22nd August, 2023

1. Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways will launch the Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (Bharat NCAP).
2. Global Initiative on Digital Health has been launched recently during G20 Health Ministers’ Meeting held under India’s Presidency in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
3. AgniKul Cosmos, a space tech start-up based in Chennai, will launch its Agnibaan SubOrbital Technological Demonstrator (SOrTeD), the world’s first 3D-printed rocket into space.
4. Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has notified the Green Hydrogen Standard for India under National Green Hydrogen Mission.
5. Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) has launched the ‘Graphene-Aurora program’ at a function in Maker Village Kochi, Kerala.
6. Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Shri Parshottam Rupala has unveiled the ‘A-HELP’ (Accredited Agent for Health and Extension of Livestock Production) programme under the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, along with an Infertility Camp in Gujarat.
7. Goa has become the first state in the country to provide free IVF at govt hospitals.
8. Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a USD 40.5 million loan for an integrated project focussing on Early Childhood Development (ECD) and Maternal Mental Health in Meghalaya.
9. 15th BRICS Summit is being held in Johannesburg, South Africa from today, and will conclude on August 24, 2023.
10. Investment Attractiveness of Indian States
11. Spanish women’s football team has won the Women’s World Cup title with a 1-0 win over England at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup final, held in Sydney,
12. Faiz Ahmed Kidwai has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA) on an additional charge basis.
13. Anuradha Thakur has been appointed as the Director of Serious Fraud Investigation Office on an additional charge basis.
14. A lotus variety named ‘Namoh 108’ was unveiled in CSIR – National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow under One Week One Lab (OWOL) initiative of the CSIR.
15. Scientists at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) in Bengaluru, Karnataka have discovered a unique star named “HE 1005-1439”.

National News

1. Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways will launch the Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (Bharat NCAP).
   • This initiative is a significant move towards enhancing road safety by elevating the safety standards of motor vehicles weighing up to 5 tonnes in India.
   • Manufacturers can voluntarily submit their cars for testing according to Automotive Industry Standard (AIS) 197.
   • Based on the test results, vehicles will be assigned star ratings for both Adult Occupants (AOP) and Child Occupants (COP)
   • The proposed Bharat NCAP assessment will allocate Star Ratings from 1 to 5 stars.

   What is the Significance of Bharat NCAP?

   • The new regulations introduce the concept of safety rating of passenger cars and empowers consumers to take informed decisions.
   • Star Rating of Indian Cars based on Crash Tests will not only ensure structural and passenger safety in cars but also increase the export-worthiness of Indian automobiles.
   • It will also prove to be a critical instrument in making our automobile industry Aatmanirbhar with the mission of making India the Number 1 automobile hub in the world.
     Source: ET
2. Global Initiative on Digital Health has been launched recently during G20 Health Ministers’ Meeting held under India’s Presidency in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

About the initiative

• It is a platform for sharing digital goods and knowledge to promote country capacity and strengthen international cooperation.
• It will operate as a WHO-managed network to support implementation of Global Strategy on Digital Health 2020–2025.
• Objective-
  • ALIGN efforts to support Global Strategy on Digital Health 2020–2025
  • SUPPORT quality assured technical assistance to develop and strengthen standards-based and interoperable systems aligned to global best practices, norms and standards
  • FACILITATE deliberate use of quality assured digital transformation tools that enable governments to manage their digital health transformation journey.
• It will strengthen mutual accountability to enhance the impact of future investments
• GIDH is a key deliverable of ‘Third Health Priority: Digital Health Innovation & Solutions to aid Universal Health Coverage & Improve Healthcare Service Delivery’ under India’s G20 Presidency.

3. AgniKul Cosmos, a space tech start-up based in Chennai, will launch its Agnibaan SubOrbital Technological Demonstrator (SOrTeD), the world’s first 3D-printed rocket into space.
   • The launch is supported by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)and Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe).

