NATIONAL:
1. Ghost Beneficiaries
Why in news – The Union government has found that 70 lakh beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act are “suspect”.
Key Points –
• 4.74 crore ration cards have been deleted by states between 2013 and 2021.
• Highest deletion – UP (1.73 crores), WB (68.62 lakh), Maharashtra (42.66 lakh).
National Food Security Act, 2013 –
• It provides for the distribution of subsidized food grains to up to 75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban population.
• According to Census 2011, total of 81.35 crore people can be covered.
• Current coverage - 79.74 crores.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter
Why in news – South Korea launched its first lunar orbiter Nicknamed Danuri.
Key Points –
• Danuri means "enjoy the Moon".
• It was launched on a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral in Florida by SpaceX.
2. World's Largest Floating Solar Power Plant
Why in news – World's largest floating solar power plant to be built in Khandwa (MP, India).
Key Points –
• It will be built on Narmada's Omkareshwar Dam.
• Capacity - 600 MW power by 2022-23.
• Estimated project cost - over Rs 3000 crores.
• India’s largest floating Solar Power Project is now fully operational at Ramagundam, Telangana.
GOVERNMENT:
1. “Nashe se Azaadi”
Why in news – “Nashe se Azaadi” - National Youth and Students Interaction Program was organized on August 4, 2022.
Key Points –
• It was under Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan launched on August 15, 2020 in 272 districts of India.
• It was organized by the Department of Social Justice & Empowerment.
ECONOMY:
1. RBI Rate Hike
Why in news – RBI’s MPC decided to increase the repo rate by 50 basis points to 5.4%.
Key Points –
• It is RBI’s third hike in a row in 2022.
• The Reserve Bank kept the CPI forecast for FY23 unchanged at 6.7%.
• Impact –
A. Retail loans such as personal loans, auto loan and home loan will get costlier (high EMIs).
B. Bank depositors will get higher returns on their deposits.
• The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) fixes the repo rate to restrain inflation within the particular target level.
DEFENCE:
1. Laser-guided Anti-Tank Missiles
Why in news – India has successfully test-fired indigenously developed laser-guided anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs).
Key Points –
• It was test-fired from Main Battle Tank (MBT) Arjun.
• It was carried out at KK Ranges in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra.
• It employs High explosive anti-tank (HEAT) warhead.
APPS & PORTALS:
1. Common Registration Facility (CRF)
Why in news – The government launched the CRF for ration cards on a pilot basis for 11 States/UTs.
Key Points –
• 11 States/UTs - Assam, Goa, Lakshadweep, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Punjab, Tripura and Uttrakhand.
• Use - A person can apply for a ration card from anywhere in the country.
IMPORTANT DAYS:
1. Hiroshima Day
Why in news – Hiroshima Day is observed on August 6 to commemorate the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, Japan, in 1945.
Key Points –
• United States dropped an atomic bomb named “Little Boy” on August 6, 1945.
• USA developed the atomic bomb technology under the Manhattan Project, led by Robert Oppenheimer.
AGREEMENTS:
1. NHA and QCI
Why in news - NHA has partnered with QCI for 6 months to accredit and rate the Health Management Information System (HMIS).
Key Points –
• HMIS and Laboratory Information Management System (LMIS) solutions have been integrated with the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM).
• The National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH) is responsible for national accreditation in the domain of healthcare.
2. IISc Bengaluru and Indian Navy
Why in news - IISc Bengaluru and the Indian Navy have signed an MoU to cooperate on aviation research and development.
APPOINTMENTS:
1. Rajiv Gauba
Why in news - The Centre extended the service of Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba for a period of one year.
SPORTS:
1. World Athletics U20 Championships 2022
Why in news - Rupal Chaudhary became the 1st Indian player to win two medals in the history of World Under-20 Athletics.
Key Points –
• She has won bronze in women’s 400m race and silver medal in 4*400m relay.
• Rupal is the 2nd Indian player to win a medal in the women’s 400m race. [1st - Hima Das (gold) in the 2018 edition].
• Neeraj Chopra was the first Indian to win gold in the World Under-20 Athletics.
BIHAR:
1. Bihar Cabinet Meeting
Why in news - The meeting was held on August 6, 2022 in which 23 agenda were approved.
Key Points –
Important decisions –
• 11 new registration offices to be opened.
• Creation of additional new 405 posts of police officers and personnel in the Economic Offenses Unit.
• Diesel subsidy increased from Rs 60 to Rs 75 per litre.
• Reinstated Dr. Ravindra Prasad, the then Medical Officer of Atri Primary Health Center.
2. JDU in Manipur
Why in news - JDU has got the status of a recognized party of the state in Manipur.
Key Points –
• JDU already got the status of a recognized party in Bihar and Arunachal Pradesh.
• In Manipur, JD(U) won 6 seats in the 2022 assembly elections and 10.69% of total votes.
• A party gets National party status if it is granted State Party status in four or more States.
3. Pilgrimage Sites as Municipal Corporation
Why in news - Pilgrimage sites, tourist places and Mandi towns to be developed as municipal bodies.
Key Points –
POINTERS:
• Which organization has launched the “Good for You, Good for the Planet” campaign to guide people towards eating a planet-friendly diet - The World Wide Fund (WWF)
• Who became India's first woman permanent representative at UN - Ruchira Kamboj
• Who has authored the book “Do Different: The Untold Dhoni” - Joy Bhattacharya and Amit Sinha
• The government has announced the establishment of the country's first Indian Institute of Heritage in which city – Noida
• Who became the first Indian athlete to win a gold medal in para-powerlifting at the Commonwealth Games – Sudhir
• Centre approved highest ever Fair and Remunerative Price for Sugarcane farmers at - Rs 305 per quintal
• Recently, which famous film and theatre actor passed away on 4th August - Mithilesh Chaturvedi
• Under “Har Ghar Tiranga” campaign, the government has set a target to hoist the tricolour on how many crore houses - 25 crores
• Recently, which fintech platform has announced the launch of smart speaker for reliable and convenient payment tracking at the store – PhonePe
• Recently, which player defeated James Willstrop of England in Birmingham 2022 to give India the first singles squash medal of the Commonwealth Games - Saurav Ghosal