Monthly Current Affairs for all banking PO,Clerk,IBPS PO,Railway,SSC,IAS,OAS Exams
More Visit www.isbtonline.com

Highlights:

• The Indian government is implementing the NOTP to promote organ donation and transplantation in all Union Territories/States.

• The provisions under the programme include:
• The establishment of State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organizations (SOTTOs) in each state/union territories.
• Establishment of National/Regional/State Bio-material Centers.
• Financial assistance for the establishment of new Organ Transplant/Retrieval facilities as well as the strengthening of existing Organ Transplant/Retrieval facilities.
• Training of transplant specialists, including surgeons, physicians, transplant coordinators, etc
• Financial assistance for the recruitment of Transplant Coordinators at medical colleges and trauma centres
• It is an immunosuppressive drug for patients below the poverty line (BPL) after transplantation.
• The Transplantation of Human Organs Act promulgated in 1994 aims to provide a system for the storage, removal and transplantation of human organs for therapeutic purposes and to prevent the commercial transaction of human organs.

Highlights:

• International Tiger Day is designated on July 29 every 12 months to increase awareness about the declining populace of wild cats and to make efforts to conserve them. 
• The day's purpose is to promote a world device to protect the herbal habitats of tigers, elevate public recognition, and assist with tiger conservation issues. 
• This year marks the 11th International Tiger Day.
• The theme/Slogan for the 2021 International Tiger Day celebration is “Their Survival is in our hands”.

• The Global Tiger Day came into being to sign the Saint Petersburg announcement through thirteen tigers various international locations in 2010 in Russia. 
• The governments of these tigers vary international locations had resolved to inspire the conservation, defending natural habitats and double the wide variety of tigers with the aid of 2022. 
• Poaching and the illegal trade of tiger body parts like bone, pores, and skin pose the most significant hazard to wild tigers. 
• The demand for tiger physique components has increased the poaching and trafficking of wild cats.

Highlights:

• KVIC and BSF launch Project BOLD in Jaisalmer to combat desertification and boost the rural economy.
• The project called "Bamboo Oasis on Drought Lands" (BOLD) is the first exercise of its kind in India and was launched on July 4, 2021 from the tribal village of Nichla Mandwa in Udaipur, Rajasthan.

• Project Bold is a one-of-a-kind scientific exercise with the dual national goals of reducing desertification and providing livelihood and multi-disciplinary rural industry.
• Its goal is to increase tribal peoples' income while also addressing environmental concerns.
• It is in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call to reduce land degradation and prevent desertification in the country by establishing bamboo-based green patches of land in arid and semi-arid areas.
• The project was initiated by the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), which is part of the Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises.
• It has been launched as part of KVIC’s "Khadi Bamboo Festival" to celebrate the 75th anniversary of independence "Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav".

Highlights:

• The South-Asian nation, Philippines has become the 1st country in the world to get approval for the commercial production of genetically modified golden rice. 
• Golden rice is a variety of rice enriched with various nutrients that will helpful in reducing childhood malnutrition.
• The Golden rice is developed by the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute in partnership with the International Rice Research Institute, after contributing nearly two decades. 
• It is named Golden Rice because of its bright yellow colour.
• One cup of golden rice can give as much as 40 % of vitamin A which is essential for children aged 6 months to 5 years, to combat childhood blindness & save lives in the developing world.
• Golden rice is the first genetically modified rice approved for commercial propagation in South and Southeast Asia.

Highlights:

• The United Nations Food Systems Summit held a pre-summit ministerial roundtable.

• The United Nations Food System Summit aims to establish a bold new actions to change the way the world produces and consumes food as part of the Decade of Action to achieve the SDG goals by 2030.
• Guided by the 5 action tracks, the summit will bring together major participants from science, policy, business healthcare, and academia, as well as farmers, youth organizations, indigenous peoples, consumer groups, environmental activists and other major stakeholders.
• Action Track 1: Ensure that everyone has access to safe and nutritious food.
• Action Track 2: Transition to more sustainable consumption patterns
• Action Track 3: Increase nature-friendly production.
• Action Track 4: Promote equitable livelihoods
• Action Track 5: Strengthen your resilience to vulnerabilities, shocks, and stress.
• The pre-summit will be held in Rome, Italy, on July 27-28, 2021. 
• The summit would take place in September 2021.

Highlights:

• The Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Unnat Krishi Shiksha Yojana (PDDUUKSY) was established to promote human resource development in organic farming, natural farming, and cow-based economies for environmental sustenance and soil health.

• It began with the construction of 100 centers. During the course of the scheme's operation, 108 training programmes were organised to raise farmer awareness.
• Scheme objectives:
• To develop skilled human resources at the village level in order to meet national needs for organic farming and sustainable agriculture.
• Provide professional assistance to rural India in the areas of Organic Farming/Natural Farming/Rural Economy/Sustainable Agriculture.
• Other activities of the PDDUUKSY will be expanded at the village level through these established centres.
• The scheme, which was started in 2016, is a Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare initiative that is being carried out by the Education wing of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).

Highlights:

• Muslim Women Rights Day was observed on August 1 in India since the year 2000.
• Year 2021 marks second anniversary of triple talaq bill which is officially called as Muslim Women Act (Protection of Rights on Marriage) passed in the Rajya Sabha.

• Muslim Women Rights Day is observed on August 1 in the backdrop of Triple talaq bill that was approved in Parliament on August 1, 2019.
• Triple talaq bill was a great milestone in liberating Muslim women from shackles of social evil that came in form of divorce terms.
• Cases like ‘Shah Bano Begum & Ors vs Mohd. Ahmad Khan’, ‘Shayara Bano vs Union Of India and Ors’ laid the foundation stones for the move.
• Shayara Bano in her writ petition asked Supreme Court to consider the three practices- talaq-e-biddat, polygamy, nikah-halala- as unconstitutional.
• Cases were filing citing the violation of Articles 14, 15, 21, 25 of the Constitution.
• The Triple Talaq law made ‘triple talaq’ a criminal offence. 
• This law is considered as a crucial step because it ensured protection of Muslim women against gender inequality and empowerment by lawfully criminalising practice of instantaneous ‘talaq’. 
• Hence this day is observed as Muslim Women Rights Day. 
• This law seeks to promote women’s self-reliance, self-respect, and boost self-esteem because it strengthens fundamental and democratic rights of Muslim women.
• As per the Triple Talaq Act, declaration of talaq would be treated as a cognizable offence. Law provides for imprisonment of 3 years imprisonment along with a fine.

Highlights:

• The Maharashtra Bhushan Choice Board of trustees led by Boss Pastor Uddhav Thackeray has collectively chosen unbelievable playback vocalist Asha Bhosle for the lofty honor.
• Asha is a very popular playback singer. 
• She is known for her singing in many Hindi films, in spite of the fact that she has a more extensive collection. 
• Bhosle's vocation began in 1943 and has traversed more than seventy years. 
• Asha has done playback singing for more than 1k films.
• She was recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the most recorded singer in music history. The Public authority of India regarded her with the Dadasaheb Phalke Grant in 2000 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2008. 
• Bhosle is the sister of playback artist Lata Mangeshkar and has a place with the unmistakable Mangeshkar family.

Highlights:

• Bharat Bill Payment System has delegated previous PayU and Airtel Installments Bank leader Noopur Chaturvedi as its new CEO.
• Chaturvedi, preceding this arrangement, was the nation head for little and medium organizations at PayU. 
• In a vocation spreading over almost twenty years, she has worked with Airtel Installments Bank, Samsung, ING Vysya Bank and Citibank in different senior jobs.
• Bharat BillPay is an interoperable and coordinated bill payment system for online just as specialist based settlement of repeating bills. 
• On April 1 this year, NPCI moved all its BBPS orders to a recently set up auxiliary called the NPCI Bharat BillPay Restricted (NBBL), adequately hiving off its robotized charging business. Established in 2013.

