24th August, 2023

1. Cabinet has given approval for the continuation of the North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NESIDS) with a financial outlay of 8139.50 crore.
2. César Bernardo Arévalo de León, has been elected as Guatemala’s new President.
3. Srettha Thavisin, has been appointed as the Prime Minister of Thailand.
4. Bihar government is planning to develop the 7-km stretch between Digha to Gandhi Maidan in Patna as the Patna Marine Drive.
5. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister has revived the debate over the Katchatheevu, a longstanding point of contention between India and Sri Lanka,particularly with regard to fishing rights and sovereignty over the uninhabited island.
6. State Bank of India (SBI) Life Insurance has become the first private life insurance company in India to provide 24X7 inbound contact centre via toll-free number.
7. World Bank Report titled Digital-in-Health: Unlocking the Value for Everyone, has been launched recently.
8. Indian scientists have developed the first ever low-pungent mustardthat is pest and disease-resistant.
9. Ratan Tata has been honoured with the first ever ‘Udyog Ratna Award’ for his outstanding contribution to Maharashtra’s industrial development.
10. 21 August- World Senior Citizen’s Day 2023
11. 22 August- International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief 2023
12. 20 to 24 August- World Water Week
13. India has won 14 medals in World Under-20 Wrestling Championships 2023 held in Amman, Jordan (46th edition).
14. Khelo India Women’s Leaguehas been renamed as “Asmita Women’s League”
15. Indian players Honey Dabas and Rahul Jograjiya have won gold and silver medals respectively in the World Para Powerlifting Championships, held in Dubai.
16. Neelkanth Mishra has been appointed as part-time chairman of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI).
17. Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (BPCL), has appointed Rahul Dravid, former Indian Cricketer and the current Head Coach of Indian Cricket Team, as its new brand ambassador.
18. Sachin Tendulkar has been appointed as the national icon for voter awareness and education under the Election Commission of India (ECI) for a period of 3 years.
19. Ron Cephas Jones, a renowned American actor who has won Emmy Award twice, has passed away.
20. China has launched a new Earth observation satellite, named Gaofen-12 (04), atop a Long March-4C carrier rocket, from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Northwest China.
21. US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted approval for the vaccine Abrysvo, designed to protect infants from birth to 6 months of age for use in women during pregnancy.

National News

1. Cabinet has given approval for the continuation of the North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NESIDS) with a financial outlay of 8139.50 crore.

Source: PIB

State News

1. Bihar government is planning to develop the 7-km stretch between Digha to Gandhi Maidan in Patna as the Patna Marine Drive.
   Source: ET
2. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister has revived the debate over the Katchatheevu, a longstanding point of contention between India and Sri Lanka, particularly with regard to fishing rights and sovereignty over the uninhabited island.

Source: IPCS

International News

1. César Bernardo Arévalo de León, has been elected as Guatemala’s new President.
   • Arevalo will succeed the current President Alejandro Giammattei.
     Source: TH
   • Srettha Thavisin, has been appointed as the Prime Minister of Thailand.
     Source: HT

Banking and Economy

1. State Bank of India (SBI) Life Insurance has become the first private life insurance company in India to provide 24X7 inbound contact centre via toll-free number.
   • The contact centre is available to both existing and new consumers, throughout the year.
   • This is aligned with the goal of ‘Insurance for all by 2047’ set by Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI).
   • The initiative aims to address both pre- and post-purchase inquiries, offering real-time solutions for policy and insurance-related queries.

Source: ANI

Reports and Indices

1. World Bank Report titled Digital-in-Health: Unlocking the Value for Everyone, has been launched recently.

Key highlights of Report

• Digital technology strengthens health systems, improves health financing, makes public health more effective, and serves underserved. Yet, some countries use less than 5% of health data.
• Over past decade, World Bank has invested almost $4 billion in digital health.
• In India, World Bank support enabled over 40% of Anganwadi workers to use digital technology.
• Emerging initiatives like Poshan Didi (a chatbot-based nutrition counselling service) has been developed in India for behavioural nudging.

Key recommendations

• It calls for a shift from simple digitization of health data to fully integrating digital technology in health systems.
• There is urgent need-
  • To prioritize digital health interventions to solve health challenges and for reaching the underserved.
  • For Global and regional collaboration, leadership and partnership within and across sectors, etc. to deliver better and seamless health services.
  • To enhance digital skills and literacy, Public-private partnerships for funding, etc. to ensure equitable access.
    Source: WB

Agriculture and Rural Development

1. Indian scientists have developed the first ever low-pungent mustardthat is pest and disease-resistant.
   • It is based on CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing, while being non-GM and transgene-free.

