Weekly Current Affairs 23rd to 31st October 2020

FINANCE AND BANKING

• SEBI bans Minance Investment Advisor over non-compliance of adviser norms
  • SEBI has recently banned Minance Investment Advisor, its promoter-director Anurag Bhatia and two others from the Capital market.

• SEBI sets up data advisory committee
  • Market regulator SEBI has constituted a market data advisory committee under the leadership of Madhabi Puri Buch.

• RBI asks lenders to implement waiver of interest on interest scheme by 5 Nov
  • The Reserve Bank of India has asked all lending institutions, including non-banking financial companies, to ensure that the scheme of waiver of compound interest is implemented by November 5.

• RBI revises guidelines on Housing Finance Companies
  • RBI issued fresh guidelines for housing finance companies (HFC).
  • The guidelines mandate these NBFCs to have at least 60% of their total net assets to be deployed towards financing for housing.

• BSE Signs MoU with ICCI to support SMEs, start-ups in listing
  • BSE Stock Exchange recently signed an MoU with Inventivepreneur Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ICCI).
  • This agreement aims at helping small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups, and promote their listing on the exchange.

• ICICI Bank closes ends operations in Sri Lanka
  • ICICI Bank has recently said that it had shut its operations down in Sri Lanka.
  • The announcement came after the bank received approval from the Monetary Board of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.

ECONOMY

• USAID announced $5 million support to India’s COVID-19 initiatives
  • The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has announced $5 million to Catalyst Management Service’s COVID Action Collaborative (CAC) and the Wadhwani Institute for Artificial Intelligence.

• Global FDI flows decreased by 49% in first half of 2020 due to COVID-19: UNCTAD
  • United Nations Conference on Trade and Development’s Global Investment Trends Monitor said that global foreign direct investment (FDI) flows fell 49% in the first half of 2020 compared to 2019.
  • This fall has been caused because of the global impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Harley Davidson partners with Hero MotoCorp
  • US-based motorcycle maker Harley-Davidson Tuesday partnered with India’s largest two-wheeler maker Hero MotoCorp.
  • The partnership has been forged to sell and service its products in the country.

• NTPC tops PSUs in Forbes “World’s best Employers 2020”
  • The centred owned PSU- NTPC ltd. has topped the list of Indian PSUs in the “World’s best Employers 2020” list published by Forbes.

• Payment deadline for Vivad se Vishwas scheme extended
  • The Central government has extended the payment deadline for the direct tax legacy dispute resolution scheme (Vivad se Vishwas) by three months till March 31, 2021.

• India extends $ 1 billion Line of Credit to Central Asia for connectivity & other projects
  • India extends $1 billion Line of Credit to Central Asian countries for widening connectivity and energy partnership.

NATIONAL

• India gets chairmanship of ILO’s governing body after a gap of 35 years
  • India has assumed the chairmanship of the governing body of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) after a gap of 35 years.
  • Labour secretary Apurva Chandra has been elected as the chairperson of the governing body of the organisation for the period October 2020- June 2021.

• Cabinet approves the Memorandum of Understanding between India and Cambodia on health
  • The Union Cabinet gave approval to the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Cambodia on cooperation in the field of Health and Medicine.

• NITI Aayog panel for reforms in urban planning education
  • A panel constituted by the NITI Aayog will look into introducing reforms in the urban planning education system.
  • The 14-member advisory committee, headed by NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman Rajiv Kumar, will review the urban planning education system in India and examine the availability, demand and supply of qualified urban planners in the country.

• Harsh Vardhan launches CuRED, CSIR partnered clinical trials website
  • Union health and science and technology minister Harsh Vardhan launched CSIR Ushered Repurposed Drugs (CuRED), a website that gives comprehensive info about the numerous Covid-19 clinical trials that the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) is engaged in partnership with industry, other government departments and ministries.

• Culture & Tourism Minister virtually launches Life in Miniature project
  • Culture and Tourism Minister Prahlad Singh Patel virtually launched Life in Miniature project.
  • The project is a collaboration between the National Museum, New Delhi, Ministry of Culture, and Google Arts and Culture.

