August 3rd Week 2021 Current Affairs Online Test English

Explanation

• The Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021 was passed in the Lok Sabha on 6th August, 2021. The bill seeks to do away with the contentious retrospective tax provision.
• The Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill proposes to amend the Income Tax Act, 1961 to provide that no tax demand shall be raised in the future on the basis of the retrospective amendment for any indirect transfer of Indian assets if the transaction was undertaken before May 28, 2012. Pranab Mukherjee was the finance minister when retrospective tax provision was included in 2012.

Explanation

• On 7th August, 2021 Rekha Sharma was reappointed as the Chairperson of the National Commission for Women for another 3–year term w.e.f. 07.08.2021, or till the age of 65 years or until further orders, whichever is the earliest.

Explanation

• Bihar’s capital city Patna is all set to get its own version of Mumbai’s famous Marine Drive. The 5.50km–long Digha–AN Sinha Institute stretch of the ambitious Ganga Pathway is all set to be opened next year. The ‘Ganga pathway’ is part of Rs 3,390 crore project which is coming up on the southern bank of river Ganga to minimise traffic on the congested Ashok Rajpath. The total length of project is 20.50km

Explanation

• Recently, Karnataka Bank has been empanelled by RBI to act as an ‘Agency Bank’ to facilitate transactions related to government businesses. As an empanelled Agency Bank, it is authorised to undertake government businesses such as revenue receipts and payments on behalf of the Centre and States, pension payments in respect of the same, collection of stamp duty charges and also any other item of work specifically advised by the RBI.

Explanation

• A 101–member contingent of the Indian Army will proceed to Russia to participate in International Army Games – 2021 from 22 August to 04 September 2021.
• The contingent will participate in Army Scout Masters Competition (ASMC), Elbrus Ring, Polar Star, Sniper Frontier and Safe Route games showcasing various drills in High Altitude Area terrain, operations in snow, sniper actions, combat engineering skills in obstacle ridden terrain in the various competitions. The contingent will also contribute two observers (one each) for the Open Water and Falcon Hunting games.

Explanation

• On 7th August, 2021 Brazil won the gold medal in men’s football at the Tokyo Olympics by beating Spain 2–1 in the final played. Malcolm and Matheus Cunha scored for Brazil while Mikel Oyarzabal scored for Spain. Mexico won the bronze medal by beating Japan with a score of 3–1. Canada defeated Sweden 3–2 on penalties after the match was tied 1–1 to win the gold medal in women’s football. Bronze medal was won by United States which beat Australia 4–3.

Explanation

• Chief Election Commissioner of India and current Chairman, FEMBoSA Sushil Chandra accompanied by Election Commissioners Rajeev Kumar and A.C. Pandey, on 11th August, 2021 inaugurated the 11th Annual meeting of the Forum of the Election Management Bodies of South Asia (FEMBoSA) for the year 2021. The meeting in Virtual mode was hosted by the Election Commission of Bhutan.

Explanation

• Indore, the country’s cleanest city, has now been declared as the first ‘water plus’ city of India under the Swachh Survekshan 2021, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said. Indore City received the certification from the centre.

Explanation

• On 8August, 2021 Culture Minister G. Kishan Reddy has inaugurated an Exhibition on ‘Quit India Movement’ in New Delhi.
• As part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav being celebrated to mark 75th years of Independence, National Archives of India has organised the exhibition that will continue till November

Explanation

• On 7th August, 2021 navies of India and UAE conducted exercise ‘Zayed Talwar 2021’ off the coast of Abu Dhabi. INS Kochi, with two integral Sea King MK 42B helicopters, deployed in the Persian Gulf, participated in the exercise.
• UAE participated with UAES AL – Dhafra, a Baynunah class guided missile corvette and one AS – 565B Panther helicopter. As part of the exercise, the ships undertook tactical manoeuvres, Over the Horizon Targeting, Search and Rescue and Electronic Warfare exercises to enhance interoperability and synergy between the two navies. Helicopters were extensively used all through the exercise ranging from Search and Rescue serial to passing of targeting data to ships for simulated missile engagement drills.

