1 90 MW Omkareshwar Floating Solar Project commissioned
Recently SJVN Green Energy Limited (SGEL) commissioned the 90 MW Omkareshwar Floating Solar Project . SJVN Limited is a Mini Ratna Schedule ‘A’ Central Public Sector Undertaking (CPSU) under the Ministry of Power, Government of India. Located in Khandwa district of Madhya Pradesh Government of India. Omkareshwar Floating Solar Park . This park is India’s largest floating solar park. The project aims to significantly reduce carbon emissions by 2.3 lakh tonnes of CO2, thereby meeting India’s goal of achieving net-zero emissions by the year 2070. It will also help in water conservation by reducing water evaporation. India’s installed solar power capacity has grown significantly, reaching 85.47 GW by June 2024.
2 Government withdraws Broadcast Bill 2024
On August 12, the country’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) withdrew the draft of the Broadcasting Bill 2024. The ministry will prepare a new draft of the bill. The draft of this bill was placed in the public domain on 10 November 2023 for comments from stakeholders and the general public. The ministry has now given additional time till 15 October 2024 for suggestions and comments. The central government will regulate, control, monitor and censor the content published through the new bill. through the new bill . All broadcasters will be placed in the same regulatory framework, allowing the government to streamline broadcasting working. The draft of the Broadcasting Regulation Bill was prepared in November 2023. Digital news publishers and individual content creators had objected to the bill.
3 Bureau of Indian Standards launched new department on environment, EED
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has launched a new department for standardization on issues related to environment and ecology . It is named . It has been named Environment and Ecology Department (EED) . The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution said in a statement issued on Tuesday that BIS has launched a new department for standardization on issues related to environment and ecology. Its aim is to set global standards in sustainability and environmental standardization.
4 Vinay Mohan Kwatra became India’s ambassador to the US
Vinay Mohan Kwatra on August 13 his appointment as the Indian Ambassador to the US . Earlier, IFS officer Vinay Kwatra has been the Foreign Secretary of India. The post was vacant since Taranjit Singh Sandhu retired in January. The Indian Embassy in the US is located in Washington DC. He has been serving as India’s Foreign Secretary from April 2022 to July 15, 2024. His diplomatic career spans over 32 years. Kwatra was Joint Secretary in the PMO between 2015 and 2017. He was sent to France as ambassador till February 2020. On his return from France, he was sent to Nepal as India’s ambassador. Kwatra is also credited with improving India-Nepal relations.
5 Maharashtra: Famous writers Baba Bhand and Ishwarlal Parmar will be honored with Kavi Narmad Sahitya Award for the year 2023-24
The Maharashtra State Gujarati Sahitya Academy has announced that renowned writers Baba Bhand and Ishwarlal Parmar will be awarded the Kavi Narmad Sahitya Puraskar for the year 2023-24 . They will be given the award at a ceremony on August 24. This academy of Maharashtra gives two awards in the name of Kavi Narmad to one Marathi and one Gujarati writer every year. Baba Bhand, one of the awardees this year, is known for his immense contribution to Marathi literature. He was also the chairman of the Maharashtra State Literature and Culture Board. Earlier, eminent writers like Madhu Mangesh Karnik, Mangesh Padgaonkar, Shankar Vaidya, Vijaya Rajadhyaksh and Asha Baghe have been awarded this award.
6 Madhya Pradesh became the first state in the country to send money to the bank accounts of girl students for sanitary pads
Madhya Pradesh has become the first state in the country where the government has transferred money for sanitary pads to the bank accounts of girl students. While some states like Karnataka, Rajasthan and Delhi provide free sanitary pads to girl students, cash is being given only in Madhya Pradesh. School girls from class VII to XII are eligible for these cash benefits. They will get three hundred rupees for a year . The government has transferred more than Rs 57 crore 18 lakh to more than 19 lakh beneficiary girl students. To deal with myths and taboos related to menstruation, the state government has launched the Udita Yojana. . The government has transferred more than 57 crore 18 lakh rupees to more than 19 lakh beneficiary girl students. The state government has launched
7 India to celebrate first National Space Day on August 23 with theme ‘Touching the Lives While Touching the Moon’
India became the first country in the world to land its spacecraft on the south pole of the moon on 23 August last year . As a symbol of this historic achievement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared this day as “ National Space Day ”. In this sequence, the country is celebrating its first National Space Day on 23 August “ Touching the Lives While Touching the Moon ”. To commemorate Space Day, the main event will be organized in New Delhi on 22 and 23 August on India’s remarkable achievements in the field of space.
