Centre to launch projects for Lion & Dolphin conservation

NATIONAL NEWS

Centre to launch projects for Lion & Dolphin conservation

• As a result of the success in the Project Tiger, the centre has planned to launch the Project Lion and Project Dolphin for the conservation of biodiversity.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made the announcement during his 74^th Independence Day speech.
• Project Tiger and Project Elephant programme launched by the country has made a good result of increase in the species across the country.
• The Project lion is for the conservation of Asiatic Lion and Project Dolphin will focus on the conservation of both river and sea dolphins.
• Project Tiger is a tiger conservation programme launched in April 1973 by the Government of India.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launches SRIJAN portal for Indigenization in Defence Sector

• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has launched a portal SRIJAN that is a one-stop shop online portal, which provides access to the vendors to take up items for indigenization.
• This portal provides information about defence equipment and items, which are being imported currently or are going to be imported by the Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs).
• Four Contracts of Defence India Start-up Challenge (DISC) under Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) and four MoUs between industry partners and Defence PSUs were also signed.

Fact: Minister of State (MoS) of Defence – Shripad Yesso Naik

IISc and ISRO developed sustainable process to make bricks on lunar surface

• Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) developed a sustainable process for making brick-like structures named “Space Bricks” on the surface of the moon.
• For the process lunar soil, bacteria and guar beans are used.
• These bricks can be used to construct the habitation structures on the lunar surface in the future.

Fact: ISRO Chairman – Kailasavadivoo Sivan

          IISc Director– Govindan Rangarajan

ECONOMIC NEWS

RBI’s Central Board headed by Shaktikanta Das approved a divident of Rs 57,128 crore to Central Govt

• The Central Board of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) headed by Governor Shaktikanta Das has approved the transfer of Rs 57,128 crore in surplus as dividend to the Central government for the accounting year 2019-2020.
• As per the Union Budget 2020-21, the government has budgeted Rs 60,000 crore as dividends from RBI and state-run banks and financial institutions.
• The financial year of RBI at present is from July-June and is to coincide with the government’s April-March fiscal starting FY22.

SPORTS NEWS

Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports launches nation-wide initiative of Fit India Youth Clubs

• Union Minister of Youth and Sports Kiren Rijiju launched nation-wide initiative, Fit India Youth Club on the 73^rd Independence Day celebration of India.
• This is a part of the Prime Minister’s Fit India Movement to create awareness among the young minds about fitness across the country.

IMPORTANT DAYS

Celebration of India’s 74th Independence Day 2020 – August 15

• India celebrated the 74th Independence Day on 15th August 2020, to mark the independence of India from rule of British rule.
• This day is celebrated to remember the sacrifice of the freedom fighters and to pay tribute to the personnel’s of the Armed forces, paramilitary and police forces for ensuring national safety.
• The Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi addresses the nations following the flag hoisting ceremony at the ramparts of Red Fort in Delhi.
• The Guard of honour inspected by the Prime Minister Modi, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Gaurav S Yewalkar consists of 1 officer and 24 men from Army, Navy, Air Force and Delhi Police.