3 August 2023 Current Affairs – The Day’s Top News | GKSERIES

Current Affairs is the most important area in all competitive exams. But the difficulty level is very high. That’s why; many aspirants get confused, how to select Current Affairs for Preparation of Competitive Examination? In this Post, Daily Current Affairs 3 August 2023, we have tried to cover each and every point and also included all important facts from National/ International news that are useful for upcoming competitive examinations such as UPSC, SSC, Railway, State Govt. etc.

So, here is the Top News of the Day for 3 August 2023 to help you prepare the Latest Current Affairs part. After reading this section, you can successfully attempt Current Affairs Quiz.

Current Affairs for Competitive Exam – 3 August 2023

Parliament Passes Bill Allowing Private Sector to Mine Lithium and Other Atomic Minerals

The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2023, was recently passed by the Indian Parliament, enabling the private sector to undertake mining operations for six out of 12 atomic minerals, including lithium, as well as deep-seated minerals like gold and silver. This historic move aims to increase domestic exploration and production of vital minerals, as well as expedite the expansion of companies that rely on these resources.

Daily Current Affairs Quiz: August 2023

Opening Up New Opportunities for Private Sector:

• The Bill grants permission to private companies to mine and explore previously reserved atomic minerals, fostering increased competition and investment in the sector.
• Lithium, beryllium, niobium, titanium, tantalum, and zirconium are among the atomic minerals presently available for private exploration.
• Deep-seated minerals such as gold, silver, copper, zinc, lead, nickel, cobalt, platinum group minerals, and diamonds will also be accessible for mining and auction in the private sector.

Empowering the Central Government:

• The legislation empowers the central government to conduct exclusive auctions for mining leases and composite licenses for certain critical minerals, ensuring transparent allocation and efficient resource management.

Boosting Electric Vehicle and Energy Storage Industries:

• The inclusion of lithium in the list of minerals available for private exploration is a significant move as it is a crucial component in manufacturing batteries for electric vehicles and energy storage devices.
• Increased local availability of lithium is projected to fuel expansion in the electric vehicle sector and boost renewable energy storage options.

Enhancing Domestic Mineral Production:

• By opening up mining to the private sector, the government aims to reduce the country’s dependence on imports for the 95 “most precious” minerals found in India.
• This transition is projected to lead to increased exploration and production of essential minerals in order to meet the country’s growing needs.

Addressing Challenges of Deep-Seated Minerals:

• Deep-seated minerals such as gold, silver, and others present challenges in exploration and mining due to their depth and complexity.
• Private sector involvement is seen as a potential “force multiplier” to enhance production capacity and overcome the difficulties associated with deep-seated mineral extraction.

Why is PM YASASVI Scheme in news?

The NTA has started the registration procedure of the applicants for the scholarship programme on the NTA’s website by 10^th August 2023 under the YASASVI Scheme.

Daily Current Affairs Quiz: August 2023

Why in News?

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has begun the application process for the PM Young Achievers Scholarship Award Scheme for Vibrant India (YASASVI) scholarship entrance test 2023.

The NTA invited applications through its official website, yet.nta.an.in from July 11^th, 2023 to August 10^th, 2023. The government has planned to offer 15,000 scholarships ranging from Rs.75,000 to Rs.1,25,000 per year to class 9-12 meritorious students through the PM YASASVI Scholarship test.

PM YASASVI Entrance Test 2023 Highlights

YASASVI Entrance exam will be conducted in Computer Based Test (CBT) format. The other details about the entrance exam are given below:

• Conducting Body: National Testing Agency (NTA)
• Application start date: 11^th July 2023
• Last date for application: 10^th August 2023
• Date of examination: 29^th September 2023
• Mode of the exam: Online mode
• Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
• Exam fee: no fee
• Number of questions: 100 mcq’s
• Number of scholarships: 15,000
• Official website: yet.nta.ac.in

Structure of PM YASASVI Entrance Exam:

Subjects	No. of Questions	Total Marks
Mathematics	30	120
Science	20	80
Social Science	25	100
General Awareness/ Knowledge	25	100

PM YASASVI Scheme

Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment offer scholarships to meritorious students under the PM YASAVI Scheme.  The scholarship is restricted to OBC, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic tribes, DNT. Students in 9^th grade and those in 11^th grade are awarded scholarships at two different levels. The written examination of the scholarship test is known as YASASVI Entrance Test.

