Current Affairs is the most important area in all competitive exams. But the difficulty level is very high. That’s why; many aspirants get confused, how to select Current Affairs for Preparation of Competitive Examination? In this Post, Daily Current Affairs 21 August 2021, we have tried to cover each and every point and also included all important facts from National/ International news that are useful for upcoming competitive examinations such as UPSC, SSC, Railway, State Govt. etc.
Daily Current Affairs 21 August 2021
77th birth anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi
Nation has paid tribute to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on his 77th birth anniversary on 20 August.
Born on August 20, 1944, Rajiv Gandhi became the youngest Prime Minister of India when he assumed office in October 1984. He served as the Prime Minister of India till December 2, 1989.
In May 1991, Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated by a Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) suicide bomber during an election rally in Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu.
Gandhi was from the politically powerful Nehru–Gandhi family, which had been associated with the Indian National Congress party. For much of his childhood, his maternal grandfather Jawaharlal Nehru was prime minister.
Tri-Services’ All-Women Mountaineering Team Summits Mt Manirang
An all-women team of the three armed forces successfully scaled Mt Manirang in Himachal Pradesh on August 15 and unfurled the national flag to celebrate the 75th Independence Day.
The team successfully summited Mt Manirang (21,625 ft) on 15 August 2021.
Mt Manirang is one of the highest peaks of Himachal Pradesh, nestled at the border of Kinnaur & Spiti districts.
Close to the peak is the Manirang pass, which was one of the early trade routes between Spiti and Kinnaur, before the motorable road was built.
Namami Gange announced winners of ‘Re-Imagining Urban Rivers’
National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) and the National Institute for Urban Affairs (NIUA) had organised ‘Re-Imagining Urban Rivers’, a national level thesis competition in September 2020, under a joint project that the two organizations are implementing to promulgate river- sensitive development in our cities.
This is a first of its kind initiative to engage young minds to research and envisage solutions for urban river issues.
The purpose of this sponsored thesis competition is to tap into the intellect and creativity of students to arrive at innovative solutions for re-imagining the outlook and management of rivers that flow through cities and their associated features.
The competition had three themes – Re-imagining water bodies and/or wetlands, developing eco-friendly riverfront projects and Promoting River tourism.
Students from leading institutes across the country presented their thesis in the grand finale of the competition on 19th Aug 2021 at Indian Habitat Centre, New Delhi.
President of India granted assent to OBC Bill
The President of India recently granted assent to the Constitution (105th Amendment) Act, 2021, which empowers states to identify and specify the Socially and Educationally Backward Class (SEBC).
The Constitution (105th) Bill 2021 was passed by the Parliament on August 11, 2021.
The Gazette of India, issued by the Ministry of Law and Justice, the Act would amend article 338B of the Constitution, in clause (9), and would insert a provision of: “Provided that nothing in this clause shall apply for the purposes of clause (3) of article 342A.”
In article 342A of the Constitution, for the words “the socially and educationally backward classes which shall for the purposes of this Constitution”, the words “the socially and educationally backward classes in the Central List which shall for the purposes of the Central Government” will be substituted, and the expression “Central List” meaning the list of socially and educationally backward classes prepared and maintained by and for the Central Government should be inserted.
Notification for Electronic Monitoring and Enforcement of Road Safety
Ministry of Road transport and Highways has issued notification regarding Electronic Monitoring and Enforcement of Road Safety.
The rules specify the detailed provisions for placement of electronic enforcement devices (speed camera, closed-circuit television camera, speed gun, body wearable camera, dashboard camera, Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR), weigh in machine (WIM) and any such technology).
State Governments shall ensure that electronic enforcement devices are placed at high-risk and high-density corridors on National Highways and State Highways, and at critical junctions at least in major cities with more than one million population and also including the 132 cities as specified in the rules.
Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s statue vandalised in Pakistan
A nine-foot-tall bronze statue of the first ruler of the Sikh Empire, Maharaja Ranjit Singh, was vandalised by an activist of the banned Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) at the Lahore Fort in Pakistan’s Punjab province, according to media reports.
