Bihar CM to meet PM on cast- based Cencus

TOP NEWS IN NUTSHELLS (20 August 2021)

*NATIONAL NEWS*

• CBI TO PROBE POST-POLL VIOLENCE IN WB: Calcutta High Court tells CBI to probe post-poll violence in West Bengal. CBI and SIT will submit their findings to the High Court within six weeks.
• ENQUIRY INTO BUS PURCHASE: Ministry of Home Affairs has recommended a preliminary enquiry by CBI into the alleged irregularities in procurement of one thousand low-floor buses by Delhi government.
• BIHAR CM TO MEET PM MODI: Chief Minister Nitish Kumar along with representatives of all the parties in the state will meet PM Modi on August 23 to discuss the issue of a caste-based census.
• SEPARATE EXAM CENTRE FOR LADAKH: A separate Civil Services Exam Centre for Ladakh will be set up Leh, which will operate for the first time for the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2021, scheduled to be held on 10th of October this year.
• NEW PROJECTS COMING UP IN GUJARAT: PM Modi inaugurates and lays the foundation stone of various projects worth 83 crore rupees at the historic Somnath Temple in Gujarat today  through video conference.
• TN GOVT. TO SCRAP NEET: MK Stalin-led government will soon introduce a resolution  in TN Assembly,to scrap the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test. The state government has been against having a common medical entrance exam. The Govt. had also constituted a committee to study the relevance of NEET as an entrance exam for medical studies.
• CHAFF TECHNOLOGY: The Defence Research and Development Organisation has developed an advanced chaff technology, which is used to distract enemy's radar-guided missiles, to safeguard Indian Air Force fighter jets from enemy missiles.
• J&K ENCOUNTER: A Junior Commissioned Officer of Indian Army martyred in a fierce gun fight with terrorists in Rajouri district on Thursday in which a terrorist was also killed.
• LEGAL NOTICE TO DEFENCE MINISTRY: Seventy-two women officers from the Indian Army have issued a legal notice to the Defence Ministry over strict compliance with the Supreme Court order on granting permanent commission to females in the force.

**INTERNATIONAL NEWS**

• AFGHAN NATIONALS PROTEST INTENSIFIES: Afghan nationals, who have been desperate to flee their home country, defied the Taliban for a second consecutive day on Thursday as they waved their national flag at scattered rallies across various provinces. The protests are being observed as a strong sign of defiance against the Taliban’s rule. At least three people were killed in anti-Taliban protests in the Afghan city of Jalalabad. More than a dozen people injured after Taliban fighters opened fire on protesters in the eastern city. 

• UNSC ON TERRORISM: India slams Pakistan’s state hospitality for terror groups. Addressing a UNSC briefing on threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said that groups like LeT, JeM continue to operate with impunity and encouragement against India as well as in Afghanistan.
• ASHRAF GHANI FAVOURS PEACE TALK: Deposed Afghan President Ashraf Ghani supports talks between Taliban and former president Hamid Karzai. Sheltered in the United Arab Emirates, he said also on his talks to return home.
• AFGHAN FOOTBALLER DIES: Afghan national team footballer, Zaki Anwari died in a fall from a US plane at Kabul airport on 16 Aug. the Afghan news agency Ariana said. His death had been confirmed by the General Directorate for Sport.
• HAITI EARTHQUAKE DEATH TOLL RISES: Tremors strike Haitian city is still reeling from quake. Death toll figure reaches over more than 2000.

***SPORTS***

• PT USHA’S COACH NAMBIAR PASSES AWAY: Legendry athlete popularly known as flying Pari, PT Usha’s coach O.M. Nambiar passed away on Thursday. He was 89. OM Nambiar is the man who nurtured one of the greatest athletes in PT Usha. In 2021, the nation honoured him with Padma Shri. He also won Dronacharya Award in 1985.
• TOKYO PARALYMPICS: Indian contingent leaves for upcoming Tokyo Paralympics. The 54-member contingent was accorded a warm send-off at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport.The Paralympics Games will be held from the 24th of this month to 5th of September. India will start their campaign from 25th August with para table tennis where Bhavina Patel and Sonal Patel will be in action.
• CRICKET: England skipper Joe Root faces the brunt of British Tabloids after the Lord’s debacle. Prominent Tabloids like The Guardians and Daily Mail were right down Joe Root’s throat. Going into the final day, England had the match in the firm grip with India losing half their side. But the game turned on its head as Indian tailenders Sami and Bumrah batted the host out of the game.