CURRENT AFFAIRS OF 20th AUGUST, 2023

CURRENT AFFAIRS OF 20^th AUGUST, 2023

1. Sadbhavana Diwas, also known as Harmony Day, is annually celebrated on 20 August across India to celebrate the birth anniversary of India’s 6^th Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. 20 August, 2023 marks the 79^th birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.
2. World Mosquito Day is annually celebrated on 20 August to commemorate the contributions of British doctor Sir Ronald Ross who was the first person to discover the connection between malaria and female anopheles mosquitoes and the transmission of malaria between humans in 1897.
3. OpenAI has successfully acquired Global Illumination, an ingenious startup based in New York, which harnesses the power of AI to craft innovative creative tools, digital experiences, and robust infrastructure.
4. In a recent development, Maharashtra has emerged as the front-runner in the Fiscal Health Report, showcasing commendable financial stability and Chhattisgarh got the second position in the rankings.
5. In a significant move to empower women and foster economic growth, the Indian Government has announced the ‘Lakhpati Didi’ scheme, aiming to provide skill training to two crore women across the nation.
6. The Delhi Government issued an advisory on restrictions of use of mobile phones in school premises requesting parents to ensure that their wards do not carry cell phones to the school.
7. In a significant move towards enhancing urban transportation and promoting electric mobility, the Union Cabinet has given its nod to the ‘PM-eBus Sewa’ scheme which aims at expanding city bus operations by deploying 10,000 electric buses through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.
8. Appu Series, the front-runner in children’s edutainment, proudly announced the launch of ‘APPU’-India’s first-ever 4K animated feature film.
9. Canara Bank has unveiled a specialized savings account, known as Canara Jeevan Dhara, aimed at pensioners and those nearing retirement, designed to provide an array of benefits catering to their unique financial needs.
10. Haryana’s Nuh district secured second position among the 112 aspirational districts in the country in NITI Aayog’s Delta ranking under Aspirational Districts Programme.
11. In a significant development aimed at enhancing the operational capabilities of the Indian Navy, the Central Government has granted its final approval for a pivotal project to construct five fleet support ships which will play a crucial role in replenishing warships with essential supplies including fuel, food, and ammunition during missions.
12. Indonesia’s capital Jakarta topped the list as the World’s most polluted city, having consistently ranked among the 10 most polluted cities globally since May, according to data by Swiss air quality technology company IQAir.
13. Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has given directions for providing free textbooks to the students of all private and non-aided Odia medium schools of the state.
14. Madhya Pradesh Government will set up a new Sub-Divisional officer of Police (SDOP) office at Dindori district.
15. Star Indian cricketer Virat Kohli is the Asia’s highest paid Instagram celebrity, according to a list published by hopperhq.com.
16. Consumer rights activist and former vice-principal of Cotton University, Deven Dutta passed away on 18 August 2023, at the age of 81.