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Saturday, August 26, 2023

Daily GK Update- 26th Aug, 2023

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India to celebrate 23rd August as National Space Day: The Prime Minister announced  August 23rd will be celebrated as the National Space Day. It was on this day that the ISRO Chandrayaan mission made history by landing near the south pole of the moon.  On this day our Scientific and technological progress will be celebrated.  He suggested that a National Hackathon must be organized by the Central and State Governments and Universities on ideas that will ensure good governance and find solutions to problems. 

 

2. Chandrayaan 3 landing site on Moon to be known as Shiva Shakti point: PM Narendra Modi has announced that the site where Vikram Lander and Rover Pragyan landed on the Lunar surface will be named as Shiva Shakti Point.  Another site on the Moon where the Chandrayaan 2 lander crash landed will be known as Tiranga Point.  He said that Shiva Shakti point will remind the world about Shiv which is devoting oneself to the welfare of mankind and Shakti that gives inherent strength to accomplish that will incline towards the good of mankind. 

 

3. Shivraj Singh & Anurag Thakur releases books based on speeches of PM Modi: Union Minister fo Sports Anurag Thakur and Chief Minister of MP Shivraj Singh Chouhan released books based on speeches of PM Narendra Modi titled “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas” The book is launched at the Kushabhau Thackeray International Convention Centre in Bhopal. The second and third volumes focusing on the addresses of PM Narendra Modi from June 2020 to May 2022 were released.

 

4. Government sets up high power committee to review DRDO: The Centre has formed a nine-member committee to review the functioning of the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO). The committee headed by Prof K Vijay Raghavan to review and redefine the role of the department and submit a report within three months. Prof Vijay Raghavan is a former Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India and one of the key architects of the National Research Foundation (NRF). The members also include a retired diplomat, an ISRO scientist and a serving officer. The committee would suggest measures to revamp DRDO to make it more result-oriented.

 

5. IIT Bombay receives donation of 18.6 million for Green Energy Hub: Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay has received a $18.6 million donation from an alumnus for setting up a green energy and sustainability research hub. This landmark contribution will redefine the Institute’s role in addressing the global climate crisis. The state-of-the-art academic building will be located on the IIT Bombay campus. The focus areas of this hub will include evaluation of climate risks and development of effective mitigation strategies, climate change adaptation, and comprehensive environmental monitoring. The hub will facilitate research in several critical areas, including battery technologies, solar photovoltaics, biofuels, clean-air science, flood forecasting, etc.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. 'Pitchside: My Life in Indian Cricket' by Amrit Mathur: Beyond boundary li: The book 'Pitchside: My Life in Indian Cricket' authored by Amrit Mathur, a seasoned cricket administrator, captures vivid and personal narratives of significant moments in Indian Cricket. Through anecdotes, events, and matches, he provides an insider's view garnered over a span of more than 30 years of closely observing the game and its players. With experience as a cricket administrator, he notably managed the Indian team during the historic 1992 tour of South Africa

 

2. 26 August is observed as Women's Equality Day: Women’s Equality Day is celebrated on 26th August. This day marks a turning point in the history of the struggle for equal treatment of women and women’s rights. The theme for Women's Equality Day 2023 is “Embrace Equity,” Aim: To commemorate the Nineteenth Amendment being adopted in the 1920s in the United States. This act stopped the federal government and states from preventing people from the right to vote based on their gender.

 

3. Infosys welcomes Iga Swiatek as Global Brand Ambassador: IT giant Infosys has announced a multi-year partnership with women’s tennis world number 1 Iga Swiatek, appointing her as the ambassador for the brand. Swiatek is a four-time Grand Slam Champion and has been ranked World No. 1 since April 22 for a record 70 consecutive weeks. It will now work closely with Swiatek’s team to build an advanced data analytics and video dashboard by leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to amplify her training and evolve her strengths and match strategy. Infosys and Swiatek will also conceptualize and promote programs to help women from underserved communities build careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). On August 24, the IT company announced a three-year partnership with global tennis legend Rafael Nadal, appointing him as the ambassador for the brand and Infosys’ Digital Innovation. This marks Nadal’s first-ever collaboration with a digital services company.

 

4. 26 August – International Dog Day: International Dog Day is observed every year on 26 August. This day aims to recognize the important role that a dog plays in our lives. Whether it’s a loyal companion or pet, a service animal, a police dog, or a rescue dog, these amazing creatures have been playing a crucial part in humans’ lives. International Dog Day has been observed since 2004, when a pet lover, Colleen Paige, celebrated the day as a way to raise awareness about dog shelters. Since then, International Dog Day has become a global celebration for all pet lovers who participate in events and activities to honour their pets and also to raise awareness about humans’ best friends. Paige is also the founder of National Cat Day and National Pet Day.

