NATIONAL:
1. No-Trust Motion Defeated
Why in news - The INDIA bloc’s no-confidence motion was defeated in the Lok Sabha on August 10, 2023.
Key Points –
• Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury was suspended over “gross misconduct”.
• The motion was defeated in a voice vote called by the speaker (opposition MPs walked out of the chamber).
• The no-confidence motion was moved by Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi over the Manipur violence on July 26.
• It was taken up by Lok Sabha (LS) Speaker Om Birla for discussion on August 8-10 (3 days, 16 hours).
• This is the 2nd time PM Modi faced a no-confidence motion (1st - 2018) (Overall - 28th).
• The NDA has a majority in LS with 331 MPs (BJP - 303 MPs) while the combined strength of the Opposition bloc INDIA is 144.
2. Keralam
Why in news - Kerala Assembly passed resolution to rename state as Keralam.
Key Points –
• To change the name of a state, approval from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs is required.
• Steps under Article 3 of the Constitution are required to change the name of the state.
• The name of the state in Malayalam is Keralam.
• Kerala came into being on November 1, 1956.
3. Theatre Commands
Why in news - The Inter-Services Organisation (Command, Control & Discipline) Bill – 2023 was introduced in the Upper House.
Key Points –
• It empowers central government to constitute an Inter-Services Organisation, thus paving the way for the creation of integrated theatre commands.
• Theatre commands seeks to roll the existing individual commands of the three services into tri-services organisations with a common military aim.
• At present, all Army, Navy and IAF personnel are governed by their service-specific acts.
• The inter-services organizations include the Strategic Forces Command, the Andaman and Nicobar Command and joint training establishments among others.
• The Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) is the only tri-service theater command of the Indian Armed Forces, based at Port Blair.
4. ‘HAR Ghar Tiranga’
Why in news - Ministry of Culture organized the “HAR Ghar Tiranga” bike rally of MPs in New Delhi on August 11, 2023.
Key Points –
• Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar flagged off the rally.
• It will be celebrated across the Nation from August 13 – 15, 2023.
• It is being held under the aegis of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM).
5. CBI Academy
Why in news - The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Academy joined the Interpol Global Academy Network.
Key Points –
• CBI became its 10th member.
• CBI Academy, based in Ghaziabad, is a premier training institution in the fields of crime investigation, prosecution and vigilance functioning.
• CBI is a nodal body for all matters related to Interpol.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. Chinese Propaganda
Why in news - The New York Times investigation found that Neville Roy Singham helped push Chinese propaganda worldwide.
Key Points –
• Indian news outlet NewsClick found to be financed by Neville Singham.
• He furthered Chinese interests through a network of nonprofit organizations registered in the US.
• Neville Roy Singham is a US tech baron.
• In 2021, the Enforcement Directorate raided NewsClick in connection to “foreign remittances allegedly totaling Rs 30.51 crore.”
2. Recognized Employer Pilot (REP)
Why in news – Canada to Launch Recognized Employer Pilot (REP).
Key Points –
• It aims to alleviate the administrative complexities within the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program.
• It also helps to streamline the process of recruiting foreign workers through the program.
GOVERNMENT SCHEMES:
1. Nationwide Mass Drug Administration (MDA) Initiative
Why in news – Ministry of Health and Family Welfare inaugurated the second phase of the annual MDA initiative on August 10, 2023.
Key Points –
• India is committed to eliminating Lymphatic filariasis by 2027 (global target - 2030).
• Coverage - 81 districts in 9 endemic states.
• 9 endemic states - Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Odisha, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh.
• Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya also launched National Guidelines for Clinical Management of Dengue Fever 2023 and Chikungunya Fever.
About Lymphatic Filariasis –
• Commonly called elephantiasis, a neglected tropical disease.
• Impairs the lymphatic system and can lead to abnormal enlargement of body parts.
• Cause - filarial parasites (nematodes or roundworms).
