Daily Current Affairs and GK | 18 and 19 August 2024

Topic: State News/Karnataka

1. Karnataka governor granted approval for the prosecution of the Chief Minister.

• Karnataka governor Thaawarchand Gehlot gave the nod for the prosecution of Chief Minister Siddaramiah in an alleged Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) site allotment scam.
• The alleged MUDA scam involves the "fraudulent" allotment of around 14 plots of land in Mysuru to Siddaramaiah's wife.
• As per the allegation, the land meant for members of the Dalit community was granted to Siddaramiah's wife by using forged documents.
• The case involves allegations against top officials of MUDA as well.
• What is the MUDA scam?
• Under this scam, a 3.2-acre parcel of land was gifted to the Chief Minister's wife, Parvathi, by her brother Mallikarjunaswamy in 2010.
• The opposition parties claim that the total value of the scam could be within the range of Rs 3,000 crore to Rs 4,000 crore.

Topic: Indian Economy

2. Government initiated an anti-dumping investigation into steel from Vietnam.

• India has launched an anti-dumping investigation on certain steel products imported from Vietnam.
• The anti-dumping investigation will analyze the threat to the domestic industry.
• The probe is based on a request from domestic steel producers citing negative impacts on market performance.
• This decision has been taken after a significant downturn in the Indian steel market.
• India, despite being the world's second-largest crude steel producer, became a net importer of steel in this fiscal year.
• The period of investigation is January 1, 2023, to March 31, 2024 (15 months).
• India has set a target of achieving 300 million metric tons (mt) steel capacity by 2030–2021.

Topic: Indian Economy

3. Unemployment rate in April-June (Q1) declined to 6.6 percent from 6.7 percent.

• The unemployment rate in April-June (Q1) declined to 6.6 percent from a four-quarter high of 6.7 percent in January-March FY24.
• The female unemployment rate increased to 9 per cent in Q1FY25 from 8.5 per cent in Q4FY24.
• The jobless rate for young males has declined, and the unemployment rate for young females has increased.
• The share of people either working or seeking employment in the urban population registered a decline to 50.1 per cent in Q1FY25 from 50.2 per cent in Q4FY24.
• The survey showed the share of people engaged in self-employment declined to 40 per cent from 40.5 percent in the preceding quarter.

Topic: State News / Maharashtra

4. First 'Solar Village' launched by Maharashtra with Manyachiwadi.

• The state's first 'solar village' inaugurated by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on August 18.
• Manyachiwadi village in Patan taluka of Satara district has become Maharashtra's first 'solar village'.
• Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said the state government is committed to promoting the use of renewable energy and reducing dependence on conventional energy sources.
• The state's burden with electricity bills has decreased because to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana.
• Under the Mukhyamantri Saur Krushi Pump Yojana, the state government provides 90 to 95% subsidy to farmers for installing solar pump sets.
• In the next one and a half years, 12 thousand MW of electricity will be generated in the state from solar energy.
• An ambitious plan to provide 100% solar-powered electricity to two villages in each district has been announced by Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company (MSEDCL).
• After Manyachiwadi, over 70 other villages across Maharashtra will also be part of the projects.

Topic: Defence

5. On August 18, the Coast Guard's new Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) inaugurated by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in Chennai.

• At the event, through video conferencing, he also inaugurated two new Coast Guard units - Regional Marine Pollution Response Centre (RMPRC) at Chennai and Coast Guard Air Enclave at Puducherry.
• The new MRCC will facilitate better coordination for rescue of mariners and fishermen in distress at sea.
• It has cutting-edge communication systems and has been installed with the latest equipment for distress monitoring through terrestrial and satellite systems.
• It will also serve as a nodal centre for coordination of all maritime rescue operations along the East Coast of India and beyond and ensure safety and well-being of fishermen and mariners.
• The RMPRC, located at Chennai Port, is the first of its kind facility for coordinating response to marine pollution in the waters adjoining coastal states in the Indian Ocean Region.
• The Coast Guard Air Force Enclave in Puducherry will be equipped with Chetak and Advanced Light Helicopter Squadrons.
• Both these helicopters are built with indigenous technology and can carry out maritime patrol, search and rescue and other such missions from land and from Coast Guard ships patrolling the sea.

Topic: Miscellaneous

6. India's student team has won several prestigious medals at the 17th International Earth Science Olympiad (IESO).

• The 17th International Earth Science Olympiad (IESO) was held from August 8 to 16, 2024 in Beijing, China.
• A four-member Indian team, consisting of students from Gujarat, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, and Rajasthan, achieved remarkable success by securing three gold medals, two silver medals, and three bronze medals.
• They won medals across three competition categories: Theory and Practical, Earth System Project, and International Team Field Investigation.
• International Earth Science Olympiad is one of the most successful student-centric initiatives under the REACHOUT (Research, Education, Training and Outreach) scheme of the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
• The IESO is a global competition for secondary school students that was founded in 2003 during the International Geoscience Education Organisation Council Meeting in Calgary, Canada.
• It aims to raise awareness of Earth sciences through teamwork, collaboration, exchange of ideas and competition.
• Since 2007, India has been participating in IESO and had the honour of hosting its 10th edition in Mysore.
• This year's 17th IESO witnessed participation of 35 countries, of which 32 reached the finals.
• The competitions were held in four categories: theory and practical, Earth science project, international team field investigation and data mining.