 

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. India won 50m pistol women’s team gold medal: The Indian 50m pistol women’s team containing Tiyana, Sakshi Suryavanshi, and Kirandeep Kaur bagged the gold medal at the ISSF World Championships 2023 in Baku, Azerbaijan. The Indian trio shot a composite score of 1573-6x to finish on the top of the podium. China finished second with a score of 1567-9x while Mongolia bagged the bronze with a combined score of 1566-3x. With a total score of 1646-28x in the men’s 50m pistol team competition, the Indian team of Vikram Jagannath Shinde, Kamaljeet, and Ravinder Singh won the bronze medal. The gold medal went to China (1655-32x points), and the silver to the Republic of Korea (1654-30x). Tiyana and Ravinder Singh of India won bronze medals in the men’s and women’s individual events, respectively. Tiyana placed third out of 14 shooters in the women’s solo 50m pistol final with a score of 533. Gold and silver medals were won by Austrian shooter Sylvia Steiner (540 points) and Mongolian shooter Bayartsetseg Tumurchudur (534) respectively.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. SBI launches Aadhaar-based enrolment for social security schemes.: The country's largest lender State Bank of India introduced a facility to allow customers to enrol in social security schemes by just furnishing an Aadhaar card. Aim: To make the process of enrolling in various social security schemes simpler. Customers visiting CSPs will need only their Aadhaar cards to enrol in schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana, the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana, and the Atal Pension Yojana, the bank said in a statement.

 

2. DBS partners with Maptrasco to complete the first eBL transaction: DBS, in partnership with commodities trader Maptrasco, announced the completion of the first “live” transaction of electronic Bills of Lading (eBL) for shipments between Singapore and India. This landmark first shipment marks a pivotal moment for businesses operating in both Singapore and India. It grants them the opportunity to engage with the TradeTrust network through their preferred TradeTrust-enabled platforms. 

 

3. HDFC Bank launches India’s First Co-Branded Hotel Credit Card with Marriott: HDFC Bank has partnered with Marriott Bonvoy, the esteemed travel program by Marriott, to launch ‘Marriott Bonvoy HDFC Bank Credit Card’. This pioneering co-branded card will operate on the Diners Club platform, which is a part of the globally recognized Discover Global Network. The newly launched credit card comes packed with travel benefits, designed to elevate cardholders’ travel journeys. Cardholders are entitled to Silver Elite Status with Marriott Bonvoy, ushering in a range of privileges including priority late checkouts, exclusive member rates, and bonus points, among other perks.

The card will also provide Silver Elite Status accompanied by the privilege of receiving ten elite night credits annually.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Narendra Modi awarded 'The Grand Cross of the Order of Honour' in Greece: Prime Minister Narendra Modi was awarded with 'The Grand Cross of the Order of Honour' award by Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou. This is the second-highest civilian honour in Greece. The Greek State Honours the Prime Minister of India, a statesman who has tirelessly promoted the global reach of his country and who works systematically for India’s economic progress and prosperity, bringing about bold reforms. 

 

2. Indore won national smart city award 2022: The ministry of housing and urban Affairs announced Indore, the national smart city award 2022 while MP received the state award and Chandigarh received the UT award. Aim: To provide core infrastructure, clean environment and a decent quality of life to their citizens through the application of ‘smart solutions’. It includes 35 in Project Award, six in Innovation Award, 13 in the National/Zonal City Award, five in State/UT Award and seven in Partner Award categories.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Veteran lyricist Dev Kohli passes away: Veteran lyricist and poet Dev Kohli passed away in Mumbai He had penned over a hundred songs for Bollywood films such as Baazigar, Hum Aapke Hain Koun, Maine Pyaar Kiya, Shoot Out At Lokhandwala, among many others. He last wrote songs for the Kangana Ranaut-starrer Rajjo, which had music by Uttam Singh. From Shankar-Jaikishan to Vishal-Shekhar, Dev Kohli worked with different generations of composers in a career that spanned from 1969 to 2013

 

2. Eminent Statistician CR Rao Passed Away: Renowned mathematician and statistician Calyampudi Radhakrishna Rao, widely known as C R Rao, passed away at the age of 102. He had recently received the prestigious “International Prize in Statistics-2023”, often referred to as the “statistics’ equivalent of the Nobel Prize”. He was honoured with the Padma Bhushan award in 1968 and the Padma Vibhushan award in 2001.

