National
•Union Government has identified 305 cities and towns across 9 states for implementation of its flagship ‘Housing for All’ scheme. 305 cities were identified by Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation (HUPA) for beginning of construction of houses for the urban poor under the scheme.
•Union Government has launched SAHAJ scheme for online release of new LPG connections for the consumers as parts of its consumer friendly initiative. It was launched by Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan at a function held in New Delhi.
•Union Government has issued an executive order to include 13 Central Acts under the purview of Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (RFCTLARR) Act , 2013.
•Biggest harvest festival of Thiru Onam was celebrated by Keralites across the globe. Various cultural and religious programmes were organized throughout southern state of Kerala to celebrate the Onam. The festival falls during the Malayalam month of Chingam (August- September). It is reminiscent of Kerala’s agrarian past and is considered to be a harvest festival. It is also the state festival of Kerala.
•India’s largest power generator National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) Limited has achieved a record of highest single-day electricity generation of over 733 million units.
•Union Government has given its nod to rename Delhi’s famous Aurangzeb Road has been renamed after former President of India APJ Abdul Kalam. It was decided by New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) to rename road as APJ Abdul Kalam Road, as the jurisdiction of the road comes under it.
•India has lost solar case against United States at the World Trade Organisation (WTO). Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) of WTO has ruled that, India’s requirement of only domestic solar equipment’s for its ambitious Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM) is inconsistent with the international trade norms.
•World Health Oraganistion (WHO) has officially declared India as Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus free country, i.e. mothers and newborns are free from tetanus at the time of birth. It was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi after inaugurating the Call to Action Summit 2015 on reducing child and maternal deaths across the world in New Delhi.
•National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog has launched the second version of an open source web based tool India Energy Security Scenarios 2047 calculator (IESS 2047). The tool was launched by the NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Arvind Panagariya at a function held at the Federation House in New Delhi.
•Union Government has launched an e-payment module to make the payment of compensatory levies into the Compensatory Afforestation Management Planning Authority (CAMPA) Funds. It was launched by Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar in New Delhi in order to make these payments for diversion of forest land quicker and more transparent.
•Union Government has approved six new proposals 6 Special Economic Zones (SEZs) proposals including four from Information Technology and IT enabled Service (ITeS) sector. This decision was taken by the Board of Approval (BoA) for SEZ (under the aegis of Union Commerce Ministry) chaired by Commerce Secretary Rita Teaotia.
•Maharashtra government has bought the house in London where social reformer and architect of the Indian Constitution Dr Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar had stayed in the 1920s. State government has acquired this house in 3.1 million pound deal owing to its cultural and national importance and pride of millions of people of India.
•The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved the proposal for payment of differential royalty in respect of 28 discovered fields to the respective State Governments concerned.
•India has inked an information exchange agreement on tax matters with Seychelles in order to curb tax evasion and boost its efforts to fight against black money.
•Union Cabinet has given its nod for amendments to the Arbitration and Conciliation Bill, 2015. These amendments seek to make of commercial disputes more user-friendly and cost effective which in turn will lead to expeditious disposal of cases.
•Union Cabinet gave its nod to amend the Central List of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) for Gujarat and Uttarakhand for inclusion of Sipai and Patni Jamat or Turk Jamat (all Muslims) from Gujarat and Kahar, Tanwar Singhariya from Uttarakhand in the list.
•Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 24 August 2015 inaugurated birth centenary celebrations of freedom fighter Rani Gaidinliu. On this occasion he launched commemorative coin of 100 rupees and circulation coin of 5 rupees of Rani Gaidinliu to mark her birth centenary celebrations.
•As per recently released 2011 census data on religion, the proportion Muslim population in India has increased by 0.8 per cent and Hindu population has declined by 0.7 per cent.
•Union Government has announced it plans to implement the Sendai framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 in letter and spirit.
•Union Government has launched a telemedicine initiative dubbed as Sehat to provide healthcare facilities in rural areas in collaboration with Apollo Hospitals. This telemedicine initiative was launched by Union Communication and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad at a function held in New Delhi.
•UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Chennai based M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) have agreed to work together for the conservation and adaptation initiative of coastal resources in Andhra Pradesh.
•Tata Trusts has inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Andhra Pradesh Government to develop 264 villages. Under this initiative, all 264 villages in the Vijayawada constituency will be developed in order to transform them into smart villages.