Objective of PM YASASVI Scheme

The PM YASASVI Scheme’s principal goal is to grant scholarships to students from various impoverished classes. PM YASASVI Scheme scholarship provides these students with the resources they need to become financially independent and continue their studies.

Benefits of PM YASASVI Scheme

The benefits provided to the students under the PM YASASVI Scheme are as under:

• Students of class 9^th will be provided with financial benefit of Rs.75,000 per year.
• Students in the eleventh grade would receive a monetary incentive of Rs.1,25,000 each year.
• This scholarship is absolutely transparent and will be conducted to international standards.

Eligibility Criteria of PM YASASVI Scheme

The following prerequisites must be met in order to be admitted in the entrance exam:

• The applicant must have permanent residency in India.
• A candidate must fall in one of the following categories: OBC/ EBC/ DNT SAR/ NT/ SNT.
• Applicants must have cleared the eighth grade in order to sit for the tenth grade examinations.
• The yearly income of the applicant’s parents should not exceed Rs.2.5 lakh.
• All genders can apply for the exam.

How to get registered under the PM YASASVI Scheme?

One must follow the following steps to get registered under the PM YASASVI Scheme:

• Visit the official website of NTA i.e., yet.nta.ac.in.
• On the home page, click on the registration tab.
• Fill up all the required detail such as name, e-mail and date of birth and log-in using the generated credentials.
• Enroll yourself for the YASASVI entrance scholarship test 2023.
• Submit all the details.
• Save the page for future reference.

Beijing Faces Historic Flooding as China Witnesses Highest Rainfall in 140 Years

Beijing, China’s capital, endured a historic deluge, with 744.8 millimetres of rain falling over the period of five days. The remnants of Typhoon Doksuri triggered this torrential downpour, the heaviest in 140 years, submerging streets and stranding residents. The disaster has resulted in tragic fatalities, with at least 21 people losing their lives and 26 others still reported missing. Beijing and the surrounding province of Hebei faced severe flooding, causing extensive damage to infrastructure and posing a significant challenge to rescue operations.

Daily Current Affairs Quiz: August 2023

Unprecedented Rainfall in Beijing:

The Beijing Meteorological Bureau reported that the city received 744.8 millimeters of rain between Saturday and Wednesday morning. This exceeds all previous historical records dating back to at least 1883, highlighting the severity of the meteorological event. The city’s usually dry summers were disrupted by the unanticipated onslaught of rainfall, causing devastation in its wake.

Fatalities and Missing Persons:

As a consequence of the rain-related incidents, 21 people have lost their lives, and 26 others remain unaccounted for. Tragedy struck during a rescue operation, where a brave rescuer, Wang Hong-chun, lost her life when the rubber boat she was in flipped over in a treacherous, fast-flowing river. The situation remains critical, as rescue teams continue their search for missing individuals.

Hebei Province Suffers Severe Flooding:

The neighboring province of Hebei also experienced extreme flooding due to the relentless rainfall. Water levels climbed significantly, causing road damage, power outages, and a disruption in drinking water delivery. The province’s small city, Zhuozhou, suffered the brunt of the disaster, forcing approximately 850,000 people to relocate to safer places.

Record-Breaking Nature of the Rainfall:

The previous record for rainfall in Beijing dates back to 1891 when the city received 609 millimeters of rain. However, this recent deluge surpassed that historic record, setting a new precedent in the city’s weather history. The magnitude of the rainfall indicates the severity of climate events in recent times.

Typhoon Doksuri and Typhoon Khanun:

The rainfall resulted from the remnants of Typhoon Doksuri, which has now been downgraded to a tropical storm. Despite this, Typhoon Khanun poses an additional threat, with predictions of its path heading toward China later in the week. With surface winds of up to 180 kph, the storm may also impact Taiwan before making landfall in China, necessitating evacuation measures and disaster preparedness.

Emergency Relief Efforts:

In response to the disaster, the central government has allocated 44 million yuan ($6.1 million) for disaster relief in the affected provinces. Thousands of people have been evacuated to shelters in schools and public buildings in suburban Beijing and nearby cities to ensure their safety and well-being.

