NATIONAL AFFAIRS
BS YEDIYURAPPA RESIGNED AS KARNATAKA CM
Karnataka Chief Minister, BS Yediyurappa has announced his resignation from the top post on July 26, 2021, when his government completed two years in the state, after being elected to power in 2019.
The 78-year-old Yediyurappa, often called by his initials BSY, served as the 19th Chief Minister of Karnataka.
He had served as the chief minister of Karnataka for four terms and was the only chief minister to do so in Karnataka history.
BASAVARAJ S BOMMAI AS NEW CM OF KARNATAKA
The Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) legislature party has unanimously elected Lingayat MLA Basavaraj S Bommai as the new Chief Minister of Karnataka.
The 61-year-old will succeed BS Yediyurappa, who resigned on July 26, 2021. He will be sworn in as the 23rd Chief Minister of Karnataka on July 28, 2021.
Prior to this, Basavaraj Bommai was the Home Minister in the BSY government. He is a two-time MLC and three-time MLA from Shiggaon in the Haveri district.
• Karnataka Governor: Thawar Chand Gehlot.
• Karnataka Capital: Bengaluru.
1ST STATE TO RESERVE JOBS FOR TRANSGENDER
Karnataka has become the first state in the country to provide one per cent reservation for the ‘transgender community in all the government services.
The government submitted a report to the High Court in this regard informing that a notification had already been issued after amending the Karnataka Civil Service (General Recruitment) Rule, 1977.
The specifies one per cent reservation in all general as well as reserve categories for the third gender.
Whenever a notification is published inviting applications for government jobs, the ‘others’ column must be added along with male and female columns.
The notification also underlines that there should not be any discrimination against transgenders in the process of selection. In case of non-availability of transgender candidates, the job could be given to male or female from the same category, the notification notes.
27% FOR OBC, 10% QUOTA FOR EWS IN MEDICAL SEATS
The centre has announced 27% reservation for OBCs and a 10% quota for students from the economically weaker sections (EWS) for undergraduate and postgraduate medical and dental courses under the All-India Quota (AIQ) scheme.
Under the AIQ scheme, 15% of seats at the UG level and 50% seats at the PG level are kept domicile free in government medical and dental colleges against which students from other states to are offered admission while the rest of the seats are kept only for students from within the state.
This will immensely help thousands of our youth every year get better opportunities and create a new paradigm of social justice in our country.
A statement by the government said that the decision would benefit nearly 1500 OBC students in MBBS and 2500 OBC students in PG while it will also impact around 550 EWS students in MBBS and around 1000 EWS students in PG medicine.
About the AIQ scheme: The AIQ scheme was introduced in 1986 under the direction of the Supreme Court to provide for domicile-free merit-based opportunities to students from any state to aspire to study in a good medical college located in another State.
AMIT SHAH LAUNCHED GREATER SOHRA WATER SUPPLY
Union Home Minister, Amit Shah along with chief minister Conrad K. Sangma inaugurated the much-awaited Greater Sohra Water Supply Scheme at Sohra in East Khasi Hills, Meghalaya.
The Greater Sohra Water Supply Scheme was conceptualised by the Meghalaya government and an amount of Rs. 24.08 cr was sanctioned by the DoNER ministry in 2019 under North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NESIDS).
He also planted tree saplings in Sohra as part of the Sohra Afforestation Project of the Assam Rifles. This is a first of its kind initiative of the Government of Meghalaya to bring together the Ministry of Home Affairs, Defence officials, and village communities for a novel and humanitarian purpose in the field of Natural Resource Management in a very important and ecologically fragile landscape.
REJUVENATION PROGRAMME OF SIX RIVERS IN UTTARAKHAND
The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) in its 36th Executive Committee has approved new projects for the rejuvenation of six rivers in Uttarakhand.
According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), there are a total of nine polluted stretches in Uttarakhand and six of them are in the Udham Singh Nagar district on various tributaries or small rivers such as Bhela, Dhela, Kichha, Nandor, Pilankha and Kosi.
The projects shall cover the six polluted river stretches in the Kumaon region. Out of the rest three polluted stretches, the project of Ganga at Jagjeetpur, Haridwar has already been commissioned and on the remaining two, Namami Gange projects are already under execution.
It also approved Sewerage (I&D) scheme (Dhela River) Phase-1 of District Udham Singh Nagar, Uttarakhand under Namami Gange Programme at a sanctioned cost of Rs 199.36 crore.
IOC TO SET UP 'FIRST GREEN HYDROGEN' PLANT
Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), India’s largest oil firm, will build the first ‘green hydrogen’ plant of the country at its Mathura refinery, to meet the growing demand for both oil and cleaner forms of energy.
This will be the nation’s first green hydrogen unit. Previously, projects have been announced to produce ‘grey hydrogen’ using fossil fuels such as natural gas.
