Daily GK Update- 3rd Aug, 2023

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. UAS to open first-of-its-kind agriculture science museum in Bengaluru: The University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS) will be opening a first-of-its-kind museum on its campus in Bengaluru. Minister of Agriculture N. Cheluvarayaswamy would inaugurate the museum. Aim: To introduce the evolution of agricultural practices into the lives of students and the general public increasingly cut-off from the experience by the "urban buzz". The museum will serve as a one-stop solution where they can get information about agriculture.

 

2. Government launched piliot digital crop survey in 12 states: The Government has launched a digital crop survey in 12 states on a pilot basis from Kharif season of this year for better sowing data collection Aims: To create a single and verified source of truth about the crop sown data which is useful for accurate crop area estimation and development of farmers' solutions The 12 selected states are Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Odisha, Assam and Telangana

 

3. India's overall unemployment rate falls to 7.95% in July from 8.45% in June: According to data released by private forecaster Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy, the total unemployment rate fell to 7.95% in July, from 8.45% in June Rural unemployment rate fell to 7.89%, from 8.73% in June, while the urban unemployment rate ticked up, to 8.06% from 7.87% in the same period Rural unemployment rate falls due to increased demand for laborers for farming work Labour force rate in urban areas also fell, indicating a broader weakness in the economy.

 

4. U.P. Cabinet approves Water Tourism and Adventure Sports Policy: The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet approved the Uttar Pradesh Water Tourism and Adventure Sports Policy 2023. Aims: To make the state a water tourism and adventure sports destination.  According to Tourism Minister Jaiveer Singh, this policy will be valid for 10 years from the date notified by the state government The policy will be applicable to all inland land-based, air-based and all adventure activities to be carried out on various water bodies and land parcels in the state.

 

5. Government launched the scheme - Vivad se Vishwas-II: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has launched the scheme, “Vivad se Vishwas 2 in the Union Budget 2023-24 Aims: To resolve the govt's contractual disputes with private parties, clear the backlog of litigation, and improve the ease of doing business Objective: To settle contractual disputes of government and government undertakings, wherein arbitral award is under challenge in a court, a voluntary settlement scheme with standardized terms will be introduced

 

6. Centre owes ₹6,366 crores in MGNREGS wages to 18 States and UT: According to Minister of State for the Ministry Of Rural Development Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti the Centre owes Rs 6,366 crore in dues to states and Union Territories under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme Central government owes the highest amount – Rs 2,770 crore – to West Bengal. MGNREGS aims to enhance livelihood security in rural areas by providing at least 100 days of wage employment in a financial year to unskilled manual work

 

7. Subroto Mukherjee Sports Education Society have signed MoU with AIFF: Subroto Mukherjee Sports Education Society (SMSES) have signed MoU with the All India Football Federation (AIFF) for the first time ever. Aim: To promote football at the grassroots level SMSES would form a Subroto XI  team under Junior Boys (Under-17) from this edition onwards.  According to SMSES member Alok Sharma that the team will also participate in AIFF Youth Competition from the 2023-24 season. Workshop will be held by AIFF for coaches to update and educate them.

 

8. Bharat Dynamics Limited hands over first Radio Frequency to DRDO: The  Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), has handed over the first Radio Frequency (RF) Seeker of Akash - the Next Generation Weapon System to Defence Research and Development Organization. Seeker is a critical and technology intensive subsystem used in Surface-to-Air Missiles and Air-to-Air Missiles for target tracking in the terminal phase. RF Seeker has been designed by DRDO’s Research Centre Imarat, and produced by BDL at its state-of-the-art Seeker Facility Centre 

 

9. President of India inaugurated 'UNMESHA' and 'UTKARSH' festivals in Bhopal: President Draupadi Murmu will inaugurate the national festival of India's folk and tribal expressions "Utkarsh" and the international literature festival "Unmesh" in Bhopal Culture Department Madhya Pradesh along with Sangeet Natak Akademi and Sahitya Akademi of the Ministry of Culture is organizing this event from 3rd to 5th August. The international literature festival Unmesh is Asia's largest literary convention 15 countries will participate in the Unmesh festival.

