NHAI develops mobile App ‘Harit Path' to facilitate creation of Green Highways across country

NATIONAL NEWS

UP Signs Agreement with Israel for Water Resource Management in Bundelkhand

• The government of Uttar Pradesh (UP) with the Israel’s Water Resource Minister signed an agreement for the water resource management in Bundelkhand region in Uttar Pradesh.
• Ron Malka, Israel’s Ambassador to India and Alok Sinha, Agriculture Production Commissioner of Uttar Pradesh signed the ‘plan of cooperation’ on behalf of Israel and India respectively.
• The ‘plan of cooperation’ is initially signed for 2 years.
• The project was developed by the MASHAV — Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
• This cooperation will help with the Indo-Israel Bundelkhand water project undertaken in this region for long-term reforms in water management.

NHAI develops mobile App ‘Harit Path' to facilitate creation of Green Highways across country

• The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has developed a mobile App, ‘Harit Path' to facilitate creation of Green Highways across the country.
• “Harit Path” was inaugurated by the Union Minister for Road and Transport, Nitin Gadkari.
• The App will also be used to monitor location, growth, species details, maintenance activities, targets and achievements of each of the PSU’s field units for every plant under the Highway plantation projects.

Ministry of Tourism virtually signs an MoU with Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) &  FICCI Ladies Organisation(FLO)

• A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was virtually signed by the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) and FICCI Ladies Organisation (FLO) with Ministry of Tourism for women empowerment.
• The MoU is signed for promoting tourism as sustainable livelihood model for women's economic empowerment.
• With this initiative FLO & TAAI would lay emphasis on personal and hospitality skills, a more flexible work balance and greater options for entrepreneurship with significantly lower capital.

Fact: Union Minister for Tourism - Prahlad Singh Patel

IIM Kozhikode signs MoU with Switzerland based HELP Logistics

• Indian Institute of Management, Kozhikode (IIM-K) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Switzerland based HELP Logistics for a period of one year.
• The objective is to take part in a collaborative association to provide consulting services and logistics training for the humanitarian community in South Asia.
• HELP Logistics is a registered non-profit organisation and a subsidiary company of the Kühne Foundation, Schindellegi, Switzerland.
• The MoU includes financial support and aims to increase the regional knowledge and awareness on humanitarian logistic matters among humanitarian agencies.

ECONOMIC NEWS

HSBC India Becomes 1st Foreign Bank in India to launch a ‘Green Deposit Programme’ for Corporate Clients to Finance Green Initiatives

• HSBC India becomes 1st Foreign Bank in India to launch a ‘Green Deposit Programme’ exclusively for corporate clients to finance green initiatives and eco-friendly projects.
• This initiative will enable companies to support environmentally beneficial projects.
• As a product, ‘Green Deposit’ offers a stable principal, pre-agreed return and same levels of principal protection as a bank deposit.
• The product is aligned with HSBC India’s global commitments towards sustainable financing.

Fact: Headquarters of HSBC – Mumbai, Maharashtra

APPOINTMENTS

Rajiv Kumar appointed new Election Commissioner

• Former finance secretary Rajiv Kumar has been appointed new election commissioner.
• He will replace Ashok Lavasa who has resigned recently to join in Asian Development Bank as Vice President.
• A 1984-batch IAS officer of Jharkhand cadre, Rajiv Kumar has over three decades of experience in public policy and administration across various sectors.

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Senior Citizen’s Day 2020: August 21

• World Senior Citizen’s Day is observed annually on August 21 to raise awareness about the various issues including age deterioration and elder abuse that affect senior citizens.
• Ronald Reagan, former President of the United States of America, officially founded the day in 1988.
• The day also acknowledges and appreciates their achievements, dedication, accomplishments, and services they contribute throughout their lives to the society.

International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism 2020: August 21

• United Nations International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism is annually observed on 21st August to commemorate and pay tribute to the victims and survivors of Terrorism across the globe.
• The first International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism was observed on 21st August 2018.
• 21st August 2020 marks the 3rd commemoration of the International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism.
• The event of 2020 are organized by UN Counter Terrorism Centre(UNCCT) in collaboration with the Group of Friends of Victims of Terrorism.