National News

Bureau of Port Security

• During 19th Maritime States Development Council meeting Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), & AYUSH, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal said the Government will set up Bureau of Port Security soon for upgrading security across all the ports in the country. 

Indian Ports: Some facts

Indian Digital Public Infrastructure

• The G20 Digital Economy Ministers’ Meeting in Bengaluru, 40 countries has shown interest in adopting Indian Digital Public Infrastructure, Cyber security and digital skilling.

G20

Megalithic hat stones

• A large number of megalithic hat stones were found from a single site during a recent salvage excavation conducted by the Kerala State Archaeology Department at Nagaparamba in Kuttippuram village, near Tirunavaya, in Malappuram district.
• Hat stones, popularly called Thoppikkallu in Malayalam, are hemispherical laterite stones used as lids on burial urns during the megalithic period.

Kerala

Economy

 Income-tax Rules, 1961

• The Finance Act, 2023 brought in an amendment for the purposes of calculation of “perquisite” with regard to the value of rent-free or concessional accommodation provided to an employee, by his employer. Accordingly, CBDT has modified Rule 3 of the Income-tax Rules, 1961 to provide for the same.

CBDT

Envrionment + Science & Technology

Green hydrogen standards

• In line of National Green Hydrogen Mission, government has unveiled Green hydrogen standards and included electrolysis and biomass-based methods in its definition.
• The standards outline the emission thresholds to be met for hydrogen produced to be classified as ‘Green’, i.e., from renewable sources.

National Green Hydrogen Mission

Magnetar

• Observations and stellar evolution models of a hot, helium-rich Wolf-Rayet star indicate that it will produce a magnetar when it explodes as a supernova.
• A magnetar is a type of neutron star with an powerful magnetic field.

Supernova

Alcanivorax borkumensis

• “Oil-eating” Alcanivorax borkumensis bacteria survives by consuming hydrocarbons as a sole carbon and energy source. Biofilm formation plays a big role in the degradation and consumption of hydrocarbons by this bacterium.

Other Oil-eating bacteria

Google

• Google has informed that accounts that has not been used for two years could be subjected to potential deletion from 1 December, 2023.

Additional Info

Important Dates

 Sadbhavana Diwas 2023

• Sadbhavana Diwas is observed on 20 August, a day dedicated to promoting national integration and peace among various communities in honour of Rajiv Gandhi's memory.

 Rajiv Gandhi

Person in News

 Ratan Tata

• Eminent industrialist & chairman emeritus of Tata Sons, Ratan Tata was conferred with the first ever ‘Udyog Ratna’ award instituted by the Maharashtra government.

Maharashtra

Rahul Dravid

• Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (BPCL) has named cricketer Rahul Dravid as its new brand ambassador. He will endorse BPCL’s Pure for Sure initiative and MAK lubricants range.

BPCL

Sports News

Mascot of ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023

• The reigning U-19 World Cup champions, Yash Dhull and Shafali Verma unveiled the mascot duo for the International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s Cricket World Cup at Gurugram.
• The mascots represent distinct traits that stand as symbols of gender equality and diversity.

ICC

Mehuli Ghosh 

• Mehuli Ghosh won the Olympic quota in women’s air rifle along with an individual bronze medal in the World Championship in Baku, Azerbaijan.