NATIONAL NEWS

OP Jindal Global University to set up first Constitution Academy to mark 75th anniversary of Constitution

• O.P. Jindal Global University is installing India's first Constitution Museum to mark the 75th anniversary of the Constitution's adoption.

• The initiative, titled "Constitution Academy and the Museum of Rights and Freedom," is a historic step in Indian constitutional history.

• This unique museum will be located on the JGU campus.

• The museum will be inaugurated and opened to the public on November 26, 2024.

• The launch date coincides with the 75th anniversary of India's Constitution.

• The institution will serve as a significant landmark for preserving and showcasing constitutional history.

• The project reflects JGU's commitment to commemorating and educating about India's constitutional legacy.

Sapno Ki Udaan has been released by Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

• Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan released the e-magazine "Sapno Ki Udaan" on National Space Day (August 23).

• The magazine features a collection of poetry, essays, stories, anecdotes, and riddles.

• Contributions for the magazine came from students, teachers, and parents across India.

• The theme of this edition is centered around space.

• "Sapno Ki Udaan" was released in collaboration with the Department of School Education and Literacy and NCERT.

• The magazine commemorates the first anniversary of Chandrayaan-3's successful landing on the lunar South Pole.

• The e-magazine highlights creative expressions related to space exploration.

• It serves as a platform to encourage interest in space among students and educators.

LAW AND AMENDMENTS

SC to examine need for a permanent environmental regulator

• The Supreme Court has initiated discussions on establishing a ‘permanent environmental regulator’ similar to those in sectors like telecom and electricity.

• This move addresses concerns over the current environmental regulatory framework’s adequacy and advocates for a more cohesive approach to environmental management.

• India's environmental governance is currently fragmented, with entities like CPCB, SPCBs, NGT, and various ministries working independently within their mandates.

• The lack of coordination among these bodies often leads to inconsistencies in environmental regulation and enforcement.

• The Supreme Court emphasized the need for increased accountability and efficiency in these regulatory bodies.

• Regular audits and transparent operations have been highlighted as essential to improving the effectiveness of environmental governance.

• Institutionalizing these authorities is seen as crucial for ensuring their integrity and independence in preserving the country’s ecological balance.

• The proposed unified regulator would enhance the monitoring and enforcement of environmental laws across India.

• The deliberations reflect a broader push towards strengthening India’s environmental regulatory framework and addressing climate change challenges more effectively.

Kerala’s 24×7 Open and Networked Courts

• The Kerala High Court launched the ‘24×7 ON Courts’ as part of judicial reform.

• ‘24×7 ON Courts’ is a networked system facilitating online case filing, case monitoring, and adjournment applications.

• This initiative aims to enhance accessibility and efficiency in the judicial process.

• The system was established with support from Public Collective for Avoidance and Resolution of Dispute (PUCAR).

• The introduction of ‘24×7 ON Courts’ marks a significant step in modernizing court operations.

• It provides round-the-clock services to streamline legal procedures and improve case management.

• The system will be implemented at magistrate courts, which face high case backlogs and low policy focus.

• It includes a scheduling system to list court matters and inform stakeholders about the next steps.

• Integration with ePost and iCoPS will facilitate the management of summons and warrants.

• Dashboards will provide judges with real-time information on case progression.

• This initiative aims to improve efficiency and transparency in handling court cases.

AWARDS

Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub named best actor for 'Scoop', 'Maidaan' best Asian film

• The 2024 Septimius Award in the Netherlands honored the Ajay Devgn starrer Maidaan as the Best Asian Film.

• Actor Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub won the Best Actor award at the same ceremony.

• The awards ceremony took place on August 19-20 at the Tuschinski Theatre in Amsterdam.

• Zeeshan Ayyub was recognized for his role in the 2023 crime drama series Scoop.

• Director Amit Ravindranath Sharma's Maidaan was celebrated as the best Asian film.

• Maidaan secured its win for its impactful storytelling and direction.

• The Septimius Award highlighted both the film and Ayyub's standout performances on an international stage.

