Current Affairs | National | International | SSC | UPSC 20h August 2024

 

National news 

1. Govt. rules out Central law for safety of doctors 

• TheUnion government has ruled out the need to bring in a Central protection Act for a uniform framework across the country for protecting healthcare workers, stating that almost all States have laws in place to ensure their safety. 
• Considering the Kolkata rape and murder case and the continued agitation by doctors demanding a safe workplace, the Centre on Monday issued an order to increase security by 25% in all hospitals of the Union government. Deployment of marshals would also be increased depending on the need in hospitals. 
• Health Ministry officials said the deployment of marshals, besides the standard security protocol, would be approved based on demand from Union government hospitals after they assess security. 
• "Several States and UTs have passed legislation to protect healthcare service personnel. These States include Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, W.B., and T.N. In these States, the offence is cognisable and non-bailable. Most State Acts define healthcare service personnel to include doctors, nurses, medical and nursing students, and paramedical staff," said a senior Health Ministry official. 

2. Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal officially launched the SOP for the Green Tug Transition Program (GTTP). 

• TheGreenTugTransition Program (GTTP) is a key initiative under the ‘Panch Karma Sankalp’. 
• GTTPhasbeendesigned to phase out conventional fuel-based harbour tugs operating in Indian major ports and replace them with green tugs. 
• Phase1of the GTTP will begin on October 1, 2024, and continue until December 31, 2027. 
• Underthis phase, four Major Ports—Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority, Deendayal Port Authority, Paradip Port Authority, and V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority—will procure or charter at least two green tugs. 
• Aninvestment of around INR 1000 Crores will be required to build these tugs. 
• Thefirst set of tugs will be battery-electric, with provisions for adopting other emerging green technologies. 
• TheGTTPwill be a major boost to the domestic tug industry; these will be constructed in Indian shipyards as part of the Government of India's ‘Make in India’ initiative. 

International news 

3. PM Modi inaugurates 3rd Voice of Global South Summit 

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated the 3rd Voice of Global South Summit. 
• The Summit is being held in a virtual format, and many leaders of the Global South are participating in the meeting. 
• Theme2024–AnEmpoweredGlobalSouthfor a Sustainable Future 
• TheVoiceofGlobal South is an Indian concept rooted in the ancient Indian philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. It provides a platform for the countries of the Global South to raise issues that are vital to them. 

About Voice of Global South Summit

• India hosted the first Voice of Global South Summit in a virtual format from 2 to 13 January 2023. Following the summit’s success, India organised the second Voice of Global South Summit on 17 November 2023. 
• Over100countries of the Global South participated in the 2nd Voice of Global South Summit. PMModiinNews 
• PM Modi unveils 1,500 crore Multiple Development Projects in J&K 
• PM inaugurates 2550th Bhagwan Mahaveer Nirvan Mahotsav on occasion of Mahaveer Jayanti 
• PM Modi has inaugurated 15 airport projects, including the revamped Terminal 1 of the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, worth over Rs.9,800 crore. 
• PMNarendraModihaslaunched the Mahtari Vandan Yojana in Chhattisgarh. 
• PMModiunveileda125-foot bronze statue of ‘Ahom general’ Lachit Borphukan (Statue of Valour) in Assam’s Jorhat 

4. India shines at the 17th International Earth Sciences Olympiad 

• TheIndian student team has bagged multiple prestigious medals at the 17th edition of the International Earth Sciences Olympiad (IESO) held in Beijing, China. 
• Thefour-member Indian team, comprising students from Gujarat, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, and Rajasthan, achieved remarkable success by winning three gold medals, three bronze medals, and two silver medals across three competition categories: Theory and Practical, Earth System Project, and International Team Field Investigation. 
• This year’s 17th IESO saw participation from 35 countries, with 32 advancing to the finals. The competitions were held across four categories: Theory and Practical, Earth Science Project, International Team Field Investigation, and Data Mining. 