Maharaja Ranjit Singh (1780-1839) seized Lahore in 1799 after he was invited to rule the city by its Hindu, Muslim, and Sikh elite.
Lahore, once among the biggest and most developed of the cities of Punjab, was in a shambles at the time — the dying Mughal Empire was no longer able to extend it patronage and protection, it was battered by repeated assaults from bands of Afghan raiders, and weakened by infighting among some Sikh groups.
Residents of Lahore complained of being forced to pay exorbitant taxes.
Ranjit Singh brought peace and security to Lahore and revived its economic and cultural glory. He proclaimed himself maharaja of the Punjab in 1801, and proceeded to rule with religious tolerance for communities other than Sikhs.
He carried out repairs to the Lahore fort — which was built by Emperor Akbar at the site of an older mud-brick structure and was subsequently beautified and expanded by Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb — and built a wall around it, and used a part of the fort as his residential quarters.
As the founder of a mighty empire that sprawled over a large part of northwestern India, the Maharaja is identified by many with the identity of Punjab.
President paid Homage to Dr Shanker Dayal Sharma on his Birth Anniversary
The President of India Ram Nath Kovind, paid homage to Dr Shanker Dayal Sharma, former President of India, on his birth anniversary at Rashtrapati Bhavan (August 19, 2021).
Shankar Dayal Sharma (1918 – 1999) was a member of Indian National Congress (INC).
Chief Minister: He served as the Chief Minister (1952–1956) of Bhopal State.
Union Cabinet Minister: He served as the Cabinet Minister (1956–1967), holding the portfolios of Education, Law, Public Works, Industry and Commerce, National Resources and Separate Revenue. He again served as the Union Minister for Communications from 1974 to 1977.
Governor: He was appointed the governor of Andhra Pradesh in 1984. After elections in Punjab, in the wake of the Longowal-Rajiv accord between the prime minister and the Akali Dal president, Sharma was made the governor of Punjab in 1985.
Vice President: He then became the eighth vice-president of India and ex-officio Chairman of Rajya Sabha, serving from 1987 – 1992.
President: He was the ninth President of India, serving from 1992 to 1997.
Rules for facilitating electricity producers to sell power to a third party
The Ministry of Power has proposed to amend rules for facilitating electricity producers to sell power to a third party, which it said can pare fixed costs and cut retail tariff for end consumers.
The ministry circulated the draft Electricity (Late Payment Surcharge) Amendment Rules, 2021, seeking comments for the same.
The power generating companies are being given an option to sell power to third parties and recover costs. To this extent, the fixed cost burden of the distribution licensee shall be reduced, the ministry stated.
If a distribution licensee has any payment, including late payment surcharge, outstanding after the expiry of seven months from the due date as prescribed in the PPA (power purchase agreement), the generating company may sell power to any consumer or any other licensee or power exchanges, for the period of such default.
The claim would be retained on payment of fixed charges or capacity charges from the distribution licensee, after giving a notice of at least 15 days to the distribution licensee.
The claim, if any, shall be reconciled on an annual basis and shall be limited to only under-recovery of the fixed charges or capacity charges.
World Senior Citizens Day 2021
World Senior Citizens’ Day is celebrated on 21 August each year to increasing awareness about the issues that affect the elderly.
The day also acknowledges the contribution of elders to society as it only adds to their inclusiveness in society and growth. For the unknown, World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is observed on June 15.
On December 14, 1990, the first World Senior Citizens’ Day was proclaimed by the General Assembly of the United Nations.
However, the first celebration was marked on October 1, 1991. Ideally, it was former President of the United States of America, Ronald Reagan who officially founded the World Senior Citizens’ Day.
The World Senior Citizens’ Day is a great occasion to remind the government of its promises to take measures for the welfare of the senior citizens. It is important to ensure that along with not facing abuses, they are able to avail benefits from different government schemes.
Indian Army organised 400 Km “JAZBAA-E- TIRANGA” Relay Marathon in J&K
The Army recently organised a 400 Km “JAZBAA-E- TIRANGA” Relay Marathon in Jammu and Kashmir.
