DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS

By admin: Aug. 28, 2023

Iga Swiatek joins Infosys as a global brand ambassador for innovation and empowerment

Tags: Person in news

Infosys, a global leader in consulting and digital services, has signed women's tennis world number one Iga Swiatek as its global brand ambassador.

An Overview of the News

• The partnership focuses on two main areas: fostering digital innovationand empowering women globally.

• Recently, tennis legend Rafael Nadal was also roped in by Infosys as its global brand ambassador.

• These strategic partnerships highlight Infosys' commitment to tennis excellence and technological advancement.

• The partnership with Iga Swiatek and Rafael Nadal demonstrates Infosys' dedication to leveraging sports icons to advance its message of digital innovation and empowerment.

About Iga Swiatek

• Iga Swiatek, a remarkable figure in women's tennis, is only 22 years old.

• Her track record as a four-time Grand Slam champion is impressive.

• Swiatek held the World No. 1 title for a record 70 consecutive weeks from April 2022.

Infosys Limited:

• It is an Indian multinational corporation that provides services in information technology, business consulting, and outsourcing.

• On August 24, 2021, Infosys achieved the remarkable feat of becoming the fourth Indian company to achieve a market capitalization of over US$ 100 billion.

• It holds a prominent position among the top Big Tech companies in India.

Founded - 2 July 1981, Pune, India

Founder - N. R. Narayana Murthy, Nandan Nilekani, Kris Gopalakrishnan, S. D. Shibulal, K. Dinesh, N. S. Raghavan, and Ashok Arora

Headquarters - Bangalore, Karnataka, India

Indian Navy participates in 5th 'AUSINDEX-23' held in Australia

Tags: Defence International News

From August 22 to 25, 2023, the 5th edition of the biennial AUSINDEX maritime exercise occurred in Sydney, Australia, conducted collaboratively by the Indian Navy and the Royal Australian Navy.

An Overview of the News

• Indian Navy and Royal Australian Navy (RAN) jointly organized the exercise.

• The participating ships included INS Sahyadri, INS Kolkata from the Indian Navy, and HMAS Choules and HMAS Brisbane from RAN

• The exercise not only involved ships and their helicopters but also fighter aircraft and maritime patrol aircraft.

• Over the course of 4 days, AUSINDEX involved a series of complex exercises covering all three maritime operational domains.

Indian Navy (IN):

• It is the marine branch of the Indian Armed Forces.

• The President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Navy.

• The Chief of Naval Staff, a four-star admiral, leads the Navy.

• The Navy operates as a blue-water force in areas such as the Persian Gulf, the Horn of Africa, and the Malacca Straits.

Establishment - 26 January 1950

Headquarters - New Delhi

Motto - Sham no Varunah (Sanskrit) Translation - ‘May the Lord of the waters be auspicious unto us’

Navy Day - 4 December

About Australia

• It is a sovereign country located in the Southern Hemisphere and is geographically isolated from the rest of the world.

• Capital - Canberra

• Emperor - Charles III

• Governor-General - David Hurley

• Prime Minister - Anthony Albanese

The second G20-Roundtable meeting of Chief Scientific Advisors begins in Gandhinagar

Tags: Summits

The second G20-Chief Scientific Advisers Roundtable under India's G20 Presidency began in Gandhinagar.

An Overview of the News

• The meeting was attended by science advisors, scientists, and researchers from G20 countries and other invited countries.

• The main focus of the meeting is to address important issues related to scientific research and the development of technology.

• Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India - Ajay Kumar Sood

The meeting consisted of four sessions, each focused on specific topics:

1. 'Opportunity in One Health'

2. 'Coordinating global efforts to increase access to scholarly scientific knowledge

3. 'Diversity, Equity, and Access in Science and Technology

4. 'Institutional Mechanism for Inclusive Global S&T Policy Dialogue.'

About Gujarat

Formation - 1 May 1960

Capital - Gandhinagar

Governor - Acharya Devvrat

Chief Minister - Bhupendrabhai Patel (BJP)

District - 33

Rajya Sabha - 11 seats

Lok Sabha - 26 seats

Max Verstappen Clinches Third Consecutive Victory at Dutch Grand Prix 2023

Tags: Sports

On August 27, 2023, Max Verstappen took his third consecutive win at the Dutch Grand Prix at Circuit Zandvoort in the Netherlands.

An Overview of the News

• Max Verstappen's victory equaled Sebastian Vettel's record of nine consecutive F1 victories.

• Fernando Alonso secured a podium position by coming insecond.

• Sergio Pérez, driving for Red Bull, initially finished third, but a five-second penalty resulted in Pierre Gasly taking third place on the podium.

About Dutch Grand Prix

• Also known as the "Grote Prij van Nederland", is an annual event of the Formula One World Championship.

• It takes place at the Circuit Zandvoort in North Holland, Netherlands.

• The race was held continuously from 1950 to 1985 and then returned in 2021 after a gap of 35 years.

• Starting in 1952, it became a regular part of the Formula One World Championship calendar.

• In 1962 and 1976, the race was designated as the European Grand Prix, an honor given to one European race each year.

Kolkata becomes the third Indian city to adopt an Air Quality Early Warning System (AQEWS)

Tags: Environment State News

Kolkata became the third Indian city to adopt the Air Quality Early Warning System (AQEWS) to combat rising air pollution.

An Overview of the News

• The system, developed by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) in Pune, aims to address rising air pollution levels in urban areas.

• AQEWS in Kolkata uses an advanced sensor network to provide real-time monitoring of the Air Quality Index (AQI).

• AQI is a standardized measure of the level of air pollution, with a value ranging from 0 to 500.

• The system focuses on PM2.5 (particles with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or smaller) levels, which is a major contributor to health problems due to its ability to enter the lungs.

