Daily Current Affairs 12th Aug, 2024: Your guide for daily General Knowledge Preparation
Dear Readers,
This post contains important current affairs of 12th Aug, 2024. It includes all Major National, International, Business and Sports related current affairs of 12th Aug, 2024. A brief explanation of every current affair is provided to further enhance your general knowledge. Once you have gone through these current affairs we would recommend to you to try 12th Aug, 2024 Current affairs test.
National News
Neelakurinji: The Threatened Purple Bloom of the Western Ghats
- The Neelakurinji (Strobilanthes kunthiana), a unique flowering shrub native to the high-altitude grasslands of southwest India, has been recently listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.
- Renowned for its mass blooming once every 12 years, this plant has now been classified as Vulnerable according to IUCN standards.
Implementation of RTE and Budget Allocation for Education
- As of August 7, 2024, the states of Punjab, Telangana, Kerala, and West Bengal have yet to enforce the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009. Union Minister of State for Education, Jayant Chowdhary, revealed this information in the Rajya Sabha.
- Education falls under the concurrent list, allowing states the authority to establish rules under the RTE Act, but these states have not yet taken such steps.
SAMEER Transfers Microwave Sugar Measurement Technology to Private Firms
- The Society for Applied Microwave Electronics Engineering & Research (SAMEER), a research institute under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), has signed a Transfer of Technology (ToT) agreement with Toshniwal Hyvac Pvt. Ltd. and Sir Automation Industries.
- This agreement paves the way for the large-scale production of an advanced Microwave-Based Brix Measurement System, designed to measure sugar concentration (Brix) in real-time during sugar production.
India Strengthens Nuclear Submarine Capabilities
- India is close to commissioning its second nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, INS Arighat, and has received approval for the construction of six additional nuclear submarines to bolster its maritime defense.
- The Indian Navy is gearing up for the commissioning of INS Arighat, its second nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), which is nearing the end of its trials and upgrades.
Government Reinstates Diamond Imprest Licence for Gems and Jewellery Sector
- Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has announced the reinstatement of the Diamond Imprest Licence, a move intended to revitalize India’s gems and jewellery sector.
- This decision was made during the India International Jewellery Show (IIJS) 2024, organized by the Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC). The policy change is expected to address challenges related to diamond imports and boost India’s export competitiveness.
International News
India and New Zealand Sign Bilateral Customs Cooperation Agreement
- India and New Zealand have signed a Bilateral Customs Cooperation Arrangement to simplify trade between the two countries.
- The agreement was signed in Wellington on August 8, 2024, during President Droupadi Murmu’s official visit to New Zealand.
Business News
UPI Merchant Transactions in Nepal Surpass 100,000 Milestone
- NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) has reached a significant milestone by exceeding 100,000 cross-border Unified Payments Interface (UPI) Person-to-Merchant (P2M) transactions in Nepal, according to a statement by NIPL.
- NIPL is the international arm of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).
Appointments News
T.V. Somanathan Appointed as New Cabinet Secretary
- Senior IAS Officer T.V. Somanathan has been appointed as the new Cabinet Secretary of India, succeeding Rajiv Gauba, whose term concludes this month.
- Somanathan is set to begin his two-year tenure on August 30, 2024, and will also serve as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the Cabinet Secretariat until he officially assumes the role of Cabinet Secretary.
Awards News
Shah Rukh Khan Receives Lifetime Achievement Award at Locarno Film Festival
- Bollywood’s iconic actor, Shah Rukh Khan, known as ‘King Khan,’ was honored with a career achievement award at the 77th Locarno Film Festival on August 10, 2024.
- He delivered an inspiring acceptance speech to an audience of 8,000 at Locarno’s famous Piazza Grande.
Books and Authors News
Launch of ‘75 Great Revolutionaries of India’
- Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh attended the launch of ‘75 Great Revolutionaries of India,’ a book authored by MP Bhim Singh.
- Singh commended the book for shedding light on lesser-known freedom fighters, with the aim of inspiring a more developed India by recognizing these historical sacrifices.
Agreements News
MEA and NSIL Sign MoU for Launch of Nepalese Munal Satellite
- The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), the commercial arm of ISRO, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to facilitate the launch of Nepal’s Munal satellite.
- The MoU was signed on Saturday, with Anurag Srivastava, Joint Secretary (North) from MEA, and Arunachalam A, Director from NSIL, representing their respective organizations.
Defence News
Exercise Udara Shakti 2024: Strengthening Indo-Malaysian Air Force Cooperation
- The bilateral air exercise “Udara Shakti 2024” between the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) concluded successfully on August 9, 2024.
- Held at the RMAF base in Kuantan, Malaysia, this exercise marked a significant milestone in military cooperation between the two nations.
Obituaries
Former YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki Passes Away After Battle with Cancer
- Susan Wojcicki, a trailblazer in the tech industry and former CEO of YouTube, passed away at the age of 56 following a two-year battle with cancer. Her death was confirmed by her husband, Dennis Troper, on August 9, 2024.
- Susan Wojcicki was a prominent American business executive who served as the CEO of YouTube from 2014 to 2023, with her net worth estimated at $765 million in 2022.
Former External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh Passes Away
- Former External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh passed away at the age of 95 on August 10, 2024, after a prolonged illness.
- He passed away at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram near Delhi, where he had been hospitalized for the past few weeks.
Important Days
World Biofuel Day 2024: Promoting Sustainable Energy Solutions
- World Biofuel Day is observed annually on August 10th to commemorate the pioneering achievement of German engineer Sir Rudolf Diesel, who successfully ran an engine using peanut oil on August 9, 1893.
- This day serves as a global platform to emphasize the importance of biofuels as a sustainable energy source, highlighting their potential in combating climate change and reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
International Youth Day 2024: Date, Theme, and History
- International Youth Day is observed each year on August 12th, celebrating the contributions of young people to society and addressing the challenges they face. The day also aims to raise awareness of socio-economic and socio-political issues affecting youth worldwide.
- The theme for 2024, “From Clicks to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development,” underscores the vital role digital technologies play in advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
