Daily Current Affairs August 17

Dear Champions, as you all know that a lot of competitive exams have been notified consequently. Candidates have to prepare themselves according to the level of competition and expectation of the Recruitment board. Regarding that one of the most important topic is Daily Current Affairs August 17. Current Affairs in the form of contemporary events of national & international play a crucial role in almost every competitive exams like Banking, Insurance, SSC, UPSC, TNPSC, Railway etc.

Current affairs are the most dynamic yet scoring among all sections and need to be prepared from the right source. Here, we cafunsta team, providing  Daily GK Updates, Current Affairs Questions, and Monthly  current affairs pdf.

TO PURCHASE OUR BANKING AWARENESS (8021 Edition) – CLICK HERE

August 17| Daily Current Affairs 2023

Sports – Daily Current Affairs August 17

1. Which football club recently won their maiden UEFA Super Cup title?
A) Liverpool FC
B) Chelsea FC
C) Manchester United
D) Manchester City
E) Real Madrid
Answer: D) Manchester City

UEFA Super Cup

• Winner: Manchester City
• Runner: Sevilla
• Held in: Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus, Greece
• Edition: 48th
• Real Madrid, Barcelona, and AC Milan have won the joint-most UEFA Super Cup titles (5).
• UEFA Cup was renamed the UEFA Europa League in 2009

---

Obituary – Daily Current Affairs August 17

2. Who was V S Arunachalam, whose recent passed away was noted in the news?
A) An acclaimed Indian astronaut.
B) A former Prime Minister of India.
C) A renowned Bollywood actor.
D) A former Director General of DRDO.
E) An influential business tycoon.
Answer: D) A former Director General of DRDO

• V S Arunachalam, a former DRDO director general, died in the US
• His distinguished career spanned across Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), National Aeronautical Laboratory, and Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory.
• He was the Scientific Advisor to the Defence Minister from 1982-92.
• He was conferred the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award (1980), Padma Bhushan (1985), and Padma Vibhushan (1990) for his contribution to engineering science and technology.
• In addition to being the first Indian Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering (UK), Arunachalam served as a member of the advisory and editorial boards of several universities and foundations, including the Materials Research Society Bulletin.
• He launched three major programmes: Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) under an autonomous body Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA); Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) Programme; and IGMDP (Integrated Guided Missiles Development Programme) to develop a family of strategic and tactical guided missiles.
• In 2015, Arunachalam was awarded DRDO’s Lifetime Achievement Award for his outstanding contribution to the field of scientific research and technology.

---

Banking and Finance – Daily Current Affairs August 17

3. Which financial services group has officially launched its life insurance and asset management services in Gujarat’s GIFT City’s International Financial Services Centre (IFSC)?
A) State Bank of India (SBI)
B) ICICI Group
C) HDFC Group
D) Axis Bank
E) Punjab National Bank (PNB)
Answer: C) HDFC Group

• HDFC Group announced the official launch of its life insurance and asset management services in Gujarat’s GIFT City’s International Financial Services Centre (IFSC).
• To provide services to Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and the worldwide Indian diaspora, HDFC International Life and Re was created by HDFC Life, and HDFC AMC International (IFSC) Ltd was established by HDFC Asset Management Company.
• HDFC AMC International would offer fund management and advisory services as part of its offshore centre, while the new unit operating under the name HDFC Life International will offer life and health insurance options denominated in US dollars.
• The group company also announced that enrollment in its first product, the “US Dollar Global Education Plan,” which aims to assist parents in building a corpus denominated in US dollars to cover future costs associated with their child’s abroad education, is now available. This product attempts to end any future inconsistency between the investment currency and the currency of expenses.
• On the other hand, HDFC AMC International (IFSC) Ltd aims to create 6 funds as part of the initial product rollout, which will feed into several HDFC Mutual Fund schemes encompassing equities (across market size) and hybrid strategy.
• The creation of these products offers a practical and realistic means for foreign investors to access their India investment alternatives.
• Thus, the long and illustrious history of HDFC AMC, the expertise of its sizable and seasoned investment staff, and its methodical, process-driven investment methodology all benefit international investors

