Advisory Document on Bharat Zero Emission Trucking (ZET) Policy:
- Principal Scientific Adviser Ajay Kumar Sood released a document containing 30 recommendations for a zero-carbon Indian freight policy in Delhi.
- Carbon free freight transport policy consultation paper – Central Government has released with the help of IIT, Chennai.
- The development of a Center of Excellence for Zero Carbon Emission Freight Transport (Trucks) Vehicles at IIT Chennai was guided by a Policy Advisory Committee set up by the Office of the Principal Science Adviser, Central Government.
Census:
- Census is conducted every 10-years.
- Census has not been conducted since 2011.
- The census was scheduled to be held in 2021, but was delayed due to the coronavirus outbreak.
- This will be the first digital census where mobile apps will be used to collect data due to technological advancements in the last 10 years.
- The central government has planned to conduct the population census from September.
- Census of India started in 1872 and has been conducted every 10 years since 1881.
- India’s first post-independence census was conducted in 1951.
- The 15th Census was held in 2011.
- This is the 16th Census of India and the 8th Census of independent India.
- In 1872, the first census in India was conducted under the rule of Lord Mayo.
- The first official census in India was carried out in 1881 under Lord Ripon.
- 1951 is also known as the year of population boom.
- World Population Day is observed on 11th July every year.
Indo-African Trade Conference:
- The inaugural function of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and India-Africa Trade Conference was held in Delhi.
- Last year, when India held the presidency of the G20, the African Union was admitted as a permanent member of the organization.
- Africa has contributed to the country’s biodiversity by providing chives to India.
- The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) is a non-governmental trade association and group headquartered in New Delhi, India, founded in 1895.
‘Nepali’ as official language of Sikkim:
- In the northeastern state of Sikkim, the official language is ‘Nepali’.
- Earlier only English was the official language of the state, now ‘Nepali’ has also been added.
- Nepali is a recognized language in India since 1992.
- This language is spoken in Nepal, Bhutan, India and Myanmar.
- It is a largely Sanskrit-based language with a Devanagari script.
- The Sikkim Official Language Act 1977 recognizes Nepali as the official language of the state.
- The Chief Minister of Sikkim is Prem Singh Tamang.
‘Mission Rhumi – 2024’ project:
- 3 satellites will be launched from Thiruvidanthai in Chengalpattu district on August 24 on a reusable rocket designed by private space exploration companies.
- Mission Rhumi – 2024 is the first time in India that the rocket will be brought back to Earth after the launch of satellites.
- This space exploration program is being carried out by Space Zone India and Martin Group.
- The rocket will use state-of-the-art liquid oxygen and solid fuel propulsion.
- 3 cube satellites will be launched by ‘Rhumi 1’ rocket to monitor and collect data related to UV radiation, air quality and atmospheric changes.
- After positioning them on their planned trajectory, the ‘Rhumi 1’ rocket will safely return to Earth.
- This action plan is very environmentally friendly.
Madras Foundation Day: 22nd August
- Madras was founded on 22 August by the East India Company.
- The East India Company purchased Madras as a piece of land from the local Nayakar rulers in 1639.
Important Facts:
- RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das has been ranked A+ in Global Finance Magazine’s Central Bankers Report 2024, the second year in a row that he has been downgraded.
- Govind Mohan will take charge as the new Home Secretary on the completion of the tenure of Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla.
- India plans to buy MQ-9B drones from the US as small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), which are weapon-carrying and attack-capable drones.
- The ‘Global Muthamizh Murugan Conference’ will be held on 24th and 25th August at Palani, Dindigul district.
- Tamil Nadu Industry Investment Conference in Chennai Chief Minister M.K. Stalin started it.
- India’s Ronak Dahiya won a bronze medal at the World Under-17 Wrestling Championships in Jordan.