Current Affairs in English – August 20 2022

National Events:

Union home secretary:

The Central Government on 19 August 2022 extended term of Union home secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla by one year to August 22 , 2023 . He was initially set to retire in November 2020 .
This is his third extension in the post . Bhalla , a 1984 – batch IAS officer of the Assam – Meghalaya cadre , was appointed as the Home Secretary in August 2019 .

Akshay Urja Diwas : 20 August:

Akshay Urja Diwas or the Renewable Energy Day is observed on August 20 each year . It raises awareness about the developments related to the adoption of renewable energy in India .
The day was established in 2004 with the goal of supporting renewable energy development programs and promoting their usage instead of using traditional sources of energy .

78th birth anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi : 20 August:

20 August 2022 marked the 78th birth anniversary of former PM Rajiv Gandhi . Rajiv Gandhi was the sixth Prime Minister of India , serving from 1984 to 1989 . He became the youngest PM of India at the age of 40 .
While campaigning for the elections , he was assassinated by a suicide bomber in 1991 . In 1991 , the Indian government posthumously awarded him the Bharat Ratna.

CPA:

An Indian Parliamentary delegation led by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will be attending the 65th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference ( CPA ) at Halifax in Canada . This conference is scheduled to be held from 20-26 August 2022 .
The Conference will also be attended by 23 Presiding Officers and 16 Secretaries from State Legislatures from India who are also members of CPA .

Portal-NIDAAN:

A first – of – its kind database of arrested narcotics offenders has been made operational for use by various central and state prosecution agencies .
The portal – NIDAAN or the National Integrated Database on Arrested Narco – offenders – has been developed by the Narcotics Control Bureau ( NCB ) .
The NIDAAN platform sources its data from the ICJS ( inter – operable criminal justice system ) .

104th birth anniversary of Dr Shanker Dayal Sharma : 19 August:

19 August 2022 marked the 104th birth anniversary of former President Dr Shanker Dayal Sharma . He was the 9th President of India who served tween 1992-1997 . Dr Sharma also served as the Chief Minister of Bhopal from 1952 to 1956 .
From 1974 , he served in the union cabinet as the Minister for Communications 1974 to 1977 . He passed away on 26 December 1999 .

‘ Pitch Black 2022”:

An Indian Air Force ( IAF ) contingent on 19 August reached Australia to participate in Exercise ‘ Pitch Black 2022. ‘ . This exercise is scheduled to be held from 19 Aug to 08 Sep 2022 in Australia’s Darwin .
It is a biennial , multi – national exercise hosted by the Royal Australian Air Force . The IAF contingent , led by Group Captain YPS Negi , comprises over 100 air warriors in this exercise.

‘Pro-Dahi-Handi’:

Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde has announced that ‘ Dahi – Handi ‘ will now be recognised as an official sport in the state . The government will introduce ” Pro – Dahi – Handi ” competitions in the state .
The ‘ Govindas ‘ will also get jobs under the sports category apart from Rs 10 lakh insurance cover . ” Dahi Handi ” is a popular event in the state , associated with Lord Krishna’s birthday , Janmashtami.

Pravasi Bhartya Divas:

The 17th Pravasi Bhartiya Divas ( PBD ) will be held at Indore in January 2023 . It is celebrated every year on 9th January to mark the contribution of the overseas Indian community in the development of India .
It also commemorates the return of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa to India on 9 January 1915 . 16th PBD ( 2021 ) Chief Guest : Chandrikapersad Santokhi , President of Suriname.

Indian Railway Catering & Tourism Corporation & BSF:

The Border Security Force ( BSF ) has signed an MoU with the Indian Railway Catering & Tourism Corporation ( IRCTC ) . It has been signed to ensure the safety & security of booking data under IRCTC’s air e – ticket service for the troops of BSF .
This service will provide a dedicated online portal with a credit facility of 60 days . BSF Director General : Pankaj Singh. IRCTC Chairman : Rajni Hasija.

Tamil Nadu Events:

’Namma Chennai, Namma Perumai’:

On the occasion of Chennai Day, the Corporation has invited the public to participate in a program called ‘Namma Chennai, Namma Perumai’ at Chennai Elliots Beach.
Chennai Pattinam has developed in various stages in 383 years from the year 1639 till now. Every year 22nd August is celebrated as Chennai Day.

International Events:

World Mosquito Day : 20 August:

Every year , World Mosquito Day is observed on 20 August . This day is observed to mark the historic discovery by British doctor Sir Ronald Ross in 1897 that malaria is transmitted between humans by female Anopheline mosquitoes .
He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine for his work on malaria in 1902 . 2022 Theme : ” Harness innovation to reduce the malaria disease burden and save lives .

World Photography Day : 19 August:

World Photography Day is celebrated on August 19 every year with the aim to pay homage to photographers who contributed to the field of photography .
Two Frenchmen Louis Daguerre and Joseph Nicephore Niepce developed the first photographic process in the year 1837 .
This process was called ‘ Daguerreotype ‘. World Photography Day 2022 theme : ” Pandemic Lockdown through the lens “.