Daily Current Affairs - Year 2023

• India's Roshibina Devi Naorem won a silver medal in the women's 60 kg category in Wushu at the Asian Games in Hangzhou.
• Naorem Roshibina Devi won a silver medal in the women's Wushu final (60 kg category), India's first silver medal in Wushu.
• PV Sindhu, ranked 17th globally, won the badminton match against Mongolia's Mygmartseren Ganbaatar with a score of 21-2, 21-3.
• In shooting, Arjun Singh Cheema is in 14th position with a score of 9.650, Sarabjot Singh is in 30th position with 9.500 and Shiv Narwal is in 37th position with 9.400.

• Uttar Pradesh has been honored with two awards for its excellent performance in the Centre's Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-J) and Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM).
• Uttar Pradesh has achieved the highest number of health accounts under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM).
• The state has created over 4.7 crore Ayushman Bharat Health Accounts (ABHA), surpassing Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh with 4.19 crore and 4.10 crore accounts respectively.
• Additionally, more than 2.73 crore health records in Uttar Pradesh are linked to ABHA.

• The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has organized the ‘India Smart Cities Conclave 2023’ in Indore, Madhya Pradesh.
• The conclave aims to showcase the excellent work done under the Smart Cities Mission and shape the future of urban transformation in India.
• The event brought together all 100 smart cities that are leading urban innovation and changing the city development process.
• President Draupadi Murmu honored the winners of the India Smart Cities Awards Competition (ISAC) 2022, which has been organized by the ministry since 2018.

• On 28 September 2023, Union Minister of Education and Skill Development Dharmendra Pradhan launched 'CRIIIO 4 GOOD', a new online, life skills learning module to empower youth and promote gender equality through cricket.
• The objective of the program is to promote gender equality among children and youth.
• 'CRIIIO 4 GOOD' was launched at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad in collaboration with ICC, UNICEF and BCCI.
• The launch event was attended by various dignitaries and more than 1000 children.

• India has retained its 40th position among 132 economies in the Global Innovation Index 2023.
• The ranking reflects India's continued progress in the GII, improving from 81st in 2015 to 40th in 2023.
• India's improved GII ranking can be attributed to factors such as its rich knowledge capital, vibrant startup ecosystem and notable contributions from both public and private research organizations.
• Various government departments including the Department of Science and Technology, Biotechnology, Space and Atomic Energy have played an important role in enhancing the national innovation ecosystem.
• Initiatives like Atal Innovation Mission have been helpful in expanding this ecosystem.

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has cancelled the licence of Mumbai-based “The Kapol Co-operative Bank Limited.
• The bank with its present financial position would be unable to pay its present depositors in full; and public interest would be adversely affected if the bank is allowed to carry on its banking business any further.
• On liquidation, every depositor would be entitled to receive deposit insurance claim amount of his/her deposits up to a monetary ceiling of ₹5 lakh from Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC) subject to the provisions of DICGC Act, 1961.
• As per the data submitted by the bank, 96.09 per cent of the depositors are entitled to receive full amount of their deposits from DICGC.

• On 28 September 2023, famous farmer and 'Father of India's Green Revolution' M.S. Swaminathan died at the age of 98.
• M. S. Swaminathan's agricultural journey began in 1949 when he began researching crop genetics, which included important crops like potato, wheat, rice, and jute.
• Swaminathan received several prestigious awards, including the first World Food Prize in 1987 for introducing high-yielding wheat and rice varieties into India.
• He established the MS Swaminathan Research Foundation in Chennai.
• He was also awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 1971 and the Albert Einstein World Science Award in 1986.
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• Banmali Agarwal has been appointed as the new Chairman of Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL).
• He will replace Vijay Singh, who has retired.
• He also serves as a senior advisor to Tata Sons and holds the position of Chairman at Tata Electronics.
• This leadership change is part of the Tata Group's commitment to strengthen its presence in the aerospace and defense sector.

• Chhattisgarh state has received three national awards for its outstanding execution of the Ayushman Bharat scheme under the ‘big states’ category, achieving 100 percent utilization of allocated funds and ensuring 90 percent of families possess an Ayushman card.
• Chhattisgarh has introduced several innovative schemes to enhance access to high-quality healthcare services in the past five years and the initiatives gained national acclaim.
• One such initiative is the Mukhyamantri Haat Bazar Clinic Yojana, which extends free healthcare services to residents in remote forest areas of the state. This scheme has benefited over 1.4 crore people by providing free medicines, health check-ups, and treatment.

• The Indian Dressage Team made history by winning a gold medal at the Asian Games, marking the first time in 41 years that India has achieved this feat.
• The team, consisting of Sudipti Hajela, Divyakriti Singh, Hriday Chheda, and Anush Agarwalla, showcased exceptional skill and teamwork to secure the coveted gold medal, and achieved this victory with a stellar score of 209.205.
• This triumph comes after a 41-year-long wait for India, as the country had previously won gold in horse riding during its debut appearance at the Asian Games in 1982.

• Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar won a bronze medal in the Men’s 10m Air Rifle event at the ongoing Asian Games 2023. This was India’s fourth medal in shooting.
• Tomar was also part of India’s Men’s team that won gold and broke the world record in the 10m Air Rifle team event.
• Tomar finished behind China’s Sheng Lihao and Hajun Park of South Korea. Sheng Lihao broke the world record with an effort of 253.3 points and won the gold medal, while Hajun Park won silver with 251.3 points.

• On September 26, 2023, legendary Indian tennis player and multiple Grand Slam champion Leander Paes received a historic nomination for the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2024.
• Leander Paes (India) - Leander Paes is the first male player from Asia to be nominated for the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Potentially the first Indian tennis player to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
• Leander Paes, 50, is one of the six players who have received nominations for the year 2024.
• There are a total of six tennis players who have been nominated. Apart from Leander Paes, five other contenders are vying for induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

• Sift Kaur Samra won gold in the women's 50m rifle 3-P individual event, giving India its fifth gold medal at the Asian Games in Hangzhou.
• The Indian team of Manu Bhaker, Rhythm Sangwan and Isha Singh won the gold medal in the women's 25m pistol shooting event.
• Isha Singh earned a silver medal in the women's individual 25m pistol event by finishing second behind China's Rui Liu.
• Anant Jeet Singh Naruka won the silver medal in the men's skeet final with an impressive score of 58 out of 60 shots.

• Haryana government has announced that all hookah bars in the state will be shut.
• The ban includes serving hookah to customers in hotels, restaurants, bars, and commercial establishments across the state.
• However, this will not apply to traditional hookahs used in rural areas.
• He announced during a state-level ‘Cyclothon’, organized as part of a drug de-addiction campaign in Karnal.

• He stressed that India is committed to living behind a healthy and safe plant for the next generation.
• In the inauguration session of the summit, Ambassador of Kindom of Belgium Didier Vanderhasselt and Germany Ambassador Dr Philipp Ackermann along with senior dignitaries were also present.

• Marwar International Center was inaugurated by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot in Jodhpur.
• It aims to deliver on the government's commitment to preserving the cultural heritage of every region of the state and promoting intellectual exchange.
• As part of this effort, town halls are being constructed in many districts across Rajasthan.
• Notable establishments in Jaipur include the Rajasthan International Center and the Constitution Club.
• Inspired by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, the Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Social Sciences has also been established.

• On September 25, 2023, Dehradun Cantt Board in Uttarakhand launched the first three polythene waste banks in the country.
• These polythene waste banks are strategically placed, two of which are in Garhi and one in Premnagar.
• The inauguration of Garhi Kuda Bank was presided over by State Urban Development Minister Premchand Aggarwal.
• The primary objective of these garbage banks is twofold: waste management and income generation.
• Various polythene waste items including bags, chips wrappers, packing bags, plastic cutters and bread wrappers will be collected.
• Contributors will be compensated at the rate of Rs 3 per kg for the polythene waste brought by them.
• The collected polythene waste will be processed to make decorative items like tiles, boards and utensils.

• World Tourism Day is celebrated every year on 27 September to raise global awareness about the important role of tourism in the world economy.
• According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the economic impact of tourism is equal to or even greater than that of industries such as oil exports.
• The theme of World Tourism Day in 2023 is "Tourism and Green Investment".
• To mark World Tourism Day 2023, UNWTO is hosting a two-day conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

• Former bureaucrat Amit Khare has been given extension as advisor to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
• The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the extension in Khare’s tenure beyond 12 October 2023, for a period co-terminus with the term of Prime Minister.
• He was appointed to the post for two years in October 2021. Khare, a 1985-batch (retired) Indian Administrative Service IAS officer of the Jharkhand cadre, had superannuated on 30th September 2021.
• He also served as the higher education secretary.
• In another order, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has also approved the extension in tenure of Rajesh S Gokhale as secretary, Department of Biotechnology, for a period of two years, with effect from 1st November 2023.

• Italian motorcycle racer Marco Bezzecchi, representing the Mooney VR46 Racing Team, took victory in the inaugural Indian MotoGP event held at the Buddh International Circuit (BIC) in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh on September 23, 2023.
• Marco Bezzecchi completed the race in an impressive time of 36 minutes, 59 seconds and 15 microseconds.
• Second place in the race was taken by Spain's Jorge Martin, representing Prime Pramac Racing, while third place was taken by France's Fabio Quartararo, representing Monster Energy Yamaha.
• The coveted winner's trophy was presented to Marco Bezzecchi by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

• On the third day of the 19th Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023, India won a historic gold medal in the Equestrian Dressage Team event, returning to the top position after 41 years by defeating China.
• The Indian team of Hriday Chheda, Anush Aggarwal, Divyakriti Singh, and Sudipti Hajela achieved this victory on September 26, 2023.
• India's performance on the third day resulted in a total of one gold, one silver and one bronze medal.
• 17. year-old Neha Thakur won a silver medal in the girls' dinghy - ILCA4 event.
• Ibad Ali won the bronze medal in the Men's Windsurfer – RS:X event.
• India's first gold medal at the 19th Asian Games came from the men's 10m air rifle shooting team, comprising Divyansh Panwar, Rudranksh Patil and Aishwarya Pratap.

• On September 24, 2023, Jammu and Kashmir inaugurated its first Tata Memorial Cancer Care Center affiliated with Tata Memorial Cancer Care Center (TMC) Mumbai in the newly constructed block of Government Medical College (GMC) in Kathua.
• The establishment of the Tata Satellite Cancer Care facility in Kathua addresses the increasing incidence of cancer in the region, which is attributed to factors such as aging, lifestyle changes and environmental impacts.
• This healthcare facility in Kathua aims to serve not only Jammu and Kashmir but also the neighboring areas of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, which lack facilities like the Tata Memorial Center (TMC).

• The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change declared Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve as the 7th Tiger Reserve of Madhya Pradesh.
• The primary objective is to ensure better conservation efforts for the wildlife of the area.
• There are now a total of 55 designated tiger reserves in India.
• Earlier the 54th Tiger Reserve was Dholpur-Karauli Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan.
• Madhya Pradesh was already home to six tiger reserves: Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Satpura, Pench, Panna and Sanjay-Dubri.

• The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India organized the 'India Smart Cities Conclave 2023' in Indore, Madhya Pradesh on September 26, 2023.
• The event brought together all 100 smart cities that are leading urban innovation and changing the city development process.
• The conclave aims to showcase the excellent work done under the Smart Cities Mission and shape the future of urban transformation in India.
• President Draupadi Murmu on September 27, 2023, honored the winners of the India Smart Cities Awards Competition (ISAC) 2022, which has been organized by the ministry since 2018.

• On September 25, 2023, Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri inaugurated India's first green hydrogen fuel cell bus on the 'Kartavya Path' in Delhi.
• India's ambition is to become a global hub of hydrogen production and export.
• Environmental benefits of fuel cell buses: Zero harmful emissions and quick charging.
• The higher energy density of hydrogen than conventional fuels.
• Collaboration between Indian Oil and Tata Motors for indigenous fuel cell technology and infrastructure.

• Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur announced the Dadasaheb Phalke Lifetime Achievement Award for the year 2021 to actress Waheeda Rehman.
• The award will be presented during the 69th National Film Awards ceremony.
• In a career spanning over five decades, Waheeda Rehman has been praised for her extraordinary performances in films like "Pyaasa," "Kaagaz Ke Phool," "Chaudhvi Ka Chand," "Saheb Biwi Aur Ghulam," "Guide," and "Khamoshi." Earned.
• She received several awards, including the Filmfare Best Actress Award for "Guide" and "Neel Kamal" and the National Award for Best Actress for "Reshma Aur Shera".
• He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1972 and the Padma Bhushan in 2011 for his contribution to Indian cinema.

• Admiral R Hari Kumar, Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) of the Indian Navy participated in the 25th International Sea Power Symposium (ISS) in the United States of America.
• The event was organized by the US Navy and was held at the US Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island from September 19 to 22, 2023.
• CNS R Hari Kumar participated in bilateral talks with naval counterparts from several countries including the United States, Australia, Egypt, Fiji, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and the UK.

• Former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Amit Khare was appointed as advisor to Prime Minister Narendra Modi with a second service extension.
• The Department of Personnel and Training issued an order saying that the Cabinet Appointments Committee approved the extension of Amit Khare's service beyond October 12, 2023.
• Amit Khare, a 1985 batch IAS officer of Jharkhand cadre, was initially appointed for a two-year tenure in October 2021.
• During his career, Amit Khare has held key positions at the central government level such as Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and Ministry of Education as well as in the states of Jharkhand and Bihar.
• Amit Khare, while serving as Education Secretary, played a key role in shaping India's National Education Policy 2020, bringing significant changes in the country's education system.

• The world's largest Hindu temple, BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham, will be inaugurated on October 8 in New Jersey, USA.
• The temple will be the largest in the United States and the second largest globally after Angkor Wat in Cambodia.
• BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham in Robbinsville Township, New Jersey was built with the help of more than 12,500 volunteers from different parts of the US.
• Construction lasted for 12 years from 2011 to 2023.

• Sue Redfern became the first woman to stand as an umpire in a men’s first-class cricket match in England and Wales.
• Redfern, who played 21 times for England from 1995-99, has been appointed for the County Championship fixture between Glamorgan and Derbyshire.
• Two years ago, she was the first woman to officiate at a home England men’s match — as the fourth official for the T20 international against Sri Lanka.
• She was the first woman to umpire a T20 Blast game when Gloucestershire played Middlesex in Bristol this season.
• Redfern was the first woman to be awarded a full-time contract by the England and Wales Cricket Board last year.

• The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 will be co-hosted by the USA and West Indies, with matches taking place in major cities like Dallas, Florida, and New York.
• The International Cricket Council (ICC) has confirmed as many as 10 venues in the West Indies and the USA between June 4 and 30.
• The West Indies will have 7 venues while the USA will have 3 for the showpiece T20 international tournament.
• The ICC confirmed Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Guyana, St Lucia, Trinidad & Tobago, and St Vincent & The Grenadines as the seven Caribbean venues that will host matches during the T20 World Cup 2024 from 4 to 20 June.

• Biju Janata Dal (BJD) party member Pramila Malik became the first woman Speaker of the Odisha Assembly.
• The election of Pramila Malik as the Speaker of the Odisha Legislative Assembly took place on September 22, 2023, and she was elected unopposed.
• The post became vacant due to the resignation of Bikram Keshari Arukha in May 2023.
• Pramila Malik has been a six-time MLA from the Binjharpur assembly seat in Jajpur district of Odisha. This seat is reserved for the Scheduled Caste community.
• She initially became an MLA in 1990 as a member of the Janata Dal and later joined the BJD party led by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
• Before his role as Speaker, he held the post of Minister of Revenue and Disaster Management in the BJD government.

• Archaeologists have discovered what is thought to be the world’s oldest known wooden structure near the border of Zambia and Tanzania.
• Found along a riverbank in Zambia, the simple structure consists of two interlocking logs of a large-fruited willow tree. One log lies on top of the other and is held in place by a notch in its underside.
• Marks on the wooden structure show that the logs were carved, chopped, and shaped with sharp stone tools. The structure predates modern humans and probably served as a walkway for human ancestors who lived along the Kalambo River nearly half a million years ago.

• Senco Gold & Diamonds has launched India’s “first virtual jewellery showroom” on the metaverse, christened ‘Sencoverse’.
• The initiative offers a new and immersive way for customers to shop for jewellery from the comfort of their homes, the company said.
• Metaverse is a virtual-reality space in which users can interact with a computer-generated environment and with each other.
• The showroom provides 360-degree views of jewellery items in stunning 3D detail, along with interactive features for zooming in on details and learning more about the products.
• The virtual space features a collection of over 100 jewellery products.

• Jaime Maussan, a leading UFO expert, recently revealed in the Mexican Congress two alleged "non-human" bodies believed to be 1,000 years old.
• These bodies were reportedly found in a mine in Cuzco, Peru.
• Researchers claim that the genetic structure of these dead bodies is 30 percent different from that of humans.
• Carbon dating by the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) confirmed their age to be over 1,000 years.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi has flagged off nine new Vande Bharat Express trains via video conferencing, taking the total number of semi-high-speed trains to 34.
• The prime minister said the Vande Bharat Express trains being launched will significantly improve connectivity as well as boost tourism across India.
• The nine trains will provide faster connectivity across 11 states — Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Bihar, West Bengal, Kerala, Odisha, Jharkhand and Gujarat.
• The new trains that were flagged off by Prime Minister Modi are Udaipur – Jaipur Vande Bharat Express, Tirunelveli-Madurai- Chennai Vande Bharat Express, Hyderabad –Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express, Vijayawada – Chennai (via Renigunta) Vande Bharat Express, Patna – Howrah Vande Bharat Express, Kasaragod – Thiruvananthapuram Vande Bharat Express, Rourkela – Bhubaneswar – Puri Vande Bharat Express, Ranchi – Howrah Vande Bharat Express and Jamnagar-Ahmedabad Vande Bharat Express.

• The Ministry of Tourism, Government of India has included two frontier districts of Uttarakhand, Champawat, and Pithoragarh, in the Swadesh Darshan 2.0 scheme. 
• The objective of the Swadesh Darshan 2.0 scheme is to promote tourism activities and develop these areas from a tourism point of view, providing basic facilities to visitors.
• As part of the Swadesh Darshan scheme, Gunji, a place in Pithoragarh district, is set to take up development work in the tourism sector, with an allocated budget of Rs 75 crore.

• The Indian Defense Acquisition Council (DAC) gave its approval to the indigenous short-range air-to-surface missile Dhruvastra.
• The Dhruvastra missile is designed to enhance India's combat capabilities against enemy tanks and armored vehicles and will be deployed on DHRUV MK-IV helicopters.
• DAC's approval of the Dhruvastra missile represents a significant enhancement to India's military capabilities.
• Developed by the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) as part of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP), it is a valuable addition to India's military assets.

• Singapore has dethroned Hong Kong to become the world’s freest economy in 2023, according to a report released by Canadian think tank Fraser Institute.
• Singapore is now the world’s freest economy, displacing Hong Kong after 53 years.
• For the first time since the Economic Freedom of the World Index started in 1970, Hong Kong slipped to second place from the number one spot — and its score is about to drop even further.
• Switzerland, New Zealand, and the U.S. occupy the third, fourth and fifth positions respectively.
• Other notable mentions include the United Kingdom coming in ninth, while Japan and Germany claimed 20th and 23rd place respectively.

• Young Indian wrestler Antim Panghal won a bronze medal in the women's 53 kg category at the World Championships in Belgrade, Serbia.
• Panghal's victory also secured a quota for India in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
• In the bronze medal match, Panghal defeated two-time European champion Emma Jonna Denise Malmgren by a score of 16-6, India's first medal in the ongoing edition of the World Championships.
• This achievement added India's total medal tally at the World Championships to 23, which includes one gold, five silver, and 17 bronze medals.

• International Sign Language Day is designated by the United Nations General Assembly and is celebrated on 23 September each year.
• The purpose of this day is to raise awareness about the important role of sign language in maintaining the human rights of deaf persons.
• It provides an opportunity to promote and preserve the linguistic and cultural heritage of the Deaf community.
• The theme for 2023 is “A World Where Deaf People Everywhere Can Sign Anywhere!”
• This theme underlines the unifying power of sign languages and emphasizes their importance to Deaf communities, governments, and civil society organizations.

• A 32-year-old Indian banker has successfully scaled Mt Manaslu in Nepal, achieving the feat of being the first Indian climber to summit the world’s eighth-highest mountain peak in this season.
• Sunil Kumar, who hails from Haryana, reached the peak of Mt Manaslu which stands at 8,163 metres above sea level along with another Nepalese climber and two mountain guides.
• Kumar climbed the mountain situated on the northern side of central Nepal in Gorkha district.

• “Chacha Chaudhary aur Chunavi Dangal” comic book has been launched by the Election Commission of India (ECI) & Pran Comics to inspire youth to enroll and participate in the festival of democracy.
• Chacha Chaudhary, Sabu, Raaka, Dhamaka Singh, Billoo & other comic characters will now create awareness amongst children about elections
• The characters brought to life by the renowned Cartoonist late Pran Kumar Sharma.

• The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare has launched an AI chatbot — the first of its kind to be integrated with a major flagship scheme of the central government — for the PM-KISAN scheme.
• The AI chatbot was launched by Kailash Choudhary, Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, in presence of Agriculture Secretary Manoj Ahuja and Additional Agriculture Secretary Pramod Meherda.
• The AI Chatbot introduced with the PM-KISAN scheme serves as a comprehensive guide for beneficiaries, offering timely and accurate responses to their inquiries related to the scheme.
• This marks the first instance of an AI Chatbot integration with a major flagship scheme of the Union Government. Developed and enhanced with the support of EK step Foundation and Bhashini, the Chatbot aims to empower farmers with a user-friendly and accessible platform.

• Parliament successfully passed the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Amendment) Bill, 2023, which provides for the reservation of one-third of the total seats for women in the Lok Sabha, state legislatures, and the Delhi Assembly.
• The Women's Reservation Bill called the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, got approval in the Rajya Sabha with an overwhelming majority on September 21, 2023, as 214 members voted in favor of it, while none opposed it.
• The Lok Sabha already passed the Women's Reservation Bill with overwhelming support as 454 MPs voted in favor, while only two MPs opposed it. Speaker Om Birla had formally announced the passage of the bill in the lower house.

• The National Medical Commission (NMC) in India achieved a remarkable 10-year WFME accreditation status.
• This recognition reflects NMC's strong commitment to maintaining high standards in medical education and accreditation.
• All 706 existing medical colleges in India will get WFME recognition.
• New medical colleges established within the next 10 years will automatically receive WFME recognition.
• It aims to enhance the quality and standards of medical education in India by aligning it with global best practices.

• In a significant leadership transition, the board of ICICI Lombard General Insurance has appointed Sanjeev Mantri as the new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD & CEO) of the company. 
• This move follows the resignation of Bhargav Dasgupta, the outgoing MD & CEO, who stepped down ahead of completing his 15-year tenure due to recent regulatory changes.
• Bhargav Dasgupta, who had served as the MD & CEO of ICICI Lombard for nearly 15 years, decided to step down from his role. 
• His resignation was prompted by the new regulations governing the tenure of CEOs, which now limit their term to a maximum of 15 years.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated a two-day International Lawyers Conference in New Delhi.
• The theme of the Conference is Emerging Challenges in the Justice Delivery System.
• This Conference is being organized for the first time by the Bar Council of India.
• The objective of the Conference is to act as a platform for meaningful dialogue and discussion on various legal topics of national and international importance.
• It also aims to promote the exchange of ideas and experiences and strengthen international cooperation and understanding of legal issues.

• The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) recognised Mithun, a semi-domesticated bovine animal as a food animal.
• Found in altitudes ranging between 300 to 3,000 meters, mithuns have traditionally been part of the culture of various tribes in Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram.

• The Madhya Pradesh Government recently announced the establishment of the "Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve”; marking the seventh tiger reserve in the state and the 54th in the country.
• Until now, MP was home to six tiger reserves – Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Satpura, Pench, Panna and Sanjay-Dubri.
• MP retained the "tiger state" status in the 2022 census with the number of big cats in the state rising to 785 from 526 in 2018.
• The new tiger reserve, spread across Sagar, Damoh and Narsinghpur districts.

• The World Day of the Deaf is observed on every last Sunday of September. This year, the World Day of the Deaf is observed on September 24, 2023.
• The day is dedicated to the deaf community worldwide.
• The World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) initiated the World Day of the Deaf in 1958.
• The theme for the World Deaf Day 2023 is "Ear and Hearing Care for All".

• India’s First Lighthouse Festival opens in Goa; spotlight on 75 historical sites to be developed as major Tourist Destinations
• Bharatiya Prakash Sthamb Utsav aims to transform Historic Lighthouses into Tourist Hotspots with PPP route.
•  Shri Sarbananda SonowalUnion Minister Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated the Indian lighthouse festival at the iconic Fort Aguada Lighthouse in Panjim, Goa.

• Biswanath Ghat has been selected as the Best Tourism Village of India 2023 by the Ministry of Tourism, from amongst 791 applications from 31 States and UTs.
• Biswanath Ghat, often referred to as "Gupta Kashi," is named after Biswanath mandir in the village.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday laid the foundation stone of the International Cricket Stadium in his parliamentary constituency Varanasi.
• The project is expected to cost approximately Rs 450 crores and will be able to accommodate 30,000 spectators.
• The thematic architecture of this stadium draws inspiration from Lord Shiva.

• According to Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, 75% of India's villages, approximately 4.4 lakh, have achieved the "ODF Plus" status.
• This means they have sustained their Open Defecation Free (ODF) status while implementing solid or liquid waste management systems.

• Axis Bank has recently launched NEO for Business, a mobile-first business banking platform catering to the needs of MSMEs.
• This path-breaking digital banking platform seamlessly integrates Axis Bank’s complete suite of transaction banking products and domain expertise around your business.
• MSMEs are the backbone of the Indian economy, accounting for more than 30% of Indian GDP.

• The Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) inked an agreement with the Digital Lenders Association of India (DLAI) to boost the country's fintech sector.
• The MoU aims for collaborations with SIDBI to develop standard protocols to expedite the adoption of digital lending partnerships including alliances between banks and Lending Service Providers (LSPs).

• ICICI Lombard General Insurance said its Managing Director and CEO Bhargav Dasgupta has resigned after serving the company for 14 years.
• The Asian Development Bank (ADB) appointed Bhargav Dasgupta as Vice-President (market solutions) for a period of three years.
• Having joined ICICI Lombard in May 2009 as Managing Director and CEO, Dasgupta served the general insurance company for over 14 years.
• Dasgupta replaces Ashok Lavasa, former Finance Secretary and Election Commissioner of India.

• FIH withdraws Olympic qualifiers hosting rights from Pakistan.
• IndiGo becomes official airline for Indian football team.
• Ferrari's Carlos Sainz wins 2023 Singapore Grand Prix.
• Cricket star Deepak Chahar launches 'DNINE Sports.'
• Elavenil Valarivan wins gold medal at ISSF World Cup 2023.

• Defense Minister Rajnath Singh approved 23 new Sainik Schools in partnership mode.
• Indian government approves defense acquisitions worth Rs 45,000 crore from domestic vendors.
• Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik launched 'Mukhyamantri Sampoorna Pushti Yojana' in the state.
• PM Modi to launch PM Vishwakarma Scheme on Vishwakarma Jayanti in New Delhi.
• Uttarakhand govt approved state’s first service sector policy.
• Patna Municipal Corporation starts a Cash for Waste scheme.
• Assam Governor unveils ‘Sarpanch Samvaad’ mobile app.
• India's historic Santiniketan received World Heritage status by UNESCO.
• Cabinet approves signing of an MoU between India and Armenia.
• Gujarat passes bill reserving 27% local body seats for OBCs.
• Madhya Pradesh government unveils 108-feet statue of Adi Shankaracharya in Omkareshwar.
• Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal introduced the Women's Reservation Bill in Lok Sabha.
• Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur railway station officially named 'Captain Tushar Mahajan Railway Station.'
• Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister announces 'Mukhyamantri Shramik Kalyan Yojana.'
• ICAR-CIBA launches Shrimp Crop Insurance Scheme with Chief Guest Parshottam Rupala.
• Last diesel-run double-decker bus of Mumbai retires.
• The Prime Minister will inaugurate 16 Atal Awasiya Vidyalayas in Uttar Pradesh.
• Union Minister launches 'Skills on Wheels' initiative.
• Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant launches Grih Aadhaar Scheme and Chavath-e-Bazaar.
• Dr. RML Hospital opens India’s first dedicated OPD for Transgenders.
• President inaugurates first Uttar Pradesh International Trade Show.

Fashion designer Rahul Mishra honored with France's "Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres" award.

Indian Coast Guard conducts coastal security drill 'Operation Sajag'.

Apurva Chandra unveils 'People's G20' eBook on India's G20 Presidency.

Writer and filmmaker Geeta Mehta passes away at the age of 80.

• Ireland seamer Arlene Kelly has won the ICC Women’s Player of the Month award for August 2023 for her excellent recent form.
• Kelly beat Netherlands youngster Iris Zwilling and Malaysia all-rounder Ainna Hamizah Hashim for the coveted monthly award, following impressive individual efforts with the ball during the month.
• The right-arm was at her brilliant best during Ireland’s three-match T20I series against the Netherlands as she collected 10 wickets at a miserly average of just 4.30 to help her side claim an emphatic 3-0 series sweep.
• This is the fourth-best bowling average in a bilateral series where a bowler has taken 10 or more wickets and was also just the second time in women’s T20Is that a bowler had taken 10 or more scalps in a bilateral series of three or fewer games.

• The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced SBI Life as one of the official partners for the BCCI Domestic and International Season 2023-2026.
• SBI Life has signed a 3-year deal with the BCCI and their partnership will begin with the upcoming three-match ODI series against Australia, starting September 22.
• The partnership is expected to enhance the cricketing experience for fans and players alike.

• The International Cricket Council (ICC) recently released 'Dil Jashan Bole', the official anthem for the upcoming Men's Cricket World Cup, which will begin on the 5th of next month.
• It features popular Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh as well as many famous social media influencers.
• The ICC made the announcement via a tweet on its official social media accounts, inviting fans to experience the anthem on "Platform 2023" and join in the excitement of the One Day Express, marking the upcoming event as the biggest cricket event in the world. It was said that it was a celebration.
• The music of this anthem is composed by Pritam, and the vocals are performed by talented artists including Pritam, Nakash Aziz, Shriram Chandra, Amit Mishra, Jonita Gandhi, Akasa, and Charan.

• Pakistan captain Babar Azam won the ICC Men’s Player of the Month Award for August 2023 for his exceptional showing in ODIs against Afghanistan and Nepal.
• Babar won the honour for the 3rd time in his career as the World No. 1 batter continued to dominate the 50-over format of the game.
• Babar Azam was part of the 3-man shortlist for the award along with his teammate Shadab Khan and West Indies big-hitter Nicholas Pooran and he beat them both for the award.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone for an upcoming international cricket stadium in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.
• The spiritual city is set to become a cricketing powerhouse with a state-of-the-art stadium, equipped with cutting-edge facilities.
• An approximate sum of ₹350 crore will be spent on the construction of the stadium which will be built on a wide campus of about 31 acres and will have seven pitches. The venue is expected to accommodate 30,000 spectators at a time.
• The infrastructure of the facility will depict the city’s devotion to Lord Shiva. The entire stadium will have a crescent-shaped roof – that crowns the Indian God, and the floodlights designed like a trident.
• The entrance and the lounge will resemble Lord Shiva’s damru while the exterior of the arena will feature huge motifs of wood apple leaves in metallic frames.

• World Alzheimer’s Day is observed on September 21 every year to raise awareness about Alzheimer’s disease.
• This day is dedicated to raising awareness about Alzheimer’s disease and various forms of dementia. A key objective of this day is to eliminate the stigma surrounding Alzheimer’s disease.
• Theme 2023 –Never too early, never too late
• Alzheimer’s disease, a neurological disorder, occurs when abnormal proteins called beta-amyloid build up in the brain cells, causing them to shrink and eventually die.
• World Alzheimer’s Day was established on September 21, 1994, in Edinburgh, to mark the tenth anniversary of Alzheimer’s disease International (ADI).
• ADI, formed in 1984, is an organization dedicated to helping and providing guidance to individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and their families.

• World Rhino Day is celebrated every year on 22 September.
• It is a global initiative whose primary goal is to raise awareness of the significant challenges facing the rhinoceros species around the world.
• The day also serves as a platform to advocate for the protection and conservation of rhinos.
• World Rhino Day highlights the serious threats and hardships that rhinoceros species face in their natural habitats.

• Mukhyamantri Atmanirbhar Asom Scheme is a government initiative launched by the Chief Minister of Assam, Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma.
• Mukhyamantri Atmanirbhar Asom Scheme aims to provide employment opportunities and financial assistance to the unemployed youth of the state.
• Its primary goal is to connect 2 lakh eligible individuals in two years, with a focus on assisting 1 lakh people in the financial year 2023-2024 and another 1 lakh people in the financial year 2024-2025.
• The eligibility standards and other restrictions will be made public on September 23, 2023, when the scheme officially launches.
• The scheme will have an online registration portal launched on September 23, 2023.

