Current Affairs Quiz - August, 2023

Notes:
SpaceX is preparing to launch the world’s largest privately-owned satellite, called JUPITER-3. This impressive satellite will be sent into space aboard SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket from Launch Complex 39A in Florida.
This launch will be the seventh for the robust triple-booster rocket.

Notes:
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has set up a working group to decriminalise laws to further promote ease of doing business.
The group comprised representatives from industry associations, business chambers, legal professionals, and officials of seven ministries. It would also have representatives of the National Housing Bank, NABARD and CPCB.

Notes:
Finland’s Food Authority reported H5N1 on two more fur farms, both housing foxes, raising the number of outbreaks to 14.
Norway reported the virus in a red fox pup while Germany reported the virus on a seal. Similar detections in seals and sea lions have occurred in multiple parts of the world.

Notes:
The Income-tax Department announced that there is a surge in filing of Income-tax Returns (ITRs), resulting in a new record of ITRs filed.
The total number of ITRs for AY 2023-24 filed till 31st July, 2023 are more than 6.77 crore, which is 16.1% more than the total ITRs for AY 2022-23 (5.83 crore) filed till 31st July 2022. Over 64.33 lakh ITRs were filed on a single day-on 31st July, 2023.

Notes:
The Rocket Force of China’s People’s Liberation Army is responsible for the strategic and tactical missile operations and is tasked with managing the nation’s nuclear arsenal.
Recently, China introduced fresh leadership for its Rocket Force, appointing new officials to replace the two previous generals who were in charge of the country’s missile forces.

Notes:
Italian authorities from the Carabinieri Command for the Protection of Cultural Heritage reported the discovery of an ancient cargo ship wreckage off the port in Civitavecchia, near Rome.
The ship, dating back to the 1st or 2nd century BC, contains hundreds of well-preserved Roman jars, known as amphorae, found using a remotely operated robot.

Notes:
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma launched the Department of Forest and Environment’s Amrit Brikshya Andolan web portal/mobile application and the Wood-based Industry (WBI) registration web portal, along with the theme song for the Amrit Brikshya Andolan.
It is an initiative aimed at planting a total of 1 crore commercially-viable saplings across the State by individuals from various walks of life.

Notes:
In the city of Beijing, the amount of rain over the past week has broken a 140-year-old record after being hit by Typhoon Doksuri.
Typhoon Doksuri’s aftermath is causing widespread devastation, leading to thousands of evacuations. At least 10 people have died and 18 are missing, and officials have evacuated millions of people.

Notes:
Bihar’s caste-based survey resumed a day after the Patna High Court allowed the State government to continue with it.
The Patna High Court has dismissed all petitions filed against the decision of the Bihar Government to conduct a caste-based survey. The survey is being conducted at a cost of ₹500 crore, approved by the Cabinet of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

Notes:
The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council, in its 51st meeting held recently, decided to stick to its earlier decision to impose a 28 per cent tax on the full-face value of the bets placed on online gaming, casinos and horse-trading.
The council said a 28 per cent GST would apply from October 1.