India is celebrating its 78th Independence Day on August 15, 2024, a historic day that signifies the country's release from the bonds of British colonial control. The government of India has declared the theme for Independence Day celebrations this year as Viksit Bharat or Developed India which represents the vision of a developed nation by 2047 and reflects the centre's commitment to transform India.

This day honours when India became an independent nation by severing its ties to British colonial control in 1947.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi hoisted the national flag at the iconic Red Fort this morning, today and outlined India’s commitment to become a global leader in semiconductor production, aiming to reduce dependency on imports and enhance technological self-sufficiency.
• He emphasized on driving innovations and positioning the country as a global leader across various sectors including Manufacturing, gaming and design.
• The Prime Minister said that India will become ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047 by overcoming all obstacles if the 140 crore people of the country resolve and move together in one direction.

India is celebrating 78th Independence with great enthusiasm today( 15 august 2024). On this special day Indian army installed Army tank T-55 as a symbol of victory over Pakistan in the 1971 war at Babri bypass in Gurdaspur town. 

 This tank played an important role in the victory and defeated the enemy in Nanokot, Basantar and Garibpur areas.

The Central Armed Forces Combat Vehicle Depot Pune has presented it to the Gurdaspur authorities as a war trophy.

This tank was included in the Indian armoured unit in 1966.

The Environment Ministry Shri Bhupender Yadav on Wednesday (August 14, 2024) said that three more wetlands in India have been designated ‘Ramsar sites’. This brings the total number of such sites in India to 85.

The three new Ramsar sites are Nanjarayan Bird Sanctuary and Kazhuveli Bird Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu and Tawa Reservoir in Madhya Pradesh.

Nanjarayan Bird Sanctuary - The Nanjarayan lake is large shallow wetland in Tiruppur district of Tamil Nadu. The wetlands in this region depend mainly on weather conditions, especially on heavy rain water flow from Nallar drainage. 

Kazhuveli Bird Sanctuary - The Kazhuveli Bird Sanctuary covering an area of 5151.6 ha is a brackish shallow lake located on the Coromandel Coast in Villupuram district in Tamil Nadu. The lake is connected to the Bay of Bengal by the Uppukalli creek and the Edayanthittu Estuary.

Tawa Reservoir - Tawa reservoir has been constructed at the confluence of the Tawa and Denwa rivers. Tawa originates from Mahadeo hills in Chhindwara district, flows through Betul district and joins river Narmada in Narmadapuram district. 

India will host the third Voice of Global South Summit in the virtual format on August 17 with a view to pitch for a sustainable future for the developing countries.

• India had hosted the 1st Voice of Global South Summit (VOGSS) on 12-13 January 2023, and the 2nd Voice of Global South Summit on 17 November 2023, both in virtual format. 
• The 3rd VOGSS, with the overarching theme of "An Empowered Global South for a Sustainable Future”, will act as a platform to expand discussions held in the previous Summits on a range of complex challenges that continue to affect the world, such as conflicts, food and energy security crises, climate change - all of which disproportionately affect developing countries in a severe manner.
• At the Summit, the countries of the Global South would continue deliberations on challenges, priorities, and solutions for the Global South, particularly in the developmental domain.

Senior IAS officer Govind Mohan was appointed the next Union Home Secretary, succeeding Ajay Kumar Bhalla, according to an official order.

Mohan, presently serving as Secretary, Ministry of Culture, will join as Officer on Special Duty in the Ministry of Home Affairs.

He hails from Uttar Pradesh and served as joint secretary and additional secretary in the Union Home Ministry before being appointed as secretary in the Ministry of Culture in October 2021.

Actor Khushbu Sundar, a national executive member of the BJP, has resigned as a member of the National Commission for Women.

The Ministry of Women and Child Development has accepted her resignation with effect from June 28.

She thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for the opportunity to function as a member of the NCW.

She said she will start engaging in active politics immediately.

National Commission for Women (NCW) chairperson Rekha Sharma's tenure ended on Tuesday(6 August 2024 ). Sharma, 60, assumed the charge of the NCW chairperson on August 7, 2018.

• She has been associated with the NCW as a member since August, 2015 and held the additional charge as the chairperson from September 29, 2017 before becoming its chief in 2018.
• Sharma has been a vocal advocate of gender sensitisation of the police personnel since they are the first point of contact for the victims.
• Sharma courted many controversies in her tenure with the latest one being the alleged non-action in Manipur.

Morne Morkel, the former South Africa fast bowler, has been appointed as the bowling coach of the Indian men's team.  After weeks of speculation, the signing was formally confirmed by BCCI secretary Jay Shah on Wednesday (14 August 2024)

Morkel replaced former India fast bowler Paras Mhambrey, and his appointment completes India's coaching staff, which comprises head coach Gautam Gambhir, assistant coaches Abhishek Nayar and Ryan ten Doeschate, and fielding coach T Dilip.

Morkel was Pakistan's bowling coach until last December.

His name was recommended by Gambhir, who worked with him for two seasons (2022-23) at Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL as well as at Durban Super Giants in the SA20.

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Army have successfully conducted a series of comprehensive test firings of indigenously developed Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM) at Pokhran Field Firing Range in Jaisalmer district.

The trials,  were witnessed by a panel of experts from both Army and DRDO, who thoroughly evaluated the missile's performance across various flight configurations and operational parameters.

• MPATGM is a a shoulder-launched, portable missile system, specifically designed to counter enemy tanks and armoured vehicles.
• It Weighs approximately 14.5 kg, with an additional 14.25 kg for the command launch unit (CLU), the missile is a lightweight, cylindrical weapon featuring two sets of four radial fins.
• Its high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) shaped charge warhead, combined with an operational range of 200 to 4,000 metres, makes it a formidable asset on the battlefield.