Daily Current Affairs August 23 2023 | Latest News | Download PDF

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CURRENT AFFAIRS: BANKING & FINANCE

India’s banking system liquidity slips into deficit first time in FY24

• India’s banking system liquidity has slipped into deficit for the first time this financial year after the Reserve Bank of India’s temporary liquidity withdrawal move and tax outflows.
• Banking system liquidity stood at a deficit or 236 billion rupees ($2.84 billion) as of Aug. 21, according to RBI data.
• Surplus had hit a high of 2.8 trillion rupees at the start of this month(August 2023) but has since been dropping, especially after the RBI told banks to hold an incremental cash reserve ratio (CRR) of 10% on an increase in deposits between May 19 and July 28, which has led to the withdrawal of over one trillion rupees.

LIC acquires 6.66% shareholding in Jio Financial Services through demerger action

• Life Insurance Corporation announced that it has acquired 6.660 per cent shareholding in Jio Financial Services, the demerged financial entity of Reliance Industries that made its stock debut.
• The insurer stated that the cost of the acquisition done through the demerger of the non-banking financial entity is 4.68 percent of the pre-demerged cost of Reliance Industries as per the notice of the company dated July 19.
• Meanwhile, the shares of Jio Financial Services (JFS) hit the lower circuit in its maiden trading session after its listing.
• The stock was listed at Rs 265 per share, a marginal premium of over 1 per cent over its derived price of Rs 261.85 on July 20, the date of the company’s demerger.
• The total market capitalisation of JFS was corrected to less than Rs 1.6 lakh crore from over Rs 1.68 lakh crore when the trading kicked-off.

About JFS:

• Jio Financial Services is a financial services company with investments in six companies: Reliance Industrial Investments and Holdings (RIIHL), Reliance Payment Solutions, Reliance Retail Finance, Jio Payments Bank, Jio Information Aggregator Services, and Reliance Retail Insurance Broking Ltd.
• Founded: 2017
• Founder: Mukesh Ambani

About LIC:

• Established: 1st September 1956
• MD: Siddhartha Mohanty
• Headquarters: Mumbai, India

CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL NEWS

Madhya Pradesh’s Datia Airport Gets Green Light: CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia Lay Foundation Stone

• Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and Union Minister of Civil Aviation and Steel, Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, joined hands to lay the foundation stone for Datia Airport in the state.
• In conclusion, the foundation laying ceremony for Datia Airport signifies a substantial step towards bolstering regional connectivity and advancing Madhya Pradesh’s development journey, underlining the government’s commitment to enhancing transportation and infrastructure.
• Cost and Timeline: This upcoming airport comes with a price tag of approximately Rs. 50 crore and is projected to be operational by February 2024.
• Facility Enhancements: The development work encompasses multiple aspects, including refurbishing the existing 1810-meter runway, constructing an apron capable of accommodating two nineteen-seater aircraft, erecting a 750-square-meter terminal building, and setting up an ATC tower.
• Passenger Capacity: The new terminal building is designed to cater to up to 100 passengers during peak hours, enhancing passenger convenience.
• Long-standing Demand: The transformation of Datia airstrip into a full-fledged airport has been a longstanding aspiration that is finally becoming a reality.
• Regional Connectivity Boost: Aligned with the Regional Connectivity Scheme, UDAN, Datia Airport’s operationalization will significantly improve regional connectivity, delivering essential amenities and services to the local populace.
• Growth Impact: The airport’s establishment is anticipated to contribute to the holistic growth of the region, fostering economic and infrastructural advancement.

Recent news

• Madhya Pradesh (MP) capital Bhopal has become the first city in India to accept the localization of the United Nations (UN)-mandated Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
• Madhya Pradesh (MP) Chief Minister (CM), Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, has launched a CM Farm Loan Interest Waiver Scheme namely Mukhyamantri Krishak Byaaj Maafi Yojana-2023 (Chief Minister Farmer Loan Waiver Scheme).
• The Government of Madhya Pradesh (MP) has unveiled the new scheme named Mukhyamantri Seekho-Kamao Yojana (CM Learn and Earn Scheme) for unemployed youth.