•Gujarat is set to become the first state in India to launch ‘Agro-Solar Policy’ to encourage the farmers to tap the solar energy. The new policy seeks to encourage the farmers in the state to tap free solar energy from sun, which will in turn help them to earn additional income from power generation companies.
•Gujarat High Court has stayed implementation of the compulsory voting in the panchayat and municipal polls under the provision of Gujarat Local Authorities Laws (Amendment) Act, 2009.
•Chengalikodan banana variety from Thrissur district of Kerala has been accorded Geographical Indication (GI) status by the Chennai based Central GI registry. This banana variant is uniquely grown in Chowannur, Pazhayannur, Wadakkanchery, Puzhakkal and Ollukkara block panchayats in Thrissur district of Kerala.
•Manipur Government has reached an agreement with the Joint Committee on the Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) over the issue of implementation of Inner Line Permit (ILP) system. It was reached after a marathon talk between the state government and the delegation of JCILPS led by its Convenor in-Charge Khomdram Ratan.
•On 20 August 2015, Government launched a web-based portal www.vidyalakshmi.co.in for the students seeking educational loans.
•Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL) of Kerala has become the first airport in the world to fully operate on solar power. It achieved this feat after Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chand officially commissioned the 12 MWp solar power plants near the cargo complex of airport.
•Himachal Pradesh Government has launched Rajiv Gandhi Illuminating Scheme for Hill Town Advancement (RISHTA) project, which is an efficient smart LED based street lighting project. With this Himachal Pradesh becomes first state in North India to do so. It was launched by State Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh from the capital city of Shimla.
•India’s Public Service Broadcaster Prasar Bharati and Digital Television Russia (DTR) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for Joint TV Programme cooperation.
•Union Tourism Ministry will soon confer the title of ‘Twin National Heritage Cities’ on the temple towns of Rishikesh and Haridwar.
•Union Government has completed the demarcation of eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) around the Okhla Bird Sanctuary in the national capital region (NCR) of Delhi. It was announced by Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar mentioning that notification in this regard will be issued soon.
•India’s historic Mughal mausoleum Taj Mahal has ranked fifth position in the prestigious list of most attractive travel hotspot in the world. It was revealed in the recently released Ultimate Travelist of Lonely Planet which has described the monument as a magnificent Mughal masterpiece.
•Union Government has announced 1.25 lakh crore rupees special package for poll bound Bihar as part of Prime Minister’s Bihar Package.
•Tamil Nadu state has topped in organ donation in the country by harvesting organs of 683 persons and donating them to over 3000 beneficiaries.
•The Odisha government has set up a special entity State level Facilitation Cell (SLFC) to fast track approvals through hassle free Single Window Clearance for investment projects.
•Kerala government has signed a MoU with Gautam Adani-led Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) for building 7,525 crore rupees Vizhinjam seaport project near Kovalam beach.
•Odisha state cabinet approved ‘Fisheries Policy, 2015’, with an objective to increase the productivity and production of fish from island, marine and brackishwater resources.
•India and Bangladesh have inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for full cooperation to tackle the menace of fake Indian currency notes (FICN) smuggling. The MoU was signed at a maiden meeting of the Joint Task Force on Fake Currency Notes (JTFFC) in Dhaka held on 12 and 13 August, 2015.
•Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has decided to establish a pan-India National fingerprint database to aid in the speedy identification of criminals and investigation of crimes across the country.
•The iconic Mughal monument Taj Mahal became the first historical monuments in the world to have a Twitter account of its own. The monument’s official Twitter handle @TajMahal was launched by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on eve of 69th Independence Day in Lucknow.
•Union Government has launched a seven pronged plan called Indradhanush Mission to revamp functioning of public sector banks (PSBs). It was launched by Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in New Delhi.
•Kerala Government has declared state totally digital, thus becoming first state in the country to achieve it. It was announced by Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy during his Independence Day speech held in the capital Thiruvananthapuram.
•On the eve of celebration of 69th Independence Day at Red Fort Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a new campaign ‘Start-up India; Stand up India’ an initiative to promote bank finance for Start-ups (an entrepreneurial venture).
•Assam state legislature has passed Assam Witch Hunting (Prohibition, Prevention and Protection) Bill, 2015. This law was prepared in order to reign in the rising incidents of witch hunting cases across the state. It was prepared in lines with the spirit of universal declaration of human rights, crimes in witch hunting cases cause gross violation of basic human rights.
•Odisha government has approved a new policy for ‘Housing for All’ in urban areas of state. The new policy was approval of the State Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in Bhubaneswar.
