Daily Current Affairs and GK | 25 August 2023

Topic: Committees/ Commissions/Taskforces

1. Central Government set up a committee to overhaul DRDO.

• The committee will be headed by former Principal Scientific Advisor to Government Prof K Vijay Raghavan. It will be a nine-member committee.
• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has set up this committee to review and redefine the role of the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO).
• This committee will submit its report within three months.
• The committee will focus on the following fields:
  • Restructuring and redefining the role of the Department of Defence (R &D) and DRDO.
  • Maximizing academia, MSME, and start-up participation in the development of cutting-edge technologies.
  • Attracting and retaining high-quality manpower with strict performance accountability, and weeding out the non-performers.
  • Utilizing the expertise of NRIs/foreign consultants, and inter-country collaborations for the development of cutting edge.
  • Modernizing administrative, personnel and financial systems to achieve speedier implementation of projects.
  • Rationalisation of laboratory structures and their performance evaluation process.

Topic: Sports

2. R Praggnanandhaa finished as runner-up in the FIDE World Cup.

• Magnus Carlsen won the FIDE World Cup for the first time. He defeated India’s Praggnanandhaa in the final.
• After the first two classical games ended in draws, Carlsen clinched the first tie-break. The second tie-break ended in a draw.
• R Praggnanandhaa became the youngest player to reach the chess World Cup final.
•  He became the third youngest player after the legendary Bobby Fischer and Carlsen to qualify for the Candidates tournament.
• Fabiano Caruana and Nijat Abasov finished the tournament in third and fourth spots, respectively.
• The winner get a cash prize of Rs 90,93,551 ($110k) and the runner-up get around Rs 66,13,444 ($80k).
• FIDE World Cup 2023 was held at Baku, Azerbaijan from 29 Jul – 25 August.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

3. Tele-Law - 2.0 Integrated Tele-Law and Nyaya Bandhu App launched by the Government in New Delhi.

• Committed to fulfilling the constitutional mandate of Article 39A relating to ensuring access to justice, the Department of Justice (DOJ) organized a Tele-Law 2.0 event on 25th August.
• The event celebrated the milestone of reaching 50 lakh pre-litigation consultations to common citizens through the use of technology.
• It also integrates this legal advice service under Tele-Law with legal representation services under the Nyaya Bandhu (Pro Bono) program.
• It will enable the common citizen to have access to legal advice, legal aid, and legal representation through a single registration and a single gateway to tele-law.
• The function also felicitated the frontline functionaries who ensure the delivery of legal services to the people at the grassroots level at their doorsteps.
• The Department of Justice organized this event, which was supported by CSC e-Governance Services India Limited.
• The event exemplifies the government's vision to strengthen the legal aid eco-system and ensure "Justice for all".

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Summits/Conferences/Meetings

4. 26th National Conference on e-Governance was held on 24 and 25 August at Indore, Madhya Pradesh.

• In this 2-day conference, discussions were held on measures to provide better facilities to the citizens.
• Madhya Pradesh's Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Science and Technology Minister Omprakash Saklecha inaugurated the conference.
• The conference was organized by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology in collaboration with the Government of Madhya Pradesh.
• Representatives from 28 states and 9 union territories and industry participated in the conference.
• The conference was brainstormed on the topic 'Developing India: Empowering Citizens'.
• In this conference, eleven themes including district-level initiatives, emerging technologies for providing citizen-centric services, role of R&D in citizen-centric services were discussed.
• During the conference, National e-Governance Awards 2023 in 5 categories was also presented.

Topic: Science and Technology

5. College of Military Engineering, Pune became India's first carbon-negative garrison.

• The College of Military Engineering (CME), Pune has achieved the distinction of becoming the first completely carbon-negative garrison in India with the commissioning of a 5MW solar power plant.
• 40% of the total installed electricity capacity in India is from non-fossil fuel sources, solar power being the largest among them.
• In 2021, the first phase of a 7MW solar power plant was commissioned with the commissioning of a 2MW solar power plant to meet the daytime energy requirements for CME.
• In the second phase, the commissioning of the 5MW solar power plant this August has been extremely crucial in achieving the objective of the “National Solar Mission” under the Union government.
• The 7MW solar power plant together will be capable of generating electricity consumed by CME, NDA, Command Hospital Pune, Military Hospital Khadki, and Bombay Engineer Group & Centre, Khadki spread across the city of Pune.
• In 1948, the College of Military Engineering, Pune was established as a premier institution.
• It was established for training all rank officers of the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force including friendly foreign countries in various technical and tactical aspects with the changing characteristics of warfare.