 

3. Former WWE Champion Windham Rotunda aka Bray Wyatt passes away: Windham Rotunda, who was known as Bray Wyatt passed away at the age of just 36. Rotunda was an American professional wrestler. He was best known for his tenure in WWE, where he performed under the ring name Bray Wyatt. Wyatt gained recognition among the fans the moment he made his debut with his ‘Wyatt Family.”


Friday, August 25, 2023

Daily GK Update- 25th Aug, 2023

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. B20 Summit India 2023 begins in New Delhi: The B20 Summit India 2023 has been started in New Delhi on August 25th, 2023. The three-day Summit will be attended by Union Ministers Nirmala Sitharaman, Dr. S Jaishankar, G20 India Sherpa Amitabh Kant, Trade Ministers of various countries, and several business leaders. PM Narendra Modi will attend the special session on the 27th of August as Chief Guest. Theme of B20 India: R.A.I.S.E: Responsible, Accelerated, Innovative, Sustainable, Equitable Businesses

 

2. NHPC, APGENCO partner for Pumped Storage Hydropower Projects: NHPC Limited has signed an MoU with APGENCO for the implementation of Pumped Hydro Storage Projects and Renewable Energy Projects in Andhra Pradesh. The MoU envisages the implementation of two identified Pumped Hydro Storage Projects with a total capacity of 1,950 MW. The projects will be implemented under Joint Venture mode. The MoU seeks to harness Pump Storage Projects as Energy Storage Solutions to achieve the national objective of clean and green energy.

 

3. IWAI signs MoU with NRL for export of Petroleum Cargo via NW 2 & IBPR: An MoU was signed between the Inland Waterways Authority of India and Numaligarh Refinery Limited to use the National Waterways-2 (Brahmaputra) and Indo-Bangladesh Protocol Route. Reason: For export of petroleum products to Bangladesh and other southeast Asian countries in Guwahati Aim: To fulfill the ‘Hydrocarbon Vision 2030 for Northeast’ by enabling inland waterways transportation via NW2 and IBPR, unveiling a new chapter of EXIM trade for the Northeast region

 

4. A book titled “The Life, Vision and Songs of Kabir” by Vipul Rikhi: The book titled 'Drunk on Love: The Life, Vision and Songs of Kabir', was authored by writer-singer Vipul Rikhi. Published by: HarperCollins India It presents the 15th-century poet, as he is described, quoted, and loved in popular imagination. A new book captures the life of mystic poet Kabir through popular legends, his vision, and his poetry which has been quoted and translated extensively. It brings into one place stories from Kabir’s life, his most famous songs.

 

5. Government sets up high power committee to review DRDO: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has set up a nine-member committee of experts to overhaul the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO). The committee headed by Prof K VijayRaghavan to review and redefine the role of the department and submit a report within three months. Prof Vijay Raghavan is a former Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India and one of the key architects of the National Research Foundation (NRF).

 

6. India announces definition of Green Hydrogen: The standard issued by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, outlined the emission thresholds that must be met in order for hydrogen produced to be classified as ‘Green’, i.e., from renewable sources. The scope of the definition encompasses both electrolysis-based and biomass-based hydrogen production methods. The Ministry of New & Renewable Energy has decided to define Green Hydrogen as having a well-to-gate emission of not more than 2 kg CO2 equivalent/kg H2.

 

7. Indian Immunologicals targets dengue vaccine launch by Jan 2026: Vaccine manufacturer Indian Immunologicals Limited (IIL) expects to commercially launch its dengue fever vaccine by early 2026. Dengue, a mosquito-borne disease, has over the last few years become a major public health concern in India, with 31,464 dengue cases and 36 related deaths reported between January and July 31, 2023. While its spread had fallen during the pandemic, there was a 333% surge from 2020 to 2021 and a 21% rise in number of cases between 2021 and 2022, according to the National Center for Vector Borne Diseases Control. Besides IIL, at least two other Indian companies – Serum Institute of India and Panacea Biotec – are working to develop a dengue vaccine.

