8 July 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 8 July 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 8 July 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 – 8 July 2023

MS Dhoni Biography: Life, Education & Cricket Career

Mahendra Singh Dhoni is an Indian professional cricketer who was born on July 7, 1981 in Ranchi, Bihar (now Jharkhand). From 2007 to 2017, he captained the Indian National Team in limited over formats, and from 2008 to 2014, he captained the team in Test cricket.He plays as a right-handed wicket-keeper-batsman and also the current captain of Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League.

Daily Current Affairs Quiz: July 2023

Early life and Childhood

MS Dhoni was born on 7^th July, 1981 in a Hindu Rajput family. MS Dhoni’s father Pan Singh worked in junior management position in MECON and his mother Devaki Devi is a housewife.

MS Dhoni attended DAV Jawahar Vidya Mandir in Shyamali, Ranchi, where he excelled in sports like badminton and football and was chosen for district and club level contests. When he was in school football team he was a goalkeeper. Once Dhoni’s football coach sent him to take the position of wicket keeper, he impressed everyone by his wicket keeping skills and thereafter Dhoni secured a permanent spot as a wicket-keeper at Commando Cricket Club Team for three years during the period of 1995-98.

MS Dhoni continued to perform admirably as a wicketkeeper and was eventually selected for the Vinoo Mankad Trophy Under16 Championship in 1997-98. MS Dhoni also worked as a Train Ticket Examiner (TTE) at Kharagpur Railway Station which is under South-Eastern Railway in Midnapur District in West Bengal during 2001-2003. Dhoni’s colleagues remember him as a honest, straightforward employee with little mischievous by nature.

MS Dhoni’s Personal Life

Before marrying Sakshi Singh Rawat, Dhoni was in love with Priyanka Jhaa, who died in an accident in 2002 when Dhoni was trying his best to be selected in the Indian Cricket Team. On July 4, 2010, Dhoni married Sakshi singh Rawat, a school buddy. The couple had a baby girl named Ziva on February 6, 2015, while Dhoni was in Australia and the Cricket World Cup 2015 was a week later. He did not return, citing “I am on national duty, other things can wait.”

MS Dhoni’s Professional Life

• Till 1998, Dhoni played for the school team and club cricket.
• In 1998, Dhoni was chosen for the Central Coal Field Limited (CCL) team and was given Rs.50 for every six by Deval Sahay, who chose him for the CCL team.
• Deval Sahay was impressed by Dhoni’s performance and pushed for his selection in Bihar Team.
• In 1999-2000, when he was 18 he got selected in the Senior Bihar Ranji Team.
• He was afterwards chosen for the East Zone Under-19 squad for the CK Naydu trophy. Dhoni finished last in the competition since East Zone lost all of their games.
• During 2002-2003 Dhoni got recognition for his lower-order contribution as well as hard-hitting batting style while he was playing in the Jharkhand team for the Ranji Trophy and Deodar Trophy.
• In the Duleep Trophy Finals, Dhoni was picked over International Cricket Deep Dasgupta to represent the East Zone.
• Dhoni was selected for India A team for the tournament of Zimbabwe and Kenya.
• In 2004-05, Dhoni was selected in ODI team for Bangladesh tour.
• On April 20, 2006, Dhoni overtook Ricky Pointing as the number one batsman in the ICC ODI rankings.
• Due to the poor performance in World Cup 2007, Dhoni’s house was vandalised by acitivists of JMM.
• Dhoni was named as the vice-captain of the ODI team for the series against South Africa and England.
• In September 2007, Dhoni was elected as a captain of the Indian team for the World 20-20 matches.
• On September 30, 2009, Dhoni took his maiden international wicket against the West Indies in the Championship Trophy.
• In 2009 Dhoni topped the batsman ranking.
• In 2011, Dhoni bagged the Man of the match for his outstanding position in 2011 Cricket World Cup and led India to the finals with a victory over Australia in the quarter-finals and Pakistan in the finals.
• In 2013, India won ICC Championship Trophy and Dhoni became the first and the only captain in the history of cricket to claim all the ICC Trophies.
• In 2014, India won the ODI series in England by 3-1 and in India by 2-1 against West Indies.
• During the 2015 World Cup, Dhoni became the first Indian captain to win all the group stage matches in such a tournament.
• In 2017, Dhoni stepped down as a captain of the Indian team in all the limited over formats.
• In the 2014-15 season Dhoni announced his retirement from the test format and played his last test series against Australia.
• In his last test match, Dhoni effected nine dismissals and broke Kumar Sangakkara record for stumpings with 154 in all the formats.
• In the 2019 world cup, Dhoni played well against South Africa. Dhoni scored a half century in the second inning but was run out at a very crucial stage.
• In the first season of IPL, Dhoni was contracted by Chennai Super Kings for US$1.5 million and became the most expensive player in the first season auction.
• The Chennai Super Kings were suspended for two years in 2016, and Dhoni was hired to oversee the team. In 2018, the Chennai Super Kings were resurrected and returned to the IPL under Dhoni’s leadership.In 2019, CSK emerged to be one of the strongest team in the season under the captaincy of Dhoni.

