CURRENT GK
1.Shikhar Dhawan and K.L Rahul achieve career-best rankings :-
K.L. Rahul broke into the top ten at 9th, while Shikhar Dhawan also attained a career-high position of 28th in the latest ICC Test rankings after India’s clean-sweep of Sri Lanka in a three-match series.
Left-hander Dhawan, who top-scored with 119 in the final Test in Pallekele, has moved up 10 places to 28th position after India won inside three days yesterday.
2.PM addresses nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on 71st Independence Day :-
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today addressed the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the 71st Independence Day.
The Prime Minister recalled the great women and men who worked hard for India’s freedom. He said the people of India stand shoulder to shoulder with those affected due to natural disasters, and the tragedy in Gorakhpur.
3.PM launches website to honour gallantry award winners :-
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has launched a new website today to honour all the gallantry award winners since Independence.
Announcing the launch of the website http://gallantryawards.gov.in/ in a series of tweets, the Prime Minister said the portal will preserve and tell the stories of our bravest men and women, civilians as well as armed forces personnel.
4.Assam, Manipur can now decide on AFSPA :-
The Union Home Ministry is set to give up its power to impose the ‘disturbed areas’ tag on Assam and Manipur, both ruled by the BJP. The move effectively means it will be the States’ decision to either continue the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) or revoke it.
As per Section 3 of the AFSPA, it can be invoked in places where “the use of armed forces in aid of the civil power is necessary.”
5.Indian troops foil China’s incursion bid in Ladakh :-
Indian border guards on Tuesday frustrated an attempt by Chinese soldiers to enter Indian territory along the banks of famous Pangong lake in Ladakh resulting in stone pelting that caused minor injuries to people on both sides, officials said.
Soldiers of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) tried to enter the Indian side in two areas — Finger Four and Finger Five — twice between 6 am and 9 am. But on both the occasions their attempts were thwarted by alert Indian troops, they said.
- India-ASEAN Youth Summit to be held in Bhopal :-
The event is being organised by Foreign Ministry, Madhya Pradesh government and India Foundation.
The exercise will mark the 25th anniversary of the ASEAN-India dialogue partnership in the ongoing year and also the commemorative year’s theme of “Shared Values, Common Destiny”.
7.In Japan, wood is the new steel :-
The global push among carmakers to make ever lighter vehicles is leading some auto suppliers in Japan to turn to what seems like an unlikely substitute for steel — wood.
Japanese researchers and auto component makers say a material made from wood pulp weighs just one fifth of steel and can be five times stronger.
The material — cellulose nanofibres — could become a viable alternative to steel in the decades ahead, they say, although it faces competition from carbon-based materials, and remains a long way from being commercially viable.
- Vempati given additional charge of RS TV :-
Shashi Shekhar Vempati, chief executive officer (CEO) at public broadcaster Prasar Bharati has been appointed as the chief of Rajya Sabha TV.
Founded in 2008, Rajya Sabha TV is owned and operated by Rajya Sabha and covers the proceedings of the upper house of the Parliament.
9.India take series with 2-1 win over Netherlands :-
Gurjant Singh and Mandeep Singh scored a goal apiece as a resolute Indian men’s hockey team overcome world No. 4 Netherlands 2-1 in an exciting encounter in Amsterdam.
Led by Manpreet Singh, the team last night featured nine players from the junior team, but still beat an experienced Netherlands squad through goals from Gurjant (4th minute) and Mandeep (51).
India, thus, won the three-match series.
10.India, China to join Indian Ocean exercise :-
Indian Navy would join the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy in a maiden maritime search and rescue exercise to be chaired by Bangladesh at the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) in November this year.
Bangladesh, the current Chair, is scheduling a maiden International Maritime Search and Rescue Exercise (IMMSAREX) in November in the Bay of Bengal to be attended by ships and aircraft of the members and observers of the IONS.
The IONS is a regional forum of Indian Ocean littoral states, represented by their Navy chiefs, launched by India in February 2008. It presently has 23 members and nine observers.
11.Swine flu scare: No morning assembly in U.P. schools :-
The Uttar Pradesh government has asked all schools in the State to put on hold morning assemblies from August 16 to prevent the spread of swine flu.
“An advisory has been sent to all the District Magistrates and Commissioners in the State asking them to put on hold morning assembly prayers in all private and government schools in view of the swine flu scare,” Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, Prashant Trivedi told PTI on Tuesday.
12.India, Russia to hold mega war games in October :-
In the midst of evolving security situation in the region, India and Russia will hold a mega war game in October involving their armies, navies and the air forces for the first time to further ramp up military ties.
The exercise Indra, which will be held in Russia from October 19 to 29, will primarily focus on achieving coordination between forces of the two countries in a tri- services integrated theatre command scenario.
13.External portfolio investors invested $ 19 billion in Indian debt market :-
Foreign portfolio investors have invested over $ 19 billion in record investments in Indian debt market. After cutting policy rates in the MPC, which has been deposited by the Reserve Bank of India on August 2, Rs 10,000 crore has been invested in the Indian debt market this month. However, for details, let us know that due to high valuation of shares, FPI has withdrawn Rs 2000 crore from the shares during this period.
- World Athletics Championships; Usain Bolt and Mo Farah bid farewell :-
In World Athletics Championships, sprint superstar Usain Bolt could not finish the last race of his illustrious career in London.
Bolt, was on tracks in the 4×100 meters Final, anchoring one last time for his country Jamaica. The event was won by hosts Great Britain, who clocked 37.47 seconds.
15.Theatre personality Shobha Sen dies :-
Shobha Sen, veteran theatre personality and wife of late thespian Utpal Dutt, passed away here this morning. She was 93.
She had acted in many productions of the group, including “Barricade”, “Tiner Taloyar” and “Titumir”.