For this, the company will make use of 250 MW of electricity which it produces from renewable sources like solar power, to produce absolutely green hydrogen through electrolysis.
Mathura has been selected by virtue of its proximity to TTZ (Taj Trapezium Zone). Hydrogen is the latest buzz for meeting the world’s energy needs. Hydrogen, in itself, is a clean fuel but manufacturing it is energy-intensive and has carbon byproducts.
• Indian Oil Corporation Chairperson: Shrikant Madhav Vaidya.
• Indian Oil Corporation Headquarters: Mumbai.
• Indian Oil Corporation Founded: 30 June 1959.
RAJNATH SINGH FLAGGED IN EXPEDITION 'ARMEX-21'
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has flagged in the Indian Army’s skiing expedition that was conducted in the Himalayan mountain ranges between March 10 and July 6.
The expedition, called ARMEX-21, was flagged off at Karakoram Pass in Ladakh on March 10 and culminated at Malari in Uttarakhand on July 6 covering 1,660 km in 119 days.
About the ARMEX-21: The ARMEX-21 was conducted in the mountain ranges of the Himalayan region to promote the adventure activity in the country and the Indian Army,” it stated.
During the expedition, the team travelled through several passes at a height of 5,000-6,500 meters and through glaciers, valleys and rivers.
NEW INITIATIVES LAUNCHED IN EDUCATIONAL SECTOR
PM Modi has launched multiple educational initiatives including the Academic Bank of Credit that will provide multiple entries and exit options for students in Higher education.
Academic Bank of Credit is envisaged as a digital bank that holds the credit earned by a student in any course.
Academic Bank of Credit is a major instrument for facilitating multidisciplinary and holistic education and multiple entry and exit in higher education.
Academic Bank of Credit and the Artificial Intelligence programme to make the youth future-oriented and open the way for an AI-driven economy.
36TH CORPAT BETWEEN INDIA & INDONESIA
The 36th edition of CORPAT between India and Indonesia is being held on 30 and 31 July 2021, in the Indian Ocean region.
The Indian Naval Ship (INS) Saryu, an indigenously built Offshore Patrol Vessel and Indonesian Naval Ship KRI Bung Tomo is undertaking coordinated patrol (CORPAT).
Besides this, Maritime Patrol Aircraft from both nations are also participating. The exercise is being conducted as a ‘non-contact, at sea only’ exercise in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.
India and Indonesia have been conducting the Coordinated Patrols along the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) since 2002 twice a year.
About the CORPAT: The basic aim of CORPAT is to keep the Indian Ocean Region safe and secure for commercial shipping, international trade and conduct of legitimate maritime activities.
CORPATs help build understanding and interoperability between navies and facilitate the institution of measures to prevent and suppress Illegal Unreported Unregulated (IUU) fishing, drug trafficking, maritime terrorism, armed robbery and piracy.
14 TIGER RESERVES GETS (CA|TS) RECOGNITION
From India, 14 tiger reserves have received the accreditation of the Global Conservation Assured Tiger Standards (CA|TS), on the occasion of International Tiger Day on July 29, 2021.
The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) recognized the ‘BaghRakshaks’ for their efforts in protecting Tigers and forests. The NTCA’s quarterly newsletter STRIPES was also released during the event.
The 14 tiger reserves of India that have received prestigious global accreditation from CA|TS are:
• Mudumalai and Anamalai Tiger Reserves, Tamil Nadu
• Bandipur Tiger Reserve, Karnataka
• Parambikulam Tiger Reserve, Kerala
• Sunderbans Tiger Reserve, West Bengal
• Dudhwa Tiger Reserve, Uttar Pradesh
• Valmiki Tiger Reserve, Bihar
• Pench Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra
• Satpura, Kanha and Panna Tiger Reserves, Madhya Pradesh
Conservation Assured | Tiger Standards (CA|TS): CA|TS has been agreed upon as an accreditation tool by the global coalition of Tiger Range Countries (TRCs) and has been developed by tiger and protected area experts.
Officially launched in 2013, it sets minimum standards for effective management of target species and encourages the assessment of these standards in relevant conservation areas.
CA|TS is a set of criteria that allows tiger sites to check if their management will lead to successful tiger conservation.
The Global Tiger Forum (GTF), an international NGO working on tiger conservation, and World Wildlife Fund India are the two implementing partners of the National Tiger Conservation Authority for CATS assessment in India.
INS TALWAR IN EXERCISE CUTLASS EXPRESS 2021
Indian Naval Ship Talwar is participating in Exercise Cutlass Express 2021, being conducted from 26 July 2021 to 06 August 2021 along the East Coast of Africa.
The exercise is an annual maritime exercise conducted to promote national and regional maritime security in East Africa and the Western Indian Ocean.
