National News

17th India-Israel Foreign Office Consultations

• The 17th India-Israel Foreign Office Consultations were held in New Delhi, both sides discussed various issues of bilateral interest.

About Israel

18th Divya Kala Mela

• Union Minister Dr. Virendra Kumar inaugurated the 18th Divya Kala Mela, in Ranchi, to celebrate the extraordinary talents and entrepreneurial spirit of Divyang artisans and entrepreneurs from across India.

Other Initiatives for Welfare of Divyangjans

44th edition of PRAGATI

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the meeting of the 44th edition of PRAGATI, the ICT-based multi-modal platform for Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation, involving Centre and State governments.

 6th edition of the FICCI Road Safety Awards and Conclave 2024

• Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari addressed the 6th edition of the FICCI Road Safety Awards and Conclave 2024 in New Delhi.

About FICCI

First comic book in the series of heroes of the Indian Air Force

• Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari has launched the first comic book in the series of heroes of the Indian Air Force, aimed at presenting historical and heroic narratives of the Indian Air Force since its inception.
• The first volume has two stories -- 'Find Your Calling' which tells the tale of a boy named Arjan Singh who went on to become the first Marshal of the Indian Air Force; and 'Battle of Boyra' that narrates the story of the epic battle in the IAF's war history fought during the 1971 Indo-Pak war.

About Indian Air Force

International Conference on the legacy of Guru Padmasambhava

• The International Conference on the legacy of Guru Padmasambhava was held at Nava Nalanda Mahavihara in Rajgir, Bihar.

About Guru Padmasambhava

Science and Tech

Mixed Matrix Membrane

• The Ministry of Science and Technology has developed a new composite membrane called Mixed Matrix Membrane, to detect ammonia or other amine leaks in laboratories or industrial settings.

About Ammonia

Environment and Biodiversity

Typhoon Shanshan

• Typhoon Shanshan made landfall on Japan’s southwestern island of Kyushu.

Name of Cyclones in Different Regions

Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) 2024

• The study report, titled Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) 2024, released by Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC), revealed that if PM2.5 (particulate matter that are 2.5 micrometres or less in diameter) pollution were reduced to meet the guidelines set by the World Health Organization (WHO), the average person could live 1.9 years longer.

Related Facts

Economy and Banking

FACE

• The Reserve Bank of India has designated the Fintech Association for Consumer Empowerment (FACE) as a Self-Regulatory Organisation in the FinTech Sector.

RBI

Global Fintech Fest 2024

• 5th edition of Global Fintech Fest 2024, organised annually by the Payments Council of India (PCI), the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), and the Fintech Convergence Council (FCC), was held in Mumbai, with theme 'Blueprint for the next decade of finance: Responsible AI, Inclusive, Resilient'.
• RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das announced the launch of two new fintech products, UPI Circle and Bharat BillPay for Business (BBPS).

IndiaFirst Life

• IndiaFirst Life has become the first Indian life insurer to start operations in Gujarat International Finance Tec City (GIFT City).

About IndiaFirst Life Insurance

Development of Hydro Electric Projects in NE Region

• The Union Cabinet has approved financial assistance to the state governments of the North Eastern Region for development of Hydro Electric Projects.
• This scheme has an outlay of four thousand 136 crore rupees, which will be implemented from 2024-25 to 2031-32.

8 states in Northeast India

12 new industrial smart cities

• The Union Cabinet has approved 12 new greenfield industrial smart cities under the National Industrial Corridor Development Programme to transform the country’s industrial landscape.
• The projects span across ten states and are strategically planned along six major corridors. These are Khurpia in Uttrakhand, Gaya in Bihar, Rajpura-Patiala in Punjab, Zaheerabad in Telangana, Dighi in Maharashtra, Orvakal and Kopparthy in Andhra Pradesh, Palakkad in Kerala, Jodhpur-Pali in Rajasthan, and Agra and Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh.

 Vehicle Scrapping Policy

• The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has launched the Voluntary Vehicle Modernization Program or Vehicle Scrapping Policy to create an ecosystem for phasing out unfit polluting vehicles across the country.

Initiatives related to E-Vehicle

Sports

2024 Sinquefield Cup and the Grand Chess Tour

• Grand Master Alireza Firouzja was crowned as the winner of the 2024 Sinquefield Cup and the Grand Chess Tour after securing a draw with Grand Master Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa.

Person in News

Fatemeh Mohajerani

• Fatemeh Mohajerani has been appointed as the first female government spokesperson of Iran.

About Iran

Vice Admiral Rajesh Dhankhar

• Vice Admiral Rajesh Dhankhar, assumed duties of the Director General of Project Seabird.

About Project Seabird

Joseph Francis A. Pereira

• Joseph Francis A. Pereira, a Christian from Pakistan, has become the first person in Goa to receive Indian citizenship under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

About CAA 2019

Rajwinder Singh Bhatti

• Senior IPS officers Rajwinder Singh Bhatti  has been appointed as the chiefs of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).

About CISF

Daljit Singh Chaudhary

• Senior IPS officer Daljit Singh Chaudhary has been appointed as the chief of Border Security Force (BSF).

About BSF

Important Days

National Sports Day

• National Sports Day is celebrated annually on 29th August, to commemorate the birth anniversary of greatest field hockey player Major Dhyan Chand.

About Major Dhyan Chand

BPRD 54th Foundation Day

• The Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPRD) celebrated its 54th Foundation Day on 28th August, at its headquarters in New Delhi.