8 Union Minister Kiren Rijiju launches Haj Application-2025 and Jio Parsi Yojana Portal in New Delhi
Minister of Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju launched Haj Application-2025 and Jio Parsi Yojana Portal in New Delhi . Minister of State for Minority Affairs George Kurien was also present with him on this occasion. Saudi Arabia has allotted a quota of more than 1 lakh 75 thousand Haj pilgrims to India for Haj-2025. This is the first time that applications are being invited on the Haj Suvidha App in addition to the website of the Haj Committee of India. Mr. Rijiju said that allowing Muslim women of 45 years or above to perform Haj without Mehram (without male companion) is one of the biggest reforms made in Haj administration. He said that in 2024, 4 thousand 558 women have performed Haj in the category without Mehram, which is the highest number till date. The objective of the Jio Parsi Yojana Portal is to provide financial assistance to the Parsi community through direct benefit transfer.
9 Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla appointed Jagdambika Pal as the chairman of the Joint Parliamentary Committee for the Wakf Amendment Bill 2024
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has appointed Bharatiya Janata Party MP Jagdambika Pal as the chairman of the Joint Parliamentary Committee constituted for the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024. This committee has been constituted to examine the bill in detail. The bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha during the recently concluded budget session of Parliament and was later referred to the Joint Parliamentary Committee. The committee has to submit its report by the last day of the first week of the winter session.
10 Mrinmayee Dey will represent India in Miss Teen Global 2025
Miss Teen Mrinmayee Dey will represent India on the international stage at Miss Teen Global 2025 to be held in Malaysia . ANI gave this information on social media on August 13. Miss Teen Global India 2024 was organized in Jaipur, Rajasthan . Mrinmayee is the first Bengali to be crowned at the national level of Star Miss Teen India in the last 6 years. She has also won the Star Miss Teen Talented Award 2024. Mrinmayee, a resident of Kolkata , has also been an Odissi dancer since the age of three.
11 Neelkurinji declared as an endangered species
Neelakurinji (Strobilanthes kunthiana), which blooms once every 12 years , is classified as Vulnerable (Criterion A2c) on the IUCN Red List . The species was not previously evaluated under IUCN standards due to its unique flowering cycle and ecological challenges. Neelakurinji is an endemic shrub, up to three metres high, found only in the high altitude Shola Grassland Ecosystems of five mountain landscapes of southwest India at elevations of 1,340–2,600 metres. The scientific name of Neelakurinji is derived from the Kunthi River in Silent Valley National Park , Kerala . the flower is found in abundance. They are semelparous (reproduce only once in a lifetime), and bloom and fruit together every 12 years at the end of the life cycle.
12 Patriotism Day celebrated in Manipur
Patriotism Day was observed in Manipur on August 13. The day is celebrated every year in memory of the freedom fighters of Manipur who sacrificed their lives in the war with the British in 1891. Various programmes were organised on the occasion at various places in the state and places where Manipuris live. The main programme was held at Bir Tikendrajit Park in Imphal. On August 13, 1891, Bir Tikendrajit, the prince of the then state of Manipur, and General Thangal were publicly hanged for waging war against the British Empire, while others were exiled to Kalapani.
13 IRCTC to launch ‘One India-One Ticket’ initiative for passengers in Namo Bharat trains and other trains
Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) in collaboration with National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) has launched ‘ One India-One Ticket’ for passengers in Namo Bharat Train and other trains. . Its objective is to increase the convenience of passengers. Through this, passengers can book tickets for Namo Bharat trains on IRCTC’s website and app. Under this arrangement, the facility of canceling tickets and receiving payment will also be available. IRCTC has said that passengers can generate a unique QR code for Namo Bharat train tickets. This code will be valid for 4 days around the travel date options. Under the current railway reservation system, Namo Bharat tickets can also be booked 120 days in advance.
14 ICC announced Player of the Month for July
The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Monday announced the ICC ‘Players of the Month’ for July. While England fast bowler Gus Atkinson has been named the ICC Men’s Player of the Month for July after his impressive performance in the Test series against the West Indies, Sri Lankan women’s cricket team captain Chamari Atapattu has been named the ICC Men’s Player of the Month for July. has been selected for the ICC Women’s Player of the Month award. ICC Women’s Player of the Month winner Chamari Atapattu expressed happiness and said that I am happy and honored to be selected as the ICC Women’s Player of the Month for the third time.
15 Big Cricket Leagues signed long term agreement with Prasar Bharati to broadcast matches
Big T20 Cricket League, launched with the objective of providing emerging local players an opportunity to play with cricketing heroes, has signed a historic long-term deal with national broadcaster Prasar Bharati . This franchise based cricket tournament will be inaugurated in Lucknow in September this year . Big Cricket League will be telecast live on DD Sports across the country. Prasar Bharati is promoting it across its network. The first season of Big Cricket League will also be telecast internationally in more than 30 countries. It will have six teams namely Awadh Lions, Northern Challengers, Rajasthan Kings, Mumbai Marines, Southern Spartans and Bengal Rhinos. A council of eminent former cricketers headed by League Commissioner and former Indian captain Dilip Vengsarkar will oversee the functioning of the League. Former Indian fast bowler Rudra Pratap Singh is its Chairman and distinguished former West Indies fast bowler Courtney Walsh is its Vice-Chairman.