Daily Current Affairs and GK | 18 August 2022

Topic: Summits/Conferences/Meetings

1. Two-day National Security Strategies Conference 2022 inaugurated by Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on 17 August 2022.

• 600 officers from all over India are physically and virtually attending the conference.
• On the first day of the conference, discussions were held on counter-terrorism, radicalisation, and issues pertaining to crypto currencies, and challenges posed by Maoist outfits.
• National Automated Fingerprint Identification System was also inaugurated by the Home Minister.
• It will help in quick and easy disposal of cases using the centralized finger print database.

Topic: Space and IT

2. NASA's new rocket to be sent to the moon is ready for its first flight.

• The rocket is called Space Launch System (SLS). It is being taken to Pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida for a launch scheduled for 29th August.
• It will be a demonstration launch to the moon in NASA’s Artemis program.
• The first flight is a test launch with no crew aboard. However, future missions will send astronauts back to the lunar surface for the first time in over 50 years.
• As per media reports, NASA has backup launch dates on 2nd and 5th September.
• Artemis program:
  • It is a NASA-led human spaceflight program to explore the moon. It was started in December 2017.
  • It aims for first touchdown on lunar South Pole by 2024.
  • If successful, it will be first crewed lunar landing mission since Apollo 17 in December 1972.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: State News/Karnataka

3. Karnataka government will provide 2% reservation in all state departments to sportspersons.

• Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai recently said that his government will provide 2% reservation in all state departments to sportspersons.
• He said Karnataka is the first state to adopt athletes. It has adopted basketball as a state sport.
• He felicitated Ashwini Ponnapa, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Gururaj Poojary, Ankitha Suresh, Priya Mohan and other athletes.
• Karnataka:
  • It is the largest state in South India. It shares its border with Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
  • Its Governor is Thawarchand Gehlot. The Karnataka legislature is a bicameral legislature.

Topic: State News/Arunachal Pradesh

4. Arunachal Pradesh CM Pema Khandu launched ‘Medicine from The Sky’.

• It is a pilot drone service project. Arunachal Pradesh has launched drone service as a pilot project for supplying medicines and other essential services. 
• The first successful flight was conducted from Seppa to Chayang Tajo in the East Kameng district.
• The focus of the pilot project would be on transporting essential medicines, vaccines and diagnostic samples using drones.
• The pilot project is funded by United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and executed by Redwings Labs.

Topic: National News

5. Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for “Panch Pran of Amrit Kaal”.

• During the Independence Day speech, PM Modi gave a call for taking five resolutions to make India a developed country by 2047.
• PM Modi said that five “Prans” (pledges) would take India to international eminence. He called the upcoming 25 years “Amrit Kal”.
• The Panch Pran of Amrit Kaal are: Goal of developed India, to remove any trace of the colonial mindset, take pride in our roots, unity, and sense of duty among citizens.
• The first resolution is to make India a developed country, while the second resolution is that slavery should not be in the deepest corner of our minds or habits.
• The third resolution states that we should feel proud of our heritage and legacy. The fourth resolution is about unity and solidarity, while the fifth resolution is about the duty of citizens towards the nation.
• He also gave the slogan “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan, Jai Vigyan, Jai Anusandhan’.
• In 2047, India will celebrate its 100 years of independence.

(Source: All India Radio)

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

6. Government launched ‘NAMASTE’ (National Action for Mechanized Sanitation Ecosystem) Scheme.

• The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment jointly launched the ‘NAMASTE’ (National Action for Mechanized Sanitation Ecosystem) Scheme.
• It has been launched to improve occupational safety, access to safety gears and machines, skilled wage opportunities, and continuous capacity building.
• It will focus on sewer/septic tank workers, skilling, entrepreneurship programme for dependants of SafaiMitras, and providing subsidies for sanitation-related vehicles and equipment.
• It will also ensure that all SafaiMitras have been covered with health insurance.
• 500 cities have declared themselves as “SafaiMitra Surakshit Shehar”. The government commits that all Indian cities will declare themselves as ‘SafaiMitra Surkashit’ by March 2024.”
• Under Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0, cities and states are committed to converting every ‘manhole’ into a ‘machine hole’.

Topic: National News

7. A 1.5% interest subvention on short-term agricultural loans up to three lakh rupees has been approved by the Cabinet.

• Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur said that cabinet has taken this decision to ensure adequate credit flow in agriculture sector.
• This increase in Interest subvention requires additional budgetary provisions of 34,856 crore rupees for the period of 2022-23 to 2024-25.
• Cabinet has also approved enhancement of limit of Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme by 50,000 crore rupees for Travel, Tourism and Hospitality sector.
• Cabinet has also approved providing access of the Traditional Knowledge Digital Library database to users including patent applicants and researchers.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

8. Union Minister of State for Health Bharati Pravin Pawar virtually launched Paalan 1000 National Campaign and Parenting App.

