CURRENT AFFAIRS OF 17th AUGUST, 2023

CURRENT AFFAIRS OF 17^th AUGUST, 2023

1. Indian Naval Ship Kulish, a guided missile Corvette which is on a four-day visit from 14 to 18 August to Singapore to take part in a multinational exercise, SEACAT 2023 exercise, joined the celebration of the 77^th Independence Day on 15 August, 2023 at the High Commission of India in Singapore. 
2. Government of India has appointed R. Doraiswamy as the Managing Director of Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) in place of Mini Ipe with effect from the date of assumption of charge of office on or after 1 September, 2023. He is currently Executive Director at the central office in Mumbai.
3. On 14 August 2023, Anwarul-ul-Haq Kakar, a prominent ethnic Pushtun leader, has taken the oath as the 8^th Caretaker Prime Minister following the dissolvement of former PM Shehbaz Sharif Government.
4. In a significant stride towards accessible and affordable healthcare, Goa has become the first among Indian states to introduce free In Vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment.
5. Hockey India has appointed Herman Kruis as Coach of India junior men’s and women’s teams.
6. The Competition Commission of India (CCI) approves the merger of Tata Cleantech Capital Limited (TCCL) and Tata Capital Financial Services Limited (TCFSL) into Tata Capital Limited (TCL).
7. Commander (Eastern Seaboard) S Paramesh has been appointed as Additional Director General Coast Guard at Indian Coast Guard Headquarters, New Delhi.
8. The Indian Institute of Technology-Hyderabad and Kathmandu University have agreed to offer a Joint Doctoral Programme (JDP) at the Ph.D. level in all areas of research.
9. Sri Lankan 26-year-old all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga on 15 August 2023, announced his retirement from Test cricket.
10. Social media personality and actor Prajakta Koli is set to make her debut as a writer with an upcoming romantic novel titled ‘Too Good To Be True’.
11. Out of nine nominated Members of Parliament, three Indian-origin Singaporeans have been made members for Parliament in Singapore.
12. Olympic champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra will lead 28-member Indian team in World Athletics Championships beginning on 19 August 2023 in Budapest, Hungary.
13. In a momentous celebration, the CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute (CSIR-NBRI) launched an extraordinary variety of the national flower, Lotus, named ‘Namoh 108’ boasts an astonishing 108 petals and was dedicated to the nation on the eve of Independence Day, underscoring its significance in the cultural and religious tapestry of India.
14. World Professional Wrestling Hub (WPWH) appointed Sangram Singh as brand ambassador for its new wrestling venture.
15. According to the World Trade Statistical Review 2023 (WTSR 2023), the annual flagship publication of the World Trade Organisation, featuring key data on global trade in merchandise and commercial services, India is ranked 18^th among the leading exporters in world merchandise trade in 2022.
16. On 15 August 2023, Padma Bhushan Awardee, Dr Bindeshwar Pathak, a renowned social activist and the founder of Sulabh International Social Service Organisation, passed away at the age of 80 in New Delhi.