Daily Current Affairs Quiz : August 11, 2023

Notes:
Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba recently got an extension in service for another year, making him the longest-serving Cabinet Secretary.
Before Rajiv Gauba, BD Pande had been the longest serving cabinet secretary from 1972 to 1977. Rajiv Gauba will remain in office till August 30, 2024. This is the third time his service has been extended for another year.

Notes:
Researchers have recorded the first instance of captive breeding of the Himalayan vulture (Gyps himalayensis) in India at the Assam State Zoo, Guwahati.
Categorised as ‘Near Threatened’ on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of threatened species, the Himalayan vulture is a winter migrant to the Indian plains, and a resident of the high Himalayas.

Notes:
Pakistan’s Cabinet has approved the signing of a new security pact with the U.S., a move that indicates a fresh start in defence cooperation after years of distrust between the two nations and may open avenues for Islamabad to get military hardware from Washington.
Through a circulation summary, the Cabinet gave its seal of approval to sign the Communication Interoperability and Security Memorandum of Agreement, known as the CIS-MOA, between Pakistan and the U.S.

Notes:
The government’s think-tank NITI Aayog has established a standard definition and approach for water neutrality in industries to promote water conservation and efficient use.
Water neutrality will be defined as the total freshwater consumption, including direct and indirect water use in critical supply chains, which should be equal to or less than the quantifiable water savings achieved through strategies aimed at improving water use efficiency and conservation efforts.

Notes:
In July, the United Nations food agency reported that the rice price index rose by 2.8%, reaching its highest level in nearly 12 years.
The increase was driven by strong demand and export restrictions imposed by India, affecting prices in key exporting countries, as indicated by the Food and Agriculture Organization’s All Rice Price Index.