78th Independence Day- 15 August / 78वाां स्वतांत्रता दिवस – 15

अगस्त
➢ This day marks the historic moment in 1947 when India
achieved freedom from British colonial rule after a prolonged
struggle.
➢ It is a time to honour the sacrifices of the freedom
fighters who fought tirelessly for the country’s independence.
➢ The theme or slogan for the 78th Indian Independence Day
2024 is ‘Viksit Bharat,’ which aligns with the government’s
vision of transforming India into a Developed Nation by
2047, coinciding with the 100th year of Independence
➢ India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, delivered the
iconic ‘Tryst With Destiny‘ speech, declaring India’s
independence.
❖ While India marks its independence on August 15, five other
nations also celebrate their freedom on this significant date.
These include South Korea, North Korea, Bahrain, the
Democratic Republic of Congo, and Liechtenstein.

❖ Gurdaspur punjab (Bravest City Of Punjab),district remained

with Pakistan from August 14 till August 17,however the city,
after 72 hours of suspense, burst out in joy on the afternoon
of August 17. “It was after the Lahore radio, in its afternoon
broadcast on August 17, confirmed that the district was back
in India.
➢ At that time, the district comprised four tehsils — Shakargarh,
Batala, Pathankot and Gurdaspur. Its boundary stretched from
Dera Baba Nanak, located right on the International Border, to
Dalhousie in present-day Himachal Pradesh.

➢ Of the four tehsils, Shakargarh went to Pakistan.

➢ British stuck to their original decision, India would have lost

control of J&K because the only road that reached Kashmir was
through Gurdaspur.
14th August - Partition Horrors Remembrance Day in India /14 ਅਗਸਤ
- ਭਾਰਤ ਵਵਿੱ ਚ ਵੰ ਡ ਦੀ ਵਭਆਨਕ ਯਾਦ ਵਦਵਸ
➢ Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced to observe this day
in 2021.
➢ The Partition of India in 1947 was a pivotal moment in South Asian
history, leading to the division of British India into two
independent countries: India and Pakistan.
German Scientists Discover Plastic-Eating Fungi for Waste Reduction /
➢ It could offer a hope in tackling the problem of millions of tonnes of
waste polluting the world's oceans every year.

➢ Microfungi can degrade synthetic polymers, showing potential for

use in controlled environments like sewage treatment plants.
However, they are unlikely to solve the global plastic waste crisis.
(350-400 million metric tons)
Australia, U.S., U.K. sign nuclear transfer deal for AUKUS submarines /
➢ Australia had signed a deal to allow the exchange of nuclear
secrets and material with the United States and Britain, a key step
toward equipping its navy with nuclear-powered submarines.

➢ It is a trilateral security partnership between the United Kingdom,

the United States of America, and Australia agreed in 2021.
Youth around the world find it tough to get a job: ILO report /ਦੁਨੀਆ
ਭਰ ਦੇ ਨੌਜਵਾਨਾਂ ਲਈ ਨੌਕਰੀ ਪ੍ਰਾਪ੍ਤ ਕਰਨਾ ਮੁਸ਼ਕਲ ਹੈ: ILO ਦੀ ਵਰਪ੍ੋਰਟ
➢ Young people around the world are unable to find secure work and their
chances of finding a job decrease as the income level of the country they
reside in decreases, the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) Global
Employment Trends for Youth 2024 report.
➢ The number of 15- to 24-year-olds who are not in employment,
education or training (NEET) is concerning and that the post-COVID-19
pandemic employment recovery has not been universal.
International Labour Organisation (ILO)
❖It was created in 1919, as part of the Treaty of Versailles that ended
World War I.

❖In 1946, the ILO became a specialized agency of the newly formed
United Nations.

❖HQ: Geneva, Switzerland.

❖Parent organization: Economic and Social Council of the United
Nations (ECOSOC).