Highlights:

• PV Sindhu, a 26-year-old badminton player, has become first Indian woman to win two Olympic medals after defeating ‘He Bingjiao’ of China.
• Sindhu defeated ‘He Bingjiao’ by 21-13, 21-15 in women’s singles bronze medal match at Tokyo Olympics 2020.

• She is the first Indian woman to win an Olympic silver and also the first Indian woman to finish on podium two times at Olympics.
• At Rio Olympics, Sindhu had won women’s singles badminton silver in her Olympics debut.
• She has become 2nd Indian athlete to win 2 Olympic medals in individual events following Sushil Kumar.
• Sushil Kumar had won wrestling bronze in 2008 in Beijing and went one step further to won Silver at London Games in which India achieved its best-ever tally of 6 medals.
• Sindhu has become the 4th athlete to win multiple medals in women’s singles badminton category at Olympic Games.
• She has joined South Korea’s Bang Soo-Hyun who won silver at Barcelona Games in 1992 as well as gold medal in women’s singles badminton category at 1996 Atlanta Games.
• Apart from them, China’s Zhang Ning had won gold medal at 2004 Athens Games and defended it in Beijing.
• Indonesia’s Susi Susanti won 1992 Gold medal and won bronze at the 1996 Athens Games.
• Sindhu is an Indian badminton player who came to limelight at international level after winning Asian Championships bronze medal in 2014. 
• In the same year she also won bronze medals at Commonwealth Games and Asian Games. 
• She also won her first of 5 World Championship medals in 2014 it self.

Highlights:

• ‘Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana’ was unionized by the Ministry of Social Justice and authorisation, Government of India.
• It is a ‘Samajik Adhikarita Shivir’ for distribution of aids and helpful devices to ‘Divyangjan’.
• Objective: To help the impoverished disabled persons in procuring sturdy, refined and scientifically factory-made, modern, customary aids and appliances which will promote their physical, social and psychological rehabilitation, by reducing the consequences of disabilities and enhancing their economic potential.
• Implementation: Through implementing agencies like NGOs, National Institutes beneath the Ministry of Social Justice & authorisation and ALIMCO (a PSU that manufactures artificial limbs).
• Eligibility: an individual satisfying all the subsequent conditions area unit eligible:
• Indian subject of any age
• Has four-hundredth incapacity or additional (must have the requisite certificate)
• Monthly financial gain, no more than Rs.20000.
• In the case of dependents, the financial gain of parents/guardians shouldn't exceed Rs.20000.
• Must not have received help throughout the last three years for the identical purposes from any supply. However, for youngsters below 12years old-time, this limit would be one year.

• Coverage: Senior voters, happiness to BPL class and full of any of the age-related disability/infirmity Low vision, disability, Loss of teeth and locomotive incapacity.
• Assistance is provided within the type of distributing Assisted-living devices which may restore close to normalcy in their bodily functions, overcoming the disability/infirmity manifested free-of-cost.
• Funding: Central Sector theme. 
• The expenditure for implementation of the theme are met from the “Senior Citizens’ Welfare Fund “.
• Beneficiaries in every district are known by the State Governments/UT Administrations through a Committee chaired by the Deputy Commissioner/District Collector. As so much as attainable, a half-hour of the beneficiaries in every district shall be girls.

Highlights:

• Mumbai and Bangalore are out of the global top-100 listing and are presently rating at 106 and 110, respectively, in today's QS Best Student Cities Ranking edition. 
• While Mumbai misplaced 29 places, Bengaluru fell with the aid of 21 sites in the ninth edition of the rankings added out by way of global more excellent schooling analysts QS Quacquarelli Symonds.
• Globally, the results, which allow students to evaluate one hundred fifteen premier instructional destinations, see London retain its reputation as the world’s exceptional pupil town for the 0.33 consecutive edition. 
• It is accompanied by Munich, which rises from Fourth to Second. 
• Seoul, which jumps from Tenth to joint Third, shares the bronze-medal position with Olympic hosts Tokyo.
• QS ranks cities with people of at least 250,000 and at least two universities in the QS World University Rankings.
• The ranking presents an effective lens into the sentiments of each prospective and former student, with over 95,000 survey responses contributing to the desirability (prospective students) and student view (former students) indexes.
• QS covers metrics like college rankings, pupil mix, desirability, enterprise activity, and affordability.

Highlights:

• The Government of India is creating awareness among farmers for Nutri Cereals (Millets)  under the Sub Mission on National Food Security Mission (NFSM) through demonstration and training. 
• Nutri Cereals includes ragi, sorghum, bajra and small millets.
• Nutri Cereals (Millets) is one of the significant components of the National Food Security Mission.
• National Food Security Mission was launched in 2007. 
• It is a centrally sponsored Scheme.
• The main objective is to increase the annual manufacturing of rice, wheat and pulses.
• The mission was launched to extend the manufacturing of rice, wheat and pulses by place growth and enhancing productivity, restoring soil fertility and productivity, developing employment opportunities, and improving farm level economy.
• Sub-components of the NFSM are NFSM-Rice; NFSM-Wheat; NFSM-Pulses; NFSM-Coarse Cereals; NFSM-NFSM-Nutri-Cereals; NFSM-Commercial Crops.
• Under NFSM–Nutri Cereals, incentives are supplied to the farmers, through the state governments, on crop manufacturing and safety technologies, cropping system based demonstrations, manufacturing & distribution of seeds of newly released varieties/hybrids, Integrated Nutrient and Pest Management techniques, high farm implements/tools/resource conservation machinery, water-saving devices, capability building of farmers through training all through cropping season, organizing events/workshops, distribution of seed mini-kits, publicity via print and electronic media, etc.

Highlights:

• India's composite Global Hunger Index score has been improved from 38.9 to 27.2 in the year 2020. 
• India was ranked at 94th place among 107 countries in Global Hunger Index.
• The Global Hunger Index goals to track starvation at the world, regional and Indian levels. 
• It is an annual record (peer-reviewed) published with the aid of Concern Worldwide of Ireland and Welthungerhilfe (a German non-profit organization).
• Global Hunger Index ranks international locations on a 100 point scale, with zero representing zero/no hunger. 
• The GHI scores are based on 4 indicators. 
• They are Undernourishment, Child Stunting, Child Wasting, Child Mortality
• Global Hunger Index is Jointly posted through Concern Worldwide and Welthungerhilfe. It was first produced in 2006. 
• It is posted each and every October. The 2020 version marks the 15th edition of the GHI.

Highlights:

• The World Bank has authorized a USD 250 million project in India for long-term dam safety software and improving the safety and performance of existing dams across quite a number of states of India.
• The 2nd Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP-2) agreement was inked on between the World Bank, the Indian Government, the Central Water Commission, and government representatives from 10 collaborating states. 
• The assignment will be applied at the countrywide stage through the Central Water Commission (CWC).
• At the national level, about a hundred and twenty dams will be undertaken throughout Chhattisgarh, Kerala, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Odisha, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu. 
• Other states or businesses may additionally be added to the mission at some point of task implementation.
• Other important measures that DRIP-2 will aid include flood forecasting systems and integrated reservoir operations that will contribute to constructing climate resilience; the practice and implementation of Emergency Action Plans to allow inclined downstream communities to prepare for and decorate resilience towards the feasible terrible influences and risks of climate change; & the piloting of supplemental revenue era schemes such as floating solar panels.

Highlights:

• World’s biggest star sapphire cluster has been discovered in Ratnapura, Srilanka.
• The stone is pale blue. 
• It was located by labourers while digging properly in a gem trader’s home. 
• Ratnapura is recognized as the gem capital of the country. 
• The sapphire cluster weighs around 510kgs or 2.5 million carats. 
• The cluster has an value of up to $100 million in the global market as per estimation.