About the exercise: The exercise focuses on East Africa’s coastal regions and is designed to assess and improve combined maritime law enforcement capacity, promote national and regional security and increase interoperability between the regional navies.
As part of the exercise, the Indian Navy, together with other partners, shall undertake the training of contingents from various participating countries in various fields across the spectrum of maritime security operations.
Information sharing and information flow between various partner countries with respect to maritime domain awareness is also a key focus of the exercise and participation of India’s Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) would contribute to achieving the same.
INDO-RUSSIA JOINT MILITARY EXERCISE 'INDRA 2021'
The 12th Edition of the Indo-Russia joint military exercise called ‘Exercise INDRA 2021’ will be held at Volgograd, Russia from 01 to 13 August 2021.
The exercise will entail the conduct of counter-terror operations under the United Nations mandate by a joint force against international terror groups.
250 personnel from both nations will form part of the exercise, which will involve the conduct of counter-terror operations against international terror groups, under the United Nations mandate.
The Indian Army contingent comprising of a Mechanised Infantry Battalion underwent rigorous training at different locations in India to refine their drills for participation in the joint exercise.
About the Exercise INDRA-21: Exercise INDRA-21 will further strengthen mutual confidence and interoperability between the Indian & Russian Armies and enable sharing of best practices between the contingents of both countries.
The exercise will be yet another milestone in strengthening security cooperation and will serve to reinforce the longstanding bond of friendship between India and Russia.
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
G20 ENVIRONMENT MINISTERS' MEETING 2021
The G20 Environment Ministers’ Meeting 2021 is one of the ministerial meetings organized as part of the G20 Leaders Summit 2021, which will be hosted by Italy in October 2021.
The 2021 G20, under the Italian Presidency, will focus on three broad, interconnected pillars of action: People, Planet, Prosperity.
Within these pillars, the G20 aims to take the lead in ensuring a swift international response to the COVID-19 pandemic – able to provide equitable, worldwide access to diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines – while building up resilience to future health-related shocks.
India was represented by a delegation led by Hon’ble Union Environment Minister, Bhupender Yadav and includes Minister of State, Ashwini Kumar Choubey and senior officers of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
UZBEKISTAN HOSTS 'CENTRAL & SOUTH ASIA CONFERENCE'
Uzbekistan has hosted a high-level International Conference titled “Central and South Asia: Regional Connectivity. Challenges and Opportunities” at Tashkent.
The conference was an initiative of the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev. It was attended by President of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani, Ministers from Central Asian, West Asian and South Asian countries, including Minister of External Affairs of India Dr. S. Jaishankar.
Delegates from over 40 countries and about 30 international organizations, and heads of think tanks participated in the conference.
About the conference: Ashraf Ghani underlined the historical proximity of two regions and the importance of strengthening it on the basis of mutual trust and interests.
President Mirziyoyev said the world has entered an era of global geopolitical transformations and that the ‘revival of mutual ties between Central and South Asia, where about two billion people live today, is becoming an ever more demanding and objective process’.
The international conference was also addressed online by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. He said connectivity is central to economic growth and sustainable development, leading to regional cooperation and friendly relations among near and far neighbours. He urged active and collective engagement in support of Afghanistan’s peace and security.
Dr. Jaishankar said that for Central Asian countries, the Chabahar port in Iran provides a ‘secure, viable and unhindered access to the sea. The port has been proposed to be included in the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC).
It may be added that an India-Uzbekistan-Iran-Afghanistan Quadrilateral Working Group has been formed on the joint use of Chabahar port.
SCO DEFENCE MINISTERS' MEETING IN TAJIKISTAN
Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh is on a three-day visit to Dushanbe, Tajikistan from July 27-29, 2021 to attend the annual meeting of the Defence Ministers of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states.
During the annual meeting, defence cooperation issues among SCO member states will be discussed and a communique is expected to be issued after the deliberations.
Raksha Mantri will also meet his Tajikistan counterpart Col Gen Sherali Mirzo to discuss bilateral issues and other issues of mutual interest.
ABDULLAH SHAHID WON PRESIDENCY OF 76TH UNGA
Foreign Minister of Maldives Abdulla Shahid won the Presidency of the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
This is for the first time in the history of the United Nations (UN), Maldives will hold the office of President at the UNGA. Abdulla Shahid’s victory at the UNGA Presidential election is a “proud accomplishment” and “a step forward in elevating the country’s stature on the global stage”.
Maldives’ decision to join the UN in 1965, immediately after its independence, sparked a debate on how a “microstate”, could possibly contribute to the organisation.
Over the years, Maldives has cleared all the doubts by raising its voice on issues of concern and playing a prominent role in the UN as well as in the other multilateral organisations including the Commonwealth.
• President of the Maldives: Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.
• Capital of Maldives: Male.
• Currency of the Maldives: Maldivian Rufiyaa.
