NATIONAL:
1. India Likely to Ban Chinese Mobiles
Why in news – India seeks to restrict Chinese smartphone makers from selling devices cheaper than Rs 12,000 ($150).
Key Points –
• Aim - To kickstart its faltering domestic industry.
• Smartphones under Rs 12000 contributed to a third of India’s sales volume for the quarter through June 2022, with Chinese companies accounting for up to 80%.
2. Himalayan Spice Garden
Why in news – The first of its kind, a Himalayan spice garden was inaugurated at Soni in Ranikhet (UK).
Key Points –
• It was inaugurated by historian Shekhar Pathak.
• It presently houses more than 30 different spices. e.g., Kashmiri Kesar, Tejpat, Timoor and Wild Heeng.
• It has been established with funding from the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
INTERNATIONAL:
1. Taiwan’s “Porcupine Strategy”
Why in news – Taiwan has deployed “Porcupine strategy” to fight back in case China attempts to occupy it by force.
Key Points –
About Porcupine Strategy –
• It was proposed in 2008 by US professor William S Murray.
• It is a strategy of asymmetric warfare focused on fortifying a weak state’s defences to exploit the enemy’s weaknesses.
• It was adopted by Taiwan in 2017.
• It has 3 layers of defences.
2. New START Treaty
Why in news – Russia suspends arms inspection under new START treaty over western sanctions.
Key Points –
About the New START Treaty –
• It is the last remaining arms reduction pact between USA and Russia.
• It caps the number of nuclear warheads to 1,550 that can be deployed by Moscow and Washington.
• In 2021, the US and Russia extended New START by the maximum allowed time of 5 years.
SCIENCE – TECH:
1. Synthetic Mouse Embryo
Why in news – An Israeli lab has claimed to have grown a synthetic mouse embryo through stem cells.
Key Points –
• It is world's first synthetic embryo outside the womb bypassing need for sperm, eggs and fertilisation.
AWARDS & HONOURS:
1. dPal rNgam Duston Award
Why in news – Dalai Lama was honoured with the 6th dPal rNgam Duston award for his immense contribution to humanity.
Key Points –
• It is the highest civilian honour of Ladakh.
• It was conferred by Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Leh.
2. Miss India USA 2022
Why in news – Indian American Aarya Walvekar has been crowned Miss India USA 2022.
Key Points –
• Runner up - Saumya Sharma (1st) and Sanjana Chekuru (2nd).
• Akshi Jain won the title of Mrs India USA; Tanvi Grover was crowned Miss Teen India USA.
• Venue - Annual beauty pageant held in New Jersey.
IMPORTANT DATES:
1. International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples 2022
Why in news – It is celebrated across the world on August 9.
Key Points –
• Theme - The Role of Indigenous Women in the Preservation and Transmission of Traditional Knowledge.
• On December 23, 1994, the UNGA declared August 9 as the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People.
2. National Javelin Throw Day
Why in news – The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) celebrated the 2nd Javelin Throw Day on August 7, 2022.
Key Points –
• It was first observed in 2021.
• Reason - To honour of Javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra who won India’s 1st Olympic gold medal (87.58m throw) in athletics at Tokyo.
APPOINTMENTS:
1. Viswanathan Anand
Why in news – Viswanathan Anand was elected deputy president of the International Chess Federation or World Chess Federation (FIDE).
Key points –
• President Arkady Dvorkovich was re-elected for a second term.
OBITUARY:
1. David McCullough
Why in news – Pulitzer Prize-winning author David McCullough dies at 89.
SPORTS:
1. Under-20 SAFF Football Championship 2022
Why in news – India beat Bangladesh 5-2 but in extra time to clinch the 2022 title.
Key Points –
• Venue - Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar (Odisha).
• It was 4th edition of the SAFF U-20 Championship.
• Indian captain - Sibajit Singh Leimapokpam.
2. Commonwealth Games 2022
Why in news – The 22nd Commonwealth Games 2022 (Birmingham, UK) was concluded on August 08, 2022.
