- Current Affairs August 2020
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Current Affairs August 2020 - Awards
1 - Ministry of Tribal Affairs received SKOCH Gold Award
Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) has received SKOCH Gold Award for its “Empowerment of Tribals through IT enabled Scholarship Schemes” project of Scholarship Divison of the Ministry. The 66th SKOCH 2020 Competition was entitled “INDIA RESPONDS TO COVID THROUGH DIGITAL GOVERNANCE” and MoTA chose to participate in DIGITAL INDIA & E-GOVERNANCE - 2020 Competition.
The project is implemented by IIPA. It would help in understanding the aspirations of tribal youth and help in realizing their cherished dream to develop as entrepreneurs, researchers and flag-bearers of schemes of Government of India meant for welfare for STs.
2 - DIAT won first prize in Smart India Hackathon-2020
Defence Institute of Advanced Technology (DIAT) Pune, an autonomous organization under the Department of Defence Research & Development, DRDO, won 1st prize in Smart India Hackathon (SIH)-2020.
The DIAT student team “Age of Ultron” which comprised of six members under the guidance of Dr. Sunita Dhavale, won the 1st Prize of Rs 1 Lakh for solving problem statement MS331 in the category of software posed by the Madhya Pradesh Government. The team provided the solution titled “DRISHTI” for the face, expression and gesture recognition using Artificial Intelligence.
3 - 121 Police personnel awarded Union Home Minister’s Medal for Excellence in Investigation for 2020
The Union Home Minister’s Medal for Excellence in Investigation for 2020 has been awarded to 121 Police personnel. The medal was constituted in 2018 with the objective to promote high professional standards of investigation of crime and to recognize such Excellence in Investigation by investigating officers.
Among the awardees, 15 are from CBI, 10 each are from MP and Maharashtra Police, 8 are from UP Police and 7 each are from Kerala and West Bengal Police. The remaining are from the other States and Union Territories. These include 21 women police officers.
4 - President approved 84 gallantry awards for defence personnel
President Ram Nath Kovind approved 84 gallantry awards for defence personnel that includes 1 Kirti Chakra, 9 Shaurya Chakras, 5 Bar to Sena Medals, 60 Sena Medals, 4 Nao Sena Medals and 5 Vayu Sena Medals.
Head constable Abdul Rashid Kalas of J&K Police (JKP) has been posthumously awarded the Kirti Chakra, India’s second-highest peacetime gallantry award. President Kovind has also approved 19 Mention-in-Despatches to the Army personnel for their significant contributions in different military operations which include eight posthumous for ‘Operation Meghdoot’ and ‘Operation Rakshak’.
5 - 926 Police personnel awarded Medals for their conspicuous gallant action on Independence Day
Police Medals for Gallantry have been awarded to 215 police personnel for their conspicuous gallant action. President’s Police Medals for Distinguished Service have been awarded to 80 police personnel and Police Medal for Meritorious Service to 631 police personnel.
Among the personnel receiving Gallantry Awards, 55 are from CRPF, 81 are from J & K police, 23 are from Uttar Pradesh, 16 from Delhi Police, 14 from Maharashtra and 12 are from Jharkhand and the remaining from the other States and UTs and Central Armed Police Forces.
6 - Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award 2020 announced
The Union Government announced the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award. It is given for the spectacular and most outstanding performance in the field of sports by a sportsperson over a period of four years. Apart from a medal and a citation, the awardee will receive cash prize of Rs. 7.5 lakh.
The list of awardees:
| Name of the Awardees | Discipline |
|---|---|
| Rohit Sharma | Cricket |
| Mariyappan Thangavelu | Para-Athletics |
| Manika Batra | Table Tennis |
| Vinesh Phogat | Wrestling |
| Rani Rampal | Hockey |
7 - Arjuna Awards 2020 announced
The Union Government announced the Arjuna Awards 2020. The Award is given for consistent outstanding performance for four years. Apart from a medal and a citation, the awardee will receive a cash prize of Rs. 5 lakh.