   Key Highlights of AgniKul’s SOrTeD

   • The Agnibaan SOrTeD is a customisable launch vehiclethat could be launched in one or two stages. It is powered by AgniKul’s patented Agnilet engine.
   • Agnilet, is a 3D-printed, 6 kilonewton (kN) semi-cryogenic engine that uses liquid oxygen and kerosene as propellants.
   • Unlike traditional sounding rockets that launch from guide rails, Agnibaan SOrTeD will take off vertically and follow a predetermined trajectory, executing precisely orchestrated maneuvers during its flight.
   • It is capable of carrying payloads up to 100 kg to an altitude of 700 km in five different configurations.
   • Agnibaan SOrTeD will be the first step towards launching the world’s first 3D-printed rocket into space.

4. Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has notified the Green Hydrogen Standard for India under National Green Hydrogen Mission.

About the Standard

• It outlines emission thresholds that must be met in order for hydrogen produced to be classified as ‘Green’, i.e., from renewable sources.
• It has defined Green Hydrogen as having a well-to-gate emission threshold of 2 kg CO2 equivalent / kg H2 as 12-month average.
• Its scope of the definition encompasses both electrolysis-based and biomass-based hydrogen production methods
• Nodal Authority: Bureau of Energy Efficiency, Ministry of Power
• It will be nodal authority for accreditation of agencies for monitoring, verification and certification for Green Hydrogen production projects.

5. Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) has launched the ‘Graphene-Aurora program’ at a function in Maker Village Kochi, Kerala.
   • Purpose: The program aims to bridge the gap between research & development and its commercialization, using the India Innovation Centre Graphene (IICG) centres in Kochi.
   • The program has been allocated a total budget of Rs 94.85 Crore, with significant participation from industry partners, including Carborundum Pvt Limited.
   • Digital University Kerala will execute the program in collaboration with joint funding from MeitY, the Government of India, the Government of Kerala, and industry partners.
   • ‘India Graphene Engineering and Innovation Centre’ (I-GEIC) has been established as a section 8 company. This is a not-for-profit entity, and its initial operations will commence at the newly inaugurated Government of Kerala facility situated in Digital Science Park, Trivandrum.
     Source: PIB

6. Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Shri Parshottam Rupala has unveiled the ‘A-HELP’ (Accredited Agent for Health and Extension of Livestock Production) programme under the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, along with an Infertility Camp in Gujarat.
   • The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India, is spearheading these initiatives as part of the Pashudhan Jagrati Abhiyaan under Inclusive Development.
   • The ‘A-HELP’ program is designed to empower women through their participation as skilled agents, making substantial contributions to disease control, artificial insemination as part of the Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM), animal tagging, and livestock insurance.

Source: PIB

State News

1. Goa has become the first state in the country to provide free IVF at govt hospitals.
   • In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) treatment is the most common method of artificial insemination for parents who are unable to conceive naturally.
   • Goa Medical College (GMC), Bambolim is the first hospital in the country to offer free IVF treatment. The entire funding will come from Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds.
   • The government will pay on an average Rs.5 Lakhs to Rs.7 lakhs for the IVF treatment.
     Source: ToI
2. Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a USD 40.5 million loan for an integrated project focussing on Early Childhood Development (ECD) and Maternal Mental Health in Meghalaya.
   • The Government of Meghalaya will contribute USD 15.27 million to the project.
   • This initiative attempts to focus on daycare centers known as Anganwadi centers (AWC), aiming to enhance access to nurturing care.
   • The project is initiated to strengthen home-based childcare for children aged 0–1.5 years and center-based childcare for those aged 5–6 years.
     Source: ET

International News

1. 15th BRICS Summit is being held in Johannesburg, South Africa from today, and will conclude on August 24, 2023.

What is BRICS?

• BRICS is an acronym for the grouping of the world’s leading emerging economies, namely Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
• In 2001, the British Economist Jim O’Neillcoined the term BRIC to describe the four emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India, and China.
• The grouping was formalised during the first meeting of BRIC Foreign Ministers in
• South Africa was invited to join BRIC in December 2010, after which the group adopted the acronym BRICS.
• The BRICS brings together five of the largest developing countries of the world, representing 41% of the global population, 24% of the global GDP and 16% of the global trade.
• The chairmanship of the forum is rotated annuallyamong the members, in accordance with the acronym B-R-I-C-S.