(Source: PIB)

Topic: Awards and Prizes

6. Rocketry won the Best Feature Film in the 69th National Film Awards 2023.

• On 24 August, the 69th National Film Awards were announced in New Delhi.
• The Best Actress award was given to Alia Bhatt for Gangubai Kathiawadi and Kriti Sanon for Mimi.
• The Best Actor award was given to Allu Arjun for Pushpa.
• The President will award the best Indian films produced in different languages in the calendar year 2021.
• Feature and non-feature films certified by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) between January 1, 2021, and December 31, 2021, were eligible for award.
• Here are some important awards:

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Summits/Conferences/Meetings

7. B20 Summit India 2023 commenced in New Delhi on 25 August 2023.

• It is a three-day summit during which Union Ministers Nirmala Sitharaman, Dharmendra Pradhan, and Dr. S Jaishankar will share their ideas on the issues concerning businesses globally.
• During the summit, G20 India Sherpa Amitabh Kant, Trade Ministers of various countries, and several business leaders will also share their ideas on the issues concerning businesses globally.
• PM Modi will attend the special session on 27 August as Chief Guest.
• Executive Chairman of Tata Sons and Chair of B20 India N Chandrasekaran will attend the Summit.
• Chief Executive Officer of Mastercard Michael Miebach and President of World Economic Forum Borge Brende will also attend the Summit.
• The Summit is based on the theme of B20 India R.A.I.S.E: Responsible, Accelerated, Innovative, Sustainable, Equitable Businesses.

Topic: Defence

8. The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has approved proposals worth 7,800 crore rupees.

• The proposals have been approved to enhance the operational capabilities of the Armed Forces.
• The DAC accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for the procurement and installation of Electronic Warfare (EW) Suite on Mi-17 V5 Helicopters under the Buy Indian-IDDM category.
• This will enhance better survivability of Helicopters and the efficiency of the Indian Air Force.
• The EW Suite will be procured from Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL).
• The DAC has also granted AoN for procurement of a Ground-Based Autonomous System for mechanised infantry and armoured regiments.
• It has also approved the proposals for procurement of 7.62x51 mm Light Machine Gun (LMG) and Bridge Laying Tank (BLT).
• LMG will enhance the fighting capabilities of infantry forces, the BLT will lead to faster movement of Mechanised Forces.
• The DAC has also accorded AoN for procurement of Ruggedised Laptops and Tablets for the Indian Army under Project Shakti.
• All these procurements will be sourced from Indigenous vendors only.

Topic: India and its neighbours

9. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to intensify efforts for disengagement along LAC.

• To reduce tensions between India and China, Narendra Modi and Xi Jinping agreed to resolve disputed issues along the Line of Actual Control.
• Both leaders agreed to direct their relevant officials to intensify efforts at expeditious disengagement and de-escalation of troops on the ground.
• Prime Minister Modi and President Xi meeting took place on the sidelines of the BRICS summit.
• PM Modi said that maintenance of peace and tranquillity in the border areas and respecting LAC are essential for the normalization of the India-China relationship.
• Recently, commanders of both countries have held a series of talks to resolve issues related to military standoff.
• A standoff broke out on the eastern Ladakh border on May 5, 2020, following a violent clash in the Pangong Lake area.
• India and China:
  • India shares a 3488 Km border with China.
  • Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh share a border with China.
  • India's bilateral trade with China reached a record $135.98 billion in 2022.
  • The McMahon Line is the effective boundary between China and India.

