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Daily Current Affairs- 21 August
Updated On : August 23, 2022
Today's Current Affairs-21st August 2022
INTERNATIONAL
India-China relations going through a very difficult phase, border issue has not been resolved: EAM Jaishankar
- Jaishankar, the minister of external affairs, stated that it was no secret that the relationship between China and India was going through a very trying time. He claimed that both nations have border accords dating back to the 1990s that forbade sending large numbers of troops into restricted areas, but Beijing had ignored those pacts. It is no mystery that India is currently experiencing extremely difficult circumstances, primarily as a result of China‘s violations of agreements India struck with them in the 1990s that prohibited sending sizable numbers of troops into restricted areas.
- It is no secret that India is currently going through a very tough time, mostly because China has violated agreements India made with them in the 1990s that forbade sending large numbers of troops into areas that are off-limits.
About China:
President: Xi Jinping
Capital: Beijing
Currency: Renminbi
Official language: Mandarin
NATIONAL
Union government meaning awards GI tag to Mithila makhana
- The Central government has awarded Geographical Indication (GI) tag to Mithila Makhana. With this move, growers will get the maximum price for their premium produce. Over five lakh farmers of Mithila region of Bihar will be benefitted from this decision.
- In a tweet, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said, Mithila Makhana registered with GI Tag, farmers will get profit and it will be easier to earn. Due to Geographical Indication Tag to Mithila Makhana in the festive season, people outside Bihar will be able to use this auspicious material with reverence.
- Once a product gets this tag, any person or company cannot sell a similar item under that name. This tag is valid for a period of 10 years following which it can be renewed.
- The other benefits of GI registration include legal protection to that item, prevention against unauthorised use by others, and promoting exports.
India's first indigenously built hydrogen fuel cell bus launched in Pune
- Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh, on Sunday (21 August), launched India’s first truly indigenously developed Hydrogen Fuel Cell Bus.
- Developed by KPIT-CSIR in Pune, the fuel cell utilises Hydrogen and Air to generate electricity to power the bus, and the only effluent from the bus is water.
- For comparison, a single diesel bus plying on long-distance routes typically emits 100 tons of CO2 annually, and there are over a million such buses in India.
- Also, the high efficiency of fuel cell vehicles and the high energy density of Hydrogen ensures that the operational costs in rupees per kilometre for fuel cell trucks and buses are lower than diesel-powered vehicles.
About Maharashtra:
Governor: Bhagat Singh Koshyari
Chief Minister: Eknath Shinde
Capital: Mumbai
Pune Founded: 1436
ONGC readies to pump geothermal power at 14,000 feet in Ladakh
- At 14,000 feet in Ladakh, ONGC is getting ready to pump geothermal energy. State-run explorer ONGC has set out on a mission to harness the steam streaming from the earth’s core at Puga, a lonely valley off the road to Chumar on the de facto boundary with China, at a height of more than 14,000 feet. In India, geothermal energy is nothing new. The Indian government first provided a report on the nation’s geothermal hotspots in 1973. This occurred after shallow drilling exploration by the Geological Survey of India (GSI) revealed prospective hot spring and geothermal areas. According to estimates, India has the ability to produce 10 gigawatts of geothermal energy.
- A sea of molten rocks emits heat from deep within the earth’s crust. They can occasionally erupt as volcanoes or hot springs. It is intended to capture some of this enormous amount of heat energy and transform it into electricity.
- Geologists first look for geothermal energy hotspots, and then they look for areas of broken rock where heat can escape.
- The Puga Valley in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ladakh region was one of the places that had a lot of potential for geothermal energy. Puga is a component of the Himalayan geothermal belt and is located in the southernmost region of Ladakh. Hot springs, mud pools, sulphur deposits, and borax deposits are all signs of geothermal activity in Puga area.
About Ladakh:
Capital: Leh, Kargil
Lt. Governors & Administrators: Shri Radha Krishna Mathur
Union territory: 31 October 2019
Districts: 2
SPORTS
Antim panghal wins gold medal at u-20 world wrestling championships
- 17-year-old Haryana wrestler Antim Panghal has become the first Indian woman wrestler to win Gold medal at Under-20 World Wrestling Championship in Sofia, Bulgaria. She scored an 8-0 win over Atlyn Shagayeva of Kazakhstan in 53kg category to achieve this feat.
- This gold medal is historic in its own ways as India has never won any gold medal in women’s wrestling at U20 World Championships. Antim Panghal belongs to Haryana’s Bhagana village in the Hisar district.