---

4. Which bank has launched “Canara Jeevan Dhara,” a specialized savings bank account designed for pensioners and potential pensioners?
A) State Bank of India
B) HDFC Bank
C) Canara Bank
D) ICICI Bank
E) Punjab National Bank
Answer: C) Canara Bank

• Canara Bank has introduced Canara Jeevan Dhara, a special savings bank account for pensioners, and prospective pensioners.
• All the employees who retired on a voluntary basis or normal retirements are also eligible.
• The bank offers two variants depending on the pension credit.
• Diamonds account is for up to Rs 50,000 and Platinum account is for above Rs 50,000.

Canara Jeevan Dhara interest rate

• Interest rate on Jeevan Dhara savings account will be same as regular savings account which ranges from 2.90% to 4% depending on the balance in the account, according to the Canara Bank website.
• The bank is offering an interest rate of 2.90% for savings accounts with an outstanding balance of less than Rs. 50 lakh and between Rs. 50 lakh and less than Rs. 5 crore.
• The bank offers the interest rate of 2.95% on savings account balances between Rs 5 crore to less than Rs 10 crore and the interest rate on savings account balances between Rs 10 crore to less than Rs 100 crore is 3.05%.
• Canara Bank will now pay 3.50% interest on balances in outstanding savings accounts ranging from Rs 100 crore to less than Rs 500 crore.
• Canara Bank will now pay 3.10% interest on outstanding savings account balances between Rs 200 crore and Rs 500 crore.

Loan against deposit

• Under this account, the bank will offer 0.75% above the deposit rate for senior citizens.

Top up facility

• For customers of this account, the bank will offer top up facility on pension loans.

Concession on medical expenses

• Concession on medical expenses up to 25 percent for Canara Bank Jeevan Dhaara customers

Canara Bank FD interest rates

• Canara Bank offers FDs maturing in 7 days to 10 years of 4 per cent to 7.25 per cent for the general public and 4 per cent to 7.75 per cent for senior citizens.

---

5. What is the purpose of the Centralised Web Portal UDGAM launched by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)?
A) To facilitate online banking transactions for customers.
B) To provide information about government schemes and policies.
C) To access information about unclaimed deposits.
D) To offer online education and training resources.
E) To manage stock market investments.
Answer: C) To access information about unclaimed deposits.

• The Reserve Bank of India(RBI) launched a Centralised Web Portal UDGAM (Unclaimed Deposits – Gateway to Access inforMation).
• This portal has been developed by RBI for use by members of public to facilitate and make it easier for them to search their unclaimed deposits across multiple banks at one place.
• The Reserve Bank of India had announced the development of a centralised web portal for searching unclaimed deposits as part of the Statement on Developmental and Regulatory Policies dated April 06, 2023.
• The launch of the web portal will aid users to identify their unclaimed deposits/ accounts and enable them to either claim the deposit amount or make their deposit accounts operative at their respective banks.
• Reserve Bank Information Technology Pvt Ltd (ReBIT), Indian Financial Technology & Allied Services (IFTAS) and participating banks have collaborated on developing the portal.
• List of Banks Available on Centralised Web Portal for Unclaimed Deposits
  • State Bank of India
  • Punjab National Bank
  • Central Bank of India
  • Dhanlaxmi Bank Ltd.
  • South Indian Bank Ltd.
  • DBS Bank India Ltd.
  • Citibank N.A

---

6. What recent collaboration did Axis Bank undertake with the RBI Innovation Hub to expand its lending services?
A) Launching a new line of luxury credit cards.
B) Opening a chain of digital banking kiosks.
C) Establishing a new headquarters for the bank.
D) Launching two innovative lending products.
E) Introducing a cryptocurrency exchange platform.
Answer: D) Launching two innovative lending products.

