COURSES
Quick Links
- G.K. August, 2024
G.K. August, 2024 |
Important Days of August
- International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples: 09 August 2024
- Designated by: United Nations General Assembly
- First observed: 1995
- Theme: Protecting the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in Voluntary Isolation and Initial Contact
- International Youth Day: 12 August 2024
- Designated by: United Nations General Assembly
- First observed: 2000
- Theme: From Clicks to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development
- World Elephant Day: 12 August 2024
- Designated by: Patricia Sims and Elephant Reintroduction Programme of Thailand
- First observed: 2012
- World Humanitarian Day: 19 August 2024
- Designated by: United Nations General Assembly
- First observed: 2009
- Theme: #Actforhumanity
- International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism: 21 August 2024
- Designated by: United Nations General Assembly
- First observed: 2018
- International Day against Nuclear Tests: 29 August 2024
- Designated by: United Nations General Assembly
- First observed: 2010
- International Day of Victims of Enforced Disappearances: 30 August 2024
- Designated by: United Nations General Assembly
- First observed: 2011
Unified Pension Scheme
The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS), the salient features of which are given below:
- Assured pension: 50% of the average basic pay drawn over the last 12 months prior to superannuation for a minimum qualifying service of 25 years. This pay is to be proportionate for lesser service period upto a minimum of 10 years of service.
- Assured family pension: @60% of pension of the employee immediately before her/his demise.
- Assured minimum pension: @10,000 per month on superannuation after minimum 10 years of service.
- Inflation indexation: on assured pension, on assured family pension and assured minimum pension.
- Dearness Relief based on All India Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (AICPI-IW) as in case of service employees
- Lump sum payment at superannuation in addition to gratuity 1/10th of monthly emoluments (pay + DA) as on the date of superannuation for every completed six months of service.
Paris Olympics 2024 (XXXIII Olympiad)
Held from 26.07.2024 to 11.08.2024
Declared open by: French President Emmanuel Macron
Olympic cauldron was lit by: Teddy Riner and Marie-José Pérec
Motto: Games Wide Open
Mascot: The Phyrges. They are two anthropomorphic Phrygian caps, a symbol of France.
Indian flag bearers at the Opening and Closing ceremony: PR Sreejesh and Manu Bhaker
Medals tally
# |
Country |
Gold |
Silver |
Bronze |
Total |
1. |
USA |
40 |
44 |
42 |
126 |
2. |
China |
40 |
27 |
24 |
91 |
3. |
Japan |
20 |
12 |
13 |
45 |
4. |
Australia |
18 |
19 |
16 |
53 |
5. |
France |
16 |
26 |
22 |
64 |
71. |
India |
0 |
1 |
5 |
6 |
Indian Medal Winners
# |
Athlete |
Medal |
Event |
1. |
Neeraj Chopra |
Silver |
Javelin throw |
2. |
Manu Bhaker |
Bronze |
Shooting (10m air pistol) |
3. |
Manu Bhaker-Sarabjot Singh |
Bronze |
Shooting (10m air pistol) |
4. |
Swapnil Kusale |
Bronze |
Shooting (Men's 50m rifle) |
5. |
Aman Sehrawat |
Bronze |
Wrestling (Men's freestyle 57 kg) |
6. |
Men's Hockey team |
Bronze |
Field Hockey |
Awards
The country which has conferred its highest civilian award on the Indian President Smt Draupadi Murmu – Fiji
Defence
The 10th edition of India-Sri Lanka Joint Military Exercise conducted at Army Training School, Maduru Oya, Sri Lanka from 12th to 25th August 2024 is named – Exercise Mitra Shakti
The joint air exercise conducted by the Indian Air Force and the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) from 05 to 09 August 2024 at Kuantan, Malaysia was named – Exercise Udara Shakti 2024
The multinational air exercise being conducted by India with participation of around 30 countries at Sulur air base from 06 to 13 August 2024 is named – Exercise Tarang Shakti 2024
Places
The country in which a bus mishap killed over 27 Indian pilgrims and severely injured several others – Nepal
The place in Andhra Pradesh where mishap at the Escientia Advanced Sciences Private Ltd in the Special Economic Zone caused loss of 17 lives and grievous injuries to several others – Anakapalle
