NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. PM
Modi Inaugurates Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital in Mohali: Prime Minister
Narendra Modi inaugurated the 300-bed Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and Research
Centre at Mullanpur, Mohali in Chandigarh. The Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and
Research Centre has been built at a cost of over ₹660 crores by the Tata
Memorial Centre which is an aided institute under the Union Department of
Atomic Energy. Chief Minister of Punjab Bhagwant Mann was also present during
the inaugural ceremony of the Bhabha Cancer Hospital.
The hospital is equipped with the finest
state-of-the-art facilities which include Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI),
Mammography, Digital Radiography, and Brachytherapy to ensure the treatment of
all types of cancer in India. The treatment for cancer available here is
surgeries, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and bone marrow transplant.
2.
Jitendra Singh launched India’s first Hydrogen Fuel Cell bus in Pune: Union Minister of
State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology Jitendra Singh has launched
India’s first indigenously developed hydrogen fuel cell bus in Pune. The bus
has been developed by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)
and private firm KPIT Limited. The fuel cell utilizes hydrogen and air to
generate electricity to power the bus. Fuel Cell vehicles also give zero
greenhouse gas emissions in stark contrast to diesel-powered heavy commercial
vehicles which account for 12-14% CO2 and particulate emissions.
Note: Council of Scientific and Industrial
Research (CSIR) Headquarters: New Delhi; Director General: Nallathamby
Kalaiselvi
3.
Puducherry CM presented Rs 10,696.61 crore tax-free budget: Chief Minister of
Puducherry N Rangasamy has presented a Rs 10,696.61 crore tax-free budget for
fiscal 2022-23. The budget contained announcements including free house site
pattas for freedom fighters in the union territory and laptops free of cost for
students of standards XI and XII in government and aided schools. The size of
the budget for fiscal 2022-23 was Rs 10,696.61 crore. the Union Territory`s own
revenue receipts were estimated at Rs 6,557.23 crore while the Central
assistance would be Rs 1,729.77 crore with an additional Rs 20 crore from the Central
Road Fund and an allocation of Rs 500 crore under Centrally sponsored schemes
(CSS).
4.
Union Minister Anurag Thakur launched ‘Azadi Quest’ online games: Union Minister
Anurag Thakur has launched “Azadi Quest”, a series of online educational games
based on India’s freedom struggle, developed in collaboration with Zynga India.
These games are an effort to tap into the huge market of online gamers and to
educate them through games. Various arms of the government of India have
collected information about unsung freedom fighters from the corners of the
country. Interesting facts about the Azadi Quest game:
a)
Azadi
Quest series will impart the knowledge of India’s freedom struggle and the
legends of the country’s great freedom fighters, thereby inducing upon the
players, a feeling of pride and a sense of duty and will be instrumental in
removing the sense of colonial mindset as also emphasised upon by the Prime
Minister in the 76th Independence day speech as ‘Panch Pran of Amrit Kaal.
b)
The
games are available for Android and iOS devices in English and Hindi for the
people of India and will be available worldwide from September 2022.
c)
During
a year-long partnership between the Publications Division and Zynga India, more
such games would be introduced and the existing ones expanded.
5.
Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi govt to set up country’s first night safari in Lucknow: The cabinet
meeting chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath approved the proposal of the
Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department to start the country’s first night safari in
the capital Lucknow. Tourism and Culture Minister Jaiveer Singh said that on
the lines of Singapore’s world’s first night safari, this night safari in
Lucknow will be developed on 350 acres in the Kukrail forest area spread over
an area of 2027.46 hectares and a zoological park will be built in 150 acres.
Key Points:
a)
This
will be the first night safari in the country. At present, there are 13 open
day safaris in the country, but not a single night safari. The entrance of
Night Safari will be grand and attractive. The interpretation centre, Butterfly
Interpretation Center will also be built here.
b)
Apart
from this, there are plans to make Leopard Safari in 75 acres, Bear Safari in
60 acres and Tiger Safari in 75 acres.
c)
Under
world-class facilities, night safari will also include train rides and jeep
rides with local guides. Apart from this, facilities like canopy walk, camping
activity, mountain bike track, wall climbing, tree top restaurant, nature trail
and food court will be developed.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1.