Topic: Reports and Indices/Ranking

10. Indore has topped Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan ranking 2023.

• Indore has topped Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan ranking 2023 by securing 187 out of 200 points.
• Indore has topped in the ‘over 10-lakh population category’. Indore AQI was 84 (Satisfactory).
• Agra and Thane are in second and third position with 186 and 185.2 points, respectively.
• Gwalior was in 43rd position in the 10-lakh category by securing 117 points.
• Bhopal came fifth with 181 points and Jabalpur seventh with 172 points.
• In the cities with 3 lakh-10 lakh, Ujjain (182 points) and Sagar (170.7 points) are at 5th and 9th positions.
• The ranking of cities was not based on the measurement of air quality parameters but on the actions taken by the cities to improve air quality in different domains.
• The self-assessment reports were based on the action taken on different parameters including solid waste management, road dust management, management of construction and demolition waste, control of vehicular emissions, etc.
• CPCB evaluated the self-assessment reports and supporting documents uploaded by 131 cities and gave the highest score to Indore.
• National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) was implemented in non-attainment cities.

Topic: Personality in News

11. Wagner Chief Yevgeny Prigozhin died in a plane crash in Russia.

• Yevgeny Prigozhin was the leader of the Wagner mercenary group that led a brief armed rebellion against the Russian military.
• Prigozhin was among 10 passengers on board the plane that crashed in the northern region of Moscow on 23 August.
• A plane flying from Moscow to St. Petersburg crashed in the Tver region, killing all passengers, including the 3 pilots.
• According to reports, Dmitri Utkin, the commander of the mercenary group Wagner and one of the founders of the group, was also killed in the incident.
• Reasons ranging from technical problems to explosions in the aircraft are being expressed.
• Just 2 months earlier, Yevgeny Prigozhin had led a brief rebellion against the Russian army.
• It was considered the biggest challenge against the regime since President Vladimir Putin came to power.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Sports

12. Asmita Women’s League will be the new name of Khelo India Women’s League.

• On 22 August, The Khelo India Women’s League will officially be known as the Asmita Women's League announced by Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Singh Thakur.
• The abbreviation of "Asmita" is Achieving Sports Milestone by Inspiring Women Through Action.
• The 'Asmita Portal' serves as a comprehensive resource, providing valuable insights into upcoming leagues, among other features.
• This will enable any school, college, government, or private organization to host the 'Asmita Mahila League' and be a part of Khelo India's.
• The Khelo India team conceived the idea and developed this portal, which is a significant step towards the digitization of Indian sports.
• The Government has promoted women's sports and has paved the way for better opportunities, facilities, and world-class infrastructure at the elite and grassroots levels.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Space and IT

13. ISRO will launch the next moon mission in partnership with its Japanese counterpart.

• Lunar Polar Exploration Mission (LUPEX) is a joint mission of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
• JAXA is developing a rover while a lander is being developed by ISRO.
• The rover will carry not only the instruments of ISRO and JAXA but also the instruments of US space agency NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA).
• The main aim of LUPEX mission is to explore the lunar polar region's suitability for establishing a base on the Moon for sustainable activities.
• It will also collect information about the availability of lunar water-ice resources and demonstrate lunar surface exploration technologies.
• Ahmedabad-based Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) has proposed many instruments for the LUPEX mission to carry out measurements on the surface and subsurface near the polar region.
• Permittivity and Thermo-physical investigation for Moon's Aquatic Scout (PRATHIMA) instrument will be part of this mission.

Topic: Sports

14. World wrestling body suspended membership of Wrestling Federation of India.

• United World Wrestling (UWW) has suspended the Wrestling Federation of India for not conducting elections on time.
• Due to Suspension, Indian wrestlers couldn’t compete at the upcoming World Championships under the Indian flag.
• The Indian wrestlers will have to compete as ‘neutral athletes’ at the Olympic-qualifying World Championships.
• In April, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) appointed an ad-hoc committee to run the affairs of the wrestling federation and directed to hold fresh elections in 45 days.
• The elections were delayed multiple times due to protests against Brij Bhushan Singh.
• On 28 April 2023, UWW warned that it could suspend the Indian federation if it didn’t conduct the election on time.
• Indian wrestlers can compete under the Indian flag in the Asian Games starting from 23 September in Hangzhou.
• The Wrestling Federation of India is the governing body of wrestling in India. Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh is the current president of WFI.

(Source: News on AIR)