NATIONAL:
1. Ketoprofen and Aceclofenac
Why in news – Centre has prohibited the manufacturing, sale, and distribution of ketoprofen and aceclofenac for animal use.
Key Points –
• The two drugs are harmful to cattle and kill vultures if they eat dead animals’ carcasses.
• Decision taken by - Drugs Technical Advisory Board (under Central Drug Control Standard Organization).
• Bangladesh is the first country to ban ketoprofen use.
Value Addition –
• Vultures faced a severe population crash due to the use of diclofenac, a pain reliever administered to cattle.
• Accumulation of diclofenac results in gout-like symptoms such as neck drooping (Thanatosis), kidney failure and ultimately leading to death.
• Meloxicam - Safer alternative to diclofenac.
2. National Language Issue
Why in news – The Supreme Court observed that Hindi is “the national language.”
Key Points –
• However, the Constitution does not list any one language as India’s “national language”.
• English, alongside Hindi, is one of the two official languages of the central government.
• Clause 1 of Article 343 (Official language of the Union) –
(a) The official language of the Union shall be Hindi in Devanagari script.
(b) The form of numerals to be used for the official purposes of the Union shall be the international form of Indian numerals.
• Article 351 - Directive for development of the Hindi language.
• 8th Schedule of Constitution - 22 languages (initially - only 14 languages) (English is absent).
• There is no fixed criteria for any language to be considered for inclusion in the Eighth Schedule.
3. Balladeer Gaddar
Why in news – Renowned Telangana folk singer and balladeer Gaddar passed away.
Key Points –
• Real name - Gummadi Vittal Rao.
• His songs inspired the Telangana statehood agitation.
• He was a former Naxalite.
• He is often described in Telugu as ‘praja yuddha nouka’ (warship of people’s agitations).
INTERNATIONAL:
1. Lunar Codex Program
Why in news – A collection of varied digitized art will be sent to the moon as a lasting record of human creativity.
Key Points –
• Spearheaded by Samuel Peralta (Canada).
• It is stored on memory cards or laser etched on NanoFiche.
• It is gathered from 30,000 artists, writers, filmmakers and musicians from 157 countries.
• Art forms (divided into 4 capsules) - images, magazines, books, podcasts, movies and music.
• Designated site - Sinus Viscositatis (lunar plain) and craters at the moon’s South Pole.
ECONOMY:
1. Morgan Stanley Rating
Why in news – Morgan Stanley has upgraded India’s rating to ‘Overweight’ category.
Key Points –
• It put India’s markets in the number one spot from the 6th position.
• Overweight rating means that it deserves a higher weightage in investments and it would perform better in the future.
• It downgraded China’s rating to the ‘Equal weight’ category.
SUMMITS & CONFERENCES:
1. Standalone Trilateral Summit
Why in news – United States announced its first standalone trilateral summit with Japan and South Korea.
Key Points –
• Venue - Camp David presidential retreat (Maryland, USA) (August 18, 2023).
• Reason - to expand trilateral cooperation “across the Indo-Pacific and beyond” and North Korea’s “continued threat.”
REPORTS & INDICES:
1. 9th WHO Report on Tobacco Control
Why in news – World Health Organisation (WHO) recently released a report on tobacco control measures.
Key Points –
• It tracks the progress made by countries in tobacco control since 2008.
• In 2008, WHO developed the MPOWER measures (6 steps) to help countries implement the demand-reduction measures of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).
• Number of countries implementing at least one MPOWER measure - 151 ( 2022).
• 4 countries (Brazil, Turkiye, Netherlands, and Mauritius) have implemented all the measures.
• India has the highest level of achievement in putting health warning labels on tobacco products (85% health warnings on both sides).
• WHO FCTC –
(a) first international treaty negotiated under the auspices of WHO.
(b) Adopted by World Health Assembly on May 21, 2003.
(c) Entered into force on February 27, 2005.
APPS & PORTALS:
1. MASI Portal
Why in news – National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has developed an application ‘MASI.’
Key Points –
• By - Ministry of Women and Child Development.
• ‘MASI’ - Monitoring App for Seamless Inspection.
• Purpose - for real-time monitoring of the Child Care Institutions (CCIs).
• ‘MASI’ enables unified inspections by Child Welfare Committees (CWCs), State Inspection Committees, Members of Juvenile Justice Boards (JJBs) etc as laid down under the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015.
ENVIRONMENT:
1. Himalayan Vulture
Why in news – Himalayan vulture (Gyps himalayensis) bred in captivity for the first time in India.
Key Points –
• Location - Assam State Zoo, Guwahati.
• It was a daunting task as, in nature, this species breeds in snow-clad mountains. (Guwahati - tropical environment).
• It is the second such instance in the world, after France, where the species has been bred in captivity.
Value Addition -
• IUCN status - Near Threatened.
• CITES - Appendix II.
• WPA, 1972 - Schedule IV.
• It is a common winter migrant to the Indian plains, and a resident of the high Himalayas.
• Vulture Conservation Breeding Centre (VCBC) –
(a) Pinjore (Haryana)
(b) Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh)
(c) Rani (Assam)
(d) Rajabhatkhawa (West Bengal)
• Conservation efforts is going on for White-rumped vulture, Slender-billed vulture and Indian vulture (all 3 are Critically Endangered).
SECURITY:
1. Helina and Dhruvastra
Why in news – India successfully concluded trials of anti-tank guided missiles Helina and Dhruvastra.
Key Points –
• HELINA (Nag missile) is a helicopter-launched Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM).
• Nag missile (range – 4 km) is equipped with a tandem high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) warhead.
• DHRUVASTRA is a variant of the HELINA Weapon System.
POINTERS:
• Which two companies have got the status of Maharatna and Navratna company recently - Oil India (13th Maharatna) and ONGC (14th Navratna).
• Who has become the first Indian to win an individual title at the World Archery Championships in Berlin - Aditi Gopichand Swami.
• Who became the first cricketer to score 500 runs in The Hundred Women's competition - Smriti Mandhana.
• As per the report released by ADR which state has the maximum number of billionaire legislators – Karnataka.
• Who has inaugurated Library Festival 2023 at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi - President Draupadi Murmu.
• Nirmala Sitharaman laid the foundation stone for an archeological museum in which city – Adichanallur, Tamil Nadu.
• Which body has launched Tech Equity Digital Inclusion Platform - G20 Alliance for the Empowerment and Progression of Women's Economic Representation (G20 EMPOWER).
• Ukraine peace talks was hosted by which city in Saudi Arabia on Aug. 5 and 6 – Jeddah.
• The 9th edition of the Malabar river festival began in which city – Kozhikode.
• What is Western Tragopan recently seen in news – Bird.