Greece exits EU’s ‘enhanced surveillance’ framework: Greece has
announced that it has exited the European Union’s ‘enhanced surveillance
framework. Greece ends 12 years of pain and allows the country greater freedom
in policymaking. Greece’s economic performance & policies have been closely
monitored under the ‘enhanced surveillance’ framework since 2018. The
surveillance framework was intended to ensure the continued adoption of
measures to support sustainable economic growth.
Note: Greece Capita: Athens; Currency:
Euro; Prime Minister: Kyriakos Mitsotakis
2.
Women’s Equality Day: 26th August: Women’s Equality Day is celebrated all
over the world to celebrate women’s empowerment and equality. This year,
Women’s Equality Day will be celebrated on 26th August 2022. Women’s Equality
Day 2022 is dedicated to every woman, who has fought for her equal position in
this society and to all who are continuing the battle for equality in society.
This day is celebrated to always remember how our society has evolved from not
giving equality to men and women, to celebrating a day for women’s equality.
Women’s Equality Day 2022 theme is “Gender Equality Today for a Sustainable
Tomorrow”.
Women’s Equality Day History: On 26th August 1970,
women from all over the world staged the Women’s Strike for Equality. In 1971,
New York Congresswoman Bella Abzug proposed that 26th August be declared as
Women’s Equality Day.In Women’s Equality Day is celebrated in honor of the
moment when Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby made the declaration public
guaranteeing American women the right to vote under the nation’s constitution. The
first formal declaration of women’s Equality Day was made on 26th August in the
year 1972 when former US President Richard Nixon issued Proclamation 4147.
3.
International Dog Day: 26th August: International Dog Day is celebrated
annually on August 26 to promote the adoption of dogs instead of buying them
from pet shops. The day was founded by Animal Welfare Advocate and Pet
Lifestyle expert Collen Paige. The aim of promoting this day is to raise
awareness about adopting these animals who are currently in rescue centres.
History of the International Dog Day: The day was
started as National Dog Day in the US in 2004 by pet & family lifestyle
expert, animal rescue advocate, conservationist and dog trainer Colleen Paige.
August 26 was chosen as on this day, Paige’s family had adopted their first dog
“Sheltie” from an animal shelter when she was just 10 years old. Not only this,
Colleen is the founder of National Puppy Day, National Cat Day, and National
Wildlife Day as well.
OTHER UPDATES:
SPORTS
1.
Indian para shuttlers Pramod Bhagat & Sukant Kadam clinched gold medal: Indian para
shuttlers Pramod Bhagat & Sukant Kadam have won the gold medal at the
Thailand Para-Badminton International tournament held in Pattaya. They defeated
the Indonesian pair of Dwiyoko & Fredy Setiawan in the men’s doubles final.
India bagged a total of 17 medals at the Thailand Para-Badminton International.
The Indians finished with a total of 4 gold, 5 silver and 8 bronze medals in
the tournament.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1.
RBI to Launch Digital Rupee Soon: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will very
likely introduce its digital rupee, the Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC),
in this fiscal year itself. Talks of a digital rupee in the country have been
swirling since Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced it during her
Budget 2022 speech back in February. At the time, she had said that the digital
rupee would be launched in 2022-2023. How It Works:
a)
The
digital rupee blockchain, being developed by the Reserve Bank, would be able to
trace all transactions, unlike the current system of mobile wallet offered by
private companies.
b)
Earlier,
news agency PTI reported that the digital currency issued by the RBI would be
numbered in units, just like every fiat currency has an unique number on it.
c)
CBDC
is a digital or virtual currency but it is not comparable to the private
virtual currencies or cryptocurrency that have mushroomed over the last decade.
Private virtual currencies do not represent any person’s debt or liabilities as
there is no issuer.
d)
The
government has already said that private cryptocurrencies will never be a legal
tender. The RBI has been strongly opposing private cryptocurrencies as they
could have implications on national security and financial stability.
It’s Benefits:
a)
Introduction
of CBDC has the potential to provide significant benefits, such as reduced
dependency on cash, higher seigniorage due to lower transaction costs, reduced
settlement risk. Introduction of CBDC would also possibly lead to a more
robust, efficient, trusted, regulated and legal tender-based payments option.
b)
As
CBDCs are in a digital form, the dependency on paper will reduce, which in
turn, will be beneficial to the environment. The use of CBDCs could also lead
to a further shift to a cashless economy. The use of CBDCs will give a boost to
the government’s call for cashless payments and positively change the banking
scenario.
c)
Furthermore,
as more people opt for CBDCs, it would benefit cross-border remittances.