The list of awardees:
| Name of the Sportsperson | Discipline |
|---|---|
| Atanu Das | Archery |
| Deepak | Kabaddi |
| Dutee Chand | Athletics |
| Kale Sarika Sudhakar | Kho Kho |
| Satwik Sairaj Rankireddy | Badminton |
| Dattu Baban Bhokanal | Rowing |
| Chirag C Shetty | Badminton |
| Manu Bhaker | Shooting |
| Vishesh Bhriguvanshi | Basketball |
| Saurabh Chaudhary | Shooting |
| Subedar Manish Kaushik | Boxing |
| Madhurika Suhas Patkar | Table Tennis |
| Lovlina Borgohain | Boxing |
| Divij Sharan | Tennis |
| Ishant Sharma | Cricket |
| Shiva Keshavan | Winter Sports |
| Deepti Sharma | Cricket |
| Divya Kakran | Wrestling |
| Sawant Ajay Anant | Equestrian |
| Rahul Aware | Wrestling |
| Sandesh Jhingan | Football |
| Suyash Narayan Jadhav | Para Swimming |
| Aditi Ashok | Golf |
| Sandeep | Para Athletics |
| Akashdeep Singh | Hockey |
| Manish Narwal | Para Shooting |
| Deepika | Hockey |
8 - Dronacharya Awards 2020 Announced
The Union Government announced the Dronacharya Awards 2020. The Award is given for coaches for producing medal winners at prestigious International sports events.
The list of awardees:
| Name of the Coach (Life-Time Category) | Discipline |
|---|---|
| Dharmendra Tiwary | Archery |
| Jude Felix Sebastian | Hockey |
| Purushotham Rai | Athletics |
| Yogesh Malviya | Mallakhamb |
| Shiv Singh | Boxing |
| Jaspal Rana | Shooting |
| Romesh Pathania | Hockey |
| Kuldeep Kumar Handoo | Wushu |
| Krishan Kumar Hooda | Kabaddi |
| Gaurav Khanna | Para Badminton |
| Vijay Bhalchandra Munishwar | Para Powerlifting |
| Naresh Kumar | Tennis |
| Om Parkash Dahiya | Wrestling |
9 - Dhyan Chand Award 2020 announced
The Union Government announced the Dhyan Chand Award 2020. The Award is given for life time contribution to sports development. Apart from a medal and a citation, the awardee will receive a cash prize of Rs. 5 lakh.
The list of winners:
| Name of the Sportsperson | Discipline |
|---|---|
| Shri Kuldip Singh Bhullar | Athletics |
| Shri Manpreet Singh | Kabaddi |
| Ms. Jincy Philips | Athletics |
| Shri J. Ranjith Kumar | Para Athletics |
| Shri Pradeep Shrikrishna Gandhe | Badminton |
| Shri Satyaprakash Tiwari | Para Badminton |
| Ms. Trupti Murgunde | Badminton |
| Shri Manjeet Singh | Rowing |
| Ms. N. Usha | Boxing |
| Late Shri Sachin Nag | Swimming |
| Shri Lakha Singh | Boxing |
| Shri Nandan P Bal | Tennis |
| Shri Sukhvinder Singh Sandhu | Football |
| Shri Netarpal Hooda | Wrestling |
| Shri Ajit Singh | Hockey |
10 - Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar 2020 announced
The Union Government announced the Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar 2020. It is given to the corporate entities (both in private and public sector) and individuals who have played a visible role in the area of sports promotion and development and carries Trophies and Certificates.
The awardees are:
| Category | Entity |
|---|---|
| Identification and Nurturing of Budding and Young Talent |
1. Lakshya Institute 2. Army Sports Institute |
| Encouragement to sports through CSR | Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) Ltd. |
| Employment of sportspersons and sports welfare measures | Air Force Sports Control Board |
| Sports for Development | International Institute of Sports Management (IISM) |
11 - Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award announced
The government has announced the winners of Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award. These awards are given to recognize the achievements of persons in the fields of adventure. They will receive statuettes, certificates and award money of Rs 5 lakh each.