PEDRO CASTILLO ELECTED AS PRESIDENT OF PERU
Rural teacher-turned-political novice, Pedro Castillo became the winner of Peru’s presidential election after the country’s longest electoral count in 40 years.
Castillo, whose supporters included Peru’s poor and rural citizens, defeated right-wing politician Keiko Fujimori by just 44,000 votes.
Electoral authorities released the final official results more than a month after the runoff election took place in the South American nation.
The economy of Peru, the world’s second-largest copper producer, has been crushed by the coronavirus pandemic, increasing the poverty level to almost one-third of the population and eliminating the gains of a decade.
NAJIB MIKATI AS LEBANON'S NEW PRIME MINISTER
Billionaire businessman Najib Mikati was appointed as Lebanon’s new prime minister-designate following binding parliamentary consultations with President Michel Aoun.
He ran virtually unopposed, receiving 72 votes, with former ambassador Nawaf Salam receiving just one vote. Forty-two MPs voted blank, and three MPs did not vote at all.
His appointment comes just 11 days after Saad Hariri resigned as prime minister-designate, following nine months of political deadlock and dispute with President Aoun and his son-in-law MP Gebran Bassil.
Lebanon’s economy continues to crumble with half the population living below the poverty line and a spiralling local currency that lost more than 90 per cent of its value.
The country has been without a full-fledged government for almost one year and is struggling to reform its economy to unlock international aid.
RUSSIA TEST-FIRED S-500 AIR DEFENCE SYSTEM
Russia has successfully test-fired its new S-500 air defence missile systems, from a southern training range, Kapustin Yar, on July 20, 2021.
It hit a high-speed ballistic target as planned. The S-500 missile system is under development by the Almaz-Antey Air Defence Concern.
After tests are successfully completed the first S-500 systems which are also named the Triumfator-M and Prometheus will be placed at an air defence unit outside the city of Moscow.
The S-500 is the most advanced anti-missile system in the world and is expected to have a range of 600km. This missile system is also capable of countering attacks from space.
The S-500, also known as Prometey or 55R6M “Triumfator-M”, is a Russian surface-to-air missile/anti-ballistic missile system which is the most advanced anti-missile system in the world and is capable of countering attacks from space.
SWEDEN JOINS INTERNATIONAL SOLAR ALLIANCE
Sweden has ratified the framework agreement for the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and is now a member of the global platform, which is an initiative of India aimed at promoting renewable energy and sustainable development.
Sweden hopes to bring its expertise and its experience in renewable energy and clean energy technologies to discussions in the ISA to contribute to meeting the challenges related to climate change.
In April 2018, Prime Minister Modi visited Stockholm during which both sides agreed to further deepen innovation partnership for a sustainable future.
The ISA has been conceived as an action-oriented, member-driven, collaborative platform to increase the availability of solar energy technologies to enhance energy security and sustainable development.
• ISA Headquarters: Gurugram.
• ISA Founded: 30 November 2015.
• ISA Founded: Paris, France.
• ISA Director-General: Ajay Mathur.
CHINA UNVEILS MAGLEV TRAIN OF TOP SPEED 600 KPH
China unveiled a maglev train capable of a top speed of 600 kph.
The maximum speed would make the train, self-developed by China and manufactured in the coastal city of Qingdao, the fastest ground vehicle globally.
Using electromagnetic force, the maglev train “levitates” above the track with no contact between body and rail. China has been using the technology for almost two decades on a very limited scale.
About the train: Shanghai has a short maglev line running from one of its airports to town. At 600 kph, it would only take 2.5 hours to travel from Beijing to Shanghai by train – a journey of more than 1,000 km.
Launched in October 2016, the high-speed maglev train project saw the development of a magnetic-levitation train prototype with a designed top speed of 600 km per hour in 2019 and conducted a successful test run in June 2020.
ECONOMIC AFFAIRS
IMF PROJECTED INDIA'S GDP GROWTH AT 9.5%
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has sharply cut India’s economic growth projection by 300 basis points, from 12.5 per cent to 9.5 per cent for the financial year 2021-22 (FY22).
The downward revision in the GDP growth rate is due to a lack of access to vaccines and the possibility of renewed waves of coronavirus.
For FY23 (2022-23), IMF has estimated the gross domestic product (GDP) of India at 8.5 per cent, which is 160 basis points higher than its earlier projection of 6.9 per cent.
In the case of the global economy, IMF has projected 6.0 per cent growth in 2021 and 4.9 per cent in 2022.
RBI PLANS DIGITAL CURRENCY PILOTS SOON
The Reserve Bank of India is currently working on a phased implementation strategy for its own digital currency, Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), and will launch it in the wholesale and retail segments soon.
India is already a leader in digital payments, but cash remains dominant for small-value transactions.
RBI is currently examining the scope of CBDCs, the underlying technology, the validation mechanism, distribution architecture and degree of anonymity etc.