•Odisha cabinet approved the much awaited Industrial Policy Resolution (IPR) 2015 after several rounds of consultation with different administrative departments and industry associations.
•National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) has signed two Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) with National Skill Development Fund (NSDF) and National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) for skill development training in eastern states and Bihar.
•Union Government’s ambitious Pratyaksha Hastaantarit Laabh (PAHAL) scheme has been acknowledged as the world’s largest cash transfer program (households) by the Guinness Book of World Records.
•Central Government has revised the National Solar Mission target of Grid Connected Solar Power projects from 20,000 MW by 2022 to1,00,000 MW by 2022. Centre has envisaged to achieve the 1,00,000 MW target by setting up Distributed Rooftop Solar Projects and Medium & Large Scale Solar Projects.
•India and Slovak Republic have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on technical cooperation in railway sector. The MoU was signed between Union Ministry of Railways and the Ministry of Transport, Construction and Regional Development of the Slovak Republic.
•The Ministry for New and Renewable Energy sanctioned a 1,500-MW ultra mega solar power park for Andhra Pradesh. The 1,500 MW ultra mega solar park will be developed in Kadapa district by NTPC, which will the third mega park of over 1,000 MW to be taken up by the state.
•In order to infuse liquidity into the sugar industry and facilitate clearing of cane dues arrears government approved a soft loan scheme worth Rs. 6000 crore for the current sugar season.
•The Union Cabinet gave its approval to the spectrum sharing guidelines based on the recommendations of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). The decision is part of Union Government’s commitment to improve spectral efficiency and quality of telecom service across the country.
•Union Railway Ministry has signed 4 Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) with Union Power and New & Renewable Energy Ministry for energy conservation, transmission and solarisation. These MoUs seek to boost cooperation between both parties in the areas of electricity transmission, promotion of renewable energy and energy conservation in a time bound manner.
•Maharashtra government has constituted a cabinet sub-committee to prepare an action plan to tackle the impending drought crisis in the state due to poor monsoon. The committee will be headed by state Agriculture Minister Eknath Khadse and also comprise state Rural Development Minister Pankaja Munde, Water Supply Minister Babanrao Lonikar and Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar.
•Union government has given nod to set up of All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) for imparting Doctor of Medicine (MD) and Ph.D level education in the field of traditional medicine. It was announced by Minister of State (MoS) of AYUSH Ministry, Shripad Yesso Naik in a written reply to an unstarred question in the Rajya Sabha.
•On 11 August 2015 Government of India and the World Bank signed the Financing Agreement for the assistance of National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project- I & II (NCRMP- I & II) for $ 104.00 Million and $ 308.40 Million respectively.
•Union Minister for Minority Affairs Dr. Najma Heptulla launched a new Central Sector Scheme Nai Manzil for empowering minorities. The scheme was launched to make innovative interventions in the field of education and skill development for improving the welfare of minorities.
•Union Government launched new train services in the Northeast Indian states after the completion of Balipara- Bhalukpong (Arunachal Pradesh) and North Lakhimpur-Murkongselek (Assam) sections into broad-gauge.
•Kochi becomes first Indian city to be a member of Beijing headquartered, World Tourism Cities Federation (WTCF) Council and join its league of leading tourism cities across the world.
•Union Government has launched the School Nursery Yojana in a bid to bring school students closer to nature by involving them in raising of saplings in school nurseries. The scheme was launched by Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar in New Delhi.
•On 10 August Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has launched a new mobile app ‘Disha’ to aid digital literacy in Bihar. The app was launched in Bihar that aims to help people learn about computers and Internet through self learning modules. The app envisages offering digital literacy to tribal and Dalit women in the State which is free and available on Google app store.
•Union Government has launched Suraksha Bandhan drive in a Mission Mode through participating insurance companies and banks. The drive aims at taking forward Union Government’s objective of creating a universal social security system in the country, especially for the poor and the under-privileged sections.
•An annual festival of Tendong Lho Rum Faat of the ethnic Lepcha tribe of Sikkim was celebrated with traditional devotion and fanfare across the state.
•Maharashtra government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Tiawan-based Foxconn to set up its manufacturing facility in the state.
•Maharashtra government has declared the area along Thane Creek as Flamingo Sanctuary. In this regard State Revenue and Forest Department has issued notification to declare northern part of the creek as a wildlife sanctuary as per provisions of Section 18 of the Wildlife (Protection Act), 1972.