Explanation

• The Tokyo 2020 Games were declared closed by IOC chief Thomas Bach on August 8, 2021. The Olympic flag was passed to Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo for the 2024 Games at the Tokyo closing ceremony. The United States topped the tally with 39 gold medals, just one ahead of China. 
• Host Japan finished third with 27 golds followed by Great Britain with 22 and the Russian Olympic Committee, the team for Russian athletes after their country was banned for systematic doping, were fifth with 20. India finished 48th with 1 gold, 2 silver and 4 bronze medals.

Explanation

• The International Day of Indigenous Peoples was celebrated on August 9, 2021 with its theme: “Leaving no one behind: Indigenous peoples and the call for a new social contract”.
• There are over 476 million indigenous peoples living in 90 countries across the world, accounting for 6.2% of the global population. Indigenous peoples are the holders of a vast diversity of unique cultures, traditions, languages and knowledge systems.

Explanation

• The 79th anniversary of Quit India movement was observed on August 8, 2021. On this day in 1942, father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi gave the clarion call of Do or Die to all Indians to drive away Britishers from the country. The movement had begun from Gowalia Tank in Mumbai. The day is observed as August Kranti Day every year.

Explanation

• Neeraj Chopra, who won the historic gold for India in athletics by throwing 87.58m at the men’s Javelin Throw final. Not only is this Independent India’s first gold in Athletics at the Olympics but also the only medal ever by an Indian from Athletics.

Explanation

• As many as 152 police officers in the country have been conferred with the ‘Union Home Minister’s Medal for Excellence in Investigation’ for 2021 for their high professional standards of investigation of crime. The Union Home Ministry, in a statement on August 12, 2021, said the awardees include 28 women police officials from across the country. This medal was constituted in 2018 with the objective to promote high professional standards of investigation of crime and to recognise such excellence in investigation by investigating officers.

Explanation

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 12, 2021 released Rs 25 crore as seed money for 7,500 SHG members under the PMFME (PM Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises) scheme of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries and Rs 4.13 crore as funds to 75 FPOs. These SHGs are promoted under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana–National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY–NRLM).

Explanation

• On August 12, 2021, the Government of India announced the Prime Minister’s Shram Awards (PMSA) for the year 2018. These awards are to be awarded to 69 workers employed in the Departmental Undertakings & Public Sector Undertakings of the Central and State Governments and Private Sector Units employing 500 or more workers in recognition of their distinguished performance.
• This year the Prime Minister’s Shram Awards are given in three categories namely Shram Bhushan Awards which carry a cash prize of Rs.1,00,000/– each, Shram Vir/Shram Veerangana Awards which carry a cash prize of Rs. 60,000/– each and Shram Shree/Shram Devi Awards which carry a cash prize of Rs.40,000/– each.

Explanation

• The United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) has won the CONCACAF Gold Cup 2021 by defeating Mexico in the finals. The final was held in the Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. This 2021 championship win marks the 7th Gold Cup title won by US. This year’s tournament was the 16th edition of this biennial tournament which is organized by CONCACAF.

Explanation

• World Lion Day is celebrated on August 10 every year in a bid to raise awareness on lions. The day also seeks to mobilise support for protection and conservation of Lion.
• As per World Wide Fund for animals (WWF), it only lives in grasslands and plains. India is home to majestic Asiatic Lion, who inhabit protected territory of Sasan–Gir National Park. According to WWF, lions were once found throughout Africa, Asia and Europe. But over the years, their numbers have reduced across these continents. Initiative to protect lion started in 2013 so the first World Lion Day was observed in 2013 itself.  

Explanation

• Last remaining population of the Asiatic Lions are found in Gir National Park of Gujarat. In 2020, population of Asiatic lions has surged by almost 29% in Gujarat’s Gir forests. The distribution area of lions has also increased by 36%. Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary, also known as Sasan Gir, is a forest, national park, and wildlife sanctuary near Talala Gir in Gujarat, India. This national park was established in 1965.