About MP :

• Governor : Mangubhai C. Patel
• Chief Minister : Shivraj Singh Chouhan
• Capital : Bhopal
• National Park : Satpura National Park, Kanha National Park, Bandhavgarh National Park
• Wildlife Sanctuary : Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary, Bori Wildlife Sanctuary

Shri Giriraj Singh Inaugurates Workshop on Localization of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Panchayats:

• Shri Giriraj Singh, Union Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, inaugurated the ‘Three-day National Thematic Workshop on Localization of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Panchayats’ in Srinagar.
• The event was graced by the presence of Lt. Governor of Jammu & Kashmir, Shri Manoj Sinha, and Union Minister of State for Panchayati Raj, Shri Kapil Moreshwar Patil.
• Key Focus: In his address, the Minister highlighte d that India’s commitment to achieving SDGs by 2030 is a collective responsibility, not just of policymakers but also of elected representatives, particularly at the Panchayat level.
• Panchayat’s Role: Emphasizing the pivotal role of Panchayats, Shri Giriraj Singh emphasized that the accomplishment of the 17 SDGs and 169 associated targets hinges on the active contribution and participation of Panchayats across the nation.
• Mobile App Release: During the workshop, the Minister unveiled the ‘Meri Panchayat Mobile App,’ developed by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj. Additionally, the Operating Guidelines of NCBF (National Community Based Forest Management and Livelihoods), Service-level Benchmarks, Self-Assessment mechanisms, and a Model Contract were also released.
• Workshop Objective: The primary objective of the workshop is to showcase effective strategies, innovative models, convergent approaches, and best practices related to capacity building, training, monitoring frameworks, incentivization, and integrating SDG themes into Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDP).

Recent News

• Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Giriraj Singh inaugurated a two-day conference in New Delhi inviting the sharpest minds on rural development to brainstorm and create a roadmap for Rural India during the Amrit Kaal.

5th Edition of the ‘NeSDA – Way Forward Monthly Report for States/UTs’ released

• Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances (DARPG) has released the fifth edition of ‘National e-Governance Service Delivery Assessment (NeSDA) – Way Forward Monthly Report for States/UTs’, which provides a detailed overview of the status of e-service delivery across States/UTs.
• The July monthly report presents the status of e-services, mandatory e-services (as per NeSDA 2021) and highlights the best practices, across States/UTs.
• It also underlines the saturation level of e-services provided through the State’s/UT’s single unified service delivery portal.
• The Report for July, 2023 has been released and is available at: https://darpg.gov.in/sites/default/files/NeSDA_July.pdf

e-Services

• 13,867 e-services are provided across States/UTs, which is an increase of 6.3% (816) services from June Report
• 1,397 out of 2,016 mandatory e-services (56*36 States/UTs) are available, making saturation at 69%
• Maximum number of e-services (5,203) lie in sector – Local Governance & Utility Services
• 58% i.e., 21 out 36 States/UTs have achieved saturation of mandatory e-services in Tourism sector. This is followed by Environment sector 47% i.e., 17 out of 36 States/UTs

Best Practices

• The Government of Gujarat has developed G-Shala (Gujarat Students’ Holistic Adaptive Learning App) which is a Learning Management System (LMS) with e-Content for Grade I-XII
• The Government of Madhya Pradesh is the first State in the country to have used an online and centralized system for allotment of 100% seats through their Right to Education (RTE) portal
• The Government of Nagaland has established a Common Scholarship portal, serving as a centralized platform for all State Scholarships
• The Government of Himachal Pradesh has initiated online admission-related processes for Polytechnic as well as ITI candidates through their Himachal Pradesh Takniki Shiksha (HPTech) Board portal
• The Government of Karnataka has digitized the whole examination process in the state through their Karnataka School Examination and Assessment Board portal

TRAI Recommends Changes to DTH Services License Fees and Policy Matters:

• The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has issued recommendations concerning License fees and Policy Matters for Direct-to-Home (DTH) Services.
• These recommendations by TRAI aim to bring about changes in the License Fee structure for DTH services, fostering an environment that encourages growth and development within the sector while aligning with the nation’s broader digital broadcasting goals.
• Deduction Verification Mechanism: TRAI suggests that the Information and Broadcasting Ministry develop a robust mechanism for verifying deductions through a unified portal.
• Annual License Fee: DTH Licensees are advised to pay an annual license fee equivalent to 3 percent of their Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) .
• Gradual License Fee Reduction: TRAI recommends a phased reduction in License Fee for DTH Licensees. The License Fee should be gradually lowered to zero over the next three years.
• Fee Exemption Beyond 2026-2027: Following the financial year 2026-2027, TRAI proposes that DTH Licensees should not be subject to any License Fee.
• Bank Guarantee Requirement: At the initiation, Licensees should provide an initial Bank Guarantee from any Scheduled Bank to the Ministry. This guarantee should amount to five crore rupees for the first two quarters.
• DTH Operation Framework: The provision of DTH broadcasting services in India is regulated by policy guidelines that outline the procedure for obtaining a license. License Fee, a non-tax fee, is imposed on service providers for the privilege of conducting licensed activities.

Recent news

• Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) issued Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Repealing Regulations, 2023 (02 of 2023) dated July 25, 2023, to repeal the Regulation on quality of service of dial-up and leased line internet access service, 2001 (4 of 2001) with effect from the date of its notification in Official Gazette.

About TRAI

• Founded: 20 February 1997
• Headquarters: New Delhi

CURRENT AFFAIRS: INTERNATIONAL

India participates in the 20th ASEAN-India Economic Ministers’ Meeting in Semarang, Indonesia

• Shri Rajesh Agrawal, Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry represented India in the 20^thASEAN-India Economic Ministers’ meeting held on 21^st August 2023 in Semarang, Indonesia and co-chaired the meeting with Dr. Zulkifli Hasan, Minister of Trade, Indonesia.
• The Economic Ministers or their representatives from all the 10 ASEAN countries viz. Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam participated in the meeting. Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste also joined the Meeting as an observer.
• The Ministers reviewed the bilateral trade and investment relations between India and ASEAN and underscored their commitment to strengthen and enhance the economic partnership between India and ASEAN to ensure that the ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership delivers meaningful benefits for both sides, particularly in the post-pandemic era.
• India and ASEAN registered a bilateral trade of USD 131.5 billion in 2022-23.
• The trade with ASEAN accounted for 11.3% of India’s global trade in 2022-23.
• The Ministers also interacted with the ASEAN-India Business Council (AIBC) and took note of the activities undertaken by AIBC in 2023, including the 5^thASEAN-India Business Summit held on 6^th March 2023 in Kuala Lumpur.
• The Ministers exchanged views on the regional and global challenges, such as the multidimensional impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, heightened volatility in the global financial market, inflationary pressures, and geopolitical tensions.
• The main agenda of this year’s meeting was the timely review of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) which was signed in 2009.
• The Economic Ministers’ meeting was preceded by AITIGA Joint Committee meeting, which deliberated the roadmap for the review and finalised the Term of Reference and the Work Plan of the AITIGA Review Negotiations.

US’s FDA approved the first respiratory syncytial virus vaccine for use in women during pregnancy to protect babyFDA

• The United States of America’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine for use in women during pregnancy to protect the baby.
• This vaccine has been developed by Pfizer and the approval allows the vaccine to be given to women 32 to 36 weeks into pregnancy for prevention of lower respiratory tract infection and severe disease in infants until they are six months old.
• The vaccine developer has stated that maternal vaccination could prevent a large number of hospitalizations due to RSV.
• The syncytial virus is known to be a common cause of illness in children, while infants are those at the highest risk for severe disease.

About USA:

• Capital: Washington, D.C
• Currency: Dollar
• President: Joe Biden

About Pfizer:

• Pfizer Inc.is an American multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology corporation headquartered at The Spiral in Manhattan, New York City.
• The company was established in 1849 in New York by two German entrepreneurs, Charles Pfizer(1824–1906) and his cousin Charles F. Erhart (1821–1891).

