National news
Har Ghar Tiranga Campaign to be celebrated from August 9-15
As India prepares to celebrate its 78th Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has issued a nationwide call to action, urging citizens to participate in the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign. The Prime Minister is encouraging Indians to hoist the national flag at their residences, transforming the initiative into a mass movement.
- Leading by example, PM Modi changed his social media profile picture to the Tricolor and invited others to do the same. He also shared a link to the official campaign website, harghartiranga.com, where citizens can upload selfies with the national flag.
About the campaign: to bolster a sense of patriotism among citizens
Why Waqf Board Amendment Bill 2024 In News?
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, seeks to amend the Waqf Act, 1995, introducing over 40 amendments aimed at increasing government regulation and ensuring broader representation, including Muslim women and non-Muslims, in Waqf Boards.
- Board Composition: The Bill mandates the inclusion of two Muslim women and two non-Muslim members in Waqf Boards.
- Property Regulation:
- Introduces measures to prevent the wrongful declaration of properties as Waqf.
- Requires registration of Waqf properties with the District Collector, who will evaluate and decide if a property is Waqf or government land.
- Government Oversight: The Central Government gains authority to audit Waqf properties at any time through the Comptroller and Auditor-General or designated officers.
- Dispute Resolution: Appeals against Waqf Board decisions can now be made to the respective High Courts.
- Waqf Property Declaration: The Bill limits the designation of properties as Waqf without proper documentation, requiring a valid waqfnama to avoid disputes.
- Impact on Waqf Boards: The amendments aim to curtail the powers of Waqf Boards in property management, shifting more control to government authorities.
- Background: Waqf Boards manage properties donated by followers of Islam for religious or charitable purposes. The Waqf Act was last amended in 2013.
Draft Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill 2024:
The Bill is set to replace the Television Network Act of 1995, bringing new regulations to the broadcasting sector.
- Inclusion of Digital News: The draft Bill proposes to classify social media influencers and pages that create content or write about current affairs and news online as “digital news broadcasters.”
- Broader Scope: The Bill aims to regulate not just traditional television networks but also digital platforms that disseminate news and current affairs content.
- Impact on Influencers: Social media influencers who engage in news-related content creation may fall under new regulatory frameworks, potentially requiring them to comply with broadcasting standards and regulations.
Centre Reshuffles Senior Bureaucrats, Amit Negi Made Additional Secretary
The Centre has implemented a significant top-level reshuffle, appointing senior IAS officer Amit Singh Negi as additional secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). Mr. Negi, a 1999-batch IAS officer of the Uttarakhand cadre, is currently the joint secretary in the Department of Expenditure under the Union Ministry of Finance.
Top-Level Government Reshuffle: Key Appointments Across Ministries and Departments
- Prime Minister’s Office (PMO): Amit Singh Negi, a 1999-batch IAS officer of the Uttarakhand cadre, has been appointed as Additional Secretary.
- Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO): Samir Ashwin Vakil appointed as Director.
- Election Commission of India: Maneesh Garg, Sanjay Kumar, and Ajeet Kumar appointed as Deputy Election Commissioners.
- Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT):
- Manisha Saxena appointed as Additional Secretary.
- Mugdha Sinha to take over as Director General (Tourism).
- Union Ministry of Home Affairs:
- Ashutosh Agnihotri appointed as Additional Secretary.
- Niraj Kumar Bansod appointed as Joint Secretary.
- Union Ministry of Commerce & Industry: Ajay Bhadoo appointed as Additional Secretary.
- Union Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change: Amandeep Garg appointed as Additional Secretary.
- Employees’ State Insurance Corporation: Ashok Kumar Singh appointed as Director General.
- Khadi and Village Industries Commission: Vatsalya Saxena appointed as CEO.
- NITI Aayog: Nidhi Chhibber appointed as Additional Secretary.
- Union Ministry of Rural Development:
- TK Anil Kumar appointed as Additional Secretary.
- Caralyn Khongwar Deshmukh appointed as Additional Secretary.
- Union Ministry of Cooperation: Rabindra Kumar Agarwal appointed as Additional Secretary.
- Union Ministry of Road Transport & Highways: Puneet Agarwal appointed as Additional Secretary and Financial Advisor.
- Department of Telecommunications: N Gulzar appointed as Additional Secretary.
- Tribal Co-operative Marketing Development Federation of India: Ashish Chatterjee appointed as Managing Director.
- Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances: Puneet Yadav appointed as Additional Secretary.
- Cabinet Secretariat: Nila Mohanan appointed as Joint Secretary.
- Department of Defence: Pawan Kumar Sharma appointed as Joint Secretary.
- Department of Economic Affairs: Alok Tiwari appointed as Joint Secretary.
- Department of Military Affairs: Kumar Ravi Kant Singh appointed as Joint Secretary.
- National eGovernance Division (NeGD): Nand Kumarum appointed as CEO.
- Department of Health & Family Welfare:
- Latha Ganapathy and Nikhil Gajraj appointed as Joint Secretaries.
- V Kiran Gopal appointed as Joint Secretary in the National Health Authority.
- Capacity Building Commission: V Lalithalakshmi appointed as Secretary with additional charge of CEO, Karmayogi Bharat.
- Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India: Sunil Kumar appointed as Additional Registrar General.
- Census Operations:
- P Bala Kiran, Pooja Pandey, and Sheetal Verma appointed as Directors in Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh & Meghalaya, and Uttar Pradesh, respectively.
- Department of Petroleum & Natural Gas: Vinod Seshan appointed as Joint Secretary.
- Department of Revenue: Naval Kishore Ram appointed as Joint Secretary.
Economy news
World Bank’s ‘World Development Report 2024: The Middle Income Trap’
The World Bank (WB) has released its report titled ‘World Development Report(WDR) 2024: The Middle Income Trap’, highlighting the challenges faced by middle-income countries in achieving high-income status.
- Middle-Income Trap: The report discusses the challenges middle-income countries face in transitioning to high-income status, a phenomenon known as the ‘middle-income trap.’
- Country Comparisons:
- India: Estimated to take 75 years to reach one-quarter of the USA’s income per capita.
- China: Expected to take over 10 years.
- Indonesia: Projected to take nearly 70 years.
- Economic Insights:
- The trap typically occurs when a country’s GDP per capita reaches about 10% of the USA’s GDP per person, approximately USD 8,000 today.
- Global Context:
- As of the end of 2023, 108 middle-income countries contribute to 40% of the world’s economic output, nearly two-thirds of global carbon emissions, and house three-quarters of the global population.
Word bank:
- Headquarters: Washington, D.C., United States
- Founded: July 1944, Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, United States
- President: Ajay Banga
Banking news
RBI August 2024 MPC Meeting: Repo Rate Unchanged at 6.5%
The Reserve Bank of India’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) decided to maintain the repo rate at 6.5%, continuing the stance held since February 2023. The decision was made by a 4:2 majority.
Other Key Rates:
- Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) rate remains at 6.75%.
- Standard Deposit Facility (SDF) rate remains at 6.25%.
Economic Projections:
- Real GDP growth for FY 2025-26 is projected at 7.2%.
- Inflation forecast is maintained at 4.5%.
RBI Hikes UPI Limit for Tax Payments to Rs 5 Lakh per Transaction
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has raised the upper limit for tax payments via UPI to Rs 5 lakh per transaction, up from the previous Rs 1 lakh limit.
- Purpose: The increase aims to facilitate larger tax payments in a single transaction, minimizing the need for multiple payments.
- Convenience and Promotion: This move is expected to enhance convenience for taxpayers, especially those making high-value payments, and is part of RBI’s broader effort to promote digital payments and reduce cash dependency.
- Encouragement for Digital Adoption: The RBI anticipates that this will encourage more taxpayers to use digital methods for settling their tax liabilities.
- Ongoing Reviews: The RBI has been periodically reviewing and enhancing transaction limits across various categories, including capital markets, IPO subscriptions, loan collections, insurance, medical, and educational services.
RBI:
- Founded: 1 April 1935, Kolkata
- Headquarters: Mumbai
- governor: Shaktikanta Das
Award news
1st Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar: Chandrayaan 3 Team wins Team Award
The Chandrayaan 3 team of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has won the Vigyan Team Award of the first Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar. The government of India announced the first Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar on 7 August 2024, and it is considered to be one of the highest awards in the field of science, technology, and innovation.
Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar: Overview
- Introduction: The Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar was instituted by the Government of India in 2023, replacing over 300 previous awards. It honors the contributions of Indian scientists, technologists, and innovators across various fields.
- Award Structure: Recipients receive a medal and a citation, with no cash prize included.