❖It is also a member of the United Nations Development Group (UNDP)

❖Current DIRECTOR GENERAL - Gilbert F. Houngbo
Union Government to include AYUSH in Ayushman Bharat scheme /
➢ The Union Government is working on the inclusion of an AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga
& Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy) package under the Ayushman
Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), Launched in 2018
➢ AB PM-JAY aims to provide health cover of ₹5 lakh per family per year for
secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation to approximately 55 crore
beneficiaries corresponding to 12.34 crore families constituting the bottom 40%
of the population.
However, the Ministry is implementing the Centrally Sponsored
Scheme of National Ayush Mission (NAM) through State/UT
governments for development and promotion of AYUSH system

The National Health Authority (NHA) has been constituted as

an autonomous entity under the Society Registration Act,
1860 for effective implementation of PM-JAY in alliance with
state governments.

Central government employees and pensioners enrolled in

the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) can have
access to healthcare services through allopathic as well as
AYUSH.
Guidelines Issued for 'Model Solar Village' Under PM-Surya Ghar /
पीएम-सर्ू य घर के तहत 'मॉडल सोलर ववलेज' के ललए दिशा-नििे श
जारी
➢ The Government has issued operational guidelines for the
implementation of Model Solar Village under PM-Surya Ghar-Muft
Bijli Yojana.

➢ Under the scheme emphasis has been placed on creating one

Model Solar Village per district across the country
➢ A total financial outlay of 800 crore rupees has been allocated for
this component, providing 1 crore rupees per selected Model Solar
Village.

➢ under this scheme, a village must be a revenue village with a

population size above 5,000 or 2,000 for special category states.
Union Jal Shakti Ministry launches Flood Watch India 2.0 App / केंद्रीर्
जल शक्तत मांत्रालर् िे फ्लड वॉच इांडडर्ा 2.0 ऐप लॉन्च ककर्ा
➢ In order to improve flood forecasting and flood management systems in
the country, the government of India has launched an improved Flood
Watch India 2.0 App. The Flood Watch India app 2.0 provides real-time
information on flood situations to users across the country through a
smartphone.
➢ The Flood Watch India 2.0 app has been developed by the Central Water
Commission, which comes under the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti.
Roshni Nadar Malhotra, chairperson of HCL Technologies is India's
most influential woman leading a family-owned business, according
to the 2024 Barclays Private Clients Hurun India Most Valuable
Family Businesses report.
Haryana CM Naib Singh Launches “Har Ghar Har Grihini Yojana” /

➢ This scheme is set to provide

significant relief to about 50 lakh
Antyodaya families by offering
domestic gas cylinders at a
subsidized rate of Rs 500.

➢ This initiative is part of a

broader effort by the Haryana
government to improve the
living conditions of its poorest
citizens
Kwatra takes charge as Indian ambassador to the US

Former Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan

Kwatra has taken charge as Indian
ambassador to the US, succeeds Taranjit Singh
Sandhu.
Huge underground reservoir of liquid water on Mars, seismic data
indicates /
➢ A massive reservoir of liquid water, equal to an ocean, is found hiding under
Mars.
➢ The water deposit found fractured within igneous rocks, is so huge that it is
enough to fill an ocean that can cover the entire Earth’s planetary neighbour,
concluded scientists who observed the recent seismic data of Mars.
➢ The claims were made based on data received from NASA’s robotic InSight
Lander during a mission to help decipher the interior of Mars.
DRDO successfully tested its first Long-Range Glide Bomb, Gaurav /
➢ The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully
tested its Long-Range Glide Bomb, Gaurav, off the coast of Odisha.

➢ The smart bomb was dropped from the Indian Air Force's Su-30 MK-I fighter
plane. The successful testing of the smart bomb is likely to enhance the
Indian Air Force's combat capability.
➢ Long-range Glide Bombs are smart bombs that enable the Air
Force to hit targets that are beyond the reach of conventional
munitions. They are dropped by a fighter plane at a safe distance
from the enemy air defence system.
Defence Ministry Team Hoist Tricolour Flag On Mount Kilimanjaro Under
Mission Kanchenjunga /
Para Shuttler Pramod Bhagat Suspended For Breaching Anti Doping
Regulations /
➢ Para shuttler Pramod Bhagat has been suspended by
the Badminton World Federation for a period of 18 months for
breaching the anti-doping regulations. Now, Pramod will miss the
Paris 2024 Paralympic Games
PR Sreejesh Appointed as New Head Coach of India’s Junior Men’s
Hockey Team /
Kavin Quintal (Chennai), the first Indian to have participated in the
World Superbike Championship
Rachael Lillis, voice actor for Misty and Jessie from ‘Pokémon’, dies at
46
Release of Publication “Women and Men in India 2023”
➢ Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), Government of
India, released the 25th issue of its publication titled “Women and Men in India
2023”
➢ India's population is projected to reach 152.2 crore by 2036, with an increase in
the female percentage to 48.8% from 48.5% in 2011
➢ It presents data disaggregated by gender, urban-rural divide, and geographical
region, which helps to understand the disparities that exist between different
groups of women and men.
➢ Age-specific fertility rates for women aged 20-29 have decreased between 2016
and 2020, while rates for women 35-39 have slightly increased.