   What is the Significance of Gene Editing in Mustard Breeding?

   • Traditional mustard seeds that are grown in India contain about 120-130 parts per million (ppm) of compounds called glucosinolates,which are a group of sulphur and nitrogen-containing compounds contributing to the characteristic pungency of their oil and meal.
   • These compounds serve as natural defenders, protecting the plant from pests and diseases.
   • With gene editing, the glucosinolate content can be regulated without compromising with the plant’s ability to resist pests.
     Source: IE

Awards

1. Ratan Tata has been honoured with the first ever ‘Udyog Ratna Award’ for his outstanding contribution to Maharashtra’s industrial development.
   • The Udyog Ratna Award is one of the category awards presented in the 1st Maharashtra Industry Awards 2023, instituted by the Maharashtra government.

   Other Awards:

   • Udyog Mitra Award (Young Entrepreneur Award) – Adar Poonawalla, CEO of Serum Institute of India
   • Udyogini Award (Best Women Entrepreneur) – Gauri Kirloskar of Kirloskar Group was honoured with this award
   • Utkrusht Marathi Udyojak Award (Outstanding Marathi Entrepreneur) -Vilas Shinde, Chairman and MD (CMD) of Sahyadri Farms.
     Source: LM

Important Days

1. 21 August- World Senior Citizen’s Day 2023
   • Purpose: To honour the efforts, contributions, and achievements made by elderly people to society, families, and communities. The day also recognises the issues that an elderly individual faces in old age.
   • History- The day was started in 1988, when Ronald Reagan, the 40th President of the United States of America (USA) signed the Proclamation of 5847, and declared the 21st of August every year as the “National Senior Citizens Day”.
     Source: BS

2. 22 August- International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief 2023
   • Purpose- To condemn the violence and acts of terrorism against individuals of religious minorities, on the basis of or in the name of religion or belief.
   • 2023 also marks the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders.
   • 10 December 2023 also marks the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).
     Source: UN

3. 20 to 24 August- World Water Week
   • It is annually observed across the globe during the last week of August with an aim to examine the pivotal role of water in addressing several pressing global challenges such as water crisis, global warming, biodiversity loss, etc.
   • The Theme of World Water Week 2023 is “Seeds of Change: Innovative Solutions for a Water-Wise World”
   • World Water Week is annually organised by the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI).
   • The UN World Water Day coordinated by UN-Water is annually celebrated on 22nd March across the globe to support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6: Water and Sanitation for all by 2030, as part of the 2030 Agenda.
     Source: WWW
   
   

Sports

1. India has won 14 medals in World Under-20 Wrestling Championships 2023 held in Amman, Jordan (46th edition).
   • Medal Tally- 14 medals (4 golds, 3 silver and 7 bronze)

2. Khelo India Women’s Leaguehas been renamed as “Asmita Women’s League”
   • ASMITA stands for “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.
     Source: AIR
3. Indian players Honey Dabas and Rahul Jograjiya have won gold and silver medals respectively in the World Para Powerlifting Championships, held in Dubai.
   Source: NoA

Appointments

1. Neelkanth Mishra has been appointed as part-time chairman of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI).
   • The appointments of the Chairperson and the Members are for a period of 3 years or up to the age of 65 years whichever is earlier, from the date on which they assume office.

2. Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (BPCL), has appointed Rahul Dravid, former Indian Cricketer and the current Head Coach of Indian Cricket Team, as its new brand ambassador.
   • BPCL is a Maharatna Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoP&NG).
     Source: BS
3. Sachin Tendulkar has been appointed as the national icon for voter awareness and education under the Election Commission of India (ECI) for a period of 3 years.
   Source: PIB

Miscellaneous

1. Ron Cephas Jones, a renowned American actor who has won Emmy Award twice, has passed away.
   Source: ET
2. China has launched a new Earth observation satellite, named Gaofen-12 (04), atop a Long March-4C carrier rocket, from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Northwest
   Source: space
3. US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted approval for the vaccine Abrysvo, designed to protect infants from birth to 6 months of age for use in women during pregnancy.
   • Purpose- To protect against lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) and severe LRTD caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
   • RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) is a highly contagious virus that causes respiratory infections across age groups. Infants are particularly susceptible to severe respiratory illness caused by RSV, often requiring hospitalization
     Source: FDA

Start Quiz of 24th August 2023 on Mobile

Start Quiz of 24th August 2023 on Desktop