Daily Current Affairs and GK | 15 and 16 August 2023

Topic: Awards and Prizes

1. President approved 76 gallantry awards including four Kirti Chakras and 11 Shaurya Chakras.

• These Gallantry awards include four Kirti Chakra (posthumous), 11 Shaurya Chakras, including five posthumous, 54 Sena Medals (Gallantry), three Nao Sena Medals (Gallantry) and four Vayu Sena Medals (Gallantry).
• Nine from the Army and one each from the Jammu and Kashmir Police and the CRPF will receive the Shaurya Chakra. Five of them have been named posthumously.
• Dilip Kumar Das, Raj Kumar Yadava, Bablu Rabha and Sambha Roy from Central Reserve Police Force will receive the Kirti Chakra posthumously for fighting against Naxals in Chattisgarh.
• Kirti Chakra is the second-highest peacetime gallantry award.
• 30 Mention-in-Despatches for the Army including dog Madhu (posthumous) and one Air Force personnel have been approved by the President for significant contribution.
• Wing Commander Shrey Tomar was awarded Vayu Sena Medal Gallantry for safely landing his twin-engine fighter aircraft on a single engine.
• President also approved one President’s Tatrakshak Medal (PTM) and five Tatrakshak Medals (TM) to Indian Coast Guard personnel.
• It is given to Indian Coast Guard personnel for their exceptional devotion to duty and distinguished/meritorious service.
• Shaurya Chakra is awarded for valour, courageous action or self-sacrifice while not engaged in direct action with the enemy. It is the third-highest peacetime gallantry award.

Topic: Personality in News

2. Bindeshwar Pathak passed away recently.

• He was a social activist and founder of 'Sulabh International'.
• He established the Sulabh International Social Service in 1970.
• He was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1991.
• He campaigned extensively against manual scavenging.
• He was the Brand Ambassador for Swachh Rail Mission of Indian Railways.
• He has written the book titled “The Road to Freedom”.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

3. ‘Graphene-Aurora Program’ launched by Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) Secretary Shri Alkesh Kumar Sharma.

• The program was launched at a function in Maker Village Kochi, Kerala.
• It will be implemented by Digital University Kerala with joint funding from MeitY, Government of India and Government of Kerala and Industry partners.
• It will be implemented with the total budget outlay of Rs 94.85 Crore.
• Carborundum Pvt Limited joined as one of the main industry partners.
• A section 8 company (not for profit) called ‘India Graphene Engineering and Innovation Centre (I-GEIC)’ shall be set up.
• The initial operations will start from the recently opened facility of Government of Kerala at Digital Science Park in Trivandrum.
• It will fill the gap between R&D and commercialization. It will nurture the emerging Graphene technology and innovation ecosystem.

Topic: State News/Gujarat

4. Union Minister for Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Shri Parshottam Rupala has launched the 'A-HELP' programme and an Infertility Camp in Gujarat.

• The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India, is leading these initiatives under the Pashudhan Jagrati Abhiyaan under Inclusive Development.
• 'A-HELP' (Accredited Agent for Health and Extension of Livestock Production) programme aims to empower women.
• It engages them as trained agents who contribute to disease control, artificial insemination under the Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM), animal tagging, and livestock insurance.
• The crux of the Pashudhan Jagrati Abhiyaan lies in equipping farmers with knowledge and resources.
• These knowledge and resources address critical areas of livestock health, disease management, and animal infertility concerns.
• To achieve this, workshops, awareness camps, and seminars will be carried out across various districts by State Veterinary Universities, in close coordination with State Animal Husbandry Departments.
• Pashudhan Jagrati Abhiyaan:
  • It started from 22nd February, 2023 and will continue till August, 2023.
  • It is being led by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying.
  • In this campaign, efforts are being made to transform the 112 most under-developed districts across the country.