Air pollution status in Kolkata:

• Kolkata is facing severe air pollution, which is mainly driven by pollutants like PM2.5.

• Recent AQEWS measurements show that the AQI is 74, which is expected to rise above 170 by 30 August.

• These forecasts highlight the urgency of tackling air pollution and emphasize the role of early warning systems.

Data Integration and Accuracy:

• AQEWS integrates data from the National Air Quality Network and satellite sources to generate accurate air pollution forecasts.

• The accuracy of the system was proved during the experimental phase that started in September 2022.

• The inclusion of data from 420 air quality monitoring stations across India ensures a comprehensive approach to the assessment of air quality.

Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change - Bhupendra Yadav

Indian Air Force participates in Egypt's Exercise Bright Star-23 for the first time

Tags: Defence

The Indian Air Force (IAF) participated in the biennial multilateral tri-services exercise Bright Star-23 held at Cairo Air Base in Egypt.

An Overview of the News

• Bright Star-23 exercise will take place from 27 August to 16 September 2023.

• The participating countries in the biennial multilateral tri-services exercise Bright Star-23 include the United States, Saudi Arabia, Greece, Qatar, and India.

• IAF transport aircraft will airlift around 150 Indian Army personnel.

• The main goal of the exercise is to enhance joint operational planning and execution.

• India and Egypt have long-standing ties, having collaborated on aero-engine and aircraft development in the 1960s.

The IAF Contingent Included:

• Five MiG-29 aircraft

• Two IL-78 tanker aircraft

• Two C-130 transport aircraft

• Two C-17 transport aircraft

• The Garuda Special Forces and personnel from Squadrons 28, 77, 78, and 81 of the Indian Air Force are part of the contingent.

About Indian Air Force

• The Indian Air Force was established on 8 October 1932.

• Before independence, it was known as the Royal Indian Air Force.

• The Indian Air Force has been ranked third in the World Air Power Index 2022, behind the US and Russia.

• Headquarters- New Delhi

• Air Force Chief- Vivek Ram Chaudhary.

SVAMITVA Yojana of Ministry of Panchayati Raj gets National Award for e-Governance 2023

Tags: Awards

In the 26th National Conference on e-Governance 2023, the National Award was given to the SVAMITVA (Survey of Villages Abadi and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas) scheme of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.

An Overview of the News

• The objective of the SVAMITVA scheme is to survey the population of villages, map rural areas with advanced technology, and provide ownership rights of property to individuals living in rural areas.

• State-of-the-art technologies such as drones and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are used for this initiative.

• Property cards have been created, which enable rural property owners to leverage their property for financial benefits.

Significance of the Award:

• The National Award for e-Governance was given in the category "Application of emerging technology for providing citizen-centric services".

• It recognizes the innovative use of technology in the scheme to provide services that directly benefit citizens.

National Conference on e-Governance (NCeG):

• The 26th NCeG was held in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, and jointly organized by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).

• The theme was "Developing India, Empowering Citizens" with a focus on advanced technologies and effective e-governance strategies.

• The objective of the conference is to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and promote collaboration among stakeholders.

National e-Governance Awards Categories:

• The National e-Governance Awards were presented in five categories, including government process re-engineering, emerging technology applications, district-level e-governance initiatives, research on citizen-centric services, and emerging technology applications by start-ups.

Effect of SVAMITVA Scheme:

• SVAMITVA Scheme is implemented in collaboration with the Survey of India, State Revenue and Panchayati Raj Departments, and NIC-GIS.

• Property cards empower rural property owners to access bank loans and resolve land disputes with accurate maps.

Minister of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department - Giriraj Singh

Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa re-elected for final term

Tags: Person in news International News

Emmerson Mnangagwa was re-elected as the President of Zimbabwe for a second and final five-year term.

An Overview of the News

• The announcement of Mnangagwa's victory was immediately denied by the opposition party's spokesman, who criticized the quick announcement and lack of proper result verification.

• The results of Mnangagwa's re-election ensure the continued dominance of the ZANU-PF party in governing the country.

• The party has maintained control of Zimbabwe's leadership throughout the 43-year period since the country's renaming in 1980, which followed liberation from white minority rule.

About Zimbabwe

• It is a landlocked country in Southern Africa.

• The Zambezi River flows through Zimbabwe and is home to Victoria Falls.

• Victoria Falls plunges 108 meters down the Batoka Gorge.

• Downstream of the Zambezi River are the Matusadona and Mana Pools National Parks.

Capital - Harare

Currency - United States Dollar

Official languages - Shona, English, Tshwa language, Xhosa

Neeraj Chopra won the first gold medal for India at the World Athletics Championships

Tags: Sports News

Javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra won the first gold medal for India at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary.

An Overview of the News    

• In the men's javelin final, Neeraj Chopra won the Gold medal with a throw of 88.17 meters.

• Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem won the silver medal in the men's javelin throw event with a throw of 87.82 metres.

• Jakub Vadlejch of the Czech Republic won the bronze medal in the same event.

• In the javelin throw, Indian player Kishor Jena finished fifth, while Indian player DP Manu finished sixth.

Success in women's 3000m steeplechase:

• Representing India, Parul Chowdhary finished 11th in the women's 3000m steeplechase event.

• Parul Chowdhary qualified for the Paris Olympics 2024.

• Parul with her remarkable performance created a new national record in women's steeplechase by clocking 9:15:31.

Men's 4x400m Relay:

• The Indian team of Muhammad Anas Yahiya, Amoj Jacob, Muhammad Ajmal Variathodi, and Rajesh Ramesh finished fifth in the men's 4x400m relay.

• He clocked a remarkable time of 2:59.92 in the final.

• The same group set a new Asian and national record of 2:59.05 s during the first qualifying round.