Current Affairs Quiz - August, 2019

Notes:
NITI Aayog has recently released report on the Composite Water Management Index 2.0 (CWMI 2.0) for reference year 2017-18 . Gujarat has been ranked first in the CWMI 2.0, followed by Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Goa, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. In North Eastern and Himalayan States, Himachal Pradesh has been adjudged No. 1 in 2017-18 followed by Uttarakhand, Tripura and Assam. The Union Territories have first time submitted their data and Puducherry has been declared as the top ranker. In terms of incremental change in index (over 2016-17 level), Haryana holds No. 1 position in general States and Uttarakhand ranks at first position amongst North Eastern and Himalayan States. On an average, 80% of the states assessed on the Index over the last 3 years have improved their water management scores, with an average improvement of +5.2 points.

Notes:
In football, Gokulam Kerala FC won the 129th Durand Cup tournament by defeating heavyweights Mohun Bagan 2-1 at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata on 25th August 2019. It was a close game throughout which saw both the teams go through testing moments. With this win, Gokulam Kerala became the first club from the state in 22 years to clinch the tournament.

Notes:
In France, the 45th edition of G7 summit was held in Biarritz on 24-26 August 2019 with theme “Fighting Inequality”. The annual meet was attended by the leaders of 7 member states — France, Italy, Canada, United States, Japan, Germany and the United Kingdom. US President Donald Trump, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and German Chancellor Angela Merkel are in Biarritz to discuss various issues during the G7 meeting. PM on way to France to attend G7 meeting in Biarritz; Theme of the summit is ‘Fighting Inequality’. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also attended the G7 meeting in which India has been invited as a partner country.

Notes:
For the first time, the researchers have sighted a critically endangered species of tarantula – Peacock Parachute Spider (or Gooty Tarantula) beyond its known habitat in the Eastern Ghats. The spider belongs to the genus ‘Poecilotheria’. The spider was spotted by a team of researchers of the Puducherry-based Indigenous Biodiversity Foundation (IBF) in the Pakkamalai Reserve Forests near Gingee in Villupuram district. The spider was first sighted in 1899 by Reginald Innes Pocock on the basis of a single female specimen in Gooty. The known habitat of Peacock Parachute Spider is in degraded forests near Nandyal in Andhra Pradesh. Tarantulas are biological pest controllers and there is a huge demand for them by collectors in the pet trade. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) categorised it as Critically Endangered.

Notes:
On 29th August 2019, the 12th India Security Summit (ISS) was held in New Delhi on the theme “Towards New National Cyber Security Strategy”. During the conference, the various issues discussed such as protection of critical national infrastructure, emerging cyber threats: Incidents, Challenges and Response. The Government of India (GoI) has taken various measures to combat cyber threats. To combat cyber crime, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has already rolled out a scheme ‘Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C)’ in the country. Beside this, “Cyber Swachhta Kendra” which is a part of the Government of India’s Digital India initiative under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is also in force.

Notes:
The Union Cabinet has recently given ex-post facto approval for the Establishment of an International Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) along with its supporting Secretariat Office in New Delhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch CDRI during the UN Climate Summit in New York on September 23, 2019.The CDRI will serve as a platform where knowledge is generated and exchanged on different aspects of disaster and climate resilience of infrastructure. It will bring together technical expertise from a multitude of stakeholders. It will also create a mechanism to assist countries to upgrade their capacities and practices, with regard to infrastructure development in accordance with their risk context and economic needs.

Notes:
S Aswatha Narayana from Odisha has created history by becoming the first Indian to win gold at 45th World Skills competition 2019 in Kazan city of Russia. He bagged the gold in water technology in the competition that was held between August 23-27. He was also rewarded as ‘Best of Nation’ amongst the Indian competitors. Pranav Nutalapati from Karnataka won Silver in Web Technologies. While Sanjoy Pramanik from West Bengal and Shweta Ratanpura from Maharastra both won bronze in Jewellery and graphic design technology respectively. Shweta has also earned the distinction of being the only female candidate to win a medal for India at World Skills Kazan 2019. In all, a 48-member Indian team returned with the best-ever finish at the competition by winning 19 medals and Medallions of Excellence.

Notes:
The Saidan Secondary School of Mizoram has been crowned Under-14 boys champions of 2019 Subroto Cup International Football tournament after defeating Unique Model Academy of Manipur 2-0 in the summit clash. It was the Mizoram school’s first title win in the tournament. Saidan also won the best team award (Rs 3,00,000) while its player B Romalsawma was titled the best player of the tournament. The best goalkeeper award went to Manipur’s Bijando and Lalbulliana of Saidan Secondary School was declared the best coach. The fairplay award went to Our Lady Mount Carmel High School of Goa. The best goalkeeper, best player and fairplay award winners won Rs. 50,000 each.

Notes:
Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu inaugurated the 5th edition of Aqua Aquaria India 2019, which is organized by the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) under the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The event was held at HITEX exhibition center in Hyderabad from 30th August to 1st September. The theme of the 2019 edition is “To take Blue Revolution to India’s hinterland”. The event showcased the recent advances in aquaculture and ornamental fish breeding / rearing technology for encouraging diversification and promotes intensification in a sustainable manner. It is a biennial exhibition. Aqua Aquaria also showcased the diversification of potential species like sea-bass, Tilapia, Mud crab, which will boost the export-oriented aquaculture.

Notes:
To boost tourism and give and an all new experience to visitors, India’s first-ever sky cycling park will soon open at Gulaba area near Manali in Himachal Pradesh. It is 350m long & is located at a height of 9000 Feet above sea level. Forest Department and Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports have jointly developed an eco-friendly park. The adventure sport will give a fillip to tourism in Manali and visitors will get an enriching experience of adventure sports at this park. It will also help provide employment to locals.