- National:
- On 12th August 2023, President Droupadi Murmu gave assent to four bills including the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill 2023, the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill 2023, the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill 2023, and the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill 2023.
- The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has developed an open-source software called the National Carbon Registry, which allows countries to effectively manage national data and processes for trading carbon credits
- The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) has revised its influencer advertising guidelines on Thursday, making it compulsory for influencers in the banking, financial services, and insurance (BFSI) sector, often referred to as ‘finfluencers’, to be registered with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) in order to provide investment-related advice
- India’s first long-range revolver ‘Prabal’ was launched by the state-owned enterprise Advanced Weapons and Equipment India (AWEIL). The Prabal revolver boasts a firing range of up to 50 metres, which is more than twice the reach of other revolvers
- The second Missile Cum Ammunition (MCA) Barge, Yard 76 (LSAM 8) was launched by Cmde G Ravi, Warship Production Superintendent (Visakhapatnam) on August 18, 2023 at Guttenadeevi, East Godavari, Andhra Pradesh (launch site of M/s SECON Engineering Projects Pvt Ltd)
- On Thursday, August 17, 2023, Delhi Lieutenant Governor (LG) VK Saxena launched the Block Chain Technology in the Inter-Operable Criminal Justice System (ICJS) for the e-forensic application of the Delhi Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) and Delhi Police at Raj Niwas
- A large number of megalithic hat stones were found from a single site during a recent archaeological salvage excavation conducted by the State Archaeology Department at Nagaparamba in Kuttippuram village, near Tirunavaya, in the district of Malappuram, Kerala
- Union Minister Jitendra Singh unveiled a new variety of lotus flower with 108 petals, named ‘Namoh 108’. It was developed by Lucknow-based CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI)
- The Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) has notified the green hydrogen standards for India. The standard outlines the emission thresholds that must be met in order for hydrogen produced to be classified as ‘Green’, i.e., from renewable sources
- Important Days:
- World Humanitarian Day is observed on August 19th every year. This day was established by the United Nations in 2009 to commemorate the anniversary of the bombing of the UN headquarters in Baghdad, Iraq, where 22 humanitarian aid workers were killed.The theme for World Humanitarian Day 2023 is “No Matter What”
- World Photography Day is celebrated every year on August 19th to pay tribute to the art of photography. The day is marked with the intention of inspiring individuals who aspire to engage in photography, either as a leisure activity or a profession.The theme for World Photography Day 2023 is “landscapes”.
- Economy:
- The Indian government has imposed a 40% duty on onion exports until December 31, 2023. This move was made in response to rising onion prices and to improve supplies in the domestic market.
- Former chief economic advisor to the Centre, employment in India has registered a robust V-shaped recovery after being adversely impacted between April and June 2020 during the Covid-19 induced lockdown and in April-June 2021 during the second wave of the pandemic
- The Indian government has notified an amendment to the Goods and Services Tax (GST) laws to implement a 28% tax rate on online money gaming, casinos, and horse racing1. The amendments do not hinder the rights of states to ban and prohibit online gaming, lottery, casinos, and betting.
- The government is expected to constitute the 16th Finance Commission by the end of November, according to Finance Secretary T V Somanathan. The Finance Commission is a constitutional body that gives suggestions on Centre-State financial relations.
- World:
- Russia’s national space agency, Roscosmos, reported that their moon-bound Luna-25 spacecraft encountered an “abnormal situation” prior to entering the pre-landing orbit. The issue arose during a maneuver, preventing the specific parameters from being met.
- Sports:
- Akhil Sheoran secured a Paris 2024 Olympics quota and won a bronze medal at the ISSF World Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan. He finished third in the men’s rifle 3-position competition with an aggregate of 450.0 in the eight-man final.
- Obituary:
- John Devitt, the Australian Olympic swimming gold medallist, passed away at the age of 86. He was a former swimming champion who won gold medals at the 1956 Melbourne and 1960 Rome Olympics. He broke 14 world records across his 13-year swimming career.
- Books:
- Union Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, and Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman launched Kuwi and Desia books at Bhubaneswar.
- Banking:
- HDFC Group has launched its life insurance and asset management services at International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) in Gujarat’s GIFT City. HDFC International Life and Re has been set up by HDFC Life.
- YES BANK has recently launched a new mobile banking app called ‘iris by YES BANK’. The app is a comprehensive financial proposition that has been co-created based on the valued feedback received from YES BANK customers.
Questions:
Q.1 When is World Photography Day celebrated?a. August 19th
b. August 20th
c. August 21st
d. August 22nd
Q.2 What is the name of the new mobile banking app launched by YES BANK?
a. iris by ICICI BANK
b. iris by HDFC BANK
c. iris by YES BANK
d. iris by AXIS BANK