•Tripura Legislative Assembly has unanimously passed a resolution for abolishing death penalty and to provide imprisonment up to death in case of heinous crimes. The resolution to send a proposal in this regard to Union Government was forwarded by Congress MLA Jitendra Sarkar.
International
•United States (US) has extended the anti-dumping duty on Indian preserved mushrooms for another five years. This decision to revoke existing anti-dumping duty orders on preserved mushrooms was taken by US International Trade Commission on cheap imports Chile, China, India and Indonesia. The move will have a negative impact on India’s domestic exporters as US is a major export destination.
•India has strongly pitched for finalisation of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) and UN Security Council (UNSC) reforms. On behalf of India, these issues were stressed by Union External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj during her meeting with the President-elect of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) Mogens Lykketoft who is on official two-day visit to India.
•Pakistan has banned the Islamic State (IS) militant group which has undertaken vast stretches of Iraq and Syria in its control.
•President of Greece’s Supreme Court Vassiliki Thanou has been appointed as the first female Prime Minister of the heavily indebted country which is center of Eurozone crisis.
•India and Egypt have signed two Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) in the field of Tourism, Scientific and Technical.
•India and Australia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in the fields of education, research and training.
•India and Nepal have inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the construction of Raxaul-Amlekhgunj oil pipeline. This pipeline will be the first of its kind project between two neighbouring countries in the SAARC region in the oil and gas sector.
•South and North Korea have reached an agreement to defuse a crisis that had pushed the two rivals to the brink of armed conflict recently. In this regard both nations have issued a joint statement which includes series of measures.
•Pakistan and Russia have signed a landmark defence deal including the sale of 4 advance Mi-35 ‘Hind E’ combat helicopters to Pakistan. The agreement was signed by top defence officials from both countries in Rawalpindi as per negotiations for the deal which had taken place in 2014. Earlier in November 2014, both countries had signed a bilateral defence cooperation agreement to strengthen military-to-military relations between them.
•Bangladesh has become the first country in the world to receive funds from United Nations for its fast growing Solar Home Systems. In this regard, UN Framework Convention for Climate Change (UNFCCC) has issued carbon credits (CC) worth 3.56 million US dollars to two Bangladeshi organisations.
•The US military has launched the largest NATO airborne drills dubbed as Swift Response 15 since the end of the Cold War to enhance security and stability in the European region.
•On 17 August the Finance Ministry has imposed definitive anti-dumping duty on ‘flax’ or ‘linen’ fabric imports from China and Hong Kong for period of five years.
•China successfully tested the power system (engines) of its stated to be the largest space launch vehicle viz. Long March-5 carrier.
•Egypt has approved stringent new counter-terrorism laws to fight the menace of growing jihadist insurgency in the country. These laws were approved by Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi.
•India has imposed definitive anti-dumping duty for period of five years on Potassium Carbonate imports from Taiwan and South Korea. The duty was imposed by Union Finance Ministry based on the recommendations of the Directorate General of Anti-Dumping Duty (DGAD) that works under the aegis of Union Commerce Ministry.
The Union Cabinet gave its ex-post-facto approval for the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between American and India to establish the PACEsetter Fund.
The Union Cabinet has approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Nepal for construction of petroleum products pipeline from Raxaul (Bihar) in India to Amlekhgunj in Nepal.
Science and technology
•Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has successfully placed communication satellite GSAT-6 into its intended geosynchronous transfer orbit. It was launched by the indigenously built Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV)-D6 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikotta.
•Scientists from United States (US) have successfully grown a replica of a human brain in a laboratory dish. This medical breakthrough research was undertaken team of researchers from Ohio State University led by Professor Rene Anand.
•Scientists from United States have discovered a way to take carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air and convert it into valuable manufacturing material carbon nanofibres (CNFs). This method was discovered team of researchers led by Prof Stuart Licht of Washington DC based George Washington University. In this regard, they have developed a practical system.
•Union Government has announced that 424 species of fauna and 347 species of flora including 2 reptiles have been discovered in the country in 2013-2014. It was announced by Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.
•Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on 10 August has fully commissioned and started commercial production at the first indigenous Titanium Sponge Plant at Chavara in Kerala.
New Appointments/Resignations
•Former Adobe executive Rajiv Mangla has been appointed as Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of eCommerce major Snapdeal.