Overall, the cost of transactions would reduce for businesses and the
government.
World Scenario: China’s digital
RMB was the first digital currency to be issued by a major economy. As of July
2022, four central banks have launched a CBDC: the Central Bank of The Bahamas
(Sand Dollar), the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (DCash), the Central Bank of
Nigeria (e-Naira) and the Bank of Jamaica (JamDex).
BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
1.
Adani group targets 55.18% stake in NDTV: Adani Group founder, Gautam Adani
has set the ball rolling to acquire a controlling stake of 55.18% in New Delhi
Television (NDTV). With a concept to carry 55.18 per cent stake in NDTV, the
Adani group has issued an open provide for a 26 per cent stake within the
information channel at Rs 294 for a share with a face worth of Rs 4. The
complete outlay for 26 per cent, or 16,762,530 totally paid up fairness shares
of NDTV – if the provide is accepted in full – will likely be about Rs 483
crore for the Adani group.
According to Adani group, the stake
acquisition will likely be in two modes: Firstly, it is going to be by way of
Vishvapradhan Commercial Private Ltd (VCPL); and and then VCPL, its
wholly-owned guardian AMG Media Networks and Adani Enterprises Ltd (individuals
appearing in live performance). Key points:
a)
The
VCPL holds 1,990,000 warrants of RRPR Holding entitling it to transform them
into a 99.99 per cent stake within the latter.
b)
The
VCPL has exercised its choice partly, leading to the acquisition management of
RRPR Holding – 1,990,000 fair shares or 99.50 per cent.
c)
RRPR
Holding holds a 29.18 per cent stake in NDTV which has three nationwide tv
channels.
Note: NDTV Founders: Prannoy Roy, Radhika
Roy; NDTV Founded: 1988; NDTV Headquarters: New Delhi.
2.
SIDBI partnered with Tata Power’s TPRMG to foster green entrepreneurs: TP Renewable
Microgrid (TPRMG), a wholly owned subsidiary of Tata Power and Small Industries
Development Bank of India (SIDBI), have partnered with to launch an innovative
program that will see 1,000 green energy enterprises established throughout the
nation. The Government of India’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat will be
supported by this initiative as it will foster sustainable entrepreneurship
models across the nation leading to the empowerment of rural entrepreneurs.
TPRMG will also provide rural enterprises with green energy solutions, and the
technical know-how for maximizing energy utilization and conservation.
Note: Small Industries Development Bank of
India (SIDBI) Founded: 2 April 1990; Headquarters: Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh;
Chairman & MD: Siva S Ramann
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1.
Liberty Medal 2022 to be awarded to Ukrainian President Zelenskyy: The Liberty Medal
2022 will be awarded this fall to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The
National Constitution Center has announced that Zelenskyy will be honoured in a
ceremony in October for what it called “his heroic defence of liberty in the face
of Russian tyranny.” President Zelenskyy has bravely led the Ukrainian people
in their defence of freedom against Russian tyranny, and his courage has
inspired people around the world to defend liberal democracy and the rule of
law.
About the Liberty Medal: The Liberty
Medal, established in 1988 to mark the U.S. Constitution’s bicentennial, is
presented to individuals who strive to secure the blessings of liberty for
people around the globe. Recent recipients have included Supreme Court justices
Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Anthony Kennedy, Sen. John McCain, Rep. John Lewis and
Malala Yousafzai.
2.
Bangladeshi Fahmida Azim won the Pulitzer Prize 2022: Bangladesh-born
Fahmida Azim working for the Insider online magazine of the US has been
selected for the Pulitzer Prize 2022. She will be awarded under the category of
Illustrated Reporting and Commentary. She is among the four journalists
including Anthony Del Col, Josh Adams and Walt Hickey of Insider being
published from New York, selected for their work on the Chinese oppression of
the Uyghurs. The work ‘I escaped a Chinese internment Camp’ has illustrations
by Fahmida Azim.
The citation for the award said that they have been selected for the prize for using graphic reportage and the comic’s medium to tell a powerful yet intimate story of the Chinese oppression of the Uyghurs, making the issue accessible to a wider public.
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