National
Mahayogi Guru Gorakhnath AYUSH Vishwavidyalaya at Gorakhpur
⇒ The President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind inaugurated the Mahayogi Gorakhnath Vishwavidyalaya at Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh on August 28, 2021.
The President of India, expressed confidence that the establishment of Mahayogi Gorakhnath AYUSH University in Gorakhpur would further boost the education and popularity of AYUSH systems.
Two-day SVEEP Consultation Workshop
⇒ The Election Commission of India organized a two-day SVEEP (Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation) Consultation Workshop on August 25-26, 2021.
Agenda:
The agenda of the workshop was to review State SVEEP Plans & conduct extensive deliberations on the important aspects of SVEEP for a comprehensive strategy for the forthcoming elections.
About SVEEP:
Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation program is the flagship program of the Election Commission of India for voter education & awareness, spreading voter awareness and promoting voter literacy in India.
SVEEP’s primary goal is to build an inclusive & participative democracy by encouraging all eligible citizens to vote and make an informed decision & ethical choice.
Zero Shadow Day
⇒ The residents of Madurai observed “zero shadow day” on 27 August 2021 through a practical session organized by the Tamil Nadu science forum (TNSF) in different parts of the district.
About Zero Shadow Day:
- When your shadows disappear for a brief moment, when the sun’s rays fall directly over your head. This phenomenon is called the ‘Zero Shadow Day’. It happens twice in a year.
- Zero shadow day occurs due to the Earth’s rotation axis being inclined at 23.5 degrees to the plane of its revolution around the sun and it differs from place to place.
- The Zero Shadow Day is observed at different dates in different places that lie between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn.
EASE 3.0 Reforms Index Awards 2021
⇒ Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs Smt Nirmala Sitharaman participated in the EASE 3.0 awards ceremony to felicitate best performing banks on EASE 3.0 Banking Reforms Index.
Top Three Banks for EASE Reforms Index Awards 2021:
State Bank of India, Bank of Baroda and Union Bank of India have won the awards for best performing banks for PSB Reforms EASE 3.0 based on the EASE index.
Read More About EASE 3.0 Awards
International
11th Meeting of BRICS Agriculture Ministers
⇒ Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Shri Narendra Singh Tomar chaired the 11th Meeting of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) Agriculture Ministers on 27 August 2021.
Theme:
The Ministers of Agriculture from Brazil, Russia, China and South Africa deliberated virtually on the theme “BRICS Partnership for Strengthening Agro Biodiversity for Food and Nutrition Security”.
BRICS brings together the major emerging economies of the world, hosting 41% of the world population, contributing 24% of the world GDP and over 16% share in world trade.
Action Plan of 2021-24:
- The Action Plan of 2021-24 for Agricultural Cooperation of BRICS Countries was adopted in the Ministers’ meeting.
- The Action Plan 2021-2024 provides for enhanced cooperation in the field of agriculture amongst BRICS nations.
- The Action Plan 2021-2024 focuses on the themes of food security, welfare of farmers, conservation of agrobiodiversity, resilience of food and agricultural production systems, promotion of digital agricultural solutions etc. which are integral to the sustainable development of agriculture.
After the meeting a Joint declaration of the eleventh meeting of BRICS Agriculture Ministers covering a wide range of focus areas for future cooperation amongst BRICS countries and the Action Plan for 2021-24 for agricultural cooperation of BRICS countries and BRICS Agriculture Research Platform were adopted.
Sports
2021 Belgian Grand Prix Formula 1 Race
⇒ The 2021 Belgian Grand Prix Formula 1 race took place on 29 August 2021 over 44 laps of the 7.004-kilometre Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps.
Red Bull Racing Honda driver Max Verstappen won the 2021 Belgian Grand Prix.
ITTF Czech International Open 2021
⇒ Sathiyan Gnanasekaran won the ITTF Czech International Open Men’s Singles title 2021.
This is only his third ITTF Challenger title following triumphs in Belgium Open 2016 and Spanish Open 2017.
Indian paddler Sathiyan Gnanasekaran defeated Ukraine’s Yevhen Pryshchepa 4-0 in the summit clash to clinch the men’s singles title.
The Czech International table tennis tournament was held on 25 August 2021 at Olomouc in Czech Republic.
World Table Tennis Tour Contender Budapest 2021
⇒ Indian pair, G Sathiyan and Manika Batra outplayed home favourites Nandor Ecseki and Dora Madarasz to clinch the mixed doubles title at World Table Tennis Tour Contender Budapest 2021 on 20 August 2021.