A new book “How Prime Ministers Decide”, by veteran journalist Neerja Chowdhury released

A new book, titled How Prime Ministers Decide, by veteran journalist Neerja Chowdhury recalls the drama that led to Sonia’s announcement, prompted by Rahul’s “fear for his mother’s life”. According to a new book, former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had good relationships with several RSS officials while keeping a healthy distance between the organisation and herself.

Daily Current Affairs Quiz: August 2023

About the book

The author analyses the operating styles of the country’s prime ministers through the prism of six decisions of historic significance. These are as follows: the strategy that Indira Gandhi devised to return to power in 1980, after her humiliating defeat post the Emergency in 1977; the errors of judgment that led Rajiv Gandhi to undo the Supreme Court’s judgment in the Shah Bano case; V. P. Singh’s implementation of the Mandal Commission Report to save his government which forever changed the face of contemporary politics;

P. V. Narasimha Rao’s masterful indecision that resulted in the demolition of the Babri Masjid; the rapidly changing political scenarios that turned the avowed pacifist Atal Bihari Vajpayee into a nuclear hawk who greenlighted the testing of nuclear devices; and the mild and professorial Manmohan Singh, widely regarded as one of the country’s weakest prime ministers, who defied interest groups and foes within the political establishment to seal a historic nuclear deal with the United States and upgraded the bilateral relationship to a new level.

Based on hundreds of interviews that the author conducted with prime ministers, key figures in the political establishment, bureaucrats, aides, policymakers, and even fixers—the book provides remarkable insights that have been gleaned over forty years of high-level reporting on the national political scene. How Prime Ministers Decide is a groundbreaking book about current Indian politics that will alter our perception of how prime ministers manage their countries.

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma launches ‘Amrit Brikshya Andolan’ app

The Assam government has announced a big programme dubbed ‘Amrit Brikshya Andolan’ in order to increase forest cover and battle climate change. This ambitious project aims to plant 1 crore saplings in a single day in September, marking a crucial milestone in the state’s efforts to boost its green economy and contribute to the fight against global warming.

This large-scale initiative’s principal goal is to considerably enhance Assam’s forest cover and stimulate collaborative action in the face of climate change.

Daily Current Affairs Quiz: August 2023

Amrit Brikshya Andolan: A People-Powered Plantation Drive

• On September 17, nearly 40 lakh members of women’s self-help groups from around the state will play an important role by planting two economically viable seedlings apiece, totaling 80 lakh saplings.
• The remaining 20 lakhs or more saplings will be planted by people belonging to various walks of life, including anganwadi workers, tea garden workers, government officials, police and forest battalions, and members of the general public of the state.

Amrit Brikshya Andolan: Incentives to Encourage Participation

• To encourage participation and ensure the success of the initiative, the state government will set up distribution centers to provide saplings conveniently.
• Additionally, everyone who registers with the ‘Amrit Brikshya Andolan’ app or webpage and uploads geo-tagged images of themselves planting the seedlings will receive a Rs 100 incentive credited to their bank account.
• This incentive-based approach is expected to motivate a higher number of people to actively participate in the plantation drive.

Amrit Brikshya Andolan: Future Targets

While the immediate target of ‘Amrit Brikshya Andolan’ is to plant 1 crore saplings in a single day, the state government has set its sights on even more ambitious goals. By the year 2025, Assam aims to plant a staggering 5 crore saplings, further fortifying its commitment to environmental conservation and sustainable growth.

Key takeaways for competitive examinations

• Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: Shri Bhupender Yadav

Patna High Court ordered to resume Caste Based Survey in Bihar

The Patna High Court ordered to resume the caste based survey in Bihar, which was first started by Patna DM Chandrashekhar himself in Ward 10, Phulwarisharif, Patna.

Daily Current Affairs Quiz: August 2023

What’s in News?

Following the order of the Patna High Court, the caste-based survey has been resumed throughout Bihar. Patna District Magistrate Chandrashekhar initiated this survey in Ward 10, Phulwarisharif, Patna. There are 13 lakh 69 thousand families in Patna in which 9 lakh 35 thousand people have been surveyed and the survey of the remaining families will be done within a week.