• Odia scientist Swati Nayak selected as the recipient of the Borlaug Field Award 2023.
• Swati Nayak is currently working as a Scientist and South Asia Head for Seed System and Product Management at the Philippines-based CGIAR-International Rice Research Institute (IRRI).
• Swati Nayak received the award for her innovative approach to engaging farmers in demand-driven rice seed systems, testing, deploying, and promoting access and adoption of climate-resilient and nutritious rice varieties.
• The award was presented to him by the prestigious selection jury of the World Food Prize, highlighting his significant contributions to global food production and combating hunger and malnutrition.

• Manoj Ladwa, Founder and Chairman of India Global Forum and Mohammed Al Sharhan, Managing Director of the World Governments Summit signed the MoU to set up the Emerging Economies Programme.
• The event will bring together government officials, business leaders, economists, and experts.
• It will facilitate discussion on sustainable economic development, geo-economic perspective, and innovative solutions.
• The objective of this partnership is to promote thought leadership in the region.
• Emerging trends, challenges, and opportunities related to the Global South will be researched.
• The program will also improve field data for the benefit of future governments.

• The Reserve Bank of India has approved the reappointment of Sashidhar Jagdishan as HDFC Bank MD & CEO for a period of three years.
• The re-appointment is for a period of three years with effect from 27 October 2023 to 26 October 2026.
• Jagdishan joined the country’s largest private sector bank in 1996 as a manager in the finance department and became business head – finance in 1999 and was later appointed as chief financial officer in 2008.
• Prior to his appointment as the CEO, Jagdishan was the group head of HDFC Bank, in addition to overseeing the functions of finance, human resources, legal and secretarial, administration, infrastructure, corporate communications, and corporate social responsibility.

• Indian shooter Elavenil Valarivan won the gold medal in the women's 10m air rifle event at the ISSF World Cup 2023 held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
• In the final round, Elavenil Valarivan displayed exceptional skill by scoring 252.2 points in 24 shots and defeating Osianne Muller of France by a narrow margin.
• A total of eight shooters among the competitors were successful in qualifying for the final competition.
• The win gave Elavenil Valarivan his second individual ISSF World Cup medal, demonstrating his consistent excellence in the sport.
• During the qualification round, Valarivan finished 9th with 630.5 points.
• The ISSF World Cup 2023 in Rio de Janeiro is the last rifle and pistol event of the year, with the finals scheduled to be held in Doha, Qatar from 18 to 27 November.
• India was well represented at the event, sending a contingent of 16 athletes to participate in the ISSF World Cup.

• Chief Minister Pramod Sawant launched the Griha Aadhaar scheme and Chavath-e-Bazaar to empower housewives in Goa by providing them with financial assistance.
•  The objective of the Griha Aadhaar scheme is to promote the financial independence and well-being of housewives, recognize their contribution and improve their socio-economic status.
• The Griha Aadhaar initiative led by the Directorate of Women and Child Development is an important step towards women's empowerment.
• Chavath-e-Bazaar provides a platform to local artisans and entrepreneurs to showcase their products to a wide audience.

• The International Day of Peace (IDP) is observed every year on 21 September.
• The IDP was established by the United Nations (UN) to emphasize the global commitment to peace, non-violence, and conflict resolution.
• The theme of the 2023 IDP is "Action for Peace: Our Ambition for the #GlobalGoals".
• This theme emphasizes both individual and collective responsibilities in promoting peace.
• To ensure the success of these goals, it calls for the participation of various actors, including the world's 1.2 billion youth.

• The Centre-run Dr RML Hospital has inaugurated India’s first dedicated OPD for the transgender community on the occasion of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday.
• The initiative was started to alleviate the difficulties encountered by members of the transgender community in accessing healthcare services, largely due to discomfort and the fear of discrimination, and social apathy.
• This dedicated OPD service will be available to transgenders every Friday from 2 pm to 4 pm and there will be a separate registration counter for them.
• The hospital also organized a blood donation camp to mark Prime Minister Modi’s 73rd birthday.
• At India’s first dedicated OPD for transgenders, they will be provided with an endocrinology facility with hormone analysis and free hormonal treatment, a psychiatry facility with clinical-psychological assessment, and plastic surgery.
• Also, dermatology, urology, and paediatrics services and all related blood investigations will be made available at the OPD, he said, adding that it will have gender-neutral/transgender washroom facilities.

• Union Minister of Education and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Dharmendra Pradhan and Lok Sabha Speaker, Om Birla launched the 'Skills on Wheels' initiative with National Skill Development Corporation and IndusInd Bank.
• The 'Skills on Wheels' initiative aims to empower 60,000 rural youth with a focus on women over five years.
• Its primary objective is to provide digital skills to rural youth to make them job- and future-ready.
• This mobile unit, known as 'Skills on Wheels', will serve as a vehicle to take the 'Skill India Mission' to areas that are otherwise difficult to reach.

• President Draupadi Murmu inaugurated the first Uttar Pradesh International Trade Show at the India Expo Center and Mart in Greater Noida on September 21, 2023.
• Prominent personalities including Governor Anandiben Patel, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, and Industries Minister Nand Gopal Nandi attended the inauguration ceremony.
• The trade show will run from September 21 to 25 and will include over 2000 exhibitors from various sectors such as automobile, handicrafts, healthcare, food processing, pharmaceuticals, dairy, electronics and e-commerce.
• State government departments, institutions, and Mumbai Dabbawala Services will organize informative sessions on business activities.
• The event will showcase 108 new startups.
• It is expected to attract more than five lakh visitors, including international attendees.

• 16 Atal Awasiya Vidyalayas in Uttar Pradesh will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Varanasi.
• Built at a cost of over Rs 1,100 crore, these schools aim to provide quality education to laborers, children of construction workers, and orphans affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Each school is spread over 10 to 15 acres and has classrooms, sports facilities, recreational areas, a mini auditorium, hostels, mess halls, and staff accommodation.
• The ultimate goal of each of these Awasiya Vidyalayas is to accommodate 1,000 students.

• ACKO, a leading insurance company, has introduced a new health insurance product known as “ACKO Platinum Health Plan”.
• “ACKO Platinum Health Plan” offers several notable features including:
• 100% Bill Payment: It guarantees payment of the entire medical bill, reducing the financial burden during a health crisis.
• No limit on room rent: There is no restriction on room rent, giving greater flexibility to policyholders.
• Zero waiting period: Policyholders get instant coverage without any waiting period.

• Coastal security drill 'Operation Sajag' was conducted by the Indian Coast Guard off the west coast.
• Operation Sajag aims to re-validate the coastal security mechanism and raise awareness among fishermen living at sea.
• During the drill, comprehensive checking and verification of documents and crew passes of all fishing boats, barges, and crafts at sea was carried out.
• A total of 118 ships took part in the drill. These included customs, maritime police, ports, and Indian Navy ships.
• As part of security measures, biometric card readers have been provided to security agencies.
• Various measures have been implemented to strengthen coastal security.

• The Nuakhai festival was celebrated on September 20, 2023.
• Nuakhai festival is traditionally celebrated on the next day of Ganesh Chaturthi.
• Nuakhai is celebrated throughout the state of Odisha.
• This festival holds special significance in western Odisha and neighboring areas like Simdega of Jharkhand.

• Indian cricketer Deepak Chahar forayed into the sports equipment industry with the launch of DNINE Sports.
• Deepak Chahar has invested ₹2.5 crore in DNINE Sports.
• DNINE Sports aims to revolutionize athletic gear, offering a wide range of products to suit the needs of athletes, including professional cricketers.
• DNINE Sports was established under the entity LCDC Athletics Pvt. Ltd.
• Deepak Chahar and his father Lokendra Singh Chahar are the co-founders of the company.

• Mumbai bids farewell to the last diesel-run double-decker bus of the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST)
• Mumbai’s iconic red double-decker buses have been an integral part of the city’s public transport system for more than 80 years.
• New battery-operated double-deckers have replaced the old red diesel-run buses in Mumbai.
• A total of 900 air-conditioned double-decker bus services will be provided to the people of Mumbai by the end of July 2024.
• The first double-decker bus was introduced on Mumbai roads in 1937. The era of red diesel-run double-deckers, introduced on the city streets 86 years ago, thus came to an end. New, shiny red-and-black battery-operated (EV) double-deckers have already begun to ply since February this year.
• The first double-decker bus was introduced on Mumbai roads in 1937, a decade after BEST launched its bus service in the growing city.

• Geographical Indication Registry (GIR) has awarded the Geographical Indication (GI) tag to 'Atreyapuram Putharekula', a sweet made from rice and jaggery originating from Atreyapuram village in Konaseema district of Andhra Pradesh.
• Atreyapuram Putharekula' sweets GI registration comes under the 'Food Ingredients' category.
• The official GI certificate handover ceremony took place at Damodaram Sanjeevayya National Law University (DSNLU) in Visakhapatnam.
• The event coincides with the National Workshop on “Geographical Indications and GI Certificate Handover Ceremony for Atreyapuram Putharekula”.

• Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu announced the 'Mukhyamantri Shramik Kalyan Yojana' during an event in Itanagar.
• The objective of 'Mukhyamantri Shramik Kalyan Yojana' is to benefit the labor force within the state.
• Under this scheme, benefits for workers registered with the Arunachal Pradesh Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board have been restructured.

• International Red Panda Day (IRPD) is celebrated across the world on the third Saturday of September each year.
• International Red Panda Day aims to raise awareness of the importance of red panda conservation and encourage people to take action to protect them.
• IRPD 2022 took place on September 17, 2022, while IRPD 2024 will be celebrated on September 21, 2024.
• Red pandas are found mainly in the mountainous forests of Nepal, India, Bhutan, China, and Myanmar.
• Red Panda Network (RPN) was founded in 2007 and was founded by Brian Williams.
• RPN is headquartered in Oregon, United States of America (USA).

• ICAR-Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture (ICAR-CIBA) organized the 2nd edition of Shrimp Farmers Conclave-2023 at Navsari Agricultural University campus in Navsari, Gujarat.
• This initiative has a budget of Rs 20,050 crore and aims to promote sustainable development in the fisheries and aquaculture sector.
• Union Minister Rupala officially launched the Shrimp Crop Insurance Scheme, which has been developed through collaboration between the Agricultural Insurance Company of India (AIC) and ICAR-CIBA. 
• This scheme provides insurance coverage for shrimp farming, thereby increasing the security of shrimp farmers.

• The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir formally renamed Udhampur railway station after local hero martyr Captain Tushar Mahajan.
• The naming ceremony took place at Udhampur railway station, in which Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh participated.
• This station is now officially known as "Captain Tushar Mahajan Railway Station".
• Parents of martyr Captain Tushar Mahajan, local dignitaries, army officers, and BJP members were present at the event.
• Captain Tushar Mahajan, a native of Udhampur, served in 9 PARA, a Special Forces unit of the Indian Army. He sacrificed his life while protecting the country during the terrorist attack on the Jammu and Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development Institute building in the Pulwama district of South Kashmir in February 2016.

• The Women's Reservation Bill, known as the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, was introduced in the Lok Sabha by Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal.
• Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal introduced the 128th Amendment Bill, 2023 to achieve 33 percent reservation for women in Parliament and state assemblies.
• Arjun Ram Meghwal, while introducing the bill, said that if it is passed, the number of seats reserved for women in the Lok Sabha will increase from 82 to 181.
• Additionally, the old Parliament House in the Lok Sabha was renamed the Samvidhan Sadan.

• IREDA (Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency) and the Bank of Maharashtra (BoM) entered into a partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the renewable energy sector.
• The primary goal is to promote and facilitate co-lending and loan syndication for various renewable energy projects across India.
• The initiative supports India's efforts to reduce carbon emissions and transition to clean energy sources.
• The MoU was formally signed by Bharat Singh Rajput, General Manager of Technical Services), IREDA, and Rajesh Singh, General Manager (Retail and MSME Credit), Bank of Maharashtra, at IREDA's Business Center in New Delhi.

• Apurva Chandra, serving as Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, presented the eBook titled "People's G20" in New Delhi on September 18, 2023.
• The eBook launch event was attended by Manish Desai, Principal Director General, of the Press Information Bureau (PIB), and several senior officials of the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting and PIB.
• The "People's G20" eBook is a comprehensive resource highlighting India's G20 Presidency.

• Nihar Malviya named permanent CEO of Penguin Random House after nine-month interim tenure.
• Nihar Malviya replaces former CEO Marcus Dohle, who stepped down following a federal judge's decision to reject Penguin Random House's merger with Simon & Schuster.
• Malviya started his journey at Bertelsmann in 2001 and has held various roles in the company.
• Prior to his appointment as CEO, Malviya served as Chief Operating Officer (COO) and President of Penguin Random House in the United States.

• Ferrari's Carlos Sainz ended Max Verstappen's 10-win streak and prevented Red Bull from remaining unbeaten at the 2023 Singapore Grand Prix.
• Lando Norris of McLaren took second place in the race.
• Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton took third place on the podium.
• It was the first time since the Brazilian Grand Prix in November last year that Red Bull failed to achieve a podium finish.
• The 2023 Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix attracted 264,108 spectators over the race weekend, exceeding expectations. However, it fell short of last year's record attendance of 302,000 and the 2019 edition's figure of 268,000. The Singapore Grand Prix was canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

• On September 18, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan unveiled a massive 108-feet-tall statue of eighth-century philosopher Adi Shankaracharya in Mandhata town (also known as Omkareshwar) in Khandwa district, about 80 km from Indore.
• This event has been named 'Ekatmata Ki Pratima' or 'Statue of Oneness'.
• This statue is located on Mandhata Mountain near the holy Omkareshwar temple, one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva.
• The statue is a tribute to Adi Shankaracharya, an eminent philosopher who visited Omkareshwar at the age of 12 to attain enlightenment on Advaita Vedanta philosophy.

• On September 18, the temples of the Hoysala Empire in Karnataka, India were officially added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites, marking India's 42nd addition to the prestigious heritage list.
• This decision was taken during the 45th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
• Several countries, including Japan, Nigeria, Oman, Greece, Italy, Russia, Ethiopia, Zambia, South Africa, Qatar, Mali, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Belgium, Argentina, Mexico, Saudi Arabia and Thailand, supported India's bid for UNESCO recognition. 
• These temples received UNESCO World Heritage status on September 18, a day after Shantiniketan in West Bengal received the same recognition on September 17.

• Indian Bank launched a new initiative called 'IB Saathi' (Sustainable Access and Aligned Technology for Holistic Inclusion) with an aim to strengthen its efforts towards financial inclusion.
• As part of this initiative, Indian Bank is committed to providing basic banking services for at least four hours every day through fixed outlets at all its centres.
• The move aims to ensure wider access to banking services.
• Apart from the fixed outlets, the Bank's Business Correspondent (BC) agents will also provide their services directly at the doorstep of customers.

• Famous writer and filmmaker Geeta Mehta passed away at the age of 80.
• Geeta Mehta wrote several acclaimed books, including"Karma Cola," "Snakes and Ladders," "A River Sutra," "Raj," and "Eternal Ganesha."
• His literary works have been translated into 21 languages and achieved bestseller status in Europe, America and India.
• Mehta made significant contributions to the world of television documentaries, producing and directing at least 14 documentaries for UK, European and American networks.
• His notable documentary, "Dateline Bangladesh" featured the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971 and was screened internationally, including in India.

• With a 150-year legacy of developing and applying next-generation technologies to meet the world’s growing energy needs, Exxon Mobil has signed actor Hrithik Roshan as the new brand ambassador for its lubrication brand Mobil.
• Mobil offers a range of expertly formulated industrial lubricants to cater to diverse market needs.
• Mobil products are engineered to help consumers get outstanding engine performance and protection for their cars, trucks, and motorcycles.

• India has been ranked first in grassroots crypto adoption, even amid a tough regulatory environment, according to Chainalysis’ 2023 Global Crypto Adoption Index.
• The country ranked first in four parameters including centralized service value received, retail centralized service value received, DeFi value received and Retail DeFi value received. Last year India stood fourth.
• Nigeria ranked second in the index, followed by Vietnam, United States and Ukraine.
• The report also said that low-income countries saw a dramatic uptick in crypto adoption following a slump in late 2022, spurred by the collapse of the FTX.

• Leading credit card company Mastercard has appointed Rajnish Kumar, former Chairman of the State Bank of India (SBI), as the Chairman of Mastercard India.
• Kumar brings nearly 4 decades of experience in India’s largest bank to his new role at Mastercard.
• Mastercard aims to expand its domestic footprint and forge strategic partnerships across the payments ecosystem.
• The US-based card company has faced a regulatory curb by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), which barred Mastercard in 2021 from issuing debit and credit cards to new domestic customers over compliance issues regarding storage of payment system data. The ban was lifted in June 2022.

• Dhananjay Joshi was appointed as the Chairman of the Digital Infrastructure Providers Association (DIPA).
• Dhananjay Joshi currently serves as the Managing Director and CEO of Summit Digital, a leading Indian telecommunications company.
• He succeeds Akhil Gupta, who has served as Chairman of Bharti Enterprises and Chairman of DIPA since 2011.
• Sandeep Girotra, CEO of American Tower India, was appointed as the new Vice President of DIPA.

• Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer Rahul Navin has taken over as director-in-charge of the Enforcement Directorate (ED). He replaced outgoing director Sanjay Kumar Mishra.
• This leadership change is a significant development for the Enforcement Directorate, which plays a key role in enforcing economic laws and regulations in India.
• Rahul Navin currently holds the post of Special Director in the Enforcement Directorate.
• As per the official order, Rahul Navin, a distinguished IRS officer of the 1993 batch, has been appointed as Director-in-charge.
• He will continue in this post until the appointment of a regular director or until further orders are issued.

• RK Swamy Hansa Group Executive Chairman Srinivasan K Swamy was elected as the Chairman of the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) for 2023-2024.
• Srinivasan K Swamy is currently the Chairman of the Asian Federation of Advertising Associations.
• He held leadership roles in various organizations including the International Advertising Association (IAA) and the Advertising Agencies Association of India.
• He was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI).
• HormuzdMasani held the position of Secretary General in the Audit Bureau of Circulations.

• IndiGo has become the global partner and official airline for the Indian football team.
• As the official airline for the Indian football team, IndiGo’s network is meticulously designed to cater to the diverse travel requirements of players, officials, and support staff.
• The partnership with the All-India Football Federation (AIFF) is for one year.

• Amazon’s cloud computing division Amazon Web Services (AWS) has signed an agreement with the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) to support space technology with its cloud products.
• This will help space startups and research institutes tap cloud technologies and develop talent. Also, it means startups can develop space-tech solutions and improve their research and development using AWS.
• Cloud computing-led innovations enable the space industry to make faster decisions and help startups identify use cases and accelerate solution development.
• AWS hopes to grow in the Indian market with space-tech associations as India opens up its space sector to private players creating a successful startup ecosystem.

• The Gujarat Assembly has passed the Gujarat Local Authorities Law (Amendment) Bill 2023 by a majority vote to raise reservation for Other Backward Class (OBC) communities in local self-government bodies to 27 percent from the current 10 percent.
• The Bill provides for a 27 percent quota for over 160 communities listed under OBC in Gujarat, in municipal corporations, municipalities and panchayats, making Gujarat the fourth state in the country to provide for such reservation.
• The new law will lead to amendments in the Gujarat Provincial Municipal Corporation Act, 1949, governing the eight municipal corporations, besides the Gujarat Municipalities Act and the Gujarat Panchayat Act.
• Currently, the quota reserved for SC is 7 percent and for ST it is 14 percent in the local self-government bodies.
• The population of OBCs in the state is estimated to be 52 percent in rural areas and 46.43 percent in urban areas, with an average population of 49 percent in the entire state.

• S.R. Batliboi & Associates LLP has been appointed as the new statutory auditor of Paytm for 5 years.
• Price Waterhouse Chartered Accountants LLP has completed its term as the statutory auditor of the company at the conclusion of the AGM.
• Price Waterhouse Chartered Accountants LLP on August 7 announced its resignation as auditor of Paytm Payments Services Limited with immediate effect.
• PwC had cited the change of auditors at the holding company level and Paytm’s practice to align the auditor of the holding company and subsidiaries to bring in synergies in the audit process.

• Santiniketan, located in West Bengal, India, has achieved the prestigious status of being recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• This significant achievement was officially confirmed during the 45th World Heritage Committee meeting held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, marking Santiniketan as the 41st World Heritage Property in India.
• Shantiniketan was founded as an ashram by Rabindranath Tagore in 1863.
• In 1901, Rabindranath Tagore converted it into a school and art centre, following the traditional Gurukul system of education.

• Cross-border payments’ fintech company BriskPe and Yes Bank have partnered to introduce BriskPe A2A, a suite of solutions designed to empower exporters and importers.
• This strategic partnership enables BriskPe’s customers to collect payments in over 36 foreign currencies, spanning over more than 180 countries.
• The funds can then be converted into Indian Rupees (INR) and settled directly into their local bank accounts in India within a single business day.
• This collaboration represents a significant leap in the realm of cross-border payments, benefiting Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the manufacturing and services sectors.

• Famous Indian fashion designer Rahul Mishra was awarded the prestigious "Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres" (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters) by the Government of France. 
• This prestigious award was given to Rahul Mishra for his outstanding achievements in the field of art and design, especially his dedication to promoting Indian craftsmanship and expertise on a global scale.
• Additionally, the award serves as a tribute to his significant contribution to promoting cultural relations and cooperation between France and India.
• The presentation of the award took place on September 12, 2023, at the French residence in New Delhi with Emmanuel Lenain, Ambassador of France to India, conducting the ceremony.

• The Government has approved the signing of an MoU between the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology of India and the Ministry of High-Tech Industry of Armenia on Cooperation in the field of sharing successful Digital Solutions implemented at the Population Scale for Digital Transformation.
• The MoU intends to promote closer cooperation and exchange of experiences and digital technologies-based solutions in the implementation of digital transformational initiatives of both the country.
• It envisages improved collaboration leading to employment opportunities in the field of IT. The MoU will remain in force for a period of three years.
• In another decision of the Cabinet Meeting, the Centre also approved the signing of similar MoUs with Antigua and Barbuda and Sierra Leone on Cooperation in the field of sharing successful Digital Solutions implemented at the Population Scale for Digital Transformation.

• The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has withdrawn the hosting rights of the Olympic Qualifiers from Pakistan, slated to be held in January 2024.
• The FIH decision came as a result of the infighting between the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) and the state-owned Pakistan Sports Board (PSB).
• The decision has come as a big blow to Pakistan hockey, which had got the rights to host an international event after more than a decade
• Pakistan failed to qualify for the last two editions.

• Assam Governor Gulab Chand Kataria unveiled ‘Sarpanch Samvaad’, a mobile application app of the Quality Council of India (QCI) in Raj Bhavan.
• QCI launched the Sarpanch Samvaad is an initiative aimed at connecting approximately 2.5 lakh Sarpanchs across India, which serves as a holistic platform for networking, knowledge dissemination, and collaboration.
• Through this initiative, Sarpanchs can spotlight developmental activities in their villages, learn about best practices, and foster connections nationwide.
• The Sarpanch Samvaad initiative will also propel the villages of India to the forefront of its growth trajectory and realize Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s dream of making India, a developed nation by 2047.

• Working on the theme of waste to wealth, the Patna Municipal Corporation has started a Cash for Waste scheme for common people at the recently established Material Recovery Facility (MRF).
• People are being paid for their dry waste under a prescribed price list for each item.
• The state-of-the-art facility has a capacity of processing 2 tonne of dry garbage and 1.5 tonne of wet waste per day. It has been named Pink MRF as it is run by women workers.
• The MRF has been set up by Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) with the help of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, German institution GIZ, and other organizations.

• The Uttarakhand government has approved the formulation of a policy offering land and subsidies to investors to give a push to sectors such as healthcare, traditional medicine, education, films, and media in the state.
• The state cabinet in its meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami approved the promulgation of Uttarakhand Service Sector Policy-2023 offering land and capital subsidy to investors.
• The promulgation of the policy will give a boost to the service sectors such as healthcare, wellness, traditional medicine, education, film, media, sports, and skill education facilities like never before and its economy (barring tourism) will grow by USD 27 billion by 2030.

• Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik unveiled the 'Mukhyamantri Sampoorna Pushti Yojana' to promote nutrition.
• The primary objective of the program is to meet the nutritional needs of mothers, adolescent girls, and children in Odisha.
• Specific provisions of the scheme include supplementary nutrition for adolescent girls aged 15 to 19 years, additional dry food for pregnant women, and complete meals for severely malnourished children. Moderately malnourished children will get vitamin-rich Chhatua (roasted gram flour) and eggs.
• Odisha is the first state in India to make a dedicated nutrition budget for the financial year 2020-21.

• World Ozone Day, also known as the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, is observed annually on 16 September.
• The ozone layer is composed primarily of trioxygen molecules (O3) and acts as a protective shield against harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays from the Sun.
• The theme of World Ozone Day 2023 is "Montreal Protocol: Recovering the ozone layer and mitigating climate change".
• This theme underlines the important role of the Montreal Protocol not only in protecting the ozone layer but also in addressing and mitigating climate change.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the "PM Vishwakarma" scheme at the India International Convention and Expo Center in Dwarka, New Delhi on September 17, 2023.
• “PM Vishwakarma” scheme aims to support traditional artisans and craftsmen.
• The Central Government will fully fund it with an allocation of Rs 13,000 crore.
• Artisans (Vishwakarma) can register free of cost through Common Service Centres.
• They will be given identity through PM Vishwakarma certificate and ID card.
• The scheme also includes a toolkit incentive of ₹15,000 along with offering skill upgradation, and primary and advanced training.
• Artisans will get access to collateral-free credit assistance with concessional interest rates.
• Incentives will be provided for digital transactions and marketing assistance.
• Eighteen traditional crafts like carpentry, blacksmithing, goldsmithing, pottery, and tailoring will be covered.

• Defense Minister Rajnath Singh approved the creation of an additional 23 new Sainik Schools under the partnership mode.
• The Government of India approved the establishment of 100 new Sainik Schools starting from Class 6 in partnership with NGOs, private schools, and state governments.
• Sainik School Society signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOA) with 19 new proposed Sainik Schools located across the country.
• Further evaluation of the applications has led to the approval of 23 additional new Sainik Schools under the partnership mode, taking the total number of such schools to 42, in addition to the existing 33 Sainik Schools operating under the previous model.

• Uber has partnered with the Indian Navy to become its exclusive mobility partner to offer transportation solutions for official travel and commute of naval officers, staff, and families across the country.
• This partnership will deliver reliable, convenient, and safe mobility solutions to the esteemed Indian Navy officers, staff, and their families.
• Through this partnership, the Indian Navy will seamlessly integrate Uber’s advanced ride-sharing technology via a seamless platform – Uber for Business into the Naval ecosystem.
• The partnership will help streamline the travel experiences of the Naval workforce, making their travel smoother and the process more efficient. As part of this collaboration, Uber aims to drive effective change management for both official travel and commuting and also bring curated enterprise benefits for the Indian Navy.

• The Government of India gave a significant boost to the "Atmanirbhar Bharat" initiative by approving defense acquisitions worth Rs 45 thousand crore from domestic vendors.
• The Defense Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, has granted Approval of Requirement (AoN) for nine capital acquisition proposals.
• These acquisitions will exclusively involve Indian vendors, which will significantly contribute to the growth of the Indian defense industry and align with the objective of achieving self-reliance in defense manufacturing.

• Joshit Ranjan Sikidar has taken over as the Director (Finance) of the state-owned Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI).
• Before this appointment, Sikidar was working as Group General Manager (Finance) and the Company Secretary of RITES Ltd.
• Sikidar is a Chartered Accountant, Company Secretary, Cost Accountant and holds an MBA in Finance.
• The SECI is a Miniratna company.
• Sikidar has also worked with RITES for more than four years, over 16 years in NSPCL — a joint venture of NTPC & SAIL– and more than nine years in SAIL-Bhilai Steel Plant.

• Sindhu Gangadharan, currently Senior Vice-Chairperson and Managing Director at SAP Labs India, was named Vice Chairperson of the National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM).
• As the first woman to lead SAP Labs India, which is SAP's largest R&D center globally, Gangadharan is responsible for overseeing product development and innovation across all five centers located in Bangalore, Gurgaon, Pune, Hyderabad, and Mumbai.
• Earlier this year, Gangadharan was appointed as the Chairman of the NASSCOM GCC Council for the period 2023-2025.
• She also holds positions on the boards of organizations such as Siemens India and Titan Company Limited.
• Gangadharan is a member of the steering committee of the Indo-German Chamber of Commerce, an industry association promoting bilateral trade and discussion between India and Germany.

• DBS Bank has unveiled its metaverse concept for DBS Better World, a gamified adventure for metaverse use cases.
• Through DBS Better World, we aim to drive awareness about issues such as food waste and create engagement opportunities.
• This intends to align with the DBS Foundation’s focus on championing social enterprises that bridge gaps within food and agricultural value chains.

• The Odisha government has approved nine industrial projects involving a cumulative investment of Rs 1,01,804 crore.
• The projects are expected to create employment for over 28,000 people.
• The High-Level Clearance Authority (HLCA) headed by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has approved the investment projects during its meeting.
• These projects will be set up in the districts of Jagatsinghpur, Jajpur, Jharsuguda, Khurda, Paradeep, Bhadrak, Ganjam, and Koraput districts.
• The projects include a 5-integrated steel plant by JSW Stee, a pellet plant by Jindal Steel and Power Ltd, a cement grinding unit by Shree Cement Ltd, and others.

• Shipping and Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has represented India at the eighth Eastern Economic Forum in the Russian port city of Vladivostok.
• The objective of the meeting is to maintain strong ties and foster strategic, trade, and logistical cooperation across various sectors.
• Sonowal expressed confidence that his visit will catalyze the efforts to develop an alternative trade route between Vladivostok and Chennai.
• The Eastern Maritime Corridor is aimed at reducing cargo transit times between the two nations.

• Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar has inaugurated the International Conference on Dam Safety at Jaipur in Rajasthan.
• Professionals from across the nation and about fifteen countries are expected to participate in the conference.
• There are over six thousand dams in India and it is ranked third globally in terms of large dams. Approximately 80 percent of these dams are over 25 years of age.
• The conference aims to provide a major platform for experts to come together and debate cutting-edge topics in dam safety and management.
• Dams have been essential to civilization’s development, and have played a multifaceted role in meeting the increasing demand for drinking water, irrigation, hydropower, and flood protection.

• Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) India has launched ‘ONDC in a Box’, a one-stop-shop proposition for corporates towards seamless enablement on ONDC.
• With this launch, HSBC India became the first foreign bank in India to offer an ONDC-enabled proposition.
• The Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) is an initiative by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to build an open, interoperable network on which buyers and sellers can transact without needing to be present on the same platform.
• ONDC aims at fostering an inclusive, competitive, and open network, amplifying its impact across the business spectrum.

• Rail India Technical and Economic Service (RITES) Limited has received the 'Safety Innovation Award 2023' in the 'Construction' category.
• The award was given for the implementation of 'Innovative Safety Management System' in RITES operations.
• The award was presented by The Institution of Engineers (India) during the 20th Safety Conference at Hotel Le Meridien, New Delhi.
• RITES is a multi-sector company that consistently prioritizes safety at its workplaces.

• India and Saudi Arabia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in the field of energy.
• The MoU is expected to result in enhanced ties between India and Saudi Arabia in renewable energy, energy efficiency, hydrogen, electricity and grid interconnections, petroleum, natural gas, strategic petroleum reserves, and energy security.
• It also seeks to encourage bilateral investment in the fields of renewable energy, electricity, hydrogen and storage and oil & gas, as well as create an enabling environment for circular economy and technologies to reduce the effects of climate change through carbon capture, utilization, and storage.

• The United States and Vietnam have signed a deal on semiconductor supply chains to expand the capacity of the semiconductor ecosystem in Hanoi, in support of the US industry.
• The newly-signed Memorandum of Cooperation on Semiconductor Supply Chains, Workforce and Ecosystem Development will formalize this bilateral partnership to expand the capacity of the semiconductor ecosystem in Vietnam, in support of US industry.
• The US and Vietnam also launched of comprehensive workforce development initiatives in Vietnam that jointly develop hands-on teaching labs and training courses for semiconductor assembly, testing, and packaging.
• The US government will provide initial seed funding of 2 million US Dollars to launch the initiatives, in conjunction with future support from the Government of Vietnam and the private sector.

• Haryana government has appointed renowned film actress Mita Vashisth as the chairperson of the governing council tasked with overseeing the implementation of the Haryana Film and Entertainment Policy.
• This appointment follows the untimely demise of the beloved actor, director, and producer Satish Kaushik, who previously held the position. 
• Mita Vashisth’s extensive experience in the world of entertainment and her dedication to the craft make her a fitting choice for this prestigious role.

• Tata Steel Limited shareholders have approved the reappointment of TV Narendran as the global Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the next five years.
• Narendran got 99.47% of the total shareholders’ votes in his favor during the meeting to approve the decision to re-appoint him for the next five years.
• Narendran will also continue holding the positions of Chairman at Tata Steel Europe, the Supervisory Board of Tata Steel Nederland BV, Tata Steel Long Products Limited, and Neelachal Ispat Nigam Limited.

