Daily Current Affairs and GK | 21 August 2024

Topic: National News

1. UPSC cancelled advertisements related to lateral entry into the bureaucracy.

• The advertisement related to lateral entry into the bureaucracy has been cancelled after receiving directions from the Department of Personnel and Training.
• UPSC issued an advertisement to appoint 45 Joint Secretaries, Directors, and Deputy Secretaries in Central Ministries.
• The government has cancelled these planned recruitments due to a lack of quotas for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs).
• What is Lateral Entry?
  • Lateral entry means the recruitment of an individual from outside the traditional government service cadres to fill mid- and senior-level positions.
  • It was formally introduced in 2018.
  • It aims to resolve complex governance and policy implementation challenges by tapping into external expertise.
  • The lateral entry was recommended by the Second Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC), established in 2005.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

2. Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar launched online portal DRIPS (Disaster Resilient Infrastructure for Power Sector).

• Quick resource deployment and identification would be possible with the help of the DRIPS portal.
• In the event of a disaster, the DRIPS portal would ensure that disturbances in the power sector are handled quickly and effectively.
• According to the Minister, the implementation of the DRIPS will facilitate the efficient, well-coordinated, and transparent operation of the nation's power sector in any unfavourable circumstance.
• For all of the authorised nodal offices of the power sector departments and other agencies in the impacted area, DRIPS will act as a single point of contact.

Topic: Summits/Conferences/Meetings

3. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar addressed inaugural session of 19th CII India Africa Business Conclave.

• Creating One Future is the theme of the three-day conclave, which started on 20 August 2024 in New Delhi. It will continue till 22 August 2024.
• The focus areas of the conclave are trade, investment, infrastructure, healthcare, and technology.
• Over 11 hundred international delegates from 65 countries are taking part in the conclave. Out of these, 47 are African nations.
• 18th CII India Africa Business Conclave was held in June 2023.
• Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in partnership with Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India started the Africa Conclave on India-Africa Partnership in 2005.

Topic: Personality in News

4. At 117 years old, Maria Branyas Morera, the oldest person in world, passed away.

• On March 4, 1907, Branyas was born in San Francisco. In 1915, her family returned to Spain.
• In Olot, Catalonia, Spain, Branyas was living in the Santa Maria del Tura nursing home. She passed away while sleeping.
• In January 2023, Guinness World Records formally recognised her as the oldest person in the world after the passing of French nun Lucile Randon.
• Tomiko Itooka of Japan is now the oldest living person in the world after Branyas's demise. Itooka was born on May 23, 1908.
• With 122 years and 164 days of life, Frenchwoman Jeanne Louise Calment holds the record of the longest-lived person.

Topic: Sports

5. Satya Prakash Sangwan appointed chef de mission at the Paris Paralympics.

• On August 20, vice president Satya Prakash Sangwan of the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) was appointed as the chef de mission of the Indian contingent at the upcoming Paris Paralympics.
• Sangwan has over a decade of dedicated service and experience in the Paralympic movement.
• As CDM, he will lead India's largest-ever contingent of 84 para-athletes competing across 12 sporting disciplines.
• Shri Satya Prakash Sangwan has been an integral part of the Indian Paralympic Committee for over a decade.
• The Paris Paralympics 2024 will be held from 28 August to 8 September.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

6. On August 20, Portal for Online Monitoring Of Projects – Thermal (PROMPT) launched by Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar in New Delhi.

• The launch of the PROMPT portal will enable transparent, coordinated and effective functioning in the power sector in the country.
• The newly launched PROMPT portal is designed to facilitate real-time tracking and analysis of thermal projects.
• This online platform enables project managers and stakeholders to make informed decisions, ensuring that potential delays and issues are identified early and resolved promptly.
• Key Features and Advantages of PROMPT:

Topic: Sports

7. International Cricket Council has decided to move the ninth women's T20 World Cup from Bangladesh to the UAE.

• This will be the ninth edition of the Women’s T20 World Cup.
• The event will continue to be officially hosted by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).
• From October 3 to October 20, the Women's T20 World Cup will be held in Dubai and Sharjah, two locations in the United Arab Emirates.
• The event's dates are still unchanged. The event could not be held in Bangladesh as originally scheduled.
• Because of Bangladesh's political unrest, the event has been moved from Bangladesh to the United Arab Emirates.
• Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka also put forward bids to take over as hosts, but the UAE was chosen as the new location.
• 2023 ICC Women's T20 World Cup was the 8th edition of ICC Women's T20 World Cup tournament. It was held in South Africa.

Topic: International News

8. PM Modi will embark on a three-day visit to Poland and Ukraine on 21 August 2024.

• He will hold talks with his Polish counterpart, Donald Tusk. He will call on President of Poland, Andrzej Duda.