Background of the Caste Based Survey in Bihar

The court had stayed the caste survey on 4^th May through an interim order, saying that the state government was not competent to conduct the survey. On Tuesday, the Patna High Court upheld the previous order to carry on the survey across Bihar and dismissed several petition challenging the state government’s decision. Bihar Government gets the green signal to carry on the survey.

Phases of Caste Survey

The survey was supposed to take place in two phases which was scheduled to end in May. The first round was completed in January this year in which the household counting exercise took place.

The second round began on April 15th and was expected to end in May. During this cycle, the state was gathering information about people’s castes and socioeconomic situations.

Challenges

Critics argue that conducting a caste-based survey reinforces the notion that caste is the primary determinant of one’s identity. By categorizing individuals based on their caste, there is a risk of perpetuating caste divisions. Instead of emphasizing common shared identities, caste based survey may enhance caste- based differences, leading to further polarization in the society.

The Indian Postal Department begins a huge initiative to celebrate Har Ghar Tiranga

• To celebrate 2023′ Independence Day and Har Khar Tiranga, the Indian Postal Department started an initiative to sell the national flag through its nearly 1.60 lakh post offices.
• This initiative aims to make our tricolor flag available to the shopkeepers in the country and to inculcate patriotism in their hearts.
• More than 5 crore people uploaded their selfies wearing their Tricolor Flag on the “Har Khar Tiranga” Portal in 2022.

Daily Current Affairs Quiz: August 2023

About Har Ghar Tiranga

‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ is a campaign under the aegis of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav to encourage people to bring the Tiranga home and to hoist it to mark the 75th year of India’s independence. Our relationship with the flag has always been more formal and institutional than personal. Bringing the flag home collectively as a nation in the 75th year of independence thus becomes symbolic of not only an act of personal connection to the Tiranga but also an embodiment of our commitment to nation-building. The idea behind the initiative is to invoke the feeling of patriotism in the hearts of the people and to promote awareness about the Indian National Flag.

India’s first indigenously developed next-generation Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) imaging machine

On August 1st, 2023, Union Minister of State for Science & Technology, Nuclear, Public Grievances, Pensions (Individual Charge) Dr. Jitendra Singh launched India’s first indigenously developed, lightweight, affordable and high-speed (1.5 Tesla) Next Generation Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) imaging machine in New Delhi.

Daily Current Affairs Quiz: August 2023

People will be able to buy the domestically produced cinematography machine at a low price.

Dr Jitendra Singh said, as an indigenous MRI scanner is made available, the cost of MRI scanning is expected to reduce considerably for the common man thus allowing a wider access to the otherwise highly priced MRI scans. He said, additionally, the capital investment of procurement of MRI scanners from the international market will be substantially reduced which in turn will save a lot of foreign exchange, the twin mission objectives of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the overall objective of Atmanirbharta in cutting edge diagnostic and therapeutic manufacturing in India. The Minister said, in coming years, there will be “Make in India-Made for the World”.

Seah Kian Peng becomes the new Speaker of the Singapore Parliament

On August 2nd, 2023, Seah Kian Peng was sworn in as the New Speaker of Parliament following the recent resignation of Tan Chuan-Jin(former Singaporean Speaker) who was accused of some wrongdoing Assessment. Mr Seah becomes the country’s 11th Speaker in the wake of his predecessor Tan Chuan-Jin stepping down over an extramarital affair with fellow People’s Action Party MP Cheng Li Hui, who also resigned.

Daily Current Affairs Quiz: August 2023

Seah Kian Peng is a board member of the Singapore Olympic Foundation. He served in Singtel and National Park Board.  Just a week before that, Mr Tan also had to apologise for using “unparliamentary language” in response to an opposition lawmaker’s speech in the House.

A 4,000 MW renewable energy project in Tamil Nadu

Union Minister for Power and New and Renewable Energy Sri RK Singh said in Parliament on August 01, 2023, that nearly 4000 MW of renewable energy power plants will be set up in Tamil Nadu state. Ministry of New and Renewable Energy approved the initiative.