 

8. CRPF switches to indigenous software COPSYSS: The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) recently switched to indigenously developed software for psychological screening of personnel prior to their induction in dignitary protection teams. Computerized Psychological Screening System (COPSYSS) is a software designed and developed by the Defence Institute of Psychological Research (DIPR) of the Defence Research & Development Organization (DRDO). The indigenous physiological test system will help in the selection of candidates for escorting dignitaries. The force has a tough system in place for physical fitness but this test will ensure sharp mental fitness. However, the Special Protection Group (SPG) has been undergoing the Vienna Test System (VTS) for at least 15 years, and the National Security Guard (NSG) has switched to VTS in 2017.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. IIT BOMBAY receives donation of 18.6 million for Green Energy Hub: The Indian Institute of Technology Bombay has received a donation of $18.6 million from an alumnus for the Green Energy and Sustainability Research Hub. It will help the Institution in addressing the global climate crisis. The hub will be set up within a state-of-the-art academic building on the IIT Bombay campus. The Hub will also serve as a nexus for learning and exploration, offering state-of-the-art infrastructure and facilities for students and researchers.

 

2. Infosys onboards Rafael Nadal as ambassador: Tech giant Infosys has extended its partnership with Tennis star Rafael Nadal as an ambassador for the brand and Infosys’ Digital Innovation. To mark Nadal’s first-ever collaboration with a digital services company, Infosys and Nadal’s coaching team are developing an AI-powered match analysis tool. Globally acknowledged as one of the legends in sports, he also has had the ability to change with the changing rigors of tennis over the years.

 

3. ISRO’s Next Moon Mission in Collaboration with Japan Gathers Steam: With Chandrayaan-3 successfully landing on the Moon’s surface, decks have been cleared for ISRO to unveil the next stage of its lunar exploration programme. As of now, ISRO is preparing for one more lunar mission, this one in collaboration with Japanese space agency (JAXA). This mission, called LUPEX, or Lunar Polar Exploration, is slated for 2024-25. But there would be more in the Chandrayaan series as well. The rover will carry not only the instruments of ISRO and JAXA but also those of US space agency NASA and European Space Agency (ESA). Lunar Polar Exploration Mission (LUPEX) is a collaborative venture between Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and the Bengaluru-headquartered Indian space agency. According to JAXA, the LUPEX mission is aimed at exploring lunar polar region suitability for establishing a base on the Moon for sustainable activities; obtaining knowledge regarding the availability of lunar water-ice resources, and demonstrating lunar and planetary surface exploration technologies such as vehicular transport and overnight survival.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Magnus Carlsen wins the Chess World Cup Final 2023: The Norwegian chess grandmaster, Magnus Carlsen, won the Chess World Cup Final 2023 title for the first time, after defeating India's chess grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa in a tie-breaker. R Praggnanandhaa (18) was the youngest World Cup finalist ever and the youngest World Cup winner. He managed to secure the Silver medal after defeating Hikarua Nakamura and Fabiano Caruana. He also became the second Indian after Viswanathan Anand to enter the Chess World Cup final.

 

2. Rajeshwari Kumari secures Paris 2024 Olympic quota for India: India's shooting player, Rajeshwari Kumari has secured a shooting spot for India in the Paris 2024 Olympics. She finished fifth in the women's trap final at the ISSF World Championship 2023 in Baku, Azerbaijan. The ISSF World Championship 2023 serves as a qualifying event for the Paris Olympics 2024. The best four finishers (one from each country) in each of the 12 Olympic individual shooting events receive a seat on their national teams, giving a total of 48 shooters

 

3. Anurag Thakur inaugurated 33 Khelo India Centres Across Rajasthan: The Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Anurag Singh Thakur has inaugurated 33 Khelo India Centres (KIC) in the State of Rajasthan at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. He also announced that a National Center of Excellence with a sports science center will be set up in Rajasthan along with an additional 18 KIC, thus taking the total number of KIC in the State to 51. The total number of KICs across India is 960, out of which 715 are operational KICs. Currently, over 17,000 Athletes are getting trained in KICs and 699 Past Champion Athletes are already hired across the country. These KICs are specific training centres looking after sports disciplines like cycling, basketball, wushu, hockey and more.

 

4. Mastercard inks brand partnership with ICC for upcoming World Cup: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has a brand tie-up with Mastercard for the upcoming Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 to be held in India between 5 October and 19 November 2023. Under this tie-up, Mastercard will be a global partner for the World Cup. With this, Mastercard joins ICC’s other global partners MRF Tyres, Booking.com, Aramco and Emirates. The ICC has three categories of sponsors — global partners, official partners and category partners. Sponsors get multiple benefits like media integration, in-stadium branding, tickets, and hospitality. Incidentally, MasterCard was also the title sponsor for all bilateral matches played in India until March. It was paying Rs 3.8 crore per match as the Indian cricket board’s title sponsor.