Pakistan President Arif Alvi denies signing Official Secrets Amendment Bill 2023 & Pakistan Army Amendment Bill 2023

• Pakistan President Arif Alvi denied signing the Official Secrets Amendment Bill 2023 and Pakistan Army Amendment Bill 2023 into law due to his strong disagreement with the legislation.
• President Alvi accused his staff of undermining his will and command.
• Taking to social media platforms, Pakistan’s President announced, he directed his staff to return the bills unsigned within a stipulated time to render them ineffective as he disagreed with the laws.
• However, his staff allegedly undermined his will and command.
• According to the media reports, the Senate and National Assembly approved the bills followed by the President.
• The Pak president’s statement follows the recent arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi, linked to an Official Secrets Act case against the former Foreign Minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan.
• The Pakistan Army Act is an act where the serving officer is discharged from the services through a court martial and a dishonourable exit if found guilty through the institution’s internal inquiry, trial, and punishment system.
• The Official Secrets Act is applicable in the case of someone intentionally causing public disturbance or going against the government and its sections are applicable for sedition, spying, and espionage, the punishment for which also includes capital punishment.

About Pakistan:

• Capital: Islamabad
• Currency: Rupee
• President: Arif Alvi

Saudi Arabia Launches AI-Powered Program to Combat Desertification

• The Saudi Environment Ministry has launched a program to combat desertification using artificial intelligence (AI).
• The program, which is a collaboration between the ministry, the National Center for Vegetation Development and Combating Desertification, and the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, aims to study the status of vegetative cover in the Kingdom and contribute to the goals of afforestation projects and the “Green Saudi” initiative.
• Desertification is a major challenge facing Saudi Arabia, an arid country that is already experiencing the effects of climate change.
• The program will use AI to analyze satellite imagery and other data to identify areas that are most vulnerable to desertification.
• Remote sensing technologies will be used to monitor vegetation cover, Rainfall, plant health and track its changes over time
• In addition to the AI-powered program, Saudi Arabia is also implementing a number of other initiatives to combat desertification.
• These include the “Green Saudi” initiative, which aims to plant 10 billion trees across the country, and the “National Center for Vegetation Development and Combating Desertification“, which is working to develop drought-resistant plants and improve water management practices.
• The forthcoming Saudi Green Initiative (SGI) Forum, to be held in Riyadh on 23-24 October, is set to be a milestone in the historic effort to transform the oil-based economy of Saudi Arabia into a cleaner and more sustainable one.
• In addition to planting 10 billion trees (covering 30 percent of total land area), the SGI aims to create vast protected zones, conserve marine life around the coasts and encourage alternative forms of agriculture.
• One key aspect of this sea change will be the contribution of technology to the greening of Saudi Arabia.

About Saudi Arabia:

• Capital: Riyadh
• Currency: Riyal
• King: Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BUSINESS NEWS

EPFO adds 17.89 lakh net members in June 2023

• The Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) recorded an impressive growth of 17 lakh and 89 thousand net members in June 2023.
• This data reflects a considerable increase in member enrollment.
• Consistent Uptrend: The payroll data, when compared month to month, illustrates a continuous upward trend in member enrollment. Notably, there was an addition of 9.71 percent net members compared to the previous month of May 2023.
• Remarkable Remittance: The overall remittance data also underscores notable growth, marking the highest figures witnessed in the last 11 months, dating back to August 2022.
• Social Security Extension: The data further highlights that during the reported month, 3,491 establishments embraced the extension of social security coverage provided by EPFO to their employees. This was achieved by remitting their initial electronic returns.

Recent News

• The Union government approved the interest rate of 8.15% recommended by the Central Board of Trustees of the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) for its over 6 crore subscribers for the financial year 2022-23.

