National Sports Awards 2020 announced

1.MEA in partnership with Foreign Ministry of Thailand organize 6th Round Table of AINTT

The Ministry of External Affairs in partnership with the Foreign Ministry of Thailand has organized the 6th Round Table of ASEAN-India Network of Think Tanks (AINTT).The theme of the two day Round Table which was conducted through video conferencing was ‘ASEAN-India: Strengthening Partnership in the Post COVID Era’.It was jointly inaugurated by External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar and the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Thailand Mr. Don Pramudwinai.More than 400 people from academia, industry, government and diplomatic community attended the Round Table.The ASEAN-India Round Table comprising think tanks, policy makers, scholars, media and business representatives was established at the 7th ASEAN-India Summit in Thailand in 2009 to provide policy inputs to Governments on future direction of cooperation.

2.Sowing area coverage under Kharif crops increases by more than 8.5 per cent this year

Total sowing area coverage under kharif crops in the country has registered an increase of more than 8.5 per cent this year compared to the corresponding period of the last year.Kharif crops have been sown in nearly 1 thousand 63 lakh hectare area of the country till now.Cultivation of one of the staple crops, Rice, has witnessed an increase of nearly 12 per cent in its total sowing area whereas Oilseed cultivation has registered a spike of over 14 per cent.6 per cent higher rainfall than the normal in the country has also raised hopes of a bumper Kharif produce this year.Kharif crops are the crops that are grown with the arrival of monsoon in different parts of the country and are harvested in September-October.Common kharif crops. Bajra, Jowar, Maize (corn) Millet, Rice, Soybean.

3.Niti Aayog panel recommends linking sugarcane prices to sugar rates

A NITI Aayog task force has recommended linking sugarcane prices to sugar rates to keep the industry in sound financial health.It has also pitched for a one-time increase in minimum sugar price to Rs 33 per kilo to help sugar mills cover the cost of production.The report of the panel on ‘Sugarcane and Sugar Industry’, headed by Niti Aayog Member (Agriculture) Ramesh Chand, was finalised in March 2020.The task force also recommended shifting of some areas under sugarcane cultivation to less water-intensive crops by providing suitable incentive to farmers.

4.NHAI develops mobile App ‘Harit Path’ to facilitate creation of Green Highways across country

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has developed a mobile App, ‘Harit Path’ to facilitate creation of Green Highways across the country.The App will also be used to monitor location, growth, species details, maintenance activities, targets and achievements of each of the PSU’s field units for every plant under the Highway plantation projects.Harit Path was inaugurated by the Union Minister for Road and Transport, Nitin Gadkari.NHAI had also recently undertaken a nation-wide plantation drive, Harit Bharat Sankalp, under which it planted over 25 lakh plants in 25 days along the stretches of the National Highways across the country.Under a unique initiative, the payment to the contractors for the plantation work has been linked with the growth of the plants.

5.IIT Madras-incubated start-up develops portable hospital unit for COVID-19 patients

IIT Madras-incubated Start-up, Modulus Housing has developed a portable hospital unit that can be installed anywhere within two hours by four people.’MediCAB’ is a decentralized approach to detect, screen, identify, isolate and treat COVID-19 patients in their local communities through these portable microstructures.’MediCAB’ was launched recently in Wayanad District of Kerala where the units are being deployed to treat COVID-19 Patients.The startup is developing micro hospitals that can be deployed rapidly across the nation.The hospital unit is foldable and is composed of four zones – a doctor’s room, an isolation room, a medical room/ward and a twin-bed ICU, maintained at negative pressure.

6.Keith Rowley Sworn in as Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister for Second 5 year term

Dr Keith Rowley has been sworn in as the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago for a second consecutive five-year term.The 70-year-old Prime Minister Rowley’s ruling People’s National Movement party won 22 out of 41 seats in the House of Representatives in the August 10 election to form the government.He has served as Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago since 9 September 2015.Trinidad and Tobago Capital: Port of SpainCurrency: Trinidad and Tobago dollarContinent: South America

7.Rajiv Kumar appointed new Election Commissioner following resignation of Ashok Lavasa

Former finance secretary Rajiv Kumar has been appointed new election commissioner.He will replace Ashok Lavasa, who resigned earlier this week.Mr Kumar will take charge the day Mr Lavasa leaves his office on August 31.Mr Kumar’s appointment comes at a time when the election commission is preparing to hold Bihar assembly polls amid the coronavirus pandemic.

8.National Sports Awards 2020 announced

Government announced the National Sports Awards 2020.The awardees will receive their awards from the President Ram Nath Kovind at a specially organized function through virtual mode from Rashtrapati Bhawan on 29th of this month which is National Sports Day.It coincides with the birthday of legendary hockey Olympian, Dhyan Chand.

RAJIV GANDHI KHEL RATNA AWARD: This award is being conferred for the spectacular and most outstanding performance in the field of sports by a sportsperson over a period of four years.

ARJUNA AWARD: This award is being conferred for consistent outstanding performance in the field of sports by a sportsperson over a period of four years.

DRONACHARYA AWARD: This award is being conferred to coaches for producing medal winners at prestigious international sports events.

Life- Time Category

Regular Category

DHYAN CHAND AWARD: This award is being conferred for the lifetime contribution towards the development of sports.

RASHTRIYA KHEL PROTSAHAN PURUSKAR: This award is being conferred to the corporate entities (both in private and public sector) as well as individuals who have played a visible role in the area of sports promotion and its development.

MAULANA ABUL KALAM AZAD (MAKA) TROPHY: This award is being conferred to the overall top performing university in inter-university tournaments.

Panjab University, Chandigarh

TENZING NORGAY NATIONAL ADVENTURE AWARDS 2019: It is being awarded to recognize the spirit of adventure among the people of the country.

9.Ronnie O’Sullivan wins World Snooker Championship 2020

Ronnie O’Sullivan defeated Kyren Wilson with a score of 18-8 to win the World Snooker Championship 2020.He has claimed his sixth World Championship title at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre.With his victory, Ronnie O’Sullivan has also become the oldest winner of the World Snooker Championship since Reardon, who was 45 in 1978.He has also advanced to the second spot in the world rankings behind last year’s champion Judd Trump.

10.Former cricketer Gopalaswamy Kasturirangan dies

Veteran cricketer Gopalaswamy Kasturirangan died due to heart attack.Kasturirangan, 89, was a former cricketer-administrator and the BCCI curator.He had mostly played his matches for Mysore in Ranji Trophy as the right-arm medium pace bowler from 1948 to 1963.Kasturirangan had represented the then “MYSORE” team in the Ranji Trophy match in the year 1948 -49 to 1962-63 for Karnataka.