• Private sector lender Axis Bank launched two lending products — Kisan Credit Cards and MSME loans — powered by the Public Tech Platform for Frictionless Credit (PTPFC), introduced by the Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH).
• RBIH is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
• Axis Bank will offer Kisan Credit Card (KCC) and unsecured MSME loans to small business customers, powered by the platform. The RBI had announced the launch of the pilot project for public tech platform for frictionless credit by facilitating a seamless flow of required digital information to lenders.
• The newly launched products will be offered in a completely digital manner and require no submission of documents by customers.
• As part of the pilot, Axis Bank will leverage the PTPFC for accessing data for
  customers in a fully consented and secure manner.
• These include PAN validation, AadhaareKYC, Account Aggregator data, verification of land records, and penny drop service to validate bank accounts.
• As a pilot, Kisan Credit Cards will be offered in Madhya Pradesh and will be available to customers for up to Rs 1,60,000 to start with.
• MSME loans will be available across the country and will offer loans up to Rs 10 lakh to customers

---

8. Which bank recently introduced a multi-branded credit card in collaboration with Qatar Airways and British Airways?
A) HDFC Bank
B) ICICI Bank
C) IndusInd Bank
D) Axis Bank
E) State Bank of India
Answer: C) IndusInd Bank

• IndusInd Bank has launched a first-of-its-kind multi-branded credit card – ‘IndusInd Bank Avios Visa Infinite Credit Card’ for all customers, in partnership with British Airways Executive Club and Qatar Airways Privilege Club.
• This credit card aims to offer best-in-class rewards and benefits to customers, across travel, wellness and lifestyle experiences.
• Adding an extra touch of luxury, the card is available in a sleek ‘metal card’ variant, tailored to meet the needs of our valued customers.
• Stacked with multiple attractive benefits suiting the requirements of frequent travellers, customers can opt for their preferred airline loyalty programme at the time of the application as well as select their preferred international destination to maximise the opportunity to collect Avios, the rewards currency for British Airways Executive Club and Qatar Airways Privilege Club, and enjoy a host of other benefits.
• Some of the key features of the ‘IndusInd Bank Avios Visa Infinite Credit Card’ include tier fast-track with Qatar Airways Privilege Club, accelerated opportunity to collect Avios and discounted foreign currency mark-up at selected preferred international destination, complimentary meet-and-greet service at leading international airports, emergency international health insurance, airport lounge benefits and much more

---

Appointments – Daily Current Affairs August 17

9. Who has assumed the position of Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) at Power Finance Corporation (PFC)?
A) Rakesh Sharma
B) Nirmala Sitharaman
C) Parminder Chopra
D) Aditya Puri
E) Arundhati Bhattacharya
Answer: C) Parminder Chopra

• Power Finance Corporation (PFC) has appointed Parminder Chopra as Chairman and Managing Director (CMD); she becomes the first woman to lead India’s largest NBFC.
  Chopra assumed the top job at the power sector lender with effect from August 14, 2023. She earlier held additional charge as CMD from June 1, and was Director (Finance) from July 1, 2020
• Chopra has over 35 years of experience in the power and financial sector.
• At PFC, she has headed key finance functions, including resource mobilisation (domestic and international markets), banking, treasury, asset liability management and stressed asset resolution.

---

10. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of which individuals as SEBI Whole-Time Members?
A) Rakesh Sharma and Nirmala Sitharaman
B) KamleshVarshney and Amarjeet Singh
C) Arundhati Bhattacharya and Aditya Puri
D) Rajiv Mehrishi and P. V. Sindhu
E) MukeshAmbani and Anand Mahindra
Answer: B) KamleshVarshney and Amarjeet Singh

• The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of KamleshVarshney and Amarjeet Singh as SEBI Whole-Time Members.
• While Varshney, a 1990-batch officer of the Indian Revenue Service, is a joint secretary at the revenue department in the Finance Ministry, Singh is an executive director at the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).
• Both Varshney and Singh have been appointed for three years from the date of assumption of charge or until further orders, whichever is earlier
• At SEBI, Varshney and Singh will fill in the vacancies created by the retirement of S K Mohanty and Ananta Barua.