- Sonam Malik and Priyanka won silver medals in 62 kg and 65 kg respectively after losing the gold medal bouts.
About Haryana:
Capital: Chandigarh
Governor: Bandaru Dattatreya
Chief Minister: Manohar Lal Khattar
OBITUARY
Kerala’s first tribal novelist - Narayan - passes away
- Kerala’s first tribal novelist and short story writer Narayan has passed away at the age of 82 in Kochi. He was born in the Malayaraya community in Kadayathur hills in Thodupuzha taluk in 1940. His debut novel, ‘Kocharethi’ published in 1998, was selected for the Kerala Sahitya Akademi award in 1999. The novel has been translated to English, Hindi and south Indian languages. Kocharethi portrays the struggles of the Malayaraya community through the life of protagonist Kunjipennu. The novel has been translated to English, Hindi and south Indian languages.
- The critically acclaimed novel was selected for the Kerala Sahitya Akademi award in 1999. It was translated and published in Hindi under the title Pahadin by the Sahitya Akademi and was translated to English by Catherine Thankamma. The English translation titled Kocharethi, the Araya Woman was published by Oxford University Press in 2011. It was selected for the Economist Crossword Book Award in the Indian language translation category.
About Kerala:
Governor: Arif Mohammad Khan
Capital: Thiruvananthapuram
Chief Minister: Pinarayi Vijayan
APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS
Gates Foundation appoints Indian philanthropist Ashish Dhawan to its board of trustees
- Indian philanthropist Ashish Dhawan has been named to the board of trustees of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The foundation announced the appointment of two new members to its board of trustees. Ashish Dhawan is the founder and CEO of Convergence Foundation, and along with him, Dr Helene D Gayle, President of Spelman College, US, has also been appointed.
- Both the new board members have worked with foundation grantees focused on saving lives and creating opportunities across health, education, and economic prosperity.
- Besides being the CEO of the Convergence Foundation, which is focused on accelerating India’s economic growth and development, 53-year-old Ashish is also the chairperson of Ashoka University and Central Square Foundation, a non-profit organisation working to improve the quality of education for children in India.
About Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation:
Headquarters: Seattle, Washington, United States
Founded: 2000
Founders: Bill Gates, Melinda French Gates
IMPORTANT DAYS
World Senior Citizen Day 2022: 21st August
- World Senior Citizens’ Day is celebrated on August 21 every year. It is also known as National Senior Citizens’ Day in the United States (US). The day is observed with the intent to highlight the contributions of elderly people in human society and honour them. The day is also celebrated to bring attention to various issues that affect the elderly, such as health issues and abuse by younger people, whether family or outsiders.
- As noted by the United Nations (UN), the elderly population is projected to reach more than 1.5 billion by 2050. This rise will be prominently seen in East Asia and South-East Asia. Less developed nations will host more than two-thirds of the planet’s elderly people by 2050. With a growing elderly population, it is pertinent that a robust system exists which supports their all-around wellbeing.
About United Nations:
Founded: 24 October 1945, San Francisco, California, United States
Headquarters: New York, United States
Secretary general: António Guterres
International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief 2022: 22nd August
- International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief, observed on August 22. On this day, the international community honours the survivors and victims of religious-based violence. The day aims to remember the victims and survivors of evil acts on the basis of or in the name of religion or belief.
- In 2019, the U.N. General Assembly instituted an International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief. The day reinforces the international community’s commitment to justice for survivors of genocide and other atrocities based on religion or ethnicity. The day seeks to hold people accountable for their crimes.
About United Nations:
Founded: 24 October 1945, San Francisco, California, United States
Headquarters: New York, United States
Secretary general: António Guterres
International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism 2022 : 21st August
- International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism is observed on August 21 each year in memory of the victims of terrorism. The day is observed to show the victims of terrorism that they are not forgotten and they are respected and recognised across the world.
- The theme for 2022’s International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism is “memories,” as mentioned in a United Nations (UN). The theme was selected after consulting with victims of terrorism and victims’ associations.
- The event is observed each year not only to highlight the damaging effects of terrorism but also to offer support and possible healing to survivors. Memories are what bind us to one another. Without them, we have no roots to create our future. This year’s observation of the International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism is thus very significant.
