NATIONAL:
1. Chandrayaan-3
Why in news - Chandrayaan-3’s lander separated from its propulsion module on August 17, 2023.
Key Points –
• The lander carries in it the 26 kilos heavy Vikram rover.
• Vikram rover is set to land the lunar south pole on August 23.
• The lander will carry out two orbit-reduction maneuvers on its own before landing.
• There are two payloads on the rover, designed to study the chemical and mineral composition of the lunar surface.
• Rover is set to operate for one lunar day (14 earth days) only. (cannot survive in frigid lunar night).
• Spectro-polarimetry of Habitable Planet Earth (SHAPE) will help scientists understand the markers of life on exoplanets.
2. Madan Lal Dhingra
Why in news - On the 114th anniversary of his execution, a memorial in his name was formally inaugurated in Amritsar on August 17, 2023.
Key Points –
• Madan Lal Dhingra was hanged to death (Pentoville prison, London.) on August 17, 1909, at the age of only 24.
• He killed British official Curzon Wyllie on July 1, 1909, in London.
• Along with Curzon Wyllie, Cowasji Lalcaca (Parsi doctor) was killed unintentionally.
• While studying in London, Dhingra came in contact with Vinayak Damodar Savarkar and Shyamji Krishna Varma.
• He used to frequently visit India House (Shyamji Krishna Varma) and became a member of Abhinav Bharat society (VD Savarkar).
3. Bharat Utsav
Why in news - Bharat Utsav celebrating Indian art and heritage held in Dubai on August 15-18, 2023.
Key Points –
• It is a tribute to the energetic Indian community abroad.
• The goal is to highlight the charm of Indian culture and provide a platform for different artistic expressions.
• 3.554 million Indians currently reside in UAE.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. Sulina Channel
Why in news - The Danube delta has provided Ukraine with an alternative passage for its grain.
Key Points –
• Of particular importance in this ‘new’ trade route is the Sulina Channel.
• Russia withdrew from the Black Sea grain deal, brokered by the UN and Turkey.
• Ukraine is called the “breadbasket of Europe.”
• Constanta - Romania’s biggest seaport.
About Sulina Channel –
• It is a 63 km long distributary of the Danube river lying completely within the borders of Romania, a NATO member.
• It connects major Ukrainian ports on the river to the Black Sea.
• Danube is Europe’s 2nd longest river (longest - Volga).
• 3 major channels of Danube – Chilia, St George and , Sulina (only one deep and wide enough for freight transport).
• Ships from Ukrainian ports such as Izmail and Reni on the Chilia Channel and head to the port of Sulina.
GOVERNMENT SCHEMES:
1. Vishwakarma Yojana
Why in news - Cabinet approved PM Vishwakarma scheme for traditional craftsmen.
Key Points –
• Financial outlay - Rs 13,000 crore (for 5 years until 2028).
• It was announced during PM Modi’s Independence Day speech on August 15, 2023.
• Benefit - Craftsmen to get subsidized loans up to Rs 2 lakh.
• Aim – Promotion of pottery, blacksmithing, construction, tailoring, and boat-building.
2. Graphene-Aurora Program
Why in news - The ‘Graphene-Aurora program’ was launched at Maker Village Kochi, Kerala to bolster Graphene Engineering.
Key Points –
• By - Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY).
• Implemented by - Digital University Kerala.
• Total budget outlay - Rs 94.85 Crore.
About Graphene –
• A single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice.
• 2-dimensional structure.
• Graphene is an allotrope of carbon and carbon nanostructure.
• Discovered in 2004 by Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov (Nobel Prize in Physics for this in 2010).
• Often referred to as a wonder material for its extraordinary electrical and electronic properties.
• Properties - stronger than steel, very stretchable, ultimately thin, transparent and flexible conductor.
• Uses - anti-corrosion coatings and paints, precise sensors, efficient electronics, flexible displays, efficient solar panels, faster DNA sequencing, drug delivery etc.
ENVIRONMENT:
1. CarbonLite Metro Travel Initiative
Why in news - The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has unveiled CarbonLite Metro initiative.
Key Points –
• Aim - to educate passengers about carbon emissions reduction by choosing metro trains.
• Commuters will be able to know the average amount of CO2 emissions they are reducing by virtue of their metro journeys.
• Each kilometer traveled by metro train instead of road vehicles results in a reduction of 32.38 grams of CO2 emissions.
IMPORTANT DAYS:
1. World Organ Donation Day 2023
Why in news – It is observed on August 13.
Key Points –
• Theme - Step up to volunteer; need more organ donors to fill the lacunae.
• Organs which can be donated includes liver, kidney, pancreas, lung,heart intestine, cornea, bone, tissues etc.
• One person can save up to 7 people's lives.
STATES/UTs:
1. India's Largest IT Hub
Why in news - Uttar Pradesh government to build India's largest IT hub in Lucknow.
Key Points –
• IT hub to be built on 40 acres in the Nadarganj Industrial Area.
• 3 parts of IT hub - IT Park, Business Park and International Incubation Facility Center.
BIHAR:
1. Smallest Wooden Spoon
Why in news - Sashikant Prajapati (artist from Bihar) has broken the world record for creating the smallest wooden spoon.
Key Points –
• It measures just 1.6 mm (0.06 inch).
• He broke the Guinness World Records of 2 mm (0.07 in) made by Navratan Prajapati Murtikar.
POINTERS:
• Who has taken over as the Commander-in-Chief of the Andaman and Nicobar Command - Saju Balakrishna.
• How many thousand Jan Aushadhi Kendras will be opened by the government to provide medicines at affordable prices – 25000.
• Which state has launched the "Chief Minister Free Annapurna Food Packet Scheme" – Rajasthan.
• India's imports from which country have doubled to US$ 20.4 billion in the April-July period of this financial year – Russia.
• Who has been given the Best Film Award at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne 2023 – Sitaramam.
• Who has chosen global consulting companies McKinsey and Company India LLP and Accenture Solutions Pvt Ltd India to create systems for its supervisory tasks that use artificial intelligence and machine learning - Reserve Bank of India.
• Ministry of Tourism has joined hands with which travel portal to showcase 600+ destinations which you must visit – MakeMyTrip.
• Union Minister Parshottam Rupala launched the 'A-HELP' (Accredited Agent for Health and Extension of Livestock Production) program along with an Infertility Camp in which state – Gujarat.