• State of Global Air (SOGA) 2020 Report
  • US-based Health Effects Institute and Global Burden of Disease (GBD) released State of Global Air 2020 (SOGA 2020) Report.
  • According to the report, India recorded the highest annual average PM 2.5 concentration exposure in the world in 2019.

INTERNATIONAL

• NATO plans to set up new Space Centre in Germany
  • North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) will set up a new space command center in Germany aimed at countering threats to satellite infrastructure in orbit.
  • The center will be at the Ramstein air base in Germany.

• Andorra becomes IMF’s 190th member as coronavirus pandemic hits tourist entries
  • Europe’s tiny Andorra formally joined the International Monetary Fund, becoming the IMF’s 190th member state.

• Indian-origin Wavel Ramkalawan is elected Seychelles President
  • The Seychelles elected Indian-origin Wavel Ramkalawan, as president.

• Alpha Conde won third term as President of Guinea
  • Incumbent Alpha Conde has won Guinea’s presidential election with 59.5 percent of the vote.
  • The victory gives a third term in office to the 82-year-old.

• Saad Hariri renamed Lebanon PM
  • Three-time Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri was renamed to the post to create cabinet.

• Luis Arce won Bolivia Presidential election
  • Bolivia’s Supreme Electoral Tribunal announced that Luis Arce won the presidential election.

STATES

• Assam to get country’s first multi-modal logistics park
  • Assam will get the country’s first multi-modal logistics park with facilities such as warehouse, railway siding, cold storage, custom clearance house, yard facility, workshops, petrol pumps, truck

• Arunachal Pradesh government sign MoU signed for development of infrastructures at NCoE
  • The Arunachal Pradesh government has inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Union Sports Ministry for development of infrastructures at National Centre of Excellence (NCoE).

• UP tops in loan disbursal to street vendors under PM Svanidhi Scheme
  • The PM Atmnirbhar Nidhi Scheme (Svanidhi Scheme) was launched on June 1 by the central government to help street vendors resume their livelihood activities that were impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.
  • Uttar Pradesh secured the first rank in implementing the PM Atmnirbhar Nidhi Scheme (Svanidhi Scheme).
  • Uttar Pradesh has ranked first in all the categories – applications, sanctions and disbursements.

• UP Govt. to establish anti-human trafficking Police Stations in each and every district
  • Uttar Pradesh Government has decided to establish anti-human trafficking Police Stations in each and every district in a major step towards the security of women and children.

• In Andhra Pradesh, YSR Bima launched for BPL families
  • Andhra Pradesh CM Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy launched ‘YSR Bima’ scheme under which 1.41 crore Below Poverty Line (BPL) families possessing white ration-cards will be provided insurance cover for death and permanent disability.

• Himachal Pradesh: Mandi district bags top position for implementation of PMGSY
  • Himachal Pradesh's Mandi district has bagged top position among 30 districts of the country in successful implementation of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).
  • Himachal Pradesh has also secured second position at the national level for construction of roads under PMGSY.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

• IIT Kharagpur develops novel Industry 4.0 tech for advanced manufacturing sector
  • IIT Kharagpur has developed a novel Industry 4.0 technology for remotely controlled factory operations and real-time quality correction during industrial production in India's advanced manufacturing sector.
  • The present innovation upgraded the industrial process of friction stir welding to a multi-sensory system of Industry 4.0.

• Bharat biotech's COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin gets DCGI nod for phase 3 clinical trial
  • The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) permitted Bharat Biotech to conduct phase 3 clinical trials of its indigenously developed COVID-19 vaccine 'Covaxin' with certain conditions.
  • The vaccine 'Covaxin' is being indigenously developed by the Bharat Biotech in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

• Water supply schemes under Jal Jeevan Mission inaugurated on Indo-Myanmar border in Manipur
  • Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh inaugurated two water supply projects for two villages under Jal Jeevan Mission.
  • The two villages (Khangbarol and Khengjoy) are remote and once insurgent infested.