• Virat Kohli has become the fastest to complete 13000 ODI runs during the Asia Cup Super-4 contest against Pakistan.
• Kohli achieved the monumental feat when he completed his 47th ODI century — overall 77th — propelling.
• Kohli became the second Indian to achieve this after Sachin Tendulkar.
• Kohli became the fifth player to complete 13,000 ODI runs as he reached the milestone in 267 innings.
• While Tendulkar reached the 13000-run landmark in 321 innings.
• Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Sanath Jayasuriya and Mahela Jayawardene are the others before him to reach the milestone. He became the quickest batter to reach this milestone, Ponting (341) and Sangakkara (363) took over 300 innings too while Jayasuriya reached the mark in 416 innings.

• Germany won their first-ever men’s FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 title by beating Serbia in Manila.
• The 19th edition of FIBA’s flagship event, co-hosted by the Philippines, Indonesia, and Japan.
• Germany became the first team to win a FIBA World Cup crown in their final debut since Spain in 2006.
• Serbia absorbed another heartbreak after losing to the United States 129-92 in the 2014 final in Madrid, Spain, though they finished better than their quarterfinal exit in 2019.
• Earlier, Canada bagged their first World Cup 2022 podium finish at the expense of the short-handed United States.

• Indian archer Prathamesh Jawkar won silver in the Archery World Cup Final 2023 in Hermosillo, Mexico.
• World No. 14 Jawkar was facing a major challenge against the 10th-ranked Mathias Fullerton of Denmark in the gold medal clash.
• Sara Lopez of Colombia won her eighth world title in the women’s compound event.
• Dafne Quintero of the host nation clinched the bronze medal by defeating Cho Su A of the Republic of Korea.

• Renowned ophthalmologist Brig Sanjay Kumar Mishra of Indian Army’s Research and Referral Hospital was conferred with the prestigious “Dr. AM Gokhale Award” in Pune.
• Dr. AM Gokhale was a renowned teacher of Ophthalmology and his students progressed to become the doyens of Ophthalmology in the country.
• Brig Mishra is one of the highest decorated officers of Indian Armed Forces Medical Services.
• Sanjay Kumar Mishra has performed surgeries on two serving Presidents of India.

• Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) Vice Chancellor, Professor Najma Akhtar was presented ‘The Lifetime Achievement Award-Academia.
• The award was presented to her by Dr. Raghunath Anant Mashelkar (Padma Vibhushan) at the Grand Conference and award function titled “Making India Employable” was organized by TeamLease EdTech.
• Akhtar was selected for the award by a jury panel comprising of educationists and industry experts. She has been awarded for her “great efforts to connect education to employment”.

• Indian Coast Guard participated in the 19th Heads of Asian Coast Guard Agencies Meeting (HACGAM) in Istanbul, Turkiye.
• A four-member ICG delegation led by DG Rakesh Pal, Director General of Indian Coast Guard took part in the annual event of the independent forum with 23 members of Coast Guard Agencies and 02 associate members in the form of ReCAAP and UNODC.
• During the three-day High-Level Meeting, in which heads of Coast Guards of all member nations participated, a series of vital issues including maritime law enforcement, safety and security of life at sea, marine environment protection, illicit trafficking of drugs, weapons, and humans at sea etc. were discussed, and avenues for further cooperation were explored through the framing of agenda.
• The last edition of the HACGAM was held in New Delhi in 2022.

• Mayor Craig Greenberg has declared September 3 as Sanatana Dharma Day in Louisville, Kentucky in the United States emphasizing the significance of fostering peace, tolerance, and understanding within diverse communities.
• Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg recently attended a re-consecration ceremony or ‘Mahakumbh Abhishekam’ at the Hindu Temple of Kentucky, where the official proclamation on September 3 was read by his deputy, Barbara Sexton Smith.
• Previously, July 20 was declared as ‘Encyclopedia of Hinduism’ day in Kentucky by former Louisville mayor Greg Fisher.

• The G20 leadership summit has declared it will work towards having in place a fully functional dispute settlement system at WTO by 2024.
• It has been almost four years since the World Trade Organization’s Appellate Body, which is the dispute-settlement arm of the WTO, became defunct, thus affecting developing countries adversely.
• There are two main ways to settle a dispute once a complaint has been filed in the WTO
• First – The countries find a mutually agreed solution, particularly during the phase of bilateral consultations
• Second -Through adjudication which includes ruling by a panel and if not satisfied, challenging that ruling at the appellate body.

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved the reappointment of Sandeep Bakshi as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD and CEO) of ICICI Bank.
• The RBI approval, received through an exchange filing on September 11, has extended the tenure of Sandeep Bakshi as MD and CEO of ICICI Bank from October 4, 2023, to October 3, 2026.
• Sandeep Bakshi has been leading ICICI Bank since October 15, 2018, and before that, he served as a full-time director and Chief Operating Officer (COO).
• Bakshi has a tenure of 36 years in ICICI Group and has held various important positions.

• Maharashtra clinched the title of champions in the 5th National Wheelchair Rugby Championship 2023 by securing a convincing victory over Karnataka, concluding with a final score of 31-10. 
• This championship, which took place at Balewadi in Pune from September 10 to September 11, 2023, was marked by intense competition and served as a testament to the impressive development of wheelchair rugby in India.
• The 5th National Wheelchair Rugby Championship 2023 was organized by The Indian Rugby Football Union (Rugby India), the governing body for rugby in India.

• England all-rounder Moeen Ali has completed 100 wickets in ODI cricket, becoming the only third spinner from the country to do so.
• Moeen reached this milestone during England’s second ODI against New Zealand at Southampton. During the match, the spinner bowled well, taking 2/30 in five overs at a decent economy rate of 6.00.
• He joined Graeme Swann and Adil Rashid as the only England spinners with more than 100 ODI wickets.

• The ITIA (International Tennis Integrity Agency) has taken decisive action against two-time Grand Slam champion Simona Halep, handing her a four-year ban from professional tennis due to violations of the sport’s anti-doping program. 
• This move follows Halep’s positive test for Roxadustat at the US Open last year, which led to her provisional suspension.
• With her four-year ban, Simona Halep is ineligible to compete in professional tennis until October 2026, assuming the ruling remains unchallenged. However, there is still a glimmer of hope for Halep. 
• She has the option to appeal the decision and plans to take her case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

• The Subroto Cup International Football Tournament, India’s oldest national inter-school football competition, is set to make history in its 62nd edition. 
• Bengaluru, the Silicon Valley of India, has been added to the list of host cities for this prestigious event. 
• Previously held in Delhi and Gurugram, the tournament is scheduled to take place from September 19 to October 23, 2023, across three venues.
• The 62nd Subroto Cup will see participation from 109 teams hailing from 27 states and Union Territories in India. Adding an international flavor to the event, teams from Bangladesh and Nepal will also take part.

• Tamil Nadu government will provide monthly assistance of Rs 1,000 to more than 1 crore female family heads through Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thogai Thittam.
• Chief Minister MK Stalin officially announced the scheme, with the launch date set for September 15.
• The scheme aims to provide Rs 1,000 per month to 1.06 crore eligible women who are heads of families.
• Beneficiaries will receive financial assistance through direct bank transfers and will be provided with ATM cards for easy access.
• The government emphasizes on effective implementation and will use SMS notifications to communicate with beneficiaries.
• Out of 1.63 crore applications received, 1.06 crore have been accepted, highlighting the substantial impact of the scheme.

• President Draupadi Murmu will inaugurate the Ayushman Bhava campaign on September 13, 2023, for universal healthcare access.
• Union Health Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya announced the initiative at a media briefing in New Delhi.
• The Ayushman Bhava campaign aims to provide comprehensive health services by ensuring coverage for every village and town across India.
• Its objective is to ensure that no person is deprived of access to health services.
• The campaign is a collaborative effort led by Gram Panchayats in coordination with the Health Department, other government departments, and local elected bodies in both rural and urban areas.

• Renowned political cartoonist Ajit Ninan passed away at the age of 68.
• Ajit Ninan was widely recognized for his contributions, including the famous "CentreStage" series in India Today magazine and "Ninan's World" in The Times of India.
• In addition to his political cartoons, Ninan was known for his work in children's literature.
• One of his favorite creations of the 1980s was Detective Moochwala and his dog Pooch, which appeared in the youth magazine Target.
• Ajit Ninan's political cartoons are known for their bold and humorous stances on various subjects, including satire on both the ruling government and the opposition.
• He also used his artistic talents to address environmental issues and create memorable caricatures.

• The Ministry of Culture has launched a portal for the mega exhibition—‘Bharat: The Mother of Democracy’—to be held at Bharat Mandapam for global leaders attending the conference.
• The content on the history of democracy in India showcasing 7,000 years of democratic ethos starting from the Sindhu-Saraswati civilization to 2019 is available in 16 languages including German, French, Spanish, Arabic, Portuguese, Italian, Turkish, and Russian besides English and Hindi.
• The portal is divided into five sections and 22 sub-sections starting from Sindhu-Saraswati Civilisation (6000-2000BCE), Mahajanapada and Gantantra (7-8 BCE), Vijaynagar Empire (14-16 century), and Mughal emperor Akbar reign (1556-1605) to Constitution of India (1947) and Elections in Modern India (1952 onwards). Each section has a brief with images.

• Switzerland has once again claimed the title of the world’s best country, according to the latest S. News & World Report’s annual Best Countries rankings.
• This marks Switzerland’s second consecutive year at the pinnacle and its sixth time overall as the No. 1 nation on the list.
• Switzerland is followed by Canada at No. 2, Sweden at No. 3, Australia at No. 4, and the United States at No. 5. The United States has slipped one spot compared to its 2022 ranking.
• In the 2023 rankings, European countries dominate the top tier, securing 16 of the top 25 spots.

• On September 12, 2023, in Ahmedabad, Union Minister Harsh Shanghvi provided citizenship to 108 migrants from Pakistan.
• The right to grant Indian citizenship to minority communities from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan came through gazette notifications issued in 2016 and 2018.
• The district collectors of Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, and Kutch in Gujarat are empowered to follow the process under the Citizenship Act for granting Indian citizenship.
• Ahmedabad District Collectorate has already granted Indian citizenship to about 1,149 Pakistani Hindu immigrants.

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved the reappointment of Sandeep Bakshi as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD and CEO) of ICICI Bank.
• The RBI approval, received through an exchange filing on September 11, has extended the tenure of Sandeep Bakshi as MD and CEO of ICICI Bank from October 4, 2023, to October 3, 2026.
• Sandeep Bakshi has been leading ICICI Bank since October 15, 2018, and before that, he served as a full-time director and Chief Operating Officer (COO).
• Bakshi has a tenure of 36 years in ICICI Group and has held various important positions.
• ICICI Bank Limited is an Indian multinational bank and financial services company.

• Young Indian shuttler Kiran George won the Indonesia Masters Super 100 men’s singles title defeating Japan’s Koo Takahashi in two straight sets.
• Ranked No. 50, the Indian shuttler defeated Takahashi, ranked 82, with a scoreline of 21-19, 22-20. Earlier, Kiran also won the Odisha Open in 2022 for his maiden Super 100 title.
• In the semifinals, Kiran upset Tommy Sugiarto of Indonesia, establishing himself as a big-stage performer on the BWF World Tour.
• Earlier this year, Kiran defeated Chinese star Shi Yuqi and Weng Hong Yang at the Thailand Open.

• Indian compound archer Prathamesh Jawkar won a silver medal in his first appearance at the 2023 Archery World Cup Final in Hermosillo, Mexico.
• Jawkar defeated world number one Mike Schloesser for the second time in four months.
• In the final, Javkar faced Denmark's Mathias Fullerton, resulting in a 148–148 tie. Fullerton won the gold medal by the slimmest of margins.
• Another Indian archer Abhishek Verma lost to Mike Schloesser in the match (150-149).

• Madhya Pradesh government will provide Rs. 10 lakh as compensation to the kin of any person killed in a mob lynching incident.
• There will be a provision of compensation of Rs. 4 to Rs. 6 lakh for the injured.
• This will also include all those incidents of mob lynching that occur due to religion, caste, language or any other reason. Under the scheme, mob lynching will be considered in which five or more accused are involved.
• Besides the MP Mob Lynching Victim Compensation Scheme 2023, the cabinet also approved a housing scheme for homeless families and doubled the honorarium being given to guest faculty.

• On September 10, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha inaugurated the 'Bangus Adventure Festival' in North Kashmir's Kupwara district.
• The 'Bangus Adventure Festival' aims to promote tribal culture and act as a platform for local artisans to display their traditional arts and crafts.
• Bangus is famous for its captivating natural beauty and has immense potential for eco-tourism.
• The main valley is known as Boud-Bangus, while a smaller valley is known as Lakut-Bangus.

• Dennis Austin, one of the co-creators of Microsoft PowerPoint, has died at the age of 76.
• Dennis Austin, along with Robert Gaskins, developed PowerPoint and introduced it in 1987.
• Austin and Gaskins were both part of the software company Forethought, which was later acquired by Microsoft for $14 million shortly after the launch of PowerPoint, which was originally named Presenter.
• Initially, PowerPoint was available exclusively for the Macintosh platform.
• Dennis R. Austin was the lead software developer of PowerPoint from 1985 to 1996, focusing on versions for Apple Macintosh computers.

• Vanuatu Parliament elects Sato Kilman as Prime Minister amid political change.
• The decision came after a court upheld a no-confidence motion against Kilman's predecessor.
• Former Prime Minister and People's Progressive Party leader Sato Kilman took the position with 27 votes in favor.
• In the secret ballot, his rival Kalsakau got 23 votes.
• Kilman, 65, held the post of deputy prime minister in Kalasakau's government before he was ousted in May.

• Paleontologists led by Eric Gorscak of Midwestern University recently discovered Igai Semkhu, a new genus and titanosaurian dinosaur species in Egypt.
• This dinosaur species, Igai Semkhu, lived during the Campanian era of the Late Cretaceous era, about 75 million years ago.
• Igai Semkhu belongs to the titanosaurian group, a diverse category of herbivorous dinosaurs that are known for their large body size, extended neck, and wide stance.
• The titanosaurian group includes a wide range of species, from the largest terrestrial vertebrates ever known, to 'dwarf' species no larger than elephants.
• Igai Semkhu is one of the most informative dinosaurs yet recovered from the latest Cretaceous of Afro-Arabia.

• Goa Governor P.S. Sreedharan Pillai launches the Mashaal for the 37th National Games.
• The launch took place at the Durbar Hall, Raj Bhavan, Donapaula, in collaboration with the Sports Authority of Goa and the Department of Sports and Youth Affairs.
• The 'Mashal' will travel through Goa and other states for four days, especially in rural areas to encourage enthusiasm and participation.

• Novak Djokovic achieved a historic feat in tennis by winning his 24th Grand Slam title at the 2023 US Open.
• Serbian tennis star Djokovic defeated Russia's Daniil Medvedev by 6-3, 7-6, 6-3 in the men's singles final at the Arthur Ashe Stadium.
• With this win, 36-year-old Novak Djokovic is now tied with Margaret Court for the most Grand Slam tennis titles in history, with 24 titles to her name.
• Djokovic's achievement also marked him as the oldest singles champion in the pro era of the US Open, adding to his status as the oldest French Open singles champion.
• In the women's doubles event, the 16th-seeded pair of Erin Routliff of New Zealand and Gabriela Dabrowski of Canada won the title.

• World Cup runner-up R Praggnanandhaa finished third at the Tata Steel Chess India 2023 Open Blitz tournament, as world champion Alexander Grischuk clinched the title.
• World Champion Alexander Grischuk clinched the Open Blitz title of Tata Steel Chess India 2023 in Kolkata on 9 September 2023.
• Praggnanandha initially led the competition by remaining unbeaten in four games.
• He suffered significant defeats against Nodirbek Abdusattorov (13th round), Alexander Grishuk (15th round), and Vidit Gujrathi (16th round).

• World Suicide Prevention Day is observed every year on 10 September.
• Suicide is a significant public health concern with wide-ranging social, emotional, and economic impacts.
• The triennial theme of World Suicide Prevention Day, running from 2021 to 2023, is "Creating Hope through Action".
• The theme serves as a compelling call to action and emphasizes that alternatives to suicide exist.
• World Suicide Prevention Day was founded in 2003 by the International Association for Suicide Prevention in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO).

• The Border Roads Organization (BRO) is building the world's highest combat airfield at Nyoma in Ladakh.
• Defense Minister Rajnath Singh will lay the foundation stone of this project at Devak Bridge in Jammu on September 12, 2023.
• Nyoma, a major village in southern Ladakh, already hosts an Indian Air Force base and an Advanced Landing Ground (ALG), established in 1962.
• The altitude of Nyoma reaches an impressive 4,180 meters (13,710 ft) above sea level, making it one of the highest altitudes in the region.

• The country's top annual science award, the prestigious Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award, was announced after a gap of two years. This year, 12 scientists were selected for the award in seven different scientific categories.
• Director General of CSIR (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research) Dr. N. Kalaiselvi officially announced the awards for the year 2022.
• Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award are awarded in seven scientific disciplines, including physics, biology, engineering, mathematics, medicine, chemistry, and earth sciences. They are named after Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar, the first director of CSIR.

• The second phase of the 21st edition of the India-France bilateral naval exercise 'Varuna' concluded successfully in the Arabian Sea.
• Exercise 'Varuna' involved the participation of guided missile frigates, tankers, maritime patrol aircraft, and integral helicopters from both the Indian and French navies.
• This phase of the exercise lasted for three days and included joint operations, underway replenishment, and various tactical maneuvers.
• The primary objectives were to enhance and refine war-fighting skills, improve interoperability, and demonstrate the ability to promote peace, security, and stability in the region.

• Radhika Iyengar wrote the book "Fire on the Ganges: Life among the Dead in Banaras", published by Harper Collins.
• The book highlights the city of Banaras, also known as Varanasi, in India, with a particular emphasis on the relationship between death and the afterlife.
• "Fire on the Ganges" represents the first attempt to document the daily experiences of Doms in Banaras.
• It provides an insight into the historical background of Banaras by taking a look at some of the resilient individuals of the Dom community.

• In a significant milestone under India's G20 presidency, the African Union on Saturday, September 9, 2023 became a new permanent member of the grouping of the largest economies of the world. 
• It is the first expansion of the influential bloc since its inception in 1999. 
• All member countries of the G20 accepted Prime Minister Narendra Modi's proposal to bring the key bloc of the Global South to the high table of the world's top economies.
• The African Union is a continental body consisting of the 55 member states that make up the countries of the African continent.

• The Jharkhand cabinet led by Chief Minister Hemant Soren approved the inclusion of the transgender community in the state's universal pension scheme.
• Transgender persons will now be eligible to receive monthly financial assistance of Rs 1000 under the 'Chief Minister's State Social Security Pension Scheme'.
• Eligibility for this scheme is determined on the basis of age, persons of 18 years and above who have voter ID cards are eligible.
• The objective of this decision is to ensure that transgender persons can avail the benefits of reservation in government job opportunities.
• Notably, transgender persons who do not fall under any of the existing caste-based reservation categories will be classified as OBCs at position number 46 in the OBC list.

• The Maharashtra state government has decided to establish a mango board in the Konkan region to support large-scale Hapus cultivation.
• The board will provide support in areas such as insurance, production enhancement, pest control, and research.
• Mango farmers have been demanding the establishment of a board for almost a decade.
• Almost a decade after demands were first made by mango growers in Konkan, the state government has decided to establish a mango board in the region to support large-scale Hapus cultivation, especially in Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts.

• Koraput district of Odisha has successfully achieved the prestigious Geographical Indication (GI) status for its famous rice variety 'Koraput Kalajeera Rice', often called the 'Prince of Rice'.
• This aromatic rice variety has been cultivated by tribal farmers of Koraput district for generations and is prized for its nutritional value.
• Koraput Kalajeera rice is distinguished by its black colour, exceptional aroma, pleasing taste and pleasing texture. Its appearance is often compared to coriander seeds.
• Apart from its culinary appeal, this rice is associated with various health benefits, including memory enhancement, diabetes control, increasing hemoglobin levels, and improved metabolism, as suggested in ancient texts.
• This fragrant rice is known for its medicinal properties, which include antispasmodic, carminative, carminative, antibacterial, astringent, and sedative.

• Salem Starch and Sago Manufacturers Service Industrial Co-operative Society Limited, also known as SagoServe, recently received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag for Salem Sago.
• District Collector S Karmegam presented the GI certificate to Sagoserv Administrator Lalithaditya Neelam at an official program.
• Salem district of Tamil Nadu has previously received the GI tag for raw silk and Malgoa mango, thereby contributing to the recognition of the region.
• Other notable products from different regions, such as Tirupati Laddu and Palani Panchamirtham have also received the GI tag.
• This recognition of Salem sago with a GI tag is expected to boost business opportunities for sago farmers and traders in the region.

• The West Bengal assembly has passed a resolution to observe Bengali New Year’s Day, also known as Polia Baisakh, as the state’s foundation day on April 15.
• This comes after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee asserted that the day will be observed regardless of the approval of the state’s governor.
• The resolution – under Rule 169 proposing to observe Poila Baisakh as ‘Bangla Diwas’ and Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore’s ‘Banglar Mat, Banglar Jol’ (Bengal’s soil, Bengal’s Water) as the state song – was passed with 167 members voting in favour of it in a House of 294 members.
• On the other hand, 62 BJP MLAs – who want to observe the state’s foundation day on June 20 – voted against the resolution. Notably, on June 20, 1947, MLAs from West Bengal voted for partition, which was celebrated as Bengal Day.
• People of Bengal don’t support June 20, which is synonymous with violence and bloodshed which marked partition as the state foundation day.

• World Physiotherapy Day is celebrated every year on 8 September.
• The theme of World Physiotherapy Day 2023 is "Prevention and Management of Osteoarthritis".
• This theme emphasizes the role of physiotherapists in preventing and managing osteoarthritis and highlights two types of inflammatory arthritis: rheumatoid arthritis and axial spondyloarthritis.
• World Physical Therapy Day was established in 1996 by the World Confederation for Physical Therapy.
• 8 September was specifically chosen to celebrate this day because of its historical significance. On this day in 1951, the World Confederation for Physical Therapy was born.
• The name of the organization changed and is now called World Physiotherapy.

• At the ASEAN-India summit, the prime minister announced the decision to establish an Indian Embassy in Dili, Timor-Leste.
• PM Modi announced the decision while co-chairing the annual ASEAN-India summit in this Indonesian capital.
• The decision is a reflection of the importance India attaches to ASEAN and its relations with Timor Leste.
• Timor Leste joined the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2022 as an Observer, before becoming its full member.

• Global Fintech Awards (GFA) 2023 is held annually as part of the Global Fintech Fest (GFF) 2023 in Mumbai, India.
• This year, the coveted global award for ‘Leading Fintech Personality of the Year’ from the Gulf Cooperation Countries (GCC) region was awarded to Adeeb Ahamed, Managing Director of the Abu Dhabi-based Lulu Financial Holdings.
• A visionary entrepreneur in the financial services world, Adeeb has been instrumental in revolutionizing cross-border payments between the GCC and India.
• His company operates a network of 300+ customer engagement centres and digital payment solutions in 10 countries across the Middle East, Asia Pacific and GCC regions.

• Bhaderwah Rajma and Ramban Sulai honey of Jammu and Kashmir were granted Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
• Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Jammu started the GI tagging process for these products.
• GI tag provides exclusive use rights to authorized users while preventing unauthorized exploitation.
• This recognition is expected to increase exports, increase brand presence internationally and prevent misuse.
• The GI tag is set to benefit local economies and promote socioeconomic development for producers.
• A geographical indication (GI) is a name or sign given to products coming from a specific geographical location.

• Rajasthan’s Priyan Sain clinched the title of Miss Earth India 2023 during the Miss Divine Beauty 2023 national final held in New Delhi.
• The 20-year-old student, dancer, and taekwondo player from Jaipur, succeeds last year’s winner Vanshika Parmar, and will now prepare to represent India at the Miss Earth 2023 pageant in Vietnam this December.
• She received her crown from reigning Miss Earth from Korea Mina Sue Choi who was invited as a special guest along with Miss Earth Air from Australia Sheridan Mortlock.
• At the same event, Praveena Aanjna was named Miss International India 2023 while Pema Choden Bhutia and Tejaswini Shrivastava were both announced as runners-up.
• Prior to becoming a finalist for Miss Divine Beauty and eventually winning her national title, Priyan participated in Miss Rajasthan 2022 where she finished as first runner-up.
• As a result of winning the Miss India pageant, she will participate in the Miss World pageant to be held in Vietnam.
• The Miss India 2023 pageant was held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Delhi.

• Chokuwa rice, fondly known as “Magic rice,” has recently been bestowed with the prestigious Geographical Indication (GI) tag, a recognition of its exceptional attributes and heritage. 
• This remarkable rice variety is deeply intertwined with the culinary legacy of Assam and has a rich historical connection with the powerful Ahom dynasty.
• Chokuwa rice is a semi-glutinous winter rice variety, specifically categorized as Sali rice. Its distinctiveness lies in its sticky and glutinous characteristics, which are further classified into Bora and Chokuwa types based on their amylose content.
• The cultivation of Chokuwa rice is unique to the Brahmaputra River region, encompassing areas like Tinsukia, Dhemaji, and Dibrugarh in Assam.

• The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the financial years 2023-24 and 2024-25.
• The collaboration aims to uplift sanitation workers, manual scavengers, waste pickers and their dependents across India.
• The MoU focuses on inclusive growth and effective fund allocation for targeted welfare programmes.
• The partnership emphasizes initiatives on protection, education, skill development, entrepreneurship and sustainable employment opportunities for these marginalized communities.
• NSKFDC, a premier organization dedicated to this purpose, will work closely with the Ministry to ensure transparent and effective utilization of the allocated funds.
• The goal is to combine expertise and resources for effective implementation of programs that empower these marginalized groups.

• Mukesh Ambani began executing a succession plan for his energy-to-technology conglomerate Reliance Industries, appointing his three children Isha, Akash, and Anant to the board of the company.
• This significant development marks a decisive step in ensuring a seamless transition of leadership within the organization.
• Reliance Industries announced that Isha Ambani, Akash Ambani, and Anant Ambani have been formally appointed as non-executive directors on the company’s board.
• Isha Ambani, Akash Ambani, and Anant Ambani have been actively engaged in managing key business sectors of Reliance Industries over recent years.

• In a groundbreaking announcement, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) revealed that Chandrayaan-3’s Pragyan rover module has successfully confirmed the presence of sulphur (S) on the surface of the Moon. 
• This significant revelation comes as a result of the first-ever in-situ recordings conducted near the lunar south pole. 
• The confirmation of sulphur’s presence holds paramount importance in unraveling the Moon’s elemental composition and furthering our understanding of its geological history.
• In addition to sulphur, Pragyan rover’s LIBS instrument has identified several other elements present on the lunar surface. These include aluminium (Al), calcium (Ca), iron (Fe), chromium (Cr), titanium (Ti), manganese (Mn), silicon (Si), and oxygen (O).

• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has achieved a significant milestone by successfully testing its innovative device named ‘Nabhmitra’.
• This device, developed at ISRO’s Space Applications Centre in Ahmedabad, aims to enhance the safety of fishermen during their sea expeditions. 
• The successful testing took place at Neendakara, where the device was installed on a fishing vessel, and its capabilities were assessed in the presence of both scientists and officials from the Fisheries department.

• India and New Zealand recently formalized a cooperative agreement through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen their cooperation in the field of civil aviation.
• The MoU covers a wide scope of cooperation, focusing on key aspects such as the facilitation of new flight routes, the establishment of codeshare services, the allocation of traffic rights, and the determination of capacity entitlements.
• Eminent officials present: The signing ceremony took place in the capital of India, New Delhi with the presence of eminent officials from both countries. 
• Civil Aviation Secretary Rajeev Bansal and New Zealand High Commissioner David Paine were the signatories to the MoU.
• The event was attended by key ministers including India's Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia and New Zealand's Trade and Export Development Minister Damian O'Connor.

• Umesh Revankar, the current Executive Vice-Chairman of Shriram Finance Limited, has been appointed as the new Chairman of the Finance Industry Development Council (FIDC), the leading Indian NBFC financing body.
• FIDC is the representative body of Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) engaged in asset and debt financing in India.
• The appointment was made by a unanimous decision of the Managing Committee during its meeting held in Mumbai.
• Umesh Revankar's two-year term as FIDC Chairman begins on August 23, 2023.
• In addition to his position at Shriram Finance, Revankar also holds directorship roles in several other companies within the Shriram Group including Shriram Automall India Limited, Shriram General Insurance Company Limited, and Shriram Life Insurance Company Limited.

• On 25th August, 2023, a special event took place at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre as President Draupadi Murmu unveiled a postage stamp in memory of Dadi Prakashmani. 
• This initiative has been taken on the 16th death anniversary of Dadi Prakashmani under the ‘My Stamp’ initiative of the Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications.
• The commemorative postage stamp unveiled by President Draupadi Murmu on the 16th death anniversary of Dadi Prakashmani, holds a deep significance.
• Dadi Prakashmani, former chief of Brahma Kumaris, played a pivotal role in the Brahma Kumaris organization. 
• Her life was dedicated to spreading Indian values and culture across the nation and beyond, through the path of spirituality. Her leadership guided the Brahma Kumaris to become the world’s largest women-led spiritual institution. 
• Even in tough times, Dadi Prakashmani’s faith and courage offered unwavering support and guidance to the Brahma Kumaris family.
• Brahma Kumaris, founded in 1937 by Prajapita Brahma Baba, is a global spiritual organization with a profound focus on personal transformation and the renewal of the world.

• Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shobha Karandlaje inaugurated the G20 One Health Workshop in Bengaluru.
• The workshop focused on the theme “One Health - Opportunities and Challenges”.
• Representatives of G20 member states and invited countries are participating in the three-day event.
• India's G20 chairmanship is focused on the theme "One Earth, One Family, and One Future".
• Its goal is to create a harmonious system for sharing knowledge, experience, and resources among nations.

• Sri Lanka hosted the Karnataka Cultural Festival on August 27, 2023.
• This program is organized by the International Cultural Council of India, Swami Vivekananda Cultural Center, and M.E. Organized in association with the Global Peace Foundation.
• The festival featured a variety of performances from over 30 artists from Karnataka: traditional dances, folk music, multilingual poems, ballet, and puppet shows
• The focus was on highlighting the cultural heritage and heritage of Karnataka.
• The cast included lead artist Madhuri Bondre and her troupe.

• Keralites around the world are celebrating "Thiruonam", the 10th and most important day of the grand Onam cultural festival.
• Onam is the harvest festival of Kerala, symbolizing themes of prosperity, inclusiveness, and unity.
• Regardless of religious affiliation, people in Kerala come together to honor the memory of Mahabali, the godly and mythical king, marking Onam as a time of unity.
• The festival is marked by various rituals, which include a grand Onasadya feast, vibrant Pookkalam flower decorations, wearing a new dress called Onakodi, and engaging in cultural activities such as the Ujayalattam dance and Pulikalli procession.
• Additionally, the vibrant Vallamkalli boat race and the heartwarming tradition of reuniting families contribute to the charm of the festival.

• State Bank of India (SBI) on August 25, 2023, introduced a new Customer Service Point (CSP) with an aim to enhance convenience for its customers through technology.
• SBI's Customer Service Points (CSPs) allow hassle-free and paperless enrollment for important social security schemes using Aadhaar.
• Customers can now easily enroll in schemes like Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY), and Atal Pension Yojana (APY) with just their Aadhaar.

• Renowned Indian English Poet, Jayant Mohapatra passed away at the age of 95.
• Born in Cuttack, Odisha, India, on October 22, 1928, Mohapatra's literary journey spanned over 50 years, during which he made a lasting impact with his writings.
• He received his education from Ravenshaw College in Cuttack and later from Delhi University.
• Initially, Mohapatra's career revolved around teaching physics, and in his late 30s, he developed a keen interest in English poetry.
• In 1971, he published his first collection titled 'Swayamvar and Other Poems', a turning point that marked the beginning of his poetic journey.
• His notable work, 'Close the Sky Ten by Ten' played an important role in propelling him forward in the line of eminent writers in the literary world.
• In 1981, Jayant Mohapatra became the first English language writer to win the Sahitya Akademi Award for his book "Relationships".

• Union Minister Nitin Gadkari unveiled the world's first car that runs entirely on ethanol in New Delhi, marking a historic moment for India's energy landscape.
• The car is the first Stage-II BS-VI electrified flex-fuel vehicle, which runs entirely on ethanol as a fuel source.
• Currently, India's oil import bill stands at Rs 16 lakh crore, which highlights the need to curb this expenditure.
• Addressing environmental concerns, Minister Gadkari underlined the need for sustainable solutions, stressing that 40 percent of pollution is generated from the transport sector.
• Ethanol blending not only reduces pollution but also has the potential to increase India's agricultural growth by 12 to 20 percent, thereby creating several employment opportunities.

• Indian Oil proudly announced its collaboration with renowned Celebrity Chef Sanjeev Kapoor as the brand ambassador for its innovative Indane XTRATEJ LPG brand.
• Sailendra, Executive Director at Indian Oil, revealed that the company has experienced remarkable year-on-year growth in the market volume of Indane XTRATEJ LPG. This growth signifies the positive demand for this product among consumers.
• This new offering aims to provide a cost-efficient solution that not only meets the requirements of various segments such as hotels and hospitality but also addresses the growing expectations of customers in an era of rapid change.