The place in Odisha at which India’s first round-the-clock grain ATM named Annapurti Grain ATM, was unveiled by Odisha’s minister for Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare, Krushna Chandra Patra in presence of Nozomi Hashimoto, deputy country director of the the World Food Programme in India – Mancheswar in Bhubaneswar
Persons
The 19th Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army from 2000 to 2002 who passed away on 18 August 2024 – General Sundararajan Padmanabhan PVSM, AVSM, VSM
The Thai politician and businesswoman and leader of the Pheu Thai Party (also the daughter of Thaksin Shinawatra, former Prime Minister) who has taken over as the new Prime Minister of Thailand – Ms. Paetongtarn Shinawatra
The Indian aerospace engineer, known for his contributions to the Agni series of surface-to-surface missiles and considered the 'father of the Agni series of missiles' who passed away on 15 August 2024 – Shri Ram Narain Agarwal
The incumbent President of Rwanda who has been sworn in as its President for the fourth time after his victory in elections in July 2024 – Mr. Paul Kagame
The former Union External Affairs minister from 2004 to 2005 who passed away on 10 August 2024 – Shri Natwar Singh
The former Chief Minister for West Bengal from 2000 to 2011 who passed away on 08 August 2024 – Shri Buddhadeb Bhattacharya
The renowned Indian classical dancer (Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi forms of dance) and recipient of the Padma Shri (1968), Padma Bhushan (2001), Padma Vibhushan (2016) and Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1977) who passed away on 03.08.2024 – Ms. Yamini Krishnamurthy
Sports
The 5-year old child from Ropar, Punjab who has become the youngest Asian to conquer Mt. Kilimanjaro – Teghbir Singh
The Secretary of Board of Cricket Control in India who has been elected to the next Chairman of International Cricket Council succeeding Mr. Greg Barclay with effect from 01 December 2024 – Mr. Jay Shah
The Indian cricketer who has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket – Shikhar Dhawan
The Serbian tennis player who has won the Gold medal in Men's Singles event defeating Carlos Alcaraz in the finals – Novak Djokovic
Miscellaneous
The e-magazine launched on the occasion of the first National Space Day by the Union Education Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan and accessible through NCERT portal is named – Sapno ki Udaan
The former five-time Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu to commemorate whose birth centenary, a Rs. 100 coin was issued by the Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh – Dr. M Karunanidhi
The theme for World Breastfeeding Week observed from 01 to 07 August 2024 – Breastfeeding support for all
Launch of EOS8
Launch date: 16.08.2024
Launched from Satish Dhawan Space Centre
Launch vehicle: Small Satellite Launch Vehicle-03 (SSLV-D3)
EOS8: Earth Observation Satellite EOS-08 is a first-of-its-kind mission built on a standard ISRO’s Microsat/IMS-1 bus with a suite of advanced payloads for observation in IR range, novel GNSS-R Payload and SiC UV dosimeter.
70th National Film Awards
Best Feature Film: Aattam (The Play) (Malayalam) directed by Anand Ekarshi
Best Direction: Suraj Barjatya for Uunchai (Zenith)
Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment: Kantara directed by Rishab Shetty
Best Feature Film on National Integration: Kutch Express (Gujarati) directed by Viral Shah
Best Actor: Rishab Shetty for Kantara
Best Actress: Nitya Menen for Thiruchitrambalam
Best Feature Film in Hindi: Gulmohar by Rahul V Chittella
2024 CEAT Cricket Awards
Lifetime Achievement Award: Rahul Dravid
Men’s International Cricketer of the Year: Rohit Sharma
Men’s ODI Batter of the year: Virat Kohli
Men’s ODI Bowler of the year: Mohammad Shami
Men’s Test Batter of the year: Yashashvi Jaiswal
Men’s Test Bowler of the year: Ravichandran Ashwin
Men’s T20I Batter of the year: Phil Salt
Men’s T20I Bowler of the year: Tim Southee
Women’s Indian Batter of the Year: Smriti Mandhana
Women’s Indian Bowler of the Year: Deepti Sharma
LAST MONTHS G.K.
X