 

10. 2.46 lakh farmers have been benefitted from PM-KUSUM Scheme: The government has said that nearly 46 lakh farmers have benefitted from the PM-KUSUM (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan) Scheme till June 2023. The scheme provides for the installation of solar pumps, solarization of existing grid-connected agricultural pumps and installation of grid-connected renewable power plants. New and Renewable Energy Minister R. K. Singh said this in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha. He also said PM-KUSUM Scheme has been extended till 31st March 2026. With 785 big cats,

 

11. Madhya Pradesh retains its spot as Tiger state: Madhya Pradesh has retained its tag of the ‘tiger state’ having accounted for 785 big cats, according to a census released on International Tiger Day by Corbett Tiger Reserve, Uttarakhand. The population of tigers increased by 49% in the state, which is the highest in India despite recording the maximum number of deaths. Between 2012 to 2022, 278 tiger deaths were reported in Madhya Pradesh. In Madhya Pradesh, 563 tigers were found in six tiger reserves while 222 were found outside the protected areas. In 2018, Madhya Pradesh accounted for 526 tigers, only two more than Karnataka. On International Tiger Day, with 165 tigers, the highest number of tigers was recorded in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve making it the fourth highest in India after Jim Corbet, Bandipur and Nagarhole.

 

12. Shohini Sinha named as special agent in FBI: An Indian-American Shohini Sinha, known for her work on counter-terrorism investigations, has been named as a special agent in charge of the FBI’s field office in Salt Lake City in the US state of Utah. Sinha, who most recently served as executive special assistant to the Director at FBI Headquarters in Washington DC was named the special agent in charge by FBI Director Christopher Wray. Sinha joined the FBI as a special agent back in 2001. In recognition of her outstanding performance, she earned a promotion to supervisory special agent in 2009 and was transferred to the Counterterrorism Division in Washington, DC. In 2021, Sinha’s exceptional performance and leadership qualities were recognized once again when she was chosen to serve as the executive special assistant to the FBI Director in Washington.

 

13. BCAS organized Aviation Security Culture Week: Akasa Air has collaborated with the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) to commemorate Aviation Security Culture Week, which will take place from 31st July to 5th August 2023. This development aims to intensify security awareness and promote a positive security culture in aviation operations across the country. The initiative is designed to encourage the industry to prioritize security practices and behaviors, emphasizing that security is a shared responsibility among all stakeholders. The event’s tagline, ‘See it, Say it, and Secure it,’ urges every individual to remain vigilant about their surroundings and promptly report any suspicious activities.

 

14. 3 August – National Watermelon Day: National Watermelon Day is celebrated every year on August 3. On this day, people across the world celebrate the delicious and refreshing fruit that has a long history dating back to Ancient Egypt. Cultivation of this fruit dates back to 2000 B.C., with the first watermelon harvest on record occurring approximately 5,000 years ago in Egypt. Traces of watermelon and its seeds have been discovered on sites of the 12th Egyptian Dynasty, including in the tomb of King Tutankhamen. Paintings of different types of watermelon have also been found in ancient Egyptian inscription. Every part of the watermelon is edible, including the often-discarded rind, which packs a punch with its array of nutrients and health-promoting properties. With its impressive water content of 92%, watermelon also provides a guilt-free indulgence for those seeking a refreshing treat while staying hydrated.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India is fifth amongst spacefaring countries in the world: According to Minister of State for Atomic Energy Jitendra Singh, India is the fifth among spacefaring countries in the world having end-to-end capabilities in space research and development. India has the capability to launch from its own land and operate programmes of earth observation, satellite communication, meteorology, space science and navigation, and ground infrastructure. After space sector reforms, the NewSpace industries are also emerging at a fast pace.

 

2. Govt launch e-CARe portal for seamless transfer of bodies of Indians abroad: The Government will launch the e-CARe (e-Clearance for Afterlife Remains) portal to facilitate the swift transfer of mortal remains of Indians who die abroad. Aims:  To avoid delay during the transportation of the deceased human remains across international borders. According to Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, through this portal intimation will be sent through email, SMS, and WhatsApp to the Central International Health Division, Nodal Officer and the Airlines.

 

3. India & Finland to set up sustainability working group: India and Finland to set up a governmental working group on sustainability, with a focus on energy investments in biofuels in India. The group will be represented by the Ministries of Environment, Power & Renewable Energy, and NITI Aayog. The focus of the grouping is to be on energy, given that Finland is pushing investments in biofuels and renewable energy in India. Finland is also lending its expertise to India since New Delhi is planning to study the Nordic power grid. India, which proposed the creation of this group, will be represented by the Ministries of Environment, Power and Renewable Energy and Natural Gas. NITI Aayog may also be a part of the group. Finland’s new Digitalization, Education, Sustainability, Innovation (DESI) partnership aims to develop smart grids and deepen cooperation on sustainability.

