1 Indian Naval Ship Y-3024 (Vindhyagiri) to be launched on 17 August 2023
Hon’ble President Smt Draupadi Murmu to launch Project 17A frigate Vindhyagiri at Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited, Kolkata on 17 Aug 23 . The Vindhyagiri ship is named after the mountain range in Karnataka and is part of the Project 17A frigate. , is the sixth ship of the Project 17A frigate Is. The warships modeled after the Project 17 class frigates (Shivalik class) are equipped with improved stealth characteristics, advanced weapons and sensors and platform management systems. Technologically advanced ship ‘Vindhyagiri’, Pays homage to its predecessor the Leander class ASW frigate. The erstwhile Vindhyagiri had participated in several challenging missions and multinational exercises during her 31 years of service from 08 Jul 1981 to 11 Jun 2012. The newly-built Vindhyagiri symbolizes India’s determination to embrace its rich naval history as well as inspire future indigenous defense capability. A total of four vessels are under construction by M/s MDL and three vessels by M/s GRSE under the Project 17A programme. The first five ships of the project have been launched by MDL and GRSE between 2019-2022. The Project 17A ship has been indigenously designed by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau, the lead organization for all warship design activities.
2 The central government changed the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner
The Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment Conditions of Service and Tenure) Bill will be introduced in the Rajya Sabha. The Bill is not just a bureaucratic reshuffle – it represents a comprehensive vision of electoral reform, replacing the Election Commission Act of 1991 . Before the final decision of the President, the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner is recommended by an important body – the Selection Committee. The guidance of this group ensures that the options chosen are in consonance with democratic spirit and values. This selection committee consists of:
(a) the Prime Minister, the Speaker
(b) the Leader of the Opposition as a member of the Lok Sabha
(c) a Union Cabinet Minister, who is chosen by the Prime Minister
Earlier, Justice K.M. Joseph, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the selection committee for election commissioners. The Chief Justice of India was also included in this committee, at least until a dedicated law was enacted by the Parliament. During this discussion, special emphasis was laid on Article 324(2) of the Constitution.
3 Kerala assembly passed resolution to rename the state
The state of Kerala is seeking to reclaim its traditional identity. Kerala is always referred to as ” Keralam ” in the local Malayalam language . The name is deeply associated with the culture and heritage of the region, and there is now a push to make this traditional name official. Recently, the Chief Minister of Kerala introduced a resolution in the state assembly demanding the renaming of Kerala to its traditional Malayalam surname “Keralam”. Realizing the depth of this change, the State Legislature unanimously passed the resolution. The journey of renaming a state is linked to constitutional procedures. The Constitution, under Article 3, deals with the renaming of existing states. It ensures that any such changes are kept on the basis of legal protocol and given due consideration.
4 DMRC Initiative: Carbonlite Metro Travel Launched
Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) CarbonLite Metro Travel has embarked on a pioneering journey by launching its latest initiative named The primary objective of Carbonlite Metro Travel is education. DMRC aims to educate its commuters about the significant environmental impact of their travel choices. By choosing the metro over other modes of transport, they contribute to the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions. This initiative aligns perfectly with India’s ambitious target of reaching net-zero emissions by 2070. One of the highlights of this initiative is that the CO2 savings earned by commuters traveling by Metro will be displayed prominently on their tickets. In addition, these carbon savings will also be displayed on QR code-based tickets, making it easy to constantly remind passengers of their positive contribution.
5 NITIE will be made IIM Mumbai
National Institute of Industrial Engineering (NITIE) will be made Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Mumbai . This significant change is not just in name, but also in its educational approach and offerings has come. Historically, NITIE has exclusively catered to engineering graduates. This distinctive approach has earned the Institute a significant reputation in its specialized field. However, with the upcoming academic year of 2024-25, NITIE will usher in a new era as it will start admitting students from diverse educational backgrounds. Prospective students seeking to join NITIE’s MBA programs have to go through the Common Admission Test (CAT), which is a well-established and rigorous test. This ensures that the institute maintains its high standards even as it expands its student base.
6 India reduced emission rate by 33% in 14 years
Over the past 14 years , India has shown significant progress in its commitment to reduce its carbon footprint . From 2005 to 2019 , the country reduced its greenhouse emissions by a remarkable 33% . This not only showcases India’s ability to adopt clean energy solutions but also its commitment to global environmental initiatives. India’s commitment to a sustainable future is further underlined by its commitment to the United Nations Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). By 2030, the nation has pledged to reduce its emissions intensity by 45% from 2005 levels. In particular the measures taken between 2016 and 2019 saw an impressive average annual emissions reduction rate of 3%.
7 Task force constituted for decarbonization of steel sector
The steel industry , which is the cornerstone of modern infrastructure and development, is now in the news for its environmental impact. In a strategic move towards a greener and more sustainable future, the government has unveiled a comprehensive plan that revolves around the formation of 13 task forces , each aimed at addressing key challenges and opportunities within the industry. These initiatives are aimed at making the steel sector carbon neutral and eco-friendly. have emerged as a response to the urgent need to promote these practices. The government’s commitment to sustainability is evident in the setting up of 13 task forces, comprising industry experts, academia, think tanks and various ministries. These task forces have a common goal: to deliberate on strategies and recommendations that can move the steel industry down a more environmentally conscious path.
8 Wegovy medicine reduces the risk of heart attack
The pharmaceutical landscape recently witnessed a remarkable milestone when Novo Nordisk, a leading Danish pharmaceutical company, achieved a phenomenal feat with its obesity drug, Vegovi . This feat not only addresses weight concerns, but also has the potential to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke to a great extent. A study examining Novo Nordisk’s obesity drug Vegovy has made a surprising discovery. It showed that individuals with a history of heart problems who were given Vegovi showed a significant reduction in the risk of heart attack and stroke. This unexpected finding underscores the versatile potential of veggie beyond its primary focus on weight management.
