Current Affairs August 2023
This article provides an in-depth look at the noteworthy events from late August 2023. Key highlights include India's impressive GDP growth rate of 7.8%, the celebration of World Sanskrit Day, and the historic appointment of Jaya Verma Sinha as the first female CEO and Chairperson of the Indian Railway Board. Discover the achievements of India’s Pragyan Rover in space exploration, the launch of the world's first ethanol-fueled car, and Neeraj Chopra's gold medal win at the World Athletics Championships. Additionally, learn about significant cultural events such as National Sports Day and Onam Festival, and important economic decisions like the reduction in LPG cylinder prices. This comprehensive overview encapsulates the dynamic and diverse nature of current affairs during this period.
31st August, Current Affairs
World Sanskrit Day
World Sanskrit Day is celebrated to honor and promote the ancient language of Sanskrit. This day emphasizes the significance of Sanskrit in Indian culture and history.
India's GDP Growth
India's GDP for the first quarter of the ongoing financial year has shown a significant increase, accelerating to 7.8%. This growth is a positive indicator of the country's economic recovery and development.
Discovery on the Moon by Pragyan Rover
India's moon rover, Pragyan, has confirmed the presence of sulfur and other elements at the lunar south pole. This discovery was made using the Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscope (LIBS) instrument aboard Pragyan, marking a significant achievement in space exploration.
Historic Appointment in Indian Railways
The Centre has appointed Jaya Verma Sinha as the CEO and Chairperson of the Railway Board, making her the first woman to ever hold this prestigious post in the Ministry of Railways' 105-year-old history. This appointment is a milestone for gender equality in India's administrative positions.
29th August, Current Affairs
National Sports Day
India observes National Sports Day to commemorate the birthday of Major Dhyan Chand, a legendary hockey player. This day, first celebrated in 2012, highlights the importance of sports in fostering a healthy and active lifestyle.
Onam Festival
The festival of Onam, a major cultural event in Kerala, is celebrated today. It marks the homecoming of the mythical King Mahabali and is known for its vibrant traditions and festivities.
Reduction in LPG Cylinder Prices
The government has decided to reduce the price of domestic LPG cylinders by ₹200 for all consumers. Beneficiaries of the Ujjwala Yojana will receive an additional reduction of ₹400 per cylinder, making cooking fuel more affordable for many households.
Launch of Ethanol-Fueled Car
Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari launched the world's first 100% ethanol-fueled car in New Delhi. This BS-VI (Stage-II) electrified flex-fuel vehicle can operate entirely on ethanol-based fuel, representing a significant step towards sustainable transportation.
28th August, Current Affairs
Aditya-L1 Mission Announcement
ISRO has announced that Aditya-L1, India’s first space-based observatory to study the sun, will be launched on September 2. The spacecraft will be placed in a halo orbit around the Lagrange point 1 (L1) of the sun-earth system, located about 1.5 million km from Earth, taking over 120 days to reach its destination.
Neeraj Chopra's Historic Win
Neeraj Chopra won India’s first-ever World Athletics Championship gold medal in Men’s Javelin at the 2023 event in Budapest. His second attempt reached a distance of 88.17 meters, securing the top position.
Performance of India’s 4x400m Relay Team
India’s men’s 4x400m relay team finished fifth in the final of the 2023 World Athletics Championships with a time of 2:59:92, marking a commendable performance.
27th August, Current Affairs
Smart Cities Award
Indore has been adjudged the best Smart City, while Madhya Pradesh has been chosen as the top state for its exemplary performance in the Smart Cities Mission. Surat and Agra secured second and third places among cities, and Tamil Nadu ranked second among states, followed by Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.
Achievement in 4x400m Relay
The Indian men's 4x400m relay team, including Muhammed Anas Yahiya, Amoj Jacob, Muhammad Ajmal Variyathodi, and Rajesh Ramesh, set an Asian record with a time of 2:59:05, qualifying for their maiden final round at the World Athletics Championships.
HS Prannoy’s Performance in Badminton
India's ace shuttler HS Prannoy won a bronze medal after losing to Kunlavut Vitidsarn in the semifinals of the ongoing Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Championships.
Zimbabwe's Presidential Election
Emmerson Mnangagwa has been re-elected as Zimbabwe’s President for a second and final term.
