Current Affairs Quiz - August, 2023

Notes:
As per Home Ministry data, 506.241 kg heroin was seized from Punjab in 2020, 485.581 kg in 2021, 320.884 in 2022 and 248.103 kg till June 30 this year.
Over the last three years, the Border Security Force (BSF) has confiscated the most heroin in Punjab and Rajasthan, and the most ‘ganja’ in Tripura and West Bengal.

Notes:
During her address to the nation on the eve of Independence Day, President Droupadi Murmu paid tributes to women freedom fighters including Matangini Hazra and Kanaklata Barua, who laid down their lives for the country.
Matangini from West Bengal vigorously participated in Mahatma Gandhi’s Civil Disobedience Movement, especially the Salt Satyagraha. Matangini Hazra was 73 when she fell to British bullets, while Kanaklata Barua was only 17.

Notes:
India’s first long-range revolver, Prabal has been recently launched at the Small Arms Factory (SAF). It was manufactured by state-owned enterprise Advanced Weapons and Equipment India (AWEIL).
The revolver has a range of 50 metres, which is double the range of other revolvers in the market. It is the first in the country that has side wing cylinder, which makes trigger pull easy. ‘Prabal’ is made with metal injection mould technology.

Notes:
The Chief Minister of Rajasthan – Ashok Gehlot has recently launched the state government’s Annapurna Food Packet Scheme which aims to distribute food packets to more than 10.4 million families for free every month.
This scheme is part of ‘Inflation Relief Package’ as announced by the state government in its budget to provide relief to the public.

Notes:
Axis Bank has announced the introduction of two lending products to small business customers which will be processed through Pilot for Public Tech Platform for Frictionless Credit (PTPFC) platform.
PTPFC was announced by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to facilitate quick appraisal and disbursal of credit. The two products announced by the Axis Bank are Kisan Credit Card (KCC) and unsecured MSME loans.

Notes:
R K Singh, Union Minister of Power, New and Renewable Energy, dedicated the 660 MW Unit of Barh Super Thermal Power Project at Barh in Patna, Bihar.
NTPC fulfils over 90% of power requirement of Bihar. The Minister also laid the foundation stone for extension of POWERGRID’s Lakhisarai Sub-station.

Notes:
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued a fresh set of guidelines for banks and other regulated entities (REs) on the imposition of penal charges on loan borrowers.
It was reported that many banks use penal rate of interest, over and above the applicable interest rates, in case of defaults / non-compliance by the borrower with the terms on which credit facilities were sanctioned. The guidelines will be effective from January 1, 2024.

Notes:
India and Trinidad and Tobago have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on sharing of INDIA STACK.
It is a collection of open APIs and digital public goods that aim to facilitate identity, data, and payment services on a large scale.

Notes:
Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa became the first Indian after Viswanathan Anand to reach Chess World Cup semi-finals since 2002.
The 18-year-old defeated World No 3 GM Fabiano Caruana 3.5-2.5 in a semifinal decided by a single tiebreak win. He defeated compatriot Arjun Erigaisi 5-4 to enter the semifinals. In the finals, he will face five-time world champion Magnus Carlsen.

Notes:
Akhil Sheoran clinched the bronze and the Olympic quota in the 50-metre rifle 3-position event in the World Championship, in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Akhil Sheoran along with Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar and Niraj Kumar won the team gold, one point ahead of Austria.