---

11. Who has been elected as one of the vice presidents of the World Athletics (WA) Executive Board from the Athletics Federation of India (AFI)?
A) Narendra Modi
B) Sardar Singh
C) Neeraj Chopra
D) AdilleSumariwalla
E) Mary Kom
Answer: D) AdilleSumariwalla

• Athletics Federation of India (AFI) chief AdilleSumariwalla has been elected as one of the vice presidents of the World Athletics (WA) Executive Board.
• He will sit as one of the four vice presidents for a four-year term on the World Athletics Executive Board, the highest decision-making body in the global organisation.
• This board is composed of the president, four vice presidents, three appointed members and a non-voting chief executive officer.
• Since 2012, Sumariwalla has been the president of the AFI and has contributed significantly to Indian athletics.
• He has also been a member of the WA Council since 2015.
• Sumariwalla, an Olympian 100m runner

---

Science and Technology – Daily Current Affairs August 17

12. Which company has partnered with Skye Air to enable delivery shipments using drones?
A) FedEx
B) DHL
C) UPS
D) Shiprocket
E) Amazon
Answer: D) Shiprocket

• Shiprocket, an e-commerce enablement platform, has collaborated with Skye Air, a SaaS-based drone delivery solution provider to deliver shipments via drones.
• The partnership enables faster order fulfillment within urban traffic congestion with the help of Skye Air’s autonomous drone logistics solutions.
• This partnership will debut in Gurugram with over five drones.
• The introduction of drone delivery services will not only provide Shiprocket sellers with the ability to offer same-day and next-day deliveries but also revolutionise the entire delivery process, making it more efficient, eco-friendly, and customer-centric

---

International Affairs – Daily Current Affairs August 17

13. What recent agreement was signed between India and Trinidad and Tobago regarding technology sharing?
A) A trade partnership for agricultural products.
B) An agreement to establish joint cultural festivals.
C) A memorandum of understanding (MoU) on sharing INDIA STACK.
D) A collaboration to develop renewable energy projects.
E) An initiative to promote tourism between the two countries.
Answer: C) A memorandum of understanding (MoU) on sharing INDIA STACK.

• India and Trinidad and Tobago have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on sharing INDIA STACK — a collection of open APIs and digital public goods that aim to facilitate identity, data, and payment services on a large scale.
• Both sides agreed to cooperate in the areas of digital transformation by means of capacity building, training programmes, exchange of best practices, exchange of public officials and experts, development of pilot or demo solutions, etc.
• This collaboration comes after Union Minister of State for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship and Electronics & IT, Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar met with Trinidad and Tobago’s Minister of Digital Transformation, Senator Mr Hassel Bacchus
• The MoU was signed in the presence of officials from the Ministry of Electronics and IT, National E-Governance Division, MeitY and also from the Ministry of External Affairs.
• Since June 2023, India has already signed MoUs with countries namely Armenia, Sierra Leone, Suriname, and Antigua & Barbuda to share India Stack while many countries like Mauritius, Saudi Arabia have shown interest and are at an advanced stage of finalizing cooperation on IndiaStack.
• A similar MoU was signed with Papua New Guinea also last month, showcasing the growing interest and acceptance of the initiative on a global scale.
• The UPI which is also a part of India Stack, has been accepted in France, UAE, Singapore and Sri Lanka.

