Current affairs 27 August 2023

RBI Raises Offline Payment Transaction Upper Limit to ₹500 from ₹200.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has made changes to the offline payment transaction regulations, aiming to enhance user convenience and digital payment adoption.
The central bank has decided to increase the upper limit of offline payment transactions from ₹200 to ₹500, with immediate effect.
This move is part of RBI’s ongoing efforts to streamline payment processes and adapt to evolving consumer needs.
While the upper limit per offline transaction has been increased, the total limit for offline transactions on a payment instrument remains ₹2,000.
This ensures a balance between convenience and security, preventing excessive financial exposure in case of any unauthorized usage.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred with the Grand Cross of the Order of Honour by Greek President Katerina N. Sakellaropoulou in Athens.
The award is the highest civilian honour that can be bestowed by Greece to a foreign head of government.
The citation for the award said that it was being given to PM Modi in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the promotion of bilateral relations between Greece and India.
PM Modi is the first Indian prime minister to be conferred with the Grand Cross of the Order of Honour. He is also the first foreign head of government to be awarded the honour since 2017.

On his visit to Greece, Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaged in a solemn and symbolic act by paying his respects to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Athens.
This gesture took place amidst a series of diplomatic activities during his European tour, highlighting India’s commitment to global partnerships.
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, situated at Syntagma Square in Athens, stands as a poignant tribute to Greek soldiers who sacrificed their lives in different conflicts.
Located in front of the Old Royal Palace, this cenotaph carries deep historical significance.
It commemorates the valor and sacrifices of unnamed soldiers who gave their lives in service to their nation during various wars.

In a decisive move towards environmental conservation, the Assam Environment and Forest Department has taken a significant step by announcing the ban on the use and production of plastic water bottles below 1000 ml capacity within the state.
The ban on plastic water bottles below 1000 ml capacity falls under the purview of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
The notification invokes the powers vested in the State by the Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India, under Section 23 of the Act.
As per the notification, the ban will become effective on October 2.
Last month, the Assam government made headlines by declaring its intent to prohibit the production and use of drinking water bottles made from Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) with a volume of less than 1 litre.
This commendable decision has now materialized into official action, with the Assam Environment and Forest Department issuing a resolute notification on August 23.

The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet has allocated a significant budget of Rs 1,250 crore for the establishment of 18 ‘Atal Residential Schools’ across all 18 divisions of Uttar Pradesh.
These schools are modeled after the Navodaya Vidyalayas and aim to provide high-quality education.
The schools will have a capacity of 1,000 students each, including 500 girls and 500 boys.
The curriculum will span from classes six to twelve.
Importantly, these schools will also cater to students whose education was disrupted due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The vision is for these schools to become centers of excellence in education.