The primary idea for the RBI is to protect consumers from the appalling level of volatility seen in some or many of the virtual currencies that have no sovereign backing.
Though the phased rollout of digital currency augurs well for India, it will come with its own challenges.
Digital currencies are gaining more and more traction by the day, and there are countries that have launched or are going to be launching digital currencies, including Ecuador, Tunisia, Senegal, Sweden, Estonia, China, Russia, Japan, Venezuela, and Israel.
CENTRAL BANK DIGITAL CURRENCY (CBDC) - RBI
The Reserve Bank of India may soon launch a pilot project to evaluate the feasibility of using digital currencies for wholesale and retail payments.
These projects will help adjust RBI's strategy to introduce a comprehensive central bank digital currency (CBDC).
A high-level inter-ministerial committee appointed by the Finance Ministry recommended the establishment of a CBDC along with changes to the legal framework, including the RBI Act, which currently allows the RBI to regulate the issuance of bank notes.
About The Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC): It is the legal tender and responsibility of the national central bank in digital form.
It is denominated in sovereign currency and appears on the balance sheet of a country's central bank.
CBDC is a digital currency that can be exchanged at the same price as a country's cash of similar denomination and traditional central bank deposits.
At the moment, central banks from various countries are investigating the positive implications of digital currency for financial inclusion, economic growth, technology, innovation, and increased transaction efficiencies.
APPOINTMENTS
R. ASTHANA APPOINTED AS DELHI POLICE COMMISSIONER
Border Security Force (BSF) Director General (DG), Rakesh Asthana has been appointed as the Delhi Police Commissioner, with immediate effect. His appointment comes just three days before his superannuation on July 31, 2021.
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has extended Asthana’s service initially for a period of one year beyond the date of his superannuation or until further order, whichever is earlier.
Asthana, a 1984-batch IPS officer, had earlier served as the Special Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation.
He was the Narcotics Control Bureau chief when actor Rhea Chakraborty was arrested in a drugs case in Mumbai. During his stint in the CBI in 2018, Ashtana was engaged in an unsavoury spat with the then CBI Director Alok Verma.
Both the officers were removed from the central probe agency and Asthana was subsequently cleared of the charges.
FIN-MIN JOINT SECY. APPOINTED TO UN TAX COMMITTEE
The joint secretary of the Finance Ministry, Rasmi Ranjan Das has been appointed to the UN tax committee as a member for the term period 2021 to 2025.
Das is among the tax experts from around the world who has been appointed as a member of the UN tax committee. She is Joint Secretary – (FT&TR-I), Central Board of Direct Taxes, Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance.
About UN Committee: Formally known as the UN Committee of Experts on International Cooperation in Tax Matters, this committee helps the countries’ efforts to advance stronger and forward-looking tax policies which are adapted to suit the realities of a digitalised economy, globalised trade and investment and the ever-worsening environmental degradation.
It assists countries in their efforts to prevent double or multiple taxations as well as non-taxation, broaden their tax base, strengthen their tax administrations, and curb international tax evasion and avoidance.
AWARDS & HONOR
RUDRESWARA TEMPLE IN UNESCO'S WORLD HERITAGE LIST
The Kakatiya Rudreswara Temple, (also known as the Ramappa Temple) at Palampet, Mulugu district, near Warangal in Telangana has been inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage list, during the 44th session of the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO.
With this latest induction, there are 39th World Heritage Sites located in India.
About the Rudreswara temple: The Rudreswara temple was constructed in 1213 AD during the reign of the Kakatiya Empire. The iconic 13th-century temple is also known as Ramappa temple, named after its architect, Ramappa.
The Rudreswara temple was the only nomination for the UNESCO World Heritage site tag for the year 2019 by the Indian government.
DHOLAVIRA ADDED IN UNESCO'S WORLD HERITAGE SITE
A Harappan-era metropolis, Dholavira in Gujarat has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Now Gujarat has three world heritage sites, Champaner near Pavagadh, Rani ki Vav in Patan and the historic city of Ahmedabad. Dholavira is now the 40th treasure in India to be given.
The ongoing 44th session of the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO has already given India a new world heritage site in the form of the Rudreswara/ Ramappa Temple in Telangana, which dates back to the 13th century.
This session of the World Heritage Committee is being chaired from Fuzhou in China.
• Gujarat Chief Minister: Vijay Rupani.
• Gujarat Governor: Acharya Devvrat.
ASHA BHOSLE TO GET MAHARASHTRA BHUSHAN
The Maharashtra Bhushan Selection Committee chaired by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has unanimously selected legendary playback singer Asha Bhosle for the prestigious award.
Asha Bhosle is best known for her playback singing in Hindi cinema, although she has a wider repertoire. Bhosle’s career started in 1943 and has spanned over seven decades.
She has done playback singing for over a thousand movies.
