Daily Current Affairs 26th August 2023
National News
The union government has launched a scheme called ‘Mera Bill Mera Adhikaar’.
- The union government has introduced a major initiative incentive scheme named ‘Mera Bill Mera Adhikaar’ in August 2023 to encourage a culture of users and customers asking for bills for all sales-purchases.
- This initiative is jointly undertaken by the Central Government and the State Government. This pilot project will be launched on September 1, 2023, the central government said. The scheme will initially be launched in Puducherry, Dadra Nagar Haveli and Assam, Daman & Diu, Gujarat & Haryana and will be scaled up in other states based on its growth.
A maintenance agreement has been entered into between SECL and Pelma Collieries to enhance coal production.
- Southeastern coalfield conglomerate SECL’s Pelma Collieries in Mine Developer and operator (MDO) mode has entered into a development agreement with Pelma Collieries in August 2023 to become the “First opencast mine in Chhattisgarh”.
- This mine is located in Raigarh area. It is significant that this development agreement will help expand and enhance the coal production of SECL, the country’s flagship unit, and will provide key means of achieving Coal India’s 1 billion tonne production target.
The Union Government has launched Tele-Law – 2.0 app in New Delhi.
- The Central Government on 25th August 2023 launched a new app called “Tele-Law – 2.0” which integrates Nyaya Bandhu and Tele-Law to ensure access to justice across the country in the national capital New Delhi.
- This app has been launched by the Union Ministry of Law and Justice. It is also notable that it is designed with the aim of providing access to legal aid, legal advice and legal representation to the common citizen at a single registry and through a single portal of tele-law.
The National Defense Strategies Conference for 2023 was held in New Delhi.
- The National Security Strategies (NSS) Conference-2023 was launched in New Delhi on August 24 to ensure a resilient and secure nation by strengthening all aspects of the National Security Mechanism under the leadership of the Prime Minister of India, Mr. Modi.
- It is a two-day conference. It is significant that this conference has been inaugurated by Union Home Minister Mr. Amit Shah.
The DAC has approved various projects worth Rs 7,800 crore to improve operational efficiency of the Army.
- The Defense Acquisition Council (DAC) meeting held on August 24, 2023, chaired by Union Defense Minister Shri Rajnath Singh, has approved various capital acquisition projects worth around Rs 7,800 crore.
- It said the approval was given under the “Best Survivability Enhancement Bag” (Indian-IDTM) category of helicopters to further strengthen the capabilities of the Indian Air Force with the aim of acquiring “Electronic Warfare (EW) Suits for the country’s Mi-17 V5 helicopters and developing suits for soldiers in certain high snow environments”. Notably, the EW Suite will be procured from Central Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL).
International news
For the first time in 40 years, an Indian Prime Minister has visited Greece.
- Prime Minister Modi, who participated in the BRICS conference, recently visited Greece from Johannesburg, South Africa. It is seen as important in the history of both countries. Because this is the first time an Indian Prime Minister has visited Greece in nearly 40 years.
- Foreign affairs experts have also said that various development agreements will be signed during the visit with the aim of becoming India’s diplomatic gateway to European relations.
Prime Minister Modi has been awarded the highest Grand Cross of the Order of Honor of Greece.
- Greece’s highest Grand Cross of the Order of Honor was awarded to Indian Prime Minister Modi by President Katerina N. Sakellaropoulou conferred the honor on August 25, 2023.
- The award was presented at the Parliament complex in Athens, the capital of the country. The President said that this award shows the great contribution made by Prime Minister Modi for the development of the world economy and shows the respect that Greece has for India.
State news
The B20 summit begins in New Delhi.
- The B20 summit for 2023 began on August 25 in the Indian capital, New Delhi. The conference is held under the theme R.A.I.S.E.
- It aims to focus on and discuss the major structural projects of the world’s countries, and B20 India to make progress in social, environmental and business integration in African economies.
Third International Conference on Structural Integrity is scheduled to be held in Chennai.