• Mobile App launched for Geo tagging of project components under PMKSY-AIBP
  • Union Minister of State, Jal Shakti, Rattan Lal Kataria recently launched a Mobile App for Geo tagging of project components under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana- Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (PMKSY-AIBP).
  • The app has been developed by the Ministry of Jal Shakti with the help of Bhaskaracharya Institute for Space Applications and Geoinformatics.

• NABARD sanctions ? 8504.30 lakh under RIDF scheme to Government of Goa during 2020-21
  • NABARD has sanctioned loans worth ? 8504.30 lakh under Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) to the Government of Goa These loans have been utilised for various Social Infrastructure Projects in the State.

• NABARD to set up subsidiary to guarantee agriculture loans
  • NABARD has proposed to set up a subsidiary to provide a guarantee for loans under agriculture and rural development.
  • A guarantee will be provided for loans under Animal Husbandry Infrastructure (CGAHI) scheme announced as part of Animal Husbandry Infrastructure and Development Fund (AHIDF), under PM’s ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat programme’, and for financing Farmer producer organisation (FPOs) as part of central sector scheme for FPOs.

DEFENCE

• DRDO successfully conducts final trial of Nag anti-tank guided missile in Pokhran range
  • India successfully carried out the final trial of the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO)-developed Nag anti-tank guided missile with a warhead.
  • The test was carried out at the Pokhran field firing ranges in Rajasthan.

• Indian Navy Missile Corvette INS Prabal launches anti-ship missile
  • The Indian Navy launched an anti-ship missile (AShM) by Missile Corvette INS Prabal with maximum accuracy at maximum range and sinking the target ship.

• ADTL to build MiG-29 simulator centre for IAF
  • Alpha Design Technologies Ltd. (ADTL) has signed the first of two-phase defence contracts, together worth ?753 crore, with the Ministry of Defence and Russia’s RAC MiG.

EVENTS

• India, US hold 3rd bilateral two plus two Ministerial Dialogue in New Delhi
  • India and US held the 3rd bilateral 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue in New Delhi and signed the landmark defence pact Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA).
  • The signing of BECA is significant as it allows India to use global geospatial maps of the United States for accuracy of stand-off weapons like cruise and ballistic missiles.

• 1st Ministerial Meeting of G-20 Anti-Corruption Working Group
  • The 1st ever Ministerial Meeting of G-20 Anti-Corruption Working Group was organised under the Presidency of Saudi Arabia.
  • Union Minister of State (Independent Charge), Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh represented India.

• 6th BRICS Parliamentary Forum
  • Indian Parliamentary delegation led by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla attended 6th BRICS Parliamentary Forum held virtually.
  • The meeting was chaired by the Vyacheslav Volodin, Chairman of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation.

AWARDS AND REWARDS

• Dr Jajini Varghese, Indian-origin Oncoplastic surgeon honored Outstanding Young Person 2020
  • Dr Jajini Varghese, a UK-based Indian-origin plastic surgeon, has been named an ‘Outstanding Young Person of the World 2020’ by a non-profit NGO for her scientific contributions to diagnosing and treating breast cancer.

• Indian Outfit Wins UN Award for Efforts to Combat Climate Change amid COVID
  • The Global Himalayan Expedition (GHE) is among the winners of the 2020 UN Global Climate Action Award.
  • GHE is one of the world's first organisations using tourism and technology to bring solar energy to remote communities as recognised by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) and the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO).

• India-assisted Mangdechhu hydroelectric project in Bhutan wins award
  • India-assisted Mangdechhu hydroelectric project in Bhutan has been awarded the prestigious Brunel Medal for excellence in civil engineering by the UK-based Institute of Civil Engineers.

• Om Puri honoured at India International Film Festival of Boston
  • Late actor Om Puri was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the third India International Film Festival of Boston (IIFFB 2020).

SPORTS

• Lewis Hamilton wins Portuguese GP to break Michael Schumacher's F1 record
  • British driver Lewis Hamilton made Formula One history, winning the Portuguese Grand Prix for a 92nd career victory to move one ahead of German great Michael Schumacher.

• Under-19 World Cup-winner Tanmay Srivastava retires from cricket
  • 30-year-old left-hander Mumbai Batsman Tanmay Srivastava, who was part of India’s Under-19 World Cup winning team in 2008, announced his retirement from all forms of cricket.