Highlights:

• Lovlina won the third Olympic medal for India. She won bronze medal after going down 0-5 against Busenaz Surmeneli from Turkey in 69kg welterweight semifinals on August 4, 2021.
• Lovlina Borgohain has also become the second Indian female boxer, after MC Mary Kom, to win an Olympic bronze.
• Mary Kom had won the medal in 2012 London Olympics.
• Including the bronze medal of Lovlina, India has acquired three medals till date.
• Earlier, Mirabai Chanu won silver in weightlifting and PV Sindhu won bronze in badminton women’s individual event.
• Lovlina has become first-ever Assamese woman to win the Olympic medal.
• Lovlina Borgohain is the third Indian boxer to win Olympic bronze following legendary boxers Mary Kom and Vijender Singh.
• Mary Kom and Vijender Singh had won bronze medal respectively in 2012 London Olympics and 2008 Beijing Olympics.
• She is currently ranked at world no. 3.

• Lovlina Borgohain belongs to Golaghat district of Assam. 
• She started her career as kickboxer and switched to boxing after getting opportunity from the field. 
• She participated in trials at her high school conducted by Sports Authority of India. 
• She was selected by renowned Coach Padum Boro. 
• She was selected to participate in 2018 Commonwealth Games in welterweight boxing category. However, she could not win medal and lost it in quarterfinals.
• Lovlina had won a gold medal at International Boing Championship in February 2018 in welterweight category.
• She also won bronze at Asian Boxing Championships in Vietnam in 2017.
• At 13th International Silesian Championship in Poland in September 2018, she won bronze.
• She also represented India at 2018 AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championship in New Delhi and won bronze medal in 69 kg category.

Highlights:

• Rajasthan government launched a series of nutrition-focused welfare programmes for the benefit of women and children who are affected by disruption in routine schemes.
• Women and children in Rajasthan are affected due to disruption of schemes such as Integrated Child Development Services and midday meal scheme amid the covid-19 pandemic.
• State government is facing the challenge of micronutrient crisis.
• Following the disruption, experts called to adopt strategies in order to accelerate micronutrient supplementation and strengthen food fortification.
• Thus, Rajasthan government has launched “Nutrition focused programmes” as impending third wave is likely to worsen this situation.

• Under the programme,Indira Rasoi Yojana will provide food to poor and needy twice a day. This scheme had extended relief to people amid the pandemic.
• Government is also promoting a healthy lifestyle for pregnant women and is extending support to such women in order to enable them to give birth to healthy children.
• Village panchayats would play a significant role of strengthening nutrition schemes and providing nutrition education among students in schools.

Highlights:

• India has not been invited Russia led ‘extended Troika meet.
• Extended Troika meet will be held on the fast-evolving situation in Afghanistan.
• Meeting is expected to be attended by Pakistan,China and the US.
• India also sought to downplay its absence stating that it engages with Russia on the issue of Afghanistan regularly.
• Extended Troika meeting is scheduled to be held on August 11 in Qatar.
• Before this meeting, talks earlier took place on March 18 and April 30.
• Russia led meeting will be held because Taliban is still continuing its major offensive in Afghanistan. 
• So, Russia has stepped up its efforts in order to reach out to all key stakeholders in war-torn country so that violence can be stopped.  
• Meeting will also give a push to Afghan peace process.
• Russia has also been holding ‘Moscow Format’ of talks in order to bring peace and create conditions for process of national reconciliation in Afghanistan. Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov also highlighted in Tashkent that, Russia will continue to work with India and other countries to find solution for Afghanistan.

Highlights:

• Government of India, Central Water Commission, government representatives of 10 participating states and World Bank signed a $250 million project on August 4, 2021 for long-term dam safety program.
• Project will help in improving the safety and performance of existing dams across different states in India.
• Agreement for the project was signed by Additional Secretary of Department of Economic Affairs under Ministry of Finance, representatives from the state governments and Junaid Ahmad on behalf of the World Bank.

• This project will help in strengthening dam safety by building dam safety guidelines, bringing in global experience, and by introducing innovative technologies. 
• Another innovation envisaged under this project is to transform dam safety management. 
• It will also introduce a risk-based approach for dam asset management which in turn will help to effectively allocate financial resources for priority dam safety needs.

• Important measures that DRIP-2 will undertake include flood forecasting systems & integrated reservoir operations. 
• It will contribute towards building climate resilience. 
• Project will also undertake preparation and implementation of Emergency Action Plans which will enable vulnerable downstream communities in enhancing resilience against possible negative impacts and risks of climate change. 
• It will also pilot supplemental revenue generation schemes like floating solar panels.

Highlights:

• Indian government approved the appointment of Dr. Dhriti Banerjee as new director of ZSI.
• Dhriti Banerjee is a prolific scientist. She had been conducting research in zoogeography, taxonomy, morphology and molecular systematics.
• She will take charge of Zoological Survey of India in a week.
• She has worked as the co-ordinator of ZSI’s Digital Sequence Information Project, since 2012.
• While sharing her experience and achievement, she mentioned that women scientists in ZSI had been conducting regular surveys by examining faunal diversity from Himalayas to deep sea. 
• About 60% of the new species have been discovered by women scientists.

• Zoological Survey of India was founded in July 1916. 
• It is headquartered in Kolkata. 
• It comprises of 16 regional centres and works under the ministry of environment, forests and climate change. 
• It was set up as premier Indian organisation in zoological research. 
• It studies and promote survey, explore & research of fauna in India.

Highlights:

• Recently, the Government announced that approximately five crore beneficiaries have been enrolled and four crores have been trained under Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan Scheme as of August 2, 2021.
• According to Union Minister for women and Child Development, Smriti Irani, over two crore women beneficiaries are registered under the scheme.
• Out of them, one crore women beneficiaries are certified under scheme which accounts for 54% of the total certified beneficiaries under it.
• Government had the target of reaching six crore households by March 2022.

• This scheme was launched to make six crore persons residing in rural areas, across States and UTs, digitally literate. It was launched with the aim of bridging digital divide and specifically targeting rural population. 
• It also includes marginalised sections of society such as Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Minorities, Below Poverty Line (BPL), women, differently-abled persons and minorities. 
• This scheme is being initiated under Digital India Programme and would cover 6 crore households in rural areas in order to make them digitally literate.

Highlights:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi ,recently announced that the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award has been renamed as Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award.
• Khel Ratna award is the highest sporting honour in India.
• This move of renaming award after sportsman was welcomed on social media.
• Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award has been renamed as Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award in Sports and Games after Dhyan Chand who was an Indian field hockey player. 
• This award was instituted in 1991-1992. 
• Its first recipient was chess legend Viswanathan Anand. 
• The award is given annually by Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. Recipient(s) is/are selected by a committee constituted by Ministry. 

• Major Dhyan Chand, popularly known as The Wizard, was an Indian field hockey player. 
• He is regarded as one of the greatest in the history of sport. 
• He was well known for his extraordinary goal-scoring feat. 
• He earned three Olympic gold medals, in 1928, 1932 and 1936. His influence extended beyond these victories because India won field hockey event in seven out of eight Olympics in between 1928 to 1964. 
• August 29 (his birthday) is celebrated as National Sports Day in India every year.

Highlights:

• The Government has planned to set up the Indian Institute of Heritage at Noida.
• The Indian Institute of Heritage would offer Masters and PhD courses in History of Arts, Conservation, Museology, Archival Studies, Archaeology, Preventives Conservation, Epigraphy and Numismatics, Manuscriptology, etc. as well as conservation training facilities to in-service employees and the students of the Indian Institute of Heritage.
• This will impact higher education and research in fields related to the rich Indian heritage and its conservation.
• The Heritage Institute is being set up as a Deemed to be University by integrating the Institute of Archaeology (Pt. Deendayal Upadhyaya Institute of Archaeology), School of Archival Studies under National Archives of India, New Delhi, the National Research Laboratory for Conservation of Cultural Property (NRLC), Lucknow, National Museum Institute of History of Art, Conservation and Museology (NMICHM) and Academic Wing of Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), New Delhi. These shall become the various schools of the Institute.

