NATIONAL:
1. Twin Towers Demolition
Why in news - The Supertech twin towers in Noida were demolished on Aug 29, 2022.
Key Points –
• Twin Towers names - Apex (32 storeys) and Ceyane (29 storeys).
• It was nearly 100-metre-high – taller than Delhi’s iconic Qutub Minar (73 metres).
• Demolition was carried out by Edifice Engineering in partnership with South Africa-based Jet Demolition.
• Central Building Research Institute HQ – Roorkee.
• They were found to be in violation of multiple regulations regarding construction.
2. CJI U U Lalit
Why in news – Justice Uday Umesh Lalit was sworn in as 49th CJI on Aug 27, 2022.
Key Points –
• President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath.
• UU Lalit is the second CJI who was directly elevated to the Supreme Court bench from the Bar. (1st - Justice SM Sikri, the 13th CJI in March 1964).
• He was born on November 9, 1957 in Maharashtra's Solapur.
3. PM Modi in Gujarat
Why in news – PM Modi was on a 2-day visit to Gujarat.
Key Points –
Projects inaugurated by him -
• Smriti Van - A memorial to the victims of the January 2001 earthquake.
• Bhuj-Mandvi Narmada branch canal
• Atal Bridge at Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad.
• Khadi Utsav at Ahmedabad.
• New office building of Gujarat State Khadi Village Industries Board.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. US Warships in Taiwan Strait
Why in news – Two US Navy warships sailed through international waters in the Taiwan Strait.
Key Points –
• It is the first such operation since Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan.
• US Navy cruisers Chancellorsville and Antietam carried out the operation.
2. “Yes Means Yes” Law
Why in news – Spain passed legislation that allows sexual violence victims to prosecute their attackers on the grounds of lack of consent.
Key Points –
• It was passed with 205 votes in favour, 141 against and 3 abstentions.
• It now requires explicit consent for sex.
GOVERNMENT SCHEMES:
1. 8 years of PMJDY
Why in news – Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana completed 8 years of successful implementation on Aug 28, 2022.
Key Points –
• PMJDY was launched on August 28, 2014.
• Accounts grew 3-fold from 14.72 crores in March 2015 to 46.25 crores as on the Aug 10, 2022.
• 56% Jan-Dhan account holders are women and 67% of Jan Dhan accounts are in rural and semi-urban areas.
• 31.94 crore RuPay cards have been issued to PMJDY account holders.
ENVIRONMENT:
1. Sea Cow Declared Extinct
Why in news – Dugong, also known as the sea cow, is now extinct in China.
Key Points –
• No Dugong has been sighted in China since 2008.
• This is the first functional extinction of a large mammal in China’s coastal waters.
• Around India, Dugongs occur in Gulf of Mannar, PalkBay, Gulf of Kutch and A&N islands.
About Dugong –
• It is the only vegetarian marine mammal.
• Dugong feeds on seagrasses.
• Found in coastal waters of the Indian Ocean and western Pacific Ocean.
• IUCN status - Vulnerable.
IMPORTANT DATES:
1. National Sports Day 2022
Why in news – It is an annual observance that falls on August 29.
Key Points –
• It commemorates the birth anniversary of Major Dhyan Chand, the hockey wizard of India.
• M/o Youth Affairs and Sports conducted the “Meet The Champion” initiative in 26 schools across the country on August 29.
• It is a unique school visit campaign that was kicked off by Neeraj Chopra in December 2021.
RANKS & INDICES:
1. Aspirational Districts Program
Why in news – Haridwar has been declared India’s Best Aspirational District by NITI Aayog.
Key Points –
• Haridwar has been allocated to Piyush Goyal.
• A total of 117 Districts were identified to be a part of the Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP).
• NITI Aayog evaluates the performance of districts on the basis of 5 key parameters.
FESTIVALS:
1. Marbat Festival
Why in news - The 141-year-old Marbat festival was celebrated in Nagpur.
Key Points –
• It is celebrated only in Nagpur.
• Marbats (clay effigies) of Kali (black) and Pivli (yellow) are the main attraction of the procession.
• It was started in 1881 by Tanhane Teli Samaj.
SPORTS:
1. Lausanne Diamond League
Why in news – Neeraj Chopra won the Lausanne Diamond League title.
Key Points –
• He hurled the spear 89.08m to seal his victory.
• He became the first Indian to clinch a Diamond League Meeting title.
STATES/UTs:
1. Parivar Kalyan Card
Why in news – Centre has given its nod to the Uttar Pradesh government’s Family ID plan (Parivar Kalyan Card).
Key Points –
• Aim - to establish a comprehensive database of the state’s family units and identify beneficiaries for its various schemes.
• It is a unique 12-digit ID number for each family.
• The initial collection of data for families will be conducted through ration cards.
2. Mahila Nidhi Scheme
Why in news – Rajasthan launched Mahila Nidhi to support female entrepreneurs.
Key Points –
• After Telangana, Rajasthan is the 2nd state to launch the scheme.
• Aim - to enhance women SHGs by facilitating bank financing.
• Loans up to Rs 40,000 would be put in the group’s members’ bank accounts.
BIHAR:
1. Pump Storage Power Projects
Why in news – Pump storage power projects would be constructed in Kaimur.
Key Points –
• Under this, solar energy and hydroelectricity would be produced simultaneously.
• The task of analysing the feasibility of projects has been assigned to SJVN.
• More than 1000 MW of electricity can be generated in Kaimur.
• SJVN is constructing Chausa power house in Buxar.
2. National Sports Day
Why in news – 211 players and coaches from Bihar were honoured on National Sports Day.
Key Points –
• The selected players of Bihar Khel Samman were announced by the Department of Arts, Culture and Youth, Government of Bihar.
• They were honoured in the Urja auditorium Shastrinagar, Patna.
• Pramod Bhagat (Vaishali district), who won a gold medal in Tokyo Paralympics got one crore and bronze medalist Sharat Kumar got Rs 50 lakh.
• Honoured Trainers –
A. Rajendra Prasad (Weightlifting)
B. Anup Kumar (Wushu)
C. Gautam Pratap Singh (rugby)
D. Pankaj Kumar Ranjan (Sepkatkara)
E. Pinky Kumari, Eklavya Instructor (Football)
F. Asghar Hussain (football).
POINTERS:
• Which country has recently signed a contract with India for two railway projects – Bangladesh.
• Who has been appointed as the first brand ambassador of DreamSet Go recently - Sourav Ganguly.
• Who has announced a campaign to upskill 100,000 cyber security researchers and developers in India – Google.
• Which country has recently signed a $2.25 billion deal with ASE, a nuclear power company run by Russia - South Korea.
• Which bank recently announced a partnership with Tata Neu to launch two new credit cards - HDFC Bank.
• In which city a “Social Empowerment Camp” has been organized to distribute aids and assistive devices to senior citizens and differently-abled - Nagpur.
• Which country has broken the record for the world's lowest fertility rate - South Korea.
• In which state has FM Nirmala Sitharaman launched the Mukhyamantri Micro Finance Scheme - Nagaland.
• Which airline became the first airline to use CAE's AI-powered training system to train pilots - AirAsia India Airlines.
• By whom has the Koita Center for Digital Oncology (KCDO) been established - National Cancer Grid.