About EPFO :

• Established : 4 March 1952
• Headquarters : New Delhi, Delhi, India
• Central Provident Fund Commissioner (CPFC) & CEO : Neelam Shami Rao
• The EPFO is one of the two main social security organisations under the Government of India’s Ministry of Labour and Employment and is responsible for regulation and management of provident funds in India, the other being Employees’ State Insurance.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: APPOINTMENTS

Axis Bank’s Neelkanth Mishra named part-time chairperson of UIDAI

• Neelkanth Mishra has reportedly been appointed by the Union government as the part-time chairperson of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), the nodal body in charge of issuing Aadhaar numbers.
• He is the Chief Economist at Axis Bank and Head of Global Research at Axis Capital.
• Meanwhile, As per Bloombergreport, Nilesh Shah, Managing Director at Kotak Mahindra Asset Management Company Limited, and Prof Mausam, Associate Professor in the Computer Science Department at IIT Delhi, have been named as part-time UIDAI members.
• The three appointments are for a period of three years or up to the age of 65 years old, whichever is earlier.
• Mishra, who has been named as the part-time chairperson, assumed the position of Chief Economist and Head of Global Research at Axis Bank in May 2023 after spending over two decades at Credit Suisse, where he served as Co-head of APAC Strategy, India Equity Strategy, and as India Head of Research.

About Mishra:

• He graduated from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur.
• He has been an advisor to many government committees, and also been a member of the economic advisory council to the 15th finance commission.
• Moreover, as per the report, he has also been a strong advocate of the government’s production-linked incentive (PLI) schemes.

About UIDAI:

• The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) is a statutory authority established under the provisions of the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016 (Aadhaar Act 2016) on July 12, 2016, by the Government of India, under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
• The Aadhaar Act 2016 has been amended by the Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Act, 2019 (14 of 2019) with effect from July 25, 2019.

About Axis Bank:

• Former name: UTI Bank
• Established: 1993
• Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra
• Tagline: Badhti ka Naam Zindagi
• MD & CEO: Amitabh Chaudhry

SBI chief Dinesh Khara likely to get 10-month extension

• SBI chairman Dinesh Khara is likely to get an extension until August 2024, giving him almost another year at the helm as his current tenure is to end in October.
• Under existing norms, SBI chairman is given a term up to 63 years but Khara reaches that age next August.
• There are other public sector bank chiefs who were not given additional time in office despite being several months away from reaching the age of superannuation.
• Ashwini Kumar Tewari, whose term as MD is due to end in January, 2024, is also in line to get another two years on the job.

About SBI:

• Founded: July 1, 1955
• Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra

CURRENT AFFAIRS: MOUS AND AGREEMENT

NHPC and RITES Collaborate for Railway Siding at Dibang Multi-Purpose Project:

• NHPC Limited, India’s leading hydropower company, has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with RITES, a Miniratna Schedule ‘A’ Central Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Railways.
• The MoU focuses on the construction of a railway siding at Pasighat, Arunachal Pradesh, to support NHPC’s 2,880 MW Dibang Multi Purpose Project.
• This collaborative effort not only enhances the infrastructure of the Dibang Multi Purpose Project but also showcases the effectiveness of partnerships between public sector enterprises in realizing ambitious projects for the nation’s growth and development.
• Shared Expertise: This partnership capitalizes on the strengths of both organizations. RITES, as a proficient Project Management Con sultant, will provide comprehensive solutions for developing rail infrastructure facilities not only for NHPC’s Dibang Project but also for upcoming projects in Arunachal Pradesh.
• MoU Signing: The MoU was signed at NHPC Corporate Office in Faridabad.The signing involved the participation of key stakeholders, including the General Manager (Civil) Dibang, the Executive Director of RITES, the Director (Projects) of NHPC Shri Biswajit Basu, and the Executive Director (Dibang) of NHPC.
• NHPC’s Profile: NHPC Limited stands as India’s premier Hydropower Company, with a total installed capacity of 7,097.2 MW in renewable power, which includes Wind and Solar sources. This capacity is distributed across 25 power stations, including 1,520 MW generated through subsidiaries.
• RITES Limited: RITES Limited, categorized as a Miniratna (Category–I) Schedule ‘A’ Public Sector Enterprise, holds a significant position in the transport consultancy and engineering sector in India. It boasts diverse services spanning various sectors and has a wide geographical reach.

