28th August, 2024 Current Affairs

Sakshi Education

NATIONAL
Ladakh Gets Five New District

The Ministry of Home Affairs has decided to create five new districts in the union territory of Ladakh, said home minister Amit Shah on August 26.
Ladakh currently has only two districts – Leh and Kargil. Both districts have their autonomous district councils which govern them. After the creation of the new districts, Ladakh will have seven districts in total.
These districts are – Zanskar, Drass, Sham, Nubra and Changthang.

Union Government Launches New Guidelines for Effective Public Grievance Redressal

The Union Government has introduced new 2024 guidelines aimed at improving the handling of public grievances, focusing on citizen empowerment and streamlining the redressal process. These guidelines are designed to enhance clarity and efficiency in addressing grievances and incorporate technological advancements through a 10-step reform process.
The new guidelines feature an integrated, user-friendly platform on the Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS). This platform will serve as a single-window system for citizens to file grievances, aiming to simplify the process and improve accessibility.
The government plans to utilize AI-powered tools, such as the tree dashboard and intelligent grievance monitoring dashboard, to analyze citizen feedback. A monthly grievance redressal assessment index will rank ministries and departments based on their performance.

INTERNATIONAL
India and Indonesia Resolve to Boost Anti-Terror Cooperation

India and Indonesia have reaffirmed their commitment to combating terrorism, including addressing the misuse of new and emerging technologies by terrorists. During the sixth meeting of the India-Indonesia Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism held in Jakarta, both nations condemned the use of terrorist proxies for cross-border terrorism, particularly in light of Pakistan’s support to terror groups targeting Jammu and Kashmir.
The discussions centered on strengthening international cooperation to address terrorism in all its forms. The two sides emphasized the importance of a comprehensive and sustained approach to combating terrorism, which includes preventing the misuse of the internet for terrorist purposes and disrupting terror financing.

India to Ink Repeat Order for 73,000 SiG 716 Rifles from the US

The Indian Defence Ministry is finalizing a repeat order for 73,000 SiG 716 G2 patrol assault rifles from the US to equip its frontline troops. This follows a 2019 procurement of 72,400 SiG 716 rifles (7.62 x 51mm calibre) under the ‘Buy (Global)’ category through a fast-track procedure, which were distributed across the Army, Air Force, and Navy.
India contracted 72,400 SiG 716 rifles from SIG Sauer Inc, USA. These rifles were allocated to the Army (66,400), Air Force (4,000), and Navy (2,000). Initially intended for frontline troops, the distribution was later expanded to over 400 infantry battalions, with variations in the number of rifles per battalion.

Also Read: Union Budget 2024-25: Practice Top Quiz Questions Here!

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ECONOMY
Nasscom Appoints Sindhu Gangadharan as New Chairperson

The National Association of Software and Service Companies (Nasscom), India’s premier IT industry body, has announced a significant change in its leadership. Sindhu Gangadharan, the Managing Director of SAP Labs India, has been appointed as the new chairperson of Nasscom. This appointment marks a crucial moment in the organization’s history and sets the stage for new directions in India’s technology sector.
Gangadharan’s appointment as Nasscom chairperson is not her first groundbreaking role. She holds the distinction of being the first woman to lead SAP Labs India, a position she will continue to hold alongside her new responsibilities at Nasscom.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
India Develops Indigenous RT-PCR Testing Kit For Mpox

The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation has granted approval to Siemens Healthineers for the manufacture of RT-PCR testing kits for detection of Mpox, a senior Health Ministry official said. The kits will be manufactured by the company’s molecular diagnostics manufacturing unit in Vadodara, which has a production capacity of one million tests per annum.
The IMDX Monkeypox Detection RT-PCR Assay is a molecular diagnostic test that targets two distinct regions in the viral genome, spanning both clade I and clade II variants of the virus. This ensures thorough detection across various viral strains, providing comprehensive results. This assay is platform-agnostic and seamlessly fits into existing lab workflows with standard PCR setups, eliminating the need for new instruments.
On August 14, the World Health Organization classified the outbreak of Mpox as a global health emergency. A new strain of the disease has spread beyond the Democratic Republic of Congo for the first time to at least 12 other African countries.

Bharat Biotech Unveils Oral Cholera Vaccine Amid Global Shortage

Bharat Biotech International Ltd has launched Hillchol (BBV131), a novel single-strain oral cholera vaccine (OCV) developed under license from Hilleman Laboratories. This launch is critical as global demand for OCVs exceeds 100 million doses annually, and there has been a deficit of approximately 40 million doses due to limited supply.
Hillchol is administered orally on Day 0 and Day 14 and is suitable for individuals over one year of age. Available in a single-dose respule, the vaccine requires storage between +2°C and +8°C. Bharat Biotech’s manufacturing facilities in Hyderabad and Bhubaneswar can produce up to 200 million doses annually, aiming to address the global vaccine shortage.

SPORTS
Lando Norris Wins Dutch Grand Prix 2024

The Dutch Grand Prix witnessed a spectacular display of skill and determination as Lando Norris secured his second career win, outpacing championship leader Max Verstappen in a thrilling race. The McLaren driver’s performance was nothing short of exceptional, finishing over 20 seconds ahead of his closest competitor.
While Lando Norris shone brightly at the front of the pack, his teammate Oscar Piastri faced a more challenging race. The young Australian driver could not match the pace of Norris and had to settle for fourth place. Nevertheless, this result still represents a strong showing for the McLaren team overall.

Published date : 29 Aug 2024 09:47AM