---

National Affairs – Daily Current Affairs August 17

14. Where is India’s first drone common testing centre set to be established?
A) Karnataka
B) Maharashtra
C) Uttar Pradesh
D) Tamil Nadu
E) Kerala
Answer: D) Tamil Nadu

• India’s first Unmanned Aerial Systems (Drone) Common Testing Centre under Defence Testing Infrastructure Scheme (DTIS) will be established in Tamil Nadu.
• This centre would be established over an area of about 2.3 acres at the SIPCOT Industrial Park, VallamVadagal near Sriperumbudur.
• The testing centre would enable the State to be a significant contributor to the self-reliance of the country in the aerospace and defence sectors.
• TIDCO had floated an RFP for identifying industrial partners for establishing this testing centre as a joint venture in compliance to the guidelines of the DTI Scheme.
• A consortium of companies consisting of Keltron, Sense Image Technologies, Standards Testing & Compliance and Avishka Retailers had been chosen based on their response to the transparent bid process to partner with TIDCO for establishing the facility at an estimated cost of ₹45 crore.
• TIDCO is the nodal agency for the implementation of the Tamil Nadu Defence Industrial Corridor (TNDIC).

---

15. Who inaugurated ‘Vindhyagiri’ at the facility of Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd (GRSE) on the banks of the Hooghly river?
A) Prime Minister Narendra Modi
B) Defense Minister Rajnath Singh
C) President DroupadiMurmu
D) Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman
E) External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar
Answer: C) President DroupadiMurmu

• President DroupadiMurmu reached Kolkata, West Bengal, and launched ‘Vindhyagiri’, at Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd’s (GRSE) facility on the banks of Hooghly river.
• Vindhyagiri has been named after the mountain range in Karnataka.
• In Kolkata, President Murmu was received by West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose, who along with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee were also present on the INS ‘Vindhyagiri’ launch occasion.
• INS ‘Vindhyagiri’ is an advanced stealth frigate, or warship. This is the sixth of seven ships built under ‘Project 17 Alpha’ for the Navy.
• This is the third and last stealth frigate that the Kolkata-based warship maker was contracted to build for the Navy under the project.
• These warships are follow-ons of the Project 17 Class Frigates (Shivalik Class), with improved stealth features, advanced weapons and sensors and platform management systems.
• P17A ships are guided missile frigates, each of which is 149 metres long, with the displacement of approximately 6,670 tonnes and a speed of 28 knots, according to a GRSE official. These are capable of neutralising threats in all three dimensions of air, surface and sub-surface.
• Earlier in the day, the president launched ‘My Bengal, Addiction Free Bengal’ campaign under the ‘NashaMukt Bharat Abhiyan’ organised by Brahma Kumaris at the Raj Bhavan.
• This is Murmu’s second visit to West Bengal after being elected the president last year. She visited the state in March.
• The newly christened Vindhyagiri stands as a symbol of India’s determination to embrace its rich naval heritage while propelling itself towards a future of indigenous defence capabilities.
• Under the Project 17A program, a total of four ships by Mazagon Dock Ltd (MDL) and three ships by GRSE are under construction.
• The project’s first five ships have been launched by the MDL and GRSE between 2019 and 2022.
• President Murmu launches ‘My Bengal, Addiction-Free Bengal’ campaign in Kolkata

---

16. What is the purpose of the ‘FloodWatch’ app recently launched by India?
A) To provide weather forecasts for various regions.
B) To offer real-time earthquake alerts.
C) To facilitate online banking services.
D) To deliver updates on road traffic conditions.
E) To provide real-time flood updates and information.
Answer: E) To provide real-time flood updates and information.

