Daily Current Affairs 27th & 28th August, 2023

Daily Current Affairs 27 & 28 August for Banking/Insurance/SSC and other related exams.

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NATIONAL NEWS

Kolkata becomes 3rd Indian city to get air quality early warning system
After Delhi and Pune, Kolkata is all set to become the third Indian city to get air quality early warning system ( AQEWS) to compute and relay real-time and forecast data on pollution levels in the city, courtesy an initiative by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM). This system offers both real-time air pollution data and forecasts, with the objective of enhancing readiness and facilitating measures to tackle the escalating air pollution levels within the city.

• The AQEWS in Kolkata comes equipped with an intricate network of sensors that monitor the air quality index (AQI) in real-time. This AQI is a standardized metric used to assess the level of air pollution in a specific area, with values ranging from 0 to 500. A higher AQI indicates more polluted air and an increased health concern.
• Through a dedicated website developed for that purpose, it will be possible to deliver detailed information about the contribution of PM2.5 and PM10 emissions. 

Indore best city, Madhya Pradesh top State in Smart Cities contest
Indore has been adjudged the best Smart City while Madhya Pradesh has been chosen as the top State for exemplary performance in the Smart Cities Mission.

• Surat and Agra are the second and third-place winners among cities, while Tamil Nadu is the second in the State category followed by Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh in the India Smart Cities Award Contest (ISAC), 2022.
• The awards celebrate the progress and achievements of cities and states in promoting sustainable development and enhancing the quality of urban life across India.

Assam Cabinet creates 4 new districts, 81 sub-districts after delimitation
In a significant move aimed at enhancing decentralization of governance and improving the convergence of line departments, the Assam cabinet has taken a bold step by creating four new districts that were previously abolished last year in December. With the addition of these new districts, Assam’s total district count will reach 35.

• The decision comes in line with the ongoing delimitation process that has been initiated after the Election Commission’s (EC) decision to redefine Assembly and Parliamentary constituencies in Assam as per Section 8A of the RP Act, 1950. The newly formed districts are Hojai, Biswanath, Tamulpur, and Bajali.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Indian Air Force to participate in multinational exercise ‘Bright Star-23’ in Egypt
In a major development towards fostering global defence cooperation, an Indian Air Force (IAF) contingent will be participating in Exercise BRIGHT STAR-23, a biennial multilateral tri-service exercise scheduled to be held at Cairo (West) Air Base, Egypt, from August 27 to September 16, 2023.

• The objective of the exercise is to practice planning and execution of joint operations. Besides leading to the formation of bonding across borders, such interactions also provide a means to further strategic relations between participating nations. 
• Ex BRIGHT STAR-23 will also witness the participation of contingents from the United States of America, Saudi Arabia, Greece, and Qatar. 

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

Zepto becomes India’s first 2023 unicorn with $200 million fresh funding
Mumbai-based quick commerce startup Zepto founded by Stanford University dropouts Aadit Palicha and Kaivalya Vohra, has bagged a fresh $200 million (around Rs 1,653 crore) in funding led by new investor StepStoneGroup at a valuation of $1.4 billion, becoming the first unicorn of 2023.

• Founded in 2021 by two 19-year-old Stanford dropouts, Aadit Palicha and Kaivalya Vohra, Zepto competes with SoftBank-funded Swiggy and Blinkit, which are all betting on fast deliveries in the so-called quick commerce sector. The platform promises delivery of groceries in 10 minutes. 

Reliance Retail launches youth fashion retail brand Yousta, opens first store in Hyderabad
Reliance Retail, the retail arm of billionaire Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries Ltd, has taken a significant step in the fashion retail sector with the introduction of its new brand, Yousta. 

• The brand’s debut was marked by the opening of its flagship store in Hyderabad’s Sarath City Mall. This move is set to revolutionize the retail market by catering to the fashion needs of the youth segment while offering contemporary, technology-enabled shopping experiences.

Hindustan Shipyard signs ₹19,000 cr contract with Defence Ministry
Hindustan Shipyard has achieved a major milestone by signing a ₹19,000 crore contract with the Indian defence ministry. The agreement outlines the construction of fleet support ships (FSS) that will play a pivotal role in augmenting the capabilities of the Indian Naval Fleet.

• The agreement outlines the construction of fleet support ships (FSS) that will play a pivotal role in augmenting the capabilities of the Indian Naval Fleet. 
• These innovative vessels, designed to replenish ships at sea with vital supplies like fuel, water, ammunition, and stores, will enable prolonged operational periods without needing to return to the harbor. This enhancement in strategic reach and mobility aligns with the Indian Navy’s ambitions.

SPORTS

Neeraj Chopra becomes first Indian to win gold at World Athletics Championships 
India’s ace javelin thrower, Neeraj Chopra scripted history by becoming the first Indian to win a gold medal at the World Athletics Championship in Budapest, Hungary. Neeraj hit an 88.17m mark in his 2nd attempt to finish at the top of the podium.

• The ‘golden boy of Indian athletics’ etched his name in history by becoming the first-ever Indian athlete to secure a gold medal at this prestigious championship.
• Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem, another formidable contender, closely trailed Neeraj’s achievement with a silver medal in hand.The third spot on the podium was secured by Jakub Vadlejch of the Czech Republic, who showcased his prowess with a best throw of 86.67 meters.

AWARDS

SVAMITVA scheme of Ministry Of Panchayati Raj won National Award for E-Governance 2023
The SVAMITVA (Survey of Villages Abadi and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas) Scheme, initiated by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, has been honored with the prestigious National Award for e-Governance 2023 (Gold) in recognition of its groundbreaking application of emerging technologies to deliver citizen-centric services.

• The accolade was presented during the 26th National Conference on e-Governance (NCeG) held in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, organized by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), Government of India.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 

ISRO’s next Moon mission is in collaboration with Japanese space agency – LUPEX
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) will collaborate on the Chandrayaan-4 mission that is expected to launch sometime in 2026. The mission is called the Lunar Polar Exploration Mission (Lupex) and is also being referred to as Chandrayaan-4.

• LUPEX is also planned to investigate the abundance of water in the polar regions, and explore the possibilities of locating a long-term station in these areas. For the LUPEX mission, the launch vehicle and rover are supposed to be contributed by the Japanese agency, while the lander will come from ISRO. 

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