1 The central government approved eight new railway projects worth Rs 24,657 crore
To boost connectivity and economic growth, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by PM Modi has approved eight new railway projects worth Rs 24,657 crore . Spread across seven states, these projects aim to expand the existing rail network by 900 km , benefiting 14 districts, 64 new stations and about 40 lakh people. It will be completed by 2030-31. It includes Odisha , Maharashtra , Andhra Pradesh , Jharkhand , Bihar , Telangana and West Bengal . 64 new stations will be constructed with these projects. This will provide connectivity to 6 districts (East Singhbhum, Bhadrakkothagudem, Malkangiri, Kalahandi, Nabarangpur, Rayagada), 510 villages and about 40 lakh population. UNESCO World Heritage Site Ajanta Caves (Aurangabad Maharashtra) will be connected to the Indian Railways network. This will facilitate a large number of tourists. Apart from this, the new project will reduce logistics cost and also reduce oil import (32.20 crore litres).
2 Union Cabinet approves Urban Housing Scheme 2.0
The Union Cabinet has approved the second phase of the Pradhan Mantri Urban Housing Scheme . The Cabinet also approved the implementation of Pradhan Mantri Gramin Awas Yojana during the financial year 2024-25 to 2028-29 . Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnav said that three crore new houses will be built under this scheme. Out of these, two crore will be built in rural areas and one crore in urban areas . He said that there will be a budgetary provision of Rs 3 lakh 60 thousand crore for this scheme. Under the second phase of Pradhan Mantri Urban Housing Scheme, financial assistance will be given to one crore urban poor and middle class families. This assistance will be provided through states, union territories and primary lending institutions to build, purchase and rent affordable housing in urban areas during five years. Government assistance of Rs 2 lakh 30 thousand crore will be available under the scheme. Shri Ashwini Vaishnav said that under the scheme, there is also a provision to build hostels for working women in urban areas. Interest subsidy of 4% will be given on housing loan up to Rs. 25 lakh in Economically Weaker Section, Low and Middle Income Group categories. The Cabinet also approved the Clean Plant Programme proposed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare . Briefing the media, Shri Vaishnav said that with an investment of over Rs. 1,765 crore, this initiative is a path breaking initiative for the horticulture sector in the country and will set new benchmarks of excellence and sustainability. He said that the Clean Plant Programme will provide virus free and high quality planting material to farmers and will increase the yield and improve the income of farmers.
3 India will start UPI payment service in Maldives
India and Maldives signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on August 10 to launch the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) . External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that the agreement will have a ‘very positive’ impact on the tourism sector of Maldives. S Jaishankar has gone on a three-day official visit to Maldives. During this, defense and security cooperation, joint initiatives for maritime security and maintaining peace and stability in the region were discussed. The two leaders jointly inaugurated six community schemes. These schemes are related to mental health, speech therapy for children and special education.
4 Indian Air Force teams returned to India today after Exercise Udara Shakti 2024 in Kuantan, Malaysia
Indian Air Force – The IAF team returned to India after successful participation in the Udaar Shakti 2024 exercise in Kuantan , Malaysia . The joint air force exercise was conducted from 5th to 9th of this month in collaboration with the Royal Air Force of Malaysia. The Ministry of Defense said that during this exercise, the SU-30 MKI fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force were involved in air combat operations with the SU-30 MKM fighter aircraft of the Royal Malaysian Air Force. The main objective of this exercise was to increase the operational efficiency and enhance the technical proficiency of the air forces of both the countries.
5 A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and NewSpace India Limited for the launch of Nepal’s Munal satellite
A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Ministry of External Affairs of India and NewSpace India Limited for grant assistance for the launch of Nepal’s MUNAL satellite . The MoU was signed by Anurag Shrivastava, Joint Secretary from the Ministry of External Affairs and A. Arunachalam, Director, NewSpace India Limited. MUNAL satellite is an indigenous satellite developed in Nepal under NewSpace India Limited. Nepalese space startup APN has assisted Nepalese students in the design and construction of this satellite. This satellite will create a database of vegetation density on the Earth’s surface.
6 The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of TV Somanathan as Cabinet Secretary
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of T.V. Somanathan as Cabinet Secretary . Mr. Somanathan has been appointed for a tenure of two years with effect from 30th of this month. He is an officer of the 1987 batch of the Indian Administrative Service – IAS of Tamil Nadu cadre. Somanathan has been appointed as Officer on Special Duty in the Cabinet Secretariat. The appointment will commence from the date he assumes charge and will continue as Cabinet Secretary.
