NATIONAL:
1. Judicial Panel on Manipur Violence
Why in news - Supreme Court sets up an all-women judicial panel to oversee relief, rehabilitation.
Key Points –
• Members - Justice Gita Mittal (chairman), Justice Shalini P Joshi and Justice Asha Menon.
• Reason - an effort to restore confidence, and faith in the rule of law and build trust.
• Supreme Court also decided to appoint former IPS officer Datta Padsalgikar to oversee the CBI investigation and report back to the court.
2. Delhi Services Bill
Why in news - The bill was passed in both the upper and lower houses of the Indian parliament on August 7.
Key Points –
• Bill name - Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023.
• It overrides a directive of the Supreme Court that had given command to the government of Delhi over most services.
• The Supreme Court gave Delhi government complete command over most services in the capital (except - public order, land, and police).
• It gave powers to the Centre-appointed bureaucrats to overrule the elected chief minister and senior officers in the Delhi government.
• Entry 41 of List II of the 7th Schedule of the Constitution pertains to the State public services and State Public Service Commission.
3. TC1
Why in news - Scientists discovered a specific strain of bacteria - TC1 that stop malaria transmission.
Key Points –
• It is a naturally occurring strain of bacteria that will be able to stop the transmission of malaria from mosquitoes to humans.
• The discovery was made at a research facility in Spain.
• The bacteria function by secreting a small molecule, which is known as harmane.
4. Indian Buddhist Culture and Heritage Centre
Why in news - Construction of the Indian Buddhist Culture and Heritage Centre kicks off in Lumbini, Nepal.
Key Points –
• PM Narendra Modi and then PM of Nepal Sher Bahadur Deuba jointly laid a foundation stone in 2022.
• It is expected to be lotus shaped which will be built in zero-net technology.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. Trachoma Eliminated
Why in news - World Health Organization (WHO) congratulated Iraq for eliminating trachoma as a public health problem.
Key Points –
• 18th country to eliminate trachoma.
• 50th country to eliminate at least one neglected tropical disease (NTD). (WHO road map for neglected tropical diseases 2021-2030 target – 100 countries by 2030).
• According to WHO, the prevalence of trachoma should be less than 5% to mark it as eliminated.
• SAFE strategy (by WHO) - a comprehensive approach to reduce transmission of the causative organism to eliminate trachoma.
About Trachoma –
• A neglected tropical disease.
• Leading infectious cause of blindness worldwide.
• Caused by - Bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis.
2. Dorra/Arash Gas Field
Why in news - Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have rejected Iran’s claims to a disputed gas field located in the Persian gulf.
Key Points –
• The offshore field, known as Arash in Iran and Dorra in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, has long been a source of contention.
• Location - Eastern maritime border of Kuwait.
• It was discovered in 1967.
• Dorra/Arash lies in the partitioned Neutral Zone that Saudi Arabia and Kuwait share equally (Uqair Convention 1922).
SCIENCE – TECH:
1. ‘Room-Temperature’ Superconductor
Why in news - South Korea claimed to have discovered a room-temperature ambient-pressure superconductor.
Key Points –
• It happend for the first time in the world.
• Claimed by - Quantum Energy Research Centre (Sukbae Lee and Ji-Hoon Kim).
• Both invented a lead-based element known as LK-99 (lead apatite).
• LK-99 is an element made up of lead, copper, phosphorus and oxygen.
• Unidentified superconducting objects (USOs) - Materials that hold superconducting promise at first but fall apart under scrutiny.
Value Addition –
• Superconductor - It allows electricity or electrons to be conducted with little to no resistance.
• Discovered by - Heike Kamerlingh Onnes (1911, Dutch physicist).
• They are made by cooling elements to very low temperatures.
• Two key signs of superconductivity - zero resistance and magnetic levitation (magnetic field generation).
• Uses - transmitting power to MRI machines, frequency filters in radio, and particle accelerators.
• Examples - Aluminium, niobium, magnesium diboride, cuprates etc.
SECURITY:
1. Neerakshi
Why in news - India launched 'Neerakshi' - Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) for mine detection.
Key Points –
• “Neerakshi” meaning - “Eyes in the Water.”
• It is the first of its kind in the country.
• Functions - Mine detection, mine disposal and underwater survey.
• Developed by - Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd and AEPL.
IMPORTANT DAYS:
1. International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples 2023
Why in news – It is observed on August 9 every year.
Key Points –
• Theme - Indigenous Youth as Agents of Change for Self-determination.
• It marks the date of the inaugural session of the Working Group on Indigenous Populations in 1982.
Value Addition –
• India celebrates Janjatiya Gaurav Divas on November 15 in the memory of brave tribal freedom fighters.
• Related Committees - Xaxa Committee (2013), Bhuria Commission (2002-2004), Lokur Committee (1965).
BIHAR:
1. Rhino Task Force
Why in news - Bihar government to constitute a Rhino Task Force.
Key Points –
• Purpose – to suggest measures for the reintroduction of Rhino in Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR) in West Champaran.
• At present, there is only one rhino in VTR and 14 in Patna Zoo.
• It has been decided to increase the rhino-bearing areas in VTR by 5% in the next 2 years.
• Identified areas for the reintroduction scheme in VTR - Ganauli and Madanpur
• VTR has been selected as one of the potential sites under the National Rhino Conservation strategy (NRCS, 2019).
Value Addition –
• VTR was established as the 18th tiger reserve in 1990 and ranked 4th in the density of the big cat population.
• Rivers Gandak and Masan flow through this area.
• NRCS is a project to create the DNA profiles of rhinos in India and conserve the endangered greater one-horned rhinoceros.
• More than 93% of the Indian rhino population lives in just one protected area in Assam - the Kaziranga National Park.
2. Indoor Air Pollution
Why in news - The Central University of South Bihar (CUSB) has signed an MoU to study rural indoor air pollution.
Key Points –
• Other partners - Linköpings University (LiU), and Karolinska Institute of Sweden and IIT Mandi.
• CUSB representation - Rajesh Kumar Ranjan.
• CUSB would survey rural households in Bihar and Jharkhand areas.
• The actual study will commence in 2024.
• Indoor biomass burning contributes to particulate matter exposure, chronic human health burden, and an economic drain in rural households.
POINTERS:
• How many railway stations across the country will be modernized under the 'Amrit Bharat Station' scheme – 508.
• Which leader's Lok Sabha membership has been restored by the Lok Sabha Secretariat recently - Rahul Gandhi.
• Who has been appointed as the new Prime Minister of Cambodia - Hun Manet.
• Which Indian became the youngest youngest-ever senior world champion at the World Archery Championship - Aditi Swami.
• Which Indian player has won the doubles title in the women's tennis hard court event in Spain - Prarthana Thombare.
• When is the National Javelin Day observed every year - 7 August.
• Who became the highest-paid banker in India - Sashidhar Jagdishan (Rs 10.55 crore).
• Which company topped the recently released Fortune Global 500 list - Walmart.
• Recently, Amit Shah has launched the digital portal of CRCS (Central Registrar of Cooperative Societies) office in which city - Pune.
• Who has been honored with the Diversity in Cinema Award at Indian Film Festival of Melbourne - Mrunal Thakur.