Current Affairs Daily Digest – August 17 2019
1. Damodar Ganesh Bapat passed away on 16 August
Social worker and Padma Shri awardee Damodar Ganesh Bapat passed away on 16 August in Chhattisgarh. He was 84 years old. He died due to illness. He was known for his social work among the tribal areas in Chhattisgarh.
2. Centre plans to make India free of single use plastics
The Union Minister Prakash Javadekar announced a massive public campaign to make India free of single use plastics at the function ordered by the Indian Consulate in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
The Ministry conducted a series of meet with all the stakeholders including state governments gathering to eliminate the use of single-use plastic. It also suggested shopkeepers to provide eco-friendly bags to their customers.
3. GI Tag accorded to three new products
Geographical Indications Registry under Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has accorded Geographical Indication (GI) tag to Tirur betel leaf from Kerala, Tawlhlohpuan fabric and Mizo Puanchei shawl/textile from Mizoram.
GI product is recognised as originating from speciffic geographical origin possessing qualities or reputation related to its origin. This tag is exclusive and similar item originating from different location is not allowed to use it.
4. BCCI retains Ravi Shastri as team India’s head coach till 2021
Ravi Shastri has been re-appointed head coach of Indian men’s cricket team till 2021 by Kapil Dev-led Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC). The CAC unanimously felt that incumbent’s communication skills and understanding of team issues stood out. Ravi had the public backing of captain Virat Kohli even before the short-listing was initiated.
5. Vice President embarks on 3-nation visit to Lithuania, Latvia & Estonia
Vice President of India M. Venkaiah Naidu has embarked on a 3-nation visit to Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. He is accompanied by a high-level delegation. This visit will be Vice President’s 1st ever high level visit (from India) to 3 Baltic countries.
6. PRETOMANID: US FDA approves new drug for drug-resistant TB
United States (US) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved new drug-Pretomanid for treating drug-resistant strain of Tuberculosis (TB). Pretomanid is novel compound developed by New York-based non-profit organisation TB Alliance.
It is used alongside two other antibiotics (bedaquiline and linezolid) to treat extremely drug-resistant strain of tuberculosis. This three-drug regimen is collectively known as BPaL regimen and it can cure highly drug-resistant strains of tuberculosis by drastically shortening treatment period.
7. National Tribal Festival ‘Aadi Mahotsav’ being organised at Leh-Ladakh
In a bid to give a fillip to tribal economy in Ladakh, Aadi Mahotsav or National Tribal Festival will be organised at Polo Ground, Leh-Ladakh. It is a 9 day festival that will start from 17 August till 25 August 2019. The event will be inaugurated by Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Satya Pal Malik. Until 2018 Ladakh did not figure on list of places where Aadi Mahotsav is held every year.
8. Nomination – Khel Ratna for Deepa Malik and Bajrang Punia, Arjuna for Ravindra Jadeja
Wrestler Bajrang Punia and Para-athlete Deepa Malik have been nominated for Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna. Meanwhile India cricketer Ravindra Jadeja has been nominated for the Arjuna Award and he is one of the 19 sportspersons who have been nominated for this prestigious award.
9. ONGC investing Rs 83,000 cr in 25 projects; cumulative oil, gas gain over 180 MT
Energy major Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) is investing around Rs 83,000 crore in 25 major projects to boost oil and gas production, which has stagnated over last years, its chairman and managing director Shashi Shanker said.
Addressing ONGCNSE 0.83 % employees on the 73rd Independence Day, he said: “15 of these projects currently under execution will directly contribute to oil and gas production.”
10. Nagaland State Police Dept gets first Laboratory-cum-Training Centre
Nagaland State Police Department got its first Laboratory-cum-Training Centre for Prevention of Cyber Crime against Women and Children.
11. Bajaj Hindusthan’s independent director Madhav Laxman Apte resigns
Leading sugar firm Bajaj Hindusthan on Friday said that its independent director Madhav Laxman Apte has resigned on health ground. In a filing to the BSE, the company said it has “received resignation letter from Madhav Laxman Apte from the post of independent director vide letter dated August 14, 2019.”