Highlights:

• World Biofuel Day is found on August 10 each year. 
• The day is celebrated to increase consciousness about the significance of non-fossil fuels as a choice to conventional fossil fuels and spotlight the various efforts made by Government in the biofuel sector.
• The development of biofuels is in sync with schemes such as Swach Bharat Abhiyan and Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan. 
• World Biofuel Day was first by using the Ministry of Petroleum and Gas in August 2015. 
• Biofuels are environmentally friendly fuels whose use would go a lengthy way in lowering carbon emissions. They are created via renewable biomass assets and therefore make a strong case for sustainable development. As such, biofuels will help meet the energy requirements of the 21st-century world except for negative the surroundings in the process.

Highlights:

• World Lion Day is discovered globally on August 10 each and every year. 
• World Lion Day is marked to raise recognition about the king of beasts and the efforts undertaken for their conservation. 
• Lions frequently feature on national flags and royal symbols and emblems to represent command, energy, or authority across cultures due to their courage, intelligence, strength, and magnificence. 
• World Lion Day used to be launched in 2013.
• The majestic animal is the second-largest member of the Felidae (cat family), after the tiger. 
• There is solely one species of a lion in the world whose scientific name is Panthera leo. 

Highlights:

• India is finally launching its most advanced geo-imaging satellite (GiSAT-1), which will help in better monitoring of the subcontinent, including its borders with China and Pakistan, by imaging the country 4-5 times a day.
• The satellite will be launched on 12th August from Sriharikota. GSLV-F10 rocket of ISRO will finally put the 2,268-kg Gisat-1, codenamed EOS-3, into the geo-orbit. 
• This will be the first launch of India of a primary satellite this year.
• Once placed 36,000 km above the earth in the geostationary orbit after space manoeuvres, the advanced eye in the sky can constantly monitor areas of interest (the satellite moves in sync with the rotation of the Earth and hence it would look stationary) and will give real-time information about a large area unlike other remote sensing satellites placed in lower orbits that come to a spot only at regular intervals.
• EOS-3 will enable quick monitoring of natural disasters, episodic and short-term events

Highlights:

• Germany grew to become the fifth united states to signal the International Solar Alliance Framework Agreement after its amendments entered into force on 8th January 2021, opening its Membership to all Member States of the United Nations.
• Ambassador of Germany to India Walter J. Lindner deposited signed copies of the International Solar Alliance Framework Agreement with the Ministry of External Affairs, the depositary of the Agreement.
• Membership to the ISA was once restrained to 121 countries, which were in part or placed inside the tropics. This didn’t enable primary photovoltaic electricity economies such as Germany to be a part of the alliance that is being an increasing number of considered as an overseas coverage tool. 
• The initiative used to be launched using Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the India Africa Summit and an assembly of international member locations in advance of the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris in November 2015. 
• The International Solar Alliance framework agreement opened for signatures in Marrakech, Morocco, in November 2016.

Highlights:

• Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi has chaired the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) open debate through video conferencing.
• With this, PM Modi has become the first Indian Prime Minister to chair a UNSC open debate. 
• It must be remembered that India has assumed the Presidency of the UNSC for August 2021, taking over from France.
• The theme of the open debate was Enhancing Maritime Security – A Case for International Cooperation. 
• India will organize two more meetings during its presidency, on peacekeeping and counterterrorism.
• During the debate, the 5 principles that need to be followed in terms of maritime trade and security, which included: free maritime trade sans barriers; peaceful settlement of maritime disputes; combating maritime threats; encouraging responsible maritime connectivity and preserving maritime environment and resources

Highlights:

• National Dairy Plan Phase II is a scheme running from 2020-25. With a financial outlay of Rs.8000 crore, its aims include enhancing the milk processing capacity and infrastructure of daily co-operatives.
• NDP phase I was launched from Anand, Gujarat by the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB). 
• It was a Central Sector Scheme for a period of 2011-12 to 2018-19.
• Objectives :
• Helpful increasing the productivity of milch animals & thereby increase milk production to overcome the demand for milk.
• Providing milk producers of rural areas with greater access to the organised milk-processing sector.
•  The National Dairy Plan is also known as ‘Mission Milk’.

Highlights:

• The government of Maharashtra has announced a new award named Rajiv Gandhi for outstanding performance in the Information and Technology (IT) sector.
• The Rajiv Gandhi Award will be awarded to institutes doing remarkable work in the field of information technology (IT).
• The decision to start this award in the state was taken in a meeting chaired by Minister of State for Information Technology (IT) and Home Satej Patil.
•  Prime Minister had announced that the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award will be called the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award.

Highlights:

• The International Youth Day is designated on 12th August yearly to draw the attention of governments and others towards youth issues globally. 
• Youth day is celebrated to recognize the efforts of the youth for the betterment of society.
• The day targets to promote ways to engage the youth and make them more actively involved in their communities through positive contributions.

• This highlights the ways in which the engagement of youth at the local, national & global levels is enriching national and also multilateral institutions.
• In 1999, the General Assembly encouraged the advice made by the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth that 12 August be declared International Youth Day. 
• This day was founded on August 12, 2000, the day marks a consciousness day & draws attention to a given set of cultural and prison troubles surrounding youth.

Highlights:

• India was ranked at 122nd position among 181 countries in Global Youth Development Index, 2020. Commonwealth Secretariat released this triennial ranking of youth development for 181 countries.
• The index measures the status of young people among 181 countries across the world.
• Singapore was ranked at the top for the first time.
• It is followed by Slovenia, Norway, Malta and Denmark.
• Bottom countries in the index include- Chad, Central African Republic, South Sudan, Afghanistan and Niger.
• Index highlights that, condition of young people has improved worldwide by 3.1 percent in between 2010 and 2018. However, the progress remained slow.
• In the index, 156 countries recorded at least slight improvements in their scores.
• Report also highlights the positive trajectory of youth development pre-pandemic time, which covid-19 virus could reverse if urgent action is not taken to secure the gain.
• Top five improvers include- India, Afghanistan, Russia, Ethiopia, and Burkina Faso. 
• They advanced their score on an average by 15.74 per cent.
• Countries like Libya, Syria, Ukraine, Jordan and Lebanon witnessed greatest decline in youth development in between 2010 and 2018.
• The Global Youth Development index ranks countries between the score of 0.00 (lowest) and 1.00 (highest) on the basis of developments in youth with respect to education, health, employment, equality & inclusion, political & civic participation, peace and security.
• It provides score on the basis of 27 indicators, including literacy and voting, to showcase the state of 1.8 billion people across the world aged between 15 and 29.

Highlights:

• Neeraj ranked second in world athletics rankings
• Javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra placed at the second position in the world athletics ranking after securing the gold medal in Tokyo Olympics.  
• Neeraj Chopra took the second position with his core of 1315and he is behind the German athletic Johnnes vetter who's having the score of 1396.
• Neeraj Chopra created history by winning a gold medal on 7th August in Tokyo Olympics.
• Neeraj becomes the first athlete of India to win gold in track and field at the Tokyo Olympics. 
• He throws the javelin throw a distance of 87.58m.
• World athletics has used his throw in Tokyo Olympics as one among 10 Magical moments of athletics.
• Neeraj has become the most followed track and field athlete in the world with 3.2 million followers on Instagram.

Highlights:

• Union Minister of Youth affairs launched a nationwide programme called fit India freedom Run 2.0 on 13th august in order to celebrate Azadi ka Amrut Mahotsav.
• The program has been launched at 75 iconic locations, will be concluded on October 2.
• People from each district in which village can participate in this freedom Run movement, In the freedom, Run 1.0 people of 5 crores had joined and in this number has increased to 7.5 crores. India freedom Run 2.0 flagged off from Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi.
• The freedom Run will be organised across 744 districts and 30,000 educational institutions in India.
• India freedom Run 1.0 was organised from August 15 to October 2, 2020.

Highlights:

• India will host the first Internet Governance Forum in the country, starting from October 20, this year.
• It's an Internet Governance policy discussion platform to bring representatives together from various groups, considering all at par to discuss public policy issues related to the Internet.

