Current affairs 25 August 2023

India becomes 1st nation to reach South Pole of Moon as Chandrayaan-3.

• India has created history as it became the 1st country to land (Vikram Lander) on the South Pole of the lunar surface on 23rd August 2023.
• The Lander Module comprising the lander (Vikram) and the rover (Pragyan), landed on the Moon.
• Aim: To study the composition of the lunar soil and probe for water and ice, while listening for small seismic tremors.
• India was the fourth nation to succeed at the task after the United States, the Soviet Union, and China.

Kerala launches its first AI school in Thiruvananthapuram.

• Former (14th) President Ram Nath Kovind inaugurated Kerala's first AI (Artificial intelligence) school at Santhigiri Vidyabhavan in Thiruvananthapuram.
• It is an innovative learning method that ensures international standards and quality learning opportunities for students with the help of artificial intelligence technology.
• It is designed and molded by one of the world's most advanced educational platforms iLearning Engines USA in collaboration with Vedhik eSchool.

ISRO's Next Moon Mission In Collaboration With Japan Gathers Steam.

• ISRO is preparing for one more lunar mission, in collaboration with the Japanese space agency, JAXA.
• This mission, called LUPEX, or Lunar Polar Exploration, is slated for 2024-25.
• Aim: To explore lunar polar region suitability for establishing a base on the Moon for sustainable activities; obtaining knowledge regarding the availability of lunar water-ice resources, and demonstrating lunar and planetary surface exploration technologies such as vehicular transport.

Sports Minister Inaugurated 33 Khelo India Centres Across Rajasthan.

• The Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Anurag Singh Thakur inaugurated 33 Khelo India Centres (KIC) in the State of Rajasthan at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur.
• He also announced that a National Center of Excellence with a sports science center will be set up in Rajasthan along with an additional 18 KIC, thus taking the total number of KIC in the State to 51.
• The total number of KICs across India is 960, out of which 715 are operational KICs.

Amanpreet Singh clinches gold in Men’s 25 metre at ISSF World Championship.

• Indian shooter Amanpreet Singh won the gold medal in the Men’s 25 metre standard pistol shooting event at the ISSF World Championship 2023 in Baku.
• South Korea's Gunhyeok Lee had to settle for silver while France's Kevin Chapon secured a bronze.
• In the Women’s 25-meter Standard Pistol shooting event, Tiyana, Yashita Shokeen, and Kritika bagged bronze.
• The two medals on the day took India’s tally in the Championship to nine - five gold and four bronze medals.