9 Lok Sabha passed the Pharmacy (Amendment) Bill, 2023
Lok Sabha recently passed the Pharmacy (Amendment) Bill, 2023 , which brings about significant changes in the Pharmacy Act, 1948 . The objective of this amendment is to streamline the practice and profession of pharmacy in India. The Pharmacy Act, 1948, serves as the regulatory framework for the practice and profession of pharmacy in India. This act sets guidelines and requirements for persons aspiring to work as a pharmacist. The Amendment Bill introduces a new section in the Pharmacy Act, known as Section 32C. This section focuses on a special provision for persons who are under the Jammu and Kashmir Pharmacy Act, 2011. registered or qualified under Under this Bill, persons registered as pharmacists under the Jammu and Kashmir Pharmacy Act, 2011 or possessing the qualifications prescribed by the 2011 Act will be recognized. This accreditation will claim that they are a registered Pharmacist under the Pharmacy Act, 1948.
10 19 member committee constituted to revise NCERT textbooks
NCERT to revise textbooks for classes 3 to 12 NIEPA Chancellor M.C. A 19-member National Curriculum and Teaching Learning Material Committee (NSTC) has been set up under the chairmanship of Pant . These members include Sudha Murthy, Shankar Mahadevan, Sanjeev Sanyal and others. The committee aims to align the curriculum with the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Co-chaired by mathematician Manjul Bhargava, the committee will develop teaching materials and will be assisted by curriculum area groups.
11 Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha launches several digital initiatives in Era Parivartan, Baltaal J&K program
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha launched several digital initiatives at the event ‘Yug Parivartan, Badalta J&K’ in Srinagar . Speaking on the occasion, he appreciated the Department of Information Technology and other agencies for ensuring uninterrupted availability of government services to the people. He said that Digi-Dost initiative being started from today to provide door-to-door service , Aadhaar Seva Kendra at block level Public service will be transparent with the introduction of multilingual chatbot Digi Sahayak to open up, connect to automated appeal system of 300 services and provide better facilities to citizens, which will benefit people. The Lt Governor said that J&K has become the first state to link the service with an automated appeal system.
12 Canada introduces Recognized Employer Pilot (REP)
Canada is on the verge of launching a significant program that aims to streamline the process for employers to hire foreign workers , address labor shortages and demonstrate their commitment to optimizing the recruitment process. Designed to operate under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) , the Recognized Employer Pilot is an innovative approach from the Canadian government. Central to this program is the Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), an important assessment that Canadian employers must complete if they wish to hire foreign workers under the TFWP. With the new initiative, the validity of LMIA will increase to 36 months.
13 Indian hockey team today ranked third in the latest FIH rankings after winning Asian Champions Trophy titles
After the title win in the Asian Champions Trophy, the Indian hockey team has moved up to the third spot in the latest FIH rankings . India secured the third position leaving behind England . The Netherlands is at the first place and Belgium at the second place in the ranking . This is the second time that the Indian team has reached the third position in the FIH rankings. The Indian team achieved this ranking after securing a bronze medal in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
14 West Indies beat India by 8 wickets in Florida to win five-match series 3-2
West Indies defeated India by 8 wickets in the 5th and deciding T20 International match of the series played at Central Broward Regional Park, Lauderhill , Florida in USA and won the series 3-2 Is. Chasing the target of 166 runs given by India, West Indies scored 171 runs losing 2 wickets in 18 overs. Brandon King scored 85 runs for the West Indies while Nicholas Pooran scored 47 and Sai Hope scored 22 runs. Arshdeep Singh and Tilak Verma took 1-1 wickets. Earlier, electing to bat after winning the toss, India scored 165 runs for 9 wickets in allotted 20 overs. Surya Kumar Yadav contributed the maximum 61 runs. Tilak Verma scored 27 and Hardik Pandya scored 14 runs. Romario Shepherd took 4 wickets for West Indies while Akil Hossein and Jason Holder took 2-2 wickets. Romario Shepherd was declared player of the match. The West Indies won the first two matches in the 5-match series, after which India made a comeback by winning two consecutive matches. But, West Indies defeated India in the decisive 5th match yesterday to win the series 3-2.
15 Partition Vibhishika Memorial Day: 14 August
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on August 14, 2021, that August 14 would be observed as Partition Horrors Remembrance Day . With the independence from the British rule, India was partitioned and Pakistan came into existence. The partition of India on the basis of religion was followed by large-scale incidents of violence, due to which lakhs of people were displaced and countless people died in the violence. In memory of the struggle and sacrifice of those people, it has been decided to celebrate August 14 as ‘Partition Vibhishika Memorial Day’.
16 World Organ Donation Day: 13 August
World Organ Donation Day is observed every year on 13 August across the world. It is celebrated with the aim of raising awareness about organ donation. Apart from this, on 27 November every year in India, ” National Organ Donation Day”is celebrated. The day is celebrated to dispel the myths surrounding organ donation. It seeks to encourage people to donate their healthy organs after death as this will save more lives. It aims to help people realize that many people lose their lives due to non-availability of healthy organs. Thus, voluntarily donating your healthy organs can change the lives of many. In 1953, the first temporarily successful transplant of a human kidney was performed by Jean Hamburger in Paris. A kidney transplant was done from the mother to a 16-year-old boy. Although, The first long-term successful kidney transplant was performed in the US in 1954. Ronald Lee Herrick donated a kidney to his twin brother, Richard Herrick. This successful transplant was done by Dr. Joseph Murray. For this the doctor received the “Nobel Prize for Physiology and Medicine” in 1990.