Daily Current Affairs and GK | 12 August 2023

Topic: National News

1. Atal Innovation Mission and NITI Aayog in association with ISRO launched National Space Innovation Challenge 2023.

• The National Space Innovation Challenge (NSIC) 2023 for school students has been launched by Atal Innovation Mission and NITI Aayog in association with ISRO.
• It will be an open platform for Students of classes 5 to 12 till 20th September.
• It will give them the opportunity to show their innovation and enable themselves to solve modern-day space technology problems.
• NSIC is a national-level campaign to support next-generation space enthusiasts. Its main aim is to encourage students towards the growing Indian space economy.
• It is a national platform inspired by industry leaders and gives the opportunity to showcase innovation to the world.
• Students can submit their entries on the automated technology platform -navarsedutech.com.
• Each student has to select one problem which falls under any one of the Challenge themes.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: State News/Telangana

2. India’s first Agricultural Data Exchange (ADeX) and Agriculture Data Management Framework (ADMF) have been launched by Telangana in Hyderabad.

• Telangana IT and Industries Minister K Taraka Ramarao has launched India’s first ADeX and ADMF.
• The ADeX has been developed as a digital public infrastructure (DPI) for the agriculture sector.
• It is a collaboration between the State Government, the World Economic Forum, and the Indian Institute of Science.
• In Phase-I of the project, the ADeX Platform is presently deployed in the Khammam district.
• It will be expanded to the entire State over a period. It facilitates a secure, standards-based exchange of data between agricultural data users and agricultural data providers.

Topic: State News/Kerala

3. 69^th edition of the Nehru Trophy Boat Race will be organized at the Punnamada Lake in Alappuzha district, Kerala on 12 August 2023. 

• 72 boats, including 19 Chundan Valloms or Snake Boats will take part in the boat race.
• This boat race is held every year on the second Saturday of August.
• Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the boat race.
• A 60-member diaspora youth will be witnessing the event.
• These 60-member diaspora youth is currently visiting the state as part of the Know India Programme of the Ministry of External Affairs.

Topic: International News

4. Bilateral trade between India and Angola has increased from 2.14 billion dollars in 2020-21 to 4.22 billion dollars in 2022-23.

• India is also the third largest trading partner of Angola. It shares about 10% of Angola’s external trade.
• The first India-Angola Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) were held in Luanda on 11 August 2023.
• During the consultations, India and Angola conducted a comprehensive review of the existing bilateral relations.
• Detailed talks were held on available opportunities for enhanced cooperation in various fields.
• It also includes India’s offer of a Line of Credit of 100 million dollars to Angola for defence procurement.
• India established diplomatic relations with Angola in 1985.
• In Angola, Indian companies are taking on a number of projects in retail, hospitality, agriculture plastics, scrap metal, steel, trading, and other services.
• Angola:
  • It is located on the west-central coast of Southern Africa. Its capital is Luanda.
  • It is bordered by Namibia to the south, the Congo to the north, Zambia to the east, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: State News/ Madhya Pradesh

5. Rail and road projects launched by PM Modi in Madhya Pradesh.

• On 12 August, PM Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of projects worth more than 4,000 crore rupees in Sagar, Madhya Pradesh.
• He also performed Bhumi Pujan of Sant Ravidas Memorial to be built at a cost of Rs 100 crore at Bartuma in Sagar.
• In addition, he laid the foundation stone of two road projects worth Rs 1,582 crores under the Bharatmala project of the National Highways Authority of India.
• These roads will make it easy to reach the Buddhist stupas of Sanchi and other famous places.
• He also inaugurated the doubling of the Kota-Bina rail route built at a cost of Rs 2,500 crore.
• This project passes through the Kota and Baran districts of Rajasthan and the Guna, Ashoknagar, and Sagar districts of Madhya Pradesh.

Topic: National News

6. Ministry of Railways will set up Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Kendra at railway stations across the country.