- Categories: The award is presented in four categories:
- Vigyan Ratna: Up to 3 individuals
- Vigyan Shri: Up to 25 individuals
- Vigyan Yuva: Up to 25 young scientists
- Vigyan Team: Up to 3 teams
- Domains:The award covers 13 domains, including:
- Biological Sciences
- Mathematics and Computer Science
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Earth Science
- Medicine
- Engineering Sciences
- Agricultural Science
- Environmental Science
- Technology and Innovation
- Atomic Energy
- Space Science and Technology
- Others
This award recognizes excellence and innovation across these diverse scientific and technological fields, promoting significant contributions to India’s progress in these areas.
Defence news
Indian Army’s ‘Parvat Prahaar’ Exercise in Ladakh
The Indian Army conducted ‘Parvat Prahaar’ (Mountain Strike), a large-scale strike corps exercise, in the Union Territory (UT) of Ladakh. The strategic military exercise focused on high-altitude warfare and operations, involving various military units and equipment to maintain readiness near the India-China border.
Troop and Equipment Deployment:
- Over 500 tanks and 50,000 troops have been deployed near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh since 2020.
- Additional troops were stationed at the frontlines to counter Chinese deployments.
Infrastructure Development:
- New all-weather roads and communication networks have been built along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh to support troops during harsh winters.
Indian Army Overview:
- Established: 1895
- Chief of the Army Staff (COAS): Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi
- Headquarters: New Delhi, Delhi
- Theme for 2024: Year of Technology Absorption
Sports news
Neeraj Chopra Wins Silver at 2024 Paris Olympics; President Murmu, PM Modi Lead National Congratulations
At the 2024 Paris Olympics, India’s track and field star Neeraj Chopra delivered an impressive performance, securing a silver medal in the men’s javelin with a season-best throw of 89.45 meters.
- This achievement marks a significant milestone, making Neeraj the first Indian track and field athlete to win two Olympic medals post-independence.
- His performance in the final, despite fouling five of his six attempts, was highlighted by a remarkable qualification throw of 89.34 meters.
- Pakistani javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem broke the Olympic record with a throw of 92.97 meters, winning the gold medal, while Grenada’s Anderson Peters took the bronze with a throw of 88.54 meters. Neeraj’s silver adds to India’s tally, bringing the nation’s total to five medals at the Paris Games.
Indian Hockey Team Clinches Back-to-Back Olympic Bronze; Leaders Extend Congratulations
The Indian hockey team won a bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, their second consecutive Olympic bronze after the 2020 Tokyo Games, achieving this feat for the first time since the 1972 Munich Games.
- Captain Harmanpreet Singh played a crucial role, scoring two decisive goals in the 2-1 victory over Spain, while retiring goalkeeper PR Sreejesh made exceptional saves.
The Indian hockey team has a storied history in the Olympic Games, particularly in men’s field hockey. Here are the key highlights of their achievements:
Olympic Games Record – Indian Men’s Hockey Team
- Gold Medals: 8 (1928, 1932, 1936, 1948, 1952, 1956, 1964, 1980)
- India won its first gold medal in 1928 in Amsterdam and dominated the sport until the 1950s, winning six consecutive gold medals from 1928 to 1956.
- The team won its last Olympic gold in 1980 at the Moscow Games.
- Silver Medals: 1 (1960)
- India won the silver medal at the 1960 Rome Olympics, finishing second to Pakistan.
- Bronze Medals: 3 (1968, 1972, 2020)
- The team secured bronze medals in Mexico City (1968), Munich (1972), and most recently in Tokyo (2020).
- Other Notable Performances:
- The Indian men’s hockey team is one of the most successful in Olympic history, particularly during the mid-20th century, where they were considered unbeatable.
Olympic Games Record – Indian Women’s Hockey Team
- The Indian women’s hockey team made its Olympic debut in 1980, where they finished in 4th place.
- The team also achieved a notable 4th place finish at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, narrowly missing out on a medal.
India wins the 4th CAVA Women’s Volleyball Nations League
The Indian women’s national volleyball team has won the 4th CAVA(Central Asian Volleyball Association) Women’s Volleyball Nations League by defeating the host Nepal by 3-2 sets in the final. The final was played at the Dasharath Stadium in Kathmandu, Nepal, on 7 August 2024. This was the second CAVA title for the Indian women.
Final Medal position
- Gold Medal winner – India
- Silver Medal -Nepal runner up asn Silver Medal
- Bronze Medal – Iran
India´s Shalini was declared the most valuable player of the tournament.