• The CEO of the NIXI (National Internet Exchange of India), Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) announced the launch of India IIGF -2021.
• IIGF- 2021 will be deliberate for three days, beginning from 20th October 2021.

• The discussion board is an Internet Governance coverage dialogue platform to convey representatives together from a number of groups, considering all at par to talk about public policy issues related to the Internet.
• This Multi-Stakeholder thought is adopted by IGF beneath United Nations and by the ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers).
• As India is the second-largest broadband subscription country in the world and additionally has the absolute best facts consumption per person per month, with IIGF, the aspirations of the Indians would be reflected in International coverage formation and stakeholder discussion

Highlights:

• World Organ Donation Day is observed each and every year on 13th August.
• The organ donation day is celebrated to raise awareness about the importance of organ donation and motivate people to donate organs after death.
• The day provides an opportunity for all to come ahead & pledge to donate their organs as one organ donor can save up to 8 lives.
• Organ donation retrieves a donor’s organ like heart, liver, kidneys, intestines, lungs, and pancreas after the donor is deceased and then transplants into another person who needs an organ.

Highlights:

• The Skytrax World Airport Award ranking for the year 2021 was published. 

• Singapore Changi Airport has been named as the World's Best Airport in the Skytrax World Airport Awards 2020. 
• Tokyo Narita and London Heathrow airports took the top honours for the dining and shopping categories respectively.
• In the report, Indira Gandhi International Airport of Delhi has emerged among world’s top-50 best airports in the 2021.
• Delhi Airport emerged as best airport in the country for the 3rd consecutive year.
• Mumbai, Hyderabad, & Bengaluru have found a rank among world’s top 100 best airports.
• In the world airport’s awards list 2021, Delhi has been ranked at 45th place. 
• It has improved as compared to number 50 in 2020. 
• Delhi airport is 1st Indian airport to achieve this mark.
• Hyderabad has been positioned at 64th place. 
• Its raking has been improved against 71st in 2020.
• Mumbai is positioned at 65th number, besides getting 52nd place in 2020.
• Bengaluru is positioned at 71st number, where it gets down 3 places from 68th rank in the year 2020.
• Top-5 airports of the world: Doha Hamad International Airport, Tokyo Haneda airport, Changi Airport Singapore, Seoul Incheon International Airport and Tokyo Narita
• The best airports awards is provided on the basis of customer reviews.
• Skytrax is a UK-based consultancy, running an airline & airport review and also ranking site.

Highlights:

• Hong Kong is all set to implement China’s anti-sanctions law. It will be implemented in some form in the country and will add fresh regulatory pressure on international companies.
• Anti-sanctions law was passed in China by its rubber-stamp legislature passed in June 2021 to counter Western penalties that were imposed after crackdowns in Hong Kong and Xinjiang.
• Power under the anti-sanctions law include- denial of visas, deportation, or seizing assets of those who formulate or comply with sanctions against businesses or officials in China.
• Under the law, foreign companies can be sued in Chinese courts to apply sanctions. 
• The law can also be used against family members.
• For instance, if a bank refuses to implement U.S. sanctions could be cut off from access to the dollar. But those that adhere could find themselves in Beijing.
• Basic purpose of the Anti-Sanctions Law is to defend China’s sovereignty, security and development interests.

• Hong Kong was established in 1841 as a colony of British Empire after the Qing Empire ceded Hong Kong Island from Xin’an County following the First Opium War. 
• After the second opium war, colony expanded to the Kowloon Peninsula in 1860. 
• It further extended in 1898 when Britain obtained a 99-year lease of the New Territories.
• The metropolitan area called Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China located on the Delta of eastern Pearl River in South China, having the area of 1,104 square kilometre. 
• It is one of the most densely populated places worldwide.

Highlights:

• India’s cleanest city, Indore, has now been declared as India’s first water plus city under the Swachh Survekshan 2021.
• Indore has become example for whole nation for its determination and dedication towards cleanliness.
• Indore City received this certification from central government on August 11, 2021.
• This certification is provided for maintaining cleanliness in rivers and drains.

• It is an annual survey of cleanliness, hygiene and sanitation across cities and towns in India. 
• It was launched under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. 
• This abhiyan was started with the aim of making India clean and free of open defecation by October 2, 2019. 
• The first survey was done in 2016 and covered 73 cities. 
• By 2020, survey grown to cover 4242 cities. 
• It was tagged as the largest cleanliness survey across the world.

Highlights:

• Industrialization in China occurred at breathtaking pace which lifted people out of poverty and transformed India into the world’s factory. 
• However, this also made China the biggest emitter of carbon dioxide. 
• As a result, China has set the goal of becoming carbon-neutral by 2060.

• Carbon neutral means cutting carbon dioxide emissions as large as possible and offsetting what cannot be eliminated. This can be done by switching to renewable energy sources like using solar power instead of coal.
• Despite being world’s second-largest economy, China is considered as developing nation. 
• Accordingly, it has not reached its emissions peak. By 2030, China will be committing to bring down carbon neutrality by 2060. 
• If China gets success in it, it will be the fastest decline from peak emissions.
• China requires to find replacements for fossil fuels powering its economy and rapid urbanization.
• Recently in July, China opened world’s largest carbon trading market that created a framework for how emissions are priced and regulated in the nation.
• China is also expanding the use of electric vehicles and automation besides investments in nuclear power. 
• Nuclear power doesn’t emit greenhouse gases.
• It is also spending on research into technologies like storage batteries and has been using hydrogen fuel to complement low-emissions energy sources.
• Government has also directed local authorities to develop regional plans in order to lower emissions and curb wasteful uses of electricity like in Bitcoin mining.

Highlights:

• The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has introduced a scheme for providing physical aids and Assisted Living Devices for Senior Citizens belonging to BPL category named “Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY)” on 1st April, 2017 with the objective of providing Senior Citizens, belonging to BPL category and suffering from age-related disabilities/infirmities, with such bodily aids and assisted residing devices which can restoration close to normalcy in their bodily functions.
• It is a Central Sector Scheme via the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment.

• It is a scheme for presenting bodily aids & assisted-living devices for senior citizens belonging to the Below Poverty Line category.
• Items like such as walking sticks, elbow crutches, walkers, tripods, quadpods, hearing aids, wheelchairs, artificial dentures, spectacles, etc. are provided.
• It is absolutely funded via the Central Government.
• The scheme is carried out through the Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation (ALIMCO), which is the sole implementing agency.

Highlights:

• The Quality of Life for Elderly Index was created by the Institute for Competitiveness at the request of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM).
• The record identifies the regional patterns of getting older throughout the Indian States and assesses the normal growing older scenario in India.

• The document affords a deeper perception into how nicely India is doing to aid the well-being of its ageing population.
• The index highlights that the pleasant way to enhance the lives of the present-day and future generations of older people is by using investing in health, schooling and employment for younger humans today.
• The Health System pillar notes the highest national average, 66.97 at national level, accompanied by 62.34 in Social Well-being and Financial Well-being observes a score of 44.7.
• States have carried out particularly worse in the Income Security pillar due to the fact over half of the States have a rating below the countrywide average, i.e., 33.03 in Income Security, which is the lowest throughout all pillars.
• Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh are top-scoring regions in Aged and the Relatively Aged States, respectively.
• Chandigarh and Mizoram are top-scoring regions in Union Territory and North-East States category.
• The Aged States refer to States with an elderly populace of extra than 5 million, whereas the Relatively Aged States refer to States with an Elderly populace of less than 5 million.

Highlights:

• India’s first Drone Forensic Lab and Research Center has come up in Kerala. 
• The Chief Minister of Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan used to inaugurate the State police department’s ‘Drone Forensic Laboratory’ at the Kerala State Police CyberDome. 
• Cyberdome is a technological lookup and improvement centre of the Kerala Police Department.
• The centre will assist in maintaining a watch over unauthorized drones and also for the manufacturing of drones for the use of the police force. 
• This lab-cum-research centre will appear into both utility and threat components of a drone.
• The police have forayed strongly into the especially new discipline of drone forensics. 
• It had these days analysed a drone brought down by way of the Border Security Force (BSF) near the global border in Kathua district in Jammu and Kashmir and helped the neighborhood enforcement zero in on its illegal operator.

