NATIONAL:
1. Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)
Why in news - Government directed all pharmaceutical companies in the country to implement the revised GMP.
Key Points –
• Aim – to bring processes at par with global standards.
• Focus - quality control, proper documentation, maintaining quality of medicines produced, stability studies as per the climate conditions etc.
Value Addition –
• India’s rank - 3rd in production by volume and 14th by value.
• India is the largest provider of generic medicines occupying a 20% share of global supply by volume.
• 60% of the world’s vaccines comes from India.
2. Katchatheevu Island
Why in news - PM Narendra Modi mentioned the island of Katchatheevu in his speech in the Parliament.
Key Points –
• Indo-Sri Lankan Maritime agreement 1974 - Indira Gandhi government ‘ceded’ Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka.
• It is an island between Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka.
• Tamil Nadu politicians continue to clamor for its return.
About Katchatheevu –
• 285-acre uninhabited speck in the Palk Strait.
• Northeast of Rameswaram, about 33 km from the Indian coast.
• Only structure on the island is an early 20th century Catholic shrine – St Anthony’s church.
• Product of a 14-century volcanic eruption.
• In the 17th century, it was under the Ramnad Zamindari based out of Ramanathapuram (TN).
• It became part of the Madras Presidency during the British Raj.
3. Privileges Committee
Why in news - Prahlad Joshi moved a motion that the House refer the “gross misconduct” of Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury to its Privileges Committee.
Key Points –
• Parliamentary privileges - Parliament and its Members (MPs) have certain rights and immunities that enable them to function effectively in their legislative roles.
• Privileges are those enjoyed by the House of Commons, the lower House of the United Kingdom’s Parliament (Not written in the Constitution, no separate law).
• In 1978, Parliament deleted the reference to the House of Commons by a constitutional amendment.
• They are a mix of provisions in the Constitution, statutes, House procedures and conventions. e.g.,
(a) Constitution - MPs have freedom of speech and immunity from judicial proceedings against anything they say or votes they cast in Parliament.
(b) Code of Civil Procedure - Protects MPs from arrest and detention under civil cases during a parliamentary session.
(c) Parliamentary rules - Authorities should immediately inform the Speaker of Lok Sabha and Chairman of Rajya Sabha about MPs’ arrests, releases and convictions.
(d) Contempt of House – Obstructing either House of Parliament in the performance of its functions, or obstructing any member or officer of such House in the discharge of his duty.
• Each House of Parliament is the guardian of its privileges. i.e., Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have the authority to take suitable action.
• Privileges Committee recommends to the House a course of action which is then accepted by it.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. New humans lineage (HLD 6)
Why in news - An ancient skull is baffling scientists with its not-so-similar features to the modern human.
Key Points –
• The skull doesn't resemble Neanderthals, Denisovans, or Homo sapiens (the modern human).
• It belongs to a child that was alive around 300,000 years ago.
• It was discovered in 2019 in China's Hualondong.
• Other human species - Homo erectus (Africa), Dali Man (China), homo longi (Dragon Man, China).
2. Hottest Month Ever
Why in news – July 2023 was the hottest month ever recorded on Earth with abnormally high temperatures recorded on both land and sea.
Key Points –
• It was confirmed by Copernicus Climate Change Service.
• It was 0.72°C warmer than the 1991-2020 average for July, and 0.33°C warmer than the previous warmest month, July 2019.
• July 2023 is estimated to have been around 1.5°C warmer than the average for 1850-1900.
• Consequences – Heatwaves, Marine heatwaves, El Niño, Glacier retreat etc.
GOVERNMENT SCHEMES:
1. Bhu-Vision
Why in news – Bhu-Vision was officially launched at All India Coordinated Research Project on Spices, Hyderabad.
Key Points –
• It is an IoT-based automated soil testing and agronomy advisory platform.
• It is also known as KRISHI-RASTAA Soil Testing System.
• It was jointly developed by ICAR-IIRR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research -Indian Institute of Rice Research) and KrishiTantra.
• It can conduct 12 key soil parameter tests in just 30 minutes.
APPS & PORTALS:
1. Cott-Ally App
Why in news – Cott-Ally app has been developed by Ministry of Textiles.
Key Points –
• Aim - to increase awareness about MSP rates, nearest procurement centers, payment tracking, best farm practices etc.
• It is especially useful for cotton farmers.
SCIENCE – TECH:
1. Samudrayaan Project
Why in news – 3-member team to explore depths of the ocean in India’s first manned ocean mission.
Key Points –
• By - Ministry of Earth Sciences.
• 3 people will be sent into a depth of 6,000 metre in a submersible (Matsya 6000).
• Aim - to study the deep ocean resources and conduct biodiversity assessments.
• Matsya 6000 has been designed and manufactured by the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Chennai.
• To be implemented by 2026.
• It aims to explore the Indian Ocean (20% of the Earth’s surface).
• The project is part of the Deep Ocean Mission (2018). It includes developing underwater robots, sensors, mining equipment and biotechnology.
SECURITY:
1. Exercise ‘Zayed Talwar’
Why in news – Indian Navy to conduct bilateral exercise ‘Zayed Talwar’ with UAE Navy.
Key Points –
• INS Visakhapatnam, and INS Trikand arrived at Port Rashid in Dubai.
2. Swathi Mk2 Radar
Why in news – Indian Army inducted the lighter version of Weapon Locating Radar (WLR-M) called "Swathi Mountains."
Key Points –
• It is an advanced electronically scanned phased array radar.
• Developed by - Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Bengaluru.
• It is specifically designed for operations in mountainous and high-altitude areas.
APPOINTMENTS:
1. Raman Sukumar
Why in news – Raman Sukumar has been elected a vice-chair of IPCC.
Key Points –
• He is an Indian authority on the Asian elephant.
• He will work on the IPCC’s 7th Assessment Report, expected to be completed in the coming 5-7 years
• Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) held its elections in Nairobi, Kenya.
• IPCC new chairman - James Ferguson ‘Jim’ Skea.
POINTERS:
• How many infrastructure projects worth more than 28 thousand crore rupees have been recommended under PM GatiShakti – 6.
• Which country's exiled opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya has won the Swedish rights award, the Anna Lind Prize – Belarus.
• India's first post office near LOC has been inaugurated in which district of Jammu and Kashmir - Kupwara district.
• In which state Dhamtari 'Kamar tribe' has got housing rights has received habitat rights - Chhattisgarh.
• Which day is celebrated all over the world on 12th August 2023 - International Youth Day.
• Which state government has launched the “Indira Gandhi Free Smartphone Scheme 2023” – Rajasthan.
• Which state/UT has been given the GI tag for "Rajouri Chikri Wood Craft and Mushqbudji Rice" - Jammu and Kashmir.
• Who inaugurated the 9th India-International MSME Expo and Summit 2023 in New Delhi - Manoj Sinha.
• How much has the Reserve Bank of India proposed to increase the payment limit for UPI Lite - Rs 500.
• Which insurance company has launched premium payment through WhatsApp and UPI - Tata AIA.