5. UN cyber crime treaty 2024 

• TheUnited Nations Cybercrime Convention which has been under negotiation for the past three years, was unanimously approved by UN members. 
• Itaims to "prevent and combat cybercrime more efficiently and effectively," notably regarding child sexual abuse imagery and money laundering. 
• For the first time, it proposes a global-level cybercrime and data access-enabling legal framework. 
• It establishes “a global criminal justice policy,” to protect society against cyber crime. 
• It calls states to put in place legislation that will make it illegal to breach an information and communications system people don’t have access to. 
• Thetreaty would enter into force once 40 member nations will ratify it. 

6. 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue between India and Japan held in New Delhi on 20th August 2024. 

• Themeeting was attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar, Japanese Minister of Defense Kihara Minoru and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ms Yoko Kamikawa. 
• Onthesidelines of the 2+2 dialogue, a bilateral meeting was held between the Defence Minister and his Japanese counterpart. 
• During the meeting, the Ministers reviewed the bilateral cooperation. 
• Theyalso exchanged views on global and regional issues of mutual interest. 
• Defence Ministry said, India and Japan share ‘Special Strategic and Global Partnership’. 
• Thesecond India-Japan 2+2 dialogue was organised in September 2022 in Japan. 

Scheme and committees news 

7. UPgovt launched Mukhyamantri Yuva Udyam Vikas Yojana 

• Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has launched the ‘Mukhyamantri Yuva Udyam Vikas Abhiyan Yojana’ to boost employment opportunities for the state’s youth. 
• The yojana was announced on the occasion of the 78th Independence Day celebration in the state capital, Lucknow. 

8. Maharashtra launched ’Ladki Bahin Yojana’ on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan 

• The Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra government is set to officially launch the ‘Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana’ on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan. 
• This initiative aims to provide ₹1500 every month to more than one crore women across the state. 
• The Maharashtra Chief minister will roll out the ‘Ladki Bahin’ scheme modelled on the lines of Madhya Pradesh’s ‘Ladli Behna Yojana. 

About Maharashtra 

• Capital– Mumbai 
• Chief Minister– Eknath Sindhe 
• Deputy Chief Minister– Devendra Fadnavis & Ajit Pawar 
• Governor– Ramesh Bais 

 9. Under the new scheme in Himachal Pradesh, school going children will be given boiled eggs or fruits once a week. 

• ‘Mukhyamantri Bal Paushtik Aahar Yojana’ launched by Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu in Hamirpur on August 18. 
• Its objective is to provide nutritious food to government school children. 
• Under the scheme, students from nursery to Class 8 in 15,181 schools will be given boiled eggs or fruits once a week, which will supplement the existing mid-day meal programme. 
• This initiative will benefit around 534,000 children covered under the mid-day meal scheme. 
• The state has allocated Rs 12.75 crore for this new programme. 
• In addition to the nutrition scheme, Sukhu announced that 17,510 primary school teachers would be given tablets as part of efforts to digitise educational and administrative processes. 
• The initiative aims to modernise teaching methods, improve access to digital resources, and simplify administrative tasks. 

10. Union Minister JP Nadda launched the ‘First Policy Makers’ Forum’ in New Delhi. 

• Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare & Chemicals and Fertilizers, J.P. Nadda inaugurated the ‘First Policy Makers’ Forum. 
• The Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) in association with the Ministry of Health hosted an international delegation of policymakers and drug regulators from 15 countries. 
• This forum will help to launch innovative digital platforms for pharmacopoeia and drug safety monitoring. 
• The main aim of the forum is to foster meaningful discussions on the recognition of the IP and the implementation of Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) 
• The IP Online Portal represents a major step towards digitalizing the Indian Pharmacopoeia. 
• The ADRMS software is India’s first indigenous medical product safety database. It has been developed as part of India's. Pharmacovigilance Programme. 

Appointment News 

11. RBIappoints Sukumaran Nair as MD & CEOof Tamilnad Mercantile Bank 

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved the appointment of Salee Sukumaran Nair as the managing director and chief executive officer of Tamilnad Mercantile Bank (TMB), for a period of three years. 
• His last assignment was as deputy managing director and chief credit officer of State Bank of India, until May 2024, where he was responsible for managing the credit portfolio. 
• Nair, a postgraduate in applied electronics, started his banking career in 1987. He joined India’s largest public sector bank, State Bank of India, as a probationary officer. 
• In acareer spanning more than 35 years, he has handled various assignments, mostly in the Corporate Accounts Group, managing large corporates. 

