Current Affairs - August 10, 2023 Current Affairs

The Telangana government launched the Gruha Lakshmi Scheme 2023 to provide financial assistance to women from marginalized communities for housing purposes. The scheme was launched on March 8, 2023, on the occasion of International Women's Day. Under the scheme, women from SC, ST, and BC communities who are the heads of their households can avail a financial assistance of up to Rs. 3 lakhs for building or improving their homes. The interest rate on the loan is 6% per annum and the repayment period is 15 years.

India secured the 6th position in the South Asia region according to the Internet Resilience Index released by the Internet Society, indicating its performance in terms of Internet ecosystem factors.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has earned a surplus of $1.5 billion during the five years from 2017-2021. This is according to the BCCI's annual report for the fiscal year 2021-22. The report states that the BCCI's revenue during this period was $5.5 billion, and its expenses were $4 billion. This resulted in a surplus of $1.5 billion.

Amit Jhingran has been appointed as the new MD and CEO of SBI Life Insurance. He has over three decades of experience in the insurance sector and has held several positions at SBI Life, including Assistant General Manager of the Hyderabad Circle and CEO of SBI, Chicago. He is a graduate of Economics from Delhi University and holds an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad.

The Srinagar district has secured the top rank nationwide in the successful execution of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), surpassing 114 Har Ghar Jal-certified villages across the country. This was announced by the Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS) on June 30, 2023.

The Indian School of Business (ISB) has partnered with the Government of Goa to start a knowledge partnership. This partnership will focus on advancing evidence-based policy formulation and fostering impactful governance in the state of Goa. The partnership will involve the Bharti Institute of Public Policy, a renowned think tank under ISB.

According to the report on the Asian Elephant population and demography in 2023, the state of Karnataka has the highest elephant population in India, with an estimated 6,395 elephants. This is followed by Assam (5,719 elephants), Kerala (3,054 elephants), and Tamil Nadu (2,961 elephants).

The main objective of the Delhi Services Bill is to give the central government control over the appointment, transfer, and posting of all bureaucrats in the Delhi government. This is a significant change from the current system, under which the Delhi government has control over these matters. The bill has been passed by the Indian Parliament, and it is now law. It is expected to have a major impact on the governance of Delhi.

Bihar emerged as the leading state with the most number of beneficiaries (84,89,231 individuals) under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana for the fiscal year 2022-23, highlighting the scheme's success in promoting financial inclusion.

The Indian Constitution has 448 articles in 25 parts and 12 schedules. It was originally adopted on January 26, 1950, and had 395 articles in 22 parts and 8 schedules. Since then, it has been amended 105 times. The latest amendment was made in 2021.

The Indira Gandhi Free Smartphone Yojana 2023 is being implemented by the Rajasthan government to provide free smartphones to women in the state.

Australia's involvement in the AUKUS pact includes its potential role as a testing ground for advanced weaponry, in addition to financial contributions, to counter China's influence in the Asia-Pacific region.

The Nile River is the longest in the world. It is about 6,650 kilometres long and flows through 11 countries in Africa: Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan, Sudan, and Egypt. The Nile River is a major source of water and transportation for many of these countries.

The government has planned to offer 15000 scholarships ranging from Rs.75,000 to Rs.1,25,000 per year to class 9-12 meritorious students through the PM YASASVI Scholarship test. The scholarship is open to students from all over India who belong to the OBC, EBC, DNT, and other reserved categories. The students must have scored at least 60% marks in their class 10th exams to be eligible for the scholarship. The scholarship will be awarded based on a merit-based entrance examination that will be conducted by the NTA. The examination will be held on August 14th, 2023.

Russia is launching its lunar landing spacecraft, Luna-25, as part of its efforts to explore the Moon, reflecting global interest in lunar exploration.

GSAT-24 is a 4-tonne class communication satellite built by ISRO to provide DTH services. It was launched on June 22, 2022, and is owned and operated by NewSpace India Limited (NSIL). The satellite is specifically designed to meet the DTH application needs of Tata Play.

Airtel Payments Bank launched India's first eco-friendly debit card in August 2023. The debit cards are made from recycled PVC material, which is a certified eco-friendly material. This makes Airtel Payments Bank the first Indian bank to launch an eco-friendly debit card.

China, the world's second-largest economy, is experiencing deflation, marked by a decline in general price levels, raising concerns about its economic outlook and necessitating strong policy measures. In July 2023, China's consumer price index (CPI) fell by 0.3% year-on-year, marking its first decrease since February 2021. This was followed by a further decline in the CPI in August, to 0.5% year-on-year. The producer price index (PPI) also fell in July, by 0.8% year-on-year.

The President of Pakistan dissolved the country's parliament on the recommendation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. This was a significant political development, as it sets the stage for a national election in Pakistan. The dissolution of the parliament comes at a critical juncture, as Pakistan is facing both political and economic challenges