NATIONAL:
1. 4th Advance Estimates of Production of Foodgrains
Why in news - The estimates for 2021-22 was released by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
Key Points –
• Overall foodgrain production - 315.72 million (mn) tonnes (Target - 307.31 mn tonnes).
• Rabi production - 159.68 mn tonnes, Kharif production - 156.04 mn tonnes.
• Wheat - 106.84 mn tonnes (2020-21 - 109.59 mn tonnes). It is 2.87% lower than the target of 110 mn tonnes.
2. “Functionally Literate” District
Why in news – Mandla (MP) region has become the first fully "functionally literate" district in the country.
Key Points –
• The campaign was launched on Aug 15, 2020.
• A person can be called functionally literate when he or she is able to write his or her own name, to count and read and write in Hindi.
3. Indian Flag in Space
Why in news – The Indian national flag was unfurled in space to mark 75 years of Independence.
Key Points –
• It was unfurled in space at an altitude of 30 km.
• The tricolour was sent on a balloon by Space Kidz India.
• Space Kidz India has launched the AzadiSAT satellite into Low Earth Orbit.
4. Veer Durgadas Rathore’s Statue
Why in news – Shri Rajnath Singh unveiled the Statue of Veer Durgadas Rathore in Jodhpur (RJ).
Key Points –
• He commanded the Rathore forces during the Rajput War (1679–1707) and played a major role in the Rajput Rebellion (1708–1710).
INTERNATIONAL:
1. Turkey, Israel Diplomatic Ties
Why in news – Israel and Turkey will restore full diplomatic ties and will re-appoint respective ambassadors.
Key Points –
• Both had expelled respective ambassadors in 2018.
• Turkey does not recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital and its embassy is located in Tel Aviv.
2. Ajit Doval in Russia
Why in news – Indian NSA Ajit Doval paid an unannounced visit to Moscow.
Key Points –
• He met his Russian counterpart Nikolai Patrushev.
• It was his first visit to Moscow since Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
ECONOMY:
1. SBI Branch for Start-UPS
Why in news – State Bank of India (SBI) has launched its first branch dedicated to start-ups in Koramangala, Bengaluru.
Key Points –
• SBI Chairman Dinesh Khara launched the branch.
• The 2nd branch will be opened in Gurgaon and the 3rd one will be in Hyderabad.
ENVIRONMENT:
1. Air Quality and Health in Cities Report
Why in news - The report has been published by Health Effects Institute (HEI).
Key Points –
• It provides a detailed analysis of air pollution for more than 7,000 cities around the world, focusing on PM2.5 and NO2.
• By the year 2050, as much as 68% of the world's population is expected to live in urban areas.
SCIENCE – TECH:
1. Monkeypox Variants
Why in news - WHO has announced new names for variants of the monkeypox virus.
Key Points –
• The former Congo Basin clade in Central Africa as Clade I and the former West African clade as Clade II.
• The latter consists of two sub-clades, Clade IIa and Clade IIb.
• Clade IIb was the main group of variants circulating during the 2022 outbreak.
• In July, WHO officially declared monkeypox as a public health emergency of international concern.
AGREEMENTS:
1. Odisha and NIOT
Why in news - Odisha has signed an MOU with National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT, Chennai) for the protection of coastal areas.
Key Points –
• 7 districts namely Ganjam, Puri, Khordha, Kendrapada, Bhadrak, Baleswar and Jagatsinghpur will be benefitted.
• Odisha has a vast coastline of about 480 km.
APPOINTMENTS:
1. Simon Stiell
Why in news - Simon Stiell has been appointed as the new Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
Key Points –
• He belongs to Grenada, an island country in the West Indies in the Caribbean Sea.
SPORTS:
1. Sultan Azlan Shah Cup
Why in news - The Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2022 will be held from November 16 to 25 in Ipoh, Malaysia.
Key Points –
• It is a men’s hockey tournament.
• Azlan Shah Stadium in Ipoh is the permanent venue of the tournament.
• Most winners - Australia (10 times), India (5), Pakistan (3) and South Korea (3).
2. Committee to take over affairs of IOA
Why in news - Delhi High Court appointed a 3-member committee to take over affairs of Indian Olympic Association (IOA).
Key Points –
• Members - Anil R Dave, Dr. S.Y Quraishi and Vikas Swarup.
• Consultant sportspersons - Abhinav Bindra, Anju Bobby George and Bombayla Devi Laishram.
STATES/UTs:
1. Make India No. 1
Why in news - Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal launched of the mission called Make India No. 1 on Aug 17, 2022.
Key Points –
• It is a “national mission” on 5 projects (Panch kaam) –
A. Education,
B. Health,
C. Employment,
D. Women rights
E. Sustainable farming.
2. School Hygiene Education Program
Why in news - Uttarakhand CM launched the School Hygiene Education Programme for the state.
Key Points –
• Aim – To create awareness towards cleanliness among children.
• It will be run in 13,000 primary schools in all 13 districts of Uttarakhand.
• For this, UK has signed an MoU with Reckitt.
2. Charkha-Chalk Festival
Why in news - It has been started at Gauhar Mahal in Madhya Pradesh on August 16, 2022.
Key Points –
• It was inaugurated by Jitendra Litoria.
• Gauhar Mahal is the first palace of the princely state of Bhopal.
BIHAR:
1. Movable and Immovable Property of Ministers
Why in news - Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and Bihar Election Watch report throws light on the property of mahagathbandhan ministers.
Key Points –
• Richest - Industries Minister Samir Mahaseth. (Property - Rs 24.45 crores, RJD MLA from Madhubani).
• Poorest - Panchayati Raj Minister Murari Prasad Gautam (Rs 17.66 lakh, Congress MLA from Chenari seat of Rohtas district).
• Biggest debtor - PHED minister Lalit Kumar Yadav (Rs 2.35 crores From Darbhanga Rural).
• Educational Qualification –
A. 8 ministers out of 33 are class VIII to XII
B. 24 ministers graduation or above.
• Women have got a 9% share. 3 are women ministers.
• 72% of the ministers of the government have been accused in some criminal case.
A. 23 ministers are facing criminal cases.
B. Of these, 17 have serious criminal cases registered.
2. 200th Session Smriti Stambh
Why in news – Hon’ CM Nitish Kumar inaugurated the Smriti stambh (memorial pillar) of Bihar Legislative Council (BLC).
Key Points –
• On completion of 200th session of BLC, memorial pillar has been constructed.
• The names of 51 members are inscribed in the memorial pillar.
POINTERS:
• Who is the only Indian company to be listed in the Forbes Cloud 100 list of world's best private cloud companies 2022 – Razorpay.
• Which University ranked first among Indian universities in Nature Index 2022 - University of Hyderabad.
• Which app has been launched by the Ministry of Health to help in the upbringing of the child for the first 1000 days of birth - Paalan 1000.
• Where will the 23rd edition of India International Seafood Show be organized in 2023 – Kolkata.
• Where is the world's first vertical city being built - Saudi Arabia.
• Which Indian Naval Ship has created a record after reaching San Diego to conduct 75 laps “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav” in August 2022 – INS Satpura.
• Which Indian airport is going to start digital processing of passengers through facial recognition system through DigiYatra platform– GMR Hyderabad International Airport.
• What is the name of the third airport of Arunachal Pradesh, which is now under construction in Itanagar – Donyi Polo Airport.
• In August 2022, the 9th meeting of the India-Thailand Joint Commission was held in which city – Bangkok.
• Recently, researchers of which city took out a 3D print of an artificial cornea and implanted it in the rabbit's eye – Hyderabad.