Current Affairs – 18/08/2020

National

1. PM Narendra Modi has announced the launch of National Digital Health Mission (NDHM) recently. Name
the nodal agency which will implement NDHM.

a) Central Drugs Laboratory

b) Rural Health Training Centre

c) National Centre for Disease Control

d) National Health Authority

Explanation: PM Narendra Modi announced the launch of the National Digital Health Mission (NDHM) under which
every Indian will get a health ID that will store the individual’s medical records. It will be implemented through
National Health Authority (NHA), which is also responsible for the implementation of Ayushman Bharat Pradhan
Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY). The finance ministry has approved a budget of Rs 470 crore for the proposal,
but the final NHA proposal may not seek more than Rs 400 crore. The mission has been rolled out in 6 Union Territories
(UTs) viz. Chandigarh, Ladakh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Puducherry, Andaman and Nicobar
Islands and Lakshadweep.

2. PM Modi set the target of 1000 days to provide submarine optical fibre connectivity to connect which UT with
mainland India (Department of telecommunications will implement the project)?

a) Lakshadweep

b) Andaman and Nicobar Islands

c) Puducherry
d) Chandigarh

Explanation: In order to boost mobile and broadband communication between mainland India and the group of islands
situated on the Laccadive Sea, off the southwestern coast of India, PM Narendra Modi set a target of 1,000 days to
provide submarine optical fibre connectivity to connect Lakshadweep with mainland India. The Department of
telecommunications (DoT) under the Ministry of Communications will oversee the project. Also, in the upcoming 1000 days
nearly 6 lakh Indian villages will be connected with optical fibre.

3. PM Modi announced 10 year long project to conserve which animal (project led by Union Minister of
Environment, Forest and Climate Change Prakash Keshav Javadekar)?

a) Indian Giant Flying Squirrel

b) Gangetic Dolphin

c) Red Panda

d) Asiatic Peacock

Explanation: On the lines of “Project Tiger” and “Project Elephant”, PM Modi announced the “Project Dolphin” To
give a stronger impetus for the conservation of the Gangetic Dolphins which were declared National Aquatic Species
in 2010. It is a 10-year-long project led by Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Prakash Keshav
Javadekar. The project involves conservation of Dolphins and the aquatic habitat through the use of modern technology
especially in enumeration and anti-poaching activities.As per official figures, there are around 3,700 Gangetic River
Dolphins in India.

International
1. Which nation has been warned by Google, stating that its citizens could lose access to fee search service?
a. Myanmar
b. Bangladesh
c. India
d. Australia

Explanation: Google has warned Australian saying that the government’s plan to make digital giants pay for news
content threatens users’ free service in Australia. It could hand users’ data to media organization.
The U.S.-based company's warning, contained in what it called an 'Open letter to Australians,' comes a week before
public consultations close on Australian draft laws that would make both Google and Facebook pay for news siphoned
from commercial media companies.

Both Google and Facebook have condemned the proposed legislation, which was released last month and aims to
succeed where other countries have failed in making the companies compensate media businesses for news content.

2. Which nation’s Army chief has visited Saudi Arabia to revive ties strained over Kashmir?
a. India
b. China
c. Bhutan
d. Pakistan

Explanation: Pakistan’s Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa visited Saudi Arabia in an effort to ease a row
between the two countries over policy towards the disputed region of Kashmir. The argument, brought on by Pakistani
demands for Saudi Arabia to take a firmer line against India’s behaviour in Kashmir, has threatened Riyadh’s financial
lifeline to Islamabad.

Pakistan has been unsuccessfully trying to drum up international support against India for withdrawing Jammu and
Kashmir's special status. India has categorically told the international community that the scrapping of Article 370 of
the Constitution was its internal matter. It also advised Pakistan to accept reality and stop all anti-India propaganda.

3. In which part of New York City was the tricolour hoisted for the first time on the occasion of 74 th Indian
Independence Day?
a. Statue of Liberty
b. Empire State Building
c. Times Square
d. Rockefeller Centre

Explanation: For the first time, the Indian flag was hoisted with pride and patriotism alongside the US flag at Times
Square. Over two hundred Indian Americans participated in the event to witness the flag soaring high and wide in the
skies of New York. They chanted patriotic slogans and raised Indian flags. The flag was hoisted at the iconic venue by
Consult General of India in New York, Randhir Jaiswal, who was the Guest of Honour at the event. According to the
organization, The Times Square flag hoisting ceremony is a testament to the Indian-American community's growing
patriotism and is a fitting tribute to the FIA which is celebrating its golden jubilee year

Federation of India Association (FIA): Established in 1970, the FIA is among the largest umbrella diaspora
organisations.

Not just the Times Square, the FIA also carried out its annual tradition of illuminating the Empire State Building in to
mark India's Independence Day. The FIA annually organises its flagship event - the India Day Parade to mark India's
Independence Day in August. But this year, due to the coronavirus, New York City cancelled all public gatherings
which were on a large in scale until September. That's when the idea of celebrating Independence Day at Times Square
occurred to the Indian Americans.