 

5. Novak Djokovic secured the title Cincinnati Open 2023: Serbia’s Novak Djokovic secured the title of Cincinnati Open 2023 after defeating Carlos Alcaraz of Spain. The win delivered Djokovic his 95th career title and 39th Masters 1000 crown. The Spaniard is currently ranked at number one in the ATP Tour rankings, with Djokovic ranked just behind him at number two. Djokovic is the only player in tennis history to be the reigning champion of all four majors at once across all three different surfaces.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. HDFC Bank launches India’s First Co-Branded Hotel Credit Card with Marriott: HDFC Bank has partnered with Marriott Bonvoy to unveil the ‘Marriott Bonvoy HDFC Bank Credit Card‘. This pioneering co-branded hotel credit card, the first of its kind in India, operates on Diners Club platform, a part of the Discover Global Network, and aspires to set new standards for rewarding travel cards in the country. This card brings together the strengths of these two prominent brands, presenting consumers with an unparalleled selection of travel benefits.

 

2. Central Vigilance Commission reconstitutes advisory board on bank frauds: The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) has reconstituted the Advisory Board on Banking and Financial Frauds (ABBFF) which conducts the first-level examination of bank frauds before recommendations or references are made to investigative by agencies such as CBI. The reconstituted APBFF will be chaired by former CVC Suresh N Patel. There are four Members and the tenure of the Chairman/ Members would be for two years.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Allu Arjun wins Best Actor award at 69th National Film Awards for Pushpa: Allu Arjun won the Best Actor award at the 69th National Film Awards for his movie 'Pushpa: The Rise' (Directed by: Sukumar). Alia Bhatt and Kriti Sanon won the Best Actress award for their phenomenal roles in Gangubai Kathiawadi and Mimi, respectively.

Other awards:

·       Best Feature Film: Rocketry

·       Best Director: Nikhil Mahajan (Godavari)

·       Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment: RRR

·       Nargis Dutt Award for Best Film on National Integration: The Kashmir Files

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Wrestling icon and WWE Hall of Famer, Terry Funk, passes away: Wrestling icon and WWE Hall of Famer, Terry Funk has passed away at 79. He had an intriguing and remarkable career over five decades (1965 to 2017). He was known for his hardcore style, his charisma, and his passion for the business. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2009 by his longtime friend and rival, Dusty Rhodes. In 2021, he also received recognition from the International Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame.


Thursday, August 24, 2023

Daily GK Update- 24th Aug, 2023

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. LCA Tejas successfully test-fires ASTRA air-to-air missile: Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas has successfully fired the ASTRA indigenous Beyond Visual Range air-to-air missile off the coast of Goa.  ASTRA, a state of the art air-to-air missile to engage and destroy highly maneuvering supersonic aerial targets Aim: To enhance the combat prowess of Tejas and reduce the dependency on imported weapons. It is designed and developed by Defence Research and Development Laboratory, Research Centre Imarat and other laboratories of DRDO.

 

2. 26th National Conference on e-Governance to begin in Indore: The 26th National Conference on e-Governance is being organized in Indore to deliberate on providing better facilities to the citizens.  Theme: 'Developed India: Empowering Citizens'.  Aim: To focus on 11 subjects including district level initiatives, emerging technologies for providing citizen-centric facilities and data governance.  Organized by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances and Ministry of Electronics in collaboration with Gov of MP

 

3. Kerala launches its first AI school in Thiruvananthapuram: Former (14th) President Ram Nath Kovind inaugurated Kerala's first AI (Artificial intelligence) school at Santhigiri Vidyabhavan in Thiruvananthapuram. It is an innovative learning method that ensures international standards and quality learning opportunities for students with the help of artificial intelligence technology. It is designed and molded by one of the world's most advanced educational platforms iLearning Engines  USA in collaboration with Vedhik eSchool.

 

4. NTCA approved India's 54th tiger reserve in Rajasthan: National Tiger Conservation Authority approved India's 54th tiger reserve in Rajasthan's Karauli and Dholpur districts This is Rajasthan's fifth tiger reserve after Ranthambore, Sariska, Mukundra Hills, and Ramgarh Vishdhari The number of tigers in India has increased from 2,967 in 2018 to 3,682 in 2022, an annual rise of 6% The number of tigers in Rajasthan has increased from 32 in 2006 to 88 in 2022

Madhya Pradesh has the maximum number of tigers in the country (785)

 

5. GeM crosses one lakh crore rupees Gross Merchandise Value in FY 23-24: Government e-Marketplace, GeM has crossed one lakh crore rupees Gross Merchandise Value in the current financial year 23-24. The average GMV per day has also witnessed growth from INR 412 crore per day in FY 22-23 to INR 690 crore per day in FY 23-24.