• New Development Bank
  • During the Sixth BRICS Summit in Fortaleza (Brazil) in 2014, the leaders signed the Agreement establishing the New Development Bank (NDB – Shanghai, China).
  • It has so far approved 70 infrastructure and sustainable development projects worth.
• Contingent Reserve Arrangement:
  • In 2014, the BRICS governments had signed a treaty on the setting up of the contingent reserve arrangement
  • The arrangement is aimed at forestalling short-term balance of payments pressures, provide mutual support and strengthen financial stability of the BRICS nations.
    Source: ET

Banking and Economy

1. Investment Attractiveness of Indian States
   • 5 states account for more than half of the total bank-assisted investment proposals made during the year 2022-23.
   • This signifies skewed pattern of industrialization in the country.

   Highlights of the Study

   • Overall investment plans: It shot up by 79.50% with a record capital outlay of Rs 352,624 crore – the highest since 2014-15.
     • The rise in new investments has happened at a time when the RBI has hiked the repo rate(the rate at which the RBI lends to banks) by 250 basis points to 6.50% since April 2022.
   • Total cost of the projects financed by banks and financial institutions:
     • As many as 547 projects got assistance from banks and financial institutions during 2022-23 with a record high total project cost of Rs 2,66,547 croreas compared to 401 projects with a total project cost of Rs 1,41,976 crore during 2021-22.
   • Showing a surge of 87.7%, the envisaged total cost of the projects financed by banks and financial institutions reached a new peak during 2022-23 since 2014-15.
   • The state-wise distribution of new investments:
     • Top five states: UP (16.2% or Rs 43,180 crore), Gujarat, Odisha, Maharashtra and Karnataka together accounted for 57.2% share (or Rs 2,01,700 crore) in total project cost during 2022-23.
     • In bank-assisted projects, Kerala, Goa and Assamare at the bottom in getting the lowest number of new investments.
   • Purpose-wise Pattern of Projects:
     • Investment in green field (new) projects: It accounted for the largest share of 93.1% in the total cost of projects financed by banks and FIs during 2022-23.
     • The infrastructure sector accounts for 60% share in the total cost of projects during 2022-23.

   What is the reason behind Pick-up in Investments and Future Outlook?

   • The pick-up in investments is largely due to the capital expenditure plans of the government, raising business optimism and revival in private capex in certain key sectors.
   • The near-term outlook for private investment activity in India is gauged from project investment proposals of the private corporate sector.
     Source: IE

Sports

1. Spanish women’s football team has won the Women’s World Cup title with a 1-0 win over England at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup final, held in Sydney,

Related Facts-

• Olga Carmora scored the winning goal for the Spanish team.
• The 9th edition was co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand.
• The tournament began in 1991 and takes place after every 4 Years.
• 32 teams participated in the tournament in this edition.
• The United States team has been the most successful team (4 times winner) in the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
• Mascot- Tazuni (Penguin)

List of winners

• Young Player of the Tournament: Salma Paralluelo, Spain
• Golden Glove: Mary Earps, England
• Golden Boot: Hinata Miyazawa, Japan
• Golden Ball: Aitana Bonmati, Spain
  Source: Sportstar

Source: TH

Appointments

1. Faiz Ahmed Kidwai has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA) on an additional charge basis.
   • The appointment is effective for a period of 9 months starting from June 5, 2023.
   • He is currently serving as the Additional Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW).

2. Anuradha Thakur has been appointed as the Director of Serious Fraud Investigation Office on an additional charge basis.

Source: ET

Miscellaneous

1. A lotus variety named ‘Namoh 108’ was unveiled in CSIR – National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow under One Week One Lab (OWOL) initiative of the CSIR.
   • The variety was discovered several years ago in Manipur and is the only lotus variety in India to have had its genome sequenced.
   • To promote its cultivation in other parts of the country Lotus Mission was also launched as part of horticulture mission.
   • Under OWOL, every lab would showcase its history and scientific achievements for a week.
     Source: ET
2. Scientists at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) in Bengaluru, Karnataka have discovered a unique star named “HE 1005-1439”.
   • The star defies the conventional classification of stars and stands out as a carbon enhanced metal-poor (CEMP) star, a rare class of chemically peculiar stars.
   • IIA is an autonomous institute under the Department of Science & Technology (DST).
     Source: ET

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