•World No. 1 tennis player Novak Djokovic from Serbia has been appointed as a new goodwill ambassador of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). Prior to this appointment he has focused on the issues of vulnerable children and their communities through his own Novak Djokovic Foundation and as a UNICEF Serbia Ambassador.
•Justice Madanlal Laxmandas Tahaliyani has sworn-in as the new Lokayukta of Maharashtra. He was administered the oath of office by the Governor Vidyasagar Rao at the oath taking ceremony held in Raj Bhavan in Mumbai.
•Veteran actor and director Amol Palekar has been appointed as the Chairman of India’s Oscar jury by Mumbai based Film Federation of India (FFI).
•Ranil Wickremesinghe has sworn-in as the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka for fourth time. He was administered the oath of office by President Maithripala Sirisena at the oath taking ceremony held at Presidential Secretariat in Colombo.
•Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has announced his resignation in a televised address to the debt ridden nation which is centre of Eurozone crisis.
•Union Government has appointed Ashwani Lohani as Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of state owned national carrier Air India Ltd. His name was cleared by the Appointments Committee of Cabinet (ACC) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He will have tenure of three years and succeed senior IAS officer Rohit Nandan whose extended tenure is ending on 21 August 2015.
•Former Olympic champion Sebastian Coe from United Kingdom has been elected as President of International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).
•Industrial Development Bank of India (IDBI) has appointed Kishor Piraji Kharat as its new Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer.
•Maharashtra government has roped Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar as its new ambassador for the Tiger Conservation Project. His association will help state government to raise awareness about saving the tigers in the state.
•Former Cabinet secretary Ajit Kumar Seth has been appointed as the Chairman of the government’s head-hunter, Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) on 14 August 2015.
•Ram Nath Kovind sworn-in as 36th Governor of Bihar Acting Chief Justice of Patna High Court Iqbal Ahmed Ansari administered him the oath of office and secrecy as per provisions of Article 159 of Constitution. Mr. Kovind will succeed Keshri Nath Tripathi (Governor of West Bengal) who was holding additional charge of Bihar.
•President Pranab Mukherjee has appointed former IAS officer Om Prakash Rawat as an Election Commissioner (EC) in the Election Commission of India (ECI).
•Jethabhai Patel the veteran cooperative leader and Sabar Dairy chief was unanimously elected as Chairman of the prestigious Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF) that markets the Amul brand of dairy products in India and overseas. Patel will head GCMMF Asia’s largest milk cooperative and apex marketing body comprising 17 dairy unions of the state for next two and a half years.
•Acharya Dev Vrat was sworn in as the Governor of Himachal Pradesh at oath taking ceremony held in Raj Bhawan, Shimla. He is 27th Governor and 18th regular Governor of the Himachal Pradesh, since it was granted full statehood in 1971.
Larsen and Toubro has appointed former Infosys executive Sanjay Jalona as the Managing Director and CEO of its subsidiary L&T Infotech, IT arm of L&T.
•Maharashtra government has roped Superstar Amitabh Bachchan as its new ambassador for the Tiger Conservation Project. His association will help to raise awareness about saving the tigers in the state.
•Indian-American Atul Keshap has been appointed as the United States (US) Ambassador to Maldives and Sri Lanka. With this appointment he became the second Indian-origin US diplomat to be posted as Ambassador to the region after Richard Rahul Verma (US Ambassador to India).
Business and Economy
•State-owned financial services lender Indian Bank has launched IndPay mobile app service to enables its customers to operate bank accounts anytime from anywhere. It was formally unveiled by the Indian Bank MD and CEO M K Jain.
•Bandhan Bank has become the first micro-finance company in India to start operation as full-fledged scheduled commercial bank. The bank was inaugurated by Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in Kolkata, ushering in a new era in country’s banking sector to reach out to the unbanked population.
•A Reserve Bank of India (RBI) committee has recommended conversion of Urban Cooperative Banks (UCBs) with business size of 20,000 crore rupees or more into regular banks. This recommendation was given by the High Powered Committee on UCBs headed by RBI Deputy Governor R Gandhi in its report.
•Union Finance Ministry appointed committee chaired by retired SC judge A P Shah has recommended that Minimum Alternate Tax (MAT) should not be imposed on FIIs retrospectively for the period preceding 1st April 2015.
•Union government has announced to sell 10 per cent stake in state owned Indian Oil Corporation (IOC). This disinvestment drive on the stock market through an offer for sale (OFS) will fetch Union Government about 9,500 crore rupees to the exchequer. The 10 per cent stake in IOC comprises 24.27 crore shares.
