NATIONAL:
1. Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital
Why in news - PM Modi inaugurated Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital in Punjab’s Mohali.
Key Points –
• It would function like a hub of cancer treatment with the 100-bed hospital in Sangrur.
• PM Modi also inaugurated the Amrita Hospital (2600 beds) in Faridabad, Haryana.
Cancer in Punjab –
• Punjab is called the cancer capital of India.
• Reasons - Contaminated water and soil (high arsenic, uranium and pesticide).
• The train that carries these patients from Bhatinda to Bikaner is also known as the "cancer train”.
2. Anang Tal
Why in news - Anang Tal lake was declared monument of national importance by the Ministry of Culture.
Key Points –
• It is located in South Delhi.
• It comes under Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958.
• Tradition ascribes this tank to a Tomar King, Anangpal II (1,060 AD).
3. Education Township
Why in news - Uttar Pradesh gears up to build India’s first education township.
Key Points –
• Aim – to provide high-quality education to the youth and equip them with a variety of professional skills.
• It would be developed on the idea of “Single Entry, Multiple Exit”.
• Deloitte India has been appointed to explore ways to make Uttar Pradesh a $1 trillion economy.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. Student Loan Waiver
Why in news – Joe Biden to cancel $10,000 in student loan debt for borrowers earning less than $125,000 per year.
Key Points –
• The total amount of federal student debt is more than $1.6 trillion.
2. Ukraine Independence Day
Why in news – Ukraine celebrated 31 years of independence from the Soviet Union on Aug 24, 2022.
Key Points –
• Celebrations were held across Europe waving giant Ukrainian flags.
• Joe Biden provided a new assistance package of about $3 billion in military aid for Kyiv.
ENVIRONMENT:
1. India Wind Energy Market Outlook 2026
Why in news – The third annual edition looking at the wind energy outlook in India was released.
Key Points –
• It was released by The Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) and MEC Intelligence (MEC+) on Aug 24, 2022.
• India’s commitment - half its electricity in 2030 from non--fossil fuel sources.
Key Findings –
• India can add another 23.7 GW of capacity within the next 5 years.
• Wind power constituted 37.7% of cumulative installed capacity as of March 2022.
• Only 40 GW of wind power capacity has been established (Target - 60 GW by 2022).
• Wind project addition to peak by 2024. After 2024, fresh projects are likely to be wind solar hybrids.
2. HPCL’S Cow Dung to Compressed Biogas
Why in news – Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) has started the development of its first Cow Dung to CBG plant.
Key Points –
• Location – Jalore, Rajasthan.
• It is a waste-to-energy plant that uses 100 tonnes of dung per day to make biogas.
• It is being developed under the Gobar-Dhan scheme (2018) as a part of the Swachh Bharat Mission (G).
AWARDS & HONOURS:
1. Postage Stamp on 75th Anniversary
Why in news – Egypt issued souvenir stamps to mark the 75th anniversary of Egypt-India relations.
Key Points –
• Egypt recognized India’s independence on 18 August 1947
• Egypt and India signed a friendship agreement in 1955.
2. Liberty Medal 2022
Why in news – Liberty Medal to be awarded to Ukrainian President Zelenskyy.
Key Points –
• Zelenskyy is also the recipient of awards such as the Ronald Reagan Freedom Award and the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award.
• Other recipients - Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Anthony Kennedy, Sen. John McCain, Rep. John Lewis and Malala Yousafzai.
3. Pulitzer Prize 2022
Why in news – Bangladesh-born Fahmida Azim has been selected for the Pulitzer Prize 2022.
Key Points –
• She would be awarded under the category of Illustrated Reporting and Commentary.
• She is among the 4 journalists including Anthony Del Col, Josh Adams and Walt Hickey of Insider magazine.
• They were selected for their work on the Chinese oppression of the Uyghurs.
• The work “I escaped a Chinese internment Camp” has illustrations by Fahmida Azim.
AGREEMENTS:
1. IREDA and MAHAPREIT
Why in news – IREDA and MAHAPREIT signed an MoU to provide loans for green energy projects.
PLACES IN NEWS:
1. Dinosaur Valley State Park (Texas, USA)
Why in news – Severe drought conditions exposed dinosaur tracks underneath the Paluxy River in Texas.
Key Points –
• Tracks belong to Acrocanthosaurus with three toes and claws on each limb.
• The footprints occur on a sedimentary rock unit called the Glen Rose Formation.
• Similar tracks have been found in British Columbia and South America.
2. Buddha in Yangtze River
Why in news – Plunging water levels of the Yangtze River have revealed a trio of Buddhist statues.
Key Points –
• They were found on the highest part of the island reef called Foyeliang.
STATES/UTs:
1. Kerala Savaari
Why in news – India's 1st government-owned online taxi service “Kerala Savaari” launched in Kerala.
Key Points –
• It is 1st such initiative by any state government in the country.
• Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan launched the initiative in Thiruvananthapuram on a pilot basis.
BIHAR:
1. Trust Vote in Assembly
Why in news – The new Grand Alliance government in Bihar won the trust vote with ease on Aug 24, 2022.
Key Points –
• The government won the trust motion with 160 votes in its favour.
• All 7 non-BJP parties in the 243-member Assembly voted in favour of the government. 4 MLAs were absent.
• The session was presided over by Dy Speaker Maheshwar Hazari.
• BJP's Vijay Kumar Sinha resigned as the Speaker of the Assembly ahead of floor test.
• JD(U)'s Narendra Narayan Yadav chaired the floor test.
2. Sahitya Akademi Award
Why in news - Madhubani's Dr. Virendra Jha (Maithli) got the Sahitya Akademi's Bal Sahitya Puraskar for his book – “Udan-Chu”.
Key Points –
• Zafar Kamaali got Bal Sahitya Puraskar (Urdu language) for “Hauslo ki udaan”.
• Navakrishna Ahik got Sahitya Akademi Yuva Puruskar for Khurchanbhaik Kachmachhi (Satire collection).
3. Green Lockdown
Why in news - To protect nature and save greenery, tribals in Bagaha (Bihar) imposed a 48-hour green lockdown.
Key Points –
• This 400-year-old custom is known as Barna festival.
• This time Barna festival would be celebrated from 30 August to 22 September.
POINTERS:
• The 12th Indian National Science Film Festival is being organized from 22-26 August in which city – Bhopal.
• Who has been appointed as the next Indian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom - Vikram Doraiswamy.
• Which country is hosting the meeting of defense ministers of SCO in August 2022 – Uzbekistan.
• The first of its kind Composite Indoor Shooting Range (CISR) was inaugurated by which Indian Naval Ship (INS) – INS Karna.
• Which company has partnered with SIDBI to launch 1,000 green energy ventures – TP Renewable Microgrid (TPRMG).
• Which portal has been launched by the central government to bring all the awards of various ministries of the government on one platform – National Awards Portal.
• In which country, the NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) has signed an MoU with PayXpert to internationalize acceptance of its payment solutions – United Kingdom.
• In which country the army has appointed Colonel Abdoulaye Maiga as interim Prime Minister – Mali.
• As per Office for National Statistics (ONS), which country has recorded the biggest drop in production in more than 300 years due to the COVID-19 pandemic– United Kingdom.
• Who has developed new method to produce sugar substitute 'Xylitol' from sugarcane waste - IIT Guwahati.