Daily Current Affairs and GK | 29 August 2023

Topic: International News

1. France will prohibit children from wearing Abaya in state-run schools.

• The new rule will be applied as soon as the new school year starts on the 4th September.
• Abaya is a loose-fitting, full-length robe worn by Muslim women.
• Country’s Education Minister Gabriel Attal said secularism means the freedom to emancipate oneself through school. He argued the Abaya is a religious gesture.
• Religious signs are strictly prohibited in state schools and government buildings in France.
• Since 2004, wearing a headscarf at state-run schools has been prohibited.
• In 2010, France made it illegal to wear full-face veils in public. This infuriated France's five million-strong Muslim community.

Topic: National News

2. The commemorative coin on NT Rama Rao has been released by President Droupadi Murmu.

• President Droupadi Murmu released the coin on NT Rama Rao’s centenary year at Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre on 28 August 2023.
• President Droupadi Murmu said that the Late NT Rama Rao enriched Indian cinema and culture through Telugu films.
• She mentioned that NTR also promoted the concept of social justice and equality through one of his films 'Manushulanta Okkate'.
• The President stated that NTR's popularity as a public servant and leader was equal.
• Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao served as Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh.
• He was referred to by the media as Viswa Vikhyatha Nata Sarvabhouma (Universally-renowned star of acting).

Topic: Space and IT

3. ISRO released a temperature variation graph of the lunar surface.

• Chandra’s Surface Thermophysical Experiment (ChaSTE) payload on Vikram's lander of Chandrayaan-3 measured the temperature of the lunar topsoil around the pole.
• ChaSTE can measure the temperature of the moon’s surface by using a motor and 10 sensors to a depth of up to 10 cm.
• It will help in understanding the thermal behaviour of the Moon’s surface.
• ChaSTE was developed by a team led by the Space Physics Laboratory of ISRO’s Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC).
• The graph shows that temperature variation is from 70 degrees Celsius to minus 10 degrees Celsius.
• The temperature decreases to minus 10 degrees Celsius below the lunar surface.
• The data show that the temperature between the craters Manzinus C and Simpelius N is around 40-50 degrees Celsius.
• Chandrayaan-3 is the first mission to have soft-landed a robotic instrument in the moon’s south pole area.

(Source: ISRO)

Topic: National Appointments

4. Dr Sonali Ghosh will become the first woman field director of Kaziranga National Park.

• The Indian Forest Service officer Dr Sonali Ghosh will take charge of Kaziranga National Park from 1 September.
• She will be the first woman field director of Kaziranga National Park.
• She will take the place of Jatindra Sarma, who will retire on August 31.
• The Assam government has already issued an order posting Ghosh as the head of the forest.
• She will be the first woman to hold charge as director of the 118-year-old Kaziranga National Park.
• Kaziranga National Park:
  • It is a national park in the Golaghat and Nagaon districts of the state of Assam.
  • It was declared a National Park in 1974, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985 and a Tiger Reserve in 2006
  • It has a population density of one rhino per 0.2 square kilometres.
  • Four main rivers — Brahmaputra, Diphlu, Mora Diphlu and Mora Dhansiri pass through the Kaziranga National Park.

Topic: Banking System

5. The merger of Akola Merchant Co-operative Bank with Jalgaon Peoples Co-operative Bank approved by RBI.

• On August 25, the amalgamation of Akola Merchant Co-operative Bank Ltd., located in Akola, Maharashtra, with The Jalgaon Peoples Co-operative Bank Ltd., situated in Jalgaon, Maharashtra was approved.
• RBI has approved the merger in the exercise of its powers under sub-section (4) of section 44A in conjunction with Section 56 of the Banking Regulation Act,1949.
• The approved scheme of amalgamation came into effect on August 28, 2023.
• After this date, the branches of Akola Merchant Co-operative Bank will operate as branches of Jalgaon Peoples Co-operative Bank.
• The move is expected to contribute to the robust banking landscape in the region and enhance the services offered to the customers of both institutions.

Topic: Summits/Conferences/Meetings

6. 26th meeting of the Western Zonal Council organized in Gujarat.

• The Meeting was chaired by Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah in Gandhinagar, Gujarat on 28 August.
• The meeting was organized by the Inter-State Council Secretariat under the Ministry of Home Affairs in collaboration with the Government of Gujarat.
• The meeting was attended by the Chief Ministers of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, and the Administrators of the Union Territories of Dadra Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, as well as senior state and central government officials.
• The meeting discussed a wide range of topics including issues of infrastructure, mining, water supply, environment and forests, regional-level common interest, and national interest.
• In 1957, the Five Zonal Councils were established under Section 15-22 of the States Reorganization Act, 1956.
• The Western Zonal Council comprises the states of Gujarat, Goa, Maharashtra and the Union Territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.
• The Union Home Minister is the Chairman of these five Zonal Councils, while the Chief Ministers of the States and Administrators/Lieutenant Governors of the Union Territories comprising the respective Zonal Councils are its members.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Infrastructure and Energy

7. IIT Bombay joined hands with HSBC for research in green hydrogen.

• The Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay (IIT-B) has collaborated with Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) to promote green hydrogen production.
• The main aim of this partnership is to revolutionise the efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and scalability of green hydrogen and to make it a strategic alternative fuel.
• The main focus will be on innovative projects that help in making a robust and green economy.
• This partnership was launched by Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman in Delhi on August 24, 2023.
• They will also work to encourage researchers, scientists, and students across IITs to develop new technology for solving key challenges in green hydrogen production, storage, transportation, and utilisation.
• IIT Bombay will invite project proposals under the Innovation in Green Hydrogen programme.
• The proposals will be evaluated by a steering committee comprising representatives from HSBC India, professors, and faculty members from multidisciplinary areas.
• This partnership will support the government’s National Green Hydrogen Mission.
• As per the National Green Hydrogen Mission, India is aiming to develop a green hydrogen production capacity of at least 5 MMT (million metric tons) per annum by 2030.

