Monthly Current Affairs: August 2023
Chandrayaan-3's landing near the lunar south pole, BRICS expansion, the new data protection law and two historic sporting results - the month's key stories for UPSC and SSC aspirants.
- Science & Technology
- International Relations
- Polity
- Sports
- UPSC CSE
- SSC CGL
- UPSC GS2
- UPSC GS3
01Chandrayaan-3 lands near the Moon's south pole
Why in news
ISRO's Vikram lander soft-landed on the Moon on 23 August 2023.
Key points
India became the fourth country to soft-land on the Moon, after the USSR, the USA and China.
It was the first mission to land near the lunar south pole.
The Pragyan rover, carried by the Vikram lander, explored the surface during one lunar day.
The Government of India declared 23 August as National Space Day.
Background
Chandrayaan-2's lander crashed during its landing attempt in September 2019; Chandrayaan-3 was its follow-on mission, launched on 14 July 2023 by an LVM3 rocket from Sriharikota.
02BRICS invites six new members at the Johannesburg summit
Why in news
The 15th BRICS summit was held in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 22 to 24 August 2023.
Key points
Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the UAE were invited to join from 1 January 2024.
Argentina later declined the invitation.
It was the first BRICS summit held in person since 2019.
Background
BRICS began as BRIC in 2009 with Brazil, Russia, India and China; South Africa joined in 2010.
03Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 becomes law
Why in news
The Act received the President's assent on 11 August 2023 after Parliament passed it in the Monsoon Session.
Key points
It governs how digital personal data is processed in India.
Organisations that process data are called data fiduciaries; the individuals are data principals.
It sets up a Data Protection Board of India to deal with breaches and complaints.
Background
In Justice K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India (2017), the Supreme Court held that privacy is a fundamental right.
04Neeraj Chopra wins the world title in javelin
Why in news
He won gold at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest on 27 August 2023.
Key points
His winning throw was 88.17 metres.
He became the first Indian to win a gold medal at the World Athletics Championships.
He was already the Olympic champion from Tokyo 2020.
05R Praggnanandhaa finishes runner-up at the FIDE World Cup
Why in news
The 18-year-old reached the final of the FIDE World Cup in Baku, Azerbaijan, in August 2023.
Key points
He lost the final to Magnus Carlsen in the tiebreaks.
Reaching the final earned him a place in the 2024 Candidates Tournament.
Monthly quiz: August 2023
7 questions - no login needed
1.According to the digest, which statement about Chandrayaan-3 is correct?
2.According to the digest, which statement about India's lunar missions is correct?
3.Under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, what are the individuals whose data is processed called?
4.Which of the following correctly describes Neeraj Chopra's achievement at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest?
5.What did R Praggnanandhaa achieve at the FIDE World Cup in Baku?
6.According to the digest, which country later declined the invitation to join BRICS from 1 January 2024?
7.Which of the following is true about the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 as per the digest?