NATIONAL:
1. Chandrayaan-3
Why in news - Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft has begun releasing important data from the scientific experiments.
Key Points –
• ChaSTE showed a very sharp difference in temperatures just above and below the surface of the Moon.
• It showed that temperatures on the surface were over 50 degree Celsius and dropped to nearly -10 degree Celsius just a few millimeters below the surface.
• It suggested that the topsoil of the lunar surface did not conduct heat very well, and insulated the sub-surface from heat.
• ChaSTE (Chandra’s Surface Thermophysical Experiment) is one of the four instruments on the lander module.
2. AQEWS in Kolkata
Why in news - Kolkata became the 3rd Indian city to get an air quality early warning system ( AQEWS).
Key Points –
• AQEWS computes and relay real-time and forecast data on pollution levels.
• It will deliver detailed information about the contribution of PM2.5 and PM10 emissions.
• Other 2 cities with AQEWS - Delhi and Pune.
• It is an initiative of the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM).
INTERNATIONAL:
1. Penguins Chicks
Why in news - Antarctica’s melting sea ice killed thousands of emperor penguin chicks in 2022.
Key Points –
• In late 2022, up to 10,000 emperor penguin chick colonies located in Antarctica’s Bellingshausen Sea region may have died due to sea ice loss.
• The birds most likely either drowned or froze to death.
• Islands in Antarctica - Rothschild Island, Verdi Inlet, Smyley Island, Bryant Coast and Pfrogner Point.
Value Addition –
• Guano - Accumulated excrement of seabirds or bats.
• Guano is a highly effective fertilizer due to the high content of nitrogen, phosphate, and potassium.
• Arctic's ice called “Last Ice Area”, located north of Greenland, has melted before expected.
2. Spotless Giraffe
Why in news – In Brights Zoo (Tennessee, USA) a giraffe without spots was born.
Key Points –
• It is believed to be the only spotless reticulated giraffe on the planet.
• Reticulated giraffes are native to Africa and in 2018 were listed as endangered.
SECURITY:
1. Exercise Bright Star-23
Why in news – Indian Air Force participated in Exercise Bright Star-23 at Cairo Air Base in Egypt.
Key Points –
• It is a multilateral tri-service exercise.
• For the first time, IAF is participating in this exercise.
2. AI Robot for Aerial Combat
Why in news – American military brings in artificial intelligence robot for aerial combat.
Key Points –
• Name - XQ-58A Valkyrie.
• It has a stealthy design and is capable of carrying missiles that can hit enemy targets far beyond its visual range.
ECONOMY:
1. 1st Unicorn of 2023
Why in news – Online grocery delivery startup Zepto became the first unicorn of 2023.
Key Points –
• Zepto has raised $200 million in Series-E fundraise, valuing the company at $1.4 billion.
• Zepto (2021) was ounded by Aadit Palicha and Kaivalya Vohra.
SUMMITS & CONFERENCES:
1. Business 20 (B20) Summit
Why in news – India has handed over the B20 presidency to Brazil to host G20 in 2024.
Key Points –
• Venue - New Delhi.
• Theme for B20 - Responsible, Accelerated, Innovative, Sustainable, Equitable (R.A.I.S.E) Businesses.
• The B20 India Secretariat is represented by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).
APPOINTMENTS:
1. Geetika Srivastava
Why in news – Geetika Srivastava is the first woman to head an Indian mission in Pakistan.
Key Points –
• She will be the new Charge d’Affaires (CDA) in Islamabad.
• She will succeed Dr M Suresh Kumar.
• Pakistan has also posted a new CDA in New Delhi, Saad Ahmad Warraich.
2. Emmerson Mnangagwa
Why in news – Zimbabwe’s Emmerson Mnangagwa secured a second term as president.
Key Points –
• Mnangagwa party - ZANU-PF.
• Mnangagwa defeated Nelson Chamisa.
IMPORTANT DAYS:
1. National Sports Day 2023
Why in news – It is celebrated on August 29 to commemorate the birth anniversary of Major Dhyan Chand
Key Points –
• Theme - Sports are an enabler to an inclusive and fit society.
• It was 1st celebrated on August 29, 2012.
• Major Dhyan Chand (hockey) led India to win its 1st hat-trick of Olympic gold medals at the 1928, 1932, and 1936 Summer Olympics.
• Dhyan Chand’s nickname - Hockey Wizard, The Magician.
SPORTS:
1. Men's 4x400m Relay Heats
Why in news – India’s 4x400m relay quartet finishes 2nd behind USA to enter World Championship final.
Key Points –
• Indian quartet - Muhammed Anas Yahiya, Amoj Jacob, Muhammed Ajmal Variyathodi and Rajesh Ramesh.
• Time taken by the Indian team - 2 minutes, 59.05 seconds.
• With this, they qualified for the finals of the World Championships for the first time in history and rewrote the Asian record held by Japan (2:59.51s).
STATES/UTs:
1. Reservation in Government Jobs
Why in news – Reservation for women in government jobs has been raised to 35% in Madhya Pradesh (current – 30%).
Key Points –
• Reservation for women will be 50% in teachers' recruitment.
• Financial aid given to women in the Ladli Behna Scheme was raised from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,250 per month.
POINTERS:
• Who is the Project Director of the Chandrayaan-3 mission launched by ISRO - P Veeramuthuvel.
• What is the percentage of export duty imposed by the central government on parboiled rice - 20 percent.
• Which medal has been won by the Indian women's cricket team in the IBSA (International Blind Sports Federation) World Games 2023 in Birmingham - Gold Medal.
• Where has Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) unveiled the 54 feet tricolor – Siliguri
• To which state NABARD has approved Rs 1974 crore for rural development – Rajasthan.
• Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has exported the first trial shipment of fresh pomegranate by air to which country - USA.
• Where is the 9th India International MSME Expo & Conference 2023 held - New Delhi.
• 'Namdev Dhondo Mahanor' has passed away. Who was he – Poet.
• Who became the first cricketer to score 500 runs in The Hundred Women's competition - Smriti Mandhana.
• Who is the chairman of the nine-member committee setup to review and redefine the role of the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) - K VijayRaghavan.