SPORTS

India won a silver medal at the 2024 Asian Surfing Championships' Maruhaba Cup in the Maldives.

• India earned a silver medal at the Maruhaba Cup during the Asian Surfing Championships 2024 in Thulusdhoo, Maldives.

• Japan clinched the gold medal in the event's final, with Taipei and China securing third and fourth places, respectively.

• India topped Heat 2 in the semi-finals with a score of 32.16, ahead of Taipei and the Republic of Korea.

• The Indian team included Kamali P, Ajeesh Ali, Srikanth D, and Sanjay Selvamani.

• India won their first-ever surfing quota for the Asian Games just a day before their silver medal victory.

• The 2024 Asian Surfing Championships served as a qualifying event for the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.

• The Indian men's and women's teams will now participate in the 2026 Asian Games.

• Harish Muthu made history by being the first Indian to reach the quarterfinals of the men’s open event at the championships.

• Although Muthu couldn’t advance to the semi-finals, his performance was noteworthy.

SUMMIT AND CONFERENCES

Singapore hosted the 2nd India-Singapore Ministerial Round Table Conference.

• The 2nd India-Singapore Ministerial Round Table Conference was held in Singapore on August 26.

• The conference focused on enhancing trade and economic ties between India and Singapore.

• Union ministers Nirmala Sitharaman, Piyush Goyal, S. Jaishankar, and Ashwini Vaishnaw attended the meeting.

• Singaporean leaders and ministers engaged in discussions with their Indian counterparts during the visit.

• The ISMR was created as a platform to set a forward-looking agenda for India-Singapore bilateral relations.

• The inaugural meeting of the ISMR took place in New Delhi in September 2022.

• The 2024 meeting reviewed strategic partnerships and explored new avenues for collaboration.

• Singapore was the top source of FDI in India during 2023-24, with investments totaling $11.77 billion.

• Cumulative FDI inflow from Singapore from April 2000 to March 2024 reached $159.94 billion.

• Singapore ranked as India’s sixth largest global trading partner in 2023-24, with bilateral trade amounting to $35.61 billion.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Australia's 'right to disconnect' law is about to come into force.

• Australia's 'right to disconnect' law, effective from August 26, grants workers the right to ignore work-related communications outside of their work hours.

• The law, which was passed in February, protects employees from being penalized for not monitoring, reading, or responding to messages from their employers after work hours.

• This legislation aligns with similar "right to disconnect" laws already in place in countries like France, Germany, and other EU nations.

• Employers' groups criticized the law when it passed earlier this year, arguing that it was drafted hastily and contained flaws.

• The law permits exceptions where it may be deemed unreasonable for an employee to refuse communication, depending on their role and the context of the contact.

• This new regulation emphasizes the importance of work-life balance for Australian workers.

• The law seeks to protect workers from being overburdened by work demands beyond their regular working hours.

• The right to disconnect is part of broader efforts to modernize labor laws and protect employees' rights in the digital age.

• The law takes into consideration the nature of the employee's job, the reason for the contact, and how the communication was made when determining exceptions.

MISCELLANEOUS

MedTech Zone has launched India’s first indigenously developed monkeypox RT-PCR kit.

• India's first indigenous monkeypox RT-PCR kit, named ‘ErbaMDx MonkeyPox RT-PCR Kit’, has been launched by Andhra Pradesh-based MedTech Zone (AMTZ).

• The kit was developed in collaboration with Transasia Diagnostics Private Limited.

• This RT-PCR kit has been validated by the Indian Council for Medical Research and has received emergency use authorization from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization.

• The Transasia-Erba RT-PCR kit for monkeypox is known for its high sensitivity.

• This kit aims to aid in the early detection and effective management of monkeypox infections.

• Monkeypox is a viral zoonotic disease with symptoms that closely resemble those of smallpox.

• The name "monkeypox" originates from its initial discovery in monkey colonies in 1958, later detected in humans in 1970.

• The disease is transmitted from animals to humans through direct contact with blood, bodily fluids, or infected lesions.

• The kit represents a significant step forward in India's ability to respond to emerging infectious diseases.