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FINANCE AND BANKING

• SEBI bans Minance Investment Advisor over non-compliance of adviser norms
  • SEBI has recently banned Minance Investment Advisor, its promoter-director Anurag Bhatia and two others from the Capital market.

• SEBI sets up data advisory committee
  • Market regulator SEBI has constituted a market data advisory committee under the leadership of Madhabi Puri Buch.

• RBI asks lenders to implement waiver of interest on interest scheme by 5 Nov
  • The Reserve Bank of India has asked all lending institutions, including non-banking financial companies, to ensure that the scheme of waiver of compound interest is implemented by November 5.

• RBI revises guidelines on Housing Finance Companies
  • RBI issued fresh guidelines for housing finance companies (HFC).
  • The guidelines mandate these NBFCs to have at least 60% of their total net assets to be deployed towards financing for housing.

• BSE Signs MoU with ICCI to support SMEs, start-ups in listing
  • BSE Stock Exchange recently signed an MoU with Inventivepreneur Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ICCI).
  • This agreement aims at helping small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups, and promote their listing on the exchange.

• ICICI Bank closes ends operations in Sri Lanka
  • ICICI Bank has recently said that it had shut its operations down in Sri Lanka.
  • The announcement came after the bank received approval from the Monetary Board of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.

ECONOMY

• USAID announced $5 million support to India’s COVID-19 initiatives
  • The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has announced $5 million to Catalyst Management Service’s COVID Action Collaborative (CAC) and the Wadhwani Institute for Artificial Intelligence.

• Global FDI flows decreased by 49% in first half of 2020 due to COVID-19: UNCTAD
  • United Nations Conference on Trade and Development’s Global Investment Trends Monitor said that global foreign direct investment (FDI) flows fell 49% in the first half of 2020 compared to 2019.
  • This fall has been caused because of the global impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Harley Davidson partners with Hero MotoCorp
  • US-based motorcycle maker Harley-Davidson Tuesday partnered with India’s largest two-wheeler maker Hero MotoCorp.
  • The partnership has been forged to sell and service its products in the country.

• NTPC tops PSUs in Forbes “World’s best Employers 2020”
  • The centred owned PSU- NTPC ltd. has topped the list of Indian PSUs in the “World’s best Employers 2020” list published by Forbes.

• Payment deadline for Vivad se Vishwas scheme extended
  • The Central government has extended the payment deadline for the direct tax legacy dispute resolution scheme (Vivad se Vishwas) by three months till March 31, 2021.

• India extends $ 1 billion Line of Credit to Central Asia for connectivity & other projects
  • India extends $1 billion Line of Credit to Central Asian countries for widening connectivity and energy partnership.

NATIONAL

• India gets chairmanship of ILO’s governing body after a gap of 35 years
  • India has assumed the chairmanship of the governing body of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) after a gap of 35 years.
  • Labour secretary Apurva Chandra has been elected as the chairperson of the governing body of the organisation for the period October 2020- June 2021.

• Cabinet approves the Memorandum of Understanding between India and Cambodia on health
  • The Union Cabinet gave approval to the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Cambodia on cooperation in the field of Health and Medicine.

• NITI Aayog panel for reforms in urban planning education
  • A panel constituted by the NITI Aayog will look into introducing reforms in the urban planning education system.
  • The 14-member advisory committee, headed by NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman Rajiv Kumar, will review the urban planning education system in India and examine the availability, demand and supply of qualified urban planners in the country.

• Harsh Vardhan launches CuRED, CSIR partnered clinical trials website
  • Union health and science and technology minister Harsh Vardhan launched CSIR Ushered Repurposed Drugs (CuRED), a website that gives comprehensive info about the numerous Covid-19 clinical trials that the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) is engaged in partnership with industry, other government departments and ministries.

• Culture & Tourism Minister virtually launches Life in Miniature project
  • Culture and Tourism Minister Prahlad Singh Patel virtually launched Life in Miniature project.
  • The project is a collaboration between the National Museum, New Delhi, Ministry of Culture, and Google Arts and Culture.

