Top GKToday’s News Headlines-11 August 2020

August 11, 2020

India

2,300-km submarine optical fibre cable from Chennai to A&N Islands launched

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 10, 2020 launched a 2,300-km-long submarine optical fibre cable between Chennai and Port Blair in Andaman & Nicobar Islands that would give residents of the islands faster Internet connection. This will boost digital services like tele-education, tele-health, e-governance services and tourism on the island.

MEA says Gautam Buddha was born in Lumbini in Nepal; diffuses controversy

India categorically said on August 10, 2020 that Gautam Buddha was born in Lumbini in Nepal thereby defusing a controversy about Buddhas birth place after Nepal had responded to remarks attributed to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. The Nepalese media attributed remarks to Jaishankar as saying that Buddha was an Indian.

Ex-IAS Shah Faesal steps down as President of J&K People’s Movement

Shah Faesal, who resigned from the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) in January 2019 and floated the Jammu and Kashmir People’s Movement (JKPM), has resigned as its president, the party said on August 10, 2020.

Economy

Indigenous platforms in negative list to avoid imports: Defence Ministry

Several military platforms like the Light Combat Aircraft, Pinaka rocket launchers and Akash missile systems, which have been indigenously developed, were included in the negative list of imports to ensure that the Services do not go in for procurement of similar systems by imports, the Defence Ministry said on August 10, 2020. On August 9, the Defence Ministry had issued a 101-item negative defence import list which must be domestically procured in a phased manner.

Defence Minister launches various initiatives of DPSUs & OFB

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on August 10, 2020 launched the initiatives of a number of modernisation and up-gradation of facilities as also new infrastructure creation by Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) and Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) through digital link in New Delhi. The Defence Ministry is celebrating Atma-Nirbharta (self-sufficiency) week from August 7 to 14.

World Biofuel day celebrated in India on August 10

The World Biofuel day was celebrated by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas on August 10, 2020 with the theme “Biofuels towards Atmanirbhar Bharat”. The day is observed every year on August 10 to create awareness about the importance of non-fossil fuels as an alternative to conventional fossil fuels.

Isher Judge Ahluwalia steps down as Chairperson of ICRIER

Isher Judge Ahluwalia has stepped down as chairperson of think tank Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) after being in this position for 15 years. Pramod Bhasin will now be the new chairman. Isher will continue as chairperson emeritus.

LIC launches special revival campaign for lapsed policies from Aug 10 to Oct 9

To encourage continuation of risk cover in this difficult period, LIC on August 10, 2020 said it will provide an opportunity for its policyholders to revive their lapsed policies. It has decided to launch a special revival campaign from August 10 till October 9 for its customers to revive their individual lapsed LIC policies.

PSEB selects Soma Mondal as the next Chairperson of SAIL

Soma Mondal has been selected by the Public Enterprises Selection Board as the next chairman of public sector steel major Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL). She graduated in Electrical Engineering from National Institute of Technology, Rourkela in 1984 and started her career as a Graduate Engineer Trainee in NALCO. She joined SAIL in 2017.

World

India, Maldives ink contract for development of 5 eco-tourism zones in Addu atoll

India and Maldives on August 10, 2020 signed a contract for development of five eco-tourism zones in Addu atoll of the island nation in the presence of Indian high commissioner Sunjay Sudhir. These eco-tourism zones are part of grant projects being implemented under the High-Impact Community Development project (HICDP) scheme by India.

Sports

Football: Former Mohun Bagan captain Manitombi Singh dies in Manipur

Former India international and Mohun Bagan captain Manitombi Singh died at the age of 39 at his native village near Imphal in Manipur on August 9, 2020. Manitombi also represented India in the 2002 Busan Asian Games.

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