Daily Current Affairs : 22nd and 23rd August 2020 | Daily GK update Quiz

Exp. Union minister Nitin Gadkari on 22nd August stressed the need for utilising modern and green technologies in highways construction besides reducing the cost of road building by at least 25 per cent.

The road transport minister also launched a mobile app ‘Harit Path’ to monitor the plantation along the national highways. The app has been developed by NHAI to monitor location, growth, species details, maintenance activities, targets and achievements of each of its field units for each and every plant under all plantation projects.

Exp. Andhra Pradesh (AP) government has signed an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Reliance Retail, Reliance Jio Infocomm and Allana Group to empower women and help women Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in the state to market their products.

Reliance Retail will support the micro-grocery women retailers through the ‘JioMart Kirana’ stores, which will be digitally equipped and act as online stores.

Exp. In Madhya Pradesh, a unique campaign ‘Ek Sankalp – Bujurgo ke naam’ i.e. ‘a commitment for elders’ is being run by the Chhatarpur Police in the midst of corona infection in the state. Renowned social worker Anna Hazare has also praised this campaign being run specifically for the elderly and helpless people.

This unique campaign is proving to be a boon for the elderly people living alone in homes during the global pandemic COVID-19. In this campaign, the police are taking care of the elderly people from the food to their health.

Exp. The Uttar Pradesh and Israel governments on Thursday signed a ‘plan of cooperation’ to resolve water crisis in Bundelkhand region.

The India –Israel – Bundelkhand Water Project comprises three key components including water conservation, water efficient transportation and advanced water practices for agriculture. For this project, 28 districts across the country, including two in Uttar Pradesh.

Exp. Spain has reported this year’s first death due to the West Nile virus, a mosquito-borne infection, officials said.

A total of 35 people has so far been infected in the biggest West Nile outbreak ever detected in the country’s southern region of Andalusia.

Exp. Maruti Suzuki partners with IIM Bangalore to incubate mobility startups. India’s largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India announced its partnership with Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore (IIMB). Maruti Suzuki India said this partnership will help startups working in technology-based innovations that can be applied in the mobility sector. The first-of-its kind initiative by an automobile manufacturing company will help early-stage startups become large scale businesses.

Exp. HSBC India on 21st August launched a “green deposit programme”, exclusively for corporate clients, under which deposits will be used by the bank to finance green initiatives and environment friendly projects. The deposit scheme will come in the form of a term deposit, which typically attracts higher interests as compared to savings deposits.

This deposit scheme of the bank will offer its corporate clients stable and pre-agreed returns, and offer the same protection as a normal bank deposit does.

Exp. Flipkart has partnered with Nepal’s leading e-commerce firm Sastodeal to sell products from various verticals like baby care & kids, women’s ethnic wear and sports & fitness among others in the neighbouring country.

The Bengaluru headquartered firm said this will be a first-of-its kind partnership with an overseas firm to sell Make in India products.

Exp. Bharti AXA’s non-life insurance business will merge with ICICI Lombard’s general insurance business through a scheme of arrangement.

Bharti Enterprises currently owns 51 per cent stake in Bharti AXA General Insurance, while French insurer AXA has 49 per cent.

Exp. The central government on 22nd August appointed retired bureaucrat Rajiv Kumar as the new Election Commissioner.

Rajiv Kumar will take charge the day Election Commissioner Ashok Lavasa leaves office on August 31. Rajiv Kumar will have a five-year tenure and retire in 2025. He is likely to preside over the next Lok Sabha polls in 2024.

Exp. The central government on 22nd August has appointed Ashwani Bhatia as the managing director (MD) of the State Bank of India (SBI).

Ashwani Bhatia has been appointed as the managing director up to the date of his superannuation that is May 31, 2022.

Exp. A top US-based India-centric business advocacy group will honour Mahindra group Chairman Anand Mahindra and Adobe Chairman and CEO Shantanu Narayen with its 2020 Leadership Awards in recognition of their exemplary vision towards promoting US-India bilateral ties.

Anand Mahindra & Shantanu Narayen displayed tremendous leadership and ambition in strengthening the US-India bilateral economic partnership according to John Chambers, Chairman of the USISPF Board.

Exp. Ronnie O’Sullivan wins sixth world title. Ronnie O’Sullivan claimed his sixth World Championship title with a dominant 18-8 victory over Kyren Wilson at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre.

Exp.In the past, the author had resorted to a similar practice to promote his 2018 book, Girl in Room 105.

Author Chetan Bhagat recently announced his upcoming book, One Arranged Murder, and now he has released its cinematic trailer. Published by Westland Publications, it is slated to release on September 28, 2020.

Exp. World Senior Citizen’s Day is annually observed on August 21.

It aims to ensure the well-being of older adults and to raise awareness about the issues that affect their lives. The day also reminds us to acknowledge and appreciate their contributions to society.