Awards Presented to M.S. Dhoni

• In 2018: Padma Bhushan
• In 2009: Padma Sri
• In 2007-08: Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award
• In 2008-09: ICC-ODI player of the year
• In 2006, 2008 to 2014: ICC World ODI XI
• In 2009, 2010 and 2013: ICC World Test XI
• In 2011: Castrol Indian Cricketer of the year.
• In 2006: MTV Youth Icon of the year.
• In 2013: LG People’s Choice Award
• In 2011: received honorary doctorate from De Montfort University.

Asia Cup 2023 Schedule, Date, Venue & Teams

Asia Cup 2023 Schedule, Date, Venue & Teams

The Asia Cup 2023 will be contested in Pakistan from August 31 to September 17, 2023. The competition will consist of 50-over ODI matches played at international quality grounds. Two clubs from each group will qualify for the Super Four stage in the 2023 edition. The top two teams from the Super Four stage will then face off in the final.

Daily Current Affairs Quiz: July 2023

Schedule for the Asia Cup 2023

Group Stage

Please note that the “TBC” in the final match indicates that the teams for the final are yet to be determined.

The following are the venues for the Asia Cup 2023

Pakistan and Sri Lanka will host the Asia Cup cricket tournament in 2023. Keep watching this space for updates on the venue.

Asia Cup 2023 Groups

Board of Control for Cricket in India Secretary Jay Sah confirmed that India and Pakistan are in the same group for ODI Asia Cup 2023.

Group 1:

Group 2:

Nepal’s Historic Debut Spot in Asia Cup 2023

Nepal is set to make its debut in the Asia Cup 2023 after securing a spot in the tournament by winning the ACC Men’s Premier Cup. Nepal won the championship match against UAE by seven wickets, with to Gulshan Kumar Jha’s controlled innings of 67 runs from 84 deliveries. This victory ensured Nepal’s qualification for the Asia Cup, marking their first-ever participation in the prestigious tournament.

Shraddha Kapoor appoints as brand ambassador of Asics

Shraddha Kapoor has been named as the new brand ambassador for Asics India Private Limited, a sports equipment manufacturer. According to the corporation, the theme will be ‘Sound Mind, Sound Body,’ and the actor will endorse the brand’s footwear and women’s sportswear segments. The association will also see ASICS India strengthen its market presence with a shared vision to promote a balanced and active lifestyle while ensuring style and comfort are not compromised.

Daily Current Affairs Quiz: July 2023

About the ASICS

ASICS has 88 outlets in India with the goal of providing excellent sportswear and footwear to Indian customers. In absolute terms, celebrity brand valuations accounted for $1.6 billion in 2022 as compared to $1.4 billion in 2021, as per a report by corporate investigation and risk consulting firm Kroll titled Celebrity Brand Valuation.

The country’s footwear sales declined during the pandemic years, according to one research organisation. According to Euromonitor, it was 79,900 crore in FY19 but plummeted to 53,300 crore in FY20. But according to other industry estimates, the global sneaker market was valued at $86.86 billion, and has a CAGR of 6.8%. It will reach $139.8 billion by 2032. India’s sneaker market was about $3.01 billion in 2023.

Well known Painter and sculptor Namboothiri passes away

Namboothiri, a well-known artist known for his outstanding talent in painting and sculpture, died at the age of 97 in Kottakkal, Malappuram district. His excellent line art and copper relief works graced the literary works of notable Malayalam writers such as Thakazhi Shivashankara Pillai, MT Vasudevan Nair, Uroob, and SK Pottakkad. Namboothiri’s artistic prowess was acknowledged with prestigious accolades like the Raja Ravi Varma Award from the Kerala Lalitha Kala Akademi and the Kerala State Film Award for Best Art Director. The mortal remains of the maestro will be honored and can be paid final respects at the Kerala Lalitha Kala Akademi in Thrissur and his residence in Edappal.

Daily Current Affairs Quiz: July 2023

He has created characters based on doyens of Malayalam literature such as Jnanpith laureates M T Vasudevan Nair, Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai, and S K Pottakkad, as well as legends such as Vaikom Muhammad Basheer.

