LAW AND AMENDMENTS

The Supreme Court formed a 10-member task force to ensure the safety of doctors

• The Supreme Court has established a 10-member national task force (NTF) focused on the safety of doctors.

• This task force was formed in response to protests following the tragic death of a doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College.

• The task force will create a national protocol to ensure the protection and proper facilities for healthcare workers.

• Senior doctors from various fields have been included in the task force.

• Four ex-officio members are part of the task force: the Cabinet Secretary, Health Secretary, National Medical Commission Chairperson, and the National Board of Examiners President.

• The task force will also address workplace safety for healthcare professionals.

• A national action plan to combat gender-based violence has also been mandated by the Supreme Court.

• The task force has been instructed to submit an interim report within three weeks.

• A final report is expected within two months of the task force's formation.

• The initiative underscores the importance of protecting doctors and healthcare workers nationwide.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Scientists have detected liquid water on Mars for the first time.

• Scientists have discovered liquid water on Mars for the first time.

• A study suggests that there might be oceans of liquid water within Mars' rocky outer crust.

• The study, titled "Liquid water in the Martian mid-crust," was published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

• The water is believed to exist at depths of 10 to 20 km within the Martian crust.

• This discovery suggests that water may have seeped from the surface billions of years ago when Mars had rivers, lakes, and possibly oceans.

• The findings could enhance our understanding of Mars' water cycle.

• The discovery also boosts the search for evidence of life on Mars.

• Researchers utilized data from NASA’s Mars Insight Lander, which arrived on Mars in 2018.

• This breakthrough offers new insights into the planet's geological history and potential habitability.

AWARDS

Rohit Sharma won the 'Men's International Cricketer of the Year' at the Ceat Cricket Awards 2023–24.

• Rohit Sharma was honored as the 'Men's International Cricketer of the Year' at the Ceat Cricket Rating Awards 2023–24.

• Virat Kohli was awarded 'Men's ODI Batter of the Year' at the same event.

• Mohammed Shami earned the title of 'ODI Bowler of the Year.'

• Rahul Dravid received the 'Lifetime Achievement Award' for his contributions to cricket.

• Yashasvi Jaiswal was recognized as the 'Men's Test Batter of the Year.'

• R. Ashwin was named 'Men's Test Bowler of the Year.'

• Tamil Nadu's R Sai Kishore won the 'Domestic Cricketer of the Year' award.

• New Zealand's Tim Southee was awarded 'Men's T20I Bowler of the Year.'

• England's Phil Salt was recognized as the 'Best Batter of the Year' in the T-20 format.

Lata Mangeshkar Award will be presented to K S Chithra and Uttam Singh

• The Madhya Pradesh government will award the National Lata Mangeshkar Award to K.S. Chithra and Uttam Singh on September 28.

• Uttam Singh will receive the award for 2022, while K.S. Chithra will be honored for 2023.

• The awards will be presented in a newly built auditorium dedicated to Lata Mangeshkar.

• The Lata Mangeshkar Award is presented annually on the singer's birth anniversary.

• Lata Mangeshkar was born on September 28, 1929, in Indore and passed away on February 6, 2022, in Mumbai.

• Established in 1984, the award celebrates artistic excellence in light music.

• The award includes a cash prize of Rs 2 lakh and a citation.

• This year’s ceremony will be the first to be held in the state government's auditorium honoring Mangeshkar.

• The state culture department confers the award to recognize outstanding contributions to music.

RGIA Hyderabad won the Best Airport Award for the third consecutive year.

• Hyderabad's Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) has been named Best Airport at the India Travel Awards for the third year in a row.

• The award highlights RGIA's commitment to excellent social media engagement and strong airline support.

• In 2023, RGIA also won the Skytrax 'Best Airport Staff in India & South Asia 2024' award in Frankfurt.

• RGIA is the largest airport in India by area, spanning 5,500 acres in Shamshabad, Hyderabad.

• The airport, serving Hyderabad, opened on March 23, 2008.

• RGIA introduced domestic e-boarding in December 2015 and international e-boarding in October 2020, making it the first in India to do so.

• The airport's recognition underscores its excellence in service and infrastructure.

• This consistent performance has established RGIA as a leader among Indian airports.

• The airport plays a crucial role in connecting Hyderabad with international destinations.

APPOINTMENTS

Govind Mohan took charge as the new Union Home Secretary.

• Govind Mohan, a senior IAS officer, took over as the new Union Home Secretary on August 22.

• He replaced Ajay Kumar Bhalla, who served in the position for five years.

• Before this role, Mohan was the Union Culture Secretary, where he led key initiatives.

• Mohan had already been appointed as Officer on Special Duty in the Union Home Ministry.

• He also led the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga movement,’ promoting the national flag in every household.

• The ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ initiative included national flag hoisting, rallies, and 'Tiranga' runs.

• Mohan's new role makes him the second-highest bureaucratic official after the Cabinet Secretary.

• His leadership in cultural initiatives reflects his commitment to national heritage and patriotism.

SUMMIT AND COMFERENCE

The EU-India Track 1.5 Conference has started in New Delhi for two days.

• The EU-India Track 1.5 Conference began in New Delhi on August 21 and will run for two days.

• This conference is jointly organized by the European Union and India's External Affairs Ministry.

• It focuses on tackling the challenges of violent extremism in the digital realm.

• The event is held in collaboration with the Global Counter-Terrorism Council.

• Participants include experts, policymakers, and law enforcement officials from India, Bangladesh, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Europe.

• The conference aims to strengthen counter-terrorism dialogues and partnerships.

• Discussions will cover radicalization processes in online environments.

• The conference seeks to address multifaceted issues related to digital extremism.

• It provides a platform for collaboration and knowledge exchange among international stakeholders.

MISCELLANEOUS

RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das became the top central banker for the second consecutive year

• RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das has been rated 'A+' for the second year in the Global Finance Central Banker Report Cards 2024.

• Das shares the 'A+' rating with Christian Ketel Thomsen of Denmark and Thomas Jordan of Switzerland.

• The report card evaluates central bankers based on inflation control, economic growth, currency stability, and interest rate management.

• An 'A' grade signifies excellent performance, while 'F' denotes poor performance.

• The Central Banker Report Card, published annually by Global Finance, has been assessing central bank governors since 1994.

• This report covers nearly 100 countries, territories, and districts.

• Other regions evaluated include the European Union, Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, Bank of Central African States, and Central Bank of West African States.

• Shaktikanta Das's consecutive high rating highlights his effective central banking.

• The grading scale ranges from A to F to reflect the success of central bank policies.

Dr. Virendra Kumar Opens 17th Divya Kala Mela in Raipur

• Union Minister Dr. Virendra Kumar inaugurated the 17th Divya Kala Mela in Raipur.

• The week-long event focuses on empowering artisans and entrepreneurs with disabilities.

• Organized by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan).

• Over 100 Divyang artisans and entrepreneurs from 20 states and UTs are showcasing their products.

• The mela offers visitors a chance to explore and buy unique handcrafted items.

• It features the ‘Divya Kala Shakti’ Job Fairs and Loan Mela to support Divyangjan.

• The cultural program highlights talents in music, dance, and drama by participating artists.

• The event emphasizes cultural diversity through various products and performances.

• The mela provides a platform for artisans with disabilities to gain visibility and support.