Asha Bhosle was officially acknowledged by the Guinness Book of World Records as the most recorded artist in music history.
The Government of India honoured her with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2000 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2008. Bhosle is the sister of playback singer Lata Mangeshkar and belongs to the prominent Mangeshkar family.
SPORTS
MIRABAI CHANU WINS SILVER AT 2020 TOKYO OLYMPICS
Mirabai Chanu won the silver medal and became the first Indian to win an Olympic medal at the 2020 Tokyo Games in the Women’s 49kg category.
China’s Zhihui Hou won the gold medal in the women’s 49-kg weightlifting at the Tokyo Olympics, lifting a total of 210 kg, while Indonesia’s Windy Cantika Aisah won the bronze medal.
Chanu managed to lift a total of 202 kg in the women’s 49kg category to become the second Indian weightlifter after Karnam Malleswari to win an Olympic medal.
A new Olympic record was registered by Mirabai Chanu with a successful lift of 115kg in clean and jerk.
ADANI GROUP ROPED IN AS SPONSOR OF TOKYO OLYMPICS
The Indian Olympic Association has roped in Adani Group as a sponsor for the Indian contingent at the ongoing Tokyo Games.
IOA secretary general Rajiv Mehta, who is in Tokyo, announced the development.
The IOA had earlier entered into sponsorship deals with various private entities, including dairy giant Amul, mobile gaming platform MPL Sports Foundation, JSW Sports among others.
IOA had inked the deals after dropping Chinese sportswear brand Li Ning as the Indian team’s official kit sponsor for the Tokyo Olympics and stating that the country’s athletes will wear unbranded apparel during the Games.
• Indian Olympic Association President: Narayana Ramachandran.
• Indian Olympic Association Founded: 1927.
AIFF MEN'S FOOTBALLER OF THE YEAR 2020-21
Senior India defender, Sandesh Jhingan was named the AIFF men’s Footballer of the Year 2020-21 season. It is the first time that the towering central defender has received the AIFF Player of the Year award, having won the Emerging Player of the Year Award in 2014.
About Jhingan: Jhingan made his senior national team debut in 2015 in Guwahati and has since gone on to make 40 appearances for the Blue Tigers, scoring four goals.
He was part of the Indian sides that lifted the Intercontinental Cup in 2018 and played out a memorable draw at the home of the Asian champions Qatar in 2019.
Jhingan has captained the senior team on five occasions, the most recent being the international friendly against Oman in Dubai in March. He was conferred with the prestigious Arjuna Award last year.
Another award: While midfielder Suresh Singh Wangjam was picked as the Emerging Player for the year award for 2020-21. The 20-year-old Suresh, who made his Blue Tigers debut earlier this year against Oman, was part of the Indian side that competed at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2017.
DATES & DAYS
NATIONAL BROADCASTING DAY: 23RD JULY
National Broadcasting Day is observed on 23rd July every year, to celebrate the radio, which has been an important part of people’s life in India, both as an easy medium of entertainment along with the news.
On this day in 1927, the first-ever radio broadcast in the country went on the air from the Bombay Station under the Indian Broadcasting Company.
History of National Broadcasting Day: The first radio broadcast was made on July 23, 1927, from Bombay Station. The station was then owned by a private company called the Indian Broadcasting Company.
The Government took over the broadcasting on April 1, 1930, and renamed it as Indian State Broadcasting Service (ISBS). It was initially on an experimental basis. Later it permanently came under government control in 1932.
On 8th of June, 1936, the Indian State Broadcasting Service became All India Radio. Currently, AIR is one of the largest public broadcasting organizations in the world.
INCOME TAX DAY/AAYKAR DIWAS CELEBRATED BY CBDT
The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) observed the 161st Income Tax Day (also known as Aaykar Diwas) on 24 July 2021.
In India, the Income Tax Day is celebrated every year on July 24, as it was on 24 July 1980 that Income Tax was introduced for the first time in India by Sir James Wilson.
The purpose of this tax was to compensate for the losses incurred by the British regime during the first war of independence against British Rule in 1857. July 24 was first celebrated as Income Tax day in 2010.
• Central Board of Direct Taxes chairman: Jagannath Bidyadhar Mohapatra.
• Central Board of Direct Taxes Established: 1924.
• Central Board of Direct Taxes Headquarters: New Delhi.
KARGIL VIJAY DIWAS CELEBRATED ON JULY 26TH
Kargil Vijay Diwas is celebrated every year on July 26 since the year 1999, to mark India’s victory over Pakistan in the Kargil conflict.
This year nation is celebrating the 22 years of victory in the Kargil war. It was in 1999 that a high altitude mountain war broke out along the peaks of Kargil near the Line of Control, the de-facto border that divides Kashmir between the two nations.
History of Kargil War: The Kargil War was fought between May-July of 1999 in the Kargil district of Jammu and Kashmir along the Line of Control (LoC) in which India got the victory.