• 634 athletes in various sports disciplines were cleared by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to participate in the Asian Games.
• A total of 634 athletes from 38 different sports disciplines have been approved to represent India at the Games.
• Notable athletes like Neeraj Chopra, Praggnanand Ramesh Babu, Lovlina Borgohain, Nikhat Zareen, Lakshya Sen, and Mirabai Chanu Saikhom have successfully met the prescribed selection criteria.
• The selection process took into account the recommendations made by the Indian Olympic Association, which initially suggested 850 athletes.
• During the last edition of the Asian Games in 2018, India was represented by a contingent of 572 athletes.
• In the 2018 edition, India's performance was remarkable, bagging a total of 70 medals including an impressive tally of 16 gold medals.

• National Sports Day in India is celebrated every year on 29 August.
• The day commemorates the enduring legacy of Major Dhyan Chand, the great Indian hockey player.
• It serves as a tribute to the extraordinary achievements of athletes and their influence in shaping society.
• The theme for this year's National Sports Day celebrations is "Sports are an enabler to an inclusive and fit society".
• People can participate in the celebration by using the hashtag #NationalSportsDay in their social media posts.
• The National Sports Day celebrated in India is based on the birth of Major Dhyan Chand, an eminent sports personality known for his hockey excellence.

• In the 26th National Conference on e-Governance 2023, the National Award was given to the SVAMITVA (Survey of Villages Abadi and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas) scheme of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.
• The objective of the SVAMITVA scheme is to survey the population of villages, map rural areas with advanced technology, and provide ownership rights of property to individuals living in rural areas.
• State-of-the-art technologies such as drones and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are used for this initiative.
• Property cards have been created, which enable rural property owners to leverage their property for financial benefits.

• Kolkata became the third Indian city to adopt the Air Quality Early Warning System (AQEWS) to combat rising air pollution.
• The system, developed by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) in Pune, aims to address rising air pollution levels in urban areas.
• AQEWS in Kolkata uses an advanced sensor network to provide real-time monitoring of the Air Quality Index (AQI).
• AQI is a standardized measure of the level of air pollution, with a value ranging from 0 to 500.
• The system focuses on PM2.5 (particles with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or smaller) levels, which is a major contributor to health problems due to its ability to enter the lungs.

• The Indian Air Force (IAF) participated in the biennial multilateral tri-services exercise Bright Star-23 held at Cairo Air Base in Egypt.
• Bright Star-23 exercise will take place from 27 August to 16 September 2023.
• The participating countries in the biennial multilateral tri-services exercise Bright Star-23 include the United States, Saudi Arabia, Greece, Qatar, and India.
• IAF transport aircraft will airlift around 150 Indian Army personnel.
• The main goal of the exercise is to enhance joint operational planning and execution.
• India and Egypt have long-standing ties, having collaborated on aero-engine and aircraft development in the 1960s.

• From August 22 to 25, 2023, the 5th edition of the biennial AUSINDEX maritime exercise occurred in Sydney, Australia, conducted collaboratively by the Indian Navy and the Royal Australian Navy.
• Indian Navy and Royal Australian Navy (RAN) jointly organized the exercise.
• The participating ships included INS Sahyadri, INS Kolkata from the Indian Navy, and HMAS Choules and HMAS Brisbane from RAN
• The exercise not only involved ships and their helicopters but also fighter aircraft and maritime patrol aircraft.
• Over the course of 4 days, AUSINDEX involved a series of complex exercises covering all three maritime operational domains.

• ISRO has announced that India’s first Sun mission, Aditya-L1, is scheduled to take off from Sriharikota on September 2, 2023.
• Just 10 days after the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) created history by successfully landing the country’s third lunar spacecraft, Chandrayaan-3 on the south polar region of the Moon, it is ready to achieve another milestone mission.
• Aditya L1 will be ISRO’s 2 space-based astronomy mission after AstroSat, which was launched in 2015.
• Aditya 1 was renamed as Aditya-L1. The Aditya 1 was meant to observe only the solar corona.
• The spacecraft is meant to be placed in a halo orbit around Lagrange point 1 (L1) of the Sun-Earth system, which is about 1.5 million km from the Earth.
• Earlier, the mission was conceived as Aditya-1 with a 400 kg class satellite carrying one payload, the Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC) that was to be launched in an 800-km low Earth orbit.

• The second G20-Chief Scientific Advisers Roundtable under India's G20 Presidency began in Gandhinagar.
• The meeting was attended by science advisors, scientists, and researchers from G20 countries and other invited countries.
• The main focus of the meeting is to address important issues related to scientific research and the development of technology.
• Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India - Ajay Kumar Sood.

• Emmerson Mnangagwa was re-elected as the President of Zimbabwe for a second and final five-year term.
• The announcement of Mnangagwa's victory was immediately denied by the opposition party's spokesman, who criticized the quick announcement and lack of proper result verification.
• The results of Mnangagwa's re-election ensure the continued dominance of the ZANU-PF party in governing the country.
• The party has maintained control of Zimbabwe's leadership throughout the 43-year period since the country's renaming in 1980, which followed liberation from white minority rule.

• Infosys, a global leader in consulting and digital services, has signed women's tennis world number one Iga Swiatek as its global brand ambassador.
• The partnership focuses on two main areas: fostering digital innovationand empowering women globally.
• Recently, tennis legend Rafael Nadal was also roped in by Infosys as its global brand ambassador.
• These strategic partnerships highlight Infosys' commitment to tennis excellence and technological advancement.
• Swiatek held the World No. 1 title for a record 70 consecutive weeks from April 2022.

• On August 27, 2023, Max Verstappen took his third consecutive win at the Dutch Grand Prix at Circuit Zandvoort in the Netherlands.
• Max Verstappen's victory equaled Sebastian Vettel's record of nine consecutive F1 victories.
• Fernando Alonso secured a podium position by coming insecond.
• Sergio Perez, driving for Red Bull, initially finished third, but a five-second penalty resulted in Pierre Gasly taking third place on the podium.
• Dutch Grand Prix also known as the "Grote Prij van Nederland", is an annual event of the Formula One World Championship.

• Javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra won the first gold medal for India at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary.
• In the men's javelin final, Neeraj Chopra won the Gold medal with a throw of 88.17 meters.
• Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem won the silver medal in the men's javelin throw event with a throw of 87.82 metres.
• Jakub Vadlejch of the Czech Republic won the bronze medal in the same event.
• In the javelin throw, Indian player Kishor Jena finished fifth, while Indian player DP Manu finished sixth.
• The Indian team of Muhammad Anas Yahiya, Amoj Jacob, Muhammad Ajmal Variathodi, and Rajesh Ramesh finished fifth in the men's 4x400m relay.

• Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was awarded the highest civilian honor Grand Cross of the Order of Honor by Greek President Katerina N. Sakellaropoulou in Athens.
• The award is the highest civilian honor Greece can bestow on a foreign head of government.
• The award recognizes PM Modi's outstanding contribution to strengthening bilateral relations between Greece and India.
• The citation given along with the award highlights PM Modi's commitment to enhancing political, economic, cultural, and people-to-people relations between the two countries.
• He is also the first foreign head of government to be honored with the award since 2017.
• The award reflects PM Modi's efforts to strengthen ties between India and Greece, which share a history of friendship and cooperation.

• A book titled ‘Pitchside: My Life in Indian Cricket’ by long-term cricket administrator Amrit Mathur released. 
• In the book, Mr. Mathur brings alive insightful first-person accounts of some of Indian Cricket’s most memorable moments.
• An experienced cricket administrator, Mr. Mathur was the manager of the India team on the historic tour of South Africa in 1992. 
• Later, he was part of PILCOM, the organising committee for the 1996 Cricket World Cup, also Chief Operating Officer of the Delhi Daredevils and General Manager of BCCI.
• Mr Mathur’s “Pitchside: My Life in Cricket” provides readers with a rare glimpse of the inner functioning of the team, where he relates interesting conversations, dressing room atmosphere, team meeting discussions, and on and off-the-pitch details of iconic moments.

• Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), a government engineering firm successfully produced the first indigenous Selective Catalytic Reactor (SCR) to control NOx emissions from thermal power plants.
• SCR Catalysts were earlier imported in line with the 'Make in India' initiative.
• The initial batch of indigenous SCR Catalyst was manufactured for 5x800 MW Yadadri Thermal Power Station in Telangana.
• The inaugural event took place at BHEL's Bengaluru Solar Business Division unit, which was led by Renuka Gera, Director, of Industrial Systems and Products.
• Burning coal converts its nitrogen content into nitrogen oxides (NOx), a major air pollutant that includes substances such as NO, NO₂, and N₂O.

• The G20 Culture Ministers' meeting began on 26 August in Varanasi.
• The event represents the culmination of India's G20 Culture Working Group (CWG) meetings and discussions.
• A comprehensive report summarizing the insights and recommendations of the webinar 'G20 Culture: Shaping the Global Narrative for Inclusive Growth' will be unveiled during the meeting.
• A special stamp will be issued to commemorate the 'Culture Unites All' campaign, an important initiative under India's G20 Presidency CWG.

• The 3rd International Conference on Structural Integrity (ICONS 2023) began virtually at Mamallapuram in Tamil Nadu on August 23, 2023.
• ICONS 2023 was inaugurated under the leadership of Dr. N. Kailaiselvi, Director General, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research and Secretary, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research.
• ICONS 2023 is organized by Indira Gandhi Center for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam and Society for Failure Analysis.
• Association with Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Indian Society for Non-Destructive Testing (Kalpakkam Chapter), Indian Institute of Metals (Kalpakkam Chapter), and Indian Structural Integrity Society.
• Executive Director, LWR Engineering, Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited, N. Ram Mohan shared insights from setting up critical infrastructure in areas such as design, manufacturing and construction.

• Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal launched Tele-Law- 2.0 on August 25, 2023, in New Delhi.
• The Department of Justice (DOJ) hosted the Tele-Law 2.0 event at Siri Fort Auditorium, New Delhi.
• The event marks the achievement of helping 5 million citizens and highlights the use of technology in providing pre-litigation advice to the public.
• Tele-law services are being integrated with legal representation services under the Nyaya Bandhu (Pro Bono) program.
• This integration streamlines access to legal advice, assistance, and representation through a unified registration process on the Tele-Law platform.
• The event recognizes and honors frontline workers who play a vital role in providing legal services directly to the people.
• The event has been organized by the Department of Justice in association with CSC e-Governance Services India Limited.
• The event is in line with the government's vision to strengthen the legal aid ecosystem and ensure equitable access to justice for all.

• The Assam government implemented a ban on plastic water bottles of less than 1000 ml capacity with effect from October 2.
• The Environment and Forest Department of Assam has issued this notification to address environmental concerns.
• Aims to ban plastic water bottles of less than 1000 ml capacity.
• The primary goal is to tackle the problem of plastic pollution and promote sustainable behavior.
• This initiative demonstrates Assam's commitment to protecting the state's natural resources and diverse ecosystems.
• Minister of Environment and Forests of Assam - Chandra Mohan Patowary.

• National Health Authority (NHA) inaugurated the ABDM microsite in Aizawl, Mizoram as part of the 100 microsites project.
• The objective of the ABDM microsite is to accelerate the adoption of Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) across India.
• Mizoram is the lead state operating the ABDM microsite.
• The initiative aims to transform health facilities including private clinics, small hospitals, and laboratories into ABDM-enabled establishments that provide digital health services.
• The implementation of the ABDM microsite in Aizawl has been entrusted to "Youth for Action" appointed as the interfacing agency.

• The Islamic Republic Iran recently introduced its latest achievement in unmanned aerial technology – the Mohajer-10 drone. 
• As reported by state media, this cutting-edge unmanned aerial vehicle boasts an impressive range of 2,000 kilometers (1,240 miles).
• Mohajer-10 represents a remarkable advancement over its predecessor, the Mohajer-6 drone. 
• This new iteration is designed to carry a payload of up to 300 kilograms, effectively doubling the capacity of its earlier version.

• On 26 August, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the designation of 23 August as National Space Day in honor of India's Chandrayaan-3 moon landing.
• The specific spot where Chandrayaan-3 landed on the Moon will be named 'Shivshakti', and the spot where Chandrayaan-2 landed will be called 'Tiranga Point'.
• PM Modi made this announcement during his visit to the ISRO Telemetry Tracking and Command Network Mission Control Complex in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
• On 23 August 2023, Chandrayaan-3 achieved a historic feat by becoming the first mission to land on the South Pole of the Moon.
• India has now joined the ranks of the United States, Russia, and China in successfully landing on the Moon.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was on a three-day visit to South Africa to attend the 15th BRICS summit, presented special gifts to the organization’s leaders including South African president Cyril Ramaphosa, First Lady of South Africa Tshepo Motsepe, and Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. PM Modi gifts Bidri Surahi, Nagaland Shawl, and Gond Painting to BRICS leaders.
• PM Modi gifted Bidri a pair of ‘Surahi’ from Telangana to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. Bidrivase is a purely Indian innovation of 500-year-old Persian, exclusive to Bidar.
• The Prime Minister also gifted a Nagaland shawl to the First Lady of South Africa Tshepo Motsepe. Naga shawls are an exquisite form of textile art that has been woven for centuries by the tribes in the state of Nagaland.
• In addition, PM Modi also gifted Gond Painting from Madhya Pradesh to the Brazilian President, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. These paintings are one of the most admired tribal art forms.

• The government of India is launching a scheme called 'Mera Bill Mera Adhikar', which is an ‘Invoice Incentive Scheme’.
• The scheme called 'My Bill My Right' aims to promote the practice of customers requesting bills for all their purchases. This initiative is being launched in collaboration with various state governments.
• The scheme includes two grand prizes of Rs 1 crore each, which will be awarded to the lucky winners every quarter. 
• In addition, there will be 800 lucky draws with prize money of Rs 10,000 each, as well as 10 draws on a monthly basis with prizes of Rs 10 lakh each.
• To participate, bills with a minimum value of Rs 200 can be submitted through the mobile application 'Mera Bill Mera Adhikar', which is available on both iOS and Android platforms.
• Bills can also be uploaded through the web portal 'web.merabill.gst.gov.in'.

• The city of Indore has clinched the top spot in the Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan -2023 conducted by the Central Pollution Control Board, in the category of cities with a population exceeding 10 lakhs.
• The Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan -2023 witnessed a remarkable display of dominance by Madhya Pradesh, particularly in the category of cities with a population of more than 10 lakhs.
• Bhopal secured a respectable fifth position with a score of 181, while Jabalpur and Gwalior secured the 13th and 41st positions with scores of 172 and 114, respectively.

• The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Information Technology, Electronics and Communications (ITE&C) Department of the Government of Telangana have forged a pioneering partnership to infuse the Ethics of AI into the very essence of artificial intelligence systems.
• This partnership is designed to cultivate a profound impact on how AI is developed and utilized, ensuring that the benefits are shared across all segments of society.
• UNESCO and the Telangana Government recognize the importance of raising awareness about the ethical implications of AI. 
• They aim to educate individuals, organizations, and governments about the ethical challenges and opportunities presented by AI, fostering a deeper understanding of its potential impacts.

• Infosys announces a three-year partnership with global tennis icon Rafael Nadal, appointing him as the brand ambassador and the face of Infosys’ Digital Innovation.
• This partnership not only marks a milestone for Nadal but also signifies Infosys’ dedication to transforming the tennis landscape through cutting-edge technologies.
• At the heart of this collaboration lies the creation of a match analysis tool infused with the power of artificial intelligence.
• This personalized tool is set to offer real-time insights to Nadal’s coaching team, enabling them to simultaneously track data from his live matches during his return to the tour.

• During the three days, the summit will be attended by various prominent personalities, including Union Ministers like Nirmala Sitharaman, Dharmendra Pradhan, and Dr. S Jaishankar.
• The first day of the summit will host seven sessions covering topics like B20 India's priorities, global alignment, Artificial Intelligence's role in business and society, trade opportunities and regulations, resilient global trade's inclusive value chains, and a session with Trade Ministers.
• Eminent leaders including Tata Sons Executive Chairman and B20 India Chairman N Chandrasekaran, Mastercard CEO Michael Meibach, and World Economic Forum President Borge Brende will be present.
• The theme of the summit is "B20 India R.I.S.E." which is a symbol of responsible, agile, innovative, sustainable, and equitable businesses.

• Indian genius Praggnanandhaa finished second with a win over Magnus Carlsen in the FIDE World Chess Cup 2023 final.
• Magnus Carlsen emerged victorious in the FIDE World Cup for the first time in his career.
• The final match between Carlsen and Praggnanandhaa lasted three days and featured four intense games played in two formats.
• After a one-match draw in the tiebreaker round, Carlsen's decisive victory was confirmed after the second tiebreaker game.
• Praggnanandhaa, who celebrated his 18th birthday during the World Cup, created history by becoming the youngest-ever World Cup finalist.
• Seeded 31st, Praggnanandhaa also holds the distinction of being the lowest-seeded player to reach a World Cup final.
• He achieved the title of Grandmaster at the age of 12.

• Neeraj Chopra, the Olympic gold medalist in javelin throw, continues to make waves in the world of athletics. 
• His recent performance at the World Athletics Championships has not only secured his place in the finals but has also guaranteed his participation in the Paris Olympics 2024.
• Neeraj Chopra’s remarkable throw of 88.77 meters in the men’s javelin throw event during the World Athletics Championships is an evident to his dedication and skill.
• Neeraj Chopra’s proven track record, including his Tokyo 2020 triumph and 2022 world championships silver medal, stands as an evident to his capabilities and potential to bring further glory to India.

• Rajeshwari Kumari secured an additional shooting slot for India in the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics.
• Rajeshwari Kumari participated in the women's trap final at the ISSF World Championship 2023 held in Baku, Azerbaijan.
• The ISSF World Championship 2023 is an important qualifying tournament for the Paris 2024 Olympics.
• Rajeshwari Kumari's achievement in the women's trap final secured India's representation in the women's trap event at the Paris Olympics.
• At the ISSF World Championships 2023, the top four finishers from different countries in each of the 12 Olympic individual shooting events earned quota seats for their respective national teams.

• Women's Equality Day is celebrated every year on 26 August.
• The day acknowledges the ongoing global struggle for equal rights and opportunities for women.
• It serves as a tribute to the universal suffrage movement and celebrates the progress of women.
• The day reinforces the commitment to achieve gender equality at the global level.
• The theme for Women's Equality Day 2023 is "Embrace Equality".
• This theme is in line with the Strategic Plan from 2021 to 2026.
• "Embracing Equality" underscores the importance of achieving gender equality.
• In 1971, the US Congress officially established Women's Equality Day to honor the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment and the ongoing pursuit of full women's rights.

• Indian shooter Amanpreet Singh won the gold medal in the men's 25m standard pistol shooting event at the ISSF World Championship 2023 held in Baku, Azerbaijan.
• In the women's 25m standard pistol shooting event, participants Tiana, Yashita Shokeen and Kritika Sharma could not qualify for the individual medal rounds.
• With this achievement, India's total medal tally at the championships reached a total of nine medals, including five gold medals and four bronze medals.
• The International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) is responsible for overseeing the ISSF World Shooting Championships.

• The winners of the 69th National Film Awards were announced at the National Media Center in New Delhi.
• These awards are recognized as one of the highest honors in the field of film-making, serve as an evident to the dedication and creativity of individuals who contribute to the nation’s rich cinematic tapestry.
• In a glittering ceremony, the winners of the 69th National Film Awards were revealed. 
• The Allu Arjun was awarded for the Best Actor for the film Pushpa while the Best Actress Award was presented to Alia Bhatt and Kriti Sanon for their films Gangubai Kathiawadia and Mimi respectively. 
• The Best Feature Film Award was presented to Rocketry (The Nambi Effect). The Kashmir Files won the Nargis Dutt Award for Best Film on National Integration.

• Guwahati's popular Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport (LBBI) has become the first airport in Northeast India to launch a 'Digi Yatra' facility.
• The innovative service aims to enhance the air travel experience in the region by streamlining airport processes.
• The 'Digi Yatra' initiative is a collaboration with the Ministry of Civil Aviation with the goal of modernizing and improving air travel.
• It aims to revolutionize passenger navigation through airports, making it more intuitive and convenient.

• Raja Anirudh Sriram, a Class IV student from Tirupati, won a silver medal in the prestigious Singapore Maths Olympiad.
• Among the 23 Indian participants in the Singapore International Math Olympiad Challenge (SIMOC), Raja Anirudh was the only representative from Andhra Pradesh.
• The SIMOC program hosted over 2000 students from 32 countries, providing a global platform for young math talents.
• At only four years old, he set a record by identifying 100 cars in 160 seconds, demonstrating an extraordinary memory.
• At the age of six, he became the youngest Indian to earn the 'Microsoft Office Specialist Certificate', highlighting his technical prowess.
• He achieved recognition at international forums such as the International Mathematics Olympiad and ABACUS Mental Mathematics competitions.

• The Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas achieved a significant milestone as it successfully fired the Astra indigenous Beyond Visual Range (BVR) air-to-air missile off the coast of Goa. 
• This achievement marks a notable advancement in the Indian defense capabilities and showcases the country’s progress in developing cutting-edge military technology.
• The missile release was executed flawlessly from the Tejas aircraft at an altitude of approximately 20,000 feet.
• The successful test launch was carried out under the vigilant supervision of the Test Director and scientists hailing from prominent institutions like the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

• In a significant stride towards resolving the water crisis gripping Chennai city, Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister, M K Stalin, has laid the foundation stone for what is set to become South East Asia’s largest water desalination project.
• Spearheaded by VA Tech Wabag, a renowned pure-play water technology Indian Multinational Group based in Chennai, this project is poised to revolutionize the region’s water supply. 
• With an ambitious investment of Rs 4,400 crore, this initiative holds the potential to alleviate Chennai’s water scarcity concerns and elevate the city’s status as a water-sustainable urban center.
• The goal of the project is to establish a Seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) desalination facility with the capacity to generate an impressive 400 million liters per day (MLD) of clean, drinkable water.

• In a recent development, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has granted its approval for the voluntary amalgamation of Twin Cities Co-operative Urban Bank Ltd with Kranti Co-operative Urban Bank Ltd. 
• The amalgamation scheme is set to take effect from August 23, 2023. 
• This decision, as outlined in an official release from the central bank, marks a significant step in the consolidation of cooperative urban banks.
• The RBI had previously established a comprehensive framework for the amalgamation of Urban Cooperative Banks (UCBs). 
• This framework, introduced on March 23, 2021, serves as a guideline for facilitating amalgamation processes in the UCB sector.

• In a significant geopolitical development, the BRICS alliance, comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, has announced the inclusion of six new member countries. 
• This expansion marks a notable shift in the alliance’s composition and has the potential to reshape the dynamics of global cooperation.
• 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. 
• The expanded BRICS now welcomes Argentina, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia, and Egypt into its fold.

• World Water Week, a global event organized annually by the Stockholm International Water Institute since 1991, will take place at the Waterfront Congress Center from 20 to 24 August.
• It aims to develop solutions to the international water crisis (along with many other problems).
• Water, an important natural resource, plays an important role in our daily activities like drinking and cleaning. Therefore its conservation is very important.
• The theme for World Water Week 2023 is “Seeds of Change: Innovative Solutions for a Water-Wise World”.
• World Water Week is a recurring global event that has taken place every year since its inception in 1991.
• The event is organized by the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI), a non-profit organization committed to advocating for sustainable water solutions.
• The first World Water Week was held in 1991 in Stockholm, Sweden.
• The theme of the opening ceremony was "Water: An Imminent Crisis."

• The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), India’s governing body for wrestling, has faced suspension from the United World Wrestling (UWW) due to ongoing controversies and prolonged delays in conducting essential elections.
•  As a consequence of this suspension, Indian wrestlers will be unable to compete under the Indian flag in the upcoming World Championships. 
• Instead, they will participate as ‘neutral athletes’ in the Olympic-qualifying World Championships.

• Private lender YES Bank has launched its state-of-the-art mobile banking app ‘iris’ by YES Bank.
• The iris app has a sleek and intuitive user interface that aims to offer a simplified banking experience for users of all age groups, and backgrounds.
• Designed to cater to both existing and new customers, the app offers access over 100 features and services in just a few clicks on a single platform.
• It also ensures utmost safety of the customers’ financial data by incorporating best-in-class safety features like – Biometric Authentication, Sim-Binding as well as a 2-factor Verification.

• The Lander Module (LM) of the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) third lunar mission Chandrayaan-3, launched on July 14, made a successfully landed on the Moon’s surface on August 23, making India only the fourth country after the erstwhile USSR, the U.S. and China to make a soft landing on the lunar surface.
• India has become the first nation to land near the South Pole, which is the hot new destination since traces of water was found on moon.
• For the next 14 days equivalent to one moon day, the Pragyan Rover will send images and data from the surface of the moon.
• The moon lander was launched on July 14, perched on a LVM 3 heavy-lift launch vehicle. It was placed in the lunar orbit on August 5. 
• The lander Vikram is named after Vikram Sarabhai, who is widely regarded as the father of the Indian space programme.

• Three remaining survivors of the Amazon rainforest tribe - Piripkura found in Brazil.
• The Piripkura tribe comes from the Mato Grosso region of Brazil and leads a nomadic lifestyle.
• Renowned for their reclusiveness, they strive to preserve their traditional lifestyle.
• This indigenous group has faced significant hardships due to the invasion of their lands by illegal logging, mining, and other exploitative activities.
• Their territory faces threats from deforestation and resource exploitation.

• Thai property tycoon Srettha Thavisin has been elected as the new prime minister of Thailand following a decisive win in a parliamentary vote. 
• The 60-year-old Thavisin’s victory in the parliamentary vote, with the support of two-thirds of the assembly, ends weeks of political uncertainty that followed an election held 100 days ago.
• Srettha Thavisin’s election as prime minister ushers in a new era of coalition politics. 
• He faces the challenging task of holding together a potentially fragile coalition government, which includes parties affiliated with the royalist military. 
• The military, notorious for orchestrating coups in 2006 and 2014 that toppled Pheu Thai (a major Thai political party) governments, holds a significant stake in this coalition.

• Justice Prakash Shrivastava has been appointed as Chairperson of National Green Tribunal (NGT). 
• After the former Chairperson Justice A.K Goel retired. After the former Chairperson Justice A.K Goel retired in July, Justice Sheo Kumar Singh was appointed as the Acting Chairperson. Justice Srivastav Enrolled as Advocate on February 2, 1987.
• He Practised on Tax, Civil and Constitutional sides in the Supreme Court of India at New Delhi. 
• He was later appointed as a Judge of the High Court of Madhya Pradesh on January 18, 2008 and became a permanent Judge on January 15, 2010.

• The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of Kamlesh Varshney and Amarjeet Singh as SEBI Whole-Time Members.
• While Varshney, a 1990-batch officer of the Indian Revenue Service, is a joint secretary at the revenue department in the Finance Ministry.
• While Singh is an executive director at the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).
• Both Varshney and Singh have been appointed for three years from the date of assumption of charge or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
• At SEBI, Varshney and Singh will fill in the vacancies created by the retirement of S K Mohanty and Ananta Barua.

• Parminder Chopra has been appointed as the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) at Power Finance Corporation Limited (PFC). 
• Previously, she had been holding the additional charge of CMD since June 1, 2023, while also serving as the Director of Finance at PFC since July 1, 2020. 
• With this Chopra has become the first woman to lead India’s largest Non-Banking Financial Company, PFC.
• In 2023 she was awarded 'Icon of the Year' award by the Institute of Cost Accountants of India. 
• She also received the "Finance Leader of the Year" Award during the same year.

• The Election Commission of India has decided to recognize cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar as the national symbol of the country.
• The Election Commission hopes that Tendulkar's huge influence among young Indians will inspire more to show up at the polls, particularly for the 2024 general elections.
• Last year, actor Pankaj Tripathi was also named a 'National Icon'. 
• Other big names like MS Dhoni, Aamir Khan, and Mary Kom have previously been chosen for this honor during the 2019 elections.

• Kiran Mani, who previously worked with Google, has been appointed as the CEO of Viacom18's digital business.
• Mani’s impressive track record and extensive experience position him well to lead Viacom18’s digital endeavors.
• Mani's 13-year tenure at Google has given him deep insights into user behaviors, content consumption patterns, and market trends.
• Currently serving as the General Manager and MD for Android and Google Play in the Asia Pacific region, Mani’s 13-year tenure at Google underscores his deep understanding of digital markets.

• International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition is observed on August 23. 
• It commemorates the day when an uprising began in Saint Domingue, now called Haiti, on August 23, 1791, against the slave trade.
• 2023 Theme: “Fighting slavery’s legacy of racism through transformative education”
• The day of the uprising was commemorated for the first time in 1998. 
• It was designated by UNESCO and was also observed in Senegal in 1999.
• The international slave trade was abolished on March 25, 1807.

• Anurag Singh Thakur, the Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, has unveiled that the esteemed Khelo India Women’s League will be recognized as the “Asmita Women’s League” from now on.
• The new name, “Asmita Women’s League,” carries a profound meaning. ASMITA stands for “Achieving Sports Milestone by Inspiring Women through Action”, encapsulating the spirit of resilience, determination, and achievement that defines women athletes across the nation.
• 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.

• Spain’s women’s football team won the World Cup 2023 for the first time after beating England 1-0 in Sydney, Australia.
• With this win, Spain also became only the second nation to clinch both the men’s and the women’s World Cups after Germany.
• Spain’s first major international trophy made it the first European team to win the Women’s World Cup since Germany in 2007.
• The other nation is Germany, who won the men’s World Cup in 1974 and 1990, and the women’s World Cup in 2003 and 2007.
• Spain’s Olga Carmona scored the winning goal against England.

• India has announced the definition of Green Hydrogen. The Green Hydrogen Standard for India sets a criterion of 2 kg CO₂ equivalent per kg H₂ as a 12-month average emission threshold. 
• It is a significant move for the progress of the National Green Hydrogen Mission. 
• The guidelines established by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India, delineate the emission benchmarks that must be fulfilled for hydrogen production to qualify as ‘Green’, signifying its origin from renewable sources.
• The Ministry of New & Renewable Energy has characterized Green Hydrogen as having a well-to-gate emission (encompassing processes like water treatment, electrolysis, gas purification, hydrogen drying, and compression) that does not exceed 2 kg CO₂ equivalent per kg H₂.

• The Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (Bharat NCAP) was launched by Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Shri Nitin Gadkari on August 22, 2023, in New Delhi.
• The program aims to enhance road safety by elevating vehicle safety standards for up to 3.5-tonne vehicles in India. 
• Bharat NCAP will also greatly push the safety and quality of the vehicles in India, while simultaneously promoting a healthy competition among OEMs to manufacture safer vehicles.
• The program is applicable to type approved motor vehicles of M1 category less than 3.5T GVW.
• The program will commence from October 1, 2023, and will be based on Automotive Industry Standard (AIS) 197.

• Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and Union Minister of Civil Aviation and Steel, Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, laid the foundation stone of Datia Airport in Madhya Pradesh.
• The airport is being developed at a cost of around Rs. 50 crore and is expected to be complete by February 2024. 
• The development involves the renovation of the existing 1810-meter runway and construction of apron which can house two nineteen-seater aircraft and a terminal building of 750 square meters and ATC tower. 
• The terminal building will have the capacity to accommodate 100 passengers during peak hours.

• The Uttar Pradesh government has announced to build a temple museum in Ayodhya to showcase the architectural heritage and scientific aspects of Indian temples.
• The proposed museum will be divided into 12 galleries. These galleries will mesmerize visitors with their innate artistry.
• The museum will tell the glorious history of Hindu temples across the country and reflect the holistic culture of Sanatan.
• With the construction of the museum, the UP Tourism Department aims to make the world aware of the importance of Indian temples that reflect the holistic culture of Sanatan.

• NTPC Limited, a prominent Maharatna Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) operating under the Ministry of Power (MoP), has embarked on a groundbreaking venture by launching the trial of India’s inaugural hydrogen bus in the picturesque region of Leh, situated in the Union Territory (UT) of Ladakh. 
• This remarkable endeavor not only marks the country’s first utilization of hydrogen buses on public roads but also reflects NTPC’s commitment towards fostering sustainability and reducing carbon emissions.
• The maiden hydrogen bus has arrived in Leh, symbolizing the commencement of a significant three-month-long process.
• The fuel cell buses introduced by NTPC in Leh are a technological marvel, purpose-built to function seamlessly in the demanding conditions prevalent at an elevation of 11,562 feet.

• In a significant move, India and the ASEAN countries have come to an agreement to reevaluate their existing free trade pact for goods. 
• The aim of this review is to address the existing trade imbalances and disparities between the two parties.
• The Joint Committee of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA), which was originally signed in 2009, convened to discuss the roadmap for revisiting the pact.
• They decided to adhere to a quarterly negotiation schedule and set a definitive goal: concluding the review by the year 2025.

• Bishowambhar Prasad Shrestha has been appointed as the next Chief Justice of Nepal by President Ram Chandra Paudel.
• Shrestha will lead the judicial body for 14 months.
• The Parliamentary Hearing Committee unanimously endorsed Shrestha's appointment.
• Shrestha will assume office as the Chief Justice after the oath of office by President expected within this week.