- The Third International Conference on “Instructural Integrity” (ICONS 2023) is being held at the famous Mamallapuram in Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu on 23rd August 2023.
- It is significant that the conference has been inaugurated by Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, Director, Organization for Scientific and Industrial Research. The conference is organized as a joint initiative of the Indira Gandhi Center for Nuclear Research and the Society for Failure Analysis.
Various development projects have been launched in Jammu and Kashmir under the initiative of “Beautification of Budgam City”.
- Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha on August 24 laid foundation stones for various development projects in Budgam district located in the Kashmir valley of Jammu & Kashmir. He said that these projects are designed to be very useful for the people and the region.
- He has also started an initiative called “Beautification of Budgam City” in the district. He said at the opening ceremony that this initiative is designed to help increase the rapid growth of the economy and strengthen its ecology.
Union Minister inaugurates Northeast India’s first multi-speciality Ayurvedic hospital.
- Under the initiative University Hospital of Ayurveda and Naturopathy (UHAN), Northeast India’s premier multi-purpose Ayurvedic hospital was officially inaugurated on August 24 at the State USTM Institute campus by State Health and FW, I & PR and Law Minister Dr M Ampareen Lyngdoh in Meghalaya.
- The Union Minister said that the hospital has been started with the aim of making it particularly effective in treating chronic conditions like asthma, arthritis and digestive disorders of people in the North-Eastern region.
Appointments
Navdeep appointed as Uttar Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer.
- Ahead of the country’s Lok Sabha elections next year (2024), Navdeep Rinwa has been appointed as the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Uttar Pradesh, India’s major and largest constituency, by the Election Commission of India (ECI) on August 24, according to a recent announcement.
- It is notable that Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Navdeep Rinwa has been appointed to succeed Ajay Kumar, who previously served as Chief Electoral Officer. It is reported that he has experience in various fields and will take his best initiatives.
RK Mishra appointed as the new chairman of SMEV.
- The Society of Electric Vehicle Manufacturers (SMEV), India’s renowned and apex body for the electric vehicle industry, has appointed RK Mishra as its new president for the year 2023-24, an announcement on August 24 said.
- It is also significant that he served as the director of Magna Yuma prior to this appointment. He is one of the co-founders of Yulu Bikes.
Awards
69th National Film Awards 2023 List Released:
- The winners list of the 69th National Film Awards 2023 was announced on August 24 at the “National Media Centre” in the national capital, New Delhi.
- It is also said that the winners of this list will be honored by the President at a function to be held at a future date.
Here is a list of some of them:
| Catagory | Winners |
|---|---|
| Best Feature Film | Rocketry |
| Best Director | Nikhil Mahajan (Godavari) |
| Best Actor | Allu Arjun (Pushpa) |
| Best Tamil Film | Kadaisi Vivasayi |
Sports news
In the 2023 Chess World Cup, India’s R. Praggnanandhaa won the silver medal.
- Tamil Nadu’s R. Praggnanandhaa won silver. It is also significant that Norway’s Magnus Carlsen has won the championship title in this series.
- “He became only the second Indian to reach the World Cup final. Viswanathan Anand was the first Indian to reach the World Cup final, which is seen as special.
India has won gold in the 25m pistol event of the 2023 ISSF World Championships.
- India’s Amanpreet Singh won gold in the men’s 25m pistol shooting event at the 2023 ISSF World Championships in Baku, capital of Azerbaijan, on August 23.
- It is also significant that the Indian team missed the bronze by 2 points and Harsh Gupta missed the bronze by one point. The Indian team finished with a total of nine medals in the one-day series with nearly four bronze and five gold medals.
Important day
International Women’s Equality Day 2023
- International Women’s Equality Day is celebrated annually on August 26 to commemorate the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment (women’s suffrage) to the United States Constitution in 1920.
- This day is significant because in 1971, the United States Congress and Senate officially recognized August 26 as International Women’s Equality Day. Embrace Equity is the theme for this year.
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