- National:
- On August 20, 2023, Union Science and Technology Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh unveiled a new variety of lotus flower named “Namoh 108” developed by the National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI) in Lucknow.
- SBI Life Insurance, a private life insurance company in India, has launched its dedicated 24X7 inbound contact center to address the before and after purchase queries related to comprehensive insurance solutions provided by the company.
- The 4th meeting of the G20 Digital Economy Working Group (DEWG) was held in Bengaluru, Karnataka from August 16 - 18, 2023. The meeting was attended by over 100 foreign delegates from G20 members, 9 invited countries, and 5 International Organizations namely OECD, ITU, UNDP, World Bank, and UNESCO.
- The BRICS nations, which include Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, have agreed to launch a new university ranking system. The decision was made during a meeting of the BRICS education ministers in August 2023.
- The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has recently notified new rules for computing income from life insurance policies with premiums exceeding Rs. 5 lakh.
- China recently launched a new Earth observation satellite named Gaofen-12 04 from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China. The satellite was launched by a Long March-4C carrier rocket and has successfully entered its planned orbit.
- Sachin Tendulkar, the legendary cricketer and Bharat Ratna awardee, has been designated as the ‘National Icon’ for voter awareness and education by the Election Commission of India (ECI). He signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a period of three years at an event held in New Delhi in the presence of Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar.
- The National Health Authority (NHA) had announced the 100 Microsites project to accelerate the adoption of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) across India. Mizoram became the first state in India to operationalize an ABDM Microsite in its capital city, Aizawl.
- Researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras (IIT-M) and Khalifa University in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have developed an innovative cooling solution for electronics applications. The method is based on electro-hydrodynamics and is designed to effectively cool electronic devices.
- Economy:
- According to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data, India’s banking system liquidity slipped into a deficit of Rs. 236 billion ($2.84 billion) as of August 21, 2023. This is the first time in the financial year that the banking system liquidity has slipped into a deficit after the RBI’s temporary liquidity withdrawal move and tax outflows.
- The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has recently proposed to recognize an entity designated as the Research Analyst Administration and Supervisory Body (RAASB). This body will be responsible for the administration and supervision of research analysts.
- World:
- The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine for use in women during pregnancy to protect their babies. This vaccine has been developed by Pfizer and is named Abrysvo.
- Srettha Thavisin, a 61-year-old property tycoon, has been elected as the new Prime Minister of Thailand. He is the prime ministerial candidate of the Pheu Thai Party and was elected by the Thai parliament on August 22, 2023 . He is the 30th Prime Minister of Thailand.
- The African Union has suspended Niger from all of its institutions and activities until the effective restoration of constitutional order following last month’s coup. The Executive Council of the 55-nation bloc made this decision after mutinous soldiers overthrew Niger’s democratically elected president, Mohamed Bazoum, almost four weeks ago and quickly entrenched themselves in power, rebuffing most dialogue efforts.
- On August 22, 2023, the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on fast-tracking progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the North-Eastern Region of India.
- Appointments:
- Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), the second-largest Indian Oil Marketing Company, has recently announced the appointment of legendary cricketer and current Head Coach of the Indian cricket team, Rahul Dravid, as their brand ambassador. Dravid will endorse BPCL’s iconic ‘Pure for Sure’ initiative and range of MAK lubricants.
- Bernardo Arévalo, the anti-corruption candidate from the progressive Movimiento Semilla party, has won Guatemala’s presidential election. With more than 95% of the ballots counted, Arévalo won 59.1% of the vote compared to his opponent Sandra Torres’ 36.1%.
- Neelkanth Mishra, the Chief Economist at Axis Bank and Head of Global Research at Axis Capital, has been appointed as the part-time chairman of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI).
- Sports:
- The Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Anurag Singh Thakur, recently announced that the Khelo India Women’s League will officially be renamed as the Asmita Women’s League. The name “Asmita” is an abbreviation for “Achieving Sports Milestone by Inspiring Women Through Action”.
- The first game of the FIDE World Cup final between Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa and Norway’s World Number 1 Magnus Carlsen ended in a draw after 35 moves on August 22.
- Obituary:
- Ron Cephas Jones, the Emmy-winning actor best known for his role as William Hill on the hit television drama “This Is Us,” passed away at the age of 66 due to complications from a long-standing pulmonary issue.
- Important Days:
- World Senior Citizen’s Day is celebrated every year on August 21st to honor the contributions and achievements of older people, and to raise awareness about the challenges they face in society. The theme for World Senior Citizen’s Day 2023 is “Resilience of Older Persons in a Changing World”.
- International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief is observed annually on August 22nd. The day aims to honor the memory of those who have suffered due to heinous acts committed in the name of religion or belief.
- World Water Week is an annual conference that focuses on global water issues. In 2023, World Water Week will be held from August 20th to August 24th in Stockholm, Sweden.The theme for World Water Week 2023 is ‘Seeds of Change: Innovative Solutions for a Water-Wise World’.
Question:
Q.1 What is the theme for World Water Week 2023?a. Water for All: Leaving No One Behind
b. Seeds of Change: Innovative Solutions for a Water-Wise World
c. Water and Climate Change: Accelerating Action
d. Valuing Water: Transforming Societies