Topic: Government Schemes and intiatives

7. A project launched by FSSAI to eliminate microplastic contamination in Indian food items.

• A groundbreaking initiative has been launched by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to tackle the growing problem of microplastic contamination in the Indian food supply.
• On August 18, the project was announced, titled “Micro- and Nano-Plastics as Emerging Food Contaminants: Establishing Validated Methodologies and Understanding the Prevalence in Different Food Matrices.”
• It aims to develop and standardize methods for detecting micro- and nanoplastics in food products, as well as assess their prevalence and potential risks to consumers.
• The initiative, launched in March, is being run in collaboration with leading research institutions across India, including CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (Lucknow), ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (Kochi) and Birla Institute of Technology and Science (Pilani).
• These institutions will work together to develop standardized protocols for the analysis of micro- and nano-plastics, allow for comparisons within and outside the laboratory, and generate critical data on micro-plastic exposure among Indian consumers.
• Growing concern about microplastic contamination in food is underlined by a recent report from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), which identified microplastics in common food items such as sugar and salt.

Topic: Personality in News

8. Indian Coast Guard Director General Rakesh Pal passed away on 18 August in Chennai at the age of 59.

• The Coast Guard chief had come to Chennai to attend an official function attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, where he died of a heart attack.
• Rakesh Pal, an alumnus of the Indian Naval Academy, joined the Indian Coast Guard in January 1989.
• During his 34-year career, he became the 25th Director General of the ICG, a position he held until July 2023.
• He was known for his expertise in gunnery and weapon systems, and was the first officer of the ICG to specialise as a Gunner.
• Rakesh Pal had received the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM), President Tatrakshak Medal (PTM), and Tatrakshak Medal (TM) for his outstanding service.

(Source: DD News)

Topic: Indian Economy

9. Government cut down the windfall tax on crude to Rs 2,100/tonne.

• The central government has decided to reduce the windfall tax on petroleum crude from Rs 4,600 per tonne to Rs 2,100 per metric tonne.
• The government has also scraped windfall tax on export of diesel and aviation turbine fuel (ATF).
• The central government started imposing a windfall tax on crude oil producers in July 2022.
• It was later extended to the export of gasoline, diesel, and aviation fuel.
• It encouraged private refiners to sell fuel internationally to get refining margins.
• Oil prices have dropped by about 2 per cent and Brent crude is trading at just below $80 per barrel.
• A windfall tax is a higher tax levied by the government on specific industries when the industry experiences unexpected and above-average profits.

Topic: Geography

10. A powerful typhoon ‘Ampil’ hit Japan.

• A powerful typhoon ‘Ampil’ struck the eastern region of Japan.
• Japan grounded hundreds of flights and urged people to evacuate.
• Typhoon Ampil has been categorized as very strong" by the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA).
• Japan Meteorological Agency has two higher categories - "very strong" and "violent" for typhoons.
• Ampil had wind speeds of 45 metres per second with a maximum gust of 60 metres per second (216 kph/134 mph).
• A cyclone is called a ‘hurricane’ in the American continent. In Japan, it is called a ‘typhoon’. 
• A cyclone is a very low-pressure system with very high-speed winds revolving around it.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

11. ‘Kisano Ki Baat’ radio programme will be launched by the government.

• The government will start a programme called ‘Kisano Ki Baat’ once a month to ensure that farmers get the benefits of science immediately.
• Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that this program will start next month.
• This programme will be broadcast on radio.
• Scientists, and officials from the agriculture department, and Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfar will also be present and whatever information is necessary will be provided to the farmers.
• There is a need to connect the Krishi Vigyan Kendra with the farmers completely.
• Efforts will be made to ensure that the scientific benefits reach the farmers immediately.
• Apart from this, Mr Chouhan said that earlier the budget for farmers was only Rs 27 thousand crore, which the Prime Minister has increased to Rs 1.52 lakh crore.

Topic: National Appointment

12. Morne Morkel appointed bowling coach of Indian men's team.

• Former South African fast bowler Morne Morkel has been appointed as the bowling coach of the Indian men's cricket team.
• Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah has confirmed that Morkel will be part of the two-Test series against Bangladesh starting September 19.
• Morkel, who was Gambhir's teammate at Indian Premier League franchise Kolkata Knight Riders, was appointed by Lucknow Super Giants as the bowling coach, while Gambhir was the team's mentor.
• Before being appointed as head coach last month, Gambhir had pushed for Morkel's inclusion in the squad along with Abhishek Nair and Ryan ten Doeschate.
• Apart from his experience as a bowling coach in franchise cricket around the world, Morkel also served as the bowling coach of the Pakistan men's team during the 2023 ODI World Cup in India.

Topic: MoUs /Agreements

13. India’s CAG and Uzbekistan’s Chamber of Accounts signed a MoU.

• The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Chamber of Accounts, Republic of Uzbekistan.

• The aim of this agreement is to enhance collaboration and exchange of expertise in the field of auditing between the two nations.
• The signing of the MoU is a significant step in promoting closer ties and collaboration among the SAIs of India and Uzbekistan.
• This MoU will establish a collaboration platform for the exchange of knowledge and experience amongst auditing professionals to develop capacity for conducting audits.
• This MoU will encapsulate the urgency for institutions to embrace a new phase of collaborative engagement.

Topic: MoUs /Agreements

14. India and Israel joined hands for a new water technology centre at IIT Madras.

• India and Israel have inked a pact to establish a new water technology centre at IIT-Madras.
• Both countries issued a Joint Statement of Intent to establish a Center of Water Technology at IIT, Madras.
• This tripartite agreement has been signed by the Embassy of Israel, IIT Madras, and the AMRUT mission of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
• The Center of Water Technology’s aim is to become a hub for innovation, research, and capacity-building in water technologies.