Namboothiri early life

• Namboothiri was born in Ponnani, Kerala, in 1925. He became interested in painting and sculpture as a child after being inspired by a temple near his home. He was the disciple of prominent artist K C S Paniker and he was also inspired by renowned painters like Debi Prasad Roy Chowdhury and S Dhanapal.
• Namboothiri studied painting at the Madras School of Fine Arts.
• He also dabbled in art directing and worked as an art director in a few films, including Uttarayanam, which earned him the Kerala State Award for best art director.
• In his long career of more than fifty years, he has done illustrations for almost all important literary works.

Taiwan to Establish Representative Office in Mumbai, Boosting India-Taiwan Ties

Taiwan has announced the establishment of its third representative office in India, this time in Mumbai. Taiwan has not grown its presence in the country in over a decade. The establishment of the Taiwan Economic and Cultural Center (TECC) in Mumbai aims to facilitate trade, investment, and provide various services to Taiwanese nationals and Indian businesspeople and tourists. This development signifies a big step towards improving commercial ties and boosting relations between India and Taiwan.

Daily Current Affairs Quiz: July 2023

Historical Background

Due to India’s adherence to the One-China policy, India and Taiwan do not maintain formal diplomatic connections. However, in 1995, the two countries created the India-Taipei Association (ITA) in Taiwan and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Centre (TECC) in New Delhi, both of which functioned as de facto embassies for both countries. In 2012, Taiwan further expanded its presence by establishing the TECC in Chennai, which became a thriving hub for Taiwanese firms.

Expansion of Taiwan’s Presence

The decision to open a TECC in Mumbai holds its own strong rationale and is not solely linked to the current downturn in India-China relations. Ashok Kantha, former Indian Ambassador to China and Director of the Institute of Chinese Studies, emphasised India and Taiwan’s critical mass and strategic interest in the context of emerging global and regional dynamics. Mumbai, as a major economic center in western India, presents opportunities for mutually beneficial trade and investment.

No Government-to-Government Engagement

The previous openings of representative offices in 1995 and 2012 did not adversely affect India-China relations. India conveyed to China that these offices were not official diplomatic missions, and there would be no government-to-government engagement. The primary aim was on establishing trade and investment links between India and Taiwan, recognising Taiwan’s economic importance as a significant trading entity.

Geopolitical Significance

India recognizes the importance of maintaining peace and the status quo in the Taiwan Strait. Any conflict or heightened tensions in the region could have severe implications for India’s economic and national security interests. Former Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale highlighted the potential impact of a blockade by China on semiconductor exports to India, as Taiwan is a major producer of advanced logic chips and critical components.

SpaceX gets licenses in Mongolia to offer high-speed internet

SpaceX, Elon Musk’s aerospace company, has reached two important milestones in its drive to increase worldwide internet connectivity via its Starlink satellite communications service. The Mongolian government has granted SpaceX licenses to operate as an internet service provider. This advancement will provide internet users around the country with extensive access to high-speed internet.

Daily Current Affairs Quiz: July 2023

SpaceX’s Expansion into Mongolia

Granting of Licenses: The Mongolian government has issued two licenses to SpaceX, allowing the company to function as an internet service provider utilizing low-orbit satellites. This move paves the way for high-speed connectivity through Starlink to reach numerous internet users in Mongolia.

• Enhanced Connectivity: Starlink’s continuously increasing network of over 3,500 low-Earth orbit satellites provides consistent access even in rural areas. While Mongolia already benefits from an extensive fiber optic cable network, the introduction of Starlink’s technology will further enhance connectivity in hard-to-reach areas.
• Bridging the Digital Divide: Uchral Nyam-Osor, Minister of Digital Development and Communications, emphasises that the collaboration with SpaceX will improve connectivity and empower communities by increasing access to underserved areas.

SpaceX’s licensing in Mongolia marks another step forward in expanding global connectivity through the Starlink satellite network. The collaboration between the Mongolian government and SpaceX can significantly improve internet accessibility, particularly in remote regions. Millions of individuals in Mongolia are set to benefit from enhanced internet connectivity through Starlink, the satellite-based communication service operated by SpaceX.

Key takeaways for competitive examinations

• Prime minister of Mongolia: Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrai
• Capital of Mongolia: Ulaanbaatar
• Headquarters of SpaceX: Hawthorne, California, United States

G.K. Satish appointed as a board member of Russian Energy Giant Rosneft

Russion energy giant Rosneft has took a significant move towards enhancing trade ties with India by appointing a former Indian Oil Cooperation (IOC) director Govind Kottis Satish as its board member.

Daily Current Affairs Quiz: July 2023

What in News?