• The fact that the Indian prime minister is visiting Poland for the first time in 45 years makes it a historic visit.
• Both countries are commemorating the 70th anniversary of the start of diplomatic relations at the time of the visit.
• Additionally, PM Modi will pay homage to monuments honouring Poland's unique relationship with Jamnagar and Kolhapur.
• On August 23, PM Modi will travel to Ukraine formally at the President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's invitation.
• Since this will be the first visit by an Indian prime minister to Ukraine in almost 30 years since diplomatic relations were established, it is also a historic visit.
• Poland is a country in Central Europe. Its capital is Warsaw. Its currency is Zloty.
• Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest European country after Russia. Kyiv is its capital. Hryvnia is its currency.  

Topic: National News

9. BIS launched a hackathon to raise awareness about Indian standards.

• The main aim of this hackathon is to raise awareness about Indian standards. It also aware people about its role in ensuring quality and safety.
• This hackathon has been launched for students across institutes that have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).
• Participants have been given the task of designing and developing a platform for online activities and games focused on Indian Standards.
• All entries have to be submitted by 23rd August.
• The online activities include various BIS activities to increase awareness and quality consciousness.
• Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS):
  • It is an Indian national standard body that works under the aegis of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.
  • It is a statutory body that was established by the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016.
  • Its headquarters is located in New Delhi.

Topic: Awards and Prizes

10. National Geoscience Awards have been presented to 21 geoscientists.

• President Droupadi Murmu conferred the National Geoscience Awards (NGA) for 2023 on 21 geoscientists.
• 12 awards were presented in geosciences, mineral exploration, and natural hazard investigations.
• The awards have been presented in three categories: National Geoscience Award for Lifetime Achievement, National Geoscience Award, and National Young Geoscientist Award.
• Prof. Dhiraj Mohan Banerjee received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his work in the fields of phosphorites, isotope geology, and organic geochemistry.
• Dr. Ashutosh Pandey received the National Young Geoscientist Award for his groundbreaking research on the geodynamic evolution of the Eastern Dharwar Craton.
• The amendments in the MMDR Act have empowered the central government to auction 24 critical and strategic minerals.
• The Ministry of Mines has recently introduced an exploration license for 29 deep-seated minerals.

Topic: MoUs/Agreements

11. India and Malaysia decided to elevate their Enhanced Strategic Partnership to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

• An agreements have been signed by India and Malaysia in the field of cooperation in labor and employment, Ayurveda and traditional medicine, digital technology, culture, tourism and youth and sports.
• The two countries also signed agreements on governance reform and mutual cooperation in the field of public administration.
• The agreements were signed after delegation-level talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Malaysian counterpart Dato' Seri Anwar bin Ibrahim in New Delhi.
• The Enhanced Strategic Partnership between the two countries is about to complete 10 years and the last two years have brought new momentum and energy to their partnership.
• Prime Minister Modi also emphasized on enhancing cooperation in new technology areas such as Fintech, semiconductors, defence industry, Artificial Intelligence and Quantum.

Topic: Summit/Conference/Meeting

12. On August 19, Vice President of Mauritius Marie Cyril Eddy Boissezon arrived in New Delhi to attend the 19th CII India-Africa Business Conclave.

• This visit marks another important milestone in the time-tested and enduring India-Mauritius relations.
• From August 20-22, the 19th CII India-Africa Business Conclave will be held in New Delhi.
• It is noteworthy that the objective of the 19th edition of CII India-Africa Business Conclave will be to serve as a vehicle for Africa's development and to highlight the role of India-Africa partnership in regional and global value chain integration.
• Besides, Liberia's Vice President Jeremiah Kappan Kong also arrived in Delhi to attend the 19th CII India-Africa Business Conclave.

Topic: Important Days

13. Sadbhavna Diwas 2024: August 20.

• The birth anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi is celebrated every year as Sadbhavana Diwas.
• It reminds the vision of a prosperous, united, and peaceful India.
• Rajiv Gandhi was the youngest prime minister of India. He was known for his innovative and open-minded approach to governance.
• Sadbhavana Diwas was first observed on August 20, 1992.
• Rajiv Gandhi became Prime Minister of India after Indira Gandhi’s assassination in 1984.
• Sadbhavana Diwas is observed with a range of activities aimed for fostering peace and harmony.

Topic: International News

14. Croatia to reintroduce compulsory military service from January 1, 2025.

• Croatia will reintroduce a two-month compulsory military service.
• This step has been taken amid heightened tensions in Europe after the Russian aggression against Ukraine.
• This decision marks a return of military service, which was suspended in 2008.
• The modernization of the Armed Forces of Croatia will be as per the agreement with allies and the NATO leadership.
• Last year, Latvia reinstated military conscription after the threat from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
• Other countries in Europe are considering for reintroducing mandatory military service.