IT minister launches ‘Chunauti’ a programme to further boost startups, software product

1.hinzo Abe, Japan’s longest-serving PM, quits

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Japan’s longest-serving premier resigned because of poor health.Shinzo Abe is the longest serving Prime Minister in the history of Japan.He served from 2006-2007 and also from 2012-2020.It was Abe who introduced the concept of Abenomics.Abenomics refers to set of economic policies that was introduced by the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.The policies aimed at increasing money supply in the country, enacting reforms, boosting government spending.It consisted of three arrows. The first focused on achieving 2% of inflation target, second on flexible fiscal policy and third on growth strategy.

2.Typhoon Bavi damages buildings, floods roads on Korean Peninsula

A typhoon damaged homes and other buildings, flooded roads and toppled utility poles on the Korean Peninsula.Typhoon Bavi had maximum winds of 115 kilometers (71 miles) per hour and was passing near Pyongyang after making landfall in a western coastal region of North Korea that is a major source of farming and fishing.Tropical cyclones are known as Typhoons in the China Sea and Pacific Ocean.

3.Bangladesh remembers its national poet Nazrul on his death anniversary

Bangladesh observed the 44th death anniversary of the national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam on 27 August.Known as ‘Bidrohi Kobi’ or rebel poet, Kazi Nazrul Islam composed over 3000 songs which are known as Nazrul Geeti or Nazrul Sangeet.His poems are deeply imbued with a sense of humanism, justice and rebellion against oppression.It was a source of inspiration during the liberation war of Bangladesh.Kazi Nazrul Islam was born on 24 May 1899 in Churulia in Paschim Bardhman district of West Bengal.At the time of Bangladesh’s independence in 1971 poet Nazrul was staying in Kolkata. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman brought him to Dhaka with state honours.

4.First S-400 unit to be delivered by end of 2021

Russia has said that the first regiment of S-400 anti-air system will be delivered to India by the end of 2021.India has ordered five regiments of the cutting edge system that is designed to take down targets at a range of over 400 km.India and Russia had inked the $5.2 billion defence contract for the S-400 Triumf air defence system in October 2018.The original date for India to start receiving delivery was reported to be in the October 2020-April 2023 timeline.However, in the wake of border tensions with China earlier this year, New Delhi had urged Moscow to deliver units early.Russia has said that there is an ongoing portfolio of defence orders worth $15 billion with India and that plans to start producing AK203 rifles at a factory in Amethi in Uttar Pradesh are underway.

5.ACSA to give Indian Navy access to Djibouti

The Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA) expected to be concluded at next month’s annual summit between PM Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe would give the Indian Navy access to the Japanese military base in Djibouti and the Japanese Navy access to Andaman and Nicobar Islands.The ACSA (commonly referred to as Mutual Logistics Services Pact) would permit the Indian Navy access to a Japanese base in Djibouti.The Japan Maritime Self Defence Force (JSDF) would be permitted to use India’s military installations in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.India currently has such pacts with the US, Australia, France and is likely to sign one with Russia later this year.Delhi has since long been keen to get a presence in Djibouti as part of its Indian Ocean outreach.Djibouti, wedged between the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, is a natural gatekeeper to a vital and extremely bustling sea-lane.The base in Djibouti is the JSDF’s first full-scale, long term overseas base.

6.Defence minister launches NCC app for online training of cadets

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launched a mobile application to assist in online training of NCC cadets in the country.Since schools and colleges are not likely to open in the near future, it was felt that training to NCC cadets should be imparted utilising the digital medium.The mobile app, called “DGNCC”, aims at providing NCC cadets all training materials, including syllabus, training videos and frequently asked questions, on one platform.The app has been made interactive by including a query option.By using this option, a cadet can post questions related to the training syllabus, and the same will be answered by a panel of qualified instructors.

7.Indian Railways set to meet all it’s energy needs of over 33 billion units by 2030

Indian Railways is set to meet all it’s energy needs of more than 33 billion units by 2030.The current annual requirement is about 21 billion units.Railways have developed a mega plan for installing solar plants of 20 Gigawatt capacity by utilizing its vacant land by 2030.The use of solar power will accelerate the mission to achieve conversion of Indian Railways to Net Zero Carbon Emission Railway.Railway is committed to utilize solar energy for meeting its traction power requirement and become a complete Green mode of transportation.

8.IT minister launches ‘Chunauti’ a programme to further boost startups, software product

Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad launched “Chunauti”- Next Generation Startup Challenge Contest to further boost startups and software products with special focus on Tier-II towns of the country.The government has earmarked a budget of over 95  crore rupees over a period of three years for this programme.It aims at identifying around three hundred startups working in identified areas and providing them seed funds of upto 25 lakh rupees and other facilities.Under this challenge the Ministry of Electronics and IT will invite startups in the  areas of work including Edu Tech, Agri Tech and FinTech solutions for masses, Supply Chain and Logistic management, Infrastructure, Medical Healthcare as well as jobs and skilling.

9.BPR&D celebrates its Golden Jubilee Anniversary

The Bureau of Police Research and Development, BPR&D is celebrating its Golden Jubilee Anniversary on 28 August.Over the last 50 years, the Organization has been unwavering in its commitment in the service of the nation.The Bureau of Police Research and Development was raised on 28th August, 1970, through a resolution of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.Its aim is to promote excellence in policing, promote speedy and systematic study of police problems, apply science and technology in the method and techniques by the Police.

10.PM Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi, PM SVANidhi online dashboard launched

Housing and Urban Affairs Secretary Durga Shanker Mishra launched the PM Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi, PM SVANidhi online dashboard through video conferencing.The online dashboard is dynamic, interactive and will provide a one stop solution to all stakeholders looking for information and tracking monitoring of progress of PM SVANidhi up to city level.Since the commencement of online submission of applications on PM SVANidhi portal on 2nd July this year, more than 7.15 lakh applications have been received and over 1.70 lakh have been sanctioned in different States and Union Territories.PM SVANidhi was launched by the Ministry on 1st June this year, for providing loan to street vendors to resume their livelihoods that have been adversely affected due to Covid-19 lockdown.The scheme targets to benefit over 50 lakh Street Vendors who had been vending on or before 24th March this year, in urban areas including those from surrounding peri-urban or rural areas.Under the Scheme, the vendors can avail a working capital loan of up to 10 thousand rupees, which is repayable in monthly instalments in the tenure of one year.On timely or early repayment of the loan, an interest subsidy at 7 per cent per annum will be credited to the bank accounts of beneficiaries through Direct Benefit Transfer on quarterly basis.

11.Piyush Goyal e-launches “National GIS-enabled Land Bank system”

Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal has virtually launched the “National GIS-enabled Land Bank system“.This initiative is being supported by National e-Governance Division, Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology, Bhaskaracharya Institute for Space Applications and Geo-Informatics, Invest India, and National Center of Geo-Informatics.The National GIS-enabled Land Bank system has been developed by integration of the Industrial Information System (IIS) with State GIS Systems.Initially, the system has been launched in the six states.The system will be improved further to make it an effective, transparent mechanism of land identification as well as procurement.

12.Kerala to set up India’s first International Women’s Trade Centre

Kerala will set up India’s first international women’s trade centre (WTC), in consonance with the United Nations sustainable development goals (SDGs), at Angamaly.This initiative aims to accelerate women entrepreneurship and secure gender parity while providing women with a safe place away from home to start new businesses, set up or expand, and get their products marketed globally.WTC will enable women entrepreneurs to come forward and participate in international trade, enjoy greater economic benefits and enhance their competitiveness to tap market opportunities.