Key Points –
• Top 3 - Australia 178 (67 Gold), England 176 (57 Gold), Canada 92 (26 Gold).
• India finished 4th on the podium with 61 medals, (22 G, 16 S, and 23 B).
• It was India's 4th best performance at the CWG in terms of gold medals won tied with the 2006 Manchester Games.
• In terms of overall medals won, Birmingham 2022 is 5th best showing after New Delhi (101).
• India’s best-ever CWG – New Delhi 2010 when India won 101 medals, including 38 Gold.
3. 75th Grandmaster
Why in news – V Pranav became India’s 75th Grandmaster by winning Limpedea Open in Baia Mare, Romania.
Key Points –
• Pranav is the 27th Grandmaster from Tamil Nadu.
• He secured his 3rd and final GM norm and attained the Grandmaster title.
STATES/UTs:
1. Sanskrit-Speaking Villages
Why in news – Uttarakhand has decided to develop one Sanskrit-speaking village in each district in the state.
Key Points –
• Sanskrit is the second official language of Uttarakhand.
• Uttarakhand is the first state to launch an initiative on this scale to promote Sanskrit.
• Mattur (Shivamogga, Karnataka) – The only Sanskrit-speaking village in India.
2. Panchamrut Yojana
Why in news – Under Panchamrut Yojana, Uttar Pradesh plans to achieve the goal of doubling farmers’ income.
Key Points –
• Methods - Introduction of cost-effective technical measures and promotion of co-cropping method.
• UP has increased the sugarcane support price by Rs 350.
BIHAR:
1. Rakhi in Indian Book of Records
Why in news – 480 girl students of Notredam Academy, Patna have made their name in Indian Book of Records.
Key Points –
• They made 808 feet long and 60 feet wide Rakhi.
• It took three hours to make a complete Rakhi.
• Theme - National unity, universal fraternity, communal harmony and brotherhood.
• Earlier in 2019, 666 feet long Rakhi was made at NTR Bhawan Banjara Hill Hyderabad.
2. Internet Penetration Among Women
Why in news – As per NFHS-5, the number of women using internet in Bihar is very low.
Key Points –
• Only 20.6% of women use internet. (Urban -38.4%, Rural – 17%).
• 35.4% of men use internet. (Urban -58.4%, Rural –39.4%).
• As per Telecom Regulatory Authority of India –
A. 53.72% of people use mobile phones in Bihar.
B. 3 crores 93 lakh (43%) use internet in Bihar.
3. After Rice, Now Pulses’ Crisis
Why in news – The condition of production of pulses’ crops in the state is not satisfactory.
Key Points –
• Sowing of pulses is only 70% against the target.
• Target – 1,23,852 hectares in Kharif 2022. So far, about 81,542 hectares of area has been covered.
• Maximum pulses sown - Samastipur (7942 ha), Saran (6300 ha), Nawada (5594 ha), Bhagalpur (6460 ha), Gopalganj (4540 ha) and Siwan (5130 ha).
POINTERS:
• ASEAN has banned which country’s general from attending meetings until the progress of the peace plan – Myanmar
• The 7th Governing Council meeting of NITI Aayog held at which place - Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre, New Delhi
• ITU's Regional Standardization Forum for Asia and Oceania began in which city - New Delhi
• International Dairy Federation's World Dairy Summit 2022 will be held in which city - New Delhi
• Amazon India tied up with which organisation for delivery of goods - Indian Railways
• For developing secure digital payment solutions NPCI has signed an MoU with the collaboration of which institution - IIT Kanpur
• Who has launched the Hindi serial Swaraj based on the overall story of India's freedom struggle- Amit Shah
• Which blockchain company will help Goa Police to make the transition to smart policing - 5ire
• Indian Navy has signed MoU for cooperation on satellite-based naval applications in ocean science and meteorology with which organization – ISRO
• Who took over as chairman of Oil India - Ranjit Rath