National News

Kisano Ki Baat on radio

• The government will start a programme called Kisano Ki Baat on radio to make science accessible to farmers, modelled after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s monthly Mann Ki Baat programme.

Schemes/Initiatives related to farmers

MoU between Prasar Bharati and Sansad Television

• An MoU was signed between the public broadcaster Prasar Bharati and Sansad Television in Parliament, to facilitate resource sharing, training of personnel, and cross-channel promotion of each other’s programs.

About Prasar Bharati

New Metro Rail Projects

• The Union Cabinet has given its approval to three new metro rail projects in the country.
• The projects include phase three of Bangalore Metro with an estimated cost of 15 thousand 611 crore rupees, Thane Integral Ring Metro Rail Project with a cost of 12 thousand 200 crore rupees and Pune Metro Phase-1 project extension towards south from Swargate to Katraj with a cost of around three thousand crore rupees.

About Metro in India

Krishi-Decision Support System

• The Union Agriculture Ministry launched a digital geo-spatial platform, Krishi-Decision Support System (DSS), which will share real time data-driven insights on weather patterns, soil conditions, crop health, crop acreage etc.

Divya Kala Mela

• Union Minister Dr. Virendra Kumar inaugurated the 17th Divya Kala Mela organised by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), in Raipur, to empower artisans and entrepreneurs with disabilities, while celebrating their talent and creativity.

Initiatives for Welfare of Divyangjans

Elections in J&K and Haryana

• The Election Commission announced that the Assembly elections will take place in Jammu and Kashmir in 3 phases on Sept 18, 25 and Oct 1, and in Haryana in a single phase on Oct 1. The results for the assembly polls will be declared on Oct 4.

Elections in India

International News

Paetongtarn Shinawatra

• Thailand’s Parliament elected Paetongtarn Shinawatra as the country’s new prime minister. She is the youngest prime minister of Thailand.

About Thailand

Science and Tech + Environment

Mpox

• At least three patients with Mpox virus have been found so far in Pakistan, Mpox detection in Pakistan is the first in Asia.

About mpox

Climate Club

Australia and New Zealand announced joint economic and energy commitments to support the clean energy transition in the region.New Zealand would join Australia in the Climate Club, an initiative established in 2022 focused on industrial decarbonization and pursuing net zero emissions.

About Climate Club

Green Tug Transition Program

The Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal launched the SOP for Green Tug Transition Program (GTTP) in New Delhi, to drive the transition from conventional fuel-based harbour tugs to greener, more sustainable alternatives.

About GTTP

Defence

1st Joint Commanders' Conference

• The first ever Joint Commanders' Conference planned to be held on September 4-5 in Lucknow.
• The conference would be held with the theme "Sashakt aur Surakahit Bharat: Transforming the Armed Forces' (String and Secure India: Transforming the Armed Forces').

Chiefs of Defence Forces

Para-drop operation of the Aarogya Maitri Health Cube

• Indian Air Force (IAF) and Indian Army have jointly carried out a first-of-its-kind precise para-drop operation of the Aarogya Maitri Health Cube at a high-altitude area close to 15,000 feet.

About Indian Air Force

Economy and Banking

RBI imposed penalty on BoM

• The Reserve Bank  of India has imposed a penalty of Rs 1.27 crore on Bank of Maharashtra (BoM) for non-compliance with certain directions issued on 'Loan System for Delivery of Bank Credit', 'Cyber Security Framework in Banks' and 'Know Your Customer'.

About RBI

Forex Reserves of India

According to the Reserve Bank of India, India's forex reserves dropped by $4.8 bn to $670 bn for the week ended August 9.

India Forex Reserves Includes:

Sports

India’s flag-bearers at the Paris Paralympics 2024

• Tokyo Paralympics gold medallist Sumit Antil and Asian Para Games silver winner Bhagyashri Jadhav will be India’s flag-bearers at the Paris Paralympics opening ceremony.

Paralympic Committee of India

Awards and Honours

70th National Film Awards for 2022

• The 70th National Film Awards ceremony organised by the National Film Development Corporation of India, presented its annual National Film Awards to honour the best films of 2022 in Indian cinema.

Major Awards and their Winners

Miscellaneous

Distinguished Mentor of the Year

• The Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh was conferred the prestigious "Distinguished Mentor of the Year" award by the American College of Physicians at the 9th Annual Conference of ACP India Chapter in Lucknow.

Oeko-Tex certification to Eri Silk

• The North Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation (NEHHDC) has successfully obtained the Oeko-Tex certification for its Eri Silk, directly from Germany.Eri Silk is renowned as the world’s only vegan silk, where, unlike other silks, the moth inside the cocoon is not killed. 

Related Fact

Person in News

Ram Narain Agarwal

• Renowned DRDO missile scientist Ram Narain Agarwal, regarded as the 'father of Agni missiles' in India, passed away in Hyderabad, at the age of 84.

Salee Sukumaran Nair

• The Reserve Bank of India has appointed Salee Sukumaran Nair as Managing Director and CEO of Tamilnad Mercantile Bank for a period of three years from the date of assuming charge, subject to shareholders approval.

Rajesh Kumar Singh

• The Government of India appointed Rajesh Kumar Singh as the new Defence secretary of India.

Vivek Joshi

• The Government of India appointed Vivek Joshi as new Personnel and Training Secretary of India

Brian Niccol

• Starbucks announced that Brian Niccol would become its chairman and CEO on Sept 9.