SHORT NEWS

• Central Water Commission (CWC) launched the in-house developed user-friendly “FloodWatch” mobile application.
• Aim: To disseminate information related to the flood situation.
• Key Features:
  • Forecast using an Interactive Map.
  • Users can check the CWC Flood Forecast (up to 24 hours) or Flood Advisory (up to 7 days).
  • The app utilizes near real-time river flow data from various sources.
  • It has readable and audio broadcasts.
  • All the information is available in 2 languages: English and Hindi.

• The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has started testing the emergency cell broadcast technology developed by C-DOT that will alert people at the time of natural disaster.
• The technology is currently available only with a foreign vendor and hence C-DOT is developing it in-house.
• The trials will be conducted at the pan-India level.

Report

• The Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) released the CPGRAMS 12th monthly report for States for July, 2023.
• DARPG has integrated the AI based language tool, Bhashini with the CPGRAMS portal. 
• Findings:
  • A total of 69,523 Grievances were redressed in July, 2023.
  • The pendency of grievances has reduced to 1,79,077 grievances across the States/UTs Governments.

• Recently, the Union Cabinet has approved the signing and ratification of the MRA between Department of Revenue, Government of India and the Department of Home, Australian Government.
• Aim: Providing reciprocal benefits to exporters in the clearance of goods by the Customs authorities of the importing country.
• Mutual recognition of Authorized Economic Operators is a key element of the World Customs Organisation’s SAFE Framework.
• Authorised Economic Operators are the Australian Trusted Trader Program in Australia and the Authorized Economic Operator Program in India.

• The Supreme Court has compiled a glossary of words that judges and lawyers should avoid.
• Aim: To weed out gender stereotypes that can also cloud judgments.
• However, this handbook is not mandatory to follow.
• Words and phrases to be
  • Junked: slut, harlot, fallen woman, etc.
  • Replaced: housewife with homemaker, prostitute with sex worker, and eve-teasing with street sexual harassment etc.

• The President of India greeted people on the eve of the Parsi New Year.
• The Parsi community in India celebrates Navroz nearly 200 days after the rest of the world as it follows the Shahenshahi calendar.
• Navroz for India falls in July or August and this year in 2023 Parsi New Year is observed on August 16.

• An Indian scientist develops a novel method to improve accuracy and precision of nanomechanical testing technology.
• Nanomechanical Testing Technology refers to the set of techniques to study the mechanical properties of materials at the nanometer scale. 
• It allows researchers to investigate how materials behave and respond to mechanical forces on extremely small dimensions, providing insights into their unique properties and behaviors.