26th August, Current Affairs
Naming of Lunar Sites by PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the site where Vikram Lander and Rover Pragyan landed on the lunar surface will be named Shiva Shakti Point. Another site on the Moon where the Chandrayaan-2 lander crash-landed will be known as Tiranga Point.
National Space Day
PM Modi declared August 23 as National Space Day to commemorate Chandrayaan-3's successful landing on the moon.
Honor for PM Modi by Greece
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been awarded 'The Grand Cross of the Order of Honour' by the Greek government, making him the first foreign head of government to receive this honor.
24th August, Current Affairs
Deployment of Pragyan Rover
The Indian Space Research Organisation successfully deployed the Pragyan rover on the Moon, following the successful soft landing of the Chandrayaan-3 mission. The rover will conduct various experiments to study the Moon’s surface.
69th National Film Awards
The 69th National Film Awards were announced, with Alia Bhatt and Kriti Sanon sharing the Best Actress award for their roles in Gangubai Kathiawadi and Mimi, respectively. Allu Arjun won Best Actor for Pushpa: The Rise, while Rocketry: The Nambi Effect was awarded Best Film. RRR received the Best Popular Film award.
Successful Test by LCA Tejas
The Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas successfully fired the ASTRA indigenous Beyond Visual Range air-to-air missile off the coast of Goa.
Magnus Carlsen's Victory
World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen won his maiden World Cup crown after defeating India's R Praggnanandhaa in the tie-breakers of the final in Baku.
Amanpreet Singh's Gold Medal
Indian shooter Amanpreet Singh won the gold medal in the Men’s 25-metre standard pistol shooting event at the ISSF World Championship 2023 in Baku, Azerbaijan.
23rd August, Current Affairs
Chandrayaan-3's Successful Landing
India's Chandrayaan-3 successfully made a soft landing near the Moon’s South Pole, making India the first nation to achieve this feat. The ₹600 crore mission took 41 days to reach its destination.
Sachin Tendulkar as National Icon
Bharat Ratna awardee and legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar has been declared the National Icon of the Election Commission of India to raise awareness among voters.
Srettha Thavisin Elected as Thai PM
Srettha Thavisin has been elected as the new Prime Minister of Thailand.
22nd August, Current Affairs
BRICS Summit in Johannesburg
Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached Johannesburg, South Africa, to attend the 15th BRICS Summit.
Praggnanandhaa's Chess Victory
Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa defeated world number 3 Fabiano Caruana in the semi-finals of the FIDE World Cup chess tournament in Baku. Praggnanandhaa became only the second Indian player after Viswanathan Anand to reach the finals of this tournament.
20th August, Current Affairs
Russia’s Luna-25 Probe Crash
Russia's Luna-25 probe, its first Moon mission in almost 50 years, crashed during pre-landing maneuvers.
Spain's FIFA Women's World Cup Win
Spain beat England 1-0 to become the World Champions in the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023.
India's Success at IOAA
India secured second place at the 16th International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA) in Poland, with four gold and one silver medal.
18th August, Current Affairs
Monsoon Rains in Himachal Pradesh
The death toll from monsoon rains in Himachal Pradesh has climbed to 74, with 113 landslides reported since the monsoon began, causing significant damage and losses.
Mohit Kumar’s Wrestling Gold
Mohit Kumar became the U20 world champion in the men's 61kg freestyle wrestling category at the U20 World Wrestling Championships in Jordan.
Changes in Mobile SIM Card Regulations
The government has mandated biometric verification for mobile SIM card dealers and discontinued the bulk connection mechanism to enhance security and accountability.
16th August, Current Affairs
Aditya L1 Mission Plans
ISRO is planning to launch the Aditya L1 satellite this month, marking India's first space-based mission to study the Sun.
Tribute to Atal Bihari Vajpayee
The nation paid homage to Former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his death anniversary.
Parsi New Year Celebrations
The Parsi community celebrated Navroz, marking the beginning of the Parsi New Year.
15th August, Current Affairs
77th Independence Day of India
India celebrated its 77th Independence Day with Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort in New Delhi.
Police Medals on Independence Day
A total of 954 police personnel were awarded Police Medals, including 82 for Distinguished Service and 642 for Meritorious Service.
14th August, Current Affairs
Rain-related Incidents in Himachal Pradesh
At least 41 people died in rain-related incidents in Himachal Pradesh as heavy rains continued to impact the state.
Defence Ministry to Replace Windows OS
The Ministry of Defence announced plans to replace the Microsoft Windows operating system with the indigenously developed Maya OS by the end of the year to improve cybersecurity.