Daily Current Affairs Quiz: August 2023

The project aimed to establish 624 ckm of transmission lines and 2200 MVA capacity substations by FY 2025-26. This initiative aimed to evacuate renewable energy power of approximately 4000 MW capacity in the state of Tamil Nadu. The approval for this project was granted by the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, and it was estimated to cost Rs 7.19 billion. The central government provided a grant of Rs 2.37 billion, which covered 33% of the project cost. The implementation of the project was assigned to the state agency, Tamil Nadu Transmission Corporation (TANTRANSCO).

A 4,000 MW renewable energy project will be implemented by the Tamil Nadu Transmission Corporation (TANTRANSCO).

Major General Amita Rani As Additional Director General of MNS Service.

Maj Gen Amita Rani assumed the appointment of Addl Director General, Military Nursing Service (MNS) on 01 Aug 2023. The General Officer is an alumnus of the College of Nursing, Army Hospital (R&R), Delhi. Prior to assuming the present appointment, she held the post of Principal Matron of Army Hospital (Research & Referral). She is an alumnus of (R&R) College of Nursing under General Officer’s Department Delhi Army Hospital. He served as Principal Manager (Research and Referral) of Army Hospital before this appointment.

Daily Current Affairs Quiz: August 2023

The General Officer was commissioned into the Military Nursing Service in the year 1983. She has completed short-term courses on Quality Control, Infection Control and Prevention Management, Six Sigma Green Belt in Health care, among others and a Post Graduate Certificate course in Hospital and Quality Management from the National Health Care Academy headquartered at Singapore. As an able administrator, she has held key appointments such as DPM CH(EC) Kolkata, Principal Matron at 154 GH, MH Jalandhar, MH Allahabad and Command Hospital Air Force, Bangalore.

K. Veeramani received the ‘Thagaisal Tamilar’ award for the year 2023

Dravidar Kazhagam president K. Veeramani will be conferred the ‘Thagaisal Tamilar’ award, one of the highest awards of the Tamil Nadu government for the year 2023, by Chief Minister Stalin on the Independence Day of 2023.

Daily Current Affairs Quiz: August 2023

‘Thagaisal Thamizhar’ award was instituted by the state government in 2021. The first award was received by senior Communist leader N Sankaraiah. R Nallakannu, another veteran Communist leader, received the award in 2022.

Veeramani was selected by a committee. Recently, the committee under the chairmanship of Stalin met at the secretariat. The Dravidian icon, who recently crossed 90 years, entered public life at the age of 10. He took over as the editor of Viduthalai in 1962 and has been its editor for more than 60 years now. CPM state secretary K Balakrishnan, in a statement, wished Veeramani for receiving the award.

Odisha widens ambit of Social Security Scheme

The Odisha Government has expanded the scope of the Social Security Scheme to 50 additional categories of unorganised workers, including delivery boys, boatmen, and photographers. The scheme intends to give financial assistance in the event of an accidental or natural death.

Daily Current Affairs Quiz: August 2023

What’s in News?

The Odisha Government on 2^nd August expanded the Social Security Scheme to cover 50 more categories of workers under the purview of Odisha Unorganised Worker’s Social Security Board (OUWSSB).

Categories of Unorganised workers under OUWSSB

At present, only 10 categories of workers are covered under OUWSSB. In the first phase, the board will register street vendors, small traders, domestic workers, rickshaw pullers, auto drivers, cobblers, agricultural workers, forest workers, newspaper hawkers, and sanitation workers, followed by tailors, saloon workers, labourers, railway potters, restaurant workers, vegetable vendors, band-party members, plantation workers, photographer and videographer, assistants in grocery shops, delivery boy and girls, and meat sellers.

Benefits provided to the workers

If any registered worker losses his or her life at the workplace then their family members would be entitled with the financial assistance from the government.

Odisha Government has also increased the assistance amount provided to the unorganised workers. The state government increased the amount for the families of deceased worker from Rs.2 lakh to Rs.4 lakh. Similarly, for natural deaths, the assistance amount has been enhanced from Rs.1 lakh to Rs.2 lakh.

About Odisha Unorganised Workers’ Social Security Board (OUWSSB)

Odisha Unorganised Workers’ Social Security Board (OUWSSB) has been constituted on 22^nd December 2011 under the Labor and ESI Department, Odisha with an objective to monitor the activities of registration of unorganised workers as beneficiaries and extension of social security benefits to them. It has been reconstituted on 14^th August 2019.