• The Chairman, Central Water Commission (CWC), Shri Kushvinder Vohra launched the mobile application, “FloodWatch” with the aim of using mobile phones to disseminate information related to the flood situation and forecasts up to 7 days on a real-time basis to the public.
• The in-house developed user-friendly app has readable and audio broadcast and all the information is available in 2 languages, viz. English and Hindi.
• Key feature of the app includes real-time flood monitoring where users can check up-to-date flood situation throughout the country.
• The app utilizes near real-time river flow data from various sources. The app also provides flood forecast at nearest location where users can check the flood advisory at the station nearest to them on the Home Page itself.
• Other key features include forecast using an Interactive Map where users can check the CWC Flood Forecast (up to 24 hours) or Flood Advisory (up to 7 days) either by directly selecting the station from map or the user can also search for the name of the station in the search box.
• The app will also provide State-wise/Basin-wise Flood Forecast (up to 24 hours) or Flood Advisory (up to 7 days) which can be accessed by selecting specific stations, state wise or basin wise from the dropdown menu.
• “FloodWatch” app utilizes advanced technologies such as satellite data analysis, mathematical modelling, and real-time monitoring to deliver accurate and timely flood forecasts.
• With this app, users can access essential information regarding flood situation in the country. The user-friendly interface will make it easy for anyone to stay informed and minimise risk during flood events.

---

17. Which Indian state government has inaugurated the country’s first-ever night street racing circuit in Chennai?
A) Maharashtra
B) Tamil Nadu
C) Karnataka
D) Kerala
E) Uttar Pradesh
Answer: B) Tamil Nadu

• TN govt launches India’s first-ever night street racing circuit in Chennai
• The state government has partnered with Racing Promotions Private Limited (RRPL) for the project.
• RRPL is also the promoter of the Indian Racing League and F4 Indian Championship.
• Minister for Youth Welfare and Sports Development of Tamil Nadu, Udhayanidhi Stalin, launched the circuit.
• As for the track, it is a 3.5km layout, located around the Island Grounds that resides in the heart of the city.
• Also, it would become the first-ever street circuit in India and South Asia that will be hosting a night race.
• The track would be stretched across the Island Grounds, Victory War Memorial and the Napier Bridge with elevation changes, along with the view of the Marina Beach Road and the Bay of Bengal.
• It will also have 19 corners with multiple chicanes.

---

18. Which armed force of India will host a large-scale multilateral military exercise in 2024, which was originally planned for October?
A) Indian Army
B) Indian Navy
C) Indian Air Force
D) Indian Coast Guard
E) National Security Guard
Answer: C) Indian Air Force

• The Indian Air Force (IAF) will host a mega multilateral military exercise next year that was initially scheduled for October
• the exercise, ‘Tarang Shakti’, is likely to be held in the middle of 2024
• Approximately 12 air forces were anticipated to take part in the exercise, with its primary goal aiming to enhance military cooperation and interoperability.
• Air Forces of France, the UK, Australia, the US, Japan and India were expected to actively participate in the exercise with aerial assets. Six other countries were slated to join as observers.
• These exercises involve India and the remaining QUAD nations — the US, Japan, and Australia.
• The Indian Navy is participating in the Malabar series of naval exercises, which are being conducted along the eastern coast of Australia.

---

19. The Indian government has approved aRs 20,000 crore deal for the production of which type of vessels urgently needed by the Indian Navy?
A) Aircraft Carriers
B) Submarines
C) Frigates
D) Fleet Support Vessels (FSVs)
E) Patrol Boats
Answer: D) Fleet Support Vessels (FSVs)

• The government has cleared a Rs 20,000 crore deal to manufacture fleet support vessels (FSVs) which are urgently required by the Indian Navy.
• Vizag-based Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) will manufacture five of the 45,000-tonne warships, the largest ship of its class being built at the defence ministry-owned yard.
• The Indian FSV project was initially given a go-ahead in 2016 after the Indian Navy projected a requirement for ships that could carry fuel and other supplies for warships at sea.
• The ships are needed to support warships on long range patrol and can carry a variety of equipment, such as fuel, ammunition and food supplies. They will be able to support ships of all classes, including the two Indian aircraft carriers.

---

---

Over All Review

DOWNLOAD TODAY’S CURRENT AFFAIRS PDF – CLICK HERE

You Must Also Read Daily Current Affairs August 16