•The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has barred 59 entities from trading in Bombay Stock Exchange due to alleged manipulation of the stock exchange route for evading taxes. As per the order of SEBI these 59 entities will not conduct any activity of trading, buying, selling or dealing in the securities markets, either directly or indirectly.
•Video sharing portal YouTube has announced to set up a new “YouTube Space” in Mumbai with Asia’s largest and most renowned film schools the Whistling Woods International (WWI). The ‘YouTube Space’ at WWI will provide production facility for YouTube video creators as well as the students of WWI where they can learn video production.
•On 19 August the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) has extended the direct market access facility (DMA) to foreign portfolio investors (FPI). Henceforth, the foreign investors will have direct access to the exchange trading system in Indian stock market without any manual interventions of the broker.
•With an intention of curbing black money generation the government approved signing and ratification of the Tax information exchange agreements between India and Seychelles.
•Three Indian companies Hindustan Unilever Sun Pharma Industries and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and have been named among the world’s 100 most innovative companies by Forbes. Hindustan Unilever the FMCG has been ranked 41 on the list whereas TCS stood at number 64 and Sun Pharma at 71 in the Forbes list of ‘The World’s Most Innovative Companies’.
•Central government announced 30 per cent income tax rebate for establishment of new manufacturing plants and machinery in 21 ‘backward’ districts of Bihar. In order to give boost to economy and to attract new manufacturing units in 21 backward districts of Bihar Finance Ministry announced this special concession for five years under section 32 of the IT Act.
•Reserve Bank of India granted ‘in-principle’ approval to 11 applicants to start payments banks. The Committee of the Central Board (CCB) of RBI has selected 11 entities among the 41 applicant who has the reach and the technological and financial strength to provide service to the customers and promote government’s initiative of financial inclusion across the country.
•State run insurer, Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has launched its maiden unit linked insurance plan (ULIP) product across the country.
•Finance Minister Arun Jaitley launched two funds the India Aspiration Fund (IAF) and SIDBI Make in India Loan for Enterprises (SMILE) under Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) in line to carter funding for start-ups and to aid small enterprises in India.
•India’s largest private sector lender ICICI Bank has launched ‘Smart Vault’ first of its kind fully automated digital locker facility in India. It was launched by Managing Director (MD) and CEO of ICICI Bank, Chanda Kochhar in New Delhi.
•India’s largest banking entity State Bank of India (SBI) launched a Mobile wallet application dubbed as ‘SBI Buddy’. It was launched by Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley at a function held at State Bank Bhavan, Nariman Point in Mumbai. SBI’s first female Chairperson Arundhati Bhattacharya was also present on the occasion.
•Reserve Bank of India (RBI) suspends licence of seven non-banking finance companies (NBFCs). The seven NBFCs whose licences were suspended are &ndash Religare Finance, Artisans Micro Finance, Eden Trade & Commerce, RCS Parivar Finance, Nott Investments, Dewra Stocks & Securities, Swetasree Finance. Being a dormant entity, Religare Finance licence was suspended by RBI as it did not conducted lending operation for long period of time.
•As per the fourth advance estimate released by Agriculture Ministry on 17 August, the estimated foodgrain production have declined by 4.66 per cent to 252.68 million tonnes (MT) in 2014-15 crop year due to poor monsoon and unseasonal rains. The estimate includes Wheat, rice, coarse cereals and pulses in the foodgrain basket.
•Union government has appointed two private sector banking professionals as Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer of Bank of Baroda (BoB) and Canara Bank. This is the first time that Union government has appointed the two candidates from the private sector to head the Public Sector Banks (PSBs).
•HDFC has announced to sell its 9 per cent stake in HDFC Life Insurance to its British joint venture partner Standard Life for sum of 1,700 crore rupees.
•Birla Corporation has signed an agreement with French-based Lafarge Group to acquire its Jojobera unit in Jharhkand and Sonadih in Chattisgarh for sum of Rs. 5000 crore.
•World’s largest bicycle manufacturer Hero Cycles acquired majority stake in UK-based Avocet Sports for an undisclosed amount.
•Hyderabad based renewable energy company Greenko has agreed to sell its India assets to Singapore based sovereign wealth fund company GIC for about 1,600 crore Rupees.
•Mumbai based Real estate listing portal Housing.com has acquired Bengaluru-based customer relationship management software company HomeBuy360.