About United Nations:
Founded: 24 October 1945, San Francisco, California, United States
Headquarters: New York, United States
Secretary general: António Guterres
Daily Current Affairs- 21 August
August 23, 2022
Today's Current Affairs-21st August 2022
INTERNATIONAL
India-China relations going through a very difficult phase, border issue has not been resolved: EAM Jaishankar
- Jaishankar, the minister of external affairs, stated that it was no secret that the relationship between China and India was going through a very trying time. He claimed that both nations have border accords dating back to the 1990s that forbade sending large numbers of troops into restricted areas, but Beijing had ignored those pacts. It is no mystery that India is currently experiencing extremely difficult circumstances, primarily as a result of China‘s violations of agreements India struck with them in the 1990s that prohibited sending sizable numbers of troops into restricted areas.
- It is no secret that India is currently going through a very tough time, mostly because China has violated agreements India made with them in the 1990s that forbade sending large numbers of troops into areas that are off-limits.
About China:
President: Xi Jinping
Capital: Beijing
Currency: Renminbi
Official language: Mandarin
NATIONAL
Union government meaning awards GI tag to Mithila makhana
- The Central government has awarded Geographical Indication (GI) tag to Mithila Makhana. With this move, growers will get the maximum price for their premium produce. Over five lakh farmers of Mithila region of Bihar will be benefitted from this decision.
- In a tweet, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said, Mithila Makhana registered with GI Tag, farmers will get profit and it will be easier to earn. Due to Geographical Indication Tag to Mithila Makhana in the festive season, people outside Bihar will be able to use this auspicious material with reverence.
- Once a product gets this tag, any person or company cannot sell a similar item under that name. This tag is valid for a period of 10 years following which it can be renewed.
- The other benefits of GI registration include legal protection to that item, prevention against unauthorised use by others, and promoting exports.
India's first indigenously built hydrogen fuel cell bus launched in Pune
- Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh, on Sunday (21 August), launched India’s first truly indigenously developed Hydrogen Fuel Cell Bus.
- Developed by KPIT-CSIR in Pune, the fuel cell utilises Hydrogen and Air to generate electricity to power the bus, and the only effluent from the bus is water.
- For comparison, a single diesel bus plying on long-distance routes typically emits 100 tons of CO2 annually, and there are over a million such buses in India.
- Also, the high efficiency of fuel cell vehicles and the high energy density of Hydrogen ensures that the operational costs in rupees per kilometre for fuel cell trucks and buses are lower than diesel-powered vehicles.
About Maharashtra:
Governor: Bhagat Singh Koshyari
Chief Minister: Eknath Shinde
Capital: Mumbai
Pune Founded: 1436
ONGC readies to pump geothermal power at 14,000 feet in Ladakh
- At 14,000 feet in Ladakh, ONGC is getting ready to pump geothermal energy. State-run explorer ONGC has set out on a mission to harness the steam streaming from the earth’s core at Puga, a lonely valley off the road to Chumar on the de facto boundary with China, at a height of more than 14,000 feet. In India, geothermal energy is nothing new. The Indian government first provided a report on the nation’s geothermal hotspots in 1973. This occurred after shallow drilling exploration by the Geological Survey of India (GSI) revealed prospective hot spring and geothermal areas. According to estimates, India has the ability to produce 10 gigawatts of geothermal energy.
- A sea of molten rocks emits heat from deep within the earth’s crust. They can occasionally erupt as volcanoes or hot springs. It is intended to capture some of this enormous amount of heat energy and transform it into electricity.
- Geologists first look for geothermal energy hotspots, and then they look for areas of broken rock where heat can escape.
- The Puga Valley in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ladakh region was one of the places that had a lot of potential for geothermal energy. Puga is a component of the Himalayan geothermal belt and is located in the southernmost region of Ladakh. Hot springs, mud pools, sulphur deposits, and borax deposits are all signs of geothermal activity in Puga area.
About Ladakh:
Capital: Leh, Kargil
Lt. Governors & Administrators: Shri Radha Krishna Mathur
Union territory: 31 October 2019
Districts: 2
SPORTS
Antim panghal wins gold medal at u-20 world wrestling championships
- 17-year-old Haryana wrestler Antim Panghal has become the first Indian woman wrestler to win Gold medal at Under-20 World Wrestling Championship in Sofia, Bulgaria. She scored an 8-0 win over Atlyn Shagayeva of Kazakhstan in 53kg category to achieve this feat.
- This gold medal is historic in its own ways as India has never won any gold medal in women’s wrestling at U20 World Championships. Antim Panghal belongs to Haryana’s Bhagana village in the Hisar district.