• The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on 21 August 2023, approved the first vaccine that protects newborns from Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV).
• The vaccine is given to mothers late in their pregnancies and provides protection to infants through their first six months of life.
• The approval allows the vaccine to be given to women 32 to 36 weeks into a pregnancy to prevent lower respiratory tract infection and severe disease in infants until they are six months old.
• RSV is a common respiratory virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms but can also lead to serious illness and hospitalisation.
• The vaccine, sold under the brand name Abrysvo, is already approved for use in adults aged 60 and older to block infection from the disease that kills an estimated 1,60,000 people globally each year.

• The State Bank of India (SBI) has appointed four directors namely Ketan Shivji Vikamsey, Mrugank Madhukar Paranjape, Rajesh Kumar Dubey and Dharmendra Singh Shekhawat to the central board of the bank. 
• They were appointed for a period of 3 years with effect from 26th June 2023 to 25th June 2026.
• Ketan Shivji Vikamsey and Mrugank Madhukar Paranjape have been reappointed as the director (elected under Section 19(c) of SBI Act 1955) at SBI’s Central board. 
• They have been holding this position since June 2020.
• Rajesh Kumar Dubey and Dharmendra Singh Shekhawat have been appointed as the Directors (elected under section 19 (c) of the SBI Act, 1955) at SBI’s Central Board.

• Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh launched a new 'Lotus flower variety named 'Namoh 108' developed by CSIR-NBRI in Lucknow. 
• This lotus has an extraordinary 108 petals and holds religious and symbolic significance.
• The unveiling of 'NAMOH 108' is seen as a special gift to commemorate Prime Minister Narendra Modi's dedicated ten years in office.
• The Lotus Mission was also launched on the occasion and this project, like other priority schemes, aims to achieve specific goals. For example, the National Honey and Bee Mission, the National Bamboo Mission, and many other missions were mentioned.
• Under the Lotus research program, NBRI in collaboration with FFDC, Kannauj introduced a garment made of lotus fiber and a perfume named 'Frotas' extracted from lotus flowers.

• Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has inaugurated the ninth Commonwealth Parliament Association (CPA) India Region Conference at Udaipur.
• The theme of the two-day Conference is “Strengthening Democracy and Good Governance in Digital Age”.
• One of the topics is how to make public representatives more effective or efficient in encouraging good governance through digital empowerment
• The Conference concludes with the valedictory address of Vice-President of India and Chairman of Rajya Sabha Jagdeep Dhankhar.

• The Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden, located at the foothills of the beautiful Zabarwan Range, earned recognition in the World Book of Records as the largest and most stunning park of its kind in Asia.
• The garden features an impressive array of 1.5 million flowers in bloom, a remarkable testament to the beauty and diversity of the natural world.
• With a collection of 68 distinct varieties of tulips, the Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden is a spectacle of colors and shapes. 
• Each tulip variety brings its own unique character, with shades ranging from delicate pastels to vibrant, eye-catching colors.

• India's Scorpene class submarine INS Vagir has successfully completed its longest deployment ever by covering a remarkable distance of nearly 7,000 km to reach Australia. 
• This deployment, which begins in June 2023, is a significant achievement for the Indian Navy.
• Commissioned in January this year, INS Vagir belongs to the Kalvari class submarines.
• The submarine is based in Mumbai and its deployment reflects the professionalism of the Navy.
• The visit of INS Vagir is the first instance of an extended-distance deployment to Australia by an Indian submarine.
• INS Vagir is in Australia, Indian naval ships and aircraft are concurrently engaged in Exercise MALABAR (11-21 August) and AUSINDEX (22-24 August) off the east coast of Australia.

• Researchers from Germany, the United States and Peru have named a recently discovered species of snake after actor Harrison Ford.
• The German Society for Herpetology and Herpetoculture (DGHT) announced the naming of Tachymenoides Harrisonfordi to recognize the Hollywood actor’s environmental advocacy.
• The snake was discovered in May 2022 by a team of researchers from the US, Germany and Peru.

• Agnikul Cosmos is set to become the first Indian firm to design, develop and launch a liquid-fuelled rocket.
• The company's maiden rocket, Agnibaan, is a single-stage launch vehicle driven by Agnikul's patented Agnilet engine.
• Agnikul was established in 2017 by Srinath Ravichandran.
• This will be the first kerosene-liquid oxygen rocket to be designed, developed and launched from India.

• Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (BPCL) has announced cricketer Rahul Dravid as its new brand ambassador. 
• He will endorse BPCL’s Pure for Sure initiative and range of MAK lubricants.
• Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) is an Indian public sector undertaking under the ownership of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas,Government of India. 
• It operates three refineries in Bina, Kochi and Mumbai. 
• BPCL is India’s second-largest government-owned downstream oil producer, whose operations are overseen by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.

• Antim Panghal made history by becoming the first Indian woman wrestler to win back-to-back U20 world titles.
• Savita also became a world champion as the Indian women team won the team title for the first time in the history of the sport.
• Priya Malik won the 76kg title on 18 August 2023.
• Seven wrestlers from India won medals, including three gold medals, one silver, and three bronze.

• Anahat Singh represented India by winning the gold medal in the Under-17 category of the Asian Junior Squash Individual Championship. The event took place in Dalian, China from 16 to 20 August.
• In the final match held on August 20, 2023, 15-year-old Anahat defeated Hong Kong's Anna Kwong by a score of 3-1 to win the gold medal.
• Last year in Thailand, Anahat won his first gold medal in this championship.
• Anahat Singh gained significant recognition in 2019 when she became the Under-11 champion at the British Junior Open squash.
• He claimed the Under-13 title in the Dutch Junior Open squash.
• Earlier this year, Anahata continued her winning streak by winning the Under-15 category of the British Junior Open Squash. She defeated Sohela Hazem of Egypt in the final match.

• Indian archers won both men's and women's team gold medals in the World Cup Stage 4.
• The Indian men's compound team defeated the American trio by four points.
• India now has two gold and two bronze from the last World Cup of the season.
• The Indian men's compound team eliminated Korea in the semi-final.
• The Indian women's team got the top billing by topping the qualifiers.

• The International Cricket Council (ICC) has enthusiastically introduced a captivating pair of brand mascots for the upcoming World Cups. 
• These mascots, unveiled at an event in Gurugram, India, in the presence of U19 World Cup Champions’ captains Yash Dhull and Shafali Verma, embody the unity and spirit that cricket promotes worldwide.
• Representing gender equality and diversity, the mascots, a male and a female, originate from a distant cricket paradise called the Crictoverse.
• The female character possesses a turbo-powered arm that hurls fireballs at incredible speeds.
• The male character emanates a captivating blend of icy coolness and explosive batting skills.

• Sweden won the bronze medal at Women's World Cup with a 2-0 win over Australia.
• Fridolina Rolfo and Kosovare Asllani scored two goals for Sweden.
• Sweden has a perfect record in World Cup third-place matches, winning four in a row.
• Two of Australia's matches became the most-watched programs on domestic commercial TV in 20 years.
• The tournament was co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand.

• The Matti banana variety, native to the Kanniyakumari district was granted the Geographical Indication (GI) tag, and is known for its unique characteristics that thrive only in the specific climate and soil conditions of its native region.
• Kanniyakumari’s Matti is distinct with fragrance and honey-like taste.
• Known as ‘Baby Banana’, it flourishes mainly in Kalkulam and Vilavancode taluks. 
• Joining this list of 58 unique Tamil Nadu GI tagged products in now the Kanniyakumari Matti Banana, Jaderi Namakatti and Chedibutta saree. 
• Of the three new entries, the Kanniyakumari Matti Banana is a unique banana variety grown in the region.
• The Matti Banana is usually 2.5 to 3cm long and looks like the mouth of a crocodile, hence it is also called Crocodile Finger Banana.

• During the concluding day of the G20 Health Ministers' meeting held in Gandhinagar on 19th August 2023, Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya unveiled the 'Global Initiative on Digital Health (GIDH)', a network managed by the World Health Organization (WHO).
• The launch event was graced by the presence of Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organisation, who attended the launch of GIDH.
• Dr. Mandaviya emphasized that the G20 Chair of India leveraged its expertise in setting up a national digital health framework by coordinating various digital health interventions.
• Apart from the launch of GIDH, Dr. Mandaviya also unveiled the World Bank's flagship report 'Digital-in-Health - Unlocking Value for Everyone'.

• Maharashtra Government Launches Bhagwan Birsa The Maharashtra government has taken a significant step towards enhancing connectivity and improving the lives of tribal communities in the state. 
• The Bhagwan Birsa Munda Jodaraste Scheme aims to link all tribal villages in 17 districts of Maharashtra with main roads, effectively addressing the challenges faced by these communities in accessing essential services. 
• The project, estimated at a cost of Rs 5,000 crore, will involve the construction of approximately 6,838 kilometers of roads.

• Bank of Maharashtra (BoM) has emerged as the top performer among public sector lenders in loan and deposit growth in percentage terms during the first quarter of the financial year 2023-24.
• BoM witnessed a 24.73 per cent growth and mobilised Rs 2,44,365 crore at the end of June 2023.
• Bank of Baroda was in the second place with a 15.50 per cent growth in deposits (Rs 10,50,306 crore).

• Russia’s eagerly anticipated lunar mission, the Luna-25, has suffered a significant setback as the spacecraft veered out of control and crashed onto the Moon surface. 
• The failure is a poignant reminder of the unpredictable challenges inherent in space exploration, emphasizing that even the most advanced technology is susceptible to failure.
• The Luna-25 mission was an ambitious undertaking by Russia, aimed at landing a spacecraft on the Moon’s South Pole. 
• This region garnered intense scientific interest due to its potential to contain water ice, a precious resource for future lunar endeavors.
• The last successful landing of a Russian spacecraft on the Moon occurred in 1976, marking a substantial gap in the country’s lunar exploration endeavors.
• The country’s space agency is poised to launch the Luna-26 and Luna-27 missions in the coming years.

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved the appointment of PR Seshadri as the Managing Director and CEO of South Indian Bank.
• The appointment of PR Seshadri is for a period of three years, with effect from October 1, 2023.
• He is an accomplished banker with diverse experiences across various businesses, functional areas, and geographies.
• He has managed major commercial banking business lines, demonstrated enterprise-level management skills, and effectively handled investor relations, regulatory affairs, and boards across multiple locations.
• He is recognized as a respected business leader known for building and leading large teams to achieve complex business objectives.
• Seshadri has a track record of building and growing both existing and new businesses by leveraging emerging technologies and market opportunities.

• Every year, World Mosquito Day is celebrated on August 20. 
• This is done to commemorate the contributions of British doctor Sir Ronald Ross who was the first person to discover the connection between malaria and female anopheline mosquitoes. 
• Every year, World Mosquito Day is celebrated to create awareness about the dangers of mosquitoes, the ways by which we can protect ourselves from these diseases, and to rise together to combat these insects.
• On August 20, 1897, a British doctor made a groundbreaking discovery. 
• Sir Ronald Ross found that female Anopheles mosquitoes transmit malaria between humans. The parasite was located in the mosquito’s stomach.
• To commemorate this moment in history, World Mosquito Day (WMD) was founded. Each year, WMD presents us with an opportunity to raise awareness of the dangers posed by mosquito-borne diseases and the ongoing efforts to combat the world’s deadliest creature.

• India won the gold medal in the men's and women's team compound archery event at the World Cup Stage 4 in Paris on August 19, 2023.
• Men's team win: India's men's compound team consisting of Abhishek Verma, Ojas Deotale, and Prathamesh Javakar defeated the second-seeded American team led by Chris Scheff, James Lutz, and Sawyer Sullivan with a score of 236-232. 
• Women's team success: The Indian women's compound team comprising Jyoti Surekha Vennam, Aditi Swamy, and Preneet Kaur emerged victorious.
• Coming off their recent World Championship win in Berlin, this team defeated Mexico by a narrow margin of one point.

• Indian sprinter Dutee Chand, renowned as India’s fastest female athlete and holder of the national 100m record, has been handed a significant blow with a four-year ban following her failure in an out-of-competition dope test. 
• The test revealed the presence of selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs), leading to the decision to suspend her from competitive sports.
• Chand’s ban, which commences from January 3, 2023, stems from her failed out-of-competition dope test for SARMs, which occurred on December 5, 2022.
• The verdict, delivered by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA), found Chand in breach of “article 2.1 and 2.2 of the NADA,” resulting in a four-year ineligibility period under “article 10.2.1.1 of the NADA ADR 2021.”

• Priya Malik became the 2nd Indian woman wrestler to win the U20 world championship.
• Last year, Antim Panghal became the first Indian woman to win a junior world title in wrestling in Sofia, Bulgaria.
• Priya is from Haryana. She defeated Laura Celine Kuehn of Germany in the women's 76kg freestyle wrestling final.
• Priya has now won both the U17 2021, and 2022 and U20 world titles.

• Pakistan fast bowler Wahab Riaz has announced his retirement from international cricket, bringing an end to a 15-year career. 
• The 38-year-old made his international debut in 2008 and went on to play 27 Tests, 91 ODIs and 36 T20Is, taking 237 wickets in total.
• Riaz was a key member of the Pakistan team that reached the semi-finals of the 2011 Cricket World Cup, where he took five wickets against India.
• He retired from Test cricket in 2019.

• In a significant stride towards bolstering India’s maritime prowess, President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the latest addition to the Indian Navy’s fleet, INS Vindhyagiri. 
• The launch event was held at the Kolkata-based Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE).
• Following the launch of INS Vindhyagiri, the vessel will join its sister ships, INS Himgiri and INS Dunagiri, at the Outfitting Jetty at GRSE.
• The vessel derives its name from the mighty Vindhya mountain range, symbolizing strength, determination, and unwavering resolve. 
• As INS Vindhyagiri touches the waters of the River Hooghly for the first time, it embarks on a journey that mirrors the resilience of the mountains after which it is named, upholding the cherished values that define our nation.
• Project 17A Frigates are the follow-on class of the Project 17 (Shivalik Class) Frigates, with improved stealth features, advanced weapons & sensors and platform management systems.
• This is the third and last stealth frigate that the Kolkata-based warship maker was contracted to build for the Navy under the project.

• The 'Tarang Shakti' multinational military exercise originally planned for October has been postponed to mid-2024.
• The Indian Air Force (IAF) will host the 'Tarang Shakti' multinational military exercise.
• The rescheduling was due to several participating air forces being unable to attend this year's event.
• 'Tarang Shakti' will include several major air forces such as France, the UK, Australia, the US, and Japan.
• In addition, six other countries have been invited as observers, highlighting the global importance of the exercise.

• Andhra Pradesh has spent ₹12,669 crore as capital expenditure in the April-June period.
• It accounts for 41 per cent of the State’s capex budget of ₹31,061 crore for FY24.
• Andhra Pradesh had spent only ₹6,917 crore or 23 per cent of its budgeted capex in FY23. It was the worst performer in FY 23.
• Telangana’s capital expenditure also reached 27 per cent of its FY24 budget.
• Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan capex spending achieved over 20 per cent of its annual target in Q1.
• Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh together accounted for 56.4 per cent of the aggregate capex in the first quarter.
• Till the first quarter, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh achieved less than 10 per cent of their annual capex target.
• In 2023, Karnataka was the top performer state in capital expenditure.

• Central Water Commission Chairman Kushvendra Vohra launched the mobile app "Floodwatch".
• It will help in providing information related to the flood situation and forecasts for up to 7 days on a real-time basis.
• This user-friendly app has readable and audio broadcast and information is available in two languages i.e. Hindi and English.
• The app uses real-time river flow data from various sources. It also provides flood forecasts at the nearest location.
• Forecast with Interactive Map is one of the key features of the App.
• Users can check the CWC Flood Forecast (up to 24 hours) or Flood Advisory (up to 7 days) either by directly selecting the station from the map or can also search for the name of the station in the search box.

• Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Friday inaugurated India's first 3D-printed post office building in Bengaluru. 
• The construction of this post office building was carried out by construction company Larsen & Toubro Limited while IIT Madras provided technical guidance.
• The entire construction activity was completed in a period of 45 days as compared to about six to eight months taken by the conventional method.
• Cost and time savings make 3D-concrete printing technology a viable alternative to conventional building practices.
• Moreover, this groundbreaking project was also cost-effective, with a total expenditure of ₹23 lakhs, marking a significant reduction of approximately 30-40% compared to traditional construction methods.

• Adille Sumariwalla has been elected as one of the four vice presidents of World Athletics, the highest post ever held by an Indian in the global track and field governing body. 
• The 65-year-old Sumariwalla, who is the president of the Athletics Federation of India (AFI), received the third-highest number of votes cast during the WA elections held in Budapest, Hungary. 
• He will serve a four-year term.
• Sumariwalla is a former Olympian who competed in the 100 meters at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow. 
• He has been president of the AFI since 2012 and has been a member of the WA Council since 2015.

• Sri Lankan all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga has announced his retirement from Test cricket. 
• Hasaranga made his Test debut against South Africa in 2020, and took four wickets in four matches. However, he has been more successful in white-ball cricket, where he has taken 67 wickets in 48 ODIs and 91 wickets in 58 T20Is.
• Hasaranga is a leg-spinner who is known for his variations and his ability to take wickets in the middle overs. 
• He is also a handy lower-order batsman, and has scored 832 runs in ODIs and 533 runs in T20Is.
• Hasaranga is also a popular player in various T20 leagues around the world. He has played for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL, and has also played for the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in the CPL, the Quetta Gladiators in the PSL, and the Kandy Falcons and Jaffna Kings in the LPL.

• In Jordan's Amman, Mohit created history by securing the first position in men's 61 kg freestyle.
• On 16 August, Mohit became the fourth Indian freestyle wrestler to win the Junior World Championship by defeating Eldar Akhmadudinov of Russia by nine points in the final.
• Earlier in the year 2001 Palwinder Cheema and Ramesh Kumar and in the year 2019 Deepak Punia won the gold medal of this championship.
• Jaideep won the bronze medal in the 74 kg weight category by defeating Kyrgyszstan's Zhakshylyk Ruslanovich Baitashov.
• Sagar Jaglan won the silver medal in the 89 kg weight category, while Deepak Chahal won the bronze medal in the 97 kg category.
• The Indian team has so far won five medals in the competition.
• The World Under-20 Wrestling Championship 2023 is being organized from 14 to 20 August in Amman, Jordan.

• China’s Inner Mongolia region has reported two cases of bubonic plague, causing concerns amid previous infections and highlighting the need for vigilant containment efforts. 
• The new cases involve close relatives of a previously infected individual. 
• Bubonic plague is a highly infectious disease, primarily transmitted through rodents, and can be fatal if not treated promptly. 
• The region’s health authorities are taking proactive measures to prevent the further spread of the disease.
• The disease is primarily spread by rodents, making these areas conducive to its transmission. 
• The World Health Organization (WHO) underscores that bubonic plague is the most common form of plague and can be fatal if not treated promptly.

• Air India, Tata Group-owned airline unveiled its new logo, branding, and plane livery at the rebranding event held in New Delhi, Delhi. 
• The new logo called ‘The Vista’ was inspired by the peak of the gold window frame that signifies the limitless possibilities, progressiveness, and Air India’s bold, confident outlook for the future.
• The Vista replaces old logo “Wheel of Konark”, a red swan adorned with the distinctive orange Konark Chakra.
• Air India’s new aircraft livery and design features a palette of deep red, aubergine, and gold highlights and a chakra-inspired pattern.
• In December 2022, the Tata Group took a step towards the rebranding of Air India by enlisting the services of Futurebrands, a brand and design consultancy based in London, the United Kingdom (UK).

• Under the Defence Testing Infrastructure (DTI) scheme, India’s first drone common testing centre will be established in Tamil Nadu.
• It will be established across an area of 2.3 acres at the SIPCOT Industrial Park, Vallam Vadagal near Sriperumbudur. It will be set up at an estimated cost of ₹45 crore.
• At present, the testing for UAS (Drones) is conducted component-wise at various centres. It reduces efficiency and increases cost.
• This testing centre will enable Tamil Nadu to become a preferred destination for aerospace and defence companies, who are looking to establish their Indian operations.
• The testing centre will help in achieving self-reliance goal of India in the aerospace and defence sectors.
• The Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO) had floated a request for a proposal to identify industrial partners for establishing this testing centre.
• A consortium of companies comprising Keltron, Sense Image Technologies, Standards Testing and Compliance, and Avishka Retailers have been selected as partner of TIDCO for establishing this centre.
• TIDCO is the nodal agency responsible for the implementation of the Tamil Nadu Defence Industrial Corridor (TNDIC).

• Typhoon Lan made landfall in Japan, August 15, bringing heavy rain and strong winds.
• Lan is the seventh tropical storm of the season and is prevailing over the Pacific Ocean near central Japan.
• The typhoon made landfall near Shionomisaki in Wakayama prefecture, about 400 kilometers southwest of Tokyo. It had maximum sustained winds of 160 kilometers per hour (100 miles per hour), equivalent to a Category 2 hurricane.
• Typhoon Lan, known in the Philippines as Super Typhoon Paolo, was the third-most intense tropical cyclone worldwide in 2017.

• V.S. Arunachalam, a prominent scientist and instrumental figure in India’s nuclear program, has died at the age of 87. 
• He was known for his leadership roles at the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), he played a crucial role in shaping India’s defense capabilities.
• V.S. Arunachalam was a prominent scientist who played a key role in India’s nuclear program and defense capabilities. 
• He held leadership positions at several prestigious institutions, including the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), the National Aeronautical Laboratory, and the Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory.
• In 1982, Arunachalam was appointed as the Scientific Advisor to the Defence Minister. He held this position until 1992.
• Arunachalam was a recipient of several prestigious awards, including the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award, the Padma Bhushan, and the Padma Vibhushan. He was also the first Indian Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering (UK).
• In 2015, Arunachalam was awarded DRDO’s Lifetime Achievement Award for his outstanding contribution to the field of scientific research and technology.

• Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in collaboration with Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE) successfully conducted a series of Drogue Parachute Deployment Tests to qualify the drogue parachutes, affirming their preparedness for integration into the Test Vehicle Demonstration (TV-D1) under the Gaganyaan mission.
• The tests were held at the Rail Track Rocket Sled (RTRS) facility of the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory of DRDO, Chandigarh.
• Distinguished by their conical ribbon-style configuration with diameter of 5.8 metres, these drogue parachutes find their place within pyro-based devices called mortars.
• Ingeniously engineered, these devices are designed to precisely expel the parachutes into the atmosphere upon receiving the command.
• In March 2023, RTRS tests for the Pilot and Apex cover separation parachutes were carried out, further underscoring the advancement of the Gaganyaan mission’s parachute system development.

• The Tamil Nadu government and Racing Promotions Private Limited (RRPL) have launched a new street circuit in Chennai. 
• The 3.5km track will be located around the Island Grounds and will be the first-ever street circuit in India and South Asia to host a night race.
• The track will have elevation changes and 19 corners, including multiple chicanes. It will also offer stunning views of the Marina Beach Road and the Bay of Bengal.
• The event is scheduled to be held on December 9-10 and will feature the F4 Indian Championship and the Indian Racing League. The SDAT will be investing Rs 42 crore to host the event.
• The launch of the new street circuit is a major boost for motorsport in India. It will help to raise the profile of the sport and attract more fans and sponsors. It is also expected to boost tourism in Chennai.

• Kannauj has become the first district in Uttar Pradesh to introduce an e-office system at its collectorate. 
• E-office is a workflow-based system that extends features of existing manual handling of files in addition to the more efficient electronic system.
• “E-office is a tool to create a simplified, accountable, effective and transparent work culture in offices. 
• This rids offices of unnecessary paperwork and preserves files electronically in a safer manner.

• To strengthen the relationship, India handed over a substitute Dornier maritime surveillance aircraft to Sri Lanka.
• The aircraft was handed over by High Commissioner to the Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor to the President celebrating 77th Independence Day.
• The India-made Dornier is the second such aircraft to be deployed with SLAF on lease under a Government of India grant. 
• It replaces the first Indian Navy Dornier aircraft which returned to India for scheduled maintenance after one year of service since its ceremonial handing over to Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe exactly one year ago, on August 15, 2022.

• England all-rounder Chris Woakes was named the ICC Men’s Player of the Month for July 2023. 
• The Englishman beat compatriot Zak Crawley and Netherlands’ Bas de Leede to claim the honour.
• Australia’s prolific all-rounder Ashleigh Gardner becomes the first player to win back-to-back awards, claiming her fourth ICC Women’s Player of the Month prize following another scintillating set of performances against England and Ireland in July.
• England seamer Chris Woakes wins the ICC Men’s Player of the Month award for his fruitful contributions with the ball, helping his side claw back a two-nil deficit to close out their Ashes series on level terms.
• Gardner’s latest triumph sees her overcome Nat Sciver-Brunt and compatriot Ellyse Perry who were also shortlisted for their stellar performances in July.

• Raj Chetty, an Indian-American economist, and Michael Springer, a biologist, have been awarded Harvard University’s George Ledlie Prize for their groundbreaking work in their respective fields.
• Chetty, a professor of economics at Harvard University, is known for his work on economic mobility.
• Springer, a professor of systems biology at Harvard Medical School, is known for his work on developing new diagnostic tests. 
• He was instrumental in developing a faster and more accurate COVID-19 test, which has helped to improve the fight against the pandemic. 
• He also helped to design and operate the new Harvard University Clinical Laboratory (HUCL), which has managed testing and samples for the university community.
• The George Ledlie Prize is awarded by the President and Fellows of Harvard College to a member of the Harvard community who has made the most valuable contribution to science, or in any way for the benefit of mankind. It is awarded no more frequently than every two years.

• The Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) Secretary, Shri Alkesh Kumar Sharma, inaugurated the ‘Graphene-Aurora Program’ at Maker Village Kochi, Kerala. 
• The initiative, executed by Digital University Kerala, receives joint funding from MeitY, Government of Kerala, and industry partners, including Carborundum Pvt Limited. 
• With a budget of Rs 94.85 Crore, the program aims to foster innovation and commercialization of graphene technologies.
• The establishment of a not-for-profit company called ‘India Graphene Engineering and Innovation Centre (I-GEIC)’ will bridge the gap between research and commercialization, supporting startups and industries. 
• The program’s focus on emerging graphene technology is expected to position India as a leader in the global new materials market.

• The Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML) has officially been renamed as the Prime Ministers' Museum and Library Society with effect from August 14.
• The Teen Murti Bhavan had served as the official residence of India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
• Prime Minister Shri Modi had mooted the idea of setting up of a museum dedicated to all the Prime Ministers of India on Teen Murti Premises, New Delhi in 2016.
• The project was completed and the Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya was opened to the public on 21st April 2022.

• India's debut long-range revolver, "Prabal," is poised for launch on August 18. 
• The revolver is manufactured by the state-owned enterprise Advanced Weapons and Equipment India (AWEIL), based in Kanpur. 
• Distinguished by its .32 bore, the Prabal revolver boasts an impressive firing range of up to 50 meters, more than twice the reach of other Revolver in India.
• In contrast, Prabal excels with a range of 50 meters. 
• Weighing merely 700 grams (excluding cartridges), it boasts a barrel length of 76 mm and an overall length of 177.6 mm.
• Founded in 2021, Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Limited (AWEIL) is a government-owned entity located in the Armapur locality of Kanpur.

• President Droupadi Murmu approved 76 Gallantry awards to Armed Forces and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) personnel on the eve of the 77th Independence Day, including four Kirti Chakra (all posthumous) and 11 Shaurya Chakras (five posthumous). 
• While all Kirti Chakra recipients belong to the central reserve police force (CRPF), Shaurya Chakra will be conferred to armed forces personnel as well as CAPF personnel. 
• Shaurya Chakra is the peacetime equivalent of the Vir Chakra, the third-highest wartime military bravery award.
• The President has also approved 30 Mention-in-Despatches to the Army, including to Army dog Madhu (Posthumous), and one to Air Force personnel for their significant contributions in different military operations. 
• The operations include Operation Rakshak, Operation Snow Leopard, Operation Casualty Evacuation, Operation Mount Chomo, Operation Pangsau Pass, Operation Meghdoot, Operation Orchid, Operation Kalisham Valley, Rescue Operation and Operation Evacuation.
• President has also approved one President's Tatrakshak Medal and five Tatrakshak Medals to the Indian Coast Guard personnel for their act of conspicuous gallantry, exceptional devotion to duty and distinguished service.
• These awards are given to the personnel of the Indian Coast Guard on the occasion of Republic Day and Independence Day every year since 26th January, 1990.

• Recently Maharashtra has taken the lead in the Fiscal Health Report by demonstrating impressive financial stability. 
• Interestingly, Chhattisgarh, a state that is typically linked with economic difficulties, has surprisingly claimed the second spot in the rankings.
• The Fiscal Health Report’s assessment is based on four crucial fiscal parameters: Fiscal Deficit, Own Tax Revenue, State Debt Levels, and Interest Payment to Revenue Receipts.
• Despite its reputation as one of the economically challenged states in the nation, Chhattisgarh’s second-place ranking in the Fiscal Health Report is raising eyebrows.
• The Fiscal Health Report highlights the challenging fiscal situations of Bengal, Punjab, Bihar, Rajasthan, and Kerala.
• These states demonstrate vulnerability to debt sustainability risks due to weak fiscal and debt metrics, a concern predating the pandemic.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had issued a warning to states about these risks in a June 2022 report.

• Manchanahalli Rangaswamy Satyanarayana Rao, popularly known as MRS Rao, an eminent Indian scientist and Padma Shri awardee, died of cardiac arrest at his residence in Tata Nagar in Bengaluru.
• He was well known for his discipline, scientific knowledge, patience, soft-spoken nature and mentorship of PhD students.
• Prior to his demise, he was working as an Honorary Professor at the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research and was actively running the Chromatin Biology laboratory in the institute.
• He was honoured with the Padma Sri award in 2010 for his contributions to the field of science and engineering.
• He was also honoured by the Karnataka state government with the Sir MV Visvesvaraya Award for his contribution to the field of science and research.
• He was the President of the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, from 2003-13.

• Anwarul Haq Kakar, a prominent ethnic Pushtun leader with close ties to the influential military, has taken the oath as the country’s caretaker prime minister.
• Kakar is distinguished as the youngest interim Prime Minister in the history of Pakistan
• Anwar ul Haq Kakar is an ethnic Pashtun and holds affiliation with the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP).
• In a prior capacity, he served as the spokesperson for the Balochistan provincial administration in 2013, which provided him with valuable insights into regional governance.
• Anwar ul Haq Kakar undertook the position of a Senator in the Pakistani Senate in March 2018. 
• He secured his Senate seat as an independent candidate through general seat representation from Balochistan during the 2018 Pakistani Senate elections.

• Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has appointed R Doraiswamy as the managing director.
• Doraiswamy is currently the executive director at the central office in Mumbai.
• He has been appointed as managing director of LIC in place of Ipe Mini with effect from the date of assumption of charge of the office on or after September 1, 2023, and up to the date of his superannuation on August 31, 2026, or until further orders.
• The FSIB is headed by Bhanu Pratap Sharma, former secretary, of the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT).

• IPS officer Shatrujeet Singh Kapoor will be the new Hrayana Director General of police (DGP). 
• He will succeed PK Agarwal.
• Kapoor is a 1990 batch IPS officer.
• The Haryana government has issued the orders.
• PK Aggarwal retired on August 15. He was given a warm send-off by the Haryana Police academy.

• Padma Awardee and renowned nuclear physicist Bikash Chandra Sinha (aged 78) passed away in Kolkata due to age related ailments. He was born in Kandi, Murshidabad, West Bengal in 1945.
• He served as the chairman of the board of governors, National Institute of Technology (NIT) Durgapur, West Bengal (WB).
• He was a member of the Scientific Advisory Council of the Prime Minister of India from 2005 to 2009 and also nominated to the council again in 2009.
• He was also served as the President of the Indian Physics Association from 2007 to 2010.
• He was honoured with Padma Shri in 2001 and Padma Bhushan in 2010 in the Science & Engineering field.

• Police Medal for Gallantry (PMG) has been awarded to 229 personnel. One member of CRPF personnel has been given President’s Police Medal for Gallantry (PPMG).
• The President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service (PPM) has been awarded to 82 and the Police Medal for Meritorious Service (PM) to 642 officers.
• Out of 230 Gallantry Awards, 125 officers have been selected from Left Wing Extremism–affected areas and 71 from Jammu and Kashmir region and 11 from the North East region.
• Among the personnel who received Gallantry Awards, 28 are from the CRPF; 33 are from Maharashtra, 55 are from Jammu and Kashmir police and 24 are from Chhattisgarh.
• President's Police Medal for Distinguished Service (PPM) is awarded for a special distinguished record in Police Service.
• The Police Medal for Meritorious Service (PM) is given for valuable service characterized by resource and devotion to duty.

• The Ministry of Railways is undertaking a noteworthy effort to create Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBJKs) at railway stations across the nation.
• The core goal of this initiative is to guarantee the accessibility of high-quality medicines to the general populace, while also ensuring affordability.
• This well-thought-out choice is designed to establish a strong basis for enhanced availability of Janaushadhi products, catering to both travelers and individuals visiting these busy stations.
• The locations for PMBJKs will be identified by Railway Divisions, and the stalls will be allocated through an E-auctioning process facilitated by the Indian Railways E-Procurement System (IREPS).
• The design of these stalls is entrusted to the esteemed National Institute of Design (NID) Ahmedabad.