 

6. NESIDS with an approved outlay of Rs.8139.50 crore: The cabinet approved the continuation of the North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NESIDS) with an approved outlay of Rs. 8139.50 crore. Objective: To support infrastructure development in identified sectors including connectivity in the North Eastern States. For the period from 2022-23 to 2025-26, Cabinet approved two components: NESIDS-Road and NESIDS-Other Than Road Infrastructure. The scheme is a central sector scheme with 100% central funding.

7. Jitendra Singh unveils new lotus variety ‘Namoh 108’: Union Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh has unveiled a new variety of lotus flower with 108 petals, named “Namoh 108”, developed by the city-based National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI). The “NBRI Namoh 108” lotus variety flowers from March to December and is the first flower whose genome is completely sequenced for its characteristics. NBRI is a constituent institution of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). Singh also released apparel made from lotus fibre and the perfume ‘Frotus’, extracted from lotus flowers and developed by the NBRI under the Lotus Research Programme in collaboration with Fragrance and Flavour Development Centre, Kannauj. The minister also launched the Lotus Mission and this project was being undertaken in a mission mode like other priority schemes such as the National Honey and Bee Mission, National Bamboo Mission, National Food Security Mission, National Mission on Natural Farming, National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture and Gokul Mission.

 

8. Kerala’s first AI school launched in Thiruvananthapuram: The state of Kerala has introduced its first AI school situated at Santhigiri Vidyabhavan in Thiruvananthapuram. It was inaugurated by the Former President of India, Ram Nath Kovind. The pioneering AI School has been developed in collaboration with iLearning Engines (ILE) USA, a globally renowned educational platform, and Vedhik eSchool. According to Vedhik eSchool authorities, AI school introduces an innovative learning approach that harnesses the power of artificial intelligence to offer students an international standard of education. This unique system ensures quality learning experiences not only during school hours but also beyond, through the school’s online portal. The AI-powered features of the school include Multi-Teacher Revision Support, Multilevel Assessment, Aptitude Tests, Psychometric Counseling, Career Mapping, Ability Enhancement, Memory Techniques, Communication and Writing Skills, Interview and Group Discussion Skills, Mathematical Skills, Behavioral Etiquette, English Language Proficiency, and the Development of Emotional-Mental Abilities Training.

 

9. Manoj Kohli appointed as Chairman of Smart eMobility: Manoj Kohli has been appointed as Chairman of Smart eMobility. Manoj Kohli, who previously held the position of Country Head at SoftBank India, is a highly accomplished entrepreneur with a proven track record. He is passionate about driving industry transformations in various fields, including mobile internet, renewable energy, digital unicorns, and electric vehicles. Smart eMobility is a fast-growing PaaS provider that offers comprehensive platform and end-to-end solutions for stakeholders in the electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India becomes first nation to reach South Pole of Moon as Chandrayaan-3: India has created history as it became the first country to land (Vikram Lander) on the South Pole of the lunar surface on 23rd August 2023. The Lander Module comprising the lander (Vikram) and the rover (Pragyan), landed on the Moon. Aim: To study the composition of the lunar soil and probe for water and ice, while listening for small seismic tremors. India was the fourth nation to succeed at the task after the United States, the Soviet Union, and China.

 

2. Narendra Modi participated in the 15th BRICS Summit held at South Africa: Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the 15th BRICS Summit held under South Africa’s chairship, in Johannesburg. Aim: To discuss global economic recovery, partnership with Africa and the Global South, and review the progress made on the BRICS agenda so far. During his address, the PM called for a strengthened BRICS that is:

B - Breaking barriers

R - Revitalising economies

I - Inspiring Innovation

C - Creating opportunities

S - Shaping the future

 

3. ISRO's Next Moon Mission In Collaboration With Japan Gathers Steam: ISRO is preparing for one more lunar mission, in collaboration with the Japanese space agency, JAXA. This mission, called LUPEX, or Lunar Polar Exploration, is slated for 2024-25.  Aim:  To explore lunar polar region suitability for establishing a base on the Moon for sustainable activities; obtaining knowledge regarding the availability of lunar water-ice resources, and demonstrating lunar and planetary surface exploration technologies such as vehicular transport.