Recent Appointment in Banking & Insurance Sector 

• MDofSBI–Rana Ashutosh Kumar Singh 
• CEOofNPCI Bhim Services Ltd (NBSL)– Lalitha Nataraj 
• MD&CEOofMCX–Praveena Rai’s 
• Chairman of SBI– Challa Sreenivasulu Setty (replace Dinesh Khara) 
• MD&CEOofUnity Small Finance Bank– Inderjit Camotra 
• MDofNational Housing Bank– Sanjay Shukla 

12. Deutsche Bank appoints Manik Chhabra as head of global corp coverage for India, Sri Lanka

• Deutsche Bank has appointed Manik Chhabra as its head of global corporate coverage for India and Sri Lanka. 
• Chhabra is moving to the German bank from US-based lender Citibank where he held many senior corporate banking roles over the last 22 years. 
• Within the role Chhabra will report to Chintan Shah, head of corporate coverage, and head of cash management sales APAC as well as Kaushik Shaparia, CEO of emerging Asia and chief country officer of India. 
• Chhabra will also become a member of the Deutsche Bank India Branch Management Board. 13. Ashok Kumar Singh assume as Director General of Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC). 
• Ashok Kumar Singh became the Director General of the Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) under the Ministry of Labour and Employment. 
• Ashok Kumar Singh is an IAS officer of the 1999 batch of Kerala cadre. 
• Hehas vast experience in the governance and management of district and State level organizations.
• He has served as the Executive Director of the National Mission for Clean Ganga. 
• He also served as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Defense and as Director of the Ministry of Finance. 
• Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC): 
• It is a statutory body under the Ministry of Labour and Employment. 
• It was founded in 1952. 
• It was set up under the ESI Act 1948 for the implementation of the ESI scheme. 

Science and technology news 

14. New AIplatform will connect farmers and scientists over phone, aid in pest control 

• The Union Government has launched the AI-based National Pest Surveillance System (NPSS) that will help farmers to connect with agriculture scientists and experts on controlling pests using their phones.
• NPSS aims to reduce the dependence of farmers on pesticide retailers, and inculcate a scientific approach among them towards pest management. 
• NPSS will analyse the latest data on pests using AI tools to help farmers and experts in pest control and management. NPSS will help about 14 crore farmers in the country. The Centre envisages connecting scientists with the fields using the platform. 
• Farmers can take photos of the infested crops or the insect using the NPSS platform and these will reach scientists and experts. This system cures the diseases at the proper time using technology. It will help in accurate diagnosis and accurate treatment. This will build confidence among farmers and production will also increase. It will save the soil too. 

15. Jal Shakti Minister launched version 2.0 of ‘FloodWatch India’ app to enhance flood monitoring 

• Union Minister for Jal Shakti C R Paatil unveiled version 2.0 of the ‘FloodWatch India’ mobile application, aimed at providing a more comprehensive and detailed overview of flood conditions across the country. 
• The upgraded app, developed by the Central Water Commission (CWC), builds on its first version launched last year. The initial version offered flood forecasts from 200 monitoring stations. 
• Version 2.0 significantly expands this scope, integrating real-time data from 592 flood monitoring stations across the country. This expansion aims to provide users with a more extensive and detailed flood condition overview. 
• Additionally, Version 2.0 introduces real-time information on the storage positions of 150 major reservoirs, offering insights into potential flood scenarios in downstream areas. Users can check flood conditions at the nearest monitoring station directly from the home page. 

16. About International Earth Science Olympiad 

• The International Earth Science Olympiad stands out as one of the most successful student-centric initiatives under the REACHOUT (Research, Education, Training, and Outreach) scheme of the Ministry of Earth Sciences. 
• Established in 2003 during the International Geoscience Education Organization Council Meeting in Calgary, Canada, the IESO is an annual competition for secondary school students worldwide. It aims to foster awareness of earth sciences through teamwork, collaboration, the exchange of ideas, and competition. 
• India has been participating in the IESO since 2007 and had the honor of hosting the 10th edition in Mysore. 