About NHPC Limited :

• Founded : 1975
• Headquarters : Faridabad, Haryana, India
• Chairman & Managing Director : Rajeev Kumar Vishnoi
• NHPC Limited (erstwhile National Hydroelectric Power Corporation ) is an Indian government hydropower board under the ownership of the Ministry of Power, Government of India (GoI).

Recent news

• A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between NHPC Limited and Department of Energy, Government of Maharashtra for the development of Pumped Storage schemes and other Renewable Energy Source projects in the state of Maharashtra.
• NHPC Limited, the largest hydropower development organization in India, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with GRIDCO Odisha, Government of Odisha, for “Development of Pumped Storage Projects (PSPs) and Renewable Energy in the State of Odisha”.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: DEFENCE

Defence Correspondents Course – 2023 Commences at ENC, Visakhapatnam

• The 2023 edition of Defence Correspondents Course (DCC), a three week course conducted by the Ministry of Defence for select journalists from National and Regional Media organisations, commenced at Eastern Naval Command (ENC), Visakhapatnam on 21 August 2023.
• Vice Admiral Sameer Saxena AVSM, NM Chief of Staff, ENC delivered the inaugural address and Shri A Bharat Bhushan Babu, Spokesperson (MoD) and Additional Director General (Media & Communication) gave an insight into Defence Journalism of the course at the Maritime Warfare Center.
• The aim of DCC is to bring media and military closer and enable a pool of journalists at all levels to have better appreciation of the Armed Forces and are cognizant of the domain when reporting on stories relating to the maritime environment.

ISRO said the Chandrayaan-3 is set to land on the moon on the 27th of August instead of 23^rd of August

• ISRO Chairman Dr S. Somnath met Atomic Energy and Space Minister Dr Jitendra Singh and apprised him about the status and readiness of Chandrayaan-3 for the moon landing.
• Dr Somnath said that all systems of Chandrayaan-3 are working perfectly and no contingencies are anticipated during landing.
• He stated, in the next two days, the health of Chandrayaan-3 will be continuously monitored.
• Dr Jitendra Singh expressed his confidence in Chandrayaan-3 making a soft landing this time and hoped that it will script a new history of planetary exploration.
• India will be the fourth country in the world to achieve this feat after the United States, Russia, and China, but India will be the only country in the world to land on the lunar South Pole.
• Chandrayaan-3 Mission was launched on the 14th of July month via the GSLV Mark 3 (LVM 3) heavy-lift launch vehicle from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh’s Sriharikota.

About ISRO:

• Formed: 15 Aug 1969
• Headquarters: Bangalore, Karnataka

CURRENT AFFAIRS: ENVIRONMENT

Tropical storm to hit Los Angeles in more than 80 years unleashed floods across parts of Southern California

• The first tropical storm to hit Los Angeles in more than 80 years unleashed floods across parts of Southern California.
• According to the National Hurricane Centre tropical storm Hilary has been downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone but the ongoing and historic amount of rainfall could still lead to life-threatening and catastrophic flooding.
• Schools have been closed and evacuation orders for several communities have been issued as strong winds are expected to persist across portions of the western US.
• Storm Hilary is located about 390 miles north of San Diego, in central Nevada, racing to the north at 29 miles per hour.

About California:

• A state on the west coast of the United States
• Director General: Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus

CURRENT AFFAIRS: SPORTS NEWS

India Junior Men’s Hockey Team Triumphs Over England in Four-Nation Tournament:

• The India Junior Men’s Hockey team secured a resounding victory over England, emerging triumphant with a scoreline of 4-0 in the four-nation Tournament held in Dusseldorf, Germany.
• Goal Scorers: The goals for India were scored by Rajinder Singh, Amir Ali, Amandeep Lakra, and Araijeet Singh Hundal, with each contributing one goal to the tally.
• Campaign Start: India commenced their tournament campaign with an impressive 6-2 win against Spain, setting a strong tone for their participation.
• Mixed Results: While their first match was victorious, India faced a setback in their encounter against the host nation, Germany, where they lost with a scoreline of 2-3.
• Table Toppers: The win against England positioned India at the top of the league stage, reaffirming their prowess in the tournament.
• Upcoming Final: As a result of their impressive performance throughout the league stage, India secured a spot in the finals where they are set to face Germany, marking a much-anticipated culmination to the tournament.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: IMPORTANT DAYS