•Union Government has decided to set up a Bank Board Bureau (BBB) to monitor key performance indicators of two dozen public sector banks (PSBs). It was announced by Union Finance Minister Arun Jailtley as part of a seven-pronged revamp plan for PSBs dubbed as Indradhanush (rainbow) plan.
•Tata Sons has decided to increase its stake in low-cost carrier AirAsia India from 30 per cent to 41 per cent by infusing fresh capital.
•India’s third largest private sector lender, Axis Bank has launched the first Contactless Debit, Credit and Multi-Currency Forex Card in association with VISA payWave in the country. Axis Bank will offer a contactless debit/credit cards to its 1.7 million premium customers which also enables withdrawal of 15 currencies via Multi-Currency Forex facility. To facilitate contactless cards operations bank will upgrade 50,000, of its point of sale (PoS) machines across the country.
•The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has allowed banks to tie up with insurers. This decision was taken as part of the IRDAI’s new Bancassurance model guidelines which will be notified soon. Prior to this decision, banks were not allowed to have insurance agency tie-ups with more than one insurer.
•Uninor a subsidiary of Norway’s telecom major Telenor has inked an agreement worth 1,200 crore rupees with Chinese firm Huawei for modernising and managing its network across six circles in the country.
•Two Indian technology tycoons Azim Premji chairman of Wipro and Shiv Nadar founder of HCL bagged place in Top 20 on Forbes’ first ever list of ‘100 Richest People In Technology’. As per the Forbes list of ‘top 100 richest people in technology’ Azim Premji with net worth of $17.4 billion ranked 13th followed by Shiv Nadar on the 14th spot with net worth $14.4 billion.
•Thermal Powertech Corporation India Ltd (TPCIL) has synchronised the second 660 MW unit of its 1,320 MW coal-fired thermal power plant with the grid on 11 August.
•On 11 August the social network giant Facebook doled out 21 million US dollar to Indian app developers under its FbStart initiative.
•National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) got accredited by the Green Climate Fund as a national implementing entity for undertaking climate change related projects in India.
•Mallinckrodt, a leader in biopharmaceutical has signed an agreement to buy a leading immunotherapy company Therakos Inc, from the global investment firm, Gores Group for approximately 1.325 billion US dollars.
•World’s sixth largest South Korean steelmaker Posco has signed an agreement to form a Joint venture with Uttam Steel and Power to set up a 3 million tonnes per year integrated steel plant in Maharashtra.
•India’s largest private sector lender Industrial Credit and Investment Corporation of India (ICICI) Bank has launched ‘ICICI Bank Saral-Rural Housing Loan’ Scheme for weaker sections of society. The scheme is new home loan proposition of the bank with special interest rate to cater people from rural areas including women borrowers as well as from weaker sections.
•Search engine giant Google Inc has announced formation of a new holding or parent company called Alphabet Inc to encompass its search engine unit and all other subsidiaries.
Sports
•Ethiopia’s Mare Dibaba has won the gold medal in the women’s marathon event at the World Athletics Championships 2015 held in Beijing, China.
•Indian wrestler Anil has clinched gold medal in Cadet Wrestling World Championships in the 50 kg freestyle competitions.
•Indian women’s hockey team has qualified for 2016 Rio Olympics and now joining nine other teams. It was announced by International Hockey Federation (FIH) after Great Britain’s semifinal victory over Spain and Netherlands’ win over Germany in the other semifinal in the 2015 European Championships.
•Jamaican athlete Usain Bolt has won world 200 metre title in the World Athletics Championships held in Beijing, China. In the final of the event Bolt finished the race by 19.55 seconds easily outstripped his rival Justin Gatlin of US who won silver medal.
•World number two, Roger Federer from Switzerland has won the Cincinnati Masters title for record seventh time in men’s singles title category.
•Punjabi University of Patiala has clinched the prestigious sports award Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) trophy for year 2014. The Trophy will be awarded to Univeristy on 29 August 2015 on the occasion of National Sports Day.
•Ace Indian golfer Aditi Ashok won the prestigious Ladies British amateur stroke-play Championship 2015 at Leeds, United Kingdom.
•Bangladesh has won maiden Under-16 South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) championship title 2015.
•Andy Murray of Great Britain has won Rogers Cup Masters Tournament 2015 also known as the Canada Masters. In the final match played at Montreal, Canada he defeated world number one Novak Djokovic of Serbia by 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 score.
