National Affairs
1. President approves Motor Vehicles Amendment Act, 2019
President Ram Nath Kovind has given his assent to the Motor Vehicles (Amendment), Act 2019.
The Parliament (LS & RS) had also passed the bill in the recently concluded session.
The bill amends the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 to provide road safety.
The act aims to make Indian roads safer, reduce corruption and use technology to overhaul the country’s transportation system.
Some important features:
The Bill proposes a scheme to allow cashless treatment of victims in a road accident during the golden hour.
The ‘golden hour’ is defined as the time period of up to one hour following a traumatic injury, during which the likelihood of preventing death through prompt medical care is the highest.
The Bill proposes to increase the minimum compensation for hit and run cases.
In case of death, the compensation has been raised from Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 2,00,000, and in case of grievous injury it will be from Rs. 12500 to Rs. 50,000.
The new law also allows the centre to ask manufacturers to recall vehicles in case of defects that cause harm to the environment.
The law has proposed stiffer penalties for traffic rule violations such as over-speeding, dangerous driving, driving under the influence of alcohol and other offences such as not wearing a helmet or driving without a licence.
2. Valentina Elangbam named as Green Ambassador of Manipur
Valentina Elangbam (9-year) has been appointed as the brand ambassador for the Chief Minister's Green Manipur Mission.
The young child (from Manipur) was seen weeping profusely in a viral video after two trees that she had planted were cut down.
Kakching district's Valentina is a class 5 student of Amutombi Divine Life School in Hiyanglam Wabagai.
She had planted two Gulmohar trees when she was in class 1 near the bank of a river in her locality.
Valentina was inconsolably upset after the trees she had planted were cut down while the river- bank was being cleaned.
3. Chhattisgarh: 15-km long national flag unfurled in Raipur
Thousands of students and members of several social organisations unfurled a 15-km long national flag by forming a human chain in Raipur. Chhattisgarh.
The event, organised by Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam Foundation, entered the Champions Book of World Records (for the longest tricolour).
Thousands of people and students from various schools created a human chain while holding the 15-km long tricolour from Amapara Chowk to Pt Ravishankar Shukla University.
Note:
According to the Flag code of India, the Indian flag has a ratio of two by three (where the length of the flag is 1.5 times that of the width).
All three stripes of the flag (saffron, white and green) are to be equal in width and length.
The size of the Ashoka Chakra is not specified in the Flag code, but it has twenty-four spokes that are evenly spaced.
Source: AIR News
4. Drive launched to promote water conservation activities among school students
Union ministers Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank and Gajendra Singh Shekhawat have launched the Samagra Shiksha-Jal Suraksha drive to promote water conservation activities among school students.
They have launched the drive at Kendriya Vidyalaya Number 2 at Delhi Cantonment.
The Department of School Education and Literacy under the HRD Ministry has started the drive to promote water conservation activities among school students so that they can become competent, conscientious and committed citizens of the nation.
The department has prepared a detailed outline to implement the programme in all the schools of the country.
Source: AIR News
5. CBSE hikes exam fees for SC/ST by 24 times, general to pay double
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has increased the fees of Class 10 and 12 board examinations for SC and ST students from Rs 50 to Rs 1,200,
According to the revised norms, the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe students will have to pay Rs 1,200 for five subjects, while earlier they were supposed to pay Rs 50 for the same, a hike of 24 times.
The general category students who were paying Rs 750 earlier, will now pay Rs 1,500 for five subjects.
The students enrolled in CBSE schools abroad will have to pay Rs 10,000 for five subjects for both Class 10 and 12. Earlier it was Rs 5000.
For them, the fees for an additional subject in Class 12 has been fixed at Rs 2,000, as against Rs 1,000 earlier.
Note:
The students appearing for the Class 10 board exams are registered for it when in Class 9, and those appearing for Class 12 are registered when in Class 11.
Source: The Hindu
6. PM Modi to feature in Discovery channel's show 'Man Vs Wild'
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will feature in a special episode of the iconic survival television series 'Man Vs Wild' on Discovery channel at 9:00 PM, hosted by renowned adventurer Bear Grylls.
Shot in a Jim Corbett National Park, the show will create awareness about environmental changes and wildlife conservation.
The episode will be showcased in over 180 countries across the world on Discovery network of channels.
The show presents a great opportunity to showcase to the world, India's rich environmental heritage and stress on the importance of environment conservation and living in harmony with nature.
Note:
Man vs. Wild is a survival television series hosted by Bear Grylls on the Discovery Channel.
On 10 Apr. 2019 Netflix brought Bear Grylls back to the wilderness by You vs. Wild which contains 8 episodes.
7. Home Minister Amit Shah releases a book on Venkaiah Naidu's two years in office
Home Minister Amit Shah has released a book titled “Listening, Learning & Leading” chronicling the two years in office by Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu (Chairman of the Rajya Sabha).
The book was released in Chennai at a function organised by Information and Broadcasting Ministry.
The book also showcases the Vice President’s feat as the Rajya Sabha Chairman in enhancing its effectiveness and promoting its efficiency.
The book captures the glimpses of the Vice President’s 330 public engagements across the country in the last two years.
The Vice-President and the Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar were present on the occasion.
Source: Business Standard
8. Mukhya Mantri Krishi Ashirwad Yojana’ in Jharkhand
Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu has launched the Jharkhand government’s ‘Mukhya Mantri Krishi Ashirwad Yojana’.
