Daily Current Affairs from 20 August 2014

1) K V Thomas takes over as new PAC Chairman: Senior Congress leader K V Thomas on Wednesday took over as the new Chairman of Parliament's Public Accounts Committee. The key committee, which examines Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) reports after they are tabled in Parliament, will hold its first meeting next week. The post of the PAC chairman is held by a senior member of the opposition party. Murli Manohar Joshi (BJP) was the chairman of the PAC in last Lok Sabha.The PAC, constituted every year, consists of not more than 22 members - 15 members elected by Lok Sabha and not more than seven members from Rajya Sabha.

2) 'Iron Lady' Irom Sharmila released: Irom Sharmila was on 20 Aug 2014 released from the hospital after 14 years as a Manipur court on Tuesday ruled that there was no vidence that she wanted to commit suicide. The teary-eyed activist said, "I am emotional. I need people's mass support," as she stepped out of the hospital. "Fresh air is refreshing," she said on her release. Calling AFSPA a draconian law, Sharmila said, "I won't change my mind. In our native land there are a lot of widows due to action of draconian law. I'm not a victim but what about our next generation?"

3) Yoga legend BKS Iyengar passed away: World-renowned yoga guru and founder of the Iyengar School of Yoga B K S Iyengar passed away following illness. Iyengar, honoured with Padma Vibhushan, is survived by a son and daughter. Iyengar was considered one of the foremost yoga teachers in the world and had written many books on yoga practice and philosophy including ‘Light on Yoga’, ‘Light on Pranayama’, and ‘Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali’.

4) India to observe 2015-2016 as Water Conservation Year: Uma Bharti- The year 2015-16 will be observed as water conservation year and a public movement will be launched during the year to conserve the precious resource, Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Minister Uma Bharti said on Wednesday. The minister said the cooperation of state governments, NGOs, civil society, youth and retired personnel will be taken in this task. She said, public movement has become a necessity for conservation of water and river in the country as it is an important element of development and at some places the sacred water of the River Ganga is not even fit for consumption by animals.

5) HDFC Bank accorded most valued brand: HDFC Bank with a brand value of $ 9.4bn is India’s most valuable brand according to the first edition of the BrandZ Top 50 Most Valuable Indian Brands ranking that was announced in Mumbai. At pole position, HDFC Bank’s valuation was much higher than telecom major Airtel at $ 8.2 bn that occupied the second spot.