International Day for The Remembrance Of Slave Trade And Abolition 2023

• International Day for the Remembrance of Slave Trade and Abolition is celebrated on 23 August every year.
• This day is designated by UNESCO to memorialize the transatlantic slave trade.
• International Day for the Remembrance of Slave Trade and Abolition 2023 involved trading ships from Europe, sailing from Europe with manufactured goods to the West coast of Africa, where the goods would be exchanged for people captured by African traders.
• The transatlantic trading patterns were established in the mid-17century. The transatlantic slave trade benefited the colonial powers of Western Europe primarily.
• More than 4,80,000 people were enslaved in the British Colonies by the 1790s. Enslaved people were forced to toil on plantations in the Caribbean and the Americas.
• International Day for the Remembrance of Slave Trade and Abolition is observed to commemorate the uprising on August 23, 1791, in Santo Domingo, Haiti, which played a crucial role in the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade.

About UNESCO:

• Established : 16 November 1945
• Headquarters : Paris, France
• Director General : Audrey Azoulay
• Parent Organisation : United Nations Economic and Social Council
• UNESCO is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture.

Daily CA One- Liner: August 23

• India’s banking system liquidity has slipped into deficit for the first time this financial year after the Reserve Bank of India’s temporary liquidity withdrawal move and tax outflows
• Neelkanth Mishra has reportedly been appointed by the Union government as the part-time chairperson of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), the nodal body in charge of issuing Aadhaar numbers
• SBI chairman Dinesh Khara is likely to get an extension until August 2024, giving him almost another year at the helm as his current tenure is to end in October.
• Life Insurance Corporation announced that it has acquired 660 per cent shareholding in Jio Financial Services, the demerged financial entity of Reliance Industries that made its stock debut
• Shri Rajesh Agrawal, Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry represented India in the 20^thASEAN-India Economic Ministers’ meeting held on 21^st August 2023 in Semarang, Indonesia and co-chaired the meeting with Dr. Zulkifli Hasan, Minister of Trade, Indonesia
• The United States of America’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine for use in women during pregnancy to protect the baby.
• Pakistan President Arif Alvi denied signing the Official Secrets Amendment Bill 2023 and Pakistan Army Amendment Bill 2023 into law due to his strong disagreement with the legislation.
• The Saudi Environment Ministry has launched a program to combat desertification using artificial intelligence (AI).
• The 2023 edition of Defence Correspondents Course (DCC), a three week course conducted by the Ministry of Defence for select journalists from National and Regional Media organisations, commenced at Eastern Naval Command (ENC), Visakhapatnam on 21 August 2023.
• Chairman ISRO Dr S. Somnath met Atomic Energy and Space Minister Dr Jitendra Singh and apprised him about the status and readiness of Chandrayaan-3 for the moon landing.
• The first tropical storm to hit Los Angeles in more than 80 years unleashed floods across parts of Southern California.
• Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and Union Minister of Civil Aviation and Steel, Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, joined hands to lay the foundation stone for Datia Airport in the state.
• Shri Giriraj Singh, Union Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, inaugurated the ‘Three-day National Thematic Workshop on Localization of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Panchayats’ in
• Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances (DARPG) has released the fifth edition of ‘National e-Governance Service Delivery Assessment (NeSDA) – Way Forward Monthly Report for States/UTs’, which provides a detailed overview of status of e-service delivery across States/UTs.
• The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has issued recommendations concerning License fees and Policy Matters for Direct-to-Home (DTH) Services.
• The Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) recorded an impressive growth of 17 lakh and 89 thousand net members in June 2023.
• NHPC Limited, India’s leading hydropower company, has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with RITES, a Miniratna Schedule ‘A’ Central Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Railways.
• The India Junior Men’s Hockey team secured a resounding victory over England, emerging triumphant with a scoreline of 4-0 in the four-nation Tournament held in Dusseldorf, Germany.
• International Day for the Remembrance of Slave Trade and Abolition is celebrated on 23 August every year.