Current Affairs in English – August 4 2022

National Events:

Criminal Procedure ( Identification ) Act , 2022:

The Criminal Procedure ( Identification ) Act , 2022 has come into effect from 4 August 2022 . The new act authorises taking measurements of convicts and other persons for the purposes of identification and investigation in criminal matters and to preserve records .
It provides legal sanction for taking appropriate body measurements of persons who are required to give such measurements .

Floating Solar Power Plant:

A floating solar power plant is going to be built in Madhya Pradesh’s Khandwa .Said to be the world’s largest floating solar plant , it will generate 600 Megawatt power by 2022-23 .The project is estimated to be worth over 3000 crores .
Recently , India’s largest floating solar power project had become operational in Telangana .

Long mega military exercise:

India and the US will conduct a fortnight – long mega military exercise in Uttarakhand’s Auli in October 2022 .The 18th edition of exercise ” Yudh Abhyas ” is scheduled to take place from October 14 to 31 .
The exercise is aimed at enhancing understanding , cooperation and interoperability between the two armies . The last edition of the exercise took place in October 2021 in Alaska in the US .

India’s third – largest coal supplier:

Russia became India’s third – largest coal supplier in July 2022 , with imports rising by over a fifth compared with June to a record 2.06 million tonnes .
Russia has historically been the sixth – largest supplier of coal to India , behind Indonesia , South Africa , Australia , and the United States , with Mozambique and Colombia alternatingly featuring in the top five .

Third comic book:

Ministry of Culture has released the third comic book on stories of 20 Tribal Freedom Fighters .It recalls the sacrifices of some of the bravest men and women who inspired their tribes and gave up their lives to fight British rule .
Ministry of Culture as a part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav ( AKM ) has released pictorial books on 75 freedom fighters in collaboration with Amar Chitra Katha ( ACK ) .

PM Modi:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of various projects of Shrimad Rajchandra Mission , Dharampur in Gujarat , in August 2022 .He inaugurated Shrimad Rajchandra Hospital at Dharampur in Valsad district .
He also laid the foundation stone of Shrimad Rajchandra Center of Excellence for Women on the occasion . It will be built at an estimated cost of 40 crore rupees .

Ramsar Sites:

India adds 10 more wetlands designated as Ramsar sites to make total 64 sites covering an area of 12,50,361 hectares in the country . The 10 new sites include : Six sites in Tamil Nadu and One each in Goa , Karnataka , Madhya Pradesh and Odisha .
Recently in July , 5 wetland sites achieved the same recognition . With 10 New Protected Wetlands , India Equals China In Having Most Ramsar Sites .
The 10 new wetlands designated as Ramsar sites are : Koonthankulam Bird Sanctuary , Gulf of Mannar Marine Biosphere Reserve , Vembannur Wetland Complex , Vellode Bird Sanctuary , Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary and Udhayamarthandapuram Bird Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu . Satkosia Gorge in Odisha , Nanda Lake in Goa , Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary in Karnataka and Sirpur Wetland in Madhya Pradesh .

National Anti – Doping Bill 2021:

Parliament has passed the National Anti – Doping Bill 2021 . The Bill prohibits athletes , athlete support personnel and other persons from engaging in doping .
Under the new legislation , violation of anti – doping rules may result in disqualification of results including forfeiture of medals , points and prizes , ineligibility to participate in a competition or event for a prescribed period , etc.

Ranjit Rath:

Ranjit Rath has taken over as the Chairman and Managing Director ( CMD ) of Oil India Ltd ( OIL ) .He has also held the positions of the CEO of Khanij Bidesh India Limited , Managing Director of Bharat Gold Mines Ltd.

LIC:

LIC entered the Fortune Global 500 list for the first time . Meanwhile , Reliance Industries which is the largest company in terms of market capitalization in India , jumped 51 places . However , LIC was at the top of the list from India .
A total of nine Indian companies have entered the list , out of which , five of them were state – owned and four were private sector firms .

State University Research Excellence scheme:

The government has launched State University Research Excellence scheme . It has been launched to augment the research capabilities in a structured way to create a robust research and development ecosystem in state and private universities and colleges .
It will provide much – needed research opportunities to the faculties of state universities , 45 percent of which are located in rural areas .

Ravinder Takkar:

Ravinder Takkar , the MD and CEO of telecom operator Vodafone Idea Limited ( Vi ) , will replace Himanshu Kapania as the telco’s new chairman from 19 August , 2022 .

Amazon India:

Amazon India has engaged with Indian Railways to boost its delivery services in the country . Through this partnership , Amazon will be able to transport packages on more than 110 inter – city routes , ensuring one to two – day delivery for its customer .
It became the first online delivery company to work with the Indian Railways to build an express transportation product via rail in 2019 .

NIESBUD & HUL:

National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development ( NIESBUD ) and Hindustan Unilever Limited ( HUL ) has signed an MoU .
It has been signed for developing entrepreneurial skills among the youth and identifying other aspects for mutual collaboration .
Under the partnership , both the entities will collaborate to organise training programmes , develop course curriculum , etc.

IOCL:

The Indian Oil Corporation Limited ( IOCL ) has signed an MoU with the Bangladesh Roads and Highways department in Dhaka . It has been signed for the emergency supply of petroleum goods via Bangladesh territory to India .
This is an interim set up to facilitate urgent supply of petroleum products due to damage caused by the flood in Assam .

Personal Data Protection Bill , 2019:

Union government withdrew the Personal Data Protection Bill , 2019 .The privacy bill was designed to protect Indian citizens and establish a data protection authority .
The government said it would soon be replaced by ” a comprehensive legal framework , ” that will be ” designed to address all of the contemporary and future challenges of the digital ecosystem “.

18% Tax:

Unlike food cooked and served at restaurants , ice creams sold at parlours are manufactured items and are therefore taxable at 18 % , the CBIC clarified . Food sold at restaurants are taxed at 5 % without input tax credit .
Past tax dues of ice – cream parlours that attracted GST at the rate of 5 % without input tax credit shall be treated as fully GST paid to avoid unnecessary litigation .

International Events:

NATO:

The US Senate has approved Finland and Sweden’s accession to NATO . The Nordic countries , which had long maintained neutrality , launched a bid to join the 30 – member alliance in light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine .
Before the accession protocols can enter into force , they must be ratified by all 30 NATO member states , two – thirds of which have already given their approval for the new members .