 

4. UAE, Among 6 Countries Invited To Become New BRICS Members: South African President and BRICS Chair Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that the group has invited Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE to become full members of the bloc from January 1, 2024. Aim: To open the doors for numerous interested countries to align with a coalition committed to championing the interests of the "Global South". It can be an example of reforms in other global institutions that were established in the 20th century

 

5. ICG signs MoU with Philippine Coast Guard to enhance maritime cooperation: Indian Coastal Guard (ICG) and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on enhanced maritime cooperation. The MoU was signed by DG Rakesh Pal, Director General Indian Coast Guard and CG Admiral Artemio M Abu, Commandant, PCG at the Coast Guard Headquarters, New Delhi. The MoU inked seeks to enhance the professional linkage between the two Coast Guards in the domain of Maritime Law Enforcement (MLE), Maritime Search & Rescue (M-SAR) and Marine Pollution Response (MPR). The implementation of this MoU will enhance bilateral maritime cooperation between the two nations for ensuring safe, secure and clean seas in the region.

 

6. Singapore’s BOC Aviation signs financing pact with Indigo: Singapore-headquartered BOC Aviation Limited and India’s largest airline IndiGo have entered into a finance lease transaction involving 10 Airbus A320NEO aircraft to further expand its fleet. All 10 aircraft powered by CFM LEAP-1A engines are scheduled for delivery in 2023. India is currently among the fastest-growing civil aviation markets in the world and these aircraft will help IndiGo consolidate its position in the region. BOC Aviation is a leading global aircraft operating leasing company with a fleet of 652 aircraft owned, managed, and on order. Its owned and managed fleet was leased to 91 airlines in 42 countries and regions worldwide as of June 30, 2023 With its fleet of over 300 aircraft, the airline is operating about 1,900 daily flights and connecting 79 domestic destinations and will soon further grow its footprint to 32 international destinations.

 

7. 6 Countries to join BRICS from 1 January 2024: In a significant geopolitical development, the BRICS alliance has announced the inclusion of six new member countries. These countries are Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Argentina, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia, and will join Brazil, Russia, China, India, and South Africa. The membership will take effect from 1 January 2024. President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, the host nation of the recent BRICS summit, made a historic announcement on August 24th, revealing the names of the new entrants to the alliance. This move not only diversifies the alliance but also provides a platform for emerging economies from different regions to align their interests on the global stage.

 

8. India becomes the first country to Land on South Pole of the Moon: India has scripted history with the successful soft landing of its lunar mission Chandrayaan-3 on the south pole region of the Moon. With this achievement, India has become the first country to land on the Moon’s challenging South Pole region. Chandrayaan-3 is India’s third lunar mission aimed at studying the Moon’s geology, its water resources, and its potential for future human exploration. This achievement marks India’s entry into an elite group of four nations that have touched the moon’s surface. Besides India, US, Russia and China are the only countries to successfully land a spacecraft on the lunar surface. Chandrayaan-3 is a follow-on mission to Chandrayaan-2, and its objectives included; demonstrate safe and soft landing on the lunar surface, roving on the Moon, and to conduct in-situ scientific experiments. ISRO’s previous Moon mission Chandrayaan-2 had failed in its lunar phase when its lander ‘Vikram’ crashed into the surface of the Moon minutes before the touch-down following anomalies in the braking system in the lander while attempting a landing on September 7, 2019. Chandrayaan’s maiden mission was in 2008. The Rs 615 crore third Moon mission was launched on July 14 onboard Launch Vehicle Mark-III (LVM-3) rocket, for a 41-day voyage to reach near the lunar south pole. The moon’s south pole is one of the harder places on the lunar surface to land because it is heavily boulder strewn, without the wide, flat expanses that the Apollo astronauts and early uncrewed landers targeted in the equatorial regions of the moon’s Earth-facing hemisphere. Of the spacecraft that have crashed in the south pole, none got close enough to try to negotiate the boulder fields. That ISRO was able to do so—briefly placing Chandrayaan-3 in hover mode when it was 850 m (2,800 ft.) above the surface while it looked for a clear parking spot—is a testament both to the nimbleness of the ship and the deft touch of the engineers in mission control. India’s Chandrayaan-1, launched in 2008, proved those theories correct. An on-board spectrometer confirmed the existence of the icy regolith, and a 29 kg (64 lb.) impactor probe dropped on the south pole proved the existence of water there too just before it hit. For future astronauts hoping to settle the moon and live off the land, that matters a lot. Not only can ice be harvested for drinking water, the H20 molecule can be broken down to provide reachable oxygen, and the hydrogen and oxygen can be recombined to make rocket fuel.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Amanpreet Singh clinches gold in Men’s 25 metre at ISSF World Championship: Indian shooter Amanpreet Singh won the gold medal in the Men’s 25 metre standard pistol shooting event at the ISSF World Championship 2023 in Baku. South Korea's Gunhyeok Lee had to settle for silver  while France's Kevin Chapon secured a bronze In the Women’s 25-meter Standard Pistol shooting event, Tiyana, Yashita Shokeen, and Kritika bagged bronze. The two medals on the day took India’s tally in the Championship to nine - five gold and four bronze medals.

