Daily Current Affairs 12th August 2024, Important News Headlines (Daily GK Update)

National News

Implementation of RTE and Budget Allocation for Education

As of August 7, 2024, the states of Punjab, Telangana, Kerala, and West Bengal have not yet implemented the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009. This information was shared by Union Minister of State for Education, Jayant Chowdhary, in the Rajya Sabha. Education falls under the concurrent list, allowing states to create their own rules under the RTE Act, but these states have not done so yet.

SAMEER Transfers Microwave Sugar Measurement Tech to Private Firms

The Society for Applied Microwave Electronics Engineering & Research (SAMEER), an R&D 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 will enable the large-scale production of a Microwave-Based Brix Measurement System, which measures sugar concentration (Brix) in real-time during sugar production.

India Advances Nuclear Submarine Capabilities

India is about to commission its second nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, INS Arighat, and has received approval to build six more nuclear submarines to strengthen its maritime defense. The Indian Navy is preparing to commission INS Arighat, which is nearing the end of its trials and upgrades.

Government Restores Diamond Imprest Licence for Gems and Jewellery Sector

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has announced the restoration of the Diamond Imprest Licence to boost 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). This policy change aims to address issues related to diamond imports and improve India’s export competitiveness.

International News

India-New Zealand Sign Bilateral Customs Cooperation Agreement

India and New Zealand have signed a Bilateral Customs Cooperation Arrangement to make trade between the two countries easier. 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 Cross 100000 Milestone

NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) has achieved a significant milestone by surpassing 100,000 cross-border Unified Payments Interface (UPI) Person-to-Merchant (P2M) transactions in Nepal. 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, taking over from Rajiv Gauba, whose term ends this month. Somanathan will start his two-year term 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

“King Khan” Receives Lifetime Award At Locarno Film Festival

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, also known as “King Khan,” received a lifetime achievement award at the 77th Locarno Film Festival on August 10. He delivered his acceptance speech to an audience of 8,000 at Locarno’s famous Piazza Grande.

Books and Authors News

Book Launch Spotlight: ’75 Great Revolutionaries of India’

Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh attended the launch of the book ’75 Great Revolutionaries of India,’ written by MP Bhim Singh. Singh praised the book for highlighting lesser-known freedom fighters and said it aims to inspire a developed India by recognizing 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 launch 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 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. The exercise, hosted by the RMAF at its base in Kuantan, Malaysia, marked a significant milestone in military cooperation between the two countries.

Obituaries

Former YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki Passes Away After Battle With Cancer

Susan Wojcicki, a pioneering figure in the tech industry and former CEO of YouTube, passed away at the age of 56 after a two-year battle with cancer. Her husband, Dennis Troper, confirmed the news on August 9. Susan was the CEO of YouTube from 2014 to 2023 and had a net worth estimated at $765 million in 2022.

Former Foreign Minister Natwar Singh Passes Away

Former External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh passed away at the age of 95 due to a prolonged illness on August 10. He took his last breath at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram near Delhi, where he had been admitted for the past few weeks.

Important Days

World Biofuel Day 2024: Advancing Sustainable Energy Solutions

World Biofuel Day is observed annually on August 10th to commemorate the achievement of German engineer Sir Rudolf Diesel, who successfully operated an engine using peanut oil on August 9, 1893. This day highlights the importance of biofuels as a sustainable energy source and their potential in addressing climate change and reducing dependence on fossil fuels.

International Youth Day 2024, Date, Theme and History

International Youth Day is celebrated annually on August 12th to recognize the contributions of young people to society and address the challenges they face. The 2024 theme, “From Clicks to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development,” emphasizes the role of digital technologies in advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Miscellaneous News

Neelakurinji: The Endangered Purple Bloom of the Western Ghats

The Neelakurinji (Strobilanthes kunthiana), a unique flowering shrub native to the montane grasslands of southwest India, has been added to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Known for its mass blooming once every 12 years, this iconic plant has been classified as Vulnerable according to IUCN criteria.