Explanation

• Karnataka has become the first state in the country to issue the order with regard to the implementation of National Education Policy–2020, State Higher Education Minister CN Ashwath Narayan claimed. The state government has issued an order on Saturday on the implementation of NEP–2020 with effect from the current academic year 2021–2022. 

Explanation

• South Africa has become the first country in the world to grant patent for an invention made by Artificial intelligence (AI). The country has granted a patent to a food container system which is based on Fractal Geometry and was invented by an AI system known as DABUS (Device for Autonomous Bootstrapping of Unified Sentience).
• Stephen Thaler has created DABUS and it is a type of AI which is referred to as creativity machines as they are capable of complex functions. DABUS’ main function are spoiled food alerts, emergency warning system, etc.

Explanation

• The Investor Summit is being organized by the Gujarat government in collaboration with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
• The Investor Summit will focus on the synergies presented by the ship–breaking industry at Alang, for the development of an integrated scrapping hub. It is being conducted in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. This summit will see participation from various potential investors, industry experts and the concerned central and state government ministries. The National Vehicle Scrappage Policy was announced by the PM on 13th August, 2021.

Explanation

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched Ujjwala 2.0 (Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana – PMUY) by handing over LPG connections, at Mahoba, Uttar Pradesh on 10th August, 2021, via video conferencing. During the event, the Prime Minister interacted with beneficiaries of the Ujjwala. 
• Addressing the event, the Prime Minister said the number of people, especially women whose lives have been illuminated by the Ujjwala Yojana is unprecedented. This scheme was launched in 2016 from Ballia in UP.

Explanation

• The Indian Meteorological Department has undertaken installation of Agro–Automatic Weather Stations to provide exact weather forecast to the people, especially the farmers. The installation was done at District Agromet Units located in the Krishi Vigyan Kendras under the Indian Council of Agriculture Research network.

Explanation

• Recently, four more wetlands from India have been recognized from the Ramsar Secretariat as Ramsar sites. These sites are Wadhwana and Thol from Gujarat and Sultanpur and Bhindawas from Haryana. 
• The number of Ramsar sites in India is 46 and the surface area covered by these sites is now 1,083,322 hectares. While Haryana gets its first Ramsar sites, Gujarat gets three more after Nalsarovar which was declared in 2012.

Explanation

• Chief Scientist of World Health Organization, Dr Soumya Swaminathan, urged the nations to prioritize reopening of schools amid the COVID pandemic. Chief scientist highlighted that; COVID has indirectly affected the education greatly by shutting down schools globally. So, she asked to prioritize school opening while maintaining proper health and hygiene.
• Amid the COVID pandemic, 1.5 billion children were suddenly out of school and affected their education. In January 2021, Right to Education Forum published its report highlighting that, ten million girls in India could drop out of secondary school amid COVID pandemic.

Explanation

• The 5th edition of the National Public Procurement Conclave (NPPC) was organized by Government e–Marketplace (GeM) in association with the Confederation of Indian Industry [CII] on the theme “Technology enabled Government Procurement – Towards Efficiency, Transparency, and Inclusiveness”.
• The conclave was inaugurated virtually by Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, Smt. Anupriya Patel.

Explanation

• Nagaland has bagged seven prestigious national awards in the Van Dhan Vikas Yojana (VDVY) and Minimum Support Price (MSP) schemes for exemplary performance in various categories.
• The VDVY and MSP for Minor Forest Produce (MFP) scheme focus on farmers’ entrepreneurship programmes through processing, packaging, branding and marketing of locally available products, according to an official statement issued on Monday. Nagaland topped in three categories – Best Survey, Best Training and the greatest number of Van Dhan Vikas Clusters (VDVKCs) established. 

Explanation

• The Skytrax World Airport Award ranking 2021 was recently published in which Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi has emerged among world’s top–50 best airports in the 2021.
• Delhi Airport emerged as best airport in India for the third consecutive year. Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru have also found a rank among world’s 100 best airports. According to Skytrax 2021 world airport’s awards list, Delhi has been ranked at 45th position. Ranking has improved by five places as compared to number 50 in 2020. Delhi airport is first Indian airport to achieve this mark. Hyderabad has been ranked at 64th. Mumbai is at 65th number. Bengaluru is at 71st number.