(Source: PIB)

Topic: India and Its Neighbour

5. India and China agreed to resolve the remaining issues along the LAC in eastern Ladakh.

• On August 13 and 14, the 19th round of India-China Corps Commander-level meetings was held at the Chushul-Moldo border meeting point on the Indian side.
• Both sides held positive, constructive, and in-depth discussions on the resolution of outstanding issues along the LAC in the Western Sector.
• They exchanged views in an open and forward-looking manner in line with the guidance given by the leadership.
• Both sides agreed to expeditiously resolve the outstanding issues and maintain the momentum of dialogue and negotiations through military and diplomatic channels.
• Both sides agreed to maintain peace on the ground in the border areas.
• A standoff broke out on the eastern Ladakh border on May 5, 2020, following a violent clash in the Pangong Lake area.
• Relations between the two countries took a nosedive after a fierce clash in the Galwan Valley in June 2020, which was the most serious military conflict between the both sides in decades.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Summits/Conferences/Meetings

6. The first-ever Global Summit on Traditional Medicine will be hosted by WHO and the Ministry of Ayush.

• The first-of-its-kind global summit on traditional medicine by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Ministry of AYUSH is scheduled to be held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat on August 17-18, 2023.
• This much-awaited summit will act as a platform for experts and practitioners to access the latest scientific advances and evidence-based knowledge in the field.
• Its main goal is to ensure health and well-being for all.
• Honorable Director General of WHO, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus will inaugurate the summit.
• G20 health ministers, WHO regional directors, and distinguished invitees from countries across six WHO regions are expected to attend the event.
• A declaration will be adopted during the summit, which will assist WHO in shaping the future of the WHO Global Center for Traditional Medicine.
• In 2022, WHO established the Global Center for Traditional Medicine (GCTM) with the support of the Government of India.
• This center is a collaborative project of the Ministry of AYUSH and the WHO and is the first and only global center for traditional medicine worldwide.
• The WHO GCTM will provide leadership on all global health matters related to traditional medicine as well as assist member states in shaping traditional medicine research, practices, and various policies related to public health.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Art and Culture

7. G20 Film Festival started in New Delhi on 16 August 2023.

• It started with the screening of Satyajit Ray’s Pather Panchali.
• The aim of the festival is to showcase a vibrant partnership that exists amongst the G20 and invited countries in the field of cinema. 
• India International Centre (IIC) and the G20 Secretariat of the Ministry of External Affairs are organising the festival.
• Veteran actor Victor Banerjee and India's G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant inaugurated it. It will continue till 2nd September.
• Pather Panchali is a 1955 Indian Bengali-language drama film. It is an adaptation of Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay's 1929 Bengali novel. 

Topic: State News/Maharashtra

8. A mobile app and WhatsApp helpline for the Chief Minister's Medical Assistance Fund has been launched by Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde.

• CM Eknath Shinde said that over 12,500 patients have benefited from the Chief Minister's Aid Fund in the last one year.
• The 5th edition of the medical aid manual and the book 'Rokhthok' based on the ideology of Balasaheb Thackeray was launched.
• A helpline number has been started for patients and their relatives.
• A programme also was organized for patients who have successfully overcome chronic and serious diseases.
• Deputy Chairman of Legislative Council Dr. Neelam Gorhe, Skill Development Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha were also present on the occasion.

Topic: National News

9. Government will open 25000 Jan Aushadhi Kendras to provide medicine at affordable prices.

• Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi during his Independence Day speech said that government will increase the number of 'Jan Aushadhi Kendras' from 10,000 to 25,000.
• Jan Aushadhi Kendras will provide medicines at very affordable rates.
• It will give new strength to the middle class of the country by savings of Rs. 20,000 crores.
• The government will also launch the Vishwakarma scheme with an initial allocation of ₹ 13000 – 15000 crore for people with traditional skills.
• This will help persons skilled in traditional crafts skills, especially weavers, goldsmiths, blacksmiths, washermen, barbers etc.
• Under the PM SVANidhi scheme, ₹ 50,000 crore has been distributed to street vendors.
• ₹ 2.5 lakh crore has been deposited into the accounts of farmers through the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi.