17. JUICE Mission 

• The JUICE mission of the European Space Agency is set to complete a new manoeuvre and break two records. 
• This is the first time the spacecraft will use two objects to carry out a gravity assist manoeuvre, and for the first time, it will also attempt Lunar-Earth flyby. 
• The spacecraft will first go around the Moon and losing some of its speed. 
• After 25 hours, it is expected to approach Earth. 
• Because of Earth, it will slow down further and go towards Venus. 

Important day 

18. 19July–World Photography Day 

• World Photography Day is observed every year on 19 August to raise awareness about the importance of photography. 
• Photography is an art form that allows us to freeze and keep moments forever. A single image can evoke a variety of emotions and feelings, which can be relived with a quick gaze. 
• The history of photography dates back to 1837 in France when two men named Joseph Nicephore Niepce and Louis Daguerre developed the first-ever photographic process or daguerreotype. 
• Following this, the invention was officially announced by the French Academy of Sciences on January 19, 1837. It is believed that the French government purchased the patent for the invention 10 days after the announcement was made. The government did not copyright the patent and gave it to the world as a gift. 

19. World Mosquito Day 2024: 20 August 

• Every year on 20 August, World Mosquito Day is observed. 
• It is observed to commemorate the discovery made by Sir Ronald Ross in 1897. 
• The theme for World Mosquito Day 2024 is "Accelerating the fight against malaria for a more equitable world." 
• In 1897, Sir Ronald Ross discovered that the malaria parasite is transmitted to humans by Anopheles mosquitoes. 
• World Mosquito Day is organized annually by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. 
• According to the official website of the World Mosquito Programme, 2024 is set to be the "worst year on record for dengue cases" as more than 11 million cases have been reported in 80 countries. 
• In 2023, 2.89 lakh dengue cases were reported and 485 deaths were recorded in India, while in 2022, 2.33 lakh positive cases were reported and 303 deaths were recorded. 
• This time the highest number of cases were reported from Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra. 

Award news 

20. 70th National Film Awards 

• Feature and non-feature films certified by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) between January 1, 2022, and December 31, 2022, were eligible for contention. 
• The Malayalam-language drama Aattam won the Best Feature Film award. 
• Rishab Shetty won the Best Actor award for Kantara. 
• The Best Actress honour was shared by Nithya Menen (Thiruchitrabalam) and Manasi Parekh. 
• Ponniyin Selvan- Part1 won the most (4) awards- Best Tamil Film, Best Sound Design, Best Cinematography and Best Music Director (Background Music). 
• BestMusic Director award was given to Pritam (Songs), AR Rahman (Background Score). 
• Thisis the 7th National Film Awards for AR Rahman. 

21. Science Award to be distributed on August 22 

• Backtracking from its plan to present the maiden Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar on August 23, which has been declared as National Space Day, the Union government has advanced the award distribution to August 22. The prizes are expected to be given by President Droupadi Murmu, as originally planned. 
• Therules for the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 will be released within a month, Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Monday. There will be a consultation period for the rules before they are officially notified, Mr. Vaishnaw said. 
• Earlier this month, the government announced. the first set of Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar, or national awards for scientists. This is also the first time that National Space Day, intended to mark the Chandrayaan-3 moon landing last year, is being celebrated.The function as well as the award ceremony was scheduled at the Bharat Mandapam. However for reasons that are not yet clear or made public, the National Space Day programme will proceed as scheduled at the venue with the President in attendance. "The Puraskar Award ceremony will likely take place at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on the 22nd," an official told The Hindu. There has been no official communication on the change of venue and date. 

Miscellaneous news 

22. Warmest Waters in 400 Years 

• Watertemperatures in and around Australia’s Great Barrier Reef have risen to their warmest in 400 years over the past decade. 
• Thereef stretches for some 2,400 km off the coast of the northern state of Queensland. 
• Temperatures increased by an average of about 0.12 degrees Celsius (0.22 degrees Fahrenheit) for January to March from 1960 through 2024. 
• Thereef is home to a wide variety of natural life, with 600 types of coral and 1,625 fish species alone. 
• Since 2016, the world-famous reef has suffered from five rounds of massive coral bleaching due to warming temperatures. 