• India celebrated its 77th Independence Day on 15 August.
• "Nation First, Always First" is the theme of this year’s Independence Day.
• Around 1,800 special guests including sarpanches, Khadi workers, primary school teachers, and nurses have been invited to this year’s Independence Day celebrations in New Delhi.
• This initiative has been taken in line with the Government’s vision of ‘Jan Bhagidari’.
• On August 15, 1947, India become Independence after 200-year-old British rule came to an end.

• President Droupadi Murmu will launch Vindhyagiri, a Project 17A Frigate, on 17 August 2023 in Kolkata.
• Named after a mountain range in Karnataka, Vindhyagiri is the sixth ship of the Project 17A frigates. 
• Under the Project 17A programme, four ships by Mumbai-based Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) and three by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited (GRSE) are under construction.
• The project’s first five ships were launched by MDL and GRSE, between 2019-2022.
• INS Vindhyagiri—which was the sixth and last of the Nilgiri class frigates—in its nearly 31 years of service from 8 July 1981 to 11 June 2012, had seen many multinational exercises and performed maritime surveillance, coastal patrol and anti-piracy operations. 
• It was decommissioned after being damaged in an accident with a merchant vessel in 2011.

• The first WHO Traditional Medicine Global Summit is set to unfold on August 17 and 18, 2023, in the city of Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India.
• This event will intertwine with the G20 health ministerial meeting, creating a dynamic platform aimed at galvanizing both political commitment and evidence-based actions in the realm of traditional medicine.
• The Global Summit will be jointly orchestrated by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Government of India, which presently holds the esteemed presidency of the G20 for the year 2023.
• In the wake of surging global interest and demand, WHO in March 2022, fortified by the support of the Government of India, unveiled the WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine.
• This pivotal knowledge hub operates with the mission to synthesize timeless wisdom and contemporary science, forging a path towards enhanced health and well-being for people and the planet.

• The Indian Air Force has welcomed its most recent Heron Mark 2 drones into service, featuring the capability for strikes and comprehensive border surveillance along the frontiers with China and Pakistan in a single mission. 
• These four newly acquired Heron Mark 2 drones, which possess the capacity to be armed with long-range missiles and various weaponry, have been stationed at a forward air base in the northern region.
• An upgraded iteration of the Heron Mark-1, the Heron Mark-2, has been introduced following the Heron Mark-1's active service with the IAF since 2009. 
• This medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) drone, the Heron Mark-2, boasts a remarkable range of 3,000 kilometers and the ability to operate for up to 24 hours. 
• Its arsenal of sensors encompasses a synthetic aperture radar (SAR), an electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) camera, and a laser designator.
• The IAF now has a fleet of MALE drones, including the Heron Mark-1, the Predator XP, and the MQ-9 Reaper.

• Gujarat Chief Minister (CM) Bhupendra Patel launched the Sinh Suchna Web application on the occasion of World Lion day.
• The purpose of the mobile app is to help the state forest department track the movement of lions to prevent incidents of human-animal conflict.
• He also launched two books namely ‘The King of Jungle – Asiatic Lions of Gir’, written by Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer Sakkira Begum and ‘Hu Gir no Savaj’ by Shri Arvind Goswami.
• The Asiatic lions comprise the world’s second most population of wild lions after African lions.
• In recognition of endangered status on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)’s Red List of threatened species, the Union government has allocated Rs 2,900 crore under Project Lion for the conservation of Asiatic lions.

• New Amravati Railway Station (Amaravti, Maharashtra) became the 3rd station within Central Railway (CR) and the 1st station in Bhusaval Division of CR to be designated as a Pink Station, fully managed by women staff.
• Central Railway became the first zone of the Indian Railways to set up all women managed station.
• Matunga suburban station in Mumbai division became the 1st railway station in India to be operated by an all-woman staff in July 2017, followed by Ajni station in the Nagpur division in 2018.
• The Ministry of Railways has granted in-principle approval for the closure of ‘Bastar Railway Private Limited (BRPL), a joint venture (JV) of NMDC Limited, IRCON International Ltd., Steel Authority of India Ltd. (SAIL) and Chhattisgarh Mineral Development Corporation Ltd. (CMDC).

• The Uttar Pradesh government has announced to set up the country's largest IT hub in Lucknow.
• The IT hub will be located on 40 acres of land in the Nadarganj Industrial Area of Amausi on Kanpur Road.
• The hub will be divided into three parts: IT Park, Business Park, and International Incubation Facility Center.
• According to the blueprint of the IT Hub, IT Park is to be constructed on 11.47 acres while the Business Park will be developed on 7.4 acres.
• Apart from this, the International Incubation Facility Center will be built on 6.9 acres.

• Indian hockey team has won the Asian Champions Trophy 2023. India defeated Malaysia 4-3 in the final match played in Chennai on 12 August 2023.
• The Indian team has won the Asian Champions Trophy title for the fourth time. Now it has become the team to win the title of this tournament for the maximum number of times, India has defeated Pakistan in this matter, which won the title on three occasions. Apart from India-Pakistan, only Korea has won this tournament on one occasion, Korea won the title in the year 2021 season.

• Myra Grover, author and secretary of the New Delhi Social Workers Association (NDSWA), has been awarded with the esteemed Women Icon Award as author on Mental Wellness by the House of Lords, UK Parliament.
• The award ceremony, held recently, was a remarkable recognition of her contributions to society.
• The award ceremony took place at the distinguished House of Lords, UK Parliament, symbolizing its international significance.
• The event received the support of Meenakshi Lekhi, the Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture, Government of India, as the Chief Guest.

• Union Home Minister Amit Shah praised the team of NCRB's National Automated Fingerprint Identification System (NAFIS) for winning the gold award under excellence in government process reengineering for digital transformation category-1 of the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG)
• Union Home Minister congratulated the team of National Automated Fingerprint Identification System (NAFIS) makes its mark as the shining example of efficient governance as it wins DAPRG's gold award in Category-1.
• The award for its excellence in delivering e-governance is a recognition of the dedication the entire NAFIS team has put into creating a fool-proof fingerprint identification system.

• Arunachal Pradesh government allotted 12 hydropower projects to three Central Government PSUs by signing a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with them at State Banquet Hall in Itanagar
• The MoAs were signed in the presence of Union Power Minister R. K. Singh, Chief Minister Pema Khandu and Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein.

• Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog in collaboration with the Indian Space Research Organisation has launched the National Space Innovation Challenge (NSIC) 2023 for all school students across the country. 
• Students of classes 5 to 12 have been given an open platform till 20th September. They can innovate and enable themselves to solve modern-day space technology problems.
• NSIC is a national-level campaign designed to ignite next generation space enthusiasts to understand and contribute towards growing Indian space economy and future space workforce.

• Reserve Bank of India has proposed to launch an innovative payment mode viz., “Conversational Payments” on UPI.
• It will enable users to engage in a conversation with an Artificial Intelligence-powered system to initiate and complete transactions in a safe and secure environment.
• This channel will be made available in both smartphones and feature phones-based UPI channels, thereby helping in the deepening of digital penetration in the country.
• Initially the facility will be available in Hindi and English and will subsequently be made available in more Indian languages. Central Bank has also proposed to use Near Field Communication (NFC) technology in UPI transaction.

• The Centre has moved a Bill in Rajya Sabha to change the Supreme Court Constitution bench judgment on appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and the Election Commissioners.
• The Bill states that the Selection Committee to appoint the CEC and the ECs will comprise the Prime Minister, the leader of the opposition in Lok Sabha and a Cabinet minister to be nominated by the Prime Minister.

• The One District One Product (ODOP) program, an initiative under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce & Industry, aims at manifesting the vision of the Prime Minister to make the country and its people self-reliant by fostering balanced regional development across all districts of the country.
• The program selects, brands, and promotes one unique product from each district, showcasing the diverse range of products across the country which encompasses various sectors, including handlooms and handicrafts.

• The Prime Minister was speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony of the memorial and temple of Sant Ravidas at Badtuma near Sagar in Madhya Pradesh.
• Sant Shiromani Gurudev Shri Ravidas ji Memorial will have grandeur as well as divinity which will flow from the teaching of Sant Ravidas ji.
• The temple will be built in Nagar style in 10,000 square feet and a museum will also be built to display the work and personality of Sant Ravidas. Four galleries, a library, Sangat Hall, Jal Kund and a Bhakt Niwas will also be there.The temple will have two grand entrances and lighting arrangements.
• During the Mughal era, it was Sant Ravidas ji who was creating awareness and preaching ways to ward off evils of the society.

• The Assembly on 9 August 2023, unanimously passed a resolution urging the Central government to officially change the name of the State from Kerala to Keralam.
• The Assembly sought an amendment to the Constitution, which too refers the State as Kerala, in this regard.
• Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan presented the contents of resolution in the House under Rule 118 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Kerala Legislative Assembly.
• While Keralam is the accepted and common usage in Malayalam, the State is generally referred to as Kerala in official records, especially those in English. The First Schedule of the Constitution also specifies the name of the State as Kerala.
• ‘’The name of State is Keralam in Malayalam language. States were formed based on language on November 1, 1956. Kerala Day is also on November 1. The need to unite Kerala for the Malayalam-speaking communities has been strongly evident since the time of the national freedom struggle. However, the name of our State is listed as Kerala in the First Schedule of the Constitution.
• Article 3 deals with the formation of new States and alteration of areas, boundaries or names of existing States.
• The resolution also urges the Centre to change the usage as Keralam in all languages mentioned under the Eighth Schedule.

• Telangana IT and Industries Minister K Taraka Ramarao has launched India’s first Agricultural Data Exchange (ADeX) and Agriculture Data Management Framework (ADMF) in Hyderabad.
• The ADeX has been developed as a digital public infrastructure (DPI) for the agriculture sector and is a collaboration between the State Government, the World Economic Forum, and the Indian Institute of Science.
• ADeX and ADMF provide the right platform to ensure fair and efficient usage of agricultural data by the industry and startups and provide a big boost to the data economy specifically in the agriculture sector.

• Virat Kohli is the third-richest athlete on Instagram, commands Rs 11.45 cr per post
• He is the only Indian in the top 20 list published by Hopper HQ.
• The former Indian skipper is third only to Cristiano Ronaldo who has topped the list with 596,848,846 followers, and Lionel Messi who has 479,268,484 followers, in the 2023 Instagram Rich List. Ronaldo commands $3,234,000 or Rs 26.76 crore per post and Messi commands $2,597,000 or Rs 21.49 crore for a post. 

• Commander (Eastern Seaboard) S Paramesh has been appointed as Additional Director General Coast Guard at Indian Coast Guard Headquarters, New Delhi.
• The Flag Officer was at the helm of Coast Guard Region (East), Coast Guard Region (West), and Coast Guard Commander (Eastern Seaboard) before assuming Additional Director General Coast Guard.
• The Flag Officer is an alumnus of the National Defence College, New Delhi, and Defence Services Staff College, Wellington.

• As on 31.07.2023, six BioCNG plants and 11,143 small biogas plants have been commissioned under the National Bioenergy Programme.
• The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy notified the National Bioenergy Programme (NBP) in November, 2022 for the period 01.04.2021 to 31.03.2026.
• This programme, with a budgetary outlay of Rs. 1715 Crore. It shall be implemented in two phases.

• Skill development agency NSDC said that a new skill centre has been inaugurated at the AIIMS, Bathinda. The centre, which has been opened as part of an agreement between NSDC International (NSDCI) and AIIMS, will upskill nursing candidates to make them job-ready in the global market.
• This partnership aims at enhancing the skills and capabilities of Indian nursing candidates.

• The Government of India set the minimum monthly sales quota for sugar mills at 90% of their allocated quota to prevent mills from selling either more or significantly less than what they are allocated each month.
• The move is aimed at keeping sugar prices in check ahead of the festival season.

• Airtel Payments Bank (APB) has announced the launch of an eco-friendly debit card for its new and existing customers with a savings bank account, becoming the first Indian Bank to launch such a card.
• Airtel Payments Bank is India's only profitable multi-segment fintech operating at scale with a banking license. 

• HCLTech will be Verizon Business's primary collaborator in all deployments involving MNS globally for enterprise customers, both companies said in a joint statement.
• The deal has an estimated new total contract value (TCV) of $ 2.1 billion for a duration of six years.

• India has embarked on an ambitious trajectory to amplify its existing 6% share of natural gas in the energy amalgam to a formidable 15% by 2030, as the government presses forward with a suite of comprehensive measures.
•  These include the expansion of the National Gas Grid Pipeline, expansion of the City Gas Distribution (CGD) network, setting up of LNG Terminals, etc.

• The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) on Thursday approved the merger scheme of India’s homegrown entertainment company Zee Entertainment Enterprises with Culver Max Entertainment (erstwhile Sony Pictures Networks India or SPNI).
• NCLT is a quasi-judicial body in India that adjudicates issues relating to Indian companies. It was created in 2016 under the Companies Act.

• The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) proposed to review the framework for borrowings by large corporates.
• The regulator proposed to raise the threshold for large corporates to ₹500 crore from the current ₹100 crore.
• It was felt that the threshold should be aligned with the threshold of high-value debt-listed entities to have uniformity in the regulations.

•  India and Taiwan are working on a migration and mobility agreement for greater collaboration and movement of skilled professionals between their technology industries. 
•  An agreement may also cover sectors like agriculture and manufacturing. Taiwan’s skills in semiconductor manufacturing and advanced technologies could fit well with India’s large pool of technology talent. 

1. Star athlete Jyothi Yarraji won India's first ever bronze medal in the women's 100m hurdles at the World University Games in China.
2. England batsman Alex Hales has announced his retirement from international cricket at the age of 34.
3. Neeraj Chopra to lead Indian contingent at World Athletics Championships 2023 in Budapest, with Ministry funding 28 athletes for the event.

Jayesh Saini honored with Global Leader Award 2023 for pioneering healthcare growth in Africa through LifeCare Group.

1. On the 18th day of the Tamil month Aadi all the people of South India celebrated Aadi Perukku, the monsoon festival in a grand way.
2. The Geographical Indications Registry in Chennai granted the Geographical Indication (GI) tag to seven products from various regions of India, including four from Rajasthan.
3. The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal launched Port Health Organisation (PHO) module under Sagar Setu - National Logistics Portal (Marine).
4. Parliament passed the Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2023.
5. 31.14 lakhs handicraft artisans have been registered under PEHCHAN scheme across the country to benefit of this programme.
6. Parliament has passed the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023 which seeks to give control over Delhi's administrative services to the Centre.
7. Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman laid the foundation stone for an archaeological museum in Adichanallur in the Thoothukudi district.
8. The Ministry of Tourism has identified ‘Prayag raj’ and ‘Naimisharanya’ in Uttar Pradesh as destinations for development under ‘Swadesh Darshan 2.0.
9. PM Modi inaugurates 9th National Handloom Day, launching 'Textiles and Crafts Fund' e-portal and uniting stakeholders for handloom sector growth.
10. PM Modi initiates Rs 24,470 crore redevelopment of 508 railway stations for enhanced passenger experience and modern amenities.
11. Study In India portal launched to boost global appeal of Indian education and enhance convenience for international students.
12. India's Ministry of Minority Affairs initiated the 'Free Coaching and Allied' scheme, offering free coaching to economically disadvantaged minority students for technical, professional, and competitive entrance exams.
13. The National Centre for Good Governance (NCGG) concluded its 2-week training for the 26th batch of Maldivian civil servants, aiming to enhance skills and governance capabilities under a MoU with the Government of Maldives.
14. Bharat Dynamics Limited hands over first 'RF Seeker of Akash-NG Missile' to DRDO
15. President Draupadi Murmu inaugurated the Library Festival 2023 in New Delhi.
16. "Bihar forms 'Rhino Task Force' to reintroduce rhino conservation in Valmiki Tiger Reserve and boost the rhino population."

31st edition of Exercise Malabar, involving India, Australia, Japan, and the US, to take place in Sydney from August 11-21, followed by India-Australia bilateral naval exercise AUSINDEX.

Renowned Telangana folk singer Gaddar passed away at 77 due to ill-health.

1. NABARD has sanctioned Rs 1,974.07 crore to the Rajasthan government under the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) for 2023-24.
2. Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel disburses Rs 15+ crores to beneficiaries under Godhan Nyay Yojana, promoting rural development through cow dung and urine utilization.

1. PM Modi to take part in BRICS Johannesburg meet on on Aug. 22-24.
2. In the 18th summit of the G20 nations, US-based Indiaspora will host a G20 Forum in New Delhi from August 22 to 24.
3. Cambodia's king Norodom Sihamoni, has approved the government's nomination of Hun Manet to become the next Prime Minister.
4. IUCN Species Survival Commission has partnered with Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) to set up the first-ever Center for Species Survival in South Asia.
5. World's Largest Grain Storage Plan in Cooperative Sector to empower farmers.

• Aditi Swami has become the first Indian woman to win an individual women's title at the World Archery Championships in Berlin, Germany.
• Aditi won the gold medal by defeating Andrea Becerra of Mexico in the final of the compound event.
• In the men's individual compound event, India's Ojas Deol defeated Poland Lucas to win the gold medal.

• Jio Haptik has been honored with the Tech Startup of the Year (Artificial Intelligence) award at the prestigious 13th Annual Entrepreneur India Awards.
• Swapan Rajdev, Haptik’s co-founder & CTO, received the award as the ceremony organized by Entrepreneur India, in media partnership with Entrepreneur magazine and Entrepreneur.com, was held at the Hotel JW Marriott, Aerocity, New Delhi.
• Jio Haptik emerged as the winner of the Tech Startup of the Year in AI from 1000 other entries for the same award, highlighting the company’s distinctive contribution to the technology landscape.

• Subhash Runwal, Chairman – Runwal, a leading real estate developer with a legacy of over four decades, was recognized with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the first-ever RICS South Asia Awards.
• RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) is a global industry body representing professionals across the country. Hosting its first-ever awards, it aimed to recognize global and Indian industry-leading achievements and demonstrate the upholding of the highest standards of professionalism and ethics by individuals and teams across built and natural environments.
• The award ceremony was graced by Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport & Highways, Govt. of India at The Lalit, Delhi.

• The Supreme Court on 10 August 2023, announced the launch of portal 'SuSwagatam', which would enable advocates, litigants, interns and others to register themselves online and request for e-passes to enter the apex court.
• 'Suswagatam' is a web-based and mobile friendly application that allows users to register themselves online and request for e-passes for various purposes such as attending court hearings, meeting lawyers.

• India Startup Festival 2023 begins in Bengaluru, hosting over 10,000 global startups
• The event is being organized by the Indian Startup Foundation, a not-for-profit organization supporting the growth and development of Indian startups.
• During the event, top 100 startups will be meticulously handpicked by the startup panel as finalists, giving them an exclusive opportunity to pitch on the big stage and obtain investment. The top 10 startups will get financial awards and mentoring from senior business people in their respective industries.
• This festival is complementary to the other initiatives established by the government which includes Startup India, Digital India, Make-in-India, etc, which will advance startups in their missions and drive towards an Atmanirbhar Bharat. The event taking place in India's Silicon Valley, the centre for the world-class technology emerging from India, will give entrepreneurs ground-breaking exposure and assist them in going worldwide with their goods and services.

• Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) Secretary Shri Alkesh Kumar Sharma launched the indigenous Technology of Hybrid Green Energy Microgrid for Electrical energy requirements of the Rural communities developed by C-DAC, Thiruvananthapuram, as part of National Mission on Power Electronics Technology (NaMPET) Program, here at Elephant Rehabilitation Centre (ERC), Kottoor, Thiruvananthapuram.
• MeitY is prioritising and  putting enormous efforts to realise unique technology development and deployments through  C-DAC. The reliable green energy based microgrid seems to be providing the power solution for critical systems in the Veterinary hospital systems in ERC.
• The initiative and support being provided by forest department for technology evaluation is appreciable. Green technology is effectively being used in the rehabilitation of wild animals also here. The system shall be used for dissemination of such advanced technologies to the society especially the younger generation and school children.
• Microgrid: A renewable energy microgrid is an autonomous, localised and self-contained energy system that incorporates renewable energy sources as its primary generation inputs. The major building blocks of a renewable energy microgrid include various components and systems that work together to generate, store, manage, and distribute energy in a localized and sustainable manner.

• SAIL achieved its best ever Q1 performance with respect to Productions and Sales.
• The company registered a growth in the Crude Steel Production and Sales Volumes by 8% and 23% respectively over CPLY (corresponding period last year).Despite increase in volumes, the turnover has increased by 1% due to decline in price realization.
• With the coking coal prices stabilizing and the market outlook positive for sustained consumption growth in the country, margins are likely to improve going forward. The Company is also taking up debottlenecking and efficiency improvement projects to shore up the profitability in the medium term.

• To celebrate the National Independence Day, a Tiranga Bike Rally with Members of Parliament and Ministers was organized in the morning on 11th August 2023 at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi. Ministry of Culture  organised this rally. Vice President of India Jagdeep Dhankhar flagged off Tiranga Bike Rally.
• To celebrate the National Independence Day, a Tiranga Bike Rally with Members of Parliament and Ministers was organized in the morning on 11th August 2023 at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi. Ministry of Culture  organised this rally. Vice President of India Jagdeep Dhankhar flagged off Tiranga Bike Rally.
• Celebrating 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav', “Har Ghar Tiranga” will be celebrated across the Nation from 13th August 2023 to 15th August 2023. In this celebration, people will be encouraged to hoist flags in their premises.

• On the occasion of, World Lion Day, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel virtually launched Lion Anthem’ and unveiled the Sinh Suchna' Web App.
• Addressing the occasion, CM said the conservation of Asiatic lions in the state is one of top priorities of his government.
• Mr Patel said PM Narendra Modi has launched Lion @ 47: Vision for Amrutkal” which aims to secure & restore lions’ habitats.
• The CM informed that under project lion which has been launched to protect Asiatic lions in Gir, various infrastructure facilities are being developed for the rescue and treatment of lions and better monitor their movement with the help of technology.

The 5th meeting of India-Vietnam Joint Trade Sub-Commission JTSC was held in New Delhi on 8 August 2023.

Vietnam is the 23rd largest global trade partner of India and the 5th largest among ASEAN countries with bilateral trade of 14.70 Billion dollars during 2022-23.

Vietnam accounts for 11.2 percent of India’s total trade with ASEAN. Vietnam is an important destination for India’s iron and steel and agricultural and animal products mainly meat products, animal fodder, cereals, and marine products.

• The mysterious condition known as 'Havana Syndrome' has been puzzling doctors and scientists for years, and it appears that India may be the latest country to be affected by it.
• The syndrome has been making headlines after the Indian Government announced it would look into the condition, following reports of possible cases in India.

• The Srinagar District has been Ranked as the top performing District under Jal Jeevan Survekshan(JJS-2023) among 114 Har Ghar Jal Certified districts across the Country in the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission(JJM) during October, 01, 2022 to June 30, 2023.
• The Srinagar District has attained the top rank in implementation of JJM by obtaining highest score of 83.0.

• Unclaimed deposits worth Rs 48,461.44 crore pertaining to 16,79,32,112 accounts have been transferred by the banks to Depositor Education & Awareness Fund as on March 31, 2023, informed to the Parliament.
• The Central Government introduced the Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF) to protect investors’ interests and promote awareness.

• William Friedkin, the renowned American filmmaker behind iconic movies of the 1970s such as “The French Connection” and “The Exorcist,” has passed away in Loss Angeles.
• Friedkin's exceptional contributions to cinema were highlighted by his Academy Award victory for best director in 1972 for "The French Connection."

• Fair trade regulator Competition Commission of India (CCI) approved the merger of Tata Cleantech Capital and Tata Capital Financial Services into Tata Capital Ltd.
• Tata Capital Financial Services (TCFSL) and Tata Cleantech Capital Ltd are RBI-registered non-deposit accepting non-banking financial companies. Both companies are subsidiaries of Tata Capital Ltd (TCL).

• The Indian Banks' Association (IBA) has constituted a sectoral committee for member banks operating within the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City).
• It is constitute to address the unique regulatory landscape and challenges faced by banks operating within GIFT City.
• The committee will act as a bridge between the banking industry and regulators.

• NTPC Renewable Energy Limited (NREL) is the successful bidder for 80 MW Floating Solar capacity at Omkareshwar Reservoir, Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh.
• After completion of this project, the floating solar capacity of NTPC shall be 342 MW.
• The biggest floating solar project in the country is of 100 MW capacity located at NTPC Ramagundam in Telangana.

• Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has been chosen as a strategic partner to transform the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) by bringing in more transparency and efficiency into the public procurement process.
• In May 2023, TCS-led a consortium which bagged a $1.8-billion deal from the government-owned telco Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) to deploy 4G network.

• NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) has collaborated with Tata Play & launched GSAT-24, a 4-tonne class communication satellite built by ISRO for providing DTH services.
• Currently Tata Play has 600 channels. With the inclusion of ISRO satellite, it would be able to transmit 900 channels benefitting the general public.
• Chairman & Managing Director NSIL Shri Radhakrishnan Durairaj.
• Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman: Shri S. Somanath.

• India is all set to initiate the BRICS Startup Forum in 2023 to promote collaboration and knowledge sharing among startups, investors, incubators, and emerging entrepreneurs, said commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal, during the virtual 7th BRICS Industry Ministers’ meeting, hosted by South Africa as the Chair.
• BRICS is a group of Brazil, Russia, India China and South Africa.

• President Joe Biden's administration will announce $200 million of new weapons aid for Ukraine.
• With the new arms package, which officials say includes antitank and antiaircraft missiles, the Biden administration has authorized $1.2 billion in weapons for Ukraine in the past year.
• Ukraine needs weaponry that can be shipped from US stocks in a matter of days or weeks so it can keep up its fight to repel Russia's invasion.

• The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has given its official approval for the appointment of Amit Jhingran as the managing director & CEO of SBI Life Insurance Company.
• Amit Jhingran has over three decades of experience in the insurance sector and serves as the Assistant General Manager of the Hyderabad Circle.
• IRDAI headquarter is in Hyderabad, Telangana.

• In the upcoming World Athletics Championships 2023, javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra will lead the Indian contingent.
• The Championships is beginning in Budapest from August 19th. In a statement, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports announced that it will fund 28 Indian athletes for the mega event.
• Matches will be played till 27th of this month. Out of 28 competing athletes, 15 would be competing at the World Championships for the very first time.

• World No. 1 men’s doubles pairing of Pramod Bhagat and Sukant Kadam won a gold medal in SL3-SL4 category at the Four Nations Para-Badminton International in Sheffield, England.
• Bhagat also secured a silver in the singles SL3 category as well as a silver in mixed doubles SL3- SU5 category with Manisha Ramdass. Kadam won a bronze in the singles SL4 category.
• Bhagat and Kadam defeated the Indian pair of Deep Ranjan Bisoyee and Manoj Sarkar 21-17 21-17 to secure gold in the men’s doubles.

• Jayesh Saini Receives Global Leader Award 2023 for Healthcare Expansion in Africa
• Jayesh Saini's leadership and commitment to expanding healthcare services have been recognized  globally as he receives the prestigious Global Leader Award 2023 – Global Indian of the Year 2023.
• This accolade acknowledges his remarkable contributions to the healthcare sector and underscores  the positive impact of LifeCare Group's initiatives in East Africa and beyond.

• In the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir Northern Railway is all set to cross another milestone soon by starting Kashmir’s first electric train on the 137 km Banihal-Baramulla corridor as the electrification of the 324 crore rupees project is in its final stage.
• Work on this project was going on since August 2019. Bittu Kumar, Engineer RS Infra Private Limited said that the project will be ready for inauguration by September as 90% of the electrification work has been completed.
• With the commencement and electrification of this train, air pollution is expected to decrease manifold.  Currently, 19 trains are in service with seven trains running regularly on Baramulla- Banihal sector in J&K.
• Kashmir got its first train service in 2013 which was inaugurated by then Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh.

• The National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) recently introduced the 'Jaldost Airbot.' This unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is designed to support water-based missions, such as monitoring and surveying water bodies, rivers, and reservoirs, making it a valuable tool for water resource management.
• The first technology is JALDOST, an airboat that operates on water. It is designed to remove excess aquatic weed and floating waste from water bodies.
• The JALDOST has a closed airtight pontoon type hull to make it inherently unsinkable. According to NAL, it has a hybrid propulsion system, comprising air propulsion and paddle wheel propulsion.

• The National Nursing and Midwifery Commission Bill 2023 has been approved by Parliament.
• The Bill provides for regulation and maintenance of standards of education and services by nursing and midwifery professionals.
• The Bill provides for setting up of a National Nursing and Midwifery Commission.
• According to the Bill, every state government will have to constitute a State Nursing and Midwifery Commission, where no such commission exists under the state law. The central government will also set up a Nursing and Midwifery Advisory Council. The Chairman of this Council will be the Chairman of the National Commission.
• The bill aims to provide quality and affordable dental education by regularising the dental profession in the country. The Bill seeks to repeal the Dentists Act, 1948.

• The 31st edition of the Malabar multilateral exercise involving India, Australia, Japan and the US will be held in Sydney from August 11-21, as Australia will host the war games for the first time this year.
• Australia has invited India for the Maritime Energy Summit to be held from November 7 to 9
• The exercise will take place in a large designated area, the East Australian exercise area, spread over a couple of hundred miles off Sydney and will have a harbour and sea phase. 
• Exercise Malabar will be followed by AUSINDEX, the India-Australia bilateral naval exercise.

• Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel transferred over Rs 15 crores to the beneficiaries of the ‘Godhan Nyay Yojana’ of the state government on 05 August 2023 .
• Through Godhan Nyay Yojana, not only vermicomposting is being made, but various materials are also being made.
• Through this scheme, multi-dimensional development has been initiated simultaneously.
• Godhan Nyaya Yojana, one of the most popular schemes of the Chhattisgarh government, was started on 20 July 2020 during the Hareli festival.
• Under this scheme, cow dung is being purchased from rural cattle herders in Gauthans at Rs 2 per kg and cow urine is being purchased at Rs 4 per litre.
• Under the Godhan Nyay Yojana, Rs 518 crore 71 lahks has been paid to cow dung vendors, Gauthan committees and women self-help groups as on May 15, 2023.

• Russia has announced that it plans to launch a lunar lander in the second week of August after several delays, hoping to return to the moon for the first time in more than 50 years.
• Russia's space agency Roscosmos has said that the luna-25 lander will be launched in the early hours of Friday.
• The launch is the first mission of Moscow's new lunar program, and comes at a time when President Vladimir Putin wants to boost space cooperation with China after relations with the West deteriorated following the start of Moscow's offensive in Ukraine last year.

• Indian-origin Vaibhav Taneja is the new Chief Financial Officer of Elon Musk-owned carmaker Tesla.
• His appointment on 7 August 2023 comes as the previous finance chief Zachary Kirkhorn announced his decision to step down.
• Taneja comes with more than two decades of accounting experience, having worked with multinational companies in technology, finance, retail, and telecommunications.
• Forty-five-year-old Taneja is the CFO in addition to his existing role of Chief Accounting Officer (CAO) which he was assigned in March 2019. 
• He has also been the Corporate Controller at Tesla since May 2018. Prior to this, he was the Assistant Corporate Controller between February 2017 and May 2018.

• Justice Subhasis Talapatra was on Tuesday sworn in as the 33rd Chief Justice of Orissa High Court.
• The oath was administered to him by Governor Ganeshi Lal. He succeeds Justice S Muralidhar, who retired on 7 August 2023.
• The Supreme Court Collegium had approved the name of Justice Talapatra for the post.

• The Centre has granted a one-year extension to Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla until August 22, 2024.
• The decision was announced through a notification issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT).
• The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved this extension, marking the fourth time Bhalla's tenure has been extended.
• Originally set to retire in November 2020 after a two-year term, his tenure was first extended on October 17, 2020, until August 22, 2021.
• Subsequently, he received two additional one-year extensions until the current extension. This move is significant as the government faces various internal security challenges, including unrest in Manipur and the rise of pro-Khalistan elements.

• World Professional Wrestling Hub Appoints Sangram Singh as Brand Ambassador
• WPWH has appointed the esteemed Mr. Sangram Singh as the brand ambassador for its new wrestling venture.
• Sangram Singh is an iconic figure in the wrestling community, known for his exceptional attitude, passion, expertise and extensive experience in the sport.

• In a display of skill and determination, Tripura's Asmita Dey clinched gold medal in the Junior Asia Cup Judo Championships in Macau, China.
• Asmita Dey competed in women’s 48 kg in the "Macau Junior Judo Championship 2023," held in Macau, China, on July 23.
• Asmita carried her winning momentum into the final showdown, where she outperformed another Australian, Anneliese Fielder, to secure the gold medal in the fiercely contested 48 kg category.
• Asmita Dey took part in the Junior Asian Judo Championships 2023 in the 48 kg category, facing competitors from 27 diverse countries, including Korea, Bhutan, Iraq, America, and many more.
• In addition to her gold medal at the Junior Asian Judo Championships 2023 in Macau, China, she had secured a silver medal at the Asian Open 2023 held in Kuwait City in April of this year and a bronze medal at the Asian Junior Championships in 2022.

