National Skill Certification and Monetary Reward Scheme launched

Union Finance Minister Shri P Chidambaram unveiled the National Skill Certification and Monetary Reward Scheme that will be implemented on pan-India basis.

India and World Bank agreement for US $100 Million Low Income Housing Finance Project

The Loan and Project Agreements for World Bank (IDA) assistance of US $100 million for Low Income Housing Finance Project were signed between Government of India/National Housing Bank(NHB) and the World Bank here yesterday.

Egypt declared national emergency

Egypt has declared a month-long state of emergency after scores of people were killed when security forces stormed two camps set up by supporters of the ousted President, Mohamed Morsy, as part of their campaign for his reinstatement. 

Submarine INS Sindhurakshak sinks after blasts

A massive fire accident sank the Navy’s kilo-class submarine INS Sindhurakshak sank on 14-08-2013 at Mumbai Naval Docks in Colaba.

Import Duty on gold, silver hiked to 10%

The Union Government increased  the import duty on gold and platinum from eight per cent to 10 per cent, that on silver was raised by four percentage points to 10 per cent.

Opposition LDF lays siege to Kerala Secretariat

Left Democratic Front workers laid indefinite siege to the Secretariat of Kerala demanding Chief Minister Oommen Chandy’s resignation in the solar scam. 

Senior IAS officer, Mr. Giridhar Aramane,who acted against RIL relieved of powers

Mr. Giridhar Aramane, , Joint Secretary (Exploration) in the Ministry of  Petroleum and Natural Gas, has been relieved of charge of gas pricing, acquisition of E&P assets abroad, all establishment and administrative matters related to Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Videsh Limited and unconventional hydrocarbon.

Amendments of the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969

The Union Cabinet today approved the introduction of a Bill in the Budget Session of Parliament to amend the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969 to include registration of marriages as well, so that the existing administrative mechanisms will be able to carry out such registration of marriages in accordance with the specified procedures and be able to maintain necessary records and statistics for registration of marriages also.

First amendment to RTI Act tabled in Lok Sabha

The Manmohan Singh government 12-08-2013 introduced the Right to Information (Amendment Bill), 2013 in the Lok Sabha .

Vinay Mittal is appointed as the member of UPSC

Former Railway Board Chairman Vinay Mittal has been appointed as member of Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). He was appointed on August 8 for a period of six years or until he attains the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier  He is a former Indian Railway Traffic Service officer.

P. V. Sindhu bags bronze in 2013 BWF World Championships

P.V.Sindhu of India bagged Bronze medal women’s singles category at the BWF World Championships 2013. She was defeated by  Ratchanok Inthanon of Thailand in the semifinals in Guangzhou, China on 10 August 2013.

First public sector breast milk bank in Kolkata inaugurated

A modern and sophisticated breast milk bank, stated to be the first in India in the public sector, was on 07-Aug-2013 inaugurated in Kolkata at the premier state-run Seth Sukhlal Karnani Memorial Hospital(SSKM) hospital by chief minister Mamata Banerjee.

Renowned Naturalist and Ornithologist Zafar Futehally passed away

Zafar Rashid Futehally an Indian naturalist, ornithologist and conservationist passed away on 11 August 2013 at Kihim in Maharashtra. 

Noted Kamaicha player Sakar Khan passed away

Renowned Rajasthani folk musician and Padma Shri awardee Sakar Khan, an exponent of the melodious bow and string instrument Kamaicha, passed away in Jaisalmer on 10-Aug-2013. 

Ibrahim Boubacar Keita won Mali Presidential Elections

Former Prime Minister Ibrahim Boubacar Keita won Mali’s presidency after his opponent conceded defeat in an election aimed at restoring stability to a country wracked by a rebellion, a coup and an Islamic insurgency.

 

Usain Bolt the fastest in IAAF World Championships 2013, Moscow

Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt won the 100 metre sprint title at the 14th IAAF World Championships 2013, Moscow on 11 August 2013.

Colin Michael Foale, the First British to Perform a Space Walk, Retired from NASA

Colin Michael Foale, is a British-American astrophysicist and former NASA astronaut retired from NASA in the second week of August 2013.

Delhi state government conferred Lifetime Achievement Award-2013 to Abdul Rashid Khan and Anjolie Ela Menon.

Delhi state government conferred Lifetime Achievement Award-2013 to Abdul Rashid Khan and Anjolie Ela Menon. 

Nuclear-capable Prithvi-II missile successfully test fired

The country’s first nuclear weapons-capable surface-to-surface ballistic missile, Prithvi-II, was successfully test-fired for its full strike range of 350 km from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur, off  Odisha coast 

Sardar Singh to lead a young Indian Hokey team in Asia Cup

India, on 11 August 2013 named Sardar Singh as the captain of the 18-member squad in the Asia Cup hockey tournament, which is scheduled to take place from 24 August 2013 to 1 September 2013 in Ipoh, Malaysia.

India created a National Record by organizing a Half-Marathon at an altitude of 10050 ft

India set a world record at Lahaul and Spiti of Himachal Pradesh on 10^th August 2013. It was a twenty-one (21) kilometer long Half Marathon at such a high altitude of 10050 feet at Kaylong. 

INS Arihant nuclear reactor activated

 In a major step towards completing its nuclear triad, India activated the atomic reactor on-board the indigenous nuclear submarine INS Arihant paving the way for its operational deployment by the Navy.

Maharashtra became first state to disburse Salary through Aadhaar linked Bank Accounts

Maharashtra State Government on 07/08/2013 became the first state in the country to disburse salary of its staff through their Aadhaar-linked bank accounts. The employees of the state government’s Information Technology (IT) department got their July 2013 salaries through their Aadhaar-linked bank accounts.

Maharashtra State Government on 7 August 2013 became the first state in the country to disburse salary of its staff through their Aadhaar-linked bank accounts. The employees of the state government’s Information Technology (IT) department got their July 2013 salaries through their Aadhaar-linked bank accounts. - See more at: http://www.jagranjosh.com/current-affairs/maharashtra-became-first-state-to-disburse-salary-through-aadhaar-linked-bank-accounts-1376200375-1#sthash.gw3teHBJ.dpuf

Maharashtra State Government on 7 August 2013 became the first state in the country to disburse salary of its staff through their Aadhaar-linked bank accounts. The employees of the state government’s Information Technology (IT) department got their July 2013 salaries through their Aadhaar-linked bank accounts

Gitanjali released in 14 languages

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on 08-08-2013 released a commemorative volume of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore’s Gitanjali (Song Offerings) in 14 languages. August 7 is Tagore’s death anniversary.

International Day of the World's Indigenous People is observed on August 9

The International Day of the World's Indigenous People is observed on August 9 each year to promote and protect the rights of the world’s indigenous population. This event also recognizes the achievements and contributions that indigenous people make to improve world issues such as environmental protection. It was first pronounced by the General Assembly of the United Nations in December 1994, marking the day of the first meeting of the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations of the Sub commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, in 1982.