Highlights:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched National Hydrogen Mission on August 15, 2021 from Lal Quila on the occasion of celebration of 75th Independence Day. 
• This mission was launched to push for energy security of India.

• This mission was announced in the backdrop of India spending Rs 12 trillion annually to meet its energy needs.
• The mission seeks to make India a global hub for green hydrogen production and exports.
• India currently imports 85% of its oil and 53% of its gas demand.
• On the occasion, pm stressed that, for India to progress and become self-reliant, it becomes important to become energy independent.
• In the line, India is considering to make it mandatory for fertilizer plants and oil refineries to buy green hydrogen under its plans to cut dependence on fossil fuels.
• Green Hydrogen Consumption Obligation (GHCO): A Fact File
• Government of India has also planned to implement Green Hydrogen Consumption Obligation (GHCO) in fertilizer production and petroleum refining. 
• It is similar to renewable purchase obligations (RPO) that require electricity distribution companies to buy a fixed amount of renewable energy. 
• It helps to cut reliance on fossil fuels.

Highlights:

• Kaziranga National Park of Assam have become the first national park of India to be equipped with satellite phones.
• About 10 satellites phones were handed over to forest personnel of Kaziranga National Park by Assam Chief Secretary Jishnu Barua.

• This decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma May 27, 2021.
• According to an official of Kaziranga National Park, this move will boost anti-poaching measures in the park. These satellite phones will be used in the six ranges of park having no wireless or poor mobile connectivity. Thus, it will help in taking timely measures.
• Satellite Phones were procured for the park by Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) at an estimated cost of Rs 16 lakh. 
• Service will be provided by BSNL while monthly expenses will be fulfilled by park authorities. 
• BSNL also trained the forest personnel to operate satellite phones in the areas where satellite phones do not work like in in shadow areas and grooves.
• This national park of India is spread to the district of Golaghat, Karbi Anglong and Nagaon in state of Assam. It hosts two-thirds of world’s great one-horned rhinoceroses. 
• Park has also been listed as a World Heritage Site. 

Highlights:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a Rs 100 lakh crore Pradhan Mantri Gatishakti initiative on August 15, 2021.
• This initiative will create employment opportunities for youth in India. 
• It will also lead to growth and development of infrastructure.
• In his address, Prime Minister highlighted that, Gatishakti-National Master Plan will be announced soon.
• Prime Minister also noted that, India needs to increase both manufacturing and exports. 
• Each of the product that are sold globally from India is attached to India. 
• Thus, every product of yours is a brand ambassador for India.
• Focus areas of the initiative:
• Gati Shakti plan will help in raising global profile of local manufacturers.
• It will also help manufacturers to compete with their counterparts cross the world.
• It also increases the possibilities of new future economic zones.

Highlights:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his address on 75th Independence Day celebration, announced that Sainik Schools across India will now be open for female students as well.
• This decision was taken following the messages from lakhs of female students that they also want to study in Sainik School.
• Girls were first allowed in Sainik schools of Mizoram about 2.5 years ago.
• Sainik Schools are system of schools that was established and managed by Sainik Schools Society. 
• It comes under Ministry of Defence (MoD). 
• Establishment of sainik schools was led by V. K. Krishna Menon in 1961, who was the then Defence Minister of India.
• Sainik Schools were established in order to rectify regional and class imbalance amongst Officer cadre of Indian Military. 
• Schools were opened to prepare students mentally and physically to enter into the National Defence Academy (NDA) and Indian Naval Academy (INA).
• As of now, there were 33 Sainik Schools. 
• Now, MoD is set to establish 100 more boarding Sainik Schools in public–private partnership (PPP) mode.
• MoD run Sainik Schools in association with the respective state governments. 
• MoD provides funding and serving officers for the post of Principal while, State governments provide land, infrastructure and teaching & administrative employees.

Highlights:

• HCL Technologies’ market capitalization (market-cap) touched Rs.3 trillion for the first time. 
• HCL turned into the fourth Indian statistics science (IT) company to gain this milestone after Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Infosys and Wipro.
• Shares of HCL Tech hit a fresh document high of Rs.1,118.55, up 2 % on the BSE in intra-day trade, surpassing its previous high of Rs. 1,101 touched on twelfth Aug in intra-day deal.
• HCL Tech is the third-largest Indian IT services organization by revenue, after TCS and Infosys.
• The business enterprise has a robust globally various presence and provides comprehensive IT services to an hooked up consumer base. 
• It has a robust understanding of engineering and R&D services and its clients unfold 3 across enterprise segments.

Highlights:         

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi while addressing the state on August 15, highlighted India’s target to end up ‘energy independent’ by 2047, when India will be celebrating its centesimal year of Independence.
• India ambitions to become energy independent through a combination of electric powered mobility, gas-based economy and mixing ethanol in petrol.
• The Prime Minister highlighted his target of making India a hub for hydrogen production.
• Currently, India spends extra than Rs 12 lakh crore on power imports per year.
• Presently, India has executed the target of one hundred gigawatts of renewable electricity capability lots before the set target.
• Energy Policy of India is described by expanding the strength deficit and improving the center of attention of India on creating alternative sources of electricity like nuclear, solar and wind energy. 
• As of 2017, India has attained 63% overall electricity self-sufficiency.
• Primary energy consumption in India has accelerated by 2.3% in 2019.
• It has ended up the 0.33 biggest patron after China and the USA, with a global share of 5.8%.
• India’s net import: As of 2018, India’s internet imports were about 205.3 million tons of crude oil and its products, 26.3 Mtoe of LNG and 141.7 Mtoe coal.
• They totalled 46.13% of total most important strength consumption.
• India is generally structured on fossil gas imports to meet its domestic energy demands.
• As per reports, India’s dependence on strength imports is expected to exceed 53% by 2030.

Highlights:

• Mohammad Azam from Karimnagar in Telangana has been awarded the National Youth Award by the Youth Affairs & Sports Minister Anurag Singh Thakur in Delhi for displaying exemplary management qualities.
•  Mohammad Azam has carried out a few attention programmes related to blood donation, organ donation and plantation programmes under the Haritha Haram project.
• The award includes an understanding certificate and Rs 50,000 cash.
• Apart from these, he has additionally laboured on water conservation, development of soaking pits works related to the Swachh Bharat mission & authorities welfare schemes for the advantage of the people in quite a several villages.
• He received the Indira Gandhi NSS Award from then Indian President Pranab Mukherjee.
• He was awarded the Pratibha Puraskar award using the State authorities in the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh and the Rashtriya Gaurav Samman Award.

Highlights:

• Actor-producer Priyanka Chopra Jonas used to be introduced as the chairperson of the Jio MAMI Film Festival.
• Nearly four months ago, Deepika Padukone stepped down from the position.
• The Mumbai Academy of Moving Image (MAMI) unveiled its plans for the coming year, version and the trade-in leadership. 
• Priyanka was once unanimously nominated with the aid of MAMI’s Board of Trustees which contains Nita M Ambani (Co-Chairperson), Anupama Chopra (Festival Director), Ajay Bijli, Anand G. Mahindra, Farhan Akhtar, Isha Ambani, Kabir Khan, Kaustubh Dhavse, Kiran Rao, Rana Daggubati, Riteish Deshmukh, Rohan Sippy, Siddharth Roy Kapur, Vikramaditya Motwane, Vishal Bhardwaj and Zoya Akhtar.

Highlights:

• According to the 2021 Global Crypto Adoption Index by blockchain information platform Chainalysis, India has ranked 2nd in terms of crypto adoption internationally behind Vietnam, but ahead of international locations such as the US, UK, and China. 