• Sports Minister Anurag Singh Thakur inaugurated the Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships 2023 in Greater Noida. 
• The event is being held in India for the first time. 
• The international event will see the participation of more than 30 Indian weightlifters, including many Khelo India Athletes who in the past month alone gave India its best-ever performance at the Weightlifting Commonwealth Championships by winning 61 medals in total.
• More than 15 nations from the Asian region will be represented, with around 200 athletes and over 50 technical staff and coaches taking part in the prestigious event.
• The Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships will conclude on the 5th of August.

• The Supreme Court on July 27, in a special hearing, extended Enforcement Directorate (ED) Director Sanjay Kumar Mishra’s tenure till September 15, 2023 to serve “public and national interest”.
• The court had declared Mr. Mishra’s continuation as ED Director “invalid and illegal” in a judgment on July 11. It had directed him to quit office by July 31.
• The Centre had requested the court to extend his tenure until October 15, 2023, citing the FATF review.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the new International Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre (IECC) named as ‘Bharat Mandapam,’ at the redeveloped Pragati Maidan complex in Delhi.
• The G-20 coin and stamp were also released at the grand opening ceremony.
• The 'Bharat Mandapam' complex, built at a cost of approximately US$329.17 million (Rs 2,700 crore), serves as a national project aimed at showcasing India as a global economic destination.
• The name of the complex, 'Bharat Mandapam', takes inspiration from the idea of Lord Basaveshwara's Anubhava Mandapam, a pavilion for public festivals.
• The convention centre aims to remain open to the public and provide all the necessary facilities to contribute to the development of India as a modern nation.
• The 'Bharat Mandapam' has a magnificent multi-purpose hall and full hall with a combined seating capacity of 7,000 people, which is more than the seating capacity of the Sydney Opera House in Australia.
• It also has a magnificent amphitheatre with a seating capacity of 3,000 people.

• The national capital will soon have world's largest museum, namely 'Yuge Yugeen Bharat' National Museum. The existing buildings of North Block and South Block will be converted into the national museum in New Delhi.
• The Sanskrit name “Yuge Yugeen Bharat” translates to “everlasting India” in English. It captures the eternal character of the country’s history.
• The iconic blocks were constructed by Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker in the 1930s and have long served as the hub of Indian governance.
• In 2021, the government announced plans to convert the North and South Blocks into museums. 
• The North and South blocks of the Central Secretariat complex were built during the 1930s. 
• The South Block houses the Prime Minister’s Office, External Affairs Ministry, and Defence Ministry, while the North Block is home to the ministries of Finance and Home.

• Bhutan has announced the successful elimination of rubella.
• The World Health Organization South-East Asia Region announced Bhutan and Timor-Leste have eliminated rubella, a highly contagious disease that causes serious illness and irreversible birth defects in newborns of women infected during pregnancy, but preventable through vaccination.
• Bhutan and Timor-Leste had eliminated measles in 2017 and 2018 respectively, and now join Maldives and Sri Lanka to achieve elimination of measles and rubella by 2023.
• Bhutan first had the rubella outbreak around 2003 and the vaccine rollout took place in 2006.
• According to the WHO, UNICEF estimates that the coverage with the first dose of a measles-rubella-containing vaccine in the South-East Asia Region has improved from 86 percent in 2021 to 92 percent in 2022 (a 6 percent increase), while coverage of the second dose of the vaccine has jumped from 78 percent in 2021 to 85 percent in 2022 (a 7 percent point increase).

• Goa will host the world’s biggest national male pageant “The Rubaru” Mr. India competition.
• It is the biggest and most respected competition for men in the world.
• The candidates will undergo several preliminary activities like the formal wear round, the health and fitness round, & the individual interviews.
• This renowned event will take place this August with the national finals taking place at the Bogmallo Beach Resort on August 5.
• In the month of August, Goa will welcome 32 of the most handsome, charismatic and talented men from different parts of India for the 19th season of the Rubaru Mr. India competition.
• The Chief Minister of Goa, Pramod Sawant, will be at the event as the chief guest.

• The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of India signed agreement for a $295 million loan to upgrade around 265-kilometer state highways with climate and disaster resilient design, and road safety elements in the state of Bihar.
• The project supports the Government of Bihar’s programme to upgrade all state highways to standard two-lane widths and improve road safety. 
• The improved roads will enhance connectivity in some of Bihar poorest rural districts and promote access to health and education facilities, and markets to improve people’s lives.
• Since 2008, ADB has provided five loans totaling $1.63 billion to the state of Bihar, for upgradation of about 1,696 kilometer state highways and construction of a new bridge over the Ganga River.

• The Uttar Pradesh government has increased the retirement age of government doctors from 62 years to 65 years to address the shortage of doctors.
• In January, a panel was set up to evaluate the proposal for increasing the retirement age from 62 to 65 years of age.
• Currently, there are 14,000 doctors working across 19,000 sanctioned posts in the state.
• More than a dozen doctors retire every month, reducing the strength by at least 200 a year.
• According to the report submitted by the panel, those doctors who opt to work till 65 years of age will not hold any administrative post.

• On July 27, 2023, SpaceX launched the world's largest private communications satellite 'Jupiter 3' using a Falcon Heavy rocket from Launch Complex-39A of NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
• The 'Jupiter 3' satellite, developed by Maxar Technologies in Palo Alto, California, holds the record as the largest commercial communications satellite ever built.
• This upcoming launch marks the seventh mission of SpaceX's triple-booster rocket, the Falcon Heavy, which first attracted widespread attention during its debut in 2018.
• Jupiter 3' will play a key role in enhancing enterprise networks, meeting the connectivity needs of businesses across North and South America.
• Additionally, the satellite will serve as a reliable backhaul solution for mobile network operators (MNOs), ensuring smoother and more efficient data transmission within the region's mobile networks.
• The Falcon Heavy had the highest payload capacity among all operational rockets for a long time till NASA launched the Artemis 1 mission with the Space Launch System (SLS).

• Adani Transmission Ltd has renamed itself to Adani Energy Solutions Limited with immediate effect.
• Adani Energy Solutions, erstwhile Adani Transmission, is the country's largest private transmission company, with a presence across 14 states.
• The company operationalised 609 ckm (circuit kilometers) in Q4FY23 and maintained system availability at 99.68 percent.

• Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL), a mini Ratna CPSE PSU refinery and a subsidiary of ONGC, has become the single largest PSU-Refinery (single location) in the nation for the year 2022-23. MRPL achieved this feat by processing 17.14 Million Metric Tons of Crude oil during the past financial year. 
• This is also the highest-ever throughput processed by any single-location PSU refinery in India’s Petroleum refining history. 
• MRPL processes 10% of the total Crude oil refined by the PSU petroleum refineries of the Nation.
• MRPL is capable of producing almost a full range of petroleum products like Naphtha, LPG, Motor Spirit, High-Speed Diesel, Kerosene, Aviation Turbine Fuel, Sulphur, Xylene, Bitumen, along with Pet Coke and Polypropylene.

• The Maharashtra government has decided to confer the first 'Udyog Ratna' award on veteran industrialist and chairman emeritus of Tata Sons, Ratan Tata.
• Following the tradition of the Maharashtra Bhushan Award, which is the highest state honor presented to distinguished individuals, the Maharashtra government has taken the decision to introduce the prestigious Udyog Ratna Award starting this year. 
• Tata will be the inaugural recipient of this award.
• The Maharashtra Udyog Ratna awards are aimed at recognising the efforts of individuals and organisations who have made an immense contribution to the fields of business, industry, education, real estate, tourism, financial services, fashion, electronics, agriculture, banking, IT, foods, healthcare, and more in Maharashtra.  
• Alongside numerous other accolades bestowed upon him during his illustrious career, Ratan Tata has also been honored with two of India's most prestigious civilian awards: the Padma Vibhushan in 2008 and the Padma Bhushan in 2000.

• India's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj, has assumed the chairship of the 62nd Session of the Commission for Social Development, the first time in nearly 50 years the country has held this position within the UN agency.
• Earlier, on February 15, India was elected as the Chair of the 62nd Session of the Commission for Social Development, marking a momentous occasion, as it is the first time since 1975 that India has held this esteemed position within the Commission for Social Development.
• The Commission for Social Development’s main responsibility is to review, on a periodic basis, issues related to the follow-up and implementation of the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development and the Programme of Action of the World Summit for Social Development and the outcome of the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly.

• US First Lady Jill Biden attended a flag-raising ceremony at UNESCO on 26 July 2023 in Paris to mark the official re-entry of the United States into the UN agency after a controversial five-year hiatus.
• Jill Biden emphasized the importance of American leadership in preserving cultural heritage and promoting education and science worldwide during her remarks at the ceremony.
• The move to rejoin UNESCO is in line with President Joe Biden’s pledge to restore US leadership on the world stage.
• The United States had announced its intention to rejoin UNESCO in June, and the organization’s 193 member states voted to approve the US reentry this month.
• The US had previously exited UNESCO in 2017, citing an alleged anti-Israel bias within the organization. This decision was made following UNESCO’s inclusion of Palestine as a member state in 2011, leading to the US and Israel ceasing financial support for the agency.
• The US withdrawal from UNESCO became official in 2018.
• UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, is a specialized agency of the United Nations established in 1945. 
• Its primary mission is to promote peace and security by fostering international collaboration in the fields of education, science, culture, and communication.

1. F1 extends Hungarian Grand Prix contract to 2032
2. Danish cyclist Jonas Vingegaard wins Tour de France for 2nd year in a row
3. Malaysia seamer Syazrul Ezat Idrus becomes first to claim elusive seven-wicket haul in men's T20I
4. Indian javelin throwers bagged gold medals at Lebanon Athletics 2023
5. Shubhankar Sharma creates history with best ever performance by an Indian at 2023 Open Golf Championship
6. China’s Zheng Qinwen beats Jasmine Paolini to win Palermo Open 2023
7. Rakesh & Sarita win India’s 1st gold at World Para Archery Tournament
8. India's Kamaljeet Clinches Gold Medal in Men’s Individual 50 metre Pistol Event
9. Sri Lanka's T20 World Cup-winner Lahiru Thirimanne announces retirement from international cricket
10. Sumit Nagal wins Tampere Open title 2023, grabs 4th career Challenger trophy
11. Indian Surf Team wins bronze medal at Asian Surfing Championship 2023 held in Maldives
12. Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty lift Korea Open Badminton 2023 men’s doubles title
13. Virat Kohli overtakes Jacques Kallis to become 5th highest run-scorer in international cricket
14. DD Sports secures TV rights for FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 in India
15. Indian football team jumps to 99th place in FIFA rankings
16. India's R Praggnanandhaa wins Super GM chess tournament in Hungary

1. Former Australia wicketkeeper Brian Taber dies aged 83

1. Kerala Governor Unveils Debashis Chatterjee’s Translated Novel and Latest Work

1. Tata Steel reappoints TV Narendran as MD and CEO for 5 years
2. UAE Minister for Foreign Trade Dr. Thani Al Zeyoudi elected as chair of WTO's 13th Ministerial Conference
3. Centre appoints new Chief Justices of Bombay and Andhra Pradesh High Court
4. Bharat Dynamics Limited Announces Appointment of Shri A. Madhavarao Director as Chairman
5. Justice Alok Aradhe took oath as Chief Justice of Telangana High Court in Hyderabad
6. Justice Sunita Agarwal sworn in as 29th Chief Justice of Gujarat High Court, becomes second woman to hold this position in the court's history
7. Ms Namgya C. Khampa, High Commissioner of India to the Republic of Kenya, Appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Federal Republic of Somalia
8. Sat Pal Bhanoo appointed Managing Director of LIC
9. AB Pradhan takes over as Director (HR) of HAL
10. Shah Rukh Khan appointed as the brand ambassador of ICC World Cup 2023

1. Union Home Minister Amit Shah launches ‘Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar’ as part of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav in New Delhi
2. 1309 Railway Stations have Been Identified Under Amrit Bharat Station Scheme for Their Development
3. Jammu to pioneer India’s first Cannabis Medicine Project
4. PM Modi to inaugurate Gujarat’s first Greenfield Airport at Hirasar on July 27
5. 5th Helicopter and Small Aircraft Summit was held in Madhya Pradesh on 25 July
6. Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) launched heat index in various regions of India
7. Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar nominates four women Parliamentarians to panel of Vice-Chairpersons
8. India's aim to cover the entire nation with E20 fuel by 2025: PM Modi
9. Anshuman Jhingran Becomes Youngest Person To Cross North Channel

1. First-ever transgender birth certificate issued in Rajasthan
2. Phangnon Konyak became the first woman to chair the Rajya Sabha from Nagaland
3. Kanpur Jail to launch a radio station for prisoners on August 15
4. Rajasthan government tables country's first gig workers bill
5. Authoor betel leaves from Tamil Nadu receives GI certificate
6. Odisha cabinet approves “Mission Shakti Scooter Yojana” to provide mobility to SHG staff
7. Minimum guaranteed income bill passed in Rajasthan Assembly
8. Andhra Pradesh released 10 million Gambusia Fish to control Malaria, Dengue

1. ISRO's PSLV-C56 to launch on 30 July with six co-passenger satellites
2. Gujarat to get country’s 1st ‘Satellite Network Portal Site’

1. Lavasa, India’s First Private Hill Station Sold To Darwin Platform For Rs 1,814 Crore

1. Newly constructed National Martyr's Memorial unveiled at Jagjivan RPF Academy Lucknow
2. Indian Navy decommissions INS Kirpan and hands over indigenously built missile carrier to Vietnam

1. Kargil Vijay Diwas 2023: 26 July
2. Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik becomes second longest-serving CM in India
3. World Brain Day 2023 observed on 22 July
4. National Broadcasting Day 2023: 23 July

1. Byculla Railway Station Receives UNESCO Award for Heritage Restoration and Modernization
2. Gujarat to host 69th Filmfare Awards in 2024, state govt signs MoU
3. President Droupadi Murmu Presents National Geoscience Awards-2022
4. Seven-year-old Indian-origin girl Moksha Roy wins UK PM’s Points of Light award

1. Cambodia PM Hun Sen Steps down and hands over power to son
2. Exercise Talisman Sabre 2023 commenced officially
3. Elon Musk unveils new Twitter logo design 'X', replacing iconic blue bird symbol
4. Algeria applies to join BRICS, would contribute $1.5 billion to group bank
5. America's President Biden nominates Admiral Lisa Franchetti to be first woman to lead US Navy

• Former India cricketer Nidhi Buley has made it to the umpiring panel of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). 
• Her sister Ritika has also joined her in the list as a total of four females passed the umpiring exam conducted by the BCCI with a distinction. 
• Nidhi Buley has played for India at the international level back in 2006 featuring in an ODI and a Test each.
• Apart from them, V Kritika from Tamil Nadu and Ankita Guha of Vidarbha were the other females who passed the exam and were elevated to the BCCI panel. 
• Nikhil Patil of the Mumbai Cricket Association topped the exam with a massive score of 147 out of 150.
• Nidhi played for India in 2006 and bowled seven overs to pick one wicket in an ODI against Ireland. She also featured in the Test match against England and bowled 12 wicketless overs conceding 43 runs.

• Aditya Samant became India’s 83rd Grandmaster after earning his third GM norm at the Master Tournament (MTO) in the Biel International Chess Festival.
• Aditya S Samant hails from the Maharashtra. 
• Samant earned his first GM norm at the age of 16 at the ABU Dhabi Masters in August andby December, Samant had already bagged his second GM norm at the 3rd El Llobregat Open. 
• To become a Grandmaster, a player has to secure three GM criteria and exceed a live rating of 2,500 ELO points.
• His live rating going into the ninth-round game is 2525.4.
• Before Aditya S Samant, Telangana's V Prraneeth became India's 82nd and the state's sixth GM when he defeated GM Hans Nieman of the US in the penultimate round of the Baku Open 2023.

• R Seshasayee has been appointed as the Chairman of Asian Paints’ board of directors from October 1, 2023, to January 22, 2027. 
• He will succeed the current Chairman, Deepak Satwalekar, whose term is set to conclude on September 30 this year.
• R Seshasayee, a Chartered Accountant, embarked on his professional journey with Hindustan Lever Ltd in 1971.
• During his tenure at Ashok Leyland Limited, he held several significant roles, serving as the Managing Director from 1998 to 2011, followed by Executive Vice Chairman from 2011 to 2013, and subsequently as the Non-Executive Vice Chairman from 2013 to 2016.
• Furthermore, he assumed the position of Non-Executive Chairman at IndusInd Bank from 2007 to 2019.
• Seshasayee was designated as an Independent Director of Asian Paints Limited on January 23, 2017.
• Asian Paints Ltd, based in Mumbai, Maharashtra, is an Indian multinational paint company.

• Pan Gongsheng was named China's central bank governor on July 25 in the widely anticipated final major appointment of the ruling Communist Party's once-a-decade change of power.
• Pan Gongsheng, a deputy governor of the central bank and a seasoned expert in China's government banking sector, assumed the position, succeeding Yi Gang, an American-trained economist who served in the role for five years.
• The Governor of the People's Bank of China, Pan Gongsheng, holds a preeminent position within Chinese finance circles, as the bank is under the control of the ruling Communist Party.
• Previously, in 2015, Pan was appointed as the head of China's foreign exchange regulator. 
• Prior to that, he held the position of vice-chairman at Agricultural Bank of China Limited, one of the country's four major commercial lenders.
• In August 1905, the first National Bank of China, known as the Treasure Bank, was founded in Beijing.

• Shri Prabhat Kumar (IFS:1991), presently Special Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, has been appointed as the next High Commissioner of India to the Republic of South Africa.
• He is expected to take up the assignment shortly.
• Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar recently said there is a very “deeply emotional” connection between India, South Africa.
• Dr Irshad Ahmad, presently Counsellor in the Embassy of India, Muscat, has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Syrian Arab Republic.

• According to the latest announcement by Border Roads Organisation office in-charge Captain IK Singh, the Joji La tunnel being built in Ladakh is expected to be completed by December 2030.
• The Zoji La Tunnel is truly an engineering marvel, boasting impressive features that will undoubtedly benefit the region.
• With a revised length of 13.15 km and a total length of 14.15 km, the tunnel will be a horseshoe-shaped, single tube structure with a two-lane road, providing a crucial link between Srinagar and Leh.
• Currently, crossing the treacherous Zoji La Pass takes a daunting 3-4 hours. However, once the tunnel is operational, this travel time is expected to be reduced significantly to just 15 minutes.

• Nagaland has been officially declared as lumpy skin disease positive state with the disease being detected in four districts of the state.
• The announcement has been made as per the Prevention and Control of Contagious and Contagious Diseases in Animals Act, 2009.
• The advisories and guidelines issued by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying will be followed to deal with the situation.
• Lumpy dermatitis is a pox viral disease affecting cattle, which causes significant morbidity.
• Although mortality is generally low, the disease can cause economic losses due to factors such as reduced milk production, abortion, infertility, and skin damage.
• It is classified as a Notable Disease by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) due to its rapid spread and significant economic losses.

• West Bengal which is home to about 40% of mangrove forests in India, announced the setting up of a ‘Mangrove Cell’ in the State, on the occasion of the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem.
• 15.56 crore mangrove saplings were planted by the West Bengal Forest Department in an area of about 10,398 acres from 2020 to 2021.
• West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also announced mass Mangrove plantation in the year 2020.

• The first Permanent Aadhaar Enrolment Centre (PAEC) for Indian Army has been inaugurated in New Delhi.
• Alok Sharma, Director General Postal Services, and Lt Gen Rajinder Dewan, Quartermaster General jointly inaugurated the first Permanent Aadhaar Enrolment Centre (PAEC) for Army at 1 Central Base Post Office (CBPO), New Delhi on July 25, 2023.
• The PAEC will facilitate Aadhaar-related services (enrolment and updation) for tri-services personnel (Defence and civil) and their dependents through their Field Post Offices (FPO) in 48 identified locations in the country.
• All Command HQs, Corps HQs, and selected FPOs are identified for the establishment of PAEC services.

• International Tiger Day is celebrated annually on July 29. The tiger enjoys the reputation of being the largest of the world’s big cats.
• International Tiger Day is celebrated across the globe so that all of us can raise awareness for tiger conservation.
• The day aims to build a worldwide system that will be dedicated to protecting tigers and their natural habitats.
• International Tiger Day was first celebrated in 2010 after it was found that 97% of all wild tigers had disappeared in the last century, with about only 3,000 of them remaining.
• Representatives from 13 different countries attended the summit and rallied together to create a new initiative, Tx2. The aim of the initiative was to double the numbers of tigers living in the wild.
• Many international organizations such as the WWF, the IFAW, and the Smithsonian Institute also observe International Tiger Day.
• 70% of the world’s tigers live in India.

• World Nature Conservation Day is observed globally on 28 July every year.
• The day aims to raise awareness about the importance of conserving nature and biodiversity.
• It emphasizes that a healthy environment is important for a stable and healthy society.
• World Nature Conservation Day promotes the idea that a healthy environment is the foundation of a prosperous mankind.
• The day serves as an opportunity to create positive opinions and attitudes towards climate change.
• The theme for World Nature Conservation Day 2023 is "Forests and Livelihoods: Sustaining People and Planet." This theme highlights the vital role of forests in supporting both human livelihoods and the overall well-being of the planet.

• Shankari Chandran won the 2023 Miles Franklin Literary Award for her novel Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens. 
• The story of the novel focuses in a western Sydney suburb, where a Sri Lankan native describes the lives of people from an old-age home who left the country in the 80s to escape the civil war.
• The Miles Franklin Literary Award is an annual prize given to “a novel which is of the highest literary merit and presents Australian life in any of its phases”.
• The Miles Franklin Literary Award is one of the prestigious literary awards in Australia. 
• Previous winners of the award include Thea Astley, Jessica Anderson, Tim Winton, among others.

• In Niger, the Presidential Palace was blockaded, as soldiers took President Mohammed Bazoum into custody in Niamey, the capital.
• The military takeover, which marks the seventh coup in the West and Central Africa region since 2020, could further complicate Western efforts to help countries in the Sahel region fight a jihadist insurgency that has spread from Mali over the past decade.
• Niger is also a key ally of the European Union in the fight against irregular migration from sub-Saharan Africa.
• Niger lies at the heart of Africa’s Sahel region, which has seen numerous power grabs in recent years including in Mali and Burkina Faso.
• When Bazoum took presidential office in 2021, it was the country’s first democratic transfer of power following years of military coups. Niger first gained independence from France in 1960.

• Italy inaugurated the "VC Yashwant Ghadege Sundiyal Memorial" in honor of the Indian Army's significant contribution during World War II.
• The memorial, located in Montone, Perugia, honours the bravery of the Indian soldiers who fought during the campaign, and specifically remembers Naik Yeshwant Ghadge, a Victoria Cross recipient, who died while fighting on the heights of the Upper Tiber Valley.
• The monument's motto, "Omines sub - eodem soul," translates to "We all live under the same sun" in Hindi.
• 23,722 Indian soldiers were killed, with 5,782 making the ultimate sacrifice. Their memory lives on in the 40 Commonwealth War Graves scattered across Italy, where they are eternally remembered.

• Denmark’s Jonas Vingegaard of the Jumbo-Visma, Dutch professional bicycle racing team,has won 110th edition of the Tour de France for a second straight year on the Champs-Elysees in Paris, France. 
• The Tour de France (Tour of France) is an annual men’s multiple-stage bicycle race primarily held in France.
• Vingegaard crossed the finish line after the 21-day race 7min 29sec ahead of Slovenia’s Tadej Pogacar, the champion in 2020 and 2021.
• Vingegaard’s winning margin (7 minutes and 29 seconds) was the largest since 2014.
• The tour covers 3,405 kilometres with eight mountain stages across five mountain ranges.
• Jonas Vingegaard Rasmussen (Danish); born 10 December 1996) is a Danish professional cyclist who rides for UCI WorldTeam Team Jumbo–Visma. 
• He won the 2022 and 2023 editions of the Tour de France.

• Formula 1 has announced that the Hungarian Grand Prix will continue to be part of the F1 calendar for an additional five years until 2032.
• As per the Formula 1 website, the existing deal that ran until 2027 was extended until 2032.
• As part of the agreement, the Hungaroring circuit will undergo significant development and refurbishment, including the construction of a new pit building and main grandstand.
• The Hungaroring, located near Budapest, has been a part of Formula 1 since 1986 and has seen many legendary drivers claim victory at the circuit, such as Michael Schumacher and Ayrton Senna, who won four and three Hungarian Grands Prix, respectively.
• The 4.38km Hungaroring has been part of the F1 calendar since 1986, with many legends of the sport claiming victory at the circuit.
• Five of the 2023 grid have been victorious at the Hungarian Grand Prix, with Lewis Hamilton holding a record eight wins.

• India’s Annu Rani and Kishore Jena won the gold medal in the women’s and men’s javelin throw events, respectively at the Lebanon Athletics Championships 2023 in Beirut.
• Annu Rani recorded a best throw of 55.32m to top the six-woman field. Her effort, though, was far from her national record-setting mark of 63.82m, achieved last year.
• In four competitions since the Commonwealth Games 2022 in Birmingham, where she won the bronze, Annu Rani has not crossed the 60m mark.
• In the men’s event, Kishore Jena hurled the spear 78.96m to win the gold. His personal best is 82.87, achieved in Bhubaneshwar last month.
• Tokyo 2020 Olympian Shivpal Singh won the silver with a 73.34m throw, a modest effort compared to his personal best of 86.23m achieved at the 2019 Asian championships in Doha.
• Seven men competed in the men’s javelin event. Nabil Al-Akoumi was third with 59.79m
• Tokyo Olympics champion Neeraj Chopra holds India’s national record in men’s javelin throw courtesy his 89.94m mark, registered at the 2022 Stockholm Diamond League in Sweden.

• Malaysia seamer Syazrul Ezat Idrus scripted history in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 Asia Regional Qualifier B tournament, becoming the first player to record a seven-wicket haul in a Men's T20I game.
• Only 12 bowlers had previously claimed six-wicket hauls in a Men's T20I. 
• The list includes the India duo of Deepak Chahar and Yuzvendra Chahal, Australia left-arm spinner Ashton Agar and veteran Sri Lankan off-break bowler Ajantha Mendis.
• Idres has now become the first bowler to take 7 wickets in the shortest format of the game.

• T V Narendran has been reappointed as the Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director of Tata Steel for a term of five years, starting from September 19, 2023, which will last until September 18, 2028. 
• This decision was made based on the recommendation of the ‘Nomination and Remuneration Committee‘.
• With a remarkable experience spanning 34 years in the Mining and Metals industry, he has held various significant positions, including being on the Board of Tata Steel Limited, serving as Chairman of Tata Steel Europe and Tata Steel Long Products Ltd., and acting as Chairman of the Board of Governors of XLRI Jamshedpur.
• Narendran also holds the positions of Chairman at Tata Steel Europe, the Supervisory Board of Tata Steel Nederland BV, Tata Steel Long Products Limited, and Neelachal Ispat Nigam Limited.
• Tata Steel Limited, an Indian multinational steel-making company, is headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra, and operates from Jamshedpur, Jharkhand.

• Recently, the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme has been launched for development of Railway stations on Indian Railways. This scheme envisages development of stations on a continuous basis with a long-term approach.
• Notably, as many as 1,309 railway stations have been identified across the country so far under this scheme, including 35 stations in the NFR zone.
• The Northeast Frontier Railways (NFR) zone is set to receive an infrastructure boost as part of the Central government’s ambitious ‘Amrit Bharat’ initiative.
• These 35 major stations include – Guwahati, Dibrugarh, Kamakhya,  Katihar, Kokrajhar Siliguri Town, Silchar, New Tinsukia, Dimapur, New Bongaigoan, and others.
• The scheme envisages development of stations on a continuous basis with a long-term approach.
• The Ahmedabad railway station will be transformed into an EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) mode at an estimated cost of Rs 2563 crores.

• Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah has launched a unique initiative ‘Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar’ as part of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.
• It is a pan-India initiative of Ministry of Culture under National Mission on Cultural Mapping.
• The Ministry of Culture initiated ‘Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar’ (MGMD) project under National Mission on Cultural Mapping in coordination with Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA). 
• The main objective the project is to culturally map India’s 6.5 lakh villages, spanning 29 States and 7 Union Territories, on a comprehensive virtual platform.

• Noor Shekhawat became the first transgender person in Rajasthan to be issued a birth certificate with the gender recorded as transgender.
• In her old birth certificate, her gender was marked as male.
• Shekhawat was handed her new birth certificate by municipal and state government officials.
• She runs an NGO for the transgender community and also wants to complete her graduation.

• BJP’s S Phangnon Konyak became the first woman member from Nagaland to preside over Rajya Sabha.
• On July 17, she became the first ever woman member of Rajya Sabha to be appointed to the panel of vice-chairpersons.
• She is also the first woman to be elected to Rajya Sabha from Nagaland (April 2022) and the second woman from the state to be elected to either house of the Parliament or the state assembly.
• Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar nominated four women members (50% of the total) to the panel of Vice-Chairpersons to promote gender equality.
• All the nominated women members are first time MPs.
• The reconstituted panel now comprises a total of eight members, half of whom are women, a first in the history of the Upper House.

• On July 30, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is all set to launch the PSLV-C56 rocket from the first launch pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota.
• The PSLV-C56 mission will also carry six co-passenger satellites along with a DS-SAR satellite from Singapore.
• The DS-SAR satellite, weighing 3600 kg, has been developed by DSTA and ST Engineering, representing the Government of Singapore.
• It will be launched into a Near Equatorial Orbit (NEO) at an inclination of 5 degrees and an altitude of 535 km.
• The DS-SAR satellite is equipped with a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) payload developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), which allows it to provide day and night coverage in all-weather with 1-metre resolution at full polarimetry.

• The newly constructed National Martyr's Memorial and National Museum for Railway Security at Jagjivan RPF Academy Lucknow was unveiled by Shri Sanjay Chander, Director General Railway Protection Force.
• This martyr's memorial is spread over an area of 4800 square meters and on this memorial, the names of 1014 martyred RPF personnel from 1957 till date have been inscribed and tribute has been paid to them on behalf of the RPF.
• The museum is spread over a total area of 9000 sq. ft, with 37 thematic display panels, 11 display cabinets, an info-graphic history of policing, 87 artefacts, 500 pages from the National Archives of India, 36 weapons from a bygone era, 150 railway items related to security, 15 Mannequins of various ranks of the Railway Protection Force, and many other important items are on display.
• The motto of this museum is Gyanvardhanayachsanrakshanaya (ज्ञानवर्धनायचसंरक्षणाय) which constantly inspires RPF to 'promote knowledge and preserve heritage'.

• Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen, one of the world’s longest-serving leaders, has announced his resignation and will hand over power to his son Hun Manet on 10 August 2023.
• The announcement came shortly after his party won all seats in an uncompetitive election held three days prior.
• His son, Hun Manet, who recently served as the commander of the Royal Cambodian Army, has been groomed for the role of Prime Minister and will be appointed to the position on 10th August.
• Hun Sen cited the possibility of instability as the reason for stepping down as Prime Minister, but he will retain leadership of the ruling Cambodian People’s Party, which political analysts believe will continue to grant him ultimate control.
• Hun Sen has been in power since 1985.

• Rising Chinese player Zheng Qinwen beat local favourite Jasmine Paolini 6-4, 1-6, 6-1 to win the Palermo Open and claim the first title of her career.
• The 20-year-old Zheng’s previous best result was a runner-up finish in Tokyo last year.
• Zheng, ranked No. 26, is China's top player.

• India's Kamaljeet clinched Gold Medal on 24th July 2023 in Men’s individual 50 metre Pistol Event at ISSF Junior Shooting World Championship 2023 at Changwon Shooting Range, Korea.
• India went in with a strong contingent of 90 shooters in the tournament and bagged 17 medals including 6 Golds, 6 Silvers and 5 Bronzes.
• Over 550 shooters from 44 countries participated in the Championships.
• In the women’s free pistol, Tiyana Phogat won the silver.
• India thus finished second behind China with 17 medals — six gold, six silver and five bronze. China won 28 medals, including 12 gold.
• The ISSF bandwagon now moves to the big event of the year, the senior world championships, set to begin in Baku, Azerbaijan, from 14 August.

• Indian compound archers Sarita and Rakesh Kumar gave a fine performance to claim the country’s first-ever gold medal in the World Archery Para Championships in Pilsen, Czech Republic.
• The duo claimed the mixed team world title, while 16-year-old armless archer Sheetal Devi bagged the compound women’s individual silver.
• Sarita bagged a second medal when she took the women’s team bronze with Jyoti.
• The country’s previous best showing was two silver medals — by Pooja in recurve individual event and Shyam Sundar Swami and Jyoti in compound mixed team — in Dubai last year.
• Sarita and Rakesh defeated Brazil’s Jane Gogel and Reinaldo Ferreira 152-146 in the final. The match began with both sides sharing honours (37-37) in the first end. The Indians showed consistency to take the next three ends 37-36, 39-38, 39-35.

• Shubhankar Sharma achieved the best ever performance by an Indian golfer at the 2023 Open Golf Championship held at the Royal Liverpool Golf Club in Merseyside,England.
• Showcasing remarkable skill and determination, Shubhankar Sharma tied for eighth place with Cameron Young of the United States.
• Brian Herman of the USA has won the 2023 Open Golf Championship.
• Prior to Sharma's feat, Anirban Lahiri had the best Indian finish in a major tournament with a top-5 finish in 2015 and Jeev Milkha Singh finished T-9 at the 2008 PGA Championship.
• Previously, Jyoti Randhawa held the record for the best finish by an Indian golfer at the Open in 2004 with a tied-27th place.
• Prior to Shubhankar Sharma's achievement, the best finish by an Indian golfer in a men's major was Anirban Lahiri's tied-fifth finish at the 2015 PGA Championship in Wisconsin, US.
• The 2023 Open Golf Championship is recognized as the British Open, the oldest and most prestigious golf tournament globally and one of the four major championships on the PGA Tour.

