Daily Current Affairs 18th August 2023
National News
CCEA has approved 7 major development projects of the Ministry of Railways worth Rs 32,500 crore.
- The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on August 16, 2023 approved seven major development projects of the Ministry of Railways with funding of nearly Rs 32,500 crore from the Central Government.
- These development projects are designed to facilitate the operations of the railway sector to the people and to reduce the problems and congestion in it and to provide the necessary infrastructural development in the sector. It is also reported that these projects cover nearly 35 districts and ensure their development.
The Union Cabinet has approved a Rs 13,000 crore scheme to support traditional artisans of the country.
- The central government has approved the PM Vishwakarma Development Scheme in August 2023 to support India’s urban and rural-traditional artisans and their talent at an estimated cost of Rs 13,000 crore.
- The project is designed to strengthen the family-based livelihood practice of artists and artisans and develop their traditional skills of working with their hands and tools. It is significant that this is a 5-year project.
The Union Cabinet has approved a Memorandum of Understanding between India and Australia to enhance cooperation in the field of sports.
- The Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and Australia’s Department of Health and Aged Care signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on August 16 to further strengthen cooperation in the sports sector between the two countries.
- The program is designed to facilitate bilateral exchange programs in the field of sports between the two countries, expanding knowledge and expertise in athlete and coach training and development, sports science, sports governance and integrity and their grassroots participation.
International news
The UAE Modern Pentathlon Federation and Dubai Police have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to enhance the country’s sports cooperation.
- Dubai Police has signed a memorandum of understanding with the UAE State Modern Pentathlon Federation in August 2023 for cooperation and development in five disciplines: athletics, steeplechase, ab fencing, laser pistol shooting, 200m swimming and running.
- The MoU is aimed at establishing joint working groups for effective implementation of defined key objectives in the field of sports and efficient achievement of its shared goals.
An agreement has been signed to start the first direct flights between Israel and Vietnam.
- The two countries signed a memorandum of understanding on August 16 in Hanoi, Vietnam, to plan to launch the first direct flight between Israel and Vietnam.
- The partition agreement was signed in the presence of Israel’s Economy Minister Nir Barkat and Vietnam’s Chief Representative Nguyen Hong Dien. According to this, commercial flights between Vietnam’s Hanoi and Israel’s Tel Aviv will be started from October.
- It is also notable that “A Free Trade Agreement” was signed between the two countries last July.
State news
Wipro launches its new Center of Excellence for Innovative AI at IIT-Delhi
- Largest IT services provider Wipro has announced on August 16 that it will set up a center of excellence for its innovative AI technology to develop the system at the Yardi School of Artificial Intelligence (ScAI) on the IIT Delhi campus.
- The center, part of the institute’s partnership with the university, is designed with the aim of “Fostering talent, supporting fundamental and applied research and expanding the state of the art in the field and creating a special recognition for research and development,” the institute said.
India’s first unmanned aerial vehicle test facility to be set up in Tamil Nadu
- India’s First Public Test Center for Unmanned Aerial Systems (Drone) under the Defense Test Infrastructure Scheme (DTIS) will be set up in Tamil Nadu by the Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO) in its August announcement.
- The center is said to help make Tamil Nadu a preferred location for aerospace and defense companies to set up their Indian operations. It is reported that the center will be set up on an area of nearly 2.3 acres at SIPCOT Industrial Park in Vallam Vadagal near Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu.
The campaign ‘My Bengal, Drug Free Bengal’ has been launched.
- President of India Draupadi Murmu launched the “My Bengal, Addiction Free Bengal” campaign under the program “Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan” at the Raj Bhavan in Kolkata, West Bengal on 17th August.
- It is significant that President Murmu said in the event that any drug addiction is formed due to stress, family unrest and various problems and this initiative has been started with the aim of bringing the youth out of such addiction.
G20 Health Ministers Summit to be held in Gujarat
- Under India’s G-20 leadership, the G20 Health Ministers’ Summit will begin on August 17 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
- On the first day of the conference, the G20 Deputy Ministers’ Conference is scheduled to be held followed by the Health Ministers’ Conference on the second day.
- The conference aims to discuss the topics of antimicrobial resistance, prevention of health emergencies, preparedness and building a health infrastructure.
Appointments
Appointment of Parminder Chopra as Chairman & Managing Director of PFC.
- Union Government-owned Power Finance Corporation (PFC) named Parminder Chopra as its Managing Director and Full-time Chairman(CMD) in its August 14 announcement.
- The appointment makes Chopra the first woman to head PFC, India’s largest non-banking financial institution. The company said that through this appointment, he is expected to improve the company according to his regular activities.
Elected Vice President of AFI.
- It is notable that Adille Sumariwalla was appointed as a member of the powerful World Athletics Governing Council on August 17 and will be elected as one of the four Vice-Presidents in an additional capacity before that.
- The 65-year-old has been the president of the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) since 2012. It is mentioned that he will hold the post for “Four years”.
Chakravorty has been appointed as the new CEO of SBI Card.
- Abhijit Chakravorty has taken charge as the New Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of SBI Card System from August 12, 2023, the company said in a notification issued on August 16.
- It is significant that he has received this responsibility from Rama Mohan Rao Amara who had been in the post for more than two and a half years before. The company said that he has 34 years of experience in the Chakravorty banking industry and will improve the company through his various initiatives.
Economic news
SBI plans to open nearly 300 branches across India in the current financial year.
- In its latest August 2023 notification, State Bank of India has approved the initiative to open more than 300 new branches across India in the current financial year (2023-24).
- It is significant that SBI currently has around 22 thousand 405 branches across India and 235 overseas branches and offices. With this initiative, it is reported that there is a great opportunity to become the most branched buyer in India.
Awards
Mobile app management company Mobulous has won the prestigious “Millennium Brilliance Award”.
- Mobulous Technologies, a leading mobile app management provider, has won the “Best Mobile App Management Company 2023” award for supporting the delivery of better, more advanced and flawless app management services to its enterprise customers.
- The event was presented to the company at the prestigious “Millennium Brilliance Awards (MBA)”.
Sports news
India’s Mohit won the world title in men’s under-20 61 kg wrestling category.
- Mohit Kumar of India has won the August 2023 World Championship in Men’s Under-20 61kg Wrestling held in Amman, Jordan.
- In the final held on 16th August, Mohit won the title by defeating Eldar Akhmadudinov of Russia 9-8. With this, he became the fourth Indian wrestler to win this title.
Indian archers have won bronze medals in the 2023 World Cup.
- Indian recurve archers won two bronze medals in the men’s and women’s team events of the 2023 World Cup Phase 4 held on August 17.
- In this match, the Indian men’s recurve team of Atanu Das, Dhiraj Bommadevara and Tushar Shelke defeated Spain’s Andres Temino, Pablo Acha and Yun Sanchez by 6-2 (54-56, 57-55, 56-54, 57-55) points to retained the bronze medal.
Obituary
Eminent scientist and former DRDO chief Dr V.S. Arunachalam passed away.
- Eminent scientist and former DRDO-Chairman Dr VS Arunachalam passed away at the age of 87 on August 16 due to old age in the US state of California.
- India’s Prime Minister Modi condoled that Arunachalam’s knowledge, interest in research and his contribution to strengthening India’s defense capabilities were immense and his passing away left a great void in the scientific community and its strategic world.
- He also served as Scientific Advisor to the Union Defense Minister and was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1985 and the Padma Vibhushan in 1990.
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