 

2. Sports Minister Inaugurated 33 Khelo India Centres Across Rajasthan: The Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Anurag Singh Thakur inaugurated 33 Khelo India Centres (KIC) in the State of Rajasthan at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur.  He also announced that a National Center of Excellence with a sports science center will be set up in Rajasthan along with an additional 18 KIC, thus taking the total number of KIC in the State to 51. The total number of KICs across India is 960, out of which 715 are operational KICs

 

3. Mastercard inks brand partnership with ICC for upcoming World Cup: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced a sponsorship agreement with the American multinational financial services corporation, Mastercard. Under this deal, the brand has become a global partner for the upcoming ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, which is set to be held in India from October 5 to November 19, 2023. The advantages are to interact with legendary cricketers, see the Men’s Cricket World Cup trophy up close, and gain special access to games.

 

4. Khelo India Women’s League officially be known as Asmita Women’s League: Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Singh Thakur has announced that the Khelo India Women’s League will officially be known as Asmita Women’s League. ASMITA refers to Achieving Sports Milestone by Inspiring Women Through Action. The Asmita Portal serves as a comprehensive resource, offering valuable insights into upcoming leagues among other features. It will enable any school, college, government, or private organization to host the ‘Asmita Women’s League’ and be part of Khelo India’s march towards sporting excellence. The Government’s resolute commitment to bolstering women’s sports has paved the way for enhanced opportunities, facilities, and world-class infrastructure at elite and grassroots levels. Thakur appreciated the entire team of Khelo India for conceptualizing the idea and developing Asmita Portal and new logo saying that it is a significant stride towards the digitalization of Indian Sports.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. LIC acquires 6.7% stake in Jio Financial Services via RIL demerger action: The Life Insurance Corporation of India has acquired 660 percent stake in Jio Financial Services owing to the de-merger action by Reliance Industries. Jio Financial de-merged from Reliance Industries on July 13, as a part of which shareholders of RIL were allotted one share of Jio Financial for every share held. The cost of acquisition is equivalent to 4.68 percent of the pre-de-merged cost of Reliance Industries. The country’s largest insurer held 6.49 percent stake in RIL at the end of June 2023.

 

2. CVC reconstitutes advisory board on bank frauds: The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) has reconstituted the Advisory Board on Banking and Financial Frauds (ABBFF) that conducts the first-level examination of bank frauds before recommendations or references are made to investigative by agencies such as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The reconstituted APBFF will be chaired by Suresh N Patel, the former Central Vigilance Commissioner. Besides the Chairman, there are four Members and the tenure of the Chairman/ Members would be for two years with effect from August 21, according to an order issued by the CVC. The four Members of the advisory board are Ravikant, a retired IAS officer; Rajnikant Mishra, former Director General, BSF; David Rasquinha, former MD of Exim Bank; and Partha Pratim Sengupta, former MD & CEO of Indian Overseas Bank. The ABBFF has been empowered to examine the role of officials/ whole time directors (including ex-officials/ ex-whole-time directors) in public sector banks, public sector insurance companies; and public sector financial institutions in case of frauds amounting to ₹ 3 crore and above

 

3. IndusInd Bank launches multi-branded credit card with Qatar Airways: IndusInd Bank has launched a first-of-its-kind multi-branded credit card – ‘IndusInd Bank Avios Visa Infinite Credit Card’ for all customers, in partnership with British Airways Executive Club and Qatar Airways Privilege Club. This credit card aims to offer best-in-class rewards and benefits to customers, across travel, wellness, and lifestyle experiences. The card is available in a sleek ‘metal card’ variant, tailored to meet the needs of our valued customers. Customers can opt for their preferred airline loyalty programme at the time of the application as well as select their preferred international destination to maximize the opportunity to collect Avios, the rewards currency for British Airways Executive Club and Qatar Airways Privilege Club, and enjoy a host of other benefits.