• For the welfare and well-being of passengers arriving at railway stations, Indian Railways has put in place a policy framework for setting up these Kendra in the circulating area and concourses of some railway stations.
• It aims to make quality medicines available to all at affordable prices.
• The ministry has identified fifty stations at the outset of the project.
• With this, passengers and visitors will be able to easily get Janaushadhi products at railway stations.
• This will also create employment opportunities and pave the way for entrepreneurs to open Janaushadhi Kendras.
• The PMBJKs will be set up and operated by the licensees at locations identified by the Railway Divisions.
• The stalls will be awarded by e-auction with the concerned Railway Divisions through IREPS.
• These stalls will be designed by NID Ahmedabad.

(Source: PIB)

Topic: Indian Polity

7. The government introduced the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 and the Bharatiya Sakshya Bill 2023 in the Lok Sabha.

• Home Minister Amit Shah introduced the Bills. He said that Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 will replace the Indian Penal Code 1860.
• Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha, 2023 will replace the Criminal Procedure Act, 1898.
• Bharatiya Sakshya Bill, 2023 will replace the Indian Evidence Act, 1872.
• Home Minister said, provisions related to sedition will be repealed completely.
• He said 313 changes have been made to the laws. He added that a special focus has been made to digitalize the entire criminal justice system.
• According to Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Bill 2023, capital punishment will be the maximum sentence for mob lynching.
• It prescribes ten years imprisonment for sexual intercourse with women on the false promise of marriage.
• The Bill for the first time defines terrorism and offences such as separatism, and armed rebellion against the government.
• The visit of the forensic team is being made compulsory at the crime scene of crimes having provision for a punishment of 7 years or more.
• The government is going to start Zero FIR for the first time after 75 years of Independence. The provision of e-FIR is being added for the first time.
• The statement of the victim has been made compulsory in cases of sexual violence.
• The video recording of the statement has also been made compulsory in cases of sexual harassment.
• A time limit of 90 days is fixed for filing the charge sheet.
• Depending on the situation, the court can further give permission for 90 more days, the investigation will have to be completed within 180 days and the trial should begin.
• It will be compulsory for the Police to give the status of the complaint in 90 days and thereafter every 15 days, to the complainant.
• The government must decide whether to provide permission for a trial against a civil servant or a police officer within 120 days, or else it will be taken as deemed permission and the trial will begin.
• Sex on the pretext of false promise of marriage, employment, promotion and false identity has been made a crime for the first time.

Topic: Summits/Conferences/Meetings

8. Fourth National Conference of the ERMED Consortium was inaugurated in New Delhi on 11 August 2023.

• Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Dr Bharati Pawar inaugurated it.
• She also launched the ERMED Access Booklet and Newsletter by National Medical Library.
• She emphasized the importance of E-Resources in the Medical sector.
• National Medical Library’s Electronic Resources in Medicine (NML-ERMED) Consortium is an initiative to develop nationwide electronic information resources in the field of medicine for delivering effective health care.
• Its members include 70 states and centrally funded Government Institutions including all AIIMS.
• It is an initiative of the Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

9. Defense Minister Rajnath Singh approved the increase of financial assistance to various schemes.

• To strengthen support systems for ex-servicemen and their families, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh approved the increase in financial aid to various schemes.
• The financial assistance under the Vocational Training Grant scheme for widows of ex-servicemen has been increased from 20 thousand to 50 thousand rupees.
• Medical Grant for non-pensioner ex-servicemen or their widows has been raised from 30 thousand to 50 thousand rupees.
• The Serious Disease Grant for non-pensioner ex-servicemen or their widows has been increased from 1.25 lakh rupees to 1.50 lakh rupees.
• The increased financial assistance provisions are government commitments towards recognition of the sacrifices made by the ex-servicemen and their families.
• The schemes are currently funded by the Armed Forces Flag Day Fund and run by Kendriya Sainik Board.
• The revised financial assistance amount will come into effect immediately.
• The schemes will be administered through streamlined processes so that beneficiaries get increased amounts without any unnecessary delays.