• This comes even as worldwide crypto adoption grew by 880% between June 2020 and July 2021, in accordance to the report.
• A document by US-based research platform Finder released this month corroborated that the pinnacle 5 countries in terms of crypto adoption had been all from Asia.
• The business enterprise surveyed 47,000 users internationally and 30% of those surveyed in India stated they owned cryptocurrencies.
• Bitcoin is the most popular coin in our country India, observed by using Ripple, Ethereum and Bitcoin Cash.
• Crypto adoption in India has been led by smaller cities in the country. 
• The biggest crypto change in the country through trading volume.
• ,It had considered extra than 2,648% growth in consumer sign-ups from tier II and tier III cities in India.

Highlights:

• World’s largest and tallest observation wheel, called Ain Dubai, will be opened in the UAE on October 21, 2021.
• This observation wheel will the latest addition to the long list of record-breaking attractions in Dubai.

• Ain Dubai is about 42.5m taller than the London Eye. It will take visitors to the height of 250 metres in order for them to enjoy the majestic view of Dubai’s picturesque skyline.
• It is located at Bluewaters Island, near Dubai Marina.
• It can carry up to 1,400 passengers in its 48 capsules, providing views of Dubai Marina, Burj Al Arab, Palm Jumeirah, and Burj Khalifa.
• Its base will act as an entertainment zone.
• It will also comprise of an 80-metre LED screen to create an electronic platform to broadcast, advertise and other information.
• This observation wheel will offer dining in the sky and other exclusive celebration packages for corporate and event offerings.
• In all, the wheel will be bringing more than 19 customisable experiences against the backdrop of Dubai skyline.
• It will offer experiences like one rotation of about 38 minutes and two rotations of about 76 minutes.
• Visitors will also have the access to their private cabin that will provide full exclusivity.
• It will also be providing unique celebration packages for engagements, birthdays, weddings and business functions.
• Private cabins can be customised in order to get all sorts of events like intimate celebrations and cultural festivities to treat VIP guests.
• This 250 m high observation wheel at Bluewaters Island was announced in February 2013. Primary design and construction contractors were Hyundai Engineering & Construction and Starneth Engineering. Its construction was started in May 2015.

Highlights:

• According to Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, Anupriya Patel, India is likely to export USD 46 billion to ASEAN in financial year 2022.
• India-ASEAN Engineering Partnership Summit was inaugurated on August 23, 2021.

• It was organised by the Engineering Exports Promotion Council (EEPC) in association with the Ministry of External Affairs and Department of Commerce.
• While addressing the inaugural session, the minister noted that, ASEAN is one among the largest destinations for Indian exports and will act as an important region for India in meeting the global export target of USD 400 billion for the financial year 2021-22.
• An E-Book on India-ASEAN trade and investment was also launched that emphasizes on the engineering and MSME sector.
• Year 2021 marks the 25th anniversary of India-ASEAN dialogue partnership and 10 years of the Strategic Partnership.
• India and ASEAN have large share of skilled population, robust service as well as manufacturing sectors. They also have several complementary sectors and products that can help in greater cooperation. Both India and ASEAN have a combined economy of around USD 5.8 trillion. 
• Thus, there is significant potential to enhance trade and investment partnership.
• For the fiscal year 2021-22, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set a target of USD 400 billion of merchandise exports. 
• He has also envisioned a roadmap to achieve this target. 
• Under the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan, Central government recently approved a USD 26 billion Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme. 
• It covers 13 sectors like pharmaceuticals, electronics, solar modules, automobiles, speciality steel, and medical devices to attract investment and enhance India’s manufacturing capabilities.

Highlights:

• NITI Aayog and Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) will launch the first edition of the North Eastern Region District Sustainable Development (NERDSD) Goal Index Report and Dashboard 2021-22 on the August 26, 2021.
• This will be first of its kind region-wide district SDG index in India.
• Launch of NERDSD goal index report is also a milestone in the efforts towards localising Sustainable Development Goals across 120 Districts of the north-eastern states of India namely Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Manipur, Meghalaya, Sikkim, Nagaland and Tripura.
• This index has been prepared by collaborative efforts of NITI Aayog and DoNER Ministry.
• It has been prepared on the basis of NITI Aayog’s SDG India Index.
• Objectives:
• The index will be launched in order to facilitate a platform to identify crucial gaps and inform interventions in order to fast track progress towards achieving the SDGs. 
• It will measure the performance of the districts across eight States.
• Technical Support for the index and dashboard will be provided by United Nation Development Programme.

Highlights:

• Maharashtra government launched a special mission called “Mission Vatsalya” in order to help women who lost their husbands to COVID-19.
• Mission Vatsalya will provide several services and some 18 benefits under one roof to those women.
• It been designed for widows, with special focus on widows coming from rural areas, poor backgrounds and deprived sections.
• Under this mission, schemes like Sanjay Gandhi Niradhar Yojana and Gharkul Yojana will benefit those for women.
• Amid the covid-19 pandemic, about 15,095 women lost their husbands in last 18 months. District Task Force has listed 14,661 such women in order to provide them benefits of the scheme.
• This mission is being implemented by women and child development (WCD) Department. 
• Officers from WCD department, child development project officers, Anganwadi workers and local unit officers are visiting homes these women to provide them services. 
• As of now, WCD department has reached out to 10,500 women.
• Maharashtra witnessed some 4,355 new coronavirus cases and 119 fatalities on August 24, 2021. 
• As of August 24, infection tally stands at 64,32,649 and while total reported death at 1,36,355.

Highlights:

• The Drugs Controller General of India (DGCI) gave nod for Phase-2 and Phase-3 trails of India’s first mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine.
• First mRNA-based covid-19 vaccine, called HGCO19, is being developed by a Pune-based biotechnology company, Genova Biopharmaceuticals Ltd.
• The company submitted its interim clinical data for Phase I study to the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) to get the further approval.
• According to the Ministry of Science and Technology, interim Phase- I data suggests that HGCO19 vaccine is safe, tolerable, and immunogenic.

• India’s first mRNA vaccine candidate, HGCO19 has been developed by Gennova Biopharmaceuticals Ltd. in collaboration with HDT Biotech Corporation of USA. 
• Vaccine has demonstrated safety, immunogenicity, neutralization antibody activities among rodent and non-human primate models. 
• It has successfully conducted the phase one trial and will undergo phase 2 and phase 3 trials.

• m-RNA Vaccines work by training the body in order to recognise and respond to the proteins that are produced by disease-causing organisms like virus or bacteria. mRNA vaccines trick the body to produce viral proteins itself. 
• They work by using messenger RNA (m-RNA) which is the molecule that puts DNA instructions into action. mRNA is used as a template to build protein inside a cell.

Highlights:

• The NITI Aayog and a US-based tech giant, Cisco launched the next phase of the Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) on August 26, 2021.
• This phase of the WEP has been titled as ‘WEPNxt’.
• It will leverage technology from Cisco and experience working with India’s start-up ecosystem in order to enable more women-owned businesses in India.

• Cisco, in collaboration with Sattva Consulting, Nasscom Foundation, and DeAsra Foundation, will enable technology-led experiences and engagements in a bid to address the challenges that women entrepreneurs face at individual as well as enterprise levels.
• According to the Sixth Economic Census, women only comprise of 13.76 per cent of the total entrepreneurs, amounting to 8.05 million out of total 58.5 million entrepreneurs in India.
• WEP Nxt will catalyse women entrepreneur movement. 
• This technology platform will soon become a personalised guide for every woman entrepreneur in India and help them to realise her dreams. It is a significant step to augment these efforts. 
• It will be driven by evidence-based decision making on the basis of focused study of Indian women entrepreneurs and their urgent needs

• Community and networking,
• Skilling and mentorship,
• Incubation and acceleration programs,
• Financial, compliance, and marketing assistance.

• WEP is a first of its kind unified access portal. 
• It brings women from different parts of India together and help them to realise their entrepreneurial aspirations. 
• Platform was launched by the NITI Aayog in 2017. 
• It brings together women from diverse backgrounds and provides them access to multiple resources, support, and learning.

