Current Affairs Daily Digest – April 21 2020
1. N Kamakodi reappointed as MD and CEO of City Union Bank
Private sector lender City Union Bank reappointed N Kamakodi as the Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Bank. The appointment was approved by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 20 April. Kamakodi’s reappointment is for a further period of three years with effect. The reappointment will be effective from 1 May 2020.
2. Daporijo bridge was inaugurated in Arunachal pradesh for traffic movement
Border Roads Organisation (BRO) constructed the Daporijo bridge over the Subansiri river. Despite nationwide lockdown, BRO constructed it, keeping in mind utmost precautions against COVID-19 and to connect the strategic Line of Communication in Arunachal Pradesh. The bridge was inaugurated by the Chief Minister of Arunachal Shri Pema Khandu over video conferencing and open for traffic movement from 20 April.
3. Civil Services Day is observed on 21 April
Civil Services Day is observed on 21 April in India. The day celebrates the civil servants in order to rededicate themselves to the cause of citizens. On this day, the civil servants renew their commitments to public service and excellence in work.
Aim:
The Civil Services Day celebrates all the civil servants who dedicated their lives to the cause of citizens. It also aims to renew their commitments to public service and excellence in work.
4. Kapil Dev Tripathi appointed as Secretary to President of India
Kapil Dev Tripathi was appointed as the Secretary to President Ram Nath Kovind on 20 April. His appointment was approved by the Appointments Committee of the Union Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. His appointment is on a contract basis. He has been appointed for a term co-terminus with the tenure of the President of India.
5. INST uses Fish Gills to develop low cost electro-catalysts
The Institute of Nano Science and Technology operating under Department of Science and Technology has launched an environment friendly catalyst for rechargeable metal battery.
The Catalyst used is made of fish gills. It is low cost and can be used in energy conversion devices. The catalyst invented will overcome the bottlenecks in storage technologies such as metal-air battery, fuel cell and biofuel.
6. Electric Vehicle Sale increases by 20% in 2020-21
The Society of Manufacturers of Electric Vehicles (SMEV) has released its data on Electric Vehicles sales. According to its report, the sales of Electric Vehicles have increased by 20% in the Fiscal Year 2019-20.
7. US President appoints Indian-American Sudarsanam Babu to National Science Board
US President Donald Trump has appointed Indian-American Sudarsanam Babu to the National Science Board in the United States. The White House made the announcement on April 20, 2020.
Sudarsanam Babu did his master of technology in industrial metallurgy – welding from IIT-Madras in 1988 and his bachelors of engineering in metallurgy from PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore in 1986.
8. World Creativity and Innovation Day is observed on April 21
World Creativity and Innovation Day is a global UN day celebrated on April 21 to raise awareness around the importance of creativity and innovation in problem solving with respect to advancing the United Nations sustainable development goals, also known as the “global goals.
9. Arunachal CM inaugurates Hangpan Dada Bridge over River Subansiri through video conferencing
Amidst lockdown it is business as usual, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu inaugurated the revamped strategic bridge over River Subansiri at Daporijo in Upper Subansiri district albeit through video conferencing.
The said bridge was in a dilapidated condition and movement of vehicles over it was restricted owing to huge risk of it collapsing anytime. This bridge is the only line of communication to Daporijo and other villages located on the other side of Subansiri River. It also connects the Siang belt with Upper Subansiri.
10. Renowned Litterateur Ratnakar Chaini no more
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik expressed grief over the passing away of renowned litterateur Ratnakar Chaini. Chaini died at his residence in Cuttack due to age-related ailments. He was 75 years old.
An Odia writer and academician, Chain was born at Salepur in Cuttack in 1945. He was an Odia lecturer at Ravenshaw, former president of Sanskar Bharti and Utkal Sahitya Samaj.