Chandrayaan-3 Maneuver
ISRO successfully conducted a fresh orbit reduction maneuver of the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft, bringing it closer to the Moon’s surface.
12th August, Current Affairs
Pakistan's Caretaker Prime Minister
Senator Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar was selected as Pakistan’s caretaker Prime Minister to oversee general elections later this year.
Digital Personal Data Protection Bill
President Droupadi Murmu granted assent to the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, 2023, which had been passed by both Houses of Parliament.
India’s Victory in the Asian Champions Trophy
India won the final match of the Asian Champions Trophy 2023, edging past Malaysia 4-3. This victory marks India’s fourth Asian Champions Trophy title, making them the most successful team in the tournament's history.
11th August, Current Affairs
GST Amendment Bills Passed
Parliament passed the Central Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2023, and Integrated Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2023, with Lok Sabha approving them by voice vote.
New Legal Bills Introduced
The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, and the Bharatiya Sakshya Bill, 2023 were introduced in Lok Sabha, aiming to replace the Indian Penal Code, Criminal Procedure Act, and Indian Evidence Act, respectively.
Malabar 2023 Naval Exercise
The multilateral naval exercise Malabar 2023 began in Sydney, Australia.
10th August, Current Affairs
Defeat of No-Confidence Motion
The Lok Sabha defeated the no-confidence motion brought by Congress.
World Lion Day
World Lion Day is being celebrated to raise awareness about the conservation of lions.
India’s Performance in Universiade Games
India finished seventh in the overall medals tally with 26 medals, including 11 gold. China topped the tally with 103 gold medals.
RBI's Interest Rate Decision
The Reserve Bank of India kept the key interest rate unchanged for the third consecutive time at 6.5%.
Pharmacy (Amendment) Bill Passed
Parliament passed the Pharmacy (Amendment) Bill, of 2023, which amends the Pharmacy Act, of 1948.
8th August, Current Affairs
Death of Telugu Singer Gaddar
Popular Telugu singer Gaddar passed away in Hyderabad at the age of 74. He was known for his role in the Telangana movement through his songs.
Neeraj Chopra to Lead Team
Neeraj Chopra will lead the Indian team in the World Athletics Championships beginning on August 19 in Budapest, Hungary, with a 28-member team.
7th August, Current Affairs
National Handloom Day
National Handloom Day is observed to promote the handloom industry and its importance in India's economy and culture.
Cambodia’s New Prime Minister
Cambodia's King Norodom Sihamoni appointed Hun Manet, former Prime Minister Hun Sen's son, as the new prime minister of the country.
Prarthana Thombare’s Tennis Victory
Prarthana Thombare clinched the doubles title at the women’s tennis hardcourt event in Barcelona, Spain.
6th August, Current Affairs
Foundation Stone for Railway Stations
Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the redevelopment of 508 railway stations under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, costing over ₹24,470 crore.
Aditi Swami’s Archery World Title
Aditi Swami became the first Indian to win the individual World Title at the World Archery Championships final in Berlin, while Ojas Deotale won the Men’s Individual compound event.
4th August, Current Affairs
Grandmaster D Gukesh's Achievement
Grandmaster D Gukesh surpassed Viswanathan Anand in the live world rankings by FIDE after his victory over Misratdin Iskandarov, achieving a live rating of 2755.9.
Durand Cup Begins
Asia's oldest football tournament, the Durand Cup, began with 43 matches to be played across four venues in Assam and West Bengal.
3rd August, Current Affairs
Durand Cup Inauguration
The Durand Cup, Asia's oldest football tournament, commenced with 43 matches scheduled across four venues in Assam and West Bengal.
Delhi Amendment Bill
Lok Sabha took up the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill 2023 for consideration and passing.
Restrictions on Import of Laptops
The Centre imposed restrictions on the import of laptops, tablets, and personal computers, requiring a valid license for restricted imports.
Men’s Asian Champions Trophy
The 7th Men’s Asian Champions Trophy began in Chennai.
2nd August, Current Affairs
Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill Passed
Parliament passed the Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill, 2023, amending the Cinematograph Act, of 1952, making the certification issued by the Central Board of Film Certification perpetually valid.
Mines and Minerals Bill Passed
The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill was passed, encouraging private sector involvement in the exploration of critical and deep-seated minerals.