➢ Notably, India has achieved a major milestone in reducing its Maternal

Mortality Ratio to 97 per lakh live births in 2018-20, putting it on track to meet
the Sustainable Development Goal target of 70 by 2030.
➢ Female labor force participation has seen a substantial increase, rising
from 23.3% in 2017-18 to 37% in 2022-23, though still considerably lower
than male participation rates.

➢ Both infant and under-5 mortality rates have shown consistent decline,
with the gender gap in these rates narrowing significantly.
Indian airline Vistara gets top spot in South Asia in Best Global Airline 2024 /
Rank Airline Name
World Global
Airline Awards
Hub Rank
2024, by Skytrax
2024 2023
1 Qatar Airways Qatar 2
2 Singapore Airlines Singapore 1
Vistara, globally
ranked 16th—has
3 Emirates UAE (Dubai) 4
emerged as the best
4 ANA All Nippon Japan 3
Airways airline in India and
5 Cathay Pacific Hong Kong 8
South Asia for 2024.
Airways
6 Japan Airlines Japan 5
7 Turkish Airlines Turkey 6
8 EVA Air Taiwan 9
9 Air France France 7
10 Swiss International Switzerland 12
Air Lines
Neelakurinji becomes a ‘threatened species,’ officially /
➢ The endangered purple bloom of the Western Ghats, Neelakurinji
(Strobilanthes kunthiana), was recently added to the International Union
for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.
➢ The latest global assessment confirms its threatened status in the
Vulnerable (Criteria A2c) category of the IUCN
➢ Neelakurinji (Strobilanthes kunthiana), the purplish flowering shrub,
which blooms once in 12 years
6th India-Australia Maritime Security Dialogue held in Canberra /
➢ In an effort to strengthen the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic
Partnership, India and Australia hosted two important bilateral meetings.
➢ Australia hosted the 6th India-Australia Maritime Security Dialogue in its capital
city of Canberra to strengthen cooperation in ensuring maritime security. India
hosted the 14th meeting of the India-Australia Joint Working Group on Counter-
Terrorism in New Delhi.
➢ Cooperation in counter-terrorism is an important pillar of the India-Australia
Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Australia
❖Australia is the smallest continent on earth
and the sixth-largest country in the world in
terms of area.
❖Australia is an island continent located in the
southern hemisphere between the Pacific
Ocean and the Indian Ocean.
❖Australia is also known as the “Oldest
Continent”, “the Last of Lands,” and “the Last
Frontier.”
❖The Aborigines are Australia's native
population, while the large population consists
of European-born settlers.
Capital: Canberra
Currency: Australian Dollar
Prime Minister: Anthony Albanese
MoU Signed Between Ministry of MSME And SBA, Government of USA
➢ Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, MSME has
signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU with the Small
Business Administration (SBA) of the Government of the United
States of America to promote Cooperation on Small and Medium-
size Enterprises (SMEs).
➢ It envisages the exchange of expertise between the two sides on issues
related to improving MSME participation in the global marketplace through
mutual visits as well as webinars and workshops on topics including access
to trade and export finance; technology and digital trade; green economy;
and trade facilitation.
Who is recognized as India's most influential woman in the
2024 Barclays Private Clients Hurun India Most Valuable Family
Businesses report? 2024 बाकयलेज प्राइवेट ग्रिट्स हुरुि इांडडर्ा
मोस्ट वैल्र्ए
ू बल फैलमली बबजिेस ररपोटय में भारत की सबसे
प्रभावशाली मदहला के रूप में ककसे मान्र्ता िी गई है ?
A) Roshni Nadar Malhotra

B) Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw

C) Indira Nooyi

D) Nita Ambani Ans - a

According to the 25th issue of “Women and Men in India
2023,” what is India's projected population by 2036? "भारत
में मदहला और परु ु ष 2023" के 25वें अांक के अिस ु ार, 2036
तक भारत की अिम ु ानित जिसांख्र्ा ककतिी है ?
A) 140.5 crore

B) 152.2 crore

C) 160.0 crore

D) 170.3 crore
Ans - b
Which state has become the first in India to provide money
to girl students for buying sanitary napkins? कौि सा राज्र्
सैनिटरी िैपककि खरीििे के ललए लड़ककर्ों को पैसे िे िे वाला
भारत का पहला राज्र् बि गर्ा है ? ?
A) Karnataka

B) Rajasthan

C) Delhi

D) Madhya Pradesh
Ans - d
What is the name of the long-range glide bomb successfully
tested by the DRDO? DRDO द्वारा सफलतापव ू क
य परीक्षण
ककए गए लांबी िरू ी के ग्लाइड बम का िाम तर्ा है ?
A) Agni

B) Gaurav

C) BrahMos

D) Nirbhay

Ans - b
In which state is the Omkareshwar Floating Solar Project
located? ओांकारे श्वर फ्लोदटांग सोलर प्रोजेतट ककस राज्र् में
क्स्ित है ?
A) Uttar Pradesh

B) Maharashtra

C) Madhya Pradesh

D) Gujarat
Ans - c
Who has been appointed as the new Chairman & Managing
Director of NHPC Limited? एिएचपीसी लललमटे ड के िए
अध्र्क्ष और प्रबांध नििे शक के रूप में ककसे निर्ुतत ककर्ा
गर्ा है ?
a) Raj Kumar Chaudhary

B) Anil Kumar Sharma

C) Prakash Chandra

D) Sandeep Kumar
Ans - a
Which country is participating alongside India in the Mitra
Shakti military exercise? लमत्र शक्तत सैन्र् अभ्र्ास में भारत
के साि कौि सा िे श भाग ले रहा है ?
A) Bangladesh

B) Nepal

C) Sri Lanka

D) Pakistan

Ans - c
Which ministry has withdrawn its contribution to the
UNESCO Kalinga Prize for Popularisation of Science? ककस
मांत्रालर् िे ववज्ञाि की प्रलसद्ग्रध के ललए र्ि
ू ेस्को कललांग
पुरस्कार में अपिा र्ोगिाि वापस ले ललर्ा है ?
A) Ministry of Education

B) Ministry of Science and Technology

C) Ministry of Culture

D) Ministry of External Affairs

Ans - b
Recently, the world’s oldest calendar has been discovered in
which country? हाल ही में ववश्व का सबसे पुरािा कैलेंडर
ककस िे श में खोजा गर्ा है ?
[A] Egypt

[B] Turkey

[C] Iran

[D] Iraq

Ans - b
The safflower variety ISF 300, developed by the ICAR-Indian
Institute of Oilseeds Research (IIOR), is suitable for which types
of cultivation? ICAR-भारतीर् नतलहि अिस ु ध
ां ाि सांस्िाि (IIOR)
द्वारा ववकलसत कुसम ु ककस्म ISF 300, ककस प्रकार की खेती के
ललए उपर्त ु त है ??
A) Only irrigated cultivation

B) Only rain-fed cultivation

C) Only dryland cultivation

D) Both rain-fed and irrigated cultivation

Ans - d
Which day is observed as ‘World Organ Donation Day’ every
year? हर साल ककस दिि को 'ववश्व अांग िाि दिवस' के रूप
में मिार्ा जाता है ?
[A] 12 August

[B] 13 August

[C] 14 August

[D] 15 August

Ans - b
Which institution remained on the top spot in the National
Institute Ranking Framework, 2024? िेशिल इांस्टीट्र्ूट रैंककांग
फ्रेमवकय, 2024 में कौि सा सांस्िाि शीषय स्िाि पर है ?
[A] IIT Madras

[B] IIT Kanpur

[C] IIT Delhi

[D] IIT Roorkee

Ans - a