(Source: PIB)

Topic: Sports

8. HS Prannoy wins bronze medal at BWF World Championships in Copenhagen.

• Indian Shutler HS Prannoy won the bronze medal at the Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Championships.
• Kunlavut Vitidsarn defeated HS Prannoy in the semi-finals by 21-18, 13-21, 14-21.
• Prannoy had reached to semi-final by defeating World Number 2 and the defending champion Viktor Axelsen.
• This is India's 14th medal at the World Championships.
• China is the most successful team in the Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Championships.
• An Se-young defeated Carolina Marin to become the first women's singles world champion of South Korea.
• Kunlavut Vitidsarn won the tournament after defeating Naraoka Kodai of Thailand in the men’s single title.
• BWF World Championships was held from 21 August to 27 August 2023.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Art and Culture

9. Keralites celebrated "Thiruonam" on 29 August 2023.

• It is the 10th and the most auspicious day of Onam, the biggest cultural festival of the State.
• Onam is the harvest festival of Kerala. It symbolizes prosperity, secularism, and harmony.
• Keralites celebrate the festival welcoming the visit of mythical king Mahabali.
• Onam is associated with onasadya, pookkalam, onakodi, ujyallattam, pulikalli, vallamkalli and family together.

Topic: Important Days

10. National Sports Day: 29 August

• National Sports Day is celebrated every year on the 29th of August.
• It is celebrated on 29th August to commemorate the birth anniversary of hockey player Major Dhyan Chand.
• 29 August is the birth anniversary of Hockey player and three-time gold medal winner in the Olympics, Major Dhyan Chand.
• Major Dhyan Chand won gold medals in the Olympics in 1928, 1932 and 1936.
• The theme for National Sports Day 2023 is "Sports are an enabler to an inclusive and fit society".
• On National Sports Day 2019, the government launched the Fit India Movement.

Topic: Space and IT

11. ISRO will launch the 'Aditya L1' mission on 2^nd September.

• ISRO's Aditya L1 will be the first space-based Indian observatory to study the Sun.
• It will be launched from Sriharikota space station in Andhra Pradesh.
• ISRO will launch the PSLV-C57 for the Aditya L1 Mission.
• It will place the satellite in a halo orbit around the Lagrange point L1 of the Sun-Earth system which is about 1.5 million km from the Earth.
• It is expected to take around four months to reach the Lagrange point.
• A halo orbit around the L1 point has advantages as the satellite can observe solar activities without interference from other celestial events such as eclipses.
• The Aditya L1 mission will be launched by ISRO to study the solar winds and the Sun’s atmosphere.
• It will carry seven payloads to observe the photosphere, chromosphere, and corona (outermost layers of the Sun).

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: State News/Madhya Pradesh

12. Madhya Pradesh government increased the financial assistance to women in the Ladli Behna scheme from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,250 per month.

• Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan also announced 35% reservation for women in government jobs and providing gas cylinders for Rs 450.
• In MP, women make up 7.07 lakh of the 13.39 lakh new voters. Assembly elections may be held in MP at the end of the year.
• MP CM said from October, 1.25 crore women will get Rs 1,250 under Ladli Behna Yojana.
• The amount will gradually be increased to Rs 3,000 per month.
• The CM also announced increase in reservation for women in government jobs from current 30% to 35%. Reservation will be 50% in teachers’ recruitment.
• Rs 3,628.85 crore has been given as financial assistance to eligible women under the Ladli Behna Yojana that started on June 10, 2023.
• Under this scheme, women of the 23-60 age group get Rs 1,000 per month.
• This amount is given to women if they are not income tax payees and the annual income of their families is less than Rs 2.5 lakh annually.

Topic: MoUs/Agreements

13. Maharashtra Government signed MoU with a professional football league of Germany.

• The Maharashtra Government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Germany's professional association football league, 'Bundesliga’.
• The main aim of the MoU is to build a football team for players under the age of 14.
• The MoU has been signed between Ranjit Singh Deol, Principal Secretary, Department of School Education and Sports and Mrs Julia Farr, representative of the Bundesliga.
• This MoU will help young footballers to develop their skills and compete at a high level.
• The 'Bundesliga’ Football League of Germany is famous for its rich history and exciting football experience.
• It was founded in 1963 and is one of the leading football leagues in Europe.

Topic: Defence

14. 5^th edition of AUSINDEX was organized from 22-25 August in Sydney.

• Indian Navy and Royal Australian Navy (RAN) took part in the 5th edition of AUSINDEX in Sydney.
• INS Sahyadri and INS Kolkata from the Indian side participated in the exercise.
• HMAS Choules and HMAS Brisbane from the Royal Australian Navy took part in the exercise.
• Fighter aircraft and maritime patrol aircraft also participated in the exercise.
• AUSINDEX included a series of complex exercises in all three domains of maritime operations.
• The exercise's main aim was to reaffirm close linkages and interoperability between the Indian Navy and RAN.
• AUSINDEX is a bilateral exercise between India and Australia that commenced in 2015.