Topic: State News/ Rajasthan

10. Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot launched Annapurna Food Packet Scheme.

• Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot launched the Annapurna Food Packet Scheme on the occasion of Independence Day.
• Gehlot also distributed Annapurna Food Packets to some of the beneficiaries.
• Under this scheme, food packets would be distributed to more than 1.04 crore families in Rajasthan for free.
• Ashok Gehlot said that many needy families didn’t get the benefits of the National Food Security Act (NFSA) due to the limit on the maximum number of beneficiaries.
• 'Non-NFSA' families who were given financial assistance during the pandemic will get free ration kits under the Annapurna Ration Kit Scheme.
• The commission earned by ration dealers for distributing Annapurna food packets has been increased from Rs 4 to Rs 10 per kit.

Topic: Important Days

11. 77^th Indian Independence Day 2023: 15 August

• India is celebrating its 77th Independence Day on 15 August.
• "Nation First, Always First" is the theme of this year’s Independence Day.
• Around 1,800 special guests including sarpanches, Khadi workers, primary school teachers, and nurses have been invited to this year’s Independence Day celebrations in New Delhi.
• This initiative has been taken in line with the Government’s vision of ‘Jan Bhagidari’.
• Selfie points dedicated to different schemes & initiatives of the government have been installed at 12 locations.
• All official invites have been sent online through the Aamantran portal.
• On August 15, 1947, India become Independence after 200-year-old British rule came to an end.
• On this occasion, Prime Minister hoists the National Flag at Delhi's Red Fort and addresses the nation.

Topic: Awards and Prizes

12. 954 police personnel have been awarded medals ahead of Independence Day.

• Police Medal for Gallantry (PMG) has been awarded to 229 personnel. One member of CRPF personnel has been given President’s Police Medal for Gallantry (PPMG).
• The President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service (PPM) has been awarded to 82 and the Police Medal for Meritorious Service (PM) to 642 officers.
• Out of 230 Gallantry Awards, 125 officers have been selected from Left Wing Extremism–affected areas and 71 from Jammu and Kashmir region and 11 from the North East region.
• Among the personnel who received Gallantry Awards, 28 are from the CRPF; 33 are from Maharashtra, 55 are from Jammu and Kashmir police and 24 are from Chhattisgarh.
• President's Police Medal for Distinguished Service (PPM) is awarded for a special distinguished record in Police Service.
• The Police Medal for Meritorious Service (PM) is given for valuable service characterized by resource and devotion to duty.

Topic: Defence

13. Indian Air Force has inducted four Heron Mark 2 drones.

• The drone has strike capability and can carry out surveillance along the borders with both China and Pakistan in a single sortie itself.
• The drones can be equipped with long-range missiles and other weapons systems.
• These have been deployed at a forward air base in the northern sector.
• Through these drones, the entire country can be surveilled from the same place. 
• They will operate in all weather conditions and no terrain is off-limits.
• Heron Mark 2 is an upgraded version of Heron Mark-1 drone. It is a medium altitude long-endurance (MALE) drone with a maximum range of 3000 kms. 

Topic: Indian Economy

14. Factory output growth reached to 3-month low level of 3.7% in June 2023.

• Index of Industrial Production (IIP) grew by 3.7% in June 2023 from 5.3% in May 2023.
• Manufacturing sector’s output grew by 3.1% and mining output increased by 7.6%.
• Index of Manufacture of pharmaceuticals, medicinal chemical and botanical products gained the most. It climbed 16.8%.
• The Quick Estimates of IIP for June 2023 stand at 143.4.
• The IIP for the Mining, Manufacturing and Electricity sectors for June 2023 stands at 122.3, 141.0 and 205.2 respectively.
• As per Use-based classification, the indices were 146.6 for Primary Goods, 106.7 for Capital Goods, 153.2 for Intermediate Goods and 167.8 for Infrastructure/ Construction Goods for June 2023.
• The indices for Consumer durables and Consumer non-durables were 116.7 and 147.7 respectively for June 2023.