National
India’s first Saline Water Lantern
⇒ Union Minister of State (I/C) Science & Technology; Minister of State (I/C) Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh has launched India’s first Saline Water Lantern which uses the sea water as the electrolyte between specially designed electrodes to power the LED lamps.
Dr Jitendra Singh unveiled the first-of-its kind lantern named “Roshni” during a visit to SAGAR ANVESHIKA, a Coastal Research Vessel, operated and used by the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Chennai for coastal research.
» The Minister said, Saline Water Lantern will bring “Ease of Living” to the poor and needy, particularly the fishing community living along the 7500 Kilometres long coastal line of India.
- Saline Water Lantern will also boost and supplement Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s UJALA scheme launched in 2015 for distribution of LED bulbs across the country.
107 Gallantry awards to Armed Forces and CAPF personnel
⇒ President Smt Droupadi Murmu, who is also the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, approved 107 Gallantry awards to Armed Forces and CAPF personnel on the eve of Independence Day 2022.
- These include three Kirti Chakra, 13 Shaurya Chakras, two Bar to Sena Medals (Gallantry), 81 Sena Medals (Gallantry), one Nao Sena Medal (Gallantry) and seven Vayu Sena Medals (Gallantry).
- The President also approved 40 Mention-in-Despatches to the Army, one to Air Force personnel and another to the Army Dog, Axel (posthumously), for their significant contributions in different military operations; which include Operation Rakshak, Operation Snow Leopard, Operation Rhino, Operation Orchid, Operation Falcon, Operation Hifazat and Operatation Trikut (Deoghar).
List of Gallantry Awards (Official Link)
President’s Tatrakshak Medal and Tatrakshak Medal:
President Smt Droupadi Murmu also approved President’s Tatrakshak Medal (PTM) and Tatrakshak Medal (TM) to the following Indian Coast Guard Personnel for their act of conspicuous gallantry, exceptional devotion to duty and distinguished/meritorious service.
List of medalists:
» President’s Tatrakshak Medal (Distinguished Service): IG Shri Dinesh Rajaputhran, TM (0142-V) (Retd)
» Tatrakshak Medal (Gallantry): Commandant Kunal Chandrakant Naik (0637-V)
» Tatrakshak Medal (Meritorious Service):
- DIG Shri Prashant Kumar Sharma (0396-X)
- DIG Shri Pankaj Verma (0465-E)
- Shri Prakash, PSE (ER), 07246-T
International
Head of Mission and Chief Military Observer for UNMOGIP
⇒ United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on 10 August 2022 announced the appointment of Rear Admiral Guillermo Pablo Ríos of Argentina as Head of Mission and Chief Military Observer for the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP).
- Rear Admiral Ríos succeeds Major General José Eladio Alcaín of Uruguay.
Career:
- Rear Admiral Ríos has had a distinguished career in the Argentinean Navy since 1988, when he graduated from the Navy Academy as Middleshipman.
- Most recently, he served as the General Director of Education, Training and Doctrine of the Joint Staff (2022).
Mexican President proposes peace commission
⇒ Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador is planning to submit a written proposal to the UN to create a commission, made up of three world leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to promote a world truce for a period of five years.
- The Mexican President proposed that the top commission should include Pope Francis, the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, and Indian PM Narendra Modi.
Aim:
The aim of the commission would be to present a proposal to stop the wars around the world and reach an agreement to seek a truce for at least five years.
- Calling for an end to warlike actions, the Mexican President has invited China, Russia and the United States, to seek peace and hoped the three countries “will listen and accept an intermediation such as the one we are proposing”.
- According to Obrador, the proposed truce would facilitate “reaching agreements in the case of Taiwan, Israel and Palestine, and not be promoting, provoking more confrontation”.
Important Day
Partition Horrors Remembrance Day
India observed Partition Horrors Remembrance Day on 14 August, commemorating the victims and sufferings of people during the Partition of the country in 1947.
- The purpose of remembering the ‘Partition of India’ is to make the new generation aware about the sacrifices and struggle of our people at the time of partition.
A ‘Silent March’ was organized on the eve of Independence Dsy, around the Central Park to mark “Partition Horrors Remembrance Day”. This ‘Silent March’ was organized by the Union Ministry of Culture and Indira Gandhi National Center for the Arts.
History:
On 14th August 2021 Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi solemnly declared that every year 14th of August will be observed as “Partition Horrors Remembrance Day”.
Death
Noted stock investor Rakesh Jhunjhunwala
⇒ Noted stock investor Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, often referred to as India’s Warren Buffett, died on 14 August 2022 in Mumbai. He was 62.
A self-made trader, investor and businessman, he was also known as the ‘Big Bull’ of Dalal Street.
With an estimated net worth of around USD 5.8 billion (about Rs 46,000 crore), Jhunjhunwala was the 36th richest billionaire in India, according to Forbes’ 2021 listing.
Starting off his journey in stock markets while still in college with a capital of just Rs 5,000, he recently teamed up with ex-Jet Airways CEO Vinay Dube and former IndiGo head Aditya Ghosh to launch Akasa Air—India’s newest budget carrier.
He had investments in more than three dozen companies, the most valuable being watch and jewellery maker Titan, part of the Tata conglomerate. His portfolio included companies like Star Health, Rallis India, Escorts, Canara Bank, Indian Hotels Company, Agro Tech Foods, Nazara Technologies and Tata Motors.