•Defending champion Carolina Marin Martin of Spain has won the prestigious World Badminton Championship 2015 in women’s single category. In the final match she defeated India’s Saina Nehwal by two set score of 16-21 and 19-21. This second time Carolina Marin had won this championship. Earlier she had won it in 2014 becoming first Spanish women player to win this prestigious title.
•Ace Indian Archer Abhishek Verma has won gold medal in Archery World Cup in the stage 3 in the compound men’s individual section.
•Gujarat Government has declared ban on the use of plastic in the State for the first time. It was announced by Gujarat’s first women Chief Minister Anandiben Patel after unfurling the National Flag at the Independence Day ceremony in Mahisagar district of Gujarat. This decision was taken keeping in view protection of environment, cleanliness and cattle health. It should be several municipal bodies in the state already have banned use of plastic bags thinner than 40 microns.
•Boxing Coach Swatantra Raj Singh has been recommended for the prestigious life time achievement Dronacharya award 2015. Along with Singh, Nihar Amin (Swimming) and Harbans Singh (Athletics) also have been chosen for this year’s Dronacharya award.
Awards:
•Mountaineer Jot Singh of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has been honoured with the Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award 2014-15.
•Noted Indian agricultural scientist Dr Modadugu Vijay Gupta has been chosen for the inaugural Sunhak Peace Prize. He will receive the first Sunhak Peace Prize in South Korean Capital city of Seoul along with President of Kiribati Islands Anote Tong.
•A Syria-based woman journalist Zaina Erhaim has won the prestigious 2015 Peter Mackler Award for Courageous and Ethical Journalism.
•Eminent Historian writer Babasaheb Purandare has been conferred with Maharashtra Bhushan Award 2015. He was bestowed this award in literature category by Governor C. Vidyasagar Rao in presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at a function held in Raj Bhava, Mumbai.
•Bangladesh novelist Zia Haider Rahman has won James Tait Black award 2015, UK’s oldest literary prize for his first novel, In the Light of What We Know.
•President Pranab Mukherjee has conferred prestigious literary award Saraswati Sammaan for the year 2014 to Dr. Marpadi Veerappa Moily in New Delhi.
•Professor Raghavendra Gadagkar has been conferred with highest civilian award of Germany, Cross of Order of the Merit. He was bestowed with this award in recognition of his work in strengthening Indo-German research co-operation in the field of behavioural ecology and sociobiology.
•Goa Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar has been conferred with the Pacific Area Travel Writers Association (PATWA) and Safari India South Asia Travel Award 2015.
Death
•Senior Kannada writer Dr. Malleshappa Madivalappa Kalburgi passed away in Dharwad, Karnataka. He was 77.
•Former Australian Cricketer Arthur Morris passed away. He was aged 93.
•Uttar Pradesh Minister of State (MoS) for Parliamentary Affairs Chitranjan Swarup passed away in Delhi. He was 70 and died after a prolonged illness.
•Renowned Malayalam actor Paravoor Bharathan passed away in Kochi, Kerala. He was 86 and was suffering from age-related ailments since 2009.
•India’s First Lady Suvra Mukherjee, wife of President Pranab Mukherjee passed away in New Delhi. She was 74.
•The founder of Hero Cycle and a leading industrialist Om Prakash Munjal breathed his last in the DMC Hero Heart Centre, Ludhiana on 13 August. He was 87.
•Veteran Marathi stage actor, drama producer and singer Bhalchandra Pendharkar passed away in Mumbai after a brief illness. He was 94.
•Eminent Kannada poet and freedom fighter Kayyara Kinhanna Rai passed away at Badiyadkka in Kasaragod district of Kerala. He was 101.
Important Days
•Every year August 29 is being observed as National Sports Day across the country. The day marks the birth anniversary of Hockey Wizard, Major Dhyan Chand. On this day National Sports awards including Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, Arjuna Awards and Dronacharya Awards are bestowed upon sports personalities by the President of India.
•Every year 10th August is observed as World Bio-Fuel Day in a bid to create awareness about non fossil-fuels (Green Fuels).
•70th anniversary of dropping of disastrous Atomic bomb on Nagasaki city of Japan was observed across the world. A solemn ceremony including ageing survivors, relatives of victims observed and guests from 75 countries was held on the ground zero by marking a minute’s silence at 11:02 am local time at which the devastating explosion took place on August 9, 1945.
•To commemorate the 1905 Swadeshi movement the Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced August 7 as ‘National Handloom Day’ at the function held in Chennai.
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