Daily Current Affairs- 23 August 2024

Daily Current Affairs- 23rd August 2024

INTERNATIONAL

Indo-Danish collaborative effort for river rejuvenation

• In a significant step towards sustainable river management, the Smart Laboratory on Clean Rivers (SLCR) project was unveiled at IIT-BHU Varanasi, with an initial funding of Rs 16.8 crore from the Jal Shakti Ministry and an additional Rs 5 crore from Denmark.
• The initiative is a result of the strategic alliance between IIT-BHU, the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), and the govt of Denmark. The SLCR project aims to rejuvenate the river Varuna using sustainable approaches, leveraging the expertise of both India and Denmark. 

NATIONAL

M1xchange launches international trade financing platform for MSMEs at GIFT City

• M1xchange, a digital invoice discounting platform for MSMEs, has set up an international platform —M1NXT ITFS— in GIFT City to enable Indian MSMEs avail global factoring services. This international trade financing services (ITFS) platform would bring global liquidity to MSMEs and benefit the ecosystem. 

South Indian Adivasi Knowledge Centre to be launched in B.R. Hills

• Kaanu, a South Indian Adivasi Knowledge Centre, will be launched at the Tribal Health Resource Centre (THRC) at BR Hills, Karnataka on Sunday, August 25, this new centre, Kaanu, which means evergreen forest, aims to be the first ever knowledge centre on South Indian Adivasi past, present and culture. 

APPOINTMENS & RESIGNATIONS

Rajesh Nambiar Appointed NASSCOM President-Designate

• IT industry body national association of software services companies (NASSCOM) announced the appointment of Rajesh Nambiar as its president-designate. Nambiar, who resigned as chairman and managing director of Cognizant India, succeeds Debjani Ghosh at nasscom, who completes her tenure in November 2024. 

Deepti Gaur Mukherjee Assumes Charge as new MCA Secretary

• Deepti Gaur Mukherjee has taken over as the Secretary of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), succeeding Manoj Govil, who recently assumed the role of Expenditure Secretary. Before this, Mukherjee served as the CEO of the National Health Authority, Deepti Gaur Mukherjee is a 1993 batch IAS officer of the Madhya Pradesh cadre. 

IMPORTANT DAYS

National Space Day: India

• The country will celebrate its first National Space Day on 23 August 2024 to mark its remarkable capability and achievements in space, The Indian government officially declared August 23 as the National Space Day, commemorating India's growing prowess in space exploration, with the theme - Touching Lives while Touching the Moon: India's Space Saga. 

International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition

• The International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition is an international day observed on 23 August of each year, the day designated by UNESCO to memorialize the transatlantic slave trade, the theme for the year 2024 is - Creating Global Freedom: Countering Racism with Justice in Societies and Among Nations. 

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

Rohit Sharma & Virat Kohli honoured at the 26th CEAT Cricket Awards

• The Indian men’s cricket team captain Rohit Sharma was awarded the 26th CEAT International Cricketer of the Year Award, Virat Kohli who had a terrific year in the One Day Internationals (ODI), was honoured with the Best ODI Batter of the Year award, at the CEAT Cricket Awards in a ceremony held in Mumbai on 21 August 2024. 

BANKING & ECONOMY

LIC Housing launches home loan scheme for armed forces at 8.4% rate

• LIC Housing Finance has introduced a special home loan scheme for Indian defence forces - the 'Griha Rakshak' scheme, The NBFC is offering home loans up to Rs 2 crore at an interest of 8.4 per cent per annum to eligible applicants with a credit score of 750 and above. 

Zomato to Acquires Paytm’s Entertainment & Ticketing Business

• Zomato to acquire the movie and events ticketing businesses of Paytm for Rs 2,048 crore, This move marks Zomato’s expansion into the broader lifestyle services sector, including dining, movies, sports ticketing, live performances, shopping, and staycations. Meanwhile, Paytm aims to refocus on its core financial services. 

IndusInd Bank Receives RBI Approval for Mutual Fund Business

• IndusInd Bank has secured approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to establish a mutual fund business. The bank will set up a wholly-owned subsidiary to undertake asset management activities. Strategic partnership with Invesco Ltd. 

Aditya Birla Finance and AU Small Finance Bank launch co-branded credit cards

• Aditya Birla Finance Limited (ABFL), a subsidiary of Aditya Birla Capital, and AU Small Finance Bank have launched a new range of co-branded credit cards, The cards, available on Visa and RuPay networks, aim to cater to a broad spectrum of customer needs with four distinct variants.

Card variants and features -

• ABC AU Flex: This card offers an affordable option designed for the mass market in India.
• ABC AU Nxt: Aimed at millennials, this card includes specialised features tailored for younger customers.
• ABC AU Pro: This high-end card is targeted at affluent individuals, offering premium benefits.