• Filarial worms - Wuchereria Bancrofti, Brugia Malayi and Brugia Timori.
• Transmitted through Culex mosquitoes.
SUMMITS & CONFERENCES:
1. Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO)
Why in news – ACTO summit held in the Brazilian city of Belem.
Key Points –
• Final joint declaration - Belem Declaration.
• Participants - leaders of 8 South American nations that are home to the Amazon rainforest.
• They are Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela.
• They agreed to environmental policies to bolster regional cooperation and stop the destruction of the rainforest.
• Some scientists say that when 20-25% of the forest is destroyed.
• Earlier, Brazil pledged to end illegal deforestation by 2030.
IMPORTANT DAYS:
1. World Biofuel Day 2023
Why in news – It is celebrated every year on August 10.
Key Points –
• Aim - to spread awareness about the importance of non-fossil fuels as an alternative.
• Biofuels are derived from organic sources like plants, crops, and animal waste.
• It honours Rudolf Diesel, the individual who invented the diesel engine.
Value Addition –
• National Policy of Biofuels 2018 –
(a) target - reaching 20% ethanol-blending and 5% biodiesel-blending by 2030.
(b) creation of biofuels in the country by units situated in Special Economic Zones (SEZ)/ Export Oriented Units (EoUs).
(c) permit more feedstocks for the creation of biofuels.
• Bihar is home to 5 operational biofuel plants and 20 more that are currently under development.
BIHAR:
1. Sahid Diwas
Why in news – August 11, 2023, marked the 81st anniversary of martyrdom of seven youths.
Key Points –
• 7 youths died trying to hoist the Indian flag at Patna Secretariat in 1942.
• 'Saat Shahid' - 6 of them were in high school while the 7th was in college.
• 7 Martyr - Devipad Choudhary, Umakant Prasad Sinha, Ramanand Singh, Satish Prasad Jha, Jagatpati Kumar, Rajendra Prasad Singh and Ramgovind Singh.
• Shahid Smarak or Martyr's Memorial in Patna was built in honour of the 7 martyrs.
2. ‘Bihar Prithvi Divas’
Why in news – ‘Bihar Prithvi Divas’ (Bihar Earth Day) is observed on August 9. (World Earth Day - April 22)
Key Points –
• It was started on August 9, 2011 (conceptualised by CM Nitish Kumar)
• People are asked to plant saplings across the state.
• Jal-Jivan-Hariyali Abhiyan (October 2019) aims to create awareness about the environment, primarily water conservation techniques.
3. Bag Cluster
Why in news – Muzaffarpur is emerging as a major bag cluster in India’s Bihar state.
Key Points –
• Set up by - Department of Industries.
• It is based on market-led/linked approach through a plug & play model.
• It was set up under the "CM MSME Cluster Scheme."
• The Department has also engaged with JEEViKA (Bihar Rural Livelihoods Promotion Society) to mobilise aspiring women entrepreneurs.
• It is projected to manufacture around 6,40,000 bags per month with a production value of Rs 15 crore ($1.9 million).
POINTERS:
• Which ministry has launched the Indian Web Browser Development Challenge - Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
• Which country has recently banned the use of the word 'Homosexuality' – Iraq.
• Which country has launched its first moon lander Luna-25 on August 11 – Russia.
• Which state has built a Rs 6,134 crore dam project at Hathnikund barrage - Haryana.
• Who has become the fastest Indian bowler to take 50 wickets in in T20 International cricket - Kuldeep Yadav.
• Which country has drafted rules to use facial recognition data – China.
• India has won how many total medals in the World University Games in Chengdu, China - 26 medals.
• Which union ministry has released the report 'Status of elementary Education in Rural India - 2023' - Ministry of Education.
• Which bank has recently launched eco friendly debit card - Airtel Payment Bank.
• What is the rank of India in Internet Resilience Index in the South Asian region - 6th.