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
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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

Indian Medal Winners

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