17th August Daily Current Affairs – English

SSLV D-3 Rocket Launched:

• The SSLV D-3 rocket was launched with the state-of-the-art EOS-08 Earth observation satellite.
• ISRO declared the project a success after the satellites were placed in the planned low-Earth orbit.
• The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is implementing communications, remote sensing and guidance satellite programmes.
• For that, the satellites are being positioned in the sky by means of PSLV and GSLV type rockets.
• In this, satellites weighing up to 1,750 kg can be launched by the PSLV rocket and up to 4,000 kg by the GSLV rocket.
• The demand for launching small satellites has increased in the international space industry.
• Keeping this in mind, ISRO has newly designed small SSLV rockets to carry satellites weighing up to 500 kg into low Earth orbit, with a maximum weight of 120 tonnes.
• ISRO plans to launch the EOS-08 earth observation satellite on the newly designed SSLV D-3 rocket.
• Subsequently, the SSLV D-3 rocket was launched from the first launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Research Center in Sriharikota.
• The EOS-08 satellite travelled 475 km in 13 minutes and 48 seconds after liftoff. Successfully positioned on the planned geodesic orbit in the distance.
• After that, SR-0 DEMOSAT, a 1.2 kg small satellite designed and sent by ‘Space Kids India’ was placed at a distance of 475 km.
• The EOS-08 satellite, weighing 176 kg, is placed in low-Earth orbit and will carry out research for up to a year.

Vehicle Scrapping Policy:

• In order to improve the environment and road safety of motorists, an announcement was made in the Union Budget 2021-22 regarding the removal of old vehicles from circulation.
• Subsequently, in the ‘Vehicle Scrapping Policy’ introduced by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi government, the eligibility period for private vehicles was fixed at 20 years and the eligibility period for government and commercial vehicles was fixed at 15 years.
• After this eligibility period, the eligibility of the vehicle is re-evaluated and the vehicles can be used for the next 5 years and this process will continue once in 5 years.
• Those who want to buy a new vehicle can hand over their old vehicles at government-registered vehicle scrapping centers. Thus, various benefits including 25% tax rebate and cancellation of registration fee while buying a new vehicle have been announced for those who hand over old vehicles.
• The central government is exploring the possibility of setting up testing stations in various cities and a vehicle destruction center within a radius of 150 km for re-inspection of vehicles.

Gujarat lags behind in education: NITI Aayog report

• In the report published by NITI Aayog, it has been mentioned that the state of Gujarat is lagging behind in terms of education.
• This information is mentioned in this year’s Sustainable Development Report published by NITI Aayog.
• Kerala ranks first, followed by Haryana and Himachal Pradesh and Tamil Nadu in fourth place in the report’s assessment of SDGs related to education.
• The Gujarat state government has been running a school enrollment program called ‘Shala Praveshotsav’ for more than a decade.
• Senior IAS, IPS and IFS officers from there visit the villages to ensure that no child is left behind and this initiative is being taken to increase enrollment in schools.

National Film Awards:

• The 70^th National Film Awards have been announced, where Ponniyin Selvan-1, directed by Mani Ratnam, has been chosen as the best Tamil film in Tamil.
• National Award for Best Cinematography has been announced for Ravi Varman.
• AR Rahuman has been announced as the best music director award for Best Background Music
• Nithya Menon and Mansi Parekh have been announced for the National Award for Best Actress.
• Anbariv has been announced with a National Award for KGF 2 for Best Fight Scenes.
• The Malayalam film ‘Aattam’ has been selected as the overall best film.

August 17: World Bee Day

• August 17 World Bee Day is observed on the third Saturday of August.
• The initiative aims to create social awareness for the beekeeping industry through education and promotion.

August 17: Indonesian Independence Day

• Indonesian Independence Day is celebrated on August 17 every year.

Important Facts:

1. Kulasekarapatnam rocket launch pad is located in Tuticorin district.
2. RN Agarwal, known as the father of Agni missile, passed away.
3. Known as the ‘Missile Man of India’, Abdul Kalam initiated the Integrated Missile Development Programme, the flagship of which was the Agni missile programme.
4. The International Monetary Fund has predicted that India’s economic growth will pick up to 7 percent in the fiscal year 2024-25.
5. The International Monetary Fund predicts that India will become the third largest economy in the world by 2027.
6. Paetongtarn Shinawatra, daughter of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, has been named as the new Prime Minister of Thailand.
7. Wrestler Aman Sehrawat has been promoted as an officer on special duty after winning a bronze medal in the men’s freestyle wrestling 57kg category at the Paris Olympics.