7 Three major petroleum projects will be constructed in Nepal with the cooperation of India
Three major petroleum projects will be constructed in Nepal with India’s financial aid . Nepal’s Industry, Commerce and Supply Minister Damodar Bhandari recently held a meeting with Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri in New Delhi and discussed these projects in detail. In this meeting, it was decided to build Amlekhganj-Chitwan, Siliguri-Jhapa pipeline and storage tank in Jhapa with Indian cooperation. This information was given by Baburam Adhikari, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, who was part of the delegation led by Minister Bhandari, who returned to Kathmandu after the BIMSTEC Business Summit held in New Delhi from 6-8 August . Baburam said that the construction of the petroleum project has been finalized with Indian aid.
8 Chief Justice of Bangladesh and Governor of Bangladesh Bank resigned
Bangladesh Supreme Court Chief Justice Obaidul Hasan and Bangladesh Bank Governor Abdur Rauf Talukdar have also resigned. Protesting students had surrounded the Supreme Court since morning demanding the resignation of the Chief Justice. Earlier on August 5, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned. After the resignation of the Chief Justice, 5 more judges may resign. At the same time, before Rauf, four deputy governors have also resigned on August 7. Rauf took over as the Governor of Bangladesh Bank in July 2022. Before becoming the 12th Governor of Bangladesh, Rauf was the Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Finance. Abdur Rauf Talukdar has not visited his office at Bangladesh Bank since the resignation of Sheikh Hasina.
9 Agreement signed between GAIL and Rajasthan State Electricity Generation Corporation Limited
GAIL India Limited and Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited (RRVUNL) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This is a non-binding agreement and is aimed at optimizing RRVUNL’s gas based power plants . The objective of the MoU is to explore the possibility of transferring RRVUNL’s gas based power plants located at Dholpur and Ramgarh in Rajasthan to a Joint Venture Company (JVC) between the two entities. Further, the partnership is focused on setting up solar and wind projects of around 1,000 MW on suitable land across the state . This initiative will create opportunities for round the clock power supply, ensuring uninterrupted energy availability. Before forming a joint venture company, both parties will conduct research to determine the techno-commercial feasibility of each project. RRVUNL operates two gas based power plants at Dholpur and Ramgarh. GAIL India Limited is a Maharatna Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
10 President Draupadi Murmu was awarded the Grand Collar of the Order, the highest civilian honor of Timor Leste country
President Draupadi Murmu was conferred the Grand Collar of the Order, Timor Leste ‘s highest civilian honour. President Jose Ramos Horta conferred the award on her at the Presidential Palace in Dili . President Murmu discussed bilateral cooperation with President Horta and Prime Minister Gusmao .
11 Disabled Personnel Expeditionary Team of Ministry of Defence hoisted the largest national flag on Uhuru Peak of Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest peak of Africa
To commemorate 78th Independence Day , a Disabled Person Expedition Team of Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI) under the aegis of Ministry of Defence hoisted a 7800 square feet Indian National Flag on Uhuru Peak of Kilimanjaro 5,895 m (19,341 ft), the highest peak in the African continent . The team led by Group Captain Jai Kishan and comprising Divyaang Shri Uday Kumar and others travelled from Mission Kanchenjunga National Park to Mount Kilimanjaro (Mission K2K) to achieve yet another historic feat as for the first time a differently abled mountaineer successfully completed the attempt using crutches.
12 Aman Sehrawat won India’s first wrestling medal at the Paris Olympics
Aman Sehrawat won India’s first wrestling medal at the Paris Olympics on Friday, 9 August. Aman won bronze by defeating Puerto Rico ‘s Darian Toi Cruz 13-5 in the freestyle 57kg category . Just before this match, his weight had increased to more than 61 kg, but Aman and his coach reduced his weight by 4.6 KG in just 10 hours. India has been winning medals in wrestling in every Olympics since the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Sushil Kumar won bronze in 2008, Sushil won silver and Yogeshwar Dutt won bronze in 2012, Sakshi Malik won bronze in 2016, Ravi Dahiya won silver and Bajrang Punia won bronze in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. This was Aman’s first Olympics and he has won a bronze medal in his very first Olympics. India has won the sixth medal in Paris Olympics 2024. These include one silver and 5 bronze .