NATIONAL:
1. 3D-Printed Post Office
Why in news - India’s first 3D-printed post office inaugurated in Bengaluru.
Key Points –
• It was inaugurated by Ashwini Vaishnaw on August 18.
• It was completed in just 43 days.
• Built by - Larsen & Toubro Limited.
• Technological support from IIT Madras.
• 3D printing (additive manufacturing) uses computer-created design to make 3-dimensional objects layer by layer.
2. Prabal:
Why in news - India’s first long-range revolver Prabal launched.
Key Points –
• Range - 50 meters (double the range of other revolvers).
• Manufactured by Advanced Weapons and Equipment India (AWEIL), Kanpur.
• It is the first in the country that has a side wing cylinder, which makes the trigger pull easy.
GOVERNMENT SCHEMES:
1. PM-eBus Sewa
Why in news – Cabinet has approved the “PM-eBus Sewa” scheme for augmenting city bus operation on PPP model.
Key Points –
• 10,000 e-Buses to be deployed on the PPP model in 169 cities.
• Infrastructure to be upgraded in 181 cities under Green Urban Mobility Initiatives.
• Estimated cost - Rs.57,613 crore (Central support - Rs.20,000 crore)
• Duration - 10 years.
• Coverage – Cities with 3 lakh and above population as per census 2011 including all the Capital cities of UTs, North Eastern Region and Hill States.
• It has 2 segments –
(a) Augmenting the City bus services:(169 cities).
(b) Green Urban Mobility Initiatives (GUMI): (181 cities)
APPS & PORTALS:
1. Floodwatch App
Why in news - Central Water Commission launched mobile app ‘Floodwatch.’
Key Points –
• It can disseminate information related to the flood situation upto 7 days on a real-time basis.
• “FloodWatch” app utilizes satellite data analysis, mathematical modelling, and real-time monitoring to deliver accurate and timely flood forecasts.
• Central Water Commission (CWC) is an attached office of the Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti.
2. UDGAM Portal
Why in news - Reserve Bank of India announced the launch of a centralized web portal UDGAM.
Key Points –
• UDGAM - Unclaimed Deposits – Gateway to Access Information.
• It addresses the issue of unclaimed deposits with banks.
• It facilitates the public to easily locate their unclaimed deposits across multiple banks in one place.
• 100 days 100 pays campaign - Banks were directed to find out the top 100 unclaimed account holders and assist them in reclaiming such amounts.
ECONOMY:
1. Fiscal Heath Report
Why in news - A report on the fiscal health of the key 17 states was penned by Kaushik Das.
Key Points –
• Top 3 - Maharashtra (1st), Chhattisgarh (2nd) and Telangana (3rd).
• Bottom 3 – West Bengal, Punjab and Bihar.
• Kaushik Das is the chief economist at Deutsche Bank India.
• The state and stability of a state or an organization's finances and financial affairs are called fiscal health.
2. Specialised Startup Cells
Why in news - Indian Bank opens specialized startup cells in 10 cities across the country.
Key Points –
• 10 cities - Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Coimbatore, Chennai, New Delhi, Gurgaon, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Kanpur and Mumbai.
• Indian Bank MD and CEO S L Jain virtually inaugurated nine startup cells in the different cities.
• IND SPRINGBOARD (by Indian Bank) - a customized loan product for startups to address their unique financial challenges.
SECURITY:
1. 22nd SEACAT Exercise 2023
Why in news - 20 Indo-Pacific partner nations and the U.S. Navy conducted the 22nd SEACAT in Singapore on Aug. 14, 2023.
Key Points –
• India was included for the first time.
• 2023 SEACAT is the largest to date.
• U.S. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy's largest forward-deployed numbered fleet.
• 7th Fleet routinely operates in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
2. Stealth Frigate ‘Vindhyagiri’
Why in news - President Droupadi Murmu launched the advanced stealth frigate ‘Vindhyagiri’ in Kolkata.
Key Points –
• Built by - Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd (GRSE), Kolkata.
• It is named after the Vindhyagiri ranges in Karnataka.
• It is the 6th vessel rolled out as part of the Project 17A Frigate.
• 5 other ships – INS Nilgiri, Udaygiri, Himgiri, Taragiri, and Dunagiri.
3. Tarang Shakti
Why in news - The exercise 'Tarang Shakti' is likely to be held in the middle of 2024.
Key Points –
• Around 12 air forces are anticipated to take part.
• The drill would be the largest air exercise ever held in India.
SCIENCE – TECH:
1. Agnibaan SOrTeD
Why in news - Agnikul Cosmos commenced the integration of Agnibaan SOrTeD with its exclusive private launchpad situated in Sriharikota.
Key Points –
• Agnibaan SOrTeD - SubOrbital Technological Demonstrator.
• Agnibaan SOrTeD is a single-stage launch vehicle powered by Agnikul’s Agnilet engine (3D-printed).
• Unlike traditional sounding rockets that launch from guide rails, Agnibaan SOrTeD will lift off vertically.
• Agnikul Cosmos is a space-tech startup located in IIT-Madras.
STATES/UTs:
1. Village Atlas
Why in news - Goa CM Pramod Sawant released a biodiversity atlas of Mayem village in North Goa.
Key Points –
• It is termed as "India's first village atlas."
BIHAR:
1. Gandak- Ganga River Link Scheme
Why in news - The Gandak-Ganga river link scheme to be started soon.
Key Points –
• Beneficiary districts - Gopalganj, Siwan and Saran districts.
• A total of 170 km long link channel will be constructed.
• Start - Hirapakad (Gopalganj). End - Haispur (Saran).
POINTERS:
• India has signed MoU with which country to share 'India Stack' - Trinidad and Tobago.
• Where is the Youth 20 summit being held under the G20 chairmanship of India – Varanasi.
• Who has been appointed as the new Managing Director of Life Insurance Corporation of India - Sat Pal Bhanoo.
• The Union Cabinet has approved the expansion of the 'Digital India Project' with an outlay of how much rupees - Rs 14,903 crore.
• India has made the first payment of crude oil in Indian Rupees to which country - United Arab Emirates.
• Which state has become the first state to do in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment for free – Goa.
• Who has launched 'Mera Bengal, Nasha Mukt Bengal' campaign in West Bengal - Draupadi Murmu.
• Scientists from Russia and which country have developed a method to improve the production of biodiesel from the seeds of Barbados Nut – India.
• Which wrestler has won the Under 20 World Championship in the men's 61 kg freestyle category in Jordan - Mohit Kumar.
• Retail inflation has reached a 15-month high of what per cent in July - 7.44%.