Daily GK Update: 31st August 2023

 National Affairs

1. India to host 1st edition of ‘Global IndiaAI 2023’ in October 2023

• The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology will organize the first edition of the Global IndiaAI 2023 in October 2023.
• The leading AI players, researchers, startups, and investors in India and worldwide will participate in the event.
• Union MoS for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship and Electronics & IT, Rajeev Chandrasekhar chairs the conference’s steering committee which is entrusted with the task of shaping the contours of the Global IndiaAI 2023

 Agreement

2. Ministry of Social Justice and NSKFDC sign MoU

• The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment and the National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC) signed an MoU for 2023-25.
• Aim: To enhance the socio-economic upliftment of Safai Karamcharis, and their dependants focusing on empowering these marginalized communities across the nation
• The MoU underscores the commitment to accelerate inclusive growth through the effective allocation and utilization of funds for targeted welfare programs.

 National Affairs

3. Bhaderwah Rajma & Ramban Sulai Honey of Jammu and Kashmir get GI Tag

• Two world-famous local specialty products of Jammu and Kashmir, namely Bhaderwah Rajma and Ramban Sulai Honey have earned coveted Geographical Indication (GI) Tag.
• The process for GI Tagging of these products was initiated by the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Jammu.
• GI tagging will also promote the economic prosperity of locals in the geographical territory and will act as a tool for social economic growth of the producer.

 Defense

4. Army signs deals for 130 tethered drones and 19 tank driving simulators

• The Indian Army has signed contracts for the procurement of 130 tethered drones and 19 tank-driving simulators under Emergency Procurement (EP).
• The armed forces are currently executing the fourth tranche of EPs sanctioned by the Defence Ministry.
• Tethered drone:
  • It is an unmanned aerial vehicle tethered to the ground.
  • It consists of a base station on the ground and the drone, which is connected to the station through the tether (cable).

 Science & Technology

5. 5. NASA to test end-to-end laser communication in space

• NASA is launching a groundbreaking technology demonstration known as the Integrated LCRD Low Earth Orbit User Modem and Amplifier Terminal (ILLUMA-T) to the Space Station.
• ILLUMA-T is scheduled to launch on SpaceX’s 29th Commercial Resupply mission.
• Aim: To enhance space communications capabilities
• The ILLUMA-T, along with the Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD) launched in December 2021, will complete NASA’s first two-way, end-to-end laser relay system.

 Science & Technology

6. Chandrayaan-3 shows 50°C difference between moon’s surface and 10 cm bel

• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) released a graph of the temperature variation between the moon’s surface and a point around 8 cm below.
• It was measured by an instrument named ChaSTE (Chandra’s Surface Thermophysical Experiment).
• The graph shows that the temperature at 8 cm (80 mm) depth into the Moon’s surface drops to -10 degrees Celsius and at 6 cm (60 mm) depth, the temperature is around 5-10 degrees Celsius.

 Schemes

7. Centre announces up to Rs 50 lakh grant for technical textiles startups

• The Textiles ministry released the guidelines of the GREAT scheme (Grant for Research and Entrepreneurship across Aspiring Innovators in Technical Textiles), under which they will provide a grant-in-aid of up to Rs 50 lakh for startups and individuals to promote innovation in the niche technical textiles segment.
• They would grant-in-aid of up to Rs 50 lakh for up to a period of 18 months.
• Additionally, they will provide 10% of the total grant-in-aid to incubators.

 National & International Appointments

8. Indian Oil ropes in Sanjeev Kapoor as its brand ambassador

• The IndianOil has appointed Chef Sanjeev Kapoor as the brand ambassador for its Indane XTRATEJ LPG brand.
• This announcement was made at the prestigious Indane XtraTej Hotelier Harmony Meet in Bengaluru.
• The event witnessed the unveiling of the new XTRATEJ TV commercial featuring Chef Sanjeev Kapoor, who commended IndianOil's commitment to culinary innovation and efficiency.
• Indian Oil Chairman: Shrikant Madhav Vaidya

 Sports

9. Govt to set up 1,000 Khelo India Centres in country within a year

• Youth Affairs Minister, Anurag Singh Thakur has announced that 1,000 Khelo India Centres will be established within a year in the country.
• He also informed that each player will receive 5 lakh rupees to procure equipment for their centres and per year another 5 lakh rupees for operational expenses.
• He also launched an Information booklet on Sports Infrastructure Projects sanctioned under the Khelo India Scheme as well as launched a National Sports Federations portal.

 Schemes

10. Centre Launches ‘Awareness Campaign And Training Of Trainers’ Initiativ

• Union Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda has inaugurated the ‘Awareness Campaign and Training of Trainers’ initiative.
• Aim: To educate grassroots workers and enable them to raise awareness about sickle cell anaemia, particularly in tribal regions
• The government aims to eradicate the disease by 2047, under its National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission targets.
• PM Narendra Modi formally launched the mission on July 1 in Shahdol district, MP.

 Books & Authors

11. 11. Minister Dharmendra Pradhan launches Comic Book Developed by NCERT, UNE

• Union Education Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan has launched a novel comic book titled "Let’s Move Forward" at Kaushal Bhawan, New Delhi.
• This book will motivate students to prioritize holistic well-being while entertaining them through storytelling, with a key focus on good health and wellness.
• He also highlights the importance of stories in conveying important messages such as mental health and hopes that more such comic books will be developed in the future.