The Kargil war was fought for more than 60 days, ended on 26 July. On this date in 1999 Pakistan army taking advantage of the melting snow and betraying the bilateral understanding of both the nations (that the post would remain unattended during the winter season) took command of the high outposts of India.
Pakistan army refused the claims that its soldiers were involved in the war and claimed that they were the rebels from Kashmir itself, but the ammunition, identity cards, rations stores and other evidence prove that the Pakistan army was behind this cowardly act.
Operation Vijay: The operation was launched by the Indian Army twice in Indian history. The first Operation Vijay was launched in 1961 that led to the capture of Goa, Anjediva islands and Daman and Diu.
The second operation was launched in 1999. Both the operations were of huge success. However, the Kargil Vijay However, the Kargil Vijay Diwas is marked on the culmination of Kargil war.
July 26 is celebrated as “Kargil Vijay Diwas” every year to mark the successful completion of “Operation Vijay” that ended the 3-month war along the Line of Control. Nearly 490 Indian army officers, soldiers and jawans were martyrs during the course of the battle.
Operation White Sea: The operation White Sea was also launched during the Kargil war, 1999. During the operation, the Indian Air Force jointly acted with Indian Army to flush out regular and irregular troops of the Pakistani army.
WORLD NATURE CONSERVATION DAY: 28TH JULY
World Nature Conservation Day is observed on 28th July every year. The main objective of celebrating this day is to raise awareness about protecting nature and adopting best practices for conserving our natural resources.
The Earth is supplied a limited amount of properties that we all rely upon each day like water, air, soil and trees.
What are the steps to conserve the environment?
• Use of alternative energy such as solar and wind energy.
• Plant more trees to maintain the ecosystem and to prevent soil erosion.
• Use the water resources in a proper way and reuse the kitchen water for watering the gardens.
• Grow vegetation in catchment areas.
• Reduce the usage of electricity.
• Use recyclable and biodegradable products.
• Ensure the recycling of wastes.
• Try to minimize the use of cars for a shorter distance.
• Use paper bags or cloth bag instead of plastic bags.
• Grow your own vegetables by using organic compost.
• Install water treatment plants and rainwater harvesting.
WORLD HEPATITIS DAY OBSERVED ON 28TH JULY
World Health Organization is observed on 28th July every year as “World Hepatitis Day”.
This day is celebrated to enhance awareness of viral hepatitis, an inflammation of the liver that causes a range of health problems, including liver cancer. This year theme of World Hepatitis Day 2021 is ‘Hepatitis Can’t Wait’.
History of the day: The date of 28 July was chosen because it is the birthday of Nobel-prize winning scientist Dr Baruch Blumberg, who discovered the hepatitis B virus (HBV) and developed a diagnostic test and vaccine for the virus.
There are five main strains of the hepatitis virus – A, B, C, D and E. Together, hepatitis B and C are the most common cause of death, with 1.3 million lives lost each year.
• WHO Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
• Director General: Tedros Adhanom.
INTERNATIONAL TIGER DAY OBSERVED ON 29TH JULY
Global Tiger Day or International Tiger Day is observed on 29th July every year to raise awareness about the declining population of wild cats and making efforts to conserve them.
The goal of the day is to promote a global system for protecting the natural habitats of tigers and to raise public awareness and support for tiger conservation issues. This year marks the 11th International Tiger Day.
The theme/Slogan for the 2021 International Tiger Day celebration is “Their Survival is in our hands”.
History of International Tiger Day: The Global Tiger Day came into being during the signing of the Saint Petersburg declaration by 13 tiger range countries in 2010 in Russia.
The governments of these tiger range countries had resolved to encourage the conservation, protecting natural habitats and double the number of tigers by 2022.
Poaching and the illegal trade of tiger body parts like bone, the skin has posed the biggest threat to wild tigers. The demand for tiger body parts has increased the poaching and trafficking of wild cats.
WORLD DAY AGAINST TRAFFICKING IN PERSON
United Nations observes 30 July every year as World Day against Trafficking in Persons.
In 2013, the General Assembly designated July 30 as the World Day against Trafficking in Persons to raise awareness of the situation of victims of human trafficking and for the promotion and protection of their rights.
The 2021 theme for World Day Against Trafficking in Persons is Victims’ Voices Lead the Way.
This year’s theme puts victims of human trafficking at the centre of the campaign and will highlight the importance of listening to and learning from survivors of human trafficking.
• United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Headquarters: Vienna, Austria.
• United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Founded: 1997.
REPORT & INDEXES
INDIA IN WTO'S TOP 10 AGRICULTURE PRODUCE EXPORTERS
India has entered the top ten list of agricultural produce exporters in 2019 with a significant share within the export of rice, soya beans, cotton and meat, according to a World Trade Organisation (WTO) report on trends in world agricultural trade in recent 25 years.