Rosneft announced the selection of Indian Oil Corporation director G.K. Satish as a member of its board of directors at its annual general meeting on June 30. The Russian Oil Company has partnership with the Indian Oil Cooperation in oil and gas fields in Russia.

Indian firms such as IOC and such other companies get the crude oil from Russian Oil Company and Russian Oil Company has recently initiated the shipment of naphtha to refiners in Gujarat.

According to data, the Russian Oil Company supplies around 2 million barrels per day of crude oil to Indian enterprises, which equates to 100 million tonnes.

NDTV reported that Rosneft has entered into a long term agreement to provide Satish’s former company with 6 million tonnes of crude oil annually. It also deals with other state owned refiners in similar way, which includes Bharat Petroleum Corporation ltd. (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation ltd. (HPCL).

More about Govind Kottis Satish

• Govind Kottis Satish has been appointed as a board member of Rosneft, as announced during the company’s annual general meeting on June 30.
• Satish has over 30 year experience in the Indian Oil in the areas of marketing operations, logistics, business development, International trade, Natural Gas Business and human resources.
• Satish, 62, will leave his position as director of commercial development at IOC in 2021.
• Additionally, Satish also holds a position of Chairman at Indian Oil-Adani Gas Pvt ltd. which is developing city gas distributing (CGD) networks in various cities across the country.
• Satish currently holds a position of Chairman at Indian Oil LNG Pvt ltd.
• Prior to this, Satish was Executive Director in Charge at Indian Oil.
• Satish earned his bachelor’s degree in medical engineering from the National Institute of Technology in Surat and his master’s degree in management from the Management Development Institute in Gurgaon.

J&K launches India’s first chatbot for people in mental distress

India’s first Tele-MANAS (Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States) chatbot was launched in Jammu & Kashmir on July 5, 2023.

Daily Current Affairs Quiz: July 2023

The service was launched by J&K LG Manoj Sinha.

This chatbot will start an instant conversation with people in distress.

Tele-MANAS is a two-tier system – Tier 1 comprises State Tele MANAS cells and Tier 2 comprises specialists at District Mental Health Programme /Medical College resources for physical consultation.

Odisha announces state forest rights scheme

Odisha government has launched the ‘Mo Jungle Jami Yojana’ to saturate recognition of rights pertaining to the Forest Rights Act (FRA) and speed up the post-rights recognition activities within the prescribed time frame.

Daily Current Affairs Quiz: July 2023

Under the scheme, designed by the ST & SC Development department, it has been decided to constitute forest rights cells at the tehsil and district level with human resources to ensure and assist in the effective implementation of FRA, 2006.

Flipkart, Axis Bank tie-up to offer upto Rs 5 lakh in lending to customers

Flipkart has joined hands with Axis Bank to offer loans for up to Rs 5 lakh to customers.

The lending service is accessible through Flipkart’s app and boasts a 30-second approval time while removing the need for document submission.

Daily Current Affairs Quiz: July 2023

By introducing personal loans, Flipkart is expanding its range of financial services, which already includes a ‘buy now, pay later’ option, EMI payments, and a co-branded credit card.

It will empower consumers to make big-ticket purchases.

Tamim Iqbal announces retirement from international cricket

Bangladesh one-day captain Tamim Iqbal has announced his retirement from international cricket before the team begins its ODI World Cup campaign in India.

Daily Current Affairs Quiz: July 2023

He played 70 Test matches for Bangladesh scoring 5134 runs at an average of 38.89 with 10 tons to his name.

As far as the ODIs is concerned, he played 241 matches amassing 8313 runs at an average of 36.62 with 14 centuries and 56 half-centuries.

He last played in the format in April against Ireland.

PNB launches its virtual branch in the Metaverse

Punjab National Bank (PNB) has launched its virtual branch, PNB Metaverse.

It is a virtual branch of the bank, which will deliver a unique experience of banking to existing and new customers.

Daily Current Affairs Quiz: July 2023

With the help of this, customers can explore the bank’s products and services such as bank deposits, retail/MSME loans, digital products, women/senior citizens, ‘Do It Yourself’, and government flagship schemes.

The bank will offer an immersive 3D experience to the customers.

IIT Madras becomes first ever IIT to be set up outside India in Tanzania

Recently, the Ministry of External Affairs signed an MoU with the IIT Madras and the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training Zanzibar (Tanzania) to set up the first-ever IIT campus outside India.

Daily Current Affairs Quiz: July 2023

It was signed in the presence of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Zanzibar’s President Hussein Ali Mwinyi.

The National Education Policy 2020 recommends that high-performing Indian universities will be encouraged to set up campuses in other countries.