- Sonam Malik and Priyanka won silver medals in 62 kg and 65 kg respectively after losing the gold medal bouts.
About Haryana:
Capital: Chandigarh
Governor: Bandaru Dattatreya
Chief Minister: Manohar Lal Khattar
OBITUARY
Kerala’s first tribal novelist - Narayan - passes away
- Kerala’s first tribal novelist and short story writer Narayan has passed away at the age of 82 in Kochi. He was born in the Malayaraya community in Kadayathur hills in Thodupuzha taluk in 1940. His debut novel, ‘Kocharethi’ published in 1998, was selected for the Kerala Sahitya Akademi award in 1999. The novel has been translated to English, Hindi and south Indian languages. Kocharethi portrays the struggles of the Malayaraya community through the life of protagonist Kunjipennu. The novel has been translated to English, Hindi and south Indian languages.
- The critically acclaimed novel was selected for the Kerala Sahitya Akademi award in 1999. It was translated and published in Hindi under the title Pahadin by the Sahitya Akademi and was translated to English by Catherine Thankamma. The English translation titled Kocharethi, the Araya Woman was published by Oxford University Press in 2011. It was selected for the Economist Crossword Book Award in the Indian language translation category.
About Kerala:
Governor: Arif Mohammad Khan
Capital: Thiruvananthapuram
Chief Minister: Pinarayi Vijayan
APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS
Gates Foundation appoints Indian philanthropist Ashish Dhawan to its board of trustees
- Indian philanthropist Ashish Dhawan has been named to the board of trustees of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The foundation announced the appointment of two new members to its board of trustees. Ashish Dhawan is the founder and CEO of Convergence Foundation, and along with him, Dr Helene D Gayle, President of Spelman College, US, has also been appointed.
- Both the new board members have worked with foundation grantees focused on saving lives and creating opportunities across health, education, and economic prosperity.
- Besides being the CEO of the Convergence Foundation, which is focused on accelerating India’s economic growth and development, 53-year-old Ashish is also the chairperson of Ashoka University and Central Square Foundation, a non-profit organisation working to improve the quality of education for children in India.
About Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation:
Headquarters: Seattle, Washington, United States
Founded: 2000
Founders: Bill Gates, Melinda French Gates
IMPORTANT DAYS
World Senior Citizen Day 2022: 21st August
- World Senior Citizens’ Day is celebrated on August 21 every year. It is also known as National Senior Citizens’ Day in the United States (US). The day is observed with the intent to highlight the contributions of elderly people in human society and honour them. The day is also celebrated to bring attention to various issues that affect the elderly, such as health issues and abuse by younger people, whether family or outsiders.
- As noted by the United Nations (UN), the elderly population is projected to reach more than 1.5 billion by 2050. This rise will be prominently seen in East Asia and South-East Asia. Less developed nations will host more than two-thirds of the planet’s elderly people by 2050. With a growing elderly population, it is pertinent that a robust system exists which supports their all-around wellbeing.
About United Nations:
Founded: 24 October 1945, San Francisco, California, United States
Headquarters: New York, United States
Secretary general: António Guterres
International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief 2022: 22nd August
- International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief, observed on August 22. On this day, the international community honours the survivors and victims of religious-based violence. The day aims to remember the victims and survivors of evil acts on the basis of or in the name of religion or belief.
- In 2019, the U.N. General Assembly instituted an International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief. The day reinforces the international community’s commitment to justice for survivors of genocide and other atrocities based on religion or ethnicity. The day seeks to hold people accountable for their crimes.
About United Nations:
Founded: 24 October 1945, San Francisco, California, United States
Headquarters: New York, United States
Secretary general: António Guterres
International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism 2022 : 21st August
- International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism is observed on August 21 each year in memory of the victims of terrorism. The day is observed to show the victims of terrorism that they are not forgotten and they are respected and recognised across the world.
- The theme for 2022’s International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism is “memories,” as mentioned in a United Nations (UN). The theme was selected after consulting with victims of terrorism and victims’ associations.
- The event is observed each year not only to highlight the damaging effects of terrorism but also to offer support and possible healing to survivors. Memories are what bind us to one another. Without them, we have no roots to create our future. This year’s observation of the International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism is thus very significant.
About United Nations:
Founded: 24 October 1945, San Francisco, California, United States
Headquarters: New York, United States
Secretary general: António Guterres
