1 Modi became the third PM to hoist the flag for the 11th time
On 15 August, on the 78th Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hoisted the tricolor at the Red Fort . PM Modi gave the longest speech of 103 minutes on the 11th Independence Day as Prime Minister. He has given a speech of more than 90 minutes four times (2016, 2019, 2022, 2023). The shortest speech was of 65 minutes in the year 2014, when Modi became Prime Minister for the first time. Narendra Modi became the third Prime Minister to hoist the flag for the 11th time. Before Modi, Pandit Nehru had hoisted the flag from the Red Fort 17 times, Indira Gandhi 16 times. The theme of the 78th Independence Day was ‘Developed India’. Under this, the goal is to make India a developed nation by the 100th year of independence i.e. 2047. Indian players of Paris Olympics attended as special guests on Independence Day.
2 75 thousand medical seats will increase in the country in 5 years
On 15 August, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hoisted the flag at the Red Fort in Delhi. During this, PM Modi announced to increase 75 thousand medical seats in the country in the next 5 years in a speech of 103 minutes. PM Modi announced to bring 1 lakh youth from non-political families into politics. It was announced that Olympics will be organized in India in 2036. Railways will be brought to the target of net zero emission by 2030. After 5G is rolled out across the country, the focus will be on 6G. PM Modi announced to make two reforms in government institutions in a year.
3 Harish became India’s permanent representative to the UN
On August 14 , the Central Government appointed Parvataneni Harish as India ‘s next Ambassador to the United Nations (UN) in New York . Along with this, he has also been made India’s Permanent Representative. Harish was appointed to Germany on 24 August 2021. Parvataneni Harish is a 1990 batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer. He has also served as Additional Secretary in the Union Ministry of External Affairs. He was also Joint Secretary and Special Officer to the Vice President from 2007-12. He was the Consulate General of India in Houston from July 2012 to March 2016. He has also been India’s Ambassador to Vietnam from April 2016 to June 2019.
4 Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chauhan launched ASEAN-India Fellowship
Union Minister of Agriculture, Farmers Welfare and Rural Development Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched the ASEAN-India Fellowship for Higher Education in Agriculture and Allied Sciences. Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shri Ram Nath Thakur and Shri Bhagirath Chaudhary were also present at the event held at ICAR Convention Centre, National Agricultural Science Centre Campus, Pusa, New Delhi. Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced that 50 fellowships will be awarded to students from ASEAN countries over a period of five years starting from 2024-25 . Ten fellowships will be awarded every year for the next five years. This will cover master’s degree programmes in agriculture and allied fields, and the last date for the first batch is August 27. The initiative, funded by the ASEAN-India Fund, will cover admission fees, living expenses and incidental expenses for the selected students.
5 India to host 3rd Voice of Global South Summit
6 Nalin Prabhat became Special DG of Jammu and Kashmir
On August 14, Nalin Prabhat was appointed as the new Special DG of Jammu and Kashmir . He will take over as the new Director General of Police after the retirement of the current DGP RR Swain . RR Swain is retiring on September 30. Nalin Prabhat will take over as DGP on October 1. Currently, Nalin is the Director General (DG) of the National Security Guard (NSG). He has worked in many positions in Andhra Pradesh and the Central Government. Nalin was working as Special Director General (SDG). He has been awarded the Police Medal for Gallantry three times. Nalin has also received the Parakram Medal, Police Medal for Distinguished Service and Internal Security Medal. Nalin Prabhat was born on 14 June 1968 in Thungri village of Manali, Himachal Pradesh.
7 Maharashtra government built a protective memorial
In a major step towards conservation, the state government has notified the geoglyphs and petroglyphs in Ratnagiri as ‘ protected monuments ‘ under the Maharashtra Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1960. According to a notification from the Culture Department, the group of petroglyphs at Deud in Ratnagiri dates back to the Mesolithic Age (around 20,000-10,000 years ago). Geoglyphs and petroglyphs are different types of ancient art, both of which involve the creation of images or designs on the surface of the earth or a rock surface. According to the notification, the petroglyphs depict a rhinoceros, deer, monkey, donkey and footprints.
8 Government restores diamond impress licence for gems and jewellery sector
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has announced the restoration of Diamond Imprest License , aimed at reviving India’s gems and jewellery sector . The decision was taken during the India International Jewellery Show (IIJS) 2024 organised by the Gems and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) . This policy change is expected to address issues related to diamond imports and enhance India’s export competitiveness.
9 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to study augmenting water supply in Faridabad through sustainable groundwater development in Yamuna floodplains
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) and Faridabad Metropolitan Development Authority (FMDA) to address the projected water supply deficit for Faridabad Smart City by the year 2031. This is a significant step towards augmenting the water supply of the city through sustainable development of groundwater resources in the Yamuna floodplains. The scope of this MoU includes a comprehensive study to assess the potential and quality of groundwater in the Yamuna floodplains. Based on this study, a comprehensive groundwater management plan will be prepared, which will include strategies for artificial recharge and further development of groundwater resources within the designated study area in Faridabad district. The MoU is valid till March 31, 2025 and the study is expected to be completed by this period.
10 NPCI incorporates BHIM as a wholly owned subsidiary
National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has announced the incorporation of NPCI BHIM Services Limited (NBSL) as a wholly-owned subsidiary . NBSL was earlier known as Bharat Interface for Money ‘ BHIM ‘. NPCI has appointed Lalita Nataraj as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the new subsidiary. Nataraj has previously worked with IDFC First Bank and ICICI Bank. BHIM will be a separate company. More focus will be given on developing it as a major payment application.
11 Brian Niccol becomes CEO of Starbucks
On August 14, global coffee chain Starbucks appointed Brian Niccol as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). He will replace Indian-origin Laxman Narasimhan. Niccol will take over as CEO on September 9. Until then, CFO, Rachel Ruggeri, will serve as interim CEO. Brian Niccol has been leading Chipotle Mexican Grill since March 2018. Niccol was previously the CEO and director of the company. Since March 2020, he was handling his responsibilities as the chairman of the board. Before joining Chipotle, Niccol was the CEO of Taco Bell. Here he was working as the President of the company as well as Chief Marketing and Innovation Officer.
12 Amazon India and Zentri partner to expand electric vehicle delivery fleet
Amazon India has entered into a strategic partnership with electric transportation company Zentri for its EV deployment program . The company aims to build a fleet of 10,000 electric vehicles for last-mile deliveries by 2025. Amazon India said that under the collaboration, Zentri Green Mobility Business will procure and deploy electric vehicles for the company over the next three years. Apart from this, it will provide fleet management services to delivery service partners (DSPs) to ensure seamless operation and maintenance of the EV fleet. He said that this partnership will give delivery service providers (DSPs) access to more electric three-wheelers for Amazon deliveries.
13 Paralympics 2024: India is sending its largest contingent of 84 athletes, including 32 female athletes
The Paralympics 2024 will be held in Paris, the capital of France, from August 28 to September 8. India will send its largest contingent with 84 athletes for these games. India had sent 54 athletes to Tokyo, of which only 14 were women. For Paris, 84 athletes have been included in the contingent, of which 32 are women . India won 19 medals at the Tokyo Paralympics, including five gold, eight silver and six bronze. This time the country will hope to add to its medal count.