The list of awardees:
| Name of the Sportsperson | Category |
|---|---|
| Ms. Anita Devi | Land Adventure |
| Col. Sarfraz Singh | Land Adventure |
| Shri Taka Tamut | Land Adventure |
| Shri Narender Singh | Land Adventure |
| Shri Keval Hiren Kakka | Land Adventure |
| Shri Satendra Singh | Water Adventure |
| Shri Gajanand Yadava | Air Adventure |
| Late Shri Magan Bissa | Life Time Achievement |
12 - Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Puruskar 2020 announced
The Union Government announced the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Puruskar 2020. It is given to the overall top performing university in inter-university tournaments and carries award money of Rs. 15 lakh and certificate. Panjab University, Chandigarh won the award for 2020.
The National Sports Awards 2020 were considered by the Selection Committee headed by Justice (Retd.) Mukundakam Sharma (former Judge of Supreme Court of India) and other members.
13 - National Teachers Award 2020
Union Education Ministry has released the list of 47 teachers from across the country to be conferred with the National Teachers Award 2020. One of the notable names was of a government school teacher from Ladakh. Head Teacher of Middle School Taknak Sakti in Kharu block of Leh - Ladakh, Sonam Gyaltsan, has been selected for the prestigious National award.
Mr. Sonam Gyaltson made all efforts to build the confidence among the villagers about government schools, facilitate the students at the school and improve the results. Sonam Gyaltson also utilised ITBPs Civil Action Program to take his students to Bharat Darshan.
14 - 2020 Leadership Awards from USISPF
The US-India Strategic Partnership Forum has annoounced to award the 2020 Leadership Awards to Anand Mahindra, Chairman of Mahindra Group and Shantanu Narayen, Chairman and CEO of Adobe. the duo are awarded for their remarkable ambition in strengthening the US-India bilateral economic partnership.
US-India Strategic Partnership Forum is a non-profit organization. It aims at strengthening the bilateral and strategic partnership between U.S. and India through policy advocacy. US remains India’s top trading partner in 2019-20 with USD 88.75 billion bilateral trade.
15 - Army Chief conferred Chief of Army Staff Unit Appreciation to 51 SAG of National Security Guards
Army Chief General Manoj Naravane, conferred the Chief of Army Staff Unit Appreciation to 51 Special Action Group of the National Security Guards in recognition of the Group’s outstanding achievements in combating terrorism.
The group draws 100% of its manpower from the Indian Army and has established itself as an elite Counter Terrorist Force earning many Gallantry Awards including three Ashok Chakras. Since its raising in December 1984, 51 Special Action Group has carved a niche for itself among the most renowned counter terrorist outfits of the world.
16 - NLCIL bagged “Swachhta Hi Seva award” for transforming Neyveli Township
The Government of India Navratna, NLC India Limited (NLCIL) bagged the 'Swachhta Hi Seva' (cleanliness is service) 2019 award for transforming the entire Neyveli into a plastic-free, clean and green campus.
NLCIL is a Navratna Government of India Enterprise that operates four opencast lignite mines of a total capacity of 30.6 million. NLCIL implemented the Swachhta Hi Seva programme in two phases — the first phase from September 11 to November 2, 2019 and the second phase from October 3 to 27, 2019.
17 - VA Tech Wabag won Global Water Award
VA TECH WABAG LIMITED (`WABAG'), a leading pure-play water technology Indian Multinational, won the prestigious Global Water Award. WABAG received two prestigious global laurels at the Global Water Summit 2019 held at London. ‘Madinat Salman WWTP’ received the Distinction Award under “Wastewater Project of the Year” while ‘IOCL Paradip ETP’ received the Highly Commended Award under “Industrial Water Project of the Year”.
Established in 2006 by Global Water Intelligence, the awards recognise the most important achievements in the international water industry.