Current Affairs Quiz - August, 2023

Notes:
Recently, the University Grants Commission (UGC) approved the Guidelines for Institutional Development Plan (IDP) for Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).
These guidelines are intended to assist HEIs in attaining academic and research excellence while enhancing the quality of teaching and learning. Additionally, the IDP will offer direction to HEIs in exercising academic, administrative, financial, and business autonomy, while maintaining accountability.

Notes:
Union government said that India had seen no deaths due to manual scavenging in the last five years, as per the data submitted by the Social Justice Ministry.
It also added that 330 people had died while being engaged in cleaning sewers and septic tanks. Social Justice Ministry says manual scavenging no longer practised in India; Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh, Bihar among States with all districts reporting free status.

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 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:
China successfully launched its first communications satellite, Lingxi-03, featuring an ultra-thin flexible solar wing to test technologies for a massive 13,000-satellite broadband mega constellation in low-Earth orbit.
It aims to compete with SpaceX’s Starlink. The satellite was launched atop a Long March 2D rocket from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre in central China.

Notes:
The capital markets regulator – SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India) has released the guidelines for the Corporate Debt Market Development Fund (CDMDF).
The fund’s purpose is to serve as a backstop facility, facilitating the purchase of investment-grade corporate debt securities during times of market stress, thereby boosting confidence among participants in the corporate debt market.

Notes:
The LEI (Legal Entity Identifier) is a unique 20-character code that serves as a global identifier for legal entities involved in financial transactions. It aims to create a reference data system for uniquely identifying entities across jurisdictions.
The capital market regulator – Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has mandated that all non-individual Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) must provide their Legal Entity Identifier (LEI) details in the common application form used for registration, KYC, and account opening.

Notes:
Union Ministry of Education inaugurated the logo, slogan – “Jan Jan Sakshar,” and the mobile application for ULLAS: Nav Bharat Saksharta Karyakram.
The ULLAS initiative aims to transform education and literacy nationwide by creating a learning ecosystem that provides basic education, digital and financial literacy, and critical life skills to individuals aged 15 and above who missed the chance to attend school.

Notes:
‘National Moth Week’ is observed across the country during July 22 to July 28. It encourages scientists and non-scientists to participate in surveys of moths.
A total of 26 species of moths were observed across the Nilgiris by students in Udhagamandalam throughout the National Moth Week. A total of 146 moths have been recorded in the Nilgiris over the years.

Notes:
Pension regulator PFRDA has barred Annuity Service Providers (ASPs) from deploying any agency of intermediaries for sourcing annuities business from NPS subscribers upon their retirement or exit from the NPS.
Annuities under National Pension System (NPS) can be issued by ASPs only under direct channels, as per the official sources.