In 2019, India ranked ninth with a share of 3.1% in global agricultural exports. Earlier this place was New Zealand.
Similarly, Mexico has ranked seventh with a share of 3.4% in global agricultural exports, which was previously followed by Malaysia.
In the ‘meat and edible meat offal’ category, India was ranked eighth with a 4 per cent share in global trade.
While the US, which topped the list in 1995 (22.2%), was overtaken by the European Union in 2019 (16.1%). Brazil maintained its ranking as the third-largest exporter, increasing its share from 4.8% in 1995 to 7.8% in 2019. China climbed from the sixth spot in 1995 (4%) to fourth in 2019 (5.4%).
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
JEFF BEZOS INTO SPACE ON NEW SHEPARD ROCKET SHIP
Billionaire Jeff Bezos has made a short journey to space, in the first crewed flight of his rocket ship, New Shepard.
He was accompanied by Mark Bezos, his brother, Wally Funk, an 82-year-old pioneer of the space race, and an 18-year-old student.
They travelled in a capsule with the biggest windows flown in space, offering stunning views of the Earth. On this flight was the oldest person who has been to space, Wally Funk and the youngest, student Oliver Daemen.
When the capsule touched back down after the 10-minute, 10-second flight, Jeff Bezos exclaimed: “Best day ever!”. New Shepard, built by Bezos’ company Blue Origin, is designed to serve the burgeoning market for space tourism.
MOON'S WOBBLE EFFECT IDENTIFIED BY NASA
The Moon's Wobble has been identified by NASA as a potential issue in the near future.
About the Moon's Wobble: When the moon orbits an elliptical orbit, its speed changes, causing our view of the "bright side" to appear at a slightly different angle.
This is the so-called Moon's wobble, or this is how it looks in our eyes. It is a regular swaying (Oscillation) in the moon's orbit, as well as a cyclical shift of the moon's orbit.
The first mention of it was in 1728. This wobble will take 18.6 years to complete. It serves as a backdrop for sea-level rise. The position of the Moon, Earth, and Sun will be closely associated with this surge.
SPACE X FOR MISSION TO JUPITER MOON EUROPA
The US space agency NASA has selected California-based SpaceX to provide launch services for Earth’s first mission to conduct detailed investigations of Jupiter’s moon Europa.
The mission called ‘Europa Clipper mission is scheduled to be launched in October 2024 on a Falcon Heavy rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
The main objective of this mission will be to: Conduct a detailed survey of Europa to investigate whether the icy moon has conditions suitable for life, produce high-resolution images of Europa’s surface, determine its composition, look for signs of recent or ongoing geological activity, measure the thickness of the moon’s icy shell, search for subsurface lakes, determine the depth and salinity of Europa’s ocean.
• NASA administrator: Bill Nelson.
• Headquarters of NASA: Washington D.C., United States.
• NASA Founded: 1 October 1958.
• SpaceX founder & CEO: Elon Musk.
• SpaceX Founded: 2002.
• SpaceX Headquarters: California, United States of America.
MISCELLANEOUS
LIVERPOOL REMOVED FROM WORLD HERITAGE SITE LIST
The UN’s cultural agency UNESCO has voted narrowly to remove Liverpool’s waterfront from its list of world heritage sites, citing concerns about overdevelopment, including plans for a new football stadium.
At committee talks chaired by China, 13 delegates voted in favour of the proposal and five against, just one more than the two-thirds majority required to delete a site from the global list.
Those against delisting Liverpool included Australia, whose own listing for the Great Barrier Reef is threatened in this year’s UNESCO deliberations.
Others opposing included Brazil, Hungary and Nigeria, arguing any step should be deferred a year to give the UK and Liverpool authorities more time.
• UNESCO headquarters: Paris, France.
• UNESCO Head: Audrey Azoulay.
• UNESCO Founded: 16 November 1945.
NOROVIRUS DETECTED IN UNITED KINGDOM (UK)
The United Kingdom is now reporting an outbreak of norovirus. Public Health England (PHE) recently issued a warning regarding Norovirus.
England has recorded 154 cases of norovirus in the country. An increase in norovirus cases in educational settings has been reported.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), norovirus is very contagious that causes diarrhoea and vomiting. People suffering from norovirus disease can shed billions of virus particles. And to make people sick only a few of them is required.
A person can contract this virus by coming in direct contact with an infected person. This virus can also be contracted by consuming contaminated water and food and also touching contaminated surfaces with one’s hands and then putting them in the mouth unwashed.
Symptoms of norovirus are vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach pain and nausea. This virus can cause inflammation of the intestines or the stomach and it is termed acute gastroenteritis.
Other symptoms of this virus are headache, fever and body aches. People generally develop the symptoms within 12 to 48 hours and they can last up to 1 to 3 days.