 

4. China & UAE air forces to conduct first joint training FALCON Shield-2023: The air forces of China and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will conduct their first joint training in China’s Xinjiang in August 2023. The FALCON Shield-2023 training aims to deepen pragmatic exchanges and cooperation between the two militaries and enhance mutual understanding and trust. The joint training between China and the UAE comes months after the latter signed up to buy several L-15 advanced training jets from China. In 2017, the UAE bought Blue Arrow 7 anti-tank missiles from China for use on its Wing Loong 2 fleet, the report said, citing the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. The UAE has also been planning to buy CR500 Golden Eagle helicopter drones made by Norinco, a Chinese state-owned defence contractor.

 

5. 3 August – Cloves Syndrome Awareness Day: Cloves Syndrome Awareness Day is observed every year on 3 August. The day aims to spread awareness about the rare genetic disorder. Its emphasis is on action to gather community support. CLOVES stands for Congenital Lipomatous Overgrowth, Vascular Malformations, Epidermal Nevis, Spinal/Skeletal Anomalies/Scoliosis syndrome, a very rare congenital disorder characterized by a combination of vascular, skin, spinal, and bone abnormalities. It can vary significantly from one patient to another and is believed to be caused by mutations in a gene called PIK3CA. At present, only about 200 cases have been identified worldwide. The observance encourages the general public to advocate for additional funding for rare disease research.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Diego Godin announced his retirement from football: Former Uruguay captain Diego Godin announced his retirement from professional football. The announcement came after Velez Sarsfield’s final Argentine league game of the season, a 1-0 loss to Huracan. This marked the end of an illustrious career that spanned two decades and saw Godin make 627 professional appearances, score 38 goals, and win 10 titles. His accolades include two Europa League trophies and three UEFA Super Cups, all won during his tenure as captain of Atletico Madrid. He participated in four World Cups and spent a significant part of his club career in Spain.

 

2. India bags 6 medals at World University Games: Indian shooters and archers bagged six medals including four golds at the World University Games in Chengdu, China. Shooters Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, Divyansh Singh Panwar and Arjun Babuta joined forces to outclass local favourites China to win the 10m air rifle men’s team gold. Aishwary also secured gold in the 10m air rifle men’s individual event. Avneet Kaur pipped USA’s Alyssa Grace Sturgill in a thrilling shoot-off to clinch the compound women’s individual gold. Sangampreet Bisla and Aman Saini clinched the gold and bronze medals in the men’s individual event. India have won 17 medals, nine gold, three silver and five bronze, and are second in the tournament. Hosts China lead the standings with a haul of 21 medals.

 

3. Siddhanta Gogoi crowned 61kg junior Asian champion: India’s Siddhanta Gogoi clinched the men’s 61kg junior title while Gyaneshwari Yadav and Koyel Bar secured silver medals in the women’s 49kg event at the Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships. The 19-year-old Siddhanta lifted 265kg (116kg+149kg) to give hosts India their first gold medal of the ongoing edition. Another Phillippine lifter Jhodie Peralta won the gold 160kg (73 kg+87 kg).

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. 28 % GST on online gaming & casinos to be effective from Oct 1 2023: According to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, 28 percent GST on casinos and online gaming is expected to be implemented from the 1st of October. 28% GST would be applicable on the amount being paid at the entry level for online gaming. GST Council recommended certain amendments in the CGST Act 2017 and IGST Act 2017, including amendment in Schedule III of CGST Act, 2017, to provide clarity on the taxation of supplies in casinos, horse racing and online gaming.

 

 

 

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Manoj Bajpayee’s 'Joram' wins awards at Durban International Film Festival: Manoj Bajpayee headliner Joram has won two awards at the Durban International Film Festival.  Manoj bagged the ‘Best Actor’ trophy, the film’s cinematographer Piyush Puty won the award for ‘Best Cinematography’.  The film is a psychological thriller about a hunted displaced man who is on the run to protect his daughter directed by Devashish Makhija. The film also deals with issues such as social inequalities, injustice with the tribal communities and deforestation.

 

2. Deepak Shenoy honored with Global Visionary Entrepreneur Award: Medec Dragon Pvt Ltd, India’s fastest-growing research-driven Pharmaceutical API intermediates Contract Manufacturing Company, was awarded the most prestigious “Best Managed Pharmaceutical Sustainable Organizations 2023”. Deepak Shenoy (Managing Director, Medec Dragon Pvt Ltd) was as “Global Visionary Entrepreneur of the year 2023″ at the 6th Edition of South Asia Pacific Healthcare Summit & Business Award 2023 organized by Brandscouncil Ratings & Medilinks in Mumbai. The event was organized by Brandscouncil Ratings & Medilinks in Mumbai. The awards were presented by India’s first Mrs. World, Aditi Govitrikar.