Highlights:

• According to Reserve Bank of India (RBI) , it set to launch the trial program of its digital currency by December 2021.
• Currently, RBI is working on bringing its Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) in a phased manner.
• RBI is working on CBDC carefully because it is a new product for RBI as well as for the whole world.
• RBI is also studying different aspects of digital currency and investigating its security as well as its impact on the financial sector of the country.
• Its impact on monetary policy and the currency in the system is also being studied.

• According to BIS survey of central banks, conducted in 2021, 86% of the banks are currently examining the potential of CBDC. 
• 60% of central banks are testing the technology while 14% are running the pilot project.
• Countries are bringing virtual currency because, use of paper currency is decreasing. 
• Digital currency or currency in electronic mode is more acceptable. 
• As per RBI, in countries like Denmark, Germany, Japan and America, cash transactions are very high for purchases and transactions. 
• Thus, central banks there are seeks to introduce electronic currency in order to improve method of issuing legal tender currency.

• CBDC is a type of virtual currency, which is issued by the Central Bank. 
• This currency is the digital version of paper currency note. 
• This currency is being developed across many countries of the world and some countries are carrying trial.

Highlights:

• The Oil giant company, Indian Oil will build India’s first Green Hydrogen Plant at Mathura refinery.
• This plant will be an addition in order to expand the existing crude oil refining capacity by 25 million tonnes per annum.

• Indian Oil has been pursuing its ambitious plans of hydrogen production across various types such as in renewable power to generate green hydrogen.
• Recently, Indian oil conducted a recent hydrogen fuel cell experiment in Delhi, in which 50 CNG BS-IV buses were converted to run on HCNG fuel. 
• This experiment has revealed significant benefits in reducing exhaust emissions and improving fuel economy.
• Indian Oil is also in process to set up one-tonne per day capacity pilot plants on the basis of four innovative hydrogen production technologies.
• It will also operate 15 fuel cell buses in Delhi-National Capital Region along with Tata Motors.
• Indian Oil- India’s largest fuel refiner and crude oil importer- in not only developing hydrogen fuel but also plans to expand biofuel manufacturing. 
• In order to strengthen environmental stewardship, company is setting second (2G) and a third generation (3G) ethanol plant at Panipat Refinery. 
• 2G plant will have the capacity of 100 Kilolitre per day and will use rice straw to produce ethanol.
• Mathura Refinery is the 6th refinery owned by Indian Oil Corporation and is located in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh. 
• It processes low sulphur crude from Bombay High, high sulphur code from Middle east and imported low sulphur crude from Nigeria. 

Highlights:

• Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has launched the India’s first ‘Quantum Computer Simulator (QSim) Toolkit’.
• QSim is the first-of-its-kind toolkit, indigenously developed in India.
• It meant to be a vital tool of learning and understanding the practical aspects of programming with the help of Quantum Computers. 
• It will thus bring about a new era of Quantum Computing research in India.
• This toolkit has been developed jointly by scientists of IIT Roorkee, C-DAC and IISc Bangalore.
• It was developed with the support and funding of MeitY.

• This toolkit was launched in order to enable researchers and students to do research in Quantum Computing in a cost-effective manner.
• It allows researchers and students to write and debug Quantum Code which is essential to develop Quantum Algorithms.
• It can serve as the essential educational and research tool to provide an excellent way to attract students and researchers towards the Quantum Technology.
• QSim creates a platform which will helps students and users to acquire skills of programming and designing real Quantum Hardware.
• Most unique feature of QSim is its Intuitive User Interface. 
• This interface offers a robust Quantum Computer Simulator along with a Graphical User Interface based Workbench in an integrated manner in order to create Quantum programs and visualize instant circuit generation simulated outputs.

• Quantum Computing perform a variety of tasks in a faster manner and efficiently than present-day computers by utilizing the power of Quantum Mechanics. 
• It is used in the fields of cryptography, machine learning, and computational chemistry.

Highlights:

• Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Anurag Singh Thakur, launched the Fit India Mobile Application on the occasion of celebrating second anniversary of Fit India Movement.
• Application was launched as part of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi on the occasion of National Sports Day on August 29, 2021.
• On the occasion, Ministers virtually interacted with Indian Hockey team captain Manpreet Singh, pilot Captain Anny Divya, wrestler Sangram Singh, journalist Ayaz Memon etc.

• Fit India App is free and available in English & Hindi on the Android and the iOS platforms. 
• It was developed in a way that it works even on basic smartphones. 
• This app will bring ease of checking one’s fitness levels. 
• It comprises of unique features such as fitness score, activity trackers, animated videos, and my plan in accordance with the individual specific needs.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the age-appropriate fitness protocols in the year 2020. 
• These protocols are certified by World Health Organisation (WHO). 
• A fitness mantra “FITNESS KI DOSE, AADHA GHANTA ROZ” was also dedicated to nation.
• Fit India Movement:
• This movement was launched by PM Modi on August 29, 2019 on the occasion of National Sports Day. 
• It was launched with the aim of making fitness an integral part of lives of every Indian. 
• Fit India was first established by Suparno Satpathy in 1993 and was incorporated as a company in the year 2000.

Highlights:

• International Day against Nuclear Tests observed on August 29
• This event is organised with the aim of bringing about awareness regarding the harmful effects of testing nuclear weapons and calls to end such tests.
• The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) established and adopted the International Day against Nuclear Tests in December 2, 2009 in its 64th session. 
• This resolution was initiated by Kazakhstan to mark the 18th anniversary of the closing of USSR-controlled Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test Site in 1991 at Kazakhstan.
• This day highlights the urgency of ban on all forms of nuclear weapons tests and its use by any country. 
• The signatories of the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons Treaty pledged to secure peace and security from the threat of nuclear weapons.

Highlights:

• According to Chief minister, Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi has surpassed the megacities like Shanghai, New York and London in having the greatest number of CCTV cameras installed per square mile.
• CM cited a Forbes India report on most surveilled cities across the world.
• Forbes India report has ut Delhi on the top with 1,826.6 CCTV cameras per square mile.
• Delhi is followed by London with 1,138 cameras per square mile.
• Chennai was placed at third place with 609.9 CCTV cameras.
• Report placed Mumbai at 18th place with 157.4 CCTV cameras per square mile.
• Delhi was ranked at 1 among 150 cities of the world. 
• Delhi has three times more CCTV cameras than Chennai and 11 times more than Mumbai.

• The CCTV project was launched under the larger action plan of government to enhance women safety Delhi. 
• This project was also the main aspects of the manifesto of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in 2020 assembly elections. 
• In the first phase of this project, government installed about 275,000 cameras in city. 
• Currently, second phase of the project is running under which government has aimed to install 140,000 cameras in city.
• All the CCTV feeds are highly secure. Its hardware is monitored by the community. 
• These feeds are accessible only to authorised users. 
• CCTV system itself is capable of automatic health check-ups that in turn detect disturbances and intrusions.

Highlights:

• National Small Industry Day is observed every year on August 30.
• It main aim is to recognise the value of small businesses existing in India.
• It is an annual celebration dedicated to encouraging small businesses across the country.
• This day is observed with the objective of encouraging small businesses and offering job opportunities to the jobless.

• Small-scale sector plays key role in economic growth of the developing nation like India. 
• Considering the strategic relevance of these sectors, special emphasis is placed on its development. 
• Thus, the trend of government policy assistance for small industry has been beneficial and favourable for the growth of small-scale enterprises.
• Ministry of Small-Scale Industries (SSI) had launched a comprehensive policy package for SSI Sector on August 30, 2000. This policy provides significant support to small firms in India. 
• Ministry subsequently agreed to designate August 30 as “SSI Day”. Ministry held an SSI Convention for SSI Entrepreneurs in New Delhi and presentation of National Awards function on August 30, 2001. 
• This program was divided into three parts viz., Inauguration, Distribution of National Awards, and Open House Discussion.