• State of Global Air (SOGA) 2020 Report
  • US-based Health Effects Institute and Global Burden of Disease (GBD) released State of Global Air 2020 (SOGA 2020) Report.
  • According to the report, India recorded the highest annual average PM 2.5 concentration exposure in the world in 2019.

INTERNATIONAL

• NATO plans to set up new Space Centre in Germany
  • North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) will set up a new space command center in Germany aimed at countering threats to satellite infrastructure in orbit.
  • The center will be at the Ramstein air base in Germany.

• Andorra becomes IMF’s 190th member as coronavirus pandemic hits tourist entries
  • Europe’s tiny Andorra formally joined the International Monetary Fund, becoming the IMF’s 190th member state.

• Indian-origin Wavel Ramkalawan is elected Seychelles President
  • The Seychelles elected Indian-origin Wavel Ramkalawan, as president.

• Alpha Conde won third term as President of Guinea
  • Incumbent Alpha Conde has won Guinea’s presidential election with 59.5 percent of the vote.
  • The victory gives a third term in office to the 82-year-old.

• Saad Hariri renamed Lebanon PM
  • Three-time Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri was renamed to the post to create cabinet.

• Luis Arce won Bolivia Presidential election
  • Bolivia’s Supreme Electoral Tribunal announced that Luis Arce won the presidential election.

STATES

• Assam to get country’s first multi-modal logistics park
  • Assam will get the country’s first multi-modal logistics park with facilities such as warehouse, railway siding, cold storage, custom clearance house, yard facility, workshops, petrol pumps, truck

• Arunachal Pradesh government sign MoU signed for development of infrastructures at NCoE
  • The Arunachal Pradesh government has inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Union Sports Ministry for development of infrastructures at National Centre of Excellence (NCoE).

• UP tops in loan disbursal to street vendors under PM Svanidhi Scheme
  • The PM Atmnirbhar Nidhi Scheme (Svanidhi Scheme) was launched on June 1 by the central government to help street vendors resume their livelihood activities that were impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.
  • Uttar Pradesh secured the first rank in implementing the PM Atmnirbhar Nidhi Scheme (Svanidhi Scheme).
  • Uttar Pradesh has ranked first in all the categories – applications, sanctions and disbursements.

• UP Govt. to establish anti-human trafficking Police Stations in each and every district
  • Uttar Pradesh Government has decided to establish anti-human trafficking Police Stations in each and every district in a major step towards the security of women and children.

• In Andhra Pradesh, YSR Bima launched for BPL families
  • Andhra Pradesh CM Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy launched ‘YSR Bima’ scheme under which 1.41 crore Below Poverty Line (BPL) families possessing white ration-cards will be provided insurance cover for death and permanent disability.

• Himachal Pradesh: Mandi district bags top position for implementation of PMGSY
  • Himachal Pradesh's Mandi district has bagged top position among 30 districts of the country in successful implementation of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).
  • Himachal Pradesh has also secured second position at the national level for construction of roads under PMGSY.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

• IIT Kharagpur develops novel Industry 4.0 tech for advanced manufacturing sector
  • IIT Kharagpur has developed a novel Industry 4.0 technology for remotely controlled factory operations and real-time quality correction during industrial production in India's advanced manufacturing sector.
  • The present innovation upgraded the industrial process of friction stir welding to a multi-sensory system of Industry 4.0.

• Bharat biotech's COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin gets DCGI nod for phase 3 clinical trial
  • The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) permitted Bharat Biotech to conduct phase 3 clinical trials of its indigenously developed COVID-19 vaccine 'Covaxin' with certain conditions.
  • The vaccine 'Covaxin' is being indigenously developed by the Bharat Biotech in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

• Water supply schemes under Jal Jeevan Mission inaugurated on Indo-Myanmar border in Manipur
  • Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh inaugurated two water supply projects for two villages under Jal Jeevan Mission.
  • The two villages (Khangbarol and Khengjoy) are remote and once insurgent infested.

• Mobile App launched for Geo tagging of project components under PMKSY-AIBP
  • Union Minister of State, Jal Shakti, Rattan Lal Kataria recently launched a Mobile App for Geo tagging of project components under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana- Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (PMKSY-AIBP).
  • The app has been developed by the Ministry of Jal Shakti with the help of Bhaskaracharya Institute for Space Applications and Geoinformatics.