23. Broadcasting Bill only after wider consultation: Minister 

• The Information and Broadcasting Mi- nistry has put the draft Broadcasting Bill, 2023 on hold, Union Minis- ter Ashwini Vaishnaw indi- cated here on Monday, say- ing there would be a wider consultation with creators and other stakeholders. 
• "Weare open-minded, very flexible, and want to make sure that whatever we do, we do after taking all the diverse views into consultation," Mr. Vaishnaw told press persons, indicating that at the most, a new law for broadcasting- whether online or offline- will be readied only after a much larger consultation process. 

"Togive opportunities'

• Mr. Vaishnaw said the Bill was being conceived for encouraging content creators, and that it should not be construed otherwise. 
• "Our intent is that this is giving more opportunities to express, share, and create new intellectual property," Mr. Vaishnaw said. "That's the way we look at it. So if that's the thought process, we have to look at a much, much wider process." consultation 
• Themovetoset the law aside comes as a significant development, following criticism from civil society on the potentially wide scope of the Bill, which would have added tory burdens to news content creators on sites such as YouTube, while also increasing compliance requirements on streaming platforms, which already have to self-regulate in accordance with the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. 
• If the consultation leads to a conclusion within the government that there is no need for a law, then one will not be proposed, a senior official added. The 2023 version of the Bill, the only one that is currently in the public domain, has a deadline of October 15 for further comments, but a senior official source said that further consultations will be done, and that the Bill will not be introduced in Parliament this year.
• The official said the Bill was partly intended to fill an anticipated regulatory gap after the Telegraph Act, 1885 was repealed and the Telecommunications Act, 2023 was passed. However, as it turned out, the official said, the latter Act did not leave much regular regulatory gap, rendering the Broadcasting Bill that much less urgent to pursue. 
• The Bill had also drawn criticism for the way a small group of stakeholders was given confidential and individually water-marked copies of a subsequent version, and warned not to circulate this version further. The Ministry last week withdrew that version, recalling copies from the stakeholders it had given them to, and said that it would accept responses based on the previous draft going forward. 

24. Sudan health minister declared cholera an epidemic.

• Sudan's health minister declared a cholera epidemic after weeks of heavy rain. 
• Thecholera outbreak in Sudan has killed at least 22 people. 
• Cholera is a fast-developing, highly contagious infection that causes diarrhoea. 
• Cholera causes severe diarrhoea, vomiting and muscle cramps. It arises from drinking food or water. 
• The capital region and other urban areas into wrecking civilian infrastructure. Many hospitals and medical facilities have closed their doors. 

Sports news 

25. Sumit Antil, Bhagyashree Jadhav named Indian flag bearers for the opening ceremony at Paris 2024 Paralympics. 

• Reigning javelin throw champion Sumit Antil and leading shot put athlete Bhagyashree Jadhav have been selected to carry India's flag during the opening ceremony of the Paris Paralympics 2024. 
• The Paralympic Games, to be held from August 28 to September 8, will be held at the same venues where the Olympics concluded on August 11 in the French capital. 
• To compete across 12 sports, India is sending its largest Paralympic contingent to Paris 2024 with 84 athletes. 
• This is significantly more than the 54 participants representing the country in Tokyo. 
• For the first time, India will also compete in the sports of para cycling, para rowing and blind judo in Paris. 

Obituary news 

26. Former Army Chief General Sundararajan Padmanabhan passed away at the age of 83. 

• Ex-Army Chief General Sundararajan Padmanabhan passed away at the age of 83. 
• He was an alumnus of the prestigious Rashtriya Indian Military College, Dehradun, and the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, in Pune. 
• On December 13, 1959, he was commissioned into the Regiment of Artillery after graduating from the Indian Military Academy. 
• He commanded one of the oldest artillery mountain regiments of the Indian Army from August 1975 to July 1976. 
• Hehasalso authored two books and participated in several wars.