The event was flagged off by Major General Rajeev Puri, General Officer Commanding, Ace of Spades Division, who led the relay, closely followed by other military personnel.
More than 300 troops took part, carrying the Indian Tricolour all along the Line of Control (LoC).
The run inculcated the spirit of brotherhood, as each soldier carried the symbolic National Flag of comradeship across the Area of Responsibility (AOR), handing it over to other units which stand shoulder to shoulder in war.
China issued draft rules banning unfair competition in the internet sector
Chinese regulators issued a lengthy set of draft regulations for the internet sector, banning unfair competition and restricting the use of user data, the latest move in a crackdown on the country’s powerful tech companies.
According to a document published on China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) website, business operators should not use data, algorithms or other technical means to hijack traffic or influence users’ choices.
The proposed regulations come after SAMR imposed various restrictions and punishments on tech giants in an effort to restrict anti-competitive or monopolistic behaviour.
The regulator also said firms cannot use technological means to maliciously impose incompatible barriers to other legal internet products and services.
Mahatma Gandhi becomes the first Indian to receive US highest civilian award
Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney from New York has reintroduced a legislation in the US House of Representatives to posthumously award the Congressional Gold Medal to Mahatma Gandhi for his contributions made through his methods of non-violence.
After this, Gandhi becomes the first Indian to receive the Congressional Gold Medal, which is the highest civilian award in the US and has been awarded to the 1980 US summer Olympics team, Robert F. Kennedy, Nelson Mandela and George Washington among many others.
The History, Arts and Archives section of the US House of Representatives notes that since the American revolution, Congress has commissioned gold medals as its highest expression of national appreciation for distinguished achievements and contributions.
The first recipients of the medal were participants of the American Revolution, the War of 1812 and the Mexican War, Congress subsequently broadened the scope of the medal to include actors, authors, entertainers, musicians, explorers, athletes, humanitarians and foreign recipients among pioneers in some other fields.
CRISIL upgraded the credit outlook of Indian industry to Positive
Rating agency CRISIL recently upgraded the credit quality outlook of India Inc for FY22 from “cautiously optimistic” to “positive”, predicated on a sustained recovery in demand.
This comes after the blip caused by the second wave of Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic in Q1FY22.
The increase in coverage of vaccinations should also mitigate the impact of a third wave if it comes.
A CRISIL Ratings study of 43 sectors (accounting for 75 per cent of the Rs 36 trillion of outstanding rated debt, excluding the financial sector) shows that the current recovery is broad-based.
As many as 28 sectors (85 per cent of outstanding corporate debt under study) are on course to see a 100 per cent rebound in demand to pre-pandemic levels by the end of this fiscal, while 6 will see upwards of 85 per cent.
Mandaviya launched Arogya Dhara 2.0 to increase reach of Ayushman Bharat
Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya recently inaugurated Arogya Dhara 2.0 to increase the reach of Ayushman Bharat – Jan Arogya Yojana and create more awareness about the scheme.
The minister launched three initiatives — Adhikar Patra, Abhinandan Patra, and Ayushman Mitra.
Adhikar Patra will be issued to the beneficiaries during their hospital admissions for treatment under the PM-JAY scheme to make them aware about their rights so that they can claim free and cashless health care services.
The Abhinandan Patra, is a ‘thank you note’ that will be issued to the beneficiaries during their discharge after the treatment under PM-JAY.
Mohammad Azam awarded with National Youth Award
For displaying exemplary leadership qualities, Mohammad Azam from Karimnagar district in Telangana has been awarded the National Youth Award recently by the Union Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Anurag Singh Thakur in Delhi.
He has been providing skills to youth and conducting personality development camps for them from Chintakunta and Rekurthy villages in his district.
Total 22 National Youth awards were given in individual and organisations categories. Total 14 awards were given for NYA 2017-18, which includes 10 awards in individual category and 4 awards in Organization category.
Total 8 awards were given for NYA 2018-19 which includes 7 awards in individual category and 1 award in Organization category.
The award comprises of a medal, a certificate and a cash prize of Rs 1,00,000/- to individual and a cash prize of Rs. 3,00,000/- to organization respectively.