Explanation

• International Youth Day is marked on August 12. The theme of the day this year has been decided as “Transforming Food Systems: Youth Innovation for Human and Planetary Health”. The first International Youth Day was celebrated in 1999.

Explanation

• NITI Aayog today released a handbook to guide state governments and local bodies to frame policies and norms towards setting up charging networks for electric vehicles (EV).
• The objective is to enhance charging infrastructure and facilitate a rapid transition to electric mobility in the country. The Handbook for Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Implementation has been jointly developed by NITI Aayog, Ministry of Power (MoP), Department of Science and Technology (DST), Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), and World Resources Institute (WRI) India.

Explanation

• Kamlesh Kumar Pant, IAS has been appointed as the new chairman of National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) by the Appointments Committee of the Union Cabinet. Pant, formerly the Principal Secretary (Revenue) in the government of Himachal Pradesh and also the Financial Commisioner (Appeals) at Himachal Pradesh and the head of the Himachal Pradesh State Pollution Control Board, has taken charge of NPPA with immediate effect.

Explanation

• Kaziranga National Park has become the first national park in India to be equipped with satellite phones. The satellite phones will be used in pockets of the park’s six ranges with no wireless or poor mobile connectivity. The Park authorities will bear the monthly expenses for the service provided by Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd.

Explanation

• 12th August is observed as World Elephant Day to draw focus towards protection and conservation of elephants.
• World Elephant Day aims to accelerate efforts to offer better protection to elephants, prevent the trade of ivory, improving enforcement policies, conserve elephant habitat, illegal poaching, better captive environments for elephants, and reintroduce the captive elephants back in their natural sanctuaries.

Explanation

• Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar has inaugurated the world’s second–largest refurbished state–of–the–art National Gene Bank at the National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR), Pusa in New Delhi. The need for bio fortified crop varieties is being felt, which the government is trying to overcome. 
• The National Gene Bank established in the year 1996 to preserve the seeds of Plant Genetic Resources (PGR) for future generations, has the capacity to preserve about one million germplasm in the form of seeds. Presently it is protecting 4.52 lakh accessions, of which 2.7 lakh are Indian germplasm and the rest have been imported from other countries.

Explanation

• Javelin Thrower Neeraj Chopra has finished at number 2nd rank in the World Athletics ranking after securing Gold Medal at the Tokyo Olympics 2020. Neeraj Chopra has been ranked second with his score of 1315. He is only behind German athlete Johannes Vetter who is having the score of 1396.

Explanation

• The Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) has successfully tested the ‘Nirbhay’ Indigenous Technology Cruise Missile, powered by the Made–in–India ‘Manik’ Turbofan Engine. The missile was designed by the Aeronautical Development Establishment, a DRDO laboratory in Bengaluru.
• The engine was designed and developed by another DRDO laboratory, Gas Turbine Research Establishment, which is also based in Bengaluru. The ‘Nirbhay’ subsonic missile, which has a range of 1000 kilometers, was fired from a military testing facility off the coast of Odisha on Wednesday and it flew for nearly 150 kms in 15 minutes. 

Explanation

• The International Left–Handers’ Day 2021 is celebrated every year on August 13. It is a way to acknowledge those who, unlike the majority of the population, are born left–handed. A considerable part of the population, almost 10–12% of the global population, consists of left–handers. There are people who are afraid of the left–side or left–handed people. This condition can take the form of a phobia and is known as Sinistrophobia.

Explanation

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi has declared that August 14 will be observed as ‘Partition Horrors Remembrance Day’ to acknowledge the pain undergone by Indians due to the partition of India in 1947.

Explanation

• The Indian Navy participated in the U.S. Navy–led Southeast Asia Cooperation and Training (SEACAT) military exercise in Singapore.
• The main purpose of SEACAT2021 was to enhance interoperability, share maritime security concerns, and maintain a rule–based international order. Other countries participating in the exercise include Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Canada, France, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Maldives, New Zealand, Philippines, South Korea, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor–Leste, United Kingdom and Vietnam. SEACAT was held for the first time in the year 2002.