• She also virtually launched Early Childhood Development Conclave in Mumbai on 16 August 2022.
• She said that India has made significant progress in lowering child mortality since 2014 from 45 per 1000 live births to 35 per 1000 live births in 2019.
• The campaign is focused on the idea that a child's physical, mental, emotional, cognitive, and social health are established during the first 1000 days of life.
• 'Paalan 1000 - Journey of the First 1000 Days' focuses on the cognitive developments of children in the first two years of its life.
• PAALAN 1000 parenting app will provide caregiver with practical advice on what they can do in their everyday routine. It will help resolving the various doubts of parents.

Topic: MoUs/Agreements

9. Union Cabinet gave its approval to the Indian-France transport sector pact.

• The contract has been signed between the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, France and the Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC), India.
• It will support the International Transport Forum (ITF) activities in the Indian Transport Sector.
• As per the official statement, the contract was signed on 6 July 2022.
• Under this contract, new activities like new scientific results, and the identification of technology for decarburization of the transport sector, will be the main objective.
• The will also help in new policy insights and Capacity building through scientific interaction.
• PM Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron also discussed ongoing bilateral cooperation under the India-France Strategic Partnership.
• India and France entered into a Strategic Partnership in 1998. Both countries have close and friendly relations.
• International Transport Forum (ITF):
  • It is an inter-governmental organisation within the OECD system.
  • It acts as a think tank for transport policy issues. It is headquartered in Paris, France.

Topic: National News

10. Government widens access of the Traditional Knowledge Digital Library database (TKDL) to users, besides patent offices.

• The opening up of the TKDL database to users is a new dawn for Indian traditional knowledge.
• TKDL will support research & development, and innovation in different fields based on the Indian heritage.
• The approval for widening the access of TKDL beyond patent offices will help in integrating and co-opting traditional knowledge with current practices for innovation and trade.
• TKDL will act as an important source of TK information for advancing knowledge and technology frontiers. It will help in the adoption of Indian traditional medicines across the country.
• TKDL will provide information to businesses/companies, research institutions, educators & students, ISM practitioners, etc.
• The TKDL database would be available to both domestic and foreign users via a paid subscription model that would be implemented in stages.
• Traditional Knowledge Digital Library database (TKDL):
  • It is an initiative of the government of India to protect Indian traditional medicinal knowledge and prevent its misappropriation at International Patent Offices.
  • It was established in 2001 jointly by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the Department of Indian Systems of Medicine and Homeopathy.
  • The information is documented in a digitized format in English, German, French, Japanese and Spanish languages.
  • It contains information from existing literature related to ISM such as Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa and Yoga.

Topic: Reports and Indices/Ranking

11. Defence forces, RBI and Prime Minister's Office are the most trusted institutions of India: Ipsos India’s Survey

• The Supreme Court of India and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) came in fourth and fifth place, respectively. 
• The survey said that the defence forces are at the first place, with 65% of the respondents trusting them.
• RBI is ranked at second place with 1 in 2 (50% of respondents) having trust in it.  
• Parliament, media and the Election Commission of India were ranked at 7th, 8th and 9th place, respectively.  
• The institutions at the bottom of the list were politicians (16%), political parties (17%), community leaders (19%) and religious leaders (21%). These have the least credibility.  
• Ipsos India, a market research and consulting firm, has conducted the survey.
• The survey included respondents from four metros, tier 1, tier 2 and tier 3 towns. The survey interviewed 2,950 adults including females. 

Topic: Awards and Prizes

12. Ranveer Singh won the best actor award at the 13^th edition of the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne.

• The 13^th edition of the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne started on 12 August in Australia.
• During the festival, some of the most prominent films, TV shows, and web series of India will be shown.
• It will conclude on 30 August and the in-person event will end on 20 August.
• The Best Film award went to “83” and Ranveer Singh won the Best Actor award for this film.
• Shoojit Sircar (Sardar Udham) and Aparna Sen (The Rapist) won the Best Director award.
• Jai Bhim and Gangubai Kathiawadi had the most number of nominations but they failed to win a single award.
• The list of winners of the awards are as follows:

Topic: Personality in News

13. Government to release a commemorative postal stamp on freedom fighter Ondiveeran.

• On 20 August, the commemorative postal stamp will be released in Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu.
• Union Minister of Communication Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw has given this information.
• Ondiveeran Pagadai:
  • He was commander-in-chief in Puli thevar's army.
  • He fought against the British East India Company in Tamil Nadu.
  • He was from the Arunthathiyar community and is considered a hero for this community.
  • He was given the title "Pagadai" which means "Dice" in English.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

14. Government launched ‘Manthan’ Platform for R&D collaboration with the industry.

• The Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) office of the government has announced the launch of the Manthan platform.
• It aims to promote collaboration between industry and the scientific research and development ecosystem.
• It is powered by NSEIT, which will help in enhancing the dialogue among stakeholders and facilitates research and innovation.
• This platform will facilitate transfers of knowledge and interactions through Information Exchange Sessions, Exhibitions, and Events.
• It will help in the sharing of challenges in various emerging technologies and scientific interventions.
• It will help in the adoption of new concepts, science-led ideas, and new technology outcomes across the country.

(Source: News on AIR)