Consul General in New York, Randhir Jaiswal hoisted the Indian flag during a special commemoration of Independence Day at Times Square. It was organised by the Federation of Indian Associations.
SPORTS
(1.) Indo-Tibetan Border Police launches Fit India Freedom Run at all its border posts and formations :- The Indo-Tibetan Border Police, ITBP has launched a fit India freedom run at all its border posts and formations in the country. The campaign is aimed at generating awareness among the masses for fit India. During this campaign its troops and officers will undertake a 10 kilometer walk. The campaign started yesterday, the 15th August, under the aegis of the Ministry of Sports. It will culminate on 2nd October this year, on Gandhi Jayanti.
OBITUARY
(1.) Former Indian cricketer and Uttar Pradesh Minister Chetan Chauhan passes away :- Former Indian cricketer and Uttar Pradesh minister Chetan Chauhan passed away today following multiple organ failure. He was 73. Chauhan was Minister of Sainik Welfare, Home Guards, PRD and Civil Security in the UP Cabinet. Chauhan was initially admitted to PGI Hospital in Lucknow after being tested positive for the novel coronavirus last month. Later he was shifted to Medanta hospital in Gurugram. During his 12-year-long cricket career, Chauhan played 40 Tests scoring 2084 runs with 16 half-centuries and two wickets. With Sunil Gavaskar, Chauhan formed a potent opening partnership for India with the duo scoring over 3000 runs, including 12 century stands. He was honoured with the Arjuna Award in 1981. Chauhan was twice elected to the Lok Sabha from Amroha in Uttar Pradesh, in 1991 and 1998.
Thanks for Reading Current and Corporate Affairs : 17 August 2020
Compiled By : CS Surbhi Saxena
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