Topic: Indian Polity

10. Central Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2023 and Integrated Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2023 have been passed by Parliament.

• The Central Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2023 proposed to amend the Central Goods and Services Tax Act 2017.
• It defines the expressions of online gaming, online money gaming and virtual digital assets.
• As per the bill, online gaming means offering of a game on the internet or an electronic network and includes money gaming.
• The proposed changes involve introducing clauses into the Schedule III of the CGST Act, 2017.
• It also mentions that online money gaming means games in which players pay or deposit money including virtual digital assets for winning money.
• The Integrated Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2023 seeks to amend the Integrated Goods and Services Tax Act 2017.
• This bill has excluded online money gaming from the definition of online information and data access or retrieval services.
• In the 50th meeting of the GST Council, the government proposed to levy a 28 per cent tax on the full face value of bets in Casinos, Horse racing and online gaming.

Topic: State News/ Nagaland

11. Nagaland's first Naga Traditional Cuisine Lab started at Japfü Christian College in Kohima district.

• Under the National Education Policy 2020, Japfü Christian College is initiating Naga traditional cuisine skills as an enhancement course under Nagaland University
• In this, the main dishes of the 15 indigenous tribes of Nagaland will be studied, cooked, and analyzed for retention and transmission of Naga food cultural identity.
• In its 16-acre campus, the college is preserving several native fruit trees as well as other seasonal fruits which are well adapted to its environment.
• Students can also take education in agriculture, floriculture, horticulture, arts and handicrafts along with their degree.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Important Days

12. World Elephant Day 2023: 12 August

• Every year on August 12, World Elephant Day is observed.
• It is celebrated to recognize the importance of elephants in our ecosystem.
• The day also aims to raise awareness about the importance of the protection of elephants.
• Elephants are the largest land animals in the world.
• On 12 August 2012, the first World Elephant Day was celebrated by Thailand's Elephant Reintroduction Foundation and Canadian filmmakers Patricia Sims and Michael Clarke.
• India is home to about 60% of all Asian elephants.
• There has been a significant increase in the number of elephant sanctuaries in the last 8 years.
• The IUCN Red List lists African elephants as vulnerable and Asian elephants as endangered.

Topic: Space and IT

13. Indian GPS NavIC will be linked to Aadhaar enrolment devices.

• The Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) will be integrated with Aadhaar enrolment devices.
• The Department of Space has successfully conducted the field trials and will provide technical expertise in the finalization of procurement specifications of the device.
• At present, Aadhaar enrolment kits used to collect and verify personal details are linked to GPS.
• Standard Position Service (SPS) for civilian users and Restricted Service (RS) for strategic users are the two services provided by NavIC.
• NavIC covers the area of India and a region up to 1,500 km beyond the Indian boundary.
• The government is also pushing cell phone makers in India to make their instruments compatible with NavIC.
• The National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) is already using NavIC as an alert dissemination system for major natural disasters.
• NavIC:
  • It is an Indian regional satellite navigation system similar to GPS.
  • It provides accurate and real-time navigation.
  • NavIC provides user position accuracy of more than 20 metres.

Topic: Banking System 

14. Airtel Payments Bank launched India’s first eco-friendly debit card.

• The debit card is made of recycled polyvinyl chloride (r-PVC).  
• Each batch of 50,000 cards manufactured would save carbon emissions by 350 KGs.  
• Polyvinyl Chloride is a high-strength thermoplastic material. It is one of the most widely used polymers in the world.
• 6.6 million litres of water will be saved for every batch of r-PVC cards produced. 
• Airtel Payments Bank is working on a customised Classic card and an Insta Classic card.  
• Customised Classic card is available for purchase via the Airtel Thanks app.  
• Insta Classic card will be available at some banking locations by the end of this quarter. 
• Airtel Payments Bank: 
  • It was founded in January 2017. 
  • Its headquarters is located in New Delhi. 
  • Its CEO is Anubrata Biswas.