Current Affairs Quiz - August, 2023

Notes:
The British government has opened its second ballot under the UK-India Young Professional Scheme. This is a scheme for Indians aged between 18 and 30 years with graduate-level qualifications for visas to the United Kingdom.
It offers eligible young Indians the opportunity to live, work or study in UK for up to two years. This joint scheme between UK and India was formally launched this year in February. This scheme will enable candidates to enter the UK at any time while their visa is valid and leave or return anytime during their stay.

Notes:
The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2023 was passed recently by the Lok Sabha. It aims to boost ease of doing business and living in India.
It aims to redefine regulations in the country by decriminalizing minor offenses under 42 Acts, thereby reducing compliance. The Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry presented the proposed legislation in Parliament in December of the previous year.

Notes:
Digital payments across the country registered a growth of 13.24 per cent in a year through March 2023, as per RBI’s index that measures the adoption of online transactions.
RBI’s Digital Payments Index (RBI-DPI) stood at 395.57 at end-March 2023 compared to 377.46 in September 2022 and 349.30 in March 2022. The index is a base to capture the extent of digitisation of payments across the country.

Notes:
China has granted Pakistan a two-year rollover on a USD 2.4-billion loan for a period of two years.
This move is expected to provide relief to Pakistan, which is facing a severe Balance of Payments crisis. Its current reserves barely cover two months’ worth of import bills.

Notes:
The Company Law Committee (CLC) has been established in 2019 by the Union Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
It is expected to explore the implementation of regulatory measures specific to startups. This initiative comes in response to growing concerns about corporate governance matters within startup entities.

Notes:
To counter AePS fraud involving spoofed fingerprints in Aadhaar authentication, the UIDAI has introduced an in-house AI/ML-based Finger Minutiae Record – Finger Image Record (FMR-FIR) system.
This technology verifies the authenticity of a fingerprint by detecting cloned fingerprints during the authentication process.

Notes:
The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet has approved the Uttar Pradesh Water Tourism and Adventure Sports Policy, 2023.
The policy aims to transform the state into a water tourism and adventure sports hub, valid for 10 years from the date notified by the state government.

Notes:
Brazil’s Operation Shield is a police operation that targeted criminal gangs in slums areas in Rio de Janeiro.
At least 45 people have lost their lives in a recent series of lethal security force operations conducted in Brazil.

Notes:
The Ministry of Finance launched a settlement scheme for contractual disputes with vendors or suppliers to government and its undertakings.
The ‘Vivad se Vishwas II — (Contractual Disputes)’ was announced during this year’s Union Budget. October 31 has been set as a deadline for firms Department of Expenditure to submit their claims for consideration.

Notes:
Union Health Ministry announced the launch of e-CARe (e-clearance for after life remains) portal to bring bodies from abroad.
Nodal officers from the Airport Health Organisation (APHO) will monitor the portal throughout the day.