The objective of the ‘Chief Minister Krishi Aashirwad Yojana’ is to provide financial assistance to the farmers of Jharkhand and to help the farmers facing problems in agriculture due to loans.
The target of providing financial assistance of Rs. 3 thousand crores to 35 lakh farmers of the state are set.
In the first phase of this scheme, 15 lakh farmers of the state will be given the benefit of the scheme.
Agricultural land
Rupees
1 acre or less agricultural land
Rs 5,000
2 acres of agricultural land.
Rs 10,000
3 acres of agricultural land.
Rs 15,000
4 acres of agricultural land.
Rs 20,000
5 acres of agricultural land.
Rs 25,000
Important Days
9. 12 August: International Youth Day
The International Youth Day (IYD) is observed every year on 12th August (first in 2000) to draw attention to a given set of cultural and legal issues surrounding youth.
The theme for International Youth Day 2019 is “Transforming education”.
International Youth Day 2019 will examine how Governments, young people and youth-led and youth-focused organizations, as well as other stakeholders, are transforming education and how these efforts are contributing to the achievement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Note:
On 17 December 1999, the International Youth Day (IYD) was instituted by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) by passing resolution 54/120.
10. 12 August: World Elephant Day 
The World Elephant Day (WED) is celebrated on 12th August every year to raise awareness about the Elephant.
The goal of International Elephant Day is to create awareness of the urgent plight of African and Asian elephants and to share knowledge and management of captive & wild elephants.
On 12 August 2012, the first international Elephant Day was celebrated.
Note:
As per the census conducted in 2017, the Elephant population in India is estimated at 29,964.
11. Eid-ul-Azha being celebrated with religious fervour & gaiety
Today, the festival of sacrifice ‘Eid-ul-Azha’ is being celebrated with religious fervour and gaiety across the country.
The faithful will offer Eid prayers in Eidgahs and mosques.
The festival is an ode to the virtues of devotion, faith and sacrifice and inspires feelings of brotherhood, compassion and unity.
In the Islamic lunar calendar, Eid al-Adha falls on the 10th day of Dhu al-Hijjah and lasts for three days.
In the international (Gregorian) calendar, the dates vary from year to year shifting approximately 11 days earlier each year.
Note:
Eid al-Adha also called the "Festival of the Sacrifice", is the second of two Islamic holidays celebrated worldwide each year (the other being Eid al-Fitr) and considered the holier of the two.
It honours the willingness of Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God's command.
But, before Abraham could sacrifice his son, God provided a lamb to sacrifice instead.
In commemoration of this intervention, an animal is sacrificed ritually and divided into three parts.
One share is given to the poor and needy, another is kept for home, and the third is given to relatives.
Obituaries
12. Singer-songwriter David Berman passes away
Singer-songwriter David Berman (52-years) who formed the indie group 'Silver Jews' in the 1990s passed away.
Berman had suffered from drug addiction for years and had survived several overdoses and one suicide attempt.
The 'Silver Jews' that recorded six studio albums between 1994 and 2008 rarely performed live.
Berman also authored two books of poetry, 'Actual Air,' and 'The Portable February.
Sports
13. BCCI agrees to come under the ambit of NADA
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has agreed to come under the ambit of the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA).
This landmark decision makes Indian Cricket's governing body a sports federation as per government norms despite being financially autonomous.
As a result, all cricketers will now be tested by NADA.
Note:
The National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) is the national organisation responsible for promoting, coordinating, and monitoring the doping control program in sports in all its forms in India.
14. Bajrang Punia wins gold at Tbilisi Grand Prix
India’s top wrestler Bajrang Punia has won the gold medal at Tbilisi Grand Prix in Tbilisi, Georgia.
He defeated Iran’s Peiman Bibyani by 2-0 in the 65 kg final of the men’s freestyle competition.
It is fourth gold of the season for Bajrang after standing atop the podium at Dan Kolov, Asian Championship and Ali Aliev tournament.
Note:
Tbilisi Grand Prix of V. Balavadze and G. Kartozia is organised by the Georgian Wrestling Federation at the New Sports Palace, Georgia.
15. Sourabh Verma wins Hyderabad Open title
National champion Sourabh Verma (26-year) clinched the Men's Singles title in the Hyderabad Open Badminton title.
He beat Singapore's Loh Kean Yew 21-13, 14-21, 21-16 in a 52-minute final clash.
Earlier, Sourabh had won two Super 100 titles last year at the Dutch Open and Russian Open.
Top seeds Ashwini Ponnappa and N Sikki Reddy, however, finished runners up in women's doubles.
They lost 17-21, 17-21 to Korean combination of Baek Ha Na and Jung Kyung Eun in the summit clash.
Note:
The 2019 Hyderabad Open was a badminton tournament which took place at G. M. C. Balayogi SATS Indoor Stadium in Hyderabad, India.
The total prize money for this tournament was USD 75,000.
Source: India Today
16. Indian junior shuttlers win 6 medals at Bulgarian Open
Indian junior shuttlers have won six medals (gold-3, silver-1 and bronze-2) at the Bulgarian Junior International Championships which concluded in Pazardzhik, Bulgaria.
The gold medals were won by Samiya Imad Faruqui in women's singles, the duo of Edvin Joy and Shruti Mishra in Mixed Doubles and pair of Tanisha Crasto and Aditi Bhatt in women's doubles.
Men's doubles combination of Ishan Bhatnagar and Vishnuvardhan settled for the silver medal.
Malvika Bansod and Meiraba Luwang won a bronze each in other singles events.
Source: AIR News