4. Recently, Israel and UAE have inaugurated direct telephone service between their countries following the
agreement last week in order to normalize nation. What is the capital of UAE?
a. Dubai
b. Abu Dhabi
c. Sharjah
d. Ajman

Explanation: Israel and UAE have inaugurated direct telephone services between the two countries following their
agreement to normalise relations. The countries' foreign ministers called each other and exchanged greetings
following the historic peace accord.
According to a tweet by Gulf’s state foreign ministry, Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan, the UAE’s foreign minister,
and Israeli counterpart Gabi Ashkenazi has exchanged greetings as they inaugurated a phone link between the
countries. The UAE is on course to become only the third Arab country to normalise relations with Israel, after Egypt
in 1979 and Jordan in 1994. The Israeli foreign ministry confirmed that the call between Sheikh Abdullah and Mr
Ashkenazi took place, adding that the two top diplomats had agreed to “a direct channel of communication” and to
meet soon.

5. The Taliban has issued a statement saying that the group does not recognize the Afghan government as a
legitimate government. What is the capital of Afghanistan?
a. Jalabad
b. Kabul
c. Lashkargah
d. Herat
 Explanation: The Taliban has issued a statement saying the group does not recognise the Afghan government as a
legitimate system. The statement was apparently issued in response to a recent statement by the Afghan President
Ashraf Ghani and one of his advisers on the peace process with the Taliban. The Taliban’s statement comes days after
the Loya Jirga (grand assembly) on August 9 approved the release of 400 Taliban prisoners as a goodwill gesture in a
major breakthrough that is expected to pave the way for intra-Afghan talks. The release of prisoners was being
considered as the last hurdle into resuming talks between the internationally backed Afghan government and the Taliban
under a peace deal between the group and the US.

Sports
4. Who is the 1st Indian cricketer to score century in all the 3 formats (Test, ODI, T20)?

a) KL Rahul

b) Virat Kohli

c) Suresh Raina

d) MS Dhoni

Explanation: Former India Skipper and Wicket-Keeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni & Veteran middle-order Batsman
Suresh Kumar Raina announced retirement from International Cricket on August 15, 2020.Suresh Kumar Raina was
born on 27 November 1986 in Muradnagar, Uttar Pradesh, India. He is the first Indian batsman to hit a century in all
three formats of international cricket and is considered as one of the best fielders.

Appointments/Resignations/Obituaries
1. Who heads the committee formed by central government to reconsider the minimum age for marriage for
women?
1) Vinod Paul
2) Jaya Jaitly
3) Vasudha Kamath
4) Dipti Shah
5) Najma Akhtar
Explanation: The centre has set up a committee chaired by Jaya Jaitly to reconsider the minimum age for marriage
for women and appropriate action will be taken after a report is submitted. The government is focused towards equal
opportunities for self-employment and employment to women.

2. The Ministry of AYUSH has launched a three-month campaign on “Ayush for Immunity” recently. Who is
the present AYUSH minister (MoS I/C)?
1) Santosh Kumar Gangwar
2) KirenRijiju
3) Rao Inderjit Singh
4) Raj Kumar Singh
5) Shripad Yesso Naik

Answer-5) Shripad Yesso Naik

Explanation: To enhance immunity and prevent any disease, The Ministry of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga &
Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy) has launched a three-month campaign on “Ayush for Immunity”
through webinar on Ayush Virtual Convention Centre (AVCC), which aims to increase awareness about affordable
and easy practices to boost immunity. Shripad Yesso Naik is the MoS Independent charge for AYUSH ministry.

3. Who heads the 5-member committee formed by Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau for the investigation
of Kozhikode plane crash?
1) Ved Prakash
2) SS Chahar
3) Mukul Bharadwaj
4) YS Dahiya
5) Jasbir Singh

Explanation: The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau(AAIB) formed a 5-member panel headed Captain S
SChahar to investigate the circumstances of the Air India Express Dubai-Calicut flight IX 1344Crash at the
Kozhikode airport, Kerala on 7th August 2020. The 5-member team will probe and determine the cause and
contributory factors that led to the accident. The team will also make recommendations to avoid similar accidents in
the future. Captain S SChahar, the in charge of the investigation will submit his reports within next 5 months.

4. Name the person who claims the record number of podium finishes in F1 history.
1) Charles Leclerc
2) Lewis Hamilton
3) Valtteri Bottas
4) Sebastian Vettel
5) Max Verstappen

Explanation: Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton claimed his 156th Podium with a victory in Spanish Grand Prix. It is the
Fourth race of the season at the Circuit de barcelona-Catalunya, Spain. Lewis Hamilton now holds the record for
most podium finishes in F1 history surpassing Former F1-Great Michael Schumacher’s record

5. Chauhan who passed away in August 2020 is a renowned ________.

1) Cricketer
2) Politician
3) Singer
4) Both 1) and 2)
5) All the 1), 2) and 3)

Explanation: Former Indian cricketer and Uttar Pradesh (UP) Cabinet Minister of Sainik Welfare, Home Guards,
PrantiyaRakshak Dal and Civil Security Chetan Chauhan (Full Name- Chetan Pratap Singh Chauhan) passed away at
73 in Medanta hospital, Gurugram, Haryana due to COVID-19.He belongs to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He was
honoured with the Arjuna award in 1981. He was born on July 21, 1947 in Bareilly, UP.

Science and Technology

1. The astronomers at which institute has found a baby galaxy called “SPT0418-47” through ALMA telescope
recently?
1) Harvard University
2) Massachusetts Institute of Technology
3) Stanford University
4) Max Planck Institute of Astrophysics
Explanation: The astronomers at the Max Planck Institute of Astrophysics found a baby galaxy called “SPT0418-
47” a look alike of the Milky galaxy at 12 billion light-years away using the Atacama Large Millimetre/sub-
millimetre Array (ALMA) Telescope.