• Former Australia and New South Wales wicketkeeper Brian Taber has died at the age of 83. Taber, who played 16 Test matches for Australia between 1966 and 1970.
• He made his Test debut against South Africa in Johannesburg where he claimed seven catches and a stumping.
• His highest Test score of 48 came against West Indies at Sydney in 1969 in a match Australia won by 382 runs. 
• Taber was widely regarded as one of the best wicketkeepers to represent Australia and was renowned for his impeccable glovework and calm demeanour behind the stumps.
• After finishing playing, he held various roles within the game, including NSW coach and selector and manager of the Australian Under-19 men’s team.

• Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan released the Malayalam translation of the book "Krishna - The 7th Sense" written by Debasish Chatterjee, Director, IIM-Kozhikode.
• Debasish Chatterjee is a globally acclaimed management guru and an accomplished educationist, with 18 books to his credit in the non-fiction category.
• "Krishna - The 7th Sense" is Professor Chatterjee's award-winning debut novel.

• A Madhavarao has been appointed as the new Chairman and MD of Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL).
• He joined BDL in March 2020 as executive director and was currently holding the post of Director (Technical) with the additional charge of Director (production).
• During his tenure in the Indian Navy, Commodore Madhavarao took part in the Kargil and Parakram operations.
• He was instrumental in setting up the Nuclear and Safety field organization in Visakhapatnam for the induction of Nuclear Submarines into the Indian Navy.
• He has served as General Manager of Technical at Naval Dockyard Visakhapatnam and was responsible for preparing the long-term perspective plan for the Naval Dockyard modernization.

• Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya has been appointed as the Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court, while Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur has been appointed as the Chief Justice of the Andhra Pradesh High Court.
• The collegium had recommended the appointment of Justice Devendra Upadhyaya of the Allahabad High Court as Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court earlier this month.
• Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur is the brother of former Chief Justice of India TS Thakur.
• He was appointed as a permanent judge of the Jammu & Kashmir High Court on March 8, 2013.
• In 2022, he was transferred to the Bombay High Court.

• UAE Minister for Foreign Trade Dr. Thani Al Zeyoudi has been elected as the chair of the World Trade Organisation’s 13th Ministerial Conference that will be held in Abu Dhabi in February 2024. 
• The announcement was made during the WTO General Council in Geneva, where Dr Al Zeyoudi met with the WTO director general Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
• The conference will be attended by representatives from the 164 countries and customs blocs that make up the WTO. 
• It will review the performance of the trading system, make decisions on future work and set up the road map for the next conference.

• India’s first Cannabis Medicine Project is going to be set up in Jammu.
• The project is under public-private partnership (PPP) with a Canadian firm.
• The project has the potential to produce medicines that are currently imported from foreign countries, thereby promoting indigenous production and reducing dependency on external sources.
• Cannabis is a generic term used to denote the several psychoactive preparations of the plant Cannabis sativa. The major psychoactive constituent in cannabis is delta 9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
• The central law that deals with cannabis (weed or marijuana) in India is the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985.
• For instance, Odisha is a state in which weed is legal in India and people commonly use ‘chillums’ to smoke weed within the state’s territory. Uttarakhand is the first state in India to allow commercial cultivation of Hemp.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate Gujarat’s first Greenfield Airport at Hirasar near Rajkot on the 27th of this month.
• Built over 1500 acres area at a cost of 1,405 crore, the airport has been renamed as Rajkot international airport.
• The Greenfield airport at Hirasar is 30 kilometers away from Rajkot City, the commercial capital of the Saurashtra region. The airport has a 45-meter-wide runway that can park 14 planes at any given point.
• The green filed airport is equipped with a solar power system, a green belt, and a rainwater harvesting system.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi had laid the foundation stone for the construction of the international airport near Rajkot in 2017.

• The Kanpur Jail in Uttar Pradesh is set to launch a radio station for prisoners on August 15.
• Music and important announcements would be played on the radio. The radio station will be operated by the inmates themselves. 
• The inmates would not only act as radio jockeys but can also sing songs or display other skills that they have.
• It will work like an FM radio and its frequency will be within the entire jail premises.
• This initiative is about the flow of positive energy in the prisoners.

• Kargil Vijay Diwas is celebrated all across the country on July 26 every year. 
• This year, is going to mark the 24th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas.
• The day is also known as Kargil War or Kargil Conflict.
• The day commemorates the victory of the Indian armed forces in the Kargil War fought against Pakistan. 
• The day is observed to pay tribute and to honour the bravery and sacrifice of the soldiers in the war of 1999. 
• The operation that took place during the war is also known as Operation Vijay.
• On this day in 1999, Indian soldiers fought against the Pakistani intruders who had crossed the Line of Control (LOC) into Indian Territory. 
• The Kargil War was fought between India and Pakistan at the Line of Control (LoC) in the Kargil district of Jammu and Kashmir where the Indian Army recaptured the famous ‘Tiger Hill’ and other important posts around under ‘Operation Vijay’ by evicting the Pakistani troops.

• Byculla railway station, which is 169 years old, received the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Award of Merit for cultural heritage restoration and conservation. 
• This railway station on the Central line of the Mumbai Suburban Railway.
• The restoration project began in July 2019, aiming to bring back the station’s original architectural glory.
• The project was initiated by Shaina NC Trustee, I Love Mumbai, in memory of her father Nana Chudasama, with support from Bajaj Trust Groups and Abha Narain Lambah Associates as their CSR initiative.
• Minal Bajaj and Niraj Bajaj of Bajaj Group and Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation funded the restoration project with over four crore rupees.
• Heritage Conservation Architect Abha Narain Lambah led the restoration project pro bono as part of their CSR initiative.
• The restoration work was completed on 29.4.2022 and was inaugurated by Raosaheb Dadarao Patil Danve, Minister of State for Railways, Government of India, along with other dignitaries.
• Various aspects of the station were restored and beautified, including the main entry/façade of platform number 1, exit passage of platform number 1, garden area facing the façade, walls, grills, FOBs, toilets, water huts, benches, LED lighting, and more.
• Byculla station now represents a blend of history and heritage while offering modern amenities.

• Australia’s largest bilateral military exercise with United States, Exercise Talisman Sabre, officially commenced on 21 July, with an opening ceremony on-board HMAS Canberra.
• Now in its tenth iteration, 2023 is the largest Exercise Talisman Sabre in terms of its geographical area and the number of participating partners. Over the next two weeks 13 nations will participate in high-end multi-domain warfighting across sea, land, air, cyber and space.
• The exercise aims to enhance interoperability and develop strong relationships between participating military forces.
• Talisman Sabre 2023 will involve more than 30,000 military personnel deploying across Queensland, Western Australia, the Northern Territory and New South Wales. For the first time exercises will also take part around Norfolk Island.

• Sri Lanka batter Lahiru Thirimanne has announced his retirement from international cricket after a 13-year career. 
• The 33-year-old top-order batter made his international debut in 2010 and went on to represent Sri Lanka in 44 Tests, 127 ODIs, and 26 T20Is.
• The 33-year-old featured in 197 international matches for Sri Lanka and scored 5573 runs with seven hundred and 31 fifties.
• He featured in two ODI World Cups and three T20 World Cup campaigns, including Sri Lanka's victory in 2014. In five ODIs, he also served as Sri Lanka's captain.
• Thirimanne's last match for Sri Lanka came in the second Test against India at Bengaluru in March last year where he fell cheaply for eight and zero.

• Sumit Nagal won the Tampere Open 2023 ATP Challenger men’s singles title in Finland.
• It was the Indian tennis player’s fourth ATP Challenger Tour title.
• The 25-year-old Sumit Nagal beat Czech Republic’s Dalibor Svrcina 6-4, 7-5 in the final to win his second ATP Challenger event of the year.
• The Indian tennis player’s other two ATP Challenger wins include the Buenos Aires and Bengaluru Challengers in 2019 and 2017, respectively.
• Sumit Nagal also became the first Indian tennis player to win two ATP Challenger titles on European soil.

• Justice Alok Aradhe was sworn in as Chief Justice of the Telangana High Court.
• Aradhe, who was previously a judge of the Karnataka High Court, was administered the oath of office by Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan.
• Justice Alok Aradhe succeeds Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, who has been elevated to the post of judge of the Supreme Court.
• He was appointed as the Additional judge of the High Court of Madhya Pradesh on December 29, 2009, and Permanent Judge on February 15, 2011.
• Justice Alok Aradhe took oath as Judge of Karnataka High Court on November 17, 2018, and assumed charge as the Acting Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court on July 3, 2022.

• Justice Sunita Agarwal was on Sunday sworn in as the 29th Chief Justice of Gujarat High Court. She is the second woman CJ of the Gujarat High Court.
• She is the second woman to hold this position in the court's history.
• The Supreme Court collegium had, on July 5, proposed the appointment of Justice Agarwal as the Chief Justice of Gujarat High Court.
• She would be the only woman chief justice of an HC as presently there is no woman among the chief justices of the high courts in the country.
• Before her, Justice Sonia Gokani was Chief Justice of Gujarat High Court for a few days till her retirement on February 25, 2023, after which Justice AJ Desai was serving as the acting CJ.

• The 5th Helicopter & Small Aircraft Summit was held on the 25th of July 2023 at Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh. 
• The event was jointly organised by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the Government of Madhya Pradesh, Pawan Hans Ltd., and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).
• The Summit was inaugurated by Chief Minister, of Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and Union Minister of Civil Aviation & Steel Jyotiraditya M. Scindia. 
• The objective of the Summit includes enhancing the scope of the UDAN scheme in remote and hilly terrains. 
• The event's theme is "Reaching the Last Mile: Regional Connectivity through Helicopters & Small Aircraft".

• The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has come out with the heat index for different regions of the country on the basis of recent tests.
• The heat index launched by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) aims to provide information on the effect of humidity on high temperatures. It calculates a "feel-like" temperature for humans, which shows how the weather conditions can cause discomfort.
• This was announced by Union Earth Sciences Minister Kiren Rijiju.
• The heat index is designed to provide general guidance and information about the level of discomfort caused by high temperatures in the hot regions of India.
• By releasing the Heat Index, the IMD aims to provide valuable insights into heat-related conditions to help people better cope with extreme temperatures.

• Odisha Cabinet approved Mission Shakti Scooter Yojana to provide mobility support to SHC federations.
• The “Mission Shakti Scooter Yojana” aims at providing mobility support to Community Support Staff (CSS) and Executive Committee (EC) members of SHG federations by facilitating their access to scooters.
• Under the Mission Shakti Scooter Yojana, eligible individuals will benefit from full interest subvention on bank loans up to Rs. 1 lakh to purchase a scooter of their choice, making the transition to sustainable mobility more affordable and accessible than ever before.

• The Rajasthan Assembly passed a bill for the formation of a welfare board as well as a fund for platform-based gig workers in the state and to facilitate social security for them.
• The Platform-Based Gig Workers (Registration and Welfare) Bill, 2023, was passed in the Assembly without a debate amid uproar by the opposition members in the House.
• Aggregators, which include food delivery apps and e-marketing platforms, must provide the Rajasthan government with a database of all platform-based gig workers on-boarded or registered with them within sixty days of the Act’s implementation.
• Gig worker refers to someone who earns from such activities outside of the traditional employer-employee relationship and who works on a contract.

• Tamil Nadu’s Authoor Betel Leaves received GI Tag. The Geographical Indications Registry has issued the Geographical Indication (GI) tag certificate of Tamil Nadu’s Authoor Vetrilai (Authoor Betel Leaves) to Thoothukudi district administration.
• The betel leaves, locally known as Vetrilai in Tamil, cultivated in the Authoor village of Thoothukudi district, Tamil Nadu (TN) attained the GI tag in April 2023.
• The tag was facilitated by the Tamil Nadu State Agriculture Marketing Board and NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development) Madurai Agribusiness Incubation Forum (MABIF) and registered in the name of Authoor Vattara Vetrilai Vivasayigal Sangam.
• It is cultivated across an extensive area spanning approximately 500 acres of land, encompassing regions like Mukkani, Authoor, Korkai, Suganthalai, Vellakoil, and other Mukkani villages.
• This leaf is utilized during special occasions such as temple festivals, housewarmings, and weddings and possesses a distinctively spicy and pungent flavour.

• India's first private hill station Lavasa was sold to Darwin Platform Infrastructure for Rs 1.8 thousand crore after the approval of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT).
• The resolution plan of Darwin Platform Infrastructure has been accepted by the NCLT and includes payment of Rs 1,814 crore.
• This payment includes Rs 929 crore to be paid to lenders and Rs 438 crore allocated to provide fully constructed houses to 837 approved home owners.
• The primary objective of Darwin Platform Infrastructure's resolution plan is to address claims of home buyers and ensure delivery of completed homes within five years, subject to obtaining environment clearance, with a total claim amount of Rs 6,642 crore.
• Lavasa Hill Station is situated in the picturesque Mulshi Valley within the Western Ghats near Pune.
• It was established in 2000 by the Hindustan Construction Company, becoming India's first private hill town.

• Gujarat will host the 69th edition of Filmfare Awards in 2024, and an MoU has signed between state government’s tourism cooperation and Worldwide Media (WWM) to host the event and promote the state as a film destination.
• The Guest of Honour for the event will be Minister of Forest and Environment of Gujarat Mulubhai Bera.
• Traditionally held in Mumbai, the Filmfare Awards will take a detour to Gujarat for the 2024 edition.

• President Droupadi Murmu presented the National Geoscience Awards-2022 on 24 July in New Delhi, honoring individuals and teams for achievements in geosciences.
• Twenty-two geoscientists, including two women, were awarded at the ceremony.
• Geoscience includes the study of natural disasters like landslides, earthquakes, floods, and tsunamis, which are called Public Good Geosciences due to their value in protecting people.
• The President encouraged human-centric mining and appreciated Indian geoscientists for contributing to the efficient use of minerals.
• Dr. Om Narain Bhargava received the National Geoscience Award for Lifetime Achievement for his pioneering work in the Himalayas.
• Dr. Amiya Kumar Samal was presented with the National Young Geoscientist Award for his significant contributions to understanding the lithospheric mantle below different Archean cratons of the Indian shield.

• Popular social media platform Twitter launched a new logo 'X' as part of a massive rebranding effort.
• The blue bird logo has been replaced by an 'X', which is now featured prominently on the website.
• The new logo was announced jointly by Twitter founder Elon Musk and CEO Linda Yacarino, indicating their involvement in the rebranding process.
• This logo change represents the latest significant update since Elon Musk acquired Twitter last year for a whopping $44 billion.
• The 'X' logo introduced during Twitter's rebranding marks a shift towards turning the platform into an all-encompassing app similar to China's WeChat.
• The change is aimed at enabling users to perform various tasks beyond social media including making payments and booking hotels.

• Indian Surf Team won the bronze medal at the Asian Surfing Championship, 2023 held at Thulisdhoo Island in Maldives. 18 countries from Asia took part in this championship.
• The Surfing Federation of India sent a team comprising 4 senior Surfers in the men’s category and 2 Surfers in the Under 18 category. 5 out of the 6 Surfers were from Tamilnadu.
• As a team, India scored 2,708 points securing the third position, thereby winning the bronze medal. Japan won the gold with 4,450 points
• Indian Surfers will now get ready for the first-ever World Surfing League (WSL) event in India to be held in Mahabalipuram in Tamil Nadu from August 14 to 20 this year.

• Star India batter Virat Kohli surpassed South Africa's Jacques Kallis to become the fifth-highest run-scorer in international cricket history.
• Kohli achieved this upward movement in the batting charts during India's second Test against West Indies at Port of Spain.
• Currently in 500 matches, Virat has scored 25,548 runs at an average of 53.67. He has smashed 75 centuries and 132 half-centuries in 559 innings, with the best score of 254 onwards. 
• Virat has overtaken Kallis' tally of 25,534 runs in 519 matches, with 62 centuries and 149 fifties.
• Currently, ahead of Kohli are legends like Sri Lanka's Mahela Jayawardene (25,957 runs in 652 matches), Ricky Ponting from Australia (27,483 runs in 560 matches), SL's Kumar Sangakkara (28,016 runs in 594 matches) and Indian legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar (34,357 runs in 664 matches).
• The veteran batter is the highest-run scorer in the T20I format in its history. In 115 matches, he has scored 4,008 runs at an average of 52.73. He has scored one century and 37 fifties in the format, with the best score of 122*.

• Asian Champions Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty defeated world no. 1 Indonesian duo Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Rian Ardianto in a thrilling 3-game men’s doubles final 17-21, 21-13, 21-14 to clinch the Korea Open 2023 title in Yeosu, Korea.
• This is the third Super 500 title of their career so far after Thailand Open 2019 and Yonex Sunrise India Open 2022 and the third BWF World Tour title in 2023 as well, having previously won Swiss Open 2023 (Super 300) and Indonesia Open 2023 (Super 1000) earlier this year.
• This was Satwik and Chirag’s seventh title on the BWF World Tour.
• Former world champion PV Sindhu is the only other Indian to clinch the Korea Open title, clinching the title in 2017.

• Ms. Namgya C. Khampa, presently High Commissioner of India to the Republic of Kenya, has been concurrently accredited as the next Ambassador of India to the Federal Republic of Somalia.
• She is expected to take up the assignment shortly.
• Namgya C Khampa is an Indian Foreign Service (IFS) Officer of the 2000 batch.
• Before taking over as High Commissioner of India to Kenya, Namgya C Khampa served as Deputy Chief of Mission in Kathmandu, Nepal. 
• She has served twice in India’s diplomatic Mission in China from 2002 to 2006 and from 2013 to 2016.
• Namgya Khampa has also worked in the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations in New York from 2009 to 2013.
• Khampa has also served as India’s representative on the Executive Board of the UNDP and UNFPA during her tenure in New York.

• Prime Minister Modi announced that India is going to commence the rollout of 20% ethanol-blended petrol this year and aims to cover the entire nation by 2025.
• The Ethanol Blended Petrol Programme was launched in 2003 with the aim to promote the use of renewable and environmentally friendly fuels and reduce India’s import dependence on energy security.
• Starting with 5% blending, the government has set a target of 10% ethanol blending by 2022 and 20% blending (E20) by 2030.
• The programme is implemented in accordance with the National Policy on Biofuels.
• Under this programme, oil marketing companies (OMCs) will procure ethanol from domestic sources at prices fixed by the government.
• India's Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas published its “National Policy on Biofuels" in 2018 and further amended it in June 2022.
• Ethanol is an organic chemical.
• It is a simple alcohol with the chemical formula C2H6O.

• The nomination of four women to a panel of Vice-Chairpersons created a history as it is for the first time that equal representation has been given to women in the panel of Vice-Chairpersons.
• They are PT Usha, S. Phangnon Konyak, Dr. Fauzia Khan, and Sulata Deo.
• Four women MPs have been appointed by the Chairman of Rajya Sabha, Jagdeep Dhankar.
• One of the newly nominated women members is S. Phangnon Konyak. She is the first woman to be elected as a Member of the Rajya Sabha from Nagaland in April 2022 and the second woman from the State to be elected to either the House of the Parliament or the State Assembly.
• The main function of a panel of vice-chairpersons is to assist the chairman or the deputy chairman of the Rajya Sabha in conducting its functions efficiently.

• The Rajasthan Assembly passed a bill to provide minimum guaranteed income to all adult citizens as part of a welfare package for the state.
• The Rajasthan Minimum Guaranteed Income Bill, 2023 was passed by voice vote in the assembly.
• As per the Bill, some beneficiaries will receive guaranteed employment at minimum wage for at least 125 days per financial year.
• Other beneficiaries such as senior citizens, specially-abled persons, widows, and single women shall be entitled to a pension under the Bill. 
• The pension payable shall be increased at the rate of 15 percent per annum from FY 2024-25.
• All eligible senior citizens, specially-abled persons, widows or single women shall be entitled to a pension under this Bill as may be prescribed.

• On completing 32 years of illustrious service to the nation, Indian Naval Ship Kirpan has been decommissioned from the Indian Navy and Handed Over to Vietnam People’s Navy (VPN) at Cam Ranh, Vietnam.
• INS Kirpan, since commissioning in 1991, has been an integral part of the Indian Navy’s Eastern Fleet and has participated in many operations over the last 32 years.
•  Manned by about 12 officers and 100 sailors, the ship is 90 meters long and 10.45 meters in width with a maximum displacement of 1450 tons. 
• The ship has been handed over today to Vietnam People’s Navy with a complete weapon complement.
• This is the first time India has gifted a fully operational, in-service corvette to any friendly foreign country.

• Odisha's Naveen Patnaik became the second longest-serving chief minister in the country, replacing West Bengal's Jyoti Basu.
• Former Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling still holds the record of being the longest-serving Chief Minister in the country. He was the Chief Minister of the Himalayan state from December 12, 1994 till May 27, 2019 -- more than 24 years.
• Mr Patnaik, the five-time chief minister of Odisha, took charge on March 5, 2000, and holds the post for 23 years and 138 days.
• Mr Basu served as the chief minister of West Bengal from June 21, 1977 to November 5, 2000, which was 23 years and 137 days.
• Mr Patnaik is also the third leader after Mr Chamling and Mr Basu to become the Chief Minister of a state for five consecutive times.
• Naveen Patnaik started his political journey in 1997 after the demise of his father Biju Patnaik. 
• He formed a new party on 26 December 1997 in the name of his father as a breakaway faction from Janta Dal. 
• Patnaik also served as Union Minister of Steel and Mines from 1998 to 2000, and he was a Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) from 1997 to 2000.

• World Brain Day is an annual event dedicated to raising awareness about brain health and neurological disorders.
• World Brain Day is celebrated globally on July 22nd every year. The day promotes education, research, and support for individuals affected by brain-related conditions.
• It is celebrated annually with the goal of encouraging brain health, furthering research and helping people who are suffering from neurological disorders.
• World Brain Day's 2023 theme is "Brain Health and Disability: Leave No One Behind."
• The World Federation of Neurology (WFN) was founded on July 22, 1957.
• During the World Congress of Neurology (WCN) Council of Delegates meeting on September 22, 2013, the Public Awareness and Advocacy Committee presented a proposal to celebrate July 22 as "World Brain Day".

• A seven-year-old Indian-origin schoolgirl, who started volunteering for a United Nations' sustainability initiative against microplastic pollution when she was just three, has been awarded the British Prime Minister’s Points of Light award.
• Moksha Roy, who received the award from Deputy British Prime Minister Oliver Dowden, has been given the title of the world's youngest sustainability advocate.
• Moksha has been recognised for volunteering for several sustainability campaigns, including raising funds to help children in need.
• Moksha has also assisted in educational sessions for deprived school children in India.

• Algeria has formally applied to join the BRICS group and submitted a request to become a shareholder member of the BRICS Bank.
• The North African country is rich in oil and gas resources and seeking to diversify its economy.
• BRICS is an informal grouping of the world's major emerging economies that was established in 2006 to strengthen cooperation between these countries and develop common approaches to global economic challenges.
• The BRICS group, which currently comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, represents a significant portion of the global population and economy, accounting for more than 40 percent of the world’s population and approximately 26 per cent of the global economy.
• More than 40 countries have expressed interest in joining the BRICS group of nations. Argentina, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Kazakhstan are among the countries that expressed interest.

• Admiral Lisa Franchetti has been chosen by US President Joe Biden to be the next Chief of Naval Operations, making her the first woman to hold this position in the US Navy's history and also the first woman in the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
• Admiral Franchetti, currently serving as the vice chief of naval operations, has an impressive career history.
• Lisa Franchetti is currently serving as the vice chief of naval operations. 
• She was commissioned in 1985 and has served as the commander of US Naval Forces Korea, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Warfighting Development, and director for Strategy, Plans, and Policy of the Joint Staff.
• She has also commanded two carrier strike groups. She became the Vice CNO in September 2022.

• The public sports broadcaster, DD Sports has bagged the TV rights in India for the upcoming FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023.
• The tournament, starting on July 20, 2023, will mark the inaugural occasion when the World Cup is co-hosted by two countries, namely Australia and New Zealand.
• Featuring 32 competing teams in the showpiece international event, this year’s game is being hailed as one of the grandest to date. A total of 64 electrifying matches will take place across 10 different venues, with the New Zealand vs. Norway match kicking off the excitement.

• Young Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa emerged champion in the V Geza Hetenyi Memorial Super GM chess tournament 2023.
• The 17-year-old GM scored 6.5 points to finish clear first in the 10-player event. After nine rounds of play, he ended up a point ahead of M Amin Tabatabaei (Iran) and Russia’s Sanan Sjugirov.
• Throughout the tournament, Praggnanandhaa achieved five wins, drew three games, and suffered only one defeat, which occurred in the fifth round against Amin Tabatabaei.
• In 2016, at the remarkable age of 10, Praggnanandhaa achieved the title of the youngest international master in history.
• On 20 February 2022, he accomplished a significant feat by becoming the third Indian player (after Anand and Harikrishna) to defeat World Champion Magnus Carlsen in any time format.

• Indian men's football team climbed a rank in the latest FIFA rankings, released on Thursday, to be placed in the 99th position.
• The Blue Tigers are unbeaten in 2023 and have picked up three trophies winning the Hero Tri-Nation Cup, Hero Intercontinental Cup and the SAFF Championship in the calendar year.
• In the 2023 Intercontinental Cup, India emerged as champions by defeating Lebanon with a convincing 2-0 scoreline in the thrilling final match.
• Lebanon also gained two places to be just below India at 100th spot while Kuwait moved up four places to be at 137th in the latest FIFA chart
• India's best FIFA ranking was 94th, attained in 1996. The country had also reached the 99th spot in 1993 and 96th in 2017 and 2018. It was placed at 100th last month.
• Overall, world champions Argentina continued to be at the top, followed by France, Brazil, England and Belgium. In Asia, Japan led the chart at 20th spot, followed by Iran (22), Australia (27), Korea (28) and Saudi Arabia (54) in top five.

• AB Pradhan has taken over as Director (Human Resources) of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) at its headquarter in Bengaluru.
• Prior to this, he was holding the post as Officer on Special Duty at HAL Corporate Office and General Manager (HR) at Bangalore Complex.
• Pradhan joined HAL in 2005 and overall has 35 years of varied experience in human resource function in both public and private sectors with exposure to various industries dealing with engineering, metallurgy, paper, and aerospace and defence.

• The government has appointed Sat Pal Bhanoo as one of the managing directors of Life Insurance Corporation (LIC). 
• He has been appointed in place of Siddhartha Mohanty who has been appointed as chairman of LIC in April.
• Bhanoo's appointment is effective from the date of assumption of charge and up to the date of his superannuation on December 31, 2025 or until further orders, whichever is earlier, LIC said in a regulatory filing.
• Life Insurance Corporation, popularly known as LIC is Indian state-owned insurance group and Investment Company.

• Shah Rukh Khan has been appointed as the brand ambassador of ICC World Cup 2023.
• The World Cup will be held in India from October 5 to November 19, 2023.
• India will start their campaign against Australia on October 8 and the Rohit Sharma led side will take on Pakistan at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on October 15.

• Anshuman Jhingran, an open sea swimmer, became the youngest person in the world to cross the North Channel. 
• With this achievement, 18-year-old Anshuman has become qualified for a place in the Guinness World Records.
• He is only the 114th person to cross the channel since 1947.
• The North Channel, located between Scotland and Northern Ireland, is considered the toughest of the Ocean Seven Swims because of its chilling temperature, the presence of numerous extremely dangerous lions’ main jellyfish and competing tides and currents all the way across right up until the final few metres.
• Flowing northwestward into the Atlantic Ocean, this channel is renowned as one of the most challenging Ocean Seven Swims.
• The Oceans Seven is a marathon swimming challenge consisting of seven open water channel swims.

• Andhra Pradesh Government has recently released millions of Gambusia fish in water bodies in order to control malaria, dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases.
• The fish belongs to a family Poeciliidae and genus Gambusia.
• The fish species shows a high breeding capacity for instance 900 and 1200 offspring could be produced during the lifespan of a single female Gambusia.
• It is also known as mosquito fish, and is widely used as a biological agent for controlling mosquito larvae.
• A single full grown fish eats about 100 to 300 mosquito larvae per day.
• The International Union for Consevation of Nature declared Gambusia as one of the 100 worst invasive alien species in the world.
• Gambusia fish has been a part of various malaria control diseases since 1928.

• Gujarat will get the country’s first ‘Satellite Network Portal Site’. An MoU was signed between OneWeb and the state government in Gandhinagar for the establishment of the Satellite Network Portal Site’ near Mehsana. 
• The satellite network portal will be set up at two places in Jotana taluka of Mehsana district with an estimated cost of over Rs. 100 crores for Phase-1. 
• This project under Digital India, aims to provide affordable, secure and high speed internet access to villages, district panchayats, local administrative bodies, government departments, and other entities throughout the country. 
• It is also expected to create approximately 500 direct and indirect employment opportunities in the state.

• On July 23rd, India commemorates National Broadcasting Day to honor the profound influence of radio in our lives. 
• This significant day marks the inception of India’s first-ever radio broadcast, known as “All India Radio (AIR).” 
• Radio broadcasting services were introduced in India during British rule in 1923 as an initiative of the Radio Club of Bombay.
• India’s first-ever radio broadcast commenced from Bombay Station under the Indian Broadcasting Company in 1927.
• In 1956, the name “Akashvani” was officially adopted for AIR, inspired by Rabindranath Tagore’s 1938 poem titled “Akashvani,” which translates to “voice or announcement from the skies.”

1. Author and Spiritual Coach Sarika Bhardwaj Launched Her "A Fool's Journey" Book
2. A book titled “India Rising Memoir of a Scientist” authored by R. Chidambaram and Suresh Gangotra released

1. Indian contingent won 27 medals at 25th Asian Athletics Championship 2023
2. Para taekwondo athlete Aruna Tanwar bags 3 golds at championships in Australia
3. Thailand’s Supanida Katethong, Li Shi Feng win singles titles in US Open 2023 Finals
4. Ajeet Singh clinches gold medal in finals of Men’s javelin throw in Para Athletics Championships in Paris
5. Australia's Victoria withdraws as host of 2026 Commonwealth Games
6. India's Satwik breaks world record for fastest badminton hit with 565-kmph smash
7. India shooter Prithviraj Tondaiman bags Bronze medal at ISSF Shotgun World Cup in Italy
8. Ravichandran Ashwin surpasses Harbhajan to become 2nd highest wicket-taker for India in international cricket
9. Mirabai Chanu to lead Indian contingent at World Weightlifting Championships 2023 in Riyadh
10. India finish 3rd behind China and Japan with 27 medals in Asian Athletics Championships 2023
11. Marketa Vondrousova beats Ons Jabeur to become first unseeded woman to win Wimbledon title
12. Ruturaj to lead India men’s cricket team at the 19th Asian Games
13. Carlos Alcaraj defeated Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon 2023 final
14. Jyothi Yarraji wins India’s first gold medal at Asian Athletics Championships 2023

1. Rajay Kumar Sinha takes charge as SBICAPS chief
2. Neeraj Akhoury elected as President of the Cement Manufacturers’ Association
3. Biden appoints Indian-American business leader to serve on Prez’s Export Council

1. Tamil Nadu tops NITI Aayog’s Export Preparedness Index 2022 among coastal states
2. Opposition Parties formed alliance called “INDIA” to contest the 2024 Lok Sabha election
3. Centre launches CRCS-Sahara Refund Portal to help Sahara depositors
4. NITI Aayog releases Multidimensional poverty Index 2022
5. India signs MoU with UAE to set up IIT campus in Abu Dhabi
6. Shri Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurates 'SAGAR SAMPARK'
7. NITI Aayog announces ‘Export Preparedness Index’ report for 2022
8. Shri Bhupender Yadav leads Mangrove Plantation drive in Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu
9. Government launches Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana to empower the Elderly

1. Chachin Grazing Festival celebrated with great zeal in Arunachal Pradesh
2. Tripura education dept launches ‘school boat’ service to ferry school students free of cost
3. U.P. govt appoints ex-IAS officer Arvind Kumar new UPERC chief
4. Skill India project successfully revives the dying Namda art of Jammu and Kashmir
5. Assam government launched the "Gajah Kotha" campaign

1. ISRO successfully launches Chandrayaan-3, India's third moon expedition

1. Surat Diamond Bourse becomes world's largest office building, surpasses US Pentagon
2. ADB retains India's growth forecast at 6.4% for the current fiscal
3. Razorpay launches first international payment gateway in Malaysia
4. India and UAE Agree to Currency-based Trade Settlement and UPI – IPP Integration

1. North Korea tested its latest Hwasong-18 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM)
2. South Korea to hold international defence exhibition in October 2023
3. TVS and the Indian Army commemorate the 24th Vijay Diwas with a 1,000km all-women motorcycle rally
4. India-Mongolia joint military exercise “Nomadic Elephant – 2023” to commence at Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
5. INS Sunayana participated in Operation Southern Readiness