• NABARD sanctions ? 8504.30 lakh under RIDF scheme to Government of Goa during 2020-21
  • NABARD has sanctioned loans worth ? 8504.30 lakh under Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) to the Government of Goa These loans have been utilised for various Social Infrastructure Projects in the State.

• NABARD to set up subsidiary to guarantee agriculture loans
  • NABARD has proposed to set up a subsidiary to provide a guarantee for loans under agriculture and rural development.
  • A guarantee will be provided for loans under Animal Husbandry Infrastructure (CGAHI) scheme announced as part of Animal Husbandry Infrastructure and Development Fund (AHIDF), under PM’s ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat programme’, and for financing Farmer producer organisation (FPOs) as part of central sector scheme for FPOs.

DEFENCE

• DRDO successfully conducts final trial of Nag anti-tank guided missile in Pokhran range
  • India successfully carried out the final trial of the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO)-developed Nag anti-tank guided missile with a warhead.
  • The test was carried out at the Pokhran field firing ranges in Rajasthan.

• Indian Navy Missile Corvette INS Prabal launches anti-ship missile
  • The Indian Navy launched an anti-ship missile (AShM) by Missile Corvette INS Prabal with maximum accuracy at maximum range and sinking the target ship.

• ADTL to build MiG-29 simulator centre for IAF
  • Alpha Design Technologies Ltd. (ADTL) has signed the first of two-phase defence contracts, together worth ?753 crore, with the Ministry of Defence and Russia’s RAC MiG.

EVENTS

• India, US hold 3rd bilateral two plus two Ministerial Dialogue in New Delhi
  • India and US held the 3rd bilateral 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue in New Delhi and signed the landmark defence pact Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA).
  • The signing of BECA is significant as it allows India to use global geospatial maps of the United States for accuracy of stand-off weapons like cruise and ballistic missiles.

• 1st Ministerial Meeting of G-20 Anti-Corruption Working Group
  • The 1st ever Ministerial Meeting of G-20 Anti-Corruption Working Group was organised under the Presidency of Saudi Arabia.
  • Union Minister of State (Independent Charge), Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh represented India.

• 6th BRICS Parliamentary Forum
  • Indian Parliamentary delegation led by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla attended 6th BRICS Parliamentary Forum held virtually.
  • The meeting was chaired by the Vyacheslav Volodin, Chairman of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation.

AWARDS AND REWARDS

• Dr Jajini Varghese, Indian-origin Oncoplastic surgeon honored Outstanding Young Person 2020
  • Dr Jajini Varghese, a UK-based Indian-origin plastic surgeon, has been named an ‘Outstanding Young Person of the World 2020’ by a non-profit NGO for her scientific contributions to diagnosing and treating breast cancer.

• Indian Outfit Wins UN Award for Efforts to Combat Climate Change amid COVID
  • The Global Himalayan Expedition (GHE) is among the winners of the 2020 UN Global Climate Action Award.
  • GHE is one of the world's first organisations using tourism and technology to bring solar energy to remote communities as recognised by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) and the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO).

• India-assisted Mangdechhu hydroelectric project in Bhutan wins award
  • India-assisted Mangdechhu hydroelectric project in Bhutan has been awarded the prestigious Brunel Medal for excellence in civil engineering by the UK-based Institute of Civil Engineers.

• Om Puri honoured at India International Film Festival of Boston
  • Late actor Om Puri was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the third India International Film Festival of Boston (IIFFB 2020).

SPORTS

• Lewis Hamilton wins Portuguese GP to break Michael Schumacher's F1 record
  • British driver Lewis Hamilton made Formula One history, winning the Portuguese Grand Prix for a 92nd career victory to move one ahead of German great Michael Schumacher.

• Under-19 World Cup-winner Tanmay Srivastava retires from cricket
  • 30-year-old left-hander Mumbai Batsman Tanmay Srivastava, who was part of India’s Under-19 World Cup winning team in 2008, announced his retirement from all forms of cricket.