Explanation

• Kerala police has launched a first–of–its–kind Drone Forensic Lab and Research Centre with an aim to address the rising concerns in this regard. Along with addressing the threat aspects of drones, the lab–cum–research centre is also tasked to look at the utility part of the unmanned aerial vehicles. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated this Forensic Lab and Research Centre.

Explanation

• The World Biofuel Day is observed every year on 10th of August to create awareness about the importance of non – fossil fuels as an alternative to conventional fossil fuels. The day also highlights the various efforts made by Government in the biofuel sector. The 2021 theme of Biofuel Day is “Promotion of Biofuels for a Better Environment”.

Explanation

• The World Organ Donation Day is observed every year on August 13 to encourage people to donate their precious organs. Every year, about 5 lakh people die awaiting organ transplants due to non – availability of organs. There is a wide gap between the number of transplants awaited and the organs available.
• Organ donation is a process where an organ is transferred from the body of the one who is giving the organ (donor) to the one who needs the organ (recipient). The donor can be living or deceased. Organs that can be donated are kidney, lungs, heart, eye, liver, pancreas, cornea, small intestine, bone tissues, heart valves & veins.

Explanation

• The World Photography Day is observed every year on August 19 to encourage photographers across the planet to share a single photo with the world with an aim – to share their world with the world. The date of August 19 was chosen to commemorate the invention of the Daguerreotype, a photographic process developed by Frenchmen Louis Daguerre and Joseph Nicephore Niepce in 1837.
• On 9th of January 1839, the French Academy of Sciences announced the Daguerreotype process. On August 19 that same year, the French government purchased the patent and announced the invention as a free gift to the world. This event was an important step in the development of modern–day photography.

Explanation

• The World Humanitarian Day is held every year on August 19 to pay tribute to aid workers who risk their lives in humanitarian service, and to rally support for people affected by crises around the world.
• The day recognizes humanitarian personnel and those who have lost their lives working for humanitarian causes. The day was designated by the UN General Assembly to commemorate the 19th of August 2003 bombing of the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad, Iraq

Explanation

• Rajiv Gandhi served as the 6th Prime Minister of India from 1984 to 1989. He took office after the 1984 assassination of his mother, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, to become the youngest Indian Prime Minister at the age of 40. In 21st May 1991, Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated by a Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) suicide bomber during an election rally in Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu. His death anniversary is also observed as National Anti – Terrorism Day.

Explanation

• The World Senior Citizen’s Day is celebrated every year on 21st of August to raise awareness about the issues that affect older adults. The day also recognizes & acknowledges the contributions of older people to the society. It provides an opportunity to show our appreciation for their dedication, accomplishments, and services they give throughout their lives.

Explanation

• The World Bank has launched a new Cybersecurity Multi–Donor Trust Fund aimed at better defining and systematically rolling out the cybersecurity development agenda to help ensure a more substantial reflection of cybersecurity considerations across its programs and financing. Developed as an associated trust fund under the World Bank’s broader Digital Development Partnership Umbrella, the Cybersecurity Multi–Donor Trust Fund’s launch was made possible with donor contributions from Estonia, Germany, Japan, and the Netherlands.
• The new Cybersecurity Multi–Donor Trust Fund will help ensure that countries and their citizens can safely and securely take full advantage of the ongoing digital transformation and development.

Explanation

• APEDA in collaboration with Himachal Pradesh Horticultural Produce Marketing and Processing Corporation Ltd (HPMC) exported first consignment comprising of five unique varieties of apples in order to promote agricultural and processed food products exports to newer destinations.
• 5 varieties of apples including Dark Baron Gala, Royal Delicious, Scarlet Spur, Red Velox & Golden Delicious were exported to Bahrain. These apples were sourced from farmers of Himachal Pradesh. 1st consignment was exported by APEDA registered DM Enterprises.